House of Vegeta

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House of Vegeta: First Born pt.2

Bardock watched Raditz play with the chibis in the royal nursery.

_He'd make a good father himself if he'd ever settle down_ the Regent mused, smiling slightly. Nuru and Tezar squeaked and yowled, clinging to masses of thick hair and climbing up broad shoulders like a tree.

"Ouch! Little ebi (monsters)! Do you want a bald ube (uncle)?!"

Bardock laughed loudly. Raditz turned in annoyance. "I know you've been standing there watching, father."

Bardock approached him. "Hai, just thinking, boy."

Raditz frowned. "Don't start, father. I'll find someone in my own time!"

"Kakarot is younger than you, and he has chibis" Bardock purred at the small ones. Nuru reached for him while Tezar purred back. He caught one of the wiggling babies in his arms.

"Hn" Bardock ruffled the thick little mop. "What about Sharben?"

"I don't want her! She's a Versladi!"

Bardock growled. "I wasn't aware of that" the Versladi Clan was known for mental disorders.

"Why waste time with her, then?"

"She was just a friend. Don't misunderstand!"

Bardock's eyes narrowed. "Truthfully, I expected you to be mated before Kakarot."

Raditz snorted. "He's a hothead, father, you know that! He mated on the run...there was barely time for a formal ceremony!!"

"I admit his impulsiveness concerns me, but we aren't discussing your brother-"

"You brought it up, not me."

"I know you have offers, Radtiz."

The burly saiyan flushed. "Hai, but some are unacceptable."

Bardock poked his finger at Nuru. Small hands grabbed it, nibbling the tip. "Who??"

Raditz held his nose. "Nappa's bloated pig of a son, Orwon."

Bardock gawked. "That makes no sense!!"

"Hai, the idiot got in my face when his engagement fell through...I broke his arm as a reward!"

The elder snorted in disgust. "Well broke. But enough of the ridiculous extremes, boy. What about the others? I've heard about your escapades in the barracks."

Raditz put up his nose. "None of them are worthy. Do you expect me to choose just anyone?!"

Bardock eyed him in silence a moment. _He shares that arrogant pride with his brother..._

Radtiz continued. "Besides, don't you have enough chibis to play with? Didn't you have enough _before?!"_

Dark eyes blazed in fury. "You aren't too old to knock in the floor, boy."

"I know the rumors, and I was old enough to remember things said in the palace!"

"Quiet, fool!!"

The chibis squealed in delight.

Raditz grinned. "Like the noise, eh? Crazy ebi."

"They make more sense than you do" Bardock grunted. "You're too picky, Raditz."

His son grew serious again. "I'm not reckless like Kakarot, father. He got lucky...or possibly cursed."

"Raditz, I'm warning you-"

A sigh. "I don't know what's true and what isn't..."

Bardock looked away. "The walls have ears, Raditz. Mind where you are."

The burly saiyan sat with Tezar in tow. His eyes never left Bardock. "I asked you several times and never got an answer, so I can only come to one conclusion-"

"A dangerous assumption" Bardock interrupted.

"Maybe, but I have a sense for things, father. Why couldn't mother attend the ceremony? And why did you really break up?"

Bardock gritted his teeth. "I told you boy...we grew apart-"

"It all happened about the time Kakarot was born. I don't even understand why I was shuttled back and forth between home and the palace."

"Enough of this. Your mother is third class. There's no way she would be allowed at either Kakarot's mating or the birthing ceremony."

"That's insane. Have you spoken to her recently?"

"No, we have nothing to say to each other-"

"I know you're with the King, father. But...why?"

"What do you mean, 'why?', whelp. I need not explain my choices to you!"

Raditz persisted. "Even Vegeta wondered at first...he though perhaps you had grown close over the years."

Bardock thought on that. "His reaction was?"

"Surprise and amazement. He said it seemed logical, although he never would have suspected it."

"Hn. And your brother?"

"He was...angry. He felt you betrayed mother."

Bardock nodded. "Hai, he was a teen at the time. I expected that."

"That incident with Berte happened the day he found out."

"What?? I never knew..."

"You were away a lot on missions, and we kept going back and forth to the palace. I saw councilors meeting and whispering about us being there so much."

Bardock cradled Nuru. "I regret the chaos you were exposed to, Raditz."

"Then mother was angry all the time, and I couldn't stay with her anymore."

"She was angry at me."

"I know. She accused me of betraying her also. I was going to get an apartment on the Rim, but when I received an invitation from the King I accepted."

Dark eyes narrowed. "Because?"

"I felt comfortable there, like I belonged. Besides, who would turn down an offer to live in a castle?"

Bardock sighed. "No one, I suppose."

"Odd, though...the Queen seemed different by that time. I couldn't explain it."

Bardock paled. "How?"

Raditz frowned in concentration. "I'm not sure...she looked the same, but something in her eyes didn't fit."

A cough. "You're imagining things, boy-"

"When Vegeta came back from a purge he mentioned it also."

"Did he say...anything else?"

"Only that he couldn't relate to her anymore, and she smelled wrong."

"Kami!!"

Raditz stared. "Father? I say something?"

Bardock glazed over in memory at his son. "No..."


_Bardock was called into the Ou's tent. The air was thick with blood and...something else. The young captain was certain his leige was dying.

"Bardock, you're one of my most trusted officers. I must confide in you..."

"My Ou, you shouldn't have come on this raid of the outer provinces. You know the treachery of these peasants. Are you wounded sorely?"

The king sweated profusely, heaving in exertion. A servant placed cooling cloths on his head.

"No, hear me. This is for your ears only" he nodded weakly at the servant. She darted from the tent momentarily.

Bardock stared after her. "What? I don't understand-"

The Ou grabbed his hand, pulling him forward. "Bardock...something you must know-"

The servant returned with a small bundle. Bardock heard small noises from within folds of cloth. Seconds later lusty cries filled the air.

The young captain started. "What? A baby?!"

The Ou strained to a sitting position. "Hear me, there isn't much time. As you know, there are six family strains containing males that can reproduce. My line is one."

Bardock nodded. "Hai, everyone knows this...but the child?" he stared in surprise.

Vegeta waved to the servant. She handed the bundle to a shocked Bardock.

"But...why me? I don't understand-"

"Silence, I said" the Ou motioned the servant to go. "Go now. Make certain the others remain outside until he leaves."

The woman nodded and slipped out once more. Vegeta sighed wearily.

"The child is mine, Bardock. However, the Queen will not accept this...you understand my meaning?"

A nod. "Hai, you want me to find the chibi a good home."

Dark eyes narrowed. "Look at him, Bardock."

A shrug. Bardock unfolded the fabric and stared. The baby had delicate features and masses of hair.

"Hn...he looks like you, my leige" it was true, to a degree. The distinctive hairline and nose were the King's. But there was something else...not quite right.

Vegeta watched him in silence, waiting.

Bardock blinked, feeling a strange sensation sweep over him. _Kami, it isn't possible..._

The eyes. They were his.

"This is...impossible!!"

The Ou grinned. "Hardly. Do you feel it, Bardock?"

Square fingers brushed the tender face. "I...his face..." the cheekbones, his also.

"This is insane!"

"No. When you came to me months ago I chose you."

"Ba, but...I can't care for a baby! I'm a soldier!"

"Take him to Celipe. Explain it to her as a personal favor to the king."

Bardock's mouth went dry. "My...son?"

A gentle smile. "Hai, Captain. Isn't he beautiful?"

"Y-yes" Bardock felt his throat tighten. The baby purred, coiling it's thick tail around his arm.

"See? Even Raditz knows."

Bardock looked up briefly. "Raditz?"

"Hai, perfect don't you think?"

The young captain grinned down at the infant, eyes welling up. "Perfect. 'Lord of Power.'"

"Come close to me, now."

Bardock edged alongside his Ou. Vegeta brushed lips in a tender kiss.

"Time for this, at least" he murmured. "Ai, I picked well."

Tears flowed suddenly. "I have a son" Bardock's voice was shaky, kissing the small face.

"Well boned, see his conformity?"

Bardock beamed, stroking the little tail. "He's perfect!"

"Hn, didn't you trust my word?"

"Never again, love."

The Ou shushed him. "Fool! Have a care...others are nearby!"

Bardock bounced the bundle. "Huh. He's fat, a heavy baby!"

"Aye, he'll be well sized. Go now, take him home."

"Hai" Bardock stood slowly, cradling the infant. Nappa, Teslo and Vei entered the tent.

"Is it done, o King?" Vei asked, staring at Bardock.

"Hai, commander-"

Bardock stood back in suspicion. "Do they??"

"At ease, Captain" Vegeta Ou motioned. "They know of the child."

Dark eyes narrowed. "How much? Can they be trusted?"

"You dare, whelp?" Teslo snapped. The burly saiyan snarled under his moustache. "I should cleave you in two for your insolence. None are more loyal than those here!"

Vei nodded. "Ai, you may have gotten Captainship early but that holds no account with us. Go now, and do your duty for the King!"

Nappa looked over the infant in Bardock's arms. "Huuhh, he looks much like the king...and someone else, oddly enough" suspicious eyes levelled on Bardock.

"I have a duty to perform, Nappa...get out of my way!"

"Let him go" the Ou waved.

"As you command, my leige" Nappa bowed briefly before moving aside.

"Care well for that one, Bardock" Teslo warned. "Yours is a sacred trust. You hold royalty in your hands."

"True, commander" Bardock glanced briefly at his Ou before leaving..._

"Father?"

"Hn?"

"You're daydreaming...are you alright?"

Bardock shook his head quickly. "Hai, never mind me. Did I say anything?"

"Something about holding royalty...I guess so, you've got Tezar wrapped around your arm!"

"Oh?" Bardock glanced down at his grandson. Bright eyes shone on him as the chibi clucked and chirped.

"Here, take him. I have a meeting to attend" Bardock abruptly plopped the baby next to his sibling in Raditz' lap.

"What the hell happened, father? What were you thinking about?"

Bardock stared at the combination of himself and Ou Vegeta. "The past."

Raditz watched him leave. _You have a terrible secret, father. Do I know it?_

THE END