Adult-FanFiction.org : Gundam, Beyblade, DBZ, FMA

The Spaces In Between	By : ctsama Category: Dragon Ball Z > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1625 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball, Dragonball Z, Dragonball Super, Resurrection 'F', or Battle of Gods or the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
Sorry guys, busted computer is fixed. Look for the next Atavism chapter in a week.

Part 1

“Hey… Vegeta?”

Goku woke up alone. It didn’t happen often, Vegeta knew how much he loved waking up to his unborn children under his ear. But a quick touch told him that the babies’ careening, wordless thoughts had woken his mate early.

He looked around, following the cool morning breeze and a lilting melody through the open balcony doors. He quietly rose to follow those traces of his missing mate and when that melody became clearer not with movement but focus on Vegeta he realized it was in his head. It wasn’t like anything he’d ever heard before both haunting and uplifting at the same time. It was beautiful, and somehow strangely, achingly familiar.

He moved quietly, not wanting to disturb the peaceful scene of Vegeta sprawled in an oversized chair on the balcony, one hand on his stomach. He seemed to be gazing off into nothing, and he made no sound. Goku was hearing the echo of that familiar melody over their bond, Vegeta was singing it into the children’s minds.

At seeing him Vegeta’s melody stopped, coming to an abrupt end. “Kakarot, I didn’t-”

“Don’t stop. Please, keep going. That song sounds so familiar…”

Vegeta snorted. “It can’t be. No one’s ever heard it but the children. It’s all I have of… my mother. She used to sing it to me like this when I was in the womb and it never left me.”

“In the… how do you remember that?”

“We don’t remember things the way humans do, constantly learning and forgetting to make room for new information, or suffering from encoding failures that don’t let them form memories properly. We retain pretty much everything we experience. Our memories never fade or get erased, they’re always there whether we can recall them or not, and I have better recall than most. When the neural pathways to them fall into disuse they can be strengthened again by-”

He stopped, sighed as Goku put his hands on his hips and just stared at him looking aggravated. “Fine. How’s this. Our memories are islands and the bridges between them are our pathways to those memories. A bridge to one of those islands falling apart doesn’t mean the island disappears. It just means you rebuild the bridge to get to it again. If you can’t rebuild it yourself someone with better tools - like me - can do it for you. Is that simple enough for you, simpleton?”

“Yup!”

“Ridiculous,” Vegeta snorted. “In any case it’s possible you heard that song or some version of it from your mother or father or someone else. Or you just picked it up from me without noticing it.”

But somehow Goku knew better, issuing a vehement denial. “No, I remember that song in your mind’s voice. And I may be a simp but I can recognize the difference between your memories and mine. I know that song, and I know the feel of you behind it. How is that possible?”

“It’s not!” Vegeta scoffed. “I’ve only given it to the children and for the first sets our bond wasn’t deep enough for you to have picked it up. For the girls, I… I couldn’t feel you at all.”

“I don’t care,” Goku pouted, kneeling in front of the chair and laying his head on Vegeta’s lap in response to the pain of memory. “I know I’m onto something.”

“You won’t be able to do that much longer. I’m going to start getting huge in another month and a half.”

“That’s okay. I’m just happy being with you.” In the silence that followed Vegeta’s fingers found and gently massaged his scalp and Goku grinned. “You’re blushing so hard right now, aren’t you?”

“...Shut it, Kakarot. You’re still wrong about knowing that song.”

“Impossible things happen all the time, especially when we’re together,” Goku laughed. “I know that song. Keep going. Maybe you can make me remember if I keep listening.”

It took a little convincing to get Vegeta over his embarrassment but after a little grumbling - and a few half-hearted insults - he conceded. Goku settled himself against the railing across from his pregnant mate, eyes drifting closed as that melody overtook him again. The notes rose and fell, swelling gently until they carried him away and he let them, curious as to where they wanted to take him.

Suddenly his eyes snapped open to meet Vegeta’s shocked gaze. “You can feel it now too, can’t you? I don’t just know the song, there’s way more to it. This is going to sound crazy but… Was there any way we could have met back on our homeworld?”

“Of course not! You had to have been still in the womb or just born by the time I was taken. I was confined to the palace the last couple of months before then and your mother would have had no reason to be there, I’m sure. Besides, I don’t easily forget things. And I certainly would have remembered meeting a pregnant woman or a baby.”

“Will you at least just look at what I’m feeling, please? Maybe you can make me remember whatever it is that’s bugging me about this. I know you can do it!”

“Fine, if it’ll end this nonsense.” He took in Goku’s feeling of familiarity, pushed to see where it led and rebuilt the associated pathways, reigniting decades-old memories as he went. It was shocking when something within him resonated and he groaned as it caused him pain.

Goku’s eyes widened. “You can feel it now too, can’t you? Show me!”

There was no response, and Goku frowned to see Vegeta’s skin paling. There was a time that would have been a problem, but no longer. He threw himself into their bond, meeting Vegeta’s memories and finding even more of his own waking in response. He began to copy Vegeta’s own actions in rebuilding pathways with less delicacy, but something kept halting his efforts.

“There’s something wrong, there’s something blocking me… Vegeta? Could Gohan have done this to you? Could anyone else have screwed with your head?”

“No. Only I could,” Vegeta breathed, barely audible. “I did this to myself; there’s no trace of anyone else’s touch. Push, Kakarot. Break it down. I want to know what the hell is going on here.”

Goku hesitated, unsure of whether or not to do as his mate had asked. “But… maybe it’s better not to know. If this is something even you chose to forget, after everything you’ve been through it might be really, really bad.”

“Do it, Kakarot. There’s no going back.”

Goku nodded, by now no stranger to knocking down walls in his mate’s mind. He focused hard, managing to break through the self-imposed barriers to finish the job. Pathways in Vegeta’s mind flared open in response and he was left gasping.

A torrent of forgotten memories poured out of Vegeta’s mind and Goku rushed to piece it all together. The story that played out from two sides shocked them both.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vegeta cursed, enjoying the dismay of his two guards. They were always taken aback by his creative vocabulary at such a young age. Settling the dispute between his father’s two favorite generals hadn’t been easy and had taken longer than expected and now he was late for the ceremony. ‘It’s probably close to wrapping up, why should I even bother showing up?’

The answer was simple. Because his father had commanded it. The day would come when he would do what he pleased, it was inevitable. But that day wasn’t today - which meant that he needed to move his ass or suffer the consequences.

He quickened his pace at the thought. But the sound of his dress boot heels clicking smartly against the polished stone of the palace’s dim hallway stopped abruptly as he rounded a corner and came face to belly with a heavily pregnant woman. She was leaning against the wall with one hand, her other hand on her lower back. She moaned softly in pain and distress.

“Woman. Are you ill?” Vegeta asked once he’d recovered from the unusual meeting.

“Not ill, just super-duper pregnant. I need to sit down,” she said, not opening her eyes but extending her hand. “A little help please?”

His two guards went on high alert, moving to intercept her before she could touch him but Vegeta just raised a hand, stopping them in their tracks. “Oh, what is she going to do, deliver on me? Stand down you fools.”

Chagrined, they stepped back once more and Vegeta turned his attention to the woman’s request. Out of his depth Vegeta took her hand and as much weight as their height difference would allow, helping her to a bench in the wide hallway and getting her settled. The woman sighed deeply in relief, leaning back against the wall and finally opening her eyes. Instantly she colored and began to stammer out an apology, realizing who she’d been speaking to. “Prince Vegeta! Please, forgive me, I didn’t realize I-”

“It’s fine,” Vegeta said, waving off her apologies. “Who are you, and what are you doing here? Outsiders aren’t allowed this far into the palace and I don’t recognize you.”

“My name is Gine, and I’m here to watch the ceremony actually,” she said, smiling proudly. “My mate is one of the warriors being honored, but this little one decided to wake up and try to kick his way out of me halfway through it. I decided to go get some air, but… I got lost on the way out,” she finished sheepishly. “This place is huge!”

The small, almost delicate woman smiled brightly at him and Vegeta couldn’t sense any malice, any deception. This creature was unlike anything he’d ever met before. She didn’t belong here; she gave him the sense that she’d been born of the wrong species. She didn’t move like a warrior, didn’t speak with the arrogant confidence he associated with his people.

And yet, something about her had drawn the attention of one of their strongest warriors, enough even to make him want them to be mated to one another. Her spirit was strong as befit a Saiyan - Vegeta could imagine there weren’t many times this woman didn’t get her way - but her spirit wasn’t hard.

“I’ve never met someone who had a mate before,” he said in absent surprise.

“Yeah, I understand why it’s so rarely done,” she said easily, relaxing and rubbing circles over her stomach. “It’s pretty difficult sometimes, especially with someone like me. I’m more of a nuisance in a fight than a help, I’m afraid. I wish I were more of a fighter so I could go out with him without being a burden. Every time he leaves on a mission I don’t sleep well until he’s back home. But no matter how far away he is, we can feel each other, and feel how deeply we care for one another. It’s worth the worry to have that connection, to know that neither one of us will ever truly be alone no matter how far apart we are. Most of us don’t care about that kind of connection, but I don’t think I could live without it.”

“And your mate… he cares for you?” Vegeta asked, unable to stop himself.

“Oh, yes!” Gine smiled, losing herself in what was obviously close to her heart. “Once, before we were mated he stepped in front of a blast meant for me and saved my life. For a while there it looked like he wouldn’t survive and I was heartbroken, I refused to let the doctors chase me from his side. Then when he finally woke up I was such a guilt-ridden wreck he held my hand and comforted me while he recovered. Can you imagine?”

She laughed again but in truth Vegeta could not imagine it.

Whatever else Gine had to say on the subject dissipated as the baby within her stirred painfully. She winced and hissed, and Vegeta cocked his head to the side. He’d never been so close to a pregnant woman before, most of the women he met were hardened warriors in the military with no desire to bear young.

At his tender age Vegeta was an accomplished bringer of death. Ending life was all he knew, and he couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to nurture one instead - not that he would ever tell anyone. “The child seems very strong.”

“Oh, he is, all right,” she gasped without losing her good humor. “Just like his father. Any stronger and he’d kick his way out!” She laughed clear and strong and it seemed to brighten the dark hallway. “My first wasn’t anything like this. He was happy to relax and sleep all day. I was totally spoiled! It should all be over soon though. I’m supposed to deliver sometime this week.”

The child inside her finally calmed a bit and Gine took the opportunity to study the Prince. It wasn’t every day one met royalty, after all. He was the spitting image of his father in miniature, though - at least at the moment - without his father’s hard edges. Strangely enough the boy couldn’t seem to take his eyes off the rise of her belly. His fingers twitched as though all he wanted was to touch but he held himself back. She could feel her son gearing up for another round of hyperactivity and a sudden thought hit her. ‘Are you trying to tell me something, son?’

“Prince Vegeta?” she said hesitantly after a pause, going on intuition that never failed her. “I can only speak to my mate through the bond we share; I’m not strong enough to touch the baby’s mind and he doesn’t respond to anyone else who tries. I’ve heard that some of the Elites are stronger in mind than most. I know I have no right to ask but… even though I can’t speak to him a mother knows her child. I get the sense that my son is lonely, and I’m worried about him. Would you try to speak to him?”

Vegeta was stunned into silence for a moment. He’d met his younger brother once, and very briefly before he’d been sent away. It was the only time he’d met someone near his age and Tarble had been terrified of him at first. “I have no experience with children,” Vegeta spluttered. “I… scare almost everyone. I will only frighten your child or further upset him. I cannot do as you’re asking-”

It struck Gine as sad for a moment, that this boy of no more than five years didn’t see himself as a child; it was extreme even for her hard people.

“I’m not asking much, Prince. Please, give it a chance. Just find out if something is wrong, let him know how much his father and I care for him and can’t wait to meet him. I don’t think you will scare him at all! Please, I know you can do it. In fact, I feel that maybe you’re the only one who can, and I’m never wrong about these things! I will bow as is fitting, but-” she broke off, gasping and wincing again as the child within her reasserted his need for attention. “You have to promise to help me back up again,” she finally ended with a hopeful, sheepish smile.

Vegeta couldn’t smile back, it wouldn’t have been proper. But he wanted to, her amiable boldness was impressive. He had every reason to refuse her request. It wasn’t acceptable for the Prince to be doing favors for the mate of a low-bred warrior no matter how many battles he’d won, his father would certainly punish him when he found out. And on top of all that he hated touching the minds of others. It just felt so wrong, and he always found out more than he wanted to know.

And yet, for some reason he wanted to try for this strange woman. He was familiar with respect and fear being directed his way, but not the kindness she’d shown him. That was foreign to him and it felt very, very nice.

Instead of answering her in words he placed a hand on her swollen stomach and closed his eyes. He touched the child’s mind, it was far easier and less jarring than touching an adult. The child seemed to note his presence without fear which was good, it probably meant there was no medical reason for his lack of communication with anyone. However, he still twisted and turned, kicking rather violently.

Though he didn’t have a clue as to how to speak to the baby, communication with him came surprisingly naturally. //Gently. You’re causing your mother pain. Calm yourself.// He knew the child didn’t understand his words, but he would understand the feelings that went with them. The child stilled almost immediately, and Vegeta got the sense of wary curiosity, and that loneliness his mother spoke of.

It was that loneliness which spoke to the part of him his father hated, forcing Vegeta into a decision he himself didn’t really understand.

Along with his words Vegeta decided to give the child something he’d never even told anyone about. He opened himself up a little more, and began to give the child the same song his mother had sung to him so many times. Colored by his own mind it wasn’t exactly the same as hers, but Vegeta hoped there was enough left of her in it to comfort the restless child.

He had nothing else of his own mother. No one would even speak of her to him on the King’s orders. All computer files on the subject had been thoroughly expunged from the archives as well.

In the end it didn’t matter why he decided to share his own special memory with the child, it turned out to be a good decision. The little one opened up almost immediately as well, all traces of that wary loneliness fell away. He only ‘listened,’ seeming to be entranced by the song.

It was nice, Vegeta decided, to be sharing the beautiful melody with someone else. The baby’s mind was so clean, so pure that Vegeta felt himself relaxing as the child drifted peacefully on the tides of the song. Although only five himself the complexities of his world had never really allowed him such innocence, even in the womb he’d endured the invasive mental scans and inspections of strangers that were necessary for a royal heir his father deemed ‘promising.’ It might have driven him mad had he not learned so quickly how to repel all but his mother’s soothing music.

The song faded to its close and for a moment nothing happened. Then all at once the baby focused on Vegeta and immediately pulled him in, dragging their minds closer together with an almost hungry strength that surprised Vegeta. He could have stopped it, of course, but was too bemused by the child’s curiosity to deny him. Aside from his more painful and negative memories he gave the child free rein to explore. In response to that freedom Vegeta found his mind being poked and touched, played with and explored in a way that wasn’t searching for defects or trying to exert real control and he found that he quite liked the feeling.

The child seemed to most like Vegeta’s memories of training and fighting and Vegeta helpfully supplied him with some of his proudest moments in the training arena. All through their wordless conversation the baby was altogether thrilled by their rapport as his mind burbled happily away to the one he’d been allowed to hold captive.

The passage of time was a strange thing in this mental world, but eventually Vegeta knew he would have to return to the real world and its demands. With regret he drew the child’s attention. //That’s enough now little one. I have to go.// The child began to get upset once more when he felt Vegeta’s intention to pull away from him. He stubbornly held onto their connection and radiated sadness, kicking angrily once more when Vegeta didn’t immediately come to heel. Vegeta admonished him, though he was more amused than anything else. //Hey, stubborn little brat, none of that now. Things will be good for you. You are wanted and cared for. I envy you the life you will have, knowing that. It won’t be long until your mother-//

The baby surprised him, echoing back the feeling of warmth and care Vegeta associated with the boy’s mother after even so short a time. How quick the boy was! Vegeta couldn’t help feeling proud of him and the baby’s happiness impossibly increased when he felt and understood Vegeta’s pride in him. //Yes, Mother, very good. Soon she will hold you in her arms and you will forget all about me, it’s the way of things. Until then, rest. And for gods’ sake, stop kicking poor Mother!//

The baby burbled happy, unformed thoughts to him once more, content with Vegeta’s continued attention and unfazed by his willing captive’s gruff amusement. Vegeta sighed, giving in to the incorrigible child’s demands, at least for a little while longer. A quick touch to his mother provided him with both an answer to a question and permission to follow a sudden, curious urge. //Kakarot. You are Kakarot.//

The concept of a name was a complicated thing for one not even born, but Kakarot picked it up almost immediately, liking the sound of Vegeta’s ‘voice’ repeating his name to him. A wave of curiosity hit him and he assumed the child wanted his name as well. As much as he desired to give it, on the off chance that Kakarot remembered any of this it wouldn’t do for the child to be born with the name of Vegeta as his first word. His life was a dangerous one and had no wish for this child to be caught up in it.

//Maybe someday I will be able to tell you my name, but for now it doesn’t matter. I am simply yours, little Kakarot. Your very first toy.// As befitting his stubborn brattiness the baby seemed to like the idea of Vegeta being ‘his,’ and Vegeta took the opportunity to begin to sing to him again. A gentle touch at the song’s end sent the baby to sleep.

Vegeta withdrew just as gently and opened his eyes to his hopeful mother. “He… um…”

Vegeta shook himself, or tried to. He bit down on an urge to smile, to giggle, to laugh. ‘What the hell is wrong with me?!’ he thought. He managed to refocus, clearing his throat and facing the child’s anxiously waiting mother with some semblance of seriousness. “The child has an unusually strong mind and a very stubborn personality. I don’t know why he’s never responded to anyone before now; he’s more than capable. If I had stayed with him much longer I’m sure he would have begun to take enough language from me to pop out giving speeches. Maybe he’ll open up once he gets older.”

“Oh, thank goodness! Thank you, Prince Vegeta, I’ll never forget this!” Genuine relief and gratitude weren’t things Vegeta normally encountered and he shifted uncomfortably. Gine saw him blush and couldn’t help smiling. She had heard the stories, had heard from her mate his firsthand account of the devastation this child was capable of bringing, but she could tell that he wasn’t openly allowed to be anything more than that. Had no one ever simply treated him as a good - and cherished - child?

Something gave her the boldness to reach out and grab his hand, holding it until he looked up at her in surprise. “You know, I think my son might have just been waiting for the right person to come along,” she whispered to him conspiratorially. Very slowly, self-consciously he returned her smile. “Well. In any case, I can’t wait to tell my son someday about how a very handsome young Prince came to his mother’s rescue by soothing the fussy little dictator within her to sleep.”

This time Vegeta did laugh, they both did, he couldn’t help it. Gine felt honored and glad, guessing that she and her unborn son had gotten a glimpse of the Prince’s true nature, something that was rarely - if ever - seen.

“Come,” Vegeta said finally, reaching out to help her up again now that the baby was no longer giving her fits. “My guards will take you to the medical bay to be checked over before you return home.”

One of the guards in question finally raised his voice in protest. “No. Prince Vegeta, your father ordered us to watch over you. We will be following his orders-”

Any hint of Vegeta’s smile was gone as he turned to face his recalcitrant guards, lip now curled into a snarl. “I said, my guards who are as powerful as sand fleas when compared to their charge will now take you safely to the medical bay to be checked over. And my guards - to keep up the pretense that they aren’t simply my father’s spies - answered...?”

Vegeta let his aura of his ki visibly flare and they swallowed hard. One of them finally found his voice. “We will take her safely to the medical bay-”

“I’m so very glad we cleared that up,” he said, letting the accumulated power go. “If you will excuse me Lady Gine, I have matters to attend to.” On a whim he bowed deeply - something he owed no one but his father - and he couldn’t help a foolish giggle when she ruffled the hair of her ‘fierce protector’ before going on her way.

He watched her leave and turned on his heel and walked off in the other direction, in a good mood for absolutely no good reason.

After all, it wasn’t as though he’d won a battle or anything.

Gine had proven quite the interesting person. And she was mated… it boggled his mind. The idea had fascinated him since the first time he’d overheard someone speak of it.

He knew precious little about mating bonds, he certainly hadn’t known how deep they ran before now. Logic said that all the mating business was a ridiculous proposition, trusting one’s life to another so utterly, as well as giving them access to all your weaknesses.

And yet… it just seemed like having someone to care for and to trust could be… very nice.

Vegeta shook his head ruefully at his own stupidity, thinking about how badly he would be punished if his father knew any of his opinions on the subject. But the feeling remained. His thoughts then drifted to the baby he’d touched. The baby had seemed very special but, Vegeta supposed, maybe it was just that all babies felt that way. Still, the child’s openness and brightness of spirit, the way he’d pulled Vegeta’s thoughts in and accepted him had warmed him to no end… not that he could ever tell anyone.

The thought of anyone truly accepting him and caring for him seemed ridiculous given his life thus far; the only person who had ever done so was his mother, and the gods only knew how she had paid for that error in judgment. He knew what he truly was at this point in time: a weapon, and a pawn in potential political games. Still… maybe, if he ever did find that kind of acceptance and warmth again when he was grown up, taking a mate wouldn’t be such a stupid idea…

Hurried footfalls shook him from his reverie and he saw a soldier quickly drawing to a halt. “P- Prince Vegeta!”

“That is my name,” Vegeta said with a sarcastic eyebrow raise at the scarred warrior. “And this is my home. Why are you here?”

“I’m just looking for the med bay...” Bardock swallowed hard, checking himself. He was no slouch, one of the fiercest fighters his people had ever produced. And yet this child flustered him.

But there was reason for it. He and his team - along with several others - had been there during the last major campaign. Between severely inhospitable atmospheric conditions and their adversaries’ tactic of going to ground in their massive fortified cave and tunnel system, there hadn’t been much hope of taking the planet without a high Saiyan casualty rate.

That was the case until the prince had showed up unannounced, on his way back home from some other mission. Bardock had almost yelled a warning at him when he’d stepped from his pod without a breather unit at least. His commander had tried to have a word with him as he departed the ship but Prince Vegeta just silenced him with a gesture, saying “Show me to the nearest cave entrance.”

It wasn’t far. Bardock had watched him approach it from a distance. It was nothing obvious but he could see weariness in the boy, though he covered it incredibly well. It made Bardock wonder what he’d been doing before his appearance here.

The prince put his hand on the cave wall. Nothing happened for a few breaths, but he realized the boy was gathering power, massive amounts of it. Everyone began to panic as a planet-wide earthquake began, everyone but Bardock who understood what was happening. The cave entrance collapsed on Prince Vegeta but through the cloud of dust and debris Bardock could see a flare of ki protecting him.

Vegeta had turned to go even before the planet had stopped its heaving. He was leaving without a word.

The exhaustion the child had been hiding now showed, though most were still too panicked to even notice his hasty exit. Prince Vegeta trudged back to his ship as fast as he could - unaided by his people, who were too shocked by his display of power to even move.

Bardock had watched him leave without so much as a word to anyone.

When the dust finally settled Bardock’s suspicions had been confirmed. Prince Vegeta had collapsed the entire cave system in one shot. What should have been at least a month-long assignment was over in the two days it had taken to finish off the stragglers. His unit was given leave to return home for a rest, and his youngest had been conceived during that break.

His Prince was a child, younger and far more powerful than his eldest son. And yet, Bardock owed this boy.

Vegeta glanced at the ceremonial insignia on the soldier’s armor. It marked him as one of the few warriors honored today, and his identity clicked into place. “You are Bardock, yes?”

“Yes sir!” Bardock returned, more than a little surprised that the Prince had recognized him so easily.

“Don’t be,” Vegeta said, catching the stray thought as he did sometimes when he wasn’t focused. “You’ve made quite a name for yourself, you have certainly earned the honor you received today. Continue down this hallway, two lefts and a right. Your son has a lot of potential and he takes after you; he already wants to fight. And your mate is a good woman. You are… a lucky man.”

Having said his peace Vegeta turned to go but there was something Bardock had to know.

“Sir, a moment. Please. On Freeza Planet 531, why were you there? Whose orders were you following? We weren’t expecting backup.”

Vegeta looked up at him in surprise. “Oh, that. I was just reading through reports and mission briefings on my way back home. I trust that you would have completed the mission but too many lives would have been lost. So I made a detour.”

Bardock’s eyes widened. He knew the King’s rules well. The boy hadn’t been ordered to help them, and going against orders was strictly forbidden. And if even half of the stories he had heard were true, the prince was held to an even stricter standard than his subordinates. “Why? Wasn’t your father angry?” Bardock asked before he could think better of it.

The King had not been pleased. Even so, Vegeta had smiled even as his father had administered his punishment and confined him to his room, banning him from the med bay and forcing him to heal from the brutal beating on his own.

As a rule Vegeta never explained himself to anyone not owed it, but it had been a day of firsts. “That mission was a strange one. It came directly from Freeza. Normally he sends his own soldiers to supplement our forces on such a difficult mission but this time… he didn’t. It seemed like a test, and I don’t like games played under someone else’s rules. Especially when it wastes Saiyan lives. The King didn’t agree with my assessment, but what else is new,” he shrugged. “It was worth the punishment.”

Bardock blinked at him in astonishment, and after a moment he lowered his head in respect and changed the general salute in a meaningful way. “Sir. Your ‘assessment’ makes me look forward to the day you become King.”

After a moment of surprise Vegeta returned the salute and took the opportunity to take his leave. Normally he took no notice of the praise he received from others but… he couldn’t help a twinge of pride at Bardock’s words.

His thoughts drifted back to the encounter with Gine and stayed there for the rest of the day as he avoided his own father. He knew a confrontation was inevitable, especially since he’d missed the ceremony, and his guards would surely fill the King in on his encounter with Gine.

But for the first time he really just wanted one fucking day away from his responsibilities, one day to sort through all the surprising and wonderful things that had happened to him today.

He knew the practice arenas would be the first place his father would look for him so he gave them a wide berth, staying instead hidden on the roof of the palace. Hours passed so quickly, hours spent thinking, but mainly feeling.

Feeling… good.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
- 2
- 3
- 4
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The Spaces In Between