House of Vegeta

A/U

House of Vegeta: The Wild Child pt.4

Bardock nearly burst with pride as his get stood before the elite as super saiyan. His Ou had kept the promise, and the chibis were perfect. In an ironic twist of fate the child that resembled him most was also most powerful. Not that he didn't have legitimate concerns about his youngest. Kakarot had a keen mind but often used it in misdirected ways. His conception had literally been a shock, since the Ou thought his fertility cycle at an end. More fool them. They dallied on a mission in the jungles of Ardwett, nearly a thousand miles away. It so happened there was a full moon that night...

It was a manic coupling. Brief, intense, but oh so sweet.

Bardock smirked. _How appropriate that mating made a wild child, then._

Too wild, in fact. Even for a saiyan, Kakarot's appetite for chaos defied description. He fought servants, classmates, adults and even council members on occasion. Of the three, he was the least disciplined, and had the least control of his oozaru form. Born high strung and nervous, as a chibi he was easy to name. Kakarot meant simply, "Firestorm." Celipe initially wanted nothing to do with him, thinking he suffered from the udware madness. Their marriage was all but dissolved at that point, and Raditz was virtually on his own anyway. Kakarot's uncanny resemblance to Bardock fuelled Celipe's rage, although she softened later. The boy had a way of defeating the greatest resistance, with a force of will that was rare by any account.

_No wonder he won over...his prince_ Bardock winced at the truth, even now. Only an extraordinarily strong saiyan could deal with Vegeta no Ouji. Fate had a bizarre sense of humor..._

Still another meeting in secret, and still another baby. Bardock thought he'd go mad. The Ou had all but commanded his presence in the palace, much to his chagrin. Officers and friends teased him about 'special privileges'. Rumors and innuendo spread throughout the palace, and the Queen's open hostility towards him only added fuel to the fire. There was also growing suspicion about the King's periodic 'weight gains' that abruptly seemed to disappear, although the Ou was careful to disappear from public viewing for months at a time. Vegeta's birth and public presentation seemed to quell the unease.

"I can't believe this...I thought your bearing cycle was over!"

The Ou sighed. "As did I. It's fortunate you were off planet for a bit, although I'm not certain it matters at this point."

Bardock paced the King's private chamber, increasingly nervous. "What's that mean, Vegeta? First I go, then I stay. Are you taking me for granted?!"

The Ou shook him. "Never! But that isn't the point...this child will present you with problems, Bardock."

The commander swallowed, his heart cold with fear. "It's finally happened, then?" he asked the unspoken question.

"No, fool!! Not that!"

"You think to shove another baby into my arms? Do I look like an idiot?!"

"Would you reject this one? _Could_ you?!"

"My life's been disrupted enough, Vegeta! You push our love too far!"

Vegeta snapped his fingers. "Perhaps you'll feel differently once you see him."

"Another son?"

"Hai, we seem to make boys. It runs in strains."

"I'm feeling strained myself."

"Silence, Bardock. An attendant brings the child." Moments later a servant brought a basket in the chamber and set it on a plush couch.

Bardock frowned. A strange rattling sound came from folds of cloth.

"What's wrong with this one? Is he sick?"

Vegeta grinned. "Hardly. Look and see, Bardock."

Bardock approached the basket with dread and anticipation. He pulled back the covers...

and saw a miniature version of himself. He was speechless.

The Ou came up behind him. "Turn this one away now?"

"I...uh...he...uh..."

The Ou laughed richly. "Tongue tied, eh? I told you this one would be a special problem, but not for the reason you thought!"

Bardock broke into a huge grin. "Celipe's gonna kill me."

Vegeta snickered. "Pick him up."

Bardock eyed him curiously, but picked up the infant. The baby immediately snarled, snapping tiny jaws at nothing. Small arms flailed wildly about.

"Kami, he's a fireball!"

"Hai, he came out that way...are you pleased?"

Bardock burst into laughter, spinning the infant around and tossing him high. The chibi hissed and spat, hooking his tail around Bardock's neck while stubby legs kicked madly.

"I name this one, Vegeta!"

The Ou gave a crooked grin. "Well enough, take that little loon...can you sense his ki spike?"

"Hn, remarkable. He's formed well...his porportions are marvelous!"

"I suspect this one will be a heartbreaker."

Bardock frowned, unhooking the little tail and pulling it. The appendage straightened perfectly.

He breathed a sigh of relief. Vegeta followed his chain of thought perfectly.

"You were especially concerned with this one?"

"Hai, it would have been a waste otherwise, especially with his temper."

The Ou poked a finger at the chibi. Needle teeth knawed at the tip.

A chuckle. "The chibi from hell. Have you a name yet, Bardock?"

Sloopy grin. "Aye" he looked the baby over slowly. "Kakarot!"

"So be it."

****

The presentation went well, the elites accepted the chibis. Bardock could only smile at the memories. Kakarot had that same silly expression when he saw Tezar. Not that it mattered, but seeing one's image could be most gratifying.

_Hn, one like me, one like him, and the other a combination. Hai, it makes sense..._

The Ou edged up to him after the ceremony. "Staring still? Now what are you thinking?"

"The children and their looks."

"Aye, fine. But they come from good stock."

"Hn. A renegade, a royal, and a roughneck."

Vegeta Ou laughed. "You always had a quick wit. Now will you finally believe me? No deformities, no madness...although that firebrand did make me wonder at times."

Bardock chortled, swigging his ale. "They have my looks and brains, you know."

"Oh please, spare me. Besides, Vegeta resembles _me_ closely, not you."

"He still has my cheekbones."

The Ou glanced over at the Ouji. In truth, all three had similar heart shaped faces like Bardock.

"I'll give you that, but it's MY brains they inherited, not yours."

"Calling me stupid, eh?"

"What are you two whispering about, hmm? A military coup?" another voice interrupted their musings.

The two saiyans glanced up from their spot at the feasting table. Nappa stood behind them, hands on hips. A sly grin spread across his face.

"Those silly children...you seem most proud!"

"We have every reason to be" Bardock snapped. "Their breeding is evident...but I can understand the jealousy. Your son and daughter are rather...shall we say plain?"

Nappa flushed. "You think that's funny?!"

Bardock sipped his drink coolly. "Actually, it's sad. A plain elite is a lonely elite."

The Ou covered his mouth to keep from laughing. "Have a seat, Nappa. Stop instigating."

"I'll not be satisfied with that, Ou!!" the thick general bellowed. "He insulted my brood..."

Vegeta lifted an eyebrow. "You defy my word?"

"No, but my blood boils-"

He didn't finish. A fist came from nowhere and cracked him across the jaw. Nappa went hurtling backwards over the table, to the delight of elites who cheered.

"You're an idiot, Nappa. Have you no respect for a birthing ceremony?!"

The bald general rubbed his head, staring up blearily at an angry super saiyan. Kakarot.

"You...you whelp. How dare you strike your elder unannounced!"

Kakarot grinned. "That's the best way to strike. In any case, sit down and shut up."

Nappa staggered to his feet. "I'll meet you in the arena, boy!"

"Hai, you'll be under the pile I defeat."

Nappa spun on Bardock. "Is this how you raised this brat?"

Bardock looked up blandly. "He rewarded your insolence. Didn't our King tell you to sit?"

"I'LL SIT WHEN I'M GOOD AND READY-"

A fist landed on his head with a thump. Nappa crashed into a chair, out like a light.

"He was ready" Kakarot gave a saucy flip of his tail. "Hard to believe he commands armies with such a short fuse. It's a miracle his troops survive."

The Ou grinned over his plate. "Go on, boy...rejoin your mate and stop this foolishness."

Kakarot bowed briefly. "I'll see you in the arena?"

"Ai, now beat it, brat" Bardock winked at him. Kakarot smiled before leaving.

Vegeta Ou stared at the unconscious Nappa. "He's going to be trouble, eventually."

Bardock agreed. "What to do about it, though? He's of some prominence."

The King sat back in his seat. "Let me think on it."


THE END