Chapter Text
In the dimly lit tunnels, Vegeta hid far away from the prying eyes of Region 13. Releasing a shuddering breath as fear danced across the Bond, the black, flame-haired teen whispered to himself, “Breathe. Start from the beginning. My name is Vegeta Saiyan. I was born in the Capital. I was five when Freeza murdered my parents and banished me to Region 12. I competed in the Dragon Games twice and survived. Bulma… My Mate... was left in the Arena… And I’m going to rescue Her if it’s the last thing I do.” “Prince Vegeta?” A voice called out, breaking his concentration.
Groaning inwardly, he sighed while rolling his coal black eyes at the nurse who’d found once again, “Can’t I have a minute to be alone in peace in this damn place?” The pretty little thing approached the Saiyan Prince with caution, her brown hair pulled back out of her fair face and her brown eyes watching for even the slightest movement should he try to attack, “Did you have another nightmare, Prince Vegeta?” Pathetically hugging his knees to his chest like he was four years old, Vegeta kept his head down to hide his teary eyes for the annoying woman. “You’re not my Mate, so stop acting like she’s dead.” came his muffled reply.
“Of course Bulma’s alive, Prince Vegeta. Now come on, let’s get you back to bed.” The nurse soothed as if he was a small child. Wildly swinging at the young woman, Vegeta snarled, “Get back!” It was the nurse’s lucky day as a lithe silver-haired lady jerked her away, chuckling, “Whoa! Easy there, Prince. We mean you no harm.” Staring blankly at the old woman, Vegeta frowned, resting his chin on top of his knees, Why is she here? “Why don’t you run along and give us some time, honey? I’ll bring the Prince back safe and sound, I assure you.” Ol’Margie said sweetly, gently pushing the poor nurse down the tunnel while ignoring the woman’s protests.
Once they were truly alone, the thin, weathered woman sat with her back against the tunnel wall, facing Vegeta’s culvert as she waited on the teen to speak. “I don’t want to talk about it.” Vegeta sighed, his head thunking back against the concrete wall. “Never said you had to, Prince.” Ol’Margie smiled as she pulled out her knitting. She’d found it had been quite useful to help pass the time and now she had many more feet that needed socks; she could make lots of those.
Unsuccessfully fighting a grin of his own at the soothing clicking of her well-worn knitting needles, the teen whimpered as more fear echoed inside his mind, “She’s afraid… And I can’t help Her.” The clacking stopped momentarily as Marge processed his words, speaking as she resumed her project, “I’m afraid I can’t help you there. It’s been so long since I lost my Chosen and I never found another that I wanted to be with. All I can offer you is a listening ear without judgement.” That’s all I need, Marge. Although he was still unsure how much he could really tell the silver-hair Saiyan woman, Vegeta let himself ramble on about anything and everything that came to mind; from Bulma to the Games and even being in Region 13.
His words finally spent and his body exhausted, Vegeta felt his eyelids drooping even as he forced them back open. The sweet sight made the old Saiyan chuckle as she put her knitting away, “Come on, Prince; I’d say it’s time for bed.” “I’d have to agree with ya, Marge.” The teen relented, forcing his aching body to stand. How long has it been since I’ve trained? Not like I haven’t tried, but that annoying creature keeps coming in to watch me… Maybe I should call Nappa and see if he can get me out for a couple hours to spar?
However, once Ol’Margie had deposited him back in his room, all traces of sleep were wiped from Vegeta’s mind as soon as he laid down. Laying on the uncomfortable hospital bed in the dimly lit room, the teen stayed stock still as long as he could, It’s hopeless! Yet another night without sleep! Why am I not surprised? Vegeta groused to himself as he got up to poke his head out and see where the bothersome nurses were. There was one down the hall, but it looked like he was moving towards another hallway, It might just be my lucky night after all…
Silently sneaking away from the direction the nurse went, the Saiyan soon found his way to the room of someone he might almost consider a friend. “Kakarot.” Vegeta said, announcing himself to the dazed Saiyan laying on the bed. “Heeyyy, Best Buddy…” Goku sighed, his mind slowly coming back to him since they stopped drugging him earlier that day, “Listen, I wanted to go back for them. Really, I did. But after the lightning and everything… Piccolo told me I was knocked out by the electricity. Next thing I knew, we were on the hovercraft without Bulma, Chiaotzu, or Eighteen.”
Curling his hands into fists in his lap, the black, spiky-haired Saiyan growled, “He has Chi-Chi. My sweet, wonderful Chi-Chi. And now she’s trapped in the Capital…” “Can your woman fight?” Vegeta asked gruffly, causing Goku to cock his head sideways, “What?” Crossing his thick arms over his broad chest, the Saiyan Prince repeated slower, trying not to lose his patience, “Can… your… woman… fight?” Dumbly staring at the other teen as if he’d grown two heads, Goku beamed at Vegeta after a minute, “Of course Chi-Chi can fight, Vegeta. How else would she have won her Game?”
“Tell me Kakarot, do you think she will protect my Woman if she can?” Vegeta pressed, he was desperate for the hope that someone was trying to protect Bulma. Two pairs of inky black eyes met, both on the verge of tears that they could not let fall, not even with each other, “I think she would. Chi-Chi’s real protective… and she was excited to actually meet you and Bulma.” Smirking at this new information, the Saiyan Prince nodded curtly, “Good.” Then he turned on his heel and walked out without another word.