Nappa sat near Raditz, waiting patiently for the prince to wake. It was nearly 10:00 AM. Raditz was quieter than usually, and Nappa knew that the longhaired Saiyajin was more than a little confused.
"Troubled?" Nappa questioned, watching the various facial expressions of his fellow bodyguard.
"What should I do?" Raditz asked no one in particular, letting a deep sigh escape his lips, "This is a sensitive time for my brother and the prince as well, but I strongly disapprove of what they’ve done."
"Couldn’t you see it coming?"
"I should have." Raditz said, leaning back in his chair.
"I don’t think you should complain…"
"I just don’t see why Kakarotto isn’t dominant?" Raditz interrupted in a louder tone.
****
Vejita’s eyes drifted open and his grip slightly tightened around the large warm body beside him. He soon realized that it was the conversation taking place in the common room, which he could see plainly through the open door, that caused him to wake.
"I don’t think you should complain. If you haven’t noticed, Kakarotto is mentally weak. He has spirit, but he is too pure to be in control. He wouldn’t last long with anyone other than the prince, who has happened to take quite a liking to the boy since they first met." Nappa explained, raising a hand when he could see that Raditz had the urge to interrupt again.
"You don’t understand! Kakarotto is the second strongest being in the universe next to Freeza. He deserves the best. It should be his choice."
Vejita really didn’t know what to think when he suddenly felt a gentle kiss on his chest. He looked down to see Kakarotto running his hands over his chest, kissing and licking as he explored.
"How long have you been awake?" Vejita questioned, straining as he used his mind to speak to Kakarotto’s mind.
The boy was surprised to hear the gentle echoing in his head. It was clearly the prince’s voice. Using all his mental strength, as he tried for the first time in his life to communicate telepathically.
"Same as you."
"What do you think of what they’ve been talking about?"
"Nothin’. It doesn’t matter who’s dominant or why I love you. I just do." Kakarotto said, straining somewhat as he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.
"I didn’t know we could do that." The boy said, looking up into the eyes of his prince.
"It’s the bond. It allows us to communicate mentally from short distances. It also lets us feel one another’s emotions during moments of emotional highs. That’s why I was so strung out while you were… While you were gone." Vejita explained.
"How come your mark is gone?" Kakarotto asked, just then noticing that Vejita’s neck was smooth and silky.
"No one really knows why, but the dominant one’s mark never fades from his mates neck. It remains a scar forever, letting everyone know that… You… Are… Mine." The prince said, grinning towards the end as he reached forward and tickled his young mate.
****
Nappa and Raditz had both grown quiet when they heard laughter from the open room. They sat patiently for only a few moments, when their prince and the boy came out of the room, wearing what they had slept in, and plopping down on the couch. Nappa was surprised to see that Kakarotto was instinctively playing the part of the submissive mate. He walked behind his mate, sat after his mate sat, and found some way to keep some kind of physical contact with his mate whenever possible.
"Quite an interesting chat you boys were having." Vejita said, watching as both the bodyguard’s eyes grew wide.
"Sire, I’m sorry for bothering with matters that are none of my concern." Nappa began, immediately apologizing.
"Nonsense, Nappa. I think it’s plenty of your concern. Just as much as it is Raditz’s concern."
"Forgive me, my prince." Raditz said, nodding his head in a little bow.
"I wonder, why don’t you speak with Kakarotto about such matters since it is he who you are so worried about?" Vejita said with mocking eyebrows arching on his forehead in a rare expression.
"Jita, I don’t want to fight." Kakarotto said in a quiet tone to suggest that the simple request was for his prince’s ears alone. The request was forgotten when one of Vejita’s strong hands ran over his leg, settling on the inside of his thigh.
"Really, my prince, he’s sixteen." Raditz finally said after letting his courage build somewhat.
"Yes, I realize that mates or traditionally taken when both parties are twenty or older, but there was no need to wait. Kakarotto and I have known for quite some time that we were to be together forever."
"Brother, please… Does it really upset you that much that I’m not dominant?" Kakarotto questioned, leaning forward slightly.
"Yes! Forgive me my prince, but damn it Kakarotto, you’re so much stronger."
"Raditz!" Nappa warned, hissing the word through clenched teeth.
"You don’t get it… I like Jita being the dominant one. I mean, he’s just that type of person. Just like I’m the type to do as I’m told and follow orders. Kinda like you and Nappa, huh?"
Vejita was a little surprised by the point his young mate had made. He could see the frustration building up in Raditz eyes.
"Fine… It’s obvious I can’t change either of your minds." Raditz said, leaning back in his chair as he sighed.
The room remained quiet for some time, but soon an annoying buzzing broke the silence. Kakarotto tensed up visibly and they stopped to look at him for a second. Sweat was beginning to break out across his forehead, and he was leaning into the prince, who offered some support by letting an arm wrap around the boy. Nappa leaned over slightly to press the button that would end the piercing sound.
"Nappa, Saiyajin Elite."
"Prince Vejita is requested in Lord Freeza’s quarters." Came a woman’s voice, ending the communication link when she’d finished stating the order.
"No, I don’t want you to go." Kakarotto said immediately, tears welling up in his eyes.
"I have to." Vejita answered simply, rising from the couch and making his way into their quarters.
Nappa and Raditz watched sadly as the boy’s eyes could no longer hold the tears and they splashed down his cheeks. Soon, the prince stepped back into the room, wearing his usual Saiyajin uniform, complete with chest armor. Kakarotto quickly stood, grabbing the prince’s arm.
"No! You can’t go!" Kakarotto exclaimed, his voice squeaking slightly.
"Take your hands off of me." Vejita said simply.
"Let’s… Let’s just leave. Please, we can do it now." The boy begged, pressing his cheek to the arm he held onto so tightly.
"Nonsense! Now, let go!" Vejita said, knowing that Freeza was going to be more upset the later he was. He gently jerked out of the boy’s hold and continued for the door.
"Fine. I’m going with you." Kakarotto stated, holding back his tears as he wiped his face clean with the back of his hands.
"No. Stay here." Vejita said flatly.
"I'm coming no matter what you say." Kakarotto said, disabeying his prince's orders for the first time ever.
"Very well. Come. Just know that Freeza will be upset and I most likely won’t be able to protect you from him." Vejita said, hoping to scare the boy into staying. The last thing he wanted was for the boy to tag along; he’d been through far too much to have to deal with it again. The prince was somewhat surprised to see the boy smile however.
"Jita, it’s you that I want to protect." He said quietly, again meaning the statement for only his prince’s ears.
"Very well." Vejita said, wishing that the boy would use his mental abilities when saying such things. Together, they both left the room, heading for Freeza’s quarters.
Nappa could see that there was an enormous amount of love circulating between the two Saiyajin warriors. However strange it was, it was true.
"Well, shall we stay here… Just in case?" Nappa questioned, looking over to see that Raditz had witnessed the same thing he had. Nappa knew that there would be no more protests of the bond coming from his fellow bodyguard. With a quick nod, Nappa got his answer.
****
"I don’t want you saying a single word unless Freeza says otherwise. We do not want to upset him." Vejita said, speaking in a voice just above a whisper.
Soon, they were at the door of Freeza’s quarters and after a few moments they entered, the door sliding silently shut behind them. They could both see that Freeza had been waiting judging by the shallow indentations left in the smooth surface of the floor just behind the tyrant. It was obvious that his massive tail had done the damage with impatient flicks. Zarbon and Dodoria stood on either side of their Lord, waiting nervously for their next command.
"I didn’t ask for the boy…" Freeza said quietly, more to himself than the others. Everyone remained silent, however, refusing to give the alien creature any reason to punish them.
