House of Vegeta

A/U

HOUSE OF VEGETA: Cooler Heads (the day after) pt.30

Vegeta Ou woke up with the equivalent of a hangover. Sitting up
slowly he growled, wrapping fur skins about bare shoulders.

/Shit./

His eyes throbbed. Turning slightly, he glanced at a lump at his
side. Bardock was still asleep, curled in a ball.

The Ou managed a smile. /I wonder if he knows how cute he looks like
that./

A grumpy snarl. "I'm not supposed to be cute."

"Go back to sleep."

Dark eyes blinked to awareness as Bardock edged up on an elbow. He
took in the appearance of his scruffy mate critically. Dark hair was
sticking everywhere in haphazard spikes. "Hn, you look awful."

"Good morning to you, too. Perhaps you have a headache also, hn?"

Bardock laughed then, sitting up. "I wasn't the one prattling about
babies."

Vegeta rubbed his eyes. "I need a draught."

"You need ice. What was that all about, anyway?"

A grunt. "Inatesi, Bardock. I admit that. It was a passing madness,
nothing more."

"I hope you mean that. Because I meant what I said last night!"

The Ou clutched his head. "Stop yelling, fool! I believe you."

Smug grin. "What? The passion to have children seems to have gone
now...I wonder why?"

"Asshole. It isn't as if you haven't pestered me over the years."

Bardock snorted, falling back into bed. "Ai, but not
recently...besides, your bearing cycle is over. Doesn't it strike you
as stupid to expect more cubs?"

Vegeta punched his arm. "Slargg...I said in some cases the cycle
could be restimulated."

"We have heirs! Enough bullshit already."

The king reached for a nearby decanter and poured himself a
drink. "You needn't worry, Bardock. We've both been through that
enough times already. The war skews everything."

The saiyan commander settled a little. "True enough. I would imagine
this conversation is occurring in bedrooms everywhere."

"No doubt."

Silence stretched between them for a bit, each lost in their own
thoughts. Suddenly, they had a notion.

"Vegeta..."

"Bardock!!"

"You don't think..."

The Ou stood suddenly, putting on a robe. "My schedule won't allow it
today. You'll have to talk to them!"

Bardock bounded to his feet also. "Hai, or we'll have babies to our
hips!"

****

Vegeta no Ouji lay quietly, staring at the ceiling. Nuru and Tezar
snored between he and Kakarot.

"Vegeta, are you sure?"

"Positive. There's no need, Kakarot. We have a family, and adding
more won't change anything."

"Don't you want a daughter?"

"It would be nice, but I won't lose any sleep over it. Why carry on?"

Kakarot edged up. "You seemed enthusiastic enough last night until
the cubs interrupted."

"I wanted you. It had nothing to do with chibis."

"Liar."

The prince was snide. "All right, then. I didn't want you. Piles of
chibis were on my mind. Does that sound better?"

"Stop talking like an idiot."

"Stop talking like some starry eyed _pindo_ (wuss)."

Kakarot punched him full in the face. "No one calls me that, not even
you!"

The prince wiped his bruised mouth slowly. "Another time, Kakarot.
It's fortunate for you our cubs are between us, or I'd take your head
off about now."

Snarl. "Not on your best day!"

"Watch your back." the prince slipped out of bed, putting on a robe.
His mate glared from the bed.

"Where do you think you're going?!"

"Anywhere away from you."

****

Bardock practically bounded through the castle. Hastily he asked
servants and castle guests the whereabouts of his sons.
Unexpectantly, he found Kakarot and Raditz in the garden's western
field, talking at a large water fountain.

The maned saiyan tilted his head in greeting first. "Hail, father.
What brings you here with so much energy?"

Bardock abruptly halted, nearly toppling over from momentum. "Hn?!"

Kakarot likewise stared in surprise. "Why are you running around? Is
there some emergency?"

The elder saiyan recovered quickly, shrugging. "No big deal. I wanted
to speak with both of you anyway."

"About?"

Bardock seated himself on an opposite marble bench. "Inatesei. As you
know with war on the horizon, everyone is bound to be a bit...hot."

Raditz swished his tail, laughing. "Don't worry about me, father...at
least not yet! Besides, there's been no full moon for nearly three
weeks."

Bardock snorted. "Hn, we'll see...and you, Kakarot?"

His youngest was sullen. "Vegeta and I already had strong
disagreements on the topic."

"I should have guessed. "Where is he?"

"Who the hell knows? Off throwing a royal tantrum, I guess."

"Kakarot, stay away from him while you're angry. You know why!"

A sigh. "Ai, father..."

"Dugane se bitta'n i uvudo." (cubs come when rage burns blood)

Kakarot stared at the ground. "I doubt we'll be close...for a while,
anyway."

"We'll help each other through this, brother." Raditz added. "Once
the war starts, no such thoughts will occupy our minds anyway."

The wild one yawned ferally, sharp teeth glistening. "I wonder what
Frieza tastes like."

Bardock laughed. "Tobrol told me once the Urdani taste like hukka
pig."

Raditz lifted an eyebrow. "An amphibian tasting like real meat? I
find that hard to believe."

"Granted, Tobrol is prone to exaggeration, but he says with proper
seasoning the flavor is perfect."

"Hopefully we'll get the opportunity to cook Frieza himself." Raditz
licked his lips, eyes wild.

Bardock snapped at a flying insect, eating it. "Time enough for such
delights later. Mind you what I say about Inatesei. We don't need a
herd of cubs! Royal blood should never be devalued."

Kakarot sniffed. "Perhaps not, but a chibi here and there wouldn't
hurt, eh?"

His father blinked in shock. "Kakarot...are you saying that Vegeta?"

"No. Actually, that was the root of our argument."

"Inatesei's nearly as bad as jungle run, brother." Raditz reminded
him. "Although I think father worries needlessly."

"One son runs the jungle and has a mystery cub. The others make twins
before bonding. Spare me the bullshit, boy!" Bardock admonished them
both. His sons fell silent.

Raditz paused. "What about you, father? Your blood boils like any."

"Maybe, but your saba won't have any more, so its a moot point. And I
don't want to start over!!"

Kakarot caught that. "Wait...you mean saba...wants another chibi?!"

"I didn't say that!!"

Raditz and Kakarot smirked at each other. "Betarse! (crazy!)"

Bardock's oldest son leaned forward. "Come on, tell us...is it true?"

Dark eyes flashed in annoyance. "It's true your saba is addled...the
whole idea is ridiculous!"

Kakarot laughed. "Oh, I don't know...although it would be strange
having a brother or sister younger than my own children!"

"Shut up, fool. Besides, he came to his senses."

Raditz yowled, his tail lashing playfully. "Oh, come on, father. You
want to, eh?"

Bardock folded his arms. "Three crackbrain sons are enough."

"Well, like Kakarot says, a girl would be nice. Believe me, I know!"

Bardock stared. "You morons aren't listening...your saba's bearing
cycle is over!"

"But if that weren't the case? Haven't you thought about having
daughters?"

Their elder flushed red. "In years past I expressed some interest,
but circumstances prevented me from acting on my desires."

Kakarot purred. "Well, my situation is just fine. Vegeta knows I want
more chibis. Lots of big, pretty cubs!"

Raditz rolled his eyes. "Madness. Do you have any idea-"

Bardock coughed. "What did Vegeta say, Kakarot?"

A snort. "He wasn't enthusiastic."

"I'm not surprised. Nuru and Tezar aren't even six months old, for
kami's sake! Stop thinking with your cock."

"I hardly-"

"The burn to reproduce is strong now, Kakarot. Make no decisions
under the influence of Inatesei."

Kakarot sighed, looking about the garden. "It's just that I see my
sons and think about how beautiful they are. That's why I considered
daughters."

"This isn't about matched sets. If the passion is still there after
the war, talk to Vegeta again and see what happens."

Bardock's youngest cocked an eyebrow. "This is a strange turnabout
from your earlier position, father."

"It isn't my decision. Beware of your senses here, both of you.
Babies smell good, they feel good. But we are warriors first.
Clusters of chibis would take every ounce of time, energy and
devotion. Eventually your status would decline."

Raditz rumbled absently, eyes slitted. "Hn, a sibling for Xenna would
be nice-"

"Idiot." Bardock glared. "My advice holds for you also,
Radittzsu...unless you plan on another foray in the jungle!"

The burly saiyan turned beet red. "I don't!!"

"No son of mine acts like loose trash...do you run on a whim?!"

Sharp fangs snapped. "No. It was just a thought. It doesn't mean I'd
do anything!"

"Do you seriously think we're so out of control, father?" Kakarot
added, annoyed.

Bardock laughed mockingly. "Ha! Everyone has control before the first
sniff. Let a warm tail pass by, we'll see what's what!"

"Speaking from experience?!"

"Damn straight. I got myself into too many close situations in the
past."

Raditz snorted. "As in chibis? Or have you forgotten the rumors-"

"Bah. Bad stories badly told. A skank in the _osannu_ regiment
started it because I wouldn't give her a cub."

Kakarot laughed. "I'll bet it was on jungle run!"

Bardock punched him in the arm. "Slargg. Your mind's always in the
gutter."

Raditz pulled his chin. "Hn, that must have been when you first
trained in the elite army."

"True enough. Your mother and I were getting to know each other. Gena
and I had...seen each other off and on."

"That's the skank." Kakarot supplied.

"Ai, she'd made rounds. I got fed up with her nonstop need for
attention."

"Sounds like you could get a disease dealing with her."

Bardock crinkled his nose in memory. "Ai, but she had fabulous stink
and a tail that..." he caught himself. Both his sons were staring in
surprise and amusement.

"Quit looking at me like that!"

Raditz coughed. "What did mother do?"

"Nothing, until we got close. When Gena kept coming around starting
trouble, Celipe warned her off. She didn't listen."

Kakarot snickered. "I can imagine the scene."

"Ai, Gena found herself in traction at a nearby medical facility."

"So she started rumors out of revenge?" Raditz was curious.

"True enough. Before long all the local regiments nearly named me the
besdi (bastard) king. It was ridiculous."

Kakarot tapped his chin in thought. "Hn, and here I thought to have
siblings everywhere."

"Hardly. Which brings us back to the original topic-"

"You worry too much, father." Raditz sighed.

"With your track record I have every right to. Heed my words, both of
you!"

"Wouldn't you like more chikki?" Kakarot asked.

"I have plenty. Are you even listening?"

Raditz yowled, waving his tail. "Lots more pretty cubs to play with,
with sweet skin and fat tails!!"

Kakarot tossed his head back, growling. "Plump and shiny eyed, with
perfect bones!!"

"Assholes!!" Bardock grabbed two wild heads and cracked them
together. Snarling, Raditz and Kakarot rubbed their sore skulls.

"Hadeti nek datta (blood and season rule). I want you two to go
bathe."

"Bathe?! What are we, children in first heat?" Raditz snapped.

"Ai, I won't be dismissed either." Kakarot still held his
head. "There's no madness in wanting more family."

"It is when it's for the wrong reasons. Think, both of you! Stop
prattling about cubs as if they were sweet toys. Neither of you have
experienced the daily grind of raising children yet."

"We're both fathers!"

"Barely. You've had cubs only five months, and Raditz even less."

Raditz glared. "Your point?"

"The chibis are small, and you're experiencing the 'fun' part. But
wait until they grow, develop likes and dislikes..."

"We know all that!"

"Knowing it and going through it are two different things. Later
you'll have to teach and train. And then there's first heat. Would
you be prepared to handle several cubs at once in such a condition?!"

His sons went pale.

Bardock snorted. "I didn't think so. Everything's new now, so you
think to have cubs up your ass. You can't make such decisions under
the influence of Inatesei."

A pause. Kakarot glanced at Raditz. "He may be right."

"Maybe."

"And there's one other small detail...the two of you forget your mate
has to agree. It isn't just a matter of you wanting lots of babies!"

Kakarot frowned. "Vegeta's stubborn, but-"

"But nothing. And Raditz has yet to choose a mate."

"Don't start with that, father-"

"Choose within the next two years, or _I_ will."

"You can't!!"

"I can and will. Tusnami!!"

"I have Xenna..."

"And her mother lurks somewhere. Why? Don't be a happy fool!"

"What the hell do you want me to do about it?"

Bardock stood, stretching. "What needs to be done. No royalty has
endless strings of lovers and no mates!"

"Only endless strings of lovers AND a mate." Raditz sniped.

Kakarot laughed. "Saba may have a different perspective-"

"Leave him out of this!!" Bardock waved it off. His sons started
growling again, shaking their tails.

He looked them over, noting their dreamy expressions. _I may as well
be talking to myself._

Gentle purrs filled the garden.

"How many more, do you think?"

"Two or three. Maybe five!"

"I'll have a son."

"I'll have a daughter."

Bardock had heard enough. Sliding behind them both he promptly
punched their skulls again, knocking them out. Grunting, he heaved a
bulky son over each shoulder and took to the air.

_Hn, the water is that way._

Taking a westward turn, he flew over a huge garden pool. Without a
second thought he promptly dropped both sons into icy waters and
continued his flight.

A smirk. "Father knows best."

Laughing wildly, he arced towards the castle, ki streaking a bolt of
blue across the skies.


THE END