Unwanted Mating

Part Four: Vegeta's Demand and Why Curiosity is Best Left Unanswered

Raditz isn't quite surprised to wake up in the medical wing. He sits up slowly not really liking the faint stirrings of pain. “Well, there you are. I was wondering if you'd wake up today.”

Raditz looks at the medic. “How long have I been unconscious?”

“Only a few hours. I'm impressed considering the amount of blood you lost.”

Raditz shudders at the memories that brings up. “I...I don't really want a repeat of that.”

“I don't think anyone would.”

The only problem was...Raditz wasn't sure how he was supposed to avoid that happening on a nightly basis. However, he doesn't say any of this to the male before him because he wasn't sure he wanted the male's pity anymore than he already had it. Jyel had seen him FAR too much and he was sure the elite was tired of it. Almost as if knowing his thoughts, Jyel comments, “So I should just get a bed set aside for you then?”

“Jyel...”

The male waves his hand. “Don't take it personally, son of Bardock. I just get really tired of seeing the same injuries over and over again. It's troublesome.”

“Not just for you,” Raditz mutters.

“I can bet not. Come on, let's get you dressed. Something tells me that your mate won't be happy if you avoid him too long.”

“No,” he agrees softly, “Probably not.”

Jyel helps him into a spandex outfit. “Before you go,” the medic says softly before pressing a jar into his hand, “Because he doesn't seem to want to do it himself...you might have to take precautions yourself.” Raditz feels his face flush from embarrassment.

“Jyel...”

“Trust me on this...regardless of how you feel about what I am saying. I know it's humiliating but it's either that or trying to take him at once without being prepared. Take your pick on the end result.”

“Have you had this talk a lot with others?”

Jyel is silent a moment before responding, “No...it's the advice I'd wished I'd gotten.”

“The advice you...” Raditz tries to choke out.

“Not every marriage is a happy one, Raditz, not even for the elite. Just...take my advice, alright?”

Raditz wants to ask more questions but he realizes that he had no right to delve into the other male's past. “Alright, I will.”

“Good boy.”

Raditz leaves with way too many questions about their medic that he doubts will ever be answerd. However, his curiosity is squashed at the sight by his door. Leaning against it, looking almost bored was Broly who was finally back in a stable form. “Well, it looks like you finally came around. Good.”

“Broly,” he says quietly.

“We've been summoned by Prince Vegeta once you are walking again,” the male says tersely, “Let's go.” Apparently, the summons didn't please Broly though the fact that it had been the PRINCE to command it made him worry what his brother thought he was doing. Getting Broly upset had a very GOOD chance of back-firing on him. Hopefully, that's not what was about to happen.

It's with great reluctance that he follows his mate into the throne room. “What do you want, prince?” Broly demands.

“I wanted you both here so that no miscommunication occurs,” the male replies.

“Are you sure you should be up so soon?” Raditz asks.

“Not the point,” Vegeta responds.

“Then what IS the point?”

“You are going to join my guards,” Vegeta says to Broly, “and I will hear NO complaint from you. It's an honor you DON'T deserve but...under the circumstances I figured it was fitting.”

“You...want me to join your guards?” Broly asks slowly.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I am allowed to command it of you.”

Raditz watches Broly's expression become highly displeased before he mutters, “As you wish, highness.” With that, he stalks out of the room.

“Vegeta...” he starts.

“I wasn't about to leave him to his own devices during the day, Raditz.”

“I fail to see how this is going to make things any easier.”

“It keeps your clothes on during the day.”

Raditz looks at him. “You made him a guard...”

“Because I want him alone with you as little as possible,” Vegeta finishes.

“Little brother, I don't think that this is a good idea.”

“I don't care. While I can't help what happens between you two at night, I am not going to imagine it during the day when I can help it.”

“I don't know if you should be interfering, prince.”

“And? It was either that or dealing with what would come the first time you didn't show up in the throne room.”

Raditz realizes that there was no point in arguing with his brother about this...besides it made him feel a little better knowing that Broly wouldn't have full reign of his time. “That's more then enough, son, go lie down,” comes the voice of Vegeta's father.

“Alright,” the male mutters before looking at him, “Try to be careful with him, 'Ditz.”

“Don't call me that,” he says automatically. Vegeta smirks.

“Why?”

“Because I said so.”

“Unfortunately, you don't make the rules.”

“Apparently.”

“Vegeta, go to bed,” the king commands.

“Going, going,” Vegeta replies before reluctantly getting up and walking around Raditz.

Deciding that he had time, Raditz looks at his father-in-law. “Can I ask a question, sire?”

“What about?”

“Jyel.”

“What's with the sudden curiosity?”

“He said something to me that...made me wonder.”

He watches the male's expression and dislikes the sadness he sees there. “Jyel's story...isn't so very different from your own.”

“He was mated against his will?”

“He was...to protect his sister.”

“The male in question was THAT horrible?”

“Jyel certainly felt so which was why he agreed to take her place. They were twins, you see, and he felt that it was his place to protect her.”

“I can't understand though why he would be chosen. I am sure his husband wanted a child...”

“Jyel is fertile,” the king interrupts calmly.

“He can carry a child?”

“He DID carry a child.”

There was something about the king's tone that makes Raditz worry. “What happened to the child?”

“Nothing,” the king replies stonily, “You would know that, Raditz, you're mated to him.”