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galaxychaos78 · 2 months ago

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Lost Part 7 | Vegeta x Reader |

author's note: writing this final chapter took a long time, with several big droughts of inspiration. but the last few days i really strapped in and got to work, and it felt wonderful to work on this story again. thank you to everyone who read this story and enjoyed it and made sure to let me know how you felt about it 🩷 it's been a journey

pairing: vegeta x fem!reader

warnings: canon-typical violence, some alcohol consumption

Staring out into the night, you take another pull straight from the bottle of alcohol, eyes bloodshot and dark bags settled underneath. The liquor burns but it doesn't bother you— no pain will ever compare, match or surpass what you experienced today.

Tears blur your vision. Vegeta’s alive. There's no other explanation for what happened. That was a soul bond disintegrating and you were dying because Vegeta was dead. There are a litany of questions nagging your mind and you haven't got a single idea of how to answer any of them. You've never questioned the situation before, having gone through the entire grieving process many years ago with plenty of time to accept what had happened. Your life as you knew it was gone and there was nothing you could do about it. That was it. That was the end.

Everything's flipped around on its head now. The consequences of Saiyan mating weren't well-researched, and it was a common idea that the death of one meant the death of the other; but Saiyan Elites have always been different, and that was a strong enough belief held by you and your husband alike for you not to question it. His father survived the death of his wife, after all. That alone raises more questions, though they're not exactly important.

The realization that the King and Queen weren't mated would make for quite the story, however.

The bigger story, however, is that Vegeta survived one way or another on that day, and died just a few hours ago. It's as good as a fact in your mind now. In your delirium, all you felt was emptiness— you were more vacant than ever before. Vegeta's been connected to you all this time, so ingrained into your body and soul in a way that you didn't even realize until it was gone. The loneliness was haunting, the eerie silence crushing and bruising as your heart withered up in the face of your impending death.

You were this close to seeing him again.

Where has he been all this time? How did he survive the genocide, and what killed him? And why aren't you dead right now?

Not-so-simply put: Vegeta's alive. Against all odds, your husband still exists somewhere in this galaxy. Does he realize what you've come to understand? Is he able to, seeing as he's the one that died? Did he feel what you did, even a fraction of it? Does he feel only you now, just as you're suddenly overwhelmed with the feeling of undeniable proof that he's out there?

How are you supposed to go on now? He's alive.

What do you tell your son?

Biting your lip, you duck your head and allow the tears to fall again. To get his hopes up would be cruel, and to lie to him… Would it be worse?

Shaking your head, you down the rest of the liquor. Right now, what's best for you is to drink and push this all away. Vegeta's dead, and has been for many years now.

Nothing happened today. Nothing.

Vegeta stares out of the space pod, his body battered and more tired than he's ever felt. It's reasonable enough, seeing as it felt like he was on Namek for a trillion days long. Frieza’s gone now. The one that murdered his family, annihilated his race, destroyed his home planet and devastated him to his core. He should feel better, shouldn't he? His everything has been avenged.

He doesn't feel even an ounce of happiness.

It didn't bring you back. But… The feeling that it actually did hasn't gone away. Rubbing his chest, right where his heart lies, there's a feeling in him that he can't escape. It's deep within and he can't name it, can't explain or even understand it. But it's there, and all that's on his mind is his mate.

Is it possible?

In death, for however brief it was before his revival, he didn't see you. He didn't hear you, but he felt you everywhere. You were closer to him than you'd been since that dreadful day, and he still feels you now. But when he woke up on Namek, in that stupid grave Kakarot must’ve made, he realized the simple fact that he's always felt this. Felt you, even in your death.

The finality of death isn't what he once thought it was. And the bond between mates is stronger and goes further than he knew.

That bastard father of his never actually mated with his mother, did he? Oh, what he'd do to that old man if he had one more chance to see him… None of it would be good, that's for sure. Hell, he could collect the Dragon Balls and do just that—

The Dragon Balls.

He'd forgotten about them, namely Earth’s, since that pain in the ass Nappa ruined his initial plan to use them. This aimless wandering in the stars just got a lot more purposeful. Changing the course and making a steep turnaround right back to Earth, Vegeta’s heart thrums with anxiety rather than what should be anticipation.

He won't admit it, but deep down he's got a bad feeling about this. Something happened today, and this isn't over just yet.

V stares out the window of the door that looks to the backyard, watching as you drink on the swing in the yard. Just when he thought it was all over and he'd lost his best friend, you recovered. You weren't crying anymore, weren't in pain and weren't knocking on death's door. It was as if nothing happened at all.

Something. Happened.

‘Vegeta's dead. He's dead, he's dead, he's dead…’ The chanting haunts him as he ponders the situation. His father's been dead for almost twenty years… Or so he was told. The math isn't adding up anymore. If his father was truly already gone, then what caused your reaction today? And if he wasn't gone until today… Why did you recover?

And why won't you talk about what happened? You snapped out of it and walked away! It was all he could do to get even a word from you, and all you said was to leave it be??? How can he ignore this??

He can't. He won't.

All his life, you've been there. He's been loyal and grateful, and a good son. He deserves the truth. And maybe you don't have all the answers he wants right now. He'll give you some time to recuperate and mull it over, as a good son does. But the worry that you'll use the space to come up with lies instead nags at him, and a hurt he's never known before penetrates his chest.

Can he truly trust you?

He'll give you some time to gather your bearings. But sooner or later, and one way or another, he's going to seek the truth.

His last look to you before retiring to bed has a twinge of resentment layered in, and that new, small crack in his heart is only doomed to grow.

Your ribs ache with every inhale, the bones creaking and cracked and frankly, you're starting to get too old for this shit. Battle should be enjoyable for a Saiyan, but this here is anything but. Your son is relentless and strong and even as he faces two presumed enemies, he holds his own. Your disagreement with your husband, that staunch refusal to let him murder your pride, gives V just enough of an edge to keep up.

Vegeta has your son backed into a metaphorical corner, his expertise on the field being something V cannot overcome. Their brawl is just that— each punch lands and bruises or breaks, but Vegeta's gaining on V in a way that the young man doesn't know how to escape. Pure rage in work with his training has gotten V where he's at now, as a man that's won every fight he's ever had with you, though up against a parent that has no qualms with hurting him or even killing him, and especially versus one with the years of experience Vegeta has, he's failing.

You're moving without thinking now, landing a harsh kick into Vegeta's ribs and sending him away from your son. “No!”

“Pick a side, dammit!” Vegeta spits out as you've been decked solidly in the gut by a fist much larger than your own.

Growling and flying right at your son to retaliate, your hand wraps solidly around the collar of his shirt. “End the madness, V! Is this really what you want?!”

His golden brows knit together closely, the years of frustrations and anxiety laid out clear as day on his young face. “I already told you what I want: stop lying to me!”

There's a skip in your pulse; for years, ever since the incident, you've ignored what happened. Deny, deny, deny was the mantra; it was too hard to think about the way things really were. Reality was shattered that day for the second time in your adult life, and you chose the coward’s way of pretending it didn't happen.

It wasn't your finest decision, and you insulted that dear boy with every single insistence that he was simply being dramatic. The list of things he deserves is never-ending, but at the very top of the list is the cold fact that he was robbed of a strong mother that trusted him to be a man and handle the truth, and work with him rather than alienate and treat him like the boy he no longer was.

Your hesitation is quickly taken advantage of and V lands a knee to your gut that knocks the wind out of you and a creaky wheeze stumbles through your lips as his elbow meets your temple, crashing the sharp joint against that sensitive spot that has you reeling and dizzy. You're no sooner falling to your knees before Vegeta has reminded the boy of what he promised to do, the two of them left to fight while you lay concussed.

“You were alive this whole time.” V seethes at his father. His anger isn't purely reserved for his mother; hatred flows much easier for the man before him. Even with your awful knife in his back, there are still many years of memories— good ones— that cycle at an almost obsessive rate when he tries to sleep.

For his father, he only knows the betrayal of reality versus ideality.

“So were you— You don't see me crying like a baby about it!” Vegeta doesn't miss a step as he dodges a few kicks and punches.

“Mother never mentioned what a prick you are.” The young Saiyan spits out, feigning a right hook before sharply kicking his leg up, knocking his father right on the chin. Anger shakes Vegeta’s jaw as he spits out a bit of blood, his sharp teeth having cut into his tongue as a result. He quite hates the taste of blood, and the fact that this little shithead, son or not, can make him bleed encourages a flurry of punches and a surprise blast to the chest, burning off a piece of the armor his son wears.

“She certainly had a lot of shit to say about you!” Vegeta gripes, gripping the boy's collar and wrangling him to the ground and sending a dusting of red clay across the knuckles of his stained gloves.

V’s large hand comes to Vegeta’s face, gripping his cheeks tightly as he forces out a blast that sends his father flying up in the air off of him, not missing a single step as he flies off faster than any bullet to catch up to him. Raising his clasped hands high over his head and sending them down into Vegeta’s gut, the older Saiyan crashes right into the ground and creates quite the crater, plumes of red smoke and dust blanketing the area.

Though not one to ever lie still, Vegeta is back up and forcing a larger crater into the ground as he flies back up, fist primed for a powerful punch. It connects but doesn't phase his boy, and as a result a particularly harsh crack to the skull is delivered to him in kind. “You knew we were alive, didn't you?” V delivers a backhand sharper than his father's battle prowess, knocking a tooth loose in the process. “Why didn't you come for us?!”

Vegeta spits out the knocked tooth, dark brows knotted together at the implication. This kid doesn't know him at all, so who is he to suggest such a thing?! “Why the hell would I have known you were alive?!”

The look in V’s eyes, the pure rage and disgust he bears for his father, is a bit glassy and far gone now. It's the same look he gave you before he first beat you within an inch of your life. “You abandoned us… Fathered another… Laid with someone who isn't my mother, your mate. You're a sorry excuse of a man; nothing like my mother said you were.”

“Looks like your mother forgot to teach you to never meet your heroes, kid.”

“She was too busy teaching me all the things you should've; including my Saiyan pride!” V lunges again, decking his father solidly in the jaw and dammit did this brat just knock another tooth loose?? Trunks is about to have more teeth than Vegeta, at this rate!

Vegeta’s experience has been carrying him along well enough, and while this was once a training planet he spent many hours on several years ago, he doesn't exactly have the home field advantage. It shows, the terribly disadvantageous truth trickling in further as Vegeta is left to defend rather than offend and V expertly leads the fight with a none-the-wiser Vegeta set to suffer. There's a sick crunch as the elder steps backwards into a small, sunken spot and loses his footing as the thinner bones in his foot break and his ankle twists, and gravity is as gravity does as it sends him crashing down into the dusty terrain and leaving him wide open.

Vegeta cries out as the pain radiates upward, the pulsing heat throbbing as his ankle swells in his boot. He's not fast enough to power through the pain and reset the score before his firstborn is knelt over him and brutalizing his face and body with powerful, bare-knuckled, bruising punches. Vegeta’s ears ring, and he's seeing double now. He's down for the count, and against a vengeful young man that doesn't have the will to hold back. Survival is more slim than it should be, and even though the face before him snarls with hatred and anger as he moves to stand once more, Vegeta is still able to see the infant with a prosperous life ahead of him, and regret splinters his heart as shame floods the rest of him.

Perhaps he deserves this.

Time slows to a near standstill when you're able to open your eyes again. V, battered and beaten to bits while somehow maintaining not only his ability to stand, but his ability to fight, stands above your husband's still and bloodied body. Your son, the once darling mama's boy, channels his power into his palm, cradling his aching wrist with his other hand as he charges up one final attack, and that's when your heart stops and it all goes black.

Big bang attack.

Your body is swifter than ever, the immense power of Super Saiyan warming your veins with enough adrenaline for you to tackle your son away from Vegeta, the beam that would've killed your husband flying off into the unknown. V grunts once you've slammed him into the ground, and before he can so much as blink, let alone gather his bearings, you're backhanding him with all of your might.

"You have no idea what it took to even have you at all, Vegeta!" You spit at your son, and he's got the same shell-shocked look on his face he'd have whenever he was caught red-handed doing something you didn't approve of. "All we wanted was you, and you can't even appreciate how hard we tried for you! We would've done anything for you! You are our baby, our heir, our pride and joy! I did everything I could for you!" You scream and backhand him again, trembling as your blood races in all of your veins, spreading a white-hot anger through your system.

"You really think I spent my life, MY LIFE, f a r m i n g to provide for you just so you could try to kill me over this?? I was royalty on our home world, and only for you did I get my hands dirty and do whatever it took to fly under the radar. I only wanted you to be strong, and happy!" You punctuate your tangent's break with a harsh punch to V's face, breaking his nose in the process and then following up with another harsh strike to the face.

"My love for our family has been unbreakable since the very day I realized I loved your father. I had high hopes for us, and all we could accomplish as the royal family. You were a prince, and yet you act like a fucking savage! You've nearly killed me, several times, but I still loved you, I still only wanted to subdue you! But then you threatened my husband's life, the very man you always dreamed of knowing. How dare you?! Is nothing sacred to you? I didn't raise a low-class savage, did I?! Did I fail, Vegeta?" You hit him again, and again, and again.

V blinks up at you, tears shimmering in his eyes from all of his pain, what's on his mind harshly outweighing these physical injuries. "Mother…"

"No son of mine would try to kill his father." You say coldly, standing and forming your signature bow with your remaining energy, pulling back the arrow and aiming between your son's eyes.

"No!"

Vegeta, who's somehow still living, shields V's body with his own. His armor is tattered and he's got several cuts and bruises and bleeds all over, but his eyes betray no weakness as he stares up at you, squinting against the bright light of your bow and arrow. "Don't."

"Move aside, Vegeta." You growl out, heart hammering against your chest. "This is done."

"You will regret it for the rest of your life." Vegeta warns. "You're blinded by rage, princess. He's our son! Your only child. You do not want to do this." His voice is near pleading, and it shakes the foundation of your resolve a little. The prideful prince is begging for an enemy’s mercy.

"Vegeta, move or be moved." Your eyes water with emotions too big to fully comprehend— he's fighting for your son's life now?

"You said you'd sooner kill me than V." The prince reminds you, and he tilts his head forward. "And I'd rather you do that than harm another hair on him."

"Vegeta." You whisper, voice breaking into a mere whimper as tears sparkle in your eyes. "Move."

"You'll have to make me, since I don't think I could even if I tried." He murmurs. He's exhausted, drained mentally as bad as he is physically. From the moment your family started, he obviously never once thought it would ever get this bad. Three people so separated and lacking so much trust, yet the undeniable thread of love weaves you all into one unit. His family is imperfect, broken— and he'd put his life on the line to protect it over and over again.

The energy dissipates from your hands and you fall to your knees before your body finally gives in and crashes into the ground, an ugly grunt passing your lips after the impact. Vegeta soon falls to his side as well, the three of you laid out on the reddened soil of the land as the golden glow slips away.

What else is family good for, if not this?

"Why?" V's voice is soft from where he lays on the ground, and you turn your head to see his dark eyes staring at the red sky above. The blood on his face is drying, and if not for your arms being as heavy as lead, you'd start to clean him up.

"Why what?" Vegeta mutters back, turning to look at his boy. All grown up…

"Why did you protect me from Mother?" V meets his father's eyes.

"As a mate and husband, it's my duty to keep her happy. And as a father, it's my responsibility to keep you safe. I've failed in both regards several times over now… But I'm done making those mistakes."

"I nearly killed you both." V murmurs.

"That you did." And you can't help the laugh you let go at the sound of pride in your husband's voice. He's surely smiling to himself, proud of his son's strength. "I could only ever dream of the chance to nearly kill my father."

"And oh, did your father dream of that." You snort, a plethora of memories flooding your brain with various arguments you'd witnessed between your husband and late father-in-law.

"The old man would've had it coming." Vegeta shrugs, very lightly as a fair portion of his bones are either broken or bruised, and between you V laughs so softly you nearly miss it. Your son smiles, tears flowing from his eyes as he experiences the first instance of family he'll ever remember.

“Vegeta.” You murmur, your eyes drooping shut. “When did you die?”

“Some time ago, years now. It was Frieza’s doing; I was revived by the Dragon Balls soon after, however.”

“I see.” You whisper softly, and tears well up in your eyes. “We were nearly reunited much sooner.”

“Perhaps, but I'd have it no other way than this.” There's not an ounce of strength left in him, but still he attempts to reach you in a gesture of longing, weakly dropping his hand to the ground despite his best efforts.

In similar fashion, there isn't much left in your own tank to provide that much needed comfort. Perhaps only due to this state of extreme weakness, or maybe because it's finally time to stop pretending, you turn your head in the direction of your son. Fear strikes you with a zap of adrenaline as you realize his eyes are closed, but the gentle rise of his chest settles you once more. He's not dead, but rather resting after your admittedly ferocious beatdown. Vegeta’s interference was truly a blessing.

“I cannot quite say the same.” You murmur, still watching your son's chest move with every breath he takes. Vividly, you recall doing the same when he was but an infant, in that short time between his birth and incubation where he slept in a crib and you watched dutifully, ensuring his safety and comfort in a way only a mother could provide. “I've been a coward, Vegeta.”

Your husband frowns, though you haven't taken your eyes off of the boy. Despite the pain in your body, you force your way through the aches and turn over in an ugly army crawl to your son, smearing the clay of the earth all over the front of your tattered armor. The journey to reaching him isn't easy, but your stubborn desire to make things right is far stronger than a shallow concept such as pain. It's grueling and takes time, but luckily your son isn't exactly going anywhere as you crawl to his side and collapse upon laying a gentle hand over his heart.

“Mother…” He's weak, but he doesn't sound it as he opens his eyes; the left is swollen mostly shut, but he tries anyway to see you clearly.

“I was a coward.” The whispered admittance leaves your cracked lips once again, and though hesitant embarrassment burns you, the thumping of that young man's heart beneath your palm urges you to face down your pride. “I did everything wrong, so wrong… From that day until now I've lived shamefully, Vegeta, and it was never your fault. I’m sorry, my son… I'm so sorry for letting it go this far.”

“I must be dead.” He murmurs, closing his eyes again. “Every word you just said, my mother would never say.”

Tears bloom and your lip quivers— to think your son would sooner assume death than you pulling your head out of your ass. You get what you deserve, you suppose. “Honey…”

“Do not be too hard on your mother.” Vegeta's deep voice is closer than it was, and looking up you realize his journey from where he last lay and now, opposite of you and pressing his forehead against his son's temple. “Had she not been so brave as to defy not only me, but my father and Frieza’s father, none of us would be alive today to even tell this tale.”

“What happens now?” V murmurs, and Vegeta slumps into the chilled clay.

“I don't suppose you have any magic beans.” You mutter, and Vegeta nearly feels nauseous at the mention of a senzu. He's not sure he could stomach the taste of fish right now, as much as he'd love these injuries to heal.

“A what?” Your son's perplexion errs on adorable, and your gentle kiss to a scratch on his cheek is accompanied by a soft laugh.

“Earth is a strange place, with odd ways of life and people… And it's perfect for us.”

Vegeta's eyes light up, and he dares meet your gaze while resting a cautious hand above yours. “This means you will return with me?”

“It's certainly tempting… I do have a promise to keep. You'll need another Saiyan for those Androids coming in four years. Perhaps even two Saiyans, if he'll join us.”

V doesn't give any response, not even much of a noncommittal groan as your insinuation hangs in the air. Chatter is left between you and Vegeta and kept minimal as energy slowly returns and you're both able to stand, pulling the boy up and helping him towards the old infirmary for medical attention. It's been many years since any Saiyan engineers and scientists were here, so the ratty healing tank, and the only one left that's even halfway operational, will have to suffice.

Your armor is peeled away and Vegeta prepares to bandage your broken ribs as you stare solemnly into the tank. He's alive, just unconscious, but the reminder does little to the worry.

“You're not a bad mother.” Vegeta offers his opinion, removing his ruined gloves and rolling his sleeves before picking up the pristine bandaging.

��I knew in my heart you were alive years ago and I pretended otherwise because it was easy.”

“I didn't say you weren't cowardly; I said you're not a bad mother. You protected him, kept him safe instead of roaming the galaxy for me while Frieza was out there and I under his thumb. You're a far better parent than I.”

The discussion is left at that, each of you quietly analyzing yourselves for a time. Occasional bubbles from the tank popping and the wrappings from the limited medical supplies sound off, and you eventually come to sit against the wall nearest the healing tank. Vegeta joins you with little room for Jesus, slipping his arm around you and gently massaging at your shoulder. His head leans against yours, and slowly your eyes droop.

Your tail flicks sadly, unable to lovingly wrap with your husband's. But being in his arms isn't an awful trade-off, and that saccharine scent beneath the sweat and blood permeates and lulls you in just as yours similarly enchants Vegeta. It's so close, so warm and familiar and so needed and you just can't fight or deny it any longer. This is your husband, your bonded mate and the man you've loved and almost lost. Most people go through life never having a fraction of this fortune; you've already taken a good son for granted. It's time to simmer down, be humble, and be good.

You and Vegeta are no light sleepers as the healing tank eventually finishes its job, the teal-colored fluid draining and revealing a fully refreshed and healed prince. His wet hair drips a plethora of droplets on the floor as he carefully extracts himself, making note of his sleeping parents as he wraps a towel around himself.

Is this what I wanted?

Deep within his chest lies a heart wrapped in thorny wires, and disappointment prods at it. Right in front of him lies what he always dreamed of, both of his parents here and together and putting the opportunity to be a family— whatever the hell that even entails— before him on the silver platter he should've been served off of his whole life. But, strangely… There's no happiness. No sense of wonder or amusement, nothing that gives him even the slightest lilt in attitude.

Instead he feels lead in his chest, and it's that weight that pulls him onto his ship to change into fresh armor and launch into orbit. Years now, he’s yearned for your honesty. He hadn't imagined the step beyond that point, but had foolishly assumed it'd be with his mother. You've always been there, after all. Before today, this was all salvageable in his mind, somehow. But as the stars twinkle against his glassy eyes as he pilots the ship, he grows up just a bit more as he takes in the only lesson his father has ever taught him.

Never meet your heroes.

When you wake, it's with Vegeta wide awake by your side. He never did sleep in like you did, but dutifully he's remained by your side. Instantly, you're having a look inside the healing tank and before you can panic at its emptiness, your husband speaks.

“He's gone.”

Just when you thought your poor heart couldn't break any further.

“What?”

“His ship is gone.” Vegeta says it so calmly, like he shouldn't be freaking out and have woken you up as soon as he realized that your baby is gone! God, Saiyans never historically made the best of fathers but this is something else entirely!

“Why are we sitting here then?! We've got to go, he can't be too far—” Your body cries as you jostle around, only getting as far as to your knees before Vegeta stops you, taking your hand and grounding you again.

His dark eyes are serious as they bore into yours. “He is a man now, princess. He made his choice. Honor it.”

A sigh weighs down your shoulders and spirits alike; he's right, regrettably. If V wanted to be around, he would be. It's not exactly a stretch to imagine a young man with complicated feelings towards equally complicated parents wouldn't find much interest in being around them. If there's any solace to be found, it's that there's at least a sense of closure now. V has the truth and it's off of your chest; at the very least, all of this wasn't for nothing in the end, and thankfully you're all still living.

Vegeta stands and helps you to your feet alongside him, holding your hand tightly in his as the two of you head for the ship. It's time to go home. Your eyes meet as the hatch opens and the sun starts to rise up, and your bodies gravitate close together in the strongest of hugs. Somehow, you've come out of all of this on top.

Vegeta tilts your chin. “Ready to go home?”

“Of course; where else would I be able to kick some robot ass?”

His smile eases the pain, and his kiss gives you strength. All things lost are eventually found.

#I CAN'T BELIEVE I MISSED THIS CHAPTER😭😭#oh but it was beautiful #V is just a child who grew up with conplicated circumstances and its only right that he leaves them both #ALSO VEGETA YOU BITCH ASS #Never meet your heroes kid MAN IM FINNA SLAP YOU #dragon ball #this was amazing

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