Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Protection the Raditz Way ❯ Raditz meets the Twins ( Chapter 10 )

Chapter 11 Raditz Meets the Twins

By the time Raditz reached Mt. Paozu it was almost dark. He hovered briefly over the home that he'd visited a number of times already, yet still was amazed that he had even dwelled there for any length of time. The shack to the left was hopelessly primitive, and the Capsule dome was barely large enough to contain all the life forms he saw there.

 

Snorting, he turned off his scouter and dropped to a landing. He marched up to the front door, and raised his fist to knock. Immediately the door flew open, and Gohan stood there, glaring at him. "What do you want here?"

 

"Nephew, I wish to see Kakkarot… please…” said Raditz, inclining his head and holding out one hand in the traditional Saiyan salute.

 

"You have a lot of nerve coming here!" Gohan snapped.

 

“I apologize for creating enmity among us, but I didn't expect…” Raditz started to say.

 

"Gohan, relax… is that you Raditz?" asked Son Goku's voice as he quickly moved over and tugged at his son's shoulder.

 

"Dad… wait a minute…" Gohan protested, moving to block his dad's way.

 

"Gohan, go back and see if Videl needs any help with the kids. Atomique is just starting dinner… and she needs Goten's help with Trunks…" said Goku.

 

"But…" Gohan stammered.

 

"No buts. Raditz's family and he's welcome in this house… got it?" Goku snapped at him.

 

"I don't…" Gohan protested, his eyes wide with hurt at his father's lack of understanding.

 

"No arguments, Gohan… I mean it!" Goku said firmly. Grumbling, Gohan marched off and vanished, leaving Raditz standing in the doorway with crossed arms.

 

"It was not my intention to come as a threat. I merely wished to visit Tomique-san," said Raditz.

 

"Oh?" Goku blinked. “Sure… she's here… you can come in and have dinner with us…”

 

"Will it upset your son if I do so?" asked Raditz.

 

"No, he'll behave," said Goku. "Come in… and make yourself at home. My house is your house…"

 

“Thank you, Brother,” Raditz grunted and moved past Son Goku to enter the Capsule house. A modern sofa and chairs sat opposite one another, while carpet stretched under the Saiyan's boots. Two boys played with one another, their dark curly hair and dark eyes making them look for a moment like Saiya-jin children.

 

"Sit down and relax… I'll get you something to drink," said Son Goku.

 

"Here?" asked Raditz, glancing at the two boys who looked up at him in wonder. Goku nodded, and he walked over to lower himself onto the sofa with a grunt. The furniture seemed flimsy, but held well under his weight. It was easy to forget he was not on a world with heavier gravity. If he was not careful he might break something.

 

"Hello?" asked one of the boys, glancing up at him. "Who are you?"

 

"Greetings young warriors," Raditz said, glancing down at the two boys walking over towards him. They had turned their attention from the flickering box called a TV that the humans were mesmerized by.

 

"Are you Mr. Funny man's brother?" asked the first. "I'm Bohr. You look like him sorta…"

 

"I'm his older brother, Raditz," said the warrior, putting his hands on his lap. "Are you the woman's... I mean Tomique-san's children?"

 

"I'm Fermi, I'm two minutes older then him. Our mommy's in there cooking dinner with Goten-kun. Are you a fighter like Son-kun-san?" said Fermi.

 

"I am. I serve Prince Vegeta, of planet Vejitasei…" said Raditz, unsure of how to conduct himself around children so naïve. Their dark eyes fixed on him. One of them crawled up and sat next to him, while the other tugged at his armor.

 

"Cool, are you from outer space? You have a tail!" gasped Bohr.

 

"I would not touch that if I were you. Saiyan tails are very dangerous to touch without provocation…"

 

"Do you turn into an ape if you see the moon?" asked Fermi.

 

"Yes, of course," Raditz said, blinking in surprise.

 

"Wow, do you smash things?" Bohr asked.

 

"I err… only do so under the orders of my prince," he said, coughing and glancing around for someone to rescue him from these two children who were unnervingly trusting of him.

 

"A guest, you said nothing about a…" Atomique asked as she strode out with a can of soda. At sight of him, she stopped.

 

"Mommy, there's a cool space monkey here to visit, just like in Son Goku-san's story!" one of them said walking up to her.

 

"Raditz, what are you doing here?" she asked. Bohr and Fermi exchanged a glance and gave one another a grin. Something about this man made their mommy blush, and act all silly like Gohan and Videl did around each other. While they were too young to know the implications, they guessed that Raditz knew their mother better than they both alleged.

 

"I'm hurt, woman. I thought you'd be pleased to see me," he gave her a devilish smile.

 

"Do you know him mommy?" asked Bohr, while Fermi continued to stare at Raditz sitting there.

 

"Yes I do! He's my... friend from Capsule, and we work together," Atomique said, while Raditz gave her a knowing smirk. "Fermi, don't climb on him! You don't know him…"

 

"I will not hurt your children, female," said Raditz with a snort as she rushed over to stop Fermi from crawling into his lap.

 

"I'm sorry, I just didn't' expect you here…" she said as she watched Raditz pick the boy up and set him on his knee. As the boy reached for the furry tail coiled around his waist, Raditz surprised him by uncurling it and letting it flicker slowly back and forth.

 

"I suppose you're staying for dinner? And that you're the surprise guest Goku was going on about?" she asked, moving over and picking up her son Bohr. She set him on her lap, feeling Raditz's hip touch hers.

 

"Amazing… it is like the one in the story… look," said Fermi, trying to catch it.

 

"Don't touch his tail, all right… that's rude…" said Atomique, embarrassed. "Whatever you do, don't pull it or squeeze it!"

 

"You do know something about Saiyans after all, I'm touched," Raditz teased as he accepted the glass of wine she handed him.

 

"Well, Son Goku gave me the lecture," she said, shifting on the sofa.

 

"I thought you knew from other experience," Raditz winked at her. Bohr curled up in her lap, and stared at his twin that Raditz was awkwardly toddling on his knee.

 

"Oh shut up," she blushed.

 

"You two act just like Nissan and Videl, you know," Fermi said.

 

"You two are well acquainted with my nephew then," Raditz said.

 

"Is he the one in the story..." trailed off Bohr, before their mother held a finger over her lips.

 

"He can't be. He's cool," said Fermi, as Raditz let the boy slide down from his lap. He rested his hand on Raditz's boot, tugging at the bindings and smoothing his hands over the armor.

 

"Did I... miss something?" Raditz asked, glaring at Atomique with suspicion. A snicker of amusement crossed his lips, and then he saw the ashamed look on her face.

 

"It's okay, she thought you were someone else," said Fermi, glancing at his brother. "From one of Son-kun-san's stories..."

 

"He's from another universe," said Atomique quickly to Bohr, who continued to look at Raditz with wide eyes.

 

"Your mother and I are good friends, and I guard her when I am at capsule," said Raditz, guessing her sons may have the same ability as he did to sense truth from lies.

 

"Good, cause we don't want anyone to hurt our mommy," Bohr said.

 

"I'd never let that happen," Raditz said quietly, looking him right in the eyes.

 

"Ah, I see you've met the twins face to face," said Goku, walking in with a tray piled with chips and other enormous portions of snacks. He set them down on the coffee table by his brother, who snaked out his hand and grabbed a whole handful of cheese puffs to shove into his mouth. The dust fell on his black armor, and he licked his fingers clean.

 

"They're quite… fine children. Of course I'm not used to seeing any of this age… because…" Raditz began.

 

"She knows all about that too," Son Goku said, sitting in the armchair to their left. Slipping off Raditz's lap, Fermi walked over and climbed up into his brother's. At mention of Raditz's questioning gaze she blushed slightly.

 

I'm sorry I was so rude before. I am thankful you saved my life. I was acting foolishly…"

 

"Think nothing of it, Tomique-chan," said Raditz with a charming smile. It was surprising to see it on his wild face. Flickering light from the TV moved across his green visor.

 

"You can take that off in here… nobody's going to attack you," Son Goku teased. Raditz reached up and pulled off his scouter, and handed it to a very curious Bohr.

 

"May I see?" Bohr asked, wide eyed.

 

"Be careful with it, child. It's not a toy…" Raditz said, picking it up and slipping it over Bohr's face. He showed the boy the buttons on the side to press, and the child squealed with delight as he saw the images of ki flickering over it.

 

"Why is Gohan-kun afraid of you, Mr. Monkey man?" asked Fermi.

 

"His name is Raditz, and he's my older brother," Son Goku corrected him. “And sometimes Nissan is nervous around strangers. Especially since he hasn't seen any Saiyans other than Vegeta and myself…”

 

"Can I call you Uncle then? Like Uncle Yamcha and Krillen?" asked Fermi.

 

"Ahem… perhaps you should tell me how I encountered you in this… dimension…" Raditz said, awkwardly shifting in his chair at the open display of affection.

 

"It's not a pretty story…" son Goku said.

 

"Wasn't the guy in that story… did he have the same name as…" asked Bohr.

 

Goku held up his finger. A mental query shot into Bohr's mind, and he was silent. "He's not a bad guy even though his name's the same..." Goku's mind told him.

 

"Oh," Bohr said aloud. "I'm glad..."

 

“Er, I suppose… that's a good thing,” Raditz mumbled. Bohr moved over and climbed awkwardly onto Raditz's lap, staring up into his face. The green lenses of his scouter covered the child's face, making him look a bit sinister. Fermi moved over and got on his mother's lap, looking at his brother playing with the scouter.

 

Goku choked, "But Gohan was captured when he was barely older then these kids here. And unfortunately a lot of people got hurt… and the person… who looked like you… ended up being the one responsible…"

 

"I apologize, Brother," said Raditz quietly. "Perhaps I should not be here… to create enmity between you and your son…"

 

“No, you're my guest here,” Atomique said. “And if Gohan doesn't like it… you and I can leave…”

 

“That's HARDLY necessary…” Son Goku said. "The fact you're here now, having a normal conversation with me proves that you're okay… I mean you're not the same person that… did those things. Sure you've done other things… that weren't so nice. But you are… my brother…"

 

Raditz noticed with interest how Son Goku's chin tightened when he said this. That moisture gleaming in his eyes was odd, and he wondered if it was what the humans called tears. Uncomfortably he shifted in his seat, unsure if he wanted to know just what atrocities had been committed by his counterpart here.

 

"So, I'm dead in this world," said Raditz.

 

"Yes, I'm afraid so," Goku said, closing his eyes. A moment later a smile broke across his face and he cheerfully said, "But hey, that's in the past. I want you to feel like you're always welcome here. You're part of the Son family… and there's plenty to eat… I made some of my favorites. Do you like egg rolls?"

 

"Egg rolls? Like those things Nappa devours by the dozen?" asked Raditz.

 

"Um, I guess… c'mon and let's get you set up… the dining room's this way," he said, motioning to get up. Raditz rose, and walked after him, then stopped to let the woman and her children go before him. She blinked, surprised at his manners.

 

"I'm not the barbarian you think I am," he whispered as his shoulder brushed hers.

 

"Now wait a moment!" she blurted out. The gleam in his eyes told her that he was joking.

 

“I know that but they don't,” Raditz whispered, flicking his tail across her thighs.

 

"Why don't you show him where the guestroom is…" said Goku. "I think there's some clothes in there that might fit him. You don't mind changing into something else… that armor's not necessary here…"

 

"As you wish, brother," said Raditz.

 

“C'mon, follow me… this way,” Tomique sighed. She grabbed his hand and tugged him after her while the twins moved off into the den where Goten and Trunks played video games.

 

***

Around the small table the family gathered at around half past seven at night. Son Goku sat at the head, while his older brother Raditz sat to his left. Next to the Saiyan warrior settled Atomique. Videl sat across from Raditz, while Goten and Trunks sat on her other side opposite Atomique. The chair at the foot was empty, because Gohan flitted about, fixing food and placing it on the table.

 

Before dinner Raditz had taken off the chest piece and shoulder guards of his armor, donning one of Son Goku's T shirts to appear less threatening. Below the waist he still wore the traditional Saiyan armor. Both Fermi and Bohr helped Gohan to pile stacks of food before the brothers. Raditz figured his scouter was someplace in the house, and hoped the child would return it in one piece.

 

"Sit down, I can get that," said Videl to Gohan. Her boyfriend set huge platters of steamed rice, vegetables and others on a revolving trivet at the center. Huge tables to the sides were piled with multiple bowls. An enormous plate of egg rolls were set near Raditz, and he felt his mouth watering.

 

"I'm fine," Gohan said. Raditz watched Goku dipping a ceramic ladle into his bowl of egg drop soup instead of using the chopsticks. Relaxing, Raditz picked up the ceramic ladle and mimicked his younger brother's eating style. By lifting the soup bowl nearby he could spoon what he couldn't reach directly to his mouth.

 

"Sit down, Gohan," said Goku, glaring at his son. Fermi sat on a booster seat next to his mother, while Bohr nudged between Videl and Gohan's chair.

 

"Sit down Nissan?" Bohr asked. "Next to me?"

 

"I believe he wants your help, son," said Goku, nodding to Atomique's child looking up longingly at Gohan. Raditz watched this out of the corner of his eye, amazed how comfortable the Son family was with Atomique's two boys.

 

Sighing, Gohan flopped into his chair. "All right Dad," he sighed.

 

Videl got up, and motioned for Goten to help her serve her fiancée some food. Atomique felt the tension so thick it could be cut with a knife, and a very dull one at that. Egg rolls vanished quickly, followed by steamed rice and eight treasures chicken piled on top.

 

So far Raditz struggled to shovel rice into his mouth with his chop sticks. Most of it landed on his face and hair unfortunately. Gohan ignored his uncle as he scarfed down his eighth and tenth bowls of eight treasures. Son Goku devoured vast amounts of cooked noodles, chopsticks flying with incredible speed that was almost a blur.

 

A bit of food landed on Atomique's lap, and she heard Raditz cursing in Saiyago. "You all right?" she asked him.

 

"No..." he grumbled.

 

"Let me help you..." she said. He glanced anxiously at his brother and nephew outpacing him in the food consumption and struggled to wrap his huge fingers around the ivory chopsticks.

 

"Here... just put this one between your thumb, and this one here... like a pair of long fingers..." she said, positioning them in Raditz's grasp. He clumsily dug them into the bowl, and almost dumped half the lump onto her lap and his. With her help he got it to his mouth.

 

Picking up the piece of chicken that landed on her lap she held it between her thumb and forefinger. Raditz dropped the chopsticks shaking his head while she held it up to him. "This is yours I believe."

 

His tongue flickered over her fingers as he ate it directly from her hand. "Thank you, woman," he rumbled, licking the sauce from her sticky fingers.

 

"Um... you're... welcome..." she blinked, seeing him give her a smoldering stare.

 

"Hold up your bowl to your face like this," Goku said through a mouth full of eight treasures chicken. "Then all ya gotta do is shovel it down..."

 

"Hmm, that works MUCH better brother," said Raditz with relief. Goku nodded and then resumed eating.

 

"Was what my uncle said in that language...a bad word?" asked Goten to Trunks.

 

"That's the same thing my dad says when the GR blows up," Trunks grinned. Goten chuckled.

 

For the remainder of dinner she listened to Goku telling Raditz all about the history of the mountain and his childhood. With interest his brother listened intently, while the others ate in silence. Trunks and Goten thankfully talked about all manner of things that kids their age loved. Videl did her best to keep Gohan from blurting something inappropriate out.

 

Finally the dishes were collected, and Atomique got up to help wash. Raditz suddenly got up as well, and glanced at the people around the table. "I'll assist you," he said to everyone's amazement.

 

"I'll be studying," Gohan sighed again, and let Videl walk him out into the living room again, each of them carrying a twin. Goten and Trunks rushed out in a flurry to resume their video game where it last left off, leaving Goku alone with his brother and house guest.

 

"I'll wash, you dry," said Atomique. She threw a towel to Raditz, and lined up next to Goku by the wash basin.

 

Dishes floated and bobbed under his hands. Raditz messed with the dishes she handed him, finally using his tail at one point to maneuver the drying cloth as he called it into position. He glanced over at Goku and said, "Your son doesn't trust me…"

 

Goku quickly said, "Oh, give him a chance to warm up to you! He isn't on the verge of flipping out anymore… not like the first few times you visited…"

 

"He's sticking around, and letting Videl stay," said Atomique. "Give them time, they'll come around. You're an acquired taste. If anyone gets along with the prince… no offense… they can get along with ANY Saiya-jin…"

 

"The meal was adequate, Brother. You have two fine sons, and your house is small but comfortable…"

 

"Thanks to Bulma. I actually grew up in the house across…" said Goku. "Are you going to stay the night?"

 

"If it wouldn't be too much trouble…" Raditz said with a quick glance at Atomique. She nodded.

 

"You could sleep in the guest bedroom… or in the pagoda… there's a sofa and a couch… or I could bunk there," said Goku.

 

"I don't wish to inconvenience you," said Raditz. "I shall sleep in the hut if you wish. It isn't any worse than any of the encampments at training on Vejitasei…"

 

"I'll help you get settled," said Atomique. "Where will Gohan and Videl be staying?"

 

"Well, you and she can have the master bedroom tonight. I'll just crash on the sofa here. Trunks and Goten will be with the boys in the big room," Goku offered.

 

"Unless the lovely lady wishes to grace me with her company," Raditz whispered as she walked past.

 

"Dream on," she groaned, rolling her eyes. Yet she felt a small thrill at the thought of such an obvious flirtation.

 

"Well, I can make the guest bed up..." said Son Goku.

 

"I'll sleep... in Grandpa Gohan's house," she said, much to Goku's surprise. "It has a fold out sofa, right?"

 

"Yes..." nodded Goku. "And one bed... are you sure?"

 

"We're adults," she said to Goku. Shrugging he got up and left them to finish.

 

"I'll put the twins to bed. You can finish up in here," Son Goku said with a smile. He left Atomique and Raditz to finish putting things away. They quickly stashed the dishes and Raditz followed her to collect his armor.

***

Together they crossed the yard to the small house. She unlocked the front door with a small key, and opened the creaky wooden doors. Raditz ran a hand over the markings on the diamond logo, asking, "What is this writing say?"

 

"That's Chinese character for 'Son'," she said, showing him in. "It's actually quite cozy. And there's a real authentic bathhouse in the rear…"

 

"Interesting," Raditz said. He dumped his armor on the table, then walked into the small one room space.

 

A large box bed dominated one wall, while a small futon was directly across. In the center stood a two-person table. Various storage cabinets lined all four walls. A small door led to the only other room in the house, which was presumably the WC and bath area. The Saiyan warrior smelled her indecision regarding returning to the main house, or staying here with him. While she moved back towards the front door, Raditz stopped her with a hand on her arm.

 

"I will not disturb you if you wish to remain here," he said, wanting to reassure her she was safe in his presence.

 

"My boys might need me," she said quickly, shifting weight from one foot to another.

 

"I wish to speak with you woman, if you'll allow me to share your company," he said, catching hold of her hand.

 

"Raditz, I'm really tired… if you don't mind…"

 

"Then we can sleep here," he said.

 

"You can sleep here," she said quietly.

 

"You've never denied me before," Raditz said with a look of surprise on his face. "Why do you sleep there when here is perfectly suitable? Unless you prefer the luxuries of that more modern dwelling…"

 

"You don't get it do you? I like being surrounded with people. Maybe on your planet they like to fight and kick each other… but my children NEED me! What if they wake up at night?"

 

"You don't know my culture, woman," said Raditz sharply. "Don't presume to know me before you've had the chance to…"

 

He stopped at the angered look in her dark eyes. Then he zipped out to appear before her, stopping her from rushing out the door. Grunting, she collided with his chest. He said, "Forgive me, I spoke in haste…"

 

"Raditz, my children need me. If they wake up in the middle of the night and I'm here what am I supposed to…"

 

"My brother is looking out for them," said Raditz quietly. "And if they seek you out, I'm a light sleeper and I'll rouse you…"

 

"You're not USED to children, are you?" she asked, backing away from him.

 

"No, but I'm willing to learn," Raditz said quietly. " I'm not accustomed to being around people as you said. This… takes getting used to. Stay… and I'll watch over you should you require anything… here as well as at capsule… and especially with regard to your whelps…"

 

"Your society is used to shooting them into space as I recall," she said annoyed.

 

"Perhaps, but that doesn't' meat we don't have SOME clue of the care of them. And I won't keep you from your duty regarding them. But since we are in my brother's house, it's inappropriate for an unmated female to sleep under my brother' roof, especially since his MATE is not here…"

 

"Raditz, knock it off!" she growled. "What's your DEAL?"

"You shouldn't have to ASK me that," he said with a huff of anger. "I am aware that my brother is separated from his mate, but eventually she WILL return. And I will NOT have him wooing you in a manner unworthy of a…"

 

"Now WAIT a damn MINUTE buster, who the HELL are you to have any say in what I…" she yelled at him, whirling on him.

 

"I suppose you don't comprehend," Raditz said quietly.

 

"Comprehend WHAT? That you're being a possessive JERK?" she snarled at him.

 

"Did you or did you NOT agree to being available to me whenever I wished? I won't deny your duty with your whelps, but I won't allow you to dishonor yourself and my brother by letting him court you in your need! He is separated from his mate, and yours is deceased! It's not seemly for a mated Saiyan to consort with an unmated female when she is…"

 

"Wait a minute, you think that Goku is interested in ME? Are you NUTS?" Atomique laughed, shaking her head. "You're CRAZY! He's no more interested in me than… Krillen is!"

 

"That had BETTER be the case," Raditz said with a low growl. "Because I told you that I'm a jealous male, and I won't allow ANYONE to come near you…"

 

"Holy smokes," Atomique whispered, swallowing hard. She fingered the metallic bracelet adorning her upper left arm. "I guess… it IS inappropriate by human standards to be in the house with your brother, who's still married… even though Chichi's not come back… but…"

 

"But nothing… you and I are… lovers are we not?" Raditz asked quietly. "And as such, it is appropriate to share the bed here…"

 

"Why are you being so nice?" she asked with a small smile.

 

"Because you are a guest of my brother. And why should I not be polite? Or did you expect me to be a bloodthirsty pain in the ass like Nappa?" he asked quietly.

 

"Actually I expected you to be more like the Prince," she whispered. Raditz widened his eyes, not sure of what she meant, but she was wise not to qualify it further because he sensed that she meant it as an insult.

 

"I shall not bother you further," he said quietly. "I suggest we should get some rest. And if your whelps should require you, I shall be the first to hear them. And doubtless my brother will hear them first… and call for your assistance and I'll wake you…"

 

"Okay fair enough…I'm going to turn in," she said, reaching her hand out to his. . He extended his hand, and then she put hers in it to lead him towards the box bed. He watched as she tossed down a pair of flannel pajama bottoms, and shed her clothes to change into a silk nightgown.

 

When they had both changed, she slid between the sheets of the bed, and turned with her back facing Raditz. He carefully tugged aside the covers and then climbed gingerly into the Chinese box bed. Muttering to himself he turned so he was conformable in the bed that was considerably larger. Soon he was fast asleep.

 

Atomique lay in the bed, curled up under the silk covers as she did every night. How ironic she thought? I'm living, as close to what seemed a normal life with a man she wasn't even married to. Living more like a wife than she ever had with Star Child.

 

Turning over she faced the wall, with her back to Raditz. Strangely his presence was the only thing that prevented their recurrence. Raditz heard her soft whimpers and turned over to watch her as she slept. Curled under the sheets she seemed so small and vulnerable. A selfish thought rushed through his mind and he wondered if she might enjoy the feel of his body. While he smelled some presence Son Goku on her person, he was relieved to see his bite mark on her neck.

 

"Relax, Tomique-chan, it's Raditz, remember me?" Raditz whispered, his voice choking with unfamiliar softness.

 

Instinctively she turned over, curling close to the male body sliding beside hers. Raditz smelled her sweet uncomplicated scent and swallowed hard. His body tingled, longing for the touch this female. Her dark hair was straighter and softer to the touch of his extended fingers that brushed it back. Yet she had the coloring of a Saiyan female, pleasing to the eye. Her body was large busted and wide hipped, adequate for the bearing of children.

 

Although some Saiyans were born in labs, his father and mother had given birth to him and Kakkarot naturally. Ten males to one female was the ratio, so it had been close to impossible to find him a mate before he was pressed into service with Freiza. In actuality, Raditz was close to Vegeta's age. His memories of his world were much clearer, however because Vegeta had spent most of his time in the palace and on Frieza's ship. When the planet had been destroyed he'd been away on a purging mission with Nappa. Only a child himself, he had done his job adequately for a third class.

 

"No, please Paul, don't leave me alone..." she sniffled. Her whimper snapped him out of his reminiscence. She shifted, her eyes flickering beneath her dark lashed lids. Extending his arms, Raditz wrapped her closely in them, and turned her so her head rested against his bare chest, crisscrossed with scars.

 

Sighing, she lay her cheek to his, and reached out to stroke her fingers in his hair. He pressed his nose into her hair, feeling the soft locks with a sigh of delight. Her body felt good against his, and he wrapped his tail lightly around her waist possessively to keep her from rolling away in her sleep.

 

Lately the limited contact she shared with Dragon Womyn consisted of predominately verbal arrows and sarcastic jabs. Instead of telling Son Goku why she had stopped visiting, she chalked it up to spending more time with her sons. Already she had become Goten's personal tutor because he was already behind in his home schooling. He flourished well under her instruction, while teaching her to read and write Mandarin Chinese in exchange.

 

***

 

Across the property, in the master bedroom, Son Goku was tossing and turning. His mind sensed the activity of his charge only a few hundred meters away. Something caused her ki to flare, but he knew it would be foolish to leave the safety of his bed with a house filled with people. Though his instincts told him to leave his home and climb into her bed, his mind and heart told him to stop. She wasn't his to own. He was still mated to Chichi, bound in a bond that stretched back to childhood.

 

Frowning Son Goku sensed her scarlet chikara surging. He could sense another's presence near her, and blinked in surprise when he realized it was Raditz. A wave of anger flashed over him, then he checked himself. Perhaps the two of them fancied one another. So far all Raditz was doing from the sense of his ki was laying still. There was no sound of anything other than two sleeping bodies across the compound.

 

She curled on the mattress, feeling the ebb and flow of his energies surging through her. How one male could have such dominion over her, she wondered. Part of her begged for Paul's sweet memories while the rest cursed him. Tears burned down her eyes, and Atomique hugged her knees.

 

At Goku's house she was tormented by sweet visions of unreleased sexual tension, only to have Jeannie steal her dreams. Nightly hammering at the walls till Goku's arrival in her mind at times would signal the end.

 

"Don't you want my help?" he would always say.

 

"Please don't," she sniffled.

 

"I don't want to go where I'm not wanted," he echoed. "I can fix the wall…"

 

"Do so, if you will," she whispered, almost not caring if Jeannie did tear her barriers to shreds. Slowly he patched up the wall, carefully putting back the bricks torn out. With his powers he mixed mortar, cementing those pieces of her shattered psyche so she could exist another day.

 

She refused Son Goku's presence sleeping by her lately, which puzzled him, and relieved Gohan.

 

On either side of her, Bohr and Fermi often rested, having crawled into the large Chinese box bed at night. Once in a while she fell asleep next to them, hearing one of Goku's stories. But Goku would always carry her to bed in his Grandpa's house. Always she would wake up alone. It broke her heart. But tonight they were sleeping with Trunks and Goten in the main house.

 

***

 

All these fragments of memory spun in her head. So when she turned in the bed, tears running down her eyes she feared that there would be nobody. A warm breathing chest fell and rose against her back. Although there were no invasions of Jeannie, she sensed the presence of Paul's thoughts reaching across space and time, only to be shut out at the last minute. Every bit of her body tingled, and she forgot where she was.

 

"Paul… Please don't go," she whispered.

 

"Hmmm… rhessphyttee… rrghhhahn…." Came an answer out of nowhere.

 

It dawned on her that she had mistakenly thought she was at Capsule. Instead she realized she was at the Son's house. Especially clear was this reality when next to her, a male figure moved and threw his arm over her. Roughly a voice spoke in a foreign language, guttural and harsh. She had heard Vegeta and Nappa converse in it, when she had been down the hall from them, or heard Nappa and Raditz when they came out of the GR chamber. Lightly a furry object flickered over her bare leg, and then latched around her waist to tickle her ribs.

 

"I've nothing to be guilty about, because Paul would do the same," she thought. Hadn't he slept with Jeannie when her own mate died? Moving to his best friend's daughter in a moment of weakness? Far worse than she by moving to a warrior who gave of his body. Although her religion forbade having sex out of wedlock, her husband was dead.

 

"Arrgepart… norrheeggg ah… Kakarotto… myarrgh nah…Zhaiyajinn," he grumbled, then turned over in his sleep.

 

"Please why can't I feel you anymore in my mind? You've never denied me before Paul… why do you no longer sing in my mind… have you forgotten me?" whispered Atomique, feeling shaky and shivered.

 

"Won't… deny… you… ever…" her companion mumbled. "Bond is forever… not broken…"

 

Feeling his female retreating, the Saiyan threw a muscular arm to wrap her tightly to his body. Binding her fast in his arms, he thrust his hips against her bare bottom, mumbling into her ear. Sobbing silently she raised her hands to grasp his huge ones, squeezing tightly and hugging that arm to her breast. She rubbed her cheek against it, letting her tears wet against his skin. Smelling the chemicals of her emotion, Raditz blinked in confusion. She turned over, and then faced him.

 

"This moisture again?" he grunted, raising muscular fingers to brush away the gleaming drops.

 

Dark eyes opened in the gloom, while his huge hand found the curve of her face. Placing hands around his neck, she buried her face in his neck, hugging onto him tightly. For a full minute she shook, not caring if the alien saw her in a moment of weakness. Let him think she was just being a typical earth woman giving way to emotions that were for an inferior race.

 

"I need something… I feel empty," she murmured, giving voice to the ache that the growing absence of four years left.

 

"Empty eh? You wish to mate then?" he whispered.

 

"Yes," she murmured. "Please… I need you Radz-chan…"

 

"You've but to ask, silly female," he laughed. Purring against her neck, Raditz rolled her over. He parted her legs with his knee, looming over her. It was his assumption she wished to mate, and she relented, hoping it would eliminate the emptiness inside. As sharp canines tore open the skin on her shoulder, she relaxed. His fingers worked her to readiness, and then he thrust deeply into her awaiting body. Finally after their numerous encounters she could accommodate him more readily. Atomique shoved away all thoughts of Paul and loneliness, drowning herself in the exquisite sensations of raw need pouring over her. Lately it seemed impossible to get enough of his rough ministrations. Did his blood contain some aphrodisiac that synched them, she wondered? Although he had not formally mated with her, she wondered if she was providing him with the same need.

 

"Why has she not realized what I've offered? She's highly intelligent for a human, as brilliant as my late father was…" he thought.

 

Raditz felt a wave of temporary guilt. Already he had marked her in the means that most Saiyan males did with their mates. Vegeta didn't know that he had let the female drink his blood, something that sealed them already together. What was not present was the mental bonding. Many Saiyans didn't bother with that, only relying on the physical satiation to bind them. Often times the mental bond developed of its own volition, or when both requested it after the royal sealing of the pledge. Some went for years without formalizing it. Yet it was expected eventually, when the female marked the male on the corresponding jugular, and drank his blood from there, then accepted pieces of one another's memories to bind their souls together.

 

Raditz had opted for the safety of a physical bond. The one extended to widows, binding them by desire. If the female wished to reciprocate she did so, by taking her mates blood and biting his shoulder. Informal rutting wasn't unknown of, considering most youths did so by bites on the shoulder. But a lifetime mating was expected in middle age, when one wanted children. IN such a male dominated society the male bit the female's neck, and she his shoulder. Only when the male was happy with his female did he let her bite him in the equivalent spot. If she rejected him before then, he was within his rights to kill her, or give her to another male.

 

"Taste me Tomique-chan… drink my desire, know it well," he whispered.

 

Lightly she ran her tongue over his shoulder, at the ball of it. He growled, pushing her face towards it, consenting that it was what he wished. Her teeth seemed weak in comparison to his, but tore open the scab to let his blood flow into her lips. Gasping she drank, while they worked one another to a climax. Finally the blood clotted, forming a new scab and she released his shoulder as she had many times before.

 

"I don't give myself to just anyone, Paul," she thought with tears in her eyes. Nevertheless this stability felt far more real than the haven Paul had provided. It alone seemed real, and it terrified her.

 

"Hmmm," Raditz purred into her neck, twining his muscular legs with hers, and setting her cheek to rest against his massive chest. Comfortably she draped herself over him in the fashion he enjoyed, warming one another's bodies.

 

"This feels too damn good," she said aloud.

 

"Agreed, Tomique-chan," Raditz mumbled sleepily. Hearing such an endearment from his gruff voice tore at her heartstrings.

 

"Radz-kun I…" she started, and then choked off the rest, immersing her face in his mane of shaggy hair. Without even trying she had this creature's unwitting loyalty and devotion. Despite his claims of superiority or male domination, Atomique sensed he would do anything to protect her.

 

"Kami I don't' want this… I don't' want to fall in love again… please don't make it so…" she pleaded.

 

"You're mine," he mumbled sleepily, telling her it was far too late.

 

"If this damns me, so be it," she thought. Yet till he said aloud what both wanted, she could not accept it as mutual. Not till she found a way of letting go.

***