Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Pseudo Ferocity ❯ Bad Boy ( Chapter 5 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z or any of the character appearing in the manga or television show. Nor am I making any profit off of this story.

Author's Notes: School starts tomorrow…blah…Updates might be slow, because I won't have much time to write between work and school…*sigh* Anyway, just wanted to thank everyone for the reviews! You guys are the best!!

*Special thanks to ssjblackguy, Bulma Peacecraft, Kat8125, and Silver Sun for beta-ing*

5: Bad Boy

"Vegeta, you're up!" Bridget signaled to the Saiyan, who took a moment to adjust himself before strutting out from behind the curtained doorway into the brightly lit auditorium. Stopping for a moment to allow the people closest to see the outfit, as he had been instructed to do, he adopted his usual strut and set off down the runway, ignoring the whispered comments he heard floating up from the crowd.

In reality, he felt pretty stupid, performing a little turn and adopting the 'bad-boy' stance Bruce had offered him extra money to do out on the runway. Black eyes scanning the crowd, he caught the gazes of several women, who giggled and whispered to their friends, like schoolgirls. Vegeta smirked, the malevolent little curl of his lip sending shivers throughout the crowd.

Hearing the beat in the music that signaled his return backstage, Vegeta tossed up his cowboy hat, caught it and turned all in one smooth movement, to strut back the way he had come. Bruce watched the television screen backstage, swooning as Vegeta sent a sexy smirk toward the camera before turning and strutting away. It was a damn good thing he was so good at controlling his arrogant façade, for in reality, embarrassment had engulfed his thoughts. He absolutely could not believe humans actually enjoyed that sort of thing.

"Good God, he's got personality…" Bridget moaned, releasing the breath she had been holding. "He's absolutely breathtaking out there…He's-"

"Scrumptralescent…" Bruce sighed, his eyes taking on a dreamy look.

"Oh, there he is! The fashion world's newest star!" Bridget smiled at the passing Saiyan, who ignored her, on the way to his change room.

"Vegeta!" Bruce followed after him, leaving Bridget to signal the models who needed to be out on stage. "Vegeta, you're a natural out there! Are you sure you've never done any modeling work? How 'bout acting? Goodness me, you looked like the devil himself out there! Did you see the crowd when you came out! Oh, they loved you! Oh! I'm excited!!!"

"Yeah, you might want to cover that up." Vegeta quipped, stepping into his stall to change into his next outfit. "I did your stupid little pose out there, so don't forget, you owe me extra." The door slammed in Bruce's face, but the designer, as usual, was too excited to bother being offended by Vegeta's gruff attitude. Besides, it was that same gruff attitude that set him apart from the rest of the modeling world, which suited Bruce just fine.

***

"Did you see him, Ray? He was magnificent!"

"I know Marille, I know. He's perfect for the part. You think he has any acting experience?"

"With looks like that? Probably porn or we would have heard of him." Marille giggled, eyeing the sketch she had drawn. "So what do you think of Hoffman's clothes? I think some of them would be perfect. Think he'd let me take inspiration from some of his designs?"

"Well, why don't we ask after the show?" Ray laughed, folding his program in half. "That way I can corner that model."

"He's awfully strange, to be a model. Normally they're…well…smooth and perfect, blemish free. Taller too."

"Yeah, but look at the effect he had on the crowd. Especially the women." Ray laughed again, playfully elbowing his companion in the ribs. She blushed and pushed his arm away. "But I suppose you're right. A guy like him, you'd think he'd go for something a little more masculine. Think he's gay?"

"Jeez, I sure hope not!" Marille eyed her sketch again. She had come to get inspiration for costuming ideas, and had dragged Ray along so she'd have someone to talk to. "You know, you should thank me for dragging you here. How long have you spent trying to find someone who fits the role? And now, on a leisurely night out, he struts right in front of you. I wish my job was that easy." Marille laughed, tapping her pencil against the thick sketching pad on her lap.

***

Bruce was practically shaking with exhilaration as he greeted a roaring crowd on the runway with his models. The flash of cameras and the bright lights practically blinded him, but he could still hear the cheers and applause. "They liked it Vegeta!" He squealed to the Saiyan at his right side, "They loved it!" Turning, he repeated the words to the models that flanked his other side.

Nearly having to drag their euphoric designer off the runway, the models retreated backstage to change and possibly answer a few questions from reporters. Bruce's show had been a smashing success, and reporters were cramming through the doors to report the event to the fashion world.

"Bruce, excellent show." A deep voice sounded, stopping Bruce in his tracks, who stopped Vegeta as well.

"Caleb!" Bruce squealed, "I'm so sorry I couldn't see you earlier, there was so much to do!"

"No problem."

"Oh and you look so nice!" Bruce squealed, admiring his friend's Armani suit, and playfully tugging his silk tie. "Did you come straight from work?"

"Yeah." Caleb blushed slightly, holding up his leather briefcase. "Busy day, and I didn't have time to go home and change or even drop off my case before coming here." He cast a strange look toward Vegeta, who was standing off to the side a little, not completely sure why Bruce had stopped him.

"Oh, Caleb, this is Vegeta!" The designer explained, seeing his friend's curious look. "And Vegeta, this is Caleb VanDios, the friend I told you about earlier." Bruce pulled Vegeta forward, clutching his upper arm, a gesture that Caleb scowled at.

"Nice to meet you." Caleb said, somewhat icily, extending his hand. Vegeta grunted a greeting, but ignored the outstretched hand, shaking off Bruce's grip as well. He had been touched enough for one day, and was getting a little irritated with all the manhandling that seemed to come along with the job.

"Oh, Vegeta, I meant to ask you before you go, where have you been staying?" Bruce questioned; not even slightly offended that he had been shaken off.

"Southside Motel."

"Oh no! No! I can't have my star model staying in such a place!" Bruce gasped, appalled. The Southside Motel was a dumpy little place, a popular stomping ground for prostitutes and drug lords.

"Only place I could afford. We both know I'm not modeling because I enjoy it." The prince snapped back, crossing his arms over his chest as he glared up at the designer.

"Caleb will give you a place to stay! A nice place!"

"What?" Bruce's friend sounded appalled at the suggestion.

"Caleb, you own that big apartment complex downtown, right?" Caleb nodded. "Well, just give Vegeta a place to stay for a little while until he can afford to pay rent! Oh! I know! He can live in that empty apartment two doors down from me! Then, since you live right across the hall, we can all hang out! It'll be so fun!"

"Bruce…I don't know."

"Please? Pretty, pretty please?" Bruce begged, giving his friend the puppy eyes.

"I…oh fine. He can stay, but until he's a paying tenant, I'm holding you responsible for his actions." Caleb scowled, poking Bruce in the chest. Glaring at the two men, both shorter than himself, he stalked away.

"Don't mind him. He gets pouty sometimes. But once he gets used to you, he'll be fine. Oh! If you'll excuse me, I've got to go congratulate a few of the others. Eikre! Christian! Great job out there boys!" Bruce scuttled off after two of the other men, his bubbly voice full of glee.

"Wow, Vegeta, you did wonderfully out there." A sultry voice purred, and the Saiyan turned to see Tanaiya, one of Bruce's models, clad in a lacy little negligee, her last outfit of the night. "Especially since I've heard this is your first time modeling," her hand settled on his arm, "it's quite impressive." When Vegeta didn't say anything, she put on her most dazzling smile, slowly sliding her fingers up his muscled biceps and onto his shoulder, then down to trace little patterns on his chest. "You know, if you wanted to take me out for a drink later, I just might say yes."

Tanaiya got the shock of her life when he gave a mirthful little snort, pulled himself away and walked off to the change rooms with a muttered "In your dreams."

Vegeta grumbled to himself, pulling off the last outfit he had been wearing. The tight leather pants were sticking to his legs, due to the extreme heat the stage lights generated, and he was having a rough time pulling them off. They had been hard enough to get on in the first place, but getting them off was proving to be one of the most difficult things he had ever done.

The show had started off with leather outfits of all kinds, then switched to underwear for a while, the 'lace' part of the 'Leather and Lace' show. Well, the women wore the lace. The men had worn mostly silks, and some synthetic materials. Either way, it was a bit of relief for Vegeta, who was beginning to get hot and cranky in the heat of the lights and leather clothing. However, at the end they had switched to a combination, and again, he had been forced to struggle with impossibly tight pants.

Trying to locate his own clothing, Vegeta thought about Caleb's Bruce-induced offer of an apartment. It would be much nice than the moldy Southside Motel, that much was certain, but did he want to be indebted to the human called Caleb? Not really, but in all actuality, he didn't have much of a choice; the nightly fee of the hotel, while not terribly expensive for one night, was piling up. He wouldn't be able to save much money for himself living in the motel at all. Besides that, the prostitutes were starting to get pushy, calling out to him in their gravelly voices to come on what they described as a 'wild ride to the heights of pleasure.' A couple of them had gone so far as to offer him a night for free, probably hoping to rob him or something afterward. And the drug pushers were getting in his face as well, challenging his right to stay at their stomping ground. They wanted the rooms free for the sleaze-bags and addicts.

Caleb's apartment was sounding better and better the more he thought about it…and it wouldn't be too bad once he started paying rent. Then he wouldn't have to worry about repaying any debts, and he would be in a nice place and not have to worry about his temporary home being broken into by drugged up street whores.

He'd take a look.

A knock sounded on the change room door, accompanied by Bruce's excited voice. "Vegeta! Vegeta! Hurry up! There's someone out here who wants to speak to you!"

Growling to himself about stupid humans, Vegeta pulled on his jeans and a white Capsule Corp. T-shirt that Bulma had given him. He stifled a laugh, remembering why she had given it to him…She had been doing one of her many presentations at high schools and universities, recruiting possible workers. She had made him come and help her unload her projector and screens for the presentation, giving him the shirt so people would think he was an employee. Basically, he had been eye candy for the females in the audience, a sort of 'look who you could be working with' display to entice women to work at the company. Bulma herself had been enough for the men…resumes had been piling in since.

Thinking back, he didn't really blame those kids…she had been wearing a very tight blouse, a very short skirt and spike heels; more than enough to make any man drool…except himself, of course. Although, he could not deny that he had had a hard time keeping his eyes off of her. Of course, the same could be said of her reaction to him. He didn't quite know why she had kept stealing glances at him, as she had seen him in nothing more than a pair of biker shorts and sneakers. Perhaps fully clothed men turned her on more than half naked ones…or perhaps she was merely surprised that he had agreed to help her. Of course, he had agreed only on the condition that she give him a full body massage to ease the 'strain' lifting all her equipment would create. The speed at which she had agreed to his condition had intrigued him greatly.

Despite his cranky mood, Vegeta couldn't help but smile at the memory. He was almost starting to miss the little human female…almost.

Opening the door, Vegeta stepped out to see Bruce talking to a young woman, while an older, middle aged man stood nearby. "Ahh, Vegeta," the man stepped toward him. "My name is Ray Hampton, and this lovely young lady is Marille Goldstern."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Marille smiled politely. Vegeta grunted a response, and tilted his head in a quick, curt nod.

Ray, seeing that Vegeta would say no more, continued on with his business. "Have you ever heard of Agrolica Studios?"

"No." Vegeta said simply. He didn't pay attention too much that didn't concern fighting or training, and certainly hadn't heard of the famous movie studio.

"Oh…well, uh…Well, we make movies." Ray stuttered, somewhat awkwardly in his surprise. Where had this guy been, if he'd never heard of one of the most famous movie studios in the world? "Anyway, Marille here is working as a costume designer for our latest endeavor, and I'm casting director. And I couldn't help noticing that you'd be perfect for the lead role. Is there any chance that you have some acting experience?"

"Not conventionally, no." The prince replied, thinking of all the 'acting' he had done as a child and young teen to save his hide in Frieza's army.

"Well, even so, I'd like you to come down for an audition, if you're interested." Ray beamed, handing Vegeta a business card. "Call me when you've got a moment, and we can make arrangements."

"I'll think about it." He shrugged, stuffing the card in his pocket without even looking at it. Of course, inside he was almost excited. Of course he knew what kind of opportunities being in a movie could provide for his cause! He was wise enough, however, that it would not do to seem too excited and available for a job. The more these people thought he wasn't interested, the more they would be willing to pay to get him to agree. Of course, he could not feign complete disinterest, or they would move on and find someone else; but the tone in Ray's voice told him that would not happen soon. Vegeta smirked to himself, well pleased with the way things were going. He would be famous in no time, rich and well known, and most importantly, successful. That would teach the little blue-haired human to challenge him!

"Well…please do." Ray's smile faltered as he and Marille said goodbye, a little disconcerted by the strange man. A strange sort of aura seemed to surround him, drawing a person in and pushing them away at the same time. But hell, if Ray thought Vegeta was perfect for the part from far away, there was no describing how sure he was about the strange man after being close to him.

 

 

Oh ho ho! Vegeta's moving on up in the world. Can you guys see him as a movie star? *giggle* Wait'll you see what part he'll be playing! Lol, anyway it's easier than imagining him as a model! So anyway, I hope you liked that chapter! If you'd like to be on the mailing list to receive chapter updates, either email my hotmail address telling me so, and I'll send you an invitation to my topica list, or send a blank email to: cat_girl_26-subscribe@topica.com Just don't send regular emails to this address, because I won't see them! If you wanna chat, my hotmail address is posted in my author profile! That said, please remember to review!!

Mp3 of the Day: "Super Sex World" by One Ton. I saw this song on the Much Music countdown the other day, and I just had to download it…*giggle* It's a very upbeat funky kinda song…I don't know, you might like it, you might not!