Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Veil ❯ Traitor ( Chapter 8 )

Bulma groaned as she stiffly rolled to her right side. Her throat felt thick and dry, her joints creaking like as if they needed to be oiled. Stifling a yawn, she mustered up enough strength to open her eyes.

As she did so, she realised she was in a place that she didn't recognize, even though it was dark she knew she had no recollection of this place. Sitting up at a snail's pace, she gazed around at the dark room frowning at the lack of colour in the room.

She silently wondered where she was. In the corner of her eye she saw large figure sitting hunched on a chair. Bulma turned her head and tried to focus her eyes whilst rubbing the sleep out of them.

Her lips, slightly dry and cracked, parted in surprise at the figure, "Radditz?" She whispered out to the sleeping figure.

Radditz jerked at the quiet whisper. He looked about for a moment, dazed by the rude awakening. Well, you could hardly call it rude when all that had woken him was a whisper, but Saiya-jin ears were sensitive, he mused to himself.

He made his way to the side of the woman laying in the bed, "What is it?"

Bulma struggled to stay sitting, but found herself flopping back down onto the hard bed, exhausted. "What happened? I-I can't remember much. All I remember is that something fell and then there was an explosion." Her eyes widened, "Where's Bardock? Is he ok?" She asked worriedly.

Raddiz grunted, "He is well. Which was more than I could have said for you."

He stared intently at the porcelain skin that now graced her face. It had been a good two days since she was placed in the rejuvenation tank, and the burns on her face had healed miraculously. They had just removed her from the tank earlier in the day and he had been by her side in his room ever since then.

In truth he thought that the burns would not fade at all, even if she had been placed in the tank. It was safe to say that they all had their doubts for her healing, she was after all non Saiya-jin.

Bulma bit her lip, chewing on it thoughtfully, "I feel fine now, just a little sore.." She said softly, "Who got us out of the lab?" She asked curiously.

Radditz's cheeks burned as he looked at the floor, avoiding eye contact. "Myself and Vegeta no Ouji."

Bulma's eyes clouded in hate and anger, "You should have just left me to burn then," she spat.

Radditz looked at her abruptly and snarled, "Don't be a fool."

Her anger dissipated, a sad smile playing on her lips, "Yeah, a fool.." She trailed off and looked intensely into his eyes.

An awkward silence fell between the pair.

Bulma shifted uncomfortably, and spoke on impulse. "Where are we?"

Radditz cleared his throat, "In my... Home."

Bulma looked at him, puzzled. "Home?"

He nodded impatiently, "Yes."

"I thought you lived on the palace grounds?" She kept pushing her luck with all these questions.

Radditz looked at her briefly and scowled, "Not everyone is lucky enough to live on the palace grounds." He said sarcastically.

"Is your home far from the palace?"

He shrugged, "Ten minutes by flight."

She sighed, "Is this your room?"

He nodded mutely, getting tired of her questioning. He was about to leave the room, when her soft voice stopped him.

"Will I have to go back?" She asked tentatively.

He turned back, mildly surprised. "What?"

"Do I have to go back to the palace?"

He looked at her pleading eyes and felt his resolve crumble. He nodded in affirmation and felt his chest tighten as he saw the crestfallen look on her face. Even though he knew he shouldn't say anything, he couldn't help himself. "It was enough hassle in getting them to allow me to bring you to my home in the first place." He stated gruffly.

Bulma's eyes glazed over in shock, "Why did you bring me to your house?"

"I was not about to let you stay in the palace with-" His quiet rage was cut off as Bulma made her way slowly out of the bed. He watched as she tried to stand unsuccessfully. As her knees buckled at the pressure, he found himself phasing to her side and catching her in time.

"Idiot. You are too weak to stand as of yet." He growled gruffly as he held her small form close to him.

Bulma wanted to laugh at his gentleness, it didn't suit him one bit. She turned in his arms and embraced him tightly, "Thank you." She said, her voice muffled as she pressed her face into his chest.

His brow furrowed in confusion, "Why?"

She looked up and sighed, "For bringing me back here with you. I don't think I could have stayed in that Kami foresaken palace another moment." She shuddered, memories of her ordeal with Vegeta returning full force.

Radditz's jaw twitched, "You won't be here for long." He extracted himself from her warm embrace, all too reluctantly, and set her back down on the bed again. "Stay here. You have not eaten in two days, I will get you something." He made a hasty retreat out of the door, for the first time he was afraid of what he might do if he got too close to the tiny ningen.

Bulma chuckled inwardly as she saw a faint blush grace his cheeks as he left. She sat on the bed, her shoulders slowly slumping into a dejected stance. She had made a bargain with Frieza to join his force, something that she was momentarily regretting as Bardock's words echoed through her mind. She closed her eyes and waited rigidly on the bed for Radditz to return.

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