𝓢𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓵𝔂 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼 x

Chapter 22

"I still don't understand," Bulma had kept her pensive expression and began to chew on the end of her thumb, the silence in the room almost grew tangible. As the three sat on the bed collecting their thoughts.

Vegeta pulled back from Goku's embrace and wiped the stray tears that trickled down his face. He wasn't expecting Bulma to understand, she had always been close to her mother. Even when she had witnessed the occasional arguments, she always took her mothers side. Her reaction was inevitable. Such secrets could never remain silenced for it slowly ate its way through his conscience. Observing the way both Goku and Bulma sat pensively, he could tell neither knew how to express how they felt. Now unable to cope with the heavy blanket of silence around the room, as it built an unwanted tension. Vegeta cleared his throat to break the silence barrier between them. The two looked directly at Vegeta awaiting for him to say something, but no words could flow out. Instead he just sat, with his mouth slightly ajar making some incoherent sounds.

Goku placed his hand on Vegeta's lap and sighed, "it's okay, you don't need to tell us any more."

Vegeta frowned, he kept his eyes on Goku who didn't have the expression he had expected. Goku's face was etched with care, no sign of judgment. Either that, or he was simply good at hiding his true feelings. He rested his hand on top of Goku's that was still rested on his lap.

"When?" Bulma sighed and stared blankly at the wall in front of her. She fumbled with the button on her jacket, unable to look at her step brother as she asked.

Vegeta scrunched his brows glancing back at Bulma, "Sorry?"

"When did this all happen?" she changed her focus to the button on her jacket, twisting it with her fingers.

"I don't think we-" Goku was interrupted by Vegeta squeezing his hand, he was about to continue till Vegeta cut in.

"I told you- when my father was in hospital." Vegeta sighed, he could already tell Bulma was having some conflicting thoughts. He felt contractions in his stomach, it was difficult enough to confess to something that happened seven years ago. Now sat in a room with the person who he had bullied, and step sister. He wouldn't blame if either wanted to walk out that room and not speak to him. He felt disgusted in himself, so it wouldn't be a surprise if that was precisely how they both felt.

Bulma pressed her lips together studying the button she was playing with, she took in a sharp breath and slowly drew her attention to Vegeta. "So when you were seventeen you slept with my mother? ...just why?" she frowned as he let out an audible gulp and avoided her eye contact. "You know, I just don't know what to believe anymore. You not long told me you were gay, and now you're telling me you've slept with my mother?!"

Goku chewed on his lip seeing the hurt on her face, he glanced over at Vegeta who leaned forward burying his face in his hands. "Bulma, I don't think-"

"Do you realise how effed up this sounds?" Bulma shook her head, tears filling up in her eyes she ignored Goku trying to console her as she glared directly at Vegeta. "Are there any more secrets you haven't told us?"

"No," Vegeta leaned back, and moved his hands away from his face. His mind had gone through different scenarios of what may happen if she had found out about his past. None had prepared him for this sort of reaction as such. She seemed calmer than he had expected, then again he could tell by her expression she was rather sceptical.

Unsure what to say, Bulma let out a small laugh of disbelief. She rose to her feet and rested a hand on her hip. Glancing down at Vegeta who sat looking back up at her tight lipped.

Not liking the tension felt between them, Goku wrapped his arm around Vegeta, and glanced up at Bulma. "Look, I know it's a lot to take in right now but-"

"It's fine," Vegeta cut in and tapped Goku on the leg. He forced a smile and glanced up at Bulma again, "the group I hung around with, well....I'd of been a target if I didn't have any money, when we hung out after school-"

"What's that got to do with my mother?" Bulma crossed her arms and raised a brow at him.

"Because I asked her for money!"

"So?..."

"So, she -she asked me for something in return..." Vegeta choked back some tears, unable to look at Bulma. He felt sick, his hands started to tremble and he felt himself being pulled into Goku's embrace again.

Bulma pursed her lips whilst looking towards the ceiling, fighting back her own tears as she knelt in front of the couple. She looked at Vegeta and held his hand, "Vegeta, I'm sorry. This is rather difficult for me-"

"Believe what you want to believe, I don't care!" Vegeta snapped wiping back his tears and glared directly at her, his face all flustered as tried to break from Goku's embrace. He yanked his hand away from Bulma's grip, "I willingly slept with her for money, I did it to protect myself from being a target!" He spat not allowing Bulma a chance to say anything further as he smiled mirthlessly at her, "I'm disgusting, I'm horrible, I'm whatever else you wish to throw at me!"

"Babe, calm down," Goku soothed and pressed Vegeta's head against his chest. He sighed as Vegeta shoved him off and crossed his arms glaring directly at Bulma again.

"I don't believe you are any of those things, I'm just in shock right now. Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Bulma frowned and rolled her eyes as Vegeta chuckled.

"Because," he composed himself, and shook his head at her, "you wouldn't of believed me." Vegeta sighed watching Bulma sat with her mouth slightly ajar, he could tell that she knew he was right. There were other reasons as to why he hadn't told anyone sooner, but he didn't want to upset Bulma further. He glanced over at Goku who smiled at him slightly and rested his arm round him again.

Bulma sighed and raised to her feet, "it's getting late," she said and glanced at her watch then back at the couple.

Goku smiled back at her and nodded lightly, before giving Vegeta a quick peck on the cheek. He followed Bulma towards to front door, the two exchanged their goodbyes whilst Vegeta sat still, his eyes casted down to the floor. Bile slowly rising in his throat, his heart shuddered, and his hands trembled. Surely he should feel relief after confessing, instead he was feeling the exact opposite. Worries flooded his mind full of what ifs? Expecting the negative to happen. Forcing a smile as Goku entered the room, pretending to be okay, hoping Goku would believe he was doing okay. His smile soon changed as Goku looked back at him with brooding eyes. There was no hiding from him, he knew from his boyfriends glance that he was not doing a very good job at pretending. His lips quivered and he started to sob, "she doesn't believe me, she hates me," he sniffled.

Goku shook his head and crawled into bed, pulling Vegeta into him, "no, she's just in shock. It's okay," he soothed, wiping away Vegeta's tears. "I'm proud of you," he smiled and cupped Vegeta's chin with his hand. "And I love you, I will help you," he brushed his lips gently against Vegeta's, slowly their lips connected into a passionate kiss.

Vegeta felt something ignite inside him as their lips had connected. It was that feeling of warmth, comfort, and knowing he wasn't ever going to tackle these emotions alone. He felt safe and connected, he felt loved which was all he had craved for. This was simply just the beginning of his journey of acceptance.