Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z.

AN: This will be the first of five drabbles. All five are written, it's just a matter of getting them beta'd. The next one should be up within a week. Enjoy.

Messiah

Hell's Angel

You saved my life, you know. I doubt you care. I don't matter to you, after all. But you matter to me now. Like nothing has ever mattered before. I want to thank you, Vegeta, but you'd never let me get near enough to tell you. You avoid contact with everyone but your men, don't you, and I am little more than a lowly grunt, completely beneath your interest.

It was the battle of Purgata, do you remember that? Of course I remember, it was in that battle that I came close enough to death to see the value of my salvation. You weren't even aiming to save me with that well placed blast; I'm sure all you saw was an enemy making an easy target of himself. But you did save me, Vegeta, and I thank you for that.

There is a legend among my people, of Guardian Angels that swoop in only when they are needed most, bringing hope and salvation wherever they go. In that moment you became my Guardian Angel, Vegeta, though I doubt it means anything to you. And you looked the part to, flying high above us, untouchable, raining fire and death down upon our mutual enemies.

Okay, maybe you weren't the holy, benevolent creature the legends spoke of, but you were still an Angel. One born of the fires of Hell, but an Angel nonetheless. In that moment when my death had been delayed I could almost see your shining, golden halo, and dark wings forming from the smoke that swirled around you. It was almost funny, until that moment I hadn't given you any more thought than you no doubt give me; I barely even saw you. But now you mean more to me than my own existence.

I'd spent my days before that battle wanting to die; did you know that, Vegeta? You'd probably be surprised just how many of us are here against our wills; just like you. But when you saved me, I realized something: I didn't want to die; I just wanted to be free. And now I know that death is no longer the only way out.

I hear the whispers, Vegeta, the rumors about your steadily increasing strength, about your power that never seems to reach its peak. There is not a soul on this ship that doesn't know of your hatred for Frieza, our mutual oppressor. We all know how badly you want him dead. And there is nothing to stop you from one day becoming more powerful than him.

I await that glorious day, Vegeta, the day you free us all from the cold-hearted tyrant. So fly, my cruel, fiery Angel, lead us all to salvation. Where you go, I will follow.

But he never got to see his dreams realized. Three years before the battle of Namek, he was killed during one of Frieza's temper tantrums. And Vegeta never even knew he existed.