Life at Capsule Corp.

Yes people, this is your bog-standard Bulma, Vegeta get together, but I've thrown in a little angst (just a pinch!) to make it a bit more interesting. Vegeta may be a little OOC, but who cares? It only makes him more fun! ^.^

Enjoy!

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Chapter 1

"Ah…ah…aaaaaa-CHOO!! " Bulma wiped at her streaming nose with a soggy handkerchief. Kami knew where the hell she caught this bug from; normally she wouldn't allow a little thing like influenza stop her from working, but this strain was proving to be particularly debilitating.

She was sitting at her workshop bench, soldering circuit boards for a new training bot for Vegeta. However, with every few touches of the soldering iron, she'd sneeze and end up covering her work in snot.

"Doh, dat's id. I give up." Rubbing her eyes, she got up and went in search of a hot lemon drink to clear her head. When she got to the kitchen she found Vegeta sitting at the table and hidden behind a small tower of sandwiches.

"*snff snff* ohhh…I deed my dose pumping."

The tip of dark hair visible over the breaded mound shifted, and Vegeta's face appeared around one side as he peered at her, cheeks puffed out with food,

"Off wong iff oo?"

She snuffled mightily, the goop gurgling in her nasal cavity,

"I'b idfected."

Vegeta started as she blew her nose, a loud wet sound. He swallowed before speaking again,

"Then cure yourself." He smirked, "You always claim to be a genius."

Bulma glowered at him while she flicked the kettle on,

"In electronics, not medicine. There is no cure for flu, just lots of rest and fluids," she fluttered her eyelashes coyly at him, "And affection."

Vegeta raised an eyebrow before retreating out of sight and reaching for another sandwich. Bulma smiled as she prepared her soothing drink; yeah right, Vegeta show affection to anyone, now that made her smile.

***

"Stupid generator."

Vegeta walked into the house, a white, damp towel draping limply around his neck.

"Can't stand the weakest of attacks any more."

He wiped the light sheen of sweat from his brow,

"She needs to upgrade that piece of crap."

Grabbing an orange on his way through the kitchen, he headed to Bulma's workshop.

Entering the dimly lit work-room, the sight that greeted him caused him to drop the fruit he was peeling and dash to the large bench in the middle of the room; Bulma was laying face down on the floor beside it. She'd clearly fallen from the high stool that was now lying on it's side and she was unconscious. Vegeta shook her gently,

"Woman? Woman! Bulma!"

No answer. Rolling her onto her back, he leaned down so his cheek was inches from her mouth. He relaxed as he felt her breath on his face; it was probably just this strange human virus that had made her pass out.

Lifting her into his arms, he exited the basement and carried her back up into the house. Silently gliding up the stairs - it was late and he didn't want to wake her parents; her mother's high-pitched fussing was hard enough to endure during the day, let alone when he was ready to sleep - he took her to her room and lay her on the bed.

She moaned as she drifted back to consciousness and opened her eyes to find Vegeta holding out a glass of water.

"Drink this."

She rubbed at her head, "What happened? How did I get here?" and tried to push away the glass.

"I brought you. I was coming to demand upgrades for that lousy excuse for a training center when I found you on the floor of your work room. It would appear that your weak human body crumpled under the strain of a little virus."

Too weak to retort, Bulma woosily sat upright and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. While Vegeta turned away to replace the glass on the nightstand, Bulma stood up and swayed a little, feeling the colour drain from her face. Vegeta turned back to her and quickly grabbed her arm as her knees gave.

"Steady! Kami, you're as white as a sheet."

She bit her lip and closed her eyes, "I'll be alright in a-"

"No you won't. Sit down."

She flopped back down on the soft mattress and allowed him to push her down into a laying position. He bent to remove her boots and pulled the covers over her.

"Sleep."

He moved to the door, and was about to turn out the light when she whimpered his name. He turned back to find her staring at him, tears in her eyes and her teeth chattering.

"P-please don't leave me alone."

He scowled, "Woman, I'm tired, you're ill, we both need sleep and we'd only keep each other awake."

A fat tear escaped and rolled across her cheek to be absorbed by her pillow. With a resigned sigh and a roll of his eyes, Vegeta came back into the room.

Stripping off his boots, gloves and sweaty shirt, he slipped under the covers and curled up at the edge of the bed with his back to her. He felt the bed shift as she moved and jumped as her arm snaked over his middle. Pulling herself closer, she spooned up behind him, fitting her shivering body to his stiff, shocked one.

She felt so shitty, tonight was not a time for arguments; she just wanted the feeling that she wasn't alone, and to be comforted. Maybe that was too much to hope for with Vegeta, but it couldn't hurt to try and force at least a bit of compassion from the cold prince.

As she cuddled his tense frame, she gradually felt him relax and shift so he fitted more comfortably to her. Burying her drowsy face into the back of his neck, she was lulled to sleep by his soft, almost inaudible purrs.

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Doc: Ahh, see, Vegeta? You can be nice.

Vegeta: *arms crossed, scowling, trying to look menacing, managing only to look like an angry chibi* Piss off.

Doc: CHIIIBIIIIIII!!!!!!! *chases Vegeta*

Vegeta: ACK! Get away from me you freak! *Runs away*