Silence Calling

Bunny blithered on in the background as Bulma ignored her mother and set the tray of tea and cookies on the glass table that had been taken outside for the first warm spring afternoon. Her eyes were trained on something in the near distance as Bunny commented on the latest issue of a magazine, and Bulma hmmed in a noncommittal reply, tucking her hair behind her ear.

There he was, minding his own business, reclining against a tree and flipping through some rather large papers that she assumed must be blueprints. Vegeta had taken her aback when he'd expressed interest in reviewing the plans for the next space capsule they were building – and the Saiyan had never seemed interested in anything that didn't resemble food or a gravity machine. The idea that he had gone to her father for the plans rubbed her the wrong way though, and then she found herself irritated that she was annoyed in the first place. Vicious circle.

"Do you think all Saiyans are born that bulky?" Bunny interrupted in a gentle tone, but her blue-haired daughter jerked in surprise anyway.

"Er - " Bulma stammered, disconcerted at both her mother's sudden proximity and her obvious peeping, "Maybe? Goku always was..."

A wrinkle formed between Bunny's brows as she grasped Bulma's shoulders and peered over at their houseguest. "He's rather distinguished isn't he? Even when he's relaxed," Bunny murmured conspiratorially. "I don't remember little Goku ever acting very much like Mr. Vegeta."

Bulma's mouth twitched up. "They're like two different species, Momma," she agreed, leaning her head slightly against the blonde's. "Goku is practically an over-grown human, whereas Vegeta… He's definitely an alien."

Turning her grasp into a hug, Bunny held her daughter as they stood uncharacteristically close. "Do you think he's happy, honey?" Bunny asked softly in her ear. Bulma shrugged in answer, and her mother let out a long breath. "Well, I suppose only time heals things."

The young scientist swiveled her head in mild astonishment. "That's what you think about him? That he's in need of healing?"

It was Bunny's turn to shrug as she released Bulma and made her way to her chair, lifting her teacup with delicate fingers as she sat. "Oh it's not like that's big news." A cheshire cat smile curled its way onto her painted lips and she peered under her eyelashes at her daughter. "Or are you telling me that hasn't crossed your mind?"

Joining her mother at the table, Bulma bit back the impulse to roll her eyes. There was nothing Bunny loved more than knowing something her genius daughter didn't. "Goku told me some of the things Vegeta confessed up on Namek. I know he's had it rough." She broke off with a glance towards the tree. They had both kept their voices low, understanding that his Saiyan ears might pick up their carried tones. "I mean, I think he practically grew up with Frieza."

"I think 'rough' might be putting it rather mildly, based on what you've told me about that monster," Bunny countered. "Plus, Mr. Vegeta is like a lost puppy, always lashing out. Waiting for the next hit to fall on his back." She paused and tapped a fingernail against the china. "Not that you seem to have noticed."

"What?" Bulma protested rather loudly, and then checked herself, teeth grinding together. "What do you mean? I follow that jerk and his pile of broken bots all over the damn grounds and never hear ONE thank you! I think I have been very patient with him and I think you're dreaming if you consider one of the greatest annihilators of planets to be a little puppy, Momma."

Bunny sniffed, examining a cookie. "You and your father have all the technological brains in the world but have no sense when it comes to your people skills."

"I'll have you know people adore me!" Bulma yipped indignantly, mirroring her teenage self for a moment.

Dropping the cookie, Bunny looked back at her daughter with a soft smile and covered her hand with her own. "Of course they do," she soothed, "What's not to love? I just mean that you two don't consider other people as... as leniently as you could."

Bulma snorted, barely mollified. "Why would I need to do that guy any favors? He'd burn this place to the ground tomorrow if it would please His Majesty."

"And who, might I ask, has taught him his manners?" Bunny chided, her voice taking the quizzing tone of a teacher.

Bulma glowered. "...Frieza, I guess," she finally muttered.

"That's right. And who has taught him how to play well with others?"

"...Frieza."

"And who has taught Ms. Bulma Briefs how to treat others kindly?"

"You have, Momma, and I get it - "

Bunny cut her off. "And who is a guest in this house and has never even lived on this planet before and doesn't know our culture or our ways of life?" she pressed, catching her daughter's hand in her own and squeezing with reassurance.

Something in Bulma's chest released and she sighed, knowing when to back down from a battle. "I get it," she repeated, clutching her mother's hand back.

"Do you?" Bunny asked with a tilt of her head. "I swear, you can memorize an encyclopedia but the things I tell you seem to slip right out between those precious ears of yours!"

A wavering smile passed over Bulma's lips. "Yes, Momma. I do. Vegeta doesn't know how to be nice to people because no one taught him how and he's an insufferable jerk because of it. So I should give him a break."

"Ah… no," Bunny replied with a frown, withdrawing her hand to take a sip of tea. "I don't mean you should give him a break. I mean you should help him."

Bulma blinked in surprise. "Help him what? I've already been assigned to fix all of his stupid training tech – what else do you want from me?"

"Help him settle in, honey! Show him what it means to be a part of our home and world!" Bunny gushed fervently, spreading her arms to indicate what Bulma assumed must be the entire human race and its planet. Her voice stayed hushed in its excitement, and she eyed the Saiyan across the yard, making sure he wasn't paying them attention. "He's never going to heal if he stays all alone like that."

Bulma glanced over at the man too as he flipped over the blueprints with a one-track mind. "He likes being alone. He can't get enough of it."

"Unlikely," Bunny chided with a dismissive wave of her hand. "That's what he wants us to think. Why, I bet he's fairly confused on how to act around us!"

"He has literally slammed a door on my face before," Bulma protested, straightening in her chair. "He almost broke my nose!"

"All little boys want to pull little girls' pigtails, Bulma."

Her daughter lifted a finger to point at the Saiyan. "Do you see that man? That is a world – no – universe class killer, Momma. That is no 'boy.'"

Bunny studied her daughter over the top of her teacup before she set it down. "And every man is just a little boy in a larger package. They don't change much."

With a groan, Bulma grabbed a cookie and unceremoniously bit into it. "You just don't get who he is."

"No," Bunny admonished, "You just don't get what he's doing. Now listen to me. You know I will never match you for wits any day, but you can't match me for common sense on a good day either." She continued over an irritated growl from her daughter. "Don't argue. It's true. Only one of us dated a desert bandit on a whim or thought it would be a good idea to go sail around planets when monsters were waiting to eat her up. And only one of us has been sweet to that poor boy over there."

The younger woman glowered up at her mother as she swallowed her bite.

That Cheshire smile crept back over Bunny's red lips. "That's better. Now I insist that you try to be a little more understanding with Mr. Vegeta from now on. I think it will be good practice for you, honey. You've got to get married one of these days and patience is a virtue!"

Bulma didn't trust herself to respond and instead crossed her arms, looking away to the man under the tree. Her irritation burned her cheeks, but some part of her reasoned that her mother was generally correct about people. She was probably correct about Vegeta. She might be correct about herself. Maybe.

Bunny studied her daughter for a moment before she continued: "Just think what it must be like for him. I don't even know how he learned our language or learned how to read, but he's a Prince of a whole other world who has been – I suppose – stranded of sorts on a strange planet." She waited until Bulma's softened gaze returned her way. "What does he even do in his spare time, Bulma? I sure don't know. He must be unbelievably lonely. After all this time I've still never seen him with any new friends – and certainly not yours," she finished, the gentle admonishment clear.

Suddenly uncomfortable, Bulma shifted in her seat. She wasn't the type to sit around and consider other people' feelings too often. It was much easier to breeze through life bowling people over and making things happen. But Bunny's words caused guilt to bubble up into her stomach. How many times had she seen Vegeta stalk off when she invited her friends over for dinner? Her eyes slid over to her mother, who was staring owlishly back at her. "It's... it's not my fault he's so damn unsociable," she said, twisting her napkin in her lap.

"Of course not," Bunny replied, "There's no reason he should feel comfortable joining you."

Bulma managed to feel worse now. The memory of her invitation for him to stay with them flashed back in her mind. She had been so open and cheery, telling him to lighten up, commenting on his attractiveness, setting him off-balance – and then she had teased him later with that pink shirt. A blush creeped up her cheeks. She supposed... perhaps he didn't have much of a good reason to feel at ease around her. Silence filled the space between mother and daughter as she contemplated her actions over the past months.

Bunny, however, was undaunted. "Do you understand what I'm saying now?" she chirped, her characteristic bimbo mask sliding back over her face.

Bulma nodded weakly. "I guess I have some making up to do."

"You could have some making out to do if you do it right!" Bunny giggled, and Bulma blanched in horror.

"Keep your voice down!" she hissed, not bothering to object to her mother's fantasy.

"I'm just saying – maybe he needs a little sexual healing too!"

"Oh, God, Momma - "

Bunny and Bulma froze, the daughter's hand slapped over the mother's mouth as a certain someone abruptly stood up from his tree and looked their way in consternation. A moment of silence passed as the three people looked from one another until a snort erupted from Bulma's mouth. Then the dam broke and the two women howled with laughter at one another, tears streaming down their cheeks.

Not sure what the fuss was about, but very sure he didn't want to know, Vegeta turned away with a snap of his teeth and retreated.

A/N: This'll be a short and sweet one that's been floating around in my head. Look out for an update soon for Something in the Water!