Chapter 2 - Painful to the touch
He didn't feel like eating.
Vegeta stared at sandwiches on his plate with apathy. He had been training since dawn and hadn't eaten anything yet, he was really hungry. However the thought of biting, chewing and swallowing nauseated him. He took a sip of coffee and scowled.
His nightmares were back. His daemons were back, haunting him, taking sleep away. He should have got used to them through all of these years, but somehow he couldn't. There were times he tried to forbear himself from sleep. Vegeta thought about Namek. That was working well enough, he only took one short nap and he was able to function normally. No nightmares for almost a week. He was snapped out of his thoughts suddenly.
"Why aren't you eating, Vegeta? Don't you like it?" - he could hear concern in her voice. He didn't like it at all.
"I'm just… not hungry" - Vegeta rolled his eyes. Why didn't she mind her own business?
"Of course you are, I can hear your stomach from here" - she leaned over the table and look him in the eyes - "What's wrong, Vegeta?" - her high voice was soft, softer than usual. It somehow calmed him a bit.
She was studying his face. Vegeta didn't move a muscle, his eyes locked on hers.
"I said I'm not hungry. You can have them if you want" - he pushed the plate in her direction. Bulma didn't move for an inch. He was shirtless, his muscular chest still dripping with sweat, just as usual. But something wasn't right this time. His skin was pale, almost grey, and he had dark shadows under his eyes.
"Vegeta… have you slept well last night? You look tired" - Bulma's voice was filled with worry. That angered Vegeta a lot - he didn't need this weak human's pity. Especially she hit a raw nerve, even if not knowing it.
"I am fine. Don't you have anything better to do?" - he hissed, fighting a sudden urge to blow something up.
Bulma touched his hand and squeezed it gently. His skin was so smooth, smoother than she would ever imagine.
"I'm worried about you. You don't look good, Vegeta. Is something wrong?" - she asked, stroking his palm involuntarily. He suddenly whipped his hand out of hers and looked at her with rage.
"Don't touch me. You stink with him, that pathetic male of yours" - his voice was husky and filled with hostility. Bulma flinched at the insult.
"I just wanted to be kind to you, you don't need to raise your voice" - Bulma turned around, taking his plate away. She threw the sandwiches to the trash angrily.
"Fair enough. Do as you wish. Starve yourself and train to death, if that is your will. Maybe you'll collapse in gravity room and bleed to death, see if I care".
Vegeta stood up abruptly, heading to the door.
"Jerk…" - he could hear her whispering the invective. He was clenching and unclenching his fists, desperately trying to breathe calmly.
Suddenly he felt it, her stare on his back. He knew exactly what she was looking at. Vegeta quickened his pace and left Bulma in the kitchen with hands shaking imperceptibly.
A/N Please, let me know what you think about it. I'm waiting for your reviews and comments eagerly. ;-)