Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z.
An: Happy New Year!
Warning: Blatant Shounen ai. Kind of. I mean, Bulma is reborn as a man. Bad grammar and spelling issues too since English isn't my first language.
Summary: Everyone knows that Saiyans have a long life. When Bulma is reborn, Vegeta finds himself with the annoying task of wooing Bulma all over again.
Second Chances Changes Nothing and Everything
Chapter 10: Of perception and hacking
Vegeta hated asking for favors, especially when it involved Kakarrot or one of his brats. But of all things considered it could have been worst. Gohan was the one member of the family that had any brain cells. He was consequently also the one member of the family that Vegeta could tolerate. Three minutes after Vegeta called, the boy promptly arrived with his medical bag.
Gohan looked over Bloomer's unconscious figure.
"It's just a little fever," Gohan announced after the check-up. "It was probably brought on by lack of sleep and malnutrition. Just make sure he goes to bed at a regular time and eat daily and he should be fine in a few days. Some over the counter medicine should work to reduce the fever."
Gohan looked at the bed in wonder. He was probably thinking of his own mother and whether she could be out there somewhere.
"I got one mother back at least," Gohan said. Bulma was like a second mother to him. As old as he was, there was a boyish look of wonder on his face. Before he left, he told Vegeta to call him if anything happens.
Vegeta curtly nodded.
He sent one of the maids out to the pharmacy. When she arrived back with the medicine, Vegeta sat the bottle on the nightstand and he waited.
The boy ended up sleeping for most of the day, badly tossing and turning. He woke up around midnight from another feverish dream and reached up to covered his eyes with an arm.
Vegeta could hear his rattled breaths.
"Why," the boy mummer tiredly. "does it seem like I pass out whenever you're nearby?"
"You're just that weak," Vegeta replied back. He didn't move from his perch by the window. "The physician said to take the medicine on the nightstand."
He watched from the corner of his eyes as the boy struggled to sit up. The boy, with a tremblings hand, reached out and took the two blue capsules. "These aren't roofies, are they?"
"Take it or I'll shove it down your throat, boy," Vegeta growled.
"Ok. Alright," the boy swallowed the pills and took a sip from a glass of water. He laid back down and closed his eyes.
"Bloomer," he said after a long moment. "Don't call me boy. My name is Bloomer."
"I'll call you whatever I want," Vegeta snorted.
"Jackass," the boy muttered. "Wait. Where are you going?"
His eyes shot wide open when he noticed Vegeta heading towards the door.
"Out," Vegeta deadpan.
"You're leaving?" the boy got tangled in the sheets. "Wait! I'm sorry. Don't go."
He fell out of bed in a panic.
Vegeta grabbed the boy up by the underarms and tucked him back underneath the covers.
"Don't go," the boy grabbed his shirt in a tight grip.
Vegeta reluctantly sat on the edge of the bed.
"Sorry," the boy looked pained. "I just..keep me company, will you? I don't want the nightmares to come back."
"Whatever," Vegeta retorted.
He saw the way the boy's entire body shook. The expression on the boy's face was strained as he stared up into the ceiling. Vegeta stayed until the boy's eyes closed shut. When the boy's breath evened, he walked out and made his way to Bulma's old workshop.
He heard the sound of heavy metal music blasting through the walls.
"Bra."
The pair of legs sticking from underneath the contraption tapped in rhythm much to Vegeta's annoyance. He reached over and turned off the stereo.
"Bra!"
"Hi, Daddy," came the cheerfully reply. Bra scooted herself from underneath the machine and smiled brightly.
His normally impeccable daughter was dressed in old overalls. Her hair was tied back and there was a pair of thick, oval frame glasses perched on her nose. An oil stain streaked across her cheek. She had a happy look on her face when she saw her father. Bra is probably the only person on earth who always glad to see him.
Vegeta fondly patted her on the head.
"I need you to find some information for me."
"Oh?" Her eyes gleamed.
Vegeta pointed to the machine sitting in the corner. "On that thing."
"On the computer?" Her voice was slightly amused. "Ok."
She grabbed him by the hand and excitingly hustled him over. She cracked her knuckles and took a seat. "So...what do you want to know?"
The machine whirred to life.
"Everything about Bloomer Long John. Things that aren't in the public records."
"You want me to hack into the police data base?" she asked.
"Police, government, I don't care. Get me the information," Vegeta ordered.
Bra didn't make a move.
Vegeta gave a long-suffering sigh. "I'll buy that new purse you've been hinting at."
"Here we go," Bra grinned. Her fingers moved rapidly. "Just out of curiosity, daddy. Why not ask Trunks for help?"
"Your brother is being a stubborn fool right now," Vegeta sneered. He doubt his obstinate son would help.
'The best thing for mom is for you to leave her in peace. She's a different person now. She'll be happier without you there to make her cry.'
"Like father like son, huh?" Bra remarked.
For a moment, he had forgotten that Bra was a lot like her mother. They were too perceptive for their own good at times.
"This might take a while," she said.
Vegeta nodded. "Let me know."
"I will." Her eyes went back to the screen as the symbols flashed. "Daddy?"
She turned her body so that she was facing him.
"I hope everything works out," she said. "You deserve to be happy."
"If it doesn't, I have you," he said.
It would be the only time he allowed himself to be sentimental.
"But I'm not enough, am I?"
She looked knowingly at him.
Vegeta scowled and left without a word.
