Guys, it's pretty surreal. We all are writing our own stories while real life is illustrating it's own story, and this part is getting pretty ugly for us out there past our quarantines.
The C-virus is in full effect and it's restricting a lot of our movement, and that's crazy to me. So you think "Well that means Elbordony will have plenty of time to write while the virus sweeps across the States!" Maybe...but not so fast dear readers. I will be sure to write, but it doesn't guarantee I will be posting more, just writing and developing more. I've been developing the next part of the story and getting things fleshed out, because I don't want to spam you all with chapters that are shit lol I'm trying to keep consistent tone and plot points relevant without plot holes-that kind of stuff. So quality can be assured ? **It was my birthday yesterday so I'm posting today**

****Now let's see how this phone convo will go with Chi-Chi. Everybody gets to learn something new!***

"Hey Chi! What's new?" Bulma asked when Chi-Chi answered her phone.

"Not much, B…same old same old. Except now that Goku has that tail you gave him, he's been picking things up with it non-stop-including me! He's been driving me nuts and having too much fun if you ask me. He and Gohan are outside training now, giving me a moment's peace," Bulma heard her sigh through the phone.

Bulma quieted her giggling on her friend's behalf.

"Huh. Well at least it's working and his body didn't reject the tail. I promise you that would be worse. Um so, any who…I have some news to tell you."

"Okay, shoot."

"Are you sitting down?" Bulma asked, knowing how trigger-happy Chi-Chi's emotions were.

"Uh, I can…why what's-" Bulma heard her gasp audibly on the line, "Are you pregnant?!"

"What? No-Chi just sit down and let me tell you what I have to say!" Bulma huffed impatiently.

"Okay, Okay. Geeze."

Bulma took a breath and slowly let it out.

"Okay so… I uh, got married! Well sort of," Bulma told her awkwardly.

"WHAT? YOU'RE MARRIED NOW? When did that happen? Wait, why sort of?"

"Well…according to Saiyan culture, I'm married. But by human culture-not quite there yet."

"Saiyan, huh? And which Saiyan could possibly that be?" Chi-Chi asked, though her tone suggested she already knew the answer.

Bulma knew how she felt about Vegeta. But she was gonna have to get over it.

"Well uh…you'll never believe this but he's a prince! And has this gravity-defying hair, and is really dedicated-"

"Just stop it Bulma-I know who it is! You-you're married to Vegeta? This is crazy! I can't even fathom- How? When? Wh-"

"Chi! Chill out. That's not all the news! I have more," She told her with growing anxiety.

"What could possibly top what you've already told me?" Chi-Chi asked with bewilderment.

"Well, I wish I could talk to you in person about this, but Vegeta won't let me go alone and-"

"Oh that is rich. Wow, so protective…almost like he never threatened each of our lives six months ago….hmm…"

"I get it, Chi. When we can chat in person, I'll explain things better. So, to get back to the point-when you married Goku…did you experience any…burning? Particularly in the neck region?"

"Um, no can't say that I did."

Bulma shifted to sit on top of the operating table.

"So did he ever bite you?"

"What kind of question is that, Bulma? No. Goku never bit me," Chi-Chi said, sounding affronted.

"Oh. Well I guess that makes sense."

"What makes sense?"

"Why you haven't died from Goku being gone all the time. You guys aren't "Saiyan" married."

Bulma sensed a pause as Chi-Chi processed the information.

"Bulma…are you in trouble? Are you saying Vegeta bit you and triggered this…curse thing?" Chi-Chi asked, genuinely concerned for her best friend.

Bulma sighed.

"He didn't know it was going to hurt me. In Saiyan culture, a Saiyan will bite their chosen mate, and their mate bites them in return. I'm human, and I guess to go against their tradition and mate with an outsider is so taboo, there's a curse attached to my end if he isn't in physical contact with me for a certain length of time."

"Oh…huh. That's too bad. Sounds like you literally got the short end of the stick. And not to sound like, racist or anything but you do know that sounds pretty barbaric right?"

"Well maybe…"

But Bulma felt something deeper than just perceived misfortune and barbarism. Bulma felt she finally understood the weight and the meaning of their relationship. Vegeta was so sure of himself that he staked his own life on things working out. Hell or high water, they were in this together. This curse was a setback, but nothing they couldn't handle. She felt determination returning to her now, and it made it harder to stay on the phone.

"Bulma, dear…are you still there?"

"Y-Yeah…hey listen, I gotta go…more stuff to work on. Talk to ya soon, okay?"

"Okay, yeah, you better keep me posted, Bulma Briefs-"

Bulma didn't hear her friend's final sentence as she hung up and set to work on new plans. Plans to help make her stronger.

She worked through dinner, and her indication of that was when Vegeta sat her meal down on the workstation in front of her, the tap of the porcelain plate touching wood pulled her head up from her notations.

"Thanks," Bulma said, reaching for the plate.

"What information did you manage to glean from Goku's harpy?" Vegeta smirked, earning him a glare from Bulma.

She picked up her fork and began pecking at some beans.

"You mean Chi-Chi? She doesn't know-she was never bitten."

"Kakarot never bit his mate? What kind of Saiyan…well, that actually makes sense. Didn't you mention he hit his head as an infant?"

Bulma nodded, popping food into her mouth.

"So I wouldn't consider him to be someone who utilizes his ancestral instincts…other than using his insatiable need to fight, " he continued as he took to casually pacing the floor.

Bulma shrugged.

"What I understand is that if I was Saiyan, I wouldn't be burning. There really isn't that much to this whole ordeal."

"Yes, but it presents a danger to us if we're separated. If you die…I'm next in line," Vegeta said with a grimace.

Bulma got up and stood before him, grabbing him to still his movements. She aligned them by squaring her shoulders evenly with his.

"I'm not going to die."

"But Bulma…your species is so fragile. You became a liability to me as soon as we formed our bond. I'm going to need to hone my focus if I am to take on those blasted androids. "

Bulma felt that statement like it was a slap across the face. A liability. That's what he's reducing her to?

"That's what I am? A liability?"

He grabbed her before she could take off. He held her closely to his body while still maintaining eye contact.

"Think logically. Your physiology makes it hard to fight with or for you… if I must leave, you will be forced to come with me, and so on and so forth! You must understand what is at stake-I can't afford to lose you!"

He brought their foreheads together with the ending of his statement. He wanted her to feel his anguish, to understand that this was more than just his life that he was tasked with caring for. He wanted to show her how he felt about her, in which Bulma learned ran deeper than words could manage to express.

With their eyes closed, she allowed herself to transfer her emotions over to him as well, so that he could see and understand that this was hard for her, too.

With their bond, her pain and fear would become known. This she could no longer hide behind her angry outbursts. But in turn he was be able to give her strength and courage. They were united in every sense of the word now, and it was a powerful tool; it gave him the ability to lift her spirit and despite their hardship, make her feel undeniably connected. She would never be alone, and neither would he.

He sent these thoughts to her, and she held him tighter in response, trying not to emotionally come apart.

A solitary tear rolled down her cheek, and as she turned to hide her face, he gently stopped her, stroking his thumb under her eye, stifling its flow.

"I do understand what you are feeling, Bulma. I just want us to be smart about this."

"Right. Okay, Vegeta," she sniffled.

He tilted her chin up to give her a peck on the lips before releasing her altogether.

"Quit your tears. There's no need to cry. Did she say anything else of importance?" He asked her, adjusting his attire and crossing his arms.

Just like that he was back to his default setting-scowling and distant.

She almost laughed at his sudden shift. Old habits die hard, she mused.

"Other than how barbaric your race sounds, no, not really," she stated, already feeling much better. She checked her nails with faux interest, ready for his response.

Vegeta rolled his eyes and frowned.

"What part of being from a 'warrior race' was not grasped? Honestly, you humans are so delicate, what's next…are you going to tell me a human wedding requires frilly flowers and jewels?" He scoffed, crossing his arms.

Bulma put her hand over her mouth to keep from breaking out in giggles.

"Wow, you uh…well you know what, honey-I'm going to leave that up to you to figure out."

Vegeta grunted and rolled his shoulders, finding them to be a little stiff.

"Whatever. Let's go upstairs. I had a tense training session and I need those magic fingers of yours to work out some…knots," he said with a smirk.

She smiled at what he was hinting at. "Of course. And the sex is a given-you promised."

He frowned and reddened with her blatant lewdness as he marched himself back out of the lab and tried not to think too hard about the night's future events, lest he show way too much enthusiasm in front of her parents as they were sure to be seen, and never had a normal, non-annoying meal in front of the pair ever again.

She followed him, keeping her distance for the sake of appearances as they made their way around the living room to avoid her mom and dad, who were currently focused on the television.

They made their way up the stairs when Panchy caught sight of them.

"Goodnight, dears! Sweet dreams!" Panchy said over the back of the couch she was sitting on next to Chaps, who was still too focused on the show they were watching to turn around.

"Night, mom. Dad ," addressing her father with a slightly different tone.

"Goodnight, Bulma, try not to be so loud this time, I'm trying to watch my show," he called to her over his shoulder.

Bulma hiked it up the stairs at double the speed, blushing furiously the whole way to her bedroom.

Vegeta was already stripping himself down when Bulma made it inside and shut the door behind her.

"I'm sound-proofing this room." She told him decisively, taking her own clothes off to join him in bed.

"Good."

Vegeta pulled her under him, and she grabbed his face, pulling him down to crash her lips against his at last. He deepened the kiss, pushing his tongue in past her lips, her response being to suck on it hard, causing him to moan into her mouth. He tested how ready she was between her legs, and she didn't disappoint, her slick thighs more than indicated her arousal for him.

But she had other plans.

"Didn't you say you had some knots? Want me to try to work them out?" Bulma asked innocently.

"W-what?" Vegeta asked, momentarily disarmed as she motioned for him to move. He hesitated before allowing her to maneuver herself to sit on top of his back.

She began pressing underneath his shoulder blades and down his spine, and it was then that Vegeta added another favorite to his list.

He was practically purring as she worked her fingers across his broad back, trying to not put a lot of pressure into the more heavily scarred areas in his skin, ones which piqued Bulma's interest in their origination.

"Where did this one come from?" She put her finger on a rather long scar across his upper torso.

"Frieza issued a public execution for Raditz, which turned out to be a test of allegiance for me and the remaining Saiyans-a gauge of how willing I was as a leader to put my life on the line. I was whipped heavily in his place and was told I only bent my knee to serve Lord Frieza, not for the betterment of our brethren or even on behalf of the whole. Frieza laughed as I was punished for my fealty. It was a psyop… psychological operation...trickery. That was one of Frieza's favorite ways to infiltrate...the mind."

Bulma felt him shudder underneath her-and not from her hands out of pleasure.

She was sure that over the course of their marriage and through their bond, she was bound to experience more of this caliber of recollection.

She would have to be strong to not break under the awareness of that knowledge.

"I'm sorry." She offered. In her mind, a band-aid for a bullet wound. But what else could she offer to unwitnessed atrocities?

She felt him sigh.

"Why? I never understand this about you humans-you didn't cause my pain so don't apologize," he chastised.

She rolled her eyes.

"We say it to show we are sorry you had to deal with something, not because we caused it, but to show empathy," she explained.

He remained silent, and as she took her fingers and scratched up his spine to repeatedly scratch his scalp, she felt him relax again.

"You liked that?" She asked.

Vegeta hummed his approval as she repeated the cycle of spine-to-scalp scratches.

After she attacked his knots and loosened him up, he grew tired of this interaction and wanted to sate a deeper yearning. He showed this by flipping them over suddenly, Bulma back underneath him again and he began attacking her mouth with fervent kissing.

"Thank you," he told her between kisses, and she moaned in affirmation.

When he plunged into her at last, she screamed his name, followed by the immediate clamping of his hand over her mouth.

"The room isn't sound-proof yet, woman!" He hissed.

He heard her apologize behind his fingers and, in no time at all, he set a pace that had her toes curling.

She couldn't vocalize her appreciation now, since he kept his hand firm over her lips, but she was telling him with her eyes just what he was doing to her body.

Their eye contact charged the moment with an intimate energy; her looking up at him and Vegeta's eyes almost gentle but focused on his task as he sent them higher over that blessed, blissful edge.

He felt close to his release now, and he removed his hand from her mouth to replace it with his lips, Bulma moaning into his mouth. Something they both forgot about made its presence known from around Vegeta's waist as he relaxed the coiling of his tail and began rubbing the end of it into her clit.

This immediately alarmed Bulma, eyes blown wide, but Vegeta kept going despite her gasps of surprise, which turned into moans as he worked her over.

I missed my tail, he told her through their bond.

She only nodded, taken aback and thoroughly impressed with his speed and precision.

She met her release first and Vegeta was sure of that before plummeting with his own right behind her, spending himself deep inside her.

He rolled off her sometime after their passionate frisk so that she could get up and clean herself, as it was uncomfortable (and gross) to stay wet like that for too long. She returned from her bathroom and settled herself back down on their bed, and was immediately met with two strong arms, pulling her into his embrace.

She smiled.

"Geeze, protective, much?"

Very, he replied languidly.

She liked how his voice felt through their connection. It contrasted his gruff physical exterior, giving her warming sensations from her head and nestling in her chest.

It surprised her that he was comfortably communicating this way but considering everything that had been transpiring between them and….hello…alien husband-anything was fair game now in her book.

She felt so warm in his embrace…and his whole body was one big heater so she wouldn't freeze. It was the right amount of heat, and she could feel him gently nudging her through their bond.

"Yes, I'm ready for bed now. Goodnight…I love you."

I…Vios ranmalrey.

Bulma blinked with surprise. She understood a good portion of his language by now, though she hadn't heard it in a while, she had a pretty good idea on what that meant. She grinned so wide her cheeks were hurting. He finally said it!

She decided he never needed to say it out loud if she could hear him through their bond. She felt his breathing even out behind her, and nuzzled herself against him, finding herself comfortably nodding off.


When she woke up, she found herself moving.

She lifted her drowsy eyelids and found that her body was in a vehicle.

She felt her heart drop as she inwardly panicked.

Where the hell am I…

She turned her head, and in the driver's seat, determinedly focused on the road and not at his kidnapped companion, was none other than Yamcha.

"Yamcha?! What the fuck you weirdo!"

"Bulma, you gotta chill out, okay? I'm helping you."

"Helping me-what's wrong with me?! Yamcha, where am I, where's Vegeta?!"

"Chi-Chi called me yesterday about your predicament, and I took matters into my own hands. I remembered Vegeta would go work out in the morning…I grabbed you after I knew he'd be gone and no one was awake. I hope you were okay with me dressing you… I have you now- you're safe. I'm taking you to Chi-Chi's!"

"Okay-no. Turn around and bring me back to my husband please."

Yamcha froze.

"What? Husband…you're married to...to him? Chi-Chi didn't mention that...when did that happen?" Yamcha asked nervously.

"Chi-Chi didn't mention it-or did you not give her a chance to tell you?" Bulma said with scrutiny.

Yamcha was visibly shaken now, realizing the monumental mistake he made. His heart fell into the pit of his stomach as he realized what's been done.

"When did it happen? How…you didn't even tell anyone!" He exclaimed.

Bulma gave a long-suffering sigh.

"Consider it Saiyan eloping. You better bring me back to my place or you're sealing your fate right now. You know Vegeta is going to be royally pissed off when he breaks for lunch. And that's in like…an hour. If he doesn't already know I'm gone, that is."

Yamcha was freaking out at this point, anxiously gripping the steering wheel of his shiny red convertible, afraid of what the Saiyan might do to it-or him once Vegeta found out about what he had done.

He thought he had this all planned out after Chi-Chi called to relay the news to him.

He maybe hung up before she could give him full details, but he couldn't stand the fact that she was possibly being held hostage or something by that evil Saiyan prince!

Although he still felt like he needed to act and save Bulma-this definitely complicated the plan.

"See, you kidnapped me-and you don't even know the whole picture! I'm in danger-right now, the further you take me away from him. I'm going to burn up if I'm gone from him for too long. There's this curse involved…and you didn't even realize…you're such an idiot." She finished, palms pressed to her face and swearing crossly under her breath.

"Then talk to me, B! I want to know you really are safe! The others are asking about you, too. They want to know." He said, trying to find his cool.

Tien. Piccolo. Dende. Of course they want to know. Yamcha was just the front runner. He was the closest one to me…Right. This was a rescue mission, thought Bulma with some deliberation.

The Z-Fighters might be focused on preparing, but they always have their ears to the ground, in case there are any other kinds of threats around the Earth. Including if they heard a certain alien prince has caused any sort of trouble around Capsule Corp.

She shot her pointer finger up at a diner that came into view on the corner of the street ahead of them.

"Stop there and we'll talk. Then you will take me back home," she demanded. After a pause, Yamcha nodded and pulled his car off the road and over to the restaurant.

Yamcha got out and, for the first time, Bulma realized her ankles were tied together.

She tumbled out gracelessly into the parking lot.

"Y-YAMCHA, WHAT THE HELL?!"

He quickly ran over to her and helped untie her.

"I'm sorry, it was just a precaution, I didn't know if I'd get you to come willingly, it made it easier to put you in the car!

"Yeah well I literally just busted my ass after willingly agreeing to eat lunch with you! Gosh you're dumb. This whole thing is so stupid," she spat angrily.

Yamcha helped her up and they walked into the diner.

They sat down and Yamcha looked at the menu while ignoring the death glare he was receiving from Bulma.

She picked up her menu after realizing how hungry she was.

"I'm still hating you. But a girl's gotta eat, and you kidnapped me without my wallet so you get to pay for my sandwich," Bulma huffed.

Yamcha rolled his eyes and continued to search for what he wanted. The waitress walked over and served them their waters. They ordered their food, and with no more distractions, Yamcha started thinking of questions to ask her.

"So…what happened?"

"Vegeta asked me to marry him and long story short I said yes." She stated bluntly.

"Where did he even get the idea to marry you from?"

Bulma shrugged, toying with her straw wrapper.

"I don't know, he wanted to? I was the only human he wanted to tolerate basically."

"Gee, that's really romantic," he said sarcastically.

She squinted at him. "It's better than being one of many… you liked to play on and off the field."

Yamcha diverted his attention to look out the window.

"Look. I'm not here to fight with you, Bulma. I get it…I was an idiot and I messed up my chance. But this whole plan was to make sure you were okay. Chi-Chi told me to check on you and that you could potentially be in trouble. Not married," he confessed.

"Vegeta knew what he wanted. Just like he always does. He wants to train and ascend? He does it. He wants to marry me? He does it. I like that about him. He's focused and determined…it was refreshing, and I fell for him. When he bit me and triggered the curse, it wasn't intentional. He acted on instinct, and now not only are we linked through our bond, I can't leave him for more than a couple hours or my body breaks into a feverish heat and I burn until I die."

"Yeah, you sure sound safe to me," Yamcha deadpanned.

"Yes. I am safer with him than anyone else on the planet," Bulma countered.

They stared each other down for a moment before what sounded like an explosion detonated outside.

Patrons in and around the restaurant looked and what they saw made them all scream and begin to panic, some jumping from booths and running for the back door, others taking off through the front and fleeing for their lives.

Bulma didn't even need to look.

"Kami, look what you've done! Get down!" Bulma dove across the table to shield Yamcha on the floor as another blast shot in the parking lot, causing debris to fly into the diner, shattering glass and breaking the door.

Golden hair and livid electric eyes would be terrifying to encounter for an innocent human bystander, but Bulma wanted this certain harbinger of destruction more than anything right now.

Vegeta proceeded inside the diner with all his badass super Saiyan glory, scaring off every last soul on the premises.

He scanned the room until he locked his eyes on Yamcha, who took to cowering under the table.

"YOU."

Vegeta instantly lunged for the man and pulled him one-handedly out from his hiding place, suspending him in the air like a stray animal.

"Shit!" Yamcha hissed as he was propelled outside and into the parking lot.

Vegeta smoothly glided to where Yamcha landed.

The destruction in his wake was a perfect contrast of his outer disposition.

"Wait-WAIT !" Bulma yelled, heading outside through what little remained of the restaurant's threshold.

The diner was situated on a busy street and onlookers already had their full attention from a safe distance away.

Vegeta was about to do something terrible and she didn't need anyone to witness this.

"Stop! I'm fine, please! Vegeta!"

She broke out into a full sprint, then came to a skidding halt as she audaciously covered her former lover's body.

"He took me, it's true! But look-don't take it out on him-he didn't know better!" She pleaded, chest heaving as she sheltered her idiot friend.

Vegeta's glow was still bright, anger flashing in his vibrant eyes, ready to deliver justice and infuriated with his wife's impediment.

"Get off him, Bulma! He put you in danger, and I'm returning the favor! He deserves to die for stealing you away from me and I'm in NO mood to negotiate!" he yelled, clenching his fists and shaking with rage.

She stayed in place, still shielding Yamcha with her body. Even though she could feel the warning signs of the curse, threatening to burn her alive, she could sacrifice a couple moments to make sure Yamcha would be spared.

"I protect my friends, Vegeta! He messed up-but he thought he was helping me...he made a misguided attempt!"

"THAT SCUM HAD NO BUSINESS TRYING TO PROTECT YOU!"

"But I've forgiven him! I don't expect you to do the same. He's my friend-and Goku's- so you can't kill him!" She said, full of righteous indignation.

"You've done it again," he growled, tightening his fists, "you are protecting him from my wrath-AGAIN."

"I didn't say you couldn't kick his ass! I just said you can't kill him. Negotiate that."

Vegeta's eyes widened.

With all the righteous nonsense about good and evil he knew she was bound to lecture him with, she still managed to surprise him with those words.

"Oh really?" Vegeta walked over and knelt next to Yamcha's head.

"Well, it appears as though my wife has given her verdict on what she thinks you deserve, and I have… acquiesced. As soon as she moves, your ass is mine." Vegeta glided backwards, enough to give Bulma room to move.

Bulma looked at her husband and saw the rage simmering underneath that neutral look he was giving them now.

She knew that as soon as she was safely out of harm's way, he was going to hurt Yamcha-severely.

She turned to Yamcha.

"I saved your life-twice now. I care about you, but you have to look out for yourself. Vegeta will protect me. He would never hurt me. Please, let him watch over me now, okay?" She implored earnestly.

She didn't wait for his response.

She got up slowly and stood before Vegeta.

He reached his hand out to her, but she didn't accept it…not yet.

Her body was starting to rapidly feel the effects of the curse, but she had to know he wouldn't go back on his words before she relieved her affliction with his touch.

Bulma knew that Vegeta could sense what she felt. She sensed his anger skyrocket.

The parking lot began to crumble and pieces of asphalt lifted into the air as Vegeta's anger dangerously began spilling over.

When he sensed another wave of Bulma's pain, he suddenly went livid, sending flashes of ultramarine energy into the sky.

While he compromised his composure, Bulma finally sensed his true intent.

She kept her posture as ridged as she could, protecting Yamcha like he was the last lit beacon weathering against the battering tides of a raging, vengeful sea.

"The curse, I can sense it taking you over! GET OVER HERE BULMA AND TAKE MY HAND-NOW!" Vegeta commanded.

"I HAVE TO KNOW!" She expressed ardently.

"KNOW WHAT-I ALREADY TOLD YOU I WON'T KILL HIM !" He yelled, all patience lost at this point.

"I want your word," She told him solemnly, "I know what you want to do, I can feel it... you are so angry…angry enough to kill someone-to murder Yamcha in cold blood! You can't hide these things from me anymore! I want your word…on your honor as a prince and warrior."

She-she can feel that deeply now, to know I was lying? Vegeta thought, black asphalt stilling in the air around them.

I can hear you, and respond to you now, too.

The surprise on Vegeta's face was very satisfying to Bulma as she smirked at him through her pain.

You can say it to me, Vegeta. Just me. Please.

Yamcha was still on the ground, eyes shifting to Bulma, then to Vegeta as he witnessed their seemingly epic stare-down.

Bulma shrieked as she struggled to stand, prompting Vegeta to reach for her once more.

"Bulma! Just get over here and let me help you! Stop wasting your resolve on this low-life scum!"

She took a shuttered breath and steadied herself above Yamcha.

"I have to help save you from yourself. I have to make you not do this."

Her breaths were growing labored as she felt the pull of gravity dragging her knees down to the pavement, the blazing heat coursing through her veins.

Her visible struggle was causing the war in Vegeta to manifest itself in his features; wanting to maim the bastard Yamcha for taking his wife from him and wanting to do what Bulma was asking him to do. Why was she doing this? She was jeopardizing his life-and her own for some idiot and it had him at literal wit's end!

"What are you prattling on about?! Are you saying you would miss him if I wasted him where he lay!?" He bellowed.

"Not the point. I…I want to be proud of you too, Vegeta... to show my pride for who you are becoming. Keep being better than…than who you were when you first came here. Do you understand? The man you are becoming is far more important than who you were, don't use that same energy to eliminate your option of mercy! Please…for me."

Vegeta kept his glare on Bulma, then closed his eyes with upmost frustration, his face set in a deep scowl.

You have my word, as a Saiyan prince…and warrior. But make no mistake-he isn't going unscathed, you stubborn fool.

With that, Vegeta raised an open palm and ascended into the air. Yamcha slowly stood to his feet, then rose to meet Vegeta in the sky.

He was going to try to go out with some sort of fight to save face.

But Vegeta was having none of that.

As bright blue Ki ignited in Vegeta's hand and grew into a large mass, Yamcha inhaled a quick breath.

"Vegeta, she told you not to kill me! What are you doing?!" Yamcha hollered.

Vegeta chuckled deep in the back of his throat and gave a sinister smile.

"She never said I couldn't hurt you. Goodbye, Yamcha."

Vegeta shot his arm out and with palm facing his target, fired directly at Yamcha, sending him flying across the sky and out of sight.

Vegeta lowered himself back onto the street and looked over to his wife.

"There. Now will you please-GET OVER HERE?!" He barked at Bulma

She flicked her long hair over her shoulder and planted her hands on her hips.

"Don't you tell me what to- ahhh !" She screamed as she fell to the ground. The burning quickly reached her muscles and she finally lost the ability to stand.

"How embarrassing, all that bravado…you were saying, mate?" Vegeta snarked as he rushed to pull off his gloves and put his hands on her bare skin.

He placed his hands everywhere he could reach, trying to bring a swift end to her torment.

"Go to hell!…aaah…" Bulma felt relief at last. He finally allowed himself to get a good look at her face, and under her left nostril was a small trail of bright red blood.

"Why is this here?" He asked, and she pulled her sleeve over her hand to wipe away whatever it was.

"I don't know...our fun, new mind connection trick?"

He growled in response, just wanting all the problems of this afternoon to stop, not have more pile on.

Physical strain on her body like that didn't bode well with him in the slightest.

He picked her up and held her tightly in his arms as he took to the air, setting his sights on their home.

"'Geta?" Bulma managed to say in her current state of consciousness.

"What?"

"Thank you for listening to me."

"I was going to pay for it later if I didn't."

Her smile was accompanied with the closing of her tired eyes.

"Yes you were."

As he felt her drift off to sleep, Vegeta thought about her tenacity.

Where Bulma lacked physical strength, her will power alone would withstand any attack a threat could possibly pose. At least in the battle of wills, he could rest assured knowing she would always reign supreme.

She would stake her life on it, even if it enraged him in the process.

He breathed in deeply and let it out, slow and controlled.

The drama was over for now, and he could finally have a moment's peace before he returned to his evening Katas.

He would deal with Bulma's condition after dinner when she was well-rested and safe from harm.

"You aren't allowed out of my sight," he said, intending it for Bulma but mostly to himself when he landed on Capsule Corp's west lawn.

She rested peacefully in his arms as he made his way towards the GR.