Author's Note:
So for this chapter, I'd like to explain a bit how I have Capsule Corp. set up in my head. Basically the basement contains all the labs and science stuff. The first floor is the company store front and has the Atrium from last chapter and the gym. The top two floors are the Brief's home and in my head its basically a mansion that sits atop Capsule Corp. (kinda like a business that has a house above it).
I had a little bit of writer's block during this chapter. But I think it turned out well. Also disclaimer, I have very little knowledge of MMA tournaments and just rolled with whatever sounded okay to me, so I apologize for any inaccuracies.
Hope you enjoy!
Remember, I own nothing!
Chapter 5: Dine and Dash
The dining room table was laden with food. There was fried chicken, ribs, smoked sausage, mashed potatoes and baked potatoes, green beans, corn on the cob, brussel sprouts, baked macaroni and cheese, fresh biscuits and cornbread, with a cherry cobbler, blueberry pie and pecan pie for dessert. Vegeta didn't think he'd seen so much food at one table before. Bulma just rolled her eyes, used to her mother's "hospitable" antics. She took a seat across from her mother, while Vegeta just kept standing near by.
"Come have a seat next to Bulma, dear, before the food gets cold," Panchy said, waving her hand to the empty chair in front of Dr. Briefs and starting to fill his plate with food.
Vegeta pulled out the chair next to the woman and sat down stiffly. Vegeta hadn't forgotten about what happened back at the lab. Or in the foyer. He glanced at the woman from the corner of his eye and caught her placing a napkin in her lap. He couldn't help but think of what she would look like in his lap.
"So, Vegeta," Panchy began, interrupting Vegeta's dirty thoughts. He was relieved for the distraction from the woman next to him. "I hope my Bulma has been treating you well." Crap.
"Mom…"
"Bulma, you know you can get grouchy when you work in the lab for too long. I just want to make sure you aren't taking it out on poor Vegeta here," Panchy stated, making Vegeta flash a smirk Bulma's way.
"Poor Vegeta!?"
"Inside voice dear," Panchy chided, before a glint came to her eye.
"Although, I don't know why I am askin' since you two seemed to be gettin' along just fine when I came down to get you earlier," she giggled.
"MOM!"
"Oh come now, Bulma. You and Yamcha have been broken up for months now. It's time to get back on the horse! And Vegeta is such a dashing young man," Panchy continued, smiling kindly at Vegeta, making his cheeks flush slightly. This dinner conversation escalated quickly, he thought. He could see that Bulma's face was as red as a tomato. From anger or embarrassment, he didn't know.
"So, Vegeta, do you have any other interests besides physics?" Dr. Briefs asked, changing the subject and taking pity on the two.
Vegeta let out a sigh of relief. "I actually am a Kinesiology major as well. And I recently added a mathematics minor. I am more focused on the application of physics within sports. I compete in MMA fights and the things I've learned in class have helped me out more than once or twice."
Bulma couldn't help but blatantly gape at Vegeta. She had no idea he did cage fights. "You cage fight?"
"Interesting," Dr. Briefs said, at the same moment Panchy gasped, "Oh my!"
Vegeta halted the trek his fork was making toward his mouth and turned to look at the woman. Her eyes were wide - her fork midway to her mouth as well - and Vegeta couldn't discern the emotion that was hiding behind those bright blue irises of hers. "Yeah," he finally answered, still staring into her eyes. "I started out in small tournaments as a way to make some quick money. Once I started winning, it became much more than a hobby. I've actually considered the possibility of going pro. But that's just a maybe, depending on how everything goes after graduation. For now, I'm just trying to prepare for the West City Amateur Tournaments that are coming up soon." Vegeta still didn't take his eyes off Bulma's. Why did I say all that?
Bulma didn't think she'd ever heard him speak this much before. Especially about himself. She knew she should feel unnerved as he stared into her eyes, telling her these pieces of himself, but she didn't. She could feel a tingling in her belly. Are those butterflies I feel?
Panchy watched the two stare at each other and couldn't help the smug smile on her face. Those two will be perfect together… "Oh, how fascinating!" she said, making the two finally break their eye contact. "You know, Bulma is actually taking kickboxing lessons. Maybe you could show her some moves!"
Vegeta coughed on a piece of chicken. "Um, yeah. I'm actually the one that's training her…" He side glanced at Bulma and could see her blush.
"Oh how wonderful! It looks like you two will be seeing a lot of each other, what with the training and the internship." Panchy was as excited as Bulma and Vegeta were embarrassed. She continued despite that fact. "Oh! You can do your training here!"
This brought Vegeta out of his uncomfortableness. "What do you mean?"
Dr. Briefs spoke up this time. "We have a gym here on the compound. There's even a sparring ring in there too."
Vegeta almost dropped his fork. "Why didn't you tell me that, woman?!" he barked at Bulma.
"Hey, don't shout at me. And why would I? It's not like I ever go in there and it wasn't important."
"Show me. After dinner."
"Who do you think you are, bossing me around-"
"Of course Bulma will show you," Panchy interrupted. Bulma glared at her. "Right dear?"
"Fine," Bulma huffed.
Vegeta looked smug. Bulma stuck her tongue out at him and kicked him under the table. "Tsch," he scoffed. Panchy gave her daughter a disapproving look.
"Vegeta," Dr. Brief's chimed in. "Tell me more about this tournament you were talking about. Explain the logistics to me, if you would."
Vegeta cleared his throat, excited to talk about the one thing he really loves. "So the tournament is about a three month long process. There are different brackets and tons of small bouts - which are basically short miniature fights that are timed and based on points and not necessarily knock outs - before the semi-finals and then about another month before the finals. It all depends on how many people are registered for the tournament to see how many brackets there will be. There are also several weight-classes too and that further breaks everything up. So I really won't know what I'm getting myself into until the tournament starts."
"Interesting. And what weight-class are you?"
"I'm a middleweight, which is a little rare considering my height. But I worked hard to get out of lightweight class."
"When did you start training?"
"My parents were always proponents for being able to defend oneself. My father being a military man, he taught me to fight at a young age. When they died, a family friend took me in and he owned a community boxing studio, so I started out learning kickboxing and then I learned Muay Thai and Brazilian-Jujitsu right around freshman year of college. I also know some French kickboxing and basic Tae Kwon Do."
"Oh my," Panchy exclaimed. "That's quite a list of skills."
"Agreed. You're a rather well-rounded young man, my boy." Dr. Brief's said enthusiastically.
Bulma was still in shock at the new information regarding Vegeta's parents and upbringing, but she remained silent as he and her father continued talking.
"Do you need a sponsor?"
Vegeta was taken aback by that question. "I'm not sure, honestly. It depends on how for I get in the tournament I'd think."
"Well, if you ever need anything to advance in this area, I'd be more than happy to offer any assistance. I find fighting a fascinating sport." Vegeta just nodded at this.
The rest of dinner was ate in mostly silence, with the occasional casual question to Vegeta.
Bulma walked toward a different elevator than the one that took them down to the labs, Vegeta noticed. This elevator didn't have all the security measures like the last one did. When the doors opened, they both walked forward into the elevator and accidentally bumped shoulders. There was a spark that neither denied this time. Bulma looked up at Vegeta and she was met with black eyes staring back. The doors shut and something came over them then. They didn't know who moved first, but somehow Bulma ended up against the elevator wall and Vegeta had his hands in her hair. They were both breathing heavy, their lips almost touching. Then there was a sudden ding and the elevator doors opened. They stood like that for a bit, until Vegeta pushed himself away from Bulma and walked out of the elevator, leaving Bulma alone. What is happening?! they both thought.
Vegeta kept walking, away from the woman, even though he had no clue as to where he was going. Bulma finally found herself and began following Vegeta.
They made their way through a large hallway that led to a single set of double doors made of metal and glass. Vegeta pushed through the doors and entered the most top of the line gym he's ever been in.
The room was larger than a football field and was a lot of glass, metal, and mirrors. Equipment and machines were lined up in several rows throughout the room; punching bags, ellipticals, treadmills, squatting machines, and rows and rows of dumbbells in differing weights. And in the corner sat a professional sized sparring ring.
Vegeta was in awe, the moment in the elevator temporarily forgotten. This is heaven.
Vegeta began walking around the room and Bulma stood against the kitchen counter right off the entrance. He looks like a kid in a candy shop, Bulma thought. She watched him as he picked up dumbbells and gave tentative punches to the punching bags. Bulma found watching him somewhat fascinating. The scowl that was usually permanently plastered on his face was gone. He looked the most relaxed she's ever seen him. It was interesting how a room that she'd stepped foot in maybe twice in her whole life brought him so much happiness in just a few seconds. All of a sudden, she felt that fluttery feeling in her belly again.
"How could you not have told me about this place, woman?" Vegeta asked, turning toward Bulma.
Bulma scoffed, trying to push down her butterflies since the feeling increased as he stared at her. "When would I have told you? It's not like we are friends and have meaningful conversations or I invite you over to hang out or anything. I only brought you down here because my mother likes you for some odd reason and demands we always be the perfect of hosts." She turned away from his gaze to grab a gatorade from the fridge.
Vegeta walked up behind her and leaned against the island, "Fair." He stood there with his arms crossed as he watched Bulma unscrew the cap to her drink and take a long swig. He watched her throat bob as she shallowed and his mind went straight into the gutter. He quickly turned to look over the gym again. He needed to get his mind off the woman standing next to him. And what better way to do that than to utilize the equipment in the room in front of him. Well, that also depends on the definition of "equipment in the room," he thought as he glanced to the woman next to him. He was disgusted with himself by the thought - not just because of who it was geared towards, but also by the sheer sexist and misogynistic turn his brain went to. His libido must be truly out of control. And he hated it. He shook his head and stepped forward. "Let's train," he said suddenly, turning to the woman in question.
Bulma's eyes were wide with confusion. "What?"
"Let's train. You have a state of the art gym here that looks like it's barely been used. So let's use it."
"We just trained on Saturday," Bulma whined, trying to get out of this situation. Vegeta appeared way too determined though and didn't seem like he was going to let her back out of this.
"So. I train everyday," he said nonchalantly.
"Everyday! That's insane. I barely workout once a month," Bulma exclaimed.
"Yeah, it shows."
"What is that suppose to mean?" She said, crossing her arms. She was clearly offended. Good, Vegeta thought. He wanted to get a rise out of her. It would get him his way.
He smirked. "You're pathetically weak, woman."
Bulma was enraged. "I am not!"
"Oh yeah? Then why'd you sign up for boxing lessons in the first place? It was for self-defense, right?" Vegeta retorted with a smug smile.
Bulma hated to admit that he was right. She knew she wasn't very strong. But there's no chance in hell that she was going let him get the best of her. "So. That doesn't necessarily make me weak. And even if I'm not the strongest physically, my brain more than makes up for it," she finished smugly.
Vegeta wasn't done yet. "That may be true." He walked toward her. "But what would you do if I came at you right now?"
Bulma stood there a little dumbfounded. She'd never actually been attacked before. She did know how to use a gun, but didn't always carry one with her. There's no knives or anything in the gym's kitchen either. Vegeta noticed her looking around the room and he knew she was looking for something to use as a weapon. "Stop," he said to her. He went to stand right in front of her. "Focus only on me. Because by the time it takes you to find something, I could already have you knocked out." He threw a punch toward her then and Bulma instinctively threw up her hands to cover her face, letting out a scared squeak. She waited a moment and then realized that his fist never came close to connecting to her face. She moved her hands away and stared at him in shock. "I'm not saying that there aren't instances where you should be looking for a weapon, that's just not the scenario I'm giving you right now. You have to be able to think of your body as its own weapon."
Bulma was annoyed with him for playing her like he had, so she swung her arm back and went to punch him. But he was faster and grabbed ahold of her fist before it could come anywhere near his face like she intended. "And if you were to actually punch me right now, you'd break your wrist or one of your metacarpals. Boxers usually have micro-fractures in their knuckles that build up over time that actually help make the bones in their fists stronger. And that's also another reason weight training is so important; to further strengthen your bones and your punches," he clinically stated. Bulma just stood there with her fist enveloped in Vegeta's hand, not really knowing what to do with herself. "Now," Vegeta said, "let's train." He released her hand and walked toward the doors of the gym. "I have some workout clothes in my car. I'll be right back." He looked Bulma up and down, taking in her grey overalls tied at the waist and her grease covered tank top. "You might want to change into something more appropriate as well." And with that he walked out, leaving her there alone.
What in the world? Who did he think he was? Bulma thought. But she was intrigued by this little stunt of Vegeta's. She signed up for his classes so she could learn to punch people. And she was getting a little excited thinking about him finally teaching her how to do just that. So she left the gym and made her way up to her old room to see what she had that she could change into. She opened her dresser and found a pair of orange mesh Nike running shorts and a royal blue sports bra. She quickly threw it on and made her way back down to the gym. When she entered she saw that Vegeta was already back. And she had caught him in the middle of taking off his shirt. Bulma's eyes about bugged out of her head. Thank God he'd already changed into his gym shorts before I got here, she thought. Vegeta threw his shirt down into his gym bag. He turned and caught Bulma's eye. He took in her appearance too. Why does she never wear a goddamn shirt when she works out?
Bulma shook her head before she started drooling at the sight of the shirtless man in front of her. "So, are you just not gonna wear a shirt?" she asked.
"Are you?"
Her mouth dropped open at his retort. She looked down at her chest and her arms automatically went to cover her boobs. "Perv!"
Vegeta let out a light chuckle. "You're one to talk. What with that look you were just giving me. It's like you were devouring me with your eyes, woman."
Bulma puffed out her cheeks. "Oh shut up and let's train already."
She walked past him, farther into the room. "Where do you want me?"
Vegeta had to physically force himself from saying something completely inappropriate in response, as a vision of him pushing her up against the wall came to his mind. God, I need some sort of release soon, he thought. And he wasn't about to take the woman here, so throwing punches was going to have to be enough for now.
"Ever been in that ring before?" he asked her.
She shook her head. "No."
Vegeta walked toward the sparring ring and pushed down some of the ropes with his foot and pushed up the others over his head, making a gap and motioning for her to go through. "Well, hop on up then," he instructed. She hesitantly made her way over and very carefully maneuvered her way through the ropes, making sure she never touched Vegeta. He joined her in the ring and brought out two mitten-looking things with him out of his bag. He put the mittens on his hands. "Now. We're gonna do some light punching exercises so I can determine where you are with your swings. So just punch right here," he said, hitting the red circle in the middle of one of his gloved hands.
"Are you kidding?"
"Do I look like I'm kidding?" he said, annoyance clearly heard in his voice.
Bulma huffed, annoyed herself. She stepped up in front of Vegeta and pulled back her arm, swinging her fist toward Vegeta's palms. And she missed. She tried again, and again she missed. "What the hell!" she yelled, frustrated.
"You know, woman. The point is to actually make contact with my hand." Vegeta said with a shit-eating grin on his face.
"Shut up!" Bulma screeched.
"Here." He took one of his hands out of the gloves and threw it to the ground. He grabbed her wrist and placed her fist in the center of his gloved hand. He repeatedly tapped her fist against his palm.
"What are you doing?"
"This way you know what it's like to actually make contact. Try again." He let her go. She stared at him confused, but swung her arm back anyways. This time she actually hit him in the glove. She did it again.
"Wow! That really worked." To say she was surprised would be an understatement.
"I do have a brain, remember."
"It's easy to forget when you're all muscle like that." Her cheeks flushed at her own words.
Vegeta ignored her and took off his other mitt. He walked around her and grabbed her elbow.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
"God, woman, why are you so loud all the time. I'm going to help you with your form." Oh, you haven't even heard me be loud. Bulma had to push the sudden suggestive thought out of her head as he slowly moved his hand down to hold her fist. "Loosen your grip. And never tuck your thumbs in like that. Now when you bring your arm around like you were, that's called an overhand right punch. Make sure you aren't too tense when you throw a punch. And always be protecting yourself with you other arm." He grabbed her other arm then and put it up in front of her. Bulma had to really concentrate on his words because the stance they were in was very uncomfortable for her. And only uncomfortable in the sense that she was really struggling with having him pressed against her back and his hands on her. She turned her head to look at him over her shoulder. He was only slightly taller than her and she could feel his warm chest against her bare lower back. He caught her looking at him and they locked eyes.
Something happened then. All of a sudden Bulma was spun around in Vegeta's arms - either she did it or he did, they didn't know - and she had her arms around his neck. Vegeta had his hands circling her waist, resting on the bare skin of her lower back. And their mouths moved on their own and before the other knew it, they were kissing passionately. Bulma's feet fumbled and they ended up on the floor of the sparring ring, but they never broke their kiss. Vegeta slid his tongue against Bulma's bottom lip, asking for entrance. She obliged and their tongues began the fight for dominance. Bulma moaned into Vegeta's mouth and pulled at his hair. She could feel his hands exploring her body. His hands grabbed at her ass and she couldn't help the groan that escaped her, forcing their lips apart finally. Vegeta stared down at the woman underneath him. Her lips were swollen from their vigorous kissing. They were both breathing heavily. A cold chill suddenly ran down Vegeta's spine as he looked in the bright blue of Bulma's eyes.
"I need to go," he said gruffly, pushing off the ground and away from Bulma.
"What?" she asked breathlessly, sitting up to stare at him.
He didn't say a word to her and just jumped down from the ring. He picked up his gym bag and made his way for the exit. He pushed open the doors and walked out into the hallway, leaving a baffled Bulma behind him. On his way out he bumped into Mrs. Briefs.
"Oh! Vegeta. Is everything alright, dear?" she asked, concern in her voice. She took in his appearance and had to remember that she was a married woman and that she was literally old enough to be his mother.
"I'm fine, ma'am. It was nice meeting you. Thank you again for dinner." He tried to make his way around Panchy, but she stood her ground.
"Are you sure you're okay? You seem a little out of breathe."
"I'm alright. I was just sparring with your daughter." God, that sounded dirty for some reason. "I was on my way out, actually. It's getting late."
"Oh! Alright then. And you are right, dear. It is getting late. You're welcome to stay the night if you don't want to make the trip back to your apartment."
"That's okay, ma'am. It's not that far a drive." There's no way he'd be able to stay in the same home as the woman right now. "Thank you for the offer, though. And thanks again for everything. Have a good night." And with that he made his way to the elevator and out the front doors of Capsule Corp.
Panchy was left in the hall stunned. She made her way to the gym doors and found Bulma jumping down from the practice ring.
"What happened with Vegeta, honey?" she questioned.
"No idea, mom. I'm gonna head home," Bulma said flatly.
Panchy looked at the sullen expression on her daughter's face. "Are you okay, Bulma?"
"Yeah, mom. I'm fine. Just tired. I'll see you tomorrow." Bulma hugged her mother and walked out of the gym.
Panchy watched her daughter walk away. She shook her head sadly. "Oh those two…"
Author's Note:
Wouldn't it be funny if Panchy got in on Chi Chi and 18's bet? Haha
