Author's Note:
A completely wholesome chapter!
Is it bad that I find my own chapter hilarious? I was laughing so much as I wrote this one. I hope you guys like it.
Chapter 16: Dragon's Tongue
The next morning, Bulma awoke to Vegeta drawing patterns into her back. Mmmm...
"Good morning," he whispered huskily in her ear.
Bulma stretched and groaned. "Ugh."
"What's wrong?"
"Everything hurts." Bulma complained as she sat up in bed.
"Boxing is a great full body work out. I figured you'd be hurting in the morning." Vegeta said matter-of-factly.
"I don't even know if I can have sex right now. My body hurts so much."
Vegeta chuckled. "That's okay. I have the memories of last night to hold me over for awhile."
"Yeah," Bulma breathed. Then she giggled, moving to rest herself on Vegeta's chest. "Last night was fun."
They're interrupted by the sound of Vegeta's phone going off. Someone was trying to FaceTime him.
"You gonna answer that?" Bulma asked.
"It's just Kakarot."
"Goku? Answer it!"
Vegeta rolled his eyes and ignored the surge of jealousy he felt at Bulma's reaction to who was calling. He picked up his phone and answered, tilting the camera away from Bulma's nakedness. "What do you want, Kakarot?"
"Hey 'Geta! Whatchya doin'?"
"I was about to fuck my girlfriend until you interrupted."
"Vegeta!" Bulma whispered harshly.
"Oh! Bulma's there? HEY BULMA!" Goku yelled.
Vegeta reluctantly turned the phone toward Bulma, who was now covered with the blanket. She giggled. "Hey Goku. How're you?"
"I'm great! I was actually wanting to see if Vegeta wanted to hang out, but I see that he's busy."
"Got that right. Why would I want to hang out with you anyways."
"Vegeta!" Bulma chided again. He just scowled at her.
Goku laughed on screen. "You guys are funny. Oh hey Bulma!"
"Yeah?"
"Before I forget. Cheech has been asking me to ask Vegeta to come on a double date. And since you're both here I thought I'd go head and ask now." His smile was bright.
"Oh! That'd be great!" I wonder why Chi Chi didn't ask me herself, Bulma thought. I guess I haven't seen much of her lately. "You should ask Krillin to bring 18 too. I feel like I haven't hung out with you guys in forever."
"That'd be awesome! I'll ask him today and let you guys know what Chi Chi says."
"Sounds good!"
"I'm hanging up now." Vegeta grumbled out before the idiot could rope him and Bulma into doing anything else.
"Okay! Bye-" Bulma caught the image of Goku waving before Vegeta ended the call.
Vegeta turned and gave Bulma a look.
"What?"
"A double date?"
"Well technically it would be a triple date. If Krillin and 18 come."
Vegeta's lip curled. "The blonde one doesn't like me very much."
"I know," Bulma frowned. "But it'll be fun anyways. We've been so wrapped up in each other lately, I feel like I've been neglecting the outside world."
"I like being wrapped up in you," Vegeta said, his voice turning husky as he rolled over so he was hovering above her.
Bulma laughed. "I knew you'd say something like that. But seriously Vegeta. We can't stay cooped up. I miss my friends."
Vegeta rolled onto his back. "Ugh! Fine!" He growled. "We'll hang out with the idiot and Cueball. But if the harpy or the robot say anything to me, we're leaving."
Bulma pursed her lips. "Fair. One question though?"
"What?"
"Why'd you call 18 a robot?" She said, trying not to laugh.
"Because the bitch is one dimensional. She has two settings; yelling at me or doing the bald one."
Bulma laughed. "I guess."
Vegeta went back to being on top of her. "I love when you laugh."
"Do you now?"
Vegeta captured Bulma's lips in a heated kiss. They were interrupted once more, by a knock on the door.
"Bulma?" Panchy called.
Vegeta slumped back to the bed again in frustration.
"At least she knocked this time," Bulma said. "Yeah mom?"
"There was a delivery for you downstairs. I sent them to the labs for you. And breakfast is ready for whenever you and Vegeta want to come down!"
Bulma rolled her eyes. "Thanks, mom."
"No problem, sweetie. See you in a bit!"
"What, woman?"
"I don't understand why my mother likes you so much."
Vegeta grinned. "Because I'm charming."
Bulma scoffed. "Yeah. Like a snake."
"Hmmm. I've slithered my way into you just fine."
"Ha! That was the lamest line ever. You're cute though." She kissed his face. "Come on. Let's go eat. I'm starving." Vegeta looked put out, but got up anyways.
—
"Hey you two!" Panchy greeted as Bulma and Vegeta entered the kitchen. They joined Bulma's father at the dining table.
Mr. Briefs lowered his newspaper a fraction to greet them as well. "Hey kids!"
"Hey dad."
Vegeta nodded. "Good morning, sir." Bulma gave him a funny look. He just scowled back, ignoring her.
"Oh, Vegeta. So polite and proper." Panchy commented, setting more food down on the table. Vegeta blushed a little.
"Just how I was raised, ma'am."
"Well be still my heart. You are just such a gentleman. Bulma, dear, you chose such a perfect young man to bring home!"
"Your father was military man, right son?" Mr. Briefs questioned, trying to save the two youngsters from his wife's lurid remarks.
"Yes, sir. 82nd Airborne Division. First brigade. Then Special Forces."
"Jumping out of planes, huh. He must've been quite a man."
"He was."
Bulma was nervous by the direction of this conversation. Vegeta didn't usually like talking about his parents. And she could understand why. But Vegeta didn't seem fazed at all. He just continued piling his plate with food.
Panchy gave Vegeta a sympathetic look. Poor young man. She joined her family at the table, observing Vegeta and Bulma. They sat closer together this time. Their faces were flushed. They were drawn to each other. This made Panchy happy. It's about time my Bulma found a nice young man to settle down with. And Vegeta is such a dear.
Vegeta felt the eyes of Mrs. Briefs on him and his ears grew warm. He needed a distraction. "What was that delivery you got?" He asked Bulma.
"Oh, you'll see tomorrow. I finally got some much needed parts for my simulator." Bulma was grinning from ear to ear. She'd been waiting for this delivery for weeks and she could barely contain her excitement.
Vegeta smiled at Bulma's gleeful expression. He loved when she got like this. She's incredible... The lovestruck look on Vegeta's face made Panchy scream internally with joy.
"Dr. Gero has been hounding me for weeks asking when you'll be done, Bulma. The man is starting to give me a headache." Dr. Briefs said.
"Dr. Gero? The professor?" Vegeta asked.
"Yeah. Irritating little man," Bulma said. "He's always been annoyed that my inventions are so much more superior to his." She smiled vindictively. Vegeta's shit-eating grin spread over his face. He loved it when she was like this. Wicked. Diabolical. God she's perfect."Bulma, you shouldn't say things like that about people. No matter how they behave."
"Screw him. I stopped caring about his opinions when he argued with me about the human brain being a computer."
"The man's a quack." Vegeta was surprised by Dr. Briefs's insult.
"Hakase!"
Dr. Briefs grumbled into his coffee cup.
The breakfast conversation changed to Panchy talking about her garden, some charity benefit Dr. Briefs had to attend that week, and Bulma explaining the possible upcoming outing with her friends.
"I'm glad you're hanging out with your friends again, dear. You spend too much time in that lab. Vegeta must be a good influence on you, getting you out in society again." Panchy beamed.
Bulma choked on her orange juice and Vegeta chuckled. She kicked his foot under the table and his eyes darkened. Bulma's stomach dropped. Oh, that look..."So where are you two off to now?"
"Probably just back to the apartment to lounge around." Bulma shrugged.
"Well, you both worked hard yesterday. I see you gave Vegeta a beating." Panchy glanced at Vegeta's bruised face. Bulma and Vegeta both stiffened. "You really shouldn't bruise your lover, dear. Not in that way."
"Okay! We're done. Bye mom! Bye dad." Bulma jumped up from the table, grabbing Vegeta by the arm as he stuffed the remainder of his sausage in his mouth.
Outside, Bulma walked to Vegeta's motorcycle. She smiled up at him. "Can I drive?"
Vegeta looked stricken. "Drive Sheryl?"
Bulma snorted. "You named your bike Sheryl?"
"Don't insult Sheryl," he scowled. His eyebrows pulled together nervously. Before he could change his mind, he retrieved the keys from his pocket and went to drop them in Bulma's hand. Bulma squealed with glee.
"I have a question," Vegeta said, pulling the keys back. Bulma raised an eyebrow. Vegeta smirked. "Is your dad's name really Hakase?"
Bulma rolled her eyes. "My mother would call him that so much he legally changed his name in the 80s."
Vegeta laughed. A full, hearty laugh. "You're shitting me?"
"I wish I was."
—
Vegeta and Bulma were sitting on the couch in her apartment when Chi Chi burst through the front door.
"Good! I'm glad you both are here! I figured out our date night idea. Mini golf! Tonight."
"Tonight?" Bulma said, surprised.
"Yeah! I already talked to Krillin and 18. And Goku knows the perfect place to go. We get in free since his grandpa owns it!"
Vegeta groaned inwardly. He knew this grandpa of Kakarot's. Oh good lord...
"Is that okay?" Bulma asked Vegeta.
He shrugged. "Looks like it's already happening whether I agree or not," he gruffed, crossing his arms.
"He's right. Come on, B!" Chi Chi was so excited.
"Okay. Okay. Tonight is fine."
"Yay!" She grabbed her friend in a tight embrace. "I'll go tell the others. See you tonight!" And with that, she breezed back out of the apartment.
"I didn't know Goku's grandpa owned a mini golf course," Bulma mused. "Did you?"
"Yeah. The guy's an old coot. A good fighter though."
They pulled up to Grandpa Gohan's Four Star Mini Golf and Eatery around 6:30pm in Bulma's car.
"This place looks nice. Very kitschy," Bulma noted.
"Bulma! Vegeta! Over here!" They turned to see Goku waving crazily at them from under the awning of an outside sitting area. They walked toward him, seeing Chi Chi, Krillin, and 18 already occupying a comfy looking outdoor sofa.
"Hey guys!" Bulma hugged Chi Chi and 18. "It feels like it's been so long."
"Hey Vegeta," Krillin said meekly. Vegeta just grunted. Bulma gave him a disapproving look.
"We thought we'd snack first, then play through a course, and then eat at the diner later." Goku said. "Grandpa Gohan insisted we didn't pay a cent. Especially after I told him I got Vegeta to come." Everybody turned their eyes to Vegeta.
"Why?" 18 asked.
Goku shrugged. "Grandpa Gohan has always liked Vegeta. He's his uncle after all." Everyone looked at Goku, dumbfounded. "What?" He asked, confused.
"You two are related?" Krillin asked.
"Yeah," Goku rubbed at his neck. "I thought you guys knew that?"
They all shook their heads.
Bulma could tell Vegeta wasn't liking the attention.
"If you all are finished discussing our genealogy, can we get on with this group outing crap so I can be done with it?"
A low chuckle came from behind Vegeta. "Ah. Still headstrong as always, eh Vegeta?"
Everyone turned to see a short old man with a mustache wearing a kung fu uniform and an orange and yellow polka dotted vest.
Vegeta and Goku immediately straightened and bowed at the old man who simply chuckled. "It's good to see you boys." Goku straightened and hugged the man while Vegeta just stared at him.
"Hey Grandpa Gohan!"
Gohan patted the tall boy on the back. "Why don't you introduce me to all your friends," he said with a smile.
"Okay." Goku started pointing at everybody. "So that's Vegeta. You already know him. That's Krillin and his girlfriend 18. Her real name's Lazuli, but we call her 18 because she beat eighteen guys at arm wrestling at a party once, including 'Geta. Then there's my girlfriend, Chi Chi, next to her. And then this is Bulma," he finished, pulling Bulma into a side hug. Vegeta frowned at the idiot's familiar display with his girlfriend.
"Ah yes. The young woman who's captured my nephew's heart." Bulma blushed at his words.
Vegeta put an arm around Bulma, taking her out of Goku's grasp.
"How'd you know that?" Goku asked.
"Oh, I hear things," Gohan said genially. "Well, it's very nice to meet you all. I'm glad I get to entertain my grandson's and nephew's friends. Feel free to order anything from the concessions stand and I will see you all at dinner later." Gohan turned his back on the group and walked away.
Everyone but Goku and Vegeta were confused by what just happened.
"That's your grandpa, Goku?" 18 asked.
"Yup."
Vegeta huffed. "Crazy old man."
"Yeah," Goku said through a laugh. "Wanna order some food? I'm starving."
Vegeta, Bulma, and Goku took their seats around the outdoor furniture. A waiter approached them to take their snack orders.
"Good afternoon, what can I get for you?"
"Yamcha?" Bulma said in a surprised voice. Vegeta tensed.
"Bulma?"
"Hey Yamcha! I didn't know you worked here!" Goku exclaimed, oblivious.
"Yeah. Just started. Had a lot of free time on my hands. Thought I'd start working." He glanced over at Bulma, then scowled when he saw Vegeta's arm around her shoulders.
"That's cool, man." Krillin said, feeling awkward with the tension in the air.
"So what can I get you guys?"
"I'll have the nachos. Two chili cheese dogs. Oh! And a Mtn Dew!"
"Goku, we're gonna being eating dinner later," 18 said.
"Oh trust me," Chi Chi stated. "He'll be hungry again by then." She looked lovingly at her boyfriend. He just grinned back.
"Anything else?" Yamcha asked. He looked meaningfully at Bulma again.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes. "You want anything," he asked Bulma.
Bulma looked at Vegeta. She didn't fully trust him around Yamcha. She felt he had ulterior motives asking her what she wanted in front of everyone. He normally wasn't that considerate. "Wanna share some nachos with me?"
"Sure." He smirked at her.
She blinked, a little dazzled by his smile. "Um... a thing of nachos for us," she said to her ex.
"And two Dr. Peppers." Vegeta added, giving the weakling a haughty glare.
"I'll take a pretzel," Krillin cut in, not liking the looks on Yamcha's and Vegeta's faces. "And two waters." He looked at 18 and she just smiled at him.
"I'll get that right out." Yamcha walked away.
"Don't." Bulma whispered to Vegeta.
"What?" He looked smug.
"Don't get into it with him. Please." Bulma's face was scrunched in worry. Vegeta tried to smooth out the little furrow between her eyebrows.
"I'll behave if he does."
Bulma sighed. If she had known Yamcha would be here she wouldn't have come.
"It'll be okay, B." 18 reassured her.
Yamcha returned then with a tray of food and another employee carrying their drink orders. They set the trays down on the small table between the couches.
"Okay. If you need anything else, just let me know." He said, gazing at Bulma again.
Vegeta literally let out a growl. Bulma gasped.
Yamcha glared at him.
"Stop eyeing my girlfriend."
Yamcha's expression became one of anger. "She was my girlfriend for years before she met you!"
"The operative word being was," Vegeta seethed.
"You're just using her anyways! It won't last. And she'll just end up getting hurt because of you."
Vegeta was on his feet, the weakling's words hitting too close to home.
"Yamcha!" Bulma yelled, having risen to her feet as well. "Shut up!" Vegeta looked at her in surprise. "You have no right to speak on mine and Vegeta's relationship. YOU CHEATED ON ME! Repeatedly! You don't get to stand there looking at me like a kicked puppy. It's over! Move on!" Bulma advanced on him as she yelled. Vegeta grabbed her by the waist before she could get any closer to him, knowing that she knew how to throw a punch now.
The other employee grabbed Yamcha by the shoulder and walked him back to the concessions stand. He looked completely destroyed.
Bulma was seething. The others were in shock. Goku had half a hotdog hanging out of his mouth. Vegeta stood in front of Bulma and grabbed her face.
"Hey," he said quietly. Bulma could only stare. She was so upset. She knew how much Yamcha's words had to have hurt Vegeta.
"I'm sorry." Bulma looked around self-consciously, seeing the other patrons staring at her.
"Tsch. Why? You didn't do anything. It was that weakling ex of yours that's the problem." He chuckled. "I seriously thought you were about to hit him. That's why I pulled you back."
Bulma smiled a little. "I was seriously considering it."
"You made me proud. Yelling at him like that." He bent down to whisper in her ear. "It was fucking sexy."
Bulma gasped. She remembered her friends then and turned to look at their speechless expressions.
"Um... sorry about that guys." Her and Vegeta took their seats again. Vegeta grabbed their thing of nachos and handed Bulma her drink.
"Wow Bulma. I knew you could get angry sometimes but..." Goku trailed off.
Bulma blushed. "Can we just forget about it."
"Already forgotten." Chi Chi chimed in, elbowing Goku in the side.
They finished their snacks with idle chitchat about school.
"Okay, since we don't have time to play through the whole course, we'll just do half. That's... one, two, four... nine holes. Ending at the dragon," Goku said fifteen minutes later.
"I thought this was a space and aliens themed course. Why is there a dragon?" Krillin asked.
"Something about a dream my grandpa had." Goku shrugged. "Okay Vegeta. You're up first!"
Vegeta stepped up to the first hole. He lined up his putter and whacked the ball so hard it went flying and crashed into the spaceman's helmet.
"Um, I don't think that's how you're suppose to play the game," Goku stated, scratching his head.
"... lousy game anyways..." Vegeta mumbled under his breath, walking back over to Bulma who was trying very hard not to laugh. She rubbed his back reassuringly.
"My turn!" Goku yelled stepping up to take his shot.
They played around the course like that the whole evening. Vegeta would hit the ball too hard, sending it careening off the walls and hitting someone in the ankle. Goku would try to do the opposite of Vegeta, hitting the ball too lightly and ending up having to take a dozen shots. Krillin got too nervous being watched by 18 and trying to impress her, he kept sending his balls into the pond somehow. The girls did the best, aiming strategically. By the end of the night, Bulma was winning with 18 in second and Chi Chi in third. The boys weren't really on the board.
"Never thought you'd lose to me, did ya, big boy," Bulma taunted Vegeta as they come up to the last hole.
"Shut it, woman," he grumbled. Bulma just giggled.
It took Chi Chi and 18 a couple tries before they each got their balls into the dragon's mouth. Goku and Krillin weren't even gonna try. Vegeta stepped up with a determined look on his face. He could hear the girls snickering behind him. He lined up his ball and tapped it a lot softer than he had been all night. The balled rolled quickly up the dragon's tongue slash ramp and went in on the first shot. Vegeta turned around with a smug look on his face. Bulma's chin was on the ground.
"Beat that, woman."
Bulma recovered herself. "Even if I don't sink it on the first try, I still win."
"Maybe," he relented. "But I'll forever have bragging rights for my amazing shot."
Bulma narrowed her eyes at him. His grin infuriated her. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and walked up to the dragon.
"You got this, Bulma!" 18 and Chi Chi cheered from behind her.
She got in position and took aim. And missed. Her ball rolled off the dragon's tongue and ended under its claw down the ball return.
Vegeta came up behind her and put his hands on her waist. "Bragging rights," he whispered in her ear. She shivered. He'll never let this go.
And Bulma was right. The guys were still talking about Vegeta's amazing shot at dinner, regaling Goku's grandpa with the tale.
"Well, that sure sounds like something Vegeta would do. Determination runs strong in him."
Vegeta was looking everywhere but at his great uncle. Bulma could see his ears redden. She wondered why Vegeta reacted this way toward the man.
"Thank you again for letting us come here tonight," Chi Chi said.
"Yeah," 18 agreed. "We actually had a really great time. Even with Vegeta being here."
The table laughed at 18's jibe and Vegeta's disgruntled expression.
After they finished their meals and began walking back to their cars, Gohan pulled Vegeta and Goku aside.
"Boys, I know what's been going on with the Cold Gym."
Vegeta and Goku were surprised.
"I may be old, but I still have connections," he said sternly. "Now, your plan takes place at the West City Amateur Tournament, right?"
Goku and Vegeta shared a look and both nodded.
"Well, I'll be checking in on you two to see how you're training up. You got that boys?"
"Yes, sir," they both said in unison.
Vegeta walked back to see Bulma leaning against her car waiting for him.
"What was all that about?"
"Just asking about the tournament."
Bulma's eyebrows creased. "Okay."
They rode back to the apartment in silence, Vegeta holding one of Bulma's hands as she drove.
As they made it up to their floor, Vegeta unlocked his door. "Wanna stay over?" He asked her with a smirk.
Bulma's worried mood lifted. "Sure."
When they stepped into the apartment, Vegeta immediately grabbed Bulma by the waist and pulled her into a kiss. They stumbled their way into his bedroom.
"Tonight was fun," Bulma said as she came up for air. "Thanks for coming." She kissed his nose.
"I guess it wasn't so bad. The others were tolerable." A grin broke out on Vegeta's face then. "And seeing you about to pummel the scar-faced weakling was nice."
"And don't forget your amazing hole in one." Bulma giggled. She didn't want to think about Yamcha.
"Mmmm. I won't be forgetting that. Now how about you get on the bed so I can sink in another amazing shot," he commanded lightly.
Bulma wrapped her arms around his neck. "Lame," she whispered, kissing him and then pulling him down with her so they both fell onto the bed.
Author's Note:
Hakase means Dr. or PhD in Japanese and is a term used to address someone with a high level of academic knowledge. So that's how I got Dr. Brief's name. So his name is literally Dr. Doctor.
I had told myself I wasn't going to have Yamcha make an appearance but I couldn't pass this up.
This was such a fun chapter to write. I love it.
And who caught the little references to the anime I threw in there?
