Author's Note:

A reminder that I know nothing about physics or engineering so hopefully my research and ability to talk out my butt worked in this chapter.

implied smuttiness*

Chapter 17: Mind Games

Vegeta and Bulma woke up Monday morning not wanting to get out of bed. But they did anyways. They took a shower and got dressed, Bulma just grabbed an old teeshirt of Vegeta's and put on her shorts from last night, stating that she'll just end up changing once she gets to the lab anyways. Even with the mix-matched outfit, Vegeta still thought she looked beautiful.

"It feels like it's been forever since I went to classes," Bulma said through a yawn.

Vegeta smiled at her adorable-ness as he helped her put her backpack on. "Damn, woman. What the hell do you have in there? Boulders?"

Bulma rubbed her eyes. "I have Quantum and Thermal Physics this morning. Then Computational Engineering right after that. Mechanical Systems Designs at noon. Principles of Robot Autonomy at 2pm. And my last class of the day is Topics in Advanced Robot Manipulation with stupid Dr. Gero."

Vegeta blinked at her. "You lost me at 'quantum'."

Bulma laughed. "Yeah, Mondays are my busiest days. That's why I try not to miss them." She was still so tired. I should've said no to round three last night... she mentally admonished.

"And you still decided to schedule my internship on Mondays?"

"Yeah. It's the day that sets everything up for me. I have fewer classes the rest of the week so I can work longer in the lab. If I get all the physical labor I need done at the start of the week, I won't have to worry about it down the line." Vegeta was just staring at her. "What?"

"I will never admit this to you or anyone else again, but you scare me sometimes." Vegeta shook his head. Her mind and intellect was frightening.

Bulma just raised a confused brow. "Why?"

"No one should be as smart as you are. It's insane all of the things that you can do. Also a little intimidating." He ignored her smirk. "And now you're wanting to learn fighting styles, which you've picked up very easily. I fear your brain might explode one of these days." He poked her in the forehead.

"Ow!" She complained, rubbing at the spot he jabbed. "My brain will be just fine, thank you very much," she said indignantly.

"I'd hate to see the day when I would agree with your mother. But have you ever thought about slowing down?"

"No. Why should I? You get to train all the time. I should be able to invent to my heart's content."

Vegeta smiled at her frustrated expression. "Okay." He gave her a quick smooch.

"That's it?"

"Far be it from me to deny you your chance to build all the impossible, sci-fi objects in the world. Just don't get mad when your brain spontaneously combusts and I tell you 'I told you so'."

Bulma humphed. "I'll see you at the lab tonight?" Bulma looked up at Vegeta expectantly even through her irritation.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he said with a grin.

They walked out of the apartment hand in hand, stopping for a goodbye kiss as Bulma got into her car and Vegeta climbed onto his bike, both heading toward campus.

"Bulma," Barbara's disembodied voice called over the lab's intercom. "Mr. Ouji is here."

"Send him down!"

Bulma was excited Vegeta was here. She'd been waiting for him for two hours. She really needed his help today. She ran up the stairs to meet him at the door.

When the lab door opened Vegeta was immediately tackled. He caught a glimpse of blue hair before his lips were otherwise occupied.

"Mmmm," he mumbled against Bulma's lips. "This is. One heck. Of. A. Greeting. Woman." She wouldn't stop kissing him. Vegeta had to hold her head between his hands to pull her back. He grinned at her heated gaze. "What's with the warm welcome?"

"I've been waiting for you!"

"Oh really?" He raised an eyebrow salaciously.

Vegeta was caught off guard when Bulma grabbed his hand and dragged him down the stairs to the big bay doors on the left. "Come on! I want you to see this!"

She looks so happy. Vegeta couldn't stop his laughter at her childlike glee.

Bulma opened the door to the old storage room, taking a step inside. When Vegeta saw what had been done to the room, his jaw dropped. There were construction workers walking all around the great room. Some carrying wood. Others metal. A bunch of people were hanging from the steal rafters and framing of what looked to be a spherical metal room.

"What is this?" Vegeta asked, astonished.

"This is the start of my full scale gravity chamber. The construction team has been here all day prepping. Hopefully they'll have the structure completely erected by the end of next month."

A slight air of confusion was able to pass through Vegeta's amazement. "Why so long?" He looked down at Bulma.

"Because the room needs to be double walled. There's a lot of moving parts to this thing."

Vegeta just gaped at the bluenette.

"What?" She asked, her eyebrows shooting upward. She couldn't place the emotion on Vegeta's face.

Suddenly she was pushed up against the wall and Vegeta's lips came crashing down on hers. She gave in to the kiss. Forgetting about all the other people moving about the room. Vegeta sensually slid his tongue along Bulma's bottom lip. She could feel his erection as he grinded his pelvis into her. Her hands fisted into his hair. They were both breathing hard, making lewd noises.

Someone cleared their throat behind them. "Um... Ms. Briefs..."

Bulma tried to pull away but Vegeta pulled her head back, kissing her senseless.

"Wait," she gasped out. Vegeta started kissing her neck. Bulma glimpsed the face of a very uncomfortable looking young man with glasses trying to avoid their obscene display as much as he could. "Vegeta stop."

"You never tell me to stop, woman. You usually tell me to do the opposite." Vegeta purred huskily. The poor employee's face was as bright as a tomato at Vegeta's words.

"No seriously, Vegeta." Bulma pushed on Vegeta's chest and he finally backed away. He turned to see the be-speckled worker behind him. He gave him a harsh glare.

Bulma had the grace to look guilty. "Yes, Saiyaman?"

"Ma'am, we have the blueprints you ordered and the team is ready to debrief you whenever you're, um, available," the young man stumbled awkwardly over his words, looking between Bulma and Vegeta.

"Okay. Thanks for letting me know. I'll be with you guys in about ten minutes." Bulma's already existing blush deepened. Oh god. He probably thinks I'm about to go have sex now."I'll see you then, ma'am." He nodded his head then left.

Bulma punched Vegeta in the arm. Hard.

Vegeta rubbed at his bicep. "What the hell was that for," he growled.

"For making me look like some floozy in front of my team! Now they probably think I'm off to have sex before the meeting!" She screeched at him.

"Is that not what we're about to do?"

"No!" She yelled. She looked over her shoulder. Some of the crew were still watching them. Bulma grabbed Vegeta by the arm. Man, she looks mad, Vegeta thought. She dragged him out through the big double doors and shut them behind her. They were once again in the quiet of her lab.

Vegeta looked at Bulma. He sauntered toward her, intending to rip her clothes off and have her against the desk when she put up her hands, a defiant look in her eye.

"No. I'm not having sex with you right now." Why does he want to have sex so badly right now anyways, Bulma mused. "I only brought you out here to tell you what I need you to do while I'm at my briefing."

Vegeta crossed his arms over his chest. He stared the woman down.

"Uh huh! Don't try to wheedle your way into my pants by being all dark and silently sexy. I'm not giving in." She folded her arms too, standing her ground.

They kept up their glaring contest until Vegeta grinned and chuckled. "What do you need me to do, woman?" He asked.

Bulma was irritated by his reaction. She turned her back on him and moved to one of her work tables. She pointed at what looked to be a small engine. "I won't be gone long. I just need this moved over to that work station." She pointed at the recently cleared off table Vegeta normally saw her at, although it still held the other engine part on it. "It's pretty heavy. So don't drop it." She looked at him sternly. "I also need this moved over there and those two as well." She pointed at some square panel pieces. "I'll need your help connecting these two parts together when I come back. In the meantime, don't touch anything other than what I've told you to." She turned to glare at her boyfriend. "And keep your mind out of the gutter!" she added as an afterthought.

He ignored her last command. "So you're going to meet with that geeky guy that interrupted us?"

"Yeah. He's heading over most of the electrical build. Why?"

Vegeta just shrugged. He tried to push down the irrational jealously he felt. Like she'd ever go for a nerd like that. "Saiyaman? That's a weird name."

"It's a nickname. I'm always forgetting his actual name. I think it starts with a G."

Vegeta humphed.

Bulma gave him a confused – but still annoyed – look. "Okay. I'll be back in like five minutes. Maybe ten."

Vegeta watched her re-enter the storage room. He got to work immediately. It didn't take but a minute for him to move everything she needed him to. Wasn't that heavy. He took a seat and decided to do the opposite of what she told him. He began thinking about her. He replayed what had happened earlier over in his head. The way she kissed him, letting out little moans of pleasure and excitement. Her plump ass in his hands as he squeezed her to him. Her hands pulling him closer. He didn't think he'd ever get enough of her. But then he remembered that stupid Saiyaman interrupting them and he scowled. He had no reason to be worried about someone stealing his woman. He'd just pummel them if they even tried to look at her. But he couldn't help but think that maybe Bulma would want to be with a guy like that. Someone insanely smart like her. Vegeta knew he wasn't stupid, but he couldn't hold a candle to Bulma. He loved her intelligence. He thought it was sexy and it turned him on just as much as her body did. She was so smart it gave him whiplash sometimes. She was leading a major project by herself basically, so she also has leadership skills under her belt. And don't even get him started on how it felt watching her fight. Vegeta could barely wrap his head around all the things she could do.

Just then, the doors to the other room opened and out walked the woman he'd been thinking of.

Bulma returned to see Vegeta sitting on a swivel chair with his feet up on the computer desk. He looked like he'd been deep in thought.

"Everything go okay?"

"I did everything you asked." He smirked evilly. "Except that last request of yours. My mind is perpetually in the gutter when it comes to you."

Bulma tried not to take that as a compliment. She rolled her eyes.

"How'd the meeting go?" Vegeta asked, trying to sound somewhat disinterested but failing.

"Fine. Not much change since the last time I talked to them. Just a few minor adjustments to the schematics I requested." Bulma gave Vegeta a puzzled look. "You sure you're okay?"

Vegeta tried to brush off his doubts from before. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Bulma saw right through him. She put her hands on her hips. "Tell me what's the matter with you or so help me you won't get sex for a week."

Vegeta scowled. "Don't threaten me, woman."

"What's up with you then?"

He released an exasperated sigh. "You're infuriating, you know that, woman?"

Bulma went and sat in his lap. She brushed her fingers over the crease between his brows. "What is it? Are you worried I'm still mad at you? Because I'm not."

"No."

"Then what?"

Vegeta couldn't lie to her when she looked at him with those intense blue orbs of hers. "I worry-" His throat was dry. He tried again. "I worry sometimes that I'm not enough for you. That I'm not smart enough to keep up with you." He became intently focused on the wall behind her, avoiding her gaze. He finally turned to face her when he heard a sob. Shit. I made her cry.

"Oh Vegeta." Bulma's vision was blurry with unshed tears. "You're more than enough. You're the best thing in my life, no matter all the shit we have to go through to be together. I love you." She kissed his lips softly. "And give yourself some more credit. I could never study physics the way you do. You literally fixed a mathematical error in my project for me. If you hadn't had done that, I wouldn't be in this next step of development right now."

Vegeta looked at her skeptically. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. "I love you, Bulma. The thought of some other man having you makes me immensely angry."

Bulma snuggled into him. His words made her think something. "Are you telling me you're jealous of someone like Saiyaman?" She tried and failed to keep the irony out of her voice.

Vegeta stiffened. How'd she know?Bulma felt Vegeta react to her words. She looked at him, disbelief plain on her face, sobering her. "Vegeta, he's a child," she said solemnly. Vegeta looked confused. "He graduated college when he was like 12 or something. His mother homeschooled him and he's like some wunderkind genius or whatever. He's younger than us. Way younger."

Vegeta's eyes widened. "I was jealous of a little twerp?"

Bulma laughed. "Yeah. It looks like."

"Well, the hell with that then. Forget I said anything." He stood up with Bulma in his arms and set her on the counter. Before she could say a word, his lips were on hers and he was pressing his still hard cock against her core.

"Mmmm. Mm. Mmm. Wait. Vegeta." He went to run his tongue along her collar bone. She had changed into her signature overalls tied at the waist and a tank top underneath her lab coat and he loved the access it gave him to her breasts. He moved down to place his face in between then, but Bulma pulled him back by his hair. He growled at her. "Hey. We still have work to do. This is your internship time, remember."

Vegeta reluctantly let her go and stood up straight. He crossed his arms against his chest in ire. "Fine."

Bulma smiled at his calm rage at not being able to have her. "Come on. I need some help with these engines. It's a two person job." She hopped down from the desk and walked over to the wall containing all her tools. She pulled down what looked like a small drill, an elbow wrench, and a pair of work gloves and goggles which she handed to Vegeta. "Here. You'll need to put these on." She went to grab hers as well, pulling them on and smiling. "Safety first." She motioned for him to look at the big parts in front of her. "So we need to attach these two parts together without disrupting the way either of them function. That's why I created these panel boards. I'm hoping with your help we'll be able to fuse them together easier, without having to move them around too much." She handed him the small drill-like tool. "This is one of the Briefs soldering tools. It works kinda like a blow torch really. Just with a little added electricity. Now these panels are symmetrical, so everything I do you have to do too. We'll be soldering at the same time and every now and then I'll need you to rotate the engines so I can check the progress. Okay?" She looked up at Vegeta expectantly. He nodded, determined to do a good job.

They set out to work. It was a very slow process. Very delicate work. Vegeta found his hand cramping more than he thought it would. Bulma allowed him breaks while she tightened bolts and things with the elbow wrench. Man, she never stops, thought Vegeta as he watched her work. It was almost two hours later before Bulma finally called it quits.

"There. I think we got it. Rotate it all one more time for me."

Vegeta turned the metal devices over along the table as Bulma scrutinized their work.

"Hold it!" She commanded. She took out her drill and made a final pass to a corner of one of the panels. "Okay." She set her tool down and lifted her goggles to the top of her head. She smiled at Vegeta. "Good job!"

Vegeta removed his gloves and goggles, setting them down in his chair as he stretched. Bulma ogled him as he lifted his arms above his head. He caught her staring and a grin spread over his face. He sauntered over to her and pulled her gloves off her hands. He bent to kiss her but then paused to gauge her reaction. She threw her arms around his neck and brought his lips down to hers, her goggles falling off her head at the action. Vegeta moved his hands down to grab Bulma's ass.

Suddenly, a beep came over the intercom and Dr. Briefs's face appeared on the jumbo screen.

"Hey kids!" He greeted. Seemingly ignoring their torrid embrace. "Mom says dinner is ready whenever you two are all set to come up!" He waved and suddenly cut out.

Vegeta found it far more embarrassing to be caught by Dr. Briefs than Panchy.

Bulma removed herself from around Vegeta and they made their way upstairs for dinner.

"I feel like we eat a lot of meals with your family."

Bulma giggled. "Is that a bad thing?"

"I don't know. I guess it's just something I'm not used to. But I won't complain. Your mother's cooking is delicious."

"Aw! Thank you, Vegeta!" Panchy said, having overheard their conversation as they made their way into the kitchen.

They sat down at their usual spots as Panchy laid more food on the table. Tonight looked like a variety of stews in individual ramekins and an assortment of bread.

"Okay everybody. Dig in!" Panchy directed as she took her seat. "Oh I so love having you here for meals Vegeta. I really get to show off my cooking skills. These two don't seem to pay much attention to it any more."

"It's a pleasure, ma'am. I sure love to eat." Vegeta said. Bulma caught the small glance he gave her from the corner of his eye and about choked at his words.

"I saw a flier today for that tournament you mentioned you entered, Vegeta. Are you starting to prepare? I know it's still a few weeks away." Mr. Briefs asked.

"I haven't started my intense training yet. But I have been practicing as much as I can lately."

"That's good. I'd be willing to pay for you a trainer if you'd like."

Vegeta was taken aback by his generosity. "That's okay, sir. I have my godfather training me. And my great uncle said he'd be willing to help out as well. He used to compete himself."

"Well, it sounds like your family is just full of athletes now, Vegeta." Panchy commented.

"He's cousins with Goku and Raditz too," Bulma mentioned.

"Really?!" Panchy said. "Well, that explains why his appetite seems so familiar to me. It's been awhile since I've had those boys over for supper. Oh!" Panchy cried out as if she just remembered something. "That reminds me. I met the most dashing young man at the supermarket the other day. He was built like Raditz and had green hair. Told me I was the most beautiful being he'd ever laid eyes on. Isn't that sweet, honey." She asked her husband.

"I tell you that everyday, dear."

"Oh I know. But it's nice to hear it from a stranger sometimes."

Bulma wasn't listening to her mother anymore. She was watching Vegeta. At the mention of the man her mother described, he had dropped his spoon and his face had drained of color.

"I'm sorry. If you'll excuse me a moment." Vegeta got up from the table. He knew the woman wouldn't be far behind him.

"Vegeta," Bulma called after him down the hall. "What's wrong." She put her hand on his cheek.

"That man your mom described. His name his Zarbon. He's Frieza's right hand man."

Bulma's eyes widened. "But... I thought you said-"

"King Cold ordered everyone to stay away from me and you. Looks like Frieza has figured out another way to taunt me." He rubbed at his forehead aggravatedly.

"My mother never goes anywhere without security. My dad won't let her. It's not like they can actually get to her..." Bulma said desperately. She didn't want to think of her parents as targets.

"I don't think they're trying to hurt your mom. It's a message for me. To show that there are ways around King Cold's order." Vegeta stepped forward and pulled Bulma into his arms. "Don't worry. Nothing bad is going to happen to you or your folks."

Bulma hugged him tightly and wished she could believe him.

They agreed to stay the night in Bulma's old room. When they went back to the dinner table, Bulma tried to hint to her father to raise security now that her new project was underway. He seemed to consider it and she figured Gero's incessant badgering would lead him to tighten the reins.

Bulma exited her bathroom later to find Vegeta on her bed typing furiously on his phone. He looked up to see her approach.

"I'm just telling Nappa what happened."

"Okay," Bulma whispered, sliding under the covers.

"Hey." Vegeta grabbed Bulma's chin and turned her to face him. "Everything is fine. I told you. That was a warning to me."

"It's just hard not to worry."

Vegeta grimaced. "I know."

They were quiet for a moment. Until Vegeta broke the silence.

"I'm sorry, Bulma." He put his head in hands. "I never should've brought you into my crap."

"Well, that would've been hard."

Vegeta looked up to see a small smile on Bulma's face.

"I'm very tenacious. The moment I knew I wanted you, there would've been no stopping me. How do you think I've gotten boyfriends in the past," she said cheekily.

Vegeta just shook his head at her, but a smile crept onto his face.

"Now I don't know about you, but I would love a distraction right now. And I think this might be our chance to not be interrupted this time." She crawled over to Vegeta and straddled his lap. He put his hands on her hips, moving her nightgown up her torso. She leaned forward, placing her hands on either side of his face. She kissed him passionately. They both quickly became consumed by their love, spurred by their anxiety.


Author's Note:

I realized the other day that there was no way for me to realistically include Gohan as Chi Chi and Goku's son, so I figured this was the next best thing. (Plus my husband was hounding me to include him somehow.)