Author's Note:
This chapter makes me happy for several different reasons *insert smiling devil emoji*
Hope you guys enjoy!
Finally some smut! This chapter includes some hot phone sex*
Chapter 22: Misery Business
Vegeta was breathing hard, groaning as he exerted his energy.
"Two more," Nappa instructed.
Vegeta was at the bench press and Nappa was spotting him. He pushed the 225 pounds off his chest another two times and then rested the barbell back in its cradle. He sat up. His muscles were screaming. He'd been working out for almost four hours now. Dr. Briefs had let him and Nappa utilize the compound's gym and he was grateful. Nappa had been surprised by the swanky place and state of the art equipment, but was in heaven just as much as Vegeta.
"You should stop for the day," Nappa told him. "You're body needs rest. Come on. Let's go get some food."
They ran into Panchy on their way out. "Hey, boys! How was your workout, Vegeta?"
"Good, ma'am. Thank you guys again for letting me train here."
"Oh no problem, dear. You know how enthralled my husband is about this tournament of yours. And it was so nice to meet you, Nappa. Please come again. You can join us for dinner one evening!"
"From what I hear of your cooking, I'd be honored to, Mrs. Briefs."
"Call me Panchy," she said with a wave of her hand.
"Panchy," Nappa said with a grin. "If you'll excuse us, we gotta get goin'. But Vegeta will let you know about dinner sometime."
"I'll be sure to remind him. Now you two have a good evening," Panchy said, waving and moving down the hall.
Vegeta glared at Nappa.
"What?"
"You creepy bastard. She's married."
"I know that," Nappa said slightly offended. "Doesn't mean I can't be a gentleman," he grumbled.
Vegeta rolled his eyes as they left the Briefs's compound.
Not too long after they were outside the boundaries of the rich, they found themselves at a small ramen shop they used to go to when Vegeta was little.
"Could I get tori paitan base please. Shoyu ramen with shredded pork, moyashi, aonegi, enoki mushrooms, ajitsuke tamago, and butter. Extra large," Vegeta ordered.
"I'll take the tonkotsu ramen with kakuni, fried veggies, kikurage, and ajitama, please. Large."
The waiter left to put in their order, setting down a pitcher of water before they retreated.
"You're doin' good kid. We'll keep up this schedule and then we'll try to hit everyday right before weigh-in," Nappa said.
"Any free time I get is going towards training." Vegeta scowled at his water. In his head, he was calculating all the time he wasn't scheduled to work or in classes.
Nappa raised an eyebrow. "What about Bulma?"
Vegeta looked up at him. "What about her?"
Bulma had made Nappa promise he wouldn't tell Vegeta about their talk. And he'd keep that promise. The girl was worried. And it was clear her nerves had been getting to Vegeta and that wasn't what he needed right now. And she knew it. That's why she came to talk to him in the first place. And Nappa was okay with that. It was almost cathartic for him as well. To talk to someone as tied up in this mess as he was with nothing they could do. But Vegeta's cavalier attitude towards his girlfriend didn't rub Nappa in the right way. She needed him. And Vegeta needed her. It seemed like he was starting to forget that. No matter how much stress Bulma could ever cause Vegeta, which wasn't much considering the boy was anxiousness and stubbornness personified, she was good for him. And Nappa feared what could happen to his godson if he reduced spending time with the woman he loved. Especially to his mental state.
"She okay with that?" Nappa said vaguely.
Vegeta's scowl seemed to deepen. "Yes." He was confused by Nappa's out of the blue mention of his girlfriend. It was like he knew something Vegeta didn't. And he didn't like it. "Why you ask?"
Nappa just shrugged. "You two have been basically inseparable. Didn't know what she'd think."
"Bulma understands. She wants me to be at my best." Vegeta felt an odd sensation in his chest as he spoke.
The waiter returned with their ramen and conversation ceased as Nappa and Vegeta dug in.
Nappa kept thinking about his conversation with Bulma as he ate. She had asked more before she left. More about Vegeta. How he was when he was younger. What Senior and Kumiko were like. Even how he got along with Goku and Raditz growing up. He couldn't help a chuckle as he remembered telling her of the time Raditz and Goku thought it would be a good idea to play a trick on Vegeta involving a worm. It didn't end well for Vegeta or Goku.
"What's so funny?" Vegeta asked him, suspicious.
Nappa smirked. "Still afraid of worms, boy?"
Vegeta's face paled. Then he gave Nappa the most murderous look he could muster. Nappa just chuckled and continued enjoying his meal.
—
"Hey! How was training today?" Bulma asked Vegeta excitedly. She was laying in bed with her head propped on her pillow as she stared at her boyfriend's face through the phone. It was almost eleven o'clock.
"Good. I'm lucky your parents let me use their gym. Helps me get more rounded of a workout."
"My dad is excited to watch you fight. Apparently one of his old friends is suppose to be there too. Didn't know he knew too many fighters, but the man is an enigma."
"Your harebrained mother invited Nappa to dinner one night," Vegeta mentioned.
Bulma's eyebrows shot up. "Really?"
"Yeah. The fuck-face agreed." Vegeta scowled. He wasn't sure how he felt about Nappa being so familiar with Mrs. Briefs. Not that he thought the baldly would do anything. But Dr. Briefs might...
Bulma thought about it. "Well, it would actually be kinda nice to have a big family get together like that. Introduce-the-relatives kind of thing." She let out a nervous giggle. "Would you want to invite Raditz and Goku?"
"Fuck no."
Bulma smirked. "I'll just ask Nappa to invite them."
"Since when do you talk to Nappa?" Vegeta asked, curious.
Crap. "I don't. I was just saying. He likes me. He'll listen." She smiled cheekily, hopefully distracting Vegeta from her slip up. She didn't want him to know that she talked to Nappa. She actually was growing fond of her's and the strange man's budding relationship. It was nice to finally get to talk to someone.
Vegeta chuckled. "You've just got everyone wrapped around your little finger, don't you."
"And don't you forget it, mister. I'm very good at getting men to do what I want," she winked, knowing that would unleash the jealously beast.
"And what, pray tell, have you been getting men to do for you?" Vegeta asked with a violent edge in his tone.
"Oh, you know. This and that." Bulma giggled. She loved playing this game.
"Woman," he said threateningly.
"What're you gonna do about it?" she questioned in a seductive voice.
Vegeta knew what she was trying to do and it made him grin. "First, I'd have to destroy the man who deigned himself fit to talk to my woman." His remark sent a shiver down Bulma's back. "Then I'd have to punish you," he said menacingly.
"Punish me how?" Bulma's voice was becoming breathy.
Vegeta smirked. Looked like he wouldn't be going to bed anytime soon. Gotta love phone sex. "Well, first. I'd get you on your knees." Bulma already had her hands down her panties. She loved when Vegeta described these kinds of things to her. "I'd say your mouth would need to be filled since you thought you could just spout anything off to whomever you liked. And after a good face-fucking I'd strap you to the bed so you'd be completely at my mercy." Vegeta moved so he could pull down his shorts. He was already hard.
"And?" Bulma was breathing hard.
"Then I'd crawl over you and kiss you from head to toe. Lightly tracing my lips all over your body. And when you think you've had enough of that, I'd repeat the process. But this time with my tongue." Vegeta heard her breath hitch. "I'd slowly lick my way to your center and then I'd eat that sweet little pussy of yours for hours. God, I love how you taste. I'd make you cum on my tongue over and over and over again." He noticed bulma's rising chest and the movement of her camera. He knew exactly what she was doing and it made him smirk. He grabbed his own appendage and started moving his hand up and down.
"Would I be able to have your cock in my pussy?" Bulma asked after he hadn't spoke for a beat. She wasn't done hearing this fantasy.
Vegeta groaned. "Eventually. I'd tease the hell out of you first. I'd slide my cock along your slit, massaging you. You'd be so wet for me. Then I'd slip in. Just a tad. And immediately pull out. Going a little bit deeper every time, but never giving you what you fully wanted." Vegeta's voice was throaty with his desire. He could feel his stomach muscles clenching.
"Please. I want you to thrust into my tight pussy while I'm all tied up."
He loved when she talked like that. "Patience, baby."
Bulma's panties were drenched as she pictured this erotic setup. Vegeta knew one of her fantasies was being tied up and he was toying with her. Her fingers slowed on her clit. Waiting for Vegeta to finish his smutty tale. She didn't want to cum too soon.
Vegeta took a moment to get himself worked up. His movements were faster. He opened his eyes to see the overcome look on Bulma's face and he let out a deep groan.
"Vegeta, please," Bulma begged.
He continued. "Finally, when I couldn't take it anymore, I'd sheath myself inside you. Stretching your pussy. Claiming you. I'd set a punishing rhythm. Ramming into you over and over. Pulling almost completely out. Only to shove my hard cock back in again. And you'd be so frustrated. You wouldn't be able to move, writhing on the bed underneath me, begging me." Vegeta was breathing hard. "I'd free you. But just your ankles. That way I could flip you over and have you from behind. Fuck!" He thrusted into his hand, the camera jiggling. "I just want to spank you as I fuck you and hear your screams of pleasure. Watch my handprints form on your pale skin. Then I'd toy with your clit. Pinching it and rolling it between my fingers. Not giving you the relief you so desperately wanted." He heard Bulma's quiet gasp of pleasure. He knew she was close. "Without warning, I'd stroke your clit just like you like. Providing you with so much pleasure. Working my fingers over you as I continue fucking you." Vegeta's hand was cramping from how aggressively he was moving. Bulma's neck and chest were faintly pink. She was so close. "Cum for me, Bulma."
"Ohhh!"
Bulma's orgasm hit her like a ton of bricks. She opened her eyes just a bit to see Vegeta's O-face on her phone screen as he reached his own orgasm. They laid there, breathing heavy and not talking. Trying to come down from their high.
"You sure know how to tell a girl a good bedtime story," Bulma exhaled between ragged breaths.
Vegeta chuckled. "I can't wait for the day that that fantasy becomes a reality."
Mmmmm... "Me either."
Vegeta opened his eyes to look at his girlfriend. Her breathing hadn't returned to normal yet. She was still flushed. And she watched him with hooded eyes. She looks gorgeous, he thought. He looked at the time. It was now past to midnight. "I gotta get to bed." He didn't want to leave her. But he had to be up early in the morning to train before his shift. And a sudden tiredness had come over him.
"Okay," Bulma said. She hated hanging up. She wanted to extend their time together, but she knew he needed sleep. She didn't want him hurting himself tomorrow because he was tired. "Goodnight Vegeta. I love you."
"I love you too, baby. Night." He hung up.
Bulma hugged herself as she curled up into a small ball on her bed. As much as she loved having video chat sex, it always left an empty feeling in her gut. And since she hadn't really seen Vegeta in person in a couple days, the feeling was starting to wear on her. She forced herself not to cry, falling into a fitful sleep, hugging her pillow to her chest wishing it was her boyfriend.
"Why aren't you at the lab?" 18 asked as she came home to see Bulma laying on the couch watching Grey's Anatomy for the billionth time.
"I don't have much to do right now since construction's been stopped. And I finished my engine parts forever ago."
18 gazed at Bulma in concern. This wasn't like her. Even if there wasn't really anything for Bulma to do, she would usually find something she could tinker with in her lab. She loved that place. 18 went to sit down by Bulma's feet. She had never seen her friend like this before. She hadn't been herself this past week. "Everything okay, B?"
Bulma sighed. "I really wish people would stop asking me that."
"Well, if people keep asking, that just means they care and they're worried about you. Come on. You hardly ever just lounge around like this. Did something happen with Vegeta?"
"No. I haven't really seen much of him lately since he's been training all the time." 18 could see the troubled expression Bulma tried to hide.
"Well, I was just passing through. I was planning to meet up with Krillin in a little bit, but if you want me to stay, we can have a girls' night," 18 offered.
"No, that's okay. It's been a long day for me anyways. I'll probably just head to bed early."
18 was nervous to leave her friend, but she knew she wouldn't get through to her tonight. "Okay, B. If you need anything, I'm just a call away."
"I know. Thanks, 18. Now go have fun with Krillin," she tried to put on a happy smile.
18 left the apartment a few minutes later. She pulled out her phone and called Goku. "Goku! I need Vegeta's number. Oh, you're with him right now? Where? I'm headed over. Don't let him leave!"
18 walked into the gym that was apparently owned by Vegeta's godfather. She scanned the big room until she saw the flame-haired jerk she was looking for. She stomped toward where he was doing bicep curls. "Hey! You!" She shouted at him.
He gave her a furious look. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I'll tell you why I'm here. I'm here for Bulma. Take care of your fucking girlfriend because if I walk into the apartment and see her in that state again, I. Will. Fucking. End. You." 18 threatened.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes at her threat. "I have no idea what you are talking about."
"I'm talking about your girlfriend, who is not in her lab right now where she should be on a Monday night. Instead she is laying on the couch watching reruns. And it's your fault!" 18 was furious. "Why the hell aren't you in the lab with her right now? I thought your internship was on Mondays."
Vegeta was confused. "Bulma called and told me that she didn't need me at the lab today."
"And you decided to come here instead?! Fucking idiot," 18 shook her head.
Vegeta gave the blonde a death glare. He didn't like how she was talking to him. "Bulma knows that my training has increased. She knows any free time I get I spend in the gym. If she needed me, she'd tell me."
"You really are a fucking idiot," 18 repeated calmly. "I've seen how worried Bulma has been since you've started training for this tournament. You really think she's going to come to you about how's she's been feeling? I don't know what's going on with this whole thing, but it's hurting my best friend." 18 walked up and stabbed a finger in Vegeta's chest. "And you need to fix it." She took a deep breath and dropped her hand. "Bulma is the most caring person I know. She won't tell someone she cares about when she hurting in fear she'll end up being a burden to them. She loves you. And she's been trying really hard not to show you how much pain she's been in."
Vegeta's heart constricted. He almost felt like crying. Bulma's been hurting and I haven't even noticed? I'm such an ass.
"I'm not trying to get into your guys' business. I just refuse to watch my friend spiral into a depression because her jackass of a boyfriend is an idiot," 18 looked up at Vegeta then, her eyes were heated. "So stop being a fucking idiot." She turned and walked out of the gym.
Vegeta just sat there thunderstruck and angry. He caught Goku's sad and guilty expression as he inched his way closer. "Did you know about this?" Vegeta asked Goku.
"About what?" Goku asked, scared.
"I already know you're the one who told the blonde bitch I was here. I'm talking about Bulma. Did you know she's been worrying herself into a depression basically?"
Goku shuffled his feet. "Chi Chi has been telling me that Bulma hasn't been herself lately. I saw her the other day and she just asked how training was going for us. When I asked her why she hadn't heard about it from you, she said she hadn't seen you in awhile and she didn't want to bother you."
"Fuck!" Vegeta said under his breath. He put his head in his hands. "I really am a fucking idiot." He turned back to Goku. "Why didn't you tell me?" Vegeta's voice was bleak, thick with emotion.
Goku's chest felt weird. He'd never seen Vegeta this distraught before. "She promised me not to. She feels like she's been causing you a lot of stress, you worrying about her."
"Fuck!" Vegeta yelled again. He got up and ran out of the gym without a backwards glance.
When he finally made it to their complex, Chi Chi was unlocking their apartment door.
"I need to talk to Bulma," he huffed out, breathing heavy.
Chi Chi just gave him a weird look. Shit. She's pissed at me too. "Okay." She opened the door and he stormed in. Bulma was sound asleep on the couch, curled up under a blanket, lightly snoring.
"You probably shouldn't wake her. She hasn't been getting a lot of sleep lately."
Vegeta knelt down by Bulma's head and stroked her cheek. He picked her up in his arms and carried her to her bedroom while Chi Chi stood by rolling her eyes. He laid her down under the covers, trying his best not to wake her. He got in on the other side and watched his girlfriend sleep. He couldn't believe how terrible of a boyfriend he's been. He'd been neglecting her. Focusing so much on his training. He hated himself. He examined her face. She had dark circles under her eyes like she hadn't slept in days. Her face seemed paler than usual. It made him sick. I was the cause of this and didn't even realize... For a moment Vegeta thought he deserved whatever the Cold Empire had in store for him. He was terrible. He should've realized something was up with her. She had been acting strange ever since he mentioned the tournament was rigged. He hugged Bulma to him and promised that he'd never abandon her like this again. He'd reduce his training, fuck whatever consequences it meant for him in the ring. Bulma was the most important thing in his life and he wasn't about to let that slip away.
—
Bulma woke to find herself in her bedroom. I could've sworn I fell asleep on the couch, she thought groggily. A second later she felt the strong arms wrapped around her. She turned over to see Vegeta asleep next to her. When did he get here? Did he move me to the bed?
As she stared at Vegeta's sleeping face, he began to stir. He opened his eyes to see bright blue ones staring back at him in confusion. "Hi," he said while stretching.
"Hi. May I ask when and how you ended up in my bed?"
"I got here last night and you were already asleep on the couch. So I moved you to your bed."
"Well, that was sweet of you." She leaned over to kiss his cheek. Bulma wrinkled her nose. "You stink."
"I ran here from the gym. I didn't shower. Just got into bed."
"Why?" Bulma asked, confused.
"I was worried about you. I heard you were crying over Grey's Anatomy. I knew that was a bad sign."
"I was not!"
Vegeta chuckled.
"How'd you find out I was watching Grey's anyways?"
"The blonde robot came and accosted me at the gym, demanding I come check on you."
Bulma flinched. "She did?"
Vegeta grimaced. "Yeah. She had a few choice words for me." He grabbed Bulma's chin so he could look into her face. "Why didn't you tell me you've been struggling with this all by yourself?"
Bulma shrugged, feeling dejected. "I promised myself I wouldn't show you how much pain I've been in. I don't want you to have to worry about me on top of everything else. And I don't want to mess with your training. I know you have to prepare for the tournament and I refuse to be the reason you lose or get hurt."
Vegeta crushed her to him abruptly. "Bulma. If I lose, it would never be your fault." He turned to face her. "I worry about you all the time, woman. Everything I'm doing, I'm doing for you. So don't think you're hurting me." Vegeta scowled. "I've been a bad boyfriend. I should've realized something was wrong and I didn't." He laughed without humor. "Hell, even Kakarot knew something was up with you. But I won't make that mistake again. I promise to be there for you. No matter what." His voice was firm. Unyielding.
Bulma had tears running down her face. "I'm sorry. Here I thought I was trying not to make everything worse and I ended up doing the opposite."
"Hush. You're okay. Now stop. We've both agreed to be better from now on. And we will." He pulled her head back. "Okay?" Bulma nodded. "Good," he was glad all the mushy stuff was out of the way. "Now, I need to go take a shower. Want to join me?" he asked with a menacing smirk.
Bulma giggled. "Sure."
A/N:
Don't hate me! I had to cause them pain before they could be happy again. Happiness without sadness has no meaning.
Next week is date night...
