Chapter 21
"Thank you Dr Briefs, for this opportunity"
Thanks for coming down my boy. It was great to finally meet you… In more ways than one" The older man's eye winked behind his thick framed glasses.
"I'm sorry, again. I… ah…"
"Go and speak with her Vegeta, I know my daughter. She has her mother's tenacity. We will speak again in a week," a kind smile washed over his face, curving his grey mustache. "We will know who has gained the spot by then"
Vegeta stood up and flipped up his manila folder into his hand. He reached out and shook his girlfriend's father, the creator of the Asteria Project's, hand.
"I look forward to hearing from you Dr Briefs, Goodbye"
"Goodbye Vegeta"
Putting pressure on his heel, his body spun 180 degrees. With his interview finally over, his mind turned to Bulma. Stepping through the threshold of the office, he closed the door behind him. A long sigh left his lips.
Constriction in his chest flooded his system with an uncomfortable uneasiness. He knew he had fucked up, he understood her issues with trust. They had gone over it before. He should have told her about the interview. Granted. But her rash actions today showed him that no matter his decision, being in a relationship with her was always going to complicate his application. Now, she was pissed at him for withholding information from her, hurting her ego and injuring her confidence. He was annoyed at her, putting his career in jeopardy and acting like a child. Even after he had shown her restraint and patience. Her father, Dr Briefs, had met him in less than desirable circumstances. Their private issues aired in front of him, making his decision harder. It was not how he imagined this interview would go. What a fucking mess.
Vegeta pulled out his phone from his dress pants pocket. He had a new message.
B: I'm in the atrium when you're finished
The atrium? Did she mean the big garden in the center of the building? Racing through images in his mind. He remembered glancing at it on the way inside, following behind the receptionist. Didn't they own dinosaurs?
V: Coming now
His feet began to lead him in the direction of his girlfriend. Once again he would have to articulate his thoughts and emotions.
A time long before, after his brother Tarble and himself had reached safety in a refugee camp. Their parents slaughtered only hours before. Vegeta had met with a nurse to check over his physical and mental state. Trying to let the words form on his lips, he looked at hers, trying to imitate them as they moved and pressed words into the air. Unable to answer her questions, he was deemed a mute. The ability to speak escaped him for years.
Learning the skill again was an excruciatingly arduous task. He spent years in rehabilitation and therapy to undo the horrors he saw. But a challenge was something Vegeta did not give up on easily. It had been in his blood.
Articulating was now his power.
After the vibration went off on her phone, her heart began its thumping cascade. She had been angry, but that subsided quickly after the panicked thoughts of the rocket blowing up entered her mind like a poison gas.
How could she continue on the venture, this deadly, never before accomplished venture. Especially with his safety squarely in her hands.
There was also the fact of the underlying project. The government had appointed funding and her father had taken it. It had been an exciting prospect for her. A dream come true, for all of the earth. Until he became a factor.
She heard his black leather shoes drumming before her eyes made their way up. With the meeting of their gaze he stopped. His hands already in his pocket, his chest heaving out a sigh.
"Hi"
"Hello" She said back, standing up.
His weight switched to the other foot, so he was waiting for her to start? As if he had no part to play in this mess.
"Why didn't you tell me?!" Her voice was a few decibels above what she intended.
But fuck it, the flame flickered inside her again. Fear had a way of igniting her anger.
"Why did you burst in like that? I had to explain to your father what…"
"Explain what Vegeta?! Fuck, explain it to me!"
"It's about me Bulma" He hand slapped his chest. "It's about trusting my abilities, about getting through life on my own merits, by my own work. If I told you, it would have impacted on my application, you know this! I need to know I'm capable!"
"I never would have meddled in your application, I of all fucking people understand your need to be accepted on your own skills!"
A strong hand slipped through his hair hard, dragging in frustration.
"Bulma you did meddle!"
"I…"
"You busted into my interview with your father and outed me as your boyfriend and a 'liar' in one fucking sentance!"
Her body shuddered at a rush of realization, as it surged through her.
"He has to consider this news now as a bias. The press would find out once our names are released. Pointing out that the integrity of the project was compromised. Is that not meddling Bulma? Won't that have implications on my application now? Yes, you of all people should understand. And I thought you did, that's why I kept it to myself"
Her breathing was fast and hard. Panic had resurfaced. With a renewed vigor. She had fucked up. Not him. Now was the time for the truth.
Voice level lower she spoke. "Vegeta, I'm so sorry. I wasn't thinking. I was afraid of the reason you had lied and it brought up anger. I didn't consider what you just pointed out"
He visibly let his shoulders drop. His body language relaxed as his chest rising subsided.
"I was lying by omission. I admit that. But I never intended it to hurt you. I should have told you, maybe this wouldn't have happened"
A forceful pounding cloaked her chest. Realising properly for the first time it wasn't really about the lying. Maybe this wouldn't have happened, echoed inside her mind. A rush of memory followed. The rocket blowing apart and catching fire like any hope or trust she had of herself. He can't take this job, she isn't good enough to protect him. Tears followed, overflowing her eyelids and soaking her cheeks. She dropped to the ground on her knees.
Vegeta swiftly followed her, resting his hand on the middle of her back.
"Bulma?"
She sucked in air into her lungs, her voice quivered. "The booster system, it exploded last week"
Vegeta's lips hissed at the realisation. But he said nothing.
"Our testing failed, if you get into that rocket, you will be killed by my inability!"
Hands wrapped around her cheeks and forced them upwards. Her eyes meet Vegeta's
"Stop that right now. You are brilliant, I trust you completely. Testing is for failures! Nobody gets it right the first time. You understand that, I know you do. Your rocket will reaches it destination and return, intact"
His words renewed her sobbing. She had lost the capability to trust herself, the very real, very strong pressure had gotten to her. In moments of weakness, she had lost her ability to believe she could do the very thing she had devoted her life to. Vegeta never had, even with the knowledge that she had failed. He still stood with her, his conviction unwavering. In that moment, he was the most attractive he had ever been.
She lifted her hand and brushed away the remaining tears.
"Thank you" she whispered. "I'm sorry"
"Next time will you just tell me what is really going on, ok?"
Bulma grabbed his face and pulled it toward hers. Pressing her lips firmly on his before a tongue slipped into her mouth. Hands wrapped into her hair as he pulled her forcibly into him too. Slipping their tongues inside and softly licking the other, Vegeta's teeth softly gnawing at her bottom lip. As his moans vibrated against her, the fear and anxiety slipped down through her body and dissolved into the floor.
After savouring each other's touch, they pulled away. Vegeta rested his forehead on hers.
"I knew you were building the rocket I wanted to be on, I knew before the festival"
"Did you? You saw the boosters..."
"Yeah"
"I should have known you would work out what the plans were" Bulma let a small chuckle slip.
Vegeta let her go and stood up. He held out his hand and helped pull her up with him.
"I think you will get the job, you could recognise any engine, in any capacity. Plus repair it in any condition! You're the man for the job"
"I hope your father agrees with you"
"He will"
"I trust you Bulma, I have for a long time" His calloused hand swept her cheek softly, making her shudder. "I have been guarded for a long time, it's calming to finally be able to relax around someone"
Her hand met his and she smiled. "Have you found it hard in the past?"
He simply nodded, feeling his reluctance to go any further she let her own wall down instead.
"I've been under extreme pressure with this project. My career, my father's company, my livelihood, but most importantly other people's lives are on the line. The weight bearing down on me and the compression on my chest sends my anxiety to new levels"
"You have anxiety?"
"Yes, I was diagnosed with it a few years ago. I get bad anxiety attacks. They peaked while I was in a relationship with Yamcha, and it was at its worst. he manipulated and gaslighted me for years. I couldn't trust anything or anyone, even myself. I felt impending doom constantly. Maybe that's why I act a little cra…"
Vegeta's mouth slipped into a smirk and he chuckled. "Don't say crazy"
Bulma raised her eyebrow. "What would you call it then?"
He shrugged. "Normal"
"Normal?"
"I was diagnosed with panic disorder some years ago. I find your behaviour pretty normal for someone who has dealt with what you have"
"You have panic disorder?"
Vegeta nodded again. She didn't push it this time either.
"Thank you for telling me about it" She let go of him and stepped back slightly. "I'm sorry I said crazy"
He shrugged. "You can call what you're feeling whatever you want. Just know, I don't think you're crazy"
How did he know exactly what to say to calm her. He must have worked hard to get himself where he was. Emotionally and Mentally. He was so strong. While she felt weak.
"You don't give yourself enough credit Bulma" He stepped back into her space, holding her hands. "You're a good woman, you are kind and sincere, determined and strong willed. All while you battle internally"
Her blue eyes found onyx ones. Her eyelids dropped naturally as her heart rate increased.
"Thank you, I guess I need to remind myself of that a little more often" Moving her lips millimetres from his, she could feel his breath, hot and increasing in pressure. "Maybe we should find somewhere more private?"
"Hn."
There was that naughty smirk she loved.
Bzzt. Bzzt.
God damn it. Her eyes darted down to her hand.
"Your father's cock blocking me," he growled.
"How come you have the dumbcunt hat?" Krillin eyed Turles.
The taller man had light coloured camo's on from head to toe.
"If we left it with Yamcha it would have been thrown out, or burnt! Surely we need it for other dumbcunty shit that is about to happen today" Turles laughed pulling the hat over Nappa's head.
"Yes, give it to him, he's probably already done something worthy of the hat" Vegeta murmured sipping his beer, his face completely painted in greens, browns an black. His skin coloured camo top had already gotten paint stains on it.
"Fuck you Vegeta" Nappa snapped, the baby-shit-yellow hat clashing with his bright white and navy blue sailor uniform.
"That's Sergent to you" Vegeta laughed walking around the group of men and refilling his cup with beer.
He had set his backyard up the week before with new outdoor furniture. Enough to house the 14 people attending the combined Bucks and Hens party.
"Guys, come on, today is time to celebrate! And please don't give Yamcha a hard time" Krillin groaned.
The shorter, bald man rubbed his temple then sipped his beer too. His air force jumpsuit fitted him perfectly. Vegeta thought instantly, it must have been a childs size to be able to fit him so well. He smirked to himself, deciding to save that burn for a later time. This was an all day and all night affair after all. Fridge to fridges were notorious for fucking around with each other.
"How come you aren't having your own bucks man? Having the girls around… that's bullshit!" Raditz moaned, he too in head to toe camo.
"Are you fucking dumb? I would not let her loose on her own, with her girlfriends either!" Turles burst out of nowhere, pointing at the four women standing a few metres away.
Vegeta's eyes naturally fell to his girlfriend first. Bulma in camo hot pants, black strapping down her painted legs holding a toy gun. A skin coloured tank and camo body paint, her blue hair loosely plaited to the side. He reminded himself he would rip those clothes later and fuck that paint off her body.
Their cackling made Vegeta begin to side with Turles. Chichi in a formal sailor uniform looked innocent enough. But he had offhandedly heard enough from her idiot fiance to know better. With a white pencil skirt, a white and navy blazer, a white cap and a pulled back bun. No she wasn't fucking fooling him.
18 however, was in a skin tight air force jumpsuit, her tits almost pushed up to her chin. She would undoubtedly be the voice of reason with her group of girl friends. Even at her own Hens party.
The new girl beside her with long dark blue hair and a timid demeanor was a wild card in camo t-shift dress and black boots. Vegeta knew her partner Tien from the gym and expected he wouldn't date a crazy bitch. So she must be as she seemed.
The cackle erupted again, like witches around a cauldron.
"You're right, I wouldn't let her out of my sight" Raditz added.
"You guys have it all wrong… I may be short, but what I lack in stature I make up for in intelligence…" Krillin chuckled, swirling his beer in the red plastic cup.
"Oh this'll be good, do tell us of your ingenious plan…" Piccolo rolled his eyes.
"If we had separate parties, Bulma would lavish 18 with an amazing party! And you lot would… well it would be pretty abysmal in comparison. This way, having a party together, I reap the benefits too!" Krillin wiggled his eyebrows.
Vegeta snorted. "You fucking leech"
"Says the man dating her"
"I didn't know she was filthy rich!" Vegeta snapped.
The area fell awkwardly quiet. A deep hot feeling hit him as the women's eyes seared into the back of Vegeta's head. The men began snickering.
"She must have a magical cunt then" Raditz laughed.
Vegeta punched him straight into the gut and a powerful bellow came from the man's middle and up through his throat.
"Nappa give him the fucking hat!" Vegeta grumbled, releasing his hand from his friend's stomach.
"Brutal" Raditz whined through the pain.
"Guys Vegeta loves Bulma, money or no money" Goku gave Vegeta a thumbs up.
"Shut up, or you're next!"
"Oh shit…" Turles whispered as he lent into Vegeta's ear. "Look who it is"
His eyes sprinted to the door as a man with long black hair, scars adorning his face and a petite blonde woman entered. A pit began to swallow his stomach. Yamcha always fucking complicated things.
