It was later on that evening, lying in Vegeta's arms, that she learned how to fly. Everyone had fallen asleep, and they were basking in the afterglow of a second round of lovemaking. The candles flickered on their damp skin, and Bulma curled up, her back against his chest. She felt his heartbeat and deep breaths against her. Her eyes were closed and she could feel herself drifting off to sleep when his fingers started tracing circles on her stomach.
"You know, you already know how to fly, Bulma…" He whispered in her ear. Her eyes blinked open.
"What?" She pressed against him harder and sighed. The way he rasped out her name made her want to start all over again.
"It's simple once you know how to use your ki."
"Yeah?" She said, sleepily.
"Hn…" His hand was firmer on her stomach now. "You form it here...and then instead of drawing it out, you push it down towards your feet. It lifts you off the ground." He whispered all this into her ear, and she shuddered against him.
"Wait...it's that easy? Why didn't you say anything before?" She turned around carefully, disengaging herself. He chuckled as she eyed him.
"Well, telling you how to do it is much different than actually doing it, woman. It's not quite that easy. That Videl girl took days to learn, I hear."
"Gohan's wife? How do you even know that?"
"I listen to all the mindless chatter. My point is, she is a fighter, but it still took her awhile. But you're just as stubborn as she is, I suppose." He stretched lazily in the dark, and Bulma could feel all his muscles tightening against her.
"Yes, I am that stubborn. I won't give up easily."
"I didn't say you would. I know first hand how stubborn you are." He pressed his forehead against hers and smiled crookedly. She smiled back, pushing her hands into hair. He moaned softly and pressed his lips against hers. They kissed slowly for a minute or so, then he drew back.
"You're not afraid?" His eyebrow cocked in mock trepidation.
"Afraid of what?" Her eyes widened, bewildered.
"Falling." He said the word simply, but it had weight to it, like a rock smashing to the ground.
"Uh...I wasn't?"
"But now you are?" He laughed at her. It almost sounded triumphant.
"No, I'm not, you brat." She pinched his arm, only making him laugh harder. Then he leaned in again.
"I won't let you fall." His lips brushed hers, and that was all the confirmation she needed.
The next afternoon, Bulma went to the atrium. She felt fine with practicing her ki sensing outside, but something was unsettling about having the endless sky above her for this. She didn't want to float away like a balloon. Vegeta did say he would look out for her, but right now he was busy. Goku had come around in the morning, and the two went out to spar. At first she was mad at him, but they hadn't really agreed on a set schedule, and the truth was, she didn't need him for this. He had already told her what to do. And...he knew that it would take her awhile. She sighed, concentrating. However, she realized after the first few minutes that this was no quiet place for training herself. She would get close to feeling her ki building, getting ready to press it downward, and then a giant dinosaur would come plowing through the trees behind her. About an hour into it, she gave up when she cracked her eyes open, only to see her dad fly by on what looked like a huge parrot.
Stomping into the kitchen, she was startled by Vegeta sitting at the table.
"Looks like things are going well." He laughed around his fork.
"Oh, shut up." She glared, getting a plate ready. "I made the mistake of using the damn atrium."
"Did you smash your head against the ceiling?"
"Oh, seriously. Do you really think I got that high in an hour?"
"Tch. I don't know how long you've were in there. I left early this morning, remember?"
"Yeah, I can tell by the smell. God, do Saiyans ever bathe?"
"Hey, I'm cleaner now than I've ever been in my life. Thanks to your obsession with not letting me smell like myself."
"Yourself? Ugh, if you call that your natural scent…" She shuddered. "Anyway, no. I didn't hit the ceiling."
"You are right now. I didn't plan on being ambushed while eating lunch." He glared, but there was no fire in it. Bulma sighed and pulled a chair out, plopping down hard.
"Sorry. I'm just frustrated."
"I told you it would take some time. Did you even listen to me last night? Or were you too enraptured by my god-like body?"
"I was listening. I just...wanted to practice there, and now I can't."
"What's the problem?"
"My dad and his damned dinosaurs for one thing. It's a frigging zoo in there!" She cried. Vegeta chuckled, nearly choking on his food.
"Oh, woman. You let yourself get distracted far too easily."
"They're dinosaurs! Not exactly squirrels we're talking about."
"You shouldn't let yourself get distracted by anything."
"Oh, well, excuse me for not being a stone cold warrior like the rest of you." She glared down at her plate. Vegeta pushed his own aside, now empty, and stood up.
"Bulma, you are the one who wanted to learn how to fly. I keep telling you it's not easy, and the very idea that you stubbornly think it should be is childish. You have to work for what you want." He opened the fridge, grabbing a pitcher of water, then a glass from the cupboard. He poured.
"And I'm starting to think you don't want it that badly." Not waiting for an answer, he gulped the water down in two swallows. Then he looked over at her, and was surprised to see her looking down at her plate, silent.
"I guess you're right." Her voice was quiet. "Maybe I don't care that much." He suddenly slammed his hands down on the table, demanding eye contact.
"If what you are saying is true, then why the hell have you been wasting my time?"
"I'm not, I mean, I don't-"
"I don't believe you. You don't get an idea in your head and abandon it. I'm living proof of that." He rolled his eyes at his own admission. "Now, get your butt back out there and learn how to fly. I want this whole thing over with. You are driving me crazy, woman."
"Hey, you can't just-" She gasped when he went over to her and lifted her in his arms. Before she knew it, she was being marched out into the atrium.
They spent the next few hours out there, Bulma concentrating her hardest, and Vegeta only paying attention half the time. He spent the other half messing around with some of the larger animals, terrifying most of them. Dr. Briefs was still around, but instead of objecting, he looked on with amusement. As long as Vegeta didn't hurt them, he didn't care. Considering Goku used to roast and eat dinosaurs, Bulma was amazed at his restraint.
After three and a half hours of concentrating (and cursing Vegeta under her breath as he riled the animals up, making it harder) she finally felt herself gently float above the ground. She opened her eyes slowly, barely believing it. It was only about a foot, but it felt like twenty. She squealed, unable to contain her joy.
"VEGETA! I DID IT! I'M FLOATING!" She shouted. After there was no answer, she searched for him with her ki. He was on the other side of the atrium. But, he still could have heard me. He's got great hearing. Ugh, if he doesn't care and is ignoring me… A little of her happiness went away when she thought of tracking him down to show him. It would seem like something the kids would do. No. She would not let herself get that excited. Besides, she thought, This is my own personal victory. Vegeta didn't have anyone cheering him on when he became a Super Saiyan. He had his own moment of triumph. I can have mine. She smiled to herself. But her happiness still seemed a bit forced. She couldn't help it. Her personality demanded attention, and praise for things well done. She was a bit spoiled that way. Even with her mechanical projects, she usually had her dad to congratulate her. She sighed, letting herself touch the ground gently. Walking across the grass, she headed toward the tile path to go back to the living quarters, when she almost ran into her father. Dr. Briefs made a startled noise and spilled coffee on himself.
"Oh, Dad! I'm sorry!" She exclaimed. "You okay?" Leaning in closer, she checked his lab coat, which bore a giant stain on the front.
"Not to worry, dear. The coffee was cold anyway. And it got my coat, so it'll come right out with bleach."
"Well, that's good. I was scared I burned you." She smiled at him, wanting to ruffle his hair like she did with Trunks. He was so short, sometimes she forgot he was her dad.
"Hey, do you know where that hubby of mine ran off to?" She only gave Vegeta that pet name around her parents, as he regarded it as ridiculous. He didn't mind "husband", because that's what he was. However, she still got away with calling him "babe", but only after he admitted she sounded sexy when she said it. As for herself, she was forever stuck with "woman" as a pet name.
"Well, he was over there by the pond not long ago… He might still be there." Dr. Briefs replied.
"Probably staring at his own reflection." She shook her head.
"No, he was helping me feed the fish."
"Wait, the koi pond? He was helping you…" She laughed. "Are you serious?" Her father looked at her curiously.
"Of course I am. He was tossing the bread clear across and watching them swim after it. I guess he's amused watching them fight. Some of them have been known to get a little violent at feeding time." Bulma sighed, understanding.
"Well, that makes sense. Gee, just when I thought he was being cute." The scientist laughed.
"If you wanted cute, my dear, you would have stayed with that Yamcha fellow."
"Ha, ha. True enough." She turned toward the koi pond, waving over her shoulder at him.
"See you at dinner, Dad! I programmed the bots to make this great salmon dish I found. Should be great!"
"Oh, that sounds splendid!" He smiled, then turned away, muttering formulas under his breath. Bulma was a yard or so away when she realized that she hadn't shown her dad that she could hover now. Shrugging, she realized it was for the best. She would wait until she could actually fly. Then why am I showing Vegeta? She thought about it for a second, then realized. For encouragement. And he better give me some, or I'm gonna pound him in the chest again.
At the koi pond, she found him leaning against a tree. His arms were folded over his chest, and his eyes were closed. She didn't want to sneak up on him while he was sleeping, so she stood and watched him for a moment. Sleeping Vegeta was one of her favorites. He was so relaxed. When he was having good dreams, he even smiled a little. She stifled a giggle when she saw the half loaf of bread lying next to him. Imagining him standing next to her father tossing out bread chunks to the fish was almost too much. She tiptoed over to his side, then picked up the loaf. Walking over to the edge, she started pulling little pieces off. The koi weren't close by, so she chucked a piece into the water, and it landed with a plip. Soon they were gathered around it, thrashing. She half expected to see blood. Sensing Vegeta's ki rise to an awake state, she turned. His eyes were half lidded, and he looked at her lazily.
"There you are." He said, sleepily. His mouth twitched into a tiny smile, and she couldn't help but smile back. When he was like this, she thought it was so cute, part of her wanted to sit in his lap and kiss him all over. They had made love in the atrium before, but only when it was night and no one else was awake. She gave her attention back to the fish, trying to shake the thought. It wasn't long before Vegeta was standing next to her. He hadn't made a sound, and when she looked down at his feet, she realized that he was barefoot. The sight of his toes sticking out of the hem of those long pants made her want to giggle. If he so much as wiggled them, she wasn't going to be able to control herself.
"So." He said. "Any progress?" His words were soft, not demanding. She even noticed a tinge of hope behind them. She kept staring at the fish, not wanting to appear overly eager to please. He was silent, and she felt him out for disappointment. He pulled a chunk of bread off the loaf absently and tossed it across the pond with an easy flick of his wrist. The school of koi rushed over, some of them slapping each other with their tails. Vegeta chuckled. She wasn't sure why he was amused. They had piranha somewhere else in here. While he watched the koi, Bulma focused her energy and pushed downward. It came easier this time, and she felt her feet lifting off the ground. His attention was immediately drawn back to her. He made a low sound in his throat, approving.
"Well, now you've done it. You're taller than me." He feigned annoyance, but threw a wink at her with one dark eye. She laughed cheerfully.
"Can you try going higher?" He asked. She focused, but she didn't seem to rise much more. It felt like she weighed five hundred pounds. After a few more tries, she moved an inch or two, but then she felt her energy draining. She tried to mask her disappointment, but Vegeta must have felt it anyway. When she landed back on the ground with a thud, he pressed a hand into her back to keep her from falling.
"It will come easier soon enough. You've worked hard." His tone was praising, though not quite the same was when he praised their daughter. She wanted badly to fly with little Bra and Trunks. They looked at each other for a moment, then their attention was pulled to the water's edge when there was a loud splash. One of the red koi had managed to break the surface, and was now flopping onto the grass. Vegeta nudged it gently with his bare foot, and it splished back in gracefully.
"If you're not too tired, I have an idea." He murmured. His gaze was still on the water.
"What is it?" Bulma stepped closer to him, trying to catch his eye. He turned toward her, and instead of explaining, he caught her hands up in his. Then, he slowly started rising up into the air. Bulma gasped.
"Hold on." He warned. She clasped his hands tighter. For added strength, he twined his fingers through hers. His hands were gloveless, and she enjoyed the sensation of his warm palms pressed against hers. There was only one other time when they held hands like this, and she felt herself blush. Trying to ignore it, she gathered her ki and it kept her floating on the same level with his.
"I'm going to keep rising. Try to match me." He rasped softly. She nodded. As he rose a couple of feet more, she stayed with him, but soon she could feel herself slipping. Her fingers untangled with his, and she grabbed onto his arms. She gasped, digging her nails into him. He flinched.
"We're not very high up, Bulma. Ease up for hell's sake, you're like a cat out of water!" She could feel his shirt sleeves tearing. Then he pulled her up by her arms.
"Don't give up, woman. Focus!" He yelled. She closed her eyes and felt the energy come stronger. Come on! She urged. I can do this! Her grip on Vegeta's arms loosened, and she was floating level with him again.
"There you go. I thought you were going to tear my shirt off." His eyes laughed at her. She sighed with relief.
"I don't think I can go much higher, though. I can feel my energy draining…"
"We can try again tomorrow. Eventually, I'm going to let go of you." Her eyes flashed with alarm, and he frowned, offended.
"I'm not letting you fall, idiot. I already told you that. You still trust me, don't you?" He glared.
"Yes, sorry…"
"Hn." He slowly lowered them down. She pressed her face against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. It was as calm as when he was asleep. When she didn't let go, he made a small sound in his throat, then wrapped his arms around her.
"Maybe I should wear short sleeves tomorrow." He mused. Bulma laughed against him.
"No, because then I'd rip your skin off."
"What, you don't want to add to my collection of scars?" She pulled away, giving him a naughty look.
"I think a couple on your back might be from me." She watched his cheeks turn pink.
"I...that's...those puny claws of yours? My skin is tougher than that." Bulma pouted in mock disappointment.
"Aw, I haven't made a mark on you?"
"Believe me woman, you have." He looked into her eyes for a second, then cleared his throat awkwardly.
"I'm hungry. I want that dinner you were bragging about earlier." He turned from her, heading toward the tile path. She trotted after him, grabbing his hand and swinging it girlishly. He grunted, but didn't let go.
"I can't wait to fly! Do you really think I can by tomorrow?"
"I hope so. Or else I'm going to start tossing you."
"Don't even think about it! Is that how you taught our daughter?"
"No, but Trunks learned that way."
"Well, I'm not Trunks."
"No, you're definitely not." He snorted. "But, I can see where he gets his quick learning skills."
"If you say they are from you, I'm going to smack you." She growled.
"I'm terrified."