A/N: So, I've actually got some sort of plot going on for this story now. Or maybe not. Who knows anymore. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I own this disclaimer.
The two of them were sitting in the backyard of Capsule Corp., under the shade of a looming willow. Overhead, the sun was high in the sky, so hot that Bulma felt sleepy.
"This is nice," Yamcha was telling her. "Just the two of us. We don't do this as much as we should."
Bulma smiled and leaned against Yamcha, taking in the scent of his brand new cologne. "I'm sorry I've been so busy," she said. "Vegeta has my dad and I working on some-"
"Vegeta?" Yamcha interrupted her. He didn't look happy at the mention of the Saiyan's name. "I'd rather not hear about him right now, Bulma."
Bulma rolled her eyes. "Lay off him. He was actually nice to me the other day. I think he's coming around."
Her boyfriend made an angry noise in his throat. "Right. I don't like you hanging around that guy. It's bad enough that you have to live with him."
Bulma wondered if she should press the issue. Yamcha always became sensitive upon hearing Vegeta's name mentioned. Because she believed it to be a product of too much testosterone, Bulma never took his ramblings too seriously. Besides, Yamcha was no saint.
"I can't believe you break your back trying to please him," continued Yamcha, resting his chin on her puffy, blue hair and sighing.
"I thought you didn't want to talk about him," she teased, knowing that despite his denial, Yamcha was actually very curious about Vegeta.
"I don't," Yamcha said with a pout, crossing his arms and looking very put out.
Bulma sighed. "Fine. Let's talk about something else."
But what exactly were they supposed to talk about? They had been together so long that Bulma was sure they had touched on just about every topic. Furthermore, she wasn't so sure she really wanted to talk anyway.
She lifted his shirt collar in her fingers affectionately and tilted his chin so that she could kiss him.
Yamcha smiled at her and gave her a look that always made her melt. He was adorable, he was here, and most importantly, he was hers.
"I love you Bulma," he said in her ear, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ears.
Bulma settled back in his arms and closed her eyes. "I love you too."
They managed to sit like that, in comfortable silence, for approximately three and a half minutes.
"Hey guys!"
Bulma's eyes fluttered open. In front of her stood Goku in a bright orange gi. He was grinning.
"Hey Goku," Bulma answered him, brushing dirt off her knees and standing up. "What are you doing around here? I haven't seen you in forever!"
The tall Saiyan smiled. "I know! I've been training an awful lot with Gohan and everything, so-"
"So you couldn't even come see your best friend?" Bulma demanded to know, her hands on her hips with legs spread apart. "I've been worried sick about you, Goku!"
That wasn't necessarily true. Goku was perfectly capable of watching after himself. Besides, Bulma had been so busy helping her father rebuild the GR that she had barely had time to worry about herself.
Goku put a hand behind his head and laughed nervously. "Well, uh…"
"And I bet you're not even here to see me," she scolded him, narrowing her eyes. When Goku didn't answer, she knew she was right. Sighing, she pointed to her right. "He's back there. But he's using the Gravity Room right now and he'll probably yell at you for interrupting…"
"Dead man walking," Yamcha muttered when Goku paid her no attention and started walking towards the backyard anyway.
Bulma crossed her arms. "It'll be interesting to say the least."
A mere moment after Goku had left, Yamcha discovered that Bulma was right about many things. One of them being that Vegeta did not like being interrupted.
"Come on Yamcha," Bulma said to him, taking his arm and dragging him to where Goku and Vegeta were facing off.
Yamcha permitted himself to be dragged along but, truth be told, he wasn't that interested in stepping between two Saiyans.
"Shouldn't we see where this goes first?" he asked her as she gave his arm another painful tug.
She did not answer him, just glared.
"Okay…"
Once they had arrived, Yamcha freed his arm from his girlfriend's tight grasp and shook it to allow for free blood flow once more.
"What are you?" he asked her, "A ninja?"
She either ignored him, or couldn't hear. The arguing between Goku and Vegeta had gotten almost ear splitting.
"But Vegeta! I'm bored!" Goku was saying. "Gohan and Piccolo are training one on one and Krillin isn't really a match for me!"
"Then train alone Kakarot!" sneered Vegeta, his fists clenched. "I'm not some guinea pig for you to run to when all your friends have gone!"
Goku looked crushed. "I understand, Vegeta. If you aren't up to it…."
The look on Vegeta's face could have murdered. "What did you just say?"
Yamcha wasn't fooled by the innocent look on his friend's face. Goku was naïve at times, but certainly no idiot.
Goku, standing just a few feet from Vegeta, leaned against the Gravity Room door and shrugged. "I said that if you aren't up to it…."
Vegeta was livid, if his red face and shaking limbs were of any indication. "I know what you said, you moron! I will not be goaded into a premature fight with you!"
"And just why not, tough guy?"
Yamcha stared at Bulma, who had just spoken, in disbelief. "Can't you stay out of something for five minutes?" he asked as he grabbed her hand.
Pulling away, she didn't answer him and this time Yamcha knew that she was ignoring him. There was complete silence now.
"Yeah," she said with a smirk, "are you scared?"
The aforementioned Saiyan clenched his jaw.
"Uh, Bulma…" Goku started, but he too was cut off with a glare.
"You know, I completely understand why you would be," she said, waving her hand in the air and turning around. "Goku's the strongest man in the whole world! Why, I bet he's the strongest in the universe!"
Vegeta's eyes had widened and his nails were digging into his palms. "Woman," he growled almost inaudibly.
"Vegeta," Bulma countered, walking right up to him so that she was between Goku and the prince.
"Kakarot will not always be here to save you from your big mouth you obnoxious cow," said Vegeta with thin lips, a large vein popping up over his left brow.
"I am not a cow!" Bulma said in surprise. "And don't change the subject Vegeta!"
Yamcha thought Bulma was overstepping her boundaries. And apparently, so had Goku, who gently grabbed her shoulder.
"That's enough, Bulma," Goku whispered to her.
Bulma 'hmphed'. "I'm only trying to help. If Vegeta's so content to train alone, who knows how he'll do with a real opponent."
And before Vegeta could get out his typical 'That doesn't concern you' rant, Bulma had cut in.
"And don't tell me that it doesn't concern me, because it does!" She poked his chest and Yamcha winced. "Goku can't do this alone! Without your help we're pretty much screwed!"
All three men in the yard dropped their jaws. Yamcha stepped backwards to examine Bulma more closely. Had she actually implied that Vegeta's participation in the upcoming battle against the Androids would matter? And had she just poked him?
For a moment no one spoke, just stared at Bulma and Vegeta, who were glaring decidedly at one another.
"Well?" she finally asked, squinting.
Vegeta pushed past her, sneering. "I take orders from no one."
He turned from them all and began walking back to the compound.
"Well, I guess that's the end of that," said Yamcha, his heart pounding in his chest. "Nice job, Bulma."
She was staring at Vegeta's retreating form.
"He'll come around," Goku said kindly, giving her a pat on the back. "He just needs some time."
"And space," Yamcha chimed in. "I don't think you should be alone with him right now. You pissed him off." He didn't add 'as usual' because he did not need to.
Bulma seemed to know already. She folded her arms. "He's an ass."
"You weren't exactly laying on the charm there," reminded Yamcha. "But you were right!" he stated when Bulma turned red with anger.
"You know what?" she said with a defiant look. "I think he will come around. And when he does, you'll have me to thank for it."