'Face to Face'
Chapter Five: Resolutions
'Say my name, say my name, say my stupid name,
It's stupid how we always seem to do it again.
You're so stupid and perfect, and stupid and perfect,
I hate you, I want you, I hate you, I hate you,
Again, again, again.'
The Bird and The Bee: Again & Again
A few weeks had passed since the day of the barbeque and Bulma had been avoiding both Vegeta and Yamcha like they had the plague. The entire day haunted her constantly and she had honestly never felt so confused in her entire life. Vegeta seemed to have been at the barbeque with the main purpose of leaving Bulma quivering and blushing at every movement and sound he made. He had been brushing against her all night, trailing his hands across her when no one was looking, staring at her continuously; smirking dangerously at every opportune moment…he had practically radiated sex. And the bloody bastard knew it. Yamcha, on the other hand, had gone out of his way to be a gentleman; he had rushed around her like a maid, sent her gooey-eyed glances all night and complimented her like it was going out of fashion. She felt like she was in heat; both men seemed determined to win her over.
Although she knew that was a bit far-fetched…Vegeta probably wanted nothing more than a quick shag. Well, sod him, he's not getting one. But Bulma had been clever enough to figure out that the only way she could avoid a repeat of the lab incident- as she had mentally coined it- was to avoid him completely. As much as it pained her to admit, she could barely control herself when he simply glanced at her. And Yamcha, blimey- it feels like he's going to propose any minute! She had figured out he was trying to win her back, but she was feeling so caught off guard at how romantic he was being. Yamcha had never fawned over her before, and she wondered at what exactly had spurned him on to do so now.
Whatever reasons that was causing either of the two to behave as they were; Bulma had decided she should simply leave them to it. Yamcha- she hoped- would chill out and go back to his normal, cheeky self…and Vegeta, well, all she could do was avoid him until her hormones got their act together. Bloody treacherous things they are! Hormones! Pah! Nonsense! I'm lucky I have a brain otherwise I'd be his damn sex-slave by now!
To keep herself distracted she had locked herself away in her lab and avoided eating regularly and at normal hours. She felt a little bad, as her parents were both worrying, but she also knew she needed the time to get her head together. Besides, she was doing important work.
She looked down at the machine and let out a sigh. Complications seemed to be popping up from every angle and she was beginning to feel the strain. She needed a break…two and a half weeks non-stop on the damn thing and it still wasn't even half done!
"Eurrgghh…" she groaned into her hands and pressed her palms to her eyes. "I've got to get over this," she sat up straight, determination spreading across her face. "I've got to stop hiding away. I'm a grown woman. I can handle Yamcha and Vegeta – for Kami's sake I've known Yamcha for years and Vegeta, well, let's just say I'm not finished with him yet either. I'm going to figure him out!" She stood up and nodded soundly. "Yep. I'm not hiding anymore." Her stomach growled suddenly and she let out a little giggle, "But first things first, I've got to go eat!"
She reached the kitchen and found Yamcha sitting at the table, stuffing his face with sandwich after sandwich, his face buried in the sports section of a paper. She rolled her eyes and walked in, head held proudly, and nicked a sandwich off his plate, grinning before taking a bite out of it as he turned surprised eyes to her.
"Hey, you're alive!"
Bulma rolled her eyes and swallowed, "Ha ha."
Yamcha grinned, "I was wondering when you were going to resurface." He watched as she simply smiled back at him and reached for another sandwich. "What have you been working on?"
Bulma shook her head and held up her hand, indicating for him to wait a moment whilst she finished her mouthful. "It's a secret."
"Aww, I hate secrets!" Yamcha whined playfully, before snatching up another sandwich and taking a large, messy bite from it. Bulma curled her lip in disgust and he stuck his tongue out at her, giving her an eyeful of his mashed up sandwich.
"Eww! Yamcha!" Bulma cried, recoiling away, but also feeling immensely relieved. He was back to normal at least.
Yamcha had indeed dropped his romantic ways. He had known he had something to do with Bulma's sudden hermit-like nature, and he had wondered if he had scared her off being so keen and over the top. He figured that if they had worked before as they were then that was all he needed to do- be himself and give it time. He swallowed and grinned.
"Well, Vegeta hasn't taken kindly to your absence." He was grinning widely, clearly finding the subject very amusing, and not noticing Bulma's body tense up at the mention of the Saiyan Prince. "Yeah, he's been having to demand all his new bots and things off your father instead."
Yamcha had found the Saiyan's foul moods a source of endless amusement- as long as they weren't aimed at him and his chuckling was never found out of course.
Bulma nodded slightly, "Poor Dad." She felt a swell of guilt for her father, but also knew that Vegeta respected him and wouldn't make too much of a nuisance of himself on purpose. She grabbed another sandwich, a sudden spark of inspiration coming to her- she could ask her father's advice on her project, he'd know the variables better than anyone! She stood up and smiled down at Yamcha, leaning down to kiss him on the cheek without thinking about the consequences- all she knew was he had calmed down and she was relieved- before waving him goodbye and strolling out the room.
Yamcha grinned after her. Score! He thought, before returning to the sports pages.
"Bulma, we need to talk." Yamcha leant against the doorway to Bulma's lab and watched as she spun around, surprised.
"Oh hey hon, what's up?" she smiled cheerfully, still relieved about his changed behaviour and her success with her father the day before.
Yamcha watched her curiously as she turned back to her files and tools; he'd always found it odd that someone so vain and often girly as Bulma could also be a genius inventor and engineer. She turned back to face him when he stayed silent and looked at him expectantly.
"What do you want to talk about?"
"Erm," he stood upright and scratched his head nervously, "I was just thinking. Well, we haven't seen much of each other recently, y'know, we've been busy and all…but, well, I thought, it'd be fun to go out sometime." He was babbling slightly he knew, but she was looking at him so coolly that he felt like a teenager all over again.
Bulma smiled. "Like a date?" Heck, Daddy said I needed a break, and Kami knows Yamcha and I get along…besides, I need a distraction. Her thoughts drifted briefly to Vegeta, whom she was still avoiding, before Yamcha spoke again.
Yamcha nodded, "Yeah. A date. With me." He pointed his thumb at himself and chuckled slightly as he realised how stupid he probably looked.
"Sure, that sounds great." Bulma replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Tonight?"
Yamcha grinned, and his confidence surged immediately. "Tonight. Perfect. I'll book us somewhere for eight."
Bulma smiled, "Great."
Yamcha grinned again, "It'll be ace." He nodded slightly and left and Bulma watched him go with a smile on her face. This will be nice, I sure need a date…heck, I haven't been on one for so long! She giggled slightly and turned back to her work.
Vegeta came out of the Gravity Chamber, wiping himself down with a towel. He spotted Yamcha training at the pool and he rolled his eyes as the dark-haired man hummed cheerfully.
"Will you shut up? You've got nothing to be happy about- your training will never be enough to elevate your pathetic power level." He growled as Yamcha's humming seemed to reverberate around his already aching head.
Yamcha looked up, frowning, but then- much to Vegeta's surprise and irritation- he grinned.
"Whatever Vegeta, nothing you say can piss me off today."
Vegeta scoffed, "So you've finally realised you've got no chance have you?"
Yamcha shook his head, "Nah, I've just got a date tonight." He paused dramatically, and somehow knew his next words would really piss Vegeta off, "With Bulma."
He was grinning so smugly that Vegeta wanted nothing more than to blast him on the spot. His stomach twisted uncontrollably and he barely contained a fierce growl. She's going on date? With him?
"Why would I care? The woman is nothing to me anyway. She's an idiot." He gritted his teeth and actually had to force the words off his tongue, as if he didn't mean them. Of course you mean them; she is just a bloody idiot. I don't care who she goes out with.
Yamcha scowled, "Shut up Vegeta, we both know how much you need Bulma."
Vegeta's energy level soared dangerously and his hands clenched into fists, and he strode over to Yamcha- who, though scared, stood his ground and glared back- but Vegeta's gaze was so fierce that Yamcha felt Puar trembling beside him.
"I don't need that bitch. I don't need anyone. Understand?" his voice was dangerously low and Yamcha gulped but kept his mouth shut and watched Vegeta storm off with a sigh of relief.
Need? I don't need that damn woman! I'm the Saiyan Prince! She's just another earth whore! I don't need anyone at all! They need me- I'm the only one who can save their pathetic lives from those Androids! He stomped into the house and went in search of Bulma. He knew she had been avoiding him, and he had found it amusing and annoying- it was obvious she wanted him, but she was denying it to herself. And as much as he tried, he couldn't deny that he wanted her too. He had been determined to let her come to him- he had known she would at some point- but now he was searching for her. He checked her lab, the lounge, the pool, and with each empty location he became more agitated. Going out with that buffoon! What is she thinking? Does she just fuck around all the time? Was she mocking me? He growled fiercely. I should have just chosen my first option and blasted her, damn woman, I've let her get to me- what was I thinking?!
He growled again as he reached her bedroom and barged his way in, not really hearing Bulma's shrieks until he realised she was undressing. Time seemed to stop completely. Bulma shut up immediately, her flurry to cover herself with her towel stopped as Vegeta stood in her doorway, his whole body tense and coiled as if ready to attack, his dark eyes so hot on her face, and she let out a loud, nervous breath as his eyes dropped to her barely-covered figure. The white towel, luckily, was mostly covering her, but a good expanse of her legs and the tops of her chest was still on display. She blushed deeply and pulled the towel tighter around her, staring at Vegeta with wide eyes as his gaze snapped back up to her face and she finally got her towel around her completely.
They stared at each other silently, and Bulma knew instantly that something had angered him immensely. She swallowed and tucked a hair behind her ear. The notion seemed to awaken his stupor- like he was a slumbering dragon – and he let out an animalistic growl that sent Bulma's mind reeling back to when he had kissed her.
"Do you want to die Woman?" he asked, his voice dangerously low and deceptively guileless.
Bulma looked up at him, wide-eyed, and a coil of apprehension gripped her. "What?"
He moved toward her slowly, like a predator circling its prey, "I hear you've got a date tonight."
Bulma frowned, startled, "What?" How did he know about that? And what the hell is he talking about?
He moved closer still, his gaze so hot she felt like her face was going to melt. "Answer me woman."
Bulma was completely flummoxed. What did her date have to do with anything? "Erm, yes, I'm going out with Yamcha later."
His eyes narrowed dangerously and he actually began to circle her, "Not if you want to live."
Bulma's eyes narrowed too, "Is that a threat?"
He sneered back at her.
Bulma's temper flared, "Look Vegetable Head, I don't know what's got you in such a foul mood, but frankly, you have no right to come in here and take it out on me. So either spit it out and say what's wrong, or bugger off."
"You're not going out with that buffoon." He growled, crossing his arms over his chest and suddenly looking more like a petulant toddler than a dangerous warrior. Bulma couldn't help but let out a disbelieving laugh. She raised an eyebrow archly.
"And why not?"
"Because you're fixing my Chamber tonight….don't forget I'm your only survival hope. I need that Chamber accessible night and day to defeat those androids."
"It can wait until tomorrow. Jeez, is that why you were so peeved off? Honestly, Vegeta, you could do with a break." Bulma rolled her eyes and pulled her towel tighter about her self-consciously, trying to ignore how her body was responding to his proximity, and how she had felt a lurch of disappointment when he had not explained jealously as reason, but training.
Vegeta sensed a shift in her energy and took a step closer to her and smirked. Her desire was obvious. Yet again. He smirked and slid an arm around her waist quickly, bringing her close to him and pinning her hands between their two chests, so she was stuck holding her towel up desperately.
"Get off me." She squeaked, but her voice lacked conviction and all Bulma could think about was how amazing it had felt kissing him before.
He raised an eyebrow smugly, and Bulma wriggled furiously in his grip, angry at herself for her easy submission and determined to get the upper hand.
"Alright, fine. Keep hold of me. But it just proves that I was right about you all along." She said with a huff, hoping it would be enough to bait him.
He kept his grip tight, but he did frown down at her, "And what's that?" he asked derisively.
"That you're lonely." Bulma whispered. She gazed at him curiously as his face flickered with several emotions and she slid a hand away from her towel to touch his chin lightly. He didn't shake her off. "But you don't need to be…" she brought her face close to his and her breath tickled his lips, "You've got me." She whispered gently into his ear, before trailing her hand down to his neck and hugging him.
Vegeta froze. Lonely? What?! What the fuck!? I'm not lonely. I'm fine, I don't need anyone…she sighed against his shoulder…What does she mean I've got her? Isn't she dating that weakling? But she desires me…she's here, all over me…
Bulma let go of him and clutched her towel to her again and he let her go easily, still too stunned to move or speak and she smiled up at him, but just as she opened her mouth to speak Vegeta's body acknowledged her absence and his senses flooded back…
"Shut up woman, you don't know what the hell you're talking about. Go back to your pathetic weakling, you could never understand me…You could never be enough for me!" he hissed, his fists clenching angrily, before he stormed off, and Bulma watched him go, her eyes welling with tears of hurt and disappointment.
You fool! You fucking idiot! You let her hug you? What were you thinking?! You let her get too close to you! Attachments only cause weakness! How could you let yourself get so idiotic about her? She's just a bloody nuisance of a woman! He growled to himself angrily as his heart and stomach fluttered and his body seemed determined to convince him otherwise. Get a grip on yourself. You are the Prince of all Saiyans. From now on you will not interact with her unless it suits your training needs. She is nothing to you. Nothing.
Bulma sat on her bed with silent tears falling down her cheeks. Why does this keep happening again? Every time I get close to him he just throws me away again…why do I let him? Why do I keep going back and trying again and again? I should be with Yamcha, I should be getting ready for my date…I shouldn't be sat crying over him! A sob suddenly burst from her chest loudly and she dropped her head in her hands. For Kami's sake, I can't give up though! I can't! Something about him has got me hooked and I can't give up…I won't. I'm going to show him there's more to life than pride and hate and fighting. No matter what Vegeta, I'm not giving up on you.
Thanks again to everyone who has reviewed and put this on their story alerts- it keeps me going and really is appreciated! Thanks for sparing the time to do it and i hope you continue to do so :D thanks!