'Face to Face'
Chapter Nine: Something New, Something Changed
'It's a thief in the night to come and grab you,
it can creep up beside you and consume you,
a disease of the mind it can control you,
it's too close for comfort.'
Rihanna: Disturbia
Bulma stirred in her sleep, half-waking up, her mind still foggy and her vision blurry as she gazed around the room. She was just falling back to sleep again when thump…she sat bolt right up, looking around with wide eyes, her heart racing. She couldn't see anything. She sat still, crouched up slightly, ready to spring or lash out if need be, and another thump sounded.
"Who's there?" she called out, trying to contain the frightened shake in her voice.
"Who the hell do you think?" came a gruff response from her half shut balcony and she scrambled out of bed.
"Vegeta?" she pulled back the rest of the balcony door, and gasped when she saw Vegeta, leaning heavily against her rails, his chest heaving as if his very breathing was painful. "Oh hell, what have you done to yourself?"
Vegeta tried to stand up straight but couldn't and he winced in pain as he fell back against the railings again. Bulma rushed to his side. "This was your stupid machine…that new bot wasn't finished. Or it was set on killing me!" he growled.
Bulma frowned, "What?" What is he talking about? Has he got concussion or something?!
"You heard me. Your bot was mental." Vegeta groaned, slinking further down the rails and Bulma let out a horrified gasp as the moonlight revealed his wounds. He was bleeding heavily from his shoulder, his ribs, his right arm. His left eye was swollen and he had various scrapes and bruises all over his body as well. She crouched down beside him and wrapped an arm around his torso, attempting to pull him into her bedroom.
"Get off. I'm fine." He growled half-heartedly, but he leant against her and dragged himself into her room nonetheless.
Bulma stared down at him fearfully. "What the hell happened? You're bleeding so much…" she bolted up to her desk and buzzed through to her father straightaway, ordering him to get the emergency room prepped up. As soon as that was done she leapt back to Vegeta's side, where he was now staring blearily, his chest shaking with effort to breath. She clutched at him as he wheezed and coughed, and her lips trembled. Oh hell! What if something happens to him? Her stomach lurched and twisted with fear and she bent closer to him. "Don't you dare get worse Vegeta…we're going to have you patched up in no time. Just stay conscious…" she ripped her robe off and tore it to shreds with a desperate strength and wrapped it tightly around his wounds, ignoring his lame protests. He groaned as she propped him up to wrap up his shoulders wounds and she almost burst into terrified tears when he let out a horrific cough of blood.
"Vegeta!" she cried, her whole body was trembling with worry. Her heart was pumping desperately against her chest and she laid him down carefully, tilting his head and mopping up his blood-stained face.
"Stop fussing…" he murmured, opening his right eye to stare at her blearily. She let out a little upset giggle and clutched him tighter.
"Stop blowing yourself up and then I'll stop worrying." She whispered back.
He stared at her wordlessly, and his vision began to blur, and before he passed out he noted the fear and concern writ across her face and the scared tears shining in her eyes and in his weakened state he felt his heart lurch, but not with pain.
"Don't! Don't you dare say it! He'll be fine or you'll damn well lose your job and never find another!" Bulma hissed as the doctor opened his mouth, his face writ with resignation that Bulma both recognised and despised.
The doctor gaped like a goldfish and swallowed hastily. "He…well, he'll need a lot of medical attention. Twenty-four hour. He needs his wounds dressing and we've had to put him on a morphine drip and an injection of steroids to pump up his system. He's very weak."
"He's not weak! He's injured! And you are going to get him that twenty-four hour medical attention sorted out right now, and you can let your colleagues know that I will be overseeing everything myself!" Bulma hissed again, stalking past the frightened blond doctor and into the medical room, snatching the dressing materials off the nurse with a snarl and pulling a chair close to Vegeta's side. The nurse scampered from the room as Dr Briefs sent the doctor an apologetic shrug and patted the fearful nurse on the shoulder before heading into Vegeta's room and shutting the door behind him and his wife. They watched soundlessly as Bulma dressed Vegeta's wounds and rewrapped them carefully, her face a mix of concentration and concern. She looked up when she was finished and for the first time in the last 24hours of the non-stop medical work, Dr Briefs and his wife realised how tired and worried she looked.
"Bulma, dear, why don't you get some rest?" Mrs Briefs suggested gently.
Bulma glared at her, "I'm fine Mum. I'm not letting those buffoons look after him alone…I'm keeping an eye on all of this and making sure they're doing their best." She turned back to Vegeta and her heart lurched painfully again. You stupid git. You've scared the life out of me. You are going to get better from this, because when you do I'm going to kill you! She bit her lip as her eyes welled again. Oh Vegeta, you better get better soon. She wrapped her fingers around his clenched fist and stroked at it absently.
Mrs Briefs nodded and sent her husband a sad smile. "Well, your father will get everything sorted now dear…" they left the room quietly and Mrs Briefs stared back through the window in the door as they shut it. "Oh I hope he gets better. Poor Bulma is so worried…and he really is a nice man underneath it all I'm sure."
Dr Briefs took his wife's hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "He'll be fine. We've got the best in the city working on him…"
Bulma spent the next twenty-fours as she had the last- glued to Vegeta's side and scaring the wits out of the medical team. Vegeta begun to recover his strength and his body was responding well to the steroids and the morphine and other treatments. Bulma suspected it was because of his Saiyan strength, and because he's so bloody stubborn. Well, I won't let him do what he did last time- he's not training again till he's fully healed this time!
She was watching the doctor test his unconscious body's reflexes when she finally fell asleep, her mind and body now relieved enough to let the exhaustion sink in.
She woke up a few hours later to find Vegeta's left hand twitching slightly, and with tremulous delight she picked up the reflex apparatus and knocked gently on his knees. They twitched right away. With a little whoop of excitement she grasped his left hand and squeezed the pressure point, her stomach flip-flopping when it flexed in response. She kneeled on the edge of his bed and leant over him to try the other wrist, and her fingers had just enclosed around it when his left hand gripped hers and she swivelled in surprise as his right encircled her wrist and his eyes opened.
"You're awake!" she cried out and she felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders and her stomach felt like it was doing a cheerleading routine in excitement.
"Well done." He smirked sarcastically back at her, and Bulma beamed.
"How do you feel? You scared the life out of me you know!" she wriggled slightly in his grasp, but he did not let her go- and though she was twisted uncomfortably across him and her knees were at an odd angle- she found she rather liked it.
"I told you not to fuss. I'm fine." He said calmly, and she marvelled at how relaxed he seemed.
Vegeta smirked as she beamed down at him still, and shifted slightly, loosening his grip on her slightly, but nothing with interest how she did not move away. He studied her closely and saw how pale and strained she looked. She's been here with you again. The whole time…bloody woman, she worries too much. Why does she worry about me anyway? She seems to be warming to me more and more everyday…though, that hasn't quelled her temper, he thought with another smirk.
Bulma smiled down at him and shifted her weight, squeaking out an apology as he let out a grunt of pain as her knee involuntarily connected with his still sore ribs.
"I'm fine." He grumbled as Bulma scrambled off him. She looked so worried, he couldn't help but say, "Just be more careful would you?"
Bulma blanched, but he smirked again and realising he was teasing her, she rolled her eyes and said, "Yes your majesty," sarcastically. His smirk widened.
"Ah, so you've remembered your position again then?"
"Forever at your side you mean?" she said playfully, before realising how it could be interpreted and blushing slightly. Vegeta frowned. She's blushing? Why? What's up with her now? He realised the implications of what she had said and his eyebrows shot up his forehead and Bulma blushed deeper, turning her head away with a little cough. Forever at my side?
"Bulma, come on dear, Vegeta's asleep now, he's getting his rest and he's healing well…perhaps you should take a shower and have something to eat?" Mrs Briefs said gently as she spotted her daughter at Vegeta's bedside again.
Bulma glanced up, "Huh? Oh yeah…he's getting back to normal alright. And I haven't showered in two days…ew." She stood up and stretched, looking down at Vegeta's sleeping form and smiling fondly. Yep, he's definitely back to normal. But nicer too…perhaps he's finally realising there's nothing wrong with liking people, or liking me at least, she thought a little smugly as she recalled how he had grumpily snarled at all the doctors and nurses, but smirked at and teased her. She ignored the jitter in her heart as being mere triumph, but the smile on her face told her mother a slightly different story.
"Oh, I said this would be interesting." Mrs Briefs grinned as Bulma left the room, humming happily to herself.
Bulma came back from her shower, refreshed and perky, and headed straight for the medical room. She collected some food on the way. No doubt he's starving his ass off…kami, I'm surprised he hasn't demanded food already! She grinned as she pushed her way into the room, but her smile vanished from her face as she found the room completely empty.
"Oh he is the stupidest man on this planet!" she cried angrily, setting the tray on the side and dashing out of the room. She couldn't find any of the medical staff so she ran out to the Gravity Chamber, tripping over her feet in her hurry as she logged in and pushed her way through the heavy door. The system shut down immediately, and Vegeta- having no doubt unwrapped his bandages himself- paused in mid kick.
"You complete moron! Are you trying to kill yourself?! Didn't you learn your lesson last time?! You need to let your body heal first!" Bulma shrieked, hands splayed on her hips.
Vegeta scowled at her, "I don't have time to lie around! Besides- my body is much stronger than yours, I'm…"
"'The Saiyan Prince'!" Bulma mocked with a scowl, "Yes I know you're a Saiyan Vegeta, I know you're all mighty and powerful, but you still need your rest!"
Vegeta opened his mouth to argue but Bulma spoke over him again, "If you really have to train, then at least do something less suicidal!"
"Like what?" he snapped, crossing his arms over his chest and trying to contain a wince as his shoulder twinged painfully.
Bulma noticed and rolled her eyes. I knew it- he's just gone and made himself worse! Honestly! I've got to do something…hmm, what about physiotherapy? He doesn't have to know it's medical…I'll just pretend it's a form of exercise or something…anything gentle would be great: something water-based...
"Like swimming...water-aerobics...it's good for your muscles." She said triumphantly, Ha! Bulma Briefs you are a genius!
Vegeta stared at her. Water-aerobics? What the hell is she talking about?
Bulma noted his sceptical silence and said tauntingly, "Honestly Vegeta, if you can't swim then you can just say so!"
"I can swim! I'm not an idiot!" he snapped back straightaway, just as Bulma knew he would.
"Well then," she smirked deviously, and crooked her finger at him, "let's get going."
Fifteen minutes later and Vegeta was stepping gingerly into the pool. Water-aerobics? This better not be that stupid nonsense she does…How did I let myself get talked into this? That woman is such a…his mind went completely blank as Bulma stepped out onto the lawn, wearing nothing but her tiny, red bikini. He swallowed tightly as he watched her saunter over, her hips swinging and he eyed the curve of her waist, mentally envisioning running his hands all over her smooth, creamy skin…
"Vegeta!" her voice suddenly sounded loudly and he glared up at her.
"What?" he snapped, annoyed she had distracted him for his fantasies and annoyed he'd let himself wallow in them…yet again. She is proving to be more difficult than I thought to get out of my head. He eyed her curiously as she rolled her eyes and climbed into the pool herself. I've got to do something about it…
"Well?" Bulma said impatiently, leaning against the poolside and trying to keep her eyes locked on his face rather than his toned chest and shoulders.
His head snapped over to hers and he stared at her with such an intensity she felt like her face would melt. A shiver ran down her spine and she wriggled uncomfortably.
I'm going to figure you out woman…you're not going to keep catching me off guard like this… His eyes narrowed as she pushed off the wall and started treading water, avoiding his gaze with pink cheeks. Hmm, interesting. She's uncomfortable…brilliant. Let's keep it that way. He smirked dangerously and laid out on his back, his smirk widening as Bulma's eyes drifted across his body. Looks like I already know one of her weaknesses, he thought smugly, I'm going to pick her to pieces.
Bulma rolled her eyes and climbed out of the pool. Vegeta had ignored her practically non-stop for the last hour or so as he swum continuous lengths of the pool and she was bored out of her mind. This was pointless…he hasn't spoken to me at all. He's hardly acknowledged my existence! I mean, how dare he! If I hadn't suggested the pool he'd probably have blown himself up for a second time by now! She led out on the sun-lounger and scowled petulantly. I've just spent the last two days worried sick about him and he can't even spare me a glance. She shot a dark glare at the still swimming Saiyan and rolled over on to her back, flopping her head onto her arms.
Vegeta had in fact been paying the utmost attention to Bulma; he was simply subtle enough for her not to notice. He had been trying to pick her apart, piece by piece, and he was getting increasingly exasperated by his inability to do so. She seemed to have no hidden agenda, no falsity…He stopped swimming and begun to tread water, staring over at her as she led out on the sun lounger, her head buried in her arms. The only thing he was certain of was her desire…for him. He pulled himself out of the pool…perhaps I should test this theory…the easiest way to get to an opponent is to exploit their weakness…His body felt flooded with excitement and desire as he strode over to her and he grinned dangerously as she kicked her legs up and his hand shot out and enclosed around her ankle.
The moment Bulma rolled onto her side and spotted the mischievous glint in Vegeta's eyes she knew that she had absolutely no chance against whatever he had in mind, and her stomach flip-flopped in apprehension at the thought.
"Watch what you're doing woman," his voice was low and fierce, and his eyes locked on hers, his mouth twisted into an almost cruel smirk.
"Well don't sneak up on me then." She retorted primly, trying to ignore the fact his hand was clamped tightly around her ankle. She wriggled slightly and was surprised when he let her go, and she rolled onto her front and sat up, curling her knees upto her chest as Vegeta sat on the base of her sun lounger, tipping her end precariously into the air with his weight and sending her tumbling into his chest.
He locked his arms around her waist, and whispered, "Careful." into her ear, his lips brushing against her earlobe and sending a shiver down Bulma's spine.
Mortified, she tried to push herself up, but the first thing her hands came into contact with was his hard, smooth stomach and she let out a little gasp, curling her fingers so her nail scraped it slightly and she looked up, startled, as he let out a tiny hiss against her ear.
He bent his head down to hers and she felt a wave of desire sweep through her and turn her logical, brilliant mind into a pool of goo when his eyes locked on hers. Vegeta smirked as Bulma leaned into him, her hands pressing eagerly against his stomach, her eyes cloudy with want. He was struggling to maintain control of himself, his body was desperate for her…he was only inches away, if he bent down just a little his lips would cover hers like they had before…his hands slid against her waist and his mind succumbed to the desire coursing through him, his lips just brushing hers and Bulma's eyes fluttered shut…
BOOM!
Vegeta sprung up straightaway, alert for any sign of danger and furious with himself for giving in so easily…can't you control yourself at all?! You were supposed to be teasing her not bloody satisfying your own stupid desires! He barely noticed as Bulma tumbled backwards, the force of his movement causing the lounger to wobble precariously, and she fell off with an "Ouch!"
She sat up and glared at Vegeta, "You asshole!"
"What?" he glanced over at her distractedly as she stood up and shoved her hands on her hips again. That must be her fighting stance, he thought dryly.
"You just knocked me over! Jeez, have you got no manners…AHHH!" she let out a little scream as another BOOM sounded and rocked the very ground beneath them.
Vegeta flew off immediately, searching around for any high levels of energy and finding nothing but his eyes immediately locked on a growing cloud of smoke just as Bulma cried out, "The lab!" and pelted off into the house. Vegeta flew off straight after, landing at the centre of the smoke, which he found billowing out of the window of Dr Briefs' laboratory.
Seconds later, Bulma streaked past him, a white sundress pulled hastily over her bikini, and realising she was planning on pelting straight into the smoking laboratory, he shot out his hand and grabbed her arm, pulling her back roughly,
Bulma struggled in his grip, "Let go of me! My dad is in there!" Oh kami, please let him be ok! "Daddy!" she shouted, trying desperately to pull of Vegeta's iron grip.
"You'll be no help. Stay here." Vegeta ordered, pulling her back behind him and striding into the smoke himself, pushing open the half burnt door to the laboratory. He stared around, his eyes narrowing against the billowing smoke but he couldn't see the source of the fire, nor Bulma's father. He stepped in completely, and his eyes widened as he took in the half-melted laboratory. What happened here? And where is that damn man? He tried to sense Dr Briefs energy level but found nothing, and he frowned again, stepping around carefully until he spotted something…a foot poking out from under a desk.
He got over quickly and pulled the desk up easily, scooping up Dr Brief's unconscious body in his arms. The man started twitching straightaway and he opened his eyes blearily before rasping out, "No…" just seconds before Vegeta registered the bot hovering above his head ominously, and before it could even beep out a noise he put his hand up and blasted it, flying out of the lab as the bot exploded loudly, sending a second wave of fire and smoke throughout smoking room.
"Vegeta! Dad!" Bulma screamed in horror, rushing forward as the lab went up in flames and smoke, before a hand crashed down on her shoulder and pinned her in her place. She spun around furiously and let out a relieved cry as Vegeta stood before her; her father leaning against his side.
"Daddy! You're ok!" she jumped up on the spot and rushed to her father's side, wrapping her arms around him and attempting to hold him up right. Her mother burst out of the house moments later.
"Oh what happened here! Oh my!" Mrs Briefs dropped the shopping she was holding as she spotted Dr Briefs, covered in dirt and cuts, and she squealed, "Darling!" and ran over, wrapping her arm around her husband and babbling, "Let's get you inside and checked out. Oh goodness, what happened? Oh, your laboratory!"
Bulma helped her mother support her father inside the house, and Vegeta watched the family go as the lab's automatic fire response set off and begun to hose down the dimming flames. Bulma paused in the doorway and called over her shoulder, "Come on Vegeta!" and he followed after them quietly, a strange sense of gratification settling in his stomach as he heard Bulma say quietly to her mother, "Vegeta saved his life."
Bulma came out of her parent's bedroom and went straight in search of Vegeta, finding him exactly where she had expected him to be: the kitchen. She said nothing as she walked in, she headed straight for the fridge and peered inside it, before pulling out an armload of food and dropping it on the side. She turned to Vegeta, who was sat at the table eating a bowl of noodles she had left in the fridge from the day before, and smiled. "So, what do you want to eat?"
Vegeta glanced up at her, "What?"
"Dad's fine…thanks to you." She smiled warmly, "So whatever you want- I'll make it."
"Anything?" Vegeta reclined in his chair and raised his eyebrows tauntingly.
Bulma merely smiled wider, "Anything. In fact, how about I make you a load of everything we had a few nights ago and you can eat what you fancy?"
Vegeta nodded, "You do have some good ideas after all." He smirked slightly and Bulma nodded, before pausing thoughtfully and leaning down to kiss his cheek. She smiled Vegeta gaped up at her, his stomach fluttering slightly as her cerulean eyes shone down at him, glittering with something that he didn't recognise. She's never looked at me like that before…he thought in confusion, not able to understand the warmth she was practically radiating towards him.
Honestly, I will never doubt Vegeta again…he saved Dad's life. I knew there was more to him than meets the eye. She turned to the food and shot a coy glance over her shoulder at him and her heart swelled in her chest. Oh Vegeta.
reviews reviews reviews please :D
RangerInBlack- the loving is coming i promise, i hope you don't think this is dragging too much, i just don't think either of them would rush into anything...but we all know no-one can ignore hormones forever ;) cheers for reviewing!
Nintendocat- aw thanks, i'm glad you think the whole Yamcha thing was handled well, I didn't want to portray him as a complete jerk, just as a guy who makes mistakes! I know it's still going a bit slow between Vegeta and Bulma but things are progressing and i don't want to do either of them the injustice of making them completely hormonal driven...for one thing Vegeta would never give up his control that easily- i'm looking forward to getting that fully typed and posted though ;) - and Bulma wouldn't do it without some sort of real affection for him! Let me know what you think again please :D thanks!
MelodiMoon- glad you liked the Yamcha/Bulma bit...and thanks for calling the chapter awesome :D yes, there is Vegeta/Bulma coming up, don't worry i'd NEVER forget about him :D thanks again for reviewing!
anenihan- haha poor Yamcha (he kinda has lost though!) ...and im working on the Bulma/Vegeta action i promise ;) thanks for the reviews! :D keep 'em coming please!