Human Hospitality

by pureleaf

Chapter 7
Tensions

Nearly seven hours passed before Vegeta woke up, and he staggered down the stairs with his eyes barely open and parched tongue darting between dry lips. He felt awful, like his skull had been stuffed full of cotton balls. He went into the living room and found Bulma on the couch, legs crossed with a large bowl of hot popcorn nestled in the space in between. She was down to her socks, underwear and a baggy t-shirt, gaze fixed on the action movie on the television.

He sat down near her and rubbed his eyes for many seconds before turning his attention to the film. In the middle of a particularly violent hand-to-hand combat sequence, Vegeta's expression soured and he glanced over at Bulma and said: "is this a comedy or some sort of satire? This guy's form is terrible. His clothing looks restrictive and he can't move properly. He's slow and unbalanced... I'd kill him in seconds!"

Bulma looked at her guest, who had changed into a black tank and black sweatpants, and chuckled at his brutal critique, half horrified and half amused by his dry delivery. "It's an action movie, Vegeta! That guy is just an actor, not a real warrior! It's all in good fun, not meant to be taken seriously. This film is called Killing Time 2. You're welcome to watch it with me if you'd like."

"Pffft," Vegeta exhaled through pressed lips, "you humans are easily impressed."

The young engineer shrugged. "Maybe... but Yamcha really wanted to see this movie before... before..." she stopped to away the tears welling in her bright eyes, "and I miss him so much..."

Vegeta ignored Bulma's silent crying. Humans seemed to be rather emotional creatures, he thought, and they're not very good at regulating their emotions or at least weeping in private.

Once Bulma seemed to have calmed down, he started looking at her again for any sign of intoxication or tiredness. Something had been really off about how he'd suddenly become so tired right after eating and drinking and he would get to the bottom of it.

"Have you been up all day, or did you take a nap at some point as well?" Vegeta narrowed his large, almond-shaped eyes and spotted her glass of cola on the glass coffee table. He leaned forward and took it but did not drink.

"Hey, that's mine! I'll get you one if you want, just... wait, what? No, I didn't take a nap! I was reviewing manuals for the gravity machine, remember? You must be way overtired, buddy!"

"It is quite possible my body just wants to recover from repeated assaults on Namek and as a result I'm sleeping more than usual, however," Vegeta brought the fizzing drink to his lips and did not stop drinking until the glass was drained, "it is just so unusual I woke up feeling disoriented and with a dry mouth... very similar to when I've woken up after being sedated for a medical procedure... or after being slipped drugs, for that matter."

Oh gods... he knows, thought Bulma, and now he's going to kill me!

"But since I can't be certain, I'm going to assume my body is just taking some time to recover. For now, at least."

He gently set the empty glass on the table and stood up, gave Bulma a mocking bow and headed out of the living room. He stopped in the doorway and made one final point: "perhaps I'll request a urinalysis test from your father or have him refer me to the appropriate physician. Good night!"

Bulma woke early, pushed her hair under a baseball cap, grabbed a banana from the wire fruit basket on the kitchen counter and headed down to the lab to work on the gravity simulator. Vegeta's suspicious attitude the night before had left her feeling anxious and determined to stay out of the Saiyan's sight as best she could.

She was happy to see that the lab had clearly been left alone and disengaged the alarms. With the protective coatings to the structure dried, she could re-install the electrical equipment and hook up the appliances.

And if Vegeta is in a decent mood, she thought, maybe I could run him through the tutorial...

"Good news, son: there are no traces of sedating drugs in the urine sample you gave me. I'm thinking you're just a bit overtired from all your training, and it's best to listen to your body in this case." Dr. Briefs flipped through the results of the drug test Vegeta had demanded he provide.

Vegeta let out a tiny puff of air in relief. The blue-haired girl hadn't drugged him. Maybe he really was just tired or had suffered an allergic reaction. His visit to a human physician hadn't been something he'd ever planned or wanted to do, but after much persuasion and reassurance that doctor-patient relations were strictly confidential and the promise that the Capsule Corporation's private physician would be capable of examining a Saiyan patient, Vegeta reluctantly agreed to a physical examination on the condition that the doctor did not take extensive notes, and that any notes be given directly to Vegeta afterwards.

He didn't know that Dr. Briefs had agreed to give the physician a significant bonus to examine an alien patient and not contact the press.

"Just a basic physical, understand? Any tissue samples or probing and I'm gone and so are you," he muttered as a young, wide-eyed physician with long red hair pulled into a ponytail gently pressed her latex glove-covered fingers into his jawline to check for swollen lymph nodes.

Vegeta swore he could smell fear in the physician's sweat; further confirmation in his mind that humans were uncontrollably emotional creatures.

It was discovered that Vegeta stood at five feet, three and a half inches, weighed one hundred and thirty two pounds, had a body temperature of 103.5 degrees Fahrenheit (Vegeta argued this was completely normal for Saiyans to the horrified doctor), a blood pressure reading of 125/85, a resting heartbeat of 75 BPM, had clear lungs, bright eyes and superb vision, excellent reflexes, good muscle tone and good posture. The doctor wanted to ask Vegeta about the scars covering his limbs and torso but she thought better of it.

Vegeta had strongly objected to Dr. Briefs taking a blood sample, only relenting when the scientist assured his guest the sample would only be used to further confirm the overall state of the Saiyan's health and to potentially create an artificial blood for the alien should he ever need a transfusion.

"Hmmph, that is good to know. Tell me, do you think your daughter will be able to have the gravity simulator up and running within the next few days, or has she just been lying to me this whole time?"

Dr. Briefs sighed and patted Vegeta on the shoulder, who recoiled and barely suppressed a scowl. "Son, the best thing you can do is let her work in peace. Bulma wouldn't tell you she was almost finished if she really wasn't."

"Hmmph. I'm bored with your fitness facilities."

This guy needs constant stimulation, thought Dr. Briefs, and apparently craves novelty, too.

"Do you want a tour of the city? I could take you for a ride in the car."

Vegeta shrugged. "Fine. But I suppose these clothes won't be appropriate..." looking down at his running shoes and drawstring shorts.

Now outfitted with human undergarments, which turned out to be rather comfortable all things considered, Vegeta was willing to wear the blue denim jeans Bulma had purchased for him without his knowledge.

He'd been surprised when she'd knocked on his door one evening and presented him with a large red paper bag filled with two pair of denim jeans in blue and in black, along with a few casual t-shirts and even slightly more formal button-up shirt. It had been the last thing he expected from his hosts after they'd already provided him with basic clothing for training, and while he only tersely thanked Bulma for the clothing before telling her to leave so he could sleep, part of him was moved by the generosity of the humans that had taken him in.

With his dresser drawers filling up, Vegeta felt himself actually enjoying the opportunity to dress for pleasure, and he decided that blue jeans, a black t-shirt, and his sandals would pass for a casual outfit. As he left his bedroom, Bulma was coming up the stairs and hummed with approval at Vegeta's outfit.

"Look at you! You know, you're actually kind of sexy, Vegeta, especially now that you've put on a little weight since you got here. I love a man who can fill out a t-shirt like that!"

"Tch! Mind your tongue, you vulgar girl! And where have you been all morning?" Vegeta could feel his face getting red, embarrassed by Bulma's comments.

"Just working on your damn simulator, your highness! I'm gonna go shower before I grab some lunch. So, where are you off to, dressed like that?"

"Your father offered to take me on a guided tour of the city. I need a change of scenery now, anyway."

"Don't be surprised if he offers to take you somewhere to eat. There's a lot of great restaurants in West City to choose from! Who knows, you might even get some phone numbers when you go out!"

"I do not understand what you mean by 'some phone numbers'. Explain now."

"What I mean is that you might attract some female attention! Geez, Vegeta, haven't you ever been on a date or anything? Yeesh. You need to have some fun for a change!"

With that, Bulma started to saunter towards her bedroom door when Vegeta told her to stop for a moment, and without turning to face her, he said: "by the way, the drug screen came back negative, and I should think that is a good thing for the both of us, you silly, vulgar girl. Furthermore, my sex life is none of your concern. Good bye."

To Be Continued