Bulma was sitting on the couch working on blueprints for Vegeta's next upgraded bots, when she heard someone enter the front door. She quickly turned off the TV to hear who was coming and she caught a glimpse of the Saiyan walking into the kitchen.
Bulma followed Vegeta who took a seat at the dining table, casually draping one arm over the next chair. He looked sweaty and tired.
Bulma's parents had left for a few days on a business trip, and she was given specific directions for Vegeta's meals. While the bots helped prepare the food to her exact recipe, Panchy had insisted that Bulma make sure the food tasted delicious and that it was served hot for Vegeta at whatever time he came in to eat.
"I'm heating this up for you." Bulma said pointing to the large pots and pans on the stovetop for Vegeta's dinner. "Did you have a good workout?"
"Vegeta grunted in acknowledgement. "Where is the… other woman?" he asked.
Bulma smiled realizing that Vegeta always referred to her as the "woman" and that he would have to figure out how to distinguish between them if he continued to not use her and her mother's names. "Mom is out of town for a few days, but she left everything prepared for you. You are stuck with me until she gets back." Said Bulma with a wink. With the gesture, Vegeta glanced away from the blue haired woman with a scoff.
After a few minutes of preparation and a few curses, Bulma set down a large plate of rice, vegetables, and beef in front of Vegeta. She came back to the table with a smaller dish for herself and timidly sat down in the chair next to him. She could feel him side eye her while he started eating at a rapid pace. A few moments went by before Bulma decided to make small talk.
"So, tell me…something about you, I don't know?" Bulma said. Vegeta swallowed before responding "Woman, just stop it. I have no need to engage in meaningless chatter."
"Ugh. What? Saiyans don't communicate?" Said Bulma.
Vegeta ignored her, visibly annoyed as he continued eating.
"Do you think you will go to space again any time soon to train? I know you mentioned to dad you would be going at some point?" Bulma asked after a few moments of awkward silence.
"Yes." Vegeta finally responded in between bites.
"When do you think you will go? I wish I could go with you and explore what is out there!" Bulma asked excitedly.
Vegeta shrugged his shoulders, indicating he didn't know when he would leave. "Taking someone with me is out of the question."
"Yeah, of course I wouldn't want to get in your way. Have you visited many technologically advanced planets?" Bulma asked.
Vegeta nodded in the affirmative.
"What planet would be safe to visit and maybe...do a little shopping? Is there an intergalactic trade market out there?" Bulma asked.
"There…are…but they aren't places I frequented." Vegeta responded reluctantly.
'Why am I conversing with this earthling' he wondered.
"Wow! You will have to tell me about them sometime. Vegeta, can I ask you something else? I've been thinking. Do you suppose you reached your…goal…in the future…I mean, in the timeline that boy from the future told Goku about?" Bulma inquired.
Vegeta remained silent but was suddenly stabbing his food with his fork more aggressively. It had been something he had thought about as well.
Bulma elaborated. "In that timeline, with Goku passing, you still stayed on earth, right? So, I wonder about these things. You have said you wanted to fight or defeat Goku…or whatever."
Surprisingly for Bulma, Vegeta calmy responded. "It is one thing to be the strongest and another thing to prove you are the strongest."
"What do you mean by that?"
"If Kakarrot weren't around… because of his pathetic death due to illness… I would have no challenge to conquer… here. I have no idea why I would have remained on this planet as I have no intention to reside here any longer than need be. I'm ultimately unsure of the answer to your question."
"Well, maybe you stayed on earth because it's awesome and because of the training equipment? I'm sure you would have stuck around for the brilliant technology we were able to provide. All the good food and a more or less peaceful way of living?"
"And you and the old man would have provided me with the same equipment, even if these androids were not a known threat?" Vegeta asked. Even though Bulma brought up the question, he had wondered what would have possibly had him staying on Earth. Did he ultimately decide to continue training for a time on earth before going out and conquering the galaxy? Was it because he was not yet been able to attain his goal of becoming a super Saiyan in those three years?
"Well, yes, of course. I mean, you kind of threatened dad into building the gravity machine, but my parents know that you helped us on Namek. Plus, I think they like having you around, especially mom." Bulma said with a giggle.
Vegeta's lip curled in disgust which made Bulma laugh out loud.
"Vegeta, do you want to know anything about me or... or um, about earth?"
"I have no use for this information..."
"Ugh…Vegeta if you are going to live on this planet the next few years, you're going to have to use some manners and how to TALK to people without constantly insulting them!"
Vegeta had had enough and pushed his plate forward and scooted his chair back.
"Wait, don't go! I have dessert for us! She said exuberantly. Vegeta didn't know how she could go from yelling at him one moment and being excited out of her mind the next. Similarly, he didn't know how she could be timid with him one moment understanding that he was a cold-blooded killer and the next, wanting to ask if she could travel space with him. Why was she asking him questions about his business? Why was she so bold and open with him? He had made up his mind that although she wasn't apparently a servant (it turns out she was as wealthy as they come on this planet), that her and her parents were aloof enough to serve his purpose. However, Vegeta had never encountered someone like her. Although she was selfish, vain….weak, she was also strong willed, clever and curious. Curious about him and the way she showed her interest in him was at times disarming. She was intuitive enough to catch him off guard with probing questions.
Bulma quickly went to the refrigerator and pulled out a white paper box and she brought two small plates. She opened the box and put one piece of dessert on her plate first before serving Vegeta several pieces. "These are amazing little rice paper whipped cream filled pastries with strawberry and mango."
Bulma was first to take a bite and the whipped cream squirted out of the treat and landed on the side of her chin and on the table next to her. "Whoops!" Bulma said with a laugh.
Vegeta rolled his eyes, before grabbing one of the desserts and biting into it, cautiously since he did not want a repeat of the whipped cream being flung all over him and around the room as in Bulma's case. He was successful in his mission.
With the tip of Bulma's finger, she swiped the cream from the table and daintily licked it off her finger.
Vegeta finished his desserts quickly before proceeding to stand up from his chair.
"You know Vegeta, I bet in three years you may want to stay on earth so it's good that you have me to teach you about our "earthling ways" she said sarcastically with a slight eye roll."
Vegeta looked down at her and Bulma thought he was considering her words thoughtfully, but he suddenly reached out and wiped the bit of whipped cream still on her cheek with his thumb, the next thing Vegeta did shocked Bulma when he proceeded to lick the cream off his thumb.
Bulma felt flustered. "Thank you! I didn't know I made such a mess."
With that, Vegeta turned on his heal and walked in the direction of his room. Bulma did not see the amused smirk on his face.
Bulma felt a few butterflies in her stomach and her cheeks felt warm. That was… unexpected.
The following week…
Bulma was thrilled to wake up knowing that Yamcha was coming back from his training in the desert today. Finally. It had been over a month.
After doing some work, she went to town to get her nails and hair done. She had been spending a lot of long days in the lab lately, helping her father catch up on work, maintaining Vegeta's bots and the gravity room on a weekly basis, and creating his new armor. New boots were something he also requested.
Bulma arrived home with a few shopping bags in tow and ran upstairs to her room. She changed into a navy-blue tube top and white skirt, when she heard her mother greeting Yamcha downstairs. She tousled her hair in the mirror a bit and hurried downstairs.
"Hey babe, it is good to see you!" Yamcha said in his usual friendly manner.
"Hey Yamcha. I am so glad you are back!" Bulma said.
"Me too, I am beat from training and looking forward to some recovery the next few days."
"Do you want to get dinner in town as a reward for all your hard work? Bulma asked sweetly, rubbing Yamcha's chest in an adoring manner before giving him a peck on the cheek."
"Why not stay in? We could grab some food, watch a movie?" Yamcha said pulling Bulma closer in a warm embrace.
"That sounds great! I will call in an order at Hiro's. Oh, I better get some extra for Vegeta. It is the least I can do to help mom out. He is like a bottomless pit especially with the endless training."
"Ugg, whatever," Yamcha said an annoyance.
Bulma gulped in concern; she figured it really wasn't going to go over well when she told Yamcha that Vegeta was staying in a room…in the house.
Bulma ordered the food asking for 20 extra meat-based entrees and called Vegeta in the gravity room. "Hey Vegeta! I ordered extra takeout for you; they should be arriving in about an hour."
"Woman, why are you interrupting me?"
"I just told you I ordered you food. Whatever! I was just letting you know I was being considerate and including you! Do you want to come get it or should I bring them to you?"
"I do not care."
"Gosh you are cranky. Whatever, it will be here when you want them when you get hungry. Bye!"
Bulma and Yamcha were sitting on the couch after eating and finishing a good portion of their movie. Bulma put her head on Yamcha's shoulder, and he put his hand on the back of her neck to guide her in a gentle kiss.
Just then, they both heard the front door open. Vegeta proceeded to head to the kitchen to consume the food left for him.
"It's just Vegeta." Bulma said.
"What is he doing here….and so late?" Yamcha asked.
"He is probably going to eat the food I left for him. He is…he is also living…well he has a room upstairs to crash in so pretty much comes and goes you know."
"What? What do you mean? He is living here?"
"The extra guest room, we…I told Vegeta he could use it since he is training to help beat the androids."
"Bulma, that is not a good idea, I mean what if he goes psycho on you?! Hasn't he said he wants to try to kill Goku?!"
"It's not like that, he is living a… peaceful life here…he might have some anger issues but all he does is train and eat."
"Doesn't it make you uncomfortable to have him living with you in such close quarters?"
"No, not really – he just keeps to himself. It's not a social club around here, believe me."
"WOMAN!" Vegeta suddenly yelled from the kitchen.
"Ugh, let me see what he's got a bug up his butt about." Said Bulma before she left the living room to walk into the kitchen. Vegeta was sitting in his usual spot in the dining room area next to the kitchen chowing down on his fifth box of food.
"What, Vegeta?" Bulma said.
"The gravity room needs to be fixed."
"What is wrong with it?"
"The system is defaulting to three hundred times gravity, and I require it at four hundred again…immediately."
"Ok, no problem, I think that is a quick fix. I just have to relaunch the programming for the latest upgrade, I can take care of it first thing in the morning."
"Fix it now, woman."
"I…I can't now, I'm busy."
"What could have you occupied that takes precedence?"
"Yamcha is here back from training, and we are watching a movie and eating dinner. I can't always be at your disposal all hours of the day and night!"
"Spend time with the scarfaced weakling after. You said it yourself…it is a quick fix."
"Ugh! You can ask politely, or you can go without! And don't expect me to fix it this second, I will get to it when I can."
Vegeta looked at Bulma with a death glare that she knew from previous arguments with the prince, meant he were serious, and she shouldn't push his buttons. Bulma decided to appease him to avoid a scene. The last thing Bulma needed was for Yamcha to get involved in their argument and try to get Vegeta to back off and start a fight.
Bulma placed her palms on the table next to Vegeta and leaned in to make sure she made her point. "Vegeta… I promise I will fix it, okay? Our movie is almost over, and I will take care of it once Yamcha goes home. It will be a little later…a half hour or an hour at most."
"Fine—but do not take any more time than that. You are to come right over to fix it. You are not to watch any more movies or fall asleep. Do you understand?"
"Okay, Vegeta," said Bulma.
He nodded sternly before Bulma left the room.
Bulma walked back to the living room to find the T.V. turned off and Yamcha sitting and rubbing his temples in annoyance.
"Why did you stop the movie?" Asked Bulma surprised.
"Yeah, hun, I think I'm just going to take off. Especially if he is around. I was up really early, too."
"OK," Bulma said feeling disappointed that he was calling it an early night. Do you want to finish the move tomorrow or do you want to crash here?"
Yamcha gave her a kiss on the forehead and put on his jacket. "I have some stuff I've got to do now that I'm back alive, you know, my day is kind of filled up."
"Ok, well, do you want to go out for dinner on Sunday?"
"Yeah, that sounds great. We need to talk about the Vegeta situation, I don't like the idea of him living here one bit."
Bulma was about to open her mouth to tell him there is nothing to talk about, but she nodded in agreement.
After Yamcha left, Bulma walked over to the table where Vegeta was finishing the last of the takeout boxes and sat down laying her head over her crossed arms on the table looking defeated. She huffed with an exaggerated sigh.
Vegeta observed her with a raised eyebrow.
"Woman, go fix the gravity room."
When she didn't move, Vegeta proceeded to ask her. "What in hell is wrong with you?"
"Nothing…I just wish things were…simpler. I don't know…forget it.
"I told you; I just need you to reconfigure the gravity setting."
"—no I'm not talking about that. I am just... disappointed. I just… I do not know why he had to leave or be mad at me for whatever it is I did, or I am doing. And I don't think I even care."
"I have no idea what you are talking about. Is this some kind of earthling poetry you are reciting?"
"No—Yamcha… was upset…with me…or with something and just left. I even got my hair and nails done and tried to make it a nice homecoming."
"That's your issue—you believed that your cosmetic modifications would hide how hideous you are?"
"Are you seriously joking, Vegeta?! Or do you really think that I am ugly?" Bulma looked at Vegeta with a pathetically sad and angry face.
The look Bulma was giving him made him uncomfortable, of course she was not ugly by his standards. Although he would never tell her that. In fact, she looked especially good right now with her fluffy blue hairstyle smoothed down, and her choice of clothing although somewhat whore-ish, somehow did not look so on her. She always carried herself with poise and confidence, which was part of why her insecure words made him uncomfortable. He much preferred to see her riled up instead of in this…sad state.
"Perhaps the weakling was afraid of me, afraid I would send him back to the other world." Vegeta said with a chuckle.
"Well, that may have been part of it, and please don't remind me about that!" Said Bulma.
"And did the weakling grow tired of you so quickly this evening? Of course, I don't blame him." Vegeta chuckled again evilly.
"Don't make jokes like that. You are such a jerk! Bulma growled. "After all the things I do for you, and you sit there and keep insulting me!"
Bulma was so mad that she got up from the chair and tried to hit at Vegeta with her tiny fist, but he easily grabbed her wrist to stop her. She then tried to hit him with the other arm, and he grabbed her other wrist. As a last effort to take control she lifted her leg to kick him and Vegeta let go of her wrists at the moment where it caused her to fall back on the ground hitting her bum on the hard floor.
"Woman!—"
"OW! Vegeta, I think I broke my tailbone…I am serious."
"Tail…what? I will not! You could not have hurt yourself to that extent."
"I did not hurt myself you hurt me! You knew exactly what you were doing and could have stopped me from falling."
"You brought it upon yourself not being able to control your bratty temper. Consider it a lesson. Don't ever think you can strike me. Do you understand?"
"So, you admit that you could have kept from hurting me and you didn't! Vegeta, I swear, I will kill you in your sleep."
"Ha! I would like to see you try."
"You will not even see it coming. I'll sneak up and get you with one of my ki guns and knock you out and then find a way to get you!"
"Do you think something like that can incapacitate me? It's not possible."
"Fine, then I will find another way to get back at you."
"First, nothing you could do would hurt me and second, you would receive a retaliatory action that would kill you before you could even blink."
"Whatever! Bulma screamed as she slowly got up to her elbows and up on her feet. "Okay, maybe I'm ok, but I'm going to have an ugly bruise." Bulma said pouting."
"I don't care woman, just fix my machine!" Vegeta yelled.
"Why should I help you!?" Bulma retorted.
"Because if you do not—"
"If I do not, then what? You will hurt me again? That will go over great with Goku!" Bulma said in a taunting manner.
"I would welcome the challenge woman, any day, anytime…and know this, I will destroy him and all of you along with him!" Said Vegeta before he turned on his heal to storm off.
Bulma felt bad that she may have hurt Vegeta's feelings by bringing up Goku like that. That was not a good way to build trust she had been trying to build with him.
After a few minutes she followed Vegeta to fix the gravity room.
When she walked in, she saw Vegeta doing Katas. He didn't appear to be brooding but it was always hard to tell with him, what he was thinking.
"I'm sorry Vegeta… for earlier. Even though you were being a jerk… I will help you with your machine." Said Bulma calmer now.
"Get to it woman."