Communication Breakdown Chapter 2 |
Author: Valeyard Rating: R Disclaimer: She doesn't own, so don't even bother. |
Bulma lay prostrate in Vegeta's arms, barely aware of where they were flying. He looked down at her with a mixture of anger and something else she could not fathom. She scarcely took in why she was still alive. She hung limply in his arms trying to take in how everything got so crazy. It had started so simply. Taking in the Saiya-jin Prince. Why had she done it? She knew he was a killer. Hell! He was a psychopath! She just found it hard to believe the face matched the actions. Face and the body! 'Leave it to me to forget all sense on a pretty face!' "Silly girl!" That was all he had to say to her when they first met. She fully expected him to kill her, but he let her live! He took the Dragon Ball, of course. Then when Zarbon had tried to kill them all, he came to their aid and killed Zarbon. Okay, he probably wasn't doing it to help them. He had a score to settle with Zarbon, but it sure helped them out. She sure wouldn't be breathing had Vegeta not killed him. So he kind of saved her life. Even then, she had been attracted to him. She told herself there was no way she could be attracted to a murderer, but his dark clean looks and his taut, muscular body fascinated her. He called himself a prince, but he moved like a cat, and carried himself like a god. She knew then she wanted him, but how could someone as cold hearted as that ever have any interest in her? He was unattainable as far as she was concerned. Then Furiza was dead and there he sat with the hole still in his armor from where Furiza killed him. He looked so lost. She realized he had lost everything twice. First his planet, and now everything that he had been living for. No planet, no home, not even any money to start over. What would a trained killer do on Earth? He didn't seem interested in killing them, which was a first. He certainly tried his best to exterminate them when Furiza was alive. Now, he sat on the grass with a sullen look on his face. He seemed kind of sad to her, and she didn't know why but she felt sorry for him. So, she asked him to stay. He didn't say no. Why would he? Free food, free rent and a place to train? It wasn't like she was trying to take advantage of his situation. After all, she had a boyfriend. She was happy with Yamcha. When he wasn't eyeing some other girl. They went out regularly, and he was over at the house a lot. He was away sometimes and would be closed mouthed about where, but they seemed to be getting along fine. Trying to make it with a cold-hearted bastard that has killed more people than the earth contains? Ridiculous! No, he just needed a place to stay that's all. She didn't see much of him at first. He would come into the kitchen devour whatever was at hand and then go back to train. He would sometimes throw her an irritated look if she came into the kitchen at the same time, like she was an underling who had dared stray on the royal presence. Of all the nerve! This was her house, and she had let him stay on her good graces. Yet, the most she would get was a look of dismissal and a growl of irritation. Finally, she could take no more. He was in the kitchen again, devouring what the cook had made for the entire family to eat. He just ate it all without the slightest consideration for anyone else. Ate their entire dinner, giving Bulma an evil glare, challenging her to say anything about it. Bulma marched in despite the growl of warning that came from low in his throat. If she wasn't so angry, she would have laughed. His posture and growl was like a hungry dog standing over the food bowl, threatening anyone who dared take his meal. "Look! I know you Saiya-jin eat a lot, but we eat too, Mister! That was supposed to be for the entire family. We are sick of having to go out, because you leave no food in the house!" If Bulma was expecting Vegeta to scream or threaten her for scolding him, what he said was totally unexpected. Instead of being angry he sounded completely defensive. "You hardly keep enough food in here for one meal! That snack I just ate might be enough to sustain you, but it's hardly enough to keep me alive! Or do you think it is a big joke to keep so little food for me to eat? I'm practically starving!" Bulma felt totally disarmed by that. All this time, she thought he was being an inconsiderate jerk. Perhaps it was she that was being inconsiderate. She thought that surely the kitchen contained enough food. Sure, she had seen Son eat, but not when Son was trying to attain a level of perfection. Maybe he felt she was deliberately not putting in enough food and he had too much pride to say anything about it. She looked down at her toes. She had so wanted to tell him off, and as usual, he deftly took the wind out of her sails. She raised her head to look in his dark eyes, trying to keep the blush out of her cheek. "I really thought we had the kitchen stocked adequately. I know Saiya-jin eat a lot, but they must really eat a lot when training." Vegeta only grunted in agreement. "We could go to the store together and get a bunch of food tonight." Bulma suggested. "That way we can be sure we get enough food for you." "I don't have time for that, woman!" Vegeta stomped out even as he said this. "Just make sure there is more food in here tomorrow!" He called over his shoulder and then he was gone. Bulma held her fists tightly at her side and suppressed a scream of fury. 'The nerve of that SOB! Like she was his servant! I will get even with him for this!' She had too. She remembered when he left and returned. His so needing a shower, sneaking in while he was in the shower to leave some clothes (at least she told herself that is why she did it). Catching her breath at the sight of him through the marbled glass of the shower door. She never realized how long his hair was, until she saw it wet, trailing halfway down his back. The water gleaming off his naked form, leaving contrails over the bulging muscles that threatened to pop right through the skin. The small scar on his backside where his tail used to be. 'He just isn't human!' Then Bulma laughed to herself. 'Well, of course, he wasn't human, he was one of those Saiya-jin.' Could Son, really be like him? He just seemed so different. Son, always seemed human to her, despite the tail, because he acted human. Vegeta still didn't seem human at all, despite the lack of tail. He was like a marble statue--Adonis made into flesh. She left the clothes and quietly snuck out. Oh, she could not imagine what he would have done had he caught her ogling him like that! He was angry enough when he saw the clothes Bulma had left. Served him right! Wearing a pink shirt with "Bad Man" emblazoned across the back. He had threatened to blast them all if they laughed at him, but they laughed anyway, and he didn't do anything. Could he be mellowing out? Then there was that fight between herself and Yamcha. She didn't know Vegeta had seen anything. Bulma had caught Yamcha with another woman and they were standing outside the Capsule Corporation screaming at the top of their lungs at each other. Bulma had smacked him right across the face and Yamcha shoved her so hard she fell flat on her back. The next thing she knew, Vegeta was standing over her, grabbing Yamcha by the shirt, fist drawn back for the kill. Bulma had screamed, which caused Vegeta to turn to the sound. She remembered the shock on his face, as if he was genuinely surprised she would object. She got up quickly and grabbed him by the arm. Telling him the fight was her fault and she was sorry. Vegeta had lowered his arm, giving Yamcha a warning growl as he stalked off. Bulma had been shocked by the look on his face as he left. Vegeta seemed genuinely hurt she hadn't let him kill Yamcha. It was then Bulma considered Vegeta not so unattainable. Maybe, he did have an interest in her, but he was covering up for it with his pride. That was where things had gone so wrong. The moment she opened herself up to him. She had walked into a storeroom, to grab some capsules when she came upon his prostrate body, sprawled across the floor. At first she thought he was dead, but she heard his rhythmic breathing and knew he was asleep. 'Couldn't he wait until he made it to his room?' She looked at his face. He looked so peaceful. She never fully appreciated how beautiful his face was, at least, when he wasn't screwing it up with a scowl or a smirk. She did need the capsules, but she didn't have the heart to wake him. She tip toed past him, hoping he wouldn't be disturbed. Bulma suppressed a shriek as Vegeta sprang from the floor, grabbing her by the wrist. Vegeta's eyes for a scant second were wide with terror, as he quickly took in his surroundings, then looking on Bulma, they narrowed down to a look of pure hate. He seemed embarrassed by his reaction when she awoke him, which only added to his fury. "What the hell do you think you are doing, woman?" He demanded, still holding onto her wrist. "What am I doing?" Bulma was outraged at having had the wits frightened out of her when she had tried to let him sleep. "This is my storeroom, pal! You have a perfectly fine room we gave you to sleep in." Vegeta turned his back on her, crossing his arms. "I prefer it here." He said quietly. Bulma knew asking Vegeta why would be an exercise in futility. There was obviously something bothering him, she could tell by the look in his eyes when he awoke. So what could be his problem? What was it, this dusty old storeroom, had over the room she gave him? It was a room that had been partitioned off from a larger room. Artificial wood paneling separated it from what was a makeshift conference room. It was basically just a square block with some shelves to store capsules and office supplies. No windows, no light. What could he prefer about this ugly room? The room they gave him was a beautiful room. Bulma had picked it out herself. It was on the top floor, where the ceiling rose to peak, windows near the top to let in light. 'Oh my god! How could I not see this before? It has metal gleaming, cylinder walls just like Furiza's ship. How could I be so insensitive? A place like that would give me nightmares too, if I'd grown up on that bastard's ship!' "Um," she said, picking her words carefully. "We can have a cot or a bed brought in here, if you prefer. You don't have to sleep on the floor." "No," he said defiantly, daring her to pry any further into the matter. "The room is fine just as it is. If you are finished, I'm very tired." 'Hrrrrrr!' Bulma inwardly fumed! It didn't matter how she tried to talk to him, he always made it sound like he was dismissing a servant. "Yes! Your majesty!" Bulma said with as much sarcasm as she could twist into the words. "Are you sure your Royal Highness would want my bed?" An expression crossed Vegeta's face. The look of a hunter who had just cornered his quarry. He brought his face within an inch of Bulma's. His voice was a purr of arousal. "Tempting little witch! You think it a light thing to seduce me? If you had wanted that, you should not have prevented me from killing your mate. I am a Saiya-jin Prince and a Saiya-jin will not tolerate infidelity." 'How had this conversation turned in this direction?' Bulma thought with a shock. She wasn't trying to pry him with innuendo! Or had she? She had to admit having him in her bed had crossed her mind when she said it, but she was more angry than aroused. "My mate!!!! Yamcha??????" She screamed. "That SOB is NOT my mate. He isn't even my boyfriend. Pushing me down was the last straw. I told him to get lost! And besides, where do you get off thinking I was coming on to you! You never have one nice thing to say to me, and then you have the nerve to think I would throw myself at you?" She turned to leave, but he shot out an arm barring the way, giving her a very wicked smile. "Didn't you?" Bulma saw red. "You egotistical bastard!" Bulma's arm shot out, closed fist in an attempt to land a punch on Vegeta. Vegeta deftly ducked, smirking in amusement at her pathetic machinations. "No wonder you were attracted to a weakling like Yamcha, if that is the best you can do." "Oooooooooooo!" Bulma screamed. Feinting with one hand, she landed a bullseye on his nose with the other. Vegeta swiped at his nose, his pride more injured than anything, as his face changed from amusement to fury. Bulma gulped, thinking perhaps her temper had got the best of her. 'Was it really a good idea to try and punch out someone who could exterminate a planet at a whim?' She thought in a panic. She nervously backed out of the room into the hall, preparing to make a hasty retreat, but she knew it was too late when Vegeta yelled at her. "That's it, woman!" Vegeta growled. "You think I am weakling like Yamcha? That I will stand for the games you played with him? Someone needs to take you in hand, and teach you a lesson!" Bulma gave a yelp as Vegeta scooped her up in his arms and flew off with her. Careening down the darkened hall, she tried not to scream, so as not to alarm her parents. What would he do to them if they got in the way? Vegeta took a dip, then a turn, before flying straight up to the top level, where the bedrooms were kept. He kicked open the door to her bedroom, plopping her down on her bed as he walked in. "Is this the bed you were talking about?" He asked as he crossed his arms and stood over her. Bulma cowered, backing up on the bed, terrified as to what Vegeta would do next. He stood there for a moment, letting her appreciate his superiority and power, and that at that moment, he could do anything he wanted. Letting her terror linger for a moment, he put on a contemptuous smirk. He turned and walked out the door, putting his head back in the door for a moment to gloat. "And the next time you do something like that, I may not leave, or is that what you wanted, as well?" She heard him chuckle wickedly and he closed the door. 'That bastard!' She screamed in her mind. White-hot images of the pain she would love to inflict on him went through her mind. She turned and beat her pillow for several minutes to get out her frustration, then, exhausted, fell asleep. |