Dragon Ball Z: Pride Before A Fall - 5.0

      Everyone noticed it.  Even Dr. Brief wrapped up in his garden and workshop.  Even Mrs. Brief in her joyous oblivious smile.  Even one or two of the neighbors who glanced by in passing noticed it:  something about Vegeta had changed.  It wasn’t an obvious change – he still spent most his time training, he still rarely spoke to anyone, he still had the same irritable expression.  However, he seemed to have developed a new disposition toward Bulma.  When he was hungry, he sat next to her, broodingly eating his food.  When he was tired, he slept in her bed.  When he chuckled, it was usually because of something she did.  He had even developed a habit of watching her as she worked on her various inventions, his arms folded and leaning silently against the wall, listening as she described her work.
      That was the change that most noticed.  Only Yamcha saw the rest.  He noticed out of the corner of his eye the things Bulma and he did when they thought no one was looking.  He saw Bulma giving Vegeta a cute expression as she tried to fork up his food into his mouth, the Saiyan Prince scowling and scolding her before finally giving in.  He saw subtle looks they gave each other as they passed in the hall.  He saw Vegeta’s fingers slip under her clothes, whispering something into her ear with a crooked grin and stars in her eyes.
      It unsettled him, but it wasn’t until one particular day that he discovered a sight that truly horrified him.  Taking a break from his own training, he decided to go visit Bulma in her workroom, figuring he’d find out if she’d heard from Goku or the others recently.  Puar was off taking a nap, his close friend having been working just as hard as he had in coaching and encouraging him.  He would have knocked – though he had a tendency to be clumsy, Yamcha had always done his best to be polite – but the door was cracked open.  He could hear Bulma.  And he could hear Vegeta.  Though he knew he shouldn’t, he shifted himself down and peeked in.
      It was his worse fears confirmed.  Vegeta and Bulma were both up on her workbench, Bulma sitting in Vegeta’s lap as his thick arms held her fast.  Vegeta was huffing like a stallion as they made out with each other.
       “Vegeta,” Bulma said between breaths as they kissed, her arms wrapped around his neck, “Less…teeth…!”
      He growled hungrily, his fingers digging into her back.  “Shut up, woman,” he grunted.
      They both breathed heavily, Bulma squeaking and giggling as Vegeta heaved her back, letting her dangle over the edge of the desk.  A dark grin covered his face as he watched her squirm a bit before bringing her back up into his lap and resuming their deep, passionate kiss.
      Yamcha grunted as his fist tightened.  It wasn’t jealousy he was feeling, it was anger and fear.  He figured they’re relationship must have gotten pretty serious, but he hadn’t expected to see Bulma letting him treat her that way.  Calling her ‘woman’?  Looking at her like he owned her?  It was unacceptable!  How could Bulma be okay with him treating her like that?  This couldn’t really be what she wanted, could it?  His mouth move, struggling against the urge to cry out.  Finally he just crept away, least either Bulma or Vegeta realized he’d been spying on them.
      Puar rubbed her tired little eyes as Yamcha entered abruptly, his expression flat and sour.  She blinked and then sighed.  “Uh oh…” she trilled, “What’s wrong, Yamcha?”
       “It’s that Vegeta, Puar,” he growled, the scars on his face looking deeper than normal somehow, “He’s done something to Bulma!”
       “What?” Puar squeaked, floating up off her bed, “What do you mean, Yamcha?”
       “I mean it’s like he’s gotten in her head.”  He sat down heavily and folded his arms.  “I want Bulma to be happy and I don’t want to get in her way.  But this is ridiculous!  I can’t just stand by and let Vegeta get away with this!”
      Puar looked at him anxiously.  “What do you mean?”
      He looked sharply at the hovering blue cat.  “I mean he’s up to something, I just know it!  I just can’t see Vegeta as a serious boyfriend, there’s just no way!”  He looked down at his hands.  “I gotta do something, but what?  I could try talking to Bulma, but she’d probably just get mad at me again.”  He blinked, then lowered his brow with determination, firmly standing up.  “There’s nothing for it, Puar. I have to go and confront Vegeta.”
       “What?!” Puar squealed, waving her little arms around, “You can’t be serious, there’s no way you can fight Vegeta!”
       “No, no, not fight, Puar,” Yamcha assured, sweating a little, “He could pummel me without even trying and that wouldn’t help Bulma at all.”  His brow lowered.  “No.  I need to confront him and find out why he’s doing this.  I got to put an end to this before Bulma gets hurt!”
       “I hope you know what you’re doing...” Puar stated warily, her tail wiggling uncomfortably below her.
      Though he didn’t say it, Yamcha hoped he did too.
      Yamcha went back to training, waiting for the right moment.  It was a hard moment to find, when was the right time to talk to a guy like Vegeta?  Finally, late in the afternoon, he spotted Vegeta heading for the Capsule Corp ship, a towel flung over his shoulder, looking grim as usual.  Yamcha swallowed hard but steeled his courage, jogging over to intercept the Saiyan.
       “Hey, Vegeta!” he called.  Vegeta glanced up, just giving Yamcha  flat look as he approached.  “Do you have a moment?”
       “No,” he grunted, “I really don’t.”
      Yamcha gave a light, nervous chuckle.  Come on, pull it together, Yamcha.  He cleared his throat and gave Vegeta his best stern look.  “Well whatever, I really need to talk to you.”
       “And I really don’t care,” Vegeta flatly returned, “Now get out of my way.”
       “Uh, no!”  Blocking Vegeta’s way wasn’t really part of the plan, but he went with it, folding his arms.  “No, you’re going to hear me out.  It’s about Bulma.  I don’t know what your interest in her is, but I can tell you’re just using her.  So whatever your planning, leave her out of it.”
      Vegeta stared at him for a long moment and then suddenly threw back his head and a boisterous cackle.  “You’re really serious!  AHAHAHAHA!  You honestly think you can tell me what to do, that’s hilarious!  AHAHAHAHA!”
      Yamcha shriveled back a little.  He really didn’t like that laugh of his.  Still he grunted and tightened his fists.  “It’s not a joke, Vegeta!” he shouted over the laughter, “I can’t just stand back and watch you treat her like a toy!”
      Vegeta’s laughter cut off as abruptly as it came and he gave a tiny, wicked smile.  “Toy?  I’m afraid I’ll have to disagree.  Bulma is hardly a toy to me.  In fact, right now, I’d argue she’s the most important woman in the universe.  Because of me, she has honor I’ve given no other.”
       “She doesn’t need you to be important!”  He was yelling now.  “Bulma special all on her own!  She doesn’t need anything from you!”
      Vegeta’s smile flattened and he snorted.  “Hmph.  As if any Human could be special.  I’m tired of this conversation – now get out of my way.”
      The Saiyan bared his teeth as Yamcha side-stepped him again.  “No, I’m not done.  I want to know why you’re doing this!”
      Vegeta snarled, his fist clenching down at his side.  “I won’t say it again, now get out of my way!!!”
       “Just answer me!  Why are you—!”  Yamcha was cut off, a mixture of saliva and blood flying out of his mouth as a saiyan fist suck deep into his stomach.  Vegeta scowled, grabbed the Human by the hair and side kicking him, another incredible blow to the stomach.  Yamcha bounced across the lawn and into the side of mansion, cracking the wall.
      Yamcha was barely aware of himself as he saw the white boots fill his vision, his body lifted up by the shirt as Vegeta gave him a disgusted, mocking glare.  “You got anything else you’d like to say to me, you pathetic weakling?” he challenged.  Yamcha groaned.  “I’m sorry, what was that?  I couldn’t hear you.”
       “VEGETA!”
      Vegeta froze with a warbling grunt and then turned his head, his teeth gritted.  Bulma stood there looking all puffed up, her fists ground into her hips; brow so tight it seemed her eyes would pop out.
       “What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” she screamed at him, “Put him down right now!!!”
      Vegeta growled and loosened his grip, letting Yamcha drop to the ground.  “Not worth my time anyway,” he snorted, turning as he tossed his towel back over his shoulder.
       “Oh no you don’t!” Bulma snapped, making him freeze again, his shoulders clenched and trembling with anger and annoyance, “You stay right there, your highness!”  She ran over to her old boyfriend, sitting him up.  “Yamcha?  Are you okay?  What the hell got into you two?!”
      Yamcha coughed, spitting blood into his palm.  He hissed, glaring at Vegeta’s back.  “Some prince.  You’re nothing but a brute.”
       “Pathetic, hiding under a woman’s skirt,” Vegeta shot back, not even bothering to look at him, “Of course, I should expect no less from a classless warrior.”
       “I didn’t even come out here to fight with you!” Yamcha shouted, “I just wanted to talk!”
       “Talking is for the weak.”
       “Okay, just stop it you two!” Bulma snapped, flashing them both a glare, “What exactly is going on here?”
       “Bulma, I’m sorry,” Yamcha said, looking earnestly at her and then glaring at Vegeta, “But I can’t take this anymore!  He’s a monster and a murderer and—”
       “Oh my God, you can’t be serious!” Bulma cried, fuming at Yamcha, “That’s what this is about?!  Grow up, Yamcha, I’m not your girlfriend anymore, remember?!”
      Vegeta fell silent, crossing his arms and just glowering as the fighting continued.  By now, the others had started coming out of the mansion to see what all the commotion was about.
       “Yamcha, are you okay?!” Puar squeaked, rushing to him.
       “I’m staying out of this one…” Oolong cowered in a doorway.
       “Good grief, what’s all the racket about?” Dr. Brief stuck his head out a window.
       “Bulma, please, that’s not what I’m trying to say at all!” Yamcha protested, holding up both hands, “He’s the one—”
       “What kind of immature pighead fights over a girl?!” Bulma continued to yell, “Especially me, who’s clearly smart enough to make up her own mind?!”  Vegeta cracked a cruel smile.  “Oh don’t think I’ve forgotten about you, your majesty!” she turned on him, “If you think you can go beating up anybody you like just cause they make you angry you can think again!  Especially when I’m around, you got that?!”
       “The Prince of All Saiyans—!”
       “What, does the prince need me to kiss his royal behind?!”
       “Silence, woman!!!”
       “Stop it!” Yamcha got up, pointing a finger at Vegeta as he clutched his stomach, “You can’t talk to her like that!”
       “Oh really?” Vegeta scowled, “Considering she’s my wife, I’d say I can talk to her anyway I like!!!”

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