Nothing but Stress

Bulma walked into the dorm she shared with Chi-chi. The girl was nice enough, but she was quite shy and one of those people that was always trying to please everyone. Sometimes Bulma just wanted to grab the girl and shake her to see if it would bring out a different personality. There were glimpses of a tougher veneer that Bulma would catch when her roommate became annoyed or frustrated but somehow she managed to contain it. It might be better to learn from Chi-chi rather than bring another volatile college student into the world. Tilting her head to one side, Bulma watched her roommate—who was oblivious to other girl’s presence—as she typed away on her laptop. While it was nice to share a dorm with someone who wasn’t noisy as hell it was also just as irritating to live with a person that ignored you most of the time.  

Closing the door behind her, Bulma strode to her side of the room so she could lay her keys on the tall, narrow dresser. Next was her purse that was slung over her shoulder. Laying it down on the small computer desk, she opened the zipper to retrieve her phone. The thing would need charged before tomorrow morning, but before she could get that far there was a missed call from her father. She stared at the ID in confusion for a few seconds wondering what in the world he needed to talk to her about. Perhaps he had accidentally dialed number while trying to reach someone else. Bulma shrugged and hit the redial button as she slipped off her shoes and sat down on her bed.

Of course the damn thing went to voicemail! It wasn’t that late but she knew her father had odd hours depending on what project he was working on. Bulma groaned and left a brief message to call her back. Not like her father could have left a damn message for her if it truly was important! No, that would be far too easy. She gently tossed the phone onto her desk and flopped back on the bed, cautious that the mattress wasn’t as soft and cushiony as the one she had home.

“Everything okay, Bulma?” Chi-chi asked, not looking up from her computer screen.

“Fantastic,” the older girl answered on a sigh. “There was some new student,” Bulma paused before stating, “Well he apparently isn’t new as he was returning a library book after two years.”

That got her roommates attention. The long black hair that was pulled into a high ponytail flipped and swayed as Chi-chi’s head shot up and around to look at Bulma.

“Two years?!” Chi-chi whispered her shout of outrage. “Who takes that long to return a book? And why would you even worry about it after that long?”

Bulma shrugged and lifted her body so she could sit and look at her roommate. “He’s been off planet.” She tried not to smile as it was nothing new to meet an alien or even a humanoid alien, but there was just something about the encounter that had her giddy. “A very honorable thing to do, I would say. I even told him that it would be cheaper to pay for the new book they’ve probably already bought, but he insisted on paying the fine and returning the original book.”

The younger girl looked doubtful. “Sounds to me like someone throwing their money around because they can.” While her family wasn’t exactly struggling for money, Chi-chi had always been modest about their wealth and refused to live like a spoiled princess. “Not, of course, that it’s a bad thing,” she admitted after realizing that Bulma’s family gave a lot to the school and its facility. “But I’m sure even you would’ve paid the fee of the new book.”

“We’re also used to human culture and knowing that it’s okay to do such things,” Bulma countered.

Chi-chi rolled her eyes and turned back toward her laptop. “Just because he was hot doesn’t mean you should defend him.” When she heard her roommate gasp, Chi-chi continued, “I’ve only been living with you for a year and I know your track record. You should stop falling for these pretty boys because they’re nothing but trouble.”

Bulma scoffed. “He wasn’t pretty,” she protested. “He was ruggedly handsome.” A smirk turned one corner of her lip up as she leaned back on her hands. “He didn’t have much in the height department, but damn did he have the confidence to scare someone twice his size,” Bulma appraised the unknown man. “You should have seen him.”

“I’m good, thanks,” Chi-chi murmured, already busy typing away again as if the interruption had never occurred.

Pouting, the older woman was about to justify her obsession when her phone started ringing. Pushing herself off the bed, Bulma went to answer and saw that it was her father calling back. Of course he would have perfect timing. The rebuttal she had been formulating to taunt Chi-chi back into a conversation died in her throat as she answered the incoming call.

“Hey, Dad,” Bulma put on a false cheery voice. “What’s the dilemma this time?” She just hoped it didn’t have anything to with her mother again. Not that her mother was a problem maker, actually quite the opposite. It was just that Bulma refused to answer every time her mother called to check in on things. That meant her father had to call and make sure things were okay on Bulma’s end so he could report back to the mothership.

“A small group of Saiyans landed today and they’ll need to be shown the Observatory.” Dr. Briefs got right down business.

Bulma sighed with relief. “I suppose I can do that. Have they already contacted you?” she asked as her body relaxed and she melted back down onto the bed.

“They want to stop by first thing in the morning. You don’t have anything going on, correct? If you do we can reschedule.” Since Bulma was closer to the building it was easier for her to show the newcomers around than it was for Dr. Briefs to get there from across the city.

“No, no, it’s fine. I’ll just make sure I have plenty of coffee tomorrow,” she said with a small chuckle. She confirmed the time with her father and then hung up before her mother somehow sensed she was on the phone. “Well looks like I’ll be going to bed early,” Bulma threw the complaint into the silent room.

Chi-chi gave the older woman a glare. “I won’t keep ya from it.” She was used to her overly talkative roommate, but Bulma needed to learn how to pick her battles. “I’ll dim my screen if that will help. Or I suppose I could go downstairs if you need total silence.” Chi-chi had always been the first to call it a night and get a good night’s rest.

Bulma blew out a huff and rolled her eyes. “I can sleep through just about anything once I’m out. It’s just a matter of getting to sleep when I’m not tired in the least.” Laying her phone back on the desktop, she tapped her fingertips against the woodgrain. Too bad she wasn’t at home where she could go take a relaxing bath or go to the labs and work on something to release some of the pent up energy.

Turning back to her assignment, Chi-chi suggested, “Why don’t you go to the gym and workout? Or go take a walk. I have to finish this tonight and I can’t help distract you.” Not that she would normally be there to talk or whatever it was Bulma wanted to do to cure her boredom. “Maybe you’ll run into your new beau,” she muttered with an air of cynicism.

Arms came around Chi-chi’s neck and hugged the back of her head against a pillow-y chest. A blush crept up the younger woman’s neck as a chin landed at the crown of her head. Grimacing, Chi-chi made a mental note that this was another lesson her roommate needed to learn: Personal space.

“You’re brilliant! How did I not think about that?” Bulma asked ecstatic. The man seemed the type to be closed away in a gym all day. “I’ll wear my cutest outfit just in case.” The statement was uttered more for herself as Bulma pulled away from Chi-chi to dig through her drawers.

Free from her roommate’s clutches, Chi-chi took a deep breath and exhaled slowly and silently. At least she would have an hour or two to herself. She could get her work done in that time, so if Bulma wanted to talk when she got back it shouldn’t be a problem. Of course listening to other woman digging through her stuff and complaining of not keeping any flattering workout clothing was enough to set Chi-chi’s nerves on fire.

“You can borrow some of mine if ya want,” Chi-chi offered a few minutes later. She glanced at her roommate as she pushed her chair away from the desk to stand. “We’re about the same size. I’ll show you what I have and you can try it on.”

Bulma gave the younger woman a brilliant smile before stuffing articles of clothing back into the drawers. “I promise I’ll wash them before returning, too.”

After picking an outfit to wear, Bulma tied her medium length hair into a ponytail, thanked her roommate, and headed toward the campus gym. Since it was still early evening there were students milling about everywhere. She gave an acknowledging wave or nod to the people she knew and kept a sharp eye on everyone else. There always seemed to be new students showing up and it wouldn’t do to let someone of interest escape her notice. A grin spread over her lips as Bulma thought of the new student she had met earlier: Vegeta. Her feet picked up speed as an extra spring was added to her steps.

Rounding the corner that would end her journey, the young heiress was pulled up short at the commotion of a crowd. She slowed and took in that most people in the cluster were wearing workout clothes covered in sweat stains. Coming up at the back, Bulma stood on tip-toes to see what was going on. She couldn’t make out much of anything aside from two huge forms blocking the entrance of the gym. Bulma cursed her luck and bit at her bottom lip. Now what the hell was she supposed to do?

With a growl she turned on her heels and headed back toward the dorm room. She hadn’t been looking forward to working out but now that the opportunity had been taken away Bulma sure felt like hitting something. Her trek back to the room was quicker and filled with tension as she barely noticed the people passing by. Once inside Bulma started digging through her clothes again and slamming drawers.

Chi-chi had looked up upon her roommate’s entry with a bewildered look. When the older woman said nothing, Chi-chi turned in her chair to see Bulma start throwing clothes about again.

“That was quick. Should I ask what went wrong?” Chi-chi asked cautiously as she rested her chin on the back of the chair.

Bulma shrugged. “I don’t know. Everyone had been herded out of the gym by the time I got there and I wasn’t about to stick around when I couldn’t even get a good view,” she complained. “So I’m just going to get a nice hot shower and come back and read so you can finish up your work in silence.”

Chi-chi’s eyes grew wide and she lifted her head from the chair. “Are you sure? I can get up early to finish it before class. I mean, since you’ll be gettin’ up early anyway. That is, if you want to talk or something.”

“Thanks, Chi-chi.” Bulma faced the younger woman with a smile. “I appreciate the offer, but I know how hard you study. I’ve got plenty of other stuff to keep me occupied and talking would only keep us both up all night.”

With a slight nod Chi-chi said, “Alright. Enjoy your shower and I’ll try to keep my typing quiet.”

Bulma laughed and collected her stuff to get her shower. “I’ll try not to bother you too much when I get back.”

When Bulma crossed her heart, Chi-chi smiled and gave a smothered laugh before turning back to her computer.

~S~

Vegeta paced the floor in front of his two subordinates. “I cannot fucking believe it,” he growled. His arms swung at his sides and as he turned his left arm punched the air. “We haven’t even been for a fucking day and you two idiots already managed to fuck up.”

He had just gotten out of the shower and was getting ready to relax for the evening when the phone had rung. Vegeta eyed the communication device with anger before answering and barking a “What?” into the speaker. A shaken and stuttered voice had informed him that Nappa and Raditz had broken some of the gym equipment. At first Vegeta had laughed, then upon hearing that he would have to come down and deal with the problem the Saiyan prince had grumbled an affirmative before hanging up and let out a few expletives.

“I might as well have brought that moron you call a brother, Raditz.” Of course, if Vegeta had done such a foolish thing there would be more trouble than just broken exercise equipment that he could easily pay to have fixed. He stopped his pacing to face the larger of the two men. “Nappa, somehow I expected better of you.” When the bald man opened his mouth, Vegeta held up a hand. “Spare me. I’m tired and pissed. Not to mention we’ve got an early morning tomorrow so I’d rather not have to beat the shit out of both you and cause more damage and the possibility of being tossed out on the street tonight.”

“We’ve got money to toss around. What’s the big deal?” Raditz asked as he lazed back on the couch. “King Vegeta always makin’ sure his heir is taken care of.”

Vegeta’s head swiveled toward the younger of the two seated Saiyans. “You could have stayed your ass on Planet Vegeta. Not like I needed two fucking babysitters.” Nappa had been the one to go on missions to make sure the prince returned alive. One eyebrow cocked in the air as he asked, “Is there a reason you requested to come to Earth?”

Raditz shot off the couch and towered over his prince. “You think I wanted to join this expedition? Follow your ass around this hellhole of a planet? Fuck off.” With that the long haired Saiyan turned to stalk off.

“Is there a reason my father sent you with us, then?” Vegeta’s voice was low and lethal. His hands tightened into fists and his body vibrated with unspent energy. “Don’t fucking lie to me, you son of a bitch.”

The taller Saiyan scoffed and looked over his shoulder. “Of course King Vegeta sent me. You think I’d choose to be here rather than fighting? So if you want to ship me back off, please Your Majesty, I would be most thankful.” Raditz turned at the waist and gave a mock bow.

The blow to Raditz’s chin came without warning. The hit lifted his feet from the ground and tossed him on his back, knocking the wind from his lungs. As he sucked in breath, getting too much, the Saiyan hacked and propped himself up on his elbows. A bare foot landed on his chest, keeping his larger form from regaining his feet. Raditz lifted his chin to the meet the black eyes of his prince.

Vegeta tsked and sneered at the man under foot. “My father can keep you and your dumbass brother at his side for all eternity.” Adding a bit of pressure, the Saiyan prince kicked his foot off the lower class. “For all I care you can board the next ship out tomorrow. I don’t need your troublesome ass here to protect me from all these inferior species.”

“Vegeta.” When the prince’s head whipped around to stare at the man still seated on the couch, Nappa cleared his throat. “Prince Vegeta, perhaps the king knew what he was doing sending two watch dogs with you.”

With a bark of laughter Vegeta shook his head. “Nappa is to be the voice of reason now. It’s not like I plan to tour this planet and come into contact with as many locals as possible.”

“But you’ll still be busy most of the time. Your attention focused on other things rather than any invisible enemies.” The bald Saiyan glanced at the man on the floor before focusing back on the prince.

Narrowing his eyes at the justification, Vegeta huffed. “Whatever. I need some fucking sleep, so you two can argue amongst yourselves all night if you want. Just remember that you’ll be on guard duty.” He glared at Raditz who was still lying on the floor. “I still don’t give a fuck if you want to leave, but if my father sent you on orders than you’ll deal with his wrath.”