Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Uncertain Future ❯ Misplaced Affection ( Chapter 16 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of the characters. I'm not making any money whatsoever off of this story so please do not sue me.

Author's Note: Hello! I'd just like to say hi to all the readers and thanks to all the people who sent me nice reviews! However, though I have received the odd bad review, and to those people, why not actually telling me what you don't like, or giving me some sort of suggestion in order to help me improve the story, and my writing skills? Thanks for reading, so now on with the story!

*Special thanks to Vegetababe for beta-ing!*

Uncertain Future: Chapter 16: Misplaced Affection

Capsule production began one week after the initial meeting of Bulma and Bardock. Over that week, the two had seen each other many times to meet and discuss plans and various other aspects of the new technology.

Bulma was very pleased when it was decided that she would be in charge for the most part of the project, and Bardock would mainly be there for assistance and supervision. It wasn't that the two scientists didn't get along with each other, in fact, they worked wonderfully together. Bulma just like being in charge of things, she was born a natural leader. Even in elementary school she had always been the one the other kids looked up to. Whether she was lead in the school play or captain of the school volleyball team, it was always the same. Bulma Briefs was in charge. But, all that was in the past now…

Ahh, the past, a wonderful time full of hopscotch, sleepovers, and first crushes. While speaking of her beloved Chikyuu had once disturbed and upset her, she now enjoyed reliving the wonderful childhood memories she held so dear. She and Bardock talked often of the past, for the Saiyan loved hearing about his son, and Bulma enjoyed having someone to talk to. She and Vegeta conversed often at night and sometimes during meals, but they were both busy people and did not have much time for conversation anymore. Bardock did not only ask about his own blood though, he seemed to delight in hearing the female's animated tales and was quickly discovering why his King found her so captivating.

Bardock often caught himself watching her while they worked. He had to admit that she was very beautiful and, against his better judgment, he was falling for the little human. Just being around her made him feel more youthful and alive than he had in years. Her outgoing personality and lively disposition affected him in a way even his beloved Jaka had not.

Oh poor Jaka! Had it really been two whole years since he had held her in his arms, caressed her and made love to her? Yes, it had been two long and lonely years since her death in the battle against Frieza's minions. Until now, he had never even considered the prospect of taking another mate. He knew deep in his heart that nothing could ever replace Jaka or dull the pain of losing her. This Bulma though, this little human female managed to do something to him, something he could not comprehend…

Bardock walked grumpily into work on a rainy Tuesday morning to find a chipper Bulma chatting excitedly away to a small group of lab techs. There were plans to begin running tests today on the new capsules. "Morning Bardock!" Bulma smiled. Bardock sent back a weak smile, the best he could manage at the moment. He hadn't gotten much sleep the previous night and was feeling incredibly tired.

"When are we starting the tests?" he yawned.

"Well, sleepy head, if we stick to the schedule, we'll be starting in about ten minutes. If we get all the tests we want done for today, we should finish around 6 or 7 tonight." Bulma replied with a giggle.

"Does that include time enough for you to do your chores?"

"Vegeta gave me the day off so we could do this. Wasn't that nice of him? He's really eager to see the results so he said he might drop by later tonight." Bardock sighed to himself as he watched her eyes light up at the mention of King Vegeta. He was torn between wanting her for himself and wanting to see his King happy.

"Excuse me." a lab tech interrupted Bardock's train of thought. "We're all ready to begin testing."

Bulma smiled and pulled Bardock over to the main computer console in the lab. She sat down and began typing in a long series of number codes, her fingers flying rapidly over the keyboard while she barked out orders to the waiting laboratory staff.

"Power cables?"

"Check!"

"Primary System Analyzation?"

"Done!"

"Test Capsule #353686?"

"Got it right here!"

For the next three hours Bardock sat at the console, carefully doing his job. He had been assigned to monitor and record any and all results of each test. The capsules were being tested for various things like strength, weather resistance, expiry dates, hazard control, etc. Pretty much everything you can think up. Although Bardock found his task very boring, he was grateful for the distraction and the opportunity to take his mind off of the beautiful genius beside him.

"All right everyone!" Bulma called. "Let's all break for lunch!"

"Great! I'm starving!" Bardock cried, throwing his hands up in the air as his stomach rumbled loudly. "See?"

"You Saiyans are ALWAYS hungry!" Bulma laughed. "I've actually learned to cook a decent meal because of King Vegeta's voracious appetite!" Bardock chuckled lightly as he and Bulma did a quick check to make sure that all the equipment was shut down properly. After that, the two scientists turned off the lights and set off to the cafeteria together.

"Ewww! What is THAT?" Bulma cried, seeing Bardock's 'lunch.' "It looks like someone puked on your tray!"

"For your information, it's a Cobinian delicacy!" Bardock retorted, shoveling a spoonful of some greenish brown mush into his mouth. That explained it, Cobinians were known around the universe for their ghastly body odor and rancid appearance. "Mm mm delicious!" Bulma almost gagged. The stuff smelled putrid, and she couldn't imagine actually putting that in her mouth. "You should try it Bulma. It's really quite good."

"No thanks. I think I'll stick to my sandwich." Bulma said, making a face. "I don't see how you can eat something that smells so bad!" Bulma took a sip of her drink. "I mean, I can barely stand to be at the same table as that plate of yuck. How can you put it in your mouth?" Bardock merely shrugged and continued eating his mush.

"Don't knock it till you try it." Bulma rolled her eyes at the Saiyan across the table from her, and ate her sandwich.

After lunch, the testing was resumed and the lab crew worked almost straight through to 7 o'clock that night. "Whoo Hoo!" Bulma shouted. "We're finally done! We are so done! We are so done!" She jumped around a bit, doing a one person conga line. Only when she ran out of breath and calmed down, did she notice that Bardock was looking at her with the oddest little look on his face. His cheeks were flushed slightly and there was a little gleam in his eye. "What?" Bulma asked, her question snapping Bardock back to reality.

"I…Uh…Well, I…Nothing. Nothing at all. Let's get this place shut down, shall we?" he said, quickly changing the subject.

"Okay, we should ahhh!" She cried out as she tripped and began to fall. "Oof!" She landed with a thud, safely in Bardock's arms. "Thanks Bardock." she said, moving to disengage herself from his grasp, only to find that she was being held rather tightly. "Bardock?" she murmured, looking up to see that the strange look had returned. "Um…I'm okay now. You can let go." she said. The Saiyan man did not respond. "Hello? Vegetasei to Bardock? What's going…" she was cut off in mid sentence as Bardock's lips pressed gently against her own. Bulma was surprised, but she did not resist. Neither did she respond.

As Bardock finally broke the kiss, Bulma saw something move out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see what it was and her eyes went wide with shock. "Vegeta! Vegeta wait!" she cried, ripping her body out of Bardock's grasp. It was too late though, for the King had already disappeared in a blurred flash of light.

Bulma turned around to see Bardock, standing stunned with his eyes open wide. A strange play of emotions danced in his eyes…fear…regret…desire… Suddenly, she could not stand to be in the same room with him. "I…I have to go now." she choked out, turning and running from the lab, tears in her eyes.

MWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! What and EVIL cliffhanger, ne? I hope you liked it, so please review! Don't worry though B/V and Bardock fans! Everything will turn out just fine. You just hafta wait a few more chappies!