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It's a brisk autumn day in West City, and Bulma actually has some free time between managing projects at Capsule Corp and building another set of training drones for Vegeta. She rests in the living room catching up on some light reading. Tama naps on a crocheted blanket beside her when he is awoken by the patio door opening and then slamming with a CRACK!
Tama flicks an ear to the side hearing rummaging in the refrigerator. HIs girl's moody roommate settles on the other end of the sofa with a grunt and takes a bite from his club sandwich.
'Strange,' Tama muses. 'He usually takes lunch at the table. But now it seems he would rather dine in the presence of my person.'
"Oh, hey Vegeta. How's the new program working out?"
Vegeta swallows his bite. "Hm. It is sufficient for now."
Bulma hums and turns her page. "Sufficient, huh? That's high praise, coming from you. What - no demands today?" She shifts her weight ever so slightly toward the center of the sofa, tucking her legs undernerneath her.
Tama is jostled slightly where he was nestled against her. He arches up into a stretch, then sits upright and flicks his tail in brisk side-to-side motions as he stares across the cushions at Vegeta.
'I was having the most wonderful chase in my dreams and then you had to ruin it.'
Vegeta senses the cat's glare and huffs. "What do you want, creature. I'm not the one who moved you."
Tama blinks, licks his paw and then cleans behind his ear. 'Good. Now I have his attention. Now, both of you smell like you like the other, but you're both too busy and stubborn to do anything about it. Time to work my magic. At least I know how to give my Bulma affection.'
Tama stands up and gracefully steps onto Bulma's lap. He looks up, expecting chin scritches, but she's too absorbed in her reading. He jumps onto her shoulder and bunts her cheek. Bulma giggles and pets Tama behind the ear.
"Tch."
The sound is too quiet for Bulma to hear, but Tama's sensitive ears detect the Saiyan's remark. Tama glances over his shoulder.
Vegeta could swear the cat was smirking at him. Finished eating by now, he crosses his arms and legs as he sits and absolutely does not pout. The fingers of his left hand start tapping his right forearm.
Then Tama twines himself under her chin to go to her other shoulder. He holds his tail high, the tip curled like a question mark. Then he rubs his forehead against the side of her head.
Vegeta's eye twitches.
Bulma cranes her neck as she tries to keep her place with her book despite the small body partially blocking her view. "Okay, cat, now you're in the way. Settle down." Tama curls into a donut shape on her bosom, purring and kneading at the ample warmth as she continues to pet his silky, black fur.
Tama makes eye contact with Vegeta, squints and then slowly blinks. 'Yes, point to me! Tama 1, spaceman 0!'
Suddenly, Tama feels the pressure in the air intensify and feels the slight crackle of energy in his whiskers.
"OH THAT IS IT!" Vegeta jumps to his feet, sneering at Tama. The cat instantly fluffs up, tail bristling like a bottle brush before launching off of Bulma's chest and fleeing as if the hounds of HFIL are saying at his heels.
"Ouch! What the hell, asshole?!" Bulma rubs her chest where Tama's claws pricked her skin. She lays her books down on the end table, then jabs a finger in Vegeta's direction. "And you! What's your problem?!"
Vegeta steps forward and bumps her hand out of what is now his space. "The little fiend was taunting me!!"
Bulma shakes her head. "Taunting you? He's a CAT. And he was being cuddly. Until SOMEONE had to cause a ruckus. Look at my shirt!" Bulma motions to her breast. "This was double knit silk, and now it has a run in it. All because you startled the poor thing."
"Tch." Vegeta looks away from her and tucks his arms across his chest. "That brat was being deliberate. I could read it in his tail."
Bulma scrunches her brows in confusion. Then it hits her. "Vegeta, are you... are you jealous of my cat?" She leans forward with her hands on her hips, trying to catch his expression.
"What?!" Vegeta snaps back to face her. Pink dusts his cheeks. "No, I- you... dah! The Prince of All Saiyans does not get jealous over insignificant housepets!"
Bulma smiles knowingly and reaches forward to gently grab his hands and pull him back down to sit beside her once more on the couch. "Okay, tough guy. Whatever you say. Although... you could lay on my lap instead. I can rub the tension out of your scalp for you."
Vegeta blanches and stares at her open mouthed. His heart races and he forgets how to breathe for a moment.
Bulma settles back in the corner of cushions smiling. She pats her thigh and watches his blush deepen and spread to his ears.
Vegeta's jaw clicks shut as he jumps up. "Vulgar woman," he mumbles. He hastens toward the patio where the gravity chamber resides. Most certainly, he does not retreat. He hesitates when he reaches the door and turns back just enough to look over his shoulder. Bulma's eyes twinkle with mirth as she bites her bottom lip. "I have to go.... train... some more."
Then he is gone.
Tama very timidly slinks into the living room and jumps back onto his blanket on the couch. Bulma chuckles and goes back to reading her book.