Separated From One Another

Chapter Sixteen: Trauma Dumpingᵀᴹ

You were out of the house long before the sun had even risen, keeping your power level low as you flew toward Bulma's house. She probably would not be too surprised by your spontaneous visit, she had given you her card and told to come by if you need anything. Moving faster you landed in front of Bulma's house, it was easy since her house was the biggest one.

When you knocked on the door you waited for only a moment before Bulma answered the door, "Ah—I didn't expect to see you so soon."

"Hi, sorry I just needed to get out of the house... Chi-chi is very... well Chi-chi," You failed to explain, not really wanting to talk about your nightmares.

Bulma sighed, "Yeah, she can get like that sometimes."

She gestured you inside, hastily you followed after her, shutting the door behind you. Leading you down the halls she walked into her workroom, the lights flickered on when she went in. She settled down at her desk and continued tinkering with a device that the strewn about the table. Vaguely you recognised it as a scouter from the Empire, you leaned in closer peering at the device.

"Where did you get that?"

Bulma looked up, finally noticing that you had gotten closer to her, "Oh, I swiped it off of some dead guys on Namek."

You nodded along with her explanation, a loud noise rang through the room, making you flinch.

"Would you be a dear and get the door for me?" Bulma requested as she continued tinkering with the device on her desk, "I'll be there in a moment."

"Sure," You agreed easily, wandering over to where the incessant noise was coming from. Pulling open the door you noticed the familiar sight of the man who was in the car with you after meeting Goku.

"Oh—Hey, sugar~ Do you know where Bulma's at? If not we could go someplace together instead~"

You scrunched up your face at the man's weird flirting, "No thanks, not interested."

"Awe, I can give you the time of your life—just come back to my place with—"

"YAMCHA!!!"

You flinched at the sudden shout, Bulma came storming forward.

"Back off, they are not interested," She snarled.

Yamcha opened his mouth to say something but she cut him off again.

"No, I'm not interested either, fuck off."

He huffed and stormed off, Bulma slammed the door closed, you could almost see the steam coming from her ears.

"Are you okay? He didn't do anything weird did he?" Bulma asked, brows pinching together.

Before you could respond, Vegeta came tumbling down the hall; once he noticed the stares he tried acting cool.

"What was all that racket, I was trying to train."

"It was just Yamcha again, nothing to worry about I dealt with him," Bulma reassured, "Anyways now that you're here do you want something to eat?"

Vegeta grumbled but did not say no to the offer, Bulma looked at you, you would not turn down a meal. All of you headed to the kitchen as Bulma prepared a meal, you watched in awe as she cooked. Vegeta had holed himself up at the table with a scowl on his face, taking not-so-subtle glances at you. Bulma did not take long at whipping up a quick pasta, she set the whole pot on the table.

You quickly took a seat and filled up a plateful, scarfing it down, barely even tasting the food. Glancing up you noticed both of them were staring at you, heat rushed to your cheeks. They both turned their attention away from you, going back to making their own bowls. Vegeta took his bowl with a huff and began eating, focusing his attention on the food in front of him.

"If you don't mind me asking where did you get your scars," Bulma asked, sitting down at the table, "If you don't want to answer you don't have to."

Vegeta looked back and forth confused, "Scars?"

With a sigh you turned around and lifted up your shirt, "As I said before I was a prisoner so I would get beaten when I messed up," You faced them again, allowing the shirt to fall back down.

Vegeta scrunched up his face, "Don't they usually put you in healing tanks afterward?"

"Yeah but only for a few moments, the general overseeing my section... really hated me, so I was never in them for long. It only stopped after she got demoted for almost killing me."

Shock washed over Bulma's expression, "After—what?"

Vegeta had a sour look on his face, his eyes watching you carefully, "How long were you on the ship?"

You paused, thinking for a long moment, "A couple months to a year—why?"

"That's around the time Namek got blown up," Bulma mentioned offhandedly.

She had mentioned Namek before, as the place where she got the scouter she was messing with. You had not realised the planet had been destroyed during your time in captivity.

"What happened—"

Bulma's phone interrupted your words, "Hold on a moment," She walked away a few paces and answered. Judging from her face you knew who had called her, it was your mother, worried because she woke up with you missing.

Vegeta drew closer, his voice low, "Who stopped the beatings? It had to be someone in a higher position than your overseer—who was it?"

You paused for a long moment before responding, "Frieza."

"I knew it," Vegeta grumbled, "Don't trust whatever lies he wormed into your head, he is a tyrant and wont stop till he gets what he wants—he doesn't care about anyone but himself."

Bulma came back, stuffing her phone back in her pocket, "That was your mom, you scared the daylights out of her."

You rose to your feet, "Well I guess that's my queue to head back home; thanks for the food."

You felt Vegeta's eyes on you as you ran out of the house, a pit formed in your stomach.