"Dende, this place is about to become a battlefield. Hurry back to the Grand Elder. It is safer there," Nail said with firm concern.
Krillin added after a moment of thought,
"Take Bulma too. If something goes wrong, she can evacuate the Grand Elder and the petrified Dragon Balls off Namek. That way, there is still hope."
"But…"
Dende hesitated, glancing at Gohan.
He wanted to help, he wanted to stay, but he knew very well he would only get in the way.
"Come on, Dende. Let us go get Aunt Bulma," Gohan said gently.
He did not want Dende risking himself.
Krillin and Nail exchanged a look and followed the two boys toward the ship.
When they entered and found Bulma hard at work, they explained what was about to happen. She practically jumped out of her seat in outrage.
"You two are just sitting around training while the enemy is coming? I swear you are doing this on purpose, Vegeta! Snap out of it!" Bulma shouted.
Hearing her voice erupt like thunder, Dende, Nail, Krillin and Gohan all shivered.
But this was Bulma's nature. Blunt. Fearless. Always ready to provoke Vegeta at exactly the right moment. In the original timeline, it almost always worked.
And sure enough…
The instant she yelled, Vegeta's ki shifted.
The others did not notice at first. They simply urged Bulma to pilot the ship and head to the Grand Elder's location.
A deep voice suddenly cut through the tension.
"Be quiet. King Cold will be here in half an hour. Why are you panicking now?"
Every person in the group stiffened.
Vegeta had woken up and walked over without a sound.
He was suppressing his aura perfectly, and none of them had sensed him.
They suddenly felt like side characters who had started worrying before the main character even got out of bed.
Bulma glared back at him without fear.
"You should have woken up earlier. You have been asleep two days. Half an hour might be our last chance to run."
She spoke naturally, almost casually, unaware of how close she stood to Vegeta… and completely unafraid of him.
Krillin and Gohan stared at her in disbelief. The confidence she had gained around Vegeta was incredible.
Vegeta did not snap back.
He approached her slowly and stared directly into her eyes.
The intensity made Bulma tense up.
"W-what are you doing?" she stammered.
"What? You yelled at me without fear that I would kill you… but now you are scared?" Vegeta said, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"I was worried, not blaming you…" Bulma muttered in a sudden rush.
She tried to step back, but Vegeta caught her wrist with ease.
"As punishment for shouting at me, you are staying beside me for a while. Everyone has a role. So… how is the gravity system upgrade coming along?" he asked, dragging her toward the ship core without acknowledging Krillin, Nail or Gohan.
Bulma protested, but it made no difference.
The four bystanders could only stand there, frozen and bewildered.
"Well… that should be fine, right?" Krillin said awkwardly.
"He would not hurt Aunt Bulma," Gohan answered. He could not explain why. He simply knew.
Krillin blinked at him.
"Wait. Gohan… are you saying Vegeta likes Bulma? Seriously?"
"I do not know. It just feels… different," Gohan replied softly.
Children noticed things adults missed.
Krillin watched the two disappear into the ship and thought one thing:
If that is true, Yamcha is finished.
"Good. Vegeta is awake. At least King Cold will not run wild. With Vegeta here, we are safe," Nail said plainly.
The others nodded, then decided Dende should stay on the ship while they went to find the Grand Elder and try to wake Goku before King Cold arrived.
Inside the ship
"You are pinching me," Bulma said in a voice that hovered between irritated and flustered.
Vegeta released her wrist at the perfect moment and stepped in close, pressing her lightly against the wall.
Their eyes met.
The air between them grew warm and electric.
Bulma's heartbeat quickened, her cheeks tinged red.
Vegeta was so close she instinctively pushed at his chest, but her strength was nothing compared to his.
"Do not do anything foolish," she whispered, her voice trembling with fear… and something else she did not want to acknowledge.
Vegeta smirked faintly and lifted her chin with two fingers.
The touch was light but commanding.
He was confident.
Unapologetic.
But careful with her in a way he never was with anyone else.
As he leaned closer, Bulma squeezed her eyes shut, her lashes fluttering.
She looked vulnerable, almost inviting, a sight that struck Vegeta harder than a blow.
For a moment, time froze.
Vegeta felt a sharp rush in his chest.
Youth. Instinct. Want.
But he controlled himself.
This was not the moment.
There were thirty minutes before King Cold arrived.
Nothing useful would come from losing focus now.
He leaned close to her ear…
and exhaled gently.
Then he stepped back and laughed.
Bulma opened her eyes in shock, then fury—realizing she had been teased.
But the spark between them lingered.
Stronger than before.
~~~~~~
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