Chapter Text
The dance floor . The dance floor was the only place where Bulma could be relaxed, free, in peace…
Lately her life was simply just miserable. Working 10 to 12 hours per day, never being able to have a social life, just work, work and more work. She, the CTO of Capsule Corporation, couldn't afford to have a life outside of work. Her company was a huge multinational company created by her father, mainly focused on scientific innovations for the military. Her father, the CEO, was a brilliant businessman, but also a scientist and an engineer, and, luckily for her, she inherited those characteristics as well, so she had a standard of excellence to keep up. But, she was just so tired… Sometimes, she wished she could just be a simple normal person. To be just someone that could breathe and to dance freely… Dance .
Bulma discovered oriental dance when she was 15, on a business trip with her parents to Egypt. And, It was love at first sight. She never felt anything like that before. She always thought that she would fall in love with a boy, as in romance movies, but she couldn’t have been more mistaken. Her first love was for something higher, deeper and more pure than simply a teenage crush... A love for expressing feelings through the movement of the human body, a perfect sync to the beating of her heartbeat.
And even after 15 years of taking oriental classes and keeping dancing as much as possible, she just couldn’t leave it behind, it was a love for forever. Dancing became part of her core, part of her soul. So, even with her charged work schedule, she always found time and energy to dance. And, today was one of those days.
She was going to dance, have fun and meet with her best friend, Goku, at a new latino club in West-City. She met Goku, when they were teenagers, back when he was transferred to her high-school, and since then they have been inseparable. He might have pursued a totally different professional career path than her, by becoming a policeman, but even with college and work, they never managed to break their friendship bond. And, today after three weeks of not seeing each other, they were going to meet.
As she was pulling up and parking across from Club Barranquilla , she could already feel her heart rate jump, as the music could be heard from the outside of the building, the familiar sounds of salsa making her body sing with the urge to sway along and dance. But she shaked off that feeling, determined to save it for the dance floor.
She ran across the street towards the entrance bodyguard, flashed her ID, and as soon as cross the entrance door, she was swept away by the atmosphere of the latino rhythms. People on the dance floor dancing and moving like one with the salsa beats. Finally, she could breathe, she felt , she was in her favorite environment. However, her thoughts were interrupted by feeling someone hugging her from behind, which she answered by kicking the guys balls.
“Ahhhhh! Bulma!!!! what’s that for???”
“AH! GOKU!!! It’s you!... well what do you expect? you hugged from behind…”
“Still!... Don’t you think that’s a bit extreme to kick someone like that?” - Goku said while still grabbing the middle of his legs.
"No!... we are in a club and I’m a woman… you know how guys can be overly touchy sometimes... especially when there’s alcohol involved…”
“Well… then get ready to get touched on the dancefloor… we are in a latino club, and here they only come people that really know how to dance salsa!” - Goku said while rubbing the back of his head.
“Cool!!!! That's what I’m craving, people that actually know how to dance and feel it… even if they can be seen as sexualized to the outsiders…”
“yeah yeah… I know!... but even if I do love to hear these songs, I can’t relate to you on this… I suck at dancing… I think I was born with rocks instead of feet…But let’s find a table first before I lose you to the crowd in the dancefloor...”
She just laughed following Goku, it was true that while she loved dancing, Goku really sucked. He was Colombian and they were known for their natural dancing skills, but not him. He couldn’t even understand the notion of music rhythm. She tried to teach him some moves, but nothing worked. He really sucked. There is that stereotype that all the latinos start dancing before even walking properly, but in Goku’s case, that couldn’t be the opposite.
They seated at a table on a corner, with a view to the dance floor, while also affording them some privacy. And that’s when she noticed that something was different about Goku. He looked concerned.
“Hey! What’s going on with you? You looked kind of sad…” - She asked him, grabbing his hand on top of the table.
He sighed. And chuckled but still with a sad face. “I can never let anything pass through you, can I?… you know me better than anyone… I would say even better than my own mother!...” turning his gaze to their hands.
“Is it something at work?” - she tried to push.
“No… it’s nothing related to work actually…”
“so?”
“well… I received a letter from Colombia!” - he said.
“A letter from Colombia?! But… but from who? you and your mom left like 25 years ago… and I thought you didn’t have any connections left there…” - She said completely lost.
Goku never spoke much about his time in Colombia, since he was too young to remember details. He just told her that his parents struggled with money, and because of that, they were arguing all the time, which eventually got them to get divorced. After that, his mom got full custody of him and left for the USA to try to have a better life quality for her and Goku. He was only five when all this happened.
Bulma, however, didn’t know if Goku kept having contact with his father, since it was a sore subject that he never wanted to talk about. Her theory was that Goku’s dad abandoned him, once the divorce and the custody battle was finalized.
“A letter from the Medellín court asking me to go back to sign some heritage papers…” He answered, and after a few seconds, he added:
“My father passed away.” - He said, fixing his eyes on her.
She was shocked to say the least. After knowing Goku for 15 years this was the first time that he was opening up about this subject to her, but looking how tense and serious he looked, he was in need of her friendly shoulder.
“How do you feel about that?” - She tried without pushing him too much, to avoid him closing up.
“Nothing!... To be honest, I almost don’t remember him… I was too small and it’s not that he tried to keep in contact with me!...”
“Ok. And how do you feel about the letter itself? Are you going to Colombia?”
“I still haven’t decided… I might contact a lawyer in Medellín to deal with all this for me…”
“I think you should go… you need closure!”
“hmm...I don’t know!...”
“Why are you so hesitant? It can be good for you and for your mom...”
“well… It’s not that I feel Colombian anymore… My mom kind of decided to leave her life there and try to be as American as possible here, avoiding to show me the culture or our roots… I really know nothing about it, except the food!...” - He said once again disappointed.
“I don’t know why she decided that… but it might be the reason why you suck so much at dancing…” she said to tease him and to light out the mood.
Both laughed with her remark.
“Seriously though… I really think you should go! You will be able to reconnect with your past! See it as a vacation if you prefer… How long has it been since you didn’t take some days off?”
“Oh because you are one to talk… workaholic!!!” Goku muttered.
They both laughed. Bulma could tell that Goku was getting more relaxed.
“Hey?! why don’t you come with me?” - He suddenly asked.
“What?”
“Yeah! Why don’t you come with me to Colombia? you could also take some vacations…”
“Ahhhh... so you don’t want to come alone!... that’s the issue, I see...” Bulma shook her head, fighting a smile. She knew that she was just teasing him, but she couldn’t help it. Their relationship was all the time like this, just simple.
“Oww!! Come on, Bulma! It can be fun! Colombia is actually a super beautiful country and you could come with me and help me!”
“Help you?! Really???... My Spanish is super rusty…”
“Oh not on that!... on the paperwork and legal stuff… you know how I am…I’m not very good at these things!... But you could also use it as a learning experience!...” - He was giving his best to try to convince her.
“Learning experience?! what do you mean?!”
“yeah!... I mean, you could enjoy this opportunity to learn more Spanish of course, but you could enjoy it more to learn how to dance latino styles… cumbia, salsa, rhumba, merengue, you name it! Colombia is the best place to be in terms of latin dancing culture…”
“hmm… interesting… But with my work, I couldn’t go!”
"Come on Bulma! you need to start having a life beside work!”
She was about to cut him off with a reply, when he added. “and… I should do the same”
She paused before scowling and sighing, and finally said, “Fine!!! I will think about it!”
“Yay!!!.... Please let me know fast, I really need to start getting ready for the trip!”
“yeah yeah yeah… I hear you”, she said while waving her hand, dismissing him, “for how long do you count on going anyway?!”
“I don’t know to be honest… the time to deal with all the paperwork and other issues…” he paused, thinking on something. After a few seconds of silence, he added, “at least a month… around that I think!”
“A MONTH??? and you are counting on me to go for one month too?? you know that I can’t leave Capsule Corp. for that long…”
“Bulma, your dad can take care of your work… Come on! I think the last time that you took some days off was when we went to Krillin and 18’ wedding, and that was three years ago…”
“Really already three years?! oh wow…time passed fast!...”
“Ok! I promise that I will think about it for real… I will let you know by the end of the week.”
“Perfect!”
Goku then stood up, and asked her “I’m getting quite thirsty… I’m going to the bar to grab us some drinks… What do you fancy?”
“hmm… bring me one piña colada, please!!”, she then turned to look at the bar area, which was crowded with people trying to get their orders. She standed up and added, “and while you are at that, I will enjoy the dance floor…”
“ Como siempre… ” Goku replied in Spanish with a mischievous smile. As always…
It has been far too long since she has been able to really go clubbing or dancing. Her eyes hover all to take in the atmosphere surrounding her.
In that precise moment a salsa song was passing, every couple dancing was moving with precise steps to the beat of the music. She was mesmerized by the feeling that they transmitted while dancing. She knew that the majority of them were real latinos, since Goku only liked to frequent authentic places. But even without that information, she could tell that they were dancing for themselves, not to try to hit on someone or to show off, as the majority would do in a normal club. Here, they were alive and living.
She didn’t know for how long she looked at the dance floor, when suddenly someone grabbed her hand, pulling her to dance. She was about to protest when she was met with a pair of black deep eyes.
His eyes were hard and serious, calmly curious as he was looking at her and how she would react. His face had hard features and his hair looked like black flames, spiking up. She discreetly did a check up on him by looking him up and down. He appeared to be her age, her size, and was well packed. He was not the type of guy that she would be normally interested in, but he had a dangerous aura that attracted and intrigued her, all at the same time. So, basically based only on looks, she was impressed. And she wouldn’t mind taking time to dance with him, even if he was a loser at dancing.
She was so deep in thought checking him up, that she didn’t even realize that he said something to her.
“what??” - she tried.
“let’s go dance, vieja !” - Vegeta said with a very thick Spanish accent.
“I don’t know how to properly dance salsa!... wait!... what??? what did you call me?!” - Bulma knew that Vieja means old in Spanish and she couldn’t believe how rude this man was.
He didn’t answer, just smirked. She found herself getting even more attracted by that… but wait no, she couldn’t, he had insulted her, calling her old .
Bulma put a hand on her hip, growing annoyed by the attitude of this stranger, “Who do you think you are to call me old?!” - she said, almost yelling at that point.
“Just shut up already! Let's dance! you came here to dance right?!” - he gruffly answered.
She was speechless. Not ever has she been spoken like that, like ever . She was used to people knowing who she was, treating her like a princess to try to impress her. But this man was nothing like that. He was not impressed by her or did he want to impress her. He was an enigma .
She didn’t even have the time to reply since she saw herself being pulled to the dance floor by this stranger. She was about to protest again, when he told her, “Just follow my lead…”
And that, she did.
Even if Bulma didn’t know how to properly dance salsa, she still had rhythm and knew how to follow a dance partner. She could tell from the start that he was a good lead and he was good at dancing too. A good lead dancer was supposed to be soft but not subtle, clearly stating his intentions by moving himself, inviting the partner to follow along. He should be alert all the time, eyes scanning the floor ahead of him, but constantly aware of what is happening right in his arms. Treating with respect the partner, never forcing movement on the other, but following through the other every movement. And this man was perfect at all that. If he led a step and she interpreted the movement differently than he had intended, he adapted to her rather than forcing the change. Him was without a doubt the best partner that she ever had the opportunity to dance with, even if salsa was not her strongest. She felt that she could totally relax, letting her body do her thing, by having a sense of security and safety, knowing that she could fully depend on his lead.
He turned elegantly, his body in tune with the music. Yet, she noticed that there was a sort of harshness to him, like he was someone who shouldn’t be underestimated. But she didn’t quite care at the moment. She felt at peace in his arms. The warmth between them grew more and more powerful by the second. Their heartbeats were growing steadily along with the rhythm of the music. Their movements were perfect, everything from their breathing to how their feet moved were in sync.
When the song finished, they were both breathless, looking into each other, their faces just a few centimeters apart.
They stayed like that a few seconds, trying to catch their breaths, and while she was trying to come up with something to break the awkward silence, he step back and said:
“I didn’t call you old…”
“Wait, what?” - She was lost. That was not what she expected from him to say first, after their shared dance moment.
“yes… vieja might mean old in Spanish, but for us is slang for woman …”
“us?”
“Yeah… Colombians.” - He snorted, fighting a smirk.
“Oh!!! You are Colombian! I’ve never heard that expression though… my best friend is also Colombian and I practice my Spanish with him…” - She found herself excited to meet another Colombian besides Goku.
“He’s not a good teacher then, if he doesn’t teach you the slang of his own country…” - he shot back a bit too forcefully.
“Hey! I don’t even think he knows colombian slang, he left Colombia as a young kid…” - She tried to defend her best friend.
“Fine!” - And with that Vegeta turned his back on her, getting ready to leave.
When she saw this, she said, “Wait!!!! Where are you going?.... you don’t want to dance anymore?”
Without turning to face her, he just replied, “I have an early morning flight to Medellín… I can’t stay longer…” he started walking, but then he stopped, turned completely to face her and said, “Although your movements were incredibly precise, there was a lack of something” he looked to the ceiling and closed his eyes adding “your body was here but your soul was not, you will never be a complete dancer if both are not together!”, and with that remark he just turned again and left.
She was speechless. This moment was for sure on top 1 of the most weird moments that she ever had. How was it possible that she just had her best dancing and sensual experience with a guy who started by calling her old and finished by saying that she lacked a dancing soul. How infuriating…. and… and attractive. She thought.
“He’s the one who lacks soul!...If we ever meet again, I will show him!” - Bulma mumbled to herself, annoyed by her lack of reaction to what he said, while looking to the exit where he left.
Several moments later, Goku returned with the drinks, one piña cola and one beer in each hand.
“Damn… I couldn’t pass a group of crazy girls in the bar. I think they are part of a bachelorette party, so they were all trying to flirt with the barman to get free drinks” he complained, while snatching the cocktail to her hand, who took it automatically without even looking at him.
“Sorry for making you wait… did you manage to dance?” - He asked.
She didn’t reply, she was still looking to the club exit, focused and deep in thought. Goku, on the other hand, was looking between her and the exit, where she was looking, trying to understand if something was happening and he was missing it.
She finally turned to him, with a look of determination in her face, and said:
“I made up my mind!... Let 's go to Medellín !”