"Will you or will you not upgrade the gravity chamber?" He asks, and she could see the restlessness in him. He wouldn't be satisfied with a simple tweak.

But it was a Saturday night and she had busted her ass all week. He would just have to wait.

"Even if I were insane enough to go along with your demands on a free night, what kind of upgrade are we talking about?"

"600 Gs."

"Ugh no way, bud," she protests, her brows furrowing. "That's the kind of work I can't do right now. Yamcha's been planning a date with me ever since he came back. My dad also wouldn't help you since he knows that kind of gravity could crush a person's bones."

"And you think I'm just any person?"

"No-"

"Do you underestimate me?"

"No." She rolls her eyes. "What does this have to do with anything?"

"Do you think," he says, his voice low as he turned to regard her, "I underestimate you?"

She cocks her head, befuddled by his angle. "Alright, I'll bite. What the hell are you talking about?"

"When I first saw you I was baffled by your presence on Namek. I had no awareness of your involvement or your motivation for being there; a creature who lacked fighting experience. But now I see your pride clear as day."

"If this is an attempt to study me, you're not doing yourself any favors."

"Why would someone such as yourself go to such lengths, much beyond your comfort zone and into harm's way?" He continues, pacing around her desk with his arms crossed. "Daddy certainly didn't like that, which is why you never left your communication device unattended."

Bulma stiffens defensively. "I was there to save my friends that you killed and to bring back Yamcha."

He laughs, honing in on her discomfort and sneering at her. "Oh please. Spare me that drivel and do save it for your conscience when you sleep at night. Yamcha, you say? That man you speak of so highly which you would discard with great ease? Was that human man on your mind while you were eyeing Zarbon?"

Her eyes widen.

"Didn't think so. No, you're much more calculating than that."

He smirks with keen satisfaction.

"You were on Namek to prove yourself. You see, for all your boasting you lack a clear purpose. Which is why you jumped at the chance to leave this mudball and be something larger than yourself. How nice of them to call you when they need your nimble hands to aid them on their adventures."

"Shut up," she seeths quietly.

"You may lie to the others, but I've been around liars long enough to recognize one when I see it."

He leans forward, placing his forearms on the table.

"For better or worse, you're my patroness and I your muse. Board meetings and leisurely strolls through the park that end in passionless intercourse with your earth man? How inconceivably boring. What a waste of your intellect and your time for these earthlings to overlook such potential in favor of your pretty face."

Bulma stills.

"I've traversed many solar systems and seen feats of technology you assemble in your dreams. You can build anything, can you not? You're itching for it. What a great stab to your pride that such greatness should thrive elsewhere while you squander your talents over here.

It's not for a lack of trying, I know, but daddy can't get the funding from the board to do your research. They won't invest in Dr. Briefs' spoiled brat. Nevermind you have all the qualifications. You're not ready, they say. You're brash, self-involved, and immature...but mostly? You have tits.

No, they can't swallow the thought of a woman as clever as you. They're uninspired and feeble men. So why not have a useless boyfriend? He'll be too taken by your beauty to notice the void inside you; even if it's a vain love, it's all love. Or so you tell yourself. At least then you'll be somewhat appreciated. How could he know you've long settled for disappointment?" His voice lowers an octave. "How could he know he can never fulfill your expectations since you're unsure of what that even means?"

She averts his gaze as his face nears hers.

"Am I wrong?" He whispers, dark eyes cutting into her.

She remains silent, neither denying nor confirming his observations.

He stands upright, crossing his arms over his bare chest, his gloved hands peeking out just below his elbows.

"In summation, you will upgrade the gravity chamber not because I demand it, but because your pride demands it. It pleases you beyond measure to do so; to be held in great esteem for your work."

He picks up a ravaged training bot she made him about a month ago.

"These are good," he states matter-of-factly, the metal giving way under the strain of his crushing grip. "But they can be better."

He places it on her desk and makes for the door of her lab.

"Should you decide to forgo your life of mediocrity," he calls out, "I would prefer that you upgrade the GR by tomorrow morning."

Bulma regains her composure and stands suddenly. "Are you out of your goddamned mind?! That's impossible!"

He smirks. "Thankfully you don't need much sleep in the first place. And your desire to prove you'll have it done before then will quickly overshadow your hesitation."

Damn him. He was right.