Zane leaned casually against the side of Capsule Corp, arms crossed, watching the Z-fighters train. He wasn't actively participating; there was no need for him to. Their efforts were amusing, but ultimately futile. He knew that no matter how hard they pushed themselves, none of them would ever match him.
'This is cute,' he thought with a smirk, watching Goku and the others struggle. 'They're trying so hard to keep up. I'll let them burn themselves out. They'll never get close to where I'm at.'
While the others worked on their strength, Zane kept to himself. He wasn't one for group training or camaraderie. If anyone needed a hand, he might offer a suggestion, but only if it amused him. He didn't break a sweat. No point in it.
Goku, ever the eager one, pushed himself harder than anyone else. His energy surged, but Zane only chuckled under his breath, not even feeling the challenge. 'Poor guy. He's pushing himself for nothing.'
Later that evening, as the others rested, Zane found himself walking over to where Bulma was working on the ship. The final adjustments were being made, and they were getting closer to being ready for their trip to Namek.
Zane watched her for a moment, admiring the way her body moved as she worked. The curve of her waist as she bent over the controls, the way her hands expertly adjusted everything with precision, it was hard to ignore. Bulma had always been attractive, but the more time Zane spent around her, the more he noticed how captivating she really was.
'Damn, she's got a body on her. I can't get over it,' Zane thought, leaning against the wall, his eyes lingering a moment longer than they should have.
Bulma, feeling his gaze, looked up from her work, her eyes meeting his. "What?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Zane's smirk spread across his face. "Nothing. Just thinking about how easy this whole thing is. You're doing great work, but I could probably fix this ship in no time. But then, I wouldn't get to watch you work."
She rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You're so full of yourself. You could at least pretend to help."
Zane leaned in a little closer, his voice low. "You're not complaining."
Before Bulma could respond, Zane closed the gap, his lips capturing hers in a quick, intense kiss. She froze for a second, but then her body responded, leaning into him as his arms wrapped around her.
Zane pulled her in, his hands moving instinctively to her body, feeling the soft curves under his touch. Bulma's hands found their way to his shoulders, her grip tightening as the kiss deepened.
There was no hesitation now, just the heat of the moment as they both lost themselves in the kiss. Zane's hands slid lower, feeling the shape of her waist, then moving toward her hips, pulling her closer. Bulma responded, her breath hitching slightly, but she didn't pull away. There was something about Zane's presence, the way he made everything feel easy, that made her want to stay close to him.
When the kiss finally broke, Zane didn't say a word. He simply looked at her, his smirk never leaving his face. Bulma was breathless, her heart racing, but she didn't say anything either. The tension between them had shifted, and neither of them was ready to acknowledge it.
Zane looked away for a moment, but not before he caught himself glancing at her once more. 'She's not bad at all. Definitely... distracting.'
As the final touches were being made on the ship, Zane grew increasingly impatient. He was ready to leave Earth and face whatever challenges Namek had to offer. He was bored with the same old routines. Training the others, watching them struggle, it was getting old.
'This planet's getting boring. Let's see what Namek has to offer. Maybe I'll find something worth my time there.'
Bulma noticed his impatience. She didn't say anything, but she stayed close, helping out whenever needed. She was still processing the kiss, but there was no denying the pull she felt toward him. She felt safe around him, no one else had the strength to protect her like Zane did.
As the ship prepared to launch, Zane and the others stood on the launchpad, ready for their journey to Namek. Zane, as usual, was calm and collected. He knew that no matter what awaited them, he could handle it.
The Z-fighters climbed aboard, and Bulma stayed by Zane's side. She didn't feel the need to ask any questions or hesitate. She was ready. Ready to face whatever awaited them on Namek—and ready to stay by Zane's side, knowing that he could protect her through it all.