Vegeta looked down at Goku, who was sitting slumped against a rock. He appeared to be deep in thought. The prince of all Saiyans was also deep in thought. What should he say? He had no idea what was wrong with Kakarrot- it had been like this since their morning sparring session when he had swept Vegeta off his feet, left him lying there and walked away, seemingly ending their spar with the 'first one down and it was over'. It was like he didn't want to communicate with his frenemy. This concerned the Saiyan prince, as he was usually the 'angry at the world' warrior, always thinking, always avoiding other potentially annoying people (AKA Son Goku/Kakarrot, his birth name). And this wasn't Kakarrot at all.

The two were outside by the ocean, perched on rocks. This was how the prince had found him after following him by searching for his Ki. There had been no communication between the two, as Vegeta was a terrible conversation starter, let alone someone who gave good advice. He preferred things the good old easy way, usually involving a good punching and smacking.

Vegeta shuffled absentmindedly on the rock he was perched on, above his companion's and sighed inaudibly. Soon they'd have to go for lunch, he thought, as he looked down at his watch made by his wife Bulma, which acted as a phone on his wrist while he was in civilian clothing. He expected a sharp series of beeps and then Bulma's demanding voice telling them to return for lunch. As everyone knew, the two Saiyans wouldn't be seen dead skipping any meal; if they were not training, they'd probably be scoffing their mouths with food.

'Two Saiyan monkeys seem to be down in the dumps!' Came a high pitched voice from their left. 'What's up Goku? You've never been this miserable before! At least, from what I already know.' The familiar evil, twisted face of Lord Frieza, the emperor of the universe came into view from behind a cliff jutting out over the furling waves. 'Strange to see you not training for once, Vegeta. Same for you, Goku. I'd love to smash you both into the sea but I don't think HE'S in the mood.' Frieza put emphasis on the younger, sullen Saiyan while Vegeta glared at the tyrant from his rock.

Goku sniffed and turned the other way, shocking both Frieza and Vegeta for a split second.

'Kakar-' Began Vegeta, but stopped when Frieza interrupted.

'Well, well, well. Goku, whatever is the matter, monkey?'

'Idiot. Don't call him that.' Vegeta shot the tyrant a death glare, but the latter just chuckled as he watched the prince hop off his boulder and kneel down beside his long-time rival and friend.

'What's wrong, Kakarrot? If you don't want that stupid idiot to hear, tell me somewhere else. But- just please tell me what's wrong. I-I can't go on when you're like this.' Vegeta glanced at Frieza and muttered the last part, almost ashamedly. Frieza raised an eyebrow and smiled knowingly. Vegeta replied with a 'tell anyone and I'll beat you to the death' look before turning back to Goku.

'N-no it's fine, Vegeta. Look, I'm going...to uh-somewhere. Keep an eye on Frieza for me, hm?' To the others' surprise, Goku turned to the prince and lifted his chin so he looked into his dark eyes. Vegeta made an 'uh' noise and Goku released him so fast it was as if it never happened. Then he lifted his own two fingers to his head to Instant Transmission. In a flash, he was gone.

Frieza watched Vegeta sway a little, then fall against the rock. A flutter of emotions crossed his face and the tyrant had to cough vigorously before the Saiyan prince noticed him.

'Are you alright, Vegeta?' Frieza was smirking at the prince's reaction.

'Yes, you oaf. Now shut up! I need to find Kakarrot before he gets in trouble! Or whatever...don't you dare step out of line, Frieza, or you won't know what's hit you. Just because Universe 7 was the universe that survived the Tournament of Power doesn't mean you can mess about as you're alive. Remember there's a FINE line between love and hate.' Vegeta turned and blasted off, a spark of determination fuelling his quest to find Goku.

'Yes, a very fine line indeed. And it seems you may have crossed that line with Goku, though you're both unaware.' The tyrant thought out loud as he watched Vegeta with a sneaky smile on his face, before walking back to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber where he was training for the day.

'Baka- where are you?'Vegeta called for his younger desperately, knowing it wasn't much longer before Bulma called them all for lunch.

'I'm here, Vegeta.' The prince immediately shot down to the ground where he heard the voice calling, and saw a blue-haired figure sitting in the trees above him, hidden by the foliage despite his brightly coloured hair.

So that's why I couldn't find Kakarrot- the smart idiot (don't ask how an idiot can be smart XD) had transformed into his God form so I couldn't sense his Ki... Vegeta thought as he walked up to Goku, whose legs swung above him on the tree branch.

'Will you tell me what's wrong?'

'...'

'Please?'

'...Fine, then. Just don't tell anyone what happened, alright? If Frieza or someone asks, say it was my stomach hurting or something- they'll accept it.' Goku said, then patted the space next to him on the branch. A little of his famous Son grin returned as he said: 'But you'll have to get up here first.'

At this sneaky comment, Vegeta's sympathetic expression vanished and his signature scowl returned.

'Grrr- don't push it, Kakarrot!'

'Well, you want to know, don't you?' Goku said in a teasing voice. Eventually, the older Saiyan relented and flew up onto the branch to sit beside him, though keeping a decent space between them, after remembering what had happened earlier with Frieza. He frowned at the thought. Goku was looking at a stream of water flowing from the puddle below the tree branch, on the muddy ground. Vegeta opened his mouth to break the awkward silence, but Goku spoke first.

'Do you know what it's like to feel- contaminated by- evil?'

At this, Vegeta was completely taken-aback. Contaminated by evil? Oh, he knew alright. Frieza. That maniac had been his 'master' and he served him, even though he was a prince. The horrible memories of being scolded at by Frieza and being wounded in ferocious battles to destroy other worlds remained, haunting him as a reminder of his terrible past deeds. He was a planet killer. He destroyed worlds and the homes of different species of aliens and others. Yet at the time he had felt nothing; he had been bred for war, to not feel anything- no emotions which threatened the completion of the mission set by Frieza.

'Y-yes, Kakarrot, I do know.' Vegeta said after a while, sounding breathless and a little confused, 'but why would you ask me that?'

'Because I do too.' Goku mumbled, shocking the Saiyan prince beside him. What?! Kakarrot, contaminated by evil? No way! He was the purest being the prince had ever met, with a heart full of compassion, care and brimming with trust. Never was Kakarrot evil! Wait...

'It's just that- that I feel like a replica now. Someone who doesn't think for themselves. A puppet.' Goku started, fumbling around for the right words. Vegeta felt as if he was walking on shattered glass now, and he knew he had to be careful.

'And why do you feel that way, Kakarrot?' Whispered Vegeta, his gentle tone surprising the younger Saiyan.

'Because of Black.' Goku whispered, and he turned away, but not before Vegeta saw the first shimmers of tears in his eyes. A single, sparkling drop escaped and rolled slowly down his cold cheek.

'Ka- Goku! Don't cry- it's alright to feel- contaminated. I did once. I still do. Majin Vegeta will always haunt me. And so will the time when I served the scumbag Frieza.' Vegeta coaxed the other calmly, his voice soothing, 'and you don't need to be afraid. Black is DEAD. You killed him. And he will never return.'

'You promise?' Goku whispers, turning back with sparkling rivers down his face.

Vegeta reached up and wiped them away, and smiled.

'I promise.'

Goku leaned in to Vegeta, seeking warmth and protection from the older Saiyan, who was shocked for a second, but knew Goku needed it. His muscular arms wrapped around the younger Saiyan and he whispered in his ear:

'I'll always be there for you, Goku.'