This is a birthday fic (two-shot) for Veginger, one of my favorite artists (totally my favorite artist). I recommend you check out her art whenever you get the chance, she's great.
This is for you, bae.
Goku woke to the sound of groaning from across the room. He sat up, peering over to his comrades bed.
Vegeta was on the floor, sitting against his bed with his arms around his stomach. He leaned his head back in pain, choking out grunts.
Goku shook his head, standing. He padded his socked feet across the hard floor over to his elder.
"You alright, Vegeta? You okay there?"
Vegeta looked up to Goku, glaring daggers, "I'm fine idiot. Get away from me," He stood by himself, propping himself up on his bed with an arm, the other still around his abdomen. Goku shrugged, slightly hurt. He had mostly gotten used to Vegeta's stinging insults, but, because he admired him so much, he had a little trouble taking them.
Goku walked over to the en-suite bathroom, deciding then to take his daily morning shower. He stripped, tossing a towel to where he could reach it from the shower.
Cleaning himself, Goku wondered on Vegeta's pain, wishing more than anything that he could help him. He shook his head after getting out, hair flying in wet strands around his face.
With a towel around his waist, he strolled back into the main room over to his little dresser, leaning over and pulling his daily clothes from various drawers. Facing away from Vegeta, he dressed, looking over his shoulder every once in a while, seeing Vegeta's gradual trip to the opposite side of his bed.
Goku made his way out the door, glancing one last time over to Vegeta, who was dressing.
He met Whis outside, ready to begin training for the day. The tall angel gave him a curious look as he approached, alone.
"Goku, where is Vegeta?" Whis passed his staff from one hand to the other.
"Oh," Goku scratched his neck, "He's gettin' ready, I think."
Whis nodded, peering past Goku to the small exit from the huge tree, "Ah, there he is... What's wrong with him?"
Goku whirled around, squinting to see his training partner doubled over, but steadily making his way over to the other two.
"I don't really know. It looked like he was hurtin' pretty bad when I woke up. D'ya think he's sick?" Goku looks back to his mentor, seeing puzzled eyes.
Whis strided gracefully over to Vegeta, closing the lengthy gap. Goku watched as the two had a short encounter. Vegeta visibly sighed as he turned around trudged back toward their quarters.
Whis sped back to Goku, even more concerned than before.
"Goku, it seems he's come down with something. I myself am unable to take care of him, so today your training will be that of a nurse."
Goku's brow furrowed, growing worried, "But, Whis, I've never even taken care of myself. Chichi always does that for me."
Whis smiled, slightly impatient, "Yes, Goku. I understand that. Don't you want to help Vegeta get better, though? The sooner he gets better, the sooner you have training partner again."
Goku looked to the ground, frowning. He felt the urge to go help Vegeta that instant. He considered Vegeta his best friend, and seeing him unable to train made him sad. He looked back to Whis, determined and steadfast.
"Alright. Let's do it."
Whis smiled small, turning on his heel and floating up to a low branch. Goku followed swiftly, watching as his mentor summoned a first aid kit out of the air.
"First things first," He said, opening the case, "This thing," He pulled out a long skinny rod, "Is to take Vegeta's temperature. I checked him with my hand before sending him to bed, but the number that will come up shouldn't go above one-hundred and twenty. See, look."
Whis grasped Goku's chin and pried his mouth open, gently putting the rod beneath his tongue.
"Do it like this. That's the only way to get the temperature correctly."
The stick beeped, and Whis pulled it out, inspected the number, and showed the small screen to Goku.
"Your temperature is one-hundred and fifteen. That's where it should be, alright?"
Goku nodded and tried to peer into the case, squinting at a small red bottle.
"What's that?" He pointed into the case, jabbing his finger at the bottle.
"Oh, that's the medicine. You'll give that to Vegeta."
Whis' long fingers pinched the top of the bottle, pulling it out delicately. All you have to do is pour some of it into the little vile in here," He nodded toward the container, "And have him drink it. It'll make him feel better in no time."
Putting the medicine back in it's case, Whis handed the whole thing to Goku, who took it quickly.
"Now, Goku, make sure you read that bottle before you give any to Vegeta. You want to make sure to give him the right amount."
With the box in his hands, Goku nodded with confidence.
"Good. I will prepare Vegeta some food for now. That'll be tomorrows lesson, given he doesn't recover. That's all for now. Ill call you down later for more."
Whis tapped his staff and disappeared, Goku left to decide what to do with himself.
Whis had ordered him to care for Vegeta. Goku would never go against his masters' orders.
Walking back up to their room, Goku wondered about how he would tell Vegeta that Whis had essentially assigned Goku to be his nurse for the time being.
Coming to the large door, he pushed it open gently. He peered around the corner to see Vegeta covered up, facing toward the wall. Goku stepped quietly over, deciding that Vegeta was asleep enough for him to take his temperature. Reaching his bed, Goku gently turned Vegeta toward him, exposing his flushed, tired face.
"Kakarot? What in the hell are you doing?"
"Oh, Vegeta, you're awake. Whis told me to take care of you. I was just gonna take your temperature."
Vegeta shook his head, tightening the blankets around himself, "There's no way that I'm letting you put anything in my mouth. Get away from me."
Goku shook his head, extending his arm to his partner further, "Just do it, it'll only take a second."
Vegeta backed his head away from Goku's hand, then snatched the device from it, putting in his own mouth without help.
"Make sure it's under your tongue, or else it wont be right."
Vegeta mumbled out a, "Shut up," Visibly adjusting the thermometer to the correct place.
The two made awkward eye contact until Vegeta blushed and looked away. A few seconds later, the stick beeped and Vegeta spat it out into Goku's hand.
Inspecting the tiny monitor, Goku placed a large hand over his forehead with a distraught look.
Vegeta felt concerned. He had not yet seen Goku with such a grave expression. He covered the bottom half of his face with his blanket.
Goku shook his head, "Hold on," And with two fingers to his forehead he disappeared.
Vegeta buried his head further into his comforter, rubbing it all over his face and kicking his legs. He looked around the room, watching for any sign of Goku's return. When he was certain that his partner would be gone for a few more minutes, he willed his body to move.
Trudging across the room again, he quickly opened on of Goku's dresser drawers, pulling out one of his wrinkled shirts and rubbing it on his face. Smelling the musky fabric always gave Vegeta comfort when Goku wasn't around to provide the scent first-hand.
But, sneaky, Vegeta shoved the drawer closed again and all but sprinted back to his bed, shoving the shirt between his mattress and the bed frame, to be taken out again in private.
Not much longer, Goku reappeared next to Vegeta, his face even more contorted with worry.
"Hey, c'mon, we gotta get you in the tub."
"Huh!? No way! Get away from me, idiot!"
Goku just shook his head and hooked his arms beneath Vegeta, carrying him bridal style into the bathroom.
"Unhand me!"
Goku sat Vegeta down on his bum on the hard tile floor, "Stop being difficult. Your temperature is way way too high. You need to get in the bath so you don't die, alright? Now is really not the time to be hard-headed."
Vegeta shook his head, his blush coming back, "Go away. I can bathe myself, thank you."
Goku started to leave the room, "You really can't. I wont be sure if you're safe. With how hot your body is, I cant be sure you won't pass out and drown. Please just get in."
Vegeta sighed and turned, looking for a place to undress in privacy. Deciding on the shower curtain, he climbed into the tub, undressing as fast as he could.
Losing his footing on the slippery floor, Vegeta fell with his spandex half off his legs. He lied there, humiliated, as Goku rushed over and threw the curtain back.
Shy, Vegeta tried his best to cover his shame, but Goku was all business, and pulled the rest of Vegetas suit off, along with his thick socks.
Laying there naked, Vegeta's face reddened further. He watched his partner intensely, making sure he kept his eyes on his own business.
Goku only flicked his eyes over his body a few quick times while setting the temperature for the water. His slick, almost untraceable eye movement made Vegeta feel even more lewd.
Water gushed from the faucet of the tub, the liquid pleasantly cool to his skin. Vegeta soon relaxed, letting the bliss control him for a minute.
Goku disappeared from his side, coming back with a few small bottles. His expression had changed into a more relaxed one, but still serious.
"Turn," His curt order made Vegeta acquiesce quickly, his broad shoulders now facing the bigger man. Goku reached down with his big hands to cup some water and pour it over Vegeta's stiff hair.
It weakened and sagged slightly, only losing a bit of structure. Goku squeezed some of the gel into his hand, gently rubbing it into Vegeta's scalp. Goku felt calmed, having Vegeta under his hand. It was almost therapeutic.
It took everything Vegeta had not to purr out loud in response to the gentle tugging. He slowly sunk down further into the tub, not bothered at all anymore at his being exposed.
"Alright, turn around again," Goku placed a firm hand on Vegeta's shoulder, encouraging him to rotate again.
Vegeta responded immediately, coming face to face with the other man. He cupped more water in his hands, pouring it over his elder.
Vegeta waited nervously as Goku watched the bubbles fall between his pecs and down his stomach.
He suddenly felt bashful again, his shoulders hunching over to hide himself. More water was poured over his head, and soon he was sud-free, waiting for his next command.
Silent for a moment, Goku took some time to breathe. He rested his arms on the hard edge of the tub, and hung his head. Vegeta watched in concern, but soon Goku was back on with grooming his patient.
Goku poured some conditioner into his hand and smoothed it over Vegeta's head, running his fingers through the thick locks, untangling them.
Vegeta closed his eyes, but Goku watched his face intensely. His face never lost that slight edge, but he moved with such gentleness that Vegeta hardly noticed when he pulled his hands away to rinse him again.
Goku, once done showering Vegeta with sudsy water, gripped his shoulders and forced him to spin around. Water sloshed around and Vegeta swayed from side to side for a moment before finding his balance again. The front of Goku's shirt was stained with water.
A course texture came over his shoulders, along with the cool sensation of gel.
Goku moved the body wash all over Vegeta's back, scrubbing gently. He then moved to his front, reaching around his waist and over his shoulders for his chest and stomach.
Vegeta held his breath, waiting for a sensitive touch to come to his pelvic area, but it never came, and Goku poured water over his body once more.
Vegeta turned when he heard Goku walk away, but hesitated to stand when Goku showed him a fluffy towel.
"Well?"
Vegeta sighed and stood, nonchalantly hiding his private area as Goku rubbed the towel over his shoulders.
"I figure you're capable of drying yourself from here," Goku commented, draping the damp towel over Vegeta's shoulders.
Vegeta nodded silently, and Goku left for the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
Vegeta ran the towel over himself quickly. With his energy slightly restored, he had no problem walking from the bathroom over to his dresser to find some clothes.
He decided to wear pajamas, as it seemed Whis wouldn't call for him until he felt better. He put his sweatpants on with no problem, holding himself up with one hand braced on his bed. But when it came time to put a shirt on, he had a hard time lifting his arms up far enough to get the shirt over his head. He found himself trapped in the fabric, clumsily looking for the hole to put his head.
Gentle hands came over him, twisting the shirt just right so that his head slid right out of it. His eyes met Goku's, who smiled gently in return.
"I hope you get better soon, 'Geeta. Trainin' just ain't the same without you."
Vegeta shook his head and sat down onto the bed, still struggling to get his arms situated.
Goku laced his arm though Vegeta's shirt, grabbing his hand and helping it through.
"Thanks," Vegeta kept his head down, ashamed at his lack of ability.
His stomach rumbled.
"Oh! Yeah, jeez. I'll be right back. Whis made us breakfast."
Gone.
Vegeta laid back onto his pillows, turning back and forth on his sides. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the dark blue of Goku's undershirt that he had snatched earlier. Looking around, Vegeta decided it was too risky to take it out right now, and shoved it further down into the crack of his bed frame, along with the several other pieces of clothing he's stolen over the past few weeks. He did keep looking back at it, though, until Goku popped back in with trays stacked in his arm.
He handed one tray to his sick comrade, who placed it in his lap. The scent of the hot soup hit Vegeta's nose, and he tipped the dish into his mouth, his eyes only peering open when Goku cleared his throat and gingerly handed him a spoon. Vegeta took it shyly, realizing his eagerness.
Instead of going to his own bed like usual, Goku sat at the end of Vegeta's, quietly eating his own food and glancing at Vegeta to make sure he didn't need any help.
Vegeta handled feeding himself quite well, except for a few times where his hand shook so badly that he had to stop for a minute and take control again. Goku offered his help quietly but Vegeta refused.
"You've helped me enough today, Kakarot. Leave me alone."
Goku nodded to himself and went to wash his bowl in the bathroom sink, leaving Vegeta to think by himself for a few minutes.
Goku thought about Vegeta's lack of fight today, and shoved it off as the fatigue from his illness. Of course Vegeta would never be nice to him, or tolerate him, unless he had to.
He glanced at the clock, it was getting to be almost noon. Goku hadn't noticed how long Vegeta's bath had taken.
Walking back out, Goku saw that Vegeta was back to laying on his side, his tray and dishes set to the side. A light snore came from the bed, the elder of the two fast asleep. Goku half smiled to himself, taking both of the sets of dishes and bringing them back to Whis.
When Goku was gone, Vegeta looked around the room, taking the shirt out from behind his bed.
He brought it up to his face, smelling deeply, appreciating that, along with the wash Goku had used on him earlier, his entire bed and body smelled of old books and saw dust. Everything smelled just like Goku.
Vegeta sighed, letting the scent of his beloved envelop him. He snuggled down into the fabric, his groin twitching ever-so slightly at a dirty thought that flashed through his mind. He shook it away, bringing his focus back onto the feel of the wrinkled fabric against his skin.
Goku popped back into the room very suddenly, Vegeta freezing and clutching the shirt to his chest. He refused to move until Goku left again.
"You're really weird, Vegeta," Goku whispered to himself. Out of squinting eyes Vegeta watched Goku as he knelt down to change into dry clothes, "I can't help you if you don't let me, and any other time you wouldn't. Why now? Why now of all times do I have to look at you and see someone helpless? It's disturbing," His voice raised slightly, Vegeta could hear him a little clearer.
"Why is it that now you're... cute? I can't do that to you, it wouldn't be right. Ugh, I hate this. Sleep well, best buddy. Feel better soon, please."
Goku left the room through the door this time, leaving Vegeta to think on the words he shouldn't have been able to hear.
Cute? Vegeta was not cute, by any definition of the word.
He had never seen Goku talk to himself like that. It seemed too intimate to be Goku.
Vegeta laid in bed, thinking over every word Goku had let out of his mouth. He would not be sleeping.
Goku took the knife from Whis' grip, holding it above the whole carrot in his left hand.
"Remember how I told you to hold it. You don't want to cut yourself. And don't push too hard. It's a carrot, not a cinder block."
Goku nodded, gently bringing the knife down onto the vegetable.
For the next six hours, Whis was going to teach Goku how to make all different kinds of food for Vegeta. Healthy things, things that will help him heal faster.
It was dark before Goku left to go to bed. He was ordered to stay with Vegeta all day the next day.
Vegeta was still not asleep. He had taken ten minute naps here and there, just enough to not be exhausted. Out of the corner of his eye, the bedroom door opened, revealing a very tired looking Goku.
He trudged over to his bed, and plopped down, not bothering to change before covering himself and quickly falling asleep.