Two Retirees…
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Disclaimer- I don't own Dbz or any of its characters. I do own nurse Uzume though. ^^ Also, there is no yaoi or boy love of any kind in this story, except for the friendship kind… so for all you slash lovers- don't be disappointed.
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Goku sat at the poorly crafted wooden table, one arm propped on the surface to hold his head up. Despite his relaxed position, he was grinning mischievously at the aged man across from him.
"So Vegeta, make your move." Goku had to suppress the giggle that was threatening to bubble up from within. Vegeta merely scowled and glared down at the table, as though he could burn a hole through the wood with his gaze. A smug grin wormed its way across the saiyan prince's face.
"King me, Kakarotto!" He declared, and moved his checker piece across the board triumphantly. Goku's smile faltered as he begrudgingly placed a black playing piece atop Vegeta's. Said grin still lingering across his lips, Vegeta went to make his next move.
"Hey! Wait a minute Vegeta! It's my turn!" Goku's posture straightened as much as it ever had in the past 5 years and he frowned. "You already had your turn!"
"Yes, I know that, you idiot…" Vegeta calmly removed his hand from the playing board, but the unmistakable twitch in his eye was acting up again. A sure sign that he was indeed agitated by the interruption. "However, you just kinged me, therefore, I get to go again." Thinking he had cleared up all questions, the prince tried once again to move his next piece. Goku was having none of it however, and he turned away from the game, crossing his arms across his now thin chest like a pouting child.
"That's no fair! You're cheating." He sniveled and stuck his tongue out at his one-time rival. The twitch in Vegeta's eye intensified. He stood, though slowly, and pointed an accusing finger at Goku.
"You're just mad because I'm beating you at something." He declared, placing both hands palm down on the table causing the aged piece of furniture to shake and knock some of the checker pieces askew. Goku was no longer paying any attention to Vegeta or their game… he had his eyes glued to the television at the corner of the room, where other seniors sat- cursing at Judge Judy. Vegeta closed his eyes and tried to breathe deeply as Uzume had said he should, but to no avail. With an angered yell, he slapped the game board off the table and scattered the pieces. "Damn you, Kakarotto!" Goku barely glanced up, whereas the other senior citizens grabbed their walkers and shuffled away from the crazy, pointy haired man as fast as their arthritic old bones would carry them. Uzume the nurse came, half walking, half jogging into the entertainment room and quickly spotted the source of the trouble.
"Oh, Vegeta…" She sighed and herded the old people back to the worn, green couch where Goku now sat, thoroughly enjoying the TV show and oblivious to all else. Uzume smiled lovingly at the big goof and patted his shoulder before turning and walking to the still seething Vegeta. "Vegeta?" She took him by the arm and led him to the lounge chair near the antique book case that was situated away from the bothersome noise of the TV. "Remember what I-"
"Shut-up woman, I do not need to be helped around like a child!" He pulled away from Uzume's grasp, nearly losing his balance, but managing to ease into the chair on his own. "It's all Kakarotto's fault anyway." He huffed, turning away from the nurse to gaze out at the rain slicked pavement and dark, ominous skies. The window was locked and barred at the bottom (some of the patients were a little more than senile and had tried several times to escape before the retirement home owners and put bars on the windows) but Vegeta could see between the bars. He sighed, a barely audible sound, but Uzume heard it.
"Vegeta…" She trailed off, knowing it was of no use to talk to him now. He was gone… back into that little place in his head where he was still fighting… where he was in his prime and on top of the world. Only in his mind could he find any peace, and Uzume kindly left him to his memories. She cleaned up the scattered game pieces and placed them and the game board neatly in the box they came in. She spared a last glance toward the one time warrior and left the room to help prepare dinner for everyone.
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Danielle Kelsey, whom all the seniors affectionately called Danny sat at the dining table with her hands folded neatly in her lap. She may have been forced to this place by her ungrateful children, but she didn't have to behave as a common street urchin… as many of the elderly here did. Only Vegeta, the man who had been here almost as long as she, had the same pride that she herself displayed daily. The only way in which they weren't alike was when in came to Vegeta's temper. Danny had long since been attracted to this rather disagreeable man, but he didn't look like the type to respond to casual flirting, so she simply pushed the idea of ever loving another man out of her head. Clearly, he wanted to nothing to do with her anyway.
"Danny?" Uzume's voiced interrupted her thoughts. She glance up at the young nurse and smiled politely. "It's time to eat… I brought you your plate." Uzume smiled sweetly.
"Thank you, dear. But, I assure you, I'm quite able to care for myself." Danny's smile never faltered, but her voice firmed and Uzume nodded like a disobedient granddaughter. She placed the plate on the table and left Danny to her thoughts again.
Vegeta sat next to Goku, his long time friend … and rival…as far as Danny could tell, barely picking at his food. Goku was shoveling in the not so tempting food that the retirement home had to offer like it was French cuisine. Though Danny often laughed at the strange man and held a fondness for him as well, she didn't feel a kinship with him as she did with Vegeta. Danny sighed, spread the napkin across her lap and sipped at the cream of chicken soup that had been served to her. She would have far preferred a creamy, warm bowl of crab soup that she remembered her own grandmother making… but 'beggars can't me choosers' she chided herself and stared across the table at Vegeta, wanting so much to talk to him, but not having the courage.
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Finally, the pitiful excuse for a dinner was over and Vegeta had since showered and changed into pajamas and a blue robe. He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his reflection in the mirror on the other side of the small room. Vegeta frowned at the old man staring back at him.
"When did this happen?" He asked himself quietly. "When did I stop being a warrior and become… this?" He brought one hand to his face and traced the wrinkles that had formed there at some time or another. "How did this happen to me?"
"Hey, don't feel bad… you're not much uglier than me." Came a laughing voice. Vegeta turned to see Goku with his head poking through the door and a grin on his face. His laugh lines were deep, whereas Vegeta's were practically non-existent. His 'frown-lines' made up for it though.
"What do you want, Kakarotto?" Goku giggled and made his way over to Vegeta's bed, where he sprawled out over the blankets. "Get up. I don't want your germs on my bed."
"Aw, relax Vegeta. I just came to visit you before Uzume makes me go to bed." Vegeta took another glance at Goku and saw that he too had his pajamas on, though no robe.
"I don't want your company. Leave me alone, Kakarotto…" Goku frowned and glanced up at Vegeta.
"Hey, you don't look like yourself Vegeta… and you didn't eat much today. What's up?" Goku propped his head up with one hand and awaited and answer.
"What are you now? A psychologist? I said leave me alone damn it!" Vegeta growled, warning his rival not to push the subject. He closed his eyes and ran a hand through his thick, black hair. It was the only part of him that hadn't aged. Goku's mess of hair was also as black and unruly as it had ever been. One of the only signs that neither of them were human. Vegeta hated the fact that he could now almost pass for one. His aged body possessing only slightly more strength than the average human's now.
"It's because of this, isn't it?" Goku glanced around the small room, gesturing with his eyes. Vegeta scowled, but nodded his head once. "I don't like it either, ya know? But… it's just how things turned out. We can't really help the fact that we… we last longer than everyone else." Goku's smiled returned again. "The wrinkles aren't so great either." Vegeta merely huffed and looked up at the ceiling as though the answers to all problems lied in the white latex paint.
"As usual, you don't know anything Kakarotto. Now get out of here before I blast you out." Goku grinned, knowing he had made Vegeta feel at least a little better and rose slowly from the bed, one of his joints popping.
"Goodnight, Vegeta." He said softly and made his exit, clicking the door shut behind him. Vegeta smiled a small smile. That idiot Kakarotto made this hell hole bearable. Much as he sometimes hated the guy, he was thankful that he wasn't totally alone. Now that he had outlived his wife and his children and his grandchildren had there own lives… he had nothing but Kakarotto left now. Vegeta slipped out of his robe and into bed, clicking off the lamp light before rolling over to face another night. It was only at this time that he realized how much he missed Bulma. With a heavy sigh, he closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
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A/N- Kinda sad, if you ask me… but it will have it's humorous moments. Wait 'til the Bingo game comes up. Tell me what you think and if I should continue with this. ^^ Thanks for reading!
