a/n: Hey hey, I NEVER in my wildest dreams thought that people would take
so much to this story. It was meant to be a one shot, and then after so
many reviews that wanted a second chapter I racked my brain for something
plausible and wrote this. It isn't great, but it is a nice continuation.
Sorry that it doesn't answer any questions about ChiChi's moving on, but I
only wrote the story initially just to get Goku and Vegeta together. Maybe
some time in the future if I feel so inclined I might write up a piece that
inputs that, but I never meant for the story to even get this far..
Anyway.
Song: Jewel -Enter from the East Disclaimer: still don't own anything. And I definitely don't own the song either. And just as a pre-apology, I didn't mean to make Goku so snively as he seems, but he IS a softhearted warrior. -----------------
~~I went out a-wandering
Beneath an unknown sky~~
The air smelled thick with coming rain, and the clouds ran quickly and so low Vegeta felt he could reach up to them from the ground and they would trace across his fingers. Instead, he was flying above them, watching as they filled the view of the forest below with their thick black cotton. The air felt charged, now and then a soft rumble came from the distance and Vegeta let his mind wander.
It had been a few months, Kakkarot had moved from the small teapot house in the hills. Chichi said he could keep their old home, that she could find a place or even stay with her father until she had, but the burly saiyajin had shook his head and said she should have it at least until Goten had moved out on his own, then she could do as she pleased with it. Vegeta hadn't been there to watch, but he had heard the strained story from Kakkarot later that evening as the saiyajin stood drooping in the doorway of the GR looking like all of the seven hells had fallen to his shoulders.
He had stayed in a guest room at Capsule Corps for a few days, and then one day returning from a walk -Vegeta had noticed that the man took them more frequently and only flew when he had to travel a great distance-he had a handful of bills and pressed them into Bulma's hands, asking what he could buy for a house with it.
After it had been counted, Bulma showed him the various places and Kakkarot chose a simple one-story, though not extravagant was roomy enough for the single man. Bulma told him repeatedly that his money was no good for her, that he could just choose from any of the capsules and keep the damned house but Kakkarot sternly refused, and left with his little ranch home and flew off into the wilderness.
That night, Vegeta followed the younger saiyajin's ki signature and landed beside his new home. Vegeta seated himself on a rickety chair and listened to Kakkarot's tale. He had met Chichi along his route, and she had given him half of the money she had received from selling their home. Moments later, Vegeta was nervously stoking the man's head as Goku sat on his new porch steps and wept silently.
He was headed for the new section of woods now, looking down on the menacing clouds and watching a brewing thunderstorm from the other side. He silently prayed that it wasn't an omen of how Kakkarot would feel tonight.
~~The heavens all shook violently
He caught my eye~~
Goku stood in his kitchen, he had stopped calling everything in the house his "new" stuff. It kept him in a funk to constantly remind himself that all of this was his, with no one to share it with. He could sense Vegeta on his way, and he leaned across the sink to look up into the darkening sky. A small smile split his solemn face, Vegeta was going to get drenched if he didn't hurry.
Goku paced a little and then forced himself to sit down. He didn't know why he was so anxious. Vegeta had come to him every night, listening to him as he purged his sorrow, wiped away his tears and waited for him to fall into an emotionally exhaustive sleep before he would leave. Running a hand through his messy spikes, Goku sighed softly to himself. He wasn't going to do it tonight. Tonight would be different.
The smell of smoke broke him from his reverie and Goku yelped as he hurried to the stove. He turned off the heat and pulled a pan away with one hand too quickly and knocked over another. He dropped it to the floor with a clang, cursed and stuck his burnt fingers into his mouth. He ran cool water in the sink and hissed as he ran his throbbing burns beneath the flow.
He lightly patted his hand dry and looked down on the mess across the floor, burnt fish and stir-fry vegetables were covering the tiles. A well of tears burned at the back of his eyes and he grunted, dropping to his knees and scooped the mess together into a pile with a spatula. Goku tried to blink the tears back, he wasn't supposed to cry tonight. This was supposed to be a happy day, it was Vegeta's day to be treated well, _not_ another sobbing mess.
The sky let open with a sharp crack, the roof hammered with fat drops of rain and Goku choked on a sob as he felt his face heat with anger as the first teardrops fell.
~~A strange fruit fell
It struck me to the core
My heart became a single flame
It wanted nothing more~~
Vegeta dipped below the cloud line in time to get drenched with the torrential rain. He cursed several times, alternating unconsciously into saiya-go. The small house was not far off, and Vegeta could see warm light spilling from the windows, promising warmth and dry clothes.
As soon as he stepped onto the porch and shook the water from his hair, he could hear quiet sobs from behind the door. Vegeta closed his eyes at the sound and prayed that it was only his imagination. When he pushed the door open, his heart fell into his stomach and did slow backstrokes, Kakkarot was kneeling in the kitchen hugging himself and biting cleanly into his lower lip. Damp and goose bumps forgotten, Vegeta strode purposefully across the room, letting only a passing glance pause on a mess piled before the stove, before dropping onto one knee and pulling Kakkarot's face to his chest.
Kakkarot struggled a moment before giving in and sobbing fitfully. Vegeta stroked the thick locks and murmured broken sentences in saiya-go. Kakkarot abruptly stopped crying and pushed Vegeta away. Frowning down at him, Vegeta stood looking more than a little rejected and crossed his arms over his chest.
Kakkarot shook his head, wiping furiously at his eyes and growling low under his breath. "Dammit." He hissed and looked at his right hand, flexing the fingers slowly and grimaced, small blisters already forming on the thick pads. As he began to scrape the pile into a plate and throw it away, Kakkarot dared a glance over to Vegeta and sighed deeply.
"I'm sorry, Vegeta. It wasn't supposed to happen like this." Vegeta looked up at him, confused and then felt his heart clench as Kakkarot sucked in a sob and a fresh spring of tears glittered in his eyes.
Vegeta sat Kakkarot down in a kitchen chair and cleaned the remainder of the mess from the floor. He mentally noted that it had once been fish and vegetables and he smirked to himself. Kakkarot had been cooking for him.
With the mess put away, Vegeta turned back to the tall saiyajin and frowned. His eyes were puffy and red, his lip was slightly swollen and trickled a small trail of blood. Vegeta told him to stay put and walked to the bathroom, rummaging through the cabinets and returning a moment later to see that Kakkarot hadn't moved an inch. He pulled off a glove with his teeth and squeezed a quarter-sized amount of salve into his palm.
"Give me your hand." He ordered. Kakkarot complied, and winced as Vegeta began to rub the ointment across the burns and wrap them in gauze. When he had finished, Kakkarot was smiling a little. Gladdened by the sight, Vegeta grinned and dipped his thumb into the cream before leaning forward and working it over the cut in Kakkarot's lip. The younger saiyajin's eyes widened a little and his breath caught in the back of his throat. Vegeta didn't seem to notice, careful not to irritate the wound and gently cleaned the excess of the ointment with the tip of his finger.
He grinned at his handiwork and recapped the jar. When he looked up, Kakkarot was looking queerly at him and he furrowed his brows in confusion.
~~Stranger, enter from the east
Stranger, step inside this place
Oh, and own me, own me, ~~
Goku watched as the Ouji opened his mouth to speak and cupped the side of the prince's face in his undamaged hand. Whatever had formulated in his mind must have melted away because he only held his breath a moment before his eyes narrowed. Goku rolled the ball of his thumb across Vegeta's lips, the night wasn't quite ruined, and maybe he could still salvage what was left. Angling his head slightly to the right, he moved forward, eyes searched Vegeta's face for any remission and found none. Lightening lit the sky as their lips touched softly, and when the thunder called after it's brother, Vegeta had a hand tangled in Goku's unruly hair and pulled him further in.
In seconds that felt like an eternity, tingles raced across spines and Goku grunted once in pain as the split in his lip opened again. Vegeta's tongue darted forth, seeking refuge elsewhere, but he paused at the tang of copper and pulled away with all the reserve he had as long dormant pieces of his brain lit like fire.
Goku nearly tumbled from his chair, not noticing he had settled himself precariously on the edge. Vegeta took a deep breath and held it for a moment, letting it loose soundlessly. Goku watched him with wide eyes, forcing his hands to stay in his lap instead of tracing across his lips as the remnants of pressure remained.
Finally after sitting in tensed silence for some time, Vegeta stood and piled the dirtied dishes into the sink and replaced them with clean ones. Goku stood, brushing past Vegeta to reach for fresh ingredients, never noticing the shiver that passed across the Ouji's spine. Vegeta turned and slapped his hands away from the fridge.
"Get out!" Goku's mind recoiled and Vegeta noticed it in his eyes. His expression softened. "I'll cook. Find me something dry to wear." The lines of pain eased and Goku nodded, retreating into another room.
With Goku gone, Vegeta braced himself against a counter top and willed away the burning of his skin.
~~The clock became a bullet hole
Cruel and unkind
It hurt me with its second hand
Alone another night~~
The small house was soon filled with the smells of roasting meat and tangy sauce. Kakkarot returned to the kitchen, pieces of clothing draped across one forearm and bare chest reflecting muted light. Vegeta bit the inside of his mouth and motioned with the palm of one hand, not daring himself to speak.
Kakkarot laughed and scratched the back of his head, looking down at himself as he realized what Vegeta meant. "When I was digging for these I saw I had most of what would have been dinner smeared across the front." Vegeta took the offered clothes, eyes searching the skin he had seen numerous times in battle but never really noticing until now. Kakkarot chuckled nervously, "I would have changed but I haven't done any laundry. I was too busy worrying about the food." The smile slipped and Kakkarot frowned.
Vegeta drug his eyes back up and forced himself to look Kakkarot in the eye. "Don't worry about it, Kakkarot. It was only some fish." The saiyajin grinned, almost looking like himself and Vegeta nodded, satisfied.
Several minutes passed, both not moving, watching the other with intense eyes until something boiling on the stove began to spill over. The hissing broke their spell and Vegeta turned quickly, "Kuso!" He tossed the lid nimbly into the sink and lowered the heat, blowing into the frothing bubbles that threatened to spill again. With confidence that the food wasn't going to cause any more problems, Vegeta walked toward the bathroom, pulling at his wet training top as he went.
~~Stranger, enter from the east
Stranger, step inside this place
Blue, is that you? ~~
Goku cautiously peeked into the pots on the range and grinned. It seemed every time that he had ever seen Vegeta cook, it was something Italian and it appeared tonight would be no different. A pot of pasta was boiling nicely and another with simmering sauce with a smell that made drool puddle in his mouth. He replaced the lids quickly, not wanting to get caught and accused of messing with Vegeta's spaghetti 'formula'.
Goku set the table, pulling plates and utensils from cupboards and drawers. A quiet grunt and whispered curses meet his ears and Goku's mind raced, trying to imagine what Vegeta may have found to irk him. Nervously, Goku rapped on the closed bathroom door with his knuckles, still hearing muttering but no reply to his knock.
"'Geta?" Goku slowly opened the door and peeked his head around the corner, a moment later he pulled his head out and covered his mouth with his hands, trying not to laugh. The door behind him flew open, and Goku stumbleed backward as his support was taken away.
Vegeta stalked from the room and stood with his hands on his hips. "Is this a joke?" Goku feigned surprise as he appraised Vegeta's attire. A pair of Gohan's old shorts, just a little too baggy to fit Vegeta, was hanging precariously on his hips, waiting for a stiff wind to pull them down. The tank top across his chest was entirely too large, hanging nearly to his knees and hiding the shorts underneath easily, one strap fallen off of his shoulder. Goku's face cracked and he giggled. Vegeta crossed his arms over his chest and huffed.
"Aw, 'Geta, don't pout. It's just a little big that's all." Goku grinned.
"I'm not pouting!" Vegeta growled, "And this thing isn't just a little big, I could make a tent out of it and use it the next time the brat's drag me camping!"
Goku stepped forward, arms spread out in an affectionate shrug. "Come on, 'Geta. You look cute." Vegeta's face flushed with color. Goku could hear the rant coming and tried to force the smile from his face. Instead of letting it boil over like the spaghetti, Goku bent and caught Vegeta's lower lip gently in his teeth. Vegeta's rage pooled at his feet. Goku grinned, and still keeping his grip on Vegeta's lip inquired. "Ou un'ry? I t'ink 'e spa'hetti id done."
Vegeta nodded very lightly, highly aware of where his lip was still held captive. Goku let it go. "Good." He smiled down at Vegeta and walked back to the kitchen. Vegeta watched him walk away and tried his best to ignore the blood that pounded in his veins and the voice at the back of his mind that muttered huskily about rather risqué things he could be doing besides eating some spaghetti.
~~Well, don't bother knocking on my door this time
Blue, go be true for someone else
There's no room inside this heart of mine~~
The meal was eaten swiftly, like the way most saiyajin meals were consumed, and an unnerving silence accompanied it. Goku paused his shoveling to look up at Vegeta through his hair, the Ouji had barely touched his plate and was gazing past Goku's shoulder. In one hand his fork twirled aimlessly, the spaghetti already in a tight ball waiting to be eaten.
"'Geta, are you okay?" Goku set his fork in his plate; his appetite had retreated. Vegeta grunted not quite coming out of his head and Goku stood quietly, retreating back to the living room, mind racing and the food in his stomach weighing like a rock.
Five minutes after Goku had left the table did Vegeta finally come to his senses and realized that his companion had gone. Vegeta looked down at his plate, and then across to his fellow saiyajin's to notice that there was still far too much food left.
"Kakkarot?" Vegeta set his fork down and pulled the napkin from his lap. He walked quickly into the living room, but saw no one. A small noise came softly to his ears and Vegeta wished with all his might that it wasn't Kakkarot weeping. He knuckled the door as he was opening it and paused to look around. The room was empty, no Kakkarot. The window to the far of the room was open, the curtains bellowing out as the wind and rain poured in. Vegeta walked to it, leaning out and squinting into the onslaught of rain and wind.
A bolt of lightening struck several yards away, leaving a negative's impression seared into his eyes. Vegeta blinked and cursed under his breath, finally seeing the resting form of Kakkarot laying in a growing puddle in the pounding storm.
~~My heart has four empty rooms
Three wait for lightning and one waits for you~~
Goku lay face up in the chilly rain. At first after he had plopped down onto the earth he felt silly, but now after he reclined and stared up in the raging sky he felt better. It was like someone else was having a bad day too; only they could control the clouds. The swirling gray above had hypnotized him in a way, and now he couldn't even feel the icy drips that ran across his chest and dripped into his eyes.
Before he realized that Vegeta was standing over him, he was grinning up into the clouds, willing them to finish sucking away all of the ill will he had harbored for so long. It wasn't until another crack of lightening lit the sharp features of the Ouji glaring down at him, did Goku feel the force of all the cold he had ignored and immediately began to shiver in the small pool of water.
"Kakkarot, what are you doing?" Vegeta look down his nose as Goku shivered, rippling the water.
"Nothing, 'Geta.just watching the clouds." Goku's teeth chattered and he grimaced as he lightly nipped the tip of his tongue.
"Baka, get up before you catch a cold!" Vegeta gripped Goku's arm and hauled, effectively sloshing watery mud across his shins. Goku was half way up when Vegeta let go and growled down at the mess, leaving a slipping Goku to falling back into the wallow. A small splash, and the Ouji had his arms crossed over his chest, mud dripping from water logged spikes and spray lines across his face.
Goku picked himself up from the water, wringing a section of hair. Vegeta snorted and started back toward the house. Goku watched him retreating and reached out with a hand, catching the Ouji before he could get to the window. Vegeta turned, looking up, waiting for an explination but Goku only grinned.
"You're awful cute when you pout, Vegeta." The grin slipped into a smirk.
"I am _not_ pouting, baka!" Vegeta growled, waiting for Goku to release him so that he could get out of the rain. The grip tightened a fraction, and Vegeta glanced to his shoulder before stiffening in shock as a warm tongue traced up his neck.
Goku could feel the surprise and grinned, before nipping at tendons and moving up slowly across the Ouji's jaw and latching his teeth lightly to an earlobe. A flush of embarrassment began to prickle on Goku's cheeks as he realized what he had done, he released Vegeta's ear and thought quickly for an apology, only to have a strong hand grip his bicep and haul him forward.
Vegeta crushed Goku's lips to his own, feeling a growl of lust in the back of his throat that he managed barely to control. The familiar heat soared through his body and every nerve ending peaked. Each drop of icy rain that touched his skin seemed as though it should sizzle off, and the tentative grazing of Goku's fingers across his back sent him into chills. The voice in Vegeta's mind intensified, growling and hissing as the sensations struck him, and in a moment of clarity Vegeta realized that it was his own. Nimble fingers continued to trace his back, growing with confidence. They followed the faint lines of scars, now and then tensing as Vegeta nipped at Goku's lips and tongue.
Goku felt dizzy with delight, if an asteroid decided to fall out of the sky and kill him now he didn't think he would care or even if he could stop it if he did. The things Vegeta could teach him, would undeniably teach him, made him giddy. A sharp fang scraped across his tongue and he hissed but did not break free. The pain itself was a flicker in the passion that enveloped him. He could feel his hands still moving, mostly of their own accord now, only wanting to touch each plane of skin. One hand lowered, bound to scoop lightly on the Ouji's bottom but didn't get there as Vegeta stiffened and pulled away.
Goku looked down on him, a little flustered and confused about what had happened. He searched Vegeta's face for anger and only saw the same lust he knew must have been etched onto his face. He opened his mouth to question, when Vegeta leapt at him, teeth biting deeply into his exposed shoulder. Goku clamped his arms around the smaller saiyajin, pulling him tightly to his body as a new flood of sensations swept over him. He unconsciously could feel Vegeta tremble in his embrace and began to purr loudly, nuzzling his nose into the thick hair at Vegeta's temple. The prince released his hold on the fresh wound and his teeth grazed along Goku's collarbone. Goku buried his hand in Vegeta's hair and pulled his head back, bruising their lips in a violent kiss and groaned at the taste of blood on Vegeta's tongue.
Vegeta reclined his head, panting for breath and eyes glazed over. "We go in now, or I'll take you in the rain." His voice was hoarse and gravely. Goku grinned, a feral glint in his eyes that Vegeta had never seen before.
When he spoke, Goku's voice was strained and Vegeta could feel his pleasure pressed into his hip. "I always did like the outdoors."
~~I must have you all to myself
Feel the full weight of your skin
I'll hollow out my insides
To place you in~~
The thunder was still roiling, but with each rumble it grew further and further away as though it were scared of the replying growls of the rutting saiyajins on the forest floor.
When Vegeta first toppled Goku to the ground he grinned and attacked the younger with vigor, only to be flipped onto his own back and ravaged. His first instinct was to fight for dominance, but the man did wonderful things with his tongue and he found his mind couldn't hold a coherent thought.
As they fought to contain their emotion and each other they didn't notice that the dark looming clouds had broken and a sea of brilliant stars were winking happily down at them. Nature herself was content in letting the saiyajins finish completely what they had started so that they may have another to cling onto.
A throaty growl escalated into a roar that had soon been accompanied by another, and in the ensuing silence two placated, damp bodies lay on the soggy earth, panting. Goku ran a slightly shaky hand through his hair and pushed his bangs from his eyes, he turned his head to the side and watched as Vegeta lay in a near doze still lying in the shallow trench they had dug with their bodies.
Grinning, Goku leaned over and kissed the corner of Vegeta's swollen lips tenderly and cuddled the prince to him. Vegeta grunted, disturbed from his near slumber and nuzzled closer, breathing deeply the scent that they shared and grinned foolishly before he fell asleep.
~~Stranger, enter from the East
Stranger, step inside this place
Oh, and own me, own me~~
When morning light brightened the forest, Goku groaned and stretched, his body tired and achy. He sat up slowly and gazed around him in wonderment, he was outside his house, wet and very naked. He could see the remains of what were his gi bottoms shredded into a pile of orange confetti trailed between him and his open window.
The night came back to him in a swoop of color and emotion, and he gasped at the things he had done. His mouth turned into a small smile and then into a sloppy grin that belonged only to the heritage of the Sons, one that hadn't been there for nearly a year.
Goku stood and stretched, feeling several satisfying pops along his spine. Suddenly he remembered that Vegeta should be around somewhere. He looked around him, but found no sign that the small saiyajin was still in the forest.
Goku walked quickly back to his house, climbing through the still open window and paused to pull on a pair of gi bottoms and went quietly into his house. At first, Goku's heart began to grow heavy, Vegeta must have left. The smell of frying meat made his stomach rumble and Goku rubbed his belly in small circles as he entered the kitchen.
Vegeta was back to him and never saw the look of severe relief, longing and love cross Goku's features. Goku sat at the table, watching Vegeta lean and stretch as he worked away at breakfast, seemingly oblivious to Goku's small smile and look of admiration and affection. When he turned, Goku brightened, smiling bigger. Vegeta began to set mounds of food on the table top and paused to look upon him with a queer eye.
"What are you so damned happy about?" Vegeta tried to sound irritable, but a small smirk ruined his performance.
Goku shrugged and leaned his head into one palm, resting his elbow on the table. "Stuff."
Vegeta quirked an eyebrow and 'hnned' as he turned back to the stove. Several minutes later, the table was covered in a large meal, each saiyajin with a plate that heaped and threatened to tumble over. Vegeta began to eat at his regal pace and glanced up to see Goku still sitting with his head in his hand and watching him with large cheerful eyes and a soft smile.
"What is it?" Vegeta took another bite of his food, but Goku continued to stare. "Do you not care for my cooking?" Vegeta narrowed his eyes and set his fork down beside his plate.
Goku shook his head. "Your food is always great, 'Geta."
"Then why aren't you eating? Are you ill?" Vegeta regarded his counterpart, but the other saiyajin appeared to be fine.
Laughing Goku shook his head again. Finally, as though resigning himself, Goku picked up his fork and began to eat. After several minutes of watching to make sure the younger saiyajin wasn't going to continue to unsettle him with the continual stares, Vegeta ate as well.
Goku stood from the table after they had finished and began to clear the table. Vegeta sat, allowing Goku to take his empty plate. Goku ran water into the sink and after a while, Vegeta stood to help the man with the dishes. When he stepped beside Goku, he noticed the man was merely standing there, he hadn't washed a single dish and was looking out the window.
A small hiccup caught his attention and Vegeta frowned. "Kakkarot?" Goku turned to him and as Vegeta saw the tears on the warriors face he didn't know what he should feel. He reached up and wiped one away with his thumb and sighed. Goku smiled down at him, tears still shining in his eyes and Vegeta narrowed his eyes in confusion. Goku cupped Vegeta's face in his hands and softly kissed him, little more than a grazing of their lips and released him.
Vegeta's eyes widened in surprise and he looked up at the taller saiyajin as he wiped his eyes with the back of his hands. Goku smiled down at him again and opened his mouth to speak, closed it, opened it and then paused in thought.
Vegeta's heart swelled in his chest. The baka was crying because he was _happy_? Vegeta had made him happy. He smirked back at Goku and picked up the towel from the sink side. Goku set a soapy dish to the side and Vegeta picked it up, wiping at it.
"If I had known screwing you blind would have made you this happy, I would have done it months ago." Vegeta grinned as Goku looked down at him in shock.
A small growl was Vegeta's only warning before Goku had him pinned to the floor. The dishes were forgotten until late in the afternoon when they needed to be cleaned so that lunch could be made; and the world turned on, grinning madly into space now and then over time letting the Heaven's know that finally things were set as they should be.
Song: Jewel -Enter from the East Disclaimer: still don't own anything. And I definitely don't own the song either. And just as a pre-apology, I didn't mean to make Goku so snively as he seems, but he IS a softhearted warrior. -----------------
~~I went out a-wandering
Beneath an unknown sky~~
The air smelled thick with coming rain, and the clouds ran quickly and so low Vegeta felt he could reach up to them from the ground and they would trace across his fingers. Instead, he was flying above them, watching as they filled the view of the forest below with their thick black cotton. The air felt charged, now and then a soft rumble came from the distance and Vegeta let his mind wander.
It had been a few months, Kakkarot had moved from the small teapot house in the hills. Chichi said he could keep their old home, that she could find a place or even stay with her father until she had, but the burly saiyajin had shook his head and said she should have it at least until Goten had moved out on his own, then she could do as she pleased with it. Vegeta hadn't been there to watch, but he had heard the strained story from Kakkarot later that evening as the saiyajin stood drooping in the doorway of the GR looking like all of the seven hells had fallen to his shoulders.
He had stayed in a guest room at Capsule Corps for a few days, and then one day returning from a walk -Vegeta had noticed that the man took them more frequently and only flew when he had to travel a great distance-he had a handful of bills and pressed them into Bulma's hands, asking what he could buy for a house with it.
After it had been counted, Bulma showed him the various places and Kakkarot chose a simple one-story, though not extravagant was roomy enough for the single man. Bulma told him repeatedly that his money was no good for her, that he could just choose from any of the capsules and keep the damned house but Kakkarot sternly refused, and left with his little ranch home and flew off into the wilderness.
That night, Vegeta followed the younger saiyajin's ki signature and landed beside his new home. Vegeta seated himself on a rickety chair and listened to Kakkarot's tale. He had met Chichi along his route, and she had given him half of the money she had received from selling their home. Moments later, Vegeta was nervously stoking the man's head as Goku sat on his new porch steps and wept silently.
He was headed for the new section of woods now, looking down on the menacing clouds and watching a brewing thunderstorm from the other side. He silently prayed that it wasn't an omen of how Kakkarot would feel tonight.
~~The heavens all shook violently
He caught my eye~~
Goku stood in his kitchen, he had stopped calling everything in the house his "new" stuff. It kept him in a funk to constantly remind himself that all of this was his, with no one to share it with. He could sense Vegeta on his way, and he leaned across the sink to look up into the darkening sky. A small smile split his solemn face, Vegeta was going to get drenched if he didn't hurry.
Goku paced a little and then forced himself to sit down. He didn't know why he was so anxious. Vegeta had come to him every night, listening to him as he purged his sorrow, wiped away his tears and waited for him to fall into an emotionally exhaustive sleep before he would leave. Running a hand through his messy spikes, Goku sighed softly to himself. He wasn't going to do it tonight. Tonight would be different.
The smell of smoke broke him from his reverie and Goku yelped as he hurried to the stove. He turned off the heat and pulled a pan away with one hand too quickly and knocked over another. He dropped it to the floor with a clang, cursed and stuck his burnt fingers into his mouth. He ran cool water in the sink and hissed as he ran his throbbing burns beneath the flow.
He lightly patted his hand dry and looked down on the mess across the floor, burnt fish and stir-fry vegetables were covering the tiles. A well of tears burned at the back of his eyes and he grunted, dropping to his knees and scooped the mess together into a pile with a spatula. Goku tried to blink the tears back, he wasn't supposed to cry tonight. This was supposed to be a happy day, it was Vegeta's day to be treated well, _not_ another sobbing mess.
The sky let open with a sharp crack, the roof hammered with fat drops of rain and Goku choked on a sob as he felt his face heat with anger as the first teardrops fell.
~~A strange fruit fell
It struck me to the core
My heart became a single flame
It wanted nothing more~~
Vegeta dipped below the cloud line in time to get drenched with the torrential rain. He cursed several times, alternating unconsciously into saiya-go. The small house was not far off, and Vegeta could see warm light spilling from the windows, promising warmth and dry clothes.
As soon as he stepped onto the porch and shook the water from his hair, he could hear quiet sobs from behind the door. Vegeta closed his eyes at the sound and prayed that it was only his imagination. When he pushed the door open, his heart fell into his stomach and did slow backstrokes, Kakkarot was kneeling in the kitchen hugging himself and biting cleanly into his lower lip. Damp and goose bumps forgotten, Vegeta strode purposefully across the room, letting only a passing glance pause on a mess piled before the stove, before dropping onto one knee and pulling Kakkarot's face to his chest.
Kakkarot struggled a moment before giving in and sobbing fitfully. Vegeta stroked the thick locks and murmured broken sentences in saiya-go. Kakkarot abruptly stopped crying and pushed Vegeta away. Frowning down at him, Vegeta stood looking more than a little rejected and crossed his arms over his chest.
Kakkarot shook his head, wiping furiously at his eyes and growling low under his breath. "Dammit." He hissed and looked at his right hand, flexing the fingers slowly and grimaced, small blisters already forming on the thick pads. As he began to scrape the pile into a plate and throw it away, Kakkarot dared a glance over to Vegeta and sighed deeply.
"I'm sorry, Vegeta. It wasn't supposed to happen like this." Vegeta looked up at him, confused and then felt his heart clench as Kakkarot sucked in a sob and a fresh spring of tears glittered in his eyes.
Vegeta sat Kakkarot down in a kitchen chair and cleaned the remainder of the mess from the floor. He mentally noted that it had once been fish and vegetables and he smirked to himself. Kakkarot had been cooking for him.
With the mess put away, Vegeta turned back to the tall saiyajin and frowned. His eyes were puffy and red, his lip was slightly swollen and trickled a small trail of blood. Vegeta told him to stay put and walked to the bathroom, rummaging through the cabinets and returning a moment later to see that Kakkarot hadn't moved an inch. He pulled off a glove with his teeth and squeezed a quarter-sized amount of salve into his palm.
"Give me your hand." He ordered. Kakkarot complied, and winced as Vegeta began to rub the ointment across the burns and wrap them in gauze. When he had finished, Kakkarot was smiling a little. Gladdened by the sight, Vegeta grinned and dipped his thumb into the cream before leaning forward and working it over the cut in Kakkarot's lip. The younger saiyajin's eyes widened a little and his breath caught in the back of his throat. Vegeta didn't seem to notice, careful not to irritate the wound and gently cleaned the excess of the ointment with the tip of his finger.
He grinned at his handiwork and recapped the jar. When he looked up, Kakkarot was looking queerly at him and he furrowed his brows in confusion.
~~Stranger, enter from the east
Stranger, step inside this place
Oh, and own me, own me, ~~
Goku watched as the Ouji opened his mouth to speak and cupped the side of the prince's face in his undamaged hand. Whatever had formulated in his mind must have melted away because he only held his breath a moment before his eyes narrowed. Goku rolled the ball of his thumb across Vegeta's lips, the night wasn't quite ruined, and maybe he could still salvage what was left. Angling his head slightly to the right, he moved forward, eyes searched Vegeta's face for any remission and found none. Lightening lit the sky as their lips touched softly, and when the thunder called after it's brother, Vegeta had a hand tangled in Goku's unruly hair and pulled him further in.
In seconds that felt like an eternity, tingles raced across spines and Goku grunted once in pain as the split in his lip opened again. Vegeta's tongue darted forth, seeking refuge elsewhere, but he paused at the tang of copper and pulled away with all the reserve he had as long dormant pieces of his brain lit like fire.
Goku nearly tumbled from his chair, not noticing he had settled himself precariously on the edge. Vegeta took a deep breath and held it for a moment, letting it loose soundlessly. Goku watched him with wide eyes, forcing his hands to stay in his lap instead of tracing across his lips as the remnants of pressure remained.
Finally after sitting in tensed silence for some time, Vegeta stood and piled the dirtied dishes into the sink and replaced them with clean ones. Goku stood, brushing past Vegeta to reach for fresh ingredients, never noticing the shiver that passed across the Ouji's spine. Vegeta turned and slapped his hands away from the fridge.
"Get out!" Goku's mind recoiled and Vegeta noticed it in his eyes. His expression softened. "I'll cook. Find me something dry to wear." The lines of pain eased and Goku nodded, retreating into another room.
With Goku gone, Vegeta braced himself against a counter top and willed away the burning of his skin.
~~The clock became a bullet hole
Cruel and unkind
It hurt me with its second hand
Alone another night~~
The small house was soon filled with the smells of roasting meat and tangy sauce. Kakkarot returned to the kitchen, pieces of clothing draped across one forearm and bare chest reflecting muted light. Vegeta bit the inside of his mouth and motioned with the palm of one hand, not daring himself to speak.
Kakkarot laughed and scratched the back of his head, looking down at himself as he realized what Vegeta meant. "When I was digging for these I saw I had most of what would have been dinner smeared across the front." Vegeta took the offered clothes, eyes searching the skin he had seen numerous times in battle but never really noticing until now. Kakkarot chuckled nervously, "I would have changed but I haven't done any laundry. I was too busy worrying about the food." The smile slipped and Kakkarot frowned.
Vegeta drug his eyes back up and forced himself to look Kakkarot in the eye. "Don't worry about it, Kakkarot. It was only some fish." The saiyajin grinned, almost looking like himself and Vegeta nodded, satisfied.
Several minutes passed, both not moving, watching the other with intense eyes until something boiling on the stove began to spill over. The hissing broke their spell and Vegeta turned quickly, "Kuso!" He tossed the lid nimbly into the sink and lowered the heat, blowing into the frothing bubbles that threatened to spill again. With confidence that the food wasn't going to cause any more problems, Vegeta walked toward the bathroom, pulling at his wet training top as he went.
~~Stranger, enter from the east
Stranger, step inside this place
Blue, is that you? ~~
Goku cautiously peeked into the pots on the range and grinned. It seemed every time that he had ever seen Vegeta cook, it was something Italian and it appeared tonight would be no different. A pot of pasta was boiling nicely and another with simmering sauce with a smell that made drool puddle in his mouth. He replaced the lids quickly, not wanting to get caught and accused of messing with Vegeta's spaghetti 'formula'.
Goku set the table, pulling plates and utensils from cupboards and drawers. A quiet grunt and whispered curses meet his ears and Goku's mind raced, trying to imagine what Vegeta may have found to irk him. Nervously, Goku rapped on the closed bathroom door with his knuckles, still hearing muttering but no reply to his knock.
"'Geta?" Goku slowly opened the door and peeked his head around the corner, a moment later he pulled his head out and covered his mouth with his hands, trying not to laugh. The door behind him flew open, and Goku stumbleed backward as his support was taken away.
Vegeta stalked from the room and stood with his hands on his hips. "Is this a joke?" Goku feigned surprise as he appraised Vegeta's attire. A pair of Gohan's old shorts, just a little too baggy to fit Vegeta, was hanging precariously on his hips, waiting for a stiff wind to pull them down. The tank top across his chest was entirely too large, hanging nearly to his knees and hiding the shorts underneath easily, one strap fallen off of his shoulder. Goku's face cracked and he giggled. Vegeta crossed his arms over his chest and huffed.
"Aw, 'Geta, don't pout. It's just a little big that's all." Goku grinned.
"I'm not pouting!" Vegeta growled, "And this thing isn't just a little big, I could make a tent out of it and use it the next time the brat's drag me camping!"
Goku stepped forward, arms spread out in an affectionate shrug. "Come on, 'Geta. You look cute." Vegeta's face flushed with color. Goku could hear the rant coming and tried to force the smile from his face. Instead of letting it boil over like the spaghetti, Goku bent and caught Vegeta's lower lip gently in his teeth. Vegeta's rage pooled at his feet. Goku grinned, and still keeping his grip on Vegeta's lip inquired. "Ou un'ry? I t'ink 'e spa'hetti id done."
Vegeta nodded very lightly, highly aware of where his lip was still held captive. Goku let it go. "Good." He smiled down at Vegeta and walked back to the kitchen. Vegeta watched him walk away and tried his best to ignore the blood that pounded in his veins and the voice at the back of his mind that muttered huskily about rather risqué things he could be doing besides eating some spaghetti.
~~Well, don't bother knocking on my door this time
Blue, go be true for someone else
There's no room inside this heart of mine~~
The meal was eaten swiftly, like the way most saiyajin meals were consumed, and an unnerving silence accompanied it. Goku paused his shoveling to look up at Vegeta through his hair, the Ouji had barely touched his plate and was gazing past Goku's shoulder. In one hand his fork twirled aimlessly, the spaghetti already in a tight ball waiting to be eaten.
"'Geta, are you okay?" Goku set his fork in his plate; his appetite had retreated. Vegeta grunted not quite coming out of his head and Goku stood quietly, retreating back to the living room, mind racing and the food in his stomach weighing like a rock.
Five minutes after Goku had left the table did Vegeta finally come to his senses and realized that his companion had gone. Vegeta looked down at his plate, and then across to his fellow saiyajin's to notice that there was still far too much food left.
"Kakkarot?" Vegeta set his fork down and pulled the napkin from his lap. He walked quickly into the living room, but saw no one. A small noise came softly to his ears and Vegeta wished with all his might that it wasn't Kakkarot weeping. He knuckled the door as he was opening it and paused to look around. The room was empty, no Kakkarot. The window to the far of the room was open, the curtains bellowing out as the wind and rain poured in. Vegeta walked to it, leaning out and squinting into the onslaught of rain and wind.
A bolt of lightening struck several yards away, leaving a negative's impression seared into his eyes. Vegeta blinked and cursed under his breath, finally seeing the resting form of Kakkarot laying in a growing puddle in the pounding storm.
~~My heart has four empty rooms
Three wait for lightning and one waits for you~~
Goku lay face up in the chilly rain. At first after he had plopped down onto the earth he felt silly, but now after he reclined and stared up in the raging sky he felt better. It was like someone else was having a bad day too; only they could control the clouds. The swirling gray above had hypnotized him in a way, and now he couldn't even feel the icy drips that ran across his chest and dripped into his eyes.
Before he realized that Vegeta was standing over him, he was grinning up into the clouds, willing them to finish sucking away all of the ill will he had harbored for so long. It wasn't until another crack of lightening lit the sharp features of the Ouji glaring down at him, did Goku feel the force of all the cold he had ignored and immediately began to shiver in the small pool of water.
"Kakkarot, what are you doing?" Vegeta look down his nose as Goku shivered, rippling the water.
"Nothing, 'Geta.just watching the clouds." Goku's teeth chattered and he grimaced as he lightly nipped the tip of his tongue.
"Baka, get up before you catch a cold!" Vegeta gripped Goku's arm and hauled, effectively sloshing watery mud across his shins. Goku was half way up when Vegeta let go and growled down at the mess, leaving a slipping Goku to falling back into the wallow. A small splash, and the Ouji had his arms crossed over his chest, mud dripping from water logged spikes and spray lines across his face.
Goku picked himself up from the water, wringing a section of hair. Vegeta snorted and started back toward the house. Goku watched him retreating and reached out with a hand, catching the Ouji before he could get to the window. Vegeta turned, looking up, waiting for an explination but Goku only grinned.
"You're awful cute when you pout, Vegeta." The grin slipped into a smirk.
"I am _not_ pouting, baka!" Vegeta growled, waiting for Goku to release him so that he could get out of the rain. The grip tightened a fraction, and Vegeta glanced to his shoulder before stiffening in shock as a warm tongue traced up his neck.
Goku could feel the surprise and grinned, before nipping at tendons and moving up slowly across the Ouji's jaw and latching his teeth lightly to an earlobe. A flush of embarrassment began to prickle on Goku's cheeks as he realized what he had done, he released Vegeta's ear and thought quickly for an apology, only to have a strong hand grip his bicep and haul him forward.
Vegeta crushed Goku's lips to his own, feeling a growl of lust in the back of his throat that he managed barely to control. The familiar heat soared through his body and every nerve ending peaked. Each drop of icy rain that touched his skin seemed as though it should sizzle off, and the tentative grazing of Goku's fingers across his back sent him into chills. The voice in Vegeta's mind intensified, growling and hissing as the sensations struck him, and in a moment of clarity Vegeta realized that it was his own. Nimble fingers continued to trace his back, growing with confidence. They followed the faint lines of scars, now and then tensing as Vegeta nipped at Goku's lips and tongue.
Goku felt dizzy with delight, if an asteroid decided to fall out of the sky and kill him now he didn't think he would care or even if he could stop it if he did. The things Vegeta could teach him, would undeniably teach him, made him giddy. A sharp fang scraped across his tongue and he hissed but did not break free. The pain itself was a flicker in the passion that enveloped him. He could feel his hands still moving, mostly of their own accord now, only wanting to touch each plane of skin. One hand lowered, bound to scoop lightly on the Ouji's bottom but didn't get there as Vegeta stiffened and pulled away.
Goku looked down on him, a little flustered and confused about what had happened. He searched Vegeta's face for anger and only saw the same lust he knew must have been etched onto his face. He opened his mouth to question, when Vegeta leapt at him, teeth biting deeply into his exposed shoulder. Goku clamped his arms around the smaller saiyajin, pulling him tightly to his body as a new flood of sensations swept over him. He unconsciously could feel Vegeta tremble in his embrace and began to purr loudly, nuzzling his nose into the thick hair at Vegeta's temple. The prince released his hold on the fresh wound and his teeth grazed along Goku's collarbone. Goku buried his hand in Vegeta's hair and pulled his head back, bruising their lips in a violent kiss and groaned at the taste of blood on Vegeta's tongue.
Vegeta reclined his head, panting for breath and eyes glazed over. "We go in now, or I'll take you in the rain." His voice was hoarse and gravely. Goku grinned, a feral glint in his eyes that Vegeta had never seen before.
When he spoke, Goku's voice was strained and Vegeta could feel his pleasure pressed into his hip. "I always did like the outdoors."
~~I must have you all to myself
Feel the full weight of your skin
I'll hollow out my insides
To place you in~~
The thunder was still roiling, but with each rumble it grew further and further away as though it were scared of the replying growls of the rutting saiyajins on the forest floor.
When Vegeta first toppled Goku to the ground he grinned and attacked the younger with vigor, only to be flipped onto his own back and ravaged. His first instinct was to fight for dominance, but the man did wonderful things with his tongue and he found his mind couldn't hold a coherent thought.
As they fought to contain their emotion and each other they didn't notice that the dark looming clouds had broken and a sea of brilliant stars were winking happily down at them. Nature herself was content in letting the saiyajins finish completely what they had started so that they may have another to cling onto.
A throaty growl escalated into a roar that had soon been accompanied by another, and in the ensuing silence two placated, damp bodies lay on the soggy earth, panting. Goku ran a slightly shaky hand through his hair and pushed his bangs from his eyes, he turned his head to the side and watched as Vegeta lay in a near doze still lying in the shallow trench they had dug with their bodies.
Grinning, Goku leaned over and kissed the corner of Vegeta's swollen lips tenderly and cuddled the prince to him. Vegeta grunted, disturbed from his near slumber and nuzzled closer, breathing deeply the scent that they shared and grinned foolishly before he fell asleep.
~~Stranger, enter from the East
Stranger, step inside this place
Oh, and own me, own me~~
When morning light brightened the forest, Goku groaned and stretched, his body tired and achy. He sat up slowly and gazed around him in wonderment, he was outside his house, wet and very naked. He could see the remains of what were his gi bottoms shredded into a pile of orange confetti trailed between him and his open window.
The night came back to him in a swoop of color and emotion, and he gasped at the things he had done. His mouth turned into a small smile and then into a sloppy grin that belonged only to the heritage of the Sons, one that hadn't been there for nearly a year.
Goku stood and stretched, feeling several satisfying pops along his spine. Suddenly he remembered that Vegeta should be around somewhere. He looked around him, but found no sign that the small saiyajin was still in the forest.
Goku walked quickly back to his house, climbing through the still open window and paused to pull on a pair of gi bottoms and went quietly into his house. At first, Goku's heart began to grow heavy, Vegeta must have left. The smell of frying meat made his stomach rumble and Goku rubbed his belly in small circles as he entered the kitchen.
Vegeta was back to him and never saw the look of severe relief, longing and love cross Goku's features. Goku sat at the table, watching Vegeta lean and stretch as he worked away at breakfast, seemingly oblivious to Goku's small smile and look of admiration and affection. When he turned, Goku brightened, smiling bigger. Vegeta began to set mounds of food on the table top and paused to look upon him with a queer eye.
"What are you so damned happy about?" Vegeta tried to sound irritable, but a small smirk ruined his performance.
Goku shrugged and leaned his head into one palm, resting his elbow on the table. "Stuff."
Vegeta quirked an eyebrow and 'hnned' as he turned back to the stove. Several minutes later, the table was covered in a large meal, each saiyajin with a plate that heaped and threatened to tumble over. Vegeta began to eat at his regal pace and glanced up to see Goku still sitting with his head in his hand and watching him with large cheerful eyes and a soft smile.
"What is it?" Vegeta took another bite of his food, but Goku continued to stare. "Do you not care for my cooking?" Vegeta narrowed his eyes and set his fork down beside his plate.
Goku shook his head. "Your food is always great, 'Geta."
"Then why aren't you eating? Are you ill?" Vegeta regarded his counterpart, but the other saiyajin appeared to be fine.
Laughing Goku shook his head again. Finally, as though resigning himself, Goku picked up his fork and began to eat. After several minutes of watching to make sure the younger saiyajin wasn't going to continue to unsettle him with the continual stares, Vegeta ate as well.
Goku stood from the table after they had finished and began to clear the table. Vegeta sat, allowing Goku to take his empty plate. Goku ran water into the sink and after a while, Vegeta stood to help the man with the dishes. When he stepped beside Goku, he noticed the man was merely standing there, he hadn't washed a single dish and was looking out the window.
A small hiccup caught his attention and Vegeta frowned. "Kakkarot?" Goku turned to him and as Vegeta saw the tears on the warriors face he didn't know what he should feel. He reached up and wiped one away with his thumb and sighed. Goku smiled down at him, tears still shining in his eyes and Vegeta narrowed his eyes in confusion. Goku cupped Vegeta's face in his hands and softly kissed him, little more than a grazing of their lips and released him.
Vegeta's eyes widened in surprise and he looked up at the taller saiyajin as he wiped his eyes with the back of his hands. Goku smiled down at him again and opened his mouth to speak, closed it, opened it and then paused in thought.
Vegeta's heart swelled in his chest. The baka was crying because he was _happy_? Vegeta had made him happy. He smirked back at Goku and picked up the towel from the sink side. Goku set a soapy dish to the side and Vegeta picked it up, wiping at it.
"If I had known screwing you blind would have made you this happy, I would have done it months ago." Vegeta grinned as Goku looked down at him in shock.
A small growl was Vegeta's only warning before Goku had him pinned to the floor. The dishes were forgotten until late in the afternoon when they needed to be cleaned so that lunch could be made; and the world turned on, grinning madly into space now and then over time letting the Heaven's know that finally things were set as they should be.