"Wow, Vegeta," Goku said as he stared about the living room. "You told me you didn't have many clothes…but you didn't mention how many trinkets you had!" Vegeta just shrugged his shoulders.
"I didn't think you'd care." He said simply. He didn't. He didn't think Goku would really bother about how much stuff he had. He glanced around the room and frowned. Funny…it seems as though I had more art stuff than I thought! Or maybe it's because Kakarot's house is smaller than Capsule Corp. That's probably it, anyway.
"Hey, Vegeta." Vegeta was dragged out of his musings when Goku called him. "I think maybe I should show you your room. I mean, you haven't been upstairs yet, have you?" Vegeta shook his head in reply. "Okay, then. Let's go!" Vegeta followed Goku a flight of stairs hidden behind the kitchen. He frowned and wondered on why he didn't notice it, but then realised that at the time, it wasn't really important. Goku glanced back and mistook Vegeta's frown for one of confusion. "This used to be Gohan and Goten's rooms, as well as mine and Chichi's." On hearing the name, Vegeta flinched. He remembered that the young male still wasn't over the divorce yet and he didn't want to upset him. As strange as it sounded, he knew it was true. He liked Goku too much to hurt him.
But what he didn't know was that his presence had helped Goku to eradicate all hurt and sorrow of Chichi's leaving. He no longer cared that she left. In fact, he thought that it was best. He cared for her and all, but she wasn't much of a wife as she was a mother. Being a wife and a mother were two very different things, and Chichi was only one. Well, he had been dead for a really long time. And the fact that he had hardly been home only made the fact more so obvious. No. He didn't belong with Chichi. He felt more like he belonged to Vegeta.
Saa…he is my ouji. He thought. And I wouldn't really spend time with him unless I really liked him. We've sparred nearly everyday since I've been back from the dead that it shouldn't really come as a surprise. I mean, come on! Who can resist a sexy Saiyan no Ouji in skintight spandex? Now, if only they were white, maybe they'd become transparent when wet… Goku's eyes immediately bugged out and a bright red tinge appeared on his cheeks. What in the hell is wrong with me?! Why is the idea of Vegeta in a transparent suit so enticing? His eyes became half-lidded and his breathing shallow as his imagination went for a little joyride. Ass hugging, sweat glistening, super thin and easy to rip off spandex… Sadly, he happened to stop walking as soon as the images of a butt naked Vegeta sprang to mind.
Vegeta walked right past Goku, but stopped when he noticed that Goku was standing in the middle of the hall with a glazed look in his eyes. Curiously, he walked up to him and looked him dead in the eye. His eyes were definitely glazed over.
What on earth is Kakarot thinking of? He wondered. He doesn't look like he's reminiscing about him and that harpy. He looks more like…ummm…nggghh… Vegeta struggled to think of what could possibly be going through Goku's mind. Maybe he's sick. Vegeta noticed the shock pink that shone on his cheeks and thought that maybe Goku had a fever. If he had maybe looked down, he might've found the source of Goku's real problem. "Ano…Kakarot?" he asked. Goku didn't appear to be listening. He frowned again as he put his hand onto Goku's shoulder to shake him out of his daze. "Kakarot!" he called louder.
"NYAAAAAAHHH!!!" he yelped as he was suddenly lurched back down to Earth. As his eyes came back into focus, he noticed Vegeta standing in front of him with a worried look on his face.
"Kakarot?" he asked. "Are you alright?" Goku stared at Vegeta in front of him, straining to remove those naughty images his mind had conjured up as well as restraining himself from turning it into a reality.
"Ummm…hai!" he declared, rubbing the spikes at the nape of his neck. "Ahh…hahahahahaha… gomen, Vegeta-chan. I sorta spaced out there thinking about someone."
"Honto ni? Dare?" Goku swallowed hard.
"Umm…just Gohan and Goten and how much fun we used to have before Chichi divorced me."
"Oh." Vegeta didn't know what else to say. He could say sorry, but for what? He didn't want Goku to think that he pitied him. After all, he knew that pity was the last thing Goku would want from him.
"Hahahahahaha…" Goku chuckled nervously. "Anyways, the room's this way." He marched on ahead, leaving Vegeta to follow. All the while, he kept looking dead ahead, afraid that the blush would return if he looked at Vegeta. Kami-sama!! How long was I out for?! How in the HELL could I think of such things?! ESPECIALLY of VEGETA!!! But he didn't get to answer those questions, as they had soon arrived in front of the door Goku had intended for Vegeta's new room. He opened the wooden door and made way, gesturing Vegeta to go in first.
The room was fairly large, about the same as Vegeta's room back at Capsule Corp. But this was different. Capsule Corp had only one or two windows per room and the entire room was concrete and carpet. This room had four windows, including a balcony. The floor was oak wood and shone a muddy yellow in the sunlight. The walls were also wooden, but painted a light peach. There was a bed, a dresser and a wardrobe with a mirror. It was really quite spacious and it looked like it had the perfect temperature, cool in hot weather, warm in cold.
Vegeta looked around in fascination. This was far more comfortable than his other room at Capsule Corp. He didn't really know why, but he had an idea that it because he was Saiyan, born to live in the outdoors, not in.
"This used to be Gohan's room, and then it was Goten's when he left." Goku said. Vegeta nodded as he walked around, nose wrinkling at the sight of a thick layer of dust coating the bed and the dresser.
Tsk. Kakarot's even neglected his cleaning duties. But it suppose it wouldn't really matter seeing as how both the brats are out the house and there's no one else but him. He sighed audibly as he glanced the floor, grimacing at the sight of his footprints in the dust. Looks like we'll have to get cleaning.
Goku knew the room was rather dirty…okay, so maybe 'dirty' was an understatement. But he knew that it was in dire need of cleaning. Goku knew that this was one of the biggest rooms in the house, which is why he decided to give it to Vegeta. What he forgot was that it had been many months since anyone had been up there and that the dust covered the floor like snow after a blizzard!
Man! Looks like Vegeta and I have some work to do!
"Hey, Kakarot." Goku looked up to Vegeta. "Do you have any things we can use to clean up this mess?" Goku nodded, smiling at the warm tone Vegeta used.
"Sure. When Chichi left, she left all that stuff behind. Come on." He turned his back and walked down the hall. As Vegeta followed, Goku talked. "You know, we've got some curtains somewhere in the cupboards, I think you'll be needing those. They come in handy with the early morning summer sun and the cold nights of winter. I'll let you pick the ones you want because believe me…Chichi had some strange tastes in colour curtains…" Vegeta cocked his head to one side as he glanced up at Goku with a confused expression.
Nani? Is Kakarot over the divorce? He questioned. He didn't know. The way Kakarot's going on, it's as though she was nothing but a mere friend. On thinking that, a hopeful smile blossomed onto Vegeta's handsome features and his heart jumped in joy too. Maybe there is a chance…
By late evening, Vegeta and Goku had finally finished cleaning the room. They both looked proudly about as they admired the shine the floor gave off in the golden light, glimmering like gold. The windows were no longer a sickly grey, but crystally transparent. The mahogany cupboard and dresser reflected a flame red in the sunlight and the once dusty mirror now looked like a window to a parallel world. Vegeta looked around, rather pleased with the place.
Now all we have to do is carter my stuff up here. That shouldn't be a problem seeing as my stuff isn't that heavy. He turned to Goku. "Hora, Kakarot. I think we can get my stuff now."
"Oh, sure Vegeta." He said. They walked out the room when Goku remembered something. "Ano, Vegeta-san."
"Hmm?" Vegeta stopped walking as he turned around to face Goku.
"Why don't you look in the cupboard for the colour curtains you want? I'll just bring your stuff up to your room." He suggested. Vegeta cocked his head to one side as he contemplated. Shrugging, he walked back to the room.
"Okay. Just be careful with my stuff." Goku watched Vegeta's retreating form, eyes traveling down his body until they settled on an enticingly swaying rump. As soon as Vegeta was out of sight, Goku slapped himself in the face, as well as punched himself a couple of times in the nose.
Yamero! Yamero!! He yelled at himself. Staring at Vegeta's ass is NOT allowed! Even if it is cute… he proceeded to slap the snot out of himself before he realised that if he did not hurry up, Vegeta might come out to check what he is doing. Rubbing his cheeks, he walked back down the stairs and retrieved the bags of clothes and paint tools. When he returned to the room, Vegeta was sifting through the curtains. He needn't turn his back to see the burly Saiyan enter the room; he could already smell that musky, masculine drug.
"Kakarot," he said slowly as he lifted up a grey and pink striped curtain. "What in the hell was with that onna of yours?" Goku just chuckled as he put the stuff down.
"That was the first pair of curtains Chichi ever got." He said. "She was going to put them up in Gohan's room when he was a baby, but he didn't agree." Vegeta smirked.
"Hmm, maybe that first brat of yours has got some sense after all." He said as he turned back. Goku just smiled as he shook his head. Even though it was meant to be insulting, the tone Vegeta used was more playful than anything else. "Ano, Kakarot." Vegeta called as he dug even deeper into the drawer of the cupboard. "Where in the hell are the white curtains? That's the only colour I want." Once again, Goku's reply was delayed to the sight of Vegeta's rear sticking up in the air as he dug deeper into the drawer. He gulped as he felt that same burning in his nether regions and quickly turned his head before it got even worse.
"Ahh…I…I think it's right at the bottom." He said in an almost squeaky voice. Aaarghhh!! He screamed at himself. What in the fuck is wrong with me?!? I HAVE to stop staring there!!! He turned back, hoping that Vegeta had found it, but turned away quickly again as Vegeta was still digging in the drawer. Okay, Kakarot. He told himself. Go down and get the canvas. Yes, don't look…just go! NOW!! Trying not to run or trip over his feet, Goku made his way out the room and downstairs.
Back in the living room, Goku sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck.
What is with me? I don't normally think like this. He thought pensively. I mean, I've never even thought about Chichi like this. And she's female! Vegeta's male! It was true. Goku had never, in all his life, ever stared at the behind of anyone else and thought that it was rather nice-looking. Male, female or it. And here he was, staring at Vegeta with hentai thoughts running through his head. Vegeta will have my head on a golden platter if he ever sees what's going on in my head! He'd probably think that's the reason why I invited him to live with me!!
Goku was so caught up in his thoughts, that he by accident torn the brown paper off the canvas as he walked into the kitchen. The only thing he heard was a loud rip and his heart leapt into his throat.
Oh my fuck?! He yelped mentally. Kuso! If I've torn this thing, Vegeta's going to KILL me!! Goku was in such a panic that he did not realise that in trying to check if he had damaged it, he was ripping more of the brown paper off. Only once it was all lying on the ground, scattered like leaves in the Aki, did he realise what he had done. He clutched the top of his gi in panic, hoping that if he had ruined whatever trinket this was, Vegeta would forgive him. But he highly doubted it. "Oh, what am I going to do?" he whined as he paced around. This was not a good day! First, he kept getting spaced out and thinking hentai thoughts of him and Vegeta, and now he had ruined one of Vegeta's things. He almost cried as he thought of Vegeta's pretty face, twisted with anger and hatred at his clumsiness. "Gomen nasai, Vegeta-kun." He whimpered, as though Vegeta was a before him. "I…I didn't mean to…it…it was an accident…" Goku took in a deep breath and slowly calmed down his shuddering body. Okay, calm down Kakarot. He told himself. So far, the only damage you've done is take the brown paper off. You don't know if the thing's really broken. He almost slapped himself when he thought that, as he could see that there was no rip or tear through the canvas, as he was standing at the back. Demo, maybe I've scratched the front. He grimaced as he thought of the canvas with one long white mark down one side. Maybe I should take a look…
Slowly, Goku trotted to the front of the canvas, bracing himself if he had really damaged one of Vegeta's trinkets. But all fear and panic was lost when he took a look at the picture. It was one of the most beautiful paintings he had ever seen. To hell with it, it was the most beautiful paint he had ever seen! The picture was of a rose. But unlike any rose he had seen, this one seemed to be alive with some emotion. The way the petals curled gently, the way the stem curved gracefully, the way the colours spoke to him in tones of reds, whites and yellows…it just took his breath away. He had never seen a picture like this before, one that looked as though he could really pull it out from the paper. He swore he could smell the perfumed fragrance waft from the centre and around the room.
"Vegeta," he breathed to himself. "Did…did you do this?" Goku wasn't sure. He remembered the day before when he woke to find Vegeta sitting in the corner of the room with a book propped up on one leg. Vegeta said he was drawing…demo…he can't possibly do something THIS good! He stared at the picture a little while longer, not really sure of whether the idol of his attraction had bought this against his own character, or if there truly was more to the ouji than he had first thought.
Goku stared for a few more moments, marveling at the beauty and the realism of the painting. He was just about to put it back when a sneaky grin rose up on his face. He knew that if he approached Vegeta and asked him if he had done this, Vegeta would deny everything. He knew that he had to approach this with tactic. Goku knew he wasn't much of a tactician in battle like Vegeta was, but he certainly knew how to play innocent.
Vegeta dug even deeper into the drawer, throwing every swear word he knew at Chichi. It had been nearly more than half an hour, and he still couldn't find the white curtains.
Kami-sama!! He growled as he nearly toppled into the drawer. Of all the colours in the world, she HAS to be missing white! That's the most common colour of them all!! Vegeta was trying his best not to topple over into the drawer, as he knew that he'd get stuck. And even though he did have feelings for Goku, getting rescued by him from the bottom of a curtains drawer was not on his 'most-likely-things-to-get-us-hooked-up' list. Finally, after a few more moments of digging, he found the white curtains lying at the bottom. He smiled as he saw that they were still in their plastic packaging, so it was almost like they were new. Just as he reached down to get them, a certain voice called out behind him.
"Vegeta!!"
"NYAAAAAAAHH!!" Because Goku was standing right next to Vegeta when he yelled out, Vegeta got a fright and fell into the drawer. He trashed his legs about as he sought to untangle himself from the curtains, but to no avail. They were thick, heavy and they had him pinned down. If only it were Kakarot… Vegeta flustered when he thought that and looked up to see the object of his infatuation grinning down at him.
"Hey Vegeta," Goku said in an innocent voice. "Wacha doing down there?" Vegeta's cheeks went red with both anger and embarrassment as he glared at the younger male.
"Baka yaro!!" he yelled as he thrashed out even more. "I was going to take out the white curtains from the bottom of the drawer, but then I kinda fell in." Goku smiled down at him, obviously missing the sarcasm in Vegeta's voice.
"Well, you are really small." He said. Vegeta's eyes widened as a pink blush rose to his cheeks and he turned the other way to hide it. "Come on, let me help you out." Before Vegeta could protest, Goku put his hands around his slender waist and picked him out of the drawer as though he were a feather. Or, in Vegeta's case, a woman. The pink on his cheeks deepen as he felt Goku's hands linger around his waist and he mentally berated himself for thinking that Goku was doing this because he had equal feelings for him. He turned his head the other way as he sought to hide the hot blush enveloping his cheeks.
"Uhh…arigato…" he muttered, not entirely sure of what to say. Goku just smiled happily.
"That's okay." Goku grinned down at his ouji, somewhat glad that he got a chance to touch the smaller form. Even if it was through his clothes… He mentally slapped himself, but the smile on his face never faded. "Hey, 'Geta. Do you want to see the new picture I got?"
This got Vegeta's attention. Slowly, he turned and looked up at Goku.
"Nani? New…picture?" Goku wanted to so much grab Vegeta and press his lips against his ouji's as Vegeta cocked his head to one side in confusion, but he managed to hold onto sanity.
"Hai," he said as his grin deepened. "I found it just now. I honestly didn't think I had something like it in my house, but now that I've found it, I've decided to put it up." Usually, Vegeta's frowns were one of irritation and displeasure. But this time, he actually looked very kawaii when he blinked rapidly in a confused way. Goku took a step forward and took the smaller one's hand. "Come on, I'll show you."
Goku led Vegeta all the way down the hall and the stairs, back into the living room. Vegeta had no idea what Goku was talking about or even why he was smiling the way he was, but he was happy to have some contact with the burly Saiyan. But the contact was lost as his hands slipped from Goku's as he saw a very familiar rose painting sitting on the wall. At first, he was speechless. He was rather flattered that Goku would want to put his picture up. But all that dissolved as he remembered that in order for Goku have seen this, he must've peeked. In his rage and fury, he let what Goku wanted to hear slip.
"WHAT IN FUCK ARE YOU DOING WITH MY PAINTING ON YOUR LIVING ROOM WALL??!!" Goku grinned down at him, his eyes glinting.
"So," he crooned. "You did do this after all, ne?" Vegeta's angry face turned into one of shock when he remembered what he just blurted out.
Kuso! Kakarot was the last person in the universe that I wanted to have find out about my hobby! Kami-sama! I must look like such a freak in his eyes! Vegeta didn't know how to react. Usually, when he was caught in the act of something, he would admit to whatever he was doing. But he rarely got caught out by the one he had been trying to impress the whole time. That same rose crept up on his cheeks and he quickly put his hands on them to hide the blush. Kami-sama! I don't think I've ever blushed this much in my entire life!!
Goku smiled jovially at his counterpart. But even though he was smiling, inside he was desperately telling himself not to make any sudden movement, in case he wanted to deepen the blush in the only way he knew how. Or at least, wanted to.
"I like it." He said. Of course, he was talking about Vegeta's flustered state, but Vegeta didn't know that. He looked up with large eyes and blinked.
"H…honto ni?" he asked, almost shyly.
"Hai so desu!" he said. "Why didn't you tell me sooner that you could draw and paint?" Vegeta shuffled his feet nervously. He knew the reason, but he wasn't about to tell Goku that it was because he didn't want him to think that he was soft.
"I…I just didn't think you'd be interested." Well, that's half-true. He thought to himself.
"Well, I think it's brilliant!" he said. Vegeta flustered, not sure what to make of this sudden rush of compliments. Goku had never said anything nice about him, but then again, if he did, Vegeta wasn't really paying much attention. "Can I keep it up there?" Vegeta stared at him with wide eyes.
"N…nan de sute?" he asked, not sure if he was hearing right.
"Saa, it's a really nice painting, and it does make the living room a lot brighter," Goku explained. "Saa…can I?" Vegeta stared at Goku for a few minutes, confusion and shock written all over his face. But it soon disappeared and an all too familiar smirk reappeared.
"Very well." He said as he grabbed another brown paper wrapped canvas. "Just so long as you help me carry the rest up to my room." Goku smiled brightly.
"Okay!"