Chapter Summary: Krillin and Vegeta are finally making progress! They are both messes and don't know how to deal with their feelings.
I don't ever want to put on a show/ When I rock with with you, when I roll with you/ And I won't stop, I won't stop/ I'mma ride this wave/ Right to the shore of my grave
Ya know, Krillin was starting to feel like Kami was having it out for him because this was getting out of hand! Because he continues to be dumb as he actually forget that he could fucking fly, which of course he fucking did. He fell off the chair because he forgot that you need balance to not fall but no, he had to be in a crisis and rush himself. Oh, he also forgot that he could fucking fly, did he mention that?
So now, he was in the arms of the alien that, in his mind, hated him. He was such a dumbass that he needed to be saved from falling from a fucking chair. The worst thing though was that Krillin was the most comfortable he had ever been in his entire life. Like, you think for a toned body that he wouldn't be that nice to lay on top of but nope, completely nice and firm. Krillin weirdly felt safe in the arms of his alien savior.
"Are you alright Krillin?" That was the question from Vegeta. This also made Krillin snap out of his trace and he finally looked up the alien's face and wow, he didn't realize how close their faces were.
Krillin gave a nod, "I-I'm fine!" He squeaked, which surprised the both of them. Why the fuck was he so flustered? It was just Vegeta, the guy who's hand he grabbed and is now laying in the arms of, that wasn't a reason to act like a teenager.
Vegeta grunted and put him back down on his feet. The feeling in his stomach was back full force but he was once, he was agreeing with it. He really did not expect to come to the kitchen but he then felt the energy of Krillin and felt himself being drawn to the human's location. He was just planning on seeing what the bald one was doing (being a stalker) and then waiting for him to leave so that he could eat whatever he wanted.
Well, what he found was interesting. Seeing the short man on the chair trying to get a snack was kind of endearing. Though it did kind of irritate him because Krillin did not just fly up to the counter. But then he had a bright idea. Maybe it was his original nature peeking through from the fields of flying butterflies, which gave him so comfort, knowing that he was not fully gone to these unknown emotions.
When he did finally talk, he at first, kind of laughed when Krillin let out a squeak, he found it cute. This made the prince briefly wonder what other noises he could get out of the shorter man. He couldn't, however, find humor in the situation when Krillin slipped off the chair and he realized that then and there how much he did not want him to be hurt. So with the speed only a saiyan possess, he was already there to catch the human and suddenly he had an armful of a weak, small and gentle human.
The alien held him to his chest and he could feel his butterflies sing in harmony at his predicament. The smaller man's body was warm and soft, the feeling of an alive body being this close to his almost made him lose his breath. He wanted that all the time, he wanted Krillin to be the one to give him that. Bulma was right, no matter how much it pained him to admit, that he was a coward and was hiding behind the only emotion that he was familiar with.
Vegeta cleared his throat, "I am glad to see that you are alright then." He said, his butterflies flying around in his stomach because he meant it.
Krillin didn't want to analyze the feeling in his stomach when Vegeta said, "Uh, yeah thanks again Vegeta." He did however remember to be polite.
Before the awkwardness could set in even more, Krillin decided to end this moment by leaving. There was enough tension to even make Goku uncomfortable and that was saying a lot, the bald man thought it was best to just go back in his room and stay there until he was allowed to go back home.
"Well, I oughta get going, sorry for wasting your time." Even when he hadn't done anything wrong, he still sounded like he was in trouble but who the fuck cares? All he wanted to do was get out of here. So when he didn't get a reply, he just turned around, ready to head out the kitchen entry and never leave his room again.
"Krillin wait!" Oh god, when will this end? Also, why the hell did he stop? This was a perfect time to just run away and go hide in his room. Though he remembered who he was speaking to and also how fast this person was, especially when he was trying to prove a point. Well, fuck him then. With nothing left to lose and a weird feeling of anticipation, he turned back around to see Vegeta staring right at him. He couldn't decipher what the emotion was on his face but he had his fists balled up. He should have been scared, knowing how violent the saiyan could be.
But Krillin just wanted this to be over, "What is it Vegeta?" Whatever he had to say, it wouldn't make a difference, he knew where the relationship stood.
All right, time to prove that blue-haired harpy wrong. Vegeta then cleared his throat, "Would you like to go out with me tomorrow? I know the last time we interacted was not...the best to say the least. Maybe this one can be a do-over perhaps?"
There was a silence that fell over the kitchen and for the first time in Vegeta's life he may have had a bad idea. Maybe Krillin did not have the same feelings as he had, that he was right about that there was nothing that would come from this and he had just made a fool out of himself for nothing.
Krillin on the other hand was feeling like he was about to pass out. This was all too much but yet, he was okay with it. I mean he accepted that he died back on Namek because it stopped Frieza, he accepted that Goku didn't want to come home because his best friend has his reasons. And now, he was going to accept that Vegeta was asking to go out with him because that meant the alien did not hate him! Krillin did not know what changed from this morning but he was honestly happy that the prince wasn't mad at him.
He was so sure that what happened at the bar had ruined what little relationship the two had gained from Namek. It kind of made him sick to his stomach when Vegeta was cold to him this morning but here he was, wanting to go out on another night out. And now he used his name, not his nickname for him but his real name! Krillin could not recall the prince using anyone else's actual name instead of Goku's. He should probably actually answer before he made it seem like he was going to say no, and ruin whatever the fuck they had going on-
"Oh for fucksakes, just say yes Krillin!" Came a voice.
Both Vegeta and Krillin jumped this time and looked around the room to see where it came from. Krillin was now holding onto Vegeta's arm, thinking that they were under attack.
"It's me, Bulma. I have been watching you guys the entire time, Krillin please say yes! Princey boy has been a mopy mess since you guys last went out! " Bulma said, and both of them realized that there was a camera hidden in the wall.
Vegeta growled, "You were watching us! Why the hell would you do that?" He didn't know why it annoyed him that Bulma knew what he was planning. Maybe it had something to do with Bulma being a dick about knowing she was right about him being infatuated with her friend.
"Because it is my house and I need to know how my guests are up to! I usually check up on you Vegeta when I can't sleep. Do you know how boring you are? I mean all you do is just train, eat and sleep; is that what you used to do with Frieza?" Even though you could not see Bulma's face, you could hear the eye roll in her voice.
Before Vegeta could explode and blast the goddamn camera, he felt a tug on his wrist. He looked down to see Krillin giving him his signature smile. Vegeta now questioned why the room had gotten so warm? When did Krillin get closer to him? Why was Krillin touching him? Were they now on terms where they could be close to each other?
Krillin tightened his grip on Vegeta's wrist, "I hate to say it but Bulma's right. Besides, I would love to go out with you Vegeta. Would you like to go to the movies tomorrow, how does 8pm sound?" He asked, his black eyes shining.
It was Vegeta's turn now to go silent but it didn't last long, "I believe that is satisfactory." Was the only reply he could give because the butterflies in his stomach were having a field day and the air felt light.
Krillin's smile became even brighter to him, "Great! I'll see you tomorrow." He gave his wrist one last squeeze before letting go.
Vegeta nodded, acknowledging the sadness he felt when he didn't feel the pressure on his wrist anymore. Though he shot it down with the thought of spending tomorrow with Krillin, alone, with no one to interfere. For the first time in a while, Vegeta felt content. For the first since being back from the dead, something was going right.
The prince then looked up at him and gave him a small smile, which just seemed to make Krillin go red in the face. The bald man held the chips to his chest and resisted the urge to rub the back of his head. He did not want to look any more lame than he already did, but felt more than happy to get a smile out of Vegeta.
"Well good night Vegeta, you too Bulma." He said quietly before walking past Vegeta to get out of the kitchen, sliding against the alien prince. Krillin made it out of the door and was rushing back to his room to hide his face in the pillow.
Vegeta did not have time to respond and when he felt Krillin's body against him, he felt even warmer around his face. He was barely touched by the human and he was already putty in his hands, this was not what he was used to. He needed to get this under control.
He heard a snicker, "Oooh, Vegeta's got a date!" Hearing the booming voice of Bulma all around him, cooing like an omnipresent harpy was something straight out of his nightmare.
Vegeta glared up at the ceiling, "Women I swear to the goddess!" All he got in return was the cackling laughter in return.
~STARS~
When Krillin made it to his room and closed the door as quietly as he could, holding back his squeals. He was so fucking ecstatic! He did a little dance to the bed and flopped on top of it. He opened his bag of chips and happily crunched on them. He stared at up the ceiling with a stupid grin that would rival Goku's. Vegeta did not hate him! He had not entirely screwed up what little relationship the two had developed! Krillin silently thanked Kami when he put another chip in his mouth. He began humming to himself as he was chewing in complete utter happiness because he did not ruin his relationship!
Krillin was so certain that the Prince hated him and then with Vegeta's warning, he felt like he was not welcomed here in the house. Though Krillin was not good at reading people anyway, if anything Marron can attest to that. The ex-monk stopped chewing as his mind went to his 'girlfriend' and how he was treated by her. It was not a good situation and it just reiterated how much of a love-sick fool he was, falling for anyone who gave him attention.
But Vegeta felt different, he least tolerated him. If that wasn't the case, then why would the saiyan want to go out with him or agree to go to the movies with him. Hell, he saved him from falling to ground for no real reason when he could have just let him fall and laugh at him. Though Krillin realized that Vegeta did have a track record of saving his ass.
He remembered how many times Vegeta saved him on Namek, even when it was easier to let him and Gohan die on that planet. He also remembered when Vegeta gave them both armor just because, to Krillin, it seemed little by little that Vegeta was showing some weird attentiveness for the earthlings, especially to Krillin.
That caused a memory of Vegeta just staring at him when he was putting the armor on, which kind of weirded him out back then. When he tried to make small talk to Vegeta because he was still staring at him, the alien told him to shut up but never stopped staring at him. He just was weird when it came to Krillin. And now he was going out with him because the alien wanted to be around him and make up for the disaster that was their first night out. Even Bulma said that he seemed to be torn up about how the night ended between them like he was for the past few nights. Though he was mostly mad at himself about upsetting the alien, while apparently, Vegeta just wanted to make a better night out for the both of them.
I won't mess up this time. He thought as he put another chip in his mouth. I'll make sure to give him a night that he'll never forget.
~STARS~
It was five in the morning and not even the dead was awake but here Krillin was, walking down the hallways to get some water in a shirt that's too big for him because he woke up thirsty. When he woke up, he just stared at the ceiling because really, why God? It was still pitch black outside and there was no noise to be heard. He hated it, the absolute silence was damn near drowning him, suffocating him in the quiet. God he missed home.
I really shouldn't be up this early. The words bounced around his head as he turned down a hallway, trying to remember where the kitchen was, it was way too dim in the mansion. It was the next right or maybe it was left? Though I just it does beat not sleeping at all, maybe I could see what else the Briefs had. I only ate chips anyway. Krillin turned a corner, still with his head down. Besides, it's not like I'm going to run into anybody, only a miserable person would be up this early willing.
Another corner was turned, which led him to being smacked in the face by something hard. He fell back and landed right on his ass, there was also an ache forming on where he hit his head. Ow, what the hell did I hit? He rubbed his head because that actually did hurt. Did I hit a wall or something?
"Shit, Krillin are you okay?" A voice asked him, how nice of them.
The bald man nodded and put a hand up, "Yeah I'm fine, thanks for asking…" It then hit me when he remembered that walls don't talk and the voice he was hearing deep and familiar.
He then looked up to see Vegeta standing over him, shirtless and wearing some shorts, which were showing off those strong tights of pale goodness and the chest that was really nice to lay on. He immediately looked back down because he could feel warmth spreading all over him. He really shouldn't be thinking like that, it wasn't like it was going to get him anywhere. It wasn't like Vegeta would like him that way anyway.
Vegeta just kept staring down at him, the thought of how cute Krillin looked with a shirt too big for him, especially when it slipped off his shoulders, showing some skin. The image made a place in his head and traveled down to the butterflies in his stomach, which were flying in delight. The creamy-colored skin glowed in the dimness of the hallway and that feeling of warmth spreading in his stomach was almost sickening. He was getting flustered over a shoulder! He has literally been naked for times then he could count, has seen multiple naked bodies but a little shoulder was sending into him a frenzy. This was madness!
The prince then stretched out his hand, "Do you need a hand?" He needed not to make this awkward for both of their sakes.
Krillin snapped his head up, staring at the nice, callous, warm hand being presented in front him. He should say no, say that he was alright, leave this scene, skip the drink and lay back in his big lonely bed with his face in a pillow. That was the responsible thing to do, it's what he would usually do in this scenario but deep down, he really wanted to feel that hand against his.
Well, I mean one more time can't hurt. He grabbed the hand and was immediately hit with the feeling of a warm, rough hand that felt way too nice to let go. He felt Vegeta pull and lift him up, letting him back on his feet.
The human gave a small smile, "Thanks again, Vegeta. You've really been a life saver." He wasn't lying and he knew that he really couldn't lie even if he wanted to. The alien just had that effect on him, he narrowed it down to him just being intimidated.
The prince felt his heart flutter, "It's been no trouble and I don't mind." He really didn't mind, he liked being Krillin's safety net.
The shorter man just laughed because he might have squeaked, "Still, I know you have important things to do like...whatever you're doing at five am in the morning." He had a vague idea because of the attire but ya know what they say, never right to assume.
"I've been training, I find it more fair to do it in the morning. No one around and no one to annoy me." The prince's mind went immediately to Bulma and how he would have his head talked off when he first came back to earth, she wasn't usually up at this time.
Krillin laughed, "Yeah I feel that; everyone needs time to themselves." He rubbed the back of his neck before he could stop himself because this was not how he wanted to start his morning. Though, it wasn't going bad so far, it actually was pleasant.
Vegeta felt himself relax a little at Krillin's laugh, "Especially when you have someone like Bulma around."
Before he could stop himself, the younger man found himself giggling at that, it wasn't nice to say about his friend but again it wasn't wrong. He knew the woman for years and knew the kind of person she could be, but he would never change it.
The older man's butterflies nearly went into his throat when he heard Krillin giggling because it was a very nice sound and he was the reason for why the laugh was happening. He liked being the reason why Krillin was happy.
The bald man finally stopped giggling and just smiled, "Yeah, you are a right about that. Geez, I didn't know you were funny."
There's a lot of things you don't know about me. I would like you to know more, though. Vegeta let a smile form on his face because Krillin was just that type of person, he wouldn't mind being the reason he smiled either. "There are many things you don't know about me Krillin, I'm just that dimensional." It was a nice feeling to be this open with someone, he never got the chance when he was still Frieza's dog.
Krillin raised an eyebrow, "Oh you are, aren't you? I guess I'll have to find out later tonight then won't I?" It was nice to tease someone, he never got a chance to. It especially felt nice when he got a little chuckle out of the prince.
A silence fell over the two and that's when Krillin realised that he still was feeling the warm hand of the alien. He looked down to see his hand being by the other, who finally seemed to notice as well. The prince let go of his hand and he immediately missed the warmth he was given but decided not to say anything. It was like last time, just an accident.
Vegeta looked away from him, "I'm sorry about that, I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable." He really should have been paying attention, he can't slip up like that. He didn't want Krillin to think he was weird and call off the night out. The prince needed to know if this can work, he needed this to work.
Krillin shook his head, "No, no, not at all! It felt nice actually, I just didn't realize until now. You have really nice hands anyway, so it wasn't bad or anything " Why the hell did he say that? He really should have phrased that differently.
The prince perked up a little and stared at him with this look, "I didn't mind your hand either, it was very...nice as well." Why was it said like that, why was Krillin face feeling hotter than it already was.
Again they fell back into silence with Krillin just staring anywhere but at Vegeta because this was not how morning was supposed to go. He should have just said no and went on with his day but now he is just standing with a red face because he just said that Vegeta had nice hands. Was he wrong? No. Was that appropriate to say right now? Again, no. He should leave, go right back to his room to scream into the darkness of his room.
Krillin cleared his throat, "Well, I'm going to go now. I'll see you later right?" He really hoped he didn't ruin their night out with his weirdness.
Butterflies were swarming everywhere when Vegeta heard that because the night was still on! Krillin still wanted to see him tonight, nothing had changed. He just nodded, "Right, I'll see you later tonight, I can't wait to see you." He was really hoping that did not sound odd but it felt right to say.
The shorter man swallowed a noise because again, there was that tone. Why was his stomach doing flips? Did he like the alien's voice, why did he like the alien's voice? He really needed that drink of water because the room was still getting hotter.
"Great, I'll just be on my way then." Krillin then slid past the prince, fully aware that their hands grazed each other and he could die right there because holy fuck did he feel the spark run through him made him see stars. Good God, he really needed that drink. He left the prince just standing there as he tried his way to the kitchen, hopefully he would get lost so that he would forget this mess.
Vegeta turned around to watch the smaller man walk off, only stopping when he saw him turn another corner. He felt his body relax when he was alone, this was not usually for him. He had never gotten this wound up for anything in his life but a little human with nice hands, a bright smile and a cute laugh was making him unravel.
What are you doing to me, Krillin? He clenched his fists and stomped in the direction of the gravity chamber, ready to work this shit off. He needed a distraction from whatever fuck he was feeling, besides, he had an entire night to get his answers.
Endnote- So, how's quarantine going for y'all so far? I honestly hate being back home but this at least gives me the excuse to write. We are continuing with the four week to a month updates because it works the best for me especially with finals coming up, so yeah. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!