Pacific
By Reiko Narita
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Dragonball Z or any of the characters.
Warnings: YAOI, GokuxVegeta, AU, language, possible OOC
Author's Note: This story takes place a year or so after everyone gets back from Namek and Goku has returned from Yardrat. (Trunks will not be making an appearance to warn about the androids.)
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Chapter Three
Vegeta was speechless. Before him lay a sobbing mass of muscle with black, spiked, hair. He could never recall seeing Goku this way, and he was hoping that he would never have to see it again. Although he knew Goku to be a bit of a simpleton, he would never have imagined Goku looking so helpless and pitiful. The larger Saiyan just sat on the floor sobbing and shaking. In his mind, Vegeta could draw nothing but a blank. The shorter Saiyan sat across from him, biting his lower lip, feeling rather uncomfortable. What was he to do?
"He doesn't know me and I don't know him. Why has he come to me with this problem? It's none of my concern. I could care less. The last thing I need is something like this on my mind when I'm not even involved. What does he think I could possibly do?"
"Kakarotto…I don't understand why you came to my house…and you sure picked a strange time for it. What do you want from me?" Vegeta asked, his tone sounding cross. It was the best he could do to try to sound somewhat sympathetic, because at this time, he did not know how he should handle the situation.
Goku looked up from his sobbing, stunned that Vegeta had spoken what sounded like words of sympathy. He was expecting the brunette to throw him out or tell him off for being the spineless coward that he was (or something hurtful that Vegeta was bound to say). However, as he glanced at the prince through his dark bangs and stinging eyes, he could see an expression of pure consideration and if it wasn't, then Vegeta was quite talented at hiding his true feelings. Goku, feeling as if he couldn't breathe, snorted loudly and tried to compose himself enough to converse with the shorter Saiyan.
"As you know…I left my home, with nowhere else to go. I tried going to Muten-Rôshi's house, but he wasn't there. He left a note saying he was going on a trip or a vacation of some kind. I can't remember. So, I tried calling Yamcha and Kuririn, but they weren't home either. I guess they went on a camping trip or something. Then I went to Capsule Corp. and asked Bulma if I could stay there for a little while."
"And? What did she say?" said Vegeta, wanting Goku to continue.
Goku sniffed a little and rubbed his eyes. "She let me stay."
Vegeta's rolled his eyes. "Well, why did you leave if she was going to let you stay?"
Goku took the tail of his shirt and wiped his nose with it, not caring to hold up appearances. He then got up and started walking around.
"She made me leave because she said I was eating her out of house and home. I don't see what the big problem was. I didn't eat that much!" said Goku, thinking back to when Bulma fussed at him for eating everything they had in the refrigerator.
Vegeta put a hand to his head, exasperated at hearing this. Of course, Goku was being perfectly serious about the whole thing, but when he said it, it came across as slightly comical. He probably could eat all of the food they had at Capsule Corp. However, being a Saiyan himself, he knew Goku had a healthy appetite. But he finally realized that it must be bigger than usual. Being depressed probably made his appetite grow even more.
Goku continued, his voice losing some of its shakiness. "When I first came over, I was actually looking for you. I thought maybe we could spar a little. I would have welcomed anything to get my mind off of things. But then she told me about you leaving Capsule Corp. and everything...and well, I felt like I had to find you, to see if you were okay."
Vegeta frowned. He rose from the table and he glared at Goku, giving a response, his voice showing traces of annoyance.
"But I never wanted to be found! First of all, what would make you think that I'd want to spar with you? I haven't spoken a word to you since you came back to Earth. And you certainly haven't talked with me." Vegeta looked at Goku with a cold expression. He had never been friends with Goku. As far as Vegeta knew, they were still more than mere rivals.
The taller Saiyan looked down at his shoes for a brief moment, wondering if events had turned out differently, perhaps becoming friends with Vegeta would have worked out. But he could see where the conversation was heading.
"I can't believe this! I specifically told Bulma that I did not want anyone to know where I was. I see that I'll have to have a long talk with her", Vegeta said, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Goku, for a long time, thought he knew Vegeta pretty well, but he never knew Vegeta to react as calmly as he did. It could have been a lot worse. When he didn't get his way, Vegeta would always make a fuss about it until he was finally appeased. But now, Goku was bound to be in trouble with Bulma too and with the combination of both Vegeta's and Bulma's tempers, he was sure to be in for a big headache.
"May I ask why you don't want anyone to know? Nobody would have bothered you at Capsule Corp. That place is huge and has lots of room." Goku said boldly.
The prince glanced over at the younger Saiyan with another frown. He was surprised at Goku for wanting to delve into his personal motives, but decided to answer his question anyway. What choice did he have? Goku would probably talk it out of him later on anyway.
"Well, for your information, I was sick of living there. Everywhere I turned; there was always somebody in my face. If it wasn't Bulma, it was either her mother or father. There were workers all around and even when I was in my own room, there would be some annoying man, hanging outside, cleaning the windows. I came out here because I wanted my privacy. I never wanted to live on this stupid planet, but I might as well make the best of it by living the way I choose."
The younger Saiyan gulped. That answer was enough to satisfy him.
Vegeta took in a heavy sigh and continued as calmly as possible, crossing his arms over his chest. "So, am I correct in assuming that you want to stay here with me?"
Goku nodded weakly and gravitated to the wall, feeling the need for some support.
"Please Vegeta; I don't have anywhere else to go. My wife doesn't want me at home, I miss my son and not even my closest friends will let me stay with them and all because of the way I eat."
Goku paused, wondering if Vegeta might say something, but he refused to look into the smaller Saiyan's eyes. He could practically feel the disgust and it hung in the air, like a thick fog.
"I know that you may not understand my situation and it doesn't matter to me if you care or not, but I promise, if you let me stay here, I won't give you any trouble or bother you at all. I'll clean the house inside and out and I'll wait on you everyday if that's what it takes. And I promise you that I won't complain. You won't even know I'm here. Please Vegeta…please", said Goku, starting to cry again and sliding down to the floor, his back against the wall. He tried to hold it back, but at that moment, he thought of what Vegeta's response might be. It didn't matter how he said it, Goku knew it would all mean the same thing. Vegeta came all the way into the forest for privacy, to be alone. Period. End of story.
Vegeta walked to the opposite side to face Goku and simply stood there, not saying a word. The prince felt very confused, almost scared. Never had he had to face a situation like this. Goku, the man that defeated Freeza and managed to turn into the legendary Super Saiyan, was now huddled on the floor of Vegeta's house. He was probably the strongest being in known existence; able to defeat anyone who stood against him, yet Vegeta could not comprehend why Goku would be coming to him, practically on his knees, begging for help. The proud side of him felt sickened, disgusted, and almost ashamed that the title of Super Saiyan had fallen on such an unworthy man, a man who was also seemingly quite simple-minded and not at all like a true Saiyan. He felt his stomach turn and looked away.
"…you're a Super Saiyan, Kakarotto. You should be able to accomplish anything you want. Am I not the weaker one? Why do you need me?"
He almost said it aloud, but then, the prince was suddenly hit by thoughts of an ordeal that happened on Namek. He could remember when he had unconsciously teamed up with Goku and his friends, to go against Freeza and his forces. He remembered when he was brutally beaten by the vicious war-lord and how much pain he was in. And he could remember pouring his heart out to Goku, as he lay dying, not caring about anything else. Suddenly he felt a sudden urge to repay an unspoken dept to the taller Saiyan. What he said on Namek was from his soul and it made his mind at ease to know that Goku knew the truth about what had happened and what was at stake.
Feeling compelled to stop his crying, Vegeta walked over to Goku and seated himself on the larger Saiyan's left, his back also leaning against the wall. He was terribly uncomfortable being this close to Goku, especially while he was in this state. It was unfamiliar and he didn't know how to deal with it. He sat for about a minute or so in silence, with nothing but the sounds of Goku's sobbing filling the room, until he finally decided to speak.
Reluctantly, Vegeta placed his small slender hand lightly on Goku's shoulder, as it jerked up and down.
"Kakarotto, I don't understand any of this very well. The only thing I do understand, however, is that you're in need of a place to stay. If you promise not to bother me or go into my room…you may stay." He struggled to get the last two words to free themselves from his mouth. Did he really say that? Did he really mean it? Those three little words carried a feeling of uncertainty and Vegeta didn't like it.
Goku, shocked silly out of his stupor, looked over to Vegeta, who had a slight smile, not a smirk, but an actual smile on his face, though it seemed more than a little forced. He searched the prince's eyes, looking for the smallest ounce of honesty and was successful in finding it. Overcome with joy and surprise, Goku threw his himself over Vegeta, wrapping his muscled arms around the smaller Saiyan's waist, causing Vegeta to fall back and spread his legs a little to allow Goku's build to fit. Although startled at first, Vegeta accepted Goku's crushing hug. He was hesitant, but soon allowed himself to become relaxed. Apprehensively, he put his own arms around Goku, his right hand on the back of Goku's head, his left arm around his neck.
Unconsciously, he began to gently stroke Goku's spiky locks, still feeling the dampness that was left it in from the rain. The gesture frightened Vegeta, not knowing where it came from. It was like his body was being controlled by another force, a force he wasn't familiar with. He was deeply disturbed by his own behavior, but he didn't let it show on the outside. In his mind, a voice kept yelling for him to stop, to stop because Goku was his rival, his enemy. The voice was screaming, to stop because this wasn't like him at all, but for once, he kept a wall up between what he thought and what he felt.
Goku continued to cry, but by the smile on his face, Vegeta was safe in assuming that they were tears of happiness. The two Saiyans sat there, in the dining room of Vegeta's home, with nothing but the sound of Goku's crying and the rain, still pouring down heavily outside.