A/N: "Worlds are colliding!"

Everybody Loves Vegeta, Too!

Part Nineteen

Rough fingertips rubbed in circles between Goku's shoulder blades. The fresh, clean scent of Vegeta's hair filled his nose. Goku couldn't remember the last time a body felt so corporeal against him. If he listened closely, he could even hear the thrum of Vegeta's heart against his ribcage. Both their crying petered out at the same time. To Goku's delight, Vegeta's sighs morphed into soft purrs.

"Are you still in love with me, Vegeta?"

"You bastard. Of course I am."

Goku paused. He inhaled. It was faint, but it was there: the Prince had a new scent. It wasn't shampoo or cologne, or even the smell of another person. Whatever it was, it rattled Goku's senses to the point of dizziness. He wanted to roll around in it.

Time for an experiment. Nonchalantly, he licked a line up the side of Vegeta's neck. "You taste great!"

Vegeta pulled away. Redness surrounded his puffy eyes. "I missed you," he said. His voice quavered.

"I missed you too." Goku shifted his weight to his one good leg, then wrapped his arms around Vegeta's neck. He pressed his nose against Vegeta's; his lover's eyes crossed to stare back at him. "Yep. Still cute."

Vegeta kissed him full on the mouth. It'd been a year since Goku felt this warm. He moaned once Vegeta pulled away. "How'd you break your leg?"

They were so close, Goku could see the gentle bend in Vegeta's eyelashes. "I'll tell you later," he said, dragging them both into another kiss. The sensation of Vegeta's velvety tongue fighting against his own aroused a coil of pleasure that shot from his stomach down to his groin.

Vegeta broke the contact again. His lips curled into a beautiful smirk. Goku had missed Vegeta's bravado, which came so naturally to him. The Prince stared Goku down as if he owned him. "What am I supposed to do with you, Kakarot?"

"Whatever you want." Goku lacked the willpower to pry himself from Vegeta's body. He slid his hands down his muscled back, then squeezed his backside. "Goddamn, Vegeta."

"What?" Vegeta asked, voice muffled in Goku's neck.

"Your ass is fat."

Vegeta growled. "Don't make fun of me."

"Oh, no. There's nothing funny about this," he said, squeezing Vegeta's ass again for emphasis. "My goodness. I can't even fit one cheek in my hand anymore." He looked down at Vegeta with a humorless expression. "This calls for more investigation. You're going to sit on my face later, right?"

Vegeta looked aghast. "Kakarot! You—"

Marron interrupted them. "I thought I saw you across the room, Uncle!"

Goku grinned. "Ay, kiddo!" He pulled her into the best hug he could manage while balanced on one foot.

"I missed you!" She wrapped her thin arms around his waist. "What are you wearing? And when did you get here? I have so many questions!"

He scratched his head. "I just got here. I searched for Vegeta's ki and came hobbling through the front door." For the first time, he looked around the room. "Whose stuff is this anyway? I haven't had a chance to look around yet."

Marron glanced at Vegeta with a toothy grin. Goku witnessed the strange sight of all the color draining from his face. Huh? Did I say something wrong?

"Uncle Goku." Marron pressed her hands to her cheeks. The girl was about to explode. "I can't believe you don't know yet…"

"Should I know?" He looked past Vegeta's shoulder at the painting behind him. "What the—that's Krillin!" He limped toward the canvas. "Krillin getting stabbed by Frieza! This looks amazing, but how could someone know this happened?!"

Vegeta was white as a sheet now. And Marron was still smiling mischievously at the both of them. What the hell is going on?

"Why don't you tell him already?" Marron said in a volume louder than normal.

Vegeta crossed his arms. "If he hasn't figured it out by now, maybe it's not worth mentioning!"

Goku frowned. Fine, I'll find out for myself since they're acting like a couple of weirdos. He squinted his eyes to read the placard next to the painting. "Looks like this is by—WHAT!"

"Hehehe." Marron held her sides. "Hahaha."

Goku rubbed his eyes. "No way." He scanned the placard again. He looked at Vegeta. To verify he wasn't hallucinating, he read the name next to the painting once more. Maybe he'd forgotten how to read? He pointed at Vegeta. "You did this?"

Vegeta scoffed. "That's what it says."

Goku looked to Marron for help. "Is this a joke?"

She laughed. "No. He really painting this!"

Goku's frown deepened. He absorbed all the details of the painting. "I don't understand. Since when did you know how to paint?"

"I didn't just sit on my ass the whole time you were gone," Vegeta yelled. "I made use of my time and learned how to do something other than fight!"

Goku gasped. "Why?"

"Ugh, you're impossible!" Vegeta stomped his foot and turned his back on them both.

Marron chimed in. "He did it for you, Uncle Goku. You wanted him to be an artist, right?"

"No way. I forgot I even said that!"

Vegeta walked away. Goku panicked and reached out toward him. After a year, he wasn't going to let his foot-in-mouth disease ruin the moment. "Wait, Vegeta! Please—show me the rest of the gallery!"

"Psh. You don't even care."

After all this time, Goku still remembered Vegeta's body language spoke louder than his words. He needed something from Goku. Good thing Goku knew what that something was.

Exaggerating his difficulty of movement, he hopped on one leg across the floor. "That's not true. I do care. I'm just shocked, you know? Now I'm not sure if I'm cool enough to be your boyfriend anymore."

"Is that how you feel?"

"Uh-huh." Goku made a big scene of tripping and falling into Vegeta's chest. To catch his balance he wrapped his arms around the Prince's ribcage. "Will you carry me? I'm all weak and defenseless!"

A smile threatened to break Vegeta's tight-lipped scowl. Goku wanted to laugh at his transparent reaction. So you think my handicap is funny, huh? He released his grip on Vegeta's chest and fell to the floor.

Vegeta covered his mouth to mute his strangled laugh. "Kakarot, stop being silly." He crouched down backwards and wrapped Goku's arms around his neck. Slowly, he lifted the heavier Saiyan up off the ground, then hooked his arms under Goku's knees. "Is this what you want?"

"A piggyback ride! Yay!"

Marron collected Goku's abandoned crutches up from the floor. "I don't understand how this kind of flirting works…"

Goku hugged his arms tighter around Vegeta's neck. He scanned the room. "Wow, I can see everything from up here! Why's there a crowd around that one draw—" Goku cut himself off short.

Below him, Vegeta squeezed his thigh. "What's the matter?"

Goku pointed across the room. "That's a drawing of me!"

"It is." Vegeta parted the crowd like the Red Sea, knocking people over in his straight path to the wall. Visitors cast them dirty looks as the duo eventually blocked everyone's view.

Soon Goku stared face-to-face with an image of himself. "Whoa. I'm naked."

"Yes," Vegeta said.

"Look everyone!" cried a woman to their right. "That's the guy in the drawing!"

Butterflies fluttered in Goku's stomach. The whole room was staring at him now.

"Ooh, he looks even cuter in the flesh," said a young woman standing to Vegeta's left. She leaned over to whisper something in her friend's ear, who burst into a fit of giggles.

Vegeta grunted. "Do you like it, Kakarot?"

Goku studied the giant sheet on the wall. Delicate lines of charcoal wove together to create his image. He was sprawled on his back in a grassy field, which was painstakingly rendered with inch-long strokes of conté. Every sinewy muscle on Goku's body was drawn with interlocking pencil strokes, which created the illusion he was vibrating. The delicate, carefree look on his face robbed the drawing of any lascivious undertones.

Nevertheless, it was still a naked drawing of him that at least a hundred people were gawking and taking pictures of.

"It's incredible. I never knew I could look so good."

"That's how you look to me all of the time," Vegeta said.

A familiar voice broke through the low chatter of the crowd. "Hey, it's Goku!"

Vegeta tensed beneath him. Krillin and Android 18 pushed aside several people to reach them. "Hey, Krillin!" Goku high-fived his short friend. "You decided to come too?"

"How could I miss Vegeta's classy debut?" He slapped Vegeta's arm. "Congratulations! I never knew you had it in you."

"Thanks."

18 crossed her arms. "Are you impressed with Vegeta, Goku? He worked hard for the past year."

"Oh yeah. I can't believe it!"

"I can't believe it either," she said, jutting her thumb at the illustration of Goku. "Your man saved usall the trouble of having to imagine what you look like naked."

Goku giggled. "Aw, geez."

"Looks like Trunks and Goten like it too," Krillin said. He pointed out the two boys in the crowd. Both of them gaped at the giant picture with unblinking eyes.

"Wow, Vegeta. It's so good, they're both in shock!" Goku cupped his hands around his mouth. "Yo, Goten!"

His son didn't move. Trunks' right eye twitched. They remained frozen in the crowd.

Krillin rubbed his head, utterly baffled. "What a bunch of weird kids."

"We have a weird one too, honey," 18 said.

"What do you mean?"

"I'll explain later."

Goku carded his hand through Vegeta's hair. "Why don't you show me the rest of the room, Veggie?"

Vegeta led them away from the crowd to peruse the less busy areas of the gallery. The longer Goku drank in the beauty of the work around him, the more his understanding of his partner approached the ineffable. Vegeta was not the same man he knew a year ago.

Goku struggled to fit the Price of all Saiyans in the well-defined box he'd created for himself the past two decades. Vegeta still had a temper. And avoided wearing his emotions on his sleeve. And voraciously held his pride on a pedestal. But Goku felt bewilderment at discovering Vegeta could effortlessly tap into a creative energy. It was a shame it took Goku twenty years to comprehend what Vegeta meant all those times he claimed to be from an elite class.

The revelation swept Goku away into a state of bliss. He didn't hear the person calling his name until Vegeta set him back down onto the ground. "Goku!"

It was Bulma. She ran and crushed him into an embrace, almost knocking him to the ground. "Goku, are you okay?!"

He wasn't sure how to react. Is she still upset with me after all this time? "Hey, Bulma!" He returned the hug.

"I missed you!" She looked up at him, teary-eyed. "You got out of prison?"

"You could say that," he laughed. Curious, he petted the ends of her hair. "Wow, it's so long!"

"Yup. I was tired of looking like a soccer mom." She pulled away and looked him over. "Damn, you look great! Except for that cast, of course."

"Heh. Thanks! You don't look too bad yourself."

She smiled at Vegeta. "Hey, you."

Vegeta nodded in her direction. "I—"

She held up her hand. "Uh-uh. No need to say thank you." In a dramatic flair, she pressed her hand flat against her chest. "I know I'm awesome. And you're awesome. So you're welcome I took advantage of that!"

Vegeta appeared relieved he didn't have to do any groveling today. He wrapped a protective arm over Goku's shoulders. "Where's the baby?"

"Blondie's got her."

"Blondie? Who's that?" Goku asked. "And whose baby are we talking about?"

"Haven't you heard?" Vegeta said, grinning. "Bulma had a baby. Her name's Bra."

"WHAT!" Goku fell backwards, but Vegeta caught him before he fell flat on his ass. "You had another baby while I was gone? It's only been a year!"

Bulma held up a victory sign. "I'm getting older, Goku. You know me. I don't like to waste precious time!" She pat her stomach, which was still slightly swollen from pregnancy. "I gotta get the most mileage outta this thing while I still can!"

Goku laughed nervously. "Ookay." He observed Vegeta for his reaction. He doesn't seem to be bothered at all.

"Ooh, there he is across the room. Hey, honey!" Bulma waved her arm wildly toward the opposite end of the gallery.

Goku leaned up on the ball of his good foot. "No way. That's—"

"The Announcer. From the tournament," Vegeta said, finishing Goku's sentence.

"Whoa. How did they—?"

"I have no idea."

A lanky arm waved back at Bulma over the crowd. Goku scratched his head. "How can they even see each other?!"

"No idea about that either."

Goku laughed. "Congratulations, Bulma!" He was never the type to probe into people's personal business. Besides, Bulma would probably tell him all the unsolicited dirty details of their romance later. "I'm happy for you."

"Goku," she said, taking his hand. "I'm sorry. For what happened a year back."

"That's okay."

"I kinda freaked out. But I had a year to sort everything in my head." She paused. "I hope we can still be best friends?"

"Definitely."

In a nimble maneuver, Bulma dipped down and squeezed in between Goku and Vegeta. She wrapped her arms around both their shoulders. "I'm so happy to see you two together again!"

Goku rested his chin against the top of her head. "Me too."

"Ah, there he is!"

Goku's ears pricked at the familiar voice. Anya and Boris slipped through the crowd and walked toward them. "Hey, guys!" he said.

The couple were obvious foreigners compared to the rest of the gallery attendees. Boris was dressed in a uniform similar to Goku's. His previously matted, wild beard was trimmed and combed. To Goku, he appeared a completely different man from the one he knew underground. Anya, on the other hand…

"Oh my God," Bulma gasped. Forgetting any sort of social etiquette, she groped the fur lining on Anya's flowing winter coat. "This is gorgeous!"

"Thank you, young lady."

Goku took notice of Anya's ghostly pallor. Vegeta must have perceived something was off about her too. In an odd possessive gesture, he grabbed onto Goku's hand. Vegeta likes holding hands now?! Stunned, Goku waited for Vegeta to release his grip after realizing the mistake he made.

The Prince didn't seem bothered at all. He even squeezed Goku's hand to bring his attention back to the present. "Kakarot," he said, "introduce me to your friends."

Goku shook his head. "Anya, Boris—this is Bulma, one of my best friends. And this is Vegeta, my—er…" Technically, he'd never introduced Vegeta as his boyfriend in front of Bulma before. "As you know, um, he's my boyfriend."

"It's a pleasure to meet you both," Anya said in her honeyed voice. The familiar way she smiled at Vegeta warmed Goku's spirit. Boris simply nodded in Bulma's direction.

"It's nice to meet you too! Are you both Goku's friends?" Bulma asked.

"Yes. Goku helped my husband escape prison. And only a week ago he helped Boris and I overthrow an evil government regime."

"He did?" Bulma and Vegeta said simultaneously.

"Yes! Goku, don't tell me you haven't mentioned it yet!"

"Hee." Goku clenched Vegeta's hand. "I haven't gotten around to talking about it."

Boris huffed. Bulma tittered and stepped behind Goku. Until now, he hadn't noticed how gigantic Boris was compared to normal people. "Why do you think Goku is wearing all of those medals? For laughs?" Boris asked, a bit too hostile for Goku's comfort.

"He's known for coming back from adventures wearing strange clothing," Vegeta said. The increased pressure of his squeeze on Goku's hand was starting to hurt…

"He is a decorated hero, as well as the official ambassador for our country."

"He is?!" Bulma and Vegeta said, once again in unison.

"Aw, come on. You two make it sound like it's a big deal or something," Goku said, rubbing the back of his skull.

"It is a big deal." Boris gave Vegeta a harrowing look. "It's nice to officially meet you, Vegeta. I'm sorry Goku didn't tell you this important information sooner."

Slow to the uptake, Vegeta blinked a few times at Boris' face. "…Yes. It's fine with me. Kakarot doesn't reveal a lot about his life unless asked. Isn't that right?" he said, squeezing Goku's hand even tighter.

"Ow, Vegeta."

Boris tilted his head. "Who's 'Kakarot?'"

"Goku," Bulma said automatically.

"Do you both call him that?"

"No. Only Vegeta. It's his pet name for him," Bulma explained, ending her sentence with a coy wink at Goku.

"Ugh, no it isn't! Kakarot is his birth name. His real name."

"There's nothing wrong with having pet names for your loved ones," Anya said, nodding her head in agreement with Bulma.

"It is kinda like a pet name, huh? Like I'm a carrot," Goku said.

"Goku's hair does resemble the top of a carrot," Boris said, completely serious. "Although Vegeta looks more like a carrot now that I'm looking at you both at the same time."

Goku heard Vegeta growl under his breath. Poor 'Geta isn't used to being teased by strangers.

"Goku is very brave. You're lucky to have him," Anya gushed. "Goku, has Vegeta met Yorick yet?"

"Him?" Goku laughed. "W-why do you bring him up?"

"He's here too, you know."

"He is? I thought I only transported you two with me!" Dammit, I was hoping this didn't happen!

"Who's Yorick," Vegeta said. It sounded more like a statement. Maybe even an accusation, though Goku wasn't sure what for.

"Uh, he's a vampire I met while I was away. He helped us with the revolution stuff." Goku pointed at Anya. "She's a vampire too. Well, she didn't become one until a week ago. She turned all the tribunal into vampires. Then we banished them to the winter wasteland outside the city."

"What the hell are you babbling about?" Vegeta's patience was wearing thin.

Before Goku could clarify himself, Yorick stepped up to the group conversation from Boris' right. Goku almost cursed out loud. His worst fear had come true: Yorick hadn't bothered to revert to his normal state. He was dressed in his normal winter jacket with the hood tied tightly around his head. But there was no hiding that he looked like a paler, slimmer version of Vegeta.

"Hi," Yorick said. A white burst of winter air swirled out of his mouth.

Vegeta stepped backwards. "What the…Kakarot, what's going on?"

Goku ran his sweaty palm over his face. "Uhm, I can explain!"

"So this is the famous Vegeta." Yorick sized him up. "You're not exactly how Goku remembered, huh?"

Vegeta raised his fist in the air. "Who the hell are you!"

"Goku's friend." He sniffed in Vegeta's direction. "Ew. Are you in heat or something?"

Vegeta flushed pink. "Excuse me?!"

"You're dripping pheromones everywhere like you're begging to get screwed. It's pretty tacky." He looked askance at Goku. "Does this have something to do with you two being aliens?"

"Ahh…wow." Goku looked back and forth between Bulma's confused expression, Vegeta's embarrassed scowl, and Anya's strained smile. By the erratic way Boris shifted his weight from one foot to the next, he didn't want to be here either. "Yorick, that isn't very nice to say!"

"I'm not the one making everyone uncomfortable with my biology. If Vegeta needed to have sex with you so badly, he should've taken care of it before inviting all these people to a public event he would also attend."

Vegeta snarled. "You son of a—!"

"It's okay, Vegeta! He didn't mean to say it. Um, let me explain." Nervous, Goku rubbed one of his medals between his fingers. "Vampires can take the form of people you know. So he happened to look like you when I first met him. Because I thought about you all of the time!" See Vegeta, that sounds romantic, right?

"I don't like it." Vegeta pointed at Yorick. "Change. Now."

"Nah. I like it." He winked at Goku. "So does your boyfriend."

"Yorick!" Goku yelled. "C'mon, this is Vegeta's big night. And you're being really inconsiderate." Similar to Vegeta, Yorick could be a pain in the ass at all the wrong times. It was endearing in a way. Too bad he and the real Vegeta couldn't get along. Hmm. Vegeta and Yorick, at the same time. Now that'd make for a fun night.

"You're lucky I like you, Goku. Or else I'd reveal to everyone what you're thinking about right now."

"And just what is Kakarot thinking about?" Vegeta cast Goku an accusatory glare. "I don't believe for a second you're smart enough to read minds."

"Come on, Yorick." Goku struggled to keep his panic at bay with a huge smile. "You didn't come this whole way to make fun of me, did you?"

Yorick rolled his eyes. "Sorry." He shoved his hands in his coat pockets. "In all seriousness, Vegeta. Your artwork is spectacular. I'm impressed."

"Thanks," Vegeta spat.

"Woo boy, it's great fun meeting new people, huh?" Goku laughed.

A gentle poke in his back interrupted the awkward moment. "Uncle Goku, may I speak with you outside?"

"Thank Dende. Sure, kid." He waved at all his friends and left them to make small talk among themselves. I hope Yorick doesn't do anything else to piss Vegeta off.

Marron handed him his crutches and led them outside the gallery. Next to the entrance they found and sat on a wrought iron bench that barely fit them both. "He was lonely the whole time you were gone," Marron said softly. She rummaged around inside her purse. "But he focused on changing, too."

"I can tell." Goku reclined on the bench, drumming his fingers idly against the armrest. "He's something else, huh?"

Marron nodded. "What's hanging in the gallery is only a fraction of all the work he's done. Ah, found it!" She yanked a small velvet box from the depths of her bag. "I spent a long time looking for this thing."

Goku looked down into her lap. "What's that?"

She popped the box open. "The ring you gave him a year ago!"

"NO WAY!" Goku wrapped his arms around her. "How did you ever find this?"

"Lots of diligence. And digging around in knee-deep snow." She placed the tiny box into his hand. "I worked hard on this thing. Don't let him throw it away again!"

"I won't." Goku admired the ring's perfectly crafted shape. Inside his palm it sparkled with the same otherworldly light as a distant galaxy. "How should I give it back to him?"

"Maybe you could ask him to be your mate?" She sighed. "Then you could give him the ring like a proposal. That'd be so romantic!"

Goku blinked. "How do you know what mating is?"

"Oh! Um, Uncle Vegeta mentioned it. In passing."

"He did?" Goku bounced up and down like a puppy wagging its tail. "What did he say about it?"

"Um, nothing really. He said something about you wanting to mate with him, but not much more than that."

Goku's face fell. "Oh."

"B-but you should talk to him about it again!" Marron shook him back and forth. "You never know, he could feel differently now!"

"Yikes. Don't hurt me, Marron."

"Sorry." She placed her hands back in her lap. "I get too excited sometimes. I just start thinking about you two getting together and having kids and how it'd be the cutest thing ever!"

"Heh. I don't think Vegeta likes kids."

"I'm not so sure about that."

"What do you mean?"

Marron leaned to peek through the glass gallery entrance. "Take a look right now!"

Goku turned his head and peered past the entrance into the gallery. Vegeta was far away, but Goku could tell he was speaking with Gohan and Videl. Vegeta had a strange look of contentment on his face Goku didn't recognize. "Hey Marron, what's he doin' in there?"

"He's holding Pan."

Goku craned his neck further back for a clearer view of such a miraculous event. "No. I don't believe it! He's—he's even giving her eskimo kisses!"

"They're cute together, right?"

Goku frowned. "What did you guys do to him while I was gone?"

"Haha." A dreamy look overcame her. "So are you going to do it? Propose?"

"Psh! I'm not proposing. He wouldn't get married to anyone."

"You know what I mean. Ask him to be your mate!"

Goku shoved the ring box into his pants pocket. "We'll see. Maybe I'll get lucky tonight and we'll talk about it."

"Luck doesn't have anything to do with it." Her bottom lip quivered. "Is he going back home with you today?"

"I'm planning on it."

"That's wonderful."

"Aw, Marron. Don't cry…"

She covered her face. "He's helped me out in the past year too. I love Uncle Vegeta." A burst of courage overcame her; she glared at Goku with a fire in her eye. "Treat him well, okay?"

Goku rubbed her back. Not in a million years did he think Vegeta could make a teenage girl mourn his absence. "I will."

In one fluid motion, Marron pulled a tissue from her purse and blew her nose with it. "Thanks." Red blotches stained her youthful face. "Will I still get to see you two often?"

"Yeah! We can come over all the time if you want. You can visit us, too."

"That's awesome," she sniffled.

Goku perked at the sound of someone coughing behind him. He peered over his shoulder. "Piccolo, is that you?"

"Hey. Welcome back." The Namekian lifted his hand in acknowledgment.

"Why are you hiding in the bushes?" Marron asked.

"I'm not hiding!" Piccolo grumbled and walked toward the bench. There wasn't any room for him to sit, so he crossed his legs and levitated above the ground beside Goku. "It's way too crowded in there."

"I didn't know you liked art!" Goku said, nudging Piccolo in the ribs with his elbow.

"Stop it. And I don't. I'm only here to support Vegeta."

"You? Supporting Vegeta?"

"Don't act so surprised. In your absence I had to be his sparring partner."

"Huh." Goku raised a brow. "I hope he's less grabby when he spars with you."

Piccolo smirked. "Are you jealous?"

"Nah, that's not it. It's just whenIspar with Vegeta, it typically ends with less hitting and more making out."

"Huh?"

Marron laughed. "Piccolo is nice! He kept Uncle company while you were gone."

"That's right." Piccolo scanned the perimeter for any eavesdropping busybodies. "By the way. Have you noticed anything odd about Vegeta yet?"

Goku followed his lead and whipped his head back and forth to find whoever these imaginary people were Piccolo feared. "Odd? No. He seems good to me."

"He's gained some weight."

"Oh! You mean the junk in the trunk?" Goku made a suggestive grabbing motion with his fingers. "How could anyone miss that?"

Marron gasped. "Just because Uncle may have gained a pound or two—"

"He's packing more than a pound or two in those jeans!"

Piccolo groaned. "Goku. I'm trying to tell you something important—"

"I mean, now that I'm back I'll let him do side bends and sit-ups, but—"

"Goku, please—"

"Now I understand why Master Roshi made a big deal about puff-puff. I want to do that to Vegeta's—"

"GOKU!" Piccolo grabbed his shoulder. "What I've been trying to say is that Vegeta has a different smell as well."

"Ooh, yeah! I noticed. It smells great, right?"

Piccolo released his death grip on Goku, shaking his head in disgust. "Make sure you ask him about it, okay?"

Goku shrugged. "Sure, whatever."

"I'm serious. I think he's—"

"Son Goku!" Boris and Anya walked out of the gallery toward them. Trailing behind them with a peevish frown on his face was Yorick. Once closer, Anya brushed her fingertips over Goku's shoulders. "We're leaving," she said.

"Already?"

"Yes. But we'll see you tomorrow at your friend Piccolo's show." She glanced at Piccolo and smiled. "Isn't that right?"

"Uh. Right."

"Piccolo's going to be on TV?" Goku asked.

"Yep. There's some lady that's in love with him that wants to meet him!" Marron said. "It's so sweet how everyone is falling in love these days…"

Piccolo rubbed his temples. "I'm not in love with anyone!"

Goku ignored all of Piccolo's dramatic huffing. "Where are you guys staying tonight?"

"In a hotel nearby," Anya said. She took Goku's hand in her own. "Once Vegeta is a bit less overwhelmed, I'd like to speak with you both about something important. It's time to repay you for all of the help you gave us during the past year."

"You don't have to pay me back," Goku said. "I'm happy you two are leaders of a nation now. It's pretty cool, huh?"

"Yes. Very cool." Boris pat Goku on the back. The gesture warmed Goku's heart, as he knew Boris disliked physical affection apart from what he showed his wife. "We're going to make sure it was worth your time. We'll talk tomorrow. Be sure to get a senzu bean from one of your friends so your leg can heal up, too."

"Definitely." Goku watched the couple walk away hand-in-hand. Yorick lingered behind to leer at him a bit longer than he liked. "Will I see you tomorrow too?" Goku asked.

"Yeah. I'll still be around."

"Are you going to the hotel with Anya and Boris?"

Yorick rubbed his hands together. Goku couldn't fathom how he could be cold in the summer heat. "No. I'm going to hang out with one of your friends later tonight."

"Huh? Who?"

"Heeey, Goku!" Yamcha walked up behind him and slapped him on the back. Hard. Goku coughed. "What's up?"

"Yamcha! I missed you!" Goku smiled back and forth between Yamcha and Yorick. "Uh, do you two know each other already?"

"Yep. We talked a lot inside. By the way, that naked picture of you is bangin'. Vegeta should do commissions."

"Hehe. I'll be sure to tell him that."

"Anyway," Yorick said, stretching his arms in the air and fake-yawning, "time for us to go."

Goku held his hand out. "Yamcha, wait!" How could he say this without offending Yorick? "Um, be sure to…protect yourself tonight. Because he's a…you know…"

"Goku, that's incredibly rude!" Yorick pressed his finger into Goku's forehead. "I wouldn't bite one of your friends! Unless he asked me to."

Yamcha laughed. Goku didn't know if he was oblivious to the situation, or just didn't care. "You and Vegeta want to hang out with us too?"

"Uh, no thanks!" Goku blushed. "I don't think we'll be doing that again for a while!"

Marron tilted her head. "What are you all talking about?"

Yorick took Yamcha's hand and pulled him away down the sidewalk. The vampire skittered away so fast, Goku barely heard him utter goodbye.

"Whew." Goku wiped his brow. "I'm glad they're all gone. Now I can finally get rid of this stupid thing." He stood up and unbuckled his pants.

Marron shielded her eyes with her purse. "Uncle Goku! What are you doing?"

He wiggled his hips, allowing his pants to drop to his ankles. "Don't worry, this'll only take a second."

A high-pitch yelp distracted him from his task. "KAKAROT!"

He turned around. "Oh, hey Vegeta!"

Vegeta stomped out of the gallery with his teeth bared. "What the hell are you doing out here?!"

"Just takin' this thing off." Goku leaned down and cracked open his cast. He tossed it into the grass. "This is much better!" Relieved, he pulled his pants back up.

"What the—?!"

Marron stole a look over the top of her purse. "Your leg wasn't really broken?"

Goku sat down again and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "No way. How would that even happen?"

Vegeta shoved Goku over on the bench and squeezed himself into the tiny space available. "Explain yourself."

Goku tapped his chin. "Boris kept asking me to help with setting up their new government. You know, boring stuff like throwing the tribunal out of the city, meeting all the people under the jurisdiction, doing paperwork, yada yada yada…"

"But what about the cast?"

"Right! So I pretended I broke my leg so I had a reason to leave and come home sooner."

"You're joking."

"I wish I was! I hate lying to people. Anya and Yorick even helped me fake my fall down three flights of stairs."

Vegeta wrinkled his nose. "I find it hard to believe he's stupid enough to think you got hurt. How long did you wear the cast for?"

"For the past week. Boris saw how useless I was when I couldn't walk around. All I could think about was getting back here to you."

Vegeta sighed. "Kakarot, I love you."

"I love you too, but what does that have to do with me wearing a cast?" Vegeta nuzzled his face into Goku's neck, tickling the larger Saiyan with his light breathing. Goku laughed. "Do you love me more now that I can walk again?"

"Shut-up." Vegeta bit into his neck.

"You're gonna hurt me if you keep that up. Then I'll have to hurt you back."

Marron cleared her throat. "I'm going to leave you two alone and go back in the gallery." She gave Vegeta a thumbs up. "Thank you for letting me live this night, Uncle Vegeta. You're the best."

"Don't be ridiculous. This never would've happened without you." Without warning, Vegeta leaned forward and wrapped both her and Goku into a tight hug.

"Aww," Goku said. "I love you both."

"This hurts, Uncle Vegeta!"

"You two just enjoy it while it lasts."

The next few hours of Vegeta's life were spent mingling with gallery patrons and fighting off any probing questions about his "artistic intent." He didn't possess the social aptitude to comfortably chat with strangers. For every person that hunted him down to pick his brain, he rebuffed them with as few words as possible.

"Why did you decide to merge fine art and comics? Isn't that like combining the lowbrow with the highbrow?"

"No."

"What language did you use for the writing in the speech bubbles?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Are the stories depicted in your work inspired by real events?"

"Maybe."

"Were you influenced by Roy Lichtenstein?"

"I don't do pop art."

"Hey! The bald guy in this painting looks like that guy standing over there. Is that really him?"

"Yes."

"The color palettes used in your paintings are unusual. What led you to make those design choices?"

"It just happened that way."

"Is the spiky-haired guy eating all the refreshments your lover?"

"Um…"

"Can you give me an autograph on my boobs?"

"Absolutely not."

"What are you going to make next?"

"I'm not sure."

"Who's your hair stylist?"

"Huh?"

"Are you single?"

"No!"

"Is that guy single?"

"No, he's mine."

"Will you teach me how to draw?"

"Teach yourself."

"Will you teach me how to dougie?"

"Teach you how to what?"

"Looking at your work makes me happy."

"I—oh. Thank you…"

When gallery hours ended, several guards had to push everyone outside to the front lawn. Vegeta and Goku lingered behind as one of the gallery attendants ran around switching all the lights off.

"The show is going to run for the next month," Vegeta said. He held Goku's hand again.

"I'm proud of you, Vegeta." Goku bent over. "Um…"

"You're hungry."

"Yes!"

"I'll take you out somewhere."

"Yay! I love you!"

The two ducked into a ramen place around the block from the gallery. Vegeta's silence throughout their meal fascinated Goku—he'd expected them both to go on and on about what transpired during their year apart. Didn't Vegeta care? Instead, the Prince only took breaks from slurping down his noodles to observe Goku in reverent silence. The smoldering glances sent his way engrossed Goku more than any idle chitchat could.

Eventually, Vegeta broke their silence. "Do you want to go to the island near your house?"

"Sure. Why?"

"I need to be with you alone."

"That sounds good," Goku said. Vegeta paid for the food, and they flew away from the city into the night.

The flight didn't take long. Soon they landed on the shores of the crescent-shaped isle in the middle of the ocean. Moonlight shimmered and refracted on the gentle tide rolling in.

Out in the middle of nowhere, it was considerably colder. "I keep some backup blankets here somewhere. Gimme a sec," Goku said. A few minutes later he pulled a large cooler out from between a cluster of rocks.

Vegeta smiled. "You keep them in there?"

"Yeah. Along with spare booze." He pulled two hefty blankets out of the cooler and flapped the sand out of them. After he finished, he let them float down and spread evenly across the sandy ground. "C'mere and keep me warm, Vegeta."

Vegeta picked up a nearby stick and trailed it behind him in the sand. He plopped down next to Goku, his eyes glued to the sky. "It's fucking beautiful out here."

"You really like it, huh?"

"Yes." He paused. "This spot is where we first kissed."

"I remember. It really hurt."

Shivering, Vegeta wrapped the extra blanket over his shoulders. "Do you see us coming back to this place for the rest of our lives?"

Goku stole a bit of the blanket for himself. "I hope so."

"Mm." Vegeta traced his stick in the sand. He wrote several unintelligible symbols Goku didn't recognize. The inflection in his voice changed. "Are you happy your friends are fond of me now?"

"Oh yeah. You're Mr. Popular over here."

"Funny."

"And your hair grew again while I was gone."

Vegeta shrugged. "There are more important things than my hair."

Wow. Never thought I'd hear that. Goku slid his hands onto Vegeta's shoulders and gave him a gentle massage. "Would you saaay," he teased, "all of our friends approve of us being together now?"

Vegeta nodded. "I do."

"Wow!" Goku beamed. "So that means—"

"It means if we wanted to finish the ritual and mate right now, we could." Vegeta dropped his stick in the sand and admired his work. "Do you know what this says, Kakarot?"

Goku sighed, frustrated in the sudden change of topic. "No?"

"It's in our mother language."

"…Okay?"

"It says, 'I will happily die in battle for you.'"

"Ah." Goku paused. "Thank you?"

Vegeta punched him in the arm. "It's the closest thing in our language to saying, 'I love you.'"

"Huh. In that case, I will happily die in battle for you, Vegeta!"

"Ha." Vegeta threw the stick far away into the grass further up the shore. "I'll have to teach you how to read our language one day."

Goku ran his hand across Vegeta's thigh. The warmth there calmed him. "While we're on the subject of Saiyan culture, I was wondering if you wanted to talk more about—"

"Mating. You want to know if I'm interested."

"Yeah!"

Vegeta leaned his head against Goku's chest. "What makes you think you still want to mate with me? You don't even know all of the details involved."

"I get to be joined with you forever, right?"

"That's right." Vegeta's wandering fingers invaded Goku's breast pocket. "But maybe being stuck with me wouldn't be so great in the long run."

"Of course I want to be stuck with you." He leaned backwards and let Vegeta stroke and prod his body more. The somber look on his face made Goku unsure if this was foreplay. "Do you want to be stuck with me?"

"Mm. That's the question of the hour, isn't it?" Vegeta popped open the top button of Goku's uniform.

Goku gulped. "Yeah?"

"Don't you want to know what happens right after we become mates?"

"Uh-huh…"

Slowly, Vegeta trailed his lips around the shell of Goku's ear. "We both enter a state of pure rapture. Then we fuck for a day straight. Even if we want to stop, we won't be able to."

"Sounds good to me," Goku said. He ignored the way his voice cracked.

"I'm sure it does." Vegeta licked his hand and unzipped Goku's fly with the other. Without needing any more encouragement, Goku spread his thighs and allowed Vegeta to dip his hand past the slit in his underwear. "But there's one thing we'd have to do beforehand."

"Before whuh?" Cool air surrounded his crotch. Vegeta had freed him from the tight confines of his pants.

"Before we have sex for the first time after becoming mates. Are you paying close attention?"

"Mm-hmm." Goku gasped at the sudden pressure on his cock. The tip of Vegeta's thumb rubbed small circles through his precum, then smeared it around his head. "Yeah, I'm listenin' reeal hard right now."

Vegeta sighed, admiring Goku's struggle to string a simple sentence together. "We both have to give each other tattoos. To show ownership over one another."

Goku grabbed onto the blanket under him for dear life. "That's great, Vegeta."

"Did you even hear what I said?"

"Yesss. I did."

"Do you want to have sex with me right now?"

"More than anything!"

"How do you want it?"

"Um…I want to eat you out. Then I want you to ride me."

"And why do you want to do that?"

What do you mean, why?! Goku groaned. "Because it would feel good?"

"Why would it feel good?"

Shit! Goku squirmed while Vegeta continued to pump him. "Um, uh," he muttered, licking his lips, "because you're hot and tight?"

"What difference does that make?"

"Vegeta!" he yelled, the exhilaration of his anger and pleasure driving him into a frenzy, "I just wanna come inside you!"

Vegeta stroked Goku's tip in his snug palm. Soft slicking noises filled the air. "Sell it to me. Make it sound dirtier."

The blanket ripped in between Goku's clenched fingers. "Dirtier? Hoow?"

Vegeta quickened his hand. "Use your imagination!"

"Uunh." Goku searched his mind for the right words. "I want to—ahh—come in your butt?"

"What are you, twelve? Describe it to me like you're a grown man."

"Dammit, Vegeta." Goku clenched his eyes shut. "I want—"

"What's that? Speak up."

"I wanna—ooh—!"

"I can't hear you, Kakarot!"

"I wanna e-empty my balls inside your tight asshole!" He lifted his hips up from the blanket and shot all over Vegeta's hand. Groaning, he rode out his orgasm with Vegeta still pumping him. All the pleasure gathered in his abdomen and radiated out to the rest of his body; a tingling sensation lingered in his toes after the initial wave left him.

He sighed. The adrenaline coursing through his veins make him break out in a sweat. "Shit."

Vegeta wiped his hand clean on the blanket. "Really, Kakarot? You came that fast from a simple hand job?" He clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Congratulations. That took a whole minute. A new record."

"No. That took a year," Goku said with a small laugh. Vegeta crawled into his lap, and Goku lazily nuzzled his face in his hair. "Why do you like teasing me?"

"You're adorable when you're frustrated and horny." Vegeta licked a path from Goku's chin to his mouth, ending the trail with a kiss. "I'd forgotten how much fun you are."

"Yeah, I'm real funny. Wanna bang?"

"You just came."

"Give me a few minutes. I'm still offering that free ride." Goku stuck his tongue out and bounced Vegeta up and down on his lap.

Vegeta held onto his jacket lapels. "Pervert!"

"Aww, come on. I know you want it bad like me. It's been a year!"

"If you manage to get sex off your brain for a few seconds, you'll realize what it was I told you earlier."

Goku tapped the side of his head in thought. "Right. Something about…tattoos?"

"Yes." Meticulous hands ran over Goku's chest to readjust his medals to their proper positions. Vegeta's strange behavior mystified him. For some reason his partner was dancing around whatever point he was trying to make, and Goku had to figure out why. His new scent was driving Goku up a wall, too. "If we become mates," Vegeta said, "we must give each other tattoos before having sex for the first time."

"Okay. That sounds easy enough."

"Do you know how tattoos are made?"

"No?"

"With needles."

Goku wheezed. "What do you mean with needles?"

"Calm down, Kakarot." Vegeta held both sides of his scared face. "It takes a long time, and it's painful. But I know you could handle it."

"Oh gods Vegeta, I didn't know needles would be involved!" Goku nipped at his fingernails. "Is it really that important to get tattoos?"

Vegeta glared at him. "Yes."

"Oh man. That's terrible!" A horrible look of disappointment flashed across Vegeta's face. Goku struggled to correct himself. "I mean, if it's necessary to do—"

"We're supposed to put the symbols of our respective tribes on each other. So—hypothetically—I would put the Vegeta royal family crest on your body." Vegeta looked up at the moon. "If our society still existed, you'd ascend from your ranking of third class to royalty."

Goku's nervousness left him. "Really?"

"Yes. On Planet Vegeta, mating was a big deal for the royal family." He brushed a stray lock of hair out of Goku's face. "And a third-class becoming life partners with the prince? That was unheard of."

Goku was slow to change, but he wasn't completely obstinate. "Okay. So what tattoo would I put on you?"

"The Son family symbol would be most appropriate."

"Vegeta! You'd become part of my family?"

Vegeta smiled. "Does that possibility make you happy?"

"Yes!" Goku tilted his head, as if looking at Vegeta in a new light. "You're different."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No. It's—it's a good thing." Goku leaned forward and stroked Vegeta's cheek. "You smell different too. It's hard to explain. But it makes me want to…I dunno. Bathe in it?"

He expected a derisive laugh, but instead Vegeta blushed. "That reminds me of something else I need to discuss with you."

"It doesn't have anything to do with more needles, does it?"

Vegeta worried one of Goku's medals between his fingers until it squeaked from the pressure. "Kakarot. Have you ever wondered what it'd be like if we had a family?"

"What do you mean? I guess I always saw you, me, and Goten as kind of a family. When we did live together, that is."

Vegeta sighed. What about this topic made him so uncomfortable? "Do you remember," Vegeta said, voice low, "when I told you Saiyan men could carry children if they become submissive mates?"

"Yeah. I can't imagine what that'd be like!" Goku flopped onto his back and spread his limbs across the blanket. Above him, Vegeta straddled his waist. "Sounds pretty weird to me."

"Yes. It is strange for this planet."

"Why do you bring it up?" Vegeta remained silent. Goku couldn't decipher the look on his face at all. Which alarmed him. "Spell it out for me, sweetie."

"I want to have a child with you."

"What?" Goku shot up from the blanket. "Are you for real?"

There. Now Goku knew what that look was on Vegeta's face. It was shame. "Yes, Kakarot, I am for real."

"Wow." Goku grimaced. "That's…interesting."

Vegeta threw his arm over his face. "I'm sorry I ever brought it up."

"No, don't be sorry!" Goku laughed, even though he didn't find anything about the conversation to be funny at all. "I just need a second to digest what you said, okay?" He giggled nervously. Sweet Kami, he's not pulling a prank on me, is he?

"It's fine if you don't want to have a child with me."

Goku gnawed at his lip. "I didn't say that! It just seems like, uh— the whole experience would be super weird, right? Two guys with a baby?" Goku grasped his forehead. "And me, with another kid? Geez…That sounds tough."

Vegeta's eyes wandered away from Goku's face up to the sky. He didn't grace him with a response to all his blathering.

"You've thought about this a lot, haven't you," Goku said.

"Unfortunately."

"You really—" Goku twiddled his thumbs together. "You really want me to be the father of your child?"

"Someday. Yes."

Goku's eyes widened. If that's true, then in so many words he's telling me he wants to…! A lazy smile spread across his face. "You think I'd be a good dad for our kid?"

Vegeta scoffed. "Do you think I'd let any idiot father my children? Of course I think you'd be a good father. Especially to a Saiyan child."

"I didn't know you felt that way about me."

"Well, I do!" Goku could tell Vegeta wanted to respond with something snarky. But the Prince had made himself so vulnerable to what his real intentions were, he couldn't risk it.

Goku blinked. "Okay."

"Okay what?"

He hugged Vegeta's waist. "Let's have a baby!"

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Not at all. I'll have a baby with you if you want." He tugged Vegeta's belt buckle loose. "Let's get to it!"

"Kakarot!" Vegeta pushed Goku away until he fell backwards onto the blanket again. "This is all, um, hypothetical, you know! That's what I meant to say!"

"Whatever!" Happy, Goku pulled Vegeta down with him. "Then let's hypothetically do some baby makin'!"

"We can't, not right now, and not like this!"

Goku pouted. "Why not?"

"We'd have to mate first! And I don't want to have a child right now, per say—"

"Then let's mate." Goku bounced Vegeta on his lap again. "Let's do it right now. My body's ready!"

"We can't!"

"Why not? You don't like me enough?"

"No—that's not it." Vegeta blew out a puff of air in frustration. "It's not the right—I'm not ready yet!"

"Yet? So you do want to mate with me!"

Vegeta growled. "Stop pissing me off, Kakarot!"

"Okay, okay." Goku released him from his grip. Vegeta rolled off his hips onto the blanket, muttering curses under his breath. Goku smiled up at him. "But you can't deny my love for much longer. I will have you to myself soon enough!"

"Whatever." Vegeta brushed the sand off his jeans. "I'm leaving."

"Aw, come on. Don't be like that." Goku followed his lead and stood up. He stuffed himself back into his pants and zipped up his fly. "Please don't go. Don't you want to come back home with me?"

Vegeta exhaled. "I want to spend the night with you so badly."

"Then just do it. Like the commercials say."

"Kakarot," he said barely above a whisper. "Do you need me right now?"

"Yes!" Goku embraced him, enjoying every firm contour Vegeta pressed against his body. "Can't you feel it?"

"If you're talking about your dick, then yes. I can feel that."

"No, not that. It's like—" Goku laced his fingers with Vegeta's. "I need to feel you next to me while I go to sleep. I need to see your face all the time. And I need…I dunno, I need you with me. It doesn't feel right any other way. Do that makes sense?"

"Yes. One hundred percent."

"Good. Then let's get naked."

"You're absolutely ravenous."

"I shouldn't be the only one!"

Vegeta laughed. "I have some other business to take care of. I'll come back with you tomorrow night."

Goku glared down at him. He missed moments like this where he could study his lover's features to his heart's content. Vegeta wasstill blushing from earlier. "I guess I can go one more night without you. But I'm not happy about it."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"I might take it out of your ass later, if you know what I mean."

"I'd like to know what repayment to you feels like."

Goku's frustration was fleeting. He thought back to earlier in the night. "Can I have one of your pieces of art, then?"

"Of course. And I'm not going to stop making it just because you're back."

"Good. Guess I have to build you a studio, then."

Vegeta's eyes widened. "You'd do that for me?"

"Duh. I have to. Where else are you going to work?"

Vegeta smiled. "Thank you, Kakarot. I, erm…" He stared down at his feet. "I'm grateful to have you around. I love you."

Goku lifted his chin so their eyes met again. "I love you too. More than anything. You'd be dead without me. Literally."

"I know." Vegeta leaned up on his tippy toes and kissed Goku. "I'll see you tomorrow at the show."

"What show?"

"Weren't you paying any attention earlier? Piccolo's going to be on that Announcer guy's TV show."

"Oh yeah!" Unable to pull himself away just yet, Goku grabbed onto Vegeta's sleeve. "After that, will you come home with me?"

"Yes. I'll be ready then." The silence of the night weighed heavily between them. "I'll miss you."

"Sure you don't want me to come over to Krillin's house?"

Vegeta chuckled. "He'll get mad at us again for having sex."

"Yeah, you're right." Goku growled. "Before you go, are you suure you don't wanna—"

"Be patient, Kakarot." He placed his finger on Goku's nose. "Good things come to those who wait." He turned away, and flew off into the star-speckled sky.

Goku gazed up at him until he disappeared from sight. "When did he get so smooth?"