Chapter 2 - Exploring A New Life
Vegeta had gone back to Capsule Corp and told Bulma everything, but asked her not to tell anyone. He told her how he and Goku wanted to see how things went before openly telling anyone else. Bulma was sure to promise not to.
Vegeta went to bed that night feeling more content within himself, feeling like he did not have to hide how he felt was comforting to him, and he was rather relieved that Goku felt the same way. He looked forward to whatever would come next for them
The next morning, Goku woke up early, showered and dressed.
He dreaded what was to come. He had to go and pick up Goten from Chi-Chi's home. He was excited to see Goten, but not looking forward to seeing Chi-Chi at all.
Goku eventually got to Chi-Chi's house.
He stood outside for a moment and took a deep breath, calming himself before knocking.
A man answered the door.
"Hello, can I help you?"
Goku knew who this man was, and already hated the sight of him. "I'm here to pick up my son." Goku said gritting his teeth.
"Ah...You must be Goku." The man said "I'm Alec."
"I don't want to sound rude, but truthfully I'm not interested in who you are." Goku said firmly "I know enough about what you and her were up to behind my back. I'm only here for Goten."
"Uh, right." Alec replies. "I think Chi-Chi's just finishing up getting him ready. Let me go check."
"Great." Goku says "You do that."
Alec walks away.
Goku hears a few muffled voices but couldn't make out what was being said. No doubt the idiot was talking shit.
Chi-Chi arrives at the door with Goten in tow. "Hi, Goku..."
"Hm." was all Goku could muster in reply.
"DAD!" Goten shouts rushing out the door.
"Hey, buddy!" Goku crouches down to the floor as the young half Saiyan runs to hug him "Gods, I've missed you."
"I've missed you too!" Goten smiles "Mum says you're taking me to see Trunks today!"
"I am." Goku smiles "I do have to do a bit of training with Vegeta, which will give you some time to catch up with Goten, then we'll do something together yeah? You get to pick!"
"You're the best!" Goten squeals
Goku laughs. "Come on buddy. Let's get outta here."
"Goku" Chi-Chi says
"What?" Goku rolls his eyes
"Keep him safe." Chi-Chi says
"I know how to look after my son." Goku says firmly "He will be fine."
Without another word, Goku leaves with Goten.
They arrive at Capsule Corp. Trunks is waiting outside excitedly for Goten to arrive. Vegeta stood beside him, silently looking forward to Goku's arrival.
Goku and Goten arrive a few minutes later. Goten runs to Trunks, and they both start excitedly chatting away and planning what they're going to do.
"Hey" Goku smiles, scratching the back of his head nervously and approaching Vegeta.
"Hey." Vegeta says in return "How did seeing her go?"
"That guy answered the door." Goku says rolling his eyes "It took everything in me not to punch him through the nearest wall." Goku grits his teeth "He tried to be all friendly but I made sure he knew I wasn't interested in that, and why."
"Oh shit." Vegeta says "That sounds awkward."
"Yeah, then Chi-Chi had the nerve to tell me to keep him safe as if I am not capable of doing so." Goku rolls his eyes again."
"Gods, she really knows how to push buttons." Vegeta says
"Yeah, she treats me as though I was the one who was cheating, what a bitch." Goku says angrily "Oh well, I get to see Goten, that's what matters."
Goku watches as Goten and Trunks run inside to do whatever it is they planned. Goku smiles toward his son, seeing the boy happy is what mattered most to him. Vegeta looks at the Saiyan, smiling at him.
"Kakarot?" Vegeta says catching the Saiyan's attention
"Yeah?" Goku says
"Let's go train, so I can kick your ass." Vegeta smirks
"Ha!" Goku smirks back "But can you?"
"I think so." Vegeta says as they both start walk toward the Gravity Room
"I guess we'll see." Goku says confidently "though, I'm pretty sure I'll beat you."
"Confident are we?" Vegeta teases
"Always." Goku replies "You should know this by now Geta."
"Hm, true, but that overconfidence has been your weakness before." Vegeta laughs
"I always pull through though." Goku winks
Gods, how will I concentrate when he does that to me, why does this idiot have to be so fucking cute. Vegeta thinks.
They spend the next few hours training. Goku was right, he handed Vegeta's ass to him, but Vegeta couldn't help but be distracted by the man in front of him. Vegeta found himself thinking of the places they could go together, the things they could do. This idiot is turning me into a fucking sap!
Later in the day, Vegeta and Goku head back toward Capsule Corp.
"Oh, I should tell you now, Bulma does know about us." Vegeta admits "She's the one who convinced me to tell you."
"She won't tell anyone else, right?" Goku asks
"No, she won't, she promised." Vegeta said
"Ah, good." Goku sighs in relief
They enter the building to find Goten and Trunks playing video games in the living room, shouting at the TV as they do their best to beat one another at the game they're playing.
"Hungry?" Vegeta asks
"Starving!" Goku says with a smile
"Hey" Bulma greets
"Hey Bulma." Goku smiles
"How's it going with you both?" She says her voice low
"Uh, yeah, good." Goku says nervously scratching the back of his head.
"I'm glad to hear it!" Bulma smiles "I figured you'd both be hungry, so I put together some lunch.
"It looks amazing Bulma!" Goku eyes up the food before him
"Trunks, Goten!" Bulma shouts "Lunch is ready!"
After a few minutes, The 2 half Saiyan's enter the kitchen and eagerly sit down at the table.
Goten sits next to Goku, and across from them, Vegeta sat with Trunks at his side.
"Hey, did you figure out what you wanna do later?" Goku asks turning to Goten.
"Can we get ice cream?!" Goten asks "Please?"
"Sure!" Goku smiles "Trunks, wanna come?"
"Yes please!" Trunks said excitedly
Goku laughs.
"Want me to come along?" Vegeta asks "I can make sure Trunks behaves."
"Sure!" Goku laughs "It'll be fun!"
"Yaay!" Goten says excitedly "You're the best! Better than Alec!"
"Yeah? You think so?" Goku says "Goten, does he treat you well?"
"I mean, yeah" Goten says "But he's not fun like you. Though he did try tell me I could call him dad once. He can be scary sometimes, when he gets mad."
Goku looks away for a moment. It was clear he wasn't happy about it. He took a deep breath to calm himself.
Vegeta looks at Goku with sympathy.
"I told him no." Goten says "I told him I already have a dad, and he's the best!"
Goku couldn't help but smile at those words. "You're a good kid." Goku says ruffling Goten's hair. "You'll tell me if he ever hurts you, right?"
"I will, I promise. Mum told me he wanted to adopt me, whatever that means." Goten says
"Basically, he wants to make it look like you're his son." Goku says bitterly "But your mother knows I won't let that happen. You're my son, not his."
"I don't want him to adopt me!" Goten says
"Next time they bring it up to you, tell them that." Goku says "They can't force you, and if they try, you tell me, and I'll handle it."
"Thanks, dad." Goten smiles
Goten starts eating happily.
It takes a moment before Goku starts eating himself. He takes a moment to calm himself. When he opens his eyes, he notices Vegeta looking at him.
"It'll be fine" Vegeta mouths
Goku smiles and starts eating.
After lunch, Goten and Trunks go to find their shoes.
Goku helps Bulma clear the table.
"hey, I got it." Bulma smiles "Go on."
"You sure?" Goku asks "I don't mind helping!"
"It's fine." Bulma smiles "Thank you, Goku."
Goku smiles before leaving the kitchen.
"Ready to go?" Goku asks Vegeta
"Yeah, those 2 should be back in a moment." Vegeta says "you handled that well."
"What's that?" Goku asks
"What Goten was telling you." Vegeta says
"Ah, that." Goku sighs "I didn't want him to think I was mad at him. None of this is his fault."
"I know, but still." Vegeta replies "If it were me, I don't think I could have kept my cool."
Goku laughs "No, I can imagine your reaction."
Goten and Trunks come into the room, shoes on, ready to go.
"All good?" Goku asks
"Yep!" Goten replies
"Come on then." Goku says as he ushers the children out the door.
Goku, Vegeta and the children begin walking the streets. The streets bustling with life.
So many people around, living their own lives, doing whatever it is they need or want to do. it was so interesting to Goku to think about that.
they find an ice cream parlour and Goten and Trunks marvel at the seemingly unending options for ice cream flavours. Once the Children decided their flavours, Goku asked for them. Mango for Goten, Strawberry for Trunks. Goku settled on mint chocolate chip and Vegeta decided on chocolate.
"Dad?" Goten turns to Goku
"Yeah?" Goku answers
"Can we go to the comic store after this?" Goten asks "There's a comic I really want but mum won't take me"
"Sure thing, buddy." Goku smiles. He knew full well what he was doing, and yes, he was doing it not only to make Goten happy, but to spite Chi-Chi.
Vegeta knew exactly what Goku was doing and why. He didn't even need to ask. Vegeta smirked at the thought. Gods I love it when he's petty like that.
Once finished, they leave the ice cream parlour, heading toward the comic store, but something stops Goku in his tracks.
"Kakarot?" Vegeta asks noticing Goku stop "What is it?"
Goku turns away, looking through the crowd of people, he spots a familiar figure. Fuck sake, why now? "Trunks, Goten, get to that comic store and stay inside until we come get you."
"Huh? Why?" Goten asks
"Please Goten, go." Goku says "We shouldn't be long."
"Okay." Goten replies
Goku's gaze never shifted.
"Kakarot, what's going on?" Vegeta asks
"Look." Goku pulls Vegeta close to Get him to his eye line. "Frieza."
"Fuck." Vegeta sighs "What's he doing here? This is a really bad place to do this. We need to get him away from all these people."
"I know." Goku says
Frieza flies up into the air, just above the people below. "Hello, monkeys."
"What do you want?" Vegeta growls flying into the air
"you know what I want." Frieza manifests a glowing orb of energy in his hands, pointing it toward the ground as the humans start to run in all directions.
"Don't you dare." Goku growls
"Watch me." Frieza says "I'll watch this world burn, then you."
Frieza goes to fire the attack at the ground, but Vegeta, transforming into Super Saiyan Blue, quickly moves down to the ground as Frieza fires the attack.
Vegeta tries to hold it off, and the orb explodes.
"VEGETA!" Goku screams "No!"
Frieza laughs menacingly.
"How...DARE YOU!" Goku shouts angrily
Vegeta was injured but alive, and looks up at Goku, who hasn't registered yet. Vegeta felt the anger seeping out from within Goku. A type of anger he'd never felt before. Goku's feelings for Vegeta, and the thought of him dying, that send Goku into a new sort of rage.
Goku closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He had been working on his Ultra Instinct a lot with Whis, so transformed into his True Ultra Instinct. He wanted Frieza to experience every drop of rage within him.
"I'm going to kill you." Goku says, his voice menacingly calm, his silver eyes staring blankly at Frieza.
"Oh?" Frieza taunts "You think so?"
"Yeah." Goku snaps "You killed my-"
Vegeta looks at Goku. Your what? I do want to hear it...
Goku charges up a Kamehameha.
"Your what?" Frieza wonders, still taunting Goku. "You can't stop me!"
"MY VEGETAAAA!" Goku screams firing the Kamehameha at Frieza.
Frieza pushes back on the attack, grunting as he does so. Goku continues putting more energy, and more anger into the attack. Goku wanted Frieza to feel the anger radiating from him.
Oh god, Kakarot... Vegeta thinks to himself and smiles. That was not quite what I thought you'd say, but I'm totally okay that...my Kakarot. Gods, he really is turning me into a fucking sap.
The attack injures Frieza but he survives, hitting the ground with great force.
"Kakarot!" Vegeta drags himself to his feet, and flies up to Goku.
"V-Vegeta!" Goku sighs with relief "You're okay!"
"Yeah, he can't get rid of me that easily." Vegeta smiles "So, 'my Vegeta' huh?"
"Uh...sorry." Goku smiles awkwardly.
"No, that was fine." Vegeta smiles "I don't mind."
Frieza pulls himself to his feet "Bastard." He mutters before launching himself at Goku, catching the Saiyan off guard, he punches Goku and sends him hurdling into the ground.
"Kakarot!" Vegeta shouts before turning to Frieza. "You're going to pay for that."
Frieza and Vegeta begin an exchange of punches and kicks while Goku pulls himself onto his knees, looking up at Vegeta and Frieza. Fuck. Vegeta, be careful.
Goku gets to his feet, and flies back into the air, ready to get back into the fight.
Frieza knocks Vegeta aside, and before Vegeta could even fully recover, which didn't take more than a few seconds, Goku was already barrelling toward Frieza. Goku goes to punch Frieza, but he catches his fist. Fuck, How?! I shout be quicker in this form. How is he countering Ultra Instinct? I have to do something. I won't let him hurt Vegeta, Trunks, Goten, or this planet. I can't, I'll win. I won't fail!
Goku thinks fast, Vanishing before reappearing behind Frieza and kicking him in the back with both feet. Frieza tumbles, but recovers quickly. I need to do more...Ah, of course!
Goku closes his eyes, taking a deep breath before letting it go and calming himself. As Goku opens his eyes, an aura appears and his hair turns silver.
Vegeta smirks, knowing what's coming next. That's it Kakarot, show him what you can do. Kick his fucking ass. Show him what a Saiyan is made of. Show him what a GOD can do.
Frieza looks stunned. He had not realised Goku could now use Mastered Ultra Instinct at will. He'd seen what it can do, and truthfully, he feared it. He remembered how strong Jiren was, and How Goku confidently went toe to toe with him. How he only lost to Jiren because he lost the form, but there was no doubt Goku has been training it. He would have more control of the form now, maybe even stronger.
Goku smirked at Frieza. Noting the expression on his face. Noting the fear that was there. Goku's mouth gave a devious smile, but his eyes? There was nothing there. They were empty and cold. It was as if while he smiled, beneath that smile, there was nothing, no emotion, nothing, just pure tranquillity, and he'd be right.
"You don't stand a chance." Goku says his voice calm, and somehow terrifying.
Goku appears inches away from Frieza, and in a movement quicker than the eye can see, Goku lands a combination of punches. The breath is forced out of Frieza's lungs and Frieza hits the ground once again.
"You don't touch what's mine." Goku says coldly as he lands on the ground in front of Frieza.
Mine? Goddamn Kakarot. Vegeta thinks getting a little flustered, feeling his face heat up from the comment. Who knew you could be THIS protective.
Goku extends his arm, palm open as a ball of blue energy forms.
Frieza stares at the Saiyan, if he didn't get out now, he'd be dead, and he knew it. He knew he could take on Goku in Super Saiyan Blue, but this? No. He's not ready for this.
Frieza vanishes from sight, where he went was anyone's guess. Right now, Goku didn't care. Right now, Earth was safe, Vegeta, Trunks and Goten were safe.
Goku lowered his arm, letting the ball of energy vanish.
"Kakarot.." Vegeta says as he lands behind Goku who still had not powered down yet.
"Vegeta...Are you alright?" Goku asks
"Yeah, I'm okay." Vegeta says with a smile. "You?"
"Yeah." Goku says finally dropping back to base form.
"So, yours huh?" Vegeta smirks
"Heh, I don't know, it just felt right to say at the time." Goku laughs awkwardly
"I liked it." Vegeta says moving closer to Goku.
"Yeah?" Goku wonders "I worried it was too soon for that."
"No." Vegeta replies "In my head, you've been mine for quite some time."
"I'm glad to hear that." Goku smiles "It's been the same for me too."
"Good." Vegeta says before leaning in to kiss Goku on the lips.
In that moment, it was like the whole world stopped. It felt like the perfect moment.
Vegeta slowly pulls away "We should get Goten and Trunks, and get Bulma to get the Dragon balls out to fix this mess" Vegeta says softly
"Yeah, probably a good idea." Goku says, still blushing.
Goten and Trunks were still safely in the comic store. Goku quickly fulfilled his promise, got what Goten wanted before heading back to Capsule Corp.
Thankfully Bulma had the Dragon Balls in her possession and Earth got wished back to the way it was before Frieza turned up.
Goku and Vegeta could relax... For now. They both knew Frieza would return after the display shown by the Saiyan's. The Saiyan's had improved a lot, and Frieza wasn't expecting it. He had seen what Ultra Instinct could do, but to face such a form in itself was something else.
While Goten and Trunks were busy doing their own thing, Vegeta noticed Goku's absence. After a a few minutes of looking around, he found Goku sat outside in the grass, legs crossed, silent and unmoving. The only movement being the light wind tugging at his black hair.
Goku was meditating. He had started doing so to further work Ultra Instinct into his base form. He had been making progress, holding it for longer each time. While in his base form and using Ultra Instinct, it was visible through silver eyes.
Goku opened his eyes as he sensed Vegeta, but also because he felt his own sense of calm. He realised he had once again brought Ultra Instinct to the surface.
"Hey, what you doing out here?" Vegeta wonders
"Meditating." Goku answers
"How's it going?" Vegeta asks sitting beside him and crosses his arms
"Well, I'd like to think." Goku says looking at Vegeta. "Just trying to get it down in base form."
"Well, you're there. Right now at least." Vegeta says noticing the change in Goku's eyes. Gods, his eyes look amazing. I do love them when they look like that. It tells me he's calm. I like a calm Kakarot.
"I thought as much." Goku smiles "Just a matter of how long I can hold it."
"You'll get there." Vegeta says before turning to the sky and looking toward the sun beginning to set.
Goku smiles before turning to look at the sky himself.
The sun left an orange glow in the sky, and tinting the clouds. The breeze was cool, and light. The rustle of leaves shifting in the wind could be heard as the branches of nearby trees swayed calmly in the wind. Goku pulled at the grass, feeling the coolness of it, letting the uprooted blades slips from between his fingers and letting the wind take them away.
Things seem so perfect right now. Goku thought. Here I am, watching the sky, Vegeta sat next to me, just taking it all in together. Everything feels so... right. No need to speak, just us, silently enjoying the company. How perfect.
After a while, Goku sighs. "I should get Goten home. He's got school in the morning."
"Yeah, Chi-Chi will be pissed if he's late home." Vegeta says
"Oh what I'd do to not see her anymore." Goku sighs
"It'll be fine." Vegeta says "I can always make it better tomorrow."
"Yeah?" Goku looks at Vegeta curiously
"We'll do some training, and go for lunch after." Vegeta says "Sound good?"
"Sounds perfect." Goku smiles
Goku helps Goten get anything he needs and says goodbye to Trunks.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Vegeta says touching Goku's hand
"Can't wait." Goku replies softly, giving Vegeta's hand a squeeze.
Goku leaves with Goten, dreading having to face Chi-Chi again, but continues to keep a calm mind. He told himself this would be a good test to see if he could keep his emotions under control enough to keep Ultra Instinct in his base form. He knew Chi-Chi would have something to say.
20 minutes later, Goku and Goten arrive at Chi-Chi's home.
"You're late!" Chi-Chi says visibly displeased
"I'm sorry mum." Goten says
"You should be!" Chi-Chi says "You have school in the morning!"
"I got carried away, I was having a good time with Trunks and dad!" Goten says
"Hey" Goku turns to Goten "Don't apologise for enjoying yourself."
"You should know better than to bring him home late, Goku!" Chi-Chi says angrily
"Yeah, well if I were able to spend more time with my son, this wouldn't be a problem." Goku says doing his best to stay calm
"I do it because you can be irresponsible Goku." Chi-Chi says
"Bullshit!" Goku says feeling his anger rise "You do it to punish me! For what, I don't know. I'm far from perfect, I know that, but you're punishing me when you were the one going around with other people behind my back! You don't like what I do, you never have! You tried to change me knowing full well I save the fucking world, I did it for you, for our sons, but it wasn't good enough for you, was it? I train my ass off daily to protect the people of Earth, and you thought you could change me, take away who I am, take away who our sons are. You couldn't handle the Saiyan nature, and I don't get why you married me in the first place if you hated who I am so much!"
"Goku, I never hated you!" Chi-Chi says "I just wanted you with me, and your sons. I wanted us to be a family. You know that!"
"Yeah, sure." Goku says coldly "All while trying to strip me of who I am. All while trying to take away part of who our sons are. You wanted things your way, and if they didn't go your way, you didn't want it at all. That's why you had an affair. me putting my life on the fucking line to protect Earth wasn't good enough for you. Sure, I could have been around more and I admit that, but you know why I was gone so much, you know what I did and why. You knew all these years, yet you still did what you did. You just wanted to hurt me, because that's what you do. Fuck you."
"Hey!" Alec suddenly appears "Don't talk to her like that!"
"The fuck are you going to do?!" Goku finally feels Ultra Instinct slip away "You are the last person who should be getting involved. You knew she was married and went there anyway. You should stay out of this. Chi-Chi, I'm done with the bullshit. I hope you're happy now. I'm here for my son, nothing more. So from now on, when I come to pick him up, He can come out alone. I don't want to see you or him ever again."
"Goku!" Chi-Chi shouts "You're being ridiculous!"
"Goten, I'm sorry you had to see this, truly." Goku says ignoring his ex wife. "I will always be there for you, I hope you know that, and we will arrange you coming to see me again, okay?"
"I can't wait!" Goten smiles "I had so much fun today!"
"I'm glad you did, buddy." Goku smiles "I'll see you soon, I promise."
"Bye dad!" Goten waves as Goku leaves
Vegeta felt a fluctuation in Goku's Ki. He knew why. Vegeta thought it must have been a heated situation for Goku to have such a fluctuation.
Vegeta wanted to make sure Goku was okay.
Goku had just gotten home when his phone buzzed. He looked at the screen to see a text.
From: Vegeta
Hey, are you okay? I noticed a big spike in Ki from you.
Goku: Yeah, I had a massive argument with her. I ended up telling her exactly how I saw things, then her new boy toy tried to get involved and I wanted to kill the bastard.
Vegeta: God, I'm sorry, I didn't think it would go like that. We'll work something out.
Goku: Thanks, Geta (:
Goku ate food and climbed into bed. What was such a good day ended so terribly. He hoped the days that followed would get better. He did have much better things to look forward to, Goten, and Vegeta.
Goku fell asleep with the thoughts of what could be with Vegeta on his mind. A smile accompanied his sleep, reminding him that through all the bullshit, he still had all these great things to look forward to in future, and he could not wait to see what the future held for him.
