Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Intoxication ❯ Intoxication ( Chapter 1 )

Intoxication

I stand here now…waiting…watching. He said he'd be back. Someday. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, maybe a year from now…. Maybe a decade? Can I wait that long? Can I wait for him?

I'm outside on a cliff overlooking-nothing really. It's fall, five full years from when he took off with that boy, the reincarnation of Buu, Uub, and just-left. In the middle of the tournament, before our fight. I stare up at the night sky, wishing for a moon. It's been so long since I've seen a moon. It seems so long since I've seen him.

I push my hands in my pockets of my black leather jacket and make a huffing noise, annoyed with myself. I told him I understood. And I did-do. He needed the challenge and I certainly didn't give it to him. Even now. I'm no closer to that Super Saiyan three than I was so many years ago. It only makes sense that he would go where the best fight was. And he seemed so eager too…. So eager to leave?

The wind swirls around me, brushing my clothes and my hair, pulling both against their natural lay. Sure, I could go to him. I could easily find that power that spikes whenever he and that boy spar. I could-but he wanted to go away. So I-respect that I suppose.

So many years ago I would've laughed and forced him to fight me. It wouldn't be hard-but it inevitably wouldn't amount to anything. He'd be pissed, defeat me, and that would be the end.

Does he realize that-? Nah, he wouldn't realize it. He doesn't realize anything. I am so fucking bored. I have a son, a daughter…a life. I even admitted that when I-well, I guess terming it 'went mad' is about right. But still-there's nothing to keep me here.

Oh, I've tried. Tried to be like him. A Saiyan raised a human, taking on a human's ideals and mannerisms. Be nice, fight for good, raise a family, love them…. But I'm not human. I have no idea how he does it. I'm a Saiyan. And I burn….

There is not a moment that goes by I don't think of him….

Heaving a sigh, I slowly move up, levitating in the air as if I could get any closer to the stars. The one star that would matter is unrecognizable to me, if it's even still there.

Gods, the years have passed. Slowly at times, and then a blur at others. Seven years he was dead and it seemed like seven minutes. But that one day I gave myself to Babidi was a decade. A decade of denial, torment, death, and destruction. It was only one day though…. One day when I admitted-everything.

He was an obsession first and foremost. Something I had to beat, something I had to figure out, something I had to destroy. And I understood myself trying to figure him out. But who was I beating? Only myself..... And ultimately, it was myself I destroyed.

I did everything backwards. I should have told him. I should have told him I didn't want him to go. I should have told him what I know now. About going mad, about wanting to defeat him all those times, about my obsession.

I start to fly off, toward the horizon in front of me, away from Capsule.

Oh, I could go see him. It would be easy to lock onto his ki and fly off. So easy to go to relieve this ache that cracks my exterior, that makes it hard to breathe and harder to get up in the morning. It must be why I've turned into a night owl. I get up late, stay up at all hours, come home before dawn to crash into sleep.

The woman doesn't say anything. I doubt she even notices. She's too busy with Capsule Corporation, teaching her son how to run one of the top corporations of Earth. Bra is always out with her friends, too busy to wonder what her old man is doing staying up so late.

I snort at my own musings. Even if they did notice, even if they did question, I still wouldn't likely stop what I'm doing. As can be seen, leaving me to my musings is never a wise thing to do.

I know where I'm taking myself. It's the same place I always take myself at this time. It's the only place that feels welcome to me, to people like me. Oh, the humans joke about it, as they joke about much of their lives, but it is nice to go somewhere where I know everyone is suffering as I am.

I land in the alley behind the bar. The number one rule is to come from a place they don't expect to see me. Watching me step out of the shadows of an alley on my way into a drinking place lets people know that I'm not one to strike up a conversation with.

The number two rule is to only meet the eyes of people who challenge me, and even then to only meet them if I know I'll win. I always win, so the second part of that rule is moot.

Smoke-filled atmosphere and dim lighting greets me as I open the door and step into a slightly warmer atmosphere. I move immediately to the bar. I'm a regular here; I should get a discount card.

There's a seat near the side, toward the darkest part of the shadows, and I take it, knowing no one in a bar strikes up a conversation with a man they can't even view clearly. Everyone in this particular bar is too into their drinks to glance at me. That's why I finally picked this one. I went-bar-hopping as the humans call it just to find a place like this.

The bartender immediately walks my way, waving his rag nonchalantly at me. "What'll ya have?"

"Same."

He gives a terse nod and picks up a bottle labeled Wild Turkey, pouring an amber-colored liquid into a shot glass and shoving it down my way. I catch the glass easily, so that none of the liquid sloshes onto my hand, and toss it back into my throat, motioning to him for more.

He merely raises an eyebrow and passes me a bottle from underneath. Ah, he knows it's going to be one of those nights.

Don't get me wrong. The bartender and I aren't the buddies seen on that idiotic television. He doesn't know my name, I don't know his. He also doesn't pry. Another reason I like this bar. Beyond his awe at how I put the drinks away, he has no complaints. I have money after all, living with the richest woman on Earth.

I quickly pour a second drink and drain it like the first, looking around and seeing new and old patrons, all drunk, all melancholy. People don't come to this bar to celebrate. It's on the wrong end of town. This place is full of robbers, murderers, and the occasional rapist. Just my type of place.

I'm not like them any longer. At least, I tell myself that. The thought of killing-well, it appealed back when Buu was around...it might still. I don't know; I haven't killed anything lately.

I've always likened it to those humans' cigarettes. They quit, but they always crave it somewhere inside of themselves. If they never touch the stuff, they can tell themselves that they're free of them. Psh, they're never free of them. It's always there, just-dormant.

I chuckle, and no one looks to see why. I'm probably on my seventh glass. I haven't been keeping track. I'll stay here until I've drunk so much my sight blurs...then it's back home. Or maybe I'll just wander the streets, see what kind of trash lives here, see if I remember anything from another's dirty actions.

What I wouldn't give for that idiot to come back and spar with me. What I wouldn't give.... Shit, it's time like this I wish Frieza was still around. Such thoughts never crossed my mind when I-worked for him. I'd purge planets, eat, train, sleep, purge more planets, kill more people. Now, I mope. Now, I drink.

Perhaps the woman would call me an alcoholic. I do suppose that I would deny that. I don't feel like I need it, it just-feels good to drink. And, of course, that is an alcoholic's excuse.

I can feel a unexplainable grin creep onto my features. The bottle is empty, so I raise my hand for another. It's given with no hesitation. He's seen me drink before. And, fortunately, I'll be stopping after this one. No need to not even be able to fly straight tonight. Besides, I missed lunch in my sleeping. My stomach isn't as full as it normally is.

I set the glass aside and simply lift up the bottle, taking three huge gulps of it before setting it down a bit too hard. I should go see Kakarott. Just to laugh in his face, just to show him what he's missing. He could be here...drinking with me. And I just can't see him drinking.

In fact, I almost snort with laughter at the thought. Kakarott...drinking? He'd either be drunk within a drink or-drunk within a drink. I have to remember that one. Quote myself.

I drain the rest of the bottle, set it more gently down than the last time, and reach into my pocket to smack the money for the drinks on the bar. I only carry enough to get the drinks...so I'll be safe going home. Wouldn't want to get arrested for killing a human that tried to pick my pocket.

I lope outside, feeling the cold air that hits me as I exit wake me up a bit. I think I could almost live in a place like that bar...if morning never came.

Pushing my hands into my pockets and hunching down against the still strong wind, I start off in a random direction. I hope to at least keep myself occupied until false dawn.

I pass by several lit and unlit houses, several places where women beckon me with stench and lewd promises. There are other bars, some emitting the sounds of a fight, if that's what would be called fighting. Personally, I think two drunken men swinging arms and legs wildly can hardly be construed as a fight.

My head comes up slowly as one of the alleys beside a bar emits a low moaning noise. I almost pass it, thinking it nothing more than two humans fucking, when the sound of weeping and mumbled protests also reaches my ears.

I grimace, hearing Kakarott practically screaming in my ear to investigate. Wonder how he'd react to know I've done the same to woman...and to men.

Sighing and squaring my shoulders, I enter the alleyway, moving until the sounds become two shadows writhing within darker shadows. A male and a female. It's the female, of course, that's being forced.

"I suggest you move away from her."

I hear a low growl as my answer and see one shadow detach itself from the other, moving toward me as the other simply slides the rest of the way to the ground. "What the hell-"

I'm not in the mood for words or quips slung from drunk, lusty men. So I simply lunge forward and plant my elbow in his gut, watching impassively as he leans over and retches before falling completely to his knees and then his side. I might have killed him, but I don't care. No one misses anyone around here.

I move toward the girl, slowly and steadily, not wanting her to scream. Women have the most ungodly cries in the world.

She's still huddled on the ground, trying vainly to cover herself and shaking like a leaf. I can tell by her clothes, by her smell, that she's a prostitute. Sighing, I bend down and watch her eyes focus on me. They are flat, dead.

"Are you hurt?"

It's a stupid question. Of course she is, but she shakes her head, as I figured she would. I shrug off my jacket and hand it to her, shaking it demandingly when she makes no move to reach for it.

She locks eyes with me again and slowly takes the jacket from me, covering the top half of her body with it and drawing her legs up under it. I sigh again. Why, oh why do these tasks fall to me? I don't see Kakarott down here, righting wrongs. Idiot.

"You can't stay here. The same thing might happen. He might have friends...or I might not have hit him hard enough. Do you have someplace to go?"

She nods once, quickly, and I hold out a hand. She tentatively grabs onto it and hisses as I use it to abruptly hoist her up. I can't imagine it feels good down there, but I'm not the sympathetic hero. She can walk-just like every other woman in the world.

We both turn and come to complete halt, a muscled silhouette blocking the exit to the alleyway. The woman lets out a small sound and leans into me. I feel the very real need to push her away.

I stare at the shadow for a moment, assessing the danger to the woman if I leave her to take on this- "Kakarott?"

I can see him clearly as he steps into the lighter shadows, looking puzzled and wide-eyed. I let out a disgusted sigh and move the girl forcefully toward the road. "It's just an idiot. He wouldn't harm a fly. Let's go."

Kakarott moves aside as I walk past him, but I hear his footsteps following us. I ignore him. "Where to?"

The girl is constantly checking behind us, obviously not believing me. It causes her to trip over her own feet consistently. I'm the only thing holding her up. She turns halfway toward me as her hand slowly rises and points, her eyes locked on my face as it stares impassively ahead. "Th-that way."

I nod sharply and continue to basically pull her toward our destination. I've been put into a bad mood because of-all this. And seeing Kakarott isn't helping. For all my wishing I could see him, it's seeming to cause more problems than erase them.

Finally, she tells me to stop. She seems to detach herself unwillingly from my side, moving toward the door in slow, sure steps. It's one of those brothels, where men go inside to receive pleasure. She does not look back as she opens the door and enters. It closes with a soft click behind her.

I scowl at myself for watching her walk in. I should've just turned around and walked away. I move to do just that, and almost run into the chest of the man behind me.

I sneer up at him, not really looking at him. "Do you mind?"

He moves to the side without complaint and I look at him more closely, noting the fact that-I really can't tell what he's thinking. I move forward, walking, again, in no real direction. "What are you doing here?"

I see him shrug from the corner of my eye as he moves to walk beside me. "I come here every once in a while, just to-help."

I'm mentally revaluating him, but I snort. "You can't help here. They don't want your help."

"She wanted your help."

I shake my head at his quick response. "Not really. She'll wake up tomorrow and relive what happened every night in a thousand different ways. She's a whore. They do that for a living."

I hear silence answer me and turn my head to look at him. He's looking at the ground, face solemn. "Why?"

I stop completely, my brow furrowed in confusion. "Why what?"

His eyes come up to meet mine and I can feel the confusion and pain etched in them. "Why did he rape her? Why does she-sell her body?"

I look at him for a moment. He actually wants the truth. He doesn't want to smile and laugh and send this all away to a place in his mind labeled: bad things; do not think about. He's come to the right person for this kind of truth.

I face forward and continue walking. "For him, because it simply felt good. He'd probably do anything to feel good. The minute pleasures mean the most to these people, and they don't care what they have to do to get them.

"For her, she simply doesn't believe there is anything better or that she can reach it. She probably wasn't smart enough to graduate, or had to quit schooling, or any number of things that fate throws at you that fucks up your life."

"Which was it for you?"

I stop and whirl on the man behind me, leaning up and directly into his face as I snarl. "You know nothing about me! Don't you dare to assume you fucking do!"

He blinks at my close proximity, doing nothing as I spin back on my heels and march off, my steps much brisker now. I hear him hurry to catch up. "What if I want to know?"

I snort my laughter at him. "Why would you want to know?"

His answer seems hesitant to my ears. I do not turn to see his expression. "What you did...in the alley. It was different."

"Oh?" That was derisive. I'm sure he'll make some comment about me being a hero, one of the good guys.

"You aren't here to help."

My steps falter. Idiot- I sneer, though he can hardly see it. "No, I'm here to drink."

"Why?"

My mouth closes tightly and I again spin on him, stalking back to where he has also stopped. "Why don't you leave me the fuck alone?"

He tilts his head to the side. "I learned a lot in Uub's village."

I lean back, confused by this sudden change in topic. "You-what?"

He smiles then, not his usual go-for-broke smile. It's-softer than that. "I learned that sometimes doing the little things counts even more than a big thing. That maybe helping a raped woman is even better than saving the world."

I turn, yet another sneer plastered on my face, and begin to walk off. "Spare me your ludicrous belief in the good of all humanity. If you'd spent any time at all here, you'd see there is none."

I'm suddenly spun around by a hand on my arm, gripping the arm that holds me as I stare in shock at a very angry Saiyan. "I have spent time here." His face suddenly morphs, softens, his eyes catching everywhere on my face, leaving me baffled and still wide-eyed. "And there is some. I just saw it."

I snarl, trying to wrench my arm from his grasp. "I'm not human! Or did you forget that?"

He releases me and I stumble backwards, catching myself and striking an arrogant pose. I'm further angered when he merely shakes his head. "No, I haven't forgotten. You are Saiyan."

My upper lip curls. "And you are not. Now that we've established that, why don't you go back to your little village? I need to go get drunk before the sun rises."

This time, my steps are not halted, this time I hear no one following me. I feel the tension drain as minutes later I'm back at the bar. I'm forgetting this ever happened. Oh, I'll probably feel it tomorrow; I can feel the part of me I hate griping, but I'm not listening to it right now.

I enter the bar, take the seat I had vacated, and motion to the bartender. He gives me a second glance, as I usually only come in once a night, but he serves me anyway, passing me another bottle.

I turn in my chair and open it, tilting it back and narrowing my eyes while the dim light plays on the amber liquid and clear bottle as I swallow. It's through this opaque view that I see the door open. I lower the bottle, letting out a soft curse at exactly who stands just inside the doorway, warily looking around.

It is me he is looking for. As soon as he sees me, he moves in my direction. I curse again, this time just a bit louder, and deliberately turn in my seat away from him.

He seats himself next to me despite my obvious antisocial state and stares at me for a second. I take another long swallow from the bottle, ignoring him.

"Is it any good?"

My eyes reluctantly meet his form, an eyebrow rising.

"The drink. Is it any good?"

I shrug, still not in any mood to talk. Motioning the bartender, I bring him over our way. "Get him a glass."

He eyes Kakarott with a sharp gaze and I almost laugh at the thought that he doesn't trust him. "I'll cover him."

He nods sharply and hands Kakarott a glass, moving away to other patrons. As Kakarott holds it out to me, I fill the shot glass half-full, not wanting to waste any more than I have to.

As I suspected, Kakarott immediately chokes on the little he downs, face turning red and eyes tearing up. I can't help but chuckle. "It's a little less smooth than some. I like it rough."

He doesn't answer as he tries to regain his breath, but his look is amusing enough. I drain the last of the liquor left in the bottle, taking the time to lick the rim for any extra. Not that there is any...the cool glass just feels good against my tongue is all.

Kakarott is staring down at what's left in his glass. He tentatively tilts it up, letting it slide into his mouth. I watch him hold it in his mouth for a moment before swallowing. "You drink like a girl."

He frowns and clears his throat. "At least I'm trying it."

I nod, lifting the empty bottle up and mockingly toasting him. "At least." I bring the bottle back down and stare at it. Then I raise my eyes and the bottle toward the bartender. He nods and hands me another. I usually don't go past four on a bad night.

I'm surprised as Kakarott's glass appears near the bottle and look up. Kakarott shrugs. "I'll get used to the taste, right?"

Shrugging along with him, I do not answer as I pour him a full shot this time. He probably shouldn't have any more than that. No telling what his tolerance is.

We drink in relative silence, my mind finally quiet enough to simply soak up the atmosphere and relax. I barely even know he's there until he speaks again.

"How's Trunks and Bra?"

I shrug, not looking at him, spinning the bottle in my hands instead. "Alright I suppose. Trunks is training to run Capsule Corporation. Bra is going to parties and-dating."

He chuckles. "I can't imagine you taking that very well."

I shrug, which seems to be something I'm doing a lot tonight. "Whatever makes her happy."

"Bulma yelled at you?"

I blink at him, waiting for my mind to catch up to his meaning. "Yeah. Said I couldn't interfere. It was a human thing."

He chuckles beside me. "I never got that speech."

I join him, laughing lightly. "Oh, but you got plenty of others. Those women can yell our heads off."

He nods silently, a grin plastered on his face. I knew it wouldn't take him long to get buzzed. I love it when I'm right. "So, you do this every night?"

I nod. "Just about. Any night I need to." I cock my head to the side. "Which is every night."

I see him frown, looking down at the bar and tracing the rim of his glass with a finger. "But-why?"

My own face falls and my answer comes out harsh and sharp. He actually flinches at it. "Why not?"

He sighs and seems to deflate in his chair. His hands push the glass away from him as he sinks onto the bar, until his arms cradle his head. "Why don't you ever come visit?"

I blink at him incredulously. "What?"

He scowls straight ahead at nothing. A scowl looks strange on his face. "You never come visit. We could spar. I hardly have anyone to talk to...who- You never come visit."

I blink. "Well, I didn't think you'd want me to. I mean, you're training Uub, and you said you'd be back.... Are you back?"

He shakes his head, which I can barely make out for where his head is positioned. "I'm getting-bored. I mean...every time I've been away, I've been training for something. I'm training Uub, and that's great-"

"But there's no prize for you at the end. And you're used to going toward some prize, not just a goal."

He nods this time, a yawn following suit before he can speak. "It was that way with you and Namek and the Androids and Cell and-even Otherworld."

I see his eyes droop close and hit his elbow, jarring him awake. "Don't go to sleep. This isn't the place to go to sleep."

He sits up straight and looks around, eyes noting the scrupulous characters. "Why are you drinking here? These don't look like nice people."

The grin I flash him shows my canines. "I'm not a nice person."

He grins back at me, standing suddenly. Too suddenly; he has to grab onto the back of his chair to keep steady. Several men at a table slightly adjacent to us notice this.

"It's late. You should be home."

I frown and rise alongside of him, putting money on the bar again, half of my attention on the seated men. "I suppose I should, though I hardly need you to tell me that."

"I'll fly you home."

I turn to assess his expression. It's guileless, completely innocent in its intent. "Don't you have to get back too?"

He waves a hand a bit too forcefully and has to hold onto the back of the chair again. "Nah! No one will miss me. I'm a big boy!"

I nod slowly, one eyebrow raised as I put an arm near his elbow and circumspectly lead him toward the door. "I'm sure you are. You should go visit your harpy of a wife anyway. She'll probably yell at you if you don't."

He frowns, turning slightly to me as I open the door and we step outside. The men at the table have opted not to follow us. Good choice. "Don't call her that."

He pauses, and for a moment, I don't think he's going to respond to my suggestion. When he speaks, his voice is small. "She doesn't want me back unless I'm back for good. I couldn't promise her that."

I halt us in the middle of the street, turning him toward me with both hands on his arms. "You- Are you and her-?"

He nods. "Divorcing, separating? Whatever you want to call it. She said I should stay at the village then. I-I really couldn't say anything. I mean, what was I supposed to say?"

I shrug, letting him go and moving us toward the alley. "You sound like you have the better deal."

He's silent for the rest of the time we walk. By the time we're in the alley, away from prying eyes, I notice him looking at me strangely.

I glare back at him. "What?"

He tilts his head to one side and shakes it, looking away to the sky and levitating up. He does so clumsily and I can't stop my smirk as I follow him. Oh what I wouldn't give for some time to do something nasty....

"Uh-oh!"

I raise a brow at the man grinning beside me. "What 'uh-oh'?"

Kakarott chuckles lowly. "When you get that look on your face, you're up to no good."

I allow the smirk to grace my features again, aiming it at him. "You know me well then, Kakarott."

Nodding, he starts off unerringly in the direction of Capsule. I follow him.

Really, I couldn't have imagined I would meet up with him tonight. Neither could I have seen us drinking from the same bottle, talking without fighting. Of course, alcohol relaxes me. It's the main reason I drink it. It's the only thing that does relax me nowadays.

"We're here."

I nod, touching down on the balcony of my room. It's one of the reasons they don't know what I do at night. Kakarott raises a brow, landing beside me. I turn to him, watching him lean back against the railing.

Light from the stars hits him in a perfect profile. He's half in the light and half out. Shadowed and yet-lit. It reminds me of thoughts I had earlier that night. Thoughts I'd rather not pursue right now.

I turn away to slide the glass door to the side and turn back to him. Thankfully, he's moved, standing on his own and out of any reflective lighting. "Well, are you going to leave now, or just stand there polluting my balcony?"

He blinks at me; then looks pointedly toward my room. "Actually, I was hoping I could pollute your room."

It's my turn to blink at him, but before I can even voice a protest he's moved past me and into my room. I charge in angrily after him. "What the hell-?"

He turns on his heel, surprising me with a finger pressed over my lips. "Ssh! You'll wake everyone up." I stand there in shock as his finger slides over my lower lip and he grins at me. His finger is warm.

He suddenly lets his hand fall, giving a huge yawn and accompanying it with a stretch that almost makes his fingers brush my ceiling. He actually slumps over afterwards.

I watch him shuffle to my bed awkwardly, and find myself in an even more awkward position as his shirt comes over his head. He tosses it to the side, ignoring the noise I must make in protest. I watch, wide-eyed, as his hands move toward the rope that holds his pants on. "Kaka-" I clear my throat of its squeak as he turns, gazing at me curiously. "This is my room!"

He nods, a grin slowly spreading on his face. "Yes. I know that. But I'm tired, and I don't want to fly all the way back to the village." His grin grows. "That's alright isn't it?"

He's asking me now? Half-naked in front of me and he's asking me now? He walks toward me and I quail the urge to back up. "Vegeta, you don't have to...."

I frown. Just what is he implying? That I'm-afraid? "No. It's fine. You just-take the bed." I motion toward the wooden chair set up in front of a desk I never use. "Chair's fine for me."

I move toward the chair with all intentions of making it more comfortable only to find myself dragged backwards into a very warm, very-Kakarott chest. I make another noise as fingers seem to clench into my chest. "No, Vegeta! That's much too uncomfortable for you. We can share the bed."

I wiggle in his grip, finding that this seems to move-well, him all over me. "Kaka-"

"No arguments. Hop into bed!" He turns me around much too easily and pushes me toward the bed face-first. Of course, my balance is off, and I catch myself on the edge of the bed, hands clenching the sheets and ass-

I turn around, and the indignation of such a position must be on my face.

He approaches the opposite side of the bed and sits on the edge, his hand coming up to tug on my arm. I stare at him for a moment; then stare at the place he is obviously indicating. Bed-with Kakarott....

He tugs again, and I sit-reluctantly. He still has a hold of my hand as his other hand comes up under my chin and turns my head toward him.

I can't help the exhalation of air at how close our faces are. I can feel his breath on my cheeks, ghosting over my lips and eyes. Then he leans back slightly, hand leaving my face and eyes wide as he lets out another huge yawn. He ends it with a chuckle, a wide grin suffusing his face.

He turns halfway from me, wrestling the covers back enough so that he can get in. He lets go of my hand, leaving me there, sitting on the edge of the bed, as he turns and twists and snuggles between covers and bed.

He looks at me expectantly and I stare at the spot beside him. It's more than enough room for me, I know. But-

"Do you sleep in that, or-?"

I stare down blankly at my clothes, less one jacket. "Um...this will be fine, I think." I have no idea when I decided we would be-sleeping here, but I find myself bending over to remove my shoes and socks and rolling over and into the bed, flat on my back and tense as steel.

I flinch when he moves the upper half of his body, relieved when he merely pulls the covers over the both of us, settling back down.

I must lay there, staring at the ceiling for many minutes before I hear a sigh beside me and feel Kakarott roll toward me. I flinch again, but he merely lays there, looking at me.

"You know, it helps if you relax when you're trying to sleep. You're so tense I can hear it."

I turn my head toward him, trying to erase the bewildered expression from my features. I see and hear him sigh this time, and get no more warning than that as his arm snakes around and pulls me toward him.

I let out the most undignified sound ever. A cross between a gasp and a squeal. He doesn't release me though, just settles down, actually nuzzling his body against mine, and lays still and relaxed.

How can he be so relaxed? We're practically-well, we are sleeping together. With each breath I take I breathe in his scent. It's actually nice. A heady mixture of woods and dirt and that strange musk all males have, but Saiyans even more so. He's warm too, his arm cradles me...protectively?

Sighing, I try and relax against him. I move a little, positioning my head in the crook of his neck, my arms finding places between our bodies, and my knees drawn up toward his thighs.

Actually, this is nice. I've never actually-slept with a man like this. It was fuck and leave on Frieza's ship-anywhere actually. This is....

"Vegeta...."

The soft sound makes my eyes flutter open, only to squeeze themselves tightly shut as bright light blinds them. Sometime in the night I must have fallen asleep, but my gods, it's-

"It's morning!"

The exultant shout makes me roll over, covers coming up around my ears and mind resolutely shutting out this nightmare. I can hear him bouncing around the bed to confront me again.

"It's a beautiful morning, Vegeta!"

He's singing that! Gods, if there are any, kill me now. Better yet, kill him! "That's the point, idiot. It's morning. I sleep in the morning."

My voice is a mere grumble, but I know he's heard it. I can hear his pout. "But, Vegeta! I want breakfast!"

I open my eyes and raise my head with the full intention of telling him where he can stick his breakfast only to find my words caught in my throat. He's barely inches from me, closer now that I'm half-raised up. He's-looking at me with this expression....

Of course, nothing prepares me for him leaning forward to close the distance and pressing our lips softly together.

I do not respond, even as he lets me go I sit there with my lips half open and my eyes wide open, staring at him as if he's grown horns and wings.

He actually blushes, a light coloring across his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. "Um...sorry, Vegeta. You just-looked good."

I blink; then quickly rise all the way, swinging my legs around and resolutely ignoring-whatever just happened. "You wanted breakfast? We have to get down there quickly. The woman won't be expecting me to eat; she won't cook-enough...."

I know what I've let slip there, and half turn only to see him picking up his shirt and putting it on. Maybe he didn't hear me.

I turn back around before he can look at me and bend over to put on my shoes and socks. I feel the bed shift as he sits on it and stand quickly, staring down at him. He looks so-

"We should get down there."

He nods silently and stands, seemingly keeping some distance between us. He lets me lead the way out of my room and downstairs.

Everyone looks up at our entrance. I carefully keep my eyes to the front. I'm sure they're all wondering-

"What are you doing here, Goku?"

Okay...they're not....

He puts his hand behind his head and grins goofily as I sit down at the table. "Oh, I ran into Vegeta last night. He let me sleep over."

I can feel her eyes on me, questioning and curious, though I'm not sure what about. Bra has already finished eating and hops up from the table, running off to who knows where. Trunks won't leave until his mother does.

"Well-I didn't cook enough.... It'll take a few minutes."

Kakarott simply nods and sits next to me. Surprisingly, I'm thankful for the company, it helps the silence.

"So-Trunks. How's running Capsule going?"

Trunks swallows down a mouthful of food and I perk up, curious myself. "Okay. It's pretty easy. Mom says I'll be able to make executive decisions in no time."

"Once you learn to curb that temper that yours. You know where-"

Her sentence is abruptly cut off, and I wonder what she was going to say; what she would've said if I wasn't here.

"Hear that, Vegeta? Exec-um, what he said decisions."

I can't help but chuckle as he stumbles over the word. "I expect no less."

I hear a pronounced clatter by the stove and clamp my mouth shut. She must be in one of those moods again. She's always in those moods.

Kakarott seems to not know what to do with this awkward silence. I could've used this against him last night, but who wants their ex-rival to know their family life is-tumultuous at best?

It doesn't take her long to fix more food, considering she has half a dozen robots helping her. It's set down before Kakarott and me and I'm more than eager to join him in eating as fast as possible.

Unfortunately, it doesn't take us long to finish. I stand immediately after finishing and feel Kakarott stand up too. I pause, caught as two sets of blue eyes lock onto me. "I'm going to train."

It's mumbled, and hardly a good excuse, but I'm quick to take it. Kakarott is just as quick to follow me out of the room and down the hallway.

I turn before we're halfway there though. "It's time for you to go, Kakarott." He's seen and heard enough. More than enough.

"Vegeta...." He actually toes the ground with his foot. "Um, I really meant what I said last night."

I raise a brow. "You'll have to remind me what you're talking about."

He sighs, runs a hand through his hair, and gives all the signs of being nervous. "About wanting to spar with you. Uub is nice, but I can't go all out with him. Please? One spar and I'll leave."

I eye him, but he's practically bouncing from foot to foot. He wants a spar? I'm in the mood for one luckily. "Fine. One spar."

He nods eagerly and we start out again. Of course, it's right as we're to the door that I hear that dreaded voice in that dreaded tone.

"Vegeta!"

I stop and turn on my heels, facing her as she comes storming down the hall. What's-?

"Where's your jacket?"

She's in the familiar pose, one hip thrust outward, a hand on that hip and a fire blazing in her eyes. "I lost it."

Her eyes narrow. "Do you know how much I paid for that jacket? It was leather. Real leather!"

I shrug, glancing away and sneering. "You think I care? If you were that worried about the cost you could've made me kill a cow and tan it for you."

I watch as her face turns impossibly red and she leans back, eyes wide. I wait for it with the patience of one used to-

"Why don't you hole up in that gravity chamber of yours? The only thing you're good for around here is teaching ours kids what not to be when they grow up!"

She turns and stalks off then, presumably to immerse herself in teaching her son about running a corporation. I turn myself, ignoring Kakarott and entering the gravity chamber.

He walks in behind me, silent, his dark eyes watching my every move as I make my way to the controls in the center. "Are you ready?"

"Vegeta...."

"Shut up, Kakarott. We're sparring; you're leaving. Got it?"

"Vegeta...."

I turn toward him, face livid and ready to take out my humiliation on him. I pause, starting backwards at his closeness, at the fact that he is right there. "Kakarott?"

His lips are suddenly on mine, but not with the gentleness of this morning's kiss. This is-needy and passionate, fiery and demanding. I feel myself melting, uncaring, into the kiss, moaning and following his own lips' movements, not at all surprised as he forces his tongue into my mouth.

He releases me suddenly, arms leaning beside me on the console, head lowered slightly as he peers at me from beneath long, black lashes. I never noticed before how long they were.

"Vegeta...I want you."

I shiver at the low whisper, eyes widened slightly at the husky tone. I swallow in a suddenly dry mouth and try not to squirm. "Why?"

He didn't seem to be expecting that question. He brings his head up, eyes searching my own. Finally, a tiny smile plays on his face. "Because you are beautiful."

I snort, shifting in the trap his arms has made. "Listen, let's just spar and get this over wi-" My eyes again widen as he takes one hand and silences me with his fingers over my lips.

"Why do you do that?'

His hand falls away and I'm left gaping. I finally shake myself mentally and growl at him. "What the hell are you talking about?"

He shakes his head; still keeping me within his arms...I suppose I could get out- "You always try to pretend that nothing is important to you. There is so much in your world. Why can't you just admit it affects you?"

My mouth opens and closes repeatedly, face burning and probably very red. Finally my voice manages to force itself from a tight throat. "Ho-how dare you!" I push him forcefully and am surprised when his arms suddenly snake around and grab my hands where they meet at his chest, pressing down at my wrists so that I hiss in pain and my knees buckle, practically falling into him.

My hands are gathered into one of his, the fingers closing around the wrists tightly and holding them to his chest.

The other hand wraps around my middle, snaking down and in between my legs before I can even blink. My eyes widen impossibly and I resist before the hands suddenly attack my balls, rubbing through the fabric of my jeans. Moaning embarrassingly loudly, I shift my hips forward, head falling to his chest.

I vaguely feel his head rest on my shoulder, moving his face to nuzzle into my hair. His hand presses particularly roughly and I hiss my breath out with another moan. "Let go for once, Vegeta."

His words strike a chord in me and I'm suddenly careening myself every which way in a effort to escape, screaming meaningless words out as I throw myself away from his touches.

I'm suddenly blinded by yellow light as he powers up to Super Saiyan, stopping my struggles as the hand at my groin pauses and the hand holding my wrists tighten. I still myself, tense and expectant, coiled like a spring. The hand at my groin moves again, this time soft and explorative. "Vegeta...."

I grit my teeth, trying to resist, push aside the pleasure he is giving me, the damn fucking idiot! It's useless of course; he knows this. The more I try to resist, the hotter I get. And we can both feel my erection trapped between us. His is quite noticeable as well.

"Sto-stop it. Now...."

He shakes his head against my shoulder, turning his head and licking my neck with his tongue. I let out another moan at that contact. "No. You don't want me to."

I grit my teeth and close my mouth against the sounds that want to come out. Unfortunately, when I open my mouth to speak again, my pants are quite evident. Gods, if he keeps that up I'll be- No, direct thoughts elsewhere. "Yes...I do...."

My eyes widen again and I try to pinwheel my trapped arms as an ankle suddenly hits the back of my own, sliding my feet out from under me and sending me crashing to the floor...

...where I would've had a hard landing if Kakarott had not caught me and lowered me to it gently. I suck in a breath as the hand is suddenly at my front, massaging my aching cock through a thin layer of material. And I get even harder thinking of that thin layer of material.

"Vegeta, don't fight me...."

I look up at his face, the first time I have done so since this began, to see his brows furrowed, concentration on his face. He doesn't want to hold Super Saiyan doing this. It might even be harder to hold it. And-

I nod, slowly and unsurely, and he carefully relaxes, keeping my hands in between me and him, just in case. I can't blame him for his distrust. I've never been entirely trustworthy.

So it is that he surprises me when he drops out of Super Saiyan. My eyes must show this, for he smiles and lowers his face, lips brushing mine tentatively, and when I respond, he presses down hungrily, finding himself matched in fervor.

His hands slowly release mine, caressing my wrists that had been gripped so harshly. I break away from the kiss and let out a breath, meeting his eyes again with bewilderment.

Chuckling, he lowers his face and rubs his cheek alongside of mine. I narrow my eyes and turn my head slightly to allow the contact, hands coming up to meet at his waist and bring him down onto me. Gods, he's making me so fucking hot....

"Vege-eta." He draws out the second syllable as he nears my ear, then flicks out his tongue and drags it along my earlobe, taking the time to dip it inside briefly. He thrusts languidly toward me, and I buck up in response, eyes wide as I hiss out my breath.

Lowering his head slightly, he licks and nibbles at my neck, moving down slowly until he reaches my shirt. He smirks into my skin, stopping his movements slightly. "This needs to come off."

I couldn't agree more and show this by trying to move my hands to remove my shirt. He is already there though, tugging the shirt inelegantly over my head. I can't complain, because as soon as it's off he leans down and takes one of my nipples between his lips.

I arch up, mouth wide in a silent yell. He chuckles around my skin as he tongues the nub, pushing it back and forth, back and forth, in the same maddeningly motion that he still grinds into me with.

"Kakarott...." It's a plea, but I could care less right now. "Stop teasing, damn you."

He raises his head and nods once, slithering down me with alarming speed. His hands hook into my pants and pull down sharply, making me wince slightly as I lever up to watch him.

He gives me one look, an eyebrow raised and a smirk gracing his feature in a frighteningly close resemblance of me before his head lowers.

My own head slams back to the ground as he engulfs my erection, taking me down to the root and sucking harshly. Oh, but he doesn't just do that.... No, one of his hands plays with my balls, rolling them around slowly, while the other teases my entrance.

"Gods...." Does he want me to come like this? Cause if he keeps it up-

When his teeth lightly scrape against my cock, I know that yes, he wants me to come like this. I realize this even as my head rocks backward, eyes closed and what surely must be absolute bliss on my features as I release into his mouth. Good boy that he is he swallows every bit.

He appears in my view what seems like an eternity later, gazing at my panting form with satisfaction. I can feel his erection dragging over my stomach. He chuckles. "See how much I learned there?"

I have to return the chuckle, grin at him. "If I'd know they taught this I would've forced you to go there much sooner."

He seems to contemplate this. "How long have you-thought about us?"

I frown, not liking the sudden serious turn of conversation. "And what the hell does that matter?"

He smiles, shaking his head. "Doesn't I guess. Just curious." He looks down his own body, then back up at me. "Say-you wouldn't happen to, um...."

Chuckling, I enjoy his startled yelp as I suddenly throw my weight into him, switching our positions. I lower my face just inches from his, breath tracing his features. "You have no idea, Kakarott."

My cock is already hardening, pondering just what I want to do to him. "Let me show you a human trick, Kakarott. Since we're about showing what we've learned."

He nods silently, watching me, and then gasps as my free cock rubs against his still trapped one, the cloth providing a painfully nice friction.

"Vegeta...take off...." He can't seem to complete the sentence with my fast pace, and my lips locking onto his make it even more difficult. My hands, however, have certainly understood him, and I push and pull his pants down.

Both of us moan as our erections touch, then he grasps my shoulders with both his hands as I continue the motion I had started. I reach down with my hands while he's so occupied, returning his earlier favor by caressing his balls. I go a bit further though, shoving my finger up to my knuckle in him.

He gives a little scream, tinny in the domed room, and goes stiff underneath me. His eyes are wide, but slowly narrow as my cock continues to rub against his, my hand continues to massage.... So when I move the finger, he just groans and shoves down onto it.

He's tossing his head back and forth with a kind of frantic possession as my hands and body moves on and in him. He's-so needy like this. Like I always wanted him. Like I never knew I-

"Vegeta! Please!"

His words bring me back to him...really back to him and the fact that he's bucking every which way in order to bring himself more of what he needs. I smirk and lunge at his mouth, my ministrations faltering as he grabs my mouth aggressively and forces his tongue inside.

He rolls us over and dislodges my hands, but I'm much too into his lips playing across mine, his breath sucking mine out of my lungs, to worry about such a petty thing. Until his erection nudges my opening.

My eyes widen and I try to lunge upward, away from the touch, only to feel his hands on my shoulders, his tongue continuing to fuck my mouth. So I can't stop him when he rams himself into me.

I scream into his mouth, cause gods that hurt. A burning, ripping sensation that just won't go away, that doesn't seem to even have an end to it. It just goes on and on and pulses.

He's still...very still, holding himself tense above me, now just moving his lips over me, trailing kisses over to my cheeks, my eyes. Why is he kissing my eyes?

He leans up, looking at me, turning my face back toward him when I turn it away. "Vegeta...."

I say nothing, lips pressed thinly, waiting for his next move. And move he does, his hips shifting forward and causing me to hiss in pain even as his lips lightly lay across my own, even as his tongue darts out softly to lick across my lips.

A callused hand wraps around my flagging erection, tugging it slightly and making my eyes fall closed and my mouth open just enough for that tongue to slide back in. He swallows my next moan, making sure that the pumping on my cock is much more than the shifting of his own hips.

His hands are at my waist, lifting me up and pushing in, so that I let out a surprised sound inside his mouth, frustrated that he only lets go of my mouth so we can both take a breath before latching on again.

He shifts inside me again, and my eyes widen as this time he releases my mouth so that the short shout I felt sure he would keep quiet echoes around the room.

I moan and push down on him, hands gripping his hips convulsively as I let out another loud moan as he presses that spot again.

"Kakarott!"

He leans in close, breathing across my face in pants as his eyes stare down at me half-lidded. "What?"

"More. Now!"

He chuckles, leaning back and then ramming forward hard, making my body jerk upward as I let out a whimper and growl lowly, turning my head to the side and baring my throat. It burns so nicely. His hand burns on my cock and his cock burns in my ass. As his lips descend to my neck and suckle there, they burn too.

I can feel the burning increase, till I groan and twist my head to grab at Kakarott's lips, thrusting my tongue inside his mouth as I thrust my hips up and dig my fingers painfully into his thighs.

He suddenly rears back, breaking contact with my lips and pumping me ruthlessly as he thrusts hard, grunting harshly each time. Once, twice, three times he thrusts and pumps simultaneously until I rear my head, back arching as I release onto the both of us.

I'm squeezing and pressing his own erection in the throes of my orgasm, so I know he won't be far behind, and he does nothing to contradict that. He throws back his own head, screaming my name as he comes into me, spasmodically jerking his hips.

I finally feel him stop, feel him slump down onto me heavily, my breath leaving my body as his weight presses down on me. It's actually comfortable though. Warm....

I jerk upward, like a puppet on a string, and blink as I notice my room. Was it all-? Grunting as I move, I stifle a chuckle. Dreams don't hurt.

I slowly turn to put my feet on the ground and shiver at the cold air that drifts past them. And when exactly did I come to bed-without my shoes on? I think I still had those on at the end.

I gaze around my room, giving it more than the cursory glance. Kakarott is not here, but the balcony windows are open...wide open, which explains the draft.

I stand, moving to the balcony and leaning on the railing. Did he-leave me? After...that?

I stand there for a few moments, taking in the landscape underneath me and sighing as the cool wind plays in my hair, dancing across my naked body. I'd better get inside. Never hear the end of it if one of the woman's neighbors sees me like this....

I shuffle my way across the room and toward the adjacent room that holds my bath and shower. I'm already naked, so I simply adjust the water, turn on the shower, and step in, pulling the thick curtain shut after me.

The hot water sluices over my body, relaxing my muscles and reminding me just how long it's been. Training doesn't even get me this sore...especially not in those areas.

Picking up the bar of soap, I begin to work a thick lather over my body. I'm trying not to think, so of course my mind insists I do so....

He left. It shouldn't surprise me.... It's his words, however, that surprised me. Perhaps he learned more than just-fucking in that village. He probably learned what these humans call 'pillow talk' also.

'Let go for once, Vegeta.'

My head hits the tile wall in front of me, breathing deeply through my nose to stop-whatever thoughts want to continue from there. So fucking human. How could I have ever imagined him otherwise?

"What are you doing, Vegeta?"

The voice makes me whirl around, hands splayed out to either side of me on the slick wall and eyes wide. My tail would be puffy if I still had it.

He stands there, curtain half pulled back to peer at me with raised brows, his hair hanging in front of his face. He blinks at me, taking in my body with his dark eyes, and then this-expression covers his face. "What are you doing, Vegeta?"

My eyes remain widen at this change in tone, but before I can answer, he ducks back and the curtain falls into place again. There's a moment of silence, then a rustling and crinkling sound, dull thuds, sliding noises, and something light hitting the floor.

My curiosity overcomes my shock and I pull back the curtain, covering the lower part of my body with it as I look out. I make some strange noise in the back of my throat as Kakarott hops around on one leg, the other caught in his hands as he struggles to remove his pants. His shirt and shoes are already gone...and he doesn't wear any underwear. Something I didn't think he'd actually do and obviously didn't notice earlier.

He finally manages to remove the pants and turns to me, smiling and- My eyes trail down. Well, that explains the look on his face at least. He reaches over and grabs a paper sack off the counter that I had missed before and reaches inside it, pulling out a large and fancy looking bottle.

"I wasn't sure if you liked wine, but I figured a nice blush would do well. It's not too tart and not too strong. Just crisp enough too." He grins inanely and walks toward me with the wine bottle in one hand, the other dropping the sack to the floor and working on the paper around the top.

My own eyes are wide as I step back to allow him into the shower, the water making pinging noises as it hits the bottle. "Since when did you learn about wine?"

He laughs, almost a chuckle, and manages to pry not just the paper, but the cork off. It foams briefly before settling down. It's hard to tell how much of it actually escaped the bottle with the water falling around us.

His body is suddenly uncomfortably close to my own, the heat from his skin radiating and almost competing with the heat from the water behind me. I resist the urge to back up by a bare margin as he leans his head in, bottle held out to the side as his lips lightly brush my ear with each word. "I told you I learned a lot in that village."

He leans back and brings the bottle to my lips, carefully tipping it. My eyebrows rise as my head tilts with the bottle, the cooled wine hitting my tongue and sliding down my throat. He draws the bottle back before I can choke on it and I swallow, snatching it from him.

He makes no move except to laugh again as I bring the bottle to his own lips and force his head back. He swallows as its poured and my eyes lock onto his throat as it bobs. Almost sputtering the wine back out with another chuckle, he puts his hand on my wrist and guides it back down. "You're dangerous with that."

Shrugging, I lean back, letting the water soak my hair again and run in rivulets down my face. "Said I'd defeat you one way or another. Choking on wine is just as good as any other way."

He chuckles again and wraps his arms around me, swaying lightly to some invisible beat in his head. I cock a brow, though he can't see it with his chin on my shoulder. "You act like you're already drunk."

"Drunk on you."

I roll my eyes and grimace. "That was horrible."

"Sorry." He leans back and then toward my face, capturing my lips with his own. We both taste of wine. I raise the bottle again and take another drink, passing it on to him. He smirks at me and takes his own drink, still with one hand around my waist and both of us swaying lightly.

We spend a couple more minutes under the spray, languidly drinking from the bottle as we pass it back and forth. I don't know why I allow such an obviously-ridiculous embrace. Must be the alcohol.

We finish the bottle between us and I blink as it's taken from my hand. When did my head come to lie on his shoulder?

"Well...that's that. Want to-get to the bed?"

I chuckle and raise my head, leaning forward to lick water and wine from his lips. "No."

He blinks at me and I chuckle again, squirming from his embrace. "I've got a better idea."

He lets go of me and I flip a switch on the faucet, turning off the shower though the water still runs. I flip another switch and the drain is closed, water slowly filling the tub.

"You want to take a bath?"

His tone of voice makes me turn to him with a raised brow. "No. I'm turning on the sauna."

He blinks at me as I flip another switch, yelping as water suddenly jets from the side of the spacious tub to strike his legs. I chuckle and move toward the side. "It's just water, Kakarott."

He looks up at me and-is he scowling? I chuckle, shut off the faucet, and sit down on the ledge under the water, stretching out my legs and giving a sigh as one jet hits the middle of my back while two more hit each leg on the calf.

"Come on, Kakarott. Sit back and relax...."

Grinning at me, he sits down where the ledge is next to him and then scoots closer to me. I smirk and lean forward, reaching between his legs and watching his cock twitch as my hand passes it by and aims one of the jets right on it.

"Oh!"

I remove my hand and look up to see Kakarott's eyes wide open before they narrow, aimed at me. "Feel good?"

He nods and motions to me, but I shake my head. "No. I don't want the water."

Cocking his head to one side, he watches me watching him. "Then-what do you want?"

My hand again trails close to his cock, but this time I circle my hand around it, pushing back toward the base and smirking as his eyes narrow again. "What does it look like I want?"

I push myself off the ledge and move so that I am facing him, my hand still lightly stroking him. He pushes his hip, and I know he wants more of what I'm giving him.

Smirking, I move between his legs, which he spreads for me as he leans his head back, eyes still angled to watch me. I stretch out my legs away from him, lying on my stomach and slowly sliding my body up his. His hands come to my hips, aiding me as my hand releases his cock.

"Vegeta...?"

I raise an eyebrow. "What?"

"I want you to come with me."

I still, almost stiffening as I pull back slightly. "What?"

His hands grip me harder at my waist, pulling me back in toward him, till our noses almost touch. "I'm not back for good, remember?"

I scowl into his face, not liking the closeness, not liking the reminder. "I remember."

"So I want you to come with me."

I try to pull back from his grip, but by the tightening of his fingers I think he'll actually leave bruises to keep me here. "That's not possible."

"Why not?"

The question is as honest as the look in his eyes. I hate his naivety. "Because I don't belong there."

"You don't belong here either."

My scowl turns into a full grimace. "I have no idea what you-"

"Vegeta, you know exactly what I mean. Do I have to say it?"

My scowl continues and I'm not looking at him. But my eyes dart toward him when one of his hands drifts toward my inner thigh.

"You are so stubborn. I missed that."

Blinking at him, I flick my eyes away from his before they come to rest on his face again. "You missed it?"

"I missed you. Did you miss me?"

I look away again and feel his hand grip me firmly. "I don't know...."

"Okay. Tell me what you missed."

"What I-?"

"Yeah. Tell me what you missed. You missed something, right?"

I flounder for words, finding them harder and harder to grasp as his hand strokes me slowly. "I-I missed-I missed our spars."

"Those were fun. We didn't get to have many though...and they were always interrupted."

"You promised we'd continue that spar."

"Yeah. I did, didn't I? We could do that on my next break."

I gasp and arch my back toward him, trying to push my hips in further, entice him to go faster. How can he speak so candidly and do this to me? "I miss your stupidity."

He almost stops his hand, his head cocked to the side and a confused look on his face. "My stupidity?"

I thrust toward him. "Yes.... You-you just...sometimes it makes me laugh-inside. Sometimes I wonder if you don't do it purposely. And-it's nice to have someone want things explained to them. Instead of assuming they know everything."

"Ah, so it's not my stupidity you miss really."

I laugh even as I pant out and grip his shoulders hard. "Yes it is."

He frowns and then blows air out of his mouth in an aggrieved sigh that flicks a strand of wet hair from in front of his face. "I miss how you confuse me."

"Like that's hard."

His smile is huge as he nods. "Yeah, that's not a big thing. Anyone can confuse me. Um, I miss-"

"Is there a point to this?"

"Yeah. We don't have to miss anything if we're together."

"Simple concept, Kakarott. But it's not that easy. You know that."

"No I don't. Please, explain it to me."

"There are the kids."

"You can visit them. They're grown, Vegeta. You don't need to change diapers or discipline them anymore."

He chuckles as my face wrinkles. "I hardly did the first to begin with, and a look usually sufficed for the second."

"What are you talking about? Bulma took care of Trunks and Bra had you wrapped-"

"Don't you dare say it!"

He chuckles and continues to stroke me, a little bit faster now but seemingly ignoring me pushing into him for more contact. "Well...what else?"

"There's-well...the village invited you, not me."

"They didn't invite me. Most of the time I live outside the village anyways, but I help them hunt for food and stuff. Uub entered into the competition to get money to feed his village. With two of us hunting-there'd be plenty for everyone."

I scowl at him even as I grip his shoulders hard enough to bruise and grunt. "It's not my home."

"Where is your home, Vegeta?"

I toss back my head and scowl at the ceiling. "Would you just shut up and stop teasing already?"

He's silent for only a moment, his hand still stroking me in a manner that's driving me nuts since he's been doing it for fifteen minutes. "When did it happen? Between you and Bulma?" He shifts the hand on my waist and curls his legs around it, sliding himself down and stretching out under me.

"I-I don't know. After Bra was born. We just-drifted apart. I trained more; she worked longer hours. We hardly spoke, hardly looked at each other. Then came the bickering. I just-don't know how it happened.

"We-got the kids in the middle. We didn't mean to, either of us. But there they were. Do you blame them, who they sided with?"

He stops stroking me, wrapping his arm around my neck and pressing me into his body. The water laps around our chests. His hand drifts up and tangles in my hair. "They didn't side with anyone. They're waiting."

"Waiting for what exactly?" My tone sounds as skeptical as my face must look.

"Waiting for you to be there maybe? You were training-you're out all night, sleep all day. Bulma's there, even if it's not intentional. Maybe that's what she's mad at you for. Maybe if you were just-there for the kids, she'd be happy with that. Even if you two don't work out."

There is silence except for the water hitting our skins and rolling off the sides of the tub. I can't-how could he-? From just one breakfast and that-little scene afterwards he'd figured that out? That-that Bulma and I were gone but maybe she was bitter for the kids and not for herself-as I'd assumed?

"Kakarott?"

"Mm?" He tilts his head down to look at me as his fingers rub my scalp idly.

"Sometimes you freak the fuck out of me."

He laughs outright at that, sloshing water all around us, I can't help but join him and chuckle.

It takes awhile for him to calm down, but when he does I have a question for him. "How did you-know all that just from one breakfast with us?"

His face goes somber then, his expression grim as his mouth straightens into a thin line. The hand at my hair drifts down and both return to my waist. "Well...I kinda knew from experience. I mean-one day-my son just...told me he hated me."

I blink and rise up slightly, my eyes wide and locked onto his. He looks-sad. Simply sad. "Gohan?"

He shook his head slightly. "Goten. But it's okay now. That was years ago...about three...and I-we talked and stuff. We're better now. I'm better now."

"But-that'll never leave you."

He nods slowly. "Yeah.... It felt-really bad to hear him say that...and to know he meant it."

I lay my head down on his shoulder. "Do you think my kids hate me?"

"Well, I think they hate you not being there. Same as Goten. That was all he wanted."

I nod, head still on his shoulder, silent for a long moment in which he merely runs his fingers from my waist to my back and back again, over and over in a very nice motion. My skin starts to tingle there. "I'll need to tell Bulma before I leave."

He nods as I lift my head up. "Of course. And the kids."

I nod and lean forward, pressing my lips to his firmly. He tilts his head to the side and runs his tongue over my lips. Opening my mouth slightly, I let my own tongue out. Our tongues run over and around each other before we lock our lips together and slide them into our mouths.

Breaking apart from him suddenly, I let out a few pants, kneading his shoulders and arching my back slightly as he wriggles himself upward, angling onto his back until my erection is right at his entrance.

"Kakarott-this is going to hurt."

He chuckles and pushes upwards a bit, rocking back and forth slightly as he grins. "I know."

I return his grin and slowly push myself forward. "I have to thank those villagers for what they taught you-then kill them for touching you."

Grinning even wider now, he pushes upward as I push down, his brow creasing as I enter him. At least I do know what this is doing to him-and know it's been done before. So-we both know what we're in for.

It seems to take forever before I'm inside him fully, and I feel him pulsing around me. It's-wonderful. Warm and close and just-nice.

He gasps and rolls his hips upward suddenly, pushing me in deeper and making me grunt as my fingers dig into the skin of his shoulders, pushing myself up and then back down. Again and again and-he's just perfect around me....

My head lowers and rubs into his shoulder, just below where my hand is, as I continue to move. He aids me by pushing himself up from the bottom of the tub. It's a slow and steady rhythm we take. As if we have all the time in the world to enjoy this. And I don't see how that's not true.

He grunts and I raise my head to see him lick his lips, eyes narrowed and fingers alternating between tightening on my skin and trying to rub it.

"If I-didn't know better, I'd think-you liked this."

He chuckles and rolls his hips again, gripping my waist decisively and speeding his motions. "That obvious?"

I join him in his humor-and speed, quickening my thrusts and hearing him catch his breath. "There?"

"Oh yes."

I repeat the motion and watch with amusement as he arches his back, mouth open soundlessly. Both of us move toward the other, me aching for that pulsing feeling and him aching for that feeling when I hit that spot inside him.

We're going faster now, but neither of us seems to care. I can't even tell if the water running down my face is sweat or the splashing from our motions.

Kakarott finally stiffens underneath me, eyes wide open and then closing as his orgasm ripples through him and around me. I choke out a sound as he tightens almost painfully, feeling my own orgasm ripped from me with no warning.

I fall against him, the water sloshing around us and slowly calming as we both lie there. I spit out what water managed to get in my mouth and pant, my hands curling around his neck as his legs relax their hold on my waist. I didn't even realize he was gripping me that hard.

I feel his chest hum beneath me and lean back to blink at him. "Are you purring?"

He blinks back. "Do you want me to stop?"

"No...I just-it surprised me."

"Oh..... So-what do you want to do now?"

I stare at him for a moment before leaning in and taking his lips in mine. When I release him, we're both purring. "I think I'd like a nap."

He grins. "Is all you do sleep?"

Managing to look indignant, I slowly maneuver myself upwards. "No! I can't help it if I didn't foresee you being so damn horny and didn't prepare myself!"

"Of course not. But this just means you'll have to take your vitamins everyday."

I scowl at him as I stand and hold a hand out. "Are you getting out or lying there?"

He stares up at me for a moment before grasping my hand and rising himself. "Sometimes you surprise me."

I turn as I'm stepping out of the tub and raise an eyebrow at him. "Hm?"

"You just-do things that shouldn't surprise me but do."

"I could say the same of you...."

We stare at each for a moment before Kakarott holds out his hand. Blinking, I take it and find myself led past his clothes on the floor, out of the bathroom, and to the side of the bed.

Kakarott pulls back the sheets and crawls into the bed, scooting over to one side and turning toward me with his arms obviously ready to hold me. Snorting, I crawl in after him and slide beside him, feeling his arms enclose about me.

I spend a few minutes fidgeting and trying to find a comfortable spot before Kakarott suddenly rolls me over on top of him. "There. Now go to sleep."

I huff air onto his skin and wiggle more just to protest before relaxing.

There is a moment of complete silence in which my eyes are firmly closed and I'm slowly drifting off.... "Vegeta?"

I sigh in aggravation, eyes snapping open. "I thought you wanted me to go to sleep?"

He shrugs underneath me. "I just have a question."

Rolling my eyes even though he can't see it, I wiggle again. "You're such a woman. What is it?"

"Are you happy now?"

It's as honest a question as all the others Kakarott has asked, but it still baffles me. "What do you mean?"

He shifts a little. "It's just-before.... You seemed so sad. You were standing there on that cliff-and you were just staring at nothing."

I blink and rise up, opening and closing my mouth several times before I finally speak. "You were watching?"

He nods slowly. "I was just coming from ChiChi's...and I felt your ki. I wanted to say hi-but you looked like you wanted to be alone.... And then you went to the bar and I didn't want to go in there.... And then you left and started walking and helped that-"

"Okay, ok. I get it. So you were watching me and then you followed me...."

"Yeah...."

I lay my head back down and get into a comfortable position again. I can hear and feel his heart beating beneath me. I think I like it.

"So-are you happy now?"

I blink at nothing for a moment before I slowly nod. "Yes, Kakarott. I'm happy now."

I'm lifted upwards as he heaves a sigh and curls his arms around me contentedly. "Good. I'm glad."

"Yes. Now can we go to sleep?"

I feel rather than see him nod and close my eyes. I still have to talk to Bulma-make things up to my children. But-that comes later. Right now, I'm going to fall asleep on top of my lover.

Lover. I think I could get used to the sound of that.