Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Playing Home ❯ Part 26 ( Chapter 26 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

By: chayron

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ. I'm not making any money.

Warnings: Yaoi (male x male). Goku/Vegeta.

Playing Home

by chayron (lttomb@yahoo.com), beta-read by RowinaDequina

Part 26

Gohan was lying on his stomach, on a red, fluffy carpet, a book before his eyes, his feet dangling in the air. It was Monday evening, and he was preparing for an upcoming microbiology test. He had been reading on and off for the whole day.

Gohan raised his head to glare at the TV that was playing the same song for the fiftieth time that day. It was a new hit, four blondes with huge boobs screaming their non-existent voices off and wagging their asses all around the screen. The song was good; it had been written ten or more years ago, and the blondes only “borrowed” it. They didn't do any good to the song. Gohan sighed, as one of the blondes flashed her almost naked ass. Apparently the rest of the world didn't share his opinion.

Gohan shook his head in distaste and went back to underlining the sentences that he found the most important in the book. He wanted to turn the page, when he realized that there were loud noises coming from the street. That was strange. His flat was on the seventh floor…

Gohan left his book and went to the window. There was a crowd on the pavement. What was going on there? Gohan opened the window and peered more closely, being glad that his sight was much sharper than a Human's.

Kamala.

What the hell was the Saiyan doing in the city? Drawing attention, probably…

Gohan curiously leaned on the windowsill. Then he gasped, realizing that Kamala was looking for him. The stubborn Saiyan probably didn't ask his address and if he had asked, wasn't able to make sense of the city maze. Or maybe he simply tried to find him by his ki. Not very successfully.

Gohan quickly closed the window, grabbed his keys, his black denim jacket and the phone, and ran downstairs, not bothering to get an elevator.

As soon as he was outside, he saw the crowd part and soon Kamala's head emerged. The Saiyan seemed to be relieved to see him. Kamala waded through the crowd. Kamala rudely pushed a woman away who was trying to take a picture of him. He approached Gohan.

“Damn idiots!” Kamala hissed. “How can you live in such a place?!”

Gohan grinned. “Well, nobody pays that much attention to me… What did you do?” He began walking away from the crowd.

“Nothing.” Kamala followed him. “I just asked one weird guy if he knew you, and he started babbling something about movies, action, explosions, stars… And then those other idiots with cameras came. And then the entire street. I really didn't do anything!” he defended.

Gohan turned to observe Kamala. Kamala was very handsome, like always of course. Kamala was wearing a sleeveless shirt that showed his biceps and chest muscles off, and jeans Goku had refused to wear but that nicely hugged Kamala's thighs and ass. Kamala had gained more weight while on Earth, both a bit of needed fat and muscle. Training worked very well on the Saiyan. And Kamala had striking hair, thick and silky, that reached down to his waist.

Gohan quickly turned away, after Kamala's brow rose at him. “It was probably some film director. He probably wanted you to try a role in a movie or something. You're lucky, I'd say…” He laughed after noticing that Kamala didn't understand a thing he said, the other Saiyan's big black eyes gazing at him confused. “Never mind.” He waved off then. “I don't think you'd like that, anyway.”

Gohan looked around, after realizing that the crowd was following them. He saw Kamala bare his canines at the people. Suddenly, Gohan felt worried that Kamala might do something stupid.

“Let's go to the training ground,” Kamala turned to Gohan after the people got the best of him.

Gohan cursed as Kamala simply blasted away into the sky, leaving shocked people to stare at the clouds. Gohan had no choice but to follow him before people's attention turned to him.

While following Kamala, Gohan was getting a weird feeling that mostly consisted of anger and excitement at the same time. He had a test tomorrow, and there was Kamala messing around with him. In addition to not letting him learn, Kamala organized the “show” for the whole city.

The sun was setting. Gohan watched orange paint the sky, taking wider and richer brushes. He turned his head to Kamala and saw the same admiring look on Kamala's face. Kamala liked Earth, Gohan knew as much. And things were settling down - Kamala was becoming calmer, more peaceful.

He didn't know it at the time, but later Vegeta told him that several hours before he and Kamala went to spar, Kamala and Raaven had broken their bond. Probably that was one of the reasons why Kamala had lashed out like that… Kamala shouldn't have come to spar then. A bond was a serious thing. Maybe Kamala didn't show that, but it was clear that the other Saiyan was bitter that things with Raaven didn't work out.

Gohan landed near Kamala, his eyes questioning wordlessly. Kamala silently sat down on the dusty ground, motioning to Gohan to follow his example.

“I wanted to apologize for being such a jerk lately,” Kamala started as soon as Gohan sat down.

Gohan was a bit surprised but pleased at the same time, nonetheless. “And you dragged me here to say that?” he sighed. “I think we both overdid then. But I thought that topic was over…”

“Err…” Kamala gave him an abrupt and somewhat nervous smile. “Yeah. And I wanted to say, I'd be glad if you trained me. But… But I can't pay and don't have anything to give to you…” He brushed over his hair nervously. Then he quickly smiled. “Unless you wanted fresh killed boar or deer…”

Gohan looked at him for some time then chuckled. “Thanks, no.” He wondered why Kamala was so tense, but then realized that probably it cost Kamala's pride a lot to come over to him and say that. “I don't need anything.” He shrugged then. “Besides, you didn't pay my father anything, did you? Then why are you worried about paying now?”

Kamala shifted uneasily. “Well, he's Alpha Male… Besides, he's much older than I… It's…well…it's somewhat normal for him to train. And we…we are the same age. It's a bit awkward…”

Oh. Gohan blinked. He laughed then. “I'm one year older, if that helps.”

Kamala brushed over his long mane, smiling, too. “No, it doesn't, but it's nice to know you take that seriously…”

Gohan laughed again. “Listen, I'd like to chat, but I have a test tomorrow. Let's just meet tomorrow here at five o'clock and I'll see what stage you are on. I don't have much free time while studying, so we'll have to arrange that somehow. I suppose mostly we'll do that in the evenings. But I'm free on weekends and on holidays, so we'll manage to solve that.”

“Great,” Kamala nodded.

XXXXX

Goku watched Vegeta who watched Trunks who was playing with Goten. Goten was chasing Trunks all over the yard, trying to get his shirt back (not that there was much left of that shirt, anyway).

The boys had come to Goku and Vegeta's home directly after the school. Bulma had gone on a business trip to Germany. She left Vegeta responsible for their son which made Trunks very happy. His father responsible for him simply meant that Vegeta wouldn't let him to be killed or starved. Oh, and no unprotected fucking. Not that Trunks cared about it yet.

Goku sighed leaning on the tree. He brushed his hand over the thick grass. Vegeta was sad again. That birthday party made the clouds shift, but didn't help a lot. He could feel that Vegeta was in constant turmoil, after Shenron refused to fulfil those two wishes.

He tried to calm Vegeta down by telling him that as soon as he gave birth and regained his strength they would go to look for those Gods. But Vegeta said that it was probably no use - Gods, like Fire Clan itself, believed in everybody's special place in life, destiny. If Ahrae died, she died - that was her task: to lead them to Trunks, save their unborn child. She fulfilled that, and that was it. Like that.

Goku grunted. If he thought like that, the Earth would have been exploded; the pink lizard would still be running around, and so on. Nonsense. How can one know when it was destiny? How could one know when it was fulfilled? Maybe Ahrae's destiny was to be revived and to save hundreds of other people! Those smart talks about Gods and destiny only made him confused and even surer that he wanted to have nothing to do with that.

They discussed the Namekian Balls, but decided that the result would be the same: the dragon would refuse.

Once more Goku sighed heavily. Probably that was it. Ahrae was gone. They had to start getting used to the fact. There was still hope that one day some miracle similar to Dragon Balls would appear, and she'd be revived.

“You should start training Trunks in sword-fighting,” Goku softly said to Vegeta. “Ahrae gave it to Trunks - it shouldn't be rusting somewhere in the cellar.”

Vegeta's eyes were fixed on the grappling boys. “Yeah, I should,” he said then. “Would Yamcha agree to teach him? I have no sword-fighting skills whatsoever…”

“Yeah, I think he would,” Goku nodded.

Vegeta ITed to Capsule Corp. After some searching he found the sword. He looked at the sharp, broad blade. It badly needed polishing: there were several crusty droplets of blood on the metal. It hadn't been touched since Ahrae died. Trunks just brought it back and put it in his room, in a wooden box.

Vegeta carefully ran his fingers over the blade. “Fuck,” he cursed pulling his fingers back and sucking on one of them. Damn sharp. The best metal in the whole universe.

Swords had never been a part of Saiyan life. There had been several Saiyans that were skilled in sword-fighting, but usually a Saiyan trusted his fists and blasts rather than a piece of metal. Sword-fighting was seen more as a ritual, like kata, requiring much more accuracy, skills and dexterity.

Vegeta lifted the sword by the handle. The sword was made to be big and massive enough. It was light for him, but he knew that his son would find it heavy enough. Several hours of non-stop training might make the sword unbearably heavy.

The prince ITed back to his and Goku's house.

Goku gazed at Vegeta who was holding the sword, its blade reflecting the sun. Vegeta had some sword-fighting skills. Not much but some. He could see that by the way Vegeta was holding the blade and by his stance.

“Hey,” Gohan landed near them both. “Wow.” He observed the sword. “Big. Do you know how to use it?”

“Yep. Gonna chop some trees down,” Vegeta snorted at him. “Winter is coming.”

“We'll ask Yamcha to teach Trunks.” Goku stepped in. He knew Vegeta wasn't in the best of moods right now. “That was Ahrae's last wish.”

“I see…” Gohan's eyes slid over the sharp blade. He knew that if they decided to use the sword, they had very little hope that the Fire Clan princess was coming back.

“Oh, how was your test?” Goku asked Gohan.

Gohan waved off. “It was easy. Some mutations, some cloning. Had I known, I would have gone sparring with Kamala.”

Goku's eyes fixed on his oldest. “Spar? With Kamala?”

“Yeah, that's why…”

“Silence!” Vegeta was on his feet in an instant, his eyes fixed on the sword blade.

“Ve-?”

“Shut up, all of you!” Vegeta yelled. “I need to think!” Then he suddenly turned to Gohan, who almost backed up at the agitation in the prince's eyes. “Cloning. Is that science advanced here?”

“Eh? Where `here'?” Gohan blinked.

“Earth!” Vegeta growled.

“Oh. Well… The science is young enough. But very promising,” Gohan said.

“Can you clone Humans?”

Gohan rolled his eyes at “you”. “Yes, but it's forbidden.”

“Does the Woman know how to do that?”

“Of course. Her laboratories are the ones that are fighting over the right to clone the first Human ever…”

Vegeta smirked. “We are going to clone Fire Clan.”

XXXXX

“Err…” Kamala blinked at Gohan after he told him the news. “Are you sure it will work?”

“No,” Gohan shrugged. “But there's no use trying to change Vegeta's mind. He'll have his way one way or another. Actually, we all are very interested. He said she should remember at least the most important things in hers and her clan's life, which means that her personality will be more or less the same as it was before she died. There's a very interesting phenomenon with Fire Clan cells - it seems all of them contain the most important information, which includes memories that make Fire Clan what it is.”

Kamala looked at him. “You're quite keen on that, aren't you?” he smiled.

Gohan chuckled, scratching his head. “Yeah…”

“And what if she doesn't remember anything? What will you do with her then? You'd have to teach her like a newborn child…”

That didn't sound good. But Gohan knew the possible outcome. “Vegeta said he'd take care of her in that case…”

“By killing her?” Kamala snorted.

Gohan glared at him. “You know little about him…”

“There are enough stories to keep one awake at night,” Kamala said.

“What stories?”

“Gohan, Vegeta murdered twenty as many or even more people as there are on this planet. I grew up in a place where children were spooked by the stories about him. And not only children.”

“Kamala,” Gohan held the same formal tone Kamala used with him, “he's a completely different person now. These fifteen years completely changed him. That, he didn't kill you after you stalked his mate, should tell you everything…”

“You know…” Kamala looked at him. “…Fuck you,” he said before turning around and blasting away.

Gohan cursed. Just great. He knew that Kamala was very sensitive to any mentioning of his feelings to Goku.

So much for the first spar.

XXXXX

But Gohan did find Kamala ready to spar the next day. He hadn't been sure if Kamala would come. And when he saw a hint of surprise on Kamala's face, it was clear that Kamala wasn't very sure if he'd come either.

Gohan looked at Karela in Kamala's arms.

Kamala gave an apologetic smile. “Raaven went to train with Piccolo. Someone has to look after him…” He weighed Karela in his big palm.

Gohan scratched his head. “Alright. I don't mind as long as there's no danger of him getting hurt.”

Kamala nodded carefully and put Karela farther from them, under a lonely tree, in the shade. He went to Gohan. Gohan noticed Kamala's wet armpits and chest. Kamala had been stretching or doing kata or both before he came. Good.

Gohan bent down several times to touch the ground with his palms. “Take your shirt off; it's too hot,” Gohan advised, pulling his own T-shirt over his head and tossing it to the ground.

Kamala shook his head, and Gohan saw something flash in Kamala's eyes. Scars. Kamala didn't want him to see his scars. Gohan inwardly sighed. Kamala was one big problem.

“First, I want to know what you learned and what your skills are.” Gohan stood opposite Kamala. “We had that one fight, but it was a disaster.”

Kamala blushed. “Yeah.”

They sparred for some time then. Gohan was impressed - Kamala had such a short time to learn all that… He could perfectly see that almost all the moves were taught by his father, which meant Kamala hardly had any fighting skills earlier. Kamala was very talented.

Gohan's eyes settled on Karela, noticing him fall on his stomach then pick himself up and begin to crawl in their direction. The child probably got bored. Kamala rushed to Karela, picked him up and put him back under the tree. As soon as Kamala was back, Karela began to crawl to them again. The child wanted some company.

“Err…” Kamala fidgeted with his long hair then brushed over his sweaty forehead. He looked at Gohan guiltily.

“It's alright,” Gohan laughed. “That will be enough for today. I'll just think what to improve and what you could learn more. Let's go for a swim now,” he suggested.

“Oh, he'll be happy.” Kamala smiled warmly at his son. He squatted down and picked Karela up.

Gohan watched, amazed how Karela happily nestled into his father's huge palms. Karela's small nose pressed to Kamala's chest, tiny fingers fisted into the wet fabric. Soon Karela started dozing off.

The child's dark hair was getting longer, his facial features were still those of a baby - indescribable - , but one could already see some similarity to Kamala. Or maybe he was just seeing things… Karela was a very beautiful baby as Kamala was a very handsome man.

“Like he couldn't sleep under that tree…” Kamala softly laughed, his shaking chest making Karela squirmy.

They landed on the shore. The sun was already setting, only several strands of the red braids protruding from behind the rocks which surrounded the lake.

“It's beautiful,” Gohan heard Kamala say.

Gohan turned his head to Kamala. Yes, it was. If only he had a camera to take a picture of Kamala and Karela in the sunset…

“Winter is coming,” Gohan said, scratching his head, and blushing slightly while undressing.

“That's when everything is white?”

Oh. Gohan raised his head to Kamala. Kamala was one of the rare ones that were taller than him. Usually people had to raise their heads to talk to him. “Yes, it will be white here; the lake will be covered in ice. Almost every winter we go skiing. You should go with us. It will be really fun.” He thought that probably Kamala really had never seen snow before. He wondered if Kamala had ever seen a simple tree or a lake before coming to Earth. Though he must have - at least as a child he spent several years on Vegeta-sei.

“Come,” Gohan stuck one foot into the water, already undressed, with only his boxers on. “The water is good.” He saw Kamala hesitate.

Kamala put Karela on the shore, which was hard to do - first he had to pry those tiny fingers off his sweaty shirt. He thought that Karela could use a bath, too. But the infant was fast asleep.

The water was perfect. Kamala turned to Gohan who was wading deeper into the water. At least the man wasn't naked. He always found it uncomfortable when Kakarott bathed naked. Nakedness for him was associated with something bad or gave a feeling that something bad was going to happen.

Kamala threw his shirt to the shore, next to the peacefully sleeping Karela. Gohan wasn't looking. Good. Kamala quickly removed his sweatpants and went into the pleasant water. He reached the depth where the water reached his neck and started washing sweat and dust off his body, tail and hair. He could hear Gohan swim and splash in the water several feet further.

“Hey, come here. Why are you standing? Let's catch some fish!” Gohan's enthusiastic voice rang out, and Kamala had to give in to the impulse to compare the two Sons. He shook his head, refusing to go.

A sudden wave of panic crashed on Kamala as suddenly his head dunked into the water. He gasped and yelled in panic, water coming into his mouth and nose. He couldn't breathe! Kamala resurfaced, gasped for air and began coughing while frantically brushing his clingy wet hair out of his face.

Gohan laughed, seeing Kamala shake his head, splashing the water from his hair everywhere. “Let's swim a bit.” Again he playfully pushed Kamala back into the water.

Gohan gasped in surprise as Kamala suddenly let out a scared scream and, instead of falling back, clung to him with his arms and legs taking them both down. It took Gohan several seconds until he regained his balance and took them both to the surface.

“No!” Kamala shook his head, his whole body shaking. “Don't!”

What the…? Gohan frowned, seeing Kamala's petrified eyes. Did the fool think he was going to drown him? Gohan snarled. He rudely pushed Kamala away from him and back into the water.

Panic. Terror. Numbness. Complete shut down.

Kamala was drowning. Gohan turned around and couldn't believe that - it wasn't even deep! He cursed. He grabbed Kamala by his arm and simply rose into the air while holding Kamala. Kamala began coughing, water running from his mouth and nose. Gohan rose higher into the air and almost dropped Kamala in surprise when he began screaming his head off. Gohan quickly reached the shore, putting Kamala down, who now for some reason didn't want to let go of him. Gohan felt that Kamala's panic was catching.

“What the hell is this?” Gohan awkwardly sat down while Kamala was pressed to him, his body convulsively shaking. Kamala's tight grip on him got tighter but no explanation. So he just sat there, having not a clue what to do. A minute later he felt Kamala jerk.

Shit. Of all people… Now Gohan thought that he was an idiot. Kamala inwardly winced. A complete idiot.

Kamala pulled away from Gohan while trying to get his composure back. Didn't work. He could feel that he still looked like an idiot. He stood up then and got even more frustrated when Gohan had to keep him steady on his wavering feet.

“What happened?” Gohan asked while he led Kamala to where his clothes were lying. He repeated the question more sternly as Kamala didn't answer. Kamala then growled and pushed him away.

“I'm afraid of water!” Kamala grabbed his clothes, starting to put them on, not bothering to dry first. “I'm fucking afraid of simple water!”

Gohan stared dumbly at Kamala dressing. A phobia? Probably Kamala was afraid of deeper water. And then when he raised Kamala into the air, giving him a perfect view of that great, big body of water… That had been a mistake. “I'm sorry. I didn't know. I wouldn't have pushed you into the water…”

Kamala angrily plopped down on the shore next to a sleeping Karela. “Never mind. It was the same with your father. He almost drowned me, too.”

Gohan sighed then sat next to Kamala. “You simply should have told me. And him.”

Kamala didn't say anything to that.

“Dry yourself,” Gohan motioned with his head. He could see that Kamala would have to take a shower again after coming back home. “Karela will be cold if you take him home like that.”

Kamala tugged at his wet shirt. Gohan was right. He powered up. “Gods, I stink,” he muttered, scrunching his nose as the reek from his clothes reached his nose.

“Yes, you do,” Gohan chuckled.

Soon Kamala was dry. He picked Karela up, laid him on his lap. Karela started whining, his eyes opening. But then they went wide. Kamala was just in time to grab Karela by his miniature foot before the infant could launch himself in the direction of the lake. Kamala tried to still Karela who was whining, bubbling, reaching for shiny water with his small hands, his feet kicking.

“Crazy boy,” Kamala shook his head while trying to keep Karela in place. He winced as Karela fisted into his hair, pulling it down.

“Let him go,” Gohan shrugged while watching the whole ordeal. “Just don't let him get too deep or swallow too much…”

Kamala sighed. He let go of his son who shot at his top crawling speed into the water. At least his son had no problems with water.

They both watched Karela who was already in the water on his hands and knees. The child was completely still. Then he raised his hand, splashed on the water, tried to grab the liquid and got a bit disappointed when his palm appeared to be empty. But it wasn't completely empty. Karela brought it to his mouth, sucked on his fingers.

Gohan burst out laughing as Karela then dunked his whole head into the water and then raised it, coughing, his eyes wide.

Karela continued with his experiments for quite a while, the two other men curiously watching him.

XXXXX

“Sit down.”

Goku was mesmerized at how fast Trunks and Goten sat down at the table. He had been trying to stop them playing and get them to eat for about ten minutes now. And then came, sat, said two words and done.

“How was school today?” Goku asked the boys while filling their plates. He regretted asking after Trunks and Goten started shouting over each other at the same time, telling about a pupil who brought a dead rat into the school. The pupil tossed the rat onto the teacher's table, causing a big uproar and the teacher to vomit.

Vegeta smirked at Goku's tortured face then went closer to help him to distribute the food. Goku smiled as a furry tail snaked around his waist. Vegeta was in a perfect mood. The prince was very happy with his plan. Now they were only waiting for Bulma to return. Goku hoped that everything would be solved soon enough.

Goku and Vegeta sat down at the table and began to eat. Goku was amused to notice how differently they ate: he and Goten were munching as much food as they could put into their mouths at once, and the royal family was cutting, slicing and thoroughly chewing. That would take them time to eat that, Goku thought.

That appeared to be true. He and Goten were first to finish, and Vegeta with Trunks were only halfway done.

“Dad?” Goten then turned to Goku. “Can we see Karela? Please? We have never seen a Saiyan baby…”

Goku blinked. He pushed his empty plate away. “You mean you still haven't seen him?”

“We wanted to,” Trunks joined in. “But…well, Kamala and Raaven fight a lot. We didn't want any trouble…”

“I'll take you both after you wash the dishes,” Vegeta said, not even raising his head.

Goten cheered happily. He hopped down from his chair and went to the sink to wash his plate.

“They don't fight anymore.” Goku decided to clear the situation up. “Whatever problems they had, they solved them.”

“Did they break the bond?” Trunks interested.

“Yes,” Goku nodded. “Raaven didn't feel well for several days, but now he's fine.”

“He was ill?” Trunks' eyes concentrated on Goku.

Inquiring boy. Goku sighed. “Fever, sickness. He felt weak.”

“Then I suppose that the Time Chamber was a right choice,” Trunks went back to his food.

Goku gazed at the demi-Saiyan for some time. Yes, one would never call Trunks stupid.

Goten plopped back into his seat. He glared at the two still eating Saiyans. “Faster!” Then he pouted and put his head onto his folded hands on the table.

“How is your mother?” Goku asked. He cursed himself mentally after feeling an unpleasant feeling wafting from Vegeta.

Goten shrugged then smiled. “She went with Marcel somewhere. They won't be back till Monday. Here.” He reached into his pocket and produced a small note for Goku. “I forgot to show it earlier. Mom said you could find her by this address. But she said you should call her only in emergency. You are completely responsible for me.” He mischievously grinned at Goku who thought that Trunks was rubbing off on Goten more than one could see.

Goku took the note. There was an address of some hotel and a phone number. Goku squirmed. “And what is Marcel like?” He had seen the man several times. Said several words to him, got several words back and that was it. He didn't know much about the man.

Goten thought a moment. “Normal. Serious, concentrated.” He shrugged. “I like him.”

“Does he know about us?” Vegeta stepped in.

Goten shook his head. “I don't think so. But…” he squirmed. “Several days ago… well…I saw him pushing his idiotic car… I just forgot that… Err…” Goten blushed. “Probably now he thinks that I'm a monster… I heard Mom talking with him, but I'm not sure what she said…”

“Let's go to see Karela,” Vegeta decided that was enough.

While Trunks washed his dishes, Vegeta was looking for Karela's ki. He knew the pattern of the child's ki but it still was very light and didn't exceed that of a common Human. Before ITing, Vegeta felt a familiar powerful ki near Kamala and Karela, but it was too late.

“Gohan,” Vegeta nodded at the startled half-Saiyan. “Kamala,” he acknowledged Kamala.

They were in the kitchen. Gohan and Kamala were sitting at the table, Kamala holding Karela on his lap. There were several bottles of beer on the table. Gohan's favourite. Vegeta turned to the side to look at something cooking on the cooker. He turned back to the table. Spices, empty packets.

“I brought these two to see Karela,” Vegeta said to Kamala. “The pack needs to bond. If you don't mind,” he added. Kamala was a parent. Protectiveness was a dangerous thing. He knew that very well.

Kamala looked at the boys who were standing before Vegeta. They were staring at Karela on his lap wide-eyed.

“Is he really one month old?” Trunks moved closer, but then stopped as Vegeta's hand heavily fell on his shoulder.

“It's alright, they can play with him. He's bored. But be careful,” Kamala put Karela down onto the floor.

Karela stared at the purple-haired boy, his hand reaching to touch. Trunks moved closer. He kneeled next to the sitting child then yelped as Karela fisted into his hair. The yelp scared Karela. The infant let go of Trunks' hair and fell back, his head hitting the floor with a small thud.

In an instant Vegeta was in front of Trunks, his one hand pushing Trunks behind his back.

Gohan rolled his eyes at the ordeal. He picked Karela, who even didn't flinch, seated the child back onto his bottom. Kamala silently laughed at Vegeta then turned back to Gohan.

Vegeta blinked. He let go of Trunks. He heard Kamala say something to Gohan. Gohan laughed then loudly belched. Damn. Gohan was drunk. Only then did Vegeta notice an empty bottle of Vodka standing under the table. He also noticed Gohan redden a bit. Gohan excused himself. Kamala just shrugged at him.

Goten carefully picked up the infant's tiny tail. It was so soft! He laughed as the tail wrapped around his wrist and tugged him to Karela.

Kamala watched them both play. Trunks was kneeling near, watching his friend play with Karela. There was something thoughtful on the boy's face.

“One day he'll be a good mate,” Kamala said.

Trunks blushed. Confused, Goten raised his head and then, after realizing what was said, blushed too.

Gohan stared at his younger brother. “I need a drink,” he said then.

“No.” Kamala pushed the mug with beer away from him. “You already had enough. You'll be sick later.”

Gohan reached for the mug in Kamala's hand. Kamala slapped his hand. “Go to sleep; you're drunk.”

“And why aren't you?” Gohan pouted unhappily.

“Have to watch over my son.” Kamala put the mug out of Gohan's reach.

Gohan's nose scrunched. “Right. Forgot that. Got room for me?”

Kamala rolled his eyes.

“I can't fly home like this…” Gohan shifted in his seat, thinking he'd fall if he tried to stand up.

“Yes, you can,” Kamala chuckled. “I'm not sure how it will be with landing, but you can.”

Vegeta wasn't sure if he wanted or needed to intervene. He could suggest ITing Gohan to his flat, but somehow he felt that Gohan wouldn't be very happy about that.

“No, I can't,” Gohan shook his head. “It's raining outside.”

Kamala looked out the window. It WAS raining. “You said you needed a shower, anyway.”

Now Gohan looked very unhappy, almost miserable.

Suddenly Kamala laughed. “That's it? No more excuses to stay?”

Despite his drunkenness, Gohan flushed bright red.

Kamala laughed again. “Alright, you can stay. But I don't see a point - Raaven won't be back for two hours You'll be asleep, anyway.”

Vegeta saw Gohan's face pale. Kamala was an idiot. And what an idiot!

Gohan slowly and carefully stood up. He was swaying slightly. “I feel better now. I'll go.”

Kamala frowned, confused. “But it's raining.”

“I'll IT him to his flat.” Vegeta caught Gohan's drunken grateful glance. The boy was fucked up.

XXXXX

Vegeta seated Gohan on his bed in his flat. He sat near Gohan, who sighed heavily.

“Is he only pretending or is he really an idiot?” Gohan sighed again.

Vegeta was genuinely surprised that Gohan managed to talk coherently. “Either it's him or you for not managing to show what you really want.”

Gohan seemed to think then to doze and then again to think. “I forgot,” he said finally.

“Can't be…” Vegeta sighed, rolling his eyes. He had to steady Gohan as he began to fall on him.

Vegeta's eyes widened as he realized that somehow the drunken half-Saiyan managed to wiggle on top of him, his back pressed to Gohan's bed. He just lay with his eyes wide as Gohan's head dipped to his shoulder. He could feel Gohan starting to musk the air around them.

“Hey, hey.” Vegeta pushed the drunken man away. “Go to sleep.” He was worried that Gohan might protest, but then realized that Gohan was already asleep.

XXXXX

Gohan groaned in pain and clutched his head. He turned to see the clock and groaned again. He had overslept - it was noon already. What the hell did he do yesterday?!

Gohan carefully got to his feet then slumped to the shower. On his way he took off his shirt and wanted to throw it onto the floor, when something caught his attention. Vegeta's scent. His clothes were covered in it.

Gohan blinked in surprise, not quite understanding. But that didn't keep him from getting hard. Damn. All that abstinence didn't do any good.

Gohan grabbed the phone. Dane. He needed Dane. And now.

XXXXX

Kamala observed Gohan who was standing opposite him. They were on their sparring ground. Gohan was not only sober but had also recently had sex. He could feel the other man reeking of it.

Kamala scrunched his nose, displeased and disappointed. There was no way he was letting this “bed-boy” near Raaven.

“Sorry, I'm late,” Gohan panted out. He didn't think he'd do it with Dane three times in a row. In the end he had to leave Dane asleep in his bed while he himself flew here.

“Next time take a shower after you fuck.” Kamala glared at him.

Shit. Shit. Shiiit! Gohan blushed fiercely. He completely forgot that part, and the nose of full-blooded Saiyans was much better than his. “Sorry, just forgot,” he stammered out. “I can come back later…”

Kamala glared at him again then shook his head. “Never mind.” But oh, he minded! That was pissing him off! Yesterday Gohan tried to make a pass at Prince Vegeta (oh, he could perfectly feel Gohan's arousal scent all over Vegeta when he came back); today he fucked someone else (and more than one time and apparently it was his teacher). And the fool was after Raaven. Over his dead body. He'd rather die than let his ex-mate choose such a partner.

The scents were annoying him. He was aggressive. Too aggressive. Kamala cursed under his breath. His own fault. He shouldn't have been silent when Gohan asked if he should come later.

Finally, after two agonizing hours it was over. Kamala slumped to the ground breathlessly. He frowned as Gohan sat down next to him and blasted to the lake. Gohan blinked in surprise and went after the younger Saiyan.

After ten minutes of swimming, Gohan lazily stretched on the ground and yawned contently. He then sighed. “Listen, Kamala, I was completely drunk yesterday. Did I do something wrong? You are very angry with me today…”

Kamala glared at him but didn't say anything. But then he snickered. “If I see you near Raaven again, you'll be in a big trouble.”

Fuck. Fuck! Gohan massaged his temples. Yesterday was the last time in his life he got drunk. Never again. “Don't worry, I'm not after Raaven; he's completely safe,” Gohan brushed his palm over his burning forehead.

“He'd better be…” Kamala frowned, watching the calm water. “And you were damn lucky that Kakarott was already at home!”

Jesus fucking Christ. Gohan's eyes widened as he remembered. That was a complete disaster. Gohan closed his eyes in shame. Instead of getting closer to Kamala… Now Kamala saw him as unworthy of his ex-mate, so he himself would never consider him. Yes, shit happens, but why did it happen to him?

“Was Vegeta very angry?” Gohan asked, sighing. Just great. In one day he managed to piss off the two men he liked the most.

Kamala glared at him again. “Don't know. But logically he should have been.”

Gohan sighed in relief. “Vegeta was drunk, too?”

Kamala gazed at him for some time. It seemed Gohan hardly had any knowledge of what he did yesterday. Kamala felt his anger lessen.

“No, he wasn't. But he was covered in your scent after he came back after ITing you home.”

“Oh.” Gohan blushed again. “I'm surprised I don't have any bruises…”

“You like him.” That was more of a statement than a question.

Gohan squirmed on the grass then blushed even more. “Yes,” he nodded. Not good. Not good at all. He was trying to get closer to Kamala, and here he was telling that he liked another man.

“You have so many…sympathies…” Kamala drawled then. “Isn't it a bit…well…unfulfilling…not to have a particular man you'd like? Have you ever thought about stability?”

Gohan choked. Did Kamala really think that of him? Gohan hesitated but then decided that he wanted Kamala to know. “Kamala, I had only one girlfriend and…well, Dane.”

“Tell that to your father…” Kamala rolled his eyes.

Gohan glared at him. “I fell in love with Vegeta during my first heat, but I couldn't have him. Then came Videl and then Dane,” he repeated.

Kamala cleared his throat. “I'm not sure why you are telling me this, but it's very hard to believe.”

“Why?” Gohan mentally complimented himself for asking that, rather than making excuses.

“Well…” Kamala fidgeted with the grass then scratched his head. “You are a good catch, I suppose… There would be plenty of men who'd want to have a partner like you…”

Gohan sighed. “You forget that we are on Earth. Gay people aren't very popular here.” He grinned then. “So you think I'm a good catch?”

Kamala shrugged. “Probably. You're good-looking, clever, powerful, young. Later you'll probably have a good job - you'll have money.”

Gohan blinked. Kamala had given some thought to this. But not exactly at that point he wanted him to. “Why the hell did you think I was after Raaven?”

Kamala shrugged again. “You are always around. I mean even before Karela was born. I mean, I see you even more than my own son or Raaven…” Kamala's eyes then widened. “Oh…”

Gohan softly laughed. “Took you damn long.” That was a bit too early. He wanted to get to know Kamala more, especially after he found out that Kamala had been misjudging him so much. But now he couldn't change that; now Kamala knew. And he felt nervous as Kamala just sat silently next to him, not looking at him, his head lowered, thinking.

“What do you want?”

Gohan blinked. What did he want? He wanted Kamala, of course, but that wasn't what Kamala asked. “What do you mean?”

“Is that Dane going somewhere?” Suddenly Kamala bristled. “I won't be your personal whore! Whatever was in the past, I'm not going to come back to it.” He then stood up. “It would be better if you stopped coming to our house.” He gave Gohan a short, stern look. “You said I don't have to pay for your training. If you tried to make me, I'll go to Prince Vegeta.”

Gohan stared at the place Kamala had been standing seconds ago. Kamala completely misunderstood him. Kamala was afraid he might decide to get his payment by forcing Kamala into sex. Kamala threatened him with Vegeta in that case. Kamala thought that Vegeta would tell Goku, and then Goku would take some measures…

Damn. Vegeta had been right - he was going to have many problems with Kamala…

TBC