Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Odd Couple ❯ The Collective ( Chapter 5 )

The Odd Couple, Chapter 5 by DharmaSerenity

 

 

NC17 rating. - be warned. Warning: this is a YAOI FIC, my first Gk x V fic!.

 

Spoilers: everything up to the last episode of DBZ. This takes place before, and thus, negates DBGT.

 

I don't own DBZ or make any money from this story.

 

Future chapters will contain graphic m x m sex, violence, and psychological melodrama

 

Hope you like it, and please, let me know what you think! If you like this, I have four other fics here, but they are Gh x Tr (or MTr).

 

Thanks for the nice reviews, LordOfthePies, JAYXU and VGGKYaoiGurl, The Chichi Slaughterhouse and Love of Vegeta. Hope you all enjoy this next installment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goku sat on the hill, holding his head in his hands, moaning. “Ahhgggh, he's going to hate me now!”

 

Goku sat like that for a couple of hours, wanting to give Vegeta as much space as possible, remembering how Vegeta went white in embarrassment.

 

Goku knew that he couldn't sit out there all night, so, dreading it, he flew back to the capsule.

 

 

* * *

 

It was dead silent in the capsule and Goku quietly made his way to the bedroom. Upon entering, he saw Vegeta in bed, Vegeta's back to Goku's bed. Goku got into bed quietly, hoping that he wouldn't disturb Vegeta's sleep.

 

Vegeta had simply lain there since he got back, staring off into space. The only thing that changed in his demeanor was when his face went red upon Goku's entrance into the room.

 

Both Saiyans took a very long time to fall asleep that night, each with his mind full of fitful thoughts.

 

* * *

 

The next morning, Goku got up to find that Vegeta had already left bed. Goku remembered the night before and winced. Goku tried to put the memory out of his mind, rallying himself to think positive, happy thoughts.

 

When Goku made his way to the control room he saw Vegeta sitting in his command chair, checking settings.

 

Trying to sound as casual as possible, Goku said, “Hey! Good morning.”

 

Vegeta grunted.

 

Goku, nervous, decided to go to the kitchen to rummage around for breakfast. He found a pan of muffins on the counter and took four of them, stuffing them in his mouth as he drank hot tea.

 

Done, he returned to the control room, hoping that Vegeta would be more receptive. When he walked in, he saw Vegeta replacing the casing over the pedal housing. Vegeta never looked at Goku as he entered the room.

 

Goku thought he should attempt to break the ice. “Well, I guess you want to go, huh? Or do you want to explore the planet a bit more?”

 

Vegeta grunted. “We can leave.” Nothing more.

 

Goku felt uncomfortable and thought he should just acknowledge what had happened. “Um, look, Vegeta, about last night…”

 

Vegeta stood up abruptly, looking angry. “Listen Kakarot. I don't want to talk about it so just drop it. Got it!” The look he gave Goku was hard and said in no uncertain terms that Goku had better drop it.

 

Goku scratched the back of his head with one hand and held the other one up defensively, laughing nervously and squinting his eyes shut. “Ok, Ok!”

 

Vegeta stared at him with a deadly look for a moment, then sat down heavily in his command chair.

 

“I've done all the systems checks. We're good to go.”

 

Goku looked surprised. “Wow! Already. Ok, I guess.”

 

“Let's start it up.” Vegeta looked all business as he flipped on switches and tapped away at buttons. Goku sat down and did the same, still feeling the tension in the air between them thick enough to cut with a knife.

 

* * *

 

A week later and they were still tense around each other. Goku tried to make small jokes here or there, but Vegeta would just grunt in response. It was getting so that Goku was feeling a little depressed, robbed of sunlight and confined in an enclosed space with a grouch. In response, Goku threw himself into his training.

 

So did Vegeta.

 

When one was in the control room, the other was in the bedroom or the engine room.

 

They kept out of each other's way for the most part, except for times they had to power the ship together.

 

Still, even though he was working out a lot of frustration with his training, Goku couldn't help but feel down by the change in mood. They had really seemed to be getting closer before he had acted without thinking. Goku kept kicking himself for looking for Vegeta that night. He should have just left Vegeta alone.

 

Goku was going through his nightly routine of systems' checks. Each of them had their own duties they were responsible for and systems' checks were Goku's baby. Goku came across some strange readings on their water synthesis generator, though, and even though he would just rather leave Vegeta be, Goku was forced to call him over the loud speaker.

 

Vegeta, in the engine room, spun and kicked at the air repeatedly. He was just about to work on another move when he heard Goku's voice. Snarling, he listened, “Vegeta, it looks like we have a problem. Come on up.”

 

Vegeta walked up to the control room, grumbling.

 

He stood behind Goku. “What is it?” The tone was anything but friendly.

 

Goku felt the uneasy feeling one feels having to work with someone that detests them. He was tired of the feeling. Goku explained the problem. He turned around to see Vegeta's reaction to what he said, and found himself staring at Vegeta's sweating torso before he saw the angry flicker of Vegeta's eyes.

 

Goku looked back at the screen readings.

 

“Shit,” was all Vegeta said in response.

 

Goku waited. He was about to prompt Vegeta further, dreading it, but to his relief, Vegeta continued.

 

“Crap. Bulma had warned me about this. We need to land somewhere and have a look at the air re-circulation system. We might have to re-haul the damn thing.”

 

Goku turned to him in alarm. “Really?”

 

Vegeta, impatiently, “It's either that or run out of water, idiot.”

 

Goku grew impatient. “Fine,” he said through gritted teeth as he turned back to the screen. “I'll just check for a planet fit for our physiology.”

 

Vegeta grunted. “As if you could. I'm surprised you even know such a big word.”

 

Goku turned an angry face on Vegeta, who merely ignored him, sitting down in his own control chair.

 

“Look Vegeta! I'm...”

 

“Shut up!” Was all Vegeta said. Goku stared at him, steaming mad.

 

Goku had had it. He stood up.

 

“Vegeta, don't tell me to `Shut up.'”

 

Vegeta stood up too, glaring at Goku in challenge. “What are you going to do about it?!” He narrowed his eyes.

 

Goku, exasperated, threw up his hands in defeat. “There's no talking to you! You're impossible!!”

 

“If `there's no talking to' me as you say, then why don't you stop trying to?!” Vegeta arched an eye at him, his face menacing.

 

Goku just stood there, staring back at Vegeta with hard eyes, his mouth twisting.

 

Vegeta sat back down looking satisfied, as he started doing the check himself. Goku just stared at him for a moment, feeling frustrated, about as frustrated as he remembered feeling during the early years of Vegeta's stay on earth.

 

* * *

 

The nearest planet could be reached via hyper drive in just two hours, so they silently set the coordinates and waited. Both Saiyans hauled out the tools they would need, plus their suits and armor.

 

They said nothing to each other.

 

Once the ship safely landed, they exited and briefly looked around the planet.

 

Vegeta, however, just wanted to get the job done, so he started to bark orders at Goku relentlessly. Goku let him just to keep the peace, but Goku was hard pressed to keep his calm when every command was punctuated by a different version of the word, “idiot.”

 

They worked like that for a couple of hours, and finally, Goku lost his patience.

 

Goku went over to sit under a large tree, Vegeta yelling invectives at him the whole time. Vegeta glared at Goku with his hands on his narrow hips.

 

Goku, sitting under the tree, folded his arms stubbornly and just stared back at Vegeta with angry eyes.

 

They continued to face off like that, without giving an inch.

 

“Aww, did I hurt Kakarot's feelings. I'm SOOOOO SORRRREEE. Poor delicate flower Kakarot can't take the heat!”

 

Goku stared at Vegeta angrily and silently wished Vegeta would just fall down a hole.

 

Goku heard a rumble as the earth under him trembled. Vegeta, staring at Goku in shock, suddenly disappeared as the ground beneath him collapsed. It was as if the earth swallowed Vegeta whole.

 

“VEGETA!!!”

 

Goku ran to the edge of a large crater, seeing where Vegeta had fallen through a large hole at its center.

 

“Whoa!!” Goku pinwheeled his arms as the earth under his feet also disintegrated. Goku flew up into the air right over the hole so he could try and see if he could catch a glimpse of Vegeta.

 

But then, without warning, a tentacle like contraption snapped out of the hole and wrapped itself around Goku's ankle.

 

Goku screamed and kicked as he was dragged down the hole.

 

* * *

 

Goku fell head over heels through the tube-like tunnel for what seemed like an eternity, but was in fact 2 minutes and 33 seconds. Goku fell out of the tube and landed on something that grunted underneath him.

 

Goku realized it was Vegeta.

 

Vegeta stared up at Goku with a stunned look on his face. “What the HFIL is going on!?”

 

Goku was about to say he had no idea, but then the same tentacle like contraption that had dragged him into the tube wrapped itself around his neck, dragging him backwards.

 

“KAKAROT!” Vegeta jumped up, pulling on the tentacle, which was reticulated, and made of steel. Goku's face was turning purple and Vegeta yanked even harder. He managed to snap the piece around Goku's neck off, and Goku fell to the floor, gasping for air as he clutched his pained throat.

 

Vegeta got into fighter's stance, trying to see where the tentacle had come from. But suddenly, a piercing sound was heard and both Saiyans grabbed the sides of their heads as they fell to the floor, writhing.

 

They both grunted and moaned as they tried to press their hands harder to their ears to drown out the needle like piercing sound, feeling their eardrums and brains being shred to pieces. Both finally passed out from the agony.

 

* * *

 

Vegeta woke up in a large, cavernous room. He lay on a table at the center of it. Up on an elevated gallery all about the room stood robed and mantled figures, with chalky white skin. They stared down at Vegeta as if he were an insect.

 

Vegeta sat up, looking at them with caution as he tentatively reached up to touch the side of his head. He remembered the horrible sound.

 

Vegeta remembered something else and looked around frantically for Goku, who was nowhere to be seen.

 

“What did you do to my friend?” His voice was imperious, showing no signs of fear. He glowered at them all, sweeping his look about the room.

 

He felt a tiny stab in his mind and he flinched.

 

“It should not speak unless it is asked a question.”

 

“IT?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN `IT?' HOW DARE YO…” Vegeta grunted in sudden, nauseating pain as his head felt like it would burst from internal pressure.

 

Vegeta was let go by the force that held him suddenly and violently as he felt something wet at his nose. He put his gloved hands to his nose and saw the white of his gloved fingertips stained with his own blood.

 

He looked up at them all a bit more cautiously. Vegeta decided he would play their little game.

 

“It once had a tail. So did the other one. What manner of beast is it?”

 

The way they were speaking, Vegeta wasn't sure if they were asking the question of him or each other. When he didn't answer at first, though, he felt a sudden, pain, quick, and strong, then was released.

 

“It will answer now.”

 

Vegeta panted in pain, trying to catch his breath. But he did not hesitate to answer, “I'm a Saiyan. So is my friend. Where is he?!”

 

He heard the hall fill with eerie whispering, as they appeared to communicate amongst themselves.

 

They stopped and looked at Vegeta again, like he was an animal in a zoo. He desperately wanted to ask them about Goku again, but knew they could kill him with a mere thought. Vegeta decided to see what they would say next.

 

They seemed to come to some kind of decision. “The other one is under observation. It will be dissected soon.”

 

Vegeta jumped up to stand on the table in alarm. “What are you saying?!” Vegeta felt his head begin to fill with the distinctive noise of their pain and held up his hands pleadingly, “I just don't understand what you mean? Please clarify!!”

 

“It is under observation. It is quite strong. I am testing its limits. Then it will be dissected.”

 

“Dissected? You mean cut up??!”

 

“I need to study all life forms that come to this planet for a better understanding of creation. The only way to understand is to take apart.”

 

They all spoke as one, referring to themselves as one being. Vegeta's mind raced. He searched out Goku's ki and was surprised that he hadn't felt it before. It was quite strong and Vegeta felt the pain in it. They were torturing him.

 

Vegeta looked at these people, who resembled humans with papier-mâché skin. “So, you kill all that come here? For knowledge?”

 

Vegeta felt a stab in his brain and more blood dripped from his nose.

 

“It asks too many questions. It is quite inquisitive for such an inferior being. I will study it next.”

 

Vegeta knew that he had no time to act. He felt the rise in Goku's ki suddenly and knew that Goku would lose his life within the hour if Vegeta did not act.

 

Vegeta raised his ki silently, still standing atop the table, staring at his captors in hate and anger. They merely regarded him.

 

“I traced its mind. Its memories are full of pomp and self-regard. It was once the leader of its people, a meager race of simian like beings. It has a special attachment to the other one. The other one is most likely its mate. It will make an interesting specimen. Once I know its race's limits with my tests on the other, I will know how best to treat it. Perhaps I will keep it for awhile.”

 

Vegeta had heard enough. Vegeta had slowly been raising his power. Anger and fear did marvelous things for that power. Before preparing his attack, Vegeta spared a moment to send a message of comfort to Goku by reaching out his ki to him. Vegeta felt Goku quiet his screaming in response, if ever so briefly. With the feeling of Goku's pain still in his mind, Vegeta started to scream his power, blazing it forth as he transformed to Super Saiyan. Vegeta felt the collective's sudden attack in his mind and knowing that he had just one chance to save the both of them Vegeta barreled through that pain. With white lightning flickering and licking a relentless path through his ever-weakening mind, Vegeta screamed louder, the irises of his eyes disappearing in his fury.

 

Vegeta screamed and burst his power forth in one, gigantic wave from his body, throwing the chalky collective back against the walls of the gallery. They screamed in unison and tried to attack him once more, but their collective was disrupted so the attacks came at him at different times, at different levels of intensity, which somehow hurt him even more, like jagged glass shards cutting into his mind.

 

This angered Vegeta further, feeding his intensity and power. Vegeta felt one particular strong attack, and instead of falling to his knees, his brain blubbering out of his nose, ears and eyes, he raged and filled the room with a blinding energy.

 

His rage disintegrated the collective where they stood, and they were no more.

 

Vegeta fell to the floor, but knew he had no time to rest. He stumbled and then flew down the vault-like corridors of that mysterious cavern in search of Goku's ki.

 

* * *

 

Vegeta carried the still conscious, but weak, Goku over his shoulder as he flew out the tube that he had originally fallen through. Several snaking tentacles tried to grab hold of him as he made his escape. Vegeta turned and blasted the hell out of them, rising into the air.

 

Around the crater, back outside, stood more of the collective. These were the members of the collective that had been with Goku just moments before, torturing him mercilessly.

 

Vegeta stood over them and felt their attack in his mind. Vegeta felt Goku flinch in his grasp as he too was attacked once more.

 

Vegeta, standing in mid-air above the crater, took on a proud stance and held out his arm, palm forward.

 

“Death is too good for you. But I have no time to waste on you, so death is what you will get!” And with that, another raging scream burst forth from the Saiyan Prince as he spun around, disintegrating the remaining members of the collective where they stood.

 

As the last member fell, a tentacle shot out from the tunnel wrapping itself around Vegeta's ankle. The Saiyan lost it and instead of snapping it or blasting it as he had done with the others, he rose into the air, and with one final, horrendous blast from his being, he aimed and fired at the entire crater, crashing and collapsing it, making the planet tremble.

 

Vegeta, feeling an end to the threat and exhausted, returned to his normal state. He made to fly to the spot under the tree where Goku had sat earlier, but exhausted, at the last, he faltered. Both Vegeta and Goku fell the last few feet, Goku landing on his back, Vegeta landing on top of him.

 

The two Saiyans panted, trying to catch their breath, staring at each other, glad that they were both alive.

 

And then for some inexplicable reason, Goku started to laugh. He laughed, losing control to the point that he soon ran out of breath, clutching his stomach. His laughter, a release and infectious, caught Vegeta who also convulsed in laughter.

 

His sides aching, Vegeta managed to ask, “What's so funny?!”

 

Goku, still laughing, laughed even more at the thought of the answer, and stammering through the giggles, he managed to say, “I wished you would fall down a hole… AND YOU DID!!!”

 

Goku cackled.

 

Vegeta howled.

 

They laughed for awhile longer, but finally, their laughter subsided.

 

Vegeta, still trying to catch his breath, his face over Goku's, smiled.

 

Goku smiled back.

 

Then, at the same time, they both sobered, and truly looked at each other.

 

They were both very lucky. It had been very close.

 

Vegeta, looking nervous, yet determined, rubbed his thumb against Goku's hairline and said, “Hi.”

 

Goku, in a similarly husky voice, answered with his own, “Hi.”

 

And then, Vegeta leaned down, meeting Goku's lips with his own.