Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ To Hell Together ❯ Part 7 ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ characters.

Warnings: Yaoi - G/V.

To Hell Together by chayron (lttomb@yahoo.com)

Part 7

Goku sat in stunned silence. Vegeta didn't say anything more, but Goku knew that one statement was more than enough. Goku glanced at the lake over the edge of the cliff, thinking. What now? Vegeta knew he had been in the wrong. The prince even apologised for that attack. But it all seemed unsettled still. Where did they go from here?

Vegeta laid on the cliff, his face sunlit, his eyes closed. A flurry of emotions raced through him: anger, relief, excitement, confusion. Only that third-class-thing could make him feel…everything at once. Vegeta tried to make his body relax. He could almost hear how his teeth were chattering.

Kakarott had asked if he was cold. Cold! Stupid third-class moron, nitwit, numskull, idiot! No, he was not cold. He was on fire! Burning! He felt the urge to strangle Kakarott. How dare that mutton-head offer to help me?! How dare he say that he would protect me?! I'm a prince! What help do I need from that third-class-bastard?! How could he even think of discarding my position, my pride?! How could he?! How dared he to be so understanding?! How dared he be so intelligent?! How dare he make me feel so secure, so necessary…so loved? Who does he think he is, making me feel so? No one else would cause such a tumult in his head. No one else would dare to try and fill the empty nothingness in his heart. Why? Because he didn't need it! He hadn't asked for it!

That Saiyan is a curse! He stole everything from me! And now he's offering everything back. No… Not everything... Some things can't be returned…

How dare he play with me? Insolent third-class! And how can I, the Prince of all Saiyans, listen to those lame third-class-talks…and like them? Moron! As if I don't have enough problems, enough pain.

Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate him! I have to hate him. I have to hate him, because otherwise I'll hate myself… But I already hate myself… Because of my cowardice and fear. Because of my little secret. I'm already going crazy… It couldn't be worse… Or could it…? It can always be worse… There are no limits… The only limit is death. And even death on this damned planet isn't a limit. No, it could be worse, and will be. I'll have to bear it for all eternity.

Goku sat hoping that Vegeta would say something. His eyes left the surface of the lake and centred on Vegeta. He met unguarded black and shimmering orbs. He noticed that Vegeta was still shivering. The prince stared at him intently, thinking about something.

Now Goku was glad he had taken the time to dress. Even clothes could hardly hide the enthusiasm in his pants. That damn feeling was back again. And he couldn't help it. Vegeta's strong, half-naked body was gorgeous. He wondered how it would feel to have that silky tan skin under his tongue. He knew Vegeta's skin was surprisingly soft and smooth to the touch. That he had learned while washing and bandaging him. And he knew it was hot, very hot, much hotter than he had ever felt. That was a Saiyan thing - their body temperatures were higher than humans'. And the scent, the scent was unbelievable. Even now he could feel that strong musky-citrus aroma wafting from the prince. GodS, how he wanted to tangle his fingers in that tempting night-black flame swaying in the wind. He wanted to feel those lips, to taste that mouth! Goku leaned closer, down toward Vegeta.

Vegeta's eyes widened.

"You have something on your nose…" Goku said brushing a non-existing thing from Vegeta's nose. Goku had almost choked when he realised what he was about to do. He was going to kiss Vegeta! He was going crazy! GodS, it was even worse than he had thought! That monster inside him had to be controlled. It had to be tamed! Thank the GodS, he didn't do anything stupid. Goku laughed bitterly at himself. Vegeta would have lost his consciousness again, probably. Goku wondered how he managed to stop himself from blushing.

Goku couldn't help laughing out loud when Vegeta stared at his nose tip, his eyes almost crossing. The sight was so amazing and cute! Something warm fluttered in his stomach. Then he understood. Understood and rejected it. It wasn't possible. It wasn't allowable. "You look so cute!"

"What?! I do not look `cute!'" Vegeta protested, spitting the last word like it was something poisonous.

Goku just smiled at him. GodS, how had he never realised before that he was so attached to Vegeta?! No, it wasn't possible! Monster, back to your cage! "You really do have friends, Vegeta. Krillin and Piccolo are worried about you. Your son is visiting you daily. Goten asks about you constantly. Can I let him come over?"

"Hn. Does he want to see me because I'm `cute?'" Vegeta smiled, sitting up.

Goku laughed at that. Vegeta smiled at him! So, Vegeta wasn't angry because of this little talk. Maybe then it was a good time to ask him about that panic attack or whatever it was, but Goku didn't want to spoil Vegeta's mood.

Vegeta picked up his shirt. Goku watched Vegeta's every move as he slipped the white shirt on. He too must have felt Trunks heading this way. Goku stood up and dusted his orange gi off.

They met up with Trunks back at Goku's old house.

"Hi, dad. Hi, Goku!"

"Hi, son," Vegeta said passing Trunks and walking to the kitchen. The swim made him hungry again.

Trunks stared at prince's back. Was he dreaming? His father was almost happy! Trunks glanced at Goku and whispered almost inaudibly: "Are you drugging him or something…?"

"I heard that!" came a voice from the kitchen.

"Sorry, dad." Trunks reddened a bit.

"Stop babbling and come here!" Vegeta ordered while trying to make the microwave work. After several hits it began to hum. "And who says you can't solve your problems with power…"

Trunks rolled his eyes and sat at the table. While they were eating, Trunks talked about everything that had happened while he was at school and what was going on at Capsule Corp.

"Is Yamcha there?" Vegeta asked, unsuccessfully trying to still his tail.

"No, why should he be?" Trunks asked, uneasy.

"He shouldn't be," Vegeta growled angrily and left the table, indicating that he wasn't going to discuss that further.

That same evening, Goku called Goten and invited him to come visit. Vegeta didn't say anything, just turned his head to the window while Goku talked with his son. He was angry, and Goku could see that. The prince didn't like all the concern about him. Goku smiled to himself. He would get used to it.

After Goku finished his conversation with Goten, there was a call. It was Bulma. She called everyday to ask after Vegeta's health. Goku was still unsure if it was safe for her to see Vegeta. Who knew, maybe she was on Vegeta's list of those who were trying to take Trunks away from him. He preferred telephone conversation between those two.

===

For the next several days, Vegeta didn't show any aggression whatsoever. None. And that was very good. But he didn't say anything either. He and Goku didn't talk. Scores of times Goku had tried to start a simple conversation, but Vegeta just pretended that he either didn't hear anything or just gave the shortest answers he could. But something had changed. Vegeta wasn't hostile. He wasn't growling, wasn't snorting, wasn't shouting, wasn't glaring. He just avoided him. Goku didn't think it possible to avoid someone while living in the same house, but Vegeta had proved him wrong. And it hurt.

Goku thought that it would be a good thing to give Vegeta something to occupy himself, that it would draw him out. So he suggested a dinosaur hunt for dinner. Goku was a little surprised when Vegeta accepted the offer immediately. He even seemed to be enthusiastic. And so they went. Of course, it was a piece of cake to catch a dinosaur. The hard part was trying not to burn it to ashes.

Goku was glad he had suggested the hunt. He could see that Vegeta liked it. It was almost as good as them fighting Buu together.

And then Vegeta began to talk again. Nothing about Trunks or that strange panic attack, but still…he was speaking. And he started to be his old self. No, not the jeering or curses; just slight teasing. And Goku welcomed it. It was a sign. Goku wasn't sure what kind of the sign it was, but it made him feel that everything was going to be okay.

Then they felt Bulma's ki.

"She should have telephoned me…" Goku muttered, putting a hand to his eyes to block the dazzling light and watch a yellow plane fly toward them, escorted by two demis. Goku felt a bit alarmed. Vegeta wasn't aggressive, but what if he was pretending? What if he did something unpredictable?

Vegeta snorted at him. "If you think I would attack my child's mother, you are even stupider than I thought!" Vegeta cut part of the dinosaur with a ki-beam and took a piece of meat in his hand.

"If I must remind you of the last time…"

"Don't start again! It was an accident, and I have no wish to discuss it further!" Vegeta flew into the air. He was a bit annoyed at Kakarott's attitude towards him. Of course he didn't do much to gain the trust he needed, but in a way it was hurting him somehow…

The two Saiyans landed back at the house almost at the same time as Bulma and two demis. Vegeta watched Bulma get out of the plane. He felt warmth spreading over his chest. He almost smiled. He had no idea he missed that loudmouth so much. He went to the well to wash his bloodied hands. Kakarott followed him close.

"Hi, you two!" Bulma greeted, smiling. She observed their catch then turned back to Vegeta, then to Goku.

The demis stopped poking some frog near the plane and joined the cluster after a second. They were carrying some packs from the plane.

"We brought some food for you," Bulma said, lifting one of the bundles in the air. "Vegeta complained that he has had enough of dinosaur meat… Where is the kitchen?"

"He didn't say to me…" Goku said, feeling hurt.

"That's because I like to hunt them," Vegeta retorted, taking the bundle from Bulma and entering the house.

Bulma followed him and then looked around. "Yuck, if I had known the house was so hopeless, I would have sent a capsule-house for you. Everything changed from the last time I was here…" She swept her finger over the kitchen table. "At least it's clean."

"Yeah, Kakarott is a perfect housemaid," Vegeta smirked and put the bundle on the table.

"Hey!" Goku wasn't pleased by Vegeta's words.

"Consider it a compliment…" Vegeta offered, not turning to Goku and smiled at Bulma who rolled her eyes but smiled back.

"Goku, I want to talk with Vegeta. Please leave us for a second."

Goku didn't move. He intently watched Vegeta's back. He was almost sure Vegeta wouldn't do anything, but somehow he didn't want to leave them alone. "Are you sure, Bulma...?"

"Stop treating me like an animal!" Vegeta burst. "Get lost, or I'll make you! And I promise you…"

Goku didn't wait for Vegeta to finish his tirade. He was already embarrassed enough. What he was trying to do was going against his nature. Never in his life had he thought he would behave like this. He was jealous! He didn't want to leave the pair alone! He felt sick. For GodS sake! Those dreams were driving him crazy. That monster… Goku left his bundles and went outside to the children.

Bulma sat down at the table. Vegeta sat next to her. "Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything stupid…" he said, ransacking the bundles.

Bulma watched him close. She was surprised. She thought Trunks and Piccolo had been sugarcoating the information a bit. But now she saw that it was true. Vegeta didn't seem to be angry or upset. Rather, he seemed to be content with his situation. "I know that. How do you feel? Are your wounds healed?"

"Yes, they are. After Kakarott gave me a Senzu bean, it took less time to heal," Vegeta said, noticing something suspiciously similar to a chocolate cake in the bundle.

"Goku gave you a Senzu bean?! Everyone told him not to!" Bulma shook her head and crossed her legs. Now she understood how Vegeta had managed to heal so fast.

"He is soft-hearted. He actually thinks I don't know he gave it to me," Vegeta smirked at the chocolate cake before him. He stuck one finger in it. Bulma slapped his hand.

"It isn't only for you!"

Vegeta discontentedly withdrew his finger from the mushy, sticky mass and licked it. "That moron gets more attention than me."

"Don't complain. Everyone has been talking about you for the past week. I've been very worried…"

"You don't need to be worried about me," Vegeta said, trying to stick his finger back into the cake. That blond woman at Capsule Corp. knew what he liked. Vegeta sighed as he got slapped again.

"Oh, you weren't the only one I was worried about. I prayed you wouldn't kill Goku. GodS, what happened that evening?!"

"Nothing."

Bulma rolled her eyes. "Nothing? And because of that `nothing' you blasted Capsule Corp. to hell?" Vegeta was silent. Bulma sighed; Vegeta wasn't going to tell her.

Vegeta was a bit surprised…and…happy? Kakarott hadn't told anyone else. He hadn't used Vegeta's weakness to humiliate him. That was…nice. Really nice... Vegeta almost growled at himself, punishing himself for the thought.

"I thought you would be aggravated because Goku keeps you here…" Bulma changed the subject.

"I can't blame him. I tried to kill him. And actually… I like the place. It's quiet and peaceful." Vegeta shrugged his shoulders.

Bulma stared at him, openmouthed. Vegeta laughed at that: "Of course, at first I swore I would kill Kakarott if he didn't let me go, but now…" He frowned, "I don't have anywhere else to go anyway…"

"No… At least until the house is repaired, you don't…" Bulma smiled at him. "But then…if you want, you can come back."

Vegeta sat silently, then shook his head. "No, it wouldn't be right. Trunks will understand…"

Bulma watched the prince, uneasy. So this was it. Everything ended here… She sighed and put her hands on the table, supporting her suddenly heavy head.

"But where are you going to stay?"

"I have a flat in the city."

"A flat?!" Bulma exclaimed but then realized that Vegeta would have a plan up his sleeve. "Okay, but what about all that `I have no where else to go' stuff?"

"I hate cities…"

Bulma narrowed her eyes at Vegeta. "You should pay Goku rent." She laughed at Vegeta's expression then calmed herself down. "If you need money or anything, just tell me."

Vegeta watched her big blue eyes water. "I'm sorry, everything turned out this way…"

"Don't be…We have Trunks…" She looked at Vegeta's worried face then added: "I think the best decision would be for him to stay at Capsule Corp. For school, you know. And his grandparents are there…"

Vegeta sat silently, watching Bulma's slightly shaking hands on the table. "But I'll visit him," he stated flatly.

That made the damn burst. Bulma began to laugh and cry at the same time. "Of course you'll! You'll have to! We would be so upset if you didn't." Bulma encircled her child's father in her arms, sniffling. For a second, she was afraid Vegeta would turn down her suggestion.

Vegeta sat awkwardly in his chair. He still wasn't used to such displays. He felt relieved when Bulma finally retreated back to her own chair.

"Just tell me if you need anything." Bulma frowned a bit. "I'll buy you a cell phone…"

"Woman, regardless what you and Kakarott think about me, I am not a child. I can live on my own. I hope that moron with an orange gi will understand that soon…"

"Maybe I should talk to him?"

"No, this is my fault. I have to reassure him that I am no treat to his family and friends…" Vegeta snorted at Bulma's shocked face. "Woman, stop it! It's my fault! I attacked him!"

"You're finally growing up… I never thought you would try to fix your mistakes…"

"No, this is only a way to keep Kakarott occupied. He has nothing to do except fight with that harpy…"

Bulma laughed. "Yes, now he's fighting with you. You like to tease him, don't you…?"

Vegeta smirked at her. "There isn't anything else to do anyway…"

Goku saw Bulma and Vegeta coming from the kitchen. He had heard the laughing. He was afraid and angry with himself at the same time. How could he wish Bulma ill? How could he?! How could he want to push her away from Vegeta and make it clear that Vegeta didn't belong to her?!

Vegeta's ears pricked. He heard a low threatening growl. What the hell?! What did he do to get such a reaction? He turned to Kakarott and stopped, dumbfounded. Kakarott wasn't growling at him but at the woman! Was he out of his fucking mind?! And then Kakarott turned to look at him. Vegeta almost fell back at the expression in those black eyes, the possessiveness. Vegeta gasped inwardly. And then it was gone. Kakarott shook his head as if trying to get rid of something unwelcome, turned away, and went after Bulma.

TBC