In Your Dreams: Chapter 13

When Vegeta returned home that day he received an earful from Bulma. The woman had demanded he explain what had happened between Kakarotto and himself; apparently the other Saiyajin had still been visibly upset when he'd arrived at Capsule Corp on the nimbus. The prince didn't feel like he owed Bulma an explanation, but he volunteered the information anyway, mainly because he was hoping she would make things easy for him and tell him exactly how to fix the situation. Unfortunately, nothing is that easy; not for him anyway.

''You dropped him?!'' Bulma shouted. ''What the hell, Vegeta?! Was that supposed to be funny?!''

The Saiyajin huffed and folded his arms over his chest. ''I thought it was hilarious.''

The blue haired woman glared daggers. ''You're the only one! Poor Goku! No wonder he was such a jittery mess when he came back.''

''I know I screwed up, woman! Now where is he?''

Bulma frowned but motioned toward the backyard. ''Pan was still here when he came back. She took him out back to calm him down. They're probably sparring by now.''

Vegeta grunted, his version of a 'thank you', and moved past her. He walked through several rooms before he found himself looking out over Capsule Corp's overly large backyard through the glass doors. Sure enough Pan and Goku were sparring in an open clearing.

It was obvious the younger Saiyajin was working out some of his anger because his fighting style was sharper; more direct and to the point. He wasn't playing around. Pan was the perfect partner for him though. She wasn't in danger of being seriously injured should Kakarotto lose control like he sometimes did when his anger reached its' peak, but the young woman wasn't so powerful that Goku couldn't land a few good hits on her. It was obvious his grand-daughter's skills had diminished in the few years she spent chasing boys, and her technique was sloppy. It probably wouldn't be long before Goku began teaching her again.

After watching the sparring match for several minutes Vegeta decided not to intrude. His fellow Saiyajin needed some space for now; from him anyway. He'd just wait for his temper to cool before approaching him again.

----------------------------------------------

Apparently it took awhile for Goku to cool down. It had been nearly two weeks since Vegeta had last spoken to the other Saiyajin. The younger man had deliberately been avoiding him, and on the rare occasions their paths had crossed, Goku had only glared at him before moving on.

Ouch.

There had been no more late night visits from him either. The prince had been hoping the other man would sneak into his room again, but he had no such luck. He even began to consider trying to sneak into Kakarotto's room, but he immediately dismissed the thought. He'd REALLY find himself on Goku's bad side if he tried that.

According to Bulma, the best thing to do was lay low and wait for the younger man to come to him. He couldn't stay mad forever, could he?

Vegeta let out something between a sigh and a growl as he crossed the yard to his gravity chamber. Goku had been training out there with Pan every day for the past couple of weeks, but today it was unusually quiet. Perhaps they were taking a break. Either way, the prince was finding it hard to motivate himself to train. It was boring without a sparring partner.

Vegeta was almost to the chamber when his eyes finally moved from his feet to the structure in front of him. He nearly let out a startled cry of shock when he saw Goku standing in front of the door, but he bit back the sound at the last second.

The younger Saiyajin was watching him with an even gaze as he stood with his hands behind his back. Vegeta noted that the other's tail was hanging low behind him, and only the tip was curled to avoid touching the ground. The still appendage suddenly twitched, and that was the only warning the prince received before Goku suddenly brought his hands in front of him and widened his stance to brace himself.

A glowing ball of concentrated blue ki crackled between his palms, and the younger man's lips curled into a Vegeta-worthy smirk before he launched the attack at the stunned prince.

''WHAT THE FU---AGGH!!''

Vegeta barely had time to bring his arms up in front of him before the attack struck him, and though it wasn't overly powerful, it was enough to burn away his gloves and singe his skin. He stumbled back a couple steps as the ki dissipated, and the prince lowered his arms and growled; but the threatening gesture was cut short when the spot Kakarotto had stood in before was empty.

Vegeta's eyes darted around him, but it was his ability to detect ki that made him look directly above him. Sure enough Goku was floating several yards up in the air. The older man was so impressed with the other Saiyajin's drastic improvement that he failed to register that several more balls of ki were hurtling towards him; that is, until they began to make contact with his person.

The prince cursed and rolled out of the danger zone, but not before taking a few direct hits. Oh, he was going to bruise.

Goku landed in front of the crouched Saiyajin a second later, and he was smiling brightly at him. Though Vegeta wanted to be angry about the sneak attacks, the fact the younger man was smiling at him erased any hostile intentions and instead improved his own mood ten-fold.

Goku reached down and pulled the prince to his feet, and his smile seemed to turn apologetic when he saw the charred remains of the white gloves the other always wore.

''Hn. Are we even now?'' Vegeta asked as he brushed dirt from his pants.

The younger man gave a raspy laugh and shook his head 'no', then turned and headed back into Capsule Corp.

The prince cocked an eyebrow as he watched him go. Well, they weren't even, but at least he was forgiven. It was a start.

---------------------------------------------

The next couple of days passed without incident. Gohan and Goten made regular visits, as did Pan. In fact, the young woman spent more time at Capsule Corp nowadays than she did at home.

As word spread about Goku, more and more old faces dropped by to say hello. Tien, Krillin, Roshi (why won't that man die?), and even Piccolo had come by. Of course the Namekian had known Goku was back for awhile now, but he'd waited until the Saiyajin was settled before he'd decided to visit. He'd been watching from the lookout though, just in case he needed anything.

Even Yamcha had come around. He'd apologized to Goku for his behavior before, and of course, the younger man had forgiven him, no questions asked. Vegeta had been a little peeved that his fellow Saiyajin hadn't bombarded the ex-fighter with ki attacks before accepting the apology though.

The prince had gotten better about holding his tongue when it came to such things, however, and he'd become even more conscious about his actions. He tried to be more considerate toward Goku, and Bulma had even commented that he treated her friend far better than he ever treated her.

And?

He hadn't been trying to court Bulma; she had just jumped him one night. The situations were completely different.

Vegeta's extra effort didn't go unrewarded. Goku had begun to seek out his company on a daily basis, and their sparring matches became more exciting with each session. The younger man's progress was amazing, and the prince was reveling in the fact he was having a big impact on the development of the other Saiyajin's fighting techniques. Whether Goku realized it or not, he was constantly mimicking Vegeta's own style or incorporating it into his own personal style, creating a well-balanced mixture of the two.

Watching him move so fluently across the floor as they sparred was like watching a deadly dance, and there were times Vegeta thought he'd have to cut their match short just to compose himself. It wasn't easy keeping ones' hands to themselves when the object of their desire was being so unintentionally provocative.

Vegeta had just finished taking a cold shower after one such sparring session, and he had slipped into a pair of sweatpants afterward. He towel dried his hair and tossed the wet cloth aside as he yawned and dropped onto the bed. The sparring matching between he and Kakarotto had gone on longer than it usually did, and it was late. The younger Saiyajin's stamina had improved dramatically.

The prince had turned off his light and had just settled down into the sheets when a soft 'click' caught his attention. He frowned and sat up, thinking that perhaps Bulma was sneaking in for the day's update on his progress with Kakarotto. The woman treated the situation like it was one of her daily soap operas, and she was constantly fishing around for any information.

Vegeta was just about to bark out an insult, but he bit his tongue when a pair of large black eyes stared back at him from the door.

''Kakarotto?''

Goku hesitated for a moment before he stepped the rest of the way into the room and closed the door behind him. He was dressed in a simple black pair of sleep pants and a white tank top, his typical sleeping attire. The younger man's tail swayed back and forth behind him as he nervously approached the bed, seemingly uncomfortable under the prince's intense gaze.

Vegeta waited until the other man had stopped beside him before speaking again. ''What's the matter?''

Goku's eyes wandered over the sheets and he rubbed the back of his neck as a slight blush appeared across the bridge of his nose. The older man had to fight off the grin he felt creeping onto his lips at the sight. He blinked when Goku finally held out his arm and pointed to the skin there. It took a moment for Vegeta to realize he was pointing to the goose bumps that had appeared on his flesh. He did grin then.

''You're cold?''

The younger Saiyajin smiled and nodded, but he then began to chew on his bottom lip as he waited for a response.

Vegeta knew he could have really played with Kakarotto's head; made him squirm a little, but that would be counter productive and a sure-fire way to insure the other man would never willingly return to his bed on his own. So instead, the prince scooted back and flipped his covers back.

''Come on then.''

Goku looked genuinely surprised for a moment, but he snapped out of it quickly and climbed in under the covers. He didn't want the older man to suddenly change his mind, after all. The Saiyajin sighed and settled into the warm spot Vegeta had created. He would have preferred the feeling of the prince's heat through direct contact, but he wasn't going to push his luck. Maybe when the older man fell asleep....

Vegeta watched as Goku made himself comfortable. He waited until the other's eyes closed before he turned his back to him and smirked into the dark.

''I'll try not to leave bruises this time.''

The prince's smirk only grew more devious when he heard a strangled 'eep' come from the other Saiyajin. After that all was silent.

------------------------------------------

The next morning Vegeta was pleased to find that Kakarotto had not fled sometime during the night. He knew admitting that he had been aware of the fact he'd been sucking on the younger man's neck was risky, but he was anxious to move things along; and let's be honest, the prince wasn't one to beat around the bush.

Vegeta stretched in order to get his blood flowing after a good night's sleep, and the slight shift the movement created on the mattress roused Goku from his slumber. The prince watched silently as black eyes blinked open and focused on the sheets below him for a moment before they slowly rose to meet his own. He grinned at the younger Saiyajin, and he nearly chuckled when the other blushed slightly before smiling back.

Almost immediately after that Goku pulled himself out from beneath the covers and left the room. Vegeta only shrugged at his sudden departure and continued to lounge in bed. He was far too comfortable to get up now. He enjoyed the next several minutes of silence before the sound of the other Saiyajin re-entering the room made him open his eyes again.

Goku stood beside him, fully dressed in a blue and white training gi, and looked rather annoyed that the older man hadn't moved yet. He reached out and tugged on the prince's arm in an attempt to get him to out of bed, but Vegeta wasn't having it.

''We'll spar in another hour, Kakarotto. I'm relaxing.''

Goku huffed and again tugged on his arm. He was ready to go and he didn't have the patience to wait around for another hour.

An evil smirk was the only warning the younger man received before Vegeta grabbed Goku's wrist and pulled him back onto the bed. A surprised yelp escaped the Saiyajin's lips as he was flipped over the prince's body. He landed on his back and was immediately rolling in an attempt to get back onto his feet, but Vegeta suddenly threw himself on top of Goku, shoving the younger man back into the mattress with a muffled grunt.

The prince purred as he kept the squirming man pinned beneath his own body, and he closed his eyes and settled himself down quite comfortably.

''One hour, Kakarotto. Stop wiggling around and just relax. It's too early.''

For the next few minutes Goku continued to twist around, but each time he raised his ki in an attempt to throw the other Saiyajin off him, the prince would raise his own energy to counter-act it. It was a pointless struggle and he was only wasting energy that he'd need for their spar.

Finally the younger Saiyajin growled in defeat and went limp beneath Vegeta. He turned his head to the side and glared at the man resting against his back, but he couldn't stay mad for too long; not with the increasing volume of the purr that rumbled from the prince's chest. The vibration the vocalization produced proved to soothe Goku, and before long he felt his own eyes become heavy with sleep. It wasn't long before he drifted off again.

-----------------------------------

It had been nearly two hours before Vegeta woke up again. During his sleep he had encircled the other Saiyajin's chest with his arms and he was holding on tight. He was fine with that, but apparently Kakarotto was not. The younger man was wide awake, and seemed to have been that way for quite awhile if his annoyed expression was anything to go by. Clearly he'd been trying to dislodge himself from the prince's hold for quite some time; his ruffled gi was evidence enough.

With a sigh Vegeta let go of Goku and finally rolled off of him and onto his back. He stretched again and nearly laughed when the other Saiyajin sat up with an annoyed huff and cuffed him over the head. Apparently his amused expression only irked the younger man more though, because he suddenly shoved Vegeta hard, causing the prince to fall onto the floor with a startled yelp. The older man blinked up at the now smiling Kakarotto, who was peering down at him from the bed.

He growled and sat up. ''You realize I'm not going to go easy on you now!''

In response Goku chucked a pillow at the frowning man, hitting him squarely in the forehead.

Vegeta, not one to back down from a challenge, lunged back onto the bed and tackled the younger Saiyajin. Goku growled and shoved his knee into the other's side and used the momentum to roll them over so he was on top. He straddled the prince's stomach and grabbed another pillow, which he used to once again beat Vegeta in the head several times over. The older man attempted to grab the other Saiyajin's wrists, but he was blinded by the attack and kept missing. It wasn't until Goku shoved the pillow in his face and kept it there that he was finally able to grab onto him and flip him over his head.

Vegeta removed the pillow and spun around just in time to see the younger man roll onto the floor and to his feet. Goku grinned devilishly at him before he turned tail and bolted for the door, but the prince was faster. He dove off the bed and managed to grab onto the fleeing Saiyajin's ankle, which caused him to fall to the floor with a heavy
'thud'.

Vegeta chuckled evilly as he dragged the flailing man beneath him and straddled him in much the same way Goku had just done with him. This protected him from kicking feet, and it wasn't long before he had both wrists pinned on either side of the younger Saiyajin's head. After that the prince just sat there and watched him until he stopped trying to get free.

It quickly became apparent to Goku that something had changed in Vegeta's mood. The playful fighting stopped and now a heavy silence settled over the room. The air suddenly seemed thick and heavy, and the younger Saiyajin felt a chill race down his spine. The prince was looking at him strangely, and he suddenly felt very vulnerable in his current position.

The older man seemed to have sensed the other Saiyajin's discomfort, and he finally spoke. ''Kakarotto, do not get angry with me.''

The comment left Goku confused, but he didn't have time to think about it before Vegeta suddenly leaned down and pressed his lips to his own. The younger man's eyes widened, and for a brief second panic swept through his very being, urging him to fight against the prince. Just as he prepared to act on this impulse however, the hands that held his wrists suddenly released and instead moved up to tangle in his hair.

The simple gesture made Goku feel less trapped and threatened, and he relaxed again; just a little. A tongue sweeping across his lips distracted him from the pleasant feel of the fingers that roamed through his hair, and without really meaning to, he opened his mouth just enough for the roaming muscle to work its' way inside.

Vegeta moaned above him when their tongues met for the first time, and Goku hesitantly began to kiss him back. This didn't seem so bad, after all. He didn't feel like the prince was trying to mess with him or harm him in any way, so he didn't see anything wrong with indulging himself a little with this new experience. ChiChi had never really kissed him before; not like this. This was... this was nice.

Goku slowly brought his arms up and wrapped them around the older man's neck, gently tugging him down and a little closer. Vegeta immediately obliged him and settled himself more fully against his body, and though the initial contact instilled a jab of fear in him, the younger man quickly began to enjoy the feeling of the prince's body against his own.

Unfortunately, the time to breathe finally came and Vegeta broke off the kiss and pressed his forehead against the other Saiyajin's. Both of them were panting heavily, and the prince's tail waved back and forth behind him, displaying his excitement. However, he could not push things too far too fast. He was pleased with Kakarotto's reaction, and he didn't want to ruin the moment by tearing off his clothes and ravishing him right there and then.

Vegeta finally slid his fingers out of Goku's hair and sat up. He gazed down at the Saiyajin beneath him, and he took pride in the fact he'd been the cause of the glazed and shocked expression on that beautiful face.

He grinned and got to his feet, casually stepping over the younger man as he made his way to the door. ''Alright, Kakarotto. I believe I owe you a spar.''

The prince left the room without looking back, but he was sure Goku was still on the floor, and he figured it would be awhile before the younger Saiyajin would join him again.

To be continue...