In Your Dreams: Chapter 22

Vegeta had spent nearly an hour pacing outside of Goku's room before he gathered up the courage to actually enter. He slowly pushed open the door and poked his head inside. Part of him was expecting a vase to be thrown in his direction, as was Bulma's normal response when she was pissed, but there was no such attack.

Throwing caution to the wind, the prince slipped into the room and closed the door behind him. Goku was curled on his side on the bed with his arms crossed over his chest and a frown on his face. The tip of the younger man's tail twitched every few seconds, clearly displaying his foul mood.

Vegeta swallowed the lump he felt forming in his throat and slowly approached the other Saiyajin. The possibility of a sneak attack was still plausible, so he didn't let his guard down as he sat down on the bed behind Goku.

''I'm sorry, Kakarotto.''

The prince looked at the other man when there was no response, and a small part of him felt annoyed. He didn't apologize often, and he didn't appreciate being ignored when he did. Vegeta took a deep breath to calm himself before scooting closer.

''Come on, Kakarotto. You finally have a voice again and you're not going to use it? Not even to yell at me?''

Another long stretch of silence followed, and Vegeta was just about to change tactics before the other finally responded.

''Is that what's it's going to be like?''

The prince blinked and stared at Goku's back for a moment, not fully understanding the question. The younger man seemed to know this and continued.

''I've always known you could be the jealous type, Vegeta... But that... that was insane.''

Vegeta opened his mouth to say something, but he discovered he wasn't sure what it was he wanted to say. He wasn't going to deny he was possessive of what he considered 'his', but Kakarotto was right about what he'd done. The younger Saiyajin was NOT his, and he had no right to react the way he had. The only explanation he could offer was that he was still in 'protection' mode. There had been so much drama lately that he still hadn't calmed down and stopped seeing everyone as a threat.

''I've already had to deal with one crazy mate. I don't want to have to deal with another.''

Vegeta's heart skipped a beat at that, and a sly smile spread over his face as he leaned closer to Goku and ran a finger down his spine. ''Does that mean you'll still think about us if I promise to behave?''

The other Saiyajin curled into a tighter ball as his tail fluffed from the tickling sensation the older man's touch produced. ''Quit it.''

The prince's smile widened as his hand stroked down his side, electing another shivering response. ''Not until you answer me.''

''Vegeta! Stop it! I'm being mad at you!''

Vegeta laughed before lowering his voice into a playful growl and pressing himself against Goku's back. ''But you should never go to bed mad, Kakarotto.''

The younger Saiyajin huffed as the prince's hands sought out every ticklish spot on his body and exploited them ruthlessly. He barely managed to keep the laughter out of his voice as he turned his head enough to look the other man in the eye. ''You're not sleeping in here.''

The prince buried his face against the smaller man's neck and let out a rumbling purr; this time succeeding in ringing a strangled laugh from the other's lips. ''I think I am.''

A sudden growl from Goku made Vegeta raise his head, and a moment later a palm flattened itself against his face and pushed him backwards into the mattress. The older man blinked in surprise when the other Saiyajin flipped on top of him and brought their noses only inches apart.

''Let's go spar.''

''Now?''

''Now, Vegeta.''

The prince stared up at the other for a moment. ''Am I forgiven then?''

Goku smiled at him before rolling off the bed and walking to the door. ''That depends on whether or not I win.''

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

Kakarotto did indeed win that night. Granted Vegeta hadn't been fighting at his full strength, but he had provided an even match by matching his ki level with his sparring partners'. The younger Saiyajin had thrown his pent up anger into his punches, and needless to say, Vegeta was sore for a couple of days after. He did, however, get to sleep in the same bed.

In fact, that's what Vegeta was currently doing right that moment. The sound of chirping birds alerted him to the presence of a new day, but he wasn't all that concerned with waking up quite yet.

Unfortunately, he wouldn't be allowed to sleep late that day, and the sudden addition of Goku's weight on his stomach made that painfully clear.

''Vegeta, get up! We're all going to the beach!''

The prince grumbled and covered his eyes with his arm. ''Correction; YOU are going to the beach. I'M staying right here.''

Vegeta could almost FEEL the pout that was surely tugging on the other Saiyajin's lips, and a quick peek from under his arm confirmed that it was indeed there.

''You promised...''

''I did no such thing.''

A sigh. ''Ok, you didn't. Sheesh, I thought old people were supposed to have bad memories.''

That got Vegeta's attention, and he suddenly sat up, knocking Goku off of his stomach and into his lap. ''Who are you calling old?!''

The younger Saiyajin shrugged innocently. ''Well, you are... what; two... three times as old as me?''

''Oh, that's hardly fair! We're only seven years apart in reality!''

''Well, it is what it is.'' Goku tilted his head to the side as he lifted the older man's shirt up. ''Maybe you'd look younger with a tan. You're awfully pale... Makes you look like a corpse.''

''Oh, whatever!'' Vegeta growled and shoved the other Saiyajin off of him before climbing out of bed.

Goku smiled and flopped onto his stomach, propping his chin up in his hands. ''Where ya going?''

''I'm going to find my swimsuit!''

''That's what I thought.''

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

''You didn't tell me EVERYONE was going to be here.''

Goku blinked as he finished rubbing sunscreen on Pan's back before sending her on her way. ''You didn't ask. Besides, I said 'all'.''

Vegeta snorted as he looked over the stretch of beach before him. Trunks, Gohan, Pan, Goten, his girlfriend, Videl, Bulma, Bra, Krillin, 18, Yamcha, and even Piccolo were all there. Some were in the water, some were tanning, and others were playing volleyball. Piccolo, however, was simply hovering nearby meditating, as usual.

The prince turned his gaze back to the Saiyajin beside him, and he took a moment to appreciate the view. With a proper diet and exercise, Goku's form had become more sculpted and defined, though he was still a far cry from looking the way he had before. In fact, Bulma had informed him privately that she doubted the younger man would ever reach the same height as he had before, simply because the essential nutrients and vitamins just hadn't been provided to him for all those years. His growth had been stunted, as it were. At first the news had instilled a sense of anger in Vegeta, but then he decided that he could live with the situation. He'd never liked the fact he'd been shorter than the other man.

The prince's eyes roamed up and down Goku's body, clothed only in a pair of red and black swimming trunks. Yes, this more 'compact' body suited him nicely.

''Are you thinking perverted thoughts?''

Vegeta jumped at the sound of Goku's voice, and his eyes shot back up to the other's face. He fought back a blush when he met knowing eyes, and he turned away and folded his arms. ''No!''

Goku chuckled but didn't have time to argue before Bulma approached them. Despite her age, she was still built better than most women in their twenties, and she knew it. She took pride in the fact and today she was clearly showing it by choosing to wear a skimpy two piece silver bikini.

''Hey, are you two going to go swimming, or are you just going to sit under the umbrella all day?''

''I'm going!'' Goku chirped. He started to get up but Bulma put her arm out to stop him. ''Wait a minute! Did you put on sunscreen?''

The Saiyajin waved it off with the flick of his wrist. ''Aw, I don't need that!''

The older woman pushed him down again when he made another attempt to get up. ''Oh, are you going to tell me it's because you're a Saiyajin again? You have no proof the sun's rays don't affect you!'' Bulma tossed the tube of sunscreen to Vegeta and gave him a wink. ''Make sure you both put plenty of that on. And rub it in good!''

If Vegeta had any less control he would have kissed the woman. It was true that he and Kakarotto had no need for the protective lotion, but she was obviously giving him a reason to touch the other Saiyajin, and he was going to take it.

Goku sighed and reached out to take the tube. ''Alright, let me hurry up and get some on so I can go.''

Vegeta smirked and held the container just out of the younger man's reach before flipping open the cap and squeezing a good amount into his palm. ''Hold it. I'll do it. You'll probably miss spots.''

Goku blushed when the prince's lotion covered hands began to rub over his back, but he sat quietly and allowed it to take place... until those hands moved over his shoulders and to his chest. ''Um, I can do that, you know....''

Vegeta purred in his ear. ''I know you can.''

Goku swallowed audibly as he watched the older man's hands glide over his abs before they worked up his sides and down each of his arms. The prince's chest was pressed up against his back and he could feel the other's breath on the nape of his neck. A fine sheen of sweat began to form on the younger man's skin, and just when he thought he'd have to push himself away from the other's heat, Vegeta moved away on his own.

Goku blinked when the other Saiyajin suddenly appeared in front of him, and he yelped when his ankle was grabbed and the prince began to rub his way up his leg to his thigh. ''Re...really, Vegeta, I can do this myself!''

He went to pull his leg away, but the prince trapped his calf beneath his arm and held it tight against his side, casting his victim a wicked smirk. ''I'm almost done now. Just relax.''

Goku's eyes darted around when his other leg was given the same treatment as the first. He was worried about everyone seeing this... this display Vegeta was putting on, but it seemed that no one had noticed.

The younger man turned his attention back to the prince when his legs were suddenly released, and he 'meeped' in surprise when lotion covered hands rubbed along his neck and along the curves of his face. Vegeta grinned as he brought his finger to his own lips and spread some sunscreen over them as if it were chap stick, and he wrapped one hand behind Goku's neck to hold him in place before moving forward and pressing his mouth against the stunned Saiyajins'. The younger man's eyes remained wide open until the kiss ended, and the prince smirked before getting to his feet and pulling Goku up by the wrist.

''Alright, let's go.''

''But... But you didn't put any on!''

Vegeta threw his head back and laughed as he led the other Saiyajin to the water. ''We don't really need it, Kakarotto.''

''Vegeta!''

To be continue...