Dragonball: Rewritten

Chapter 45: Buu Saga

Twenty years ago...

***

Later in the night, high up on the Lookout, seventeen-year-old Goku broke the thick, calm silence in the room to ask in a soft voice, "Vegeta? Hey, Vegeta?"

He didn't expect a reply. He smiled when Vegeta answered him with a grunt. Sleep weighed down Vegeta's voice as he growled, "Go to sleep. You need it after today."

In the darkness of the room, he made out the profile of Vegeta's face, his deep, concerned frown and sharp jawline. He knew Vegeta was right. The memory of that dagger to his tail, Vegeta's words, his embrace—the same embrace Vegeta was giving him now in bed, hugging him around the waist with his tail as they laid face-to-face. He should've let it go and listened.

Instead, Goku said, "I have a question."

"Hn. Ignoring me as usual." Vegeta sighed. "Ask away."

"You're not leaving, right?"

The tail around his waist bristled, squeezing Goku tighter. "Why the hell would you think that?"

"Korin told me that Kami wanted you to leave here." His voice lowered more, just above a whisper. "Said it was the deal if you found me."

"Mm. This is true."

"Well? Are you?"

Relief untensed every bone in Goku's body as Vegeta said, loud and clear, "No. I dare Kami to try. He'll fail."

Shuffling occurred across the bed. Vegeta's arms soon wrapped around him, pressing Goku's cheek to his bare chest. His face warmed up, cheeks turning pink. One palm cupped the back of his head, where his scar resided, the other palm pressing to the small of his back, over the beginning of his tail. Unknown emotions swirled inside Goku, emotions he had no name and no idea about, but they made him feel warm. They made him feel... nice.

Those emotions intensified when he heard Vegeta growl into his hair, "I won't leave you, Kakarot. I never will."

Slowly, Goku returned the embrace—arms first, his own tail second, wrapping around Vegeta's waist too. With his mouth pressed to Vegeta's chest, over his heart, he squeaked out in a muffle voice, "Promise?"

The arms squeezed him tighter. So did the tail.

Vegeta leaned back just enough to press a soft kiss to his forehead.

His voice rumbled against Goku's ear, the sound of it mixing with the sound of Vegeta's heartbeat. "I promise."

The hand on his head stroked his hair in slow, gentle sweeps, careful not to touch his scar. Those emotions swelled more inside Goku, but he pushed them down. Not wasn't the time to dive deep into them. Later. He had all the time in the world to figure them out.

Goku's eyelids fluttered shut, falling asleep in Vegeta's embrace, to the sound of Vegeta's heart.

***

Twenty years later...

***

A much older Goku opened his eyes.

Not on the Lookout. Not in their room.

Blue sky. Bountiful amount of trees.

He glanced down. The crater greeted him as usual. His constant companion through these last seven years reminded him of what used to be. A simpler time. A better time.