Goku X Vegeta Oneshots

Lullaby for a Prince

*Eek, ok, this one has been a long time coming, I gotta admit! I do like MLP, despite being an adult now. They're super cute and some of the songs are 👌👌👌Anyway, this takes place directly after Vegeta's suicide when he tries to defeat Buu. Goku is woken (previously) by the explosion and rushes to see what happened and where Vegeta is. Straying from the episode storyline a lot, so fight me. Probably gonna cry while writing this.*

Goku stared at the silver ashes at his feet, a slow and sickening realization filling his mind. "Oh no..." He dropped to his knees and placed his hands against the ashes, as if that might somehow put the fallen Prince together again. "No. No, no, no, Vegeta!!!" He scrambled back. This couldn't be happening. He couldn't have- Vegeta, do something like that? Goku stared at his hands, his palms now covered with the silvery dust, what remained of Vegeta's body. The first tear, the first of many, spilled down over his cheek.

He didn't know how long he stayed there, shielding the ashes and mourning his lost Prince. Everything had gone from horrible to catastrophic with the loss of one of their best fighters. While Buu did not make an appearance, Goku knew in his heart that not even so powerful a sacrifice as what Vegeta had given was not going to be enough to destroy the Majin.

"Goku..."

Goku turned and saw Piccolo. The Namek, for the first time in Goku's memory, looked close to tears. "Hot-headed bastard," Piccolo growled softly. "Knew he didn't stand a chance and tried anyway." He looked up at the sky, and Goku swore he heard Piccolo gulp back tears. "Didn't seem phased at all."

Goku finally stood, ignoring the pins and needles in his feet. He huffed a bitter laugh. "Does anything phase Vegeta?"

Piccolo did not reply at first. "You did," he finally said. " I learned some things-" Piccolo actually laughed a bit. "Gods, I learned some things about him that might surprise even you."

"Oh?"

The Namek shook his head. "He'd hate me for saying it. Might even kill me for it." He smirked a little. "You were very important to him, Goku. Dare I say it, his only reason to live. He..." Piccolo looked down, as if choosing his words wisely. "I won't mince words." He looked Goku in the eye. "Goku, Vegeta loved you. And not as a friend. He was crazy about you, swooned like a teenage girl the minute you turned your back."

Goku couldn't find words to say or a voice to speak with, so he just listened.

"When you left us all those years ago, on the day you died, he cried right in front of every single one of us. Didn't give a fuck what we thought about it either. He'd lost the love of his life, because that's what you were to him." Piccolo looked at the ashes, visibly clenching his jaw. "Twice I kept him from killing himself while you were gone. This time I let him, if only to give him some closure at last." He once more looked at Goku. "Did you feel the same way? Even a little?"

Goku's throat felt completely closed off. He felt more tears fill his eyes and he looked down. "I..." His voice choked off. "I didn't kn- know..." He covered his mouth and bit back another flood of tears. "I..."

"Goku. Did you feel the same way?"

He couldn't speak, so he just nodded. The movement of his head made more tears fall.

Piccolo handed him something, and Goku realized it was a small bag, like the ones they used to carry senzu in. He immediately knew what it was for and whispered a heartfelt thank you. Piccolo set a hand on his shoulder. "Hurry. And I'll meet you at the Lookout. Everyone else is there already."

Goku nodded and knelt, gently placing as much of Vegeta's ashes into the bag as he could. He went ahead while Piccolo went to scout around the area. Cradling the tiny bag in both hands, he thought about what Piccolo had said. He wished that he had known... How long had Vegeta felt that way? He thought about all the lost time between them and his heart ached in a way he'd never felt before.

~Timeskip~

Bulma cried at the news of course, but Goku noted numbly that even he had cried harder at the loss. Apparently Gohan was missing in action, and the others counted him lost as well. Satan's daughter, who Goku guessed had a strong friendship with his son, cried for quite a while about it. He himself had no tears left to cry, choosing to spend them on Vegeta.

That night, when the moon rose over the faint horizon, Goku sat atop the highest point of the Lookout. He still held the small bag. Looking up at the moon, he felt a strange disconnection both in his heart and mind. Vegeta had told him little of their goddess Begeta, but Goku knew her enough to offer a short prayer that Vegeta might hear him.

"Fate has been cruel, and order unkind. How can I have hurt you this way? The blame was my own, the punishment yours. I just wish that I could have stayed... But into the darkness I bring you my song, and I will your company keep, till your tired eyes and my lullabies have carried you softly to sleep..."

Goku inhaled deeply. "Once did a Saiyan who shone like the sun look out on the whole world and sigh. He smiled and said, surely there is no other so gifted nor so well beloved as I. So great was his strength, so brilliant his glory, that long was the shadow he cast, which fell dark upon the cold Prince that he loved, and grew only darker as days and nights passed..." He squeezed his eyes shut, once again fighting tears. "Lullay, my moon Prince, goodnight, dearest mine. Rest now in moonlight's embrace. Bear up my lullaby, winds of the earth, through cloud and through sky and through space. Carry the peace and the coolness of night, and carry my sorrow in kind. Vegeta, you're loved so much more than you know. Forgive me for being so blind..."

Somehow the moon seemed brighter. Goku poured all of his heart into his words. "Not once did he notice that all the others did not give the moon Prince his due, and neither had he loved him as he deserved. They watched as the Prince's unhappiness grew. But such is the way of the limelight! It sweetly takes hold of the mind of its host." Goku's voice almost cracked. "And that foolish Saiyan did nothing to stop the destruction of one who had needed him most!

"Lullay, my moon Prince, goodnight, dearest mine. Rest now in moonlight's embrace. Bear up my lullaby, winds of the earth, through cloud and through sky and through space. Carry the peace and the coolness of night, and carry my sorrow in kind. Vegeta, you're loved so much more than you know. May troubles be far from your mind... And forgive me for being so blind..." Goku looked up to the moon. The whole night was silent, as if listening to his lullaby. "The time now before us, fearful and unknown. I never imagined I'd be here on my own. May this tragic nightmare swiftly pass, I pray! ... I love you... I miss you, all these miles away... May all your dreams be sweet tonight, safe upon your bed of moonlight. And know not of sadness, pain, or care. And while I dream, I'll fly away and meet you there... Sleep... Sleep... Sleep..."

Goku descended to his room, placing the bag- which he now realized glowed a soft green in the darkness- on the bedside table. He sighed, feeling his heart once more rip apart in grief, and lay down to sleep.

You see? He does love you, my son. But I do think you were right in your actions. You know now that you were not alone in your pining.

Some good it does me now. I'll never see him again.

Is that so...?

*Continue?*