Chapter Text
It was after they had defeated Moro that Goku got a visit from the Grand Minister. He was harvesting some carrots when he felt the arrival of familiar divine energy. He stood up and wiped off his hands on his pant legs.
“Greetings, Goku.”
“Hello Grand Minister, what brings you all the way out here to Earth?”
“Actually I was hoping to speak with Vegeta. The troubling events with Meerus have made us decide we need to have the next Destroyer ready to go.”
“What? And you want Vegeta to do it?”
Goku felt a lump in his throat. Vegeta couldn’t - “You can’t ask Vegeta!” Goku blurted out, not meaning to.
“And why not.” The Grand Minister was mostly curious so he ignored the disrespectful way Goku spoke to him.
“Vegeta and I do everything together. I was really looking forward to going to Fighter's Heaven together after we lived long full lives.”
The Grand Minister raised his eyebrow. “Do you mean you two are bonded as one?” He asked curiously.
Goku assumed he meant their fusion. Yeah, they had bonded as one a couple times, through the potara earrings and the fusion dance.
“Yeah, definitely.” Goku nodded, a hundred percent sure they were both on the same page.
“That changes things. I will need to make some arrangements and make sure everyone is okay with the alterations.”
Goku nodded. “Alright, see you later then.” He waved at him until the Grand Minister disappeared from his sight. Goku went back to harvesting and forgot all about it immediately.
Goku was sitting outside his front yard, having a picnic with Chi Chi’s photo. She had died peacefully in her sleep several months ago. Goku still struggled with the loss. Saiyans had a much longer lifespan than humans, so even though Goku was still in his prime, Chi Chi had passed peacefully in her sleep from old age. He chewed on some grapes while he told her all about his day. He was feeling wistful and nostalgic when there was a sudden burst of colorful light and Whis and Beerus appeared nearby.
Goku waved at them and they walked over.
“Hey guys, long time no see.”
“Greetings Goku.” Whis said in his normal voice.
Beerus grumbled. They sat down and Goku offered some of his spread. “Sorry it’s nothing fancy, we weren’t expecting company.”
Whis picked up the picture of Chi Chi. “I see.” He said, eyes narrowed.
They all nibbled on some crackers and cheese spread in silence. Goku tried to focus on his visitors, but since they weren’t talking, he mostly stared out at the beautiful landscape that was his home.
Finally Whis cleared his throat. “Goku, we are actually here on official business.”
Goku looked over at Whis. “What kind of business?” He asked him, tilting his head slightly in confusion.
“Well we are here to collect you and Vegeta so you can start your Destroyer training.” Whis explained to him.
“Huh?” Goku asked.
Beerus rolled his eyes. “You knuckleheads are supposed to be my replacements, since if I get in trouble with the Omni Kings one more time I’ll be forced into early retirement.” He said bitterly.
“What?” Goku still wasn’t sure what they were talking about. Why was he supposed to be a Destroyer god?
“Goku, do you not remember asking the Grand Minister to make you and Vegeta both Beerus’ replacement?”
Goku’s eyes blew wide and he tried to remember. He thought back very hard.
“Um, I asked the Grand Minister to not make Vegeta Beerus’ replacement since we do everything together and I would miss him.” Goku stared at them confused about what that had to do with anything.
Beerus face-palmed and Whis frowned. “Oh this is not good.” Beerus cried into his hands. “I’m dead for sure.”
“Why, what happened?” Goku asked, concerned by their reactions.
“Goku,” Whis started speaking slowly, “You didn’t tell the Grand Minister not to have Vegeta be the next Destroyer God. You told him you were one, and you would both be Destroyers together.”
Goku just stared in shock. “Yeah, he asked if we were bonded. I said yes, cause we had fused into Vegitio and Gogeta at that point.”
“You dunce!” Beerus yelled at him, finally moving his hands away from his face.
“Huh, what did I do?” Goku asked, still confused.
“Lord Beerus, calm down.”
“How can I calm down? I’m about to be erased from existence!”
“What, why?” Goku asked, alarmed.
“Destroyer Gods are supposed to be above such things.” Beerus grumbled.
Whis ignored him, and focused solely on the Saiyan. “Goku, he wasn’t asking about fusion. You told the Grand Minister that you and Vegeta are the equivalent of being married on earth.” He gestured to the picture of Chi Chi and Goku choked on air.
He what??????
Vegeta was training in the new Gravity chamber Bulma had finished designing shortly before she passed about a year ago. He was still dealing with his loss, and running around fighting bots and trying to solve the ever changing labyrinth of walls was the only thing that helped get him through his day.
He ate and he slept for the sake of his children, now grown adults with families of their own, but he didn’t do anything else other than train. He certainly didn’t socialize with idiots. So when Whis, Beerus, and Goku showed up he was annoyed, but also felt a sudden unexplainable pit in his stomach.
His instincts proved to be correct when the Angel explained the situation. Whis was mostly neutral, Beerus was fuming, but Goku - the absolute moron, the life ruiner was looking down at the ground trying to hide behind Beerus. Vegeta wasn’t having any of this.
“And what makes you think I would go along with this idiotic plan?” Vegeta yelled, transforming into his Blue form, ready to kick the brainless fool’s ass.
“Vegeta calm down. I’m afraid it is too late to do anything about this. Either you two agree, or all three of you would be wiped from existence.”
“When we are undoubtedly caught, we will be erased anyway and I won’t have to spend my time pretending to be married to this asshole!” Vegeta stuck his thumb out in Goku’s direction.
To make matters even worse for Vegeta, Goku still had nothing to say. Years of humiliation floated back to the surface of Vegeta’s mind. An old dark, menacing mindset was slowly wrapping itself around Vegeta’s heart.
It felt good to slip into his old ways. For a while they had been enemies, then rivals, then something akin to comrades. For years they had worked together side by side. But now Bulma was gone, and the other Saiyan had foolishly taken away the rest of his eternal life.
“Listen you miserable Saiyans. My life is on the line here because of you. After everything Whis and I have done for you, you will do this for me or I will erase you myself right here and now.” Beerus growled out.
Vegeta glared at Goku, pouring all of his hatred and grief into his look. He felt his energy swirl wildly around him but he didn’t care. He didn’t care about anything other than making the other Saiyan’s life a living hell.
“I’ll do it, but Kakarot,” Vegeta growled and showed his teeth. “But if anyone asks, I’m the one who tops.”
Maybe it had been naive of both of them to agree under such a flimsy understanding of what they were getting into. Maybe if they had come clean right away they could have fixed it. But all too quickly the two Saiyans were on the world of the Supreme Kais performing the bonding ceremony. They had each said goodbye to their children and grandchildren, not knowing if they would see them again. It had been an emotional affair, and neither was sure it was worth it.
“So after this we will be immortal?” Goku asked, still trying to understand everything that was happening. Just yesterday he was having a picnic outside his home, now his future was uncertain and unknown.
“Yes, although you will be bonded to one another. If something happened to one of you, it would happen to the other as well.” Supreme Kai explained.
“When you succeed Beerus, the Supreme Kai’s life force will be tied to both of you as well. Whether that’s me or my successor. For now to truly make you gods, it will just be the two of you.”
Goku nodded but was still confused. Sure he had wanted to stay with Vegeta in Fighter’s Heaven, the thought of losing him forever had caused an immediate panic and the cause of all this mess, but he had never pictured this.
Vegeta however was silently fuming. Goku could tell he didn’t want to do this. It was purely the threat of them being erased that caused Vegeta to agree with this. Goku didn’t know why, but the thought made his chest hurt. He ignored it.
He had no problems being bound to Vegeta forever. He had spent over half of his life with Vegeta by his side. What was another millennia of them having each other’s backs?
They stood side by side as the ceremony was performed. Goku felt tingly than hot all over. He ascended to Super Saiyan God as requested. His energy was drained and then replaced with Vegeta’s. He felt it as it was slowly drained and mixed together until they no longer had different energy signals, but rather a perfect mix of both running through both their bodies.
He reverted back to base form and felt exhausted. Goku felt Vegeta storm off in a huff as soon as the Supreme Kai deemed the ceremony complete. He let Vegeta go, he would see him soon enough and Goku wanted time to adjust to what just happened. From now until forever Vegeta would always be a part of him. The idea comforted him in a way that made him very happy and warm.