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Dragon Ball Super, Volume 2, Chapter 13.
Piccolo and Goku watched as Vegeta carried Cabba to his teammate. After all of that, it appeared that Vegeta had done Cabba a huge favour.
“So Vegeta was just teaching him a lesson,” Piccolo observed.
Goku had his hands on his hips, “That’s cool. I wonder why, though.” It was rare to see Vegeta do something so kind. Though Goku had known something was up the moment Vegeta started.
The others were always nervous whenever Vegeta slipped back into a version of his former self. But Goku understood. The true cruelty in him was long gone, Goku could feel it when they argued or fought. Vegeta’s words were harsh, but there was a layer underneath them. An affection or fondness covered by fake malice that you could see if you knew what to look for. Goku had never seen Vegeta use it with anyone other than Bulma, Trunks, or him before. It made him sort of uncomfortable to see Vegeta show that kind of affection for a total stranger.
“He was once a prince,” Piccolo said, “I guess he was nostalgic seeing one of his own people.”
Goku frowned, “I’m still here though.”
Piccolo smirked, “Do you seriously believe he likes you?”
“I never disliked him, you know,” Goku huffed. Even in the beginning, when Vegeta had been trying to destroy the Earth. Even then, Goku had thought he was the most fascinating person he had ever met. He could not imagine a life without him.
Piccolo laughed, “I’m sure that’s exactly what annoys him!”
Goku was used to other people correcting his behaviour or telling him he was wrong about things, but this was truly surprising. He had been certain that he understood Vegeta perfectly well. Had he been wrong? An unsettled feeling lodged itself in Goku’s chest.
“Man…”
The fight with Hit was way more exciting than Goku had imagined. And taking over for Vegeta always felt right, because if one of them couldn’t win, then the other would surely step up.
As Vegeta and him swapped places, Goku asked, “Hey, got any advice for me?”
Vegeta didn’t even look at him, “Nothing. Good luck.”
Goku couldn’t help the spark of disappointment. Now Piccolo’s words seemed to have a little more weight to them. What if Goku really was wrong about their relationship?
He shook his head to clear it.
He threw himself fully into the fight with Hit. His entire being lit up with the joy he only felt in combat. He shot Vegeta a couple of looks, but the other Saiyan just rolled his eyes.
Goku swallowed more disappointment. How could it be, after all these years he truly had misunderstood their relationship? There was a pain in his chest that had nothing to do with being injured.
That was fine, Goku decided. If Vegeta didn’t like him, there were plenty of other people Goku could fight. Take Hit, for instance.
Goku steeled his mind and focused in on the fight. Goku’s true talent lay in giving his full attention to his opponents, always.
After a flurry of excitement, Goku found Hit’s secret and felt giddy as their battle revved up. After Hit dodged Goku’s God-Kamehameha, Goku realized that they couldn’t have a real battle here. With the no-killing rule restricting all Hit’s moves, Goku would never get the thrill he was looking for. He felt like that deeply satisfying, lives-on-the-line type of fight might help his aching heart.
Goku wasn’t often prone to pettiness. It was a side of him that typically only appeared when someone stole the last meatbun or had eaten his side of a dish. But he could feel the urge coursing through him now. If after all they’ve been through, Vegeta only saw him as an annoyance, like Piccolo said, then Goku would just have to find someone else to create that soul-searing bond with. He ignored the spear of pain that lanced through him at the thought.
Goku jumped over the edge of the stage. He put both his feet on the ground. The audience gasped and Beerus roared. But they’d all be fine. After all, Monaka was next and he was much stronger than all of them.
As Goku passed by, Vegeta stopped him. “What the hell were you thinking? You could have won that.”
Vegeta looked disturbed. His eyes were dark as he glared at him. There was something there that Goku was sure he hadn’t imagined. For a second Goku thought maybe Piccolo was wrong after all.
“What about you?” Goku returned. “You could have defeated Hit too if you’d saved your energy, but you used it all to train Cabba. Why’d you do that?”
They stared at each other.
Vegeta hmphed and looked away, “I felt compelled to put him on a better path.”
Goku forced a smile. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to hear. Maybe something along the lines of there was no way Vegeta liked Cabba more than him. Or even something like: even though Cabba is a Saiyan too, he could never replace you.
They had almost never run into other Saiyans. Perhaps it was selfish or even conceited, but Goku had never imagined there might be other people in the universe that Vegeta might want to fight more than him. Not just fight, but help grow, help make stronger. But now they had learned that outside their own universe, there might be a whole planet of them. It was truly exciting and yet, Goku’s chest still felt tight.
Monaka won in an instant and they were all saved. After a brief interruption and an exciting promise from Zeno-sama, the two universes said goodbye to each other for now.
Goku watched as Cabba came to hang all around Vegeta and so Goku grabbed Hit’s hand in his and made him promise they might fight again soon. He felt Vegeta’s icy cold glare on his back and for a moment, it did make him feel vaguely better.
Goku had been acting strange ever since the tournament with Universe 6. Usually he was so worked up after a tough battle that he bordered on unbearable, constantly looking to spar. But today, Goku had barely said a word to any of them. Most frightening of all, he’d only eaten three times his weight in food instead of his usual 6 or 7.
Piccolo watched as Vegeta, fully annoyed, finally walked over to confront Goku. “Hey you,” he said and tapped Goku’s leg with his boot, “Let’s fight.”
“Not now. I just need to think.”
Piccolo hadn’t meant to be eavesdropping, but with his ears, he couldn’t help it. He spit out his water.
Vegeta sputtered, “No one would ever believe you need time to think!”
Piccolo had no idea what was going on, but Goku’s outright refusal was shocking and worrying.
“I want to fight someone who likes me,” he said, and with that, he flew off. The sound barrier cracking around them.
Piccolo grimaced. Had he made Goku self-conscious? He had thought he was sharing common knowledge.
Vegeta stared after Goku. “What. The. Fuck?”
It probably would have been only slightly less mortifying if other people hadn’t been standing around watching.
“Oh my, what did you say to him?” Whis asked, putting a hand to their cheek.
Vegeta’s face reddened, “Nothing! I asked him for a fight and he said no!”
“He said no?” Bulma blinked, “That’s unusual.”
“You’re telling me!”
“You must have done something to upset him,” Bulma hummed.
“I didn’t do anything! He was the one acting all moody! And why the hell would he say something like… that?”
Piccolo felt he should probably insert himself and offer what we knew, “During the tournament, he was confused why you were helping Cabba. So I told him it must have been special for you to be around another Saiyan you might actually like.”
Silence descended around the group and Piccolo got the distinct feeling that he may have said something wrong. Everyone stared at him and Vegeta, in particular, looked like he was thinking of murdering him.
“Piccolo,” Bulma groaned and put her head in her hand, “Why would you make Son-kun jealous like that?”
Piccolo could have fallen over, “Jealous?”
Whis sighed, “Saiyans are very particular and possessive over their battle partners.”
Piccolo felt his head spinning, “What do you mean, battle partners?”
Bulma stuck her finger in his face, “It’s like Saiyan marriage.”
“M-marriage?” Piccolo stammered, he turned to Vegeta, “I thought you didn’t even like him!”
Vegeta looked about ready to snap. “What are you talking about? I stand beside him at every battle. We spar every day.”
Piccolo thought about it. “That’s… true. But,” he swallowed, unnerved by the unrelenting rage in Vegeta’s eyes, “He didn’t seem to know that any more than I do!”
Bulma looked thoughtful, “Come to think of it,” she turned to Vegeta, “You explained it to me and I explained it to Chi-Chi, but did any of us actually explain it to Son-Kun?”
Vegeta looked confused, “I assumed because he was a Saiyan he would… know.”
Bulma sighed, “He was raised on Earth, how could he possibly know?”
“He threw my former battle partner’s body at my feet and I killed him. Isn’t that the same sentiment on every planet?”
They were all completely silent.
Bulma groaned into her hand, “You thought he was proposing to you? He was raised on Earth, you dummy!” she shook her head, exasperated, “Me and Chi-Chi really thought you two had talked about this! How the hell have you gone decades without hashing this out?”
Vegeta’s face was now bright red, “I didn’t think it needed to be said!”
Piccolo’s head was spinning, “But you were still enemies for years after that!”
“He was the one who won the first battle, so it was his responsibility to set the terms of our relationship!”
“What terms did you think he was setting exactly?” Bulma asked.
“Protect the Earth. Get stronger. Have children.”
“But he never actually said that, did he?”
“I didn’t think it needed to be said!”
“How would he even know you’re in a Saiyan relationship? You can’t just be married to someone without asking first, you muscle-for-brains!”
“He avenged my death! We spent years in the Hyerbolic Time Chamber training! We’ve killed and died for each other! We share meals together! We’re raising our children together! We’re doing everything a Saiyan partnership entails!”
“How many more times do I have to say Earthling? Earthling! Earthling! You need to do it the Earthling way, you brute! You need to talk things out like adults or things like this are going to happen!”
“We don’t need to talk. We say everything we need while we train.”
Whis and Beerus were watching them with amusement. “Saiyans famously speak with their fists, Bulma-san.”
Vegeta pointed at Whis, “There! You see! This isn’t my fault! I’ve punched that guy in the face more times than anyone else in all 12 Universes! We understand each other! Or I… thought…” Vegeta trailed off looking seriously disturbed.
“It isn’t unreasonable to think that Goku-san had some inclination to the relationship,” Whis added, “Otherwise he wouldn’t have reacted that way.”
“I think…” Piccolo interjected, “That I’ve made a mistake. I’ll go talk to him.”
“No,” Bulma said, not taking her eyes off Vegeta, “You,” she shoved his shoulder with her hand, “Are going to go, right now. And talk. The Earthling way. I am not dealing with the way you are when he isn’t around.”
For a moment it looked like Vegeta was going to argue, but then he rolled his eyes and flew off in the same direction that Goku had disappeared.
Piccolo had probably stuck his foot in his mouth enough today, but he couldn’t help one last burst of questions, “Goku’s already married, isn’t he? And aren’t you and Vegeta together?”
Bulma shrugged, “You heard him. He thought he was in that relationship for a lot longer than we’ve been together. Besides, I think both me and Chi-Chi are glad they have each other. We won’t be around forever, you know? And Saiyans have such long lifespans,” she sighed wistfully, “You should have seen him while Son-kun was dead. Absolutely inconsolable. I thought I was going to lose my mind. They make each other happy. Who are we to stop that?”
“If not for Vegeta, Piccolo-san, would you be willing to step up and be Son Goku’s battle partner?” Whis asked, mischief in their eyes.
Piccolo paled. “Ngk.” He could only imagine that kind of hell.
Vegeta didn’t meet Chi-Chi’s eyes when she answered the door. This whole situation was already far too embarrassing. He’d always kept a polite distance from Kakarott’s Earth wife out of respect and deference to her role in his life. But perhaps that had been a mistake. If he could have had a better inkling to Kakarott’s feelings, maybe this whole situation could have been avoided.
“Bulma messaged me,” she said softly. “He’s upstairs.”
He wasn’t sure what to say to her, so he turned to head up the stairs.
She halted him by saying, “Did Saiyans have special rituals or celebrations for battle partners?”
Vegeta thought about it, “I suppose so. Though I only really remember the symbolic exchanging of cloth.” It was usually something done in private. The cloth was representative of a clan or family, they would then be worn on the battle armour somewhere. He felt his lips twitch as he thought of the uproar it would have caused on their home planet for a third-rate Saiyan like Kakarott to wear the royal symbol.
“Maybe we should have a party. Something to mark the occasion,” Chi-Chi said.
Vegeta just hmphed.
It seemed silly to have an Earth celebration for a Saiyan custom. But he definitely didn’t care to have any more of these misunderstandings. If a silly Earth ritual could do that, maybe it’d be worth it.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” she said and gave him a knowing look, “Goku-sa did so love a big cake. Oh! I know-” she wandered away from him, apparently talking to herself as she planned. Vegeta continued his trek up the stairs.
He’d considered breaking through the window and just starting a fight. Both of them were so much more comfortable with physicality and they could say things without words that way. But Bulma’s voice echoed in his head: Earthling! And even though Kakarott was technically a Saiyan, his Earthling upbringing and sentimentality was undeniable.
Kakarott looked up from where he was sitting when Vegeta entered. Vegeta hadn’t bothered to mask his chi, giving Kakarott plenty of time to escape if he’d wanted to.
Vegeta forced himself to meet his eyes. He clenched his fist. “Piccolo said something very stupid to you.”
“He said that I annoy you and that you don’t even like me.”
Vegeta swallowed. He was no match for Kakarott’s bluntness. “That’s only half true.”
“Which half?”
“I find you very annoying.”
Kakarott huffed, but there was something soft in his eyes. Vegeta felt instantly calmer.
“But I don’t want you to go annoying anyone else,” he said. The idea of Kakarott running off with Hit or any other cannon fodder made him nauseous. “And about Cabba,” Vegeta took a step closer to him, “I only wanted him to be able to take Super Saiyan back to his people. If they can avoid a fate like ours, that would be better, wouldn’t it?”
“I guess so.”
“That’s as far as that goes. Do you really think I’d go for someone as weak as that? When I already have a battle partner?”
Kakarott was finally giving Vegeta his full attention. “Battle partner?”
It was a well understood term on Planet Vegeta and half the galaxy, Vegeta kept forgetting that no one on this planet was familiar with it. He moved his eyes to the ceiling, “Someone I want to train and spar with. Someone whose battle honour is tied to mine. Someone who knows my techniques inside and out and someone who I know the same way. Someone who inspires me to be better, stronger. Someone I can’t live without. Someone I want to fight with for the rest of my life.”
Vegeta forced himself to look back at Kakarott.
Kakarott blinked, “Who?”
Vegeta smacked him across the head, “I am seriously going to kill you.”
Kakarott laughed. He rubbed the throbbing side of his head, “I’m kidding! Sheesh. You’re embarrassin’ me.”
“You? How do you think I feel? Here you are acting like a baby because Piccolo was talking about something he doesn’t even understand!”
Kakarott finally smiled at him. He at least looked embarrassed. “Yeah… I guess I shouldn’t have listened to him. But he usually knows more about stuff than me.”
“That’s because you never pay attention.”
“I do about important things!”
“You didn’t think this was important?”
“I thought maybe I was wrong about something. And then I thought if there’s a whole other universe filled with other Saiyans, maybe you’d rather fight them.”
Vegeta scoffed. “We will fight them. But together.”
Kakarott’s smile was as bright as a sun. Vegeta had to look away.
“Do you remember the day we met?” Vegeta asked, staring out the window.
“When you and Nappa killed my friends and were trying to destroy my planet?”
Vegeta huffed. Was he still upset about that? “Yes.”
Kakarott sighed, “I knew you were this evil guy and none of us knew what you would do next. But I couldn’t let them kill you. I couldn’t let you die. I needed to fight you again.”
Vegeta swallowed and pulled his gaze away from the window. “On our planet, battle partners are for life. But if the one you want is already bound, you can challenge their partner and defeat them. Then you lay their corpse or body at the feet of the one you’re courting.”
Kakarott cocked his head to the side, listening with a slight grimace. Vegeta knew he wasn’t a fan of death for death’s sake.
“So when you beat Nappa and laid him out, I thought you were proposing to replace him as my battle partner.”
Kakarott stared at him.
“And I accepted, by killing him myself,” Vegeta finished.
Kakarott rubbed the back of his head, “Aw. Poor Nappa.”
Vegeta snarled, his eye twitching, “And now I learn that that was never your intention at all!”
Kakarott grinned sheepishly, “It’s true I had no idea about any of that. But I told you, I liked you as soon as I met you. And lucky for me, you stopped being a bad guy! And then you were always here and we could train together as much as we want.”
Vegeta crossed his arms and huffed. “I thought… I was waiting.”
“For what?”
Vegeta threw his hands in the air, “To be declared your battle partner! I thought you understood the gesture you made, so I thought maybe once the Earth was safe. But it’s always in trouble. Then I thought once I defeated you fairly. Or maybe once we both had children, so we wouldn’t have to worry about the continuation of the Saiyan lineage. But that didn’t seem of much concern to you either. Then there were various times where you were dead or I was dead. And when we were both finally on Earth and alive, I thought perhaps there was no need for formalities. We make no demands on each other. I thought we understood each other.”
Kakarott’s eyebrows were drawn together in thought. “I thought so too. Fighting the bad guys on the same side. Together. But I didn’t know about all this battle partners stuff. How come you didn’t tell me?”
“I thought maybe you simply didn’t care to follow Saiyan tradition. Vegetasei doesn’t exist anymore. So I didn’t think it really mattered.” Certainly, if it hadn’t been for Kakarott’s little tantrum earlier, Vegeta wasn’t sure any of this would have ever come up. Just fighting alongside each other was more than enough for him.
Kakarott was quiet for a moment, “But does it matter?”
Vegeta felt his face get red. “No.” Why should it? His father wasn’t here to lecture him on the importance of status. They didn’t have other Saiyans to prove themselves to. King Vegeta would probably have rejected this union altogether anyway.
Kakarott stood up and took a step toward him and Vegeta felt a shiver. Kakarott was looking at him with seriousness. He never looked like that without a life threat involved.
“You’re not bein’ honest,” Kakarott said. His voice got deeper when he was being serious. It always made Vegeta a little weak in the knees. “If it didn’t matter, you wouldn’t have killed Nappa.”
Vegeta felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand, as if they were fighting for real. “Don’t be stupid. Nappa was slowing me down. I would have killed him anyway.”
Vegeta knew that he often saw a side of Kakarott that no one else ever did. A wildness that only his worst enemies were privy to. A side of him that his friends wouldn’t know what to do with. “What was supposed to happen after you killed Nappa?”
Vegeta couldn’t tear his eyes away. “We fight. Of course. We would determine which one of us is stronger.”
“I won that fight.”
“With help,” Vegeta growled.
Kakarott grinned, “And then what?”
“If we’d actually been courting?”
“Yeah. If I’d known what all that meant back then.”
“Then we would have exchanged pieces of our uniforms.”
“If I weren’t the only other Saiyan in this universe, would you still have picked me to be your battle partner?”
Vegeta studied him for a moment. Then put his fingers on Kakarott’s chin, tilting his face a little, so they were eye-to-eye. “You weren’t the only other Saiyan in this universe.”
“There’s a lot of really strong guys out there. We’ve only seen one other Universe and there’s still ten others.”
“We won’t lose to any of them.”
Kakarott’s cocky grin was probably one of Vegeta’s most treasured sights. Bulma’s voice sounded in his head again, Earthling!
Vegeta took a breath to steady himself and then said, “The Prince of Saiyans is officially asking you to be his battle partner.”
“To fight together for our entire lives until someone throws my body at your feet?” Kakarott asked, his teasing grin breaking through.
“That won’t happen,” Vegeta sniffed, “The only person you’re allowed to lose to is me.”
Kakarott pulled Vegeta to him and squeezed him tight. He pressed his grinning face to Vegeta’s cheek. “Okay. Deal.”
Vegeta basked for a moment in this new expression of their relationship. Then, “Apparently, it’s Earth custom to have a party. I find the parading of private matters around in public distasteful, but I’m not arguing with your Earth wife.”
Excitement vibrated off Kakarott in waves, “That means cake!”