Chapter Text
When Vegetta had first entered college, he had found himself a tight knit group of friends who filled his time with joy and fun, however there was always this sense he had that he lied in neither the bookish academic stereotype nor the adventurous spontaneity that his friends seemed to split themselves into. This isn't to say that the party type weren't dedicated to their studies nor the nerds subjected only to intellectual pursuits but that those instances were so few and far between that Vegetta himself eventually succumbed to the binary division of students. It had been over three years of this life, keeping his head down and indulging in brief but wild excursions with his friends, like traveling into the city for a day of random activities. Still, there was something in him that felt as though he were wasting his youth on academics when there was some unnameable thing that would've made him feel... alive.
The whole of the college mostly fell into these camps, which Vegetta wasn't surprised by. He was a couple years older than some of his peers having taken two gap years to take care of his ailing family cat, not wanting her to feel alone in her final moments. When he came back, there was this sense that he had gained something in that time, this patience and understanding that what is put down can be returned to, that many college students simply didn't have a concept of yet. They were brimming with a clenched jaw determination that lit the fire in their eyes but also instilled in them this almost deterministic sense that everything depended on how they poured their energy into either studies or social connections. It made him feel frankly old to pity those who were on the path to burnout for having invested all their self into their work. He might've once fallen into the same trap had real life with its fond attachments had not timely reminded him that life is too expansive and potential-filled to be narrowed on the actions one makes at such a young age.
Still, he wasn't too much older so Vegetta can admit that he had fallen into the habit of prioritizing academics, and often would find himself nose-deep in the readings of Nietzsche and Camus, finding it both academically and personally fulfilling to follow in the footsteps of previous figures who were also consumed with ideas of existentialism and purpose. People like Willy liked to tease him for his philosophy self-isolation but ultimately would leave him to it. And while he appreciate the sentiment of being given the space to explore his ideas, there was also something a bit lonely in never getting to share these explorations with others. He knew that he likewise sometimes denied others the ability to convey their interests, but he could only speak from his own experience and would try to offer the same to others, bereft of his own.
That's why when he was lounging in the armchair near a window at the library, absolutely consumed in how he felt his own isolation reflected back to him in such older texts, Vegetta found himself jumping at the shadow and accompanying voice that was suddenly in front of him.
"Oh, man, are you also taking The Case for Existential Dignity?" A bright voice chirped above him, a finger leaning the book down from Vegetta's vision. The audaciousness and casual invasion into his cocoon rendered Vegetta speechless as he looked at the person standing over him. He was met with bright green eyes that were wrinkled due to the overwhelming golden smile directed to him, and Vegetta blinked slowly, before nodding, already forgetting the question. The way the other's eyes lit up had butterflies erupting from within him, and he felt all of a sudden much younger than he was.
None of this seemed to be picked up by the other who threw himself into the rocking chair next to his, bringing out his own version of the book that Vegetta was reading, though much more battered and annotated. Also, he couldn't help the snort of laughter when he saw that the other man's backpack was in the shape of a shark, with an accompanying hoodie, which only seemed to make the other happier. Vegetta had never felt like he could make someone so happy with simple gestures and it left him feeling a bit off balance.
"I didn't see you in class but with how many people there are in there, it would be a miracle if I did. Besides, the class is so interesting that I just leave feeling like my world's changed, ya know?" The other rambled, opening his book to where less-faded pencil notes were littering the margin. "I like get home and just totally realize that I can't even talk to anyone about this stuff because it's so specific. So, uh," It was here that the other man seemed to have caught up with his own actions and casual insertion, and Vegetta had to fight the smile at the sight of am embarrassed blush rising on the other's cheeks, complementing the golden blonde hair that framed his face. "Oh man, dude, I didn't mean to just uh barge in on your uh reading session, or maybe you're not even interested in this stuff; it is like a required legal track course, but I just had told myself that I would try next to class to make friends in the class so we could be like old time philosophers and chat and debate over the meaning of life or whatever." His hand were now fluttering over his book and towards his backpack at his feet, like he was about to bolt from sheer embarrassment, and that Vegetta couldn't stand.
"Old philosophers, huh?" He put a hand on the other's forearm to calm him, to make him stay if needed, because Vegetta's curiosity was so terribly piqued by this brash man. "I'm not opposed to finding someone that is also interested in this stuff. But it would be nice to know the name of who I'm talking to."
"Oh!" The other blinked before regaining his past confidence and smoothly twisting his arm so that he could shake the other's hand. "My name is Foolish!"
"Vegetta." He smiled, and there was something warm in that exchange that went beyond a shared body heat, and while this type of interaction was definitely out of his wheelhouse, it wasn't like he had initiated it. There was a small part of him that wondered tremulously if maybe this was what he had been looking for all along, someone to break past the frosty exterior with no regard for the self-imposed boundary for fear of being seen as boorish to others. "I... I'd love to talk about this stuff with you. There aren't many who find it as fun as you seem to."
And this seemed to finally break the dam of passionate exploration in Foolish who soon began going on at extensive length about the influence of capitalism on conceptions of identity especially in an era where most of the younger generation is so imbued in the digital landscape. It was a dizzying journey through various themes that Vegetta found himself excitedly engaging in, pointing out how displacement studies could be used to inform the the effect of a developing digital culture as a potential temporal displacement for a generation straddling the analog societal norms and the emerging digital one.
And this, oh, Vegetta would never forget how Foolish's eyes somehow seemed to shine more, and if they were leaning over their knees to talk closer, barely a foot apart as they talked and lightly argued but mostly fed off each other's manic academic energy, well who's to blame Vegetta for unknowingly pressing his foot to the inside of Foolish's, feeling a little breathless in how instant the connection had seemed between them. Foolish took no note of this, perhaps used to more physical contact than him, but it didn't stop him in the slightest.
In the middle of Foolish's point about how existential dignity can help inform nostalgia studies, a loud monotone voice informed everyone that the library would be closing in thirty minutes. This announcement made both Vegetta and Foolish's head snap up and towards the window next to them, both surprised to see a setting sun coloring the clouded sky in rays of austere orange and red. It was then that Vegetta turned his gaze back to Foolish and found himself entranced, finally giving into the fluttering feelings that had only been growing since the beginning of their interaction.
"Oh man, that's crazy." Foolish shook his head with a smile. "Time flies when we're having fun, right?" He was busy stuffing things back into his ridiculously small backpack given how many items he had. And as he continued rambling on about his opinion on library hours, Vegetta found himself content to simply observe the other, watching the setting sun cast a golden cast to Foolish's skin, only highlighting how attractive the other was, how sharp his jawline was, how animated he talked.
"Do you have something to go to? Maybe we could go to the Dining Center and uh have dinner?" Foolish was standing now, still next to him as Vegetta belatedly began packing his one book back into his satchel, and a part of Vegetta hoped it was partly because the blonde likewise didn't want their time to end. How strange it was that someone who had just been a stranger to him had so quickly become someone that Vegetta was already desperate to repeat this experience with. For sure, the other's energy was almost blinding in its intensity, but once your eyes adjusted, there was a brilliance and curiosity for subjects that Vegetta himself could understand the passion for.
"Yes!" Vegetta blurted quickly, "I mean, no, I don't have plans, so yes, let's have dinner together." Both blushed at the phrasing but neither addressed it as Foolish cleared his throat with a laugh which if Vegetta were actually more familiar with him would've had him swatting his arm like he would with Willy or Fargan. But they saw the closing librarian making her rounds to clear out areas and made their way outside where a warm breeze met them, driving off the artificial chill they had been unaware of.
Their conversation during dinner was more brief, since Foolish had to go to a club meeting soon after, but they managed to exchange numbers and Vegetta was so elated that he'd absentmindedly told the other, "Have fun. I'll see you tomorrow."
The other had turned and tilted his head. "Tomorrow? But today's Tuesday?" For a second, Vegetta was as equally confused by the relevance before he suddenly remembered that he was supposedly taking the same class as Foolish. And he coughed, trying to cover up his slip up.
"Ah, I meant like next time, or maybe we'll bump into each other around campus or something." He fought the middle school feeling of being too desperate and held a smile.
"Yeah, if not tomorrow, then tomorrow tomorrow." Foolish flashed a wide grin and did a thumbs up gesture before sprinting away in the direction of what Vegetta could only guess was his club meeting.
A romantic part of Vegetta wanted to stare after the other, still caught in the magical environment the other had seemed to build around them, but not only did that feel stalkerish but also the chill of the night had come quicker than expected, so he adjusted his purple scarf around his neck and made his way in almost daze until he was suddenly in his shared dorm and Willy was standing before him with a knowing and teasing grin.
"Now, Vegetta," the other crowed with a shit-eating grin. "Why do you just look like you've met the love of your life? That or the best shag this world has to offer?"
"I might have." He confessed, finally blinking back to the present instead of the dream-like memory of being able to socialize through his academic interests and with someone so handsome too. "Willy, I think I just met my soulmate."
The other reared back a little in surprise, which Vegetta had to give him credit for because it wasn't usually Vegetta, the bookish introvert, that would come home with declarations of enamouredness.
"And what's her name, you sly dog?" Willy tugged him so they were sitting at the edge of the bed though it might has well have been vibrating from how excitedly curious Willy was to hear his exploits. It was times like these that reminded Vegetta of why they were best friends. That despite their contrasting personality, they were always ready to be on the other's side, rooting for each other.
"His name is Foolish." Vegetta couldn't help the fond smile that came over his face. But then suddenly, a realization hit him like cold water, and had him turning to Willy in an almost panic. "Oh my god, I told him we were in the same class."
"And are you?" Willy asked, tilting his head.
"No!" Vegetta put a hand to his forehead. Willy nodded and then put his hands on the other's shoulders.
"But he doesn't know that." Willy said calmly. "Most professors don't care, man. You could probably just go and sit in, and pretend you've been there all along. I've never seen you like this so we're going to make sure you get your man. I hope it's not a hard class."
"I think it was like something Existential Dignity." Willy winced at this.
"Oh, I'm pretty sure that Prof Cucurucho is teaching that. So it's definitely gonna be weird and probably hard, but you've taken a course with them right?"
"Yes, they've always liked me, and he's always graded me highly." Vegetta nodded.
"Well that's because you're a genius but putting that aside, mission soulmate is a total go." Willy rubbed his hands excitedly. "Oh man, I'm going to have start of thinking of pranks for this mystery person." This led the other to wandering back to his side of the room where he was already imagining up funs ways to initiate Foolish into the group, which felt a little presumptuous to Vegetta given it was only the FIRST day but still it made him feel warm inside.
All he could think about was that golden smile and the comforting feeling of finally being seen. And that he hoped that tomorrow tomorrow would come faster than time allowed.