In Your Dreams

Title: In Your Dreams
Author: CrimsonTide
Pairings: Vegeta x Goku

Chapter 33


After finding himself flustered with Vegeta’s behavior again, Goku had separated himself from the older man to instead spend some time alone. The prince tended to enjoy telling other people about their private activities with seemingly no regard to Goku’s feelings on the subject, and it was beginning to grate on the younger Saiyajin’s nerves. He didn’t enjoy being treated like some prize, and though he was flattered Vegeta was obviously proud of his mate, he would prefer some things be left a little more private.

Goku was still brooding when he reached his bedroom, and just was he opened the door, the phone beside the bed began to ring. The shrill sound made him jump; he wasn’t used to hearing it ring, after all. The number to this room was separate from Capsule Corps’ usual line, and he himself hadn’t given the number out to anyone. In fact, he didn’t even know the number.

Shrugging off his surprise, the Saiyajin crossed the room and picked up the receiver. “Moshi moshi?”

“Dad?”

“Gohan?”

“Oh, good! I was hoping I’d catch you! Look, Goten and I were talking and we would like to spend a little time alone with you today. Are you busy?”

A smile spread over Goku’s lips at his son’s words. It hadn’t gone unnoticed that he’d spent very little time with his boys since his return, and the lack of communication had been slowly nagging at him. He’d even begun to doubt they’d even wanted to see him, so he hadn’t pushed the issue. His fears seemed unjustified now.

“No, I’m not busy. I’d love to see you!”

“Great! How about we all meet at our old fishing spot? Around noon?”

Goku glanced at the clock sitting on the table. That was an hour from now. “Ok, I’ll see you then.”

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Goku had time for a quick shower and not much else before he set off toward his destination. He’d dressed in the old orange and blue gi Bulma had found for him, and the light material felt good against his skin as the wind ruffled the fabric while he quickly flew through the sky. He’d almost forgotten why he loved this outfit so much. Sure, it may not have been the prettiest thing, but it was practical and comfortable.

Goku inhaled deeply as he slowly increased his speed. It was a warm day, but his keen senses picked up a hint of moisture in the air. He was sure a storm would be moving in within the next couple of hours, despite the deceptively sunny conditions that were currently presenting themselves at the moment. Still, the nice weather should hold out long enough for a nice visit.

Just then Goku picked up the distinctive ki signatures of both Gohan and Goten. They were just up ahead, obviously having beaten him to the lake even though he was a little early. The Saiyajin’s lip quirked up into a grin when he cleared the last patch of trees that concealed his favorite fishing spot, and sure enough he spotted his sons lounging by the water’s edge.

Goku quickly descended to the ground and unraveled his tail from his waist as his boots touched the grass. For some reason a wave of unease washed over him the moment the two demi-Saiyajins looked in his direction, but he quickly shrugged the feeling off when bright smiles lit up both their faces.

Gohan gestured to the large fish currently roasting over a fire. “Hope you’re hungry!”

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Despite Goku’s initial nervousness, the visit was going great. After enjoying a good meal and participating in a brief spar, they’d all finally settled down and were now simply enjoying each other’s company. Both Gohan and Goten had ganged up on him earlier, and despite taking it easy, Goku had found himself completely outmatched. Though he hadn’t thought his sons had kept up their fighting skills, it turned out he’d been wrong. Gohan wasn’t as sharp as he’d been in the days of Buu, but he still moved with a fluidity that can only be achieved and maintained with regular practice. Goten’s skills had never been as polished or as disciplined, but the youngest demi-Saiyajin could still hold his own and he was always full of surprises.

Now Goku and Gohan were resting on the grass while Goten chose to chase fish in the lake. Normally Goku would have been in there with him, but the spar had taken more out of him than he cared to admit. He had no energy left to mess around.

For awhile they did nothing but bask in the sunlight and listen to the splashes coming from the water, but Gohan soon broke the easy silence.

“So how are you and Vegeta doing?”

Goku blinked and looked over at his eldest son. He was surprised to see that the demi-Saiyajin looked a little annoyed, but then he remembered he’d never gotten around to telling Gohan and the new relationship he’d formed with the prince. He must have heard it from someone else.

He hadn’t even opened his mouth to reply when the other continued.

“Goten told me about you two. Apparently I’m the last to know.”

“Yamcha doesn’t now....” Goku blurted. He winced at his own reply a moment later when his son’s frown deepened.

“Oh, well, that’s comforting to know.”

“Gohan... I’m sorry. Everything has just been kind of jumbled lately, you know?”

The demi-Saiyajin’s expression seemed to soften a bit. “Yeah, I know.”

An awkward silence loomed between them for a moment before Goku spoke again.

“If it makes you feel any better, the only person I actually told myself was ChiChi. The rest... well, they kinda figured it out on their own or found out from Vegeta.”

Gohan, who had been lying on his back, suddenly sat up and turned to look at his father with hard eyes. He seemed to be contemplating something, and Goku found himself once again feeling nervous under the intense gaze.

“I’m.... I’m not sure I approve.”

The smaller Saiyajin’s jaw dropped before he could stop it. “What?”

Gohan shook his head before his gaze returned back to the lake. “I don’t know. I just can’t seem to get comfortable with the idea of you and Vegeta... as a couple. It’s weird.”

Despite his best efforts, Goku couldn’t help but feel hurt by his son’s lack of support. He’d been prepared for this reaction from some of his friends, but certainly not from Gohan. He suddenly felt as if a wall had been erected between the two of them, and he struggled for the right words to knock down that barrier before it became too strong.

“Gohan, I understand... Heck, I still think it’s weird!” Goku threw his hand behind his head and laughed in an attempt to break the ice. Unfortunately, Gohan remained stone faced and refused to even look at him. The full blooded Saiyajin sighed and his shoulders slumped.

“Is... is it that it’s Vegeta.... or that it’s a man?”

For a long time there was no response.

“......Both.”

Again Goku felt as though he wanted to just disappear, but as quickly as that feeling hit him, it was replaced by anger and annoyance.

“Well, what should it matter anyway? I love him, Gohan, and he makes me happy. It shouldn’t matter whether it’s a man or woman that makes me feel that way.”

Right?

Finally the demi-Saiyajin turned to face him again, though his expression had not changed at all. “It does matter. It’s not right!”

Goku flinched when Gohan’s voice suddenly rose. Even Goten stopped splashing around in the lake and turned his attention back to the shore.

“It isn’t natural!”

“For humans...”

“For ANYONE! Did Vegeta tell you it was a ‘Saiyajin thing’? Did you ever stop to really think this through, Dad?”

Goku’s brow furrowed when the other man’s hands suddenly came down on his shoulders. He found his son’s expression softening, as well as his voice lowering. He couldn’t help but feel that he was suddenly the child between them.

“What if this is just another way for Vegeta to best you? I know you were hurt when you found out Mom had remarried, and I’m sure you were emotionally vulnerable at the time too. Don’t you think Vegeta knew that and used it to his advantage? You know how competitive he is... This... relationship could just be another way for him to prove he’s better than you. He enjoys controlling people...”

“No.” Goku growled and swatted the demi-Saiyajin’s hands away before he climbed to his feet. “He isn’t trying to control me, Gohan! He really cares....”

Say you’re mine! SAY IT!

He hesitated as a memory from the previous night came flooding back to him. Vegeta had been so forceful... He’d had him pinned down... on his hands and knees like....like a bitch.

Goku shook his head as his mind began to fill with doubts. Vegeta loved him! He’d said so; said he’d do anything for him. There’s no way he could just... just want to dominate him.

By now Goten, who was still dripping, had approached them and was currently looking between his two family members with a worried expression. “Is everything ok?”

Gohan could tell his words had had some effect on his father, and after a moment he nodded to his brother. “Everything is fine. We should go though, Goten. It looks like a storm is moving in.”

The younger man looked up at the sky, and sure enough a line of black clouds was rapidly approaching from the east. The temperature had dropped and the wind was picking up as well. Thunder rumbled in the distance with the occasional flash of lightning.

“Yeah, that looks pretty nasty! You coming, Dad?”

Goku blinked himself out of his thoughts when Goten placed a hand on his shoulder, and he smiled at his youngest. “You two go ahead. I’ll head back in a bit.”

Goten nodded as he hurried around the shore to pick up his discarded clothing, which he’d left scattered across the ground earlier. He quickly pulled his shirt back on and tucked his shoes beneath his arm before throwing his free arm around his father’s neck in a quick hug.

“It was awesome seeing you. We have to do it again soon, ok?”

Goku smiled and nodded. “Sure thing.” He and Gohan shared a brief moment of eye contact before his eldest son nodded and took to the air. Goku kept his smile up until both boys were only specks in the distance before dropping the fake expression. The Saiyajin folded his arms and sighed as he looked back out over the lake. The occasional raindrop disturbed the otherwise smooth surface, and within seconds the sky had opened up, drenching the motionless man in seconds.

Goku hardly noticed, however. Gohan had sent his emotions into a frenzy. His relationship with Vegeta hadn’t been an easy thing for him to fall into. He had his doubts too about whether it was ‘right’ or not, but his instincts told him that it was more than alright. Still, Goku found himself hesitating when it came to his future with the prince. Was their relationship something that could last? What if he decided he didn’t want to have a child? Would Vegeta tire of him then? The older Saiyajin hadn’t pushed him when it came to the subject, but would that change when he was physically able to conceive?

He had so many doubts and questions floating around in his head. He always had, but lately he’d been able to silence them enough that he could sleep peacefully at night. He was trying to live in the moment... but now Gohan had him thinking about the future.

A sudden shiver wracked Goku’s body and a loud clap of thunder brought the Saiyajin back to the present. He began to feel the cold seeping into his bones, and he sniffed as he pushed his wet hair out of his eyes.

A black tail swayed, weighed down by the soaked fur, and Goku turned and headed for the heavy tree line that edged the lake. It wasn’t safe to fly with so much lightening, so now he had little choice but to find shelter in the forest and wait out the storm.

The Saiyajin quickly padded across the grass and beneath the dense canopy of leaves. Black eyes scanned the lush surroundings as he walked, and it wasn’t long before he found a suitable place. A fallen tree had created the perfect makeshift cave out of two ivy covered boulders, and Goku quickly crawled into the small space, sighing once he was finally out of the rain. Another shiver wracked his frame as a heavy breeze chilled his wet skin, and he drew his legs to his chest and wrapped his arms around them in an attempt to conserve body heat.

Goku watched the rain with drooping eyes. Why couldn’t anything be easy? Everyone made everything so complicated. Life had been so simple when he lived alone as a child. His troubles didn’t begin until Bulma had come along. After that...

The Saiyajin sighed and let his eyes fall shut, allowing himself to be comforted by the sounds of the forest. The steady tempo of the falling rain combined with the occasional call from a bird soon calmed his racing thoughts until only one remained.

Maybe I’m better off alone...

TBC

A/N - Hey, there was bound to be ONE person to object, right? Anywho, hang in there with me, peeps. I have plans for upcoming chapters, but I need some filler in order to get there... which is what's going on here.