The
Bonded
Part Fifteen
Goku completed a four-hour training session with his most advanced student and
set about quickly cleaning up the area. He didn't bother with the dirty and
cracked arena, someone came weekly to fix it up, but replaced the weights on
their racks and threw the water bottles into the recycling bin. With a cursory
glance to be sure that the outdoor training ground was clean enough he walked
back to the house. Entering by a side door he shed his boots and both shirts,
then suddenly froze. Shoving the clothing into a hamper he sniffed the air.
Seared tuna. Raising his head he sniffed again. Steamed rice and miso soup. The
shower and clean outfit flying quickly from his mind he made his way across the
house. Curiously he stuck his head in the kitchen, searching for the source of
the rich and wonderful smells that made his stomach rumble.
Vegeta was facing the kitchen counter, stacking plates and utensils for two
place settings. When Goku cleared his throat he looked over his shoulder. "You're
done." He turned around completely and the second man's eyes widened.
Vegeta was wearing a loose long sleeved shirt and pants, both black, and his
usual gloves and boots were missing. Over everything was the article that had
caused Goku's shock - a cooking apron, white with light pink frills.
"Um … you made dinner," was all Goku could think to say.
"Good observation," was the offhand reply and Vegeta motioned to the
piles he had just created as he turned back to the counter. "Take those
into the dining room." Goku silently moved to obey, watching his lover
spoon rice into a serving dish. In the adjoining room he set two places,
glancing constantly at the partially ajar door to the kitchen. /What the hell is
Vegeta up to?/ he wondered, absently placing the chopsticks on the table top.
Moments later Vegeta came in, pushing the door open with his hip. He held a pot
and the rice dish and two containers were behind him, suspended by his ki. With
care the petit male - still wearing the apron and looking very much like a
housewife - placed his burdens beside the table settings. "Sit down,"
he directed Goku, "I'll be back in a moment." He left again,
presumably to get the rest of the meal.
Goku sat with a thump and unconsciously rubbed the back of his neck. /Kami-sama
… what has gotten in to him? And since when has he known how to cook Japanese
food?/ His hand dropped and he scratched his side. Vegeta's behavior was beyond
bizarre. And that outfit… Desperately, Goku wanted to know what was going on
and he waited with confusion, impatiently. He had an unexplainable suspicion
that it had some connection to Bulma and the headaches that he had been having
recently.
Presently, Vegeta reentered. He placed down five more dishes, poured warm sake
into the two cups, and then reached behind himself to untie the apron strings.
/I wish he wouldn't…/ Goku pouted mentally and Vegeta paused, a subtly amused
look flashing across his eyes. "Do you want to see it before I take it
off?" he asked.
Goku nodded and stood, taking a step forward. Vegeta's hands fell to his sides
and his tail waived slowly as the taller male paced around him, carefully
observing the garment. After completing a full circuit Goku stood before Vegeta
and reached out a hand to fondle the pink edging. "Hmmm…" Goku
leaned forward to study the fabric and then glanced up to meet Vegeta's eyes.
"I think I like it." Without further comment he sat back down. Vegeta
untied the bow in the back and unhurriedly pulled the apron over his head. When
it was off he hung it on the back of his chair, across the table from Goku, and
sat down.
Before Goku could do so much as reach for the rice Vegeta was already serving
him. The Prince spooned rice onto his plate and then asked demurely, "What
else would you like?"
"Uh … some pork, I guess, and soup," replied the very shocked Goku.
"Hey, 'Geta … um, what's going on, exactly?"
"What do you mean?" Vegeta asked as he ladled the miso soup into
Goku's bowl and then his own.
"The food, the way you're acting … the apron …" the man gestured
widely, as if that would explain what he was trying to say. There was a silence,
broken by a clink when Vegeta placed a ceramic spoon in front of him.
"Well, why?"
"I made you dinner, Kakarotto. I don't see any reason to question it."
Vegeta looked at his mate momentarily and picked up his chopsticks. "Eat."
With a shrug Goku grabbed his chopsticks as well and began shoveling rice in his
mouth. /Why complain? There's nothing better than Vegeta and food…/ At the
thought his mind cringed swiftly, a brief guilty feeling that he quickly
shrugged off. He tried to avoid the shame that had been haunting him for the
last few weeks - and moreover, the meal was too good to think about anything so
negative. Between bites, Goku commented on the meal. "Kami … where'd you
learn to cook, Vegeta? This stuff is really good."
"Thank you," replied the saiya-no-ouji humbly, and Goku nodded to him.
And then he stared. /Is Vegeta … is Vegeta blushing?/ As soon as he noticed it
the mysterious pink tinge faded from the smaller man's face and Goku began to
doubt if he had actually seen it. /It doesn't really matter … in any case,
this whole evening is turning out to be very strange. I wonder what he's up to./
The meal passed swiftly. The food, in Goku's knowledgeable opinion, was
excellent. Dinner contained one more pleasant surprise: Vegeta talked. On his
own incentive, he made small talk with his mate. Awkward, brief, and somewhat
disgruntled small talk, but Goku could not have cared less if he had tried. He
was puzzled but happy, and ate with a light heart.
When the final dish was cleaned out the taller saiya-jin let out a satisfied
grunt. He closed his eyes and leaned his chair back, one hand to his stomach.
"I'm stuffed," was followed by a contented sound and then he added to
Vegeta, "that was wonderful!"
"You said that already," was the answer, coming from directly beside
Goku who lazily cracked an eyelid. Vegeta stood just beside the unsteady chair.
At the closed distance, Goku could read a subtle reservation in Vegeta's
normally cold eyes.
"Hmmm…?" inquired Goku leisurely.
Vegeta crossed his arms, the movement lacking his usual innate hardness.
"Are you full now?" he asked, voice dryly aroused, and Goku nodded
suspiciously, his eyes narrowing as the innocence faded from them to be replaced
with cold reluctance. "Good. Allow me to suggest something to you,
Kakarotto. I have just given you what you wanted. I fail to understand your
attachment to Japanese food," his eyes rolled upwards vaguely and he
continued, "but I have entertained it. This meal is proof." He
gestured sharply to the table. "Now, give me what I desire. It's your
responsibility as my mate."
There was no response from Goku.
Stepping forward, Vegeta grabbed Goku's chin and forced his face to move forward,
nearly pulling him from the chair. Harshaly and thoroughly Vegeta kissed his
mate, then jerked away. "Don't play games with me, Kakarotto."
Eventually Goku responded. His expression metamorphised and he grinned, rising.
"What you desire, my Vegeta Ouji?" He reached out and caressed
Vegeta's tail and the shorter male purred deeply, eyes sliding closed. With an
unexpected squeeze, Goku made Vegeta snap out of his reverie. "Go to the
bedroom," he ordered, "I'll be along in a moment." Vegeta frowned,
lightly displeased, but acted without spoken complaint. He turned and exited the
room by the door that lead to the hallway. With another grin Goku quickly
gathered the dishes and carted them to the kitchen, dumping them unceremoniously
in the sink. There were no leftovers to deal with, as usual. However, he did
pause once, behind Vegeta's chair. The apron still hung on the straight back,
folded carelessly. Goku ran a flat palm over the fabric and down to the pink
ruffles. How sweet… he wound one of the apron strings around his index finger,
my little Ouji-sama in a frilly apron… The thought was amusing and he smiled.
However, as a throb in his groin reminded him, there were more pressing matters
at hand. Two fingers extended before his forehead and he quickly picked up on
Vegeta's ki and faded out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~