The Bonded
Part Six



From an aerial view, the house that Goku and Vegeta shared was large and composed of two distinct parts. The first was a white, standard Capsule Corporation house, a large model with a spacious but plain front yard. The second half stretched from the back of the building to the far left side. It was a complex training area with a round white gravity room and both an indoor and outdoor arena. Goten observed it as he flew to the house, noting the recent overuse of the outdoor arena, where the scorched grass had been torn up and the paving was cracked. /Someone's been frustrated./ Goten alighted on the doorstep and rang the bell, leaning against the wall while he waited for an answer. It took so long that he nearly gave up and left, but it did eventually come. Goten bowed slightly. "Hello, Vegeta."

Vegeta barely nodded in response and looked him over discretely. "How is my son?" He asked emotionlessly, but Goten knew he did love his son deep below the callous exterior.

"We're both fine. Is Goku home?"

He completely missed the subtle fluctuation in Vegeta's features. "I don't know. I'm leaving, but if you wish to, check the gravity room."

"Thank you." Goten bowed again and went around the house to the left side, in the direction of the smallish extension. As he pulled open the door to the white building he noticed Vegeta take off into the sky behind him. /I owe that man a great deal,/ he thought off-handedly as he entered and shut the door behind himself. /For giving life to Trunks and raising him. And he taught Trunks about the mating./ He smiled softly. /Definitely the best. Yeah./

The gravity room was in use, random sounds of impact and movement originating from the inner chamber. Goten knocked on the door, but when there was no response he let himself in, adjusting quickly to the high gravity. Goku's back was to him and the tall, dark saiya-jin continued his motions, his body blurring at the high speed. His son waited until he paused, breathing hard, and then called out. "Hey, Dad."

Goku turned quickly. "Oh - hello, Goten. I didn't hear you come in." He straightened, pushing his bangs away from his damp brow.

"Vegeta let me in. Didn't you sense my ki?"

Goku was not as adept as Vegeta in concealing his emotions and Goten saw him react slightly to the name. "No… I must have been distracted." Pointedly, he changed the subject and asked, "Want to wait in the house? I'll only be a moment."

"Actually, no," came the reply, followed by a momentary pause. "Can we spar, Dad?"

Goku shrugged and wiped his hands on his gi. "Sure." He waited while Goten stripped down to his pants and boots, leaving the more restrictive clothing against the wall, and then decreased the gravity to 150g.

The father and son squared off, each accepting the same fighting stance. Goten attacked first, testing out his father and the severity of the fight. Each kick and punch was blocked without problem, lazily. Turning it up a notch, Goten feigned for the neck, and aimed a small ki attack at the gut when Goku took it. There was a sudden flash of light from Goku, incinerating the ki ball and throwing Goten to the floor. Wincing, the younger man pushed himself into a sitting position; had it been a real battle, it would have been a fatal mistake. Goku came at him hard, knocking him onto his back. One hand went to the neck and the other trapped an arm against the heaving chest, while he pinned the second arm at the wrist, holding it to the ground with his knee. As much as Goten struggled and bucked, the iron-strong hold would not give. He was forced to power up, his energy pushing his father back. As soon as he could, Goten jumped to his feet, moving backwards a few steps and setting himself up for a basic Kamehameha. Goku steeled himself and accepted the attack. The ki faltered slightly under the gravity but hit the man with force and he slid back into the wall. Goten's hands dropped to his side slowly and he leaned over, breathing raggedly and rubbing his sore wrist. When the light died down and the sparse dust cleared, Goku stood there, smirking grimly. He moved with impossible speed, appearing before Goten, grunts ringing out as they clashed.



Goten allowed his father to work out his frustrations, giving as much as he took until they were both gasping for breath and circling each other like wolves. The room was lighted with the yellow energy that glowed around them, reflected in their hair. Every opportunity for attack was exploited, leaving their bodies bruised and bleeding. With a burst of movement, Goku caught his son's head; the grip was firm enough that if Goten tried to struggle, he would break his neck. The victor was finally declared as the immobilized body went limp. Goku released his grip and they moved apart, bowing automatically. Then both dropped to the floor, each holding the most painful parts of their body and attempting to get their breath back.

Goku tossed a water bottle to his son from a pile in the corner and took a long drink from one himself. "Thanks."

Goten looked at him, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and dropping the empty container to the floor. "What?"

"I needed that."

"No prob," said Goten, nodding.

"But why did you come, really?" Goku asked, glancing sideways at his son while he searched for a towel.

Goten sighed and leaned back, resting on his hands with legs outstretched. "I wanted to talk. Actually," he corrected himself, "I thought you might want to talk."

"Talk? About what?"

/I should just spell it out for him./ Goten swallowed, stalling, and then replied. "Correct me if I'm wrong, Dad, but I have a suspicion that there is something between you and Vegeta." When there was no response and his father refused to meet his eyes, Goten expanded and tried to force out a reaction. "Something more than friendship." Still nothing. "Dad, answer me!" He sat forward, one hand outstretched towards Goku. Suddenly, the second man turned his face to him.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." His voice was the quiet sound of cold steel.

Goten's hand faltered and fell. He did not know if he should continue or accept the answer. Although Goku was firm, the denial only strengthened the younger saiya-jin's gut emotion. Taking a breath to calm himself he continued to push unforgivingly onwards. "Please be honest. If -"

"There is /nothing/ between us!" Goku jumped to his feet, glaring down at his son. "I would never do anything that revolting."

Goten blinked, hurt. "Dad…"

The harsh words continued and grew into a raging monologue, overpowering Goten completely. "Not all saiya-jin have … have sex with other males, Goten. It's unnatural, sickening. Boys are created to like /girls/, not other boys. There is nothing between Vegeta and myself - I can't believe you would even suggest it! Why would he have any interest in me? And I would never! We are friends and housemates, nothing … nothing more."

Looking through his own pain, Goten knew he had found his answer - he had been off the mark about his father and Vegeta, but Goku was bothered, and more so than he had expressed previously. His violently uncharacteristic words would only have come if something was eating at him painfully. Abruptly, instead of jumping into another sentence Goku turned to the wall, body trembling and head shaking slightly, side to side. Goten scrambled to his feet and rushed forward, placing a hand on his father's shoulder.

"Dad? Dad, are you ok?"

Goku's down turned face was contorted in emotion, something his son had never witnessed before. As Goten watched, he recognized that it was his father's own words of denial that had finally broken him. The older saiya-jin whispered a single word, "Why?"

/Wrong again… But who cares! Now we can get somewhere!/ Goten helped his father to sit and remained close, providing companionship. "What is it?"

"It's wrong - I /know/ it's wrong - but I can't help but think about Vegeta."

"Dad … does he know?"

"I haven't talked to him… He's never around, and I don't know what to say. But once, we … we had sex a long time ago. Years ago, before you were born." Goku hid his head in his hands, voice rocky and scattered. Goten touched his arm lightly for a moment.

"Dad - Kami-sama, I can't believe I'm in this position," he murmured, and then resumed his calm and authoritative voice. "You need to accept the fact that it is not unnatural. If it was, then you wouldn't feel this way at all. Earthlings may think it's wrong, but regardless of what they think, saiya-jin are created to have these types of relationships."

"The bond…"

"Exactly." Following his gut instinct, he added something that he did not know for sure but Trunks strongly suspected, "And Dad … he feels the same way."

Goku looked up at him for the first time since he had opened his heart. He whispered, so quiet it was almost silent, "Really?"

"Yes. You can't let human inhibitions stop you. If I had, I never would have mated Trunks."

"What … what is it like?" Goku asked, watching his son's face closely.

/It won't do any harm to have an answer. He needs to know more. And maybe if he sees how beautiful it is…/ "It's amazing … more than amazing. We were really good friends before, but after Trunks led the mating… He's with me inside now. In my head. Sometimes the bond is really strong, and we can talk into each other's minds - telepathically. He's always there. I know how he feels and when he's in pain. And I know everything about him, his entire life."

"How long … when…" Goku's cheeks where red with his unease and he was incapable of forming complete questions.

"We were friends first … then lovers," he sped through the second part, "then there was the night in the woods. It was different - I don't know how to say … more ritualistic, but raw. I know that Mom was an earthling so I'm not a pure saiya-jin, but that part grew and consumed me.

"At the end, after the hunt," he saw the look of incomprehension of Goku's face and explained the term, "it's the second part of the mating. He tracked me down and we fought. It proves the hunter's capabilities and power. Anyway, after the hunt we had … um … we had sex," quickly again, in embarrassment, "and then the bond formed. I can't explain it; it was all so overpowering that I can't remember just what happened or how. But I'll never forget. Kami - it was so powerful."

Goten did not know what more to say and so he was silent, resting his chin in his hand. They sat still, side by side. Minutes passed and then Goten look up at the domed ceiling, sighing his mate's name. Recollection flashed across his face and he leapt up as if stung. "I completely forgot! Trunks'll be home soon - I really need to go." Turning to his father he calmed and spoke seriously. "We still need to talk. Will you call, when you have time?"

Climbing to his feet, Goku nodded, distrustful of his voice. He reached down to gather his training equipment, and then followed Goten out of the gravity room, silently thoughtful. They went their separate ways directly outside, Goten rocketing into the sky and his father crossing the small expanse of grass and entering the empty house.

Goku ate ravenously to pacify his stomach, not tasting any of the food he devoured. His mind had just broken its silence and was full, entertaining ideas and remembering the last few hours.

Obviously, he had not been hiding his emotions very well - Goten figured his out and forced the truth into the open. /Just as long as Vegeta doesn't know./ Until Goku was sure of himself, the other man could not find out. /I should call Goten the day after tomorrow. If I can wait that long./ He paused, chewing. /I can't seem overly anxious, and I do need time to think first. But … well … he may actually be able to help me./ The front door slammed and Goku whipped his head around, startled. Vegeta was home. Turning back to his food, Goku tried to control his breathing and heartbeat, determined not to look any different than he normally did.

Moments later, Vegeta passed through the room. He stopped when he saw Goku. "Did your son find you?" He asked without greeting.

Goku turned, smiling involuntarily. "Yeah. Where did you go?"

"Flying." The answer was short, cutting off all conversation, and Vegeta turned away, walking out of the left-hand archway. Goku watched his retreating back and slowly, hungrily licked his lips. On recognizing his action he looked abruptly back to his food, although he did not actually see it. One hand to his hairline he laughed at himself beneath his breath. /Ok, so I'll call Goten tomorrow./

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