Vegeta was the first to break their silent contact after hearing the timid voice of Kakarott's bald friend worming its way into his thoughts.

"Goku?"

His black brow furrowed as he realized that the tall Saiyan had yet to be aware of the earthling that kept annoyingly repeating his name.

"Kakarott?" Raven eyes came to swiftly focus on his own with stunningly clarity. Interesting...he's only responding to his Saiyan name...

Vegeta smirked, jerking his chin in the direction of the four speechless fighters and holding his eyes carefully.

"They're talking to you, Kakarott."

"Goku?" The tall man shook his head and turned toward the sound of the short monk's voice.

"Huh?" The large Saiyan felt as though he had just woken from a beautiful dream. Somehow his mind refused to register his earth name, even when spoken directly to his face. After being with Vegeta, something about it felt decidedly wrong.

"Hey, Goku, Krillin told us what happened yesterday. Want to tell us what's going on?" Not really...But he forced himself to smile at Tien anyway, running a hand over the back of his neck and up through his thick hair. The quartet regarded him expectantly--what the hell was wrong with Krillin? Why is he looking at me lik--

Goku chanced a glance beside him and almost died from shock. Vegeta followed his eyes with a sadistic grin. The bastard knew all along...With a low growl, he retrieved his disobedient tail from his lover's thigh.

Turning back to face the others he suddenly felt like an exotic bug under a big fucking microscope. This was too much; the bottom of his stomach had just dropped out, leaving him too sick and nervous to speak.

Vegeta snarled as he became increasingly aware of his mate's discomfort. The man was determined to tell them about their new relationship, yet didn't have the vaguest sense in hell as to how to proceed. The Saiyan no Ouji was growing weary with waiting. Closing his mind stealthily to Kakarott-he could not have him interfering and prolonging this-Vegeta stepped deliberately forward to stand beside his lover.

"Not that it's any of your business, you nosey little fucks..." the tall Saiyan jerked, startled at his words and the Saiyan prince didn't bother to conceal his triumphant grin. The other four men: the bald one, the scarred one, the Triclops, and the creepy little clown were all staring at him in awe and fear.

Good, now that I have their attention...

Vegeta, what the hell are you doing??

No response.

Dammit! Goku stood in rapt fascination as his mate took a protective stance in front of him, his tail coiling dangerously. The Saiyan no Ouji's rich voice had a dark, warning quality that was not lost on the men to which it was directed.

"What happened yesterday..." Oh, you vicious bastard, you're enjoying this! The prince was drawing out every word as though the men he was speaking to were nothing more than children.

"...was that your dear friend, Goku..." The large Saiyan shuddered. The name sounded unnatural on the silky lips of his mate. Goku braced himself in surprise as Vegeta's tail snaked its way up to caress under his chin. Immediately, he disregarded the four gawking stares and focused on the hypnotic sensation of the prince's mischievous appendage.

The Saiyan no Ouji suppressed a pleasurable shiver as the tall man behind him began to purr. Damn you, Kakarott...

He smirked as each man registered the scene before him, watching the expressions that ranged from blatant surprise to open disgust.

"...has claimed me..." four startled sets of dark eyes snapped up at his words and he raised his chin proudly. The small Saiyan's agile tail was teasing languid circles on the other man's chest and throat and a quick check with his peripheral vision showed Kakarott to be suitably occupied.

"...for his mate." Vegeta didn't pause to relish the stupid expressions that were inevitably plastered to their ugly faces. With a pivot of practiced grace, the Saiyan prince spun to face his lover.

Kakarott was dazed; his sight trailed longingly after the prince's retreating tail. Licking his lips, Vegeta released his diabolical nature and drew the taller man to his awaiting mouth.

Goku was mesmerized by the bronze fur of Vegeta's swaying tail. He was fascinated by the play of light on the curling addition, the sun's setting rays dying it a sexy russet hue. Groaning and purring as the downy fur snaked over his body in playful, tantalizing caresses, the tall Saiyan was blissfully oblivious of the gaping response to his mate's shocking announcement.

His reverie was abruptly broken as strong hands gripped his shoulders and he moaned at the loss of his current visual obsession. He was pleased, however, at the sight that replaced it, drinking in the glittering obsidian eyes of his prince.

The large man gasped as he noted where the naughty little appendage had gone; the spine-tingling feeling of the smooth fur through the worn denim of his jeans as it slipped between his legs was Kami-damned amazing. Latching onto his thigh, the surprising strong addition propelled his entire body forward.

The Saiyan rested firm hands on the gentle curve of his lover's hips as his mouth was covered with those lips that tasted of musk and spice. It was easy to forget, in that decedent moment, that they had an audience--he was delightfully lost in the heated embrace of his mate. But Vegeta was keeping his passions controlled and in check; Goku could sense it. With a muted growl, the tall Saiyan deepened the kiss, hands wrapped possessively around the prince's back. He felt his mate stumble at his insistence, pushing up on his tiptoes as his mouth was conquered by the larger Saiyan. The hands on his upper arms traveled upward, to rest around his neck.

"Oh..."
"Well..."
"Um...hmmm..." Tien coughed into his fist, looking down at his wide-eyed sidekick. A quick glance around showed him the same blushing features of his friends, all avoiding each other's gaze. He didn't particularly like Vegeta, but Goku's judgment of others had always been well founded. This was just really...well, unexpected and down right strange.

Good Kami, were they ever going to stop?? Apparently Saiyan lung capacity was as remarkable as their strength. Krillin's eyes were glazed in disbelief. Goku was really getting into it. It looked at first as though Vegeta had forced the kiss, but then the other Saiyan had begun to respond, and well...

Krillin no longer doubted the validity of the Saiyan no Ouji's statement.

Yamcha was not impressed.

The red in his face was not from embarrassment, but severe anger. Vegeta had done it again, taken from him the one thing that he valued most.

He was still too indignant about the whole Bulma episode to mention it to the others. The man found it hard to believe that the woman saw anything in the arrogant little bastard, but there it was, almost a year after their last big blowup and she was heavily pregnant with a baby that unquestionably was not his. But Vegeta's.

He had almost come to accept this pride shattering fact. It may have been the slightest bit his own fault. He hadn't meant for things to get so serious with Marron. And he had definitely never meant for the other woman to ever find out about it.

But Goku...

Goku he had idolized for...Kami, forever! The man was his hero, without a doubt. And now Vegeta had taken him as well. What the hell did he think he was doing, anyway? He knew from experience that Bulma was more than enough to handle on her own. He could only imagine Goku...ok, he didn't want to imagine that.

Dammit, what did the little shit think he was anyway? A prince?

Vegeta closed his dark eyes with a soft moan as Kakarott's lips left his own. He was light headed from the oxygen-stealing kiss and he no longer cared about any of the others. He wished fleetingly, desperately that they could just leave and be done with it.

Kakarott's fingers on the back of his neck coaxed a lazy purr from his throat, eyes sliding open to meet those of his passionate lover.

"You're an evil little thing, aren't you, Vegeta?" The prince grinned, tracing the prominent muscles of the taller man's chest with gentle fingertips. He had supposed the others were gone, though this hope was short-lived as he heard the muttered oath spit from bitter lips.

"I always knew Vegeta was a cake-eater." The Saiyan no Ouji's brow wove together in confusion as he turned his head toward the irritating voice. What a ridiculous comment! What the hell did his dessert preference have to do with a Kami-damned thing?

A savage growl ripped him abruptly from his thought. A swift look upward told him that Kakarott was somehow less than pleased with the man's bewildering words.

Goku was seething with Yamcha's careless statement.

"Yamcha..." The name rumbled like summer thunder from his throat. Vegeta stirred inquisitively against his side and the Saiyan tightened his grip protectively around his smaller counterpart.

The scarred man stepped forward defensively--Goku had no idea why he was so upset, why this even effected him at all.

"Look at him, Goku!" Yamcha cried, pointing at his perplexed lover, "The man is nothing but a whore!"

Vegeta stiffened in shock and forgot to breathe, his tail tightening around Kakarott's thigh, the offensive words striking a sensitive place within him. Frieza's deceptively soft voice whispering that hateful little word over and over...

My little whore...

The tall man sensed his lover grow cold, saw his sharply angled features drain of all colour. Felt the quivering appendage against the heat of his leg. Heard the echo of the changeling's words chanting through their bond.

That BASTARD...Something deep and instinctual stirred angrily within him. He had to defend his prince's--his mate's pride.

"How dare you call my mate a whore!" Six figures jumped at the viciousness contained within that simple phrase and even Vegeta snapped out of his induced stupor to gaze in wonder at his lover. Goku's tail slashed and snapped at the air behind him, his furious words punctuated by a primal growl that resonated within his broad chest.

But Yamcha was not to be intimidated. It was painfully obvious that the man was blinded by both his stupidity as well as his undignified anger.

"Come on, Goku! Bulma's--"

"I know all about Bulma!"

The man obviously wasn't expecting that remark, but he effectively used it to further his own advantage.

"Then why do you think you're any different?" the former bandit took a step forward to emphasize his point, gesticulating widely. "Everyone here knows that the only thing Vegeta ever wanted was to beat you. And now he's done that, hasn't he? Couldn't handle not being physically stronger than you so he set out to beat you like the whore he is!"

Although dazed by the fleeting reminder of Frieza, Vegeta rapidly embraced his anger at the idiot's insulting words. No one called him a whore! The prince sought to turn in his lover's arms, to face, and consequently beat the shit out of the pitiful man that accused him so unjustly. Kakarott's thickly muscled arm detained him easily--the Saiyan no Ouji glared upward indignantly, consciously beginning to power up...

And stopped.

There was nothing human in Kakarott's expression.

Oh, kuso...

It seemed that everyone save the man it was directed toward saw the warning signs. Gohan still couldn't believe that Yamcha was so uncaring and inconsiderate. His father didn't come here to ask their permission, for Kami's sake! Besides, Vegeta seemed to be good for him--he couldn't help but watch them enviously as they kissed, and he knew that their relationship was as much his father's doing as the Saiyan prince.

Piccolo's long fingers tightened on his arm, drawing him backward as the man he had called a friend let loose another volley of inappropriate insults toward his father's mate. He didn't have to question the Namek's sudden concern--he could see as well as Krillin and Tien-who were both backing away from Yamcha-that Goku was justifiably about to lose it.

It was therefore only a marginal surprise when Goku's dark locks flashed into gold as he fixed cold, icy blue eyes on the ranting man. The brilliant charge blended royally against the scarlet that bled the sky with afternoon sunlight. Something feral and protective caused him to pull his mate closer against his hip, his spread fingers raised, palm pressed outward from his body.

"Yamcha..." He allotted for one more growled warning, which the other man dutifully ignored, before he released a powerful beam of raw white energy into the chest of the unfortunate fighter.

Silence, Yamcha's words cut off in mid-sentence by Goku's animalistic snarl. And then the sickening, gratifying sound of the man's body hitting the hard surface beneath their feet. Everyone was stunned, staring at the lifeless form with a mixture of pity and approval.

Vegeta was...

...Speechless...

The gentle giant he had captured as his mate had just killed a man. Kakarott had taken lives before--he was a Saiyan, after all. But that was always for 'the greater good' or some such bullshit. This...this was an outright execution.

...Awed...

Was this what people did for love? Was that the ambiguous feeling that had caused the Saiyan prince to stand solidly, uncharacteristically before his lover and defend him against the unnecessary questions and accusations of the other men? Love? Had Kakarott blasted the impertinent fighter to shield the Ouji from his blistering words? Was Vegeta really falling in love...?

Dammit, I think I am...

...Proud...

Uninhibited pride welled within the small Saiyan no Ouji. Kakarott was finally becoming the Saiyan warrior he was meant to be, relying on instinct to satisfy his needs. Vegeta found it increasingly strange that he was attracted to the coexisting aspects of his mate. Kami knew how much he craved the aggression that boiled just below the surface of the tall Saiyan's friendly exterior. But...somehow some rebellious part of him cherished the slightly dopey human side as well.

These thoughts raced rampant circles in his mind before his body finally reacted to the brutal display.

...And intensely aroused...

Kakarott's aggression was an addictive, instantaneous aphrodisiac. And this...oh, the Saiyan instinct in his mate was undeniably strong at this moment. Kami, his passive mate had just killed another man to protect him...and it was turning him on in the worst way. The prince was panting with the effort it took not to press his hips into the muscled thigh of his lover. His dark, lustful eyes followed the green material he clutched in his fists up to meet the black eyes of his mate. What he saw reflected caused him to shudder in anticipation. Kakarott's gaze, along with his reinforced grip, was both dominating and possessive.

And Vegeta suddenly wanted nothing more than to be conquered by him.

Goku watched with cool satisfaction as Yamcha's body hit the ground. No one spoke that way about his mate. No one.

Recovering swiftly from the surging rush of power, he focused on his lover as Vegeta purred and squirmed suggestively against the side of his body. The tall Saiyan could feel his prince's response to Yamcha's death both in his little hentai mind and in his delicious body.

Goku growled softly, jerking the man more securely against him; Vegeta groaned and snarled in response, his fingers clenching and tangling reflexively in the soft cotton shirt against his chest.

Time to leave.

Krillin couldn't believe what had just taken place. Yamcha was...Goku had...

"Hey Krillin!" The bald man jumped, his dazed expression settling on Goku. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes. The Saiyan again had his friendly Son family smile plastered to his face as he waved him over. Hesitant steps saw him to where Goku stood and he blushed fiercely at the sight of Vegeta held possessively against his body.

"Hey, Krillin. Do me a favour?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah...sure, Goku. What is it?" It was unnerving how the man alternated between his human and his Saiyan side, for though the smile was distinctly human, the glint in his eyes was decidedly Saiyan.

"Wish him back for me, will ya? With the dragonballs?" Krillin's brow drew down in surprise.

"Nani? Where are you going?"

The savage gleam in Goku's dark eyes deepened as he looked down at the silent figure of the Saiyan prince and Krillin's skin prickled as his tiny mind began to fully comprehend the implications. Some things were better left unsaid...

"Yeah...sure, Goku. Y-You go ahead."

"Thanks." Goku shifted his intense gaze to the stern Namek that stood behind his son.

He didn't even have to ask. Piccolo nodded once, his hand still resting on Gohan's shoulder. His son gave him an encouraging smile before turning toward his stoic mentor.

Kakarott...

Goku shuddered hard as Vegeta's seductive voice caressed his mind. This man was insatiable. The prince chuckled, idly fingering the brass button on his denim pants.

Huh, and your not?

The large Saiyan grinned predatorily down at his impish lover as he brought two fingers to his forehead. He was overcome with love and lust for his tantalizing mate--he had to touch him, taste him...kiss him...love him...

Everything else could wait until the morning.

Right now he had the fiercest craving to see the small Saiyan held within the crook of his arm dressed in considerably less than crimson silk and black leather.