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~He doesn't know he isn't always an idiot.~

The thought plagued Vegeta's mind, repeating like an eternal echo until he couldn't stand it. Now that he'd found the fool again, he couldn't keep it in any longer.

"You don't know you aren't always an idiot."

Immediately wanting to smack himself on the forehead for that little non sequitor, he winced a bit and waited to see how Kakarot would react. If nothing else, the damn idea had finally quit ricocheting around in his head. The internal silence was almost worth his acute embarrassment.

"You came all the way here to tell me I'm not always an idiot?"

And there was the tilted head, the somewhat blank look of confusion, the widened eyes that put lie to the statement. If he hadn't been so relieved that the big dolt didn't get it, he'd have been pissed at the stupidity of the only other Saiyan in the universe.

"No, Kakarot. I came here for a spar. However, I assumed you would want to small talk before just jumping in."

He almost smiled at how easily the cover came to him, but he didn't want Kakarot to get any ideas. The fool had tried to befriend him for years, but that wasn't what he had in mind, and he didn't want the big dope to think he had a chance.

Luckily, the younger Saiyan brightened at the mention of a spar. "Aw, you know you don't have to sweet-talk me into a spar, Vegeta. I'm always good for a fight."

A scowl threatened at the mention of sweet-talk, but the promise of a fight saved his mood. Nothing was better for his frame of mind than hitting Kakarot for a few hours.

The day was shaping up.
* * *
"So, you really think I'm not always an idiot?"

He should have known the fool wouldn't forget anything even close to a compliment. Rubbing at his various injuries, Vegeta sat down on the vast, white nothingness of the floor and sprawled a bit to cool off. The spar had been excellent, and neither Saiyan had escaped without bloodshed. Damn near perfect.

"You are right now."

Kakarot frowned a bit, and he couldn't help but feel a little bad for baiting him. The big dope should be grinning like a child after that good a spar, not looking like someone had spilled his dinner.

"Look, Kakarot. You don't need me to pander to your ego. You have been known to have sudden flashes of brilliance, and we both know it. I only said it to...to...."

"Cheer me up?"

He sighed. "Whatever."

A silence fell, and he shifted, stretching his aching muscles and reveling in the expenditure of strength. He always felt his best after sparring all out like this -- tired but relaxed, proud of himself and almost pleased with his rival. In the hour or so after a fight, he could almost admit that his rival was almost his friend.

"How did you find me?"

"I threatened Dende."

"Threatened...how?"

The battle between doubt and amusement on the fool's face brought a smirk to his own. "I told him I'd blow up the Lookout if he didn't tell me which room you were in."

Amusement won for a moment, and Kakarot snickered. "You really shouldn't shine on him like that, Vegeta. He's just a kid, as Nameks go. One of these days, he'll take you seriously."

The smirk deepened as he caught his rival's eye. "Who says I was shining?"

Doubt came roaring back, stunting the growing smile and darkening eyes that had begun to twinkle. Again, he felt bad for baiting the fool. It wasn't really fair to flash wit to someone who only had moments of it.

"I was joking, idiot. No need to pull out the serious look."

The pang of disappointment when the doubt didn't fully leave his rival's eyes surprised him. Since when did he care so much what Kakarot thought of his stunts? And since when did he actually feel bad for confusing and worrying the big idiot?

"Why did you come here, Kakarot?"

~And why have you stayed so long?~

But he wouldn't ask that. He wasn't sure he wanted to know.
"I know you're just changing the subject because you're too tired to leave and don't want to admit that you aren't that much of a jerk anymore, but I don't really want to talk about it."

"Talk about what?"

Why did those dark eyes narrow? Why could he almost feel the fool withdrawing -- no, recoiling? Had he missed something?

"Nothing. I don't want to talk about anything." The big dope stood and turned away, back stiff and tense. "I need to get back to my training. Come back sometime, if you want. This room isn't as restricted as the Hyperbolic Time Chamber." He paused, tilting his face down a bit. "I'd like another visit. Another spar, you know."

"Kakarot--"

"See ya, Vegeta."

And the fool simply walked away.
* * *
"What is the purpose of that room?"

The little guardian shrugged. "I don't know what it was originally used for, but Goku uses it to train without worrying about blowing up the Earth. And...to hide."

"Hide? From what?"

"To hide his energy." The green midget fidgeted, sweating. "He doesn't want any potential enemies to sense him and come spoiling for a fight. He doesn't want to endanger the planet, but he doesn't want to limit his training, either. The room is its own dimension, so he doesn't have to worry about anyone finding him or about damaging his home."

"You didn't answer me. Hide from what?"

"Vegeta...." Actively squirming now, the sprout paled, then flushed. "His secrets aren't mine to tell. If he wanted you to know, he'd have told you himself."

"Secrets?" he scoffed, crossing his arms. "Kakarot doesn't have secrets."

Uncomfortably knowing eyes pierced his own, and he fought to keep his disdain steady. He never quite knew how to deal with the midget when said midget pulled out the wisdom.

"Everyone has secrets, Vegeta. Even Goku." The guardian -- he couldn't help but think of this veritable child as such when pinned by that wise, strangely old gaze -- leaned close and lowered his voice.

"And they are his own to keep. Or not."

He paused longer than he'd like to admit, caught by the force and weight of that stare. Finally, he spoke, his tone much less hostile.

"How long has he been in there by himself?"

The wisdom passed, leaving the guardian a little sprout again. "To us? Two years, more or less. To him?" He shook his head, dropping his gaze to the floor. "Each day out here is a week in there."

Blinking, he calculated in his head and cursed. "He's sequestered himself in there for...fourteen years?"

A nod.

"Why would he do that? Why deny himself his friends, the comfort of this planet he so adores?"

"Vegeta, those are his answers to give. Not mine."

"You know." It wasn't a question.

"I do."

"And you condone his actions?"

The sprout shrugged. "It isn't my job to condone. Goku is a law unto himself. He asked if he could train in one of the rooms indefinitely. Who am I to refuse him that?"

"You are the guardian of Earth, fool! That includes its protector!"

Wisdom again filled the guardian's eyes, along with a hint of anger.

"And Goku has earned any price that he chooses. He doesn't answer to me...or to you."

His jaw clenched, as did his fists, but he didn't lash out.
"You know what? You're right. He doesn't answer to anyone." Turning on his heel, he marched down the hall and into the brilliant sunlight outside. "But he will."
* * *
The idiot blinked, then blinked again.

"I don't know if this is such a good idea, Vegeta. If you want heavy training, there are plenty of other rooms here. The time is a little different in each one, but...."

Frowning, he summoned up his most immoveable poise and his most severe glare. "Are you suggesting that you don't want me here, Kakarot?"

"Well, no, but--"

"Good." He dropped his dufflebag and crossed his arms. "We will train until we drop."

He didn't like the caution in the fool's eyes, but it was better than the dumb-struck confusion of before.

"And then?"

"And then we'll rest and do it again."

Silence as the big idiot churned on the situation.

"And then?"

"I won't leave until you do, Kakarot. I cannot allow you to pull ahead of me in strength. If you train, I train." He leaned forward, smirking up into his rival's cautious face. "Get used to it."

An answering smirk was his only warning. He'd slammed into the blank, white floor before he even realized he was airborne. He wasn't stunned, though, and he gained his feet before Kakarot reached him.
They faced off, nearly identical smirks on their lips.

"That was perilously close to a cheap shot."

"Not against you, Vegeta."

He nodded his accession. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"Your prerogative."

"See? You're not always an idiot."

Kakarot's smirk softened to a grin, his guard slipping in his surprise and pleasure at the repeated compliment. Ever quick to take advantage, Vegeta sprung from his stance, leading with his right and landing a cross that knocked his rival off his feet.

"Did I speak too soon?"

The fool rolled to his feet and stanced, licking at his split lip. "You can be a real bastard. You know that?"

A deeper smirk was his only response, and the fight was on.