Secret Menu
Rating: Mature/Explicit
Relationships: Vegeta/Goku, Vegeta/Kakarot
Summary:
Vegeta tries to find solitude at a far-away amazing hole-in-wall restaurant but of course his rival finds him and ruins his peace. But what is that delectable smell? Is it the marvelous food or Goku's new discovery?
Notes:
This is my first Dragon Ball fic ever and I'm really scared to post it lol. It was literally born out of my personal cravings for V/K and also I was horny XD This fic literally has all of my favorites tropes/kinks that I've read during my DB revival.
It's all over the place, so just sit back and enjoy the ride!
I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS
Link to full fic: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45900832
Chapter 1
Vegeta grumbled into the menu, stealing glances over the top of it to the last person he wanted to see. He even lowered his ki a few blocks out to basically nothing to get off the radar—and yet, there the idiot was.
He could leave. Just sprint out of there and come back another time. Gnashing his teeth together, he wanted to shout. He’d been looking forward to this meal all damn week. As soon as he sat down, his mouth watered at the delicious smells around him. How could he leave?
Now, he scowled at the larger Saiyan across the room.
Kakarot studied the menu with a hard expression before sighing and tossing it aside. Before he could look up, Vegeta averted his eyes, stooping lower in his seat.
But it didn’t matter, of course. The most annoying Saiyan Vegeta had ever known saw him—he knew because Kakarot flared his ki a little excitedly—and jumped from his seat, skipping over to him.
“Hi, ‘Geta!”
“Tch.” Will I ever get a moment of peace? Vegeta didn’t even look up, just asked, “How’d you find out about this place, Kakarot?”
Goku rubbed the back of neck nervously. “Uh, well, a little randomly, actually…”
“Oh, really? You just flew around for a few hours, stopped because you were hungry, and followed your nose to this establishment, hm?”
“... That’s pretty much how it all worked out, yeah.”
Vegeta didn’t hide his eye roll and didn’t respond. When the fool didn’t move, he snapped, “Well, are you just going to stand there or will you be joining me?” Red bloomed on Goku’s cheeks as he smiled and fidgeted, still not moving. “Sit,” he commanded, then leaned in toward the too-enthusiastic idiot as he sat down and growled, “If you tell Bulma, Whis, Gohan, Yamcha—or any of the other imbeciles—I will destroy you so thoroughly that not even the dragon balls can bring you back.” He tossed the unnecessary menu on the table for emphasis.
Goku just raised a brow and grinned. “Your secret is safe with me, ‘Geta.”
“And quit calling me that!”
As if Vegeta hadn’t just reprimanded him, Goku asked, looking at the menu. “So, what’s good here?”
“Literally everything.”
Goku stretched his arms overhead and smiled wider. The prince didn't want to admit that his expression warmed his insides. No, nope. Didn’t feel a thing. Vegeta flared his nostrils, wishing he would’ve just left. But this place, this food just smelled so damn good.
“Really?”
Vegeta just grunted affirmation, closing his eyes and meditating until their waitress arrived. She, her name was Maddy, asked for his order first. He gave it then she turned to Goku, blushing as she took in his physique.
“And what are you having, handsome?”
Vegeta’s teeth clenched involuntarily, and he didn’t have the nerve to analyze what emotion was coursing up his throat. Goku was oblivious to Maddy’s attention and just said, “I’ll have what he’s having,” which just so happened to be one of everything on the menu. Goku returned his attention to Vegeta, and the prince smirked when the waitress walked away in a huff.
“So, how was training today?”
Vegeta took a small sip of tea and said, “Are you really that daft?”
“What do you mean?”
He stared at Goku, dumbfounded. The man stared back, like he didn’t realize he was absolutely gorgeous and distracting. Shaking his head to dispel those types of thoughts, he said, “Did you really not notice Maddy flirting with you?”
Goku shrugged. “I guess so.” Then his lips lifted a little, the look a bit too unfamiliar and yet… Is that a smirk? Vegeta’s breath hitched. “I mean, she’s not really my type anyway.”
Vegeta sighed to hide any lapse of sanity Kakarot’s body language was giving him. “I suppose your type is a little more traditional. The harpy sure does like her long dresses and tight hair-buns.” At least she could cook.
“Hm, you could say that.” Goku plopped his head on his hand, giving Vegeta his full attention. “So, how was training?”
Kakarot’s eyes gleamed under the yellow lighting of the diner. From his proximity, Vegeta could almost see the subtle changes of brown in his eyes—dark carab with little flecks of cinnamon. He sat back with a hiss, determined to purge whatever emotions the larger Saiyan was extracting from him. Godsdammit, he really didn’t want these stupid feelings. Tch. His humans have made him soft. He really didn’t want Kakarot to suspect anything… and though Vegeta couldn’t quite believe the fool would actually figure it out. Has Kakarot ever had a dirty thought in his life? Doubtful.
“You didn’t text me back,” Goku went on, “so I assumed… you did train, right?”
“Of course I trained today, Kakarot. I’m not a lazy imbecile like some people.”
“Did you not get my text?”
“No,” Vegeta bit out. “Not until after I was done.”
That wasn’t true. He definitely got Kakarot’s text immediately after relieving himself this morning to fantasies that most definitely involved a certain savior of Earth. The thoughts came out of nowhere—well, comparatively anyway. He’s certainly never jerked off to Kakarot before. Sure, he’s always noticed how toned and muscular he was, but it wasn’t until Bulma mentioned something at their last soiree…
“Damn, Goku really fills out those jeans. Don’t you agree?”
Vegeta hadn’t even hesitated to look across the room at his rival and glance down appreciatively. “Quite right.”
“Ha! So you do agree?”
He blinked at her and coked a brow. “What?”
“That Goku is hot and you totally want to see him naked?”
Vegeta almost spat out his liquor drink. He dared a peek at Kakarot but he hadn’t noticed Vegeta’s outburst. Thankfully, she’d said it quiet enough that only he’d heard her. He grabbed her elbow and murmured in her ear, “Vulgar woman. Why do you say such things?”
Pulling out of his grasp easily, she smirked around her drink’s little straw. “‘Cause I’m right, per usual. You know, I wouldn’t mind, right? If you went for it?”
Vegeta’s mouth hung open in disbelief. Was she really saying what he thought she was saying? “What do you mean, ‘went for it?’”
“Come on, Vegeta. I see the way you look at him.”
Vegeta was sure that he’s only ever looked at Kakarot with seething hatred. But that wasn’t true, was it? He sputtered, “But… you and me…?”
“Will be just fine. Better probably.” When Vegeta only answered with more sputtering, Bulma took pity on him. “Baby, I’ll always be your wife and the mother of your children. But time doesn’t pass for me like it does for you. I’ll be long gone before you know it and I want you to be happy. I’d like to see you happy. Do you understand?”
He shook his head, looking over his wife, loving every freckle and laugh line. Time didn’t matter to him. He adored her. “You’re beautiful to me.”
Bulma’s blue eyes shone as she leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, but the point still stands: You think Goku’s hot and I refuse to stand in your way. I’d even like to watch…”
The party was in full swing as Vegeta took a look around, his gaze falling to Kakarot again. He was telling some sort of story or joke, making Yamcha and Krillen laugh hysterically. As Kakarot’s arms moved around, Vegeta took a long long at the muscles bunching beneath the thin fabric of his red T-shirt. Involuntarily, he gulped.
“Wouldn’t it be nice,” Bulma continued in a sultry voice stirring the fire within him, “to be able to completely let go with someone in bed? To not have to worry if they could take it?”
Heat bloomed in his gut and feathered his cheeks. He opened his mouth to deny it but what came out was, “He wouldn’t even know what to do with me.”
His wife quirked a brow. “Now, who’s being vulgar?”
Vegeta clamped his mouth shut before he could say more embarrassing things.
“Anyway, I’d think you’d be surprised by what Goku knows.”
Vegeta blinked and the ringing of the diner came crashing into focus. Gods. What the hell was he thinking? Sure, Kakarot was attractive—you’d have to be blind not to notice that—but he behaved like a Saiyan child. What was Vegeta supposed to do with that?
“Wow, ‘Geta, you must get up early!”
“Tch. Again, a prince isn’t lazy.”
“Rest doesn’t mean lazy, ya know. It’s actually the best component—”
“Oh, what do you know about components?”
Goku simpered with a hand behind his neck. “All I know is I feel better after a good night’s sleep.”
“Yeah, well,” he crossed his arms. “Not everyone is blessed with good sleep, Kakarot.”
The larger man got serious. “Is it hard for you to go to sleep or…?”
“None of your business,” Vegeta answered quickly and waited for their meal.
The waitress delivered their food and Vegeta glared at her until she left, almost growling when she eyed Kakarot a little too long, but caught himself at the very last second.
Much to Vegeta’s dismay, eating with his rival was worse than expected. It was mostly due to the sounds he made with every bite. Goku gasped as soon as he tasted the first morsel. “Oh, Kami, Vegeta. This… may be the best thing I’ve put in my mouth.” When the prince looked at said mouth, Goku swallowed his food with an audible gulp, noticing Vegeta's staring.
Goku waited anxiously for Vegeta’s next words. The prince just sighed. “In your case, I’m sure you’re right. Dig in.”
He didn’t have to tell Goku twice. Together, the Saiyans devoured their meals in surprisingly companionable silence.
Vegeta couldn’t deny lunch that day was… pleasant if not downright thrilling. In between moaning praise for the food, Kakarot managed to not annoy him as much as usual—well, perhaps he merely tolerated it more due to the prince's oogling. While Kakarot spoke, telling the joke he told Krillen at the Bulma's last party, Vegeta indulged in studying the savior’s exposed skin, the push and pull of his muscles as they bunched around his shoulders and forearms. The dips of his tendons tantalized his eyes, sprouting naughty thoughts that Vegeta tried to push away. That’s when he noticed Kakarot saying his name.
“Vegeta? You listenin’?”
“Hm? Yes, of course.”
“But you didn’t laugh.” Goku squinted, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. For sure that joke always got a laugh.
Vegeta shrugged off his obvious distraction, still swatting away the dastardly ideas forming in his mind. “Well… that’s because it wasn’t that funny.”
“Psht. Yeah, it is.” Goku tore a piece of bread and dipped it in the remaining sauce on his plate. Then he had the audacity to pout, his bottom lip so full and glistening… “You just weren’t listening.”
He felt his face heat as he stared at his oldest friend. It wasn’t guilt that simmered in his gut, oh no, it was something much worse.
He’s adorable… fucking hell. “Fine. I wasn’t listening.”
Goku’s pout deepened, and if Vegeta thought that was torture, then the warrior added those damned puppy dog eyes.
“Godsdammit, Kakarot. You are an absolute child. Tell the damn joke again. And hurry up. I’ve got to get home at a decent time today.”
The fool lit up, which did not warm Vegeta’s cheeks, and started animatedly retelling his joke.
And fuck him silly, the joke was funny.
Link to full fic: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45900832
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If you still have Sailor Moon on the brain, did watching it at all give you any options you wish to share about other magical girl esk media you wish existed or your own take on how you would create a story in that media space?
If not, then maybe, if you're inclined to, recount some interesting findings about the connections that exist between shojo and shonen media?
(If neither then please disregard, sorry for imposing)
It was interesting! I was surprised at how much it had in common with shonen action anime. Half the boss battles get resolved with a beam clash and the only difference between Super Saiyan and Neo Queen Serenity is whether the hair or the outfit changes.
The one part I found myself sliding off of - due to personal writing preference - is how Usagi is the defacto center of the universe and everyone else is very explicitly playing support. That's part of why I liked the Outer Senshi so much - because they've all got their own ludicrously OP stuff going on, they feel more like equals to Usagi than glorified bodyguards. The inner planet senshi get their own character arcs, which is excellent, but after a while it's pretty clear that none of them can ever finish a fight without Sailor Moon. And that's fine, that's the pretense of the story - their jobs are very explicitly to protect the turbopowerful demigoddess moon princess while she gets her act together enough to remember she can win - but I prefer writing an ensemble cast where everyone feels like the hero of their own story, not the support in someone else's, and that's pretty much antithetical to the core premise of the show.
It also has a lot of the hallmarks of a soft magic system that I personally struggle with - the old "you win by believing in yourself" thing basically means "you win when the plot demands it would be most interesting for you to win" - but again, they can get away with a lot by letting the actual core premise of the universe's power system be stuff like "a pure heart gives you strength" and "the power of love will legitimately make you more powerful." And I respect that the show doesn't just give people powerups whenever - one of the parts I found most emotionally impactful was in the finale of season 3, when Sailor Saturn is going to fight the big bad all by herself and will 100% definitely die in the process, and because Sailor Moon has sacrificed the season's macguffin, she can no longer transform into her powered-up form to help - which doesn't stop her from screaming the transformation phrase over and over, because she is desperate to save Sailor Saturn even if she's been told it can't possibly work. When she gets her The Most Purest Heart Ever powerup at the last possible second, that feels excellent because it's a profoundly impactful character moment that's being supported by the plot with a tangible powerup. It's pretty telling that we don't even see the final bossfight; it's not about the spectacle or the beam clash, it's about the character arcs that surround them. I think that's a really interesting way to handle it and to add depth to an otherwise basic "whose number is bigger" style struggle.
I'm also deeply fond of paragons, and as the seasons go on I really like how Usagi's ultimately kind personality drives her to constantly help, no matter the personal cost or how aggressively people try to dissuade her - and I like that she gets angry and frustrated and even says or does harsh things sometimes, but will ultimately always do what she thinks is right. It makes her feel like a real human being, and the "weaknesses" and flaws in her character - aka the parts that make her something more complicated than a perfectly stoic problem-solving machine - are a lot of fun to watch.
Personal preference, I'd like to see more magical girl stuff where the central pillar of the plot is not a constant will-they-won't-they het romance - but I also like how Sailor Moon as a series is legitimately aware that this is not actually the de facto most important relationship for everyone. Surprising multitude of gay characters aside, I recently caught a season 2 episode where Makoto donates blood to save a close friend, and explains to Usagi that she isn't in love with him, but they have an incredibly profound friendship that's more important to her than any boyfriend, a concept with startles and confuses Usagi. It seems to be a case where the heroine has a Foundational Romantic Subplot that defines the course of her life and the plot, but the rest of the characters get to have more complicated dynamics where their life goals aren't "omg boys", and I liked that a lot!
When comparing and contrasting it to shonen action anime, I think the magical girl genre manages to integrate the lower-stakes slice of life elements significantly more smoothly, and to great effect - the 90% of the show that's silly and ridiculous makes the 10% of it that's extremely serious and gutwrenching much more impactful. That's something that a lot of shonen series struggle with, where the tone goes from "moderately serious with the occasional goof" to "extremely serious with major character deaths." The magical girl genre going from "the dumbest episode premise you've ever heard" to "extremely serious with major character deaths" is a much more precipitous plunge into icy water, as it were.
When I think about how I would write a magical girl story, I basically just smack into the premise of Exalted. Its worldbuilding has exactly what I want - an interesting system of powerset-reincarnation into worthy hosts that allows for complex interpersonal dynamics through varying levels of memory preservation, several different flavors of magical transforming person including Evil Versions, and the one thing I prioritize in my own writing - a world that feels like it can have a lot of main characters and heroes of their own story. Everyone in Exalted has their own shit going on and their own past-life drama, including former friend groups/adventuring parties, soulmates (both regular and evil versions), and anyone who might've previously killed them. Most importantly for my preferences, there's no default main character of the universe. If I were to make an urban fantasy magical girl setting, I'd probably use an extremely similar premise because I find the ramifications of it unbelievably interesting in a way the system itself is not designed to explore.
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