~ A Day Later: Hospital Room~
The hospital room door swung open with a soft creak as Ajax stepped in quietly. A gentle breeze danced through the open windows, causing the curtains to sway gracefully. Sunlight streamed in, casting a warm glow and infusing the room with a sense of tranquility.
Inside, Goku lay on his bed, twiddling his thumbs and staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought. Hearing Ajax's arrival, he turned his head toward the door the best he could. He grinned in recognition, but his expression quickly shifted to surprise upon seeing Ajax's completely healed chest.
Hadn't Ajax been injured just a day ago?
Goku, however, kept his question to himself.
At the doorway, Ajax proudly displayed a small banquet worth of takeout containers he had managed to sneak into the hospital, the plastic bags crinkling in his grip.
Goku's eyes lit up at the sight of the food, his excitement so intense that his eyes seemed to almost literally shoot off stars.
Setting the containers down with a soft thud, Ajax released the aromatic treasures sealed within, filling the room with tantalizing scents. The savory aroma wafted through the air, wrapping around Goku and stimulating the Saiyan's hunger so much that he almost drooled.
Ajax chuckled as he observed Goku's reaction. He knew all too well about Chi-Chi's efforts to nourish Goku with her meticulously prepared, traditional "healing" foods, a fact he had learned through Gohan's inadvertent blabbing.
While Ajax understood Chi-Chi's intentions and respected her way of caring for Goku, he also understood that Saiyans were Saiyans, and these insatiable bottomless pits wouldn't be satisfied with porridge or medicinal concoctions.
He wasn't worried about any potential consequences of letting Goku indulge in greasy foods. After all, in the grand scheme of things, any minor damage caused by heavy foods would soon be wiped clean by the Senzu bean in Goku's near future.
And in that moment, as Ajax observed Goku's joy, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction knowing that he had provided Goku more than just food—he had offered him a taste of indulgence, a reminder of the simple joys of being alive.
Considering Goku had not tasted anything beyond King Kai's cooking for a year due to his recent stint in the afterlife, these simple pleasures were things that Goku had likely missed.
Ajax felt a twinge of sympathy for Goku's culinary deprivation, knowing it was technically his fault–since, you know, Goku had died because of him.
Ajax carefully arranged an array of dishes on Goku's white bedsheet. From succulent chashu pork to tender rotisserie chicken, delicately steamed fish to savory pork buns, medium-rare steak to fried rice, the feast had it all. There were also stacks of stir-fried dishes, steaming soups, and bottles of Coke to wash it all down; the list goes on.
Ajax had spared no effort crafting a meal fit for a Saiyan. It was his unspoken apology, not that Goku would know.
"I brought some of your favorites. It's about time you had a proper meal, don't you think?"
Goku sat mesmerized by the feast before him, utterly gobsmacked as if he couldn't quite believe he was awake.
Unperturbed by Goku's astonishment, Ajax selected a variety of dishes, arranging them on a paper plate. With practiced ease, he wielded a pair of chopsticks and guided a slice of chashu pork towards Goku's lips, intending to feed him. It was a necessary gesture, given that Goku was incapable of eating by himself at the moment.
Goku's gaze shifted between Ajax, his favorite food, and the slice of Chashu pork hovering near his mouth. A surge of emotion overwhelmed Goku, catching him off guard. He felt just a hint of tears prickling at his eyes, his lips trembling with gratitude.
"What the actual fuck, Goku. Don't do that."
But Goku shook his head at Ajax's words, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"I just really appreciate what you're doing. I honestly didn't expect anyone to come and take care of me after the initial visit, except for Chi-Chi and Gohan."
With a resolute blink, Goku pushed back the tears before they could form and redirected his attention to the tantalizing feast laid out before him. With childlike enthusiasm, he practically inhaled the offered Chashu pork as if it were a gift from the heavens.
"Chi-Chi didn't let me have any of this," he confessed gleefully between mouthfuls. "It was all medicine and porridge. Man, this is great! Thanks, Ajax!"
Ajax acknowledged Goku's with a sound of confirmation.
Patiently, he fed Goku morsel by morsel, a task made more challenging than he had anticipated due to Goku's lightning-fast eating speed. Yet, despite the speed, Ajax found moments to savor the food himself, sneaking a taste of the banquet. Like that, they settled into an easy rhythm.
As the food gradually dwindled, Ajax's demeanor shifted, a subtle melancholy settling over him. He lowered his gaze, his expression slightly downcast. After a brief pause, he summoned the courage to speak his thoughts.
"If I died Goku, would you be angry?"
Goku paused mid-chew, cheeks bulging, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected question. He resumed the rhythmic motion of his jaw soon after as if buying time to process Ajax's inquiry.
Where had this come from? Goku suddenly recalled Ajax's erratic ki fluctuations on the day they planned to retrieve the Namekian Dragon Balls. Was this because of that? Despite these thoughts, Goku did not allow it to dampen his characteristic cheerfulness.
"What kind of question was that? Of course, I would!"
Ajax smiled, though there was a hint of sadness within it. Truthfully, he wasn't entirely sure why he had asked. With them right in front of each other, it wasn't like Goku could give any other response. What could he have said? 'I'll be happy you died?' What was it that he really wanted to ask? Did he just want reassurance?
Goku's keen eyes didn't miss the subtle tension in Ajax's posture. Taking his time, the Saiyan Earthling chewed thoughtfully on his mouthful of food before swallowing. It was clear that Ajax had his own burdens.
And well, Goku had a few of his own.
The reminder of those burdens had cast a shadow over Goku's typically carefree expression. Eventually, he decided to voice a question that had been lingering at the back of his mind.
"If I changed, Ajax... would I still be your hero?"
Ajax's head snapped up in surprise, the question yanking him out of his contemplative reverie. He blinked, processing the unexpected inquiry. "What? You mean, if you turned evil?"
A fleeting image of Goku Black flashed through Ajax's thoughts. He wasn't gonna lie, Goku Black was cool as fuck, but he certainly wasn't going to sit down and have afternoon tea with the guy.
"Well, no... not exactly," Goku continued, his brow furrowing in thought. "I mean, if I were different, you know? If I wasn't the same person I was."
Ajax's mind raced, trying to grasp the underlying meaning of Goku's question. It didn't seem like it was just about good versus evil; it seemed to be about identity, about the core of who Goku was.
"I mean, you'll always be my hero. You were there for me during my darkest moments, and that will never change," Ajax paused, sensing a hint of dissatisfaction from Goku. "But I don't think that was quite what you were asking, is it?"
"I guess not…" Goku murmured, his gaze drifting to his bandage-wrapped hands. A humorless laugh escaped his lips, devoid of his usual mirth. "I don't even know what I'm trying to ask. It's just… there's so much that had happened, so many truths that came to light. I feel like I'm no longer the same me who defeated King Piccolo, nor the young boy who took down the Red Ribbon Army, nor the little innocent boy my grandpa loved."
Goku paused, his voice thick with insecurity. "I feel like I'm changing, beyond my control, into someone I don't recognize. The world just doesn't seem to make sense anymore, or maybe... I'm the one who's no longer making sense…?"
Ajax blinked at Goku's brief monologue, feeling a wave of uncertainty wash over him. Okay…shit. This was way beyond his expertise, and he was far from qualified to answer such a deep existential question. He had a background in life sciences, not psychology! However, Ajax knew that he couldn't simply evade the question because giving no answer was an answer in and of itself.
"Isn't... isn't that growth?" Ajax ventured tentatively. "We should be different than our younger selves as we mature, no?"
As the words left his lips, Ajax couldn't help but wonder if he was merely grasping at straws. He didn't just want a feeble attempt to offer platitudes and half-formed thoughts.
Goku's response was a faint whisper, barely audible above the rustle of the bedsheet beneath him.
"I sure hope so..."
Ajax bit his lip, his mind scrambling at full capacity as he attempted to respond to Goku's musings. After nearly half a minute, he took a deep breath and summoned the courage to try again.
"Goku," Ajax said, choosing his words carefully, "everyone changes. It's part of life. The experiences we go through, the memories we retain, and the battles we fight—they shape us, sometimes in ways we don't expect. Change is inevitable, but it's not necessarily a bad thing because it doesn't mean you've lost who you are. The essence of who you are—the courage, the kindness, the will to protect those you love—is still there. It's just… evolving."
Ajax wasn't certain if his words had resonated, but he had tried his best. He truly, genuinely did.
"Well… I guess. That's also what my gra– ah! Forget it, it was a silly question!" Goku chuckled, scratching his head.
Ajax couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment as Goku swiftly redirected the conversation. It left him feeling as though he had failed some kind of test.
As Goku signaled his readiness to eat, Ajax resumed his task of feeding him. The Saiyan attacked his meal with gusto, savoring each bite with fervor. After a few bites, Goku's voice emerged in a muffled murmur, words spilling out between mouthfuls of food.
"Just a leap of faith..."
Ajax paused, sensing that Goku's muttered words were not intended for his ears. Respecting his friend's privacy, Ajax continued his task in silence, allowing Goku the space to think in the privacy of his own mind.
Ajax came back to visit Goku the day after, and the day after that, and the day after that.