Bardock stumbled into his small apartment exhausted from his last mission; he searched around the kitchen for any food. After a late night snack, he headed for bed, he noticed his son's door was opened a crack. He walked in finding the six year old boy sleeping soundly in his bed. He could hear Raditz's deep breathing as he went over to lift the pushed off blankets over the small form of the child. Raditz's tail was curled up next to him.
A small smile was tugging at the corners of his mouth as he stroked his son's long soft black hair. Raditz stirred a little in his sleep, smiling contently and mumbling mother in his sleep. Normally when Bardock came to check up on him, Raditz would remain asleep, but suddenly the boy's eyes flickered open, quickly adjusting to the darkness.
His father's large hand was still stroking his hair, but his thoughts were else where, he was staring at the opposite wall thinking of the events of the day. He knew if he broke his father's thoughts he would be scolded, and his father wouldn't show any affection again. So he remained silent and lightly closed his eyes, hoping that his father wouldn't suspect, but he was curious as to what his father would do next. Bardock got up from the bed, and just before heading to bed himself. He leaned over and slightly hugged Raditz whispering as not to wake him up.
"I'm proud of you, my son." With that he abruptly left shutting the door behind him, and then Raditz dared let his eyes open, and then heard his parents' bedroom door shut. Raditz's spirits was lifted, he often wondered if he even measured up to his father's expectations, and he knew in this small way…
His father loved him.
And that was all that mattered.