"Sir, have you noticed?" Kibito asked.

"Yes," Shin said stiffly, but he continued to water the flowers in front of his home. "Let him come."

Beerus wasn't stalling, rather he was going through the plan one more time. He wanted to play it cool, but he knew he probably had to apologise too. It all started with not turning up in his usual rude fashion – not that he thought it rude, but he knew the kai didn't appreciate him showing up unannounced. Slowly he walked through the beautiful surroundings of the kais' world, thinking it through, imagining the many ways Shin might respond to his words.

"Left, my lord."

"Hm?"

"You're going the wrong way."

"Oh, right. The trees all look the same to me."

When the surprisingly small abode came into view, Beerus looked up and could see a small purple figure waiting outside. Shin stood there, arms folded, watching Beerus approach.

Oh shit, he's still mad.

"Get off my world."

Beerus continued walking towards him, as if he hadn't heard.

"Beerus. Get off my world." This time he said it with more warning.

"Shin, come on, let's talk."

"No. I don't want to see you until I have to. Leave this world and don't come back until the next coordination meeting."

"Shin, please." He reached out a hand, but it was slapped away.

"Do I need to repeat myself?"

"I just want to apolo-"

"How much more plainly do I have to say it? Do I have to stoop to your level? Fuck off." Shin immediately regretted his word choice when he saw Beerus smirk.

"Fine. I'll be back tomorrow."

"What?! No. I said don't come back!"

"I'll come back every day just to hear you tell me to fuck off."

Shin furrowed his brows. Had he made a grave mistake?

"Come on, Whis. Looks like I'm not wanted." He placed his hand on Whis's back and off they went.

"Do you really intend to go back tomorrow?"

"Of course. I wouldn't lie. I'll go back every day until he accepts my apology."

"Uh-huh, and you expect me to ferry you to-and-fro every day?"

"It's more boring for me, you know."

"Of course it is. Especially when you nap the whole way."

Beerus yawned as if on command. "Say, let's take a trip to Earth. I'll pick something up to sweeten him tomorrow."

The next day he was met with the same. It took a lot more for Shin to tell him to fuck off today, as if he was trying not to use that exact phrasing. But eventually, he gave in, and Beerus left as promised.

"Will you not hear him out?" Kibito asked.

"No, he won't learn a thing if I don't punish him like this." Shin noticed the thing in Kibito's hands. "What in this universe is that?"

"A gift from Beerus – Whis gave it to me. He said it was a pineapple from Earth."

Shin took it and looked it over. "Such a strange texture. Not easy to handle, much like Beerus. Perhaps he gave me this to remind me of him. Still, I won't waste it. Fetch a knife and we'll see what kind of gift this really is."

They munched the fruit in silence, each pondering the meaning of this choice. "It's very sweet and delicious. It's exactly the kind of fruit Beerus would enjoy. A surprising contrast to its exterior, but I doubt that I would find the same inside the destroyer."

"Maybe you are looking too deeply into this," Kibito suggested. "Perhaps this is just part of his apology and he put some thought into bringing something you would enjoy."

It was a very plausible idea. "I never believed Beerus to be that thoughtful. I would say Whis steered him in this direction."

"You could ask him tomorrow."

"I'm not talking to him just because he gave me a fruit."

ooo

"I can't believe he didn't even say thanks!" Beerus huffed as they left the Sacred World of the Kais once more. "You did give it to his attendant, right?"

"Of course. I even asked today to check. Kibito said it was very enjoyable."

"He's becoming a right little shit in his old age."

Whis laughed. "My, my, sounds like someone else I know. But, my lord, maybe you should give him a little more time. A few years might do it."

"No, I like him like this. He's much more fun. I'm not going to wait for his anger to dissipate and we go back to the polite, pushover Shin."

"Well, this angrier version doesn't seem to have time for you."

"Mmm, makes him quite irresistible. I can't stay away."

Whis sighed. "You are a strange one."

"Say, Whis, would you talk to him for me? I know he likes you a bit more than me."

"I can try, but remember that I didn't help him out last week. He may still hold a grudge for that."

Beerus waved the comment away. "Don't worry about it, I'm sure he'll understand. Besides, you're better with words. Maybe you can talk to um…Kibito?"

"I can try."

When Whis appeared the next day, Shin narrowed his eyes before circling the angel, trying to find out where Beerus was hiding.

"He's not here," Whis said.

Shin seemed to relax a little at that. "Why are you here then?"

"Unfortunately it seems that I must journey here every day to bother you, be it with or without Lord Beerus. He has sent me to ask you to consider listening to his apology."

"No."

"I feared you would say that."

"He needs to learn that he can't have everything his way all the time."

Whis nodded. "A lesson I have a hard time teaching. Truly, I do want to support you in this, but it is taxing having to chauffeur him around and listen to his opinions on the matter day in and day out."

"I won't give in just because you've asked. It's not like you were much help."

"I did consider intervening, but it wasn't essential. You're not a complete pushover in the ring, but I must say you are quite easily hurt in more ways than one. I put Goku and Vegeta through that kind of thing as a warm-up."

"Yes, and the saiyans are nutcases with completely different ideas of fun. They fit in perfectly with Beerus. I didn't visit that day to exert more energy than it takes to walk through the fields. Maybe you should invite them over so Beerus can be entertained. He clearly has a hole to fill after the tournament."

Whis realised this was a great plan. "Thank you for that. I can have Goku take over my role of ferrying."

Shin's face dropped, not sure if he was at all comfortable with the idea of Goku replacing Whis on these visits. Sure, he trusted that Goku would take his side, but he'd never quite forgotten the time Goku had threatened to kill him.

ooo

Having Goku turn up with Beerus was definitely much worse. It made things a hundred times more awkward.

"You're still not welcome here," Shin said.

"Huh?" Goku looked between the two of them, noticing the annoyed look on the kai's face, and the more sheepish one on Beerus's. "If you're not allowed to come here, then why did you have me bring you?"

"I am allowed."

"But you're not welcome," Shin pointed out.

Goku's eyes flicked between the two again. "Hey…did you guys have a fight?"

Immediately Beerus denied it, and Shin confirmed it.

"It wasn't a fight! It was training," Beerus said.

"I didn't consent to it!"

"Aw, man, Lord Beerus doesn't even train me himself!"

Shin was blown away. "This isn't something to be jealous over! You could barely call it training. And afterwards he was extremely strange and wouldn't let me go. Tell me, Goku, how would you feel if someone pinned you to a tree and told you to insult him?"

"Seems a bit weird if you ask me. I guess I'd have to know who it was to decide if I wanted to insult him."

Despite everything, Beerus and Shin couldn't help but make eye contact and silently ask each other if this really was their universe's greatest warrior.

"Well, anyway, I'd appreciate it if you'd take Beerus home."

Beerus frowned, noticing how Shin left off his title. Usually he quite liked it when Shin was more comfortable around him, but he knew it was different this time, and certainly meant in disrespect with Goku present.

"Alright then." Goku went to place a hand on Beerus's shoulder, but it was quickly swatted away.

"We're not leaving yet."

"It doesn't look like Supreme Kai wants us here, Lord Beerus, shouldn't we go and come back another time?"

Shin nodded. "What a sensible suggestion, although, Goku, maybe it would be best to wait for an invitation."

"I'm not leaving until you say it." Oh yes, he certainly wanted to watch as Shin uttered those words in front of Goku.

"I'm not saying it." It was one thing to say it with their attendants present, but not in front of a mortal, even if that mortal was Goku who'd pretty much seen it all.

Beerus gave a hard stare. "Perhaps I should tell Grand Zeno that my own Supreme Kai is barring me from his planet and won't listen to an apology? Goku has his own private line, you know."

Shin's eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, wouldn't I?"

He didn't know if Beerus meant it or not. There was no way to tell at this moment. "How I wish I could travel back in time and stop myself from suggesting this to Whis."

Beerus let out a loud laugh. "You've dug your own grave?! Here I thought Whis had just got tired of all my bullshit – and yours too. Anyway, Goku, let's go and –"

"Stop!" Shin remembered that small button Grand Zeno had given Goku. There was no 'let's go' about it, rather Zeno would show up here, on this world, at this very spot. "I…I'll listen to your apology."

A wide grin appeared on Beerus's face. "Good. We're finally getting somewhere."

"Well?" Shin asked.

"I'm sorry."

"Is that all?"

"Um, well, I had more, but it's been so long that I've forgotten most of it…"

"I can't believe you!"

Beerus stepped forward so he didn't feel like he was shouting his apology across the gap between them. He was about to take Shin's hand, but thought better of it, mainly because Goku was still watching, even if he was pretending to be interested in a tree. "Look, Shin, I'm sorry for making you spar with me, and then hurting you in the process. I'm sorry for…being a bit 'weird' after and not letting you leave. And I'm also sorry I've been bothering you every day since. Please accept my humblest apologies and let us put all this behind us."

Shin sighed. "I suppose I can't remain mad at you forever; it's just not ideal in our position. I'll accept your apology, but don't think I'll forget this any time soon."

Beerus held out a hand and Shin shook it.

"Aw, that's great!" Goku beamed. "I'm so glad you guys made it up!"

"Go away." Beerus grabbed him by the shirt and was about to shove him away, but stopped. "Actually, let's go. Come on, back home."

"Alright then, see ya, Supreme Kai."

In an instant they were standing on the balcony of Capsule Corp.

"This isn't home, you idiot!" Beerus clipped him over the back of the head before realising. "Whis! What are you -?! Attending one of Bulma's buffets without me?!"

Goku's mouth watered looking at the spread before him. "This is great!"

Whis looked a bit sheepish. "Of course, I forgot that Goku would use Vegeta's energy to take you home… I hadn't intended to bring Vegeta with me, but he has something against me spending time with Bulma alone."

"Well, looks like you've just started, so there's no problem." Beerus picked up a plate and began to load it with food. "I'm glad Vegeta has such a problem; without it you would have sneaked off and enjoyed all this by yourself. Sharing is caring, dear Whis."

"I would have brought you some back."

"Nothing like having it fresh." Beerus bit some chicken off a skewer and finally took a seat after circling the whole table. "Anyway, you got a problem, Vegeta?"

"No, sir."

"Uh-huh. Don't lie to me."

Vegeta could feel his mouth drying up. In a small voice he asked, "What kind of problem could I have?"

"Vegeta, Vegeta… Come now, don't tell me you weren't listening to my conversation with Whis just now. I know Goku wasn't chewing your ears off at the time because his face is full of food."

A curious noise came from Goku, aware he was being talked about. Beerus waved him away.

"Well, sir, I just don't see why I should be left on your planet while Whis goes to my home to visit my family. I should be a good host too."

Beerus clapped. "What a perfect answer. I mean, he's good, isn't he?" Beerus asked Whis. "You would expect as much from a prince."

"Oh yes, I couldn't fault him – if only he had come out with that the first time you asked."

Vegeta gulped and mentally scolded himself. These two had seen and heard it all. At that point Bulma came by with the final dish.

"Goku?! And Lord Beerus?!" She sighed. "If you'd told me you were coming, I'd have ordered more."

"Our apologies, it wasn't planned," Beerus said. "But some people try to keep things all to themselves."

"Whis said you were busy."

"I was, but not anymore. Say, Bulma, were you expecting Vegeta?"

"No. He only left yesterday, and it's unlike him to come home so soon."

Beerus looked back at Vegeta. "How interesting. By the way, this sushi is fantastic."

Ooo

Whis had the saiyans back in their heavy suits, doing press-ups on their thumbs. It was a good way to keep them entertained while he did other things.

"How did it go with the Supreme Kai?" Whis had been itching to hear the outcome all day, but had refrained from asking over lunch in case it hadn't gone to plan.

"I had to threaten him with Grand Zeno, but I got him to listen to me. He accepted the apology."

"Good. I'm glad that's over with."

"But he said he won't forget."

"Of course not. But the next coordination meeting won't be as awkward as I was starting to fear it would be."

"I'll see him before then."

Whis raised his brows. "You will? How unlike you."

"I want us to be better…friends." The word sounded strange to him. "Like the destroyers and the kais from the other universes. I'm sure that's a factor in making us stronger."

"It certainly can't hurt."

Beerus peered at the angel. "You know more. Why are you always so cryptic? Tell me if I'm right."

"I know you like to believe I'm enlightened in all matters of the universe, but I only look after Universe 7, and my knowledge of other universes is limited, although larger than yours. Perhaps the Grand Priest might know. Or would you rather ask Grand Zeno?"

"It seems I'm destined not to know. But enough of my problems. Tell me about this little tiff between you and Vegeta."

"It's hardly a 'tiff.' It's nothing more than an overprotective, slightly territorial, and possibly jealous man."

Beerus laughed. "What an accurate description. I'm sure he'd hate to be described as such. But, come on, 'possibly jealous?' The man's dripping with jealousy. I see it every time Goku bests him."

"That's not what I meant. His jealousy stems from me spending time with Bulma. As if I could possibly be out to steal his wife."

This time Beerus laughed even harder, to the point where the saiyans paused and looked his way. "No way. You?!" Beerus continued to howl.

"My lord, you're drawing attention."

"Good. I need to draw attention to how stupid this is!" He stood up on the tree trunk and pointed at Vegeta. "Be nice to Whis or I won't let him train you anymore."

Vegeta lost his balance and crashed to the floor. "What?!"

"He's not being mean. He just has obvious concerns," Whis said.

Vegeta struggled closer. "What's he been telling you?! I've done nothing but been on my best behaviour!"

"Even I don't police Whis's social engagements, so I don't expect you to either. Although, I do wish he'd tell me when those engagements involved delicious food." He side-eyed Whis. "He told me you're against him spending time with Bulma. Need I remind you that she's one of the reasons your planet's still standing?"

"N-no, sir."

"I don't want to hear any more of this rubbish about you thinking Whis wants anything more from Bulma than her delicious cooking."

Vegeta almost choked on air. "I –"

"Shut up. I know Whis doesn't always act like it, but he's an angel - in both senses of the word. Mortal lifespans aside, he doesn't do romantic attachments. You have more to fear from me when it comes to such matters. Now you better get back to your training; Goku's ahead of you."

Vegeta nodded and gave a half-bow before struggling back to his position.

"There you go, problem sorted," Beerus said. "I feel like I've been sorting a lot of things out today."

"Thank you. That was a nice compliment to hear."

"I don't know why you didn't just tell him yourself."

Whis shrugged. "It was fun letting it drag on. Seeing that concerned expression as Bulma and I got on like a house on fire… Ah, I'll miss it. The best bit was knowing that even if he wanted to do something, he couldn't."

"Have I messed up your fun? Should I take it back?"

"No, it has become quite tiresome at times. It's such a strange, trivial mortal matter. I'm glad I don't have to put up with such things with you."

"I'd drink to that. Although – don't tell them – but I find it quite endearing that they both love their families so much."