On we go! As promised we get to see some Gohan/Videl in this one, I quite enjoyed writing those two ^-^ I also had a lot of fun writing the middle to ending bit of the chapter; it felt rather... fulfilling in a way and things are slowly coming together as far as the relationships between different characters are concerned.
I know there's not a whole lot of action going on right now but no worries, we'll be getting to that eventually as well -laughs- This chapter focuses more on the Son-household, too, whereas the next will be centered around the happenings at Capsule Corp. So you can look forward to that =)
And now, off goes:
Chapter 6
Heartbeat
Standing in front of the cinema with two tickets in hand, he was feeling nervous. He hadn't been lying when he had told his dad that this was 'sort of a date' because honesty, Gohan wasn't sure if it was, because this entire scenario had come about rather unexpectedly two days ago.
"This... is... hard..." Panting and mindful not to flounce her arms too much just like she'd been instructed, Videl was trying to stay up in the air the few centimeters off the ground that she had managed to lift herself.
"You're doing great. We have been practicing for only a week, and you've already gotten this good." He encouraged her with a smile. "If you keep this up, you won't need me to help you for much longer."
For that, he got a heated glare in response. "Do you mean to say I'm a bother? You don't have to teach me if you don't want to, you know!"
Raising his hands up in defense, he swiftly shook his head. "No, no, that's not what I meant! I was saying that you're like a natural at this-" Not to mention that she practically did force him into this by threatening to reveal his Saiyaman identity to everyone should he not agree. But he kept that comment to himself, also because he really didn't mind giving her lessons. She was fiery and had a temper alright, but it was actually part of why he enjoyed her company. Very much so.
"Hmpf! You don't have to sweet-talk me, either."
He couldn't tell if the color on her cheeks was a blush of embarrassment or anger.
"I'm perfectly cap- Whoooaaa!" Being all huffy she began to get out of balance, flailing in the air, and with concentration lost a fall was certain to happen in the next few seconds.
Videl shrieked and clenched her eyes shut, even though the impact of her perky butt on the hard ground never happened. He was next to her in a blink, weaving a securing arm around her slim waist and her hands grappled for his shoulders on instinct, clinging to him while her long lashes fluttered apart again to find herself so very close to him, the pair of them floating a couple inches in the air. She looked up at him and he looked down at her, so close their noses almost touched and suddenly two young hearts went leaping forward.
"Idiot! Put me down this instant!" She snapped and he hurried to set her back down onto her little feet, scratching at the back of his head with an apologetic expression on his handsome features.
"I'm sorry. I just didn't want you to fall." He tried to justify his action, albeit he'd be lying if he said he hadn't enjoyed the feel of her lissome frame pressed up against him.
She huffed and stemmed her hands into her hips, turning her head away and glaring off into the distance. "Whatever."
Silence descended around them and Gohan didn't really know whether or not she was legitimately angry with him now. He was just about to ask her if she maybe wanted to go home, but her question preceded his own.
"Ne. Would you want to go to the cinema tomorrow?"
Genuinely having not expected anything like that, the only thing he managed to produce in response was a very intelligent: "Huh?"
Videl veered around to face him, frowning and blushing in that indefinable manner again. "You don't have to! If you don't want to go, you can just say no!"
Now she seemed irritated again, and also sorta cute. Man, he just couldn't figure this girl out, hurrying to shake his head. "No, it's okay. I mean, I want to. Go to the cinema with you. Tomorrow. What- What movie do you want to see?" Were they actually going to go on a date...?
She turned away from him again, shrugging. "I- I don't know. Just... pick one. So long as it's nothing mushy, alright! I'm not into those so-called chick-flicks."
He laughed out. "I wouldn't have assumed that you were, no." That successfully got her to spin around once more and glare at him yet again.
"What does that mean, huh?! You believe me to be some kind of tomboy or something?!"
The expression on her face was too adorable and so was her fitful exclamation, only causing him to laugh harder and her to turn redder, clutching her delicate hands into no less delicate fists at her sides.
"Gohaaaaan!"
Videl was a rather exceptional girl, in his eyes at least. Despite her father being quite the celebrity she was very down-to-earth and her explosive temper was just too cute at times. She was remarkably strong for a human and not to mention very, very pretty. He could compliment her will and her hardheaded nature, too, she was dogged and stubborn and didn't give up once she had set a goal for herself. He found that appealing. He found her appealing... The longer he knew her, the more so.
Thus here he stood now, in front of the cinema with two tickets to a martial arts comedy in his hand. He thought that it certainly should be something she would enjoy watching. It had to be. Gods he hoped it would be. He also hoped he had dressed decently for the occasion, clad in a pair of black jeans and a white button-up shirt with a pressed collar underneath a classy, dark-blue jacket, the outfit completed by a pair of neatly polished shoes. He didn't know if bringing flowers would have been too tacky, so he had decided against it. He didn't even know if this was really a date. And he was way too early. And way too excited.
They hadn't really done anything else together outside of school aside of him giving her flight lessons, so her offer of seeing a movie together had come as a pleasant surprise because given her occasional behavior, he wasn't sure if she liked him the way he seemed to have come to like her. But now everything looked different and all he could hope for is that he wouldn't mess this up in some way or another. He had no real experience with girls and relationships but with her, he would very much want a try.
"Hey! I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long!"
The young demi-Saiyan turned to the sound of a familiar voice, watching Videl wave her hand at him as she approached him. Halting in front of him, she smiled and he responded with the same gesture in kind.
"Hi! No, not at all." Taking in her appearance, it at least calmed his worry in regard to his own get-up.
He certainly wasn't the only one who'd put an effort into looking good tonight; her shapely figure was wrapped up in a knee-long, white dress with a black, flowery pattern, a thin, silvery belt accentuating her slim waist and complementing the equally silvery high-heels on her delicate feet as well as the sparkle of the silvery necklace and the long, flowery shaped earrings which twinkled coyly from in between her long, black hair that were falling loosely down her slender shoulders. The attire didn't come off as too fancy, easy and natural on the eye, and she looked absolutely gorgeous in it.
"You look beautiful." He thus offered in soft compliment, watching a faint rosy hue come to dust her cheeks.
"Uhm... thanks. You look very handsome today, too." A genuine reply, and now both of them were blushing so she hurried to put the focus on something else, casting a curious glance at the tickets in his hands.
"What movie did you pick?"
He passed one ticket to her for inspection, soon receiving her approval together with a happy grin: "Excellent choice!"
Well. The start seemed to have been a successful one so far. Videl really did enjoy the movie, it was right up her alley and they had a great time dropping occasion comments on the action on the big screen, laughing a lot and gradually relaxing in each other's company with the initial anxiety disappearing into a mutual good mood. Of course she liked Gohan, what was there not to like about him? He was exceptionally smart, amazingly strong, very attractive and incredibly kindhearted, he had a good sense of humor, was a gentleman and could be awfully cute on occasion; what more could a girl want? She just hadn't been entirely sure yet if the feeling was mutual, after all she had kinda blackmailed him into those flight lessons, but since he had agreed to go out with her then he must have felt some sparks between them, too, right? She kept remembering back on two days ago as well; the feel of his arms around her, pressing her safely against him and their faces so close... she had wanted to kiss him right then, which was why she had reacted the way she had, yelling at him to let go even though - or probably precisely because - she had wanted the exact opposite to happen.
The movie ended what seemed like way too quickly, the two of them stepping back out into the freshness of the summer evening outside. The breeze was warm and nice, their spirits were high, and neither of them really felt like ending their day together here.
"I know a nice little cafe not far from here. Wanna go?" She therefore asked casually and yet in subtle hope.
"Sure. Lead the way, I'll treat you to whatever you like." He watched a frown start to settle on her refined features and hurried to add: "If I may!"
Yet the creases on her smooth forehead smoothed out as quickly as they appeared, instead she gave off a lovely little laugh. "Yes, you may." And then she stepped to him and weaved her arms around his own with her heart striking a quick, loud beat out of rhythm.
Whatever last qualms Gohan might have had, they vaporized right then. This most definitely was a date and the attraction was most definitely mutual. It felt neither awkward nor strange, after the initial moment of small emotional turmoil coming with the unexpected, pleasant contact, walking together like this turned out to be a very wonderful experience. There was something comforting and artlessly satisfying in the simple nature of it, as well as it brought with it a sort of relief in knowing that one's feelings of romantic interest were being reciprocated.
The cafe that she had picked turned out to be a small, cozy place with a calm, benign atmosphere, their choice being a table for two near one of the large windows with a pretty view onto the nearby park. Videl suggested that they should definitely go for a walk there later on and Gohan had no objections, the pair of them taking a seat opposite each other, soon engrossed in a conversation after having placed their orders. The topics started off easy and carefree, with school and exams and the upcoming summer vacation for which neither of them seemed to have any plans yet. His casually dropped comment that they could maybe do something together in those weeks was met with soft enthusiasm from her side and the idea of a camping trip appeared to appeal to her most.
From there they eventually came to talk about family, sharing one big common feature in that regard: both of them knew how it was to be raised by a single parent, even though whereas Gohan's father had only been missing for seven years Videl's mother had passed away shortly after the girl's birth. Offering his soft condolences, Gohan thought he came to understand Videl a great deal better after getting to know that. Growing up without a mother must have been hard, at least he got to spent most of his childhood with his dad and albeit the seven years without him hadn't been easy, he had him back now. He thought he comprehended the girl's tough attitude and hard-edged behavior better now, her need to be strong and the resolve to never give up so that her life which her mother had died to give her would not be wasted or meaningless.
She had also been very curios about Gohan's origins, especially the reason for his inhuman strength. To hear that his father was from an extraterrestrial race of intergalactic warriors had shocked her something good, much like the truth about the Cell games. Of course she had never really been able to believe the hype of her father's supposed victory - even though Mister Satan was surely one of the strongest humans on Earth, Cell's true power, from what she had been able to see on TV, was nothing that could have been stopped by anything short of a miracle. How peculiar was it then, to find out that that very miracle was sitting right in front of her this evening.
The time flew by incredibly quickly, the pointers edging past ten o'clock when they exited the cafe again. The temperatures got slightly chillier, so Gohan shrugged off his jacket and gently wrapped it around her slender shoulders, successfully bringing another adorable blush to her cheeks. There was no hesitation in Videl's motions this time around however, as she stepped to him and linked their arms, snuggling up to his side close and trustful, continuing to listen to his incredible story during their placid walk through the park towards her home.
She had heard of Son Goku, the man had won several tournaments and his name appeared on the honor lists often enough. She hadn't thought that said man was Gohan's father however, although the name should have actually given it away. Overall, everything she'd learnt about him today had only made him more fascinating, the things he seemed to have been through in his childhood sounded very tough. All the more happier she was for him hearing that his father had returned home after having been... dead, apparently. She wasn't sure she had understood that correctly, Dragonballs, magic dragons, revivals and wishes and all that but she didn't doubt the truth of it regardless. Gohan was far too honest to make up fib stories, and many things about him spoke for themselves.
It turn it had surprised him to hear that she actually had a six-year-older step-sister from her father's first marriage, who lived several cities away and they didn't see each other often, but judging the fond way Videl spoke of her, the girls were on good terms. They didn't even notice how they eventually arrived at the end of their journey and their day, stopping on the porch of Videl's home. It was a huge, lavish mansion that she thought was way too big and pompous for just two people to live in, but her father did love his luxury.
"Well... this was a very insightful and fun evening." She said with a smile, watching clement amusement curl his lips in an upward line as well.
"Definitely. I had a wonderful time with you." It would surely give him a lot to think about, but for now he was more than content with the feeling of happiness it had brought with it.
She nodded. "Me too. We should do that again soon." Her heart was fastening its pace for some reason, sensing the goodbye that neared and wanting to drag it out for some stupid reason.
"Yes, we should." He agreed firmly, feeling the same strange sensation sneak up on him as well. It was pushing him to do something he didn't know he should. Or was allowed to.
"So... I'll see you Monday on campus, then." Unwittingly, she fidgeted in her spot, one of her hands nervously toying with the strap of her small purse slung over her shoulder.
"Yes. Monday on campus, then." He found himself repeating after her again and felt like an idiot for it. Reaching one hand up, he gently placed it on her upper arm still protected by the fabric of his jacket and squeezed it lightly as though in a gesture of parting. "I'll see you there."
Videl took a tiny step forward, her body moving almost without her consent as though beckoned by his undemanding touch. "I'll see you there..." She echoed in a whisper, gazing into the intricate obsidian of his eyes that worked not unlike a magnet, searching them for something... anything that would contradict that which pulsated in her chest, causing it to tighten and making her heart a startled bird in the cage of its ribs.
But there was nothing to contradict. The emotion was entirely mutual, and Gohan took the risk, leaning in to gently catch her pretty lips with his own pliant pair. Her breath stayed stuck in her lungs, a fluttering tingle erupting in her stomach as her lithe little body tensed up in the wake of the sweet perception, feeling silky warmth pressed against the sensitive surface of her lips. Her hands reached up, settling on his firm chest and delicately curling her dainty fingers into the impeccable white of his shirt, her eyes easing shut and her filigree figure shivering meekly in delight as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer gingerly. The world went spinning and faded out to the first tentative movements of their mouths acquainting themselves with each other, shyly and a bit clumsily but it took away nothing from the explosive, beautiful sensation of it. It was the very first kiss for either of them and certainly the memory would not be one to ever forget.
They parted slowly and Videl leaned into him immediately, hiding her deeply flushed face against his shoulder but refusing to let go of him just yet. She felt jittery yet warm and fuzzy inside, all the more so when he fortified his embrace around her, touching an absentminded kiss to the velvety, black crown of her hair. She could have remained like that for the reminded of the night, comfy and safe in his securing hold, which was why it was only a couple of long, peaceful minutes later that she managed to bring herself up to step away again.
They said goodbye and Videl entered her house in a daze, before a wide, dreamy smile conquered her pretty features and she went dancing up the stairs into her room, flinging herself onto her bed and burying her face into the cushion that swallowed her joyful, girlish squeal. She felt so happy she could have burst. Flipping onto her back, she reached for the hems of his jacket she still wore and pulled it tight around her, inhaling the scent of his cologne in a deep breath, giddy with the instant flood of memories it brought. Well... she guessed it was official then; she was helplessly and irrevocably... falling in love.
Dreamy was a good word to describe Gohan's state of mind when he was flying back home, too. Who would have thought that their first date would end quite this... superbly. The lingering sensation still prickled all throughout him, remembering their kiss and the wonderful feel of her fragile body in his arms. Barely a few minutes apart, he couldn't wait to see her again. So... this was it, huh? Falling in love?
He was extra careful and quiet entering the house, the time was nearing midnight and he didn't want to wake anyone. Toeing off his shoes in the foyer he tiptoed through the hallway and noticed light coming from the kitchen. Someone was still up? Changing course he soon passed the door sill of mentioned room, spotting his father near the fridge.
"Hey dad. Craving a midnight snack?"
Turning around with a chuckle, Goku held up a bottle of cold water. "Your old man isn't quite that big of a glutton, you know?" He chided playfully, getting an amused grin in reply. He'd woken up with a thirst, feeling his son's ki approaching home barely a moment after.
"Want some?" He offered, receiving a nod and fetching two glasses out of the cupboard. "So. How was your date?" Asking, he put same glasses onto the table and uncapped the bottle while Gohan walked over and pulled up a chair to sit down.
"It was... wonderful, actually." He replied honestly with a small, sheepish laugh. "Videl is a great girl. We had a lot of fun."
Finished with pouring, the earth-raised Saiyan pushed one filled crystal towards his son, sitting down in the chair next to him. "I'm happy to hear that." The teen really did appear to have some sort of inner glow about him and it did nothing but gladden Goku's fatherly heart. Gohan deserved the happiness, Gods knew he'd earned it. They both took a couple of swallows, Goku's onyx eyes studying his firstborn, both contemplative and slightly distrait in their expression.
"Dad...? What is it?"
The question seemed to have snapped the man out of his idle musings, and he meekly shook his head. "Nothing. I was just thinking how much you've grown. I still remember you as a kid, but you're all grown up now. It's..."
It was... unusual. The tall, young adult in front of him looked barely anything like the little boy he had left behind after Cell's demise. He was going to college now, dating girls... He needed to be treated differently now, too, didn't he? He was an eleven-year-old no more. Goku had missed out on seven years of that precious life, could he ever catch back up with it?
"Yes... I know." Twirling the glass atop the table surface, Gohan watched the water ripple gently in its translucent confines. "And you've barely changed at all." His father looked almost the same he had over half a decade ago. It was fantastic to have him back; fantastic and weird at the same time because he still didn't quite know how to... well. Behave around him now.
"Gohan... I've never got a chance to tell you that before, but I want you to know that I'm... well. I'm sorry." Another apology out of many Goku had offered to his family in the two short days where he was back home. He could only hope that it was enough to mend all the fissures that his absence had torn into so many things.
Lifting his head again, Gohan stared at his father in incomprehension. "Sorry...? What for, dad?" If anything, the one who should be sorry was him.
"For pitting you against Cell like that. You were but a child and I should have known better, instead I dropped the weight of the world onto your shoulders." Quite literally. The lives of everybody on Earth and the fate of the universe on the small back of an 11-year-old. "I didn't realize it until Piccolo shoved the fact into my face... That you might have been too young to understand. To bear such a burden." He would never forget the Namekian's enraged words as Cell was squashing the life out of the poor kid; the concern of a real father that broke out of him the way it should have done out of the boy's actual parent.
"Damn it! I can't watch this anymore! Goku, I'm going to help Gohan no matter what you say."
"Wait, Piccolo! You can't do anything to help him. Please... Please wait a little longer."
"Wait? What do you mean, wait? You want me to wait until he gets killed?!"
"Wait for Gohan to get angry. Once he gets mad, his true power will be released. His enormous power. There's only one thing that can beat Cell and that's Gohan's anger!"
"Goku, you're wrong. Gohan doesn't like to fight like you! Does he know what you expect him to become? Did you tell him any of this? Do you know what he is thinking right now? I'll tell you! He's wondering why his father is just looking on while he's suffering. He must be hurt to realize that you're more concerned about the fight than his life. Remember this! Even if he is the strongest fighter, he's still just a child!"
Piccolo had understood his son better than Goku himself had ever done, back then already and probably throughout the years of his absence as well. It was true, Gohan was way different, much less of a Saiyan than he was of a human. He had never liked to fight... for the most part, he must have been doing it for his father's sake in order to not disappoint him. "I've put you through so much pain and then I left you alone with it." He shook his head in a mix of guilt and regret, staring at his own hands folded atop the table.
"No, dad, don't." Speaking softly, Gohan tried to keep the very same emotions out of his voice, but they transpired still. "I'm the one who should be sorry. If I hadn't gotten so cocky back then... if I had finished Cell off when I had the chance... you wouldn't have died in the first place." There were things he had wanted to tell his father for the longest time, too, but their farewell had been such an abrupt one, he hadn't gotten a chance either. But at least here, now...
"The years without you, I sort of accepted them as punishment for my mistake. I'm just sorry that mom and Goten got punished along with me." He had blamed himself for the longest time for that. He had been the reason his mother lost her husband and his brother had to grow up without a dad. "You had put so much trust in me and I didn't manage to live up to it. If only I were more like you-"
Reaching out a hand, Goku placed it on his son's shoulder, squeezing firmly. "That's nonsense, Gohan. You got handed a task no kid should ever have to master, and you exceeded all expectations. I couldn't be more proud of you, and you won't believe how glad I am that you're not like me. You saved the Earth, its people, likely the entire universe. You're a hero." Even if most would never know about it. He was genuinely happy that Gohan had nothing of the competitive Saiyan drive, that lust for challenge and the thrilled thirst for unbeatable opponents. He and what family he would once have would be much better off that way.
Gohan chuckled softly, cheerlessly. "I've never really felt like one... Losing you somehow had rendered that victory almost meaningless, you know...? But I knew I had to take your place and try to fill the void the best I could regardless. Take care of mom, of Goten, of Earth and its people. To preserve the peace and the lives you died to save." The strong hand on his shoulder was a comfort, and he was glad it remained there, giving him the kind of support only a loving parent could provide. Hearing his dad say he was proud of him... it helped. It healed. His father loved him, he knew that and it was enough to forgive the man all and any mistakes he might have made.
"Seeing what you were capable of as a child already, I had no doubt you would succeed in keeping everybody safe should the need arise. I've always believed in you and your strength, I always knew one day it would surpass even me. And you didn't disappoint me, ever, not once." Goku needed his boy to know that. All and everything that had happened wasn't his fault, and he didn't blame Gohan for anything.
"Surpass you?" Looking up, the young demi grinned small. "I don't think anyone will ever be able to do that, dad. You're the true hero. You've always been one to me, you still are. To have you back now... You don't know how much that means to me." It meant the world, and not only to him. He wouldn't let his father die another time, not if he could at all help it. He was grown up and strong enough to protect the things he loved now, too, and it was exactly what he would do should push ever come to shove again.
"I should have never left you alone for so long. I've missed out on so much... I just hope I can make up for all the lost time." Nevertheless... It was incredibly good to hear that Gohan didn't hate him for any of it. That he actually admired his old man instead of holding a grudge. It calmed. It cured. His son loved him, Goku knew that and it was enough to try and be the parent that the boy really deserved.
Forming a fist, Gohan lightly punched his father in the chest. "Just don't leave again. Everything else will fall into place eventually. And I'm still only eighteen."
Goku laughed out, nodding firmly. It was true... there were still many wonderful years in store for them as a family, he only need make sure that they stayed as such throughout them. Which he was more than determined to do.
"Daddy? Nii-san?" The drowsy voice coming from he kitchen doorway caught their attention, a sleepy Goten walking into the room while rubbing at one of his eyes with the back of his small hand.
"Hey, champ." Picking the boy up, Goku sat him down onto his lap. "What are you doing up?"
Suppressing a yawn, the little demi reached for his father's almost empty glass. "I woke up to go to the bathroom. Then I heard voices on my way back. What're you two talking about?" He drank what few swallows the crystal container could offer him, lazily handing it to his parent to put back onto the table.
"Just about a few things from the past, like when your big brother saved the Earth."
Blinking groggily, Goten refocused the gaze of his semi-open eyes on his sibling. "From that evil Cell guy, right? He would always say he'd never have done it without the help of you and your friends." It had always been his favorite part of the story, when Gohan would tell him how their friends had aided him in the key moment of the fight and how their father had lent him the strength even from the Beyond to complete that Kamehameha and shoot Cell into oblivion.
Goku smiled softly. "Well, I suppose he's right. All of our friends had always been there to help me save the world as well." No matter what fight or what opponent, he would never claim all the credit himself. He might have done most of the heavy lifting but none of his victories would have been victories without others lending a crucial hand.
Goten lifted his head to look at his father with puerile zest. "Ne, dad, when I grow up can I save the world, too?"
Both Goku and Gohan laughed out sonorously at that. "Let's hope you'll never have to, son. It's a very painful and messy undertaking. And if anything happened to you, your mother would likely have my head."
"She just might, yes." The silver voice resounding now belonged to the lady of the house, her slender form draped in a long robe entering the kitchen.
Raising a hand Goku scratched at the back of his head, expression apologetic. "Sorry, Chi. Did we wake you up?" Somehow his midnight trip for a glass of water had turned out into a full family gathering. Not that he at all minded that.
"Not really, no." Walking over to her husband Chichi picked Goten up into her arms and plopped down onto Goku's lap herself while he wrapped an arm around her waist to act a backrest to the provisory chair of his legs. "What are all of my men doing in the kitchen this late at night, though? Breakfast is not for another seven-eight hours, you know?"
All of them had a laugh out of that, enjoying the light-hearted, warm atmosphere of a wholesome family, the beautiful perception of a complete home and comfortable togetherness. It was the simplest, most curative magic in the whole wide world, mending all and any cracks, healing many wounds and easing old scars. This here, was what made life so very worth living.
Chichi began questioning their firstborn about his date then and Goku was interested in hearing details on that as well. Goten tried to stay awake but fell asleep in his mother's familiar cradle halfway through the conversation, to the soothing melody of dear voices in the background. Eventually it ended with Chichi making her son promise to introduce his girlfriend to his parents so that they might get to know her and although he had no objection to the idea he mildly protested against the term girlfriend with a blush, it was too early to call Videl that just yet. Wasn't it...? He wouldn't deny that it had a very nice ring to it, though.
Time neared half past two a.m. when Chichi finally declared that all of them ought to be long under the covers by now, to which she received overall agreement. Goku brought Goten back to bed and Gohan went to his room, the entire household soon enfolded by silence and serenity as all its members drifted off into a sound, peaceful slumber with four different hearts letting their palpitations flow together into one strong, zestful heartbeat of a reunited, loving family.