American Superhero
Ch. 9
Disclaimer: Do not own.
A/N: Mature. Language and sexual content
Videl looked like a deer in a headlight. She couldn't fathom that Gohan was the Great saiyaman and the Golden Warrior.
She stared at the foreign color in his eyes.
'How in the world? How can Gohan suddenly have teal eyes? His hair too… he practically looks like an American!' She paused in her thoughts and strained her eyesight. 'That… that is Gohan, right? He's wearing the same clothes as him. He's got to be!'
Gohan shifted his attention to the criminal pointing his firearm at Videl.
The man regained his composure. "H-hey! What the hell, who the fuck are you?" He directed his gun at the Super Saiyan.
Gohan curled his lips into a small smirk. He muttered. "You should pay more attention."
The culprit was suddenly struck in the neck with Videl's high-kick and dropped to the ground.
Grounding her feet, she let out a small exhale. She turned her head towards Gohan. He could read in her expression that she had quite a few more questions to ask him later.
"E-eat shit!" The remaining criminal cried out from behind the duo.
He pulled the trigger and let out a round of bullets.
Gohan twirled around and reached out, catching every one of his bullets. He then slowly dropped all but one onto the ground. Holding onto the remaining bullet in his hand, he brought it in between his fingers and flicked it, causing it to whip past the man's ear and through the wall behind him. The man trembled in fear, falling to his knees, and surrendered.
The customers and workers inside the coffee shop cheered.
Despite being in complete and utter awe, Videl felt a relieved smile creep up on to her face. She was, in no doubt, impressed by the transformed man standing in front of her.
Gohan turned around and caught eyes with the girl aweing him. He nervously smiled back.
Suddenly, the shop customers swarmed Videl, praising her, asking her if she was alright and if she knew the mysterious Golden Warrior.
Videl tried to swat them away, pushing and shoving slightly to regain sight of Gohan. Finally clearing a path, she noticed he had disappeared. Videl popped out from the crowd of people and ran, bursting out the shop door. She looked left and right. Upwards even.
Gohan was nowhere in sight.
Two days passed since then. Videl walked into the classroom and took her seat, greeting Sharpner and Erasa. She looked over to Gohan's seat.
Empty again.
"The bookworm's absent again, huh?" Sharpner looked over. He raised an eyebrow. "It's not like him to be skipping this much school. Sure he's late sometimes or leaves randomly during class, but he never full out skips like this."
"Maybe poor Gohan is sick with the flu," Erasa pouted.
Videl narrowed her eyes at the empty seat. 'Gohan hasn't showed up to school since the incident at the coffee shop. He didn't even come that very morning. He's definitely not sick. Something's up…'
She decided to wait until the end of the week for the half-Saiyan to show up to school. If he didn't, she would be paying a visit to his home over the weekend.
Friday rolled along.
Gohan was still absent from school.
Videl stared at his empty chair.
She frowned, tightening her grip around the pencil in her hand. 'That's it. I'm done waiting. Son Gohan, you better be home tomorrow, because I'm paying you a visit to get some answers whether you like it or not.'
The next morning, Videl hopped into her jetflyer and took off to pay a visit to Gohan's home.
She hesitated in her own thoughts. 'I-it's not like I'm worried about him. He's my English partner! I can't fail that class because he's off somewhere neglecting his responsibilities!' She furrowed her eyebrows. 'And I want answers about this Golden Warrior business! This visit has nothing to do with being worried sick to my stomach… all week… about Son Gohan…'
Videl immediately scowled at the fact she was conflicted between her logic and emotions.
'Why the hell would I worry about someone who keeps all these secrets from me? Hah, that's a laugh! It's all because of our stupid project that I have to keep an eye on that bookworm… I don't like him. I don't like Gohan… like that.'
Blushing and frowning, she fought with all her might not to reminisce back to the hot and steamy dream she had of Gohan last weekend.
Videl picked up speed as she wrestled her own thoughts.
Finally, the raven-haired girl landed her jetflyer in front of Gohan's home. She got out and knocked on the front door.
The door opened.
"Oh, hey, Gohan's girlfriend! What are you doing here?"
Surprised to hear a small voice, Videl looked down. Goten was beaming with a smile.
"G-Goten." She blushed a little, registering his greeting. She then hardened her expression. "Is Gohan home?"
"No, he hasn't been home all week."
"A-all week? B-but, aren't you worried about your big brother, Goten?" Videl's face washed with concern.
Goten looked up at the sky. "Hm, no, not really." He replied nonchalantly.
Stunned, she asked, "Not really? Don't you wonder where he is?"
"Oh. No, because I know where he is!" He grinned.
Videl stared at the pint-sized boy. "U-uh, OK, well, where is he, Goten?"
"He's at Master Roshi's."
She raised an eyebrow, looking at him for an explanation. Nothing.
'Like I'm supposed to know where that is. Is that a bar or something? A motel?'
"Oh, is that so?" Videl chuckled a little. "Could you tell me where that is?"
"Nope."
A little impatient with his game, she shut her eyes, gritting her teeth. "OK, then, why not?"
Goten looked at her innocently. "Because I don't know where it is."
Videl felt like she wanted to scream. Clearly, she did not have the patience for kids.
She was aggravated that she had just flown 4 hours to find Gohan, only to discover he was somewhere called 'Master Roshi's'.
ChiChi walked up from behind Goten with a basket full of laundry and explained. "Gohan's visiting a family friend. He's been there all week." She then narrowed her eyebrows at her. "You wouldn't happen to know why he's been so weird all week, do you?"
"Me? N-no. That's why I came to visit… Gohan hasn't been in school at all so I was a little concerned… er, because we have an English project to work on, that is." Videl quickly added in.
"Well I'm glad one of you is responsible at least." ChiChi sighed with a scowl. "Gohan's missing out on his valuable education! I can't believe that boy."
Videl decided she didn't want to see Gohan's mother any madder than she already was.
"W-well, hopefully he'll shape up his priorities," She laughed nervously. "Um, well, thanks for letting me know where he is. I'll be going now."
"Hold your horses, Videl." ChiChi stopped her from turning back to her jetflyer. "Despite my suspicions about your intentions with my Gohan, I'm not going to be rude. You flew all the way over here from Satan City. Why don't you stay a little while? I would hate to send you off on the long trip back after you had just arrived."
Videl looked at her in surprise. She smiled. "Sure, thanks."
ChiChi beckoned her in and closed the door. She placed the basket of laundry down.
The two sat down at the kitchen table, ChiChi staring intently at Videl.
"Tell it to me straight. Are you and Gohan dating?"
Thrown off, Videl was left in shock. "O-of c-course not!" She laughed it off, averting her gaze from her.
"Hm. Is that so? Before Gohan left, he looked really distraught. I thought you might have hurt him or something." ChiChi's eyes were practically shooting daggers at her.
Videl frowned, disliking her accusations. "Never. Besides, nothing even happened between us. And we're not dating." She crossed her arms.
ChiChi then sighed as she looked off into nothingness. "It's just that this isn't like my Gohan."
There was a moment of silence between the two.
Deep in thought, Videl spoke up. "Um, if you don't mind me asking and I'm sorry if this is rude, but do you know everything about Gohan?"
ChiChi looked at her questionably. "What do you mean?"
"Well, like, does he keep secrets from you?"
She frowned and burst out. "Secrets? You two are dating, aren't you?"
"N-no! I don't mean it like that!" Videl attempted to calm down the livid mother. "I mean… do you know about his, um, well, alter ego?"
ChiChi's expression calmed down. "Oh. Are you talking about that silly costume he wears?"
"So you do know then!"
"Of course. The Great Saiyaman. Sure. Although, he told me the gadget Bulma gave him malfunctioned, so I don't think he'll be playing superhero anytime soon until that's fixed. I'm surprised Gohan told you that's actually him."
"Er, well, he didn't. But that's beside the point." Videl leaned onto the table, almost whispering. "Could you tell me how it is that Gohan is so strong?"
"Mom, Goten, I'm home!"
Videl swung her head around and looked through the kitchen doorway.
Gohan was closing the front door behind him.
Scowling, Videl got up from her seat and stomped over.
"V-Videl? What are you doing here?" Gohan asked nervously.
"The better question is where the hell have you been?" She jabbed her finger into his chest.
"Heh heh, um, well," Gohan laughed nervously.
"Gohan, it's about time you're home!" ChiChi roared. "Do you even know how many days of school you've missed this week?"
"Er! I'm sorry, mom! But, I… I…" Gohan peered over at Videl.
The half-Saiyan was sweating bullets. Barely in his house and he was already being interrogated by two hot-headed broads.
"Son Gohan, if you don't start brushing up on your studies right now, I'm going to raise hell!" ChiChi picked up the laundry basket off the floor and stormed off.
Gohan and Videl stood there in an awkward silence.
Hesitantly, Gohan gazed over at the pig-tailed guest. He immediately caught eyes with her piercing stare.
"Uh, heh, so, Videl, what bring you here?"
"You disappeared at the bagel shop and haven't come to school since. We've got an English project to work on and you're nowhere to be found! What gives, Gohan?" She demanded.
"Um, well, that is…" Gohan trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck.
He caught a glimpse of something on the corner of his eyes. He peered over. His little brother was peeking from the kitchen doorway, eavesdropping.
Gohan rolled his eyes. He reached for Videl's arm and dragged her to his bedroom.
Videl sat on his bed and crossed her arms. "Did you disappear because I know you're the Golden Warrior, now?"
"Uh, well, that's part of it." He meekly answered.
Videl looked at him for more answers.
"I, uh, knew you'd be coming after me for more answers. I just wasn't sure how I was going to be able to explain myself to you."
"Why? You seemed to explain yourself just fine about the Great Saiyaman."
"Er, well, this is different. What you found out was something I really didn't want anyone to find out."
"Is there a difference between the two disguises you use? I don't understand." Videl asked. "How is it that your hair and eyes change color, anyway?."
Gohan began to sweat nervously, wondering how he was going to explain.
"It's not like you have another gadget you use to disguise yourself with, right? I mean, your features looked all the same, it was just like… an American version of you." She continued to ramble. "And to top it all off, you were freaking glowing. I don't know why this is hard for you to explain to me, but you better do it quick." She demanded.
Gohan gulped.
"Well, Gohan?"
The half-Saiyan sighed. She was pushy as ever. "Videl, you wouldn't want to hear my explanation, trust me."
"Why not? Just tell me, Gohan. It's already too late to keep more secrets at this point, isn't it?"
The two sat in silence.
She watched Gohan as he furrowed his eyebrows and swallowed hard.
He finally decided, to hell with it. He knew he was going to spill it to her at one point or another.
"Videl, I'm not human."
End, chapter 9.
A/N: Will get the next chapter up when I can. Suspecting some kind of romance soon... Hehe. I make up the story as I write, so it's interesting for me too, since this plot is not concrete in my head.
FYI – DBZ-related words in my fic are terms I gathered from the subbed version, in case it might have occurred to you that my vocab seems a little off from dubbed DBZ.
Please review with your comments and/or criticisms, they are always a big motivational help!
Thanks for reading!
