Innocent Feelings

10

Timing

She knew, she just knew she shouldn't have bothered to show up. Looking past the umbrella an officer was holding for her and the chief as she was being told of the situation, Videl glanced up to the top of a skyscraper, where some crazy guy was holding a person hostage. The more she listened on, the more annoyed Videl got. It was just one guy, who apparently just lost his job and was threatening his former boss with a gun to the head; it was just one person, one gun, against the entire police forces.

"And why, exactly, did you need to call me for this again?" she snapped in irritation, rubbing her temples with her thumb and forefinger, and the chief sputtered in embarrassment. "I specifically requested to be left alone today, didn't I?"

She should've just left that damned watch home. She should've known this hopeless bunch would be calling for her help again. Damn it, why today? To think, if only she'd forgotten to wear her stupid watch before leaving today, she would still be with Gohan right now, at the restaurant, having fun with him. Now she had to handle this ridiculous situation, and she got completely soaked on her way to get there to top it off.

In moments like these, she wished she was just a normal teenage girl, not a crime fighter. Why would she always get called off when she was with Gohan? Couldn't she catch a break?

"What's going on?"

The unexpected deep voice startled her, and Videl turned around swiftly; sure enough, the Great Saiyaman was here, his silly costume completely drenched by the pouring rain.

"Ah! Great Saiyaman!" exclaimed the chief with relief, and Videl glared at the ranked policeman. How could he call himself the police chief when all he could do was rely on others to do his job?

The man quickly filled the superhero in with the situation at hand, who nodded in understanding. He then raised his helmeted head towards the top of the skyscraper, presumably looking at the pair on the roof's edge through his black visor.

"The thing is," went on the police chief, "that man especially demanded to see Miss Videl, which is why we had to –"

"He what?" exclaimed Saiyaman, his head jerking around to look back at the chief. Was there a hint of anger in his tone?

"Well, you see…" fumbled the older man. "He says he's her biggest fan and would only speak to her."

"So you're just going to give that psycho what he wants? Can't you stop him?" said Saiyaman, rather harshly.

"We have snipers surrounding him, of course!" retorted the chief, offended, obviously feeling the need to defend his decisions. "But he's got a hostage and is keeping him in front of him as a shield, there's nothing we can do in this situation! Unless you'd rather let the hostage get killed, too?"

"I'm taking care of it," Saiyaman declared firmly, and started levitating. "There's no need to involve Videl in this – or snipers."

Videl stared after the red-caped man's retreating figure, flying up to the top of the skyscraper. Saiyaman seemed… strangely protective of her. Not to mention he actually called her Videl for once, not Miss Videl like usual. The way he'd said her name felt oddly familiar, yet she couldn't pinpoint the reason. Something felt off about him tonight, somehow…

Less than a minute later, Saiyaman was flying back towards them, carrying an unconscious man over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes – the bad guy, obviously – while he held a second man – the bad guy's former boss – around the waist.

He landed and put down the unconscious man unceremoniously, at the chief's feet, then let go of the rescued hostage; a medical crew rushed forward, while a police officer bent down to handcuff the wrongdoer.

"There, done," Saiyaman said, in an almost challenging way. "Now, if you'll excuse me."

And the Great Saiyaman took off to the dark, stormy sky, leaving behind a furious police chief and a bewildered Videl. Sure, she was the first to say that the police forces of Satan City were more than hopeless, but to flat-out show the chief how incompetent he was at his job? She'd never dared go that far, out of respect, even though sometimes she'd been quite tempted to do so more than once – tonight being one of those times.

It had been disrespectful and kind of rude of Saiyaman. The forces were doing the best they could, however unsuccessful they were. And yet, for some reason, Videl felt strangely satisfied by the outraged look on the chief's face.

Saiyaman had done what she'd always wanted to do. And tonight especially, when she very much resented the chief for calling her over such a stupid matter, she was glad someone had put him in his place. Maybe now he'll realize what a lousy job he'd been doing, always relying on others to get the work done, and will actually start trying harder. It would certainly give her a break.

Without wasting any more time – she should have just left when Saiyaman arrived, she mused distractedly – Videl ran back to her jetcopter, into the heavy rain again, quickly climbed in and started the engine, eager to join Gohan at the restaurant and pick up where they'd left off.

When she landed and rushed back in the restaurant, however, Gohan was nowhere to be seen. Still dripping wet, she asked the waitress who was in charge of their table about him, and was astonished to hear that Gohan had paid the check and left.

Before she could process the information, her cell phone's ringtone went off. She picked it up and, looking at the screen, quickly answered the call.

"Gohan, where are you?"

She walked toward the restaurant's front door, and looked up at the black, pouring sky. She heard him heave out a deep sigh, and frowned.

"I… I'm really sorry, Videl," he said, sounding hesitant and discouraged. "It's just… Something came up and I… I had to go. I'm so sorry."

"… Oh."

ooOoo

Gohan let out another sigh, running a hand through his soaked hair. Once he was out of his disguise, he'd been about to go back to the restaurant and wait for Videl, but then he just… He was so sick of pretending. He hated doing as if he'd been waiting for her, when he had in fact been with her all along. He was sick of lying to her, sick of his secrets, sick of his own cowardice. He didn't have the will to face her and lie to her again. He just couldn't stand all the lies anymore.

He was in a deserted alley, with a good view of the front of the restaurant. While he had waited for her to come back and get safely inside, he'd pondered on whether he should join her or not. In the end, he decided to call her instead.

He didn't lie. Something did come up and he really had to go. Yet Gohan still felt sick in the stomach as he uttered those words. While it wasn't a lie, it was hidden truth, which was hardly any better.

He observed her, looking out from the glass door of the restaurant, and wondered how he could be worth a person as amazing and beautiful as her. Surely Videl deserved someone better, someone who wouldn't lie to her all the time, didn't she?

He sighed a third time.

"I… I still had a great time with you," Gohan said dejectedly, failing to sound cheerful.

"Y… Yeah. We had fun, didn't we?" she replied, half-heartedly.

There was a blank. Gohan swallowed.

"… I'm so sorry I had to leave so suddenly, Videl," he apologized again. "I was supposed to walk you home, too…"

"In that rain?" she asked rhetorically, and he could hear the smallest hint of amusement in her voice.

"Well, I have an umbrella, remember?" he said back, a small smile curving the corner of his lips ever so slightly.

He should probably use his umbrella, for that matter, but he didn't feel like taking it out now. He was already drenched to the bone anyway.

"You'll just have to make it up to me next time, then," she said, her soft voice reaching him from the other end of the line.

Gohan closed his eyes and, for a moment, imagined that Videl was right here, with him, and not across the street. That she was in his arms, whispered those words to him. He focused on that vision, recalling the times he had held Videl in his arms; the way it would make him feel, the wonderful feeling of peace that would wash over him as he would bask in her sweet scent.

Opening his eyes, he looked at her through the glass door, from the distance, and cracked a small smile as he replied, as if she were right here, by his side.

"I can't wait."

Oh, how he wished he could've held her in his arms just one more time tonight…

ooOoo

"So how did it go?"

Videl rolled her eyes. She had barely set her backpack beside her chair, didn't even get to sit down, when Erasa, evidently too impatient to let her settle down properly, asked her about her date with Gohan the day before.

Sending Erasa a smirk, Videl took her time, sitting down and taking out her school supplies for the upcoming class, reveling in her friend's impatience and curiosity. She could feel Erasa's eager eyes on her, waiting for the details of the date. Still, she took her time and opened her English book at a random page, pretending to read over the previous lesson.

"Well? How was your date with Gohan? Where did you go?"

Letting out a chuckle, Videl finally turned to Erasa, deciding that she'd made her wait long enough. She'd always liked teasing the people she liked; Gohan wasn't the only one, after all, though he was definitely the one she enjoyed seeing flustered the most. It was so easy with him, too.

"He took me to the zoo," she said, lowering her voice so as not to be heard by their curious classmates, who seemed to have scooted closer to them after Erasa's question. "I'll tell you more later."

Erasa nodded in understanding, though she was looking more impatient and excited than ever. As more students filled the classroom, Erasa didn't seem to be able to resist any more and, scooting closer to Videl and whispering to her ear, she asked the question she apparently could not wait to ask.

"Did he kiss you?"

Videl's face turned crimson in an instant. Inevitably, she thought of that fleeting moment when she'd been in his arms, and he'd cupped her face and started leaning to her, and she'd felt his warm breath brushing her lips… everything rushed back to her. But once again, they got interrupted before Gohan was able to finally close the distance and kiss her, like he had visibly intended to do, which had left her feeling awkward and frustrated.

The girl shook her head negatively in response, her face still looking as beet-red as ever.

"What's up with your face Vi?"

Sharpner had just come up to their row, and obviously noticed just how red and flustered she was. Videl groaned and buried her head in her arms, while Sharpner looked at Erasa questioningly. Smirking, Erasa simply mouthed "Gohan." The long-haired boy rolled his eyes and slid behind Videl's seat to get to his chair, next to her.

"Brains's late again, for that matter," Sharpner observed in a bored tone, rocking on his chair.

And indeed, the bell went off just a few moments later. The teacher walked in the classroom just as the melodic tune stopped; everyone settled down at once while the teacher sat down behind her desk and pulled out the attendance sheet. Videl straightened up and frowned slightly, her eyes fixated on the closed door below, on the far right of the classroom, while the English teacher was calling roll. Gohan being late for class was not an unusual occurrence, after all he lived pretty far away from the city. Still, something didn't sit well with her: she felt strangely restless, impatient for Gohan to show up.

"Missing him already?" whispered Erasa with a playful smirk. Videl felt her face heat up and pulled up her book to hide behind it, embarrassed to show how such a simple comment could make her turn so red.

Was she that obvious? Erasa was seeing through her like the open book she was using as a shield. It was silly, really, and rather unreasonable. She'd spent the whole day with him yesterday, and yet she couldn't wait to see Gohan again. She wanted him to hurry up, and she wanted to be alone with him again, and be in his arms again.

Videl let out a soft sigh and glanced at the door again over her open textbook. What was taking him so long?

The door burst open, followed by the usual "Sorry I'm late!" Gohan rubbed the back of his neck uneasily under the teacher's disapproving look, but let out a sigh of relief when he was told to take his seat.

She wished she could stop smiling as he walked up and caught her gaze right away, giving her a smile of his own. Erasa was going to tease her again, and she was positive the whole class was following their exchange attentively… but she really couldn't help it. Her eyes didn't leave his as he ascended, and then took his seat next to Erasa, at the end of their row. Her smile seemed glued on her face as she looked at him, feeling the familiar flutters in her chest when he mouthed to her a simple "Hi."

But then, her smile faltered slightly. Videl watched as Gohan opened his satchel and took out his things for the class. His movements seemed somewhat… slow. He blinked several times, as if trying to clear his sight, and stifled a yawn, covering his lips with his fist. She frowned slightly, wishing she could ask him why he looked so tired. Switching seats with Erasa wouldn't seem like such a bad idea, now.

When Gohan looked her way again, she soundlessly asked him if he was OK. He nodded his head and smiled reassuringly.

"Don't worry," he added, whispering, when her furrowed brows didn't relax.

She wasn't very convinced, and wanted to ask him more about it. Alas, it would have to wait until they could be alone again.

ooOoo

It wasn't until lunch break that the opportunity to be alone with Gohan presented itself. During the morning break, Erasa has insisted that she tell her everything about her date with Gohan. It had been quite the embarrassing experience, too.

"Aww, so you guys got interrupted again? Man, that's really bad timing," Erasa'd said, when Videl told her, crimson-faced, about the "almost kiss" occurrence at the zoo.

"Nothing I can do about it," mumbled Videl, still blushing.

"Of course there is!" countered Erasa excitedly. "It's obvious, isn't it? You gotta make the first move and kiss him!"

Videl flushed brightly and covered her face with her hands in an attempt to hide it, as she thought back to Erasa's suggestion. How did she expect her to be so bold as to just up and kiss Gohan like that? It would be her first kiss, too! She may be a tomboy, but she was still a girl – especially if it had anything to do with Gohan – and that was a pretty big deal for her.

"You OK, Videl?"

She glimpsed through her fingers to look at Gohan, and her face only burned up more. He was bent over to her, his expression curious and a bit worried – and his face really, really close. Her first reaction was to take a step back, stuttering something even she didn't understand.

"Uhm, OK," Gohan said, uncertain. "Anyway, let's get to the courtyard."

As she followed behind him, Videl glanced around them uneasily, noting that, yet again, everybody in the hallway was more or less looking at them.

She grabbed Gohan's hand and pulled him towards the opposite direction. He blinked in surprise.

"Let's go somewhere else instead," she said quietly, and glanced at him over her shoulder. "I'm tired of them watching us all the time."

Gohan cracked a smile, his fingers tightening slightly around her small hand.

"How about the roof, then?" he suggested.

ooOoo

Gohan closed his eyes and sighed in content. Having Videl in his arms was the best.

Still on the roof, they'd got some time to spare before the lunch break was over, so naturally, they were putting it to good use. They were sitting on the ground, Videl on his lap, him leaning back against the rail and holding her close. Her head on his shoulder, her palm against his chest; her sweet scent was making him drowsy… Gohan played with her hair, distractedly wondering if it would be okay to untie her pigtails to run his fingers through her silky, raven locks.

"By the way," said Videl quietly, moving her head slightly so as to look at him. "Why were you so tired this morning? I figured you were a morning person, you're always so cheerful."

He smiled slightly. "I am. A morning person, I mean. I just, um, didn't get much sleep last night."

The topic was making him nervous, and it obviously didn't go unnoticed as Videl sat up to face him better.

"Why? Something wrong?"

It was strange how her worried expression could make him feel both happy and guilty. That Videl would worry for him, even for something so small, it was endearing and made him feel special, but at the same he felt bad to be making her worried. Moreover, the reason he'd had trouble sleeping last night was because of how guilty he felt about the way their first date ended, and of course, about how he still hadn't told her about his superhero alter-ego. Not only that, but he had promised himself, during their date yesterday, that he would absolutely tell her about it today no less, and the prospect hadn't helped him sleep at all, to say the least.

He was about to say that he was fine, but suddenly his voice wouldn't come out. His throat was completely dry.

He had to tell her today. Now? Gohan wiped his sweaty hands on his pants. It was making him so anxious. Should he really tell her right here and now?

"What is it?" she asked, frowning in concern by his lack of response.

"It's… It's about the thing I need to tell you."

He'd blurted it out really fast, fearing that he might chicken out again if he kept hesitating any more. He had to do it now. He'd promised himself he would tell Videl today, and Son Gohan always, always kept his promises, especially those he made to himself. He'd decided to tell her today and darn it, he was going to say it right now.

He looked into her eyes, and placed his hands on her shoulders. Videl looked nervous, too, but she didn't say anything to let him go on.

This was it. He was doing it now.

"I'm–"

And his voice stopped working again.

"I… I'm…"

He tried again, and again, but the words just wouldn't come out of his mouth.

"I'm… I'm Ssss…"

It just wouldn't come out.

"Are you a snake?" Videl joked, to lighten up his mood. He chuckled slightly, but inwardly he felt awful.

He had promised it to himself. He had decided that he would do it today – that he would say it now. And yet… Why couldn't he just say it? It shouldn't be that hard to say "I'm Saiyaman." It was just a few words. One short sentence.

Why, why was it so hard to tell her?

Her soft palm touched his cheek, making Gohan look back at her. Her gentle smile made his heart skip a beat, and then clench painfully in guilt.

"It's alright," she said softly. "It's alright, you don't have to tell me now. If it's making you so upset and distraught, actually, you don't have to tell me at all."

His lips parted slightly, his mind was blank. He didn't have to tell her…? But, no, of course he had to. If she knew what it was about, if Videl knew what he was hiding from her, she wouldn't be saying that. Wasn't she the one who was determined to unmask Saiyaman? Wasn't she the one who had reproached him to be too secretive and suspicious, for that matter, on his first few weeks at school? She was the one who wanted to know his secrets… How could she say that he didn't have to tell her the truth, how could she encourage him to keep his secrets to himself, especially now that they were in a relationship?

Moreover, how could Videl, of all people, suggest such a thing?

"Who are you and what happened to the nosy Videl," he asked in a low voice, only partly joking.

"I just…" She blushed slightly and lowered her eyes. "I don't want you to look like that."

"To look like what?" he asked, the corners of his lips curving up in spite of himself. She was just too cute.

"When you're not smiling," she mumbled, her face flaring up. "You looked like you were… struggling. So much. I don't like it. I don't like your eyes when you look sad. I just want you to keep smiling at me."

He was at a loss for words. She was still avoiding his gaze, staring somewhere below his collar, and her cheeks were an adorable cherry pink. Gohan lifted her chin gently, making her look at him, and as he stared back at her gorgeous blue orbs he felt his heart swell with love.

"That's the kindest thing anyone's ever said to me," he whispered, smiling in adoration at beautiful girl in his arms.

She chuckled softly, touching his cheeks with both her index fingers. "Now that's more like it. Smiling suits you much better."

He grinned, and she responded in kind, smiling at him brightly.

Gosh, he was so in love with this girl.

Gohan leaned his forehead against Videl's and closed his eyes, holding her closer against him. She was such an amazing girl, and for what seemed like the umpteenth time he wondered how he could be so lucky to be with a girl like Videl. Distractedly, jokingly, he thought maybe it was his reward because he saved the world years ago.

"I'm still going to tell you," he said, his tone soft yet determined. "I have to."

"Well, like I said, you can take your time telling me."

Her light-hearted voice seemed to be lifting some of the weight from his shoulders. Was it okay, then, if he postponed telling her for a little bit longer? He did promise himself to tell her today… and he really did try, so that should count, right? Or was he making excuses again?

In any case… It seemed like he wasn't ready to tell her yet. And Videl was fine with waiting until he was, too, so he figured it was kind of okay.

Her hand cupped his cheek, while the other one rested on his shoulder. When did her face get so close? He could actually feel her breath brushing his lips… Gohan felt a tug in his stomach, and swallowed, his breathing becoming heavier…

It occurred to him suddenly, that the issue was nowhere near solved. He was abruptly reminded of the other promise he'd made to himself, when in that very moment he wanted nothing more than to break it.

"Gohan…" she whispered his name, making the hair at the base of his neck stand up.

He gulped loudly.

"Y… Yeah?"

She wrapped her arms around his neck and he opened his eyes to look at her – bad, bad move. The way she was looking at him, the glint in her eyes… Her light pants, her rosy lips. Those tantalizing, oh so tempting lips…

"I think it's about time we kiss, hm?"

Oh boy. Oh boy, oh boy. How was he supposed to resist now? This was bad… He already couldn't keep his promise to tell her about him today, and now he was actually considering kissing Videl when he really really shouldn't, not before she knew who she was really dealing with.

And she was so close… So intoxicatingly close. Damn it, why did these situations keep happening to them?

"We… can't," he uttered out, forcing the words out, while gently pushing her back by the shoulders.

Videl stared at him, lips parted, completely dumbfounded. A lump rose to his throat as she moved away from him, and his eyes followed her as she stood up.

"The bell is going to ring soon, we should go."

"Videl, look…" he started, getting up so he could face her, although, he didn't really know what to say.

But she turned away from him and started toward the door. Just then, the bell went off, and Videl walked through the door, not pausing or waiting for him, and disappeared into the staircase.

And Gohan just stood there.

January 8, 2021