Author's Notes: I edited 'He always comes back' and took my theory about Videl out so that the story would flow better. I've added to it a bit, and published it here as a separate one-shot. I didn't like the way Videl was portrayed in DBS, and to make the canon more bearable in my eyes I came up with this theory for why she is that way. If you want to see a better depiction of anti-DBS Videl read Distorted Destiny by eye of the panda. It irks me when Anime takes strong female characters and makes them all soft-spoken and docile just because they become wives. Please review and let me know what you think of my theory for why Videl is so chill in DBS.
Influence
"Hey, Gohan," Videl called from somewhere inside the house, "You busy?"
Gohan marked his place in the book he was reading and removed his glasses warily. Lately Videl had been a bit crabbier than usual, and he quickly scanned his memories for anything he had done wrong.
"Nothing urgent. Just catching up on some of the latest publications." Gohan called back, "Do you need something?"
"Could you come over here?"
As he got up to go to her, Gohan tried to decipher his wife's tone to get a clue of what mood she was in. Her voice sounded mild and calm, so he figured he was safe.
Just the day before, she had snapped at him for trying to help her carry in the grocery bags. She had just started training again, and she was a bit sensitive about her strength. With a part-Saiyan kid in the house, Videl felt she should keep up with her martial arts training. Pan was already flying, and Videl was having trouble keeping up with her. But so was Gohan, and Piccolo, and even Goku. Videl was being harder on herself than she needed to be. When Pan was curious about something, she could move extremely quickly, and everyone was struggling to keep an eye on her. So, when Gohan tried to help with the groceries out of courtesy, Videl immediately became defensive and thought he was implying that she was weak. It was a momentary snap of anger, and she only needed to see the shock in Gohan's eyes before she realised that he had not meant anything by it. Then she had apologised and kissed him on the cheek, making him blush.
For the last two years or so she had been the one more prone to blushing. She could be adorable sometimes, but she usually kept that cute side for when they were alone together. Something had happened to her after they got married though, and she became strangely docile. When Gohan noticed that it had happened to Bulma too while she was pregnant with Bulla, he asked Vegeta about it and was surprised that there was an explanation.
"Vegeta?" Gohan approached the Saiyan Prince quietly as he was changing Bulla's diaper.
"What?" Vegeta grunted, more out of necessity than actual irritation.
"Is everything alright with Bulma?" Gohan was frowning in concern, "She's being so nice to everyone. I know everyone was grateful that Whis used his power to make the birth easier, but could something have gone wrong as a result?"
Vegeta rolled his eyes and tisked under his breath.
"No, fool. It's just the maternal bond being formed. It happens to all women who give birth to Saiyan children. It's just a concentrated version of the normal effect we have on our mates."
Gohan was confused. He had so many questions. He had noticed that Videl was also a bit docile during her pregnancy, but he had assumed that it was because Videl usually gave her all in anything she attempted. Motherhood was just the newest challenge she was going to conquer. But now that Vegeta mentioned it, he remembered Chi-Chi had been very calm until Goten was about two years old as well. And now that he thought about it, it was strange, as Chi-Chi was mourning for her husband at the time. But Vegeta made it sound like it was somehow their genetic influence. And why was he making it sound like there was some sort of influence outside of pregnancy too?
"What do you mean by 'the normal effect'? I haven't noticed anything?" Gohan frowned and pursed his lips as he stroked his chin.
"It's our pheromones," Vegeta had explained gruffly, "Any time we're in the mood to mate, the women have to fight the urge to be submissive. That's why Saiyans tend to choose such strong women. The challenge is exciting. Even you must have noticed that!"
Gohan hadn't noticed it. In the beginning when they were newlyweds, Videl had been just as insatiable as him, so it had been difficult to notice. But he knew that, if ever she was angry with him, he could soften her up with a kiss in just the right spot and she would melt against him. She used to get irritated with her weakness, and a few times when she was upset with him, she would pull away from him to get some physical distance.
"Don't give me those puppy eyes," she would say then, even though he could feel her skin warm up and her heart race. "No, I'm mad and I want to fight. So, you just stay right over there, Mister!"
Gohan had never understood her need for physical distance then, but on some level, she must have known the effect he had on her. The way he could always reassure her by holding her. The way his scent seemed to calm her. The way she always stayed on the opposite side of the room whenever she wanted to argue with him. The way he always got a thrill of excitement whenever she denied him or scolded him, because he instinctively knew that she was displaying great strength in fighting the effect he had on her.
"But I don't want to have an influence on Videl!" Gohan exclaimed to an irritable Vegeta. He was pale and horrified, "How would I even know if she really wanted to be with me or if it's just my Saiyan genes influencing her?"
"Relax. Your woman wants you. She's strong enough to fight the influence. They get used to it eventually and it stops affecting them," Vegeta had shrugged, "Look at my blue-haired wench. Does she look like she has a subordinate bone in her body?! It just gets a bit worse when they're fertile and much worse when they're pregnant. Then when the Saiyan child is born, they naturally have their own stronger influence over their mothers to ensure that the maternal-child bond is formed. This is to ensure their own survival. The effect starts to fade over the first year of the child's life, as the mother becomes immune to its effects."
And so Gohan finally understood why Videl was so calm all the time. During the pregnancy she fought it sometimes, when she was in the mood to be angry, and her fire would return. But mostly she seemed content and happy. She didn't seem to mind. After Pan was born, she slowly started coming back to herself, even though she was content to stay home. Now that Gohan knew what was causing her strange docileness, he couldn't wait for her to get a bit restless again. He liked seeing her content and happy, but not if it was not of her own choice.
About a fortnight after the Tournament of Power, Gohan finally stopped worrying about her. After he had accidently worked late one night, she had been waiting for him at the door, tapping her foot.
"Hi Gohan. Nice of you to drop by." Her voice could have cut wind. He had rubbed his head sheepishly and apologised profusely for not warning her. She finally relented, but there was still some irritation in her eyes. "Fine. But I'm only going to stay home with Pan for one more year before I start working with the police again. So, you can't just get into the habit of working late, Gohan. By then you had better have learned how to communicate better!"
This was the first Gohan had heard that Videl even had a plan for how long she wanted to stay home with Pan. But he was relieved. The next day, when he was certain she was feeling more like herself, he brought up what Vegeta had mentioned. To his surprise, Videl was aware of it. She knew she had been a bit calmer than usual, but she hadn't minded.
In her words: "If I hadn't been so calm, I probably would have freaked out a bit more about having a part-alien baby."
"But wasn't it irritating to you? Not being able to express your emotions?" Gohan had asked, feeling guilty that his genes had impacted her so greatly.
"Nah, it wasn't so bad." She had shrugged, "I knew I could get angry if I wanted to. I just didn't see the point. I was happy. I still am. Just in a less Mrs Briefs-like way."
Gohan had chuckled, happy that she was not too upset by the way she had been influenced. She was still mostly happy, but as she started to come back to herself, she also had renewed determination to become stronger. The two years of pregnancy and docileness had taken a toll on her muscles and reflexes. She grew irritable the more impatient she became with the slowness of her body.
So, it was with a sense of caution and guilt that Gohan made his way through the house to where his wife was calling him.
She seemed to be in their bedroom, and Gohan wondered what she wanted. Piccolo had taken Pan to his usual meditation spot, and Gohan had hoped Videl would use this time to catch up on some sleep or training.
But when he entered the room and saw her sitting on the edge of the bed dressed in her wedding night lingerie, all other thoughts left his mind.
Gohan felt himself gaping at her, and she wore an amused smirk as she took in his expression.
He felt his cheeks heating up, and his breath started to come faster. Ever since Gohan had learned of the effect he could have on Videl, he had deliberately waited for her to initiate things in the bedroom. It had been a month since then and she had not really shown any signs of wanting him. He had begun to think that maybe he had a stronger influence on her than Vegeta had thought.
"Piccolo took Pan for a few hours so we finally have some time to ourselves," Videl whispered huskily, as she stood up and approached him slowly, "If you were terribly busy, I would have gone to train. But since you're not…"
Gohan could only watch as Videl reached for his tie and drew him towards her. The warmth of her body and the silky feel of her lingerie almost sent his senses into overdrive. He felt his skin burn and his heart race as her scent enveloped him. She planted suggestive kisses on the corners of his lips. She was teasing him, knowing that he would not be able to resist kissing her more fully.
He smiled at the sparkle in her bright blue eyes. Gohan could never resist giving this woman what she wanted. And as he leaned in to press his lips more fully against hers, he found himself wondering just who was influencing whom?
