When You're a Superhero

5. Being Good With Kids Is a Must

Dani had been staying close to him from the moment they got to the police station. She had grabbed his arm and didn't look ready to let go. Gohan frowned at the look of anguish on her face. She was biting her lip and her eyes darted around; she flinched at sudden and loud noises too.

When the female officer suggested getting Dani in a group home, as was standard procedure in such cases, Gohan felt the young girl's fingers tighten on his arm. If not for his steel-like skin, she would have left a mark.

She raised her gaze at him and shook her head frantically. Gohan's frown deepened behind his visor and his lips pursed tightly. He turned to the officer.

"Is there any other option?"

Dani didn't seem to fare well in crowded places, that much was obvious. Gohan couldn't imagine sharing a home with over a hundred kids going well for her.

Maybe that was why being in the system didn't work out for her before. If she got a panic attack every time she found herself overwhelmed by all the other kids living with her in a group home, it only made sense that she would rather be on her own, especially if things didn't go well with her foster family.

Dani needed a loving home with trustworthy people and a safe environment. But something like that took time to find. Dani did need a place to stay in the meantime.

"I'm sorry, but the procedure to place a child in a foster family takes time," the woman replied, giving Dani a sympathetic look. "You'll be safe in a group home, I promise."

Gohan's jaw clenched. It wasn't good enough. He had promised Dani he would make sure she was safe and sound, and being in an environment that may give her panic attacks did certainly not meet their expectations.

If he could, he would've just taken Dani home with him. He certainly had the room. But he was the Great Saiyaman right now. If only he'd found Dani as himself, taking her in would've been so simple.

Was his secret identity more important than a child's wellbeing, though? Maybe he should just go for it and offer himself as Dani's temporary guardian. She should be the priority, not him.

But it wasn't only about him. If people found out Son Gohan was the Great Saiyaman, they would surely look into his family to try and understand how he was so strong, and they might even figure out that his little brother had the same kind of abilities. The reason he needed a mask wasn't just to protect himself, it was to keep his family out of the limelight. As much as he wanted to help Dani, letting the world know who he was just wasn't an option. He would be putting a target on his mother, and especially on Goten, and who knew how people would react if they ever found out that he and his brother were part-alien? It was too risky.

Maybe he could entrust Dani to someone else, though? Someone who didn't have a direct link to his real identity, and who would be willing to take her in.

Krillin came to mind. He was a great father, and their friendship wasn't public knowledge, so linking Krillin to Dr. Son Gohan, head scientist of the Capsule Corp. branch in Satan City wouldn't be people's first thought. It would mean that he would need to be careful not to be seen in public with Krillin and his family, but seeing as they usually hung out at either Kame House, Krillin's place in the suburbs of West City, or private gatherings, that shouldn't pose much of a problem.

More importantly, Krillin and Eighteen would be giving Dani a safe and loving home, and she would even get a little sister out of it. It was ideal.

"Fancy seeing you here, Saiyaman."

He tensed at the familiar voice, and his face flushed without his consent. Dani's grip on his arm tightened. Gohan turned his head and offered a meek smile to the famous crime fighter.

"Hello again, Videl."

She tilted her head and studied the young girl at his side. Dani quickly looked away.

"And this is…?" Videl asked.

"Her name is Dani," Gohan replied. "We're trying to find her a good home, but the procedure takes time, and she's not too keen on going to a group home."

Videl observed Dani carefully. She took a step forward, trying to catch the younger girl's gaze. Despite being older, Videl was a couple inches shorter than Dani. The observation made Gohan smile slightly.

"I'm Videl." She held out her hand to the younger girl. But Dani pursed her lips and avoided her gaze.

Gohan leaned closer and whispered in Videl's ear, "I think she doesn't fare well in crowded places."

She took an abrupt step back and turned her head away, clearing her throat into her fist. Gohan tilted his head in confusion at her odd reaction. He wasn't the type of person to overthink that kind of thing though, so he just shrugged it off.

"What, um, what are you going to do, then?" She tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. She still wouldn't look at him.

"I might know a family who could take her in."

Videl finally returned his gaze at that. She quirked an eyebrow, crossing her arms, and a smirk was forming on her lips.

"Is that so? Who are those people? I'll be curious to know what kind of acquaintance you have."

This was tricky. Videl might be able to make the connection between Krillin and his real identity if she looked hard enough. And Gohan was pretty sure she would stop at nothing if it could get her closer to finding out who he was under the disguise. The clever glint in her eyes told him he had to be extra careful around her.

"But maybe you know someone?" Gohan asked instead. "The family I'm thinking of live really far away, I'm talking over ten thousand miles away, so it would be complicated for Dani to move in with them, especially if it's only temporary."

Videl frowned, but not because he had avoided her question. She seemed thoughtful, as though she was considering his dilemma. "Yeah, I see your point. If they live that far, it'll be difficult to follow up on Dani's situation, and we'll have to transfer her case there, which would add extra paperwork and take even longer."

Dani was slowly easing her grip on his arm. Gohan looked at her, and a smile curved on his lips when he saw the girl observing the young woman. Dani was starting to get comfortable around Videl, and the fact that she was genuinely concerned about her didn't go unnoticed either.

"In that case, I could take her in." Videl smiled at Dani. "What do you say, Dani? Would you like to come live with me? I have two roommates and they're really nice, and we have a spare bedroom that you can use."

Gohan lit up at the idea. "That sounds perfect! You would really do that?"

She turned to him and gave a shrug. "It's not like I can't afford an extra mouth to feed, and I have the room, so why not? I'm happy to help."

But then her brow creased and she held her chin as her eyes unfocused. "Dani's not the only kid who needs a good home, though. I think I need to get more involved in those issues. I do have the means to make a difference, after all."

His chest glowed and his face felt flushed as he gazed upon the incredible young woman. Videl's desire to make the world a better place didn't stop at putting bad guys away. He hadn't thought that she would be so compassionate and generous too. Her willingness to help others any way she could was making Gohan like her even more.

She was truly a beautiful person ━ inside and out.

Damn it, why couldn't he act on his feelings for her? She was so amazing, and at this rate, he was going to really fall for her. Why wasn't it meant to be?

He scratched his neck and blew a soft breath. This was neither here nor there. Dani was the priority right now.

"You're… Mr. Satan's daughter, right?" the teen asked in a small voice, addressing the famous martial artist for the first time.

Videl nodded, a gentle smile on her face. "Yeah, I am. I know I'm young, and I guess I'll be more of a big sister to you than a mom, but I would really like to help you, Dani. Will you come live with me?"

Dani bit her lip as she observed Videl. She glanced up at Gohan, who gave her an encouraging smile and a nod of his helmeted head.

"Videl is a good person. You will be in good hands with her."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Videl said with an amused smirk, her eyes twinkling as she shot him a glance.

"I mean it. I think you're incredible, Videl." His tone was earnest, and his face was flushed still. Gohan worried he might be too obvious, that Videl might figure out how he felt about her, but a part of him didn't care. That part of him actually wanted her to know, to consider him a possibility, to look at him as a man ━ uncaring of their complicated situation.

That part of him was crazy, really. He knew full well nothing could ever happen between Videl and him. He was just letting his emotions get the better of him.

Slowly, Dani detached her fingers from his arm and finally let go of him. Her meaningful action snapped him out of his pointless inner struggle.

She shuffled on her feet, her head lowered as she fiddled her hands. "Okay. I'll go with you." She peered up at Videl and a blush formed on her cheeks as the young woman smiled warmly at her. "Thank you… Videl."

"In that case," said the policewoman behind her desk. She had been silently observing the interaction since Videl turned up. "Let's fill in the paperwork to make Miss Videl Dani's temporary guardian."

They all nodded, and Videl and Dani sat on the chairs on the other side of the desk. Gohan put his hand on Dani's shoulder and smiled warmly as she looked up at him.

"You're in good hands now. Is it okay if I take my leave?"

She opened her mouth and inhaled sharply, but no words came out and she clamped it shut, pursing her lips as a blush formed on her cheeks. He glimpsed a glint of supplication in her eyes before she quickly looked away.

Gohan felt his parental instincts kick in. Dani looked so vulnerable and lost, desperately clinging to something remotely familiar and safe. Seeing her try not to protest even though she clearly wanted him to stay, Gohan couldn't bring himself to go.

He patted her head gently. "It's okay. I don't have to leave right now."

Her blush deepened as she nodded silently. The hint of a smile tugged at her lips.

Videl observed the exchange in silence. On one hand, she felt relieved. If Dani hadn't held Saiyaman back, she would have said something herself to try and make him stay. She had come to the police station to hopefully find out more about the masked superhero, and while she was happy to help Dani and give her a good home, she hadn't lost sight of her objective either.

All she had learned so far was that Saiyaman knew people who lived over ten thousand miles away. The information was too vague and basically useless in her investigation. She couldn't narrow down the list of possible candidates for Saiyaman's real identity with something like that.

"You'll want to visit Dani, I'm sure," she said, bringing their attention to her. "So if you want, you can come home with us after we're done with the paperwork. That way, you'll also see for yourself the kind of environment she'll be living in from now on."

He nodded his helmeted head. "Good idea."

On the other hand, his willingness to be there for the young girl was incredibly endearing. It confirmed yet again that Saiyaman was a good man. He truly cared. It showed that he wanted to make a difference, to make the world a better place, even if it meant he had to do it one person at a time.

Videl felt a kinship toward the mysterious superhero. They had the same goal, the same instinct to protect the innocent, the same desire to do good. She liked that they had that in common.

She was given a few forms to fill in in order to become Dani's temporary legal guardian. Once she was done, she handed the thin stack to the officer who looked them over.

"Everything looks in order," she said, nodding her head. The policewoman smiled at Dani. "You're ready to go with Miss Videl. We'll look for a good foster family for you in the meantime."

"Take your time," Videl said as she stood. "I'm happy to provide a good home for Dani for as long as she wants."

The young girl beamed at her with gratitude. Videl cracked a smile and brushed her thick red locks from her eyes. She knew she was doing the right thing, and it felt good to help someone who desperately needed a parental figure.

But, truth be told, Videl was pretty nervous about caring for a teenager. Growing up without a mother, Videl didn't really have an example to follow, and at her age, she figured she wouldn't have to worry about being a good parent for a while.

At least Erasa and Eri would be there to help. Videl hoped they would be okay with her abrupt decision for that matter, but she wasn't too worried about it. Erasa had four siblings, and though she was the youngest, she had a natural maternal instinct that drove her to take care of the people around her. Besides, both she and Eri had babysitting jobs when they were teens, so they would probably be more comfortable than Videl caring for a young girl. Videl had always been wealthy so she never had to get a part-time job when she was in high school, and she thought at that moment that she sure could have used that kind of experience right now.

"We should get going, then," Saiyaman said. Dani stood and looked up at him, and he smiled warmly in response, patting her head gently.

There was something comforting and soothing about his presence. The way he was with Dani felt almost… fatherly. It made Videl pause to think about it.

Could it be that Saiyaman was married and had kids? The thought hadn't crossed her mind before, but it was a possibility. It made her cringe as she recalled the way she had shamelessly flirted with him earlier. Her intention was only to distract the masked hero in the hope of taking off his helmet, but the idea that she may have made advances on a married man didn't sit well with her.

He hadn't pulled away, though. When she leaned in, acting as though she might be about to kiss him ━ Saiyaman didn't stop her. He was even visibly upset when he realized she was only trying to unmask him. Was it because she caught him off guard, that she affected him in such a way that he couldn't bring himself to push her away regardless of his relationship status, or was it because he wasn't actually committed to anyone?

Maybe he was similar to Erasa and had a strong natural parental instinct. Maybe he had younger siblings and he was used to caring for children, or he also had babysitting jobs when he was younger.

Or maybe he had kids of his own. That didn't necessarily mean that he was involved with someone, but it still left Videl with a bitter taste in her mouth when she thought back to their previous encounter. How could she have been so brash and careless? She would hate to learn that she had come on to a married man. It went against everything she stood for.

The three of them got outside and Videl threw her jetcopter capsule on the ground. The yellow vehicle appeared in a cloud of smoke, and she got in the pilot seat. She beckoned Dani and Saiyaman with her hand, motioning them to follow her in.

Videl watched as the tall, caped hero put his hand on Dani's shoulder, sensing that she was nervous.

"I'm sure Videl has a really nice place," he said with a smile. "And she's a really good person. You have nothing to worry about. You'll be safe now. And I'll come visit you whenever I can."

She seemed to scrutinize him, eyes squinted, head tilted to the side, and her brow furrowed ever so slightly. "How come you care so much? You don't have to go that far. You already kept your promise."

He chuckled. "I guess I just feel invested. After everything you've been through, and even if you're in good hands now, it wouldn't feel right to me to just leave everything to Videl."

Her frown deepened. "But you really don't have to. I'm sure you're busy in your real life already. And I'll be fine now. You don't have to━"

Saiyaman flicked Dani's nose with his finger, causing her to trail off mid-sentence. Videl watched the interaction with a pinch in her chest.

That man was a natural with kids, that much was obvious.

Could it be that he actually had some of his own?

"I want to, Dani," he told the teenage girl. "I care about you, and I want to make sure you get an actual childhood, that you get to be carefree and only worry about enjoying your life. I didn't have the easiest of childhoods, and I know what it's like to feel utterly lost and hopeless. I'd hate for you to ever feel that way again, and I'm determined to make sure you never do, not anymore, not on my watch."

She lowered her head and nodded. "Okay." Her voice was low and hushed; Videl almost didn't hear her. "I get it. Thanks…"

Saiyaman brought the young girl to him and gave her a hug. Dani hung onto him tightly, and Videl felt her heart glow in the warmest light as she looked on.

He was amazing, that Saiyaman. He wasn't just a good man ━ he was so kind and pure-hearted. Videl had never come across someone so inherently good in her life. People like him were so rare. It made her desire to find out who he really was even stronger. Not just because she was curious or because she wondered what he looked like. She wanted to get to know him and become close to him. She wanted to really know him, who he was when he wasn't superheroing, what he liked to do in his spare time, what he did for a living, who the people he cared most about were. She wanted to see what kind of glint shone in his eyes when he smiled; she wanted to see how he acted in a casual setting, to hear his playful laugh, to listen to him talk about the things that he was passionate about.

He and Dani pulled away and he helped her climb on the jetcopter. Then he drew back and closed the door after her. Both Dani and Videl frowned at that. The teen opened the door again.

"I thought you were coming with us?" Dani asked him before Videl could.

"I am, but I'll just follow the jetcopter and join you once you get to Videl's place."

"Why don't you just come with us?" Dani insisted.

He waved a hand in front of him. "I just like flying on my own better. And it's a good opportunity for you two to get to know each other better. Don't worry, I'll be right behind you guys."

Videl wondered if he suspected her intentions to try and find out more about him or if he did mean what he said. Either way, she wasn't going to pass up on this chance that easily.

"We can bond just as well with you around," she argued, rolling her eyes. "Just get in, Saiyaman. It's getting late."

He turned his head from side to side, a grimace taking up his mouth. Videl followed his gaze and understood what was making him uneasy. His presence was already attracting attention, and some people were starting to get closer. A lot of them had their phones out to record what the superhero was doing.

"I, uh… I don't want to attract even more attention," he explained, rubbing the back of his neck. He seemed to do that a lot, especially when he was uncomfortable, Videl noted. "But you're right, Videl, it is getting late, so you better hurry and go home. I'll meet you there."

Videl grunted. She hated admitting defeat, but she couldn't think of a way to turn this around at this point.

"Fine. Dani, please close the door. We're taking off."

The girl looked like she wanted to protest, but one look at her guardian's scowl made her clamp her mouth shut. She grumbled under her breath as she did as she was told.

The harsh look wasn't directed at her though. Videl was simply upset to lose such a great opportunity to question Saiyaman without any outside distraction.

He chuckled at the exchange. "Looks like you're a natural."

His voice was muffled outside of the jetcopter, but Videl still heard him and what he said made her blush slightly.

She started the engine and took off, shooting a glance at the young girl that she was responsible for from now on. Would it be alright? Could she actually do this, not only caring for but raising a teenager? She was glad she wasn't alone in this, that her friends would be helping her, but she was the one who signed the forms. If anything happened to Dani, it would be on her.

Her heart thumped hard at the thought. It would be a challenge for sure, and not the kind she enjoyed, but Videl wasn't one to back down from a challenge either way. This wasn't just about her anymore. Dani was her responsibility now.

"So, um…" Videl cleared her throat. "I'm guessing you haven't been going to school lately, huh?"

Probably not the best topic to bring up right up front, judging by the way Dani's face hardened and how she crossed her arms, staring straight ahead.

"I hate school."

Not surprising, given how anxious she had been at the bustling police station. "Is it the classes that you don't like, or the fact that it's so crowded?"

Dani tensed. She turned away. "Tch. Whatever."

Great start, Videl. You're killing it.

Would she be able to do this? What did she know about how to handle teens? Sure, it hadn't been very long since she was one, but even back then Videl had never been a regular kid, nor did she get along with a lot of them. She was already a crime fighter back then and aspiring to become the next world champion. Videl supposed she hadn't changed much since her teenage years, though she used to be grumpier, and she had an awful temper too. She supposed she still did, but she managed to control herself better now that she was an adult.

Still, she could never relate to someone like Dani who had had a tough life even as young as she was. Videl never wanted for anything. She was even spoiled as a kid. She grew up in a wealthy home and didn't find it odd that she always got everything she ever wanted. Dani was her complete opposite. How could they ever bond when they were so different? How could she help Dani when she couldn't even understand what she had gone through?

"… Will I really have to go back to school?" Dani mumbled.

Videl glanced at her. Dani was still looking the other way, showing her the back of her head. Videl sighed as she returned her attention to the night sky ahead. "It's not up to me. Unless you're over sixteen, school isn't optional."

"Fuck."

It took Videl a moment to realize she shouldn't condone a teenager saying swear words.

"Language," came her belated reaction.

Dani let out a muffled laugh, her shoulders shaking slightly. She turned to look at her, eyes twinkling with mirth. "Boy, you really have no idea what you're doing, do you?"

Videl felt some tension leave her muscles as she chuckled along. "I really don't. But I'll do my best. I'm only twenty-three, you know; I don't have younger siblings, and I never even worked as a babysitter either. This is all new to me."

"Why did you volunteer yourself then?" Dani asked, quirking her eyebrows at her. "I mean, I get that you want to help, but you could've asked some other people to take me in instead, like Saiyaman planned to do."

"I'm pretty sure the only reason Saiyaman didn't offer to take you in himself is that he would've had to sign his real name on the forms to become your legal guardian. If it hadn't meant revealing his real identity, Saiyaman wouldn't have hesitated for a second, I'm sure of that."

Dani lowered her head. "I guess…"

"Besides, even if I do know some people who would've been willing to take you in, that would've taken time, and where were you supposed to stay in the meantime?" Videl shrugged. "It was what made the most sense, taking you in myself." She glanced at the girl and met her gaze briefly before looking back to the sky ahead. "I admit that this isn't my strong point, but you're basically all grown up already. As long as you have a roof over your head and aren't starving, I'd take that as a win."

Dani laughed slightly. "I guess."

"How about homeschooling?" Videl suggested, the solution suddenly dawning on her. "Since you're not a fan of big crowds, I can hire a private tutor and you won't have to go to school."

Dani's eyes lit up. "Really? We can do that?"

"Of course. Homeschooling has been trending, you know. School systems get very criticized, so a lot of parents would rather teach their kids themselves. I don't think I'd be any good at teaching, but I can afford a private tutor for you."

"That sounds perfect. Thank you so much for being so understanding."

Videl spotted her building in the distance and she got ready to land. She glanced at Dani before focusing on the maneuver. "But maybe you could join some kind of club with kids your age. Surely there are small classes that you could take, that way you could make friends. I wouldn't want you to feel lonely."

Dani frowned, crossing her arms again. "I'm fine on my own. I prefer it."

"I respect that, but still. It'd just be for one hour, once or twice a week. Surely you can manage that? We'll find something fun and in a small group. I think it's important that you spend time with kids your own age."

Dani's expression was hardening. "Do we have to decide now?"

Videl directed the jetcopter in the secluded landing pad behind the building, but she put a hand on Dani's arm to stop her from climbing off. She looked deep into her eyes and did her best to look as stern and serious as possible.

"I'm your guardian, Dani, and I've already made up my mind about this. I want you to find something you can do with kids your age, and that's final."

She was surprised at how firm she sounded. Then again, Videl had never been one to let others walk all over her. Her feistiness and strong will seemed to be good traits to possess when taking care of a kid, especially a teenager.

"Tch. Whatever."

That attitude certainly wasn't Dani's best quality, but Videl supposed it came with the hormones and the changing body. She recalled being much worse than that when she was going through puberty herself. Thank goodness those days were behind her.

She and Dani got off the jetcopter and Videl encapsulated it. Then she looked around, but Saiyaman didn't join them. She doubted that speed had been an issue ━ he could fly much faster than any existing vehicle, she was pretty sure, so keeping up when her aircraft wasn't a problem for him.

Perhaps he was still worried about attracting some unwanted attention if he joined them now. While the landing pad wasn't crowded, a few people were passing by here and there. And if he were to come with them as they got into her building, they might pass her neighbors on their way to her apartment, who would probably not shy away from using their smartphones to capture the moment on camera.

Well, Saiyaman could fly, after all, so he probably planned to get to her place through the window.

"Let's get going," Videl told Dani who was looking around in confusion, evidently not putting two and two together just yet. "Saiyaman will probably join us once we get to my place."

Dani frowned, looking unsure. "Okay…"

Videl shot her a smile. "I mean, to our place."

Dani lowered her head, but her lips twitched and she was unable to force down her smile. Videl chuckled; she was pleased. Dani was a good kid, and it felt good to make her smile.

Just as Videl suspected, barely a few moments after they walked through the door, they heard a knock coming from behind the drawn curtains.

Dani perked up and ran to the glass doors that led to the balcony. She jerked the drapes open and grinned when she saw Saiyaman standing on the other side of the glass. She tried pulling the sliding door open, but it didn't move.

"It's locked," Videl stated, coming up behind the young girl. She pushed the button on the handle and slid the now unlocked door open, before moving aside to let the tall superhero in.

Saiyaman stepped inside and moved his helmeted head from side to side. He whistled. "Nice place." He turned to Dani and smiled brightly. "I think you just hit the jackpot, kid."

The girl shuffled on her feet, her head lowered, her expression tense. She didn't seem very comfortable, which was understandable. She was in a completely new environment, with people she only met today. It was going to take some getting used to before Dani felt at ease living here.

Videl took her hand and gave her a warm smile. "How about I show you to your room?"

Dani blushed and nodded. Saiyaman let out a low chuckle.

They went to the guest room. It was decorated with taste, with gray, white and green as the color scheme. The bed had circle-patterned sheets, many throw pillows, and nightstands on either side of it. There was a gray frieze carpet on the floor, a green armchair near the bed, a desk with a swivel chair by the window, a bookcase adjacent to it, and a walk-in closet. It felt welcoming and cozy.

Videl glanced at Dani and smiled. The girl had sparkles in her eyes.

"This is my room?"

"Feel free to redecorate to your taste," Videl said. "Tomorrow, we'll get you a phone and a laptop, as well as new clothes and anything else you may need."

Dani stared at her with her lips parted. "My own… phone… and laptop?"

"How about you go wash up before bed?" Saiyaman suggested. "It's getting pretty late, and I'm sure you can't wait to test your new bed."

"Let me show you to the bathroom."

Videl placed a hand on Dani's back as she led the dumbfounded girl out of the bedroom and toward the bathroom. Saiyaman didn't follow.

She gave Dani a towel and a clean bathrobe. "I'll lend you some of my friends' clothes after you're done, they'd be more your size than me. Take your time and enjoy a nice, long bath." Videl patted the girl on the head. "You deserve to pamper yourself after everything you've been through."

Dani looked down and bit her lip. "You're so nice to me. It's been a while… since an adult was nice to me like that."

Videl felt her heart break at the confession. What kind of sick bastard would mistreat a child to the point that they would forget what basic human decency was like? If she ever came across those scums…

"I'll leave you to it, then."

She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, closing her eyes and letting out a long sigh. That poor kid.

Videl shook her head to clear her thoughts and went back to the bedroom where she assumed Saiyaman still was, unless he decided to take a look around the place.

She wondered where Erasa and Eri were, for that matter. It wasn't unusual for them to get home late ━ Erasa loved the night life, and Eri wouldn't put up much of a fight even when she didn't feel like going clubbing with her. Videl was better at saying no, but she did enjoy the occasional night out. They were still young, after all, and it was fun. She supposed Erasa had dragged Eri with her tonight as well. She probably had tons of texts from her friends telling her to join them and asking her where she was for that matter, but Videl had put her phone on silent earlier, before going to the police station to see Saiyaman. She didn't want to be disturbed during her investigation. She would check her phone later.

She got to Dani's new room and smiled at the sight that awaited her. Saiyaman was standing by the bookcase and looking at the titles. She tilted her head. Did he like reading?

"You're gonna wait for Dani to come out of the bathroom before leaving, right? To say goodbye to her properly."

He turned to her and smiled. "Of course. I wouldn't just go like that."

So she got her opportunity after all. Her win felt bittersweet, however. It felt like she had ulterior motives for helping Dani, when it wasn't like that at all. Giving Dani a home was one thing, and investigating Saiyaman's real identity was another completely.

Still, a part of her felt like she was using Dani. She didn't like that feeling.

She walked around the bed and sat on the bed, looking up at Saiyaman. "You like to read?"

He turned his attention to the shelves again. "I always have. Essays, non-fiction, historical, academic… and of course anything with a well-written story too."

"So an avid reader, huh?"

He looked at her over his shoulder, the smile still on his lips. "Pretty much."

I could use that, I think, she mused. There's a section about personal interests on most social media pages. I can cross out anyone who obviously doesn't like reading.

As bad as she felt to be using Dani's situation to her advantage, Videl wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to learn more about Saiyaman and possibly narrow down her list of suspects.

"What about you?" he asked, picking out one of the books from the shelves. "Do you like to read? Whose collection is this?"

Videl stood and walked up to him. She leaned closer to him to see what book he was holding. It was one of Erasa's romance novels.

"That's not mine. Though I have read it."

His gloved fingers traced the summary on the back cover. "Any good?"

"It's not bad. It's not just a romance, it has a crime subplot and lots of twists and turns. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I wasn't a fan of the love triangle though, but it was handled okay I guess. At least the characters were likable. She didn't end up with the guy I was rooting for though."

Saiyaman snorted laughing and turned his head away while placing his hand over his mouth to muffle his mirth. Videl felt her face heat up.

"What?" she said with a pout, crossing her arms.

"Nothing." His shoulders were still shaking from holding back his laughter. Videl narrowed her eyes at him.

"What?"

He was grinning, and Videl was certain his eyes were twinkling with amusement behind that black visor. "I just thought… it was cute, how you were disappointed that your favorite guy didn't get the girl."

She turned her head away, tightening her crossed arms and puckering out her lower lips. What did he mean, it was cute? Videl felt like she should be offended, but she wasn't sure why.

She shook her head and turned her attention back on the tall superhero. She needed to stay focused on her objective. She was alone with Saiyaman right now, she had to use this opportunity to learn more about him. She had to narrow down her list as much as possible.

"Anyway…"

He was still grinning. Her eye twitched.

Focus, Videl. Just focus on what to say next.

"Dani's really attached to you already. You're really good with her. I was quite impressed."

His smile toned down. He rubbed the back of his neck. Was that the hint of a blush on the uncovered part of his face?

"Yeah. I… I'm glad we could help her."

Videl's eyes glazed over as she stared at him with a silly smile. His awkwardness was endearing.

She shook herself out of it. Focus, girl, just focus.

"You seem like a natural with kids."

"I guess I am," he said softly. "I mean, I've been… um… uh… I probably shouldn't be telling you that, heh."

She frowned. What was he going to say? What had he been? Married? Taking care of his own kids? Why did he catch himself this time? He had been pretty careless until now. What did he stop himself from blurting out?

"Do you have kids of your own?" she asked point-blank, unable to stand not knowing for sure anymore. "Are you married?"

"M… Married? Me?"

The disbelief in his tone as he said that was a good sign.

He cleared his throat into his fist and turned away. "I mean, uh… I probably shouldn't answer that either…"

"I'm asking because of earlier today." Videl took a step closer and put her hand on his forearm. She felt his tight muscles tense at her touch, and she heard his breath hitch. "When I flirted with you in my failed attempt to unmask you. The thought didn't even cross my mind then, but seeing how you are with Dani, I started wondering. And I'd hate to find out I hit on a married man, even if I had non-romantic ulterior motives."

He swallowed thickly. His lips moved slightly, but no word came out. And he was definitely blushing now.

Wait, was he reacting to her being so close to him? Videl felt her face heat up at the realization and pulled her hand away, taking a step back.

"So… are you?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, his helmeted head turned away. He cleared his throat.

"I, uh… I'm not married, no, and I don't have kids. I'm not involved with anyone, either."

Videl sighed in relief. "That's good to know. Thank you for answering. It was really bugging me."

In more ways than one. Not that she would ever admit to it.

Saiyaman chewed on his lip and fidgeted with his hands. "Speaking of… what happened earlier today." He swallowed. "What did you mean… when you said it wasn't all an act?"

Her eyes widened and her face flared up. Wha…?

He waved his hand from side to side and gave a nervous smile. "You know what, forget it. I shouldn't be asking you that anyway." He stepped away from the bookcase and plopped down on the armchair, leaning his head against the backrest. He let out a deep sigh.

Videl observed him. He was still blushing. Her heart rate picked up for some reason. A foreign thought was making its way to her brain.

Did Saiyaman… like her? Sure, it was pretty obvious that he wasn't indifferent to her charms from the way his body would react to her whenever she was close to him, not to mention the way he reacted to her flirting and his disappointment when he realized her real intentions. But… could it be more than physical attraction? Did Saiyaman… have feelings for her?

She shook her head. That was ridiculous. They only met yesterday. They barely knew each other. This wasn't some romance novel when the heroes fell in love at first sight. That kind of thing didn't happen in real life.

She went to the bed and sat down, facing him. "How are you so good with kids, if you don't have any of your own?"

Changing the subject was probably the best course of action. Saiyaman didn't seem to mind.

"I, uh…" He scratched the side of his neck. "I kinda raised my… Ah, wait, I probably shouldn't tell you that…"

Videl cracked a smile. "You have younger siblings, don't you?"

He pinched his lips together, his whole body tense, but nodded his head nonetheless.

"I figured as much. You were so amazing with Dani ━ that kind of natural parental instinct doesn't just come out of nowhere."

Without looking up at her, he let a small smile form on his lips. "Thanks… I'm just glad she'll be okay now." He raised his head and reached over to put his gloved hand on hers. "And thank you for what you're doing for her, Videl. You're pretty amazing yourself."

But as she took mental notes of everything she had learned about him today, Videl actually felt pretty crappy. She knew it was necessary for the sake of her investigation, but she felt so manipulative and calculating. Saiyaman didn't have a clue that any bit of information he let out would be used to cross out more men from her list of suspects. Not only was she using Dani's situation to her advantage, but she was also using Saiyaman's gullibility against him.

Yeah, she felt really crappy right now.

Still, she had to keep going. She went this far already. She was getting closer to finding out Saiyaman's real identity ━ she needed to see it through. She wanted to know who he really was.

July 21, 2021