Author's Notes: While working through the ideas for this story, I was torn between my hatred for Videl and my distate for stories in which all the females are portrayed as evil bitches from HFIL. So, I decided that in this universe, Videl was dropped on her head as a child, and she was transformed from a soulless demon into a kind, compassionate human being. There is a part of me that insists Videl could never be remotely human no matter how many bumps on the head she took, but I'm going to ignore that part of me for now. Note that depending on the direction the plot goes, there might be light shoujo- or shounen-ai content! Last but not least, let me remind you that I have NO intention of pairing Gohan and Videl, who go together like french fries and birthday cake.
The world, it seemed, belonged to her. Every person, every object, everything imaginable was hers for the taking. She was Kami. She was beyond Kami. She was the sheer embodiment of Goddess, in her own mind.
It was because she was in control of her life. She was, for the first time, happy. She was happy because of a certain boy in her life. He was not her love; they never would love one another. He was not her best friend. He was simply the first person she knew who truly understood. Eventually, he would help others to understand. Eventually, they would both find someone else who understood, and that person would be their true love.
In short, Videl was a very lucky girl.
"Lieutenant Phun 'n' Phreaky, reporting for duty, Sir!" Gohan said and saluted. Videl saluted back. He stood up, his back straightened, while Videl walked around him, pacing around her apartment's kitchen, with a militaristically sinister look on her face.
"Lieutenant! Stand taller! Slouching scum like you don't deserve to be in my army," Videl growled, even though Gohan was already stretched to his maximum height. "Tell me, Lieutenant, what happened to your hair?"
Gohan's cheeks were twin roses, lit on fire. His hair, once long and tied back, was now cut drastically short. "I used it to bargain for my apartment with my mom, Sir!"
Videl choked and tripped to the floor. "Gohan! You did WHAT?" she exclaimed. By calling him by his real name, she had alerted Gohan that their game was over. She panted and clutched her chest, looking a little blue in the face. She turned to Gohan with wide, fearful eyes. "What apartment?"
He twitched his fingers nervously. "That's why I'm over here," Gohan explained. "I wanted to tell you... I got my own apartment. It's just..." his words became more shaky. "Mom wouldn't let me get an apartment unless I got a more 'normal' haircut."
Videl thought this over for a minute. Normally, students in Japan who attend a high school far from home get their own apartment. However, since Gohan had the ability to fly, his parents didn't think he needed one. It drove him crazier than a dog with its tail just out of reach. He desperately needed his own space and privacy. But, was cutting his hair (an immense source of his pride) really worth that seclusion?
Apparently, Gohan seemed to think so. "I begged and I begged," he clarified, "until she finally said I could have my own apartment. She just had a condition, that's all. I met it, we were even, and now I have what I want."
Videl nodded, stood back up, and sighed. "Well, okay. You look like a total dork, but you have fast-growing hair, right? You can just grow it back in a week, cut it when you go to see your mom, and keep it normal the rest of the time," Videl suggested.
Gohan was shocked. "But that's cheating! That's unfairness! That's not keeping my end of the deal!"
"So what? What your mom doesn't know won't hurt her. But, we'll argue about the hair some other time. Come on and show me your new place already," Videl urged, changing her tone from nagging to pleasant. Gohan obliged and led her out of her apartment... and into the apartment five doors down.
"Wow! That's so close to me! How did that happen?" Videl shrieked. She ran around the rooms, inspecting every detail. She seemed particularly interested in the cardboard boxes and suitcases. She begged with her eyes to be shown the contents of these containers.
Gohan ignored her silent plea and instead answered her verbal question. "Well, it was mostly good luck and good timing," he began, "but I did mention to my parents that this building was a very nice place."
"Nice? Are you kidding me? The drink machines around her don't even work!" she growled. "I have to walk all the way across the street just to get my favorite carbonated beverage."
Gohan narrowed his eyes at her. "You've said that a about hundred times already. In fact, you've made me go get you a drink about hundred times already."
Videl stared right back at him, glaring. "Well, you can fly! You're supposed to use your 'superpowers' for good, right?" She absolutely ripped him apart with the word 'superpowers.'
"YEAH, WELL I CAN'T JUST GO FLYING AROUND THE CITY AND LET PEOPLE POINT AND STARE LIKE I'M SOME SORT OF ACTION HERO, CAN I?"
Videl snorted. "That would be funny!" she yipped, smiling and hugging her arms to her chest. "Wheeh! Look! There goes Super Saiyaman, up, up, and away!"
The boy smiled too, warmer and deeper than she. "Yeah, I suppose," he said. "Just don't throw the name 'Super Saiyaman' around. If Godzilla ever attacks our city, and I am FORCED to save everyone, that's the alias I'm gonna use."
"Yeah, right, pal. In your dreams. If you're ever put in charge of saving everyone, we're all gonna die." She looked deeper into one of the boxes. "Got any photos in here?" she asked. "You know, of your family and friends?"
Gohan opened one of the cardboard boxes and pulled out a giant photo album. He sat down on his bed and beckoned for Videl to come sit with him. He leafed through the book, pointing out all of his family members, the Briefs family, and his friends. Videl leaned on his shoulder and asked questions about all of his loved ones. She also teased him about pictures of him as a child, of which there were very few. "Aww, c'mon, you were a cute little kid. What are you ashamed of? Every mother wants a cute son like that!" she tittered. He suggested she go to HFIL, and she responded by hitting him with a pillow.
After surviving a barrage of cushions, Videl finally finished looking at Gohan's album. "Hey, hey, Gohan," she asked, "Where's Piccolo? Don't you have a picture of him, too?"
Gohan shook his head. "Nope. He's kinda camera shy."
"Ooooh," she whined, burying her face in a pillow. "I'll never be able to see, never! You don't trust me!"
Something hard fell on the bed in front of her. She picked it up and examined it. It was a large silver coin. Engraved on the front was a seven-pointed star. On the back was a crescent moon with a sun in the empty space. "What kind of coin is this...?" she thought aloud. When she inspected the side, however, she knew the truth. The coin was really a well-disguised locket.
The locket had two compartments for pictures. On the first side, the side with the star, was a picture of Videl and Gohan together. They were laughing, and they were pointing at one another with fake guns. She smiled, recalling the day that picture had been taken. It was one of her favorite memories. Apparently, it was one of Gohan's favorite memories too.
The other side of the locket, with the moon and sun, contained a picture of someone she could only assume was Piccolo. He appeared to be deep in meditation. The folds of his hat were filled with multicolored flowers, the same kind as in the bouquet held by a younger Gohan, who stood off to the side looking giddier than a Sailor Moon girl.
"I was very careful about that," Gohan commented, peering over Videl's shoulder. "I was very gentle with arranging the flowers. When he reentered reality, all that was left of me were the flowers in his hat and the bouquet I put in his arms. I don't think he ever figured it out.
"I bought this locket when I found out I was going to high school. I put in Piccolo's picture for a favorite past memory, and I left a space open for a favorite future memory. It's my lucky coin," he said softly, almost whispering. His reverie lasted for another moment, and then he snapped out of it, smiling brightly and snapping the locket shut. He put the coin in his jacket pocket. "Isn't that silly? Now, how about us getting some of those drinks across the street?" he asked.
She smiled and nodded. Gohan hadn't made a big deal out of it, but all the same, Videl understood. "Yeah! Since you're a resident now, you better start acting like one. After we get the drinks, I'm gonna show how to manipulate the people at the cinema snack bar into giving you a discount. Then, I'll teach you the joys of terrorizing pigeons. Let's go!"