Gohan wiped his mouth with a napkin, and rang the small bell. Nappa materialized next to the table. "Yes, sire?"
"Wash and dry these dishes."
"Yes, sire." As the bald Saiyan removed the plates, Gohan and Videl chuckled.
"So how have you enjoyed being king?" she asked.
"It's not as bad as I thought it would be," he responded. "And I have to admit, it's nice to have a personal servant." Stretching his arms, he arose from the table. "Well, I guess I need to get started on that lecture now."
From the sink, Nappa said, "Would you like me to write it down for you, sire?"
"The answer's the same as it has been for the last five months: no."
"As you wish, sire." As Gohan headed into the living room to write, Videl tried (and failed) to get the idea of Professor Nappa out of her head...
***
Several hours later, Videl turned over in the bed. She was the only one in it. Slipping out of bed, she walked into the living room where her husband was still sitting at the table, hunched over a sheaf of paper.
"Gohan?"
"Mm?" He definitely sounded fatigued.
"How's it going?"
He ran a hand through his hair. "Terrible. I can't figure out how to properly explain some of the more complex workings of the nervous system in terms my students will understand."
The queen of the Saiyans shuffled over to him. "Well, if anyone can do it, it's you."
"I appreciate the confidence, though it looks like it might be misplaced."
Now she was standing right behind him, and as she spoke she wrapped her arms around his chest. "Nonsense. You're the king of the Saiyans, the mightiest being in the universe. Surely you won't let yourself be defeated by a mere lecture?"
He laughed. "I dunno, I think this one has me pinned."
"If that's the case, come on to bed and you can finish it in the morning. Or just make it up as you go along."
"You really think that could work?"
"Why not? All the best teachers improvise, and you're the best teacher I know."
"I'm not the bes--"
"You are. You taught an impatient teenage girl how to harness her life-force to fly and fire blasts of power. I don't know anyone else who could have done that." She planted a kiss on his cheek. "I'm going back to bed, but I'll try and stay awake until you come in. If I can't manage it, I love you."
"I love you too." As Videl re-entered the bedroom, Gohan wrote a few more lines. He began to tap his pencil against his chin, all the while casting quick glances in the direction she had gone. After a few moments, he suddenly threw his pen down on the table and rose from his chair.
"It can wait."
***
The next morning, he was able to finish his lecture by writing it and eating breakfast at the same time. As often happens, his mind had worked on the problem when he was asleep and presented him with the solution when he'd awoken. He'd come up with a few analogies that all of his students should be able to understand without too much trouble, though he had to admit to himself that some of his pupils had amazed him by the mere fact they'd even made it into college in the first place. Once he took a shower and got dressed, he used Instantaneous Movement to teleport to college, using the ki signature of Dean Gakkan as a target.
If this technique had a downside, it was that occasionally the dean would be in the bathroom at the time. And since Gohan was always careful not to re-appear too close to the dean, so as not to startle him, this meant that he would rematerialize in the next room over. That is, the ladies' bathroom. Fortunately, he hadn't yet done so while the bathroom was occupied, though he did get some strange looks from other faculty members whenever he walked out. He'd always have to pretend like he'd made a mistake and then go right into the men's room.
***
A few minutes after Gohan departed, Videl did so as well, activating her Great Saiyaman Two costume and flying off for Satan City. Nappa was alone in the house, as he was most every weekday at this time.
At last.
After performing a few minor chores around the house, he sat in front of the television and turned it on. It was time, as they say, for his story.
"...Last week on 'Naito Aijin,' we left our heroes Zap and Troy as they concluded the quest for the lost city. What new adventures will they face as..."
"Hey Nappa!" said Videl as she opened the door. Nappa hurriedly switched the television off.
"Is something wrong, madam?"
"Nah, I just left my wallet." She ducked into her bedroom and retrieved it, then headed back to the door. "Have a good day."
"You too, madam." When she had closed it behind her, he breathed a sigh of relief and switched the set back on.
***
"...And that concludes our lecture on the nervous system. Have a nice weekend, I'll see you on Monday," said Gohan as one of his classes ended for the week. As his students filed out, he smiled to himself. It was impossible to be sure, of course, but he thought he'd managed to get the information across fairly well. At the very least, none of them seemed to be completely baffled.
He was also very glad it was almost the weekend. The weather forecast had told them to expect one of those crazy April storms over the next couple of days, and that was one of the best kinds of weekend weather. One of he and his wife's favorite ways to spend the weekend was to be holed up in the house, snuggling together and listening to the distant roar of the wind through the trees, the patter of the rain on the windows and the soothing voice of Hiyori Tenkiyohou the meteorologist...
"Professor Son?"
He opened his eyes, only now realizing he'd closed them. His next class had entered the room and were now waiting for him to do something.
"Yes. Er. Today we learn about the nervous system..."
***
Videl swooped just above the city's rooftops, keeping an eye out for any illicit or suspicious activities. Not even she could stop all crime in the bustling metropolis, but she'd be damned if she didn't give it a try.
Below her, she saw three men in an alley. Two of the men were pointing guns at the third, who had his hands raised in the air. She stopped flying and simply dropped straight down, landing on one man's head, who was instantly knocked out. Before the second gunman could react, Videl kicked him once in the face, and he too was unconscious. She picked both men up by their collars.
"Make sure to come by the police station later to identify these two," she instructed the near-victim, who nodded. She then took off for the law enforcement headquarters, dropped off the would-be muggers, and again rose to the sky. Dark clouds were beginning to drift in, and a breeze ruffled her cape even more than usual.
She grinned. Looked like they'd definitely get one of those crazy April storms.
***
Nappa hated storms. They tended to knock out the power at the most dramatic moments in "his stories."
"Wash and dry these dishes."
"Yes, sire." As the bald Saiyan removed the plates, Gohan and Videl chuckled.
"So how have you enjoyed being king?" she asked.
"It's not as bad as I thought it would be," he responded. "And I have to admit, it's nice to have a personal servant." Stretching his arms, he arose from the table. "Well, I guess I need to get started on that lecture now."
From the sink, Nappa said, "Would you like me to write it down for you, sire?"
"The answer's the same as it has been for the last five months: no."
"As you wish, sire." As Gohan headed into the living room to write, Videl tried (and failed) to get the idea of Professor Nappa out of her head...
***
Several hours later, Videl turned over in the bed. She was the only one in it. Slipping out of bed, she walked into the living room where her husband was still sitting at the table, hunched over a sheaf of paper.
"Gohan?"
"Mm?" He definitely sounded fatigued.
"How's it going?"
He ran a hand through his hair. "Terrible. I can't figure out how to properly explain some of the more complex workings of the nervous system in terms my students will understand."
The queen of the Saiyans shuffled over to him. "Well, if anyone can do it, it's you."
"I appreciate the confidence, though it looks like it might be misplaced."
Now she was standing right behind him, and as she spoke she wrapped her arms around his chest. "Nonsense. You're the king of the Saiyans, the mightiest being in the universe. Surely you won't let yourself be defeated by a mere lecture?"
He laughed. "I dunno, I think this one has me pinned."
"If that's the case, come on to bed and you can finish it in the morning. Or just make it up as you go along."
"You really think that could work?"
"Why not? All the best teachers improvise, and you're the best teacher I know."
"I'm not the bes--"
"You are. You taught an impatient teenage girl how to harness her life-force to fly and fire blasts of power. I don't know anyone else who could have done that." She planted a kiss on his cheek. "I'm going back to bed, but I'll try and stay awake until you come in. If I can't manage it, I love you."
"I love you too." As Videl re-entered the bedroom, Gohan wrote a few more lines. He began to tap his pencil against his chin, all the while casting quick glances in the direction she had gone. After a few moments, he suddenly threw his pen down on the table and rose from his chair.
"It can wait."
***
The next morning, he was able to finish his lecture by writing it and eating breakfast at the same time. As often happens, his mind had worked on the problem when he was asleep and presented him with the solution when he'd awoken. He'd come up with a few analogies that all of his students should be able to understand without too much trouble, though he had to admit to himself that some of his pupils had amazed him by the mere fact they'd even made it into college in the first place. Once he took a shower and got dressed, he used Instantaneous Movement to teleport to college, using the ki signature of Dean Gakkan as a target.
If this technique had a downside, it was that occasionally the dean would be in the bathroom at the time. And since Gohan was always careful not to re-appear too close to the dean, so as not to startle him, this meant that he would rematerialize in the next room over. That is, the ladies' bathroom. Fortunately, he hadn't yet done so while the bathroom was occupied, though he did get some strange looks from other faculty members whenever he walked out. He'd always have to pretend like he'd made a mistake and then go right into the men's room.
***
A few minutes after Gohan departed, Videl did so as well, activating her Great Saiyaman Two costume and flying off for Satan City. Nappa was alone in the house, as he was most every weekday at this time.
At last.
After performing a few minor chores around the house, he sat in front of the television and turned it on. It was time, as they say, for his story.
"...Last week on 'Naito Aijin,' we left our heroes Zap and Troy as they concluded the quest for the lost city. What new adventures will they face as..."
"Hey Nappa!" said Videl as she opened the door. Nappa hurriedly switched the television off.
"Is something wrong, madam?"
"Nah, I just left my wallet." She ducked into her bedroom and retrieved it, then headed back to the door. "Have a good day."
"You too, madam." When she had closed it behind her, he breathed a sigh of relief and switched the set back on.
***
"...And that concludes our lecture on the nervous system. Have a nice weekend, I'll see you on Monday," said Gohan as one of his classes ended for the week. As his students filed out, he smiled to himself. It was impossible to be sure, of course, but he thought he'd managed to get the information across fairly well. At the very least, none of them seemed to be completely baffled.
He was also very glad it was almost the weekend. The weather forecast had told them to expect one of those crazy April storms over the next couple of days, and that was one of the best kinds of weekend weather. One of he and his wife's favorite ways to spend the weekend was to be holed up in the house, snuggling together and listening to the distant roar of the wind through the trees, the patter of the rain on the windows and the soothing voice of Hiyori Tenkiyohou the meteorologist...
"Professor Son?"
He opened his eyes, only now realizing he'd closed them. His next class had entered the room and were now waiting for him to do something.
"Yes. Er. Today we learn about the nervous system..."
***
Videl swooped just above the city's rooftops, keeping an eye out for any illicit or suspicious activities. Not even she could stop all crime in the bustling metropolis, but she'd be damned if she didn't give it a try.
Below her, she saw three men in an alley. Two of the men were pointing guns at the third, who had his hands raised in the air. She stopped flying and simply dropped straight down, landing on one man's head, who was instantly knocked out. Before the second gunman could react, Videl kicked him once in the face, and he too was unconscious. She picked both men up by their collars.
"Make sure to come by the police station later to identify these two," she instructed the near-victim, who nodded. She then took off for the law enforcement headquarters, dropped off the would-be muggers, and again rose to the sky. Dark clouds were beginning to drift in, and a breeze ruffled her cape even more than usual.
She grinned. Looked like they'd definitely get one of those crazy April storms.
***
Nappa hated storms. They tended to knock out the power at the most dramatic moments in "his stories."