Dragon Ball Z: Dynasty
Authors: Feraligreater328 and StevenBodner
Edited by: StevenBodner and SparkerLightning
A/N: Looks like Gohan wins. So, we'll follow Mr. Son Gohan's adventures for about... 4 chapters, this one plus 3 more. :)
Chapter 138: Videl, Erasa, and Sharpner
2 weeks later, Orange Star High School...
Gohan was practically a zombie as he walked down the hallway towards the biology lecture hall. The bags under his eyes felt weighed down by stones and there was a consistent yawn in his voice. It had been a hard couple of weeks. Gohan was so sluggish that he didn't notice Erasa and Sharpner running to catch up to him.
Sharpner chuckled. "Yo, Gohan!"
Erasa clamped onto Gohan's arm, once again attempting to be as close as possible. "Heyyy~!"
Gohan yawned. "H-Hey guys. Wassup...?"
Sharpner cocked his head. "Dude. Wassup with you? You look like death... again."
Erasa's face radiated genuine concern. "You're not sick, are you? You can call in if you aren't feeling it today. We'll back up whatever story you give."
Gohan waved them both off. "Not sick. Nothing like that. There's just been a lot on my plate for the past little while..."
2 weeks earlier, Mt. Paozu...
Goku, Goten, and Chika all stared in numb disbelief as Chi-Chi pulled their father's face from his soup and began to shake him. "Goku! GOKU! Speak to me! Goku!"
Gohan reached down and took his father's pulse. Then he listened for a heartbeat. He could feel blood flow, but not hear or feel any rhythm. Finally, they focused their senses and tried to get a feel for the man's ki. There was no question about it, Son Goku was very, very dead. His body was quite alive, but the man himself was a dead as a doornail.
Gohan scratched his head. "Why the heck would King Kai do that...?"
And then the phone rang. Gohan moved to the wall and picked it up. "Gohan speaking, how may I-"
The poor half-Saiyan was met by hysterical sobbing from the other end of the receiver. Behind the snotty, stopped up nose of the caller, Gohan could hear that it was Suno. She wailed and bellowed into the phone. "GOHAD! AH NEHD TA TALK TO YOUR MOB!"
Gohan gingerly turned on his heel, whisper. "Mom. Phone for you."
Chi-Chi came running over and took the phone, pressing it to her ear. Not that it mattered, as Suno screamed loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. "YAMCHA DIED WHILE WE WERE MAKING LOVE!"
Chi-Chi shrieked. "Yamcha too!?"
Gohan was struggling to process this, but he didn't have a moment to really let it settle as, suddenly, his father's cell phone began to chime from the next room over. Gohan ran in and snatched it up off the couch. He cocked his head. "Chiaotzu?"
Gohan answered the call and was met by a shriek. "GOKU! TIEN FELL OFF THE ROOF AND HE'S DEAD! WHAT DO WE DO!?"
Gohan stammered. "I, uh-"
Gohan's own phone began to ring, he answered without looking to see who was calling. "Hello!?"
Dende screamed. "Gohan! It's awful! King Kai suddenly showed up and ripped Piccolo's soul out! And now he won't answer any of our telepathic calls! What's going on!?"
Gohan groaned. "Wh-What the hell is going on!?"
Back in the present...
... That was 2 weeks ago and they still hadn't heard a peep. Goku, Piccolo, Yamcha, and Tien's bodies were all still alive and quite vital, but their energy was gone. And they hadn't heard a word as to why.
Gohan sighed and rubbed his face. "... let's just say things are a bit hectic at home and leave it at that, okay?"
Sharpner made the okay sign with his right hand. "Gotcha, buddy. Say no more."
Erasa nodded. "So, what are we going to do with the first hour of the day?"
Gohan cracked his neck. "Well, honestly, I was thinking that-"
A locker slammed and Videl quickly joined the group. "What's going on? Are we discussing why you still look like you haven't slept for a week?"
Sharpner quickly shut the conversation down. "Nope. Talking about how to spend the morning."
Videl nodded. "Ah."
Erasa shushed them both. "Gohan was talking, you two!"
She smiled and nudged him. "Go on, Gohan. What were you saying?"
Gohan smiled back. "Well, if you guys wanna come with me...I was actually going to visit Professor Carmine today."
All three responded in a confused murmur. "Why the hell would you wanna do that?"
In the Biology Lecture Hall...
One could hear a pin drop in the deserted biology lecture hall as Carmine continued pouring over his personal research, mumbling to himself and keep his hand on the remote to turn on his laptop webcam, should a sudden bout of inspiration hit him. He was a man singularly focused on his work and nothing else, thought that did not mean he didn't notice interlopers into his personal space.
Carmine adjusted his sunglasses. "I believe I told you all that none of you had to come back after the first class. So why are you here, casting a shadow over my brilliance?"
Gohan nervously chuckled, Erasa, Sharpner, and Videl all looking annoyed behind him. "Hey, Professor Carmine, I just wanted to speak to you for a second."
Carmine responded dryly. "Well, you have. Now leave."
Gohan reached into his backpack. "I'm sorry to be a bother, sir. I just wanted to go over the packet that you gave us for the year, and-"
Carmine halted him. "I have no spare time to explain to some gibbering chimp high schooler the most basic of the basic sciences. If you have questions, look up the answer key online. Surely you must be capable of that much?"
Videl snapped. "Why the hell are you a teacher if you don't want to teach anybody!?"
Carmine was droll. "This is a holdover job until I get picked up for a more worthwhile endeavor. I have submitted my resume and it will only be a matter of time before pimples and spray-on deodorant are but mere memories to be forgotten."
Videl sneered. "Prick."
Carmine retorted and began to type. "Pigtailed ignoramus."
Videl snarled. Gohan got between the two. "Um, I'm not here to bother you, Professor Carmine. I'm here to turn in my packet."
Carmine stopped typing. He swiveled in his seat. "Pardon?"
Gohan produced the packet, still in perfectly neat condition and filled out with a neat and tidy penmanship. Gohan chuckled. "I've always been a bit of a biology nut. I've had a lot of experience with different environments and the things that live in them. I was able to answer most of these questions without cracking open the book."
Carmine flipped through the packet, speedily reading over each line and finding not a single fault or mistake. He looked up at Gohan. "I'm almost impressed. I thought you were simply making a joke, but no..."
Gohan laughed. "So, yeah, seeing as I'm done and I don't have anything else to do with this morning hour, I was wondering if you might be able to instruct me on something more advanced. Or if you might be in need of a lab assistant for your personal project?"
Gohan leaned over the desk. "Going by what I see spread out here, you're studying some sort of recent biological phenomenon, right?"
Carmine hurriedly covered his notes, clearing his throat and only speaking with mild disdain. "V-Very astute."
Videl, Sharpner, and Erasa all looked rather bored, though none was willing to just abandon Gohan to be alone with Carmine. The three of them took a seat and listened to their friend and the standoffish professor speak back and forth. Carmine sighed. "Fine. I suppose we could discuss my work in brief..."
Carmine spread out the various notes and files on his desk. "In brief, the Earth is undergoing some form of transition. Ever since that monster, Cell, graced the planet with his presence 7 years ago, more and more instances of superhuman capability have sprung up in the general public. And not just in athletes and martial artists..."
Carmine pointed to several printed online news stories. "A woman in North City lifting a boulder that threatened to crush a vehicle containing her children, an old man on Papaya Island surviving an 80-story fall onto the concrete with only scrapes and bruises, a bank teller in West City dodging a bullet fired mere feet from his face..."
Gohan nodded. "Uh-huh. I see. Those are pretty peculiar..."
Carmine nodded. "And quite fascinating. My working hypothesis is that humanity, in response to these recent stressful times, is undergoing a form of biological metamorphosis to better cope with the increased dangers of everyday life. The research I am doing now is to support that hypothesis."
Gohan turned to him. "And then what?"
Carmine adjusted his sunglasses, then pulled out his switchblade comb to adjust him massive pompadour. "I present my carefully curated research to Dr. Bulma Brief of Capsule Corporation or Magenta of Red Pharmaceuticals and get them to provide me with research funding to prove my hypothesis. And then, once I perform my breakthrough and my research is published, I simply live on in a life of cheerful financial excess and unending fame!"
Carmine looked back over at Gohan. "What is that look?"
Gohan's eyes were wide, sparkling like diamonds. "That... sounds like exactly what I want to do in my life!"
Carmine leaned back in his chair. "Oh, how so?"
Gohan smiled. "Well, maybe not the fame and money part. Though both of those would be nice too. I meant more the actual work that's going into all of this, ya know? The research and the breakthrough to change lives and understand the world! That's what I want to do! I want to be a scholar of the natural world!"
Carmine grimaced, at first simply thinking Gohan was a stupid, aspirational kid. But then, even the well-polished curmudgeon had to admit, something about Gohan's tone of voice inspired a certain fondness. Simply put, Carmine was actually starting to like him. Carmine spoke. "Leave. I have no need of you here right now."
Gohan's shoulders slumped. "Aw..."
Carmine continued. "But, if you have not found someone to shadow for your Seventh Period Career Studies Class, my door shall be open then and only then..."
Carmine turned back to his work. "Will I be seeing you this afternoon?"
Gohan gasped in delight. "Y-Yeah! Of course, you will!"
Outside the biology hall...
Sharpner scoffed. "Dude, I can't believe you'd willingly hang out with that guy..."
Gohan smiled. "What's wrong with him?"
Videl was blunt. "He's an asshole."
Gohan shrugged. "Well... kinda. Yeah. But he's passionate about biology! He's the perfect guy for someone with my goals to study under, ya know what I mean?"
Videl and Sharpner both grumbled. Erasa smiled. "I get what you mean, Gohan! I... think he's an ass too, not going to lie, but I get what you mean! Sometimes you just have to deal with the jerks in life to be able to progress! Right?"
Gohan nodded. "Right!"
Videl nodded as well. "I guess that makes sense."
She glanced over her shoulder and smiled at Gohan. "Well then, good job, Gohan! Making the hard choices for your future! I respect that."
Gohan blushed and glanced down to the floor. "Th-Thanks, Videl..."
The bell rang and all four of them flinched. Sharpner cried out. "Shit! Lost track of time! Math is all the way across the building!"
Videl chuckled. "Hoof it!"
Sharpner nodded. "Right!"
Gohan went sprinting as well, though he was making an honest attempt to hold back on his speed. Erasa brought up the rear, whining as she ran. "Why do we always have to run everywhere!?"
Later, behind Orange Star High School...
The rest of the morning school periods were pretty normal for Gohan and his new band of friends. They barely made it into the hall before their mathematics class started. But otherwise, mathematics and composition were both things all four seemed to do well in. Though Erasa and Sharpner were both quick to admit that they were doing well in math mainly because of Gohan and Videl's tutoring.
Soon enough, Fourth Period Physical Education was upon them.
Sharpner called out. "Okay, boys and girls! Today we're all going to be doing a pick-up game of that ol' pasttime! Let's get down to baseball!"
Gohan's study group joined with six other study groups and were separated into two teams. Sharpner and Videl were on one team, Videl armed with a pitcher's glove and a wad of pink lemonade bubblegum and Sharpner practice swinging a bat. Gohan and Erasa were on the other with Gohan gripping a bat and Erasa sitting on the sidelines as an alternate, playing Candy Crush on her phone. Erasa pumped her fist into the air and cheered, not taking her eyes off the screen. "Whoo! You got this! Swing that bat! Throw that ball! Run in a square! Yeah!"
The gym teacher scowled. "Erasa, if you don't participate, I might have to fail you..."
Erasa countered. "Remember when my dad got you out of that jam for your wife drunkenly running over all those mailboxes...?"
The gym teacher immediately dropped it and called out. "PLAY BALL!"
The game progressed smoothly, both teams scoring runs neck-and-neck, though Gohan's team was slightly behind. Soon enough, Gohan was up to bat and sweating bullets at the same time. Inwardly, he groaned to himself. 'Dammit. This is bad. I've always been the best in the family at controlling my strength, but still...'
Gohan was on the plate, bat balanced on his shoulder. He took a quick practice swing, reeling it in as much as he could, and a harsh wind seemed to blow. On the pitcher's mound, Videl looked up and mumbled "windstorm" to herself. Gohan gritted his teeth. 'Damn. What do I do...?'
Behind Gohan, Sharpner was acting as the umpire. He nudged Gohan's leg and Gohan turned to face him. Sharpner gave an encouraging thumbs up. "Hey buddy. It's okay. Not everyone is good at baseball. Just do your best, kay? We're here to have fun."
Gohan chuckled. "Ya mean it?
Sharpner nodded. "Yeah. man. It's my dream to be a pro-baseballer, not yours. Just... take it easy, take a deep breath, keep your eye on the ball, and swing when it feels right. Kay?"
Gohan smiled a genuine, friendly smile. "Thanks, Sharpner~"
As they were talking, Videl was taking in her opponent in this friendly little game. Despite wearing a baggy sweater and carrying himself like a bookworm, Videl could tell that Gohan was pretty muscular. You just can't hide the sort of movement that a person with a properly toned body engages it. Furthermore, in spite of Sharpner offering free advice, it's not like Gohan needed to be taught the basics of this game.
Had he ever played a game of baseball before: who knows and who cares? Does he seem to unconsciously follow the rules of stance, balance, posture, and leverage: damn right he does. Now why would some hick farm boy have all of that down? That swing was so perfect and had so much force behind it, Videl was almost willing to believe that Gohan caused that wind if that weren't just a fairytale.
Videl tossed the ball up and gripped it tightly once it came back down. She spoke to herself. "No shenanigans. A straightforward pitch, right over home plate."
Sharpner whispered to Gohan. "Videl's getting ready to pitch dude. Swing for the fences."
Gohan swallowed a lump in his throat.
Erasa got a 16-chain and did a small fist pump.
And then Videl tossed her pitch with all her might, and Gohan swung his bat with as little force as he could manage, and then the massive oak tree on the far end of the field exploded into splinters.
Videl and Sharpner's eyes bulged. Gohan knelt down and whispered to Sharpner. "I run now, right?"
He nodded. "U-Uh-huh..."
Videl watched as Gohan gingerly ran around the bases, looking beyond him to see their gym teacher pulling the ruined baseball from the crater where the tree once stood in utter disbelief. She mumbled. "Definitely not just some hick farm boy..."
As Gohan rounded third, Erasa winked and blew him a kiss from the bleachers. "Ooh la la~ What a man~"
And then Gohan's foot touched him and he leapt up, punching his fist in the air. "Yes! Home run!"
Regaining himself, Gohan looked 20-feet down and realized he had made another public faux pas. Videl, Erasa, and Sharpner all stared up at him with their jaws practically on the floor. Gohan quickly descended back down and nervously rubbed the back of his head. "S-Sorry. I got a bit excited..."
Sharpner had a bead of sweat running down the side of his face. "Are you sure you don't have any interest in sports, dude? The school baseball team is having tryouts..."
Lunchtime, the St. Gentleman Café...
Gohan sat down at the table his friends had taken up on the balcony of St. Gentleman Café and happily sighed. "Thank goodness! I managed to snag the last pork cutlet sandwich!"
Erasa smiled, taking a bite of her marinated tuna finger sandwich. "Nice! Good work!"
Sharpner was enjoying a refreshing banh mi with marinated slices of lamb. "I'm glad you got what you wanted. They were out of my favorite sandwich, so I had to settle..."
He sniffed. "Lamb smells weird."
Videl playfully punched his arm. "Don't whine. You can have one of my eggs if you want."
The pig-tailed young woman poked her fingernail through the shell of a hard-boiled egg, quickly skinning off the inedible outer layer and biting off half of the soft, inner goodness. She reached out for the saltshaker and quickly added a dash. Sharpner rolled his eyes. "Hard-boiled eggs are full of cholesterol. You're going to give yourself an early heart attack."
Videl sniffed. "They're full of protein and I take supplements for cutting cholesterol."
Erasa picked up one of her finger sandwiches. "I'll trade you a tuna or an egg salad for one of your eggs."
Videl smirked. "Sold."
And then she grabbed one of the tunas, depositing a peeled egg as payment. Gohan bit into his pork cutlet and savored the crunch, reaching down into his bag and grab a bottle of chilled tea to accompany it. Videl swallowed hard. "Can I have a sip? I forgot to buy a drink."
Gohan passed her the bottle; she took two sips and handed it back. "I owe you for one extra."
Gohan chuckled. "I'm not worried about it."
Sharpner took a second bite of his sandwich, deciding that he actually quite enjoyed lamb. "So... you destroyed a tree by batting a ball into it and you wanna be a biology scholar?"
Gohan nodded. "Uh-huh. Honestly, that strength mostly just comes natural to me. Genetics and whatnot. I've always been more interested in learning, though. I step in for the physical stuff when I have to, because it would be irresponsible not to help if I could... but I really just want a quiet life of studying, ya know?"
Sharpner sighed, leaning back and cracking open his soda. "I guess I get it. My parents think I'm wasting my time trying to play 'kiddy games' professionally. But it's what I love, so I'm not going to judge you."
Gohan smiled. "You really want to be a pro-baseballer, huh?"
Sharpner corrected. "I am going to be a pro-baseballer. My Seventh Period Career Studies is essentially a second phys-ed where I get to practice alone."
Erasa sipped her lemon refresher and bit into an egg salad wedge. "I almost envy you. My Seventh Period is mainly just me riding a train from here to East City. That's where the lawyer I'm job shadowing lives."
Erasa sighed and down the rest of her drink. "I barely get home before 20:00 these days."
Gohan crumbled the wrapper to his lunch and tossed it into his shoulder bag. "I'm actually pretty excited for my Seventh Period. I know you guys don't like Professor Carmine, but I'm actually looking forward to being able to talk to someone. I was mainly just sitting all by my lonesome in the library and reading before..."
Erasa smiled and got on her phone. "Good for you~"
Sharpner chuckled and shrugged. "Happy for ya, man."
Then they all sat there, another 20 minutes in their lunch period before they had to start walking back to the school. Videl was chipping away at the last of her hard-boiled eggs, grumbling and trying to get a seam in the shell without damaging the meat within. Gohan cocked his head. "So, Videl... what do you do for career studies?"
Videl looked up from her work. "Huh? Whazzat?"
Gohan spoke. "You said your dream career was to surpass your dad and be World Martial Arts Champion, right? So, what do you do in Seventh Period for that? Practice martial arts in privates, or...?"
Sharpner raised an eyebrow. "Wait a minute. Do you not know?"
Erasa spoke up. "Hey, don't pick on him! He's new! He didn't go to Middle School with us!"
Videl concurred. "And the city has been pretty quiet since the school year began. So, I haven't quite-"
A gunshot rang out only a few yards away and Videl turned in her chair, staring down at the street just down the hill from where they were sitting and watching as a group of ski-masked thugs hijacked a bank truck. Videl smirk and peeled away the shell from her last egg, popping it into her mouth. Gohan flinched. "Uh-oh, that looks like trouble."
Videl shook her head. "Nah. It just looks like class is in session early~"
Gohan flinched. "Wha-?"
And then Videl leaped over the side of the balcony, doing a running sprint down the terrace hill to the street below and leaping before she touched the sidewalk. Videl twisted and did a mid-air backflip, landing on the hood of the bank truck and delivering a lightning-quick kick threw the bullet-proof windshield. "Ride's over, jackasses! Pile out of the truck and put your hands up!"
The driver of the stolen truck pulled a pistol from the holster at his waist. "Who do you think you are, you little bit-"
Videl spun on the hood and delivered another kick to the driver's hand, forcing him to pistol-whip himself and knock himself unconscious. "That's 'Miss Bitch' to you!"
Videl scaled to the side of the truck and pulled open the driver's side door, letting the unconscious goon tumble out onto the unforgiving asphalt. The passenger pulled a gun of his own, but Videl was too quick. She jumped in and punched him square in the face, sending him crashing through the window behind and into a garbage can.
Videl looked through the grating separating the front of the truck from the back. She saw two bound and gagged security guards and an entire posse of hijackers. She thumbed to the open driver's side door. "Let's take this outside."
She pulled the emergency break of the truck and then leapt out, taking a fighting stance as she heard the heavy steel doors on the back of the truck open. Very quickly, a mob of eight criminals stepped around the truck, each of them holding their own weapon.
One of them spoke. "Who the hell does this kid think she is!?"
Another answered. "I read about this. That's Mr. Satan's daughter. She has a whole police-endorsed vigilante thing going on..."
The original thug nodded. "I see. Interesting. BLOW HER BRAINS OUT!"
They turned to aim their weapons, but Videl was on them in a flash. She grabbed each of their rifles by the barrel and swung her legs up, snapping each on half with a kick. And then, with a midair spin, she clubbed each of the two hapless crooks across the face and sent them sprawling back. A third crook screamed. "Die!"
Videl ducked a hail of bullets shooting at her, charging in and delivering a hellish uppercut that took her attacker off of his feet. She caught his gun and tore the magazine out of it, rapidly disassembling the rifle and letting the pieces clatter to the street. She cracked her knuckles. "Next?"
Another crook, this one a woman, pulled a knife from her vest and charged at Videl. Videl ducked the hunting knife's shimmering edge and kicked it high into the air and then gave a rising elbow strike to the crook's throat. The woman gagged and Videl sent her crashing to the sidewalk with a palm strike to the mouth.
Three more hijackers rushed Videl all at once and she tripped to with a leg sweep. The third tried to swing his rifle at her like a club, but she quickly put him in his place with a solid fist to the crotch. The crook fell forward with a grunt and a moan and Videl caught him by the throat. "You have broken balls, but you can still escape this with your jaw intact."
He spoke in a high-pitched wheeze. "Does the Red Shark Gang look scared of a little girl in pigtails? We don't give a shit if you're Mr. Satan's daughter, we-"
Videl countered. "Me neither."
And then she cracked him in the jaw with her knee and sent him crashing into the side of the truck. She turned to the other two standing back up, as well as the hulking giant that had yet to move behind him. Videl cracked her neck. "I'm Mr. Satan's daughter. Whoopty-do. I love my dad, but I plan to be so much more than just his daughter in my life! I'm going to get strong, I'm going to surpass him, and you fools are just three more cobblestones on that road!"
The other two rushed at Videl, one holding a stun baton and the other holding a sawzall. Videl rolled her eyes and jumped into the air, landing foot first into the base of the sawzall and stomping it out of the crook's hand. His partner tried to swing the stun baton at the teenage terminator, but she responded by grabbing the now saw-less goon in front of her and tossing him into the crackling prods. Before the other one could recover, Videl punched him in the nose so hard it exploded into a fountain of blood.
As that crook hit the ground with a meaty thud, Videl turned to the last man. She cracked her knuckles and spat. "Well, so far, I'm unscathed. Are you going to try and change that, big fella, or are you going to see the error of your ways and go to jail rather than the hospital?"
The hulking brute took off his ski-mask, revealing a chiseled face with a pencil thin moustache and a patch of finely styled black hair. "Name's Rocko. I'm the leader of the Red Shark Gang. I ain't planning on losing to some pissed off teenage brat! I'm gonna beat you unconscious and then sell you back to your Daddy, brat~"
Videl sneered. "Come and get me, then."
Rocko roared and charged at Videl, his fist drawn back. Videl immediately squatted down, shooting out her foot and catching Rocko in the knee. Rocko buckled with a yelp of pain and Videl was back on her feet, elbowing him in the gut and then smashing her fist down onto the back of his head. Rocko was on his hands and knees and Videl kicked him in the face. And then kicked him in the face again. And then stepped up onto his back and curb stomped his head into the pavement.
And yet still, the brute got back to his feet. Videl snorted. "I've never met a dumb wall of muscle I couldn't break down!"
Rocko snarled and pulled a butterfly knife from his vest, summoning the blade and rushing Videl. She dodged a slash from the knife and drove a solid right hook into his cheek. In a flash, he wrapped his arm around her neck and yanked Videl into the air. "Screw the ransom! I'll slit your throat, you uppity little-"
Videl shot her fists up and drove her thumbs in Rocko's eyes. He screeched in pain as she landed, still entirely unmarred, and did a spinning kick right into his mouth. Rocko flew up into the air very briefly, and then landed with a final thud. Videl snorted. "Piece of cake. You goons are getting to be a waste of my time. I should just-"
*CLICK* *BANG*
The driver on the ground, shuddering in fear, dropped the smoking pistol from his hand and stammered in terror. "Wh-Wh-What the hell are you!?"
Videl traced her thumb along the new burn mark on her cheek. The bullet grazed her, but not enough to draw blood. She growled. "Ow."
He began to drag himself back. "Y-You dodged a goddamn bullet! How!?"
Videl shrugged. "A pistol bullet moves 350 meters per second with 10 pounds of pressure needed to pull the trigger. If your flabby ass was a little stronger on the pull or you were a little closer, you might have gotten me. But hey, you know what moves faster than a bullet?"
He moaned. "Wha-"
Videl shot forward and blast him in the face with her foot, sending shattered teeth scattering across the parking lot as her final opponent came to a rest underneath a shady tree. She smirked. "Eat shit. I win again, you scum!"
Hearing the police sirens approach, Videl quickly began to gather all of the thugs. She let the two guards tied up in the back of the truck loose and they restrained the criminals together. Once the police cars pulled up, Videl turned to them and smiled victorious, shooting them the peace sign in triumph. Videl chuckled. "No need to thank me, Captain. I-"
The police captain shook his head. "Run."
Videl cocked her head. "What?"
He spoke again. "Run. She's here."
Videl was confused. "Who-"
"VIDEL~~~~~~~~~~~~ OH SWEET VIDEL~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"
Videl's eyes went wide. She peered out into the crowd and saw familiar green hair floppy from beneath a policeman's cap. A familiar pair of tomato earrings swinging back and forth from her earlobes. Videl shuddered. "Akai Tomato!?"
The captain nodded. Videl snapped. "Why didn't you tell me that creepy stalker was here!?"
The captain shrugged. "She's my boss. I can't tattle on her, she'll fire me. I need my tenure, sweetie."
Videl shook her head. "Nope. Nuh-uh. I'm out! I was never here!"
Police Commissioner Akai Tomato shoved several of her men out of the way, crying out like a spoiled child. "MY SWEET VIDEL~! WHERE ARE YOU~!? I KNOW THIS IS ALL YOUR HANDYWORK~!"
Akai Tomato burst onto the scene, her Police Commissioner cap-and-cords on full display... on top of her Kerropi pajamas. She cried out. "Where is my sweet little Videl~?"
The police captain rolled his eyes. "Ma'am, you're in your pajamas."
She snapped at him. "Doesn't matter~! Where's Videl~? I wanna hug her for a job well done~! And buy her a nice ice cream sundae~!"
But, by that point, Videl was already gone.
Back at St. Gentleman Café...
Videl pulled herself back onto the patio of St. Gentleman and did a backflip roll back into her chair. She turned to Gohan and smirked. "Did you see that? That's my Seventh Period~ I patrol the streets from afternoon till evening and I go wherever the police scanner app on my smart watch says there's crime!"
Gohan was less jovial. "I saw you nearly get shot in the back of the head! That was a close one, Videl!"
Videl shrugged. "I'm good. I dodged the bullet. And that's mainly because of all the crime I clean up around here. You get good at dodging and striking back when the danger is always in your face, ya know? My only real issue is that weirdo, Akai Tomato, and I can avoid her like the plague most of the time."
Gohan cocked his head, clearly concerned. "And the school just...allows this?"
Videl shrugged. "School doesn't really get a say. Seventh Period is a personal time for students to independently go out and seek the means to achieve their future goals. It's not like we report anything, we just use our free time responsibly~"
Gohan was flabbergasted. "And you call nearly getting shot in the head a responsible use of your time?"
Videl was a bit defensive. "I'm fine. Don't be such a nag!"
Gohan reached out and pressed his thumb to the burn mark on her cheek. She cringed, but then calmly removed his hand. "That will be gone by Monday."
Seeing the tension in the air, Sharpner chuckled. "Yeah! Lay off, Gohan! It'll be gone by Monday! Right, Erasa?"
Erasa looked significantly less comfortable. "Yeah...gone by Monday..."
Erasa looked up to Gohan, hoping that maybe they could lock eyes and she could use that to relax a bit. But, instead, Erasa found their new friend staring with genuine concern at the mark on Videl's cheek. And Erasa made sure to take note of that.
Sometime later, in East City...
Dusk was rapidly taking over the sky as Gohan landed on a deserted sidewalk in East City. Since lunch, the rest of the day at school seemed to fly by. Home Economics was always fun because he and Sharpner mainly watched Erasa teach Videl how to cook.
Culture Studies was fun on the surface level, but so much less engaging for a man like Gohan, who had indeed been there and done that on so many examples they went over. Knowing that Namek was out there made the confines of Earth feel so small sometimes.
And music class was fun too, though Gohan dreaded that he would have to pick an instrument next week.
And finally, Gohan had enjoyed his time with Professor Carmine, even if they spent most of their time debating a singular subject: this source of this mysterious, new human vitality. For that entire conversation, Gohan felt like he was forgetting something important. It was on the tip of his tongue. But he just couldn't draw up what that missing piece was...
And yet, in spite of all of that, Gohan couldn't take his focus off of Videl. She had been first and foremost on his mind ever since that little excursion of hers during lunch. How could she be so terrifyingly glib about nearly being shot in the face!? She wasn't a Saiyan, just a human. What could make her want to risk herself like that against so many armed criminals?
Gohan pictured her face, the fire in her eyes and that confident little smirk, and his face began to glow red in spite of all of that. He hadn't realized it at the time, but a seed had firmly planted itself and was beginning to grow. Gohan groaned. "It has to be about more than some simple desire to win a belt off her old man..."
And then, as he walked, Gohan reflected on the rest of his life currently in progress. It was dreadfully weird how normal it felt for so many of his friends to be dead. His dad too, for that matter. His mother was distraught, but she was always on the verge of that. Gohan, Goten, and Chika had partaken of a pretty hefty discussion that night and had come to the conclusion that an extended sleepover might be in order while Grandma Gine and Aunt Launch helped their mother cope.
Chiaotzu was checking in on Suno on the regular. Dende and Mr. Popo were standing vigil over Piccolo's body. Gohan groaned and rubbed his hand over his face. "Damn it, King Kai. You could have at least called first..."
And now, here he was in East City, talking a short walk down a familiar street toward a familiar condominium. He was grateful, on this chilly autumn evening, that he was always welcome at Krillin's house.
"Gohan!?"
Gohan turned and gasped, shocked to see Erasa standing at the other end of the crosswalk to his left. He raised his hand and smiled. "Hey, Erasa! What's up?"
Erasa looked both ways and then jaywalked across the street. As she came closer, Gohan could see her better in the dull, evening light. She was no longer dressed in the casual attire that she wore at school, but in a more professional dress shirt with a knee-length skirt and a matching blazer. Her heels clicked against the sidewalk as she marched up to Gohan and her iced coffee sloshed in the cup in her hand. She smiled. "What are you doing in East City, big guy? I thought you lived in Mt. Paozu."
Gohan chuckled. "Oh, I'm just going to visit and old friend. You're here to shadow your mentor, right?"
Erasa nodded, sticking the straw between her lips and sipping. "Yep. I'm actually on break. My mentor gave me some money to go buy a coffee because she needs me to stay late and help out. She's strict, but she's also super-duper reliable and kind~"
The two of them started to walk and the conversation just kind of casually progressed. Gohan was always happy to have someone to talk to, even if he was totally oblivious to the look that Erasa was constantly shooting at him. In a lot of ways, he really was the first son of Son Goku.
And in a lot of ways, Erasa was genuinely starting to fall for him. Not just as a hot guy either.
Eventually, without realizing it, the two of them were walking up the same walkway, totally lost in conversation. It wasn't until they both knocked on the same door that they realized they were headed to the same house. Gohan and Erasa looked at each other. "Huh?"
Erasa looked confused. "Do you have business with Miss Lazuli, Gohan?"
Gohan shook his head. "N-No. I'm here to see my friend Krillin. Why are you here to see 18?"
Erasa cocked her head. "18?"
And then Krillin, with his shock of black hair erupting from everywhere save the moxibustion marks on the top of his head, opened the door. "Hey Erasa. Welcome back. My wife is waiting for you. And..."
Krillin paused. "Oh, hey Gohan! What's up?"
In Krillin and Android 18's house...
Gohan and Erasa both sat on the couch in Krillin and Android 18's TV room, looking utterly perplexed. Gohan was confused. "You said you were shadowing a lawyer, so why are you here to see 18?"
Erasa was just as perplexed. "Why do you keep calling Miss Lazuli '18'?"
And then, with thundering footsteps, 18 came marching into the room. In one hand she was holding a celery stick and in the other she was holding a jar of peanut butter. She dipped the celery, took a bite, and then spoke. "That's a nickname, Erasa. Nothing more."
Erasa beamed. "Oh, I see. So, you're an old friend of his family too, Miss Lazuli?"
18 nodded, cringing ever so slightly as Erasa said the L-Word. "Yup. Known his father for years. Yup."
18 motioned to a room off to the side. From what Gohan could see, it contained two desks and a lot of clutter. On the door, there was a small silver plaque that read: LAW OFFICES OF L. LAZULI.
18 commanded. "While we're waiting for dinner, I want you to get in there and sort through more of that old paperwork. Shred the junk and file away the essentials. I want you to be able to set up your desk by the end of the week. I'll be in to assist once Marron is tucked away. Okay?"
Erasa stood and saluted 18 like she was a four-star general. "Ma'am, yes ma'am!"
Erasa scurried off and 18 called after her. "We'll make you a plate when Krillin's done cooking!"
The sound of cardboard boxes ripping open nearly drowned Erasa out. "Thank you!"
And then, 18 sat down. She dipped her celery stick into her peanut butter again. As she took another bite, Gohan nervously chuckled. "So, Miss Lazuli..."
18's head snapped up. She squeezed the peanut butter jar hard enough that it began to crack. "Don't."
Gohan yelped and flinched. "N-Noted."
Once things calmed down, Gohan sighed. "So, if you still hate that name, 18, then why do you have Erasa calling you that?"
18 sneered. "Because I couldn't put a number on the name line of my law license when I was getting registered with The Bar. So, I had to default to... Lazuli Lazarus... as a professional name. But nothing more than that. Got it!?"
Gohan nodded. "I guess that makes sense. But uh, when exactly did you become a lawyer anyway? This is actually news to me."
18 shrugged. "I've been a lawyer since before Marron was born. I've just never really talked about it. I was helping Krillin with his police paperwork one day and I just, like, found it interesting. That led to internet searches, which lead to Law School websites, which led to classes, which led to the Bar Exam..."
Krillin called from the kitchen with pride oozing from his voice. "My wife has never lost a case~ 'Queen of the Courtroom', the media calls her~"
18 blushed and smiled just a little. She sighed. "I'm hopelessly rich and have a ton of idle time. Marron is a low-maintenance kid, so why not do a little pro bono work when Krillin, Vegeta, and Bulma are all too busy to hang out? I mean...when they can't afford a lawyer, of course. On the other hand, if they're rich, I'll gouge the shit out of them."
Gohan nodded. And then he sniffed. "Something smells really good!"
Krillin called out from the kitchen. "Right here, my man! I'm making curry for dinner! And we'd be happy to have you if you wanna stay!"
Gohan smiled gratefully. "I would really appreciate that. Things have been hard with Dad down and out. Mom's been in a bad way."
18 nodded. "I can imagine. That would have been one dead Kai if he came after my Krillin."
Gohan chuckled. "Maybe that's why he didn't."
And at that, 18 finally gave a small laugh. "So what brings you over here anyway, Gohan? Did you just come to bum a dinner?"
Krillin stuck his head out from the kitchen. "And what about Goku, anyway? Have you guys heard anything from King Kai?"
Gohan shook his head. "Nope. And as for why I'm here, I suppose I just came for advice. I knew Krillin was a cop, but now knowing that you're a lawyer, 18, I think I can ask both of you..."
18 leaned forward. Krillin came out of the kitchen, stirring a pot of curry and vegetables. Gohan placed his cheek into his hand. "So, I have a friend that's out there acting as a vigilante and taking down criminals, but I'm worried about her. She nearly got shot today, and-"
Krillin interrupted. "Mr. Satan's daughter, Videl, right?"
Gohan gasped. "You already know about the situation!?"
Krillin shook his head. "Naw. I just know about the cop that's letting it happen: Akai Tomato. She's a lazy, useless freeloader of a cop and she's only letting your friend do as she pleases because she thinks Videl is cute. And it makes it to where she has to do less work. She's an embarrassment to the force."
18 smirked. "Tell us how you really feel, hon."
Krillin grimaced. "I am. Tomato isn't malicious, she just got her current job because everyone above her in the hierarchy retired. The fact that she's in charge of Satan City is the reason why crime rates have risen so high there, even if Mr. Satan lives there."
18 cut him off. "But, besides Krillin bitching about work, you're asking this because you're worried about your friend. Right?"
Gohan nodded. "Yeah. I know she's going to keep doing this, whether the law says she can or not. I can tell by the look in her eyes. I'm just... wondering what I can do to help."
Krillin and 18 both smiled. He was a bit more self-conscious, but this really was Goku's kid. Same honest face and earnest desire to be a good person. In the room off to the side, Erasa was standing just out of eyeshot and listening in to the conversation. And a massive blush burned across her face as a feeling within her grew even stronger.
And so, Krillin and 18 happily offered Gohan advice on how to handle his problem, taking special care not to harp on the legality of the situation so much as offer Gohan advice for how to support his friend. Gohan listened intently, nodding his head and forming an idea in his head. He whispered. "So... if I'm going to do this... I need a disguise..."
18 nodded. "Yeah. Vigilantism is illegal when you don't have an incompetent cop pulling for you. If you're going to help, do it in a way that doesn't get you in trouble. And if you get in trouble, do not tell Chi-Chi we helped you with this. Got it?"
Gohan nodded. And then he looked past Krillin and 18 and came upon an interesting sight. In the kitchen, there was a little, pudgy blonde girl with pigtails jumping up and waving her hands. She clearly wanted the cookie jar atop the fridge. Gohan recognized her. That was Marron, Krillin and 18's daughter.
Gohan watched her with a smile, not having any desire to tattle on her to her parents. But then, that little girl with a solid roll of baby-fat and not a day of training under her belt threw a ki blast in frustration and the cookie jar fell with a shattering thud. Krillin and 18 both turned in their seats. 18 called out. "What the hell was that!?"
Marron called out from the kitchen. "Uh-oh..."
Gohan, suddenly in biological scholar mode, popped a question that would have gotten anyone else burned alive. "Hey, 18, do you think Dr. Gero's modifications were so advanced that they would be passed down offspring?"
18 turned, flames shooting from the corners of her eyes. "Wh-Wh-Whuh-huh... what!?"
She shook her head, her face glowing red. "Of course not! What the hell kind of question is that!?"
Gohan turned to Krillin. "Have either of you been teaching Marron how to fight?"
Krillin was confused. "N-No. Marron hasn't shown any interest in anything beyond dress-up..."
Gohan nodded. "Okay. Well, it's just that crash you just heard was her throwing a ki blast to knock the cookie jar off of-"
18's eyes went wide. "WHAT!?"
As she tumbled over the couch, falling onto her face but quickly scrambling up, Krillin snapped at Gohan. "Why wouldn't you say something, man!? What if it fell on her!? What if..."
He calmed. "A ki blast...?"
Gohan nodded. "Y-Yeah."
18 walked out of the kitchen, a guilty looking Marron nibbling on a cookie in her arms. 18 spoke quietly. "The cookie jar fell on her head, but she says it didn't hurt..."
18 put her down, on the verge of panic. "Oh god, she's not an Android is she!?"
Krillin shook his head. "No. Bulma would have noticed that. We had her do tests when you gave birth. I... I dunno..."
Marron's lower lip wibbled. "Mama? Papa? Am I in trouble for taking a cookie?"
Both of them immediately began to coddle her, assuring her that she wasn't in trouble and they weren't mad. Krillin spoke gently. "We just need to ask you a couple things, baby~"
18 nodded. "And Big Brother Gohan is going to go keep Miss Erasa busy while we ask 'em. Right, Gohan?"
Understanding that that was an order, Gohan nodded and immediately ran off while his two friends tried to figure out what was going on with their daughter.
In the other room...
Hearing 18 and Krillin mumbling in the background, Gohan poked his head into 18's office to look for Erasa. He scanned the entire room and didn't see even a hint of her. "What... where did she-"
Erasa leapt out from behind the door and jumped into Gohan's face. "BOO!"
Gohan gasped and flinched back. Erasa laughed. "Gotcha!"
Eventually, Gohan started laughing too. The both of them continued to laugh for a bit, and then they just stopped and looked at one another. Erasa smiled wide. "So... I heard everything~"
A lump formed in Gohan's throat and he rapidly began to try and explain himself. "H-Hold on now! Don't jump to any conclusions or anything! I can explain-"
Erasa shook her head, going back to her work. "You don't have to explain. I don't need details. I'm just... I'm glad..."
Gohan cocked his head. "Glad?"
Erasa nodded, turning her smile back to Gohan as she sorted through paperwork. Now Gohan could see the sad little gleam in her eyes. She sighed. "It's just nice to know I'm not crazy. It's nice to know that someone else is worried about Videl, ya know?"
Gohan nervously took a seat. "O-Oh. Is that it?"
Erasa nodded, lowering small stacks of paper into the miniature shredder next to her chair. "Everyone else, even Sharpner, they all just write off what she's doing. They say she's Mr. Satan's daughter and then ignore the potential consequences of her going out and fighting armed criminals. But, you're right Gohan! You're entirely right! She nearly got shot in the head today! And then what, Gohan? Are we crazy then!?"
Erasa slammed her fist down. "SHE GET'S SHOT IN THE HEAD AND THEN WHAT!? ARE WE STILL CRAZY THEN!?"
Gohan listened. Krillin and 18 were still doting over Marron. He smiled. "You and Videl must be good friends, huh?"
Erasa nodded with a wistful smile. "Mhm. Best friends. I love that girl more than I love my own parents sometimes~"
Gohan nodded back. Erasa continued. "I broke my leg when I was seven years old, riding on a jetski with a cousin. It's why I hate to run, ya know? I have a metal rod in my leg. But that's beside the point..."
She closed her eyes, thinking back. "I had spent a year in the hospital. I was eight when they said I would finally be able to relearn how to walk. My physical trainer took me down to the pool to try water walking for the first time. But, she had to go back to her office to grab my chart and...I fell in..."
Gohan gasped. "Oh no!"
Erasa nodded. "I couldn't swim. I only had one good leg. So, I was just sinking. I think I came to the conclusion pretty quickly that I was going to die..."
She smiled and gave a small laugh. "And then I saw Videl's face. She was still wearing those same pigtails she wears now. I think she was there because Miss Miguel had started to get sick for the first time. She had jumped into the water and was reaching out for me..."
Gohan smiled back. "So, Videl saved your life?"
Erasa laughed out loud. Gohan flinched back, confused. Erasa shook her head. "No, silly. Videl didn't know how to swim."
Gohan's eyes went wide. Erasa leaned back. "She wrapped her arm around my wrist, looking as confident as could be. And then... I guess realization just spread across her face. She looked terrified. Like she knew in that one moment that we were about to die too. And then... Mr. Satan grabbed us both and we were saved. Simple as that..."
Erasa grinned a big, toothy grin. "We then got to know each other and have been best friends ever since then. Videl took swimming lessons and then she started to come and help me with my therapy whenever she would be at there with her mom. She held my hand when they had to bend my leg to stretch my knee out. I love her. I love her so much~"
Gohan smiled. "It sounds like you guys are really close."
Erasa nodded. "Basically, my sister. Or my wife if either of us really swung that way. But still..."
Gohan cocked his head. "Still?"
Erasa sighed. "I've never forgotten how her face shifted. From that confidence and self-assured swagger to pure terror in an instant. I love Videl, but she's hard-headed and refuses to recognize that she's in trouble until it's already too late. She's a woman with no sense of self-preservation. And it's that daring side of her that I really love, because it makes me feel brave when I have her by my side. But..."
She bit her thumb nail. "But it also scares me so badly I can feel my stomach turn. So, yeah, it's nice to know that I finally have another person to see that what she's doing is stupid at best and suicidal at worst..."
Gohan frowned. "How long has she really been at this?"
Erasa shrugged. "Since the May after her mother died. Whatever happened at that tournament after the Cell Games, the one where the aliens attacked, affected her really badly."
Gohan was silent. Then he began to dig in the box of legal forms and sift through the stacks. "So how do I tell what's important here...?"
Erasa was immediately focused back on her work. "Look for anything with Miss Lazuli's personal stamp on it. She stamps the case summaries and sentencing paperwork whenever she gets done with a case."
And so, Gohan and Erasa got to their work. They worked in silence, neither of them really having much to say. Gohan could smell the scent of steaming rice in the air. It wouldn't be long until supper was ready. He wasn't looking and reached for the box, feeling his hand collide and meld with something soft and warm. He turned to look and was shocked to find his fingers interlaced with Erasa's, over the last stack of papers in the box. Gohan gasped. "S-Sorry! I-"
He started to pull his hand back, but then Erasa gently placed hers on top of his. She smiled a nervous little smile and blushed. "F-Forgive me... but I like you, Gohan. I... like you a lot, actually..."
Gohan stammered. "O-Oh! Oh, I-"
And then Krillin called out. "Dinner, kids! Drop the paperwork and come chow down on some Orin Temple Curry!"
Erasa took a glance to the door, and then stared longingly back at Gohan. Gohan blushed and she blushed back. And then, the two of them got up and marched out to join Krillin and 18 for a nice, evening dinner.
Later that evening, in West City...
Gohan landed on the lawn of Capsule Corporation; his mind fuller with... thoughts... than ever before. He stood in place, looking up at the moon and thinking now about Erasa. For the moment, whatever was beginning to bloom for Videl had retreated its way into the shade. He gripped his fist, the hand that she had laid hers atop, and then his face lit up like a traffic signal. "J-Jeez..."
A metallic voice pierced the still, night air. "Are you deep in thought, my friend?"
Gohan turned toward Bulma and Vegeta's house, smiling as Android 16 marched toward him. "Maybe a little. How ya been, 16?"
16 stuffed his hands into his pocket. "I have been well. I find my job at Bulma's head of security to be fulfilling and enjoyably busy. I was helping to entertain the children when she told me that I could go home for the evening."
Gohan cocked his head. "You don't live on the grounds anymore?"
16 shook his head. "I have an upper town penthouse now. It gives me more room for books and pets."
Gohan chuckled. "Have a lot of those, now?"
16 nodded. "42 birds, 18 different species of rodent, 5 dogs, 2 cats, and snake. As well as a tank full of tropical fish and a turtle."
Gohan reached up to the towering friend and gave 16 a pat on the shoulder. "I'm happy for ya, 16. Much better than being a Red Ribbon weapon, huh?"
16 smiled. "Indeed. Now, I must be off. I have food bowls to refill. Until we next meet, Gohan."
Gohan waved after 16 as he marched down the pathway. "Until then, 16!"
Gohan continued up the stone walkway, toward Bulma and Vegeta's front door. "I guess it's good to at least know Bulma is home. Now I just have to hope she doesn't laugh me out the door..."
Inside Bulma and Vegeta's house...
Gohan opened the door to Bulma and Vegeta's house and came upon a rather cozy sight. Trunks, Goten, Ranch, Chika, Bulla, and Yamcha's daughter Koriocha were all laying on the ground, their eyes glued to a television screen. Gohan leaned over to get a good view of what they were watching and was met with the sight of a bald man in a yellow jumpsuit and white cape punching a fish monster in the face. "Huh... 'One Punch Man', is it called?"
Ranch looked up at him, her black eyeliner making her eyes seem sharper. "Yeah. It's a newer anime."
Trunks, Goten, Bulla, and Chika all looked over at him. "Hey, Gohan~"
Koriocha rolled over and shot him double peace signs. "Hey there, Gohan! Nice ta see ya again!"
Gohan smiled. "Hey, Koriocha~ Hey everyone~ Anyone seen Bulma or Vegeta lately?"
From the couch near the back of the room, Vegeta groaned. "Bulma's in the middle of a conference call for whatever asinine project she and Raditz are working on. If you want to talk to her, you have to wait."
Nodding, Gohan walked to the back of the room and sat down next to Vegeta. The prince was lying flat on his back, arm over his eyes. Gohan smiled. "How have you been, Vegeta?"
Vegeta moved his arm. "I've been babysitting six children for nearly two weeks, this 'One Punch Man' business is a load of horseshit, and I hate cats!"
Gohan was confused. "You hate... cats?"
And then Puar came hovering into the room. "Vegeta! I'm trying to make dinner for the kids! Could you get up and help me find-"
Vegeta snapped. "Get Giru to do it!"
Puar furrowed her brow, scolding Vegeta. "You know, as the responsible adult in this situation, you should really-"
Vegeta produced a water bottle and began to rapidly spray it in Puar's face. "Beat it! Shoo! Scat! Piss off! Go find the damned robot and get him to help you! Screw!"
Puar screeched and hissed and then fled back into the kitchen. Vegeta fell back to the couch with an annoyed grunt. "Goddammit! I'm going to knock Yamcha's teeth out for saddling me with that stupid cat!"
Hearing their father in distress, Trunks and Bulla were both immediately at his side, his loyal retainers in all but name. Trunks placed his hands on his father's arm. "You okay, Dad?"
Vegeta grunted. "I'm fine. Watch your damn cartoons."
Trunks seemed concerned. "You're sure?"
Vegeta nodded. "Very sure. Now go. Don't let me distract you from your sleepover, or whatever..."
Trunks obediently nodded and then crawled back to the group. Bulla, meanwhile, climb up and laid on her father's chest. She laid her head down just below his throat and wrapped her arms around his chest. Vegeta groaned. "You don't have to comfort me Bulla, I'm fine."
Bulla kissed his cheek and then hugged him tighter. "But I want to."
Vegeta hesitated, but then he wrapped his free arm around his little girl. She smiled warmly and so did he. And then Bulma walked into the room. "Oh, hey Gohan! What's up?"
Gohan stood. "Hey Bulma. You have a minute to talk?"
Bulma thought it over, and then nodded. "Sure. I have a minute to spare."
Back outside...
Bulma placed the filter tip of a cigarette between her lips and lit it, shielding her lighter from the wind. She blew a stream of bluish-gray smoke into the nighttime air and turned to Gohan. "So, what did you need?"
Gohan shivered. "It's pretty cold out here. You sure you don't wanna go inside?"
She shook her head. "Vegeta hates when I smoke in the house, so I try my best not to. He doesn't like the smell."
Gohan nodded. "Right."
She took a drag. "So, what's up?"
Gohan looked a bit nervous. "Well, I need to ask a favor..."
Bulma nodded. "Shoot. I'm all ears, kid."
Gohan thought to the advice he got from Krillin and Android 18. He thought of Videl out there, trying to fight crime by herself. And then he thought of the anime the kids were watching inside. "Uh... would you be willing to make me a superhero costume~?"
