2. Crushed Crush
The wind rushed through the young man's hair, tousling it while he held his phone against his face. It was a wonderful day to take this flight over to his brother's home. The sun warmed his back just the way he liked it and the breeze helped him feel more than comfortable on this summer morning.
"Thanks, Goten," Gohan said on the phone. Goten had made it to his destination and shifted to hold his phone better as he floated back down to the Earth. He was glad his brother had moved out of Satan City and closer towards the Son dwelling. It made visiting much easier. "I feel really bad that I can't be at home. Videl's got to be stressed out since school's out and she's been juggling her dojo duties and watching over Pan."
"Hey, it's no problem. You know I love Videl- in a sister sort of way!" Goten blushed as he stared at the front door of his brother's home. "I love Videl and Pan, they're fantastic. What else is family for?" He chuckled nervously.
"Yeah, that's true. I really do appreciate that you're going to be having dinner with them tonight. Videl always says they're fine and I'm sure she's right but," Gohan paused. He tried to articulate his thoughts but he couldn't grasp the words as he finished packing his brief case for the next forum he had to attend.
"But you're just like Mom, I get it." Goten snickered, Gohan made a noise to refute the sentiment. "I just got here so I'm headed inside to help your girls with whatever they may or may not need." Gohan nods, even though it was not a video call and it was mostly to himself.
"Thanks, Goten. See you later." He pocketed his phone and took out the spare key. He had just turned the lock when the door slammed open and his niece was beaming up at him.
"Hey, Uncle Goten!" Pan greeted. She was dressed up in a red gi, a devil's face on it, and a blue sash was tied around her waist to keep the ensemble together. "You have the best timing!" She squealed. Stepping outside of her home and hurriedly sliding on her shoes.
"Hey, kiddo, where are you headed off to?" Goten asked. Pan tapped her shoes into the walkway to make sure they were comfortable and secure before she hovered in the air.
"I was going to meet up with Piccolo to get some training in before dinner! Can you take over my job and watch the stew for me?" She hurriedly shouted, it was more of a statement than an actual question. Knowing her dad, Uncle Goten was probably only here to do whatever her and Mom wanted. Or he was here to eat some of their dinner now that Videl had learned most, if not all, of Grandma Chi-Chi's recipes. She checked her watch, she was late and she could feel the Namekian's lecture growing longer the more time it took her to get to their designated sparring grounds.
"Alright, bye Pan!" Goten called out. But Pan was already gone and out of sight. He hummed to himself as he retrieved the spare from the door. Walking through the threshold, he closed the door behind himself and locked it. "Hello?" He called out. No response. He shrugged and started to hum again. His tune echoed through the large hallowed halls as he walked through the kitchen. When he finally made it to his destination, he saw some pots were boiling and could smell the stew that Videl was cooking in all four of them. It smelled just like Chi-Chi's.
While the food smelled like home, this house was far from the quaint style he was used to as it was as large as a hotel. Gohan really married up in society. Although Goten knew that wasn't why Gohan had married Videl, he couldn't help but marvel at how much money this home must have cost. But he supposed Mr. Satan could spare what must have been pocket change for him to ensure his daughter lived comfortably. Besides, it was a fortunate turn of fate that Gohan was able to live luxuriously on the dime of a man who took credit for slaying Cell.
Goten sensed Videl's ki in one of the rooms in the hall, just a few stone throws away from the kitchen. The door was open and he mindlessly pondered if it was a bedroom or one of the recreational rooms they had. Peaking in, he saw it was a recreational room. Just when he was about to greet Videl, he saw she was on a video call with a blonde woman. He recognized her as Videl's maid of honor from her wedding. Not wanting to interrupt, he leaned back out of the room, although he should have gone to the kitchen a nosey part of him decided to hang near the door and listen in.
"I was watching that Saiyaman movie with my son that came out a few years ago. I had no idea Gohan was in it until I saw his name in the credits." The familiar blonde squealed. Goten's eyes scrunched up. Yup, that was definitely Videl's maid of honor. He remembered that squeal when they first met at the wedding when she thought he was adorable.
"Yeah, when Dad was on set they needed a stunt double and Gohan volunteered," Videl laughed at the memory. Goten couldn't help but smile, that was his all time favorite superhero movie and he was shocked more people didn't give it the praises it deserved.
"That's so cool, you should have told me! We could have celebrated it," Videl's maid of honor laughed. He heard the scrapping of a chair against the wooden floor, he supposed Videl shifted in her seat.
"Oh, it wasn't that big of a deal, Erasa," Videl responded. Erasa, that was her name. "You know how Gohan is about praise. He was just happy to help with the production." Goten nodded in solidarity knowing just how humble his older brother was when it came to any recognition at all.
"That's true, your husband is a very shy guy. I wish I could have congratulated him when it came out, that's super cool!" Erasa sighed. "What's even crazier is that the monster in the film looked like that monster that attacked our city around the time they were making it!"
"Yeah, you know what, it sort of did. Maybe the CGI team decided to model it after that monster," Videl laughed off nervously. She had no problem lying to her friend when they were younger when she first joined Gohan's world, but the older they got, Videl couldn't help but start feeling guilty for not sharing what was now her world with her friend.
"Probably! It's crazy how real it looked. I kind wish I saw it in theaters back when it came out," Erasa remarked. "I would have loved to support Gohan. But I didn't care to see it. Why watch a movie about Saiyaman when you grew up seeing him in person and on the news?"
"Yeah, I hear you," Videl agreed.
"I bet you do, you did fight alongside him a couple of times! I always thought you and Saiyaman would end up together. But then you retired after that tournament and Saiyawoman came onto the scene. They must have been dating for her to fight crime with him and take on a similar name. Maybe they're married now and have little Saiyakids!" Videl laughed, her friend didn't know how right she was.
"Or maybe they were brother and sister," Videl snickered. He heard gagging noises as Videl laughed louder. There was a moment of silence and some rustling noises.
"Do you ever miss it?" Erasa asked. Videl made a confused noise and Erasa elaborated. "You know, clearing the streets of trash ruffians and being the protector of justice?"
"Trash ruffians, really?" Videl snorted. There was some beeping and it sounded like splashing and something slapping against something. He hoped Erasa was doing some laundry on the other end of that call.
"Hey, I'm just quoting what you would say back when you were the local teen crime fighter, I swear you called them that on one of your tangents before you started helping the police," Erasa laughed and Videl joined her. "But seriously, do you miss it? Your life seems very different now."
"Honestly? Sometimes. There's nothing like the rush of fighting crime or the sense of fulfillment I would get when I was able to protect justice by tossing away all those trash ruffians." Videl sighed dramatically as Erasa laughed.
"Or the costumed super hotties that would pop up along the way!" The blonde squealed. Goten snorted at that, he wondered how Gohan would have handled hearing such a compliment. He'd probably deny such a claim and swear he was just doing what anyone in his position would do.
"Erasa!" Videl chastised. Erasa cackled at her expense.
"Calm down, sweetie, I'm just teasing. No need to get so flushed, I know how much you love Gohan," Erasa consoled. Videl sighed in a way that the boy mistook as longing. He hadn't realized she missed the days when she and Gohan would fight crime. But he understood why she would, there was nothing better than a good fight, and doing it for the right reason made it even better.
Goten heard a pot boiling over and rushed over. Years of living with Chi-Chi had taught him that if he neglected that noise, it could affect the quality and/or the amount of food that made it to the dinner table. Besides, he promised his favorite niece that he would watch the stove in her place. He rushed towards the kitchen to lower the temperature and check on the other food cooking in the kitchen. Back in the room, Videl smiled while Erasa worked on folding laundry into a basket that was partially on screen.
"Honestly, it was nice while it lasted. But that phase of my life is over. I'm a mom now, and that's changed my whole perspective on life. Pan is my whole world and I wouldn't want her to come home one day and find out I wasn't there because I chose to be reckless." Erasa hummed a noise of agreement, she could see where Videl was coming from after having a child of her own.
"Besides, Gohan would probably faint from the worry," Erasa said. "I remember how he doted over you after that tournament back in highschool. Even though you and Mr. Satan admitted you faked that scary match so you two wouldn't have to fight one another, he doted on you as if you had been beaten bloody! That must have been one hell of a wake up call to get him so worried and affectionate, he's usually so carefree."
"He definitely got that worried side from Chi-Chi," Videl smiled. Sure her husband could be over protective, but she had learned to accept that it was his way of showing how much he cared. She'd grown quite attached to the smothering now. Erasa laughed at how love struck Videl looked.
"Mom! You said we could get ice cream when you finished doing some chores! It's been an hour now, that dipped cone is crying my name!" A young boy's voice complained. Erasa looked over to her son as she finished folding a shirt.
"Okay, Kashi, I'm coming," Erasa huffed. She hadn't realized she had been on the phone with Videl for so long. "Did you want to say 'hi' to Sensei Videl?" The young boy leaned over, his long dark hair draped over his shoulder and his light green eyes pleading.
"Sensei Videl, I think you are the best and I love that you're besties with Mom," Kashi pouted, "but I need my ice cream fix! The parlor closes in an hour and it takes twenty minutes to get there!" Erasa rolled her eyes at how dramatic her son was being. A small smile was fixed on her face because she knew that he took that from her. "We can't be those bums that go into the store ten minutes before closing. We're better than that! Please take pity on your lowly pupil, Sensei, and let my mother go!"
"Alright, I hear you," Videl laughed. "I release you, E, I hope you two enjoy your ice creams." Kashi whooped and hurried towards the front door to put his shoes on.
"Bye, V," Erasa signaled a peace sign before the call ended. The screen went black and Videl was left staring at herself. She placed the phone on the table and stretched her limbs. Wow, an hour had passed, Pan must be freaking out. Videl knew that Pan planned to meet Piccolo for their training session. She stood up and decided to head to the kitchen to relieve her daughter from kitchen duty. She was surprised to see Goten stirring one of the stew pots.
"Oh, hey Goten!" Videl greeted the young man. "I didn't know you were here, thanks for keeping an eye on dinner!" The young man chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his neck. He put the ladle down and put the lid back on the pot.
"Yeah, of course, what are brothers for," Goten blushed before he cringed. Videl just smiled warmly towards him. "Pan went to train with Piccolo so I figured I would watch the stew."
"Thanks for helping out, Goten," Videl laughed. She walked over to the living room to pick up her book. "You're such a good Uncle."
"You know me, Uncle Goten, here to help," Goten ended nervously. Videl hummed back and started reading. "So, where were you? Not that I'm prying or anything, you can do whatever you want in your own home."
"Oh, I was talking to a good friend I've known for a long time. We were catching up, we hadn't spoken that much since we graduated high school. You've met her, she was my maid of honor at the wedding if you remember." Videl responded, she flipped the page and Goten started to stir another pot.
"High school, huh?" Goten repeated. "I remember when you and Gohan used to fight crime. I thought your outfits were so cool. Do you ever miss it?" Videl blushed remembering the bright outfit she wore and that garish heart that decorated her helmet. She hated that outfit, but no one suspected she was Saiyawoman since it was such a departure from her normal boyish appearance.
"I mean, sometimes. Yeah, I miss it sometimes," Videl answered. Goten tasted some of the stew. "But I'm old now. That's something you or Trunks should be doing now."
"You're not that old!" Goten shouted, his voice cracked a bit. Startled, Videl looked up to blink at him. "I mean, you're not old at all. You could still fight crime if you wanted to! You're in great shape!" Videl blinked at him again and Goten blushed furiously. He decided he should stop talking for now and checked on a different pot of stew to see how it tasted.
"Thanks, I try my best to keep up with Pan," Videl grinned. "Piccolo can train her fine on his own, but I like to train her myself sometimes too. I really like teaching her too. It's how I got the idea to open up the dojo. But unless something were to happen near me, I wouldn't bother going out of my way anymore." Goten hummed in thought as an idea came to him. Videl glanced at the clock on the wall. "The pots of stew should be done. Is it?"
"Yeah, I think it's ready," Goten said. He began to smirk
He knew what he needed to do.
oOo
"So you want to dress up and pretend to be mortal enemies on some random street in Satan City?" Trunks slowly asked. Goten nodded furiously, but Trunks' attention was solely focused on his gaming console. Both teens were at Capsule Corp. living compound in the main kitchen, Trunks was leaned back in his chair and had his legs propped up on the table.
"Or spar!" Goten suggested. "Whatever we decide to do, we just have to make it look believable that there's a new hero and villain on the streets of Satan City. But not any random street, the one that Videl's Dojo is on. I want to fight right in front of it." Trunks' eyes widened momentarily and he paused his game. He swung his feet off the table and planted them on the ground.
"I don't know. Videl's scary," Trunks muttered as he put his console onto the table. "She's like a spooky combination of my mom and your mom. Do you think that makes Gohan some scary combination of my dad and your dad?" Goten shook his head. Videl? Scary? She was a beautiful and kind person who always gave him toys and food when he was growing up! The best sister-in-law Goten could have ever asked for.
"She isn't scary!" Goten defended. "And she isn't like our moms!" Trunks squinted at his blind lovestruck friend.
Videl was always nicer to Goten because he was always the sweet one in their duo. He was sure Videl would have been nice to Goten even if he wasn't Gohan's little brother. Trunks, on the other hand, was the spice to Goten's sugar. He loved to push the envelope, and had personally gotten a glimpse of Videl's rage once or twice growing up. Trunks respected any hot-blooded wrathful woman after being raised by his own mother.
"Come on, please? I'll share some of Mom's food with you." Trunk's mouth began to drool, but he kept it shut to stare at his friend. He was no fool. "For a whole year!"
"Okay, deal!" Trunks agreed. Who needed to live a long life if they were fed well enough? "Chi-Chi's food is too good to say no to that. Besides, I already finished all my projects that I planned to build during the break. It shouldn't be hard to conjure up a watch like Mom made for Gohan when he was Saiyanerd."
"You mispronounced Saiyaman," Goten corrected. Trunks shook his head as he went back to his gaming console.
"I didn't mispronounce anything, I meant what I said." Goten shoved Trunks out of his chair.
oOo
It was Monday morning and all the students had been dropped off at the Hellfire Dojo. Videl oversaw her students perform their katas as a warmup. Across the street, she didn't see the two teens staring at the class through the large glass window.
"Wow, all those kids are so small," Trunks muttered. Most of them moved as one as they performed the exercise, and the few that struggled, Videl fluttered over to help correct their form. "I never would have thought Videl would be such a good teacher. She wasn't a bad fighter, for human standards, but look at her now. Raising her own child army." Goten nodded as he looked into the studio, he was more focused on Videl's form as she flitted through the room. He shook his head though and shook Trunk's shoulders.
"Come on, keep your head in the game," Goten reminded him. Trunks nodded and pulled out two watches from his bag. They looked identical in shape, a modernized take on Gohan's old sport watch, but one was black and the other was yellow. Trunks handed Goten the black one and they both strapped it onto their wrists.
"Okay, alright, what's the game plan, Coach?" Trunks asked.
"Alright so you're going to walk over to that alleyway," Goten tried to curve his hand to indicate the alleyway on the other side of the store they were currently hidden next to, the backstreet between the store whose wall they were leaning on and the new Pizza Emporium.
"Dude, that's right in front of her storefront. What if she sees me?" Trunks whispered as he saw Videl congratulating her class on how well their katas, the kids seemed to bloom under their Sensei's attention. Videl had to be some sort of witch or siren for all those kids and Goten to be under her spell, he didn't get it.
"Just activate your watch, your villain costume is still all black and boring, right?" Goten suggested. "If you walk casually, why would Videl look away from her class? She's super responsible."
"Hey, my costume might be basic, but don't knock on the classics, Son," Trunks retorted. Goten rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, okay, whatever. You go into your designated alleyway, then wait for me to make my way to that alley right next to the dojo." Gohan pointed towards the backstreet he was referring to. "I'm going to walk down a little bit and go behind that trash can because that's where I'm going to change into my costume." Goten instructed. "Once I'm in position, you come on out and make a big show. Shout, stomp, just make a big scene. Say some bad guy nonsense about revenge or something. You don't have to be too creative, you just have to be loud enough to attract their attention. That's when I'll come out, decked out in my totally cool hero costume."
"So I get to have an audience when I kick your butt?" Trunks snided. "Just like when we were kids and I was crowned Junior Division champion." Goten glared at him and shook his head.
"No, Trunks, you gotta let me win," Goten spat. Trunks glared right back at him. This facade was about to turn into a spontaneous sparring match right there in the alleyway.
"Says who?" Trunks barked. His blood flaring up at the request. "I've never held back in a fight with you. Why should I start now!?"
"The narrative, you butt!" Goten shouted back. He yelped when he made eye contact with one of Videl's students. One of the smaller kids was staring right at them, he pulled Trunks down to hide back behind some cover, a measly silver trash can. "Remember? This whole thing is fake, like pro-wrestling, it's not real! I'm playing hero and you're playing villain," Goten whispered, he looked back and saw that Videl had captured the little kid's attention. "The hero wins! The kids need to learn that the hero always wins." Trunks rolled his eyes but grunted in response. "We fight a little, Videl and I join forces, and we totally defeat you! A classic storyline contained in a staged fight between two best friends."
"Oh right, and then Videl swoons in your strong arms. The hero wins over the girl, a classic storyline," Trunks smirked. He snickered when Goten blushed furiously and scratched his cheek nervously.
"I mean, if that happens, then it happens," Goten chuckled nonchalantly. He shook his head to clear up some thoughts. "But yeah, you gotta let me win."
"Sure, lover boy, whatever you want," Trunks smirked. Goten's jaw dropped as if he was betrayed and he brought his hands above his face to wave it around. Or to attempt to fan at his face that glowed a bright red and burned just as hot.
"It's not like that!" Goten shouted and he stood up. His eyes made contact with the same little kid as earlier, now they had their finger up their nose searching for gold. How intimate. He crouched back down and glared at Trunks who had fallen over laughing.
"So we aren't doing this because of your little crush on your brother's wife?" Trunks choked out, wiping away at the tear that had fallen out of his eye. Goten slapped his friend's arm, while making indiscernible noises, causing Trunks to laugh even harder.
"I-I-I-" Goten stuttered. "Of course not!" He finally growled out. "She's also my sister, that would be weird," Goten cringed and Trunks had fallen over again from his laughter. "Stop it! That nose picker could still be looking over here and you're really loud. She could hear you!" Trunks held his hand up and did his best to stop laughing.
"So then why are we doing this?" Trunks wheezed, leaning against the brink wall of the building behind them. He looked at anywhere but his fuming best friend or he was going to lose it again.
"I told you, Videl deserves a fun day, she takes care of my brother, my niece, she even comes by with Pan to check on Mom, Dad and me on the weekends." Goten muttered. "She thinks she's some old lady now, but she isn't, she's genuinely one of the coolest people I know! She's even teaching a bunch of other people's kids while raising her own when she isn't here!"
"It's nice to know the scary women in your life are also caring women," Trunks nodded. He always appreciated that Videl calmed down Bulma whenever he would upset her with one of his shenanigans. Or how Chi-Chi would go out of her way to make his favorite dessert at the get-togethers even though only he loved it. Sure the Son women were terrifying she-beasts in his eyes, but if Goten thought one of the women in his family needed a win, he should just go along with it. They were very kind when they weren't terrifying. "Fine, let's get this over with, Mr. Saiyajunior."
"No, the name's Saiyadude!" Goten corrected as he performed a pose that was very reminiscent of one that Gohan had performed for Trunks when he was little. How embarrassing. At least their only audience was that small nose digger in the studio across the street.
"Okay, whatever you say," Trunks sighed and just decided to roll with it. He had teased his friend enough. Pressing the button on his watch, Trunks was dressed in all black: a black ski mask and baggy black clothing. He brought the ski mask up so it could resemble more of a snow hat. It wasn't that weird, he tried to convince himself as he leisurely walked down the sidewalk, what teenager wouldn't wear a snowcap and black baggy clothes in the sweltering summer heat?
He got to the alley and from his peripheral, Trunks saw Goten walk in the opposite direction than him before he zipped across a car. Trunks grimaced as Gohan profusely bowed as the driver cursed him out. His blue eyes peered into the dojo. Only the nose picker was watching the scene instead of focusing on Videl's lesson. Ah, it seems the nose picker promoted himself into the booger quality assurance department. Good thing too, Videl was too distracted scolding that student she missed Trunks and Goten made their way to their marks. Trunks looked up at the sky, now, what would he say to introduce himself as the bad guy.
"Finally, we get to exact our revenge on Mr. Satan and his daughter!" A voice laughed. Yeah, that could be something he could say, but was it too straight to the point? Is that really the bad guy Trunks wanted to be? He should make his voice deeper than the one he imagined in his mind. "Ah look, the new guy is finally here!" Wait, that didn't sound like it was in his head. He looked ahead and was met with four sets of eyes. His outfit matched three of the four men that stood in front of him. "You're late, but you get points for being in uniform, newbie."
"I'm sorry, what's happening? Why are you here?" Trunks' eyebrows merged together. The other men laughed. The man leaning against the door that entered the Pizza Emporium was the only one not dressed in black. He looked to be middle aged and had a white apron tied around his waist.
"And a sense of humor! Anyway, I have to hold up the shop today, boys, I'm training a new employee. My daughter will step in and tell you the plan, okay?" While the three men nodded, Trunks could only blink. This could not be happening. A young woman soon stood in the spot the man had just stood and he was stunned. She could have been Mai's sister. She had long dark hair and dark eyes. The only difference was the face shape and that her hair was wavy, he saw the resemblance. She wore a mossy trench coat that reminded him of a past adventure, she had her fists on her hips as she assumed an authoritative pose.
"Hey everyone, you can just call me, Boss Lady!" The young woman bit out. Now her tone reminded Trunks of his own mother. He just stared as the three other men greeted the young woman respectfully.
"What is happening!?" Trunks shouted. All eyes are back on him. The men went dead quiet, one of them slowly shook his head at Trunks as if warning him. The young woman glared at him and marched right up to him. She shoved a finger right into his sternum. If he had been more human than alien he figured it would have hurt.
"Oh, we got a wise guy, huh?" She twisted her finger and he cringed at the sound his shirt made as she twirled it. "Got a problem taking orders from a lady or something? In this day and age? How disgusting." One of the men shook his head, disappointed in the young men. He thought the next generation was supposed to be more progressive and respectful. What a shame. Trunks paled and brought his hands in front of his face, defensively shaking his head at the accusation.
"What! Of course not, I would never, women are the future!" He sputtered out. Suddenly she brought her glare closer to his face and her deadly aura could rival his mother's if he happened to push the wrong buttons on the wrong day.
"Well, I've got some news for you, mister," she bellowed. "YOU are the hired help, YOU are here to do as I say. So you keep your cute mouth shut and do what you're told to do!" Did this woman just call him cute? He already had his eyes on someone else, sure he had his eyes on that someone else for a long time now without any progress to speak of, but besides that she seemed a few years too mature for his tastes. "HEY! Do not space out while I am reprimanding you, do you understand, brat!?"
His muscle memory betrayed him when she uttered the command his father programmed him to do when she said 'brat'.
He stood at attention and saluted the woman.
"Yes, sir," he yelped. He saw a man shake his hand again. "I mean, yes, Boss Lady!" That man nodded and gave him a thumbs up.
"Good, now that I've taught the green horn some manners." She gritted out, glaring at him, before looking at the other men. Did one of the men really need to clap? He was Bulma Brief's son. He was as progressive as they came. He didn't realize it until he said it earlier, but he really thought women were the future. Trunks opened his mouth again just to shut it when her dark eyes were on him again.
"Unless you're going to tell me the winning lottery numbers, I suggest you shut up and do as I say, brat," she practically roared.
"Yes, sir," he said reflexively. The man retracted his thumbs up and palmed his face with a frustrated groan. "I mean, Boss Lady!"
"Good enough," she sighed. "So here's the plan, boys."
oOo
"What is taking Trunks so long? He's a villain, he doesn't exactly have to spin some poetic backstory or something," Goten grumbled. He glanced at his watch, impressed that Trunks took the time to actually program the thing to tell time too. At this rate, Videl's class would be let out and she'd be on her way home.
"MISS VIDEL SATAN! COME ON OUT! WE'VE GOT A FIGHT TO PICK WITH YOU!" A young woman wailed, she attracted the attention of the patrons on the street and all the children inside the dojo. Videl raised her eyebrow as she stared at the young woman outside her classroom. Goten blinked. Who was this? A brunette woman in a trench coat had her arms crossed, three men and Trunks were standing behind her. Trunks was standing with them near the back. Wow! He had the best friend ever, what commitment! Goten was impressed at the thought Trunks put into this. He didn't even put this much effort when they would pull pranks at school together.
Goten grinned and threw Trunks a thumbs up before he dipped behind a trash can to activate his own costume. If he had just waited a moment longer, he would have seen Trunks signal out to him in their made up hand gestures that something was wrong. One of the men threw a weird shaped metal device into his arms. It was an opening that reminded Trunks of a cannon but spherical in nature with only one large red button on it. Videl stepped out of her studio, the door automatically propped itself open. She stood a couple feet away from the young woman, staring directly at her.
"It's actually Sensei Satan, right now, young lady. Unfortunately, I'm teaching a class right now, so I can't give you the attention you might need at this moment," Videl sarcastically quipped back. She had her hands on her hips and her students had their faces pressed against the window. "If you want private lessons, you have to call the number on the glass to schedule it."
"You know damn well we aren't here to learn anything! We're here to show you a thing or two!" Boss Lady screeched. Videl's face scrunched up in a severe scowl as she closed the glass door shut.
"Language, ma'am! I have young children inside," Videl reprimanded. "What's your problem?"
"Your father did my father wrong, so I've come here today with some friends," she gestured towards the men and Trunks behind her, "to come and teach you a lesson." Videl's eyebrow rose and her eyes stayed on the silver device in Trunk's arms. Her eyes looked at her students who practically had stars in their own eyes as they stared at her.
"You know, they say an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind. Why don't we take this somewhere-" Videl tried to propose a location change but then a voice behind her barreled out of the alley.
"That's right, Miss Videl! We shouldn't allow these ne'er-do-wells to do what they want. They must face justice!" A young man wearing a muted green leotard jumped out, knocking over the trashcan in his leap. His legs and arms were covered by black cloth, his wrists were cuffed by a dark purple material. His helmet was white with streaks of green and purple on it. The visor was shaded. "We should team up and put these criminals away for good!" Goten started to do all sorts of poses, some that were reminiscent of Saiyaman's poses and some that he had come up with on his own. Trunks slapped his forehead while Videl just stared at him incredulously.
"We were prepared in case this loser came back to protect you," the young woman grinned. "Brat!" Trunks stood at attention. "Press the button!" Trunks furrowed his brow and pointed the opening of the weird sphere up at the sky.
"Uhm, how does this thing work?" Trunks asked one of the men.
"You press the red button there and aim," he said helpfully.
"Okay, thanks," Trunks nodded. He paused and looked at the man. "Nothing bad will happen if I press this, right?"
"No, nothing bad happens when you press the button," the man responded. Trunks shrugged, the man leading the hit was the Pizza Emporium owner and his daughter. Maybe this was some dumb stunt to sell more pizzas. Trunks pushed down the red button. "Now it's what happens when you release that button that things get unpleasant, if you know what I mean."
"Excuse you, what?!" Trunks shouted. The young woman started yelling at Trunks to release the button and aim it at Videl. He vigorously shook his head as the men started to yell at him too. Goten stared at the debacle in front of him. He was starting to think that these other people were not a part of his plan. Suddenly, Videl fisted Goten's tunic and she pulled on it to bring his face near hers. He decided to oblige to see what she wanted.
"Goten Son," Videl hissed and Goten froze. "What on Earth do you and Trunks think you're doing?!" He had never once heard Videl's voice deepen to this extent. He had also never seen that vein popping on her forehead before until this moment. He never did stand this closely to her either. Maybe it's been there but Gohan was too nice to say anything to his wife. It's not like the vein took away from her beauty somehow. He wondered if he should suggest she get that checked out, he had pretty good vision and he did not remember seeing that at dinner the other night.
"Miss Videl! I don't know who this Goten Son is! I am Saiyadude," he started in a fake falsetto. She brought her other fist behind his back and shoved her knuckles into his lower back right where his tail would have been if he had one. He crumbled on his knees, feeling a painful pressure start stabbing at his abdomen and he thought he was going to vomit. "Videl, what," he whined. He didn't even know his body could react like that, how did she know?!
"Don't play games with me, Goten Son," Videl hissed. She kept her voice low and heard her students shout in glee at seeing their Sensei take down the masked superhero. "I figured out who Gohan was the moment he first helped me without knowing who he was or what he was. I then used that knowledge to blackmail him into teaching me how to fly and sense other people's ki. I learned how with his little brother." Goten's eyes widened. How could he forget? Gohan had taught both of them how to fly and sense ki. His brother even made it into a fun game of hide and seek so he would pay attention. "Now why are there some thugs outside my dojo and where is my child? You said you would watch Pan today!"
"I don't know," Goten cried. He felt Videl's knuckles twitch and he couldn't help but cower. Not even his own mother threatened him like this, he could kiss his mother's frying pan in this moment. It seemed the more he cowered the more Videl's students cheered.
"You don't know who those thugs are? Trunks is with them so that's hard to believe," she enunciated. "Or do you not know where my Sweet Pea is? Because I don't sense her anywhere near us, Goten. So help me if you do not tell me where my child is, a Senzu will not be able to revive you. You'll be lucky if Chi-Chi lets you visit Dende once I'm done talking to her," Videl murmured threateningly. He imagined ice was warmer than her voice was right now.
"Bulma!" Goten whimpered. Videl's knuckles twitched once again and he hastily tagged on some more detail. "Pan needed something so she's with Bulma and Bra! They went to the mall!" Videl calmed down a little and tugged at his tunic to prod him into talking more. "I heard you talking to your friend yesterday! I don't know who the thugs are! I just wanted to remind you of the good old days! You're not old and you're super pretty even when you're threatening me!" The vein on Videl's forehead receded and she had stopped radiating ill intent in her ki. She let go of him and Goten quivered slightly, unsure if all of that just happened.
"Okay, I believe you, but we need to handle those thugs, preferably away from the children, Goten," Videl reminded him. Goten nodded. The students behind them started to boo and a few were telling Videl to 'put that dork in a headlock and show him who's boss'. They looked back towards their enemies and the three men were hanging onto Trunks. One was holding his arm trying to get him to aim the weapon at Videl, another was trying to pull his finger off the button, while the third tried to put him in a choke hold.
"Yeah, you're right, Sis," Goten agreed. As Goten made a move towards Trunks, the woman ran up to the teen before he could, and proceeded to kick him in the crotch. Trunks cried as he fell to his knees, his finger ultimately letting go of the button, and a blast radiated towards the sky. Videl elbowed Goten and gestured towards the weapon. He phased towards the weapon and flew upwards, he used his ki to destroy the metal device before it could hurt any of the civilians nearby. The children stared in awe at the explosion in the sky.
"Wow, that's excessive," Goten exclaimed once he landed back next to Videl. His suit was partially torn revealing parts of the black bodysuit under his green tunic. Somehow his helmet was only a bit charred. "Is this the sort of stuff you and Go-" he paused when he saw her glare and realized his slip up. He probably shouldn't shout his brother's name. "The original Saiyaman dealt with when you two fought crime?"
"Not usually, but when Saiyaman got involved the villains did up their ante. I guess with time it's only gotten worse." Videl shrugged. "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." Goten's face scrunched up in sympathy when he saw Trunks roll over to his other side, his hands holding his crotch.
"An eye for an eye," he muttered. The young woman glared down at Trunks, standing over him.
"I know you're new, but you had such an easy job," she whined and stomped her foot on the ground. "I guess I'll just have to do this the good old fashioned way." She turned right into Videl's knee slamming into her forehead. That was all it took for the woman to crumple to the street next to Trunk's form. The men that were standing over him sympathetically turned to stare at their fallen boss lady.
"Do you guys want to try your luck with me today?" Videl cracked her knuckles. "I promise I punch even harder now that I'm a mother." The men all put their hands behind their heads and dropped to their knees in unison.
"No, we surrender, ma'am," one man said. The other two nodded.
"Yeah, we respect a woman in charge. You don't have to tell us twice." Trunks glared up at them from the street. Videl rolled her eyes and pointed at Goten.
"Saiyabrat," she snapped. He flinched and started to salute his sister-in-law. "Go inside and use my dojo's phone to call the police. When you're done, take the fallen criminal to a clinic or something. Got it?" The kids inside all chorused a loud 'ooh' at the hero getting chastised by their Sensei. He ignored them and nodded vigorously.
"Yes, sir!" He shouted. He ran to that phone.
oOo
"Stop laughing, Gohan!" Videl groaned, her body flopped dramatically on the couch as Pan kept an eye on the dinner cooking on the stove. Her arms crossed and phone propped between her shoulder and cheek. "It's not my fault you Saiyans only respond to violence! It's Monday, my week just started!"
"I can't believe the terror twins did that," Her husband got out between laughter, "And you threatened sweet Goten? I thought he could do no harm!"
"What can I say, one minute he's a sweet blushing ten year old and the next he's in High School dressed like he could join the Saiyamen or something," she muttered. He laughed harder and it helped her feel better about her day somehow. "I couldn't believe it."
"Yeah, I understand. I'm sure Goten meant well in his own way, he is a sweet kid. He was probably just blinded by his little crush on you, I can't blame the kid, I put on a costume to get closer to you too." Videl blushed and she was glad they weren't on a video call like they usually were. "I wonder what he'll do next. Do you think he'll one up me one day?"
"We're married, I don't know how he can one up that," Videl stated dryly. "I doubt he'll do something like this again, I'm pretty sure I crushed his crush."
"What makes you say that?" There was a bit of crackle in the background and Videl assumed his service was spotty in the hotel he was staying at. She grabbed a large pillow and shoved her face into it.
"I overheard him and Trunks talking when they dropped off Pan," she whispered, hoping the pillow could barricade her voice from her hearing sensitive daughter. "Something about how you're the bravest man alive for being married to a woman scarier than Chi-Chi and Bulma combined."
"You aren't that scary, your bark is just really loud and violent," he replied. "It's not like you punched him on his tail stump or something like that one time we spared." There was a beat of silence and he mocked a gasp over the phone. She tried to bury herself into that pillow. "I asked you not to use that knowledge for evil."
"Yeah, yeah, don't rub it in. I don't know. He was supposed to be watching Pan and I couldn't feel her anywhere and I just lost it." Videl unlodged herself from her pillow to look over at her daughter who was turning the stove top on low. "Pan's old enough and practically takes care of herself now, I don't know why I went off as badly as I did."
"You were being threatened by criminals at your dojo, you've been doing more hours now that you offer private lessons and it's summer, you're raising our beautiful girl, and you're managing the home while I'm gone. And it's only Monday." Gohan sympathetically listed. Videl knew there was a reason she married this sweet, wonderful, sympathetic man. "That's a lot. You were probably just stressed."
"Still. Maybe I should bake Goten a cake or something," Videl suggested. "He really liked that chocolate cake I made for Pan's birthday."
"You should write, 'I've got my eyes on you', on it in red frosting," Gohan snickered. The line crackled again and she almost didn't hear his teasing.
"Gohan!" She tried to reprimanded. Maybe she thought too much of her husband as he just laughed at her whine.
"He should be flattered that my beautiful wife has her eyes on him, he should feel blessed," he said. She blushed. They'd been together for years and their daughter was practically a teenager. How did he manage to sound so genuine?
"Or terrified that his scary devil big sister is planning to murder him," she mumbled, playing with the loose thread on the throw she pulled onto her lap.
"You know, the devil is still technically an angel. It's a whole thing, and there are a bunch of lores about it, there's a thin line between terrifying and caring I've learned. It depends on what lens you decide to look at things." Her chuckle came out as more of a chortle at that one.
"Oh yeah?" She huffed. "Where'd you learn that?"
"Experience. My mother was the first woman to ever show me that people are multifaceted beings. Thank goodness, it prepared me for you and Pan," She laughed at that too. "I should give her an extra hug when I see her next for preparing me for the best part of my life." A pleasant warmth flew through her, where was her husband when she wanted to give him an extra hug?
"Chi-Chi is a role model. That's for sure." She let out a long sigh. "When are you coming home? You've been gone for too long. Pan misses you."
"I miss her too. Is she the only one who misses me?" He teased.
"I might miss you. Just a bit," Videl responded coyly. She ignored Pan's gagging noises in the kitchen. She wasn't going to stop flirting because her daughter had superhuman hearing. Her daughter was lucky she soundproofed her room. "You have this tendency of making me feel better about my day and then sealing that deal with a hug. And this would be about that time you'd give me a hug. I'm feeling gracious enough to honor you with two hugs." Gohan laughed and Videl smiled. "So when are you coming home?"
"Look up," he said. She looked up from her lap and Saiyaman was floating in front of the full moon. "I can't let my brother one up me, you're my wife after all." Pan's gagging noises turned into white noise as Videl tossed her phone to the other side of the couch and she hastily opened the window. She flew into Gohan's welcoming arms and squeezed him tightly before she kissed him soundly. She felt his smile on her lips as he wound his arms around his wife. "Wow, and this is only you missing me a bit? What would I get if you missed me a whole lot?"
"I still can't believe a Pizza Emporium owner was going to blast apart my dojo because Papa beat him to the storefront he originally wanted," Videl sighed into her husband's chest. "If I had known he wanted it so badly, I would have worked something out with him." She felt him freeze up and grip her a little tighter.
"I'm glad you're safe," Gohan murmured as he palmed her cheek. He brought her face to his and kissed her again. "I'm glad the terror twins accidentally saved the day while I was away. I love you."
"I love you too, Gohan," Videl murmured, kissing her husband again.
"Yeah, yeah, I love you both too," Pan groaned from the dining table. Gohan and Videl snickered as they stopped kissing. "Can you both stop being so gross? I didn't slave over a hot stove so you two could reenact your teenage years. Why don't you two help me set up the table so I can tell you about my day at the mall?"
"Yes, ma'am," Videl laughed as Gohan squeezed her hand.
"Dad, you aren't planning on wearing that to dinner, are you?" Pan groaned as her parents continued to giggle and hold each other. Gohan pulled their daughter into the embrace and Pan let out a dramatic sigh as she hugged her parents back.
She was glad her mom was fine too.
A/N: And that's how Goten's crush on his sister-in-law influenced his taste in women.
-Maju Murchadha