Who's ready for bad Milk puns?

Chapter

"I Promise"

When Chi Chi arrived back at the restaurant, it was to a wall of stony silence. She'd pushed into the door, eyes desperately raking across the room, ever grateful to see Gohan sitting at a booth, his gaze carefully averted to the floor. Junior stood far away, leaning against the wall. When Chi Chi entered, he gave her an irritated look.

She gave Gohan a concerned look, and shifted over to Junior.

"Where the hell were you?" Junior hissed, lifting one hand into the air. There was immediately a shocked noise from Gohan, as the little boy launched up from his seat, face scrunched up and red as he looked at them. Chi Chi furrowed her brow, watching as Junior visibly deflated back into his seat. His gaze dropped to the floor and his hands became limp in his lap.

Chi Chi bit her lip.

"Gohan, honey… please go upstairs while I talk to Mr. Junior."

Gohan balled up his fists, and contorted his face. "No! I won't leave you alone with him momma!"

"Honey—,"

"No! I won't go!"

Chi Chi could see Junior's face spasm out of the corner of her eye, and his defeated figure. She gritted her teeth, and firmly place her hands on her hips.

"Upstairs now young man! Mr. Junior is not going to hurt me!"

Gohan started sobbing as he shot upstairs, slamming the doors behind him. Chi Chi released a deep breath, and sunk back. She was shocked by Junior rising up behind her, and motioning to the booth he'd been occupying.

"Sit," he grunted. "Do you… need a drink or something?" His face was blank as he stared at her, but Chi Chi could see the hurt lying underneath. What Gohan had said certainly rattled the Namekian, and if she looked close enough it was obvious that his hands were shaking.

"I'm fine," she replied, burying her face in her hands. "And I'm sorry…. That I was late. I had to help Bulma with this stupid thing—apparently Vegeta is one of Freeza's fighters." She heard Junior shift on his feet. When she looked up through her bangs, he shrugged.

"There's not many Saiyans that don't belong to the Colds," he grumbled. Junior seated himself on the opposite side of the booth, and the silence weighed heavy on their shoulders. "I'm—,"

Chi Chi cut him off, hands resting flat against the table. "I'm sorry that I… well, your past actions, I may have been a bit… unfair…." She bit her lip, and pushed a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. She saw Junior's surprised look, his antennae twitching at her.

"Oh."

Chi Chi flushed, and ducked her head. "Not that—not that I'm excusing you for it! And I can't imagine Gohan having watched that… all alone…"

Junior's nails clacked sharply against the table.

"I'm aware of my past," he gritted out. "And I'm not proud of it… It's something I never wanted Gohan to know about." His voice grew hoarse, and she watched as his calm face shattered. He suddenly seemed much older, and he dropped his forehead into a waiting palm. His fingers pressed at his bulging brow. "Hell I came to this shithole to escape the past and… the one person I wanted desperately to hide it from watches it at some damn sleepover." Junior laughed, but it was a wretched sound. "And while we're at it—the kid who happens to be related to one of my victims."

Chi Chi pressed her lips into a thin line. "You… you came here to escape?"

Junior gave a half-hearted shrug. "After my match with Goku, my father became intolerable. Not that he was all that wonderful to start with, as I'm sure you guessed, but…" he glanced to the side. "The old man had his merits." She pulled a face, which Junior snorted at. "Outside looking through isn't always the best."

"Outside looking in," Chi Chi corrected, earning her a lip snarl.

"Whatever, Milk. Either way… when my father pissed me off, and the colony didn't want me with them, my cousins offered me an out." He stared at the napkin dispenser, where she could see his distorted reflection staring back at him.

"The colony…?" she prompted, tilting her head.

"It's where the more traditional Namekians stay," Junior replied, waving his hand. "Boring hell hole if ever there was one. It's nothing but flower shops and gardens everywhere. Outsiders are rarely allowed in—and there's nothing from the outside allowed in."

Chi Chi wrinkled her nose. "How were they contacting you then? Your family had a laptop to Skype with you, didn't they?"

"They were in my father's mansion," Junior replied, voice flat as he pulled a napkin out and began to fray the edges. "He lives outside of the colony, seeing as he hates them all. And anyways, they have technology there, but it's imported, inspected, and cleared by the Elders. So everything is outdated as hell—I'm talking payphones and computers from the nineties." He rolled his eyes. "They're all idiots."

She arched her brow. "It sounds… interesting."

Junior sneered. "Yeah, well. Looks like I'll be going back there soon." He gritted his teeth, and Chi Chi blinked in surprise. "I got a call today. Apparently my father went on a rampage and kicked every person out. When they tried to fight him, he called in a bunch of Freeza's men."

Chi Chi gasped. "Wait—what? Why the hell would Freeza put men there."

Junior gave her a pointed look. "To make sure that if I don't pull through with this deal, they have easy access to my father. As stupid as Freeza is, he doesn't want a bunch of green assholes my size tearing their way through his ranks. This makes it significantly easier—and it puts pressure on me."

"But—you said your colony didn't want you there?"

"Of course they don't. But Nail and Dende are returning to Porunga's, and there won't be enough space for all three of us crammed into that shitty little apartment upstairs." Junior shrugged, then shifted his gaze upwards. "So the kid won't have to see me after too long."

Chi Chi furrowed her brow, and glared at him. "Do you really think that's what Gohan wants?" she demanded, rising up from her seat. Junior tracked her movements uneasily as she came to his side of the booth. She bent at the waist and jammed her finger against his chest, causing his eyes to bug out. "He misses you! He's just scared! And wouldn't you be?"

Junior seemed to shocked to properly respond.

"And what?" Chi Chi huffed, prodding him more. "You're just going to run away again? —because it sounds like that's what you did as a kid!" Junior opened his mouth, expression already stormy, but Chi Chi plowed onwards. "Don't argue with me, young man!"

"I'm not young!"

"To me you are!"

"Only because you're all curdled!"

"You know an awful lot about milk for someone that doesn't drink it," Chi Chi snapped, leading Junior to turn a violent shade of purple.

"I can work Google…" Junior shook his head, antennae flapping. "That's beside the point! I'm not running away! I just told you that Dende and Nail are—,"

"And I've been in your apartment! Surprise, surprise! It's exactly the same build as mine! There's plenty of room for a third person. You're just acting like a petulant child! You had a fight, didn't like the outcome, and then ran away!" Chi Chi gave a decisive nod, and rocked back on her heels, crossing her arms over her chest. She watched Junior splutter for a retort, and thought of how she had been afraid of this simple man. Really, what had she been thinking?

Junior subsided, but not without mutinous griping.

"Now, let's go mister!" Chi Chi grabbed his arm, and tugged. While not entirely effective, she did manage to get his massive bulk to shift. Red faced, she huffed at him. "Come on, you giant lump of meat, let's go."

Junior gave her a bewildered look. "The hell are you taking me to?"

"To Gohan, you idiot!" Chi Chi snapped, tugging hard enough now to actually pull him to the edge of his seat. Her heels dug into the tile as she heaved. She was certainly strong, but there was no telling how much Junior weighed, especially when he just sat there like that.

He laughed, and Chi Chi released him in favor of whirling around, giving him a pointed glare.

"What are you giggling about, green bean?" She narrowed her eyes, but Junior was waving her off. He rose to his feet, pushing her shoulder lightly as they moved towards the door. It was as his hand went to hover over the knob that she saw hesitation returning to him. His large hand sat there, tips barely pressing the metal as he hid his face from her.

Chi Chi placed her hand over his, firmly placing it against the knob. He tilted his head, eyes matching hers.

"Come on," she insisted, keeping her lofty tone in an effort to calm him. "I don't have all day; you know? Between you, Bulma, and all this drama, my business is really going to suffer!" She wagged a finger at him, and Junior snorted.

"What the hell ever, Milk," he replied, "we all know it's because of your shitty food."

"You don't even eat! You're in no place to judge!"

"I guess you're right," he chuckled, and one antennae ticked at her. His smile was there, but seemed to quaver just the slightest. Something in her chest tightened, and she quickly retracted her hand from his. She wiped it on her apron, motioning sharply at the door.

"Whatever! Hurry up, now!"

When Junior entered the room, it was to complete and utter silence. Above him, model rockets swung dangerously close to his head as he heard the door shut with a heavy finality behind him. He could feel his palms growing itchy as he stood, staring miserably down at Gohan, who was ignoring him in turn.

"Gohan," Junior's voice scraped against his throat, and he attempted to soothe it. He rubbed nervously at the back of his neck as he took a few hesitant steps forward. Gohan pulled back, scooting further away on his bed as his knees went underneath his chin. It was very obvious that he wanted nothing to do with Junior, as he resolutely turned his head the opposite way.

He sighed. He wasn't particularly good at soothing people—hadn't really been the focal point of his youth. So now he was stuck staring at this tiny human kid as he loomed over him, and Gods wasn't that embarrassing enough? To just be standing here, a walking, talking, breathing monstrosity as far as the kid was concerned. He wanted nothing but to assuage Gohan's thoughts of him, but what the hell could he do? Tell the kid that he was entirely correct, that Junior had been a horrendous person?

And that there were worse things that he had done that just hadn't been on record?

"Gohan… I'm sorry that you had to see me… back then," Junior bit at the inside of his mouth, fangs piercing soft flesh as he heard Gohan sniffle and shift on the bed. The kid wasn't saying anything else, but at least he hadn't cried or thrown anything yet.

Gohan rubbed at his eyes, and slowly lifted his gaze.

"Why'd you do it?" he demanded, and Junior sighed, furrowing his brow. He glanced back at the door. Well, if he was going to tell one of them, he supposed the other should be present. Junior grabbed the knob and twisted it. From where Chi Chi had been listening in at the door, she immediately toppled inside, her face cramming uncomfortably against his stomach.

Junior yelped, and roughly shoved at Chi Chi's forehead, pushing the flustered woman back upright. He stared at her.

"Really?"

"Well…" Chi Chi trailed off, twisting one of the hanging pieces of her hair. "I don't have to defend myself to you!" She pushed her nose up high in the air, and he heard something that sounded suspiciously close to a giggle from Gohan. When he looked, though, it was stifled, and his sullen look was returned.

"I won't you to both be present for this," Junior muttered, staring at one of the dangling space crafts hanging from the ceiling as Chi Chi gave him a wide eyed stare. He motioned for her to sit on the bed with Gohan. She quickly obliged, arms encircling her son as both of them stared up at him.

Junior felt a pain in his chest as he saw they both had the same brown eyes, expecting something from him.

"Gohan…" he knelt down in front of the boy, careful not to reach for him, as he could still see fear in the child's eyes. "I never wanted you to know about my past. I am not proud of who I was." He was nervous, and jittery. This wasn't something he'd ever talked about. Never.

Gohan bit his lip, and Chi Chi tightened her grip. "Why'd you do it…? Why'd you hurt my daddy? A-and Krillin… and… and…" he trailed off then, tears starting to form. Junior visibly winced, and lost some of his nerve.

"Honey…" Chi Chi cooed, swiping some of Gohan's bangs back. "Your daddy and his friends are in a very dangerous line of work… They knew when they started that they could be hurt." Junior felt hot guilt pouring through him. Sure, fighters suffered injuries, but not to the degree that he and his father went.

Gohan was still shaken. "Mr. Junior I don't… I don't understand though. You're so nice, and—well, maybe not nice but you… you keep Xuanzang and you watched my recital I thought… I thought you were good…"

Junior shrunk inwards again. "I was very young when that fight happened," Junior replied, voice harsh in his throat. "I don't even remember if I was eighteen yet. I made a lot of bad decisions, because I wanted my father to be happy with me…" he sighed, rubbing at the base of his antennae. "I hated him, but I wanted to make him proud. I did a lot of bad things that I wish that I could take back."

Gohan stared at him, pulling out of his mother's embrace, just the tiniest bit. He stretched forward, his hands—gods they were so small—grasped at Junior's finger tips. It was all the boy could hold, and he slid into the floor as well. His eyes were lifted imploringly to Junior's face, and for the first time in a long time Junior could actually feel the hot pinprick of tears.

"Gohan… I am sorry that you had to see me at my worst," Junior snarled, and he pretended he couldn't feel Chi Chi's gaze against his skin as well. "But I have tried like hell to put that behind me. And right now… the only person who I care about making happy is you." His teeth were gritting painfully and he could swear he heard something crack. Spilling his emotions like this was mortifying, but he had to say this now.

Gohan blinked, but slowly nodded, his hands gripping tighter. "I can forgive you, Mr. Junior," he muttered, and Junior immediately felt all of the energy leave his body in one fell swoop. It felt as if a God had just reached down and cleansed him, and his breath stuttered for just a second. "But," Gohan continued, those wide eyes seemed to cover every inch of Junior's face, "you have to promise me you won't fight anymore."

Junior stopped. Chi Chi said something, but he couldn't quite make it out of the roaring in his ears. The woman was still talking, but he interrupted her.

"I promise you, I will never fight again." Junior stated it with finality, ignoring Chi Chi's exclamation, as Gohan leaned forward, ever so slightly pulling Junior into a hug. His hand pressed against Gohan's shoulder blades, holding the child there for a heartbeat, while he looked into Chi Chi's shocked face.

"Junior, you—!"

"I mean it," Junior said, releasing Gohan from the hug. "But… what if it's for you, or your mother?" He held Gohan's shoulders steady, and saw the boy hesitate.

"I suppose if it's to protect me or mom…" Gohan glanced back at Chi Chi. She was still sitting there, seemingly stupefied. "I guess that's okay."

Chapter

"Text"

"Wait a minute!" Chi Chi hissed, catching Junior at the doorway of the restaurant. She hovered in the door frame, hip holding the door open as she regarded the Namekian. He turned, giving her a passive glance. "You can't just take off like that!"

Junior clicked his fangs together. "I've had enough social interaction for the day, thank you."

Chi Chi huffed. "You just made a promise you can't keep!" she argued, watching as his shoulder's tightened. "Did you forget you have a fight—with my husband?"

"I didn't, actually," Junior snapped. "But the only rule for the fight is that I have to show up. That should ensure my father's life." His voice trailed, and Chi Chi felt as if ice had been poured into her stomach.

"You can't be serious? This would be your first fight in ages—it'd make you a laughing stock if you don't fight—!"

"I know." Junior turned away from her, and she watched as he anxiously rubbed at his arm. "But I'd rather that than… Than upset Gohan."

"Junior…" Chi Chi bit her lip. She moved forward, grasping the hand that was turning his skin an irritable color. He gave her a quick glance, but she squeezed tighter "Did you really mean that?"

"Of course," he answered gruffly, jerking his head away. "I don't care what people think of me anymore. To hell with it." Junior looked down, where Chi Chi was still holding onto him. "Um."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

Chi Chi retracted her hand, stuffing it into her apron pocket. With her free hand she quickly shoved pieces of hair back, staring nervously at the concrete. She felt slightly giddy, and she didn't know why, as they both stood there, twisting nervously away from one another.

"So…"

"I should go," Junior muttered, taking a few steps away.

"Oh, Junior!" Chi Chi called out, and he abruptly stopped, turning to look at her with an almost expectant look. "I'll uh… I'll make sure you get invited to movie nights again, okay?"

"Oh… yeah." Junior nodded, face turning purple. "Thanks."

Chi Chi watched him disappear into Porunga's, and pushed her fist nervously against her stomach. She didn't know what that was, but she shook her head, clearing her thoughts. She was going to go talk to Gohan.

"It's really pissing me off, Cheech!" Bulma snarled, slamming her rag down. They were doing cleanup for the evening, and the doors were locked. "I mean—okay. Maybe I came on strong. I do that sometimes, but when you're beautiful and successful you tend to do that. But, he doesn't have to ignore me! He could just say 'hey, I'm not interested'! I would back off! But no! He ignores me in my own house! After I put myself out there and—are you listening to me?"

Bulma turned, propping her hip out as she snatched Chi Chi's phone from her hand. Chi Chi yelped, and reached desperately for her phone as Bulma gave it a critical look.

"Green Bean, huh…?" She grinned, red lips spreading wide as she wiggled the phone in front of Chi Chi. "What kind of steamy text messages are you two sending?"

"None!" Chi Chi snapped, face practically a tomato as she reached for her phone back. "C'mon, Bulma! I'm just messaging him about movie night tonight!"

Bulma squealed. "Ooo! My love life goes down the toilet but yours is on the rise!" She clapped her hands, still holding the phone out of Chi Chi's reach. She thanked the heavens for her tall stature, couple with the invention of extra high heels. "This is great!"

"I don't have a love life, and especially not with him!" Chi Chi stomped her foot on the ground, and Bulma cooed at how adorable she was. Sure, Chi Chi could snap her spine if she wanted to, but she knew the tiny woman wouldn't. "Do you conveniently forget that I'm married?"

"Sometimes," Bulma replied amicably, shrugging her shoulders. "Anyways— 'Movie night tonight, I hope you make it' oh my gosh Chi Chi is that a winky face!?" Bulma squinted dramatically at the phone, dashing around to the other side of a table as Chi Chi followed her. Bulma faked a pout. "You never send me winky faces!"

Chi Chi snarled. "Bulllmaaaaa!"

"'I'm sure Gohan wouldn't let me miss it, even though your awful taste in movies makes me shudder' Steamy!" Bulma chuckled, mocking Junior's deep voice. "You little cougar, you!"

"Those text messages aren't even bad!" Chi Chi said, clambering over one of the tables, attempting to snatch her phone back from Bulma. The heiress simply leaned her elbow against Chi Chi's head, holding her in place.

"Then why are you panicking so much?" Bulma teased, holding the phone up. She cleared her throat, sinking back into her Junior voice. "'Haven't you learned not to smart off, yet? Shouldn't you be put in your place, Milk?' Actually, no lie," Bulma paused, pointing at the screen, "that one's pretty hot."

"Oh my GOD BULMA!" Chi Chi cried, both women freezing when they heard the bell ring. Both slowly turned, catching sight of Gohan and Junior standing in the door, looking utterly confused.

"Mom… are you okay?" Gohan held his backpack straps as he regarded his mother, currently on all fours up on a table, hands still latched onto Bulma.

Junior stared at her, then glanced to Bulma's hand. "Milk—is that your phone?"

"Yes," Chi Chi huffed, jerking forward and snatching her phone back from Bulma's unsuspecting hand, "it is. Bulma took it from me." She gave her a friend a rueful glare, who shrugged in response.

Gohan chuckled, shaking his head. "Mom, you're funny. I'm gonna go upstairs and pick out the movie!" He took off then, and Junior rolled his eyes.

"He's been talking nonstop about this movie night all day." Junior snorted. "I'm sure it will be as lackluster as usual."

"You don't have to come," Chi Chi replied, crawling to the edge of the table as he approached. She rose to her knees, ready to hop down, when Junior stifled a laugh. "What?" she demanded.

"Nothing," he replied, though he pressed his knuckles to his mouth. "It's just… there was spilt Milk on the table."

Chi Chi paused, glaring at him. "Oh my God. You are so not funny."

Junior shrugged his shoulders, looking slightly offended. "I think that's a matter of taste."

"Nope!" Bulma chirruped, coming around to help Chi Chi down. "I think it's a fact of nature. Everyone knows Namekians aren't funny." Chi Chi stiffened, but Junior waved a hand through the air.

"You might be right… my cousin Nail is about as boring as paint drying," Junior conceded. "I can't wait for him to meet you, though." Junior grinned maliciously, eyes roaming over Bulma's revealing attire. She blinked, and gave Junior a soft punch.

"Oh my gosh—are you checking me out, Junior?" She teased. Chi Chi threw her hands up in the air, while Junior immediately retracted, flushing as he shook his head.

"No! I just meant—he's a very traditional Namekian and you are… well…" His hands fluttered helplessly as he motioned at Bulma.

She grinned. "Smoking hot?"

"Yes…. Wait no!" Junior groaned, pushing the heel of his palms into his eyes. "I'm going upstairs with Gohan." He quickly exited, leaving a bemused Chi Chi staring at her friend.

"You have to torment him, don't you?" Chi Chi tutted, shaking a finger at her.

"Oh, we both tease him. Just in different ways," Bulma smiled, before pulling Chi Chi into a hug. "Anyways, I'd better get home. Where I'll be ignored. Not that you seem to care, though, since texting is more important." She gave a fake sniff, which Chi Chi rolled her eyes at.

"I'm sure you'll be fine. Maybe ease up off of Vegeta a tiny bit?" Chi Chi prompted. "I'm not sure what the freak Freeza did to him, but obviously he's as repressed as a Namek." She pointed upstairs. "And you see how well your charm goes with those."

Bulma pressed her lips together, and I sighed. "I suppose you're right. It's just hard to contain all of this, y'know?" They both dissolved into giggles, until Chi Chi's phone chime with a rather rude message from Junior. "Go on upstairs," Bulma said, pushing lightly at Chi Chi's shoulders. "Have a good night. I'll lock up behind me."

"Let me know if you need anything," Chi Chi called over her shoulder, and headed upstairs. Bulma looked after her, jutting her lip out as she sat in silence for a moment. Then she headed towards the door, shutting it after her.

Vegeta smelled food. He sniffed the trail out, coming to stand just outside the doorway as kept his tail firmly around his waist. Inside, he could see Bulma was at the kitchen table, with a ludicrous amount of pizza next to her for one person. He weighed his options.

Ever since that night where she'd almost kissed him, he'd been avoiding her. Bulma was incredibly over-bearing, and he didn't really feel like dealing with that. Plus, he was more interested in training than he was with blue haired heiresses that made him feel strange things.

His stomach growled, though, and seemed to announce what exactly he was going to do. Slowly, he moved into the kitchen, keeping his face neutral as he approached the food. He expected any minute now for Bulma to berate him one way or the other, and was surprised when he was able to grab a slice and dig in, with complete silence.

As he chewed, he gave her a scrutinizing glance. She didn't look sick…

"Heya," Bulma greeted, waving at him as she took another bite. "Sorry I didn't call for you, but I'm so tired after work." She went back to eating, and Vegeta felt the fur on his tail stand on end. Something about this seemed extremely suspicious. He wasn't at ease, but he slowly settled down into his seat.

He took a few more slices of pizza, remaining silent.

"Chi Chi and Junior made up," Bulma added, voice amicable enough. "Of course little Gohan, too." She gave a reflective sigh. "Part of me is happy, but part of me is sad. I wish I could convince Junior to hang out for movie nights."

"Why don't you go to theirs, then?" Vegeta snapped, feeling prickly with all of this strange talk. Bulma had been a little aggressive as of late with her advances, and he didn't know how to handle this.

Bulma frowned, puckering her lips. "Well—it's not the same." She waved a hand. "I'll just have to face it. Chi Chi gets all of the hot guys. Goku, Junior… hell I'm sure there's been plenty of sad saps to fall for her. She's pretty great, isn't she?"

"I guess," Vegeta replied, a little waspish. "I don't get the hype. But if the stupid green man is willing to follow her and her brat around then that's on him." He pushed more pizza in his mouth. Every time Junior came up he found it aggravating. It was like something crawling underneath his skin.

"Mm, I've never been one for relationships, personally," Bulma shrugged. "It's much easier to just hook up and go, y'know?" Vegeta flushed. "Well, maybe not… speaking of." Vegeta felt icy hot dread pour down his spine. "I'm sorry."

Vegeta blinked, then turned to her, incredulous. Some of the cheese on his pizza slipped, landing in his lap. He cursed, swiping at it, as he listened to Bulma.

"I know I made you uncomfortable, and that's why you've been ignoring me," Bulma said, and Vegeta didn't argue. It was true. The woman made him incredibly unbalanced. "So I'll back off, all right?" She gave him a wide grin, rising up from the table as she dusted off her hands. "We'll just be roomies."

"Whatever," Vegeta retorted, opening up another box. Bulma snorted.

"You're a dork. Anyways, take this pizza as payment. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going out." Bulma rose up, and Vegeta gave her a sharp look. Typically, Bulma only left for work, or to go shopping. Seeing as how late it was, he severely doubted that was happening.

"Where?" Vegeta questioned, giving her a curious look.

"Out," she replied cryptically. "Like—to a club or something. I'm going to start looking for one that I can convince Chi Chi to go to." She sighed, running a hand through her short hair. "I want to get her out of that apartment. She tried to say movie nights with Junior count but they so do not."

Vegeta shifted. "Aren't those places dangerous?"

Bulma blinked. "Some of them are," she replied. "But I have bodyguards. And anyways, I'm specifically trying to find nice, chill places for Chi Chi and me—so, null and void." She grinned. "I promise I'll be safe."

"I don't care!" Vegeta snapped, jerking up a whole box of pizza as he rose. "Stupid woman!" He stormed out, ignoring the 'jerk!' that followed him. This was becoming like clockwork, really.