Author's Note: Welcome back everyone! Alright, as promised, here is the long-awaited 'ghost pepper spicy chapter,' finally written to a level I find acceptable. I think there are some ways it could be better still, but I always think that where my writing is concerned. The biggest difficulty with writing a chapter like this between Videl and Gohan wasn't actually the more intimate stuff, it was capturing how terribly awkward they would both be about it LOL! But I think I finally managed to strike a nice balance between their established personalities and giving them a very real, sweet night together.
In case it isn't entirely obvious, this chapter almost exclusively deals with those love scenes. I even added the second scene of the chapter as a 'thank you' to everyone for being patient as I pushed this content out from last week, for a little extra fun. If anyone reading this chapter is extremely not into reading smut or explicit romance scenes like this, though, only the last two scenes of this chapter will really matter to you going forward in terms of understanding the overall plot.
Now, without further ado, thank you all for reading and supporting! I hope you enjoy the new chapter!
Chapter XX – More Than Satisfied
The familiar sounds of her shower running was enough to soothe at last the incredible nervousness Videl had been feeling since she and Gohan left the palace. The entire flight home had felt like an eternity, and not the fun "bliss for every waking moment" eternity – no, this had been much more akin to an "anxious and unable to relax ever again" eternity. But after she had finally asked Gohan to stay with her and properly sleep with her (and after the, frankly, horribly embarrassed walk she'd taken up the stairs with him), she had come up with an idea.
Since she knew they would be terribly embarrassed actually getting undressed in front of each other, why not do it in an environment where it was a bit more natural? To that end, she had decided it might be nice to warm up with a shower. And it might also be nice to invite Gohan to come join her…she hadn't told him that just yet, of course, in case she changed her mind or chickened out. It was a pretty intimate suggestion. Somehow it felt more vulnerable than actually sleeping with each other. Well, in certain ways, at least.
Videl had been showering in this room for almost eight years at this point and it was familiar and comfortable. It felt…different to imagine Gohan here with her. Not bad. In fact, she had daydreamed and fantasized about this exact thing for months now. It was enough to make her knees weak. But something about sharing a shower with her boyfriend felt different than what she had already proposed. Maybe it was how casual the act itself felt? She wasn't entirely sure, but she was very interested to find out if she was actually right or not.
Now that the water had warmed, she collected the things she would need. Most of it was already in the shower itself but towels for she and Gohan from the nearby cabinet were necessary. She approached the door slowly and felt the familiar nervousness of butterflies racing about in her stomach. What was the point in hesitating now though? With what she'd already proposed, was offering Gohan to join her in the shower really that big a deal? Well…yes. But it wasn't quite as big a deal.
Slowly cracking the door and poking her head out, she saw Gohan sitting awkwardly on the end of the bed, glancing towards her. "H-hey 'Del, you need something?" She hesitated for a long moment before finally speaking in as steady a voice as she could.
"You…should come join me…"
Gohan's eyes widened into saucers as he took in the thought. She couldn't suppress the tiny smile that stole her lips as she watched. Even now when she was so nervous, she still couldn't help but notice how adorable he was.
"Uh…um…really?"
"Mhm! Here, I'll leave you a towel if you want it for when you come in," she told him, feigning as much confidence as she could. If she was more relaxed about it, that would probably help him. And it might just trick her mind into calming down and behaving.
"Um…s-sure…"
"See you soon Darling. Don't let me be alone too long!"
Closing the door again, she set about undressing quickly and entering the shower. It wasn't as if he would be able to see her from the door and he'd definitely hesitate coming in, but still. She didn't want the first time he saw her with nothing on to be because he took her by surprise as she awkwardly wandered across the tiled floor. This way would be much nicer – a warm, cozy, late night shower to share, just the two of them, alone together.
Gohan took several steadying breaths. The last few minutes had all happened so fast he was still reeling from them. He found himself standing outside the door, his clothes removed, the towel Videl had left for him tied around his waist. She certainly knew how to surprise him with confidence, even when it felt like she had none to spare. The stuttering, stammering messes they'd both been reduced to since returning to the Satan Mansion had kept them from having real conversations almost the entire time. Yet she still managed to keep him on his toes, even now.
Taking yet another calming breath, Gohan eased the door open. His heart was racing and he was nearly overwhelmed by anticipation. Something about the situation was almost unfathomable. He'd never imagined what it would be like to actually share a shower with Videl. Would she be embarrassed? Would she dislike it? She had been the one to invite him, though, so there was a decent chance she'd be okay. Were there certain things he should do? Were there things he shouldn't do?
"Darling, would you swap the lights please? It's too bright like this," came Videl's timid voice as the door shut behind him. His eyes snapped up and he saw her obscured frame through the frosted glass that separated the frankly enormous shower from the rest of the bathroom. Her hypnotic silhouette commanded his attention effortlessly. His mouth was suddenly extremely dry as he imagined briefly what she might look like on the other side of that glass.
Gohan managed to focus enough to find the light switches and swap them, the large florescent lights illuminating the room disappearing and being replaced instead by a soft, warm bulb directly over the shower itself.
"L-like that?" he called out.
"Yeah, that's perfect. Um…if you feel uncomfortable, you don't have to stay. I hope you don't feel like I'm pressuring you…"
"I don't feel that way!" he assured her quickly. "I'm just still getting my bearings, that's all."
"I know what you mean," she agreed, laughing lightly for the first time in a while. "I figured it might be tough for us to…you know…actually just go for it. So I was thinking maybe this might help ease us into it and get us a bit more comfortable physically first."
"I think it's a great idea, honestly." He breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't the only one unsure about things. Videl was, of course, exactly the same way as him, just as she'd always been. But they could figure things out together. Just as they always had.
"In that case," she started, hesitating for a long moment, "get over here and keep me company. It's lonely by myself."
Gohan felt his heart skip several beats before racing to catch up. Very slowly and timidly, he approached the shower, stepping around the corner and averting his eyes involuntarily. Somehow it still felt like he was seeing something he shouldn't. Even if she were inviting him in with her. Even after the few times they'd been more intimate together.
"You…can look, you know. I want you to…" she managed, her voice very quiet. Gohan took one last steadying breath and slowly raised his eyes.
Videl was facing away from him, glancing back over her shoulder at him, her face a lovely shade of pink. Gohan felt his eyes widen and his mouth fall open all the same. They had more or less undressed each other back during their vacation with Erasa and Sharpner, but he had never seen her like this. Her lithe body completely uncovered, water cascading down her smooth back. He couldn't stop his eyes from wandering down her firm butt and toned legs. Videl blushed a bit but giggled too.
"Guess you must like what you see, huh?" Gohan felt himself blush terribly and averted his eyes.
"Ah! I-I'm sorry 'Del!" She smiled softly at him.
"Don't be. What, you think I invited you in here with me so you could look away the whole time?"
"N-no…I just…I dunno, I feel like I shouldn't stare."
"…do you want to stare?"
"…of course. You're so beautiful." Videl blushed very deeply now and averted her eyes but didn't turn her head entirely away.
"Then, I don't mind…if you stare. But you should come closer, too. I missed you…"
"O-okay, I can do that." She managed what was probably supposed to be a teasing grin but instead only came off as sheepish smile.
"You know…you can't really enjoy a shower if you're wearing that towel the whole time…" It was Gohan's turn for his own blush to blaze fully back to life.
"Uh…yeah, you're right, huh?"
"Tell you what: I'll face the other way until you're comfortable, okay?"
"S-sure…thanks."
Videl turned back into the water, letting the warmth of it envelope her and making a small noise of happiness. Gohan, meanwhile, steadied himself again before taking the plunge and removing the towel he wore, hanging it from the nearby rack and timidly crossing the shower towards her. He still felt a little awkward but if Videl could manage this for him then he wanted to do the same for her.
"Uh…hey," he managed awkwardly. Videl giggled.
"You're so shy tonight. Where'd that confidence from the beach house go?" He laughed lightly.
"I guess I must've forgotten it there."
"Here, give me your hands," she offered. He reached out and she took his wrists, wrapping his arms around her body and placing his hands against her stomach. "Even though we're in here, you can still touch me, you know; I won't bite."
"You sure? You did last time." He didn't even realize how naturally he teased her until he'd said the words. She blushed again but laughed too.
"You didn't like it?"
"I never said that."
Feeling some of the tension relax, Gohan stepped a bit closer and pulled Videl into a warm hug from behind. His heart flipped several times as her back rested closely against his torso. Even when things had gotten very intimate before, he had never felt her bare skin press against his quite like this. There was a gentle vulnerability to the moment, like they were physically connecting in an even deeper way than they had ever managed before.
"You know, I've daydreamed about this for months now," she admitted, leaning her head back against his chest.
"About what?"
"You being in this shower with me."
"O-oh! Really?"
"Really. Are you surprised?" He shook his head and kissed the top of her head.
"No, I've had plenty of daydreams about you too. I'm just glad you dreamed about your shower and not mine." The couple laughed together and even more of the tension disappeared as they relaxed in the warmth of the water cascading over them. Nothing felt as warm as Videl did, though.
"I really want to kiss you," she whispered up to him. "Is it okay if I turn towards you now?" Gohan felt his breath hitch in his chest before he shook the nerves off. No matter the situation, this was still his Videl. He could trust her, always.
"Y-yeah, I don't mind."
"You sure?"
"Positive. I'd like it if you did."
"In that case…" Videl pulled herself loose from Gohan's warm embrace and turned easily towards him, her eyes meeting his at last. He found that her face was flushed just the way his was but that familiar twinkle had taken up residence in her cerulean eyes again. It was the same look she'd worn back at the beach house, the look that told him that, even though they felt a bit awkward, this was something she really wanted for them. And that made Gohan feel much more at ease.
Seconds later, her slender arms wrapped around his neck and she pulled him down towards her. As her soft lips met his, a shiver of longing passed through him. He had wanted to kiss her deeply and tell her how amazingly attractive she was all night at the party. Why let the opportunity to do just that pass without taking it? He kissed her more assertively, his tongue gently brushing against her lips. Videl took a quick, surprised breath but happily deepened their kiss, her hands running up to his damp hair. Their kiss sent jolts of lightning through Gohan's body and he felt his longing for her build more by the second.
Once they finally broke for air, Videl gazed up at him with a sly grin. "You sure settled in quick, huh? You haven't started kissing me like that…maybe ever." Gohan blushed and gave her a sheepish little smile in return.
"It's just…I wanted to do that all night tonight and I guess I just went for it."
"Oh I don't mind, you can kiss me like that as much as you want! But…you wanted to do that at the party?"
"Y-yeah. You just looked so amazing in that dress with your hair the way it was and the gloves. Just everything about you made me…uh…"
"You can say it. I promise I was thinking the same way," she assured him in a breathy whisper. He took a calming breath and met her eyes despite the heat in his cheeks.
"Looking at you tonight made me want you. A lot." Videl's cheeks glowed pink as she smiled up at him.
"Told you I was thinking the same. It was so hard for me to keep my hands to myself after seeing you look so sharp and put together like that. I almost wanted to just stay up in the suite and have you all to myself…"
"W-well…you get me all to yourself now." She gave him a quick kiss.
"I sure do. And you get me. All night if you want…"
"We do have to stay up until the new year at least, don't we?"
"Exactly. So…you really liked that dress, huh?" Gohan chuckled to himself.
"I could not take my eyes off you tonight. You looked so…enchanting." Videl blushed much more obviously and lit up with a bright smile.
"I don't think I've ever heard anyone use that word, much less to describe me. You're so sweet and good to me."
"It's one of the only words I can think of that really works," he assured her with a smile.
"Well…um…you got to see me in that dress earlier. Would you…like to see me out of it?" Gohan felt his face burn but nodded subtly.
"I…yeah. Y-you can do the same. It's not like we have that many secrets left from each other."
"Why don't we make it less like we're just staring at the other and try to relax a bit? Here, wanna help me wash my hair?"
"Uh, sure!"
Videl stepped back quite deliberately and closed her eyes, standing beneath the large waterfall that fell from the showerhead. She ran her hands through her silky hair but Gohan barely registered the movements as his eyes took in the majesty of her body. She was very deliberately letting him look at her, not hiding at all.
The way the water snaked and trickled from her neck down to her collar bone was already enticing enough. He knew she was sensitive there and remembered the way she moaned and twisted beneath his lips back in August. But to watch that stream of water trail down her magnificent breasts took his breath away. He had seen her in a few different outfits that placed a bit more emphasis on her chest than she normally preferred but part of him wished she would wear things like that just a bit more often. He felt his mouth go dry again as he took in the sight a bit longer than he meant to.
He followed the water as it slipped down her stomach, the light definition of her abs forcing the droplets to contour to their whispered lines. And finally, he watched with longing as the water trickled down her toned thighs and the rest of her long legs. He tried not to let his eyes linger too long between her legs; he felt a bit too embarrassed to do that. But he did acknowledge the unfamiliar sight as academically as he could possibly manage.
"So uh…are you enjoying the view?" Videl asked suddenly, her face burning red. Gohan snapped back to reality and realized he'd been staring at her like an idiot, slack jawed and wide eyed. His eyes snapped to the tile beneath his feet.
I-I-I'm sorry Videl! I didn't mean to stare at you like that!" She giggled and stepped closer, taking his face in her hands.
"Don't worry so much, I didn't mind at all. I told you to do it, after all. I was just a bit embarrassed. And if it makes you feel any better…I liked my view a lot too." Her cheeks burned even brighter as she whispered those words to him but she managed a coy little smile that left him fumbling for words.
"Uh…um, I…I'm glad you did."
"Me too. Here, come wash my hair for me please. I've always wondered what that would feel like!"
Videl reached for a bottle of shampoo and poured some into Gohan's waiting palm. He lathered it gently between his hands before reaching up and running his fingers through her hair. She sighed and made a tiny noise of satisfaction. As he slowly eased into the moment, the familiar smell of mango met his nostrils and he smiled.
"This is the shampoo you usually use, huh? I've only ever smelled this scent after you've washed your hair."
"Yep, that's it! Now I get to think of you when I use it, too."
Gohan let his fingers glide along her scalp, massaging and lathering with a touch of firmness. Videl was shivering in delight and she leaned back against him once more, sighing yet again. "Am I doing okay?" he asked softly, trying to preserve the intimate air.
"Perfectly. This feels so amazing, Darling."
He continued to wash her hair and massage her scalp for several minutes more before she finally came out of her daze, smiling up at him easily. "Okay, you've spoiled me plenty. Now I want to do that for you!"
She rinsed her hair quickly – Gohan doing his best not to let his mouth fall open again as the sight of soap cascading down her chest and thighs threatened to steal his breath away – and stepped closer again, pulling Gohan gently under the water and running her hands through his hair. She had to rise up onto her toes to reach.
"Do you want me to lean my head down or anything?" he offered. Videl just shook her head, smiling.
"No, I have a better idea. I want you to feel nice and relaxed like I did. You just stay right there, okay?" A second later, Gohan felt her ki pulse and she floated into the air behind him, placing a soft kiss on his cheek.
Her skillful hands began running through his hair, that refreshing mango scent enveloping Gohan again. She let her nails graze his scalp softly and chills of satisfaction raced down his arms and back. Then, she dug in with the pads of her fingers a bit, just the way he had, eliciting a content sigh from him.
"Does this feel nice?" she asked, barely above a whisper.
"Wonderful," was all he could manage.
Videl continued for a few minutes more as well, making sure her fingers ran across every inch of his scalp. The goosebumps that exploded down his arms seemed to do so without end every time she dug in again. It was one of the most deeply relaxing and satisfying sensations he'd ever experienced.
"Here, rinse your hair so soap doesn't get in your eyes but don't go anywhere. I have more for you." Curious, Gohan did as she asked and, a few moments later, he heard her lather up more soap. This time, she spread it across his shoulders and down his arms, still floating easily off the ground. Soon, she started massaging his shoulders firmly, a satisfied groan escaping his lips.
"Feel good, Sweetheart?"
"More than I can put into words."
"I'm glad. Just leave everything to me," she whispered, nibbling his ear before continuing.
Gohan lost himself to the delightful sensations. She alternated between lathering him with soap and massaging more of him. She paid special attention to his neck, shoulders, and back. He never realized how much a massage like this really might relax him. She was opening his eyes to a new world of satisfaction.
As her hands began to stray lower, though, he felt his breath hitch in his chest. She was quite persistent and she took her time with his chest and stomach, inching ever lower. She floated back up before nibbling his ear again, this time whispering directly into it. "Do you mind if I…keep going?"
His heart was racing again but he shook his head. "I don't mind at all."
She eased him into it, resuming her slow, methodical pace. But before Gohan was fully prepared, she had taken his member in her hand and pressed herself against him from behind, firmly on the ground again.
"I know this the first time we've really been…naked in front of each other," she began, her voice soft, "but I feel a little proud that I was able to make you this excited already." Gohan blushed badly and thanked his luck that she couldn't see his face right that moment.
"You do leave quite an impression," he assured her when he found his voice. That voice disappeared again as she stoked him slowly under the guise of cleaning him further.
"I bet I can leave an even stronger one…"
Gohan felt surge after surge of desire and longing shoot through his body as her smart hands worked him up and down, again and again. Her pace was slow and deliberate, leading him sweetly into the throes of pleasure instead of hurling him into the midst of it. She was delighting in every little shiver, every shuddering breath he drew. He wasn't sure if he'd ever even imagined something so gratifying.
After losing himself to the sensations for a while longer, he realized she was really getting him worked up now. He was afraid if she kept going too much longer, he wouldn't actually manage to hold on, and he reached out and gently caught her wrist.
"Too much?" she asked, sounding guilty. He shook his head quickly.
"No, not at all. It's just…you're kinda getting me…close already," he admitted. She giggled lightly before withdrawing her hand.
"Oh! Well we can't have that just yet, can we? We promised to do a lot more tonight than just this."
"We sure did."
"I'll stop there for now then. But you can help me get a little more prepared."
"Sure, what'd you have in mind?"
"This."
She seized his wrists and slipped around in front of him, pressing her smooth back to him once more. Placing his palms firmly against her breasts, she looked up at him through the tops of her eyes and grinned, noting the incredible blush that had overtaken his face.
"I figured this was an easier start; you're already so good at this."
"Uh…yeah. A-actually…do you want me to help you wash up too?" Videl smiled and turned her head back.
"Would you? I'd love that."
"I'd be happy to."
Gohan took his hands away only briefly to lather up some more soap before doing the same for her that she'd done for him. He started massaging her shoulders, firmly and carefully. She shuddered and sighed, the sounds alone sending feelings of deep desire cascading through the young Saiyan. He stayed focused on her shoulders and neck for several minutes, though, before moving down to her back. The way she sighed and groaned in satisfaction left him feeling more aroused even than what she had not too long before.
"Mm, thank you Love, this feels fantastic," she told him, her voice a gentle whisper in the air. He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek.
"Are you too relaxed for something more…exciting?" She giggled again.
"I thought you'd never ask; not at all. Go right ahead."
He wrapped his arms around her waist, spreading soap across her stomach and inching higher and higher. She stiffened with anticipation as his fingers approached, pressing her back into him more deliberately. Finally, his hands settled on her chest, rubbing slowly and methodically. Videl mewled in delight every few seconds. Gohan remembered what he had done last time to make her feel as good as he had and timidly tried it again.
He began rolling her nipple between his thumb and index finger and Videl moaned and shuddered immediately. She pressed herself against him even closer, desperately trying to close the last bits of distance between them. He alternated between that gentle pinching and rolling and simply massaging her breasts and it wasn't long before Videl was breathing hard, her chest heaving beneath his touch.
"Mm, Gohan…how do you do this so well when we've only been together like this a few times?" He gave a sheepish laugh.
"I guess I just…get really into it when I can tell you're feeling good."
"I really am." Her hands reached up and caught his wrists gently before sliding them down to her stomach again. "But…"
"You okay Doll? Should I stop?" She shook her head.
"Mm mm. I want you to do something else for me…something like what I did for you before."
"Be…fore?"
She eased his right hand much further down, pressing it directly between her legs as she gazed up at him, those gorgeous blue eyes of hers fogged over with lust and desire. Gohan's own eyes widened and words failed him as a shaking breath passed her lips.
"I…uh…" he stammered, unable to collect himself in time.
"It's okay, just move back and forth like this," she explained gently, guiding his hand with her own. He did as she asked and, in seconds, she was biting her lip and gazing up at him longingly.
"Is this…okay?"
"Mhm," she managed, gasping and clinging to him. "Ah! I…wow," was all that came out. He must be doing something right then. She took his hand and pushed his fingers a bit more firmly against her, her knees nearly buckling the first time he moved from that vantage point. He caught her quickly and hesitated.
"Are you okay?" She was blushing but nodded hurriedly.
"I'm okay, just a bit overwhelmed. I've never felt this before. It's…electric."
"Was it too much?"
"Not at all!"
"Should…should I keep going?" Her starry eyes, half lidded, met his.
"Do you want to keep going?" Gohan swallowed, his mouth exceptionally dry.
"…yes."
"Mm," she sang, smiling. "I also want you to…"
Gohan turned Videl towards him, her eyes wide with curiosity, before timidly continuing what she'd showed him. It didn't take but a few seconds for Videl to gasp deeply and begin shaking, falling against him and holding onto his waist.
"You still okay?"
"I am…just, ah! I always wondered…what it would feel like to have you…really do this. But – ooh – I never thought it would feel this good."
Gohan, finally starting to regain some of the confidence he'd had back at the beach, really focused on how she responded to certain things. If he moved his fingers up, he got a far better response than if he moved them downward. And if he moved them inwards just slightly…
Videl took a shaking breath and clung to him desperately, her eyes squeezed shut as she moaned and trembled. "G-Gohan…oh my god, Gohan…"
He slowed his pace and brought his hand to a gradual stop, noticing that she was looking up at him and pouting now. "Why'd you stop?" she almost demanded, though in a voice still soft and low. Gohan chuckled a little.
"The same reason you did. We can't spoil the real fun, can we?" Videl scoffed but grinned up at him all the same.
"Speak for yourself; I can run a bunch of laps when we do this! Guys are usually the ones who tap out after one."
"Fair point! But still…I'd like us to have that moment…together…" That small wave of teasing confidence was quickly replaced by a crimson blush.
"You're right…I do too. So in that case, we'd better finish washing up and get out of here before I jump you in this shower…"
Gohan felt steam all but pour out of his ears. He had been wrong; Videl's confidence hadn't actually gone anywhere.
Several minutes later, Videl and Gohan were finished showering. Suppressing the light embarrassment she still felt, she led him with as much confidence as she could to her bed, the silver shine of the moon lighting up the otherwise darkened room with an effervescent glow. Lying down on the mattress, she patted the bed next to her and smiled up at her boyfriend.
"Come on, don't leave me here all by myself," she teased, reaching a hand towards him. He chuckled but glanced around for something.
"Give me just a minute, Angel. I, uh…have something for us." She perked up, curious what he was talking about. A moment later, she got her answer in the form of a small capsule he dug out of his bag.
"What's that?" He sighed a bit before laughing.
"Something Bulma gave me a while back."
"Something Bulma…oh! When was this?"
"Before the beach trip."
"Wow, she really had some high expectations of you, didn't she?" She couldn't help but tease him a bit. Gohan blushed obviously even in the muted light of the room but managed to chuckle as well.
"I told her we weren't ready for that just yet but she insisted I take them anyway. She said she developed special 'Saiyan-proof' condoms." Videl's eyes widened.
"It never even occurred to me that could be a problem. Well, at least it's not something we'll have to worry about, huh?"
"Yeah, I'm at least grateful for that. Even though I never wanted the conversation that came along with it." Videl laughed and, as he finally climbed into the bed with her, she snuggled close.
"Welcome back, handsome," she whispered.
"Thanks for waiting, Doll."
"Of course. But you've been gone too long. Come here." She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him deeply. He froze for a moment before losing himself to the kiss as well, his hands coming to rest on the small of her back, a shiver passing through her. His perfectly sculpted chest pressed against her, the way his strong hands held her close, the feeling of his arousal pressing against her leg. She wanted him more than she ever had. But it was important for both of them to ease into things.
Their hands explored the other's body with much more confidence than before. Her little shower scheme had worked perfectly, it seemed; both of them were finally moving past the timid, embarrassed phase of the evening. She gasped in satisfaction as she felt his strong hands trace down her back and squeeze her butt. She did the same in response and earned a low groan from her lover. Now she knew why he'd had so much fun and become so lost in exploring her body over the last several months; she was just as lost in letting her hands run across his chiseled frame.
Finally, after several minutes of far-less-awkward-than-expected foreplay, she pulled back, breathing deeply. Her face was hot and Gohan's was every bit as red as she was sure hers was. But she didn't want to turn back now. Not after everything they'd been through. Not when he was the only person in the world she'd ever wanted like this. That she'd ever want like this.
"Gohan?"
"Yeah, 'Del?"
"Are…are you okay if we…go further now?"
"I…yeah. And you're sure? I'm not making you feel rushed or anything?"
"Never once, Darling. I want this with you."
"I do too."
"Then come here and let's give this a try together."
Gohan reached for the small plastic wrapper he'd placed on the nightstand. As he began to unroll the special Saiyan-proof condom over his member, something occurred to Videl. She figured he might already know, given how intelligent he was, but it didn't hurt to remind him so it didn't take him by surprise.
"Hey, uh, apparently there's a chance this may hurt a little bit for me at first. It's totally natural if it does and it doesn't happen in the same way for everyone. But I just wanted you to be prepared, just in case."
"You know, I do remember reading that somewhere; thanks for reminding me. I'd probably have panicked in the moment if it happens," he conceded, laughing lightly. "How should be do this then? Slow and gentle until we know you're okay?"
"You always make me feel so safe, my love. Yes, that sounds perfect."
"Okay…um…are you…ready?" She felt her heart hammering in her chest but she pushed her nerves away. He was every bit as nervous as she was. But there was a fire of desire clearly lit in each of them that they couldn't just ignore now. She didn't want to ignore it anymore, either. They had been working up to this for a long time.
"Y-yeah. I am."
"Um…here goes then…"
Very nervously, Gohan positioned himself on the bed just below her. She met his eyes and gave him a reassuring nod and a tiny smile. He took a slow breath and, slowly she felt a foreign sensation between her thighs as he entered her, a strange mix of pleasure and discomfort coursing through her. It wasn't outright pain but she could tell she'd need a minute or two to adjust. When, finally, his hips met hers, she winced just slightly but it was, unsurprisingly, enough to illicit concern from her caring boyfriend.
"You okay 'Del?" he asked softly, adjusting to the sensations himself. She took his hand and nodded.
"I am, this isn't anywhere close to actually painful. Just a bit uncomfortable right now. Go slow for a minute and it'll get better as I adjust."
"Okay, I can do that."
Breathlessly, Gohan started to pull back, the sensations vanishing as his length almost left her entirely. Then, just as carefully and deliberately as the first time, she felt him enter again, though accompanied by a bit less discomfort this time. She made sure to maintain eye contact with him and reassure him that he was doing just fine and she was okay. And finally, after a minute or two, the sensation of discomfort was gone completely, replaced fully by a sense of satisfaction and pleasure that was rapidly growing.
"You can go a bit faster, Darling. I'm okay now."
"You sure?"
"Positive."
This time, he pushed himself back into her just a little quicker and a spark of desire lit deep within her core. That had felt unlike anything she'd ever experienced before. Her breath caught in her chest and a tiny gasp crossed her lips as he did it again. One more brought forth a little moan of pleasure. She was far past the point of being embarrassed by the sounds she was likely going to make.
"Everything still okay?" Gohan asked, settling into the situation a bit himself. She smiled up at him.
"Yeah, I'm fine! I've never felt something like this before…it's amazing."
"Y-yeah, it really is."
"Keep going, Love."
After a few more minutes of their slightly stiff and awkward movements, Gohan was gaining back the confidence she'd seen in him back in August. She helped him along a little, though. Seizing his wrists, she placed his hands on her chest, urging him to squeeze and massage gently. That combined with the feeling of him thrusting in and out, again and again, was enough to make her eyes roll back in pleasure. Every touch of his fingertips sent lightning coursing through her body, every thrust of his hips made the fire of need burn ever hotter. She was finally getting past the newness of all this and losing herself to the pleasure. Only this time, it was a far more addicting feeling. She couldn't get enough of him.
"Gohan, you're incredible," she panted at last as his strong hands squeezed her breasts yet again. God, it felt so good when he did that.
"R-really? I'm glad," he managed, his own breathing more ragged now.
"How do you feel?"
"Good. Great, honestly. You're amazing yourself." She blushed just a bit. It wasn't enough to shake the confidence she was finally gathering though. She reached up and tangled her hand in his hair, pulling him gently down towards her.
"Do it harder. And kiss me."
Gohan, though taken a bit aback, did exactly that, his lips pressing to hers assertively as his thrusting came a bit harder and faster. The first time he did it, Videl swore she saw stars. The second and third times, she knew she had. She moaned loudly into his mouth which only served to give Gohan the confidence to keep going, just a little deeper even than before.
She felt his hands leave her breasts. Curious what he was doing, she swooned a bit as his left arm snaked between her back and the mattress, his right hand slipping beneath the back of her head and cradling her gently. He wanted to be closer to her and it made her almost melt into a puddle in his arms. She lost her grip on the wholesome thought as her hips pushed forward involuntarily.
Videl was starting to feel quite desperate for the release she was building towards. Even when they'd brought each other to orgasm before, she'd never experienced such an all-consuming desire for one. But tonight, right now, with Gohan's strong arms wrapped around her naked body, his lips glued to hers, thrusting within her assertively and confidently, she was pretty sure she was on another plane of existence entirely. What had she possibly done to deserve the love and attention of this perfect man? Right now, she didn't care. If there were a such thing as Heaven on Earth, this was it.
The feeling of fire in her core kept growing and getting hotter, her breath coming more ragged as small beads of sweat began to dot her forehead. She could feel her hips bucking into his with each thrust now. She reached up and grabbed his shoulders, her nails digging into his skin. He was warm and sweat was starting to glisten just a bit on his broad shoulders and back. He gasped lightly before thrusting a bit harder. Videl swore her mind almost stopped functioning entirely for a moment.
"G-Gohan," she managed, biting her lip and clinging tight to him. "Keep going, please! I'm really close…"
"I won't stop 'Del, I promise."
"Faster, Sweetheart, please." Her tone made it sound a lot more like she was begging than she meant it to, but…it wasn't that far from the truth.
He doubled his efforts and she felt him pushing inside of her over and over again, his member hitting every perfect spot she could imagine. She had no idea if he was average sized or something else, but whatever he was it was absolutely perfect. They fit together without flaw. She didn't care about anything other than that. He was also doing a very good job at making her feel incredible. The way her walls stretched and squeezed around him was something she'd never experienced before but now she wondered just how she'd gone so long without it.
A few moments later and Videl found herself very on edge. Her climax threatened to overwhelm her any second now and she was breathing fast and hard, gripping Gohan like she might be stolen away if she let go. The hand that had been under her head had returned to her chest, rubbing and squeezing and pinching in the most satisfying way. She felt her body tightening around him and knew she couldn't take it much longer.
"Are you close, Angel?" Gohan panted, looking directly into her eyes. He could feel the way she was responding to him. Maybe he'd never done this either, but he was so focused on her body when they did things like this that it wasn't a surprise he could tell. Still, she was a bit surprised by his confidence. It was certainly welcome, though.
All she could do was nod frantically, biting her lip again. "Mhm."
What happened next would live in sharp focus in Videl's memory for the rest of her life. Their hips still colliding thrillingly, Gohan leaned in close, his voice, a strong whisper, cascading over her ear. "Then let go for me, Videl."
She completely lost it. Her body convulsed as she felt her orgasm overwhelm her, her body tightening around Gohan firmly, again and again. She cried out in satisfaction and threw her head back, gripping his hair and bucking her hips against him. He didn't stop his thrusting right away and she felt the intensely satisfying sensations keep exploding through her body. It was like she was lost to an eternity of bliss and gratification. Finally, as shivers of contentment raced down her arms and back, she gripped his shoulders gently. He began to slow down and eased to a stop without her even saying a word. That was good, considering the fact that she was breathing so hard she wasn't even sure she could speak at the moment.
"You okay?" he whispered, smiling down at her. She took a moment to collect herself before nodding, a bright smile stealing her face.
"Y-yeah. Wow! Where did all that come from?" He blushed a bit but didn't shy away from her this time.
"I guess…seeing you feel that good made me want to satisfy you even more."
"Well you certainly did! What about you? Did you get to…you know?"
"Oh, uh…no, not yet." Videl smiled up at him.
"Good, it's my turn to take care of you then. Trade places with me. I want to be on top…"
Gohan had experienced many things in his lifetime. He had come face to face with world-ending tyrants when he was only five. He had met a man from the future who had come back to save his father's life. He had trained in another dimension for a year. He had killed what had at the time been the biggest threat ever seen and saved the planet. Even in peacetime when he wasn't fighting every day, he still had a myriad of new experiences he had never imagined before – attending public school, meeting his new close friends, planning his college path. But all of those things, even the most fanciful, paled in comparison to how delightfully overwhelming it was to have Videl take control of the situation they now found themselves in.
In swapping positions, Videl had piled up a few pillows and pushed Gohan gently against them. Still reeling from the sight of her lost in the throes of pleasure he had witnessed before, he was taken a bit by surprise as she threw her leg across his and straddled him, sitting in his lap and smiling easily.
"I thought this would be nice; we can still hold each other and look at each other this way." Gohan swallowed nervously and nodded, trying to dispel his anxious thoughts with some light humor.
"I do like holding and looking at you." She giggled lightly.
"Wow, you're joking around again! Did you find that confidence you lost back at the beach?" Gohan laughed and shook his head.
"Not even half of it. I'm just stealing some from you and borrowing it for the night."
"Don't worry, I think after a few minutes ago, all my shame and embarrassment about this might be gone now."
"That's good, maybe you can teach me how to do it too." She smirked at him.
"I think you just have to finish for me, Darling." He blushed pretty badly.
"Uh…I…yeah, you're probably right."
"Well don't worry," she continued, leaning in close and nibbling his ear again. "I'll make sure you do." Gohan felt his heart skip several beats. She hadn't been kidding; her confidence was fully back and perhaps even stronger than ever before. If he wasn't still a bit embarrassed by the whole situation, he'd have been quite impressed.
All at once, his thoughts were interrupted as Videl's small hand wrapped around his member again, rising onto her knees and meeting his gaze, her eyes half-lidded from desire. "Are you ready for round two, my love?"
"Um…yeah." He wasn't kidding, either. He was still quite aroused from earlier. She'd really done a number on him already.
Without another moment's hesitation, Videl sank herself down on top of him and Gohan felt the welcoming warmth of her body draw him in deeply. Her eyes widened in a mix of surprise and pleasure as she moved downward and, once their hips finally met again, she gasped and shivered.
"Everything okay?" he managed, trying to ignore how badly he wanted her. Her health and safety were always more important, even now.
She nodded quickly, her eyes sparkling and a little smile stealing her lips as she trembled against him. "Y-yeah, I'm fine. This angle…it f-feels even better than before!"
Relieved that she wasn't in any discomfort or pain, Gohan reached out and took her hands in his. "Angel…I want you so badly." Videl's blush blazed to life and her eyes fogged with longing again as she leaned in close, wiggling her hips just enough to drive him mad.
"You have me, Sweetheart. And I'm gonna make sure you're more than satisfied by the end of this."
Without another word, she lifted her hips up the length of his shaft, the feeling of her body around him disappearing little by little. It was only for a moment though as she let them fall again, Gohan's breath catching in his chest. It felt different when he wasn't the one moving. Not physically, but mentally. There was something invigorating about not knowing what she would do next, about surrendering control of the situation to her. It helped that she felt more confident too; now he didn't have to fake his certainty nearly as much.
"Come here," her breathless voice managed at last. Smart hands tangled desperately in his hair and pulled him closer against her. He shivered as he felt her breasts press up against him once more, her tongue forcing its way hungrily into his mouth. She kissed him with a fervor he hadn't ever felt before, all the while grinding her hips against his. The way she moved threatened to drive him wild from desire and pleasure. Everything she was doing just felt so good but there was no release yet. Not that he wanted this to be over. He had a suspicion the buildup would probably be unbearable soon enough.
Unable to resist any longer, Gohan thrust into her again, matching his rhythm against her own and Videl's eyes opened wide as she broke their kiss. "O-oh! Gohan, that…that was…" but she could barely speak either. Both of them were far too lost to the moment.
Several more moments of this was enough to almost melt Videl into a puddle. She collapsed against him, arms wrapped around him and holding tight, but she never stopped rolling her hips. Gohan's felt himself tense up as she squeezed him in a particularly delightful way, coiling his arms around her smooth back and holding her very close. The way her body moved against him was intoxicating. The heat of her breath against his neck was hypnotizing. The way she squeezed him as their hips continued to push even harder against each other was addicting. He couldn't get enough of her.
"Oh god, Gohan, I'm gonna…I…" Videl gasped from beneath his chin. She was trembling deliciously beneath his touch, gripping him tightly. What really overwhelmed him, though, was the way her body tightened around him on the inside too, squeezing him almost involuntarily as light tremors and muscle contractions coursed through her. She really was close again. And she was taking him with her.
She was pushing him very close to the point of no return. Each squeeze threatened to bring him to the climax he so badly needed now. It felt as if there were a fire somewhere deep within him and the desire for release was almost all-consuming. He wanted nothing more than to share this moment with his Videl, this perfect instance of bliss and satisfaction, a physical manifestation of the feelings they held for one another. She might tease him if she knew he was thinking things as cheesy as that. But then again, she might be too distracted right now even if she knew.
Gasping and moaning loudly, Videl drew back from his chest and met his gaze, biting her lip and shivering. "A-are you…almost there, Darling?"
In truth, he wouldn't last much longer either. The way she pulsed and tightened around him was becoming too much. That fire threatened to spill over, the burning feeling of need and desire almost too much to stand any longer. All he could do was nod at her.
Videl squealed and her grip on his arms tightened. "G…good. I've been…trying to wait for you. I…d-don't think I can last any longer."
"It's okay," he finally managed to grunt, "I can't either."
"Oh god Gohan, come here!"
Videl threw her arms around him and held very tight, her body beginning to tremble again just the way it had previously. A moment more was all it took before she cried out in ecstasy as another orgasm overwhelmed her, her hips bucking and her body squeezing around his member again and again. And as much as Gohan enjoyed making sure Videl felt good, that was the last straw for him as well.
"Ah, 'Del, I-"
All at once, Gohan felt himself erupt, a deep, shivering satisfaction washing over him all the way down to the very core of his being as his own climax overwhelmed him. He groaned loudly and held tight to Videl as well. She was moaning and mewling in such a delightful way and he just wanted her close to him. Closer. She was pressed right up against him and she still felt too far from his own body.
Waves of pleasure crashed into both of them again and again, grunts and moans and cries of deep satisfaction sounding through the room. And finally, after what felt like a blissful eternity, Videl collapsed against him and her hips came to a stop. Gohan's own followed the same course, settling beneath her once again. Now, the sound of their panting and small gasps for breath was the only sound left.
After a short while, Videl began to giggle beneath his chin from his spot against her chest. He wasn't sure why but he laughed right along with her, a light, relaxed laughter that felt very different than their aggressive fits of mirth. She leaned back and raised her twinkling eyes to his once more, an enormous smile on her lips.
"Wow," was all she said, kissing him softly and sweetly.
"Yeah, that's kinda all I can come up with too," he admitted.
"…wanna go for round three?" He was pretty sure she was teasing but her sudden smirk was enough to make him question it for just a moment. And as nice as the idea really was, he wasn't sure if he'd be able to do it.
"Honestly, I don't know if I have more in me for tonight." Her teasing façade vanished and she smiled gently.
"I know, Sweetheart, I'm only playing. I'm pretty spent, too. But…seriously. That was incredible." He kissed her this time, gently, before smiling at her.
"It really was. I've never felt something like that before."
"Me neither. But what do you say we get cleaned up a little and we can talk all about it," she proposed with a wide smile. Gohan nodded.
"I think that's a great idea."
Before they moved, though, Videl glanced off to the side before meeting his eyes once more. "Oh, and Gohan?"
"Yeah?" She flashed him that bright, lovely smile he was always so happy to see from her.
"Happy New Year."
A quick glance at the clock showed him it was just after midnight. He laughed lightly; what perfect timing.
"Happy New Year, Videl. I can't wait to spend it with you."
Some time later, Videl and Gohan were snuggled together in bed once more, this time with the sheets and blankets drawn up to their necks, her back pressed snugly up against his chest as he held her. She was wearing her usual oversized sleep shirt and Gohan those familiar sweatpants he'd worn the last time they'd spent the night together. And for all the gratifying ecstasy she had felt earlier, this simple, relaxed cuddling was just as addicting in its own way.
The entire time they'd readied themselves for bed, she hadn't been able to stop thinking about just how amazing everything had been. It hadn't been nearly as awkward as she was worried it might have been. In fact, she thought they'd both settled into it fairly well, all things considered. And the way Gohan had taken control each time she'd finished made her shiver with delight at the memory.
"Hey you," she said softly.
"Hey me?"
"Yeah, you! I only have one 'you,' you know, and he's the most handsome 'you' in the world." She felt Gohan chuckled lightly, the slight movement of his chest giving him away.
"Well he's very lucky you feel that way and it makes him extremely happy. What's on your mind, Angel?" Videl wiggled around and shifted until she was facing him, their eyes level on the pillow they shared.
"You really surprised me back there." A perplexed look crossed his face.
"I did?" She nodded, grinning brightly.
"You did! I never expected you to whisper something like that in my ear when I…you know." She felt her face heating up just slightly but it was immediately usurped by the tremendous blush that stole her boyfriend's cheeks.
"O-oh…uh. Well, I just remembered how you said you'd enjoy that back during our vacation and I wanted to make sure you had the chance to this time." She snuggled just a little closer.
"Oh, I definitely enjoyed it." His cheeks grew an even darker shade of crimson, if that were actually possible. "Did you?"
"I did. You were amazing, especially the way you took charge the second time around."
"I didn't want you to have to do all the work this time too. It seems like every time we try something new, I'm the one who gets to enjoy it more. So this time, I wanted it be more equal, who was making who feel good." He smiled warmly at her.
"Well you definitely got what you wanted. I've never felt something like that before."
"Me neither."
"You were okay, right? Nothing hurt after the very beginning?" His eyes were shining with concern and it melted Videl's heart entirely.
"You are just the sweetest person in the world, Love. I was totally fine, I promise. After that little bit at the beginning, I didn't feel anything like it again." He sighed in relief and smiled.
"Good. I'm glad things worked out as well as they did."
"Yeah, me too! Imagine, us getting through our first time without something terribly awkward happening!" They both laughed together for a few moments before Gohan spoke again.
"That too! But I actually meant tonight in general. You know, if we hadn't left the party together earlier, we probably wouldn't have had the chance to do this." Her eyes widened a bit.
"You're right. We never could have gotten away with this with Papa and Buu down the hallway, huh? Besides…I'm glad we didn't have to worry about…being too quiet or anything," she admitted, a fierce blush heating her cheeks.
"Y-yeah…me too."
"Still," she continued, trying to ignore the embarrassment she was feeling now, "I guess those arrogant Royals were good for something after all, weren't they? I had a much better time celebrating the start of the new year with my sweet Gohan than I would have at the party anyway."
"What a surprise," Gohan began, grinning at her, "I feel exactly the same way. But I'd rather celebrate it with my wonderful Videl than with my sweet self."
"Goofball."
"Hey, you started with the compliments!"
"That doesn't mean it's a title or something!"
"But I liked it! What do you think…can it be my title?" Videl giggled and inched closer, kissing him on the nose.
"Fine, fine, it can be your title, 'My Sweet Gohan.'" He grinned at her.
"I do like it! Thanks!"
"So what's my title then?"
"Huh? You want a title too?" She faked an exaggerated pout.
"Come on, I gave you a title! It's only fair that I get one too!"
"Okay, I'll give you one then! How about…'My Dearest Videl?' Does that work?" She felt her cheeks get hot again and the pout vanished all at once.
"That's not fair. You knew that would turn me into a puddle in your arms, didn't you?"
"Can't say it hadn't crossed my mind," he told her honestly, winking at her. She gasped and feigned indignation before throwing a gentle tackle his way.
Within seconds, the two were wrestling playfully around, becoming further entangled in the sheets and laughing all the while. With each roll, one of them kissed the other. Or tickled them. Usually that was unintentional, though…usually. The wonderful satisfaction of the evening was still palpable in the air around them and Videl didn't want the night to ever end. There would be more nights like this, she was sure. But this night, this first time together, was a special moment they'd only have once. And what a perfect night it had turned out to be.
After a while longer, both of them getting quite sleepy now, Videl found herself snuggled against Gohan once more, her back to his chest, his powerful arm holding her safe and close. It was the very definition of heaven on Earth. "I love you so much Gohan," her soft voice called out.
"I love you too, Videl." The way his calm tenor resonated through her body was comforting in a way she had never truly appreciated before.
"Thank you for staying with me tonight," she managed, sleep threatening to overtake her now.
"Thank you for letting me. Our nights together are always so wonderful."
'It really would be so nice if he never had to leave. I'd get to fall asleep and wake up next to him every night from now on. It would be so nice. I wish we could just live together already. You feel the same way right Gohan?'
'I want to live with you when we start college.'
"I want to live with you when we start college." She felt Gohan's body go entirely stiff for a moment and briefly wondered why. A second later, her eyes shot open as adrenaline surged through her, gasping as she snapped awake. Turning quickly, she saw Gohan's eyes, wide with surprise, but a small smile on his lips too.
"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to say that out loud! I was just thinking and…I guess I was so tired I just let it slip out…" Gohan brushed her hair from her face softly and kissed her cheek.
"It's okay, 'Del, don't feel bad! I'm not upset! Just a little surprised, that's all. You…want to live with me?" She chewed her lip but nodded timidly.
"Of course I do. I've dreamed so much about what it would be like to never have to say goodbye to you." To her surprise, Gohan wasn't blushing at all. Instead, he was smiling one of the most genuinely breathtaking smiles she'd ever seen from him. She swore her room got a bit brighter from that alone.
"I think that would be wonderful, honestly…why don't we?" For the first time since they'd started dating, Videl was dumbfounded by something Gohan had said. She'd been taken by surprise before, sure, but never wholly stopped in her tracks like this.
"W-what?"
"Really! We're both going to North City University in April anyway, right? …if we pass our entrance exams, of course. But if we're already gonna be there together, we may as well save ourselves the trouble of searching each other out every day and just live together, don't you think?" Videl was still reeling.
"Y-you'd be okay with that? I thought maybe you'd think we're too young or…it was too soon, or something."
"Nah, my parents got married when they were eighteen! I don't think it's rushing things if we live together in April. Besides, we'd just be over at the other's place all the time if we didn't, right?" Videl let herself laugh at last.
"Yeah, you're absolutely right about that. Plus…it would be nice if we had the extra time together since we won't be in the same classes anymore once we start college."
"Right? And honestly…it'd probably be good to have a little preview of what things might be like in the future…and it would be amazing to fall asleep with you every night…" Now he was blushing. But so was Videl.
"I…I'd really like that too."
"Then…we're doing this?" She met his gaze again, a shimmer of excitement greeting her. She grinned at him, her heart soaring into the air as she did.
"Yeah, we're doing this! We're gonna live together in college!"
Their lips met again, a bit more excitement to their kiss this time than earlier. The night had been an absolute whirlwind in the best way possible. Videl could hardly contain herself for all the amazing things that happened since the King's party just hours before. And now she was even more excited for college than she had been to begin with. The future looked even brighter than it ever had, even right after the world had been saved from Cell and Buu.
'What a perfect start to the new year!'
Videl woke slowly the next morning. She wasn't sure why she had. Gohan was still snuggled closely up against her, his strong arm protecting her beneath their covers from the outside world. She was warm and content. The world was perfect. Even the sunlight that usually roused her early in the mornings was dimmed behind a blanket of overcast clouds today, something she always loved to wake up to in the winter. So…what had disturbed her enough to actually wake her up.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Forcing her heavy eyelids open a bit more, she glanced around the bed and found her discarded phone next to Kuma-kun. That was probably what was buzzing. It could be Papa; maybe he was worried about her or felt bad about last night. Maybe it was a spam call. She had forgotten to silence it with all the excitement from the night before. A tiny smile crossed her lips as she remembered how amazing the previous evening had been.
Careful not to wake Gohan, she reached out with her fingertips and dragged the phone to her, waking the screen. The first thing she noticed was that it was 8:07am. What a strange time of morning to call her. The second thing she noticed, though, was that it hadn't been Papa or a spam call; it had been 'Rase. Three times, it looked like. She had called three times? Erasa was never awake this early on a day off from school, yet here she was, calling Videl's phone incessantly. Was something wrong?
Worried now, Videl unlocked her device and called her best friend back, her heart beating faster by the second. After two rings though, the familiar voice sounded from the other end of the line.
"Vi?"
"Oh 'Rase, thank god. I was worried! You called three times, are you okay?" She tried to keep her voice low so as not to disturb Gohan, but couldn't help but be a bit louder than she meant. Hopefully Gohan was sleeping as soundly as he seemed to be. Something was definitely off, though. Usually she would have expected a giggle or something else reassuring from Erasa, but this morning she received no such response. Instead, her friend simply continued in an anxious voice.
"Yeah, I'm fine. But something big is going on in the city. Are you still at the palace?"
"No, it's a long story but we had to leave early last night." A sigh of relief sounded from the other end of the line.
"Actually, that's really good right now."
"Why? What's going on?"
"Just turn on the news, okay? While you do that, I'll call Gohan and wake him up so you don't have to worry about that too." Right around that time, she felt her boyfriend stir lightly against her, shifting and getting more comfortable.
"You don't have to, he's right here with me. But seriously, did something happen in town?" She was starting to get worried again, though not for the safety of her best friend. She was clearly fine. At least physically.
Silence greeted her for several moments, however. "Why is Gohan…you know what, never mind for now. I'll ask later." That was something that never would have happened under normal circumstances. There was no way everything was right with the world if Erasa wasn't going to press that little slip up…
"Erasa, just calm down and tell me what's wrong." At last, the blonde took an audible, steadying breath and collected herself.
"You're right; sorry, I was a little panicked. I'm okay now. But you've gotta turn on the news; a lot of people could be in very real danger soon…he's back, Vi."
"Who's back?"
"The leader of the Black Gloves."
1/27/2023