Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ
...
"Mummy's holding back," said Marron.
For the first time in the past ten minutes, Videl found herself looking away from the battle that was taking place in front of her. No matter what way she put it she could not call it a fight, it was something well beyond that.
It was a war zone.
"Holding back?" said Videl in disbelief.
"When she and daddy fight they fight harder than Mummy and uncy Gohan are now," said Marron who was starting to get bored with the fight. At the level they were fighting she knew that neither of the two would ever get a hand up on the other. It was a never ending stalemate and to be honest she'd rather be outside chasing butterflies but she knew that her mum wouldn't like her wandering off.
Videl blinked a couple of times as she absorbed the young girl's words and knew that if Marron was telling the truth than anything resembling a domestic violence would look more like a bomb had gone off than anything else. Before she could make any more comments, her wrist communicator began to ring which brought about an impromptu end to the fight. "Sorry," she apologized to the both Eighteen and Gohan as she answered her call. "What is it chief?"
"Videl, there's a group of armed bandits robbing a jewelry store and it'll take several minutes for backup to assist. We're sending you the coordinates, please get there as quickly as possible."
"Understood chief, I'll be there shortly," responded Videl. Getting up from her position, she began to make her way down from the stairwell before finding her path blocked by Eighteen, the former android standing right in Videl's way.
"Where are you going?" asked Eighteen.
"I need to go help..."
"No you don't," said Eighteen causing Videl to pause, never having been told such a thing. "C'mon Marron, it's time to go home."
"Are we going to go stop the bad guys mummy?" asked Marron as she ran down the stairs to be by Eighteen's side.
"If I get told where it is, perhaps," said Eighteen trying to draw information out of Videl, the raven haired girl still being stubborn. With a sigh Eighteen reached out and painfully twisted Videl's arm so that the mother could read the coordinates on the wrist communicator.
"Ah," gasped Videl in pain as Eighteen studied the details before she let go.
"C'mon Marron, there's a toy store a few blocks from here we're going to go visit," said Eighteen as she started walking towards the exit.
"Yay, toy store, toy store," chanted Marron as she followed behind her mother.
"Bye you two," said Gohan as he gave a polite wave.
"Come visit more often," said Eighteen not even bothering to turn towards him.
"When you do, can you bring Goten?" asked Marron.
"Of course," said Gohan with a smile.
"Yay, see you soon uncy Gohan," said Marron before she and Eighteen vanished behind the gymnasium door.
"Um Videl, aren't you going to go like stop those robbers?" asked Erasa.
"No need," said Gohan as he joined the two girls, not a single bead of sweat upon his brow showing that despite everything that he had gone through in the spar that he hadn't even begun to get warmed up. "Eighteen will sort it out."
"But she could get hurt," said Videl which only caused Gohan to raise an eyebrow.
"And you couldn't?" asked Gohan in response. "Don't worry, she'll be fine."
While Videl wanted to say that it'd be better if she went and helped, after what she had just witnessed she couldn't help but believe that Eighteen would walk out of it okay. "I have no idea what I'm going to tell the chief when he learns that someone went instead of me," said Videl as she put her hand to her forehead, running her fingers through her hair.
"So Gohan, why are you like so much more calm and stuff now then when you are in class?" asked Erasa as she came down from the stands to join her friends.
"I guess I feel more comfortable when fighting," admitted Gohan rubbing the back of his head. "You kind of get to learn about people when you're going toe to toe with them. You learn what they're fighting for and as a result who they are as a person, or at least that's my experience."
"So what did you learn when fighting me?" asked Videl in a demanding voice, wanting some answers now.
"That you're brash, relentless, sometimes let your emotions get the better of you and I feel as if I've said something wrong," said Gohan as he noticed the vicious glare that Videl was sending her way. Waving his arms in front of him as he took a step backwards he continued. "It's not like that's a bad thing or anything, I also learned that you're determined to follow something through to the end."
"You're damn right about that," declared Videl as she marched up to where Gohan stood and despite her smaller frame she was still able to intimidate the teenager. "Which is why I'm going to start something right now that I don't care how long it takes but I will finish it no matter what."
"Umm, is this something I can help with?" asked Gohan as he grew ever more nervous with each passing second.
"You can and you will, because since you broke my hairband yesterday you owe me," said Videl pointing Gohan in the chest. "Those were a present and were very precious to me."
"I'm sorry to hear that," said Gohan before getting poked in the chest again.
"As payment, for the next month after school you will come here and train me, you got that," declared Videl.
"Ooh, this is exciting, I don't think Videl's ever asked anyone for training," Erasa informed Gohan.
"Umm, are you sure about this?" asked Gohan.
"You bet your sorry ass mister," stated Videl. "I will meet you here tomorrow after class, you got that."
"Sure, I guess," said Gohan nervously.
"Good," said Videl before she turned and walked away, heading straight for the exit.
"Thanks for the entertainment Gohan," said Erasa before she gave chase to her friend leaving Gohan alone and confused about what had just happened. Making sure she was out of earshot, Erasa decided to raise a topic with Videl. "So, those hairbands were precious to you were they?"
"Of course they were," declared Videl.
"Despite the fact that I bought them for you from a discount shop a few years ago to keep your hair out of your eyes that one windy day," mused Erasa as she recalled the occasion she gave Videl her gift. "Somehow I think you lied to Gohan in order to get him to do what you want."
"And what of it?" asked Videl.
"Seems you're starting to learn how to make men do what you want, you're becoming a true woman," applauded Erasa and got a gentle shove to the side as a result.
...
Gohan stood outside the door to his house nervously, wondering just what his mother had to say after he had arrived home so late. Due to both the friendly spar with Eighteen and wondering just how he was going to train Videl the following day had caused him to arrive home well after Chichi would have expected him. He couldn't help but wonder if his mum would be alright with the fact that he would be hanging out with the same girl tomorrow after class. Gohan nervously swallowed knowing full well that his mother would not approve of him socializing as opposed to spending time on his studies.
"I'm home," he said as he pushed open the door, surrendering him to his fate.
"Big Brother!" shouted Goten as he rushed forward and grabbed hold of his brother's legs. "You should have seen this huge lizard I found, it was this big and I wanted to keep it but mum said that I wasn't allowed. So then I went and found a frog to see if mum would let me keep that instead but again she said no. So then I went..."
"Sounds like you had a good day Goten," said Gohan as he rubbed his younger brother's hair.
"You betcha I did," said Goten giving his older brother the traditional Son smile.
"Where have you been mister!" shouted Chichi as she came around the corner from the kitchen, brandishing her frying pan threateningly. "You should have been home at least an hour a go."
"I kinda got caught up after school," said Gohan as he raised his defensively as since despite all. "You see there was this girl..."
"Girl," repeated Chichi, the word making her lower her weapon ever so slightly.
"Well yea, she's asked me to stay after school tomorrow and..."
"Gohan, you are not to be back home until after sundown, do you understand me," said Chichi, pointing her frying pan at Gohan.
"Okay," said Gohan nervously before he watched his mother's attitude change immensely in the space of a few seconds. He really couldn't understood women.
...
"Is there something you want to tell me Videl?" asked Hercule as he looked down at his daughter. "The police contacted earlier and said that you didn't go to the crime scene. Apparently someone else came in to save the day, someone who said they were associated with you. Videl what have I told you about putting people in harms way."
"It was okay dad," said Videl as she grabbed a drink from the fridge, not really caring which one her fingers fell on. "I knew she'd get the job done."
"That doesn't make it any better, I'm saying this not as your father but as the hero of the planet," stated Hercule. "We do the dirty work so that everybody can be safe. That means that if we're told to save the world we do it, not send somebody weaker than us to do the job. Imagine if something had happened to that woman, how would you feel?"
"I said it was fine dad," said Videl just wanting to get this conversation over and done with.
"How do you know it was fine, you weren't there, that lady could have been killed since you weren't around," said Hercule his voice rising ever so slightly. "I expect you have a good explanation for putting someone's life at risk."
"Because they're stronger than me damn it!" shouted Videl. Hercule blinked a couple of times before breaking into a fit of laughter which only made his daughter fume in anger even more. "What's so funny? I'm being serious."
"Sure you are sweet pea," said Hercule as he wiped a tear from his eye. "If you believe that this person is so strong I'll forgive you this one time, but please, avoid putting other people's lives at risk."
"Fine," grumbled Videl as she stormed off with drink in hand knowing that that could have gone a hell of a lot better.
...
"So tell me exactly, why are you coming with me again?"
"Well I got nothing better to do so I thought I'd come watch, at least for a little while."
"You better not take any photos or anything."
"Me, never."
"Erasa..."
"Fine, I promise," said the blonde haired teenager as she held up her hand.
"Good," said Videl as she pushed open the gymnasium's door. She had gone to the principal's office before school had begun that day and had demanded to have full access use to the gymnasium after school hours and for all other activities to be relocated elsewhere. He had been happy to oblige, if for no other reason than to get on Videl's good side.
"Welcome," said Gohan as he stood in the middle of the area doing some basic stretches. "Joining us again Erasa?"
"The entertainment's too good to miss," she said as she moved out of way of striking distance of her best friend.
"Well I was wondering if you'd like to actually join us, I mean it'd be rude to not invite you to join us, wouldn't it?" said Gohan.
"Thanks for the offer but no thanks, I'm fine just watching," said Erasa as she took a seat while Videl closed the distance between her and Gohan.
"You're not to tell anyone of this, understand," said Videl threateningly.
"Sure thing," said Gohan as he looked into Videl's eyes. "Let's begin."
...
Hope you enjoyed.