Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ
...
The hours of the night crept by one after the other, Video laying in her bed and deciphering everything that she had been told. The tale of the Cell Games which her father had told her had effectively been the last piece of the puzzle. Having even gone back in time and having bore witness to the Cell Games, having heard her father speak of that day was something different altogether.
There was no grandeur, no pompous, just straight up honesty which while refreshing was also terrifying. Cell did indeed have the strength to destroy the planet, she had seen it first hand. Cell had been able to move at speeds that she couldn't bare witness to and shatter boulders without needing to touch them.
Hercule had been able to tell her all that he could, both what he could and couldn't see. He had been blown away from the battlefield on numerous occasions as the strength of the fights increased.
Then at the end of it, once Cell was defeated once and for all, the heroes had simply flown away without any wish to be recognized for their efforts. By the time that the second camera was operating, there was no possible chance to even getting in contact with any of them even if they had wanted to speak. They had been there solely to save the planet.
Then the camera had fallen onto Hercule and he spoke to the world. The rest was history.
Videl knew the fame that her family lived upon was hollow. Her father was the champion of the most recent martial arts tournament, but that did not make him the savior of the world.
And now she knew, but what was she meant to do with this information? If word of this was to spread the public outrage would be tremendous. Hercule wouldn't have a leg to stand on and she could only imagine what the tabloids would say as they tore her father's dojo to the ground.
This was her own mindset however and there was one person who had had every opportunity to step forward. Gohan had held onto this secret for years, never once wanting the fame or recognition that came with it. Piccolo, Krillin and every other fighter had had ample opportunities to step forward but they never did. The thought had likely never even crossed their mind.
And these were the people who would step up once more if the world was threatened again. Again, they would arrive when the occasion arose before dealing with it and vanishing. It was astounding to think that there were those kind of people still out there who actively did such heroic things just because it had to be done.
Rolling to the side, Videl contemplated what she was going to say to Gohan when he arrived at school. What could she say? Should she even say anything at all?
Sleep was still difficult for Videl as the time ticked further into early hours of the morning before slumber finally overtook her.
It was a restless sleep.
...
"Hey, you didn't work Videl too hard yesterday did you?" asked Erasa as she tapped Gohan on the shoulder.
"We didn't do anything practical yesterday," said Gohan, well aware that he couldn't tell Erasa that her best friend had spent a previous part of the day in a different timeline. His strength was one thing, the bending of reality was something different altogether. "I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation why she isn't in class today."
"I hope so otherwise you're in a lot of trouble mister."
Gohan chuckled lightly as Erasa's threat before focusing on his note taking once more. Erasa however continued to gaze at the back of Gohan's head. At least she did so until the teacher called her name, causing her to squeal in shock before focusing on the lesson.
Her eyes did occasionally dart back to Gohan however as she considered that Videl had gotten something of a breakthrough in the enigma that sat in front of her. Erasa simply hoped that if that were the case then she would be willing to share.
...
Hercule sat in the office of his dojo, looking at the recent string of applications that had been delivered to him. Understandably, a great deal of these were in regards to parents wishing to have Gohan teach their children. It was amazing how what had initially been a way to show how Gohan was ill suited to train his daughter had turned into a boon for his business. At this rate he would have to see whether or not the kid would be willing to work for him full time once he'd finished his schooling.
Only if he wanted to of course. It wasn't like Hercule had any real way to keep the boy on his books as it was. The fact that he had agreed to keep coming in and teaching after Hercule had tried to attack him in this office just showed what kind of character Gohan was as a person.
Hercule had contemplated just announcing to the world that Gohan was the kid who had fought Cell but it would only draw a lot of unwanted attention of him. If he had kept quiet about being at the Cell Games for as long as he had it was clear that he didn't want the recognition or fame that would come with the public knowing. Even now Hercule could tell that the kid wasn't as confident as he appeared whenever the cameras came on him and it was only because he was more focused on training Videl that the media didn't really phase him. It was something he could admire in the kid.
Arguably, his future and fame was not out of his hands. Hercule wasn't a fool to believe that he was in the clear by any stretch. While he didn't imagine that Videl would outwardly go out and proclaim to the world just what had happened at the Cell Games, it wasn't to say that she wouldn't distance herself further from him. It was a possibility and one that he truly hoped wouldn't happen.
For now though, everything was out of his hands and if all went well, then so be it. If not, well, it was better not to think about it.
...
Gohan stood atop the school rooftop, the wind blowing at his clothes while he gazed off into the distance. By now, if it had been several weeks prior, he would have already been flying across the sky on his way home. More recently, the story was very different and he had been spending most of his time with Videl.
While Videl hadn't been at school today, Gohan could currently sense her traveling towards where he was. Given that her absence hadn't had any real explanation to it, part of him assumed that she was merely coming to see if there was any assignments or notes that she needed to collect. He had to remind himself that this was Videl, she wouldn't be flying over at this time of day simply to pick up some paperwork.
It only took a small amount of time before Videl's jetcopter came into view, Videl landing the vehicle on the school roof with precision. Her decent from her ride however was slow, methodical, as she gently stepped onto the roof lacking the usual gusto that came with her arrival.
Gohan said nothing as he watched Videl walk towards him, the lack of rest apparent by the dark lines under her eyes. She still tried to look at him with a sense of determination but the fire in her eyes was lacking. "Gohan," she said as she gazed at him. "Dad...he told me everything that he saw."
"I see," said Gohan, gesturing for Videl to continue.
"After what he said and what you've shown me, I just..." Videl paused as she tried to come up with the right words. "Gohan, what are the odds that there'll be another world ending threat like Cell again?"
"It's a big universe," said Gohan with a mild shrug of the shoulders. Momentarily he considered mentioning the fact that he had battled an intergalactic tyrant on another planet but that could be a story for a different time. "Just because there hasn't been a threat in years doesn't mean that there isn't one right around the corner."
"And you're going to be there to stop them right?"
"Of course."
The swiftness in Gohan's response caused Videl's eyes to lower to the ground. "But what if you're not strong enough?" she asked, genuine concern resonating through her voice.
Gohan didn't answer, his features sharpening ever so slightly as Videl continued. "When the next threat happens, I want to be there to help you. I don't know how long it will take for me to get strong enough to lighten your load but I will get there, I promise you that."
"Thank you Videl."
"However," said Videl, looking up at Gohan with renewed vigor in her eyes. "As strong as you are, I want you to get stronger. I need you to get stronger. I don't want some enemy to appear and you not be up to scratch. I don't know if you have to ask Piccolo or Krillin for help but I want you to get stronger, you hear me?"
Sheepishly, Gohan raised his hand up to scratch at the back of his head. He hadn't really considered much in regards to increasing his own level of strength. Chichi wasn't the greatest fan of the thought but there was something that Videl was saying which did ring true. Had Trunks not come from the past and warned them about the Androids, there was a good chance that their training during that time period wouldn't have been enough. There was no telling whether another enemy would make themselves present any time soon but prepping himself by getting back into training wasn't a bad idea.
Also he was sure that Piccolo would be thrilled by the idea.
"I'll see what I can do," said Gohan with a small nod.
"There's one other thing that I want you to do," said Videl.
"Of course," said Gohan.
"I want you to take me out for ice cream."
Gohan blinked in confusion, having not expected Videl's request in the slightest. "Excuse me?"
"I," started Videl as she pointed at herself for clarification before pointing at Gohan, "Want you, to take me, for ice cream."
"Is there any particular reason that you want me to..."
"Because I like you, that's why!"
Videl's statement resonated and for Gohan everything seemed to come to a standstill. Seconds ticked by as Videl's words repeated themselves in Gohan's mind. "You...like me?" said Gohan as his cheeks began to flush with color.
"Yes, I do," said Videl, suddenly sounding a lot less sure of herself as she averted her gaze as her cheeks lit up as well.
For the longest of moments, neither of them said anything as they awaited for the other person to speak. "Well," said Gohan, breaking the silence. "I guess, I haven't really thought about anything like that but I'm not opposed to the idea cause I guess I kind of like you to. I'm not sure if it's the same way that you like me but I haven't really experienced anything like this before so I'm willing to try and see what happens. I'm free at the moment so if you'd like to get some ice..."
"Yes," proclaimed Videl before Gohan could properly finish his sentence, causing the two of them to smile brightly at one another.
"Just so you know, just because you like me doesn't mean that I'm going to go easy on your training sessions."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
...
The End.
Hope you enjoyed.
