Inescapably Evil

by OnlyMeAndMyBones

Summary:

After defeating Cooler and returning to Earth, Vegeta has started to settle into his life with a new understanding of himself and his motivations.
When Goku announces his temporariry return to Earth for the tournament, Vegeta looks forward to the challenge.
But it all quickly turns into a nightmare as Vegeta faces the loss of everything he only just started to appreciate.

Notes:

... Hi :D
So, I've been mulling this over in my head for months, and I really want to get it started right fucking now. I even wondered if I could get away with just adding it to Homeward Bound itself and make it one really long fic, but it's better this way.

This is going to be... a whole fuckton of drama bc I don't intend for this to be, uh, less heartbreaking than the canon Buu Saga.
Just look at the tags and trust me :)

Updates will be erratic but I'll give it my all!

I strongly advise reading HB before this, but for those that haven't and want to give this a shot, here's the shortest summary of Homeward Bound I can give:

- takes place six months before Buu Saga
- Cooler (stolen from the DBZ movies) comes to Earth and abducts Trunks
- Vegeta, Bulma and Goten (as a stowaway) travel across the galaxy to save him
- Vegeta doesn't take it well
- Things go south, Bulma almost dies, Vegeta almost dies. Goten saves them both.
- They get to Yardrat, where Vegeta trains and uh, does some therapy (parts of it stolen from Vegeta's training on Yardrat in the DBS manga)
- Vegeta challenges Cooler again, wins this time, frees Trunks
- they go home with new friends in tow (Froot and Loops; two of Cooler's men that change sides)
- Froot & Loops know the fusion dance and teach it to Trunks & Goten on the way home to Earth
- Vegeta is now significantly stronger than anyone during the canon Buu Saga, including Goku
- Vegeta has his tail back and can go SSJ4 (stolen from GT, with lore made up by me)
- Vegebul have some relationship discussions and moments :) and in the final chapter Bulma realizes she's pregnant
- Vegeta knows what his family and his home (Earth) mean to him and he's willing to do anything to defend it

Chapter 1: Prologue

Inescapably Evil

01

Prologue

You’re still fighting me, Vegeta? You still think you can win?

How foolish of you… No matter how hard you fight me, you’re mine.

I can see your evil, Vegeta… and I can see your past. All of it.

There’s no escape for you… from what you did, from who you used to be, and from your evil. You are what you are, always. Did you really believe you could become someone else?

You know better, don’t you…

Don’t fight that evil, that lust for power and destruction. Stop pretending you don’t crave it…

Just give yourself to me. You already know you can’t return to the illusion you were living before. They hate you now. They will never take you back. You have already lost.

There was never a chance for you… you were doomed from the start.

Why not make it all worthwhile, Vegeta?

*

It’s true. He did think he could be free of who he once was. Did think he could be… someone else.

But maybe… maybe there was never a chance for him. Maybe his past was always going to catch up with him, whether he wants it to or not.

He might not have been born evil, but it has long taken root in his heart, and now there’s no escape.

So he might as well give in to it, right? Because even if he can still fight back, it’s too late. He crossed the line. He can hear them scream at him, among them the hateful voice of a child who idolized him not too long ago.

He has no place among then any longer.

Six months earlier

"Trunks.”

“Dad?”

“What are you doing up?” Vegeta tries to sound gentle as he approaches Trunks in the mess hall, where the boy is sitting on the couch by himself. He doubts he succeeds.

“Can’t sleep,” Trunks murmurs. He has his knees tucked to his chin and his arms wrapped around his legs. It makes him look tiny.

Vegeta sits down a little distance away, not sure what Trunks is going to need. He understands why Bulma offered to go and look after Trunks when Vegeta noticed that the boy was up. If Trunks needs to be comforted then Vegeta sure isn’t the right one for this.

But somehow, when he felt Trunks’ restless ki move around, he knew he needed to go.
So, he’s here. And now? He can hardly ask Trunks why he can’t sleep. He’s three days out of spending a good six weeks in captivity while Cooler tried to brainwash him into joining the PTO. So far he hasn’t talked about it. Is now the time?

Vegeta crosses his arms and promptly lets them sink down again. “You hungry?” Trunks knows where the food is. But it’s the only thing to say Vegeta can think of.

Trunks shakes his head. “No.” He looks up at Vegeta and then down at his feet. His naked toes curl up.

They sit in silence for a while before Trunks speaks again.

“Dad?”

“Mh.”

“Cooler told me about Freezer. His brother. I remember I heard that name before, back home, somehow. I think Krillin mentioned it once. Cooler said you worked for Freezer, like Cooler wanted me to work for him.”

Vegeta doesn’t move nor reply. There are things about him Trunks knew nothing about until six weeks ago.

“Cooler said you used to do all the things he wanted me to do. He told me you were one of Freezer’s best men.”

In front of literally anyone else in the world Vegeta would laugh.

"Is it true?”

“Yes.” Vegeta does not sugarcoat things, and he does not pretend to be a better person than he is.

“You did bad things?”

“Yes.”

“Were you evil? Like Cooler? Or that Freezer? Or did Freezer force you?”

Children ask questions that are impossible to answer. Vegeta has learned that years ago. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” Trunks is now looking at Vegeta’s face again, as if trying to find clear answers there.

Vegeta nods. “I was younger than you, and I don’t remember.”

Trunks blinks, then nods as if Vegeta’s words make any sense. “And when you were older? Did you become bad?”

“Yes.”

“And now? You don’t do bad things. So you’re not evil now, right? ”

Next time, Vegeta is going to let Bulma get out of bed.

“I don’t think so.”

Chapter 2: A Shift in Priorities

Notes:

Hiiiiii, this took longer than expected but some aspects of plot keep shifting back and forth and also I am In Crisis lmao. But we stay silly, etc etc.

02

A Shift in Priorities

„Aw, shit, there goes that outfit.“

Vegeta peeks into Bulma’s walk-in closet where she’s looking at a red dress wistfully. „What are you doing?“

„Trying to decide what I’ll be wearing for the tournament.“ Shaking her head, she hangs the dress back on the rack. „I really wanted to wear this one for a special occasion but there’s no way I’ll fit into it.“

„Then wear something else.“ Vegeta proposes, desperately thinking about a possible excuse to leave her alone while she’s ranting about fashion.

„But whaaaat?” she groans. “I have nothing I can wear with this belly!”

“You haven’t been running around naked these past weeks, have you?”

Bulma shoots him a fiery look. “I’ve been wearing your sweatpants and boxers!”

“See?” Vegeta shrugs.

“Come on! You don’t have to be big on fashion to understand why I can’t wear your fucking sweatpants in public! They’re comfortable but they look like shit!”

“Like shit?” Vegeta echoes and looks down to the sweatpants he’s wearing right now.

“On me!”

He rolles his eyes. “I don’t care what you wear. Buy yourself something. Aren’t there clothes specifically tailored for pregnant people? What did you wear while you were pregnant with Trunks?” Inwardly, he cringes. It’s not a good idea to remind Bulma that he wasn’t really present for her first pregnancy.

He seems to get lucky this time though: Bulma just glares at him. “Work overalls and baggy t-shirts. Nothing I could show myself in public with.” She hangs the red dress back on the rack. “Alright. Vegeta!”

“Hn?” He sighs.

“You’ll go shopping with me tomorrow. There’s this new boutique in Dragon Mall. They exclusively sell pregnancy clothing. I should have gone there weeks ago!”

Clothes shopping with Bulma? Vegeta shivers. “I have to train.”

That gives him the flattest look he has ever seen from Bulma. “If half a day of missed training matters so much you were never going to win anyway.”

He folds his arms, knowing he can’t win this fight.

“What if I go alone and it’s too much for me? Huh? Carrying half Saiyan children is hard! What if I collapse on the streets? And end up in the hospital because you didn’t want to come with me?!”

There’s the emotional outburst. Vegeta is getting better at sensing them before things escalate. “I’m going! Calm down.” Thankfully, he has also learned how to avert them: by doing what Bulma wants. “It’s time to sleep.”

Though Bulma is usually a late sleeper, other than him, this pregnancy has her perpetually tired, and she has gotten very cuddly, so there’s rarely a moment for Vegeta sitting or laying down without her draping herself all over him.

And so, the moment Vegeta slips out of his sweatpants and folds back the covers to get into bed, Bulma wraps her arms around him.

“Woman…” He sighs. “I haven’t even laid down yet.”

“Then hurry,” Bulma murmurs into his back. He feels a soft shiver run down his spine at the sensation of her lips moving against his skin.

Vegeta knows better than to fight her, no matter how uncomfortable he finds it to lie so close with another person. It took him years to get used to just sharing a bed, and he’s gotten fine with touching, but the way Bulma wraps her legs and arms around him to find a comforable sleeping position with her growing baby belly is pusing the limits of his tolerance.

“Relax,” Bulma mumbles.

“Just sleep.” Once she’s asleep, Vegeta can usually free himself enough to fall asleep, but with Bulma waking up every few hours to go to the bathroom, nights haven’t been too restful for a while now.

He tries to settle into a doze, like he usually does while Bulma is still clinging to him. Three more months of this.

And after that? Nothing is going to be over and done with. Much the contrary.

*

Chattering voices wake Bulma from her nap on the couch. She grumbles unwillingly. To fall asleep without wrapping herself around Vegeta is hard enough these days. Who dares disturbing what little sleep she gets while Vegeta is out training with Trunks and Goten. Sparring, according to him, works best outside of a confined space, and the boys can’t take the gravity he trains in these days yet anyway.

“… with a little more of the berry syrup, maybe?”

“Yeah, but with… Oh, sorry, did we wake you up?”

Bulma gives Loops a blank stare after he and Froot entered the living room . “When did you two get here?”

“Twenty minutes ago,” he offers helpfully. “Your mom let us in.”

Nodding, Bulma gets up from the couch. “Is she already preparing a feast?”

“Not yet.” Froops holds up a piece of paper with scribbled notes. “She promised she’ll try out our newest recipes.”

“With alcohol or without?”

“Both!”

Bulma smiles. “Maybe I’ll come by.”

“Where’s Vegeta?”

She shrugs. “Beating up the boys, I guess.”

“Ooh, still training for the tournament?” Both are excited whenever there’s talk of the tournament, and they’ve been spending more time here than ever since they moved out three months ago.

“Of course. You two are sure you don’t want to fight too?”

Both shake their heads decisively. “We stand no chance in a one on one fight against almost everyone here.”

“Exactly,” Froops agrees with Loops. “Imagine we had to fight Vegeta.”

“He’s not going to kill you, you know. He’d hold back.” Even though he still doesn’t particularly like the two.

“But it’d still hurt.”

Bulma chuckles. Froot and Loops did pretty much immediately forget all plans of ever leaving Earth again. Instead, they settled permanently, and are currently trying to build a cocktail empire. Neither of them seems very interested in fighting at all, actually. “You’re coming with us to watch, right?”

“Absolutely. We have to cheer for the boys.”

“As you should.”

Bulma leaves the two to get back to her lab. She can’t do a lot of physical work right now, so she’s confined to calculations and simulations to keep her busy. With all the excitement over another child she forgot how hard being pregnant is. (And how much it sucks after a certain point.)

*

“Quiet, boys,” Vegeta warns Trunks and Goten for the fifth time. In the evening before the tournament, they’re both too excited to go to bed at their usual time. “Or else.”

They calm down and hurry away into a corner of the living room, whispering to each other. It will only be minutes before they’ll start shouting and laughing again.

“Goten,” Bulma murmurs from the couch, “do you really not want to go home to your mum and brother?”

“Why?” Goten asks. “We’re going to pick them up with the plane tomorrow anyway! And I bet Gohan is still trying to train last-minute! Videl really kept him from training while he taught her how to fly. Apparently it took her ten days! Ten! Days! Can you imagine?!”

Vegeta huffs. “If the girl didn’t know how to control her ki, and I doubt she did, ten days from zero to flying is impressive for an Earthling,” he hums under his breath so only Bulma can hear him.

She looks up at him with raised brows. “Coming from you that’s high praise.”

He shrugs. “Gohan’s taste in women better not be worse than his taste in clothes.” Sure, the red cape of his Saiyaman disguise adds a nice flair to the otherwise ridiculous fit, but it’ll be a nuisance in battle. He’ll get rid of it the moment he has his first serious opponent.

Bulma giggles, a noise that lately feels as if echoing through Vegeta’s entire body.

“We’re going out to fly a little!” Trunks calls from the corner, and without waiting for an answer, opens a window to hop out, followed by Goten.

“Oh, thank the dragon, they’re finally gone,” Bulma groans. “They’re being a handful these days.”

“They’re too strong for their own good,” Vegeta explains. “They spent weeks preparing for the tournament. Their instincts are telling them to be alert before the battle. They’ll calm down once they got beaten up tomorrow.”

“Do their instincts know that this is just for fun?”

“Saiyans don’t fight for fun.”

Bulma squints at him, scooting closer now that the boys are gone. “What about your instincts?”

“I’m an adult. I can control myself.”

“As long as you and Goku don’t trash the entire ring tomorrow.”

Vegeta’s heartbeat quickens. He may be more in control than the boys but he does feel the same restlessness. Once he and Kakarot really get into the fight, they’re both going to forget about the ring.

“Do you hear me?”

“I’ll try. I can’t speak for Kakarot though.”

“Ugh,” Bulma groans. “Saiyans.” There’s a more serious note to her voice though. Vegeta holds her gaze.

She smiles noticing that he’s waiting for her to speak, but it fades quickly. “I’ve seen you get excited at the prospect of fighting Goku again. Is this going to get to your head? Winning or losing?”

Vegeta growls softly and looks away. He thought about this. “I’ll be pissed if I lose. I’ll get over it.” He knows that just a few months ago he wouldn’t have answered Bulma at all. And he would not have allowed so much as a single thought about losing.

Bulma must know this; she’s visibly relaxing. “And if you win you’ll be insufferable, right?”

“For weeks on end,” Vegeta retorts.

But as excited as he is, Kakarot’s return doesn’t mean quite as much to him as he expected it would. His priorities have shifted. It’s a confusing thought. Things that used to be the center of the universe are suddenly way less important.

Does Bulma sense his mood? She doesn’t say anything more, just rests her legs on his lap. “You carry me to bed, okay?”

She’s so shamelessly using her pregnancy to her advantage that Vegeta wishes he could manage to be annoyed by it.

*

“This is getting bigger and bigger each time we come to a tournament,” Krillin notes and looks around.

“Yeah,” Bulma agrees. “And louder, and fuller.” The tournament grounds are bustling with people. Large and small groups are walking by, chatting animatedly. Some consist of people planning to participate, some are obviously only spectators.

“Why are there so many people here?” Vegeta grumbles. “Just to watch others fight?”

“Of course! The fighters bring friends and family of course, but martial arts are popular, and with Mister Satan becoming the saviour of the world even more people come here to fight. This tournament will be broadcasted live on TV all over the world. Or what do you think why Gohan proposed none of you turn Super Saiyan? The entire world would know you were present for the Cell Games. And where to come looking.”

Vegeta makes a face.

It was her idea to put a huge Capsule Corp logo on the back of his fighting suit. He refused to try it on, so she can’t wait to see him in it later.

“Now, does anyone have any idea where Goku will show up? Or if he’s already here?”

“He isn’t.”

Yamcha turns to Vegeta. “Are you sure?”

“Did you forget how to sense ki? Kakarot isn’t here unless he’s suppressing his ki, and he never does that unless he’s hiding from an opponent.” Vegeta walks past without looking at him.

“Well… you have a point.” Yamcha scratches his head.

Bulma bumps his ribs with her elbow. “Gotten rusty, eh?”

He shrugs.

“So many people…” Loops breathes. “Froot, imagine we had a stand here! We’d make a fortune!”

“These tournaments…” Froot turns to Bulma. “They take place every three years, yes?”

“Yeah.”

Excitedly, Froot spreads his arms and points all around. “Loops! Three years from now we’ll be here again, you hear me?”

“Absolutely!”

“They’re really crazy,” Krillin notes, then laughs. “I like them. I’ll for sure want to try out all their drinks!”

The two truly are a sight: they’re both wearing silly straw hats and wide-cut, buttoned shirts with colourful prints. Loops also has a weakness for ugly sunglasses.

“No trace of Dad…” Gohan wonders, while Chichi is looking around as if trying to find Goku among the masses.

“Is my father really going to show up?” Goten asks. Through his training on Yardrat he has become less shy but now he seems unsure.

Vegeta perks up.

“There he is,” Piccolo says.

“Hi everyone!”

Nothing about Goku has changed—his voice, his looks, his clothes, and his tendency to show up at the last minute. Bulma joins in the big happy reunion like all the others. She’s not surprised that Goku doesn’t even notice her baby belly. Under her wide, stylish dress shirt it doesn’t look that obvious yet. She bought it because it goes well with a pair of tight shorts, and because Vegeta likes it. (Not that he said anything of the sort; he just looked at her a little longer while she was trying it on compared to other dresses.)

To no one’s surprise, Vegeta stays back and more or less ignores Goku. Trunks is standing next to him.

Goten is hiding behind Chichi when being introduced to Goku, and he keeps alternating between her and Gohan while they’re on their way to the registration table.

There, he decides to hide behind Vegeta. Bulma presses her hand to her mouth at the sight to hide her grin. Vegeta glares down at him. “Stop that,” he grumbles, but it seems Goten has decided that Uncle Vegeta is less scary than his own father.

“What?!” Trunks shouts enraged when it’s his time to register for participation. “We have to fight with the junior section?! Goten, did you hear that?!”

That is enough to encourage Goten. He jumps out from behind Vegeta and to Trunks’ side. “We’re strong! We fight with the adults!” He declares.

“A junior section?” Goku wonders. “They didn’t have those in the past, right?”

“No, or you would have won our first tournament,” Krillin laughs. “I doubt Jackie Chun could’ve competed in the junior section.”

“That’s nonsense,” Vegeta growls. “That’s beneath them.”

“And really unfair to the other kids.”

“I can’t say I’m mad…” Krillin looks relieved.

“Sorry, those are the rules,” the official behind the table insists. “Everyone age fifteen and under must fight in the junior section. The only exceptions are fifteen year olds who already won in the junior section in the past.”

“This sucks,” Trunks complains.

“Yeah,” Goten agrees.

“Come on, boys,” Froot tries to comfort them. “At least that means both of you are only going to have one serious opponent: each other.”

The boys look unhappy. Then Trunks casts Froot and Loops a thoughtful glance. “How much longer can we register?”

“Ten more minutes! Preliminaries for the adult section start in thirty minutes, and the lot for the juniors will be drawn in twenty.”

“Goten, come with me, we need to talk.” Trunks drags Goten with him to the side.

“What do you want?” Goten asks but doesn’t struggle.

“What are they up to?” Bulma asks.

Froot and Loops eye each other.

“Nothing good,” Vegeta assumes.

“They’re whispering something about numbers,” Piccolo chimes in. “Eight and seven makes fifteen, which is almost sixteen. They have to set the times right though, whatever that means.”

Bulma doesn’t understand anything, but Froot and Loops duck their heads and hurry to bring some distance between them and Vegeta by introducing themselves to Goku, who promptly asks them whether they know someone called “Ginyu”.

Vegeta’s lids twitch as he listens to Piccolo. “I know what they’re planning. I’m going to-” he stops, then grins menacingly. “I’m going to let them.”

“Let them what?” Bulma asks.

“Compete in the adult section.”

Notes:

I guess we all know what Trunks and Goten are planning, right? x)

Chapter 3: Junior Champions

03

Junior Champions

Bulma gives Vegeta a thumbs up as they separate in front of the gates, and then points at her head with one finger.

“Don’t worry,” he says telepathically. “It’ll be good for them to fight with the adults.”

“Just don’t kill him.”

“I don’t hate him that much.”

He can hear Bulma snort while already walking away.

“What’s with the kids?” Kakarot asks. “Aren’t they coming?”

Vegeta doesn’t spare him so much as a glance. “They are.”

“But why aren’t they with us?” Krillin wonders. “Are they sulking about the junior section?”

Vegeta smiles darkly . “They’re already over it.” If they manage to pull this through , they’re the only ones getting to fight in both sections. And he might get a chance at giving that guy a proper beating.

He senses a change in the boys’ ki barely a minute before the bell rings, indicating that sign-ups for the tournament are over. Hoping they’ll know to keep out of his sight as much as they can, Vegeta walks past the others to enter the changing rooms.

“Woah, Vegeta, is that a tail?!” Kakarot asks once they meet again outside. Now, with the tight fitting suit, the tail wrapped around Vegeta’s waist is plainly visible. Kakarot of course won’t mistake it for a fur belt like unknowing spectators will.

“Yes.”

“Why do you have your tail back?” Kakarot continues. “And how does it work? With the full moon?”

“Because it makes me stronger.” Vegeta hopes he won’t have to tell Kakarot about the entire journey to get Trunks home safely. “And when I don’t want to turn I just stay inside.” He went out once for the full moon to see if he’s still in control of his transformation. Satisfied with the answer being yes, he has opted to stay home during the full moon since. The ape has outlived its usefulness.

“Okay… how did that happen? Did Dende restore it?” Kakarot keeps asking. “And how much stronger does it make you?”

Vegeta harrumphs. “You’ll find out soon enough how strong it makes me.” For now, he can’t tell how much Kakarot has progressed while training in Otherworld, but it’ll be the same the other way round: Vegeta has his ki lowered too, and the only one who sensed a change in it after returning to Earth was Piccolo, who had no other comment than “impressive” .

Thankfully Kakarot is quickly distracted by the beginning of the preliminaries and the subsequent chaos breaking out as Vegeta destroys the stupid Punching Machine. It doesn’t deserve any better.

They don’t see Trunks nor Goten until they all leave to watch the junior tournament. They’ll have to manage their time well in order to fight and get through the preliminaries for the adult section at the same time. They’re resourceful and creative when it comes to getting their way, so Vegeta is sure they’ll make it far.

While waiting for the junior section to reach its inevitable conclusion—the finale between Trunks and Goten—Vegeta scans the crowd for Bulma.

He can only glimpse her hair at the distance after seeking out her ki.

“Mhm, Trunks and Goten won’t meet until the finale,” Krillin notes after both won their second fight. “I guess it was clear from the start that one of the two would win, but who’s it going to be?”

“I couldn’t tell,” Kakarot says. “They haven’t powered up yet, and at rest their ki feels almost identical. What do you think, Vegeta?”

“They’re almost equally strong. In training either win half the time.”

“Despite the age gap?”

“Trunks’ raw strength is higher than Goten’s due to their difference in age, yes,” Piccolo adds, “but Goten has better control over his powers, which levels the playing field.”

Kakarot tilts his head. “How come? Did you train him like you trained Goten? But I bet Vegeta trained Trunks well too, right?”

“Trunks was trained by Vegeta, indeed,” Piccolo continues, “but Goten was too, and by the Yardratians.

“What?!” Kakarot gasps. “Goten trained on Yardrat?”

Vegeta mostly tunes out Piccolo’s summary of the events from six months ago, but there’s not much else to do—most of the kids look pathetic in the ring.

“Oh so that’s where you got your tail back!” Kakarot turns to Vegeta again. “That makes sense. Pybara offered to restore mine too, saying it’d make it easier for me to develop my Super Saiyan powers but I decided I wanted to do it without.” He squints as Vegeta meets his gaze. “I can’t wait to find out how much stronger you’ve really become.”

Vegeta raises the corner of his lips. “Just don’t think you’ll stand a chance.”

Kakarot grins softly. “We’ll see.”

Vegeta feels the urge to fight grow stronger, like an itch he can’t scratch. He half hope s he and Kakarot will be matched in the first round. It’s the only fight that really matters today.

“Hey, Vegeta!”

“Hm?” He turns around to see Gohan run up to them, followed by his girlfriend. They’re barely in time for the junior finale.

“What were you thinking allowing the boys to fight?!” Gohan hisses the moment he reaches Vegeta. “You knew all along what they’re planning, right?”

“What are they planning?” Kakarot asks.

“What?” Vegeta asks. “Afraid you’re going to lose against them?”

Gohan’s cheeks flush red under his sunglasses. “Of course not! They’re too young to fight against adults!”

Vegeta knows when to take Gohan’s anger seriously, and when not to. “They’re not.”

“Calm down, Gohan,” Piccolo interrupts when Gohan is already breathing in to argue back. “Vegeta’s right. They’ve both been through worse than being beaten in the ring.”

“But-”

“What’s up?” The girl asks once she’s caught up with Gohan. “The finale is about to start, right? Is it Trunks and Goten?”

“Of course!” Gohan tells her, then turns to Piccolo with an expression of utter betrayal. “Piccolo!”

“Hey, can anyone clue me in?” Kakarot asks again. “What’s with the boys?”

Rolling his eyes, Vegeta decides to tell him.

“Fusion?!” Kakarot calls out. “They know how to fuse?” He laughs. “And they’re going to use it to fight with the adults? They’re smart!”

“What do they know?” Gohan’s girlfriend asks. “What are you talking about?”

“N-nothing! They’re just talking nonsense because they’re bored!”

“Aha?” The girl blinks. “Is that some science fiction thing? Are you all into this, like some kind of club?”

“Yeeeaaaah, kind of,” Gohan answers.

“Goodness, Gohan,” Piccolo growls. “Can you stop?”

“Maybe just tell her,” Krillin sighs. “She’ll find out sooner or later, unless you’re already planning on breaking up?”

“Excuse me?” the girl asks.

“Shut up! I’m not!” Gohan rages, face now deep red.

The girl turns to Gohan with a curious look. “You’re not?” There’s a hint of red on her cheeks.

Krillin snickers maliciously at Gohan’s stammering.

Vegeta looks the girl up and down. So she’s the one who learned to control her ki and how to fly within ten days? He lets his tail sink and swing from left to right a few times before wrapping it back around his waist.

The girl’s eyes almost pop out of her sockets.

“G-Gohan...”

“Vegetaaaaa!”

“Come on, Gohan.” Vegeta sees his face mirrored in Gohan’s sunglasses. “She’ll learn the truth today no matter what. None of us are going to let her father win just so he can keep his reputation.” With that, he turns back to the ring and leaves the problem to Gohan.

“Excuse me? Who are you that you think you can defeat my father?”

Vegeta ignores the girl as Trunks and Goten walk out to the ring for the finale of the junior section. He told the truth earlier: he has no idea who’s going to win this. Trunks has learned from both Vegeta and Goten, but neither of them are nearly as good teachers as Pybara or Udon, and he hasn’t caught up with Goten in terms of a d vanced ki control, while Goten’s raw power is still one year behind Trunks’. Vegeta has learned the (very) hard way that innate power levels mean little, so with Trunks and Goten, who have similar training, age makes all the difference. Once they hit their teens it won’t matter anymore. Maybe even earlier. Vegeta can’t claim to be an expert on the matter.

“This is going to be good.” Krillin leans forward. “They must be getting impatient to let loose after holding back during the previous fights.”

“Mhm,” Kakarot agrees. “You could tell that they both used as little strength as possible to avoid hurting their opponents.”

“Uhm… aren’t they… the youngest participants in he junior section?” Gohan’s girlfriend asks. “It’s amazing they both made it this far.”

“Well, Videl, you see… they’re both really good for their age,” Gohan tries to explain.

Piccolo groans softly. Vegeta strongly agrees.

Below, the boys have taken their places as the announcer repeats their names for the spectators. The crowd is cheering; Vegeta has long noticed the y tend to favour younger opponents winning against older ones. It has nothing to do with the younger fighters’ skill though; even those that win by sheer luck are cheered on. Vegeta knows that Earthlings tend to have a weird kind of favouritism for cute children, whatever that may mean.

But at least they seem to understand that Trunks and Goten both show exceptional skill for their age; in Saiyan society they would be considered prodigies.

In certain ways, they are . Vegeta watches the fight begin. Usually the two opponents would test each other to look for weaknesses. These two know each other too well for that. They’ve fought more times than either can count, both alone among themselves as well as under Vegeta’s supervision, as Super Saiyans and in base form. Vegeta is sure that their fusion technique makes them even more familiar with each other.

It makes it look less like a fight than a ritualized dance. Only few people recognize the force behind every move, smooth as it may seem.

“Okay they’re really good,” Kakarot notes.

“Yep,” Krillin agrees. “When we were kids we weren’t nearly as good.”

“Wha-” Gohan’s girlfriend croaks.

“They’re really going all out.” Gohan sighs. “Guess telling them to hold back was useless.”

“It better be.” Vegeta casts him a glance. “Besides, they are holding back.” If they weren’t they’d turn Super Saiyan.

“Come on,” the girl says, sounding annoyed. “You can’t tell me they’re not giving it their all? I can barely see them.”

“As I said, holding back. Otherwise you wouldn’t see them. Gohan, teach her a little more or she’ll embarrass herself all day.”

“Excuse me, I’ve trained my entire life!” she hisses. “I can’t remember ever seeing you at a tournament. I know types like you though, with your pumped up muscles. We’ll see how good you really are in an actual fight!”

Piccolo huffs a short laugh.

“Oof,” Krillin breathes.

“Videl…” Gohan places a hand on her shoulder. “Calm down.”

“Or what?” She’s glaring at Vegeta with no sign of fear.

He looks at her. She’s half a head smaller than him but stands her ground.

“Yeah,” he agrees. “We’ll see.” With that, he turns away again.

Gohan pushes himself between them trying to shield Videl.

“Relax,” Vegeta utters, sensing Gohan’s tension. “I’m not going to kill her if I meet her in the ring. I’ll just make sure she understands who she’s up against.”

“You know, these two statements sound somewhat contradictory,” Piccolo chimes in.

Vegeta ignores him to focus on the fight again. It seems like Trunks is having the advantage. Of course: they’re fighting in base form, without ki blasts. Goten’s ki control isn’t helping him much, but Trunks’ greater physical strength is starting to come through.

“Trunks is winning,” Kakarot determines, his eyes trained on the ring.

He is. There’s a distinct twitch in Goten’s ki, as if he’s about to turn Super Saiyan. Vegeta assumes that, with a little less discipline, he would. But he controls his urges, and is pushed towards the edge of the ring.

In the end, a well-placed kick from Trunks, also tethering at the edges of Super Saiyan, has Goten crash into the wall below the rows of spectators. Trunks is declared winner of the junior section.

Vegeta nods, satisfied.

“This would likely have ended differently had they fought as Super Saiyans,” Piccolo comments.

“As what?!” Kakarot gasps.

Vegeta glances at him. “Everyone and their dog is now a Super Saiyan.”

“So much for it being a legendary, super rare thing, huh?” Kakarot grins. “I hope I’ll get to fight them later.”

“Get in line,” Vegeta retorts. “Let’s go.”

“Hey, wait a moment,” the girl interrupts, “don’t you want to see Trunks fight my dad?”

“No,” Vegeta declares, and walks away with the others, hoping there will be an opportunity to get something to eat before the adult tournament begins.

*

While the finalists gather to draw the lots for the matches, Vegeta feels his skin prickle. Aside from the two alien guys that have Piccolo freaking out he notices two others who seem off. They look strangely similar and their ki is almost impossible to make out. It makes the hair on Vegeta’s tail rise.

He watches them while paying little attention to the numbers everyone is drawing.

“Gotenks?” the announcer calls out. “Gotenks! Is Gotenks here?”

“Gotenks?” Kakarot wonders.

“It would be great if they didn’t even show up,” Gohan murmurs.

“Here I am!”

Vegeta raises his shoulders at the voice.

Gotenks comes running and sticks his hand in the box to draw his number. “Number seven! Seven! Who fights me?” He waves the little ball around.

Damn.

“Seven? Wait, that’s the fourth match. It’s me! I’m your opponent! And who are you?” Kakarot tilts his head.

“Congrats, you’ll get to beat them in the first round,” Vegeta growls.

“You mean-” Kakarot’s gaze intensifies. He smiles “I see. This should be fun.”

Gotenks looks at the board, then at Kakarot with that insufferable grin of his. “Haha! You’ll fight me? I hope you made your testament!”

“Nope,” Kakarot replies cheerfully. “Too late for that.”

“You don’t like him?” Piccolo asks Vegeta quietly.

“Do you?” Vegeta challenges.

“Maybe once Kakarot beats him. It might make him less arrogant. Have you fought him before?”

“No.” After Vegeta threatened Gotenks to break both his arms, the boys were smart enough to never practice fusion around him again. Somehow, when fused, they turn into the worst little brat in the world. Arrogant, loud, outrageously disrespectful. When Vegeta told Bulma she couldn’t stop laughing. “I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t like him,” she said while wiping tears off her face.

“Vegeta!” the announcer calls out.

He draws the number six and looks at the board to see the slot for number five—his first-round opponent, already filled.

“Videl!” Krillin calls out. “Damn. Unlucky girl.”

Confused, Vegeta looks around, only to see Gohan’s girlfriend staring at him expectantly. So it’s her.

Gohan steps forward as if to say something but is called to draw a number himself. Few are left until the board is filled.

1^st match: Krillin vs. Eighteen

“Man…” Krillin sighs.

“Don’t complain. I’ll win the prize money for us,” Eighteen decides.

2^nd match: Shin vs. Ma Junior

Piccolo is visibly sweating.

3^rd match: Videl vs. Vegeta

“If you do anything to her…” Gohan warns through gritted teeth.

“Don’t worry, if I kill her I get disqualified, remember? My second fight will be against Kakarot. I’m not going to miss out on that.”

4^th match: Son Goku vs. Gotenks

“I’m going to beat everyone! Yeah!”

5^th match: Son Gohan vs. Kibito

“Careful, Gohan. He seems capable.”

“I know, Dad. I’m thinking the same.”

6^th match: Mister Satan vs. Punta

“In the last tournament he was Dad’s opponent in the first round. He’s not that strong.”

7^th match: Spopovitch vs. Killer

8^th match: Yamu vs. Jewel

Kakarot is eyeing Spopovitch and Yamu with a squint. “I don’t like the looks of these two.”

“Me neither,” Piccolo agrees. “Something is weird about this tournament.”

“Yeah…” Kakarot seems thoughtful. “Maybe I should go get some Senzu, just to make sure.”

“What, afraid the brat is going to beat you up?” Vegeta asks.

“I highly doubt it. He looks strong but it needs more than that to beat me.”

That, Vegeta is aware of.

Notes:

I've had some serious fun with this chapter and figuring out the matches. I decided to rearrange a little out of pure self-indulgence. I wanted more fun before shit hits the fan :P It was hard to decide who gets to fight who bc I couldn't let everyone fight everyone lol.
Hope you like what I came up with x)

Chapter 4: Let's Go

04

Let's go

 

“Oh, wow.” Yamcha whistles through his teeth when the matches are announced. “Poor Krillin. Up against Eighteen right at the start.”

“He’ll put up a good fight, don’t worry,” Roshi promises. “They spar a lot, especially in the past weeks. Eighteen really pushed him to give it his all. I guess he won’t win against her, but he won’t make it easy for her either.”

“Momma and Daddy are going to fight first?” Marron asks.

“Yes. Like they always do at home.” Roshi watches the rest of the matches. “Gotenks… well done, boys, well done.” He chuckles.

“Videl?” Bulma asks. “Isn’t that Gohan’s new girlfriend?”

“Vegeta better not hurt her!” Chichi warns her. “It’s so hard finding a good daughter-in-law these days!”

Bulma has little worries. She’s also glad Goku is the one up against Gotenks in the first round. He has a good chance at beating the kid, and he won’t be as intense about it as Vegeta would be. But it’d mean Vegeta against Goku in their second fight… well, it was bound to happen one way or another.

“I don’t know Piccolo’s or Gohan’s opponents.”

“Doesn’t matter, they’re going to win either way.” Yamcha laughs. “I admit it’s a lot less stressful to watch instead of having to fight myself.”

“Lazy bum,” Bulma mutters, but grins.

“Maybe we should have participated after all,” Loops wonders. “All the Saiyans agreed only to fight in base form. As Froops we can keep up with that.”

“We could have gotten really far, you’re right.”

Bulma looks at the two. “So you think beating Vegeta in the ring because he can’t go Super Saiyan would go over well?”

The purple hue of their skin turns grey.

“Thought so,” Bulma says. “Now, are they going to get started or what?”

*

“Hello.”

Goku looks down into his own face. It’s a little weird to see a tiny version of himself. “Hi.”

“Did you see me fight?” Goten asks. He’s kneading his white gloves in his hands.

“I sure did! It was a great fight.”

A shy smile creeps across Goten’s face. “I almost won!”

Goku squats down to face Goten. “Yep, it was really tight. In my first tournament I very narrowly lost in the finale too!”

“And later you won, right? Mom told me you won the tournament one time.”

“That’s true. I beat her in that tournament, did she tell you?”

“Yes! She’s really strong too, right? She taught me how to spar!”

Goku chuckles. “She really did that? Is that how you got so good?”

“A little!” Goten points at Vegeta. “But Uncle Vegeta taught me more. Like how to fly, and how to turn Super Saiyan. And Mister Udon on Yardrat taught me how to use ki.”

“Uncle Vegeta?” Goku echoes and looks at Vegeta, who’s flat-out ignoring them, even though he certainly can hear them. The tip of his tail is twitching. “He must be a strict teacher.”

“He is strict, but he’s also really cool.”

Goku tilts his head, slightly surprised by Vegeta being described as cool. “Then you must be even stronger than I thought.”

“Maybe?” Goten looks a little unsure about that. “Everyone always says you used to be the strongest.”

“I usually am. But not always. I can’t wait to find out if I am today.”

Goten bites his lower lip. “Who do you want to fight the most?”

“Hmm,” Goku hums, pretending to have a hard time deciding. “Let’s see. I really want to fight Gohan. He was way stronger than me when I died, but now I’m stronger than back then, so I’d like to find out. And of course Vegeta. He’ll be my second match. I’m excited for that one.”

“But you have to beat Trunks and me first!” Goten claims.

“Oh? I though my first match was this guy called Gotenks?”

With a soft gasp, Goten slaps his hands over his mouth. His gloves fall to the ground.

“Man, Goten!” Trunks hisses.

“Relax.” Goku winks. “I know it’s you.”

“You do?”

“Sure. I’m really good, you know? So I can sense that Gotenks’ ki is yours.”

“Phew,” Goten breathes. “But we’ll win! When we fuse we’re the strongest in the world!”

“I can’t wait to find out,” Goku says earnestly and looks around the waiting room. Krillin and Eighteen have just been called out to the ring for their match.

“Good luck, Krillin!” he calls after him.

Krillin replies with a thumbs up as he walks out into the open at Eighteen’s side.

Goku approaches the gate so he can see the fight. “Is this a fair fight?”

“Of course not,” Vegeta grumbles. “It’s impossible to tell since we can’t sense her ki but I assume in base form even we would have to work hard to beat her.”

“Guess you’re right.” Goku side-eyes Vegeta. Even if he hadn’t heard from Piccolo that Vegeta did train on Yardrat, he could tell there’s something different about the way he carries himself. It’s like the promise of a great fight once they meet in the ring.

“Our first match are Krillin against Eighteen!” the announcer calls. “Some of you might remember Krillin; he has been very successful in the tournament in the past, even making it to the semifinal two times! He used to be the great Muten Roshi’s student. Muten Roshi, wo has since retired, was so kind to give me a little interview earlier, and I can tell all of you a really exciting detail about this fight: Eighteen, who has never participated in a tournament before, and Krillin are married!”

The crowd cheers wildly at that, almost drowning out the announcer’s next words. “They have a little daughter, who is now watching the match! Let’s see who wins: Mom, or Dad?”

*

“An interview?” Bulma asks Roshi. “When did you have time for that?”

Roshi shrugs with his usual smile and watches Krillin and Eighteen take their positions in the ring.

*

Vegeta figures that, to the untrained eye, it might seem as if Krillin and Eighteen are fighting on the same level. Granted, Krillin is holding up well. He’s clearly gotten stronger than he was seven years ago.

Remembering his own fight against Eighteen isn’t all that pleasant, but Vegeta knows he was not significantly weaker than her—she just managed to wear him down with her infinite energy supply. He wonders how that works. And if it’s really infinite. Bulma might know. She and her father did spend a lot of time studying Gero’s building plans.

However—it means Krillin ultimately can’t win. In order to do that he’d have to overwhelm her quickly, which he can’t hope for. He keeps up for a good while, even landing some hits. At least he’s not enough of a sentimental fool to hold back just because he’s fighting his spouse.

The crowd seems to like the fight—they’re cheering loud enough for Vegeta to find the noise distracting. The spectators are split into those chanting Krillin’s name, and those supporting Eighteen.

“This is a damn good start,” Kakarot decides. “Krillin is doing great.”

Be that as it may—eventually Krillin jumps back and away from Eighteen.

“Enough!” he pants, supporting his hands on his knees. “I’m done, you win.”

“Do you forfeit?” the announcer asks.

“Yes,” Krillin confirms. “Let me keep some dignity.”

Eighteen receives the crowd’s applause with a slight smile she’s declared the winner of the first match. When leaving the ring she gives a wave of her hand, causing an upsurge in cheers from what sounds like mostly male voices.

Humans, Vegeta thinks.

“Nice,” Kakarot comments when Krillin walks by him.

Krillin manages a weak grin before flopping down on a bench at the back of the room. “I’m finished. Even if I had won I wouldn’ t be up for another round.”

“Oh please, you’re fine. You have some bruises, that’s all,” Eighteen admonishes.

“And I’ll be sore all over tomorrow.”

Vegeta turns his attention to Piccolo and the stranger, Shin. “What’s with Piccolo?” he asks. “He looks like he’s about to faint.”

“It’s not like him to be so nervous,” Gohan agrees. “That Shin guy is intimidating though. There’s more to him than you can see.”

“He looks funny,” Trunks comments. He and Goten are sitting on the barrier separating the waiting room from the pathway towards the arena.

“Yep. And his clothes are weird.” Goten swings his legs back and forth. “But he’s strong for sure.”

“Be a little more respectful,” a sullen voice comes from behind. Kibito, the guy accompanying Shin, approaches them.

“Why?” Trunks asks and folds his arms. “What’s so special about him?”

“You will learn soon enough.”

Trunks huffs at this reply, but before he can say anything a loud gasp comes from the crowd—Piccolo has forfeit his fight before it even started.

“What the hell?” Kakarot utters, watching the two fighters return to the waiting room.

Vegeta ignores Piccolo’s explanation and scrutinizes Shin, trying to figure out his ki. Shin doesn’t seem surprised about Piccolo giving up. There’s a sly smile on his fice, though that quickly vanishes when he catches sight of the two brutes at the back: Spopovitch and Yamu. He sneers at them.

“Who are you?” Vegeta asks. “What’s with the secrecy?”

Shin regards him with a long long. “You will learn soon enough. Now, I think it is time for your match.” He nods in the direction of the ring.

The Announcer hasn’t yet called for the third match. Instead, he seems set on talking a little to stretch the time. “Now, that was a surprise! Many of us remember Ma Junior’s furious match from the last time he participated. I wonder what we will see once Shin meets Eighteen in the next round! Now, please be patient, we will continue with the third match in just a few minutes, where we will meet one new face, and one we all know!”

Vegeta rolls his shoulders to get ready, knowing it will be quick. When he turns, he sees Gohan glaring at him with his sunglasses pushed up to reveal his eyes. A serious warning.

That almost makes Vegeta huff a laugh. What does Gohan think he’ll do? Even if he just breaks a bone or two in the girl he’ll never hear the end of it from Bulma.

“Now, may I ask the next participants to enter the ring?”

Vegeta lets the girl walk out first. The cheering is aimed at her, not him, thankfully.

“Now, we all know Videl, as she is the daughter of our beloved hero Mister Satan, and she has made quite the name for herself already!” The Announcer’s voice is almost drowned out by the audience. “In the last tournament, she won the junior section. Today she makes her debut amond the adults! I wonder if anyone beside her father has a chance at beating her!”

Vegeta walks up the steps to the ring and looks around. There are thousands of people, excitedly waiting for this fight. It feels more like a circus than a test of combat skills. Not to mention neither of them will be able to fight at full power here—a single blow might cause a shockwave strong enough to bring the stands down.

“Vegeta, our second fighter in this match, is new to the tournament. We know little about him, but if you have been wondering about the Capsule Corp logo on his suit: he is the husband of Bulma, the daughter of Doctor Briefs and current leader of the company.”

Sounds of surprise come from the crowd. Vegeta grits his teeth. Blasted logo. Why do they all even care about who he is?

“Vegeta is also the father of Trunks, who has just won the junior section in a furious finale! He has trained Trunks, so we have reason to hope for an exciting fight! Alright! Let’s get started!”

Vegeta turns to the girl. She’s still glaring at him, but with a distinct focus to her eyes now.

*

“Poor girl,” Eighteen comments.

“Yeah,” Trunks agrees. “She stands no chance.”

“Don’t worry,” Goku reassures. “Vegeta knows how far he can go.”

“Oh does he?” Eighteen looks unconvinced.

“Yeah he does,” Gohan grumbles. “But still. It’s hard to control so much power.”

“Vegeta knows his own strength perfectly well.” Piccolo’s cape rustles when he moves to stand at Gohan’s other side. “He always did, but he is harder to provoke now than he used to. Don’t you sense it?”

“I do.” Goku nods. “He’s different now.”

“Since he returned from his trip to Yardrat six months ago.”

Goku would love to know more about Vegeta’s training there. What did he learn? How far did he progress?

*

“Come on, you can start,” the girl invites.

“If I did you wouldn’t get a chance to hit me even once.”

“You’re awfully arrogant, you know?”

“I know.” He unfolds his arms and puts his right hand on his hip. “Now, attack.”

W hen she finally does, he catches her fist with his left hand and turns her away from him, letting her stumble to regain her balance.

The crows gasps.

“What?” she hisses.

Vegeta watches her wordlessly, and when she charges after a moment’s hesitation, blocks her again. This time, he doesn’t let go and lets her struggle against his grip for a second.

Her eyes widen as she begins to realize she’s utterly helpless. He lets her go.

“You…” she pants. “You’re not even trying, right?”

Wrong. He is. Trying to measure his strength so he doesn’t hurt her, that is.

“At least fight back!” She’s not a complete fool. She already knows she stands not the slightest chance: she might not have thrown everything into her first two attackes, but enough to know that nothing she does will faze him.

“Make me.”

She bares her teeth. Vegeta can’t blame her; being disrespected by an enemy can be worse than losing.

“Alright.” This time, Videl gives it her everything. Any ordinary Earthling would be impressed by her strength and skill.

Vegeta blocks a few more of her punches, lightly tilts his head to let her fist fly past his ear, and then, once he’s sure he has figured out her limits, lightly hits her in the stomach.

Videl cries out and goes down, curling around herself.

“No!” half the people in the crowd shout.

Vegeta can sense Gohan’s ki flare behind him.

“Get up, I didn’t hit you hard enough to knock you out.” She’d be smart to give up now—she can’t know how much farther he’s willing to go—but Vegeta knows she won’t. She’d rather be carried out on a stretcher with half her bones broken than give up.

Indeed, it only takes her seconds to climb back on her feet and straighten her back, even though her breaths come in ragged bursts.

“Who are you?” she asks, voice strained. “I knew Gohan was strong, but he’s never shown me before…”

Vegeta makes a step forward. “Gohan owes you the truth. If he doesn’t even respect you enough for that he’s a fool.”

V idel raises her fists. “What truth?” He can sense her anticipation. She’s not looking forward to the pain of another hit, and it’s only by sheer willpower that she doesn’t flinch back when he approaches her.

She attacks. It almost surprises Vegeta, and he lets her hit his chin. It doesn’t hurt.

“Go on and ask Gohan,” he advices her and wraps his hand around her wrist to twist her arm away from him. She cries out and tries to break free.

Careful not to dislocate her shoulder or break her arm, Vegeta turns her around. “Ask him what a Saiyan is,” he whispers and then taps her neck with the side of his hand.

She gasps softly and collapses like a puppet with its strings cut.

“You can start counting,” Vegeta informs the announcer and steps back. “We’re done.”

“But- what-” the announcer stammers.

V idel is already coming around, though still too disoriented to move.

“Get on with it.” Vegeta throws the announcer an angry look. “If she gets up again I’ll have to hit her again, and harder.”

“O- okay… one!”

“Videl! Get back up!” someone in the crowd shouts. Others are joining in.

At “six”, Videl is trying to prop herself up on her arms, but she doesn’t get any further.

“Aaaaand… ten! Vegeta is the winner of the third fight!”

A few people cheer but Vegeta can tell it’s mostly Bulma and the others. Everyone else is shocked that Videl lost.

“Videl!” Gohan rushes past Vegeta and gets down by her side. “Are you okay?”

Vegeta rolls his eyes and turns away to leave the ring. The most interesting fight of the first round is about to start.

“Hey! Wait!”

Vegeta looks back to see Videl back on her feet with Gohan supporting her.

“How did you do that?”

“With my hands.”

“You know what I mean!” she’s recovering quickly, her voice is already back to strength.

“I hit you hard enough to temporarily incapacitate you without causing major damage. Don’t you know how to do that?”

She stills, then pulls a face. “Certainly not while looking bored.”

“Did you have to overdo it so much?” Gohan asks. If he wasn’t busy helping Videl stand, he’d surely be at Vegeta’s throat by now.

“If I had overdone it she’d be dead,” Vegeta replies flatly. “Don’t make a fuss, I hit you harder than this when you were five.”

“What?!” Videl shrieks.

“Vegeta!!!” Gohan sounds more exasperated than angry by now. His hand is reflexively covering his stomach.

Vegeta smirks and walks back into the waiting room.

“You were very nice to her,” Piccolo comments. “For her to be walking again so soon.”

“Shut up.”

“Are you okay, Videl?” Goten asks when she and Gohan enter the waiting room. “Uncle Vegeta can hit really hard, right? Don’t worry, I stand no chance against him too!”

“I’ll be fine, thank you.” Videl throws Vegeta, then Gohan an incredulous look. “Gohan! Do you let this guy seriously beat up your little brother?!”

“Uh…” Gohan scratches the back of his head. “It’s not like I could stop Goten, you know?”

“What’s wrong with you people?” Videl hesitates, glances at Vegeta, then back at Gohan. “And what’s a ‘Saiyan’?”

Gohan’s eyes widen until Vegeta thinks they’re going to be too big for his glasses. “W- w- what?!”

A knowing look spreads across Videl’s face. “You know what Vegeta was talking about, weren’t you? You’re still keeping secrets. Important ones.”

“You see…”

“This is going to be almost more interesting than the next fight,” Krillin utters, with a look on his face as if he’s about to get himself a bag of popcorn.

“It’s complicated,” Gohan continues. “Can we talk about it later? After the tournament? I promise I’ll explain everything to you.”

Would that include who really defeated Cell too? Vegeta would actually like to see her reaction to that.

“Everything?” Videl asks, still looking suspicious.

“Yeah. Piccolo will remind me of it. Won’t you?”

“Leave me out of that.”

Kakarot has watched silently so far. Now, he places a hand on Gohan’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine. And you did great,” he assures Videl. “Getting up after the first hit was impressive. You got off really easy, Vegeta once broke every bone my body.”

“And it was great fun,” Vegeta utters under his breath.

“He… he…” Videl stammers, than groans in defeat. “Okay. Tell me later.”

“Excuse me, have any of you seen Gotenks? The next fight is due to start now!” The announcer is wiping his sweaty forehead with a napkin.

Trunks and Goten both jump down from the barrier. “Oh! He must have forgotten the time! He really likes to concentrate in silence before a fight”, Trunks calls.

“We’re going to get him!” Goten adds, and both run off.

Kakarot chuckles. “They’re really amazing kids.”

“Be sure not to go too easy on them,” Vegeta grumbles, bracing himself when he senss the boys’ ki unite and grow, just outside the waiting room. Thirty minutes now. He wonders if the fight will take that long.

“Sorry!!!” Gotenks shouts when he comes running in. “I’m ready! Let’s fight!”

There’s a distinct spike in Kakarot’s power level now. He cracks his knuckles “Let’s go!”

Notes:

Thank you everyone for reading <3 Hope you enjoyed!

I had initially planned to add Goku vs Gotenks to this chapter but I'll leave for a one week vacation tomorrow and I wanted to throw this one out before that. And anyway, that fight sure isn't going to be over quickly :D

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 2 of Homeward Bound (series work title)