Tainted Fantasy

Title: To Forgive, or to Not
Fandom: Dragon Ball Fandom
Rating: Teen
Genre: Pre-Relationship, Friendship Fic, Light Angst
Main Characters: Gohan Son, Videl Satan
Relationships: Pre-Gohan Son/Videl Satan
Warning: n/a
Word Count: 540
Summary: Forgiveness comes easy for some.
Author Note: Written for ML’s Pause for a Prompt Challenge. The prompt was I forgive and let of everything that has hurt me. Originally posted on ML on May 02, 2023.

This was written to tie in with another fic that has not been published.

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“How can you forgive him?” Videl asked.

She looked up at him, wondering, Videl was not a very forgiving person, and yet Gohan was so wronged by everything her dad had done. Still, he acted like he didn’t even care. He was such a carefree person; one of a kind.

“I never needed or wanted the fame that came with killing Cell, and holding on to that anger isn’t helpful. The truth is what your father did never really hurt me. While I was upset for a while about what he said. I now see what happened as a good thing. If things didn’t turn out the way they did, then we might not have met, and your friendship and partnership means everything to me,” Gohan explained with a smile.

It was not often that she would feel herself tear up and her heart feel like it was burning at the way that he made her feel.

“Please don’t cry,” he said softly.

His fingers rubbed under her eyes to gently brush away the wetness from her face. It was odd that someone so tender and soft could be the strongest in the universe, but here he was, standing in front of her.

“I’m not crying,” was all she managed to reply.

“Of course not,” he smiled.

As she took a minute to control herself, Gohan stood in front of her with his fingers tracing shapes on her shoulders, his smile sweet and understanding, and his eyes looking down at her with kindness and an innocence that most there would not have.

“Why are you having trouble with your father?” Gohan asked.

“You can say that,” she sighed. “I’m not sure I have it in me to forgive him.”

“Why?” he questioned.

“You know how much I hate lies and what truth means to me?” she asked.

“I do,” he responded.

“My own dad lied to me, dad’s aren’t suppose to do that to their daughters. He knows how I feel about liars too; if he doesn’t, then he doesn’t know me at all. How can I be okay with him not only lying to the world but also to me? You might not care, but he stole from you, someone who was a child at the time. It worked out in your favor since you don’t care about fame, but he didn’t do it to help you. He did it because he is selfish. I feel like this has shaken me to my core to the point that I don’t know who I am anymore,” Videl cast her eyes down her vision filled up once again.

Gohan pulled her into him with the taller teen’s arms wrapping around her shoulders. Her sobs getting louder than she wanted. Those words hurt as they came out of her mouth.

“I know who you are.” Gohan leaned down to kiss her forehead.

He radiated warmth.

Several short beeps blared from Videl’s watch before a voice said, “Saiyaman One, Saiyaman Two, we have an alarmed robbery at La Corde D’or, the jewelry shop in the mall. Do you copy?”

“We are on it,” Videl replied, muffling her voice.

“Duty calls,” Gohan grinned as he grabbed her hands, and they took to the sky.