Work Text:
“So, that’s all. You guys chaperone at the dance, I’ll get extra credit.” Gohan gulped down his water after stuffing his face with his mother’s delicious breakfast.
Chi-Chi arched an eyebrow after turning the stove off. “How in the world does chaperoning a dance give you extra credit? You don’t even need it!”
“Well…I kinda do,” Gohan chuckled nervously when his mother lowered her eyelids. “During that time we were dealing with the whole Majin Buu thing, I missed a few assignments. Principal Pen is also in desperate need of some muscle.”
“Muscle!?” Goku spoke with his mouth full of scrambled eggs. “What’s he need muscle for at a high school dance? Afraid a fight is gonna break out?”
The son shrugged. “Guess so. What should I tell him this morning? You two in, or out?”
The parents looked at one another. Goku gave his wife a thumbs up and Chi-Chi smiled.
“Alright, Gohan. We’ll chaperone. You know…” She clasped her hands and sighed. “Nevermind.”
“What is it?” Gohan asked while his father stole a piece of toast from his plate.
Chi-Chi shook her head. “Oh, nothing. I was just thinking how nice it would be if your father and I could share a dance or two there. Too bad he has two left feet.”
“Huh?” Goku slid his chair back and looked at the floor. One left foot, one right, just as he remembered. “No I don’t!”
“Yes, you do!” Chi-Chi laughed while placing her hands on her hips. “Remember we took those dance lessons before our wedding and you still couldn’t figure it out?”
Goku pieced it together. “You calling me clumsy?”
His wife kissed his cheek and squeezed his shoulder. “No. What I’m saying is, that you’re more coordinated when it comes to fighting opposed to dancing. Anyway…. GOTEN! YOU READY?”
“Coming, Mama!” A voice called from the other side of the house. He came running into the kitchen with a smile plastered on his face. “I can’t wait to see what toy the dentist gives me today!”
The boy gave his father a hug around his neck before taking his mother’s hand. A few minutes after the door closed behind them, the men inside the house could hear the red car starting up.
Gohan waited until the car backed out of the driveway before speaking. “Hey, Dad? I have an idea.”
“What’s that?”
“Maybe you should surprise Mom and take some dance lessons before you have to chaperone this weekend. I think it might make her really happy.”
Goku leaned back with his large arms behind his head. He did have a lot of things to make up for after being gone for seven years. Learning how to dance for his wife was the least he could do.
“Sure, why not? Earth’s been pretty peaceful. Think I can spare an hour or two.”
Gohan laughed and pulled his phone out of his front pocket. “Might take longer than that, Dad. I’m going to search for a place for you to do lessons at.”
When his son reached his unoccupied hand to the plate in front of him to grab the missing piece of toast, Goku whistled while sneaking away to his bedroom. He was going to need something on his feet other than boots.
“Thanks for the ride!” Goku grinned and waved at Videl as he stepped out of the car. “Couldn’t risk Chi-Chi or Goten catching me in the sky.”
“No problem, Mr. Son! Gohan and I will wait for you at the park.”
The father winked at the teens. “Alright, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Goku caught Gohan’s red face before the car screeched out of the parking lot. He wasn’t going to tell anyone, but driving with Videl felt like he was going to make another trip to Other World.
Earth’s hero looked up at the sign of the building. It was in some language he didn’t recognize - Gohan said it was French or something like that. He knew he was in the right place because a cartoon of a couple dancing was painted right by the words.
“...Huh?”
He narrowed his eyes.
A familiar ki.
“No way…”
Goku pushed the door open and immediately his eyes locked with none other than Vegeta. Before the flustered Saiyan warrior could get any words out, Goku held his own stomach and shook with laughter.
“Why do you look so professional!?”
“Sh-Shut up, Kakarot!” Vegeta shouted from the corner of the dance studio as the other students looked back and forth between the two. “Better than looking like a bum! Look at you! You’re a disgrace!”
Goku glanced at himself in one of the large mirrors that covered the walls of the room. His blue basketball shorts
were
a bit baggy compared to the sleek tights the others were wearing.
Was he already messing this up?
“Excuse me,” a woman with an accent and red hair tied in a neat bun appeared in front of him. “Is there going to be a problem?”
He rubbed his sweaty neck. “Ah, think I didn’t get the memo about dress code…”
“Ah, not at all! As long as you can move freely and express yourself in what you’re wearing, you’ll be fine!” The woman grinned and gestured to the others. “I am Juliette. I am your instructor.”
“Nice to meet you, Juliette. I’m-”
Her smile disappeared. “Did you pay?”
“Y-Yes, my son-”
“Perfect!” Juliette beamed and Goku shuddered at the swift change in emotions. “Please join the others. We’re about to do introductions.”
The Saiyan stood next to Vegeta and stifled a laugh. He even had some fancy shoes on his feet. He looked down at his own dirty running shoes and whispered.
“What are you doing here?”
“None of your business.”
“Aw, c’mon. I ain’t gonna judge ya.”
“I said it’s none of your business!”
“Oh, you!” Juliette slid in front of Vegeta. “Why are you taking dance lessons?”
Goku had to lean toward his rival to hear his mumbled words.
“For my wife…”
“Oh, an anniversary, perhaps?”
“Something like that.”
Juliette nodded and looked at Goku. “You?”
“For my wife, too. I’ve been dead for seven years but now that I’m back, I want to surprise her and show that I have a left foot and a right foot!”
Juliette and the other dancers blinked while Vegeta muttered an ‘idiot’ under his breath.
“W-Well, that’s very interesting. It seems that you two are the only dancers here that didn’t bring a partner with them. I’ll have to pair you up.”
Vegeta clenched his fists together and raised his voice. “No! I refuse to join that clown!”
Goku sighed. “I thought we’ve been through this. You already joined a body with me before. Dancing together won’t be half as bad.”
Sweat formed on Juliette’s eyebrows. “Looks like you two are very familiar with one another. Either partner up or leave my class. I’m going to start instruction now.”
When their teacher turned her back, Goku clasped his hands together. “Please, Vegeta! Be my partner! I won’t tell a soul what we do in this room!”
Vegeta tightened his jaw. Juliette brought her husband out of the small office space and showed the dancers the first movement she wanted them to learn. He hung his head in shame and turned to face Goku.
“You better not, or I’ll snap your neck.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t doubt it.”
“So, you learn anything yet?”
Goku winked at his son after sitting down on the couch beside him. “Can’t tell ya. It’s a secret.”
Gohan nodded and pulled a small device out of his pocket. He held it out to his father in the palm of his hand. “It’s called the oPid Micro©. I found it at the thrift store and downloaded some songs for you! Maybe you can find one you like and request it at the dance for Mom and you.”
Goku blinked at the tiny black square. He was no stranger to the earphones attached to it, but figuring out the device himself would lead to a disaster of epic proportions.
“Mind showing me how it works?”
Late into the night after his son showed him how to shuffle through the various songs, Goku fell into a deep sleep right there on the couch. He didn’t realize that someone put a cozy blanket over his body to keep him extra warm before wordlessly heading to their bedroom alone.
“Ah, this time with gusto!” Juliette shouted above the music as the couples swayed around the room. She paused in front of the Saiyans who were looking anywhere they could but at each other.
“Is there a problem here, gentlemen? Why aren’t you staring into each other’s eyes like two lovers ablaze in the heat of the night?”
Vegeta was nauseated at his instructor’s words. His reddened face was still looking down at his partner’s dance shoes as he spoke.
“Do you realize the filth that just came out of your mouth?”
“Yeah, Miss Juliette. It’s hard to gaze into the eyes of someone who wants to kill you most of the time.”
Juliette sighed and leaned her back against the mirror. The other couples were flowing like the rivers back in her home country, while these two men were the dam that stopped it all. They were stiff, they were tense, they were uncomfortable…
“Your wives aren’t going to be too pleased by this.”
Goku raised his eyebrows. She was right. This was their last lesson before Gohan’s dance and if he couldn’t figure it, Chi-Chi wasn’t going to have a good time. All of this extra time away from her was going to be for nothing.
“Well…you’re about Chi-Chi’s height. Guess it couldn’t be too hard to pretend.”
As Vegeta muttered obscenities underneath his breath, Goku lowered one hand to the small of his partner’s back and held the other up by his shoulder. After taking a deep breath, he stared into Vegeta’s cold, dead eyes and did his best to imagine them turning the color of dark chocolate.
Although Vegeta’s hardened expression never faltered, Goku continued to move them gracefully around the studio. Unlike many times before, he never once stepped on Vegeta’s toes. As his confidence grew, Goku allowed Vegeta to take the lead.
And if he didn’t know any better, he could’ve sworn they were both having a good time.
“What’s so funny?” Goku asked from his spot on the bed. He was sitting on the edge watching his wife shake her head at their closet.
“I should just be putting on any silly old thing. I’m acting as if this is my prom I’m going to.”
“Well… why don’t we go find some new clothes?”
Chi-Chi spun around on her heels and dropped the pile of dresses that were in her hands. She touched her husband’s forehead, searching for a fever.
“Hm, not hot. But you’re delirious. Are you sure you’re feeling well enough to chaperone tonight?”
Goku gently grabbed her wrist and lowered her hand away from him. “I’m not sick. Not one bit. Wouldn’t it make you happy to go shopping with me?”
Her cheeks turned rosy. At the moment, she was too stunned to get any words out. The only time this man took her shopping was when everyone thought the world was coming to an end because of Cell.
What secret evil was he hiding from her now?
She didn’t even have time to think twice about it. Using his Instant Transmission, the two were in the mall parking lot in a single second. Before they walked through the entrance, Chi-Chi carefully grabbed his hand. Most of the time, he was too shy to display any affection out in public. When he was younger, he said it made him ‘feel funny’ - now, they both knew what that funny feeling was.
But instead of saving some affection for when they had some privacy, Goku surprised her by holding onto her hand tighter. The only time he let go was when they went their separate ways to the fitting rooms. Once they were satisfied with their findings, their hands reconnected while their legs led them to the food court.
Waiting in line for a restaurant that served greasy delights they indulged on rarely, Chi-Chi could hear her husband’s stomach beginning to rumble.
“Should we go back home? I could cook something up for you much faster.”
Goku’s stomach panged at the thought. He ignored it and smiled down at his wife. “Nah. It’s nice to be out with you. I can wait.”
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that,” Chi-Chi spoke quietly. “I’m surprised you’re spending all this time with me. You’ve been a little distant the last few weeks. Bulma told me you must’ve been out with Vegeta training or something because she hasn’t seen him either.”
Goku could feel sweat forming on the back of his neck. He had to keep their secret safe. Ignoring the fact that they were surrounded by a sea of people, he kissed her tenderly on the forehead.
“I’m sorry, Chi-Chi,” he whispered. “I’m sorry about a lot of things.”
Her eyes watered, but she didn’t let any tears fall. She had enough of that the last seven years. She rested her head against his chest.
“It doesn’t matter now.”
“Pst, Dad! Dad, over here!”
After Goku finished tasting the punch to make sure it wasn’t spiked, he found his son standing beside the DJ booth. He whistled at Gohan’s appearance. The teenager was wearing a sharp navy suit. They had to get to the dance early and didn’t have a chance to see him until now.
“Wow! Looking good, kid! Did you get any pictures?”
“Yeah, Mr. Satan took a few when I picked Videl up. Also said something about cleaning his rifle all night. Anyway, did you pick a song?”
After Goku told his son which one he had finally settled on, the DJ stopped the mix that was playing to make an announcement.
“Alright, all you beautiful people. We have a special request tonight. Can Goku and Chi-Chi join each other on the dance floor?”
The high schoolers looked at one another with sour faces, wondering why the DJ was allowing the chaperones to have a moment. Nevertheless, they made a circle for the adults to join in. Chi-Chi, in an ankle-length maroon dress, ran to meet her husband in the middle.
“Goku, what’s going on? What’re you doing!?”
Her face was flushed as everyone looked at them. She was having flashbacks to their wedding day when Goku accidentally sent her flying to the other side of the ballroom during the reception.
Ignoring her silent pleas, Goku looked over his shoulder and gave the DJ a thumbs up. The lights in the auditorium lowered and the music began; a gentle guitar sound.
You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
One of his hands glided to the small of her back while her other hand was brought up to his shoulder.
You say you want your story to remain untold
With his fingers interlaced in hers, they swayed to the slow rhythm of the music.
“Goku,” she whispered, the sweetest smile on her face - one that Goku had missed for a long time without realizing it. “You’re not stepping on my toes.”
He twirled her around and brought her back close to him. Their torsos and chests were touching.
But all the promises we make
They stayed together as Goku led them around the dance floor. The DJ was inviting the other couples to join in, but the husband and wife felt like they were the only ones there. They shuffled their heeled feet on the tiles and moved in their own small circle.
Chi-Chi inhaled his cologne while all Goku could sense was her hair. It was the scent of the flowers that grew in the wild meadows around their home.
That’s just what she was.
Home.
Everything he had been needing.
From the cradle to the grave
The hand that was resting on her waist lowered closer to her bottom, and if they weren’t in a high school gym surrounded by teenagers, he would have brought his hand further down.
“Goku,” she giggled and hid her face against his chest. “Do you think we could go home after this? Our shift is up.”
“Huh? But Gohan and Videl are having a great time!”
Her voice was almost inaudible, but thankfully her Saiyan had better hearing than most.
“Without them. Goten is still with his grandpa. The house is empty.”
Ah, there she goes giving him that funny feeling. He was thankful she was blocking his lower body from the view of others. He growled into her ear, causing her to laugh again.
“Let’s go.”
When all I want is you