Chapter Text
Fear & Curiosity
“Curiosity in children, is but an appetite for knowledge.” – John Locke
Chapter 1
'But Konzen, I want to go with you!’
The golden-haired deity ignored the whining voice of the child beside him and continued walking down the brightly lit pathway.
‘KONZEN!’
‘Dammit, be quiet you little monkey!’ Coming to a furious halt, Konzen glared down at his charge. ‘I told you I’ve got an important meeting that you definitely can’t accompany me to and I’m certainly not leaving you alone after what happened yesterday.’
‘It wasn’t my fault the frog got water on your papers,’ Goku protested. ‘I thought he’d stay in the bowl until you got back. I only wanted to show him to you.’
Running a weary hand down his face, Konzen sighed. ‘I keep telling you Goku, if you want to show me a living creature do it when we’re outside where they belong.’
‘But they might disappear before you see them.’
‘I fail to see the downside to that,’ Konzen muttered, before continuing on his way.
Sulkily following after his guardian, Goku’s mood soon brightened considerably when he saw Konzen stop in front of a familiar door.
‘Hey Konzen, this is Tenpii’s!’
The excited cry had Konzen twitching impatiently. ‘Of course it is,’ he replied tersely. ‘Where else did you think I’d take you? I certainly wouldn’t leave you with that degenerate general.’
‘But I like Kenren too.’
Goku’s objection went ignored as Konzen raised his hand and knocked on the Field Marshal’s door.
‘Come in.’
The distracted voice sounded quite muffled, and with a frown Konzen turned the doorhandle and slowly pushed the door open.
‘Tenpou?’
Walking cautiously into the room, Konzen gazed at the scene of complete disarray with growing concern.
‘Tenpou, where are you? What happened here?’
Suddenly, a huge stack of books toppled toward the golden-haired god. Leaping to the side, Konzen pulled Goku with him, leaving the heavy books to crash onto the precise spot where they had been standing.
‘Tenpii!’
Goku’s exclamation and staring eyes had Konzen following their direction to the sight of Field Marshal Tenpou seated on the ground and partially hidden by another pile of books that were swaying precariously.
‘Hello Konzen, Goku. I apologise for the mess. I suppose I got carried away whilst looking for a book I wanted.’
A muscle pulsed heavily in Konzen’s forehead. ‘You mean you did this?’ he demanded, pointing at the room that appeared as though a violent skirmish had taken place inside of it. ‘We only helped you clean it up yesterday!’
A self-deprecating chuckle escaped Tenpou’s lips as he ruefully rubbed the back of his head. ‘I’m sorry that your efforts were put to waste,’ he apologised sincerely.
‘We can help you fix it up again,’ Goku offered generously.
‘Speak for yourself,’ Konzen interjected rudely.
His green eyes smiling, Tenpou stood up and looked with affection at Goku’s earnest expression. ‘Thank you Goku, it’s very kind of you to offer your assistance.’
‘Just remember his version of helping yesterday was to sit and read those comic books you’ve got,’ Konzen warned.
Releasing a small laugh, Tenpou turned and steadied a pile of books before they toppled over. ‘So what brings you both to my humble quarters,’ he asked.
‘I’ve got a meeting with the old hag and some of the Emperor’s counsellors, and I don’t want that little monkey running amok when I’m trying to concentrate.’
‘So you want to leave him with me?’
‘Do you mind?’
‘No, not in the least,’ Tenpou smiled. ‘I’m sure we’ll have lots of fun, won’t we Goku? Goku?’
At the silence that greeted the question, both Konzen and Tenpou looked toward the now vacant space where Goku had been standing.
‘He can’t have got far,’ Konzen sighed. ‘Most likely he got distracted by another “discovery” that he’ll spend the next six hours talking about.’
‘Awesome!’
The excited voice rang out from under Tenpou’s desk on the other side of the room.
‘Konzen! Look what I found!’
Waving one hand in the direction of the disembodied voice, Konzen remarked dryly, ‘see.’
‘Konzen, look!’
Glancing down at his charge who had raced back across the room, Konzen froze when he saw the creature in the small outstretched hand.