Work Text:
Title: Trying Out New Things
Fandom: Dragon Ball GT
Summary: Palace doesn't know much about smoothies. Fortunately, Goten is there to help his girlfriend with that.
Pairing: Son Goten/Palace | Valese
"Palace-chan!"
Son Goten's cheerful voice cuts through the babel of passersby, making its way to the beautiful brunette seated at a table meant for two. His footsteps follow along on the same journey.
The delightful smile on Palace's heart-shaped face is as bright as her sun-yellow dress and boots. "Goten-sama," she greets warmly.
"Look what I got ya for our date this time," he shows her the two cups in his hands.
Her eyes, as chocolate in color as her wavy hair, settle on the thick, yellowish-pink drinks inside the cups. Curiosity flashes in her gaze like the beam of a lighthouse piercing the night, a sight very apparent to the observer.
"What are those?" asks his bemused girlfriend.
"Smoothies," Goten answers.
"Smoo-dee…?" she enunciates slowly, the word sounding foreign upon her tongue.
He hums a 'mhmm' in confirmation. "It's a cool, refreshing drink," the young man explains, "Sorta like yogurt but not exactly. Smoothies come in a myriad of flavors. The ones I got are peach-flavored."
"Wait, drink?" Palace blinks, "Um, from the look of it, are you sure I shouldn't use a spoon instead?"
Her question amuses him a lot more than it should. "Nah. Don't let its thickness fool you, Palace-chan. You drink it with the straw."
She looks up at him. Her curled lips broaden as her eyes sparkle, and she appears more radiant than ever in her wonderstruck state. "Oh, wow, I have never heard of a "smoo-dee" before. Looks delicious!"
Goten chuckles, happy to see Palace's reaction. Having lived in the countryside for so long, he's still trying to get familiar with city life. Socializing with Palace, who also had a sheltered upbringing, feels comforting. At least this way he knows he isn't alone in his attempts to fit in.
And he can't lie; her innocence comes off rather endearing.
"Here, Palace-chan. Try it and lemme know what ya think," Goten offers her one of the smoothies, to which she graciously accepts. He takes his seat next to his girlfriend.
Man and woman sit near a tree that towers over them. Dark shadows resembling leafy branches are drawn upon the pair, embellishing the paint of summer sunlight splashed onto their skin and clothes.
Goten ignores the world around him in favor of the one who claimed his heart. Silently, he watches how her inquisitive stare lingers over the drink. He notes the way her digits grip the cup, unused to the numbing cold from it.
Palace inserts the tip of the straw in her mouth before taking a sip. Goten follows suit with his own smoothie, joining her so as not to feel left out. The cool drink floods his mouth like how an ocean wave would roll over sand, the peach flavor engulfing his taste buds.
He takes a few mouthfuls before deciding he's had enough. Shifting his attention back to Palace, he asks the girl, "So whaddya think? Do you like the smoothie?"
Palace pulls her lips away from the straw and beams, "I love it!"
He, too, glows as instantly as a light switch being flipped. "Oh, yeah?"
"Yeah! This drink's got a good taste to it. I wouldn't mind having it again some other time."
"Ha ha ha! Y'know, it's great you're trying out new things. Seems like it was only yesterday when you asked for cutlery to eat soft serve and hamburgers with."
"Ah…" Palace suddenly averts her gaze, voice softer than before.
Goten pauses. The brunette appears quite shy and mild, taking interest in the glass reflection of a nearby store. But a gut feeling tells him there's more to it than that.
"Palace-chan, what's wrong?" he decides to not mince words, "You don't seem happy at all."
When Palace glances in his direction, Goten feels a pang of worry pierce his heart like how a blade slowly digs deep into its victim. So sharp, so painful, and so palpable the saiyan wonders how his love for this lady can make him hurt this bad.
What he sees is a face marred with a frown that's completely out of place. For a brief moment, Goten almost forgets he's looking at his girlfriend and not some stranger.
"I'm sorry, Goten-sama," she tells him, noticeably contrite.
Concern etches wrinkles on his furrowed brow. "Huh? Sorry for what?"
"For always being so dumb," Palace responds sadly.
"Hey, hey," he coos, quick to comfort the girl with a head pat. "Don't say that about yourself. That ain't true."
Palace shakes her head. "But it is true. I knew nothing about soft serve or hamburgers, let alone how to eat them, and I can barely say "smoo-dee". I don't know much of anything here. Not like you, Goten-sama. Doesn't it annoy you, having to try to help me understand certain things all the time?"
"No," Goten doesn't hesitate to affirm, "And I don't think you're dumb at all. You're just learning. There is no shame in learning."
"Really?" she asks innocently.
He inclines his head, shooting her a look that's just as earnest. "For sure. Actually, you wanna know something interesting about me?"
Palace says nothing, but her attentive interest provides enough of an answer.
Goten grins. "I can't say I'm all that familiar with smoothies either, Palace-chan. In fact, this is only the second time I tried one."
"Eh?!" Palace stares at him wide-eyed. "You're not serious!"
"It's true! Only other time I had a smoothie was with Nii-san. He was the one to introduce me to them when I was trying to get familiar with this city."
Goten isn't lying. Mother made sure he didn't grow up a liar.
It was back when he started thinking about moving out of the house not too long ago, wanting to live his life in a more populated area. Satan City had been the one choice that came to mind, and Goten figured it'd be prudent to have Gohan show him around. The smoothie place stood out to him, alongside many food stores.
"Funny thing about that," Goten laughs, "I thought the smoothie was so thick I asked Nii-san a pretty embarrassing question."
"What would that be?"
"I asked him whether or not I should use a spoon instead of a straw."
Palace gapes at him like a fish out of water. "No way! Really? I never would have expected that from you. With how you've been introducing me to various foods and drinks, I thought you were some kind of expert at this sort of thing!"
He returns a benevolent smile. "Nah, I'm just somebody who learned and tried out stuff. Like you."
She meekly glances down at her lap, fingering the cup in her hands. "I guess we are a lot more alike than I imagined, huh?"
"Seems that way to me," he agrees, "and I wouldn't want it otherwise."
Palace turns back to him, wearing a charming face crafted from joy and innocence. "Yeah. Me neither."
A sudden thought enters his mind. More of a recent memory, really. One involving another treat.
"Y'know, Palace-chan," Goten says, "I came across this place selling some kind of dessert I'm not too familiar with. Gelato, I believe it's called. If you feel up to it, perhaps we can check it out. Together."
The young man extends his hand towards the brunette. It's a promise of a bond that'll outlast everything ephemeral, his plea for a companion to share his life with. From the bottom of his heart, he hopes for the beauty's acceptance.
Palace's eyes linger on his outstretched hand, her face hard to read. After what feels like a long period of suspense, she raises a hand of her own…
…and accepts.
"I'd love to try out this gelato with you, Goten-sama," Palace chirps, her sweet eyes meeting his steady gaze. "Together."
Goten, now beaming wholeheartedly, cradles the small, delicate hand in his grasp. Today he makes his vow to remain by Palace's side, and it's a vow he will be sure to fulfill.