#I’ll spare Goku’s tag this monstrosity he gets ragged on for his parenting choices enough

[paganminiskirt]

Vegeta and Gohan both got exposed to an absurd amount of violence at a disgustingly young age but Vegeta was singled out for “privileges” by his enslaver and before that was placed on top of a highly stratified social hierarchy that encouraged him to look down on. Basically everyone. And that messed him up in its own special way, right - that’s why he disregards his own basic needs in favor of maintaining his self image by getting stronger, that’s why he distrusts affection and feels ashamed when offered positive reinforcement no matter how old he gets or how long Frieza stays dead.

But Gohan endured that same overexposure in an environment where the adults were being coerced as much as he was. They knew it wasn’t right, they knew it wasn’t normal; they just believed that it was necessary, and that one day it wouldn’t be. One day he could be a normal kid. And that part about the adults being coerced is what Gohan internalized. He learned to put other people’s needs above his own at all costs, even at an age where he really, really shouldn’t have been doing that. And he idolized his father, and Piccolo, who each displayed that same trait of self sacrifice for the good of others; for the good of him. Which both encouraged him to emulate them (as a baby!!) and created an emotional debt from constantly being protected and rescued. He’s auto-cannibalizing himself with guilt the same way Vegeta auto-cannibalized himself with “pride.”

I bet the coffee dates are fun!