How Does Son Goku Fanfiction Reinterpret His Innocence In Mature Relationships?

I adore how Goku's innocence gets flipped in romance fics. It's not immaturity—it's a lack of pretense. One-shot where he mistakes dating for training had me grinning; his confusion felt true to character while showing how love could be his ultimate 'fight'. Writers who nail his voice make every relationship feel like discovering emotions for the first time, raw and exhilarating.

Goku's innocence is often his defining trait in 'Dragon Ball', but fanfiction loves to twist that into something more complex. I've read countless fics where his naivety isn't just played for laughs—it becomes a lens for exploring vulnerability in relationships. Some writers frame it as emotional honesty, stripping away societal expectations. He doesn't understand subtlety, so his love is direct, almost childlike in its purity. But that same lack of guile can create tension when paired with characters like Vegeta or Piccolo, who are more guarded. The best fics don't erase his innocence; they force it to grow. I remember one where Chi-Chi's frustration with his obliviousness slowly shifts into appreciation for his unfiltered heart. It's not about making him 'mature' in a conventional sense—it's about finding depth in how he loves differently.

Other reinterpretations go darker. I stumbled upon a fic where Goku's innocence is weaponized—his inability to grasp malice makes him blind to manipulation, leading to toxic dynamics. The author contrasted his physical strength with emotional fragility, creating this haunting gap between what he can punch and what he can process. There's also a trend in A/B/O fics where his innocence clashes with primal instincts, forcing him to confront desires he doesn't fully understand. What fascinates me is how these stories use his canon traits as a Foundation rather than discard them. Even in smut-heavy fics, his sincerity often becomes the emotional core, turning what could be shallow porn into something oddly tender.