Morning Sweetheart

This story is quite domestic, and almost simplistic. The plot will develop though, and as always, there will be complications and issues to be dealt with. Relationships are, after all, always problematic.

Warning: Gohan/Piccolo, homosexual themes

I do not own Dragonball Z or any of its characters or contents

Chapter One – You Never Listen

Piccolo folded his arms, his finger nails pressing into pink flesh. The pensive look in his dark eyes betrayed every hesitant thought which raced through his mind. The cape he was wearing almost reached the ground as he stood, making his appearance ominous and somewhat overwhelming. Yet despite his reputation, and talent for intimidation he felt anxiety gnaw at his confidence as he waited. He could see Gohan through the window, from his observer's position outside, and the conversation indoors was becoming rapidly over heated. The volume of the argument was penetrating Piccolo's skull, increasing his agitation.

Chi chi's voice was brimming with rage, and as he looked on, she was becoming violent. Gohan eventually ended the loud conversation and walked by his mother, heading towards the front door, his feet thudding on the floor. When he opened it, Piccolo looked down into the half-Saiyan's eyes, which were watering with upset. For a moment, he felt revulsion for the younger man as he allowed the emotion to overwhelm his thinking. It was not a trait that he admired in humans, and when Gohan succumbed to such displays of crying, it irritated him.

Gohan strode towards the Namek, who was stood with his temper waning, and he immediately raised his arms to embrace his tall friend. When he did, Piccolo recoiled, feeling that the affection was unnecessary and considering their location, idiotic. He roughly grabbed Gohan, his claws scathing his pale skin, and moved to fly away. When he did, Gohan refused to move, pulling Piccolo back. His voice was a little bruised from the argument with his mother, and Piccolo winced at its fragility.

"Why are you being like this?"

"Like what?"

"This! Like I'm pathetic!"

Piccolo didn't answer him, not certain that his response would be well received. He simply looked at the half-Saiyan and decided to wait for the young man to calm before he approached the topic. Gohan was shaking slightly from the confrontation inside the house and was now becoming angry at Piccolo's awkward idea of communication. He snatched his hand from the Namek's grip and hissed in his fury.

"You are driving me insane! You refuse to even try and make this work!"

Piccolo refused to comment; again, only furthering Gohan's frustration. He snarled at the smaller man, making a noise of disapproval and folded his arms. Gohan was still wearing his work's clothing, but his seemingly manicured appearance contrasted entirely with his head's unorganised ramblings. He was being irrational, and he knew it. If he continued, Piccolo wouldn't talk to him for days, as he so frequently chose silence as a suitable punishment for Gohan's predictable, angered outbursts.

He forced himself to quell his own erratic behaviour, and calmly looked into Piccolo's blank expression. This made him disappointed, as his ranting had not even affected his companion, 'he probably didn't even listen'. Gohan tentatively placed his hand into Piccolo's, the cream of his skin contrasting well with jade. He forced a slight smile, in an attempt at reconciliation. He received an impersonal nod as the Namek jumped into the air and waited for Gohan to join him. When he did, they both flew speedily away from the Son house.

--Some time later--

The forest was particularly serene, the soft red light of the sun's gaze filtering through the tall trees. Gohan was busy gathering wood in the gentle warmth of the setting star, his expression desperately anxious and guilty. He dropped the wood as he huffed, 'why am I guilty? It's not my fault he's so damn unwilling to understand!' He turned suddenly when he heard the snapping of branches.

Piccolo had walked towards Gohan slowly, aware that the smaller man was experiencing what he liked to call, an 'irrational human temper tantrum.' As he approached, he was careful not to make too much noise but Gohan's senses were keener than he had thought. He waited as he stood with his arms crossed, but only received a side glance from Gohan, with an extremely obvious look of impatience on the young man's face. Piccolo felt himself want to turn and walk away from his disappointed gaze, but couldn't allow himself such a luxury. He opened his mouth, meaning to speak, but it was agape for a while before he said anything, making his cheeks darken in embarrassment.

"Gohan…I…."

He looked down, but continued to talk, forcing the difficult words from his throat.

"I…apologise. I should not have spoken to your mother that way"

Gohan's expression faltered and a slight smile of disbelief graced his lips. 'I'm not angry over the way you spoke to my mother!' He looked at Piccolo, breathing out before speaking, so he could communicate more clearly.

"Piccolo, that's not why I'm angry, I'm upset because our relationship is…well…falling apart"

The Namek remained quiet, with a slight and barely noticeable look of hurt in his eyes, which for Piccolo, was a massive display of emotion. Gohan looked at his taller companion, before he glanced left and right in exasperation. Eventually, he raised his hands in gesture while he spoke.

"I just feel that you don't care for me and that you're distant"

Piccolo felt unable to handle Gohan's accusations, and wasn't really aware there was a problem. He understood that his partner needed more from their relationship than he was allowing, but he was struggling to grasp the idea of Gohan being discontented. Piccolo moved towards Gohan, and raised his right hand to the half-Saiyan's cheek, stroking the soft skin with his thumb. He hesitated when he spoke; the baritone voice rumbling its way passed his lips.

"I don't know what to say"

Piccolo blinked in surprise when Gohan smiled, and narrowed his eyes when the smaller man raised his hand and placed it on the Namek's cheek, returning the affection. He responded to Piccolo's reluctant and pensive comment with soft words, knowing that his partner wouldn't appreciate an argument.

"I know you don't Piccolo, but I know how we can fix this"

Piccolo creased his brow, not understanding the half-Saiyan. He had only just come to terms with the idea of problems in their relationship and was shocked at Gohan's sudden, certain solution. He looked at Gohan with curiosity, waiting to the other man to elaborate, becoming frustrated with the waiting. Gohan chose to continue, not wishing to purposefully fuel Piccolo's anger.

"First, we're going to live in a house"

His grin widened when he spoke, enjoying Piccolo's wide eyed reaction.

"And we'll work things out from there"

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