Adventure of the Lonely Hearts
Piccolo's life gets derailed when he meets a Namekian traveller. Yaoi/hermaphrodite.
Piccolo, Vegeta and Eighteen friendship. The rest of the Z senshi will also feature heavily, particularly the lovely Dende & Nail!
Piccolo/Namekian OC - Namekians are hermaphrodites in this story
Disclaimer: I don't own Dragonball Z or any of its characters
Warning: Yaoi/hermaphrodite, violence & Swearing
Chapter One
A Namekian Traveller
He put down the book for the third time, long jade fingers closing it finally. The other hand went to his face and he rubbed small circles into his left temple. Sitting, secluded in one corner of the grand Lookout library, Piccolo sighed again. The sweet smell of old tomes and the elegant carving of the stone that held them did nothing to qualm his unsteady mind. Taking the time to sit and read used to be a rare indulgence, but he found himself in here more and more since…
He stood, the wooden seat moaned slightly as it always did and he briefly considered bringing a cushion next time. He scowled immediately at the thought, how alarmingly human. He left the old book sitting on the small, low stone table, centuries of dust still layering the cover where Piccolo had not thought to wipe it clean. The floors and fixtured were spotless, an image captured in time. Mr Popo took careful care of the old library and often marvelled at the treasures within, as he swept and wiped away the degradation. Piccolo stretched out tired muscles from his training yesterday with Vegeta, who had declared that the Namek had 'cheated' the Prince out of his victory by using his height to his advantage. The memory of kicking the small, powerful man made him smirk. He would see the arrogant Prince again soon and he was looking forward to the challenge. He also liked to see Goten, who would likely be at Capsule Corp playing and getting up to no good with his partner in crime, Trunks.
The air was unusually cool as he walked towards the right wing, and he wondered if Mr Popo had cast some spell to keep it that way so the books would be preserved. A large, beautifully crafted fireplace sat in the centre of the hall, with two staircases flanking either side, and he supposed the fire would have been used once upon a time. He hummed slightly under his breath, it must have been five hundred years or more since it roared, warming avid readers and scholars. Piccolo was considering using it now, and he knew then that he was being ridiculously weak. He had already traded in his customary gi for a thicker material, an unbuttoned indigo shirt, not unlike what he'd seen humans wear, but with a Namekian touch. A thinner white vest was underneath, and trousers that were again indigo and they sat a lot closer to his body than he was used to. He was barefoot and enjoying the cool floor against his skin, black talons sometimes tapping against the stone. The clothes had actually been a gift from Dende who, had either grown bored of seeing Piccolo in the same gi day in, day out, or had thought that he would appreciate the human and Namekian combination. It had been his hatch day, apparently. Piccolo wore them mostly to please the little Kami, who he had become so fond of, and because of Nail's unrelenting influence. It was incredibly insulting to a Namekian to not appreciate a gift, he had been abruptly informed. Thinking about Dende made him frown. That's what had been bothering him, and for no good reason.
Dende had a friend visiting. A friend that he had made on his last visit to New Namek, and not six months later here he was. A Namekian traveller, who had not been born on Namek, which Piccolo knew from experience was unusual and had garnered a lot of attention. Dende had explained that the visitor had been regaling young children with tales of his adventures, and exchanging knowledge with the elders, when he had arrived. A warrior Namek who had chosen a life of delivering aid to those in need. Piccolo scoffed. My hero, where was he when Frieza was enslaving his people?
Your people. Nail's comment sounded in his mind from somewhere deep within.
Mokugyo. There was just something about him that made Piccolo pause, something he didn't trust. It could be the way Dende had befriended him so easily, he was always so ready to believe in people. Luckily, Piccolo didn't suffer from this inherently stupid weakness. He was mulling over how to fix this dangerous quality in the little Kami when his reverie was rudely interrupted and he nearly stumbled in his strain to not show a reaction. Mokugyo's voice echoed in the hall.
"Journey to the West" He had picked up the book Piccolo had left on the table and was now inspecting it "I didn't take you for a reader."
Piccolo narrowed his eyes as he turned around, the fireplace to the right and standing between them. Whether or not I read won't matter much when I mash your face into the floor.
"I'm full of surprises"
Mokugyo smiled, fangs sharp and white against his jade skin. It was darker than Piccolo's by a couple of shades, and it made his whiteness of his teeth even more striking.
"Aren't you just! What's it about?"
Piccolo crossed his arms, the shirt pulling taught. He was regretting wearing it.
"Why don't you read it and find out"
Mokugyo chuckled and placed the book down carefully. He was wearing dark blue trousers, pockets everywhere, a white top which had a deep V and capped sleeves, and a blue scarf. That relentless Namekian custom of covering the neck was now suddenly making Piccolo feel self conscious. It was some consolation to him that they looked as ridiculous as each other, though Piccolo did absently put a hand to his throat before dropping it. It was something about Nameks.
"I'll wait until you're done. Dende told me you were in here...I didn't realise this place had such a library, it's magnificent"
He grunted under his breath and his visitor walked over towards him, to Piccolo's chagrin he was clearly intent on continuing their conversation.
Mokugyo glanced at the fireplace on his way, momentarily marvelling at the fine details, before coming to a stop in front of the surly Namekian. He had hands in his pockets, and even in such a non threatening pose, Piccolo was silently fuming that this other Namek seemed to be built as strong and they were pretty much the same height. Where Piccolo had longer legs however, Mokugyo appeared to be stockier. Piccolo had no idea why but it bothered him to no end and before he could check himself, he had spoken.
"Do you train?"
Mokugyo paused at the sudden question before replying, his voice didn't have the same gravelly tones that Piccolo's did.
"I do, but if you mean to fight, I don't do that. I just like to keep in shape"
Piccolo frowned as he tried to understand. You mean the gym? You mean like...Yamucha?
"So you can't fight"
It was such a flat statement that Mokugyo faltered, and something flashed in his dark blue eyes.
"Is that going to be a problem?"
"No" Piccolo's features didn't move as he replied.
Mokugyo had been on the Lookout for a week and had thoroughly enjoyed his time with Dende, but Piccolo had baffled him. The other Namek seemed unsociable, withdrawn and downright quietly angry all the time. All the Namekians he'd met had been jovial and kind.
"Well, that's good then" he paused, remembering why he had come looking for the difficult young man, " I came to ask you if you would take me to meet the people that Dende has been talking about. The Z warriors"
Piccolo's frown only deepened. "Why?"
"They're the heroes of this world! Besides, Dende insisted"
Mokugyo motioned with his hands as if Dende was an unstoppable force that cannot be disobeyed. Piccolo was still mildly suspicious but sighed in defeat and uncrossed his arms.
"Fine, tomorrow. It would be too late for them right now"
"Great. Well, why don't we have something to eat. You must be hungry"
Piccolo raised a brow. Does he mean food?
He turned, expecting Piccolo to follow, which he did, eventually. If only because he wanted to verify with Dende that visiting the Z senshi tomorrow really had been his suggestion. The halls of the lookout were quiet, and it was a five minute walk back from the library to the main palace. Piccolo watched Mokugyo like a hawk and he must have felt it because he stopped suddenly, turning around. Piccolo nearly walked into him and bristled at the closeness. He watched as his unwanted companion moved so that they could walk side by side. Oh great, so we can walk and talk.
"Dende tells me you're only about 70 years old"
Piccolo was immediately confused before realising that he was counting Namekian years.
"What? Oh, right. I suppose that's about right"
"That's pretty young for a Namek to be away from his people"
Mokugyo was walking too closely for Piccolo's comfort, but the walls of the corridor wouldn't allow for much adjustment.
"I was born here"
He was surprised that Dende hadn't mentioned that, since he'd apparently told the stranger every other tiny detail about him and the others.
"Oh. I guess we have more in common than we thought"
No, we don't. Piccolo didn't reply, so the other Namekian continued.
"I'm closer to 150, twice your age at least"
He looked no older, and Piccolo figured it was just the way Namekians were. They had thankfully arrived before he had to talk further and annoyingly, Mokugyo opened the door for him. Dende's happy young face greeted them both as he gestured towards the table.
"Moku! Mr Popo has kindly prepared some Earth dishes you might like, and a couple you don't mind too, Piccolo"
He felt tricked. This had clearly been planned, this other Namekian had known he would come. I could quite have easily not come.
"Will you not join us Dende?"
"I will for a cup of tea, but then I really do have to get back to my duties"
Piccolo sat down uneasily and accepted a cup of hot tea from Mr Popo. He did feel a little hungry at least, which was unusual. He figured it was because he wasn't meditating as much as he would normally, he was too unsettled. Or interrupted, by the wittering of Dende and his beloved new Namekian penpal.
"Piccolo, I was telling Moku that he should go and visit our friends, maybe at that party Bulma is holding"
"Party?"
"Yeah! Gohan dropped by an invitation earlier on, i'm surprised you didn't sense him. He didn't have time to stop, apparently Pan is quite the handful" Dende laughed, his lovely round features melting Piccolo's frosty demeanor. That's probably Nail's fault.
"I must have been meditating." That was a lie, he had been almost definitely brooding. Dende faced Mokugyo then, speaking in excited, youthful tones.
"Well, they've helped save this planet several times, and our own people when Namek was destroyed. I thought it would be nice for you to meet some people who are like minded." Dende's smile was convincing, but it did fall a little at the mention of his home planet's end. He also made some gesture with his hand that Piccolo had seen the other Namek's do when mentioning it. Some sign of respect, he assumed.
Mokugyo smiled, whilst scooping some rice into a bowl and taking a spoonful of seasoned fish as well. He hadn't tasted sea creatures before and was fascinated.
"I would really appreciate that, when is the party?"
"Day after tomorrow"
With that, Dende finished his tea and bid them farewell for the night. It was probably around eight o'clock. Piccolo helped himself to a dish of rice with mildly spiced vegetables, his favourite, though he would never openly admit it. How Dende had discovered it he didn't know.
"Such a sweet kid, you must be really proud of him"
"Of course, he has more than proved himself to be worthy of his position"
Mokugyo was sat opposite, and in the light of the small dining room, Piccolo could see that his features were quite unusual for a Namekian. Blue eyes, wide jaw and a stronger nose than Piccolo's own upturned one. If it weren't for the pink body armour in all the right places he'd question whether or not he was really a Namek. His eyes trailed down the V in his shirt, as if to double check. He frowned when he glanced up and realised Mokugyo was watching him, hand poised with a fork full of food.
Piccolo immediately went purple and he swore internally when he felt the blush creeping up his ears. He cleared his throat and took a sip of his tea, keeping his eyes averted. Mokugyo laughed and swallowed his mouthful.
"It's okay. I know I look a bit different to other Namekians"
Piccolo placed the delicately designed china cup down and continued eating, taking small mouthfuls as the other man continued.
"I was born on a hot planet, even hotter than Namek. It's mostly black sand and volcanoes.
My father and his father were also born there, so maybe that's why"
"It's not...you look fine" Piccolo felt guilty for making the other man feel awkward. He knew better than most what it was like to feel like you're different, an alien, and have people judge you for it. In fact, he still felt it.
"Well, thanks. You look fine yourself" he grinned, features pulling in a pleasant way. It encouraged some unwanted flutter in Piccolo's stomach and the younger Namek felt the blush return, if it had even left. He wasn't comfortable, everything the other man said seemed to bother him and he couldn't get rid of that feeling. He also couldn't work out why he didn't just leave.
Moku spared a quick look at his dinner companion, who was slowly eating his rice and vegetables, and smiled whilst continuing to eat his own. He had easily embarrassed the younger man and although he felt a little bad, a part of him liked it. Up until now, the surly Namekian had closed him down in every conversation, ever day since he had arrived. Even though he had said very little so far, it was still leaps and bounds from that morning. He'd taken a liking to Piccolo from the moment he'd arrived. Dende idolised him, a great hero and wonderful person. That hadn't quite been so evident but he did sense a great deal of dignity, strength and intelligence. He did find something else interesting too, he found the other Namekian attractive, which surprised him, since no one on Namek had even crossed his mind in that way. He'd had partners before but had wondered if he just wasn't inclined towards his own kind like that.
Now, sitting here, watching this dark eyed surly young man blush, he felt very inclined. He had a suspicion that Piccolo would either run a thousand miles, or beat him to death, for even thinking about it. He frowned internally then. Either way, it doesn't matter. That's not why i'm here. His thoughts were interrupted when Piccolo asked a question of his own, raising those big dark eyes in his direction.
"Did you visit Namek before it was destroyed?"
Mokugyo was consistently caught off guard by the bluntness.
"Oh...no, my first time meeting Namekians was actually my recent visit to New Namek"
Piccolo nodded and pushed the bowl away, finished with his meal. Mr Popo had kindly replenished his herbal tea and he appreciated the gentle scents brushing his senses. The other Namek continued talking once he realised Piccolo was not going to be forthcoming.
"I had heard rumours that Namek was no more, on my travels through space. I mostly tried to aim for the right region of this galaxy but I was sidetracked a number of times. I left Magna probably...100 years ago"
"100 Namekian years?"
"Yes, how long is an earth year?"
"Almost three times that of a Namekian year"
Piccolo wondered if his father was alive, or if he had a family of his own, but he didn't ask. The past could be painful, and he didn't want the question returned, so that he'd have to explain that he's the devil spawn of a demon who tried to enslave the human race. It sounded complicated.
"Eventually I found New Namek" he smiled, now finished with his own meal, and took a sip of some human drink that Piccolo suspected was alcoholic. He had tastes and an appetite that he found absurd for a being that subsists almost entirely on water. "I'm pleased I did, they're are some lovely people there, and the history!"
Piccolo had no idea what was so interesting about Namekian history, unless there was some great agricultural war he didn't know about. Then again, he didn't really know anything about Namek. He eyed the other man, who was now leaning back in his chair with hands behind his head, he had a way about him that was so reminiscent of Nail.
"Why didn't you stay there?"
He chuckled at that, wide teeth and sharp canines showing.
"It's not...really for me. I've been on my own for such a long time. Besides, they're farmers, teachers or healers and that's the whole backbone of their society"
"Sounds like you'd fit right in. Help the helpless, maybe?" Piccolo raised an eyebrow and smirked.
Mokugyo laughed out loud then. Was that a joke?
"Actually, I don't want to mislead you. I was in space for a long time, but I wasn't always a good person."
Now this got Piccolo's attention. He felt a certain satisfaction that he had been right about his suspicions, but he also couldn't help but be intrigued.
"Oh?"
"I...was more inclined towards crime at first. I did a lot of things i'm not proud of."
And here I was thinking you were some kind of Namekian angel sent by Porunga himself.
Piccolo's tone spoke volumes as he replied, and it didn't go unnoticed.
"We all have a past."
Moku smiled and stood. Piccolo followed suit and they both walked down the hall to their personal quarters. He felt like a lot of meditation was in order and he grunted at the older Namek before going into his own room. Moku went into the one opposite. Piccolo hadn't realised, since he rarely used the room Dende had given him, that they were staying so close together. He was torn between hating the very thought of it and thinking it was a good strategic move on Dende's part, you know in case he tried to kill them all. He rolled his eyes. Dende's motivation wasn't defence, it was going to be something asinine like togetherness and friendship. Hell, why don't we all stay in the same room and make our own little colony.
He was scowling as he crossed his legs to meditate.
Vegeta and Eighteen landed on the lookout at dawn, looking like they'd been up looking for a fight for hours. Eighteen raised a refined eyebrow as she took in the silence. Normally, Piccolo would have sensed them and already be waiting by the time they arrived. Vegeta stalked forward, streamlining his way into the palace wearing his Saiyan armour. She followed languidly behind, half intrigued and half amused. He immediately started shouting as he neared Piccolo's energy signal and Eighteen burst into laughter.
"Piccolo! Piccolo! Get up! You call this being prepared!"
She did think it was kind of ironic, the Namek usually bleated on about being prepared for battle at all times so much that she had caught herself saying it. She idly brushed at her blue jeans, which she had coupled with a white shirt and black vest, her signature look. Eventually, they reached his door and instead of seeing Piccolo, stood in the hallway was another Namekian, one they hadn't met. Vegeta was instantly on guard, fists clenched in front of him as he demanded an answer.
"Who are you!? And what have you done with Piccolo?!"
He narrowed his dark eyes and equally dark, thick brows creased in suspicious and anger. Eighteen felt it too, though less comically. There was a time that neither of them would give two hoots if some Namekian had decided to eat Piccolo alive, and the feeling had been mutual. But that was then, and now they had a friendship that none of them had planned or even encouraged, in fact Krillin had openly dis-encouraged it. He had even nicknamed the three of them 'the Devil's trio'. If you messed with one, you got three. And she tensed up in preparation to slaughter this Namekian asshole.
Dende thankfully turned up behind Moku, waving his hands in mock surrender.
"No, wait, it's okay!"
Mokugyo simply stood there with a serious expression, hand seemingly clasped against some weapon on his belt. Piccolo then slammed his door open, face conveying a thousand thunders.
"What the hell is going on?!"
Vegeta paused then and seeming to understand that they weren't under attack, lowered his fists. He turned to Dende in fury.
"What are you doing up here? Growing Nameks!"
Piccolo looked like hell and he heaved out a sigh. How he hadn't heard this God awful noise he didn't know. He had tried to meditate but struggled to clear his head, he realised now that he must have fallen asleep. Come to think of it, he hadn't meditated successfully in a week and he had one impressive headache to prove it.
"This is Mokugyo, he's Dende's...friend. From space." Piccolo's ability to articulate was below par.
"Call me Moku." He stuck out his hand, as he had learned is the human custom, and received a scowl instead. Or don't. He withdrew it and stuck his hand in his pocket, his other hand only now releasing its hold on his weapon. He had come out of his room thinking they'd been under attack, or that Piccolo was in trouble. He should feel relieved, but he didn't because this was a Saiyan. That much he already knew. Are there more? Do they rule this planet?
Eighteen huffed and shoved the small man out of her way, though it took some effort. He's like a goddamn boulder.
"Forgive his rudeness, he just can't help it. I'm Eighteen, this is Vegeta. Welcome to Earth"
She didn't attempt to shake his hand and simply placed her hands on her hips as if she had solved everything. With a flick of her hair she gestured to both the taller Nameks, cool blue eyes betraying mirth.
"Shall we go then?"
Piccolo nodded, after all this a fight was exactly what he needed. He went inside his room to change out of his clothes, smirking as he thought of Dende pitching a fit if he ruined this outfit. Outside his door, Vegeta and Eighteen had already left. Moku waited for Piccolo, seeming to not trust the other two. Piccolo smirked, at least he's not stupid. They joined the other two at the Lookout entrance. Vegeta had decided that they could train there, much to Dende's exasperation.
"I'll take the new sapling"
Eighteen smirked, fighting Piccolo was always a pleasure.
Please R&R!