Somebody's Got Your Back
Piccolo had thought that he had seen and experienced everything, in his long life. Through the persistence and support of a man and his family, he is about to learn how wrong he was. Spinoff to A Thrilling Chase.
Yes, the sequel to A Thrilling Chase is still happening. I finally have a plot that I'm happy with, and I've already begun writing it. However, I've had this story planned for a while. I was doing this, regardless of whether or not there was going to be a sequel. The story makes a bit more sense, if you've read A Thrilling Chase and understand the context surrounding it, but I don't think it's mandatory. I'll try to make it palatable, for newbs. Thank you for your continued patience and support. Enjoy!
Piccolo sat with his legs crossed, floating above the ground. His arms were crossed and his eyes were closed, as he quietly meditated. Afterwards, he might do some training and try to teach himself some new move sets. He might go to find something to eat, if he got bored enough. When the sun went down, he would meditate once again until the monotony lulled him to sleep.
This was his routine, for the past year; and it was starting to get old.
He didn't understand why. Ever since he was trapped in the Dragon Ball, he would have given anything to be free, again. Being slave to the whims of countless terrible people for over a century wore him thin. He didn't care about revenge towards Kami or anything like that: he just wanted out of it. Things had been different, ever since he returned to Earth.
Now, he finally had his freedom.
The problem was that he didn't know what to do with it.
He didn't enjoy the revelry and activities that most others could get into. He didn't have the chance to gain any hobbies or interests, outside of the occasional spar. He didn't have any family or friends that he could attend too. He wasn't even normal looking, by most species' standards. He accepted years ago that he was destined to be a recluse. When he was enslaved, that was easier to digest. Now that he was free to do what he wanted, loneliness had started to creep in. He was stuck in limbo, and he had no clue as to what he was supposed to do about it.
Most days, he would sit on the corner of the lookout, meditating. Kami would try to speak with him, but he would always ignore him. The old man was still irritatingly compassionate, after all these years. It made him feel sick, to his stomach. He supposed he still had a bit of his father in him, after all these years.
That was how that afternoon began.
"Piccolo," Kami spoke. "You shouldn't have to sit there, sulking for the rest of your life. Perhaps you could go down with the others, and make a new life for yourself."
Piccolo rolled his eyes. Not this speech, again. He figured Kami, of all people, would know that most Earthlings weren't very accepting of people that were different from them.
"I do know that." Piccolo grimaced. He hated having him read his mind, like that. "But you should also know that there are those who would be willing to accept you, and give you that chance. Have you already forgotten about Bulma?"
Bulma didn't count. She was far too foolish and trusting, for her own good. She wasn't the norm. Besides, he hadn't seen or heard from her, since she left Namek with the Saiyans.
Kami sighed, knowing he was going to get nowhere with his other-half. "Piccolo, it's this kind of thinking that has gotten you stuck here, in the first place. I'm not going to force you to leave, but eventually, you'll get tired of sitting here, and take my advice. I guarantee that's going to happen, eventually." With that, Kami left him alone.
Piccolo grunted, in annoyance, and closed his eyes. He hated it when Kami tried to baby him. He wasn't even trying to understand his perspective. He shook his head. He was not going to let his words get to him. He breathed out, and blocked out all other thoughts, in meditation
His concentration was immediately broken, when he heard a loud whooshing sound from above. He heard a pair of feet hit the floor of the lookout, with a loud thud. Now, he was confused. The last he remembered, this place was closed-off from the outside world. Why were they having visitors?
His curiosity got the better of him, and he peaked over his shoulder. A tall man was standing at the edge of the lookout, with his hands on his hips. His hair was spiking in all different directions, and he was wearing a doofy-looking grin on his face.
Already, he was annoyed.
The man walked up to the flower patch, where Mr. Popo was watering the garden.
Mr. Popo looked up and smiled. "Ah, Goku. What a pleasant surprise."
"Hey, Mr. Popo! Say, do you know where Kami is? I wanted to ask him about the Dragon Balls."
Speak of the devil, Kami teleported out by him. He had a pleasant smile, on his face. "Oh. Good afternoon, Goku. How are you?"
"I'm doing great! Hey, do you know how long it's gonna take, until the Dragon Balls are ready, again?"
"Hold on, let me think…" Kami paused, for a moment, putting his finger on his chin. "How long ago was it, since we used them, last?"
Piccolo rolled his eyes. "You have another two months," he interjected. He immediately regretted speaking, when he had gained that idiot's attention.
Goku pointed at him. "Hey, who's that? I haven't met him, before."
Kami had an odd look on his face. It looked like he was planning something. Piccolo didn't like it. "This is Piccolo. He's my other half."
Goku looked amazed. "Whoa! That's awesome!"
"You should go over, and introduce yourself."
Piccolo was silently cursing his other half. He crossed his arms, and closed his eyes tightly, hoping to will him away.
Goku clobbered up behind him. "Hi! My name's Goku. It's nice to meet you!"
Maybe if he ignored him long enough, he'd get bored and leave.
"So, are you, like, Kami's brother, or something? He never mentioned you, when I met him as a kid. You sure look a lot like him. You don't look as old, though."
Piccolo grit his teeth. His chipper voice was grating, to his ears. He didn't think one person could be that damn excited over anything.
"Piccolo's kind of a funny name. Are you named after the instrument, or is it the other way around?"
That was it. "SHUT UP," he yelled.
Goku stepped back, at the outburst. "Hey, you can hear me! I was beginning to think you were deaf, or something."
Piccolo groaned. Ignoring him didn't work. Yelling at him didn't work. Maybe if he just indulged him in conversation a little bit, he'd be satisfied enough to leave him alone.
"So, how long have you been here?"
"A year."
"Neat! You living here, at the lookout?"
"No."
"You're not? Well, where are ya?"
"Wherever I'm at."
"You mean you don't even got a house?"
"I don't need one."
Goku's eyebrows furrowed. He put his finger on his chin, as he was thinking about something. Piccolo watched him out of the corner of his eye. He thought he was about to hurt himself, with all of that thinking.
His eyes widened, and a big grin formed on his face. "Hey, how about you come live with me!"
Well, he certainly wasn't expecting that. Piccolo nearly face-faulted. He had to be joking. No one invited a total stranger to stay at their house out of the blue, like that.
"Hey, quit it with that face! It'll be fun! We've got plenty of room, back at my house!"
He was actually serious. He was looking down at him with a big grin on his face, waiting for an answer. Of course, he was going to say no. He didn't need the extra help with anything.
"Goku, I think that's a splendid idea," Kami said, as he walked up behind him. Piccolo glared at him, as a silent warning to stay out of this. "It will be good, for the both of you."
"You think so? Awesome!" He started pulling on Piccolo's arm, trying to get him up. "C'mon! Let's get going!"
Piccolo snatched his arm back, and snarled, still glaring at Kami. He winked at him, before he went back over to Mr. Popo.
He looked back at Goku. He hoped on top of a yellow cloud, and sat down, with his legs crossed. He waved at him, enthusiastically. It was clear he wasn't going to leave, unless he went with him.
Piccolo groaned, and stood up, going over to Goku.
"Ya need a lift, there? You can hop on Nimbus, if you need one."
"Just fly, and I'll follow," he mumbled, under his breath.
"Okay! See ya, Kami! See ya, Mr. Popo! Let's go, Nimbus!" Goku took off on Nimbus, into the sky. Piccolo powered up, and followed him, keeping his arms crossed.