He was such bratty kid with chubby little fingers that were smooth and un-callused. Even as Piccolo flew with him tucked under his arm he couldn't help but think that this whiney little crybaby was the son of his sworn enemy and long-term rival.
Gohan barely five, met the eyes of his mentor, "Who are you?"
"My name is Piccolo."
Even if he didn't want to admit it, Gohan effected Piccolo. His bratty baby-toothed smile after receiving his first sword made him snort at the obvious glee and then the obvious stupidity as the kid tested the sword's edge and subsequently cut himself.
But even with the stupidity it could not be denied that he was Goku's son.
He remembered that day, that first day of training, the day that most of Gohan's scars originated, when Gohan, almost six, sat on the dusty ground and looked up at him, his eyes full of reluctant worship and asked, "Piccolo, do you hate me?"
"I don't hate you," He'd said.
And then the round dirty face had broken into a smile. "I love you Mr. Piccolo."
Piccolo smirked. "Yeah, kid. I love you too."
--
"You still remember that?" Gohan buried his face into the covers. "I was a kid. I probably didn't even know what I was saying," Gohan paused and pulled a face, Piccolo snorted.
"Hn. Don't be stupid. You were five." Gohan smiled at the memory, his arms snaking around the Namek's waist. Gohan nibbled at the green skin of Piccollo's neck even as he blushed. The Namek smirked as he pinned Gohan under him , his clawed hands caging Gohan's smoother one. Once they had been callused, but now his life as a office manager had returned the fingers to baby smooth. Piccolo found himself reminded of the bratty kid he'd felt affection for all those years ago.
"I was cute though wasn't I?" Now, Piccolo mused, Gohan was all planes and angles, a beautiful body all women lusted for. Piccolo sat up. "You better get going before Videl goes looking for you." Gohan's cheeky smile faded. His eyes drifted out the penthouse window in the direction of his home where his wife slept alone. A pain stabbed through him. Returning meant days without seeing Piccolo let alone sharing a bed like this. Gohan closed his eyes, "Yeah." Piccolo rolled to face Gohan before wrapping his arms around him.
"Mr. Piccolo?" Gohan wasn't smiling."Hn?" "I love you." Piccolo smirked, a shadow of a smile passing over his features. "Yeah kid. I love you too."