The boxes were stacked upon Krillin's shoulders as though he planned to start an empire upon his back, towering far above his head and rocketing seemingly into the sky above, their brown color interrupting the peaceful blue overhang. Despite this monolithic load, Krillin felt no burden; it would be uncharacteristic of him to feel any pressure at all, given his superhuman strength. To any other being, though, such weight would be wholly unbearable.
18 opened the door ahead of Krillin, and he agilely threw the boxes inside the small apartment. He walked inside, glancing around. It was a modest home, mainly because they couldn't afford much more than that. One could classify their migration as urbanization, as they were moving from the rural area of Kame Island to the city. However, they sought not wealth, nor a job, but instead simply to escape.
"There is no way that our little girl is growing up in the same house as that pervert Roshi!" 18 had adamantly argued time and time again, despite Krillin's wishes to stay on the pleasant island. After the long period of two and a half hours, Krillin had agreed, not wishing to get obliterated by the ironically hormonal 18. There was no question as to who wore the pants in the family, and 18 was fully aware of that.
"Y'know, baby, it's a good thing that Gero left your, uh, special place working," Krillin commented, realizing how awkward his joke was mid-way through the sentence.
"What?! What is that supposed to mean?" 18 furiously replied, her face showing clear signs of immense anger.
"Well, I just mean, it's not like he planned on you making a baby or anything…" Utter silence filled the air. "I mean, unless he thought that you would continue his android army with Android 17 or something…" Krillin stammered out, unable to form a coherent explanation.
"Honey, why would you even say that?" 18 asked, genuinely befuddled.
"I-I don't know, baby." They continued unpacking in complete silence.
On a later dreary night, Krillin found himself flying to Korin Tower, where he would be meeting Korin and Yajirobe. He ascended to the top of the tower, before touching down.
"What do you want?" Korin grumpily asked. "It's almost naptime for me, so if this isn't something important you best get running."
"Uh, I just want a few senzus, Master Korin," Krillin said, scratching his head. "You know, in case something happens to the baby. I've got one on the way, and safety first and everything, right?"
Korin audibly groaned, probably at Krillin's idiocy. "Gah, fine, just wait here and be quiet. I'll be back in a few minutes," Korin responded, angrily walking off with his cane and making a big huff and puff about it.
"How did ya get yourself a wife, baldie?" Yajirobe asked, in obvious disbelief.
"Oh, 18? Well, you could say that we were kinda made for each other, I guess," Krillin stated, giggling at his own little pun.
"18? Yeah, only a girl named a number would marry you!" Yajirobe chortled.
"Hey, she's an android! It wasn't her choice to be named that!"
"Whatever ya say, Krillin. You mentioned havin' a baby? Is it gonna grow up out on the islands, with Roshi and the whole gang?"
"Er, no, 18 wouldn't stand for it. We moved into the city to raise her. It seemed like the best choice for all of us."
Yajirobe, who was laughing nigh uncontrollably, responded with a hearty, "Ha! You? Living in a city? That's ridiculous," Yajirobe laughed obnoxiously, much to Krillin's discontent. "What? You actually like it there?"
"Well, it's fine, when I'm not in the office, I guess," Krillin humbly responded, turning his head down so as to not have to see Yajirobe's forthcoming cackling.
"You're in an office, you wuss? Don't you have any values at all?"
"It's the responsible thing to do. I mean, I have a family to support, rent to pay, all sorts of things which I need money to do," Krillin muttered, not being able to even state his own false sentiments. After a lengthy period of contemplation, he finally turned his head back up and admitted, "You're right, Yajirobe. I hate it. I hate it so much. I shouldn't be in an office. I don't know what I'm doing there. I'm simply trying to be something that I'm not, because it's who I'm supposed to be."
"Pfft, you're such a pushover," Yajirobe stated, before digging into his quarters to find something. After but a moment of searching, he came back to Krillin with the mask he wore at the 23rd Budokai. "Here, take this. You might as well have it. You're already living a lie," Yajirobe commented, before tossing the mask at Krillin. Krillin eyed it, examining every seam on the delicate piece of clothing. He turned it over in his hands, the rough strands rubbing coarsely against his hands.
The mask was mainly red, the mass of it being a ruby color. However, around the mouth and around the eyes, there was a blue outline, adding some diversity to the mask. There was a small streak of sapphire going through the middle of the mask, which pierced into the forehead. He flipped it about in his hands, before saying, "Thanks, Yajirobe. Thank you for this."
The two of them sat silently together until Korin returned with the Senzu Beans.
It was an average night. Krillin had already left work, his nice suit on and his tie wrapped tightly around his neck. He felt constrained, as though he was stuck within the teeth of an alligator, but he needed to do this for the good of his family. Work was a necessity, not an option. Granted, he was completely incompetent at his job, but once he got into the groove of things he was sure to be a splendid worker. He very well could've flown home and arrived at his house in minutes, but neither 18 nor him wanted to draw attention to themselves. He instead stepped into the contraption known as a car, slowly pressing down on the gas pedal and steering off.
The mask Yajirobe had given him sat in the seat beside him, seeming to glare at him, telling him how wrong he was to be doing all of this. But he drove ahead regardless, his headlights shining ahead, illuminating that which lay ahead. It was a late night for him, as was every night; he was a surprisingly diligent worker, staying most days until 8 or 9 pm. Such a value had been instilled into him by his training with Roshi, and it was perhaps the sole training that had carried over into his new life.
The city was dark, damp, and uninviting in the nighttime, until a point at which Krillin almost wanted to fly home as fast as he could just to get away from it. He nevertheless trudged onwards, hoping to eventually get home and forget about his hellish day. Seeing the pregnant 18 would make everything better… right?
Krillin was not a very fast driver, not at all. He was a nervous wreck on the road, mainly due to inexperience. He was going 40, yet even that was pushing it for him. He felt himself skid through puddles, each splash sending vibrations through his skin and disrupting his concentration. The careful eye would have seen him swerve, the intuitive mind would've thought him to be drunk. Of course, he was not intoxicated; he was simply completely out of his realm of comfort. He muttered encouragement to himself, now finding that he was barely moving at all.
His headlights shone forever forward. Their beams of light were so foreign to a simple Krillin that he scarcely saw the purpose in them. They irritated his eyes at night and were completely useless in the daytime. Why did they exist at all?
However, it was during this moment that he finally saw a purpose in them. They flashed their bright eyes upon a man, no, two men who had cornered a woman against a wall. One was scouring through her purse, while the other held a knife to her throat. Blood rushed down her chest, tears seeping down her face. She saw Krillin's car pass by, and stared the car down, wondering why not a single automobile stopped to help her.
It was at this moment, this very moment, that the real Krillin came back. He saw her sorrowful eyes, even connecting with her, and he felt his hand reach into the passenger seat. He picked up the mask, sliding it over his face. It was a bit big on him, of course, but he could still see out of it and breathe well enough. He parked his car, ever so gently, before hopping out and flying over to the two criminals. With a swift punch he took one out, and he grabbed the other one by his neck.
"Why are you hurting this woman, you sick man?" Krillin asked, staring him deep into his eyes.
"I-I don't know! I just wanted money. I just wanted money! Come on now, don't kill me man, don't do it- I don't want to die!" the criminal replied hysterically, his own misdeeds coming to him.
Krillin had no interest in killing him, nor did he ever plan on it. However, the criminal's pleading had made him realize something; they were people too. They were misguided, sure, but they were still people, with the same goals as the rest of us. He didn't want to kill them, even if it might benefit the world.
He tossed the criminal to the side, before facing the woman. "Do you have a phone, miss?" Krillin asked. She gulped out a yes, nodding her head in synchronization. "Okay. Call the police, then. Have them arrest these two. They belong in jail," Krillin instructed her, before striding back to the car, opening the door, and getting back in. He rode off on his steel horse as a cowboy, not an office worker.