Quick AN, this is clearly not the final chapter to the story or the conclusion to the collection, just a quick addition while I continue to work on the last chapter which will take place in the Buu Saga.
This takes place after the Super Android 13 movie and is the screenshot I chose to use as the photo for this story. Having seen the movie is not necessary, but it helps
Post Super Android 13
To any onlooker it was an impressive scene, two of the planet's strongest warriors resting together after a hard won battle.
For Piccolo and Vegeta, being forced to share space on a glacier floating in the middle of the ocean after having their ki thoroughly depleted by the Spirit Bomb, Goku had just dispatched Android 13 with, was uncomfortable to say the least.
Knowing their 'friends' had probably left the battlefield without giving them a second thought they were forced to wait together before flying their separate ways.
Though they were no longer bitter enemies neither of them considered the other a friend and both preferred their own company and space. The cramped quarters made them both uncomfortable and put them on edge.
'Well this is boring' thought Piccolo, normally he would have meditated to pass the time, but he was too exhausted to try to achieve the level of concentration that meditation would take. He was also distracted by a brooding spikey haired egomaniac in his immediate vicinity. He decided that if he couldn't meditate he would default to another activity he enjoyed, provoking Vegeta. Besides he had been wondering about something that seemed common in all their recent fights.
"You know," Piccolo began putting on an intentionally condescending tone, "I never understand why you don't just go Super Saiyan at the beginning of the fights, you guys waste so much time getting the crap beaten out of you before remembering you can achieve a massive power up. It's absurd" Piccolo said, trying to get a rise out of Vegeta.
Vegeta knew the Namek was baiting him, but he was not letting him get away with a statement like that. Besides arguing was better than sitting in the freezing cold in complete silence.
'Well" he began, equally condescending "I don't get why you only show up when Kakarot's brat is in danger, do you just sit around waiting for someone to hit the kid before making your entrance? By the way coming up through the ground that was stupid, what good did any of that do?" Vegeta got the desired result, he felt the Namek stiffen in irritation. Mentioning Gohan was a surefire way to get a response. Vegeta smirked to himself.
"They can't sense energy so I had the element of surprise, unlike some people who showed up to the fight by bursting through a fucking glacier."
"Shut the hell up Namek, like you can talk, you are the king of dramatic entrances you usually rush in, cape dramatically blowing in the wind, you enjoy swishing around in that thing way too much."
Vegeta mentally conjured up an image of the Namek practicing his entrances and laughed to himself.
"At least I'm the King of something, and I don't make prissy speeches on arrival about how I am ONLY HERE TO KILL KAKAROT, I at least admit I am there to watch out for Gohan."
Though they were still sitting back to back, Piccolo could feel the waves of anger coming off Vegeta. 'The truth hurts doesn't it Vegeta' Piccolo thought smiling to himself.
"Prissy speech? Watch your mouth Namek. I was only there to make sure that bucket of tin was not going to kill Kakarot, that is my job. Kakarot is mine. Mark my words I am only there to ensure I deliver the blow that ends that idiot's life not some robotic toy." Vegeta crossed his arms
'How dare he question my intentions' Vegeta inwardly fumed.
"You really need to watch how you phrase your death threats, that sentence can be taken all sorts of ways." Piccolo chuckled to himself, wondering if Vegeta even understood the context what he was saying could be taken as.
Vegeta glared over his shoulder at the Namek whose back was turned, and wondered if punching him would topple the glacier or break it in half. Deciding the potential swim was not worth it Vegeta seethed silently. For a time they sat in silence on the iceberg, trying to forget the other was there while they regained their ki.
Piccolo felt Vegeta's glare, 'Well at least he understands double entendre, he's not as dumb as I thought' Piccolo crossed his arms assuming their conversation was over, he wondered if he had pushed Vegeta a bit too far.
"You know what I never understood Namek…" Vegeta said softly. Piccolos ears twitched in response, surprised Vegeta had willingly chosen to continue their awkward, cramped conversation. "Why doesn't Kakarot just use the god dammed Sprit Bomb at the beginning of the fight. He always ends up doing it. It would save all of us a lot of time if he just started the fight with the thing. "
"You're right…..that would make everything so much easier," Piccolo responded. It was Vegeta's turn to be surprised the Namek rarely admitted he was right about anything. "Dr Wheelo, Turles, Lord Slug, Brolly, this guy. I mean, the attack would probably be way more effective if he asked for our energy before we got the shit kicked out of us. King Kai was an idiot to teach that attack to Son and not someone with an actual, functioning brain."
"Speak for yourself Namek, I was barley bruised by that idiotic Tin Man" Vegeta scoffed.
"Sure Vegeta, whatever you say," Piccolo let that comment slide, he knew Vegeta was as injured as he was, but unlike Piccolo, Vegeta would be in pain a lot longer, Saiyans did not heal as quickly or as effectively as Nameks.
"Anyway," Piccolo continued, "as much as I'd love to continue floating with you on a frozen chunk of ice I am about ready to fly the hell out of here. This conversation, is it over?"
"Not till the fish jumps" replied Vegeta, dead serious. Piccolo was just about to ask him what that even meant, when a large fish leapt out of the water next to them.
"It's over"
As Piccolo flew home, he wondered just how hard Vegeta had been hit in the head by Android 13.
A/N
As mentioned before this is not the last chapter. There are actually two more, the last long chapter which is the original conclusion to the story, and another shorter chapter that will follow.
I know I have been taking a while but it has been so long since I have seen the Buu Saga I have been trying to re-watch parts of it to better get a feel for it.
Thanks for reading!
