Okay, this chapter explains a bit more. There will be some Gohan/Piccolo in later chapters, as well as Piccolo/OC. So you are warned. This update is a little late, but is a little longer :) so it's ok!
I do not own Dragonball Z or any of its characters or contents. Read On!
Chapter Four - Heartache
Piccolo had slept through the night soundly whilst the occupants in the living room mulled over their plan. Vegeta proposed that they should kill Piccolo, while Bulma suggested restraining him for study. Each knew their idea was preposterous but considering the events of the past few days, no matter how far fetched their plans were becoming, they weren't ridiculous. Gohan had sat next to Piccolo for hours before joining his parents in their seated misery and silent argument. He sighed, tired of the melancholy and unending heartache. Thumbing the wooden table he cringed, he still had to tell Pan. Worse, he had forgotten about Videl for hours and felt strangely comforted by his ignorance. He could feel himself numb to the thought of her, and warm to the thought of someone else. He was scraping his nail across the wood when Piccolo walked in.
The entire room seemed to hold its breath when Piccolo appeared, dressed in dark jeans and a shirt. The vulnerability in his face betrayed his straightened form and when he walked towards Gohan he hesitated, noticing the nervous looks and fidgeting which suddenly occurred. His feet padded softly on the carpet, slightly clawed and awkward. Arriving at the table, he glanced towards Goku and Chi-chi. Their disapproval was obvious, etched deeply in their expressions. Especially hers, Chi-chi now looked at Piccolo like the man he was. The creature that kidnapped her son and tried to kill her husband, the man who was falling apart from the start. He blinked away his musings, feeling revulsion for his self pity.
Sitting beside the young half-saiyan he looked at Goku more intently, receiving only a nod in return. He felt guilt surge through him as well as disgust at himself, even though he knew it was beyond his control. After staring at the ceiling from the bed he lay in for the past few hours, he had come to a decision. The ceiling's tiled pattern had tormented him, its repetitive nature reminding him. History repeats itself, and he knew only too well that he could become the hateful man his father had expected. He couldn't hurt Gohan, or any of his friends, and he knew that he would continue to hate them. The loneliness he once felt was bubbling into a self contained hatred and as he spent hours meditating, he had realised long ago that he would never overcome his darker side. His lust for violence was growing and burning within him, and as he sat beside his student, the guilt he felt made him close his eyes.
Piccolo opened his mouth to speak but barely a breath left his lips. He couldn't force the words from his throat, his mind refusing to authorise the sentence. Gohan could see that Piccolo's eyes were confused, even if the change was slight, and he wondered what his mentor was going through. The virus, according to Bulma, was now overwhelming Piccolo's body at an alarming rate. She explained that soon his friend would lose the one thing he had, the outstanding characteristic of Piccolo, his exceptional ability to think. Gohan swallowed and without thinking or even realising, his hand moved to Piccolo's cooler one. The shock of it made him flinch slightly, the strong yet soft touch of the other man being an unfamiliar feeling, but his subtle reaction didn't compare to the Namek's. Piccolo bolted upright, his back straightening so quickly that Gohan had only retrieved his to the safety of his chest. Piccolo spun towards the seated half-saiyan with a heartless rage swimming in his eyes, making Gohan gasp. His fangs glinted in the light as he bared his teeth and Gohan moved to stand up, intending to calm his friend. Piccolo saw the action and instinctively swung his right arm around but instead of the punch Gohan expected; Piccolo sliced his nails across the half-Saiyan's cheek.
Gohan did not see what had happened next, only heard it. Goku had yelled and he could hear the familiar smack of fists on flesh, only he couldn't distinguish who was attacking who. More shouts had echoed in his ears before he turned his head towards the scene. Piccolo lay on the ground, pinned and bloodied. Goku was straddling the Namek, pummelling his fists into the incapacitated man's chest. Purple streamed onto the carpet, dyeing the beige carpet a more vivid colour. Piccolo's eyes glazed over as Goku continued his onslaught and his hands loosened their grip around the Saiyan's arms.
Gohan immediately jumped, leaping to his friend's aid. As he moved, his motion seemed unnaturally slow as his arms reached forward and his fingers spread. Whilst Gohan forced himself ahead, he watched as Goku was ripped from Piccolo, flying backwards with a startled expression. As his father fell back, his eyes opened wide when he saw the creature that was now standing over his mentor. Gohan was still moving through the air when the intruder turned its head towards him, and unable to retreat, Gohan clenched his fist. Smooth alabaster skin complemented the creature's invasive silver orbs, and Gohan felt its glare bruise his bravery.
It stood, abruptly. Its left hand shot outward, hitting Gohan in the face and knocking him to the ground, effectively mocking his desperate leap. It towered over Piccolo, who lay paralysed with pain and confusion, and its power was evident in its attack. It observed the room, calmly and with a grace which angered Gohan. Its silver eyes gradually faded into a mahogany which surprised its apprehensive audience. Lifting its long legs over the Namek it looked around before walking towards the table where Chi-chi sat, still with fear. He sat down opposite her, shifting to sit more comfortably, and spoke. His deep voice shattered her determined silence.
"Tell me, how long did you think you were going to hide?"
"Get away from me!"
Her shrill voice made the man cringe, his heightened senses not appreciating her vocal response. Piccolo slowly clambered up, his wounds making discreet movement impossible, therefore drawing the attention of the newcomer. His left hand grasped his chest, but despite the pain he bared his teeth in protest to the taller man's intrusion. Piccolo stood facing his attacker, trying to divert its attention away from Gohan's mother. As it rose from the chair its appearance became obvious, strikingly different from any of them. Its dark hair seemed endlessly deep, and it blended well with the creature's dark clothing. Its long black coat flared out slightly, flaunting silver metal and a contrasting red shirt beneath the black layers. Gohan startled everyone in the room when he spoke, sure of himself.
"Are you their leader?"
He turned towards the young man and his eyes widened in amusement as he answered.
"Yes, I am"
Piccolo decided to intervene, walking towards him.
"What do you want?"
The man's boots were heavy, but did not land when he walked. The shifting of the fabric he wore was the only sound that betrayed his nearly silent steps. Broad shoulders filled the black bulky coat, and as he advanced on the Namek, his size became evermore apparent. Breathing in and clenching his jaw, Piccolo held himself still when the other man moved closer to him, and while he raised his hand closer to his tensed face. He smoothed his long fingers along jade skin as he moved his face towards Piccolo, almost touching his nose to the other man's. He whispered, so the other people in the room couldn't hear his words.
"I can hear your blood thud through your veins. Something tells me you're more frightened than they are"
Piccolo swallowed, feeling caught in the indulgence of an emotion he doesn't allow. He was losing control, allowing his body to succumb to fear and insecurity, letting his attacker in. The hatred he felt, for himself and those around him, was contradicting the concern that filled him. Closing his fingers around his wounded chest, he collapsed. Crashing to the ground, he fell wanton for unawareness.
A hard surface chafed at his back, rousing him from sleep. Without opening his eyes, Piccolo realised he could hear unusually well. The patter of rain, even through the thick walls, resounded around him. It was a pleasant, drowsy sound and it made him think of the sound damp grass makes when stepped on. At his waterfall, the sound of water is rushed and heavy, a complete contradiction of the soft tapping he heard on the building. His eyes shot open when he thought of Capsule Corp, the creature was inside their safe-hold and threatening their lives.
Leaning up, he recoiled as his head drummed in protest. Turning his head to the side he was pleased to see Gohan, seated beside him, with Pan cuddled in his arms. The young man's eyes were clouded with exhaustion, and his face looked older and worn. Piccolo quickly came to his senses, he scratched the surface beneath him and it splintered. He was on the table, and Gohan was on his right, the rest of the group were behind him, on the sofa, chairs and floor. He was perplexed to find the entirety of the group were on the right side of the room until he felt a warm hand on his left arm. Bolting upright he grabbed the creature's wrist, squeezing the cloth there. The other man was stood, his right arm in Piccolo's grasp, his left holding a needle which was poised above Piccolo's forearm. Seeing the confusion in Piccolo's face, the man spoke, this time more sincerely and gentler than before.
"Do not be alarmed, this will not hurt"
Continuing, he pierced the Namek's skin precisely and injected the contents of the needle. He wiped Piccolo's arm and flashed his teeth in a menacing smile when he noticed Trunks staring up at him from across the room. Gohan's daughter noticed the sharp teeth which grinned at her friend. Pan's childish words penetrated Piccolo's almost unaware state.
"Are you a Vampire?"
The man looked towards the little girl, perhaps intending to look comforting or nice but only appearing eerie. His cold words echoed in the silence.
"I suppose you could call me that"
"Is uncle Piccolo a Vampire too?"
With that, Piccolo's ears twitched, and denial marred his features. He would not be labelled a bloodthirsty monster, a creature which thrives in the heartache of others. Despite the phrases of protest that raged in his head, however, he was perfectly aware of his long-buried thirst for destruction.
"Let's see shall we?"
Gohan's brows furrowed at the creature's words. Refusing to let go of Pan, he did not see an opportunity to interfere and simply watched as the man grabbed his father from the floor. He dragged the Saiyan towards the sink at the far side of the room, and laid the injured man on the floor, ignoring his weakened struggles. Unfortunately for Goku, the taller man was much stronger and more than quick, thus able to withhold the man. Taking the writhing wrist, he allowed the long silver implements slide from his hand, looking surreal and unnatural, and sliced Goku's skin. The rest of the Z-Senshi looked on horrified, yet unable to act, fearing for both their lives and Goku's.
The reaction he had expected from Piccolo was immediate. The Namek was already sat with his legs over the edge of the table, anxiously clenching his fingers around the wood. He felt his nails dig into the table, and the sting went unnoticed. Blood sneaked down his hand in slim rivets, dripping quietly onto the floor. Without being able to stop it, he felt his fangs extend somewhat inside his mouth and his vision wash with a shaded hue. As his eyes adopted a silver sheen, Piccolo saw himself in the reflection of a mirror which was hung on the opposite wall. His mind swarmed with memories of Gohan and Goku, warm with their pleasant nature, taunting him of better times. Finding Gohan when he was young, bewildered and unaware of his own power, Piccolo had hated the child. It had only taken a short time for Piccolo to grow an attachment to the young man, and that bond had lasted longer than the hatred had. Looking into his reflection, black and white in his vision, he saw their friendship slip away. He felt unable to hold onto it, like it was being ripped from his heart. The love he once thrived on seemed to diminish. Cold and unmoved, Piccolo smirked when he spoke.
"Looks like you can see Vampires in the mirror after all"
Please Read and Review! Update soon! Thanks.
