Journey In the Time Chamber
An AU look at the ups and downs of a relationship between Piccolo and my OC during their year in the Time Chamber during the Cell storyline, with moments before and beyond. Rated M for later material. I do not own Dragon Ball or it's characters in anyway.
Reviews, comments, and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated!
OC bio: Tessa Shalong
age: 29 height: 5'11" skin tone: fair; light build: average
hair: brown, mid back eyes: blue usual attire: jeans, tank tops, sneakers
general note: Tessa's presence within the z-fighter circle will exist from pre-Saiyans to DBS storylines.
Piccolo's frown deepened as the door to the time chamber closed behind them; this was not what he intended. Trunks had accompanied Vegeta, Goku had taken Gohan, and he had every intention of going in alone. 'Damn it Guko, you never can leave well enough alone.'
He heard Tessa sigh and move across the platform to the two empty beds; she placed her bag down and sat upon the furthest one from him. He didn't have to face her to know their feelings toward sharing this time were the same. There were more than enough days before Cell's tournament, and he knew she hadn't agreed to be shackled to him freely; that was Goku's doing. They hadn't seen or spoken to each other since yesterday when she departed the Lookout; still reeling from their argument.
25 hours before…
He'd been sitting cross legged on the bed when she emerged from the bath, dawned in just a thigh length towel. Though she raised a brow in question at his presence, he didn't make her uncomfortable; they'd been living together at Goku's for far to long for that.
She stopped just short of him where her clothes were laid out on a chair. "You must be getting quite the earful right now." He caught the look of distaste that pasted over her face; the cloths were still wet.
A smirk played over his lips. Tessa was one of few that knew even though Kami and Nail's bodies were gone, a mental connection remained. "They'll get over it, eventually." Standing, he presented her with the gi and Namekian flats that had been sitting at this far side. "I owe you a debt for pulling me from the water, and a thank you."
"You're welcome." Accepting the clean and dry garments, Tessa smiled and stepped back into the bath, leaving the door ajar so they could talk. "So, what's the plan now?"
Piccolo turned his back to the door and crossed his arms. "Goku and Gohan will take their turn in the time chamber, and I'll go after them. Depending on how long we can hold off Cell, it might just be enough."
Tessa rejoined him, stepping around to grab the brush PoPo had left on the bedside table and began brushing her hair. The gi he'd generated was a reversal of his own with slightly lighter coloring; a decision he was regretting. The others would no doubt question their matching attire. "Do you really expect Vegeta to wait?"
"No, he'll be his usual rash, impatient self but with Trunks around he might just live to the see the end." They're eyes met. "But that's not the only thing that concerns me."
'Of course.' Breaking eye contact with a nod, she sat the brush down. "You've spoken to Tien."
His muscles flinched as her voice took on that deeper tone; she would not make this easy. "He told me of Cell's interest in you." The statement was tiptoeing on the seriousness of the issue. With Tien and his own cells fueling him, Cell's attraction to Tessa was undeniable. Tien had told him after Tessa had left to bathe of Cell's threat of keeping Tessa alive as his prize and plaything at least for a while. They both knew that but the threat of Cell's word regarding her was too gruesome to voice. "You should leave the fight to us."
She turned now; eyes tight with confusion and a little anger. "And do what, hide in the mountains while I pray one of you manage to defeat him?"
Piccolo shrugged. "At least you wouldn't be waiting on his doorstep should we fail."
She laughed, sarcasm dripping from her words. "Cell isn't the first opponent we've faced to show unwanted interest; Napa was no better."
There was no denying she was right; Napa had made advanced upon her nearly the second she landed on the battlefield. Promising to have her screaming his name before he'd kill her. None the less, the urge he felt to protect her was driving him, even if it meant crossing lines. "Would you have considered it if Nail had asked?"
Blue eyes projected a range of emotions from hurt and rage to and finally something he'd never wish to witness much less inflict, brokenness. Tessa turned her back to him, her shoulders shaking as tears he could smell slipped from her eyes as she tried to control them. "That was a low blow, even for you."
Piccolo sighed, reaching out with his right hand. "I knew you'd never do it if I simply..."
Tessa shrugged him off, facing him as if they were on opposite sides of a battlefield. "We haven't spoken that name in years, not because I haven't thought of him but because you wished it so." Her shoulders shook. "I never valued Nail's friendship over yours, Piccolo; but I won't let you use his memory against me either."
She moved to the door without waiting for his reply, though in truth he didn't have one. She pulled the door open. "I left Nail to fend for himself, and I regret it. I won't make the same mistake with anyone else I love."
Piccolo's fists clinched as she left the room, the door still open as if she expected him to fly after her. Was she really expecting him to betray his character? Growling at his lack of success in this endeavor, he followed a moment behind her. He reached the landing just in time to see her fly off, heading in the direction of Goku's home.
30 minutes from the present…
She had arrived just as Goku and Gohan had finished their meal, redress and bag in hand. She pulled Goku aside to request her chance in the chamber not long after. Though he had questioned her readiness for it at first, he had agreed to allow it so long as she accompany Piccolo for her first time.
Piccolo watched and listened from a short distance as the two embraced and then his ex-rival and friend approached him. "That was a foolish decision, Goku."
The blond headed Saiyan shrugged. "Look Pic, I know you don't like it and quite frankly, Tessa isn't thrilled either. I don't know what happened, and I don't need to. Just fix things between you before the year is up; you're too good of a team for me to lose. Ya got me?"
Present time…
Tessa sighed bringing his mind back to their situation as she stood and joined him on the lower landing. In the vast, never ending space, their differences seemed much more apparent; especially their height with his 7'5" to her 5'11". She was first to break their shared silence. "It wasn't my idea to intrude on you and I know you don't want me here, so I'll stay ou…"
"Tessa…" Her name was usually soft spoken from him and their eyes met. "…I've never said that."
The unease that was so uncommon between them melted away; she released a breath she hadn't realized she'd held. Her expression relaxing into a tired smile. "Thank you."
Nodding, he stepped out into the void. "Eat something and get some rest, tomorrow we'll train." Watching as he stepped out ten feet from the landing and assumed his usual mediation position, Tessa yawned and wondered into the fully stocked pantry with a still smiling.