A/N: Can you believe it?! A new prompt! The prompt for this was 'Young Marron's first snow' and while it kinda veered more towards plain ol' K/18 than a family interaction, and I do definitely feel a little rusty with my writing, this was a good warm up exercise. Plus I still think it's cute, so enjoy!
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LET IT SNOW
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"Mummy, Daddy!" Marron called as she hurtled down the hall towards her parents' bedroom. "Mummy, Daddy!" The door burst open and a second later a small blonde girl scrambled up onto the big bed, and sat herself down between her parents.
"Mummy, Daddy, there's sand outside!"
"Marron…" 18 groaned and lifted her head just high enough to crack one eye open, for the sole purpose of checking that her child wasn't bleeding. She was fine. And with that, 18 let her head flop back down onto the pillow. The room was still dark, what time was it anyway? "Shhh. Keep your voice down please." She pleaded. "We don't want to wake Daddy. He just got home from work."
"Oops" Marron winced and lifted her index finger to her lips. She knew that it was important to be quite when Daddy was sleeping "Shhh."
Turning her attention to her father, Marron leaned right in until her face was almost pressed against Krillin's cheek. "Are you asleep, Daddy?" she whispered into his ear, and sat back up, waiting hopefully for a response. Life was always more fun for Marron when her daddy was home to play with her.
Krillin's eyes were closed, and he appeared to be snoring. Her shoulders slumped and her bottom lip puckered into a cute little pout. Accepting that she'd been defeated, Marron turned back towards 18, and that was when Krillin pounced.
"Boo!" Krillin cried, and reached out for Marron, grabbing her in a bear hug amidst shrieks of surprised delight, and pulled her back in against him. "Tricked you!"
"Daddy!" Marron cried. She wriggled and squirmed and laughed as Krillin tickled her and tousled her hair. "You tricked me!"
"I sure did." A long yawn escaped Krillin's lips. He'd only slunk into bed twenty minutes earlier after a gruelling nightshift. Lazily, he lifted up the duvet and Marron quickly scurried underneath, snuggling up to her daddy and wrapping her arms around his neck. "You know what, firefly," he mused lazily and kissed the top of his daughter head. "I think you've gotten bigger since I tucked you in last night."
"I have not!"
"No it's true. What are you now, ten, eleven? You'll be all grown up before I know it!"
"Daddy, stop being silly," Marron wriggled around in his arms and placed a tiny hand on either side of his face, glaring up at him with a stern look that she had most certainly inherited from her mother. "I'm four, Daddy."
"Four?" Krillin's brow furrowed and he looked down at the little blonde firecracker in his arms "That can't be right."
"It is, Daddy, I'm four, I promise!"
"Alright then, if you say so," Krillin admitted defeat.
"Daddy, there is sand outside!" Marron exclaimed, suddenly remembering why she had come racing into her parent's room in the first place.
"Sand?"
"Yeah, sand, like at Grandpa Roshi's house."
"It's not sand, firefly, its snow."
"Snow?" Marron looked thoroughly perplexed. "What's snow?"
"Well, it's kinda like sand, but it's very very cold, and it falls from the sky. It's kind of like frozen rain. Why don't you go and get dressed and we'll go outside and check it out."
Marron didn't need to be told twice. As quick as a fiddle, she had raced down the bed and was gone.
Seizing the opportunity, Krillin shimmied across the bed towards his wife, who had been watching the tender interaction between father and daughter with a loving smile. "Good morning, my love," he said, and placed a slow kiss on 18's lips.
"Good morning," she replied as they parted. "How was work?"
Krillin rested his head against 18's shoulder and draped an arm lazily over her waist. Her body was so warm under the blankets, and the way she automatically rolled into him, so that their bodies were pressed together made Krillin feel so cocooned and protected. "Long and exhausting" he replied. "We were called out to eight traffic incidents once the snowstorm hit. I don't think I sat down for more than five minutes in my entire shift." Already Krillin could already feel his eyes growing heavy again, it would be nothing just to slip back into his peaceful slumber.
18 sighed and relaxed against her husband, enjoying the feeling of his warm breath against her neck. She really hated when he worked his nightshift blocks; and even though Krillin was more than capable of handling himself, she had to admit that that thought of him wandering the streets after dark caused her worry. All it took was one moment of carelessness, or one bad judgement and it could all be over. And 18 was more than aware of the fact that Krillin had reached the end of the line when it came to magical dragon revivals. He was just as mortal as any other man now.
"I should get up before I fall asleep." Krillin's eyes were closed and his voice nothing more than a heavy murmur. "I promised Marron."
Gently, 18 reached up and ran her fingers across Krillin's hair, she felt him smile against her shoulder as she repeated the soothing motion again and again. "It's okay," she said, softly. "Go to sleep. You need to rest. You're not as young as you used to be know you," she teased.
That was enough to rouse Krillin from his semi-conscious state. He didn't need his wife reminding him that he was rapidly approaching 40, he was already lamenting that fact enough without her added commentary. Dipping into his final reserves of energy for the day, Krillin forced himself to put on a show for 18, and he leapt out of bed with the enthusiasm of someone half his age.
It was cold outside the warm cocoon of their bedroom, and a shiver ran up Krillin's spine as he padded softly down the hallway, dressed only in his pyjama pants. The snow had come down hard overnight; outside the first rays of morning light had only just peaked over the horizon, and the whole world seemed to have a pre-dawn stillness to it.
"Marron," Krillin peaked his head around a doorframe and into his daughter's bedroom, expecting to see her tossing her clothes around the room as she decided on the days outfit – again, a trait she got from 18 and definitely not him. But the room was empty. "Marron," he called again, softly so as not to disturb 18 who had probably already drifted back to sleep. "Where are you?"
"Out here, daddy!" came a cheery reply from somewhere down at the front of the house, and Krillin smiled and let out a breath that he hadn't realised had caught in his throat when Marron hadn't been where he'd expected her to be.
To say that Krillin was protective of his wife and daughter would be somewhat of an understatement. A combination of knowing that the universe was full of bad guys who seemed to have a vendetta against the Earth and who could show up at any time and wipe them all out; and that his city was just full of run of the mill scumbags, whom Krillin often arrested while he was wearing an identifying name badge, was enough to cause him to lose sleep. If anything ever happened to either of them... Krillin stopped and redirected his chain of thought before he went too far down that miserable rabbit hole.
Marron was sitting on the couch, legs swinging back and forth with excitement when Krillin entered the room. "C'mon daddy, let's go!" she jumped up as soon as she saw him, "Let's go outside and play!"
"Woah, hold up there, firefly," Krillin had to laugh at Marrons enthusiasm. He squatted down in front of her, so that he could rest on his heels, and brushed a few strands of unruly bed hair from Marron's face. "What did we talk about in bed? It's snow outside, not sand, and it's very cold, so why are you dressed for the beach?"
Marron shrugged. She clearly didn't see anything wrong with her swimsuit and sunhat combo, either that, or the concept of snow was completely lost on a four year old.
"C'mon," Krillin smiled and lifted Marron up onto his hip. "Let's go change."
Half an hour later, everyone, 18 included, was up, had had their breakfast – and in Krillin's case, an extra strong black coffee, and was dressed appropriately in their warm winter gear. Scarves, beanies, mitten, jackets, the works! All things that Krillin nor 18 would ever have imagined owning in their previous life on Kame Island and which had cost a small fortune to buy for their new life in Satan City.
"Are you ready?" Krillin asked as he tied the laces on Marron's boots, "It's going to be extra cold outside, remember."
"Ready!" Marron shouted, barely able to contain herself, "I wanna play in the snow!"
"Alright," Krillin opened the door and Marron shot out into the yard.
"Marron, be careful!" Ever watchful, 18's eyes didn't leave her daughter as she bounced around the backyard, "Please don't slip!"
"She'll be fine," Krillin reassured his wife as he finished pulling on his work boots. He liked these boots, and wore them at every opportunity, the solid bottoms on them made him at least an inch taller. "It's just the backyard."
18 wasn't convinced. Marron wasn't the only one who had never seen snow before, and 18 had to admit as she stepped out onto the back porch of their little home, that she hardly recognised her own yard. Everything has been coated in a deep dusting of white fluff, and more was falling from the sky by the minute. It was freezing – well below zero, and for someone who was much more acclimatised to tropical living, 18 was shocked at just how cold the air was as it rushed past her face.
The family had moved to Satan City around seven months ago, when Krillin had graduated from the police academy. They had just caught the tail end of their first city summer, and 18 had thoroughly enjoyed the balmy nights outside in this very backyard, grilling late into the evening as the sun set, pottering around in her vegetable garden and watching Marron climb all over her jungle gym. Even though they had only been in their new home for a relatively short amount of time, it had already provided 18 with some of her favourite memories.
This though, this was…. something else. The temperature had been steadily dropping for the last few weeks, and the weather reports had been promising that the first snow of the season wouldn't be far away, but 18 hadn't expected this – it was like stepping out of her house and into another world where colour didn't exist.
"Mummy, Daddy, come and play with me!" Marron picked up a wad of fresh, fluffy snow in her gloved hands, and tossed it up above her, laughing with glee as she danced around the yard.
Eager to join her daughter, if for no other reason than to supervise, 18 stepped off the porch, and instantly sunk into the ground. She was, all of a sudden, buried in the snow up to her knees. Her surprised yelp caught the attention of Krillin, who upon seeing his wife's predicament, was unable to control his raucous laughter.
"What happened babe?" He teased, as he approached the edge of the porch to survey the situation.
"Shut up."
"Now, now, that's no way to talk to the handsome police officer who has come to rescue you." There was a mischievous glint in Krillin's eye as he spoke. He was enjoying this. "Ah, it seems what's happened here, young lady, is that you stepped off the porch right where a big pile of snow has fallen from the roof."
"I know what's happened, Krillin, just help me out of here."
"You've really got to be more careful, ma'am. This could have ended much worse."
"Krillin…" 18's voice was becoming tense.
"Look!" Krillin laughed and threw his arms around 18's shoulders. Being knee deep in snow, and Krillin still standing on the safety of the porch, he was now taller than her by almost an entire head. He ducked his head down for a kiss, and it was all 18 could do to wrap her arms around his waist and kiss her goofy husband back. He was a complete dork, there was no doubt about that, but he was her dork and she loved him. Even when he was being a smartarse.
"This is weird," she said, and waved her hands between them. Her nose crinkled and Krillin placed another quick peck on the end of it.
"You're right," he agreed and held out his hand to help pull 18 up out of the snow. Once they were back on even footing, he went back in for another kiss at their usual height discrepancy. "That's better."
"Much," 18 agreed.
"C'mon" Krillin again offered his hand, which 18 was quick to accept, and with their gloved fingers intertwined, they ventured out from under the cover of the porch and into the yard.
"Mummy, Daddy!" Marron came bounding towards her parents, "Look!" she scooped up two big handfuls of snow and tossed it high into the air. Watching Marron frolic and play, seeing her so happy, brought smiles to the faces of both her parents.
"Check this out, Marron," Krillin followed his daughters lead, and scooped up a handful of snow. Marron watched in awe, and he shaped and moulded the snow in his hand until he had formed a somewhat lumpy, not completely round wad of snow. "This is called a snowball. And do you know what you do with snowballs?"
"What daddy?"
"You throw them!" Krillin exclaimed and pitched the snowball directly at a totally unsuspecting 18. It exploded on contact, covering poor 18, who was as clueless as her daughter as to the utility of snowballs, in a plume of snow. Her entire face and torso now camouflaged into the bleakness of the backyard.
"Krillin!" She shrieked, but her words were completely drowned out by the hysteric laughter of both Krillin and Marron, and any anger she felt over her husband's sneak attack quickly dissipated once she saw the pure and unfiltered joy on their faces.
"My turn, Daddy!"
"Okie dokey," Marron scooped another handful of snow, and Krillin gently guided her hands with his own, helping her form in to the required ball shape. "But don't throw this one at Mummy okay, I don't think she liked it."
"Okay!" Marron complied and tossed her snowball directly into Krillins face, from point blank range. He let himself fall back into the snow, laughing all the way down, and a second later, Marron was on top of him, grabbing handful after handful of freshly fallen snow and sprinkling it down over his face and chest. This was exactly like when they used to play together on the beach.
"Alright. Let me up before you completely bury me!" Krillin said, after letting Marron bucket snow over him for another couple of minutes. As he sat up, he felt something cold thump into his back. He whipped his head around, to find 18 standing behind him, arms crossed over her chest and looking smug as all hell.
"Did you see that Marron?" Krillin asked, eyes wide with shock. "Mummy hit me with a snowball. You know what that means, right? Get her!"
What broke out next could only be described as an all-out war. Snowballs and laughter were flying across the yard in all directions. Everyone was covered from head to toe in snow, which was quickly melting as they ran frantically around the yard and warmed their bodies.
It was crazy, Krillin found himself thinking, as the family spent the next half an hour running and jumping, ducking, weaving and assaulting each other with wave after wave of snowballs, that 18 had a reputation for being uncaring and aloof. If only their friends were here now, to see the way she laughed and smiled with Marron as they raced around their frozen playground. She was completely carefree, living in the moment and Krillin, for the millionth time, thanked Kami, or Dende or whoever else would listen for bringing 18 into his life. There was no one in the universe who he loved more or who could be a better mother to his child.
"Hey, honey!" 18 yelled, and stupidly, Krillin turned towards her. He realised half way through the movement what was going to happen, but it was too late and he only just managed to get a glimpse of 18's cheeky smile before a snowball splatted him square in the face.
Krillin started to run. "I'll get you for that!" he shouted as he wiped the snow from his eyes. A short chase broke out, but quickly he closed in on 18, and with a lunge he managed to grab her around the waist and tackle her to the ground.
18 landed on her back with a thud, and Krillin came tumbling down on top of her. "Gotcha," Krillin panted. He was hot and sweaty under his snow gear and he was beginning to come down from his caffeine high. It would certainly be bedtime soon.
"Mmm, it appears you did," 18 smiled and wrapped her arms around Krillins waist, giving him a squeeze. She lifted her head up from the soft, pillowy snow and found Krillin's lips with her own. Their faces were both cold and the sensation of their icy lips connecting sent a shiver down 18's spine. She didn't object when Krillin deepened the kiss, pushing her back down into the snow and prying her lips apart with his tongue.
"Eww, Mummy, Daddy, yuck!" Marron came trotting over to her parents, who seemed to be completely oblivious to her arrival, and wondering why their game had suddenly stopped. "Stop kissing!" She tossed a couple of snowballs at the pair. The cold snow splashing directly against their flushed faces did the trick, and they reluctantly pulled away.
"Later," Krillin smiled against 18's lips, before he stood up and scooped Marron up onto his shoulders. It was a promise that she had every intention of making him keep.
"C'mon, firefly," With Marron carefully balanced on his shoulders, he reached out his hand to help 18 up from the snow. She found herself eye to eye with her little girl and placed a great big kiss on her rosy cheek. "Time to go inside." Krillin said, and yawned. He was in desperate need of sleep. "What do you think? Do you like the snow?"
"Yes!" Marron cried, and pumped an enthusiastic fist towards the sky.
"Well that's good news, because it's going to be here for a while." Krillin popped Marron down on the porch and knelt down to help her take her boots off. "So tomorrow I'll show you how to make a snowman, but for now, Daddy need some sleep. Deal?"
"Deal!"
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A/N: Thanks for reading this one guys. If you liked it, a review or a follow would be much appreciated. If you'd like to submit your own prompt, or talk K/18 (or anything else really), I'd suggest hitting me up at my Tumblr. You can find the link in my bio.
Should be more stuff coming soon, so stay tuned.
Big Love,
D.B
