Authors note- Here's a quick clarification as to why Gohan is only four years younger than Piccolo (a few people have asked me about this!)
Piccolo was spit out by his father in Dragonball.
*
Three years later is the 23rd Tenkaichi Budoukai in which he fights Gokou and loses.
*
Five years later, Dragonball starts!
*
Gohan was four when Piccolo began to train him. (He says five in the dub, but no, it's four!!)
*
That means eight years have gone by, so Piccolo is eight, and Gohan is four! You could argue that Piccolo's mind is older than that because he shares his dad's memories, but I consider Ma Jr. to be a totally different person than his tousan...
*
And now back to our regularly scheduled angst-ing.
***********
Trunks observed Gohan's fleeing figure through the window of his upstairs room, a smile tracing across his face. It hadn't been hard to overhear the conversation taking place below, and now... 'How can I take advantage of this fight?' he wondered, drumming his fingertips on the windowsill. 'I'll follow him and see what I can see...'
It was cool outside, but Trunks didn't mind. He had taken a sheet from off the bed Gohan had laid him in and wrapped it around his shoulders as he escaped from the house, following the older man's footsteps like a hound bent on it's prey.
Gohan had left a trail behind him, carelessly pushing his way through thickets of brush and meadows of harsh grey stones. Of course, leaving a trail was hardly the man's main worry at the moment, Trunks decided, but it was certainly helpful for him. He came across Gohan at last- the halfbreed saiya-jin was sitting silently, curled up in a small ball underneath a tree. His bulky muscles weren't meant to be compressed, so the pathetic manner in which he had set his forehead on his knees was quite unnatural looking. Trunks bit back a swear when he realized Gohan was crying- Damn Piccolo for hurting him like this, damn him! Gohan deserved so much better...
A wave of dizziness enveloped Trunks, making him stagger slightly as he approached the other man- Gohan sensed the nearness of another ki and glanced up, quickly scrubbing the tears
from his eyes. "T...Torunkusu...y..you shouldn't be out here, you're hurt!"
"Nah, I'm fine," Trunks struggled not to let his voice quaver as he seated himself next to Gohan in the shade of the tree- "I saw you running out of the house and I....I overheard your fight. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have listened in-"
"It must have been hard not to hear," Gohan whispered, bitterly. "We were both screaming our heads off. I'm stupid. Stupid."
"Why is that?" Trunks found himself torn between helping Gohan and helping to sully Piccolo's hold on the other man.
"Because I.....Gods, look at me, Trunks! Here I am crying over this when I haven't even apologized for last night-"
The lavender haired saiya-jin feld his heart freeze up within his chest. Damn! The one thing he didn't want to talk about had just been thrown in his face! "L-last night..."
"Hai..I..I must have really embarrased you, Trunks...I just...Look at me, I'm mad at Pikoro for drinking but I'm no better than him...I was so upset, and I didn't mean to get drunk...what did they do at the restaraunt? They didn't throw us out, did they? I'm dumb, making someone as important as you look bad-"
"Eh?" Trunks was barely able to supress the shock and joy in his tone. "You mean....You don't remember?"
Gohan was blushing, now, and looking away from the other man. "No," he said softly, "I remember drinking about four...four...what are they called?"
"Shots. You really can't hold your alchohol, Gohan-kun, but it's alright. I'm your friend, if I'm not around to listen when you get weepy and drunk, what am I here for?"
A weak smile threaded it's way across Gohan's face. "Thanks, Trunks..."
"At the moment I'm more worried about you than I am about any threatening phone calls from the restaraunt. A bit of a...well, a bribe will wipe the records clean. You'd be surprised at what money can buy! But anyway, are you alright?"
"Just disgusted at myself and how well he knows me...just angry at him for being so damned untouchable..." Gohan sighed, setting his head in his hands and massaging his temples. "You didn't see what he did, Trunks! He completely took advantage of how much I love him! And that's the only reason why I care what he does to himself, you know, doesn't he...why can't he see?"
"Well, Gohan, I think that if he really loves you, he should be able to change for your sake. I mean, I always thought lovers should be willing to do anything for one another, right?"
For a moment the comment hung in the air, making Gohan look even more miserable than before as he digested what it implied. "Yeah," he breathed softly, tears trickling down his face. "Yeah, that's probably right. But...."
Trunks paused a moment before daring to wrap his arms around the other man's shoulders. Gohan responded by burying his face against Trunks' neck, sobbing almost hystericly. "I...I just want him...to look at me like I look at him... to just feel like I do, to show it, just once...Gods, I'm so weak..."
Unconciously Trunks stroked back his love's hair, not wanting the moment to end. "It's okay, it's okay, you don't have to be strong all of the time..."
Gohan cried, soaking his shirt, but Trunks didn't mind. All he wanted was for that moment to last forever. "You're a person, not an object. Maybe Pikoro doesn't know that."
The other man didn't move. "I just....I just...."
"Like I said, Gohan, if he loved you, he would change, wouldn't he?"
Finally, Gohan pulled away, nodding quietly. He had stopped sobbing, but still looked scared by what he had decided to do. "Yes. Maybe I approached him in the wrong way...Sankyuu....Trunks, I'm gonna go talk to him again. Do you need help getting home?"
"I'll just come with you."
***********
Trunks slumped against the wall at the top of the stairs, listening. Gohan had helped him back to the house, and now a confrontation was about to take place downstairs. Trunks was sure Piccolo would never give up his earthly pleasures for Gohan, so this would be the perfect time to score some points with his chosen.
Quietly, he knelt on the carpet and listened.
Gohan cleared his throat, gazing at the back of his lover's head and trying to build his courage. 'It'll be okay,' he told himself, 'Just remember what Trunks said! If he loves you, he'll change! He loves me.' "Pikoro-san..."
Piccolo's face registered surprise, but it flickered for just a moment and was gone when Gohan came around to face him. "Pikoro-san, can I talk to you?"
Of course he could. Piccolo folded his paper and set it down on the table before him, showing that he was listening. Gohan smiled weakly and sat down next to him, studying his hands for a moment before speaking. "I........."
Piccolo quirked an antennae.
"Gomen nasai, Pikoro-sama," Gohan whispered. "I'm sorry about earlier. I...I shouldn't have...I just....."
Trunks groaned to himself. From the sound of it, Gohan was crying again, which would undoubtedly affect the outcome of this conversation.
"I'm just afraid for you, because... you're hurting yourself when you smoke or...or drink, and I'm so afraid, because...w-where would I be w-without you?! It scares me- I didn't mean to sound so bratty this morning, but...If you really love me, you'd change, it...it hurts..."
There. It was out. Gohan took a deep breath as tears started spattering his shirt, not daring to meet Piccolo's eyes as the namekusei-jin thought over his words. They were lovers, and yet he sometimes felt like he really didn't know his mentor as well as he thought he did... Piccolo was intimidating and bold, agressive and quiet... Gohan's polar opposite.
For a moment silence filled the room, seeping into Gohan's bones as Piccolo didn't answer him. At last, Piccolo moved, and Gohan watched through his bangs as long, thick green fingers plucked the cigarrette from his lips and smashed against the small ashtray on the table.
Gohan felt his heart pounding with relief. "Pikoro-san-!"
Gently, he felt himself being pulled towards Piccolo, until the namekusei-jin had him firmly entrapped within his massive arms. Setting his chin on the boy's neck, Piccolo whispered softly in his ear. "I have a habit of overreacting. Forgive me?"
It wasn't quite an apology, but Gohan felt like he had won the day. "O...Of course, Pikoro-san..." He smiled, settling against his mentor's chest. "Thank you, thank you..."
Piccolo's only response was to softly kiss Gohan's neck.
******
Trunks was in an extremely bad mood when he came down for dinner that night. Half of him wanted to stay up in his room, but he wanted to keep an eye on Gohan and Piccolo while they were watchable- it would be much easier to break them up if they weren't all over each other all the time. Maybe having a guest would keep Piccolo's hands off his student...
The kitchen had taken hours for Gohan to clean- his namekusei-jin lover's cooking skills were not only minimal, but he didn't take cleaning up to be part of the job. Despite that, Gohan had managed to shine the kitchen until it was spotless, as well as fix a massive dinner that was more than large enough for two demi-saiya-jin. Since Gohan had worked so hard, Trunks felt like he had to at least eat something....
Sitting down at the table, he felt extremely out of place. Piccolo kept glaring at him over the top of the newspaper he seemed to always be reading, while Gohan stuffed his face, pausing occasionally to ask Trunks a question or tell Piccolo something about his job. Finally Trunks broke his quiet streak, glaring back at Piccolo. "Well, Gohan, you must be glad to have someone around to appreciate your excellent cooking, huh?"
Gohan smiled, unaware of the tension at the table. Sometimes he seemed so much like his father that it was frightening! That daft Son look that all of Gokou's descendents seemed to share... "It sure is! Pikoro-san never tries anything new. Do you like the meal?"
"It's wonderful!" Trunks beamed, sensing an area of pride that could well be exploited. "The best I've ever had. You give your mom a run for her money when it comes to delicious foods..."
The demi-saiya-jin's face lit up with pleasure at the compliment. "Aa....sankyuu, Trunks-kun..." he beamed, blushing quietly. For a moment Piccolo was silent, scowling at Trunks' comment before he namekusei-jin spoke. Trunks was so obviously trying to 'win' this little battle at dinner, and Piccolo would be damned before he let a saiya-jin take advantage of his relationship...
"If it's that good, get me a plate." Piccolo murmered, sounding careless though the manner in which he was smirking at Trunks proved his emotions to be otherwise. Gohan stared at him in shock, jaw hanging open as if Piccolo had just told him the world was flat.
"P....Pikoro-san....!?" the younger man finally managed to squeak, "What-"
"I said I'd like a plate...if there's enough."
Gohan looked like he'd been run through with an arrow, shock playing across his features as he struggled to respond coherently. "But you can't eat, Pikoro-san!"
Clearing his throat in the silence, Piccolo shrugged. "I can if I want to. I simply don't usually, because it seems to be a waste of time to me and I get everything I need from water...but...You love cooking and you love eating. I've always been curious about what you saw in it-"
Gohan felt rather faint, but gave his mentor a loving grin and nearly leapt up out of his chair, eager to please. "HAI! Pikoro-san...I...this is great! I'll fix you a plate, just one second! I just know you'll love this..." He dashed out of the room, flushing and grinning- happier than he had been in a very long time.
Trunks watched Gohan disappear into the kitchen and sighed. He had been close that time, but so far he hadn't made any headway in taking Piccolo out of the picture! If anything, this attempt to come between them seemed to be pulling Piccolo and Gohan closer together...
For a moment, the dining room was silent.
Then Piccolo spoke.
"I know what you're trying to do," he said darkly, staring at Trunks with a piercing gaze, "and it won't work."
Trunks swallowed, and brushed a bit of hair out of his eyes. "What do you mean...?"
"He's mine."
The lavender haired demi-saiya-jin narrowed his eyes slightly. He hadn't realized that Piccolo was that perceptive. Long years of watching the relationship between Piccolo and Gohan grow, then die, had taught Trunks that there was nothing solid behind the namekusei-jin's feelings. He was sure that if Piccolo cared, he couldn't possibly treat Gohan the way he did. Of course, Trunks knew even less of Piccolo's past then Gohan did...
"Gohan isn't happy with you..."
"I give him everything he needs."
"What?! You're kidding! He's miserable! You treat him like a toy, like a pet! Why do you think he went out and got drunk with me!? Because he's being driven into depression by your selfish habits! I can make him happy, and I will do just that," Trunks growled.
"Nobody challenges my posession of him and gets away unhurt," Piccolo snarled. "And believe me, as soon as I can get you out of here without hurting him, you'll never see my Gohan again."
Trunks and Piccolo sat in a very bitter, tense silence until Gohan returned, both of them fuming over one thought and one alone-
'This means war.'
Piccolo was spit out by his father in Dragonball.
*
Three years later is the 23rd Tenkaichi Budoukai in which he fights Gokou and loses.
*
Five years later, Dragonball starts!
*
Gohan was four when Piccolo began to train him. (He says five in the dub, but no, it's four!!)
*
That means eight years have gone by, so Piccolo is eight, and Gohan is four! You could argue that Piccolo's mind is older than that because he shares his dad's memories, but I consider Ma Jr. to be a totally different person than his tousan...
*
And now back to our regularly scheduled angst-ing.
***********
Trunks observed Gohan's fleeing figure through the window of his upstairs room, a smile tracing across his face. It hadn't been hard to overhear the conversation taking place below, and now... 'How can I take advantage of this fight?' he wondered, drumming his fingertips on the windowsill. 'I'll follow him and see what I can see...'
It was cool outside, but Trunks didn't mind. He had taken a sheet from off the bed Gohan had laid him in and wrapped it around his shoulders as he escaped from the house, following the older man's footsteps like a hound bent on it's prey.
Gohan had left a trail behind him, carelessly pushing his way through thickets of brush and meadows of harsh grey stones. Of course, leaving a trail was hardly the man's main worry at the moment, Trunks decided, but it was certainly helpful for him. He came across Gohan at last- the halfbreed saiya-jin was sitting silently, curled up in a small ball underneath a tree. His bulky muscles weren't meant to be compressed, so the pathetic manner in which he had set his forehead on his knees was quite unnatural looking. Trunks bit back a swear when he realized Gohan was crying- Damn Piccolo for hurting him like this, damn him! Gohan deserved so much better...
A wave of dizziness enveloped Trunks, making him stagger slightly as he approached the other man- Gohan sensed the nearness of another ki and glanced up, quickly scrubbing the tears
from his eyes. "T...Torunkusu...y..you shouldn't be out here, you're hurt!"
"Nah, I'm fine," Trunks struggled not to let his voice quaver as he seated himself next to Gohan in the shade of the tree- "I saw you running out of the house and I....I overheard your fight. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have listened in-"
"It must have been hard not to hear," Gohan whispered, bitterly. "We were both screaming our heads off. I'm stupid. Stupid."
"Why is that?" Trunks found himself torn between helping Gohan and helping to sully Piccolo's hold on the other man.
"Because I.....Gods, look at me, Trunks! Here I am crying over this when I haven't even apologized for last night-"
The lavender haired saiya-jin feld his heart freeze up within his chest. Damn! The one thing he didn't want to talk about had just been thrown in his face! "L-last night..."
"Hai..I..I must have really embarrased you, Trunks...I just...Look at me, I'm mad at Pikoro for drinking but I'm no better than him...I was so upset, and I didn't mean to get drunk...what did they do at the restaraunt? They didn't throw us out, did they? I'm dumb, making someone as important as you look bad-"
"Eh?" Trunks was barely able to supress the shock and joy in his tone. "You mean....You don't remember?"
Gohan was blushing, now, and looking away from the other man. "No," he said softly, "I remember drinking about four...four...what are they called?"
"Shots. You really can't hold your alchohol, Gohan-kun, but it's alright. I'm your friend, if I'm not around to listen when you get weepy and drunk, what am I here for?"
A weak smile threaded it's way across Gohan's face. "Thanks, Trunks..."
"At the moment I'm more worried about you than I am about any threatening phone calls from the restaraunt. A bit of a...well, a bribe will wipe the records clean. You'd be surprised at what money can buy! But anyway, are you alright?"
"Just disgusted at myself and how well he knows me...just angry at him for being so damned untouchable..." Gohan sighed, setting his head in his hands and massaging his temples. "You didn't see what he did, Trunks! He completely took advantage of how much I love him! And that's the only reason why I care what he does to himself, you know, doesn't he...why can't he see?"
"Well, Gohan, I think that if he really loves you, he should be able to change for your sake. I mean, I always thought lovers should be willing to do anything for one another, right?"
For a moment the comment hung in the air, making Gohan look even more miserable than before as he digested what it implied. "Yeah," he breathed softly, tears trickling down his face. "Yeah, that's probably right. But...."
Trunks paused a moment before daring to wrap his arms around the other man's shoulders. Gohan responded by burying his face against Trunks' neck, sobbing almost hystericly. "I...I just want him...to look at me like I look at him... to just feel like I do, to show it, just once...Gods, I'm so weak..."
Unconciously Trunks stroked back his love's hair, not wanting the moment to end. "It's okay, it's okay, you don't have to be strong all of the time..."
Gohan cried, soaking his shirt, but Trunks didn't mind. All he wanted was for that moment to last forever. "You're a person, not an object. Maybe Pikoro doesn't know that."
The other man didn't move. "I just....I just...."
"Like I said, Gohan, if he loved you, he would change, wouldn't he?"
Finally, Gohan pulled away, nodding quietly. He had stopped sobbing, but still looked scared by what he had decided to do. "Yes. Maybe I approached him in the wrong way...Sankyuu....Trunks, I'm gonna go talk to him again. Do you need help getting home?"
"I'll just come with you."
***********
Trunks slumped against the wall at the top of the stairs, listening. Gohan had helped him back to the house, and now a confrontation was about to take place downstairs. Trunks was sure Piccolo would never give up his earthly pleasures for Gohan, so this would be the perfect time to score some points with his chosen.
Quietly, he knelt on the carpet and listened.
Gohan cleared his throat, gazing at the back of his lover's head and trying to build his courage. 'It'll be okay,' he told himself, 'Just remember what Trunks said! If he loves you, he'll change! He loves me.' "Pikoro-san..."
Piccolo's face registered surprise, but it flickered for just a moment and was gone when Gohan came around to face him. "Pikoro-san, can I talk to you?"
Of course he could. Piccolo folded his paper and set it down on the table before him, showing that he was listening. Gohan smiled weakly and sat down next to him, studying his hands for a moment before speaking. "I........."
Piccolo quirked an antennae.
"Gomen nasai, Pikoro-sama," Gohan whispered. "I'm sorry about earlier. I...I shouldn't have...I just....."
Trunks groaned to himself. From the sound of it, Gohan was crying again, which would undoubtedly affect the outcome of this conversation.
"I'm just afraid for you, because... you're hurting yourself when you smoke or...or drink, and I'm so afraid, because...w-where would I be w-without you?! It scares me- I didn't mean to sound so bratty this morning, but...If you really love me, you'd change, it...it hurts..."
There. It was out. Gohan took a deep breath as tears started spattering his shirt, not daring to meet Piccolo's eyes as the namekusei-jin thought over his words. They were lovers, and yet he sometimes felt like he really didn't know his mentor as well as he thought he did... Piccolo was intimidating and bold, agressive and quiet... Gohan's polar opposite.
For a moment silence filled the room, seeping into Gohan's bones as Piccolo didn't answer him. At last, Piccolo moved, and Gohan watched through his bangs as long, thick green fingers plucked the cigarrette from his lips and smashed against the small ashtray on the table.
Gohan felt his heart pounding with relief. "Pikoro-san-!"
Gently, he felt himself being pulled towards Piccolo, until the namekusei-jin had him firmly entrapped within his massive arms. Setting his chin on the boy's neck, Piccolo whispered softly in his ear. "I have a habit of overreacting. Forgive me?"
It wasn't quite an apology, but Gohan felt like he had won the day. "O...Of course, Pikoro-san..." He smiled, settling against his mentor's chest. "Thank you, thank you..."
Piccolo's only response was to softly kiss Gohan's neck.
******
Trunks was in an extremely bad mood when he came down for dinner that night. Half of him wanted to stay up in his room, but he wanted to keep an eye on Gohan and Piccolo while they were watchable- it would be much easier to break them up if they weren't all over each other all the time. Maybe having a guest would keep Piccolo's hands off his student...
The kitchen had taken hours for Gohan to clean- his namekusei-jin lover's cooking skills were not only minimal, but he didn't take cleaning up to be part of the job. Despite that, Gohan had managed to shine the kitchen until it was spotless, as well as fix a massive dinner that was more than large enough for two demi-saiya-jin. Since Gohan had worked so hard, Trunks felt like he had to at least eat something....
Sitting down at the table, he felt extremely out of place. Piccolo kept glaring at him over the top of the newspaper he seemed to always be reading, while Gohan stuffed his face, pausing occasionally to ask Trunks a question or tell Piccolo something about his job. Finally Trunks broke his quiet streak, glaring back at Piccolo. "Well, Gohan, you must be glad to have someone around to appreciate your excellent cooking, huh?"
Gohan smiled, unaware of the tension at the table. Sometimes he seemed so much like his father that it was frightening! That daft Son look that all of Gokou's descendents seemed to share... "It sure is! Pikoro-san never tries anything new. Do you like the meal?"
"It's wonderful!" Trunks beamed, sensing an area of pride that could well be exploited. "The best I've ever had. You give your mom a run for her money when it comes to delicious foods..."
The demi-saiya-jin's face lit up with pleasure at the compliment. "Aa....sankyuu, Trunks-kun..." he beamed, blushing quietly. For a moment Piccolo was silent, scowling at Trunks' comment before he namekusei-jin spoke. Trunks was so obviously trying to 'win' this little battle at dinner, and Piccolo would be damned before he let a saiya-jin take advantage of his relationship...
"If it's that good, get me a plate." Piccolo murmered, sounding careless though the manner in which he was smirking at Trunks proved his emotions to be otherwise. Gohan stared at him in shock, jaw hanging open as if Piccolo had just told him the world was flat.
"P....Pikoro-san....!?" the younger man finally managed to squeak, "What-"
"I said I'd like a plate...if there's enough."
Gohan looked like he'd been run through with an arrow, shock playing across his features as he struggled to respond coherently. "But you can't eat, Pikoro-san!"
Clearing his throat in the silence, Piccolo shrugged. "I can if I want to. I simply don't usually, because it seems to be a waste of time to me and I get everything I need from water...but...You love cooking and you love eating. I've always been curious about what you saw in it-"
Gohan felt rather faint, but gave his mentor a loving grin and nearly leapt up out of his chair, eager to please. "HAI! Pikoro-san...I...this is great! I'll fix you a plate, just one second! I just know you'll love this..." He dashed out of the room, flushing and grinning- happier than he had been in a very long time.
Trunks watched Gohan disappear into the kitchen and sighed. He had been close that time, but so far he hadn't made any headway in taking Piccolo out of the picture! If anything, this attempt to come between them seemed to be pulling Piccolo and Gohan closer together...
For a moment, the dining room was silent.
Then Piccolo spoke.
"I know what you're trying to do," he said darkly, staring at Trunks with a piercing gaze, "and it won't work."
Trunks swallowed, and brushed a bit of hair out of his eyes. "What do you mean...?"
"He's mine."
The lavender haired demi-saiya-jin narrowed his eyes slightly. He hadn't realized that Piccolo was that perceptive. Long years of watching the relationship between Piccolo and Gohan grow, then die, had taught Trunks that there was nothing solid behind the namekusei-jin's feelings. He was sure that if Piccolo cared, he couldn't possibly treat Gohan the way he did. Of course, Trunks knew even less of Piccolo's past then Gohan did...
"Gohan isn't happy with you..."
"I give him everything he needs."
"What?! You're kidding! He's miserable! You treat him like a toy, like a pet! Why do you think he went out and got drunk with me!? Because he's being driven into depression by your selfish habits! I can make him happy, and I will do just that," Trunks growled.
"Nobody challenges my posession of him and gets away unhurt," Piccolo snarled. "And believe me, as soon as I can get you out of here without hurting him, you'll never see my Gohan again."
Trunks and Piccolo sat in a very bitter, tense silence until Gohan returned, both of them fuming over one thought and one alone-
'This means war.'