The Lookout is surprisingly boring, for being a god's house. Just a huge platform, and a few nice buildings: palatial in proportion, but nothing I haven't seen on Vegeta-sei. Kakarot pauses for a moment after we land, looking around.
"There should be-" he begins, then interrupts himself. "Ah, there!"
I turn to follow his gaze, and watch in consternation as a bloated black creature in a tiny vest and voluminous pants approaches. There's something disturbing about the exaggeration of his facial features; the enormous cherry lips and perfectly round eyes, no nose.
"Mr. Popo," Kakarot greets this creature cheerfully, as the guiless face that I'm learning more and more is an act slips into place.
"Goku," greets the black thing, in a childish, strange voice. "What a surprise!"
My brother nods as Mr. Popo approaches, reaching out to clasp hands with him briefly. "Is Dende around?"
"Of course," Mr. Popo responds with equanimity. "Where else would he be?"
"True," Kakarot grins, rubbing the back of his head. "Where is he?"
"Oh, he's out in the gardens…do you know where they are?" Mr. Popo smiles as Kakarot nods. "If you don't mind, I'll let you find your own way, I have some things I need to get back to."
Then he turns to me, and executes a small bow. Kakarot laughs, and quickly introduces me. "Oh…ah, Mr. Popo, this is my brother, Raditz. Raditz, this is Mr. Popo, he lives here and helps Dende out."
I nod, a bit warily, and Mr. Popo bestows one of his creepy smiles upon me before excusing himself and wandering off. "What does he do around here?" I murmur to my brother as he leads me towards the ornate buildings.
"You know, I'm not exactly sure," Kakarot frowns. "I know he cooks when there're guests, but he must not at other times, because Nameks only drink water. Maybe he cleans or something…?" He trails off with a shrug.
"Is he human?" I ask curiously. I've never seen a human that looks like that, but then I don't have much experience with them.
"Mr. Popo? No…at least, I don't think so. He has a flying carpet. I always sort of figured he was a genie." I raise my eyebrows in question, and Kakarot tries to explain. "Um, genies are these guys, like spirits I guess, that live in bottles. They grant wishes."
"He grants wishes? Like the dragon?"
"Well, no, he doesn't, but he kind of looks like pictures of genies…" He shrugs again as he leads me through a high archway of carved white stone, into a verdant garden.
The foliage is thick here; graceful trees bow under the weight of their fruit, lush bushes speckled with tiny flowers of many colors give off a heady sweet aroma, thick, soft moss carpets the path and thick hedges wall in the large garden. Bees buzz sleepily, and the sun is filtered through layers of green.
"Dende?" Kakarot calls out as we follow a path marked out with terra cotta diamond-shaped paving stones.
The voice that answers is soft, gentle. "Goku? I'm back by the fountain."
My brother leads me through the garden and I rest my hand on his shoulder, closing my eyes and allowing the wild variety of scents here to envelop me. The proliferation is intoxicating; sharp green aromas, the warm baked smell of topsoil, a thread of fresh water cutting through it all, and everything overlaid with a heavy taste of floral. The mild tinkle of water falling into a stone basin filters through, and I open my eyes as we approach a small clearing.
A Namek sits with his back to us on a sun-warmed stone bench. He is smaller than Piccolo, though not small enough to be a child, I would guess. He wears a long robe of white, and I can see his sharp shoulder blades press through the thin fabric. Much more slender than Piccolo as well. As we duck under the overhanging branches of an old willow he stands gracefully, and turns with a smile.
"Hello Goku, Raditz," he greets us both with a slight inclination of his head, giving me a chance to further study him as my brother smiles brilliantly in his direction.
A fine-boned face, with wide dark eyes that seem impossibly young. His antennae arch over his brow in a relaxed position, and his ears are longer than Piccolo's, more pointed. Long, slender fingers gesture-
Wait a minute. "How did you know my name?" I ask suspiciously, and he smiles beatifically, not showing his teeth. I suppose the whole fangs thing would ruin his ethereal image.
"Who else could you be?" he asks in that breathy tone. Oddly, though, the combination of quiet, boyish voice and slender figure does not come across as feminine in any way. Strange, as Nameks are asexual, and these features should combine to appear womanly. Instead, he just seems somewhat otherworldly. Appropriate, for a god.
Dende is staring at me expectantly, and I realize I've just been staring at him for the last few moments. "I don't know…" I trail off. What kind of question is that, anyway?
"I try to keep myself informed," he relents. "I've known for quite some time that Goku wished his brother back, and of course, Piccolo has told me about you."
I had completely forgotten! Piccolo lives here too, sometimes. I wonder what he said about me. Dende pads across the moss carpet, and I notice his feet are bare. He holds out his hand to me as a human would, and I shake it. So delicate! It's hard to believe this person has so much power and influence.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you." The young Namek smiles up at me ingenuously, and I find myself smiling back, my tail swaying peacefully behind me. Dende removes his hand from mine, and turns to Kakarot.
"We saw the signs of you summoning the dragon once more," he continues. "What did you wish for this time?"
Grinning, Kakarot unwinds his tail from his waist, and waves it cheerfully at the Namek, who lights up in delight. "Ah, your tail has grown back! That was your wish?"
"Yeah," my brother admits, the much-mentioned appendage sneaking out to wrap the tip of my own tail. Dende watches this with some surprise, the frowns.
"But Goku, when the moon is full…" His face is filled with troubled worry.
"I can always stay inside when the moon is full," Kakarot hurries to reassure the Namek, and I can't repress the small growl that escapes from my throat. My brother turns to look at me, his hand immediately coming up to calmingly stroke at the small of my back. His face asks the question for him.
"It's not…natural," I answer somewhat reluctantly, watching Dende watch us, and then I turn back to a pair of black eyes that mirror my own. "Why would you resist the change?"
"Because I go berserk when I change," Kakarot explains. "I killed my adopted grandfather that way."
"I know, but-" I shake my head. How do I explain how wrong the idea of not changing when the moon is full seems to me? Sure, it's once a month here, as opposed to once every few years on Vegeta-sei, but that's a good thing. "Why not just go somewhere uninhabited?" I ask finally. It's what I've been doing for the few days of the full moon, knowing my brother would disapprove of my squashing his neighbors.
"But I have no control-" he begins, and I cut him off with a snort.
"That's the whole point, Kakarot." Almost unconsciously, I reach out and capture his tail, ruffling my thick fingers against the lay of his fur. A small flush blooms in his cheeks. "To let go, to really run wild, let instinct take over…it's wonderful, little brother." I move in closer, lowering my voice. "You can't imagine how it feels…"
"I can, I've done it before," he answers heatedly, and I smile at the rise in emotion.
"Only as a child. Never as an adult…it's a hundred times better," I purr intimately, pinning him with my eyes, and watching in satisfaction as his tongue ventures out to taste his upper lip.
"I don't know…" He stares back at me, moving a few inches closer. "What if…"
"Just try it once," I offer with a leer, sliding my hand up to the base of his tail. He nods wordlessly, then suddenly jumps back as the forgotten Namek clears his throat. I turn to look at the boy, and find a high flush of purple on his cheeks and strange expression on his face: a mix of shock and intense curiosity. He seems so young, but I know he should be about Gohan's age. Do Nameks age slower?
"J-just be careful, Goku," he cautions with a stutter.
"I've got my big brother to watch out for me," he answers in sudden confidence, smiling at me. Dende looks to me as well, his eyes wide and questioning. I figure it won't hurt to assuage his fears.
"I can teach him to control it…to an extent." The young Namek nods, his brow smoothing, and I have to admit I'm surprised. From my understanding, Kami was nowhere near this trusting.
"So, Dende, we're here to ask a favor of you, actually," Kakarot breaks in, moving forward to lean against the rim of the fountain's bowl. Dark eyes turn to my brother expectantly. "Um, we don't have anywhere to stay right now…"
"Oh, yes, I heard about you and Chichi." Dende casts his eyes down briefly. "I'm sorry."
"It was better for both of us, I think," Kakarot explains with a small sigh. "We married so young…and had kids right away, you know. Neither of us have really ever known anything else. I think…I think there're people out there who can be better for Chichi than me. I was gone so much…she deserves someone who can give her the attention she needs."
I listen to his little speech with a raised eyebrow, but am shocked at the next words that come out of the Namek's mouth. "And you need someone who understands what you are better." I scowl furiously, and Kakarot looks up, startled. He nods slowly, and Dende smiles that same infuriatingly calm smile. "I am Guardian of the Earth, Goku. I'm supposed to know these things."
"Uh…yeah," Kakarot says, nonplussed. "Anyways is it okay to stay here?"
"Of course. But why aren't you staying with Vegeta and Bulma?"
"That's a long story," my brother responds, rubbing the back of his neck.
"If you're going to be staying with us, you have time," Dende reminds him gently. "But let's head back to the house," – I want to laugh at the reference to the palatial building as 'the house' - "and you can tell me there. I'm sure Mr. Popo will have prepared something for you to eat by now."
Kakarot's eyes light up, even though we just ate. He has a huge appetite, even for a Saiyan. I snort a laugh as I follow them back through the garden, down an unfamiliar path leading to a low archway into the building. Dende pauses here, and turns to me. I raise my eyebrows at him in question, tail flicking interrogatorily behind me.
"Piccolo is here," he begins softly. "I'm sure he would like to talk to you."
I blink, immediately searching my brother's face. He looks down at Dende as I ask, "What, right now?"
"I don't see why not." That damn smile again.
"Give us a minute, Dende?" Kakarot asks him, and the little Namek nods. "I'll meet you in the solarium, then, Goku." I watch him leave, his graceful walk making it appear almost as though he's floating along above the ground.
"Okay, so why don't you want to see Piccolo?" my brother asks me. He eyes my tail slashing the back of my thighs and grabs it, stroking the fur smooth. I let out a soft purr, closing my eyes briefly.
"I told you what happened last time," I reply, my voice lower than I would've liked. "He came on to me, and I yelled at him and left."
"What part of that worries you?" Kakarot asks, showing some of that insight he hides most of the time.
"Oh, hell, I don't know. I guess not the attraction bit…I mean, half of that was because I was completely frustrated, which no longer seems to be much of a problem." I open my eyes, grinning, and hook my arm around my brother's waist, pulling him close. He just looks up at me as I dip my head to lick a line along the side of his neck, but his tail wraps around my thigh in a friendly manner.
"What was the other half?" he murmurs into my ear, and I can hear the laughter dancing below the surface.
"Well, come on, Kakarot, you have to admit Piccolo is pretty damn hot!" I emphasize my point by biting down lightly on his collarbone. He shrugs, and I lean back for a minute to see the smile on his face. I could watch that face for days, and never get bored.
"I guess. I don't know, I never really thought of him that way." He's telling the truth, and I have to shake my head in wonder.
"Damn, little brother, you really were repressing your Saiyan-ness just as hard as you could, huh?" He looks offended at that, and leans forward to bite me, hard, on the shoulder.
"Ow!"
"Maybe green just doesn't do it for me," he snorts, and I have to laugh. "But what's the problem then?"
I sigh at his descent into seriousness again, and I shrug. "It's just…well, I really like Piccolo. He's a good friend. I don't want this to screw that all up, you know? He was just someone I could sit back and shoot the shit with; I mean, we understood each other."
"Piccolo?!" My brother looks genuinely confused now, and I frown.
"Yeah, Piccolo. Why?"
"Well, he's just so…so stand-offish. He's always meditating or training, always so serious. I can't imagine hanging around with him, or just talking." I think about that, nodding slowly.
"Yeah, probably he wouldn't with you. You guys used to be enemies, right?" Kakarot nods, but still seems confused.
"Yeah, we did, but he was killed you."
I nod, thinking of a way to explain. "Well, it's like this: Piccolo himself is the kind of guy I would have gotten along with if we were on the same side. We had the same kinds of attitudes...then he merged with this Nail guy, and Kami, the old god of Earth, right? Both of whom are real serious, noble types, yah?"
Kakarot nods, and I continue. "So when he relates to you, he's probably using some of the Kami and Nail stuff, because you're this noble good guy, and his old personality didn't like you much. But with me, the old Piccolo likes me, so he relates to me different." I tilt my head to the side, and Kakarot absently brushes his fingers through my long hair. "Does that make sense?"
"Yeah, actually it does," he admits as I lean into his hand, like a cat. "But avoiding him isn't going to fix any of this…"
"I know, I have to talk to him eventually. But I was hoping not today. Besides, I still am attracted to him a bit, even if there's no danger of me jumping him." I turn my head, kissing Kakarot's palm wetly.
"Oh, I don't care if you have sex with him," Kakarot assures me, and I look up in surprise. "Really," he says, smiling at my expression. "You love me, right?"
"Of course!"
"And you love Vegeta?" I nod wordlessly. "So what's a little sex with a friend?"
"Kakarot, have you been smoking something?" It seems so out-of-character for him, this casual attitude towards sex. I mean, the guy was married for well over twenty years, never even cheated on his wife! Except for the thing with Vegeta…hmm.
"I know, it seems weird, doesn't it?" Kakarot grins ruefully. "I don't know how to explain it…but it's like, I just know I have nothing to worry about, you know? Like…like there's something inside me that's telling me there's nothing in the world that can threaten what's between us…" he trails off, looking a bit embarrassed. Damn, Kakarot looks so cute when he's being shy. I smile, and take his chin in my hand, tilting his face up to meet my eyes with his own.
"It's the bond," I explain, more pleased than I can express. "You can feel…" I trail off, then grab his hand and place it on my chest, over my heart. "You're right. I'll never leave you now that I've found you again, little brother."
He smiles up at me, that sunny, brilliant expression of pure joy that brings his face to life. "That's okay then," he says softly, and I lean down to lightly brush my lips over his, a chaste kiss that quickly turns into something deeper, passion flaring between us. I pull away slightly breathless, and see the heat I know is rising in my cheeks reflected in Kakarot's face.
"Okay," he says. "So you go find Piccolo and work whatever it is out that you need to, and I'll try and explain to Dende exactly why it is I'm sleeping with my brother and the guy who tried to blow up the Earth once or twice."
I laugh, despite myself, a low rumbling noise that's soon joined by my brother's higher pitched chuckles. We clasp forearms, and wish each other luck simultaneously. We're both going to need it.