Gohan only stopped when he opened the door, pulling everyone's attention to him. Vegeta and 18 stood on opposite sides of the arch to Goku's room. Bulma stood at Goku's side preparing a needle and vial as she glanced up to him.
"Well, come in already if you're going to watch." Bulma said as she filled the syringe with a gold liquid. Gohan nodded and moved to stand on the other side of his father. "I don't need to remind you that it might not work as we want, so be ready for disappointment."
"Of course." Gohan answered eagerly, his usual patience impaired and lost in his anxiety.
They all stared as Bulma injected the fluid. Gohan permitted himself a painfully slow breath as he waited. Footsteps, fidgeting, and whispers filled the room as others joined them. Chichi easily pushed past them and stood to his side. He kept his eyes on his father, unwilling to look to anyone else.
It felt like days were slipping away when Bulma finally set the syringe down on the side table and sighed. Gohan gripped the fabric of his pants, trying not to shake so much.
"Foolish." Vegeta said. "It wasn't right. Not the correct shade or glow."
Gohan finally closed his eyes and felt his mother set her hand over his, holding back her own tears.
"Vegeta..." A strained voice spoke up, calling everyone's eyes to Goku. "Just… give me… a moment."
"He's ok." Krillin said, a whimper nearly present in his thankful voice.
Others started smiling with laughter mixed with sobs. Gohan opened his eyes again, unwilling to move and still trembling. Goku didn't show instant improvement, but his chest was moving more to breathe deeper, and his eyes were cracked open just barely. When Gohan saw his father's eyes turn to him, he couldn't stop the tears anymore as they slid down his cheeks and fast puddled onto his knees.
"Hey..." Goku said softly as he smiled as much as he could.
"Hey dad." Gohan whispered. The words breaking his strength and shaking his chest as sobs rose up and out of him.
Chichi cried with more energy than the others but still somehow managed to keep from wailing as she grabbed Goku's hand. Through her tears she said, "Do you have any idea what trouble you're in?!"
Goku seemed to grin brighter. "Yeah."
"Putting yourself in this mess and putting your sons through it as well." Chichi pat his arm with her fist in a gentle attempt to berate him as she used to do.
"Is it clearing up alright?" Bulma asked with a half sad smile at the moment.
"I don't feel all here just yet… but it gets better each moment." Goku answered.
"Good. Maybe it will just take a little while to reach your whole body." Bulma suggested as she straightened up and put her hands on her hips, much more confident about her concoction.
"I hope so. I'm starving." Goku chuckled weakly.
"Oh! I'll go get you some food!" Yamcha declared as he excitedly left the room.
"We should wait to see how you feel later before you get solid food." Bulma said as her brow twitched.
Krillin and Vegeta approached the bed properly to either chat or argue with Goku. 18 had already stepped away from the space and returned to her chair in the corner. Tien made his way to lean against the wall beside Piccolo, away from the group but able to see them all. "Thank the gods. Everyone should feel better now."
"Mmm." Piccolo agreed with a hum as he watched Gohan wipe away tears with mixed emotions. "So where were you?"
"We were in the kitchen when we heard Krillin running wild through the house with the news." Tien answered.
"Oh really? All morning? Should I count last night too?" Piccolo asked with his brow raised.
Tien seemed to pale some before his face pinked as he answered. "Alright, alright. I was talking to Yamcha; trying to figure out what was up with his comments about you and Gohan. Then we spent some time with just us two. I'm not saying more than that."
Piccolo paused a moment. "Can I talk to you about that later?"
"Sure, but you don't need to worry about it. He and I settled it so there won't be any more of it." Tien said.
"It's not so much about what Yamcha says or thinks; I want your opinion on something." Piccolo kept his gaze to the floor as he explained.
"Oh, alright." Tien said as he looked up to Piccolo with slight concern.
Piccolo ignored Tien's glance and slowly returned his eyes to Gohan. He calmed a bit at Gohan's smile as Goku slowly talked more and more.
Later on, most everyone had cleared to give Goku time to rest properly. Piccolo even left when Goten was allowed to finally visit his dad for the first time, it had become a family moment; though mostly he left because Goku was about to dive into a well needed meal, and he would rather not endure that vision even as he knew that Chichi would be carefully feeding him piece by piece.
Piccolo was walking mostly aimlessly as he found himself inside the house about to ascend the stairs, thinking maybe he would try to fix the marks in Gohan's dresser. Before he made a second step up, his attention was caught by a clatter and whispered cursing in a room beside the staircase. He glanced through the partially opened door and spotted Videl resetting a pile of books on a small table. He stepped into the room and spoke up. "You should be resting. Your walk earlier must have stressed your scar plenty."
"And what am I to do while I rest? Stare at the window and hope a bird flies by now and then?" Videl asked. "I was looking for at least some puzzle set or a book that won't bore me."
"I believe there's a room full of games down another hall." Piccolo suggested.
Videl almost smiled but just shrugged and walked to the door. "Sounds fine enough. Can you show me where?"
Piccolo watched her walk past him with confusion. "Sure."
"Is Gohan with his father still? I heard everyone losing their minds throughout the house." Videl said as she strode down the hall.
"Yes. Goku's awake now so Gohan will be there a while." Piccolo answered.
"Good." Videl smiled before it fell back to annoyance.
Piccolo followed her into the room he gestured her towards. "Speak your mind already."
"I've been practicing keeping thoughts to myself more often." Videl said as she opened a couple boxes on the shelves. "It's best not to ruffle certain feathers."
"Has that done you good so far?" Piccolo asked as he crossed his arms. Videl was one of the few people he didn't hate hearing rant or talk on about something.
"Not really." Videl sighed as she set aside a third box of chess. "Just confuses everyone when I do and then they keep asking me what I'm thinking until I say it anyway. As you are now."
"Then?" Piccolo asked.
"So, you know about Gohan and his affections." Videl stated.
"Yes." Piccolo nodded knowing it was going to be about this. She had been friendly with him yesterday even as she was bleeding out and it all changed at the moment under the tree.
"Do you have an opinion about it?" Videl asked, her tone pressing her annoyance further. "You looked awful upset earlier, has it been like that the entire time you were both here?"
"It's actually been pretty calm while we were here. Gohan and I have talked about it." Piccolo answered.
"You can't just sweep him aside though." Videl said.
"I haven't been-" Piccolo started.
"You certainly didn't seem calm or welcome about the topic. Couldn't even appear neutral." Videl argued.
Piccolo took a deep breath. "You know I'm not emotional. I don't like talking about things like that in front of others. I don't brush off Gohan when it's just the two of us talking."
Videl considered the reply. "So, it was because I was there?"
Piccolo nodded. It was only a slight lie since his mood was already soured by the night before.
"You swear you're not upset by him then? Not even passively?" Videl asked her eyes and tone softening as she read him over.
"I swear it." Piccolo said.
Videl thought for a moment but soon said, "Thank you."
Piccolo almost wanted to say more but held to himself, seeing she was more or less satisfied with his answer. He took down the hall towards the stairs again and stopped when Tien came down the last steps holding his hand out as if to suggest he shouldn't go up. "Let's go have that chat."
Piccolo scrunched his brow but followed Tien through the halls and outside to the back of the building; out a side door that even staff didn't use. "You seem pressed."
Tien's lips drew to a thin line. "The staff are doing some room cleaning while everyone's occupied with Goku's progress; and I overheard a few of them talking."
"About?" Piccolo crossed his arms, waiting for the point to drop.
"My room is right across from Gohan's, and I heard them whispering about a damaged dresser." Tien said. "They're used to Vegeta and the kids causing trouble here and there, so I don't think they'll say anything to the others, but is that what you wanted to talk about? Is Gohan alright? Has he been angry or aggressive lately?"
Piccolo felt his heart stop and tensed to keep his face from giving him away. "No. It's nothing like that."
"They were a bit surprised by the damage and I can't imagine Gohan lashing out for anything." Tien stated.
"I damaged the dresser. Gohan is fine." Piccolo clenched his hands, almost digging into his ribs.
"Oh... Are you alright then?" Tien blinked his eyes and corrected himself.
Piccolo couldn't stop his sneer. He really didn't want to dive into how far from ok he was feeling, nor what moment had actually damaged the furniture. "I don't want to talk about the dresser."
"What did you want to ask me then?" Tien easily dropped the topic.
Piccolo glanced away; reassuring himself that he was confident and right to trust Tien. "I felt it might be fair… if I told you about Gohan and I, since I know about you and Yamcha. And I wanted an outside opinion that I could trust."
Tien was silent as he slowly swallowed the information. "You and… Gohan. In the same arrangement as Yamcha and I?"
"Yes." Piccolo said patiently waiting for Tien to process.
"Well, that makes what Yamcha said at dinner much worse doesn't it?" Tien grimaced.
"He didn't know what his words would mean." Piccolo sighed trying to forgive the confrontation.
"I assume you want this kept quiet. Should I keep it from him as well?" Tien asked.
Piccolo grunted. "You may tell him only if you can keep him from running it to anyone. Keep him from me as well. He's not very subtle with news or things he doesn't instantly agree with."
"I can understand that. What precisely do you want an opinion on? Just about you being with Gohan?" Tien asked.
"I don't feel I have the proper perspective for healthy relationships and that's the bare minimum I should give. I just want to request that if you notice anything improper or wrong, you step in or let me know so I can correct it." Piccolo explained.
Tien gave a small smile. "Alright. I'll do this for you."
Piccolo waited to hear a follow up reprimand or statement but when none came, he spoke up. "So, what's your initial opinion?"
"I'm not going to criticize your relationship so soon; I see nothing wrong. You two obviously care for each other a lot and you're both thorough with any decision. It's a solid foundation from where I stand; if you want to be romantic, then be so." Tien said. "Are you so worried that you think there's something to warrant me to immediately jump between you two?"
"Like I said..." Piccolo glanced away. He hadn't been prepared for such an instant support. "I don't have proper perspective."
"Maybe not for the average person or textbook relationship but I think you have more than enough perspective on yourself and Gohan. You both are the ones who know each other the best. Though I also know how it is to be unsure in a new and emotionally intense bond so, if it comforts you, I will speak up if I feel something is off." Tien stated and began to make his way back into the house. "I also promise not to bring up any broken furniture if you don't ask where Yamcha and I disappear to every now and then."
Piccolo closed his eyes and blushed. "Done."