These Dreams
Part Twenty-Six
The first thing I remember when I opened my eyes was the feel of a hard body sleeping beneath me. I picked my head up and looked down. Piccolo had his head turned to one side, his face completely relaxed and his slender antennae draped gently in whichever way they chose to fall. Breath puffed gently in and out through his parted lips. Sometimes his face and eyelids twitched. His clear emerald skin contrasted against my white pillow.
Piccolo isn't without scars either. I realized this as I stared down at his face. Like Vegeta, they were slightly paler than the rest of his flesh. Only one marked his face - a thin vertical line between his antennae from the time I yanked on them to wake him up. I guess the split ran deeper than I thought. It's funny, the scar isn't visible unless his face relaxes. And you all know how Piccolo is always frowning about something. He needs a World's Sexiest Scowl award.
With one finger I traced the sharp curve of his ear and the abrupt point of his nose. I love doing that. Then I inched upwards to kiss the scar on his brow.
"You are the most gorgeous living thing I've ever seen..."
Piccolo stirred a little. He moved his arms off my body and shifted against the sheets. I quietly slid off the bed -and him- just in case he decided to roll over. But he didn't. He just moved his legs around and sighed.
Piccolo is sleeping naked on my bed. It just doesn't get any better than this, I grinned to myself. Piccolo is so tall his feet reached way beyond the foot of the mattress! He looked so comfortable all stretched out like that, one arm behind his head, the other on his muscular chest, legs bent slightly and his ahem flopped over to one side. Either it was standing up and going limp or limp and starting to stand up. Couldn't decide. But dammit, it made him look so relaxed after a nice round of lovemaking. Hehe! I wish I had a camera...
I quit gawking. Took the pill I had set up next to my computer and started getting dressed. Gray DBZ T-shirt and jean shorts. Then I donned all my usual jewelry - ring on each finger and my gold watch. I checked the time. Nine-fifteen. The time I normally wake up in the morning. Good, my routine won't be too messed up after all.
Nothing much happened until I went into the bathroom. I started hearing the sheets move. A little grunt-sigh. The rustle of clothes being put on. I'd just flushed the toilet when Piccolo ducked out into the hallway, looking pretty disheveled. Antennae hanging in his face. Barefoot. Belt undone. Pants hanging loose and shirt un-tucked. For some reason I found that look to be incredibly sexy. He immediately assumed 'The Position' in front of the toilet.
I saw him and gasped, "Uh-uh!" And put the toilet seat up. "Always put the seat up before you go. Otherwise you'll make a mess. Just make sure to put it down when you're done."
Piccolo scowled down at the toilet, "You women are impossible."
"I know." I giggled, sliding out to give him some privacy. I headed out into the kitchen, poured a bowl of Cocoa Krispies and munched away. Cutie Pie finished scraping around in the litter box, which is set up right by the back door. She slithered out, shook herself and headed for my bedroom, fuzzy black tail held erect behind her.
As usual Piccolo didn't bother to flush the toilet when he finished. He just came wandering out to the kitchen, adjusting his clothing as he went. "Where did your mother go?"
"Church." Munch, munch, munch. "She does volunteer work there. Feeding poor people and stuff. My mom would take her left arm off and give it to an armless stranger if they asked her to."
"Hm." Piccolo eyed my cereal and touched his stomach. It growled. Loud. Had he been in the Anime world right now, I think he would've sweatdropped. "I don't think I'll ever get used to this hunger thing."
That made me laugh. "Sit at the table and hang on a sec."
He did so. The wooden chair creaked in protest. Crunching from the kibbles bowl echoed the creak. I glanced over and saw my black kitty, Dickens, gobbling away. She stopped eating. Approached Piccolo's feet, sniffed cautiously and made a hasty retreat to go hide somewhere. Probably under mom's bed.
I poured a second bowl of cereal and set it down on the table in front of him. Then I handed him the spoon and sat down opposite to him. Piccolo watched me eat for quite some time. Probably to see how I got the food from the bowl to my mouth. He copied me. The only differences is he slurped. A lot. Kind of funny.
"Just so you know, Piccolo, that stuff is chocolate-flavored."
Piccolo licked his spoon and gazed across the table at me. "It's not too bad. What about the leftover milk?"
"Like this, big guy." I put my spoon down, picked up my bowl and drank. Piccolo did the same. He then presented me with the biggest milk-mustache in history. Kind of brownish-white. A sweep of his tongue removed it.
An awkward, uncomfortable silence came between us. Nothing but the soft ticking of mom's teddy bear clock on the wall behind me and dull roaring sounds of the freeway filtering in through the open kitchen window. I didn't dare think too much for fear of Piccolo picking up on my thoughts. Instead, silently, I stared across the table at the handsome green creature sitting in my kitchen.
His features looked a little more mature than they did when we first met. Except in over ten years(his time) he only changed as much as a person between their freshman and senior years of high school. Which isn't much, unless of course the person alters their hairstyle/color, got glasses, etc. Come to think of it...his features made him look like someone from India or Saudi Arabia. Same lithe features and, of course, his clothes. Had he been human he probably would've had very tan skin, thick eyebrows and gorgeous black hair falling all around his shoulders and back.
But I liked him better as a Namek.
An idea hit me. "Hey, Piccolo? Let's watch a movie. I have one with a lot of cool ki-like fighting in it...you'll like it."
That got his attention. "Oh?"
I picked our bowls up and dumped them in the kitchen sink. "Yeah, hold on."
A moment later, Piccolo and I were sitting on the living room floor in front of the TV. Well, he sat in his usual lotus position...I was cuddled up against his side. I think he only tolerated my affection. Our eyes were glued to the TV screen. Techno music blasted from the speakers.
Piccolo picked up the movie box and examined the cover. "Mortal Kombat?"
I gave one of his antennae a gentle flick. "Trust me on this one."
"Whatever you say." He looked
again at the screen, his tongue working against the inside of his cheek.
White credits rolled up against a black background. The movie's theme song banged out its rhythm.
Piccolo glanced down at me, "Surprisingly, I liked that. Usually I can't stand movies," He chuckled, amused, "That Goro guy reminded me a little of Void..."
"Heh, well he does have four arms. Just how he is." I went through the routine of rewinding the tape and shoving it back into the box.
A grunt sounded behind me. "I think you need something more...with all that jewelry you wear."
"Eh?"
He pointed to my feet and...flash! Suddenly I had a toe ring on each toe(except my big toes) and three silver anklets on each ankle. One of which was a little circlet with a tiny bell between each shooting star charm. Wow, I always wanted toe rings and anklets! Especially ones that fit!
I dove at Piccolo, catching him in a huge hug, "Oh my God! They're so cute!"
"I - OOF!"
Grinning, I gave him a smooch and poked his nose. "See? You're a great guy."
Piccolo's nose twitched when I poked it. He glared at me, tightening his curvy lips until folds appeared around them. Even though he knew it wouldn't deter my affection. Finally he took something from his belt. I felt pressure against my back pocket as he tucked something into it and gave my butt a little pat.
"What is - "
"Read it later," the green man said, his sexy bass voice right in my ear. Then he stood to his towering seven-foot height and tugged me upright as well. No effort at all. To him I probably weighed less than a kitten and the crown of my head was just a smidgen higher than the top of his light-blue belt.
"How's the air up there?" I teased.
Piccolo just shook his head and smirked at my joke. The smirk faded quickly. He gazed down at me with serious gray eyes. "It's time, Cyndi."
The blood drained from my face. I felt as if invisible hands just pulled everything inside me down into the floor. I choked up. This was the moment I'd been dreading. The moment I'd been trying to put off for as long as I could. Here stood the one person in the world who understood how I thought, felt and experienced things...and I couldn't be with him.
Walking from the living room to my bedroom seemed like miles. Piccolo got there before I did. I entered just in time to see him sweep his weighted cape on. The only thing I thought to do was to stand on my bed and brush his antennae back for him while he donned his heavy turban.
Piccolo seated himself on my bed to pull his shoes on. The lump in my throat grew. I sat down behind him and pressed my cheek against his strong back. His cape was soft against my face. Holding my tears back became impossible.
And I cried. Hard.
Piccolo didn't move. He just sat there, letting me cry against his back. Lending me some of his strength. Suddenly the world shifted. I found myself huddled close to a muscular chest. Strong arms cradled me. Cradled me.
"Shhh," his calm voice entered my ear. "Goodbyes aren't always forever, Cyndi. You know that as well as I do."
"But I don't want to go for three years without seeing you!" I blubbered back. "That was like...seventeen years, your time."
Ever-changing eyes smiled down at me. "And nothing changed between us, did it?"
My tears gradually quieted. The choking sobs faded to shivers. I kept my face buried against his chest and listened to the sounds of his heartbeat and breathing. He held me for quite some time. It made me realize this was just as hard for him as it was for me.
Piccolo's grasp relaxed. I heard rustling sounds. Next thing I knew he was standing with his back to me while I remained sitting on the bed. Without a view of his face I had no way of knowing what he was feeling. The only hints were his hands - tapered fingers rippling and finally clenching into fists.
"Piccolo? Don't hide from me now. Tell me what you're feeling...please?"
He turned to face me. Slowly. There were tears on his face, too. One on each cheek. A swipe of his hand removed them. "We'll meet again...soon." It sounded like more like self-reassurance than a hard fact. He hardened his expression a little. Dark hawk-fierce eyes fixed themselves on mine. "Close the box after I get through."
I looked down at the silver box on the floor. Its stainless steel outer covering shimmered. Sitting inside was the velvet bag containing the necklace. All I had to do was flip the lid shut.
Nodding my head, I stood up on my bed and hugged him fiercely. Piccolo hugged me back just as tight. So tight that he lifted me right off the bed. I turned my head and kissed him. Hard. Desperate. His response was just as intense. So powerful his fangs grazed my lips and tongue. There was nothing but the sensation of his warm, wet mouth moving against mine. I never wanted it to end.
Piccolo's lips started pulling away. I leaned forward to recapture them. He put me down, but remained bent over while I kissed him. His leathery hand brushed up against my cheek and his heavy cape fell around us both.
I felt his lips begin to move away from mine. I let him go this time. Piccolo straightened and looked down. He held me in his gaze for an eternity. Those dark eyes of his...deep gray with silver flecks near the pupils...reminded me of outer space. My eyes are blue - sometimes I wonder what they reminded him of, but I never asked.
"I'll come back to see you real soon, kid. I promise." He repeated what he'd said earlier.
"O-okay...when? How?"
The frown creasing his brow relaxed. I watched him flash a sarcastic, closed-mouth smile. Like he knew the punchline of a joke only he understood. He bent down to eye-level with me, winked one eye shut and said, "You'll see. Trust me."
That got a smile out of me. "I'll be waiting."
Piccolo nodded, touched my cheek and stood up. He faced the rippling mirror sitting in front of my dresser. I grabbed onto his solid forearm with both hands and held on while he ducked into the swirling portal. His skin slipped against mine. Soon I held only his red-ringed wrist. Then his hand. Then his fingers. I kissed his emerald fingertips just a second before they slipped from my grasp.
"I love you, Piccolo!" I shouted into the mirror. My lower lip quivered and his image blurred. God, this is so hard!
Piccolo - now Anime - glanced over his shoulder. He smiled at me, made a fist as if to say 'stay strong' and continued on his way, majestic white cape swishing gently against his ankles. I watched him step up into the Lookout kitchen and turn around. Still smiling that sarcastic, almost mischievous little smile of his. What did he find so funny?
I'll find out soon.
I lifted up the little silver box. Piccolo nodded to me. We were still looking into each others' eyes when I pushed the lid shut. My mirror instantly went solid. The only thing gazing at me now was my own reflection. Piccolo had stepped out of my life again.
But not forever.
Then I remembered the note he tucked into my pocket. Did waiting until he left count as 'later'? That's probably what he meant. I reached into my pocket, retrieved the creased white paper and unfolded it to reveal his sloppy, yet graceful handwriting.
My heart swelled and overflowed into my eyes. The paper shook in my hands. Only three words were written there. The three words Piccolo's pride would never let him say to my face. I don't have to repeat them...you already know what they are.
I crushed the note against my chest and looked across the room at my Piccolo poster. His scent still filled my room. Desert dust with a hint of salt.
And soon...I'd be smelling it from its source once again. Very soon.
I scrambled over my bed, booted up the computer and started writing.