Cell watched the sand in the hourglasses slowly fall. A little over half a year had passed. He folded his arms over his chest and took a deep breath.
The large one had warned him from going in here alone, but nothing had happened. No insanity or anything of the sort. But of course not. He was Perfect Cell. He didn't go insane.
He stepped back out into the white void, his footsteps echoing. He rolled his shoulder a moment before using the multi-form technique to produce a few others of himself to spar with.
He might not be going insane. But he certainly was lonely. He missed Poppy, he missed his son. He missed making them meals and he missed curling up behind Poppy in bed. He missed the feel of her skin, the smell of her hair… Gods.
Cell blocked the kicks of his clones, all of them looking as annoyed and disgruntled as him. He really did look pathetic with that mopy face. He made a disgusted sound, stopping. "This is the most pathetic thing I have ever had to look upon. It has been months and I still look like I only just got kicked out of my own house."
"Hmph. Well maybe if you knew how to keep your mouth shut." One of the clones interjected.
"'I want to kill them.'" One of the others parroted in a mocking tone, "How utterly moronic to even say such a thing right to her face."
"I don't need to be lectured by myself, thank you very much." Cell snapped.
"You could have just lied." the third added, speaking a thought that had been in Cell's head for months.
"A relationship built on lies is one doomed to fail." Cell retorted, "I have always been honest with her about who I was. I don't… I don't understand why that bothers her now. Before it didn't matter."
"It did matter. However everything we did was undone. She didn't have to live with the guilt of being with a killer because all those we killed were revived."
"Reversing the sin doesn't erase it."
"Oh you know how humans are. They love their arbitrary little rules of honor and morals. I would not be shocked if this has been eating at her for a long time."
As annoying as these conversations he always ended up having with himself were, the insight it gave to him was always useful. The clones joined back up with him, and Cell went back to training, alone this time.
He poised for another attack when he heard the door to the chamber open, he looked over his shoulder, frowning at Mr. Popo. "What is it? I am busy."
"I am sorry to intrude Mr. Perfect Cell, but I am afraid something rather serious has come up. You are needed."
Cell frowned but conceded, lowering his hands and following behind him. He stepped out, fresh, albeit thin, air filling his lungs.
"Dad!"
Cell blinked as his son ran up to him, he smiled and kneeled down, picking him up. "Mita, why are you here on the lookout?"
Mita turned around, pointing to Goku. "Mr. Goku brought us." He turned back to Cell, "Mr. Popo said that you were in there for months. Is that true? Did you miss me?"
Cell chuckled. "Of course I missed you. And yes, it is true." Cell kissed his son's cheek, the boy wrapping his arms around his neck tightly.
"I missed you dad. I heard you and momma yelling. I was afraid I would never see you again."
Cell frowned, holding Mita to him tighter. "Of course you would see me again."
"Cell?"
Cell turned to the patio table, Poppy sitting with a cup of tea in her hand. She put the cup down and ran up to him, hugging him tightly. Cell paused a moment, not sure what to do considering for her their fight had been less than a day before. He wasn't angry any longer but she might...
Screw it. She was holding him and he had missed her terribly. He wrapped his free arm around her, squeezing her close and pressing his face into her hair. He pulled away and pressed his nose to hers, nuzzling her softly before setting a kiss on the tip of her nose.
"I'm sorry." they both said at the same time.
"Why are you saying sorry?" Cell asked, smirking, "Last I checked I made the mistake."
"God… You don't even know why I'm sorry." Poppy said, touching his face, "I thought you hurt Gohan. I'm sorry. I should trust you more but what you said-."
Cell frowned, putting a finger on her lips to shush her. He hurt Gohan? He looked over, and sure enough Gohan was there, supporting a very obvious broken nose. "Who did that?"
Gohan grinned, the dried blood on his upper lip cracking. "Oh you know… You. An eviler you."
Korin showed up at that moment. "I got the senzu bean!" he said, the cat holding it up for Gohan, "You eat that up and you will be all better."
"An 'eviler' me hit Gohan?" Cell repeated, frowning, "That sounds like something from a very cliche science fiction movie."
"You know, I would agree if it wasn't for the fact I fought an evil me," Goku said. "So really anything seems to be possible."
Vegeta cleared his throat. "Alright fine. It was not 'our Cell'. What do we do about the other one?"
"I kill him," Cell said, smirking.
Everyone looked at him, and Cell laughed. "Me fighting myself? Can you imagine the challenge? I certainly can. And I am delighted by the thought."
"It won't be that easy. I may have…" Vegeta went red in the face, either rage or embarrassment, Cell was not sure.
"Once again, Vegeta messed up and now the Other Cell has a power boost, surpassing Super Saiyan Blue and putting him on the same level as Golden Frieza." Piccolo finished. "I would imagine only Ultra Instinct would be able to do him in now, but Goku has no idea how to do the offensive aspect of that intentionally."
"What is it with all of you and neglecting to tell me things you learn?" Cell asked, frowning.
"It's not like you could learn it. You think too much." Goku said, Cell scowling.
"Excuse me? How would that-"
"Gods, shut up! I didn't do it on purpose this time! It's not my fault he can regenerate from a single Cell," Vegeta snapped. "Besides, It's not that big of a power difference. We can still win if we hit him with all we have."
"We don't know for sure how big the boost he got was. Cell is known for holding back for the fun of it." Gohan wiped off his face. "I think we should get our loved ones up here. Keep them out of harm's way."
"I already contacted everyone." Dende said, "You are all welcome here as usual."
Gohan nodded, waving to them. "I'm going to get Videl and Pan. I'll be right back."
"I'll get Goten and Chi-Chi."
Cell watched them go, his hand moving to rest on Poppy's head. "Stay here. Alright?"
Poppy pouted at him. "It's not like I can leave. I can't fly."
Cell chuckled, leaning down and kissing her softly. "I missed you. I know for you it was only a few hours but-"
"Yeah yeah, time dilation. I know that much about it at least." She took Mita from him, the two of them looking up at him, "Be careful okay?"
"Of course." Cell turned and blasted off.
Mita looked up at Poppy, frowning. "Momma, I don't understand what's going on."
Poppy made a popping sound with her lips. "I don't either." she said, "I barely do when it comes to this bunch."
Mita closed his eyes and nodded like he knew what his mother meant. Poppy smiled at him and set him down on his feet. Would she be safe up here? Majin Buu had found the lookout so this Other Cell could too.
She stiffened. "Oh no."
"Is something wrong?" Mr. Popo inquired.
"My other kids!" Poppy looked at him and Dende, "I need to bring them here!"
"You have other kids?" Dende asked, looking her up and down a moment.
"I have seven other kids. They may be in danger too." She leaned in closer to Mr. Popo, "They live on the island 17 looks after. Please you have to take me there. If it's just you they will attack you!"
Dende spoke up. "You really should not leave the lookout. I would think this Cell will have an interest in you because-"
"I need to protect my children!"
Dende's ears went down and he and Mr. Popo exchanged glances. After a moment Dende sighed. "Mr. Popo, please quickly escort Miss Poppy to where her other children are located…"
Mr. Popo nodded, producing his magic carpet and stepping on. Poppy and Mita joined him and they flew off, Dende sighing again.
"She looks pretty good for a girl who shot out eight kids." Korrin said, Dende turning red at the statement.
