Gohan focused on the crisp sheets he rolled between his fingers, trying to empty his head enough to sleep. His tail couldn't even seem to be still as it bobbed under the sheets with small flicks. It was long after sunset and he could hear the rain beat on the windows. Every now and then he had risked a glance of Piccolo standing and watching out one of them, a slight reflection of the tall man on the glass with trails of rain running through.
"Are you still awake?" Piccolo asked with a bit of annoyance to it.
"Are you still standing by the window?" Gohan returned as he sat up, he bit his cheek a bit when Piccolo turned to him with a brow raised. "My head won't slow down."
"Mmm. What do you usually do to help?" Piccolo asked as he stepped closer.
"Read a book but without any of mine here I'll just have to suffer." Gohan answered.
Piccolo turned his head and closed his eyes as he reached into his shirt and pulled out a small book. He tossed it onto the bed and returned to the window. Gohan picked up the book curious by the whole moment. He was surprised to recognize it as the book he had continued to forget at the coffee shop.
"You carried it this whole time?" Gohan asked.
"You kept leaving it behind." Piccolo smirked.
"You've also read it I see." Gohan's smile almost hurt when he saw the gently folded corners.
"I was curious what kind of books you read." Piccolo answered thankful for the darkened room to hide his embarrassment. "Imagine my surprise to find you'd been reading romance novels in my shop."
"I-I was reading a whole variety not just this one." Gohan flustered. "I don't think I really felt anything… back that far. I-uh…"
"You don't need to defend yourself." Piccolo approached the bed, his smirk slightly uneven with a subtle blush on his cheeks. "I know you were just as shocked as I was when your friends confronted you about romantic intentions."
Gohan paled. "Oh gods you did hear it."
"Doesn't make any difference if I heard it or not. She was right in the end." Piccolo said.
Gohan ran a hand through his hair, his face tinged pink. "Very true… and now everything has been said between us."
"It has." Piccolo nodded.
Gohan looked conflicted as he shifted his eyes to the side. "Can I ask for something selfish then?"
"You may." Piccolo replied.
Gohan moved forward and patted the space of the mattress behind him. "Sit here?"
Piccolo blushed before he nodded again and slipped behind Gohan, his legs to either side. Gohan nervously pulled Piccolo's arms around himself. They sat for a moment in silence, Piccolo slowly relaxing into the position, his thumb now rubbing Gohan's arm as it did in the carriage earlier.
"Is this supposed to help you sleep?" Piccolo whispered his deep voice right next to Gohan's ear.
"I thought it might." Gohan forced a small laugh.
"I think your heart is beating too fast for that." Piccolo teased.
"Maybe if I over excite myself, I'll exhaust my head enough." Gohan theorized as he sunk into Piccolo's chest. "Let me know if you're uncomfortable."
Piccolo took a deep breath, fighting his old reactions to run from the tingling warmth in his body. It helped seeing his presence comfort Gohan. "I'll be fine."
"We should probably talk about where the boundaries are now." Gohan whispered. "Things you still are firm on that I shouldn't do."
"You're still worried about upsetting me." Piccolo stated.
Gohan sunk into himself. He could feel his tail trying to curl around Piccolo but he fought it's every twitch. "… well you did say yourself that you weren't sure where it ended so it might still be pretty restricting and I don't want to trigger-"
Piccolo firmly squeezed his arms and legs around Gohan. He whispered with a light thunderous growl. "Do you think I'd agree to something if I thought I wouldn't be able to feel what you feel? If you keep questioning what I'm willing to do for you, to do for that feeling you give me, I might get impatient to prove it. After how I opened up to you today and hearing you out I thought we were on the same ground but you keep acting like you're in danger of me shutting you out. The only thing you are at risk of is me getting too addicted to you." His voice slowly softened. "You don't need to be nervous. I'll try anything you want to and we'll figure everything out together. Do you think I'm that delicate?"
"Of course not." Gohan answered.
"Then put away your nerves." Piccolo said.
"So you're not nervous?" Gohan asked as he scrunched his brow.
Piccolo was silent a moment before replying "I am, a little; but I also realized that I know you better than any fear I could have. You're still not reacting the way I worried you would, so I shouldn't withhold myself. That's what you wanted right?"
"Yes." Gohan said.
Piccolo could practically feel Gohan still fight his apprehension. He loosened his arms and turned Gohan to face him. "You spend too much time thinking about everything. Now you've thought yourself into a cycle of anxiety. I will reassure you everyday if I have to. I know I'm the last anyone would suspect of being emotional and it's difficult to believe me."
"It's not that I don't believe you. I'm fighting myself, not any doubt about what you said or how you feel." Gohan explained.
"Why?" Piccolo asked.
"Even if you agree to explore this type of relationship with me," Gohan started his face reddening as he went "there are things that should be taken slowly. As excited as I am, I- I should be patient."
"You're forcing yourself to slow down?" Piccolo asked.
"Yes." Gohan said.
Piccolo thought over Gohan's words before saying. "If it is yourself you are fighting, then you need to challenge yourself."
"What?" Gohan asked, confusion painting his face.
Piccolo crossed his arms over his chest. "Challenge yourself, give yourself permission to act. You're restricting yourself too much. Take the first step."
"But-" Gohan blushed.
"You're hesitating." Piccolo interrupted, becoming more demanding. "Act."
"I can't just-" Gohan gripped the back of his neck.
"What's your first step? Break through your hesitance." Piccolo instructed.
"Well I would-" Gohan tried to speak again, his mind racing to answer Piccolo.
"Do it! Act." Piccolo was nearly yelling now as he spoke clear and firm. To his surprise Gohan moved instead of answering. Hands cradling either side of Piccolo's face as he was pulled into a kiss. He didn't get much time to react or think about what he was feeling before Gohan pulled away.
Gohan frowned at Piccolo's still expression, sure that the ear flicks were of annoyance. "Sorry, I just-… You kept going and I thought that might have been what you were telling me to do so I just… did it."
Piccolo put a knuckle to his lips, trying to preserve whatever memory of the sensation he could. What kind of feeling was that? He sifted through his thoughts though it was becoming harder to do as his senses were now much more perceptive than usual. He could hear almost anything around the house and it bothered his ears. He soon focused his eyes on Gohan who was stumbling through apologies. Piccolo didn't say anything and just pulled Gohan closer again, re-enacting the kiss. He indulged in it, holding it longer than the first.
"So you didn't hate that I… kissed you?" Gohan whispered after they parted. He gingerly put his fingers to Piccolo's hand over the nape of his neck as if begging to keep it there.
"No." Piccolo said, his eyes shifting back and forth looking into Gohan's.
"You look confused." Gohan said.
"I didn't expect it to… feel the way it does." Piccolo answered.
"Nice I hope." Gohan chuckled softly.
"Yes." Piccolo smirked. "Just a lot nicer than I had thought they were supposed to be."
"I was happily surprised too." Gohan said.
"So that was your first step?" Piccolo asked.
"I was going to let the whole… courting settle in first and then ask you about things like that." Gohan felt his face burn. "But I may have become a bit impatient with the excitement of it all."
"I think I can understand that." Piccolo smiled. "I will tell you if I need you to slow down alright? Other than that, when we're alone, I don't think you need to be worried."
Gohan nodded with a sheepish grin. "Alright."
Piccolo seemed to frown slightly with a sigh. "The one time I don't want to escape an emotional moment, something else arises."
"What do you mean?" Gohan asked.
"There's a commotion downstairs. I think the rest of the team might have caught up with us. I should go see what's happened since we left." Piccolo explained.
Gohan squeezed Piccolo's hand, still held at the back of his head. "Come back when you're done?"
Piccolo gave a low chuckle. "You should hopefully be asleep by then but yes, I'll come back."
Piccolo grit his teeth, standing straight and firm, trying not to show his shock at the sight just outside the main front doors. The rain couldn't dull the sounds of Yamcha yelling down at Krillin, only offering an uncomfortably damp chill to everyone. 18 stood behind Krillin and supported an unconscious stranger on her shoulder, someone Piccolo had yet to meet. Kami was beside and tending to Goku who was set to the ground, still sedated.
When he had grown tired of the shouting he called for their attention. His arms crossed tight as he looked down over everyone. "Enough! Explain what's going on!"
"He has lost his mind!" Yamcha declared. He ran his hands through his hair, trying to calm down, as he paced in a small circle.
"She's in as much danger as the rest of us." Krillin stated, his stern attention now on Piccolo; a man he knew could listen to reason.
"She's why we've been in danger this whole time! She could be pulling you along and I can't believe you would fall for it!" Yamcha practically screamed.
Piccolo inspected Krillin's stance and expression, reading him for any doubt, as Yamcha went off. He glanced once to 18, she certainly acted different and was unable to really look at any of them. Before he could come to his own conclusion, Kami spoke up.
"Give her a chance." Kami stood, his robe soaked and looking almost heavy enough to pull him back down.
"But-!" Yamcha began to argue.
"If he says we let her stay, we let her stay." Piccolo ordered as he glowered over Yamcha. "Take Goku to the medical building and tell Bulma exactly how long you left him laying in freezing rain and mud."
Yamcha hadn't the courage to argue any longer under the malice in Piccolo's eyes and voice. He gave a short nod and hastily moved to get Goku and run to the next building.
"Thank you." Krillin sighed.
"Don't thank me yet." Piccolo said, his expression and tone still firm. He turned to speak to 18. "Your stay will be short. You understand that no one here trusts you so it will be uncomfortable. You are also banned from this main building."
"I think I'm the one who decides any of that!" Bulma argued rushing down the steps from the now open doors. She was an odd view for the dark and tense scene; too pretty for the mood as the jewel trims of her red gown shined by the lightening flashing in the distance.
"Fine, just know she's who we've been fighting for weeks but now Krillin and Kami have argued for her to stay with us." Piccolo explained.
Bulma took a breath to quickly think before replying. "I've decided to agree with Piccolo. This building is off limits until further notice."
"I understand." 18 said calmly. She had thought they were all crazy when they agreed to let her stay. But seeing how they debated with each other, listening to even the weaker fighters… it tugged on some unknown emotion in her. "Can I ask for help with my friend?"
"What kind of help does he need?" Bulma asked stepping closer to inspect the stranger.
"Someone who knows machines or robots." 18 answered.
"I can help in that regard. Follow me to my lab." Bulma began heading down the road.
"Goku's in medical and needs your attention too." Piccolo stated.
"Alright." Bulma nodded her thanks for the notice and began to walk with more purpose. 18 followed easily even with the larger 16 on her arm.
Krillin was about to follow as well until Piccolo spoke up. "You're going to tell me exactly what happened."
"Yes, you said she was in danger?" Kami asked, gesturing for them to head inside.
"You vouched for her and you didn't know why Krillin brought her to us?" Piccolo glared at the elder.
"She was born with as much right to live in safety as anyone else. She's also made mistakes as we all have. That shouldn't take away her right to protection or a chance to make the better choices." Kami said giving only a short glance to Piccolo before taking a seat on a bench in the main hall. Piccolo was silenced by the words, knowing the hint of rebuke was for Kami himself and not to reprimand Piccolo.
Krillin closed the doors behind them and wiped as much rain from his head as he could. He let out a long sigh and sat in a nearby chair before beginning his explanation.
Gohan wondered how long Piccolo would be gone. He tried to focus on the sound of the rain hitting his windows but the excitement still sent goosebumps over his skin. He kissed me. That was real. He tried rolling around in the sheets to smother it and calm down but it only seemed to stimulate him more. Everything was sensitive. He could hear his own heartbeat beneath his burning skin. He touched his lip after I kissed him. The way he pulled me into it... oh no.
His mind replayed the moment over and over as his body shivered. He clenched one hand on his thigh to try and still himself. The warm pressure caused his hips to jerk backwards into the mattress. Last time I was like this all night, if I don't do something Piccolo will find me like this. Although… he didn't seem to object to me feeling like this about him. Maybe I can take care of it this time and… His hand slowly moved over his skin. Gohan let out a shuddered gasp. No! I should be smarter and more considerate about this. He said he was going to come back. I shouldn't let him catch me but I can't stop now.
He looked around the room and spotted a second door. A closet might work. When he opened it, it was a small room with a porcelain seat and water closet. A personal indoor privy? Bulma really does have everything. Gohan closed himself inside, feeling more comfortable in the privacy it gave him.
Promising himself to be quick before Piccolo returned, he succumbed to his physical needs.