"What did you think of?" Gohan asked, hopeful for any good information.
"There are flasks of the fluid used to awaken 17 and 18. They are failed attempts but should help give a head-start to how to construct the perfected solution." 16 explained.
"That's great! Where are they?" Gohan smiled brightly.
"They're kept in-" 16 began to say but was interrupted by Piccolo.
"The small closet with bird sketches?" Piccolo held up two jars. "These ones, correct?"
"Those are the ones, yes." 16 affirmed.
Piccolo nodded and set them on Bulma's desk as he was followed by Vegeta, carrying the computer tower. "She isn't here then?"
"She took a break after Videl stabilized." Gohan explained.
"I'll go get her then." Vegeta declared and set the computer down before leaving.
Piccolo crossed his arms as he eyed between 16 and the others. "Good to see you standing again."
"Thank you." Videl smiled. "So, what are the jars for?"
"They might help us decipher and reconstruct Gero's recipe that might wake my dad up." Gohan answered happily. "This is a big step."
Piccolo approached and stood seemingly between 16 and the two as he looked into Goku's room. "Once he's awake, he can stop Gero. Then we can help all of the people Gero hurt."
"This is finally coming to an end?" Videl asked.
"I hope so." Gohan said.
Videl was cleared to leave her medical bed and was given a room in the main house by the time the sun had set. Bulma would begin a second shift at her desk, plugging away at Gero's computer for the missing information. Gohan was already asleep when Piccolo entered his room. He closed the door softly and sighed. Another long day; of course there were more ahead, but he hoped it would end happily and peacefully enough that they could all finally have normal days again soon.
Is that too simple to wish for? Piccolo thought over how his life had changed; going from wanting too much to wanting too little and now he wasn't sure if he balanced out. He looked over Gohan, a hand and knee on the bed to lean over him, and smirked at the stupid happy face. Another contemplated thought played in his mind, before he pressed his forehead to Gohan's. Will I really figure this out if I keep making Gohan take the lead? Or is that still just letting him have what he wants without considering myself? Thinking and thinking… I should take my own advice, and act.
Piccolo held his breath as he placed a kiss to Gohan's cheek. His heart barely dared to beat as he deciphered his feelings and thoughts. He could feel warmth in his chest slowly burning through him; his hands tingling and his legs turning weak. It was a stronger feeling than the other kiss he gave Gohan.
Why does this one feel different? He blushed as he retreated from the bed, backing away slowly and nearly bumping into the dresser. A glance down to it and he felt his body stiffen at the claw marks he had inscribed to its wood. He curled into himself a bit at the memory of that moment, his skin tingling. Unlike previous times he recalled it, he allowed himself to sink into it. The excitement as he recalled each gasp and moan Gohan gave him. He gripped his arms over his chest in an effort to contain himself. Even the memory is so much… but I might, want more.
"Piccolo?" Gohan whispered as he slowly sat up and cleared an eye with his fingertips, trying to spot Piccolo in the dark.
"He's awake. Might as well enjoy him if you really want him."
Piccolo froze at the voice. He curled his nails tight into his hand to maintain what little calm he could. He answered softly, thankful for the darkness hiding his face. "I'm here. Go back to sleep."
Gohan gave a sleepy smile and hum before dropping back onto his pillow. Piccolo could feel himself shaking as he waited to be sure Gohan was completely asleep before hastily leaving the room.
"So, we only have one enemy now? The Gero man?" Videl asked as she sliced an apple and ate the small wedge. She and Gohan sat under an apple tree on a small hill, looking over part of the estate.
"Yes, and he's much worse than the twins." Gohan said. He kept glancing around at any movement and person. Piccolo hadn't spoken to him all day let alone seen him and he was growing a bit worried. He figured he must be somewhere talking to Tien or helping with Gero's computer and chose not to bother him.
"I got that feeling yesterday; more so when I saw how your father was. Seeing it gives a whole different context than just by the word of others." Videl frowned. "But things are looking good now, right? Miss Briefs will heal your father and he can fix the situation like he has many times before?"
Gohan grinned at the thought. "I can't wait. It feels like it's been forever since he was walking around and laughing at everything. It's not normal to see him even slightly sick."
"I remember all the stories my father used to tell me when he had the chance outside of work." Videl handed a slice of apple to Gohan. "Of course, he tried to claim more credit so that I could be proud of him, but I always saw through his fibs. It was endearing sometimes though. Maybe it was just reflex for how he tells it to other people."
"He made life easier for my dad that way. Dad is horrible when he talks to large crowds." Gohan chuckled.
"Now, confide in me. If I return home without anything to tell Erasa, she will pester me until my ears bleed." Videl stated.
"Confide what?" Gohan picked up his own apple and attempted to hide his knowing and embarrassed face with an eager bite of it.
"I don't know; has it been weird being around Piccolo so much and hiding your affections at the same time? Have you said anything to him or even hinted to it maybe? Romantic things like that." Videl answered.
"Well..." Gohan blushed. How am I supposed to answer those?
"I don't think it's a good idea for you to be going home anytime soon." A voice called down from the branches above them. Gohan almost choked on the apple, instantly recognizing the voice as Piccolo's. "Gero is out killing people and fighting normal looters is dangerous enough for you. Like everyone else, you'll be safer here."
Gohan stood to his feet and locked his eyes to Piccolo's, spotting him easily among the leaves and fruit. He was practically huddled in the nook of a few branches, his back to the trunk of the tree. "Piccolo, I-I didn't notice you were-"
"I wanted somewhere quiet to meditate." Piccolo interrupted.
"Oh, of course. We can leave if you prefer." Gohan smiled despite his flustered thoughts. He was more than willing to cut the awkward moment short and just talk it over another time.
Videl looked between Gohan and Piccolo as they began walking away. She spoke quietly to keep as much of their conversation between them and not bother Piccolo further. "I'm sorry Gohan. I didn't mean to-"
"It's fine, really." Gohan rubbed the back of his neck with a nervous grin. "Erasa already has uh… essentially told him."
"She did what?" Videl asked, her eyes blinking as if to clear the nonsense from her head. "He knows already? What has he said about it?"
"Just that he had overheard her when she was confronting me about how I was acting around him and that I was a little obvious with my feelings." Gohan said.
"No, I mean what has he said about you having affections for him? I basically just gutted you and laid out your one secret before him and he looked far from comfortable let alone understanding." Videl clarified.
"Oh, I think he's just tired. He's basically been acting as leader since my dad's condition and… tensions are a little high for everyone." Gohan rattled out any reply that might divert from telling all. This is different than just not telling anyone. I don't want to lie but I might have to. She seems concerned about how he's handling my affections. "He hasn't really had much time alone and that's precious for him. I promise he's not treating me different."
Videl scrutinized him and his words. With one last glance to the tree far behind them now, she said "I've decided I'm staying but not because he thinks it's a good idea."
"Videl, you really-" Gohan began before he was interrupted by her.
"I want to be sure there isn't any hint of discontent or malice or any slight version of the like." Videl declared. "I haven't known you as long as anyone else here, but I can read you like a paper pamphlet. Sweet, kind, unimposing, and a bit delicate."
"What?" Gohan asked as his eyes scrunched, trying to picture the comparison.
"He's always been your hardcover, right? Protected you and all that? Well now that he's whom you are weak for allow me to be your hardcover." Videl said.
"That is very kind, but why the book parallels?" Gohan asked.
"You like reading, so I thought you might like it and once I began, I couldn't stop." Videl grinned.
Gohan laughed. "Thank you but your gesture is unnecessary."
"Well, I've decided it anyway." Videl said and confidently strode down the path.
Bulma rubbed her neck as she leaned over the keyboard. "He has too many files in here. I thought it would be in the ones marked for 17 and 18 but it's barely organized."
"Gero did make so much that he no longer needed to look at his notes. He may have saved it elsewhere to keep other files more convenient to find." 16 said as he stood nearby.
"I mean sure, you make enough cookies, you will eventually have it memorized; but at least anyone else knows to keep your recipe cards organized in the box with other recipe cards." Bulma sighed in her frustration. "I should have found it by now."
"Will you allow me to assist?" 16 asked.
Bulma glanced up at him with a brow raised. He had made the offer a few times through the night, but she was a little hesitant to permit him. She knew he could probably be just as helpful as 18 had, but there was an unknown to how a fully autonomous robot built by your enemy might act or sabotage you.
It wasn't long before 18, who tucked herself into a far corner of the room, spoke up. "Let him. He's not loyal to Gero and he's not programmed to withhold information."
Bulma nodded and stepped away to let 16 handle the computer. She had read the file on 18 and understood that 18 wanted Gero taken care of more than any of them did. That was enough for Bulma to trust her.
18 watched 16 plug some cord from his arm into the computer, forcing a search function. She was right that he didn't have security functions nor loyalty. He was simple; just a machine made to look like a person. She knew he wasn't built to make choices or have emotions. Gero's orders were not his fault, but it hurt when she recalled all the moments she was paralyzed on the table and watching him help the old bastard. Whenever her and 17 escaped, he was the one dragging them back to the lab, tying them down, drugging them with Gero's mixtures.
She could remember few of the moments before Gero altered her and her brother permanently. When they were still kids without homes or families that Gero had made promises to. Giving them what they needed with vague assurances that he only 'wanted to make them better'. 16 seemed a lot bigger back then with a different quality to him. She could remember moments he smiled at her or gave her a small flower to cheer her up. She always shrugged them off as warped by everything Gero had put in her body; but it still kept instilling a hope that he cared about them. That he was kind and another victim of Gero that had been further down the dehumanized path. Unable do anything to help them.
18 had learned to hate the feeling of hope. It only led to false daydreams and disappointment. She closed her eyes and sighed. None of it was worth fussing over now. There wasn't any point to complaining about lost chances. She opened her eyes again when she heard Krillin return to the room. He smiled to her and handed her a cup of hot tea. She accepted it without words and just let the steam mask over her face and warm her cheeks.
After a moment's thought, she spoke only for Krillin to hear. "Thank you… for trusting me to be alone yesterday."
"Of course." Krillin said. "Hey, if I'm too much company, let me know."
"No." 18 said and then took a sip of her tea. "I think I prefer you to any of the others."
Krillin chuckled. "Thanks, but I mean it. If you need time to yourself, just say so."
18 said nothing more after. She was thankful for the moment while she felt her weakest and suffered the loss of her brother, but she had also never truly been alone before and everything only hurt more when she was. Something about Krillin's company was comforting, though she'd never speak it aloud. His friends would surely say he was keeping close to watch her for any suspicions or taking responsibility for bringing her to their haven from Gero's hell; but he never felt like that to her. She had had that kind of supervision from 16 but Krillin was very different. Maybe he filled a void she didn't know she had, or maybe he was just the least annoying to be around of Goku's crowd. She wouldn't be able to say why or how, but for the time being she wouldn't fight his presence.
It was a few hours later when Gohan slowly climbed the tree. He pulled himself up onto the branch Piccolo had perched on, despite Piccolo obviously pulling away and turning his face to the side; signaling he was comfortable in his lonely space. Gohan settled and finally took in Piccolo's appearance and aversion to company. He was in civilian clothes, finally having changed from his gi and running errands the last week.
"I apologize for earlier." Gohan said. "I forgot to tell you that Videl also knows how I feel about you, but she isn't aware of us or such."
"I wasn't worried you would tell her anything." Piccolo said.
"Did Tien say something?" Gohan asked, trying not to lean too far forward or slide off the branch. He only just remembered how long it had been since he climbed a tree.
"No. I haven't seen him." Piccolo answered. He kept his face turned to the side and his eyes mostly shut as if to pretend he was still trying to meditate.
"Is something else wrong then?" Gohan asked with scrunched brows. He leaned only a bit to try and look into Piccolo's face fully.
"Are you worried why I suddenly took to a quiet day in a tree? I thought you might want to spend the day with Videl. She had a close call and you deserve at least one day with your own friends instead of being spoken over by your father's." Piccolo said. It was clear Gohan was going to worry about him and confront him, so of course he had taken some time to think of scenarios and answers to give.
"I have done nothing but spend time with friends. Do not forget you're one as well." Gohan laughed as he dared hop to his feet.
Piccolo opened his eyes only then and watched him climb through the higher branches. "Am I still?"
"Of course. Just because we're in a relationship does not mean that we stopped being friends." Gohan said as he leapt one last time and finally poked his head through the top of the leaves.
"Why are you climbing? You can fly." Piccolo asked as he gave into curiosity and followed him.
"There's a simple joy to just climbing a tree, and the sky is lovely." Gohan chuckled. Piccolo soon breached the treetop with him and looked out. "It's not as nice as that one sunset when you decided to give me my first lesson on flying."
Piccolo was a bit surprised by the memory but smiled softly for it.
"Finally." Gohan whispered as he looked fondly at Piccolo. He picked up Piccolo's hand and kissed his knuckles. "A smile."
Piccolo blushed and bared his fangs feigning anger. "It's not that hard to illicit one."
"Perhaps you smile much more when I'm not looking then." Gohan laughed. Piccolo's face suddenly dropped all false anger and any smile, his ear flicking at a sudden sound. "What is it?"
"Krillin. He's calling out for Chichi." Piccolo said as he stiffened to prepare for unwelcome news.
"What?" Gohan asked as he turned around to the house and yard. He spotted Krillin running for the house, indeed shouting Chichi's name and nearly tripping in his desperation. Gohan swiftly jumped down from the tree and ran to Krillin. "Hey! What's wrong?!"
"Gohan, there you are! Go to the medical building!" Krillin said hastily, barely allowing himself to breathe. "Bulma might be able to wake up Goku! Hurry!"
Krillin didn't wait for any reply and continued into the house to let everyone else know. Gohan felt his heart stop. Initially he had feared that something had gone wrong. Gero had found them, or 16 had turned to attack them; or gods forbid his father's life support machines failed. The burst of hope was almost too much as he turned to Piccolo who only nodded towards the medical building.
Gohan blinked firmly before putting all of his speed into flying. Dad. Please be ok.