Journey In the Time Chamber
An AU look at the ups and downs of a relationship between Piccolo and my OC during their year in the Time Chamber during the Cell storyline, with moments before and beyond. Rated M for later material. I do not own Dragon Ball or its characters in anyway.
Reviews, comments, and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated!
OC bio: Tessa Shalong
age: 29 height: 5'11" skin tone: fair; light build: average
hair: brown, mid back eyes: blue usual attire: jeans, tank tops, sneakers
general note: Tessa's presence within the z-fighter circle will exist from pre-Saiyans to DBS storylines.
Piccolo's frown deepened as the door to the time chamber closed behind them. This was not what he intended; Trunks had accompanied Vegeta, Goku had taken Gohan, and he had every intention of going in alone. 'Damn it Guko, you never can leave well enough alone.'
He heard Tessa sigh as she moved across the living space to the two empty beds and place her bag down on the furthest one from him. With her back still turned towards him, he didn't have to see her face to their feelings about their situation were the same. There were more than enough days before Cell's tournament for everyone to train as they chose too. And he knew damn well she hadn't agreed to be shackled to him of her free well. Hell, they hadn't seen or spoken to each other since yesterday when she departed the Lookout. She had left still angry over their argument.
25 hours before…
Piccolo had been sitting cross legged on the bed when she emerged from the bath, covered in a towel that would be considered barely decent by most. Although she raised a brow in question at his presence, he knew it didn't make her uncomfortable. They'd been living together at Goku's for the past three years, often times tending to wounds that they wouldn't allow anyone else to see.
She stopped just short of him where her clothes were laid out on a chair, casting him a confident smirk. "You must be getting quite the earful."
The comment caused his own smirk to form. Tessa was one of few that knew of the lasting mental link he held with Nail and now Kami after completing fusion. "They'll get over it, eventually." Watching her now examine the barrowed clothes Mr. Popo had left with some distain was enough to bring him to stand.
She sighed, again picking through the pile of pre-used gi available. "Think I'd rather put my own torn clothes back on."
Piccolo glance towards the bathroom door, knowing her town outfit and shoes would be just inside but the idea didn't sit well. Without hesitation he closed the distance between them, catching her attention. "Stand still."
After receiving her nod of consent, Piccolo raised his power and enveloped her in it. Tessa opened her eyes to find a new fitted gi adoring her body and Namekian flats covering her feet. Piccolo had tailored it to her perfectly, reversing his usual colors and adding tails to the belt.
Tessa stepped around him for the brush left for her hair, whispering a sincere 'thank you' as she went towards the dresser.
Crossing his arms, Piccolo turned and met her gaze in the mirror. "You're welcome."
As she brushed her long dark hair, a comfortable moment of silence pasted between them. It occurred to her that their ability to enjoy times like this may have been why they got along so well; they were nearly the perfect duo in many ways.
A ping of sadness made her bush that thought way; she shook her head. "So, what's the plan now?"
Piccolo being ever vigilant didn't miss the inner conflict Tessa had just faced but chose to ignore it. "Goku and Gohan will take their turn in the time chamber, depending on how long the androids can hide from Cell, their training might just be enough."
With her back to him, Piccolo couldn't help but regret reversing his own colors when generating the garment. The light blue brought out the brightness of her own blue eyes and the fitted top highlighted the tone frame she had worked for. The sight was enough to make him long for things that he shouldn't.
As she finished with brushing her hair, Tessa turned to him, their eyes locking. "Do you really expect Vegeta to wait?"
Piccolo smirked at that. "No, he'll be his usual rash, impatient self but with Trunks around he might just live to the see the end." Stepping forward, he laid a hand on her right shoulder. "That's not the only thing that concerns me."
'Of course.' The look in his dark eyes was all the confirmation she needed. "You've spoken to Tien."
His fingers twitched as her voice took on that deeper tone he knew all too well; she would not make this easy. "He mostly filled in gaps, even unconscious there isn't much I miss with these ears."
Even though she knew the statement to be true, she also knew he was tiptoeing around the seriousness of the issue. She had arrived on the island just seconds after Goku had pulled him from the water and had been kneeling beside Tien when Cell had made his threats.
The bio-engineered villain had promised to toy with her if she managed to survive until the end, even being bold enough to divulge his attraction came from cells not just from Tien but Piccolo as well. Thankfully, Goku had been good enough not to mention any of that in front of Gohan and she could assume Tien and Piccolo had kept their conversation private as well.
Piccolo's hand still on her shoulder pulled her attention back to the present. "You should leave the fight to us."
The words hit her as if they were a brick wall and made her instantly doubt his confidence in her. She stared up into his dark gaze, eyes filled with confusion and more than a little anger. "And do what, hide in the mountains while I pray Goku or Vegeta manage to defeat him?!"
Piccolo's hand fell as Tessa took a huge step back from him, something she hadn't done in more than four years. "At least you won't be waiting like a wrapped present on his doorstep should they fail."
She laughed, sarcasm dripping from her words. "Cell isn't the first opponent we've faced to show unwarranted interest in me. Napa was no better or have you forgotten?!"
She was right. Napa had made advances upon her nearly the second she landed on the battlefield, promising to have her screaming his name before he'd killing her. They were close back then and Tien had taken to protecting her honor that day.
None the less, the urge he felt to protect her was driving him, even if it meant crossing lines. "Would you have considered it if Nail had been the one to ask?"
Blue eyes projected a range of emotions from astonished, to rage, and finally something he'd never wished to witness much less inflict, brokenness. Turning her back was enough to make him regret the question. He could smell her tears even before she glared over her left shoulder. "That was a low blow, even for you."
Sighing he tried reaching out with his right hand. "I knew you'd never consider it if I simply..."
Tessa shrugged his hand off, facing him as if they were on opposite sides of a battlefield with her shoulders squared and fists clinched. "We haven't spoken Nail's name in years, not because I haven't thought of him but because you wished it so." Her shoulders shook slightly as emotions raged through her. "I never valued Nail's friendship over you Piccolo, but I won't let you use his memory against me either." Moving to the door without waiting for his reply, she pulled it open and glared back at him. "I left Nail to fend for himself against Freeza, and I've always regretted it. I won't make the same mistake with anyone else."
Piccolo's fists clinched as she left the room, the door still open, as if she expected him to fly after her and beg for forgiveness. Was she really expecting him to betray his character? Growling at the lack of success in this endeavor, he followed behind her closing the door with more force than needed. He reached the landing just in time to see her fly off, heading in the direction of Goku's home…
30 minutes from the present…
Tessa arrived just as Goku and Gohan had finished their meal, redressed and bag over her right shoulder. She wasted no time in pulling Goku aside requesting her time in the chamber. If Cell wanted a fight, she was determined to give him one. Although he had questioned her readiness for it, Goku had agreed to allow it so long as she accompany Piccolo for her first time.
Said Namek had watched from a short distance as the two embraced and then his ex-rival and friend approached him. "That was a foolish decision, Goku. Tessa would do better to sit this out."
The blond headed Saiyan shrugged. "Look Pic, I know you don't like it and quite frankly, Tessa isn't thrilled either. Honestly, I don't know what happened, and I don't need to. Just fix things between you before the year is up, you're too good of a team for me to lose. Ya got me?"
Present time…
Tessa sighed bringing his mind back to their situation as he moved to join her on the lower landing. In the vast, never ending space, their differences seemed much more apparent; especially their height with his 7'5" to her 5'11". He could only hope this year wouldn't put even more distance between them.
She was first to break their shared silence. "It wasn't my idea to intrude on you and I know you don't want me here, so I'll stay ou…"
"Tessa…" Her name was usually soft spoken from him and their eyes met. "…I've never said that."
The unease that was so uncommon between them melted away as Tessa released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding; her expression relaxing into a tired smile. "Thank you."
Nodding, he stepped out into the void. "Eat something and get some rest, tomorrow we'll train."
Watching as he stepped out ten feet from the landing and assumed his usual mediation position, Tessa yawned and wondered into the fully stocked pantry, smile still in place.