Day 104 Continued…
Piccolo's mind was still reeling as he made the landing a moment behind her. He watched as Tessa ignored his presence and continued into the bathroom, slamming the door. 'Damn it.'
For a moment he busied himself removing her blood from his hand in the kitchen sink. In all his years, in all the things he'd done, there's no way she didn't know what the scent of that had done to him. Especially with the battle they were soon facing. The thought of what Cell would do to her was almost too much to bare.
Sighing, he dried his hands and quieted his mind so he could focus on Tessa beyond the bathroom door. The water was running, no doubt from her efforts to clean three or four fairly deep gashes on the back of her right arm. She was crying too, he could sense it, not because of the physical pain but because of what this threat was turning them into. If this kept up, they'd barely be able to look at each other before long.
As he moved towards the bathroom door, his mind drifted back to the night Goku had revealed what they thought about them…
Flashback 1 year ago…
Piccolo and Goku stood on the ground about fifty feet from the house watching as Gohan and Tessa spared in the air about ten feet above them. The afternoon sun was retreating quickly and soon enough ChiChi would have supper ready. After that, Piccolo and Tessa would camp in the mountains for the night allowing the small family and couple some much desire privacy.
Goku turned his attention to his once-a-go rival and friend. The Namekian that he had once thought so evil and dark hearted had proven to be a wonderful friend, and mentor to his son. He couldn't imagine training for the androids with him here.
As his attention turned back to Gohan and Tessa, a smile spread across the Saiyan's face and Piccolo arched a brow as a smirk developed upon his own. "You might as well get it out, Goku. We both know you're no good at keeping secrets."
The Earth grown Saiyan chuckled, rubbing the back of his unruly black head. "Who, me?"
Piccolo nodded, his attention still mostly upon the match. "Yeah."
Goku laughed again. "I was just thinking that I couldn't imagine doing this without you." They're eyes met. "Heck, Gohan would have probably run off to train with you anyway so it's just nice to have you here so we can train him together."
The Namek nodded. "This has worked out better than I expected, especially with ChiChi's desire for Gohan to study rather than train but I think we've found a good enough balance."
Goku nodded, his attention turning back to the match again. "Yeah, I think ChiChi will actually miss having you and Tessa around when this is over. She actually thinks you make a pretty cute couple."
"What!" Piccolo turned, facing the man who he'd believed too dense to find out about their secret relationship. "What do you mean by that?"
Goku glanced at the fight before turning to us green friend, so far Tessa and Gohan hadn't noticed his reaction. "Claim down ok, Chichi just said that it was nice seeing how you better each other and how good you would be together." Piccolo's eyes narrowed at him. "I mean, you already spend all your free time together so it's not like it would be that much of a stretch."
Piccolo's mind was spinning, how did ChiChi know? Sure, they'd spent two nights a month for the last year camping together but that did not differ from the year before that. They'd kept their affection to a minimum around anyone else and Tessa had agreed to keep their romance private. She wouldn't betray him, would she?"
Just as Piccolo would have responded Tessa came hurling down towards them, stopping just an inch from his head from a kick delivered by Gohan. Righting herself, she touched down and smiled at the young warrior as he made his descent from the sky. "Not bad, Gohan."
The young Saiyan smiled. "Thanks Tess, I like sparring with you. You don't hit near as hard as dad or Piccolo."
Tessa laughed. "I just prefer not to leave as many bruises on you."
Turning she caught Piccolo's eye and he frowned, turning his side to her. 'Did I miss something?' She turned to Goku. "Something up?"
The taller Saiyan laughed uncomfortably. "Uh no, why would you think that, Tessa?"
Her eyes cut to the snarling Namek and then back to his own. "Gee, I wonder why…"
Piccolo growled, turning his frustration upon her. "Seems ChiChi has this crazy notion that we make a cute couple."
Tessa's eyes moved between them, her heart racing. "Well I don't know where sh…"
"Right." He cut her off, his tone ice cold. "Because you couldn't have possibly given ChiChi that opinion."
Gohan stood beside Goku, watching the situation turn more hostile with every second. Tessa frowned, her emotions getting the better of her. "I really don't want to do this with you right now."
A snarl appeared on the Namek's face. "Fine by me." His arms crossed. "I didn't want anything to do with it anyway."
End Flashback…
In the next moment he had lost his cool and launched into the sky, retreating into the mountains and blowing holes through anything that managed to piss him off for the remaining night.
Standing in front of the bathroom door now he sighed. That fight had very nearly ended their friendship and now they seemed to be on the tipping point again. Reaching out, he knocked on the closed door. "Tessa?"
He received no answer, she wasn't going to make this easy for him, apologizing never was. He waited thirty seconds and knocked again. "Tessa, let me help you stitch that." He sighed. "Please."
He figured she had been considering her options and trying to determine whether or not she would punch him dead in the face when the door creaked open revealing her tear-soaked face. "I'm not willing to fight with you anymore so if you think…"
"I don't want that either." His uncommonly soft admission caused her to stop short and stare at him. He sighed, reaching to crease her injured arm with the back of his fingers. "Let me help you and then let's talk."
Tessa laughed sadly, shaking her head. "That's not one of your strong suits."
Nodding, he took her hand, giving it a squeeze, and stepped around her into the bathroom. "Perhaps it's time that I learn."