Tora sighed and quietly closed his book as he looked over at Eighteen. She was sitting in a chair next to her daughter's bed, staring at Marron. Her blue eyes were bloodshot and heavy-looking as she chewed absentmindedly at her nails. She looked absolutely heartbroken.
Everyone else had gone home several hours before, but Tora had been adamant about staying to keep an eye on Marron. Eighteen had been too upset and too worried over Marron to argue. Seventeen had come to the hospital after he and Leelee cleaned up the party and he stayed for quite awhile, just sitting silently by his sister until he started to doze off and she sent him home.
Tora and Eighteen now sat on opposite sides of the room in complete silence, other than the methodical beep of the machines and the occasional crackle of paper as Tora turned the pages of his book. Only once had Tora suggested that she try to sleep, and he was met with nothing but an icy stare from the beautiful android.
He set his book on the little table and got to his feet, stretching his arms over his head for a moment. "I'll be back," he said in a low voice as he scratched at the base of his ponytail and headed out into the hallway. The lights were dimmed and quiet as he wandered along, his stomach rumbling. He hadn't really eaten much that day, but he didn't feel much like eating. And from what he gathered from Goku's opinion was that hospital food sucked anyway. He had a sudden thought and followed the signs to the exit, stepping out into the warm night air.
There was a coffee shop just down the street from the hospital; he'd found it when he'd been visiting Jenny after her surgery. He let his feet carry him that way, praying that they were still open. The rich scent of coffee met his nose before he even saw the shop and he smiled to himself. If Eighteen wouldn't rest, then coffee had to be the next best thing.
He was greeted as he walked in and he glanced over the menu only briefly. Good lord, it always amazed him how many options there were for coffee. "Gimme two of the ven… vent… How the hell do you say that? The big ones. Black," he said, giving up on ever pronouncing it correctly. He sighed and looked around at the little shop to admire the artwork on the walls as the barista filled the styrofoam cups. "Good coffee. Great food. Fantastic artwork and books. Shitty medical facilities," he muttered under his breath. It seemed backwards to him. There was a lot about this planet he didn't understand.
His stomach rumbled again and his attention was drawn back to the display of pastries in the glass case. He ignored the strange look the barista gave him when he ordered the entire batch of blueberry scones and he openly laughed at the wide-eyed expression he got when he used his tail to carry the box of pastries. What other option did he have? His hands were full with the two large cups of coffee.
Thoughts of how to make this easier on Eighteen swarmed his mind as he walked back into the hospital. He hoped Marron would wake up soon and be just fine. But just in case it took longer than they expected, he wanted to keep Eighteen occupied, to ease her worry somehow without coming on too strong or overwhelming her somehow. While he had been romantically interested in her before, he now pushed all thoughts of that from his mind. Now was not the time to act like some sort of predator, to take advantage of her in a weak moment. Even if it would work, which he doubted, he didn't want that. If she ever did come around, he wanted it to be a conscious choice on her part and not in a desperate moment of searching for comfort. Eighteen didn't need a lover right now. She needed a friend.
He used his hip to open the door to Marron's room, a smile on his face as he prepared to announce the fresh coffee he brought, when a nurse's words hit his ears and left him frozen in his steps.
"I don't know why we bother. Most of these patients never wake up. What a fucking waste of time." The nurse turned as she finished her sentence, her eyes widening as she saw Tora. She stuttered for words, "I'm sorry sir, no visitors after hours. Family only." She moved from where she had been checking on Marron's condition, trying to move around him to call for security.
Tora didn't know why the nurse's words infuriated him so. Most of the time he could ignore hopelessly stupid people like that, but hearing her say something so heartless about poor little Marron made his temper boil. His hands clenched around the styrofoam cups until they burst and the hot coffee poured over his hands. He didn't even notice it. "I AM family," he snarled, sounding more animal than man in that moment. "I've been here all day. Or are you really THAT stupid?"
The woman's eyes widened at his actions, the way the coffee spilled over his hands. Blisters appeared within seconds before she looked back up at his eyes, recoiling from the anger she saw in them, "I'm sorry, I didn't think… didn't know that anyone was going to be in here…" Awake, she was about to say, considering the hour, but she held her tongue. She was in so much trouble, she scolded herself.
Tora dropped the crushed cups and grabbed the nurse by the arm and hauled her out of the room. "Did you ever stop to think that perhaps these patients can hear you?" he growled, nearly baring his teeth. "Don't you dare come back in this room. I want a new nurse. Now! Hopefully someone a little more professional than you. And don't get too comfortable, I imagine you'll be, what is the term? Slinging burgers pretty soon. Now get out of here!"
Eighteen watched as the nurse scrambled from Tora's grasp, running down the hall. Her own anger at the girl seemed to go with her. She stayed still on her chair next to Marron as Tora returned to his seat on the other side, looking sadly at the cups of coffee that had been crushed. She looked back at him. Feeling a bit apprehensive, but thankful, she looked up at him, "Thanks for that. Sorry about your coffee."
Tora looked up from his burnt hands and blinked at her. "That was supposed to be YOUR coffee," he answered in a disappointed voice. He huffed and set the box of scones on the table next to him. At least they weren't destroyed. He opened the box and offered it towards her. "Pastry?" He didn't know what else to do. He was still seething at the words from that nurse. "Sorry you heard all that," he muttered and cast a hateful glance at the door. "Inconsiderate little bitch."
Eighteen looked at the pastry in his hands, unable to stop the icy look she sent him before she struggled to correct herself. "Thank you for that. I only heard the last bit before you walked in the room," she said as she sat up straighter, running a hand over her daughter's head, through her silken blonde strands. "Go get some more," she said, reaching into her back pocket and pulling out her card.
Tora shook his head and stood up again. "I can pay for it," he said, refusing to take her card. "It was supposed to be a treat." He grabbed one of the scones and woofed it down quickly before he licked his fingers clean to head out again. He hissed at the blisters on his fingers and shook his head. "Dammit all," he growled. "I'll be back."
Eighteen frowned after him. "Wait just a moment," she said a bit more sternly than she had intended. She walked to the door and leaned against it, holding out her card, "Bring us back something substantial to eat. I want a double cheeseburger with all the fixins from the diner across the street. Don't skimp on the fries or I'll cut off your tail. Get whatever you want. They serve breakfast all day long, all night long, whatever you like."
He reluctantly took the card from her and slid it into his back pocket. He waved his tail in front of her eyes, "You wouldn't dare. My tail turns you on and you know it." He gave her a wink and a charming smile before he ducked out of the room, afraid she was going to punch him again.
He saw the nurse at the main desk and gave her a hateful glare as he passed. He was going to say something to a supervisor first thing in the morning when he got a chance. That was completely unacceptable as far as he was concerned. He shook his head as he hurried outside once again and across the street to the diner. He ordered Eighteen's food first, just to make sure that he didn't forget anything, fearful that she might actually make good on her threat. The women here on earth seemed to have something against tails - Kakarot didn't have his anymore, neither did Trunks or Goten. It made him shiver as he wondered how they lost their tails, but he didn't want to ask. He ordered a proper-sized Saiyan meal and paid with his own money, figuring Eighteen would never know the difference anyway. He wanted to do this for her. He returned shortly and set her food down next to her. "There ya go, doll."
Eighteen gave him a look, glaring at the Saiyan. "Call me 'doll' again, I'll have that tail mounted on my wall before you even know it's gone," she said as she took the food from him, inhaling deeply at aroma wafting up from the bag. Her mouth watered as she pulled the wrapped burger from the bag. She could still hear Krillin's voice, 'Don't question what she eats! My girl has an appetite that could rival a Saiyan's if she tried!' She could have slapped him for that, but he had given her such an adorable look afterwards, she couldn't bare it. "Dammit, Krillin," she muttered under her breath.
Tora tipped his head slightly in curiosity at her muttered words, mentioning her husband's name. He decided not to put her on the spot and sat down in his chair across the room to dig into his food. He hadn't realized just how hungry he was until he really started to eat. "Good stuff," he said around a mouthful of burger as he ate. He paused in his eating to watch her for a moment. Something in his chest warmed at the way she hungrily ate the huge burger, pausing to take big swallows of her milkshake and munch on fries before she went at it again. It was amusing to him to see her eat like that. She had a huge appetite for someone her size. "Remind me not to come between you and your dinner," he chuckled as he tore into his own again. "You sure you're not part Saiyan?" he teased as he continued to chew his food.
Eighteen calmly shifted her burger in her hands so she could flip him the bird, "Shut up," She said around the mouthful, "and pass me one of those scones." She pointed at the box still full of the sweet pastries." She was starved and hadn't had anything to eat all day except for a bite of ice cream at the party. She realized that her cold look didn't do anything when she was scarfing down food and tried to disguise a laugh.
Tora couldn't stop himself. He wagged his eyes at the obscene hand gesture. "Is that an offer, baby?" he purred and threw his head back to laugh at the angry scowl she gave him. He reached over and grabbed one of the scones and chucked it across the room to her. "Ah, just as well," he said as he crumpled up one of the wrappers and tossed it in the trashcan. "You couldn't handle a Saiyan anyway," he teased and grabbed another burger.
Eighteen's eye twitched at his comment and she caught the scone as she sat down her burger and tore it in half. She set one piece down and chucked the other one at Tora's head, smirking as it hit its mark, "I beat the everloving fuck out of your Prince when I first showed up, I'm sure I could give you an asskicking if you really want to try it." She warned.
Tora only snickered when the pastry hit his forehead. He wiped a bit of icing off of his face and licked it from his finger. "That's not what I was talking about," he said with an ornery grin. "But hey, I'd be up for a sparring match sometime. Don't worry. I'll go easy on ya." He shot her a wink and threw her another pastry. Something warmed in his chest at the way she'd thrown the pastry at him. Even though she seemed a bit angry, there was a playfulness in the gesture. "You just name when and where, sweetheart."
Eighteen didn't know what to think about the Saiyan. She just shook her head at him, not sure what to think, "What's with the affectionate names? I don't really think I appreciate them." She said as she finally finished off her burger and went after her fries again, pausing to dip them in her chocolate milkshake. Her eyes closed at the hot and cold treat, sweet and salty. It was perfect.
Tora shrugged as he mimicked her, wondering what was so appealing about the combination of milkshake and fries. His eyes went wide, "Holy shit, that's good." He chewed for a moment before he answered her. "I know you don't like it. I like seeing you riled up," he snickered. It always amused him when women got like that, got all huffy over little shit. He and Bardock used to tease Gine all the time.
Eighteen huffed and just shook her head at him, "Fine, I'll just kick your ass later." She said as she looked back at her daughter, thinking she would be scolding her for talking to Tora like that. She couldn't help it. She still didn't know what to think of him.
He finished off his food and sat back in his chair, stretching out with his arms behind his head. "Can't wait for it, kitten," he said and shot her a wink, nearly snorting in laughter at the furious look she gave him.
Eighteen just shook her head at him as she curled up in the chair and got as comfortable as she could. They needed to put something more comfortable in there besides the reclining chairs that barely had enough support in them. She looked at him, "Why are you here? Are you really upholding that promise you made Krillin? Or are you after something else. Trying to make yourself feel better?"
Tora's face went serious as he looked at her. "I try to keep my word," he answered sincerely. A slight frown pulled at his lips. "I've never seen the aftermath firsthand before, Eighteen. We always came in, conquered, and went home. Seeing you on that battlefield that day…" he trailed off, "Maybe I am trying to make myself feel better. I feel I owe that to your husband, to look after you. It was my crew who killed him." He sighed and looked over at Marron, feeling the guilt curl around his heart again. He hadn't even been able to keep that promise, and he had been right there when it happened. And Marron got hurt anyway.
Eighteen looked at him a moment more before she finally nodded. It sounded like an honest answer and not the bullshit someone would try to feed her if they were sucking up. She looked at her daughter and ran a hand over her head, tucking the strands of hair behind her ear. She spoke quietly, "I suppose that's all anyone can do." She remembered after the ordeal with Cell, the kindness that Krillin had showed her after all the destruction, the death that she and her brother had caused. He had given her a second chance when she didn't deserve one, "Thank you."
A small smile pulled at his lips at her words. He never thought he'd hear her say it sincerely like that. He continued to stare at Marron and his smile fell. His mouth felt dry and his throat tight as he tried to speak again. "Don't thank me just yet," he said in a hoarse whisper. "I'm not sure I deserve it."