Alright so this will be my summer project. How long will it be? Idk, but this is something I have wanted to do for a while.
This is a modern AU thought up by puptriachy on Tumblr a couple of years ago. They made numerous Tumblr posts about the AU as well as a fantastic one-shot on . I asked them if I could use their ideas to make a longer version of the story and they graciously said yes! (Additionally the Tumblr user chestynuts had a lot of fan art of the AU so shout out to them.)
The story is about punk 18 and geek Krillin living in the city, that is the general gist of it. A vague concept but I really like it and think I can make a good story out of it. As far as the city goes, I would love to write it where they are in urban Japan since DBZ is a Japanese property, unfortunately I do not know much about that lifestyle. I am going to stick to what I know, and by proxy, what my audience knows and make it a more western city.
SFW for now, but I might make some NSFW chapters in the future. It will depend on how I feel or if people want something like that. Ok, here we go.
Chapter 1
*BEEP BEEP BEEP* A cell phone's alarm was signaling.
Much to an adult's dismay, it was 8:30 A.M. and time to start off her day. She was definitely not a morning person, especially on Saturdays, it just so happened today she had to be.
*BEEP BEEP BEEP* It rang again.
"Shut up!" She yelled as her finger pressed the 'OK' button. A blonde woman removed the blankets off of herself and rose up. She rubbed her eyes to remove the crust keeping them shut.
"Damnit 17, you had to work this morning in particular...Asshole." She said to no one.
The lady was now completely out of bed. She had to quickly start her routine so she could leave for the airport.
First she got dressed. It was going to be chilly today so she opted for a jean jacket that had a loud graphic on the back. She wore a cotton t-shirt under it. As for her legs she decided to bust out a black skirt and accompany them with some black leggings. Finally, she wore her favorite pair of shoes, black street boots.
Next she took care of everything she needed to in the bathroom: She brushed her golden hair, brushed her teeth, etc.. Lastly before she left her home she took a good look of herself in the mirror.
I should switch out my piercing soon, I'm feeling like I need to change something up.
She looked at the time on her phone.
Shit, I got to go.
The woman briskly walked to the front door of her and her brother's apartment, by passing the unkempt kitchen. It was her brother's turn to wash the dishes and they were piled to the brim. She kind of wanted to make something to add to the pile, but since she didn't like mornings she didn't do breakfast.
The woman made her way down a couple flights of stairs and stepped out into the cool air. Even though the air was cool, one couldn't call it fresh. She lived in a big city called Los Mono. It was filled with countless cars, tall buildings, and a lot of people. There was plenty to hate about it, the traffic, the crime, and the pollution. But even she had to admit there were nice things about it, the food was good, and the beaches were nice. The occupants...were a mixed bag.
It was 8:50 now and the person she had to pick up landed at 9:00. Which means he would be ready for pick up at around 9:20. Too bad traffic was bound to be awful...it always was.
Well...I'll only be a couple of minutes late, he would probably expect that anyways. The driver thought to herself as she maneuvered out of her parking spot and on to her destination.
*BEEP BEEP BEEP* This time it was a man's phone alarm signaling. He was able to silence it immediately.
"MMMM Ahhhh!" He sighed in relief as he stretched away his sleep cramps.
He wasted no time getting out of bed and starting his morning ritual, 20 burpees. A light exercise like this always gave him a great start to the day.
He would usually shower after that but he was running a little tighter on time. That would be skipped but the rest would not be. His hair and teeth were brushed and then he got dressed. He checked the weather and prepared accordingly. His outfit of choice would be a green sweater and a ironed pair of khakis, and since he would be walking a lot today he put on a pair of sneakers. Wear he lived wasn't known for being particularly cold, but some winters could have their frosty days. Even though they were rare.
After that, the black haired man stepped into his apartment's overly clean kitchen. He always ate breakfast no matter what, it was the most important meal of the day!
.
He cooked eggs and bacon and ate it along with some grapefruit. Before leaving his house with his keys and wallet, he rinsed his dishes and set them in the dishwasher. Leaving his sink empty like he found it.
It was 9:00, at this rate he would be perfectly on time to pick up who he needed to at the airport.
He took the elevator down to the ground floor and stepped outside, he was grateful that he got a good parking spot yesterday. It was directly in front of his building's main entrance.
Even though the sun wasn't out, he had a feeling today was going to be great. He was going to be spending it with terrific company! He was on a mental high and nothing had a chance of bringing him down from it.
Alright Goku, I'm on the way! His brain was monologueing as he reached for his car door handle.
But before he could open it he heard a woman across the street scream at the top of her lungs.
"ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS! WHY!"
The man turned around to see what all the commotion was. He noticed a blonde woman, the reason she was screaming was also apparent. Her front passenger tire was completely flat.
He wanted to help her, he really did. He was, by nature, a kind and caring person. His grandpa taught him and his adoptive brother to be as nice as possible, even to strangers. Karma was something that you wanted on your side.
C'mon Krillin...you'll be late, ignore her.
He heard her kick the flat tire out of frustration, not caring who could be watching.
And there were certainly predictions on the sidewalk.
I can just offer to let her wait in the lobby of my building in case she wants to stay warm inside, that is it then I'm leaving. He persuaded himself.
He checked both sides of the street then jogged over to join her side. "Excuse me, miss."
"WHAT!" She turned around and snapped at the short person talking to her.
The said person got terrified.
"S-sorry," she was quick to apologize. "I'm just a little pissed off right now. Of all the days to get a flat, it's the day I have to pick up someone from the airport."
Krillin probably heard that sentence, he tried. The truth was, after the sense of terror escaped him he was caught off guard. He didn't expect this angry woman to be so...intriguing. What was weirdest about her was her look, he didn't think piercings could be so attractive! He noted one in her nose (A septum one, those are the ones that are in both nostrils. Think of bulls.), one in her tongue, and a few in her ears. Among those were some small hoops in both lobes, as well as a bar running through the top of her left ear, and two studs in the middle of her right one.
This was an aesthetic he had never seen in person before, it found it really cool! But he couldn't focus on that. Besides, it would never work between them anyways, he was nothing like her.
"Excuse me? Sir?" She tried snapping him back into reality.
"Huh? Oh, sorry. What were you saying?"
"Uhh...I was just saying how it fucking sucks that I got a flat on the day I had to go the airport."
"I can see that, I have to go but I was just going to offer you-wait, you have to go to the airport?"
"Yeah…"
"I'm on my way there too. I could give you a lift for free, my car is just over there. I swear I'm not trying to be creepy or anything, I'm just trying to help." This was perfect! He got to help her without running too behind schedule.
"Really? Like, just because you can?" She didn't expect a stranger to be this nice.
"Yes. If you're ok with that."
"So you aren't trying to kidnap me? Maybe murder me for the fun of it and hide my body?"
He didn't know what to say to that. "N….no?"
"I'm just fucking with you. I can tell you wouldn't do anything like that. You are wearing a knit sweater and khakis." She said flatly.
"My...my sister-in-law made this for me…" This lady sure likes to swear a lot.
"It's cute and all don't get me wrong, it just doesn't scream 'secret murderer'. That is probably a good thing though."
Light laughter escaped Krillin's mouth, even though she cursed like a sailor she did have a good wit about her. The girl smiled. She wasn't even trying to be funny there.
"I suppose I could let you give me a ride. It beats paying for one...Sure, let's go. I think my car is close enough to the curb to not get towed."
"Do you...want to move it just to be safe?"
"Nah." She solidified her choice by locking the car doors and pocketing her keys.
Krillin couldn't understand why she wouldn't want to take the time to avoid the possibility of her car disappearing but they needed to get going anyway.
He led her over to his vehicle, he offered her shotgun but she took the back seat. It would be weird if they made the two pick-ups ride in the back together.
Once the woman made it in the back she noted a lot of things. First was how clean it was, there was nothing dirty about his car at all. Hers had clothes, receipts, and a bunch of crap all over the place. He had things in his too, but it had a purpose. He had a map of the city in the seat cover with a felt pen clipped on to it. In the other one was a first aid kit and a flashlight. She was...impressed? She has never seen anyone so organized before, hopefully he didn't have OCD.
.
.
.
"So, who are you picking up?" He asked, engaging in small talk as his car took off.
"I'm really not picking him up anymore if you think about it." She retorted.
"You're right, ok then who am I picking up for you?"
"My brother, one of them. He is coming back from a business trip and I was delegated in picking him up? My other brother was working this morning. What about your side of things?"
"I'm also picking up my brother. I'm gonna let you know right now, he can be kind of inept when it comes to certain things so if he says something rude I apologize for him."
"He'll be fine, I've got thick skin. So you got all the smart genes then?"
"Well actually he is my adoptive brother."
"Oh, that's...awesome."
"Thanks?" Krillin wouldn't have used the word awesome to describe that, but at least it was still nice of her.
He didn't know what else to say. He never thought he would just have a punk girl in his car with him, especially one so cute. What does she like? Should he try to find out? Should he just keep up with the awkward silence. He didn't know.
He looked in his rear view mirror and saw her head leaned up against the window, he had no idea what she was thinking.
Am I messing things up? What should I ask her? Wait, what am I saying. This isn't a date, we are two adults and one just so happen to give the other one a ride. Besides, I'm not in her league. I'm sure she thinks the same way...wait…'she'...I don't even know her name. I can at least ask her that.
"By the way, my name is Krillin." He interrupted the silence again.
"Ha, probably shouldn't have at least asked for that before I got into some random person's car. Mine's-"
*RING RING RING* The denim dressed passenger's phone started to jingle and vibrate.
"One sec, let me take this. It's my brother."
She accepted the call. "Hello?...Yeah...I'm almost there...Yes I'm late but I have a good reason...You'll see what it is when I pick you up!...Ok bye."
As soon as her call ended Krillin's phone mimicked hers. *RING RING RING*
He would normally have his bluetooth pick it up for him but it was probably best he just answer it for himself.
"Hey Goku, sorry I'm late. Something interesting came up...you'll see it in a sec...I'm at the light to turn into the parking lot so be ready...Alright, bye." He hung up, then was quickly questioned by his passenger.
"Hey, can I ask you a couple questions?"
What about telling me your name? "Sure."
"How old are you?"
"27"
Good.
"And your brother isn't gonna tell your girlfriend that you had another girl in your car is he? I wouldn't want you to get in trouble because of me"
His face went red, good thing she couldn't see it. "Are you kidding me? Look at me hehe, I don't have a girlfriend.
The woman in the back was happy to hear he was single, but was not a fan of that attitude. Krillin was not bad looking at all, just short.
"We're here." He said softly, pulling up into the pick-up lane. He lost his train of thought entirely after that comment by her.
Goku immediately recognized the car and rushed over to the driver's side. Krillin got out so they could give each other a bear hug.
The other occupier had to get out of the back seat to flag the last one over, luckily he was easy to spot in a crowd.
A massive orange haired guy walked over to his sister and gave her a much lighter hug.
He realized what was going on before Goku did. "Who are these two?" He said very, very, flatly.
Goku and Krillin were done saying hello to each other, and he now noticed what seemed different. "Krillin? You didn't tell me you were seeing someone!"
"Let me explain."
.
.
.
"I see, thank you for helping my sister out." The big guy said from the back of the car. (A/N: Just picture that this version of 16 could fit in a car lol.) Krillin and the woman he helped out just got done finishing the story of what transpired this morning and they were almost at their end goal.
"Do you want me to spot you some gas money?" He asked.
"No that's ok, your place is one the way to where Goku and I are going anyways." Krillin responded. "Do you want help changing the tire?"
"No, my sister and I will take care of it."
"Good job Krillin!" Goku chimed in. "I would have done the same thing, and so would Gramps!"
"Yeah but Roshi would have done it for another reason…" He said sarcastically.
"You're probably right. But I have a question! How do you eat with that thing in our tongue?" Goku pointed at the blonde's mouth.
Krillin warned her….
"Oh? Uh, you get used to it. Also I can just take it out whenever."
"That's pretty cool!"
"Goku, you can't ask questions like that. You don't know if people will take offense to it or not." Krillin spoke as he drove into the front of a place of work, the big man's to be exact.
The sign said 'Red Ribbon'. The name sounded familiar, Krillin had heard it somewhere before.
The driver parked it and opened the trunk so the guy could retrieve his luggage.
"Thanks again." The man said.
"Yeah, thanks Krillin." Said the woman, "Also, I need to give you something."
"What is it Mrs...Oh yeah, you still never gave me your name."
She grabbed the felt pen on the map, and opened the door. Once she got out she stood in front of Krillin's side, and waited for him to roll the window down.
He peaced two and two together and pressed the button for the glass to descend.
She took a hold of his hand and started to write something on his palm. Digits.
She wrote down her phone number on his skin, signed #18.
After that she closed the pen and left it in his hand.
"Call me."
With that, she walked off with her brother. Probably to the back of the building where his car was.
Krillin was in awe, he just got a gorgeous woman's phone number. He had so many questions in his mind right now. One in particular he needed to know, Goku was there to say it out loud for him.
"Her name is 18?"
After Krillin and Goku dropped off the mysterious "18" and her brother. They made their way to their other friend's residence.
They had just pulled into her driveway, all while still talking about who they had just departed from.
"There is no way she is 18 years old Goku...is there?" Krillin was stressed out. Finally a girl took interest in him and it turns out she is almost 10 years younger than him.
"It could have been her name?" The crazy haired brother said.
"Really? You think? I don't know. 18 is a really weird name, even if it was a nickname."
"True…"
"Oh man, it probably is her age. I just remembered she asked me how old I was when we were driving to the airport. She probably is into older men and thought I was into really young girls since I'm so short."
"Age is only a number Kril-"
"GOKU! I'm a decade older than her, I'm not going to try to date her. I'll just call her in a couple of days and tell her I'm not interested. Simple as that."
He could already hear Yamcha giving her nicknames.
"Ok buddy, if that is what you want to do. Let's go see Bulma now, she is waiting for us."
"Yeah. You're right, let's go."
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.
.
Goku and Krillin were welcomed with open arms into Bulma's, very nice, home. The three life-long friends sat down on her outside dining table to catch up.
Goku didn't live in the same city like the two others did. He flew in to say hi, and to let his wife study for her final grad school test without any distractions.
They mainly talked about the good ole times and Bulma told them she had an itinerary planned for Goku's two weeks here.
"Hey, where is everyone else at?" Goku asked.
Their friends Yamcha, Piccolo, Tien, and a couple others were absent.
"A lot of people are busy today, but we are having a barbecue here tomorrow and everyone is coming for that!." The bluenette answered.
"Awesome! Is Vegeta around?"
"He's where he always is...at the gym."
"We gotta have a rematch while I'm here, last time was too fun."
"Thanks for that by the way, every time we get into an argument I bring up how he lost to you and always gets flustered. It's too funny. I'm sure you guys will get one soon."
Vegeta is a professional boxer, and he takes great pride in it. Goku used to be as well, but gave it up after he lost to this guy named Cell. He retired and now makes a comfortable living as a professional coach. He would like to return one day, but he is content for now. Vegeta on the other hand was not content, he was furious that he lost a match to someone who had retired. Goku kept telling him it was for fun and wasn't the same as a real match, but Vegeta would not listen to him. He was much too stubborn.
It was around this time that Bulma noticed how odd Krillin was acting.
"What's wrong Krillin?"
"Huh? Oh it's…*sigh*..." Krillin showed Bulma his palm.
She instantly knew what it was.
"OHHHH, who is she? Is she cute?"
"No...I mean, she is, but I'm pretty sure she is only 18 years old."
"Oh that's not good, but there is no use in sitting here and wondering about it. Ask her right now."
"But, I only got it this morning."
Krillin admired Bulma, the woman was headstrong. Even if she didn't inherit her father's consumer technology business, Capsule Corp, she probably would have started her own. She took life by the horns and he took a more...passive approach.
"It doesn't matter. Call her and tell her your dilemma. Women like a man who is up front you know."
"I don't know if that is the best idea, Bulma."
"I'm serious! Women like someone who takes charge, call her right now and show you can take charge!"
"Uhhh," Krillin didn't know what to say. Maybe Bulma was right, but he really didn't want to ruin his chances with this girl just in case. "I'll do it tonight, I'm here with my best friends and I want to appreciate that!"
"Alright, then quit sulking. Now listen to what Vegeta did the other day."
Goku and Krillin both groaned. Some things never changed.
Second chapter is coming up right after this one.