Archive of Our Own ^beta

Bulma’s garden was the picture of beauty with great big red lanterns and white tinsel, strung from tree to tree. Food and drink were overflowing and nearly all of the gang were cuddled around the fire pit talking and catching up. It was Bulma’s annual winter party, held a week before Christmas and it was festive, alive. There were no gifts, just laughter. Piccolo had showed his face for a while but it wasn’t long before he slinked off, crossing the busy, icy roads until he reached the wood on the edge of the city. He snuggled into the scarf Gohan had knitted him and the winter coat he’d taken to wearing now the years were climbing. He’d taken a few minutes to congratulate Pan on her graduation, casting a wary eye over her new lover. It was hard to see her growing up and as much as he appreciated all their company, his ears were ringing.

The ground was tough under his boots and the trees were mostly bare, save for a few evergreens peeking in the distance. Not that he minded, it was peaceful and it was well below zero; there weren’t many people around. For several minutes at least, but then Piccolo could hear gentle footsteps that were instantly recognisable. Either Eighteen or Seventeen, and he turned to see the android walk towards him, his dark hair curling out of a dark blue beanie.

“Seventeen”

Piccolo was a little surprised that the man had thought to follow him into isolation but then they were both as antisocial as each other, even after all these years.

“Piccolo”

They walked in silence for a while, Piccolo ambling whilst Seventeen walked with more purpose to keep up. It was only early evening but the sun had already scarpered, leaving the sky to cast them both in a dark grey haze.

“How are you?”

Piccolo rose a brow at the question, so typical and yet he hadn’t expected it.

“Fine, you?”

Seventeen sighed.

“The same as always”

The Namek grunted. He supposed that was more true for Seventeen than it was for himself, the twins never seemed to age or grow weary. Piccolo still had centuries left in him but he felt the cold more as every year went by, probably because he was meant to live on a planet that was nearly on fire. That and he was incubating now and it seemed to take an enormous amount of energy. Seventeen smirked and couldn’t contain himself.

“Finally decided to have your own huh?”

Piccolo nearly tripped up and he flushed, for some reason panicking and trying to hide it.

“Um…what?”

Seventeen smiled. He’d not gone after Piccolo just for intelligent conversation, although he did honestly enjoy the other man’s company. He’d sensed the little growth inside his big friend and when Piccolo disappeared off into the night, Seventeen felt compelled to follow him. The concern he felt surprised him, even more so because it was unnecessary. There were very few things on the planet that could threaten the Namekian, pregnant or otherwise.

“I won’t tell anyone”

Piccolo frowned, he’d been sure his pregnant belly was still small enough to remain hidden underneath his coat. A bizarre thought shot through him, that Seventeen might think him fat.

“Thanks and yeah, although it wasn’t planned actually”

The android’s brows shot up, wondering if someone had fathered it. He didn’t ask though, if Piccolo wanted to discuss his love life, he would have already. Seventeen teased.

“I guess our rematch will have to wait”

Piccolo smiled with his fangs.

“I guess it will, although I could easily floor you right now if you’d like”

“Go on then”

Seventeen shoved Piccolo’s side as they walked and Piccolo squawked, a little worried that he might follow through on it.

“I don’t suppose you’ve had any?”

“No, they’re not for me and I’d need to actually meet someone first”

Piccolo found that strange, Seventeen was a handsome man, surely he could have his pick of mates. Not that it was something he had the slightest idea about.

“You should talk to Pan, she always has someone on her arm”

“She’s got a lot of love to give”

Piccolo scoffed but he was right, she had worlds of it to spare. Minutes passed by as they traversed the frost bitten ground before Seventeen inevitably asked, knowing it would rile the bigger warrior.

“Is it Gohan’s?”

Piccolo thumped Seventeen on the head and the android ducked.

“Of course it isn’t”

He hadn’t told Gohan yet, the man would fuss like a hen and bother him every day until his litter was born. Videl too. Piccolo rolled his eyes, because that would mean Chi-chi would probably want to move in with him, not trusting Piccolo to be responsible even after all this time. He remembered sitting with Gohan when he’d been young by the lake, sometime during that three years that went too quick, and he’d spotted Chi-chi spying on them through a nearby bush. Seventeen let the conversation die and his mind reared back to their fight before Cell had shown up, to how young and powerful they had been. They were both stronger now but there was something tangible about the effort they had made back then, something raw in that battle that Seventeen had not seen or felt since. He regretted not pursuing Piccolo to spar, or even just to get to know him. He’d hidden away on his island with the animals and Piccolo had hidden away in the mountains. They met once a year in winter and if a baby was born, or the rare occasions Krillin still put on a do at the Kame House.

Seventeen hadn’t really noticed the years as they rolled by but he did see the wrinkles as they appeared on his friends faces, he saw their incremental drop in height and that ageing glint in their eyes, filled with wisdom and family. Except not in Piccolo, he always had tomes of knowledge in his eyes but he looked the same, still tall, imposing and young. Still alone like Seventeen. His voice was soft in the eerie silence.

“You ever wish you could go back?”

“Go back? In time?”

Seventeen laughed, but Piccolo was right, more or less.

“Yeah I guess, you know, to do things differently?”

“I don’t really think about it but I guess I could, I’ve made plenty of mistakes. What’s done is done”

“I suppose you’re right. I just think sometimes I’ve wasted time and suddenly, all those kids that weren’t born a minute ago are already grown up”

Piccolo turned his head and looked at Seventeen, a little surprised to hear such thoughts come out of the man’s mouth. His bright blue eyes met Piccolo’s own.

“Is there something you’d like to change?”

“Well…sure but I think I just miss it, things seemed so chaotic and awful but I miss that feeling”

The Namek didn’t answer but he did know what Seventeen was talking about. The feeling of being useful, of teetering on the edge of extinction every other week. The very thing Gohan had hated yet Piccolo loved. He would agree with Seventeen only now that he could feel the soft little kicks underneath his skin, he ached for the peace. Then he stopped, overcome with dizziness. Seventeen was immediately at his side, steadying him with a small, cold hand.

“I knew I was right to follow you”

Piccolo sneered, insulted. He tutted.

“I’m fine”

He blinked the feeling away and the little monsters in his stomach wiggled around, like they were mocking him. They hadn’t formed shells yet and the sensation was peculiar. Seventeen gave Piccolo a withering look.

“Whatever you say, big guy”

Piccolo breathed in a big gulp of the frozen air and straightened; his back was already aching again. Seventeen stepped away and they turned around, making their way back towards Capsule Corp. They didn’t talk for a long while, whatever they had to say had been said. Piccolo flicked a decoration with his hand, clearly children had been all over the wood hanging their handmade trinkets for Christmas. He felt foolish, it was like his mind was filled with nothing but thoughts of youngsters and what they did with their busy little minds.

“You okay on your own?”

Pregnant.

The Namek sighed, annoyed at the unspoken accusation that he couldn’t cope, but then he caught the simple look in Seventeen’s eyes. Maybe he just cared, Piccolo was still unclear on the concept despite ample proof that he was loved. It was something he couldn’t ever accept.

“I’ll be fine”

Seventeen looked away and continued walking, wrapping his black jacket closer to himself. Piccolo pursed his lips and continued.

“Although I could…use a hand sometimes”

The android perked up and smiled, though Piccolo could see the man was trying to appear unbothered by Piccolo’s admission.

“Oh well, I can pop by and help you out. If I’ve got the time”

“I’d like that”

Piccolo smirked to himself, it wouldn’t actually be a burden having Seventeen about, he wasn’t inherently annoying, though he was a little hard to read. It occurred to Piccolo that maybe the man was just lonely, fed up with his own company after so much time, itching for the past when he was surrounded by people constantly even though he’d hated it. Piccolo remembered that; sitting with his arms crossed and eyes closed, ignoring everyone, every time. Then they had carried on with their busy lives and no more enemies had come for Earth, as if the watery planet was no longer interesting. Suddenly, he wasn’t dragged into situations for weeks on end or needed to strategize or compete. All the people had disappeared and he had been left feeling relieved yet empty. Piccolo hadn’t ever really given much thought to Seventeen in decades, yet they had been living parallel lives, dreaming of battles gone by. Yes, he could understand the urge to go back.

To feel needed.

CC.