Warnings: None
Word count: 1.2k
Synopsis: Moments are always shared with the ones you are closest to.
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The autumn season stretches forth with fingers of every hue, from the serenity of browns to fireside reds and the gold of sunny days. Leaves were scattered throughout the ground and the trees were clad in a riot of gold and red. It's a time where the air is cooler and a soft mist coats the earth during the early morning and late evenings.
Making your way through the foliage with each step the leaves crunched beneath your shoes. Autumn has always been your favorite season and one that you're looking forward to every year. It's not that you dislike the other three seasons— you love them in fact! But there's just something about fall that makes you feel at ease as the seasons are slowly changing.
Perhaps it was the temperature cooling considerably and all you want to do is to be bundled in the warmth of the many blankets along with a cup of coffee and a book to read, or the candles you would purchase for the occasion— a pumpkin scented candle maybe a vanilla one too.
Fall filled you with this sense of unbridled joy and you wanted to share that with Piccolo.
It made you wonder if he enjoys things outside of the martial arts. What other things does he find enjoyable?
Despite knowing him for almost a year, you don't exactly know him, know him. You could know his every advance, from his body language to his eyes and from the way he talks but you wouldn't even know what his hobbies were. Piccolo rarely shared anything about himself to you and when he did, you were ecstatic to find out he came from another planet and his race. After that he hadn't shared much about himself with you.
You didn't want to prod too much in fear of scaring him away. So, the only way of pulling the answers out of him was with some small talk.
The lake came into view where its surface reflected the red and golden hues of the surrounding trees. Just off to your right was the person you were looking for as you made your way towards him. As he came into view you could see that he was sitting crossed legged underneath an oak tree, his arms were on his side where his hands were interlinked. The moment you were standing in front of him, his eyes opened to meet you.
Immediately Piccolo took notice of the wicker basket you were holding on your left. "What's with the basket?"
"I thought it would be nice to share with you some sweets that I made." You took a seat on the side of the tree trunk that was closest to Piccolo where you set aside the basket. "Luckily I had some leftovers after sharing them with my students back at the dojo. They deserved it after training so hard."
Opening the lid of the basket and proceeded to pull out two cranberry muffins, offering one to Piccolo. However, he just stared down at the muffin and you couldn't quite tell what he was thinking either, whatever he was thinking he's masking it pretty well. Maybe he's not a fan of muffins?
"What's up? If you're not a fan of muffins I have some pumpkin pudding instead."
"It's not that." Piccolo moves his eyes away from the muffin in your hand to stare at you. "I don't consume solids like you humans do."
You lowered your arm with the muffin still in your palm, staring at him in disbelief. "Huh… that— I didn't know that. But, what exactly do you need then?"
"Water is the only source I need since the enzymes in my body transform the water into nutrients." Piccolo explained.
You vividly remembered seeing Piccolo drinking from the crystal clear waterfalls multiple times especially when you and him would train together. This certainly explains a lot and you wouldn't have known if you hadn't offered him the muffin in the first place.
"Could you still eat solids if you wanted to?"
"Yes, if not for the enjoyment of it."
A hum escapes through your lips, staring down at the second muffin. Then you began to silently munch on your own muffin. When you were almost finished Piccolo spoke which caught your attention turning your head to meet with his back facing you.
"What made you get into martial arts?" From the tone of his voice, Piccolo showed a genuine curiosity of which left you speechless for a moment.
It's so unlike him to ask such a specific question, and this question in particular really hit home, maybe a little too much. You swallowed down the remaining muffin along with a heavy feeling that was forming in your chest. It took a moment to collect your thoughts until you were ready to respond.
"My master is the reason why I teach today. I was young— homeless, I had nowhere else to go and she took me in when things were turning for the worse for me." You kept your head up, eyes closed as you resumed meanwhile Piccolo had shifted to face you with eyes wide open and mouth hanging open. "I was seven when she took me in and I'm utterly grateful for what she did. If she hadn't found me in time I wouldn't even be here to begin with."
Piccolo didn't know what else to say after your unprecedented confession. He couldn't begin to imagine what other hellish things you had to go through and for that he was sympathetic toward you.
"I never would've known that your life was rough with the way you are now." Piccolo felt responsible for inadvertently causing you discomfort from having to relive those moments of your life. There was a deep frown across his face which showed off how ashamed he is.
"I apologize. That was careless of me for asking such a question."
Your eyes fluttered open and turned to look at Piccolo, seeing the frown across his normally stern features made your chest ache.
"You weren't aware about that part of my life to begin with, it's as simple as that, so don't start apologizing for something you had no control over, Piccolo." You stated, craning your neck to look him dead in the eyes not caring of the strain that it was causing to your neck.
Piccolo remained silent, keeping his gaze fixated on you. With his frown gone, you caught a glimpse of something across those dark eyes; uncertainty.
"It's alright, you know? I don't mind you asking more questions like this in the future." Your face softens, a small smile forming. "What about you, what's the reason that got you into the martial arts, Piccolo?'
A singular drop of sweat appeared on the side of his cheek and he averted his gaze. "It's… a long story."
"Well? Don't keep me waiting. Oh, here,"
Piccolo glances over to you and there in your hand was the muffin you offered to him earlier to which you were doing so again. He gave you a confusing look to which you smiled.
"You should have it. Maybe later you'll want to eat for the enjoyment of it."
He pondered for a moment before ultimately reaching out to take the muffin from your hand. You scooted over closer to him where he began to tell you the history of where it all started.