Krillin and 18: One Stupid Kiss

Part 12: DBZ Kart

The monk wasn't sure he heard the Android correctly.

"Wait, what?" He blanked.

"You're missing a nose, not ears," 17 rolled his eyes. Krillin's eyes darted around his apartment, contemplating escape routes, until he finally stared at 17 once more.

"Is, uh, 18 coming?"

"Nope. Just me," he put his hands in his jeans pocket and smirked. Krillin couldn't help but distinctly recall when the young man before him kicked Dr. Gero's head clean off. And then squished it like a sparrow's egg beneath his foot. Of course Krillin now knew the scientist completely deserved it, but the direct correlation between then and now is that 17 still terrified him. And the Android was smugly aware of that.

"B-but why do you wanna hang out with m-me?" Krillin stammered. 17 studied the short man for a moment.

"Call it curiosity," he shrugged. "I can't fathom what my sister sees in you," Krillin scowled at the insult, "and I'm gonna have to understand if you wanna see her again." He cocked an eyebrow at the Android.

"So, you don't think I'm good enough for your sister?"

"Think you can prove me wrong?" he simply shrugged again. Krillin stood straighter, and though it didn't make much of a height difference, it matched the cyborg's cockiness.

"Fine then," he conceded with his chest. "What'd you have in mind?"

***
After stealing shopping carts and flashlights from a nearby market, the pair ended up in a vast, moist cave. The crunching of rocks beneath the wheels and their feet rang in Krillin's ears and he couldn't help but feel like they were being watched. The cave was also so dark the monk could be barely see two feet in front of him, even with the flashlight taped on the cart. As if being alone with the Android didn't make him antsy enough.

"Stop," 17 commanded after they trekked much deeper than Krillin felt comfortable. The cyborg held out his hand and fired a small ki blast into the endless void. The moment they heard it explode on impact, the cave suddenly burst into bright hues of blue and green. The source was dismalites planted all around them, awoken by 17's blast.

"Wooow," Krillin breathed.

"Don't get too comfortable yet," 17 advised with a smile that made him uneasy. Then the cyborg held up a hand and began counting down with his fingers as the monk cocked his head in confusion. But when 17 reached one, they heard a low growling that made Krillin's heart drop to his bladder. Straight ahead, they saw multiple pairs of crimson eyes fluttering open, glaring at them. Then the humongous lizard-bats crept toward them along the walls of the cave, baring their rather yellow teeth. Needless to say, they did not look like they appreciated 17's alarm.

"Uhhh, S-seventeen," Krillin stammered. "I think they're mad at us."

"That's where the fun begins," 17 replied in a sing song tone. Now Krillin definitely didn't like the look on his face.

"What're you talking abou-" his inquiry was interrupted by 17 hollering, "NIGERUNDAYOOO, KRILLIN," and sprinting just as the creatures roared and came barreling after them. Krillin shrieked like Goku getting a needle as one of the lizard-bats barely missed him with its claws and tailed 17.

"Hey, you're pretty fast for a human," he complimented as he pushed his cart.

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU," Krillin bellowed back. 17 laughed it off in a hearty manner.

"Alright, pint sized! On the count of three, we're gonna hop in our carts and race to the exit."

"Have you COMPLETELY lost your mind?!"