Fight for Us (Goku x Female Reader)

Chapter 9 - Unusual Behaviors

a/n- this chapter takes place about two weeks after the last chapter  

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The quiet serenity of the lookout stretched for miles as Piccolo arrived, his cape fluttering in the gentle breeze. The ever-present stillness brought him a sense of calm, but today, his focus was elsewhere. 

He landed softly, scanning the area briefly before making his way toward Dende, who stood at the edge of the platform, gazing out over the world below.

"Dende," Piccolo called as he approached, his voice steady but with a hint of urgency.

Dende turned, smiling slightly at the familiar Namekian. "Piccolo, it's good to see you. How's the training going?"

Piccolo crossed his arms, his expression as stern as always. "Fine. But I'm not here to talk about that. Have you seen Y/N?"

Dende's smile faltered, his brows furrowing. "Y/N? No, I haven't seen her all week."

Piccolo's eyes narrowed in surprise. "All week?" he repeated, his tone betraying a slight hint of concern.

"Yeah," Dende replied, walking closer to Piccolo. "She usually stops by, but it's been a while now. I thought maybe she was off training or handling something else."

Piccolo frowned, the unease creeping into his usually composed demeanor.

Y/N never stayed away without saying something to him. The two of them had developed an unspoken understanding, and even though she didn't always share what was on her mind, she never disappeared without leaving some indication of where she was.

"She's been... distracted lately," Piccolo said, almost to himself. His instincts were kicking in, and the unease was beginning to grow.

"Distracted?" Dende asked, his tone curious. "Did she mention anything to you? Something bothering her?"

"She didn't say much," Piccolo replied, his voice low and contemplative. "But I could tell something was weighing on her."

Dende's concern deepened as he considered Piccolo's words. "Do you think something's wrong? Maybe I should check on her, just in case."

Piccolo's sharp gaze locked onto Dende. "No. I'll handle it myself."

Dende raised an eyebrow, a bit taken aback by Piccolo's firm response. "Are you sure? I can sense her energy, it would be easy for me to—"

"No," Piccolo interrupted, shaking his head. "I'll handle it myself. I'll go check on her."

Dende raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You sure? You seem worried."

Piccolo shot him a glance but didn't bother to deny it. "I'm not worried," he grumbled. "Just... making sure everything's fine. It's not like her to go this long without any contact."

Dende chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You know, Piccolo, it's okay to be concerned about someone. It doesn't make you weak."

Piccolo grunted in response, clearly not in the mood for one of Dende's insights into his personal feelings. "I'm not here to discuss my feelings," he replied curtly. "I'm just going to make sure she's alright."

Dende nodded, though he continued to wear that knowing smile. "Alright, I understand. Just be careful."

Piccolo turned away, already preparing to leave. "I don't need to be careful. It's just Y/n."

Dende watched as Piccolo prepared to take off, his expression becoming more serious. "Still... something about this feels strange. Y/n not showing up for that long without any word is unusual."