[WIP/CHANGES PENDING]
Their "arena" for the day was a small, grassy hill where the local fauna's gentle cries and skitters across the ground were only interrupted by the wind hissing through the trees.
They knew they wouldn't be fighting their usual foe, as Piccolo watched a leaf tumble and dance its way before the two until it settled atop the crown of Goku's head.
"They're back again. I've trained so hard and lost so much sleep, but sometimes it just...-"
The Saiyan was silenced in an instant by a gentle embrace, further punctuated by a soft breath grazing his scalp to send the leaf hurtling away back to the breeze that carried it to them.
"I know. You stir in your sleep too much. But you've been through worse than these phantom pains, and even worse alone."
Piccolo's brows would knit apologetically, almost as if he didn't have the heart to wonder how the two of them would get through it together, before he settled into a reassuring smirk upon feeling their gazes meet.
"When I first heard about them, you had to convince me it wasn't just a type of food you know."
Goku grinned, still cautiously rubbing his lower back to let his fingertips meet the stump where his tail was.
"I know. Dumbass."
