The Hard Way Is Usually Best

(though off anon is fine too!)

“Is there someone you hold dear?”

“Don’t you feel any guilt?”

“You’re actually afraid to be alone, aren’t you?”

“There must be something you fear.”

“Do you have a home?”

“Is there someone you like?”

“Are you really expecting a positive outcome out of this?”

“Aren’t you ashamed?”

“Aren’t you happy?”

“Who do you despise?” 

“How do you sleep at night?”

“What do you think of kindness?”

“What do you think of hatred?”

“Why do you fight?”

“Why do you live?”

“How much blood have you spilled?”

“How much death have you seen?”

“Don’t you think your actions are reckless?”

“Don’t you know how much good you’ve done for others?”

“Can’t you tell they love you?”

“Can’t you see he/she would die for you?”

“Can’t you tell the truth for once?”

“You’re not tainted.”

“You’re not alone.”

“You’re awful.”

“You don’t think of anyone but yourself.”

“You’re an emotionless robot.”

“You’re just a lap dog.”

“It’s not over.”

“He/she needs you.”

“Stop lying.”

“Stop fighting.”

“Stop pushing others away.”

“You’re cruel.”

“You’re far too kind. Too kind for your own good.”

“You depend on him/her too often.”

“You’re overprotective, it’s stifling.”

“He/she is bringing you down.”

“You’re too timid, it’s easy to see you as a target.”

“You need to listen.”

“You need to speak up more often.”

“You’re weak.”

“You’re too proud.”

“Quit blaming others for your mistakes.”

“You won’t always be around to save him/her.”

“One day, he/she won’t need you anymore.”

“You can’t cheat death.”

“You can’t hide forever.”

“They’ll find out the truth eventually.”

“That person is only holding you back.”

“They’re too good for you.”

“You’ll be rewarded for your efforts if you keep trying.”

“It will get better.”

“You look lonely.”

“You look bitter.”

“You look tired.”

“You’re hiding a painful burden.”

“You’re perfect.”

“You’re beautiful.”

“You will always be worthless.”

“Your hands are too dirty, too tainted to be clean.”

“You’re lost in this world. Wandering without a purpose.”

“You’ll rise above them all.” 

“You’ll find your place in this world.”

Having been organizing files on her computer and getting together a small lesson plan for Cello to learn how to get accustomed to tech, Sombra was thankful for the quiet. 

Today was one of the days where Piccolo and Cello were outside of the house on the lookout as he was teaching the small Namekian how to fly. 

Brown eyes scanned the screen as she let her fingers do the work, moving and deleting files and-….

She froze, the chubby round face of a child visible through the screen. Brown eyes were framed by curly brown hair, his face smiling at her as she trembled. 

He pulled out a small, lumpy, and misshapen squish toy that was somehow recognizable as a snail.

Piccolo looked over at the silent spirit, remembering so many conversation where he was the one watching from the sideline.

Now Wendy looked uncomfortable and she opened her mouth to say something, but her mother beat her to it.

Ah... Wendy's aunt, right. That was understandable.

Sombra who was paler than ever, her eyes almost closed as she leaned on the dresser had been coughed up a storm. Her cheeks and nose were pinker than ever, her hair slicked down with sweat as she shook her head softly. 

She startled him showing up like that.

“Oh, Wendy it’s just you…”

No wonder they’d scared an entire village with one of those things…

“How are you? And…”

He eyed the snail.

He reached down and picked up Cello, not going to let the boy get lost along the way.

He was mediating, enjoying the peaceful silence that was so less common lately while his family worked on who knows what. As much as he enjoyed his new life, times like this were still precious as he couldn’t afford to slack off with his training. Maybe now more than ever.

He let out a deep breath before his eyes shot open. He was sensing a presence he knew as well as his own, one he only knew firsthand through Kami, and one he had never in his wildest dreams thought he would ever come across…

“So this is what you’ve decided to waste the life I gave you on, hmm?”

For a moment, it was easy to pretend this was all indeed just a dream. he’d fallen asleep and he’d wake up and turn around and there would be no one there…

Another deep breath and he slowly turned his head to see… something that shouldn’t be possible. Sitting beside him, in the same cross legged position, and yet still somehow looming over him with a dark gaze was the demon king himself.

Sombra chewed on her lip before finally coming up with  something helpful.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

The demon king simple watched her go before turning his attention back to his son.

"I'm not even going to ask you how she happened. You're lucky I can tell she's got her own little streak of evil in her heart or I would be much more upset by all this... speaking of, now that we're alone. When are you getting back in the saddle?"

"The what?"

"Our grand takeover! I know it's discouraging to be beaten... you've had your setbacks but I refuse to believe you've given up entirely. You still want it, I can feel that desire deep inside you. And just think, what greater gift could you give your own family than the world itself."

Piccolo grabbed the other's arm from his shoulders and shoved him away.

"You don't know anything!"

"No? So you're going to lie to me and tell me I'm wrong?"

"It's never going to happen!"

"You're not denying anything..."

"..."

Having been organizing files on her computer and getting together a small lesson plan for Cello to learn how to get accustomed to tech, Sombra was thankful for the quiet. 

Today was one of the days where Piccolo and Cello were outside of the house on the lookout as he was teaching the small Namekian how to fly. 

Brown eyes scanned the screen as she let her fingers do the work, moving and deleting files and-….

She froze, the chubby round face of a child visible through the screen. Brown eyes were framed by curly brown hair, his face smiling at her as she trembled. 

Emilio looked pleased with his answer before his eyes grew wide. He was staring at Piccolo now. 

“Hermana! You love a dinosaur!”

"Dinosaurs are much bigger than I am anyway..."

He pulled out a small, lumpy, and misshapen squish toy that was somehow recognizable as a snail.

Piccolo looked over at the silent spirit, remembering so many conversation where he was the one watching from the sideline.

He was mediating, enjoying the peaceful silence that was so less common lately while his family worked on who knows what. As much as he enjoyed his new life, times like this were still precious as he couldn’t afford to slack off with his training. Maybe now more than ever.

He let out a deep breath before his eyes shot open. He was sensing a presence he knew as well as his own, one he only knew firsthand through Kami, and one he had never in his wildest dreams thought he would ever come across…

“So this is what you’ve decided to waste the life I gave you on, hmm?”

For a moment, it was easy to pretend this was all indeed just a dream. he’d fallen asleep and he’d wake up and turn around and there would be no one there…

Another deep breath and he slowly turned his head to see… something that shouldn’t be possible. Sitting beside him, in the same cross legged position, and yet still somehow looming over him with a dark gaze was the demon king himself.

"What could I possibly show you? It hasn't exactly changed."

Which was true for the most part. Some minor redecorating and the addition of a not great wifi signal was pretty much the only thing different since he'd split from Kami oh so long ago.

"Nonsense, Junior... I can already tell you one thing without even looking. If my lesser half had taken up residence in there..."

He reached over, poking a clawed finger into the side of his son's head.

"... then someone must be running this mess and I know it isn't you. I would love to meet who it is."

Having been organizing files on her computer and getting together a small lesson plan for Cello to learn how to get accustomed to tech, Sombra was thankful for the quiet. 

Today was one of the days where Piccolo and Cello were outside of the house on the lookout as he was teaching the small Namekian how to fly. 

Brown eyes scanned the screen as she let her fingers do the work, moving and deleting files and-….

She froze, the chubby round face of a child visible through the screen. Brown eyes were framed by curly brown hair, his face smiling at her as she trembled. 

Cello shook his head as he was picked up.

She startled him showing up like that.

“Oh, Wendy it’s just you…”

No wonder they’d scared an entire village with one of those things…

“How are you? And…”

He eyed the snail.

He reached down and picked up Cello, not going to let the boy get lost along the way.

He was mediating, enjoying the peaceful silence that was so less common lately while his family worked on who knows what. As much as he enjoyed his new life, times like this were still precious as he couldn’t afford to slack off with his training. Maybe now more than ever.

He let out a deep breath before his eyes shot open. He was sensing a presence he knew as well as his own, one he only knew firsthand through Kami, and one he had never in his wildest dreams thought he would ever come across…

“So this is what you’ve decided to waste the life I gave you on, hmm?”

For a moment, it was easy to pretend this was all indeed just a dream. he’d fallen asleep and he’d wake up and turn around and there would be no one there…

Another deep breath and he slowly turned his head to see… something that shouldn’t be possible. Sitting beside him, in the same cross legged position, and yet still somehow looming over him with a dark gaze was the demon king himself.

Feeling Cello grip tighter, she gave his back a reassuring pat. 

He turned back to junior, throwing an arm over his shoulders as if he were his best friend.

"Come now, show me around. I haven't been up here in centuries."