#piccovege

[krawlytheclown]

I’m new here, someone tell me what this ship is called so I may tag appropriately. 🙏🏻

[elderyautjavegeta]

"Life Eternal" by Ghost is a PiccoGeta song and I will not hear otherwise.

Can you hear me say your name–forever? / Can you see me longing for you–forever? / Would you let me touch your soul–forever? / Can you feel me longing for you–forever, forever?

I've got my face in my fucking hands just... wailing.

[elderyautjavegeta]

Oh nothing, just Vegeta flirting with Piccolo mid-fight, no big deal.

[elderyautjavegeta]

⭐star⭐ for that Piccolo/Vegeta goodness ;)

Oh ho PxV bestie, you know I gotchu! 💅🏻 So there's two bits that I'm particularly fond of in my Super Hero AU I'm writing (it's not even close to being done so these are just some bits I love SO FAR).

The basic background you need to know about my AU is the majority of people have some kind of powers, but there's of course a class of people with enormous powers that become Super Heroes and Super Villains. There are no Saiyans here but there are Namekians. Vegeta is a former villain trying to find his way over to the hero side after a long stretch in Super Villain Prison basically, and ends up politely bullying Piccolo into being his mentor, as he too is a former Villain who became a Hero. If Piccolo could do it, maybe he could teach Vegeta? BUT, Vegeta is well, Vegeta, and he's not exactly forthcoming with his trust. A lot of this story deals with that trust being earned on BOTH sides. And Goku is basically Superman because he's #1 and everyone loves him. 🥰

One term you'll need as well is SPAR, which stands for Super Power Authorization Regime. They're basically the Super Power Riot squad; they handle Super-related incidents that are too intense or dangerous for regular Law Enforcement. We hate them. All my homies hate SPAR. 👎🏻

So the first bit, while not super spicy, is them making up after a fight and discussing Freeza's murdering of Vegeta's family, and how it was his FATHER'S fault that Freeza (basically his same evil alien invader emperor self) found Earth in the first damn place.

At this point in the story, P and V are cautious friends in a mentor-mentee relationship, trying to know each other better. No real crush-type feelings yet, but Vegeta knows his body is acting weird around Piccolo for some reason. He's just got rocks for brains and doesn't know what a CRUSH feels like.

ALRIGHT HERE'S THE FIRST BIT (under a read more for the mobile users because this is gonna be LOOOOOONG). Enjoy!

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"Fine. Since you're always talking about showing trust," Vegeta said, "I'll share something with you, something that isn't public knowledge either. When Freeza attacked, he didn't just kill my father. I had a mother, a younger brother, a sister-in-law."

Piccolo got a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"All this time, I thought they were targeted because I didn't bow to Freeza, challenged him for a throne that didn't exist at the time. I was cocky, I didn't hide behind my Villain identity. My family line was well known and the resemblance between myself and my father was hard to miss. Freeza thought that attacking my family would force me to submit to him, but he was wrong."

Vegeta's fists clenched at his sides, the white gloves creaking with the force.

"It just made me hate him more. I only went along with his whims to try and get close to him, and when I got my chance, I was easily outclassed. If Kakarot hadn't shown up that day, Freeza would have killed me."

A large, cool hand placed itself on his shoulder but he didn't flinch away from the unexpected contact.

"Tarble…" his voice was strained as he thought about his brother. "He wasn't blessed like me. He had low level powers. So did my mother. They both had basic telekinetic abilities but nothing substantial, enough to float small objects, sometimes a kitchen chair on a good day. Tarble's wife, Gure, could change colors like a chameleon… they never stood a chance."

The hand squeezed his shoulder and he felt himself lean into it, his chest tight.

"And in the end, it wasn't even my fault… it was my father's…"

He wanted to feel bad for wording it that way, waited for the guilt to well up in him, but it didn't come. He felt nothing at first, but then the anger began to boil in his chest, the color rising up his neck, flushing it red. His hands hurt from how tight he was clenching them.

"And don't say something cliche like it's Freeza's fault and no one else's…" he growled. Piccolo's hand was so cold it felt like it was burning through his shirt. The strangeness of it was distracting, and he latched on to it, not wanting to fall into another violent spiral, not when he had invited Piccolo here to make amends for his last meltdown.

"Equal blame can be placed on all of us," he said softly, focusing on Piccolo's touch. Piccolo must have felt him trying to relax because the hand squeezed again and didn't loosen, the ice cold seeping into his very bones. His heart rate slowed, he felt the flushed feeling of blood in his face slowly go away, and he forced himself to take a deep breath.

"Very good," Piccolo's deep voice rumbled. The 'something' from before zipped through his body again, making his fingers tingle.

"That's new. How many powers do you actually have?" Vegeta asked, looking up at his mentor. Piccolo gave him one of his rare smiles.

"I have a few, but this is just Namekian biology. We run much colder than humans do. It's why I meditate out here so much. Lots of warmth and sunlight; it keeps me from getting too slow."

He looked thoughtful for a second and removed his hand from Vegeta's shoulder. In spite of himself, Vegeta missed the touch instantly.

"No one else knows that about me," Piccolo murmured. "I consider it a weakness, something that can be exploited. Cool me down enough and I would stop moving, and eventually stop breathing I imagine. I don't ever plan to be in a situation where I can test that theory though…"

Vegeta hummed.

"I'm guessing your home planet is much warmer than Earth then."

Piccolo nodded and when he sat down in the grass right on the river's edge, Vegeta joined him.

"Yes, much warmer," Piccolo said, his eyes seeming to look far beyond the forest in front of him. "We don't have seasons or night time on Planet Namek. The planet is surrounded by three suns that constantly put off heat and light. Our grass and trees are blue and our water is green, like an inverse image of Earth. We don't have much in the way of plants but we do have Ajisa trees. They're incredibly rare and hard to grow, but they're worth the effort. A cataclysm wiped most of them out along with the rest of the plants on Namek a long time ago, but Elders managed to save a few seeds and have been slowly regrowing the Ajisa trees. There were a few mature ones that I was able to see when I was there…"

Vegeta was enthralled listening to Piccolo describe his home planet. He wondered if he would ever be able to make it there to see the Ajisa trees for himself one day… he may have ended up being a Super, but his love of the stars never faded.

"You miss it," Vegeta finally said. Piccolo simply nodded. They sat quietly together for a few moments, long enough for Vegeta to get his thoughts back together.

"Whatever it is that you're not telling me," Vegeta said softly, "I will respect your judgment as my mentor."

Piccolo looked down at Vegeta, who met his gaze immediately, his gaze sharp but his eyes calm once more.

"For now."

The corner of Piccolo's mouth turned up before he looked away again. Vegeta didn't.

[][][][][]

I just really really love them just SITTING and talking, it's SO NICE AHHHHHH. And Piccolo starting to open up to Vegeta because he wants Vegeta to open up to HIM. These two are so hard headed, if they would just sit down and TALK, ugh.

Side note, shout out to @idontremembermynamebutithinkits for the Namekians run cold headcanon that I borrowed. I really really loved it, I hope you don't mind!! Art work that inspired me is here -> https://idontremembermynamebutithinkits.tumblr.com/post/697842102966616064/you-know-how-i-headcanon-that-namekian-has-low

Second bit takes place in a hospital. I won't spoil why Vegeta is there, but he got hurt (they get hurt in this fic, they're superheroes but they're not GODS), and the conversation from the previous part was resumed and he learned some NEW stuff that fucked him right up. Launched into full blown panic attack, something he's never experienced before. Piccolo was there to help. This bit takes place after he finally calms down.

[][][][][]

"Well that was embarrassing…" Vegeta grumbled from under his blanket, grabbing Piccolo's attention.

"The hospital staff are used to it, I'm sure," Piccolo said, trying to be comforting, but Vegeta's glare returned and he looked away.

"I wasn't talking about them," the smaller man mumbled. "I was talking about you. All you've seen from me lately is weakness. It's disgraceful."

"Nothing you've done lately is weak, Vegeta. You are not weak for reacting badly to the idea of Freeza still being alive, not after all he did to you," Piccolo said calmly, hating that Vegeta's eyes squeezed shut at the sound of Freeza's name.

"Progress isn't linear," he continued, "and neither is healing. You got hurt, but you still saved people, myself and Solar Flare included. You are not weak for being scared."

Vegeta looked at his mentor again, expecting to see pity or something akin to it, but only saw warmth and understanding on the Namekian's face. His blood sang again and the cocktail in his IV drip was making him feel bold, so he slipped a hand out from under his blanket and placed it palm down on the bed wordlessly. Piccolo looked at it for a moment before taking it gently, and Vegeta instantly felt a soothing coolness permeate his hand, spreading slowly up his arm.

"Why didn't the doctor make you leave?" Vegeta asked, letting his eyes slide closed again as he relaxed further into the bed. He was so tired, and Piccolo's hand was so cold… it felt good…

"I… persuaded him into letting me stay. I said you wouldn't stay calm without me around, and he didn't seem too keen on trying to wrestle you himself later."

Well, the part about keeping him calm wasn't exactly a lie, Vegeta thought, recalling how he had begged Piccolo to not leave him. He hated the hospital, it reminded him too much of SPAR's torture chamber-looking excuse for medical rooms, and in the throes of his panic, he had almost convinced himself that he was back there, until he saw Piccolo.

"Thank you… for staying with me," Vegeta said, his words slurring together as his body finally calmed down enough to let sleep back in. He heard Piccolo hum at him, nothing more than a rumble from his chest, before sleep finally took him…

As Piccolo watched Vegeta sleep, he looked down at their clasped hands. The vast size difference there was almost comical, and he allowed himself to smooth his thumb over the back of Vegeta's hand, just once…

[][][][][]

AHHHHHHH WHAT ARE THOSE, FEELINGS???? ARE THOSE FEELINGS FROM YOU TWO????? OH. OH. I love it, this is where they start kinda feeling a little different towards each other. Getting the butterflies in their stomachs and all the other good sugary bullshit that I ADORE. Oh, Krillin's Hero Name is Solar Flare btw, I couldn't NOT give him that name. Love that for him.

I have so much love for this story, I've been working on it off and on for a few years now, and finally buckled down and started REALLY cranking on it a few months ago, right after the New Year.

To whoever else makes it this far, thanks for reading, and I hope you'll enjoy the fully edited, final edition that I'll post on AO3!!!

(/ 0 w0)/ ~💟

[sxvethelastdance]

Do you even need context at this point. if you are in this tag. on this blog (if you are a Broly The Legendary Super Saiyan watcher)

[sxvethelastdance]

Princes Deposed by the Plot - Piccolo and Vegeta

Time for another entry into the series of Z posting, as warned here with all its various disclaimers.

Naturally… By virtue of my [ahem] writer’s priorities, I ran to slap a comparison of Vegeta and Piccolo’s arcs together based on their two major monologues and their companion quotes! Is it because I think their trajectories are mirrored in both of them having this major speech that shifts their priorities or because my brain is two tsuns poisoned? Who knows. Anyhow, this is a decidedly non-shippy analysis— shocking for this blog. I know! But yes, my intentions in posting this are to provide a really interesting comparison that I think deserves attention. I’m still going to tag it with the ship labels though for all you folks at home who see something compelling here.

An up front special thanks to my friend Stiles over @bastardsunlight for listening to me ramble about these developments over a period of a year and change as I faithfully documented my reactions and came to this conclusion. ANOTHER special thanks to my buddy B for making the joke that became the title of this post. 

Analysis below

It’s so fucking INTERESTING to me, the way that both Piccolo and Vegeta come to a major conclusion about themselves through putting themselves on the line for Goku specifically. 

Mind you, this is hardly anything new for a Dragon Ball villain, but there’s always been a consensus that these two are Goku’s ultimate rivals. Piccolo because he was born to hate Goku, a dying wish with the mission of ‘kill kill kill’ in the egg he hatched from- and Vegeta because he was raised to hate the kind of challenge someone like Goku presents him. They maintain the bulk of their personality and distinctive traits because of the sustained relevance that their position measured relative to Goku’s grants them. 

You have these two former villains with not only the kind of baggage that your Z-Fighter prior had, but on steroids. A child’s desire to be worth the legacy and remaking of a ‘King’ and his great evil vs the child’s bottomless ambition for power so as to never be helpless again, to be the boot crushing the ant instead of the ant.  Piccolo was “born” evil, not raised. Vegeta was raised into a culture that delights in other people’s pain, strength for strength’s sake- and also with Frieza as his “parent” in some respects. 

There’s this fundamental similarity in the trajectory of their arcs- though Piccolo inevitably finds it much easier because he doesn’t have to contend with the expectation of cultural norms. He doesn’t have a context of that until he’s an adult. And like I mentioned before, the crowning moment of when their characters earnestly have shifted their beliefs rings rather similarly in both cases. 

Piccolo wanted to stay on Namek to fight by Goku’s side, even if it meant putting himself in Frieza’s line of fire. 

Vegeta admitted out loud that he didn’t stand a chance against Buu and committed to a fight WITHOUT the goal of winning- the goal was explicitly a support role to Goku. Holding Buu off to give him time to power up and beat the monster. 

Both of them put down their goals right on the floor and stepped into what their earlier selves would’ve considered humiliating positions. They are admitting second fiddle and for the first time they’re not taking it as an insult. They want to see him win! They NEED him to win. 

So much of it is the stakes- wanting to see a common foe go down, yes. But for both of them we see that they’ve got people they love that they’re doing this for. It’s not about what they want or even need or themselves anymore. These monologues happen after several turning points- it’s like closing the book on the chapter of a compulsion that they realized wasn’t making them happy. 

They both allow themselves to get brutally tortured not as a consequence of fighting to fight around the time of these revelations, but because they realize that there’s someone to go home to- and that home won’t exist anymore if they don’t do it. 

And— what the shit. I realize as I’m writing this that they both did it so that Goku could charge the spirit bomb. Piccolo for the bomb against Frieza, Vegeta for the bomb against Kid Buu. Straight up scene after scene of them not just getting thrashed; but very visibly put in the ground like a dog. Worse than death, because it isn’t over. 

You get to hear these men getting beaten brutally (the visual style communicates a lot more than a blow for blow fight in instances where one character is severely outmatched. Think Tien vs Nappa, Frieza and Vegeta at the waterfall, the Androids and the Z-Fighters), 

- knowing that Goku’s the only way, and that they’re only getting up because he needs them to. They know he needs them, and they need him right back. 

It’s their home they’re bleeding for. Now is the time to do the noble thing- and it is noble. Because it requires no shortage of fighting their innate selfishness, their drives and the goals that subsumed a good deal of their lives. 

Now here’s the monologues and some companion scenes signaling the shift in their characters at different points. 

The Monologues + Companion Quotes:

Piccolo’s monologue [Spoken after being transported to Earth while SSJ Goku fights Frieza]

"Goku... Our paths have crossed many times along the way. It's because of you that I was even born. 

From the very beginning, when I was nothing but an egg, even then I wanted you destroyed. I was born hating you. As a young fighter, those tournaments against you were all that I had. I lived for the chance to see you die.

(Flash to the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament)

I will never forget our fight in the World Martial arts tournament. With my newly learned ability to increase my size, I knew that this would be it. This would be my chance to finish you. But still you found a way to beat me, your power, I've never seen it anything like it. 

From that day forward, I knew that there was something different about you. Something... Not of this world. And then the fight with Raditz—

(Cut to the killing blow between Raditz and Goku, the Special Beam Cannon)

Huh. I can't say I objected to destroying you.

After all, it's what I'd been waiting for my whole life. But as you lay there lifeless, the job wasn't what I'd imagined. 

How could I hate someone with such an honorable sacrifice? Goku, why did you have to send me back to Earth? I wanted to fight alongside of you... It's vexing, but your powers have become far greater than my own, and so has your character. You chose to beat Frieza at the cost of your own life. You're always like that."

+

Scene — Gohan asleep by the fire 

PICCOLO: (gently pushes Gohan’s bangs back) Until now, training you has been about vengeance. But something’s changed. No matter what happens, I’ll always be there to protect you, Gohan. Sleep well, my friend. 

Scene — Flying toward the battle with Frieza

PICCOLO: Gohan’s energy signal is fading! I’m not gonna let it happen, cause we’ve been through too much together.  

(Flashback, spanning their time training together) 

You were just a pampered kid when I took you in, but you never gave up. You never failed to surprise me either. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so hard on you. But you took it without complaint and I could tell despite the hardship I put you through;  You truly cared about me. So I died for you... And I’d do it all again. 

Scene — Piccolo and Vegeta’s final talk

PICCOLO: I was just like you once, until Gohan’s love changed me. I know you were changed too, I know how much courage it took to do what you did. 

                                                             VS.

Vegeta’s Monologue [spoken while SSJ3 Goku fights Buu off]

“Amazing. How do you do it Kakarot? You’ve always been like this. Ever since the first day I met you. Always ready to meet the next challenge, even when it’s bigger than you are. 

It was the same on Namek, you had improved so much it made Recoome look like he was standing still. Your power had increased so dramatically since our battle on Earth that I thought you’d done it! That you had become a super Saiyan. 

It tore me apart. How could you, a low class soldier, accomplish so easily what I- I had struggled my whole life to achieve? Then at last it happened. I too transformed. After living every moment of every day for the singular purpose of surpassing you, I finally became a super Saiyan myself. The prince had reclaimed his throne and fulfilled his destiny! But no matter how strong I became, your power still exceeded mine. 

At first I thought it was your loved ones —

(flash to Gohan, Chi-Chi, Piccolo, Bulma, Krillin, Oolong, Yamcha, Puar— all in that order) 

— that it was your instinct to protect them that spurred you on and pushed you beyond your limits. But then I found myself with a family of my own and my power didn’t increase at all. 

I used to fight for the sheer pleasure of it. For the thrill of the hunt. Oh, I had the strength unmeasurable. I spared no one. And yet… you showed mercy to everyone. Even your fiercest enemies, even me. Yet you never fought to kill or for revenge. Only to test your limits and to push yourself beyond. To become the strongest you could possibly be. How can a Saiyan fight like that and at the same time be so gentle that he wouldn’t hurt a fly? 

Oh, it makes me angry just thinking about it! But perhaps it is my anger that’s made me blind to the truth for so long. I see it now. This day has made it all too clear. 

You’re better than me Kakarot. You are the best.”

+

Scene — Goten and Trunks arrive. Vegeta hugs Trunks.

VEGETA: Trunks, there’s something you must know. You’ve made me proud, son. 

Scene — Before The Explosion

VEGETA: Trunks, Bulma, I do this for you. And yes… Even for you, Kakarot. 

Scene - Asking The Earth for Its Energy (cutting between Namek and The Sacred World of the Kais)

KIBITO KAI: Do you think Vegeta could soften his request somewhat? You know, ask them nicely? (The people of the Earth)

ELDER KAI: He could. If he wasn’t a proud, pigheaded, arrogant fool! 

KIBITO KAI: Look! He’s trying again.

VEGETA: (now pleading): People of the earth, please. I beg of you. You have to listen to me, please. We’re running out of time. 

(either sweat or a tear that runs down his face at this point. It’s ambiguous) 

Raise your hands. Do it before it’s too late. don’t let Majin Buu destroy you and your children! PLEASE! DONT LET HIM WIN!

These considerations in mind: It makes a great deal of sense as to what people would see in pairing them together- be it for the sake of putting the two stoic men who used to be the big bad in the same panel together while Goku fights the big battles, or for shipping purposes. They’re kindred spirits, and sometimes when you see yourself in someone else you decide: Boy, I don’t fucking like you.

They are two characters who after a series of journeys, have broken from either familial or cultural expectations as a hallmark of their development and subsequently found some kind of validation and self-actualization. From that point they can think about what it is that THEY want. A long path on its own. 

[elderyautjavegeta]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Dragon Ball Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Piccolo/Vegeta (Dragon Ball) Characters: Piccolo (Dragon Ball), Vegeta (Dragon Ball), Son Goku (Dragon Ball) Additional Tags: Mutual Pining, Childhood Friends, Alternate Universe - Celebrity, Alcohol, Bonding Summary:

Piccolo and Vegeta have been friends their entire lives, both of them being world-famous athletes in their respective sports, but Piccolo is harboring a secret, and a night of drinking and watching childhood cartoons might just bring those secrets to light.

[peeks around the curtain] Any Piccogeta fans out here?

I’m slowly getting back to writing fanfic and this is just the first of many stories I have planned for them. I hope you’ll read and maybe leave kudos or a comment.

[sxvethelastdance]

Sup gays, do YOU like relationships built upon the kindred experience of being fundamentally challenged by the time you got punched in the face so hard you rethought your life choices? Do you like pairings of two introspective, ornery people developing a strange bond in their unlikely similarities? How about smashing down the ego of someone whose haughtiness is a façade for a pathetic streak a mile-wide to strip all pretense between you both in the act of seeing and knowing him as a mirror of who you once tried to be, in the process forming a relationship to which understanding and trust is foundational?
[breathes deeply]
Look no further! The lovely @bastardsunlight and I have been sailin’ this ship for years (since me days as Pride-of-the-prince) and in light of a lovely 25 hours to the Sunday former, I have prepared a sketch compilation for all willing minds and curious souls. We call it Two Tsuns One Bed and tag it thus on our blogs, but come one come all to look upon… Well, whatever it is I put to paper.