32Adventures of the Chestnut Clan
Chapter 11: Hypnosis
A/N: This chapter is a bit different in that it's a prompt suggested by KoalaTakingNotes. Here, I've changed quite a lot of the details of the original prompt but kept the main theme, hypnosis.
Hundreds if not thousands of headlights streamed across the Satan City highway, clogging the multi-lane road and slowing traffic down to near standstill. While everyone was more or less travelling at turtle pace, two vehicles didn't seem to follow the norm as they zoomed past the long lines at a blinding speed.
"Stop, this is the police! I'm telling you to pull over and put your hands where I can see them immediately!" The lone officer piloting a police issue motorbike shouted from behind as he zigzagged through the citizens entrusted to him with care, making sure not to accidentally scratch them whilst keeping his target in sight.
"You want to see my hands Officer Chestnut? Well take a good look at this!" The rider of the leading bike shouted as he fired a machine gun at his purser.
Krillin saw the hail of bullets coming his way and knew if the projectiles kept on travelling in their current trajectories, some of them will inevitably struck innocent civilians. With one of his hands still resting on the steering wheel, his other hand seemingly vanished when in reality; it was merely moving at an unobservable rate, catching all flying metals without fail.
"Hey stop this madness immediately! You don't want to be charged with murder do you?" The warrior monk turned cop shouted as he stepped on the gas pedal, his brain working overtime trying to figure out a way of resolving the crisis without inflicting collateral damage.
His thought was quickly interrupted; however, when the gunman produced a shiny spherical object with a pin on top.
N-no way, is that what I think it is?
"Hey midget man, why don't you try catching a grenade for a change?"
Time seemed to slow down as the crazed outlaw pulled the pin and flung the dread object not at Krillin, but right at a cluster of parked cars. He then made a sharp turn at the intersection, laughing maniacally all the way.
The z-fighter didn't even think twice before abandoning his bike and rushed toward the impending explosion. There amongst fleeing crowd, he snatched the grenade then, like a world-class pitcher, threw it over the highway railing, watching it went boom high above the river below and lighting the night sky a shade of sinister red like a fiery ball of doom from hell.
"Sergeant Chestnut. What's your situation? We heard a loud explosion and are wondering if you need backup?" Came the distressed voice of his colleagues over the walkie-talkie.
"Y-yes I am well, just stopped an explosion from going off in busy traffic," Krillin panted while helping a fallen female back on her knees. He then gazed toward the road where the criminal was last seen and sighed as there was no sign of him whatsoever, "The perpetrator has gotten away though."
There was a long pause before applauses rang through as his colleagues shouted "Way to go!" and "Well, that just can't be helped!" Eventually, an authoritarian voice came through the line, informing the officer that, "Good work Krillin, we'll catch this madman some other day. You are free to leave once you submitted your report. I'll see you after the break."
"B-but," Krillin tried protesting.
"No but Sergeant Chestnut. You've done your work and deserve a break." His superior commanded.
"Y-yes sir." He turned off the radio then let out a deep sigh, his emotional brown orbs lingering on the spot where the criminals disappeared.
Oh great, another dangerous crook on the loose...if only I had caught him, I could've...
Wait, what's this?
The officer's head reached inside his pocket and felt something hard with well-defined edges. Upon pulling the item out, he was surprised by what appeared to be a shining diamond that glistened in the dark.
Hmph, of all the things you managed to retrieve, it's a diamond stolen by the criminal...well, at least it's a partial victory I suppose...
No, now's not the time to take things lightly, recovering a stolen gem wouldn't help anything in the long run...
The surrounding environment was tranquilly silent with visible stars hung high up on the sky, quite the polar opposite from the busy after-hour traffic he had to deal with by the time the off duty officer arrived at his suburban home. There, emitting from his two-story house was a warm orange glow that calmed his rapid-firing nerves almost immediately. Further adding to his joy was how the door swung opened the moment he set foot on his stony walkway, revealing a familiar silvery blonde figure whose luminous pale skin, glistening catlike eyes, and slight smile never ceased to whisk away his troubles.
"Sweetie, you are still awake." Krillin greeted warmly.
"As are you officer." She replied simply, her tone carrying a particular warmth reserved for the chosen few.
Their eyes met and their bodies inched closer like opposite poles of magnets attracted to each other until the couple embraced by their doorstep.
"So Sweeteen, how's our little angel?" The off-duty officer asked, his body slumped against his wife as a soothing sensation engulfed his body.
"She's just gone to bed actually. Marron wanted to wait for you but then I told her she wouldn't be able to grow like a proper girl without good sleep." The one called Sweeteen held her husband tighter and in the process, lifted his shorter frame off the ground.
"You always know how to put kids to bed Eighteen." He said, planting a kiss on her mouth.
Eighteen's blush was visible even in the darkness of the night. "And you sure know how to protect your...subjects." She winked at him but was received with surprised wide-eyed look.
"S-so you've seen it on TV?"
"Yeah."
"And Marron too?"
"Of course she did. There's a helicopter flying above you and the crazed biker don't you know? Marron was cheering for you the whole time too." The cyborg wife said proudly, her smile now an uncharacteristically wide, even revealing part of her pristine teeth.
To her horror, her husband's response was slumping his head down against her shoulder in apparent defeat. This got the blonde woman's heart beating loudly in both frustration and anger and she grasped his chin in her fingers, turning his head to her in a dead eyes glare.
"Sweetie, I could've caught that man but didn't. Now he's roaming around the city with only kami knew how many weapons at his disposal." Krillin's words were more than devoid of energy, but also spirit.
"That's nonsense Kril! You've made the right decision and saved lives." Her piercing blue eyes were unflinching as they stared at his wavering brown ones.
"B-but...,"
"No but Krillin. I think you are so tired your brain's screwing with you," The wife nearly yelled, her fingers digging into those sturdy arms she adored so much.
H-how can someone so strong and accomplished be so lacking in confidence at times? Oh I'll knock some sense into him alright...
Without missing a beat, Eighteen swung her husband over her shoulder and slammed the door behind her, not caring once about his complaints and repeated statements of "Hey I'm not a baby. You can put me down sweetie."
"Yes, you are acting like an overgrown baby in need of some reassurance Kril. Now hit the bed. I'd better see you snoring by the time I joined you otherwise I'll have to rock you to sleep hubby." That was Eighteen's only response, well that and her flushed tomato red cheeks.
"Well, knowing how late you tend to stay up, it's pretty much a given I'll be asleep by then." Krillin muttered quietly.
"Say something Kril?" Eighteen shouted despite herself.
"N-nothing sweetie, I'll be asleep but join me quickly okay? I'd like my lovely girl to warm up the bed for me." He replied rather cheekily.
The cyborg wife couldn't blush harder had she tried.
"Wow, how can they move at such speed?"
"Beats me. If I were moving that fast my limbs would've came out of my sockets for sure."
The sky was now a healthy shade of pale blue up on Satan city suburb as the sun slowly climbed up from the East. Down below, two middle-aged women chatted amongst themselves as they observed, or rather tried to make sense of an ongoing physical exercise of sorts between their neighboring couple. Try as they might, all their untrained eyes could distinguish were blurs, one orange and the other pink jumping from location to location. This, along with loud booms emitting from clashes of fists and feet were their only clue of the intensity of this exercise. Other details, such as who's winning or advancing were to anyone's guess.
"And look at that girl; she's cheering as if she can follow her parents' every move."
"Nah, she's probably as clueless as we are. Kids tend to have vivid imaginations after all."
Little did they know, the kid in question, a blonde shoulder lengthen girl going proudly by the name Marron Chestnut could indeed follow her parents' actions. Based on the observed situation, her hands would wave up and down or clutch into fists, her expression varying from excited to panicking as her round blue eyes trained on the two combatants without straining the slightest.
"Nice dodge papa. No, the other way. Mama's going to attack with her right fist!" Marron shouted hurriedly.
Her father quickly changed his posture and evaded the incoming punch. This earned him a cheerful yell from his little girl, one imbuing his body with a surge of energy that he used to drive off his attacker with a barrage of lightning fast strikes. Momentarily off the hook, the slightly below average height man flashed his child a grateful smile and she returned by flashing him a toothy grin that nearly blinded the dad with reflected sunlight.
"What's the matter Krillin? You'll never catch the outlaws this way so why not just lay down and surrender already?" Came the matter-of-factly voice of Eighteen, pulling his attention back and making him gasp in surprise at the fist looming before his widened eyes.
"E-Eighteen, when did you managed to sneak up behind me?" The former warrior monk stammered as he took a few steps back.
"Why, I concealed what little traceable energy I have and tried not to disturb the air particles so you wouldn't notice me." His cyborg wife tried stating it in a dark tone if only to reignite his battle instincts.
Common Kril, this isn't the time to be awed by your opponent...you wouldn't be awed by that gunman from yesterday would you?
It did the trick, well kind of until Marron started loudly chanting how, "My mama's the best!" for all to hear, which brought out an admiring look from her husband that in turn chipped away at her stone-cold demeanor.
"Impressive sweetie, you've improved qui-ah!" Krillin applauded, only to be cut off mid-sentence when Eighteen threw a left hook, which missed his grinning teeth by mere paper's width.
"Don't sweetie me Krillin. This is training and if it weren't for Marron's warning or me going easy on you, you would've been knocked unconscious minutes ago." The blonde cyborg spat as she narrowed her eyes, not forgetting to conjure up pink electric currents that arched dangerously between her hands to further emphasize her point.
Wow, what beautiful icy blue eyes sweetie has...she's always so...wait no, now's not the time to be distracted, I need to show her the respect swe-No! Eighteen deserves!
"Got it Eighteen, I'll be sure to give you my all," Krillin returned a hardened gaze of his own then turned to his daughter, "Marron princess, papa needs you to cheer for us quietly okay?"
Their daughter gasped and covered her mouth with both hands, a look of guilt spread across her adorably oval face, "S-sorry papa, mama."
The proud father chuckled while the mother's tense expression softened to reveal her ocean blue eyes and a radiant smile.
"It's okay Marron, mama understands. We just need you to cheer for us in your mind okay? Your father needs it." Eighteen's words were warm like the soft turtle plush her little girl loved to hug when falling asleep, until the last part anyways when the cyborg wife spoke with such ire Krillin trembled in his shoes.
Another round of sparring soon commenced with neither party holding back. To their bewildered neighbors, it's like even the blur disappeared into occasional flashes of colored lights, well for the previous pink blur at least as they could still barely make out the orange blur that seemed to be backing off slowly but steadily.
For once, the usually clueless neighbors weren't wrong as Krillin was barely able to parry, let alone dodge the blinding fast strikes coming from his spouse. At times, it appeared like cyborg wife's limbs had multiplied as indistinguishable amount of punches and kicks descended upon him from all directions, gradually locking him in place and hammering away at his defense. The police officer's sturdy arms that had endured an inhumanely amount of punishments in his warrior career now felt like they were about to snap while his trembling feet dug deep into the soft soil of their backyard.
This is bad...this is really bad...I need to think of something and fast...common even Eighteen must have a weakness...
Well...aside from our little princess that is...
The haired former monk tried observing his opponent's eyes as a last ditch effort of figuring out her emotion and in doing so, allowing him to anticipate her next move. To his astonishment; however, his cyborg wife's arctic cold orbs betrayed no such weakness. It was as if he's peering into the visual sensors of a real android, with bright yellow numbers and diagrams flashing behind the glassy lenses.
Why'd I never thought of learning how to read those figures...oh that's right...cause sweetie doesn't want me to pry into her mind...
Mind...oh wait...
Krillin let out a deafening shout as he released all his reserve energy at once, resulting in an impenetrable ki barrier of sorts that blocked all incoming strikes without him having to manually do so.
Impressive!
Eighteen wanted to commend her husband aloud not only for halting her attacks, but also for executing a move nearly identical to her own energy barrier. As her heart fluttered at the sight of spherical pure white ki, she almost blushed but quickly relegated those emotions to the back of her mind, her fists clenched shut ready to deliver the next blow.
"You've done well pressuring me this much Eighteen, but let's see if you have what it takes for this technique!"
The bold claim from the humble human fighter caused his wife to show first sign of emotion, and that being irritation if not disbelief in the form of an eye roll and scoff. Their daughter, who had been trying her hardest at keeping quiet, could no longer restrain her excitement and began jumping up and down, chanting, "I wanna see papa's new move! I wanna see it!"
"Thanks firefly and you will papa assure you," the grinning father assured warmly before turning to face his spouse. "How about it Eighteen, are you prepared for what's to come?" he asked confidently, going as far as pointing a taunting finger at the older blonde.
Common sweetie, I need your full collaboration for this to work...you wouldn't be able to resist our daughter's request can you?
Eighteen couldn't help but narrowing her eyes, wondering what kind of trick her husband was trying to pull. Despite of running a quick simulation of how all his techniques may work on her; however, the one deciding factor seemed to be the adorable sight of her little girl, whose bright, curious expression defrosted her mother like no other.
"Whatever you have up your sleeve throw it at me Krillin." Eighteen trained her piercing eyes on Krillin and took up a defensive posture.
Good, stay there and give me your undivided attention sweetie, I'm counting on you...
Krillin nearly smirked, all too glad she had fallen for his trap but knew better than getting carried away and began to work. In a rather unorthodox maneuver, the experienced warrior unclenched his fists into spread-opened palm.
What? Are you going to use your solar flare is that it?
Eighteen raised an eyebrow then tensed up knowing their daughter was within range of the visual impairing attack. To the mother's relief and puzzlement, her spouse's movements was something else entirely as he waved those firm arms of his in a rather flimsy manner.
"Eighteen...Eighteen...sweetie...can you hear me?" Her husband said, no, chanted in a strange tune but what really troubled the woman was his eyes. Those chocolate rich orbs radiating with limitless warmth now appeared as bottomless void, drawing her consciousness into them like black holes.
"Sweetie, you are too tired. You've been working too hard and need a break." Krillin continued, his heart bumping loudly, amazed at how his spouse's dead serious expression slowly turned blank but dared not to stop.
"I...I need a...now hold on a second!" Eighteen yelled, snapping herself from the trance only to be captivated by what she dubbed darned flowy arm movement that had occupied her entire vision.
"Don't think too much dear Eighteen. You need a good sleep. There's no shame sleeping after working so hard so close your eyes. I will take care of everything."
"K-Krillin will take care of everyt...,"
The blonde woman was unable to finish her sentence as her heavy eyelids promptly closed despite her cybernetic side screaming warning nonstop internally. So deep was her slumber she began snoring lightly standing up then fell backward, into the waiting arms of her spouse.
"Phew, that was close. Don't want you to fall on hard ground now do we sweetie?" Krillin gently laid her down.
"Papa papa, what did you do? What happened to mana?" Marron ran toward her parents, those crystal blue eyes wide in amazement but also harboring tints of worry.
Her father grinned at her triumphantly. "Why little princess, you can say papa puts mama to sleep."
"Oh?" The blonde girl crawled closer to her lying still mother and began a thorough examination, taking note of how the older blonde's chest heaved gently up and down akin to someone fast asleep. "I guess mama really is sleeping. It must be tiring to be mama."
"I know little angel. We need to be nicer to mama," Krillin added warmly then added with a blush, "but don't you think mama's cute when she's asleep?"
Marron scooted closer still and, in what her father surmised as only the privileged daughter of Eighteen was allowed to do, poked at her sleeping parent's cheeks.
"Marron agrees with papa. Mama really is cute."
Krillin nodded, finding the urge to poke at his sweetie's cheeks out of nowhere but knew better than taking advantage of her.
As the two Chestnuts examined their sleeping wife and mother, their neighbors, obviously weirded out by the turn of events, chattered worriedly amongst themselves and going as far as asking them, "Is she okay? Should we call the ambulance?"
Hearing those words of concern got Krillin to wave his hands in a semi-panicking manner. "I-it's fine. My wife's just a bit tired that's all. I'll take her to bed now." He picked up his wife gently then turned to his daughter, "Common Marron, let's head inside and put mama to bed shall we?"
"Okay!" The blonde girl said cheerfully as she followed her parents into the house, but not forgetting to wave goodbye to what she called the lovely ladies next door.
Eighteen's nose picked up the delicious aroma of food and her stomach growled, prompting her eyes to flutter open. To the cyborg warrior's surprise, she found herself not at her favorite sparring ground, but instead tucked neatly inside her bed with bedsheet reaching her shoulders. Beside her resting atop the nightstand was the source of the smell, a tray of freshly cooked breakfast.
"Mama! You are awake!"
Before she could make sense of how she got there, her daughter jumped on the mattress and crawled up her chest, her hands wrapping around her neck. Standing by the doorframe was her husband smiling cheekily. The sight and well prepared food warmed the artificially altered woman's heart but also lingering deep inside was a mystery that troubled her.
"Kril, how come I'm sleeping on our bed? What happened to our sparring session?" She asked somewhat alarmed.
Man...I wonder how will sweetie react once she's heard the truth...
To his wife's inquiry, the husband could only smile sheepishly as he scratched his jet-black hair, unsure how to phrase it correctly. To his abject horror, their precious daughter beats him to it and told her mother in the most sincere yet unflattering manner, "Papa's won the match mama. He waved his hands in front of you weirdly then you fell asleep."
Eighteen couldn't help but arching her blonde eyebrows up as she looked back and forth from her jovial girl and embarrassed partner until those blue eyes widened abruptly before narrowing dangerously. Her stomach dropped as a long forgotten but nearly nightmarish sensation came flooding back her consciousness.
"Krillin you cheated! And I thought we were sparring to help you regain your form. Or need I remind you how downbeat you were last night?" The cyborg woman didn't want to yell in front of her daughter, but she still managed to put those words in an indignant if not accusatory fashion.
"Aw common sweeteen, it wasn't cheating. Master Roshi once used hypnosis on Goku back in our first World Martial Arts Tournament then again in Tournament of Power remember? It's a legit fighting technique." Krillin tried explaining with his hands outstretched in front as if soothing an angry lioness.
"Great, so I've fallen for that pervert's dirty trick. Thanks Kril. Now I feel much better yes sir." Eighteen closed her eyes and crossed her arms in front of her chest, her head turning the other way refusing to look at her husband.
N-not only did that mad scientist tempered with my brain, but now my beloved Kril is doing that too?
The two other round-eyed Chestnuts were starting to panic, with Marron tugging at her mother's sleeves, her face almost pressing against the older woman's trying to pry open her eyelids. Krillin had squeezed onto the bed as well, his hand gingerly resting against his wife's shoulder in a soft massage of sorts.
"Common sweetie, don't be mad at your Kril okay?"
"Yeah mama, papa meant you no harm."
Eighteen merely opened her eyes slightly at the younger blonde in a reassuring manner yet still refused to even so much as glimpse at her soulmate.
"Babe," Krillin said softly, his emotional chocolate brown orbs trained at her shut eyes, "look Eighteen, I can never make you do anything against your wishes kay? The hypnosis only worked cause you were really tired and need some sleep. I mean you rose early everyday and waited for me till late at night didn't you?"
The statement got the artificially enhanced woman to cease frowning but those beautiful crystal blue eyes were still shut. "Really?" a hopeful tone was all too apparent in her voice.
"Really sweeteen. I would never force you to do anything now would I? And I really appreciate you offering to train with me." Krillin added, inching closer until his face was almost pressing against hers much like Marron's.
With some reluctance, Eighteen reopened her eyes, revealing the sparkling tropical ocean colored iris her family adored.
"Mama?"
"Eighteen?"
"Fine, you are forgiven Kril," Eighteen sighed, prompting her husband and daughter to cheer loudly. A thought then sprang out of nowhere and the blonde cyborg's eyes narrowed in rare mischief, "but only if you teach me your hypnosis technique Kril." She stated in an uncompromising way.
Krillin could only swallow nervously but not his overly excited daughter Marron, who yelled in delight, her gem-like eyes glistening like her mother's.
"So that's all there is to it? You just wave your hands in circle, trying to occupy your opponent's vision while staring into their soul?" Eighteen asked all bewildered, her arms making the same awkward, if not slightly goofy circular motions.
"Y-yeah, something like that. It's important to, as you say sweetie, to stare into your opponent's soul because for this to work, you need to establish a mental connection with them so to speak." Krillin elaborated, his arms doing their own silly little dance.
"Like this papa?" Marron gazed at her father's eyes and waved her small arms till tears swelled up from not blinking for so long.
"Y-yes princess but no, you don't need to stare so hard. It's about understanding your opponent and subtly leading them," Krillin paused in his explanation and stroked his chin, trying to see how to best get the point across. "How about if I demonstrate the technique again? If only you guys want it of course." He offered, somewhat hesitantly.
"Me me! Try it on me papa!" Marron offered without hesitation as she stood in front of her father curiously.
Her parents chuckled at the adorable sight but then Eighteen shook her head and placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "No Marron, you are too young for this," the mother said then turned to her husband, "Show us again Kril. I am entrusting my consciousness to you."
Krillin's heart literally fluttered cozily at the sincere declaration and nodded.
"Okay now sweetie, just relax, relax. It's me, your Kril." The seasoned warrior began, his pair of creamy brown windows of soul linking up with her sapphire colored blue world instantly.
The cyborg woman was surprised at how easily she fell under his charm as whatever tension she felt gave away to total calmness. Similar to the previous hypnosis, she felt her spirit irreversibly drawn to the chocolate colored whirlpools and knew that moment, she was at his mercy. Despite relinquishing total control; however, the artificially altered woman, who had already undergone too much mind tempering in the hands of a certain deceased Red Ribbon scientist, didn't feel a tint of fear, only warmth and the serenity that came with it.
Krillin, I'm with Krillin so it's okay...He's Kril after all...
Krillin saw his spouse's eyes dilating and was taken aback at Eighteen's degree of collaboration. He smiled internally, thanking her for the trust given.
Don't worry Eighteen, I'll have you do something beneficial to yourself...
Marron, who was standing beside her father, observed with intrigue, taking note of how her mother's gentle yet determined expression had taken a cuddly turn.
Mama looks...different...it's like she's not there...no that's not right, it's like papa's with mama...
"Tell me princess, what do you think we should have mama do?" Krillin asked quietly, making sure not to severe the established connection.
The blonde girl put her hands on her chin much like her father's gesture, her attention slowly drifting toward the plate of uneaten breakfast and frowned akin to her mother's.
"Mama's barely eaten anything today hasn't she papa?" She asked, tugging at her father's shirt.
"I know, and she has a small appetite to begin with...hey good idea there little angel!" he applauded then shifted back to the hypnotized woman, his hand motions quicken and eyes emitting a pale white light that connected with hers. "Eighteen, you are hungry, you need to eat your breakfast. Now, clean the plate starting from the pancake, then the mashed eggs, salad, and finally the miso soup."
"I-I am hungry, I need my breakfast." Eighteen mouthed out dreamily, her face blank, resembling a mannequin, which pained her husband's heart.
I-is Eighteen even aware of what she's about to do?
"Yes Eighteen, now go and finish your breakfast, but also make sure to let me know how each dish tasted by giving me an honest written score okay? Your Kril wishes to know." Krillin added the last part in a hopeful tone.
"My Kril wishes to know." Eighteen repeated, the corners of her mouth arching up in a smile.
The father and daughter watched with awe as their residence cook, who just happens to eat half as much as they do on a daily basis despite doing the work, ate up all the warm food on her plate. The pancake, mashed eggs, salad, and miso soup went down her throat, leaving not a scrap on the literally cleaned plate.
"It worked papa. Mama ate all her food!" Marron chirped, her feet tiptoed on the floor and hands resting on the dining table.
"Yeah it sure did princess, now's the time for evaluation." Krillin said, taking a deep breath of anticipation as he placed down a paper and pencil in front his wife before turning the other way.
Sounds of graphite scraping along with his daughter's gasps reached the male cook's ears and he tensed up despite himself. When at last the audio cue stopped, he announced loudly, "Thanks sweetie, you are free," and turned around.
At first, Eighteen sat on her seat still looking dazed, then she blinked once, twice, and reverted back to her usual gentle yet sharp expression.
"Kril, what did you just made me do?" She asked, slightly puzzled but not on guard, only to discover her answer in the empty plate that forced out a small gasp from her food tasting mouth.
"Krillin! But I rarely eat this mu-hic!" Her sentence was cut short by an audible hiccup.
Krillin and Marron couldn't help but share a look of amusement while Eighteen blinked, not awakening from an hypnosis but in shock.
"Wh-hic!" It happened again, louder this time and the two pure humans laughed out clearly bemused.
"This isn't funny you tw-hic! No sto-hic this! It's not fu-hic! No-hic!" The stoic cyborg's chest would heave up with every hiccup to the point she jumped up slightly from her chair. Cheeks flushed and eyes narrowed in displeasure, she shot her family a mean glance before rushing into the bathroom but not without several major hiccups that made her let out a few chosen explicit phrases that were thankfully interrupted.
"Mama's so cute isn't she papa?" Marron wondered.
"She sure is little angel, my angel sure is," Krillin said proudly then made his way to the written evaluation. "Hmm...five, five, five, and five. Wow, hey sweetie, what's this number out of? Is it five?" he asked hopefully by the shut bathroom door.
"No yo-hic small hic mi-hic midget. It's ou-hic out of hic ten!" A barely comprehensible sentence came out.
The always-jubilant man's expression soured, her mouth hung agape and mouth corners downward. "Eighteen, that's just mean!" he nearly whined.
"Y-hic you told me t-hic to give you a hon-hic honest review r-hic right? If you wa-hic wanted good sco-hic scores, you should've to-hic told me to write you a fla-hic flattering one." She berated, not holding back her temper.
"But sweetie." He muttered more to himself than anything.
"Look Kril," Eighteen finally emerged from the restroom, her blonde strands dripping with water, "I don't consider an average score as bad okay. It's nutritious and that's all it matters r-hic right?" The cyborg woman adopted a much softer tone near the end, which was made all the cuter by the accidentally hiccup in her family's eyes.
"Thanks sweetie. And uhh...I think you are quite attractive when hiccupping. We should try that again someday." He confessed, giving her the winks.
The stout wife blushed despite herself and tried concealing it by facing the other way. "I wouldn't count on it Kril...but anyways, now it's your turn!" she mouthed out the last part rather deviously, her ocean blue eyes taking on not an icy shade, but rather darker to a sinister deep blue.
Marron clapped her hands in anticipation whilst Krillin swallowed a gulp, his face paled.
Oh no...just what have a gotten myself into...but wait, maybe Eighteen will fail, yeah it's near impossible to get this right the first time...
But then again I don't want her to fail...
"There's no escaping this Kril," Eighteen held her husband's shoulders tightly as if reading his thoughts, her firm grasp pressing him down onto the dining room chair. "Now Krillin, it's me Eighteen, Krillin, your wife ne-no wan- no I meant demands your attention." She said trying to sound convincing but having to correct her phrasing to less embarrassing terms, her face blushing the whole time as her arms repeating the same awkward motion previously.
By Sixteen I suck at this...there's no way this is going to work...wait, why does Krillin look...dazed already...
Indeed, Krillin's face was one entranced, those already large and circular brown pools gazing straight at her, reflecting off the aquamarine world he's been drawn to. It worked too well to be true and Eighteen was beginning to have second thoughts.
Is Kril just gazing at my eyes like he always does? Or is this really working?
The usually confident cyborg wife couldn't help but raising her hand over her husband's face and waved it a few times.
Her blonde offspring meanwhile was walking in circles around her father's frozen figure, seemingly in awe at what she had witnessed. "Wow mama, you succeeded on your first try." She chirped happily, albeit quietly in fear of interrupting her mother.
"Maybe. But what should I have Kril do?" Eighteen pondered in deep thoughts, still waving her arms in circles, which by this point she doubted was contributing to anything at all.
"I kind of want papa to read me a story." Marron chimed in, already holding a few picture books.
"Hmm that's a good idea but doesn't papa read you every weekend already? Let's have him do something he will not do without hypnosis." The older blonde wondered wearing a grin.
The younger blonde lowered her head momentarily then gave her mother the look of realization, "But mama, papa would do anything for us even without being hypnotized."
"I-I guess you are right little angel." Eighteen patted her daughter gently, surprised by the truthful outlook. "Sure, let's have papa read you some books then. What do you have here Marron?"
"Yay!" Marron's bright voice was all the convincing her mother.
Initially merely happy to go along with her little girl's suggestion, the cyborg woman soon grew to liking the chosen picture books, even having to clasp a hand over her snickering lips as a rather devious thought emerged.
"Let's have papa read this okay Marron?" Eighteen asked, holding up 'The Little Riding Hood' and, upon receiving an eager nod, handed it over to a still dazed Krillin. "Now Kril, your girls need you to read this for us."
"Yes sweetie." The hypnotized man affirmed, his radiant smile almost making Eighteen second guessing her decision, almost.
"But I want you to insert all the wolf howls and animal grunts. Oh, make sure to act out story like it's a stage play." She finished with narrowed eyes that shined an evil glow akin to her pre-reformed years.
"Okay Eighteen, you can count on me." Krillin said again almost sounding like his old self, clearly eager to serve those under his care.
Therefore, the accomplished warrior and occasional comedian set out to read the story, emphasizing on all the howling and grunts of the big bad wolf while saying adopting the frightened voice of the little girl.
Eighteen and Marron couldn't stop laughing, the two giggling with the little girl even rolling on the floor while her mother fared little better, her hands clutching her aching stomach. By the time Krillin finished at last, the Chestnut girls were lying on the carpeted floor, too exhausted to move.
"Is there anything I can do for you girls?" The off-duty cop asked, eagerly awaiting his next order.
His wife wanted to try the next storybook but Marron beat her mother to it. "It's okay papa, you are free."
Krillin blinked the standard awakening blinks then his dilated pupils focused on the sight before him and chuckled proudly without a hint of embarrassment. "What were you lovely ladies up to? No, the better question is what did I do to knock you stubborn girls down?" He asked, lying down on the carpeted living room floor along with them.
Eighteen couldn't bear to look her companion in the eye and turned around for the umpteenth time that day. Krillin wasn't having it though and turned his attention to the younger blonde, pulling her onto his laps.
"Marron, you can tell papa can you?"
"It's nothing really papa. We just had you read me one of my picture books."
"Oh?"
"With all the acting of a world class actor and howling of the wolves." Eighteen interrupted, wiping off the laughter induced tears from her clenched shut eyelids.
All Krillin could do was looking up the ceiling then back at her mischievous grin. For the first time, the serious twin sister was resembling her brother with all his playfulness.
Like sister like brother I guess? Still, sweetie's pretty cute today...
Before the cultured monk could make a rebuttal at his wife though, Marron intervened by jumping off her father and raised both her hands up gleefully. "I want to try the hypnosis thing too papa mama!"
"Okay, but who do you want to hypnotize Marron?" Krillin quickly asked as he stared amusedly at Eighteen who returned with a coy smirk.
"Papa's right Marron, you want him to read you another one of your picture books right?"
"Hey she didn't say that sweetie."
"No, but I know she's about to right Marron? You agree with mama don't you?"
As her parents bickered, Marron was peering back and forth between them, unsure who or even what to ask.
Papa's just had his turn, so I guess it's mama's?
Their offspring reasoned internally and scooted closer to the older woman, garnering an eager handclasp from Krillin who made playful eye contacts at the semi-horrified Eighteen, whose mouth stood slightly agape and eyes equally as wide before managing to control herself.
"Nice choice firefly. And if you need it, papa wouldn't mind helping you hypnotize mama." The husband offered, snaking an arm around his wife's waist and pulled her tense body closer.
"You wish cue ball." The cyborg woman spat silently, her lips puckered conveying obvious distaste, which scared nobody unfortunately seeing her pure human husband grinned a toothy grin.
"It's okay papa, I want to try this myself." Marron replied innocently, much to her mother's relief.
The little girl took a deep breath, adopted a rather serious expression, and then began waving her arms in circle. It was such a cute sight seeing their little angel concentrating so hard that both Chestnut adults had to stifle a laugh.
"Mama mama," The determined child began, trying to imitate her parents' voice, "Marron wants you to...she wants you to...,"
"Yes little angel, what would you want mama to do?" Eighteen sat in front of her daughter, giving her all the attention.
Is it wrong I want my child to hypnotize me? I guess I just don't want to disappoint her...
Oh common Eighteen you silly girl, I can simply act like it worked!
"I want mama to," The younger blonde crossed her arms, her eyebrows furrowed but still couldn't come up with a good suggestion.
"What is it Marron? Do you want something specific to eat for dinner? Or is it a new dress?" Krillin chimed in, sitting beside them.
"Marrons wants, I want papa and mama to always love me and...,"
Her words were cut short when both parents leaned in and kissed her on her cheeks simultaneously.
"B-but I didn't hypnotize you papa." Marron gasped and stammered, clearly surprised.
"No Marron, but papa loves you and don't need to be hypnotized to kiss you right?" was Krillin's loving response.
"Neither do I Marron. Now, is there anything else you need?" Eighteen stated expectedly.
"No, I think that's it. Thanks papa mama." The girl responded as she wrapped her arms around both parents. There on the carpeted living room floor, the small family shared a hug that conveyed warmth better than any spoken word or gift.
Afterwards, they laid there snuggled together in silent, gradually dozing asleep feeling each other's warmth coursing through entangled limbs and bodies.
Even the cyborg woman, whose eternal energy reactor ensured a never-ending supply of stamina, couldn't resist the comfort afforded by her loved ones and felt her human mind deactivating despite complaints from her artificial components, letting Artificial Human Number Eighteen know she had grown too content and was getting lazy.
Ah screw you system, I own you and you'll do as I command...
But wait a minute, I did forget something...
The cyborg woman placed a hand on her life-long partner's shoulder and applied just enough pressure to get his attention.
"Sweetie?" Krillin turned toward his wife and was nearly hypnotized by the gentleness radiating from her ocean blue eyes.
Either my angel's a natural hypnotist or I simply couldn't resist her...ah well I guess it's a bit of both...
Eighteen felt herself blushing at Krillin's love struck expression but knew she had a mission to carry out. Garnering her inner strength, she gave him a serious look and began waving her hands in circular motion.
"Krillin Krillin, this is your wife Eighteen speaking. You will remember everything I'm about to say is that clear?" Her tone was sincere, displaying none of the mischief from earlier.
"Yes babe." He replied obediently showing no signs of struggle.
"You are a hardworking man who's already tried his best. Sometimes you just need to learn how to let go and stop punishing yourself needlessly."
"A-are you referring to me losing track of the criminal from last night Sweetie?"
"That and many more Kril. Too many for your...for your concerned wife to count." Eighteen put her foot down on the matter, her voice showing no room for negotiation.
"Okay sweeteen, I've been eternally hypnotized and will no longer beat myself up needlessly." Krillin said, trying to imitate the voice of a charmed man before saying in his own serious voice. "Eighteen Eighteen, this is your husband Krillin speaking. Are you listening?"
The cyborg wife nodded, making sure to widen her eyes and relaxing her facial muscles so as to appear hypnotized.
"Good sweetie, I just want to let you know you are...," He paused, trying to find the right word regarding his spouse's nature especially in the presence of their curious little girl. "You are a perfect human woman and as expressive as anyone I've met. Just, don't overwork yourself cause you clearly need rest like all of us okay?"
Eighteen didn't know why her body temperature was rising, as she was used to her husband showering her with much more lavish praises but this rather mundane description made her heart beat all the faster.
Krillin was rather smitten himself by her healthy tomato red but knew better than to comment on it. Instead, he adopted a sincere look and said, "Eighteen babe, I do not hear your confirmation. Should I say it again?"
Marron had also took note of her mother's rosy complexion and, unable to resist her curiosity, poked at the older blonde's cheeks. "Papa, mama is burning. Should we measure her temperature?" The little girl said innocently full of concern.
Krillin shut his mouth tightly with all his might but still let out a small chuckle. "N-no it's okay little angel. I think that's mama's way of saying she understands. Isn't that right mama?" He made sure to wink playfully.
"W-whatever Kril. If me understanding shuts you up then so be it." Eighteen pouted and flicked her husband in the forehead.
"Ouch!" Krillin yelped rather overdramatically.
The family of three all burst up in laughter, their joyful voice audible to all their neighbors.
While the trio were basked in their family warmth, unbeknownst to them, a shadowy figure was lying atop a nearby building, observing their every move through a military-grade camera.
"Hehehe...so that's how hypnosis works heh? Well Sergeant Chestnut, I'm about to return the favor last night using your own trick!" The figure spat in a sinister voice.
"Me and Marron will be home before you know it Eighteen, so just stay put okay?"
"Yeah mama, we'll return with all the goods then we'll make breakfast together as agreed!"
It was early morning the next day at the Chestnut residence where Krillin and Marron sat inside their hover car, waving goodbye to Eighteen.
"Okay you two, be safe alright?" The cyborg woman reminded worriedly despite of knowing full well there literally wasn't anything her husband couldn't handle.
"Of course babe, just don't miss us too much okay?" The former warrior monk teased, flashing his toothy grin.
"I might miss Marron but definitely not you cue ball!" She stated coldly but her reddening cheeks betrayed the otherwise well-acted frosty face.
"Sorry can't hear you. Bye sweetie."
"Bye mama."
"Bye Kril, bye Marron darling!"
Eighteen stayed glued on the spot until the vehicle turned a corner and disappeared amongst the many oval shaped residences. Right when the blonde woman was about to head back inside; however, she caught an unusual activity from the corner of her eyes and spun around to meet a moving bush that clearly had someone hiding inside.
"Whoever you are you'd better show yourself before I blas-I mean report you to the police!" She warned, her hands balled into fists.
What greeted Eighteen instead was a maniacal laughter that made her cringe, but what she saw next nearly caused the stoic fighter to snicker much like her playful twin brother.
A man, or perhaps a clown was more fitting, had leapt out of the vegetation. Even at a major metropolitan area where its inhabitants love to put on fancy costumes, the guy clearly had them beat by light years according to the bewildered cyborg woman.
Who's this guy and what's with the stripped tuxedo and top hat? Is he a magician?
"Look mister, you have a nice costume but you are too old for trick or treat so go bother someone else before I report you kay?" Eighteen spat in a deadpan fashion, her fists loosening to rest on her waist seeing there was no threat from the weirdo.
"Oh, but you don't want to report me to the cops pretty little thing." The unwanted guest snickered as he pulled out what appeared to be a hypnosis watch and dangled it in front of the blonde woman.
Pretty little what? Does he have a death wish?
The artificially enhanced warrior's catlike eyes narrowed to resemble that of a lioness's.
The man didn't seem to notice her dangerous glare; however, and kept on swinging his hypnosis watch back and forth. "Yes, yes pretty girl. You don't want to call the cops. Oh no, that's the last thing you want to do."
As the criminal who had eluded Krillin continued to perform what he assumed to be hypnosis, he noted how those dazzling jewel-like eyes blinked red and smiled a wicked grin, surmising it was probably a sign the wife of his sworn enemy was now under his full control.
"You don't love your husband. Oh no pretty thing. He is just a short, good for nothing nobody. As a matter of fact, you want to cheat on him with me!" He continued, almost laughing out loud when his victim began approaching him.
"Oh yeah, come closer my dear. You are drawn to me like a loves truck teenage girl and want to kiss me, your true love!" The magician wannabe chanted then, after making sure she was completely at his mercy, closed his eyes and stuck out his lips, making audible smooching sounds as his mind began conjuring up images of the wife kissing him.
What followed instead was a sensation akin to a truck driving across his right cheek, which then reversed backward and ran over his left cheek. This painful sensation repeated for several hours when in reality, it all happened in mere seconds. During this imagined lengthy period, the criminal was dumbfounded as to what was going on, the only thing he was sure of being the overwhelming pain slowly consume his senses.
I-is this what a kiss felt like? I mean my cheeks are burning but not for the right reason I don't think...Oh crap I'm being assaulted!
Finally realizing what had happened, he let out a terrified scream, which was in turn cut short by an uppercut to the chin that made him swallow his cry and sent him rocketing into the sky, leaving a still seething cyborg woman to shake her smoking hot hands in an attempt at cooling them.
It's just like what my Kril said, can't make someone do what they haven't already thought of...
The blonde woman's artificially enhanced eyes then followed the air trajectory of the airborne crook, feeling the hypnotist wannabe heading straight for a strong ki and smiled.
Hmph, let's see if my calculation is accurate. My Kril should be getting a promotion for his victory soon...
Meanwhile, Krillin and Marron had just left the supermarket carrying bags of groceries when out of nowhere, a man came crashing down like a meteoroid in front of the father.
"W-what's going on? S-sir are you alright?" Krillin quickly dropped his groceries and went to check on the man.
"Wow papa, he flew down from the sky. Is he a friend of ours?" Marron asked innocently, her crystal blue orbs studying the man in tattered tuxedo curiously.
"No I don't think so princess, although he does look familiar," The father scrutinized the man's swollen face carefully before letting out a surprised gasp. "Hey I know you, you are that criminal from two days ago! Well sir, you are under arrest."
The young chestnut girl blinked a few times then leapt up joyfully. "Yay! Papa's caught a bad guy. My dad is the best."
Their short grocery shopping turned out much longer than anticipated and both father and daughter wondered how their wife and mother would react to their unplanned trip to the police station.
"Sweetie I'm home." Krillin announced in a worried voice, his heart thumping uneasily, especially after seeing a rather displeased expression on his beloved.
"Mama are you okay? We are sorry for returning late," Marron said as she rushed forward and hugged her mother.
"Yeah Eighteen, please don't be mad at us okay? We uh...run into someone unexpected." The husband scratched his head uneasily.
The statement got his wife's frosty eyes to widen slightly before returning to their usual ocean blue color, a knowing grin now spread through her face.
What's going on here? Sweetie's behaving rather strangely this morning...
"Yeah mama, turns out papa caught the bad guy from two days ago so we had to send him to the police station first. I think papa is now a Lieutenant or something?" Marron explained, her still developing hands holding onto her mother's shirt.
To both father and daughter's surprise, Eighteen reciprocated their explanation by planting a kiss on Marron's cheek then moved to Krillin and pressed her lips against his in a quick yet honey flavored loving smooch.
"Sweetie?"
"Mama?"
"Sorry, been wanting to kiss you two since you guys left." The cyborg woman said dreamily, garnering her confused looks.
"Eighteen, what's with the sudden change?" Krillin complained before he was silenced by a dainty finger which then proceeded to gently trace across his round face.
"I guess something cannot be altered even with hypnosis." Eighteen mused before regaining her composure and smiled a radiant smile. "So now you are Lieutenant Chestnut huh? It's got a nice ring to it officer. So why don't I cook you some nice breakfast to celebrate your promotion?" She said, seemingly unsurprised by the development.
Still rather weirded out, the two chestnuts shared a shrug but decided to let it drop, opting instead to make their way to the kitchen. Soon, sounds of them preparing meal rang throughout the house as the Chestnuts prepared for their bright new day.
A/N: Thanks for suggesting the prompt to me again and thanks everyone for the long wait. This prompt was actually much harder than I originally anticipated since I need to keep everyone in character even with the hypnosis in place. I'm aware I've changed quite a lot of the original prompt but I hope it's still enjoyable. Do let me know how this reads.
Also, due to the good timing of this chapter, I'm submitting this for the Krillin Birthday event hosted by Chestnutislands. For those interested, there are no rules as anything positive involving Krillin is acceptable.
Happy reading and happy writing.