The golden light of dawn filtered through the thin curtains, spilling across the small wooden table where Razor and 18 sat together. A quiet hum of the morning breeze filled the air, mingling with the faint smell of cooked food.
For once, the world around them felt calm—too calm for Razor's liking. Yet as he sat across from 18, watching her quietly eat, he couldn't help but feel that this unfamiliar stillness wasn't unpleasant.
18's hair shimmered in the sunlight, strands catching the light like silk. She ate in silence for a while, occasionally glancing at him. Razor wasn't much of a talker, especially during meals, but the tension that once filled every interaction between them had softened over time.
Finally, 18 broke the silence. "So," she said, putting her fork down lightly, "what's next for you? You don't seem like the type who stays still for long."
Razor leaned back slightly, arms crossing. "Training," he said in his usual flat but steady tone. "There's a planet not far from here—high gravity, no civilizations, only wild beasts. Great place to train."
18 raised a brow. "You already found another place to train?"
He nodded. "It's the perfect environment. Twenty times the gravity of this one. It'll do well to keep me sharp."
Her lips curved into a small smile. "That sounds just like you—chasing power even after almost dying."
Razor shrugged. "Power keeps me alive."
She tilted her head, watching him. "Is that all it does?"
He didn't answer. Instead, his gaze drifted toward the window, where the twin suns were beginning to rise. For a long moment, neither spoke, and only the faint rustle of wind filled the quiet home.
Then, 18's voice softened. "Razor… after that, after your training, I want to go back to Earth with you."
Razor's head turned sharply toward her. "Earth?"
She nodded. "My brother, 17 and 16 they'll be worried. I told them I didn't want to go back yet, but… they're my family. I can't stay away forever."
Razor's expression hardened slightly, not out of anger but out of thought. The word family echoed in his mind, a concept that always seemed distant to him. "So you plan to leave," he said quietly.
"It's not about leaving," she replied gently. "It's about letting them know I'm okay. And you'll be coming too."
He lowered his gaze, the faintest shadow crossing his features. "...I see."
She noticed the tone in his voice but didn't call it out. Instead, she reached across the table, resting her elbow and leaning forward slightly. Her blue eyes caught his. "You know… they're my family, Razor. But…"
Her next words came softer, almost a whisper carried by the air. "I guess… we too share the same bond"
Razor froze. The fork in his hand stopped mid-motion.
For a second, neither moved nor spoke. Then his mind flashed back—her soft touch, her quiet breath against his chest the night before, the warmth of her skin, the sound of her voice when she had said his name. The memory hit him harder than any battle strike.
18 noticed the sudden stiffness in his posture and the faint tint of red that crept along his face. A teasing smile touched her lips.
"Something wrong?" she asked, voice light.
Razor looked away quickly, grunting. "No. Just… thinking."
She chuckled softly, leaning back again. "Sure you are."
Razor exhaled and tried to shift the subject before she could tease him further. "Before we go anywhere, I'll need to train more. Super Saiyan 3… I've used it before, but its ki drain remain huge. I'll master it first."
"Super Saiyan 3!" she repeated. "You're planning to master it?"
He nodded. "I won't go to your Earth until I've at least found a way to use it for longer time."
18 smiled faintly. "Always aiming higher."
He looked at her for a moment before replying, "That's who I am."
A pause, then her lips curled into a mischievous grin. "Still, you've changed, Razor."
He blinked. "Changed?"
"You're… softer," she said teasingly. "The old Razor wouldn't even listen to anyone, let alone agree to visit another planet because someone asked nicely."
Razor frowned slightly, hiding the small flicker of embarrassment returning to his expression. "I'm not soft," he growled. "If anything, you're the bad influence here."
18 laughed, her voice bright and warm. "Maybe. But I like this version of you better."
He said nothing, only rolling his eyes slightly as if annoyed—but deep down, he didn't mind the sound of her laughter.
After they finished breakfast, Razor leaned back. "Speaking of bad influences," he said slowly, "where's my spaceship?"
The question froze her mid-bite.
"About that…" she began cautiously, eyes darting away. "It kind of… crashed."
Razor raised an eyebrow. "Crashed?"
"When I borrowed it," she corrected quickly, "the landing was a little… rough."
Razor exhaled heavily, rubbing his forehead. "You crashed my ship."
"Technically," she said, raising a finger, "it's fine now."
He looked at her skeptically. "Fine?"
"I repaired it," she said, folding her arms proudly. "While you were recovering, I scavenged parts from Tarix's ship and replaced the damaged plating. It's good as new."
He stared at her for a long moment before letting out a small sigh. "You repaired my ship… alone?"
She shrugged. "It wasn't that bad. The damage was mostly external. I had enough time."
Razor blinked, clearly impressed. "…You've learned a lot."
She smiled smugly. "Guess I learned a few things living with a battle-crazed Saiyan for a year."
Razor smirked faintly. "Seems so."
The rest of the morning passed as they gathered supplies—food capsules, spare parts, and a few salvaged weapons. Razor inspected the ship's engines, testing each thruster carefully while 18 double-checked the navigation console. The teamwork between them came naturally now, the quiet rhythm of two people who had fought, bled, and survived together.
When everything was ready, they stood outside the small home one last time. The wind carried the scent of the fields around them, and the sky glowed with twin suns rising side by side.
"So this is it," 18 said softly, her eyes lingering on the small home. "Our time here's over."
"For now," Razor replied. "That next planet—it will push us both beyond our limits."
18 smiled, her hair swaying slightly in the wind. "Good. I wouldn't want it any other way."
Razor glanced sideways at her, and a rare warmth flickered behind his stoic eyes. "You've really changed," he said quietly.
She turned to him, smiling faintly. "You too."
They stood there for a moment, neither speaking, as the suns climbed higher into the sky. Then Razor walked toward the ship, motioning for her to follow. "Come on," he said. "Let's see what this new destination has to offer."
As they ascended the ramp, 18 looked back once more. "You know…" she said, her voice thoughtful, "no matter how far we go, this place will always mean something."
Razor paused at the doorway, glancing back. "Why's that?"
"Because," she said softly, meeting his gaze, "this is where you stopped being just a battle hungry fighter… and became part of something."
He didn't respond, but the faintest flicker of emotion crossed his eyes.
The ship's engines roared to life, dust swirling around them as they lifted into the bright sky. 18 took the co-pilot's seat beside him, and as the stars stretched into long streaks before them, she leaned slightly toward him and murmured, almost playfully, "Family, huh?"
Razor didn't look at her, but his ears caught every word—and his scowl didn't hide his emotions once again.
18 smiled to herself, gazing at the endless stars. Anticipating their new adventure together.