AN: This story is actually a series of one-shots showing how various members of the Z Senshi react to the news of Bura and Goten's impending marriage. Each chapter will deal with a different character's reaction. Not in chronological order.

Not Taking it Well
Chapter 1: Trunks

Vegeta had taken it well. Surprisingly well. Too damn well. Goten knew there'd be a catch somewhere. You don't just tell the Prince of all Saiyans that you're banging his only daughter and get away with it scot free. Well, to be fair to Vegeta, if Goten had phrased it like that, he'd probably never walk again – sensu beans or not. And it wasn't just sex, anyway. And only an outsider to the Saiyan way of life would have considered the beating Goten had taken to be "getting away scot free."

But the fight had felt more like a test. He was giving Goten the chance to prove he was worry of marrying Bura. Vegeta had held back. A lot. He'd been exhausted at the end of the fight, bruised and bleeding, but the fact of the matter is, he'd walked away. Nothing was broken and he was still breathing. Overall, a complete success in his book. Especially since he'd been expecting a lot worse.

So naturally he'd been suspicious. Maybe Vegeta would change his mind. Come after him in his sleep or after work one day and say "Fuck you, brat" and blast him.

Never in his life would he have thought the "catch" would be Trunks.

There was no denying it now, even though he was shocked beyond belief. Trunks had always been relatively calm and laid back. Didn't get worked up about anything. At least not compared to his parents or sister. But the look on Trunks' face right now left no doubt as to who his father was.

Maybe it really shouldn't have been that much of a surprise to Goten. Trunks had always been the over-protective big brother when he felt he had to be. When Bura had started school, she'd started younger than usual and skipped two grades. One of the bullies had made fun of her for being so small, had pushed her down and made her cry. That kid hadn't been in school the next day. Or the day after that. Two weeks later, when he finally reappeared, he was still on crutches and his nose had obviously been broken. The kid had been half Trunks' age and size.

But Goten had thought it'd be different now. It's not as if he'd hurt Bura. They were going to get married. And he and Trunks had been best friends since before they could even remember.

The look in Trunks' eyes as he swung his fist again didn't belong on his face. It'd never been there before. The pure fury. The utter enjoyment seeing the blood spurt from Goten's nose. The complete lack of recognition in his eyes.

Goten had long ago stopped struggling. Had barely done more than deflect his friend's charges, kicks, punches, and ki blasts. He'd hoped Trunks would wear himself out, get his fill and say they were even. The next hit sent one of his teeth flying.

That's when he realized Trunks wasn't going to stop.

The other demi-Saiyan had lost control, lost himself to his primal impulses. It wasn't until the blood dried that he'd realize what he'd done. That he'd killed his friend.

Trunks had Goten on his knees in front of him. He didn't even have the energy to stay up – Trunks had him by the collar. Even then, Goten had to hold on to Trunks' arm for support. Another punch. Another. Another.

Bura had tried to pull her brother off her mate. But he'd tossed her aside – albeit, somewhat gently – and had kept attacking. For a while there'd been a pattern. Trunks would charge, Bura would jump in between, he'd throw her aside, and would get a good two or three blows in before the process would start again.

But Bura was gone now. Goten's rapidly failing consciousness couldn't find her ki anywhere nearby. In his stupor, he wasn't sure if she'd abandoned him or not. All that was left was Trunks and Goten's increasingly limited field of view, becoming redder and more blurred with each punch.

Was the blood on Trunks' knuckles his own or Goten's?

He'd expected his life to flash before his eyes. Maybe he'd see a vision of his father coming to take him to the afterlife. He hoped it'd be an angelic Bura who came to comfort him.

Goten never did have much luck.

It'd be hard to say what set him off. He wasn't really in a rational state of mind right now to try and analyze it.

Goten was his best friend. He loved him like a brother. Fuck, they were closer than most actual brothers, Goten and Gohan included. Which was why this was intolerable.

He'd entrusted this man with his sister. To protect her and take care of her, keep her away from all the pricks who tried to get in her pants. And instead this asshole had taken away her virginity and fucked her behind his back. He was worse than all the other guys because they were at least up front about what they wanted from his little sister.

Trunks knew the sound of his fist pummeling Goten's face should sicken him. But with the bitter taste of betrayal in his mouth, it was like music to his ears.

Bura hadn't known what to do. She had to stop Trunks. Dende damn that asshole, he was going to kill her mate.

She'd tried to do it herself. She'd come a long way from the little girl who wore the short red skirt with the midriff, gloves and boots. She'd made her dad teach her how to fight since then. Admittedly, she was no champion fighter by any means, but she could sure as hell piss Trunks off in a spar if the mood struck her. But for the life of her, she couldn't distract him.

No, for Goten's life.

Eventually she'd given off trying to throw herself between the two male Saiyans. Goten wasn't fighting back. She loved the man, but this was not the time to let Trunks be the dominant friend in their little duo.

She was a smart girl. A lot like her mother, really. So when she realized none of the three of them were going to be able to stop this, her mind went immediately to someone who would.

Daddy.

What she lacked in brute strength, she made up for in speed. She was fast. As she raced to the GR – where else would he be? – she remembered how she and her brother used to run laps together around the compound. Even at an early age, she'd been faster. She'd always figured it was because she was smaller, had a slighter frame. Now she thought maybe she was this fast because there'd be a time when she needed to be that fast. And if there were ever such a time...

Bura didn't even need to explain. She'd broken the door to get into the room. Her desperate look and busted lip had his attention. When Vegeta stretched his mind out to find the cause of her distress, he just followed her. Words would have been useless.

Vegeta didn't let himself think about what was going on in front of him. There was no judgment for or against either man as he took in what could only be considered a slaughtering. There was only action. The kick to his son's torso was quick and efficient. It knocked him about a hundred yards away, leaving Goten to collapse like a ragdoll.

He refrained from showing or feeling any emotion as his daughter went to cradle the limp form of her lover. Perhaps that was a lie. Some undesired concern swept through him for the boy who was in some ways like a (rather annoying) son to him. In some ways. But the emotion was cut off before it could fully form as he felt Trunks rush forward.

If the circumstances had been different, Vegeta might have been proud of the Saiyan impulses his son was choosing (or allowing himself) to indulge in. The merciless way he went after his enemy again and again, and would do so until said enemy was a pile of dust at his feet. But this enemy was his daughter's mate. His death would mean hers.

So Vegeta did what came naturally to him. As the boy flew past him, he plucked him out of the air and slammed him straight down. Hard. Perhaps harder than he'd ever hit his son before.

Trunks hit the ground with a thud, unconscious.

Needless to say, both Bulma and Chichi were in the infirmary, fussing over their boys. Neither would actually acknowledge the cause of their little "tiff," who was waiting outside of the room with her father.

Both of them were leaning against the wall facing the door, monitoring the ki's in the other room. Both had their arms crossed on their chest. Both were frowning – one with concern, the other with annoyance.

"You could have handled this better, girl."

"I don't think there's a good way to say 'Hey, I've been nailing your sister since she was 16,'" she snapped.

Vegeta's face went bright red in fury. Whoops. When they'd told him, they'd left out the sixteen years old part. But she knew she was in the clear – for now – when her father just growled instead of rushing in to finish the job Trunks had started, though he glared menacingly at the door.

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "I know we could've maybe done it a little better. But Goten was so damn sure Trunks wouldn't freak out."

Her father raised an eyebrow. "You weren't sure?"

A long pause. "No." Vegeta obviously expected more of an explanation, so she groaned. "We were pretty sure one of you would act like a jackass. Goten figured you would. I… thought it would probably be Trunks."

Vegeta wasn't quite sure what to make of that. He hadn't been sure he wouldn't kill the brat until the moment he didn't. And between him and his son, he had never been considered the more reasonable one. But apparently his daughter knew them better than they themselves did.

"And what, exactly, made you think I wouldn't beat your pathetic excuse for a mate into the dust?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I figured you could relate. I mean… Let's face it, none of this was exactly Goten's idea. I'm the one who chased him." Vegeta made a face at the very notion that his daughter did any such thing. Bura had the good sense not to laugh. "And maybe I thought you could relate. I mean, a blue-haired genius going out of her way to get you into a relationship you probably would have never considered on your own…" She shrugged again. "Just figured you could empathize a little more."

Vegeta just blinked at her, completely at a loss for words. Damnit, he didn't want to feel sorry for the bastard. But he had to admit, she had a point.