*Author's note: this chapter is somewhat suggestive, but nothing lemony…Yet? Let me know if you guys want any lemons, or are satisfied with the fluffiness as it is.

You're a Living Antithesis

"Knock, knock"

Eighteen looked up from her fashion magazine and stared at the door. "We don't want your girl scout cookies!"

"It's Trunks!" Came the muffled reply.

Eighteen's eyes widened.

Trunks could hear her footsteps and, rapidly, the door before him swung open. "It's about time! Seventeen is in his bedroom. Just don't expect any welcome kisses from him or anything."

Trunks' face paled. "What, why?"

Eighteen scoffed at him, causing him to stammer, "No-not that I mean- I meant- agh! Is he alright?!"

Eighteen gestured to the hallway. "Go and see for yourself."

Trunks brushed past her and hurried to Seventeen's door, cautiously turning the handle. "Seventeen?"

He entered the room slowly, and found Seventeen asleep in bed. Trunks breathed in relief and approached the sleeping beauty, kneeling at his bedside. Thin strands of midnight silk stroked over Seventeen's face as he sleep facing Trunks. He could smell the sea from him, and noticed small specks of sand speckled in his pitch-black hair. He softly brushed the strands of black and caressed Seventeen's creamy cheek. For some reason Seventeen's skin made him think of peaches. It was smooth and delicate on the outside, but resilient in the inside. Trunks flinched as he hastily noted Seventeen's warm temperature, and how ill he looked, although the blushing, red face and heavy breathing didn't exactly frighten him.

"He's sick."

Trunks glanced towards the voice and saw Eighteen leaning in the doorway. After processing those two words, he turned and fretted over Seventeen. "I didn't know you two could even get sick."

"Well, usually our superior immune systems can handle viruses rather efficiently. Seventeen caught a bacterium called Vibrio Vulnficus. It's deadly for weak humans, but for us, it's very mild. Seventeen's organic body trying to maintain homeostasis is what's causing his fever in response to the illness, so I had him take a nap for a few days. He should be better soon…"

Trunks considered the virus's name. He wasn't even going to ask if was contagious, because he knew what kind of ideas it would give Eighteen. "How did Seventeen get it?"

"Believe it or not, he told me he saw an episode of this showwhere this guy ate raw shellfish from the sea and said they were delicious. Seventeen must've eaten something at that beach we were at two days ago… Typical. He's been in bed ever since. "

Trunks smiled sympathetically. How did Seventeen manage to be so articulate and childish at the same time? He was still eloquent, despite having his pride damaged by cell, but to Trunks it was reassuring to him if Seventeen had less pride. That way, he doesn't have worry much about Seventeen throwing himself into danger. Just shellfish…

Eighteen detected slight movement from Seventeen's body, and felt it was time to leave the couple to each other. "Well, I since you're here watching him, I'm going shopping."

Trunks narrowed his eyes at her. "To buy medicine for Seventeen, right?"

Eighteen crossed her arms and shook her head as though he was being trivial. "Like I said, his body will be just fine! For now, at least… unless your planning on doing anything to it." Her eyes flashed dangerously with those last evocative words.

Trunks gulped and he felt his cheeks getting hot. "Of course I won't!" Not after the last time…

Eighteen read his expression closely. "Tell me… you do love Seventeen. Isn't that right?"

Trunks scowled at her. "Do you really think I'd be here if I didn't?"

"I'm just looking out for him for once. So you love each other… okay then."

Eighteen glowered at him with daggers for eyes, and lowered her voice to a hushed threat. "But if you doubt your love for my brother at all, then I want you to break it off, understand? I won't stand for you using my brother in any way, what so ever. There are worst ways to harm a person besides physical pain, and I don't want any of them happen to Seventeen."

And with that, Eighteen straightened her back, and left from the doorway. Trunks glared at the empty space. Break it off? I can't imagine a more awful punishment…

Suddenly, Trunks could feel the skin beneath his palm stirring, and looked down find Seventeen rousing from his sleep. He seemed to notice the hand on his cheek and reached for it with his own. Trunks smiled affectionately at the feeling of Seventeen's hand pressed against his.

Seventeen recognized it, the golden and sturdy skin. Seventeen rapidly opened his eyes, searching for the hand's owner, and they froze when they finally locked onto the handsome face before him.

Seventeen beamed ecstatically. "Trunks…" Swiftly sitting up, his arms rushed towards Trunk's robust shoulders and wrapped themselves around his thick neck. "You're back!" Trunks grinned, forgetting all his worries, and leant towards the embrace, guiding his arms around Seventeen's thin waist. Seventeen burrowed his head in his chest and held him tightly, his heart racing.

Trunks chuckled slightly, and then he lovingly kissed the dark head of hair beneath his chin. "Miss me?" He waited for Seventeen to look up at him before adding, "I know I missed you." Then, he reached for his small lips…

Seventeen's eyes widened and he quickly covered Trunks mouth with his hand. "Hey, don't you know I'm sick?"

One of Trunks' hands reluctantly left Seventeen's waist and gently pried off the petite hand from his mouth. His fingers interlocked with Seventeen's, and Trunks smirked at the annoyed expression on his flushed face. His heartbeat thundered inside of him as a primitive need slowly began to take over.

"Don't worry; I've got a pretty strong immune system too. Besides…" He pressed a hand against Seventeen's left cheek and gazed into his icy, yet warm, blue eyes. "Even if I didn't, I still wouldn't care."

Seventeen became irritated by that statement and pouted, arousing Trunks further. He tightened his hold on Seventeen's hand and pulled his face with his other hand up to his lips. Seventeen's protests were muffled right away. He glared at Trunks through half-shut eyes, panting quickly. This along with his soft squeaks drove Trunks mad with lust. His tongue slid from his mouth and pressed gently between Seventeen's moist lips, rewarding him with a sharp gasp.

Seventeen's head had already felt faint from his illness. That plus Trunks' distracting mouth made it very difficult for him to think straight. At the moment he was trying to decide if he should just give up and let Trunks continue. It's not like they haven't French-kissed before, but those times he wasn't ill. Seventeen also recalled himself vomiting during the entirety of the previous day. There's no way he was going to embarrass himself by letting Trunks taste the inside of his mouth!

He pulled his lips away from Trunks and tried to steady his heavy breathing. "Trunks…" pant "Please stop…" pant

Trunks watched him, his concern fighting his desire. He could see that Seventeen was humiliated, so he ran his fingers through his hair and held him close.

"Alright. I'll stop if you want me to."

Seventeen's head shook faintly. "It's not that I don't want you to! It's just that I've in bed for a long time so my breath stinks and my body is grimy and… I don't want to disgust you…" Seventeen felt woozy from the sudden stress, and his rationality gradually began to vanish. He could barely think at all. "I need…I need a bath! And… mouthwash…"

Trunks thought Seventeen looked like he was going to pass out. "Okay, okay. Don't worry; I'll help you with all that." He pecked his forehead fondly, and then pulled the blanket from his legs.

He stopped.

Seventeen only had on white boxers under his loose, white-and-blue striped button-up. Trunks had never seen all of Seventeen's legs before. Not once. They appeared extremely slender…and hairless.

Seventeen rested his head against a pillow, feeling muddled and nauseous. "You'll… help me?"

Trunks broke from his daze and flushed. "Y-yeah! Just wait here, ok? I'll get the water running, and then be right back."

Seventeen watched him clumsily hurry towards the bathroom, and smiled dimly, thinking that Trunk's awkwardness was due to the fact that the room was spinning slowly around him. "Alright... I'll get undressed then."

Trunks ran the bathwater while he sweated anxiously. It was so difficult for him to control himself back there, and he didn't like that. He's never seen Seventeen look so… adorable.

He's never heard Seventeen make so many cute noises while he's kissed him. If he's always like this when he's sick, I wouldn't mind him being ill more often…

Trunks cursed himself. No, I don't want him sick. I just liked how he was being… noisy.

Trunks turned the hot water off and headed back for Seventeen.

Ugh, and why was I drooling over his legs? They're just leg- Trunks eyes widened. He felt as though his nose was going burst out blood.

"S-seventeen? Wait!"

Seventeen looked up at him and froze. His button-up was unbuttoned except for three at the bottom, sleeves pulled down to his elbows. He was barely pulling down his underwear while standing when Trunks walked in.

"Aren't I going to bathe now?" asked Seventeen coyly.

Trunks stared at Seventeen's exposed hips and swallowed. "Um, wow… I mean, yes! But I should be helping you! You look like you going faint any second!"

"Yeah… you're right. I do feel light-headed." Seventeen stretched out his arms and leant towards Trunks, who hurriedly caught him.

Seventeen wrapped his arms around Trunks neck like before and rested his head against his shoulder. "That means you'll carry me, right?"

Trunks smirked lightly with amusement. "Yeah. Here, lift up your left leg…"

Seventeen did as he was asked and hugged Trunks close. Trunks blushed faintly at Seventeen's affection and lifted him from the ground with ease, carrying him bridal-style to the bathroom.

When he rested Seventeen on the thick edge of the immense bathtub he began to look around for anything that would substitute for bubble soap. He did not want to creep Seventeen out with a perverted gaze throughout his entire bath, even if he wouldn't notice it. When he felt the water was covered enough, Trunks turned back to Seventeen and helped him unbutton his shirt. While he pulled it off, his eye caught sight of his bite mark, between Seventeen's neck and his right shoulder.

He stared at it, remembering the moment he had placed it there.

He had gotten carried away, ravenously kissing Seventeen from his neck down to his collarbone.

"Trunks…Hey, that-that tickles!"

Trunks smirked and ceased his kissing so he could smile fondly at Seventeen's amused expression. At this moment he felt as though there was no one more vital to him than the striking boy beneath him. "Seventeen…" He kissed him lightly, and then gazed at him sincerely. "…I love you..."

It was as though, after saying those words, he became consumed with the need to sink his teeth into his skin, the need to mark him as his.

Seventeen gasped in pain. "Ah! Wha-what are you doing?!"

Trunks pulled away from Seventeen abruptly, his eyes widening in horror. He just bit him without even knowing it; broke right through the skin. He could still taste his blood on his lips. Seventeen stared at him in bewilderment, his face wincing in torment.

"Seventeen! No… I didn't mean to… Seventeen, I'm so sorry! I never wanted to injure you! I'm so very, very sorry…"

"Trunks?"

Trunks looked up. He had been brushing his fingers over Seventeen's mark, lost in thought.

Seventeen dipped his fingers into the soapy water. "It doesn't hurt anymore, you know… The pain was fast, so very fast… Don't riddle yourself with guilt over it… I forgave you, remember?" He looked up and smiled amiably at Trunks. "I feel like… it's brought us closer."

Trunks blinked at him.

"He belongs to you now. And you to him."

"Seventeen… We'll talk more about it later, when you're feeling better. For now, I want you to relax. You should get into the water before it gets cold."

Seventeen pouted and huffed at him, and began to slide off his boxers, causing Trunks to bashfully glance away. When Seventeen got into the water, he looked up at Trunks with anticipation.

"Trunks? Aren't you going to join me?"

Trunks gaped at him, stunned. "Wha-what? Don't you think that's a bit too intimate, what with our bodies touching and all? Shouldn't we wait a bit more befo-"

"But won't it be easier for you to wash me if you were in here with me? You said you wanted me to relax… I think I'd be very comfortable if you were closer to me…" Seventeen began to mope, slowly sinking into the water until it reached his nose.

Trunks gazed at his state of dejection warily, and shook his head in defeat. "If I join you, then you'll be happy, right?"

Seventeen nodded feebly.

Trunks turned around and locked the door. Eighteen would definitely kill him if she were to catch them together naked. When he noticed Trunks pulling off his jacket, Seventeen sat up in the tub, and his face lit up in merriment.

Trunks sighed uneasily. What's Seventeen going to think of his body? His grandmother did call him handsome once... At any rate, he didn't want Seventeen staring anywhere between his legs just yet.

"Seventeen, could you start getting your hair wet? You shouldn't be in the water for too long…" Trunks resumed undressing when he was sure Seventeen was distracting himself.

But when he finally settled into the water, Seventeen abruptly gasped, momentarily forgetting that Trunks was even in the same room as him. His relaxation had helped clear his mind, but his memories from the moments before now were fuzzy.

Upon hearing the gasp, Trunks quickly raised his hand from the water, and cautiously reached for Seventeen's shoulder. "Seventeen, are you alright?"

As he tried to identify the situation his memory sluggishly came back to him. Seventeen blushed deeply in mortification. He couldn't believe how senseless he was acting. "Yes… I'm fine. You're right; I shouldn't be in the water too long…"

He reached for the body wash, but Trunks had already claimed it. "Need some help?"

"No… I feel better, I can wash myself."

Trunks examined him, confused. "So… you just wanted me in the tub, not doing anything?"

Seventeen looked away, irritated with himself the awkward position he was in. "I mean… I could wash the parts of me I don't want you to..."

Trunks flushed too as he caught on. "Oh, right! I'll let you to it, then…" He turned away and began splashing water on himself, trying desperately to distract himself from glancing towards Seventeen.

Unfortunately, Seventeen was secretly hoping that Trunks would be watching him, but that was something only the irrational Seventeen would admit. Most of him begged for Trunk's attention and approval, but not in such a desperate manner. He still held onto some remnants of pride.

He thoroughly washed himself as quickly and efficiently as he could. The quicker this bath ends, the better.