The hiatus before the Cell Games...
Bulma hold on her baby trying not to cry, Piccolo had just informed her that the fight was over and Cell had won, her son was at the mercy of such a monster, her only son was about to die in a terrible way and her heart was breaking. It was too cruel to be true.
-"He is in danger, do something"- she pleaded Piccolo and Tien. Trunks life could not end like that.
Vegeta felt the energy of his son decreasing fast and while Krillin asked himself why was that happening, he could only growled in frustration. Could this be the end of his son? Have Cell defeated them again? Krillin said he couldn´t sense Trunks at all. Vegeta could sense him, but just as a faint Ki and that worried him more than he wanted to show.
-"Maybe Cell beat him"- Krillin was saddened by the thought
-"Fine by me, I will take him"- Vegeta was ready for some revenge, no monster, android or whatnot was going to kick his ass, kill his son and keep on living just like nothing had happened
-"Wait"- Krillin said
-"I wait for no one"- Vegeta couldn´t repress his anger any longer –"Cell is mine"
-"You are hut"- Krillin replied
-"Leave me alone"- Vegeta left Krillin. He was not going to explain his motives to a weakling who could not even fight. He had to avenge his son and his pride. He had to do it now or he would never forgive himself. Death was a better option than living like a coward.
-"It is useless to try to talk any sense into Vegeta"- Krillin looked crestfallen and then he powered up to follow him. That was surely a long day, it seemed it was never going to end.
Cell was planning his tournament while talking to Trunks, Piccolo was astounded by the news.
-"What is going on, is Trunks alright?"- Bulma could take this no more, she needed to know what was happening.
-"Yes, for now"- Piccolo paid little attention to the woman-"Cell wants some kind of tournament"
-"A tournament?"- Tien asked
Cell gave Trunks his orders and left. Trunks was humiliated and injured. He looked at his hands and felt tired. He had never felt so useless, he powered up and let the energy flow through his body, and enraged he yelled his despair until he could stand no longer and then he fell on his knees. Krillin and Vegeta reached the spot and looked at him. Krillin was surprised at the extent of Trunks´s power and Vegeta was pleased. Krillin was full of questions but Vegeta had no time for all that chit-chat and went down to demand answers from his son.
Trunks had felt his father´s ki even before he landed, and he found it hard to look at him now that he had been defeated. He let his body lose power and recovered his usual form. He knew his father had to be ashamed of him and that was an unbearable thought
-"I am sorry"- he said to his father who hadn´t turn his back and wasn´t facing him.
-"Tell me, what happened to Cell?"- Vegeta found it easier to remain that way. He was certainly disappointed that the boy had lost, but he had also been defeated before, and still he had hoped his son would be stronger than him. But if he had only felt that, he would have faced the boy, he would have sneered at his self-pity and he would had enjoyed his pain. But that boy was his son and he felt relieved to see that even if his ki had fainted for a while, he was still alive and safe, of course he could not tell that to the boy and avoiding his gaze was the only way to remain in control of his emotions.
Trunks thought his father was so ashamed he could not face him and gritted his teeth.
-"I tried to beat him"- Trunks said digging his fingers in the soil-"I couldn´t do it"
"Take it easy, it is okay"- Krillin tried to help him, the boy was being too hard on himself and that couldn´t be healthy.-"What happened?"
Trunks remained silent; digging his fingers deeper into the soil, letting the physical pain relieved the emotional turmoil inside.
-"Tell us what happened, Now!"- Vegeta needed to know it, he wanted to boy to be strong enough to admit his defeat and get over it quickly so he could fight again. All that pity was pointless and a sign of weakness.
-"I lost"- Trunks spitted the words-"He is more powerful"
-"Of course he is"- Vegeta laughed-"foolish boy, what made you think that you could take on Cell now that he is complete"
Vegeta was wondering why his son had risked his life in such a foolish attempt.
-"Trunks saved your life, Vegeta!"- Krillin couldn´t take it anymore, that saiyan prince was getting on his nerves, that was too arrogant even coming from him-"And his power level is…"
-"No"- Trunks interrupted him, shaking his head, pleading his friend to stop before his father could hear the rest. He loved his father, he wanted him to feel strong and ready for the next fight, hurting his pride was not an option, Vegeta would not accept that his son had already surpass him with a happy smile, it would be a wound that might prove deadly. Krillin couldn´t understand but that was the way Trunks wanted it to be. Vegeta was not an idiot and noticed what was going on. His face was a mask where no one could read what he was thinking.
Trunks told them all about the tournament; Krillin asked a few questions while Vegeta thought that this plan was just the way Cell had chosen to humiliate him again.
-"But no one can beat Cell, What kind of tournament is this going to be?"- Krillin asked
-"I know, I thought I could beat him, I was certain"- He looked at the floor-"maybe he is unstoppable"
Vegeta listened to the tone of his son´s voice, it was not a good sign, the boy needed some energy.
-"Wait! Of course, when Goku and Gohan end their training, I will go back into the hyperbolic chamber and continue training"- Trunks said.
-"There is no need for you to do that"- Vegeta thought that was a brilliant idea, but he didn´t want the boy to fight Cell again, he had risked his life once and failed, he shouldn´t try his luck again. Besides this was HIS fight and his son should stand aside and watch.
-"I will be the one who goes back in the chamber and I will beat Cell"- Vegeta faced them full of purpose.
Android 16 interrupted them, he wanted to fight too, he needed help and he asked to be taken to someone who could restore his circuits so he could fight Cell. Trunks looked at it with hate, the rage he had acquired after years of being tormented by androids. Vegeta stared not sure what he should decide in this case, but enjoying the sudden burst of his son, the boy looked like a warrior for once.
Krillin was good knowing when to trust people and decided that he knew exactly the person who could fix android 16. He told him so. While Trunks was ready to attack and Vegeta waited to see what happened
-"No, Krillin!"- Shouted Trunks
-"Relax, it is okay"- Krillin said-"He is going to be one of the good guys now"
-"But he is an android"- Trunks couldn´t believe it
-"He is a living being and deserves a second chance"- Krillin calmly replied-"This is not your timeline, Trunks, an android might save the world this time. You know that we need all the help that we can get"
Krillin placed Android 16 huge arm around his shoulder, ready to fly with him.
Vegeta didn´t want to wait around till Goku ended his training but he saw Krillin leaving and he looked at Trunks, the boy was still enraged.
-"He is going to help that android"- Trunks said.
-"Get over it"- Vegeta advised him-"He is taking that thing to Capsule Corp, we should get going"
-"Capsule Corp.? Why would he take that thing to our house?"- Trunks was stunned by the idea
-"Who else could repair that damn thing but your crazy relatives?"- Vegeta said
-"Mother will never accept"- Trunks replied angrily, he was sure about that.
-"Maybe not your future mother but the woman right now loves tinkering with machines. Besides she believes in second chances and nonsense like that. Good to know that eventually she will grow out of it"- Vegeta added
-"That is why she loves you? Because she believes in second chances?"- Trunks asked not realising what he was saying and with whom he was speaking. He was furious and tired and his father was too hard and sharp he wanted some payback. The second he uttered the words he regretted them. This was his father after all, and he had no right to say such a thing.
-"Move, you do not want to leave your mother alone with that thing, don´t you?"- Vegeta left with a growl, how had the boy been bold enough to ask such a thing? He had the same vulgar lack of tact of his mother. But it was true, Bulma believed in giving merciless killers a second chance, she had trusted him from the beginning, since they returned from Namek, she had helped him to grow a soul, even if that soul was a tiny dark speck. She was also the only one that was able to see that speck, well, maybe his son was able too, he seemed fond of him, and …possibly Kakarot sw it too, you can´t never be sure with that clown. Thinking of Kakarot, he didn´t like to wait around while he ended his training, he should go to Kami´s to get his chance at the room again, but at the same time he was not going to let that thing be in Capsule Corp without taking good care that his family was safe. Besides if he was going to wait he could do with a hot shower, some food and maybe some "quality" time with a certain woman.
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Meanwhile at Capsulre Corp.
Bulma´s mother was singing the tune of an ad to herself while she watered the flowers. Her daisies were the prettiest of the whole town, she loved them so much. The sun was shinning, she felt so happy she didn´t realised there were a couple of men flying towards her garden. Vegeta was the first one to land with his usual inherent grace. He was still fuming after what that woman had told him earlier that morning. Making a prince jealous about nothing was a terrible mistake. He glared at her with absolute coldness and in silence while he crossed his arms on his chest in his trademark posture. Trunks landed a few steps behind his father in a similar style. Elegance definitely ran in their bloodline.
-"Oh!, Hi, Vegeta"- Bulma´s mother was delighted to see him, such a nice young man, a bit quiet but that broodiness made him even more interesting.-"How are you? You are looking good"
She walked closer to the saiyan, who remained motionless and kept ignoring her. Trunks was a bit nervous at seeing his grandmother so young and flirting with his dad. He had vague memories of her, after all, she had died in his timeline some years ago, and back then she wasn´t definitely so…how could he describe his own grandmother in such terms??
-"Nice of you to visit"- she didn´t even notice Vegeta wasn´t answering her, mostly because her attention was now focused on a certain purple haired young man, she had always had something for purple haired men-"I see you have brought a friend too, Oh! You are handsome too"
She was so happy, two handsome men in her garden on the same day, that was a record. Trunks was so surprised he touched his hair, trying to find something to do with his
-"You think so?"- This was the weirdest compliment he had ever received in his life, but a compliment is a compliment and he had inherited something more than elegance from his proud father.
Vegeta thanked Kami he had his back to them, because he had not wanted them to see his smile when the crazy woman started flirting with her own grandson. And this was the family he had chosen to raise his heir… such a shame.
-"Coming through"- Krillin landed carrying the heavy android. Trunks looked at his friend still angry for his action. Android were the enemy, that much he knew.
-"Hi, is Bulma here?"- Krillin ignored Trunks scowl, after all he had experience ignoring Vegeta´s.
-"Hi, Krillin"- the woman said merrily
-"Hi, is she…"- Krillin started again just to be interrupted by Dr. Briefs who arrived on a bike.
-"Hi, Krillin, Bulma just called, she is on her way, she will be here any minute"- the man informed them
-"She is not back from Kami´s place yet?"- Krillin asked
She is always in the wrong place, Vegeta thought. But his thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a plane that carried the rest of the warriors and the team. Chi Chi appeared screaming asking for Gohan. Vegeta thanked Kami once again that he had met Bulma and that Kakarot was tied for life to this harpy. At least he had surpassed Kakarot on one thing.
-"We should get your big friend inside"- Bulma´s mother said, when she saw that the android was almost falling flat on his face-"I have some cookies and I can make tea"
-"Thanks"- Trunks was delighted to be home again and cookies and tea sounded delicious, he could still remember the birthday cakes his grams used to prepare for him when he was a little boy.
They all gathered in the living room, next to the big balcony. Dr. Briefs was trying to figure out what was wrong with the android, Vegeta leaned on the wall and watched not very interested as the old man was working. The conversation in the sofas was far more annoying. Trunks was standing close to the others explaining what had happened. Yamcha felt the need to show off when he heard about the tournament and Vegeta sneered. Scarface was a loser and even he knew that. Trunks looked at him in disbelief, the ex-boyfriend of his mother was not famous for his strength but for his romantic adventures. Still his mother loved him as a dear friend and Trunks had learned to care for him through the stories his mother told him.
Bulma´s mother served tea while master roshi told the other his stories about the tournament. Vegeta growled from his corner, he thought it had been to easy for Kakarot to compete in the tournament. The others felt offended. Master Roshi continued his tale ignoring Vegeta. But the tale was too long and in the end, only Dr. Bried was listening to him.
The warriors and Chi Chi were in the balcony watching the sunset. It was a beautiful orange sky. Trunks felt the need to be with the group while Vegeta decided it was best to sit in the rail of the balcony, alone with his thoughts. He was remembering his last night in Capsule Corp. in Bulma´s balcony and the things he had done in the rail with her. He let one of his legs dangle in the air. He wondered why she was taking so long to return. He wanted to talk to her. He looked at the sky impatient.
-"Why is Cell wasting time with this competition?"- Yamcha asked.
-"Cell doesn´t want to rule the world, he wants to destroy it"- answered Trunks next to him. –"Androids are only interested in spreading chaos and fear and Cell is using the tournament to create fear."
-"He is got some nerve"- Krillin said
-"Don´t worry"- added Yamcha-"I will finish that dirtbag for good"
-"Stop deluding yourselves"- Vegeta laughed from his corner, he couldn´t stop himself, Yamcha was getting on his nerves-"Cell will finish everyone of you"
Vegeta hoped that his son will listen and would change his mind, He didn´t want the boy to compete.
-"I am relieved"- Chi Chi thought it was time for her to speak her mind-"If it is a tournament, there will be rules that even Cell must follow. And killing is not allowed"
-"Right, I am in"- Master Roshi said, Oolong couldn´t believe his ears, the old man had gone nuts.
Vegeta preferred to remained silent, it was too much nonsense to reply to all. Besides the warriors were already fighting with the harpy who didn´t want Gohan to fight with them. For once, Vegeta agreed with her, the tournament was not a place for half-saiyan know-it-all sons.
Vegeta growled and walked back inside, it was getting late and he was tired and had dirt all over him. He talked to no one and went directly to his old room. He knew Bulma so he was sure his things were still in there. Trunks followed him to the stairs but stared surprised at the door of what used to be his room. It was the nursery and of course, he had none of his things in there.
-"What were you expecting?"- Vegeta laughed.
-"I need some clothes, well, maybe Grandpa can lend me some of his"- Trunks said
-"Come here"- Vegeta opened the door to his room
-"You have a room of your own?"-Trunks followed his father inside. It was a huge bedroom, with a TV set and few personal items. His father opened the closet and threw him a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
-"Of course. Where did you expect me to sleep? Those clothes should do"- Vegeta said-"You can go and have a shower in your mother´s room, I am planning on using mine"
-"Why?"- Trunks asked
-"Why, what?"- Vegeta was losing his patience with the boy
-"Why are you being nice?"- Trunks asked
-"You are far taller and bigger than Bulma´s father, you would look ridiculous on his clothes. You are a saiyan prince, albeit half-saiyan, but a prince cannot look like a clown, ever."- Vegeta lied, he had felt a nice feeling while he was sharing this moment with his son, a feeling the boy had ruined with his questions.-"Now, go, you stink!"
Trunks left the room with a smile on his face. That was the closest he had ever had to quality time with his dad. He entered into his mother´s bedroom; it was just as messy as usual. Some things never change. He felt so relaxed; finally he was in a place where he felt comfortable. This was his home, and he had noticed his father acted as if he felt the same thing for this place.
Yamcha had seen the two saiyan going upstairs and had not liked it. He could understand future Trunks feeling at home here, after this was his house, but Vegeta? He had not accepted the idea that Bulma had chosen that killer and had even had sex with him. Well, at least that had proved to be a useful decision, because now they had a great warrior in Trunks but still…the idea that Vegeta had taken his place in Capsule Corp. and in Bulma´s heart was not a pretty one.
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I promised a long chapter and this is loooooong, actually these are 2 chapters but as the system has been giving problems I thought it might be good to upload them together...next chap we will have Bulma, Vegeta and Trunks under the same roof, what could happen?, someone gets his hair cut for sure...it started as a 2-3 chaps fic and it is getting longer and longer...hope you still like it!