Cole's tail flickered against her leg concealed within the fabric of her loose dark grey trousers as she stared at Trunks and the incredulous expression he was giving her. She had plans to make medicines available for human illnesses, and she had just asked him what atrocious human diseases were without a cure. When he had named and described something called Auto-Immune Deficiency Syndrome she proceeded to say that she would make a cure for it, causing Trunks to all but laugh in her face. She didn't like it when people doubted her. "You think me to be incompetent?" She asked, her voice dark in annoyance.
"No, it's not that, Cole. It's just that thousands of scientists working round the clock for the past umpteen decades still haven't managed to find the cure. What makes you think you'd have any better luck?" He asked, trying to be nice but finding it hard when she made such outrageous claims.
"Because I won't be depending on luck. You can either help me or not, but don't insult my abilities."
"Look, Cole, I'm not trying to insult you. I'm just telling you the facts."
"If you're right, then there's no harm in humoring me, is there? You'll lose nothing in the process, so why not play along, hn?" She asked in irritation behind her crossed arms.
Trunks sighed, realizing he was digging himself in deeper with Cole. Whether he believed she could actually do it or not, the best thing for him to do was to stay on her good side and just play along. He was obviously being counter productive in trying to get on Cole's good side by continuing down on the path he was currently on. With an internal sigh, Trunks relented.
"Fine. So what so you need me for?" He asked, suddenly very curious about the answer to his own question. He hadn't thought of the possibilities until now. If she wanted him to contract AIDS on purpose just so he could be her lab mouse, she definitely had another thing coming! Sure, there was no evidence on how the virus would effect a Saiyan, but he was still half human, and that was good enough to keep him weary. He would play along just to satisfy her, but he didn't have the confidence in her to endanger his life. He didn't like her that much.
"I need you to show me where I can find someone who suffers from this illness, so that I can collect samples of their genetic material."
"You want me to help you find someone who has AIDS?" He asked with a raised brow. "I don't know anyone that has it." He added before taking on a pensive expression. "I suppose you might be able to find someone with it in a hospital. Actually, now that I think about it, I might be able to get in contact with an ICASO representative." He said, the wheels in his head beginning to turn.
"Excellent. I trust you to make it happen." Cole spoke, her comment sounding suspiciously like a command his grandfather had used on his employees on a fairly regular basis. Though something like annoyance ticked in the back of his mind, Trunks let it slide. He wasn't used to anyone speaking to him like that, but then he had to remember that Cole wasn't like other people. She didn't see him as 'Trunks Briefs, celebrity heir to the Capsule Corp empire'. To her, he was just Trunks. Sure, she acknowledged he was her prince, but she never treated him like royalty. She confessed her undying loyalty, but she still spoke with him like a regular man. In other words, she didn't bow down to kiss his ass, which was a quality he appreciated about her. If she had a problem with him or had something to say, then he would be sure to hear about it. She was brutally frank at times, and it was a nice change of pace.
With a roguish grin, Trunks stood at attention is a pseudo salute. "Yes, ma'am!"
Cole paused before raising her brow at him. "Are you mocking me?" She asked, seeming a bit perplexed by his behavior.
His grin broadened as he tried not to laugh at her expression. It seemed the humor of his gesture had been lost on her, leaving only mild confusion in its wake. "Sure am." He chuckled, bemused by her reaction.
She seemed to study him for a moment as though trying to gauge his mood. "Amusing." She said, her voice sounding sarcastic, but her expression seemed entirely serious. Trunks had to laugh out loud at her response. She was impossible as always.
It actually didn't take long for Trunks to get a hold of an ICASO advocate, at least not nearly as long as he'd expected. At first the advocate had been mildly skeptical about receiving a call from the Capsule Corp heir concerning the possible procurement of an AIDS cure. After all, Capsule Corp was a business based on technology, not medicine. Then again, he figured there wasn't any reason the Capsule Corp heir couldn't decide to dabble in the medical field. Not to mention that a little hope was better than none at all. So the advocate had agreed for a meeting that afternoon. That left only a few hours to find Cole and get her ready. She might not be a business woman, but it would only help her case if she looked the part. He needed to convince her to change her outfit. He knew already that would be like pulling teeth without novocaine.
After wandering around the house for almost an hour, he realized she was neither inside nor outside the Capsule Corp grounds. She was nowhere to be found, and he was starting to worry that he'd have to have the meeting without her. That wouldn't look good on him if the 'scientist' he was representing wasn't even responsible enough to show up to her own meetings. First impressions in the business world were everything. If she made a fool of herself, now, there would be almost no redeeming her. Frustrated and famished as 10 o'clock quickly turned to 12 with still no sign of her, Trunks resigned himself to a quick lunch before taking up the search again. Walking into the kitchen, he noticed Armas already helping himself to a Saiyan sized luncheon and suddenly remembered the fact that Armas and Cole shared a bond. A huge grin of triumph spread over his features as he approached the boy.
"Hey, Armas, could you do me a favor?" He asked, leaning forward with his palms flat against the tabletop surface.
"Mm-hmm." Armas choked out between bites, nodding his head in agreement.
"Could you use your telepathy to tell Cole I really need to speak with her right away?"
Armas nodded again before taking on a look of concentration. His brows shifted and furrowed as he seemed to be running different thoughts through his head. After a short minute, he turned his eyes to Trunks while taking obvious and great efforts to swallow down his mouthful of food without choking.
"She's on her way." Armas confided with a grin before taking another oversized bite of the submarine sandwich he'd made for himself. Trunks couldn't be sure, but he thought he saw marshmallows inside right next to the pickles and pepperoni. As odd as the combination was, Trunks somehow didn't doubt it. Saiyans weren't exactly known to be finicky eaters. Even he had his share of odd sandwich combinations; bologna, cheese, and saltine crackers, tuna, mayo, and catsup, and tuna, mayo, and ramen. It was a fact of life that Saiyans ate like pregnant women; ravenous with a pallet for the peculiar.
Trunks allowed himself to relax enough to have a pleasant lunch now that he knew Cole would be there shortly. He didn't like to leave anything to chance, so it was only common sense that he'd be high strung not knowing where she was so soon before an important business meeting. Vaguely, he wondered what it was Cole could possibly be doing at that moment, as he often found himself inclined to question whenever she wasn't around. What, exactly, was it that she did whenever she wandered off on her own? Did she actually have tasks that needed completion or did she simply prefer to be alone? Idly he wondered what it would be like to be a fly on the wall and see what she did when she thought no one was watching. What kind of person was she behind closed doors?
He poured himself a nice icy glass of lemonade and made himself a half dozen sandwiches before seating himself at the table beside Armas. Trunks quickly realized what sort of mistake this was after Armas had finished his own food and began staring longingly at his food. With an exasperated chuckle, Trunks offered Armas one of his sandwiches. Armas snatched up the offering so swiftly that Trunks was grateful not to have lost a limb. He made a wise mental note not to get between Armas and food in the future.
With the eating machine temporarily sated, or at least distracted, Trunks started on his meal. He'd almost finished with his food when the tickle of a breeze caused his soft lavender hair to brush against his neck. "What do you want?" Asked the husky rumble of a familiar voice as it tickled into his ear, causing chills to shoot up his neck. Trunks jerked away and craned his head to see Cole bent forward so her head was level beside his. Startled by her closeness, Trunks shoved back in his chair, forcing her to jump back. Trunks stared at her as she floated idly above the spot where she once stood. Why on Earth had she gotten so close like that? Had her lips been any closer to his ear, she could have tasted his earwax. Then he saw the smile on her face and knew right away her reasons. She had startled him intentionally to toy with him.
Offering her a glare, he composed himself, shaking off the unease that had settled in his gut and the goose bumps that had blossomed where her breath had warmed his sensitive skin. "Nice of you to finally show up." He said, clearing his throat with condescending undertones. Despite his words, his irritated tone of voice was directed more towards her surprising appearance rather than her extended absence. He noticed the way her eyes narrowed at him ever so slightly, though she said nothing. Seeing as she was waiting for him to continue speaking, he proceeded accordingly. "I managed to get a hold of an ICASO representative, and he was good enough to set up a last minute meeting for us. We have less than two hours to get ready and get to Cape City." At the mention of time, Trunks's expression soured slightly. "Cape City is a two hour drive from here, so I hope you can get ready quickly, because we still have to change your outfit."
Cole's expression remained entirely unfazed aside from the brow that arched in response to his words. "Why would I need to change my clothes?" She glanced down at herself before turning her gaze back to Trunks. "I'm not dirty." Her matter-of-fact tone was assured as it was deadpan.
Just as he had all morning, Trunks could swear he heard the ticking of his watch in his mind like a banging drum, growing louder as the comfortable window of time they had to prepare turned into a narrow squeeze all too quickly. "Right now, Cole, I don't have the time or patience to explain it to you. We would have had more than enough time to discuss everything if you had seen fit to stick around instead of disappearing and making me search for you all morning. For once, don't be difficult and just do as I ask so we can get to this meeting on time." Trunks was trying to be as patient as possible, but the weight of this meeting was looming over his head along with the thrumming tick of his watch. He wasn't one to be late, and so had an impeccable business reputation. He wasn't about to let that change. Though, he did feel somewhat guilty for speaking to Cole that way, he just didn't have the time to pussyfoot around explaining why it was so imperative that she didn't look like a ragamuffin.
He examined her eyes for any sort of reaction. It frustrated him that he could never tell whether something bothered her or not. Her eyes were always hard and cold. They were always burning ice. He never knew what to expect from her, though he didn't expect to see her place her balled fist to her chest and bow to him. "Of course, your highness."
Under any other circumstance, someone speaking to him that way would have easily been taken as sarcasm, but her tones were not caustic. She took him seriously and he realized only afterward that he had unintentionally pulled rank on her. Normally he would have been more bothered by this fact, but he realized at that moment that it worked to his advantage. He supposed it was just easier to tell her what to do then ask her. Perhaps being a prince wasn't so bad after all. Then again, there was just something about it that didn't sit well with him when it came to Cole.
Cole was actually pleased to have Trunks assume his princely position of authority over her. They had their share of awkward moments to this point due to the lack of professionalism between them. If Trunks were to continue acting as her prince, then it made it easy to remind her of her role. To this point, he'd been overly inviting in his demeanor. Perhaps this was exactly what she needed. She needed to be reminded of his place in their society as well as her own.
Standing straight from her bowed position, she offered Trunks a curt nod. "I am ready anytime you are, Sire."
Trunks processed and swallowed the formality before nodding to her in acknowledgment. "Good, then let's go." He said, taking the lead and walking out, fully expecting her to follow. He was pleased to see she was indeed following him out. The instant they had stepped out into the afternoon sun, Trunks turned back to her and began to speak. "Since we're so limited on time, we're going to have to fly to Cape City. That will give us more than enough time to get you ready once we arrive." He said, fixing her with a serious gaze. "I'm going to set the pace and I fully expect you to keep up."
Seeing as Cole merely nodded in obedience, Trunks wasted no time taking to the air. Cole took off immediately after, both of them flying straight up, soaring higher into the rapidly thinning and chilled air. Trunks was taking them far out of the sight of anyone who might chance seeing them flying during daylight hours. Cole was struck with lightheadedness as they passed through the first low hanging cloud and was forced to control her breathing to keep from blacking out. Fortunately, Trunks stopped his ascent into the clouds once they broke through the mist. He turned back and looked her over as he posed a question. "Are you okay?" He asked, knowing just how thin the air was at this level. Even Saiyans needed to breath. Cole nodded, not bothering to speak since she didn't want to waste oxygen. Trunks wasn't much better off. Talking was difficult at this level and even that simple question had taken a lot out of him. He took a minute of controlled breathing to correct his oxygen levels before taking off in flight. He set a swift pace that was uncomfortable for Cole to follow. It wasn't so much that he was flying to fast rather it was the fact that he was flying at an interposed speed. He wasn't flying so fast that she needed to power up but he was flying fast enough that she was wearing herself out without powering up. It was almost like speed walking. Their flight was quick and quiet, and less than 10 minutes later Trunks was leading them back to Earth. Their descent was just like their ascent, a 90 degree drop to the ground. Trunks began fishing through his pocket the second they touched down, locking his eyes on Cole as she landed beside him.
"We're right outside Cape City." Cole glanced around at the wooded area surrounding the desolate road they stood beside. "This road leads from the mountains into the city, so it's hardly ever used since the highway was erected." He explained. She watched as he pulled a tiny object from his pocket before tossing it down onto the pavement. A small plume of smoke fanned out following a loud pop and where there was nothing beforehand now sat a shiny black vehicle. Cole was flabbergasted. She'd never seen such technology before.
"What was that, just now?" She asked, crouching down and examining the car as if to find some hidden answer to what she'd just witnessed.
"You mean my encapsulated car?" He asked, already certain that was exactly what she was talking about. "That's a capsule, and they are the product that put my grandfather's company on the map. That's why the business is called Capsule Corporation." He said, opening the car door and pressing a small button on the dash. Closing the door once more, he stepped back as another loud pop and puff on harmless gas signaled the encapsulation process. Crouching down, he picked up the tiny pill shaped piece of technology and held it out for Cole's inspection.
Taking it from his offered hand, Cole inspected it with furrowed brows. It didn't look all too impressive but she knew the technology involved was a phenomenal innovation. "Tell me how it works." She spoke, fixing Trunks with an intense stare, like an eagle eyeing down its next meal.
Trunks almost chuckled at the intensity of her curiosity, but kept a straight face for fear she'd take it the wrong way. "I'll do better." He said with a smile. "I'll show you when we get back home." He added, taking the capsule from Cole and activating it again. "First we need to get through this meeting." After another loud pop and puff of smoke, Trunks again opened the car door. This time, however, he seated himself inside and gestured for Cole to do the same. Following his example, Cole let herself into the car and sat beside him. Trunks turned the engine over and before long they were passing through the dwindling woodland into Cape City.
From the driver's seat, Trunks snuck a passing glance at his silent passenger as she stared out her window at the scenic landscape. Though she looked the same as ever, he couldn't help but admire her serene profile. His eyes roamed over her features as he considered just how attractive she was. He took in the exotic angles of her facial structure, the golden hues of her skin glinting with the same sun that lit her dark eyes, making them shine a breath taking color of ultramarine beneath the trim of lush black lashes. He considered her plump lips, a healthy rosy pink in color, and found himself imagining how soft they would feel. The urge to reach over and brush his thumb over the sensitive flesh tickled in the foreground of his mind, but he successfully forced it back into submission. It had been hard to look at her the same way as he did when he first knew her ever since she started appearing in his dreams. It seemed she made her debut into his mind on a nightly basis, and it always ended the same way. He was always left wanting more. He had no idea how to get her out of his head, but more and more recently he began to draw the same solution. The thought that maybe if he enacted his mind's subconscious desires, he'd fulfil some primal Saiyan urge and be cured of his yearning. The problem was how to go about such a thing with Cole. She wasn't exactly a willing partner and she was endlessly difficult to boot. How could he possibly go about wooing Cole without running her off?
Placing his concentration back on the road, he sighed internally as he considered his options, or rather lack thereof. He'd never had to deal with a situation like this before. Trunks Briefs never had a problem getting something he wanted. That was just one more thing that pricked at his brain. Was the sole reason he wanted her so badly simply because she was the one woman he couldn't have? In some ways, he wished the answer was yes. Things would be a lot easier if that was the case. As it was, he honestly couldn't place a finger on the reasons for his attraction to the Saiyan female, at least not without considering some serious self reflection that he wasn't exactly sure he was ready to face, yet.
Not wanting to think on the topic further, he focused on the roads of Cape City as they finally made their way into the bustling metropolis. In this particular region, Cape City was equal to Satan City in just about every way. Though citizens of Satan City were loathe to admit it, Cape City's crime rate was marginally better, and had been so for the past decade since their new mayor had been elected. Mayor Gateau was a crack enforcer of the law, being a seasoned and retired officer himself. Once he was elected, he kept the promises he made to clean up the city's judicial system by rooting out everyone from the crooked cops to the two-faced judges in the court houses that used and abused the law like their own personal play thing. He put extra funding into the schools, the police and fire houses, and community improvement programs to develop the state of excellence Cape City now stood at. Since the gross improvement of the city, businesses again felt safe to sprout and flourish. That meant more jobs for the citizens and more goods to buy in order to boost the economy, thus creating the wealth needed to continue funding the schools, police and fire houses, as well as the community programs. Mayor Gateau had seen great things for his city and had cultivated those dreams into a reality. The once crime ridden city had become a model of excellence.
As luck would have it, Trunks came into the city in the upper class of down town, a perfect place to find a nice boutique to get Cole spruced up for the meeting. They still had a good hour and a half plus before the meeting began, so he was no longer tense about the time constraint. After all, Cole wasn't an absolute tragic mess. She simply needed a little refining. Some appropriate attire for the occasion and a new hairdo would be just what the doctor ordered. Stopping at yet another red light, Trunks glanced over at his passenger once more only to find she was looking back at him. She'd caught him looking, so he cleared his through and quickly recovered with conversation.
"I'm not sure why you're so object about changing your cloths, Cole, but it's really not so bad. I shouldn't have to yell at you just to get you to cooperate." He said, a slight guilt coming to him from when he'd been forced to pull rank. He liked Cole because she didn't bow at his feet just to get into his good graces, so the fact that he'd intentionally made her do so nagged him. He looked deep into her intoxicating lazuline eyes, not for the first time and not for the last trying to get around the strong front she presented him and read her thoughts. As always, it was a fruitless venture.
"You didn't yell at me, my prince." Cole replied, surprising Trunks slightly. He hadn't expected that to be her response. Searching his memory he tried to recall his exact words and tones. Perhaps Cole had a different definition of yelling, because it had certainly felt like yelling to him. Okay, maybe she was right. It was more like scolding than yelling, but still he felt badly about it. He always seemed to be at his worst when under pressure. While it was true that his worst was still better than some people's best, he wasn't fond of his behavior during those times. He always wound up thinking back and considering better ways that he should have handled the situation. By the time Cole had come home and snuck up on him, he'd already considered the impossibility of driving to Cape City and had planned on making the 10 minute flight, thereby saving them more than enough time to prepare. Because of their Saiyan capabilities, they were still within the walls of their time allotment. Still, the urge to rush and hurry hadn't left him and he'd let that stress come though him in his words and tones.
"Even so, I'm sorry for speaking to you the way I did, and I wish you'd stop calling me that." He added, referring to the formality Cole had seen fit to address him with. Sure, it was nice not to have to argue with her over something, but it just felt wrong to order her around as though she were below him. She might not have a problem with him treating her that way, but his conscience did. Not to mention he was absolutely certain that the first step to a woman's heart wasn't bossing her around.
"Think nothing of it, young prince." She said, again dismissing his attempts at apology. Either she was hung up on him pulling rank or she was taking it a little too seriously. Something switched in his brain and he decided to try a new tactic.
"Yes, well as your prince, I'm commanding you to drop the formalities and talk with me just as you'd speak with anyone else."
He could see Cole's response tick in her brain as she considered his change in tact. The ghost of a smirk traced the edges of her lips before it was gone entirely. "Very well, Trunks. You get what you ask for." She was proud of him. He didn't lose his cool, but rather took advantage of his position of authority to get what he wanted. Composure was key to the respect a king received. He'd lost his composure, and so she addressed him with the formalities she knew he would dislike. She could not be blamed for it since she was only following the protocol of her social ranks. She forced him to retract his own irrational command by keeping his composure. He was a quick learner, that much was certain. Perhaps for her last lesson, she'd teach him not to be so easily manipulated. A small smirk pulled at the edges of her lips.
"I get what I ask for, hm?" Trunks asked, testing the words out in his mouth even as a impish grin formed his lips. "Anything at all?" He asked, his comely simper blossoming into a full Cheshire cat grin.
Cole's own faint grin flattened into a firm line as she considered the full depths of his words. Fixing him with a stern stare, she replied. "Within reason." She said, her gaze turning meaningful. "Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it..." She said, allowing her voice to trail off ominously. Though her tones and expression were calm as they were serious, inside she was squirming with discomfort. She couldn't be sure, but that 'anything' that Trunks was talking about sounded seriously like something she'd regret. Cole's words were a warning if Trunks had ever heard one, though he was forced to question if the consequences wouldn't be well worth what he wanted. Casually, Trunks pulled to the side of the road, setting the car into park as he gave Cole his full attention, the blood in his veins churning violently at the thought of what he was about to do.
"What if I were to ask you for a kiss?" He questioned, his sky blue eyes intense as they bore into her own blue eyes. His blood rushed in his ears at his own forwardness, his heartbeat sounding as though it could drown out her next words.
"You would be asking too much." Was Cole's cold reply. As stern as her words came out, that didn't stop the tremor that threatened to shake her control. She couldn't believe the situation she'd gotten herself into. Her own blood seemed to stir up from the depths of her abdominal cavity, heating her in all the ways she wished it wouldn't.
"What if I commanded you?" He asked, testing the waters. He wasn't about to actually command her to do anything of that nature. He was more curious about her response.
"Then you'd be treading dangerous waters." She warned, warring with herself over the type of response she should be having over his words. Her body and part of her mind wanted one thing, but the smart part of her brain was telling her to jump out of the car and make a break for it. She couldn't win in this situation, not when Trunks looked at her that way. He knew absolutely what he wanted and she wasn't about to dissuade him with warnings and idle threats. She didn't like being involved in situations she couldn't control. And yet... something about it excited her in ways she didn't want to control.
"If I proceed regardless?" He asked, reaching over to cup her face in his large palm, pulling against his seatbelt and closing the distance between them.
Against her brain's protests, she leaned her head into his hand, welcoming the touch. She seemed to lose all control as her head frantically warned her to get away from him. "The end result won't be in your favor." Her words were the only thing that expressed her mind's will, but her body spoke otherwise. At their diminished proximity, Trunks was surrounded by the sweet spice of her musk. It was all to clear to him that she was fully aroused.
"Do you think I'd die with a smile?" He asked, finally brushing his thumb over the plump flesh of her lower lip like he'd wanted to do earlier. It was everything he'd imagined, like every dream that she'd haunted. The tickle of her hot breath against the sensitive pad of his thumb and the stormy gaze she fixed on him set fire to him. He was burning up for her like he'd never burned for another woman before and yet she did nothing to provoke it. In retrospect she'd done everything to discourage it short of socking him in the jaw.
"You won't die." She spoke softly, though why she hushed her tones had everything to do with Trunks's close quarters and less to do with actual logic. "I won't let you." She added. The words were her truth, not flattery or charm. She wasn't trying to impress the young prince as she was affirming her loyalty to him. Her life would be spent long before she saw Trunks's come to an unnatural end.
"I think I'd have to choose a happy death over the alternative." He spoke, his breath warming her face as he replaced his thumb on her lip with his mouth. Cole's breath hitched in her throat at the feel of Trunks's heated kiss, his mouth moving soft and slow over hers. The thumb that once stroked over her lip now brushed gently against her cheek, the other hand coming around to the nape of her neck, threading itself between the silky soft tendrils of her hair as he tilted her head back. Trunks's senses swam as he deepened the kiss, pressing more firmly into the welcoming softness of her lips. He was ultimately pleased as the expression of shock disappeared from Cole's face to be replaced by a look of pleasure as her lids fluttered shut. The hand rooted through her hair at the base of her scalp instinctively tightened its grip as he felt her lips move ever so slightly against his own.
Cole couldn't believe how wonderful his kiss felt as her head swam and her body churned with desire. She submit herself to his intense need, even more carnal than her own. In the darkest recesses of her mind, she had imagined this. During the long, lonely span of space travel, she had imagined his touch, but had never dared consciously or actively yearn for him. He was off limits to her, but there he was kissing her as though his life and breath depended upon her lips. A small gasp escaped her as she felt Trunks take her soft lower lip between his teeth and take a little nip before sucking on it gentle, his tongue lapping over the sensitive flesh. Taking advantage of Cole's soft gasp, he slid his tongue past her parted lips, fully tasting her. Cole's eyes snapped open in surprise, not expecting the invasion. She'd never had anyone else's tongue in her mouth before, and it was a somewhat awkward sensation. Instinctually, she clamped her teeth down on his tongue, causing him to yelp and pull away with his hand to his mouth.
As soon as his lips lifted from hers, the spell he'd seemed to cast over her was broken and the reality of what had just happened came crashing down on her mind like a huge lead weight. "I'm sorry." She said, eyes wide as her small hand covered her own mouth as though to hide the evidence of what had just happened. She couldn't believe what she'd done or what she'd allowed him to do. She should have never let any of what happened come to pass. She was suppose to look out for the prince's best interest, and she certainly wasn't one of them. "I'm truly sorry." She spoke again, bowing her head and eyes to him. She was sorry for the moment that they'd just shared and all the consequences that came with it, but Trunks thought her apology stemmed from the bite. Hooking his finger along her jaw, he tilted her head back up and reasserted his mouth over hers. Cole jerked her head, turning away so she could see out of the passenger window. She suddenly and intensely wished she could be out there instead of in the car confronting Trunks. "No." She said, letting him know his kiss was no longer welcome.
Again, Trunks's hand caressed her cheek, though he did not try to turn her face. "Cole..." he spoke softly, testing her response as he called to her. Seeing as she didn't respond, he continued. "What's the matter?"
Cole didn't look at him as she addressed him for fear that any further eye contact would encourage him. She needed to put a certain stop to any further interaction of this sort. It was high time to let Trunks know exactly where he didn't stand where she was concerned. Turning back to face him, she locked eyes as she spoke. "The matter is that you must never do that again, Trunks." She said calmly and serious, her voice sounding hollow ever to her own ears, like the voice of someone who had done and seen too much and was now paying for it with their soul.
The look on Trunks's face turned from one of concern to something akin to insult. "Why do you keep pushing me away, Cole?" He asked, his tones more harsh than usual. Confusion had etched itself across his face alongside his frustration.
"I push you away because you get too close." She replied, her tones remaining calm as she spoke honestly with the young prince.
"What do you have against me" Trunks asked, which actually surprised Cole. She didn't have anything against him, honestly. Didn't he realize who he was? He was the prince of an entire planet. There was nothing that made her worthy of this sort of attention from him. At most, Cole could assume this reaction was simply because she was the only Saiyan female he'd ever experienced. She was new and exciting for him, but soon enough the novelty would wear off. When planet Vegeta was returned to the universe as it was, Trunks would have a plethora of fecund females to choose from. He would have the cream of the crop utterly handed to him, and she would be nothing but a memory better left forgotten. It was better to push him away in order to avoid regrettable mistakes on both sides.
"I have nothing against you." She spoke, stressing the sentence to show she meant it.
"Then why would you push me away?" He asked, something raw in his eyes as he waited with baited breath for the answer to the question he'd needed to hear for some time.
"My job is to protect you, Trunks, even when it's from yourself." She began, continuing on even as she saw Trunks open his mouth to protest. "If I think that you're endangering yourself or making regrettable decisions, then it's my primary duty to intercede and assure that you don't do yourself any sort of damage."
"I'm a full grown man, Cole, and perfectly capable of making my own decisions whether they're regrettable or not. I'm man enough to make my mistakes and pay for them."
Though Cole had to admit that Trunks had a valid point, she wasn't about to argue semantics with him all night. The simple and unerring truth was that she and Trunks were not meant to be. The sole reason he pursued her as because he saw a chance for something where no chance stood. Once and acknowledge and accepted that, then they could both move on with their separate lives with some sense of normalcy. "Even so, the dead honest truth is that nothing will ever become of you and I."
"Why not?" Trunks asked, his tones strained with his frustration.
"Because I won't let it. You're only wasting your time."
Her words struck him like a punch to the face. There he was paretically throwing himself at her and she so calmly and casually told him he was wasting his time because she'd never have him. What in the Fifth Realm of Hell was a demi-Saiyan male to think when the one woman he wants tells him to take a hike? He knew she was attracted to him, that much was clear, but why would she write him off so completely? He had an inkling that it had to do with his royal title, but he'd denounce it without a second thought if that's what it took. He'd spent his whole life on Earth and would be content to do so for the remainder of that life. He still had reservations about going to Vegeta and doubts about laying claim to his birthright. However, he knew that doing that would be like back peddling. He was almost certain that the only reason she spent as much time around him as she did was because she had high hopes of him ascending the throne. If he told her she was wasting her time she'd just disappear, just as she always did, though he was almost certain she wouldn't bother coming back. She wasn't one to waste her time on him, so why on Earth was he so willing to waste his on her? At that moment his mood significantly soured, like a bitterness on his tongue that turned any other flavor unpleasant.
"Yes, well you know how I hate to waste time." He bit, hastily reseating himself and putting the car in gear. The air notably more thick with a different sort of tension, Trunks drove along the avenues and boulevards searching for a boutique. He was going to get Cole ready and to her meeting. After that, she was on her own. At that moment, there was nowhere else he'd rather be than away from her.
CS- "Woo! I'm back! Sorry for such a long wait for updates. My life has been beyond crazy!!! So many things have happened over the past few months to keep me from updating. No human being's life should be this chaotic! Oy! Well I hope you enjoy! I'll have more (dependable) updates to come. Set your watch to it!" :-D