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Things were going immensely well for Tomaren, more than the former assassin could have ever hoped or imagined. As promised, Bulma and Trunks had gotten him involved with treatment right away for his PTSD, and his family and they royals accepted him and worked with him. He was allowed to eat family meals with them, be a part of training. Sometimes, he would walk the palace gardens with Bulla and Thia, his mind telling him his mission was to protect them, but there were times where he was able to shake the strange mission mentality and actually relax.
Tomaren found he enjoyed nature, even out in the desert and mountainous terrain his home world had to offer. Sometimes he'd fly off in the middle of the night while the majority of the population was in, not trusting himself around large crowds save those that worked in the palace. There it at least reminded him of Cooler's ship. Other times, if his killer instincts bothered him, he'd go hunting with Trunks and Vegeta, the three turning it into some kind of camping trip under the stars. Trunks seemed to get over whatever trepidation he had towards blood, something that Tomaren could tell relieved the prince's father immensely. Tomaren also got to know his uncle more on those trips, the prince being more forthcoming about his time with Frieza and after.
As far as medication went, Bulma had found a new formula, one that seemed to be working for her nephew more than some of the others. The trial and error of finding the right medication had been a nightmare, but Trunks was at his cousin's side through it all. It was still new to Tomaren, to be treated the way his family treated him. They never gave him orders save for Vegeta or the king when it came to his job, and it was nothing like the mission objectives the frost demon had given him. Tomaren noted that he no longer thought of Cooler as his former master, but could now call him as his father and grandfather did.
He was also in something called "therapy." It was just talking, his therapist another Saiyan, but it helped Tomaren sort through and name emotions he still didn't understand or know how to convey. Sometimes Tomaren would tell the therapist details about his past missions, classified missions that Tomaren had never told another soul, and sometimes he'd talk about his current life. Every so often, they'd talk about his parents, especially his mother, and try to work through whatever anger he was feeling. Occasionally, they'd just have generic conversations, exchanging pleasantries and talking about the weather or whatever new experience Tomaren had. It reminded Tomaren of when his cousins and Goten were trying to teach him how to make smalltalk.
That half-Saiyan knew he still had a long way to go, but he at least knew there was a chance.
Training the soldiers seemed to help Tomaren get out some energy, too, in addition to hunting with his uncle and cousin. Tomaren found he actually enjoyed it. He worked with more of a younger crowd, seeing more juvenile types who were newer to combat, types completely contrasting the veteran soldiers he was surrounded with in his past life. He still remembered his first day training the group. Though most of the Saiyans acted respectful, there had been a few that questioned him. Tomaren taught them very quickly that his methods were not to be questioned. That snarky brat had been frozen in place, Tomaren's hand hovering directly over his heart from behind. No one dared question him after that.
As always, Tomaren started the lesson by giving his own instruction. He demonstrated some defensive maneuvers and verbally illustrated what places to jab on an opponent to disengage the assailant. Most were focused on his each and every step. Two females, however, were talking.
Tomaren would have scolded them immediately, but the topic of their conversation caught him completely off-guard. "I told you he was amazing," one of the girls said, her eyes roving over him as if sizing him up. "And he has a great physique to boot. What I wouldn't give for some additional training."
Her companion shook her head and scoffed. "He's over a decade older than you," the friend warned. "Plus, I've heard some things."
"Oh, who cares about that," the first woman spoke up, waving her friend off. "Everyone has something. I have a list of things my father and grandfather did in the past under Frieza. It's no big deal."
A strange fluttering distracted Tomaren that he nearly missed a point in his form, a first for him in his entire life. The two women, well the one saying all those things about him, were irritating him to no end. The talking needed to stop, and so he called the first student out by her name. "Quin, pay attention."
"Ugh!" the woman groaned, but not at having been called out. "It's pronounced Keen! I told my parents that spelling was stupid."
Everyone looked to the woman, a bit baffled, including the instructor. Quin just laughed and rubbed the back of her neck before saying she'd be quiet. Tomaren continued to demonstration before pairing off his students to practice against one another. He made his rounds, correcting their forms and having them make adjustments. His eyes wandered to Quin a few times more than he cared to admit. She was a frivolous one, the assassin couldn't help but admit.
He would have to do something about that.
Later, after the lesson, Tomaren ventured out into the city for the first time, covertly pursuing Quin. This girl was the troublemaker of his group, always being the distracting one of the bunch. Many times, she'd be called out by one of her classmates, but every so often Tomaren needed to step in. Her skills of self-preservation were lacking, and Tomaren felt it was his job to reiterate how important the training was.
Quin had said goodbye to her friends, and once alone she felt a chill. It was like their hairs were standing up on the back of her neck. She felt a presence around her, felt it as she walked through the city streets towards her home. As she rounded a corner to a quieter street, she quickly turned. No one was behind her.
And then, Quin felt a hand on her back, right behind her heart. She sucked in a breath, her heartbeat quickening.
"I could kill you," she heard Tomaren's deep voice say. It was chilling, but Quin merely blushed feeling almost excited. "And then, I could disappear. No one would know it was me."
The woman turned to face her instructor, smirking at him with a glint in her eyes. Her expression confused Tomaren. He assumed her pulse had quickened due to fear, but she looked…happy? That couldn't be right.
It was even more surprising to the hybrid when Quin grabbed him and kissed him, her hands firmly on his cheeks as he stared at her wide-eyed. At first, Tomaren felt panicked. He had never felt such an overwhelming feeling before. This sensation was paired with an intense desire. As Quin continued her bizarre actions, Tomaren felt his hands twitch with an anticipation he normally felt before making a kill. His hands just found themselves on the other Saiyan's body.
His hands moved to her neck as they continued to make out against a building. Between kisses, Tomaren telling the woman how he could kill her by snapping her neck. He didn't though. His thumb merely traced a spot. Quin seemed to know he wouldn't do it either, laughing against his lips. She then took her hand and raked it down his spine, tracing the length which made him twitch and writhe from these unfamiliar sensations. She stopped when she reached his tail.
Tomaren pulled away, seeing stars, and laid his head against the wall behind him. Quin giggled lightly and whispered in his ear, "I could paralyze you and make you defenseless."
She was right, he knew, and Tomaren nodded that agreement. It was completely unlike him to put himself in a situation where he was at another's mercy. The whole encounter left him questioning so much. Still, as Quin leaned in once more, brushing her lips against his, Tomaren pulled the woman close to him, accepting this spell she cast over him. They continued their heated make out session, not even caring if another were to find them.
Sometime after the return home, and once Tomaren was more stable, Trunks finally took Thia on their honeymoon. He showed her many different worlds, giving her the chance to see and be free. When living on her own planet, she was forbidden from such travel. Trunks wanted to show her all the beauty of the universe. Thia had loved it.
Once they returned, Trunks finally finished up all of his medical training. He was officially a doctor, something all his family members took pride in. His grandparents set up this huge celebration for both him and his sister. Bulla's art career had also taken off. The siblings were happy to share the impromptu party.
Bulma kept glancing over at her two children, smiling brightly. She was so proud of them. Their family had done nothing but excel since Cooler's defeat. Even Tights and Celen had made progress in the Galactic Patrol. The princess spoke with them both earlier in the morning. Tights surprised her sister, admitting that she had begun official training. She wanted to put the body Gero forced upon her to good use. Likewise, Celen was becoming more active in all aspects of the patrol. He didn't want another Cooler to rise up again from the ashes of the fallen fleet.
A squeal alerted the princess to her daughter's suitor lifting her from behind. Bulla laughed with such abandon as her intended arrived for the party. Goten was settling into his place on Vegeta nicely as well. He lived just outside of the palace with his parents, though he was around almost every day. The hybrid took his role in the army seriously, training hard with his father in ways the teenager never thought the man had in him. Vegeta was impressed with the boy as well and often put him through the ringer. Goten never complained, earning the prince's respect.
Bulla was absolutely taken with Goten. As Bulma predicted, Goten treated her daughter very sweetly. He'd take her on dates much like she had with Vegeta back in the day. The princess was always interested in trying something new. Her intended also brought her little gifts like her favorite flowers or something his mother taught him to cook. He also encouraged Bulla to be her own woman and explore her individuality. Part of the reason Bulla's art career took off was because Goten would give her a gentle push to paint. He always loved watching her, something that had at first made Bulla a bit self-conscious but soon became one of her favorite activities with her lover.
As everyone gathered in, the king and queen gave their grandchildren their praises before this grand meal was served in the family room. "I'm so proud of you both," the king said to them, making each smile. "We're very glad you're excelling at your chosen professions."
"Thanks, grandpa," Bulla chimed. "But there's one more thing we need to celebrate."
Everyone looked to the princess except for Goten who just smiled knowingly. He looked around at the astonished faces of both his and Bulla's parents, Trunks and his mate, the king and queen, and even Tomaren who had come to be a big part of their world. "I asked Bulla to marry me," he murmured fondly, Bulla excitedly revealing a lovely yet simple ring.
"Seriously?" Trunks asked, stunned, before he grinned widely. "That's awesome!"
"When did this happen?" Chi Chi asked, thrilled by the notion.
Kakarot seemed a bit perplexed before his mind made a connection. "So that's why you were asking me about how I proposed to your mother."
Goten and Bulla looked to Vegeta, the prince seemingly staring off to space. "Daddy?"
The prince stood up and approached the two of them, a stern glint in his eyes as he stared Goten down. Goten's joyful expression never yielded under the hard gaze. Honestly, he didn't think he'd have much trouble with the prince. Vegeta seemed to approve of him. Besides, anyone was better than the Needellens who had before pursued his daughter. "Goten," he spoke, "you're a fine warrior and you make my daughter happy. I can think of no better man to protect her."
"Thank you," Goten replied sincerely. "But you and I both know she doesn't need much protecting."
Vegeta smirked at that, and Bulla chuckled. Bulma felt emotion well up inside of her, but she kept her emotions at bay. Her husband didn't need to feed off of those right now. "Oh, I can't believe my little girl is getting married. When's the wedding?"
"Mom," Bulla laughed, shaking her head. "You're getting a little far ahead. We know we'll have to do a public ceremony, so it's going to take a little while to plan, anyway, right?"
King Vegeta and Queen Kalina exchanged secretive glances at that, both secretly pleased that the marriage wasn't going to happen right away. The royals had another ceremony in mind in the meantime, one they wanted to occur as soon as possible. They looked over to Bulma and Vegeta, the king and queen smiling at the two. The couple soon curled up together on a loveseat, just relaxing while the festivities and congratulations occurred around them. The two still looked at each other as if they were the only ones in the room.
Vegeta threw himself to the ground breathing heavily, thoroughly spent. He and Bulma had been training through the majority of the day. Bulma's new energy was amazing. She could stand toe to toe with him, and the prince had to pull out moves he would have never dared to use on his mate beforehand. As much as they both hated what Gero did to her, they were finding ways to utilize that strength and turn it into a good thing. Of course, Vegeta knew, deep down, that his mate would never truly be over what happened to her. He never would either.
Bulma smirked down at her mate, hands on her hips as she stood over him victoriously. "What, done already?" she teased lightheartedly. "I can still go for a few more rounds."
Vegeta chuckled, still trying to catch his breath. If he wasn't careful, the woman would be the death of him. "Too much energy for you to handle, woman?" He couldn't believe she was still raring to go, finding slight humor in her plight of this endless energy.
Bulma didn't, though. "I wish," she droned. "I feel like I've drank like twenty coffees or something. No matter how much I put out, I can't seem to relax."
A mischievous glint flashed over Vegeta's coal eyes as he reached up to embrace her, pulling Bulma down to the floor of the Gravity Room with him. "I can think of other ways for you to use that energy," he whispered huskily against her lips before giving her a heated kiss. A moan was pulled from his mate, and Vegeta swallowed it, snickering a bit at how easy it was to subdue his lover.
He pulled away for a moment, Bulma making sounds of protest. Their eyes met before Bulma's narrowed at him. "Now, you're just playing dirty."
"Hm," Vegeta grunted contently before pulling her to him again. "I guess I win this one."
Thia and Bulla were out shopping together, the sun shining brightly overhead.
The Needellen always found it amazing whenever she left the palace grounds to walk among the people. She was still adjusting to the life of being a Saiyan princess, free to do whatever she wanted. It was part of the reason she could empathize with Tomaren so well. Everyone had to make these big adjustments.
It still surprised her to be greeted by people in the crowd with a warm welcome. Their kindness made her smile. Apparently, the Saiyan population accepted her as their princess. Many were looking forward to the day when she and Trunks had their marriage ceremony so that they could celebrate the union with them. Thia assumed news travelled about how she had helped to defeat her treacherous brother. She assumed that was the only reason they were so accepting of her despite her family's actions towards the alliance. Trunks would always assure her it was more than that, something beyond what she could fathom. The Saiyans and their allies respected her, for becoming her own woman and for not letting her culture control her.
Still, despite so many wanting to engage her in public, Thia could only bring herself to regard everyone with a smile and nod. It was okay, though. Baby steps had brought her this far. She was not terrified anymore, not of her new people, a contrast to what life had been like on her home planet. Thia felt safe.
"Wow, this place looks like it has some gorgeous gowns," Bulla mused, not knowing that she had just stopped in front of the place where Bulma had bought her wedding dress shopping with Chi Chi and Maron so long ago. "I guess we should check it out since we'll both be having ceremonies eventually."
Thia nodded before looking at the beautiful dresses. Some were more conservative than others, but there were plenty that were a cross between conservative and her new, more radical style. She smiled at that. Apparently, her new style wasn't as outlandish as she believed. She learned that when she officially moved to Planet Vegeta and got to see how the people dressed on a normal day. It was nice to identify with being normal for a change.
The two girls entered the store, the staff very eager to help them find the perfect ensembles for their weddings. The princesses spent the entire day trying on dresses that they spotted. Bulla looked at herself in the mirror finding the most perfect, red dress that was the same shade of scarlet of the royal house. It was gorgeous.
It was in that moment, though, that Bulla remembered something, something that caused her to grow very sad.
"Bulla, what's wrong?" Thia asked, moving to place a hand on her sister-in-law's shoulder.
"I wish Cella were with us," she admitted, turning to face the other princess. She took Thia's offered hand and squeezed it, smiling sadly. "I know why she stayed behind, but I just miss her. Still, I'm very happy to have my sister here with me."
Thia understood Bulla's sadness. She was close with Cella her entire life, and after leaving her friend behind on Earth there was a small void for the princess. Bulla oftentimes told Thia how happy she was that she was there with her. Her sister-in-law's presence seemed to help make it easier. Thia appreciated Bulla so much as well.
The two girls exchanged a hug, a gesture Thia was growing more accustomed to over the past couple of months. There was no sense in lingering on sadness, anyway. Bulla knew everything would be okay, and it wasn't like she wouldn't see Cella ever again.
Her friend and her family still needed time to grieve.