Author: Gold Cherries

Rating: M

Arc: Trunks

oOoOo

Vegeta scanned the small space he was in, "So this is the ship." He mused.

Bulma was sitting on a padded chair, he could see the guilt lurking in the blue eyes. He moved around flicking objects as he tried to work out what they were, smirking when he looked back to his mate. "I assume you don't intend to come back."

"You know how it is." Bulma offered.

"Hn." Vegeta knew at least he'd have his mate with him every night, he crouched down to caress her soft cheek. "Our son. He is fascinating."

Bulma gave a small smile back, tears filled her eyes as the time passed. "H-How is he? You weren't harsh with him were you?"

"No. He's sleeping in his new bed right now."

"Really?" Bulma bit her lower lip. "Wow how did it go when you both met?"

"Well he was a sook really, thought I'd kill him I suppose, but after a good lecture he seemed to believe I was his Father soon enough. He's ill though, could barely eat six bowls of food. Became all hysterical."

His mate's mouth was wide open, he lifted a brow. "I…honey I don't think Trunks can fit that much."

"You said-"

"Oh yes I definitely offer him eight types of food, but he couldn't eat all of that. You know how little earthlings eat."

"He's saiyan he needs it for his energy reserves."

"W-Well you can try to encourage him, but he does very well with his training on what he chooses to eat."

"Hn well I'll monitor his progress but I expect his intake to increase every day."

"Did he calm down after he ate?"

"Fine, I put him to bed for his bedtime and that was that."

Bulma was wincing.

"What?"

"Nothing…nothing. That's great Vegeta."

He smirked, the brat would do fine with him, "He's an impressive warrior."

"Just don't forget he's quite a kind hearted boy, he's always been very shy."

"I'm quite aware."

"Well be gentle, he's wanted to meet you his whole life."

"I'm quite capable to manage a child mate, I cared for Bra regularly."

"Yes, but Trunks is going through a human phase of adolescence so he might get quite irate and emotional if he doesn't get what he wants. We be more lenient in this period."

"Pfft lenient what a foolish idea, he'll do as he's told. He'll have rules like any other saiyan brat, he'll be healthy this way."

Bulma was making funny faces, "So ah…what bedtime did you set for him?"

"His normal one 1730hrs."

His mate snorted with laughter.

"What?"

"Nothing, just had a funny thought." She leant forward hugging him, "Don't be mean to our baby now."

He rolled his eyes.

"And Bra is ok, she misses you, but I'm determined, we have to finish this war some way or another. Just keep your people home, let me wipe out the empire."

Vegeta sneered, but didn't respond.

"I mean it, I don't want to keep killing your people, I'm kinda getting fond of you all."

"Your manipulation won't work." He chuckled "But head back when you're ready, I'd prefer to have both my brats."

Bulma giggled, "Me too I hope."

He smirked, "I'll always have you."

oOoOo

Vegeta crouched down by the bed, a smirk tilted his lips watching his first born child. Trunks was fast asleep curled on his side, an arm beneath the pillow and his other twisted in the bedding to hug to his chest.

Fifteen, he'd missed so many years of the boy's life. He thought about their first meeting, the boy was intense in all his emotions anger, fear, distress. He was overly emotional like his mother and would make majority of saiyans give him a second glance. But as long as Trunks could keep his weak ones hidden in public it shouldn't cause much of a problem. Saiyans respected, strong willed, fierce rulers. Trunks would easily display his feelings in areas that would matter once older.

Bulma had nattered on for hours last night on all the things he shouldn't do to Trunks, how he saw himself as nearly an adult now, that he was more independent. Trying to compare him to a third class out in space fighting. He'd told her right then even young third classes still were watched and supported by their older crew leaders and stayed with their parents once home.

Earthlings left home at twenty-one normally, some left home even younger than his son, although rare but normally Bulma had explained seventeen to twenty-one. So as an Earthling Trunks was near fully grown and he thought that way about himself. Foolish woman. Pleading with him to evaluate him closely and maybe change his opinion on his age.

Under forty-five was a child, forty-five and older was a young adult. His brat was fifteen, he was but a babe, he had far more to learn, much more physical and emotional needs and would have to be protected and educated to grow into the King he would be one day.

Stretching out his hand Vegeta laid in near the boy's face, leaning over the bed as he watched for the instinctive response children had when smelling one who shared their blood. First there wasn't any movement at all but slowly the boy shifted his head mouth parting wider as he huffed out a soft breath, he could see the sharper incisors. His lips twitched, he was more Saiyan than his mate realised.

Trunks moaned, "Mum?" He whispered in his sleep a hand sliding up the sheets to catch onto his wrist, pulling his hand close as he nuzzled the back of his hand purring, his son smelling his skin for some time before parting his mouth.

Vegeta waiting for the moment that would prove Trunks was that, still a child.

He felt the sharper sensation as the boy dragged his teeth down the skin of his hand, tongue coming out to lather at the injury afterwards. He grinned, pulling his hand away, hearing Trunks whimper in his sleep, he shushed him studying the gorge over his knuckles

No Bulma was wrong, the brat had not even lost his child instinct to taste.

Trunks shuddered in his sleep and Vegeta rubbed his fingers through the thick odd purple hair, smirking when the boy purred.

Vegeta smoothed his hand over his shoulders and arms, feeding the need the boy had for affection, humoured at how vocal he was, he was such a loud purrer.

Ten minutes later, Trunks yawned blue eyes slid open, blankly staring at him, Vegeta currently having one of his hands rested on his head, the other still massaging the muscles deep in his shoulder.

Pupils dilated, the boy stuttered and then he lunged up to back away from him on the bed his skin brick red.

"Ah! What are you doing?!"

He frowned, a trick question, or was the boy stupid. "Bonding brat."

"Um…" He was so flustered.

Vegeta snorted, how unbecoming for a future king. He reminded himself he was just young. "Come up, we have things to do."

"Yeah?" Trunks offered, his eyes had slid half shut, yawning again.

He looked exhausted, "Did you not like your bed brat? You look terrible." Vegeta muttered.

"Huh? No the bed's fine...really fancy actually. Just tired, it's early isn't it?"

"Just after six o'clock, I decided not to wake you up at five."

"Six o'clock." Trunks groaned slumping back in the bedding. That's way too early to be awake."

Vegeta's lips had parted, unable to believe the boy. "Too early? When do you normally get up?

"Nine? Ten?" Trunks huffed.

"You need so much sleep." Was this an alien thing? "I will give you a longer nap in the day to make up for your sleep loss, but there is too much to do now."

Trunks snorted, he didn't know what for, but he made no move to get up.

He rolled his eyes grabbing the boy's ankle, getting a yelp out of him as he yanked him over the side of the bed, to pull him up to his feet. Stabilising the wavering frame. "Augh…Dad I'm tired." Trunks complained rubbing his eyes, "Didn't get to sleep for aaaages, going to bed in daytime was totally lame."

He rose a brow, lame? "You're tired now, this proves your bedtime is needed."

The boy scowled and he chuckled, dragging the half conscious child in his arms nuzzling his nose in his soft hair, instinctively absorbing the scent, memorising as he held him close, listening to the panic of the boy at their proximity, the half breed flailing, until Vegeta started to rub his back, a croon in his throat. Moment by moment passed until the boy went lax, leaning into the embrace. Letting him hug him and touch his back, shoulders and hair. Vegeta learning and programming the smallest things about his child to his mind, his heart beat, smell, temperature, the way his breath would hitch and shoulders shake when nervous.

He could hear Trunk's breaths deepening as his instincts lulled him into a relaxed state. It was fascinating how powerful blood was to children psyche. Vegeta smirked when he heard the male purr, had he fallen asleep? He tilted his head to the side to look past the lavender bangs to see indeed his child's eyes shut, slumped against him as he slept.

Trunks must have suffered substantially without having a parent with him the past eight months.

Vegeta chuckled, as sleepy as his son was he had a lot to learn today. Pushing the boy back he shook him slightly watched as eyes fluttered open, the male disorientated, reaching down to rest his hand on his wrist supporting his waist.

Blue eyes flared. "Uh stop doing that!" Trunks shoved his hands away, stumbling back, he rubbed his face roughly. "That's fucking weird."

Hm, his language was harsher than he'd expected, what with how soft his mate kept making the boy sound.

"You're my brat deal with it. Tch your mother said you love hugs.

"W-Why would she tell you that?" he was blushing brilliantly. "I'm too old for that sort of thing."

He sent the boy a flat look. Too old… He was delusional. "Time for breakfast hurry up." He dismissed the discussion completely, gesturing the moody male across the room so that he was sitting down at the table. Trunks yawned, resting his chin in his palm as he stared at the food before him. Blue eyes lifted to stare at him, they were slanted.

What was he thinking about?

"You're my dad right?"

Oh so he was going to find out. "Did I need to repeat myself?" He drawled.

"For all I know you're a saiyan psycho actually."

He rolled his eyes not even bothered to answer.

"If you're my Dad, you spoke to mum."

He smirked, "Hm."

"S-So? What did she say? How do you talk to her? By vid link?"

The kid was trying to trick him. He laughed, "Fool. I see her by our bond at night through sleep. You think you can try to deceive me? Your mother just lectured me for hours on being nice to you. That you are not as emotionless as my kind. That I might upset you."

The blue eyes dropped to stare at the table, lips tilted down in a half scowl, eyes narrowed. Curious he wondered what the boy was thinking now, but instead of speaking he just started to eat. A heavy silence in the room, puzzled he considered his son, he was upset? But by what?

"What's your problem now?" He muttered after twenty minutes of the boy methodically eating, he looked like he was being tortured.

"Nothing."

He frowned. Nothing? A human response? He did not look happy.

"You're rich right?"

The words made him smirk. "Yes."

"So…that means you're influential and stuff."

So his son wanted something. He thought trying not to grin. "I have influence yes."

Trunks huffed, dropping the fork to his dismay to fold his arms, "So why can't you talk to the Prince and make him stop killing people huh? I haven't even met you before, my own Dad right? Because your Prince is wiping out the universe, and NOW I can't even see my mum, nor my new sister because yet again, there's a war where billions are dying who can't even protect themselves. I'm sick of the war. Why can't it be over. Can't you convince the Prince Dad?"

"I haven't met you because your mother's insane and has been hiding you from me her entire life." He growled. Not having missed the boy flinch at the words, Trunks glowered at the table. "There is much you don't understand brat. Do not think the saiyan race are simply throwing our people into a war where we're losing mass life, for no reason. One day you'll understand. So will your mother." He reached out to take the fork to hold it out to the sulking child, he'd barely finished two bowls of the food. "Eat brat."

"Ugh. I hate you! You're not even going to try to convince the Prince are you?" Trunks rage had flared right out, snatching the fork from his hand to stab into the food before him, continuing to eat, his hand shook as he did so. "Hate what I am, fucking saiyan monster, no wonder mum never told me." He was muttering to himself.

Vegeta struggled to keep calm, the brat was throwing a complete tantrum. The atrocity though was hearing his son say he hated his own race, the race he was to one day rule and care for.

"Trunks." He muttered.

Blue eyes slowly lifted to look at him, his son's lips in a flat line, eyes shinier than normal. His hand shot out to wrap around the boy's throat, genty pushing his thumb up under his chin, ignoring the hands flailing trying to pull his grip away. Staring into the panicked gaze.

"Understand this. You ARE my son, I AM influential. I expect you to fulfil your duties as my son, to care for my race not hate us. I have missed part of your life, not being able to raise you as I would have liked, but you are here now. Your mother is sad she cannot be with you, but she has responsibilities with the war and trusts me to care for you while she is away."

He watched as tears filled the bright blue eyes, so much like his mate's, "W-Why then won't you help mum? To get the King and Prince to stop fighting. I don't get it. So many are dying Dad, you notice don't you?"

Vegeta snorted, hand going lax to wipe away some of the boy's tears and pulled back flicking the fork back to the boy. "I am not sentimental like your mother's race. Saiyans are different we believe in strength and sacrifice. If other races are too weak that's their problem.

"Maybe I could talk to the Prince then? If you don't want to." Trunks huffed, playing with his food.

Vegeta smirked. "Maybe one day you can." He mused. Humoured at the fact his son had no idea who he was, what he would one day be. So unaware. He chuckled standing. "Eat faster we go train soon."

"I can really talk to the prince? He's a bastard you know, I read up everything about him. He's killed more people I've worked out then majority of saiyan fighters, its because of him the war doesn't stop, he's heartless.

Vegeta's nose crinkled, catching back the sneering words on his tongue. Heartless. He chuckled, "You can discuss your concerns with the Prince when you can show me you can fulfil your duties as a saiyan son."

"What?" Trunks stared at him, the exotic blue eyes held disbelief. "How long will that take to prove?"

"Till you're good at it, one of those duties is eating all your food. I don't actually have time to be monitoring your eating constantly because you're not behaving."

"Augh but Dad this is so much food. I've never eaten this much. I'll try to do everything I'm suppose to but I'm not a full saiyan,"

He frowned thinking about his mate's words on his normal eating habits, his legendary form. "Tell me brat, how much do you eat in the morning?"

Trunks hesitated but clasped two bowls to push forward. "That much, maybe one more if I'm real hungry but normally it's just two."

Vegeta scanned the table, the boy had eaten two already and was picking at a third bowl. "How can you possibly get enough energy from that?"

Shoulder's shrugged.

"Eat six today."

The boy winced but instead of complaining he started to really try to eat again, shovelling the food into his mouth as he watched. "Mm what's your name? Your job. Dunno much about you, mum was so quiet on that sorta stuff." The boy asked around mouthfuls of food.

He snickered, "You will call me Dad or Father, I am a great warrior that is all you need to know right now."

He received a dirty look. "Don't trust me Dad?"

"No you might be a psycho earthling child." He drawled throwing the words back at his son. Expecting Trunks to get pissed off.

Instead the boy's lips twitched and he watched in fascination as Trunk's face transformed eyes lighting up as he snickered, laughing at the jibe. He'd never seen the boy happy before, he smirked. Good. He wanted his son to be happy on this planet, one day he wanted that love he had for all those random alien races to be for the Saiyans.

Until he was more prepared though, it would be better Trunks didn't know he was the mass murdering prince he despised so much. He smirked he was sure that would be an interesting day indeed. He stood, "Finish breakfast, we're very late to training now."

"K."

oOoOo

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Next time: Vegeta teaches Trunks how to truly fight