Author: Gold Cherries
Rating: M
Arc: Trunks
oOoOo
"Morning Bulma, what are you doing there?"
She laughed and looked up to her old ex-boyfriend, "Just putting together a gift for Trunksie. His birthday's next week."
"Oh yeah." Yamcha grinned, "He'll be sixteen! He's grown up so fast, remember when he was just an itty-bitty guy."
At the table Krillen laughed, "Yeah can you remember he'd bite so bad."
Yamcha grimaced, "Thank heavens he grew out of that, he was the most terrifying child to pick up."
Bulma giggled, "Now now, his race are more primal than ours, Bra will go through the same thing."
The pair of men glanced to the snoozing little girl curled up on the floor.
"Yeah…well now I know your partners a Saiyan, it all makes more sense, figures you'd pick a bad ass boyfriend."
Bulma rolled her eyes, fastening the tape around the gift, "I miss him." She whispered, running her hand over the length of the gift, she sniffed. "Poor honey, I just left him there."
"Aw babe, it's not your fault. We need you, the universe needs you. Otherwise this world is going to fall apart." Yamacha lectured.
"His Father loves Trunks though right? Even if he is a Saiyan?" Krillen asked.
"Yes. He loves all of us." Bulma whispered, images flashed back of the pain and arguments over the two decades they'd been mated. Vegeta loved her, loved their children with a vicious passion. He resented she wouldn't just give up on the war.
"I'm surprised the war isn't over. You're so bright Bulma." Yamcha sat down beside her small daughter, he smiled down at her.
"I…" She bit her lower lip, thinking of why so many people continued to die, the Cold Empire stretched out little by little and she continued to move entire civilisations into pockets of safety. Her eyes closed, exhaling. She couldn't bring herself to wipe out her mate's people, her son's…daughters. Earth was gone. She couldn't take Vegeta-sei too, now she had that ability finally, after so long of inventing and war strategy and she couldn't do it.
"You'll work it out." The soft voice of her close friend had her glance up, a cool hand squeezed her shoulder Varliis smiled it a gentle one. "You are a kind, strong woman. We'll find a way."
"I get sick of this war, the suffering, it used to be so simple and it's now became so complex. If we destroy the Saiyans, not only shall I die, but my son is on planet, and my daughter will grow up all alone. Even if my family is safe, my mate would never forgive me for it."
"Shit don't talk about it, you'll give me a headache." Yamcha groaned, closing an eye, "Oi be positive babe, you will work out a solution."
"If you believe so, mm, Freiza is threatening the new settlers in the East quadrant, we'll have to organise a stealth attack."
"The saiyans?"
"I'll tell them to stay away."
Varliis beamed, "That is wise, so shall we send this gift?"
"Just need one more little thing." Bulma giggled and clapped her hands, "You all have to help."
oOoOo
"Prince Vegeta, a package has arrived from the blue scientist, shall it be brought on planet?"
Vegeta straightened on the throne leaning forward forearms on his knees. His mate had sent something. He considered briefly the idea of her harming his people but it was dismissed. She'd told him she wouldn't do a full frontal attack on Vegeta-sei and with what little trust he had he believed it.
"Deliver it."
"As you wish Sire." The pair of saiyans nodded and left.
He tilted his head, eyes narrowed to the saiyan he'd been in the midst of interrogating. "Turles, you have yet to discuss where my son is in his studies."
The knelt male grimaced, hands pressed to the floor in the grovelling position. "Prince Trunks is a wilful stubborn child. His training is difficult as he is in fact extremely intelligent."
Vegeta chuckled, of course he was Vegeta ran a fingertip along the latest invention his son had created for him, an interactive device tucked behind his ear. The brat could talk to him whenever he liked, he'd been highly suspicious, but had discovered it was useful, he could talk to his child while busy away and the boy was growing more cheerful by the day. All was powered by Vegeta-sei's gravity. He could only imagine what other inventions the child was working on.
"Are you inferring you cannot educate my son?" He said with a smirk.
"No your highness, just Prince Trunks is bright, it is hard to learn what holes he has in his education and his opinions on our culture are obstinate and he doesn't listen to anything he disagrees with. I will not say the Prince argues, but he is not an active learner if he doesn't like the topic."
"Hn. I wouldn't expect less. The Vegeta-sei heir, is a genius. Keep teaching, he is absorbing more than you will be aware of. He must learn about the Saiyans, grow to love them. This will take time. He is a child who has lived and seen much war and death, we are seen in a poor light. This must change."
Turles lifted his head, their eyes meeting. "You plan to make this child the next King?!"
"Yes. The next King should have no connection with the Cold Empire, my Father the King agrees. Prince Trunks will seek only to protect Vegeta-sei and would never side with the Icijins. He will be an intelligent King, you must prepare him for this."
"The people love you my Prince, we would celebrate your ascension to the throne."
Vegeta snorted, "I am aware, but if they approve of my rule, then they will approve my first born son."
"There may be difficulties due to his mixed heritage."
"The brat has at times surpassed me in strength, I have no doubts his strength and abilities shall win over the people, if their loyalty to the throne does not."
Turles eyes had darkened, but a smirk touched his thin lips, "In this I agree, I will keep training the young Prince. When will Vegeta-sei know of your son?"
Vegeta looked away, "Rumours already ring in the halls, many have seen the brat and I together, but my son is not ready to hear this. His mothers race are very soft and emotional, it will be overwhelming and his rage is great for my actions in this war."
"Yes. I did not know, you were so aware of his hatred towards the royal family."
A gloved hand tapped the armrest, Vegeta snickered. "Oh I know, he wants me to burn for my atrocities. It is your task to change his mindset. Until then he cannot know of his future. The people must wait to celebrate the heir."
"I will do the best I can. I wonder Prince, if you might tell the people of Prince Trunks anyway? Let them know he is still settling in. I believe the Prince suffers from being locked away. Let the planet know not to speak to him."
"Tch. No the risk outweighs his pleasure, he will have to manage."
Turles frowned, "It would be easier for me to educate if I can show him our culture in person."
"No."
Turles nodded, "As you wish my Prince." The saiyan touched his head to the floor again and climbed up to his feet. "May I be dismissed?"
"Affirmative." Vegeta waved his hand, how dare he suggest to walk his son around amongst the common people, Turles was meant to be the best squad commander. He trained only the best. He expected miraculous results for his quirky son. Trunks 'would' love the saiyans.
oOoOo
Lounging in bed Trunks laid, legs crossed, arms tucked behind his head. This had to be theee worst day of his life. He couldn't even be bothered to contact his Father about being awake from his nap. He was going to quite happily, just sit here. All day if he had to. He was going to refuse to go to class, claim he was ill and just lay in bed. It'd been a three hour nap now, his Dad was probably wondering what was going on.
As if knowing thoughts were on him the door slammed open and Trunks scowled up to the ceiling, dammit Dad.
"You're awake brat."
"Yeah so what?"
Trunks felt a hand rest on his tense shoulder having rolled away from the saiyan. "You have been sulking ever since you woke today."
"I'm sixteen today."
"Is that meant to mean something the third time you say it?" Hands caught him and he was dragged up facing him. "You're not actually grown, sixteen is nothing."
"That's not...ugh. Whatever." Arms folded. "I feel like shit, want to sleep some more."
"You who argue over naps need sleep?" Trunks glared at his Father who had now crouched down before him, dark eyes slanted as he looked him over.
"Better than being awake." Trunks muttered.
He could see from the corner of his eye, his dad was getting pissed. "So you don't want this thing your mother has sent you then?"
"M-Mum sent me something?" He smiled, leaning forward, holding his hands out, his fingers trembled. "Can I see?"
His father sighed and he had this horrific thought the saiyan was going to refuse, Trunk's tail lashed in the blankets. "Please." He whispered.
A hand dropped into his hair, one of his eyes shutting. "Silly brat." A package rested in his outstretched hands.
He grinned, letting his father ruffle his hair as he carefully unfolded the brown pieces of fabric, piece by piece, until what lay in his lap was two rectangle shapes and something long wrapped in cloth. He flipped over the first. It was a picture of his mum she was smiling waving with a little girl on her lap. "She looks like Mum."
He heard his father chuckle, "That is your little sister Bra."
He frowned staring at it for a long period of time, he'd missed his mother seeing her made his chest ache, he pressed his lips together tight, fighting to control his emotions.
"Dad."
"Hn."
"Why did you chain Mum here? Just cause of the war, you never…I mean-" he couldn't even put his thoughts into words.
The saiyan laughed, tapping his chin up so they were looking at each other. "No brat. I didn't chain and use your mother, we are mates. Your mother loves me, she was excited about Bra, although she wasn't planned, you weren't either. She wasn't a slave or something, but I have tired of finding her, missing her, we agreed before you were born if captured, she'd stay as long as I managed to keep her here."
Trunks grinned, "How did you meet for me? She wouldn't have come here did she?"
"Tch no. In a ship, she escaped the very next day."
"One day wow."
"Yes, not until this year I met her again in real life since that day."
That was sad, for both of them. "Hate this war." Trunks hissed, placing the picture aside, picking up the next object he realised it was a visual projector a small capsule embedded in the side. Reaching for it he jolted as it was popped out by his father and held hidden in his palm. "Hey! Dad give it back."
"Once I know it's not a weapon. Yes, it's yours."
Trunks snarled, but didn't argue, folding out the cloth in his lap, gasping when he saw what it was. "It's a sword! Look at it." Excited he clasped the handle, lifting it up, the light shimmering off it, "Wow I've never seen a make like it. Look Dad."
"Ugh swords, what useless fighting objects. You can keep it."
He rolled his eyes, but he couldn't stop smiling his Mum was so awesome. "I love it."
The saiyan scoffed. Trunks placed it down beside his bed to take the visual device clicking the button. The screen came to life he turned it a little so his Dad could watch, his kneeling saiyan father shifted closer elbow lounging on the bed next to him.
His mother flickered into place, it was their kitchen, she was smiling. "Trunks honey. Happy Birthday! Sweet sixteen, you've grown up so much. I wish I could be there."
"Birthday?" He heard muttered to his right.
"Happy Birthday bud." Yamcha was there, Krillen, Tien…oh wow Piccolo, Choutzu, Varliis. All of them, the group gathered together, each taking turns to wish him best wishes, happy birthday, leaving messages about their past few months. It flicked back to his mum at a table with a cake and an array of food. "We know you're with your Dad today and our cultures are quite different, but you're not missing out on your birthday, we're holding a party just for you." His mother was beaming, Trunks watched as Bra was held by Varliis, the whole group breaking into song around a birthday cake. In the end his mum blew out his candles for him and everyone cheered. "Love you baby, you be good, spend lots of time with your Father. Remember honey you're a courageous intelligent, strong young man and that's not just because you're part earthling but your other half as well." She blew him a kiss, "Think deeper, I'll see you soon." The screen flickered off.
"Today was something special for you."
Trunk's eyes flicked up feeling the roughness of his father's fingers as they rubbed across his cheek and the wetness there. "You should tell me brat. I cannot read your mind."
"I thought you'd know" He shrugged. "It's a stupid earthling tradition anyway." Man he felt like an idiot, getting all emotional over a celebration that didn't exist for saiyans.
He felt something placed in his hand and he opened it. The capsule! Trunks smiled. "Thanks Dad, wonder what mum put in here?" Trunks tossed it on the bed, there a bang. His mouth dropped, a massive blanket spread out, covered with food, the cake from the movie sat in the middle with two pieces left. Lollies, lasagne, all his favourite foods. He grinned, "Yes!" He crawled up on the bed to make a place at himself.
"Gonna eat Dad?"
The saiyan smirked, "Yes." Warmth spread through his chest as the warrior joined him on the bed, ok…his birthday had just got way cooler. The two eating and randomly talking, his father making no mention of his afternoon class. Trunks ending up falling asleep hours and hours later in the middle of his Father telling him one of his war stories.
oOoOo
Resting the back of his head against the wall, Vegeta stared down at his half-blood son, he was curled up next to him fast asleep, the remnants of foods scattered across the bedding, he'd had the boy laughing into hysterics that evening. The boy talked and talked about his friends back with his mate, his previous birthdays, other Earthling culture dates, from Valentines to Christmas.
He'd been so happy.
Vegeta reached down slipping his fingers through the purple strands, the brats life had changed and soon would be upside down. He thought about how his child might hate him and the gradual growing fascination focusing on his son across the planet. The rumours. Soon no one would be able to suppress the truth, not even he.
His fingertips traced over his ear, smirking at how it had the boy smile in his sleep. He was such a young saiyan child yet. Unfortunately, he'd missed so much of his life. Bulma's life…
He watched as his son's tail shifted curving around his ankle, "Clingy brat." He said with a chuckle. His son needed more, now was the time.
oOoOo
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Next time: Trunks meets his grandparents.