11- Suitable Suitor

Early Fall

"Come on, Panny, tell me something- anything!" Yamcha huffed as he walked behind her with his hands on his hips.

Pan's lips tugged into a smile as she shook her head. "No way."

"Not even one little bit of information?"

"Nope."

Yamcha let out a frustrated groan, and Pan grinned. All morning he had been questioning her about who she had danced with at her birthday ball, but she wouldn't tell him. She wouldn't tell anyone! Trunks had danced with her for almost the entire night; she had gone to bed dreaming of the dance and woke up still feeling as if she were on clouds.

Pan neared Dr. Brief's office and opened the door with a smile. Her smile froze, and she came to a quick stop when she saw who else was in the office. Trunks! He was sitting on a stool beside Dr. Brief's desk, and his eyes widened when he met hers.

"Oof!" Yamcha grunted as he ran into Pan. "What's- you!" He gasped as he pointed to Trunks.

Trunks' eyes widened even more. A million thoughts were running through Pan's mind. What was he doing in Dr. Brief's office? Had he been caught?! Her stomach dropped- she had to get him somewhere safe and fast!

"Oh, I see you met my grandson, Trunks," Dr. Brief said as he walked in from the back room.

Pan's jaw went slack as Yamcha spoke- "g-grandson?"

"Yes," Dr. Brief's chuckled. "Panny here has already met him."

Pan met Trunks' eyes, but he looked just as lost as she was. "Yeah," she nodded as she forced a smile.

"He's the one you danced with last night?" Yamcha looked at Pan.

"Mhm," she nodded slowly.

Yamcha glanced between Pan and Trunks a few times. "You know, I used to date your mother," he told Trunks.

Trunks frowned as Pan side-eyed her uncle. She never knew he used to date Dr. Brief's daughter. Then again, the doctor had never talked much about his daughter. She had moved away many years ago and started a family of her own.

"So, I guess she's doing okay?" Yamcha asked.

"Uh- yeah," Trunks nodded slowly. "She's doing good."

"Well, good," Yamcha nodded slowly.

Pan wanted to cringe at the awkwardness. Even if Yamcha had dated Dr. Brief's daughter, there was no way she could have been Trunks' mother since he was a Saiyan. Although Pan had to admit that Trunks could pass as Dr. Brief's grandson since they had the same color hair.

"I'm going to go," Yamcha said as he looked at Pan. "Have a good checkup," he said before he left.

Pan waited until Yamcha was gone before she turned to Trunks with wide eyes. "So, I have a grandpa now," he said.

Pan turned to Dr. Brief, who simply smiled. "And I have a grandson."

"What?" Was all Pan could muster.

"It's a nice coverup, isn't it?" Dr. Brief's asked with a smile. "It'll keep him from having to hide when he comes to visit you."

Pan's eyes widened, "wait, you know-"

"Yes."

"He saw my necklace," Trunks muttered.

"Don't have such a worried look on your face, Princess," Dr. Brief's said gently. "I might be old, but I can keep a secret."

Pan felt a relief flood through her, and she smiled at the doctor, who returned it.

"Plus, I can tell he makes you happy-" Dr. Brief continued, which caused Pan's cheeks to grow warm. "And this way, you two can see each other more without sneaking around."

"Who knew it would be this easy to wiggle my way into the earth's palace," Trunks smirked. "Be careful, Panna. I'll be coming after government secrets next."

Pan couldn't stop her grin. Her and Trunks would be able to roam the castle freely now! They would just have to make sure his necklace was hidden and that they didn't discuss anything about the Saiyans when they weren't in her room.

"Are you ready for your checkup now, Panny?" Dr. Brief's asked.

"Are you sick again?" Trunks looked at Pan curiously as he frowned.

Pan sucked in a small breath. She had never told Trunks about her health problems. She was scared of what would happen if he knew.

"No," Pan shook her head with a grin. "I- my brother, Han, he just likes for me to have regular checkups to make sure I'm healthy." She glanced at Dr. Brief, her eyes pleading for him to play along.

"That's right," he nodded gently. "The Princess's health is most important. Wait here while I check her, and don't get into anything."

Trunks just smirked. "I don't know. I'm curious about you, Grandpa," he teased. Pan looked back at him as she followed Dr. Brief's to the back, and he sent her a wink that made her grin. Everything would be alright.

Fall

"Lord Koba was very interested in the Princess at the ball," Lapis told Gohan. "He was disappointed that he didn't get to talk to her, but she was rather occupied."

Pan sent a glare the Royal Advisor's way, but he simply ignored her.

"That's right. I heard the one you were dancing with all night was Dr. Brief's grandson, right, Panny?" Chi-Chi asked.

"Yes, Mama," Pan smiled. She hated lying to her mother, but Pan was fearful that if she knew Trunks was a Saiyan she wouldn't approve.

"He seems nice," Gohan spoke up. "I ran into him and Dr. Brief's just the other day."

"Yes, I agree," Chi-Chi nodded. "I think he would be a perfect candidate for a suitor."

Pan nearly choked and Yamcha did choke. "Suitor?" He gasped.

"Yes," Chi-Chi nodded. "Pan's at the age where she's going to start being interested in dating, and she's going to need a strong man-"

"A man?!" Yamcha's eyes widened.

"Yes, a man! Pan's a woman, and what she's interested in is boys, so what she needs a man," Chi-Chi huffed with a roll of her eyes.

Pan could feel her cheeks growing warmer. She knew she was maturing into a woman, and Trunks was a man with a confident aura, firm muscles, and- Pan shook her head to clear her thoughts.

Gohan let out a chuckle, "I think you're flustering Panny."

"Stop," she mumbled, a little embarrassed. She had never had a crush before, but she knew she had one on Trunks. It was hard for her not to crush on him, though, since he was so handsome and caring when it came to her.

"Your Majesty," Lapis cleared his throat slightly. "Lord Koba is from the lands in the north. All he's asking for is a chance to get to know the Princess."

"Hm," Gohan furrowed his brows together. "Well, I suppose it couldn't hurt."

"Han!" Pan looked at him with a pout.

Gohan just chuckled, "it's alright, Panny. Just talk to him and try to get to know him. If you don't like him, then you don't like him. The choice for who you'll court is up to you."

Pan felt a little bit better at that. At least she would have a choice, but she still didn't like the fact that she was being forced to even talk to the guy! After a few minutes, Pan was able to excuse herself and headed up to her room. It was growing chilly outside so she wouldn't be allowed to go to the clearing, so she went up to her room and her loft.

"Stupid- stupid!" Pan muttered to herself as she started working on a dress. "It's stupid!"

"What's stupid?"

Pan nearly shrieked and ripped her dress from the sowing machine. "Oh, no!" She gasped at the rip in the dress.

"Sorry," Trunks frowned as he walked over to her. "I didn't mean to startle you. I called your name, but I guess you were busy muttering to yourself," he chuckled.

Pan felt her cheeks growing warm. "It's okay and sorry," she mumbled as she shook her head.

"Will your dress be okay?" He asked as he walked over to her.

"Yeah," she looked up and sent him a confident smile. "It'll be an easy fix for me."

He returned her smile before he leaned against the desk Pan was at. She caught his eyes, and her cheeks started to grow warm. She thought about what her mother had mentioned earlier that Trunks would be a suitable suitor. She wondered what he would think of that idea. Would he think it was silly, or maybe perhaps he would be interested?

"What were you talking about earlier?" Trunks asked curiously.

"Oh," Pan glanced down. Her fingers traced the beading on the dress as she let out a heavy sigh. "The Royal Advisor wants me to meet a Lord from the Northern Kingdom." She glanced up at Trunks to see his reaction. He was frowning, a curious look on his face. "I think he wants me to start courting this Lord," Pan added.

"Ah, so you'll be in an arranged marriage, too?" He asked quietly.

Pan felt her insides freezing. She looked up at Trunks slowly. "You're in an arranged marriage?" She whispered.

"Yeah," he nodded with a heavy sigh as he avoided her gaze. "I have been for the last ten years."

Pan glanced down at the dress in her lap as her cheeks flooded with hot embarrassment. Of course, he would be engaged, he was a Prince, and he was handsome, too. She bet his fiancée was gorgeous. Would he still visit her once he got married? She assumed he wouldn't since it would be wrong for a husband to sneak into another woman's room. And Pan was just his friend, after all.

"She's been my friend ever since we were little," Trunks continued. "But we don't want to marry each other," he said quietly. "She's like a little sister to me, so it's weird."

Pan looked up at him and caught his eyes, and he smiled at her gently. Maybe he would be able to break free from his arranged marriage, and she would be able to choose who she wanted to court.

"I have to stay inside now," Pan whispered to change the subject. "It's getting too cold to sit outside."

Trunks nodded as he leaned off the desk and stretched with a yawn. "That's probably a good thing, so you don't get sick again."

"Are you tired?" She asked as she watched him walk over to her couch. He usually didn't yawn, but he had several times since arriving.

"I spared with my Appa earlier. Never say an old man has lost his touch," he chuckled.

"How strong is your Appa?"

"One of the strongest," Trunks mused as he laid down on the couch. "He trains all the time. That's what everyone thinks I'm doing too when I come here," he let out a quiet snicker.

Pan smiled to herself as she watched him. She was so happy that he felt comfortable enough in her presence that he would let his guard down and sleep.

Pan worked on her dress, being extra careful to be quiet as she sowed. It didn't take long for her to fix the rip and have the dress complete, and she stood up from her spot before slowly walking over to the couch where Trunks laid. She sat down on the coffee table in front of it and watched him. He looked so peaceful.

Carefully, Pan reached out and stroked the pendant that rested on his firm chest. The rubies were cold, and she shivered before she moved her hand up and moved some of his hair out of his face. Trunks let out a small breath, and Pan smiled as her fingers gently traced down his warm skin.

Trunks felt hot. It was a nice hot, though. Cozy, almost. Like his body was buzzing with excitement.

A familiar smell filled his nose. It was a sweet smell- honey almond, Pan's smell. He had never confessed it to her, but his sensitive nose loved her shampoo. Her hair was so smooth and silky too.

He smiled to himself as he thought about her and wide eyes with long lashes. Her pink cheeks when she blushed and white teeth when she grinned. Most of the time, she wore dresses that were big on her and didn't show much, but every once in a while, she would wear something tight-fitting, and Trunks could tell she had amazing curves. His mind drifted back many weeks ago when he arrived one day in the summer, and she had been swimming naked.

An image filed Trunks' mind. Of Pan's dark hair clinging to her pale skin. Her breasts were peeking out behind wet locks of hair. That image of her would forever be engraved into his mind, and he was guilty of thinking about it a time or two late at night.

Trunks gasped as he woke up. His pants were feeling uncomfortably tight, and someone was stroking his face soothingly. He could hear himself purring, and he was mortified!

His eyes found Pan, who gasped in surprise. She snatched her hand away from his face as her cheeks dusted a light pink. Trunks could feel his face growing hot. The heat was going all the way down his neck, and he could feel it in his groin. This could not be happening!

"What are you doing?!" Trunks sat up with a snap. He hadn't meant to sound so angry, but his voice was shaking as he hunched over, praying Pan didn't notice his rising problem.

"I-" she stammered.

She licked her lips, which caused a twitch to run down Trunks' back, and he stood up with a growl and turned his back to her. He had to calm himself!

"Trunks, I'm sorry," she said quickly. "You just looked comfortable. I was only-"

"I have to go," he told her quickly. His body was acting like he was a prepubescent child again! Did she do this to him just by stroking his face?! His cheeks were growing warmer. He could barely concentrate on thinking of his bedroom as he pressed the button on his bracelet and disappeared.

"Something about you made me feel more alive and far less lost."

The Better Man Project