12- Content

Fall

Thunk.

"I'm an idiot."

Thunk.

"A complete moron."

Thunk.

"A stupid, no good, idiot."

Thunk.

"I should just disappear."

"You know, usually, I'd laugh, but this is kind of sad."

Trunks turned his head away from the hidden corner of the palace's roof, where he was sitting and glared at Endou. "Go away."

"Why? So you can keep banging your head on the wall and give yourself a concussion?" He raised a brow. "What did you do that has you so upset?"

"Nothing," Trunks muttered because he wouldn't think about it. He wouldn't think about how he had gotten hard right in front of Pan and practically purred at her touch. He wouldn't!

"Awe, come on, tell your older and more experienced friend," Endou grinned. "I'll help you."

"Not a chance," Trunks told him with a glare.

"Then, do you want to go get some drinks?"

"Nu-Uh," Trunks shook his head. The last time he got drunk, he ended up going into Pan's bedroom late at night, and after what happened earlier that day, he wanted to stay away from her for a while.

"Then, do you want to help me find some rocks?"

"What is it with you and rocks?" Trunks asked with a huff as he stood up.

"They're made by nature," Endou said as if it were obvious. "Rocks are cool as hell, man."

Trunks rolled his eyes, "Yeah, whatever. Come on, and I'll help you find some rocks."

"Alright!" Endou cheered.

Trunks followed Endou to the ledge of the castle before they took off to the north where most of the mountains and rocky terrain were at. Since the landscape was covered in rocks of all sizes, it was Endou's favorite place to scavenge. Trunks walked around, kicking a few stones here and there as he followed Endou. He knew better than actually to help him find some rocks. Endou was so picky, and every rock Trunks had ever tried to pick for him wasn't the right type or was the wrong size.

"So, having girl problems?" Endou spoke up from his hunch on the ground.

Trunks' eyes widened as he looked at his friend. How did he know?!

Endou laughed- "you should see your face! No worries, I won't tell," he snickered. "Plus, you said you don't even like Marron like that. It's only fair you find someone you can bond with, right?"

Trunks felt his cheeks grow warm. Bond? With Pan? He wasn't sure about that. He did know that he liked being around her a little bit too much. He let out a sigh. "Yeah, I guess you could say it's about a girl," Trunks confessed. Endou would be the only person he would be able to tell it to anyway.

"You must have done something terrible with the way you were hitting your head and calling yourself an idiot," Endou commented. "I think you need some lessons on how to woo the ladies."

"From you?" Trunks snorted. "Hell no. You've been trying to woo Kimi for the last four years, and you haven't succeeded at all."

Trunks watched in amusement as Endou's cheeks grew red. Kimi was a female Saiyan in Endou's ranking, which was just a year younger than him. She was a slender and fit young Saiyan with shoulder-length dark hair and dark eyes. She was also an incredible fighter and skilled well with a bow and arrow. Endou had been crushing on her for as long as Trunks could remember, and for the last four years, he had been trying and failing miserably to get her attention.

"She'll see my charms one day," Endou muttered. "Just you watch. I'll have her swooning over me."

They made their way up a small hill until they came to a stop, and Trunks glanced up as he looked at the two towering mountains in the distance. The Dragon's Den. He had never gotten close to it. Even though they were still a ways away from it, a chill was sweeping through the warm air, making a shiver run up Trunks' back.

"You know, my uncle went up there once," Endou said quietly.

"Yeah," Trunks nodded. He remembered his Appa telling him a story about his friend. It wasn't until a few years later that Trunks had found out that the friend his Appa had told him about was Endou's uncle.

"He never would say what he saw up there, but my Appa said it changed him. I guess it was no surprise when he ran away."

Trunks was silent as he looked at the mountains. Endou's uncle had told someone what he saw that day- Vegeta. According to him, there was still a beast that lived in those mountains, and it had red eyes.

Trunks felt another shudder run down his back, and he turned away from the mountains. "Endou, does your Appa still have no idea where your uncle ran off to?"

"Nah," he shook his head. "He's been gone for decades now. Appa thinks he ran away to get away from Frieza, and you can't blame him," he let out a heavy sigh. "Still, I know my Appa misses him. I hear him, and the King talk about him frequently. It's kind of sad how people don't realize how much they truly care for someone until they're gone."

Trunks let out a small sigh and looked at the ground. It was true. He thought about his uncle, a man who had been much like an older brother to him instead. Trunks wished he could still be there.

Casting his gaze towards the Dragons Den again, Trunks couldn't help but think of Pan. He had wanted to clear his mind from her, but his thoughts betrayed him. His mind lingered towards her always, and he found himself smiling slightly. He would have to visit her the next day and apologize for getting upset. Maybe he could play it off as he was just tired so he wouldn't have to embarrass himself. Still, he couldn't wait to see her.

Pan leaned against her balcony doors with a heavy sigh. Her stomach gurgled anxiously. It had ban precisely one week since she had last seen Trunks. Had she made him so upset that he wouldn't even revisit her? Her hands fumbled together as she bit her lip. She didn't have a chance to apologize properly.

A knock on the door caught Pan's attention. "Princess," a maid called from the other side. "Lord Koba is here. He's in the sunroom. I was asked to escort you there."

Pan let out a heavy sigh and wiped her hands on her pink dress to flatten any wrinkles on it. As Pan followed the maid out of her room, she couldn't help but think of Trunks. What would he have said about her meeting with Lord Koba if he were there? Would he have been okay with it, or would he have gotten jealous? She wished he would show up again, and they could go back to being friends. Now that Dr. Brief had secured a way for him to roam the castle, Pan had wanted to take him on a proper tour of it.

"Just in here, Princess. The tea is already served," the maid said as she opened the sunroom's door.

"Thank you," Pan told her as she slipped inside.

The sunroom was a large room just outside the garden, and its walls and roof were nothing but windows. The cold fall sun peeked through the windows, casting a dim yellow light across the room and towards the middle of the place where a small table was set up.

A man stood up when Pan entered, Lord Koba, no doubt. Pan studied him as she walked closer to him. He looked older than Trunks, but not quite as old as Gohan. He was tall, though not as tall as Trunks. His bronzed skin glowed as the sunlight reached him, and his dark hair was neatly gelled back. His suit was white, bright, and free from any tarnishes, like it had come straight from the seamstress.

"Princess," Lord Koba bowed deeply. "It's so great to meet you finally."

"Thank you," Pan said politely as she bowed in returned.

Lord Koba walked over to her and held her seat out for her and then scooted it in once she was sitting. He sat right across from her and smiled warmly. Pan had to admit, he was handsome, and he did seem friendly. Yet she couldn't stop thinking about Trunks.

Pan fixed her tea up with honey and sugar before she held it gently. The cup was so warm, and she had the strangest urge to drink it all in one gulp. Instead, she sipped it carefully.

"The Royal Advisor Lapis has told me so much about you," Lord Koba said. "He speaks very highly of you."

Pan wanted to snort. Lapis spoke highly of her? That was laughable, but then again, if he were trying to marry her off, then he probably would have.

"I heard you like to knit?"

"Yes, I do," Pan nodded. "It's a hobby of mine. I heard you're from the Northern territories?"

"Yes," he grinned. "It's where all the coal mines are. We have some diamonds and other jewel mines up there as well. It's dirty work, but the jewels we get are well worth it."

Pan tilted her head slightly. "Do you have any rubies up there?" She asked quietly as she thought of Trunks' necklace. He said they were from a mine on Vegeta-Sei called the Dragons Den. She had never seen rubies quite as beautiful as those.

"Afraid not," Lord Koba shook his head. "Rubies are found more in the south. Do you like rubies, Princess?"

"Ah, no," Pan shook her head slowly. "I was just curious, is all. I've heard Vegeta-Sei has beautiful rubies."

Lord Koba nearly choked- "Vegeta-Sei? Princess, where have you heard that?"

"Well, we do trade with the Saiyans," Pan lied easily.

"Yes, but not their rubies. You wouldn't happen to be curious about them, would you?"

"About what? The rubies or the Saiyans?"

"Both," he said. "I must warn you, Princess, the Saiyans are not a race you want to get involved with. They're harsh and cruel. If you knew what they did to other planets-" he let out a small breath. "I'm afraid you'd have nightmares for weeks."

"I know what they do to other planets," Pan said cooly. She didn't know. Not the exact details, anyway, but she knew they either took the planet or killed the aliens on it. "You have to think, Lord Frieza rules them. If they don't do those horrendous things, then wouldn't their planet be at risk?"

Lord Koba's mouth set into a fine line. "Still, you have to think about this- the Saiyans are one of the most powerful races in our galaxy. Even if they weren't under Lord Frieza's rule, they're still terrifying. Wouldn't those monsters be just as evil as they are now?"

"No!" Pan nearly shouted. Lord Koba's eyes widened in surprise, but she continued, "You're judging an entire race for the actions that an evil tyrant is making them do! What if Lord Frieza came to the earth today and demanded that my brother use his army to pillage your Northern lands for its goods or else we'd all die? Would that make us monsters, or would that just make us someone fighting for our lives?"

"Princess-" Lord Koba gasped.

Pan sat her tea down and stood up. She knew Lord Koba didn't know any better, and yet, she couldn't help her anger. He didn't know the Saiyans, and although Pan only knew one and she knew that one couldn't be a spokesperson for all Saiyans, he was still the Prince, and he wasn't evil! He wasn't a monster! Every time Pan saw Trunks after he returned from a raid, he always looked so hallow, like he was haunted by something for several days.

"I'm not feeling too well," Pan said softly. "Please excuse me," she said before she turned and left the sunroom and Lord Koba.

Trunks let out a low groan as he winced. His side was killing him, and no doubt, the crappy stitches he had done himself had come undone. He had a bandage on, though, so he would be alright for a while. He threw his sword on his bed and held his side as he walked over to his window.

The suns were just now starting to set, which meant it was already nightfall on the earth. He wondered if Pan was sleeping. Maybe he should just wait and see her the next day after he had gone to the infirmary.

Trunks couldn't, though. He had this fire inside of him that felt as if it wouldn't be calm until he could see her. He glanced down at his bracelet and thought of Pan's balcony before he pressed the button and disappeared.

Pan sat at her vanity as she brushed her hair. Her conversation with Lord Koba played through her mind several times, causing her frown to deepen. She wondered if he would tell Gohan and Lapis what she had said, but she wouldn't change her mind about the Saiyans. They weren't monsters.

"I see you're still yanking your hair."

Pan dropped her brush in surprise at the familiar voice and turned to see Trunks standing not too far from her balcony. His hair was messy and his clothes torn as if he had been in a fight and he looked worn. Yet, the sight of him made Pan's heart race frantically.

"Trunks," she whispered.

"Hey, Panna," he smiled softly. He held out his arms, and Pan didn't hesitate to jump up and run to him.

Trunks chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her, and Pan felt her cheeks grow warm as her nose pressed against his chest. They had been this close before. They had danced together, and he had even carried her a few times, but this was different. Their arms were wrapped around each other tightly.

"I got sent on an urgent raid, so I didn't have time to come tell you goodbye," Trunks said. "I just now got back. I'm sorry if I worried you."

Pan shook her head quickly. All her worry from the past week had disappeared now that he was back. "I'm sorry too," she said. "I didn't mean to make you upset last time."

"Upset?" Trunks repeated. Pan pulled back slightly and saw that his cheeks were dusting a light pink. "You didn't make me upset," he muttered.

"What?" Pan blinked in confusion. He had looked upset when he left- his cheeks had even been red!

Trunks let out a heavy sigh and leaned back some, so his hands rested on her shoulder. Pan moved her hands to his side and held onto his shirt, almost scared that if she let him go that he would disappear.

"Saiyans have this ability where if they're content, they can produce a low rumbling sound. It's almost like a purr," he said as his eyes looked anywhere but hers. "That day, I was really-" he cleared his throat as his cheeks got pinker. "I was content, and I was purring, and it embarrassed me, so that's why I left."

Pan let out a small sigh of relief. She hadn't made him mad after all. "You shouldn't be embarrassed," she said. "Your purrs were cute," she smiled.

"Ha-" Trunks let out a dry laugh as he poked her cheek. "What have you been up to this last week?"

Pan let go of him, "nothing, I-" she caught sight of her hand that was stained red and let out a hallow gasp. "Trunks, you're bleeding!"

"What?" His eyes widened before he grabbed his right side. "It's okay, Panna. It's just a scratch."

Pan reached forward, and he didn't put up a fight as she moved his hands. Feeling a lot more brazen than she was, she lifted his shirt and nearly screamed at the angry red slash that was several inches long and ran down his side. "What happened?!" She felt her eyes growing warm with tears. It looked so painful, how was he not wincing and moaning in pain?!

"Ah, the aliens we fought had long claws," Trunks said slowly. "I was distracted taking care of a few of them, and one snuck up behind me and scratched me. It's fine, though."

Pan examined the cut better and could see that through the bleeding opening, it looked as if someone had tried to stitch it together! "Did you give yourself stitches?" Pan gasped.

Trunks shrugged, "I mean, you gotta do what you gotta do, right?"

"Take off your shirt!"

Trunks gave her a curious look as his eyes widened. "What?"

"Take off your shirt!" Pan repeated as she forced herself not to stammer. "I'm going to go grab my first-aid-"

"Panna-" he grabbed her arm as she began to take off. "It's fine," he smiled. "Saiyans heal quickly. In a matter of days, it'll just be a scar."

Pan wiggled her arm free from his grasp and frowned up at him. "Let me take care of it or-" she took a deep breath- "or I won't talk to you!"

Trunks made a face like he wanted to call her out on her bluff, but instead, his shoulders sagged. "Okay," he said as he let her arm go.

Pan rushed into her bathroom and washed her hands before she went to her cabinet, where her first aid kit was. She knew the basics of it thanks to Dr. Brief's teaching it to her years ago. Goten had always gotten hurt during his training and never wanted to go to the infirmary, afraid that the nurses would tell their mother, and he would get scolded, so instead, he would come to Pan.

Pan stopped suddenly before she went back into her room. She had told Trunks to take off his shirt. Meaning he would be shirtless. Her whole face grew hot. She could already tell by the tight-fitting muscle shirts he wore that he was fit, but it would be the first time that she would see his chest.

Shaking her head, Pan cleared her thoughts. No! She wouldn't get distracted. She would tend to Trunks' wound like she was supposed to do.

Pan walked out and saw that Trunks was sitting on her floor next to her bed with his shirt off. She ignored the way his broad shoulders looked and sat down beside him, her eyes instantly going to his wound.

It was quiet as Pan worked. First, she cleaned the slash before putting disinfectant on it. She cut the homemade stitches Trunks had made, and thankfully she had some glue strips that she lined up on it before she put a large bandage on it.

"Let me go put this back and wash my hands," Pan said. "I'll be right back."

A few minutes later, when Pan walked back out, Trunks was still sitting in the same spot, and he had his shirt back on. Quietly, Pan sat back down beside him.

"Thanks," Trunks looked over at her and grinned. "I guess the next time I get injured, I can just come to you to patch me up."

Pan let out a small laugh. "Well, as long as you're not missing a limb or on the verge of death, I can handle it."

Trunks let out a snort, "I'm too good for that. Still, I can't believe I let you threaten me," he smirked.

"Hey, I can be threatening," Pan said as she straightened her back and put her hands on her hips. She furrowed her brows and did her best mean face. "Don't you feel intimidated?"

Trunks bit back his laugh as he shook his head. "Nope. Not at all."

Pan deflated and pouted up at him. "Then what do you feel when you look at me?"

Trunks was quiet for a few seconds before he reached over and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. "Content," he whispered.

Pan could hear her heart hammering in her ears, and she was sure that her face would be warm for the rest of the night.

Bulma paced anxiously. The suns had been set for hours now, and Trunks was nowhere to be found. She knew he was grown and plenty capable of taking care of himself, but she was worried sick. What if he collapsed somewhere?

"Eomma?" She turned quickly and saw Trunks walking towards her with a confused expression on his face. "What are you doing out here?"

"Trunks," she sighed as she ran towards him and hugged him tightly. "I heard you got hurt!"

"Oh," his eyes widened. "Yeah, I did, but it was just a little scratch. I went to the infirmary, and I stayed there for a few hours to rest," he said. "Look," he lifted his shirt to show her the clean bandage. "It'll be healed in the next day or two."

Bulma let out a heavy sigh, "you know I worry."

"I know," he gave her a small smile as he leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Sorry for worrying you."

She shook her head gently, "are you going to bed?"

"Yeah, it's been a long day," he said with a nod. "Night, Eomma."

"Night," she called to him as she watched him walk down the hallways.

Bulma frowned when Trunks disappeared. He had lied to her. When Endou had told her that Trunks had gotten injured, the first place she looked for him at was the infirmary, and he hadn't been in there. So just where did her son go, and why was he keeping it such a secret?

With a small sigh, Bulma turned back around and headed towards her and Vegeta's room. She would find out Trunks' secret sooner or later. She just hoped that he wasn't doing anything dangerous.

"Don't wait for the knight in shining armor. His armor is shiny because he has never been to war. Instead, look for the knight with the torn and tattered armor. He is the one who knows how to fight and is sure to be the one who can keep you safe from harm."
-Unknown