Raindrops

Chapter 4: Helpless

A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the major delay. Hope everyone had a great holiday season. I just got done with College Apps, thespian competition (got a superior for playwriting, veryyy excited!), and got a new laptop so maybe more frequent updates? Disclaimer about Goten: he may seem a bit OOC at first but it's crucial for his development later on :) Anyway, enough about me - let's get on with the story!

There was a distinct silence seeping into the air of capsule corporation, a seldom office with a tired man groggily typing away in his state of the art desktop. Trunks sat in his leather office chair in what seemed to be a contemplative state. Often times, the hybrid didn't waste his time just to think and reflect on his own life. But that evening with Marron made him reflect just a bit more on the state of his living situation, and his profound embarrassment that evening. He sunk his face into the palms of his hands. Admittedly, the blonde's attentive nature since then was...endearing, but Trunks couldn't help but feel guilty over his actions.

Not only that, but his recent encounters with childhood friends made him realize how much he has neglected his attention to Goten. Though the two have fused in the past and have a seemingly unbreakable bond - almost like twins - Trunks' mass focus into his work has kept him distracted from the importance of keeping up with Goten and, admittedly, it was rather taxing to him. Trunks sighed at the thought of his partner-in-crime and he had heard plenty from him in the form of complaints, party invites, and other activities he made in his more frivolous youth.

Goten wasn't wrong, Trunks spent far too much time concerned with everyday work. So deeply concentrated in his own work, he found no time for enjoyment. But could Trunks help it? That's another question.

The hybrid adjusted his frames and glanced over to the searing hot coffee cup, beckoning to check whether it was cool enough to drink. In the midst of it all, he heard a knock on his window, which didn't take Trunks by surprise. Trunks looked over to the window spotting a floating Goten, donning the classic forest green sweater he seemed so fond of.

The CEO invited his best friend to visit him at his office, but he continually grew concerned that the hybrid was - for some reason - upset with Trunks. Though thankfully, he was wrong as he came anyway. The classic Son smile plastered across Goten's face.

"Dude, let me in, someone is gonna see me," Goten exclaimed clawing at the opening of the window.

Trunks shook his head as he stood up from the chair and unlocking the window, feeling the rush of the high-altitude winds rush into his office, scattering the papers about.

"Shit, my assistant is gonna kill me," Trunks mumbled to himself as he quickly closed the window as Goten stepped inside. "Glad you came."

"Man, seeing you is tough as it is, I'll take whatever chance I get," Goten began, aiding Trunks in picking up the scattered documents, "seriously though, your security down there is a bitch to deal with," Goten groaned.

"Capsule Corp's finest," Trunks replied in jest as he organized the stacks of papers back on his desk. "Life's gotten pretty damn busy, seriously - I'm such a mess right now."

Goten scoffed, now slumping to the leather couch against the wall. "What? I couldn't tell!" Goten stated, his voice laced in pure sarcasm, "haven't been training either."

Trunks quickly perked his head up and gave Goten a deadly glare. "Hey, don't stress it," Goten continued, "just haven't heard a lot from you lately, I was scared all this taking work seriously was really takin' a toll on ya."

Trunks sighed, it seemed as though the regular meals and sleep were whipping him back to shape, somewhat. "But seriously," Goten added, "you haven't kept up with training have ya?" Trunks' face immediately reddened from what Goten could only assume was anger. "What is it, a girl? Work? Parties?"

The CEO nearly sputtered out 'Marron' in his tired state, but only managed a defensive "no." But the youngest Son knew better than to believe Trunks' white lies. "Nah, it's something, you just don't wanna say it huh?"

Trunks waved his hand. "Fine, fine, it's work," Trunks grumbled as he slouched back on his seat. "I dunno I guess ever since Marron-"

"Marron?" Goten asked, his eyes wide in surprise, "Marron Chestnut?" Goten specified shaking his head in disbelief.

Trunks quirked a brow at Goten, nodding slowly at his multiple. "Y-Yeah, Krillin's daughter-"

"Are you screwing Krillin's kid?"

Trunks' faced flushed, and nearly immediately shook the perverse thought out of his mind, "N-No, what the hell?!" Trunks exclaimed before taking a deep breath in an attempt to reorganize his scattered mind, "Marron is my neighbor, she moved to West City."

Goten quirked a brow, "okay, what is she doing? Holding you hostage or something?"

"Oh please, like she can do that," Trunks scoffed as he sat down in the leather chair again. "Nah, she's just been very-"

Goten quickly stood up, taking a sharp breath. "You gotta give me a moment Trunks, Marron is doing what exactly?"

Trunks squinted at the black-haired Saiyan, "let me finish?" he asked. "She's just been making me meals...sometimes, I guess, it's sweet, she just seems concerned."

Trunks realized quickly that this conversation was heading nowhere, if he kept yammering on he may even say something he doesn't fully know he believes.

Goten shook his head in disbelief, "are you dating her or something?"

There it is. Goten still hadn't grown out of the partying habits of his teenage self, he was still so hard stuck on the idea of conquering women and having a certain body count that he hasn't taken into consideration building a future in these times of peace.

Trunks shook his head, "Goten, not every woman is out after my dick...besides she is my friend - our family friend."

"Trunks you could be with whoever the hell you want, and you are keeping yourself locked in an office having Krillin's kid cooking your food like a maid-"

"Okay, wait a minute, it's not like that either!" Trunks exclaimed, then without thinking continued, "besides she isn't ugly either, but that isn't the point!"

Goten shook his head, "I'm saying you gotta go out there and get some girl - maybe just for a night - you can't stay here hating your life if you don't get out of this office." Goten quickly pulled Trunks from his seat, "know what?"

Trunks quirked a brow, "what?"

"You're going out tonight," Goten stated, "I'll force you out of this damn place...I can't let you waste away."

It's been going on for a while, Marron thought, I've been making food for him for a bit.

Marron sat in front of the CEO's door, her hands shaking with a glass bowl with food she prepared herself. She never would admit just how often she spent on making sure Trunks was eating after discovering his unhealthy food habits. Had she not stepped in, the boy would have been drowning in sodium. Marron was no chef, nor was she trying to win the hybrid's affections but - perhaps he would be just a tad less mysterious with her through those evening conversations full of idle talk.

It's funny when she thinks of it, but her younger self would have killed to even be in the same room as him for so long, let alone make him food. Yet here she was, pitying more than excited.

Marron looked down at her phone as the pixels glowed in her face "1:35 AM." He was beyond late, he wasn't going to be home...Marron was sure of it. She didn't know whether to be concerned or if she should be angry or...indifferent? She wasn't sure what to feel or how to feel. She grabbed a post-it note from her bag and wrote a note on the pink sticky paper.

Hey Trunks,

Sorry I couldn't catch you. Made you some steak soup,

it's better when it's hot but just microwave it and

You should be all good! :)

Marron

She left her note and the glass bowl by the hybrid's door and began her trek back to her floor. By the time she made it to her room, she still couldn't quite make out just exactly what she was feeling. It was an ugly feeling bubbling in her chest, perhaps jealousy?

She did still like Trunks, but that was very different. Marron opened her phone, and without thinking opened his contact messaging the hybrid over the food next to his door. But she could feel the strange searing feeling again, there were only two places he could be at work, or out somewhere doing illicit things.

Not like it mattered to her...except it did very much matter.

Marron sighed, changing into different clothes and slipping into bed, hoping for whatever madness was going through her head to be over by the time she awoke.

The next morning she followed her routine to its usual rigor and began heading towards the elevator. Her icy blue eyes catching sight of a pair of royal blue ones and another forest green ones. Marron's suspicions were right, he had spent a night with someone that night. It was beyond her why he was escorting her downstairs, perhaps he just doesn't get the whole etiquette of a "one night stand" but Marron watched her red curls bounce ever-so gingerly as she stepped out of the elevator.

Now Marron was no expert, but according to Trunks' drained expression, she could tell he seemed hungover. And before she could make it out of the building premises Trunks pulled her aside with a yank.

"Hey," he said in a hushed whisper. "I'm really sorry, I should have told you - maybe you could've tagged along -" Trunks sighed, "Goten was in town and he was just-"

He didn't understand why he was apologizing, something in himself felt grossed out at his own actions. Perhaps it was guilt? Or maybe he was actually attracted to the blonde? He took a glance at the blonde through his squinted eyes and could see the plump lips forming a pouty expression. Her icy blue eyes piercing into his, sending chills down the hybrid's spine.

Marron paused the taller hybrid, he couldn't tell she was shaking at the feeling of his touch. "Trunks, I'm not your girlfriend you don't need to apologize over this," Marron stated, a slight chuckle laced in her voice. "Though an invite would've been nice."

"Thanks for the steak soup, Mar," Trunks smiled warmly receiving one in return.

Her smile erupted a warm feeling in his chest that Trunks couldn't exactly pinpoint as to what it was. But it was a lot more wholesome and refreshing than what he felt the night before.

"No problem, now-" Marron stated, turning him around and back into the building, "go rest, I'm sure you didn't sleep."

There she went again, babying him. He couldn't help but feel like he was under his own mother's orders sometimes with the blonde. Trunks only scoffed, "alright mom."

Marron squinted her eyes at the lavender-haired man keeping a steady glare, "watch it, I'm not even that old."

As Marron arrived to work, she glanced over to her phone and noticed the text she received from a certain Son Goten. The blonde clocked in, stepping into her cubicle before actually opening and reading the text message the youngest Son sent:

Yo Mar heard you moved to West City

Marron glanced long and hard at the text, she assumed Trunks must've said something, as it was the only possible way he would have known anything. The blonde's icy blue eyes slid over to her schedule and back over to the text.

Yeah moved here a month ago

She placed her phone down and began to work but her phone was quick to buzz on the table, her hands hesitant to check the message, but she reached over and opened the phone again.

We should hang out soon let me know k?

Marron sighed, clicking the phone off. She had to get back to work and promptly decided to answer later.