Raindrops

Chapter 13: With You

A/N: No more Marron drama, for now, lol. Thanks to the lovely people over at r/fanfiction for helping me out with this intro on concrit commune

In all honestly, Valese expected a quick fix and not have to play therapist for thirty minutes. But she understood the situation to a level that the enthusiastic raven-haired man didn't imagine. In part, thanks to her blabbermouth blonde friend. Even so, the brunette listened as intently as she could to the man who seemed to be drowning out his emotions to her. God, she thought, these men can be so emotional.

She traced a manicured nail on his hand that laid splayed on the table. "Listen Goten," Valese began, "there is a lot on your mind, and I'm sure Marron will be willing to talk to you if you let her."

Goten looked up at her, his eyes begging for some reassurance.

"Right, you know her pretty, well right?" Goten asked, then as if to himself, "I uh - I just feel like she might be siding with Trunks on this whole thing. Talk about favoritism, am I right?"

Valese clicked her tongue at him. "Marron's got a good heart, she will listen to anyone." She leaned in closer to Goten. "Trust me," she purred out.

She didn't want to admit it, but Valese believed the entire ordeal was rather stupid. There was so much more to argue about and these three idiots seemed to focus on the topic of what kind of lifestyle is better? Valese was not one to judge. Sure, she was the life of the party, and she might tease Marron quite a bit for her choices but never to the point that Goten and Trunks had.

"Gah, she may have a good heart, but she won't magically fix everything!" Goten groaned. "I already tried fixing his relationship with his mom but damn, even that didn't work. I think I'm gonna run out of choices soon."

The brunette stared at him sympathetically, her lips pouting as drew circles on the hybrid's palm. "Maybe you just got to take your mind off of things, yeah?" Valese responded, continuing to sip on her mango smoothie, "You've been talking so much about this whole thing, it may be best to do something different."

Goten leaned back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest. "Well, now that you bring it up, I did want to catch up with some friends," he said. "You can come along if you'd like but uh -I don't -"

Valese clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "I've got a girl's day with Marron, so don't stress it." She paused to sip her drink. "Besides, I'm not the kind of gal you want to bring home."

With that final remark, the brunette winked and got up from her seat. "Don't want to keep her waiting now."

The thick scent of acetone permeated in the air, burning the nostrils of the patrons of the salon. The distinct sound of drills whirring, sugary pop beats and indistinct chatter ricocheting off the white walls. This was the classic nail salon in the center of West City, it's inflated pricing enough to make any wallet cry paying more for location rather than service. Marron sat back on the squeaky pedicure chairs feeling as the rough machines attempting to simulate a massage dug painfully into her back whilst a woman buffed every callous off her feet.

This was not Marron's ideal "girl's day" but it most certainly was Valese's. The brunette seemed far more at peace with her foot massage and bath soaks where Marron was fidgeting at the rubbery gloved fingers groomed her feet, she uncomfortably shifted stifling her laughter from the tickling sensation.

Valese leaned back on the chair, taking a sip of her champagne. "Isn't this relaxing?" The brunette melted into her seat, "just us gals, no emotional men to bother us."

Marron quirked a brow at the woman's statement but decided against questioning her. The blonde simply couldn't be bothered to know what was happening with her. Marron slumped back into her seat taking a sip out of her mimosa, watching aimlessly the woman paint her toenails the usual light pink color she always requested. She preferred to stay quiet especially after the events she has gone through in the past few days. She twiddled an astray strand of hair, rolling it onto her fingertips watching as the curl fell loosely back on her forehead.

"Mar?" Valese then asked, concerned about her friend's quiet nature. "What's goin' on?"

Marron perked her head up, and she smiled innocently at Valese. "Nothing, really." She was a terrible liar.

Valese clicked her nails on the polished wood cup-holder. Her tongue smacking against the roof of her mouth as she shook her head knowingly. "Naw, I know that look...what did you do?" Valese sang out.

Marron turned her head away from the brunette, shaking her head vehemently. To change the subject, Marron tried to bring the subject back to her latest boy-toy Goten. That was to no avail, as she simply brushed him off as going through the motions of a friend break-up.

"Seriously, he is not a fun hook-up buddy anymore!" Valese whined.

Valese wouldn't ever admit she has a problem. She wasn't the kind to commit to just anyone and she knew that too scared to commit to any one person. Valese found herself in a constant predicament of wanting love and affection yet terrified when the person would ask for the same...she wanted nothing more than to shut herself away when the time came to reciprocate what she has stolen from others. She couldn't see anything but the hook-up curated thanks to her clubbing habits.

"Val, none of this is good for you, ya know?" Marron said in a chastising way. "Look, I know I'm not this whole life of the party...but I think you should calm down with the guys..."

The brunette crossed her arms indignantly, her face offended at the sudden preachy manner the blonde was attacking her. "Don't judge me blondie, at least I have a nightlife," she stated defensively before melting into her justification. "I just don't see why it's alright for guys to do it to me...can't we both have fun?"

Marron rolled her eyes. "Of course, you can, I just think this whole thing may not be all too healthy for you."

Valese simply rolled her eyes, continuing to stare at her manicured nails. "Mar, you've been really down lately," she stated, "I know there is something going on, and—to be honest…I'm upset you refuse to tell me."

Marron sighed frustratedly, watching dejectedly as the cool liquid in her mimosa evaporated on the outside of the glass. Was it that obvious? Marron proceeded to think, Do I just…give off this feeling? There was a strange feeling from her sternum, bubbling in her throat. She was nervous about her own mistakes.

"Look if you don't want to tell me—" Valese began, before getting cut off.

Marron, turned slightly over to her friend, smiling plainly. "I thought I could get away with not talking about it," Marron stated sheepishly, her eyes heavy-lidded as she stared down to her light-washed jeans. "Knowing you, I guess it's pretty obvious how you figured it all out."

She scoffed, taking a sip out of her drink. "Ya think?"

Marron's eyes quickly averted towards the paintings and old photographs of models plastered across the salon. "Don't judge me for this Valese—"

"I would never!" Valese exclaimed, "cross my heart."

Marron chewed nervously on her newly manicured nail. "I had a run in with Cash recently and it was…not pretty," Marron exclaimed before bringing her hands up defensively, "but before you say another word—he didn't hurt me!"

Valese eyed the blonde dangerously, knowing full well the history behind the two. A sleazy "schoolteacher" or whatever he likes to call it preying upon an innocent girl, it was a revolting thought for even Valese. "You know damn well, I would have shown up and beaten the crap out of that sicko."

Marron nodded, placing a hand on Valese's. "That isn't all," Marron stated in a hush, "I tried to make him go away by saying I had a boyfriend…"

Valese rolled her eyes, knowing exactly what her friend should do. "If he found out I was lying he might stalk me again or something…and well you know!" Marron exclaimed, dropping her face into her hands, moaning in frustration whilst the pedicurist dried her feet.

The other woman stared sympathetically at her friend, patting her hair softly whilst she groaned in frustration. "Mar—" Valese began softly, "maybe this can be your chance…"

Marron looked up, a puzzled look struck on her face. "What?"

Valese scoffed, "A chance with…" she said trailing her fingers down the armrest, "you know who."

Marron felt sick. The idea of using one of her closest friends, for her own benefit was a sickening thought for the blonde. Let alone someone who she regarded as delicate as Trunks. She knew a good amount that the hybrid was going through by the unsure way he carried himself. In no way did Marron intend on jeopardizing that with Trunks over Cash.

"I won't do that to him Val," Marron began. The tips of her ears growing hot at the prospect of having to commit such a thing. "Trunks just…means way too much to me to do that."

Valese sat back in her chair, sighing at her friend's lack of opportunism. "I mean, don't you like him?" She asked, "now is your chance to show him isn't it."

Marron shook her head vehemently. "That's sick," the blonde concluded.

"Hey, just putting it out there. I'm sure Mr. Briefs would be more than happy to oblige," Valese teased. "Given his history, I'm sure he'd be down for a—"

Marron's face grew more intensely with heat, overtaking her chest as well as she slapped the lecherous brunette's arm. "Valese!"

"It's the truth girl, the guy used to be the party," Valese stated. "Guess that died when he took over, hm?"

Marron nodded, feeling the Styrofoam sandals slip onto her feet carefully. "He's different now."

The office was quieter than most evenings, and to Trunks, it was bliss. Nothing major was creeping up on him, the documents were reviewed. There was nothing for the hybrid to worry about except perhaps the inkling feeling of infatuation towards his newest friend. The prospect terrified him.

But Trunks had decided that he wouldn't face these feelings yet. Rather, he wanted to suffocate them. He was terrified at the idea of liking someone, and not just anyone, but Marron. He realized this feeling wasn't going away, the feeling was so foreign as the last time he recalled his heart beating so hard was with Mai.

Ah, Mai.

She didn't want to deceive him, but truly what choice did she have? She was thrown into a situation…totally out of her control. He would never give ill to the person who guided his hands to a better emotional understanding of himself. "It takes baby steps," she'd say. Softly, much like someone much wiser than he. The thought saddens him. Her guilt and running off, Trunks would forgive her.

But, he was wiser now and had sights on someone new…Much to his moral dismay, he was feeling things for Marron…something he was terrified of admitting. She has been through so much, its be unfair to her. Not only that, but she was practically babying him at times. He can't allow himself to be seen like this by her.

Trunks' pride was too fragile to pursue something with the lovely blonde that wandered into his life once more. He had to grow, he swore it to himself he would.

Just then, Trunks heard a pair of heels clack into his office. Swiveling his chair around he found his mother. Her arms folded and angered expression plastered on her face. "Trunks!" She exclaimed, now walking up to his desk and placing her hands down. The short blue hair flopping over as she heaved in frustration. "Son, please…" Her voice was painfully intertwined with sadness. Trunks couldn't bear the pity party his mother wished to throw. "I just don't understand why you…you've cut me out of your life…"

Trunks stared dejectedly back at her, not knowing how to answer her desperate attempt to converse with him. "Trunks, y-you've just given me such cold treatment…I just want some answers." She was crying. Trunks felt the guilt rise from his chest, but the words struggled to escape from his throat.

"Fine…" Bulma began, her hands raised defense backing away. "I don't know what I did. But—I'm SORRY…is that what you wanted?"

But the lack of response drove the mother mad. She tapped her foot impatiently, watching as her son desperately tried to piece together a response that never came, and yet again her emotions got a rise of her. The feeling of profound disappointment her struck her once more as she pressed her lips together.

"Fine." Trunks looked up, much like a guilty pet. "I guess you don't care."

As his mother walked out of his office, Trunks turned back to the sorbet colored sky behind him, watching as the oranges and lavenders danced to create a pleasing amalgam of a color. A hand traveled to his glasses, slowly placing them down as he heaved. "I need a drink."

So, he called Marron.

Marron stood in front of the corner store, cozying herself up in her coat. Gentle hands stuffed into her fuzzy coat pockets whilst kicking the tip of her boot on the sidewalk. The weather was growing colder in West City, each forecast projects cooler and cooler temperature…something Marron was less than used to.

"Waiting around for me, hm?" Trunks asked stepping out of the corner store with a pack of beer in his hand.

The blonde scoffed, pushing herself off the brick wall and beside him. "So, same old place?"

Trunks grinned, nodding in response. He looked over to find the shivering blonde averting her eyes from him…to which Trunks quickly took notice. "I went to visit Kame House."

Marron froze in her tracks, staring at Trunks in disbelief at his sudden statement. "Why?" Marron asked, a nervous chuckle along with her question.

"Because," Trunks shrugged, "I was worried about you."

Marron's heart sank, her chest pooling over with the warm feeling of something foreign. "You were worried?" Marron asked with a nervous chuckle. "Now why would that be?"

Trunks sat over the edge of the dock. His feet swinging as he pat down the space next to him, cracking open a beer. "You're my friend," Trunks stated plainly while taking a sip. "I'm allowed to care for my friend, right?"

Marron slumped beside him, opening a beer herself and taking a sip feeling the burn of alcohol travel down her throat. Cheap beer. "Yeah, of course," Marron stated calmly. She leaned a bit closer, feeling the warmth radiate from him. "I just didn't expect you to be so proactive," Marron continued.

Trunks stopped and stared at her moonlit face. He could feel his heartstrings tangling into an irreparable mess as he struggled to come up with the words to tell her, Trunks could hardly ever imagine what went on with her and the so-called Cash—and something inside of him screamed that he had to make sure it never happened again.

Not just because he liked her, desperately. But because Marron, his friend, deserved so much better than to constantly worry of some sleazy bastard trying to sleep with her and bother her for kami knows how long.

Marron stared back to Trunks, watching the pink scatter gently across his cheeks. He was a weird one, for sure. Yet something on the way he carried himself seemed different than most times. She took another swig of her drink and sighed deeply. "Well, since you were wondering Trunks—"

Trunks froze and looked up to the blonde, whose face was struck with severe melancholy. "I guess there is no harm in telling you, now is there?" She smiled softly, placing her hand down. Her fingertips softly grazing against his. "Cash and I have a long history…"

Trunks listened intently to her every word, as she began to recount her past. He could see her small nose flare in red from holding back her tears. "I was sixteen…" Marron heaved, taking another drink. "He was twenty-six, and…I thought he was just being nice to me," Marron continued, tracing circles on her jeans.

"I always thought—I wasn't very attractive," she chuckled, wiping her nose with her sleeve in hopes to avoid her runny nose from irritating her skin. "I guess I still think that," she continued with a shrug.

Trunks quirked a brow, unsure of how to react to the statement of Marron being unattractive. She wasn't per se oozing in sex appeal—but there was a certain charm that he could see creeping through her demeanor. "Anyway, that isn't the point," Marron huffed out frustratedly. "Cash took advantage of me as his student…for two years I stayed with him."

Trunks glared at her, watching her small figure shake from the tears.

"My parents warned me that a man like that shouldn't be with well…a kid, but I was a kid, I wasn't going to listen," Marron chuckled, wiping a tear from her cheek. "Of course, I'm going to be stupid!"

Her self-deprecating efforts made the hybrid even more saddened. "Marron you can't judge yourself for that y'know," Trunks responded, "I mean, just a year ago…I did some pretty stupid crap…partied way too hard, broke hearts…I was terrible."

Marron sighed, looking down at her shoes. "I can't forgive myself for allowing him to have me for so long," she sighed exasperatedly, "and now he wants to find me again…and start over."

Trunks clenched his jaw, this was a piece of information he hadn't known about…and it certainly did drive him mad just hearing about it. Without thinking, Trunks wrapped the shivering girl into his arms, and for the first time, he didn't regret his actions.

Usually, the display of emotions made him flinch, so often being conditioned to believe that it made you weak. But Trunks felt stronger than ever, in his entire lifetime…the hybrid has never experienced something more powerful than succumbing to emotion. There he felt the blonde heave as she sobbed, Trunks admitted to feeling guilty not telling her to stop her story—obviously, it was a sensitive subject.

But right now, he couldn't help but sink into the soft tuft of her hair, raking her back comfortingly. Whispering soft words, watching as his own words eased her tears into nothingness.

AN: Sorry for the delay everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I sure did :) Please let me know what you thought about the chapter in a review below! I love talking to people about what they think!

And if there are any B/V fans that read my fanfiction, please check out my new fanfiction Parfum!