Raindrops

Chapter 19: From Eden

AN: AHHH! Thank you for 100+ reviews ;-; I was so excited when I saw all of your kind words I thank each and every one of my readers endlessly for putting up with my weird update schedule. Also, I have been OBSESSED with Beastars lately.

He'd done it. He'd finally revealed his true emotions and yet... as he watched Marron lay motionless, it was her parents who received his declaration of love. And he had to admit it was quite terrible timing, Trunks and Eighteen have never been on the right footing. There has been a bubbling hatred for Trunks especially since that day he bullied Marron to the brink of tears. Lazuli was truly a formidable presence, and he always felt as though he were walking on thin ice whenever she was around. And to add fuel to the fire, his father and she has had a mutual hatred for as long as he'd been alive...but he didn't think it was fair to have their kids involved. After all, Trunks was nowhere near to his dad's attitude...was he?

Lazuli's heels clicked against the white tile floor. Eyes narrowing down on Trunks, she was face to face with the same boy who incessantly bullied her daughter. In Lazuli's opinion, Marron always had poor taste in men. That applied to Cash and Trunks...the only two men she's truly fawned over in her short life.

"Mama," the young girl softly began. "Can I ask you something?" The young girl twirled her pigtails around her fingers, her big blue eyes staring deeply into her mother's. "Can you...cut my hair?"

Lazuli tilted her head curiously, her fingers running amongst her beautiful golden locks. "Now why would you want to do that?" She cooed.

Marron slumped down on the floor, her stubby legs jutting out before her. "I-" She paused, "I want Trunks and Goten to like me..."

Lazuli could feel the bitterness rattle within her chest. "Marron," she placed her hands gently on her shoulders. "There is no reason to change yourself for those two boys..." In truth, Lazuli loathed the influence that Bulma and Chi-Chi's kids had on her daughter. Always idly watching them as they sparred, begging to be trained to the point where Roshi actually took it into his own hands.

It wasn't that she didn't want her daughter to be a capable fighter...but she didn't want her childhood to be robbed by battles...not like hers.

"Listen, Marron," Lazuli ran a gentle hand on her cheek, watching as her daughter nuzzled into the palm of her hands. "I will cut your hair...under one condition."

"...okay..." The young blonde began, eyes shifty.

"You never let another boy control you..."

"You..." Lazuli began, grabbing the hybrid's cheeks within her index finger and her thumb, much like a child. "How could you possibly love her."

Trunks' eyes were widened in shock from the forwardness of Lazuli's action. He was rendered immobile...his pupils constricted as he stared into the older woman's icy eyes. She had pictured him as some sort of monster, and how could he blame her? With everything that Saiyans have done to humans, and his father having such a strong thirst for vengeance against her. The room was in shambles due to the scuffle Goten and him had moments earlier. He didn't deserve Marron. He knew that...and he accepted that now. But what could he possibly do? Betray his emotions? Impossible.

Trunks was a grown man, CEO of a company, and technically heir to the throne of a dead race of warriors; he didn't intend being treated like a child.

She released Trunks' cheeks, leaving red imprints on him. "Marron doesn't need a senseless Saiyan in her life," she continued, crossing her arms above her chest. "She needs someone who will stay with her...someone who will protect her."

Goten quickly emerged, offended by the woman's statement. "Are you saying Trunks is going to cheat on her?" Goten quickly paused as the woman shot him an icy glare. "Us Saiyans are very strong y'know."

Lazuli turned towards the taller hybrid. "No," the woman began, "I've seen what your mothers have gone through...I've seen what Saiyans do...they leave whenever it's convenient to gain strength...my Marron...she needs someone normal...someone who won't leave her in times of peril."

Trunks clenched his jaw. She wasn't totally wrong, his father did kill an entire stadium of innocent people. Sure, they were revived...but what good does that do when the act was still committed. And Goku, he too had disappeared from Chi-Chi's life for a solid seven years, all in the name of protecting the peace of Earth. What good was he to Marron if he would have to leave someday? Perhaps, Lazuli had a point. Maybe she needed a normal life, with a normal human...but something deep within him simply couldn't let her go. Why did her mother want to decide what was good and bad for Marron...it was up to Marron to decide.

"Trunks, I think what Lazuli is trying to say is..." Krillin began, after having been quiet. "You two simply are at odds."

The defeated hybrid looked at the shorter man. His eyes were sunken as he stared harder at the tattered and bruised woman. "No..." Trunks huffed, as he approached the hospital bed. "This isn't for you to decide..."

Lazuli looked perplexed as she watched Trunks approach her daughter, his hands grazing against hers. He could feel his chest swell in some foreign emotion. Could it be pride? "I love Marron," Trunks announced again. Looking down at her soft face, he smiled. "I have for a while now." He breathed in deeply, as he slipped off his thin-framed glasses, placing it beside her. "If she doesn't feel the same...I will accept it, however..." Trunks breathed softly "this isn't something for you to decide for her."

Goten remained silent as he watched his old friend stand his ground. Trunks had never been the kind to speak with so much fervor, and yet here he was with the guts to tell the parents of the girl he supposedly loved exactly how he felt. Goten allowed himself to rationalize the last couple of months after the bar incident, he'd always been the type to be so on and off with women.

He felt he finally had felt his match with Valese, the way she flipped the classic role he was so accustomed to playing. Yet, Trunks...he had been quite the womanizer only a year ago; getting blasted and spending exorbitant amounts of money on women, fancy dinners, and parties. It was as though he slept with anything that breathed, and did so inconsequentially.

But a year later, it was though he'd turned into some sort of celibate. He carried himself trepidatiously around Marron, treating her delicately. She meant something to him and Goten had been blind to it.

"With all due respect, I don't think you have any place to speak for our daughter," Lazuli sneered. "How could you possibly understand her?"

"Are you still bitter, Lazuli?" Goten snapped, feeling the ire rise in his chest. "For things that happened when we were kids?"

A newfound desire to protect his old friend came creeping in, and Goten could not hold it back. Trunks was utterly stunned, watching Goten get closer to the intimidating woman. "Do you get your kicks from controlling every aspect of your daughter's life?" Goten pressed. "You're a fool to not see how much Trunks cares about her," Goten continued. "Do you really intend on keeping your daughter under her parents' decisions? Do you really want to micromanage every part of her life?"

Lazuli simply remained silent, bitterly listening to the hybrid's reasoning. She turned herself from the two, only to meet her gaze with her husband. "Maybe they have a point," Krillin stated. "Maybe we need to let her grow past us."

Lazuli kept her lips pressed thin, furiously eyeing the two younger men and turning on her heel. "I'm going to get something to eat."

As the woman shuffled her way out the doorway, Krillin glanced at his motionless daughter and back to Trunks and Goten. "She's just...worried," Krillin began. "Cash was a real blow to Marron, and- we don't want anything like that for her again."

Trunks clenched his jaw, his eyes darkening at Krillin's words. How could he possibly believe he was capable of doing something like what Cash did? "I'm not like that," Trunks stated defensively.

"I'm sure," Krillin responded. "But her mother isn't..." And with that, he turned on his heel and walked out the door. Pausing at the doorway, he turned his head to the side side-eyeing the two hybrids. "Give Marron the chance to speak, we'll see from there."

Trunks slumped down on his seat, defeated. He glanced over to Goten who had retreated to his phone, scrolling mindlessly. "Hey," Trunks began, not expecting the man to look back at him. "I really appreciate what you said back there," he continued. "I genuinely didn't expect you to stick up for me."

Goten clicked off his phone and smiled, with a simple shrug. "Honestly," he said, "I was just proud of you, man...in all of my years of knowing you, I never would have thought you would have stood your ground against someone like that." And, Goten was right. Trunks had been a bit of a pushover to the adults in his life, even into his adulthood. He had allowed his mother and father to influence his way of living for most of his life, and finally, he felt as though he was making some strides.

"Look, man," he sighed out, running his hand into his loose locks. "I'm sorry about earlier, I was totally out of it."

Goten shrugged. "Hey, I didn't know she mattered that much to you," he stated, placing his feet on the coffee table, "had I known I'd probably would've been more understanding." That was somewhat true, Goten still felt like Trunks' behavior was a bit self-centered...but placed into the context of his seemingly dramatic mindset, he could comprehend it. "Look, the tension's felt a bit high since you entered the room...and I've got a hunch this has to do with that night at the bar. Trunks...I don't want to stop being friends with you, I know it's been months since we last spoke...but I've had a lot of time to think."

Trunks watched as his old friend held out his hand. "I need my best friend back," Goten announced. "You are my brother, Trunks...we've fused, we've shared so much...and I failed to see what you needed."

"No, I failed to give people time..." Trunks sighed, his elbows leaning on his thighs as he glanced towards the white tiled floor. "I learned that the hard way with Marron."

Goten sighed, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I figured," Goten stated. "you've always been the kind to shut out your emotions."

Trunks scoffed incredulously, leaning back on the chair. "That's ridiculous," the hybrid stated matter-of-factly, "name one time."

"Dude, you totally use to act all tough when sad stuff happened," his word-choice was vague, but Goten knew to bring up the events during their time fighting Majin Buu was a death sentence. "Look, it's alright to feel things sometimes...I think you're finally learning that."

"Well," Trunks flicked his eyes away from the onyx haired hybrid. "I guess you have a point...but, look at my dad I mean..." he continued, snickering to himself. "Not exactly the best role model for showing your feelings."

Goten nodded, snickering along with him. "How is your dad these days?" Goten asked, "still angry about my dad being stronger than him?"

Trunks winced. "Ouch, aiming straight for the heart, aren't ya?"

As the two were laughing amongst themselves, Lazuli returned standing at the door frame with one of the doctors. "Trunks, a word..." the blonde woman said before backing away from the door, waiting for Trunks to follow. Which, the man did...albeit nervously. As he stepped out of the room Lazuli pointed an accusatory finger straight to his chest. "I don't know what you're intentions with Marron are," she began, "ever since that day you came to Kame House to ask about her, I've been watching you...and I have to say just one thing..."

Trunks watched her carefully, as she approached him. "Don't let that disgusting bastard touch my daughter ever again," Lazuli sneered. She was referring to Cash, he was sure of it.

"Of course..."

Marron's eyes snapped open, feeling a wave of intense pain sweep through her. An overwhelming soreness took over as she held the railing on the bed. Shallow breathing, as she held her hand to her head, noticing the tubes connected to her arms. Immediately the blonded began to feel squicky at the feeling of the tubes connected to her arms. Her mind was going crazy, trying to remember what the hell had happened to her and where she was. Looking up, she squinted, making out four people sleeping on chairs. Her father and mother sitting at her right side, their heads on each other's shoulders. Marron smiled gently, the soft glow of the hospital room light shining softly on their faces.

What time was it? Marron searched for her phone, and realized her clothes weren't anywhere to be found...she forgot she seemed to be in a hospital gown. She looked forward and barely made out the visage of Goten, who slept soundly on the couch on the other end of the room. She was beginning to remember...she had gone out to get coffee with him, but never did... He had been wearing a thick jacket and slacks.

Marron turned her head, feeling the whiplash smack her as her eyes met with Trunks, sitting on her left. Her heart began to race violently as she looked down at her left hand. His rough hand gently laid atop hers as he slept peacefully, she noticed he was still in his suit, though his tie was loosened up, his hair messy as he uncomfortably leaned his head against his shoulder. Why was he here? Marron gently stared at the man, his cool lavender hair brushing against his tan skin...although he did look a bit paler than she remembered. She watched as he clenched his jaw in his sleep, his hand twitching slightly. She wondered what he dreamed about...

The blush crept on her cheek, realizing she had been watching him sleep, she quickly turned her face away. The door creaked open as a nurse walked in, her eyes flung open in surprise as she walked up to Marron. "Oh wow, you're awake!" She stated excitedly. "Your boyfriend over there was so worried, he basically barged in here!"

Marron quirked her brow, looking over to Trunks and Goten. "I- neither of these guys are my boyfriend..." Marron responded.

The nurse tilted her head, looking at the sleeping Trunks with his hand on hers. "Are you sure?" She asked, "I mean, he's holding your hand," The nurse stated.

The blonde blushed furiously, the heartbeat monitor beginning to beep faster. "I- no, no...we're just very close friends is all." The nurse eyed her curiously and returned to her, clicking her pen and writing on her clipboard. "Can I...ask you something?" Marron asked as she watched the woman write. The nurse paused and gave her a nod. "What happened to me?"

"About 18 hours ago, you were hit by a car. The gentlemen over there says you were crossing the street at the time of the accident," the nurse answered.

Suddenly, Marron remembered everything. She had been crossing the street to go have a coffee with Goten. She had been so deep in her thoughts...thinking about Trunks, and her world had suddenly gone dark after hearing ambulance sirens wailing around her. The fear grappled her chest, fully realizing how she must seem right now. "Can I get a mirror?" she asked, knitting her brows together.

"Well, I can escort you to the restroom, since you're finally conscious," the nurse said smiling. Marron nodded, starting to get up before the nurse quickly held her hand out. "Woah, Woah!" She exclaimed, "slow your roll, you're in no condition to be walking around like that," the nurse explained, as she took out a wheelchair from beside her bed. Marron eyed the black seat, then her vision switching to her broken leg, which was covered in a cast. She was no Saiyan, but the idea of being immobilized was somehow insulting to her pride.

Marron was not strong...she knew that. And she knew that Trunks or Goten could withstand such a blow and walk away without a scratch. But she was just a human, with some ki trainingi, but at the end of the day, she was who she was. She slid into her wheelchair, as the nurse escorted her to her private bathroom. She bit her lip, this was going to be insanely costly for her...and looking at her face in the mirror only confirmed that. Her curled hair now turned into a messy congealed mess of blood and her left cheek leaving a trace of road rash. "Fortunately, you're skull had no real fractures... your rib and legs, however..." The nurse began, "just stay motionless...I'll help you, okay?"

Marron could feel the tears well up in her eyes as she glanced at her swollen eyes. Her entire left side was utterly tattered, even attempting to move her lips slightly pained. The nurse was rather strong, being able to carry her from the wheelchair to the toilet rather efficiently. But Marron, being her stature really only weighed about 115 pounds...so it wasn't much of a feat. "Don't worry, after this, we'll get everyone out so we can give you a sponge bath, okay?" The blonde could only nod silently, glancing down to her broken acrylic nails.

The entirety of her time in the bathroom was a bit of a blur, she was taken back to her bed and everyone seemed to have woke up. She quickly looked towards her parents, who were suddenly surrounding her. "Are you feeling okay, firefly?" Krillin asked, tears welling up in his eyes as she weakly nodded. "Bulma gave us a call that something had happened so we came as fast as we could!" He stated, holding his daughter's hand.

"Yes, thanks to Goten, you got here rather quickly," Lazuli began, kneeling down to her daughter's eye level on the bed. "Your father already contacted his team, they are trying to find who did this," she continued.

Krillin nodded, rubbing the back of his head as he tried to remember the details over the phone. "We currently believe it may have been a drunk driver, but we had a couple of witnesses who still have to testify," he continued. "B-But, let's not worry about all of that right now, eh?" Krillin quickly switched his mood, trying to brighten the mood. "You are alive, and that's what matters!"

Marron nodded as she looked towards Goten, giving him a gentle grin. "Thank you, Goten."

Goten shook his head. "You're basically like family Mar, we look out for one another," Goten began as he turned his head towards Trunks who had been standing stiffly beside him. He'd never seen the man so stiff in his life, but clearly he was petrified of speaking to the blonde, only staring at her with panicked, constricted pupils. Trunks simply could not help it, his mind kept going back to that evening they shared a kiss, despite how blissful it may have been...Trunks' bitterness towards his own action made him panic. He felt her stare at him intently, even with a tattered and bruised appearance he still saw her as beautiful as when she was made up.

"I-I'm glad you're okay, Marron," Trunks said, his gaze avoiding her. He had desperately wanted her to wake a lot sooner than the doctors anticipated. In hopes that they'd have a moment alone together. Evidently, that simply wasn't the case as Lazuli and Krillin were still here...not that he was upset, they were her parents after all.

Trunks would simply wait until another time to speak to her. "I'm glad you came, Trunks," Marron responded, her voice meek. "It's been a while since we last saw each other..." Yes, they hadn't truly spoken since that evening. He had been cowering in fear for the past few weeks, scared of rejection? Scared of ruining their friendship? There was much at risk, but he was willing to put that all aside simply to be at her side.

Marron glanced at the sunflowers at her side and then towards Trunks again smiling gently. Lazuli quickly cleared her throat diverting her attention away from Trunks. "Hon, you should probably rest some more," she continued tucking a loose strand of her short hair behind her ear. "The doctor said he should be in soon, we don't want you to overexert yourself."

She looked towards her father. "Sure would be nice to have a senzu right about now, huh?" She chuckled lightly, before wincing in pain. Lazuli quickly came over to her side, helping Marron lay back down on the bed. The mother chiding her for not listening to her the first time.

"I, uh," Krillin began, stroking his mustache anxiously. "We tried to contact Korin to see if any had been ready to grab...but I guess with all the peace goin' on for the last decade, he hasn't really bothered with all that."

Marron slid down to her sheets, nodding understandingly. "Figured as much," she replied. "I'm a big girl...I think I can handle it..." Admittedly, the blonde did feel far more energized than she would have expected. Maybe all that ki training with Roshi really paid off... maybe she could hold her own.

AN: Thank you for reading this chapter! Please let me know what you think! Big thanks to everyone that reviewed you guys really helped motivate me to write this chapter: Sunshine Spray, Gingacookie03, CocoaEyes AsunaMK8, Megumi007, Music Chick, and Tiff 3 Also a very, big thanks to my beta (HannabellLecter - it's her bday :p) Please let me know what you thought! I love interacting with everyone :)