I don't own DBZ

A/N: if you can't stand fics where Trunks and Bra act like a brother and sister towards each other, turn back now. Otherwise, enjoy ^^

What's Betrayal Among Friends?

Chapter 7 – Sisterly Advice

Bra tapped her foot impatiently and glared as her brother merely stared at the ceiling.

"Well, so you did more than looking for a birthday gift… or did you even look?!"

"Nope."

The bluette felt furious about her brother's bluntness.

"I can't believe you! Seeing your best friend's girlfriend, and proud of it?!"

"You don't know the whole thing…"

"shut up! I know too much!"

Her anger raged. How dare he? How?!

"You creep! I can't believe you!"

Trunks looked back at his sister, his face blank. He was obviously not in a chatting mood. But Bra was in a yelling mood.

"My brother… my own brother… the lowest sleezeball I know! How dare you! Did you even think of the people who got hurt?!"

Still, no response.

"ANSWER ME!'

"OF COURSE I DO!"

He shouted back. Bra wasn't ready for that, but she wasn't about to just take it.

"Then why?! Why'd you do it?!"

"She kissed me, Bra."

The sister chuckled.

"I know."

"No, she kissed me."

Bra felt sick. Was he bragging before her?! The nerve!

"TRUNKS! YOU…"

He stood up, set on making his point.

"SHE kissed ME!"

Bra blinked, letting what was said to sink in.

"Wha, what?"

"SHE kissed ME. I thought you knew me better than this, Bra."

"So did I…"

"So how could you think I'd ever enjoy that?!"

Now being pushed from her offensive position, Bra had the time to study her brother. This wasn't the proud, rather arrogant brat she was so fond of. This was a troubled man, obviously desperate. And Bra did know her brother; he never drank. Ever.

"So explain it."

Trunks was about to, when his eyes widened slightly. Then they shot again as the headache got worse and he ran a hand through his hair.

"How do you know, anyway?"

Bra blinked.

'What should I do? Should I tell him? What would Pan want me to do?'

"I… er… well, Marron and Pan went shopping today, see, and…"

Her brother covered his face with his hands, obviously more frustrated of this.

"But Marron doesn't know. Just…"

"Just Pan."

He sat down on the bed again, somewhat defeated. Bra felt deep regret. Here she came to assault her brother, and here he was, apparently being wrongfully accused.

"Ah, damn that Paris!"

"What happened, Trunks?"

Bra said in an almost whisper.

"Now  you ask."

She snapped with wounded pride.

"Well, you were the one who just laid there and said nothing!"

He chuckled.

"My bad. I guess."

Bra sat down next to him, and looked at her hands, resting in her lap.

"Trunks-chan… tell me what happened."

"So now you'll hear me out, eh?"

She frowned.

"Yeah, well, blame dad."

"Every day of my life."

They both looked at each other, and laughed lightly.

"So… tell me?"

"Sure. Hope you won't hurt me too much, though."

"Can't make any promises."

"Heh."

Pan was quiet all the way home. Goten was worried, but at least she wasn't crying anymore.

"Care to tell me what's wrong?"

"Can't."

"why?"

"… none of your business, uncle."

He chuckled.

"So I guess that's none of your parents' business either, eh?"

Pan still looked out the window of the car, but her cheeks got a rose-red shade.

"Point taken, niece."

She wanted to tell her uncle. She really did. But she thought of the impact. Her uncle'll kill his best friend (not really; Trunks is stronger than Goten, she mused); Trunks will be mad at her for telling on him (not that he had the right, mind you). and Bra will never believe her to keep a secret again.

"Uncle?"

"Hm?"

"Can we go get some ice cream?"

The car turned in 180 degrees and almost caused a huge accident.

"UNCLE!"

"Ice cream calling!"

'If we'll make it there alive, there is!'

Sometimes, Pan couldn't believe her uncle.

Paris sat down at a coffee shop, dropping all of her shopping bags. She was in the best mood.

'All that's missing is hottie-Trunksie carrying my bags and giving me a massage. Well, that too, will come.'

She took out a pocket mirror and began arranging her hair, much to the room's male population's delight. Then she noticed Goten's car pulling into the parking lot.

'Well, not Hottie-Trunksie, but Goten-woten isn't that bad either!'

"Heya, Goten!"

Paris waved at the uncle and niece; Goten waved back happily. And Paris decided Pan was good at learning Trunks's glare. Oh, if looks could kill…

Bra had her hand covering her mouth, eyes wide in shock and disbelief.

"No way! Wha… no way!"

"Way!"

She shook her head.

"Are you sure you saw Paris, Trunks?"

Trunks nodded.

"That bitch! How could she have kissed that guy?! Oooo, I can't believe she could be so low!"

She remained sitting while her brother leaned backwards on the bed.

"Well, she did."

"I wish I could just smack her! I feel like I can kill her! How could she do it to Goten?!"

Bra was enraged; and all Trunks did was tell her about seeing Paris kiss someone else that night. He didn't go into details about his kiss with Paris.

"And the next day she pinned me to a wall and practically raped me."

A look of disgust crossed the bluette's face.

"What?!"

"She even called me Trunksie-poo."

If the situation wasn't as grim as it was, Bra would've laughed.

"I can't believe her!"

"And then I called her, and then you slapped me."

Bra seemed even more regretful than she was when Trunks gave her the 'birthday gift' excuse. Then she frowned.

"But why'd you call her! I mean, you saw her kiss someone; she came on to you; why talk to her, why even think of her?!"

Trunks closed his eyes with a sigh.

"I didn't want it to be true, Bra. I wanted to be blind, wrong, paranoid, just so that Paris wouldn't have cheated on Goten. I didn't want him to get hurt."

The girl had nothing to say as she looked away. Tears began filling her eyes as she thought about how heartbroken Goten would feel when he learned the truth. He loved Paris so much, it would kill him!

And then, the tears were of another reason.

"And today I told her to stay away from him. From the looks of it, she won't listen to me."

"And then she kissed you, and Pan saw."

There was a pained expression on Trunks's face when Bra said that, but be it from the bad experience, or hurting Pan, she knew not.

"There's just one thing I need to know."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, she thought she saw tears in his eyes.

"Why should I believe you?"

The comment cut through Trunks like a hot knife through butter. He told the truth, damn it all to bloody hell! He was the one in the mod, the one needing help!

"I mean, all I have to go on is your word. How do I know this isn't some elaborated scheme to get Paris?"

He stared… then blinked. Stared… and burst out laughing.

"Oh… oh Dende… you, you really think that?!"

Sitting so he was on the same eye level as her, Trunks looked at his sister, still laughing. Bra looked away. The smile was wiped from the prince's mouth.

"You… you can't be serious… Dende, you are!"

Bra blushed lightly.

"I… can you blame me?!"

It was too much. Too many emotions, too quickly. Hurt, pain, anger, sympathy, bloodlust… Bra was confused.

"Look, Trunks… I… I want to believe you…"

"Then do!"

He held her shoulders firmly, his eyes pleading.

"Trunks…"

"Bra, Goten's my best friend, but either way I feel like I'm hurting him. Please, sis, I need your help. If you won't believe me, who will?"

The princess was utterly shocked. Never has she seen Trunks like that. Ever. So desperate. So pleading. So… helpless. Yes, that was the word. Helpless. Caught between a rock and a hard place. Either he told, or let his friend live a lie. She saw it in his eyes. He was trapped.

'He… he really cares for Goten…'

Seeing no reaction, Trunks let go of Bra's shoulders, and looked away.

"I see. Please leave."

Bra's eyes widened.

"What?"

"Leave. Please…"

In that moment, it was as if Bra's world shattered. Her brother was human. The great warrior, the corporations' president… was flesh and blood. And he was in need of help.

Not knowing what else to do, Bra threw her arms around Trunks and cried. Trunks hugged back, in need of support.

"I'm sorry, brother. I'm so sorry. I know you wouldn't lie on something like that. You and Goten are too close for that."

"Thank you… sister…"

Vegeta closed the little he opened the door, and smiled in relief.

'About time those two acted like a brother and sister.'

And he knew they'd be all right. Call it… fatherly instinct.

A/N: that was fun to write! R&R!
Trunks: you liked writing me helpless, eh? --;;;

^^;;; you misunderstood

Trunks: riiiight.

Goten: R&R! Or we not get cookies!

Liar! ;;;