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A Better Place

:Faye Valentine, Ariele Dawntreader:

Two

Mirai no Trunks was more than pleased to see his sister when she arrived. He thought it fitting irony that the woman who was taking care of him in this timeline would be the daughter of the very being that made it impossible for his sister to exist in his world. Bra was chatty, and ecstatic to see a much older and different version of her brother. Her demeanor made Trunks smile. For the first time in a while, it seemed, he was happy, and he was enjoying Marron's company very much - so much, in fact, that when Bra suggested that he come back to Capsule Corps with her that night, he refused, saying he just wanted to rest. Since Marron and Bra barely knew the man, they took him for his word, never suspecting his rapidly growing appreciation for Marron.

In the first few minutes after Trunks learned who Marron's relatives were, he had been suspicious and wanted to leave immediately, but he decided that he was too old to hold on to bitter grudges that no longer directly affected his daily life. After all, the only reason he was alone now in his own time was that his mother had died of old age, and he had never felt motivated enough to go find someone he could settle down with. And after all, what would he tell the poor woman when their first child was born with a tail? No, marriage was no longer an option for Trunks… or was it? His sudden attraction to Marron brought on many continuous strands of thought, and it may have been that fact that made Marron and Bra suspect he was tired and didn't want to be bothered.

Marron sighed as the tiny wall clock struck seven o'clock, "Dende! I haven't made dinner yet!" She looked at Trunks, "You must be starving!" She got up from the sofa, "Bra, would you like anything? I have plenty of Chinese-style noodles and some yummy soup if you want." She bustled around the kitchen. Bra shook her head, even though Marron couldn't see her. She smirked at her brother and rolled her eyes at Marron,

"No, thanks, Marron, had some dinner before I came over here. As a matter of fact," She got up and started to head towards the powder room, "I was in the middle of making dinner when you called," She closed the door, but still shouted through it, "Otousan actually let me cook! He even liked it!" All this time, Trunks hadn't said a word - he sat and watched the two girls, slightly amused. They were delightful. Had it really been so long since he had been in good company? A thought crossed his mind, and when Bra emerged from the powder room, he asked,

"How is Otousan these days?" He rose from the sofa, gracefully for a man of his stature, and went into the kitchen to help Marron. He did it almost instinctively, used to making his own meals, and the two girls stared at him. He blushed when he looked up from a pot of simmering water and cleared his throat, looking down again, "Well? How is he?"

The two girls giggled and Bra answered him, "He's the same as always - paying more attention to me than…Trunks," She giggled again, "…bugging Trunks to start training again instead of worrying about the company, training his ass off every day in Okaasan's brand new gravity simulator…" She crossed her arms and smiled in Mirai no Trunks' direction. An idea flashed into her head, when she realized how Trunks had been gazing at Marron all evening. She looked from Trunks to Marron, who was fixing the soup, and back at Trunks again, raising her eyebrows.

"I imagine you're much more like Otousan than my Trunks is - so much more in touch with your Saiya-jin side, huh?"

"I suppose so, yes," He said, measuring Bra's words when she looked at Marron again. He hadn't dealt with women in so long, he couldn't see anything behind Bra's looks and statements. He shrugged, "I'm happy though, that my counterpart has had the chance to be more carefree." His eyes darkened slightly, "I could live without being as attuned to my Saiya-jin side as I am," but he smiled weakly again, sitting down at the small kitchen table. Bra decided then that she was determined to play matchmaker, and she was going to start right now. Why, he was perfect for Marron. She knew how in love with her Trunks Marron had been, but he had never been sensitive or affectionate or even strong like this Trunks appeared to be. She started walking briskly towards the back door,

"Well, Mar-chan, I'm off. Have a nice dinner, you two. I'm going for a walk on the beach and then back home again. Trunks, have Marron gimme a call when you're ready to come to Capsule Corps. Ta ta!" The door slammed, and she walked out to the beach, swinging her purse and humming, thoroughly pleased with her decisions. Something new was going to occupy her free time in the next few days now! Finally some excitement in this burned-out timeline.

*

Marron found that first night with him to be slightly better than torture. After Bra had left, she and Trunks had found it increasingly hard to communicate with each other. She had no idea what to say! She knew from Bra's visit that he wasn't as frightening as he appeared to be, that he did know how to speak. But those eyes ! Every time she said something it was like they pierced her and held her in one place until he looked away. They had been sitting quietly at the table, each lost in their own thoughts after dinner, when Marron finally broke the silence.

"Well! I imagine you'll want to sleep soon. You like tired, and well, I don't want to disturb you tomorrow morning - I get up early to run -" She realized she was babbling. This guy was intense. She couldn't even ramble, she became so nervous!

"Marron," He chuckled - he chuckled ? "It's only a little after eight o'clock. You won't bother me in the morning. As a matter of fact, I'd like to come with you," He paused and Marron knew he was eying her up, "Besides, I'm a night owl anyway." His eyes seemed to flash with something as close to mischief as they were going to come.

Had someone cast a spell on her? What was going on here? She was with Trunks, - a much more fit, muscular, strong, hot, older and secretive version of Trunks - the night was young, and was wondering if this was one of Dende's jokes. Wait… Dende didn't joke, did he?! She snapped out of it, "I'd - love it if you came with me." A smile quirked awkwardly on her face. What had happened to her composure? If this was the affect he had on women, then why wasn't he married by now or - or something ?

*

Marron slept restlessly, but Mirai no Trunks slept peacefully. He had stayed in one position all night, his dreams slipping in and out in colorful forms of Marron's face - he smiled as he slept fitfully. Marron, on the other hand, woke up at least five or six times in the course of the night, sweating. Every time she dozed, she had the same dream: her memory of when she had lost her virginity to Trunks a few years ago, only now at the end of every dream, his hair grew longer, his face darker, and his body firmer underneath her small form. She swore when she awoke the last time from the dream and found her panties wet. The alarm went off and startled her even further. It was six-thirty.

She dragged herself out of bed and stripped off her nightgown and panties. She shivered in the morning cool of the room; realized suddenly she longed so much to be just like this, only in Trunks' arms. She shook her head and grabbed a towel off the desk chair, wrapped it around herself, and walked down the short flight of stairs winding into the kitchen. Trunks was sure to be asleep still and -

"Uncle!?" She yelped, startled. Juunanagou smirked, admiring his young niece's appearance.

"Shocked to find me home?" He said smoothly, walked over to her, grasped her shoulders, inhaled her scent, and kissed her on the forehead. He moved away again slowly, "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. Didn't think you'd be up this early."

Marron shivered for a moment. Sure, she had been hot from all those dreams the night before, but not hot enough to react to her own uncle. Dende, he freaks me out. Apparently androids have no concept of inbreeding. Still, her uncle's actions intrigued her. He was definitely a strange one. She had never spent enough time around him to know his true motives, but she figured she'd better postpone her plans for breakfast until she was showered and dressed. "It's okay," She tried to smile weakly, kissed him on the cheek on tiptoes and turned around back up the steps, "I was just going to get a shower and go for a run. I'll be back down in a few." But Dende didn't let her catch a break- just as she reached the top step, Trunks came out of the guest room and they ran into each other.

"Marron, I'm so sorry." Trunks smiled, encouraged by last night's dreams. He wore the pants that he had arrived in, nothing else. Marron groaned inwardly. He looked amazing. The pants were black, ruffled and loose, and his form was impeccable. She couldn't help herself - she reached out and brushed delicate fingers over his abdomen. She guessed they were too close for Trunks to think anything of it, but he noticed anyway. He reveled in her familiarity; smiled wider.

"No problem," She flashed a smile, too, You can run into me half naked any time you want, sweetheart. "I was just about to shower and get ready for the run. You still want to go?" She shamelessly roamed his upper body with her eyes. She couldn't help it. He noticed that, too.

"Of course," He finally realized she was wearing nothing but a towel. He blushed, but Marron didn't notice - she was too excited. She was turning to go into the bathroom when he mentioned he'd heard voices a few minutes ago. Was Gohan here?

"No, it's my uncle, Juunanagou," She looked down the steps, distressed for a moment, "Oh, Kami, I didn't tell him I had a guest." Trunks followed her gaze and Juunanagou's face appeared at the bottom of the steps. Both men scowled.

"Marron, you didn't tell me the Vejita-spawn was here." He waved a hand in Trunks' direction and began to walk away, "Well, whatever you fancy, darling niece," He opened the front door, "I'm going out for the day. Don't know when I'll be back. Later." His tone was flat and the scowl didn't leave his face, even as he walked down the boardwalk near the beach. This ruined everything. How was he supposed to fuck around with his stupid naïve little niece when that nasty little shit was here?

*

When Marron had reappeared out of the bathroom fifteen minutes later, she wore short, loose shorts and a tee that hugged her breasts enough for Trunks to notice, but loose enough to go jogging in. Trunks hadn't changed. Marron blushed,

"I forgot you don't have anything else to wear! I'm sorry." She giggled, not really sorry. Trunks merely shrugged,

"I'll just go as I am I guess and pick up some cheap shirts on the boardwalk."

Marron had no qualms. They jogged at a slow, nice pace along the beach. Trunks was about to inform his partner that it wasn't healthy for her knees and legs to jog on such uneven ground, but he liked the way her hair bounced around her face - and the way her breasts bounced as well. He didn't even try to deny it to himself that he was more than attracted to her. Hell, he hadn't been with a woman in such a long time, it was normal to react this way, wasn't it?

They shopped briefly - he always hated picking out clothes - and Juunanagou was not there when they arrived home. Trunks was more than pleased. He hoped he didn't come back for a long time. All day they chatted happily, and Trunks didn't even consider going to Capsule Corps. He could stay like this forever. They cooked dinner and ate together, a little close to each other, growing more and more physically familiar with every passing hour. It began to grow late and it was black outside save for the stars. Trunks had gone to use the downstairs powder room, and when he came out, he found Marron standing on the back porch, listening with eyes closed to the crashing of the waves. Her blond waves were billowing out around her and her skin glistened in the starlight - she was a goddess. He couldn't help himself anymore.

He came up behind her and ran his hands up her arms as they formed gooseflesh. Her nipples went taught at his touch. He was so strong and demanding and his voice made her shiver, "Marron, turn around." He rumbled softly from behind. She obeyed as if in a trance,

"Yes, Trunks?" She let out a small gasp when his hands slid on her back, to her hips and then her hands. He held them tightly.

"Marron, I'm going to kiss you now…" He bent forward, but the front door slammed suddenly, startling them out of their fantasy. Reluctantly, Marron slipped out of his embrace quickly and looked at him, her eyes screaming later. He walked inside in front of her and was met by Juunanagou's stare. Marron smiled politely.

"Hello, Marron. Told you I'd be back." He smirked, kissed her on the forehead, enjoying Trunks' look of disapproval and walked up the steps. "I'm off to bed. 'Night." He stalked off, thinking of more ways to piss off the Saiya-jin spawn. No one fucks with my prey, especially that stupid son of Vejita.

Marron was confused and needed to be alone. She turned swiftly to Trunks and spoke hastily, "If you don't mind, I'm off to bed as well. You want to run tomorrow morning?" She asked hopefully. He smiled in return.

"Sure." He put a reassuring hand on the small of her back, sad that it couldn't linger there and keep wandering… He walked away into the kitchen, "I'll grab a snack I think. I'm a night owl, remember?" He asked in a friendly tone. Marron nodded her head and smiled weakly, feeling helplessly caught between something that she didn't understand. She hurried upstairs and went to bed.

She didn't sleep any better than she had the night before, and around two in the morning she walked downstairs to get a glass of water. She poured herself a glass, but was slightly shocked when she saw the back door open, and Trunks doing one-arm pushups on the deck. His hair was tied back, his face intense and sweat dripped from his forehead. She wondered fleetingly how long he had been at this, when he turned and saw her. He got up quickly and stared before slowly making his way inside. He gulped involuntarily when he saw that she was clad in next to nothing. It was hot, and her sweat made her skimpy nightgown cling to her every curve. He could see her tiny black panties through them and his lips parted with shock and desire. He walked up to her, not really sure what he intended to do, and she suddenly shoved the glass into his hands.

"Here, you need this more than I do." She smiled, "It's so hot, come with me out onto the porch and we can catch the sea breeze." He followed her like a dog in heat and gulped the water down. "So, Mirai no Trunks," She turned back to him, "How do you like our timeline? When do you want to go see Bulma-san and get back?" But he was so close to her now, she stopped breathing for a moment. He embraced her loosely, trying not to be so intimidating and leaned close to her face, looking in her eyes.

"I intend to take my time," He smiled, but his eyes grew serious with intent and he kissed her forehead, then her cheek. Marron turned into his kiss when his lips reached the corner of her mouth. Their kiss was sweet and short, and Trunks resisted the urge to grab her and take her there on the deck. His hands were on her arms and he moved away from her altogether and walked inside, knowing full well that if he stayed, his hands would move, she'd be naked and he'd be all over her and her uncle might wake up. He sighed, "Well, we should go to sleep and get ready for that run tomorrow, huh?" He smiled again and Marron melted and rushed past him towards the steps.

"Good night, Trunks." She said breathlessly and went to bed for the second time that night.

"Good night, Marron-chan," He whispered to the walls.

* * *

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