ACK! Time got away from me, I didn't realize how long it's been. I hope that I have readers left. New chapter – enjoy!
PK
Grandfather Vegeta stopped in front of the boy's door, hesitating slightly. He was tired of seeing Trunks hurt himself and others, but how do you confront someone with a secret of this magnitude?
He knocked and Trunks, good lad that he was, opened the door immediately. Grandfather Vegeta didn't wait for an invitation, and instead pushed past the boy. "Shut the door, Trunks," he rumbled as he dropped into the only chair in the room. "We're going to talk."
Trunks stiffened and slid down to perch on the edge of the bed, looking like it was the last place he wanted to be. "Have I done something wrong?" he asked apprehensively.
Lord Vegeta started to say no, but reconsidered as he thought about the topic at hand. "Somewhat," he grumbled softly, crossing his arms across his chest – a purely defensive maneuver, but once he had begun it, it looked weak to stop. "I have something to tell you, and it won't be easy and I'm not comfortable talking about this." He realized his tail tip was twitching, and he forced it to stop.
Trunks hunched his shoulders, embarrassment and confusion clear on his face. Vegeta squashed his own sense of embarrassment and bullied forward. "I first have a grave apology to make to you, boy," he said, forcing himself to continue looking directly at Trunks. The last thing that he wanted to do was look his grandson in the eyes while he apologized, but he knew better than to listen to his pride, particularly at his age. "I was the one who forced your mother out of the palace by giving her to Bardock, and I was the one who stole your father from your life. Regardless of the fact that it wasn't intentional, the outcome has still been terrible for you, your mother and my son."
Trunks jerked with reaction, staring wide-eyed at the old man.
"What?" Lord Vegeta grumped. "Don't act so surprised, boy, I knew who you were since you nursed me back to health. You have your father's face and arrogant demeanor. I checked your birthdate, and that fact combined with the fact that I knew your father and mother were involved – hell, I was the one who made sure that no one else knew they were involved. I'm sorry that I cause you all so much pain."
"That's ok…" Trunks answered automatically, his voice faint with shock.
"And the other thing that I wanted to talk to you about," Grandfather Vegeta said quickly, trying to keep the boy off-balance. It was selfish, but as long as the kid was flabbergasted, he couldn't ask Vegeta any questions and prolong this whole thing. "Avia."
Trunks jumped like Lord Vegeta has goosed him. "I--"
Vegeta waved a dismissive hand. "I can see how much you care for one another – it's clear to anyone looking." Trunks' face was redder than the sky in a sand storm, and Vegeta verbally picked up the pace to get through this discussion. Saiyans did not discuss – let off-worlders talk, a Saiyan should do. "I wanted to tell you, if you care about her, don't push her away. Make her yours, if that's what you want."
"What?!" Trunks yelped, his eyes popping out of his head. "But, but--"
"But what?" Vegeta countered. He leaned forward and held his hands out in front of him to emphasize the importance of what he was saying. "Look, I forced your mother and father apart, and it caused everyone too much grief. If you want her, win her."
Trunks looked at him skeptically. "You mean that?" he asked, and Lord Vegeta noted the hope in the lad's voice.
"I mean it," Vegeta said firmly. "You have the same value as any other noble seeking her attention."
Trunks moved around the edge of the ship, hesitantly working his way to the prow. His target was silhouetted in starlight, turning her dark skin to golden-bronze and her white clothing to silver. He wondered what his reception would be, and he wondered if he were insane for deciding to do this.
It doesn't matter, Trunks told himself firmly. If Grandfather Vegeta approved then Trunks certainly couldn't argue. Apparently, Saiyans had different views of close-kin relationships. And, when it came right down to it, he literally couldn't stop himself. I love her.
He moved to the rail next her, tipping his head back to look at the stars. Trunks hoped that she would say something to start the conversation, but she was just silent, looking at the stars as well. The only movement from her was the wind stirring her hair and tail fur. Finally, he had to break the ice before his courage broke under the pressure.
"Nice night," he murmured. She was still silent, and he blindly pushed on, ignoring the panic rising in him. "Is it just me, or are the stars getting brighter the further south we go?"
She hunkered down without warning, and Trunks for a moment thought that she was leaning over the rail; but the first choked sob that reached his ears dispelled that thought. No, his Avia was crying, her face buried in her arms where they rested on the rail.
"Avia?!" Trunks gasped as he knelt down next to her, circling one arm protectively around her shaking frame. "What's wrong? Tell me what's wrong!"
"I can't," she sobbed, and for a horrible moment Trunks thought that she wouldn't tell him. When she continued, it was a relief to him. "I can't get away from you."
Trunks jerked back from her, pain flooding his heart. "Avia, I – I'm sorry," he whispered, clenching his fists to keep from touching her anyway.
"I just thought that I was obsessed," Avia whispered, "and what you do for obsession is to break completely from it. But now—now I just feel worse." She choked again, and coughed violently; Trunks started to rub her back without thinking about it.
"What do you mean, Avia? I don't understand," Trunks murmured, keeping his voice soft. "Tell me what's wrong, and I'll fix it."
"That's the problem, Trunks!" she hissed as she pushed away from him. "You're the problem! I can't think, I can't sleep – and you're the cause!"
"Not anymore," he said, snatching her hand out of the air and holding it gently. "That's what I came to tell you. I'm yours, if you'll have me." Her wide eyes met his, and he smiled at her. "I've been stupid," he continued. "I wasn't thinking right. If it's not too late… for us to--"
Her surge knocked him over backwards to the deck, and her hands and lips were touching him everywhere at once as they coiled tightly together. Trunks lost track of time and place as his entire world narrowed down to the woman in his arms. Finally, she pushed away and said, "My cabin?"
"Your cabin," Trunks said with a laugh as he caught her up in his arms and began the walk to below-decks.
Their leaving did not go unnoticed.
Nappa trembled with silent rage, watching the woman he wanted cling to a slave! Last night when she had come to him with the haunted look in her eyes, he had known that would be his chance to prove that they were meant to be bond-mates.
Saiyans were considered unnaturally promiscuous by other space-faring empires; what those races didn't understand was that was how the Saiyans found their bond-mates. The bond would lie dormant in the Saiyans until they had intercourse with one another. Then, the bond would awaken and each would slowly become aware of it.
And all Nappa could think was that she wasn't being fair. They had agreed to give it a couple of days to see if a bond would develop, and she wasn't waiting like she had said. He could feel the bond already – hell, he had known for years that she was the one he would bond with. And he had spent all that time on her, working so hard to make her better than the other Montessi, to prove that she was Saiyan through and through.
And she was throwing herself at some slave – and, Nappa noted grimly, with a hell of a lot more enthusiasm than she had shown him the night before. There had to be some way he could salvage this – normally, he would fight for her, but to fight against some puny slave would be dishonorable and beneath him.
"King Vegeta will know how to take care of this problem," Nappa growled. He was sure that the King would not want to see the royal line of Vegeta-sai tainted with impure blood. He started to march to the King's bedroom door, then stopped. The King had been most attentive to the Queen lately, and it was likely that they were together. This would have to wait until morning.
Trunks came awake suddenly when something else in his bed moved. A second of alarm melted away to pure pleasure as he realized that it was Avia. With a content sigh, he snuggled back down next to her, surprisingly content. He had thought that he would regret giving into this relationship, but now that he was here, there was no room for anything but joy.
She stirred a bit more and Trunks had the delight of watching her eyes slowly slide open. She looked sleepily at him for a moment, then grinned and said, "Good morning."
Trunks returned her grin and replied, "Yes, it is. Do you feel better than you did last night?"
"Much," she purred. "Must be your magic touch." She stretched luxuriously and sighed, "This is so nice that I'm afraid to ask what time it is."
"Time?" Trunks yelped and bounced out of the bed. "Crap! I need to get to Grandfather and help him with the morning routine!"
"Oh, did I have to mention time?" Avia moaned to herself in the suddenly cold bed. She watched Trunks throw his clothing on for a moment before she reached out and snagged a sleeve. "Come back tonight?"
Trunks hesitated only a second before saying, "If I'm not already in so much trouble that I won't be allowed any freedom, then yes, I will definitely come back tonight." He bent down and kissed her, pulling away with reluctance. Avia smiled, and Trunks gave her another quick kiss. "Tonight," he murmured, as much to himself as her, and he ducked out of the room before he delayed further.