Chapter 3 - How It Should Be
After a couple of hours of pretty fun gaming, Pan told Trunks to look and see what he wanted for dinner while she checked if Bulma was having any luck.
She entered the lab to see a very stressed out Bulma.
"Bulma?, You okay?"
"Oh hi Pan, I'm just….Oh I don't know what I'm doing, I have no idea how this happened, Or what Im gonna do to fix it or if it even can be fixed or.." She rambled.
"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, Just calm down, Deep breaths, You can do this, Okay, You can get him back to normal, And soon, Cause if you don't, I'm gonna straggle your first born for asking me so many god damn questions, Kay". She said in a malicious tone.
"Yeah Okay, I'll keep trying".
"Good girl". She mocked
"I'm sorry to put you threw so much trouble Pan". Bulma apologised.
Pan could tell she was really beating herself up about this and wanted to alleviate some of her guilt.
"Ah, He's not so bad once you get used to him".
"He can be a little sweetheart". Bulma smiled, Remembering the way he was at that age.
"Sweetheart?, I dunno, but I guess he's a pretty cool kid". She admitted before heading back upstairs.
Upstairs Trunks was sitting at the table, Head in his hand, Looking bored again.
"Thought I told you to pick something for dinner". Pan said.
"Yeah, I dunno, You pick"
"Why Trunks Briefs how gentlemanly of you". She joked with him like she always would on the rare occasion that he would let her pick what they ate.
A small blush came across Trunks face "Shut up". He said quietly.
"Dude, What, I was just joking".
"I know". He said shyly.
"Okay". Pan said confused "Eh pizza?"
"Yeah sure".
As they sat eating their pizza, Pan was still curious about why Trunks had gotten all embarrassed before.
She had never seen him like that,
Ever,
Such an anomaly had to be researched.
"Trunks, Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure".
"How do you feel about girls?"
"What?"
"I mean you said you'd never sparred with a girl before, And you seemed to think I was weak because I'm a girl, So I was just wondering if you liked girls, Or hung out with them, Or if they like you".
"Oh plenty of girls like me". He stated smugly.
Pan rolled her eyes "Figured as much".
"Just not the ones I want to like me".
"Uh oh, been there my friend". Pan related.
"I mean a bunch of em hang around me, But the ones I wanna hang around with don't even notice me".
"Aw dude I'm sorry".
"Yeah and when they do actually talk to me, I act like a fricken idiot".
"How?"
"I say the most stupid things, And half of em I don't even mean, Its not fair, I mean I'm fine around the ones I don't like, But when I really like one I can never..".
"What?"
"No, Never mind, It doesn't matter".
"You sure?" Pan asked concerned for the fragile boy who was opening up to her, She couldn't believe he somehow became the Trunks she knew.
"Yeah, I mean clearly I get over it right, If I've had so many girlfriends". He smiled, Seeing some hope for himself.
"Eh, yeah". Pan smiled uneasily.
She wouldn't really describe what Trunks had as girlfriends, More like a sea of willing participants who were seen once, Then never again.
"Wait". She found herself realising "So if your uncomfortable around girls that you like".
"I'm not uncomfortable…"
"If your uncomfortable around girls you like, that means you've never kissed one" She stated smugly.
"Pfft yeah I have, I've kissed tons".
"Well Well Trunks Briefs I always thought you were a little heart breaker, Even at age eight, But you haven't kissed one girl".
"Tons". He countered.
"Not one". She said slow and smug.
"Yeah, Not one". He confessed, She seemed to be able to read him like a book, "Whats up with that?"
"Ah don't worry about it, Your day will come, And apparently it'll go so well you'll never stop kissing em after that" She joked.
He smiled warmly at her before he continued scarfing at his pizza.
Pan gave him a look of disgust.
"Oh God, You really never tire of being a pig do you?"
"Nope". Followed by the exact same obnoxious wink.
"Oh Wow". Pan giggled.
"What?" He asked confused.
"Nothing, Come on, Its late, We need to get you to bed". She said ruffling his hair.
"Hay, Quit it". He said slightly irritated "And I don't wanna go to bed, I'm not even tired".
"Trunks Briefs, Your going to your bed right now whether you like it or not". She said sternly, Pointing the way to his bedroom.
"Pfft this sucks, Bet you wouldn't talk like that to older me". He mumbled while starting to head in the direction she was pointing.
"Damn right I wouldn't, Cause he'd go". She mused.
"Holy crap!, My room is awesome" Trunks exclaimed entering his future selfs room which was filled with lots of random gadgets and toys scattered all over the floor, Several swords mounted on the walls, As well as a huge TV, Surrounded by many DVDs and consoles.
"Yeah, Okay, Come on, Bed". Pan urged.
"Yeah, Yeah, Okay". Trunks whined while climbing into the huge bed.
"Here". Pan said throwing him one of Trunks shirts from his drawer "I doubt you mom kept any of your PJs, So thats cool right?"
"I guess". He said while quickly slipping into it.
"Kay looks like your all set". Pan said standing at the door, Seeing he had gotten under the covers.
She placed her hand on the switch, Ready to turn the lights off and leave "Night".
"Wait!" He exclaimed before she had a chance to flick the switch.
"What?" She asked confused.
"Its nothing never mind". He said sinking back into the covers embarrassed.
She could tell what was wrong from the expression on his face.
"Trunks, Are you afraid of the dark?" She smiled.
"NO!" He snapped "I'm just not used to this room, Is all".
"Dude, Its your room". She sniggered.
"Well I'm not used to it, I don't know if I can sleep in it". He huffed.
She sighed heavily.
"Alright, How about I stay with you for a little while till you get comfy, Better?"
"I guess".
Pan was sitting next to him, Trying to read her book again, But she found herself unable to concentrate as she could feel two eyes burning into her.
"Oh my God, What?" She asked closing her book and giving him her attention.
"Do you hate me?"
"What?
"Older me, Do you hate him?"
"Why are you asking me that?"
"Well whenever you talk about him your always complaining or insulting him, I just figured you must hate him"
"Thats stupid, I don't hate Trunks, Its just grown up relationships are different and have more layers than your playground, Friends and non friends scenarios".
"So you don't hate him?"
"No, I don't hate him".
"So do you like him?"
"Emm, He's okay, He makes laugh when he's not being obnoxious".
"So you do like him?"
"Kinda, I guess". She shrugged.
"Okay, Good to know". He smiled while settling back down into the bed.
Pan eyed the arrogant look on his face.
"Hay, Hay Mr, Whats that?" She questioned.
"What?"
"That look, Like I just told you something you can use against me".
"Oh its nothing, I swear" He smirked before rolling away from her.
He was becoming more and more like old Trunks by the second.