Author's Note: Wooh! Next drabble. I'm really enjoying writing these, and I can't wait to read what you guys think! So please don't be shy to send me a review or anything of the sort. (:
Oh, I wanted to make a note of something. It's not uncommon for ideas to be interpreted and used by different users. I know I'm not the only person to write drabbles based off of pictures, specifically these pictures. I've seen a few on Tumblr, and it's been brought to my attention that there's one here. Piccolo is green is the author of a story titled '365 Days with You' which is her take on the pictures. I highly advised anyone who enjoys the pictures and different takes on them to go check it out, because it's great so far! Just pleased be advised that despite the fact that they're both using inspiration from these pictures that they are not the same story and have different ideas and different takes regarding the pictures Piccolo is green has (and will) use and the pictures I use. :3
Website: ay-vb . sakura . ne . jp/_top . html
1. Erase the spaces between the words and the periods. Obviously. xD.
2. The website is in Japanese, but that's okay. At the top there is a list of words in English. Click on GALLERY.
3. Left hand panel is a bunch of words, in Japanese. But the numbers 365 are obviously numerical so you can read them. Click it.
4. There's now a drop hand box thingy to the left, and again the numbers are numerical so don't worry about not being able to read the title of the picture. Just follow along with the numbers. Click number TWO for this drabble!
Disclaimer: DBZ doesn't belong to me, but to Akira Toriyama. I'm playing with them for a while with no profit. These pictures that I am using as inspiration are also not mine. The site is in Japanese but I'm sure the name is on there somewhere. xD. But the pictures belong to him/her/them.
Like Clockwork (365 Days)
Day 002: Red Handed Pride
Bulma slammed the phone down onto the receiver, clearly annoyed. She set her head in her hands and tried to rub the headache away from her temples, but to no avail. This has been the fourth call in two weeks from the principal at her son's school, and the heiress just didn't know what to do. Trunks was her first child, and he was half alien at that. So she wasn't sure if this sudden act of aggression and rebellion was normal because he was a Saiyan, or if there was something else going on that she should be concerned about. Sighing, she let her hands fall into her lap, biting on her bottom lip in thought. A few minutes went by and Bulma realized she was now too distracted to work, so she got up from her work table and left her lab completely, seeking out the father of her now ten-year-old son.
She looked in the obvious place; the gravity room. But she actually found it was empty, and with some slight surprise, she went looking through the rest of the house. The next obvious choice was the kitchen, but Vegeta wasn't in there either. Bulma crossed her arms and stood in the kitchen by herself for a moment, thinking. And once again she found herself cursing her parents for how big this house was. With another dejected sigh, Bulma checked the next place she thought he could be; their bedroom. To her increasing frustration, he wasn't there either. With an annoyed scowl she threw open the balcony doors and stepped outside to breathe in some fresh air. She contemplated on smoking, but she knew Vegeta would yell her at for making their room and herself smell like 'that horrid toxin' to Vegeta's sensitive nose. He also wouldn't touch her when she smoked, and that was never any fun.
Something black caught the corner of her eye and she looked towards the pool, astounded to see something sitting absolutely still beneath the crystal clear surface. Vegeta was sitting at the bottom of the deep end, not moving, and only recognizable by the striking contrast of his black hair against the clear color of the water. Bulma watched him for a moment, wondering when he's surface. Quite a few minutes went by and he still hadn't surfaced. Curiosity sparked, Bulma quickly retreated into her bedroom to put her bathing suit on. Now wearing a red two-piece, Bulma grabbed a towel and quickly headed downstairs and out to the pool. Vegeta was still under water and Bulma was impressed. She knew he needed oxygen, but their lung capacity was different from humans. They could go much longer without air than humans could. Setting her towel down on one of the lunge chairs, Bulma eased herself into the water.
Vegeta, of course, had noticed the woman from the balcony, and even when she entered the pool. His eyes were open and he watched as she stepped in from the shallow end, the water stopping at her waist. Not that the prince didn't mind watching Bulma's legs, but he wondered why she had sought him out this time, and let himself slowly drift towards the surface of the water. Their eyes connected once Vegeta had broken the surface of the water, and he propelled himself towards her, standing up once he reached the shallow end.
"How long can you hold your breath?" she asked, a small smirk playing at her lips. She bent down into the water, letting it come to her clavicle now. Vegeta watched it moving across her skin in fascination for a moment, before sinking down as well, closer to her now.
"I think fifteen minutes was my best when I was on Namek. Why?" he asked her, crossing his arms. The blue haired woman shook her head and floated towards her husband.
"It's just amazing what two extra pair of chromosomes can do the body. Anyways, I wanted to talk to you about Trunks," she told him. Vegeta narrowed his eyes for a moment, looking away from his mate. The brat had been more than unruly as of lately, and it was starting to get on Vegeta's nerves. He knew it was only a matter of time before the woman came to him. "Is there something I'm missing, Vegeta?" she asked him, his attention returning to her. "Is this a Saiyan thing that I'm not getting? I mean, I know kids have a rebellious age, but it's usually not until their teens. Trunks is only ten," she explained.
"I can't really say. At ten I was already on Frieza's ship," he told her, his eyes darkening at the memory. Bulma was silent for a moment before reaching out and placing her hand over Vegeta's heart. He allowed it for a second in silence before taking her hand in his own and pulling it away from his chest.
"I just don't know what to do with him," she told him, changing the subject from Vegeta's past. He scoffed and looked away from her again.
"We could just kill him," Vegeta offered, ignoring the glare she sent his way.
"You think I haven't thought of that already? They'd arrest me. Now, seriously Vegeta, what on Earth are we going to do about him?" she asked. Vegeta grunted and let himself float aimlessly for a moment.
"Where is the boy now?" Vegeta asked, realizing that he wasn't within their home with a quick search of his ki.
"On his way home from school. He should be here any minute," she told him, sitting on the steps of the shallow end. Vegeta swam towards her, eyeing her like she was prey and placing his hands on either side of her, only a thing layer of water separating their bodies.
"You are requesting that I speak with him," he stated, though Bulma could hear the question in it. Vegeta had long since gotten over the fact that he didn't know how to be a father, and Bulma found that aside from the more detailed job of being a parent, Vegeta actually took very good care of their son. But he still needed help with the little things, such as this.
"That would be the fatherly thing to do, because I can't get him to talk to me. So maybe it's a boy thing," Bulma suggested, watching as Vegeta considered this. He let out a huff of air and pressed his lips to the hollow of Bulma's throat.
"Fine," he murmured against her skin, pulling away from her and climbing out of the pool.
Ten-year-old Trunks slammed the door to his house shut, gripping the bag on his shoulder with a fierce scowl. Nobody was in the living room area, which he was glad for. He really didn't want to deal with anybody right now. He was so angry that he could scream, and to make matters worse he knew he was going to be in trouble as soon as he ran into one of his parents. Stomping up the stairs, Trunks was visibly seething all the way to his room. Literally throwing his bag across the room he kicked his shoes off, sending them flying as well. Standing in his room Trunks tried to regain his breathing, knowing he really should calm down. Bad things happened when he got this upset, and he felt like he didn't have an outlet, which only made the young prince even more frustrated because he didn't know what to do with all this anger.
"Might as well eat," he muttered to himself, leaving his room and stomping back down the stairs. His mother was in the kitchen and the smell of chlorine hit Trunks' nose, telling him that she had just gotten out of the pool. Over her bathing suit she was now wearing a thin white knit dress, eyeing her son through her bangs that were still slightly damp. The woman took in her son's appearance and sighed, opening up the fridge.
"Can I get you something to eat?" she asked him. Trunks stared at her for a moment before opening up the cabinet and rummaging around inside.
"I can get it myself," he said hotly. Bulma frowned and shut the fridge, taking a seat at the table. Trunks grabbed what food he wanted from the cabinet and fridge and started to leave the kitchen, earning another frown from his mother.
"Trunks, you're supposed to eat in the kitchen," she told him, crossing her arms. Trunks stopped where he was and seemed to be brooding for a second before returning to the table with a scowl. He pulled his hat down over his eyes and began to eat, avoiding his mother's gaze and hoping that she left him alone. "Your principal called today," Bulma said quietly, gauging the reacting from Trunks. He only stopped eating for a second before shoveling more food into his mouth. "Do you want to tell me what happened or am I going to have to pry it out of you?" she asked. Trunks scoffed.
"As if you could," he muttered under his breath. Bulma narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms.
"Look, you're obviously going through something, and I get that. But that doesn't mean you get to talk to me like that and get in a lot of trouble," she scolded. Trunks rolled his eyes beneath the brim of his hat and finished eating, throwing his trash away.
"Whatever. Can I go now?" he asked. Bulma stood up and shook her head, growing tired of the boy's anger.
"No, no you can't. Tell me what happened," she told him, waiting for an explanation that didn't come. "Come on Trunks, tell me."
"No," he told her, his voice low.
"Trunks Vegeta Briefs, knock off the attitude! Tell me what happened today," she demanded, her voice rising a little, Trunks biting his lip to keep from screaming. He was just so angry and he just wanted to be left alone. "Trunks…" Bulma warned, placing a hand on her hip.
"No," Trunks repeated, heading into the living room. Bulma's patience was growing thin as she followed her son into the living room. Trunks was shaking now and he could feel his power at the tip of his fingers, and he squeezed his eyes shut, his back turned towards his mother.
"Don't make me tell you again, or you're going to be in a lot more trouble than you're already in," Bulma explained, hoping Trunks would just tell her. She really wasn't trying to make this more difficult for him, but she needed to know what was going on. "Trunks!"
"I said no!" Trunks screamed out, turning to face his mother. Before he could stop himself and before she realized what he was doing, his eyes turned white and he tossed his hand out, an energy blast heading straight for her. She didn't even have time to scream before something heavy knocked her to the ground, the blast hitting the wall behind her and blowing half of it away. She screamed then, dust and debris falling next to her. She noticed Vegeta was now on top of her, shielding her as he sat up and pushed the debris off of himself. It was dead quiet in the room and she could feel heat and anger radiating off of Vegeta, and she was so stunned she could hardly move. She was confused and having a hard time believing that her son just shot an energy blast at her. The dust cleared and Bulma sat up, aware that Vegeta hadn't move and was glaring at the now destroyed wall. Bulma's eyes were wide and on her son, who was also wide eyed and shaking.
"Trunks…" she breathed out, swallowing hard. Vegeta very slowly released the tension in his body and turned to face his son, a murderous look on his face. His lips were pulled back over his teeth and the noise that was coming from deep within his chest was a mix between a hiss and a growl. Anger was still radiating off of both Vegeta and Trunks as his father stood and stalked towards the boy, who took a step back and looked nervous.
"Dad, I didn't-" he started, only to be cut off by another growl being thrown at him. He was lifted off the ground by the back of his sweatshirt as Vegeta hauled him up the stairs and into his bedroom, Trunks fighting hard against his father's grip, getting angry again. He didn't understand why he couldn't just stop being angry, but he could feel his power rising again. His bathroom door was slammed open, and a screaming Trunk was dropped into the bathtub. Yelling out, Vegeta reached into the bathtub and turned on the water as high as it would go, and as cold as it would go. The water hit Trunks and he screamed out, taking in deep breaths as the water that pelted his skin started to steam. Vegeta ripped the hat off of his head and threw it into the boy's chest.
"You stay down there and you cool off," Vegeta warned, anger still pulsing through him. He squatted next to the tub and held Trunks still, who was still breathing pretty hard and yelling. After a few moments, the child stopped and stared at his father through soaking wet bangs. The two males stared at each other long and hard for a moment before Trunks looked away, playing with the strands on his sweatshirt. "You will never do that again."
"No, I won't," Trunks said sullenly, the anger still there but at a manageable level now.
"Look at me," Vegeta commanded, waiting until the younger prince was looking directly into his eyes. "You're too young to understand, but the next time you attempt to strike or harm your mother in any way I will put you in the hospital, do you understand me?" Vegeta asked, hoping that his son was taking him very seriously. Trunks stared at him for a minute before swallowing.
"That's pretty bad," he said quietly. Vegeta narrowed his eyes.
"The only thing keeping you from death is the fact that you are my son," Vegeta said angrily. "Do you understand what you just did?" he asked his son then, trying to figure out the thought behind the act. Trunks nodded. "Do you understand that if I had been a fraction of a second later than I was, you wouldn't have a mother right now?" he asked very quietly. Trunks squeezed his eyes shut and brought his knees up to his chest.
"I didn't mean to," he whispered, wrapping his arms around himself. The anger was dissipating, leaving a dull feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"I've been training since you were old enough to stand and one of the first things I taught you was control," Vegeta countered, watching his son intently.
"It wasn't that kind of control. I don't know what happened, dad. I'm just…I've been so angry," he explained, a burning sensation starting at the back of his throat and behind his eyes. He concentrated, determined not to cry in front of his father. "Do you promise you won't laugh at me? Or tell mom?" he asked Vegeta, staring at him with wide eyes. Vegeta thought about it and stood, suddenly pulling Trunks from the tub and yanking his sweatshirt over his head. Trunks followed suit and undressed out of his now soaking wet clothes, shaking a little from the cold. Vegeta rubbed a towel vigorously over Trunks' hair, and then handed the boy the towel so he could dry off properly. Heading back into the boy's room, he pulled out a nightshirt and shorts from his drawer and tossed them to his son as well. "Dad…mom said I have to wear underwear."
Rolling his eyes, Vegeta opened up the top drawer and threw a pair of clean underwear at Trunks. "I will not laugh, and I will not tell your mother. After you've told me, you will go help clean up the mess you made and then you will apologize to your mother."
"Of course," Trunks complied, now changed in fresh clothes and hopping onto the bed.
A few hours later and Bulma was clean and ready for bed, sighing a little as she pulled a brush through her hair, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Vegeta had told her not to worry about the mess, and that Trunks would clean it. Which Bulma agreed to, since he's the one who did it in the first place. She wouldn't deny that she was a little shaken up over what happened. Apparently she had come pretty close to dying today, and by her own son at that. Vegeta pulled on a pair of sweat pants and stepped up behind Bulma, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her back flush against his front.
Vegeta had calmed down a lot since the Buu incident, and he had found peace within himself, which is what Bulma had striven for him to have ever since he arrived at Capsule Corp. He was more open to her and to having a family, and he let her in a good deal now more than he ever had before. But he was still Vegeta, and so he wouldn't voice the anger and terror he felt at nearly losing her today. Instead, it was just something she figured out through the way he touched her. His free hand bringing her wrist up to his mouth, where he kissed her pulse and then the juncture where her neck met her shoulder.
"Bed time," she said quietly after a few moments of comfortable silence. Vegeta grunted and released her, leaving the bathroom and promptly climbing into bed. Bulma smiled a little and crawled in after him, not noticing the door to their room opening. Vegeta watched as their son climbed into bed with them, holding something behind his back and pressing a hand to his mother's shoulder. Bulma looked at him and smiled, sitting up fully against the headboard. The three sat in silence for a moment before Trunks produced a pretty daisy from behind his back, holding it up for his mother to take. Bulma smiled and took the flower, twirling in her fingers and looking at Trunks, who was now blushing and profusely avoiding his father's gaze. "Well now, this is thoughtful."
"I'm really sorry mama," Trunks said quietly, suddenly becoming very serious. Bulma listened quietly as Trunks took in a deep breath. "I figured out that I need to train a little more. I think me being a super Saiyan so young is…problematic," Trunks said, peeking at his father out of the corner of his eye. "But that's not an excuse for what happened, and I'm really sorry. I never, ever, ever meant to do that or to hurt you," he said honestly, looking at his mother again who was smiling.
"I know you didn't sweetheart," she told him, pulling Trunks into her lap, who obliged. "You sound so grown up," she commented on the way her son spoke. He blushed and hid his face in the crook of her neck.
"I'm too smart to talk like a child," he explained, full of pride even if he was embarrassed. "I promise I won't ever do that again, mom. And I'm sorry…again," he told her. Bulma smiled and laughed a little, placing the daisy on her bedside table.
"I believe you. And it's okay, really. I'm alright," she confirmed, pulling Trunks back a little so he could look at her. He nodded, and then turned to his father. Vegeta watched the exchange between mother and son, and decided that his apology was sincere and efficient enough. He nodded and Trunks smiled, glad that everything was over now.
"Okay, well, I guess I'll go to bed now," Trunks said, not really wanting to leave the comfort of his parents bed. He knew he was too old to sleep with them, but he missed it nonetheless. Of course he wouldn't say anything, he had far too much pride for that. Vegeta watched his son move slowly from the bed and he rolled his eyes.
"Boy, get back here," he said sternly, causing Trunks to stiffen up and look at him. Bulma smiled and lay down, turning off her lamp. Trunks stared at his father a moment longer before Vegeta glared at the boy. "Now."
Trunks moved quickly in between his two parents, Bulma covering him up with the blankets. Bulma wrapped an arm around her son's waist and shook her head a little. Vegeta would regret it in the morning since Trunks was a kicker, but he nonetheless shut off his lamp and adjusted himself until he was comfortable, his own arm falling on top of his wife's.