I lay across Trunks' lap, watching idly as Vegeta angrily paced, his temper growing as more time passed. It hadn't been that long since Piccolo went into the time chamber and already Vegeta's patience was at it's limit. I felt Trunks' hand card through my hair, twirling the strands around his finger before releasing them and starting back at my scalp once more.
"Father, you said we needed to talk," Trunks said. Vegeta spun around, looking at the two of us casually lounging together. He nodded and moved forward, sitting on the steps, his back against on of the supporting pillars.
"What do you know about Saya-jin mates, boy?" he asked.
"Well, nothing," Trunks said. Vegeta slapped his hand over his forehead and groaned.
"Of all the-..." he grumbled.
"And who was to tell him?" I asked. "Gohan and Bulma certainly didn't know anything on the subject and any hopes of accessing any kind of database on the subject were long lost when the androids began destroying everything they could get their hands on." Vegeta glared at me for a moment then nodded.
"Fine, you have a point, I guess," he conceded. "Tell me about your bond."
"What do you want to know?" I asked.
"Everything," Vegeta said.
"It started when we were kids," Trunks began. "We always had this strange feeling about one another. For me it was more intense. I saw her and had this overwhelming feeling that she had to stay with me, so I brought her back home."
"For me it was less so," I said. "I was just comfortable around him. Like he had always been there. As we got older, our bond grew. At first it was small things, a need to touch or be close."
"Then I stopped being able to sleep unless she was near me," Trunks said. "She had her own room but I would wake up in her bed or her in mine with no memory of moving. Mom caught me once carrying her back to my room in my sleep. When she asked me what I was doing, I told her that we had to be together."
"Then came reading each others thoughts," I chimed in. "It's not anything like esp, it's more like I can feel his emotions and I see flashes of images, but he has to convey them to me."
"We do know when the other is in danger, though," Trunks said.
"If we're apart for long periods of time..." I paused and blushed, remembering the scene at the Briefs house. Trying to explain it without it sounding sexual would be difficult. Vegeta arched a brow at us.
"In the room at Mom's house..." Trunks began, his cheeks flushing. "And before, when one of the androids took her...it's like..."
"It's worse for him," I said. " I feel it too, but for him it's stronger."
"What is?" Vegeta asked.
"This need to be as close to her as I can," Trunks said. "Like, the fact that we're separate people becomes a hindrance. I can't get enough. I practically maul her trying to calm these feelings. It's like this beast inside me that's dying to break free and..."
"And?" Vegeta prompted.
"I don't know," Trunks sighed.
"Yes you do," I said in a low voice. Trunks' head whipped in my direction and his gaze became pained.
"You knew?" he asked.
"I've known since the first time it happened," I said. "He wants to possess me completely, but he can't figure out how."
"How you two have refrained from fucking each others brains out is a mystery to me," Vegeta sneered.
"Then you know what this is?" I asked. The prince sighed and nodded.
"Saya-jins pick their mates based solely on instinct," he said. "The reasons we want a particular mate vary from person to person, but usually it's someone who care bare us strong children, fight well, typical things.
This attraction can come about at any age. I suspect that at a young age, the boy found himself attracted to you and formed a partial bond. A full bond requires intercourse and marking the neck. A partial bond usually involves marking another part of the body with the intent of claiming. If this was done as children, you obviously wouldn't be able to fully complete the bond, hence the bond you have now.
You're fooling yourselves, though, if you think you can remain like this."
"But we don't even have sexual feelings towards each other," I said.
"Doesn't matter," Vegeta replied with a shrug. "The bond will only grow, demanding you complete it."
"Is there any way to break it?" I questioned.
"The boy could bond with another or another Saya-jin could bond with you," Vegeta answered.
"Awesome," I muttered.
"It'll only get worse once he goes into heat," Vegeta said, then stood and walked away.
"Maybe you shouldn't come into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber with me," Trunks said.
"You're kidding, right?" I said.
"So we should risk it?" Trunks snapped.
"As opposed to risking you going another year without me?" I returned. "It's not happening. I'm coming with you." Trunks growled and lifted me clear off my feet, pinning me to a near by pillar.
"No!" he barked. I saw out of the corner of my eye Mr. Popo move towards us, confused and concerned about the sudden anger and Ki spike from Trunks. I tilted my head back to look him in the eye, my jaw set.
"You can't stop me," I hissed. Trunks gripped my shoulders tightly, his teeth gritted in frustration.
"If I hurt you..." he hissed.
"And so you should suffer instead?" I shot back. "You can't take another year without me."
"I'll have to," he said.
"No, you don't," I sneered, shrugging his hands off my shoulders and winding my arms around his neck. I pressed my body against his, the armor biting painfully into my skin. He sighed my name, almost using it as a plea, one I ignored.
"And if you do survive, what then?" I asked. "When you come back, will you be able to control yourself? Or will you tear me apart trying to sate that feeling of incompleteness?" He stared at me, his expression torn.
"I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't," he groaned. "At least if it's out here someone can save you."
"And who will save you?" I asked. "No. I'm going in with you. If I'm put at your mercy then so be it. I'd rather it be in there, then out here after a year apart."
"Please..."
"No! I've made my decision."
Trunks growled and pulled away from me, slamming his fist into the ground. I only stared at him. We both turned as the door to the chamber opened and Piccolo came out. Vegeta quickly took his place after a few snide comments that made me roll my eyes. The Namekian eyed us with mild curiosity.
"Did I miss something?" he asked.
"No," I said. "Trunks is just being stubborn."
"Hmph, takes after his father," Piccolo said. Trunks glared at me, but I only stared back at him.