Humans moseyed nearby or outright avoided her, yet 18 held back her urge to kill them and instead ignored them as she browsed the racks. It was disconcerting to be surrounded by humans and not be throwing Power Blitzes left, right and centre, but this was the role she had to play now: protect the weak and pathetic until she was strong enough to deal with her own problems.

As she browsed, she thought about 16's words of letting Gero's madness continue to control her. She hated what the mad scientist had done to her against her will and for twenty years, she punished the human race for his sins. She had even lost her life as a result of Gero's insanity and despite the burning hatred 18 still harboured for the humans and her murderer, she had to wonder: has the human race been punished enough? Could she ever set her rage aside and free herself of her creator's destructive psychosis?

After all, she was only designed as a pawn in his grand scheme, meant to be part of a higher purpose in the form of Cell. It was the very reason she refused death and begged to be kept alive. Despite being forced to live with Trunks for the past two weeks, it was definitely a better existence than Hell and if 18 was being honest with herself, truly honest, Trunks was much more preferable.

Perhaps she could overcome her hatred?

Did she really want to, however? What did she have to gain from being a 'goody-goody two-shoes'?

She glanced at the half-Saiyan, who was with Pain in the children's section, going through the clothes, the young girl picking out clothes left, right and centre. Trunks, for his part, seemed to show interest in the girl's wants, helping her make her selections.

"Aren't you a good father?"

Trunks jumped in surprise at the statement and he nearly lost control on the pile of clothes. He looked at the person who spoke, a beautiful young woman with long black hair. "Uh, she's not mine," he stammered in embarrassment. "She's my friend's kid. I look after her."

"Oh, my mistake. I'm sorry," the woman apologised with a smile. "Well, you are a good friend."

"I try," the half-Saiyan said. She was quite lovely and he tried to muster up his confidence. "I'm Trunks."

"Mai. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too."

18 rolled her eyes as she worked her way towards the pair. He looked like a huge loser trying to talk to the woman, as if she was the first woman he'd ever spoken to. Clearly, he had no idea how to talk to women. 17, for all his childish antics, saw himself as a smooth talker and would often flirt with the ladies, try and make them feel special about themselves before he killed them.

She watched as he talked to the woman and he appeared to relax as the conversation continued, like he was slowly gaining confidence, all of his attention on her. Something niggled in the back of 18's mind, something she ignored at first, but it persisted and at first, it confused her. Why did she feel bothered that Trunks was engaged in conversation with a beautiful woman?

Why didn't he talk like that with her?

Oh right, she killed his friends and tormented him for twenty years. Fair enough.

But why did it matter to her?

Wait…was 18…jealous?

"Stupid Android. He doesn't like you and you hate him," 18 chastised herself. "If he wants to make a fool of himself in front of a woman, let him. Why do you care? It's not like you mean anything to each other."

Despite the hatred, despite the training and shopping being the only times they interacted with each other, in retrospective, 18 found she enjoyed those moments. After all, she did want to know it would be like to consummate their hatred for one another into utter bliss. He was strong. He'd last. It would be intoxicating to bend and break him under her subtle touches, but outside of that, she had no real interest in Trunks. She just liked to fight him and figure out ways to get under his skin.

Before she knew what she was doing, 18 made her way over to Trunks and his companion, slung an arm onto his shoulder and held up a pair of red and black lacy underwear to him. "So, honey, what do you think of these for tonight?"

Trunks went red as a beetroot, Mai looked surprised at the sudden intrusion, 18 smirked and the moment was punctuated by Pan calling out. "Ewwwwwww!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Mai said. "I didn't realise…you were…taken."

"What?" Trunks spluttered and began motioning between himself and 18. "We're not…no way…no way in Hell. We're not together!"

Keeping up the charade, 18 looked affronted. "Well, that hurts. You can forget about tonight then."

"This is not what you think," the hybrid blustered to Mai, trying to regain some sense of control of the situation.

It wasn't working.

"I apologise again," Mai said. "I guess I'll leave you be then."

She gave a small wave and walked away. Trunks watched her go and rounded on the Android, his embarrassment replaced by fury. "What. The. Hell, 18? What were you thinking?"

"You have to admit, it was quite funny," 18 smirked, struggling to hold back her laughter. "You should have seen the look on your face."

"We were having a conversation!"

"Yes, and it was embarrassing to watch. Do you have no clue on how to talk to women?"

"Well, because of a certain someone's reign of destruction, I never learnt how to!"

18 shrugged. "Alright, alright, no need to lose your temper."

Trunks growled and his hand crackled with energy, like he wanted to blast her into oblivion, but the intent was interrupted by the shop shaking from distant explosions. Forgetting about his fury towards the Android, Trunks shoved his way through the confused shoppers, raced outside to the streets and looked to the sky.

A massive spaceship hovered over South City and beings were pouring out, descending upon the city. Trunks quickly sensed their energies and he noted that they were strong, but no match for him.

"What's going on?" Pan asked, joining his side, 18 behind her with her arms crossed and a bored look.

"Earth's under attack," the half-Saiyan replied and he turned to the Android. "You gonna help?"

"Oh, must I?" she drawled. "They don't seem strong. I'm sure you can handle them on your own."

Buildings crumbled in the explosions of the invaders' energy blasts and Trunks shot up into the sky. The invaders were mostly humanoid, with a small mixture of various alien species, and he noted the energy signatures felt quite similar to Goku and Vegeta, recognising the invaders as pure-blooded Saiyans.

"Wait, how is that possible? There aren't any Saiyans left."

A Saiyan yelled as he charged and Trunks easily destroyed him with an energy wave. Nearby, Pan was making easy work of the aliens, but the Saiyans seemed to see Trunks as their priority and they converged on him. Firing a Masenko wiped out several invaders at once and more swiftly fell to his fists.

18 watched the battle and without taking her eyes off Trunks, she threw her fist back and clocked an alien in the face. She turned and fired her High-Pressure Wave straight through the alien's body. A Saiyan fired a ki blast at her, but she smacked it aside and shot forth, her fist buried in the Saiyan's gut. The Saiyan gasped as the life left his body.

Trunks blocked an incoming strike and he blasted the offender, as twin strangely-coloured energy balls spiralled out of nowhere and wiped out two invaders. The half-Saiyan smiled as Ocarin joined the fight and down on the streets below, he could see 16 herding the civilians to safety.

There was no sign of 18, however.

"Damn her," Trunks thought. "When this is over, I'm going to d-"

A thin red beam of energy stabbed at him, but he dodged the shot and looked at the person who fired it…and his jaw dropped. "Frieza?"

The blue-and-white version of Frieza's first form blinked in surprise and a smile soon came to him. "No, not Frieza. Although it pleases me to be thought of such an inspiring emperor like him; to be known across two universes! That is inspiring. No, my dear friend, I am Frost."

"Just another member of Frieza's race," Trunks said, his elbow breaking an alien's face. "You're all the same. I'm going to give you one chance to take all your friends and leave this planet."

Frost smirked. "Please. While this planet will make a fine addition to my collection, I didn't come here for it: I came here for you. Well, I came for Broly, but he's not here, so you'll do."

"What the hell do you want Broly for?"

"Enough talk!"

Frost shot forth and Trunks easily caught his fist. "Last chance, Frost. Leave now, because there is a weakness your race has: it's me."

He tossed Frost away and fired the Double Buster, which would have greatly harmed the Arcosian if not for the two Saiyans that took the blasts for him, ending their lives. Frost realised that he was out of his depths and he needed the advantage; with a shout, he transformed straight into his final form. This time, he landed a strike on Trunks and sent him flying with his kick. He noticed Pan holding her own and with a smirk, he fired a Chaos Beam at her. She didn't notice the beam until too late and yelped as it connected.

"Pan!" Trunks shouted and with a fierce glare at Frost, he powered up to Super Saiyan. Whoever this Frost was, he was stronger than Frieza.

"Hm, well, that's interesting," Frost muttered and he fired multiple Chaos Beams.

Trunks flew through the barrage without harm and compressed Frost's face with his fist. A Saiyan prepared an energy blast at Trunks' back, but a sudden kick broke his neck and his body tumbled towards the ground, as 18 unleashed her Infinity Bullet, ripping through the alien forces.

Frost was in trouble and he knew it. He needed to capture Trunks alive and while he was keeping up with the hybrid, even getting in some good shots, he had a feeling that Trunks was holding back his power and if unleashed, Frost would be too outmatched. Luckily, he had a back-up plan, something he had prepared for Broly, and when Trunks threw a punch, Frost dodged the blow, drove his fist into Trunks' chest and the half-Saiyan felt a tiny stabbing sensation.

He felt dizzy and his stomach roiled. Trunks shook his head and Frost's fist crashed into his jaw, a second blow landing against his ribs. Again, Trunks felt the stab and he groaned, sickness washing over him. Toxins swam through his bloodstream and with a shout; he tried to summon his aura, trying to power up to combat the poison. Frost hit him again and Trunks dropped into his base form, his eyes growing heavy as he faltered in the sky.

"Take him," Frost ordered and two aliens caught the unconscious Trunks, hauling him to the ship, as the Arcosian watched the Namekian in battle. With a decisive smirk, Frost flew at Ocarin, but the green warrior detected him and hurled a ki blast that the Arcosian barely avoided.

"Whoever you are, take what's left of your forces and leave," Ocarin demanded.

"True, I have already claimed what I came for," Frost said, motioning towards Trunks. "But I could always use another fighter. You look like you'll last, unlike your brethren."

Ocarin growled and his arm extended, grabbing Frost by the face. The Arcosian's eyes widened in surprise at the Namekian's strength and he punched Ocarin's arm. With a frown, Ocarin let Frost go and retracted his arm, his head swimming and his vision doubled. He tried to clear his head, but Frost took advantage and struck him again and it didn't take long for Ocarin to fall into unconsciousness like Trunks. Two aliens caught the Namekian and lugged him to the ship.

There was a shout and Frost frowned as Pan transformed into a Super Saiyan. She was quite powerful for such a young child and he did consider taking her as well. With the way she blitzed her opponents around her and was now taking her anger out on him, her fists pummelling his chest, Frost thought about seizing her. But in the end, he had already taken who he came here for and one extra and he'd dallied for too long already.

It would not do to keep his employer waiting any longer.

Pan floated back and Frost smirked at her amazing strength. She prepared the Kamehameha and Frost burst forth and struck her with his poison. With her small body, it didn't take long for the toxin to force Pan into unconsciousness and she plummeted to the ground.

"So, a little needle in your arm?" Frost turned around to face 18, as she crossed her arms. "I guess you need some kind of advantage, since you are quite pitiful. You even had to use it on a kid."

Frost shrugged. "I do what needs to be done to ensure my survival, even if that means such underhanded tactics. You have to admit, it is quite effective."

18 glanced at the ground and saw 16 by Pan's unconscious body and she gazed back at Frost. "What do you intend to do with Trunks?"

"My original target was Broly, but he seems to have disappeared, again, so I will take your friend instead. He will make a fine competitor for my employer. I'm sure you would too. After all," Frost said with a look at his demolished forces, "you killed half of my men without breaking a sweat."

"Sorry, not interested. So, you're taking Trunks off this planet, I presume?"

"Between universes!"

"Between universes?"

"Yes. You think you live in the only universe in existence?" Frost stated. "There are multiple universes and since my universe is a twin of yours, I can easily cross between them."

18 rolled her tongue across her teeth. The idea of leaving Trunks to his fate in another universe sounded quite appealing, especially if that meant she got to remain on Earth. However, if there was anything she'd learnt about him, it was this: he was damn resilient and there was a high chance he would find his way back to Earth. Frost seemed strong, but nothing compared to Trunks.

How strong could the lizard's employer be?

"Tell you what, why don't I present you my counter-offer?" 18 suggested with a smirk.

-X-

Trunks groaned, his body feeling like it was made of lead as he came to and he tried to move, but something held him back. Forcing himself awake, Trunks saw that he was contained within a small caged room, his arms and legs chained to the wall. He yanked on the chains, but they did not yield and he noted that they were made of an alien metal. Whatever it was, it was strong and he immediately tried to summon his power, but again, found himself lacking.

"What is going on? Where am I? What's happened?"

"Oh, you're awake," came a familiar voice and Trunks froze.

"18?"

She stood outside his cage, hands on her hips and a wide grin on her face. "I can't wait to see what this Frost guy has in store for you. I hope it's painful."

"What did you do, 18?" Trunks demanded. His body was still slow from the toxin and his muddled mind was filling with rage at 18's betrayal.

She laughed shortly. "I made a deal with Frost. I need to see you destroyed, which Frost assures me will happen, he gets the Dragonballs and in return, I get a safe passage home and I get my life back. Neat, huh?"

"Damn it, 18! When I get out of here, I'm going to destroy you for good this time," Trunks raged.

18 smirked. "We'll see, big boy."

A/N: Not real sure how I feel about this chapter. I feel like it's in character for 18, but I think it could derail the relationship too much. Not sure. I know what I intend to do, but still, it feels a little off to me. What do you think?