A/N: I think the reason why I say there is no power scaling with Super is because I can't work it out. Once god ki got thrown in, it's confusing. For example, I can't work out how strong base Goku is or how strong his Super Saiyan 3 form is, because doesn't he have inactive god ki in that form, but it still makes him stronger? I'm kinda confused. But I do agree with the bad writing. Some things don't make sense, especially Frieza's Golden form. To begin with, last I remember, after a year of death, you couldn't be revived, yet he comes back after 14 years. Okaaay. Anyhow, new chapter. Warning: lemon within this chapter. I hope I've done this right.
Raindrops streaked the window planes, the ever-present gloom lingering over Capsule Corporation. Lazuli watched the rain pattern the glass, lost in her thoughts, the weight of her actions heavy on her mind. Two days had gone by and she had barely spoken to anyone in that time, not after learning of what happened: once again, she was responsible for the deaths of innocents, including 16, dead by her hand. Not to mention the loss of her brother once more, knowing that he'd sacrificed himself to save her. Once again, 17 had died, this time for her and Lazuli didn't know how to cope with that. She had missed her brother fiercely and would've given anything to see him again, but not like that. And it was like the fates were being cruel to her by giving 17 back again, only to snatch him away just as quick. It was overwhelming devastating to Lazuli and she was struggling to cope with the feeling.
Trunks watched her from across the room. She had not moved from her position ever since she learnt of what happened and he didn't know how to best approach her. Her duplicate was down in the laboratory, kept in stasis as Bulma went over the technology involved in putting the copy together. 16's body was there as well and she hoped that she could somehow restore him.
His heart yearned for her, but with Lazuli in such a state of despair, he had to give her time to process everything before he could – what? Ask her out? What exactly did he want with her? Trunks could acknowledge that he actually had deeper feelings for the Android than he originally imagined, but he had no idea how to act upon them and even if Lazuli wasn't upset with herself right now, how would she respond to him if he approached her? Would she reject him like he did to her? What would that mean for their 'relationship' then if it happened?
Before Trunks could even make a decision on what to do, Pan stepped into the room, looking at the Android with a mixture of hesitation and apprehension, but the child of Gohan steeled herself (Trunks was constantly amazed at her strength for such a young age) and approached Lazuli.
"Hi," the young girl opened plainly.
"Pan," Lazuli acknowledged. "How are you?"
The child shrugged. "I'm fine."
The Android watched her carefully. The child's body language was closed off and uninviting, yet the hurt was plain in her dark eyes and Lazuli knew why she was here. "You want to talk about your father?"
Pan looked at her with tears in her eyes, a lump in her throat and her voice croaked, "Why?"
"It was a game to me and my brother. We didn't care who we killed, we did it because it was fun. Because we were evil and didn't know any better, venting our hatred upon the human race," Lazuli explained honestly, sorrow in her eyes. "Your father tried to stop us multiple times and always failed. In the end, we got bored of him and…we killed him. On a day just like this."
"But why? Why? WHY?" the child screamed, her grief getting the better of her and her eyes flashed green in response to her fluctuating emotions.
Each 'why' was like a dagger to Lazuli's heart and it made her realise just how much hurt and suffering she had inflicted on everyone over the years, including the little girl before her. The guilt and sorrow bore down upon the Android's shoulders; she knew this day would come and now she had to truly face the consequences of her actions.
"If it means anything to you," Lazuli said gently. "I am deeply sorry for what I've done to you. I won't ask for your forgiveness, because I know I don't deserve it. In fact, I'll do my best to make sure that you won't have to see me again."
Pan sniffled, tears streaking her cheeks and the sight tore at Lazuli's soul. Expecting the lack of response, she simply gave the child a small nod, a final farewell and rose from her position. The rain poured harder, but Lazuli wasn't bothered as she left the building and walked away, determined to hold true to her promise. The fact that she had walked away from the building so much recently would have been amusing to her if her mind wasn't so heavy.
Besides, it wasn't like there was anything (or anyone) to make her want to stay there.
Suppressing his thoughts on the Android, Trunks slowly entered the room and joined Pan by the window. She stared out at the rain, hunched over in a similar position to Lazuli and his heart ached for her. Gohan's death had crushed him to the point of almost giving up and he would have if it wasn't for his mother. And like Pan, he had grown up without a father thanks to the Androids, but at least he had gotten the opportunity to meet his father in the past; Pan would likely never meet her father unless a miracle happened. And miracles were in rare supply around here.
"You okay?" Trunks asked.
Pan shrugged. "What was my dad like?"
It was the same question he'd asked Gohan once before. "A great man with a huge heart, just like his father. I'm sorry that you never got the chance to know him or Goku. You would have loved them dearly and you'd have a better life."
"It's not so bad," the little girl said and she caught Trunks looking wistfully towards the front door. "I don't hate Lazuli, but…it hurts."
"Yeah, I know the feeling, Pan," Trunks said. "I know it all too well."
They sat there in comfortable silence, her watching the rain, him staring at the front door, his mind wrapped up with Lazuli. He wanted to be with her, but Pan came first and he would not abandon her while she dealt with her grief. And yet, Lazuli was out there in the rain, all alone, similar to how he felt when he discovered Gohan's body. The circumstances were different, yet he couldn't bear the thought of her being on her own like this right now. He felt the urge to chase her, but he needed to stay with Pan, all night if he had to –
Kami, he truly hated being so damn conflicted about his feelings and what he wanted.
"If it's okay with you, I'm going to sleep," Pan announced. "Maybe I'll feel better after a nap."
"You go on ahead," Trunks told her. "You sure you're going to be okay?"
She gave an unsure nod and made her way towards the bedrooms. Trunks stood up and finally made his decision.
-X-
She was soaked to the bone, her body shivering from the cold icicles that stabbed her body, but she did not care. Her mind was a mass of overwhelming thoughts and feelings, numbing her body without the need for the rain. Her emotions were constantly charging and she was sick of feeling – she wanted it to stop, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't. It was like there was something in her mind that was forcing her to feel, destroying her resistance.
A sob escaped her and she shuddered against the cold of the rain. Androids didn't cry, but Lazuli couldn't help but cry for the loss of her brother, the loss of 16, the loss of the humans who had died by her hand, forced or otherwise, crying –
She wanted to scream against the cacophony that raged like a hurricane in her mind, she wanted to stop feeling; she wanted something to numb the pain that crashed upon her with the intensity of raging waterfall. She simply wanted to stop hurting and if there was a way, she'd take it.
"Lazuli!"
The Android paused, unsure if she was hearing things. She looked over the edge of the building she sat upon and there he was. Trunks was down on the streets, soaked as she was, calling her name. Part of her wanted to ignore him, wanted him to go away. He'd hurt her when he rejected her and even though she still had those strange feelings for him, she didn't want to see him right now. Or ever if she could help it. But the other part of her, the part that wanted him still, wanted to seek him out and use him as a means to shut off from the world. Even if it was only temporarily to experience a different kind of feeling, knowing that he could provide it for her, it was better than suffering right now. And she was tired of the suffering.
"Lazuli!" Trunks called again.
He wanted to continue his search, but he was drenched and shivering and the desire for a hot shower and a warm bed beckoned to him more than finding the Android. Besides, after everything, she probably didn't want to be found and just wanted to be left alone instead. Dejected, Trunks decided to try again tomorrow and just as he looked up, about to take-off, he caught a glimpse of blonde atop one of the buildings. Hope bloomed in his heart and quick as a flash, he shot towards the rooftops. Lazuli sat on the edge, her eyes downcast and her shoulders slumped and the sight of her low and depressed made his heart ache for her.
"Hey," Trunks initiated gently. "Perhaps we should head inside, in case you get a cold."
"I don't get sick," Lazuli responded, although that was a partial lie. She had been sick a few times in the past, but often rarely to the point her statement had some truth to it. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you."
"Hn. I don't see any reason why you would bother. It's just me."
"Doesn't mean I want you out in the rain all by yourself."
She huffed. "Don't act like you care, Trunks, because we both know you don't."
Okay, he deserved that one. "That's where you're wrong, Lazuli. I do care."
That broke her out of her slump, her sapphire eyes blazing. "Oh, really? You care about me all of a sudden? You care about my well-being? Three days ago, you couldn't give a single crap about me. You took what you wanted and you kicked me to the curb like dirt. Why the sudden change of heart? Your girlfriend's not putting out for you?"
He cringed, but again, he deserved it. It wasn't like she was wrong, apart from the shot about Mai, and he wondered if he would be able to change her mind.
"This isn't about Mai. This is about you," Trunks said clearly, making sure she understood. "I realised that I'm an idiot-"
She scoffed. "That much is true."
"-But I've also realised that I do want you, Laz. And I mean more than that."
She eyed him warily. "Why are you saying this? What is making you say this?"
"When Cell absorbed you, that's when I realised. For a while, I had lost you and I thought it was for good, that I was never getting you back and it made me realise that I could not not be with you."
Lazuli sneered. "You just missed the sex, nothing more."
"No, stop, that's not true. Please, listen to me, Lazuli. I know our past is less than stellar and any man in their right mind would be insane to pursue something more with you. But I know you're no longer that person and I was a fool to continue clinging to the past. Look, what I'm saying is that I'd like to see where things go between us. You and me…together."
Lazuli was torn. He was basically offering her what she wanted from him, but the hurt from his rejection was still there and she wanted to tell him to shove it just so he knew what rejection felt like. On the other hand, she wanted to accept his offer and explore what their potential relationship could be like. At least it would get her mind off the loss of her brother for a while. While she dearly loved 17, even more so after he sacrificed himself to save her, she was sick of wallowing in her misery, no matter how much she felt she deserved it.
She needed an outlet.
"I'm willing to put the past behind us and start over again," Trunks said and he hesitantly extended his hand to her, his mind undecided on whether she'd take it or not. His nerves were alight with anticipation and anxiety: he could understand if she said no, but if she said yes, then a new door to uncharted territory was opened. It scared him because he had never been down this road before, considering who it was with, but he was also looking forward to it. She only had to say y-
"No," Lazuli glared coldly. There was a flash of disappointment on Trunks' face and it made the old her smirk internally in delight. "You hurt me, Trunks. I made the same offer to you and you tossed me aside like yesterday's garbage and now you come crawling to me, wanting to accept my offer? No."
Trunks nodded dejectedly, the answer he didn't want yet he expected to hear. She had a point and he deserved her scorn for how he treated her after they left the Chamber. He'd been so hung up on the past, despite their time together in the Chamber, that he couldn't bear the thought of being with her in a possible relationship. But after realising he couldn't bear the thought of losing her during the fight with Cell, he recognised that he actually did want something more with her. Only it was too little too late.
"You're right," Trunks said. "You're right. I'm sorry. I was an idiot, I didn't consider your feelings and I'm…sorry that I hurt you."
"Now we're both even," Lazuli said. "Doesn't mean you're forgiven."
"I know," he said and he wanted to tell her that she was forgiven, but the words wouldn't come. She wouldn't take them seriously anyway and so he swallowed them and floated past her like he was ready to leave. "You know, I still don't think you should be out in the rain."
She shrugged carelessly and it made Trunks' heart clench. Pre-Chamber him would've delighted in her misery, but the post-Chamber him was concerned. He reached out like he wanted to grab her hand, but he stopped himself at the last moment, a space between their fingers. Part of him felt foolish for trying to pursue the Android, but it was drowned out by the majority that yearned for her and yet, was coming to grips with her rejection. With a sigh, Trunks decided to leave her be, thinking of his warm home, his body chilled to the bone and –
"Wait," Lazuli said and immediately she regretted it, wondering what the hell was going on in her head. Why did she call out to him? What was it about him that drew her to him like a moth to a flame?
Trunks waited patiently, although he didn't know how much longer under the heavy rain. His clothes were so drenched, they were going to take at least six months to dry. He was cold and shivering, although he could see that she was the same, despite her efforts to hide it. He took in her appearance, her blonde tresses plastered to her face, her sapphire eyes staring brightly, her drenched clothes clinging to her body and she had to be the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen in his life. Kami, he wanted her so bad.
"No, never mind," Lazuli said finally, trying to suppress her desire for him, trying to squash the want of his embrace to find her comfort from her tempestuous mind. She wanted to devour him, wanted to leave her mark on him, but the rational part wanted to see him hurt for making her hurt. It was a war in her mind and she couldn't work out which side she wanted to win.
"I understand," Trunks said. She had made her choice and now he had to live with it. This time, he was going to leave, but the space between them was minimal and when he locked eyes with her, he could feel the heat and want from her, despite her body language saying otherwise, and if that didn't make him yearn for her even more…
Lazuli tried to project a disinterested appearance, trying to get him to shove off and leave her alone, regardless of her baser needs protesting otherwise, but why oh why did he have to look so irresistible standing there in the rain, soaked to the bone but gazing at her with all the desire in the world. She could see it in his eyes, even though he was trying to disguise it, but he was terrible at hiding his feelings. It made her want him, made her want him to fill the ache in her heart, but she wanted to push him away, wanted him to suffer just like she did –
If you asked them later who initiated the searing kiss that consumed them, neither one would be able to answer. As it was, the space between them was gone, their lips locked together as they kissed with all the desperation in the world. His hands held her face as he explored her mouth, her hands pressed against his hard chest, feeling his rippling muscles. Wanting further contact, she slid her hands beneath his shirt and pressed her cold fingers against his skin, causing him to yelp and break away from her.
The realisation that he had crossed the boundaries dawned on Trunks. "Laz, I'm-"
She threw her arms around his neck, cutting him of as her body pressed up against his. "Again."
He couldn't help but oblige and his arms circled her waist, pulling her closer. Her fingers grabbed his lavender locks and the voices in her head were quelled by the fire burning between them. She wanted more and she threw her legs around his waist, slowly grinding against him. Trunks groaned, unable to help the instinctive response of his loins, the fire intensifying.
"Lazuli," Trunks broke away reluctantly. "Are you sure about this?"
"If you don't take me back to your place," Lazuli said breathlessly, her lips swollen and Kami, if that didn't make her look any more beautiful to him. "You're going by yourself."
He nodded once, his mind made up and he shot into the air, the Android clinging tight to him. She pressed a few teasing kisses to his neck to keep the heat smouldering and Trunks did his best not to be distracted by her, despite the temptation. They made it back to Capsule Corporation in record time and although he was tempted to take her through the front door, Trunks knew his mother wouldn't be happy about water all over her floor and so instead, he flew to his bedroom window. Lazuli detached from him, allowing him to open the window and she slipped inside his room. It reminded her that this was actually the first time she had ever been in his room before, but she shoved that to the back of her mind and as soon as Trunks shut the window behind him, she was upon him once more.
His jacket hit the floor with a heavy splat; mere background noise as Lazuli teased her fingers along his skin under the hem of his shirt. He shivered at her touch and her jacket quickly joined his. He kissed down her throat and sucked at her jugular, the water droplets making her skin taste sweeter and she gasped against him, one hand in his hair, guiding him, while the other slid under his shirt, roaming over his hard stomach. He broke away to allow her to strip his shirt off and he returned the favour and oh Kami, her wet pale body looked as glorious as ever.
Lazuli threw her legs around him and he hoisted her up, their groins crushed together as he pinned her to the wall, kissing her feverishly like she was the oxygen he was dying for. He couldn't get enough of her, his hands holding her firm ass as she grinded against him, her light touches on his back sending sparks of heat coursing through him and it made him burn for her. He kissed her desperately like he was making sure that this was real, that it was not a dream and if he stopped kissing her, touching her, she would disappear.
The voices were gone, but Lazuli wanted more. She wanted more of him; right now wasn't enough. She moaned in delight as he kissed further down her body to her black lace-covered breasts and she trilled when he sucked the water from her cleavage, licking the droplets like there was no tomorrow. With her superior strength, Lazuli pushed off from the wall and Trunks tottered back, carrying her still as his knees hit his bed and he collapsed upon the mattress with her weight upon him. She lifted her hips off him and he whined, causing her to smirk as she trailed her lips down his neck and across his chest. She locked eyes with him, noting they were blown with lust and oh, that made him look so delicious. The heat between their gaze intensified and he drew her face to his, their tongues exploring the other's mouth as he reached to her back and attempted to unhook her bra.
Lazuli stopped with a small laugh. "Even after all this time and practice, you still don't know how to unhook a bra?"
Trunks blushed, adorably in her opinion. "It's much harder than it looks."
"And here I was thinking you were a smart guy."
He was about to retort, but her bra came free and he lost all thought at the sight of her naked breasts. No matter how many times he'd seen them, the glorious pair always left him speechless, and he brought his hands to them, gently fondling as she kissed him heatedly once more.
"What's the matter?" Lazuli purred in his ear and shivers ran down his spine. "Cat got your tongue? Or are you too preoccupied with something?"
"Perhaps we should get rid of the rest of our clothes," Trunks suggested. "They're soaking my bed."
Reluctant to part with him, but seeing his point, Lazuli rolled off him and set about shucking off her skirt, boots and tights. They splattered against the floor and she was about to remove her panties, but Trunks, naked as the day he was born, his desire poking her in the thigh, stopped her.
"May I?" he bashfully asked.
Lazuli shrugged and laid out comfortably, arms tucked beneath her head and his eyes drifted to her chest and her stiff, pink peaks. "Suit yourself."
Eagerly, he straddled her legs and tentatively gripped the sides of her panties, slowly lowering them down her thighs. She watched him with hooded eyes as he teasingly stroked her thighs as he removed her panties and tossed them to the side. He fell upon her, his lips hungrily kissing hers as he trailed his hands down her torso, across her hips and along her inner thighs, teasing near her core but never touching. Lazuli groaned at his tantalising touch, her arousal growing by the second as he gave her another searing kiss. She looped her arms around his neck, crossed her legs behind his waist and with experienced ease, she rolled him onto his back with her on top.
"You know, I like this one better," Trunks mouthed against her lips.
"Yeah, I bet you do," Lazuli said as she nipped at his jugular. "Besides, I like the idea of having you at my mercy."
"Hey-" he started, but he trailed off when she gripped his hot member while kissing his chest and his eyes nearly rolled into the back of his head. He couldn't help the intuitive thrust into her hand when she stroked him and she smiled against his skin. Kami, he made this too easy for her.
"See what I mean?" Lazuli smirked devilishly, a few slow strokes to get her point across.
He wanted her so bad. His body, and especially his dick, ached for her, every stroke sending a spark of anticipation and desire burning through him. He lost himself in the heat of the moment and he sat up to kiss her, his hand finding its way between her legs and that moan she made when he parted her soaked lips with his fingers and sank them inside her, her tight muscles clenching the digits.
Lazuli wanted this, she wanted him, she wanted more, she burned for more, his fingers expertly plunging into her depths, his thumb brushing against his clit and she broke the kiss, her head rolling back as the pleasure swam through her. She needed more and although disinclined to stop his ministrations, she placed a hand on his wrist and he got the message, removing his fingers from her.
"Are you still sure about this?" Trunks asked, his body a minefield of desire and need, but the coherent part of him had to make sure that she was completely on board with this and that it was not too late for her to change her mind…regardless of how much he did not want her to.
In reply, Lazuli straddled his hips and properly lined him up against her entrance. He was here for a purpose and she was going to take what she wanted. The turmoil in her mind had been quiet ever since this whole thing had started and she was going to do whatever it took to keep it that way.
"I'm sure," she replied and without even giving him a chance to breathe, she slid down upon his length, engulfing him until her hips pressed against his.
Trunks nearly lost the plot at the feel of her around him, but his zen focus enabled him to retain his control. It was like how he remembered and somewhere in the back of his mind, he wondered how he could be so foolish to give this up so willingly. Well, he knew why, but none of that mattered right, as he sucked in a deep breath, trying to keep his control intact, but the way she felt around him: tight, hot and wet – it was driving him crazy.
She had to admit, she'd missed this, missed the feel of him inside her. She rocked her hips gently, getting used to him and she planted her hands on his chest and increased the tempo. Trunks' hands were everywhere, switching between her breasts and her hips as he lost himself in the intimacy, his hips thrusting up to match her movements. He gripped her plump ass and gave a strong thrust that broke a delighted squeal out of her. She glared, as if daring him to do it again – he smirked and did.
"Don't get too cocky with me," Lazuli warned in between gasps. "I know how to work you like an instrument."
"Can't let you have all the fun," Trunks replied and he made an attempt to roll her over, but she easily held him down flat.
"No. I'm in control here. You do as I say."
"I've never really been any good at that."
"I've noticed."
He brought his hands to her thighs as he continued to match her. One hand trailed inwards, brushing through her trimmed patch and down to where they were joined, rubbing at her sensitive nub. Lazuli groaned and clenched him tightly, which caused him to groan in response. She increased the pace, riding him for all her worth as he continued to toy with her clit, his fingernails digging into her milky thigh. She leaned back, giving him better access, the combination of his dick and his ministrations working wonders on her.
"Kami, she feels so good, so damn good, oh god, she looks so good like that," Trunks thought rapidly and it was true. She looked so damn glorious like that, so uninhibited as she rode him, that it sent bursts of pleasure through him and that's when he felt the trigger: the beginning of the end.
He rubbed her clit furiously, hoping to bring her off before he lost control, because at her pace, he was going to lose it before her. Lazuli realised what he was doing, could feel the tell-tale tremors and she leaned down to kiss him, pressing her body against his. Trunks groaned into the kiss, his hips bucking wildly, his free hand roaming over every inch of skin he could touch and Lazuli clenched when she felt the tingling flutters in her belly.
Their kiss grew desperate as they chased their climaxes, trying to bring the other one off first, his fingers working zealously as she grinded against him and tightened her core. Their actions became frantic as the anticipation amplified with each passing second, bringing them closer to that sweet release.
Trunks was the first over the line, gritting his teeth as his muscles convulsed and he gripped her hips tightly, holding her against him as he released inside her. Lazuli wasn't far behind and she cried out as she squeezed him, her orgasm rocking her. She shuddered, her hips rocking as she milked him for everything he had, completely draining him; spent, she collapsed against his chest, the pair panting heavily as they came down from their rapture.
Trunks swirled his hands gently across her back while Lazuli traced lazy patterns along his ribcage, the pair drenched with sweat as they basked in the afterglow.
"So," Lazuli panted, slowly regaining her breath. "That was nice."
He hummed in agreement, his body loose and tired. He pressed a soft kiss to the crown of her head, wanting to stay in this moment for as long as possible. He slipped out of her, but she never moved from his body, content to remain where she was and he didn't mind staying in this intimate embrace. His soul craved it and he was comfortable enough to stay there.
She pressed a lazy kiss to his chest and adjusted herself so she was more comfortable as she snuggled against him. He questioned nothing; he simply kissed her forehead once and closed his eyes, her soothing embrace helping him drift off, as her breathing eventually evened out alongside his and she joined him in the realm of sleep.