Once her matter with Vegeta was settled, Trunks disobeyed Bulma and left the Gravity Room. She might have micro cracks on some specific bones (shin, knuckles and phalanges), but nothing she truly felt warranted medical attention and the risk of being asked to undress. With the cream to soothe the skin and muscle she put on her arms (and later wherever Vegeta hit her) and the bandaids Bulma put on her cheekbone, jaw and forehead, what she truly needed was a shower. All those superficial wounds would be taken care of in a matter of hours after some rest and a good meal. Lunch time was a little far off, but she decided she would grab a snack from the kitchen prior to the shower. The wet towel had taken care of most tears and blood, she didn't look as sweaty as before, and only the bandaids showed she was out of a fight and not out of an intense workout.

"Tora-san, are you ok?" Gohan had decided to check on her, after seeing Bulma come in and out of the Gravity Room with supplies.

"A little tired, but otherwise I am perfectly fine," she answered with a bright smile, putting the plate of fruits on the kitchen table to sit and eat some, offering to share wordlessly.

Gohan accepted and munched on an apple while Trunks ate an orange. He was curious about what happened, but he didn't want to seem rude and pry.

".. Gohan-san, do you know why I was fighting him?" Trunks eventually asked. She needed to bring up the Saiyan apology somehow, so the child would be prepared.

"No, something about adults, I guess?"

"Somewhat. He.. ordered me into a spar, after he came out of the Room of Spirit and Time the second time around. We couldn't finish that fight, and just prior to the Cell Games, he explained why he wanted to fight me. Some sort of Saiyan apology."

Gohan nodded, showing his interest and his listening. He wasn't sure why he was being told something that personal, but he trusted his older friend's reasoning.

"So we finished that today; we spoke our grievances, stated our wrongs and cleared our resentment. To find forgiveness and peace, in a way," she added, looking away. "Saiyans communicate with violence and by eviscerating those they dislike. He.. will come to you, because of Goku-san's passing."

Gohan frowned. He disliked the idea of fighting Vegeta, the man was dangerous, skilled and unpredictable, and while he had made peace with his father's sacrifice and decision to stay dead, it was still a sore subject.

"What should I do?"

"Gohan-san, does Ascended super Saiyan scare you?" Seeing the child nod reluctantly, Trunks reached and took his hand in hers, to give him comfort. He accepted and squeezed. "You have managed to use it without it consuming you. I have faith in you, and your ability to face Father."

She proceeded to describe what she understood of the Saiyan apology, as Vegeta had explained; exorcize the anger and resentment, make peace and forgive, or kill the offending party. In the end it was Gohan's choice, but she also conveyed she thought Vegeta felt guilty about everything and that was his way of apologizing. She wasn't the only one wronged, and personally apologizing to Gohan was something Vegeta seemed to consider mandatory to move on. He just didn't know how. Gohan promised he'd think about it.

Two extra fruits later in peace, eventually, Trunks offered.

"After lunch, would you like to come with me for pastries?"

"Yes of course!" Food and time with Tora? Gohan accepted in a heartbeat.

Vegeta was left alone with his thoughts until Bulma's return, and he started questioning the last thing Trunks did: holding him. It wasn't a child gripping and scratching for comfort, he wasn't wounded or unconscious enough to be carried, and the brat didn't need carrying either. He reached over his shoulders to touch where his heir's hands had been, the finger pressure of that hold still present in his mind even after the blood had been rubbed off with the wet towels. As far as he could tell, his heir only allowed that kind of proximity with Kakarot's brat and the baby. And the other one, but that one was in heat, and just thinking about it infuriated Vegeta. It had been another Trunks that Cell killed.

Vegeta knew the baby had differentiated the two Trunkses 'from the future'. He reached for the one he called 'Tora', but not the other one; Bulma had gushed about it when showing the pictures of the older one saying his goodbye to his two alternate-selves.

He was left pondering about the complex metaphysics of meeting another version of oneself and the bond such impossibility created; was that what happened to Trunks, with the baby, with the older version? He recognized that older one as his offspring too, as uncanny as it felt, even if his heat was unbearable.

The strange sensation of being held still lingered, as well as how little restraint his heir showed when doing so. He had had a glimpse of who Trunks truly was, and it had been interrupted. It still tasted like… victory.

When Bulma came back, she tried getting answers out of Vegeta, about why they were fighting again, and where Trunks went despite her order to stay put, but he didn't give her a satisfactory detailed answer ( 'none of your business'; 'inside' ). He was even curt and on edge, more than usual but Bulma saw clear as day he was trying to work through it. She was happy to give him space to deal with it all.

After making sure he was patched up and had no serious injury, she was ready to leave him alone, but he didn't allow it, instead grabbing her wrist and bringing her down to sit with him, in silence, unwilling to let go. Bulma understood the 'request' for company, as much a choice she truly had, but it was rare enough for her to pay attention and lean on his arm.

"Woman," he eventually stared right through her. "Did you finish what I asked?"

Bulma looked puzzled for an instant, she had forgotten about the request considering the more pressing issue she was made aware of. Or rather, she was still baffled when word got to her that Vegeta and Trunks were fighting in the GR and it was disconnected from the main servers. It had interrupted her study of her oldest-self's documents, too. She reached into her lab coat's pocket and showed the result of her work.

"Here's the first version. Is it to your satisfaction?" Bulma had some snark left especially as the stupid fight had stressed her for no reason.

Vegeta took the item with uncharacteristic care, observed it with attention, nodded, then returned it, ignoring the snark. He'd have given snark back, if it wasn't that important.

"Embed it. Make sure it's wearable and Saiyan-proof," he added and gestured towards the highest part of his sternum; Bulma understood 'a necklace'.

"Alright big mighty royalty. If you were so peculiar about the design, I assume it has got meaning?"

"Yes."

Vegeta didn't elaborate, despite Bulma probing for details. She sighed, realizing she wouldn't get an answer, at least for the time being. There was no use trying to get Vegeta to open up when he didn't want to, he was stubborn like that and would only close up more, but eventually, she would find out.

"Fine, keep your secrets. Come with me to the lab, so I don't embed it in something inappropriate."

Bulma only saw a brief uncaring shrug and strangely hollow eyes, but he followed and didn't need to see twice before choosing the material needed for his request of jewelry. He went straight back to training, leaving Bulma puzzled.

"Pink sapphire, really?"

Panchy was intrigued by the visitor's request to see her grandchild, with flowers nonetheless, but welcomed him and took him to the living room, offered some drinks and snacks and would fetch 'the handsome boy' for him. Seventeen had the hardest time understanding the strange housewife's bubbly demeanor, but he couldn't deny being proud of being called a 'dashing young man', especially as he put in an effort into what he wore.

It took the blonde woman a few moments to come back with a baby in her arms and an older man in a lab coat with a black kitten on his shoulder and a cigarette in his mouth. The baby glared at the strange new person with a telling disapproval look, gripped on his grandmother, his little beanie only accentuating the mean look.

"Oh, you must be 'Artificial Human n°17'," the smoking scientist approached, with an extended hand and a friendly, harmless behavior. "I'm Dr Brief. My wife says you came to see my grandson?"

There was some disbelief in the old man's voice, and Seventeen was quick to put two and two together: the baby was Trunks. Seventeen was cautious, but shook the hand nonetheless, putting on his best behavior.

"Ah, yes. Just 'Seventeen' is fine. I expected the other Trunks, sorry for the confusion lil' guy!"

The baby was far from pleased, understanding he was bothered for no good reason, he even huffed, and the Cyborg couldn't help but see how much Vegeta he had in him, compared to the data he had on the Saiyan.

"The other— Oh you meant Tora-chan !" Panchy was surprised. "Why didn't you say so, dear? How silly, I should have known you were in to pick her up on a date, I'll go get her!" She giggled apologetic, bounced the baby a little higher in her hold, then went on her way calling for 'Tora-chaaaan?'.

"Him, dear, him.." Dr Brief sighed in defeat, somewhat trying to correct his wife, but he and Bulma had tried for weeks without much success. "Please excuse my wife, she is sometimes a little.. confused."

"Eh no harm done to me, I guess I'm not the one to apologize to, sooo…" Seventeen felt a little weird about both humans using different pronouns for Trunks, but he wasn't one to intervene; Trunks had made it clear she didn't want anyone to know.

Since Gero kidnapped him and his sister, the distrust for anything science-like was far from unwarranted. And yet, in their evening together after Trunks ran away, Sixteen gave them a rundown of what happened and had praised the Briefs as being kind and nice people who had repaired him. Twice, seemingly. Seventeen was nervous, but he hid it well enough; after all, he could take down a human easily, right? This place was safe, right? No lab. There was no lab.

"Thanks for fixing Sixteen by the way, doc," he had to convey his genuine gratitude.

Seventeen and Dr Brief discussed, and Dr Brief offered either to be Seventeen and Eighteen's 'engineer' or to return the blueprints and Gero's research to them. Seventeen refused both options for the time being, but promised he'd discuss with Eighteen and come back together. Dr Brief gave him a card with his phone number if needed. Seventeen slowly started to believe not all scientists were that bad. Especially as Sixteen seemed to accept being held at Capsule Corp.

"Held? Oh, Sixteen is free to go and do as he wishes, he's a welcome guest in this house, but I assure you we aren't holding him. We didn't even change anything in his code, we just removed the bomb."

The little black cat had a quick meow. As the true ruler of Capsule Corp, Tama needed to confirm his servant's words. After all, if someone could enslave anyone in that large house, it had to be Tama. No one crossed the true master and lived to tell about it.

Seventeen was surprised to hear the Briefs had not changed anything in Sixteen. Why hadn't they? He had to ask, and the Doc gave him a brief rundown of science ethics. Sixteen was, as far as he could see, sentient. They repaired him, removed his bomb, and did look at the code and programs, but changing anything in his personality would have been barbaric. Seventeen was fascinated by the morals the Briefs had applied to their situation, and them taking care of him and his sister was something he would have to actually consider seriously.

Once he and Tora were done with their fruity snack, Gohan changed into a gi and went to knock on the Gravity Room door. He needed to talk to Vegeta, and Vegeta humored him, even if his way of talking was to force the boy into the fight he wanted to have with him.

As much as his relationship to Vegeta had been tumultuous, from enemy to reluctant ally because of the forsaken circumstances, to willing to fight together by his side to defend someone they cared about, Gohan couldn't deny he wasn't that bad of a person. He vividly remembered the fight they had, right as they were transported back from Namek. There was something to be learnt, Gohan realized as he remembered Tora's words about communicating through violence. He, too, would try speaking Vegeta's language, go through the motions, and perhaps free himself from the last remaining guilt he felt from how everything turned out.

And he decided to do it for Tora, for Trunks, and for both future versions of himself. It was time to grow up, face his demons, fully forgive himself and Vegeta to banish the little darkness still lingering in their souls... And carry on, head high.

Trunks came running down the stairs. Panchy had knocked at her door when she was changing after her well deserved shower. A 'dashing young man' coming to see her was strange, but when the housewife said something about a black ponytail, the time traveler paled and hurried.

"Ah, there you are Trunks. Well if you'll excuse me.." Dr Brief stated, ready to go back to work.

Trunks was white, her eyes piercing, she had no idea why Seventeen was there, and she stayed silent, standing by the door of the living room after she'd moved aside to let the scientist walk away. Her moving back in front of the doorway was a protective gesture, and Seventeen saw it as such. He stood from the comfortable couch, swiftly taking back into his hands the bouquet he had brought with him.

"Why are you here?" Trunks felt her natural aggression get the best of her, she was ready to pounce. Someone a part of her perceived as an enemy was in a house full of people she wanted to protect.

"I promised flowers," Seventeen said casually, and moved closer, extremely slowly. He saw how her eyes narrowed, her fists clenched. If he knew any better, he'd expect her to hiss, gain volume by puffing out hair, and bare teeth and claws. A feral cat.

"You can leave them," she hissed, pupils almost gone in the blue. 'Tense' was an understatement.

"Trunks, I'm not him, remember?" he tried reassuringly, opening his body language to show he was no threat. "See, I tied it like you asked me to," he added and pointed to his hair.

Trunks took a moment to properly look at the Cyborg. He tied his hair high, some strands didn't make it in and it made a messy loop. He was wearing a black tee (the one she gave him), a brown bomber jacket, pair of dark blue slacks. The snickers looked comfortable. The flowers in his hands were red. Her eyes went back to his and she stared, trying to find some sort of answers, which she got by realizing they weren't the cold and sadistic ice eyes she was used to. Lively, mischievous but not plain evil. She blinked and calmed down, then nodded approvingly.

".. Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you..?" she gestured to herself, uncertain how to express the blatant confusion.

"I don't do 'half-assed'," was the simple answer, and he extended the flowers as an invitation.

Trunks hesitated, but eventually took the necessary step to accept the flowers, even if her eyes never left Seventeen's. The night prior she left in panic, found comfort with Syowa, and refused to think about it all again.

".. Let's walk," she accepted she owed the Cyborg something, and with a head tilt and moving out of the doorway, she indicated which way.

With Trunks behind him, Seventeen made it through the kitchen, towards the back of the Compound, to the gardens.

"Afraid I'll stab you in the back? Want me to walk with my hands up?" he chuckled lightly at the idea of the other pointing a gun in his back and even did start to raise his hands.

".. Just keep walking," Trunks grunted with a certain weariness.

Passing through the kitchen, Trunks left the flowers on the table, intending to put them in a vase later.

After walking further into the gardens and away from the buildings, Trunks had more or less relaxed enough to not see Seventeen as the threat she knew. She still needed to feel the household was safe, but mostly, she wanted privacy and not give the Cyborg a chance to say something the others might overhear.

"Seventeen—"

"Lapis."

".. I shouldn't have kissed you and left like that. It wasn't fair to you. I'm sorry." She started soft, but firm in her intentions and genuine in her words. She also looked aside, a sense of shame lingering as she had been quite rude.

"Eh it's fine, I would have run off too if I were in your position. Do you regret it?" Seventeen put his hands on his hips, curious as to know the answer.

".. No, I don't. You and Eighteen are attractive and nice in this world, and I'm just a young adult with poor self-control."

"Lazuli. But she's not into you."

"Thank Kami," she chuckled softly. It would have been awkward if Eighteen was attracted to her as well.

"If you don't regret it, let's do it again."

"I'm going back to my world tonight," she frowned.

"Yeah I get that. Off to kill another me and sis, too. I get it. Thanks to you and Cell and whatever gods, we turned out different. I want to kiss you and touch you, Trunks. Even if it goes nowhere. Casual's fine."

".. Why?"

"You're gorgeous."

Trunks huffed, red, and crossed her arms. She disagreed with the compliment.

"You don't go after every other 'hot' girl out there. Why me ? I'm not the easiest to pursue, Seventeen."

"Lapis," he insisted with a frown. "Because— Look, I'm gonna be fully honest. I thought I was the best, king of the world and shit, and then Cell happened. I fucked up, alright, I know I did. I didn't listen. I fueled that son of a bitch, and then he went after my most precious person, and later destroyed Sixteen."

Seventeen dropped on a bench, elbows on knees, chin on crossed fingers. Trunks sat as well, attentive, silent. Clearly the Cyborg wasn't done explaining so she gave him his attention.

"Being focused on you… helps me deal with that whole bullshit, the powerlessness, the lack of agency, and then dying. Again. Had a massive duju-vu or whatever it's called."

"Déjà-vu," she whispered.

"Yeah, that. Well, nobody came to our rescue when Gero happened. I thought for sure it was going to be the same with Cell, especially when sis and I let it happen, but no. You came, maybe not to rescue us, but that's how it felt. You fought Cell, tried to end it all, tried protecting my sis as well. And you gave me— you gave us Sixteen back. So yeah. That's the truth. That's why, outside of Syo-chan and Mika, sis and I want you and only you to use our real names. And well, I'm fucked up so wanting to get in your pants is how I cope."

Trunks listened and related. She deeply understood the feelings Seventeen was expressing, and a quick glance around made sure they weren't listened to. Like she had opened up to them, Syowa and Mika when she explained her circumstances, Seventeen was returning the trust, with a restrained but clearly pained expression. She couldn't find deception, even if she didn't discard manipulation and great acting on his part, she had to give him the benefit of the doubt. She wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, even if she couldn't fully trust him, Krillin's kindness and empathy rubbed off on her. So she leaned closer, reached with her hand to touch his face and have him face her.

"Sev— Lapis. You're not fucked up, you went through a lot. Our minds aren't wired to endure so much bullshit and come unscathed. You.. will get there. We will get better."

She tried her best to convey a true sense of relatability, looking into his eyes with the same intensity as she usually had, but with less murder intents.

When Seventeen got closer to kiss her, Trunks didn't refuse him.

Trunks missed lunch, but she didn't forget her promise to get pastries with Gohan afterwards.

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Oh guys, so much happened over the past couple of weeks, I'm Drained!

First, I got a TON of fanart. All of which is in my pinned tweet and/or in my Moments! Secretsofdbz/moments ;) They're also under the tag "my trunks" on my tumblr (same username)

Second, I'm participating in a Vegebul event called Briefs Family Matters. Day 1, Family Vacation, has been posted on this account too, but the collection and tags are easier on the other ff website (where I can actually link the event)

Please check it out!

Finally, please if you read me only here, consider leaving me a comment or review of something you like anything. It's pretty silent and it's discouraging; it takes a lot of effort to crosspost, so knowing it's not going to waste really motivates me.

Until soon!