When Spring Came
14: Seek and Destory
AN: Chancla Time! You guys don't be too mad me they are just really immature and emotionally unavailable
The moments after were quiet. Confusion hung in the air between the two, two strong arms wrapped the petite frame of the blonde. Her finger tips grazed softly against her plumped lips, rouged and just slightly tender from the searing nature of their kiss. Her body was hot to the touch, and she was unsure if it was from anger, embarrassment or something altogether new.
Trunks came out of his stupor first, his face slowly beginning to realize just what he'd done. His eyes met with hers, scanning for any kind of response from her. What he found was a canopy of shimmering blonde hair encasing him, her hands now pressed against her lips. "Marron I–" Trunks began breathily, unsure what other words were going to come out next.
Marron could feel the residual shock still crash into her. Trunks has thrown her entire world off its axis. "Why?" It was the only question that could come out of her lips. There was a mixture of pain and bewilderment in her eyes, and Trunks mirrored her emotions quite clearly.
"That wasn't supposed to–" Trunks' voice gave out as he stared up at the blonde woman who still stayed put on his lap. "That wasn't supposed to happen," he finally said, there was a crack in his own faith.
He'd given in too far this time. The overwhelming magnetic pull he had towards her had become too strong. "You…said you weren't–" Marron silently whimpered, her eyes beginning to well up with tears. "Trunks you said you weren't–"
Trunks sat up, his face swinging up to be mere centimeters from hers. In doing so, Marron could feel her body giving in to the dark blue eyes. This was so cruel to both of them. "I'm not," Trunks insisted though he could hardly believe the words himself.
"How could you say that after kissing me?" Marron nearly hissed. They both knew they'd been pushing the envelope of what their relationship entailed, with Marron being the one who seemingly wound up hurt time and time again. Confused and lost under the guise of pure love for Goten—but here she was finding comfort in the lips of someone she could even consider the enemy.
But Trunks was far from her enemy, she knew saying such a thing was blasphemy. The tears still rolled down her cheeks, as the confusion wreaked havoc in Marron's mind. "This is too much," she sniffled, her forehead pressed against his shoulder as she tried to hide her face as best she could.
Trunks felt the small shift of weight, looking down to the tousled blonde hair that cascaded down her back. He wanted to comfort her, but there was a newfound fear that settled over him. It was too much for him as well, feeling helpless at the mercy of his own actions. Of their actions.
Marron heaved her breath, barely able to hold it together and at this point she didn't care if it was Trunks who saw her like this. All she could do was let the guilt wash over her, the smell of his cologne etched into the back of her mind. Her mind memorizing his searing touch, the feel of his lips on hers.
"I'm sorry," Trunks' voice was low, feeling as Marron looked up to him once more, her teary eyes pulling at his heart. He didn't want to cause her pain and by association, not cause himself pain. His eyes looked back towards her lips feeling as a dull ache radiated across his body. "I don't know why–"
"You don't need to apologize," Marron said silently, not daring to meet Trunks in the eye. Afraid that one look will pull her back in. "I didn't stop you." The words shook him, surprised that she would say such a thing in response. There was no pointing, no blaming. "We are both adults and we decided to do this...we simply…got carried away."
Trunks' lips were parted as he stared into her coy expression, his eyes begging for her attention. His fingers laid gently on Marron cheek, feeling the cool tears that stained her porcelain cheeks. "Marron," he said breathily. "It's okay…it won't happen again."
Marron's expression was something Trunks had never expected, a cross of frustration flashing across her eyes at his words. "You can't guarantee that, you can't guarantee anything."
She was frustrated, confused and disgusted with herself. She'd sworn to herself that Goten was the man she held near and dear to her heart, the one her heart belonged to…the one she'd do anything to be held by. So why? Why was it when he held her, and spoke to her in that caring voice she loses all sense.
He wasn't part of the plan. He'd never been part of the plan.
She wouldn't allow him to intervene. She wanted Goten to be the man who held her, the one who kissed her when she cried, the one that would say: "It's going to be okay," Trunks said, almost as if he read her mind.
Even that Trunks steals from her.
But she couldn't tear away, there was no way she could tear from him. "How could I possibly let Goten love me–" Marron's breath hitched from the sniveling from earlier.
Trunks held Marron's arms, catching the spiraling blonde before she fell totally into despair. "He already thinks you are with me ," he emphasized. The overwhelming sensation of Marron's emotions wafted over to him. This woman was affecting him in ways he'd never expected. Unlocking emotions he'd long forgotten, even now in front of the woman who was sending him into a frenzy–he'd found himself attempting to remedy her panic and heartache.
Marron paused, as she now finally turned. "You're right…" she responded softly. "I-It's just…a kiss is very meaningful to me and I haven't done it in so long."
"I wasn't…you're first…was I?" Trunks asked, garnering a shocked look from the blonde woman. The prospect of being Marron's first kiss was absolutely terrifying to him, but from the way she responded back to him–he could only assume that she's had some experience.
"God, no…" Marron laughed, covering her face in embarrassment. Was she really so bad that he needed to ask such a thing? "I just don't kiss people randomly," she said whilst she tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. What could possibly come over them to commit such an act?
Trunks shook his head, his eyes unmoving. "It wasn't random."
"W-What?" Marron's voice cracked, feeling as her heart sank deeper into the depths of her chest.
"It wasn't random," Trunks emphasized, flicking a finger between the two of them, "you and I…we've done this dance before." The fact of the matter was they've done a complex and intricate waltz around their own emotions, side stepping and denying any ounce of truth.
Marron's face scrunched up, denoting frustration from his words. She was offended at the very implication of what he was saying. "Trunks I am not–"
"No, you aren't falling for me…and I'm not falling for you," Trunks hesitated, his eyes inquisitively watching her expression before letting the remainder of his sentence spill past his lips, "But—you must be curious."
Marron's face flushed, holding her breath as she stared down at him before turning her cheek the other way. "I could say the same for you," she said quietly, not expecting him to really respond to her.
"And you're right," Trunks said, a smirk pulling on the corner of his lip. "As grating, and nuts as you can be—you are a gorgeous woman…and–" He paused mid sentence, pressing his lips together realizing that the rest of his sentence would put him in a rather precarious situation. " And…you currently appeal to my sensibilities as a man," Trunks thought to himself.
"That's a way to put it," Marron shifted her weight, unsure if she should be flattered, disgusted or something altogether different at the admission that he thinks such a thing of her. Her cheeks to the tips of her ears burned hot, despite her body begging her otherwise.
Trunks looked at the blushing blonde, and the incessant need to tease her returned, his nose just barely grazing the underside of hers. "I don't think—a little kissing with my fake lover will be a source of harm," he said softly, watching as Marron tore away.
" Trunks," Marron said firmly, "stop messing with me."
A defeated pout spread on Trunks' lips, "Fine, I will for now."
"We never speak of this again," Marron stated, breathing in sharply in an attempt to stop herself from spiraling.
" Well, that's going to be difficult," Trunks rolled his eyes at her. How could he never think about it ? How could he possibly purge the thought from his mind, when she's already unlocked a new view that has been lying dormant within him. "We're dating."
Marron scrunched her nose at his words. "We are not dating," Marron insisted, "we are fake dating…and I have every intent on getting with Goten, like we agreed on," her voice had become strained, as if barbed wire pressed against her vocal chords.
She mentioned Goten again, Trunks couldn't quite keep track of the amount of times his name has been brought up in the last hour but the sound of his best friend's name on her lips caused him to sneer. Trunks could feel himself sneer at the sound of his best friend's name. "We got carried away," he said, a sneer hidden behind his cool expression, "but— we are also supposed to play the part –"
This enraged Marron. What was his problem? Who did he think he was telling her what needs to be happening? "Just because we are in this… arrangement doesn't mean that you need to act the part," the playful nature of their conversation had now dissipated as she stood up and started to walk towards the stairway. "You're toying with a woman in love… and that's cruel."
"Cruel?" Trunks laughed, sarcasm in his voice. "You know what's cruel, forcing yourself to continue to get fucking hurt by the same guy because you can't accept that he doesn't love you! "
Marron stopped in her tracks as she turned back around, her eyes now full of a newfound vitriol. She whipped her head, stopping herself from lunging. "We are done ," Marron hissed out. "Fuck off, go back to wherever the hell you crawled out of and stay the hell out of my life."
Before Trunks could even muster a response, he watched as she slammed the door behind her. Did he go too far? He pushed back strands of his hair as he felt her ki spike exponentially– for her standards anyway. Trunks ran to the side of the balcony watching a bolt of blonde stampede through the empty streets. Holy shit she was pissed.
Marron could feel the ire bubbling under her veins, up her throat and expelled out into tears . Tears that flowed freely down her cheeks and seared her eyes, her lungs, her lips-– Kami how her lips burned. Burned from the kiss, how stupid she felt being swept away in the moment, she could hardly feel her feet from just how fast she was running.
Goten will fall for her. She didn't need Trunks' help, she didn't need anyone– this plan was never meant to have become so compromising. This was never part of her trajectory, in fact, it was Trunks who put her in this position. She was so mad. Mad at herself for letting her guard down for a second.
This was Trunks she was dealing with—why did she ever think that he'd have a modicum for respect for how she felt? He only cared about himself, he opened himself up to her…let her see the most vulnerable side of him.
Trunks was suspended mid air, his eyes searching the chaotic West City. The city lights, the masses of people, the blaring horns…none of it allowed him to spot the blonde whose Ki dropped as quickly as it spiked. He could hardly lock on to anything so instead he landed in a busy spot, his eyes scanning for her.
Why was he chasing her?
Why did he say that?
Why?
Marron wound up in her apartment eventually, her eyes blank and dejected as she stumbled in, kicking off her shoes and flopping over her sofa, feeling her body heave. Was Trunks right? Was she in a losing battle with Goten? Her eyes slid over to the bright screen in the middle of the darkness.
It was a text.
From Trunks.
I'm sorry.
She wanted to scream, how could something so sweet and so gentle trigger so many confusing emotions. How could she spit so much acid at him, and in the same breath feel herself thinking about him–about his touch. How could she go on? She opened her phone, swiping the text away as she pulled open pictures of Goten, and scrolling. As she looked at them, her heart felt numbed. She felt so befuddled and so utterly lost, no skipped heartbeat, no butterflies in her stomach— nothing .
It was an absolutely terrifying emotion to feel for someone who had been the object of her affection for twenty years. How could she deviate?
Marron has had boyfriends before, throughout highschool and college and not a single one changed the overwhelming pull she had towards Goten. None except Trunks. She refused to accept this new reality that has been thrust upon her.
There was no way.
Marron pulled up her phone, and looked at Goten's number. She needed to hear his voice, she needed him right now. Her mind was racing, as she thought of Valese–how unfair of Marron to do something like this to her. If she called him now…and Valese was with him, surely she would lose her new close friend…and if she didn't she was going to continue to spiral.
"Why?" Marron groaned out as she dropped her phone, deciding it was best to not give in to the drastic measures she was trying to take. She's a fool , a lovesick idiot who thinks life will go her way if she simply believes hard enough. Before she could realize it, the tears she had weighed her eyelids beckoning her to fall asleep on the fluffy white couch.
That morning Trunks woke up with a dull ache that spread from it's nexus point to the rest of his nervous system. His eyes groggy as he tried to blink away the dryness from his eyes. He sat up feeling as a headache slapped him straight across the head, his hand gripping his forehead from the pain.
That's when it all washed over him again. He kissed Marron, he selfishly took what he wanted, and now they are fighting. Why does he hold so much grief over this whole situation? Marron was not his girlfriend. He felt like an idiot, a complete and total idiot.
How did he think that would play out? He allowed his intrusive thoughts to win and he was paying the price. He involved himself, and dared to start feeling attracted to an emotionally unavailable woman. And he didn't want to let go.
"You look like shit," Bulla said standing at the foot of his bed, sipping on a green frothy drink.
Trunks jumped out of his skin at the bluenette staring him down. "My god, I need to get my own place…" he groaned seeing as his sister pointed towards the matcha latte sitting on the side of his end table.
"You're welcome," she said as she sat at the foot of his bed, legs crossed. "So– you were busy last night hm?" she chimed curiously, her eyes scanning her older brother.
Trunks' eyes widened in surprised, did Bulla know? " What do you—"
" Don't play dumb," Bulla chided. "You already fumbled the bag with that dang yacht trip, it's like you don't even want Marron to like you."
Trunks licked his bottom lip, an exasperated expression strewn across his face. "What do you know?" He asked, trying to pry the information out of her. There was simply no way Bulla could know about what happened last night, it made no sense.
Bulla licked her teeth, as she looked to the side. "I know you guys aren't actually dating," she whispered, not looking him in the eye. "I don't know why but–"
Trunks was slack-jawed at Bulla's revelation. How could she possibly find that out? "What are you talking about?" Trunks scoffed as he looked about the room nervously. "I have no idea what you mean."
Bulla rolled her eyes at her elder brother as she finished her drink. "Your pet told me."
"Giru?" Trunks audibly gasped, there was betrayal laced in voice. "I told him not to–"
Bulla held a hand up, beckoning Trunks to quiet down. "You…failed to consider, that I want to help your pathetic ass," Bulla sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Look, do you even like Marron?"
"I think she's pretty," Trunks sighed out, thinking about Marron's soft face before everything went down. The wonder in her eyes, the touch of her lips, it was almost enough to light a flame in his heart again. "I don't know about relationship material…" he grimaced, thinking of the aftermath of their interaction
"That's it?" Bulla asked flatly.
Trunks nodded. "That's it."
Bulla folded her arms, pursing her lips as she stared at him long and hard. Blue eyes against blue eyes. " Bullshit !"
"What?"
"You like her Trunks," Bulla exclaimed. She wasn't so sure at first, but seeing them in the atrium she knew that no one else in the room was willing to admit. The look in her older brother's eyes was something that she hadn't seen in years. "You look at her the way sand looks at water…stop denying it."
Trunks couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was she seriously trying to convince him that he had feelings for Marron aside from the curiosity that stemmed from proximity and lust? "You are nuts," he scoffed, dismissing the teenager. "I'm not interested, besides we just had a nasty fight."
Bulla's eyes widened. "You fought?!" Her voice was shrill, and Trunks swore the high vibration drilled into skull. "This is not good—Trunks! Why didn't you tell me sooner!" She panicked, beginning to pace around the bedroom, her hands pushing back her bangs back.
"What?" Trunks asked incredulously. The gall of this girl… why didn't he tell her? Maybe because his fake relationship problems were not a cause of concern to a meddling teenager. "Why the hell would I tell you?"
"Because, I have a bet to win–"
"Oh…you don't know," Trunks interjected softly, drumming up the mystery behind his words. His eyes flitted with a mischievous glint.
"Know what ?" Bulla asked, her face scrunched up in annoyance from Trunks dragging out the truth from her.
"We kissed last night…"
" Shut up you did not!" Bulla was practically dancing excitedly.
Trunks groaned from the overly excited bluenette. He shook his head at the sight of her glee. "Don't get all excited, that's what caused the damn fight in the first place," he groaned, his hands rubbing against his face.
Bulla paused yet again, feeling as if she were being sent on a rollercoaster of emotions, her brother didn't know how to just let everything out all at once. "Trunks– you can't just drop bomb after bomb on me. "
"It's fucked–she doesn't want anything to do with me," he continued not even looking up to meet his sister's gaze.
"What the hell happened?" She interrogated, sitting closer to the man. "You had her on a silver platter."
Trunks looked up, looking at the curious bluenette who sat beside his legs. "I–" Trunks began before letting out an annoyed puff of air. She wouldn't be able to give Bulla the details, that girl was far too quick for her own good and may find out who it was she was interested in. "Honestly, I can't tell you the specifics, but Marron has feelings for this other guy."
She nodded slowly in response, "Oh…I see…"
Trunks and Marron…were not really available for one another, despite the absolute smitten nature they carry themselves with. Marron's heart belonged to someone else. Trunks brushed Bulla's pity off, he wasn't about to throw himself a pity party over the fact the woman he was fake dating had her sights on someone else. "Yeah, I mean I don't care–"
Bulla interjected, her brows furrowed as she drilled her eyes into his. " Yes you do, you big doofus."
" Hey!" Trunks shot back defensively, "I don't…she loves the guy."
Bulla scoffed, crossing her arms across her chest. "And she kissed you?" She asked incredulously.
"Yeah…?"
The teen rolled her eyes at him. These two seemed to be a lost cause, what would they do without her meddling? "You're an idiot," Bulla announced, receiving an offended expression from Trunks. "You guys are so into each other, I don't care who this other guy is—at the end of the day she isn't going after him."
Trunks bit the inside of his cheek, holding back from saying exactly who it was that he was referring about. He shot a glance over to Bulla. "Well yeah, the guys in a relationship," he replied back sarcasm and bitterness laced in his voice
" God… Marron has the worst pick in men…" Bulla groaned. The statement made him chuckle just a bit, especially given the fact it was Goten they were talking about. Bulla was obsessed with the guy…anyone in a ten mile radius knew she had a huge crush on him. Refraining from saying his name was really saving the blonde, really.
Trunks scoffed, feeling somewhat offended at Bulla's statement. Even though he actually wasn't any of the men Marron picked. "And just how do you know that?
Bulla tilted her head, shaking her head slowly amused at the question. Trunks simpy didn't understand the power of when women congregate. "Well Sir Genius, you were away from home for a while so of course you of all people wouldn't know…" Bulla pointed directly into Trunks' chest, "Marron was in a bad string of situationships before you came along."
"And…?" Trunks asked, a quizzical brow arched.
Oh…her brother was being willfully obtuse now. " And— that means Marron is probably really fucking sensitive to mixed signals and this whole so called relationship reeks of just that!" Bulla exclaimed, her tone laced in complete and utter offense.
Trunks shook his head for just a moment, there was no way that could be it. She knew more than anyone what the purpose of their relationship was. She wouldn't have been taking it seriously? Would she? "But Marron…knows why we started this–"
It was at this point Bulla began to lose her usual composure. " Trunks, be honest with yourself, is that really your goal?" She pressed a bit more; she knew the truth was hidden beneath all the implications.
"I'm being honest Bulla," Trunks' voice was caught in his throat, feeling a strain from how dry it felt.
"Oh yeah…so honest!" Bulla rolled her eyes at him. "You know, Trunks, you would actually get somewhere with women if you actually listened." Trunks squinted at Bulla, and she quickly realized that those were not the right words to use.
"I-I mean, lately—not…" Bulla chuckled nervously, holding up her hand to separate herself from him a bit more.
"I know what you meant, squirt," Trunks snorted.
"Squirt?" Bulla retorted back. "Ew."
"Whatever kid, aren't you supposed to be in school?"
"No, "I'm taking a personal day," Bulla replied matter of-factly.
"I don't think that's a thing in school–"
"It is when you are rich, Trunks," Bulla replied with a snicker before tapping her brother in the forehead. "Keep up!"
Trunks rolled his eyes dismissing the girl from his room. He had enough troubles today to deal with Bulla of all people, but now he knew he had someone on his side of this arrangement. Unfortunately, that person had to be the one person with the will to screw him over if she so felt like it.
He loved his sister, truly. But Bulla would and could use anything to her advantage if given the opportunity. He wouldn't seriously think about her advice…what did she know? Sure, Bulla hung out an awful amount with Marron…but she couldn't possibly be totally right about her past?
Situationships? With who? He couldn't Marron as a girl who would even dare go out to parties, let alone date emotionally unavailable men. Trunks tried to imagine a budding twenty three year old Marron out in a nightclub. The image was hard to conjure.
So he pulled out his phone, and pulled up her social media profile. Surprisingly, Trunks hadn't ever thought of even looking her profile up—he already saw her day-in and day-out. He had more than enough Marron to fill his cup ten times over. But it was interesting, as he scrolled he found himself smiling. The older the images, the better. Images and videos of her and other girls dancing together.
From over 156 weeks ago.
Trunks paused. Just what was he doing? He groaned, throwing in his face into his hands. This entire ordeal was just stupid… he should just go talk to her after she's cooled down and try to smooth any kinks. Surely…she'd let him?
The blonde found herself dejected in the editorial meeting, her thick sunglasses covering the swollen eyelids from the crying she had done the night prior. She carefully traced circles over and over as the monotonous meeting droned on, she was not too keen on paying attention with the overwhelming feeling weighing down on her. As the meeting drew to a close, she found herself slowly packing up her items.
Her partner Rulah, cast a glance over to Marron. "Rough night?" The taller woman commented. Marron looked up to the dark-skinned woman, her tight black ringlets of hair sat her head like lion's, her friendly dark brown eyes expressing a silent sympathy. "I've been there."
Marron sighed, shaking her head. "I've been so out of it Rulah," she groaned, as she pulled her sketchbook open. "Look at this," she grumbled, showing the woman the so-called uninspired art. "This is the best I could do, at any rate I'm about to be kicked–"
Rulah tilted her head, staring at the elaborate lines and designs Marron had come up with, her hand grabbing the notebook and really beginning to analyze the piece of work. "Marron…" Rulah began quietly, "these are beautiful, what are you talking about?"
Marron perked her head up at her words, giving a soft smile. "I needed to hear that, thanks…" she sighed out, "it's been a tough few weeks for me."
"Tell me about it," Rulah snickered, nudging Marron in the shoulder. "Guy troubles?"
The blonde cast a glance to the side, a small sad chuckle escaped past her lips. She wished it was that simple. "The long of the short of it is—yes."
" Hm…" Rulah began slinging her bag over her shoulder, "Are you going on a break anytime soon?"
"Just about now, actually," Marron sighed.
"How about a coffee then?" Rulah smiled, "you look like you need it."
The two women had walked to the nearby coffee spot just a few minutes from the building. The chatter had been relatively idle. Things about working for a fashion magazine, dealing with high end clientele– the usual struggles that the two of them could relate to on a surface level.
This was a nice change of pace for Marron, she found herself always caught between her emotions as of late and having someone who wasn't involved with Trunks or Goten let her clear her head.
But just then, the entire world stopped spinning. "Marron?!" It was him. Why was he here at the same coffee shop as them? The blonde turned to the wild-haired man, a toothy grin on his face as he walked up to the duo.
"G-Goten, hey!" Marron exclaimed, shock settling on her expression. He looked so handsome, yet… nothing but the surface level electricity from excitement that fizzled as quickly as it came. How frustrating.
"I was not expecting to see you again, how are you?" Goten asked, approaching closer to the table, his eyes unmoving from the blonde.
Rulah's head perked up, as she watched the two of them. Marron seemed so nervous all of a sudden. She could spot the sweat rolling off her forehead. "Oh woah , you guys know each other?"
"Uh, yeah!" Goten cheerfully replied as he swung an arm over Marron's shoulders and pulling her into a side hug. "Marron and I go way back!"
"Really?" Rulah found that hard to believe, With the nervous expression that was painted on her face, the awkward laughter that came from Marron's lips were not enough to hide that nerve-wracking disposition.
"Yeah, we grew up together," Marron chuckled, her cheeks slightly hotter than she remembered. He was so close, and the scent of his cologne drowned her senses. She felt like she was in heaven.
"And now…she's dating my best friend," Goten said to Rulah, a wink following suit. "You know who."
Rulah's eyes widened in surprise, her body swinging towards the blonde "Shut up no way!" she exclaimed. The Trunks Briefs– the hotshot she went to high school with… she swore that wimp wouldn't ever have the balls to ask out a girl despite his popularity. How did he bag such a cutie? "Marron…you're dating Trunks?"
"Indeed she is–" Goten smirked, glancing back over to demure Marron who was too busy in her own world from how close Goten was to her.
"Tell the whole world why don't you," Marron chided, a soft smile gracing her lips as her lashes fluttered from how flustered she'd become. "I mean… we aren't that serious–" she began before being interrupted by Goten.
"You know Marron," Goten began, a smile on his lips as his onyx eyes suddenly met hers, ensaring her in his gaze. "I love how much you've come out of your shell…you seem so alive… you guys seem to bring the best out of each other." That felt off …she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
She tried to shake off the nagging feeling, and just tried to relish in the enjoyment of being close to him
"Aw, yeah…I've noticed–Marron's been less uptight!" Rulah pointed out, a smile on her lips. And it's true, Marron's dressed a bit less conservatively, being more and more defiant to unrealistic standards set by the big names. As someone who had been in the field a few years longer than Marron, Rulah can safely say that there was a change within her in the last few months.
"Yeah…" Goten said as he turned to her, a knowing smile on his face. "She has…"
AN: BOOO everyone disliked that! But don't throw tomatoes at me yet!