When Spring Came

17: Dawn

Song Of The Chapter: Sunflower, Vol 6 - Harry Styles

AN: The end of the nuggets of fluff or is it? Idk! You tell me!

Light flitted in through the window, kissing the closed eyes of the two sleeping individuals. There was a distinct warmth that emanated from the both of them. But in that moment, Marron stayed put in comfortable bliss…that was until her brain began to stir in its tired, sleeping state that it was morning.

And that there was only one arm slung over her waist that was keeping her from moving. Marron's eyes flew open to find a sleeping Trunks holding her in a tight, inescapable grip. The blonde began to panic, her neck and legs desperately trying to wriggle out of his hold.

" Trunks wake up!" Marron said as she wriggled watching as the slumbering hybrid stirred in his sleep to no avail. She thud her head against his arm, now meeting his sleeping face.

She began to absolutely panic, how long were they asleep for? It was already morning and she was just blissfully unaware they fell asleep on the couch… together ?! She recalled putting something on the television and…that's about when things got fuzzy for her.

"Trunks wake the hell up," Marron hissed, watching as he slowly opened to meet hers.

The tight hold didn't allow Trunks to hide his racing heartbeat at the sight of Marron's face. She was determined to rule that out as fear, rather than anything else. "W-What time is it?" Trunks' morning voice was definitely a few octaves lower than expected, still unaware that he had essentially locked Marron in his embrace.

"I would tell you but I can't move!" Marron grumbled, feeling as Trunks' eyes looked down to Marron, realizing just how close she was.

It almost felt as if he was in a dream-like state. Her blue eyes twinkled beneath him, and her soft lips slightly agape as she stared back up to him. This had to be a dream…right? His eyes flew open in sudden realization, releasing her from his grip. "Holy shit did we fall asleep?"

"Yeah– god I'm an idiot–" Marron's face scrunched as she sat up on the couch, rubbing her eyes as she tried to wipe the sleep out of her eyes. "Did you just let me sleep here?"

Trunks followed suit as he rubbed his eyes, squinting as his eyes attempted to adjust to the light. "What? You wanted me to carry you to bed, that's not awfully nice to do to an esteemed guest," Trunks scoffed, still laying facing the ceiling, his head slightly turned to look at the blonde's messy mane in amusement.

"I expected better from my boyfriend," Marron quipped as she got up from the couch and began to stretch her aching limbs. Her hands rubbing along her back and pulling at her own neck muscles. Sleeping on the couch was not…extremely comfortable, especially in such…tight confines

"Fake boyfriend," Trunks corrected amusingly, his hands laying against his stomach as he watched her. This was the second time he crashed at her place yet this time…felt different than the last. Perhaps it was the lack of panic from the evening before…maybe it's because they felt more comfortable in each other's presence.

Something was different.

Though the feeling that was present that first time, was tenfold now. Though much of the anger she held towards him seems to have dissipated with time.

Marron cast a disapproving glance his way. "A boyfriend nonetheless," she said with a secret smile pulling on her lips. Marron walked off into her bedroom, her door left open as she began to rustle through her drawers.

Trunks now sat up, his eyes scanning the room before he looked over to the bedroom door as he heard her humming softly."Hey Chestnut, what time is it…y'know I'm actually a pretty busy guy right?" He asked as he rubbed the back of his head.

Not even bothering with even facing him directly, Marron let out a chuckle that caught the hybrid off guard. "Hey Briefs, get a watch maybe?" Marron's response was…very on brand to their dynamic. Trunks wasn't even remotely surprised at her lack of cooperation.

"Oh yeah , no biggie…just running a major corporation here," Trunks scoffed, pushing his hair back out of his face as he looked down to his lap. His hand grabbed the cellphone in his pocket to find it dead. Shocker. "You got a charger at least?"

"On the side of the couch," Marron chimed, her head now popping in through the doorway. Her outfit had changed into something completely different. Black, form fitting slacks and a tucked black shirt with a mock neckline. Her teeth held a hair tie as her hands slicked back her hair into a high ponytail. "So…I'm running late–I had to catch a train for a meeting with The Trousa Napsta," Marron sighed out, stress flickering across her face.

"Oh, okay," Trunks paused, his eyes looking down as if he was trying to think of the logistics of his day. "I can take you," he replied simply.

Marron's eyes shifted, somewhat touched at the offer but shook her head in response. "Trunks, I don't think that's a good idea," Marron replied as her hands tightened the gold buckled belt around her slim waist. "My co-workers will be gossiping and–"

"And?" Trunks' raised a brow. Why would she be worried over such a trivial thing? "You know you're dating the Trunks Briefs, CEO of Capsule Corporation— again I'm a big deal!"

Marron could feel her eyes roll into the back of her head at the lofty declaration, truly she wasn't surprised they got stuck back there. "God, you're lucky you're conventionally attractive–" she said in a chuckle as she smoothed her pants out. "Is this how you get girls?" She asked, before turning back into the bedroom to get the rest of her clothing items.

" Noo ," Trunks squinted, licking his dry lips. His brain was desperately trying to regain its train of thought from the curve ball she tossed him. "I mean–I'm not really trying to do that here."

"Yeah, very believable Briefs," Marron chuckled out as she hopped on one foot slipping on her heels.

"You got done quick," Trunks quipped, leaning his head against his wrist as he watched her amused. Her hobbling and feeble attempts to balance herself were certainly an interesting sight, as his eyes flicked up to her face he noticed her makeup wasn't done yet. "What, no make up for this Trousa guy?"

Marron paused, looking up to Trunks with a look of disbelief in here yes.. "First of all, fuck off," she scoffed, a finger held up to cue him to not speak, "second of all, I was getting to it."

"Y'know, I may not be like…a genius when it comes to women or anything like that, but aren't you supposed to do your makeup before you get dressed," Trunks commented as he watched her finally get the heels on right.

"I run on the side of danger," Marron retorted back at him as she straightened her pants back out again to avoid any wrinkles, "and– that is not your business."

"You don't have to tell me twice," he said, getting up as he plugged his phone into the charger. "So what time you gotta be there?"

"In an hour," Marron responded as she turned back towards the room, rushing towards her jewelry box.

"Jeez," he followed her into the doorway of her bedroom, his hip against the door. Her bedroom was impeccably put together, an extra fluffy bed with an inviting aura that made the lazy hybrid want to get back in. "So who is the guy anyway?"

"Oh just like– one of the biggest fashion designers of the century," Marron scoffed as she put on her earrings, her eyes now looking up towards Trunks who blocked her path to exit the room. If she wasn't in such a rush, she'd stop to enjoy the sight of his disheveled appearance and lazy grin.

He was staring down at the blonde with much amusement dancing in his dark blue eyes. "Woah, Marron's going places congrats!" Trunks seemed genuine in his response, however something about it bugged her.

Marron squinted at him, as she finished clipping her earrings on. Her arms folding over her chest. "Trunks— I've been going places, do you not know how sought after I am?"

"I mean," his hand slipped onto the valley of her waist, garnering surprise from her. Goosebumps spread across her spine from the sudden touch as her flushed face quickly turned from him in embarrassment. Trunks was a lot more brazen in his acts as of late. This time with no alcohol to hide behind his actions. "No I don't, indulge me."

"You know that's not what I meant you dog," she hissed quickly prying his hand off of her. DId he think just because they kissed once or twice that he could just put her hands on her like that? Trunks certainly had another thing coming.

"Woof?" Trunks said in somewhat disbelief as his dropped hand landed on his chest feigning a shot to the heart. What kind of man did she take him for? "That's mean, you know I don't like dogs," he responded

"Don't remind me, you were running from those dogs from that Jaguar guy's mansion…" Marron snickered as she waltzed over to the mirror in her bedroom to begin applying her makeup.

"And you needed a diaper change," Trunks snickered watching as Marron's eyes flew open as she began to open her bag, her hands rummaging through the back.

"Kami Trunks, I was literally three years old," Marron hissed as she began applying the makeup to her skin, her eyes not even bothering to look at the hybrid meandering through her bedroom.

"And I was eight, big whoop–" Trunks grumbled as he flopped his back onto the white bed, letting out a deep sigh. It was a comfy bed, certainly soft enough to not break his back.

"Whatever," Marron grumbled as she reached for a lipstick, "I think you should just keep that part to yourself."

"Oh? You first Mar-Mar," Trunks chuckled as he watched the blonde apply the rest of her makeup. "Are you sure you want to use that color?"

Marron paused, turning her face over to Trunks who wasn't even looking in her direction. "Yeah, actually."

Trunks looked up to see the glossy nude shade on her lips, not that he was the biggest fan of gloss which man really was? That shiny stuff always got stuck everywhere, and kissing a woman with it on is definitely a textural nightmare. "I just think a lip balm would be better," Trunks quietly replied as he rummaged through his pocket searching for a capsule.

"Are you going to keep critiquing my makeup, Briefs?" Marron replied as she glanced over to her bed to find a capsule popped open with a sizable briefcase stored inside. Her brow arched as she approached.

"You mind if I get ready?" Trunks asked, as he cracked the briefcase open.

"Do you carry these things with you all the time?" Marron replied in disbelief.

"Well, you never know when you'll wake up in someone else's house, right?" Trunks asked, amusement in his voice as he watched Marron glare him down.

"And just how often are you sleeping with other people?" There was a twinge of a new emotion inside of her she couldn't quite recognize directed at him. But to Trunks, he saw the flash of green flicker in her eyes the moment she said that.

"Could it be that you're jealous?" Trunks replied, casting a knowing glance her way as he began to remove his shirt prompting Marron to quickly cover her eyes.

" N-No, and just what do you think you're doing?!" Marron couldn't help but stumble over her own words, her face flush with heat. "Do you go around stripping your clothes off at any given chance too, have you no decency?"

"What's wrong, you've seen me shirtless before?" Trunks was relishing this, why now is she acting like such a prude around him?

"That–" Marron paused to glance back over at him between her fingers. He truly had quite the build, but of course–most Saiyan men did. Why was she getting so worked up over nothing? "Doesn't matter…" her lips pressed together as she tried to scurry out of the room, her hands still covering her face. "Just finish getting ready and let's go."

The car ride was relatively quiet, as Marron had been getting phone call after phone call from her colleagues, and submitting final designs over to the people already present. It was very uncharacteristic of her to be such a slacker. Even if she was just a mere illustrator– it didn't matter– timeliness kept everyone at ease.

Marron paused as she placed her tablet down on her lap to glance over to Trunks who was simply humming along to the music. Truly it surprised her how quickly he got ready. One minute he was a sloth, with his hair a mess and the next he was perfectly groomed in a nice suit and leather shoes. "It's really nice of you to drop me off…you know, you really didn't have to," Marron said as she placed her tablet back in her bag.

Trunks chuckled as his hands gripped the wheel. "It's the least I could do after keeping you up all last night," he said, a smirk on his lips as he watched Marron's face turn a bright red.

" That is not what happened," Marron insisted as she felt the searing heat simmer down from her cheeks. "You're making it sound like we did something very impure last night."

Trunks audibly gasped in an almost sarcastic tone. "Marron Chestnut slept on the couch with a man! How scandalous!" Trunks teased as a throaty chuckle followed suit.

Marron couldn't help but feel a smile almost tug at her lips yet again, he was quite a jokester this morning–a welcomed change to the usual back and forth they typically had. "Well if you keep talking the way you do…someone might think that," Marron chided, crossing her legs.

"And so what if they did," Trunks chimed, as he arrived at a red light. His eyes flicking over to a blushing Marron. "Is that so bad?"

"W-Well–" Marron couldn't even believe the question. "I don't need lewd rumors like that spreading about me…y'know as a woman that's something you can't really come out of unscathed."

Trunks drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, tilting his head softly. "Come to think of it," he began, "we haven't actually…announced anything officially."

Marron's throat ran dry at the statement. This was getting more and more real , even if this was just a fake relationship…real emotions seemed to have taken hold…even sitting in this car with him, she could feel the nerves that previously weren't there electrifying every cell in her body.

She didn't understand just where they stood anymore, Marron always liked feeling grounded in her own emotions. But as of late, being around Trunks, it felt like she couldn't see the floor. Even if the kiss wasn't supposed to mean anything, it did mean something to her and that uncertainty made it all the more confusing.

Wasn't she supposed to hate him?

The boy who brought her so much bad luck in love?

"Hey Marron," Trunks' voice brought her back to earth. "We're here…"

Lo and behold–she was so engrossed in her own thoughts she lost track of time. She turned her head over to Trunks, and just as she was about to thank him he was already close to her.

His hand played with the blonde hair, under the guise of getting something out of her hair. Marron watched the playful spark in his eyes take over as he stole a kiss from her once more. A quick peck on the cheek this time, but enough to make her heart skip a beat.

"Wha–"

"Remember, we need to be natural," Trunks responded coolly, trying to hide the smirk that was daring to peek through his response, but his eyes did not tear from hers. He watched the rose color that danced across her cheeks at the sudden move.

"Oh, right," Marron muttered as she could hear the sound of her snooping coworkers near the vehicle…more than likely wondering who's fancy vehicle this belonged to. "Sorry I'm just— those are the women I was referring to," Marron groaned as she covered her face.

Trunks looked out the windshield, then back towards the embarrassed Marron. He let out an amused puff of air before exiting the vehicle. Marron instantly began to panic, she watched the well groomed man walk straight past the other women and open the door for Marron.

She was certainly surprised and confused by the chivalrous act, but quickly she noticed that his eyes were begging her to play along. She took his hand as she exited the vehicle, not daring to look the other women in the eye. "Thank–" Marron's words were taken away by another soft kiss on her lips.

In front of everyone.

But the gentleness of Trunks' hands surprised her. He held her for a moment, leaning his lips close to the tip of her ear. "Didn't mean to scare you," he whispered softly. He pulled away as he watched as Marron's face was stunned, and again, that adorable expression of hers struck him straight in the heart. "I'll call you later, okay?"

Marron simply couldn't understand—how he could just do what he did, and not feel the emotional weight overtake him? Didn't he feel weird kissing a woman who didn't love him, someone he knew had her heart set on someone else? These were the questions that Marron asked as she nodded slowly in response to him.

She turned into the building, feeling another wave of confusion overtake her. Unsure where she stood with any of her emotions anymore.

Trunks leaned his body on the passenger side door, watching as Marron walked inside the vehicle. As soon as she was out of sight, he sat with his own emotions for a second. His own cruel act against himself–he kept finding new ways to torture himself.

And as much as Trunks was not willing to admit it, he was playing a dangerous game…pushing the envelope with Marron. But he couldn't pull away, he was totally and completely ensnared by her—and he couldn't quite identify the why. As he drove off, his hands tapped the wheel, nerves and waves of unease settled across him.

There was only one question that sat in his mind now:

What had I done?

Pan and Bulla sat in the middle of a diner, the two girls fresh in their uniform from their respective highschools. Pan donning the orange-star high emblem on her everyday clothes whilst Bulla sported the structured uniform from Blue-Hal academy. The two girls sat in a booth with two comically large milkshakes: Bulla's was a perfectly pink strawberry flavor, while Pan's was a rich chocolate.

"So," Bulla said with a guile grin, "how's your end of things going with this bet you refuse to admit I'm winning?" She knew she had the upper hand in every way, knowing what she knew now…and the fact her brother actually kissed Marron willingly…everything is falling into place.

Pan smirked as she absentmindedly played with the straw of her drink. "I…wouldn't be so sure about that, Bulla."

"Oh come on Pan, just admit it!" Bulla huffed as she leaned back on her seat, her arms crossed over her chest as she cocked her head to the side. "I have you beat. "

Pan smirked, shaking her head as she took another slurp of her milkshake. "Until I see them kiss I ain't buying it ."

Bulla sighed. She wanted to spare her best friend– but it seemed she was not willing to listen to her sage advice. Didn't Pan get it by now? Bulla knows all…one way or another. "Well you'll be choking on your words soon enough."

"Or you will…don't you know Goten's love life is in…rocky waters…" Pan responded by playing with the big red straw in her drink, slowly swirling the drink around.

Bulla's eyes looked up, with just a little bit of excitement eliciting from her over-joyed expression. Could it be her chance? And quickly her eyes dropped as she forced a small pout. "Oh that's so…sad…"

"Mhm…and I've already planted a bug into his ear about Marron…" Pan replied with a prideful smirk that one only saw on rare occasions from the Son family.

Bulla's eyes bugged out at the mention of her future sister-in-law. "Marron?" She nearly choked on her drink. "I mean–she's already dating Trunks–"

"Do you honestly believe they are together happily ?" Pan asked incredulously as she leaned back on her seat. Her brow arched quizzically as she looked the bluenette up and down. "Marron has been in love with Goten for years."

Bulla's mouth grew dry. "W-What?"

Pan scoffed in disbelief. Bulla could claim to know everything…but missed something that obvious? "Bulla, how did you not know that?" She asked. "She's literally never normal around him–she would always ask for him…"

"But, Marron…doesn't like Goten…" Bulla insisted, grabbing the edge of the table.

The raven-haired teen shook her head and clicked her tongue. How could she be so clueless? "That's what she will say, but I know her–she's so easy to read."

Bulla knitted her brow as she flipped her aqua hair behind her shoulder, smoothing out the end before letting the straw meet her lips. Her voice began failing her as she attempted to make a sentence. "Marron doesn't belong with Goten, she–"

"What?" Pan asked, with her head tilted. Did she think that Marron didn't deserve someone like Goten? "Why would you say that?"

"Because, Trunks really is in love with her!" Bulla exclaimed, loud enough that a few heads turned around at the diner. The noted quietness was enough to make the teen press her lips together tightly from the awkward silence that followed suit.

"Bulla have you lost it?" Pan hissed under her breath as she grabbed her arm. "Trunks of all people is not in love with Marron."

It wasn't a matter of the fact that Bulla harbored feelings for Goten–that simply wasn't a part of her thought processes whatsoever. It was the sheer, and simple fact that she saw Trunks…the way he held Marron in his arms with a look in his eyes she had never seen before.

Only an idiot would deny the fact he was absolutely smitten with her. Despite the heated exchanges they had, there was something burning from the previously 'false' relationship. "Pan I saw them, I've never seen Trunks look at someone the way he looked at Marron since–"

Pan was quick to cut off her friend. "You cannot be serious," Pan groaned. She believed this all to be some kind of trick Bulla was trying to pull on her, Pan has seen how Trunks and Marron act around each other–and how Marron looks at her uncle. There simply was no denying the true facts.

She will need to see them with her own two eyes.

"Pan I swear," Bulla insisted, her hands on the table with a frustrated huff as Pan seemed to stare at her in a dubious manner. "Fine–fine–isn't Goten's birthday coming up soon?" Bulla proceeded to ask.

"Uh…yeah, what does that have to do with anything?" Pan asked with curiosity laced in her voice.

It was perfect…if Trunks and Marron can reconcile as Bulla hoped, then it would be perfect timing to officially debut as a couple…or at least pretend they like each other. It was a good thing Bulla was quick on her feet–one trait she certainly picked up from being trained with her father from such a young age. Perhaps, she can still salvage this yet.

"You'll see it with your own two eyes then," Bulla insisted, her eyes fluttering back over to the milkshake. " If she ever did have any feelings for Goten– those are long gone."

Pan rolled her eyes. "Yeah, okay…" Pan muttered, "you just want him for yourself–"

Bulla gawked at the accusation Pan threw her way. It wasn't like she was wrong but how dare she throw that in her face! "W-What, no way–" Bulla's face was a deep shade of red as she turned her face from the other teen. "And what– do you want Trunks for yourself–is that it?"

"Dude ew, no," Pan scoffed. "No offense to your brother–but he's kind of…well–"

"Pan…you know I do not care ," Bulla snickered, "you do realize anything you might think negatively of him I already know."

"I mean I just think…Uub is a lot cuter…" Pan quietly replied, not daring to look at the other girl's eyes.

"No way, what…" Bulla giggled, "My little Panny is all grown up!"

"I'm literally older than you…"

"Yes…" Bulla began, a pause settling between her sentences. "But clearly, I'm the more mature one– Uub! He's literally perfect for you!"

There was a reason that Pan didn't want to let that little nugget of information slip out. Because Bulla would make it all her business. Yet, she let it slip anyway. "Bulla, please don't say anything…" Pan groaned, her head pressed against the table.

"Oh, don't worry–I won't…" Bulla smiled softly, "I guess, to cheer you up on your inevitable failure in this bet…I'll show you how to woo Uub," Bulla winked.

Pan's face quickly flushed, from the embarrassment but also the small insult of Bulla's assumption. What could Bulla know that she doesn't? "Just what–"

"Shh, thank me later," Bulla pressed a finger to the other teen's lips. Someway…somehow…Bulla knew she was going to turn this in her direction. One way or another.

AN: OK i hope you all enjoyed this! It's a bit shorter than I'd like but the next few chapters will be...inch resting...