CH 1: Greetings and Goodbyes

.

.

.

What was there left to live for? Trunks stared at the two small, precious grave markers in the dirt and wanted to scream, wanted to go back in time and destroy those monsters again and again. Trunks regretted not savoring their destruction, but it just joined the long, long list of things he wished he could go back and change. The damage was done, and Trunks couldn't go back in time to fix it.

Funny, he always thought time travel would be some grand fix-all solution, but the bodies he'd buried told a different story.

The damage was done long before Trunks ever grasped the first airy strands of his ki and learned how to harness it, before he tasted the bitter grief of loss, before he felt the sweet pleasure of revenge, and before he realized it was all for nothing. In the end, the androids got the last laugh. They might've been gone, but so was everyone else.

Trunks sat cross-legged on the ground in his backyard. It was spring, and the sun shone happily in the sky with white, fluffy clouds spread across the blue expanse. The cherry blossom tree they planted all those years ago stood full and vivacious over the dead while Trunks sat just outside its shadow. He wore his capsule corp jacket, a simple black shirt, pants, and boots while his hair was tied back into a ponytail.

Was he cursed by Kami? Did the sins of the father stain the child? Was there some arbiter of fate who saw his life as some tragic, untold joke? If that were the case, give him a sign so he could at least know he was born to suffer; get the cruel part of the joke that is his life over with already.

"No one is born to suffer, Trunks, though," Trunks was up with a ki blast primed in his hand at the sudden intrusion. "Suffering is a part of life."

The yellow-orange ki blast hummed in his didn't release it, potentially blowing everything in a five-mile radius to HFIL. Maybe he had finally lost his mind, but the man, or being, looked nothing like any Trunks had ever seen.

And that's counting Frieza's weird father.

And Cell.

The being was short and vibrant, but dressed in a way that screamed class, wealth, or even royalty. Their skin was a pale purple, they had a mane of white, spiky hair, and they looked humanoid at the very least. Two spherical earrings dangled from their pointy, elf-like ears.

"Who are you? How do you know my name?" Trunks didn't care if it was goddamn Santa Clause, this place was off-limits. "Answer me, or I'll blow your damn head off."

The being didn't look threatened or even slightly afraid of the hot, glowing ball of ki aimed at his delicate-looking face. From experience, Trunks knew either the being was bluffing, or Trunks was no real threat to them. If it were the former, he'd gladly shatter an overinflated ego, but if it was the latter…

"Peace, please. I come in peace," The being spoke perfect yet oddly accented Japanese. Their voice was soft and serene, like a gentle breeze on the wind.

Trunks scoffed and kept the ki blast humming in his hand. "Yeah, well, I don't want you here. So leave. Now."

"My sincerest apologies," the being bowed its head in respect. "But I come bearing an offer that is particularly time-sensitive."

"I don't care," Trunks gnashed his teeth. "This is private property, my property. Leave before I make you leave."

"Will you not hear my offer, Trunks of Earth?" The being maintained their composure. "I swear upon my honor if upon hearing what I have to say, you'd still I rather leave, then I shall with no delay. But, please, Trunks, I bear you no foul intent."

Trunks felt his anger, his fury, recede like the waxing tide. He lowered his arm and let the gathered ki go. Whatever. It wasn't like he couldn't fight if it came down to it. Plus, Trunks knew if the thing was some enemy, they wouldn't be trying to peacefully resolve things.

"Fine," Trunks grunted and crossed his arms over his chest. "What do you want? Who are you, and where did you come from?"

The being smirked, crossed its wrists behind its back, and breathed in deep, ready to speak.

"Greetings, I am the Supreme Kai," the 'Supreme Kai' bowed like some noble or puffed-up prince. Someone felt self-important. "a being of great cosmic authority and responsibility. It is my sworn duty to help maintain the balance in the universe. It is the duty of all Kai to oversee the sanctity and creation of all life."

Trunks might have been amazed or awed before he traveled through time. As it was, he felt nothing. He didn't care, couldn't care less at this point.

"Okay, so what?" Trunks already met God, and he turned out to be a little green man. "It seems to me that you're bad at your job. In case you haven't noticed, your majesty, there's barely anyone left alive on this rock. Is that balance for you? There used to be billions of people before the androids came and slaughtered them all. Now, there are barely a few million– if that."

The Supreme Kai winced, and in this Trunks took vicious pleasure. How dare this 'Kia' come here spouting off about being responsible for life in the universe just to sit on their ass when the androids were gleefully murdering millions of people?

"While I preside over life in the Universe, I cannot intervene unless that balance is undoubtedly threatened," the Supreme Kai explained, deflected. Excused.

Trunks felt his ki stir within him, bright and furious- ready to catch light to anything that got close enough. People were dead, and there was nothing the 'Supreme Kai' could do about it? Give him a break.

"Please, Trunks," the Supreme Kai tried. "It is not easy when your purpose is Creation only to watch what you've Created be Destroyed and be unable to change that. While I've come to understand Destruction is simply a part of the Cycle of Life, that is seldom a sufficient comfort in the wake of what was lost. But while the Cycle is unfeeling, I am not. It is why I am here before you today."

The Kai didn't move, didn't need to, but the world around them faded away into some dark surroundings. Trunks was on edge, prepared to fight, but began to spy twinkling lights in the growing, dark expanse. One after the other until there were so many it looked like he dived into the night sky.

"We Kai live for eons," The Kai spoke softly, as Trunks took in the illusion(?). "I have personally created more planets and beings than you could feasibly comprehend, but that is where my accomplishments begin and end. I create the board, set the pieces, and can do no more than watch as it plays out. I cannot take part. I cannot lose, I cannot win, and for all the power at my fingertips, I could not have accomplished what you have. What I create is doomed to be destroyed."

Stars were just great big, balls of fire with their gravity. Trunks wasn't dumb. He knew how space and time worked. The fact there was some pastel-colored elf manipulating things from behind the scenes was no big shocker, but mom definitely...would've...she would've…

Any rage was doused, drenched, in sorrow. "Still don't see what any of this has to do with me or why you're here."

"I am here because of your heroism," Yeah, it was 'heroism' that made him jump timelines. "You've saved what would have otherwise been destroyed. You saved the Earth and its people. Generations will live on because of you, and I am eternally grateful." The Supreme Kai snapped his fingers, and a large hand mirror appeared. "Here, look, and see what your actions have caused."

The mirror floated over to him, and Trunks cautiously looked into it. The reflection of his face melted away to show a destroyed city. It was nothing new for Trunks to see a toppled building or the burnt-out husk of a car. What was new were the people and construction equipment. Trunks got closer, not believing what he was seeing. He couldn't tell the city, but the people in hard hats and uniforms were clearing out the rubble, something no one could have done when the androids were around.

Then the image changed, melting away again into another city in another place with more people handing out bowls of food and loaves of bread to one another. He saw kids kicking a ball, a woman playing with a newborn, and trucks rolling into cities overflowing with boxes, blankets, and food. He saw people smiling, laughing, crying, and hugging each other. Trunks' heart ached fiercely, and he felt his eyes begin to burn with budding tears.

"Is it safe to be out now, momma?" A young boy looked up to his mother as people greeted each other in the street without fear.

The mother nodded and picked her son up into her arms. "It's safe now, my love. The androids are gone."

"How? Where'd they go? Will they be back?"

"No, never. They were destroyed by the Golden Warrior. We have him to thank."

"Oh. Thank you, Golden Warrior!"

"Silly boy, he can't hear you, but I'm sure wherever he is, he appreciates it."

The mirror's image melted back into his reflection, and Trunks could see his red-brimmed eyes. The mirror floated back to the Supreme Kai, who snapped his fingers, making the mirror dissappear.

"Do you see now, Trunks?" The Supreme Kai spoke gently. "One day, this planet and its people will meet their end, as all things do, but for now, you prevented it. You defied the fate of your world and won. I could not do such a thing, beholden to the Forces that tie this Reality together as I am. But you? You are a true hero, Trunks, and I wish to repay that heroism, that sacrifice, with a gift."

Trunks held his tongue. He would see where this went and go from there.

"The Earth's Destruction has been waylaid for another time. Such is the natural order of things, but you have my word it will not be destroyed in your lifetime. I swear it on my honor and name as a Kai."

There was a bright flash of white light, dazzling and starry like a misty cloud of glitter. Trunks needed to squint to keep his eyes on the Kai, but in one moment, the cloud of glittery dust was here, and then it was gone.

"What was that?" Trunks would be dumb not to ask.

"A Divine Vow," the Supreme Kai answered. "It is a binding promise I cannot break for anything, less I risk severe repercussions. To the Divine, our word is bond, so when I say your planet will be safe in your absence, I mean it, Trunks."

Wait a minute…

"My absence?"

"Yes," The Supreme Kai crossed his hands again. "I offer you a new life, to free you from the shackles of your past, of this past, in return for what you've done. In simple terms, I offer you a fresh start in a different dimension unbeholden to this timeline."

That was hard to wrap his head around, hard to believe. Trunks remembered Goku mentioning a King Kai, but he thought that was some guy who lived in a castle, not a divine being with the power to transport people between dimensions.

But was that so far-fetched? After living through the literal robot apocalypse, traveling through time, training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, fighting Cell, and dying. Was dimensional travel so hard to believe?

No, Trunks realized, that wasn't the part he couldn't believe. It's the fact that it was all so easy. If there was one thing Trunks knew, it was that anything worth it wasn't free. This 'gift' or whatever had to come with some strings attached.

"What's the catch?" Trunks asked because there had to be. "Is the world you're sending me to in dire need of a hero or something? Is there some threat you need me to take care of?"

The Kai shook his head. "No world is free of danger. That is a constant outside of my control."

"But there will be threats in this other world," Trunks' wasn't stupid; he could read between the lines.

"Correct," The Kai nodded. "But, they are not your obligation to handle, or, at least, not alone."

That was a loaded answer. Trunks felt the 'divine being' was telling him a lot, but not a lot at the same time. And the magnanimous smile on the Kai's face didn't help any.

Trunks debated fiercely in his head. He dedicated his life to surviving and killing the androids for so long. He had no more friends, no more family, and barely a home or future. Would he spend the rest of his life rebuilding a broken world? Wasn't he responsible for it now? If he left, wouldn't that be the same as running away? Wasn't the world counting on him?

Trunks didn't…he didn't know how to fix this planet. He destroyed the androids like he swore to, but he never put much thought into what came after. There was no 'after' for so long that now, when faced with it, Trunks didn't want to go it alone.

If Trunks was to believe the Kai, Earth wouldn't need him anymore. And if his world didn't need him, wasn't that a good thing? Wasn't it a good thing he didn't need to fight anymore? That death wasn't a constant, cackling threat flying overhead in a jean jacket? That Trunks could live a 'normal' life?

That's what mom would've wanted, right? Gohan too?

Trunks turned to the graves and didn't know what to do. Gohan always had the answers; if he didn't, then Mom would. Trunks' heart ached, wishing for his family to be here and help him like they used to. He clenched his eyes shut and felt a tear leak out of the corner to slide down his cheek.

What should I do, Mom? Gohan?

A breeze blew through the backyard, and Trunks felt his breath catch in his throat. An answer seemed to settle slowly over his wounded soul, easing the pain and wiping the tears from his cheeks just like…just like…

Trunks choked down his sob and simply relished the comfort, imaginary or not; it felt real enough. If Trunks imagined Mom and Gohan standing there, if Trunks imagined Mom wiping his eyes and kissing his forehead, if Trunks imagined Gohan ruffling his hair, if Trunks imagined all of it…he was just fine with that.

He took a steadying breath and let that feeling quiet his doubts and grief. Mom and Gohan might not be here, but Trunks knew what they'd say. He knew what they'd want for him; it was what they always wanted for him. It was what he always wanted for himself. To live and be happy.

"Supreme Kai," His heart and mind were aligned in this. He saw Mom and Gohan smiling, so he turned and gave a small one of his own "I accept."

.

.

.

AN:

I've always felt like Trunks has prime MC-insert potential that was waiting to be tapped into. Well, this is me tapping into it. I'm going with DBZ Trunks, not DBS Trunks because I personally prefer the purple-haired swordsman from the future.

Yes, it's a crossover with the MCU, but expect some comic-elements thrown in because some aspects of the MCU pale in comparison to the 'source' material. I'm not a Marvel 'expert,' so if there's any inconsistencies or anything, let me know. This is an AU, considering y'know the whole point of this fic. Don't expect some point for point copy of the MCU series of events because our guy will have a hand in influencing how things turn out.

Other than that, I hope you are excited for this because I am. Till next time loyal readers! Excelsior!