Humanity (Trunks x OC)

Part 4

A few weeks later, 21 was searching for 18 and 17, following their trail of destruction, when she comes across a sight that catches her attention.

"What?" she nearly gasps as she rushes towards the ground to find two unconscious bodies on the floor. She would think they were dead if she didn't sense their faint energy levels. Somehow, when the thought crossed her mind, it frightened her some.

Gohan and Trunks are looking worse for wear and it's clear 17 and 18 got to them, badly. Gohan's arm is even missing. It's a wonder he's still alive.

Looking over at Trunks, she tilts her head in thought when she spots a bean like thing between his lips. Seeing Gohan's outstretched arm, she puts two and two together and figures he tried to give it to his pupil.

Reaching over, she rolls the teen onto his back, pops the bean further into his mouth before shutting his yaws for him. After a second or two he starts to couch slightly before settling down.

Next, she turns to Gohan. It's clear he needs treatment. So ripping his sleeve off, she creates a makeshift bandage over where his arm used to be and around his chest.

Standing up to look at her handiwork, she wonders what to do next. Should she leave now? But what if 17 and 18 come back to find them here still alive. With her having treating them no less. That will hardly be pretty. Guess she has no choice...

Sighing, she first picks up Gohan. Though way bigger than herself, she slings him over her shoulder with ease. Next, she bends down by Trunks. Scooping him up by his waist. Now if only she knew where to take them.

Wait a minute! On Trunks' shirt is a logo she has seen before. Yes. It's from a city not far from here. It was outside a large building. Perhaps there is someone there that knows them and can take care of them. Quickly taking off, she flies off towards the city.

It does not take too long to reach the city and it only took her a minute longer to find the building she was looking for. Just as she touches down, Trunks starts to wake up, groaning in discomfort.

Putting the both of them down, his eyes start to open. Blinking through a daze, he is suddenly startled when he finds 21 staring down on him. "Don't just stare boy. Your friend is hurt." she reminds him as he keeps staring at her long enough to make her feel uncomfortable.

He snaps out of it, whipping his head around to look for Gohan to find him lying on the ground next to him. "Gohan." Trunks breathes in dismay, lifting up his friend's upper body. He is surprised to find a limb missing and to find the wound bound. He next notices where he is: Right on the doorstep of his home. How?

He looks up at 21 as she turns to leave. A million questions are running through his mind, but a pained grunt from his mentor makes his attention turn to the more serious matter at hand.

Lifting Gohan over his back, he shoots one last questioning glance towards 21 as she peers over her shoulder before flying off. Trunks then proceeds to rush inside, looking for help from his mother.

...................

After some time of Gohan recuperating and starting back up their training together, Trunks manages to find a free afternoon. He's been looking for an opening for a while now, because he feels there is something he must do.

He doesn't know how he did it, but somehow he found her. He finds her on a beach where she is lying on her stomach, her bare feet digging into the sand as she watches a sandcastle slowly being engulfed by the tide. Her shirt is tossed behind her, leaving her in a tank top.

Trunks can't help but picture her as an ordinary girl lying like that. He imagines her a few years older than himself, enjoying the day off from high school before going home and returning to her family.

Maybe she would have gone out in the evening, on a date perhaps? She looks like she would be popular, like one of those girls everyone turns to for help in those sappy movies his mom watches sometimes.

As she acknowledges his presence, he realizes how silly he must have looked standing there like that, staring. He feels his face heat up for a moment.

Quietly he approaches her, a bit stiffly as he begins to feel nervous. Her eyes seem to be bearing into his soul, the grid like pattern in her eyes shifting slightly as she focuses on him. She doesn't move though. She waits for him to speak, looking quite emotionless.

"21." he starts, his throat feeling dry. It feels odd to say her name. She doesn't look like a '21', if that is even a name to begin with. She looks more like an Emma, a Melanie or a Sofia. That would have suited her better.

She raises a brow, urging him to continue as he falls silent, lost in his thoughts. He snaps out of it. "I uh. I guess... I want to...thank you... for bringing Gohan and I home...and for taking care of us after our fight with 17 and 18." he finally manages to spit out.

After a moment of silence, she finally sits up, facing him. "It's fine." she mutters, making Trunks frown.

"Don't discard my thanks like that! It's a big deal!" he tells her passionately, making her blink.

"I'm sure they wouldn't be happy with you if they found out that you helped us." he explains before his eyes widen. "Did they?" he carefully asks, referring to the android duo.

His eyes widen as a small smile manages to break through on 21's otherwise stoic features. His concern for her, although she believes it to be unneeded, is touching. "No." she assures him, making him sigh in relief.

Digging the toe of his shoe in the sand, he can't help but ask the question that has been on his mind for some time now. "Why did you do that? Why help us? Why... why are you different from them?" he asks, making her look confused.

"Different?" she questions.

"I mean...." Trunks starts, scratching his neck nervously. "You don't seem... evil like them. Not a bad person." he clarifies, making her tilt her head, her face blank.

"I thought you believed me to be a monster?" she retorts, making him flinch slightly.

"Perhaps...Perhaps I was wrong. I'm sorry." he apologizes, surprising 21.

"I see." she murmurs at last, contemplating the teenager in front of her.

She rises to her feet. "The doctor who created me, had ill intentions with me. I'm certain of that now. I'm uncertain if I can ever be called 'good', but for both of our sakes, I hope you were wrong about me indeed." she reveals, making Trunks look up at her in awe.

He then smiles. "I am pretty sure this time around. You're okay 21." he states, managing to receive another smile.

She sighs, closing her eyes. "You Saiyans, are starting to grow on me." she confesses, making Trunks blush.

She turns around, picking up her shirt and pulling it over her head. Tossing her hair out of her face she picks up her discarded shoes.

Looking back to Trunks, she catches him staring again. She snaps her fingers to snap him out of it, smirking in amusement as his eyes fixate on hers, with a blush still dusting his cheeks. She winks at him. "Maybe when your older boy." she teases. Snickering when he blanches before walking off.