Traveling Connections

In Which There's A Deal

Chapter 20- In Which There's A Deal

"Why do you keep staring at me like that?" Trunks sighed. He was sitting in his mother's lab as she examined the bracelet. Honestly, she was just taking notes on it.

"Like what?" Bulma asked softly.

"All teary-eyed like I'm a prodigal son returning," he said. "I'm not that Trunks, you know."

"I know," Bulma told him sternly as she frowned at him. "I've never thought you were him."

"Oh really?" Trunks raised a lavender eyebrow.

Bulma let out a small sigh. "Maybe when I first glanced at you I did, but that's only because the last time I saw him he was only a little bit younger than you... It only took me a few seconds to realize you wasn't him."

"Because I'm so different from him?" Trunks guessed.

"Because you're my Trunks," Bulma whispered that teary-eyed look back on her face. "Honestly, I've always been worried about you, Trunks."

"What?" He asked in confusion. "Why?"

Bulma raised a hand and wiped the corner of her eyes. "Your counterpart came here from a time where everything was in ruins. He was fighting to survive daily in a world that resembled a nightmare. I always feared that something like that could happen in this timeline as well and that your life could turn into that nightmare like his was. You've always been so rash, Trunks, so much like your father. You've always been too much like your father, and it's something I would never change about you because it makes you who you are. I just wanted you to always stay on guard, but seeing you here now, though..." She reached over and grabbed his hand. "It's like an overwhelming sense of relief has flooded my body because you'll be okay."

"Mom..." Trunks blinked at her in shock. He had no idea she had ever thought that way. For so long, he thought she was trying to mold him into his counterpart, but the reality of it was that she was scared that he would be like him. He squeezed his mother's hand. "I'll be okay," he told her.

"That's all I could ever want, Trunks," she told him softly. "No matter what you do, or where you go... As long as you're happy, I'll support you."

"Why couldn't you tell me this when I was a kid?" Trunks teased.

"You are far too wild," Bulma snorted. "Another thing you get from your father."

"Hate to tell you this Mom, but I only grow up to act more like him."

Bulma sighed and let go of his hand and picked up a strand of her blue hair. "I have a feeling you give me gray hairs in the future."

Trunks grinned, "Bulla helps a lot."

Bulma smiled at him fondly. "You know... Why were talking about you... You and Panny-"

"I gotta go," Trunks stood up.

Bulma laughed, "oh come on, that little crush you have on her is adorable!"

Trunks cringed. He honestly hadn't realized that it had been that obvious but after spending a few days with his younger self, he had realized that it had been more than obvious. He practically had hearts in his eyes every time he looked at Pan. Pan was either oblivious or just pretending to not notice, Trunks wasn't sure which one it was. He couldn't blame his younger self for being so smitten though...

"That little crush... You didn't outgrow it, did you?" Bulma asked softly.

Trunks felt his face growing warm. "I really got to go to the bathroom," he told her as he turned around.