Welcome to DBZ Love Garden

"Gomen nasai, Gohan-san." The words were chilling to hear, and a sharp shiver stabbed its unearthly presence up the younger demi-Saiyan's spine. He almost looked for the pod people that had stolen his Trunks.

"Trunks…?"

"I didn't mean to concern any of you." Biting his lower lip in instant worry, the sudden flatness of the other's tone automatically putting the boy on edge, Gohan leaned forward, placing a delicate hand on the hard muscle of the older teen's flexing bicep.

"It's ok, Trunks-san…"

"Father and I had time to understand each other." Trunks continued as though the darker demi-Saiyan hadn't spoken, fine shards of azurite crystal scrutinizing an image only he was privy to. "He taught me the value of strength."

"Trunks…" the young man had Gohan suitably uneasy, his lifeless tone numb and unyielding, hypnotic in it's monotonous quality, the drastic change from his previous good humour enough to alert his keen sixth sense. "Tell me what happened, Trunks? What does that mean, 'the value of strength'? You're starting to sound like Vegeta-san, Trunks. What did he do to make you--"

"He didn't do anything!" The violence of the unexpected outburst from the usual taciturn teen caused the Son to start, sitting back against the armrest as he lost his balance, onyx eyes widening considerably as those swallowing voids of oceanic blue held him in place. "My father didn't do anything to me! We trained, that's all! Just like you and your father! He didn't touch me!"

"Touch you?! What are you talking about, Trunks-kun? I never said--"

"I know what you meant to say, Gohan-san." The older boy hissed, fingers clenching into the upholstery, face contorted in an expression of rage. "Damn you for knowing…" Gohan leaned further backward as the pastel demi-Saiyan flashed a menacing smirk. "But you won't tell anyone, will you Gohan-san? Oh, no…I'll make sure you stay quiet this time. I'll make sure you don't tell 'Kaasan again…about what he did…"

"Trunks…" The Son's voice shook with pensive apprehension, nails scratching into the embroidered pillows that supported his back. "You're…scaring me, Trunks-kun…"

"You just had to tell her, didn't you? You had to tell her what you saw that day in the amusement park. Had to tell my mother what that android did to me." Gohan swallowed as that pale, inviting periwinkle crystallized into ice, frozen shards binding his will, his ability to move. "Iie…I…"

"But I got you to stay quiet, didn't I, Gohan-san? So you couldn't spread anymore lies about me to my mother. So you couldn't tell her what else that cyborg prick did to me. Or how many times…"

"T-trunks…I…I d-don't…"

"And when I finally got you to stay quiet, Gohan-san, you have to find out about Vegeta!"

"Nani? Vegeta--"

"I bet you love the fact that my father is no better than those mechanized pieces of shit! That my own father would…do that to me just like that remote control bucket of bolts! I can't let you do it again, Gohan-san…gomen nasai…" Gohan choked on the scream in his throat as the other boy wrapped long, slender fingers around his vocal chords. "Why couldn't you just stay quiet, Gohan…

"It's a good thing I like you in red, sensei…"