Like Mother, Like Son

[blamekaneda.livejournal.com]

Who: Bulma Briefs [notpanties] and Shotaro Kaneda [blamekaneda].
Where: The auto shop. Where else?
When: Earlier this evening.
Rating: PG-13 for Kaneda's potty mouth.
Summary: Bulma decides to come clean about her relationship with Trunks.
the log:

Kaneda arrived at the auto shop first and was quick to occupy his favorite seat in the building: swept onto a table, cross-legged and facing the open garage door as he waited for Bulma. She had something to tell him, something she couldn't divulge over the network. Whatever it was, it was important enough to warrant a face-to-face talk since she asked him to meet her here.

He was intrigued and more than a little concerned. It was clear from their brief exchange that something was bothering her, but he hadn't the first clue what it might be. The last time they met for a serious discussion was when Tetsuo made his appearance in Discedo and he was beside himself with grief, desperation and fear that the city and all who lived there would be subjected to the younger boy's destructive whims. But, as with all new arrivals, Tetsuo's powers had been stunted by the chip and Kaneda could relax for a while.

Bulma seemed to have far less problems in Discedo. She roped in new friends easily and was the go-to girl for any and all electrical issues. She brought light to darkness and made the city as a whole much more livable. Kaneda leaned back now and thought that maybe she deserved more credit than she got. The last time he thanked her was probably when she salvaged Ohura, and even that was long before the bike went through the overhaul to become the magnificent piece of machinery it was today.

So what was the big deal? Maybe that hundred-year-old Vegeta guy was giving her hell, or Reno, whom Kaneda always thought was kind of shady even if he was good enough to bum cigarettes off of. But that's the sort of thing you'd bitch to your friends about. He could tell this was markedly different and was growing more and more anxious as the minutes ticked by.

Unlike most of their meetings, where Bulma made it a point to get there first and be prepared for anything they had planned, she had decided to take the longer route today. She mulled over what she would say to him: "So, about that purple-haired guy..", or, "A funny thing happened while you were gone!" were both phrases that would probably make things far worse than they already were. As it was, Bulma was a teenager sharing a city with her twenty-something year old son from the future, and some jerk with weird hair was claiming to be the father. She still wouldn't let herself believe that part. Vegeta was obviously just trying to get her even more worked up than she already was.

When she saw the auto shop closing in on the distance, she bit her lip and willed herself to speed up just slightly, so that she was going only slightly faster than your standard funeral procession. Right. Don't worry. It's not like it affects him. At least, not a lot. He won't be bothered by it. It wasn't like there was anything more between them than an honest friendship, even if Bulma knew that she felt more. It was better not to throw in the extra detail, anyway. "I've got a kid from the future and, oh, by the way, I totally like you," wouldn't fly well at all.

She made her way into the auto shop, her back straightening to reflect the confident trademark walk that she had mastered so well. "Hey," she said, taking an old chair from the front corner and pulling it along with her.

Kaneda perked at her appearance, unfolding his legs and letting them dangle over the edge of the table.

"Finally. Did'ja get lost?" he jokingly asked, wearing a crooked grin on his face. Bulma didn't seem too obviously disturbed by whatever it was she had to get off her chest. At the same time, she didn't exude her usual flamboyance and energy, she was just... sort of there. Distracted. Slowly, the grin melted from his face and he leaned forward, elbows propped on his knees. "What's goin' on?"

She dragged the chair until she stopped n front of him, but didn't sit down, deciding suddenly that it was better to stand. Pushing the chair aside, she folded her arms, and bit at the corner of her lip. "It's not exactly what's going on now," said Bulma, "Well - actually, it is, but it's more about what's going to go on later. Like, much later. Way later."

Bulma had been chased by dinosaurs, nearly eaten by a giant ape, kidnapped by a small blue psychopath, and locked inside of a building filled with zombies. This wasn't the strangest thing that could happen, but it was different. She'd sooner fight zombies than have to deal with knowing what happens to her fifteen years down the road.

She inhaled, then, as she let her breath go, she spoke along with it. "See, it's about that guy, Trunks, and why he's always looking out for me, and I know you're not going to believe this, but there's a really good reason for it even if it is kind of weird and really, really awkward."

Here she gave pause, her eyes finally focusing on his, as her fingers tightened on her arm. "We're related."

He sat in awe of her, allowing the silence that followed her little revelation to be as uncomfortable as possible.

That was it? That was the pressing, oh-so-important bit of news that she couldn't wait to share with him? Seriously. He made the trek for this? Granted, it wasn't that long nor that treacherous of a walk, but he still took time out of his day so Bulma could say her piece. Kaneda didn't know whether to be irritated or or just plain angry.

"Congratu-friggin'-lations, you got family in th' city. What is he? A brother, a cousin?"

Crap. Maybe spilling the whole thing immediately would've been better. Well, duh! Why did I freeze up like that?! How hard is it to say!? In truth, it was extremely tough to admit it out loud. She scowled a little - not at him, but at her own frustration with the entire situation. Bulma grit her teeth as she spoke, before she replied, her words spilling out faster than she intended.

"He's my son. He's my kid from the future. It's weird, okay!? I thought--forget it." She took a step back, then waved her hand. "It's my problem, anyway."

"Hang on a second!"

Kaneda leapt off the table and outstretched a hand to stop her, grasping her by the shoulder and forcing her to look at him again. His eyes scanned Bulma's face for any trace of a smile or some small hint that she was just pulling his leg. He wanted it to be a lie, because if it was the truth, well -- that was screwed up. Really screwed up. Nonetheless, Kaneda needed to hear it again.

"He's your what?"

She jumped when he grabbed her, her hands falling to her sides as they came face-to-face. Bulma felt a horrible twist in her gut as she watched him, a small part of her wishing that he'd slap her on the back, congratulate her, and let her go. She knew that really wasn't going to happen.

"My kid," she said, the words seeming strange to her. She'd never really thought about having kids, like most girls did; back home, Bulma was wrapped up in herself and what she was doing. Sure, her ultimate wish when she set out for the dragon balls was for an amazing boyfriend (and an endless supply of strawberries), but she was sixteen years old and far too into herself to care about getting married or becoming a mother.

"From the future, obviously. Way into the future." The extra detail was needed. Trunks was older than Bulma, technically, but she felt she had to specify it.

His fingers dug into the soft flesh of her shoulder. Not enough to hurt her, but enough to communicate how the news was affecting him. Kaneda knew then that she wasn't teasing him. This was just as much of a serious matter for her to deal with. Moreso. This was her future. It was a sure thing, it was inescapable. Still, shock, anger and the tiniest sense of betrayal lanced through him and he eventually relinquished his grip on her.

He took a step back and found himself unable to hold her gaze any longer. "Shit, Bulma. What're you gonna do?"

I don't know," she replied. "What can I do? I moved into a different apartment to avoid him, but.. I can't just sit here and pretend that he doesn't exist." She took another step back, reaching for the chair she had brought along with her and sitting down. Her hands still grasped at her arms, and she directed her attention elsewhere, focusing on a wrench that lay forgotten on top of a red toolbox.

"I found out after you were taken back. This fog started covering the city, and even if you were inside, you'd still inhale it. No one was hurt or sick, but it made people say things--things that were either the truth, or a total lie. With all the evidence backing it up, like how much he knows about me, my friends, and my dad's company, it was hard not to believe him when he told me. And it gets worse," she leaned forward, frowning as she spoke. "Something really bad is supposed to happen, but he won't tell me what it is. He keeps going on about changing it or something. I don't know."

It honestly terrified her to know that something horrible was going to happen to her and her friends in the future. Sure, they'd dealt with a lot in their younger years, but if Trunks' overly cautious personality had anything to do with it, Bulma knew she had reason to worry.

"I was going to tell you earlier, but when Tetsuo got here, I didn't want to give you anything else to freak out over."

He crouched in front of her and picked at the loose debris on the floor; pebbles, small bolts. Should he say something? What could he say? No amount of cooing or holding her hand would make this dilemma disappear.

So, she was going to be a mother. Kaneda hadn't formally met Trunks, but from his network posts he seemed like an okay guy. Quiet, intense, not exactly the type to make waves. Then something occurred to Kaneda that sent an unpleasant tingle shooting down his spine, Vegeta's voice ringing in his head:

"He has the blood of Saiyan coursing through his veins as well."

Saiyan.

Hadn't Vegeta used that word to describe himself? He wasn't human. He made that abundantly clear every time they spoke, lobbying the term and insisting it made him so much better than the average Discedoian. Honestly, he was a huge pain in the ass, but it made Kaneda's stomach flop to think...

"Who's th' dad?"

A good question. A valid one. A question that made her pale to think about, given that the only person to ever step forward and claim Trunks as his son was the one guy she was doing everything to avoid at the moment. After all, she had wounded him pretty well once, and with the powers he had now - powers like Son-kun's - he could take her out whenever he wanted to.

Even if Trunks were Yamcha's son, Yamcha wouldn't have known. According to what everyone had said, Trunks was born after she turned thirty-something (thirty-something!? She didn't even want to think about that) so the only people who would know about it would be Vegeta, Pan, Trunks, and Goten. Both Trunks and Vegeta had told her who the father was, but she still wasn't going to believe it. Her future was out on the table already; why make it even worse?

She was quiet when she spoke, her words coming out slow. Even as she said it, she didn't believe what she was saying. "Vegeta says Trunks is his son. But--" she shook her head, "Why would I--?! That jerk wants to kill me."

Kaneda made a face. A face of disbelief and utmost revulsion. He even turned a shade of green normally unseen by human eyes.

"Jesus, him?!"

Vegeta seemed like the kind of man to do everything in his power to get a one-up on someone he was competing with, even if that competition was a little verbal sparring between himself and a teenage boy, but he seemed averse to the idea of raising a family with Bulma. Did that mean that there was some merit to his claim? That he and Bulma had wedding bells in their future? A kid, a dog and a white picket fence -- the whole friggin' nine yards.

"Maybe th' whole 'killin' you' thing is his way of bein' romantic," he said spitefully.

"Don't joke around!" she cried, raising her hands into her face and sinking back into her chair. "It's just gross! I don't care what anyone says--he's old, he's got weird hair, and I don't like him! Why would I change my mind fifteen years from now?!"

If she'd left Discedo by that time, that is. Staying where she was almost sounded better than going home at the moment, but no matter where she was, Vegeta and Trunks would still be there eventually. Then, what? Was she supposed to sit back and take it? Trying to change the future would mess with the time-space continuum. Things that were supposed to occur would change, and the components that played into those changes were unpredictable as it was. Even then, if she tried to fight it, then Trunks wouldn't exist. He was a nice guy, and he didn't deserve that.

But still -

"This sucks. I don't want to sit here and be told that my future is one thing and I have to accept it."

He wanted to come up with theories that would explain everything and absolve Bulma of her role as wife and mother: a case of mistaken identity, or maybe she had a crazy twin sister running around out there. But Kaneda didn't think the world could handle two of her. Frankly, one could cause enough mischief for ten. The image brought a tiny smile to his face and he ducked his head into his arms to hide it.

"Don't, then. No one's gonna force you ta marry th' guy, 'less that's how all this happens."

"I wouldn't do it even if he tried to force me! He's not my type, anyway." Vegeta once old her that her future self had called him cute. She was pretty sure he was telling her an outright lie. After all, Bulma didn't go for jerks who wanted her dead. There was nothing Vegeta had to offer her, and there were much better guys out there. She didn't want to consider the circumstances that made her crazy enough to have his child.

Sitting upright, Bulma looked down to Kaneda and balled her hands into fists. There had to be a way to change what the future held-- after all, didn't one of her old room mates go on about making one's own path? (Along with reaching towards the heavens, or something along those lines. What a weird guy.)

In any case, it was a possibility. She just had to figure out how. "You're right. I won't." She stood up, setting her hands onto her hips. "But what about Trunks?"

He lifted his head and stretched out his legs. He was all but sprawled on the auto shop floor.

"Whaddya think? F'ya don't get with Vegeta --" shudder "-- he won't be born."

It was a potentially regrettable decision and one Bulma couldn't take lightly, especially since Trunks' well-being meant a lot to her, regardless of the fact that she was steering clear of him for the moment. Kaneda dusted his hands off on his pants and sighed.

"He said somethin' bad happens in th' future, right? What if it all starts with him being born? Anyway," and here he stretched and stood with a groan, still not quite facing her, "s'up ta you. You've got a say in this."

She turned to face him, though, and watched him as she stood, letting her thumbs loop into her back pockets. "I'll figure something out. I definitely don't want whatever that horrible thing is to happen, anyway. I've got too much going for me, you know? Brilliant mind, good looks.."

But even then, she was troubled. She declined to finish her self-appreciation, and turned her attention elsewhere once more, frowning. Something still wasn't settling well with her, and the sight of the back of Kaneda's jacket instead of his face was bothering her. "I wish you had been here when it happened. I mean, not so you could see how stupid it all sounded, but because I really didn't want to see anyone else then."

It was a little too much for her to spill, but they were close enough for her not to be afraid to say it. She wasn't being over-emotional or dramatic as she usually was; she was telling him the truth, as direct and blunt as she could.

That last remark didn't go unnoticed and he glanced at her over his shoulder. She looked drawn and at a loss, though she was heaping praise upon herself a second ago. Kaneda didn't doubt that Bulma had confidence and courage in spades, but it must've been hard to keep up that bravado when her entire future had basically been mapped out before her, whether she wanted to see it or not.

Shoving aside all the negative feelings he had about the situation, Kaneda felt sorry for her most of all. It was unfair to have the opportunity to choose your own path in life stolen from you by someone who couldn't stand to keep his mouth shut anymore. In a rare moment of being completely honest with himself, he didn't think he could handle it as well as she was. He'd curse and spit and war against it, but Bulma almost had an air of guilt about her.

He turned to face her full-on once more, frowning. "I, damn. I'm here. Now, y'know. I -- shit, I'll do what I can ta help. I dunno how, but I will."

She gave him a slow nod, moving closer to him with careful, gradual steps. "I know. It wasn't your fault you weren't here before, so don't feel bad about it." Bulma felt that she was lucky enough to have Kaneda back in the first place. She'd never had a friend as genuine and loyal as he was; even Son-kun couldn't measure up to him, despite how much he'd done to save her while they were traveling together. Kaneda had an understanding that was slightly more mature than Goku's, and she knew that she'd be alright as long as Kaneda was around to have her back.

Maybe Kakihara was right, in a sense. They weren't together, but they were best friends, and that meant that they had each other. Even if the future loomed over her head like a dark, purple omen, she could still escape it here and now by hopping on the back of Ohura and letting Kaneda take them for a ride.

"You're here now, right? So we've got the now, and we can look out for each other for as long as now lasts." She stopped in front of him, giving him a small, but genuine grin. "I'm being pretty lame, huh?"

He shoved his fists in his pockets and mirrored her smile, rising on his toes the slightest bit to emphasize the height difference between them.

"Yeah," he said in a lofty tone, not meaning it at all. After a beat, and in a quieter voice, "No, you're not bein' lame. Y'know who's really an' truly lame? Vegeta."

Bulma stood up on her own tip-toes, silently challenging him. She was distracting herself from her current problems, and to anyone else that may have been cowardly, but these were all things that she'd deal with later. She'd accomplished what she had come to do, and would rather not continue moping around the auto shop, especially with Kaneda there.

"Totally," she said, not moving from her spot. "I can think of like, ten guys who are way cooler than he is. In fact, pretty much everyone I know is cooler than that guy."

With a forefinger, Kaneda poked the dead center of her forehead, trying to throw her off-balance as well as drive his point home.

"An' that's why you're th' smartest girl in Discedo."

"Hey--!" She wavered on her tip-toes, before her hands flew up and slapped down onto his shoulders, steadying her balance. Looking back up to Kaneda, Bulma beamed. She was going to make a crack about thinking the fast on her toes, but the thought was lost when she noticed how close she'd brought herself to him, and she moved to back away.

"Yeah..! And don't you forget it."

He rolled his eyes and scoffed, lowering himself to the flats of his booted feet. "How can I when you remind me every damn day?"

She shrugged, folding her hands behind her back. "Hey, you never know! This place does crazy stuff to us. You might lose your memory someday, but if I drill it into your head enough, you'll never forget knowing the smartest, prettiest girl ever to exist on any world." Her grin grew wider, and she spun on her toes, heading away from him to start the day's work.