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He was a bit surprised when he first caught a whiff of the unmistakable scent of changing hormones. It was a bit early for Trunks to be going through puberty - and there was something off about it. Vegeta had been expecting the half-Saiyan to go through a fast but more human puberty process: considering Gohan had grown at a pretty normal rate. His son wasn't going to be so lucky. Instead - he was going to have to go through the painful Saiyan puberty process. A violent and harsh transformation. Like nearly everything in the Saiyan race - their puberty is as brutal as all other accepts of their life.
Vegeta wishes he could say he wasn't worried. But he was - he could remember when he hit puberty: it comes with weeks, even months of being irritable. Angry and confused - and the need to destroy and kill. And without a Saiyan mother around it would be nearly impossible to keep Trunks stable until the change completely settled. Bulma could try her best, but she wouldn't smell the same to him anymore: as his senses became hypertensive. She likely wouldn't even look the same. Vegeta himself might end up being a target of his son's thrashing emotions as Saiyan fathers often do.
Not to mention the awakening of sexual desire. The prince groans, that was a conversation he defiantly didn't want to have. And since Trunks would be going through proper Saiyan puberty - he would have to explain to him not just how sex works with women, but men as well. Unlike human society Saiyans aren't exactly "swing one way" and very monogamous kinds of people: they take a wife (maybe more) to love and have children with, and usually have male partners on the side to fulfill more animalistic desires. Or they take male partner's on the side just for fun.
Despite this Vegeta has respected Bulma's monogamous culture and it's not like he was anyone else to take as a partner. However: Trunks has a lot more options. The older Saiyan was feeling the dread of embarrassment already just thinking about trying to explain these things to Trunks. Or Bulma, lord forbid. He was sure she wouldn't have any qualms about her son dating other men, but it would still be a tedious thing to explain.
"Goddess, spare me..." He grumbles as he passes by Trunks' room in the hall, catching another strong whiff of the boy's scent. He was defiantly at the beginning of things - even his energy was freaking out around him. He was been putting off bringing up the inevitable change for a few days, but it was clear he doesn't have much longer to procrastinate.
He paused, maybe he should talk to his family about this - it's going to be quite the ordeal. But then he reminds himself about all the talks he will have to do: all the explaining. It can wait another day. Trunks is a strong one, even with his half-human blood. That's when he hears a solid thud emit from his son's room - and he swung open the door in mild concern.
The purple-haired boy was on the floor, covered in sweat - shaking. Looks like the Saiyan prince won't be procrastinating for much longer.
Trunks had started puberty.
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It starts with a fever. A makes you a trembling and sniffling mess fever, Trunks felt like every organ in his body might start melting from how warm he was. He groans as his mother placed another cold-wet cloth across his forehead - taking away the one that seemed to be steaming. Bulma furrowed her brows, worried sick. She knows Vegeta told her that this transformation from boy to man (at least physically) is going to be a painful process: and she shouldn't watch. But how could she stand by and watch her baby suffer? She couldn't.
"Thanks, mom..."Trunks' meek voice hardly was even audible, especially between his loud pants for air as his body struggled to cool down. The wet-rag on his forehead help[ed only slightly to combat the burning sensation. He groans a bit deeper. it was starting to hurt now. He could feel a strain on his body begins to flow through. It felt like he had just gone through intense training with his father, every muscle was crying out - throbbing with a tense soreness.
"How long does this take Vegeta?" Bulma asked her husband, as she dipped another rag into the bowl of cold water she had. "And how much worse is it going to get."
Vegeta was leaning against a wall of his son's bedroom, arms crossed over his chest. His face gave away nothing about his worry. but his tail left unwrapped swayed slowly, flicking back and forth in a cat-like manner. Revealing he was as worried as his wife.
"Well, some Sayaian children don't survive the process." The prince chuckles. "However my son should be perfectly fine."
Bulma sighs and eyes him, "The more I learn about your race and culture - the more you make sense. Sayan's truly are terrifying creatures - I don't see how other aliens mock them so easily."
"Not all of them are as smart as you." Vegeta gave Bulma a small smirk, and the woman returned a pleasant smile.
She turned her attention back to Trunks whose breathing was even more ragged than before. Sweat was pouring around his body, soaking into the mattress and his clothes. His dark eyes were half-lidded with soft pain. The soreness was starting to become sharp agony as if he was being stabbed with small needles in every single nerve. The preteen bit down hard on his lip to keep a cry of pain from escaping him. He has to be strong, for his mother. And especially around his father. His body is starting to shake and his tail wraps itself around his legs, squeezing tightly as if he is attempting to comfort himself.
Vegeta put his hand on Bulma's shoulder and pulled her back, "He's about to get to the worst of it."
Bulma put her hands on her hips, "Don't tell me you expect me to cower from my son-!"
The Saiyan spun on her, and he gave the human a pointed look. "He could end up killing you with a stray blast of energy he lets off. Or he grabs you and breaks your arm. It's better this way, woman. Just stand back - you can remain in the room until I deem it too dangerous for you." He eyes his son. "Or me."
"You weren't joking about how horrific this is." Bulma breathed out, she's seen Vegeta protective of her before: but never like this. His entire body was coiled and tense ready to move the split second anything went wrong. His face is empty of emotion, but his tail is still flicking with worry. She reached and rubbed his shoulder, Vegeta seemed surprised at the contact but to her delight, he didn't pull away.
Trunks had a death grip on the sides of his bed frame now, the prickling pain was starting to burn: becoming more intense by the moment. That's when he felt like every bone in his body broke at once - and his muscle tore. He tried to hold back an anguished cry, but it was impossible as tears began to flow down his face. He screamed and convulsed on the bed as his entire body seemed to be tearing itself apart as bones and muscles shifted. Golden energy flickered in and out of existence around his body as he arched, his voice cracking with vicious agony. Darkness danced around the edges of his vision, as the pain suddenly faded out: and he was left with nothing but a deep-rooted soreness.
Trunks panted and groaned, he hated crying in front of his parents - but that wasn't what he was expecting when his father wanted him his body was going to change. He expected it to more feel like going Super Saiyan. He could see that his mom has hidden her face in her husband's chest, clearly shaking. He was sure he had looked terrifying, letting out howls as if he was possessed.
"...was that-t it?" he asked and dread filled him as Vegeta shook his head.
"You grew a bit taller, but...it's far from over."
"Far from over?" the Saiyan's wife repeated in a hollow tone, and he looked at her son - he already looked like a wreck. However, she could tell - he was a few inches taller. If she had to hear Trunks scream like he did again, she might start sobbing herself. He had sounded so heartbreaking. What made it worse is there is nothing she can do to help him.
Vegeta sighed heavily, "I told you - you wouldn't be able to watch."
If he was being honest, he hardly could either. Maybe a decade ago he would have been able to stand here beside Trunks bed, and watch him thrash with cool resolve - but Earth certainly has changed the cold-blooded prince. He jumped as Trunks began to writhe again, his voice cracking once more into howls - which began to flicker into animalistic roars of pain. His bed cracked beneath the strength in which he gripped at it now. Around the purple-haired boy's body, the glow of Super Sayian began to flicker in and out. Even his hair was starting to morph into its glowing blonde locks.
A blast of ki shot out from him, and Vegeta tossed it away, the blast dissipated in the air with a fizzle. It hadn't been a strong one, but he knows that as Trunks pain grows so will these outbursts of uncontrolled energy. He was considering knocking the pre-teen out when the male went limp on the bed - twitching softly. Silence fell heavily in the room - which was a relief. His screams had started to hurt his father's sensitive ears.
"Is he dead!?" Bulma shouted and rushed forward, only to stop realizing Trunk's was still moving. The human let out a sigh of relief, "I hate all your weird Saiyan stuff sometimes."
Vegeta announced, ignoring her comment. "I'm going to put him in the Gravity Room. I'll turn it on and make it to where he can move, but not easily. The pressure might even help with the pain."
He scooped the boy up - he was larger than he had been an hour ago. He wondered absently just how tall Trunks was going to get. The Future Trunks he met, had been - well somewhere between him and Bulma. This was going to be a long day nonetheless. And the weeks following? Who knows how the gentle-but mischievous boy will react to all of his newfound feral urges and aggression. He may adjust well, or, he may not. Vegeta doubted Trunks will be able to control himself, with his royal blood flowing through him. The Sayian prince may even have to fight his son, as the male attempts to take out his confusion and energy on someone. And they always go after the most powerful family member. Their parents are usually the choice to take this grief out on.
That's just because Sayian's choose mates based on power level: usually someone with power higher than their own or at least equal. Vegeta chuckles and he glances at Bulma as she follows behind him towards the Gravity room, he certainly didn't pick the most powerful creature. She can control and scare Kakarot though, which is certainly some kind of power. His mind continues to wander, this ordeal ripping open so many memories in his mind that he has to actively shove them down. He wonders if Trunks will start being attracted to power due to his proper Saiyan puberty: that would certainly be a dilemma for the boy.
He huff as he opens the Gravity Room, and sets Trunks down - just in time too as the boy convulses again: the third wave of his puberty hit. Vegeta has to deflect a few more stray ki blasts, as he orders the room to set the gravity to Trunk's max.
"How long is this going to go for...? And are you sure there's nothing we can do?" Bulma speaks up again, keeping her gaze away from her son: at least he isn't screaming anymore being unconscious.
Vegeta sighs, "On Planet Vegeta - you would just lock your kid up in a small room and let it take its course. The process lasts at most twenty-four hours. At the rate he's growing though, it might be six hours."
"And then?" Bulma raises an eyebrow, "Is Trunks going to be a hormonal mess and do crazy things? Like, stop listening to his mother?"
"That's pretty close: yeah. He'll also start looking for a life-mate, subconsciously mostly." Vegeta gave Bulma a grin. "Sayin's marry young - I would prepare to be a grandma."
"No way!" the woman says, smacking the man's arm. "He can't get married I'm at least 70 - I won't allow it before then. What other weird Saiyan things might he do besides giving me trouble."
These kinds of questions are what he wanted to avoid, but he groans. She will just keep pestering him until he answers. Vegeta rubs at the back of his neck and he gestures for them to get out of the Gravity Room as more ki blasts fly off of Trunks.
"Well...don't be surprised," the prince begins as the Gravity Room closes behind them. "If he starts fighting more. Or if he lashes out at me. And don't be shocked if he starts bringing home plenty of partners. He'll be subconsciously trying to get our approval on the strongest people his age to take as mates - or plan to take them as mates."
He chuckles, "And we need to start knocking before entering his room. Especially at night."
Bulma tilts her head. "So: besides him becoming a ball of anger and general teenage horniness - he'll be girl crazy? Wait." she stared at Vegeta, "You said partners, not girls. Saiyans don't have gender preferences usually do they!? Oh no! He's going to be so confused - and now I have to protect him from not just women, but men trying to use him?! How are we supposed to give him the talk? I don't know anything about how two men-!"
"Not if he has already subconsciously chosen a life-mate," Vegeta interjects her little melt-down, he knew she would do this. Only thinking about how Trunks is at risk of getting his heartbroken even more so. "Saiyain's have one prime partner - who you humans would call a soulmate. If that mate is male, they have side-partners who are female to have kids. If it's female it's the opposite for different reasons. And not all Saiyans are like this - it's commonplace though: it would surprise me if Trunks isn't."
"I guess that makes sense. Your culture is so complex and interesting compared to mine." She hugs Vegeta's arm. "Thanks for not having any side-partners and only loving me!"
Vegeta rolls his eyes, flushing a little turning his face away. "Who else would I even take as a partner? You satisfy all of my needs."
"You're so sweet~!" She grinned and then blinked. "Wait. Who would Trunks have even as you said, 'subconsciously' chosen already?! He's like 13!"
Vegeta shrugs, "His instincts would guide him to someone of similar age, and power level - or higher."
There was a moment of silence: and then both parents' minds connected dots to the same conclusion. Bulma pursed her lips, thinking.
"You don't think...that maybe the reason him and Goten are so close..." she begins and is surprised that her husband doesn't stop her. He seems to be having the same train of thought. "Is because of their Saiyan instincts..."
The prince then stops her, "Don't be ridiculous. Trunks still has free will - sure, his instincts play a role in some decisions but there is no way - no way they're fated to be as you're suggesting. It's rare for Saiyans to choose a mate pre-puberty anyways: subconsciously or not. Besides, they're only half-Saiyan. Instincts don't have that big of a control."
"Tell that to your son in there going through a Saiyan puberty." Bulma pouts and she shakes her head, crossing her arms over her chest. "I am just saying - I wouldn't be surprised."
The Saiyan prince spins to deny her statement again. Not because he has something against Goten - but something about it doesn't bode well about the idea. Maybe it's because he knows despite being sweet and kind, Goten can have a slight mean streak to him. He doesn't want Trunks hurt. Maybe he is just overprotective, as his tail sways with irritation at the notion of Kakarot being a father-in-law to his son. That blundering idiot would put Goten and Trunks in danger for fun- and losing a mate is a tragedy no Saiyan truly recovers from.
That's when he showed up.
"Vegeta!" Goku shouted as he appeared out of thin air, a limp Goten in his arms. "I need your help! Something is happening to Goten and I don't know what! But he smells funny and is in pain!"
The Saiyan prince knew what was happening the moment, Goku appeared. Goten was completely limp in his arms, his tail wrapped around his legs squeezing tightly. His scent was all over the place. and so was the energy leaking off of him.
"How...?" Vegeta questioned and gathered himself quickly. "He's going through a proper Saiyan puberty: congrats Kakarot."
Goku stared, "Puberty?! I never...oh - wait: I did. I kinda forgot about that - nobody was around." he chuckled a bit and then he paled, "What do I do?! He was howling like a demon before he fell unconscious!"
"There's nothing you can do..." Bulma sighs and she walks over, looking at Vegeta. "You just have to let the transformation take its course. Can we put him in the Gravity Room too - or will they try to tear each other apart like animals fighting over territory?"
Vegeta shakes his head, and he gently takes Goten from Goku, the young boy is bigger. He didn't answer Bulma, lost in his head. Dots were starting to connect in his mind, and he doesn't like it - his tail snaps back and forth with soft frustration. He opens the Gravity room, and he lays Goten down on the other side of the room from Trunks, whose appearance takes him back - he's grown so much. His heartaches a bit at the sight: Saiyans childhood doesn't last long - even before puberty on the planet they were sent to work: to train. To fight. He thought maybe, Trunks would have gotten what Bulma called a 'normal enough' childhood. Now, his innocence is being ripped away by the hand of the moon goddess. He looks at Goten.
There's no denying it now: She has aligned their fates. Goten is hardly even twelve, he shouldn't be going through this so early. He glances between the two boys. It's never a good thing, his father always told him - when two Saiyans are bound by the Goddess. Their love will be like no other, but the only outcome is a tragedy for they are creatures of destruction. They do not create - only take and destroy. Humans find fated pairs to be romantic - but to be so deeply devoted to another being is a weakness. Vegeta can remember even the closest mates had distance. He shakes his head growling lowly.
He isn't on Planet Vegeta. Moon goddess be damned. Trunks is on Earth - where love flourishes. Where love can grow. Where there can be happy endings. At the moment, the Sayian prince swears to himself that if his hunch is right - he won't let them suffer. He walks out of the Gravity Room, closing the door behind him.
"So...what's this gonna do to Goten?" Goku asks, and Vegeta groans deeply.
"...This is going to be a longer day than I thought."
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It was like nothing ever happened: at least, it seemed that way at first to Trunks: as he woke up. He had been dreaming of the most gorgeous woman, blanketed in a dress made of stars - and he was a bit sad waking up. He expected there to be soreness, but, nothing. He was as good as new and he stretched a bit yawning and realized - he was wrapped in a robe. His brows furrowed and he stood up wondering where his clothes were. That's when he caught sight of himself in the mirror hung in his room and he stumbled back tripping into his bed again.
Which he realized now seemed a lot smaller. "I'm - I'm taller."
His voice is deeper: smoother too. Trunks blinked. So, that puberty thing wasn't just some lie his father told him to keep him calm. He looked like a completely different person, besides the middle-parted purple hair. He runs his hands over his face, and his body is a bit confused. That's when he becomes aware of other things that have changed. He seems to be, more powerful. And his room looks so much, brighter - clearer. His senses must have sharpened like his father's.
"I look hot!" Trunks declared to himself, humming in his newly deepened voice. He poses in front of the mirror a bit, and takes a peek at himself in it without the robe - before flushing and putting it back on: feeling silly. He starts to notice that his mind is a whirlwind of feelings and thoughts, he can hardly keep track of them all. He glances around, and he walks to his door. They're going to have to buy all new clothes for him. He tightens the robe around him, making sure it covers anything too private. Trunks walked out, and he heads for the kitchen where he can hear voices, and if he focuses - he could catch the conversation. Joy flies through him already flooded with emotions mind. That's so cool! His tail starts to wag.
He steps into the doorway of the kitchen, and sitting at the table is Vegeta, Bulma - Goku and...
"Goten...?"
Trunks hardly recognized his friend - his hair is different - longer and he hardly resembles his father anymore, besides a few key facial features. He only recognized him by his scent, he is so much stronger to him now. Their dark eyes lock, and slowly they glance over each other frozen in shock. Trunks know staring is rude, but he can't pull his eyes away - he looks so different to him now. He looks...attractive. The thought crosses Trunks mind and then his face flushes a deep red - what was that!? It goes in and out of his mind as quickly as it came leaving him confused and flustered. His entire life has certainly been flipped upside down by this. Despite his sudden embarrassment. he can't turn away from Goten: who seems to be suffering from the same fate as his cheeks tint pink. Trunks assure himself that he can appreciate Goten's glow-up - without it meaning anything weird!
"...You - um, the puberty - it- you got taller," Goten spoke, and Trunks nearly felt his knees give out, his voice wasn't as deep as his own: but there was no longer the scratchy child quality to it. It was as smooth and soft as butter. Trunks quickly grabbed the chair next to his best friend, finally able to move.
"You did too!"
Goten seems just as shocked at his voice change. "I-I did."
Both boys' tails are wagging madly behind them, and they're still staring. Vegeta clears his throat loudly, finally bringing the - well - physically adult-sized but mentally still quite young boy's attention to him. Saiyan's mature mentally faster than their bodies, soon they'll be acting in ways that match their bodies: which won't change very much anymore. As they age maybe they'll look a bit rougher around the edges, but nothing major - not naturally. Currently, both boys appear to be between the ages of fifteen to late twenties.
"I'm glad neither of you woke up - well, enraged. But I'm sure by tomorrow you'll both be acting up." Vegeta grins a bit, "But for now - you have to go through the talk with your mother."
The Saiyan Prince began to stand he has endured enough awkward conversation today, and so did Goku both ready to flee, but Bulma grabbed them.
"No, you don't. When Bulla comes of age, I'll give her the talk. You two are telling the boys."
Goten's face is scrunched up in disgust, "I've heard about this talk before from older kids. I don't want it!"
Trunks agree, "Yeah! So, what if we're taller! I do not want to know where babies come from!"
"Well, since they don't want to know that means we don't have to tell them-!" Goku begins, as he tries to leave again: only to be pulled back down by his ear.
"Goku! Be a damned father for once and give your son the talk! They need to know about it considering they just aged physically like 3 years!"
Vegeta realizes that he isn't getting out of this and sits down huffing. The two half-Saiyans are staring at him with hope in their eyes, it's clear they don't want to go through this either. But his wife's right - it can't be avoided. Plus, he has a lot to explain to them about, well, a lot of new things.
Goku pouts, "That's harsh Bulma...but - okay. Could you at least leave the room?" He whines and the woman stands up.
"Gladly! I'll prepare you, boys, some dinner, it is late after all."
The moment their blue-haired woman is gone, Trunks goes to speak - but Vegeta narrows his eyes at him, telling the male silently that no matter what he says: he isn't getting out of this. Goku nudges his rival. Urging the older Saiyan to start.
"So...boys," the man sighs and puts his feet up on the table. "Ever heard about sex?"