Work Text:
This can't be true. It just can't be.
Chronoa frantically looks around the time nest for Toki Toki, only to find the bird and Fu missing. Dread forms in her gut. She's only comforted by the fact that Fu wouldn't do something so cruel as to take Toki Toki. He's a trouble maker, but he would never try to actively harm anyone, especially not Toki Toki. It's as she's entrenched in thoughts about her lover and Toki Toki that Trunks walks up to her, shaking his head with a heavy look on his face.
"I don't think we're going to find either of them here," he says, "We need to wait for one of the time patrollers to report back."
"I know... I'm just worried about both of them."
"I understand, everyone i-"
He's cut off by both of their pagers going off. They frantically check the small devices as a message goes through, almost dropping them in their haste. Chronoa feels her heart drop when she sees the message. A swelling nervousness in her gut becomes a storm of pain and betrayal. It's a stab coupled with a sickness, something that broils her blood and poisons it.
"We found Fu. He has TokiToki."
"I knew I never should have trusted him!" She says between tears as Trunks and her fly out, "Not with the time nest, nor with anything!"
"Something about this doesn't seem right," he says, words carefully chosen, "Fu has never tried to hurt Toki Toki or its eggs."
Chronoa side eyes Trunks and says, "Anyone can hide who they are from you."
"I suppose you're right, but I have a feeling that something just isn't right."
She doesn't bother to respond. She's too lost in the brewing storm of her own mind. Fu? Turning against them? After everything they've been through together? She's showed him parts of herself she's been too terrified to show anyone else. She remembers the wash of relief she felt when she learned that Fu is immortal like her, finally being free from watching the ones she loved die. How happy he was to finally be seen as a person and not a tool. Now, he's used her trust against her. He's used everyone's trust against them. She wants to hurt him with the same sting of betrayal, but deep down she knows she can't possibly do that.
Before she knows it, they've arrived. Fu has Toki Toki trapped in a cage that almost resembles a dog cage. She immediately wants to jump for it, until she notices that something is off, just as Trunks predicted.
Fu's eyes glow a sickly purple with a malice set deep within them she's never seen before. It's horrifying to see him like this, to see that playful gleam replaced with something boardering on murderous. Her hands shake in fear, horrified. She can tell Trunks is too, but he buries it beneath his anger. Anger that someone would do this to Fu.
She feels it burning within her too, lighting a passionate flame beneath her heart. She nods at Trunks. A silent agreement to punish whoever did this to him. For now, Trunks charges into battle, launching ki-blasts only for them to be torn asunder by Fu.
"Fu, what happened to you?" Her exclaimation seems to make him hesitate for a moment, "Why are you doing this?"
"This universe, no, all of these timelines will succumb to the demon realm. Dabura and I... gh..."
"So Dabura's behind this!" Trunks says, clashing his sword with Fu's, "Fu would never help that guy!"
"You don't know... ANYTHING!"
In that moment, Fu pushes Trunks and the other time patrollers back. Chronoa stares in horror as she witnesses Fu's transformation. His hair spikes up, akin to a super saiyan. Normally, she'd find the new surge in power attractive, but the circumstances aren't in their favor. He stares at everyone with a smirk and she's forced to succumb to using her own powers.
Her power grows and a light envelopes her. She can see Fu's eyes widen for a moment. Her hair grows longer, body taller as she embraces her unrestrained power. She launches herself towards him, knocking his sword aside with a ki-blast.
"Fu!" She says, "Look at me, please. This isn't you!"
"Chronoa..."
"I remember you telling me how much you had grown to hate your uncle and parents," she says, brows furrowed together in worry, "They never truly respected you or saw you as a person, just a tool. Trunks, the time patrollers, and I... we don't see you that way."
His eyes widen a little, the purple fading and warm returning to his gaze. His hair remains spiked, but there's no more malice laced within his ki. He wraps his arms around her, face nuzzled within the crook of her neck. She returns his embrace, once more feeling her heart melt at his touch. Her hands shake as she processes her feelings.
"You... idiot..."
"Chronoa... I'm sorry," he says, holding her tighter as she slips back into her restrained form, "Dabura, he appeared in one of my test rifts and took advantage of my surprise."
"He's even entering smaller rifts now," she says, "We need to find Dabura, but first we need to return TokiToki to the time nest."
Fu nods, turning to finally take TokiToki out of the stuffy cage he was placed in. The bird coos, flying onto Chronoa's head and perching there for the time being. Fu laughs a little, finally dropping out of his super form.
"I love you Fu. I promise, you aren't just a tool, you're a person."