Post-VT PSL, Trunks

[nutkrusher]

It's been a year since they left the train. She's missed him a lot - and everyone close to her damn well knows it. But she hasn't just sit around pining for him in the intervening months. She's trained to further master the use of her new gifts - and to pass as many of them onto others as she can. Earthrealm will continue to need defenders, after all, both in the Special Forces and outside of them.

Mind, the debriefing after her return was a bitch and a half. They had a hard enough time accepting the whole being-able-to-fly-just-by-learning-how bit.

But things had gotten a lot better after that. She'd made Commander, for one. She'd also led a mission to take out the Great Cathedral of the Netherrealm without suffering a single casualty. Meanwhile, Jacqui and her fine band of misfits and nerds in the Tech Unit claimed to be making progress in the field of interrealm communication and transport.

She should've figured the peace wouldn't last. Turns out Kronika had a problem with how unbalanced things had gotten. And when the Mistress of Time has a problem, everyone has a problem. Now past and present have collided, old folks are running into their younger selves, and old baddies who should've stayed dead are back alive again.

It's easy for the being who sculpted the sands of time to stay one step ahead of her enemies. But Cassie's newfound power hadn't been part of her design. The fight has been long, and not without losses, but they've gutted it out - victory is in sight. Kronika is now cornered, surrounded within her Hourglass Chamber by the realms' greatest heroes, who now have her all-important crown in their possession. But Kronika and her daughter Cetrion are not beaten yet - and defeating the former is more easily talked about than accomplished.

Cassie's body erupts with green light as she looses a Shadow Kick against the corrupted nature goddess. It's now or never - this one's for all the realms.

Comments

[nutkrusher]

"That's L.A. for you," Cassie says. "Though really, you should see Tokyo. Makes us look roomy and underpopulated over here."

She squeezes his hand back in turn.

"Luckily we've still got some quiet places."

[light_of_willpower]

"I got more used to 'quiet' again back home. It was a change from the train. Guess I'll have to adjust back now." Musing, thinking aloud.

"Other than a family dinner, what else is on the agenda?" Reaching up, Trunks rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I came prepared for trouble, but didn't expect. I felt your ki up really high though, so figured I'd better go and help."

[nutkrusher]

"Lucky you ran into me when I was literally fighting an Elder God," Cassie says. "I'm never gonna be easier to sense than that."

Her expression brightens when she decides to turn the subject to plans.

"We'll be hitting ALL the items on the SoCal to-do list - the beach, shopping for new clothes, In-N-Out Burger, flying over movie stars' houses so we can spit on' em..."

She chuckles and leans in to kiss him softly.

"And I may have a surprise or two in mind."

[light_of_willpower]

"I feel like that should worry me more." Trunks murmured against her mouth. Then focused instead on kissing her. Giving a soft little tug to pull her closer, his arms going around her as he turned to her. Focusing on keeping the kiss soft, but also putting all his pent up-longing for 3 years into it.

Truthfully it had been longer, as he'd gone back to the point he'd been pulled from. Helping the past's timeline. Then back to his own where almost nothing had changed except him. The androids had been easy to deal with, on his return. Then it was just a matter of finding Cell, who'd fled Dr. Gero's lab before Trunks could get to it. So he'd lain a trap, based on his knowledge of the alternate version.

All the while, Bulma had been working, using tech he'd brought, to help upgrade the time-machine. She'd been fascinated by his stories. Proud of him, and grinning like a shark as she unveiled her upgrades. "I still need to approve of her, although I'm proud of your boldness." Is what she'd said.

But time travel made it hard to keep track of just how many years it was, between the train and his own shenanigans. He figured he was somewhere around 24 now. Maybe 25? It didn't really matter, did it?

Still, he put all of that longing into the soft kiss, just holding her close.

[nutkrusher]

"You know you can trust me," Cassie murmurs, just before their lips meet.

Cassie is receiving every bit of the emotion Trunks is pouring into the kiss, and throwing all of her own on top of it. It had been a year of hope, of longing, and swallowing doubt. Of imagining herself exactly where she is right now - and for him, even longer.

And more than that, it was the knowledge underneath it all of what this moment meant - that time and even the vast, uncountable gulf between universes couldn't keep them apart. Everyone knows the old expression: "if it comes back, it's yours."

He came back. He's hers.

And she's going to make damn sure he knows it, and how much she appreciates it.

[light_of_willpower]

He knew. Hearing what she was 'saying' as clearly as if they'd been speaking aloud. Except words weren't always as clear or direct as we might want them.

It is a long time before they break apart. Only enough distance to breathe. Foreheads touching, blue eyes opening to look at her with wonder and love and so much more. "So what now?" Whisper quiet, with a hint of smile.

[nutkrusher]

"Hmmm...the door is pretty sturdy," she says, a smile creeping across her face. "And it'll be a while before dinner's ready."

Her grin is now Cheshire-wide as she continues to lean forehead-to-forehead against him.

"Maybe we could tide ourselves over?"

[light_of_willpower]

"I see." Trunks murmured, grinning at her. "You only missed me for my body." He was teasing her--and without blushing!

Still, she was pulled further into him, onto him. His mouth seeking hers again. They should have time for a good reunion, with shower and clean-up before dinner.

[nutkrusher]

"No," Cassie says, continuing to smile even as their lips meet over and over again. "But I have been awfully hungry."

This is just a bit of an understatement, considering she'd been thinking about this moment long enough to have the bed reinforced. As much as she loves their emotional intimacy, and the easy feeling she gets around him, she can't deny how absolutely hot she is for him too.

Really, when there's a room with both a bed and a Trunks in it, there's only one place her mind can go. And it's exactly where their bodies are going.

[light_of_willpower]

It was probably a good thing.

Out of practice, and yet they fell together seamlessly like very little time had passed at all. Soft kisses and touches mixed with fiery passion and want. Equal participants, and as thoughtful to each other as ever. Although it had been in other contexts when he'd said it, Trunks had come prepared.

Neither kept track of the time. Blankets and pillows were askew, clothing dropped or tossed wherever. Laying in each other's arms, curled close, and Trunks idly finger-combing her longer hair. Cuddling while in the blissful high.

[nutkrusher]

She'd lay here forever if she could. There isn't a single part of him that doesn't feel good to touch. She'd missed this feeling so much - pressing against him, skin to skin. She almost likes it even better than the sex itself. She may, in fact, whisper words to that effect a couple of times during their quiet post-coital cuddling.

After a while, she hums.

"Tempted as I am to go hungry and just have you for dinner, we probably should think about getting up soon."

[light_of_willpower]

"Probably showering too." Trunks murmured, nose buried against her scalp by her forehead and ear. Breathing her in, letting her being there suffuse his senses. "Probably safer if we do so separately."

[nutkrusher]

Cassie chuckles. "Yeah. We'll have time for more of that later."

Later. It's occurring to her that that's something they have now. Her smile grows wider and warmer as the thought occurs to her.

She is rather reluctant to pull away from him, but eventually she manages it. Military discipline does count for something, after all.

[light_of_willpower]

A low laugh met her words, along with Trunks tilting her head up for another kiss. A very warm and longing kiss, still feeling the high. Reluctant to let her go quite yet.

But when she does pull away from him, he lets her go. Breathing a sigh of contentment, and turning to watch her as she moved. "Any curveballs I should be expecting?"

[nutkrusher]

Cassie pauses in her voyage toward the bathroom.

"Prepping you for dinner with my parents? I probably should've thought of that."

She raises a finger to her lips, miming being deep in thought.

"Well, I'd say 'Just relax and be yourself,' but that might make you do the opposite and tense up. So my advice is 'Freak out and be really self-conscious about it.' You'll feel so much pressure to feel pressure that you'll end up messing up and having a relaxing meal instead."

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks loved how she moved. In combat or outside of it--she was never not graceful and deadly. Teasing.

"Is that supposed to be reassuring." Asked with a grin, and a little laugh.

[nutkrusher]

"Kinda," she says. "Did it work?"

She doesn't wait for an answer before leaning across from her current position to get just far enough in reach to kiss him.

"I'm not worried. I know you, and you'll do great with them. Mom liked you enough on the train, right?"

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks was good. He kept from reaching for her; only returning the kiss. Then raking a hand through his mussed hair. "Enough that she dragged me into the kitchen to learn to cook, or would let me help her exhaust herself with a sparring partner."

It would have to do. Honestly Trunks wasn't sure who he could BE but himself.

[nutkrusher]

"See? That's already more than she's done with everyone else I've ever dated," Cassie says. "That's damn near family levels of trust."

[light_of_willpower]

"Knowing Blade, I believe that statement." Trunks murmured, darting his head briefly to kiss her cheek. "Go shower, Cassie. Unless you really do want me to join you." Okay, maybe he was blushing a bit with that last statement.

[nutkrusher]

Cassie chuckles as she turns, letting her ponytail swish over her shoulder.

"Careful. You just might talk me into it."

But she's grabbing a towel and heading to the shower even as she says it. Best not to get too ahead of themselves.

[light_of_willpower]

The smile he gave her was sweet, affectionate, just for her. Watching her go, before stretching his arms out as he sat up.

Hopefully she knew she could take as long as she needed. He never took long showers unless they were with her. He also could dry himself well-enough with his ki. Instead, he got up and started picking up their clothes.

Then out came the Capsule Wardrobe as he searched for something that would be appropriate to wear.

[nutkrusher]

Although she certainly won't be rushing when there's a semi-occasion to prepare for, she won't give him too much time either. She's used to showering on Army time, after all, and has learned a few tricks for getting herself looking good quickly for good measure. (Because you've really gotta hustle to stand out when everybody's wearing the same outfit).

Her clothes when she returns are slightly on the higher end of casual. Naturally, she's wearing the hell out of them.

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks has managed to find a pair of more casual black slacks that aren't combat pants. Paired with a plain blue tee-shirt it'll have to do, along with his usual boots. Everything but the boots are taken with him, and while he's not military--his shower wasn't long either.

Cassie would sense a quick burst of ki, likely to dry himself. When he does come out, he's smoothing his hair down into something approximating neat. It's the best he can do, and at least he's tucked the shirt in and using a belt. That'll count for something, right?

"Okay, I....think I'm ready."

[nutkrusher]

"Hmm...almost. Do you mind?"

Cassie doesn't wait for an answer as she walks over to the nightstand and quickly grabs her Second Emergency Brush from the drawer.

She'll be on him in a second, steadily brushing his hair and setting his bangs into the best possible place. It won't take her long.

She beams as she sets the brush aside and takes a close look at him.

"There. Perfect."

And then, because she can't resist, she leans in for a kiss.