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[rokubro]

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[torankusu]

[ Going back to trying to work this leather cord around the pebble, Trunks makes a bit of an exasperated face. ]

No. I can always take care of myself.

[ And... a bit of a pause because- ]

I mean, I wasn't even really there anyway so yeah.

[ SWEATS. ]

[rokubro]

[...Uh huh.]

Funny, your letter makes it sound like we fought against each other. Although I remember this Gotenks kid who said he knew you.

[torankusu]

Heh, yeah. Gotenks is pretty cool.

[ STILL SWEATING. ]

But anyway. I'm fine so yeah.

[rokubro]

All right, if you say so. [He's still suspicious. In fact, it might feel as if Rokurou is staring at him and there is definitely a, "Not sure if I believe you" vibe going on.

However, he's not going to push it. It's something he might poke at another time, but it's not important. So there's a small pause as if the daemon is gathering his thoughts as to how to......go about what's next.]

Still wanna know why I was there?

[torankusu]

[ The gentle moment of playful uncertainty quietly disappears as the question is asked and Trunks finds himself sitting up on his bed then and crossing his legs, looking down to his pebble in hand as he does so. ]

I dunno. Are you actually gonna tell me?

[ Because he's used to adults just not telling him things to begin with and... yeah, it's a sore spot for him.

However, it's after a brief pause and the pad of his thumb brushing over the face of the pebble that he frowns and looks up as if speaking to Rokurou directly there in the room with him. ]

Why did you do it?

[rokubro]

[Now that he's not in the middle of fighting and everything is done, he really has no reason to dodge it anymore. So he leans back in his hospital bed, feeling calm and relaxed—something that reflects in his voice.]

Simple reason, really. Velvet is someone I know from my world, and not only do I owe her, I had made a promise to help her through her journey. So I just followed my family's code of honor and duty to uphold it.

[A small pause.]

In this case, that's all it really was. I can't say I really agreed to her plan, but I also understood why she was doing it and what she hoped to achieve. And since this isn't really all too different from what we did in our own world... [A small mental shrug.]

[torankusu]

But people died!

[ Trunks shouts that a little in frustration and he curls his small hand around the pebble into a fist. ]

What if my mom died? Or my friends or you? What if I died because of that?

[ The thing about Trunks and his future self is that they both share a similarity with wanting to protect people... and carrying that guilt or failure on their shoulders if they can't... especially those they love and care about. ]

You're my friend and I know you're a good person inside even if you don't think you are. You told me you haven't been a daemon forever and so, even if you say you're bad now because you're a daemon, you weren't always that way and that's why I know you're a good person inside. People care about you... don't you care about them?

[rokubro]

[For a moment he just stares up at the ceiling of his room, the question turning in his head before he finally responds.]

I do.

[Which is...actually kind of strange to admit, oddly enough. At the very least, he didn't not care or dismissed everyone he's met.]

[torankusu]

You're such a dummy.

[ Trunks comes to fall onto his stomach on his bed and buries his head under his pillow, pulling it down to keep around him even though it doesn't cause him to mumble or anything because, hello, telepathic communication and all. ]

What if killing Sosyne made everything worse? What if more people died because Sosyne died? You're better than that. I know you are.

[rokubro]

True, that was all possible.

We're used to taking risks in hopes of a greater change, and it's crazy, I know. But... [His voice drifts as he once again tries to figure out how to word this, but in the end he just shrugs.] Once Velvet has her mind set on something, there's very little that will stop her.

[torankusu]

You could stop her.

[ He says that as he pokes his head out from underneath his pillow. ]

You could say no. You're your own person.

[rokubro]

[Ah ha ha ha.]

If I tried to stop her, she'd just go at it ten times worse. And besides, as much as I didn't really agree to the idea, I wasn't really against what she was trying to achieve or why she was doing it.

[torankusu]

[ Why do adults make things so complicated?? He really wants to know. ]

So would you be fine if she got what she wanted and people died? If I died?

[rokubro]

[Because life is crap when you're older.

Although speaking of complicated things, Trunks is definitely shooting some complicated questions. Like this one. Back in his world, he's let so many die and used people he's known to achieve his goals, including friends. Hell, he's wearing one as a sword (although it was more of a mutual agreement and he brooded a bit over it). But in the case of Trunks and a few others...and given the context and circumstances of everything so far...

There's a very pregnant pause before he finally answers.]

I wouldn't be happy if something happened to you, no.

[torankusu]

[ That has Trunks toss his pillow across the room as he pushes himself to sit up on the bed, a rather frustrated expression on his face and pebble still held tightly in his small hand. ]

Then why? You didn't even tell me or come to me about any of that. Aren't we friends? Don't we talk about everything?

[ To be fair, it's more like Trunks is the one who talks about everything and, in turn, gets Rokurou to do the same but... you know. ]

[rokubro]

[He can almost feel the frustration from the other end, but he remains his usual steadfast, calm self. Which could probably be just as annoying, but it is what it is.]

If I had told you, what would you have done?

[This isn't said harshly—it's more like a light curious question asking Trunks what he would have done if he heard about what was going on.]

[torankusu]

[ Does wrapping himself around Rokurou's leg and never letting go until he finally gave in to his demands count? Because... that could have happened. Maybe. Still could, who knows. ]

I would have told you how stupid you are for even listening to that.

[rokubro]

[That would have been very adorable at least.

But he just chuckles a little at the boy's response, one that he makes sure doesn't pass through the link.]

And if I still wanted to go through with it?

[torankusu]

But why?

[ Frustration growing... ]

You said you didn't really agree with it. Just because you promised to be by her side?

[ Trunks looks down to his hand and uncurls his fist to look down to the pebble that still sits within his palm. ]

Then promise me you won't do that again. If your word is so important and you live by it, then promise me that.

[rokubro]

[Aw man.]

Making me make difficult choices, huh?

[He mulls over it a little before he continues.]

So to be clear, what exactly am I promising?

[torankusu]

[ Does this mean Rokurou is actually considering it? Well colour him surprised. But, it might make him perk up a little. ]

To not do something stupid again, especially if it can hurt people.

[rokubro]

That's a little vague, isn't it?

[But—okay he kind of gets what Trunks is asking of him.]

I don't know if I can really promise it full stop. There might be a time when I think it worth the risk.

But, how about this. If I find myself in another situation like that, I'll at least tell you about it.

[torankusu]

You tell me before you do anything. And I don't mean fifteen minutes before.

[ Look at this smol boy laying down some ground rules. Mom would be proud. ]

And you listen to what I think about it, even if you think it won't change your mind.

[rokubro]

[He's getting told by a smol boy, how the mighty daemon has fallen.

But there's a grin that can be felt even if it can't be seen.]

All right, I can do that.

[torankusu]

Say you promise.

[ He's not letting you off that easy, Rokurou. ]