Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Goten was twisting, unable to hold still. He had one hand over his mouth trying to let his palm drown the sounds of his moans and another hand grabbing the back of Trunks hair.
The sensations, the lust and the absolute pleasure was almost too much for Goten every time Trunks’ tongue rubbed against the head of his dick.

“T..Trunks” Goten whined, moving his hand from his mouth to his forehead. “Please.. I.. I” 
Trunks licked down Gotens staff grinning and enjoying how he had absolute control over Goten’s body.
He had two fingers working the entrance of Goten, and as Goten started to beg, he bended his fingers just a little, well aware that he would hit just the right spot.

Goten threw his head backwards and jelled out a surprising moan as we leaned into Trunks hands. 
“Fuck I love the sounds you make” Trunks said as he took Goten into his mouth again, sucking him even harder than before.

“Trunks.. Please.. I… I need… I.. Ah”
He knew what Goten wanted but he kept going, making sure not to push him over the edge just jet. Teasing Goten turned him on more than anything and listening to the sweet melody of Goten’s voice like this almost drove him crazy. 
“Be careful Ten” Trunks smirked as he pulled his mouth off Goten. “Someone might hear you” 

Down the hall the two boys could hear the background noise of their parents talking. At any moment Chichi and Goku could prepare to go back home, and they would without a doubt come to collect Goten. Finding the two boys on the bed like this was not something any of them wanted, but the thrill of getting caught was worth the risk.

“Stop be..being such a t..tease” Goten stuttered. “Please Trunks”
Trunks increased the speed of his fingers, stretching Goten even more.
“Please what, Goten?” He had move back up to Goten's neck, kissing it slowly “I want you to tell me what you want”
Gotens mouth opened and only fast and heavy breath was escaping by now asTrunks made sure to hit his sweet spot while working him.

“I..Inside” Goten finally managed to say “I want you inside!” 
It felt like a jolt of lust running through Trunks body and teasing time was over. There was no way he could hold himself back anymore. 

With quick motion he pulled down his pants, letting his own stiff shaft bounce out and placed himself between Goten's legs. He pressed his head against Goten’s entrance and very slowly pushed himself inside. 
“Oh god” Goten moaned out loud pressing himself against Trunks.

With the fear of Goten alarming their parents Trunks held his hand against Gotens mouth and muffled out any moans he was unable to hold back.
When he finally was all the way inside he paused and looked Goten into the eyes. Gotens eyes looked almost drugged, like they were pleading Trunks, begging him to continue.
“Is this what you wanted?” Trunks asked teasingly and couldn’t help but grin when Goten nodded. “Prepare yourself, Ten. I’m gonna fuck you so hard you can’t walk straight tomorrow.”

As he ended his sentence he pulled almost all the way out before thrusting hard into Goten.
Goten screamed out a muffled moan under Trunks hand as he threw his head backwards.

Knowing how to angle himself, Trunks made sure to hit the sweet spot every time. He kept up the paste, watching how Goten’s entire body reacted under him.
Goten wrapped his legs around his waist, pushing him even further inside. His hands was gripping the sheets tightly, ripping them little by little.

The harder Trunks went the faster his own climax built itself. Shit he wanted this to last a little longer but looking into the eyes of his friend was just too much, and without further warning.…

*~~*

Trunks moaned silently as he came into his own hand.
He laid still for a moment to collect himself and let the drug of his climax pass before cleaning himself up and turned to the side to sleep.
As always he was battling himself after having these fantasies. He felt guilty for using his best friend to get himself off but at the same time this was a 100% guarantee for him every time.

Since he took over Capsule Corp. he had spent more time in his office that he would like, taking care of all kinds of bullshit he wasn’t the least invested in. He knew how important it was for the company and for his mom, so he kept going. But he could feel the stress bubbling up day by day and this was the best way for him to handle it for the time being.

Normally he would bury his stress with training, inventing or sex but as the days seemed shorter with all the paperwork piling up, he hadn't been able to find the time for any of it.

He had had this fantasy for years now. At first he had fantasized it with just a random girl, but one night he had received a message from Goten. He opened his eyes while grinding himself surprised by the sound of the device and saw the name on the display. The fantasy more or less formed itself after that.
Some nights he could fantasize about a girl and get off just fine, but at restless nights like this, he needed something a little more spicy and the fantasy of Goten never failed him.

He checked the time on his watch. 
“3:50” he signed annoyed “Only one hour left until my alarm goes off” He said blankly into the dark and silent room.

“Shit”
He sat up in his bed, rubbing his left hand along his face, letting out annoyed groans.
He could feel his entire body was still restless and summing with tension and there were no reason trying to fall asleep in this state.
He took a long hot shower and went to the kitchen in the center of Capsule Corp.

Being a son of the richest family on earth he got his very own section of the gigantic house. 
Beside a living room, bedroom and bathroom, he also had his own lab, gravity room and of course kitchen.
But he enjoyed spending his mornings with the rest of the family, specially since his dad usually was less annoyed during the early hours, so he would eat breakfast with them before continuing with his day. 
That and of course the kitchen staff who would cook for them was a huge plus as well.

He knew no one would be up at this hour, but his tired feet had dragged him into the family kitchen, almost like he was a machine going on autopilot. He wondered if it was possible to invent such a thing. A perfect replacement of himself who would take care of the paperwork the exact way he would do it himself. Then he could start going back to the lab again, something he never thought he would miss as much as he did right now.

As he opened the door into the kitchen he saw the lights were on. He caught a glimpse of his mom standing beside an open window blowing out smoke from a lit cigarette while looking out into the horizon, deep in her own thoughts. 

“You know dad can smell that even if you blow the smoke outside and set this kitchen on fire after” Trunks joked. 

Bulma made a startled sound and dropped the cigarette out of the window.
“For Kamis sake Trunks don’t sneak up on me like that” She laughed and closed the window. “What are you even doing up?”

Trunks went to grab himself a cup of coffee. He loved when his mom got to the coffee machine before the kitchen staff arrived. She always made it strong.
“I could ask you the same” He said, reaching out a cup of coffee to his mom who gladly accepted “I haven’t been able to sleep”.

Bulma just nodded and sipped her coffee. “Me too” She said, staring him down.

“I have this document I would like you to look over.” He said almost robotically, “I know you signed it yourself but there are some things I don’t think would be in our best interest.”

“Do you like the job” Bulma asked, almost interrupting him. 

“Where is this coming from, mom?” Trunks asked, tried to hide his frustration from her.
She had trusted him with this and he didn’t want to let her down. 

“I’m a mom, Trunks. I know you have been working your ass off and I know you are not enjoying yourself” she said, resting one hand on her side. 

“Is this why you are smoking again?” Trunks knew his mom wouldn’t let him change the subject but he was too tired to think of anything better. 

“Don’t change the subject young man!” She scrolled at him.
“I know you have been inside that office day in and day out for the last 6 month. I thought I would see you in the lab by now”

“I don’t have time to go to the lab, mom” Trunks answered annoyed.
“There is so much paperwork to go through”

“You know we have people for that, right?” She said, giving him that goddamn Brief attitude he knew drove his dad crazy.

“I know, but I don’t trust them” He growled. Setting his empty cup into the sink, preparing for the argument, that he could feel was only a few sentences away.

It took them about 2 min before they both had lost their temper with each other. Bulma worried about Trunks' wellbeing and Trunks not wanting to let her down with the responsibility she had given him.
“Stop being so goddamn stubborn!” Bulma yelled at him  “I’ve hired the best on the field to help with these things! You are putting them out of work”

“I told you I want to know every deal we ever made so I can make better decisions in the future” He yelled back at her.

“So you don’t think I made good enough decisions in the past is that what you are saying?” Bulma was almost roaring now, taking everything he said out of proportion.
“I’ve been running this company since I was younger than you, Trunks. Don’t come at me thinking you can do a better job than me just after 2 years” 

“What?? That is not what I said” He was angry, tired and almost speechless. The combination let him groan out a lot of frustrating noises before making the decision to remove himself. They were both tired and overworked and they would gain nothing out of this.

“I gotta go now,” he said fast. turned around and left the kitchen. He could hear her still jelling after him but he ignore it.. 

He spent a good solid 12 hours in the office, angry and tired. He had asked for no disturbance during the day and his secretary did a wonderful job keeping even this mother out of the office.
Every 4 hour she brought him a cup of strong coffee and a few encouraging word that didn't have much effect, but Trunks appreciated her attempt to lift his mood.

She was a fast thinker and was really good at reading people - especially Trunks.
She was a pretty girl with a charming and soft smile. If Trunks had been into the innocent kind of girl, he would have had a hard time not flirting with her, but she was too sweet for his taste and needed more edge to her.
Even her harsh tone sounded almost nice. 

Trunks was sitting in his chair reading through a tower of documents. He heard his door go up just in time for his very needed coffee fix.
"Just place it on the table. Take the rest of the day off." he said without lifting his head. 
He heard the cup was placed on the other side of the mountain of documents reaching over Trunks head. 

“Do you have to read through all of that paper?” He heard a familiar voice ask.

Trunks jumped in surprise, almost knocking the tower of papers down.
He looked up and was met with a pair of dark brown eyes and a huge goofy grin. 

“Goten?!”

Chapter Text

After spending so much time inside the office of Capsule Corp, Trunks had almost forgotten how nice fresh air felt like. Sure he had been outside, running from meetings to meetings, but he hadn’t really had the time to just stop and enjoy his surroundings. Today was a beautiful day. The sky was blue and the sun was shining bright.

“A perfect day for ice cream.” Goten smiled, handing Trunks a big cone and paid before getting one for himself. “I swear this is the best ice cream you’ll ever get! Don’t tell mom, though. She will flip if she knew I was preferring this over her homemade ice cream. She always cut most of the sugar off so it just doesn’t taste the same”

While Goten was rambling about ice cream Trunks just watched him in silence and couldn’t help but smile. It’s been a long time since they had hung out. Beside from a few texts here and there he couldn’t think of a time they had seen each other since he took over Capsule Corp.
Goten had such a relaxing effect on Trunks and he had kind of forgotten about it.

“Hey am I boring you?” Goten asked, pulling Trunks out of his trail of thoughts.

“No sorry” Trunks said, shaking his head slightly “It’s been… A day. I’m just really tired”

Goten nodded, and gave Trunks a few pads on the back before wrapping his arm around his shoulder and pulled him into a side hug, without stopping their walk. It was nothing romantic and Trunks had seen Goku do the same thing to Gohan a few times. He knew this was a Son way of comforting each other. Still Trunks couldn’t help but hold his breath just a little, fearing Goten somehow would find out about the fantasy he had had the same night.

“Yeah I could kinda guess something was going on” Goten said “Bulma never calls unless she’s looking for you, but today she just asked me of we’ve talked”

Trunks stopped and shook his friend’s arm off him while looking him into his deep brown eyes.

“Did my mom send you?” Trunks asked angry. He was still mad at her and sending Goten was not how he would accept an apology. It made the anger worse.

“No it’s not like that” Goten replied quickly, sensing Trunks' temper “She just called me and asked if we have talked lately. When I said we hadn't, she just apologized for calling me and hung up”

“So coming here wasn’t her idea?”

“Oh gosh no!” Goten laughed “I know you've been busy and I didn’t want to bother you so I've been kept my distance until you had the time. But when your mom apologized - Your MOM Trunks - I decided a text wouldn’t be enough. I wanted to see for myself how bad it is”

Trunks sent his friend a glare and was met with a huge goofy grin. Goten was by nature a very gentle and polite person who loved to help everybody and adored all animals on the planet. But around Trunks the story was a bit different. He often provoked Trunks with harsh comments and sometimes sexsual jokes. It seemed a lot like a classic dude-bro bantering, but Goten was still so innocent and his comments had no effects on Trunks whatsoever. He did enjoy the bantering though so he always played along.

“Okay out with it.” Trunks said tiredly, “How bad is it?”

“On a scale from 1 - 10: Babidi looked like he had had more sleep than you” Goten laughed, avoiding a slow hit from Trunks.

“No but seriously,” Goten said, sounding concerned “How are you?”

Trunks looked down at the ice cream melting in his hands. He didn’t even feel like tasting it. All he really wanted was a cigarette and a strong coffee with preferably a splash of Italian Strega in it.
He had gotten used to exchanging his meals for liquids and protein bars the past half a year. At dinner time he was usually so exhorted he would only eat the same amount of food as his mom. As a half Saiyan it was unnatural and his dad had scrolled him many times, telling him to eat and train more or he would end up like “the oldest spawn of Kakarot”.
He felt a little embarrassed and didn't want to worry Goten. 

“I’m fine,” Trunks said, smiling at his friend. “There’s just a lot of things on my mind these days, that’s all.”

“Is that why you are fighting with Bulma?” Goten asked without knowing how accurate he was “She seemed really upset over the phone.”

Trunks groaned as he sat down on a bench in the big park rubbing his forehead annoyingly.
“Let’s just say we haven’t agreed on how I should run the company” Trunks signed “I really don’t wanna talk about it, Ten. Can we just eat ice cream and talk about girls like we used to”

“Well your ice cream has almost melted” Goten grinned. Trunks looked down on the half melted sugar mass covering his hand before throwing it in the trash with an apologetic smile.
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. But whatever Bulma got mad about it was probably more about your wellbeing than anything else. I’m sure she meant no harm.”

He knew that he was right and a part of him hated that. It meant he owed her an apology and being raised by two stubborn parents, one with more pride than the other, losing an argument by admitting fault was a rare and almost unseen thing in their household.

Goten placed his hand on Trunks thigh and patted it friendly a few times in comfort before removing it. Trunks froze for a second. He wasn’t prepared for Goten’s touch and much less the placement.
He saw a small flash of Goten’s red and pleading face underneath his hand, as he moaned uncontrollably by Trunks thrusting himself hard into him.

“Hey how’s Valese?” Trunks asked, trying to shake the image out of his head.
Valese was Goten’s girlfriend. They had been together for a few years now but Trunks didn’t really like her very much. She was a sweet and pretty girl, but she was also very spacy and spoiled by her rich parents. He had often thought to himself that Goten could do much better, but as long as Goten was happy he wouldn’t tell his friend.

“Oh I didn’t tell you?” Goten scratched the back of his head “We broke up about two month ago”

“What? Why didn’t you tell me? What happened?” A small part of Trunks was relieved. He was sure that Goten would pop the question soon, following the almost-tradition of the Son house to get married at a young age.

“I guess we just outgrew each other” Goten said happily “We split on a happy note though. We are still friends! She even found herself a new boyfriend and he seems like a good guy. I had a suspension that’s why she bleached her hair right before we broke up. I liked her red hair much better than her blonde”

“Wait. Did she cheat on you?”

“Oh no I don’t think so. But I think she had her eyes set on him before we broke up. But it’s okay, really! We were mostly like friends before anyways so it’s almost like nothing has changed” Goten keep his goofy smile plastered to his face the whole time.

Goten was horrible at hiding his feelings and didn't seem sad at all. But Trunks wanted to make sure that he was okay. A small nag of guild hit his stomach. He should have been there for him, but he didn’t even know it had happened because he had been too busy and Goten didn't want to disturb him. That's not how being best friends works.
He read all signs he could in Gotens face, looking for the smallest glimpse of sadness, but nothing was there to be read.

“I’m sorry man,” Trunks said. “Next time call me when things like this happen! We could have taken a small trip up the mountain and done some camping. Maybe gone fishing and eaten roasted marshmallows, have a few beers and just leave the world behind for a few days. Just like old times!”

Goten jumped up from the bench, looking at Trunks with lights in his eyes.
“That’s such a good idea, Trunks” He beamed “We should do that! How about this weekend?”

Taken by surprise Trunks had to collect himself for a second. He had planned to go through some of the security plans this weekend. He didn’t want anyone to know he was checking up on it, especially his mom. He wanted the check to be as raw as possible so that no one would cover up anything that needed to be addressed. He would be the only one working during the weekend and that meant without much disturbances.

“Come on, Trunks, you need to take a break from work! And I’m HEARTBROKEN and all! I really need this!” Goten grinned, making it obvious to even a kid he was lying about the heartbreak. He wanted to do this for Trunks.

“Okay fine” Trunks agreed not being able to say no to Gotens puppy eyes “But I have to be back Monday morning without hangovers!”
Both men got off the bench and started to walk back to Capsule Corp.

“Oh gosh that’s gonna be so much fun! I found the perfect place to camp a few months ago! The night sky is breathtaking and there is a hot spring close by! We could drink beer and take a bath. No wait, that’s not good for your body. We could take a bath and roast marshmallows. No wait that doesn’t make any sense.”

While Goten was rambling Trunks couldn’t help but feel a little nervous. The small flash he had had earlier made him question if it was a good idea and if his sexual frustration would cause him any problems, spending time alone with the one male he fantasized about.

It almost hit him like a truck. Since the fantasy had started he only thought about Goten when he thought about men. Not the ones he had been with or any made up fantasy guy. It was Goten only.
He hadn’t thought about him in a romantic way before, but suddenly he started to question himself. Did he have these fantasies because he was horny and got turned on by the danger of doing something he wasn't allowed to or did he deep down have a sparkle of feelings for his friend?

“Hallo? Earth to Trunks?” he suddenly heard and shook his head quickly to focus on what happened around him.
The had stopped and Goten was standing right in front of Trunks, only a few inches away from his face.

“I’m so sorry Goten. What did you ask again?”

Goten was pouting and flicked Trunks forehead, just like Trunks did to him when they were children.
“Pay attention” They were standing outside of a small florist shop. The flowers smelled wonderfully and the many vibrant colors and shapes of plants almost made the small shop seem like a painting.
“I know you suck at apologizing, so maybe just leave some flowers on the dinner table for your mom. That way Bulma knows you’ve forgiven her for being mad at you, and you don’t even have to face her while doing so! My dad does this with my mom and it works most of the time!”

“But I’m still mad at her, Goten,” Trunks said stubbornly, crossing his arms.

Goten gave Trunks a look and didn’t even have to say out loud what he was thinking. He already knew it. He looked just like his dad and not in a pretty way. Vegeta would hold a grudge for a long time, if not forever, against anyone who dared to question him, his strength or pride. Trunks was most certainly Vegeta’s son and was easy to hold grudges for a long time as well.

“Okay okay Prince of Stubbornness” Goten signed, using a nickname he only used when he thought Trunks was being unreasonable. “I just thought it would have been a good way to settle the disagreement between the two of you. You should be working together and not against each other”

“Flowers won’t do it,” Trunks signed, knowing once again that Goten was right. “But I know what will. Thanks for hanging out today, man. I really needed it.”

The two said their goodbyes before parting, promising to keep in touch over the week.
Trunks stopped by a small local grocery store on his way home. Him and Bulma had been shopping there many times before and he knew just the right item to buy, so that he didn’t have to say the word “sorry” directly to her.



It was late when Bulma finally left the lab. She was tired and frustrated and couldn’t wait for the day to be over. As she passed the gravity room she could hear Vegeta was still grunting and panting on the other side of the thick metal door. He would finish his training in about an hour giving her time to prepare. He would always take a shower right after and tonight she had plans on joining him. She had been unfocused all day and couldn’t solve a problem of one of her new test project. Sex always cleared her mind and helped her with solving problems faster.

Going for a quick snack, she opened the door to the kitchen and found Trunks sitting by the table.
He looked up at her and met her eyes right away.
She didn't say anything and didn't want to either. She knew she went overboard this morning and had taken his words and twisted them against him.
She regretted the fight but she didn’t regret calling him out for not taking care of himself. She had even tried to confront the situation earlier today but Trunk’s secretary had made a good point to leave him alone. He hadn’t eaten and by the time she stopped by he hadn’t had any coffee beside the one he drank before their fight. Even Bulma knew that it was a guarantee that he would lose his temper again and it wouldn't resolve anything between them.
Sorry was such a hard word and even harder as a parent.

Trunks didn’t say anything either, but only slid a bowl of her favorite cup noodles across the table. The hot water was already added and the entire kitchen smelled just like it.
She smiled softly and as she sat down ripping the cover off, he dug into a bowl himself, not saying a word. But he didn’t have to. She knew right away what it meant.

“Thank you” She said quietly, and her motherly heart bubbled with happiness as he gave her a smile in return.

Chapter Text

Gotens stroke his fingers gently along Trunks thighs, traveling further and further up. He was breathing into Trunks neck teasing with his lips dancing gently over Trunks skin but without making full contact.
Trunks was sitting with his legs spread and arms crossed over his chest, not being shy to show his dominance.
Goten was leaning up against his left side with a leg on each side of Trunks.
Trunks could feel Gotens hand traveling further up and landed on his groin, massaging teasingly before moving further up Trunks chest, sliding his hand underneath the shirt.
He slowly started to kiss Trunks up the neck until he reached his ear.
Trunks could feel his breath against him and warm shivers creeped down his body. He felt like he was under a spell and his breathing started to get heavier and heavier. He felt his pants getting tighter as his member reacted to Goten’s tease.

“I like it when you get hard for me” Goten whispered in his ear.
Trunks let out a shaking breath and closed his eyes. His head was spinning and Goten’s hands felt like small feathers with needles on them. His skin had become so sensitive and it felt great under Gotens touch.

*~~*
“Mr. briefs?” a voice called, snapping Trunks out of this daydreaming. “What do you think?”

Trunks found himself once more in the conference room. This meeting was on it’s 3th hour and Trunks was getting tired of listening to the same song being played over and over again.
He didn’t trust many of the people his mother had hired to help with the paper works and business contracts. He had seen some of the deals they had made in the past, and had no doubt that his mom just signed the papers trusting the people she had hired without reading it through.

“I still think we should take the deal with Acomenics and agree to continue to work with Workcome.” One man said again.

“I agree with Patrick, Mr. Briefs” The man who had disturbed Trunks fantasy said “It’ll be a good deal”

Trunks signed and rubbed his nose bridge. He was hoping they could see for themselves how bad their advice was.

“No.” Trunks said harsh “The deal with Acomenics doesn’t gain us any value whatsoever. I want a serious deal from them or no deal at all. And if Workcome wants to continue our cooperation I want the same amount of data from them but I’m cutting their fund in half.”

The two men looked at Trunks with wide eyes. Since Trunks took over he had been cross checking everything and questioning even the smallest details. They had grown used to Bulma, who only listened with half a ear, but they knew mentally she was in the lab and therefore easy to convince.

“But.. sir” Patrick mumbled “Workcome is not going to agree to that. What if they cut our deal?”

“So be it. They need us more than we need them. We have been bleeding money ever since we made a deal with them to begin with. I know this company has a lot of money, but I’m not giving them away for free. They’ll say yes because they can’t live without us, simple as that.”

“Sir,” One of the men said, feeling brave to argue with Trunks.

“I don’t understand why you have the time to talk to me when you should be talking to Workcome right now” Trunks said harshly and shot the guy an irritated glare.

The two men collected their belongings fast and left the room with a small bow. On their way out they almost bumped into Bulma, who greeted them and went to see Trunks.

“Damn” She said laughing “I’ve never seen Patrick looking so stressed out before. Be careful you don’t scared them away”
She sat down beside Trunks, placing a large cup of coffee in front of him. He let out a small groan before taking a sip.

“I’m counting on it” He said blankly, “They are doing a horrible job. If they don’t come back giving me exactly what I asked for or better, I’m gonna fire both of them”

Bulma shifted uncomfortably but didn’t say anything. They two men had been working for her for almost 7 years and she trusted their judgements. But Trunks was the one in charge and he had been working hard to fix things she didn’t have any interest in. She did notice the big savings he had made, striking better deals and cutting funds where it wasn’t needed. She was a proud mother and he did great.

“Will you join us for dinner tonight?” She asked, pretending to not worry about him. He hadn’t been joining them for the past few days, burying himself in his office. “Bulla misses you”

Trunks smiled by the name of his little sister. He didn’t want to admit it, but he had a weak spot for her, just like his dad. She was like a mini Bulma and seeing how she had full control over their dad both amused and fascinated him.

“I’ll try and make it.” He promised. “I have plans this weekend so there is a lot of things that needs to be done before I leave”

Bulma couldn’t hold back a huge grin and gave him a big pad on the back as he was trying to sip from his coffee.
“There he is” She beamed “My long lost son who knows how to enjoy his weekends has finally awakened from his slumber! What’s the big plan?”

Trying to remove his spilled coffee from the table with a napkin he just shook his head with a small smile on his lips. After making up from the fight they had in the beginning of the week, Bulma had started to sleep again. He knew this because her outburst of energy was beginning to return.

“I’m going camping with Goten like the good old days” Trunks explained “ He broke up with his girlfriend a few months ago so we’re escaping reality a little to cheer him up” He wasn’t going to tell her about Goten not even being sad about his breakup. That would mean he had to admit their trip was for him to get a rest, meaning admitting his mom was right about him needing a break from work.

“Oh yeah the redhead” Bulma said sipping her coffee “I never really got why Goten was with one like her. He is such a good kid and he can do so much better than a blank and rich pushup doll”

Trunks burst out in laughter, almost choking on his coffee again. Sometimes his mom's comments took him by surprise and she would rarely be sugarcoating her opinions either.

“I think Goten really liked her, mom” He said, still half laughing “But I agree.”

They got up and started to walk back to Trunks office together. By now the small boner Trunks had had from his daydreaming was gone and he was relieved nobody dropped their pen and looked under the table to find it. Luckily he was used to bluffing and pretending like nothing was going on under the table was like a walk in the park for him.

“I want to show you something mom,” Trunks said, and couldn’t help but feel excited.

They greeted Trunks’ secretary who was smiling politely and continued talking to the client she had on the phone.
When they entered his office he could feel a refreshing smell in the room and knew right away she had opened his window while he was out to let in some fresh air. This was one of the small things she did for him that he had never expected of her but really appreciated.
He went to look in his top drawer and pulled out a folder with a lot of different documents and data written on it.

“I looked into our security over the past 30 years. I checked everything twice and found out there are about 5000 to 10.000 attempts to hack out systems every month.”

Bulma narrowed her eyes, not really sure where he was getting at. The security system was made by her dad and later on updated by herself. She had spent a lot of hours and waken nights to make sure nobody could hack them. She had implemented a lot of the same coding into all public products to make sure that it was safe for the consumer to use their products and she was very proud of her work.

“Every year less than 0.1% get past the first step” He beamed “And nobody has gotten past the second step, let alone the next 8 steps.”

“Oh uhm.. That’s.. good?” She said still unsure why he was showing this to her.

“Good? Mom that’s amazing! We have the strongest security system I have ever tried to hack myself into and it’s made by two people alone. You and grandpa did an outstanding job! I’m so impressed I had to show the data to you yourself!”

Bulma was speechless. She suddenly realized how grown up Trunks had become and she wasn’t sure if she was proud of him becoming such a fine young man or if she was a little sad that her vision of him being her little boy had somehow shattered.
He gave her the documents and his smile melted her motherly heart.
“Of course it’s the best!” She told him, grinning “We’re geniuses after all.”

He just smiled and nodded and suddenly she realized something he had said.
“What do you mean by systems you have been trying to hack yourself into?”

Suddenly his face changed and there he was - Her little boy who knew he had done something wrong and was about to get caught.
“I’ll let that comment slide for now!” Bulma said, “But only because you are stroking my ego. Thanks honey. It was really nice of you”
She gave him a kiss on the cheek before turning on her heels. She had already decided that he was joining them for dinner tonight and she wanted to make his favorite in hope that he would eat a little more than he had done recently.

She waved goodbye to Trunks and left his office and was met by a pleasant sight.
“Goten!” She called, and the dark haired guy smiled and waved to her.

“Gosh he looks like Goku, even with the short haircut” she thought to herself.

“Hi Bulma. I was just stopping by with a coffee for Trunks. But it seems like I didn’t know him as well as I thought” Goten grinned and scratched the back of his head.

Bulma notices a cup on Trunks’ secretary's counter and Goten leaning against the counter.
She blinked for a second and saw a faint blush on the secretary's cheeks.

“Apparently he likes it strong and without sugar. But I asked the barista to make something that tastes like as little coffee as possible. I don’t get how you enjoy the flavor so much I usually add as much sugar flavored as possible to hide the taste.” Goten said, looking a bit confused on the coffee cup on the counter. “Thanks for telling me, Serenity”

“Goten, stop flirting with my secretary and get your ass in here” Trunks was standing leaning against the doorframe of his office with his arms crossed. He had a tired look in his eyes but his smile was warm and welcoming. A smile Serenity hasn't seen on her boss before.

“I’m not flirting” Goten protested, jumping away from the counter with his hands up “I was just asking her since she was the one who gave me the coffee I brought you last time”

“I like it strong and bitter like my dad” Trunks grinned “It’s the best way to remember it”

“I’m stealing that line for sure” Bulma grinned “I’m gonna leave you guys to it. Goten, please join us for dinner tonight! I need someone to drag Trunks ass to the table and it seems like a job for you”

“Consider it done” Goten smiled at her and joined Trunks in his office.


Goten walked straight to the guest chair and sat down after setting his backpack on the floor in front of him. He started to open the bag and pulled up a small metal part and placed it on the desk.
“I really appreciate you wanting to look at it” Goten said, sounding a bit embarrassed “I know you’re busy so I kinda feel like a bother to you. But we can’t buy this part anymore and without it we need an entire new machine and that’s a lot of money”

Trunks looked at the small metal part and studied it. It was old Capsule Corp tech and he had to take it apart to find out where the malfunction was.
“You are never a bother to me, Ten” Trunks said, still studying the part. “I’ll have it fixed for you before the weekend. I’ll bring it and install it for you guys before we head off for camping.”
As he looked up, he caught Goten's deep eyes. He was staring intensely at Trunks face like Trunks was explaining the most fascinating thing in the world.

Trunks could feel his heart skipped a beat. Those damn eyes. He had always asked himself if his eyes were deep dark brown or totally black. Looking at his dad and the other saiyans he had met, he had no doubt that their eye colors were black. And with the saiyan blood in Goten’s veins as well it was a possibility. But Goten had so much kindness to him, Trunks always thought black was too cold for him, so a part of him had registered his friends eyes with very dark brown eyes. They always had a glimpse of sunshine and it almost made his eyes seem like they were sparkling.

“Thank you” Goten said and smiled softly before looking away. “It’s not that we are poor, but it would be a huge bill to pay, and my parents aren’t rolling around in money either”

“Yeah no worries about it. Let me just finish up before we go to dinner. I still need some work done before I can leave the office”
A part of Trunks wanted to let Goten go roam the Capsule Corp, but a small sting in his stomach didn’t want to either. He didn’t like Goten talking to Serenity, even though he knew the chances of Goten flirting smoothly was very low. He was very much like his father and was more direct and no girls needed to guess what his intentions were.
Trunks didn’t see Serenity like a type who would like things to be told to her so directly. She seemed more like she was into all that romantic stuff, and that wasn’t a skill Goten had ever learned about.

“Yeah sure, I got some reading to do as well, if it’s okay I stay here?” Goten asked for Trunks' relief.

They stayed in the room for about two hours, Goten studying and Trunks was trying to work. But he couldn’t help but steal a glimpse of Goten once in a while. Gotens face was in a frown, and his normally very goofy and friendly face was pulled into a grimace Trunks knew too well: He was struggling to understand his homework.
Trunks noticed Goten was reading up on bird anatomy and the difference between a flying dragon type and a normal bird. It seems like only a few years ago Trunks was helping his mom out with a prototype for a cage that could trap dragons for transportation, without hurting the creatures. The village not far from the Son’s house had asked for it since they had encountered a few dragons getting lost and roaming their cities.

“I could help him,” Trunks thought to himself.

You need some help?” Trunks asked
Before he knew it, he was standing beside Goten, leaning with one hand against the table right beside Goten's book. “I read up on this topic not long ago so I might be able to answer a few questions.”

Goten looked up at Trunks with a slight confusion in his eyes.
“Really? I’m trying to figure out the difference between the wings of birdlike dragons and normal birds. Everything made sense until the names of the bones are called the same in both animals but the bones are placed differently. It seems so stupid and confusing to me.” He replied, not letting go of Trunks eyes.

“You look at this in the wrong way Ten. Is there any other animal you can use for reference?”

Goten started to look into the room in front of him thinking - Just like Trunks had hoped he did. While Goten was busy staring into the room, Trunks moved closer to the book, trying to find a page of a map of the dragon's bones.
Goten looked down into the book and sat closer to the page, still thinking. He suddenly made a small move, realizing what Trunks meant.
“Wait, they are named just like smaller reptiles that have wings and not like birds” he said out loud and with a huge grin, turning his head to meet Trunks eyes.
They were close to each other's faces now just like Trunks had wanted them to be. Goten stopped, not noticing that he had held his breath, but didn’t let go of Trunks eyes. They stood there a little while just looking. Trunks waited for his cue. Goten’s eyes moved quickly from Trunks’ gaze to his lips and then back up again. Jackpot.

Trunks learned forward, catching Goten’s lips with his own in a small and soft kiss. At first Goten froze, not sure how to react, but as Trunks was holding the kiss, the younger man leaned into it.

*~~*
Trunks shook this head trying to focus on his work. One thing was to fantasize in bed alone or during a boring meetings, but having these fantasies while Goten was in the room was completely a different thing. He looked into his computer screen trying to read through an email but his gaze quickly gilded back to Goten.


They were both standing up kissing violently while only a few sounds of groans left their lips. Goten's hands were wrapped into Trunks’ hair while pressing their heads closer. Trunks had one hand on Goten’s back and another was resting on Goten’s ass, pushing their bodies closer together.
With a gentle push, Goten moved forward to the desk to let Trunks lean against it before breaking their kiss. They were both panting heavily and a small smile made it to the both of their lips.
Before Trunks could say anything, Goten leaned forward and started to kiss and lick against Trunks neck.
Trunks let out a small moan in satisfaction. Gotens hands were roaming Trunks’ body: his shoulders, along the arms, one hand on Trunks chest and another started to move lower and lower. Trunks led out a small gasp as Goten started to grind against Trunks pants. He leaned his head backwards taking the entire sensation in. He wanted to touch Goten badly.
As he started to move his hands from Goten’s back and ass, Goten quickly placed Trunks’ hands by the edge of the table, before continuing rubbing against Trunks pants.

“Just sit back and enjoy,” Goten said, starting to go lower on Trunks’ neck. “I want you to feel so good you are going to scream my name before I’m gonna let you come.”

Goten started to kiss along Trunks collarbones while he was opening Trunks pants. Trunks was shaking in desperation. God Goten didn’t know how much he wanted him by now.

Gotens kiss moved lower and lower and before Trunks realized it, Goten was on his knees in front of him. He looked up at Trunks with a lusty smile on his lips, about to pull Trunks out of his pants.

*~~*
“STOP” Trunks screamed in his head, trying to get back to reality.
This wasn’t good and he needed to snap out of this right now. He looked up at Goten somewhat scared he observed Trunks and was guessing what was going on. But Goten was still looking confused in his book.

“Perhaps I should help him” Trunks thought again “If I did manage to get our heads so close together, perhaps I’ll know if I even have a chance of something like that happening”
He once again shook his head looking into the computer screen.
“Don’t be stupid. I’m just horny and the fantasy of Goten has been the closest I’ve gotten in months.” He looked up at his friend again.
But what if…

Trunks bit his lips and could feel his stomach turn. Perhaps it was worth a try? He collected his courage and opened his mouth.

“You need some help?” Trunks asked but was interrupted by the phone ringing.
He looked at the phone almost relieved. He couldn’t believe what he was just about to do.

“Are you gonna get that?” Goten asked from the other side of the desk. Trunks looked up and could feel his head heating up. He answered the phone and shot Goten an apologetic look for letting the phone ring.
“Hey honey, it’s mom!” Bulma replied on the other end “Dinner is about to be ready, get your asses up here before I send your dad to get you. He broke all of the bots today so he is grumpy”

“If only you’ve made them better they didn’t need repairing all the time” He heard his dad’s angry voice in the background. “Your bad invention is slowing my training down.”

“Excuse me, if it wasn’t for me and my bad inventions you would have-”
The phone hung up and Trunks laughed. Those two never seem to change and even with the harsh words they spoke, he knew as soon as they were alone they only lived for each other.

After collecting all of their belongings, the two guys went to the second floor of the building to meet Trunks family in the kitchen.
Vegeta was already sitting down, looking out of the window while he was obviously fuming in anger. Bulma had just closed the fridge, holding 3 beers in her arms.

As soon as they entered, Trunks’ younger sister Bulla saw Goten and squealed in delight. She jumped down from her chair and ran into Goten's open arms.
“Goten I missed you” She laughed as he was swinging her around. “Why don’t you ever visit me anymore?”

Goten took his hand to his chest, like someone had shot him.
“You know just what to say to break my heart in tiny pieces!” He grinned and carried Bulla back to her seat. “I promise I’m gonna do better to visit you from now on, okay?”

“Okay” the 10 year old girl said, beaming with joy.

That evening, Trunks forgot all about work and sleep. He felt blessed in the company of the people he cared about the most.
His mom was nosy as always and wanted to know everything about Goten and his new life as a single man.

Vegeta only spoke a few words and most of them were in anger, but it didn’t bother anyone as this was almost expected of the grumpy saiyan.

When Bulla wasn’t wrapping Vegeta around her littlefinger with her sweet but angry words to him, asking him to behave when they had guests in the house, she was busy finding all the best pieces of yakiniku for Trunks making sure that he ate. When they were done eating and Vegeta had left the table, Bulma, Trunks and Goten kept the conversation going, laughing and enjoying themselves. Bulla crawled into Trunks lap and stayed there until she fell asleep in his arms, both hands in a tight grip on his shirt.

It was almost midnight when Goten decided to take the trip home to mount Paozu. He was offered to stay the night by Bulma, but he had promised his mom to do some chores before going to bed, and everybody knew there was no arguing with Chichi.


As Goten left, Trunks couldn’t help but feel a bit hesitant. They would see each other again in a few days where they would go camping along the mountain side and he was starting to questions if he would be able to hold himself back if any opportunity offered themselves.

Chapter Text

The fresh air and the view over the mountains always make Trunks stop for a moment and just take everything in. There really was nothing like the countryside. He liked the luxury the city provided him, but being so close to nature was really something special.

They had set up a camp in a small and hidden valley 20 min flight from the Son house.
Goten had found it by accident on his route to check on the local animals and had wanted to use the space but never got around to do it.

When Trunks went to pick up Goten for their camping, he had taken a few minutes to check on the broken machine. As he had suspected he found a few other parts that needed to be changed as well. His plan was to change the parts with newer and better pieces without the Son family seeing it. He knew they didn’t like it when he gave them stuff without feeling like they needed to give him something in return and they would often go out of their way to return the favour.
Chichi had busted Trunks while he was taking the machine apart, and had insisted on at least cooking them a big lunch they could bring for their camping.

Goten was getting their lunch ready while Trunks was setting up their tent. The tent was fairly big and even had room for two sleeping mats and two chairs in case it started to rain. Usually the sleeping mats would be placed beside each other but Trunks didn’t trust himself very much these days, and had placed their mats with about an armlength from each other… Just in case.

“Beer now or beer later?” Goten called from outside.
Trunks didn’t get to reply before the heard one can get opened followed up on a second one.

He found his way towards the huge blanket on the ground that Goten had spread out. All kinds of different food that Chichi had cooked for them was covering over half of the blanket. He knew from spending a lot of his childhood on Mount Paozu that picnicking was a normal thing for the Sons, and Goten had often said that Sunday was his favorite day, only because of the picnics they would do. Goten was sitting on the blanket, facing away from Trunks.

“Hurry up before it gets cold!” Goten grinned, looking back at Trunks with a sparkle in his eyes.
He stopped as he felt his heart skipping a beat. He signed, trying to ignore his body's reaction and sat down beside Goten.

Goten gave Trunks his beer and started to dig into the food the second Trunks butt was planted.
Trunks took a few sips of the beer and started to eat. The smell of the food was almost overwhelming for him, and with no appetite he tried to eat as much as he could, wanting to avoid Goten noticing.

“You didn’t eat a lot at your place either” Goten said, “Since when did you stop liking food? “
“I didn’t!” Trunks grinned, trying to brush the topic off as lightly as he could “I sit down most of the day so my body doesn’t need that much energy”

“Gohan zahid that mohnish dahd whosh ihn bhed” Goten has his entire mouth filled with food, chewing while he was talking.

“Goten please, you’re not a child anymore” Trunks laughed “chew your food before you speak”

“shorryh Mom” Goten replied, rolling his eyes. He swallowed his food quickly and leaned closer to Trunks.

“Gohan said that once dad was in bed for about a month with all of his bones broken after a fight with your dad. He was still eating so much they once had an entire team watch him at the hospital because they thought it was a rare side effect of the painkillers.”
Goten had his eyes narrowed and looked directly at Trunks, making it very obvious he didn’t believe his explanation.

“Yeah well..” Trunks looked up, trying to escape Gotens gaze.

“I think you are stressed” Goten interrupted Trunks, and leaned back again “We had a huge paper about it in school a year ago. It leads to many side effects such as insomnia, loss of appetite, headaches and tense muscles. You’re dealing with all of that, right?”

Trunks didn’t know how to reply. Not because he didn’t know the answer but because he didn’t want to accept it. He was the son of Vegeta and Bulma, the two most hardworking people he had ever met in his life. He had never heard any of them talking about being too stressed before so why should he?

“You know it can lead to some problems with having or wanting sex as well, right?!” Goten smirked “How’s your sex life? Been seeing anyone you forgot to tell me about?”

Trunks jumped back in surprise, feeling his entire body starting to heat up while his heart was pounding so loudly he could barely hear anything else. It was very unlike Goten to ask something like this. Usually it would be the other way around, Trunks asking Goten and Goten feeling embarrassed, surprised and flustered.

“I..ehm I haven’t really had the time to… mingle” Trunks finally said, trying to avoid Gotens eyes as much as possible.

“What about Serenity? She’s cute!” Goten pressed on.

“She’s my secretary Goten. It would be very unprofessional of me.”

“It hasn't stopped you before,” Goten replied, taking a bite of a piece of bread.

“It was one time!” Trunks spat “Also I had fired him before it happened and I made it very clear he wasn’t getting the job back by sleeping with me”
“Poor guy” Goten grinned “I remember him being quiet mad at you when you ended it”

“Poor guy?” Trunks grimaced “He told my parents we were sleeping together before I had the chance to have ´The Talk´ with them. I can still remember my mom screaming her lungs out at me.”

“I thought your mom was supportive?”

“She is! She was mad that I didn’t tell her myself” Trunks explained “She'd known it for years and had waited for me to tell her. So she was mad that she had been waiting for no good reason… That and she was mad I was sleeping around with a soon to be ex-employee. It’s not a good look on the company that the son of the president is sleeping around like that”

Trunks was lucky enough to be able to come out to Goten as the first person. He knew that Goten probably didn’t even know liking someone of the same gender was an option. He also knew it wouldn’t change anything between the two of them. They had spent so much of their childhood together, Trunks knew he could trust Goten to be cool with it and not treat Trunks differently. And he had been right about that.

“How… How did you know?” Goten asked suddenly “That you liked guys too?”
He took another sip of his beer, looking a bit embarrassed by his question.

Trunks turned his head to observe Gotens face. This wasn’t an uncommon question he had gotten from people who knew over the years, but Goten had never asked before. Gotens cheeks was a slight pink color and he avoided Trunks eyes.

“Why?” Trunks asked with surprise.

Goten was quiet for a while. He studied the almost empty beer can in his hand before taking one last sip. He crushed the can and put it in the braided basket.

“I just..I know I said I’m not sad about the break up and I’m not but.. I just can’t see myself dating another woman anytime soon.”
Goten was looking straight forward. Usually his goofy smile would be plastered on his face by now and he would be thinking of a stupid joke to lighten the mood, but he didn’t this time.
“I guess I just wonder if I’ll ever be able to. Is that how it starts? The whole dating guys thing? Awch”

Trunks threw his empty beer can, hitting the side of Goten's head.

“You are unbelievable!” Trunks sighted “How did you know that you were into redheads?”

“Who said that I’m into..”

“Just answer the question”

“It’s not the red hair that I like, it’s the vibrant color. It looks nice in the wind” Goten protested and met Trunks eyes. One of his eyebrows was raised and gave Goten the same look he always did when Goten was trying to wiggle his way out of a situation.

“I dunno... I just kinda.. knew?”

“And there you have it” Trunks said, reaching for another beer “Being attractive to someone is not a… whatever you were trying to make it sound like… you just know”

“Is it really that simple?” Goten opened another beer joining Trunks on his second round.

“Of course not” Trunks laughed “But it’s the simplest way to explain it.”

They sat in silence for a while sipping their beers. The fresh breeze felt good on their skin, helping them to cool down from the heat of the sun. The birds were singing in the trees and the smell of fresh grass and flowers was filling the air.
Trunks couldn’t help but feel a bit restless. The past 6 month with constantly working, sitting around in silence without anything to do made his entire body feel uncomfortable and tingly. There were so many things he could be doing at this moment. Checking the inventories of the lab, going through the contracts he wanted to end the coming week or go through safety and security protocols of the staff carrying heavy things to and from the lab.

“Hey you wanna spar some?” Trunks finally asked “Might Help you think about something else but your ex”
He got up and stretched himself feeling excited. He hadn’t been working out much besides from 10 min here and there, and occasionally a few times his dad had forced him for some sparring and quite literally beat him half to death.

“Sure” Goten said, jumping up “It’ll might also take your head out of your job”

“I wasn’t th-”

“You were rubbing the side of your index finger with your thumb. You do this when you get annoyed, restless or stressed” Goten grinned pointing at Trunks left hand as Trunks was about to object.

It didn’t take the two guys long to clean up, change into training clothing and finding a good place to spar. Goten had been keeping up with his training and his dad had made sure of it. After the break up, Goku took every chance he could to help his son stay distracted. Goten knew a small part of his fathers interest was an excuse to get out of work but he still appreciated it.

But even if Goten had been training almost every day, he still had some trouble keeping up with Trunks… Like always. Since they reached their teen years, no matter how close the two were, they both had a burning desire to be stronger than the other. It wasn’t the same rivalry as their fathers had had for years, but their Saiyan blood was differently pushing them both.

Goten hated that Trunks was always one step ahead of him. It annoyed him how much stronger Trunks seemed to be, even when he had neglected his training and was as distracted as he was. Trunks didn’t notice Goten’s annoyance. He was busy calming down, forcing himself to think about cute puppies and old ladies. The adrenaline from the fight, hearing Goten moan and grunt and being this close to him at the same time.

Trunks had managed to hold Goten in a headlock mid air and wrapped his legs around his thighs, leaving Goten open and struggling to get out of his grip.
“Giving up?” Trunks asked with a triumphant smile on his face.

“Never,” Goten grunted, twisting his body against Trunks.

Trunks was holding his breath while he felt Goten’s hips stroke against him.
“T..Trunks” Goten moaned, sending Trunks directly to a fantasy he had been trying to suppress.

He saw flashes of himself thrusting hard into Goten holding the same position as they were in right now, making his friend scream out in pleasure.

“T..Trunks” Goten called again, digging his nails into Trunks arms “Tr..Trunks please”

“F..faster” his friend moaned, leaning into Trunks to take him further in. He could feel Goten’s body tighten under him as he sped up his rhythm, and Goten’s breathing became short and fast.

“Trunks.. Please” Goten whined “I.. I’m going to..”

Trunks was instantly taken out of his fantasy as he felt Goten’s teeth sink into his arm, biting down hard.

“Auch!” Trunks yelled and let go of Goten, only then realizing just how firmly his grip had been.

Goten was coughing, holding a hand on his throat.
“For Kami’s sake, Trunks!” He spat “Don’t zone out while you are having people in a headlock!”

“S..Sorry Ten,” Trunks felt so embarrassed by himself, not knowing what else to say.

“Maybe we should call it a day” Goten laughed “You are dangerous when the blood rushes through your head”

Goten was looking away from Trunks with a small blush on his cheeks. He was scratching the back of his head with one hand and pointed toward Trunks' nether part with the other. In Trunks absolut horror, he looked down and saw a small tent showing through his loose pants.

“Shit fuck crap” he thought to himself and tried to hide it with his hands. He had been pressing himself tightly behind Goten to hold his grip and there had been no doubt he had been able to feel him against his back. What should he do? What could he say? A spiral of pure panic rushed through him and all he wanted to do was to bury himself into the deepest hole and never come out of it again.
“Hey don’t worry about it” Goten laughed nervously, trying to help an obviously panicking Trunks “It happens the the best of us”

It wasn't a lie. Both of the men had in their teen years struggling with keeping the excitement from a fight down, quiet literally. According to Vegeta it wasn’t a strange thing for a warrior race to get turned on during battle. He of course made it clear he had never had a problem with keeping the desire down, and that the two boys probably were struggling due to the human side of them.

Trunks groaned in embarrassment, hiding his red glowing face in his hands.

“Common, Trunks,” Goten laughed “I don’t mind. Let’s just stop for now and head for the hot springs! There is one not far from the camp.”

Trunks nodded, still hiding his face in his hands, and slowly started to fly back.
Goten did his best to keep a light conversation to help Trunks get his mind away from before. But Trunks was still deep in his thoughts. Maybe this really was a bad idea. He was thinking about finding a way out of the whole camping trip, but he knew if he used his job as an excuse, Goten would go full on Chichi on him. His job was really all he had.

“Oh no,” Goten said out loud as they made it to the camp. Trunks was pulled out of his trails of thoughts and realized what Goten was referring to.
As they had left for their sparring, they had forgotten to close their tent. They spotted a tail of a small dragon among the chaos in their camp. The trash from the picnic and a lot of their personal belongings was scattered all over the small valley. One of the chairs inside the tent was knocked over and was lying halfway out of the tent's entrance. It didn’t take the two men long to spot at least 4 dragons running around between their things.

“This is going to be fun,” Goten said sarcastic “It’s forest gobbers. They are fast and they will bite if you get too close.”

Trunks nodded knowing forest gobbers too well. After No. 17 got back from the tournament of power, Trunks had asked him if he could get a part time job as a park ranger on his island. No. 17 had agreed and he had kept the job for a few years until school was taking too much of his time. He once fell asleep on the island and woke up with 5 forest gobbers scattering his backpack into pieces, trying to find some food. it had taken him about 7 hours to get all of his stuff back, and he was covered in bite marks and scratches from head to toe back then.

“I’ll get them out of the tent, can you try to chase the rest of them into the forest?” Goten said, already making a plan in his mind. “And try not to hurt them! The sun is bad enough for their skin as it is”
Trunks just nodded, and started to track down one of the gobbers, that was closest to the three at the end of the valley, that led straight into a forest. He couldn't help but smile at Goten’s concerned request of not hurting the dragons. He had always been a kind soul, but when it came to animals Goten was ready to lose a leg and an arm just to protect them. It was one of the many qualities that Trunks loved about Goten.

It didn’t take him long to chase the gobbers into the forest, pushing them carefully with a very light energy wave until they were safe under the trees and fleet further into the forest. He started to collect their belongings when he heard a lot of noise and Goten screaming inside the tent. Running out of the tent like a maniac, a gobber was sitting on the back of Goten’s head, digging it’s tiny sharp teeth into his skull.

“Get it off me get it off me get it off me” He screamed to Trunks, who had to sit down from crying out of laughter.
After a few attempts, Trunks finally got the gobber off Goten and it fled into the forest to join it’s brothers and sisters. Both men had been bitten and scratched by the frightened animal and specially Goten’s left ear was left with a deep wound.

“Don’t be a baby,” Trunks said annoyed as he tried to clean the wound “sit still”

“Easy for you to say,” Goten complained “Disinfection hurts like a bitch”

“You are a saiyan warrior who has been beaten half to death more times than you can count on your hands and you complain about a little stinging sensation?” laughed “You really are a weird one!”

“I have very sensitive ears, okay!” Goten protested “Mixing the sting and you pinching my earlobe to clean the wound send a ton of confusing signals through my body”

“What do you mean?” Trunks asked, and didn’t realize he was almost singing his question. Knowing that Goten’s ears were sensitive made him want to bend down and start chewing on them.

“It means it hurts, dickhead” Goten complained.

Trunks finished cleaning the wound and patched it up with a bandage. Amused by himself, he had chosen a pink bandage with small hearts on it. A bandage Bulla had packed for him just in case he got hurt. Goten wouldn’t be able to see it until the weekend was over, and just the thought of him finding out how Trunks had decorated him made him want to burst into laughter. This would also be a good reminder not to get any closer to Goten’s ears. It had barely been an hour since he was caught during his fantasy and his imagination already wanted to roam again.

“Alrighty” Goten said, standing up and heading back into the tent “I’ll get the towels and you get the beer”

“Do you really think it’s a good idea to drink while we are bathing?” Trunks asked, packing a few beers. “It’s really not good for the body”

He heard Goten make a disapproving sound as he zipped the tent shut, making sure it was completely secured this time.
“Stop worrying, mom! Me and Gohan have done it a ton of times before and we are still alive”
Goten turned around carrying two towels under his arm and a huge goofy smile on his lips. He has no doubt been looking forward to the hot spring the most.

“Did you get our swimming short?” Trunks asked as he couldn’t spot his almost green neon short between the white towels.

“We are in the middle of nowhere and heading to a hot spring, Trunks” Goten laughed as he started to levitate “swimming short is not needed”

Trunks held his breath for a moment as he set off to follow Goten.
“This is going to be a long night” He thought to himself as he was trying to calm the beating heart in his chest.

Chapter Text

As the sun was setting, a painting of orange, purple, pink and blue colors was gliding over the sky, leaving whoever had time to stop and look, speechless.
The warm temperature was settled from hot to comfortable, with a slightly cold breeze dancing with the grass and trees. On a mountain deep into the woods, a semi large hot spring was hiding behind rocks and was nearly impossible to find, if you didn't know where to look. Trunks and Goten hadn't been there for long. Goten was not always the best navigator and they had been flying from mountain to mountain until he finally found the right one.

As they stripped naked to sink themselves into the warm water, Trunks had done everything in his power to stare at the colorful sky. He had seen Goten naked countless times. As young teenagers they had even compared sizes, and Trunks remember feeling disappointed. He had been sure he was the biggest of the two of them, but as it turned out Goten was longer and Trunks was thicker. Back then Trunks didn’t know of his sexuality and seeing his friends dick beside his own hadn’t sparked any interest in him. Of Course back then he didn’t have any recurring fantasies about Goten as he did now so at this time it felt wrong to even peep at his friend.

“I’ve been looking forward to this all week” Goten signed happily, as he sunk down into the water until he had covered his mouth and started to blow bubbles.
Goten eyes were closed and Trunks could have sworn he could hear him hum under the water.

The cold breeze and the hot water was a perfect combination and as the sky started to dim, the thousand stars were slowly starting to show themselves. When they arrived, Trunks had lightened a few torches that were planted near the water with a small ki-blast. If this had been a date, the mood would have been perfect. If the date wasn't with his naked - possible straight - best friend.

"What are you thinking about?" Goten asked, looking straight at Trunks with a goofy grin. His eyes were sparkling and his smile was still soft even if it possibly couldn't get wider.

"Work" Trunks lied. "It's weird sitting here and not doing anything"
That last part wasn't really a lie. Trunks' body was summing and it took everything in his power not to throw himself at Goten.

"If you keep this up I'll take you camping every weekend until you've learned to relax" Goten threatened with an innocent glimpse in his eyes.
"It's not good for you to be this tense all the time."

Trunks was about to challenge Goten to try and run Capsule Corp himself and then see how relaxing it would be, but he was stopped and had to pinch his thigh as Goten stood up, and walked towards Trunks. The water just barely reached Goten's hips and Trunks stomach tightened as his heart started to race

"Hey I know" Goten said with a slight smirk on his lips, as he was walking closer to Trunks
"I got an idea that could help you relax"

Trunks had to pinch even harder on his thigh making sure this wasn't an incoming fantasy. At first he tried to look everywhere other than on Goten, but he by accident locked eyes with him and couldn't get his gaze away. A big clump started to form in Trunks throat and a heat that wasn't coming from the warm water was spreading over his body.

"W..what did you have in mind?" Trunks stuttered, almost nervous.

Goten was now within reach. He was standing with his hands resting on his hips and he looked down at Trunks, who was sitting in the water.

"A massage" Goten explained happily, turning his smirk into a wide grin "Turn around! It's going to be like the good old days after a workout"

Trunks exhaled but couldn't get the lump out of his throat. "No thank you!" He answered "You know I hate massages!"

Goten sat down to Trunks' relief and pouted his lips. Anyone who knew Goten knew he had a secret weapon to get what he wanted. His puppy eyes. He shot Trunks a wet glare and even if it wasn't possible, it seemed like his eyes got twice as big as normal.

"Please" he asked innocently and Trunks' heart skipped a beat. Nobody was immune to Goten's eyes. Not even Trunks. Especially not Trunks.
"Okay okay you win" Trunks laughed nervously and turned around in the water "But be nice"

"Don't worry" Goten grinned "I'll be gentle"

Trunks held his breath as he felt Gotens large hand touch his back and it felt like small electrical waves hit his body.

"Relax," Goten almost whispered.

He was close to Trunks ears, almost too close, and shivering was sent down Trunks' spine. Goten started gently to squeeze Trunks shoulder working his way through the tense muscles while he hummed playfully.
"Damn you are hard" Goten mumbled to himself "We better do something about that"
Trunks had to pinch his thigh so hard he knew it would leave a mark, but he was determined to do everything in his power not to let his mind roam freely. His heart had once more picked up the speed and his entire body was tingling. Even as Goten hit his sore spots, sending waves of relief down Trunks' veins as the blood flow started to get a pass, Trunks could feel himself tightening, fearing that he might lose control over himself.
The touch of Goten felt amazing against his skin, and the small grunts that left Gotens lips, as he was trying to work on Trunks' back, were like small sounds of pure cockteasing. He wanted him so bad.

"Hey look I found it" they heard coming from behind the rocks that were hiding the hot spring.
Goten removed his hands from Trunks and turned to see who was coming.

Two human guys came around the corner. They both had a big backpack on their shoulders and they looked rather worn out.
"Oh man, someone came here before us" one of the guys said lowly, but loud enough for the half saiyans to hear it.

"Hey come and join us" Goten called them "The water is great"

It didn't take the two guys long to accept the invitation or the beer that Trunks offered them as they sunk into the water. The two men were friendly and chatty, but for some reason it annoyed Trunks that they had shown up, even though he knew it was probably for the best.

The conversations with the two guys were nothing special to Trunks, but he enjoyed observing Goten. His eyes always lit up when he was talking with almost anybody who was friendly. As a son of Goku, and had that natural innocence to him, but he was still so different from the rest of the Sons.
Goku and Gohan would often not concentrate about anything else but what was right in front of them, but Goten was up to speed on how to socialize without being a total dork who only could talk about fighting or studies. He knew about what music was popular, what kind of food was trending and most of all about celebrity gossip. Trunks has suspected that Goten didn’t really care too much about gossiping, but that it had been the only way for him to win over Valese’s friends, so he just went along with it.

“Have you guys heard about what’s going on with Capsule Corp?” The dark haired man asked them.

Both Trunks and Goten stiffen. Before Trunks was president he didn't care much for rumors or gossip about his mothers company, but now Capsule Corp was like a baby to him and he did not take criticism kindly.

Goten knew this and he also knew about Trunks' temper and how he usually dealt with it. It was never by fist or fights with humans, but usually by using his words. Being a son of Bulma and Vegeta he took his mothers threatening words and used his fathers threatening tone, to terrify anybody who would cross his way. Goten both admired and hated that side of Trunks.

“No?” Trunks asked between his teeth “But do tell”

“They just got a new CEO and apparently she is a bit of a bitch” The dark haired man said, moving forward.
The other guy nodded, seeming to know exactly what his friend was talking about.

“She’s a bitch, huh?” Trunks said, trying to hide a smile, poking Goten with his elbow. Goten was trying to keep a smile suppressed as well, taking his guard down when he noticed Trunks relaxing.

‘These idiots obviously didn’t know who I am or what they were talking about.’ Trunks thought to himself.

“A total bitch! She has been ordering some of her employees to move everything in a storage room from one end to the other. Only to make them move everything back the day after for no good reason” The dark haired guy said “My cousin knows a guy who was on that team and he was in bed a whole week after”

Trunks shook his head, making it seem to be from listening to the story. He of course knew the full story. His dad had once more broken the control panel in the gravity room and they had needed to move some huge parts from the lab to the gravity room. The stuff the workers had moved was in the way from the entrance of a back door leading directly into the gravity room. Trunks had made sure they were 3 teams, and they were instructed to take turns in moving the heavy things. He didn’t want anyone to get hurt. He knew it was hard on the workers so he had given them all a week off with payment mostly to lift the bad taste he had in his mouth. He could have moved everything himself faster and without breaking a sweat, but time had prevented him and his dad had taken off like a sulky teenager to train somewhere else meanwhile.

“Her majesty is never to be seen as is hiding in her office all the time” The other guy said “I bet she is just sitting there doing her nails and gets off to order people around for no good reason.”

The two guys started to laugh and Trunks joined them as he took the last sip of his beer, not bothered at all by what the men said. If they couldn’t even get the facts straight, he didn’t even want to use any energy on them.

“That’s bullshit,” Goten said, stopping the 3 guys from laughing. “The CEO happens to be my very best friend and nothing you just said is true”

Goten looked serious, angry, as he stood up and moved forward to the two men sitting on the opposite side of the hot spring.

“The so-called bitch you're referring to is one of the kindest and hardworking person I have ever met!” Goten continued “We used to be inseparable, but there are not enough hours in a day for us to meet anymore because the bitch is working from dawn to dusk”

“Ten” Trunks said, the guild hitting his stomach. He reached out to stop Goten from moving closer to the other guys, but he pulled his arm out of Trunks grip.

“The so-called bitch is more worried about the safety of the employees than sleeping and self care to the point where the bitch is almost not recognizable. Do you have any idea how devastating it is to see your best friend like that?”

Trunks got up and took a firm grip around Gotens wrist, trying to pull him back. Goten turned around and met Trunks' eyes, tears of frustration running down his chin.

“Do you?” Goten yelled at Trunks.
Trunks took a step back as he felt his heart sink in his chest. It was obvious by the red tint on Gotens face and ears that the alcohol was having its effect on him. But Trunks knew him well enough to know that this was something that had been on Goten’s chest and not just a quick temperament change due to the alcohol. He looked down almost in shame and didn’t know how to respond while a wave of thoughts took over his mind. ‘Why am I such a bad friend? He deserves so much more! I knew this trip was a bad idea! I’m going to lose him!’

“Is this really your best fucking response? Looking down?” Goten yelled at him, pulling his wrist out of Trunks hand “You don’t eat, you are barely mentally available when I finally pull you out of that office and by the look of the bags under your eyes, you don’t sleep very much.”

This wasn’t the first time Goten had yelled at Trunks for messing something up. Goten had scrolled him so many times that at some point it more or less bounced off Trunks. But not this time. This time he could feel every word piercing through his heart.

“It’s not as bad as you make it sound like” Trunks replied, hearing the words leaving his mouth in a tone that was far from convincing.

“No? When I send you a text, it takes between 4 to 7 days to get a reply and usually it’s a max 3 word reply. I lied when I said your mom called me last week. I called her” Goten yelled, while drying the tears that was running down his chin with the back of his hand

“Like I call her every fucking month because that’s the only way I can keep track on what is going on with your life. I hate that we no longer stay in touch! I hate that when my girlfriend broke up with me for another guy, all I wanted to do was to call you. Because you are the only one who knows how to cheer me up and I was devastated”

Trunks moved his eyes to meet Gotens, but kept his head low. His heart felt like it broke in a million pieces as he realized his suspicion of Goten lying about not being sad over the break up was real and he had done nothing but to just played along with what Goten had said.

“But I didn’t wanna bother you because I knew how busy you were. I knew you had no time for me so I stayed away.” Goten almost whispered the last part as his voice cracked.

A silence was laid over the four guys. The only sound around them was the water burble, insects calling in the night and Goten’s failed attempt at trying not to sob. Goten was hiding his face in his hands and all Trunks could do was to watch him not knowing what to do or say.

“I am so confused” The dark haired guy whispered to the other, breaking Trunks out of his paralyzed state.

“You are such an idiot” Trunks finally said, making the two guys drop their jaws and Goten looked up at him with an angry glare.
“Yeah you heard me! You are a fucking idiot!” Trunks said calmly “If you had picked up your goddamn phone and dialed my number when Val broke up with you, I would have dropped everything I had in my hands for you, and you know it.”

Goten didn’t reply. He just kept his angry glare glued on Trunks.
“You are the most important person in my life, I would sell the entire Capsule Corp before I would give our friendship up” Trunks laid a hand on Gotens shoulder, and refused to move it away, as Goten tried to push it off.

“I’ll always have your back. If I haven’t made that clear enough over the years of risking my life fighting beside you, I’ll have to get you some glasses. You can carry a lot of looks without looking like a hopeless idiot, but trust me glasses are not one of them. Even Gohan will start calling you an hopeless nerd.”

Goten’s angry glare changed in a second and a smile broke on his lips. Trunks' heart felt like melting by the sign of Goten chuckle. Goten’s laugh was always warm and bright, and the sound felt like it released a bunch of small butterflies through Trunks' entire body. Making Goten laugh and smile really was his favorite thing.

“You are impossible to stay mad at” Goten chuckled, and swung his arms around Trunks neck and pulled him into a hug.
Trunks immediately froze, suddenly very much aware of the both of them being naked.
“You are so important to me Trunks. That’s why I need you to take better care of yourself” Goten whispered.

Trunks held his breath as he started to pad Gotens back, while exhaling a nervous laughter. “Okay okay I promise. Your 3 seconds are up, you can let go now!”

The 3 second rule was a joke they had had since they were kids. They had overheard Vegeta scroll at Bulma for once again showing public affection, which was something Vegeta thought as the most embarrassing gestures human beings liked to display. As the fight had escalated, Bulma finally negotiated that she was allowed to show public affection 3 seconds in total per month. Today the joke came in handy and Goten let go, chuckling again.

Goten sat down and looked towards two confused guys, still staring in discomfort at them.
“I’m sorry about that!” Goten said to them, sending them a big goofy smile “And sorry that I yelled at you. I don’t know what came over me.”

“No… problem” The light haired guy said, looking strangely at his friend.

“Goten is either a happy drunk or a sad drunk. There is nothing in between” Trunks laughed, and gave the two men an apologetic smile.
They were staring back at them with a hateful glare, a glare Trunks had seen before.

“What's with the faces, boys? Anything you wanna add?” Trunks asked them, staring them down with cold eyes. Goten who hadn’t noticed the atmosphere changing, shifted his eyes between Trunks and the two men.

“Yeah” The blond haired guy said “When you said that you would sell Capsule Corp for him, what did you mean by that?”

“Perhaps an introduction is in order. Hi, I’m Trunks Briefs, CEO of Capsule Corporations. I’m the bitch who is doing my nails and bosses people around for no good reason. And I would sell my whole company before parting ways with the drunk idiot who yelled at you earlier.”

The two guys shot each other another look. They had already figured out who Trunks was before he said anything, and they weren’t surprised by what he had said. Still the glimpse in their eyes made it obvious to Trunks where this was going and he was already planning in his head how to deal with the problem.

“So” The blonde guy said, shooting him an evil grin “Selling your whole company for a ‘friend’ who’s willing to hug you naked while confessing his feelings for you, seems a bit off if you ask me. How much are you willing to pay for us for not going to the press tell them about your boyfriend here?”

“Boyfriend?” Goten almost whispered with a slight confusion over his tone.

Trunks remained calm, not moving his icy glare from the two men. He knew these kinds of people. He had encountered the likes of them many times since he came out but no matter how many times he had been threatened the amount of hate never seemed to lessen.

“Trunks, what is going on?” Goten asked, laying a hand on his friend's shoulder.

“Could you take that gay shit somewhere else?” The dark haired man yelled “It makes me sick to look at”

Surprised Goten pulled his hand to himself and Trunks turned his head, sending him a soft and reassuring smile. Trunks was trying to lower his ki, but he already knew it was summing and he didn’t want to alarm Goten.

As Trunks was about to scare the two guys away, preparing a few ki blasters he wanted to shoot past them, he suddenly felt Goten wrapping his arm around his neck.

“Oh no, Trunks baby, we have been found out” Goten said, leaning up against him.
Trunks froze on the spot. What was going on?
Goten slid his chin against Trunks’, letting the side of his lips touch Trunks. Shivers ran down Trunks' spine and he was unable to move.

“I was really hoping our plans with these guys were working, but now I’m not so sure they are into us anymore,” Goten said, and let go of Trunks. He stood up and started to slowly glide toward the two men.

“What are you doing, freak?” The blonde guy almost yelled, panic spread in his face.

Goten swayed his body as he moved in closer, taking some water in his hands, and rubbed his torso in a sensual way.
“We thought since you two where alone out here, we could have had our fun with you” Goten said innocently “You see, I have this fantasy of us having a foursome. The idea of getting a blowjob while I see my man thrusting himself hard into another man just turns me on so much. We sorta got the vibe from you guys that you might would be onboard with something like that”

Goten was now within reach of the two terrifying guys, making sure to flex every muscle in his body, letting them see that he was no one to mess around with.
“So you guys are not into that? I’m sorry if we misread you. Normally my gaydar is never off”

Almost screaming inaudible words, the two guys got out of water, covering their parts. They collected their things fast and clumsy and ran away, bags on their back, buttnaked while holding their clothes.

Goten turned around to face Trunks, with a huge grin as he bowed a single time and spread out his arms as if he was ready for an applause then bursting into an almost hysterical laughter.
“Did you see their faces?”

Trunks hadn’t moved an inch, mouth wide open and eyes wide.
“What just happened?”

“I figured you would send a few ki blasters to scare them away, but I really didn’t like how they talked to you so I wanted to give them an even greater scare.” Goten said, still laughing.

“If they don’t like gays, the worst thing that would happen to them was if they were objectified by one. So I thought it would be better to scare their masculinity rather than their life. They would eventually stop being scared if you came to get them, but they are going to question how other perceive them for a very long time”

“Goten that is horrible” Trunks yelled, hitting the water to send a small wave of water against him.

“I know!” Goten said happily before bursting into laughter again.

It didn't take Trunks long to join Gotens laughter fest, and soon the two friends were twisting their body while holding their belly.


As they got back to their camp, Trunks agreed on sitting outside the tent looking at starts with Goten before they would go to bed. The starry night was breathtaking outside the city. It seemed like there were millions more stars in the sky, every once in a while a star was twinkling.
Goten had convinced Trunks to get one last beer before bed, and the cold refreshment seemed to taste much better under the beautiful sight.

"Does that happen a lot?" Goten asked after a while of silence. He had been quiet since they came back to the camp.

"The homophobes? Nah it happens once in a while but most of them just stay silent. Luckily we live in a time where it's more acceptable, specially in the city." Trunks explained, not really bothered anymore by what had occurred.

Goten shifted uncomfortably in his chair before taking another sip of his beer.
"I didn't like how they talked to us. They seemed cool before they thought we were a couple. How can someone turn on a dime like that?"

Trunks smiled softly, still glued his eyes to the sky. He felt really blessed at this point. He was happy that Goten worried about him like this and even jumped to his defense in such a creative and weird way.
"I don't know, Ten. Don't think too much about it. People like that doesn't deserve your energy"

Goten didn't reply but Trunks could feel he was lost in thoughts as he was moving around in his chair, like he had a hard time finding rest. After some time, Goten moved his chair closer to Trunks. He swung his legs over the arms of the chair and rested his head against Trunks' side, something he had done a million times before. Trunks tried to ignore his body's reaction and as he started to accept Goten being this close to him, he started to relax and enjoyed feeling his weight against his side. They sat in silence for a while and looked at the stars.

Goten finished his beer and let out a deep and comfortable sight.
“Can I ask you something weird?” Goten asked. He struggled forming the sentence without sounding too loopy.
He looked up and met Trunks’ blue eyes, as Trunks looked down at him to acknowledge Goten’s question.
“If I was gay, would you date me?”

Trunks' eyes widened and he made a small jump in his chair, not expecting something like this. Goten has been taking Trunks by surprise so many times this trip, he started to wonder if he really knew Goten as well as he liked to think. His heart rate was going through the roof and he could feel how his cheeks and ears started to heat up.
“W..why are you asking something like that?” Trunks spat.

“If I was gay I would totally date you, and I would kick anybody's butt who is trying to be as mean to you like those two from earlier”
Goten didn’t move his gaze away from Trunks and send him a big drunken grin.

It took Trunks a moment to calm himself before he shoved his hand in Goten’s face, forcing him to turn his head the other way.
“Okay, that’s your cue, idiot! Go to bed” He laughed and stood up, making Goten fall off his chair.

Giggling like a drunken fool, Goten was struggling to stay on his feet while Trunks helped him into the tent. Trunks noticed that Goten had moved their sleeping mat together, like they used to, and before he would protest, Goten fell down on the one who wasn’t placed against the tent’s sides.
“Seriously, you only had four beers today. You are getting weaker, Ten” Trunks, signed and turned around to leave.
He had in secret brought his tablet, and wanted to sneak in a few hours of work before joining Goten.

“Don’t leave!” Goten said as he reached for Trunks wrist and pulled him down. With a surprised scream, Trunks fell back into his sleeping mat and before he could react any further, Goten had wrapped his arms around Trunks neck and pulled him into a hug with his head resting on the top of Trunks head.

Trunks tried to wrestle his way out of the grip, almost in a panic, but Goten didn’t butch. Every time Trunks moved, Goten would squeeze him tighter.
It wasn’t uncommon for Goten to be cuddly when he was drunk, it was almost expected. Whenever they would get drunk together they would usually always find themselves the next morning tangled in with each other like when they were kids, and usually it would be Goten holding on to Trunks.

“Thank you for taking this trip with me.” Goten almost whispered with a tired hoist voice. “I miss spending time with you”
And with that, Trunks could hear a light snore coming from Goten, and he had fallen asleep, still holding Trunks tight.

Trunks tried again but in vain to get out of Goten’s arms, and as he realized it wasn’t going to happen, he tried to get comfortable.

At first he was tense, nervous, not trusting himself this close to Goten, but soon he noticed how his body was starting to relax more than it had been in a long time. The feeling of Goten's strong arms around him made him feel weirdly safe, Goten's scent was calming and his body was comfortingly warm against Trunks. At this point he started to relax completely. He had no need for sexual fantasies at this point and no longer worried about his mind playing games with him. All he wanted was for this to last forever. Before he knew it, his eyes started to feel heavy and he gave in to a deep sleep he hadn't been able to reach in a very long time.

Chapter Text

The sun was shining through the thin fabric of the tent and was heating the space up shared by the two best friends. Trunks woke up with a dry throat and a small headage. He could sense the smell of grass and dirt and he was suddenly reminded where he was. He groaned silently and rubbed the bridge of his nose, cursing that the heat woke him up. He couldn't remember when he had been sleeping this well. He even felt somewhat rested.

Beside him he felt Goten cuddling up against him. He had wrapped his arms around Trunks arm and rested his chin up against Trunks biceps. When they were kids they would snuggle up against each other often, no matter if they slept or were playing video games on the floor. It was normal for the two of them to be close and it had meant nothing for any of them until today. He couldn’t stop staring at Goten’s lips. He had his mouth opened just a little bit and they looked so soft and very inviting.

Almost by a reflex Trunks removed a strand of hair away from Goten’s face and smiled softly before realizing what he had done. He could hear his heartbeat going faster, his face got warm and his stomach felt like it was about to explode with emotions. He leaned his head back into the pillow with a hand on his nose bridge.

“Shit” he whispered to himself, knowing why his body was reacting the way it did. This was not just a silly fantasy or his dick talking, he was beginning to develop feelings for Goten and found himself longing after the closeness and affection of the younger man.

He turned his head again and couldn’t stop looking at Goten’s lips. He wanted to kiss him so badly right now he could almost feel the blood rushing through his own lips. Goten was sleeping, there was no doubt about it, and he would never find out either.

Trunks forced himself to turn his head away, grunting angry at himself. He was not the kind of person to go around kissing people without them being able to agree or disagree. If he was to kiss Goten, he wanted to do it while Goten was able to respond.

He managed to get loose from Gotens grip and got up from the sleeping mat. His mouth was dry from the heat and his head was spinning from the beer he had had before bed last night. He stepped outside of the tent and brought a water bottle with him.

The sun had been up for a while now, and nature was busy as always. Trunks brought the water bottle up to his mouth and started to drink while he zoned out. He wondered how Gotens lips would feel against his own. What did Goten taste like and would he ever find out?

He started to wonder what Goten was like in bed. Not like the fantasies he had had, but really. Was he dominant, probably gentle and sweet, did he have any kinks or weird fetishes he was too embarrassed to tell Trunks about? What would his face look like while orgasm or teased until he had to beg for release. Would his gentle eyes turn into something wild or would he keep those innocent sparkling gems. He wondered what kinds of noises would he be making, was he into talking, would he gasps and moan, or was he a quiet type?

Trunks woke from his thoughts when a trail of water ran down the side of his chin, and landed on his shirt. He removed the bottle from his lips to wipe the water away from his shirt when he noticed the tent in his pants.

"Really?" He said to his half hard staff. "You can't give me 5 min to myself without wanting attention?!"

“Oh wow sorry I just had to take a piss. '' He heard Goten’s hoist voice behind him.
Trunks jumped in surprise, and looked back at Goten who was on his way out of the tent. Goten's hair was a big mess and by the look on his face, he felt hungover from the day before. He stumbled out of the tent and started to untie his pants.

“Dude, don’t piss so close to the tent. Go behind a tree” Trunks spat as Goten pulled himself out of his pants right beside the tent.
Goten led out an annoying grunt, but complied and found a tree close by.

While Goten was busy, Trunks managed to calm himself and the tent in his pants disappeared. As Goten got back, Trunks had already found him a bottle of water and was starting to prepare breakfast. No matter how hungover Goten was, he would never lose his appetite, and it seemed to help him get better a lot faster.

During breakfast they were talking loudly about the past. How they had dressed up to fight in the adult league during the Martial arts tournament as kids, how Trunks had thought he killed Piccolo when he knocked him over after he was turned into stone. How they learned the hard way never to get into the back of a strangers van and how much fun they had had at Monster island as rangers. Trunks was enjoying himself so much he didn’t realize that for the first time in a long time, he managed to finish his entire plate of food, and even reached out for a second go. Not wanting to make a big deal out of it, Goten just smiled softly to himself. He wanted to normalize Trunks' appetite, but he knew if he mentioned it, Trunks would feel awkward and perhaps hold himself back, not wanting to create an awkward attention. Goten enjoyed finally seeing he was smiling genuinely and laughing his lungs out.

After finishing their breakfast and cleaning up, they set their destination for a small lake nearby.
Goten had planned a full day with fishing and just laying in the grass relaxing, a thing Trunks didn't find very appealing, but he didn't object. It didn't take Goten long to find comfort laying his head on Trunks stomach while making the older man tense up. "Jezz Trunks, relax" Goten signed.

"Sorry" Trunks laughed nervously "It's just been so long we have hung out like this, I kinda forgot how clingy you are"

Goten looked up at him. Trunks was sitting halfway up, letting his elbows support him. In this angle Gotens face seemed so close.
"Do you want me to move?" Goten asked, lifting his head, closing their distance even further.

In panic Trunks turned his head and pressed Gotens head down with a hand
"No no it's fine" he said nervously. "It's nice"

The silence laid on them, as the two guys were resting peacefully for what seemed like forever. The singing of birds was echoing and the sound of water running down the lake was soothing and relaxing. Still Trunks' body felt like it was on fire. His legs were summing from the restlessness, the tip of his fingers were spinning and his thoughts started to roam. With nothing to distract him, he started to think about Capsule Corp and how he feared he was bad at his job. He wanted not only for the business to be successful, he also wanted it to be a great place to work, no matter what kind of position you had. His dream was to build a company, with happy and loyal employers, who could brag about working for him. He wanted them to feel motivated to push themselves further, but was he even on the right path? Was his obsession with the paperwork like a wall between him and his mission? The things the guys from the hot spring had said started to go on a loop. Was that how they all saw him? As a bitch who did nothing but sit on his butt.

"You are thinking!" Goten sang, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"No I'm not" he replied fast, almost as a reflex.

"Cut the crap, man. I can hear your heartbeat is racing like it's trying to escape out of your chest"

Trunks didn't know how to reply, but let out a disapproving grunt, a kind of a grunt that he had heard his dad express at least twice a day.

"If this is too much for you, we can do something else" Goten said happily "We can do some more sparring?"

Trunks made a grimace. He was sure he would end up getting turned on again, and one time of getting caught with a raising flag was more than enough.

"If you want we can pack everything and go back to my parents place and just play some video games? It seems like camping is a little too advanced for your stress management."

Trunks' smile went wide without him even realizing it. He hasn't been playing video games in a very long time, and the best memories he had was of the two of them swearing and laughing at the screen.
"I take that as a yes," Goten grinned and got up. "I guess kicking your ass again doesn't sound half bad.”

"If I remember correctly, and I do, I'm in the lead by 16 matches" Trunks laughed as he got up, helping Goten pack the fishing gear together.

"Only because I let you win"

It only took them a couple of hours to pack everything up and head back to Goten's place. They waved at Goku, who was working on the farm, on their way, and as they landed on the grass in front of the Son house, Chichi came out to greet them.

"I didn't expect you to be back already" She sang, almost as if she had expected it.

"Trunks have forgotten how good I am at playing video games. He keeps saying that he's been beating me, so I thought it would be better to teach him a little lesson." Goten grinned and patted Trunks on the shoulder.

"Don't play all day!" Chichi scrolled and put her hands on her hips "You'll end up with a bad vision and I don’t have time to read your homework out loud for you"

"I promise that if Goten ever gets such bad eyesight from playing video games with me, I'll personally be the one reading every text out loud for him" Trunks laughed.

After Chichi's lecture about eyesight and televisions, she let the two pass her and they went directly to Goten's room. The room was medium size with a double bed, a nightstand, a large closet, a desk and a tv station filled with movies and games. The only thing hanging on the walls was a large calendar and a shelf filled with books about animals and nature. The room wasn't very personal, but it somehow fitted a 24 year old man living at his parents house.

As soon as Trunks set his foot in, the smell of Goten hit him like a truck. Even if the window was open, he had his scent smeared all over the place and it was both very calming to Trunks but also extremely arousing, and he had to be careful not to get too excited.
He plopped himself on Gotens bed, like he used to and tried to remain calm as Goten sat close beside him, handing him a controller. Trunks tried to keep his mind on the game, but he kept focusing on their knees touching each other.

They kept playing for a few hours, screaming and laughing at the screen, before they were interrupted by Chichi.
"Goku and I were invited for dinner by Bulma, and we are leaving in a bit" she said softly at first "I cooked some food for you so don’t go around ordering pizza. Eat all you want, especially you Trunks. I expect everything to be gone when we get back home"

"Even the dragon tails?" They heard a disappointed Goku call in the background.

"Goku get out of the kitchen, it's not for you" Chichi scrolled as she turned around and walked out of Goten's room.
They could hear the fridge being closed quickly, soon followed by Chichi yelling at Goku to let go. By the sound of a muffled, almost distressed reply, Goku had managed to grab something from the fridge, and he was now chewing fast before Chichi could reach him.

Before they left, Goku peeked in making sure to talk loudly.
"Now you two behave, and remember to eat as much as you want! Have beer but no fun!"

"Goku!!" Chichi yelled from the living room

"Whoops my bad! Have fun but no beer" he told them loudly, to make sure Chichi heard.
"I might have forgotten a few outside in a bucket with ice and water. I may or may not forget they exist" he whispered to them, blinking once before leaving the room.

Goten was grinning proudly and Trunks could have sworn he heard him whisper, that his dad was the coolest dad in the world. He was wrong of course, but Trunks’ didn’t have the heart to tell him.

They continued to play a few more rounds before Goten got up and retrieved the beer Goku had talked about.

"You really like drinking beer," Trunks teased, as Goten gave Trunks one. "I feel like it's been all we have been doing"

"What can I say, I love the taste" Goten answered unbothered "I also know it makes you relax more than coffee, fizzy drinks or hard liquor."

Trunks was about to answer when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He reached for the phone and turned on the screen to see who had messaged him.

A number he didn’t need to code into his phone, was displaying with a text attached that was surely not meant for kids to read. Goten looked over curious and widen his eyes when he read some of the text

"Who would write something like that?" He almost jelled, as he took the phone out of Trunks hand to keep reading in awe.

"Hey, give it back! It’s just someone I hook with once in a while" Trunks answered, feeling his stomach turning. He didn't like that Goten was reading the sexting and he was praying that he wouldn't scroll further up to see more of the thread. "We don't waste time on small talk as you can see. It's been a long time since he wrote"

Goten's lips were like a thin line as he kept on reading, holding the phone out of Trunks reach as he was trying to collect his phone back.

"You get turned on by this?" Goten then asked and gave him his phone back hesitantly.

Trunks could feel his face heat up. As the fantasies had started, his interest in other men had fallen without him realizing it. If he had had time to reply to the sexing, it hadn't been because the messengers had turned him on, but because he knew it would lead up to them meeting to have sex and the thought of relief and intimacy was much needed.

"Don't give me that! I'm sure you and Val had some heated messengers as well" Trunks answered, trying to change the subject.

Goten just shook his head.

"What? Never?"

"Not really. We didn’t even had sex the last year before we broke up. I mean sure in the beginning we were doing it as much as we could, but I don’t think any of us was really that into it. And it was nothing like what I just read"

"Wait wait rewind" Trunks spat "You didn't have sex for a year? A full year?"

“Nope. It just sorta faded out. We did cuddle a lot so it’s not like we weren’t intimate. But it’s okay” Goten answered, “I never really got why people is so hyped about sex anyways.”

Trunks felt almost speechless. He had never heard Goten brag about any sexual activities, but he had thought it was just a part of his polite nature, not to spill something so private about others. It never really occurred to him that there was little to nothing to tell.
“What are you talking about? Sex is amazing! Sounds more like you two kids did something wrong.”

“Perhaps.” Goten said, leaning back to the wall. “I’ve only ever been with Val. I’ve never really been jumping from person to person like you!”

“I envy you though,” Trunks admitted. “I think I’m just too difficult to be around for longer periods of time, but I would love to find someone one day.”
A small part of Trunks felt like this would be a good chance of confessing, but he held himself back, fearing how Goten would react.

“Hey don’t be like that!” Goten pushed him softly “I love to spend time with you!"

"Yeah but you are my best friend and not into dudes either, so I would have to find someone else who could tolerate me"
Trunks' stomach twisted as he spoke. If there were any chances with Goten before, they would be gone now. He had just placed himself in the friendzone unprovoked and he knew it.

Goten grew silent and said nothing for a while, and just looked down at the controller resting in his hands. Trunks didn't know what to say, and feared that Goten had read right through him and perhaps was starting to pick up the pieces.

“You never answered my question,” Goten said, finally looking up.
Trunks couldn’t recognize the stare Goten gave him, he had never seen it before.

“What question?” Trunks asked, leaning back into the wall, not sure what to do with himself.

“After the hot spring while we were looking at the stars I asked you if you would date me if I was gay. Why didn’t you answer me?”
Trunks could feel a cold sweat running down his entire body, his throat felt like it was closing up and all of the muscles in his body tensed. His head started to spin and his thoughts started to run wild. How was he going to get out of this situation?

“Why do you wanna know so bad?” He asked, doing everything he could to stay calm and collected. If he started to panic, it would be over.

Goten went quiet again. He looked down and stared into his own lap. By the expression on his face, Trunks could see he was thinking carefully how to answer the question. Time seemed like it was going in slow motion, and every second seemed to take minutes.
Goten finally looked up with a determined look on his face.

“I spent this entire weekend coming on to you. I felt like I tried everything! I tried to be cute by cuddling, I tried to give you hints while we were talking. I got so excited then I grinded myself against you during our sparring and I could feel your body react to it. I even used the two guys from the hot spring as an excuse to get physically close to you. I didn’t have to do that to scare them away, but I just had to grab that chance. I was so sure that you had feelings for me and I felt so confident before going on this trip. But now I feel like a complete idiot.”

Trunks felt paralyzed, and all the blood was rushed to his face. His stomach was twisting itself from excitement and from a fear he couldn’t really place. Did he hear that right? Did Goten just make a confession to HIM!? Trunks had been so busy trying to hide his own motives, he never truly stopped to see what was going on around Goten. His body seemed like it was screaming to kiss him, to finally feel their lips meet, but at the same time he couldn't move, like a fear that he had misunderstood everything. The atmosphere in the room started to feel heavy, as Trunks had a hard time finding the right words.
Goten wasn't looking at him, but had turned his head to look away.

"H..how long have you been…" Trunks started but stopped talking as Goten turned his head and met his eyes.

"For at least a year.. Probably longer, I'm honestly not too sure. I just know I'm always thinking about you when you are not around. I feel like I see you everywhere I go and my heart always skips a beat in hope that it's you. When it's not, I feel so empty." Goten moved away from the wall, and sat on the edge of his bed with his hands resting in his lab and looking down into the floor.

Trunks slowly moved to the edge beside Goten, unable to take his eyes off him.

"All this time we haven’t seen each other, I thought I managed to get over you. But when I saw you the other day in your office, I got so worried about you. And not in a way I feel about everybody else. I wanted to hold you and protect you from the world. I wanted to whisper soothing words to you and care for you. I know this is weird. We have been best friends since I can remember and I’m sure this confession might not be something you wanted to know about. But I can’t keep the secret anymore, it is killing me... I hope you can forgive me”

Before Trunks knew what he was doing, he took Gotens hand and placed it on his chest. Trunks' heart was beating like it was trying to break through, and he hoped Goten could translate the meaning, as the situation had taken all words from him.

Goten looked at his hand with a questioning look, but as he felt Trunks' heartbeats, he looked up and met his eyes once again, with a hopeful glare.
It felt like all air was sucked out of Trunks lungs and he held his breath, as he leaned closer to Goten, stopping just a few inches away from his lips. He could hear Goten was breathing heavily and a soft shaky hand reached to Trunks' cheeks. As Trunks leaned into Gotens large hand and Goten used his thumb to softly and caringly stroke along Trunks cheekbones, before leading his head closer to himself and placed a soft kiss on his lips.

Trunks closed his eyes to take in the full sensation of the softness of Goten's lips pressing against his own. The time seemed to stop completely, and Trunks forgot everything that was going on around him. He felt lightheaded and a warmth of relief and happiness rushed over him. Goten broke away from him slowly, stopping with only a small space left between their lips. Trunks opened his eyes and was met with Goten's sparkling gems that were filled with excitement that let Trunks to smile softly. He leaned in for another kiss, and was eagerly met by Goten's lips.

As their kiss turned more passionate, Trunks could feel Goten's hands started to roam. The hand on his chest didn't leave until now, and it found its way to his shoulder blades while his other hand was gliding over Trunks waist and landed on his lower back, pressing him closer to himself.

Trunks pushed Goten into the bed, and continued kissing him hungry. The way Goten responded to the kiss was perfect. The way he leaned into it, the pressure of his lips, the softness of his hands and the small moans leaving him. This was everything and more than Trunks had ever dreamed about.

Trunks pressed his tongue gently against Goten's lips asking to be let in. Goten opened his mouth and greeted Trunks tongue with his own, massaging and exploring. Trunks could feel Goten started to lean his hips against him, grinding himself with a semi hard staff growing in his pants. With shaking a hand he glided his through Goten's hair, gripping it and pulling his head back to expose his neck. Goten grunted surprised, but soon started to let out soft moans, as Trunks traced the side of his neck with kisses and licks.

It didn't take Trunks long to find Goten's sensitive spots, as his body was reacting so amazingly beneath him. One of Goten's hands glided from Trunks' back and landed on his chest.
He could feel Goten hesitate, and he was familiar with the hesitation, as this was not the first man he had been with, that only had experience with women.

“It’s okay,” Trunks whispered in Goten’s ears, and couldn’t help but smile as he could feel the whisper had the intended effect on Goten’s body. “It feels great on men too”

He sat up and removed his shirt, making sure to give Goten a show, flexing his muscles and took his time to get the shirt over his head. He knew Goten liked visuals when it came to movies, games and food, so his guess was that it would be the same in bed. Trunks felt Goten’s hands gliding over his abs with spread fingers before landing on Trunks chest and slowly stroked each nipple with his thumb. It felt like small electric shocks of pleasure were running through Trunks body and he couldn’t help but let out a satisfied groan.

With a slight hesitation, Goten sat up and caught one of Trunks' nipples in his mouth, letting his tongue dance over it playfully before biting it. Trunks' body was shaking and he felt how his cock was twitching in his tight pants. He was battling himself not to rip both his own and Goten’s clothing off, but he wanted Goten to take it at his own pace. But damn it just felt so good, and Goten had so far exceeded Trunks' every expectations.

Like he was reading Trunks' mind, Goten took off his shirt, exposing his muscular chest. Trunks had seen Goten naked countless times, but somehow the sight of the other man's chest, glistening from the heat they had created together, was almost too much for him.

The look in Goten’s eyes was different as he caught Trunks staring at him with hunger. They seem darker than usual and narrower. Trunks forced Goten back into the bed with a harsh push, and a playful smile on his lips before diving in to catch Goten’s nipple with a soft bite.

His hips were once again grinding against Trunks leg, and just to test the water, Trunks leaned his leg into Goten a little more. Goten was panting louder by the pressure, and shot his head into the sheets.
“Holy shit, Trunks,” Goten moaned with a slight shake in his voice.

Moving from Goten’s chest to his neck, Trunks started to slowly lick his way up to Goten’s earlobe, biting it slightly while making sure to moan softly into Goten’s ear.

He slowly opened Goten’s pants, making sure he didn’t flinch or felt uncomfortable, before pulling his pants and boxers down, letting Goten’s hard rod jump out. Trunks softly took Goten into his hand. It was bigger than he had thought, and it was already dripping from precum. Goten let out a loud cry, digging his nails into Trunks' back and leaning into his hand that was now stroking him with a steady pace.

“Tr..Tru..Ah.. i..it feels amazing!” He said between his breaths.

“Good” Trunks whispered into his ears and enjoyed feeling Goten shiver under him. He could already tell that the sweet whispering would be his favorite thing to do.

Being distracted on exploring Goten, Trunks suddenly by surprise let out a loud grunt, as Goten's hand had reached his pants and began to palm him outside of the clothing. His pants were painfully tight, as his shaft was growing harder by Goten's toughing. He had been fantasizing about this for so long, and now that it was finally happening it was almost a relief to feel the pain, letting him know that this was not another fantasy. This was really happening.

Goten opened his zipper and hesitated for a moment, before pulling Trunks' pants and boxers down. With the tight fabric around him gone, and the feeling of air, made him realize just how much he needed this, how much he wanted him. He wanted this moment to last forever but he also painfully needed a release.

The warmth of Goten's hand gripping around him sends shivers down his spine. How he had dreamed about this. Even as Goten was fumbling a bit, clearly without experience of how to jerk off another guy, it felt absolutely wonderful.

Trunks learned into Goten’s hand to encourage him, and reward him with a soft moan into his ear, as Goten started to pick up the speed, gripping him a little firmer.

“Just like that” Trunks whispered and could feel the build up running through his body. Shit he was already really close.

Trunks set up the pace of his hand and felt Goten twisting under him. He threw his head back and let out begging sounds escape his mouth. "Tr..Trun..I..I thi..think I'm.. " he didn't manage to say more before he let out a loud cry as he came in Trunks hands, spilling cum on his stomach. The sound of Goten’s orgasm, and his hand twitching around Trunks was the last push for him. His head felt heavy and he had to lean it against Goten’s shoulders, the world was spinning and without much control over his own body he was sent over the edge with Goten’s hand around his dick.

Goten's breath was heavy and he didn't move for a while. Trunks placed small and soft kisses on his collarbone to let him know that he could take time to recover.

"Holy shit" Goten finally said, lifting his head to look at Trunks "How do you manage to do me better than I do myself?"

Trunks couldn't help but laugh as he removed himself from Goten and laid beside him, resting his head on his shoulder.
"Experience I guess"

"Do you jerk off a lot?" Goten asked, not really catching what Trunks meant.

"Well I do have a lot of fantasies about us being together lately and no one to keep me company, so I have to do something to take the edge off" Trunks played along.

"Wait, you had fantasies about us?" Goten asked, surprised. He reached out to the bed stand and grabbed some tissue from the drawer to clean himself up. "What were they about?"

Trunks felt a sort of relief that he could finally admit to his fantasies, but now that Goten was asking about it, he felt a bit ashamed of himself.

"Usually me taking you in my old bedroom, trying not to get caught by our parents"

"Taking me? As in.." Goten gulped "you inside me?"

"Don’t worry we don’t have to do that if you don’t want to"

Goten was thinking for a little while.
“I don’t think I would be ready for that just yet. But I wouldn’t mind going the other way around. If.. You know… If you are ever up for that?”

“Sure” Trunks said, feeling goosebumps forming under Goten’s hand, that was caringly gliding over his arm. “I can go both way”

“I gotta admit I’m a little bit scared of that. I really want to, but I feel like a complete virgin again” Goten laughed and placed a soft kiss on Trunks forehead.

This was nice. Lying in Goten’s arms, getting caringly and loving attention from Goten. Trunks still couldn't believe what just had happened and he couldn’t remember if he had ever been this relieved and happy before in his life.
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll guide you,” Trunks said, feeling a small spark of excitement in him.

A calming silence laid over them. The birds were chirping outside and the smell of fresh air was filling the room, coming from the opened window. If he could choose to stop time right here and right now, he would have done it in a heartbeat. Everything seemed so peaceful and right. Goten turned his head, catching Trunks' chin with his hand and kissed him, pressing their lips together with a longing sigh.

“I wanna do it again” Goten whispered softly, making Trunks sit up in surprise.

“Again? Alrea..” He stopped talking as he realized Goten was already half hard.

Goten looked away with a small tint of pink on his cheeks. Adorable!
“I can’t help it” He said almost shyly “It was so good I can’t get it out of my head”

“You’re too much,” Trunks laughed, as he found his way to Goten’s lips once again, kissing him deeply.
Gotens hands started to embrace him, gliding over his back, sending chills down Trunks' spine. With a smooth motion, Goten got on top of Trunks and started to bite softly along Trunks neck. Every bite felt like small waves of heat going down Trunks body, and he could feel his breath start to shorten.

“Do you have any lupe?” Trunks asked through his breath, already planning in his head how they would do this if Goten didn’t.

Without moving away from Trunks' neck, Goten reached into the drawer in the nightstand and pulled up a small flask of lube before closing the drawer again.

“Huh. Tissues and lube in the nightstand. I doubt that is a coincidence,” Trunks teased, leaning his head back to give Goten more room.

“Shut up” Goten mumbled shyly and pinched one of Trunks' nipples.
Trunks let out a surprised cry, but couldn’t keep a smile back. Teasing Goten outside of the bedroom was just as fun as in bed. He had to remember that.

Goten’s hand started to glide down the inside of Trunks' thigh, with a light pressure and aggression that Trunks was sure Goten didn’t know how much that had turned him on.

“How much lube should I use?” Goten asked almost in a whispering tone.

“There is no such thing as too much lube.” Trunks replied. “And you have to warm me up first, otherwise it’s going to hurt like crazy”

Goten looked up with a small concern written over his face. He didn’t need to say anything, Trunks already knew what was going through his mind.

“Don’t worry you won’t hurt me” He said, gliding a hand through Goten’s hair. “Start with one finger and build your way up. I’ll let you know when to move forward”

Goten nodded and opened the lube and poured it into his hand until it started to drip between his fingers.
Trunks' heart felt like it was skipping a beat as he felt the pressure of Goten's finger and the cold lube on his entrance. He nodded once to Goten, who was seeking approval, before he slowly felt Goten’s finger going inside him. He knew the stinging sensation would go away soon enough. Still his heart rate picked up and he felt the excitement going through him again. He almost couldn’t wait to have Goten inside him, feeling his entire cock rubbing against him. Goten’s finger made it all the way in and he paused to check on Trunks, before starting to move his finger.

"Careful" Trunks said as he took a long exhale to relax himself. It had been a while and Gotens finger were larger than most of the men he had been with.

Goten nodded and slowly moved his fingers in and out, keeping a good eye on Trunks facial expressions. It didn't take long for Trunks to loosen up, and he started to feel the tingling sensation as Goten started to pick up the speed and very faintly brushed against Trunks' prostate. Trunks slipped out a moan to encourage Goten to keep going.

“You can put in another finger” He whispered to him.

Goten nodded and slowly pushed in another finger, stretching Trunks further. He let out a small groan and felt the tingling getting stronger. Goten started slowly to move his fingers, quickly learning when he could pick up the pace. His face was in pure concentration, as he observed Trunks, making sure he did it right, not wanting to hurt him. As he was starting to explore Trunks inside, he suddenly hit Trunks' prostate, letting Trunks to moan loudly and tossing his head back into the sheets.

Goten stopped for a short moment, before he did it again, once again letting a cry leave Trunks mouth.

Concentrating on hitting Trunks sweet spot and started to massage it as he picked up the pace.

A wave of pleasure was shot through Trunks entire body and he couldn't help but let out loud moans.

"Sh...shit...G..Goten!" He stuttered.

"Am I doing it right?" Goten asked a bit unsure, but kept the pace of his fingers going.

“Y..yeah” Trunks managed to stutter. He caught the glimpse of Goten’s smirk, a confident and mischievous smirk that he could have sworn he had never seen before. Goten picked up the pace again, bending his fingers directly into Trunks' prostate, sending Trunks to a lightheaded state of mind, where nothing except Goten and Goten’s fingers existed.

His body was heating up and he lost control over the sounds leaving his mouth. He felt drugged and under his spell.

He wrapped his arms around Goten’s neck before pulling him into a heated kiss, moaning and gasping between their lips. As Goten got more excited, the faster he picked up the speed, sending shockwaves of pleasure through Trunks' entire body. It felt amazing, intoxicating in the best way. He could feel his climax moving in closer, as the bubble sensation started to spread through him.

"G.. Goten if you don't stop I'm g..gonna…" Trunks said weakly as he could feel himself getting closer.
He opened his eyes halfway and found Goten staring at him with almost an almost hypnotized expression.

"I need you to come for me," Goten whispered, as he grabbed Trunks cock, stroking him at the same pace as his fingers inside him.

Trunks' entire body was hit by an almost overwhelming intense wave of heat and pleasure, and every muscle started to tense up. He could feel his stomach lifting, leaving his shoulder and hips to support his entire body on the bed. His head was thrown backwards and turned in the sheets, with his mouth wide open only to let out short and heavy moans.

"G..Goten" he managed to stutter, as he grabbed the sheets with his hands, ripping them apart.
Trunks started to feel extremely sensitive in Gotens hands and soon he felt his mind going completely blank and his eyes rolled back into his skull. A loud cry shot out of his mouth as he came hard in Goten's hands. His entire body felt like shaking and bobbing by the release and suddenly all of the tension went away, making him fall flat back into the bed.

Trying to catch his breath, he slowly opened his eyes and found Goten staring at him with dark eyes filled with lust.

"Holy shit Trunks," he said with a hoist voice "That was freaking hot"
He started to kiss Trunks down his neck, grinding his very hard erection against his leg.

“Woah hold your horses there,” Trunks said tiredly, making Goten stop. “I need some time to recover”

“For how long?” Goten asked eagerly, and started to kiss along Trunks ' collarbone.

“For a few minutes. You really gave me a taste of heaven, and I need to get back to earth again” Trunk grinned.

Goten stopped his kissing and looked up at Trunks.
“A few minutes?!” He said, almost disappointed, “That is going to be the longest few minutes of my life.”

Trunks couldn’t help but start laughing.
“Stop being so melodramatic” he said, running a hand through Goten's hair while giving him a weak smile.

“Do you have any idea how sexy your face looks when you are about to climax? I had to hold back not to cum right there with you” Goten explained, looking more serious than he properly intended to.

His eyes were still dark and his cock was hard against Trunks leg. A smirk slid across Trunks lips. This was his doing. He had made Goten’s body react like this. It was hard for Goten to hide his eagerness, as he tried to give Trunks time to recover. He went from kissing Trunks body softly, to biting him, and back to soft kisses again. Trunks felt like he was teasing Goten, and he couldn't help but get aroused by it.

He pulled Goten in for a long and passionate kiss, and reached for his cock, stroking it a few times before letting go. Goten moaned loudly and longingly and looked into Trunks eyes, with an almost pleading and questionable look.

“I’m all yours” Trunks whispered, and spread his legs, to give Goten more room.

It didn’t take Goten long to possission himself, resting his dripping head against Trunks entrance. But as he opened the flask of lube to pour over them, they both heard a sound that made them stop breathing.

The sound of the front door in the living room had opened up and they could hear Chichi and Goku discussing something in low voices.

“Goten we are home” Chichi called.

It felt like ice was running down the guys veins, and panic was writing on both of their faces. They knew they had very little time before Chichi would check in on Goten, and there they were, in his bed, on top of each other, naked.

“Uhm hi! Give me a minute I’ll be right out” Goten yelled, as he got off Trunks, fumbling to collect their clothing on the floor.

“Goten honey, we need to talk,” Chichi called, “Will you please come and join us in the kitchen?”

“Not right now mom, I’m naked” Goten called back

“Why did you say that you are naked?” Trunks hissed as quietly as he could.

“I don’t know! I panicked!” Goten whispered back, throwing a pile of Trunks' cloth in his arms.

“Why are you naked?” Chichi called back, and by the sound of her footsteps, they could hear her coming closer.

“I ehm… was about to take a shower. Let me get dressed I’ll be right out” Goten called back, clearly shaking in his voice

“You’re a horrible liar!” Trunks scrolled him, as Goten was pushing him towards the window.

“She won’t notice,” Goten spat back, and opened the door to his closet, which was placed right beside his window.

“Goten are you okay?” Chichi called back, starting to knock on the door.

“Yeah I’m fine, mom. Just give me a minute” Goten called back to her “Get in the closet get in the closet get in the closet” Goten whispered in a panic as he pushed Trunks into his already cramped closet.

“Wait Goten, really?!” Trunks whispered as Goten closed the door “I could just have left through the window”

Goten was already gone, and not listening.
‘Hiding in a closet, what a cliché. Perhaps it would be more fitting to put him into a closet.’ Trunks thought to himself.

Through a small space between the door, Trunks could see Goten fighting to remove their traces by kicking their remaining clothing under the bed, setting his bedsheets and removing the lube while getting dressed at the same time.

“Goten what is the hold up?” Chichi called from the other side of the room “I’m coming in now”

Just as Goten sat on the bed, fully clothed, the bed was made nicely and nothing but a single sock was left on the floor. Trunks could hear the door open and footsteps followed soon. He could hear that Chichi wasn’t alone, and before he could wonder if Goku was the other person, he saw Gotens dad place himself on the bed, arms crossed and with a confused look on his face.

“We need to talk” Chichi said strictly “It’s about Trunks!”

‘Tsk great’

Chapter Text

Oh the irony. There he was, standing in the closet, butt naked and waiting while Chichi would finish her rambling.

"Goten, honey. I don't know how to say this to you" Chichi began.

Trunks could hear her walking back and forward, only catching a small glimpse of her through the creek between the doors. While Chichi was pacing back and forward, Goten had noticed one of Trunks' socks that was sticking out under the bed. He placed his foot on the sock and tried discreetly to shove it under the bed without his parents noticing it.

"You know your dad and I love each other very much" she started, but then grunted as she was thinking.

"What does that have anything to do with Trunks?" Goten asked, looking at Goku who looked just as confused as Goten.

"To get married you need to have a man and a woman" she started again, and suddenly Trunks understood what was happening… oh the irony.

"Mom, I'm not going back to Val" Goten said, still as confused as before. By the look on his face, Trunks could see he didn't understand what was coming.

"Oh honey this isn't about Valese.” Chichi replied and took in a deep breath “Bulma told me today that Trunks likes.. well… men" Trunks could almost feel how hard it was for Chichi to say out loud.

He had never kept it a secret but he had also never spoken up about his sexuality to any of the Z-fighters beside Goten and his own parents. He never really felt like it was their business who he chose to sleep with.

"Is that it?" Goten replied blankly "you wanted to talk to me because Trunks is bi?"

"He is a what?" Goku interrupted, with a head tilt.

"Bi, dad. Bi-sexual. He likes men and women"

"I like men and women too, am I a bee as well then?"

"Do you wanna have sex with men?"

"What? No! I'm only suppose to do that with-"

"Goku" Chichi yelled, and stepped into a spot where Trunks could see her. Her hands were as usual placed on her hips and her left foot was stumping.

"You knew about this, Goten?" She asked almost in shock "for how long?"

"I think he told me when I was 19, I'm not really sure. It was before Val. But I don't see why that matters?"

"Why it matters? Goten, it's wrong!"
Chichi went on after that for quite a while. She kept talking about not being able to get married, having kids and the usual how unnatural it was for the same sex to be togeather. A small part of Trunks had already foreseen her reacting to this, and perhaps that was another reason he hadn't told her or Goku yet.

Trunks suddenly started to admire and envy his dad's ability to stand completely still without it bothering him. His legs were getting restless and standing in an awkward position inside an already cramped closet without the ability to move was starting to get frustrating.

"Mom, you can't be serious about that!" Goten protested, "Why does it matter? As long as he is happy does it-"

"But he is not happy Goten," Chichi yelled back "Did you see him? He looked like he hadn't been eating or sleeping in a very long time. I'm sure he is confused and scared about his future"

Goten grunted annoyed and leaned back, letting his palms hold him upright in the bed.
"That is because of work, mom, that's all!"

"I'm not so sure" Chichi argued "I'm sure he is scared. And it's not like Bulma or Vegeta are taking it seriously either. Bulma just laughed it off and Vegeta didn't even bat an eye"

Trunks had to calm himself down, biting his lips not to speak up. He didn't like that Chichi implied that his parents were bad people.

"They are just being supportive," Goten defended them, to Trunks great relief "I'm sure you would do the same if me or Gohan turned out to like-"

"Don't even say it!!" Chichi screamed "I am a good mother and I did not raise any of you like that!"

Goten went silent and looked at her, eyes glimpsing of fear.
“You would still be a good mother even if..”

“Goten. Don’t even say it” Chichi said harsh

“Now now, Chii” Goku said, and stood up, placing his large hand on Chichi’s shoulder “I agree with Goten! As long as Trunks is happy with whom he is with, it doesn't really matter if it's a man or a woman"

"Goku, please," Chichi said annoyed, and moved his hand.
"I don't want that kind of behavior affecting Goten! He is better than that. What if he comes after Goten?"

Shit…

"But he hasn't! Right Goten?" Goku looked back at his son, who was still sitting on his bed, white as a sheet. Goten was a horrible liar.

"Trunks wouldn't do anything that I wasn't comfortable with," Goten answered, technically not lying. "He has never made a move on me" technically not a lie either, since Goten was the one making the move to begin with.

"Good! If he ever does, I want you to tell me. Then I'll have a talk with him" Chichi said in a tone that made all the men feel a cold sweat down their spines.

Soon after, both Chichi and Goku left Gotens room, none of them realizing just how pale Goten looked.

Goten sat on the bed in silence for a while, looking into the floor. When he was sure his parents were not coming back, he got up and opened the closet door, helping Trunks get out.

"Sorry you had to hear that" he whispered and avoided Trunks eyes.

"Are you okay?" Trunks asked while getting dressed.

"Yeah," Goten replied silently. "But you should get outta here before they get back"

Trunks just nodded, knowing it was for the better. But still he wanted to stay longer and make sure Goten was okay. He sure didn't look like it.

"I'll write to you when I get home. We'll talk about this then, okay?" He whispered and took Goten's hand.

Goten froze by the touch and just nodded. Trunks leaned in to give him a kiss, but Goten stepped back, looking away.

"I think I need more time to think," he just replied.

It felt like Trunks' heart hid the floor. He started to feel the frustration forming itself and he let go of Goten's hand
"Do you really let her affect you like this?" He hissed, sliding a hand frustrated through his hair.

"Please leave, Trunks" Goten whispered, his voice cracking with words.

It felt like he was hit right in the stomach. He had a hard time collecting what he was really feeling, but it wasn't anything positive. Goten had never asked Trunks to leave so directly before and doing it now felt like a knife cutting through his heart.

"Fine" he answered angrily and jumped out of the window, taking off as fast as he could.

The anger inside him felt like a being taking over his body and he speeded up even faster to escape the feelings.

The thought of seeing Goten again, just as a friend, hurt him more now than ever. Now that he knew Goten shared his feelings, it would only be a matter of time before the two of them started to avoid each other, fearing they would fall in again. Right now it felt like he had not only lost his chance of being with someone he cared for, but he also potentially lost a friend. His best friend.

He made it back to Capsule Corp and went straight to his office at the top of the building. He sat down in the big chair, which was supposed to be one of the best in the market, but after spending so much time in it, it was not a welcoming feeling. He turned on his laptop and looked out of the big window behind him. The view was beautiful. It was possible to see the entire city and a little further out. When he had started his position, he had spent many hours just looking out, whenever he needed a break from everything and the sight over the city never seemed to bore him.

His head felt like it was on speed. A wave of different thoughts was forming, but everything seemed like it went by so fast, it was hard for him to grab any of the thoughts, before it disappeared and a new one was presented.

He was woken up by a small voice calling him in the background.
"Mr. Briefs? Is that you?"

He started to feel his body felt stiff and his skin was getting cold. He had been sitting there for a lot longer than he had realized.

He turned around and saw a figure standing in the doorway. The room had gone dark since he arrived and the light was flickered on.

Serenity was standing in the door, holding a few folders under her arms.
"What are you doing here, Serenity? It's Saturday and you are off" he grunted, a bit harsher than intended.

"I just forgot to lock these files away. I finished them yesterday and just left them at my desk. I was nearby and my date is running late, so I thought I would just spend the time more productive than just waiting around."

He realized how dressed up she was. Her brown hair was loose with some curls at the end, and she was wearing more colorful makeup than usual. Her wine red dress was hugging her thin body, and Trunks had never noticed her bust being fairly large and her body was shaped like an hourglass. She looked very pretty and a part of Trunks felt a regret that the job made her wear boring office clothing. He was sure she would have loved to wear something more expressing than a grey and white suit and a tight high ponytail.

"Just place the files on my desk, I'll lock them away." He answered "You look very nice tonight, I'm sure your date will agree with me" He choose his words carefully, remembering the last time he complimented a secretary, and it ended up with quiet a lot of sex but a brutal breakup and the guy telling his parents about them, forcing Trunks to come out to his parents a lot sooner than he would have liked.

"Thank you" she answered softly, placing the files on his desk. She stood there a few seconds, clearly thinking, before she collected her courage
"I hope I'm not crossing a line here sir, but… You don't look too good. Are you okay?"

Somehow her words hit him a bit harder than he would like to admit, and he did what he always did, when people hit a soft spot. His mental walls went up, and he lied his way out.
"I'm fine." He said angry, regretting a bit that he spoke to her like this.

"It's that bad, huh?" She replied, seeming like his harsh tone didn't bother her at all. "I can almost guess the camping trip didn't go as planned?"

"It was fine… at first" he said, almost surprised himself by the last part. He didn't mean to open up to her in any way.

"Do you wanna talk about it? I have time" she said carefully, knowing that she was balancing on a thin line.

Trunks lifted his brows and her, rubbing his face a few times before standing up, walking towards her.
"No, my personal matter is none of your business" he replied annoyed, leading her out of the room. "Go back to your date and I will see you Monday"

"If I may, when I feel sad or angry it's very tempting to bury myself into work." She said, turning around to face him. She was a lot shorter than him, but there was something about her aura that made her seem a lot taller and like she had full control of the situation even as he was the one forcing her out of the room. This was a thing Trunks noticed she could do when he had hired her, and it had benefited him many times specially when he didn’t want people to disturb him, but never has she used it against him.

"But the best thing you can do, is to bury yourself in a hobby if you are not ready to confront your thoughts. If it's work, it is required of you. But if it's a hobby, you can set the pace as you want and need. Plus you can stop when it's too much for you. It's the best way to relax but without letting your thoughts get to you or pressuring yourself even further than you already do"

Trunks didn’t answer her. He didn’t like how she implied that she took pity on him. But he also knew that she had a point.

“Have a nice weekend Mr. Briefs. See you Monday”
She said politely as she left.

----

At first he went to the small gravity room that his mom had installed for him. It wasn’t as fancy as his dad’s, but he had barely used it since he started working for CC and the air was dusty and dry as he opened the door. He stepped inside, placing his hand on the control board, before turning on his heel and leaving the room. No, training reminded him too much of him. Annoyed, he walked down the corridors restlessly, still deep in thoughts about what had happened this weekend, and how he could fix it.

He didn't realize where his steps had taken him, before he stood outside of his lab. He opened the door and the lights and computers turned on right away.
Everything was where he left it. His last project was a prototype of a motorcycle that could be used for rangers. The idea was an environmentally friendly, sturdy and silent transportation that could help the rangers get around their area a lot faster but without disturbing the nature around them. Of Course this was an idea Goten had given him, like most of his projects.

He looked over the plans and realized they were mixed up with another old project. Walking around his lab, he found around 4 different projects sharing the space. His mom had made the habit of using a new lab for every new project she was working on, but Trunks had convinced her to only install one lab for him. He didn't want his employees looking for him in 20 different locations, such as they did with his mom.

But mixing up projects was not officiant either and before he knew it, he had opened a new tab on his computer, writing down notes.

The idea was simple but the execution would be harder to perfect. He wanted to use his grandfather's capsule technology, but he needed to alter it. His idea was to capsule each project in a separate capsule, that he would activate by the entrance of the lab leaving each project just as he left it.

The problem was that even though the capsules were stable to use, they were never meant to capsulize a room, and especially not only part of a room. He didn't need the computers or monitors to be capsulized, plus he needed to make sure that the capsule would be released the perfect place every time.

He opened the file to the capsule technology. He knew the concept of how it worked, but he had never dug further into it. The file was huge, containing a lot of different folders. To a normal person, the naming may have seemed random, but knowing his grandfather well, he had no problem navigating them.

"FAN45.150SNS - Failed Attempts No 45-150 Still No Success." Trunks whispered to himself as he opened the folder.
The folder contained a lot of handwritten notes that had been scanned in, most of the writings were almost impossible to read. Trunks' eyes landed on a folder called 'VOAA' - Video of all attempts. For a few hours he sat through the entire video library with his grandfather around the same age as Trunks himself. He tried to ignore how much alike they looked, with the same haircut and strong jawline, it was suddenly clear he looked a lot more like her mom than of his dad even though one would think that the saiyan genes would be stronger. He couldn't help but smile at the eagerness of his grandfather on the videos. Every time he failed, he jumped in excitement since he now had discovered something new and he could use the data for expanding the project further.

The last video was of a capsule almost being stable. Even though Trunks knew it was a failed attempt, he couldn't help but hold his breath and exhaled almost disappointed when the wooden box inside the capsule was shattered into tiny pieces as it appeared. His grandfather jumped around the wooden box in excitement while babbling about data and what he had learned from this.

"Did you see it, my love? It almost worked" he said happily, looking beyond the camera.

"I did! You are getting so close" he heard a familiar woman's voice coming from behind the camera.

"Oh no my dear, you shouldn't have! You need to relax" his grandfather said worriedly but with a warm smile on his face.
"Nonsense" she said softly "you are working hard and need something to eat"

Appearing from behind the camera, his grandmother carried a tray of fruits, drinks and snacks. He took the tray from her and placed it on a small table. He kissed her cheek and stroked her belly with a proud smile. She was pregnant, most properly close to the due date.
"How are my little Trunks doing?" His grandfather asked, looking at the belly.
Trunks sat up in confusion by the use of his name.

"We talked about this dear. I'm sure it's a girl and we're naming her Bulma" his grandmother laughed, squeezing his hand on the belly.

"We'll know once little Trunks here is born" he teased, kissing her cheeks again.

"And if it's a girl we will just have to try again until we get a boy" he said sheepishly, applying to things Trunks didn't want to think about.

"You can always get a cat and name him after your grandfather," his grandmother teased him and turned to leave him to his work.

"Tsk.. I don't even like cats" he answered in a tone Trunks could recognize from his mom.
Then the screen turned black.

He never thought about where his name came from before, he just assumed that it was his mom who one day opened his dad’s drawer, saw his boxers and decided on his name that way, but it made him smile softly thinking about his mom choosing the name to make her dad happy, since they never got a boy.

He sat back into the chair while balancing his pencil between his upper lip and nose. He had already a greater understanding of the capsule technology and he was mentally planning which of his many ideas he should work on first.
Seeing his grandfather working on the capsule tech with such excitement, had left Trunks with a huge motivation boost and hunger for the same excitement.

Trunks took his phone from his pocket and turned on the display.
8 unread messengers from Goten. His hands started to shake as he was about to open them, but then decided to put his phone down and continue his work. He already knew what they said and he wasn't ready for reality to hit him just jet.

He struggled with a string of code, most of the following day, that he couldn't solve. He loved the challenge and the distraction and didn't hear the door to the lab open behind him.

Only the faint sound of footsteps nearing him caught his attention and he didn't care to turn around. He knew who it was.

"I'm busy" he said coldly, feeling the frustration rising again.

"You didn't answer any of my texts," Goten replied, stopping right behind him.

"Didn't see them, and I didn't have to. I know what they say"

"Trunks, please.."

"Please?" Trunks finally turned around and felt the first stab in his chest. Goten's eyes were puffy and defeated and even if he tried to look calm and collected, Trunks could see right through him. But he didn't care. If Goten himself hadn't confessed, they would never be in this situation.

"I'm sorry for hurting you? I didn't mean for it to go that far? If I could take it all back I would?" He wanted to stop himself from speaking but his anger prevented him.
"Does that cover the messengers?"

"I'm sorry" Goten said in a low voice and was fumbling nervously with his hands.
"I really don't want to lose you"

Trunks nodded and signed, knowing this would not be easy for any of them. He looked at Goten again and caught a small glimpse of a tear in the corner of his eyes. He thought for a second. Turning him down now would mean losing him - as a friend as well, and even if the situation sucked, he couldn't imagine a life without Goten in it. It seemed…. Almost like it wasn’t an option.

"Let's stay friends for now." He said, and felt his heart sink deeper for every word he spoke. "Let's try and forget about what happened and go back to the way it was."

Goten just nodded and looked down, he knew as well that going back to before was going to be a long recovery.

"Hey, come on." Trunks said softly "It's going to be okay. We have been through worse"

"No we haven't" Goten replied "I did this and I hurt you. I have never hurt you before.. Not like this"

They both went silent, not really knowing what to do next. Trunks got up from his chair and rested his hand on Goten's shoulder. The younger man looked up hesitantly and caught Trunks eyes.

"We're going to be okay, dude. We are stronger than this" Trunks almost whispered, sending him a sad smile, not removing his gaze from Goten's beautiful brown eyes.

Goten suddenly wrapped his arms around Trunks neck and pulled him into a hungry kiss. Trunks' body reacted before he had a chance to think about it, and he kissed him back with such longing.
Maybe this could work out? Perhaps there was a way!
Goten pushed Trunks back into the table, before lifting him up, finding his way to stand between his legs. His hands started to roam, touching everything he could, down Trunks side, back and thighs. Goten moved to Trunks' neck and sent him flying by biting and kissing him.

Trunks' mind stopped working and his body was reacting to Goten's closeness. He let out a small moan and stroked the back of Goten's neck, bringing him closer to him. The heat from the younger man made him feel calm and secure, a thing no man or woman had ever made him feel before.

Goten suddenly moved back, hands up and panic writing in his eyes.
"I can't!" He whispered "I'm sorry! This is wrong"

"Wrong?" Trunks said a little louder than intended. "Why? Because I'm a guy? Because your mom said so?"

"Trunks, please, don't do this," Goten begged.

"No, I'm done. Get out of my lab, I don't have time for you to figure out what you want"
Trunks jumped down from the table and walked past Goten, bumping harshly into his shoulder, making him stumble a few steps back.

"Trunks, can we please talk about this?"
Goten begged, walked after him and grabbed his wrist.

It felt like a lightning of anger shooting through Trunks entire body. He ripped his hand to himself and turned to face him. Goten stepped a few steps back by the sight of Trunks' eyes starting to turn green.

"I'm going to tell you again," Trunks said calmly through his teeth as he stepped closer.
"Get out of my lab"

Goten held his ground for a few seconds, staring angry back into Trunks eyes. Trunks may have been shorter physically, but it felt like he had suddenly grown two towers taller. Trunks held his aura and anger a lot like Vegeta and it terrified a small part of him. He nodded and looked down defeated as he turned and left the lab.

The lab suddenly felt large, cold and empty. The only sound echoing was the sound of computers buzzing and Trunks' own attempt to calm his breathing. He didn't know how long he stood there, trying to make sense of the many thoughts and emotions rushing through his head at the same time.
Was he too hard on Goten? Was he not hard enough? This would without and doubt have an effect on their relationship - whatever their relationship had become.

The sound of his monitor ringing pulled him out of his almost paralyzed trance. He wiped the tear running down his chin and answered the call

"Trunks!!" Bulla appeared on his big monitor, with her face covering up most of the space. The way she had said his name was not to be mistaken: she was excited about something. He loved his little sister more than anything, but in his current situation, he couldn't help but feel annoyed by her positive energy.

"Hi Princess. I'm very busy, can we talk some other time?" He tried, swallowing his annoyance.

"But Trunks, dinner is almost ready! And it's my favorite!" She sang happily and started jumping from foot to foot as a small dance of excitement.

"That sounds delicious, Bulla. Enjoy your dinner, I have to go"

"But I want to share it with you" she answered him, with a sad tone in her voice, pushing her lower lips forward.

"Perhaps next time, Princess," he replied, feeling guilty. But he just couldn't. He had to get his emotions under control before seeing anybody. And especially his parents. They would be able to see right through him and he was not in the mood to defend himself against his dad's protests against anything that involved Goku's family.

"Trunks, are you sad?" Bulla suddenly asked.

"No I'm absolutely fucking delighted!" He snapped, rubbing a hand over his face, annoyed by his own angry sarcasm to his younger sister. "Go eat your food".
Click

He didn't remove his hand from the bottom that had ended the call, and again he found himself in a state of mind, where every thought was rushing by him too fast.
Worse brother, horrible friend, disappointing son and a lousy president.

He had to get back to work. That was the only thing keeping the thoughts away.

Time seemed like liquid and before he could look around, Serenity was standing in the door of the lab, wearing her grey and white suit, a tight ponytail and her natural almost invisible makeup.

“What are you doing here?” He grunted annoyed, turning his chair her way “I told you not to come back until Monday”

“Sir, it’s Monday” She replied softly and entered the lab.

“Oh.” He turned around on his chair again, continuing on his prototype.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you in here before” She said, and placed a coffee cup beside him.
He accepted the coffee and continued writing his notes.

“I took your advice, but I’m afraid I’ve turned my hobby into a work related matter. I already briefed it to one of our partners and they are excited to get this project up and running. But since it contains capsule tech, I am not allowed to share any of the work with anybody but people from my family.”

She nodded and took a sip of her own coffee, humming sweetly into the cup.
"I need you to cancel as many of my meetings as you can. Leave only the most important ones and please remind me an hour before each meeting" he said strictly.

"Do you want other departments to take over some of the meetings?" She pressed, well aware that Trunks had completely taken over meeting with all partners, even if every department had a representative.

Trunks stopped his writings and could feel the huge ball of stress returning. He was scared of letting go of the control he had, and leaving it in the hands of strangers. But he was deep in his project and had hardly left the lab to sleep, fearing the motivation would disappear and the thoughts would return.

While the wheels were turning in Trunks mind, Serenity studied him closely. One of her better skills was observation and picking up on details around her. Sometimes she could tell what a person needed, before the person realized it themselves. It was obvious to her that Trunks was under a lot of pressure and most of it came from himself and his own expectations. He was hard to read, even for her, with his charming smile and talent for lying and manipulation of every situation, especially if someone was getting too close to heart. But something had changed in him.
He was excited and somehow more energetic in the lab, but his eyes screamed sadness and a desperate attempt to escape reality.

"Yes" he finally managed to force the word out of his mouth. "You can assign the meeting to the rightful department's representative. But I want a full report from everybody on my desk by the end of every meeting."

She nodded and turned around, not giving him a chance to change his mind.

"Oh and Serenity" he called after her, already buried in his research again "I want to be left alone. No disturbance, not unless the building is on fire or there is a coffee delivery"

He didn't register her reply and he didn't feel the need to either. She was probably the only person at CC that he trusted fully… except of course his mom.

He started to work on a small prototype of the entire lab, remaking his chair, tablets and machines with as much of the material as the real objects had. He had moved himself to the floor, sitting bent over his work as he ran his first test with the prototype. The capsule tech had managed to swallow up almost the entire room, even half of the wall. As he released the tech, everything came crashing down, breaking most of his model. There was definitely a lot more testing to do, before he would even consider blowing this up to full scale.

“Mr. Brief?” He heard Serenity's voice behind him.

What was it about no disturbances that she didn’t get? He let out an annoyed grunt, only half acknowledging that she was there.

“You have a visitor” She replied hesitantly.
“I thought I told you I wanted to be left alone” He growled, still not turning around.

“Be nice to the sweet lady, Trunks!” He heard a small voice scroll at him.
He turned his head around with wide eyes, and was met with Bulla’s large blue gems. She was frowning and had a scrolling facial expression. She looked so much like their mother. A sharp sting of guilt poked him in his stomach. He had been cursing at himself for talking to Bulla the way he did the night before. It wasn’t her fault that he and Goten were fighting.

“Thank you, Serenity,” She said sweetly to his secretary “I would like some alone time with my brother”

Serenity hesitated at first. She looked at Trunks to make sure that retreating was the right thing to do. She smiled softly when he nodded at her, turned around on her heel and left the lab.

“Hey Bulla” He said weakly, wanting to apologies to her but wasn’t quite sure how to.

“It’s Princess for you until I have forgiven you” She said firmly. Gosh she may look like their mother, but from time to time she spoke like a mini Vegeta.

He just nodded, and with his hands turning his entire body around, facing his little sister who was now standing right in front of him with her hands behind her back. She was at perfect eyesight when he was sitting on the floor like this. It was hard for him not to pull her into a hug, but he could tell by the look on her face that she wasn’t there for hugs and kisses, but a more important matter.

“Here” She said, handing him a teddy bear that she had hidden behind her back.
He took the teddy bear and searched it. The teddy bear was old and it’s fur was matted. Still after all of these years it was soft and squeezy. She had had it since she was a baby and it had been her trusted companion for most of her life, even when she started to lose interest in playing with toys. She, like her mother and brother, was a lot smarter than the average of her age, and she had already started to show interest in healing and anatomy of both humans and aliens. She would often scroll at the saiyans to be more careful while treating their small wounds after training, trying to hide a smile of excitement.

“This is Mr. Bear,” She said, when he looked at her in confusion.

“I know Mr. Bear, Bulla,” He smiled, quickly correcting ‘Bulla’ with ‘princess’ when she gave him an angry glare “But I can’t find where he is broken?” It was a small ritual they had together. When Mr. Bear broke, she would ask Trunks to hold it’s hand while she was sewing it back together. She said that it made Mr. Bear feel less scared when Trunks was around, but he already knew this was only an excuse for her to spend time with him, without asking him directly.

“He is not broken, Trunks,” Bulla said, annoyed. “When I’m sad or angry, I hug Mr. Bear! It makes me feel better”

Trunks nodded, waiting for her to explain further, hoping she wasn’t about to tell him that not even Mr. Bear could help her after his outburst.

“You may borrow Mr. Bear until you feel better. But only if you promise to take good care of him!” She continued, pushing the teddy closer to Trunks, waiting for him to hug it.

A wave of warmth shot through Trunks' entire body. He froze and stared back at his little sister with huge eyes. His body was bobbling with overwhelming feelings. His anger at himself, sadness from the fight he had with Goten, hurt, tiredness, confusion, but most of all the warmth of forgiveness that his little sister just showed him even after he had treated her badly.
It was all just too much for the adult and in an attempt to hide his tears, he looked down at the teddy bear in his lap, letting his hair glide down and hide his face.

Bulla had never seen her big brother cry before, but she had known that he had been sad for some time now. This was why she wanted to share her beloved Mr. Bear. If anyone could heal her brother it would be Mr. Bear.

Trunks wrapped his arms around Bulla, pulling her into a tight hug that she was sharing with her teddy bear. Trunks was sniffing but didn’t say anything for a while. She returned his hug, trying to embrace him the way their mother did when Bulla was sad.

“Thank you Princess,” He said weakly.

“You can call me Bulla again” She said, stroking his hair comfortingly.
He tightened his hug, making sure not to crush her.

Chapter Text

Flying away from Capsule Corporation had never felt as heavy as it did that day.
Goten was flying with a variant speed, too deep in his own thoughts to even fly in a straight line.

The cold wind hitting his face was drying his tears faster than they could run down his chin and he kept repeating the same thing over and over again.

"What have I done?"

When he reached the canyons he landed on one of the rocks, with a small hidden cave inside it. He had been here many times before and he had marked this as his own private getaway spot.

He paced back and forward, shifting between resting his hands on his hips and pulling his hair in frustration.

"What have I done?" He said louder, and sat down on hard ground.

The scenario kept repeating before him. Trunks eyes staring back at him, mesmerizing him. It was like a force had taken over Goten's body as he launched himself at him, giving in to the temptation and hunger he had for the other man. He felt happy, safe and like a craving had been satisfied, when suddenly his mom's harsh words and the hopeful look his dad had given him while reassuring his mom that Trunks had never touched him, repeated itself in his mind. That, combined with a conversation he had had just before he took off to Capsule Corp. Everything was just too much for him to wrap his head around. His body and mind was pulling him closer to Trunks, but his family pulled him the other way, making it seem like he had to make a choice - and an impossible one.

"Fudge" he exhaled frustrated and laid down, with crossed arms supporting his head. How was he supposed to fix this?

He couldn’t remember when he had first developed feelings for his best friends. Perhaps they had always been there but he had just completely denied it, trying to drown his desires between the legs of a woman he did care for, but didn’t love. Only when Valese herself had brought it up did he realize why he had been feeling so empty since Trunks got too busy to see him and why he had never really felt satisfied with her. They had parted as friends and she had encouraged him to go for it, convincing him that Trunks properly felt the same way.

If only he hadn’t let his impulses take over, and gave it a minute to think about their surroundings, perhaps he would have tackled everything differently. But he was too eager to think about anything else but his best friend in his arms.

His stomach started to rumble. He tried to ignore it, but like any Son, his stomach would not give in and kept growling angry at him.

It was hard to think when hunger was demanding his attention and he decided to head back, hoping his parents weren't home. He could cook up a really good meal for his parents in hope that it would heal some of his bad conscience. He knew he hadn't lied to them, but he somehow still felt wrong, like he had betrayed them. Cooking was also very relaxing and like a meditation for him. Perhaps it would give him a better clearance of what to do now.

He stood up and took off, heading to the small house on Mount Paozu.

On his way home, he kept revisiting what had happened over the weekend. The camping trip, the excuses to be close to him, the confession and the sex. Even if it wasn't anything crazy or wild, it still was the best he had ever had. He was then reminded of the conversation he had and how he had wished he would stop acting on impulses.

---

Earlier that day, he had knocked on Gohan and Videl's door, feeling his stomach twisting. He was both scared and confused by his mom's outrage, and he had hoped that Videl was home and would listen to him. Videl grew up in the city, and she might be more open minded than any of his family.

“Come in” He heard Gohan's voice call. He took a deep breath and went inside.

He loved his brother and Videls house, it would always make him warm inside. Even if Videl was from one of the richest families in the world, their house was humble, by rich standards at least. Gohan didn't have to work but he wanted to keep his study up and Videl would give him the space, physically with books all over the house, and support to follow his dreams. He wasn’t sure if either Videl or Gohan knew, but Gohan was as happy as he could ever get with Videl by his side, and Goten envied that.

The atmosphere in the house was always warm and welcoming, and even better it always smelled like delicious food.

“Hey it’s me” Goten called as he closed the door. He had a high suspicion that Gohan was in his study room. “Is Videl home?”

"No, her and Pan are out doing some shopping" Gohan peeped his head out from his study room, pushing his glasses back to place. "Perhaps I can help you? As long as it's not cooking"

Goten snorted, remembering all the times Gohan had to cook for him and it always turned out to be more or less a disaster.

"No, I just need to ask her something, but I can come back another day"

Gohan placed a few books he was holding on a table and looked concerned as his little brother.
"Are you okay? You look kinda sad" Gohan said, and Goten couldn't help but let a small smile slip.

He was lucky to have Gohan. The best brother a person could ask for. But as great of a brother he was, Goten doubted he was ready for what Goten had to say.

"Nah don't worry about it" he said walking to the kitchen, not wanting to look Gohan in the eyes. "Do you have any beer?"

Gohan crossed his arms on his chest "Goten" he said, using his dad tone. A tone he had been using as long as Goten could remember.

"You know you can talk to me too, right? About anything"

Goten stopped and nodded. He could feel a clump in his stomach forming.
"I know," he almost whispered.

"So why do you want to speak to Videl and not me? It's clearly about something that bothers you."

At this point, Goten regretted coming. He didn’t want to worry Gohan, but he knew that if he didn’t open up, Gohan wouldn’t be able to let it go and he might even ask their mom about this. Perhaps it was better to confess. Gohan had, after all, spent more time in the city than any of his parents. But then again… This was not a small thing.

While he was thinking, Gohan signed, and put an arm around Gotens shoulder, pressing him closer to him.
“Is it money?” Gohan asked.

“No it’s not money, '' Goten laughed nervously. He had never asked to borrow money from anybody before so he wondered why Gohan asked about that.

He cursed at himself at that moment. Gohan had given him a perfect getaway, but Goten, as always, chose to tell the truth. If Trunks had been in his shoes he would have found a white lie and left the house as fast as he could. But Goten didn’t like to lie and a part of him really wanted to tell Gohan, hoping his brother would help and accept.

“Okay I’ll tell you, but please have an open mind, 'kay?”

"Of course," Gohan said, with a hint of a worried tone. They went to the couch with each a glass of fresh lemonade. Goten wished he wasn't so nervous, because I knew would enjoy the drink if his nerves hadn't taken over.

"So?" Gohan said after a while of silence.

"Just.. give me a minute," Goten replied, thinking like crazy. What would be the best way to break the news to Gohan? Should he soothe it? Be direct?

Just say it. Just say it. Do it. Do it!
“I slept with Trunks” Goten finally said, feeling his entire self tense up. His body was getting warm and cold and his sight was getting blurry.
Oh kami... He actually said it. No turning back now!
At first he didn’t look at Gohan. He was afraid to see his brother's expression. But when the silence continued for too long, he had to look. Gohan hadn’t changed his facial expression at all. He was just sitting patently with his hands folding in his lab.

“Wait. That’s what you were scared to tell me?” Gohan suddenly said, sensing Goten was waiting for a reaction.
“Why were you scared to tell me that?”

Relieved and a bit surprised, Gotens body started to relax.

“You don’t think that’s weird?”

“Weird? Why would it be weird? You know I sleep with Mr. Piccolo too sometimes”

Goten flies off the couch in shock.
“You WHAT? But you are married! Does Videl know?”

Gohans face still hasn't changed in any way. He was sitting calmly and leaned back, resting his calf on his knee.
“Of course she does. I even asked her if she wanted to join us, but she doesn’t like the dessert very much. I sometimes wished Pan would join us, but she is not very interested in spending time with her dad anymore”

It hit Goten. Even if Gohan was the brain of the family, he sometimes was so much like their dad. So innocent with a drizzle of naivety. This also meant he had to tell Gohan about Trunks.. Again.
He grunted annoyed as he sat down and leaned forward, hiding his face in his hands. He was not used to this kind of stress and he had a hard time figuring out how to deal with everything.

“You guys have been having sleepovers since you were kids, Goten. I don’t think it’s weird you do that just because you are adults”

“Gohan, I meant sex! I had sex with Trunks.” Goten finally snapped.
He looked Gohan deep into the eyes, and could see how his brother's facial expression got stiff and his body tensed up. Fudge.

"That can't be right" Gohan finally said "Trunks is a guy!"

"I should know better than anyone, right?" Goten replied, annoyed, feeling like he was backing up against a corner. Oh Kami, this was not good. His heart was pounding in his chest and everything in him screamed to run off and never return.

"I don't think you are suppose to do that, Goten" Gohan replied worried "It seems wrong to me"

---

The sentence both his mother and brother had used was "It's wrong" and the same sentence kept repeating itself in his head over and over again almost like a poison that was spreading through his entire body. He didn't wait it to effect him, but he had no control over it.

Goten signed as he was nearing his parents house. The talk with Gohan after that was a confused mess and Gohan had tried multiple time to explain why two men shouldn't have sex. Luckily, he made Gohan promise not to tell their parents. He knew his brother would slip up eventually, he always did, but at least it would buy Goten some time to figure out how to avoid the family chaos it could result in. Man, this was really not his day today.

As he landed in front of the house, he could smell his mothers cooking instantaneously. The smell of beef and fried vegetables filled his nostrils and gave him some sort of comfort feeling. He could feel his stomach rumbling again and he patted it a few times, a reflex he had seen his dad do a million times. He didn't feel like eating with his parents, and perhaps his mom would allow him to eat in his room if he said he had a ton of homework to do. He wouldn't be lying.

He opened the door, trying his hardest to put on a smile.
"I'm home"

Before he entered the room he stiffened as he saw Gohan sitting by the table right beside the kitchen where Chichi was cooking. They looked at him for what seemed like forever. Goten felt a slight drop of cold sweat running down his spine.
"Welcome home, honey," Chichi said happily as she continued to stir the food.

Goten didn't realize he had held his breath since he opened the door, but now that he knew Gohan hadn't told their parents, he could finally breathe again. Gohan looked into the table, trying to avoid eye contact. Goten was greeted happily by Goku who as usual was doing push ups together with Pan, it was their own little competition. Pan insisted she could beat her grandfather one day and she was not going to give up.

"Goten, there you are" he heard a female voice calling him. He turned and saw Videl walking towards him with a happy smile.
"I've been wondering when you would arrive. Gohan has something he would like to talk to you about" she said out loud and pulled Gohan out of the chair to push him closer to Goten.

"Huh? What is it, Gohan?" Chichi asked curiously.

"Ehm.. it's…Well… I'll-"

"It's a private conversation between two brothers. Go on, go outside!" Videl demanded and pushed the two of them outside the door.
She turned her head and whispered to Chichi
"Goten has a question about math, but he is embarrassed about it. He asked Gohan for help earlier but Gohan explained it poorly, making Goten even more confused by it. Goten didn't want you to know because he don't want you to worry"

Chichi nodded excitedly and started to ramble about how proud she was that Gohan could mentor Goten, and that Goten was finally starting to show interest in subjects outside of the animal kingdom.

Videl's smile disappeared as soon as she closed the door behind her. She pushed the two brothers away from the house while she was scrolling them in a low voice.
“I can’t believe I have to do this. You are adults and you should be able to clear this situation yourselves. I can’t believe this is even a situation”

She stopped pushing them and crossed her arms over her chest, looking at Gohan with sharp eyes.
“Well?” She said in a stern voice that made Gohan jump a little.

Gohan looked everywhere beside Goten, while he started to speak a lot of gibberish that made no sense whatsoever.

“For heaven's sake, Gohan” Videl scrolled and turned to Goten. “Goten, sweetie. What your brother is trying to say is that he is sorry for the way he reacted and that he didn't mean what he said. He was surprised and a bit confused, that's all"

Gohan was scratching the back of his neck, looking down.
"Yeah I'm really sorry about that. Videl explained everything to me so I understand now how insensitive I must have come off. I just panicked. You know.. involving Mr. Piccolo and..”

“I get it Gohan," Goten interrupted. "I'm sorry I surprised you like that. I could have explained myself better"

"There you go. Now you two talk this over and join us when you are done" Videl said, as she turned around "and don't forget to ask Gohan about a math question, Goten. That way he doesn't have to lie when Chichi asks about it. We all know he is not very good at that"'

The brothers looked at the directions Videl was leaving.

"She dares to trick and lie to mom with no regrets. Videl is scary" Goten finally said.

"The worst part is that she is going to sleep without any worries tonight." Gohan replied.

They both shivered.

Goten proceeded to tell Gohan everything as they sat down by the river. How he had planned to make Trunks confess at the camping trip, how he ended up doing it himself anyway and that they were interrupted by Chichi and Goku.

"Wait, so while mom tosses a fit about guys sleeping with each other, Trunks was in your closet?" Gohan laughed.

"It's not funny, you jerk," Goten protested. "But yes he was… butt naked and with a hard wood on"

Gohan had to hold his stomach as he started to wheeze from laughter. Goten couldn't help but laugh with him. Gohan rarely laughed like this but when he did, Goten could feel his entire body warming from joy. He truly admired his bigger brother, and making him laugh like this, filled him with such pride.

"You know, something similar happened to me and Videl," Gohan finally said.

Goten only raised an eyebrow, leaning in.
"We were doing homework in my room, with the door open"

"Typical mom," Goten laughed.

"Yeah, and Videl took that as a challenge. Forward time to mom showing up with some snacks for us while Videl is busy.... you know.. riding me on my chair. To this day I'm still impressed how Videl managed to get herself off my lap, pull her skirt down, place a book over my junk, and pretend to ask me a math question without even batting an eye. She even thanked mom for the snacks and the hospitality without a hint of fear in her voice"

They both shivered again.

"Hey, I'm sorry about the situation with Trunks." Gohan said after a few minutes of silence. "If you really care for him, I think you should go for it"

Goten felt like his heart could burst and a clump starting to form in his throat
"I think I blew it. Whatever chance I had with him, I ruined it. I went back to see him, to end this, but I ended up kissing him again. Before I knew it I could hear moms voice in the back of my head and dad's look.. I... I realized what I was going and pulled back. Saying that it was wrong and all. I don't think I have ever hurt anyone as badly as a manage to hurt him"

Goten ruffles his own hair in frustration. Gosh he wished he had never said that.

"Do you think that it is wrong? Being attractive to a guy?" Gohan asked with a calm voice.

"What? No! That wasn't what I meant. I feel strangely calm about it. It feels…. Normal to be attracted to him"

Gohan just nodded and placed a hand on Goten's shoulder
"I think you should go back and apologize and see if you two can make it work."

"But Gohan, I'm scared..."

"Of mom?"

"Can you blame me? She freaked out, Gohan. Talking about her being a good mother and she did everything right when she raised us. I don't want her to think she's a bad mom. Besides, dad tried to defend me when mom asked if Trunks had come for me. Dad tried to reassure her that he hadn't… the look he sent me was a hopeful look. He hoped I would agree with him"

Gohan nodded at first, but then let a small smile slip.
"Are you mostly scared of mom being mad or dad being disappointed?" Gohan asked, having a feeling that he already knew the answer.

Goten was silent for a moment. He hadn't thought about it like that. But by mentioning their dad being disappointed at him, he could feel a small nag in him. Perhaps Gohan was right.

"Dad is not that complicated, Goten. I'm sure he wouldn't care who you choose to be with as long as you are happy. I could imagine that he was hoping for mom not to flip out."

"I guess" Goten mumbled "He did defend Trunks… but that doesn't help whatever hell mom is going to unleash when she finds out about me and him!"

Gohan smiled softly and stared into the horizon for a bit. He knew what he was going through not wanting to disappoint their mom, perhaps a bit better than Goten knew.
"You know, when Krillin and Bulma went to Namek to collect the dragon balls, I wasn't supposed to join them. But I needed to go. I had to! It felt like the guilt was eating me up and I needed to help bring back Mr. Piccolo."

"Let me guess" Goten replied "Mom wouldn't let you go"

"Not at first. She got so mad, throwing everything she got at me in order to change my mind. She was scared of me going, and I get it. But in the end, she let me do it"
Gohan turned to look at Goten, eyes filled with confident

"How did you make her agree?"

"I explained to her why I needed to go. With the guild clouding my thoughts, there was no way I could keep up with my study or keep my focus. She agreed in the end and was a lot more supportive than the others give her credit for."

Goten thought about it for a minute. Perhaps he would be able to explain to her that he was much happier with Trunks around and it would potentially boost his motivation to study. But then again, if Trunks was even interested in trying, and it got serious, Chichi would at some point ask about marriage and grandchildren, and Trunks had never mentioned any of the two things. How did that even work with two guys?

"What I am trying to say is, that Mom just wants us to be happy. She thinks she knows the best way for us to reach that goal, so sometimes you have to prove her wrong. I mean if she agreed to let me fly off to a different planet to help revive someone who, as she sees it, kidnapped me, I can't see why she wouldn't approve that you found someone that you really care for. Plus Trunks is rich. That's kinda how she accepted Videl into the family before we even had a fling"

"I donno. I'll need to think about it." Goten finally said, getting up from the grass. His stomach was starting to growl violently again and the smell of Chichi's food was still noticeable even from a distance.

"Why don't you come and stay with us for a few days?" Gohan suggested, standing up "Videl is much better at this than me, and that way you don't have to be scared of hiding how you feel while you figure out how you wanna go forward"

"Thanks, man. I really appreciate it" Goten said, giving Gohan a hug that lasted a bit longer than normal.

"Oh and about that math question…"

Goten stayed with Videl and Gohan for most of the week. During the day he drowned himself in his study, finding more motivation while his mom wasn't nagging him about it. During the evening he would help with chores and spend a lot of the nights on the rooftop looking at the stars, talking with either Gohan or Videl.

This morning, Gohan had to travel to the city early and both Videl and Goten had joined him for breakfast before sending him off.
As Gohan had left, they agreed to get their morning coffee on the rooftop, with the view of the sun rising in the horizon. Their conversation had once again landed on Trunks. Videl had been a great support for Goten and he really felt like he could open up to her.

"Perhaps he wasn't as mad as you think," Videl said.

"Oh no he was pissed." Goten answered "I could see he wanted to turn Super Sayian when he told me to leave. I'm sure if I meant less to him he would have punch me right in the face as hard as he could"

"Or maybe he was sad? If I remember correctly both Vegeta and Bulma express most of their negative emotions through anger. Perhaps Trunks doesn't know how to be sad"

What Videl said seems to echo in Gotens mind for a while. They had known each other for so long and Goten could recognize Trunks' moods just by feeling his ki. But he suddenly realized that Trunks hadn't shown much sadness since they started their teen years. Usually Trunks would be annoyed, pissed or downright angry, but sad, not so much. It made Goten feel bad, like a guilt grew inside him. How many times had Trunks been sad and Goten didn't even know about it and just assumed that he was mad. Treating him like he was mad.

"I didn't even think about that" he almost whispered. "Maybe I'm not cut out to be with him. He deserves someone who can r-AWCH"

Goten rubbed the side of the head where Videl had hit him. Hard.
"Stop being so pathetic! Me and Gohan have been married for almost 15 years. There are still days Gohan has a hard time understanding me, but I could never live my life without him. A couple doesn't have to be perfect to be happy!"

Goten just nodded. A sound coming from his pocket interrupted the conversation. He took his phone and looked at the display.

"It's Capsule Corp!" Goten stiffened "Do you think it's him?" He asked Videl, not sure if he wanted to pick it up or not. It was weird that he didn't call from his own cell.

"Pick up and find out" Videl hummed into her coffee cup.

"Hello?" he answered the call, feeling a bit anxious.

"Hello hi, is this Son Goten?" A female voice answered at the other end.

"Yes, this is him"

"Oh thank god! This is Serenity, Mr. Briefs secretary. I am so sorry to bother you but I didn't know who else to call"

Alarmed, Goten gave Videl his coffee cup and already prepared himself to fly off. Something was wrong…
"Is everything ok?" He asked, feeling his breath shortened.

"I don't want to alarm you. I'm sure there is an explanation, but something is wrong with Mr. Briefs. He is just sitting on the floor of the lab. He is not responding to me."

Goten started to set off, sending Videl a look and she just nodded as a response, acknowledging that he had to go.

"Stay where you are, I'll be there in 10 min" he replied as he set off for Capsule Corporation at highest speed.

Chapter Text

“Thank god you came so fast,” Serenity called out, as Goten entered Capsule Corp at the top floor.
She was standing in the doorway of the lab, her face written with worry.

“I didn't know who else to call,” She said again in a panic “Ms. Brief is at a conference and doesn’t pick up her phone and Mr. Vegeta is nowhere to be found.”

“It’s okay, Serenity” Goten said as he ran past her and into the lab, not sure what to expect.

Trunks was sitting in the middle of the lab, surrounded by a bunch of different metal pieces. Some of them seemed like part of some sort of mechanic, and others seemed like pure mess. Trunks was sitting in a tailor position, slumping over. He was looking into his lap, with his hair falling down and covering his face. His left hand was resting in his lap with a metal piece loosely being held in his palm. His right hand was resting on his knee and seemed to be the biggest problem, as he held a torch that was spitting out a thin but violent strip of fire.

“He’s not responding when I talk to him and the torch has been on at least since I arrived. I tried to take it away from him but he is really strong.” Serenity said, as Goten got closer to Trunks. Careful not to get burned by the torch, he bent down to get eye contact with Trunks.
Trunks eye was half way closed, and with a lazy stare he was looking into the floor. His normally sharp and sparkly blue eyes seemed almost dusty even when he from time to time blinked slowly. Goten was relieved when Trunks didn’t react to him. He had seen Trunks like this more times than liked, but at least he knew nothing was wrong with him.

Taking a heat glove from the floor, he took the hot torch and managed to get it out of Trunks' firm hand. The flame thrower tool was warm even through the safety gloves, and Goten was praying that Trunks hadn’t burned his hands through his glove.

“How long has he been working?”
Goten looked at a trolley table that was standing right beside him. Besides the many drawings and tools, there was a box of Chinese food that was left almost full.

“I dunno. He’s been arriving at the lab before I got here and left after me since Monday” Serenity said. The look on Gotens face made her realize just what had been going on. Trunks has been in the lab non stop. She knew already that he had barely been eating anything and the only liquid she had been delivering was coffee.

“Is he okay?” Serenity asked concerned,

“Yeah,” Goten answered smiling back at her to calm her down “He’s just sleeping”

Serenity was looking confused at Goten and then back at Trunks, who was still sitting slumped over.

“Get used to this” Goten laughed softly, as he picked up Trunks, who was still sleeping soundly. “This is a Brief thing. They get lost in a project and work on it until they pass out. I’ve found both Trunks and Bulma like this more times than I dare to count. And I don’t even get me started on Vegeta. He can stand still in the same position without even flinching for weeks at a time.”
The confusion in Serenity’s eyes hadn’t changed one bit as Goten walked past her.

“I’m taking him to bed. Sometimes he sleeps for days, so don’t get worried if you don’t see him till after the weekend. I’ll make sure he get some rest and eats something solid”

“I’ll cancel his meeting the rest of the week then.” Serenity said, following Goten out of the lab. “He’s lucky to have you as his friend”

Goten smiled at her, but could feel a hit to his stomach. If only she knew.


---
A stinging headache woke Trunks. His eyelet felt heavy and almost glued together. A low grunt left his lips as he rubbed his nose bridge, trying to relieve the pain summing in his head. He noticed the warmth of a duvet and a soft pillow supporting his head. The last thing he remembered was closing his eyes for just a second while working on some parts in the lab and he had no idea how he got back into bed.

He sat up and a sharp pain shot through his head. His body was aching and sore and his vision was slightly blurry. What had happened?

He heard a click coming from his bedroom door and he froze as he saw Goten enter. As the door swung open, the smell of eggs and bacon filled the room. In his hand, Goten carried a tray with a plate of food, a bowl of fruits and a cup of, what smelled like, coffee.

"Good Morning" he said with a soft smile, not meeting Trunks eyes out of guild. He knew Trunks wouldn't be pleased to see him

Trunks didn't move. He just stared at Goten, maintaining his cold eyes on the younger man, who moved closer to him hesitantly.

"I made you some-"

"Leave" Trunks growled between his lips. He was not ready to see Goten jet. His emotions were still unstable and he hadn't had time to figure them out. So far all he could recognize within himself was anger. And a lot of it.

"Yeah, that I can't do." Goten replied. "I promised Bulma I would take care of you until she gets back home"

"I don't give a fuck. Leave" Trunks said in a calming yet threatening tone.

Goten placed the tray with food on the nightstand beside Trunks, avoiding Trunks' killer glare at any cost.

"I know you're mad at me, and you have every right to be. I've been a complete dick towards you and I don't except you to forgive me anytime soon-"

"Good"

Goten sighed and looked down on his feet.

"I'll just be here to bring you drinks and food. You collapsed in the lab out of exhaustion. You know you are going to be bound to your bed for the next couple of days because of that"

Anger grew inside Trunks, but his body felt weak and like he was shaking underneath his skin. He wanted to yell at Goten, get out of the bed and force the other man out of his life just for the time being, while he sorted his own feelings. But he was too weak to even raise his voice. He looked at the tray Goten had placed at the nightstand and considered for a moment to throw the tray away in anger, to let his emotions come across. But he was not a child anymore, so he did the only thing he had energy for, he lay back into his bed and turned his back to Goten and they tray, determined not to touch a thing coming from the other man.

Goten let out a sigh and turned to walk out the door.
"There is something for your headache on the tray. Please eat and drink something"


The headache was unforgiving and kept Trunks awake for hours. Even if he finally drifted off to sleep the pain would wake him up again. But yet he refused to take the painkillers left on the tray or touch any of the food. Well aware it was a bigger punishment for himself than for Goten, but his pride refused him to take any of the younger man's offering. He would much rather suffer.

He woke up again, grunting angry. Every time he tried to sit up or even tried to think, his head felt like it would explode. The nausea wasn't helping him either and at that moment all he wanted to do was to punch something.
He heard the door open again and the anger took over, overruling the headache.
"Leave me the fuck alone, Goten!" He yelled and sat up threatening to throw a pillow.

Startled, Serenity was standing in the doorway with a tray in her hands. It took Trunks a second to recognize her before lowering the pillow and looking down embarrassed.

"I'm sorry.. that was.. ehm.. what are you even doing here?" He mumbled.

She placed the tray on the nightstand, making Trunks realize that the tray Goten had brought in earlier was gone. He had probably removed it while he was asleep.

"I'm sorry to startle you like this" she said almost sweetly "Mr. Son is currently taking classes and asked me to look out for you. It's time for lunch so I thought you might be hungry"

"What is he thinking? You are my secretary, not a fucking nurse"
He grunted annoyed to himself.

"How are you feeling? You gave me a good scare" she asked, giving him the glass with water without giving him a chance to deny it.

"I'm fine," he answered, taking a sip of the water. His dry throat welcomed the water and he could feel a small relief of the pain.

"Let's get past the part where you pretend like you are perfectly okay. How are you really feeling?" She asked him, placing her hands on her hips.

"...My head is killing me" he signed.

"Did you take anything for the pain?"

"...No"

"I'll get you some, where do you keep your medicine?"
She turned to walk out of the room, as he took her wrist, staring deep into her eyes.

"Is this his doing?" He asked her "trying to fool me into drinking and eating what he had made for me by sending you?"

Serenity tilted her head at his question sending him a puzzled look.

"I'm not sure what you are asking, sir. Mr. Son did ask me to look after you while he is away, but I chose to bring you something to eat by myself. Was that wrong of me?"

He scuffed at his own paranoia, again feeling embarrassed by the situation. He hated that she saw him like this.
"No but it's not your job to look after me."

"I don't see why this is different from me bringing you coffee four times a day. I didn't make the food if that's what you are thinking. I just placed it nicely on a plate."

“It’s take out then?” He asked her suspiciously.

“Yes,” She replied, again with a hint of confusion. “Take out I placed on the plate. As I said”

He sat still for a few seconds not really sure what to do. The headache had started to thump and it felt like his entire head was moving to the beats.
"...The cabinet above the stove there’s a small box with medicine in it." He finally said "The blue ones are for migraines. Two should do the trick"

She nodded and left the room, returning shortly with two blue pills. Trunks finished the piece of bread he was eating before swallowing the pills and finished the entire glass of water. His body was reacting to the energy and he could already feel that he was getting better.

Serenity smiled and turned to leave him as she saw him starting to dig into the dishes she had brought him.

After finishing his meal, his body felt heavy and tired and he soon fell asleep and didn't wake up again, before he was well rested.


-----

Outside of the bedroom door, Serenity sent Goten a smile and nodded to let him know that her mission was a success.

He breathed out relieved. "How much did he eat?" He asked

"I didn't stay to watch but I'll be surprised if there is more than half left when you get in there at some point."

"Did he take the pills?"

"He did. I'm sure he'll fall asleep soon"

Goten nodded and let out another relieved sigh.
"I'm sorry I had to involve you like this but I know he is stubborn to the point of where he will let himself get hurt before giving in. Thanks for helping out."

"No problem! But perhaps it would be better to resolve the problem between you two and not hide behind me"
She winked as she left the room.

"If only I knew how" he said to himself.

He looked around in the living room, feeling a bit awkward. Capsule Corp had been his second home since he was a kid, but he had only been visiting Trunks' new room once or twice. Knowing that he was not welcomed now made him a bit restless.
He placed his books, notebook and laptop on the dinner table. He might as well get started on his homework while waiting for Bulma to return home. When he had finally got hold of her, she was too busy to let him speak and had informed him that she would be back in a couple of days, and that he should stay while he would be looking after Trunks, before she hung up.

Concentrating on his homework was hard as he kept turning his head to watch the door into Trunks bedroom. He wanted to check up on him to make sure he was okay. He leaned his chin into his hand while playing with his pen. Perhaps just a sneak peek would be fine?

Giving in, he got up and as silently as he could, he opened the door into the bedroom. Trunks was breathing with a heavy rhythm, indicating that he was fast asleep.

The tray with food that Serenity had brought in was almost empty and the only thing that was left was a cold cup of coffee and a few crackers.
"Huh.. the headache was so bad he didn't want his coffee" Goten thought to himself.

Trunks was lying on his side with one arm above the duvet and another arm under his pillow. A classic sleeping position for him. His face was peaceful and all lines in his face were smoothen out. He looked beautiful, with his lilac hair still placed perfectly even while sleeping.

Goten swallowed and took the tray from the nightstand. He stood still, watching over the sleeping man. His gaze went from Trunks' hair, to his arm and to his soft lips. Remembering how good these lips felt pressed against his own. His taste, closeness and heat. His breathing into his ear. How his warm hand had felt around him and how perfect he had worked him into the best orgasm he ever had. His face and trembling body as Goten returned the favor.

"Ah shoot here we go again" Goten thought to himself as he could feel the blood rushing to his face and his pants getting a little tighter.

He carried the tray to the open kitchen area in the living room before finding his way to the bathroom and locked the door. He sat down on the toilet seat and placed his hands on his face.

"Think about birds and bees… no like.. urgh think about cars and motorcycles… but not Trunks'.. ugh" Me mumbled to himself trying to calm the half hard member in his pants. He had never really felt the urgency to mastrubate before, and differently not to a point where he couldn't calm himself down. But after being with Trunks, it seems like he had some sort of a sexual awakening and he couldn't get his best friend out of his head.

He sat back and glided his hand down, starting to massage himself on the outside of the pants while he closed his eyes.

He imagined Trunks with him. His strong hands and steady voice whispered in his ears sending shivers down his entire body. Trunks trailed his hand down Goten’s stomach before rubbing on him on the outside of the pants.

“You’re already hard for me, Ten?” Trunks whispered, biting Goten’s earlobe. “What are we going to do about that?”

Unable to speak, he led out a small whine leaning into Trunks hand who had managed to open his pants and was rubbing him with the thin fabric of his boxers between. Goten had to bite on his lower lips not to let out a small moan as Trunks reached into his boxer, grabbing around him and started to stroke him slowly, using his thumb to glider over his head. Goten’s breathing became shorter and harsher and he could already feel himself building up. Gosh why did he have this effect on him?

“So how would you like me to continue?” Trunks asked, with a tease in his voice “Slow and steady or... faster?”

Trunks speeds up his hand building up Goten even faster. Trying not to make any noise Goten pulled the bottom of his t-shirt up and took it into his mouth, biting down hard. Trunks started to kiss down his neck and settled on his collarbone for a little while before moving further down. He started to kiss his groin while still working him with his hand looking up at Goten with his piercing blue eyes.

Goten held his breath as he watched Trunks take him inside his mouth. Letting out a shaken exhale, Goten kept his eyes contact with Trunks as he watched his dick disappearing in and out of Trunks mouth. As his climax was coming he leaned his head back and let out a muffled moan and he came into his own hands, spilling over his stomach.

He sat still, riding the doziness of his climax out. Fantasizing about Trunks now, in this situation, felt wrong to him. He sighed at the whole situation while cleaning himself up, closing his pants and washing his hands. He looked himself in the mirror and realized how red and poofy his entire face was. He splashed some water on his face and went back into the living room.

Sitting down by the table, he tried to concentrate on his homework once again. The subject was one of his favorites - health and care of animals. Growing up with a lot of different kinds of animals around him, he already knew a lot. Like what kind of food that all dragon types loved and what was best for them to eat to maintain a natural glow to their skin. Or how most bird types preferred to make a nest inside a cave or in a corner to protect themselves and their eggs against predators.

His eyes glided over the bedroom door again. Wondering if Trunks was still asleep.

Forcing his eyes back to the book he started reading up on food of house pets, such as cats and dogs. He loved both cats and dogs equally, even though it did seem like everybody wanted him to choose between the two.

He knew Trunks didn't like dogs very much but he liked cats. They had often played with old Mr. Brief's cat when they were kids. Poor animal.

He caught himself looking at the door again. He suddenly realized how much alike to a dog he was right now. Glaring at the door, waiting for his master to return home.

He shook his head and got up from his chair. Thinking himself like a dog and Trunks like a master was not him being productive. Not on his homework at least.
He went into the kitchen area and opened the fridge. It was dinner time soon and he was starting to get hungry. Earlier that day he had gone to the market to buy some ingredients, filling up the almost empty fridge with greens, meat, drinks and a few snacks. He refused to order takeout while staying here like they usually did when they hung out and having the entire kitchen to himself made him sort of excited.

He pulled out the ingredients that he needed and went to his bag to find his phone and a set of earplugs.

He ignored the messengers from his study group and observed the small earplugs in his hand. It had been a birthday gift from Trunks a few years back, before wireless earplugs were even a thing. The design was clean and had the Capsule Corp logo engraved in them. A few days after he had been given the earplugs, he noticed that Trunks had made an identical pair to himself. The only difference was the CC logo. While Goten's was engraved with an orange logo, Trunks' was engraved with a purple.

Goten had insisted that they should switch their right ear plugs so that they would have a color each making some sort of a friendship symbol. After some adjustment to the electronic, Trunks had told him that he had to be the weirdest person he knew. Goten had just laughed it off, happy that Trunks went along. Today Goten realized that even back then he was unaware of the feelings he had for his best friend.

He plugged in both and started a playlist on his phone. When he had found the perfect playlist and the perfect volume he placed the phone on the kitchen island and turned his back to it, starting to prepare dinner.

Listening to music rarely meant listening to the lyrics. He could sing along to most of the songs on his playlist, but he never really thought too much about it. The beat on the other hand was often the whole reason why he would save the song. He loved upbeat songs, with happy tunes and a good beat. It would always lift his spirit.

He couldn't help but wiggle his shoulder to the music while he started to cut the vegetables and occasionally bobbing his head from side to side while mimicking the lyrics.
He placed a pan on the stove and turned the heat to medium. The stove was a lot better than the ones he used at home and the pan got warm almost right away. He placed the meat on the pan, which instantly shot a wave of smell into his nostrils, making him even more hungry. He then seasoned the meat and continued to cut the vegetables.

The bass and the music keeps playing loudly in his ears, cancelling out the sizzling of the meat on the pan.

The rhythm and beat had lifted his mood and he couldn't help but shake his entire body to the music. He knew he wasn't good at dancing, but when he was alone, he didn't care. The tunes made it impossible for him to stand still.

His music suddenly stopped. Annoyed with the sudden abruption he turned around to grab his phone. He froze by the sight of Trunks standing with the phone in his hand, eyes on fire.

Chapter Text

Trunks didn't know what the time was when he woke up, but his headache was almost gone and his energy seemed to have returned to his body.

Without opening his eyes he reached under the pillow beside him to find his tablet.
He sat up in his bed, leaning against the bedframe and turned on the tablet while grinding his eyes.
The light from the screen helped him wake up much easier and he inserted his password on the touchscreen. At first he didn't think too much about it. Normally his tablet could recognize his face even when he was looking like a mess, but when the password was rejected as well he got worried.

He tried the password a few extra times before the tablet screen went black.
For a moment he panicked. This tablet had access to the entire Capsule Corp systems and he was scared something had happened while he was asleep.
A video popped up and recognized the woman in the video.

"Tsk mom, what the hell?" He exhaled.

"Hi honey, it's your beautiful mom! I know you are not going to like this but I have grounded you from work for the rest of the week. The passwords will be back as usual on Monday, but until then I want you to go out and enjoy life a little. Hang out with Goten, go clubbing, get laid - you know, as a normal guy your age would do. I love you, bye"

The video ended and the screen remains black. He took an extra breath and exhaled for as long as his lungs would allow him to. It annoyed him that his mom was stepping in like that, treating him like he was a kid again.
He was capable of taking care of himself! It's not like she was any better.

A sound in the kitchen took his attention. It was without a doubt the sound of something sizzling on the stove. Listening for a bit, he heard a sound he recognized as Goten's humming.

"For fuck sake" He said angry and stepped out of bed to enter the living room.
"I told you to leave," He yelled when he saw Goten standing in the kitchen area with his back to Trunks.

"Hey, jackass" he yelled again, when Goten didn't react to him at first.

He marched to the kitchen island and grabbed the first thing he could find and was about to throw it at the man who clearly was ignoring him.
The light of a screen stopped him and he realized he had Goten's phone in his hand. Trunks recognized the picture on the display as one of Goten's favorite bands, which made him realize he wasn't being ignored - he wasn't even being heard.
Even more angry than before he pressed the pause button and watched as Goten turned around and suddenly froze as he saw Trunks.

".. ehm.. goodmorning?"

Goten took his earplugs out and Trunks recognized them as a present he had given him years ago. He remembered because he still cherished his own, making them a pair to Goten's.

"I'm making us dinner," Goten said in a low voice, still almost paralyzed on the spot.

Like a deer looking at headlights, he couldn't look away from Trunks' blue eyes. He gulped.
Being the son of Vegeta, Trunks certainly lived up to the death glare, and just like his dad, Trunks' aura was hanging heavy in the room.

"I know you told me to leave, but I promised your mom I would stay" Goten argued, starting to panic by the icy glare Trunks gave him.

Trunks' arm was crossed and rested on his chest. He was breathing calmly but heavy, and even if Goten was taller than Trunks, at the moment Trunks seemed like he was towering over him.

"Look I know I fudged up. I know I hurt you and I don't deserve your forgiveness but I hope you'll give me a chance to make it better" Goten continued

Trunks' eyes narrowed but he remained silent.
Goten's heart was racing like never before and his entire body was tense, telling him to run as fast as he could. But he stayed. This might be his only chance to fix this, and running away once again didn’t seem like the best way to do it.

"Please say something," Goten whispered, almost desperate. "Please"

Trunks lifted his chin slightly up, making him seem even taller than before. His eyes were piercing and filled with anger but he remained silent.

"Common man, I'm trying here! The least you could do is to answer me!" Goten yelled "I'm not asking you to forgive me right here and now but I refuse to let us split without at least trying to make this right"

The room went silent again, Trunks refusing to answer. His dad would often punish him with a silent treatment and a death glare, and even if he knew exactly how infuriating it was to be on the receiving end, this was how he chose to handle this situation and he was not changing his mind.

"You are such an asshole" Goten finally said "Yeah you heard me! YOU are the asshole right now! You have been getting us both into so much trouble ever since I can remember! It's always your ideas and always on your terms! I always forgave you, no matter how harsh my punishment was compared to yours! I slip this one time and you refuse to even talk to me."

Trunks' eyes hardened and his fist was clenching, making his knuckles white.

“Talk to me, asshole” Goten spat, anger rising “Use your vo-”

The sudden change of focus and expression of Trunks' face stopped Goten.

Following Trunks' eyes, Goten turned around and saw a huge flame coming from the stove behind him. In the heat of the argument, he had forgotten about the meat on the frying pan.

In a reflex, Goten reached out to throw the pan into the sink and turned on the water, to let it drown the flames.

As Goten turned around to check on Trunks, he felt Trunks' strong hand grab his wrist and pulled his hand under cold running water in the sink of the kitchen island. Goten felt a sudden jolt of pain after getting burned on his hand by gripping on the heated handle of the frying pan.

Trunks went to the freezer where he pulled out a cooling pad. He returned to Goten and gave it to him, still without saying a word.

Goten nodded as a thank you, and placed the cooling pad on his burned palm.

They stood there in silence for a while. Trunks hadn’t moved from Goten’s side.
He gently took Goten’s hand and checked on the burn, to make sure no medical attention was needed.

Goten’s palm was red, both from the burn and from the cold. But Trunks couldn’t help but feel a small relief as the burn would heal itself in time.

"... Do you hate me?" Goten finally asked, holding his breath as Trunks looked up and caught his eyes.

They were staring into each other's eyes for a while before Trunks looked down and sighed.

"If I hated you, this would have been a lot easier. I'm just…. Hurt"

Goten nodded and didn't remove his hand. Trunks held on to his hand, seeming to be deep in thoughts.

"I'm sorry I hurt you" Goten said after a while, his tone was small and almost hoist, like he was scared that Trunks would break by the sound of his voice.
"I wish I could undo it"

"We can go back to being friends again. I just need some time, I hope you understa-"

"I didn't mean to undo what we did"

"Goten, please don't"

They stood in silence again for a while. Goten's hand still resting in Trunks'. The air felt heavy and both of them looked down not entirely sure what to do next.

"I mean it tho" Goten said bravely and looked up. "I've been thinking about it a lot and I just don't see my life without you. I know I hurt you and I understand you need time to trust me again. But I have decided that I'm going for you."

“And your mom?”

The silence broke again. Goten had already thought of a plan, but somehow as he was about to say it out loud, it seemed so ridiculous.

“I’m not ready to tell her yet. I need time to figure out how to do it. Meanwhile I was kinda hoping we could…”

“Keep it a secret?”

“Yeah”

Trunks nodded but didn’t say anything for a while. He knew if they would ever become a couple he would have to have a conversation with his own parents at some point, and not a pleasant one either. He knew his mom would eventually accept it, but his dad was another story. He wasn’t even sure how the older sayin would react to this. He had heard very little about the traditions surrounding the royal family, but one thing was for sure: All lower classes were beneath them…. according to his dad.

"I donno Goten. Are you even sure what you are saying? We've been friends since we were kids. Being in a romantic relationship is not the same."

"I know"

"I'm going to be working a lot and I can't promise I can be there 100%"

"I know"

"If we end up in a bad break up and earth is getting threatened again, we would have to put out difference aside and work together as a team no matter what might had happened"

"I know"

"And you are still willing to try this?"

"Yes"

"You said that awfully fast"

Goten just nodded a single time, not letting go of Trunks eyes. After the many talks he had had with Videl and Gohan, he had realized just how much he wanted this. He loved having Trunks as a friend, a best friend, but he longed for more.

Being with Valese was something he never regretted. They had always had a good time together and she had shown him so many new things that he would never know about otherwise.
Like music and culture. They had watched a lot of chick flicks together since it was her favorite genre and he had always wondered how people could relate to that. He liked her, but not like they did in the movies.

After opening up to his own feelings about Trunks, he realized just how much he could relate now. How he was constantly thinking about Trunks - what he was doing, how he always felt like he was melting whenever Trunks smiled, but mostly how he would make any excuses to be as close to him when they were together. It just seemed like he could never get enough.

When they were young adults Trunks was the one who got all the attention from girls when they were out. The first one to ever kiss someone and the first one to lose his virginity.
Goten had noticed the jealousy, but didn't realize he was jealous of the girls and not Trunks.
Everything made sense to him now and being with Trunks as a partner made a whole lot of sense to him as well.

"I've made up my mind" he finally said.
"And you know when I have made up my mind about something, I'm 100% dedicated to that. That is of course if you will allow me. I'm not going to force or trick you, specially not after how this started, but I'm not giving up on you either"

"Okay." Trunks said after some time in silence "I would lie if I said I didn't want this. But I still need time. It's weird… I would trust you with my life in battle, but trusting that you won't run away when I kiss you…. I..."

Goten took Trunks' other hand and smiled at him softly.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, leaning in slowly.

The sound of a door opening made both of them jump back, looking at the direction of the main door.

Walking in, it was clear that checking on Trunks had been Bulma’s first priority after arriving at Capsule Corp., since she was still wearing her fancy outfit.
She wore her black suit, with a thigh skirt and heels that were matching her red blouse. Had it been any other day, she would have rushed to her bedroom and jumped straight into comfortable clothing before even saying hi to her family.

"Thank Kami, you are up" she said, walking towards Trunks. She laid her hand on his forehead before stroking his chin softly when she was sure he was not warm.
"You made me worried! I came back as fast as I could"

"It's okay mom, I'm fine! It's not the first time this has happened. You didn't need to rush home for this"

"Sush, don't tell me what to do! You have been overworking yourself and neglecting your health totally because you have been in too deep with the job. If you can't take better care of yourself I'll have to reconsider if you are in the right position!"

Trunks let out an annoyed grunt.
"You can't be serious"

"Try me!" Bulma replied harshly. "Sue me for being worried about you. It comes with being a mother. I want you to put down your work when everybody else is going home. No working on the weekends and I want you to get at least 8 hours of sleep every day"

Trunks opened his mouth to protest, but Bulma interrupted him.
"And last but not least I want you to eat like a normal saiyan again! Eating like a human is not normal"

Trunks turned to look at Goten, in hope to get some support, but Goten just nodded in agreement of what Bulma had said.

"Speaking off, what is that burned smell? I could smell it as soon as I entered the floor" Bulma asked, looking with question in her eyes as she caught a glimpse of the frying pan in the sink.

"Goten was cooking us something to eat, but I'm afraid I distracted him and it resulted in the food getting burned" Trunks replied, still annoyed by his mom's terms.

"I didn't know you could cook, Goten! I thought Chichi did all the cooking at your place"

"Nah I love to cook!" Goten said proudly "Mom taught me her biggest secrets but she just prefers that I do my homework rather than cooking"

"You should taste his food sometime, mom!" Trunks said with a glimpse of excitement in his eyes, "His cooking is amazing. I almost dare to say that he is better than Chichi. And just to clarify I only dare to say that when Chichi is not around"

Goten blushed slightly and scratched the back of his head while mumbling something about not being that good.

"You would have to prove that to me" Bulma laughed "I've tasted the food your dad made and I was not impressed. I'll leave you two to it, but I meant what I said earlier, Trunks"

Before Trunks could answer, Bulma had already turned around and left the room while struggling to take off her jacket.

The silence fell over the two men once again, both feeling awkward and not sure how to continue with the conversation.

When Trunks finally decided to speak, Goten had the same idea and they awkwardly overlapped each other's sentences.
Goten laughed softly and made a gesture for Trunks to speak first.

"I can't give you my reply yet" Trunks said and let out a deep sigh. "I want to, but again I need time to trust you"

"That's fair," Goten answers. "Why don't we just take a step back then?"

"What do you have in mind?" Trunks asked, tilting his head.

Goten rested his chin in his hand, looking around while thinking. Trunks has to hold back a smile, loving how Goten would look like a lost kid every time he was coming up with an idea.
Suddenly Goten's eyes changed and his lips turned into a wide smile.

"Give me your phone!" Goten demanded.

Trunks found his phone in his back pocket and placed it in Goten's palm. It felt weird once again to trust Goten completely and not question his idea, but at the same time his heart was beating and the fear of getting hurt again was still lingering in the back of his head.
Goten finished and gave Trunks his phone.

"There. You'll find out soon enough what I did." He laughed. "You wanna order some food and watch a stupid show like we use to?"

Trunks was considering his answer. Hanging out with Goten like nothing had happened seemed weird to him, almost like he was scared what might happen if he agreed. His thoughts started to drift to the lab and the project he left. He wanted to go back and start running more tests. There was still so much work to do and he wasn't sure how many days set back he had had, while he was sleeping.

"You are going back to the lab aren't you?" Goten asked, reading Trunks like an open book.

"...Yeah" Trunks admitted “I don’t think I’m ready for us to hang so casual yet”

“I don’t think I’m ready for that either, if I have to be honest.” Goten said, scratching the back of his head. “I’ll find a way for us to start over, okay! I will make this better”

Goten packed his bag, and they awkwardly said their goodbyes.

Trunks’ living room felt empty after Goten left. Annoyed with himself, he left to go back to his lab.
When Goten was around him, he felt nervous and restless, but as soon as Goten had left, he felt empty and alone. He hated that no matter what he did, his emotions weren’t satisfied. He felt like he was caught in some sort of a limbo, and going back to the lab seemed like the best kind of escape he could do right now.

As he entered the lab, the lights and computer turned on automatically like they always did, but this time, a big red text was written over the monitor:
“See you Monday”

After a few attempts to bypass the block his mom had made, he gave up and left the lab annoyed. What was he supposed to do now? He didn’t feel like going out, hanging out with Goten was out of the question and hooking up with someone wouldn’t feel right. He knew all he would think about was Goten.

He entered his living room again after a few rounds of roaming the halls. His thoughts fell back to the gravity room. Perhaps getting some workout wasn’t such a bad idea.
He changed to his sportswear, grabbed a bottle of water and his phone, before heading to his gravity room.

The room lit up as he turned the control panel on. He plugged his phone into the docking station and started his playlist.
This was the best thing about training alone - he loved having the music blasting.

After warming up, he grabbed a towel and some water. He was way out of shape and he was happy his dad didn’t witness how exhausted he was already.

A sound from his phone caught his attention. He unlocked his phone, still somewhat distracted by drinking the water and using the towel to remove the sweat running down his forehead.
He finally moved his eyes to the screen, and his eyes widened in surprise as he looked at the display of his phone.

“What the…?”

Chapter Text

Almost three weeks had gone by since Goten had left Capsule Corp. and the two of them hadn't seen each other since.

A lot had happened since then and concentrating on his job had become harder for Trunks. He was tapping on the table with his index finger while holding his head up with the palm of his hand. He was looking at the phone in front of him, once again lost in thoughts. The phone had been silent for a couple of hours, except a few emails ticking in, that had Trunks’ heart beat faster than he would ever admit to.

“What is taken so long?” Trunks exhaled annoyed, and turned on the screen again, to check if he had missed anything. The screen lit up with nothing new but another minute was added to the clock since he checked last time.

He forced his eyes back to the screen of his laptop, trying to read the email he had been trying to read a couple of times, but without realizing it, his eye went back to his phone again.
A knock on the door took his attention, and he exhaled annoyed when he saw Serenity standing in the doorway.

“I’m leaving now” She said sweetly, but with the indication that it was time to turn off his work as well - A strict order Bulma had given her, and she took that order annoyingly seriously.

“I just need to answer this email then I’m off as well,” Trunks said, looking back at his laptop that had now gone to sleep mode.

“You still haven’t heard anything I can see” She said to him, and smiled innocently as he looked up at her with an annoyed glare.
He sat back into his chair and took off his glasses to rub his face.

“Go home, Serenity” He almost growled at her.

“I’m sure she’ll reply soon! We ladies like to keep our interest waiting”

For some reason, she had been able to pick up on the change in Trunks quickly and had already pieced together that it had something to do with a love interest. She had an annoying habit of figuring these kinds of things out by only observing him.

“I know, and what is up with that? It is so rude” Trunks argued, looking at his phone again.

“We like to test the water and see if you are really looking forward to hearing back from us, or if we are just something to play with for a little while and then move on when something else grabs your attention.”

“Rude!” Trunks spat, and closed his laptop, annoyed.

“It could mean that she has been played too hard in the past and she has been too hurt by that to take any chances. You wouldn’t believe what we women sometimes have go through while dating men”

“I think I have a pretty good idea what that is like” Trunks mumbled and looked at his phone again.

He signed disappointed when nothing had happened and was about to place his phone back to the table when it vibrated.

He jumped up from his chair and opened the text he had received with his heart beating fast in his chest. He read the whole text multiple times, not noticing his lips turning into a huge grin.

“I have to go” He said distractedly and walked past Serenity, who closed the door behind him.

“I’ll see you tomorrow!” She called after him as he walked down the halls of Capsule Corp.

“Yeah you too,” He answered, clearly in his own thoughts. He kept reading the message in his head.

‘Yes!! I would love to! I’ll finish up and I’ll meet you there!’

He made it to his living area and started to roam the rooms restlessly, tryng to tidy up… just in case. He had barely been in there since Goten left and all the rooms were left spotless and nice. He went to the bathroom and took a quick shower before going to his bedroom and opening up his closets, searching for an outfit.

He looked in the mirror, wearing his suit pants with a brown belt and a white shirt. Too formal!
He changed into a pair of beige cargo pants and a black t-shirt. Too casual.

At last he ended with a pair of dark nice fitting jeans and a black t-shirt.

He checked his phone again but no new messages were displayed.
He started to feel nervous. He normally was pretty confident when it came to dating, but somehow it seemed like there was so much more at stake this time. He had never wished for more than just a loose relationship in the past, but this time it was different.
He reacted as soon as his phone buzzed from a new incoming text.

"I'm packing up now. I really need to stretch my legs. If you want, I can stop by your place and we can walk there together?"

"Sure" Trunks replied, not noticing the smile on his lips "See you in 15"

He started to gather his things, such as keys, wallet and his watch. He took a look in the mirror one last time.
Over the last weeks, he had started to take a lot more care of himself. He was starting to eat normally, he slept a lot better and worked less. As a result of this, the color of his skin has started to turn more healthy and not as ashy as it used to. His heavy bags under the eyes were still visible, but they had turned much more light gray color and not almost black as before.

He gave his cheeks a few claps of encouragement before turning and left to wait at the entrance of Capsule Corp.

He stepped into the lobby, too concentrated on his phone to realize that he was not the only person waiting there. He stopped as he was about to bump into a person in front of him. He looked up to apologize and was about to look down into his phone again when he realized who he almost walked into.

"Serenity?" He asked. "Why are you still here?"

Serenity froze by her name and looked back at him with a stiff smile. She had changed out of her office clothing and was wearing a pair of black and white striped high waist loose shorts, a white shirt and a jacket matching her shorts. Her hair was loose and she wore a black hat.

"Mr. Briefs. I didn't think you were still here" she said politely.

"I could say the same to you" He said, crossing his arms sending her a smirk "You look dressed up. Going out with someone?"

She looked away quickly and Trunks could have sworn that he saw an annoyed glare from her. Something he had never seen from her before.
"Perhaps" she replied.

He suddenly realized that she was waiting for someone herself and there was no way of knowing when that person would arrive. Serenity was the only one knowing Trunks was starting to see someone and he suddenly felt a slight panic.

He still did not like for her to know too much about his personal life, fearing it would make him seem vulnerable or weak. Definitely a trade he got from his dad.

He started to shift uncomfortably and was about to tell her that he would wait outside to prevent her from seeing his date, when he realized she had the same idea.

"You can wait in here," he said, trying to sound calm. "It's really warm outside and I think it'll be better if you stay in here where it's colder"

"It's fine! You should stay in here. I'll go outside. I need some warm... air." she said hesitantly.

They stopped and looked at each other, both suspicious of the motives from the other person.
Before Trunks could say another word the door opened.

A woman around Trunks' age stepped in. She was around the same height as his mom, but with a more curvy body type. She was wearing a yellow flower printed dress that was flowing beautifully with every step she took. Her legs were long and her thick and curly ginger hair was sparkling wealthy in the sunlight. Her face was covered in sun kissed freckles, and her big green eyes were shining with excitement. She was pretty. A lot prettier than Trunks was prepared for and he couldn't help but clear his throat.

"Hii! Ready for our date?" She called in a sweet tone.

Trunks was about to open his mouth but then stopped and realized that she was followed by another person.

Trunks throat dried out and his heart leapt from his chest.
"Hi Goten" Serenity called and looked up at Trunks to catch his reaction.

Trunks looked back at Serenity and they locked eyes for a long time. He wasn't quite sure how he felt about this. If he had known before, perhaps he would be better mentally prepared, but all he could do was to stare back at her.

Her eyes read worry, perhaps a little bit ashamed. Only when the woman talked, both of them snapped out of it.

"Is everything okay?" She asked in her sweet voice.

"Everything is good" Trunks said fast and gave her a smile, before catching Goten's eyes.

Goten's eyes were resting on Serenity. His glance was soft and friendly and like always with a glimpse of sunshine in them.

"Well, we have a reservation" Serenity managed to say awkwardly "See you tomorrow Mr. Briefs.

She took her date by the arm and rushed out of the lobby, both waving back to the couple that was left behind. Trunks couldn't help but look at the closed door, almost in shock.

"That was weird" He finally said out loud.

"Yeah. I didn't know she was into girls" Goten replied and sent Trunks a smile that almost felt like it was melting his knees.


-----


"I challenge you" was all the text read from Goten about three weeks ago.

Trunks blinked a few times before he snapped out of it. Really? He wanted them to fight it out? It had been a really long time since they had settled anything by a battle and a small thrill went through Trunks body.
"Accepted" he replied "When and where?"

He stretched his body, feeling more excited to get his training going. He wasn't about to lose this. His pride differently had a saying in this and a lingering anger towards the younger man was surfacing as well.

"Always in such a hurry" Goten replied "Good thing I know you this well. You didn't accept a fight challenge but something else"

Trunks blinked in disbelief a few times, trying to figure out if he was annoyed or mildly pissed, that he once again let Goten trick him. Right now he really wanted to hit him a few times. He was about to give a snarky reply, when he saw the three dots displaying on his screen, indicating that Goten was writing something. Giving Goten time to reply, he started to recognize a curiosity of what challenge Goten was suggesting.

“We have known each other for sooo long and I think that in order for us to start over, we need something new. You agree?”

Trunks let out an annoyed sound that he knew was like a sound his dad would make.

“I guess,” he replied.

“Stop being such a downer!”

"I agreed didn't I?!"

"I speak 'Trunks' fluently, you know! You wanted to throw me a punch and now you are disappointed and upset that I tricked you into something else"

“You don’t have to know me that well to know that I don’t like people tricking me! But I have accepted, so give me the damn challenge before I change my mind!!”

A small smirk spread on Trunks lips. That’ll show him!

"And cue to a smirk" Goten replied again to Trunks' annoyance.

"Get to your point already"

"Okay okay!! Every day for the next week, we are going to give each other a challenge! and it HAS to be something we haven’t done before!"

"And how will this help our… situation?"

"New experiences and new memories? Since it seems to go wrong when we meet in person, I thought this would be a good start? Just for now!"

Trunks thought about it for a minute. A part of him hated it. But he knew that Goten sometimes struggled with trying new things more than he did and still he was willing to give it a try.
"Okay I'm in! What is my challenge then?" He replied.

"Yesss! You will totally regret it at first but I promise it will be good in the end!"

"It better be!"

"You already accepted today's challenge so you have to do it! Your challenge is to sit outside and read the first 5 chapter of my favorite novel"

"Hell no I am not"

"You accepted! TWICE!!!!"

Tsk

"Okay… I'll only read 5 chapters! Will you shut up about that damn book if I do that?"

"No promises, but I will do my best"

After Trunks finished his workout he went back to his bathroom and took a shower.

As always he let the icy cold water hit his body before turning the heat on. He had always preferred icy cold showers over anything especially after training.
When he was a child, his dad would often shower with him after their training. At first Trunks hated it but Vegeta would often tell him stories about the Saiyans lifestyle, and it all started with how cold showers were considered the only way to shower. Nobody had time for the luxury of bath bombs and shower oils and what not the woman would try to implement.

Trunks would often stay and listen to the stories his dad would tell him and share it as the first thing when he and Goten had a playdate.


-----


"I know I promised you I wouldn't talk about it. But what did you think about the book?"
Goten asked in a low voice.

They had been walking for less than a minute and their attempt of small talk had been a bit weird between them. Like both of them were afraid to say something wrong.

"I expected it to be worse. I'll give you that!" Trunks replied and sent Goten a smile.

"Really?" Goten replied, eyes lighting up "Who is your favorite character?"

"I like the protagonist. Even though he is a bit of a jerk. But he does have an interesting character to him that I just can’t deny." Trunks replied. "I’m still wondering what is up with that cat though"

Goten stopped and looked at Trunks almost in shock.
"Wait… Have you read more than 5 chapters?"

Trunks looked up and felt his face slightly heated up "No" he lied and started to walk again.

Goten caught up to him with small excited jumps
"You did, though! You don't meet any cats until MUCH further into the story!"

"Yeah whatever. I was bored. My mom shut me out of all the systems so I had nothing better to do."

"You always find something to do if you are bored! I told you it was good!"

Their talk suddenly became much like it was before. Goten would excitedly rant about the book and Trunks would laugh and comment when he had the chance to do so. They were walking close, brushing their shoulders against each other and occasionally their pinkies would hook.

"Has your mom forgiven you yet?" Trunks asked with a sly smile when he started to feel like the conversation was slowly dying out.

"You are a real ass, you know that, right?"

"The challenge was for you NOT to be caught! It's not my fault that you are not quick enough"

Goten grunted annoyed and rubbed his forehead like he had a headache.
"How was she not supposed to find out that I poured sugar in her ice cream?"

"Well if she didn't catch you red handed, perhaps she would have thought that she had outdone herself!"

"Don't even remind me! I have never messed with my mom's recipes before and I will never ever do that again. I might as well have told her that I got kicked out of all the schools in the world. Sometimes when she gets reminded, she will burst out in her rant about discipline and disappointment! I seriously need to find my own place soon!"

They made it to a small café on one of the side streets of the main road. The café had opened recently and didn't have a lot of customers yet.
The inside had a lovely and cozy atmosphere, mixing wooden furniture with plant decor.

Trunks looked over the menu board above the counter and grunted.
"Common! You need to do this! Choose!" Goten said, clapped on his shoulder and leaned against him.

The closeness and weight of Goten felt nice and welcoming. As he took a deep breath to calm himself, he caught a hint of Goten's scent and could feel his body relax by the smell.

"Do I really have to?" Trunks grunted annoyed and looked over the menu in confusion.

"It's today's challenge! You need to try something else but plain coffee! Uuh cookie cream flavor sounds good!"

While Goten was suggesting almost every sweet coffee drink the menus could offer, Trunks zoned out a bit. He couldn't believe he had been such a nerve-wreck earlier today.

First thing in the morning for the past 3 weeks, they have been giving each other different challenges of new things the other person hadn't tried. Some of the challengers had been cute and innocent, like Goten having to learn how to braid his mom's hair. Some challenges could be seen as dangerous, as in Trunks having to kiss his dad on his forehead, telling him that he loved him. Other challengers had been downright stupid, like Goten having to implement the word "motor oil" during a presentation about animal anatomy.

They both had a lot of fun, challenging each other and getting into trouble just like they were kids.

Both Bulma and Chichi had given them a lesson, asking why they suddenly were getting themselves into so much trouble. Goten had called Trunks that evening and they had been laughing for hours, sharing their parents' words and cracking up about two grown up men who were still getting yelled at like they were kids.

This morning Trunks had received the challenge to go and try a sugary coffee drink. He did not like this challenge at all. He liked his coffee without anything added to it and sugar only seemed like it would ruin the bitter flavor that he had grown to love.

"Fine I accept! There is a new cafe nearby, I'll go there later. If you want, you can join me? I need someone make sure that I don't change my mind while ordering"

He reread the message multiple times, unsure if he should send it. They haven't seen each other for so long. But he felt ready. His heart was beating every time Gotens name was displayed in his phone, and the hours long phone calls they had had in between had been something Trunks loved more than anything.

He held his breath as he hit send and then he anxiously waited… and waited… and waited. Wrapped in his own mind, over analyzing everything, he had forgotten that Goten had a written test that day and his phone would be off.

"Hallooo earth to Trunks" Goten called, snapped Trunks out of his trail of thoughts. "What do you want to order?"

"I'll take a strong americano with a splash of vanilla,'' Trunks replied.

"Nope, I'm not letting you go that easily! He'll have a mocha cookie crumble latte with cream and everything. I'll take a hot triple chocolate with cream, thanks'' Goten said to the barista behind the counter.

The younger girl looked a bit unsure between the two men, not really sure if Goten was serious.
"Don't look at his sour face" Goten told her sweetly "I’m trying to show him the magic of fancy coffee"

The barista smiled politely as Trunks gave her an unsatisfied nod of confirmation.

When they got their drinks they sat down by the corner of the cafe. The more Trunks looked at his coffee, the more irritated he got. Where even to start with such a monstrosity? Goten had convinced the barista to get creative and now his coffee was covered in a tall mountain of cream with sprinkles and decorations.

Goten had already started to slurp his hot chocolate, enjoying the sweetness of the creme and chocolate combined.

"So where do you know the girl from?" Trunks asked, taking a sip of his coffee.
The sickening flavor of sugar filled his mouth and he couldn't help but make a face in disgust. This was not how he liked his coffee!

"Girl? Oh you mean Grace? We go to the same school! She's in my study group" Goten giggled. "She said she was going to see someone at Capsule Corp and I agreed to join her since I was going anyway. She said she wanted to meet you since some of the others think I made you up!"

Trunks nodded and a smirk was forming on his lips.
"So you have been talking about me?"

Goten looked up in surprise. Trunks could see his face and ears slowly turned more and more red. Goten finally looked away with a soft smile on his lips as he started to scratch the back of his head.

"Yeah I guess I have been talking about you from time to time" he mumbled embarrassed.

"So they know about..?"

"No, I've never told them." Goten replied. "But I have mentioned you a few times because we grew up together and sometimes even your work at Capsule Corp. A lot of them are interested in products that are helpful for animal workers. Our spoken test tomorrow is about inventing a tool to help animal workers… in theory"

"Why in theory? Why not just build it"

Goten sent him a look and Trunks quickly noted that not everybody had the tools and mind as he did… actually he was pretty sure his family was the only ones who did.

"All great inventions start with an idea like your own" he corrected and nervously took a sip of his sugary coffee.

"I still can't believe that Serenity is into girls and I didn’t know about it!" Trunks mumbled, a little embarrassed that he had been working with her for so long without knowing.

"I'm more surprised by how Grace described her. It sure didn't sound like her" Goten said, slurping his hot chocolate.

"What do you mean?"

"Well… She said that her date was rough around the edges, but as soon as you got to know her, she was a real softy. But her hot temper and no bull-shit policy often got in her way" Goten explained.

Trunks raised his eyebrows in disbelief. That did not sound like the Serenity he knew.
But on the other hand… He recollected just before, where he caught a glimpse of her irritated look. She had her way around words, and even if she usually was sweet about it, nobody questioned who was in charge. To be honest, Trunks had hired her because of the way that she carried herself. A strong vibe like that is very unusual for a person with an overly sweet personality such as Serenity… hmmm.. he wondered….

"Do you like your coffee?" Goten asked, interrupting Trunks' thoughts.

"What do you think?"

"I think you hate it, which doesn't make sense because I know you like sweets. I think you are expecting it to taste too much like your usual coffee. If you could imagine the drink more like a dessert than coffee then I think you would really enjoy it"

Trunks raised his eyebrows, catching Goten's eyes. His usual charming smile was plastered on his lips and the sun hit his eyes just perfectly. Gosh he was so cute even when he was annoying.

"Smart ass" Trunks chuckled and tried his coffee again.
He tried to expect a dessert-like flavor and not as his usual coffee. The first sip was the same, the sugar flavor felt like attacking his tongue. He tried again and this time the experience somehow felt different.. More pleasant.

“So what about my challenge?” Goten asked, and slipped the last drop of chocolate down. “When am I going to get that? Or are you bored already?”

Trunks chuckled. He had forgotten about the challenge he wanted to give Goten in the heat of asking him out. He suddenly wondered if Goten knew that this was a casual date.

“My challenge for you is to build a small non-function prototype of your test project”

Goten looked at Trunks, eyes wide open.
“Like… a real build?” He asked, looking nervous when Trunks nodded.

“I don’t think I can do that Trunks. I don’t even know where to start!”

“Relax, I’m going to help you!” Trunks chuckled “You have always said that you wanted to try and build something, but I have never seen you pick up a tool in the lab on your own free will. Here is your chance and your challenge!”

Goten looked into the empty cup for a while, clearly arguing with himself if he should take the challenge or not. They had agreed that they could in total pass 2 challengers, but none of them had used the option before.

“Okay” Goten said, looking up at Trunks in determination. “I accept! But you have to help me!”


—---


“IT WORKS!!!” Goten screamed in joy and started to make small jumps of excitement. “Look I got the lights to work!!”
He proudly stepped aside for Trunks to look at the small model.

The idea was a cage scanner for smaller house animals, such as cats and dogs. The scanner was attachable on different sizes of cages and was to be used as a pre-inspection before the vets even got to see the animal. This would help the vets find the course of problems a lot faster without stressing the animal by taking it out of it’s safe place.

Goten’s model was a miniature of his vision, and instead of real scanning mechanics, they had installed some LED light to indicate the function.

Trunks tested the model a few times, making sure that there were no loose connections in the wiring.
“Damn!” He laughed “Good job! You can be proud of yourself!”

“Hah says the guy that have been building rockets that can launch into space since he was 6”

“But ask me to feed the cat and I will have a full blown panic attack, fearing to poison the animal by accident.”

Goten chuckle, imagining Trunks panicking over what food to give the cat. Something that felt so natural to him. He reached for this pocked and looked at his phone for the first time since they got back from the cafe.

“Shit” Goten hissed “It’s almost 2 in the night!”

“Oh really?” Trunks looked at his own phone, surprised as well. Time always flies when he is in the lab.

“No you don’t understand” Goten whined, and started to pack his things “My test is tomorrow morning. I have at least a 20 min flight going home and another 25 min tomorrow morning back. I didn’t pack anything for lunch or pre prep my breakfast. Hngh I’m going to be so freaking tired”

“You know you can always just crash here. It’ll only take you 15 min to walk to your school and you’ll save the flight home tonight.”

Goten stopped and slowly looked at Trunks. Trunks had a slight tint on his cheeks and refused to look Goten in the eyes.

“Are you sure?” Goten asked, feeling his heart skipping a beat.

“Yeah, otherwise I wouldn’t have asked. I’ll make sure you have something to eat before leaving for the test and I’ll find something for your lunch. But you don’t have to if you are not comfortable with it”

“I.. I would love to. Thanks” Goten said shyly.

They packed Gotens model in a small and secure box and did a quick clean up, before heading to Trunks' space and got ready to go to bed.

While Goten was in the bathroom, finished up, Trunks got under his duvet. He took a deep breath to calm his own nerves. He knew that over the last 3 weeks both his own and Goten’s feelings had been growing. The hour long phone conversations they have had, had been filled with laughter and bantering, but at some point it has always led into deeper conversations.

"You know" Trunks had said in a low voice one night "I really care for you, Ten."

"I care for you too"

"Are you sure you understand what I am saying?"

"I know what you are saying, and I feel the same way"

Trunks had fallen asleep that night with a smile on his lips, chuckling from time to time as he reminded himself of their talk. So embarrassing and yet so freeing.


The lights in the bathroom turned off and Trunks could hear the sound of Goten walking toward the bedroom. He stopped in the doorway like he was debating if he was welcome inside or not. Trunks gave the space beside him a few pads, and without hesitating Goten welcomed the invitation and went to the bed.

He laid down in the bed right next to Trunks, making sure his side was turned in his direction and he was close to him. Trunks could almost feel Goten’s heat radiating from him and even though the room was almost completely dark, it was clear to him that Goten was looking right at him.

“Good night,” Goten said in a soft tone.

“G’night,” Trunks answered.

They laid there in silence for a little while, both staring at each other in the dark. Trunks' heart was beating so hard and fast, he feared Goten could hear it. Goten adjusted himself and moved just a tiny bit closer, letting the rustling sound of his pillow and duvet fill the room. Trunks felt like a teenager again. The anticipation, adrenaline and fear was both very exciting but also terrifying as he laid in the dark observing Goten so close to him. He knew if he leaned in to kiss him, Goten would let him, but somehow he was still frozen on the spot.
Goten adjusted himself again, moving just a tiny bit closer to him again.

Trunks stomach was filled with a bubbly feeling, almost like a thousand butterflies were trying to escape it. He moved a little closer to Goten himself, now feeling Goten’s nose against his own.

Both of their breaths were heavy and they could feel it on each other, keeping their eye contact almost fearing to let go.

“Trunks?” Goten asks in a low voice, making Trunks tighten up and hold his breath. “Can I kiss you?”

A warm feeling washed over Trunks, and he almost felt dizzy by the sensation. He wanted to lash himself at him and never let go. He wanted to yell “yes” over and over again, but all he could do was to signal a small nod.

Goten moved closer in, and Trunks closed his eyes as he felt Goten’s lips stopping so close to his own, that they only slightly touched him. Goten paused a few seconds, something that felt like forever, until he finally leaned in pressing his lips on Trunks’.

His kiss was soft and gentle and a shaking hand rested on Trunks cheek. He lingered for a bit before pulling back again, observing Trunks reaction before leaning in again for another kiss.

The heat started to rise and the sound of their wet lips crashing together filled the room. Goten had moved on top of Trunks, kissing him desperately, while holding him close.

Trunks glided his fingers through Goten's hair, almost fearing to let him go. Kissing Goten felt amazing and exciting but also scary.

A sudden fear took over Trunks, as Goten's hand started to glide further down. Goten was rubbing against him and it was clear that he wanted to take this further.
"Can we… wait?" Trunks ask, feeling the disappointment himself. "I just… I think I need some time before we can.."

"Yeah of course," Goten said, removing his hand from Trunks' hips and gliding the back of it down Trunks' cheek. "We got all the time in the world, there is no rush"

Trunks removed the hand a bit annoyed and sat up, moving Goten away from him.

“Are you okay?” Goten asked nervously and sat up beside him.

“I’m a 25 year old man, with my dream guy basically melting in my hand and still my body is reacting like I’m a scared teenage girl, who is about to get her virginity taken. No I’m not okay” Trunks replied annoyed and looked back at Goten.

He took his hand and kissed it before getting up from the bed.
“I have forgiven you, Ten. I mean it” He said “But for some reason my mind and body are not agreeing on how to move forward. I’ll figure this out, okay! I promise!”

Goten took hold of Trunks’ wrist as Trunks was about to leave.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself! If I gotta be honest with you, as excited I am to take this further I might be a million times more nervous. I don’t mind taking it slow”

“You seemed eager just a moment ago” Trunks laughed nervously and sat down on the bed again.

“That’s because I thought you wanted it. I didn’t want to disappoint you again. Awch!”
Goten rubbed the back of his head, where Trunks had slapped him.

“Never do something you are not comfortable with! What kind of a person would I be if I couldn’t accept your boundaries!”

“You know that goes both ways, right?”

“Brat” Trunks laughed and wrapped his arms around Goten, Forcing them both to lie down into the bed.
Goten settled into Trunks arms resting his head against his chest. Trunks lovingly stroked the back of Goten and felt the younger man relaxing and humming happily under his touch.

“So.. What does this mean for us?” Goten asked after a few minutes. “Are we…?”

“Boyfriends?” Trunks shrugged “I guess if you want to.”

Goten looked up at Trunks face, catching his blue eyes that managed to shine so clearly even in the dark.

“I do want to,” Goten said with a nod. “I know you are busy with Capsule Corp and that you can’t be around all the time but I don’t mind. I really think we can make this work”

Trunks didn’t move for some time, then a soft smile spread on his lips and he kissed Goten’s forehead before resting his head back into the pillow. They laid in silence again, just listening to each other breathing and trying to relax their beating hearts.

They both felt a mix of relief but also excitement. Goten felt mostly lucky. He had almost messed this up so bad that there was no turning back and he was about to lose Trunks not just as a potential partner, but also as a friend. But now they were resting like this, agreeing to be each other's person.

“What are you thinking about?” Goten asked, when he realized that Trunks' heartbeat didn’t slow down.

Trunks let out a low growl of frustration.
“I’m thinking about the best way to break this to our parents”

Suddenly Goten could feel his own heartbeat start to rise as well. He had forgotten all about that.

Chapter Text

The buzzing from his alarm woke Goten up. He snoozed it and turned in the bed, grunting annoyed. Sleep had had a good and strong grip on him and he was not ready to let it go just yet.

Almost dozing off, the alarm started ringing again robbing him from the dream that was almost starting to form itself.

“Noooo” He whined in a hoist and low voice. “5 more minutes”

As he snoozed the alarm once again, he felt two strong arms wrapping around him from the back.
A smile slid over his lips and he tugged himself closer to the man behind him as he hummed satisfied.

"I could get used to waking up like this," he said with a drowsy tone and planted a small kiss on Trunks arm.
The heat from Trunks' body felt amazing and the weight of his arms around him made him feel safe and ready to return to his slumber.

Trunks leaned in to whisper 4 words in his ears, that send shiver down Gotens spine
"Don't get too comfortable"

"Nooooo" he complained loudly, knowing what would come next "Please have mercy!!!"

Before he managed to finish the sentence, Trunks sat up fast, while still holding Goten in his arms. He dragged their bodies backwards, trying to jump over the edge of the bed, while Goten desperately tried to grab everything he could, in an attempt to hug himself to the bed.

"Please!!" Goten cried, his voice cracking "2 more minutes"

"Get up, you baby! You need to eat something before your test" Trunks laughed.

With a loud bump, both men fell out of the bed, laying on top of each other. Trunks' warm laughter filled the room. At first Goten couldn't find any fun in being dragged out of bed in such a violent way, but with the sounds coming from Trunks mouth Goten couldn't help but start to giggle as well and soon both of them were laughing loudly.

"Jerk" Goten finally managed to say, and got up from the floor.
He helped Trunks up and both were heading to the living room not letting go of each other's hand.

"Go and get ready, I'll fix something for us" Trunks said and went to the kitchen area.

Goten entered the bathroom and started to brush his teeth. He stared back at his reflection in the mirror and couldn't help but smile.
He got a boyfriend. And none other than Trunks. He still couldn't believe it. He reminded himself of their kisses yesterday and had to shake his head to keep some of the overwhelming feelings that were running through his body in check. He wanted to tell the entire world, showing Trunks off to everybody he knew.
He knew it was a silly thought but at this moment he had a hard time containing his joy and wanted everyone to know how lucky he was.

He started to get dressed. He had not expected to spend the night out and was wearing the same outfit he did the day before.

He gave one last glance in the mirror and cringed a little. Some of the oil and dirt from yesterday's model building were showing on his shirt around his chest, stomach and on the end of his sleeves. He tried to brush it off, but it was clear that the stains were there to stay until the next wash.

He stepped out of the bathroom and soon his nose was filled with the amazing smell of bacon, eggs, fried vegetables and coffee. He hungry patted his stomach and licked his lips.

Trunks lifted his eyebrows as Goten turned the corner.

"Your shirt is dirty" Trunks commented "You can borrow something from my closet. Go ahead and grab something"

"Thanks" Goten replied and hurried into the bedroom.

The temptation to lay back down in the bed was manifesting, but opened Trunks' closet turning his back to the warm comfort of Trunks' fort of pillows. Most of Trunks' closet was filled with formal wear, something Goten didn't feel comfortable wearing.

His eyes drifted to a shelf inside the closet, where T-shirts and more casual wear was sorted nicely.

He found a long sleeved white shirt that he had seen Trunks wear a couple of times. He looked in the mirror and tilted his head. Trunks had made this shirt look elegant and stylish and for some reason the shirt looked more casual than anything on Goten. Come to think of it, everything Trunks was wearing always looked classy and effortless, even when he looked sick from the pressure of work. Perhaps it was due to his slimmer build it was easier for him to hide his muscles under the fabrics.

Goten turned a few times while looking in the mirror, before he settled on the look.

He joined Trunks at the table and could hardly believe how fast Trunks had managed to make breakfast for them.
"So when is your test?" Trunks asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

"In about one hour. I have another written test right after, so my phone will be off most of the day"

Trunks nodded and observed Goten. Normally he hated tests and always seemed nervous and uncomfortable. But today he seemed calm and like it didn't bother him at all.

"Are you ready for both tests?" Trunks asked, making sure to catch any signs of him being nervous.

"Jup! Gohan helped me study for both of them. I get why Gohan is popular at the university. He's a great teacher with more patience than I could ever understand. It didn't take him very long to understand my studies. After he explained everything to me I just somehow understood everything and now I know exactly how I want to present it."

Trunks just nodded, not being surprised by Gohan's mentor skills.

"Will you be packed today at work?" Goten asked, shoveling food in.

"Yeah I have a lot of meetings and contracts to look through. Rather boring. But tomorrow I can go back to the lab again so I just need this day to be over with" Trunks said with a sigh.

He was looking tired just from the thought of work, and he felt somehow sorry for him. He wished Trunks one day could leave the plastered office and just stay in the lab where he was mostly happy.

"There is a lunch box for you in the fridge. Don't forget to pack it before you leave" Trunks said, taking the last sip of his coffee.

"How did you manage to fix breakfast AND my lunch in such a short time?" Goten asked curiously.

Trunks looked back at Goten and then looked away, almost embarrassed.
"I had some help." He admitted "I asked my parents kitchen staff to stop by with a lunch box"

"Awch! Had I never asked, I would have gone by all day thinking you made that for me!" Goten grinned, enjoying seeing Trunks all flustered and embarrassed. "I would have been so impressed I might have come back for more"

"This is payback from getting you out of bed, isn't it?"

"Jup" Goten replied with a satisfied grin.

He finished his plate and patted his full stomach happily. This was going to be a good day, he could feel it! Helping Trunks with the dishes, they spoke softly about their day to come and Goten promised he would return to Capsule Corp after his day at the school was over.

He packed his bag, including the lunch box, and started to get dressed and ready to leave.
"See you later" He greeted Trunks, reaching out to hold his hand.

His heart started to race as his boyfriend leaned in to place a soft kiss on his lips. He had wanted to kiss him all morning, but somehow felt too shy to ask.
"More please" he begged sweetly, making Trunks chuckle warmly.

Trunks leaned in again, kissing Goten a little harder this time.
One kiss turned to two kisses, and soon Goten lost the grip of his school bag, letting it drop heavily to the ground. He wrapped his arms tight around Trunks, and their kissing only broke, for them to get air.

Goten felt Trunks push him backwards until he was pinned against the door. Breaking their kiss, Trunks moved down to Goten's neck, kissing him hungry and longingly.

Soft moans escaped Gotens lips, and he started to feel lightheaded, like he was drowning in Trunks' touches and closeness.

This felt so good…. So… good…
Realizing where this was headed, Goten opened his eyes wide, softly pushing Trunks away.

"Trunks stop" he said, not sure if he even meant that "I won't be able to control myself if we keep up and I'll be late for my test"

Trunks tensed up and let go of Goten.
"Sorry" He chuckled embarrassed "I got carried away"

"No harm done! I liked it" Goten placed a kiss on his forehead before picking up his bag and opened the door "See you later, handsome"

He didn't hear Trunks reply, he didn't need to. He knew the man would be bright red in the face and snarl something under his breath, like not to call him something so embarrassing. Goten couldn't help but smile and already loved to tease him like that.


----


When he arrived at his school he went straight to his locker and unloaded some of the books he wouldn't be needing for the next coming days. He looked over his notes while walking down the hallways finding his way to the classroom where he would present his assignment and model.

"Morning" he heard a guy call, removing his attention from his notes.

"Hey, morning Alex! Are you ready for today?" He replied happily to the shorter and slim guy in front of him.

"Why are you so jolly?" The guy asked.

"What do you mean? I'm always like this"

"Nuh uh! You are not always THIS jolly! Not in the mornings and especially not on a test day" The guy said and narrowed his eyes "Did you get laid?"

"Why is that always your first guess?" Goten laughed nervously.

"Call it a sixth sense. I can tell when someone had a good time last night!"

"Well your senses are off then!" Goten laughed "I didn't get laid"

"You are a liar, Son Goten! Good morning Grace!" Alex called and waved at Grace who was making her way towards them.

As always she was looking like a ray of sunshine with her glistening hair and airy sundress with a light denim jacket to cover her arms. It was no wonder why she had caught Serenity's attention - the girl was downright gorgeous.

"Morning you two" she greeted them sweetly. "Ready for today's tests?"

"Son is happier than usual! Something is up with him" Alex teased, laughing when Goten wrapped an arm around his neck and started to ruffle his hair.

"Huh, could have fooled me. He seemed as happy and goofy as usual" Grace laughed softly at the two men.

"I swear something is up" Alex assured her as he was let go.

"Shit I forgot my notes in my locker" Alex said in a panic and took off in a hurry. "Save a seat for me!!"

Left behind was Goten, Grace and a few other students from their class. The atmosphere was heavy, as everybody was nervous presenting their assignments.

"New shirt?" Grace asked Goten, reaching to feel the fabric. "I don't remember seeing you wearing something like this before"

Goten scratched the back of his head looking away with a smile. He could feel his face getting warm. Grace was the only one beside Gohan that knew a bit of what was going on between him and Trunks.

"I borrowed it," Goten admitted shyly.

"What a coincidence, I borrowed these socks as well this morning" she replied, turning her foot for Goten to see a pair of white socks hiding behind her brown leather shoes. The rim was yellow like her summer dress and on the ankle a small flower was embroidered.

He met her eyes, both grinning, knowing what they had indicated.

The door to the class door swung open, letting the students in. Goten felt his heart leap out of his chest and nervosity started to run down his body, like water in a shower. Perhaps he had been a bit too cocky this morning when Trunks asked if he was ready.

He found a seat next to Grace and placed his bag on the seat to the other side of him, while waiting on Alex to return.

The short guy managed to squeeze in just a second before the door closed, giving the cold glared professor an apologetic smile. He found his seat next to Goten and breathed heavily after running.

While the other students were presenting their assignment, Goten found it hard to sit still. Every time a student was about to finish, he wanted to hide behind his chair, fearing his name would be called up next.

"So" Alex whispered to Goten "What's her name?"

Goten looked confused at him and turned his head to Grace, wondering why Alex asked him about her name.

"No not her, you dummy. Who is the girl you are seeing?" He whispered, rolling his eyes.

"There is no girl" Goten whispered back… technically he wasn't lying.

"Are you back with Val?" Alex asked, looking displeased.

"What? No!"

"Then who is she?"

"If you two are done whispering, I would like to see Grace present and Alex you should prepare yourself after her" Their professor called impatiently.
Both went silent and mumbled an apology.

Grace did well on her presentation, making the whole class stare dreamingly by her sweet and bobbly energy. If she had been nervous, she hid it well. Alex did as he always did - winging it and succeeded. Just like Grace, he didn’t seem to be nervous or worried and Goten could only admire that.

While another student was presenting their assignment, Goten nervously scratched his nose with the back of his hand, and a wisp of Trunks scent from his sleeve made Goten pause. He rested his head on his palm, discreetly made sure that the sleeve was close enough to his nose for him to smell it.

Trunks' scent was warm and reminded him of the lab they had spent time in the night before. He felt his heart rhythm slow down and his body started to relax, making it possible for him to sit still, without his body feeling itchy. He was still nervous and on edge, but the reminder of Trunks made the waiting time more tolerable.

By the sound of his name, Goten stood up in a rush and stumbled down in front of the whole class. He prepared his presentation and looked up, noticing that all eyes were glued on him.
He felt dizzy and nauseous. Being the center of attention was never a problem to him and he would be happy to take part in another fighting tournament again, whether it was like the small on earth or with the risk of eliminating the entire universe, like his dad and Gohan once did. But speaking in front of others… He would take a hit to the face by Wish any day compared to this.

He started his presentation, trying to focus on speaking clearly and confidently. He had seen Trunks present new technology for Capsule Corp multiple times on national tv and even if he didn't understand all the technical terms, he would always be mesmerized by Trunks' elegance and professionalism. He tried his best to mimic Trunks' way of presenting and hoped that everybody fell for his act.

He showed the model he had made, making more of his classmates wake up from their slumber in their chairs and look at the model in interest. He even had a few questions that were both very easy and fun to answer. His professor, who was usually very monotone and hard to impress, took the model and studied it closer, testing the device before setting it back on the table.


---


"Phew, that was nerve wracking!! Man I'm hungry" Goten spitted out, as he sat by the table at the cafeteria with some of his classmates.
He let his bag fall to the ground after fetching his lunch box and was somewhat excited to see what it contained.

"That model was impressive!" One of the girls said "Who did you pay to make that for you?"

"No one! I made it!" Goten replied proudly "I had some help but I did a lot of the work myself"

"Don't tell me… That Trunks guy again, right?" Alex asked.

Goten nodded, starting to bite into one of the sandwiches from his lunch box. As always the kitchen staff at Capsule Corp knew what they were doing. The food tasted amazing and Goten completely forgot about the others around the table, stuffing his mouth full enjoying all the flavors dancing on his tongue. Heaven!!

"Hallooooo" a voice called and Goten looked up, surprised.

"Sowwy" He with his mouth still filled "I dhidn't hwear yhou!"

"Charming" Alex replied, rolling his eyes "Do you wanna join us for a beer after the test?"

Goten swallowed his food and drained his mouth with a sip of cold water.
He knew Alex would bug him later if he said no, but he had promised Trunks to return to Capsule Corp after school and he couldn't get the elder man out of his head. He wanted to see him as soon as possible!

"Sorry I already have plans after class" Goten apologized and packed the empty food containers. "Maybe next time!"

The table started to giggle and most of them nodded in understanding. Before Goten could ask what they giggled about, his alarm went off, reminding him to get ready for the written test.

With the rest of his classmates, they went to their lockers and back to the classroom where the written test would be held. Goten felt a lot better with this test and he was almost getting excited to see how his and Gohan's study session had paid off.

An hour into the test, Goten's legs started to itch again. Annoyed, he rearranged himself on the chair, getting an impatient glare from the professor. It wasn't that he was nervous, he felt pretty confident on his replies so far, but sitting still with nothing going on around him but scribbled sounds made him feel restless.

He suddenly remembered how Trunks' scent had helped him relax earlier and he once again placed his palm on his chin, letting the sleeve close to his nose without drawing attention.

At first all he could smell was the lunch from his hand. Annoyed, he adjusted his palm and soon his nose recognized Trunks again.

He soon found himself relaxing more, feeling the restlessness in his legs slowly fade away. He continued on his test, at first he found it easier to concentrate, but soon his thoughts turned to something else.

He got reminded of the heated kisses they had shared this morning. How Trunks had pinned him to the door. He had enjoyed every second of feeling the other man leaning against him, possessively kissing along his neck.

He shook his head and continued the questions on the paper in front of him. He needed to do good on this test.
Satisfied with his answer he continued on to the next, pleased to see that the question still was still fairly easy. Two more to go and he would proofread and check for mistakes.

What if they had had the time this morning? How far would it have taken them? Would Trunks' hands have traveled under his shirt, slowly massaging over his nipples? Maybe he would have lifted his shirt and moved his head to his chest, licking and biting around the little nub.

Trunk’s hand would travel further down, slowly starting to palm him through his pants, making a small whine escape Gotens lips. He would have leaned into his palm, running his own fingers though the purple hair, massaging his scalp to encourage him to continue. Encouraging him not to stop… Never stop..

“No wait, stop!” Goten thought to himself, snapping out of his fantasy. This was getting dangerous! He had to concentrate on the test.

He finished answering the question, not fully satisfied with his answer, but his mind was starting to roam, making it harder for him to concentrate on the important stuff.
Such as school and the test. Not Trunks sitting in front of him, taking him inside his mouth, whirling his tongue around Gotens head and looking up at him with hunger in his eyes.

Goten took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He started to realize that his pants were getting tight. This was not happening! He finally had a change to make a perfect score on a test and all he could think about was sex.

He scripled down the last reply almost in a panic as his head constantly tried to drag him back into his fantasy. He needed to get out of there. Fast!

Looking over his answer with a haste, Goten packed his belongings and got up from his chair.

Placing his bag over his front, he stumbled towards the professor's desk to leave his finished written test. He received some envy glares along the way from his classmates who were still struggling to finish.

He exited the classroom fast and went to the men's room, swearing between his teeth. He closed and locked the door to one of the stalls before removing the bag that was covering him. It was obvious that he was hard and he could only hope that nobody had noticed.

Taking deep breath he tried to calm himself down, hoping his growing groin would stop getting out of control.

Annoyed, he sat down and fumbled with his belt trying to gain access to himself.

He opened his pants and reached down, grabbing around his half hard staff. He pulled himself out and slowly started to stroke after licking his palm to make it glide better..

His thoughts were on fire, changing fast, like he was in some sort of dream state.

First he imagined Trunks giving him head, taking him all in at first and bobbing his head in the same rhythm as his hand was stroking.

His breath started to tightened and he had to control himself, not letting a sound slip his mouth.

His fantasy changed to him sucking off Trunks, looking up at his lewd facial expression. His face was red, his mouth was open and eyes closed shut. The thought of having his boyfriend twitch with him between his legs shot a wave through Goten, already sending him close to the edge.

Shit… Trunks was already driving him mad and he was just fantasizing about him.

With shaking hands, he pulled his shirt up, biting it hard not to make any sounds. A wisp of Trunks' scent reached Goten's nose again.

A mass of images and memories flashed through Goten's mind. His smile, laughter and his mesmerizing blue eyes. His hair, his lips and his hands around Goten's cock and like a sudden wave rushed over him, Goten came drowning his grunt in Trunks shirt.

He sat still for a while, riding his orgasm out. Disappointed, he looked at his mess on the floor in front of him and started to clean up. Ever since that night in his parents house, nothing he did seemed to be as good as when Trunks had done it to him. Sure he could come and it was nice, but it wasn't the same and it wasn't as good.

He closed his pants and left the stall to wash his hands. He looked in the mirror and signed. He was nervous about the whole sex part. He was scared he would do something wrong or that Trunks would be bored with him. Would it hurt to have him inside? And how good would his mouth feel?

Shaking his head, Goten got rid of his trails of thoughts. Better not start another fantasy. He adjusted his shirt, took his bag and left the bathroom.

He met Grace in the hallway, collecting her books from her locker.
"You finished fast this time," she chuckled.

Turning bright red, Goten let out a few frustrating and embarrassed sounds escaping his mouth.

"That is so embarrassing I hoped nobody noticed!! I couldn't help it! It's his shirt and I just smelled it and I didn't know how to stop it but then it continued and I had to get out of there and-"

"Goten" Grace interrupted him softly, placing a gentle hand on his arm, sending him a worried look.
"I meant on the test. What are you rambling about? Are you okay?"

Feeling the blood leave his face and his hands instantly felt warm and sweaty. He had just revealed what his toilet break had been about. He let out an embarrassed grunt and hid his face.

"You are such a weird guy sometimes, Goten." Grace softly giggled. "Are you going to Capsule Corp today?"

He nodded, removing his hands from his face. Thank Kami she was willing to change the subject. "I'm heading there now. Are you going as well?"

"Not today. I'll meet her at her apartment when her boss let's her off. She's not allowed to leave before he stops working and he's a bit of a workaholic you see" she said teasingly in her sweet tone.

Goten chuckles.
"Yeah so I've heard. If she is lucky, he got an appointment right after work and he would have to rush out of the door."

"I sure hope so," Grace giggled.
"I also hope Alex won't keep poking you for information. At some point you are going to have to lie to him or tell him the truth"

"Yeah I know. One day. But we need more time to figure this out ourselves before I'm ready to…"

"Hey Son, are you sure you don't want to join us?" Alex called, walking closer to them.

"I told you, I have plans" Goten mumbled, hoping he would let it go.

"I'm sure she won't mind you drinking one beer with us before you go see her" Alex pressed on.

"There is no she!" Goten answered, annoyed.

"Gosh Son, you are so stubborn! That’s so unlike you! Tell me then, if there is no she then where did the hickey come from?"

Goten froze, feeling the cold sweat running down his spine. This morning when Trunks had pinned him to the door… Did he…

In panic, he covered his neck with his hand, words unable to leave his mouth. It made sense now what Alex had been so obsessive and why his classmates had acted so weirdly during lunch.

"Other side" Alex grinned.

In a rush, Goten smacked his other hand around his neck.

"I didn't get laid!" He said in a high pitched tone, his face going red.
He had been denying anything was going on all day, jet he had a big mark plastered on his side of the neck to tell people otherwise. Alex differently knew something was up.

"I'm just a little hurt you won't share anything with us" Alex said with a smirk on his lips. It had probably taken everything in his power not to ask about it.

Grace sent Goten a surprised and apologetic look. She probably didn't see it since it had been on the other side of where she had been sitting all day.

"It's… we… I'm" Goten stuttered.

"Don't worry," Alex said, placing a hand on Goten's shoulder. "Your secret is safe with me… and everybody else who has seen it."

Goten let out a low sound of frustration. He really didn't need this.

"So why not just tell us? Is she famous since you can't? Married?"

"Famous-ish, yes" Goten replied, regretting it right away. He should just keep his mouth shut.
"But I can't say anything yet, okay! We are still trying to figure everything out but we need the piece to do so, okay?!"

Alex whistled impressed.
"A famous chick, huh? What is she famous for? Tv? Music? por-"

"Alex, I think Goten needs time to figure this out. When he is ready he will let us know!" Grace interrupted. It was rare that she said something so forward, and when she did, everybody usually listened.

Alex nodded and apologized. Goten promised to tell him more when they were ready and Alex had replied with a "You better" and a smile.

They left the building, splitting their ways. He suddenly felt the relief of the test and day being over. A new subject was just around the corner and he needed to prepare for that, but the next test wasn't until 3 month.

He made his way to Capsule Corp, walking inside his other home. It had always felt so weird how their house was also their working space and an office for a lot of other people. When they were staying in the living area of the building, everything seemed so calm and homely while the working floors were still buzzing with people all hours and every day.

He made it to the office department and waved at Serenity as he entered the lobby.
"You are back early," she said with a smile. "He's in a meeting and won't be off until a few hours."

"Oh" he said disappointed. He had hoped he could sneak in for a kiss. "I'll just hang out at his place then"

"I'll let him know when he returns" She replied and looked back into her computer screen.

He couldn't quite put a finger on it, but something seemed different about her. Not in a good or bad way, just differently. As if her personality or aura had changed.

We walked down the halls until he found Trunks' living area and went inside. He took off his shoes and placed his bag on the dinner table, where he unpacked his book and computer. He was about to sit down when started to eye the fridge. He always went for a snack at home. Surely Trunks wouldn't mind.

He opened the fridge and a huge grin spread on his lips.

A note attached to a covered plate had his attention.

Welcome back! I knew you would look in here eventually. I hope you didn't shit your pants during your tests today. Help yourself but don't overeat! I'll take you out tonight. My treat of course. -T

He read the note again as he took the plate and started to pick the bacon with his fingers. They had been out eating many times as friends and he wondered how different it would be today.

He sat by the dinner table and started to flip his books, while eating the leftovers from this morning.

He tried to concentrate on the context of the books but his mind kept drifting to fantasizing about their dinner. He hoped they would be alone, candles lit and soft music in the background.

He had always enjoyed a romantic night when he and Valese were dating, and it would often be him who encouraged it. Giving her flowers and chocolates before bringing her to her favorite restaurant, that was way too overpriced and would often pull his bank account into red numbers. He could only treat her like that once a year and he would spend the remaining year trying to save up for it.

They did have a lot of fun, him and Valese. He never regretted their time together and even if they weren't together anymore, she still held a very special place in his heart. He thought he had been in love with her, but the feelings were nothing like how he felt about Trunks.

He started to wonder if he should buy Trunks something for their date. Ugnh it was differently not like dating a girl. He was sure Trunks would raise an eyebrow if Goten treated him like that.

His phone started to ring in his pocket. He opened the phone and Gohan's face appeared on the screen.

"Hi!" Goten answered.

"How did it go?" Gohan replied, pushing his glasses back up his nose.

"Properly the best two tests I've ever done! Thanks for helping out!" Goten replied, still a bit lost in his own thoughts. Time was running out and if he needed to get something for Trunks, he needed to find something fast.

"That's great, Goten! I'm happy I could help." Gohan replied. "But then why the long face?"

Goten snapped out of his thoughts and his full attention was now on Gohan. Perhaps he had some ideas about what he should do!

"Trunks is taking me out for dinner tonight" he smirked "But I'm not sure if I should get him anything. I would bring Val flowers or chocolate but I don't think Trunks would want that."

Gohan's face stiffed, and Goten could help but feeling annoyed. Why was he suddenly acting so weird about it again?

"What a good FRIEND that Trunks is, huh?! Taking you out for dinner to celebrate a good job! Jup, that's a best friend right there!"

Goten lifted a brow, sending Gohan an unamused glare.
"Why are you acting so weird? I thought you were okay with me-"

The camera turned and on the other side of Gohan's living room, their mom sat on the couch with a cup in her hand.

"-Being best friends with Trunks in the whole wide world! Hi mom, how are you doing? You look so pretty today!" Goten rambled out in a panic.

"Why would you bring Trunks something if you're the one being treated, Goten?" Chichi asked, unamused.

"Well you know… He helped me build a model of my project last night and he is always paying so I just thought I would show my appreciation." He replied "you know… that's what a best friend would do"

"Nonsense! He's rich after all!" Chichi replied, sipping from her cup.

"What I think mom is trying to say-" Gohan replied, turning the camera again. "Is that if Trunks says that he wants to treat you, you should let him. I'm sure there is another way for you to show appreciation. You guys just had a fallout, perhaps you could open up to him and let him know what is on your mind?"
Gohan was fishing for information, speaking in codes so that their mom wouldn't understand.

Goten couldn't help but feel like his bond with Gohan had become stronger yet again, and he felt so lucky to have him as his bigger brother.

"Yeah we had that talk yesterday." Goten replied feeling his face turn red "It went really well and I think we are trying to pick up the pieces now and move forward."

Gohan nodded and a warm smile slid over his lips, understanding fully what Goten had meant.

"I'm glad you guys are back on track! It would be a shame if you went your separate ways."

Goten nodded happily.

"Remember to show me the results of your tests, Goten, so that we can go over what you need to improve!" their mom called in the background.

"I will!" Goten replied, tired. He would get his results later that night and suddenly he didn't look forward to it anymore.

"Will you come home or will you stay at Gohan and Videl again tonight?" Chichi asked, now standing beside Gohan.

Goten blinked a few times and by the look on Gohan's face, it was pretty clear that he had been covering Goten being at Capsule Corp.

"I think I'm going to crash at Capsule Corp tonight" Goten said bravely "I'll probably stay here a few days keeping an eye out for Trunks. He has been struggling a bit with his workload and nobody but me seems to be able to drag him away"

Chichi raised an eyebrow and Gohan was smiling wide. It was best to tell as much of the truth as possible. None of the Son-boys was good at lying and especially not to their mom.
"Goten, he is a grown man! That is not your responsibility! You should come home and study!" She said annoyed.

"I'm also a grown man, mom!" He said, trying to make his voice steady. This could go two ways and he hoped for the best. "If I see someone I care for needing help I will do what I can to support them. Trunks would do the same for me"

"I don't remember him being there when you and Valese broke up" Chichi challenged him, narrowing her eyes.

"That's different." Goten replied "We didn't talk much at that time and I didn't tell him because I didn’t want to bother him"

Chichi opened her mouth again to protest, but Gohan placed a soft hand on her shoulder.
“Mom” He said softly “This is one of those situations we just talked about”

Chichi looked at her elderly son with an angry frown before she exhaled.
“I’m sorry honey, I’m just worried about you. I want you to succeed and sometimes I fear that you are prioritizing wrong. But I understand I can’t keep mothering you. It’s just…. hard when your youngest no longer needs you”

“Oh mom” Goten said with a warm tone in his voice “That is not true! I still need you!”

A hook of a smile formed on the edge of Chichi’s mouth.

“Sometimes I get hungry and need my clothes to be washed,” He teased her, making the hint of a smile turn into more.

They walked for a while, Goten explaining more about what the test had been like while showing the model he and Trunks had built.

When Chichi was satisfied with his description of his tests, she went to the kitchen to start preparing for dinner. Gohan pretended to ask Goten more in depth questions while we went outside and closed the front door behind him.

“Sorry” He said “She asked me to call you while she were here”

Goten just shook his head. He knew too well that if Gohan hadn’t called him, she would know something was up.

“So what about you two?” Gohan asked, “Is everything good?”

“Yeah. We are taking it slow for now while we are still figuring out how we want to continue” Goten replied. “He said that he has forgiven me for the way that I acted, but I’m not really sure if he really has even if he want to”

Gohan nodded while listening. Most of his experience with dating had come from Videl… well.. all of his experience. But he had listened in on the advice Videl had been giving Goten over the years and even if he still couldn’t proclaim to be an expert, he already felt like he knew enough to be supportive.

“I think he just needs time to trust you on that level. I’m sure it will come slowly. But a date tonight sounds like a good start.”

“Yeah. I’m dead nervous though. I didn’t think about what difference there might be having a boyfriend compared to a girlfriend. But now that I am in it, it makes me question everything I know.”

“Wait hold up!” Gohan suddenly hissed “What is that on your neck?”

Shit!! He had forgotten all about the hickey!

In a panic he covered his neck again and looked back at Gohan with wide eyes.
"Do you think she saw it?" Goten asked, scared.

"No, I don't think so. She would have asked you about it" Gohan replied.
"Don't come home until it's gone! If she sees it, she'll ask you a thousand questions and you might have to tell her everything before you feel ready"

Goten nodded.
They hung up not long after and Goten went to a mirror and looked at his neck. The hickey was discreet, but it was at the base of his neck to the side where Trunks had kissed him this morning.

"What are we? Teenagers?" Goten said to himself a tad annoyed while studying the mirror.
That hickey had cost him a lot of potential trouble today, and yet he couldn't help but smile. He had been marked and a part of him loved that people at school knew that he belonged to someone. If only he could say to whom.

The door opened and Trunks entered the hallway with a deep sigh.
Goten could hear just from the air leaving his mouth that he was exhausted and that the day had been feeling like it had lasted forever.

Goten met him in the hallway, hands on his hips.
"You think you are really clever, don't you!" He said with a teasing tone.

Trunks looked up in surprise and confusion, not sure what he was supposed to respond to.

Goten pointed to his hickey with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh" Trunks started to blush lightly and looked away with a sheepish smile.
"Woops"

Chapter Text

"Don't call me something so embarrassing!" Trunks snarled at the closed door Goten just left from.

As he turned, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, and scuffed by the red color on his face.
He was never really into sweet nicknames from his partners and preferred to be called by his real name. A small part of him had enjoyed the compliment but he would of course never admit to it.

He took a shower and let the cold water soak him before turning the heat on. Today was going to be an interesting day.
The comment Goten made about Serenity had spiked his curiosity and he wanted to do a little more background research before she arrived at Capsule Corp and before his day as a CEO started.

He finished his shower and got dressed while looking at the messy bed.

He was still frustrated by himself and how he had stopped them yesterday. He wanted to move forward, if anything this morning had shown that. He was ready to do unspeakable things to Goten against the door, but he suspected that he knew unconsciously that time wasn't on their side and therefore they would not be able to go that far in the end. That had somehow made it feel safe.

Self destructive and overthinking as always.

As he was about to leave, he figured that Goten would be home before him.
His plan was to take the rest of their breakfast to his dad, a little piece offering after the kiss on his forehead that Goten had challenge him to do

Perhaps it was still too soon for the elder Sayian. His facial expression had said enough and Trunks hardly thought his presence was warmly welcomed anytime soon.

He couldn't help but giggled at the memory. It might have been a dangerous game, but the pure horror written in his dad's face, as Trunks had shown him humane affection, was worth every hit he took during their next training session.

Perhaps it was better to save the food for Goten when he came back.
Trunks opened the fridge to check on the food stored inside and felt a little bad for leaving a single plate for Goten. The fridge only contained a few beers, some water bottles and a single egg.
Perhaps he should take him out for dinner. A small celebration for his tests but also for them and what they had become.

He wrote a note to Goten and placed it on the covered plate.

Trunks closed the fridge and felt his face getting heated again. He had not expected the trip to the café to end up with the two of them jumping straight into a relationship. He knew it was only a matter of time, they had already talked about that before, but he had not expected it to happen so quickly.

He stared into the empty room and a small ball started to form in his stomach. He had only ever been in one relationship and it didn't take long for them to break up.
They had been dancing around each other, hooking up here and there for years before finally sealing the deal. But it had only taken Mai a few months until she had enough and left with her two weird companions following her.

It was a bad breakup and had left Trunks devastated and heartbroken for a long time. He convinced himself that relationships was stupid and that he would never get involved with anyone like that again. It hurt too much and he was too complicated for anyone to ever be around him like that. That was at least what Mai had said.

But Goten was different. He knew him in and out and at times better than he knew himself. If anyone could be around Trunks for long periods of time without losing their minds, it was Goten.

But this was an even bigger reason for him to be nervous. Hooking up with people had never been a problem for Trunks. But a relationship demanded work. Hard work. And quite frankly, he wasn't all too sure what that meant.
Goten differently had a better experience and all Trunks could do was to follow his lead and trusting that Goten would help him do it right this time.

Leaving his living area he walked down the halls of Capsule Corp before reaching his office. Serenity hasn't arrived yet and she would arrive in about half an hour. Plenty of time.

He opened his laptop and started digging for more information about his secretary. He had of course looked her up before her interview, and again after, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

She had been living a quiet normal life for what he could see.
Graduated with good grades, had parents and two younger sisters.
A lot of her jobs had been in offices like this and mostly as secretary positions.

Last time he had checked on her, she had lived in a small apartment alone right outside of the city.
When he checked her address again he raised his eyebrows… This was… very interesting.

---

Right on time, Trunks heard a knocking sound on his door and Serenity opened it when he replied for her to come in.

The last half an hour had been rather interesting and he was excited to see her wiggle her way out of the questions he had for her.

"Good morning, Mr. Briefs." She greeted him sweetly. "I brought you your coffee"

He waved for her to close the door and for her to sit down on the chair in front of her.
She hesitated at first, but did what she was told.

She kept her sweet façade on her face but her body language clearly indicated something else. She was nervous but probably only for the situation in the lobby the day before.

"So" he said with a smirk "I did a little research on you. It's good to keep track on your employees you know"

She nodded and took a sip of her own coffee.

"Did you enjoy working for Mr. Garden?" He asked, keeping his face straight when she looked up in surprise.

"Uhm yes. Very much so" she replied "A very kind man!"

He nodded and looked back into his screen.

"Do you still like working there?"

She blinked a few times in confusion and took another sip to stall the time.

"I'm sorry if I'm overstepping sir but, what is this about?" She asked him politely.

"According to my research, you still work for Mr. Garden." He answered, enjoying seeing her panic while still trying to remain unbothered.

"It also says that you live in a big house outside the city with your new husband."

"It must be mistaken sir" she said with a slight trembling in her voice.

"Hmm… This is the information you provided me when I hired you. I'm just following up on them. This information also says that you are expecting twins within a month. Congratulations!"

She sat still on her chair for a bit, almost like she was frozen on the spot. Her excessive blinking told Trunks that she was debating with herself, trying to find a way out of the situation.

"I think you misspelled your own name when you handed the papers over to me. Perhaps your last name is spelled with two "L"s and not a single one"

And there it was. Her facial expression finally turned to something else and Trunks knew he had hit the jackpot.

"Alright, you got me" she replied with a more scruff tone of voice.

Her entire body language changed from an elegant posture to a more relaxed position.
The smile that had been stuck on her lips from day one had disappeared and her eyes seemed harder than normal.

"I can't believe she got married and is expecting twins. Her cover was perfect!" She grunted.

Trunks sat back relaxed in his chair waiting for her to collect herself.

"Care to explain?" He said after a while and her eyes snapped to catch his. She was differently annoyed with his slick smile. Perhaps he was enjoying this a little too much.

"I'm not a spy!" she said quickly.

"I know," he replied calmly. "And even if I'm rather surprised by this, I have no intention of firing you. But I am interested in knowing why you would let me research on the wrong Serenity"

She sighed annoyed and drank the last of her coffee.
It was almost weird for him to see her like this. She had always carried herself with a smile and a certain elegance, but now she looked more like an accrual human being and less like a robot.

"I studied robotics and electronic engineering for almost 8 years. I knew since I was a little girl that I wanted to become a great scientist and that I had to work hard to achieve my goals." She started. "But I flunked my last math exams and the university and I cannot go back to retake it"

Trunks listened while he sipped his coffee. He had already read the reports from her schools. She was often described as a woman with a bad temperament and had left the university after hitting a teacher.

"Did he deserve the punch?" He asked her, knowing this was the reason for her blacklist.

"Oh yeah!" She replied with an angry facial expression. "He refused to let me pass my exams unless I slept with him. A fucking creep if you ask me. So I punched him and never looked back"

"According to your grades you were the top of your class, always had been. Why was mathematics a problem for you then?"

"It wasn't" she snapped "The teacher was the problem and everybody bloody knew it! He had been doing it for years to the female students in his class. Multiple women has reported him but he have been able to weasel his way out like the fucking snake his is. Convincing the school that he is the victim"

"But why you?"

"Because I'm a troublemaker. Troublemakers and women with low grades are his personal favorites. I think he know he can use it against us if we refuse to do as he want"

Trunks nodded and suspected that much. He himself had been in this teacher's class and he even recalled a rumor that one of the women from his class was sleeping with him.
Of course this was only rumors and he didn't know if they were true.

Trunks had been too young to see why it should be his problem. All he wanted to do was to pass so that he could get out of the school as fast as possible. It wasn't easy being the youngest the university ever had as a student and everybody kept talking down to him. It annoyed him greatly.

"So what happened after you punched him?" Trunks asked her, only knowing a little between her school life and until he hired her.

"I applied for many jobs… and I mean many. But without the last math exams, who would want to hire me?" She replied, annoyed. "Nobody wanted to give me a chance, especially not after learning about the punch."

She stopped for a moment looking stiff on the ground in front of her.

"One day I went to an interview and they mistook me for the other Serenity who had applied there for a secretary job." She continued "I had a talk with a friend a few days before who had encouraged me to try and find a different way to get in. And that was kinda how it started."

Trunks closed his laptop and leaned in in interest to her story.

"I can guess it didn't go as planned since you are still in the position" Trunks asked interested.

She nodded and let a small chuckle fill the room, like she was trying to project an anger out in another way than shouting or cursing.

"I got fired pretty quickly" she confirmed "Not because I wasn't good, but because the men I worked for did not like my personality. I am way too harsh and not enough like a trophy, if you know what I mean"

"And that's what is up with the whole personality act I can guess" Trunks said out loud, with her confirming it with a nod.

"Yeah. I know… someone.. who is always sweet and kind. Everybody likes her and adores her. I figured if I was more like her, I could keep my job longer so I pretended and it worked."

An almost awkward silence filled the room.
Serenity was doing everything she could to avoid Trunks eyes, but he kept looking at her in interest. By the mention of her so-called friend, a small light had lit up in her eyes and she spoke with a much softer and sincere tone. She had fallen hard for that girl, no doubt about that.

"So.." he said, letting another smirk glide over his lips "Grace, huh?!"

She looked up and her face turned annoyed when she realized he was mocking her.
She sat back in the chair and crossed her arms.

"So.." she replied with an almost evil grin "Goten, huh?!"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Trunks tried innocently.

"Pff cut the crap, I've seen how you guys look at each other." She replied with a grin.

They kept talking for a little while, almost like they were two friends catching up. It felt nice to be open with someone, even if it was his employee, who he normally prefers to exclude from his personal life.
The real Serenity was a lot easier to connect with and they found out they had quite a lot in common.

He learned that she and Grace had been a thing for almost two years, but that Grace had a hard time coming out due to her religious family whom she cared for very much.
It didn't seem to bother Serenity since she, just like Trunks, preferred to keep her personal life private.

"She'll tell them eventually. I'm not planning on pressuring her to do it if she doesn't want to. Though I suspect her dad already knows. He has been inviting me to family gatherings for the last year or so" Serenity explained after Trunks had asked more about their secrecy over the years.

They had met through a common friend and Serenity had not been able to get Grace out of her head ever since. "Love at first sight" she had explained.

They kept talking about Serenity's future at Capsule Corp, given that a secretary job was out of her expertise and future plans and Trunks had promised to help her.

"If you are okay staying as my secretary a little while I'll make sure to keep an eye out for you" he promised. "I want to see how that brain of yours work"

“I might be pushing my luck here, but if you ever hear Ms. Briefs mention anything - And I mean anything at all - I am very interested!” Serenity added, looking away with a slight blush in her cheeks.

Trunks tilted his head in question. He doubted his mom would be interested in taking another person in, given that she already had a team that she had handpicked herself over the years.

“Your mom is the whole reason I started my studies” She admitted “She is so badass and I really look up to her. Working with her would be a dream come true!”

It was kinda cute how she admitted this, almost embarrassed. He could only imagine how she must have felt going to the interview in the first place. Now that he thought about it, her application was the first one to check into his inbox and it had been only half an hour after he had started to ask around for recommendations for secretaries.
Her fast response had granted her an interview two hours after and she had left such a good impression, he decided to call her the day after, offering her the job.

She agreed excitedly and promised that he would not be disappointed.
"But can I please drop the act now?" She had asked "As much as I love Grace I really hate pretending to be like her."

"Please! I prefer you like this!" Trunks laughed and she sent him a crooked smile in return as she exited his office.

That went a lot better than he had hoped for and he somehow was very excited to see what she was capable of.

Almost right on schedule, his computer played a ringing tone, reminding him that the first of many meetings was about to start. Today was going to be a long day.

3 meetings in, and his brain felt like liquid. Like always nothing new was happening. It was still the same speech about how well Capsule Corp was doing, how much other companies could offer them if they would agree on a partnership and, and the same song about sharing their Capsule secrets with the rest of the world.

Trunks answers were on autopilot like most of the time during these meetings.
Somehow everything around him seemed so gray and boring. He started to miss Goten, wishing he would sit beside him and brighten the room up with his smile and glowing eyes.

He started to wonder how he did on his tests. It almost seemed weird that he hadn't been nervous at all this morning.
But knowing Goten well, reality would probably hit him as soon as he reached the school or as soon as the door into the exams room opened up.

"Mr. Briefs?" A voice called from the other side of the room.

He signed annoyed and focused back on yet another partnership presentation. As always, nobody had anything new to say.

"Thank you for your time, we will contact you if we are interested" he replied on autopilot, and forced a friendly smile to them.

He shook their hands before leaving the room, not noticing the confusing looks and stuttered sounds coming from them, as they still hadn't finished their presentation.

He took a detour back to his office, needing some time to recharge. He was mostly done for today, but still had a few papers to look over.
His feet took him to his parents kitchen, where he usually would be able to find his mom around this time.

Nobody was in there, but he could tell his mom had made the coffee since it was pitch black and the bitter smell had filled the entire room.
He helped himself, poured a cup and looked out of the window, enjoying the view.

He took a sip and coughs himself thinking that perhaps a splash of vanilla syrup would be good with this coffee.
He stopped and blinked a few times, surprised about his own thoughts. That date at the café had an effect on him after all.

He grunted and looked into the coffee cup and poured it out the sink before leaving the kitchen.
As he turned the corner he almost walked into his dad, who was clearly on his way to get a snack after his workout.

Vegeta's eyes hardened and his arms crossed by the sight of his son. No he had not forgotten about the forehead kiss.

"Why are you here?" He spat in an angry tone.

If Trunks didn't grow up with the full blooded saiyans' direct way of speaking, he would have been hurt by the hostility. But he knew that his dad's way of communicating was with as few words as possible. The fact that he even spoke to him meant that at least he was no longer on his bad side.

"Just needed to stretch my legs. I thought mom would be here, but I guess she is still in the lab?"

A confirmed grunt from Vegeta let Trunks know that he had been right.
They walked past each other, Vegeta taking a bigger step around Trunks than normally.
Trunks had to suppress a smile, amused by his dad's reaction.

"If you need someone to spar with let me know!" Vegeta had said before disappearing into the kitchen.

Trunks continued to walk towards his office and his smile had turned even wider. This was the closest his dad would ever come to showing his affection. Perhaps the old Sayian really was turning softer over the years.

He had seen how caring he had become towards his mom, always making a fuss about her bad habits and how she should take better care of herself.
He had seen how he had always treated Bulla with such care and as much human affection as he would allow himself.

His own relationship with his dad was very different but it had never bothered him. He was harsher on Trunks and had never really shown him much affection. But there was something so rewarding about seeing his dad smile at him with a proud look in his eyes. He knew he needed to work hard to deserve that look and he would have it no other way.

He reached his office and greeted Serenity by the counter.

"Goten is back today" she smiled with a knowing look "he's waiting for you to clock out at your place."

"Thanks" Trunks smiled back and closed his door into his office.
He was looking so much forward to seeing Goten and he wished that his energy would start rising soon. He was so tired he was sure that if he sat down for too long, he would fall asleep.

He looked over the contracts that were due at the end of the day.
His mind was floating and it felt like all the numbers and letters were jumping all over the paper and he suddenly felt overwhelmed with the lack of energy.

Frustrated, he removed his glasses and rubbed his nose bridge, hoping he would relieve some of the tension that was putting a pressure on his head.

He stood up from his chair to open a window, hoping a breeze of fresh air would help him wake up.

Like a lightning striking from the clear sky, a thick wall of static clouded his sight and everything in the room started to spin. A sharp ringing tone in his ears made him feel like he was captured in a small bobble, isolated from the rest of the world. His body struggled to find his balance and with his senses out of function, he didn't realize he knocked over several things from his desk, in an attempt to grab on to something.

When he finally got his senses back and his vision started to return he noticed a hand on his chin.
Looking up from kneeling on the floor, he found his mother bright blue eyes staring at him with worry written in her face

"Trunks honey, can you hear me?"

He grunted and nodded, stumbling back into his chair.

"Are you okay? Do you feel sick? I can call a dock-"

"Mom, I'm fine!" He said, taking her hand and squeezed it. "I just stood up too fast, that's all!"

His head and body started to slowly regain its normal state, leaving the pressure in his head and a blurry vision every time he moved his eyes.

"That's it, I'm pulling the plug!" Bulma said in a harsh tone "You need to stop pressuring yourself so much all the time!"

"You will do no such thing!" He barked annoyed at her. "I told you I am fine! I just got up too fast! It happens!"

She signed annoyed and crossed her arms. Having a son that was just as stubborn as herself and her husband was amusing when he was a kid, but not in this age or situation.

"What did you need?" He grunted through his hands while rubbing his face.

"I got the inventory report you asked for. There is a problem with one of our manufacturers so there are some parts we can't get until next month." She explained sitting on his desk staring at him with intense eyes.
"I just wanted to let you know that I've already talked to another manufacturer that can deliver to us meanwhile so you don't have to worry about that."

He just nodded, avoiding looking at her. The words on the papers in front of him were still dancing but to his relief he somehow were still able to catch their meaning.

"Mom, I'm fine! Stop smothering me!" He said annoyed, as he felt her still staring intensely at him.

She puffed angrily and started to scroll him.
Her voice seemed like a noise in the background and he didn't hear her words. All he wanted to do was to finish the damn papers so that he could go and see Goten. He missed him even more now than he had done before even if it was less than 24 hours since they saw each other.

"Trunks Briefs, are you listening?" He caught her yell.

"Yeah yeah! Please mom, if there is nothing else, I need to get some work done" he grunted.

She left the office like a hurricane, yelling and threatening him with things he couldn't care less about. It wasn't the first time she had thrown a temper tantrum at him like this and it for sure wouldn't be the last one either.

He didn't know how long he had been working when a knock sounded on his door.
Before he replied, Serenity opened and was already dressed to leave.

"Since I no longer have to pretend, I can finally say what I have to say" she gained a lifted eyebrow from Trunks while she inhaled with a pleased smile on her face.
"Get your ass off that chair and close your computer! I am not allowed to leave before you do and I have a hot girl in my bed right now who has been sending me teasing texts for the past hour! Move!"

Trunks opened his mouth in disbelief, forgotten about their conversation this morning.
A small fire lit up in him, feeling the urge to test the, quote on quote, new Serenity.

He looked up at her with a challenged glare and a crooked smile on his lips.
"Make me!"

---

Less than 2 minutes later, Trunks walked towards his living area trying to hold back a chuckle.
She was a lot more lively and he could already feel the bond between them growing by the minute.

Even if he was a lot stronger than her, physically and verbally, she had still managed to outsmart him, sending him on his way out of the office faster than he had expected.

He opened the door to his living area, letting a deep sigh leave his mouth without him realizing.

"You think you are really clever, don't you!" He head Goten’s voice call to him

Trunks looked up in surprise and confusion, not sure what he was supposed to respond to.

Goten pointed to his hickey with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh" Trunks started to blush lightly and looked away with a sheepish smile.
"Woops"

"Don't woops me, you idiot" Goten laughed "I had to answer to my classmates all day! Let alone my mom almost saw it"

Trunks didn't hear much of what Goten was saying; he was just staring at him, with a small smile on his lips.
The sight of Goten brightened his day more than he would have thought. The over expressive facial expression he made while telling about his day, how his dark eyes managed to capture the lights around him and his soothing voice made Trunks' entire body feel at ease.

While Goten was talking, Trunks just walked up to him without saying a word and wrapped his arms around his waist, resting his head on Goten's shoulder.
This was all he needed right now. Just being here… with him.

"Are you okay?" Goten asked, squeezing him closer with his strong arms.

Trunks just hummed and closed his eyes.

They stood there in silence for a while, just enjoying being with each other, feeling the aftermath from a hard and long day.

"You know.." Goten started "I've been having a bit of a day. Would it be okay if we just stayed home? I don't mind cooking!"

"That is the best thing I have ever heard all day!" Trunks laughed. "Please, I'll order something for us! Let's just watch some tv and forget about the world"

Goten's chuckle filled Trunks' body with butterflies and he couldn't help but look up, catching Goten's eyes.
He slowly leaned in, finally being able to kiss him again, when someone knocked on the door and opened it shortly after.

They had managed to separate from each other and were standing awkwardly looking at Bulma and she entered the room.

"Trunks, we need to talk!" She said before looking up "Oh, hi Goten! I didn't know you were here!"

"Hi! Yeah I figured I would stop by for some brainless TV and some food!" Goten answered awkwardly, giving her a big smile.

“Don’t walk away from me!” She called Trunks, who had turned his back and walked away, not wanting to talk to her.
She chased him further into his living room, ignoring him grunting annoyed at her.

She stopped as noticed the books and laptop on Trunks' dinner table and a mischievous smile spread on her lips.

"Is this yours?" She asked and turned to look at Goten, gliding her hands over the books.

"Yeah. I'm just reading up on the next semester" he answered.

"Let me guess.. Ecologists or ethologists?" Bulma asked, looking closer to the books that were spread out on the table.

"Ethology is the goal but there is still a long way to go. I could spend hours looking at wild animals and learn about their behavior in nature. Becoming an ethologist would mean I get paid to do what I already spend most of my spare time on. Seems kinda perfect to me"

Bulma flipped Goten's notebook and studied the school symbol that was displayed on the front side of the book.

"Your school is only 15 min walk from here? And still you take the trip from mount Paozu every morning?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes?" Goten answered, looking at Trunks. He had a feeling where Bulma was leading to.

"Why don't you just stay here?" Bulma asked and turned to face them both with a huge grin.
"I can make you a deal! You don't have to pay for rent or food and I'll sponsor all the books and items you need for your study. The only thing I ask is for you to keep an eye out on Trunks to make sure that he doesn't overwork himself and eats"

"Mom, I don't need a babysitter" Trunks protested

"Yes you do! I have been trying to tell you that you need to take better care of yourself but you don't listen to me! But Goten is a different story. So what do you say, Goten?"

Goten looked between Bulma and Trunks, eyes wide and all that could escape his lips was a few panicking sounds.
He locked eyes with Trunks for only a second, and like when they were kids, that was all it took to know that Trunks didn't mind.

"Do I have any options?" Goten asked Bulma, half joking.

"Nope, I already made up my mind. We can clear the storage room next to Trunks Bedroom for your stuff. Let me know if you need any help with moving and I'll send my guys"
And with that, Bulma turned on her heels and walked out the living room, leaving both Trunks and Goten without a chance to speak up.

The living room went silent. The two were still staring at the door Bulma had left through.
After a while Trunks turned and opened the door to the storage room.
It was dusty and almost unused. The only things that were inside of the medium size room were two single boxes containing items Trunks couldn't remember what was.

"I guess this will be your room then" he said and looked back at Goten. “My door will of course always be open”

"Are you okay with this?" Goten asked, scratching the back of his neck.

"Yeah" Trunks smiled “I know what we have is new, but we were glued by the hips before I took over Capsule cop and we rarely fought. I don’t see why it should be different now just because we are dating”

“Yeah you are right!” Goten grinned. “I don’t see what could go wrong”

Chapter Text

“I’m not asking you to abandon your job, I’m asking you to take better care of yourself!” Goten yelled “How many times do we have to go over this?”

Trunks let out an annoying noise, throwing his jacket onto the dinner table, covering some of Goten’s books and notes that were scattered all over.

“No more, because I don’t wanna hear it!” Trunks yelled back and turned his back to Goten, walking to the kitchen to grab a glass of water.


Today was the worst day. One of the important machines had broken down in the biggest labs earlier that day. A new employee had been wanting to make a good impression and got hurt while trying to repair it, as the machine started to work unexpectedly.

The guy had been rushed to the hospital, leaving everybody in the lab in shock. A lot of investigation had started shortly after, questioning if Capsule Corp had been to blame for this accident, and if the young man had followed protocols or acted out by himself.

A lot of the insurance companies have been trying to blame it on the corporation, questioning if they had taken the right precautions to make sure accidents like this could be prevented. Trunks had sent everybody in the lab to a crisis check up and had sent them home after that, to give them time to process the event.

Not only did that send them back to a backlog of at least a day or two, but he had also spent the rest of his day in meetings, discussing the situation to the smallest detail. When he had finished his meetings, he went back to the lab to clean up after the accident, not wanting the cleaning team to get traumatized as well. After all he was used to the sight of blood and injuries, and it hadn’t bothered him the least.

As soon as he stepped inside his living area, Goten had noticed the blood on his clothes and had been worried at first if this was Trunks' own. When Trunks explained what had happened, and that he had cleaned up himself, Goten had started a monologue about Trunks taking too much on his shoulders, leading up to another fight.

“Don’t turn your back to me when I’m talking to you!” Goten spat, and followed him into the kitchen area. “I’m not stopping just because you said so!”

“Goten, please, I’ve had a long day! I really don’t need you to lecture me right now!”

“Then when, Trunks? You have a long day everyday!” Goten yelled back “We need to have a proper conversation about this!”

Trunks let out an angry noise and filled his glass with water. As he was about to take a sip, Goten took the glass out of his hand and placed it on the kitchen counter with a hard movement. Trunks turned and hadn't realized how close Goten was standing to him. His eyes were flaring with anger and his breath heavy.

“Can I please have a glass of water?” Trunks asked through his teeth in a dry and calm tone.

“No!” Goten replied loudly “Not until you listen to me!”

As Trunks was moving to get away from him, Goten placed his hand on each side of the counter, locking Trunks in. Trunks let out a frustrated grunt, trying to remove his hands but Goten didn’t butch.

“What the hell do you want me to say?” Trunks snapped.

"I want you to take it seriously!" Goten replied.
"You own a multi billionaire company! Why didn't you call a professional to clean up? Why did you have to do it yourself?"

"It was faster if I did it myself!" Trunks explained

"Bullshit!" Goten yelled "You feel guilty and responsible for the accident even if you weren't there to do shit about it"

Trunks' silence and angry glare only confirmed what Goten had suspected and he started to wonder if Trunks was aware of how deep and unreasonable his own guilt was.

Since Goten had moved in about three weeks ago, this had been a recurring situation. Something had happened and Trunks took all the guilt and responsibility on himself, even if there was no way for him to prevent the situation.

When the stocks took a small dive, he had spent three days without sleep, promising his employees that they shouldn't worry too much about their jobs, he would find a solution. He had managed to work 4 different plans of how he could guarantee not to fire anyone, before the stock went up and beyond again.

When one employee had fallen and sprained his ankle on his way to work, Trunks had spent most of his night designing shoes that could protect his employees better, even if the guy had fallen outside of Capsule Corp grounds.

The list could go on and Goten started to wonder where all of this guilt and need to correct for mistakes that he couldn't prevent were coming from.

“Goten, let me go!” Trunks growled in a threatening voice.
Like always, Trunks refused to address the issue and preferred to flee the scene.

Goten replied by tightening his grip around the counter, puffing up his muscles in his arms to make a statement that he was not backing down!

By a wink of an eye, Trunks grabbed Goten's opposite hand and tried to twist it loose from the counter.
Already foreseeing this, Goten managed to grab the back of Trunks' hair with his free hand as he stepped out of the way to force Trunks forward until he was met by the kitchen island.
Trunks let out a strangled sound, as his stomach was forced to be pressed against the island, bending over. Goten had in the move managed to twist Trunks arm around his back, and he held him tight against the kitchen island with a firm grip in his hair and a tight grip around his wrist.

"If you are not going to listen to what I have to say, then perhaps I should get your attention in a different way"

“Kami, Goten! You are hurting my wrist” Trunks complained, trying to wriggle out of Goten's locked hand.

Goten learned in, whispering softly in his ear.
“Stop whining, I know that’s how you like it!”

A shiver ran down Trunks' spine. Goten was getting too good at this game!

Trunks let out a shaken exhale as he felt Goten's mouth start to play with his ear, rubbing himself against his back, already hard.

The hand around his wrist had loosened and Trunks was able to let his arm escape, making it easier for him to hold on to the kitchen island.

Goten's hand started to roam, gliding possessively over Trunks body and made sure to praise every inch under his palm.

"You are trembling" Goten whispered to him "Do you really want me this bad?"

Trunks chuckled warmly and hissed as Goten yanked the back of his hair forcing his throat to be exposed.
"Can you really blame me?"

A low whimper escaped Trunks as Goten's hand had found its way to the front of his pants. He palmed him slowly and possessively through his pants, smiling satisfied every time Trunks let a sound of pleasure slip him.

He tried to unbuckle Trunks' belt but got frustrated when access wasn't easy enough.

"Turn around" he demanded but Trunks just let out a small chuckle. "Make me!" He replied, feeling the anticipation rushing through his body. Just because Goten was topping it didn't mean he could get control that easily.

He loved when Goten was rough with him. When he got a taste of the inhuman strength his partner had it made his knees feel weak under him. No man had ever been able to physically hold him down, forcing him, hurting him the way that Goten could. He knew he had always craved this deep down but never knew just how much he would enjoy it until Goten had shown that he was quite capable and willing of fulfilling this fantasy.

"Don't test me!" Goten growled.

He grabbed the back of Trunks' legs and twisted it around until Trunks was laying on his back, with one leg wrapped around Goten and the other hanging from the counter.

As Goten started to unbuckle him, Trunks wrapped both of his legs around him and forced him closer in a sharp tug, interrupting Goten's mission.

"Then don't tell me what to do!" Trunks challenged him.

The fire in Goten's eyes could be fantasy material for years. Trunks had found himself enjoying watching him from this new perspective. It was like an entirely new side to Goten that he never knew and he couldn't get enough of.

Goten leaned over him and started to rub against him and a mischievous smile spread on his lips as Trunks started to grunt at the wonderful sensation.

He continued his dry humping but stopped as soon as Trunks closed his eyes, trying desperately to focus only on their cocks grinding together.
He finally opened his belt and pants and pulled Trunks out, spending a moment admiring how red he had managed to make the head without even touching it.
He wrapped his large hand around the cock and excruciatingly slowly started to stroke Trunks with a firm hand.

Trunks felt like he was going insane. The feeling of Goten's hand around him was everything he needed and yet the slow rhythm still made him feel like he was far from satisfied.
"Common!" He grunted annoyed "Stop being a fucking tease and get on with it already"

"Will you do what I tell you going forward?" Goten replied in a rough voice. "Otherwise I will keep you either like this or on the edge for the rest of the night. Your choice!"

Checkmate that bastard. Trunks had experienced enough to know that he wasn't kidding. If he had not been feeling so weak he might would have taken the challenge, spending the night to find a way to break Goten to fuck him senseless, regarding of his threat.

"Fine!" He growled after a while "You're in charge"

"You are damn right I am! Take off your pants!"

While Trunks undressed and sat back up on the counter, Goten went to one of the kitchen drawers and pulled out a lube and a condom. So far the kitchen and hallway had been their most used places in the apartment and to avoid ruining the mood they had made a small stash that was easy access.

Goten got rid of his own sweatpants and pulled himself out from his boxers. He was already dripping with precum and with shaking hands he stroked himself a few times before putting on the condom.

He placed himself between Trunks and smiled warmly as Trunks wrapped his legs around him. He learned forward and kissed him hungry, feeling Trunks hands running through his hair, tugging, massaging and doing everything to keep his full attention only on him.

He pressed a good amount of lube into this hand and glided his hand down until he found Trunks entrance and made sure to circle around it to lube it up. When he sensed that Trunks was ready, he pushed in a single finger, feeling Trunks' entire body jolt. He took him in without any problems and after a few strokes he inserted another finger.

Trunks' body started to shake lightly and a faint moan let Goten know that he wasn't feeling uncomfortable. It was no surprise he took him so well. After all, they had been pretty active after their first time together.

"Just put it in" Trunks whispered in his ear "Please Ten, I can't wait any longer!"

"Are you sure you are ready?" Goten asked and pulled his fingers out and placed himself with the tip of his head resting against Trunks' entrance.

"If not then break me!" Trunks answered in a rough voice.

A chill ran through Goten and he had to control himself not to force his way in.

He pushed Trunks down to lie on his back just to enjoy the view of the other man's body. He liked it best when he could see the full effect he had on Trunks and especially his face.

Slowly he pushed himself inside and intensely watched Trunks reacting. He ran both of his hands through his purple locks, pulling them slightly. His back arched and he threw his head back opening his mouth like he wanted sounds to escape him but nothing came out.

When Goten was all the way in, he stood still for a little while, making sure his partner was okay. He had no resistance going in just like the days before but he wanted to make sure.

"What's the matter?" Trunks huffed, looking at Goten with half opened eyes "Did you come already?"

His tone was teasing and almost a little mean. He wanted to kick a reaction out of Goten to make him stop treating him as something that could break.

Goten pulled himself out almost to the tip. His expression at first had been hard to read but suddenly his eyes changed to something darker and a mean smile spread over his lips.

With a hard thrust, Goten had managed to hit Trunks' prostate, forcing out a strangled moan from him. All of his air was sucked out of his lungs and it felt like a firework of pleasure exploded out through his body. Before he could regain his senses, another thrust hit him again and again and again.
Each thrust was harder than the other and Trunks knew that if he had been a normal human Goten would have ripped him apart by now.

And jet the harder Goten went the more Trunks lost himself and his senses. All he could feel was Goten filling him up, how his legs around Goten's waist got weaker and he had to cling himself to the kitchen island. He heard Goten’s grunts like an echo in the background with the sound of their skin clashing together.

"T..Ten" Trunks managed to moan out loud, as Goten speeded up, still hitting the same spot over and over again.

"Yeah me too!" Goten grunted feeling himself nearing as well.

A loud cry left Trunks mouth as he was pushed into an intense orgasm that made everything around him flashed dots and for a brief second he lost all contact with the world around him.

He regained himself just in time to hear Goten swearing in pleasure as he came as well before collapsing on the top of Trunks, breathing heavily.

“That was…. amazing!” Goten huffed, kissing Trunks shoulder, almost forgetting what led up to the tension.

“I’m not going to be able to walk tomorrow!” Trunks laughed under him.

"Are you okay? Was I too hard on you?" Goten asked, concerned.

"No such thing!" Trunks replied.

Goten laughed softly and got up before pulling out, leaving Trunks to grunt at the sensation.

While they got dressed, Goten couldn’t help but watch Trunks. This has been going on for the last week now. Trunks coming home, they started to argue leading up to angry sex. They would then just forget about their arguments and cuddle for the rest of the evening without speaking another word about their argument.

This was so different from his relationship with Valese.

"We really need to talk, Trunks!" Goten said in a calm tone.

"We'll talk tomorrow!"

"No! Today! Now!" Goten commanded.

Trunks had been trying to stall this for as long as he could but he knew that there was no longer a way to avoid it. He nodded, signed defeated, and walked towards the couch to sit down. Goten followed and felt a relief that another fight didn’t seem to be about to break out again.

"You talk, I listen!" Trunks said, crossing his legs and arms defensively "I have nothing to say"

Goten sat on a chair opposite of Trunks, and folded his hands. He had been practicing this speech almost everyday but now that he was about to talk, it felt like his throat was tangled up and he got unsure of himself.

"I'm just worried about you. You can't really blame me." He started "When we started writing again you seemed to be doing so well. You got your sleep, you didn't overwork and you didn't drink more coffee than you ate food."

Trunks looked down into his lab, his mouth forming into a thin line. It was hard to tell if he was embarrassed or angry.

"What is going on? Please speak to me"

"Nothing is-"

"Spare me!" Goten spat. "I know you are getting up at night just to crack a few hours of work! That is not nothing! Why do you refuse to open up to me? I thought you and I were closer than this"

"We are," Trunks mumbled in a low voice and looked up, catching Goten's glare. "I just… I don't want to talk about it"

"Why?"

"Because it doesn't make a difference!" Trunks suddenly yelled "I'll still be stuck with this job! All I want is to hide away in my fucking lab while there is people out there wanting to give their life for this opportunity and I got it handed to me on a fucking silver platter and I don't even want it"

Goten sat back, almost frozen on the spot. He had not expected Trunks to spill his frustration this fast.

"It makes me feel like an imposter," He continued. "Like a fake! So every time something goes wrong I can't help but think that if I took this more seriously perhaps I could prevent all of it. A lot of mistakes and accidents has been happening recently and I can’t help but think that I’m doing something wrong"

Goten got up from his chair and sat beside Trunks with his hands folded in his lab. They both sat in silence for a while not looking at each other and only their knees touching.

The atmosphere was heavy but for some reason not uncomfortable. Some people wanted hugs and reassurance but Trunks had always preferred for Goten just to be there and nothing else. No matter how much Goten wanted to embrace Trunks, he didn’t do it. When Trunks felt ready he finally took Goten's hand and squeezed it, smiling apologetically.

"I don't mean to take this out on you. I'm sorry! I'll do better!"

"You know this had nothing to do with that!" Goten said "I don't like seeing you like this. Please let me know what I can do to help you"

Trunks nodded and gave him a reassuring smile. "I will do my best not to let work take too much of me but I need your patience!"

"As long as I can see that you are trying and you don't hide things from me. Is there anything else I should know about?" Goten asked.

"No" Trunks replied with a smile, and stroked Goten's chin lovely with the back of his hand. "Beside this, everything is fine"

He ignored the bitter taste of guilt from his lie. He hated that he couldn't be completely honest to him but he also knew that the truth would hurt Goten even more.

As Goten sent him a bright smile back, he couldn't help but to lean in, kissing him longingly while pushing him back into the couch.


----


Trunks woke up in the middle of the night with a stinging headache. He turned a few times in hope that it would go away by itself, but signed annoyed when he realized it didn't. He slowly got out of bed, not wanting to wake up Goten.

Usually not even an earthquake could wake him up, but after today's talk, Trunks realized that he was a lot more attendant to his partners than Trunks first assumed.

He sneaked out of the bedroom, and closed the door behind him as carefully as he could.

His headache was thumping and it felt like a thousand needles were trying to puncture his skull. He made it to the sink and desperately swallowed the glass of water Goten had refused him earlier.

He opened the cabinet above the stove and found the box with medicine. He popped two of the blue pills for migraine and stood still, leaning with his palms against the hard surface of the counter and rolling his forehead from side to side against the cold cabinet door.

The headaches were getting worse and more frequent, leaving him without any sleep some nights and too much sleep when he finally had a day off. His entire body felt weak and he had barely been able to keep their sparring up, when he and Goten had been training in the gravity room.

When Goten had asked if he was okay, he had brushed it off, saying he was just tired, even if it felt like his entire body was shaking underneath his skin.

He slowly made it back to the bedroom, climbing into the warm sheets as quietly as he could not to wake his sleeping boyfriend.

"Where were you?" Goten asked in a drowsy voice, lifting his head lazily to look at Trunks in the dark.

"I just had a pee" Trunks replied in a low voice "Go back to sleep"

Goten first hummed and laid down before looking up at Trunks again.
"You were away too long for peeing!" he said suspiciously. "And I didn't hear a flush!"

Trunks thought for a moment. He had already managed to break his promise to him twice within 12 hours.

"I…" he started "I have a bad headache. I just didn't want to worry you" he admitted.

Goten sat up and glaring at him with intense eyes.

"Are you okay? Do you want me to get you anything?" He asked while searching for his hand in the dark. When he finally found it he took it and clenched it reassuringly.

"I'm okay." Trunks replied "The pills should work soon"

Goten shifted a bit before wrapping his arms around Trunks and pulled him down into the bed holding him tight and lovingly ran his fingers over his skull. Trunks let out a relaxed sigh and enjoyed how the tension in his head seemed to ease.

It didn't take long before Trunks started to drift back to sleep. The sound of Goten's breath, the scent he gave off and the calming sound of his heartbeat made a perfect lullaby.

Trunks slept through the rest of the night in Goten's arms.
Goten on the other hand couldn't fall asleep. He had a bad feeling that Trunks hadn't been completely honest with him and the fact that he would wake up with bad headaches gave all sorts of red flags. He couldn't help but worry. Wondering if he could do anything to help.


---


The next day was hard on Goten. He was tired from worrying most of the night and felt annoyed that he hadn't been able to find a solution yet.

He kissed Trunks goodbye as he did most mornings and got started on his studies and the struggle of finding an internship. A part of him was somewhat excited to get away from the books but he also had realized that he would only be able to find an internship with vets and he wasn't so sure if he wanted that.

He wanted to spend time in nature, observing the animals and their behavior - not checking for broken bones and random objects that pets would shallow.

“Nature, huh” he whispered to himself. Perhaps if he gave Trunks something else to do than argue and fuck as soon as he was off, perhaps it could help him relax a little.

A wide smile spread on his lips. He knew just what to do and who to ask for help.

He found his phone under some of his notes and dialed one of the only numbers he had ever bothered to remember.

"Hi honey! I was just thinking about you!" Chichi replied on the other end of the phone.

"Hi mom! Are you busy?"

"No but you should be! How's it going with your applications for an internship?"

Uugnh he suddenly regretted calling her

"I have 7 applications out and already have an interview next week" he replied almost tired "But that's not why I am calling.. I was wondering if you could help me with some cooking?"

"Shouldn't you be studying and not eating? I taught you better than that!" She scrolled him.

"Muuuum" Goten signed "Please! I really need your help!"

"Okay okay. When will you be here?" She replied in her warm motherly tone that Goten always loved.

"I'll be there in 45 minutes. See you soon"

He hung up and started to look around the apartment. Food wouldn't be enough; he needed some props as well. After scattering the apartment he packed his back and double checked if the hoi poi capsule with everything in it was resting in his pocket.

He then walked though Capsule Corp until he reached Serenity's desk.

"Goten! How can I help you?" She asked as she had noticed him standing beside her waiting for her to finish her email.
He still had to get used to her not being overly sweet. He liked the real Serenity a lot but sometimes he missed her soft spoken voice.

"Is he busy today?" He asked her and she just sighed and nodded.

"There is still a lot going on from yesterday's incident. The insurance companies are trying to rip him apart" she answered "You can say a lot about him but he is really good at this job. Despite his doubt in himself"

"You noticed that as well, huh?" Hereplied and scratched the back of his head.

"He can't hide that stuff from me!" She replied in an almost cold tone. "I would love to keep chatting but I'm a little tied up here. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yeah.. ehm… can you move all his morning meetings tomorrow?" Goten asked and felt kinda awkward. He knew that Trunks didn't like it when he interfered with his work schedule but it was easier to ask for his forgiveness rather than getting permission.

She blinked a few times before looking into her computer screen.
"I was planning on finding a way to remove all his meetings from tomorrow anyways. I just hadn't found the right excuse yet. He needs a break and some time in the lab. He wouldn't let me do it, but if I can use you as the scapegoat I'll be on it right away!"

"Sure. Let him know that I'll be in my cave when he is off and I'll look forward to see him there"

"Uuuh sounds kinky!" Serenity replied with a sleek smile. "You didn't strike me as someone with a cave!"

Not really sure what she was implying, but knew that she was referring to something sexsual, Goten could feel his face turning bright red.

After trying awkwardly to explain to her that it was nothing perverted he took off from Capsule Corp and flew straight to mount Paozu.

He had barely been home since he moved into Capsule Corp and he couldn't help but take in a deep breath as soon as the smell of the mountain reached him. Sometimes he forgot just how much he loved it here. The city was nice and had a lot to offer but there was just something special about nature and fresh air.

As he landed in front of the little house he grew up in, his mother opened the door and greeted him with a warm hug and a few strict words about how he was not studying.

"So what are we making today?" Chichi asked and wrapped her apron around her.

"A few years ago you made a dish with stakes for a picnic. Valese couldn't make it so I invited Trunks to join us. Do you remember what that was?"

Chichi nodded confident
"I remember all the dishes people have complimented me for."

I didn't take much planning until they both started the cooking. As always, Goten was in charge of rinsing and cutting the vegetables and Chichi took care of everything else.

He had requested her to teach him and she explained everything along the way and he made sure not to miss a single word.

While cooking they were catching up.
Chichi had spent a lot of time with Gohan and his family, helping tutoring Pan while his dad took care of the fields and the farming. She talked loudly how it was just a matter of time before he found a way to sneak away to train with Wish, but there was a lot of work to do before she would even let him consider that option.

As always, cooking had a relaxing effect on him and being around his mom was just an extra bonus. Even if she was strict and quite bossy, she was one of the most caring people he knew. She would always put her family before herself and she never missed a chance to help if anyone needed her help.

He couldn't help but observe her from time to time, trying to enjoy this day to the fullest. Remembering everything to his best ability.

He knew that one day he would have to tell her about this relationship with Trunks and he wasn't sure how many times like this he would have with her if she decided to disown him.

"It's been really quiet without you here" Chichi said with a faint smile on her lips "I know you almost always stayed with Valese when you were together, but somehow it feels different this time."

Goten wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her in for a kiss on her forehead. She chuckled warmly and corrected her hair.

"I can't stay here forever, Mom. Beside the time I would have used to fly to this city and back I can now spend on my study or relaxing"
He turned his head and looked at her with a smile.

She was looking back at him with a rather displeasing look and he corrected himself fast, telling her that he of course spent most of the time studying. It was not a lie either. He would usually study or cook while waiting for Trunks to finish his work and Trunks would always be back late.

"Are you going to tell me who we are cooking all of this food for?" Chichi asked after a while.

"Hah yeah it might not be what you are thinking though but I'm doing this for Trunks” Goten answered, trying to make it sound as casual as possible. He had practiced this all the way to Mount Paozu. “He was talking about your dish for months after so I thought that I would make us a picnic and surprise him!"

"A picnic? On a Wednesday?" Chichi asked.

"Capsule Corp is in a bit of a mess and he has been grumpy all week." Goten started "I think me moving in has added a bit to his stress as well. I think he is trying to summon some energy to hang out with me even if he just wants to go straight to bed. So I just wanted to do something nice for him. Just let him forget about his job and stress for a little while"

Chichi nodded slowly, "That's very nice of you honey!" she said in a low voice.

He hummed happily and started to pack some of the food.
He was excited for this picnic. He had already planned everything in his mind and he wanted to get to his hideout in the canyon as soon as possible. He was so caught deep in his own thoughts that he didn't notice his mom's longing glare and how many times she had opened her mouth to say something only to close it again in silence.

"Thank you so much for your help mom, I really appreciate it! I'll come by a weekend soon and help you guys out with the farm. I just need to have this internship figured out first"

He kissed her on her forehead and took the food they had made for him and Trunks and left a potion for his parents.

As he was about to open the front door, Chichi grabbed his wrist.
"Goten, honey.." she said with a low tone of voice. "You know I will always love you, right?"

Goten blinked a few times and turned around and pulled her in for a tight hug.

"Of course I do! Where is this coming from?"
He asked softly wondering if she would feel the same way if she knew "Is it because I moved out?"

She didn't answer for a while and just embraced her not so little boy.
"I'm just a bit sentimental these days" she answered "You suddenly moved out and Pan didn't want to spend time with me yesterday. I guess soon nobody will really need me anymore"

"Nonsenses!" Goten replied "I think when I'm 80 I will still need you! Besides, I just asked for your help cooking and soon I will come home with all of my dirty laundry for you AWCH!"

Chichi pitches him on his side before letting go of their hugs.
Her mood seemed to have lightened up and he gave her another kiss on the forehead before taking off.

Back at Mount Paozu, Chichi sighed defeated, feeling more disconnected from her son than ever.


---


A deep sigh left Trunks as he finally sat down in the chair inside his office. Away from people and the continuously same questions being raised during the meetings, in hope that he would slip up and give them something to cling to.
Damn money suckers!

As he sat down in his big and not so welcoming chair he swirled it around until he faced the big windows behind him.

He looked over the city, missing those times where he had the opportunity to just open the window and fly off and away from Capsule Corp. Back then his mom still had most of the responsibilities and everything was a lot easier to manage.

He heard a knock on the door and it opened before he got to answer.

“How did the meeting go?” Serenity asked as she walked into his office.

“It was horrible” He grunted, turning around to face her “But it’s under control. I’ll leave the rest to our internal insurance team. They should be more than capable to handle this from now on”

"Look at you slowly letting go!" She said in a teasing tone. "It suits you!"

He let out a grunt and turned on his computer. He didn't even want to know how much was waiting for him when it came to meetings and emails. To his surprise, every meeting on the day after was removed and his schedule was clean. He looked annoyed at Serenity who just gave him an innocent smile, just like she would have done it before.

"What are you doing?"

"You need a break!" She said in a strict voice that somehow reminded him of his mom "You are a human being and you need rest as well! Tomorrow I will not let a soul pass so you can concentrate on your project in the lab!"

"That is not your decision to make!" He replied annoyed. How dare she?!

"Perhaps not but Goten is in on this as well! That makes two against one. Besides, it's already too late! All meetings has been rescheduled"

Baffled, he just looked at her with his mouth open. Goten was in on this? He had never said out loud that he was not allowed to interfere with his job but he didn't think he had to. It seems like something so obvious. But by looking at Serenity's facial expression it was clear that Goten was used as an excuse.

"You know…" Serenity started as Trunks opened his mouth to protest. "Goten said that he would be waiting for you somewhere but I can't really remember where it was"

Trunks just lifted his eyebrow waiting for her to give him a price for the information.

"I guess if you didn't stink of work and was wearing something a little more relaxing then perhaps it would make it easier for me to remember"

"I still have work to do, Serenity! I can't run off to take a shower now!"

"Suit yourself. Goten is the one waiting after all so I couldn't care less"
She turned on her heel and walked out of the office. As she was about to close the door Trunks signed and called for her.

He had spent most of his day thinking about Goten and the conversation they had the day before. For some reason he had started to feel a bit insecure about their relationship and needed Goten's validation more than ever.

A validation he wouldn't get, if he would have to wait for him for too long.

He looked at the icon of a letter on his computer screen. He knew if he opened his email he would spend hours in this office, answering and reading everything until his inbox was empty.

"You win" he signed and closed his computer again "I will go and get ready"

After his shower he looked with empty eyes into his closet. He wasn’t sure what to wear or where Goten was waiting for him but right now guilt took over more than anything. He knew a lot of important emails were waiting for him to reply and leaving before most of his employees gave him a bad taste in his mouth. He tried to remind himself about the many extra hours he had and would put into this company and that one time wouldn't hurt.

Also the thought of disappointing Goten made his heart sink. He really needed to see him right now.

Knowing Goten, they would be doing something outside so he found a casual set of clothing and a pair of sunglasses. The sun had started to set and it would be getting dark soon but better be safe than sorry giving his migraines had started to become a more and more frequent thing.

He found Serenity by her desk. She looked at him up and down before giving him an approving smile. She leaned over the desk with a slick smile on her face.

"He said something about a cave" she said with a questioning tone in her voice "is it a sex thing?"

"Hardly" Trunks laughed "He found a small cave in the canyons where he goes to clear his head or study animals. Nothing sexy about that"

"Oh I see" she said, almost disappointed and sat back in her chair "Well he is waiting for you there. Have fun"

He bid her a good evening and exited Capsule Corp. Before leaving he looked at the round building feeling his stomach turning and regretting not clearing at least some of the emails that were waiting for him.

He took off into the sky, trying to let the wind distract his thoughts as the pressure of his speed was beating against his face. It was okay. He could let go. Just for tonight.

He made it to the canyons and started to look for Goten's secret cave.
He had only been there once and Goten had made it clear that he would share many things with Trunks, but this place was his own and he had only shown him in case of any emergencies.

The night has started to fall over the canyons making it harder for Trunks to navigate in the dimmed light.

He was about to find his phone and text Goten, when a faint light inside the side of a cliff caught his attention.

He flew closer and could hear a faint sound of music playing. As he moved closer he started to notice an amazing smell of food and he had no doubt that this was where Goten was waiting for him.

As he landed inside the little cave he did not expect the sight that was meeting him and all he could do at first was to stare inside with his mouth open.

The small cave had been decorated with fairy lights everywhere. In the middle a big low table filled with all kinds of food was nicely decorated with lit candles and a blanket for each to sit on. The sight was almost like something taken directly out of a romantic movie.

"Trunks!" Goten greeted him as he entered the cave behind him, holding a water bottle in his hand.

"This was the last place I thought you would ever invite me to. It looks...different from last time I was here"

"What do you think?" Goten asked him proudly, waving his hands around to show off the place.

"I say that if I was a chick you would get laid tonight that is for sure" Trunks chuckled and couldn't help but smile at Goten's confused look.

"I love it! Thank you for going through the trouble" Trunks corrected himself as he could see that he was starting to question if he should have done something different.

Goten beamed with pride and took Trunks hand, leading him further into the cave.
"I made us dinner that is just about to be ready and then I have some plans for us after that"

"It smells amazing" Trunks replied and pulled Goten in for a hug.

Seeing just how much trouble he had gone through to do this for him washed away all doubt that he had been filling his head with during the day. It was almost overwhelming.

"What is for dessert?" Trunks whispered in his ear, enjoying the feeling of Goten shivering in his arms.

"I think we will be too full for desserts today" Goten replied.

"Hmm then perhaps we should enjoy some before dinner then" Trunks answered with a lusty tone. He placed a kiss on Goten's soft lips and couldn't help but smile as Goten melted into this embrace, kissing him longently back.


---


"Oh gods!!" Trunks moaned out loud "Please Goten more!"

Goten chuckled satisfied, enjoying watching Trunks face.

"I love it when you make these sounds!"

"Shut it and fill me up!" Trunks laughed and reached his plate towards Goten.
Goten filled the plate with another potion of the stakes dish him and his mom had made earlier. He knew that Trunks wouldn't be able to resist the food.

"Mmh!!" Trunks hummed as he shoveled in another spoonful of food. "Too good!"

"I'm glad you like it! Mom taught me to make it so I can serve it whenever you feel like it" Goten explained and took a bite of his food.

He had to admit that even if he saw himself as a good cook, nothing and nobody would cook the way his mom did it.

"How is she?" Trunks asked with his mouth half full.

"I think she's having a small midlife crisis," Goten admitted. "I think I'll go home for a week soon just to be around her. I think she needs me there right now"

Trunks nodded in agreement and secretly planned to do some extra hours of work while Goten was away and wasn't able to bust his balls about him working too much.

"I really want to tell her about us" he signed "but I'm just so afraid she will freak out and disown me"

Goten looked up at Trunks who had taken his hand and squeezed it lightly.
"I highly doubt she will disown you. She might have a hard time accepting it but you mean the world to her. She would never disown you!" Trunks said in a calm tone of voice.

Goten just nodded but didn't answer. He knew that Trunks was right but a small part of him couldn't help but fear for the worse.

"I'd be more worried about my dad," Trunks said. "You never know if he will pull some Saiyan ritual bullshit to prevent us from being together. Or worse a reason to kick your ass"

Goten chuckled nervously and tried to sound like he didn't believe it would happen. But truth be told, he hadn't thought about this before now but he knew Trunks was right. Ugh why did their family have to be so complicated. At least he knew his dad wouldn't make a big deal out of it.

"Man I'm stuffed" Trunks exhaled satisfied and sat back petting his stomach with one hand and using the other hand to support himself. "Thank you for the meal and the festive decorations."

"Oh but we are not done yet!" Goten chuckles "I have more in store for us! Let's clean this up and make some space"

Trunks followed Goten’s lead, not really sure what to expect. He couldn’t help but smile at Goten's happy humming while they were packing the plates and removing the table from the little space.

While Trunks finished packing the plates and glasses Goten threw a hoi poi capsule in the middle of the cave and a double mattress already covered in duvets and pillows appeared in the entrance of the cave.

"A mattress?"

"I know this screams I want to to your virginity but really I just want us to relax tonight and enjoy each other's company." Goten laughed as he undressed himself.

Trunks couldn't help but laugh a little while getting undressed as well. Even after they started their relationship Goten still sometimes acted like there only was left and right in this matter. If they really wanted to have sex no mattress was needed and the bed back at Capsule Corp had been used a lot less than other places around the apartment.

They both got under the covers and curled up against each other.
At first they were laying in silence, taking in the view of the beautiful starry sky.

"This is nice" Trunks sighed happily and cuddled himself closer to Goten. "I wish we could stay like this forever. But I have work tomorrow so perhaps we should pack up soon and go home"

"Nope" Goten answered in a relaxed tone "We are sleeping here tonight and I told Serenity that you will be late tomorrow"

At first Trunks didn't answer and Goten got worried if he perhaps had pushed too hard. But soon he realized that Trunks had already managed to fall asleep in his arms. Goten kissed his forehead and tightened his arms around him a little more.
He too wishes they could stay like this forever. No stress, no work and no worrying about how and when it was time for him to share his relationship with the rest of his family.

Chapter Text

Bulma opened the door to Trunks' office with an excited greeting.

"Good morning honey" She said loudly, making her son jump in surprise.

"Mom, jeez!" He exhaled "Please knock! What if I was in a meeting?"
He slid his glasses back onto his nose, as it had gilded down.

"If it was a meeting, then it was my business as well!" She pouted "Do you wanna grab some breakfast? There is this new adorable restaurant around the corner and I hear that the pancakes are amazing"

Trunks grunted annoyed, and started to look into the papers in front of him.
"Sorry mom, I already ate with Goten and I'm swarmed. Another time!"

As Bulma was about to protest, he held up a hand but without looking up.
"Please mom, I'm really busy!"

Annoyed with his cold rejection, Bulma walked out his office talking loudly. "Fine! I'll bring Bulla, since none of my men wanna go with me"

She closed the door hard behind her, and stormed out, passing by Serenity.

"That didn't sound like you reached an agreement" she asked, which made Bulma a sulk even more.

"When he was a kid I could always make him spend time with me if I just involved food. And especially pancakes." Bulma started to walk off with a deep sight "I guess my baby really has grown up"

"I'm more surprised that Goten passed that. He doesn't seem like a guy who would say no to anything involving food" Serenity said, half to Bulma and half to herself.

At first Bulma just nodded but it wasn't until she had walked for a while that it hit her.
"What did she mean by that? Goten wasn't in the room?"


----


"I could go for pancakes" Trunks heard under the table.

"Seriously, Ten?!" Trunks grunted annoyedly, looking down at Goten who was still sitting between his legs holding his dick in his hand. "I could feel you twitch under there!"

"Well it sounded delicious" Goten replied, and almost lost in thoughts started to stoke Trunks.

Trunks let out a small shaking sigh, enjoying feeling Goten work him again.
"You are unbelievable," he said, gliding a hand through Goten's hair.

"Does that mean that you will take me out to get pancakes later?" Goten asked, teasing Trunks by letting his tongue glide so lightly all the way up Trunks dick, that it only felt like a faith touch.

"I hate it when you do that" Trunks said, almost desperate, feeling the urge of Goten's mouth even more.

"Is that a yes?"

"Ugh! Yes! Sure! Now get back to work"
Trunks tightened his grip around Goten's hair, and pushed his mouth over his cock.
Goten let out a sweet giggle that let small vibrations run down on Trunks. Gosh his mouth was so perfect!

Goten was getting better at using his tongue, letting it glide over Trunks head, and sucking him just the right amount.

"This is getting dangerous, Ten" Trunks half moaned. Shit he was already close.

"I'm getting better, aren't I?" Goten replied proudly, kissing him on the tip, before taking him in again.

"I mean… ah.. we were almost caught this time" Trunks had to bite down on his thumb, trying not to make too much noise.


"I thought that it turned you on," Goten asked, looking up at Trunks. Trunks lightly pushed Goten's head back on him, and was relieved when Goten gladly let him do it.

"It… it does!.." Trunks hissed feeling himself nearing the edge "But not all the…. The… tim..aaah"

Goten just hummed and started to bob his head at a steady speed. He could feel by the way that Trunks was twitching, that he was almost there.

"P..perhapss.. orh fucking…." Trunks cried into his hand "we… we should get our oown. Pl...plaace.. Fuck.. Imma… ngh!"

He felt Trunks' hand gripping harder on his hair and pulled Goten off, just in time before he came. Goten's hand kept milking him, enjoying the view of his hard work, spilling over his fingers.

"Wait" Goten said suddenly and looked up at Trunks' flustered face. "You want us to… move in together?"

Trunks, who was still trying to catch his breath and trying to ride out the drugging effect of his orgasm, raised a brow and looked down on Goten.

"We already live together, Ten!" He said "It will just be in a different building, where it's just the two of us"

Goten looked like he was getting lost in thoughts, for a reason Trunks couldn't really understand. Why was it so different when his mom had asked him?

"Mom has this house really close to your school." Trunks continued "She has never really used it before and she have saved it for me or Bulla to move into"

Goten tilted his head, still lost in thoughts.

"We can be as loud as we want" Trunks pressed and couldn't help but smile as Goten looked up, with excitement writing in his eyes. Time to close the deal.

"The kitchen has two refrigerators" Trunks smirked, knowing too well that there was no way Goten could pass on that.

"Okay you convinced me!" Goten said "But I refuse to live there for free! I will find a way to pay you"

Trunks couldn't help but let out a small chuckle, that clearly indicated a special sort of payment that he could agree on.
Goten got up from under the table and wiped his hands in a paper towel before opening a window to let the musty smell out of the room.
"Not like that, you freaking perv" Goten laughed "I mean a real payment."

"We can keep the agreement we have so far. If you take care of the cooking and make sure you study hard, you can pay me back once you are a rich and famous vet"

"Ethologists" Goten corrected him.

Trunks only responded with a teasing laugh as he leaned in to kiss him.


---


Today was Goten's first day in his internship. He had gotten a nice acceptance to his application less than 3 hours after he had sent it.

The staff had been nice and friendly to him and they had shown him around the larger clinic.
He never thought he would get used to everything being so sterile.
The building was large with a lot of different rooms only for the animal guests that would need to be observed before they could be released to their owners or back into the wild.
"This is our wildlife department," his new colleague explained. "This is where we keep all wild animals until they are ready to return home. This is where we will need you the most"

"Really?" Goten asked, feeling his excitement bobbling.

"Yeah! That's why we wanted you compared to other interns. Given your background and your interest we thought you would fit in here perfectly!" The guy explained. "We rarely have someone who is experienced with wild animals so we more or less just do our best to treat them. But when it comes to lessen their stress and make sure they live in the best environment as possible but we are still a bit behind"

Everything inside Goten started to cripple like a ton of small ants was crawling under his skin. He did not expect this and all he wanted was to get started right away.

He walked past the different enclosures and already took note of a few things he would have liked to change to make the stay more comfortable for the animals.
"All in all you guys seem to be doing great!" He said with a big smile on his lips.

They made it to a medium size room made as a relaxation room for the staff.
Most of the staff was already hanging out, some were eating, others were chatting lively with each other.

"Some of you have already met him but this is Son Goten. He will be staying here with us as an intern for the next three month. Please treat him nicely and like a colleague above anything!"

Everybody greeted him and for a small second he felt like he was standing in front of his class to present again.
This claustrophobic feeling soon disappeared as he was invited to sit by a large table where most of them were sitting.

"You are the wildlife expert, right?" One of the women asked him.

"I wouldn't call myself an expert but I do know my way around wild animals"

"Where are you from?" A guy asked him.

"I grew up on Mount Paozu. It's about a 6 hours flight away from here. As a kid I often took care of the wildlife there so it feels natural for me"

"Hah told you!" The guy bursted out "You owe me a beer"

Another man sighed defeated and nodded "yeah yeah! Next time I'll be right!"

"What did you bet this time?" The woman from before asked them.

"Cassew thought he would be obsessed with wildlife tv-shows and got his interest from here. But I said that he grew up with them"

The man named Cassew just nodded and swallowed the last water from his water bottle.
He was tall, had broad shoulders and curly brown hair.
His thin framed round glasses fitted his face perfectly. He was a good looking guy and Goten got the feeling that he was a gentle soul with a more calm personality but still there was something that told Goten that he had quite a temperament if poked correctly.

The other man, who he later learned was called Hazzel, was short, had dark hair and it was no surprise to Goten that he was a ladies man who liked to flirt with every female he could get close to.

The duo were both surgeons and had developed an amazing friendship despite the fact that the typical lead surgeons often didn't like each other very much. An alpha male thing the woman explained.

She had blonde hair that was tied into the back of her head. She was around the same age as his mom and she seemed like the motherly figure in the room at least. It took Goten a few days to know her real name, since everybody kept calling her sugar, honey or mom. A weird concept to Goten who would prefer to call her Puddey.

"I think my husband died on me" a woman called Kattie said drily "He hasn't responded if he liked the couch I found or not"

"He's hoping you will forget about it if he doesn't respond" Hazzel grinned and leaned back into his chair.

"Well you would have thought that he knew me better than that after 5 years of marriage." Kattie mumbled and looked into her phone again typing a few words before putting it back into her pocket.

"Are you seeing anyone?" Kattie asked Goten and his polite smile suddenly turned into a thin line.

Of course this question would come up. It always did but he hadn't thought through what he wanted to answer. Somehow he felt like he had an opportunity to practice the whole being with a man thing with these people. He doubted that he would see any of them after the internship ended anyways.

But still… What if they weren't accepting? He would then spend the next few months with constant judgment lingering over him.
He thought back to the hot spring and how the two strangers turned on a dime when they thought that Trunks and himself were in a relationship. He didn’t like to think about that at all but it had made him a bit more aware how you could never really tell how strangers would react to it even if they at first seemed nice.

Once again he found himself in a situation that was so different from when he was with Valese. And it annoyed him that he felt that way.

"Uff I think you hit a nerve there" Hazzel said "You don't have to share it if you don't feel comfortable with it"

"No it's okay! I'm seeing someone" Goten replied apologetically and scratched the back of his head. "It is just all new to me so I haven't really had time to adjust to it jet"

"That's completely normal!" Kattie said with a friendly smile "What's her name?"

"Actually... It's a guy!" Goten said as he looked into the table and felt his heart beating in his chest like it was trying to escape. He did it! First time saying it out loud to a bunch of strangers and it had been a lot harder than he had expected it to be. But it somehow still… felt kinda freeing.

A unisone "Ooooh" filled the room from the entire staff as they realized what Goten really had meant.

"Don't worry about it!" Hazzel said lively "We are pretty inclusive! Besides, I think all of us know someone who is a part of the rainbow family! My cousin!"

"My best friend" Kattie added

"My volleyball teacher!" Puddey hummed.

"Me" Cassew said shortly.

"See! You have nothing to worry about around us" Hazzel continued.

A warm feeling spread in Goten's chest. He was relieved and happy and already felt more at peace than he thought he would be.


—


“You forgot to mention that this place is huge!” Goten said as he entered their new living space.
It was a big house with two floors and an even larger garden.

Trunks had taken care of the move as soon as Goten had left this morning.
Most of packing and unpacking had been done by a moving company but he had been in the house for a few hours to make sure it was ready when Goten was off.

“How much did this place cost?” Goten asked in awe while looking inside the third room at the downstairs floor.

“I told you not to worry about that!” Trunks answered and flew two of the moving boxes up the stairs. “Upstairs is mainly made for a lab but if you want we can change that into a gravity room?”

Goten followed and opened the door to a smaller lab - compared to the once at Capsule Corp that is. A huge screen was already starting up by the end of the room and tools had been sorted nicely and were hanging along the walls of the room.

"Nah I think this is better" Goten replied and glided his hands over one of the tables "this way I might have a chance to drag you home if you are stuck on a project"

Trunks hummed in reply and could already feel the excitement of having Goten around him while working even if he was in a different room.

"Have you seen the bedroom yet?" Trunks asked distractedly as he was checking for any software updates on the computer.

"Nope. I was kinda hoping you would show me?" Goten replied with an innocent voice.

He glided his hands down Trunks' back and chuckled at the satisfied grunt his boyfriend let off.

"What are you working on?" Goten whispered in his ear and a smile spread across his lips by the sight of goosebumps forming on Trunks skin.

"I'll tell you soon enough" Trunks chuckled and felt Gotens hands gliding over his chest.

"But you should tell me about your day! Did they treat you nicely?" Trunks asked and enjoyed feeling Goten's chest rest against his back and neck.

"It was a really good place!" Goten said in an excited tone almost like he had forgotten how flirtatious he had been just a moment ago "They have a wildlife department they want me to look over! There are a ton of dragons and spiders and all sorts of wild animals!"

Trunks hummed as a response and continued his work all while listening to Goten's excited ramble about the different animals and the staff.

"You know.. I told them I was seeing someone!"

"That's nice!" Trunks hummed. He knew coming out wouldn't be easy for Goten and he had accepted when they started dating that it would be a while before he would be ready to open up about their relationship and in all honesty Trunks didn't mind that much.

"I told them I was seeing a guy." Goten pressed on and tried to hide his smile when Trunks stopped his tapping on the keyboard and turned around.

"You did?"

Goten nodded

"It felt really good!" Goten admitted. "And they were really friendly about it as well. It might be a while before I can tell my parents but I think I'm on the right path!"

"You know, you don't have to pressure yourself for my sake, right?" Trunks asked "I want you to tell people when you are ready to tell!"

"I know," Goten replied and kissed his forehead. "It was nerve wracking but I wanted to tell them and it felt really good that I won't need to hide it like I did to my classmates"

“Did you remember to tell them that your boyfriend is successful, rich and incredibly good looking?” Trunks grinned and looked into Goten’s eyes with a playful glimpse.

“Naah” Goten replied slick “I don’t want them to think that I’m making you up! Perhaps I should tell them that you are a workaholic with bad posture and anger issues. Sounds more believable!”

Goten let out a shaken exhale as he felt Trunks grab around the collar of his shirt and started to tighten a little bit. Their eyes were glued to each other and a soft grin spread across Goten’s lips as Trunks hand slowly started to drift up against his neck until it was resting in a light grip just underneath his jaws.

“Perhaps it’s time for me to show you the bedroom” Trunks whispered “It seems like I need to discipline that mouth of yours a little bit before I let you loose again.”

The adrenalin filled Goten and all he could do was to lean into Trunks hands, looking at him with begging eyes. He had been looking forward to this all day.


Goten fell asleep that night feeling at peace.
Moving in with Trunks like this felt a lot better than pretending to crash at Capsule Corp. It made him feel like he didn’t have to be on his tip toe all the time whenever he wanted to show affection to his own boyfriend.

Even if he had imagined himself at a different kind of internship before he started to apply he was happy that this opportunity had presented itself. It somehow felt right already.

Small pieces in his life were starting to fall into place and he couldn’t help but feel like everything was going in the right direction for him. Of course he didn’t know what the future had in store for him and just how much his relationship with Trunks would make him reconsider everything.

Chapter Text

Goten woke up every morning looking forward to what the day had to bring. He was now 2 months into his internship and he was finally starting to get the hang of everything. He hated that he was over halfway done.

His relationship with the others from the clinic had quickly formed into a friendship and especially the two surgeons Hazzel and Cassew had taken him under their wings and had made his time there a lot more fun.

Their dynamic reminded him a lot of how him and Trunks acted when they were younger. Hazzel would get bored and find some kind of scheme he and Cassew usually would get in some sort of trouble for.
Cassew always protested to Hazzels ideas but ended up agreeing in the end.
Usually it was harmless stuff that people mostly just found annoying but the duo always compensated by buying snacks for the lunch room or buying a round of beer at the bar they would visit every Friday.

The two men were easy to be around and always made Goten laugh.

He looked at himself in the mirror with a smile. He was getting used to the uniform he was wearing at the clinic and after many internal dialogues he had managed to send the clinic an application for a job that he hoped he could get once he had finished his studies.

Working with wild animals like this had caught his attention and he was enjoying it more and more every day.

His eyes glided to the reflection of Trunks who was sitting in their bed, topless and covered by his duvet with his laptop sitting in front of him.
The last month had been hard on him and despite Goten's best effort, Trunks had glided into his former habit of overworking himself.

Their relationship was going between butterflies and pink skies with amazing sex and a clear vision of their future together to arguing and yelling, and a lot of thinking if they really worked as a couple.

They always made up in the end and Goten quickly realized that the arguing usually was not about them but about Trunks feeling overwhelmed and not knowing how to manage it.
Sometimes it is easier to take it out on the people closest to you.

"Did you sleep well?" Goten asked and smiled as Trunks looked up from his computer.

"Mmh" he answered and looked down again.
Translation: he didn't sleep at all!

"We finally got the date for the graduation ceremony." Goten continued "I would love it if you could come?"

Trunks clicked on his computer a few times before closing it down and looked up a Goten again, with his eyes red from exhaustion.
"Of course!" Trunks answered "When is it? I'll ask Serenity to clear my schedule"

"It's in four months. Serenity already cleared you for that day. Her girlfriend is in my class, remember!"

Trunks hummed and got out of bed, stretching his body before walking towards Goten.

He swung his arms around his waist and kissed his cheeks.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," he whispered.

"You look good in that uniform!" Trunks continued and started to kiss down his neck before turning and pulling him in for a kiss.
Their kisses turned into something passionate and soon they only broke apart to breathe.

"I need to get breakfast ready" Goten mumbled and ran his fingers through Trunks' hair pulling it slightly to have better access to his jawline.

Trunks pushed Goten into the bed and climbed over him before settling in his lab.

He kissed him down his neck like he was starving while pressing their cocks together. He was already hard and needy and started to roam his hands wildly.

"Kami, Trunks!" Goten gasped. "What is up with you today? We already did it twice and it's not even past 8"

"Ugh if you don't want to do it just say it!" Trunks spat and sat up.

"Wh… wait! I was just teasing you!" Goten said confused and tried to pull him down again.

Trunks tore his wrist out of Goten's grasp and got up before storming out of the room.
"Well congrats you ruined the mood instead!" He growled.

Goten could hear the door to the first floor, Trunks home lab, close harsh and he slowly sat up from the bed, confused and bewildered.

"What is up with him lately?" He mumbled and looked down on the tent in his pants with a disappointed frown.

—

Fuming Trunks sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

He marched back and forth in the lab, annoyed with himself and how the anger had taken over.

Goten couldn't have known. He had kept this secret from him and as the results got worse and worse Trunks could feel how his chest had been tightening and his focus had been unsteady.

He sat down in front of the computer and signed deep. Perhaps it was for the better to let Goten know soon. This was for him after all.

He placed his finger inside a small scanner and pressed his fingertip until the little scanner started to make sounds and a small window popped up on his screen.

He signed again and closed the window. He sat still for a little while drumming his fingers against the table while he was staring intensely on a small blue pill in front of him.

This was starting to spiral out of hand. His body was rejecting everything he did and everything he had worked for. He could tell by his vitals and the way his body felt that this experiment had to stop for now and it was only a matter of time before he would be struggling with worse consequences than his bad mood swings and headaches.

He needed to be careful though. He wasn't sure how his body would react if he stopped right away. He needed to fade it out slowly.

He signed annoyed and frustrated, took the pill and swallowed it.

"Trunks?" He heard Goten call from down stairs.

"...Yeah?" He called back after hesitating for a second.

"Food is ready" he called back like nothing had happened.

Surprised, Trunks got up from his chair and slowly opened the door to the lab to look down into the kitchen where Goten was standing by the stove.

The table was already filled with a lot of food and the smell hit Trunks soon after that.
It smelled amazing as always and he realized just how hungry he was.

He slowly walked down the stairs and stood awkwardly by the table not really sure what to do with himself.
Goten turned and gave him his usual big smile before turning to shut off the stove.

Trunks didn't move and just looked at his boyfriend a bit confused. Was he not mad?

"I made a lot of meat so I hope that you are hungry!" Goten continued "I know you prefer coffee but I made you some juice my mom makes this for Gohan when he needed an energy boost. Thought it would be a lot better for you!"

Trunks whispered out a small thanks as he sat down.

Goten placed the last food on the table, sat down and nodded for Trunks to start eating.
They sat in silence for a while and just ate.

The ball of guild formed into something bigger. He wanted to apologize for his outburst but he couldn't find the right words for it.

"Goten… I.."

"It's okay!" Goten answered and gave him a reassuring smile "You are under a lot of pressure so It's only natural that you are a little bit on edge."

"It should.. I still shouldn't have talked to you like that" Trunks mumbled.

"No you shouldn't," Goten agreed. "Do you want to tell me what is going on?"

Trunks throat tangled itself and his mouth went all dry.
Yes he wanted to tell him but he didn't know how.

"I… I can't yet" Trunks replied and looked up in fear to catch a disappointed look in Goten's eyes. "But I will.. I promise"

Goten just nodded and took Trunks hand that was resting on the table and squeezed it softly
"Okay that's fine! But I need you not to blow up in my face like that every time you are frustrated by other things. You can always tell me when and what's on your mind, okay?"

Trunks nodded and they sat for a while just looking at each other while eating in silence.

As Goten was about to leave Trunks grabbed his wrist and pulled him in tightly.
"Thank you for understanding me even when I'm being unfair"

"I've known you for a long time, Trunks. You are never unfair without a reason.”

—

The vet clinic was quiet that morning when Goten arrived. He locked his bag in his locker after greeting a few of the staff that had been there overnight.

The clinic was open at all hours a day, taking in any animals that needed help.

The staff was devised into day- and night crew and Goten had only been able to talk to a few of the night crew as they started to slide home as soon as the day crew started to show up.

He stopped by the break room and waved at the staff that had arrived.
Most of them looked refreshed and happy but a few of them only raised their warm coffee mug as a lazy greeting.

He went through his rounds as usual and couldn't help but beam at the few animals calling for him as they spotted him.

They knew that food was coming soon but he liked to think that they recognized him and called for him personally.

He checked on a few patients that were in a more serious condition when he left the day before.
One small dragon that had been run over was doing a lot better and looked at him curiously through the enclosure.

A bird had been stocked in some fishnet and was found all tangled in. The bird had a wing and was weak and fragile the day before.
The bird was still not pumping with energy and Goten could tell it was getting better so his worries started to fade away.

One large dino had been brought in with a lot of serious damage. Hunters had been all over the poor animal, stripping it for its larger scales, nails and left it in such poor condition it was almost impossible to tell what kind of dino it was.

When Goten came to check on her she only slowly opened one of her eyes before closing it weakly again.
His chest tightened and a small ball of panic started to form.

"How are you holding up?" Cassew asked and rested against the fence beside Goten.

Goten let out a deep sigh. "She's dying," he answered in a sad tone. "And all I can do is to watch it happen. It breaks my heart"

Cassew looked at the resting dinosaur. She appeared pale and weak and it seemed like it was only a matter of time before she would take her last breath.

He looked down at his dark haired colleague with sympathy. He remembered losing his first patient as well like it was yesterday. He was sure that everybody did.

"Is there any way we can make it less painful for her?" Cassew asked and watched Goten's head turn to look at him.

Goten was trying to collect his thoughts. He had been so stressed out trying to save her that he hadn't thought about how to make it easier for her.
He was wondering if Trunks was feeling similar pressure all the time, feeling like everything rested on his shoulder like this.

He looked back at the dinosaur again and observed her for a little while. Perhaps ending her pain would be more merciful but there was something inside him screaming that there was a way to save her. He just needed more time.

It suddenly hit him. He looked at her tail that still had a few of her remaining spikes. At first they had looked round but now he realized that they had been cut. This was not the type of dinosaur that they thought she was.
He knew exactly what would help her and maybe even save her.
He looked around the large room searching for any windows but all windows had been sealed off to prevent the wild animals from getting stressed out by the sight of the busy city.

"Do we have an enclosure?" Goten asked "I mean outside on the fields?"

"Nothing big enough for her. Why?"

"She needs sunlight!" Goten said with an urgency in his tone "Her body needs the vitamins from the sun. Her skin won't absorb the artificial light and it's killing her! If we can just get her outside and get her to eat I'm sure she will get better in no time!"

Cassew lifted an eyebrow and looked back at the weak animal.
"Sunlight is not a magic potion, Son. She is dying of her wounds."

Goten shook his head and took his phone from his pocket. Perhaps Trunks could help.
"Normally I would agree but she is a Nurusaurus. She needs daylight to survive!"

He scrolled until he found Trunks' name and was about to press the dial when he stopped.
Trunks had been showing signs of pressure from work again. He knew if he called him and asked for help Trunks would drop everything to do so. But that would mean that he most likely would overcompensate later for feeling guilty of leaving his work.
Perhaps he should try and fix this himself first and only call Trunks as a last resource.

He placed his phone in his pocket and looked up at Cassew.
"I need your help!" he said.

Cassew shook his head.
"I know that look and that will get us both into trouble! Are you sure she's a Nurusaurous? According to her files she a-"

"The files are wrong! The two breeds can easily be mistaken especially since her spikes had been broken off. But trust me she is a Nurusaurus and she can't live without the ray of sunlight for more than 12 hours!" Goten explained.

Cassew bit inside his cheek and looked between Goten and the dying dino. He specialized in small pets like dogs or cats but knew only the basics of larger wild animals.
“Okay! what’s the plan?”

“We need sunlight to get in. Possibly from the roof!” Goten explained “Now!”

Cassew laughed at first but realized soon that Goten wasn’t joking.
“How do you propose that we do that? We can't just blow a hole through the roof!”

Goten looked up on the roof spotting something that could possibly look like a seal off window. When he studied the roof closer he noticed that there were a lot of them.

"What about that?" Goten asked and pointed, "Can we use that?"

Cassew looked up and shook his head.

"The roof might be stable to keep the animals sheltered but it's too fragile for humans to walk on it. The chances of you falling through is high and the clinic can't afford the repairs it needs. That's why we blocked off the windows since most of them are broken."

Although Cassew was standing right next to him Goten didn't hear a word he was saying.
Nobody knew just how strong Goten was or the fact that he was able to fly.
He had on purpose kept it a secret as he found that people treated him differently.
It was almost as if people were scared of him if they knew.

"So what are we up to today?" Goten heard a voice behind him.

"We need sunlight for the dino. I told Son that's like a suicide mission but he had that blank stair on his face to let me know that he was not listening to a word I said. So he is properly planning how to open the blinds on the roof" Cassew answered Hazzel casually.

"Woah woah woah! We agreed never to do anything dangerous!"

While Cassew and Hazzel started to argue whether or not some of their internal rules would be broken, since it was Goten's idea and not theirs, a small panic started to rise inside Goten.

"You told him?" Goten finally said

"Yes of course" Cassew answered "We agreed always to include each other with things like this"

"Okay.. But please let's keep it between the three of us!" Goten begged, " I don't wait to involve more people than necessary."

Both men promised this but it only took half an hour before most of the crew knew what was going on.

Kattie, who had sneaked out to smoke, saw Goten climbing a ladder to the roof. She agreed to hold the ladder for Goten while texting her husband about the latest furniture she wanted them to own.

Hazzel and Cassew had returned to the dying dino's enclosure, looking up at the roof to keep an eye on Goten, Cassew clinging to his phone ready at any moment to call for an ambulance should an accident occur.

Relief washed over the two men when they saw the block off was lifted and Goten’s face could faintly be seen through the dirty and broken window.

Later, Puddie was doing her daily rounds when she passed Goten, Hazzel and Cassew and heard them whisper intensely about a few extra windows laying around they could use to exchange for the broken ones. But neither Hazzel or Cassew knew where they was stored.

Puddie had told them that she knew where it was and with her soft and motherly nature she took Goten's hand to show him where to find it.

"Now we just need to find a way to get to the roof without anyone falling through" Hazzel said and send Goten a nervous glare. "I think the fact that you managed to get up there without falling through was pure luck. I'm not sure you will be able to pull it off again with a heavy window on you shoulder"

Cassew just nodded by Hazzels conclusion.

"Don't worry about me!" Goten replied cheerfully "I think the roof is a lot more sturdy than you give it credit for. I’ve been climbing roofs since I was a kid so I know where not to step!”

Both men just nodded as a response but Goten could tell they weren’t completely convinced.

Somehow Goten managed to convince them to continue with the mission and they sneaked to the back of the building with the heavy window under their arms, where the ladder was waiting for Goten to climb it.
Goten asked them to go find some items that could help them lift the window up the ladder and while they were out of sight, Goten took the window and flew up to the roof.
He laughed it off with a stupid joke about not knowing his own strength when the crew gathered to help out and realized that he had managed to get the window on the roof by himself.

"I'm having second thoughts, Son" Cassew called "I think you should come back down"

"I'm almost there," Goten called from the spot where the broken window was waiting for him.
Luckily the window contained two pieces of glass and only the top glass was cracked.
He managed to remove the broken glass without cutting himself and started to clean the bottom glass from all the dirt that kept the sun from entering the enclosure beneath him.

Soon he could see through it and easily spotted the dying dino. Luckily she was lying right under the small window and he could tell that as soon as he could remove himself, the sun would reach her directly.
He thanked his inhuman strength once again as he had no idea how to change the glass in the window, but he could with ease bend the metal frame around the window to ensure the glass was staying in place in case of bad weather.

He smiled satisfied with his work and started to head back to the crew waiting for him. Cassew had stopped calling for him a little while ago and Goten was relieved that he had chosen to give up.

"All done you guys!" Goten yelled back while climbing down the ladder.
"We can tell the boss that something must have knocked the blinds over the window. The key is not to lie but not to tell the truth either"

As his feet landed on the ground he turned with a satisfied grin on his lips that shortly got stiff and cold sweat started to run down his spine.

"An interesting tactic to get away with sceams" his boss, Gelo, said in a cold tone.

The shorter man was standing inches from Goten with his arms crossed and a face that was impossible to read.

"I would like to hear what you did on the roof, then?" He said.

"Ehm.. it's.. I was… ehm… no..nothing" Goten stuttered "not a thing!"

"Oh that's good" he answered with a sarcastic tone "So it had nothing to do with the window that has been changed in the ceiling?"

"Uuuhhmmm"

"Yeah that's what I thought! My office!" Gelo turned on his heel and Goten followed him with heavy steps.

Perhaps leaving the boss out of the plan was a bad idea. But Goten had feared that he would not allow him to do anything reckless and given his reaction Goten had been right.

As he followed Gelo through the clinic he got a glimpse of the Nurusaurous with a raised head looking up to the sunlight through the window.
He couldn't help but smile. There was a good chance he would lose his internship in just a minute but seeing the animal living up just a little bit made it all worth it. Now she at least had a chance!

"Goten, we all care very much for the animals and I gotta say that I admire your willingness to go to the extreme to help them. We need more people like you." Gelo started as they got seated in his office "With that said I have to give you a spoken warning! I don't ever want this situation to repeat itself or so help me I will call your school myself and have your diploma suspended!"

Goten looked at his hands folded in his lap and nodded to confirm that he heard and understood.

"Next time you don't need to put your life in danger. Just come talk to me and we will figure it out! We are all in this together!"

"I'm sorry sir!" Goten said politely. "I promise I will involve you next time!"

"Good! I would hate to fire you before your first official day"

Goten blinked a few times, not sure at first what he had meant.

Only when Gelo raised Goten's application for a full time position did it click for him.
"Wait.. Does that mean?"

"We can't wait to have you onboard… Officially. So please don't get yourself killed meanwhile! I'm counting on you!"

—

Capsule Corp was in a busy season.
This was something affecting the whole company leaving the employees overworked and exhausted.

As always Trunks spent most of his time worried about how he could ease it for his employees but as more and more people became sick more work started to pile up.

He had made a strict rule that no one was allowed to work overtime. Everybody needed to go home in time to prevent burnouts.
Of course nobody suspected that as soon as the warehouse employees were going home he would sneak in there himself to unpack and unload.
It was easier for him due to his strength and speed.

Nobody suspected that he would then go on to some of the bigger labs and help organize and clean up, making all tools ready to use and even assemble a few things himself.

He had heard talking in the hallways that some had been pleased with the night shift that would take over and ease the assignment for the researchers.

Of course there was no night shift. It was all Trunks.

Serenity had looked right through him and warned him that she would tell his mom or Goten if he kept it up.
He had told her he would keep it to the minimum but never promised what exactly that meant.

Trunks was busy with his paperwork in his office when a text ticked in from Goten.

"Soo… My colleagues just found out we live close by. They insisted on stopping by for a small gathering. They also really want to meet you. We can go to the bar if you prefer that we don't! I'll just let them know that you are busy at work" the message read.

Trunks stopped breathing for a small moment. He knew at some point he would get to meet some of Goten's friends and it never bothered him before. But somehow being more than just a friend made it seem a lot more important. Especially since Goten clearly had become quite close to the crew. Even if he rarely mentioned them by name Trunks almost already felt like he knew them.

The two surgeons who always got in trouble. A motherly figure who never seems to be called by her own name. A material girl who was married and had quit smoking four times since Goten started two months ago. The only person he knew by name was the boss Gelo and of course all of the animals.

"No need to ask, Goten! It's your home as well! I look forward to meeting them all!" He replied and couldn't help but let a smile slip as the message was marked as read.

He knew it meant a lot to Goten and he was willing to be the good host for a couple of hours even if he would prefer to sort out his home project that was slowly running out of hand.

"It will just be for a couple of hours and then they will move on to the bar to meet up with some of the others." Goten wrote back.
"Thank you T! I'm so excited to introduce you as my partner to someone for the first time"

Trunks chuckled and replied that he was excited too.

He placed his phone on his desk and checked his calendar.
The next meeting was a virtual meeting in about an hour. Perfect timing for him to take a stroll to the other end of Capsule Corp and check up on this mom.

Since he and Goten moved he had barely had time to see her and he knew she was working on a big project with a tight deadline.

He stood up and took a single step forward before he had to lean against the table.
Static closed on his vision faster than he could react and a high ringing tone clouded his sense of hearing.

Darkness soon took over and he woke up by the sound of a voice calling him.

His vision was slowly getting back and he realized that he was laying on the floor.
He tried to blink to gain his vision but all he got was a semi blurry sight of a woman sitting over him and calling his name.

"I'm okay" he blurted out weakly "Just got up too fast!"

Serenity tried to help him back into his chair but he refused her help.

"Do you want me to bring you some water?" Serenity asked worriedly.

"No, I'm fine!" Trunks lied, still feeling his head spinning. "I just need to sit for a bit"

Serenity crossed her arms and observed her boss for a moment. This was far from the first time she had seen him like this and it was starting to worry her.

"All lies!" She spat "Stay here! I will get you something to drink"

While Serenity was away Trunks cursed out loud.
What the hell had he got himself into?!

The color in his face was slowly starting to get back to normal and his head had stopped spinning when she returned with a bottle of water.
He drank a few slurps of water, forced by Serenity, before waving her off and getting back to work.

She closed the door behind her and started to chew on the inside of her cheek.
This was not the first time this had happened and next time she needed to tell Goten or Miss. Briefs she agreed with herself. Even if he had specifically asked her not to.

—

"Holy frick" Kattie spat as they entered the hallway. "I don't know what I expected but I didn't expect this to be all yours! Are you rich??"

Goten chuckled a bit embarrassed and scratched the back of his head.
"My partner is" He answered "His mom owns this house though. She was just kind enough to let us borrow it"

"So his mom knows about you two?" Hazzel asked as Goten guided them into the house.

"His mom is not the best at keeping secrets and she speaks to my parents from time to time. So we agreed to tell her last" Goten explained "I'm sure she will be the easiest to tell among our family. But for now she just thinks we are joined by the hips like when we were younger"

"Well I guess she is not that far off. You guys are joined, alright" Kattie joked and laughed as Goten's face and ears turned bright red.

"Who will be the hardest to tell?" Kattie asked as she glided her fingers over the coffee table in their living room with excited eyes glued to the furniture.

"My mom or his dad I think" Goten answered "My mom had a long chat with me the day T and I hooked up for the first time. She rambled a lot about how wrong it was for two men to be together. Meanwhile T was hiding in my closet butt naked"

The crew laughed loudly as they sat down on the couch, all pausing by the luxury and soft furniture that took them back for a second.

"His dad is not supportive either I guess" Puddey asked sweetly and took the glass of wine Goten offered her.

"His dad doesn't care too much about sexualities. He says where he came from none of that mattered." Goten laughed nervously "But his dad has a big rival complex with my dad. I don't think he is too keen on someone from our family to mix with his."
A low level saiyan, he had called his dad multiple times over the years.

Kattie wrinkled her nose and shook her head.
"Stupid reason!" She said "He should be thrilled if you ask me!"

"I noticed you don't have any pictures of you around the house" Puddie said sweetly "is your boyfriend camera shy?"

"Not at all" Goten grinned "And the camera loves him, if I gotta be honest. He's working almost all of his wakening hours so decorating is not a priority at the moment"

Gello hummed and took a sip of his cold beer.
"Main reason me and my wife are fighting! She thinks I work too much!"

"Oh we don't fight!" Goten reassured them "I knew it would be like this when I got into the relationship. He has always been a hard worker and his mind never stands still. At least we have a lab on the first floor so I have a change to pull him away from the office"

"A lab?" Hazzel asked curiously "Is he a scientist?"

"You can say that! T is the most cleavy person I have ever met. I don't always know what kinds of projects he is running. It could be everything from building vehicles to fixing androids or messing with biology."

"Has he ever run an experiment on you?" Kattie asked curiously. A part of her voice made it seem like she was fishing for some dirty details. Goten just brushed that away and pretended she was talking about lab tests out of the bedroom.

"He never asked" Goten admitted "Though if he ever was to, I would trust him completely"

"What if he had already done it? Testing on you without your knowledge" Kattie suggested with a creepy voice but with a huge smile on her lips. Clearly she was messing with him.

"And that is enough wine for you, miss" Hazzel said and took Katties glass away despite her protests.

"I mean… if he did the results might be better!" Goten admitted "I would search for any symptoms if I knew I was being tested on. Might ruin the experiment"

"Are you crazy?" Kattie spat.

The sound of her high pitched yell over toned the sound of the main door closing.

—

Trunks turned the key to turn off his motorcycle but he didn't get up. His entire body felt heavy and he just needed a few minutes to himself.
The light in the living room was on and he signed heavily. All he wanted right now was food and Goten's affection.

He regretted agreeing that Goten could bring home some people from the clinic. He was tired and wanted to talk to Goten about his latest private project. Perhaps it was time to admit what he was up to.

He could tell that the project was taking a toll on his body and that it was affecting and weakening him.
He needed another way to approach it and he came to the conclusion that he needed Goten's help to move further.

But for now he needed to man up and give Goten's friends a good first impression.

"Are you crazy?" A woman's voice echoed as he entered the house "What if you are experiencing some symptoms you need to be aware of?"

"If my partner knew I was being tested on he could keep a close eye on me!" Goten argued back "I just think a lot of test results are being compromised because people get paranoid! I know I would!"

Trunks froze by the conversation and as quietly as he could started to take his shoes off while listening closely.

"I'm just saying that I think in some cases it would be better if I did not know if I was being tested on! it would help a better result since I wouldn't be paranoid of side effects all the time!" Goten continued.

By the sound of it there were a total of 4 people beside Goten sitting around the couch.
It almost reminded Trunks of when he was a teenager and invited classmates over to hang out and play video games. He couldn't even remember when he had guests over like this after taking over as president of Capsule Corp.

"I'm pretty sure testing on people without them knowing is illegal!" A man said with uncertainty in his voice.

"It's not only highly illegal and will send you to jail for a very long time, it will also strip you from all licenses with no chance of getting it back!" Trunks interrupted as he turned the corner.
"Sorry I couldn't help but overhear"

Goten stood up with his sunshine smile dancing on his lips as he walked to greet him.

Goten's colleagues all looked at each other, clearly recognizing him and were not sure how to act in the moment. It seems like Goten hadn't told them who he was dating.

"Guys, this is my boyfriend T… Or rather Trunks!" Goten said as he took Trunks hand and squeezed it. "Trunks this is Kattie, Hazzel, Puddey and our boss Gelo. We'll have another one join us soon. He had a last minute emergency surgery on a pet so he will come when he is done."

“A pleasure to meet you all” Trunks greeted them.

They all greeted back politely. It took a couple of minutes and an offer of the best beer they had stored in the house before the atmosphere loosened up.

He joined them, listening to their stories and laughing at their jokes. He wanted so badly to stay focused but all he could think of was how he should tell Goten about the collapse he had earlier when they were alone again.

Feeling a bit overdressed in his expensive suit he excused himself and told them he would go change to something less formal before joining them again and then disappeared into the bedroom. He needed to collect his thoughts for a moment anyways.

"You could have told us that you were dating Trunks freaking Briefs!" Kattie hissed to Goten as the door slammed close "Don't get me wrong - you are cute and all but how the hell did you manage to land him?"

"It's a long story, really!" Goten said and scratched the back of his head. "The short version is that we have been friends before I could walk and at some point we started to have a crush on each other. Then one thing let to another and here we are"

"Perhaps we should get going!" Hazzel said suddenly and got up from his chair.

Kattie turned and sent him a confused look.
"We just got here?" She said "We are also waiting for Cassew to arrive!"

"Let's meet him at the bar! It'll be faster anyways" Hazzel said and Goten noticed a sort of panic in the other man.

"Goten's place is closer than the bar?" Kattie snapped "What is up with you?"

Hazzel was about to open his mouth when the doorbell rang.

Goten got up and walked to open the door, with Hazzel follow him by the tail.
"Are you okay?" Goten asked "Why are you so nervous?"

"It's nothing" Hazzel said quickly and gave him a quick tense smile before Goten opened the front door.

Cassew looked around the entrance with lifted brows and a small whistle following shortly after.

"Dreamboy gotta be rich!" He said "Otherwise I gotta go back to studying if this is the kind of cash they offer you"

Goten laughed and was about to answer when Hazzel interrupted.
"Goten, perhaps you should get Cassew some water. I'm sure he is drying up after the surgery!"

Goten send Cassew an apologetic smile as he left, leaving the two men alone. It seemed that Hazzel's nervous behavior was something he wanted to share with Cassew alone.

Cassew didn't take much notice and followed Goten before he turned the corner and greeted everyone with a tired smile and a thumbs up.
The operation had been successful and with no casualties.

Hazzel tugged Cassews sleeve and tried almost in a panic to distract him.

As he was about to open his mouth to ask him what the deal was, Cassew turned his head as a movement from the corner of his eye caught his attention.

Trunks entered the living room after changing into something more relaxing. He closed the door behind him and froze as he and Cassew locked eyes.

Tension started to hang heavily in the air and it didn't go unnoticed by anyone.

Chapter Text

The atmosphere had quickly turned from lively and chatty to complete silence with a heavy tension hanging in the air.

Goten found himself frozen, standing between his partner and a friend he had just started to form a close bond with.

There was no doubt that the two men had a history and all Goten hoped for was that it was business and nothing else.

"Cassew, this is my partner Trunks.. But it seems you already… know him" Goten said hesitantly and looked at Trunks trying to find any answers to the situation.

Trunks' face was neutral, like always he seemed so calm and collected. But Goten spotted a hint of panic hiding behind his bright blue eyes.
Trunks was the first to react and as soon as he opened his mouth to speak Cassew's eyes squinted.

"What a surprise" Cassew interrupted harshly, making Trunks close his mouth. "I think I will meet the others that the bar. I don't feel comfortable with liars around me"

"No please, stay" Trunks said "I have some work to do so I will leave you guys to it. Please stay as long as you like. I won't bother you!"

Without any chance of interruption Trunks turned on his heel and walked up to his lab where he closed the door. The crew sat frozen, first following Trunks with their eyes and as soon as the door closed behind him all eyes went to Cassew.
As kattie was about to open her mouth, Cassew send her a glare and she froze.

"I'll go to the bar and meet the others," he said again. "I need a smoke anyway"

Cassew turn on his heel and didn't put on his jacket before he closed the front door behind him.
As he turned his eyes met Goten for a short second before they flickered to the floor.

Hazzel padded Goten on the shoulder a single time before running after him.
"Don't take it personally, Son!" He said "He just needs to cool off! See you on Monday''

The others looked at each other, not really sure what to do. Gelo was the first to get up and excused himself as his wife was probably wondering where he was.
Puddey took Goten's hand and clapped on the top of it while complimenting on the house and how generous and kind Trunks was. A true gentleman!

"Hey, are you okay?" Kattie asked while the other was starting to get dressed to leave.

"Yeah I think so?" Goten replied, not really sure how he felt.

"What was all that about?" She asked curiously and looked at the top of the stair where Trunks had disappeared to.

"I'm not sure?" Goten mumbled. "It seems that T and Cassew had crossed paths before. I'm just begging that it's nothing… romantic"

Kattie sniffed a single time and padded his back
"All I can say is that Cassew doesn't get this upset by anyone without a really good reason. I'll head to the bar and make sure that he is okay. See you Monday?"

"See you Monday!" Goten smiled and waved the last of his guests farewell.

Definitely not how he wanted this night to have gone.
He had been so excited to finally show Trunks off as more than just a friend. It gave him a sense of confidence and the feeling that he was one step closer to telling his mom.
But right now he felt a little broken and it bothered him that he didn't know the reason.

Deep down he knew this was not just Trunks stepping casually on Cassews foot one time.
Cassew had complained before about how he hated that he was into men.
He kept reminding Goten how lucky he was, that he didn't have to go through the whole dating experience while he was green on the matter.

Cassew had often been deceived by men but especially one guy had managed to wheel him in only to toss him away when he was no use anymore.
Gosh Goten hoped that it wasn't Trunks.

"Ten?" Trunks called, startling him so much that Goten almost dropped the glass he was trying to clean by the kitchen sink.

"Kami!" Goten exhaled "Don't sneak up on me like that!"

Trunks gave his best composed face but panic still danced in his eyes and his quick but almost calm breathing could have fool just about anyone but it didn't fool Goten.

"Ten I… I don't know what to say!" He started, and as word started to leave his mouth the more he started to stumble over himself
"If only I knew I would have stayed at Capsule Corp! Ugh this is a mess I never meant to stir with your friends. I-"

Goten placed a hand on his cheek, feeling a small pinch of bad conscience even if he knew he wasn't to blame for whatever this was.

"Trunks it's okay!" Goten said "I don't think I ever told their names, and even if I did Cassew is not a unusual name"

Trunks took in a few deep breaths and nodded absently, still caught up in his own head.
"Are you okay?" Goten asked.

"Am I okay? Are YOU okay? It mustn't be pleasant to find yourself in the middle like this'' Trunks bursted.
"I know this evening was important for you and I just feel like an complete idiot for ruin it like that"

"Trunks… I don't know what is going on!"

"... oh. Right!" Trunks leaned against the kitchen island and looked into the floor while collecting himself.

"Do you remember the sexting I got when we were camping just before we started dating? The one where you asked if I got turned on by that?" Trunks asked him and a part of him hated that Goten nodded and remembered.

"Was that… him?"

Trunks nodded and signed
"We had a lot of… meetups" Trunks started "He said he wanted more and I told him I was not the kind to get involved with anyone."

"Oh…" Goten said and couldn't figure out how to place his emotions.

He knew Trunks had been with a lot of guys before him but something inside Goten started to stir. For a second his fantasy gave him a glimpse of how their meetups would look like, and the thought of Trunks taking Cassew into his mouth or being slammed against a wall with his dick buried deep inside him made his stomach tangle.

"I guess he didn't take it well then when you said you were dating someone?" Goten asked hesitantly.

Trunks grunted and went to the cabinet to take a glass. He didn't say anything while sliding in 3 cold stone cubes and poured in the golden liquid of whiskey.
He swirled his glass to let the drink cool down.

"I never told him" he finally said "I just kinda… ghosted him I guess. Before I only replied to his texts when I was desperate to get laid. When you and I started dating I just… never got around to answer him even when he begged me to. He made it quite clear in the end that what he thought of me and how badly he felt treated and I just… kept ignoring him."

Goten crossed his arms and fused his brows.
"I guess it makes good sense then why he was mad at you"

"You are taking his side?" Trunks grunted and he joined Goten on the couch.

"Why is that so weird? You used him even if you knew that he was seeking more only to throw him away without a thought"

"I told him I wasn't interested in him! Besides it was none of his busin- No, you know what, let's not go there! It will not lead us anywhere"

A feeling caught Goten’s attention that he didn’t recognize. He couldn’t help staring at Trunks, not being able to take his eyes off him.
The urge to grab him filled his body. He wanted to hold him so tight that they would melt together and nobody would be able to pull them apart.
It felt like a ball of tension was growing every second in his stomach and all he recognized from the sensation was that he needed Trunks.

Trunks turned his head and looked at him with a questioned expression.
As he was about to open his mouth and ask what was up Goten’s body took over and he learned to kiss him like he was starving.

A muffled surprised sound from Trunks escaped through their lips but the sound quickly turned to small content gasps.

Goten's hands were roaming free to touch every inch of Trunks' body, and how he craved it.
His fingers gilded under his shirt and quickly found their way to a nipple that he stroked and pinched.
Excitement filled his body with Trunks' lewd responses.

Twitching and arching his body little by little under Goten, expressing how he turned warm and tingling by his touches.

The low gasp and moans escaping between their lips turned louder when Goten started to glide his tongue along his neck and to his ear, breathing heavily and smiling as Trunks' body started to shiver.

Goten knew exactly what he needed to do to make Trunks twist and turn like this and a fire inside him started to burn by every reaction he predicted correctly.

He pushed Trunks to lay on his stomach on the couch and climbed over him in one smooth movement.
He started to grind himself against his ass, letting him feel the effect he had on his body.

"Just thinking about you drives me crazy," Goten whispered in his ear.

Trunks' low gasp and humming of excitement went directly to Goten's cock and he had to bite his lip not to give in.

"Stop teasing!" Trunks said with a hint of amusement in his tone "Or did you forget how to use it?"

Goten reached for the lube hiding in the drawer under the coffeetabel and without answering, he ripped Trunks' pants apart, ignoring his objection.

He glided his fingers over Trunks' entrance and watched closely as he added the lube.
Trunks was getting really good at relaxing himself and little to no preparation was needed this morning. That made Goten wonder…

"Goten wha-ah!"

In one swift move Goten glided his cock inside and all the way to the root without any resistant.

Goten's mind felt like it was a storm. We couldn't allow Trunks to think or speak. He just needed him to feel and forget about everything else! His work, whatever secret he was working on but mostly about…….

He started to move his hips, making sure every time his hips touched Trunks it was with a hard impact. He listened to their skin clashing together as an echo in the living room.

At first he took it slow, making sure to get in as deep as possible but as he felt Trunks shift under him he picked up the pace, knowing that he preferred it harder and faster.

He wanted to show Trunks just how powerful he was. He wanted to turn Super Sayian and more to reach max power level and then a little beyond.

His heart was hammering in his chest and his grip tightened around Trunks as he tried to return his power level to normal, only now realizing that he had raised it as he was thinking about it.
Even if Trunks was just as strong, if not stronger, taking him by surprise like that could hurt him. So he had to hold back.

Trunks' moans were getting louder and the pillow in his hand was slowly getting ripped open by the force of his grip.

"T..Ten don't stop!" Trunks called desperately.
"Please! Y..your power level! Raise it"

Instinct inside Goten took over. He flipped Trunks around before he thrust himself hard into Trunks again, raising his power level by every move.

His eyes were glued to Trunks face, drinking up his facial expressions, noises and movements.

He felt Trunks' power level flicker, first to match his own and then dropping it to normal and back up again.
Trunks was fighting to keep his level down. He wanted Goten to be the stronger one right now but his instincts wouldn't let him.

"Lower your level!" Goten growled, surprised by his own words. "And don't let me catch you raising it again!"

Trunks nodded and let out a whine to answer that he understood and swung his arms around Goten to hold him tight.

Goten continued his rhythm while keeping a close eye on his boyfriend.
This was his favorite view. Trunks being controlled, his face drugged by lust and the visual only got better with the loud noises coming from him.

He started to feel Trunks' thighs twitch and his noises changed from high pitched and delightful to strained and on edge.

"Don't cum until I tell you!" Goten warned him "I'm not done with you yet!"

"Shit" Trunks moaned between his teeth "I… I can't… Ten!!"

"I told you no!"

Trunks didn't answer in words but by a strained gasp and his hand clenching around Goten's hair.
Goten felt him shake beneath him, his entire body trembling to hold back but eventually he lost all control of his movements.

Trunks came with a strangled moan and back arched in hope to touch Goten with his cock but Goten kept his distance.

Just as he had hoped, Trunks dick was still hard and only a little precum was collected at the top.
"I told you I wasn't done with you yet!" Goten whispered.

Before Trunks could answer his words got stock in his throat and a loud gasp echoed in the room as Goten grabbed his cock and started to stroke him while he kept thrusting hard in the same rhythm

"T..too much" Trunks called "Too.. s..ah.. sensitive!"

"You should have thought about that before coming without my permission" Goten replied playfully and thrusted harder.

Trunks threw his head backwards with a loud moan and short gasp of "yes" in between his noises.

Goten felt his body piling up the sensation and the heat inside him almost became too much. Damn! He wanted this to last longer. He needed to show Trunks that he could do more.

Trunks' body started to tremble again. The veins on his neck were tense and red.

"Ten, please!" He begged, gripping the couch tight. "I'm so close!"

"Shit! Me too!" Goten grunted. "Yes! Trunks! Now!"

As Trunks came again with a loader roar he clenched hard around Goten who finally was sent over the edge as well, spilling everything he had inside him.

He fell heavily back with a deep sigh and observed his partner regaining himself at the other end of the couch.

At first Trunks barely moved, and only his heavy breathing let Goten know that he was still alive.

"Holy shit" Trunks said after catching his breath. "I'll go wash myself!" He got up with a low grunt, kissed Goten's forehead before walking to the bathroom across the room.

Goten couldn't help but stare at his perfectly sculpted naked boyfriend.

He loved his silhouette. A slim waist, perfect but cheeks and broad shoulders. He found himself thinking that he was jealous when they were younger. He remembered having these thoughts when they were in their late teenage years and now he was wondering if it was jealousy or frustration that he had longed for more.

"Didn't you wear a condom?" Trunks asked as he came back from the bathroom.

"No, I figured it was okay?" Goten asked "we were both tested and everything seemed fine so I just… didn't? Was that wrong?"

"No it's okay!" Trunks said and smiled "It's just that I have an important meeting tomorrow and… well… you know… my stomach doesn't always behave after a free load. I'm sure it'll be fine"

Goten smiled back, trying to hide the guild washing over him. He should have asked and he should have thought about asking as well.

"What even was that? I've never seen you like that before. So controlling and demanding!" Trunks exhaled as he sat down on the couch.

The guild hit Goten even harder. He had taken him and played with him for his own gain and with very little consideration of Trunks.
Like he was obsessed or possessive.

Only when he saw the satisfied grin on Trunks lips did he realize that this had not been a bad thing at all.

“I.. I don’t know what came over me.. I just” Goten said, confused. “I guess I’ve missed you? I.. I wanted to remind you that you.. you know… belonged to me. I can’t really explain it.”

“Wait” Trunks said and raised his head “Were you jealous? Of me and Cassew?”

Goten didn’t respond. He had felt jealousy before but not this intensely. His heart started to pound again with the thought of them together and the ball of tension started to form itself.

“.. Yeah” He finally said “I think I was.. or am”

Trunks' chuckle erased the tension a little inside Goten.
"Not gonna lie: you being jealous means great sex so I'm not gonna complain about that." Trunks started "But let's just be clear on something: What you and I have is something he could never gain!"

Trunks planted a soft kiss on Goten's lips and stroked his cheek.
"You are special, Son Goten! And I love you very much!"

"I love you too!" Goten mumbled, embarrassed by his own outburst.

Trunks kissed his forehead and leaned forward to reach for the TV-remote.

“So… Was he better than me?” Goten asked and wasn’t quite sure what he would gain from the question.

“Why does that matter?” Trunks asked and turned on the tv carelessly “I’m with you! Whatever I had with him is not relevant”

“I… Just wanted to know!” Goten replied, trying to shake his stubbornness without luck “So does that mean that he was?”

“Ten please! You can’t compare the two of you! I have feelings for you I never had for him. Plus when we started dating you had never been with a man before. Trust me, he has. There are too many different factors that are not comparable!” Trunks signed.
“Please just drop it”

“So yes?” Goten responded with a cold tone.

"Goten, it's not important!"

“Then why do you refuse to answer me?” Goten yelled to his own surprise. “Just say yes or no! It’s not that hard”

“The sex was amazing, yes!” Trunks yelled back annoyed “But why the fuck does it matter? The connection we have is beyond anything I could have with anyone else! To me that is far more important than great dick! What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“I don’t know!” Goten yelled back frustrated “I just.. I don't like the thought of you two being together okay. It bothers me. I can’t explain it!”

Trunks took a deep breath to calm himself down.
"Are you scared I'm going to run to him now that I've seen him again?" He asked softly and was relieved when Goten shook his head almost right away.

"No it's not that!" Goten answered.

"Good! Because I would never-"

"I know!" Goten interrupted "It's not that! I… I know you have been with a lot of people and I've even met some of them before. But… For some reason being confronted for the first time as your partner like this makes me uncomfortable"

"It's because you know him" Trunks said softly "And he is even a good friend of yours and not just some complete stranger you will never see again!"

Goten nodded and finally looked up to meet Trunks' eyes.
"Yeah I think it's that" he almost whispered "I'm sorry I've made an issue out of it!"

"Nah don't be!" Trunks chuckled and swung an arm over his shoulders and pulled him in. "It's actually kind of cute"

"Don't make it weird" Goten laughed softly and rested his head on Trunks shoulder with a relaxed sigh.

"Well at least he will be out of your daily life once the internship is over" Trunks said "I'm sorry if I've made the last period there awkward"

"Yeah so about that" Goten said "They accepted my application. I'll work there full time once I have my diploma"

Trunks blinked a few times.
At first Goten feared that Trunks would ask him not to accept the offer and a small part of him was starting to wonder if it was a good idea.
When a broad smile spread on Trunks lips, Goten realized that he felt relief and all doubts about the job washed away.

"That's amazing news! I knew they wouldn't be able to decline!" He said happily. "You have been smiling and humming a lot more since you started your internship! It really does make you happy so I'm glad to hear that you'll be able to stay full time!"

"And what do we do about Cassew?" Goten asked in a low voice.

"We do exactly what you feel is best! I am not gonna let him tear anything between us or your job! We'll figure it out" Trunks said after a small pause.

Goten nodded and wasn't sure if his question got answered. Perhaps it was a good start to talk to Cassew again on Monday to hear how he felt about it. With luck Cassew could put aside his and Trunks' issues and they could go back to the chaotic trio at work, as the staff had started to call them. He really like spending time with him and Hazzel and he would hate to lose it.

Trunks scrolled through the channels until he settled on a galactic sports channel that probably nobody on earth but the Capsule Corp family had access to.

"Not this again! I never understood your obsession with that game!" Goten said with fused brows "I don't think I even understand the rules!"

Trunks chuckled and turned up the volume of the tv
"Stop complaining, we watch your cooking shows all the time! Besides I took a bet that my team would win a 5 to 7 game with no Geocalck" He kissed Goten's forehead in response to the pouting "And the rules are not that hard to understand! The team who gets past the other team's goal lines wins! Unless of course there is a standout, countertime, freeze manure or 3-6 pepuplines or if one of the players does a flipcount! And if 3-7 of the players managed to do a hibtock before 45 min without the other team reaching second base that means-"

"Please tell me you made all of those words up because I had no idea what you just said"

Trunks just hummed in response as the game started.

Goten got up and stretched his body, letting a tired groan escape his mouth.
"Well, I'm off to bed anyways" he said "Have a nice game"

As he started to walk away, Trunks looked intensely at Goten's half filled glass of beer as the younger man brushed carelessly past it.

Goten disappeared into their bedroom and Trunks had to bite his lips so as not to give him a snappy comment.

"Have you seen my pajama pants?" Goten asked, sticking his head out from the bedroom.

"Have you looked in the pile of clothing you have next to the bed?" Trunks asked drily trying to hide his annoyance.

Goten expressed a sound in the bedroom, telling Trunks that he had found them.
"Goodnight" Goten called sweetly and Trunks decided at that moment that he could not keep it in.

"Goten" Trunks called and looked him directly in the eyes as Goten peeped out again. "Didn't you forget something?"

Goten looked at him with a puzzled look at first, but then came to a realization.
"Oh man, my bad!" He said and walked towards the sofa.

Trunks looked back to the screen, relieved that he didn't have to address anything further.
He then felt a wet kiss on his forehead and watched baffled as Goten walked away.

"The hell?" Trunks spat, making Goten turn around.

"What? Did you want it in your mouth?"

Fuming, Trunks gestured to the glass of beer, still standing on the table after Goten left.
"No, I want you to clean up after yourself!" Trunks scrolled him.

Escalation took control over the conversation fast and even if Goten recognized that the base of the argument was not about a forgotten glass or cloth on the floor, but rather about today's event, he let himself get wrapped up in the argument.

A thousand thoughts and feelings swirled his body, frustration, jealousy, exhaustion.

"You are a messy head and a slob! It's frustrating!" Trunks yelled.

"And you are so uptight and cranky it is like I'm suffocating"

"If only you where to clean up I wouldn't have to be so fucking cranky all the time"

“You know what, I'm not going to talk to you when you are like this. I told you just this morning to communicate better before blowing up in my face and this is how you continue?! I'll spend my weekend on Mount Paozu so you have time to fucking chill out" Goten yelled and stormed into the bedroom where he found his backpack and started to throw in random items and clouting.

In all their ups and downs since they started dating Goten had found himself to be the patient one, the one who could keep his head cool when Trunks was unable to do the same.

For some reason the past few weeks Trunks mood swing had been intense and right now it was too much for Goten to take. He needed a break away from the busy city, the hectic days at the clinic and from Trunks.

Trunks yelled something after Goten and even if he didn't catch the words he caught the meaning. That perhaps it was for the better.

On his flight back to the mountain he caught a few tears of frustration rolling down his cheeks and he angrily dried them away with his sleeves.
He was overwhelmed and could tell that he needed to talk to someone about all the buildup feelings that were stuck inside him.

He found his phone in his pocket and dial.

"Hey stranger!" Gohan responded "It's been a while since I heard from you. How are your studies?"

Shit… The two brothers had agreed on a codeword for when Chichi was around, just in case.
Gohan asking about Goten's studies seemed fitting for now. The study was mostly a synonym for Trunks.

But all Goten wanted was to vent and Chichi being around was not something he could mentally manage.

"Right now I need a break." Goten signed. "I'm on my way to you. Can I crash at your place?"

"Absolutely not!!" Chichi yelled in the background and Goten could almost predict the outburst beforehand. Uuugh he really wasn't in the mood.

"You'll come home to us, Son Goten and stop bothering your brother and his family! You still have your old room with some of your stuff. You can stay there and see Gohan tomorrow! And that's final"

Goten grunted annoyed, a bad habit he had picked up from Trunks.
As soon as the sound left his mouth he was reminded of this and he hoped that his mom didn't hear it.

Gohan started to cough to cover up the sound and smiled at Chichi behind the camera and pointed to his throat to indicate he got something stuck.

Chichi talked loudly about health while she walked off to the kitchen where she said she would make some tea for him.

"You okay?" Gohan asked.

"Not really. We had a fight and we both just snapped. I need some time away"

Gohan nodded and looked at the direction of the kitchen

"Go to their house and I will find an excuse to follow mom home. We can take a walk and have a chat about it, okay?"

Goten nodded and gave Gohan a soft and relieved smile.
The best brother there ever was.

Goten landed in front of his parents house a little while after. He had practiced his poker face the whole way while swearing that it was even necessary.

He noticed that the kitchen light was on and that already told him that his dad was home.
This could both be really good or super bad.

As expected he found Goku going through the fridge. He was starving after a long day on the fields he said.

"So, what's on your mind?" Goku asked him as they sat down to eat together.

"Nothing?" Goten tried and continued eating like nothing was wrong "Everything is peachy!"

Goku crossed his arm and tilted his head with a questioning look on his face.

"That can't be right! You're sad!" Goku answered "Is it because you and Trunks fought?"

Goten looked up in surprise. He wanted to ask how Goku knew but he had a bad feeling.

"I noticed your ki flared up a few times during the day. Trunks a little bit too" Goku explained "It seemed like you guys had it figured out when a little while after both of your ki went up again and now you are here"

Despite what people said about his dad he was quite observant.
If they were ever to play with their power levels again during sex they needed to remember that the others would be able to read their ki. Not only his dad.. the entire Z-crew… including Vegeta.

"If you don't want to talk about it, it's okay! We can do some training to take your mind off it or we can just sit in silence! That's up to you!" Goku said and continued eating

Goten drummed his fingers on the table while playing with his food on the plate.

"Yeah I had a fight with Trunks" Goten admitted "We both said things to each other that weren't so nice. I knew he would just lock himself up in the lab without solving the issue right away so I kinda fled the scene. I didn't want to feel captured by the atmosphere."

Goten leaned back and wished that he was able to say more. He really needed to tell his parents soon.

Goku listened and tilted his head slightly when Goten was done speaking.
Goten had a feeling that Goku knew that he was hiding something. But as always his dad seemed to brush it away, not forcing Goten to share if he didn't want to.

"You know, when Vegeta gets mad about something I usually play dumb so he will get mad at me. He won't be so frustrated about the situation that way. He tends to get caught in his own head so it's better that way. Perhaps Trunks works the same"

Goten blinked a few times.
"And how does that work for you?" He asked his dad.

"Usually it means that he wants to fight me and rarely holds back! Otherwise he will find some place to sulk for days. If he takes his anger out on me I get a good match and he will not stand on a mountain top like he is frozen. So really it's a win win!"

Goten signed heavily. He could recognize the behavior too well from Trunks. Except he would lock himself into his office or lab and work the anger away instead.

Training seemed to spike his interest from time to time, but as their power level more or less matched, none of the half saiyans urged to get stronger. It was a lot easier for them to fuse when they matched in power and peace had been on earth for a long time.

"I know you guys don't train that often anymore," Goku started "But then perhaps he can direct his anger into whatever you guys do when you... you know.. are together!"

Goten nodded and knew exactly what that would look like.
Even if Trunks was the 'bottom' in the relationship so far, he wasn't gonna let Goten forget that he was in charge only when Trunks wanted him to be.
He was sure Trunks had called it a 'Power bottom' one time, or something along those lines.

It was a thing he found to enjoy more and more every time. The fact that Trunks could be slammed by his cock mercilessly and still have the focus to keep Goten in his place. It was amazing to him. And hot!

…. He couldn't believe he just got a pretty decent sex advice from his dad… of all people.

"Good advice!" Goten chuckles trying to brush the images away "Thanks dad!"

"You got it!" Goku beamed and eat the last meat before he leaned back and tapped his stomach while satisfyingly exhaled how stuffed he was.

A short while after the sound of a car parking and two car doors being slammed echoed around the little house.

Chichi and Gohan entered the front door and Goten felt a relief when he saw his brother. He really needed someone to talk openly to.

"Gohan! I'm surprised to see you here!" Goten said loudly and stiff.

"Gosh stop pretending like this wasn't planned" Chichi scrolled at him and sent Gohan a glare "I'm not that stupid! You brother made it obvious when he insisted on following me home!"

"Mom, I said I wanted to help you carry your things!" Gohan insisted

"Don't patronize me!" Chichi yelled "I'm not that old or weak that I cannot carry a single package of tea from the car and inside the house! Now off you two go before I change my mind!"

The brother stumbled outside thanking their mom with mumbles before closing the door.

They walked quietly along the lake until they found their favorite spot.
The sound of the water running, the rustling of the wind in the branches and the breathtaking sight of the starry sky above them almost felt like a capsule of safety and relaxation to both brothers.

"So" Gohan started "How are you holding up?"

"I had a talk with dad earlier. It kinda helped in some weird way but I'm still angry and confused!"

Goten laid down into the grass and was staring up at the sky, trying to collect his thoughts.

"Me and Trunks went from having amazing morning sex twice, to an argument and then back to normal - all before lunch" Goten started and ignored Gohans reaction to some of the details. "By the time we saw each other again we went from the perfect couple, to having a weird tension between us that led to incredible sex. Only for us to get back to normal again and then throw the biggest fight we ever had!"

Goten grunted annoyed. Now that he was thinking back on his day so many things had been happening and it's been an insane roller coaster of emotions and events.
He suddenly realized just how exhausted he really was.

"I swear sometimes he's worse than when Valese was on her periods. And she turned into a real monster" Goten said with a joking tone.

"Stress and pressure can do a lot of bad things to a person, Goten. Periods or not." Goten said and it almost sounded like something that had been said to him many times before.
"What is stressing him out? Is it work again?"

"I'm not so sure. I know he is working on something at home but he won't tell me what it is." Goten answered "But I swear something is up. I have a really bad feeling about whatever it is but I have no ground for it.. other than a bad feeling"

"Have you told him?"

"Trunks is like a madman when it comes to his projects. He will not listen even if things blow up in his face." Goten chuckles nervously "I've just been trying to give him room and hope he'll tell me about it when he's ready"

Gohan nodded and agreed that perhaps that was a better tactic, thinking that a mix of Vegeta and Bulma's genes probably meant that nobody was to tell Trunks what to do or how.

"So what now?" Gohan asked "Are you planning on making up with him?"

Goten signed and nodded.
“Yeah of course! I still want to be with him. I just need a break from all the mood swings and secrets. I will call him in the morning and let him know that I’ll be home after lunch.”

Gohan and Goten stayed outside to talk for a little longer. The conversation slowly drifted from Trunks and relationships, to catching up on each other.
As always Gohan was making a breakthrough with his research and he was just a few days short of presenting a brand new topic.

Pan had started to show signs of becoming a true teenager and rarely wanted to be spotted with her parents when they were out. She said she had an image to uphold but as soon as Videl or Gohan would offer food the façade disappeared and she couldn’t care less about others spotting her with her parents.

Videl’s dojo was as successful as ever and all classes were more or less fully booked.
Gohan said that she was trying to make it sound like it was no big deal but he could tell that she was extremely proud of her work.

The brothers said their goodbyes and promised to keep in touch. When Gohan took off to the sky Goten both felt lighter and heavier at the same time.
The talk they had really lifted his spirit but now that Gohan was gone all thoughts about the argument came crawling back.

He slept badly that night. Waking up, tossing and turning before slumbering back to sleep only to wake up again.
It was hard to sleep when Trunks wasn't beside him.
He had always slept better when they were younger and Trunks was with him.

It seems that his body quickly had gotten used to the other half Saiyans presence while sleeping.

Only when the sun started to raise did he finally fall into a deeper sleep.

He was woken up by the smell of Chichi's food. Meat and fried vegetables danced in his nostrils and sent the waves right through to his rumbling stomach.
He sat up and lazily rubbed his eyes before getting out of bed and walked to his closet to change out of his pajamas.

As he took a step forward he suddenly stopped. His pajama shirt had found its usual place on the floor beside the bed. Yesterday he had left his pants and shirt in the same spot but it was nowhere to be seen.
"Mom?" He called "where are my pants and shirt from yesterday?"

"I tossed them in the washing machine this morning while you were asleep" she called back "They should be dry. I'll bring them to you"

“No mom, wait!” He called after her.

Chichi entered his room with a puzzled look in her eyes.
"Is everything okay honey?" She asked him and dried her hands in the washing towel that she had hanging over her shoulder.

"Yeah it's just…" Goten started "Am I a messy head? Do you always clean up after me?"

Chichi blinked a few times before she started to laugh softly. Her nod made Goten's heart sink to his stomach
"You boys, especially your dad, just leave stuff everywhere in the house! I've done everything I could to shake that habit out of all of you but I just gave up in the end."

Goten signed and sat on his bed looking into the floor embarrassed.
Ugnh he needed to apologize to Trunks.

"Is that why you and Trunks are fighting?" Chichi asked and sat beside him.

Goten looked up in surprise.
"I'm a mom Goten. I know everything!" She smiled at him.

Well.. perhaps not EVERYTHING… he thought to himself.

"He called me a slob and I called him uptight," Goten admitted. "I feel so bad about it now. I just never realized I had those habits."

"Well I guess I could have been more strict with you but I was just tired of correcting you for everything all the time so I let this habit slip. I hoped that you would find someone one day who would either accept that habit or change it for the better. Like Videl! Gohan barely leaves his glasses out anymore"

Goten signed and laid down on his bed.
Annoyance started to fill him. A part of him wished that he had been more aware of this habit and another part of him was upset that Trunks had chosen not to tell him until it was too much and he chose to explode instead.

Of course he knew there was more to it than that. Trunks constantly overworking, whatever project he was working on at home and of course the whole situation with Cassew.

Cassew and Trunks, huh? That feeling of unease started to roam again. If only he had known he would never have brought his soon-to-be colleagues home with him. He would have separated the two parts of his life completely.

"You can't blame yourself for the fight, Goten" Chichi said, reading her son's facial expression. "It takes two for something like that. Why don't you give him a call and let him know that you are willing to talk about it. Perhaps he has calmed down by now."

Goten nodded with a heavy sigh. He had planned to call him today anyways but he felt nervous about it.
To him this was just an argument that they needed to solve. But what if Trunks saw it as a deal breaker? What if he didn't want to….

"I hope you know that you can always come to me, Goten." Chichi said with her motherly tone "I will always love you no matter what! So if there is anything you want to discuss or tell me, I'm always here for you!"

He sat for a while looking down on his feet, just like when he was a kid.
Should he tell her now? Something inside him screamed that this was the perfect timing. Nobody was around to disturb them, she just told him that she would love him unconditionally and there was something about the way she spoke to him. Like she was waiting for him to say something.

But he stopped himself. Perhaps telling her about their relationship was not the best timing while they were still in mid-fight. If she would protest against their relationship she could use that as an example why they shouldn't be together and he was not in a mental space where he could take such comments in without reacting angrily to it.
No.. better to wait!

"I got a job" He finally said, trying to change the subject. "The internship accepted my application. I will start in four months once I'm done with my school! I know it's not what I had in mind when I started the education and it's not a top paid job but I really love it there!"

Chichi squealed out loudly and threw herself at him, hugging him tightly while kissing his forehead.
"That's my boy!" She screamed "I knew they would love you there! We got to celebrate this! I will cook a great meal for you!"

She got up from the bed and started to march into the living room, yelling loudly out of the window for Goku to go and catch some fish.

Goten couldn't help but laugh at her usual outburst and he loved that a celebration in their house always involved her tasty home cooking.

He slowly closed the door to the living room and took his phone as he sat back down on his bed.
Perhaps it was best to call Trunks while his mom was distracted.

He found his name in his phonebook and pressed call. He wasn't sure what to say.
Knowing Trunks he was still mad and could hold on to the anger for a long time.
But perhaps it was best just to apologize right away.

For some reason he was nervous about Trunks' reply, not entirely knowing if the other half saiyan had been brewing his anger or if he had calmed down.

He heard the phone click but there was no answer. Great. He was still fuming.

"Hi Trunks. I know you are still mad and I understand. I'm sorry I was a dick I didn't realize-"

“Hi honey, it’s Bulma!” Bulma answered. Her voice was restrained almost like she was holding something back.
A cold shiver ran down Goten’s back. She never picked up his phone.

“Is everything ok?” He asked concerned and got up from his bed. “Is Trunks okay?”

Bulma was quiet for a little while and it sounded like she was trying to collect the words.
“He’s…” she paused again “I.. uhm..”

“Bulma, please? What is going on?”

“He’s at the hospital” Bulma mumbled, trying to hold a mothers worried sob back. “They can’t wake him up”

Chapter Text

“Trunks!!” a high pitch voice cut itself through his drugged mind. He slowly opened his eyes, feeling the light cut through his head like lasers.

At first everything was out of focus but he quickly recognized two big blue eyes staring back at him with worry.

“Hi Princess” he said in a rough voice before he started to cough.

“Mom!!” Bulla called and climbed off Trunks and ran away.

His vision was still blurry and it felt like his head was about to explode with tension. He tried to sit up from his bed but his body felt heavy and useless.
He grunted annoyed and tried again when he felt a small hand wrap around his arm.

He looked up and slowly started to recognize his mom looking down on him.
She gently stroked his cheek. He could hear her voice like it was dancing in the distance but he couldn’t make out what she was saying.

He felt something poke his lips gently and he looked down to find a straw being presented to him. He suddenly realized just how dry his mouth felt and he took a few big sips of water and relaxed by the sensation of the headache starting slowly to fade away.

“What happened?” He asked and started to realize that he was no longer home but laying in a bed at a hospital.
He looked back up at his mother's eyes, eyes that were burning with rage.

“You want to take a wild guess?” She hissed “You overworked yourself and collapsed, that's what happened!”

He blinked a few times trying to remember what had happened.

He remembered sitting by his desk at home still burning with rage by the argument he and Goten had had.
His research had frustrated him ever further as he felt like he was hitting a wall and he didn’t know how to move forward or how to stop it.

He remembered opening the door from the lab and realizing that he had spent all night in the small lab in the house he shared with Goten.

After that he only remembered a few flashes. Something about pouring a glass of juice from the fridge and turning off the tv that had been running all night. After that he didn't remember much. He wasn’t even sure if he had made it to Capsule Corp that morning.

“The doctors had tried EVERYTHING but you are just as stubborn as your dad and refused to wake up or give any kind of life signs” Bulma said “You had me worried!”

“How long have I been out?” He asked and pinched his nose bridge to relieve some of the pain in his head.

“Four days,” Bulma said coldly.

“Four days? Shit I have to reply to one of the manufacturers before-” As he was trying to rush out of the bed his vision started to blur and a ringing tone canceled out every other sound around him.
He could hear his mom's voice in the distance but he couldn't make out what she was saying.

Disorientated he did realize that his mom had easily pushed him back into bed.

“I’m okay mom” Trunks grunted weakly “Quit fusing like that!”

“You have no privilege to ask me not to worry, young man!” She yelled at him “I’ve asked you time in and time out if you were okay and you choose to overwork yourself so much that you collapse!”

He grunted annoyed and sat back in the hospital bed with his arms crossed.

“Trunks we need to talk about something” She said with a concerned but strict tone of voice “We need to talk about your numbers!”

“My.. numbers?”

She gave him a piece of paper showing the result of a test the doctors had taken on him while he was passed out.
Beside his high blood pressure and a few other worrying numbers he could see one spike that was unusual. Something he was well aware of.

“Is there anything you need to tell me?” Bulma asked. “The doctors can trace all other red numbers back to stress but this one is leaving them puzzled”

Trunks folded the paper and laid it on the small desk beside his bed.
“I am no doctor, how should I know what it means?” He replied and looked his mother directly in her eyes.
He had learned from a young age that the best chance of getting away with lying to her was by making eye contact.

“I want you to answer me honestly Trunks” Bulma said “Are you doing drugs? Is that what this is?”

Trunks let out a loud grunt and carefully pushed her away before laying down and turning his back to her
“For fuck sake mom you should know me better than that!” He said angrily, “It’s a hormonal imbalance and not a toxin! I’m not doing drugs!”
“Good!” She said and walked to the other side of the bed and kneeled down so that their faces were at the same level. “Then how do you explain it?”

He turned again trying to avoid her eyes. Every time he moved he could feel his body scream at him. He was sore and heavy and by every move he made he could feel his energy getting drained fast.
“I don’t know!” He replied angrily. “Please mom, my head is killing me!”

He didn’t remember much after that as his body slowly shut down and he fell into a deep sleep again.
He woke up from time to time and only slightly captured what was going on around him.
He felt Bulla laying beside him with Mr. Bear tugged between them. He heard his mom's voice a lot but never really made out what she was saying. Sometimes he woke up by the nurses rustling around him and other times he woke up by a doctor poking at him and asking how he was feeling.

He woke up one night still drugged by sleep as he felt a presence in the room. He couldn’t see anybody but he already knew that it was Goten. He just knew.
He tried to call for him but his voice failed him. His body still felt heavy and he only managed to lift his hand slightly before feeling his energy slip him again.
Just before he fell asleep he felt Goten’s large hand take his and a soft kiss was pressed against his forehead.
“It’s okay” Goten whispered “Get some rest. I’m right here”

When he woke up again it was daytime and the sun was warming his face.
His headache was gone and he could tell that he had more energy that he had felt at any time since he woke up at the hospital.

He opened his eyes and looked around in the empty room. He noticed the smell of flowers and turned his head to see a table full of get-well presents.
He slowly sat up and grabbed a bottle of water that was standing next to him and gulped most of it down in one go.

He had no idea how long he had been asleep. It felt weirdly like he had just closed his eyes and still like he had been there for years.

He reacted by the sound of the door opening and he caught a first glimpse of two dark eyes before he looked down in shame.

Vegeta walked across the room and sat down on a chair in silence. His presence filled the room quickly and Trunks could feel a small ball forming in his stomach.
He didn’t like his dad to see him like this.. See him this… weak..

“How are you feeling?” Vegeta asked monotone without looking at him.

“Better” Trunks replied and started to fumble with his hands. He felt like a small child like this. Like he had done something wrong and he was waiting for his dad to punish him.

He reacted by the sound of Vegeta standing and moving the chair until he sat right beside him with his arms and legs crossed.
He grunted out a small “good” and a silence fell over them again.

At first Trunks felt uncomfortable but as he realized that his dad had come not to humiliate him but to show concern he started to relax and laid back into the bed.

“Your mom mentioned something about your vitals. That they were unusual” Vegeta said after a while “Explain!”

Trunks signed annoyed. Of course she had told his dad. He looked to his side and caught Vegeta's harsh eyes staring at him and his heart sank. His dad was pissed without a doubt.

“I’m..” Trunks started and tried to quickly form sentences in his head that would explain as little as possible while still giving his dad the amount of answers that he wanted. “I’ve been running some tests on myself for the past few months. It’s nothing to worry about. I kept a close track of everything. But I think my high blood pressure might have spiraled everything out of control”

"You did this to yourself then?" Vegeta grunted.

"Yes and no. It's complicated" Trunks answered "I never meant for this to happen. I will stop the treatment I swear!"

Vegeta grunted to let him know that he was satisfied with his answer.

"Please don't tell mom" Trunks begged in a low voice "I'll never hear the end of it"

"I'm not going to lie for you" Vegeta huffed "But we can keep it between us for now.
But if I see any signs like this again your mom will be your least worry"

Trunks nodded and closed his eyes again. He was getting tired but not the same overwhelming way as before.

A large hand laid on his forehead and rested there for a little bit.
The heaviness of his dad's palm made Trunks' entire body relax. It was rare that his dad showed any kind of affection but when he did it felt like everything was going to be alright.

Vegeta might not know a lot about how to run the company and he would often seem cold and disconnected to Trunks. But Trunks knew that no matter what his dad would always have his back even if he had a weird way of showing it.

The hand was quickly removed when the door to the room opened.

Trunks opened his eyes and saw his mom, Bulla and Goten enter the room.

Vegeta removed himself to the end of the room while the rest of his family and Goten gathered around Trunks.

"How are you feeling honey?" Bulma asked in a much softer voice than last time they spoke.

"Much better!" He replied and kissed Bullas hand as she flew up to sit beside him.

A doctor checked on him a few minutes after where he got a lot more information about his situation.

Apparently Serenity had found him when she stopped by to drop off a few files Trunks had been asking for.
He had been asleep for 4 day as his mom had said the first time we woke up and slept for another 3 days after that.

"I have no doubt in my mind that you are under a lot of pressure and it shows on your body" the doctor said "if you keep that up I fear I will see you again sooner rather than later. This could kill you"

"He has been having a lot of headaches lately and feeling dizzy. Do you think this is relatable?" Goten asked the doctor and ignored the angry glare Trunks sent him.

"Now that you mentioned that he almost collapsed at his office a few months ago" Bulma said.

The doctor looked between Bulma and Goten and sighed deeply.
"You both were aware of these symptoms and none of you reacted to it?"

None of them replied and only looked to the floor.

"These could be early warning signs indeed!" The doctor confirmed "Next time I need you to take action even if he says he is fine since he can't seem to see these things himself. And I would suggest you talk to a professional about managing your stress, Mr Briefs"

Trunks let out a disgusted grunt and shook his head. There was no way that he would lay his worries to a stranger like that. He was perfectly fine.

"Thank you doctor. I will make sure that happens!" Bulma said and shot Trunks a glare as we opened his mouth to protest.

"I want to talk to you about your health. There are a number that are concerning to me and I need you to clarify a few things for me" The doctor said changing the subject.

The look on Trunks' facial expression changed for just a second and was something he had seen many times over the years as a doctor. He slowly turned around and looked at the rest of the party in the room.

"I hope you don't mind but I would like to discuss this with Mr. Briefs in privat. Could I please ask you all to leave the room for now?"

Bulma protested right away, yelling loudly about how this was her business as a mother as well and reminding him just how much money and equipment Capsule Corp had provided for them over the years.

In the yelling and arguing Trunks manages to catch his dad's attention with a single look.
Vegeta nodded and pulled Bulma out of the room despite her protests.

Trunks was discharged a few hours after and Bulma didn't ask for more details.
Goten had later told him that Vegeta was behind her silence and that he had only given her a single frightening glare before she stopped yelling and sat down pounding like a child.

Trunks was banned from working until his blood pressure was stable and a stress coach had confirmed that he was ready to work again.

The whole situation pissed Trunks off even more. He felt like a child and that everybody was fuzzing around him like he was fragile and weak.

Bulma had stayed over the house for a few hours after they got home and even if Trunks knew his mom did it to help he was annoyed with her being there.

The last time he and Goten spoke was out of anger and he desperately wanted to talk to him. He wanted to know if they were okay or not.

Goten had kept looking at Trunks but every time Trunks looked back, his eyes flinched and he looked away.

"Make sure he eats and drinks!" Bulma said to Goten while putting her shoes on. "He will find some way to work and I need you to make sure he doesn't succeed!"

Goten nodded and tried to hide his eagerness. He wanted Bulma to leave as fast as possible so that he and Trunks could talk.

When the door finally closed behind her he could feel his body start to buzz. The way to the bedroom seemed excruciating long but still not long enough.
Each step he took made his heart beat faster. He had no idea where they stood. If they were even okay.

When he finally stood in front of the bedroom door all words seemed to leave his mind. He had no idea what to say to him or what to expect.
As he opened the door he saw Trunks stir in the bed, looking up at him with a neutral face.

“Is she gone?” He asked in a low voice without looking in his eyes for too long.

Goten scratched his arm and nodded, standing on the door like he was frozen. He was ready to fight for them if he needed but he never knew what arguments Trunks would throw at him. So he wanted Trunks to be the first to talk.

"Are we okay?" Trunks asked and didn't still didn’t dare to look him in the eyes.

As always Trunks was standing tall, pretending to have confidence and overhand in the situation. But the lack of looking him in the eyes and slight shake to his voice gave away just how nervous he was.

Relief fell over Goten and he walked towards the bed feeling the negative emotions rolling off him almost instantaneously.

Goten slowly took his hand and smiled at him as their eyes met.
"Yeah!" He whispered "We're okay! Sorry I was a dick!"

"Me too" Trunks mumbled.

Goten sat on the bed and took Trunks' other hand.
He wanted to kiss him and hold him tight but he feared it was still too soon. It felt like fire in his body as he was holding back.

"Sorry if I worried you!" Trunks mumbled "I never meant it to go this far!"

"I guess you are still not ready to tell me what is going on?" Goten pushed, hoping to get some answers soon.

But Trunks shook his head and looked down again.
"I… I need some time. My ego was violently hurt when everything failed right in front of me. Honestly I feel so embarrassed."

Goten nodded, already knowing that this would be the case.
"Whenever you are ready I'm here to listen without any judgment." Goten replied.

“Thank you!” Trunks whispered and leaned back in the bed, hesitantly and softly trying to pull Goten with him, hinting that he wanted nothing more than his affection.

Goten's heart started to beat faster, almost like their first time together as he crawled on the bed until he got on top of Trunks.

They laid in bed while time melted away.
Their kiss was slow and sloppy and with nothing behind it other than just that.
Fingers intertwined, light and loving touches and time to look each other deep in the eyes before their kissing continued.

"I missed this" Goten said softly "I wish I could stay forever but I need to go back to the clinic. I promised I would when you were safely home. I'll cook you a good meal when I return"

"When will you be back?" Trunks whispered, already dreading staying by himself.

"I'll be back in 5 hours depending on the que in the grocery store"

Trunks just nodded. 5 hours should be enough time to sneak into the lab and do a few tests before Goten returns.

"Oh and I locked the door to the lab and hid the key!" Goten said and kissed his forehead as he left the bed, leaving the room before Trunks could protest "Bulmas orders! Now get some rest! I'll see you later"

—--

"How's he doing?" Kattie asked as Goten entered the break room at the clinic to collect his journals for the day. "Do they know what is wrong with him?"

"He is still weak and a bit shaken but he will get better" Goten replied with a smile "He has been overworking himself for a long time and it finally caught up with him it seems. He's been forbidden to work until a coach says he is ready so he will have to deal with boredom for a while. It'll suit him not to run around like a headless chicken."

Kattie replied with a relief sign and send Cassew a look. When Cassew didn't respond to her she gave him a hard notch in the ribs with her elbow when Goten looked away.

"I'm glad you don't have to worry anymore" Cassew finally said and send Kattie an evil glare back.

"Thanks! It means a lot!" Goten replied with a smile and left the breakroom to start his rounds.

His conversation with Cassew the following Monday had been weird and they were still trying to find their balance again.
Hazzel had explained that Cassew had held a big grudge against Trunks for a long time and the fact that he was willing to work on his friendship with Goten, despite his connection to Trunks, was a big step. But Goten needed to be patient and he would give Cassew as much space as he needed and he was willing to do so if it meant that they could keep their friendship.

While doing his round he couldn't help but get reminded of some of the conversation they had had.

It all started with a lot of shifting in position and restrained grunts as both men felt uncomfortable, not really sure how they should move forward.

Cassew had started a ramble about how much Goten’s friendship meant to him but how his entire body dropped when he realized just who he was dating.

Trunks had made it clear from the beginning that their meetings were casual, but still Cassew had managed to catch feelings for him, hoping it could be something more, and Trunks had just brushed it under the rug.

"I kept saying to myself I would never go back. But I just couldn't get him out of my head for a long time. He is so mesmerizing and caring but as soon as the deed was done he became almost robotic and couldn’t leave the place fast enough" Cassew had explained "It happened over and over again and I kept getting hopes up when he would contact me again. He really made me feel like there was a chance every time. The way he talked to me and the warmth of his voice and text. It was impossible to ignore. I managed to wake up at one point and realized he was just manipulating me and I fell right into his games. It made me so mad I didn't want anything to do with him"

Goten nodded while listening, recognizing some of Trunks’ bad habits in Cassews story. How he had been warm and flirtatious until he got what he wanted. Then he became cold and disconnected.

"He gives me a ticking time bomb vibes and I’m just worried about you. Is he treating you well?" Cassew had asked at some point "You truly feel like he is the best person for you?"

Goten had answered with a certain yes, surprising himself even after the fight that they had but still was to get resolved. Yes. Trunks really was the right person for him!
Even if his bad habits and traits could feel insufferable from time to time.

"Do you love him?" Cassew asked again "And does he loves you back?"

"I love him, yes!" Goten replied and left it at that. His heart was racing and a lump of uncertainty grew inside him. Gosh how he wished he hadn't run off to mount Paozu.

While Trunks was hospitalized Goten had tried all he could not to blame himself for leaving.

It had often led to restless nights where he found himself longing terribly for his partner.
He would sneak into Trunks' room at the hospital every night to check up on him. Staying with him until the sun raised and he needed to leave to go to the clinic.

When Trunks one night had shown signs that he had been awake, Goten's heart started to beat like it was trying to crawl out of his chest. He longed so much for Trunks' touch, his attention and his warmth.

He had barely been able to open his eyes, yet alone lift his hand, but Goten had noticed his low awakening grunt.
When Trunks fell asleep again almost right away, Goten had felt both relief that he was starting to wake up again and at the same time the longing got worse. He had hoped for just a second or 2 more to feel his consciousness.

“I’m sorry for some of the things I said when we had our talk” Cassew said behind Goten in a low voice, interrupting Goten's trail of thoughts. “I shouldn’t judge your relationship with him based on my own experience. I’m sure he’s a good guy and takes good care of you!”

He was running his hand along his neck and was looking in the other direction, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.

“It's okay!” Goten replied with a smile “Now that I understand your history I get why you would be suspicious of him.. He can be a bit of an asshole sometimes, I know that! But I promise he is treating me well. I’m just happy that you and I can keep being friends despite everything!”

“Yeah me too!” Cassew grinned and his face lit up “I promise I won’t make a big deal out of it. And I promise I got most of the feelings out of my system.”

“Then I promise that I will not invite you over for dinner” Goten grinned.

“Thank Kami!” Cassew chuckles.

Their conversation had been a lot more light after that and slowly it felt like their friendship was back to the way it had before.
They pulled a prank on Hazzel that had sent both men laughing so much that they had to sit on the ground wiping tears from their eyes.

Cassew had helped Goten with his round, holding animals while Goten was expecting them or giving them medicine.

The dying Nurusaorus was back to full health again after the light was shining through the roof and Goten was finally able to book her release date.

When they were off, Cassew joined Goten for shopping. They talked lively about their passion for cooking and exchanged tips and tricks while browsing the store for ingredients.
Cassew had lifted an eyebrow about the amount of products Goten had bought, but Goten brushed it off joking about him being very hungry. It wasn't a lie either but Goten was still to show them just how big his appetite was.
They had parted with a smile and Goten finally felt like everything was taking a turn in the right direction.

Goten hummed walking home feeling like life was taking a good turn. Even if it had been a big scare, Trunks fainting had resulted in a hope that they would be spending more time together and hopefully Trunks' mood increasing.

He still had 3 weeks left as an intern before his exams period would start and he was already dreading the oral exam, but the term was still so far out in the future that he was able to brush the nerves off him.

He opened the door to the house and enjoyed the scent of fresh air inside. Trunks had a habit of opening and closing the windows around the house when he was restless and this already told Goten that he had been out of bed but hadn’t been able to break into the lab like he had expected.

Rushing to see him, Goten forgot to leave the groceries in the kitchen and went straight for the bedroom.
“Trunks!!” Goten screamed as he opened the door.

Trunks, who was sitting under the duvet with a laptop on his lap and papers covering the entire bed, froze and looked up from behind his screen like a deer looking into the headlight of a car.

Goten had dropped the groceries on the floor and marched angry towards Trunks.
“The doctor told you specifically to get rest and stop working! What the hell do you think you are doing?” Goten slammed the laptop shut and started to remove the papers, ignoring Trunks who was desperately trying to make him stop.

“The doctor told me not to go to work!” Trunks yelled angrily “He said nothing about work coming to me!”

Trunks took hold of his laptop, as Goten was trying to remove it, both trying to pull the electronics each their way.

“Don’t be fucking smart with me, you dumbass!” Goten yelled back “You know what he meant and working is out of the question, in or out of bed!”

“I just needed to do a few things and then I-”

“A few things?! Trunks, I can see that you have been at it for hours!” Goten yelled back, taking the laptop into his possession. “You need rest and no work! Doctors and my order!”

Trunks leaned back into the bed, trying to keep his temper to himself. How dare he talk to him like this.
"I'll work if I want to," he said in a low voice.

"You can decide when to work when you are responsible enough to make that decision! So far you are going a real fucking bad job at that!"

"But I'm bored!!" Trunks whined and rubbed his face with both hands in frustration.

"Too bad!" Goten spat "You should have thought about that before overworking yourself! Play some video games or read a book!"

"Please fuck me"

Goten froze and started to spit out a lot of confused sounds.
Trunks was staring at him, piercing him with his crystal blue eyes, with a glimpse that was not to be mistaken.

"Trunks, No!" Goten finally managed to say, gulping. “You need rest! And stop looking at me like that!”

Trunks lifted his chin while keeping his eye contact with Goten. He ran a hand through his purple hair and let it glide down his neck. He bit his lip and a soft smirk appeared.
Goten gulped again by the sight and stood up, marching out hoping Trunks wouldn’t see the red tint on his cheeks.

“I said no! Now go to sleep!” Goten called and left the room.

“Orh common Goten!” Trunks called after him “I’ll cum no matter what! I just thought it would be more fun to have you join me”

“Hands above the duvet!” Goten screamed in a panicked high pitched tone from the other room.

Trunks couldn’t help but chuckle. He had by now learned that Goten had a much harder time saying no and tempting the younger man was an easy but fun game to him.
“But Goten I’m already so hard just thinking of us”

“I am not listening!!!”

“The thought of you pinning me down and fucking me hard is making my so warm inside”

“Trunks I’m serious!”

“I get so warm and horny when I think for you fucking me on the couch, raising your power level to show me just how strong you are. Fuck that was hot!”

Goten peeped from the door, red from ear to ear and his mouth formed as a thin line.

"About that," he said "My dad noticed our power levels spiking. Lucky he thought we were fighting but I'm wondering if everybody else could tell"

“Did he tell you that?” Trunks asked, eyes getting wide.

Goten nodded and entered the room, moving slowly closer to Trunks and the bed.
"We have to be careful!"

Trunks pounded and leaned back into the bed. He had been looking forward to convincing Goten to try more with their power levels and feeling how Goten's strength was rising above him. His muscles pumping like that had almost driven Trunks to madness in the moment.
For the first time ever he felt truly submissive and it had started a lot of curious ideas and thoughts within him.

"When you are back to full health we can find a way to disguise it as training" Goten suggested innocently as he sat on the bed beside Trunks. "Perhaps even borrow the gravity room and lock the door fourteen times?"

"Look at you planning ahead already! Seems like I wasn't the only one enjoying it!" Trunks said with a smirk.

Goten's face turned red within a second and he tried to wave it off by spitting a lot of inaudible sounds.

"It felt… good to be forced into letting go" Trunks admitted softly "A little too good perhaps! I've been thinking about it all day! It's the only time I ever truly felt like I was the weakest in bed and you had complete control."

“It suited you” Goten teased him “I would like to see you more like that”

“Hmm I’m sure you would” Trunks flirted back and saw his opening to lean in and plant a soft kiss on Gotens lips.

Goten held his breath and exhaled relieved when Trunks separated them again. Letting his body take over, Goten leaned in again capturing Trunks soft lips, massaging them with his own.

Their kisses quickly went from soft and gently to needy and messy.
Trunks slowly pulled Goten on the top of him and Goten didn’t object.

“We’re gonna take it slow!” Goten said strictly as he parted their lips, breath laying only on the tip of his tongue. “Doctors orders!”

“Of course!” Trunks replied innocently already knowing that it would be easy to convince him otherwise once he got him in the mood.

Goten’s hands started to roam again slowly and gently along Trunks' arms, shoulders and neck, while he was kissing his collarbone with deep and wet kisses.

It felt like electricity running along Trunks skin making the hair on his arms stand and breath grew heavier.
He felt so sensitive it was like balancing between a pleasant sensation and overstimulation.

He whimpered and felt his body stir and turn automatically, like it was trying to figure out where to place the feelings.

Gosh it felt so good! It’s been a long time since he had been so caught up in foreplay it seemed like time was not exciting and all he ever breathed for was Goten’s hands and affection.

Even without the enhanced power level Trunks felt cared for, safe and protected, like he was willing to get rid of all control and hand it over to Goten if he wanted it.
It felt like bliss. Like a storm finally settling. It felt like..

Trunks' breath got trapped in his throat, and he pushed Goten back looking at him horrified.
"Wait…If Goku noticed our power level during sex… So did my dad"

Chapter Text

"You need to talk to me at some point, Mr Brief" The elderly man said as he took off his glasses, slightly irritated.

This was their fourth meeting, and the younger man had only spoken a total of 10 words. He would simply sit and look menacingly into his eyes while patiently waiting for the senior psychiatrist to break.
He was informed that two other professionals had previously attempted to break the quiet but had to give up.

Dr. Jeanz was convinced that he would be the last psychiatrist required for this client because of his extensive expertise with strong, abrasive men with attitudes like Trunks Briefs.
But, he was beginning to doubt his ability at this moment. Like no other patients he had encountered before, the young guy was surrounded by an intensely scary aura.

As expected Trunks didn't move a muscle after being spoken to, staring threateningly into the doctor's eyes without as much as a blink.

"I talked to your mom the other day. She is very worried about you" he said, having previous success by bringing his family up "You do realize that she's not gonna give up, even if you scare a hundred of us away, right?"

A low grunt let him know that he hit the right spot.

"I've had many patients stum like you, Trunks! Some refuse to talk to me for personal reasons other because they don't know how to formulate their feelings into words. But I get the feeling this is more of a principle for you." He continued "You told her that you didn't need help and she didn't believe you"

"Maybe" Trunks replied without moving.

"I understand it's frustrating. I would feel attacked as well if I was you." The elder man tried carefully.

"If you understand, please sign the document so I can get back to work" Trunks answered drily.

"What if we talked about something else?" The elder man continued, ignoring Trunks' request "We could talk about your life outside of work."

Trunks blinked slowly and calmly but the psychiatrist noticed a small twitch by the end of his mouth.

To his relief, Trunks broke his usual silence by leaning back in the chair, and despite his persistently terrifying gaze, he appeared more receptive with this concept.

“Why would I want to do that?” Trunks asked.

"I can tell alot about a person's well being by their personal life. If I get a good inside on who you are outside of work perhaps it would give me a chance to know when you are suitable for work again"

Silence filled the room once again leaving the atmosphere almost heavy.
Silently Trunks fingertips drummed on the chair as he was thinking if speaking now would lead him to where he wanted to go.

"What do you wanna know?" Trunks finally asked "I don't drink, I don't do drugs and I don't gamble"

“Do you smoke?” The Doctor asked curiously.

Trunks replied hesitantly, "Only when I get away with it.”

Truth be told he rarely smoked, not wanting to take the bad habit from his mom and granddad. But sometimes it seemed to be the only thing that could relax him during his working hours.
It did have a mean effect on his training and Goten had forbidden him to light another cigarette again. The younger man had placed his words very carefully in order for Trunks not to find a getaway.

Of course he knew what he had meant and he never lit the cigarette himself - Always asked someone else to do it.

This mostly occurred when Goten was visiting his parents and wouldn’t be home to detect the smell on his breath, hair or clothes.

"Do you have anyone special in your life that tells you not to?" Dr. Pantz asked curiously, trying his best to make it seem more like a personal interest than a professional. He had a feeling that breaking Trunks was by acting as little of a therapist as possible.

"I do" Trunks answered and his glare softened for a brief moment.

"And how long have you been together?" Dr. Pantz pushed on, trying not to seem too excited that he had finally broken the silence.

"Half a year I think. The days have been gliding a bit together so it's hard for me to say" Trunks crossed his arms.

"And is it casual or have you fallen in love with her?"

"Him. And yes, very much so."

Dr. Pantz hummed by the answer and somehow wasn’t surprised about him having found someone special in his life. He had already predicted this on their first meeting and even with the little he had spoken, there was no doubt that a soft person was hiding under the layers of facade and that he would protect anyone he loved with everything he had.

"How did you meet"

"We have known each other for so long now I don't remember." Trunks answered “Our romantic relationship started a bit bumpy. My partner's mom managed to have a serious talk about men dating men after our confessions. It made him doubt what to do. Lucky for me he turned it around and decided to give us a try. Something his family is still not aware off”

"And how does your family feel about your partner?" The Dr. asked and noticed right away how Trunks started to rock his foot.

"My mom and sister love and care for him just as much as they do for me, if not more. But we haven't told them that we are together either. My mom is horrible at keeping secrets. We’ll tell them after my partner's family."

"And what about your father?"

"It's… complicated with my dad. I know he cares for my partner in his own weird way. But I don't know how he'll react when I tell him."

"Do you think he'll be mad that you are with a man?"

"Mad? No! Furious? Yes!" Trunks exhaled "It's not the fact that I'm into guys. He knows and he doesn't care one bit. But he has this weird rivalry against my partners dad and I don't think he would appreciate being connected to Goku in any way"

After realizing that his dad most properly would have sensed their power levels during sex he had kept a safe distance from the home area of Capsule Corp.

Thinking back on the hospital bed, where Vegeta would show support in his own way, Trunks figured that he, just like Goku, thought it was related to his and Goten’s fight.
Gosh he hoped!

"How would you like him to react?"

Trunks looked up, a little baffled by the question. He never really thought about it. He knew his dad would never show joy like a human, and honestly it would weird him out if his dad hugged him and congratulated him with a smile on his lips.

He would be more terrified than anything if that happened.

"I think I would like him just to give us a nod of acceptance," Trunks finally said. "I don't need much more from him than that!"

Dr. Pantz nodded with a smile and wrote a few things down in his small notebook.

"So how did I do?" Trunks asked almost bitterly, "Did you learn more about my working habits by prying into my personal life?"

"Oh I got a lot." The man said amused "But we'll talk about that next time"

Trunks grunted annoyed and stood from his chair, getting ready to leave as fast as he could.
"So you are not gonna give me a green to go back to work then?"

"That would be very irresponsible of me!" He answered with a sweet smile.
"But our little talk made it very obvious to me that you don't care if I give you the green or not. You are already working, am I right?"

Trunks didn't answer.

"Well since I cannot sit beside you 24/7 to prevent you from working, I'll give you a challenge instead. If you are up for it I mean"

"I like a good challenge but this somehow doesn't seem to be one of those" Trunks said annoyed.

"I'll make it worth it." The man said amused "if you can manage to work for only 2 hours a day for a full month I will write an acceptance letter for you to go back full time. How does that sound?"

"A month? And how do you know that I won't lie?"

"I won't! But you are a good man with a lot of good values and manners even if you like to make up your own rules. I've learned that much! I trust that you will make the right decisions"

—

“Stupid jerk!” Trunks huffed as he sat down by the dinner table back in the house he shared with Goten.
Who did this idiot think he is?! Of course he knew that this so-called challenge was to teach Trunks to let go of his work when needed and not just for a fun and amusing challenge to loosen the mood.

Frustrated, Trunks opened his computer, looking at the direction of a small office they had set up for Goten in one of the rooms furthest away from the kitchen.

Goten’s exams had just started and he had been so motivated to get a good grade he had asked for the room furthest away from the kitchen in order not to get distracted by the food in the fridge.
Even though Goten was studying really hard he still did whatever he could to get Trunks away from the computer if he caught him working.

But by the lack of response when he got home and called to greet his boyfriend, Trunks could tell that he was wrapped up in his studies. Perfect!

If, and only IF he was to take up this challenge he had to do some preparation in order to be more efficient.

Perhaps an AI that would delegate his work better would be a good idea.
He would be able to teach it to reply to emails of less importance. This would also give him more time in the lab once he was able to set a foot into Capsule Corp again without his mom following his every move.

AI was never easy to code. He needed to form it just right in order to make sure it didn't go rogue and taught itself to lead the company.
Trunks stopped for a moment. Perhaps that wasn't such a bad idea after all.

If he was ever to step down either Bulla or one of his or her future kids would have to take the role and so far none of the Briefs had been excited about becoming the president.
What if it was possible to create an AI as co-president that would be able to forward only bigger deals, important clients and so on to the president and then automatically take care of the rest.

He was aware that this would be no walk in the park to create and his mom would for sure protest. But… What if it was a success?

But first he needed to go through his emails.
He could see that Serenity had been doing a good job as always and had taken over his inbox, sorting and delegating the work to the responsible people in the company.

The ones he personally needed to contact had already been informed of his apsense.

Some of the email had already been answered by his mom. Or rather his mom's old presidential email that she no longer used or checked.

Perfect cover up!
Serenity would never question why Bulma answered his emails and his mom would never notice that her email was being used by him.

He opened a reply from a fuel company seeking partnership.
They claimed to have found a new form of power source for bigger vehicles that was less hard on the environment and less costly if used in bigger amounts. They wanted to test the fuel on some Capsule Corps machines and it had caught his interest.

Making a good deal with this company wouldn't be easy and he already knew the owner. He was a greedy businessman with too much confidence.
But it was a good challenge and he read through the response to catch any weak points in the email that he could use to strike a better deal.

"TRUNKS!" Goten called again, making him jump.

"What?" He hissed and looked up from his computer.

Goten was sitting on a chair, shirt off, only in his boxers and with a clear hard on.
Trunks looked at him baffled before looking down into his screen again.

"I know what you are going" he said calmly "and it is not working"

A small moan led Trunks to look up real quick before looking down again. Goten had started to palm himself and was pulling off quite a show.

"Don't mind me" Goten moaned, reaching into his pants and started to stroke himself "Just pretend I'm not even here!"

"I am!" Trunks said with a stiff tone.

"Then why are you looking?" Goten replied with a smirk.

Trunks looked down on his screen, not realizing that he had been staring intensely on the show Goten was pulling off.

"Aahh…. T...Trunks hngh" Goten let out, winking when Trunks looked up again. "I'm just pretending it's your hand on my dick. Go back to work" he told him sweetly.

Trunks looked back down trying to read the email once again and didn't didn't notice his eyes slowly glided up to watch Goten again.

He had pulled himself out of his pants, giving Trunks a full view of his leaking cock.

"Goten…" Trunks finally said, closing his computer. "I love you very much and I know you do this to help me, but I really need to work and you are distracting me"

Goten got up from his chair and slowly moved close to Trunks, placing his large hands on his shoulder and started to massage him, kissing the top of his head.

"I know, but the doctor's order was for you to stop working. You need to relax and I'm just trying to help remind you how that feels!"

Trunks chuckled, trying to ignore the hard dick grinding against his back.

"Keep that up and you'll regret it" Trunks said with a calm tone and felt Goten's cock twitch by his words.

"I mean it" He said as he felt Goten grinded against him again.

When Goten didn't stop he got up from the chair, gaining a mischievous laugh from Goten.

In one movement, Trunks swung him over his shoulder and walked to the bedroom.
He threw Goten on the middle of the bed, crawling over him while he loosened his tie. He was going to teach him a lesson alright.

Goten's eyes were sparkling with excitement and his wide grin almost made Trunks feel bad for what he was about to do to him.

Goten's arms wrapped around Trunks, gliding his hands over his back while whining softly by Trunks tongue playing possessive with his earlobe.

"T..Trunks…" he stuttered, face heated up. "Please I can't w..wait"

Trunks grabbed Goten by the wrist and forced them above his head, pinning him to the bed.
Goten gasped in anticipation, grinding his groin against him.

"Do you really think you deserve it?" Trunks asked, looking down on Goten who started to nod extensively.

"Then be a good boy and stay" Trunks whispered in his ears and two clicking sounds were heard in the room.

Goten looked up at his hands that had been locked into two metal containers that were chained to the bed.
"Did you just… lock me to the bed with cuffs?" Goten asked, trying to pull them off.

Trunks ran a hand down on Goten's chest, pinching one of his nipples.

"Every time you try to break them or power up, the energy will be transferred to our energy source, canceling out your attempt to escape." Trunks answered with an evil grin.
"I made it specially for you"

Goten tried to break out of them a few times, testing their strength. This was going to be fun.
A wide and mischievous smile spread on Gotens lips. It sure had its perks having a genius as a boyfriend.

"So what are you going to do to me while I'm all chained up?" He asked, almost losing his breath. He could cum just by the thoughts of where this was going, and being restrained like this with someone as powerful as Trunks to take control was exciting and turned him on wildly.

"I'm gonna make you feel like you might go insane" Trunks whispered calmly to him. "I will drag you to a point where you don't know of you want release or for me to finally allow you to cum"

The look on Goten's face was adorable. It was pulled into a grimashed that could be read as both excitement and fear.
Trunks pulled his tie off and tied it around Gotens eyes, who suddenly seemed more worried than excited.

"We are about to fuck, right?" He asked with a trembling voice.

Trunks ran his hand along Goten's inner thighs Making the other man exhale in relief.
"Fuck yes" he let out while biting his lips leaning in to Trunks hands, hoping to feel him on his hard cock soon.

"How did you manage to get yourself this excited?" Trunks chuckled, enjoying feeling Goten shake under his touch.

"I told you before, didn't I? Just the thought of you makes me go wild" Goten answered with a shaken voice. "Trunks, please! I want you to ride me!" he begged again.

"Patience, Ten" Trunks said in a soft tone and started to place deep kisses from his knees and went down. When he had reached his inner thighs, he couldn't help but bite the younger man, leaving a mark on him.
Goten moaned in surprise and bit his lips to keep himself down.

"That's a good look on you" Trunks hummed.

Goten was about to speak but was interrupted by two of Trunks' fingers sneaking into his mouth. He eagerly twisted his tongue around them, enjoying the way Trunks played with his mouth.

Goten whined eagerly as his fingers withdrew and anticipation raised in his body once again.
He jumped a little when he felt the wet fingers circling around his entrance and he braised himself for entrance.

Even if he wasn't ready to try bottoming, Trunks had often treated him by playing with his prostate. A finger or two only felt weird in the beginning but the sensation and orgasem he had gotten from it was worth it.

Goten exhaled a shaken moan as Trunks pushed a single finger in, finding his way to his prostate almost right away.

He started to move his finger slowly. He felt how Goten slowly started to loosen up and it didn't take him long to slowly insert another finger.

Everytime he hit Goten's prostate his body jolted slightly and a low whine echoed in the room.

Trunks moved himself further up, kissing his neck and biting his ears.

"Don't stop!" Goten gasped, leaned into the fingers inside him.

"One would think you knew me by now" Trunks chuckled and removed his hand.

As soon as Goten opened his mouth to protest, he felt a weird ball-like object was placed in his mouth and tied around his neck.

What a wonderful sight, Trunks thought to himself. Seeing Goten being tied to his bed, blindfolded and with a gagball in his mouth almost made him want to ride his brain out right here and right now. But no. He needed to be taught a lesson.

"I bet you can feel my little toy buzzing inside you" Trunks chuckled. "Another gift I made just for you. The vibration is just enough to brush your prostate but not enough to make you cum"

Goten stuttered when he felt a light buzzing inside him, tickling and teasing him lightly. He tried squeezing the toy inside him but the buzzing adjusted depending on the clenching he did. Of course Trunks would have thought of that!

"Now stay there while I finish my work" Trunks got off the bed "I'll make it up to you after!"

A muffled and angry sound was heard from Goten as he closed the door.
This would teach him a thing or two about disturbing him while working.
He took a sip of his coffee and opened his computer and started to read through the email again. He caught himself looking at the bedroom door a few times, almost expecting Goten to crash through it.

Of course the whole thing about the cuffs was a lie, but he wasn't going to tell Goten. They were strong enough to hold him chained as long as he didn't power up too much.

Letting out a light sight Trunks closed his computer once he had finished the essentiel. He looked at his watch and felt a pinch of guild hit him. His plan was only to be at it for 5 tops 10 minutes before checking on Goten, but it had almost been 20 minutes now.

He got up and opened the door to the bedroom.

Goten laid on the bed, back arched and all muscles tensing. He was whining and whimpering trying desperately to ride the little and teasing friction inside him.
His cock was stone hard, head in an urgent red color and precum sliding slowly down his dick.

The ball in his mouth was almost in an oval shape from the pressure of his teeth and the drool ran freely down his chin.

His body was trembling and as he realized Trunks had entered the room he led out a loud moan, relieved that the torture was coming to an end.

Trunks slowly removed the ball from Goten’s mouth and couldn’t help but smile a bit when Goten’s response wasn’t of anger but of need.

“Fucking finally!” Goten stutterd. “I feel like I’ve been here for hours!” -

“Will that teach you not to disturb my work?” Trunks asked and tried to hold back a chuckle when Goten shook his head.

“If I can stop you from working even for just a minute or two, I would go through this for days if I had to!”

“You are a pest” Trunks whispered sweetly in his ear and could feel himself getting hard by Goten’s visible shivering. "Don't tempt me!"

Trunks removed the blindfold and was met with eyes filled with hunger and desperation. He learned in and stayed only a breath away from Goten's lips, smiling triumphantly When Goten tried to close the gap between them but was stopped by the cuffs.

Trunks' hands started to roam, gliding slowly towards Goten’s inner thighs as he slowly kissed him on the cheek and started to move lower and lower on Goten's body.

"No Trunks please" Goten whispered, like he was afraid to cum just by talking.
"I want you to…You know… I think I'm ready for…"

"Are you sure?" Trunks asked and felt Goten's words going straight to his cock. Gosh how he had wanted to since they started their relationship but he didn't want to pressure him.

Goten nodded while biting his lip.
"It's all I've been thinking about since you left me here to myself. Be gentle?" He chuckled nervously.

Trunks found his way back to Goten's lips and passionately kissed him.
Goten moaned into his mouth as he kissed him in return and it was difficult to resist giving him the satisfaction of a release.

As Trunks removed himself to unlock the cuffs, Goten feverishly continued kissing what he could.

Trunks could not help but smile slickly as he took his time to free him. He could tell Goten desperately wanted to move forward faster and he couldn’t help but enjoy tutoring him a little longer.

Goten desperately grasped and squeezed around Trunks' chest as soon as the cuffs clicked and his hands were released, eventually managing to get to Trunks' nipple.

Trunks was struggling desperately to free himself trying to regain some control, but Goten didn't let go, tightening his hold on him.
Trunks' body began to pulse with each lick, suckle, and bite, and Goten could feel the response and hummed satisfied.

When a hand made its way to Trunks' pants and began frantically caressing him on the outside, a loud moan echoed throughout the room.

"Fuck! Goten!" Trunks whined loudly and leaned into the hand. He knew he wouldn't be able to last for long if he kept this up but it felt so goddamn good.

"Goten, please!" Trunks tried again "Let me take care of you!"

Goten removed his hand from his pants but kept the nipple in his mouth a little longer, like he was considering what to do next.

"Fuck! Goten!" Trunks leaned onto the hand while whimpering loudly. Even though he knew he couldn't continue like this for very long, it felt so damn amazing.

"Goten, please!" Trunks called. "Let me take care of you!"

Goten took his hand out of his pants, but he appeared to be weighing his options as he held the nipple in his mouth for a little while longer.

As Trunks unexpectedly felt a sharp bite near his nipple, he jumped, and Goten responded to his bewildered expression by saying, "Revenge from my thigh."

When Goten let go, Trunks made his way back to his mouth and hungrily kissed him.

He makes Goten loudly moan as he gently slides his hand down his torso and delicately brushes over his cock.

Trunks grinned and kissed Goten's cheek.
"So needy! I should probably leave the vibrator on for a little longer. Only my little touch makes you sound absolutely fantastic!”

"Stop talking and get that thing out of me already! It drives me mad!” Goten muttered.

Trunks heard Goten sigh with relief as he took out the vibrator.
"I never want to see that thing again!" Goten said "I kept hoping the blasted thing would malfunction and start vibrating enough for me to accurately get off with it!"

Trunks hummed and placed the vibrator on one of Goten's nipples, making the other man squirm.
"When I made it I thought it would be a great asset while sucking you off! Imagine this sweetly buzzing on your nipple or sack while I let you fill my mouth"

"Kami, Trunks!" Goten said breathlessly.

“But, this time it allowed your muscles to unwind.” Goten gasped as Trunks softly and easily slid two digits inside him "Look at how relaxed and nice you already are! I am so eager to be inside of you! I can’t wait to feel your heat on my cock!"

Goten grasped again, twitching as Trunks lightly brushed against his prostate.
"Stop teasing" Goten begged "I want you!"

"Patience, Ten!" Trunks answered "I don't want to hurt you!"

Taking his time prepping Goten wasn't easy.
The sounds Goten made was a mixture of pleasure and begging for more.
As he let the third finger glide in he tried not to hit Goten's prostate too much, fearing he would cum on the spot but denying him the pleasure was hard.
He wanted to feel him squirm around him, see his body twist and hear his voice break.

Trunks pulled out his fingers when he was sure that Goten would be ready.
He placed a soft kiss on his mouth and chuckled at Goten eager whimpering, not happy with the lack of contact as Trunks removed himself.

It wasn't easy to slowly and safely prepare Goten.
He kept makeing a combination of pleasurable and begging noises in hope that Trunks would finally lose his patience and give him what he wanted.
He attempted to avoid hitting Goten's prostate too much as he let the third finger slip in as he became afraid he might cum on the spot. Yet, it was difficult to deny him the pleasure.
He wanted to hear his voice crack, feel him writhe around him, and see his body twist.

When Trunks was certain that Goten would be prepared, he withdrew his fingers.
He gave Goten a tender kiss on the mouth and laughed at his eager whining in dissatisfaction over the lack of contact.

Under Goten's curious watch, he took the lube and began coating himself.
He glided his fingers over his cock a few times, enjoying the sensation while making sure the lube was covering him.

He placed himself between Goten's legs and elevated his hips while gliding his head over Goten's entrance to tease him just a little.

Fortunately, he didn't spot any symptoms of discomfort as he checked on Goten.
Goten was looking intensely at him, humming in a low voice to encourage Trunks to keep going.

"Are you ready?" Trunks asked to be certain.

Goten nodded, tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and inhaled feverishly.
He was clearly anxious.

"Try to relax!" Trunks murmured.

Goten took a deep breath before Trunks slowly pushed himself inside him, feeling Goten heat around him.

Goten's eyes widened as he let out a loud gasp.

"You all right?" Trunks asked.

It took everything in him to resist thrusting. Being half inside of him already felt amazing.

"Yeah. But it feels a little strange!" Goten said quietly.

"It'll get better!" Trunks smiled reassuringly at him.

He leaned down and gave Goten a soft kiss, grunting contentedly when Goten leaned into it.

“You can always back out if you are not comf-”

“Trunks, I'm good,” Goten cut him off. "That feels strange, but it doesn't hurt."

Trunks nodded and continued their kisses, holding himself still until he was sure Goten was ready for more.

Trunks finally gave in and slowly pushed all the way as soon as he felt Goten grinding against him and attempting to push him deeper inside.

"I'm OK!" He whispered when noticed Trunks hesitating. "I'm OK! Keep going!"

Trunks nodded before he began to move his hips.
He started out very slowly and gradually, but as soon as he noticed Goten was beginning to relax and lean into it, he sped up the pace and began experimenting in an effort to learn what Goten liked the most.

It didn’t take Trunks long to learn that Goten liked it deep. The way he shivered and gasped was not to be mistaken.

Trunks tried to replicate the sensation of penetrating deeper and deeper by slowly pulling out as much as he could before thrusting back in.
In an effort to target Goten's sweet spot as often as possible, he moved his hips in motions that were nearly wavy while maintaining a calm and steady rhythm.
Trunks kept a tight check on Goten whose eyes were still closed.
His eyelids had initially been tightly closed, tight, focused, and nearly unpleasant. But, they quickly relaxed and occasionally flicker when something felt pleasurable.

“You okay?” Trunks asked again, pausing and kissing Goten’s neck softly.

Goten hummed and glided his hand through Trunks' hair.
“It feels good!” he said with a low voice. “Don’t stop!”

Trunks began to move his hips once more, and Goten began to moan and whine louder. The sounds traveled straight from Trunks' ears down his spine and into his cock.
What a beautiful melody!

He stood up and angled himself better to get in as deep as he could by grabbing Goten's hips.

For support, Goten's hands wrapped Trunks' forearms.

When Trunks had found a good position he started to thrust hard and deep and by the looks of it Goten was about to explode.
It wouldn't be long now and the thought of Goten cumming on his dick was almost too overwhelming for him.

He grabbed around Goten's cock and started stroking him in the same rhythm as his thrust and felt how it made Goten's entire body arched.

"Tru… ah. Imma cum!" Goten moaned loudly "Don't stop! Please! Trunks!"

Trunks watched silently while Goten started to turn and twist under him.
His head leaned back into the pillow, flexing the veins on his neck and the gript on Trunks arms thighted.

Goten came quickly after that, spilling over his own stomach with a shaken moan and pleading inaudible words.

When Trunks could feel Goten's body almost go limp he pulled out and started to stroke himself, enjoying the view of his work.

The way Goten's body was twitching and jolting slightly and the absolute bliss on his face was enough for the heat in Trunks' body to spread.

With a groan Trunks came in his own hand spilling over Goten's stomach who was looking up at him with a lazy and satisfied grin.

Trunks fell heavily into the bed next to Goten and hummed happily as he felt Goten's fingers gliding over his back.

"Damn that felt good!" Trunks purred "How do you feel? Was it okay?"

“At first I thought that I would never get used to it!” Goten explained while using paper to wipe the cum off himself “But as soon as my body started to relax it started to feel amazing! Does it feel that good every time?”

Trunks chuckled at the excitement in Goten’s voice. He had clearly enjoyed it a lot more than he thought he would.
“As you learn to relax your body even more it will start to feel better!” Trunks explained “Don’t rush or pressure yourself! It’ll come! Just try not to think of anything and enjoy it! I will take care of you, especially in the beginning!”
Goten hummed sweetly, while leaning over to kiss Trunks on the lips.

“Can we do it again?” he whispered excitedly and Trunks couldn’t hold back a laugh. He was too goddam cute for his own good!

—

Whistling while reading through his emails was a new thing for Trunks.

Finally being able to top Goten felt like an itch that had finally been scratched and he was looking forward to switching once in a while depending on their moods.

His thoughts and whistle were interrupted by the doorbell and he got up from his chair wondering who would stop by.

“Your mom sends me” Vegeta grunted as soon as Trunks opened the front door.

“Oh um.. Hi dad!” Trunks said and tried to remain calm. He still hasn't been to the shower since him and Goten’s time in the bedroom and he has no doubt that if the older Saying was suspecting them to have a relationship, he would easily be able to smell it off him, the house and Goten, should he appear from his office.

Without hesitating, Vegeta stepped into the house and passed Trunks.

Trunks calmly followed him and as they stepped past the bedroom Vegeta took one look in and turned and looked at Trunks with a raised eyebrow.
“I thought I taught you to make your bed every time you get up?” He grunted disapprovingly.

Trunks took this as his que and closed the door, apologizing and explained that he had just woken from a nap when the doorbell rang.
He wasn’t sure if his dad believed him and he nervously followed him further into the house.

“How are you feeling?” Vegeta finally asked monotone, as they sat by the dinner table. “Have you kept your promise?”

Trunks tilted his head. He knew that over the years he had made up a lot of weird promises to get out of sticky situations and he wasn't sure what promise his dad referred to.

“The test you did on yourself!” Vegeta clarified annoyed.

“Oh. That!” Trunks nodded and looked towards Goten’s office for a split second. “Yes I stopped after I was admitted to the hospital. I suspect that’s why I was sleeping for so long. My body most likely went into a small state of shock from the cold turkey and chose to close down while I was… detoxing or how you would like to fraise it”

“I don’t like to fraise it at all,” Vegeta grunted, “But good!”

“Can I ask why mom wanted you to stop by? It’s very unlike you!” Trunks asked, almost amused. Even if he wasn’t living with his parents he already knew too well how that conversation had taken place.

“She wanted me to do a drop test to make sure you weren't working behind her back. She said you would find a way.” He replied and looked at the computer and files standing by the end of the table.

“Oh.. Um.. That.. That is not… I’m just… Writing fiction?” Trunks tried.

“I couldn’t care less!” Vegeta said as a matter of fact “I’m here for something else.”

Trunks' heart started to beat faster. So he did know! This was it, wasn’t it? The thing he had been dreading since he and Goten started dating.
He cursed that his body was still feeling weak. He knew this could ultimately turn into a battle between them, and even when he was able to go full power he stood no chance against his dad.

But he was not backing away. No matter what the older Saiyin said. He was ready to fight with all he had to prove a point. He was not going to let Goten go.

“Every morning by 9 you will join my training for at least 4 hours every day. You are getting weak and it’s inexcusable. I expect you to be warmed up when you show up.”

Trunks blinked a few times confused.

“Your mom keeps saying that she is worried about you passing out from working. But I’m not” Vegeta continued “You have shown that you are willing to keep going until your body gives in and that is exactly what I taught you when you were younger. You will become a good fighter and I’m appalled that you are not using the same energy in your training. We will turn that around”

"Ehm dad.. I hardly have time for.."

"You have no choice!" Vegeta interrupted "I'm not going to lie to your mom when she asked me why you don't have time to train in a periode where time should be the only thing you have. Writing a novel is a lie that will not last long"

Trunks sat back in his chair disbelieved. Did his dad just blackmail him into training?

"… I guess I will see you tomorrow at 9!"

"Bet your ass you will!" Vegeta said with a satisfied grin as he got up and left the house.

Trunks signed relieved when he heard the door close behind his dad. He hadn’t realized just how tense he was. He just prayed that if his dad noticed it he would think it was because of the work he was trying to hide.

Getting back to training with his dad felt weird. He hadn’t done that since he was a teenager and wasn’t even sure how long he would be able to keep up with the old man.

"Did I hear someone stop by?" Goten asked as he stepped out of his office. He walked towards the kitchen and reached for a water bottle in the fridge. "I thought I heard voices?"

"Yeah" Trunks sighed "My dad stopped by. I'm just glad he didn't come by an hour ago or we would have had a hard time explaining ourself"

"Oh!" Goten said nervously.

"He didn't seem to know about us though" Trunks snorted. "He wants me to train with him everyday. He's even blackmailing me to do so. What a pain in the ass!"

"Perhaps it's not a bad idea!" Goten said and raised his palms as a defense when Trunks sent him an evil glare "I only mean that we have been slacking off and we can't expect our dads or Gohan to pick up the dust if the earth should be in danger again! Perhaps we should start training again just to make sure we are in shape!"

Trunks signed annoyed and leaned back into his chair. He knew Goten was right but the pure thought of going back to his work plus training with his dad for four hours seemed almost impossible ends to meet.

That night Trunks was tossing and turning himself. His thoughts kept him awake. He had no issue about their relationship being a secret, hell a part of him wanted it to stay like that forever.
But if he was going to spend time with his dad everyday it was only a matter of time before he slipped.

He turned his head and studied Goten in the dark.

Perhaps it was time to push Goten a little bit, trying to convince him to finally tell his parents. He didn't like it though. He wanted Goten to take his time. But he didn't want Chichi to know from someone else than Goten himself.

When Trunks finally fell asleep he had managed to wrap his arms around Goten, holding him tight like he was scared that he would run away.

Goten, who was sound asleep, mirrored Trunks and a low "love you" could be heard whispered from his lips.

Next morning Trunks woke up when he felt the heat from Goten's body slipping away. He grunted annoyed and tried to reach out in hope that he would find his missing partner and force him back into his embrace.

"Time to get up, Trunks!" He heard Goten whisper beside the bed. "You need to kick your dad's ass in about an hour!"

Trunks grunted again hiding under the duvet.
"Tell him to go to hell"

"He's been there, done that, and they don't want him back!" Goten chuckled "Now get up! I'll make us breakfast!"

As most days, silence was filling the room until Trunks had had his first cup of coffee. It wasn't uncomfortable or tense but more a time to enjoy each other's company without any words exchanged.

"I'll head to the library when I'm done washing the dishes," Goten said after a little while. "Some of my other classmates are going there to give each other feedback. Thought it would be good to join and get some inspiration!"

Trunks nodded while swallowing the last piece of his breakfast.
"Sounds like a good idea."

"You'll be home before me" Goten continued "Could you please try not to work today?"

Trunks only hummed into his cup as he took a sip and didn’t dare to look Goten in the eyes.
As soon as the AI was finished he would start considering working less.
Goten didn’t comment on the silence and he already knew the answer.

They helped each other to clean the breakfast table and sat by the table and talked about the plans for the day, before Goten got a text and said he needed to leave.

“The others are already there so I’ll head out” He kissed Trunks softly and as he parted their lips he whispered “If you can keep you hands off your working computer I’ll reward you with something else you can use your hands for”

Trunks chuckled and gave Goten’s butt a small and teasing slap.
Goten giggled as he went to put on his shoes and left with an excited “Kick your dad’s but for me!”

Trunks found a small island outside of the city where he started to do his warm up.
It had been a while since he had used his body in this way and the longer he progressed in the warm up the more frustrated he got with his results.

Perhaps Goten was right. Getting back in shape was not a bad idea at all.

When he finally arrived at Capsule Corp, neither Bulma or Bulla was home. He had hoped to spend a little time with his family and he found himself missing the big house.

He went straight to the gravity room and knocked on the door.
Clicking sound could be heard, as the gravity was turned off and he was now able to open the heavy metal door and stepped inside, feeling nervous about what his dad had in store for him.

“Are you warmed up?” Vegeta asked, before Trunks had even managed to close the door.

He nodded and placed his towel and water bottle the same place he always did.
There was something in his dad’s eyes that made it very clear that this training session was going to be the hardest he had ever been a part of.

—

Exhoursed from the training with his dad, Trunks walked up the small driveway to the house admiring how the bushes around the house were starting to bloom again. He had a feeling Goten was to blame for the sudden sprouts but he wasn’t sure. Perhaps he should ask him when he got back from the library.

Even opening the door made him realize just how much he needed to get in the game. Bending his fingers made every joint in his hand aching.
“I can’t believe that he worked me that hard!” Trunks sighed to himself, while carefully bending down to take off his shoes.

Everything inside him froze for a second, as he noticed a dark shadow out of his side eyes, creeping up on him from behind planning to attack.

Chapter Text

Trunks' vision was clouded with black dots, and his airway was blocked. How was this possible? How did he not notice this as he entered the door?
He blamed it on the training he did with his dad. He was exhausted and scared. No, not scared... downright. Terrifi-

"What the hell is that?" Trunks screamed as he saw Goten turning the corner.

Goten had to bite his lips not to laugh.

Trunks were floating right under the ceiling, almost looking like someone was trying to hide inside the corner. His face was white as a sheet, and his eyes were filled with panic.
Looking up at Trunks, trying to reach the scared man floating above it, Goten’s new friend was standing on his back legs, barking happily at him.

“It’s a dog!” Goten answered, doing everything in his power to keep a straight face.

“I can see it’s a fucking dog, you jerk! What the fuck is it doing here? You know I don't like them!” Trunks screamed and jolted as the dog started to bark at him again.

“He got lost from his pet hotel and was hit by a car. They took him in at the clinic today, but they don’t have time to look after him. They called and asked if I was able to be his pet sitter and make sure he took his medicine until his family can come and collect him”

"And you jumped on that without hesitation, I could imagine!" Trunks scrolled and slowly lowered himself to the floor as Goten held the large dog back.

“I thought it would be good for us!” Goten explained innocently. “He has a lot of energy and needs long walks! It’s a good way for me to take a break from my exam and for you to have something to do while you are not supposed to be working!”

"I am not taking that on walks!" Trunks said angrily and tried to pass Goten and the dog with as much distance as he could.

"Rex!" Goten said.

"What?"

"Rex! That's his name!"

Trunks rolled his eyes and walked as casually as he could to the kitchen, mentally preparing himself to fly under the ceiling should the dog go near him.

"I don't want it here!" Trunks grunted and crossed his arms.

"Please Trunks! It won't be for long! There is nobody else! I don't want to send this cute face into a locked cage while he is scared and waiting for his family to come home. I mean, look at him!"

Trunks looked at the big black dog, droll hanging out of each side of the mouth. Honestly, it looked like little to nothing was happening behind those big, droopy eyes.
He notices the damage and brushes around the dog's body, feeling a small pinch in his stomach.
He knew if this was one of his grandparents' animals, he would have made sure someone would be held responsible for letting them stay in a cage when all they needed was care and love.

But having a dog around him made him uneasy. He was never able to read the creatures, and that made him nervous.
No, there was no way he could keep this beast around without being on edge all the time. There had to be someone else.

He looked back at Goten, whose eyes had grown all large and wet. He looked more like a lost puppy than the dog did.
Trunks knew this trick like the back of his hand!
He had been around Goten since they were children, after all, and this trick was something he had used so many times to get out of trouble.
Not that it was working on Trunks of course…..

"How long?" He asked between his teeth, annoyed by the defeat.

"Not long, I promise!" Goten replied, and his eyes started to shine with excitement: "Just until his parents get home! They are trying to catch a plane as we speak!"

"He is your responsibility, and I will not help out!" Trunks said in a strict tone, "If he destroys anything or does his business inside, it's on you!"

"You will not regret it!" Goten squealed loudly, giving Trunks a quick kiss, before he happily turned to the dog and started to goof around, making the dog all excited and happy.

"I honestly doubt it," Trunks mumbled as he watched the expensive vase stand a little too close to the dog's wagging tail.

—

It was not the sound of the doorbell but the dogs barking that made Trunks jump later that day.
He cursed at the dog as he passed it with as much distance as he could, threatening that he would put a muzzle on it if this continued.
Before he made it to the door, the doorbell rang again, making the big dog bark once again.

"Be quiet," Trunks hissed, and in his silent mind, he hoped that it was the dog's parents waiting on the other side of the door.

"Serenity? What are you doing here?"

As promised, he was still working on getting her to work for his mom in some way, but after this whole sick leave deal, things had been put on hold.
Still, Serenity was working as hard as ever. Filling in for him where she could, reassigning his emails, and keeping him up to date with things she knew he needed to know in order to keep calm and stay away from work as much as possible.
Of course, she didn’t know that he was very aware of everything happening at the corporation. He still appreciated her effort.

He invited her in and automatically moved out of the way as the dog slowly approached them.
“Wow, that's a big dog!” Serenity said, petting Rex on the head as he greeted her.

“Do you want it? You can have him!” Trunks said dryly, ignoring Goten protesting in the background for the third time this day.

“Stop giving the dog away, Trunks! He is not ours!” Goten said, and he slapped his shoulder as he passed him to greet Serenity. “Rex got lost and needs to stay with us until his family can collect him!”

“How long will he stay then?” She asked.

“His parents are trying to catch a plane, so I would guess around 12 more hours.”

“Oh! That sounds reasonable! How long has he been here? It seems my boss has reached his limit already.”

“About one hour..” Goten replied, “Trunks have been home for 20 minutes.”

“Yikes!” Serenity tried to hide her smile. “Suits him right!”

Trunks grunted annoyedly but led her into the kitchen area, offering her a drink, which she accepted.
He huffed as a response when Goten said he would get ready and take the dog for a walk before continuing his study.

He turned to Serenity and squinted his eyes.
“How can I help you? I can tell you are not here just to say hello to the intruder”

“Rex!” Goten yelled in the background.

“Yes… That!” Trunks replied, annoyed.

“You are absolutely right! I have a bone to pick with you!” She said, “Do you think I’m stupid?”

“No! On the contrary, I think you are extremely smart.”
He expected her to figure him out at some point, but he had hoped for more time. Perhaps if he played stupid, she would need to spend more time investigating his work.

“Don’t flatter me! It’s not working!” She hissed “Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you are using your mom's old email and pretending to be her!”

“You have no proof!”

Trunks leaned back and glared back at her with a challenging look.
He hadn't realized how much he actually missed their banter.
Challenging Serenity was fun because he knew she could bite back just as harshly if needed.

“First of all, your mom writes much more directly and less formally in her emails. That was my first cue! Then I realized that none of the emails came from inside Capsule Corp., even in the hours when I was following her around.”

Dammit. There's no way around that one.

“Ugh, I keep forgetting just how obsessed you are with her!” Trunks signed “Okay, you got me! I have been doing a little bit here and there, but I’m working on a tool to help me with the emails and make your job easier as well!”

At first, Serenity squinted her eyes, but he soon recognized the glare changing to curiosity, and he didn’t expect a different reaction from her.
“Do tell!” She said this and leaned back into her chair, sipping her drink.

At first, he just wanted to explain the overall idea or the AI Co-president he wanted to create. But the more questions she asked, the more detail he started to add. By the end of their conversation, they were both cramped together by his computer, sparing and evolving the AI together.

“I can make the restriction for it so that it doesn’t start to take over completely but only sticks to its task.” Serenity said, tying her hair up in a bun. “This was my thing while I was studying, and I have not gone down in experience since. Give me a week in the meantime, and I can have the base finished by then. But I need you not to fiddle with the coding at all in the meantime.”

“You are only saying this to make me stop working, aren’t you?”

“Do you really want to test me? It’s the security of your family's company at stake here.” She answered back innocently.

“All right!” Trunks finally said, “I’ll give you two weeks to refine it as well. If you do well, I will drop your name when I show this to my mom. She will not like the idea, but if she can see it working with her own two eyes, she’ll love it. I know she will! She hated this role as well!”

“Really?” She asked, clapping her hands excitedly, “I will not let her—I mean, you—down!”

“Alright!” Trunks laughed and showed Serenity her way to the door. “Say hi to Grace from us.”

Serenity left, clearly still in her own world. Whether she was thinking about coding the AI or if she was dreaming about working side by side with his Mom, he wasn’t too sure.

As nature was calling, Trunks grabbed his phone and closed the toilet door behind him.
They might have been inseparable as kids, but they had always valued private time on the toilet.
For this reason, he often used it as an escape if he needed to work without Goten noticing. This was especially something he would do on days when Goten would be extra pushy about him needing to relax.
Today he saw it more as an escape from the dog, who he knew would be back from their walk soon.

He had never seen Serenity flex her knowledge like she did today, and now more than ever, he was convinced that they needed to make sure she would stay in the company and not as his secretary. A true waste of her talent.
He would miss her once she got a new offer, hopefully working for Bulma directly, but he knew she would fit right in no matter where she went!

Suddenly, the door opened, interrupting his thoughts.
For a split second, he was worried something was wrong, as Goten would never disturb him like that, but it felt like everything inside him froze when he realized it was the dog standing behind the door that slowly started to glide open.

“It can open doors?!” Trunks thought to himself in terror.

The dog stood at the entrance and looked him intensely in the eyes.

A single drop of cold sweat ran down Trunks' spine as he watched the dog creep closer while maintaining eye contact.

“No!” Trunks yelled, “Don’t come closer! Where the hell do you think you are going?!”

But of course, the dog didn't even seem to register that he wasn't welcome.

“Goten!” Trunks called almost in a panic as he slowly tried to climb the toilet the best he could without getting up from the seat, pants down, and panic in his eyes.

No response.

“GOTEN!” He called again, not removing his eyes from the dog.

Still no response.
Only when he heard Goten talking in the distance did he realize that he was on the phone. Dammit!

"You stay there or I'll have you sleep outside! Do you hear me?!" Trunks threatened the dog and already knew that his words wouldn't have any effect.

Finally, the dog stopped moving and sat down, still watching him without blinking.
Swearing under his breath, Trunks finished up while keeping a close eye on the dog.
As he finished washing his hands, the dog finally got up and moved back into the living room.
Perfect timing as he started to panic about how he would be able to get out the door without having to step over the animal.

He peeped out of the toilet and only dared to step out when Goten walked out of his office.

“He watches me on the toilet, that little freak!”
Trunks scrollede.

“Oh but that’s normal! They do it to protect you from potential predators while you are doing your business! It’s pure instinct!” Goten replied, petting the dog on its head.

“He opened the goddamn door! Don’t tell me that’s instinct as well!” Trunks argued.

“I stand by my explanation! Perhaps that would teach you to lock it next time!”

“Ugh I don’t have the energy to argue about a dog. It will be gone soon enough.” Trunks grunted and pasted them, trying to escape to the bedroom.

"Yeah so.. I have good news and bad news!" Goten said hesitantly:

"No!" Trunks roared, "The dog is not staying longer!"

"His parents' flight was canceled, and they won't be back until Sunday. I already told them he could stay here!" Goten begged.

"What was the good news?" Trunks asked with annoyance in his voice.

"That I love you very much?"

"Fuck off, Ten!"

–--

For the remaining day, Trunks’ mood declined every second.

Not only the noises of Goten and Rex playing or the dog's loud breathing in general, but also the fact that the dog kept getting into Trunks' space made him want to explode.
But watching the light in Goten’s eyes whenever he saw that blasted dog reminded Trunks to take some deep breaths and move on.

While Goten and Rex were out for a walk, Trunks finally stepped into his lab again.
He hadn’t been here since the day he collapsed, and nothing seemed to have been moved or fiddled with.
Thank God!

He turned on his computer and opened his log, marking the experiment he had been working on as failed and threw out the pills he had taken.

He kept staring at the red letters on the screen while drumming his fingers on the table.
He knew he should let it go and just move on. But he couldn't accept it. Not yet.
He still had one more thing he wanted to try. If this didn't work, he would drop it.
He started to chew the inside of his cheeks as he changed the projects from failed to ongoing.
He opened the file and found the folder he was looking for.

He drummed his fingers against the table again before taking a deep breath and clicking on the folder called "Goten" to continue where he left off.

He wasn't sure how long he had been in there when a soft knock made him jump.
"Just a minute," he called, and he closed everything down with shaken hands.

When he was sure nothing looked suspicious, he opened the door for Goten.
As soon as the door swung open, Rex managed to slick his way in and started to roam the small lab.

"No, gosh!" Trunks cursed, "Get out!"

Rex turned to look at Trunks, but only to ignore him and continue further into the lab.

"Hey, don't touch that!" Trunks yelled.

"He's just sniffing around!" Goten said calmly "Are you sure you are ready to be in here?"

"Don't worry, I'm not doing anything stupid," Trunks lied. “But I need to occupy myself or I will go insane. Your romance action books can only entertain me for that long!”

“You just don’t understand what real art is when you see it.” Goten said melodramatically, “We came to tell you that dinner is ready. I hope you are hungry.”

“We? As in you and the dog? Really?” Trunks grunted but followed Goten to the kitchen, with Rex keeping himself just outside of reach.

As always, Goten’s food tasted like heaven. Trunks never understood how he managed to do it, but his food always tasted better than their private chefs at Capsule Corp.
Since they moved to the new house, Trunks' appetite had started to bloom again, and even when he was feeling his lowest, he would still fill his face with the wonderful flavors Goten would provide him.
He had almost gained back all the weight that he had lost since he started working as president for Capsule Corp., and his skin had lost its gray tones, and his natural warm undertones were shining through once again.

He was happy to see that the dog didn’t swirl around their legs begging for food but was casually laying in its bed, biting on a piece of chew toy.

He looked back at Goten, who was stuffing his face in true Son style. Eyes shining, and a happy glow surrounding him.
Trunks knew he wanted to spend his life with this man and had known it for a while. But moments like these, where they were sitting in peace and eating, reminded him once again how badly he wanted to grow old with Goten as his partner.

“Have you thought about when you are going to tell your parents about us?” Trunks asked before he could think ahead.

Goten caught a piece of food in his throat and coughed and wheezed until he got it out.
“Why the question all of a sudden?” he asked, still coughing.

“No reason.” Trunks replied, “I was just wondering. There is still no pressure, you know!”

Goten nodded and started to poke at his food.
“I want the exams to be over at least. I will tell them, I promise. I just... I still need time!”

Trunks slid his hand across the table and grabbed Goten’s, calmly stroking the top of his hand with his thumb.
Really, Ten, don’t worry about it! It was just a question!” Trunks reassured him.

“It’s just that I feel so bad about it,” Goten said, leaning back. “Not just for you, but also for my parents. I hate to keep secrets from them. I just.. I need to figure out how to break the news and avoid any blowups from my mom.”

“Have you considered asking Gohan and Video for support?” Trunks asked and smiled softly as Goten looked up “They know, right? If anyone can take your mom down in a verbal fight, it would be Videl, and Gohan would be good to have, as he already approved. Might make it easier for your mom.”

Goten nodded
“I didn’t even think about that. Perhaps I should ask them”

The mood lightened after that, and the conversation turned to Goten’s exam assignment.
Trunks knew that Goten had been motivated, as he had been promised a job at the clinic if he graduated, and the more he spoke about the exam, the more excitement oozed out of him.

“And how do you feel about the oral exam?” Trunks asked as they did the dishes together.

Goten shuttered, and visible goosebumps rose on his arms.
“I’m terrified!” he laughed nervously. “Nothing has changed there. Speaking with people looking so intensely at me will never not be scary."

Trunks hummed, knowing too well how nervous Goten could get.
A weird thing considering their past. Both as a part of rescuing the earth multiple times, including their superhero periods.

“How are you feeling?” Goten asked, breaking the silence.

“Sore! Like nothing I have ever tried before.” Trunks sighed. “Even lifting a freaking glass of water is almost too much.”

Goten took the glass that Trunks was wiping and pointed to the bathroom.
“Go take a hot shower and lay down on the bed,” he ordered. “I will bring the oil in and give you a massage. It should help your muscles to ease up a little.”

"You really don't have t-"

"Not up for discussion!" Goten commanded with a grin. "Go!"

He kissed Goten's cheek as he left the kitchen, walking in a big circle around the dog, who raised its head and followed its gaze in the direction Trunks went.

He locked the door just in case, not wanting the dog to break in and watch him naked in the shower.
The boiling hot water running down his body felt amazing, but it didn't heal his extreme soreness. Even squeezing the soap bottle made him curse in pain.
That stupid old man was going to pay for this…. One day.

He turned off the water and dried himself off before exiting the bathroom. As he had expected, the dog was lying outside the door, waiting for him.
Rex got up and followed Trunks to the bedroom from a distance, picking up speed as Trunks sped up to make the distance between them bigger.

Only when Goten called for Rex did the dog turn around and greet Goten with a wagging tail.

Trunks could hear that Goten gave the dog some sort of treat and told him to stay in his bed.

It didn’t take Goten long to join Trunks in the bedroom.
He was ordered to lay on the bed, and Trunks did just that, still with his towel wrapped around his hips.
He had considered stripping completely just to tease a little, but he was so sore everywhere that he accurately felt like he needed a good massage more than sex.

The cold liquid from the massage oil made him squirm, but soon the uncomfortable sensation was replaced by Goten’s hands warming the oil up by smearing it all across his back.
Trunks couldn’t help but let a small moan slip from his lips at Goten’s work. His soar body started to loosen up under Goten’s fingertip gliding over his skin.

They had done this a lot when they were younger, after training or if they were watching a movie, and they had a hard time sitting still. It had been normal for them—a friendship bond without any ideas or thought behind it other than supporting and helping each other stay their best.

Trunks started to appreciate that this was a thing that stopped when they got older. It would have been hard for him to hide his desire to be closer to his best friend.
Perhaps it would have pushed their current relationship faster, but perhaps it would have done more damage than good if it was pushed before Goten realized he had feelings for him as well.

Thinking back on their time on the mountains, which now seems only a few months ago, Goten has told him that he was pushing for Trunks to confess first but had to give up as he couldn’t hold it back anymore.
Perhaps it wouldn’t have been Trunks who would have had a hard time keeping his fingers to himself.

"You feel so very tense," Goten said, interrupting Trunks' trail of thoughts. “I will try my best to loosen you up.”

Trunks chuckled at the comment.
"Is this some sort of weird roleplay where you pretend to be a horny masseuse?"

"No," Goten said a little too fast. ".... Do you want it to be?"

"Just keep going, dork!" Trunks chuckled. "What you are doing now feels amazing."

Goten hummed and let his strong hands glide over Trunks' back, sending small waves all the way out to his finger tips.

“Good thing you came in today, sir,” Goten said with a weird accent, making Trunks laugh. “My specialty is helping businessmen with a passion for martial arts."

"Seems like I came to the right place then," Trunks chuckled.

Goten hummed, and his hands started to roam, and little by little they found their way under the towel.

“You should probably stop,” Trunks said with a teasing tone. “My boyfriend doesn’t like it when other men touch me.”

“But... I am your boyfriend?” Goten said a little hesitantly, without the accent.

“I know you are, Ten.” Trunks laughed. “It’s part of the game!”

“Oh! Right!” Goten said, changing his accent again “Well… He doesn’t have to know.”

Trunks sighed in contentment when Goten ran his large hand over his ass, squeezing it slightly.
“Do you take me for one who will deceive my partner? It’s a little bit rude, don’t you think?”

Goten stopped moving his hands again. Trunks turned his head, and when Goten looked at him to confirm this was still part of the game, Trunks nodded, and Goten continued.
“No sir, you do not.” He said, “I’m just trying to do my job and make you nice and relaxed, you see.”

"I see!" Trunks said, letting Goten get away with it, "Do you have any treatments you have in mind that could help me?”

Goten’s breath shortened, and his grip on Trunks twitched slightly. Trunks did everything he could to hold back a smile, but the way Goten reacted and tried to play around was just too goddamn cute for his own good.
“I do have one special treatment I think you would like, sir!” Goten said. “It will make you feel really good.”

Trunks hummed contently as Goten’s hands started to roam possessively over his back. He couldn’t decide if he wanted to tease him a little before letting him have his way, but the sensation over his soar body made him… impatient.
“All right!” Trunks finally said, “Do what you do best. Make me feel good!”

Goten’s breath hitched, and his hands continued to massage around Trunks’ lower back, slowly sliding his fingers under the towel again and smoothly transitioning until he had a firm grip around Trunks' ass.
He squeezed lightly at first, whispering sweet words to Trunks about how good he was and how perfect his ass felt.
Slowly, the towel unfolded itself, and Trunks was displayed naked to Goten’s delight.

Goten’s fingers started to separate his cheeks, humming satisfied by the visuals.
It did not take him long to spread the oil from Trunks’ back and between his ass, massaging his fingers over Trunks’ entrance and further down to slightly brush his balls.
Trunks had started to pant at this point, feeling the heat slowly spreading inside him. Normally he wouldn’t be this submissive, but it felt great to be treated while his body was failing him.

“You are in great shape.” Goten whispered, “I do think you are a little too tense, so I need to shift treatment, if you don’t mind?”

“Please” Trunks said with a begging voice, and he noticed how Goten stopped breathing for just a moment.
He was enjoying this, no doubt about it.

Goten crawled on top of him and sat right behind his ass.
He kept squeezing it and running his fingers over all the good parts that he could reach before settling closer.
Goten’s hardon softly pressed against Trunks before slowly and softly grinding against him. He soon leaned in, gripping Trunks by the hip with one hand and sliding his other hand to reach Trunks jaw, holding him in place.
“Do you trust me, sir?” Goten whispered in his ear, sending chills and fire down his body.

Trunks nodded, too out of breath to answer in words.

“Just relax and let me take care of you!”
Goten started to grind against his naked body, making sure to rub his hardon against Trunks’ butt, trying to reach as deep as he could with his thigh pants still on.

Goten’s grunts and rubs lit a fire in Trunks, and he cursed at this moment that he was not able to flip them around and ride him until morning.
As soon as he accepted that Goten would have full control this time, the frustration turned into something else.

Trunks’ pulse started to rise, and his breath was shortened by the sensation of Goten dry humping him while moaning softly into his ear.
The thought that he did this to him, simply by laying on the bed and scruffing a few words, filled his body with pride and passion.

He turned his head, longing to feel his partner's lips on his own, when something out of his side eye caught his attention.
"Ten" Trunks spat, "That blasted dog is watching us! I told you he’s a freak!"

Goten stopped and turned his head to see Rex by the side of the bed, looking intensely at them.

"He doesn't understand what is going on" Goten explained "Just ignore him and he will go away"

Goten continued where he left off, and Trunks tried to relax with the sensation.
He tried to concentrate on the-

"Okay, that's it! He's licking my foot!" Trunks jelled and sat up before pushing Goten away.
"Out with you!" Trunks shushed the dog and closed the door as Rex ran out of the room with his tail wagging.

Trunks laid back into the bed, letting his forearm cover his eyes, and sighed loudly.

He felt a hand gliding up his thigh and Goten's shaken voice whispered in his ear
"Where were we?"

"Mood is ruined, Ten!" Trunks snapped and pushed him away. "When will he be picked up? I'm starting to lose my patience!"

“Well, it's still Friday so… two more days."

Ugh!

Chapter Text

The next morning, Trunks woke up before his alarm once again.
The thumbs from his heart were beating like it was trying to get out of his chest, and the pain was swallowing his stomach. It had been like this for a while that he almost forgot what it felt like to wake up without it.

He tried to take a deep breath, in the hope it would ride out the anxiety taking over again. The last thing he needed was for Goten to notice that his body was far from back to normal, even though Trunks liked to pretend like it was.

His entire body was aching even worse than yesterday, and he already knew that training with his dad would be beyond any torture he could think of.
He grounded himself in his sore muscles, and soon the racing heart and twisting in his stomach slowly subsided.

He laid still for a little while with his eyes closed, enjoying the sound of Goten’s heavy breathing behind him.

He realized Goten’s breath brushed against his ear, and the spark from the day before slowly started to ignite in him again. Perhaps he would be able to wake Goten, and they could continue where they left off, hopefully without any interruptions.

Trunks turned around to wake up his sleeping boyfriend, already having a plan on how to wake up more than just one part of him while moving as little of his sore body as possible.
With a loud scream, Trunks pushed himself off the bed and fell hard on the floor while swearing and trying to wrestle with the duvet that had tangled him in during his fall. Woken by Trunks' scream, Goten sat up in an instant, eyes hard and body tense, ready to fight any danger.

“Why is the dog in our bed?” Trunks screamed from the floor, cursing as his sore body betrayed him when he tried to get up.

Rex, who had found a comfortable spot between the two men during the night, lazily lifted his head before slumbering back into the heat of the warm bed.

“Oh no, Rex!” Goten said, trying to sound surprised. “How did you manage to get up here?”

“For fuck sake, Ten!” Trunks cursed and finally got up from the floor. “I shouldn’t have to tell you I don’t want that!”

"No, you are right; I am sorry.” Goten said, “I meant for him to stay off the bed, but then he sneaked in while I was half asleep, and it just felt so nice that I couldn’t get myself to tell him off. I’ll make it up to you! I can give you a massage later if you want."

“Fuck off, Ten!”


—-


While Goten was taking the dog for a long morning walk, Trunk had time to sit down on the couch and just relax for a moment. Every muscle in his body was screaming for him not to move, and for a minute he considered doing just so for the remaining day, telling his dad to find another day to torture him.

He knew that there was a good chance his dad would come and collect him or make their next training session even harder to make up for it. He also knew himself enough to know that even if his body and mind screamed for him to relax, there was no way he would allow the old man to think that he had won.
He hated to admit it, but the Briefs stubborn attitude was a part of him as well.

His phone started to ring.
“Speaking of the devil,” he mumbled to himself, pressed accept, and watched as a video call from his mom popped up on his screen.

“Good morning, honey,” Bulma said with a bright smile on her lips. “How are you feeling today?”

“Like I’ve been beaten half to death by my own dad; that’s how I feel," Trunks said.

“That’s because you have become weak.” He could hear his dad's brooding voice in the background.

Bulma shot an evil glare over the phone and was about to open her mouth to defend her son.

“It’s all right, mom,” Trunks interrupted. “He is not wrong. I have been slacking off since I started to work. We never know when another enemy will come to earth, and we can’t keep relying on Dad, Goku, or Gohan. Me and Goten need to pay tribute as well.”

Bulma hummed and looked back at the phone, releasing her husband from her angry glare.

"Have you been resting?" Vegeta asked.

"I wish I had. Goten dragged home a dog yesterday, and it's been keeping me on my toes." Trunks signed annoyingly, "I slept horrible last night because it apparently took up the space in the bed."

"Why did it sleep in your bed and not in Gotens?" Bulma asked

Trunks signed annoyed again, but used the movement to hide his nervous spasm by the fact that he almost admitted that Goten was sleeping in the same bed as him. Shit, he really needed to be careful.

"Goten says that the dog likes me, and that's why it wants to hang out with me. It's such a bother. I didn’t even realize that it had snuck into the bed.”

He heard a deep grunt from Vegeta, still hiding somewhere out of the video call.
“That won’t do!” He grunted, “If you didn’t even notice someone sneaking into your bed at night, training today will only be a waste of my time. Rest up for the weekend and make sure to be back on Monday.”

Relief washed over Trunks, and he suddenly felt ten times lighter than before.

"Speaking of Goten,” Bulma suddenly said, “I have invited Chichi and Goku over for dinner on Monday. Why don't you boys join us as well? I'm sure Goten could use a day off cooking!"

“I’ll ask Goten if he is free when he gets back. When he is not playing around with that stupid dog, he is buried deep in his exam project, so no promises.” Trunks said.

They said their farewells, and Trunks got to sit on the couch, just enjoying the silence. As soon as the front door handle clicked open, all chaos broke loose and noise started to fill the living space again.

Goten chased the dog into the living room with a towel to dry off it’s paws, and the dog was obviously enjoying the case.

Once the chaos had settled Trunks told Goten about the conversation he had had with his parents and that they were invited for dinner.

“Do you think they know?” he asked nervously. “Should we think of a decoy?”

“I don’t think she would be able to keep quiet for that long.” Trunks answered calmly, “If she knew, she would have stormed the building already. I don’t think you need to worry.”

Goten hummed like he wasn’t sure if he was convinced.
“Okay then.” Goten said. “Tell them we’ll be there.”

Trunks nodded and sent his mom a text before getting off the couch and went upstairs to the lab, where he closed the door behind him.
For a little while, he stood by the door, looking at the black screen of his computer monitor. He desperately tried to come up with a new project, but his mind found it’s way back to his current project. A lump in his stomach started to form again, but he ignored it and turned on his computer, continuing where he left off.

Hours felt like they went by faster than it took him to fly around the earth. He felt like he had gotten nowhere so far and he was starting to get agitated. More than normal.
He pushed his chair back, having a better view of his monitors but it didn't help. He was still missing a safety step and he had no idea how to solve the issue. Perhaps this really was a sign to drop the idea for now and get started on something new. He started to spin on his chair restlessly while looking at the ceiling.

Perhaps he could prepare for his return to Capsule Corp., whenever that would be.
In his swirl, he accidentally knocked a few items off the table. Swearing, he bent down to collect the spilled things when a shine under the desk caught his attention. He reached in and found himself standing with an old project he had forgotten about, and he started to wonder how it had even made it to the small lab.
He sat by the desk and turned the object around, looking at it from all angles.

This was just what he needed.

Times go fast when you are having fun or something along the lines. Before Trunks knew it, Goten had called for dinner. He almost swallowed his food, kissed Goten’s cheek and went straight to the lab.

Goten had shown concern, fearing this could turn him back to his bad habits of overworking, but as it had been a long time since Trunks had seemed this excited about a project, he had let him go.
When Trunks finally looked outside of the window, the sun had already painted it’s red, purple, and orange colors on the sky.
He took his safety glasses off and pushed the chair away from the table. For a while, he sat still and just looked out of the window, enjoying the sensations running through him as he had managed to finish the project he had found earlier. It was a feeling he would never be able to describe. Finishing a project usually inspired him with more ideas, which was beyond any battle he had ever taken part in.

He found Goten on the couch, head deep into one of his study books.
“Remember to rest,” Trunks had said, startling the younger man.

“I will,” Goten replied. “I thought I would have to drag you back to bed. What gives?”

“I finished it!”

“The project you started on today?” Goten asked, “That’s impressive! Can I see?”

Trunks took his hand and pulled him up from the couch, kissing it, before he, in one swift move, glided a watch over Goten’s wrist.

"What is that?" Goten asked.

Trunks smiled and let Goten inspect the silver watch and the digital display.

"I made it some time ago, but I never thought of finishing it. The watch is like a normal fitness tracker, but of saiyans! It's impossible to break even for us. The fitness tracker is not useless like the human ones and can actually detect how long you have been in all the Super forms during the day."

"That's smart!" Goten admitted. "Why give this to me?"

"I added a tracker function and a chip for it." Trunks replied and showed a small chip in his hand "You can put this on Rex's collar, and you'll be able to track his location, medical needs, and fitness activity with your watch. I thought you might be able to use it while he is here.

A wide grin spread on Goten's lips. He accepted the chip from Trunks and turned around to put it on Rex's collar.

While Trunks showed Goten how the watch worked, he noticed that Rex was sitting nicely beside Goten's leg and just enjoyed the attention he got from his small pats and strokes. Somehow, it annoyed Trunks, but he didn't say anything.


—


The next morning, Trunks was sitting in the kitchen, enjoying his morning coffee as best he could, with the noise surrounding him. For a little while, he sat and observed Goten and his interaction with Rex. It was almost like watching two children play. He never really understood the game of running back and forward while making a bunch of silly movements, but he could tell by the excitement in Goten's eyes that they were having a good time.

“Do you want to join us for a walk?” Goten asked, hopefully.

“What would that do to me?” Trunks asked drily.

"Well, the doctor did say walks would be good for you. Perhaps you will even like it."

"Are you talking about the walk or the dog right now?"

He wasn't sure how it all happened, but before he knew it, he was surrounded by trees and grass fields. At first, he complained about every step he took, hoping Goten would let him walk back home, but he soon realized that he wasn't aware of the nature resort surrounding the house in the middle of the city. He found it quite peaceful and silently thanked Goten for not commenting on his sudden change of mind. They entered a gated space where dogs were allowed to run freely, and Rex was instantly sprinting around them, all happy and excited. He found a stick he could collect and gave it to Goten, who, to the dogs' enjoyment, could throw the stick a lot longer than any human. Rex tried a couple of times to convince Trunks to throw the stick as well, but so far he has refused.

"I'm telling you, Trunks, he really likes you!" Goten pushed, "Just give it a shot. I swear you will like him back once you give him a chance."

Trunks didn't say anything but just stared back at him with an unamused look on his face.

"Just throw the stick! What harm can it do?"

Trunks signed heavily and picked up the stick, holding it only by the tip and with a face twisted in disgust.

"You can wash your hands afterwards! Now throw it! But not too far away!"

He didn’t want to admit it, but there was a certain satisfaction in watching the dog run away in excitement. Perhaps it was the thought of the dog never coming back or the anticipation of listening to Goten’s happy laughter as the dog returned with the sloppy stick at full speed and its tail wragging.
He wasn’t sure how long they had been out, but as they returned home, their noses were red and their cheeks were cold from the autumn breeze.
Trunks took a shower right away, feeling like the dog’s drool had crawled from the stick and covered his entire body.

Meanwhile, Goten promised to make them food and Trunk could hear him humming in the kitchen so innocently. Feeling the water running over his body felt nice. As always, his bath started with ice cold water running until it was almost too much. As he shifted the heat on, the sensation of total relaxation hit his body, and he hummed content. He washed his hair and body and, by an old habit, let his hands slowly glide down his body until they were settled on his junk.

He stroked himself lazily, not meaning much by it, but realized how sensitive and pend up he was. He held his breath as his strokes became more possessive and images filled his mind. Images of Goten and what they had done together. How perfect his cock felt and the warmth of his mouth. This whining and the way he tossed and turned his body just before reaching his peak.

The sound of the dog barking in the other room distracted him and he was torn out of his fantasy. Annoyed, he tried to get into the mood again, but the images kept fading in his mind. Almost at a point where he wanted to give up, he suddenly remembered a previous fantasy he had that never failed him.

He imagined Goten laying spread out on his childhood bed at Capsule Corp., covering his mouth not to alarm their parents, sitting in the kitchen nearby.
His heart started to beat faster and the tingling spread like wildfire.
He stroked to the rhythm he imagined slamming into Goten, the rhythm he knew he liked. The image of Goten’s expression became more and more fudgy as his stomach tightened and his mind started to clear.

The sound of the dog barking again and Goten’s laughter distracted him once again. In the end, he gave up and just accepted the fact that he would not be able to get off until the dog was gone. Gosh, how he hated that dog. Sorta, at least.

He finished his bath and dried himself off. If one thing could cheer him up, it was the smell of Goten’s food.

Sneaking into the kitchen, trying not to alarm the dog or Goten, who was playing in the living room, he found his way to the simmering pots. His curiosity and hunger took over and he started to taste a little bit of everything, humming satisfyingly as the flavors danced on his tongue.

“This is really good!” Trunks said and took another taste of the boiling stew as Goten entered the kitchen.

“Yeah? You like it?” Goten asked with a smile on his face, but there was something in his nervous stance that made Trunks stop chewing.

“This one is for the dog, isn’t it?”

Goten didn’t answer but just shifted uncomfortably while trying to figure out what to say.

“For fuck sake, Ten!” Trunks spat “Who the hell cooks for a dog like this?”

“Don’t be mad at me, okay?" Frustration started to rise in his voice. “Rex is going home to his parents tomorrow, and I just wanted to treat him so he remembers me!”

"Okay, okay," Trunks said, lifting his hands. "I'm not mad. But put a label on it next time, Jezz."

They sat by the table, and Rex lazily got up from the comfort of his bed to lie next to Trunk's feet, and Trunks allowed it without complaining.

“I think I will take Rex out for a long, long walk later. You know, one of those where we will only go back home once he is so tired that his eyes can barely stay open. Do you want to join us?”

“No thanks!” Trunks grunted, "Beside, I have some things I want to get done in the lab so you two can go ahead without me.”

“You seemed excited to work in the lab lately. Do you want to tell me what you are doing up there?”

Trunks swallowed his food slowly while thinking about his answer.
“If you promise not to laugh,” he said, “I just started yesterday, so it’s still early in progress, and it’s something I have never done before, so I might need your help a little.”

Goten looked intensely at him, like he always did when his curiosity was trying to get the best of him.
“I’m making healthy sodas.” Trunks said. “I know it’s silly, but I need a change of setting. Sodas are so synthetic in taste, and I can feel the sugar between my teeth. But people love it and I thought perhaps I could test and try something with a better taste and better ingredients. I know it’s silly but I-”

“That is the greatest idea ever!” Goten interrupted, stars painted in his eyes “And you want me to taste test them, right?”

Trunks nodded. “If you want to?”

“Are you kidding me? I would love to!”

They ate and cleaned the kitchen together and Trunks went back to his lab, looking up everything he could about sodas. He was well aware that they contained a lot of sugar but he wasn’t aware just how much it was. He drifted a little in his research, reading up on sugar addiction and health. When he made the suggestion, he was not aware that this so-called new thing he was working on would end up being a lot more demanding than he had thought. He barely registered Goten approaching.

"So, ehm," Goten started, "the others from class are gathering at the library for a feedback session."

Trunks didn't respond, but just nodded.

"yeah soo… I want to go." Goten tried again.

"Then go" Trunks said, still havingn't looked up from his books, "You don't have to ask permission."

"I will be back in a few hours. Rex needs his meds in an hour. Call if you need anything," Goten said, running out of the door faster than Trunks could react.

"Sure, sure," Trunks mumbled, but suddenly realized what Goten had said.

He looked up from his books and caught eye contact with the dog sitting outside his lab.

"Goten for kami’s sake," Trunks whispered, annoyed. “You could have brought the dog with you.”

He heard the front door close and silence suddenly fell over the house.

"You stay right there!" Trunks commanded the dog, which, as always, chose selective hearing.

He walked lazily towards the desk and laid down in a distance just about far enough away from Trunks. Trunks huffed annoyingly but chose to ignore the dog and kept working on his project.

Goten was gone longer than expected and at first, Trunks had forgotten all about the dog chilling only a short distance away from him. He was reminded when the dog started whining and signaled Trunks to follow.

Thankful that the dog was begging for something to drink at this moment, Trunks was reminded by the medicin he needed to give the dog. They both went downstairs; the dog got some water and swallowed the medicine, and Trunks had a glass of water and made himself a fresh cup of coffee, something that he didn’t realize he really needed.

Most of the day, Trunks was working with flavouring and researching. He was annoyed with himself that he couldn’t have found a different project to lie about as he had no interest in making sodas of flavoured things. But this was the only way.

Over the course of 4 hours, Goten kept messaging Trunks that it would take longer than he expected and he would hurry back home. In the end, Trunks just answered with a thumps up emoji. Every hour, the dog had been complaining about something, making Trunks get up from his chair and go downstairs just to watch the dog drink water. Not to company the dog but every time he was reminded to keep hydrated, he kind of suspected the dog didn’t need his company but rather tried to remind Trunks to take his breaks. a drink. At first, he wasn’t sure, but when the dog kept drinking until Trunks finally drank something, he started to wonder if the dog was really that smart.

The draft on his feet took him out of his hyper focused stage, and annoyed, he got up from his chair to glide into his slippers. The warmth started to hug his feet, and he was about to start his research again when he noticed Rex lying on the floor, resting. He groaned, annoyed at himself, and got up from his chair, looking through a drawer. He found two warm blankets and laid one on the floor.
“If you get a cold on my watch, Goten will castrate me. Get off the cold floor and get on the blanket,” he commanded.

The dog did as he was told and laid heavily on the blanket displayed in front of Trunks. As soon as the dog seemed comfortable, Trunks covered the dog's body with the other blanket.

"... I guess you’re alright," Trunks said, petting the dog on his head before he went back to his chair and project.


—


As Goten walked into the clinic the following day, it was with both a lot of joy and a heavy heart. He was happy that Rex would finally be united with his family and the people who loved him the most, but he could tell the huge house he and Trunks shared would feel so empty and big all of a sudden.

He had enjoyed having a different kind of energy in the house, and he knew that even if Trunks had ended up accepting Rex, getting a dog would not be on Trunks' list, and Goten had already accepted that a long time ago. Still, he had hoped Rex would have changed his mind.
“Hey Son!” Cassew called from behind the counter, where he was chatting with the secretary. “How is our patient?”

Rex's tail wagged as soon as he heard a human voice. He looked up at Goten for permission to say hi, and as soon as Goten nodded, Rex ran to say hello.
“He’s a lot better! Much more energy, and all of his wounds are healing well."

“That’s good,” Cassew said. “Let’s get him checked up. His parents should be here soon.”

They took Rex to the big examination room, where Hazel was already checking up on the animals in cages nearby. Like with every other person Rex met, he snuggled his way to say hello and was visibly pleased with himself as he got away with it.

The checkup went as expected. Rex was healing wonderfully under Goten's care, and Cassew made sure to let him know.
“Did you have fun with Goten?” Cassew asked Rex, scratching the big dog under his chin.

"I'm glad I called you to take care of him. I hope he didn't scare Wonderboy into working more than necessary." He said, "I forgot he doesn't like animals''

"Trunks loves animals. But dogs are somehow an issue for him." Goten explained, "But he's on strict sick leave, so he was forced out of his comfort zone. I think a part of him ended up liking Rex."

Cassew hummed and petted Rex before helping him down from the examination table.

"It still puzzles me how you can be with someone who doesn't like dogs. I could never." Cassew jokes, "But as long as you are happy, it's not my business."

Goten guided Rex outside of the examination room, feeling the knot in his stomach as he heard a stranger's voice ask for himself and the dog. Rex's parents were here.
He was so caught up in his own head that he didn’t realize the tension between Cassew and Hazel and he didn’t overhear the small conversation between the two friends.

"I know what you are doing," Hazzel said with a warning tone.
"As your colleague, roommate, AND best friend, I'm asking you to stop."

Cassew grunted annoyed, and waved his hand at him as he left to join Goten in the lobby.

The reunion between pet and humans had been emotional, and it was very obvious that the dog was deeply loved. The couple thanked Goten for taking care of Rex and listened very carefully while he explained how to maintain the small injuries that were left to be treated on the dog. He had ensured the woman that Rex had been very easy to handle and that even his partner, who normally doesn’t like dogs, ended up being fond of Rex.

"Oh, that's just him being a silly boy! He is drawn to the people trying to avoid him. It's like a mission for him to get everybody to like him. My husband is not keen on dogs and Rex is all over him, forcing him to love him."

"I hated that dog so much in the beginning! But he grew on me." The husband said with a warm tone in his voice.

“Sounds about right,” Goten laughed. “Well, he is all yours! If you ever need anything, like a dog sitter or someone to take him out for a walk, here is my number. My partner and I will take him any day and make sure that he is spoiled rotten.”


–--


“How did it go?” Trunks asked when Goten wrapped his arms around him from the back without so much as saying hello.

"Fine,” Goten replied in a sad tone. “His parents were happy to see him, and all injuries will heal well over time.”

“That’s good, isn’t it?” Trunks asked, and he turned his chair around to hug his partner better.

"I mean, yeah. But the house is going to feel so empty now!" Goten sighed as he let go of Trunks. "I'm going to miss him!"

Trunks nodded and observed Goten, feeling the lump in his stomach grow. A lump that had resurfaced time after time since they started their relationship.

“We need to get ready for dinner with our parents soon,” Trunks said.

Goten nodded and kissed Trunks on the forehead before he vanished into the bedroom to change.

Dinner with their parents was as usual. Their moms were talking loudly about how annoying the disappearance of their husbands was and their dads were fighting over who took the last piece of food the last time they had to eat together.

Bulla had pushed her chair to sit between Goten and Trunks, giving out parts of her food between them that she claimed she didn’t like. For Trunks, she gave up most of her meat, especially the piece she knew he liked and Goten got all of the carrots that she had heard him comment on when he took his first bite of the dinner. Bulla talked about her life in kindergartenicking her food and eating like the half saiyan she was.

To many, this setting might have been chaotic, given the secret boyfriends and having to keep a straight face for the first time since they got together in a big gathering. But to Trunks, he felt relaxed and blessed. The argument between their dads was their strange way of saying that they had become great friends over the years, no matter how much Vegeta denied this. Even the pity comments coming from their moms, yelling just loud enough for their husbands to hear them, just showed that even after all these years, there was still so much love between the married couples.

Bulla was Bulla and he kept getting reminded over and over again how much the little girl made him feel grounded and relaxed. He really should spend more time with her, as he keeps promising her but rarely does. Perhaps a sleepover at their place would be a good idea once he gets his life back on track.

He caught Goten’s glare and smiled back quickly before looking down again. He knew that them talking together was nothing but he was scared he would somehow give it away.
“I will be right back,” Trunks said, smiling as he stood.

“Where do you think you are going?” Bulma challenged him without lifting her gaze from the glass of wine she was swirling in her hand.

“I’m just going to the toilet.” Trunks replied, “Chill mom!”

“You have no privilege of telling me to chill,” she scrolled at him.

“Right… But can I go to the toilet now? You are making this a little bit awkward.”

Bulma looked around the room and realized how everybody was staring awkwardly into their plates and back to her son before she whispered ‘fine’ under her breath and let him go.

But both of them knew something was stirring under the water and that he was not going to the toilet. He walked calmly down the corridor and into the room he had spent the most time in. His childhood room.

Everything looked like he had left it. The king size bed had fresh, clean sheets and bedding, the couch was crumb free and his desk was neatly organized despite the many tools, toys, and gadgets he had collected there over the years. While he was waiting patiently, he looked at his old console game, smiling at the memories of him and Goten playing way past their bedtime. Screaming and kicking each other until they were busted and demanded back to bed by an angry Vegeta.
But his plan was not to go through memories and old video games. He had a mission.

He tried to calm himself down but just the thought made his pants feel tight. Since he and Goten had started their relationship, Trunks had forgotten all about his fantasy that kept him warm at night. The reminder in the shower made him realize that the fantasy wasn't enough anymore and that he needed to recreate it.

“Goten, honey,” he could hear his mom's muffled voice say down the hall. “Trunks has been gone for a while now. Could you please make sure he didn’t sneak in to do some work and drag his ass back here?”

“Yeah sure! I’ll go check on him.”
He heard Goten say and he felt his heart start to beat faster and his breath become shorter as the steps towards the bedroom became closer and closer.

Chapter Text

"T..Trunks," Goten whimpered. "Please, please, please, please, please"

"Sssh. You don't want our parents to hear us, do you?" Trunks said in a teasing tone.

He smiled as he licked the underside of Goten's cock, enjoying having complete power over his body.

Goten's core tensed, unable to stay still. He held his hand over his mouth to block out the sounds of his moaning and grabbed Trunks back hair with his other hand.
Every time Trunks' tongue brushed over his dick, Goten's hand tightened around his lilac locks, sending shivers down Trunks' spine.

He had two fingers deep inside Goten and began to bend them slightly as Goten begged, knowing where to find the little bundle of nerves.

Goten leaned into Trunks hands and threw his head back, letting out a surprised moan.

"Damn, I love the sounds you make." Trunks whispered.
He took his dick back into his mouth and began to bob his head, getting completely lost in the moment.

"Please Trunks, I need... I need... I... Ah."
Trunks ignored him and continued, making sure not to push him too far either. More than anything else, it was the teasing that turned him on. Listening to Goten's voice went straight to his own cock and he couldn't help but palm himself through his pants.

The two boys could hear the faint sound of their parents talking in the kitchen. Chichi and Goku could be getting ready to return home at any moment, and they would surely come to say goodbye to Goten. It was a dangerous game but the thrill of being discovered was worth the risk.

Goten's mouth opened and at this point, only a quick, laboring breath came out. He was close.

"I want you inside!". He was finally able to say. “Trunks, please!”

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Trunks quickly pulled down his trousers, and positioned himself between Goten's legs.
He pressed the head against Goten, letting it stroke over the entrance a few times before slowly pushing himself inside.

Goten moaned loudly and pressed himself against Trunks,
"Oh Kami!"

Trunks put his hand over Goten's mouth to block out any sounds he could not contain for fear that it would alarm their parents.
He stopped when he made it all the way inside.
"Was that what you wanted?" Trunks asked playfully, and he couldn't help but smile when Goten nodded.

He knew how to angle himself so that each time he gave Goten a forceful thrust, he would make sure to brush against his prostate.
He continued the pace and observed the reaction of Goten's entire body beneath him.
He could feel his legs wrapped around him, started to thightend and Goten's back arched.

Trunks' own climax developed faster the harder he went.
“Fuck I’m already so close” he grunted.

He felt Goten’s nails digging into his skin as his eyes flickered shut and his body tensed.
As Goten came he clenched around Trunks sending him over the edge with him.

Trunks laid flat beside Goten, chuckling victoriously as he tried to catch his breath.

“What got into you?” Goten huffed as he pulled up his pants and closed them. “Don’t you think that was a little risky?”

Trunks just hummed as he stood. He tossed the condom in the trash can and closed his own pants. He looked over his shoulder and couldn’t help but send him a broad smile.

“Wait a minute” Goten said “Was this the fantasy you used to have about us?”

"Uhu!" Trunks replied with a grin. “And I liked the real deal a lot more”

Goten chuckled and layed back on the bed, mumbling something about Trunks being insane.
Trunks looked around the room, getting a rush of all the memories he had had in his large childhood bedroom.
Mostly how he and Goten had spent countless hours sitting on the couch playing one video game after another.

“I forgot I had these.” Trunks said with a smile as he bent down to look through his old collection “We used to play these until our thumps turned blue! I’ll bring them back home and perhaps-”

Trunks was interrupted by the door swinging open.

“What the hell is taking you so long?” Vegeta huffed, looking suspiciously at Goten, as the man got up from the bed to stand.

“Goten caught me sneaking back to the office and dragged me back.” Trunks replied calmly, like nothing had happened only minutes before “But I just remembered I needed to get some things from my room and got distracted by my old video games”

Vegeta grunted annoyed as he removed his piercing glare from Goten back to Trunks.
“You have exactly 1 minute to find your way back to the kitchen. Your mom is getting impatient and I do not appreciate that you are so slow she starts sending me as well to get you. Get your asses moving”

Vegeta slammed the door behind him as he left.

“I thought you said that you locked the door?” Goten said after a short time of dead silence in the bedroom.

Trunks ignored the rare annoyance in Goten’s voice and struck.
“I was sure I had”

“But you need to BE sure about those things!” Goten insisted “Had your dad looked for us just two minutes before he would have found us in a completely different settings”

Trunks signed and got up, taking a few of the games he wanted to bring back to the house.
“But he didn't, so there is no need to dwell on it” he said, trying to brush it off “Let’s go back the others”

As Trunks walked past Goten, barely looking at him, Goten caught his arm, which finally caught his attention.
“I’m aware it’s no big deal for you if your parents find out, but it is for me! I don’t like it when you break my trust like that, Trunks!”

“I wasn’t trying t-”
“But you did! I need you to think about that.”

Trunks nodded, standing frozen by the confrontation. He knew he had crossed a line if Goten felt the need to address him like this. He cursed at himself while waiting for any signal from Goten that he was ready to let it go.
After a little while, Goten’s eyes turned from stone to his warm, normal self, and he gestured from them to return to the parents and they did just that.
The rest of the evening Trunks was swallowed by his own thoughts. As the guild started piling on him he could recognize a not so welcomed feeling started to manifest.
The swarm of thoughts taking over all his rationality, his chest tightening and the restlessness tingling in his feet and fingers.
He tried his best to stay present but in the end Goten had noticed the change in his partner and had made up a lie to excuse the two of them to leave. Something about homework or school, but Trunks didn’t really hear that part.
When they finally made it home, Goten had asked if everything was okay, but Trunks couldn’t find the right words and just mumbled that he needed a shower and would come to bed after.
As usual, he let the ice cold water wash over his body as a form of cleansing before he turned on the warm tab and started to wash himself.
Swarmed in too many thoughts to even grasp a single of them, he found himself staring into the wet tiles of the bathroom, unaware how long he had been standing there.
He hadn’t heard that Goten had sneaked into the bathroom, stripped naked and joined him.
It wasn’t until he felt his strong arms embrace him from the back, holding him thigh and secure, that he woke up.

He couldn’t help but exhale heavily, feeling the swarming thoughts slowly disappear and the restless sensation slowly fading away. The knot in his stomach and tighten in his chest loosed up and for a moment he felt like the entire world around them was no longer there. Only them.
“I love you so fucking much, Goten” He finally said. “I hope you know that”

“You are being silly right now” Goten replied “Of course I know. And the feelings are very mutual”

Trunks turned, facing his partner and felt his heart fluster by looking into his large dark eyes.
“I’m sorry I keep fucking up” he whispered.

“Is this about the door or something else?” Goten asked, slowly stroking a log of purple hair away from Trunks' chin.

“A bit of both” Trunks mumbled, “I would burn the world down to make you happy. Corrupt galaxies and destroy Beeru and all his siblings just to protect you. And yet I keep feeling like I am the biggest burden to you just for the reason that I am the way I am.”

“A little dramatic, don’t you think? No need to do all that,” Goten chuckled. “Right now you are in your own head and I don't think you see things clearly. I love you for who you are. Do you sometimes make mistakes? Yeah sure, but so do I! But there is nothing you have done that made me second guess what we have.”

That night, Goten held him close. No matter if Trunks turned around he would soon feel Goten’s warmth hug him, sloppy kisses being placed in his sleep where Trunks' skin would meet his lips.
The same sentences kept running on repeat in Trunks mind.

“I cannot lose him”
“I have to make him happy - Whatever it takes”

Two sentences that he didn’t know could contradict each other.

—-

The next day Trunks was sitting in his lab, spinning this chair unaware that he had been zoning out for the last 20 minutes.
Too many emotions were swirling inside him and he had been trying to grasp what exactly was nagging him.
He tried an exercise Dr. Pantz had given him when emotions seemed to overtake but he gave up fast, repeating to himself that it was stupid.
Perhaps he was just nervous. Today his project would take another step forward and he had thought about this for a long time.
All he hoped was that things worked as intended without any flaws.

He looked at a liquid beside him, studying the so-called soda trying to suppress a single thought telling him to drop it and find something better to use his time on.
A knock on the door snapped him out of his trail of thoughts and he looked up at Goten who was opening the door.

“Breakfast is ready” Goten said and noticed the glass of soda standing on Trunks' table.
“Is this the soda?” Goten asked excitedly.

“Yes, the first taste test is ready.” Trunks replied “I was going to have you test it during breakfast.

Goten jumped in excitement on the spot before walking into the lab.
“I am so excited about this” Goten said “I have never really been part of your project like this before”

“That's not true!” Trunks said “You helped me a lot of times”

“Nah ah!” Goten replied “I have been sitting on my butt right next to you and perhaps handed you a tool. But most of the time you got lost in your project and I would go to your room and play video games”
Goten found the extra chair and sat in front of Trunks, stroking his thighs in excitement.

“This is still a testing phase so please be kind” he started, giving Goten a glass of liquid.

Goten reached for the glass and Trunks' heart started to beat faster than he expected. Time felt like it was going slow motion as Goten raised the glass towards his mouth. Trunks' thoughts started to swirl in his mind again, like a thousand people yelling, cheering and roaring at him. But one thought was louder than the others. One single thought kept screaming at him to stop Goten in this instance. That this was not worth it!

As Goten was about to take a sip, Trunks smacked his hand, knocking the glass out of his hand that was smashed against the wall.
“Nope, I can’t do it” Trunks said standing from his chair and started to walk back and forward. “We need to talk!”

Goten, who was still sitting in disbelief and shock.
“What did I do?” He asked, slowly reaching for another glass of soda.

“Will you stop it with the goddam soda, Goten” Trunks yelled. “I’m not working on a line of fucking sodas. It’s a coverup!”

Trunks was silent for a long while, looking to the floor as he was trying to puzzle his words together. Meanwhile Goten was frozen in time, trying to figure out what to do with himself.

"I… I want to spend my life with you, Goten," Trunks finally said. "I know this requires more than what we have now!"

Goten tilted his head, watching as Trunks' panic intensified.
"I know that I am not able to give you everything. Even with the amount of money I have. There is one thing I could never give you."

Trunks looked up at him, with hope that Goten got the meaning. It was hard for him to say the word.
"A child?" Goten whispered.

Trunks nodded, looking down in shame.
A child, he whispered so low that Goten almost missed it.

"I… I thought adoption was a good solution at first but… I soon realized that bringing a child into the lives of Saiyans perhaps wasn't the best idea." Trunks stated.

"So I started on a project to create a child…. Our biological child."

Goten sat still, looking blankly at Trunks until it seemed like a light turned on.
"Wait… did you try to… get pregnant? Is that what that whole thing was?"

"What? Preg-? No! I'm a man, Goten! That is not possible, even if I wanted to! It was… ugh!" Trunks answered and started to rub his hands on his face in frustration and sat back down in his chair.

He tried to start a few sentences but gave up and got up again.
"It's better to show you!" he mumbled.

In the corner of the room, a box was covered with a white sheet, hidden away from anyone to see it.
Trunks pulled the sheet away and a small tank of some sort was hiding under it.
"My dad told me once that Saiyans kept children in these kinds of tanks until they were of age to be sent out. This is the same kind of tank and fluid they used to create Cell as well." Trunks started "This is where I got the idea. I thought that if I could somehow combine our DNA and store it in this tank I would be able to basically create a child for us."

He looked back on Goten to spot any reaction but Goten stared back at him with blank eyes almost unsure how to respond or react.
"It's hard to explain everything but… I found a way. The only thing is that we are both missing specific hormones for it to be possible obviously because we are men. So… I made a pill to fake those hormones in my body and with that I in theory should be able to manufacture an egg we could use in case you wanted to have kids one day. But my body rejected the treatment and it kind of spiraled out of control… really fast."

"Leading to your headaches, dizzy spells and in the end made you faint so that you went to the hospital?" Goten asked, but already knew the answer to it.

"Do you remember the day on the couch?" Trunks asked "Before the argument?"

Goten nodded slowly
“You asked me if I was wearing a condom, right?”

"Yeah… I…. I collected your sperm and tested your possibility of success with the treatment. I was likely to succeed with 64% and you are with 92%" He confessed “

"But I don't understand why you are so tense about this," Goten said, confused.
"That seems like good news if we ever decide on kids, right?!”

Trunks nodded as confirmation but he hesitated for a moment.
"Are you sad that you weren't able to keep it a secret? I don't understand?" Goten laughed nervously.

"No it's not that My plan was to keep it a secret and only tell you if I succeeded" Trunks answered “...I could have done something really bad. And I only realized it in the last second"

Trunks looked at the glass of soda standing beside Goten before flickering his gaze back again.

—-

Goten's stomach dropped as he realized what was going on and he slowly turned his head to look at the glass before he turned his attention back to Trunks.

"Did you… You were gonna make me drink that? Without me knowing?" Goten said breathlessly. "You were gonna test this thing that sent you to the hospital without asking me first? Without consulting me? During my exams?"
Trunks' eyes flickered to the ground and at first a numb-like feeling spread in Goten's body as Trunks nodded.

"And then what?" Goten asked, trying to withhold all emotions in his body to explode. "You were gonna keep sneaking the pill into my food and drinks? For how long?"

Trunks gazed flicked into his for a short moment before finding the floor again.
"At least a month or two. Until your body had accepted the hormones."

"A month or tw.." Goten whispered disbelieved and unconsciously started to pick his fingers. "And what if I got sick? Like you? Would you be willing to do that to me? For what? A surprise?"

Trunks looked up and shook his head.
"No of course not! I would check your vitals every day and make sure it didn't go out of hand and stop it right away if anything seemed out of the ordinary!"

"How?" Goten asked, letting the anger take over just for a second "How would you do that without me knowing?"

"I ehm…" Trunks' eyes flicked quickly to the watch he had given to Goten only a few days ago to keep an eye on the dog he was taking care of.

The numbness soon was overtaken with heat. Like fire on gasoline Goten's anger started to fill his body.
“It has a tracker, doesn’t it?” He said "And all this thing about the soda is just another cover up to make me a part of your experiment?! This is not just a spontaneous thought you had. You've planned this! Down to the details!" Goten got up from his chair, and started to pace around.

"I'm sorry." Trunks whispered "I know I crossed a line. And I'll never be able to forgive myself for even thinking about it, let alone almost carry it out."

"Save it!" Goten said coldly, biting his lips for the anger not to spill over.
"I… I can't believe you! This whole thing is crossing my lines by far!"

Trunks started to explain further, but Goten didn't hear him. He was concentrating on breathing slowly, keeping the burning anger down.
However what he really wanted right now was to turn super and destroy the entire lab but instead he was fighting all his saiyans' urges to use violence as a solution.

"I heard you say to your colleagues that you didn't want to know if you were being tested on like this. I was just trying to follow your wishes!" He heard Trunks explain

"If you have heard the entire conversation you would know that I didn’t want to know WHEN I was being tested on and not IF!" Goten yelled back.

Trunks went silent and his eyes went blank. Knowing Trunks his mind was on fire right now. Trying to find reason and a way to get out of trouble.
But instead he signed almost like he had given up.
“Still… I don’t see what else you wanted me to do.” Trunks paused “If you had been a part of this project you would start hoping it would be successful and if it turned out it wasn’t your heart would break in a million pieces and I couldn’t do that to you. I had to know for sure”

“You are serious” Goten said in disbelief “You honestly can’t see how this could have been tackled differently than to fill me unknowingly with hormone treatments that you invented yourself”

“You make it sound like I’m insane!”

"That’s because it i…, Trunks this is just..”

Goten took a few steps back and took a hard to his forehead. The heat in his body felt overwhelming and claustrophobic. He was overwhelmed by his own feelings. The many insecurities he has had during their relationship. How Trunks had become moody and Goten could do nothing to fix it.
How Trunks had stopped eating and just buried himself in his work, leaving no opening for Goten to fix him. The many nights he had laid away wondering if he had been the core of all Trunks out of character behavior that had led to either of them getting hurt in one way or another. And now this.. This time the feelings inside Goten were too overwhelming.

“I can’t do this!” Goten finally whispered, not realizing what he had said before it was too late ”I'm done... This is too much!"

“...What are you saying?” Trunks asked, panic rising in his voice.

“I’m saying that we are done.” Goten repeated, “The Trunks I love would never think or act like this. I can’t.. I just…”

"Goten, please don't say that!"

Trunks tried to reach out to grab Goten’s hand but Goten quickly took a step back to get out of reach. He didn’t want to do this, he kept thinking. I didn’t want to leave Trunks, but right now everything in his body screamed for him to take distance.

“I’ll pack some of my stuff and come back for the rest another time. I need to get out of here”
Without looking back, Goten stormed out of the lab.
His heart was beating faster than he had ever experienced before. The walls seemed like they wanted to crash around him and he just needed to get out.
Now.

If Trunks had called for him or tried to stop him, Goten didn’t notice. He left the house with only his phone and nothing else, even forgetting to put on shoes.
He took off into the sky, not noticing the cold wind on his skin. He flew as fast as he could away from the buzzing city beneath him to find a remote place where no one could find him.
He soon found himself at the cave in the canyons that had been his own little getaway place for as long as he remembered.
He sat there for a long time, swallowed by his own thoughts. At first how Trunks could even plan something like this. How could someone he trusted the most betray him like this. It didn’t take his thoughts long before they shifted into blame, thinking that he must have done something wrong to trigger this behavior. This was nothing like the Trunks he had known his whole life.

He looked up, peeping outside of the little cave. He had been sitting there for longer than he realized and the night sky had already settled.
He needed to talk to someone, he realized. Sitting in the dark and feeding into his own thoughts would bring him nowhere. He needed to know if he had overreacted and now more than ever he needed to know what to do.
He found his phone from his pocket and ignored the blinding effect the bright light had. He scrolled through his phone and found the only people he wanted to talk to. Someone who knew both him and Trunks better than most people.

The ringing tone made him realize he didn’t know what to say or how to explain himself. He didn’t want to give Trunks any trouble. Not until he had made sure how he felt himself.
Perhaps this wasn’t a goo-

“Hi little brother” Gohan answered at the other end of the phone. “I haven’t heard from you in a while”

“Are you guys home?” Goten asked right away, not sure what else to say.

“Yeah we are home” Gohan answered, sounding a little worried “Mom and dad are here as well. You are welcome to join. Dinner will be ready in a bit”

Shit.. Of course out of all nights his parents had to be there. It was no use showing up. He was not in a stage to hide his emotions. Hell he wasn’t even sure how stable his emotions were, giving the numbness that has had a hold on his body since he left the house. Better to stay away.

“I’ll stop by another time” He said, trying to sound steady. “I’m not in a mood for moms nagging right now. I haven’t called her in a while”

“Are you alright?” Gohan asked, sensing something was off right away.

“Yeah I’m good I just missed your guys. I will stop by another time. Bye”
Before Gohan could answer he hung up and everything around him went dark again.

He sat like that for a long time, numb by his emotions but still terrified of feeling alone for the first time in his life.
He missed Trunks. Not the one in the lab but the real one.
He could always count on his best friend. He always knew that he had his back. But this time it seemed like the Trunks he had known all his life was no longer available. Buried somewhere beneath his own personal accountability and standards to always top perform no matter what he dug his hands in.

He didn’t know how long he had been sitting there before standing up and took off. He needed to talk to someone and there was only a small handful of people who knew about him and Trunks. And only one person would be able to understand how hurtful Trunks' behavior could be.
He found himself in front of a yellow door in an apartment complex in one of the nicer areas of the busy city. Taking a deep breath, not knowing what to say, he knocked on the door and waited.
It seemed like forever before he could hear a rustling and a familiar face showed itself as the door opened.

"... Sorry… I… I didn't know where else to go" Goten stumbled on his words, not sure how to explain or even word himself. He felt the tears start to collect themself at the corner of his eyes and all emotions he had been hiding from all day slowly started to overwhelm him. "I can't bother my brother about this right now and… nobody else knows…"

“Come in” Cassew said and stepped aside, leading Goten into the apartment with a supportive hand resting on his back.

Chapter Text

It had been four months since the breakup, and Goten still wasn’t sure if time was healing anything at all.
He kept moving forward, trying not to look back. He’d graduated, taken the full-time job at the vet clinic, and moved in with Hazzel and Cassew, who welcomed him without asking too many questions. That part was a relief. Most days were filled with work, feeding animals, cleaning up after them, solving small problems that felt easier than the mess he’d left behind.
But the questions never really left him.
How could Trunks have betrayed his trust like that? And why did his mind constantly want to believe in the best of him, making excuses for him, even after everything?
They hadn’t spoken since. No texts. No visits. Just the shocked, half-whispered apology before Goten walked out, and silence ever since.
Some nights, he’d lie awake replaying it all. Trunks, standing in the lab, explaining the project like it was something beautiful. A child. Their child. A future Goten had never agreed to, built behind his back. The pills that had sent Trunks to the hospital and how he had almost tricked Goten into swallowing one without his consent.
Goten had trusted him completely, and Trunks had crossed lines he didn’t even know he needed to draw.
And yet, he missed him.
He missed Trunks' full-body laughter, the glances that said more than words, the way their friendship had once felt like home. But now it all felt distant. Broken, never to be repaired.
He didn’t know what Trunks was doing. Capsule Corp still made headlines about him once in a while and from what he had heard from family and mutual friends, he still hadn't returned to work from his sick leave.
Even if it was hard to hear about him and pretend nothing ever happened, a part of him hoped he was okay. Another part still wondered if it all could’ve been different.
Maybe it didn’t matter anymore. But sometimes, in the quiet hours of the night, or on long flights back to Mount Paozu, Goten still felt him. Like a ghost he wasn’t ready to let go of.
Maybe time heals... Or maybe it just made the silence louder.

Beside him, the duvet ruffled and a lazy groan filled the small bedroom, sounds that pulled him out of the thoughts that always woke him early.
“Morning,” he said. “Imma make us some coffee.”

He was about to swing his legs out of bed when he was pulled back down. The welcoming warmth of bare skin against his own made Goten chuckle. He stroked the vibrant hair and let the man nuzzle into him, just for five more minutes.
“Are you sure I cannot smoke in bed?” a rasp voice asked.

“Yes,” Goten answered. “I thought you quit?”

“I did… yesterday. Today is a new day.”

Goten rolled his eyes and didn’t comment further. They stayed close for a few more minutes before his legs grew restless and he finally got up.
He made them coffee and couldn’t help but smile at the quick kiss on the cheek from Cassew when he joined him in the living room.
Their relationship had no title, something Cassew jokingly called comfort buddies. Goten was still holding himself back, not ready for more than kisses and cuddles when his nights became too heavy. Cassew was patient and respected his boundaries, even if he made it clear that sex was on the table whenever Goten wanted.
“My mom wants me to visit during the weekend, so I’ll be back Sunday evening,” Goten said.

“Perfect!” Cassew grinned before pouring a full cup of coffee down. “I have a date tomorrow and Hazzel is out too. Maybe I’ll invite him over then.”

“The doctor or the gardener?”

“The gardener. The doctor was too full of himself, so I wished him a nice life.”

Cassew had started dating again not long before Goten moved in, and from what he told him, dating guys was a lot different than how Goten used to date girls. Some nights, Goten caught himself wondering what dating would even look like for him when he was ready. Men? Women?
Before Trunks, he’d never been attracted to another man. He’d sworn Trunks was the exception. But spending time with Cassew made him question that. Not because he had feelings for him in that way. Still, the thought of having a boyfriend someday didn’t feel as strange as it used to. For now, though, he wasn’t ready.

The walk to the clinic took no more than twenty minutes. If anything had kept him afloat these past months, it was the job.
He’d started his education aiming in a completely different direction, but taking the chance on an internship had changed everything. It led to a job he was grateful for every day.
He had a good relationship with everyone at the 24-hour clinic and had even started to get to know the night team, despite only catching them briefly during shift changes. His title had already shifted, first from “Wildlife Vet,” then to “Wildlife Expert,” and now, just this week, to “Wildlife Manager.” That was why his mom wanted him home for the weekend, to celebrate how quickly he was climbing the ladder.
He’d avoided her during the first month after the breakup. He knew she’d see right through him. But after long talks with Gohan and Videl, he finally felt strong enough to face her. He’d visited a few times since, always grateful when they made a point to be there too. They’d been his biggest support, especially Videl.
When Goten had told them everything, Gohan had been furious, standing on the spot and was about to set off before Videl snapped him out of his anger and made Gohan promise not to confront Trunks. Goten wasn’t sure he could’ve stopped his brother otherwise.

The day at the clinic began like usual. Morning rounds. Checking on the animals in the wildlife department. Two new arrivals had come in during the night. One hit by a car, another limping on a back leg. Thankfully both were stable and likely to be released in a few weeks.
The best days were the slow ones, like this. No emergencies. Just enough to stay busy without drowning, but not so quiet that his thoughts caught up to him. And he was already starting to look forward to his mother’s cooking.
Going home meant letting the mask drop a little. He could eat until he was full, and maybe even sneak in a sparring session with his dad or Gohan.
When his shift ended, he said his goodbyes and made his way to Mount Paozu.

He could smell his mother’s cooking before he reached the front steps. Chichi greeted him with kisses on the cheek and bright, proud eyes. His dad and grandfather were in the living room, talking about his great-grandfather.
Gohan, Videl, and Pan arrived a few hours later. Videl gave his hand an extra squeeze, and Pan hugged him tighter than usual. She didn’t know the full story, but Videl had whispered that Pan had been asking questions. She wanted to know if Uncle Goten was sad, and why.
Sitting around the table with his family filled Goten’s heart with warmth. Tonight, the joy almost overshadowed the guilt he carried for not letting them into his life fully.
That night passed quietly. Dinner was loud and full of laughter, Pan tugging on his sleeve every few minutes to tell him stories while Gohan tried to keep her from spilling her juice. His mom made sure his plate stayed full, and later, his dad dragged him outside for a spar under the stars. For a little while, the weight in his chest loosened.
When the house grew quiet again, Goten slipped into his old room. The familiar smell of home wrapped around him, and for the first time in months, he slept through the night.

Morning sunlight pulled him into the kitchen, where his mom was already at work.
“Morning, sweetheart,” she said, setting a bowl down in front of him. “Did you sleep well?”

“I did” Goten said. He could never get enough of his moms food and he couldn't help himself but shovelling in the breakfast.

“I know you are busy with your life in the inner city, so don't get me wrong. But it's really nice to have you home” She sat with her tea, watching him eat.

“I know,” he admitted. “I’ll come by more once everything has settled down a little”

“Good. No excuses.”

They slipped into easy talk about the vet clinic, the family farm, and his father's recent tricks to get out of work. For the first time in a while, things felt almost normal.
“Morning” a familiar voice carried through the little house.

Goten froze and his stomach twisted.
Behind him, Bulma walked towards them, greeting Chichi like any other day.
“Bulma! I'm so glad you had time to swing by and have a look at the tractor. I know it's old machinery but I only trust you to fix it without trying to sell me something new. Want some tea?”

Bulma beamed like she always did, taking the compliment in and bragging about being the best in her field. Like it was any other day.
At first Goten didn't know what to do. He didn't know how much she knew and he wasn't ready to get confronted by why he had moved out.
Bulma turned and looked at him straight in the eyes and that's all it took for him to realize… She knew it all.
He stood and forced a smile and hugged her when she stepped in.
“Long time no see,” she said casually and shot a smile back at him

The room started to spin around him and all sounds encapsulated around him, like he was trapped inside a bobble.
“Sorry to cut it short, but I’m heading out.” he said, trying to sound as if nothing was wrong before he turned on the heel and walked towards the front door.
He heard his mom call after him, but he kept going. The walls felt too close, and he needed air. He fled to the river behind the house, desperately trying to ground himself. He tried counting rocks, listening for frog calls, looking out for flashes of fish, anything to keep himself from hyperventilating.
It helped a little, but not enough.

“Goten?”
He spun around and met Bulma's worried gaze.

He tried to smile and keep himself composed but it wasn't until her soft hands took his that he started to gain some control.
Her thumb gently massaging the top of his hand and her reassuring words and hushes felt like a warm blanket over his mind and finally he was able to look her in the eyes without feeling like the world was falling apart.
“I know everything,” she finally said gently. “Trunks told me the day you left.”

He couldn’t speak, his throat still tight.
“You don’t need to say anything. And don’t worry about me telling Chichi. Trunks made it very clear it isn’t an option.”

He nodded numbly.
“I’m so sorry, honey. What he did was unforgivable. But you let me know if you need anything, alright? You’re still family to me.”
Her hug was warm and long, and for the first time since the breakup, relief broke through the weight on his chest. He fought the tears pressing at his eyes.
“How…” His voice cracked. “…How is he?”

—

“So… how have you been since last week?” Dr. Pantz asked, not looking up from his notebook.

Trunks sat straighter, smiling bright, dressed in one of his best outfits.
“Good,” he lied. “I’ve been meditating, training, and finishing a book. I went out with some friends the other night and even cracked a joke or two.”

“And how was that?”

“It was nice to spend some time away from the house. We went to a steakhouse I've been eyeing for a while. I felt happy and fulfilled when we left.”

Dr. Pantz hummed, and kept scribbling in his notepad.
“Did you have a drink?”

“I did,” Trunks lied again. “A glass of red wine.”

For a moment he thought he was getting away with it. Hoping the doctor would finally see some improvement and let him get back to his job.
But then the doctor finally looked up, unimpressed.
“I told you before, Mr. Briefs I can tell when someone is lying. Tell me about the wine.”

Trunks sighed and sat back in the chair, annoyance looming in the little room like a heavy cloud.
Why did his mom have to find such a tank of a psychiatrist?
“I took a sip. I couldn’t drink more.” he admitted, leaning his chin in his hand and looked away.

He heard Dr. Pantz scribbled his notes again.

“I don’t see the big deal,” Trunks finally snapped. “Some people would kill to be hesistant with alcohol. Why am I on your notepad for this?”

“I don’t care if you drink,” the doctor said calmly. “I care why. You told me alcohol makes you lose control. That tells me you’re still running from something you don't feel ready to tackle.”

The silence grew heavy. Trunks knew what he was referring to but even saying his name was still a task by itself.

“Have you sent him the text you told me about?”

Trunks shook his head, guilt hitting harder than any punch.
“I don’t know if I’m ready,” he whispered. “But I want to. More than anything, I want to.”

—

Therapy left him drained every time. He kept hoping to convince the doctor he was ready to return to Capsule Corp, but he wasn’t. Training with his dad was the closest thing to purpose he had. His father never asked questions even if he could clearly tell something was up.
He just fought him hard every day, as if beating his ass was the best way he could show his support.
The house he once shared with Goten felt cold now. He hadn’t stepped into the lab since that day. He tried filling his time the best he would. He tried reading books, watching movies he normally wouldn't pick, learning the guitar and even experimented with coffee. None of it seemed to matter without him to share it with.
One night, desperate to quiet his thoughts, he started a new project. A basement with a gravity room.
He dug and reinforced it with his bare hands, added safety measures, bots, everything but the machine itself. That was the hard part. Capsule Corp’s systems were closed to him so the blueprints his mom and grandfather had stored were locked away. He had to reinvent it from scratch and he had no interest in asking for help.

The first thing he saw as he entered the house was the tools he had left on the kitchen counter before he left.
He opened his phone looking for the notes he left last night but almost like a ritual he found his way to the unsent apology he still hadn't been able to send. He opened it again and read it through for what seemed like the 100th time.
“Piss poor apology.” he whispered to himself. Still, he didn't know how to change it.

His finger hovered over send. His chest burned. But rejection haunted him, and once again won.
frustrated he tossed the phone aside, took his tools and went back to work in the basement.
Hours blurred into days. Only hunger and exhaustion by the end of the day pulled him from his work.
He met with his dad every morning, training like the world was about to end, before he went home, took a shower and disappeared into the basement again.
Silence down there was the only peace he could find and he forgot about the world and worries waiting for him.

For the last few days he had been struggling with the anti gravity machine and errors that kept bugging out the panel over and over again.
So when he finally found the loose wire that seemed to be the issue he couldn't help but smile broad.
“Oh, there you are, you little fucker,” he muttered, fastening it.

“If this doesn’t work, I might as well drop my family’s last name.”
Excitement buzzed through him. He stood, ready to feel the shift of gravity at his command. Proof he was still capable.
But the thrill vanished as he stood, his body froze and knees felt weakened.

Goten stood in the doorway, caught between stepping inside or running away.
Silence filled the room, heavier than any machine could make it. Trunks’ heart pounded. The apology he had practiced a hundred times stuck on his tongue.

Goten’s eyes met his and it felt like the entire world around them froze in time.

Chapter Text

It had felt like that time itself had stopped moving since Trunks and Goten's eyes met. 
The air in the gravity room felt heavier than any added atmosphere and for the longest time, Goten completely forgot to breathe. Trunks stood frozen, his tool still in his hand and eyes written with panic.
Maybe this was a bad idea after all. Perhaps none of them was ready for this.
 
“Hi” Trunks managed to say. His voice was very low and restrained but they both still jolted lightly by the sound.
 
“Hi” Goten managed to reply very weakly.
 
They stood still again, none of them knowing how to break the ice.
Like if they hadn't grown up together, spending all hours a day either talking, texting or thinking of each other. The many hours watching movies, playing video games seemed like they never happened. Or that they had shared a bed and life only 4 months ago. At that moment it all felt like it had been a fantasy and nothing more. 
 
"I never knew this place had a basement"
Goten said as he carefully entered the open door of the gravity room.
 
“It didn't” Trunks answered “I was bored so I made it”
 
Heavy silence again. The only sound echoing in the gravity room was Trunks scratching his arm and shifting his weight nervously from one food to another.
 
“How are you?” Trunks finally dared to ask.

 
“I thought I was better” He answered truthfully “I got off early but I was deep in thoughts while walking home so I didn't realize my legs took me here. So I thought…. Maybe I… I hoped I was ready to see you”
 
Trunks just nodded and laid his tools on the floor before leaning against the unfinished gravity panel, arms and legs crossed.
 
“I know this is super awkward but…. I'm glad to see you”
 
Goten nodded, not sure what else to do. His heart was beating faster and harder than he had ever tried before. Seeing Trunks had stirred up a ton of emotions and far from all of them was positive.
 
“I guess I came here for some closure” Goten answered “But I gonna be honest I forgot all the questions when I saw you. I kinda wanted to run away again”
 
“I could tell” Trunks answered “I don’t blame you. I kinda felt the same”
 
Silence spread again.
 
"I'm mad that you would go behind my back like that!” Goten finally said “You put yourself in danger and almost dragged me down with you. And for what reason? Did you ever think to ask?"
 
“My head was a mess, Ten. I can’t tell the ups and downs of my own thoughts.” Trunks started “I guess the best way to describe it is that I didn’t want to pressure you to think about having kids. But it was one of those projects that I needed to do. I tried to deny it for as long as I could but in the end I just NEEDED to do it. If I involved you too much there was a chance you would ask me to shut it down. I would not be able to let it go and I would still be working on it behind your back. It doesn’t make my actions better in any way but this was all I could think about”
 
“So that’s why you wanted me to drink those meds without telling me to spare me from the pressure or the lies you would tell me if I told you to shut it down.”
 
“.. Yes.” 
 
“You suck” Goten said after a long pause
 
“Yeah I know” Trunks answered without hesitation. “I can’t take it back but whatever you need from me in order to forgive, I will do it. No questions asked”
 
“I just don't want things to be awkward between us” Goten said “But I am not ready to forgive you. I’m not sure how to forgive you”
 
“I understand. I would feel the same way if the situation was reversed. So.. where do we go from here?”
Trunks asked.
 
Goten signed and ignored how his entire body felt restless and tingly. 
“I’m not sure” he replied honestly. “One step at the time I guess”
 
 
-----
 
They both agreed to start small and they had planned to meet up in the park for a short walk the following week.
Goten collected a few of his things that he had left behind and Trunks followed him to the front door.
They small talked, trying their best to find that rhythm they use to have
 
"So where are you staying?" Trunks asked “Gohan said you showed up a few days after you left here so I guess you aren't staying with your parents" 
 
“You spoke to Gohan?” Goten asked.
 
“Shit” Trunks swore under his breath “Ehm.. Yeah he came to visit me and gave me a little piece of his mind. I had a black eye for almost 3 weeks after that. He asked me not to tell you or I would get a matching eye on the other side.”
 
"He promised me and Videl he would leave you alone” Goten huffed. “I'll consider not kicking his ass even if you kinda did deserve it.”
 
“I did” Trunks chuckled. “So were are you staying? I can stop by with some more of your stuff if you want”
 
Goten didn't reply and Trunks signed knowingly, unable to hide the edge of his voice.
"I suspected that much. So are you guys..?" 
 
"No!" Goten whispered. 
 
"Did you.." Trunks asked in a lower voice.
 
At first Goten didn't know what to answer. How to answer. He felt dirty, even if he knew he had done nothing wrong.
 
"We kiss from time to time" he admitted "But I haven’t been able to go further even if he really want to"
 
Trunks just nodded, trying his best to keep his emotions to himself even if it didn't make it hurt any less.
 
The heavy silence filled once again, both men unsure if the other could hear their heart beating out of their chest.
 
“He's a good guy” Trunks broke the silence “I'm sure he can make you happy if you decide to let him” 
 
“I am not ready” Goten replied “I still need to figure out how I feel about you after all this”
 
“Take all the time you need” Trunks replied “things like this takes time”
 
They were interrupted by an expensive looking car pulling up the driveway. An almost inaudible swear left Trunks and before Goten could react the owner of the car got out.
 
A woman walked confidently up the driveway. She was dressed elegantly with a beautiful tailored suit and her silky brown hair shined in the sun. Goten recognized her almost right away. He had seen pictures of her on Trunks phone and admired them fully many years ago, before he even met Valese.
 
If she noticed Goten, she pretended like she didn’t and went straight towards Trunks, swung her arms around him and pulled him into a deep kiss. Only when she noticed Trunks' hesitation did she turn towards Goten with a surprised look on her face, as if he had appeared out of nowhere. 
“Oh, hi! Sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt"
 
“Goten this is Chestnot, or Ches” Trunks said nervously, gently trying to separate himself from the woman “Ches this is Goten who I told you about” 
 
“Sorry, it doesn't ring a bell” she said in a flat tone of voice. “I'm sorry Gomen, it's not personal I just don't really listen when he talks about work”
 
“Goten” Goten corrected her annoyed. “And I don’t work with him”
 
She just shrugged before learning in on Trunks, whispering loud enough for Goten to hear “Come join me in the shower when you are done, babe!”
 
Then without saying goodbye she disappeared into the house.
It took everything in Goten to keep his smile up, hiding the storm underneath that was brewing.
 
“So I see you have been busy” He managed to say a lot more strained than he had hoped for. “Are you guys together?”
 
“It's nothing like that, she's only here for a little while.” Trunks said nervously “ She is going through a divorce and needs a place to stay while the last details of the settlement are going through”
 
The smile on Goten's lips was planted like a mask on his face and he fought everything he could to keep it that way.
 
“So generous of you to let her stay here then”
 
 
-----
 
As soon as Goten closed the door to the small apartment Cassew and Hazzel lived in, he dropped his bag on the floor and banged his head against the wall. The trip back had felt like vibration all through his body, like he was shaking under his skin. 
All he had hoped for was a sense of security when he came back but now that he was all alone, the feelings were closer than ever to crush him down.
He went to the kitchen and with shaken hands he took a glass of water and then another. Not sure what to do with himself he went to the small living room, paced around restless.
Only when someone cleared their throat did Goten realize he wasn't alone. 
 
“You okay?” Cassew asked. 
 
After a little while Goten was able to nod even if he was sure Cassew didn't buy it. 
“What are you doing at home? I thought you were at the clinic?”
 
“I have a ton of paper work I need to fill in by tomorrow and I keep getting distracted at the clinic, so I thought it was better to do it at home” 
 
Goten nodded again, not completely listening to what he said. His eyes kept trailing between the strong color of his eyes and the glasses he rarely wore. He looked down, setting his glare on Cassew's lips, transfixed he was unable to look away.
 
He felt his body move, as if he was taken over by someone else. He just needed this swirl of feelings to go away.
Cassew made a confused sound as their lips crashed together. Goten kissed him deeply, letting his hands roam further than he had ever dared, desperate for anything to lead his mind away from Trunks and that… woman. 
 
Goten gently pushed Cassew on to the couch without breaking their kiss, climbing his lap in one swift move. He let his fingers trail over the buttons of Cassew's shirt, opening them up eagerly.
The sound of Cassew gasping softly as Goten moved to kiss his neck started to drown out his thoughts. Excitement started to kick in instead.
He ran his hands over Cassew's barred chest and felt the man twitch by as his fingers glided over his nipples.
 
Cassew's erection grew under him and he couldn't help but grind against him, feeling a sense of accomplishment as Cassew started to moan out loud.
With shaken fingers, Goten started to reach for his belt, intending to unbuckle it. He was stopped by Cassew grabbing his wrist.
 
“What is wrong?” Cassew asked in a low voice. 
 
“What do you mean?” 
 
“You never initiate kisses with me and this is four steps further than we have ever gone. It’s not like you at all.” he said calmly “What’s on your mind?”
 
Goten sat up without being able to hide his surprise at the question.
He felt the uncertainty and embarrassment starting to cripple in his body.
“I saw Trunks today” 
 
Cassew sat up straight, without pushing Goten off, and tilted his head, just like he always did when he was listening closely.
 
“He has moved on” he said in a low tone “An old flirt of his was visiting and asked him to join her in the shower. She didn't even know who I was”
 
Cassew softly stroked his cheek, nodding as he listened. 
“And how are you feeling?” 
 
Goten was quiet for a long time, unaware how to answer without letting the storm of emotions tear him apart.
 
“I hate it." He admitted "I didn't expect to be replaced so quickly and even less by someone like her. I hate that she didn't know who I was. I wanted to rip something apart by how she touched him. It felt like something inside me broke, knowing he belongs to someone else already” 
 
“Because you want him to belong to you?”
 
“... No. I… I donno… I know I have no right to feel like this. I am not in a place where I want him back… but… The thought of him being with her makes me so mad.”
 
“I don’t want to seem like I know the guy, but” Cassew started “Are you sure they are an item? The wonderboy I know is all about sex for distraction and not for intimacy. I highly doubt it’s more than that”
 
Goten didn’t respond at first.
“Perhaps” He said hesitantly. “Can we… I want us to continue so that I don't think about it.. about him. Please?” 
 
Cassew grunted and ran his hands over his face a few times in frustration. 
“Gosh how I hate myself right now” he mumbled. “No” 
 
“Oh..” 
 
“Don't get me wrong, Goten. I really really want to, you can probably feel it under you. But you are not in the right state of mind and I don't want to take advantage of you” 
Cassew said.
 
“You said you have been with Trunks because he needed sex for distraction. Why is it different with me?” Goten argued. 
 
He could tell Cassew had already made up his mind and a part of him knew he was right. Still he was desperate for anything to distract him from the storm of thoughts lingering in the back of his mind.
 
“Fair point” Cassew said “It's different because you will regret it and Wonderboy never did. And because despite our little comfort arrangement I really am fond of you and want what is best for you and our friendship. Going further without thinking clearly about it first is best”
 
Goten nodded defeated.
“You are a good person, Cassew” 
 
“Me? Oh gosh no! I am weak in the hands of a good looking man.” Cassew chuckled, “It takes everything in me right now not to jump in with both feet.” 
 
"Are you calling me good looking?” 
 
Cassew gulped by the unintended flirting and for a short second a faint red glow ran across his face.
“Okay, let's tackle this differently before I start thinking with my dick,” Cassew said and guided Goten from his lab and onto the couch next to him. 
“Imma go out with the trash, go grab a pack of popcorn by the store and have a quick smoke. In the meantime I want you to think about this. If you still want us to continue, I'll see you in the bedroom. Otherwise I'll make the popcorn when I get back and we'll just watch a movie”
 
He didn't let Goten object before he got up, grabbed his jacket and the trashbag by the door and slid out, leaving Goten to himself. 
 
Not knowing what else to do, Goten laid flat on the couch, covering his eyes with his arms and finally let the tears flow.