Two- Belonging
Ever since that fateful Christmas party four years ago, Trunks and Pan had hardly been inseparable. Whenever they were around each other, they were usually joined at the hip. Sometimes they played pranks, sometimes they just made fun of Goten. Whatever they were doing, it didn't really matter as long as they were doing it together.
Fourteen year old Trunks let out a small sigh as he waited against the elementary school's gate. Pan would be walking out any minute now and then he could walk her home. Usually Bulla came with them, but she had skating practice so his mother would be picking her up later.
"Trunks?" Sotan, a boy in the same class as Trunks spotted him. "What are you doing?" He asked curiously, tilting his head slightly.
"I'm waiting on Panna," Trunks answered honestly.
Sotan furrowed his dark eyebrows together, his brown eyes looking confused. "Panna?"
Trunks knew it shouldn't have bothered him since Sotan was just asking, but it did bother him. No one but him was allowed to call her Panna.
"Uhm, Pan," Trunks corrected. "I'm waiting for her so I can walk her home."
"Oh," Sotan's eyes widened. "Isn't that Goten's niece?"
"Yeah," Trunks gave a nod.
"Shouldn't he be the one walking her home?" Sotan teased.
Trunks let out a small snort. Usually Goten came with him, but not today... "He started dating Natsumi a few days ago and he hasn't really left her side."
"No way, really?" Sotan's eyes widened. "Man Goten's one lucky dude! Natsumi is so hot!"
Trunks didn't comment. Truthfully, Natsumi had been flirting with him for weeks, trying to get his attention but when she realized he wasn't going to give her any, she went to go Goten. And Goten... Trunks honestly wasn't sure why he was dating her. He had been crushing on Marron since they were kids, but maybe he thought he was making her jealous somehow... Trunks wanted to snort.
Goten dating Natsumi wouldn't make Marron it jealous. It would piss her off more than anything.
Pan walking up brought Trunks' attention back to the conversation. He smiled down at her and she smiled back before eying Sotan curiously.
"You're Pan?" He raised a dark eyebrow.
"Yes..." she gave a small nod.
"Ha, you're cute!" He grinned, "you look nothing like Goten!"
Pan was rather confused, but Trunks narrowed his eyes at the other teen and gave him a glare. Sotan must have noticed how his vibe gave a sudden shift and took a small step back, holding out his hands.
"Calm down, Trunks," he chuckled. "I was just stating that she was cute. I gotta get going anyways, but if you see Goten tell him I said he's one lucky guy!"
Pan furrowed her eyebrows together as Sotan walked away. "How is Goten lucky...?" She asked, completely confused.
Trunks let out a sigh, his eyes shifting down to her. "'Cause he's dating a popular girl named Natsumi."
"But I thought he liked Marron?" Pan asked in confusion.
"He does," Trunks nodded as he grabbed her hand and began to lead her to her house. "I think he's only doing this to make Marron jealous."
Pan frowned, "Marron is gonna be so mad." Trunks snickered in agreement.
It didn't take them too long to make it to her house where they shook off their shoes before heading towards the kitchen. Pan let out a sigh as she fell into a chair, her bag thudding to the floor. Gohan, Who was sitting across from her glanced up and chuckled softly.
"Rough day, Panny?" He asked his daughter softly as Trunks took a seat beside her.
"I have so much homework," she mumbled. She glanced over at Trunks, giving him an innocent grin, "will you help me, pleeeeease?"
"Panny," Gohan pouted with a frown. "Why don't you ever ask Papa to help you?" He pointed to himself.
Pan stared at him for a second before glancing at Trunks. She looked back and forth between them for a few seconds before she grinned. "Trunks is cute though, Papa."
Gohan let out a groan, as if he'd been shot and placed a hand over his heart. Trunks just snickered, although his cheeks felt warm. Ever since she was little she had always used the, "Trunks is cute" line to cause her father stress. Trunks had to admit... He liked the attention.
Trunks helped Pan with her work, even though he had the feeling that she really didn't need his help. She was extremely smart, much like Gohan. Yet, she would ask him to explain things that it was already clear that she knew how to do. Trunks honestly didn't mind it though...
Pan had just finished up her last question when Videl walked into the kitchen. "We're going to your parents for dinner tonight," she informed Gohan.
"Sounds good to me," he gave her a nod before smiling at Trunks. "Are you coming with us?"
"Yes," Pan answered for Trunks, giving him a huge grin.
Gohan chuckled at Trunks amused face. "You and I both know you can't argue with her."
"That is true," Trunks chuckled. "I guess if it's not too much trouble then I will."
"Of course it's not," Gohan spoke as he stood up. "You know that," he ruffled Trunks' hair as he passed.
The group got ready and headed the quarter mile to Goku and Chi-Chi's. The small house already smelled of delicious aromas. They shook off their shoes at the doorway before heading towards the kitchen, where Goku was already sitting at the head of the table.
"Hey, we/re here," Gohan told his parents with a smile.
"Chi-Chi, what do you need help with?" Videl asked, rolling up her sleeves before washing her hands.
"Hey Gramps," Pan smiled, stopping to give Goku a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Hey Panny," he smiled at her happily. "Trunks!" He greeted when he saw the teen. "It's good to see you!"
"Oh Trunks," Chi-Chi greeted as Pan gave her a hug. "I'm glad you could join us tonight too!"
"Thanks," Trunks smiled at them as he sat down. He had spent the night with Goten countless of times and Goku and Chi-Chi both were always so welcoming.
Pan grabbed some plates, preparing to set the table when Chi-Chi spoke again. "Panny, make sure you set an extra plate beside Goten... His... girlfriend," she said the word like she had tasted something sour, "is coming over."
Pan shared a look with Trunks, who sighed. If he had known Natsumi was coming, he would have just went home.
Pan finished setting the table before taking a seat in the middle of Trunks and Goku with a grin. It was just a few minutes later when the front door opened.
"I'm home!" Goten announced as he walked into the kitchen, Natsumi right behind him. "Trunks!" He grinned at his friend, "did Pan force you to come?"
"Something like that," Trunks chuckled.
"Pan?" Natsumi spoke, raising a red eyebrow.
"Oh, my niece, the one sitting beside Trunks," Goten explained before introducing everyone else and then her.
Pan had to admit... Natsumi was rather pretty. She had beautiful curly red hair and that fell over her shoulders and bright green eyes. And yet as Natsumi sat down in front of her, Pan has the strangest feeling about her... Like she wasn't as sweet as she was letting on.
The food was served and the meal began. Chatter rose as everyone began talking. Pan tried her best not to notice, but it was rather obvious at times that Natsumi liked to stare at Trunks... If it weren't for the fact that Pan knew Goten liked Marron, she would be extremely mad at what the girl was doing to him. Now, she was just aggravated that Natsumi was even checking Trunks out... It caused Pan's stomach to feel a little funny, and she didn't quite understand why.
"Hey Panna," Trunks was saying when they were about finished. "Were still going to go see that movie this weekend, right?"
"Yeah," Pan answered with smile.
"Panna?" Natsumi cut in, raising a brow at Pan. "I thought her name was Pan?"
"Only I call her that," Trunks stated authoritatively.
Goten laughed, "yeah, that's Trunks' nickname for her. They get mad if anyone else call her it."
It was already known by their families that what Goten said was true. Trunks just didn't like sharing his name for her, and Pan did allow anyone else to call her that. She was Panny to her family and closest friends anyways.
"Cute," Natsumi muttered as she picked up her drink.
It was after that when Pan noticed that Natsumi wasn't just staring at Trunks too much, now she was also giving her the side-eyed glares. Pan was half tempted to do it back, but she had been taught better than that. Plus, she was at her grandparents table and unlike Natsumi, she had manners.
The meal was soon finished and as Chi-Chi and Videl started to clean up, Goku and Gohan went to go visit Dende and Piccolo for a bit. Goten suggested the remaining younger ones go on a walk, since he really wanted to show Natsumi the cliff that was about a mile from the house.
Pan knew how to get to the cliff by heart, so she let Goten and Trunks lead the way. Natsumi walked right beside Goten, that was until she glanced back and saw Pan a bit behind. She slowed her pace slightly so soon she was walking beside Pan.
Pan glanced up curiously as Natsumi side-eyed her. "You know," the redhead began. "I really feel sorry for Trunks and Goten."
"Huh?" Pan replied, honestly confused. Just why would Natsumi feel sorry for them?
"They try so hard to include you in things," she told Pan, as if she were talking about the weather. "But it's obvious that you're nothing but a burden to them."
Pan's eyes widened in slight anger and shock. Just who was she to say that?!
"Oh come on," Natsumi laughed softly. "You can't honestly think they enjoy toting you around everywhere with them. They're teenagers and you're still nothing but a child."
Pan set her jaw in aggravation. She was half tempted to knock Natsumi out, but she clenched her shaking fist to stop herself. Pan knew she shouldn't listen to whatever the witch was saying, that she was only saying it to upset her, but she couldn't help but wonder if maybe some of it was true. Trunks and Goten both were several years older than her... Why did they hang out with her so much?
"You poor thing," Natsumi cooed in a sneer. "You're just now realizing you don't belong with them don't you?"
Instead of answering or doing anything worse like punching her and knocking some teeth out, Pan turned on her heels and marched back to her house. She didn't need to deal with this! She wouldn't stay there and let Natsumi continue to belittle her, although she hated to admit that the witch did get to her a bit.
Natsumi watched Pan leave with a smirk, but her smirk soon turned into a surprised gasped when she turned to see both Trunks and Goten glaring at her. She cleared her throat, making her eyes wide as she poured her lips.
"Pan said she wasn't feeling well, so-"
"Cut the bullshit," Trunks cut her off. "We heard what you told her and that was a load of utter shit. I'd rather spend any second of any day with her rather than you!" He stalked up to her, and Natsumi let out a surprised yelp, taking a step back. He glared down at her, his icy blue eyes so cold. "If you ever say something like that to her again, I will make you regret it," he promised her lowly, causing an unpleasant shiver to go down her spine.
Natsumi was left stunned as Trunks walked off and she glanced over at Goten. "Goten, you believe me, right?" She spoke softly. "I didn't mean-"
"Shut up," Goten told her harshly. "I know you are just using me to try to get Trunks attention, but I'm going to break it to you, he don't go for easy girls like you."
Natsumi's face flushed, her eyes narrowing at him. "Then why are you dating me?!" She hissed at him.
"Correction, I was dating you. I'm not now," Goten shrugged as he started walking off towards the houses. "I just dated you to try to get someone else's attention. Oh yeah, you better call your mom to come get you soon," he called over his shoulder. "It's getting dark and the wild animals come out."
Pan opened her backdoor with a small sigh. Natsumi's words were still ringing in her ears and she couldn't stand it! Why didn't she just punch that girl in the mouth to shut her up?
With heavy feet she started to walk towards the stairs, but was surprised when she heard familiar voices instead.
"We're not watching that, Goten! It's crap!" Trunks was saying from his spot on one side of the couch.
"Oh come on! These are classics!" Goten was saying from the other side, the remote in his hand.
They both turned when they heard her walk up and they smiled at her brightly. She was so confused... Weren't they walking to the cliff...?
"Panny, tell Trunks that these wrestling shows are classics," Goten pouted at her.
"No way," Trunks shook his head. "Panna agrees with me, don't you?" He asked her.
She nodded slowly before blinking. "I thought you two were waking with Natsumi?" She raised a dark eyebrow. "What are you doing here?"
"We ditched her," Goten answered nonchalantly with a shrug. "We much rather hang out with you."
"Yeah," Trunks agreed. "This is where we belong."
Pan's lips twitched into a small smile before she was beaming. She jumped over the couch, stationing herself between the two of them comfortably.
"Goten, I agree with Trunks," Pan told her uncle. "We're not watching that wrestling show..."
"Oh man," Goten whined as Trunks snickered in victory.