AN: Things will be progressing...chapter gets dark towards the end, please take note. Language isn't pleasant either. Thanks again for reading, reviewing, favoring, alerting, etc. :) Best Path.
Harbor in the Tempest
TRUNKS, OF COURSE, got his ass handed to him by his father. But it had allowed them both to blow off the steam and stress of yesterday's events. It was rather therapeutic, to methodically pound your opponent into little more than pulp. Especially since both were mad over a similar reason: Son Goku. Though they also had inner demons within them they neither knew the half of.
"Brat, if you fought with that intensity every time we trained, you would have surpassed me already." His father commended gruffly, wiping the blood that trickled from his lip. Vegeta was surprised at his son's violent reaction to the stress of his friend's situation. It was so...Saiya-jin, to want to punch something because you were helpless about your circumstance.
Trunks lay sprawled across the floor of the gravity room, panting for his breath. "Really?" he mustered, his heart pounding. He father seldom celebrated Trunks's strength, though he had damn near caught up to his father's power level while being only half his age. Usually he was branded a lazy weakling, and it hadn't really motivated Trunks to want to spar with his father in the last few years.
But his anger over his and Goten's dysfunctional families had hit a critical mass, and he'd exploded on the one person he knew would counter with his fists. Only the Prince of Saiya-jin would let an insult slide if the person slewing them was willing to endure two or three hours of full frontal violence. Trunks knew he'd inherited his father's sometimes sadistic nature, and they had learned over the years that insult from one would lend them both an intense match. Though it had never been quite this intense...
"If Kakarrot's whelp is what inspires you to this level of strength, I fully endorse him keeping you in company." It was almost a blessing, of sorts, though Trunks couldn't say if his father thought there was more into his and Goten's relationship than there really was, but he didn't both to correct him. If he'd gotten his father's approval of how Goten enhanced his life, then that was good enough.
Trunks pulled himself from the floor, wincing. "Thanks Dad. Sorry I was hard on Mom."
"Hn." Vegeta snorted in reply. Trunks grinned. They were back to the status-quo again. He limped from the gravity room without another word, leaving his father to do whatever he pleased. They were done.
He found himself blissfully too tired to even think as he dragged himself inside and upstairs. He shut himself in his room and sought to rummage through his dresser. He had some sensu tucked in his sock drawer somewhere, if he remembered correctly. Finding the aforementioned bean, he popped one in his mouth. The rejuvenating effects were immediate, and without his injuries to hamper him, Trunks found that the fight he'd had with Vegeta was all over worth it.
He'd issue challenge to his sire more often in the future. He suspected Vegeta was quite pleased with his violent burst. Especially now that Goku wouldn't be around to distract the Saiya-jin Prince. Trunks paused for a moment. His father would probably be lonely now, without his longtime rival to keep him on his toes. He'd have to make it a point to show up for a spar at least once a week. And if he brought Goten, Vegtea would have double the trouble. That would be a daunting task, to say the least. And if they fused into Gotenks, they could attain Super Saiya-jin three, which could help Vegeta accomplish his goal. As if on cue, Goten called him, and Trunks rushed to answer his cell. "Hello?"
"Hey." Goten's voice was warm, and Trunks found himself smiling. "I've finally finished unpacking." the younger Son informed casually. He surveyed the guest room that Gohan had given him, and he was satisfied. It wasn't much bigger than his old room had been, but it was newer, so he welcomed the change.
Trunks laughed. "What a coincidence, I've just finished being my father's punching bag." Goten made an alarmed noise, and Trunks found it better to explain before making his friend worry. "I started it. I was just irked, I guess, and so I started being snippy with the family and my Dad stood up to it. He seems more than protective over Mom right now..." Trunks trailed off, recalling Vegeta's out of character concern for Bulma's feelings. Usually he was the first one to rile the Capsule Corp president up, knowing the buttons to push better than any other.
"Is she taking this whole thing hard?" Goten queried. Bulma had always been like a second, cooler mom to him, and she'd always been very generous when it came to Goten's participation in the Briefs' family events, especially when Goku had still been dead. He was concerned over how she would take Goku's decision. But he'd also known that Bulma was perserverant and would buck up over time.
"I know she's sad, since she and your dad have been friends for so long...but I'm starting to wonder if there's more to it. Both my parents seem...different, somehow." Trunks had noticed that much despite his temper earlier that afternoon. His family had even been harmonious enough to sit and enjoy a movie together...
"Maybe this is a significant life changing event for them. They were both close to Dad, in their own ways. They have history together, you know? All three of them do, actually." Goten, ever the perceptive one, speculated aloud. "Both of them must have come to some sort of terms about what this meant for their lives and how they would react to the change."
"Tell me about it, I think they're finally deciding to be one, big, happy family now." Trunks groaned as he thought of how his father, the once tyrant mercenary of the galaxy, was sitting with his wife and daughter and enduring Strawberry Shortcake, My Little Pony, or whatever inane, childish shows that Bura liked at the moment.
The elder demi Saiya-jin's bite was not lost on Goten. "Better late than never." he cautioned. He knew Trunks disliked his parents' favoritism, but at least his father was still around. Certain things shouldn't be taken for granted...
Trunks grit his teeth. "It just pisses me off how he was a stone wall when I was a kid, but then Bura is born and he does a total one-eighty." He'd told Goten of this afflicted emotion since Bura was an infant, and Vegeta began to act...well, fatherly. Which was foreign to Trunks. And quite shocking.
"Hey, Trunks, I know, man, okay? But he's fucked up too. He's trying his best." Goten felt his aggravation rising. His father was still alive, yes, but he'd fucked off. At least Vegeta was still here. Hell, the man hadn't left planet-side since before Bura was born. Trunks should be grateful for that much, his father was much more of a creature of habit than Goku ever was. Perhaps Saiya-jin were just unpredictable in general.
"You're the one who's filling in for his holes. Shouldn't you be pissed too?" Trunks questioned bluntly.
"...it's not entirely selfless. You need me, and I need you. It does guarantee me a measure of comfort." Goten said honestly. Because he and Trunks were fucked up was the reason also why they had stuck together so desperately. So, Goten was glad that the need was mutual, at the very least.
His friend's emotional intelligence scared him sometimes. Where Trunks was more like to fly off the handle and do impulsive teenage shit, Goten was often the one who grounded him out and helped him to understand others. Trunks was often the more spoiled and selfish one. His impulsive youth was something of a bane. Being eighteen sucked sometimes. "I'm more selfish than you." he finally answered.
"You're selfish, I'm needy. So what? It works," Goten dismissed quickly, "but please don't take your father for granted, however much of an asshole he is, he's there. You guys just spent a few hours together." his voice was almost pleading, and it broke down Trunks's stubborn nature.
"Okay. And about that, well..." he shifted the phone to his other ear as he spoke, "I thought that my dad would be lonely without yours to spar with. So I kind of want to initiate a sparring match once a week. And if you want to do it too, he'd probably like the double-trouble team. And Gotenks-"
"Can reach Super Saiya-jin three." Goten answered for him, recalling the awesome power he and Trunks could manifest when they combined their powers in the fusion.
"Right." Trunks affirmed. He was glad Goten was on the same page as him.
"I'm down." Goten agreed. If he kept up on his own strength, maybe his father would be impressed when he came back. Maybe he'd give up on Uub and come back to their family. Goten slapped himself on the forehead. That was his desperate inner child, wanting everything to be okay again. And blaming his lack of power level as the reason why his father wouldn't stick around, when his father shouldn't have had him to begin with.
"Cool. So...uh...settling in for the night then?" Trunks found himself wondering. Whenever Goten wasn't around he found that he was really bored. He often had to distract himself with something complex and scientific just to keep his attention. Perhaps that was why he knew he'd make a good future president for his company, it would be the only thing that could offer him cerebral challenge.
"Yeah...family time, I guess." the younger of the two answered lamely. "But Pan seems excited that Mom and I will be living here for a while." Goten was quite excited himself, though for different reasons.
Trunks laughed. Goten's niece was too cute sometimes. "I think Gohan will like having another dude around. Though Videl will probably get sick of Chichi." Another thought occurred to him. "Hey, Goten, how long are you guys going to be staying there anyway?"
Goten paused. "I'm not sure. I think Gohan isn't going to let Mom move out until he's sure that she's stable..." Chichi was quite dramatic, and no one really knew what she'd do now that her husband had pulled his disappearing act yet again. "But, I'm going to live with you anyway in a year, whether she's still living with my brother or she goes back to that hole in the wall."
Trunks grinned. "Yeah. Consider it my present to you for your eighteenth birthday, okay?" Goten was silent for a moment, and Trunks thought they might have gotten disconnected. "You still there?" he tested.
"Yeah. I guess I was just wondering how I was going to contribute, you know?" Goten seemed a little, well, bummed.
"Don't worry about it. I have a trust fund that I can tap into now that I'm eighteen. And I'll earn some salary with the Capsule Corp intern thing." Money was not an issue when it came to Goten. Trunks wasn't materialistic. He just wanted to ensure that Goten would always be there for him. And if that meant caring for him financially while he figured out what he wanted to do with his future, then it wasn't a big deal.
"Won't your Mom be pissed that I'm gold-digging you or something?" Goten felt so awkward. He wasn't friends with Trunks for financial reasons. Their friendship was based on a bond created from a mutual heritage, childhood issues, and future concerns.
"My Dad will back my decision." Trunks answered confidently.
Goten blinked. "Vegtea?" Why on earth would Vegtea of all people step in to defend Trunks's decision to support him to Bulma? He'd thought the Saiya-jin Prince would want Trunks to find and impregnate the first girl he met to ensure the future of the Saiya-jin race. Goten's involvement with Trunks had more often than not unnerved the girls that were interested in Trunks.
"It was weird, but after our spar he said that if you were the reason why I was so strong, then he didn't care what we did with our relationship." Trunks said.
Goten laughed. "Okay...well, good to know, I guess." Vegeta saw their relationship for what it was, mutual support when their weakness overwhelmed them. Strange how it took an alien to see how natural their bond was to them, even when others couldn't seem to understand. Maybe it was a Saiya-jin thing, to have a blood brother whom you were this close to.
"Goten, dinner!" Videl called from downstairs, reminding Goten that he was now living in his brother's house instead of his childhood home. Time seemed not to matter when he was talking to Trunks.
Even Trunks heard Goten's sister-in-law from over the phone line. "I guess I'll let you go...but are you going to school tomorrow?" Trunks queried.
"Yeah, I think so." It was better to get back to normal as soon as possible at this point. Not going to school wasn't going to change anything. And it was the end of his junior year, which meant he'd have to prepare for his senior year, and imminent graduation. Speaking of which, Trunks's was coming up...
"Okay. See you before homeroom." Trunks hung up the phone, knowing that everything was going to be okay. Summer vacation was coming up, and in the fall while he started university and his internship, Goten would be finishing up his senior year. They were so close to their independence he could almost saturate himself in it.
Goten cast his cell phone aside and went downstairs. Organizing his room had worked up an appetite that he hadn't had since yesterday before his father had screwed up. And Trunks, of course, had help him immensely. They would see each other again at school, and they could go on as normal, like nothing ever happened. Or at least do the best they could.
GOHAN SOUGHT REFUGE in his office after dinner had concluded. Videl and Chichi had found a sort of harmony in washing and drying the dishes together, though dinner had been a bit rocky itself. He fought the smirk that quirked his lips, Videl had wanted a dish washer, but he could hold off on purchase now that his mother was around. She'd probably take over all of the household chores, which Videl would wisely not find issue with.
At least their family huddle would be good for Pan. She seemed delighted that her grandmother and uncle were staying indefinitely at their house. It could probably help to make up for Goku's inconsideration. And they all seemed better when they were around one another, though Chichi had been adamant about Goten's sexuality earlier. Thankfully she hadn't said anything to Goten yet, but it was only a matter of time.
His mother stressed him out, truth be told, though he loved her dearly. This whole situation was stressful enough, and Gohan felt himself worn a little thin. He'd probably be able to endure for a few months, but who knew when he'd finally collapse?
A knock sounded on his door, soft and uncertain. Panny would more often than not just barge in, and Videl's knock was confident. It was probably Goten. "Come on in." he invited. Sure enough, his brother stepped in hesitantly, looking about the office that he had seldom stepped foot in. this was Gohan's thinking place, and he was reluctant to intrude.
"Hey." he greeted softly, taking note of Gohan's degrees which were framed on his wall. Achievements, ribbons, plaques, newspaper clipping of Gohan and Videl's superhero escapades. His brother had quite the eventful life in comparison to his own. Solid oak bookcases filled with volumes of literature leaned against the walls, and Goten tired to recall the last book he'd actually read front to back. It'd been a while.
"Hi." his brother replied, slouching in his chair. The strain was apparent in his face and posture, and Goten walked behind him to massage his shoulders. The elder of the two groaned as the muscle protested. Damn knots...
"Thanks for dealing with Mom and taking us in." Goten acknowledged gently. He continued his methodical massage. "Though you won't need to deal with me for much longer." It was probably best to shoot his plans by Gohan first before consulting anyone else. At least Gohan would be pragmatic and rational.
Gohan winced as Goten worked his strained muscles. "Oh? Why is that?"
"When I turn eighteen, I'm moving in with Trunks."
Gohan blinked, withdrawing from his brother's therapeutic touch. Chichi had been bitching about her son's sexual orientation only this afternoon, and now Goten was doing just what Chichi was afraid of. And his mother, regardless of Goten's orientation, would not want to live out in the woods alone, nor would she want her youngest son, her baby, to grow up anymore than he was. "You know Mom is going to flip out." he warned.
"You don't seem like you're flipping out." Goten protested.
Gohan rubbed his temples. "Because you will be eighteen and you can do whatever you want. But Mom was already having a fit this afternoon about how close you and Trunks are." He couldn't protect Goten from their mother's inevitable explosion, so it would be best to warn him ahead of time.
Goten tensed. "I know, she doesn't like him very much." he replied tersely. Their mother's disapproval over his and Trunks's friendship had been the source of many arguments between them in the last few years. Goku had always jumped in for him, had defended his side, saying that Goten and Trunks were young, were warriors, and such things were natural. It was a valid argument, since Son Goku would spend weeks on end with only another warrior for company during survival training.
"Because she thinks you're..."
"What?" Goten pressed. "What does she think?"
Gohan felt strangely uncomfortable. What if Goten and Trunks were together? What then? He didn't want to hurt his brother's feelings, but he knew their mother would. She expected Goten to marry and have a family, just as he himself did. They both knew this well. "She thinks you and Trunks are lovers, or will be, at the very least. If you move in with him that will only further convince her."
Goten felt irrationally angry. His mother was a country bigot at times, and he didn't have much patience for her outdated beliefs and outlooks. "I don't care what she thinks. She's going to suck the happiness out of both of us because she can't have any for herself. I won't let her have any of mine."
Gohan shifted slightly, studying his brother. "Are you?" If Goten was, he wouldn't care, really. His brother's happiness was the most important, but he'd have to know the truth if he was going to be on Goten's side and defend him from their mother. And he would. Chichi was a force to reckon with, at least verbally.
Goten blinked, confused. "Am I what?" The course of the conversation changed in a direction he couldn't follow.
"With Trunks." the elder verified.
Goten sighed. There wasn't even need for embarrassment. "No. We're close because we're the only demi Saiya-jin of the same age, and we both have 'daddy issues'." That was pretty much the gist of it, really.
Gohan grinned wryly. "Thought so. You've been with too many girls for me to think otherwise." Leave to his mother to flip shit about a perceived notion instead of something valid and reality based. Typical Chichi.
Now Goten was embarrassed. "I didn't know you knew about the girls..."
Gohan waved a hand. "I'm not tracking you or anything. I just can smell it on you sometimes, if I happen to run into you after you've been with one. Teenagers girls like cloying perfumes nowadays."
Goten blinked. "I didn't realize-"
"Scent carries, and we're Saiya-jin. Enough said." There was no need to make it anymore uncomfortable or embarrassing. He knew Goten was more sexually open, and being like any other teenage boy, of course he would take opportunities that presented themselves.
Goten stuffed his hands in his pockets. "It's hard to find a girl to...connect with." he confided softly. Sometimes aggressive, ball-busters sought after him, and he knew because of his mother that was what he was attracting to him. So he had to go out of his way to pick softer, more feminine women. But they often didn't have any backbone of their own, and/or were often insecure over his close friendship with Trunks. Nor could they handle his emotional episodes, which had him leaving them to be with Trunks.
"I got lucky with Videl." Gohan affirmed. Human girls were quite frightening, and being half alien didn't help. So when he and Videl had gotten close, he hadn't thought to look elsewhere, or see if something 'better' would come along. Men usually didn't have a choice when it came to women anyway. They seems to choose you, not the other way around.
"I'd like a girlfriend, but they always get freaked out about everything." His frustration was evident in his tone, and he knew Gohan would understand. Everything he experienced, he learned that Gohan had also gone through something similar. It was nice when your brother had a decade of experience on you.
Gohan laughed. "I hear you. But you're still young. You'll find someone, don't worry." he promised his younger brother. It wasn't good for Goten to dwell on the negative, especially when he still had a lot of years to play the dating field.
"...I know you go through things. Emotional things. Similar to my own. Sex is...it helps." he managed. If he could explain what the chemistry of an orgasm did for him, maybe Gohan would see why he was so desperately searching for a female half.
Gohan became more serious. "You're right. My drive is rather high because of my...issues. And it does put a lot of strain on Videl. And if you can find a female who has a drive similar to yours, that would be your best bet. But that will invite more issues, for if a female has that higher sex drive that she's using to make up for something, then what is that something she is attempting to make up for?" This was the conclusion he'd arrived to over the last ten years of being with Videl, and it was the ugly truth.
"If this hypothetical female had issues too, then she'd need me as bad as I'd need her. Which is okay." Vulnerability and need weren't something Goten was ashamed to admit. There was no pride when you were trying to make up for your shitty childhood. He knew Gohan had it even worse than he did.
Gohan sighed softly. "You're right. Videl is strained from putting up with me...she's more normal. If you can put up with that type of girl, and it gives you the sex life that fulfills you, then go for it." He felt rather bad, actually, that Videl was enduring so much. How much would the recent events strain their marriage?
"What was that thing you told me a few months ago? That thing about the sex life and your career?" Goten questioned curiously. It had been rather relevant, actually, and Goten wanted to commit it to memory.
"Oh," Gohan exclaimed, snapping what his brother was asking, "People require a satisfying career and sex life to be happy. So if either is lacking, you need to change it to something that will fulfill you, or you'll just be miserable." It was something he learned over the last few years, and had struggled to perfect for himself.
Goten bit his lip. "What if making yourself happy means your mom is going to flip shit?" Part of him was so twisted up on keeping Chichi happy and complacent, and the other half of him got righteously indignant over her selfishness and her bad judgment. He was so torn over his mother he wondered if maybe he were bi-polar. Maybe his inner child just was unsettled over how his life had turned out and was disagreeing with everything he as a teenager was trying to do.
Gohan put his glasses aside, regarding his brother seriously. "You know I'll have your back."
Goten nodded, grateful. "Thanks for listening. So, what should I do? Should I tell Mom that I'm planning to move in with Trunks?" Because that was what would make him happy. His future living situation would improve his mood drastically.
Gohan furrowed his brow thoughtfully. "Don't tell her until you and Trunks cosign the lease. Then she won't be able to prevent you from doing it. I'll handle her when she starts flipping out." he seemed stressed over the inevitable meltdown Chichi would have over what she would construe as Goten's selfish decision.
"Are you going to let her live with you indefinitely?" Goten asked. He considered it briefly, but knew that Videl would only be so patient for so long. "Your marriage might suffer if you keep Mom around for too long..." Gohan would be affected by his choice, especially if Chichi refused to go back to her home alone.
"She'll want to go back to her home eventually, I'm sure. We'll see Goten. You guys haven't even been under my roof for more than twenty four hours." Gohan answered uncertainly. But Goten was right, Videl wouldn't want Chichi ruling her roost for more than a short amount of time. Their marriage would be strained with Chichi's constant company eventually. And if Chichi insisted on staying because Goten refused to live with her...damn it.
Goten nodded wordlessly.
"And I know you have a summer vacation coming up, but keep up on your studies during your senior year. Study hard and get into a university. That will keep her calmer when you decide to move in with Trunks if you have your academics straight." The elder of the two advised.
Goten nodded again. "Okay. Thanks for the reflection." he bowed his head.
"No problem." He answered effortlessly. He always had the time for Goten. He cared for his brother, and only wanted to see him succeed despite his rocky start on life. It's make him feel better about how good of a job he'd done while helping to raise him. He watched his little brother leave his office, though he wasn't so little anymore.
Goten was a year away from being of age, had plans to leave his family, and was going through women faster than a bag of potato chips. But despite their greatly differing goals, Goten was a good person. He was thoughtful, kind, and sensitive to others. Gohan was glad that Goten hadn't lost those integral parts of himself as he'd grown from child to man.
Though he was still uncertain of his future and where he belonged, Gohan didn't worry incessantly over his brother's choices. They were better than their parents had been, and Goten wouldn't harm others the way that Goku did. The next year would likely entail adjusting to Goku's absence, and then when Goten graduated and moved out, that would set them on the next big curve of change.
All Gohan needed to focus on was keeping his family together in the meantime.
TIME CARRIED ON, as it always did, and the Son family adjusted to the change that Goku's disappearance had provoked. There wasn't anything to do but adapt, really. They wouldn't all just stop on account of his selfishness. It wasn't easy, but they each managed and coped the best that they could. In a way, it made each of them stronger.
Trunks graduated high school, which Bulma threw a party for. No one knew where Goku had gone, nor did they know how to contact him, so he missed the event. Summer vacation started for all the school aged children. Trunks and Goten spent the majority of their summer together, much to Chichi's dismay, but it was the last two months they'd have to themselves as young adults without responsibility, and they both knew it.
Trunks would be starting school and his internship in the fall, and even after that, he'd always have some sort of position with Capsule Corp. This was the last summer vacation of his childhood, literally. They didn't waste it, and spent a majority of it drinking, attending parties, and hooking up with girls. They kept up with their training, and had entreated Vegeta to a weekly sparring session that was oftentimes explosive, and would spar one another whenever the impression flashed to them.
Unfortunately, the summer was all too brief, and in the fall Goten began his senior year of high school while Trunks attended university. They found that school, either form of it, was boring without the other to share it with. They both withdrew more from their peers, spending their time together when they found it. But between school, which took the majority of their time, Goten's basketball practice, and Trunks's internship, their time together had become limited.
That same fall semester, Bura began kindergarten while Pan attended first grade, which their families were incredibly excited about respectively. Both Bura and Pan seemed to thrive under their family's new closeness. Chichi settled into the schedule that took place at Gohan's house, and wasn't much of a bother most of the time, and Videl's house had never been cleaner.
And four months after Son Goku had left, he finally found time in his hectic schedule to visit. He appeared in the kitchen, startling his wife and daughter-in-law who were washing the dishes together, as was their nightly habit after dinner.
Chichi was the first to recover. "Goku-sa!" she cried loudly, stepping over the plate that she'd dropped in her shock at her husband's arrival, throwing herself into his arms. He accepted her affections, returning her embrace calmly, as though he'd never been gone.
Videl crouched to clean the mess, barking warning to Pan as she came rushing from the living room into the kitchen. Her daughter edged around the sharp shards and threw herself onto her grandfather's leg. "Grandpa! You're back!" Videl hid her exasperation well.
Gohan, having heard his mother's delighted scream, knew that this inevitable moment was bound to be tense between Goten and Goku. Goten had been at school all day, then had basketball practice, and had only just made it home in time for dinner. After dinner he'd trudged upstairs to take a shower. Should he go and alert his younger brother that their father had shown himself? It'd probably be best, he concluded. Goten had been stressed lately since he and Trunks were both so busy, and he knew his younger brother had been forgoing his intimate times with girls in favor of seeing Trunks. The boy was bound to be frustrated.
Gohan rapped on the bathroom door politely. The shower was still running, so Goten could only invite him in if the door was unlocked. And Gohan didn't know if he heard their mother's exuberant announcement either. He might be completely unaware...
"Come in!" Goten called, his voice weary, but unchanged from what it was prior to leaving the dinner table. If he knew that Goku was here, he wouldn't be so calm. Gohan swallowed nervously and entered. The humidity of the room made his lungs feel heavy immediately.
"Damn, you take hot showers." Gohan commented absently. At least it was something to say before what he'd say about their father's presence.
"Muscles are sore." Goten replied shortly as he turned the water off. Gohan located the towel folded neatly on the closed toilet seat and slung it over the shower curtain for Goten. "Thanks." his brother replied as he pulled the curtain aside, towel securely wrapped around his waist.
"Hey...I thought I should let you know..." Gohan began uncertainly. Goten tensed immediately at his brother's reluctant statement, but waited to hear him out. "Dad just showed up in the kitchen."
Goten's expression immediately contorted, and Gohan wondered if he was going to lose it. "That fucking dick." he snarled, stalking from the bathroom. Gohan, unsure if Goten was going to march downstairs and attempt to kick their father's ass in only a towel, rushed after Goten.
"Whoa, whoa!" But his protests died as he followed Goten to the guest room Gohan'd given him four months ago. His brother didn't even care about modesty as he towel dried himself and dressed while he shook from the fury coursing through his veins. "Where are you going? What are you doing?" Gohan frantically asked.
"I'm not going to see him, that's all I know." Goten bent to tie his shoe laces, and Gohan knew he was serious. He struggled with his laces for a moment, since his fingers were trembling, but his years of the mundane task proved him true.
"C'mon Goten. It's been four months. You need to at least tell him what he's done to upset you." he protested. Goten's temper was usually under control, as he was more prone to depressions, so when he was angry he was quite unpredictable, just because it happened so seldom. And Goten's lack of communication was not only dysfunctional, but it wouldn't help.
"Fuck him." Goten answered, standing. He strode to his dresser, collecting his phone, wallet, and capsules he kept his books and other personal effects in, shoving them into his pockets.
Gohan's jaw dropped. "Really? That's it? 'Fuck him'?"
"Yeah. And as long as he's here, don't expect me to come home." He opened his bedroom window, and Gohan didn't try to stop him. He was disappointed, to say the least. What would he tell everyone downstairs? Should he tell them the truth about Goten's feelings? Would their father even accept the truth and not go after Goten? Or would this lead to an extreme confrontation?
Goten had been training quite diligently with Trunks and Vegeta, and he'd been in the best shape of his life, really. But he was still no where near as powerful as their father. But Goku would never hurt Goten. So where would that lead them?
"Okay. Please be safe." Gohan finally conceded. He couldn't stop Goten, nor did he want to force him to do something that he didn't want to. He had more respect for his brother than that. "Call me later, okay? So that I know you're okay?" he allowed his own fears to tinge his voice, knowing that Goten wouldn't make him worry more than was necessary, given the circumstance.
Goten conceded also. "I'll call you later. Promise." And Goten had made the habit of keeping the promises he made, precisely because their father didn't.
Gohan believed him. "Okay. See you later then." Goten wordlessly jumped out of the bedroom window, and Gohan walked over, closing it for him. Goten levitated for a moment, his eyes locked with Gohan's, before he waved and flew off. Gohan sighed softly, leaving the window unlocked for Goten's return. He went downstairs to greet the father who he quite frankly wasn't too excited about seeing either.
Heh, maybe he should have fled with Goten.
GOTEN'S MOOD WAS shit and he knew it. His day had been ordinary enough, though the last week or so had been stressful. He and Trunks had both been so busy since they were at the middle of their semester, and basketball season was starting soon, so his basketball practice schedule had been doubled. So they barely saw each other, and because they barely saw one another, they had agreed to blow off chicks to be together. So it had been a while since he'd satisfied the itch, to say the least.
And now his asshole dad had just showed up, expecting everyone's undying adoration, no doubt.
The best thing for him now, probably, was to contact the chick who would be most readily available and fuck the stress away. His right hand never got the job quite done like a pretty girl could. He paused in flight, fishing his phone out of his pocket, careful not to drop it, though his hands were still shaking.
Who was available, he considered carefully, as he looked through his address book. It wouldn't be wise to unleash this aggression with a girl who was unaccustomed to him. So a girl he already slept with would be best, though he had to pick one that didn't have a boyfriend who'd get jealous, nor did still harbor feelings for him, or vice verse. He honed in on a name and dialed the number.
"Goten?" The girl's tone was coy, and already had him burning with need.
"Wanna fuck?" He was blunt, and he knew she wouldn't care either. They had always been friends with benefits whenever he was single, though she didn't give her boyfriends the same consideration. He did have a girl he was courting, but they weren't far along enough to seal the deal, and he was willing to throw the potential away in favor of instant gratification.
"Father's meeting is carrying late." Her sultry voice replied, an open invitation, basically. Her mother had died years ago, and her father's had closed up, devoting himself entirely to his job and forgoing his daughter's needs. They got along rather well, though she was more slutty than he could tolerate in a girlfriend, since she continually cheated on her boyfriend to be with him. Irregardless, her shortcoming was to his benefit, and would suit his current circumstance.
"I'll be there in less than five." He needn't mention flying over, and so when she asked where he was he simply hung up the phone. He dashed to her house, using the neighbor's chimney for cover as he landed. He jumped from the neighbor's roof to hers, wondering if any of the neighbors ever saw him, and if they'd say anything. People were usually concerned about being misconstrued as crazy.
He rapped on her window, and she, accustomed to his discreet entrance, opened immediately for him. "Goten." she breathed, pulling him into her ultra feminine room. It was still decorated as if she were eight, since her father was fiercely protective, and yet completely unaware that his daughter was getting laid right under his nose.
"Ami." he replied, pulling her into his arms. She fell into his embrace, returned his bruising kisses, and he lead them to the bed. He lacked patience for any sort of foreplay and disrobed them both. She smiled, yielding to him, watching as he pulled a capsule from his pocket, releasing a box of condoms.
"Glad you're prepared." she remarked approvingly. Together they sheathed him with protection and he pressed her down upon the bed, nipping her lower lip between his teeth. Skin on skin contact had his nerves calming already.
"No need for accidents." he answered, matter of fact. She was tiny in comparison to him, and he liked it. His hands smoothed over her small waist and hips, stopping to grip her rear. Her hands explored his body eagerly, and he welcomed her touch.
"Agreed." she lulled, glad to have his weight upon her. Her hips gyrated, inviting him in. He slid inward, inch by inch, earning a hiss from her. "Yes." she affirmed softly, brows knit together in concentration.
He moaned in pleasure. He'd missed this. Fuck his father and his unrealistic expectations. Goten thrust his hips rhythmically, creating a tempo. Ami was a very responsive girl, and could get herself off multiple times. She didn't need much help, and enjoyed his strength and endurance. So he'd bang her like a gladiator, get her off as much as she liked, bust a nut himself, and it'd be the sum and total of it. He was good in bed; usually considerate and attentive, but he and Ami already had history together and he was pissed. There was no need to be Casanova.
Sure enough, she sent herself over the edge multiple times, before coaxing him to come as well. He nodded, knowing that now he was permitted his pleasure, and so he sought it. The orgasm tore through him, and he cried out as if he were maimed. Ami took his weight as he collapsed on her without complaint and waited while he caught his breath. "What happened?" she finally asked when he rolled off of her.
He grimaced. "Shitty day." he mumbled in explanation, busying himself with the removal off the condom. He barely made the edge of the garbage can when he threw the tied off condom, and he scowled. He was a good shot. At least he was when his dad wasn't dicking the family around.
"I can tell." She took in his demeanor and tucked herself under her covers. "Do you want to talk about it?"
He gave her a bland look. "No."
She masked the hurt well, but he knew his callousness had affected her. "Sorry, look, my dad came back today, and I didn't even want to see him." He could let that much slide, it wasn't like she knew much about his family anyway.
"Oh." she intoned, falling silent as she studied him. Her hands, of their own accord, splayed over his muscles, tracing them. "Basketball practice does you well." she finally commented.
Goten kept his facial expression straight. Ami didn't know the half of it, nor was he going to fill her in. His training with Trunks, and sometimes Vegeta, wasn't something that would make any sense to this human girl. "Yeah. Coach is bustin' balls." he replied, feeling stifled suddenly.
This always happened. He couldn't open up about his life or family, because there was only so much you could explain away. Things got supernatural fast, and chicks either thought you were joking, or crazy. Ami was probably no exception. She'd already asked once about his scar on his tailbone, and things had gotten awkward. "Look, I need to get going..."
She shifted immediately. "I see. Get in, get off, get out, huh?"
He sensed the danger, justified though it was, and slipped out of bed. "It didn't seem to bother you when you were coming over and over." he snapped nastily. Her mood turning only made him realize that his mood was shit again. This whole sex session had been for naught. He located his pants, boxers still crumpled inside, and he pulled them on seamlessly.
She scowled darkly. "Get out, asshole." She sprang from her bed, pulling her bed sheets as cover. She found his shirt and tossed it in his face.
"Don't have to tell me twice." he said, angered by her temper. She had a tendency to blow up like Chichi did when she was angry, though she'd never been directly angry with him before. This was too much. He found his socks, errantly strewn over the floor, and stumbled as he forced them on.
"Don't bother even calling me anymore, I'm so over your bullshit." Her features were fixed into a disdainful mask.
He jammed his feet into his sneakers, not even bothering with the laces. Stupid shoes. "My bullshit?" He was astounded. "What bullshit?" She was the slutty one, sleeping with him no matter was her circumstances were.
"You never open up. All you want to do is fuck and then leave. You'll tell Trunks every secret, but won't tell a girl who you really are." Her large brown eyes glittered with hurt, and he realized that maybe he could have told her more, but in his effort to conceal his heritage, he'd been over zealous.
"Like you could handle the truth." He didn't think she could. Nor did he want to try. Maybe he did come with a lot of bullshit, baggage too...
"You never give anyone the chance, Goten." she replied, wrapping her sheet more securely around herself. He ignored her, tucking his heels into his shoes, glad that he didn't have to untie and re-tie them just to get his feet in. "Why don't you just tell me about you? What are you hiding?" He hit a critical mass, and not caring, moved so quickly that her human eyes couldn't track him. He was before her, and she was afraid. "W-what?" she stammered, not quite expecting this.
"My father isn't of this world." He grasped her shoulders tightly, and she protested, trying to push him away. But he was steel. "I have to hide my heritage every day at school. You think basketball has me so fit? Try training under two hundred and fifty times Earth's gravity. Then we'll talk." She opened her mouth, attempting to speak, but he didn't give her the chance. "So, like you said, I won't bothering calling you." he released her, and she stared after him.
He didn't bother with the window, and rushed down her stairs instead. She must have found her senses again, for she scampered after him, hurling objects after him. "You crazy jerk!" she screamed hoarsely.
Great, this would be a rumor that would not only be twisted into some weird tall tale, but would probably circulate school five times over. He hurled insults in return as he dodged objects and reached for the front door's knob.
It opened for him, and a middle aged man who was most likely Ami's father took in the scene. A haphazardly dressed teenage boy leaving his house, exchanging insults with his daughter, who was dressed in only her bedsheets. The man's face turned purple.
"Uh...see ya!" Goten blurted, making a run for it. There was no need to endure the man's wrath, the younger Son wasn't interested in his daughter. Leave it for her to handle. He heard the father and daughter's screams as he ran down the block, but he didn't bother stopping. As he went around the corner, Goten slowed.
His phone vibrated in his pocket and he pulled it out. Three missed calls, all from Trunks, each followed up with a voice-mail. He called him back immediately, and Trunks answered on the second ring. "Where are you?" his friend asked in a panic.
"Um...down the block from a booty call gone awry." Goten replied honestly, grimacing as he thought of the situation. It wasn't in his intent for things to escalate like that, but sometimes shit happened. Trunks groaned with exasperation on the line and Goten sighed. "I just needed to blow some steam off, that's all."
"Well, Gohan called. He told me your dad showed up and you took off." Trunks's voice was urgent with his worry, and Goten wished Gohan had explained things better so as to not disturb his friend in this manner.
Goten felt sick. "I know he's worried and everything, but I'm okay." he protested. Though nothing had quite worked out since Gohan had informed him of their father's arrival. Cause and effect weren't really firing in his favor.
"Stop being an idiot and come over, okay?" Trunks entreated, worried. If Goten kept up with this course of action, who knew what else he'd botch in the meantime.
Goten paused. "Alright, but I'm crashing there if I do." he warned. He knew Trunks was rolling his eyes on the other end of the line, and he smiled at that. Why hadn't he just gone straight to Trunks anyway? Like a chick was going to know just what to say? No chick ever did, and this was proof of that. "I'll be there in ten." he promised, hanging up on his friend.
Trunks stared at his phone, shaking his head as he realized Goten had hung up. When Gohan had called him, he had panicked. Goten had kept his ki low, though it was had flared just minutes before the younger demi Saiya-jin had returned the call. In fact, if Goten hadn't answered, Trunks would have tracked him down to where his ki had flared.
But Goten had called, and was coming over. In the end, it worked out. Goten didn't have to see Goku, and no one was hurt. But Trunks wondered if maybe his longtime companion should have at least tried to talk with his sometimes clueless father. Not talking wasn't exactly functional. But that was Goten's choice.
He could only give his friend the support he needed in this trying time.
KAME HOUSE WAS not conveniently located, and so public school had been out of the question for Marron when she became old enough to attend junior high. Her parents had maintained their decision of home schooling her, and though her mother was extremely competent academically, Marron was lonely and bored. She was almost fourteen and had no one to call her friend. Her only company on the small island were a large sea turtle, a lecherous man, her android mother, and her dwarf father.
It was like a really bad line up of misfit super heroes.
And lately, things had changed. First and foremost, her body had. Her mother had taken her for a trip in the city to buy her new clothes, because she had outgrown everything over the summer. She found herself appreciating her developing body in the mirror. She had inherited her mother's figure, for as her waist remained small, her hips widened and her bust was filling out. She'd developed a nose, glad that she didn't look so much like her father anymore, though she wished her eyes were that almond shape that her mother's were.
But they were big, blue, and captivating. She knew that much. But only because Roshi had told her. That was the second thing that had changed. He'd been attentive lately, where he used to ignore her for the love of his dirty magazine. Even four months ago, he'd been rather obvious about his appraisal, and Marron noticed that Bulma-san had noticed.
The older woman seemed at first perplexed, then disturbed. But she'd said nothing then, and to Marron's knowledge, she hadn't said anything ever because she still lived at Kame House, alone, in the middle of the ocean. Nothing had changed. If Bulma had mentioned Roshi's lewd looks to Marron's father, she was certain he would have at the very least come to her and asked her about it.
She asked her father many times if they could move to the mainland already, but he'd refused each time, claiming it was better for the family 'this way'. She didn't know if it was because of finances, or because her parents disliked the scrutiny of the public eye, or because her father would miss Roshi, lecherous though he was. All she knew was that she was tired of her isolated existence. Even if her parents weren't ever going to leave Kame House, she would leave when she was eighteen.
She vowed that to herself everyday. She didn't yet know how she would find a job, pay for somewhere to live, or even survive, but her will was strong enough to see herself through anything. She knew that much.
"Marron, your mother and I need to go to the mainland for some supplies." her father called, drawing her attention from the tiny television that she'd barely been paying mind to.
"Okay," she called in response. They hadn't invited her, which meant she wasn't welcome. They probably wanted her to focus on her studies instead of frolicking in the city. Her studies had been slipping lately, so they weren't really happy with her. She didn't bother chasing after them to bid them farewell. She wasn't really fond of them right now either.
She didn't know where Turtle was, but she did know that Roshi was napping. She left the comfort of the couch to enter the kitchen. Maybe she would find a snack in the fridge? She opened it, leaning over to inspect the contents. Her parents were right, they did need supplies, the fridge was practically bare. So focused on her inspection of the fridge, she didn't notice Roshi coming up behind her until he was directly behind her. She jumped, not expecting anyone to even be around, since her parents wee gone, as was Turtle, and Roshi had been napping. Or so she thought.
"You scared me!" she exclaimed, pressing a hand to her beating heart. Roshi had been so odd lately, pushing strange boundaries, like brushing up against her for no reason. Or looking at her when he knew her parents weren't watching. It made her uncomfortable, and though she knew a little bit about sex from Roshi's magazines, she was pretty much an untried virgin. Nothing had happened though, and she didn't think he'd tried anything...
He hadn't yet, at least.
"Sorry Marron." he apologized, his toothy grin making her feel extremely unsettled. There was just something about that grin...it made her skin crawl. Her reached around her, grabbing a beer, and she winced. His breath was sour from his nap, and the other beers he'd already drank that day. Roshi had increased his alcohol consumption over the years, and she felt he was quite the lush, though no one ever said anything. He was old anyway, so no one would be surprised if his liver gave out.
"Hn." she intoned, moving away from the fridge to go back to the living room. Maybe there was something on that crappy, old television. But he grabbed her arm, turning her roughly. He was still powerful for an old man, for ki could reside within the body, no matter how old. He was definitely more powerful than her, since her parents hadn't ever trained her, and she hadn't ever asked them to. "You're hurting me! What do you want?" her voice rose higher, almost more childlike as she became more frightened.
He put his beer on the counter, looking pointedly at her chest. She looked down as well, and realized that her nipples were prominent under her thin tank top. She'd been leaning close to the fridge, so the cold air...
"You're developing quite nicely." he said. He hadn't moved his hand from her arms, and had maintained the pressure. Would she bruise? What would she tell her parents? She swallowed, outwardly trembling. If he wanted to, he could do anything. She wouldn't have the physical strength to stop him.
"Please let me go." she whimpered. But he didn't. His free hand cupped her, fondling one breast, then the other. Her eyes filled with tears, and she wished she was anywhere but there. He was drunk, she could tell. His judgment was impaired, and oh Kami-sama, he was lifting her shirt. If she screamed, would anyone do anything? Her parents where gone, and Turtle could no more stop Roshi than she could, even if he was around.
His hands were touching her bare skin, and she would have sank to the floor if he wasn't holding her up. Tears rolled down her face, and she couldn't move. Couldn't scream. She was frozen.
"So young. So pink." His mouth was wet from saliva and beer, and she revolted as his lips left a slimy trail across her breasts. Did he even realize he was molesting his student's daughter whom he had known from the cradle? This was so warped on so many levels...
And because she was scared, because Roshi was stronger, because she was shocked, she couldn't do anything. She was helpless. He pulled his pants down, and she closed her eyes. She couldn't, wouldn't see his...his thing! Anytime she did try to get away, his hands kept her firmly in place. His grip hurt, he wasn't gentle if she struggled.
He made her touch him, stroke him, and she complied, hoping it would be over soon. He panted his smelly breath upon her, hips moving in a jerky fashion as her hands pleasured him. She cried the whole time, and whimpered when he came, his semen dripping over her hands and onto her. She was revolted.
He cleared his throat as he pulled his pants back on. Without a word he took his beer from it's place on the counter and left the kitchen. She sat on the kitchen floor, wondering if that whole interaction had really just taken place. He had touched her, lifted her shirt, touched and kissed her, and then made her please him...
But he hadn't penetrated her, or touched her more personal areas. But the molestation haunted her, and she locked herself in the bathroom before Roshi could change his mind and come after her for more. Not that a door would stop him if he really wanted more...
She ran a shower, eager to wash his semen from her skin. She felt so dirty. He was dirty! A dirty old man! He was smelly, wrinkled, disgusting and he had totally just taken advantage of her. She started crying more, wishing her parents hadn't left her home. Wishing they hadn't been stupid enough to live with a child molester. What would she do? Would Roshi hurt her if she told? Would anyone believe her if she told?
She remained locked in the bathroom until her parents came home. They had bought a great deal of groceries, enough to last a week. But they would inevitably leave for their next trip in about a week. What would happened if they left her home with Roshi again? Maybe she could somehow convince them to bring her with them, even if she didn't tell them what had happened. And she had no one to talk to. No friends to call. No one who could advise her on how to handle this. And as much as she liked to think she was grown up, this proved she was a weak child. Hardly grown up at all. Just a crying, snotty mess.
She said nothing, and went to bed early with no dinner. She had no appetite, and her parents wrote it off as another adolescent mood swing. And Roshi got away with it. Because she didn't say a thing, he had no repercussions for his actions. She could only sleep, cry, and stare out to the sea. So, her grades understandably did not improve, and when her parents were leaving to go to the mainland, she was not permitted to go. And Roshi struck again.
And again. Each time her parents left her behind with him, the molestation escalated further, until he had her stretched over the couch and he penetrated her for the first time. She screamed. She knew she did. But she felt as if it wasn't her, that she could be elsewhere. He was too strong for her to deny him anyway. He only hurt her, in little ways, bruises that wouldn't be questioned, or could be hidden by clothing. So she didn't fight, would lay back and pretend that it wasn't her. Or that it was only a bad dream.
The dream that she entertained, of moving the the city, and surviving on her own, became her only beacon of light. She would constantly focus on that dream, for it was the only comfort she had. Her parents were oblivious, and she had let things escalate too far to say anything now. They would demanded to know why she hadn't told them further, and accuse her lying just to move them away from Kame House.
So she bore the abuse; naively not realizing just how extensively it was breaking her mind, body, and soul. Too young to know that it wasn't her fault and too young to know how to protect herself.