If all those words put together make some sense to you, you owe it to The Dagger Dripping in Ink, my devoted beta reader... Thanks.
Thank you so much for all the reviewers/followers and favoriters. I didn't expect so many especially after 3 chapters when there isn't much going on yet. Then for those who want to see more, there you have chapter 4.
LVR4Trunks-n-Vegeta: You can have naughty thougts as much as you want, you'll have to be patient. They won't jump on each others like beasts. (Maybe you noticed that my characters are well-mannered thanks to their mums.) But in due time...Well ,there is not a lot of suspens on that point ;-)
Have Fun and forgive the bad grammar/spelling/vocabulary that would have escaped to our attention.
Chapter 4
Goten was stupid. He had been thinking about a nice place for a cool dinner with Trunks. He'd be willing to find the perfect place, the one that would please Trunks the most, a place he would enjoy after a busy week. The problem was that Goten was totally broke. He hadn't been paid yet, after only one week at work, and his savings had evaporated in the last two months since he left Valese. However, he had promised. He couldn't take his word back and cancel the dinner.
Goten was stupid, but he was resourceful and he was popular as well. So he went to a litlle bar, in which he used to spend most of his time as a student. The bar keeper wasn't able to refuse him anything at that time, and he had the idea to ask her credit for the evening. It was a big, blonde woman, always cheerful. When she saw Goten, who hadn't visited her for over a year, the light that flashed in her eyes let him know that she had already agreed to help him out.
But still this solution remained a makeshift-job, and the place wasn't really what Goten had in mind when he invited Trunks.
Goten let his gaze wander over the nearly deserted bar. The place wasn't totally unpleasant but cleanliness wasn't perfect, and he knew that the menu was far from promising. The decor was quite eccentric. The whole room was made of wood, supposeingly meant to make the place appear exotic. A huge window took an entire wall and opened directly on the water channel that was running through the city. The banks were planted with bamboo, to reflect an exotic theme.
In summer, it made a nice cozy atmosphere. But unfortunately it wasn't summer yet. Winter was just about to end, in fact. In this season, the channel's gray water, the bamboos shaking in the icy wind, and the poorly cleaned pane were a much less welcoming decor. It was only a bar for broke and not too fussy students. Prices were low, the address was undisclosed, and the menu was very basic. Definitely, Goten's choice remained a makeshift-job.
He sighed and bowed his head on his glass. Everything here was the exact opposite of Trunks' personnality. If, for once, Goten had thought, even for one minute before launching his invitation for tonight, he would have waited a bit, and later, with more money, he could have offered his friend a dinner up to the favor Trunks had granted him.
Trunks was late. Goten thought that the bar's address had certainly left his friend puzzled and that the neighbourhood would make it difficult for him to find a parking spot for his amazing car. Goten looked up at the few customers around. At least there were some quite hot girls.
Nevertheless, Goten felt a bit pathetic, especially when he remembered Trunks' luxurious office. Even Valese's father couldn't afford such an impressing one. Goten had never realized how much the Capsule Corp had developed in recent years. A family business.
He was drinking his third glass when Trunks appeared with a smile on his face.
- I'm late, sorry, he announced, sitting down in front of his host.
- It's OK, muttered Goten sheepishly.
Trunks didn't pay attention to his friend's expression and immediately grabbed the menu to pick something out.
- I'm hungry, he clarified.
He had got changed. He no longer wore his suit, but just clothes with the Capsule logo on them. He seemed to have rejuvenated and Goten had the feeling to fully recognize him. Yet he continued to worry about the impression that the bar and the menu would make on Trunks. His friend didn't say anything though, and Goten wondered whether Trunks remained silent out of politeness or whether maybe he hadn't yet realized the mediocrity of Goten's thank you gift.
- Everything was booked elsewhere, Goten lied shamelessly, I came here when I was a student ...
Trunks' blue eyes looked up at him over the menu.
- It's nice, he answered merely.
- I wanted something ... more ... classy but ...
Trunks raised his eyebrows.
- Goten, I eat every day in "more classy" places. Believe me, I can't stand them anymore. All I want is a cozy dinner with my friend, okay?
Goten smiled like a reassured child. They ordered, and the waitress brought Trunks something to drink. He stirred dreamily his drink with his straw. He had a weak smile and Goten wondered what he was thinking about.
- So, tell me. What happened with Valese? Trunks finally asked.
- Valese ... Hmm ... She wanted to get married, replied Goten in a bored tone.
Trunks cocked his head with incomprehension.
- Wasn't it what you wanted? he asked, I mean, you were crazy about this girl, and you were living with her ... I thought ...
- I wasn't crazy about this girl! Goten protested strongly.
Trunks took a sorry expression. Goten couldn't believe that anyone could, at any time, have had the feeling that he was crazy about Valese. The first month maybe, but after that... Were people so blind? Was Trunks so blind? Without knowing why, Goten felt offended by his friend's thought.
- Oh, excuse me. Well ... That was what I thought, from what your mother used to say ... and you moved on together so... Trunks replied cautiously.
- It was a mistake, Goten cut off, sometimes I have the feeling, maybe, it had appeared to be the best way to escape the Mount Paozu, you know?
Goten was upset and turned his head to look at the reflections in the channel's dark waters on the other side of the window pane. An awkward silence fell between them for a minute. Trunks bit his lip, he was aware that he had talked about something that annoyed Goten but he didn't remember any conversation topic that had ever annoyed his friend before. The waitress cleared away the discomfort by placing the dishes on the table loudly.
- Look, OK, it's over. Let's stop talking about it, concluded Trunks grabbing his fork.
- You're right, forget it, said Goten already salivating over food.
After a few bites that filled his stomach a little, Goten looked back at his friend.
- And you? Girls? he asked, without manners, spitting a little.
Trunks took time to swallow before answering and Goten felt like he was thinking about the answer at the same time.
- Me ... Well, it comes and goes, it's... To be honest, it bothers me lately.
A vicious smile stretched Goten's lips and he leaned toward Trunks.
- Tell me, he hissed.
Trunks rolled his eyes, frowning. Goten had always fantasized about his success with girls. Goten had always thought Trunks could have a harem at his disposal at any time and in any circumstance. A childish and annoying dream, which Trunks had never managed to wipe out of his friend's mind. Goten's firm conviction dated from a summer they spent together when they were seventeen or eighteen years old. They had been two months in the Southern state on their own, and they had begun a contest of the most stupid about how many girls each of them could have. Trunks had won but didn't remember it being something glorious.
- Arg, I know what you're believing, Goten! Trunks groaned, you think everything's easy and great. I just have to choose any awesome girl around me and she'll come to me willing to make me happy forever, right?
- I remember a time ... Goten smirked with sparks in his eyes.
- It was a long time ago, interrupted Trunks. Fuck! I was a kid and it was summer, that wasn't real life for God's sake!
Goten leaned back on his chair, still smiling meaningfully.
- Anyway ... I don't remember one of them that refused you, he recalled wistfully.
Trunks sighed with desperation.
- You're a kid, Goten, he hissed
- It is easy for you. You have everything. Not even mentioning you're famous, Goten muttered, a little annoyed at his friend's reaction.
- It is easy for you. Not even mentioning you're not famous ! What do you think most girls see in me? A rich guy who looks good and who makes all the other girls jealous. Nothing more than a luxurious handbag with matching wallet. Nice! I'm done with that shit, believe me.
Goten pouted. Trunks turned easily his nose up at privileges Goten would have bought without hesitation. Trunks sighed again, realizing that his friend wasn't about to understand what he had just explained.
- Let's talk about something else, Trunks said, I have something to show you after the meal.
- What?
Trunks took an enigmatic expression and savored the sparks of impatience in Goten's dark eyes.
- You'll see. You'll like it, I think.
- Asshole, muttered Goten, aware of his friend's little game.
Trunks smiled with amusement but gave no details. At the end of the meal, a sneaky weariness came over him. He had a full stomach, he had drunk a little, and he had enjoyed that moment with Goten. In fact, Trunks realized he hadn't felt so well for a long time. Slouched in his chair, he looked absentmindedly at Goten who was walking slightly unsteady on his feet toward the counter to pay the bill to the bartender. Trunks was trying to remember the last time he felt himself so relaxed, so... Just happy and carefree... He had forgotten.
He had spent the last two years working nights and days, and he had to admit that today his social life was reduced to almost nothing. Indeed, without Goten, his social life had gradually lost any savor.
Trunks had other friends, of course. All of them working in fields close to his, of course. And he had finally found out that all their discussions and concerns revolved around work and dough. He had even discovered that his presence among these friends activated a kind of unhealthy competitiveness between them that had become unbearable to him.
He also had a few girlfriends but, oddly, he had ended up feeling that every girl was the same as the previous one. He had the feeling that, resulting of a kind of stubborn curse, he had to choose systematically the same kind of girl who could never really satisfy him. He had been single for a while now and felt kind of better that way. To be honest anyway, he had made sure that every minute of his life and every particle of his energy were dedicated to the Capsule. That way, he had no time to think about that non-existent social life.
Goten's laugh interrupted Trunks' thoughts. The heir turned his head and glanced at his friend who was leaning on the counter and joking with a big, smiling, blonde woman. Goten had this amazing effect on people: Making them laugh and smile. He was a good mood personnified, never really worried, always carefree. For lots of reasons, Goten's affair with Valese had kept both friends far from each other, but Trunks was now wondering how he could have moved on all this time without enjoying Goten's company anymore.
- Here we go, whispered Goten's voice in his ear.
Trunks, who hadn't seen his friend approach, was suddenly pulled out of his dreams and got startled. He looked up in surprise. Goten leaned toward him and smiled mischievously.
- You said you had something to show me, remember? Goten hissed.
Saying that, Goten came so close to him that Trunks could smell his scent mixed up with the slight alcohol fragrance. Trunks felt a strange thrill throughout his body that made him awkward. He gently pushed Goten back and got up.
- That's right. We're gonna take my car, Trunks annouced calmly, without giving further details.
- Car?
- You really think you're safe to fly? You don't want to crash anywhere, do you ? Anyway, I'd rather to be discreet ...
Goten was aware that he had drunk a hefty amount so he just pouted sheepishly and obediently followed his friend to the exit. The car seat seemed designed especially for Goten to coil up his numb body in it. The alcohol, the busy week, and the feeling of fullness quickly plunged him into a delicious drowsiness as the engine's pur lulled him.
When Trunks shook him gently, Goten realized that he must have fallen asleep for a moment.
- It won't take much time. I'll take you home right after that, explained Trunks staring at him with amusement.
- Erg... It's ok, I'm fine, Goten mumbled with a coated voice.
- Hm. I see that... Come on! Move! You won't regret it, Trunks replied before getting out of the car.
Goten obeyed. As he stood on the street, he tried to recognize the area in which they had parked. He didn't know this district too much. It was a quiet neighborhood, except for a bar whose decibels echoed out on the sidewalk. The silhouettes of cubic houses, with weird architectures, bordered the street and Goten could guess that the channel was running somewhere in the vicinity.
- I thought that you might have to move out of Gohan's home soon, Trunks began to explain.
- That's for sure, as soon as I can, interrupted Goten, I love my brother but ... well, I can't stay at his place forever. But where the hell are we?
Noticing Goten's unsteady steps that were leading him in the wrong direction, Trunks firmly grabbed his friend's arm to guide him.
- I have a friend who has an empty apartment here, he resumed without answering Goten's question, I saw it and I thought it was for you.
Goten raised his eyebrows with curiosity. He followed Trunks in a pedestrian alley which sank behind the houses. The road was covered by rough pavement and weakly lit by a few street lights. In a city like this, this kind of place was quite unusual. Goten remained silent watching carefully the surroundings. He wondered if Trunks hadn't maybe prepared for him a joke of some kind because the place was so strange and seemed uninhabitated.
Yet the path suddenly led to a pityful lawn that was bordering the channel. The shadow of a cubic house, just like the ones they had already passed by, was planted in the middle of the lawn. Trunks pulled a keyring out from his pocket.
- We might need a little more light here, he grumbled while trying to sort the keys.
Goten didn't answer and waited patiently while Trunks struggled with the lock. The darkness didn't leave much to see all around but the tranquility of the place was amazing.
- Actually, this house used to be a shed. It has just been refurbished to become a duplex, Trunks clarified as he finally succeeded in opening the door.
He turned on the light in the hallway and turned to Goten who was still standing speechless outside the door and looking up at the house.
- What are you doing? Come in! Trunks invited.
Goten obeyed. As soon as he took one step inside, he had the feeling of being home. It was overwhelming, it was like he had been dreaming of a place like this for a very long time.
- Wow... he wheezed blissfully.
He began to go around the house, visiting each room with exclamations of excitement. There was no furniture yet, just two chairs and a table in the living room, which had apparently been used by the painters who had been busy renovating the house. Trunks sat on one of the chairs, smiling at his friend's enthusiastic comments about each detail he was discovering. Trunks let him explore the whole floor upstairs and every closet on his way.
He had known this place was for Goten. This place was Goten. Trunks still remembered some things about his friend's personnality, and when he had come here the first time, the obviousness that Goten would love the house had struck his mind immediately. He welcomed his intuition.
- What about the rent? Goten asked abruptly coming back toward him with a worried face.
- The rent will be within your budget, assured Trunks.
Goten nodded and dropped into the second chair. The visit had fully awakened him. He took out a cigarette and lit it before slouching comfortably on the back of the chair.
- Are you sure? he asked again, And what about the deposit? Will your friend be OK with me?
- I'll negotiate with him. He won't rent out the house to anyone as long you haven't given your answer. He owes me a favor.
Goten stared dreamily at the ceiling, beginning to imagine how this empty house could soon become his home. Then he looked at Trunks suddenly.
- You know, there's something I don't get, Goten said.
- What ? Trunks asked with concern.
- How can it be that you have such opportunities and that, with all the dough that's yours ... you just... keep on living at Capsule like a little mummy's boy ...
- Fuck you, mummy's boy! Trunks gritted.
Goten chuckled. He had always enjoyed pushing Trunks over the edge and he still knew all the secrets to do so.
- Nah, seriously, have you ever thought about moving out of your parents' home? I have been dreaming of it since I was a teenager. Although I have to admit that the Capsule is not Mount Paozu, you could have a much more tremendous life.
- But I like my life as it is, objected Trunks, you only think about having fun, you're really... just a kid ...
- Still, it's weird. At work, you're His Majesty Mr. Briefs, and at home, knowing Bulma, I bet you don't even have the right to lay your feet on the table when you watch TV.
Trunks smiled at the mention of her mother's quirks.
- You have a very naive way of seing the world, Goten. In fact, I work so much that I don't really want to return to an empty lifeless appartment, the few times I get the chance to come home. At least at the Capsule, there is always some life thanks to my mother and my sister, and even thanks to my father when he is in a sociable mood.
- Wow ... I hadn't realized that you had such a dream life ... Goten commented with pique in his voice.
Trunks frowned a little. Goten was totally candid. He imagined that Trunks' life came down to having lots of money and lots of girls. In reality, it was mostly a lot of responsibility, a lot of worries, and little time for himself. Trunks was aware that at his age, he should handle things a little less seriously, but again, all this overwork prevented him from considering more intimate and painful questions, too.
- I have a great idea, said Goten suddenly, if you don't want to live in a lonely home, you could move in here with me! It will change you from your nursery at the Capsule!
As to support his argument, Goten stood up and stretched his arms to show the house around them.
- Anyway, it's too big for me alone here! What do you think?
Trunks frowned again and listened with bewilderment. He blinked a little in front of Goten's satisfied expression.
- I dunno, Goten ... I'm not quite sure ... he stuttered.
But Goten seemed excited at the idea. He found it obviously fabulous. Trunks was much more cautious.
- But ... Goten, Trunks resumed, what if you find yourself a girlfriend... you won't want to have to deal with a roommate in your way... And
- A girlfriend? You think I left Valese to get a new girlfriend? Like a serious relationship? Dude, I came out of a serious three years relationship and I have no intention to return to that mess so soon ... And yourself, you said you were taking a break with girls for now so, this won't be a problem, right?
- You say that now, but if...
- Come on Trunks! It'll be fun!
Trunks sighed and ran his hand over his face.
- Goten, you're drunk. We'll talk later, he said.
Goten pulled on his cigarette and stared sternly at his friend.
- Indeed I am. A little. But I know what I'm saying. You worry me, Trunks. Some years ago, you wouldn't have thought twice.
Trunks gritted his teeth. He glared at his friend and stood up suddenly.
- Let's go, he announced.
- But ...
- We're leaving ! You wanna go home by yourself ? interrupted Trunks.
Goten followed him obediently to the exit but didn't give up his plea.
- Really, think about it Trunks. You cannot spend your life being a good boy like that ... it'll gnaw you.
- Stop that shit!
- And we could ...
- For god's sake, Goten, shut up !
Goten rolled his eyes but finally kept quiet, and headed back to the car with an unsteady step.
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