Bulma had been surprised to see Goten come back with them, and much more surprised to hear she now had part time custody of him. She'd pulled Vegeta away from them and gave him an earful about having to take care of an extra child because she knew damn well he wasn't going to do it.
"Neither of them are children," he'd rolled his eyes. "The claim proves it, he couldn't imprint on a child. Saiyans age at a different rate, they're young men and we need to start treating them as such."
"What do you mean? I think we give Trunks plenty of opportunities to be responsible, he's part human you know."
"He'll be different now. He'll take training more seriously, for one, because he's got something to protect."
"Aw, is that why you trained so hard when you met me?"
"No, it was about beating Kakarot." He glanced back at the young men uncomfortably. "Our bond is insignificant compared to theirs."
She crossed her arms. "Excuse me?"
"It's true. I never imprinted on anyone- and without any Saiyans left I haven't met I never will so stop looking at me like that, Woman. Really, watch him today, see how he meets his own needs and Goten's. You'll see what is different."
"Fine, and when he's just as irresponsible as any sixteen year old being allowed to play extended sleepover with his best friend, you have to admit I'm right."
He just smirked. "We'll see."
Bulma turned on her heel, very sure she had just won an argument. She knew her son better than anyone, and she knew how rowdy he got when he and Goten were left to their own devices. Just give it a few hours and then check on them, she smirked, thinking to herself. Then put out whatever fires they've set and show Vegeta he's wrong.
What she did not expect was to turn the corner and find her son diligently cleaning his room. Trunks was knee deep in his disaster of a closet, tossing old clothes into a bin clearly marked 'trash'. Goten sat cross legged on the bed, talking about some television show she knew they were fond of. He waved when she came in.
"Hi Bulma! Can you tell Trunks that Captain Copper is still the coolest show in the world? He doesn't believe me."
"He's okay."
Bulma felt herself pale. "Trunks, you love Captain Copper. You got his whole box set last Christmas."
"Really?" Goten's eyes lit up.
Trunks pulled the stack of DVDs from his shelf and set them on the bed. "Turn it on if you want to watch it, Ten, it won't bother me. Mom, is that dumpster from when we cleaned out the old lab still outback?"
"Uh, I think so. What are you doing?"
Trunks shrugged. "Goten's gonna have to put his stuff somewhere, I've been meaning to get rid of some clothes and toys anyway."
Bulma blinked. She'd never once gotten her son to agree to throw out any of his old junk, ever. He hoarded broken toys like a dragon with his gold.
Trunks took a remote from next to the television and put it in Goten's hand. "Really Ten, watch some if you like. I'm going to go drop some of this in the garbage, then I think I'll go train with Dad before lunch. Wanna spar with me this afternoon?"
"Okay," Goten nodded.
The older boy leaned forward and pressed his lips lingeringly against his temple, earning deep blushes from both his mother and poor Goten who looked up at Bulma guiltily. "Find me if you need me." He picked up the box and trotted down the hall.
Bulma left the very embarrassed boy to silently follow her son, not believing a word he'd said. Trunks had never willing cleaned out his room, and Vegeta always had to drag him into training. Sure enough, as soon as the box had been chucked, Trunks was knocking at the door of the Gravity Room. Vegeta opened it much quicker than usual; he'd obviously been waiting for him. He looked his son over with a grin.
"You can come in, but expect to train long and hard, in 400 times Earth gravity, just to start."
"As long as I'm out in time for lunch, I said I'd be there."
Vegeta nodded and stepped aside to let him in, shooting a triumphant smirk at his wife who he knew would be hiding close by.
She saw it when they ate, too. Her mother had thrown together a huge sandwich platter with sides when she saw that Goten was 'visiting', and she wasn't sure how'd she break it to her that the visit was semi-permanent. Goten kept trying to grab food for himself, but again Trunks pushed it away from him and put his approved foods in front of him instead.
It finally got on Goten's nerves and he grabbed Trunks' hand, trying for a compromise. "I want to eat what I like, Trunks. How about I tell you what I want, then you taste it and give it to me?"
He thought a moment and then nodded happily, whatever primal urge he was following glad to make the concession as long as he could try the food first. When they were done Goten got up and started stretching.
"Ready to go spar, Trunks?"
"Yep," he grinned. "Go get ready, I'm gonna get some water."
Goten went to get dressed, and Trunks dropped his voice as he leaned toward his parents. "Hey, do you guys remember when I got allowance a few years back?"
Bulma nodded. They'd tried giving Trunks an allowance as long as he kept up his schoolwork and training, but he'd never been interested. Honestly the kid never wanted for much, not with the money the Briefs fortune gave them access to.
"Well, I was thinking I'd like to try that again. I'll keep everything up, just like we agreed."
Vegeta shook his head. "No."
The teen slumped. "Oh. Okay."
"I mean," he continued, "you're too old for an allowance. You'll be given a credit card like your mother and I, and unrestricted access to the bank accounts."
"What?!" Bulma and her son asked simultaneously.
"You're a man now, by Saiyan terms. You're reason for wanting money is to buy things for Goten, am I right?"
Trunks nodded sheepishly.
"Then as far as I'm concerned, your inheritance is yours. Make no mistake, we will be monitoring the account and if you abuse the privilege it will be taken - and Goten will be provided for by someone with more responsibility."
That pulled the determination into the young prince's face. "I won't spend it on stupid things, I promise. I'm gonna go fight with Goten," he waved, running off to warm up.
Bulma tapped her fingers against the table. "Unrestricted access? Are you insane?"
"He'll be smart with it. His pride couldn't stand to see someone else have to provide for his mate." He leaned back in his chair. "So, you've watched him all day. See any change in Trunks?"
Bulma smiled bitterly. "He's a better husband than you've ever been."
The boys could hear Vegeta's laugh from outside.
So Trunks was different, but he wasn't that different, and Goten was glad for that. He was his best friend for a reason after all, and he didn't want him to change overnight. He'd known Trunks long enough to tell when he was going easy on someone in a fight, and that definitely hadn't been the case this afternoon when they sparred. They still got to bicker over which movie to watch, but Goten did suspect he gave in on the monster movie pretty quickly.
This wasn't the first time they'd had a sleepover by a long shot, and they usually shared the same bed too. Still, after the lights finally went out and Goten felt Trunks climb into bed next to him, he was suddenly very aware that things weren't the same. Trunks scooted as close as he'd been to him the night before, pressing his face against the bruised mark on his shoulder.
"Why do you do that?" Goten asked curiously.
Trunks grinned against his skin. "Smells good, like you. Like warm cookies when it's cold outside. Hey Goten? Would you like to kiss me for awhile?"
Goten nodded, appreciating the careful wording.
"Cool. When I...I mean if try to push you to far, say something and I'll stop, promise I won't be mad."
Kissing was much nicer when he wasn't nervous. Trunks ended up on top of him again somehow, but he didn't really mind. Knowing he had the power to make things stop when he wanted made it a lot easier to just enjoy the feeling of Trunks' hungry mouth against his. When he felt Trunks' tongue probe against his lip gently he didn't hesitate, and soon they were softly exploring each others mouths.
Goten felt his body respond again. Okay, so he was hard. It doesn't matter, he told himself, we can stop whenever I want to. Trunks shifted his weight slightly and then he could feel it. The prince was hard too, pressed against him with only the thin fabric of their sweatpants separating them. A small whimper of need escaped Goten's throat.
Trunks pulled away from the kiss like he'd been slapped, and Goten panicked for a second. "Sorry Trunks, am I kissing wrong?"
"That sound," Trunks said in a low, strained voice. "You can't… I don't think you can make that sound around me when we're kissing."
"Why not?" He asked frowning. "Is it annoying?"
Trunks shook his head, taking deep, slow breaths. "Its… its really hot, Ten. I want to make you make that sound again…but...I don't think I'll be able to stop myself. I need to...stop for tonight."
"That's okay."
Trunks crawled off of him and leaned in for one last kiss. "Mine," he whispered softly.
"Yours," he agreed.
Trunks pulled him close and closed his eyes as they waited for their rapid heartbeats to slow down. Goten bit his tongue to stop from talking because he knew he'd say something he would regret. He wanted to tell Trunks to forget about taking things slow. He wanted to make him whimper again? How was he going to do that? He wanted to find out, and he wanted to find out right now. It would be easy to get him to do it, too. He was pretty positive that if he whimpered again and whispered to Trunks that he wanted it, the prince would grab him and have all sorts of ideas for how they could spend the rest of the night. Why make themselves wait?
Never make a decision when you're horny. He'd heard Yamcha say that once at a party to Krillin when they thought he wasn't listening. It made sense he supposed. He'd been pretty sure that morning that he wasn't ready for sex, it was probably not a great idea to change his mind while lying in bed with his boyfriend. Still, as the minutes ticked by, he still couldn't shake off the need that made him shiver, and Trunks seemed to be almost asleep. How was he supposed to rest after all that?
"Trunks?" He whispered.
"Mmm? Yeah?" He mumbled sleepily.
"Could you...could you tell me to go to sleep?"
"Why?"
"When you give me an order I don't think about it, my body just reacts. I can't sleep, I wondered if it might help."
"Goten, fall asleep now," Trunks ordered gently.
The reaction was instantaneous. Goten's eyes closed of their own accord and he felt himself slip quickly into unconsciousness.
Trunks grinned as he watched Goten fall immediately to sleep in his arms. He had control of Goten's body then too, huh? That gave him a wicked idea- not one he'd use before Goten was ready but...an idea. He fell asleep with a devilish smirk on his face.
Vegeta was almost asleep when Bulma sat up in bed, turning on the table lamp and making him wince.
"You need to talk to your son about sex."
He gawked at her. "I need to do what now?"
"Do you know what he asked me earlier today? He wants us to soundproof their room. You know damn well what that means Mr. Screamer. We're letting our teenage son sleep in a bed alone with his teenage boyfriend! For all we know they could be doing...things right now."
Vegeta reached across the bed to switch the light off. "He's not his boyfriend, he's his mate, and yes they're almost definitely fucking."
"Excuse me?" She gasped.
"The call to consummate a claim is very strong. I don't see why humans feel the need to spoon-feed information to their children, figuring out how everything works is part of the fun."
"Goten is only fifteen, that's too young!"
He snorted, closing his eyes and turning away from her. "I was thirteen."
"Vegeta you're a filthy liar I took your virginity and we both know it."
"Fine, but my point stands."
"Didn't you say Saiyan males can get pregnant?"
His eyes snapped open.
"Did you think to warn your son that that was a possibility?"
"Shit!" he grumbled.
Trunks was very glad he woke up before Goten. The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was a giant box of condoms on his night stand. There was a note taped to it, written in what he immediately recognized as his father's elegant handwriting.
You can both get pregnant. Don't.
Trunks tucked the box underneath the bed, knowing how mortified poor Goten would be if he saw it.