The next morning, Gohan's tail woke up before he did. The movement of Trunks shifting closer to him sharpened his awareness just enough for him to realize it. He found the prince wasn't truly awake yet either though. The end of Gohan's tail had been hooking around Trunks' and drawing it over to him. Subconsciously, the prince responded to the gentle pulling and stroking motions by snuggling at Gohan's side.
Putting his arm over him, Gohan closed his eyes again and committed everything about this moment to his permanent memory. Trunks' warm weight at his side, the prince's soft breathing, the silky smoothness of his tail as it lay entwined with Gohan's over their legs now...it all seemed so important. Each aspect was a crucial piece of the contentment he currently felt. They were all reminders of how Trunks was his now.
Soft lips pressing against his chest in a kiss pulled Gohan from his thoughts. He stroked his thumb over the ridge of Trunks' hip in return. Even though Gohan's eyes were closed, Trunks would know he was indeed awake. The lips moved up his neck next, and Gohan tilted his chin up to accommodate them.
"Still tired?" Trunks asked him, nose nuzzling against Gohan's hairline.
"No, just savoring..." Gohan smiled. Trunks ran his hand over the sculpted muscles of his bodyguard's chest, his thumb brushing over a nipple.
"Good, because I distinctly remember you saying that the morning was my turn" Trunks grinned.
"Did I say that?" Gohan replied playfully, earning himself a bite on the neck. His eyes finally opened, just in time to see Trunks' tail moving to slide between his legs. The soft attention had Gohan growing erect quickly. He did everything he could to encourage it, groaning heartily right in Trunks' ear. He wanted Trunks to take him, he had no objections to it. Gohan had just demanded his right the previous night, as the elder and stronger male, to have Trunks first.
The gentle way Trunks moved over him, caressed him, made Gohan realize his young lover was nowhere near as driven by instinct as Gohan had been. He didn't have time to question the methods he had used before though. Trunks' practiced grip moved up and down over Gohan's firmness, hardening him the rest of the way quite efficiently. A warm mouth and tongue teased over the ripples of Gohan's abdomen. Continuing their southward quest, they moved in a biting line that ran down from his navel.
Gohan wasn't sure when Trunks had found time to slick up his other hand, but he was a bit focused on other things. A probing digit pressed back and forth at his entrance, and Gohan gave a small moan when it finally breached him.
"Do you want me to turn over?" he asked, his tail flicking over the sheets in anticipation.
"No" Trunks kissed the inside of Gohan's thigh, and turned lavender lashes up at him, "I want you just like this." Trunks then began to kiss over each inch of Gohan's hips and thighs, along with everything in between. It was quite a surprise to Gohan, to be given such attention, and it made his breath quicken.
Eventually Trunks began to work in a second finger, and he lifted his gaze to Gohan's face again while he did it. He rubbed over tense legs soothingly as the older male's mouth opened, but no words came out. A small gasp followed, and Trunks smirked as Gohan received a taste of his own medicine. It was easy to keep that spot inside him stimulated, since Trunks already knew it with such great detail.
He just... He wanted to just eat Gohan up, soak him in until he'd be a part of him forever...
Not trusting himself to do any sucking while his mind was in this state, Trunks settled for marking Gohan's inner thighs. When the whimpering and moaning became too much, Trunks added a third finger and moved up to Gohan's abs again. He made sure to bite him high enough that it would show above the waistline of his pants.
A good saiyan always marked his property in more than one spot.
"Fuck, Trunks" Gohan looked completely lost as he watched. It was a shame Trunks couldn't tease and taste him forever. His own arousal was demanding he do more though, regardless of Gohan's state. Removing his fingers, Trunks pumped a new palm full of slickness over himself as he positioned his knees. Gohan was good and spread his legs nicely for him.
Trunks' eyes glazed over with desire as he began to enter Gohan for the first time. He only got about halfway, before the shock on Gohan's face turned into a hand on Trunks' hip. The prince batted it away though, giving Gohan a firm, possessive look as he pushed in the rest of the way. Gohan's lips rose up toward Trunks', as if taking the kiss was both in retaliation and apology.
A small mewling noise escaped out of the corner of Gohan's mouth as it pressed against Trunks'. The prince accepted it graciously, staying in position. As they kissed, he remembered how comforted he had been by the motion of Gohan's tail before. The prince began to rub Gohan's thrashing appendage lovingly with his own, biting his lips gently at the same time.
Finally breaking the kiss, Trunks looked into Gohan's eyes. The love and trust he found there made him want to claim Gohan so badly, he could barely wait. Diving down to his neck, Trunks bit him hard, drawing a low groan from his lover's throat. After a few more minutes, Gohan wrapped his arms around Trunks and held him tight.
Gohan couldn't quite seem to speak, so he just kissed Trunks' cheek and nodded against it.
That silent permission made Trunks' blood surge with excitement. He slowly rocked his hips against Gohan's, not pulling or pushing yet. When a breathless gasp left his bodyguard, his eyes threatening to close, Trunks knew he was on the right track.
That first full stroke was agony for him, trying to go slowly and not bring back any unnecessary pain for his bond mate. Trunks looked up and found Gohan's mouth open, and his face screwed up.
"Is it too much?" Trunks asked tenderly, not knowing how to interpret what he was seeing.
"No, it's ok, I'm ok" Gohan panted. Kissing one more time, Trunks began to purr when he felt Gohan's legs wrap around him. Focusing on a smooth, even rhythm, the prince finally began to move with determination after that. Gohan cried out with each thrust, and they were cries Trunks was happy to hear, cries of pleasure.
Trunks was very aware that when it came down to it, Gohan was letting him take him. He wanted to show his appreciation for it by giving him as much pleasure as possible. Swatting away the hand on his hip earlier was probably the most 'force' he was going to get away with exerting over Gohan... It was alright though, Trunks just wanted to be close to him. Getting to be inside him on top of it all was exhilarating.
Trunks reached down and grasped Gohan's length. His lover wasn't getting the friction against the sheets that he should be, since they were in this position. Trunks could feel the point of each individual finger pressing into his back as Gohan's grip tightened. A smirk played over Trunks' lips, and he nipped at Gohan's neck. He could tell the older male was definitely enjoying this.
"Trunks, Trunks... Trunks..." Gohan let the prince's name fall from his lips over and over as he was brought to the edge. He could feel the pleasure reaching a critical intensity, and knew he wasn't going to last much longer.
Trunks didn't expect it to be so satisfying to feel the creamy fluid of Gohan's release flowing over his fingers. He felt Gohan's insides squeeze around him unmercifully, and his teeth just sort of sank into Gohan's neck in response. Trunks came himself with a resonating groan while Gohan arched beneath him. Glorious, was the only word Trunks could think of to describe it.
He understood the 'riding' terminology now too. As Gohan's larger frame bowed, it was a bit of a challenge for Trunks to stay atop him, while he came as well. He ended up having to release Gohan's neck, but somehow managed to hold on.
There was a good deal of panting and tail stroking after they were done this time, since neither was tired or falling asleep.
"I think I'm going to resign" Trunks said with his eyes closed.
"Resign?..." Gohan gave a small disbelieving noise.
"Yeah, that way we can go live in a cave in the wilds and just have sex all day" Trunks purred, his tail languidly rubbing over naked skin.
Gohan chuckled.
"Your mother would never let you."
~/~
"You've lived two hundred moons already, brat, it's time for you to pick out who you'll have as attendants when you come of age" the King said out of nowhere one day when Trunks and Gohan walked in for breakfast.
"Already?" Trunks grimaced. Gohan took the declaration in stride.
"Bardock and I already went over a list of acceptable candidates. Review it and choose three by the end of the week" the King ordered, not stopping in his meal. There was a folder of papers sitting next to Trunks' plate.
"Three? Don't you think that's a bit much?" Trunks asked with distaste.
"Bardock suggested five" the King pointed out casually.
"I see... So I have you to thank for the suggestion of three then?" the prince asked as he and Gohan took their seats.
"My suggestion was to do away with the appointments entirely, but he didn't listen to it when I came of age either" Vegeta grumbled. With a grunt the King wiped his face and then threw down his napkin. "You two are late again. Maybe after this you'll find the restraint to keep your hands off each other for more than a few minutes at a time" he added bluntly, eyeing them.
Gohan was unfazed by the accusation, simply turning and giving Trunks an 'I told you so' look. The prince kicked him under the table.
"I didn't know we were being timed, father" Trunks said coolly. Vegeta snorted, shaking his head as he stood.
"Give a care to who you choose. If you can't justify it, they may be vetoed" he informed them.
Gohan got the feeling it wasn't the King who would be doing the final approving of Trunks' selections.
~/~
There were over fifty dossiers in the packet for Trunks to look through.
"Ugh, this is ridiculous. There's too many to choose from" Trunks whined, because he could, because he and Gohan were alone looking at the file.
"Just imagine the work they already went to weeding these down" Gohan pointed out. Neither of them were looking forward to the loss of privacy that Trunks having attendants would bring. It wasn't as if he couldn't wake up on his own, dress himself, etc... Doling out the favor of the royal presence was something Trunks was going to have to get used to though, starting with this.
"Hnnn...you pick" Trunks made an indistinguishable sound from where his face was buried against Gohan's side. Picking up the stack, Gohan fanned the edge of them with his thumb. He decided they needed to finally address the key issue here.
"Sure... But do you want half breeds, or full blooded males?"
Trunks pulled his face out of Gohan's side and sighed. He shot Gohan a look that said he wasn't exactly pleased with him pulling the 'let's be responsible now' card.
"I don't know..." Trunks looked off to the side, his gaze distant.
"Talk to me" Gohan bumped their shoulders together, wrapping up Trunks' tail with his own.
"We'd be most comfortable with just half breeds, in all likelihood..." Trunks started, leaning against Gohan's shoulder. "That would cause the most 'problems' politically though, and we all know it."
Gohan nodded, starting to sort out the candidates by breeding, where they had been alphabetical before. Trunks watched him quietly for a moment before speaking again.
"All full blooded males would be problematic too though. I don't want the half breeds to feel like I don't think they're good enough" Trunks thought out loud.
"You can't please everyone, someone will always be upset, no matter how hard you try" Gohan added.
"Then there's the full on 'mind games' option" Trunks picked up the information sheet on the youngest son in the line of Tatoe, who was Paragus' bond mate. "We could choose all the sons of our biggest naysayers, just to keep an eye on them..."
"You'd be miserable though" Gohan said immediately, "And for how much gain? Their loyalties are already firmly with their parents, I'm sure. We're not going to get much, information wise, from having them around."
"Good, I'm glad we can agree to eliminate those then" Trunks sat up straight and began snatching the sheets out of the stack that would fall under that category. It was a larger culling than Gohan would of liked, about fifteen or so, but there was nothing to be done for it.
"So, our best option is a mix then, some half breeds, some full blooded... I think actually Casey is out, because of our past history" Trunks used a single finger to slide the green eyed male's sheet up away from the rest. Gohan had a feeling they'd have quite a few piles before this was done.
"I think you're right. There's favoritism, and then there's playing favorites..." Gohan nodded.
"We won't be with them all the time" Trunks mused, "So I think it needs to be two to one. Two half breeds and one full blooded. The full blooded male won't have to worry about feeling alone or out numbered."
"I think you're right...the way things have been going...they may need some solidarity, even here inside the palace" Gohan sighed.
"They're still safer here than in the streets though."
"True."
"And no only children either. I think they'd be too nervous, leaving their mothers unprotected, to do a good job here" Trunks tried to find a nicer spin to put on it. Since they were thinking politically and all.
"Only children, or those with too great a gap between siblings then" Gohan added.
"Yes, that's a good point" Trunks moved some more pictures away. He seemed at an impasse for easily removable half breeds after that, and turned back to the full blooded section.
"Since it's my life, I think I'd like to bestow the favor on someone who's actually been loyal" Trunks picked up three different sheets and examined them. After a moment he held them up to Gohan.
"Any preference?"
"These are all the offspring of council members."
"These are all the offspring of loyal council members" Trunks corrected him.
"I've never met any of them before. Their offspring, I mean" Gohan shrugged.
"Ok, we'll go with the youngest then and hope he's still malleable" Trunks plucked out a page and handed it to Gohan for him to hold.
"That seems kind of arbitrary" he gave Trunks a look.
"It's all arbitrary, I don't want any of them" Trunks said in a superior tone. Gohan blinked a few times, but, really, he didn't have anything to counter that. He began reading the page he'd just been handed with more detail instead. Trunks turned back to the rest of the candidates.
"So, who will be the lucky half breeds that get to be indoctrinated in the ways of our lovely court..."
It took several days, and in the end, Trunks' choice wasn't finalized until the morning of the deadline. As with most of the 'behind the scenes' decisions of the royal pack, the discussion took place while they ate. It was actually Bardock who brought it up first.
"So, who are your preferences?" the scarred elder said as he raised his fork to his mouth.
Trunks looked up to him, and then over at the King. Preferences?
"I thought I was allowed to choose them myself, as long as there were no outright objections..." Trunks stated.
"Right, and who would you prefer we not object to?" Bardock raised an eyebrow like Trunks was making this unnecessarily complicated.
"Katsu, Aaron, and Cumin" Trunks said, leaving off the 'son of' since there hadn't been any duplicate names on the list.
"Cumin, huh? How'd you come up with him?" Bardock wanted to know, since he was the only full blood and the son of a fairly minor official.
"I threw darts at a board" Trunks said sarcastically. Bardock put his fork down and gave the King a look.
"What? Don't look at me, I had nothing to do with it" Vegeta said, tearing off a bite of toast with a scowl.
"...Um, I didn't actually throw darts at a board..." Trunks said, just to clarify. That seemed to pacify, but not necessarily comfort Bardock.
"Well, those names are pretty much along the lines I expected" Bardock sighed, rubbing his temple "Unless his majesty would care to give some input?" he said with a flourishing hand, looking again in the King's direction.
"Not unless you have any darts on you."
"Fine, we'll put those in the works then. Their packs will need to know to have them ready by the time you come of age in a few months." Bardock was speaking to Trunks, but gave Gohan a look that meant he wanted to talk with him alone after this.
When Gohan was pulled aside by his sire once the meal ended, it was no surprise.
"Just out of curiosity, who picked those names? I mean, did you do it for him?" Bardock asked.
"For him? No. I helped a little, but it was definitely his decision..." Gohan informed him.
Bardock seemed pensive for a moment, but in a good way.
"I'm glad to see him actually taking an interest in his subjects at such a young age then... He'll need it" the gruff male clapped Gohan on the shoulder to put an end to their little session. Gohan had to smile to himself at the revelation. Probably all of the King's attendants had been selected with the randomness of a drinking game.
~/~
"I'm beginning to see why my father always complains so loudly about this formal stuff" Trunks said with a sigh as he pulled off his heavy, fur lined cape.
"It's only your first day" Gohan pointed out, a small smile creeping up the corners of his mouth.
"If the coming of age ceremony is anything to go by, they're all going to suck" Trunks tossed the cape over the back of a nearby chair as they changed. "Who decided saiyans should even have customs that involve holding still for three hours?"
"It's just another test, you know how it works. Everything about being 'sophisticated' in the courts is more about proving you're not an animal..." Gohan put his hands on Trunks' shoulders to still his movements. "Let them do it, or it'll be awkward later when they're questioned" he whispered into Trunks' ear from behind. Aaron had already grabbed up Trunks' cape from the chair and had moved to hang it properly. This was the first day on the job for his 'attendants'.
When he had been picking them out, Trunks had kind of thought of the brats as being 'around' the same age as himself. Aaron was thirteen, and so was Cumin, leaving Katsu as the youngest at ten. It didn't hit him until they had met in person this morning, the difference those few years really made.
All the males had fairly traditional coloring, though Aaron's eyes were a very light brown, almost the color of honey. Aside from that, you'd have never guessed from looking that he and Katsu were half breeds. Cumin seemed to be fairly at ease in their presence, so Trunks thought that was a good start. His main worry now was that they didn't turn out to be too young to take this seriously...
They were supposed to be a bit younger though, since the point was for them to be learning. The prince smiled to himself as he slightly raised his arms, the signal for them to undress him. He remembered his father saying when he had turned ten that he "was finally old enough to not be in the way, though not old enough to really be of much use..."
Trunks supposed that was a large part of this assignment too. Giving these cubs duties that kept them out of the way of important things... Though it meant they were under foot during a lot of his personal time...
In between the removal of the prince's formal outfit, Gohan leaned in and snuck a kiss on the back of his neck. Trunks' smile widened.
"Now, now, none of that in front of the brats" Trunks teased. Aaron caught his eye as he was putting away the garments that the others were carefully handing to him. A small blush was creeping over the young male's face. Trunks looked to the others and found both of them with the same reddened cheeks. He supposed whether full or half breed, at their ages, they wouldn't have had much experience with those sorts of things.
Gohan came around, leaned in, and kissed him on the cheek next.
"A little kissing is ok. It's not going to hurt anything" he said playfully.
"Oh? Says who?" Trunks questioned him, crossing his arms over his bare chest since he had not been re-clothed yet.
"Says me" Gohan kissed the tip of his nose quickly, but then backed away with a side stepping skip, avoiding Trunks' half-hearted swing.
"We have a meeting to get to you know, my father's waiting for us" he huffed with mock annoyance. He would normally be the one pressing Gohan to make out a little before getting dressed again... With their audience though, it made such things impossible. Trunks consoled himself with the knowledge that his new attendants wouldn't be around all the time.
"We'll hurry, your highness" Katsu's little voice said seriously as they scurried to get his more 'everyday' palace clothes on him. Trunks opened his mouth a fraction, but decided it wasn't worth embarrassing them to correct. He hadn't meant the comment to make them jump, but for Gohan to keep his hands off. Oh well... He and his bodyguard would have to work on adjusting their communication a little.
When they were finally on their way to meet with the King, Gohan slipped his tail under Trunks' cape. He loosely wrapped his around the prince's for a moment.
"You did well in there" Gohan commented as they walked.
"Was that a test?" Trunks asked, letting his curling appendage unravel from Gohan's extra slowly.
"Until they get to know us, trust us on a personal level, every moment with them will be a test" Gohan confirmed.
"I know. I don't want to come off quite as...gruff...as my father though" Trunks searched for a word to describe his father's temper politely.
"You didn't. I think you were right to let them misunderstand though. They do need to have it firmly instilled that you're an authority figure first and foremost. Not just a fellow half breed pal."
"So you get to be all friendly with them, and I get to be the strict leader" Trunks didn't sigh, but Gohan knew him so well that he heard the unspoken one.
"You're the prince, Trunks. We're all just commoners in your light" Gohan said sincerely. He knew the relationship they had only existed because Trunks had allowed it to. Gohan was under no delusions. Even being born and tested as an elite, there was a gap that could never really be crossed between that and royalty.
Trunks stopped Gohan with a hand on his arm, thankful there wasn't anyone else in their immediate vicinity. Not because he didn't want others to hear what he had to say, but because he knew Gohan would disapprove of it being spoken in public.
"You're more than just a commoner to me" Trunks told him, his eyes flashing with the intensity of his feeling. When they were alone tonight, he would kiss him and tell Gohan he loved him over and over. It would be rather inappropriate for him to declare it here though, where any passerby could hear.
Reading between the lines, Gohan was very careful, and very soft in his reply.
"And you're more than just a prince to me..." he whispered.
Their eyes locked together in that moment. Gohan could see the exact instant Trunks' began to get glossier than they should. Gohan's widened as well, to get such a reaction.
"Trunks, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"Baka, we have somewhere to be right now..." Trunks interrupted him, turning away and very delicately brushing his eyes. Gohan kept himself still, not wanting to make it any worse than it already was. He waited until Trunks looked re-composed, and gave him an inquisitive brush of the hand. He wanted to know if he was ok, but didn't trust himself to speak any further.
"I'm fine. Let's get going" Trunks said, taking a deep breath and releasing it through his nose. He gave Gohan one quick look out of the corner of his eye, but didn't say anything else about it.
"I could go fetch something..." Gohan suggested. He knew how difficult 'emotions' could be, and wanted to give Trunks a chance to be alone for a minute if he needed it.
"No. Stay" the prince commanded, his tail tightening around Gohan's again. He quickly unwound them right away though, then started off down the hall.
Gohan thought about following just a step behind him, but decided to take his place right at Trunks' side like normal.