Author's Note: I didn't wanna make one big Bra/Pan chapter, since the story IS about Bra/Goten, so I broke their face-to-face up in between parts of this chapter. Goten and Bra get kinda seksii again, yay. ;) Still debating how to wind up the story, but I think I feel it comin' on. Plus, I'm kind of running out of chapter titles! In retrospect, I should've picked a wordier song for inspiration. Anyway, we'll see!
In the mean time, keep reading and reviewing! I'm glad you're all enjoying (those of you who are!) and thanks so much for all the nice comments and words! I really do appreciate it.
These Daydreams, Okay!
Chapter 10: The Wind is In--!
Despite the rage pumping through her, Bra managed to creep upstairs to her room undetected by her family. The door closed with a gentle clicking behind her, and she pressed the weight of her entire being against the rust colored wood. Her whole body felt like weeping; every nerve ending was stretched taut inside her from emotional intensity. As she leaned back, Bra stared blankly into her ceiling, unwanted memories ripping at her brain and her heart
"Maybe you should ask yourself who really got forgotten," Pan spat, acid dripping from each word.
She twisted her head to the side, pressing her temple against the cold wood. Her pride was beginning to fold and her throat began to tighten.
"You were supposed to be here!" She screamed in her friend's face.
A choked noise leapt from Bra's throat as she shut her eyes tight, trying her hardest to silence the argument playing over and over in her head. She squirmed against the door and in her skin, hating everything about herself and her world as she felt it constricting around her.
}{
"Bra, hey," Pan almost gasped, the guest within her grandmother's home entirely unexpected.
The young girl of azure remained rooted in her chair, an astounded and disbelieving sort of look pulling her features slack. In her entire view of the night, Bra had not anticipated finding herself staring into the face of Son Pan. Her mind whirled a mile a minute around the concept of this woman reentering her world – Bra had never considered what she would do when confronted with one of the roots of her current state of discontent.
Awkward silence echoed around them. To her left, Bra saw Goten shuffle out of his seat and march across the room to approach his niece. It inflamed her instantly to see him squeezing Pan so close, and Bra rose abruptly from her place at the family's table.
"You're back," she announced obviously, and while her expression was beginning to take form in something more upset, her voice still carried uncertainty. Suddenly, a painfully tight smile bridged across her mouth. "Well."
Pan stepped away from her relatives, her hands shucked into her pockets as she looked wholly unsure of what to do with herself. "Yeah, you're … I mean, you are, too."
Bra could read her like a book. She observed with supreme distaste the penchant this family had for wearing their hearts on their sleeves. Every action they make, they reveal their entire emotional landscape. Her eyes swept over to Goten, who was observing the Briefs daughter with concern and – it seemed to Bra, anyway – a definite sense of pleading in his eyes. Generally, his well-meaning eyes struck her as endearing; now, she wanted him to look away from her.
It was with a certain precision that Bra moved herself away from the table, closer into the family's half-circle – towards the front door. "Yep, a couple weeks," she continued coolly, a shrug of her shoulder as she started to move through the trio. "But, y'know, I'm sure you all have plenty of catching up to do, so I'm—"
A smaller hand than predicted encircled her elbow, and Bra fluidly withdrew herself from Pan's clutches with the faintest bat of a lash. "Don't touch me, please," she requested, sounding almost politely sinister.
Pan's temper flared; Bra saw this as admittance to guilt. "What's your problem?"
"Girls…" Chi Chi began cautiously, a concerned glance thrown Goten's way.
At once, the man acted, stepping up to the space between the young women in an effort to divide their hateful stares. "Girls, c'mon. Let's just go eat. Pan-chan, you can catch us up—"
"No!" Bra's forceful voice breached into his peace-keeping, her tone affronted and offended. Rethinking the bratty scenario that was impending, Bra flickered a smile Chi Chi's way – sincerely apologetic and appreciative. "Arigato gozaimasu, Chi Chi-obaasan, for dinner. It was great."
Inwardly, she hoped she could make it to her car without a tear dropping or a Son coming after her. However, hopes were always meant to be easily dashed, and Pan's cry of her name had Bra wheeling around on her heel.
"Bra, would you just stop?" Her friend ground out, anger written out all over her. "You're being stupid—"
It was like a tsunami, crashing against her heart unyieldingly. The flood broke. "You were supposed to be here!" Bra shouted against the night, already feeling the prickling behind her blue eyes and the stinging glow rising to her cheeks.
}{
Their palms clapped overhead, the sound reverberating in the atrium of the Briefs compound. Trunks and Goten's fists joined in a manly shake, before withdrawing and connecting their knuckles to one another.
"Hey, man," Trunks greeted his friend warmly, stepping aside so Goten could entreat further into his home. "You ready for some one-on-one?"
Goten chuckled, nodding affirmative. "I hope you've managed to practice in between shifts at Cap Co, 'cause I'm the sensei now, dude." As if to emphasize this further, Goten threw up a ridiculous kung-fu action pose.
Resting his palm firmly on Goten's shoulder, the lavender hand man motioned for him to join him into the kitchen. "How's that working out, anyway? The dojo?"
"Pretty sweet," Goten mused with a pleased smile rising to his face. "It's nice, real easy, it's not like I'm teaching them anything super, y'know?"
Arriving into the immaculate kitchen, Goten startled to find the bolt of aquamarine stationed behind the island in the kitchen. Bra had her face turned down from sight and into her breakfast cereal, which appeared to be ultimately fascinating to the young woman. He was impressed to find what little of her features he could make out devoid of cosmetics; her hair swooped up into a high ponytail, baring her skin to the stray sunlight that illuminated the room.
Yet none of the golden glow touched the downcast girl. Goten noted with a pang in his heart how deeply depressed and faraway she looked – and when she turned her face up to see both boys, he only felt his chest tug harder for her. She looked completely miserable; those expressive eyes were wells of sadness, and he swam in them.
"Hey," he greeted as 'normal' as possible, the barest wave given.
Bra blinked sullenly at him, before she scooped up her bowl and vacated the counter. She turned for the sink, wherein she dumped the contents of her breakfast.
"She's been in a mood," Trunks mumbled out of the corner of his mouth to Goten, flashing a disheartened second look his sister's way. "Ever since Pan came back."
His following sentence had Bra spinning from the room quickly, her face twisted up with emotion as she evacuated the room. Goten and Trunks turned after to watch her retreat into the main room and up the stairs to her and her brother's wing of the compound, and when she had vanished, Trunks let out a long whistle.
"I feel bad for her," Trunks admitted as he let his gaze linger on the stairwell. "If she wasn't still pissed at me, I'd try to say something." His voice, to Goten's surprised, carried a notable amount of sympathy and worry on behalf of his little sister. Despite their bickering and fall outs, Goten knew that the Briefs siblings shared a closeness that little could infringe upon.
Gloomily, Goten thought of his own older brother and their similar bond. Their own feud had waged on for quite some time – it was almost alarming to think how long they had gone without speaking much of a word to one another, without hostilities or interventions being made. He shook his head, ridding himself quickly of such desolate trains of thought.
"She'll be fine. They'll work it out eventually," Goten breezed and he started for the back doors with a smirk. "Now, you ready to get your ass kicked, broseph?"
Trunks chuckled low and returned the dark look to his friend as he started after him, shoving Goten the rest of the way out into the backyard. "Sure. C'mon, let's see how much farther you can get your foot in your mouth."
}{
Angry rock music? Check. Open window to let in a forlorn breeze? Check.
Bra was draped across her bed, her bedroom engulfed with the loud, angsty noise from her sound system. It was inside herself that she bemoaned her life's crisis, unable and unwilling to verbalize her woe.
A barely audible knock came from her door, and she didn't bother to lift her head. "Come in," she said over the rising chorus.
Her eyebrows knit together and, as the door opened, Bra lifted herself upright with a look of sheer surprise on her face as the entrant made himself known. The door closed behind him.
"What-- what are you doing in here?" Bra gasped, alarmed as Goten drew nearer to her – into her room – to her bed.
Wordlessly, he knelt at the edge of the bed and reached out to her, and Bra leaned forward to meet him halfway. Sliding his hands over her arms, he pushed, compelling her body to rest again. Bra sighed quietly as Goten positioned himself atop her, his mouth descending upon her tiny pink lips. She acquiesced, opening her mouth to him with a small moan and the flutter of lashes.
Dimly, Bra wondered if she was dreaming. But he felt so real above her, she mused, her arms caressing the plain of his back as he invaded her mouth. His skin was damp and hot – oh, so hot. Breaking apart, Goten let slip a groan into the arch of her neck as he bent to lavish the flushing skin there with kisses, his hand seeking refuge underneath her tank top. His rough fingers traced along her slim waist, across her firm stomach, and up. Bra barely suppressed her moan as she lifted herself into his touch, her nails scratching through his shirt as he inched ever higher. "Goten, what're you…?" Her breath trailed off into his black mane as his hand skipped up her ribs.
A knee parted her legs, and Bra's stomach tossed at his boldness. It brought her to surge against him and this time Goten was to moan the approval into her collar. He sucked and nipped at the tender, erogenous skin at the base of her neck, feeling the blood pulse and her heart throb underneath. It spurred his worship of her onward, and he dared himself to leave a wet trail to the swell of her breasts.
Moments seemed to stretch out forever as they arched and groped and groaned with one another there on her covers, the powerful music providing a soundtrack to their spontaneous intimacy.
Finally, with what inner strength he could muster, Goten pushed himself up on both arms over her. He observed her like that, drinking her in. Bra was pink and rosy, flushed all over from his ministrations, and her chest heaved with each jagged intake of breath. Goten was mesmerized by everything about her. Most of all, it was her wondering stare; the passionate twinkle sent tidal waves of craving crashing through him.
With a kind smile, Goten moved his face forward and pecked her forehead. "You were upset," he notified her on a heavy exhale. He felt her wiggle underneath him with the déjà vu, and Goten kissed the space under her ear before he lifted himself into a sitting position. Bra followed suit, her hands fastening around his lower biceps as she stared into his onyx eyes. They were a wealth of earnest goodness. She felt a rush of warmth run over her, and Bra threw her arms around his neck in an impulsive hug. Goten, not missing a beat, reciprocated and embraced her, his arms coming around her waist. She separated eventually and sat back from him, her hands gingerly laid atop his knees.
"You could get in trouble," she warned after a moment, though she couldn't hide the teasing cadence under her words.
Goten chuckled and reached over to flick loose blue hairs from her line of vision. "Trunks is in the shower, your dad's training, Bulma's at the corporation," he ticked off with such a leisurely tone, Bra wondered if he had been planning such a brave stunt as this. "So, unless you say something…"
Bra snickered and came forward again, well into his personal space. He sucked in a breath as her scent slithered up to him and around him. Distinctly nectarine in its base, as well as something he couldn't place.
"Now, why would I do a thing like that?" She wondered in a tone that could've – would've – been of the utmost innocence, had she not followed it up with such a nefarious smirk.
Goten hesitated, hearing distantly the shower quit running down the hall. Her parted lips were scant inches from his, and he was sorely tempted to steal another round with the sea foam beauty before him. "I need to go," he breathed, trace amounts of regret ebbing into his voice.
Bra nodded, ponytail bouncing behind her, albeit she did not withdraw from him. "You have something to say," she observed softly, her teal eyes searching his face.
Her intrusive gaze made him fidget with anxiety and wanting. "There's a lot to be said," he puffed, feeling short-winded by her proximity. Bra was a hair's breadth away from him, he could feel her palms clench over his knees, and he twitched unconsciously.
"Yeah," Bra agreed breathily, noting the sudden flash of trepidation in his eyes. Given his melting expression, she figured she could've taken what she wanted from his mouth – her family and his own thrown under the bus for the sake of satiating lust. However, her heart was not into the sultry and provocative today, and she opted to affectionately kiss his jaw instead. She felt him relax under the tender gesture, and his lips tugged into a little grin.
Bra drew her legs up, criss-cross beneath her, and tilted her head up at him as he got up from her bedding and stood at the foot of her bed. "What is it, then?"
Loathe as he did to ruin the pleasant mood, Goten had ulterior motives for the stolen make-out session with the Capsule heiress. Granted, all of it was for her ultimate benefit – as well as his. "Pan," he uttered the name firmly, unyielding to her narrowed gaze. "I want you guys to fix it."
"Oh, ho," Bra laughed, sans amusement, and collapsed against her pillows. "I see what you did there."
Goten sighed, throwing a careful look over his shoulder to her door, then turned his attention upon the reclining girl again. "It's important. And you know it." He tried not to sound scolding, feeling awkward as an adult superior to the vixen laid before him, especially given what had just occurred. "I just want you and she to be happy," Goten finished, hoping his efforts sounded imploring.
He watched as she plucked at her red comforter, her features knotted up in consideration of his plea. Bra struggled with the idea of burying the hatchet or giving in to her grudge – her genes didn't like the idea of the former, though her rational brain recommended it. She lifted her azure eyes to Goten, finding his face hopeful, and she felt herself caving.
"Alright," she grumbled, diverting her eyes once more. "I'll call her."
Had he not been sure he just heard Trunks call his name, Goten would've rewarded her compliance. However, both he and she twisted their heads up simultaneously, looks of similar fear exchanged. Goten quickly inclined his head to her before pivoting for the door, his escape from her chamber silent and swift.
}{
Padding downstairs, Bra arrived in time to catch Goten's farewell with Trunks.
"She emerges!" The dark haired man made a show of announcing her arrival, and Bra could not erase the blush that spread into her cheeks. "All that brooding really refreshes a girl," he continued jokingly, a knowing smirk taking over his face.
"Shut up, Goten," she ordered him haughtily, her hands rooting themselves at her hips. "Aren't you gone yet?"
As Goten let out a surprised noise at her fierceness, Trunks chuckled between them, a hand coming to rest over his sister's shoulder. "Later, dude," he covered over his sister's attitude, his free hand sticking out to accept the other male's. "Same time next week?"
Finger guns and a wink were granted (and the tiniest of finger-wiggle-waves for Bra) before Goten was departing the Briefs household. Bra really wished she could've followed him out, feeling the urge to do so tingle in her toes, but Trunks' hand over her shoulder reminded her that such an idea was not within the realm of good.
}{
Pan 'tsked' in disagreement, rounding on Bra and closing the distance between them. "Oh yeah? And where were you supposed to be when, I don't know, I was kind of getting the shitty end of the stick?" She wondered harshly, daggers narrowed upon the aqua girl now.
"God, if this is about Tr—" Bra began, exasperation rife in her voice.
However, Pan – who was furiously red – interjected violently, "That's not it! You know, you have really turned into a whiny bitch, you know that?"
Bra shook her head, her arms crossing as she looked disgustedly over the girl. "Do you know how it feels to come home, and my best friend has apparently forgotten about me? Kind of apt to render you bitchy."
Nighttime creatures seemed to have taken silence for their row. Both girls stood meters from Bra's car, outside the Son home, as Goten and Chi Chi observed them carefully from the doorway.
"You are so selfish!" Pan all but shouted, her fists tightening by her sides. "Even when I called you in America, you were still about you! It's like you didn't even care—"
"How could you say that?" Bra cried, a wave of nausea coming over her. Slightly somber, she added, "Of course I cared." Her hand jumped to her chest emphatically. "But I couldn't be there all the time! I tried! It would get busy and—"
"Yeah, real busy," the ebony haired girl snorted derisively. "So I get busy and you jump down my throat?"
"Hmm, school," Bra lifted her left hand, a look of faux-consideration on her face, "and gallivanting off on some ridiculous quest." The other hand rose, effectively making Bra seem like a pair of scales. Tipped in her favor was the hand considered 'School.' "Hmm, one of these things is not like the other."
"It wasn't ridiculous," Pan growled, another step nearer drawn. "It was important to me. You would know that if you listened." She hesitated, the anger radiating from her squelching now and then with disappointment. "Maybe you should ask yourself who really got forgotten."
}{
Thankful for the absence of her family member, Bra hovered at the end of the large couch in the sitting room. In her hand was the portable house phone, which she was examining with supreme intent. With a deep inhale, her fingers raced over familiar digits, pressing in the phone number.
Receiver to her ear, she counted out the rings. It was on the third when Pan's gruff voice answered. "Moshi moshi?"
"Pan-chan?"
The other girl was silent, thus Bra continued. "Can … can we talk?"