Disclaimer and Warnings: Mentions Mpreg, Heats, violence, swearing, and Alpha Dominated Society!
Timelines and ages are slightly different. Different world from the original DBZ world.
Since I'm making up a lot of terms here I thought I'd drop some definitions.
Suitors:An Alpha who is courting a Omega. During the courting phase they are Suitors, after the pair has mated they are referred to as Mates.
Pillage: When a crew goes off to claim planets in the name of Vegeta-sei. A first Pillage and how well a crew does on pillages is a status mark.
Ranks of the Saiyan Warriors: (from lowest to highest)
Third Class
Second Class
First Class- Also known as Elites
Captains
High Council:The High Council is a level between Captains and the King. They advise the King on troublesome planets and which troops should go to what planets. There are Six Council members total. Generally the position is passed down from generation to generation, unless circumstances dictate otherwise.
In This Chapter: One last night of celebration, preparation, and a reunion between friends.
Alpha Royal
Chapter Nine: Prepare for Take Off
Goten bit back another yawn as the sales clerk picked out a collared shirt and threw it in a growing pile. Shopping had never been something he took pleasure in, it was a waste of time, unless- of course, he was shopping for food. In truth, he would rather be sleeping. After the torture he put his body through during the challenge, he had collapsed in his dorm room after healing and slept for almost an entire day.
Of course, he should have expected to have a rude awakening from Beet and Leta who were practically shaking with excitement to talk to him. Goten had been half asleep, still dressed in the loose sweat pants and green shirt the Queen had given him when his two new crewmates tugged him out to go shopping.
He needed new clothes to party in before they left, after all.
"I like green on you," Beet said as he threw a dark green shirt into the pile.
"Um… thanks?" Goten didn't know what else to say about the comment. There was already a lot of green in the pile. He liked the color, it reminded him of the forests back home.
Leta rolled her eyes beside him, "Can we please stop talking about clothes and press on about more important topics. Like how Goten totally destroyed the gravity chamber."
Goten winced at the reminder and quickly scrambled for an explanation, "I didn't know how else to win."
"Real saiyan ingenuity there kid," Beet laughed, "If you can't beat it… blow it up."
"The thing was totally glitching out. I'm glad you did blow it up, they needed to replace it anyway." Leta huffed as Beet placed another shirt on Goten's pile. She quickly snatched it away with a shake of her head and a look that showed a clear distaste for its particular shade of pink.
"Glitching?" Goten repeated before the sales assistant tugged him towards the dressing room. Even when the door slammed behind him and he faced down the large pile of clothes that awaited his attention he carried on the conversation. "What do you mean?"
"Dude you were fighting in like x150 times gravity." Beet's astonished voice answered, "and it kept growing. Not to mention the whole scouter fiasco. The system was supposed to shut down once you destroyed the thing. I thought the Captain told you that."
"He did," Goten murmured, shucking off his shirt and pants. He picked up the green shirt Beet had pulled out earlier, "I just assumed I did something wrong, or maybe it was another one of his tricks."
Without warning the dressing room door swung open. Goten squawked as he scrambled to cover himself, the fur of his tail fluffed in indignation. He glared at both Beet and Leta who peeked their heads between the door's crack. "What's the big deal?"
"Trunks didn't lie about the scouter." Leta said firmly, "He may be a jerk to some people, but he wanted you to win that test."
"Yeah man," Beet scowled, "He gave you the hint didn't he?"
"Yes," Goten said, recalling the moment he'd shared with the Prince over rice and water. The hot swell of shame began to build in his chest.
"He's definitely a lot more patient with you then he was with me when I started off," Leta continued, trying to prove a point.
"You didn't see him." Beet retorted right after her, "He completely freaked out when he found out the chamber was glitching up, tried to stop the fight altogether but the King wouldn't allow it."
Goten's mouth went slack as his retort died on his tongue. Trunks had done all that? For him?
He pushed the door closed on the two saiyan's heads, mumbling a hurried apology to their protest, but he didn't want them to see the heated blush that burned its way up from the pit of his stomach across his cheeks. His memory of the chamber was still fuzzy but he did remember the warning he received from someone banging on the window, the wide eyed look he'd seen on the Prince's face.
Quietly he exhaled a low wet breath and pulled on the shirt and a pair of jeans. "You're right, that was stupid of me to say."
"Yeah, you're his main squeeze now – Ooof." Beet's comment was interrupted by the sound of Leta's fist colliding with his shoulder.
The female saiyan quickly jumped in, "What he means is that you and his highness are both Halflings. That means a lot to the Captain."
He had never thought of it like that. Goten had never fully trusted anyone before, there had never been anyone who could really understand him, except Gohan, but then there were even secrets between himself and his own family. He wondered if his attraction to the Prince had anything to do with the fact that they were both Halfbloods. Could his body possibly be reacting to another just like it?
"I get it! I get it!" Goten sighed as he opened the dressing room door and stepped out in faded jeans and the green shirt. "That was a jerky thing to say."
"Its okay" Leta wasn't frowning at him anymore as she and Beet took in the clothes, "No harm no foul. Besides, it's not like we weren't jerks to you when you first arrived. Trunks included."
Beet nodded but not at the words of his crewmate, he had already moved away from defending his Captain's honor and was taking in Goten's new clothes. "I like it, don't you like it Leta?"
"I swear to Kami," Leta rolled her eyes and huffed, "Goten, try on the rest of the clothes so we can move on with our day. I don't want to spend my last day on the planet shopping." Venom dripped into the last word as she gave Beet a withering look.
Goten laughed and tried quickly walked back into the dressing room."So…" he started, "What's the news on the Pillage?"
His crewmates had gotten the in depth briefing on their Pillage while he'd slept on. He would have liked to be there with them, but Beet had explained that they were under orders from Trunks not to wake him up.
Leta immediately jumped on the conversation, "Our instructions were get the locals to join our legions. If they decide to fight us, then we make them. Just like all the other pillages."
Trunks' soft voice whispered into Goten's ear as if the man was right next to him, "This is a Recon Mission."
The Prince surely would have mentioned that to the rest of the team if he thought he needed to. Maybe he would, it wasn't Goten's place to bring up their conversation. Quietly he nodded and listened as his crewmates continued.
"It's going to take two months to get there," Beet piped in with a long suffering sigh, "We're taking bets on how long it'll take to get them to raise the white flag. I think two days…"
"Yeah right," Leta barked in laughter, "Every other team that's gone there has come home half dead. I think ten days is more accurate."
Goten didn't know a lot about planets or pillages, but his mind couldn't help but fix on what Leta had just said. Everyone else had come back half dead? That didn't bode well, he took refuge in the fact that they weren't just another crew. They were the Prince's crew.
"We'll be fine," he murmured under his breath, as the nerves fluttered anxiously against his stomach.
"No shit we'll be fine," Beet called back.
Leta pounded impatiently on the door, "Come on, show us your next freaking out-fit so we can go."
They found Trunks at the entrance of Club 7, standing by the door with Axal by his side as they talked to the bouncer. Nappa, Goten vaguely remembered his name from their last visit. Trunks was dressed in a long sleeved shirt a light grey collar with a brown vest on top and dark cargo pants. His lavender tail circled around his waist was the only hint of color on his body.
As they approached his blue eyes flickered away from the conversation and towards them. "Hey," a true smile settled over his features as he waved them over, "about time you got here."
"You can't rush the party," Beet laughed as they walked up.
The other alphas in line grumbled as the crew stalked towards the front. Goten kept his head high as he walked to cover his own uncertainty over the new clothes that hugged his body. Beet had insisted he wear a loose white tank top with fitted trousers. It was comfortable even in the chill night, but definitely drew the attention of all the eyes around them.
Trunks' astute gaze glanced over each of them before he turned back to Nappa, "I'll give my father your regards."
"Like he cares about that," Nappa laughed as he stepped aside, "Don't get too out of control in there. Tomorrow's a big day."
"Oh like you never got trashed before a pillage." Beet accused as the group moved into the dark entrance.
Goten was the last to enter and Nappa's body moved to block his way before he step foot past the doorway. He couldn't see past the saiyan's bulky body to see if his crew had noticed, instead he felt Nappa's hot breath barreling down across his face. "I hear your Kakorot's kid…" the bouncer stated in a voice that rasped over every syllable.
Dark eyes blinked in confusion as the teen hesitated to answer, "Er…. Yeah, I am."
Nappa's bushy brows narrowed as he stared down, taking in every detail of Goten's face before he nodded. "You definitely have Raditz's ugly mug, I almost feel bad for you." He laughed, Goten had no choice but to join in, it was rare that someone compared his looks to his Uncle Raditz instead of his father, possibly a result of his growing hair. Nappa's large hand nudged the teen forcibly on the shoulder, "The Prince told me you're part of his crew now. Congratulations kid."
"Thank you," Goten said as the saiyan stepped aside, giving him access to the club once again.
"Take care of that brat. He can be a handful." Nappa said gruffly, his eyes moving back to the long line that awaited his attention.
Goten's black eyes watched him for a second, trying to puzzle out the man's reason for speaking to him, but when Nappa moved out of the way he saw the dark tunnel that lead into Club 7, and the Prince standing there waiting for him.
He stepped forward, joining Trunks in the darkness.
Axal immediately veered off to a intimate corner of the club where Nella stood waiting. They're bodies disappeared among the shadows for their own privacy. Goten's eyes lingered as the couple disappeared. He watched the soft way the usual brisk Axal treated his mate. Nella's bright eyes were glued in utter devotion to the Alpha as they kept close. Even the other patrons of the bar seemed to give them space, as the couple moved past them.
It was their last moments together before the pillage. The majority of their team was young and unmated, none of them were leaving someone behind. None of them knew what it meant to leave someone behind.
His soft Omega heart gave a pathetic flutter at the thought.
Trunks bumping against his side jostled him out of those thoughts. The Prince's own piercing gaze seemed to follow Axal's leave as well before turning to Goten. "Let's go," he motioned towards the bar where the others were already heading.
Beet and Leta managed to squeeze to the front of the bar and fill their arms with drinks before they arrived. After sharing a congratulatory toast, they paired up for smaller conversation. Their location so close to the music made it impossible to hold a normal conversation. People were paired up, lips close to each other's faces, looking like cubs trading secrets.
Unsurprisingly, Leta and Beet paired up and started their own drinking contest. Trunks didn't even hesitate before he turned to Goten, moving close so his words could be heard. "How are you feeling?"
"Good," Goten yelled, searching the other's face to see if his words were caught over the tune. "A little restless about tomorrow."
"Well, get it out of your system tonight." Trunks smiled, "...Or don't. We might need it on Borgessa."
We'll be fine, Goten reminded himself. A throbbing need to ask Trunks more about his Recon Theory pulled at his veins, urging him like a puppet on strings, but he quickly shook the feeling off. Now wasn't the time nor the place.
"You didn't really dance last time…" Trunks said offhandedly.
Goten took an extra moment to sip his drink before confessing, "I haven't really danced… ever."
"You're kidding," Trunks breathed with an easy laugh. He already knew the answer though and Goten decided to gulp down the rest of his beverage in embarrassment. "Geez, Beet wasn't kidding about what a country bumpkin you are."
"I really hope that nickname doesn't last," Goten pleaded, "Come on. I better get a cooler one while we're out pillaging."
"I like Country Bumpkin." Trunks teased, his face lighting up at Goten's misery, "Now hurry up and finish that drink so you can go out and dance."
"I don't know…" Goten stared down at the swirling purple liquid in his hand, happy to use it as an excuse to hug the bar area.
Trunks moved next to him, grabbing the bottom of his glass and gently tilting it up to Goten's lips. "No excuses, drink drink drink." Goten did, feeling a rush of pleasure from the Alpha's gentle coaxing. With Trunks' assistance he finished off the drink in only a few gulps and then the glass was yanked from his lips and placed on the bar for an Omega to pick up later.
"Don't be shy Goten," Trunks assured him as he grabbed the teen's forearm and tugged him off the bar chair. "No one will notice that it's your first time."
Any rebuttal died on Goten's lips as he was dragged into the crowd on the dance floor. Alphas and Omegas were packed on either side of him, bumping and shoving him one way and then another. He would have been lost if not for the grip that still tugged on his elbow. Slowly, the people around them began to recognize Trunks for who he was and the crowd parted. Allowing them enough room to freely move.
Goten risked looking around and saw hundreds of interested eyes taking them in as the bodies filled any free space they left behind. A few Omegas struggled against the flow of people to follow them before they were swallowed up by the shifting crowd.
When Trunks stopped, Goten had no idea where they were on the dance floor, the speakers hung just above them. Pounding the music over their vulnerable bodies without mercy. Trunks easily found the beat, swaying and moving at his own pace.
Goten could only watch him in awe. The way Trunks moved looked so natural. Despite having every pair of eyes focused on him the Prince was acting as if he was the only one on the dance floor. His blue eyes were focused on anything but the other dancers. At the ceiling, at the floor, closed in concentration, he was lost in his own world. When they finally snapped over to Goten the younger boy's breathing hitched.
"Goten come on," Trunks screamed, trying to be heard over the speakers, "Just… move." His lips moved to say something else but it was lost as a new song started with a loud bang.
Goten swayed, trying to copy Trunks' movements while listening to the music. The other Omegas around him were dancing differently, curled close to a nearby Alpha and moving with him, happy to be a follower even dancing.
Out of his peripheral vision he could see a few Omegas dislodge themselves from their partner and move towards Trunks. One was on him quicker than the rest, securing a spot in front of Trunks and moving closer with each sway.
A hand glided across Goten's shoulder as a Omega moved next to him. He looked at the male, small with dark determined eyes that were trying to look flirty. The Omega gave him a timid smile before brushing closer for a dance.
Goten jerked back, He thinks I'm an Alpha. Surprise trickled over him with the realization. The Omega seemed to think he had danced away and moved closer once again. Goten froze, the idea of fooling another Omega had never really occurred to him. He was at a loss of what to do when one decided to act towards him.
If he didn't dance with one would the others suspect something? The idea was even more chilling, but when the dark skinned Omega reached up to twine his arms around Goten's neck the teen panicked.
"I… I need another drink." He tried to utter the words as clearly as possible while trying to untangle himself from the other's grasp.
He pushed through the crowd, back towards where he believed the bar was located. Without Trunks, it was a struggle to maneuver through the crushing bodies. One Alpha gave him a hard nudge for grazing an Omega, and something sticky on the ground threatened to take Goten's shoe hostage. Eventually though, he broke free of the dance floor.
Relief sang through his entire body as the smell of sweat and body odor no longer plagued him. The lights of the bar was farther away then he anticipated but visible. Goten threw one last look towards the dance floor, disappointed to not see Trunks within its dark shadow before he walked over and ordered three shots of the first drink he laid eyes on.
"That's a pretty hard drink for three shots," the bartender said looking dubious, "and you're pretty small."
"The harder the better," Goten replied. Hopefully their impact would be quick and heavy enough to negate any qualms he had about dancing.
The thing about shots, Goten learned quickly, was that they could be made in a blink of an eye and ruin a fighter just as quickly. Shots were usually Leta's first choice when they started their nights out and minutes later she would be off on her own, whooping and laughing like a excited child, completely undone by just a few spoonfuls of liquor.
Goten took the first shot quickly, feeling his throat clench at the touch of the sour liquid. He forced himself to keep it down and reached for the next glass.
"Goten?"
The unfamiliar voice pierced his eyes, catching Goten's attention and bringing him to turn around to seek out the speaker. He froze when his eyes locked on to Telo, as small as ever wearing a silk outfit not much different from what the waitresses and waiters were wearing.
He hadn't seen Telo since his last day of school. The day he'd been taken to the palace. "Goten," Telo repeated, "Is that you?" the Omega stepped up to the bar, his eyes were as wide as two twin moons and taking in every new detail of Goten's new look.
"Telo," he greeted in disbelief, "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question," laughed the Omega, his surprise seemed to melt away as he realized he was in the presence of a friend. "I told you didn't I? I found a Suitor. He owns this club, so I came all the way to the city to be with him."
"That's great," Goten forced a smile at the news, his eyes glanced over the outfit covering his friend's body. The differences between it and what the other Omega's were wearing were subtle. Telo's was slightly more revealing, showing his flat stomach and his soft thighs. He tried not to let his smile fall as he asked, "So... he wants you to help him run the club or something?"
The other boy blushed. "Don't be silly Goten, you know an Omega can't run a business." Telo answered, "Czar likes me to be here… so he can show me off."
"Oh…" How could he think otherwise? Goten knew the laws that kept Omega's in their place. Not allowed to own property. Not allowed to run a business. Not allowed to fight.
Of course Telo was being shown around by his future mate. It was practically an Alpha's right to do so, and Telo was an extraordinary Omega. Small, with large eyes, polite, quiet, and soft. Key traits that were favored in any potential mate. The complete opposite of Goten's personality.
"So what are you doing here?" Telo asked, his blush disappearing in favor for a look of concern.
His friend always pointed that look in Goten's direction, and most of the time it was warranted. Even now, Goten looked around to see if he recognized any faces. His voice came out rushed as he said, "It's kind of hard to explain…"
"You disappeared from school. We all assumed your grandfather had found an Alpha to marry you off…"
"SSSSHHH!" hissed Goten quickly, looking around wildly to see if anyone overheard. Luckily none of his crewmates were around, and no one at the bar seemed to notice their conversation. Telo's mouth gaped open in surprise before he gently closed it.
"I'm….I'm sorry," he apologized, unaware of the mistake he had almost made.
Goten mustered up his own apologetic smile, "No. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that, its just… things are complicated right now."
"Complicated?" Telo repeated, the look of concern was still etched across his face, now more profound than ever. "Goten are you in trouble?"
"Errr…" It was clear Telo wasn't going to drop the conversation until he got the truth. Having just one person know his real identity was dangerous, especially if that person wasn't aware of the secret he carried. Telo was his friend, his only friend really, he could be trusted.
Goten looked up and found a exit sign glowing neon red nearby, he inclined his head in its general direction, "I'll explain everything, but not here."
Telo bit his bottom lip, considering the offer before giving the nearby area a quick look. Goten noticed his friend's gaze travel up to the second floor, where the lights were tinted red and the amount of people was considerably less than any other place in the club.
Telo nodded, "Okay but we'll have to be really quick. Czar is waiting for me."
"Sure," Goten nodded, he was looking to get the truth out and over with quickly so they could go their separate ways.
He lead the way to the exit, the sign pointed down another dark hallway. It wasn't as long as the entrance, but there was no room for lights or people to fill its space. There was only enough room for one person to go at a time. At the end of the hall there was a black painted door, Goten pushed and it reluctantly budged open.
The fresh crisp air from outside was cool relief against his sweat soaked skin. Goten smiled and held the door open so Telo could come out. They were in an alley way, completely alone except for the shadows that passed down at the far end.
Under the bright moon, they had more light than within Club 7. Telo's dark eyes adjusted quickly and he gasped when he looked at the other Omega. "Wow Goten, you've really… changed."
Goten laughed sheepishly at the comment, "Yeah I know."
"What's going on...are you alright?"
"I've never been better," Goten told him, the truth leaving his lungs like a rush of air. "It's a long story, but all you need to know is I've been accepted at the Battle Academy. I've become an Elite fighter."
Telo stared at him, brows scrunched in confusion as he mumbled, "You mean you found an Elite fighter. One who will marry you?"
"No, I have become one."
"But that can't be," Telo said in astonishment, the muscles of his mouth twitched between smiling and frowning. "Omegas are forbidden from becoming fighters."
Goten's own smile died as his heart squeezed in anticipation, "That's… kind of what I wanted to tell you. They don't know that I'm an Omega."
"What?" Telo asked softly and then tried again, "What? Goten, did you lie to the Battle Academy?"
"Well no I didn't lie," he stated firmly, "They took me to the King and once he found out who my father was it was just kind of assumed that I was an Alpha. The suppressants hid my scent and..."
"You lied to the King?" Telo's voice hit a high pitch, close to hysteria. His jaw was hanging open in surprise, his nostrils flared in shock. Goten would have laughed if his heart wasn't lodged into his throat.
He couldn't meet his friend's eyes as he muttered, "You don't have to be so loud."
Considerate as always, when Telo spoke his voice was back to a low whisper with anxiety mixed in. "Goten," he said, "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking that for the first time in my life I feel like I'm doing something right. Something I'm good at." Goten defended, "I'm a fighter Telo. You said it yourself, I would be miserable just marrying someone who I hardly know."
Telo shook head, dark hair falling in his eyes. "But where do you see this going? They'll figure it out eventually. It's a miracle they haven't already."
On that they could agree. If the Queen hadn't been willing to help him, or if anyone from his family had arrived at the Palace his cover would have been blown. Luck may have allowed him to continue to live at the Palace but it was his own talent that allowed him to stay there.
Goten offered up a smile, "I know they'll find out eventually, but until they do I'm going to continue to prove everything they think about Omegas wrong. I've already been accepted onto the Prince's crew, we're leaving the planet tomorrow."
"The Prince's crew?" Telo said, breathless in awe, "you?"
Goten nodded, smiling when he saw Telo's own grin breakout across his young face. "That's great Goten. I know this is what you've always wanted. I just… I worry about you. You're my friend after all."
Sweet fragile Telo looked close to tears as he admitted those words. He was Goten's friend as well, his only friend really and hearing Telo congratulating him- Well, Goten never thought he'd see the day where someone would know his secret and still utter those words.
His smile wavered between a solid grin and a watery mess. "Thanks Telo."
The door jangled as someone banged on it, immediately the two saiyans tensed. Goten hardened his face while Telo rubbed at his eyes. They saw the lavender hair first before the Prince's head peeked into the Alley. His face speckled withsweat but it lit up once he spotted Goten, "There you are!" and thenpaused at the sight of Telo. A sharp smile cut across his face at the sight of the Omega, "Oh you're not alone. Well I'll just leave you kids to whatever it was you were doing."
Goten's face heated up as he realized exactly what Trunks had assumed. "No Trunks, you don't-"
The Prince already ducked his head back into the door, his voice called out from inside the club, "Goten found an Omega!" followed by Leta's yelp of surprise. It took every ounce of strength not to bury his face into his palm. Telo at least had the good manners instilled in him not to comment.
"I am never going to hear the end of this…" Goten mumbled.
"That…That was the Prince." Telo said, the surprise was back in his voice and when Goten looked he was still staring at the door.
"Yeah," Goten smiled, "That was him."
"And you called him by his first name? He allows that?" Telo's dark eyes moved off the door and pinned Goten with the question. The Halfling barely noticed anymore what he called the Prince. Of course, in the appropriate settings he was His Majesty the Prince, but alone he was just… Trunks.
Still Goten felt the heat of an awkwardness blush touch his face as he tried to find the appropriate explanation. Next to him Telo clicked his tongue, "Oh I get it."
"What? Get what?" Goten raised a brow in his friend's direction and tried to ignore the sharp squeeze in his gut.
Telo smiled, "You like him Goten."
"Well, yeah I like him. He's a good fighter, a great Captain. I mean, he can be a little arrogant but he's the Prince and…"
"No no no," Telo tutted, effectively cutting off the rest of Goten's rambling. "I mean, you like him. I saw it on your face the moment he appeared."
Self consciously Goten touched his face, trying to figure out what had been given away without his permission, before he froze. His heart gave a painful shudder as if to answer his own silent question and in reply his body pretty much sang an alleluia.
His dream before the challenge came back to him as well as the panic he felt after waking up. There was no denying it anymore. He had found an Alpha.
"Goten?" The happiness left Telo's voice as he asked, "Did I assume wrong? I'm sorry, it's just... you've never looked like that before, and no one would blame you for being attracted to the Prince of Saiyans."
Goten almost laughed as the irony of the entire situation hit him. The first Alpha to actually make him feel anything and he turns out to be the Prince.
Omega school could have never prepared him for this one.
"It was nice seeing you," Telo said, once they went back inside the club. He tilted his head close to Goten's own so his soft words could be heard over the music, "You look happy."
"I am happy," Goten told him, giving his best smile. Telo mirrored one back.
"I'll keep you in my thoughts. I hope… I hope everything works out for you." From the look on Telo's face, it was clear he didn't know exactly what those words meant. Goten didn't either, but they were reassuring. There was no way of knowing what the future had in store for either of them, all they could do was hope that in the end, they'd be happy.
Telo's eyes flickered away quickly and locked onto something across the room. "I see Czar. I hope I see you here again Goten." Dark eyes glanced at the other Omega one last time, a double meaning filtering in past the words. 'I hope you're able to come back again.'
Goten smiled despite the unease in his gut and managed to put forth the proper good-bye for his friend, "Of course, I hope your heat is successful."
The phrase got a smile out of Telo before he dashed off. No doubt his heat would be fruitful, and the next time Goten did return to the club Czar wouldn't just be showing off his new mate-to-be it would be his new pregnant mate.
He watched his friend's small body easily make it to a tall Saiyan, at least twice the size of Goten. Czar had dark blue hair that was brushed to one side of his head. He wasn't a fighter, but merchant. A class all of its own on Vegeta-sei. It was obvious in the clothes he wore, a style armor much like the everyday fighting uniform, that was bedazzled in jewels and stylistic features.
Czar welcomed Telo back by wrapping one large arm around the boy's slim waist and bringing him close to snuffle at his neck, eager to get the scent of another Alpha off his property.
Goten didn't miss how Czar storm blue eyes fixed on him from across the room and held his gaze, giving a firm silent sign of 'He's mine.'
It was difficult not to glare back. He didn't need to get in a fight with Telo's future mate, doing so might cost Telo his future. Goten turned his back to the scene and moved back towards the bar where he saw both Leta and Beet getting new drinks.
They turned and greeted him with drunken smiles as they raised their glasses. "Where's your friend Goten?" Leta purred before bursting into laughter, as if she'd just recited the funniest joke on the planet.
Goten frowned at her before plucking the drink from her hand and raising it to his lips, "He's with his Suitor."
"Oh," Leta's smile dropped, she didn't even attempt to steal her glass back, "I'm sorry."
"It's fine, he seems happy."
"Happy?" Beet scoffed, "Dude it's all over your face how much you liked him. You should beat that Alpha within an inch of his life and win the Omega over. Kami knows you'd win."
Goten hid a smile behind Leta's drink as he took another sip. His earlier concerns about his crewmates figuring out his secret was clearly for nothing if they thought he was in love with Telo. Maybe they weren't as perceptive as he thought.
He answered with what he hoped was a very Alpha response. "Seriously, it's no big deal. He's not my type really, too submissive."
"Oh my gosh, Goten's talking about his type." Leta whispered feverishly towards Beet, "Quick write this down so we can get him a stripper for his birthday."
Goten picked out an ice cube out of his drink and flicked it at her. Beet laughed, "Seriously Goten, what are you looking for in an Omega? Now that you're part of the Prince's crew they'll be all over you so you might as well tell us what to send your way."
"Once we've had our fills of course," Leta laughed as she waved the bartender down.
Before coming to the Capital Goten had never thought about what his type was. Not once did it cross his mind that someday he would have to find someone to spend the rest of his life mated to, despite having those very morals shoved into his face day in and day out. He'd always comforted himself with the idea of living at home in the woods as a hermit Omega. Just training by himself and taking care a abandoned house as the years passed by.
Now though, he shuddered at the things that immediately cropped up to mind, but he refused to tell Beet the truth. Exotic looking, strong, smart and considerate with the ability to match Goten blow for blow in a fight. That was his ideal mate.
Someone was sounded a lot like the Prince.
"Oh I don't know…" he swirled his drink around, "I guess I want an Omega who can put up a fight."
"You like them frisky do you?" Beet chuckled, "So do I. An Omega who will argue with me is guaranteed to give great make-up sex."
"I'm going to mate with a goddess," Leta announced, a new drink in hand. "She'll be soft, with doe eyes and will call me her warrior." She tipped her head back and let her eyes scan around the club before falling on a tall Omega waitress picking up drinks. "There she is!"
"You've said that about a different Omega every time we've been out here." Beet sighed, cupping his face into his palm.
"She's the one!" Leta insisted before slamming her drink on the counter and marching off to the unfortunate waitress.
It was a relief once the conversation was dropped. He'd overheard Omegas plot and plan out their future mates in Tarble Town, and the tones had been relatively the same. Everyone had a type, had dreams about who they would mate, plans for finding them and courting them. He'd never really partook in any of those conversations before. On his tongue, they felt awkward. Even more so now with the lies.
Leta and Beet were Alphas but he wondered if once they found a mate if they would act like Czar. Cold and possessive, pleased to just have a warm body curled next to their own like the dancers he had seen on the dance floor.
Axal didn't seem to be that way with Nella. In fact the two seemed to be mutually infatuated with each other. He remembered the cold chill he had gotten at seeing them together, how they were engulfed in their own world one last time before separation.
That was what he wanted.
"Where's Trunks?" Goten asked as he watched Leta follow the waitress around the room.
Beet hummed as he recalled where their fearless leader had disappeared to. "I think some Omega dragged him off." He hit Goten with a meaningful look and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, "He's probably enjoying one last night of pleasure before we go off into the dark abyss of space. When you're an Elite, Goten, its best to enjoy life while you're still living."
"Yeah…" Goten turned away before his face would betray his emotions again.
He heard another Elite next to Beet strike up a conversation about where they were going and his crewmate happily chat about being a part of the Prince's crew and their first pillage as a team. Goten remained quiet, trying not to seek out a familiar face in the crowd.
He could take a punch to the gut, or a ki blast across his skin but a new ache was starting to arise in his chest. One he refused to call it heartache even as Telo's words echoed In his mind, "You like him."
I do… Goten silently admitted to himself, but that doesn't matter. Once his secret got out Trunks would kick him off his Crew, he'd be lucky if he wasn't executed for lying to the royal family.
But then again… if being killed meant he wouldn't have to watch The Prince court another Omega, maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
He was afraid of sleeping.
Not like when he'd been a child and fearful of the stories his grandfather told at the dinner table. The tales of Freiza climbing through his window at night to steal small Omega cubs and kill the tough Alphas. No, those fears had been put to rest long ago, his new fears were different.
Goten didn't want to be haunted by the subconscious desires of his body. He didn't want to think about his Captain, the Prince in any way that would condemn him farther down the hole of attraction.
Instead he laid awake in bed and stared at the ceiling. Doing the mental math of what the next couple weeks had in store for him.
In two months he would land on Planet Borgessa. In two months his father would return to Vegeta-sei. A few days after his secret became known to the King, Goten expected a retrieval party to go and return him to the planet. It would take them two more months to get to the Southern Quadrant but in the meantime if they could successfully pillage the planet- he would count that as a victory.
At the very least in fourth months Goten would pay for his crimes.
He could already see his father's deep scowl of disapproval, a rare sight for anyone who wasn't Goten. Gohan, he imagined, would search his room. His brother was wanted to understand. He was insightful to get the whole story and was the only one who took the time to look for the missing pieces.
There wouldn't be much for Gohan to find though, not unless Goten left him something.
An idea flickered like a flame in a dark room and suddenly Goten found himself looked for a piece of paper and a pen. They would be looking for a letter of apology, something that acknowledge his wrong doing and a plea for forgiveness.
Goten frowned down at his paper as he weighed which words to write down. Forgiveness might buy back his life but writing those false words down would just add another lie to the pile. It would need to be the truth.
He started and scratched out line after line. Addressing the letter to Gohan, then his father, then the King, the Queen, back to Gohan, once to Trunks. He started from the beginning, the middle and the end but nothing seemed right.
Nighttime turned to early morning, and it was time for Goten to prepare for the launch.
His new armor laid in a pile by the door. The latest material for a battle uniform with the royal crest etched in red ink on the left breast plate. Marking him as a member of the Prince's crew.
Goten wrote a single sentence. The one thing he knew he wanted to leave behind no matter what and left the letter at that. It was sure to enrage his father but there was a slither of satisfaction at that.
He left the note on his bed, where it was sure to be found and got dressed.
The launch pad was full of saiyans despite the early hour. Captains and crew members lined behind the King's council, forming a sea of tall, dark warriors. If Goten had floated up, just a few inches off the ground, he was sure to see the crowd from all the way back to the entrance doors.
He swallowed his nerves and worked to keep his body still at attention. The King was making his farewell speech. The man needed no mic for his booming voice as he carried on about the pride each Saiyan carried with them and their power that no other could compete with.
Trunks sighed next to him like he'd heard it all before causing Goten to suck in a snicker. They were all impatient to go. Their pods were open and waiting to take off, in just a matter of minutes Goten would be put to sleep for the two month journey.
He'd be on Borgessa in what felt like a blink of an eye.
"Borgessa has managed to escape our reach for years but not any more," The King continued, "Now our best warriors will claim it in the name of Vegeta-sei, either with peaceful means or more forceful persuasion." A wide grin spread across the King's face and the crowd behind him erupted in cheers.
"Prince Trunks," King Vegeta snapped, and Trunks stepped forward dutifully in a brisk military fashion, "Prepare your crew for takeoff."
"Crew," Trunks' voice booked just like his father's as he turned on his heel and addressed the four fighters that made up his entire crew, "attend to your ships!"
Moving as one, Goten and his crewmates turned to their own individual ship and climbed in. The space pod was made to accommodate an Elite Saiyan's height and build, for Goten there was plenty of room to get situated. He was the last space pod at the end of the line, Trunks' own special ship sat across from them. They all watched as he moved and took his position at the head of the pack.
Goten tapped his foot nervously and fiddled with the IV they were instructed to slip into their arm. It was the only way they would be feed for the two month journey, and even though he abhorred needles he would rather be feed liquid food then arrive on Borgessa nearly dead.
"The queen will no say individual farewells," announced Eguse.
Usually the Queen feed off a riveting speech like her husband but this time was different. She didn't address the crowd instead she stepped forward and approached her son's space pod personally. Goten watched in confusion as she bent forward and shared a few hushed words with her son. The room was dead quiet throughout the exchange, and once it was over she moved across the room to where Axal's space pod sat. She leaned into each crew members pod and shared individual words of encouragement. It was different, but today was no normal launch. It was the Pillage of her only son and no one would deny the Queen her words of wisdom to his crew.
Finally, it was Goten's turn.
He looked up when the Queen's slender body silhouetted his pod's doorway. She wasn't wearing her usual lab coat but instead a silky blue gown that matched her hair. Red lipstick stood out on her pale complexion, making her look like a strange new animal. Beautiful, but still very different from what he was used to.
Her eyes grew unnaturally soft at the sight of him, "Goten…"
"Best for last?" he smiled up at her, and got a chuckle in return.
"You've come so far. I'm sure your mother and father would be proud of you."
"Thank you," he didn't know what else to say though his doubt edged around the words.
Bulma just continued to smile, "I made sure to pick your suppressants in the IV. You won't run out on the travel there and I placed a new bottle under the cushion of your chair."
Goten felt himself tense at the reminder but the Queen's act of kindness immediately caused him to relax. "Thank you," he said and meant every syllable of the phrase.
Her blue eyes bore into him, unblinking and bright before she nodded, "Make sure you and my son stay out of trouble."
"Hey," Goten forced a grin that would reassure, "What can go wrong?"
The Queen's face was unreadable, neither convinced nor unassured as she stepped back. Without warning the pod's door closed with a definite slam and a metallic voice started its count down.
5….4…3…
Trunks' ship took off first, blasting off towards the sky in an explosion of white smoke. Goten watched in awe through the his single green tinted window. His own count down continued on and suddenly...
2…1…
…suddenly he was flying towards the black abyss.
Author's Note: Well everyone, sorry it took so long. We're hitting a action-pack next couple of chapters and I've been taking extra time to make sure everything is good. The good news is that they are LONG- take the chapter above for example. I don't know where the word count went but it keeps stacking up. Which... is good for you guys! Hopefully it was worth the wait.
I'm also thinking about editing (and improving) past chapters. This is one of the longest pieces i've ever written and its easy to forget small things and make little mistakes here and there. Plus, without a beta reader I'm always rereading things and finding mistakes. X_X Please forgive me!
Please read and review!