The Drummer's March
Chapter 11
Trunks had come to school that day in a bad mood.
Earlier that morning, his mother had started in again about how he spent too much time at Goten's house, how he was never home, how he never participated in family events . . . his father of course, had been quick to point out that Goten was a bad influence and was the reason why Trunks didn't train nearly enough. This of course brought the conversation around to how the other Trunks had done everything for his family and was never ungrateful for the benefits he had.
Trunks sincerely wished the goody-two-shoes future version of himself was there right that moment so he could punch him in the face. As far as he was concerned, the other Trunks could have his family and good riddance.
He was brought out of his thoughts by Goten showing up and thumping him on the shoulder.
"Hello sunshine." Goten was grinning and suddenly Trunks wanted to do nothing more than wipe the grin off the other boy's face.
"Tell me something, Goten. Do you practice the stupid look or does it come naturally to you?" Trunks knew he was being a jerk. But he couldn't help lashing out and Goten was available.
Goten stared at him for a moment and then held his hands up in a gesture of surrender. "Okay. I can see now is not a good time." He gestured toward his locker and then hitched a thumb down the hall. "I'm gonna just get my stuff nice and easy- like and then I'll be on my way to class. Nice talking to you."
After Goten left, Trunks groaned, leaning forward to bang his forehead against his locker. "Damn it."
They didn't speak again until lunchtime. Trunks was glaring sourly at his sandwich when Goten wandered over and dropped his tray down across from him.
"So." He paused and picked up his own sandwich before looking across it at Trunks. "Want to talk about it?"
"Not particularly."
"Are you sure?"
"I said no, Goten."
"Oh come on, it might help. Get it off your chest."
"God damn it, what part of no do you not understand?"
There was silence throughout the cafeteria and Trunks realized he'd stood up and was yelling. Goten stood up as well, a hurt expression on his face.
"I was just trying to help."
"Well there's nothing you can do. Just drop it. It's not like you'd understand anyway. You've got the perfect deal. Perfect dad, perfect life. Nobody ever hassles you about anything."
Goten opened his mouth to speak but Trunks cut him off. "Just stop. I've had it. If I'm not being nagged about Wonder-Boy, I'm being nagged about you. Hell, my life would be a lot easier if I never hung out with you again."
"That's not fair, Trunks." Goten was scowling, both hands planted on the table. "It's not my fault your parents are a complete waste of space."
"What did you say?"
Goten smirked. "You heard me. Your parents are totally nuts. Certifiable. Should never have been allowed to marry let alone procreate."
Trunks clenched his fists and snarled. "At least my mother didn't abandon me to run off with some bum of a deadbeat dad."
All the color drained from Goten's face. "What did you say?"
It was Trunks' turn to smirk. "You heard me."
Mack Gibbons was used to the sound of running feet and hollering. It was common for active students to go tearing down the halls between classes. However, it wasn't common to hear the PE teacher yelling as well.
The shouting drew closer and suddenly the door flew open and John Ueno, the Biology teacher burst into his office.
"You need to get to the cafeteria quick, Mack. Two of your boys are tearing up the place and nobody can get near them."
Mack jumped up from his seat and ran out the door after the other man. "Who is it?"
John shook his head. "You'll never believe it."
Mack wanted to ask what he meant by that, but they'd reached the cafeteria and he had his answer.
"What on Earth . . . ?"
Tables had been tipped over and the other students had scattered to stand against the walls. In the middle of the room Goten Son and Trunks Briefs were engaged in a serious fist fight.
Mack watched in horror as the PE teacher tried to break them apart and ended up flung against a table. Students scattered as Goten was slammed against a wall by Trunks. Mack wondered if it was over but then Goten suddenly brought a knee up between Trunks' legs and the other boy went skidding across the floor.
It didn't look like the fight was going to end anytime soon.
Another teacher ran into the room and Mack grabbed him by the arm. "Quick, get to the office and tell them to call Goten Son's father immediately. He needs to come here as fast as possible." The other teacher nodded and left and Mack turned back in time to see Trunks fly into a pile of chairs.
The fight continued, none of the teachers could get close enough to break the two up, all they could do was usher the other students out of the room as quickly as possible. Soon all that remained were a handful of teachers and the two boys themselves. Time seemed to drag, minutes suspended into hours and the punches grew more brutal. Mack was pretty sure they were both bleeding but it was hard to distinguish with the speed they were coming at each other.
Suddenly the cafeteria door opened. Mack looked up in relief, Goten's father had arrived. "Thank God. We can't stop them. I don't know what set them off but they're going to kill each other if we don't do something."
Goten's father nodded but didn't make any comment. His eyes narrowed into a hard coldness that was frightening. And suddenly he was in the middle of the room standing between the two boys in mid punch, holding their fists. Mack blinked. He hadn't even seen him move.
"That is quite enough."
The words were spoken quietly yet the entire room filled with obedient silence.
As Mack watched the chaos be brought to a complete standstill, part of a conversation he'd had with Goten once, drifted through his mind.
"My dad says you want to talk to me so here I am."
"Do you always do what your dad says?"
"Of course."
Mack shivered.
TBC . . .
(Short, sorry. But this chapter wanted to end there. Next chapter, showdown at the Brief Corral, the boys are in Hot Water and Gohan thinks about banging heads together.)