Raindrops
Chapter 6: A Final Attempt
A/N: I'm still contemplating who I actually want to pair with Goten if it all, just know ValTen may not be end-game there is a lot to go through before we get even close ;).
Also, in advance, sorry for Goten's OOC-ness and...sorry for what's gonna happen, it hurt me so MUCH to write this. I'd like to thank Tiffany for giving me a good lesson on why I shouldn't hold back, thank you I love you!
Also sorry in advance to any TruMai fans, I genuinely like her as a character buuut...well...you'll see.
Marron rested in the front seat beside Valese, who was informing Marron of her last escapade last night with an apparently very attractive man she pulled out of the club. Marron, in truth, could care less about her friend's drunken misadventures. In fact, the blonde was feeling sick to her stomach listening to the brunette go on about such private matters.
Though she knew to express that would only lead Valese to tease the blonde on her prudish nature. "Oh man, Mar, you really missed out," she continued, "he was there with Trunks Briefs... the guy didn't seem super into the whole clubbin' thing though," Valese continued before flicking her eyes over to Marron momentarily catching the blonde's wide-eyed expression. "What? You two are the same in that regard."
Marron shook her head, keeping her head turned at the brunette, "Valese...was he buff, like really buff?" Marron asked, her face nearly paling at this point. She didn't want to think about it, she wouldn't want to imagine that Valese and Goten were even in the same room together, let alone having sex.
Valese rolled her honey-colored eyes at her friend's question. She was more annoyed under the realization that she was talking to a prudish wall, than the repetitive question. "Well duh, have you not been listening?" Valese retorted, "the guy is so buff and so big-" Valese continued with dreamy eyes before getting cut off almost immediately by the blonde.
"Alright, say no more, Valese!" Marron exclaimed her blush creeping across her face, "I-I'm pretty sure I know the guy you slept with."
Valese gasped and looked over to Marron when the capsule car stopped at a red light. "Marron!" She exclaimed angrily, "why haven't you tried setting me up with all your freakishly hot male friends?" Valese asked angrily.
It was times like these Marron questioned why she was friends with such a nymphomaniac. She wondered if it was just the rush of growing up in the city that caused people to act in such a way. Marron wasn't one to judge, but the behavior was a bit unsettling at times. The blonde stuffed her hands between her thighs, uncomfortably looking about the vehicle to focus on anything but Valese.
"Look, I get you aren't into the whole one-night stand but that guy, whoo man-!" Marron grimaced at the thought of Goten and Valese even laying in the same bed together. She knew her friend was always the adventurous type but she could never bring herself to imagine those two together...perhaps it could possibly work. Yet Marron wasn't very sure how to feel about it all, the entire reveal felt like some sort of fever dream she would soon wake from.
Valese, now noticing Marron's physical discomfort from the conversation, made attempts to shift the topic. "So," she began, "you gonna tell me what's been happening with you and Mr. Capsule Corp?"
Marron scoffed, rolling her eyes at the brunette's nickname for Trunks. "Nothing is happening between me and Trunks, Valese, so you can just forget any of those weird ideas," Marron responded. "If you want me to admit one thing, he is very cute," she stated before huffing and crossing arms, "that's all you are getting from me."
Valese smirked, happy she could push something out of the blonde. "I knew that already, anyway, what's happening tonight?"
Marron looked out the window, watching the cars zip by. "Well, Goten invited me out for a sort-of reunion kind of thing, I have no idea what brought on this," Marron rambled, her manicured nails tapping the white purse, "but I need a new outfit and you seem to know what looks 'good' on me apparently." That good Marron said in air quotes, she was struck with disbelief over the idea that she apparently couldn't dress and she worked for a fashion magazine.
In truth writing for that magazine was the only thing Marron felt she could state with a certain kind of pride and elitism over others, and even that was questioned around her sometimes. The blonde had always had a certain keen interest in, what she considered, an art form. Her mother and her sense of style was what kickstarted her search deeper into that world and it seemed everyone liked Marron best when she wore what others considered fashionable; the same overdone trends.
Valese flipped her brown curls cockily, "well I am known for my fashion prowess aren't I?" Marron glanced over to the brunette and erupted into an uproarious cackle. "Oh please, Ms. Haute Couture enlighten me," Valese snarkily replied. "What outfit has gotten your Trunks' attention?" she quickly teased before receiving a slap across her arm.
"Shush! He wasn't even looking at the outfit," Marron paused recalling the revealing dress. "Besides he is not mine he is a friend," Marron seethed.
Marron arrived at the bar a bit later than she would have hoped, her outfit selection done by Valese significantly backfired. She recalled the scratchy cheap fabric which was far too sheer for Marron to actually wear in public on her skin, making it near impossible to move without exposing some part of her body.
Cerulean eyes searched the dark, smoky room for the two hybrids who's backs were turned from the rest of the crowd who filled the air with the smell of booze. As she approached she could hear the two laughing. She gave a warm smile catching both of their attention.
"Mar!" Goten exclaimed, "you look...well?" She felt the discomfort rather quickly from others. Perhaps I overdressed? Marron pondered glancing at their expression. The blonde sported a long nylon brown skirt, its fabric shone under the dim bar lights, paired with the same nylon fabric for her black long sleeve turtleneck. "Sorry, didn't expect you to show up in this getup," Goten chuckled.
Trunks' eyes slid over to Marron, who's eyes plead for some form of reassurance. She was easier to read than a children's book, her eyes could speak a thousand words and Trunks could recite each word. Ever since the blonde was a child, he could remember the transparency between her visage and her emotions...there was no veil, no mask. Looking into those bright blue eyes was like looking at pure, unadulterated emotion.
The hybrid knew the moment his darker pools of blue met with her clearwater ponds, she was insecure. Knowing that Marron worked for a fashion magazine, he attempted to string together the jargon his sister often uses in an effort to make the blonde feel comfortable, the hybrid felt more than content by her warm smile as a response.
"I actually was inspired by the spring collection," Marron mused, straightening out her skirt and sitting beside Trunks. "Of course, it's not authentic...La Mode doesn't pay me that much," she concluded before calling the bartender over.
Goten looked helplessly at Trunks before erupting into laughter that boomed across the entire bar. "I see someone's been spending too much time with Bulla," Goten chuckled out, wiping a tear from his eyes. However, awkwardly enough, no one else found the joke very funny. Then the tension suddenly rose in the room.
Marron, in her best valiant efforts to ease the sudden awkwardness in the air, brought up something that was better left unsaid. "So Goten," Marron began after receiving her very fruity drink that stung both Saiyan's noses. At the mention of his name, the hybrid perked his head up and looked up, "you slept with Valese?" She stated teasingly.
Goten quirked a brow at the blonde before an o formed on his lips, "don't tell me she's your friend?"
Trunks couldn't help chuckling as the brandy nearly spilled out of his lips. Of course, Goten would sleep with Marron's best friend and not even know it, the circumstances lined up so perfectly. Not that Trunks was one to judge, he too was like Goten, sleeping with whatever hourglass figure rubbed up on him at the club. But times, for better or for worse, were different and he couldn't bring himself to such an emotionally taxing situation.
She rolled her eyes. "My best friend," she cockily added, before taking another sip feeling the rather diluted drink send only a small warming sensation down her throat. "I could have lived my life perfectly fine without hearing the nitty gritty, y'know?" Marron asked sarcastically.
Goten groaned woefully into his hands, his face flushed from embarrassment. "Crap," Goten continued before recovering himself. "Well, why don't you set me up with your hot friends!"
The blonde's expression deadpanned, and she could see immediately why those two would even hook up. Their priorities were practically the same: young twenty-somethings that only care about romantic misadventures beneath sheets and partying in clubs that always reeked of cheap booze.
Marron took notice of Trunks who ordered another round of drinks for the three of them, instinctively, she sealed her lips and refused the offer as they seemed to be drinking liquor Marron was less than interested in. After she watched Goten take a swig from his shot glass, he turned over to Trunks and Marron, his cheeks already slightly flushed.
"Isn't this nice guys!" Goten exclaimed excitedly, going between Trunks and Marron swinging his arms around the both of them. "The gang is back together again," he continued, "well, Mai and those two weirdos aside...what happened with her?"
Mai's name rung through Trunks' ears, a sudden twinge playing at his heartstrings at the mentioned of his childhood crush. He could recall those days with very pristine memory, the rush he'd feel from simply holding the raven-haired woman's hands.
Before allowing the melancholy overtake him, he took another shot. Feeling the liquid burn down his throat, after nearly slamming the shot-glass down he looked towards Goten. "Turns out she was older than my mother," Trunks stated chills running down his spine.
"What?" Marron butted in curiously.
"Yeah, what?" Goten parroted.
Trunks took another shot after that, Mai was a topic he rather not touch upon. He held no hate for the woman, in fact, he still stood by the idea that she meant no harm. She too was a victim of a situation out of her control, and once she admitted the truth albeit late, he accepted it and let her go.
But the first sting of heartbreak is always the most painful, yet the teen grew and learned to forgive and forget. "You heard me," Trunks rasped out. Before Trunks could utter out another word he caught the flash of concern that echoes in Marron's eyes, her puffy lips half parted as they attempted to console him. Trunks, much like his father, resisted from such a public display. "Don't worry 'bout it Mar, I'm fine."
Marron's breath hitched before she looked over to Goten, who shook his head disappointingly at Trunks. "Oh man, are you still not over her?" Goten teasingly asked, before taking another shot. "I'll bet if you listened to me and stopped wasting away at that office you could actually get over her," Goten uncharacteristically sneered.
She could feel herself growing smaller, almost as if she were an outsider in the current display of tense energy. As much as Marron attempted to create a friendly environment, the booze has got the two hybrids spilling ruthless words to each other.
"Says you, you're spending your nights wasting away in another way...not like you understand why it's gotten old for me," Trunks replied as he took another sip of his drink, not noticing the hurt look that struck Goten. "Seriously, Chi doesn't give you crap for staying out so late all the time?" Trunks continued before noticing Marron's worried look as she glanced over to Trunks and back to Goten who's ki was slowly rising.
Trunks knew he should stop.
"What, am I just not mature enough to be your friend now, Trunks?" Goten asked bitterly. His brows furrowed with arms tightly crossed against his chest. "Let me know and I'll get up and fucking leave," Goten continued in his tirade, his voice laced with a hurt unknown to Marron.
The blonde stayed quiet, watching the tension at the table thicken. Her eyes flicking between Goten and Trunks, she felt utterly helpless watching the two clench fist and jaw. "You know damn well I didn't mean it that way-" Trunks retorted before getting cut off by Goten.
"How else did you want me to interpret that, Trunks?" Goten bit out, now standing from his seat drawing attention from individuals in the establishment.
Trunks licked his teeth, not even minding the blonde who sat meekly behind him. "You wanna know something Goten," Trunks began, his tone sounding extremely acerbic. "All you give me are some temporary fixes that never work, has it once ever crossed your mind that I don't want to do all that shit?" Goten grew quiet, breathing in sharply as he took the tongue lashing from his best friend. "Maybe, I'm just trying to grow up, and maybe it's time you did too."
Goten was fuming, Marron had never seen his face so red in her life. Marron didn't understand why, but she could feel her heart shattering into millions of pieces, much like porcelain glass. She could feel herself pushing the point of tears as she watched them both fight. It reminded her of when they were young. She could recall the shoreline of Kame Island, and see them both standing before each other arguing over something petty, like a ball or a turn in a video game. Marron would always be the one crying for them to stop. The diplomat, Bulma called her. But they weren't young children, and the confrontation more serious. Marron in a desperate attempt tried to choke out words but watched as the world fell silent, her only focus was the cruel, scathing way the two argued.
"I pulled your ass out of that jail cell you call home so I could have my best friend back!" Goten snapped. Tears forming in his eyes, damaged by the hurtful nature of Trunks' words. "Trunks, where did you go?" He suddenly asked, awaiting a response he knew would never come. Marron watched the younger hybrid turn around bitterly, his cheek turned to Trunks.
"I guess he's not coming back."
A/N: This ending was so difficult for me, Trunks and Goten are my favorite duo. But alas, this is not the end. A sad note to end on but...Marron is actually wearing the spring 2019 Prada collection, or at least the look was inspired by that. Goten doesn't understand fashion though ;) (and neither do I, I like to pretend I do though!) This is a longer chapter than I genuinely expected but hey! Here ya go. Happy new year folks!
Remember concrit is always welcome! Please don't be afraid to review I love hearing people's opinions on my work! :)