Horror filled Trunks to his core as his eyes snapped forward to his familiar voice. There was Mai, standing in a new dress before him. A romantic air detailing the kitchen behind her. He cursed his almost-perfect memory as he immediately remembered that it was their anniversary that day. It was why the lunch had been so important. He had just been too busy thinking about someone else to really prioritize his actual girlfriend. "Mai."

"You dated me because I was like Goten?" She sounded hurt, but the fury in her eyes almost masked it entirely. "Here I thought I had finally found a really nice guy. One who would love me forever. Just like your future-self loved my future-self! I thought you also believed seeing them together meant it was only a matter of time we ended up married as well!"

"Mai, I'm sorry." Trunks tried to apologize. Only to have her pull away. "Mai—"

"No! Trunks, I trusted you!" She stepped away from him completely. "I was patient with you. I knew you wanted to successfully take over your mom's company before you settled down, and I was fine with that! I could wait, but this?! Do you even like girls?" Her face turned pale as she clasped a hand over her mouth. "The things I let you do to me because I thought you…did you do it with him in mind?"

"No! Mai, it's not like that. I do care about you. I really liked you."

"Liked?!"

"Like! Err, well, I'm actually not sure anymore." He sighed and sat down on one of the table chairs. "I never saw Goten like that before. I promise."

"Then, what changed?" Mai joined him at the table. Close enough to talk, but it was obvious she was keeping her distance.

Trunks gnawed on his bottom lip. Just this side of drawing blood. "A few years ago—"

"Years?!"

"Please, let me finish." He waited for her to agree before he continued. "I had snuck out for a midnight snack a few years ago. Mom was in the kitchen talking to Gohan. Helping him with a gadget she made. My guess is he busted the Saiyaman suit again, and mom was tired of fixing it for him." The harsh glare from Mai told him he was rambling. He nodded in apology. "Right. Anyways, while they were talking mom mentioned that she had no idea where you and I met. She figured it was during one of my escapades with Goten and then said she was surprised I didn't end up with Goten."

"That's because marriage is supposed to be between a man and a woman. I've always known your attachment to him was weird—" Trunks felt fire run through his veins at the comment "—but for it to get this extreme? You can't be with him anymore."

"What? You have no right to—"

"No right? I'm your girlfriend, Trunks, but you're thinking about someone else! A man, of all things!"

"I'm telling you it's different! It's just Goten—"

"And that makes it more dangerous." Mai sighed and shook her head. "You're right, Trunks. I don't have any right." She pulled off and slammed the bracelet he had given her onto the table. "We're through. Nothing you do or don't do with him will matter to me anymore. Obviously, it was just me who thought this was fate, but if you want a family, kids and a loving wife, you'll have to leave him. He's trouble. He'll ruin all your other relationships. Let him and Valese be happy and leave. Maybe you'll be less confused once you clear your mind of him." She stood up to leave. Mumbling something about how much time she had wasted on a gay man.

Trunks winced at the sound of the door slamming. His eyes fixated on where Mai had been sitting. He had a hard time believing that there were still people who thought like that in this day and age. Even his father, the almighty proud saiyan royal, cared little about the gender of his son's partner. Trunks clearly remembered the man grumble out "anyone but Kakarot's offspring" when Bulma had forced him to have "the talk" with Trunks. That made him think that maybe both his parents saw something between he and Goten that they had been blind to themselves. His mom had not only expected him to be with a man but had sounded quite disappointed that Goten would never be her son in law. He furrowed his brow. Then, something had to be wrong with Mai instead.

"Maybe Goten also is inclined to more options."

That was what his future-self had told him.

"It would mean I like you, alright? It means I probably always have, right?"

That was what Goten had realized the night before.

"I've always known your attachment to him was weird."

"Fuck!" Trunks shouted. Slamming his fists on the table and shattering the poor thing. He huffed. He really had been trying not to hurt Mai. Even if she was like Goten. Even if it had all started because of his damn need to be admired by his best friend. Even if nothing existed between them in the beginning, he would be a fool to deny nothing ever changed. He liked Mai. Cherished her. There was no way he would have been able to be so intimate with her had she still been just a way to get Goten to look at him. What made her think he thought of Goten when he was with her? They were two different people. Even with the damn-near identical similarities, Trunks knew they were not the same person.

But, perhaps that's the problem.

A knock at the door had him scared, but he figured there was no reason to hide. The damage was done. He opened it. Prepared to apologize to Mai and do anything to make it up to her. He knew they would never be able to gain their relationship back, but maybe he could salvage a friendship from this mess. "I—" He stopped. The last person he had expected to see was standing before him, instead. "Valese?"

"Hey, Trunks." She smiled. "May I come in?"

"Uh, sure. Oh, but Goten isn't here."

"'Goten', huh?" She arched a brow momentarily before going back to her smile. "That's fine. I actually came to talk with you."

"Me?"

"Yep!" She grinned and pushed past him. "Oh wow! Seems like you had quite the party." She gestured to the splintered mess that was once his table.

"Oh, that. Sorry. I got a little angry."

"You too, huh?"

"What does that mean?"

Valese sat on a chair. Leaning on the back of it since a table was missing. "Goten's been in a mood, too. Usually when his mood changes, I can trace it back to you."

"We don't fight that often." Trunks countered. Leaning against the wall opposite her.

She nodded. "You're right, but you're the only one who can affect him so much." She frowned then. "Did you know, I've never been able to get him to smile the way you can?"

"What?"

"Goten and I have been together for months now. It's been fun and all, but I could tell there was always someone in the way." She eyed Trunks. Glared, really. "No matter what I tried, Goten would never love me the way he loves you."

"We're really just friends, Valese." Unfortunately.

"Maybe to you, but you're more than that to him." She sighed. Defeated. "I think Goten sees you more like family. There isn't a thing you need where he isn't bending over backwards just to help you. I haven't even met his parents yet. It's almost been a year now, and I only know his family by name. Never actually met them." She stood up. Jabbing Trunks' chest with a well-cared-for acrylic nail. "You made him so miserable he won't even let me inside. So, you better go make things right."

Trunks blushed as he remembered what had caused Goten to freak out last night. "Believe me, I'm the last person Goten wants to see right now."

"Goten." She repeated. "Do you realize you only ever say his full name when you're not on good terms with him? He's never allowed me to call him 'Ten'. Like it's some special name only you have rights to, and yet you only use it when you two aren't fighting. Obviously, you had something to do with his current mood."

"Valese, I'm serious. He won't want to talk to me."

"We'll see that after you've at least given it a try." She looked him over and clicked her tongue. "You look trashy. Aren't you supposed to be the well-dressed one between the two of you?"

"I'm in my dorm, Valese. I'm allowed to dress as I please."

She flicked her eyes back up at him and then rolled them. "Whatever. Just, hurry up. I can't break up with him when he won't even talk to me."

"Wait, what? Break up?"

"Yeah." Valese crossed her arms. "I may not be as rich as you, Mr. Capsule Corp., but my parents are still rich. I learned long ago that if a guy doesn't introduce me to his parents within the first six months of dating, then he never really wanted me." Her eyes fell. It was evident that the idea of breaking up with Goten hurt her more then she led on. "I thought Goten would be different. He was sweet, and safe. I knew he didn't want me for my money. What, with you as his best friend, but I should have still made sure he wanted me for me." She made a sound of frustration as she shook her head. Later combing her hair back with a hand. "Anyways, that's how the cookie crumbles for me. Now that Goten won't even let me help him through whatever you did to him, it's obvious he'll never put me before you."

Trunks knew he should have not been as happy as he was. He should have been sad for his best friend or pissed that Valese seemed so used to the situation that she was discarding Goten as though he meant nothing to her. Still, he was newly single as well. He and Goten had realized that their girlfriends—exes?—were just female versions of each other. Perhaps now was the time to try with the real deal.

"Right. Sorry about that. We just grew up together, you know?" He tried to reassure her. "Maybe if you give him some more time he can—"

"No, Trunks." Valese sighed again. "I'm done waiting. You guys just don't get it. Us girls want to get married to a man. One who will provide for us and our children. Protect us and keep us happy. Regardless of how rich or pretty we are. We can't just wait around for a boy to get his act together. Especially when he doesn't show any signs of trying."

"I had finally found a really nice guy. One who would love me forever. It was only a matter of time we ended up married." Mai had said something like that as well.

"Right. Sorry."

"Enough. I've got a plane to catch. I planned on ending things today and heading out of the country. That should give us enough distance. Maybe one day, when I come back, Goten and I can try again, or be friends, at least." She gave Trunks a broken smile. "Guess I just have bad luck with men."

"I'm sure it's not you." It was then he remembered a few other things.

His father had mentioned that, as a warrior race, saiyans were only ever attracted to strong individuals. It was why Vegeta chose Bulma. It was never in spite of her quick temper and challenging attitude, it was because she knew how to stand her ground and never caved to Vegeta's dominance. Future Mai was also like that. Strong willed and determined. She would make decisions without Trunks if she had to without ever hesitating. It had almost led to her death one too many times, but that timeline's Trunks had fallen for her because of her fighting spirit.

This Trunks thought that his Mai was the same, but she had grown up differently. She grew up wanting to get a career. Just like his time's Gohan. Passive. Valese was at least determined, but Trunks knew she was a pushover. Her decision to breakup with Goten was probably forced by her parents, and she was just pretending it was her own idea.

So, why did they date them if their Saiyan genes demanded someone more dangerous? Well, at least for Trunks, it was because he saw his future-self with Mai. It was "supposed to happen". That, and he still had Goten. While he could also be quite the pushover at times, he was far from submissive and the two sparred often enough to prove that.

Therefore, he was right. It technically was no fault of Valese's why Goten could never get too attached to her. It was his saiyan genes.

There was just no escaping those desires.

As if to prove her earlier accusations, Valese tried knocking on the door. "Goten? It's me, Valese. Open up! We need to talk."

"Not now, Valese." Came the rather indifferent response.

She gestured to the door with her palms open. As if to say, "you see?"

Trunks nodded and waited for a moment before knocking on the door. "Goten? Uh, it's me. Can I come in?"

There was a silent but promising pause before Goten shouted. "No!"

Trunks sighed and smiled bitterly at Valese. "I told you."

She huffed at Trunks and pounded on the door this time. "Goten Son! If you don't open this door right now I…I…I'll make out with Trunks right here!"

"What? Valese, no!" Trunks tried to stop her in hushed tones, but she held a hand out to stop him.

"And I'll make sure to make it extra loud so you can hear us!"

"Dammit! Okay, give me a sec!" Goten finally responded. A bit of rustling came from inside his room before he unlocked and opened the door. His eyes instantly landed on Trunks. Pissed. "What do you want?"

"Uh, Valese came for help—"

"I invited him." She spoke up. "I thought you'd at least open the door to him. Since even your mom couldn't get you to open that door!"

"Valese. I told you, I'm not really—"

"Save it, Goten." She stood up a bit straighter. Her eyes sharp as she looked at the man before her. "I'm here to break up."

"What?!" Goten glanced between his two visitors. "W-Why?"

"Goten, we've been dating for almost a year and I have yet to meet your family! I only met your mom because you've refused to open your door all day!" She gave him a soft smile and placed a gentle hand on his cheek. "You're a really sweet boy, Goten, but I'm looking for a nice man."

"Valese, I—"

She shook her head. "I'm serious, Goten. We can't keep this up anymore. You're just not ready for the kind of commitment I want."

"So, you went to Trunks?"

Trunks jumped at the accusation. "Dude, no!"

"Of course not!" Valese crossed her arms, offended. "I told you, I thought you would open up to your best friend. You always put him first, anyways."

Goten grumbled before grabbing Valese by her hands. "Valese. I'm sorry. I promise to do better."

"Goten," she sighed. She was already getting tired of going around in circles. "You're really fun to be with, and I know you can be a great boyfriend, but I think we both need to work on ourselves before we can try again." She pulled away and checked her phone. "I've got a plane to catch in a few hours and I'm not done packing."

"You're leaving?"

"I want to work on myself." She shrugged with a small smile. "Who knows, maybe when I come back we can try again. If we're both single, that is." She elbowed him playfully and managed to pull a smile from him. She returned the smile with equal energy. "I really do like you, Goten, but I don't think either of us were ever in love. I think it's right we end this." When Goten could do nothing but nod, she cupped his face. "I'm sorry, Goten." She kissed his cheek and turned to leave. Goten felt the world around him shift again when she suddenly turned to point at the two men. "And make up already! I can't believe two grown men are so distraught about a silly fight that one won't talk to anyone ant the other destroys things. Grow up!" She winked at them to lessen the blow and finally left.

There was an uncomfortable silence that settled after Valese left. Trunks was sure that Goten would slam the door in his face again. Chase him out and tell him he never wanted to see the blue-eyed heir again, but the brunette surprised him by asking, "you broke something?"

"Ah, yeah. The kitchen table. Mai and I broke up, too."

"Oh wow. Weird." Goten mused. "What caused this fight?"

"You."

Pause.

"Me?!"

"N-Not exactly!" Trunks tried to correct his accidental confession. "M-More like our friendship."

"Oh. So, the same as Valese, then?"

No. "Yeah. Sorta."

"Damn. Sorry, man." Goten moved into his room. His door still open. "Wanna play some games? May take your mind off Mai."

"Sure. How are you holding up?"

"Honestly? I'm disturbingly alright." Goten furrowed his brow. "Was it wrong?"

"What was?"

"Dating Valese. You were right. She was like you so, I thought since we were best friends, maybe something more could develop with her." Goten huffed. "I should've never dragged her into a relationship when I was so confused."

Trunks felt his heart racing. Did Goten realize the gravity of what he was implying? "Hey, mistakes happen." Goten simply shrugged and Trunks gave a small smile. "I, uh, also dated Mai cause she was like you."

"Really?"

"Well," Trunks decided to tell Goten about his realizations while talking to his future-self. About how he just wanted to look cool and how it was kind of hard to stop after. He avoided mentioning the part where he called himself for advice, as well as outright telling Goten that Mai was exactly like him. He was still worried Goten would freak out and run off again.

Goten laughed with an arched brow. "You dated a girl because you wanted to be cool?"

"Hey, I was thirteen!" Trunks defended himself with a smile. "Besides, I had to be the cooler one. I'm royalty, you know."

"Mmhm, I know." Goten was back to his usual cheerful self. "So cool that you were always competing with yourself. Don't think I forgot how jealous you got whenever I hung out with Future Trunks."

"Ugh, don't remind me. That's a chapter of my life I'd like to bury forever."

"Right." Goten chuckled. When the silence returned, he fidgeted with his controller. "You know, I was only with him because you were always with Mai."

"I figured. Mom mentioned you liking the cooler, future-me since I stopped paying attention to you."

Goten flustered at the wording. "It's not like I'm a dog."

"Oh, Ten." Trunks laughed. "I know! That's not what I meant. I just meant we stopped hanging out. So, you kinda replaced me with, well, me."

"Hmm. That makes sense." Another pause. "He kissed me."

"Excuse me?!"

Goten fussed with his controller now. Not able to look at his best friend anymore. "I asked him to."

"Why?!"

"I wanted to know what a kiss felt like, and I didn't have anyone I could ask. I figured, if you and I were best friends, and I couldn't ask you because of Mai, then maybe I could ask a future-you."

"He also has Mai. They're fucking married now!"

"I know! But, like, he wasn't you, so it didn't matter what happened. Besides, I only asked when he was drunk at Gohan's."

"Oh. Guess he doesn't remember. I'm sure he'd never be look at Mai in the face again if he did."

"Yeah. The weird part was he thought I was Gohan."

Trunks cringed at his future-self. "Yeah. About that, it turns out we're bi. He had a thing for his timeline's Gohan."

"Oh."

The two friends blushed furiously. No longer paying attention to the game and just pressed random buttons to keep from having to speak again. The silence was deafening, though, and Trunks had to speak up. "How was the kiss?"

"Seriously dude?"

"What? I'm a damn great kisser! I bet that guy's never even kissed anyone who wasn't Mai."

"Neither have you!"

"Yeah, but I've done it longer!"

"That hardly means anything."

"Oh yeah? Wanna bet on that?" Trunks smirked at his friend expectantly. His heart skipped when he saw Goten blush anew and look away. His lips quirked up in a smile as he thought, finally. He managed to make his best friend blush. The one expression he had been unable to achieve was finally in front of him. Gorgeously red, and Trunks knew then that whatever turmoil he had been suffering before came to a stop. He wanted to make Goten blush again. "We can try that kiss now."

"What?" Goten looked back at him with wide eyes. His eyes glanced over at his open door before shifting back at Trunks. He smiled awkwardly. "You can't be serious."

"Ten, I've been nothing but serious this whole time." Trunks suddenly felt his determination steel his nerves. Encouraging him to take the plunge and work with the tiny opportunity presented to him. He moved in closer. A tiny shift that could pass off as Trunks wanting to be heard after dropping his voice to a whisper, but it was another test. A way to gauge Goten's reaction to the close proximity. "I meant what I said. Mai was almost exactly like you. Almost." He set down his controller and shifted to face his friend entirely. It caused Goten to mimic the action and also set down his controller. Trunks smiled. "She could never be you, and I've been so stubbornly stupid that I'm just now noticing how much of a problem that is."

"What?" Goten leaned away. "You telling me you have a crush on me or something?"

Trunks moved his hand to place it over Goten's. "What if I am?"

Goten froze at that. "What?"