The fly over to Mt. Paozu was silent. Trunks refused to speak, and Goten's mind was racing with thoughts.
He always knew he was different from humans, and he knew his anatomy was similar to what he learned in his textbooks, but not exactly like it. Still, he was caught completely off guard by Vegeta's lesson. Pseudo connections, claims, mates? Those were all new words that were just shoved onto him, and he was expected to just take it? No questions asked? As if! The craziest part of all the new information thrown at him was the fact that Trunks had already claimed him. When? How? Why?
Goten pressed his lips and glanced over at the man he had grown up with. When Trunks had stated that Mai was his girlfriend, Goten had never even considered romance. With any gender, really. He simply enjoyed spending time with his best friend and often did his best to extend that time. Other than that, Goten never felt the need to create any sort of relation with anyone else. Even if he had dreamt of living with Trunks once they became adults, he was sure it had all been platonic at the time. Things were different for Trunks, though.
Trunks had actively been trying to look good in front of Goten. Going so far as to start a relationship just to get Goten's admiration. He had even gotten jealous of his future-self whenever Goten decided to spend time with T instead. Goten had always figured it was Trunks' elevated ego and narcissism that had him so touchy about not being placed first, but now? Now, Goten was almost sure that it was because Trunks had a crush on him at the time.
No way! He dismissed the thought with a laugh. Trunks had always been so sure of what he wanted and was stubborn enough to get it. Goten, on the other hand…
He blushed as he remembered the kiss he shared with Future Trunks, the night they spent with Gohan. It had been a drunken kiss that meant nothing. T would never even remember it, but Goten had wanted to test something. More than just the feel of lips against his, Goten wanted to know what Trunks' lips would feel like.
Videl had taken Pan to spend the night with her father. Leaving the three of them to have some "boy time" for the evening. Goten was a little bummed that his niece would be absent, he enjoyed watching over her after all, but he was excited he would finally get to hang out with his brother and best friend. Though, it became very clear that T was anything but his best friend. Gohan had T's entire focus. The two would talk the same way Goten and Trunks talked. Though, Gohan had a hard time keeping up with their guest. That had reassured Goten that it was because Trunks was his best friend, and not Gohan's, but T almost ignored him entirely. Not in a rude manner. T just seemed more preoccupied with Gohan.
Even while playing video games, when T was most like the Trunks he knew, Goten noticed that T was too different. He treated Goten nicer, the way Gohan did, and he was overly polite to everyone. What really drove a wedge between the two identities Goten often mistook for one and the same was the way T looked at his brother. It was obvious after T had drunk enough to slur his words. Gohan had found it amusing. He decided it was time to set up the guest bed and asked Goten to look after T in the meantime. Goten took that chance to test his theory.
"Hey, T?"
"Hm?" T glanced over at Goten. "What's up, little man?"
Goten smiled at the man, "do you like boys?"
"What?" T sat up straight with a red face. It had been red due to the alcohol, but Goten could swear it turned a darker shade of red. "Why do you say that?"
"I," Goten looked over his shoulder to where Gohan was setting up a bed. Worried his brother would hear, Goten stood up to whisper in T's ear. "I think you like Gohan."
"W-Well, yeah. He was my mentor in my time, remember?"
Goten shook his head. "No, like, like him! You look at him the way Videl does, and she like, likes him."
T sighed and slumped over the table. Burying his face in his arms. "Don't tell him, please."
"I won't." Goten tilted his head to try and get a better look at him. The thought of Trunks liking his brother bothered him. He already noticed that T was nothing like Trunks, but it was Trunks' face that softened every time he looked at Gohan, and that bothered him. "Um, T?"
"What?"
"Have you ever kissed—"
"What are you asking him?" Gohan returned with a good-natured smile.
Goten jumped and held his hands up. "I didn't ask anything weird!"
T burned a brighter shade of red as he waited for Gohan to respond. Gohan simply chuckled and wrapped an arm around T. Pulling him up to his feet. "If you wanna know what a kiss feels like, you're gonna have to grow up first."
"I was just asking."
"Alright. Do me a favor and help me clean up? I'm going to put Trunks in bed."
Goten nodded and moved to start collecting the cans.
T had surprised them both when he spoke up. "Maybe Goten should take me."
"It's fine, I got you."
"Yeah, but," T looked at the can in Goten's hand. "I don't think you mom wants him smelling like alcohol."
Gohan glanced at all the empty cans of beer and sighed. "Alright, fair. I'll clean up instead. Goten, can you take him?"
"Okay!" He flew up to keep T standing and helped guide him to the guest room.
It was only after Goten had pulled the covers over T that the man decided to speak up. "I haven't."
"Huh?"
"Kissed Gohan. I never did, and I wouldn't try now either. He's happily married with a great girl. I'd never," his voice trailed off.
Goten had a hard time reading his expression. Especially with the arm T placed over his eyes. Still, even he could see the tears that ran down from his eyes. "Hey, T, are you—"
"No." He forced himself to smile. "I'm not okay at all."
The room fell silent, and Goten felt the urge to stay until T managed to sleep. When he did, Goten got up to leave, but he paused at the entrance. The person lying in the bed behind him was someone else. A man who only looked like his best friend, but his curiosity was still there.
He hovered over the man and observed him. Unlike Trunks' lilac hair that matched Dr. Briefs' natural color, T had the same shade of blue as Bulma. It made Goten wonder if maybe Trunks would one day show up with blue hair when he was older.
He pursed his lips and reached out to touch T's cheek, freezing as the man stirred in his sleep. Too scared to make a move. His breathing stopped as baby blue eyes fluttered open, and his mind went into overdrive. Goten was thinking of any number of excuses he could rant out when T suddenly moved, kissed him, and laid back down with fresh tears running down his face.
Goten was shocked. He touched his lips and felt an unfamiliar heat flood his cheeks. Not really knowing what to do with what just happened.
Then, T mumbled in his sleep. "I'm so sorry, Gohan."
How embarrassing. Goten grumbled in his mind. That should have been his first warning that he might like Trunks more than a friend, but he had been so dense. He had never felt possessive of Trunks. Even when Mai appeared, Goten had been genuinely happy for his best friend. Cheering him on and respecting their space. However, his reaction to T's unexpected kiss, as well as his attachment to the man from the future, were both clear signs of his desires for Trunks. Gods, I'm blind.
He glanced back at Trunks. If they had been more aware of their feelings, would they have been together sooner? Would Goten have even known how to respond if Trunks had confessed sooner? Did it even matter anymore? They were together now. Trunks had even claimed him. Goten blushed at the thought. How long had Trunks liked him? Goten was only now aware of his own feelings, but he had a feeling that he may have liked Trunks the entire time. Was Trunks the same way? Since when? Was it also back when T came to visit?
There were so many times when Trunks had been hostile towards his future-self. Goten had always found it weird but, now that Vegeta taught them about their biology, it probably had something to do with that possessive nature that Vegeta mentioned. There were plenty of times when Trunks had gotten a bit too touchy whenever T was mentioned. The arguments between the two would eventually lead to the best friends fighting each other. Biting and scratching were never rare, but Trunks was usually careful to cause damage to areas that were easy to hide. His caution toward Chi-Chi had led to that habit, but there was one time where the placement was off.
The ever-careful Trunks had sunk his teeth into Goten's neck. Leaving a strange bruise Goten later learned was a hickey.
Gohan had covered for them at the time. Claiming that it was only a bruise from a bite, and that their fuming attitudes was proof that Trunks had not been trying to seduce Goten. Chi-Chi had bought it and warned the two to be more careful when they fought, but now Goten wondered if that was all it was. Maybe, since the fight was about T, Trunks had intended to mark him. A visual that proved Goten belonged to him.
His eyes widened as he remembered the spot Trunks had bit him the day before. The hickey he had now was in the same spot as the hickey that had the two grounded for a month. Goten gaped at his friend and froze mid-flight.
Trunks had belatedly noticed Goten's absence and turned around. "What's wrong, Ten?" He noticed Goten's hand on his mark and concern flooded Trunks' systems. "Is it the bite? Does it hurt? You wanna go back to mom and see if she—"
"You marked me."
"Y-Yeah. Sorry about that. I don't know what came over me, but I really needed to—"
"No, Trunks, you marked me. Here!" Goten flashed him an unbelieving look. "It was back when we were still kids. You got all whiny about me sharing a bed with T when we spent the night at Gohan's. Something about me smelling like him, and we fought."
"Ten, don't remind me." Trunks groaned. "Not my best moment."
"No, but that was when it happened." Goten shook his head with a chuckle. "You were usually so careful to hide all the bruises and scratches so mom never caught us, but not that time. You bit my neck and I punched you. I," he paused to try and remember the details. "Gods, I told you I didn't belong to you. Just like yesterday, I could hear you."
"Hear me? What are you talking about?"
"Trunks, when you marked me, I heard your thoughts. You said 'mine'."
Trunks blushed. "That's impossible. We aren't telepathic."
"Well, dad did something to Krillin on Namek that was close to it."
"I'm sure that's just a technique he picked up." Trunks huffed. "We can't do that. Besides, how are you so sure I marked you back then and not yesterday?"
"Because you're always touching this spot. Whenever you're happy, your thumb always rubs this spot, and when we hug, you're always breathing there."
Trunks felt himself grow red with shame. "I-If you noticed that, why didn't you say anything?! If the roles were reversed, I would've said you were weird!"
"Well, I did think about it." Goten admitted. "I just figured it was a coincidence. I was usually to your right, so it made sense you had easier access to my left side."
"I see." Trunks moved and was just about to touch the mark when he pulled away with a bright blush. "W-We should get going."
Goten gave him a knowing smirk. "You were about to touch it again, weren't you?"
"Shut up." Trunks huffed and blasted away.
Goten chuckled and ran his fingers over the bite. He had thought it was weird, but the real reason he never said anything was because he thought it meant only he could calm Trunks, and that made him feel special. It made all the looks T gave Gohan bearable. After all, it was just one other thing that reassured him that Trunks liked him and not Gohan.
He shook it off and blasted after his boyfriend. Someone had to save him from his mom, after all.