Disclaimer: I am far too lazy to come up with quite a complex series such as Dragon ball Z. I don't own it, nor do I wish I owned it, because that sounds like a lot of work...

Summary: 31 drabbles about Goten and Trunks' winter as a couple.

Word count: 1576

Rated M for language, sexual scenes, etc.

Our First December

Drabble #26- Fireplaces (Revised)

Goten's dark eyes flickered with the yellow and orange of the fire. There was no other light on in his living-room, and there was no other sound aside from Trunks' rough breathing (one could almost call it snoring, but Goten didn't quite have the balls for that). It was times like this—when Goten was alone with nothing to occupy his thoughts—when he couldn't help but think about things he didn't want to think about. Things he didn't want to think about included: his grades, the dark parts of their relationship, assholes that are screwing around with his boyfriend, etc.

Currently, it's assholes that are screwing around with his boyfriend.

Goten doesn't know what he should do about Akeno. They had avoided worrying over it the past couple of days. They both hid under the cheerful disguise the holidays brought, but that didn't make the problem disappear. Trunks had made it clear that he didn't want to deal with it, didn't so much as want to talk about it.

Trunks wanted him to let it go, but Goten didn't think—no, he knew he couldn't do that.

"He's just a weird asshole who got off on stalking me with his camera. Everyone knows that," Trunks had told him, during one of the only times he was actually willing to discuss it.

"Yeah, well its common knowledge that he's a weird asshole, but that doesn't excuse what he's doing! It also doesn't change the fact that he's probably not going to stop until someone's foot is lodged up his ass!" Goten protested.

Trunks rolled his eyes. "Well I'd be happy if that foot wasn't yours. I don't need you to fight my battles, remember? Especially when I don't think this 'battle' warrants any fighting."

"So you want to run from this? Trunks, you can't keep running from your problems!"

"I don't run from my problems!"

Goten gave him a look.

Trunks sighed. "Alright, but I'm not running from this one. I'm getting over it, because I've got way more important things to worry about in my life. Now can we stop talking about this?"

Goten dropped the conversation, because neither of them were going to concede any time soon. Goten knew his mind would not change, but he hoped that Trunks could be... persuaded. So far, that didn't seem like it was happening.

He stops thinking about it because his mother is walking around the couch, catching his attention.

"Hey, Mom, I thought you were in bed."

"I'm on my way, just wanted to finish up with the last of the dishes."

"Aw mom, you should've told me. Is there anything else you need done?" Goten didn't like chores, but he was willing to do them for his mother. He could cook, wash dishes without breaking them, and even—shudder—tidy up if he put his mind to it.

... He was definitely the most domesticated of the Son boys and he refused to be ashamed of it.

She waves him off. "I've got it all covered, but if you want to help, you can wash the dishes after breakfast tomorrow." She wipes her hands down her dress, and gestures with her head to the unconscious boy. "He's wiped out."

Goten trails his eyes over. Trunks' legs are crossed on the couch as his head leans heavily against Goten's shoulder. His chest rises and falls with his deep breaths, and his mouth is open from his... rough breathing...

Not snoring... definitely not snoring...

Goten feels a faint blush rise to his cheeks as he replies, "Yeah, I kind of, uh, kept him up late last night." Goten prays that his mother doesn't take that in the way it was implied.

She gives him a suspicious look. "Right. Well, I'm off to demand that your father stay until the New Year. Goodnight, baby."

"Goodnight, I love you," Goten says back.

"I love you too, sweetie," She answers, bending down to kiss his forehead. She then pauses, before turning and kissing Trunks' forehead. "And this one too... even if he did break my vase."

Goten quirks his brow in amusement. "Six years ago?"

Chi-Chi grumbles. "It doesn't matter how long ago it was. It doesn't make the vase any less broken."

Goten laughs as his mother exits the room. When she's gone, he turns his attention back to the fireplace. The fire crackles against the wood inside, filling the room with dark shadows and warmth. He wants to focus on the fire and stop worrying over things that are out of his control, just for a moment.

A new distraction comes in the form of his new cellphone—a Christmas present from Gohan—buzzing in his pants pocket.

He reaches in and pulls out the device. He groans when he sees the caller ID.

Cayon.

Goten clicks the answer button, and brings the phone to his ear. "What do you want?" He doesn't bother whispering; Trunks was a deep enough sleeper.

"You know, when someone calls, it's customary to say 'hello'. Still don't have any manners?"

"Look, as much as I would love to sit here and listen to you insult me, I've got better things to do, so goodby—"

"Okay, okay, shit. I'm sorry, alright?"

Goten is stunned almost speechless. "What do you want?"

"I want to know what you're going to do about the whole Trunks situation."

"What Trunks si—?"

"Akeno, Son. Gods, you're dumb."

Goten doesn't even notice the insult. "What the hell do you care?"

"By your response, I'm going to assume you're doing nothing."

Goten's brow twitches as he flushes. "Okay, you are probably the last person I should be having this conversation with."

"Listen, Son. I really don't like you, and you really don't like me, we've made that pretty clear. That does not change the fact that Trunks is still my friend. Despite whatever you think my motives are, I care about him, and I don't want him getting hurt because you're too much of a coward to do something."

Goten exhales roughly, and closes his eyes. "He doesn't want me to do anything."

"Of course he doesn't, you of all people should know how Trunks gets when he's got a problem! You can't let Akeno use that as an excuse to fuck around with him!"

"Do you have any idea how pissed he'll be with me?"

"Does it matter? What's more important: you're perfect, happy relationship where you guys are always smiling and frolicking in the sunset and pretending that everything is happy in the world, or taking care of a serious problem that is already fucking with his daily life, mental state, and most likely his future if left to do so?"

Goten bites his lip and looks down at the sleeping boy next to him. What was more important? He knew that he shouldn't be asking this, that he should already know the answer, but he couldn't help but wonder. Goten thinks the right thing to do would be to take care of Akeno, despite Trunks' wishes. But... what could that mean for them afterwards? With how fragile their relationship has been lately, he could risk them possibly breaking...

He didn't want to do that; he wasn't strong enough to go through that a second time. Those few days, despite how much Goten wished they didn't exist, still lingered like a fog in the back of his mind, getting closer and closer with each little fight, and every single problem. It would only be a matter of time before they were here, and it might not be as easy to escape them a second time...

"When people ask non-rhetorical questions, it is also customary to answer."

"Okay, okay. Fuck, I'll think of something."

"You better. Now that that's out of the way, have a pleasant evening, Go-Go," Cayon says pleasantly.

"Fuck you, and don't call me again," Goten replies and disconnects the call. He knew he probably shouldn't take advice from Cayon, but he couldn't help but to admit that the asshole was right. He had to do something.

Goten closed his eyes and sighed. He didn't want to worry about this; he didn't want to worry about anything. He just wanted to lay here, with the fireplace flickering behind his eyelids, and forget that this problem even existed.

Sleep, that's what he's going to do. That's all he can do right now.

He nudges Trunks' head off of him so he can stand to his feet. He goes to put out the fire. Once the flames are gone, he turns around in the nearly-pitch black room. He returns to the couch, and kneels down.

He jostles Trunks' shoulder and speaks softly, "Hey, Trunks."

It's a long moment later when the older boy groans.

"Come on, let's go upstairs."

Trunks mumbles, and throws his hands out, hitting Goten in the cheek. He blinks, dazed, as the arms fall to rest on his shoulders. Goten understands now and rolls his eyes in amusement.

Bracing his hand on the underside of Trunks' knees and his back, he stood, pulling Trunks up with him. Trunks' body was as big as his, but nowhere near heavy, so Goten didn't have any trouble carrying him along.

... Aside from stubbing his toe on the end table, but he didn't complain, because he figured that that of all the problems he had right now, this was one he didn't mind at all.

End