4

A Plan Hatches

"A time machine?" Goten slurped at his pasta, sauce on his chin. It smelled of strong pesto and bison.

The apartment he rented was small, just a studio in West City. He'd been there only a few weeks before Dende's bad news. Having abandoned his mother, as she had so eloquently put it while crying into his packed suitcase. The only furniture was a futon mattress and small coffee table that was currently serving as his and Trunks's diner table. The walls were an ugly and bright yellow, splotchy. Though the wall directly behind Goten was painted halfway up with a muted grey. Brushes and paint buckets sat aside during diner. The floor was covered in tarp and drips of grey. The two men seated center stage were also coated on swipes of paint. Goten's orange gi was basically ruined, but Trunks had thought ahead and was wearing pre-ruined shorts and no shirt.

"My other self left behind some blueprints," Trunks said, making Goten smirk at how odd the sentence would seem to anyone outside of the Briefs boy's family and friends. "My mom's been hoarding them for years," Trunks said as he chewed a meat ball. "She can't figure out the formula," he added and took a swig of beer.

Goten slurped a noodle slowly, scratching his head. "But wasn't she the one who built it in that time realm?" he asked, puzzled.

Trunks blushed. "Idiot!" he hissed, slamming down his can and scowling at his best friend. "They're not exactly the same woman, you know! Necessity helped that other woman build a time machine. My mom hasn't ever had the motivation. She just piddles with it. If she ever really needed to, she'd figure it out for sure."

Humming, Goten licked his plate clean and stood to take the dishes to his dirty kitchen. The only space actually being used regularly but remaining neglected. His mother had berated him for being a slob during her recent visit. "So why not just ask her. Tell her what Vegeta told you," Goten said, clattering the dishes into the already tumbling pile. He caught several bowls just before they hit the floor, a drop of startled sweat leaking down his face and mixing with paint.

"My dad says to leave her out of it this time," Trunks crossed his arms and turned to watch Goten grab two more beers from his refrigerator, his back resting against the coffee table. "He's pretty convincing that he'll kick my ass if I disobey him," he breathed, taking the can as Goten walked back over. "And not that I can't take him down," Trunks boasted, popping the cap, "but I don't want to fight him at a time like this." His eyes, full of mischief stared at Goten from beneath his lashes.

Goten narrowed his eyes and grinned, chuckling. "Yeah, sure," he sniggered. "I've seen you and your dad fight before, Trunks. You lost big time."

"Only because I let him win. His ego needs fed sometimes. Plus he's old and-"

At that, Goten let loose his full laughter.

"Shut up!" Trunks roared, face blood red. He crushed his can and threw it at Goten's face.

Swatting it away, the other young man burst into more laughter. He only gained a moment of sanity when Trunks fired a shot at him. Thankfully Goten managed to grab and absorb it before the green ball of energy destroyed the entire apartment complex. Goten held his mouth to stop the laughter. Finally calming, he put down his beer and glanced over at the numerous empty cans beside them. "Maybe we've had enough," he said. "You get pissy when you're drunk anyway," he tried not to laugh again.

Trunk gritted his teeth and crossed his arms stubbornly, upturning his nose.

Snorting, Goten chose to do what he always did when Trunks let his pride get in the way of progress. Be it on the battlefield, in class, or in everyday conversation. Goten could swear he'd seen his friend lose more than one great relationship simply because Trunks was too egotistical to come down off his high horse over even the smallest matter. Goten ignored the other man and finished the conversation alone. "So she can't build it and you're going to try," Goten said, "that's what you were saying. And go back and get this Moon Stone? If it even exists. Except that doing so-"

"Doing that," Trunks butted in, refusing to be overlooked as Goten had expected, "will cause a third rift in time. Who knows what changes will happen in that realm because of just going to that planet."

"Who cares," Goten said. "It's not like it will affect our time. And maybe that thing is real. Maybe Vegeta's right. Maybe we can wish this planet into a universe that's still whole. Maybe we can at least save Earth."

Trunks nodded. "Yeah and what if I get stuck?"

"You?" Goten huffed. "Who says you're the only one who gets to go to Planet Vegeta? Why do you get to be the hero?"

"I say!" Trunks argued, pointing to his chest. "I'm building the damn thing! I get first ordnance! Besides," he paused and held Goten's gaze intently, "space and time can only be stretched so far. I'm worried another rift could be dangerous."

"Like how?"

"Like, maybe that's why this is even happening in the first place. You think we're the only ones out there who might have traveled through time? Cell did. My other self did. Who knows what other Aliens have done so as well! I could wipe us out entirely by doing this!" Trunks explained, his hand gripping his hair. "My dad isn't thinking about the whole picture like I am," he said, "he's just reaching for any whiff of hope he can muster. But it's dangerous, damn it!" He finished, stern.

"Well so is just waiting around!" Goten bellowed, standing up, riled.

Eyes bulging at his friends spike in energy and emotion, Trunks fell back, catching himself just before his head smacked the tile. He stared up at Goten, mouth agape. The youngest Son boy took quite some time to lower his aura and settle back down. When he did, his face was that of determination. Trunks continued looking up at him, reminded very much of Goku as he looked into Goten's face. He held his breath before speaking. Finally Trunks sighed, admitting Goten was right.