Lavender Time
Part Six
Bulma nearly murdered them when they returned home. Her eyes were wide and red rimmed with worry, but her scowl refused to leave her face even after they proved there wasn't a scratch on them. "Was it so hard to send me a message? Or even fly over here real quick and let me know you're still alive before you continue to train. I spent my entire day worrying about you two. I didn't even cook because I wasn't sure if I would have boys to cook for!"
Goten's stomach rumbled at the mention of food, and she sent him an icy look. "I'm sorry," he whimpered, hand cupping his nearly empty stomach. "But we skipped lunch." He tried to give her his best puppy dog eyes, it worked before in his time. Even his father resorted to use of his big dark eyes to get a homemade snack every now and then.
Slowly Bulma's stern look faded away and she sighed in exasperation. "I am not cooking for you tonight, but I'll lay out some canned goods and bread and you two can make yourselves dinner. Got it?"
A small cheer left the two saiyans as they followed her into the kitchen. After emptying nearly all the cabinets for food, Bulma kissed the two good night and retreated to bed. A blush was fresh on Mirai's face after the action and Goten couldn't help but laugh. "Are you embarrassed?" he teased, "What too old for a good night kiss?"
Mirai chuckled, "I'm a 30 year old man still living with his mother. Of course I'm embarrassed."
They both laughed, the air felt lighter now. After his initial realization that he had feelings for Mirai, Goten had been quiet. The entire flight home, neither had said a word. Both lost in their own thoughts about the day. It was during that time Goten came to the conclusion, that of course he would start having feelings for Mirai. The man looked just like his boyfriend, they shared a few of the same traits, the same eyes, same smile. But he was also completely different. Where Trunks could often times be selfish Mirai was nothing but giving. Trunks was still a boy, Mirai was the man he would never grow up to be.
They were similar. Not the same. He still loved Trunks, still wanted to return to the past and be with him. The new feelings were nothing as long as he didn't act on them.
"I think now I'm allowed to properly apologize to you?" Goten asked, placing the final piece of bread on his sandwich.
Mirai was still slathering his on jelly, but he wore a considerate expression as he said, "I guess I'll let you apologize now."
Goten rolled his eyes, "Way to ruin the moment. Okay, look. I shouldn't have said that thing… about you and Trunks. Your two different people and I get that. I shouldn't have run off on you either. I realize that it was stupid and I'm sorry."
A smug smirk slid across Mirai's face by the time Goten was finished. He blinked large black eyes at the man and demanded, "What?"
"Nothing," Mirai shrugged, his blue eyes falling down to his sandwich. Goten shrugged and did the same, not hesitating to take a large bite, right at the same time Mirai decided he had more to say. "It's just, you remind me a lot of myself when I was your age Goten."
"Whauh?" He nearly choked as a piece of his food threatened to go down the wrong pipe.
He had not been expecting that.
Mirai shrugged, "I guess its Karma. I use to feel just like you when I was a teenager. Gohan was my mentor then, and he was always so calm and collected. Meanwhile I was such a hot head, wanting to just jump into fights and save everyone. I was thinking about that today, after you left. I guess I'm not surprised that the Trunks in your time would do the exact same thing I use to do. I'm wasn't mad about what happened. I was just… worried."
Goten pretended to clear his throat in order to hide the blush he could feel heating his cheeks and the surprise that rested on his face. "You were?"
"Of course!" Mirai looked shocked, "We're friends Goten, and I don't want anything to happen to you. It's hard enough, not being able to protect the few humans left. But to not be able to protect my friends and family… that's the hardest thing in the world."
"I know what you mean," Goten admitted, remembering when Majin Buu had threatened everything. Before that, all he had known was peace. He hadn't known what a real fight was until then. "I couldn't help but feel guilty after I heard the radio. We were having fun while people were..."
Mirai let out a long sigh, carding his fingers threw long locks. "I know. That's something I've struggled with for a long time, but what I realized is to live in this world you need a balance. Responsibility and discipline are principles I have to live by every day, but even I need a break. Even I have to realize that I can't do everything. You shouldn't feel guilty, you need to take whatever you feel and turn it into determination to train harder."
Ice blue eyes were a pool of honesty that Goten couldn't look away from. His own mouth had gone dry. Mirai's smile returned before he turned back to his sandwich and took another bite out of it.
"Mirai," Goten said once he found the ability to speak again, "I know I already apologized for early, but…you're different from him. My Trunks."
"Of course I am Goten." Mirai said, not looking up as he tore into his food.
Heat touched Goten's cheeks, "I know I know, but I have to admit it was hard at first to keep things straight. And that's not fair to you… or to him." Mirai's chewing slowed, as he looked up. Goten took a deep shaky breath before continuing, "I know what it feels like, always being compared to someone. It's… It's the worst feeling in the world."
"Goten…" Mirai started, but the younger saiyna shook his head, cutting off whatever the other man might have said.
"It's alright, you don't have to say anything."
"Except I do…" Mirai breathed in one quick breath that was suddenly right next to Goten's face, "I'm sorry." And then he leaned in, pushing his lips against Goten's in a soft kiss.
He was speechless, the only thing thing going threw his mind was the tenderness of Mirai's kiss. He'd thought that it would be his own weakness that would lead to a kiss with Mirai, he never expected the other man to return the feelings, nonetheless act out on them.
There was softness as a warm tongue pried for entrance and Goten found himself obliging. The kiss was nothing like he'd ever experience before. It wasn't messy or rushed like his past kisses. There was a slow build to it, no shyness. He let Mirai do the work and followed the other man's lead.
Pleasure swept through Goten's entire body as Mirai swirled their tongues together. A surprised moan escaped him, and then it was over before it had even started. The mouth pulled back and Goten had to fight back another moan, this one of despair as he opened his eyes. The look of guilt on Mirai's face caught him by surprise.
"I'm sorry," the older man said, for the first time since meeting him, Goten saw Mirai at a loss for words, "I shouldn't have…I just assumed..."
"No no," Goten rushed, his lips were still tingling from the kiss, "Don't apologize, I…"
"Liked it?" Hope lit up Mirai's face, he moved forward again, ready to give another kiss.
Goten swallowed the lump that was stuck in his throat. His attraction towards Mirai made him yearn to lean forward and lose himself into whatever the older man had to offer. But he couldn't just forget about Trunks.
"I did," he admitted, watching the handsome smile flicker across Mirai's face. "But it wouldn't be fair. Trunks and I…" The word refused to come out. He hadn't told anyone about their relationship. Not his family, or even Piccolo. It had been one of his and Trunks' closely guarded secrets until they decided the time was right.
He didn't have to say the words though, Mirai showed he understood with a slow nod. A large hand cupped one of Goten's and squeezed reassuringly, "I see. Can't say I'm surprised."
The warmth of Mirai's hand disappeared as he stood up and gathered his plate, "Forget I said anything Goten. The only thing you need to concentrate on is training and getting home."
"I'll do my best." It was the only thing Goten could think of to say, he watched Mirai walk away. Deep down, he knew he'd done the right thing, he'd remained loyal to both Trunks and Mirai, but that didn't ease the tension in his stomach. Looking back down to his sandwich he realized for the first time ever, he wasn't hungry.
Author's Note: Don't forget to read and review! Next Chapter will be longer.
