So yeah I'm pretty sure I hate this story now but I've started it so I'll finish cause I think that is the right thing to do. If you don't like it, believe me when I say I like it even less ha. Nevertheless, please feel free to tell me what you think, I would like to do better next time!
Nancy103 – I know I'm trying to strike a balance! It's not a bad thing I hope?
Trunks couldn't help but notice that Goten's shifts seemed to coincide more with his days off over the coming months. He wasn't necessarily suspicious that Goten was trying to run into him, but he'd certainly started to think that Goten had stopped actively avoiding it. Trunks couldn't help but smile when he thought of this, and on a couple of occasions laugh at how kind of pathetic that was. The fact that someone had eased off on avoiding you at all costs, shouldn't be the source of irrepressible happiness. That didn't seem quite healthy.
It certainly chipped away at the argument Trunks had made for himself being 'over it'.
Sometimes Goten hadn't left by the time Trunks got in from work. That usually meant Bulma would insist he ate with them, and his father wouldn't fight it. Trunks would count these as tiny victories that he was more than willing to take.
Trunks returned home from Capsule Corp one day laden with work he'd had to bring from the office, he tried to do his extra there where he could be useful and present. Upon entering the living room he found Goten and his mother dancing frantically to some bizarre fitness game Goten had brought home.
'Mother should you be throwing yourself around like that?' Trunks asked, alarmed.
'Oh Trunks relax, the doctor said gentle exercise wasn't a bad idea, and besides it's fun.' She did a weird thrust and Goten keeled over laughing.
Trunks shook his head. 'and here's me bringing my work home because you're a poor invalid.'
'I said no such thing!' she thrust around a little more before sitting herself on the couch 'I must admit though I may have overshot it today' Goten laughed and handed her a bottle of water, 'I'll go and get your meds, how about that?'
Bulma watched Trunks carefully as his eyes followed Goten out of the room.
'Don't tell anyone else, but Goten's my favourite help.' She said, reminding him she was there.
He looked around at her suddenly, as if only just remembering where he was. 'Oh yeah? Why's that?' He asked, smiling.
'He treats me like a normal person not some frail old woman, and he makes me laugh.'
'Oh yeah he's a hoot.'
Goten returned with the pills as Trunks was making sure she was comfortable and tidying around the living room, Bulma looked between them both and decided it would be more tactful to remove herself from the situation.
'If you'll excuse me boys, I think I'll take myself for a short nap before dinner after all the excitement.'
Trunks went to help but she shooed him away genially, 'don't fuss honey I'm fine.' He backed off, carried on tidying but kept a cautious eye on her as she left the room.
'I would have done that.' Goten told him, watching him push the furniture back to it's original position.
'Oh no don't be silly, you've done plenty she loves it when you come.'
Goten thought for a moment.
'IjustwantedtosaythatIthinkyou'vecopedincrediblywitheverythingthat'shappened,' Goten said nervously all at once. He hadn't meant to start this conversation but his brain had caused words to explode out of him before he could stop them.
Trunks looked mildly surprised for a second, 'Oh please, I couldn't have without everyone's help, including yours.'
Goten took a step forward, touching Trunks' arm as if to insist on his sincerity, 'no Trunks I'm serious, you've been amazing, and I'm not surprised I just want you to know that I notice and we all think so.'
Trunks blushed. 'Well, thanks Goten.'
'And I'm sorry about everything.' He said, Trunks wasn't sure what exactly he was talking about for a second, but the earnest look on his face told him it was probably relating to the two of them.
'Oh no don't be, it was my fault.' Trunks replied shaking his head.
'You know, the more time passes, the less I think that's true.' Goten said cryptically, taking another step forward, the proximity between them was getting to the shit or get off the pot stage, and Goten still had a hand on his arm.
Trunks was frozen to the spot looking into the other's dark eyes, endless wells where light seemed to be sucked in instead of reflected, making Goten look like the most perfect painting he'd ever seen. Goten seemed to get cold feet after closing the distance however, because he'd dropped his hand and managed somehow to turn the manoeuvre into getting his jacket off the arm of the couch.
'Aren't you going to stay for dinner?' Trunks asked, clearing his throat in an attempt to seem like he hadn't been involved in that moment.
'Um, not tonight I don't think, I'll see you soon though.'
Goten rushed towards the door throwing his jacket on, finally exhaling as he shut it behind himself. He shoved his hands in his pockets and started walking, cursing himself for being such an idiot, what the hell had gotten into him?
Bulma had explained what had happened between her and her husband only recently. When they were alone together, the pair of them had developed a troublesome habit of saying more than they probably should. She'd thrown Vegeta out because of him and Trunks. Goten had been devastated and guilt-ridden no matter how much Bulma assured him it wasn't his fault. The last thing he wanted was Vegeta to have an episode and be excommunicated again, all because Goten couldn't keep his lips to himself. Not with everything that was happening right now, he couldn't believe he'd almost been that selfish.
He shook his head as if he could will the memory away. Sometimes you have to recognise when a ship has sailed, he thought, and when is an awful time to try and get it back into the harbour.
Trunks stood in the same spot Goten had left him in. He had been about to kiss him, Trunks was sure of it. Did Goten really think Trunks didn't know him well enough to see that? And what's more, Trunks thought, he knew for a fact he wouldn't have been able to refuse. Goten must have known that, surely anyone with a pair of eyes could see it.
It was to his horror therefore that he noticed his father moving out from the shadows in the hall.
'You two are getting on well.' He said, monotone.
Trunks found his father unreadable, he decided to play dumb.
'Are we?.'
Vegeta narrowed his eyes.
'Are you planning to resume your relationship?'
Trunks wasn't about to be led down this path. 'And If I was?' he said, his voice lowered dangerously. 'I can't believe you would dare to even mention this to me. You don't like my preference, I get it, but you know what? Tough shit, I can't change.'
His father frowned at him.
'I don't care what gender you like.'
Trunks looked at him sardonically. 'You quite clearly do. I can't be bothered with your games father.'
He made to leave.
'I care that you would pair with someone weak willed.'
Trunks turned on the spot and tried to keep his temper in check, he didn't know what the hell his father was talking about but it seemed to be his instinct to oppose whatever he said nonetheless. 'Goten is not weak willed.' He said through gritted teeth, he'd promised himself he wouldn't let his father bait him, not again.
Vegeta inclined his head, 'So he has proved.'
'What?! What are you talking about?!' Trunks advanced on his father, he was caught in a dangerous combination of confusion and fury.
Vegeta stood his ground and continued calmly, 'I've seen him help your mother. I've seen him make her laugh on her darkest days. I've seen him stand up for you. He has proved that he is not weak willed.'
Trunks laughed in a maniacal kind of way before managing to compose himself.
'Let me get this straight,' Trunks said, pacing and breathing hard, he looked half mad. 'You- you made my life miserable, and I mean so fucking miserable, just in case Goten turned out to be 'weak willed'?'
Trunks looked at his father wide-eyed, asking and almost daring for a response that didn't come.
'I don't even know what the fucking hell that means. What makes a persons' will weak? Jesus Christ, dad.'
His father didn't reply.
Trunks' head was spinning, he threaded his hands through his hair in frustration, he supposed briefly that he probably looked deranged. He didn't know whether to cry or laugh like a lunatic again, so he settled for completing the distance between himself and his father and punching him in the face.
Amazingly, his father let him.