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' first summer as a couple.

Word count: 2134

Rated M for language, sexual scenes, etc.

Our First Summer

Drabble #22- Heatwave III (Revised)

Heatstroke. It was a heatstroke.

Goten's heart thumped to a dangerous beat in his chest. Bulma had arrived at the hospital with Bra not long after the doctors took Trunks away, and Goten had been sitting in the waiting room with the Brief family ever since.

"Goten, honey," Bulma said, and it was only then that he noticed how hard his leg was bouncing, and the crack his foot was making in the tile. He forced it to be still.

Why haven't they come out yet? How long did they have to wait before they could go see him? A heatstroke was bad. A heatstroke was a medical emergency. A heatstroke could kill someone (mostly young, old, or sick people, but killed all the same). He could feel Trunks energy, beating far more steady than it had before, but he needed to be sure. He needed to see him.

By the time the doctor came out, he was already too lost in his own worry to really pay attention. He caught the confirmed diagnosis, and that Trunks was stable, and ready for visitors.

He registered Trunks' parents and sister straightening up and following after the doctor. Goten gripped the metal handles of the chair, and forced himself to be patient.

XXX

It felt like an eternity before a head of blue hair peeked around the corner. He stood up so quickly that his chair nearly tipped over, and made his way over towards Trunks' family.

He stopped in front of Bulma, who put her hands on his shoulders. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her face looked weary. "We are going to get some food from the cafeteria and then we'll be right back, okay?"

Goten nodded. He knew it must be hard for her to leave her son for even a second, but he was glad she was, and mentally promised to keep his visit short.

Bulma nodded as well, and reached down to grasp Bra's hand. The child looked sad, turning back to look down the hallway in which they came. She didn't say anything though, and was led away by her mother.

Goten froze when he saw Vegeta staring at him. The man's gaze was hard, as well was his face. Vegeta's eyebrows drew a bit, before he walked past him.

"304B," Vegeta said right by his ear.

Goten was confused for a moment, before he realized that must be Trunks' room number. He hadn't even thought to ask. He supposed he should be thankful that Vegeta was in a generous mood.

He moved fast down the hallway and hopped into the vacant elevator. He pressed the button for the seventh floor, where all rooms labeled 'B' were.

It seemed like hours passed before the elevator doors finally opened, but it was to allow people waiting on the fourth floor entry. Goten held in his frustrated groan—it wasn't these people's fault that he was having a crisis—as the elevator slowly climbed to the seventh floor.

After what surely had to be a lifetime, Goten was dashing from his elevator. He noticed a sign that read '289B – 314B', and without a second wasted, jogged down that hallway.

301B... 302B... 303B... 304B.

He stopped outside the door. He took a deep breath, desperate for his nerves to calm. He was here now; there was no need for further panic. Trunks was just beyond this door, and he was fine. All Goten had to do was look and he'd know.

He looked through the window.

The first thing he saw was the nasogastric tube taped to Trunks' nose. There was a hospital gown covering his upper-body, and disappearing underneath the white blankets that pooled in his lap. His lips were parted, and his eyes were closed, so he must've been asleep. His skin was still flushed red and looked dry. Goten wondered when it would go back to its natural tan color.

He grabbed the knob and turned it. As soon as the door left the door frame, Trunks' eyes flew open. Trunks turned to look in his direction, and widened his eyes when he saw who it was.

"Goten," he said, the relief obvious in his voice.

"Hey," Goten replied, taking the seat next to Trunks' bedside. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," Trunks answered. "A little embarrassed by my stupidity, but that's about it."

Goten hummed. "What happened out there?"

Trunks looked uncomfortable. "Can't you just ask my parents? I just explained this to them."

"No," Goten said simply.

Trunks grumbled and looked away, though before he could start, Goten cut him off.

"Look at me. I think you owe me that."

Trunks' eyebrows drew in irritation, before he connected his gaze with Goten's. "I was too drunk to notice that I was overheating, and by the time I realized it, I was already passing out. The doctor said that the alcohol in my system made me more sensitive to the heat."

"Why were you even drunk?"

Trunks fidgeted. "I was upset. I thought that maybe the alcohol would help, because I'm an idiot, but it obviously didn't. I went to take a walk, and I like I said, by the time I realized that something was wrong, I was already falling unconscious."

Goten's eyes closed, and he begged for his earlier patience. "Trunks, we are in the middle of one of the worst heat waves we have had in decades. So not only were you drinking, but walking around for fuck knows how long? What were you thinking?"

Trunks looked away at that. "I wasn't thinking at all. I said I was being an idiot."

Goten clenched his fists. He wasn't sure if wanted to hit Trunks or embrace him. Why was he acting like this? Why was he acting like Goten couldn't have lost him?

Goten's voice cracked, "You really scared me, Trunks."

"I know," Trunks said, meeting his eyes again. His voice was just as small, "I'm so sorry, Goten."

Goten didn't have a reply to that. The room remained in uncomfortable silence for several minute.

"I... I'm also sorry for earlier."

Goten near-gaped at him.

Trunks looked down at his hands. "I'm sorry that I... tried to leave you. I'll wait a year before I go."

"No," Goten shook his head. "I shouldn't have yelled at you. You don't have to do that for me. You can do whatever you want."

"I know that," Trunks replied. "I want to go with you."

Goten cocked his eyebrow in obvious confusion, waiting for the other to elaborate.

Trunks sighed. "I do want to go to college with you. It's just that..."

Trunks was silent for a moment, his lips in a frown as he tried to word his troubles. Goten waited patiently for him to continue. He knew how hard it was for Trunks to speak his problems, and he was proud that his boyfriend was making an effort.

Finally Trunks spoke, "Remember Akeno?"

Goten nodded, because he certainly did remember him. They didn't have any classes together—Akeno was in Trunks' year, after all—but he knew of him. How could he not? He was probably the only person in school who 'wasn't impressed by Trunks money, looks, and mother', as he put it.

"A few months before school ended, he started saying some really shitty stuff to me. I guess he found out I was waiting a year before I went to college with you."

Goten frowned. "What did he say?"

Trunks fidgeted. "Just... really shitty things. He went on and on about how I practically live for you and called me your bitch, among other things..."

Goten had never been more outraged in his life. Before he even speak, however, Trunks cut him off, "I knocked his head so hard against the locker that he blacked out and broke his nose. I don't need you running off and defending my honor or anything stupid like that. It's just the things he said... they really..."

The anger burned with a vengeance in Goten's chest. He can't remember the last time he felt this angry. Just the thought that there was someone out there who thought he could speak to his boyfriend that way... "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It wouldn't have mattered, Goten. It's not just him who thinks that about me. Everyone thinks that my life revolves around you."

Trunks groaned loudly, and threw his arm over his forehead. "And worst part is that it really does."

"That's not true!" Goten protested.

Trunks side-eyed him. "I joined into General French 3 to be with you, even when everyone knew that I should've at least been in Advanced Placement French 5. I spend all of my time with you, even when my mother wants me to do business training with her. I can count the number of friends I actually have on one hand, and I ignore all of them just so I can spend every waking minute with you. I'm waiting a whole year, and then going to the same college, just so I can be with you! You mean so much to me, Goten, but still, you've got to admit that's kind of pathetic of me."

Goten floundered for words. He had no idea what to say.

"I was so humiliated by what he said... I was just trying to prove him wrong you know? I know that this is no excuse for the things I said to you, and I'm so, so, sorry that I did. You know I didn't mean them right? I don't care about what college I go to, or how long I have to wait. I really do want to be with you. It's just that, I always care too much about..."

Trunks stopped again, but Goten didn't care, because he knew what his love was trying to say. Trunks cared a lot about what people thought of him, he always had. Goten also knew that the things Akeno said to him, had hurt him far more than he was letting on.

Goten was feeling... he didn't know what he was feeling. Trunks thought his life revolved around him? Goten didn't like that. He didn't like to think that there were opportunities Trunks was missing out on because of him...

Goten couldn't think about that right now. He grabbed Trunks' hand. "There is nothing pathetic about you, Trunks. You know that it doesn't matter what people think, it only matters what we think. I know that it's hard for you to not care, and I'm really proud of you for trying. I just wish you would have told me what was bugging you sooner. I hate that you went this long feeling this way."

Trunks' eyes were wide, skeptic, near-fearful. Why? Goten was not sure.

Trunks' voice was soft as he asked, "So, you forgive me then?"

Goten blinked. Then he reached out a hand and grasped Trunks' chin. He brought their eyes together, and gave him a soft smile. "Only if you'll forgive me too." Then as an afterthought, "And promise not to walk around in 110 degree weather in a drunken stupor anymore."

Trunks huffed a laugh, but his eyes were relieved. Goten laughed with him, but he truly did want Trunks' forgiveness. He knew Trunks hadn't meant to bother him with what he had said, but his words kept bouncing around his head regardless. They were supposed to bring out the best in each other, and yet that wasn't what Goten was doing at all, was he? He was supposed to be good, something better, more than just something holding Trunks back.

He couldn't deal with that thought right now. Too much in one day and they'd be right back where they started. Trunks was okay, and that was all that mattered.

After a content moment of silence passed, he smoothed his hand past Trunks' chin, and tangled his fingers in lavender hair. He pulled the elder closer, but was stopped before he could connect their mouths.

"My lips are really chapped," Trunks said, blushing slightly. "And I'm not really... appealing right now," he finished, gesturing vaguely to the gown clinging to his shoulders.

Goten inspected him for a moment. He then replied with an honest, "I don't care," while nudging the nasogastric tube out of the way and pressing their lips together. Trunks was right when he said his lips were very chapped, and his skin was exceptionally dry, but Goten was also right when he said he did not care. All he really cared about was that Trunks was okay.

He also cared that even at the end of this day, Trunks would still be his.

End