Ch 18

The snow was still falling the next day, schools and businesses were closed for the time being, and no one in their right mind would step foot outside accept for a lavender-haired demi-saiyan, who was flying towards the World Champion's home in Satan City.

Trunks had woken up the night before with his mother's words in his head and he had felt a great need to be beside his friend a feeling he had tried to ignore, but his saiyan half wouldn't have it.

'Stupid saiyan half, I'm freezing my ass off for someone who doesn't even want to be with me,' he sighed. 'Kami, I'm so selfish sometimes.'

Through the bitter wind and the freezing snow, Trunks managed to find his way to the balcony of Satan Manson, where a startled Hercule was surprised by his appearance and spilled his coffee on his lap.

"Trunks!" he yelled as he opened the sliding door, "are you nuts?" he asked as he closed the door behind the demi-saiyan. "It's madness outside!"

"I know, believe me I've had that conversation with myself before I left. The saiyan part won out."

"Well you're welcome to stay here Trunks," he said as he took his remote in his hand and pressed a button and in a came a butler.

"Yes Mr. Satan," said the butler.

"Find Mr. Briefs some warm clothes right away and show him one of the bedrooms," said Hercule.

"Yes Mr. Satan," said the butler as Trunks followed him.

Trunks was happy to have a warm shower and change into a fighter's outfit with long sleeves. As soon as Trunks left his room for the night, he made his way towards the living room to see Goten playing video games.

"Hey, you need another player?"

Goten was startled and lost the level he was on. "Damn it Trunks, you can never let me win at anything, could you? Trunks! What are you doing here?" he asked. "Did you fly in this storm?"

Trunks sat beside him, crossing his arms as he lied back on the couch. "Blame it on being a stupid saiyan! It's so annoying."

"I'm sorry Trunks, and I didn't meant to leave your house. It's just—

"I know. You're mother can be really hard on you. What happened anyway?"

"I told that I was going to run my own life without her."

"I can't imagine she didn't respond without throwing a fit."

"She did but then she said that she would support me on one condition."

"Of course she can't let go of control she has over you. So, what is the condition?"

"I don't pursue a romantic relationship with you."

"Well, she doesn't have to worry, right? I mean you've made it pretty clear how you feel about the subject."

"I haven't made up my mind yet Trunks. I mean she treats me so badly, but she's my mom but on the other hand, you've always treated me so kindly. You've supported me unconditionally. There are always conditions with my mother. I still love my mother."

"She's abused you Goten. Nothing about that is ok."

"And I let her abuse me. I could have stopped it Trunks, but I loved my mother. I thought I could help her through the tough times when dad left."

"You need to tell Gohan."

"No! That part of my life is over. Why does anyone else have to know?"

"He's your brother Goten. He deserves to know what your mother is really like."

"I'm sure on some level he knows, but I'm made sure he didn't know about the abuse. I handled it on my own."

"No, you didn't handle it. If you would have handled it, the abuse would have stopped."

"He'll be furious Trunks. It will destroy my family."

"Your brother loves you, and they will get through it. Besides, I think your mom needs help to sort out her feelings about Goku."

"Yeah, then my grandpa needs the same thing."

"The Ox King? Why, what does he have t do with this?"

"He saw the abuse and looked the other way. When I was a little bit older, he had the talk with me. It was scary and not like I'm embarrassed that a family member is talking to me about sex. He told me if I lied with another, then I would go to hell. I think my mother and grandpa were trying to control me because they feared I would go to hell, and I think that's why my grandpa began to beat me. He figured he scare me into marrying a woman and having kids, and it worked for years.

I met Valese, and I liked her a lot. I thought this could work. I could grow to love her, marry her, and have kids to give my mother and grandpa until you came and made me rethink my plan. You wanted me to be happy and live my own life, and I realized I wanted that to."

"So, what are you going to do? Live your life in the shadows with your mother pulling the strings on your life or live in your life in the light of happiness?"

"Well when you put it like that, the light seems like heaven," he smiled.

"It does, doesn't it?" he smirked as his hand fell upon his friend's shoulder. "I'm with you all the way Goten. I'm sorry what happened to you and more than anything I wish I would have known. I would have had your back like I always do and kick the Ox King's butt. I probably would have yelled at your mother."

"I thought telling my mother off was hard, but I don't even know how to begin to tell Gohan about the abuse. I know he'll feel guilt that he didn't know and angry that my mom and grandpa hurt me."

"In the end he'll do what's best for you. He loves you, and I—before he could finish talking, his sleeps were sealed by Goten's, who quickly pulled away. "Uh Goten, what was that for?"

"Sorry, I shouldn't have done that. I—he was interrupted by Trunks' passionate lips on his. He pulled away to see his surprised look on his face. "Trunks."

"Kami that felt good to finally do. Probably should have asked you first."

"It's ok. I didn't exactly ask you for permission to kiss you."

"I wouldn't have said no, Goten. Given that state I'm in."

"I guess I provoked you. I shouldn't have done that. You're in a vulnerable state, and I don't want to string you along."

Trunks laughed. "You know my mother says you're just afraid to love me."