Guest: thanks :)
Great chapter. I can't wait to see the next one. Keep up the good work
nancy103: there are still a few chapters left till "the calm after a storm".
I suppose Kakarott and Vegeta are waiting for that last best moment to make an entrance XD
xxxxx
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball Z – it belongs to its respective owners. This fan fiction is not a commercial project, and I am not making any money from writing it.
Warnings: Alternate Universe. Yaoi (male x male). Goten x Trunks and vice versa. Other pairings.
A/N 1:
Head of Royal Division - Harada Lorimara
Deputy Commander - Ealdira Fidan
Captain - Amren Komira
A/N 2: This chapter contains a sex scene. To comply with fanfiction net's policy I had to cut it. You can read it on ArchiveofOurOwn org. AdultFanfiction org doesn't let me post, so the uncut chapter will appear there later.
Barracks
by chayron (lttomb yahoo com), beta-read by quatreofdoom
Part 64
The lecturer in Royal Law was about thirty. He was lanky for a Saiyan, with long spiky hair that went all the way down his back and seemed to be trying to break his thin neck with its weight. He talked in a quick, excited manner.
From his seat at the window, Goten watched him and Reyn converse about the examination that was going to take place in five days. They were sitting at the desk, their heads bent over the course book, eyes studying its index. Reyn and the lecturer were close in age, and this made Goten wonder whether Reyn had already turned twenty-nine or was still twenty-eight. The flight officer seemed like the type to downplay birthdays.
The lecturer turned to Goten. The younger male was watching them with an apathetic look, and it didn't seem that he was interested in anything they were discussing. "You sure you'll pass the test?"
Goten waved it off with a confident smile. "Of course, sir. There's no need to worry. I've studied day and night for it."
The lecturer turned away and concentrated back on the book. He knew that the two had joined the Royal Division just a few days ago and had received the books even later. If the nitwit believed that he was going to pass the exam so easily, he was in for a surprise.
ooOoOoOoo
The next few days passed by calmly with the third-classes bothering nobody and nobody bothering them. Goten spent most of his time lounging about in the garden and spying on all the visitors to the Royal Palace from behind the trees and bushes. Meanwhile, Reyn was submerged in books, getting ready for the exams. The only disturbance was the aircrafts coming and going overhead– from high above, the third-classes' activities could be easily seen, and they had to maintain the required orderly image.
"You think we were told to guard the garden in order to give us enough time to study?" Goten pondered.
Reyn raised his eyes off the book he was currently reading. The younger male was lying on the grass, close to the fountain, soaking in the last sun rays of the day. He was lying on his stomach, knees bent, his feet kicking behind him merrily. He seemed to be so comfortable that Reyn was torn between launching his book at him and joining him.
"No. I think they told us to guard the garden because we've had no training. We gotta do something, anything, as it'd look stupid and suspicious if we didn't do anything at all."
That was exactly what Goten thought, but he was bored and just wanted to talk. "Hmm… I still want to go to the swimming pool."
"I've got no time for that."
"I can go alone."
"No, you can't."
With a sigh, Goten lowered his head back to the ground. Absently, he started plucking at the grass next to his face. Made alert by that prophetic dream, Reyn didn't let him out of sight. Not that he wanted Reyn to let him out of sight. He felt more secure with the flight officer watching over him – he wanted to live, after all. It had never crossed his mind to feel embarrassed about Reyn's care – he would do the same for Reyn.
"Ugh!" Goten jolted with a start when his scouter beeped. It was a soft sound, yet it was unexpected in this tranquil silence. He sat up and took the call. "Yes?"
"Yes, Goten Bardock," he confirmed when the caller inquired.
"Who?"
"Really?"
"Um, yes. Right now?" Goten asked, standing up. He started dusting his trousers off. "Erm…Alright, it will take me about fifteen minutes."
"Well?" Reyn asked as soon as Goten ended the call.
The younger male turned to him with a huge grin on his face. "You won't believe this. Our trouble is over!"
"Huh? The prince died? Finally. When do we get back to Starcut?"
Goten rolled his eyes. "No, not that trouble. Besides, be more careful, someone might be listening."
"Yeah, right. So what is it?"
"Monteira sent one of his sons to pick up the cat. He's right here, at the gate, waiting for me to bring Mr. Elite to him."
"I'll be damned!" Reyn exclaimed in surprise. "Finally! What are you standing around for? Go get it!"
"I didn't know he had children."
"I think he has four or five of them. You'd better hurry up. We'd not want him to change his mind and leave, would we?"
"No," Goten agreed with him, "we really wouldn't." He rushed off to the barracks to get Mr. Elite. Monteira must have seen the interview right after the attack on Bruminan, during which he had apologized for accidentally taking the cat with them.
The third-class jogged up the stairs and then barged down the corridors. He found Mr. Elite slumbering on their makeshift bed. The cat's eyes opened at the sound of him entering the room, then closed again. Goten grabbed the cage and, after some struggle with the peevish cat, locked him inside it.
"You're going home!" Goten told him. "Home, you hear me?"
The cat's tail batted at the walls of the container angrily. Goten was about to leave the room, then returned to the cupboard to grab the medicine for Mr. Elite's ears. Then he opened the fridge and fed the cat one last time. Just in case.
It took Goten more than fifteen minutes to get to the gate. When he did, the only people he could see were two royal guards, and he thought that Monteira's son had left. The guards, though, quickly spotted the man further away. He had apparently wandered off while trying to see more of the palace through the dense bushes.
If Goten hadn't known that the two were related, he'd have never suspected the connection. They didn't look alike at all. The man saluted.
"Sir."
"There's no need to salute me," Goten said. "And drop the 'sir'." He held out the box with the cat for the man to take. "Here it is."
"Thank you," the man said, taking the cat.
"This is his medicine," Goten said, holding out the small bottle for him. "Two drops in the morning and two in the evening."
"What's wrong with him?"
Goten scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "It seems he doesn't handle gravity changes so well, and we've been traveling a lot. The doctor said he should be completely fine in a week or so."
"Oh, I see."
"I apologize for taking him again," Goten said. "Monteira must have been going nuts all this time."
The man chuckled. "Yeah, he's very fond of this stupid animal."
"Will he be staying with you until Monteira picks him up?"
"Yeah, probably. If he ever returns."
Goten was about to open his mouth, then just nodded. They shared a knowing look, then nodded at each other and went in opposite directions.
ooOoOoOoo
Goten was taking a long, thorough shower. Not because he felt dirty, but because he didn't have anything better to do. Reyn was in the room, studying, and he could not go out alone. Goten was starting to feel confined, to the point that he had started thinking about joining Reyn in his studies just to keep his mind occupied.
The sound of running water felt soothing, and the warmth was relaxing his muscles. He upturned his face to the water spray. He was wasting water, which was something every Saiyan was taught not to do, and yet he felt apathetic.
"You alright there?"
"Yeah," Goten shouted back. "I'm just…"
"…jerking off?"
Goten rolled his eyes and turned the water off. "I'm not," he answered, even though he didn't know why he bothered. Reyn wasn't going to believe him, neither did he care what he was really doing. As long as he hadn't died in the bathroom or hurt himself.
Goten grabbed a towel from the rack and, after a few swipes over his chest and back, flung it over his shoulder. He slipped into the underwear he had prepared in advance, grabbed the old pair off the floor where he had kicked it off, and left the bathroom. Whirling his dirty underwear on his index finger like some kind of a windmill, he walked into the room, increased speed, and then launched the underwear into the corner next to the door. It flopped to lie there listlessly in a heap of blue and grey.
"Bull's-eye!"
Reyn didn't commend his great aim, and Goten turned to the other male. He was sitting on their makeshift bed, a laptop in front of him.
"Mmm?" Goten inquired.
The flight officer had to be watching something intense since he barely glanced at him. Nearly pouting, Goten ignored him too and went to the wardrobe to take a change of clothes. On his way, his attention was drawn to the laptop on the bed. Soft grunts were leaving it, and Goten went to see what it was.
Reyn was watching porn. That was quite unusual. Leaning in closer to see the screen better, Goten brushed over his wet hair with the towel, then draped it over the bedside cabinet to dry. There were two Saiyan males having sex in the video. Their body sizes were quite different, the lighter one getting fucked within an inch of his life. They were on a bed, facing away from the camera.
xxx
To comply with fanfiction net's policy I had to cut the following sex scene. You can read it on ArchiveofOurOwn org. AdultFanfiction org doesn't let me post, so the uncut chapter will appear there later.
xxx
"Now I need to shower again," Goten muttered later. He was too lazy to move though, and just lay on the bed sprawled contently. "Where did you say you got the video?"
"From the neighbors. The two of them were getting it on yesterday and it was too noisy so I went to tell them to keep it down. Then they shared this gem with me."
"Huuuhh…" Goten hummed. "And where was I? I don't remember hearing any noise."
"You were asleep."
"Really? Through all that loud sex noise?"
"Yeah, incredible, isn't it?"
"Boredom might be affecting me even more than I thought," Goten said ponderously. Normally, he'd have definitely gotten interested in any kinds of suspicious noise. Especially the kind of noise they were talking about.
ooOoOoOoo
At the sound of someone approaching, Reyn stood up and shoved the course book under one of the bushes. Goten didn't trouble himself standing up, he just pretended to be interested in something on the ground. The footsteps got louder on the crunchy garden path, and soon several people appeared.
At the sight of them, Goten's back straightened with an audible crack, the heels of Reyn's boot clicked together. They saluted.
The king.
This was the first time the third-classes saw him in person. Despite their stay in the same building, they hadn't had the opportunity yet to see either him or Prince Vegeta.
"At ease," the king said softly, walking over to the bench. He sat down, leaning into the backrest. His eyes set on the merrily chattering fountain, and King Vegeta exhaled loudly. Two royal guards that came with him retreated further away and, soundlessly, stood behind the bench.
Goten had to agree that King Vegeta and Prince Vegeta looked very similar, just like himself and his father. Probably the biggest difference between the two Vegetas was their height and the king's facial hair. Otherwise, their facial features were nearly identical: the same prominent widow peak, thick eyebrows, a small mouth, a pointy nose and hard eyes. Even the youngest prince shared many of these features. Given his father's good height, it was strange that Prince Vegeta was unusually short. Goten had seen a photograph or two of the late queen, and she hadn't struck him as short either.
In silence, the third-classes shared an uncertain look, then looked at the royal guards, and one of them indicated for them to leave. Goten thought of asking for permission to depart, but didn't want to disturb the king's rest. Quietly, he turned into the side path.
"Can you pick me up a few apples and pears?"
"Of course, Your Majesty."
One of the bodyguards moved, but the king stopped him with an abrupt motion of his hand. "Let those two youngsters get them."
The third-classes rushed off to the other side of the road, to where the fruit trees grew. They found a few pears on the ground, but the seemingly most beautiful apples were still latched on one of the apple trees, and Goten powered up to pluck them off.
"I think they are tastier off the ground," Reyn told him. "They fall off when they're ripe."
"But these look nicer," Goten protested, landing back to the ground.
The flight officer had to agree with that. He shook his head. "We can't even pick the damn apples without clear instructions."
"Well, that's not my fault! I've never done any gardening."
Reyn quickly picked a few more random apples off the ground and they rushed back.
"With the time it took you I thought you'd have pressed juice," the king commented when the third-classes returned with the fruits.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," Goten apologized, walking to the fountain. He wished to explain the reason why they had taken their time, but he doubted the king would be interested in his excuses.
The third-classes washed the fruits in the fountain. Goten wasn't certain whether they had become cleaner or filthier, but presenting them unwashed was unthinkable. He took the rest of the fruits from Reyn and carried them to the king. Seemingly at random, the king picked a pear and an apple from his hands, then motioned at the rest of them in Goten's arms.
"Help yourselves."
Goten felt silly for having worried about the fruit. He distributed the apples and pears amongst those present. For the next five or so minutes only the sounds of lazily working mouths and teeth could be heard. The fruits were delicious.
Chewing, Goten threw a glance at the king. It was obvious that the most important man in Saiyan Society had come to relax here. It was no wonder – with the recent events, the garden was probably the only place where he could find solace and refuge. A lesser man would have already crumbled under the pressure.
The launch pad in the middle of the main road was always busy as planes and helicopters kept coming and going. It was located not far away from the fountain, and, bored, Goten would go to take a peek at them from behind the trees. Familiar faces streamed up and down the path, distinguished officers, politicians. King Vegeta's days were filled with debates, discussions and negotiations. The stream of visitors hardly ever lessened in the evening either.
The king was one of the very few Saiyans that Goten had seen wear a beard and moustache. Facial hair started growing quite late into a Saiyan's life, usually at about a hundred years old. More often than not, Saiyans didn't survive for so long due to their violent way of life. That made Goten wonder about the king's age. He couldn't exactly remember, but was it a hundred and fifty-something? The third-class could vaguely remember a similar number from some kind of a course book.
A hundred and fifty. Why in the world didn't the man breed more? There was so much potential in the Vegeta bloodline, and meanwhile they had only two successors to the throne. The last of them wasn't even a purebred Saiyan. Pathetic.
Goten found himself hoping that when Bulma Briefs Vegeta passed away, Prince Vegeta would take a new female. A Saiyan one this time. Goten, however, had very strong doubts about any of them still being alive for that.
"The fruits were very tasty," Goten said. "Thank You, Your Majesty." He wasn't certain he should have spoken without permission but it was only common courtesy, wasn't it?
The king's eyes concentrated on the third-class. He nodded, accepting the compliment, and, to Goten's mind, the king even looked somewhat pleased by it. That made Goten brighten up.
Reyn nearly rolled his eyes at the exchange. It didn't take much to please Goten, and he already looked as if he had forgotten that one of the Vegetas had tried to poison him in a dream. Or maybe it was both of them. Reyn had also noticed that the king hadn't started eating his pear before he had seen the others sink their teeth into them. He had also picked random fruits. That, however, meant nothing since they had really taken too long in the garden picking them up, and the king had his own food testers in case someone tried to poison him. This time, it was he and Goten who had served that purpose instead.
Despite Reyn's former conviction that it was essential everywhere and at any time, the king wasn't wearing his famous red and black cape. The flight officer didn't know why but he was a little let down by its absence. King Vegeta, however, did wear the Royal Medallion – the sign of supreme power. It hung on his chest, close to the Royal Crest on his left breastplate. His armor was different than the one that was commonly worn in the Royal Division. First of all, it had no blue color. Instead, it was white and dark red with large, extended shoulder pads. The shoulder pads had two round yellow clasps meant, Reyn guessed, to attach the missing cape. Second, the boots were also red. Underneath the armor, the king wore black clothes made of a similar material to the royal guards' uniforms. There was also the famous golden band around his arm that he wore in memoriam of the long-deceased queen.
After having spent about twenty minutes at the fountain, King Vegeta and his bodyguards headed back for the palace, leaving Goten and Reyn to pick up apple and pear cores after them. The third-classes had been worried about him inquiring about their white-less tails but he never had. He either hadn't noticed or didn't care.
ooOoOoOoo
Since Reyn had kept refusing to go with him, Goten went to the swimming pool alone. It was late at night, and the swimming pool room was empty. Goten was surprised as he had believed the pool to be much more popular. At least he had been incredibly eager to see and try it.
It was warm and damp inside the room. Absolutely quiet too. The lights were dim, and he reached out for the switch to lighten the room. He took his boots off at the wall lined with benches and then walked over to the enormous pool. Fascinated, he cast a look over the blue water. It was still, only an occasional ripple appearing on the surface caused by the undercurrent streams. Goten walked to the edge of the pool to try and gauge its depth; the last thing he needed was to stupidly drown himself.
After having satisfied his curiosity in the pool itself, he raised his head to look around. The room was spacious with six thick and intricate pillars supporting the domed roof. Nearly everything in the pool was made of some whitish stone that was smooth and opaque. Goten suspected that it was marble, but he had never seen it before, so he couldn't tell for certain.
Goten returned to the bench where he had left his boots. He took the rest of his clothes off and, a little uncertain, approached the side of the pool with the gradually deepening end. Tentatively, so as not to slip, he stepped in. The water, to his opinion, was just the right temperature. He whirled around when someone cleared their throat behind him.
"Ermm... You're not supposed to go in naked. Well, unless you want to."
"Uh. No?" Goten gave the youngest prince a confused look. "How, then?"
The prince laughed softly. "Swimming trunks. Well, in your case, underwear will do."
"Oh."
"I'd prefer you naked, though."
"Sure you would."
Amused, the prince watched Goten leave the pool and go pick up his clothes. "Have you swum before?" he asked.
"Umm…no?" Goten put his underwear on and went back to the pool. "By the way, this is too much of a coincidence already. Did you follow me?"
"Yes, I did. I saw you going towards the pool, and you're not supposed to wander alone."
Goten didn't offer any answer to this reproach. The prince was standing at the pool, watching him, probably waiting for some kind of a reaction. The prince was wearing a grey sweatsuit, and Goten presumed that he had been either going to or returning from the training hall. Quietly, Goten stepped into the water.
The prince watched the third-class reach the end of the steps, and now he was neck-deep in the water. Trunks didn't know how it was possible, but the back of Goten's head looked slightly panicky. He waved his arms around tentatively, pushed himself off the bottom to get himself horizontal and tried to swim. There was a lot of splashing around, but little progress.
"You have swum before," the prince concluded loudly when it became obvious that even though there was little progress in the swimming itself, Goten was able to keep himself above water.
"In one of those dreams," Goten agreed, a little breathless. "I'm not sure that counts." He was a little overwhelmed by such a large amount of water surrounding him, not to mention the prince's stare was unnerving him.
"Seems like it does."
"Well, will you just stare or will you get in as well?"
The prince's lavender eyebrows shot up in surprise. Was this blatant flirting or did Goten mean nothing by it? The third-class could be clueless at times. It didn't really matter though. The prince's fingers started working on his jacket, the zipper coming undone quickly. In a few moments, he was already kicking his trainers off, leaving them next to the pool. He tossed his trousers aside and, wearing only his underwear just like Goten, jumped right in with his legs drawn up. He disappeared under the surface, the water whooshing up with a splash and rolling against the walls of the pool.
After a few moments, the prince's head appeared above the surface. "Ugh, I thought it would be warmer," he said, rubbing at his face. His wet hair had become a few shades darker. He pushed it off his face and smoothed it back.
Since Goten had no clue what temperature the water was supposed to be, he stayed silent. The prince had gotten rid of the water in his eyes and looked up at him. It had been a mistake to open his mouth, but Goten couldn't retract his words now. What in the universe had made him spur the prince on?
"Why are you alone?" the prince asked. He started swimming towards the third-class.
"Mmm?" Goten hummed, not certain whether to stay in place or to try and swim away from the approaching prince. "He's studying." Goten doubted that his lousy swimming skills could get him anywhere.
Trunks was displeased with both third-classes. Goten should not be allowed to walk the palace alone. "And you? You used to be a model student. Well, apart from all those times when your friends would lead you astray."
"Which happened quite often, I suppose," Goten agreed with him. "I'm hoping to be kicked from the Royal Division. I just wonder how annoying I should become for you to get rid of me as soon as possible."
The prince chuckled. "So that's your secret plan?"
"Erm… Not so secret anymore, I suppose."
They were standing in front of each other, separated only by a thin strip of water. Their proximity allowed Goten to become aware of the scent typical of the prince that reminded him of tranquil boredom. The likeable scent suddenly brought Goten's memory back to that deafening hangar where he and the prince had shared their first and only kiss. The kiss that had left him both frustrated and incredibly satisfied. He could still remember that possessive embrace and the other man's bold hand on his ass, his madly beating heart and his own jittery legs. He had nearly died of bliss. He probably would have if he'd had the time for it, and hadn't needed to rush to Starcut.
He hadn't even known how to kiss properly back then. Since then he'd tried many things. The thought made Goten feel slightly embarrassed. He didn't even try to understand why. He was, however, getting aroused by this particular memory and the prince's current proximity. That he could understand easily.
"I doubt you would really do it," the prince said softly.
"Mm? Oh, the expulsion. Yes," Goten agreed, shifting gears and returning to the topic at hand, "getting on one's nerves is more within your expertise."
"And yet it usually excites you."
Goten didn't even try to hide his grin at the other man's playful yet challenging tone; the prince was very close to the truth, but Goten had no plans on ever admitting that. "I think you're talking about yourself now," Goten said.
The prince's eyebrows rose a little. "Could be," he agreed. "And what excites you, then?"
"Flirting."
Startled, both males whipped around at the sound of the echoing voice. Reyn was quickly approaching the pool. The look on the other third-class's face made Goten shrink away from the prince.
"Flirting, Your Highness," the flight officer repeated. "This idiot flirts with everyone and everybody all the time." With mad satisfaction, Reyn saw Goten's face flush red. "Out of the pool," he ordered. "Gods damn you, I can't even trust to leave you alone for a few minutes!"
The prince turned to Goten, whose face now showed nothing but panic and embarrassment, and it made the prince's hands itch with the wish to punch Goten. What exactly for, he couldn't tell. Probably for everything that was wrong with this universe.
Waiting for Goten to leave the pool, Reyn saluted and went to gather his clothes. In ringing silence, Goten dressed, they left the pool and walked all the way to their room. Once inside, Goten looked for an underwear change since his had soaked all the way through his trousers. He was afraid to open his mouth, so he stayed quiet even when Reyn walked out of the room and slammed the door shut behind him. He heard the keycard beep softly.
TBC