Bulla watched the clouds whizzing past the windows of the Briefs capsule plane. In the distance she spied the thin pillar of Kami's Lookout coming into view.
She couldn't remember the last time she'd visited this place, but it looked the same as it always had, she supposed.
Her phone pinged for what felt like the millionth time and she glanced down to see a fresh wave of notifications floating across her screen and let out a sigh.
"What are you scowling about, brat?"
Bulla glanced up to see Trunks studying her from the front passenger's seat.
"Nothing." She clipped, swiping a finger over the screen and began firing off a volley of responses.
"You sure? You've been quiet." Her mother chimed in.
"I'm just tired. Capsule Cutie doesn't run itself, ya know?" She replied.
"That's your own fault. No one said you had to head up the entire operation on your own. It's called outsourcing." Trunks replied, pulling out his own phone, likely to text Marron.
"I have to agree with your brother. Capsule Cutie is your baby, but it wouldn't hurt to hire on some more people to help you keep all those plates spinning. Take some time off, go on vacation! Go on a date! You haven't had a boyfriend since high-school!-"
"Gee, thanks for pointing that out, Mom." A frown creased her brow as she scanned the images filling her screen. Several pallets of the new highlighters scheduled to be released next month sustained damage in transit to her warehouse. Great. They'd sold out within an hour of being announced. Now every one of those busted highlighters represented a disappointed customer.
"I'm just saying you're young. Enjoy it! Go wild, sew your oats! I certainly did."
Trunks made a gagging noise. "Gross."
"I don't have time. I would love to do all of those things but-"
"But you're a little control freak?" Trunks interjected.
"I'm not a control freak! I just like things done a certain way because-"
"Because you're a stubborn little control freak." Trunks snickered, ducking down just in time to avoid the magazine Bulla lobbed at his head.
"Enough of that. The last thing I want to deal with today is you two terrorizing each other," her mother censured with a frown. "It's been too long since we were all together. Enjoy it."
"It's crazy to think it's been over two years since I've seen Goten. I can't wait to see what new moves he's picked up on Beerus' world while I've been slaving away in a suit. He might actually kick my ass now."
Bulla scoffed, rolling her eyes at the mention of their fellow hybrid. "Is that what he's been up to? Training? Or did he finally work his way through Earth's female population and now he has to get his kicks elsewhere?"
Trunks whipped around in his seat, leveling an irritated scowl at his sibling. "What is your problem?!"
"I don't have a problem." The Blunette said dismissively, examining her pink, freshly polished nails.
"Yeah you do, every time I mention Goten you get the same look on your face Dad made when Mom drug him off to that couple's retreat with Grandma and Grandpa."
Bulma blanched. "Your father enjoyed that trip and he knows it!" If the Saiyan Prince was inside the Capsule plane instead of riding atop it, he would likely disagree with that statement.
"Seriously, what did he ever do to you? Why do you hate him so much? What, did he sleep with one of your friends and forget to call her? Whatever it is, you need to get over it. We all grew up together, we're friends-"
"Correction, he's your friend." Bulla said coolly. "Son Goten and I are acquaintances at best." If Bulla was being honest with herself, even calling Goten her 'acquaintance' seemed like a stretch. "I don't see why you care anyway."
"He was your friend, too." Trunks' steely gaze narrowed on the blunette, "until you decided he wasn't out of the blue one day-"
"Why can't you mind your own damn business!?" Bulla snapped, her eyes darting around, seeking something else to throw at Trunks' stupid head, when their Mother cut in.
"That's enough! It's Dende's birthday. You're adults, and you had better act like it for the next few hours. Or so help me, I will throw both of you in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber until you learn to get along!"
The siblings reeled in their tempers as they landed on the white-tiled platform of the lookout to greet the crowd of familiar faces. Bulma handed Bulla the food capsules, directing her and Trunks to the long table to set things up while she and her father wished Dende a happy birthday.
Bulla was actually glad to have a task to distract herself with for the time being, anything to help her stop thinking about the niggling, irritating ache in her chest. Fortunately, the source of her anxieties didn't appear to be present. Yet.
As she laid out the last of the desserts, a voice cut through the chatter of the party guests.
"Princess."
Bulla turned to see the slender yet imposing form of Beerus the Destroyer. He inclined his head to acknowledge her, his posture straight, hands clasped behind his back.
"Uncle Beerus!" Bulla grinned as she all but pounced on the purple-skinned cat-alien, throwing her arms around his neck in a crushing hug. He'd always had a soft spot for the blunette and she was well aware that if anyone else dared to hug the Destruction God, they likely wouldn't live to tell the tale. While he didn't hug her back, he patted her on the head and she swore she detected a small purr before she released him.
"How has your training progressed since we last met?"
"It's taken a bit of a backseat for now. I launched a cosmetics brand and that takes up a lot of my time."
"Cosmic… ticks?" He blinked his big, golden cat eyes in confusion.
Bulla snorted, grabbing a cream puff and popping it into her mouth. "Noooooo. Cosmetics, I manufacture and sell make-up, like eyeshadows, lip glosses, blushes, eye liner…" She gestured at her face with a hand.
He studied her for a moment, one of his big ears twitching. "You're speaking of some manner of… war paint?"
She giggled at that, Beerus would interpret it that way. "In a manner of speaking, I suppose."
"I see. Well, when you are able to pull yourself away from mixing your paints, you're always welcome at my abode should you desire to further hone your battle prowess."
"I will… eventually, I've just been busy…" Bulla said sheepishly, her cheeks flushed at the tiny bubble of self reproach that bloomed in her chest.
"You have all the potential in the world, My Dear. Goku's youngest has made some impressive strides in his time on my world, and I'd wager you'd likely surpass him if you were so inclined." There was a mildly chiding tone in his voice as he examined the array of delicacies on the long table before them, eyeing a platter of meat skewers.
"Where is Goten, Lord Beerus, didn't he come with you and Whis?" Trunks interjected.
"He and Goku went to collect Chi-Chi. They should be here shortly." Whis replied through a mouthful of pastry.
As if on cue, the halfling in question appeared with a pop! A second later, another pop! sounded and the Eldest Son along with his wife and the Ox King appeared.
Trunks' mouth dropped open. "Dude! Since when do you know how to use Instant Transmission?!"
"I've picked up a few new tricks in the last two years." Goten smirked.
Trunks' mirrored his expression as his best friend stepped forward to greet him and initiate their cheesy, signature handshake routine.
Bulla blinked. Certainly, her eyes were playing tricks on her, as she took in the boy, no man before her. It was Son Goten in the flesh alright. But he was certainly not how she remembered him.
Kami he was… well, huge.
He must have been taking steroids while he was out gallivanting around Beerus' world, because he easily stood a head taller than both Gohan and Goku, and his arms and legs were like tree trunks. His orange ghi clung to his form, every inch of which was bulging with muscles. Gone was the teenage boy she knew along with the wild shaggy hair he sported through-out High School, his black spikes now neatly cropped on the sides with just enough length on top for a girl to run her fingers through. His face was the very definition of chiseled.
The very sight of him was… unnerving.
The cream puff she'd eaten roiled uncomfortably in her stomach.
As the crowd swarmed in to greet the newly arrived Sons, she quietly slipped away, drifting back toward the temple. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to be wandering around in here, probably not. But whatever chastisement she might receive for sneaking around seemed insignificant in the face of the awkward encounter that was waiting for her outside.
She padded quietly down the tiled hall lined with ornate stone pillars, passing several passages and doors that she wasn't aware the lookout was large enough to house based on its outward appearance.
At the end of the hall was a wooden door, with intricate, geometric patterns carved into it. Above it was an ancient-looking clock face.
While she'd never actually been inside this particular room, she knew exactly what it was.
The Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
A part of her was curious about what it was like in there. Another, bigger part of her really wanted to avoid confronting Son Goten for just a bit longer. Another part of her felt pathetic for needing to hide away from him like a coward.
The curious, avoidy part of her won, and she was twisting the plain golden knob of the chamber. She opened the door, sliding her purse off her shoulder, dropping in onto the floor to prop it open so she wouldn't accidentally trap herself inside. Yeah, that would definitely suck. She thought, pushing the door open a smidge wider for good measure.
She made her way inside, and the air inside seemed strangely charged in a way that she couldn't quite describe.
Just beyond the door was a golden hourglass, seemingly fixed in mid-air, housed within a sphere of luminous energy, the lower bulb full of shimmering powder blue sand. Careful not to disturb it, Bulla stepped around it to inspect the rest of the space.
There were two canopy beds that occupied most of the main chamber with a door on either side, which she discovered housed a large bathing room and a generously stocked kitchen. It didn't look much different from the rest of the Lookout.
Until she stepped outside.
She cautiously stepped off the tile platform. Endless blinding white as far as the eye could see in every direction. There was no beginning or end and Bulla once again regretted that cream puff.
She took a few more steps out into the colorless abyss.
"Don't go too far. You might not find your way back again."
She froze at that voice. Did he seriously follow me in here?
She turned, and sure enough, Goten's tall, brawny form was leaning against one of the ivory pillars, his arms crossed over his chest, his pillowy lips curved into a crooked smile.
Treacherous heat crept up her neck and cheeks.
"I'm aware of that. I'm not an idiot." Bulla spat. She knew that much about this room.
"I didn't say you were, Princess."
A surge of fury swept through her at the pet name and the memories it sparked every time it fell from his lips.
"Don't call me that!" She snapped, hands fisting at her sides.
"Woah, calm down. Did someone unfollow you on Instagram? Everyone calls you 'Princess'." He chuckled, cocking his head.
"Maybe I just don't want you calling me that!"
Annnnddd it hasn't even been a full five minutes and they're already locking horns.
Trunks frowned as he quietly observed the pair of bickering Demi-Saiyans from the entrance of the Hyperbolic Time chamber.
They had been friends ever since they were children. Until they weren't. Inexplicably in the middle of his senior year of high school, their every interaction devolved into petty snipes and awkward silences, and he was frankly over it. Anytime he broached the subject with either of them, they swiftly shut him down.
He wished there was some way to restore peace between them.
Anytime he and Goten had conflict, which was rare, it was nothing a good, hard fight couldn't resolve.
Not that Bulla would consent to that. She could barely stand to be in the same room with Goten for more than a few seconds.
Bulla was now openly screaming at his best friend. Trunks was just about to venture out into the chamber and break it up when his gaze landed on the floating hourglass that occupied the center of the room.
He considered the words his Mother had hurled at him and his sibling upon their arrival at the Lookout.
"…You're adults, and you had better act like it for the next few hours. Or so help me, I will throw both of you in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber until you learn to get along!…"
It… wasn't the worst idea.
Before Trunks could second guess his decision, the Heir reached out a hand, tipping the hourglass on it's side, watching as a stream of glittering blue sand spilled into the second chamber.
With a last glance at his best friend and sister, he righted the hourglass once more, strode through the wooden door and closed it behind him.
"I'll show you 'dramatic' buddy! You think just because you've been training with Beerus that I can't wipe the floor with-"
The surrounding air shuddered and Bulla's threat died on her lips.
She and Goten both froze, exchanging a look of confusion when a snap! echoed through the chamber. The two demi-saiyans swiveled back toward the main chamber just in time to see their only exit vanish.
Author's Note: I'd like to give credit for the name 'Capsule Cutie' to the Krusty Krab. This is part 1 of my submission for the Not Another Brote(e)n Movie event! (Follow at BrotenSquad on Twitter!) Inspired by the movie 'Can't Hardly Wait'.