CHAPTER 11:
Fallout

The ocean waves crashed around Goten and Havana as Goten paid the check at a small Mediterran cafe, Étoile Rouge, a small but fancy gem that was known as having a record-setting "seven-star rating" out of all the five-star restaurants in town.

Their table had been at the end of a lantern-lit pier, where the waves crashed upon the rocks of the pier below. The sway of the sound felt like a soundtrack to Goten's wavering feelings.

The meal had been tense for Goten, who had bottled up his emotions about what had happened on the boat. Havana had been able to move on from it, but Goten held emotional attachments to everyone on that boat, and he could not get their voices out of his mind.

Goten was never able to compartmentalize emotions like Trunks could. He "wore his heart on his sleeve," and was always his most true, authentic self when it came to his feelings.

When he couldn't work through his thoughts, he tried to process them through games. Usually, after a few rounds of an action fighter game, Goten was able to shut it off and have a clear decision worked out in his mind.

But tonight, Goten was with Havana. He wasn't carrying any games. He instead was carrying a capsulized overnight bag, which he packed in anticipation of sharing a bed with her.

He knew enough time had gone by where he should be ready for this. He knew it made sense to do this; after all, Havana had been whispering in his ear for months in a purr about how she "couldn't wait until he was eighteen." Havana's excitement about it was also contagious; it was hard for him to doubt himself when he could see her laughing and grinning about it.

It made sense in terms of their relationship. So Goten kept telling himself that this was something he wanted to do. He just wasn't sure if right now was good timing, though…

By the time Goten ate dinner, his anger from earlier that evening had subsided. Now with a clear, yet emotional head, Goten was having second-thoughts about upsetting his mother further.

It was one thing for Goten to run off and act out in a temper… but he still lived with his family, and he needed to keep his family in harmony.

He knew he still had one more year in high school, and maybe he was rushing too fast to establish some boundaries of his autonomy. Maybe he had stretched his boundaries too far, too fast, and that's what upset his mom so much.

After Goten paid the bill, Havana excused herself to use the restroom, bringing her purse with her. Goten decided to stay at the table and look out at the waves, and ruminate a bit. He felt a little frustrated because his thoughts spiraled, and so he needed some kind of outlet.

With a lack of a GamePad, he did the next best thing, and decided to phone a friend.

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"I think I'm ready."

Trunks had to grit his teeth. He knew what Goten meant.

Goten was calling from a cafe where he had taken Havana for dinner. He was working through some emotions, since he was nervous, especially after the events on the boat. He talked about how he was intending to stay out late that night, possibly even overnight.

Goten was in the middle of telling Trunks his plans for the evening, and Trunks felt like everything was a bad idea.

"Havana says she got a room for us at the lighthouse," Goten chatted over the phone, "It's a big secret, though. My mom doesn't know."

Trunks wasn't sure how to talk Goten out of such a big decision. He tried to subtly portray his disapproval, without starting a scene, "I don't know, Goten…"

"We've been together since the beginning of summer break, right? It's been long enough, right? This is something Havana's been hyped up about for a long time…"

Trunks leaned into Goten's hesitation, "Yeah, but… is this is something you want to do?"

"I mean," Goten paused for a long time, "... It's kinda the point of having a girlfriend, right?

"Yeah, but…" Trunks wasn't sure how to argue against it, and he felt he was grasping at straws, "It's possible to be close… and not have sex, right?"

Trunks could almost see Goten shrug, "Not if you're trying to level up the relationship, I don't think."

Trunks looked concerned to the side and thought maybe he could help associate some of Chi Chi's anger with Trunks' doubt, "Are you sure you're ready to level it up… knowing how things went today…?"

There was a pause on the other line as Goten considered Trunks' words.

Then he sighed, "I guess I'll know when it comes to it. But I don't want to just cancel, ya know? It's been a good date otherwise."

Trunks paused, then said in a lower, slower tone, "Don't feel like you're being pressured into anything."

"I won't - Hey," Goten's voice changed to be more energetic and rushed, "Can you cover for me? Say I was with you?"

-RRRRIIIIIIII-

A shrill high-pitch of tinnitus overwhelmed Trunks' ears as his blood rushed. He realized the red flag. He saw it. And Trunks was sternly opposed.

"You want me to lie?" He saw the bait of corruption, and he wasn't going to take it. "No."

Goten stuttered a moment, "Y-you k now what, you're right. Don't worry about it."

"Did Havana tell you to lie?" Trunks' tone turned accusatory.

"I-I didn't mean to ask you to lie for me."

Trunks gritted his teeth, unsure if Goten realized how manipulative that all sounded. Trunks was able to see that now that Goten was eighteen, he risked rebelling against his family, and he could put himself in serious jeopardy with Havana.

The way that Goten had been tempted into lying, and involving Trunks in that lie made Trunks realize that Goten's soul was vulnerable to becoming tainted. Trunks could see it. He was in danger of losing his pure heart, now that he was eighteen.

Goten was iconified by his pure heart. Trunks loved his pure heart.

Trunks knew Havana was no good for Goten.

Trunks pressed, "At least tell me the truth about where you'll be tonight. Someone should know."

Goten stammered, "H-Hey I gott-." -CLICK-

He hung up right as Trunks heard Havana's voice in the background, on the other line.

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That whole evening, Trunks felt like a shipwreck. He hadn't been able to talk Goten out of sleeping with Havana, and he wasn't sure how many text messages counted as "too many." He didn't want to seem suspicious. He just wanted Goten to tell him where he was going with Havana. Trunks didn't trust her anymore.

Trunks was unable to locate Goten's ki. He figured that Goten had been suppressing his ki, likely to avoid detection from Gohan.

Trunks couldn't protect Goten if he didn't know where he was:

Where are you?

There had been too much pause, too much silence.

He always responded right away.

That's why, when Trunks received a strange text message from Goten at around 9pm that night, something felt a little off:

Come to the lighthouse. You know which one.

Trunks originally missed the message since he had been in the shower and had simply been socializing with his family.

By the time Trunks saw it, a whole hour had passed, and it was already 10:06pm.

And then Trunks sat for a long time, at least another forty minutes he tried to interpret the message, just staring at his phone in a dumbed stupor. He was constantly writing and erasing text replies, not sure what to really say.

He knew that Goten had been intending to have sex. So, at the time, there was a very real, and distinct possibility that Havana may have talked Goten into inviting Trunks for a threesome. Trunks had mixed feelings about the idea, and so he kept hesitating in his response.

He meant it when he vowed to end things with Havana.

He was ending it with her because he loved Goten, and was not going to get in Goten's way anymore. He was going to be good to Goten.

But… But… if Goten wanted Trunks to join him for a threesome…

Trunks didn't know what he thought. His emotions swirled because he knew Havana was bad, but… but… maybe a threesome would be fun, if they kept things casual…

Trunks had never considered the idea before, and felt stunned in his hesitation. He felt this should have been something they talked about beforehand, so he could be on the same page as Goten.

By 10:40pm, Trunks realized he couldn't commit without talking directly to Goten. This wasn't a decision that could be made lightly by text.

Trunks knew that there were too many secrets, and Goten might not, in truth, consent to having Trunks in the bed with them. Trunks figured that Goten was inviting Trunks to his bed thinking he'd have a one-time thing, without understanding Trunks' history with Havana.

Trunks decided the right decision was to put Goten first.

By 10:45pm, Trunks finally texted back:

Call me.

Then, there was radio silence.

Trunks was very sure he knew why.

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Time passed, for over an hour. Trunks tried unsuccessfully to keep his mind off of the text exchange by turning on the TV and lounging on his couch.

He kept getting distracted by his thoughts.

He kept checking his phone.

And checked again.

And again.

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That night, shortly before midnight, Trunks received a phone text from Goten:

I broke up with Van.

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Even though it was late, Trunks called him, trying to be a supportive friend… or at least, come across as one.

When Goten picked up, his voice sounded shaken.

Goten was flying, and emotional. He didn't want to talk about what happened.

He confirmed that everything was over.

Trunks couldn't understand how it had ended so quickly.

He could hardly conceive of what could make a relationship could fall so fast when Goten had tried so hard that evening to make it work, even after all the family drama.

He was in shock about how quickly everything collapsed in that relationship. He felt an amalgam of emotions that contrasted through dissonance in his mind.

On one hand, Trunks was horrified for Goten's feelings. This was Goten's first breakup, and it had a rocky ending.

On the other hand, Trunks was elated with how this meant the end of Havana. This was Trunks' freedom. He didn't have to skirt around the truth anymore. He didn't have to feel awkward in her presence anymore. Goten freed Trunks. Goten was Trunks' hero.

And on the sleight-of-hand, which he hated was now a part of how he thought, Trunks wanted to know if Havana had ratted Trunks out.

His head was spinning, his mind racing in all directions like laser beams.

Did Havana confess the truth? Did she talk?

Did Goten know about Trunks?!

Trunks needed to know if Goten knew anything, or suspected anything. Was the truth out?! Was Trunks on any hook?

On the phone as he flew, Goten was emotional, and was at first unable to form his words as coherent thoughts as he worked through his grief. In the beginning of the call, he just cried about how "everything was blowing up in his face," and that he would "never see Havana again."

Goten was "done," and he cried it to Trunks over the phone.

Trunks' head was turbulent. His senses were heightened. Every inch of his skin was buzzing with anxiety and anticipation.

The fact that Goten was still willing to talk to Trunks was evidence enough to him that Havana never spilled the beans. His history with her was still a secret.

As Trunks' mental gears turned, Goten started to open up about how he felt such immense pressure and how it felt like Van was forcing herself on him; she kept trying to make him drink something he didn't want and kept asking him weird questions as she tried to push herself on him. She kept asking if he was X-2, and then kept pushing herself on him. And then he fumbled and dropped the condom wrapper, and that's how he saw the condom had a weird hole in it. And overall, he didn't feel safe around Havana right now. And after his mom's temper, all of Havana's talk about marriage and accessing Goten's money made him realize she might be in the relationship for the wrong reasons.

Goten spoke too fast. It was too much information at once.

Trunks tried to listen, but it all of his thoughts made the world spin. He couldn't process Goten's feelings. He could barely contain his own emotions.

None of the details mattered. Trunks boiled it down to two things: Goten had a bad time, and now Goten was done with Havana.

Trunks was also done with Havana. Van was bad news, and she was history.

Trunks knew he was going to start college soon. He would have ended things with Havana on his own, with or without Chi Chi's blowup and all the fallout. Trunks had no reason to want to make things work with her.

With Goten done, Trunks was done. And everyone could just move forward.

As long as Goten didn't know about Trunks and Havana, then it could be like it never happened.

Except, this time around, Trunks was going to be a better friend to Goten.

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For two weeks after Goten's breakup with Havana, Trunks ghosted Havana's texts and calls. He never even officially called off his affair with her. He just ran, wanting her to figure out on her own that he was done with her.

There was nothing that he could say to her.

He didn't know how to break up with her, either, since they never were actually together.

Just the thought of her confused Trunks and brought a terrible feeling in his gut of guilt and remorse.

Even if Trunks did miss her, and did want to see her, there was no way he could continue to see her.

If he did see her, now that Goten had called it off, Trunks would be admitting defeat to himself; that he had lost control over the situation.

Then, at the three week mark, Havana texted Trunks that she needed to see him urgently. Trunks, as usual, ghosted her.

Two days later, as Trunks was packing and planning his move to college… Havana texted him an ultrasound image.

She was two months pregnant.

And then, Trunks' world turned upside-down.

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From the moment he learned that Havana was pregnant, Trunks was alone.

He had nobody he could go to.

He couldn't talk to Goten. He couldn't talk to grandpa. He was terrified of going to his dad, and even worse - his mom.

The guilt and realization of what he had done hit him all at once.

He locked himself in his room in a state of panic, unable to process the gravity of the entire situation.

He was incapacitated.

He was unable to function.

He didn't know what he was doing.

He didn't know which way was up.

He had gotten her pregnant.

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His mom Bulma, noticed that something was off with Trunks right away.

Up until now, Trunks had been excited for a new opportunity to start a new chapter of his life in college. He had been shopping online for room accessories, and taking Bra out to the mall as his excuse to shop for a new wardrobe.

And then suddenly, as Trunks was packing for college, he became sullen and stoic. He was spacing out, unable to retain information, and had a faraway look in his eyes as he clenched a tight jaw.

Bulma knew what was wrong. It was clear, and she knew her son well.

Trunks was obviously starting to feel homesick at the thought of moving away from home.

Bulma knew that college could hardly keep the two boys apart, and Bulma thought it might be beneficial to Trunks if he could hang out with Goten a little more before moving out. She also thought it'd be good for Goten, too.

Bulma told Trucks that she had heard from Chi Chi that Goten had shut himself in his room after getting home late after their birthday fight, and for the last few weeks had isolated himself from her and the family.

She thought maybe Trunks could go and support Goten, to help him feel better. She reminded Trunks that it was Goten's first breakup, and it wasn't a good experience for anyone. Bulma thought maybe Goten could maybe use a friend to talk instead of just getting lost in his video games.

For Bulma, Trunks seeing Goten could help fix both of their problems. Bulma knew that as long as they saw each other, they tended to work out each other's thoughts.

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Trunks knew his mom was right. He agreed with her.

Trunks thought back to his own breakup with Mai. It had only been a few months, but it felt like much longer than that - more like a year. It was hard to conceive of the thought that he had only lost his virginity three months ago.

And within those three months, he made a baby with Havana two months ago.

He thought back to how Goten had been there for Trunks, during his emotional breakup. He knew that Goten would do anything for Trunks to work through his feelings, and he was a pure soul who never once cast any judgment.

Trunks knew that Goten absolutely deserved support. Trunks should have gone to support him. Trunks knew he wanted to be there for him. He would have been willing to comfort Goten the same way that Goten had been there for him.

Trunks wanted to do that, and to go the extra mile.

He wanted to be there to support him so badly.

But Trunks couldn't see Goten.

He couldn't bring himself to face Goten's eyes.

Trunks knew he didn't deserve Goten's trust. He didn't deserve Goten's friendship.

Trunks couldn't confess to Goten that he had gotten Havana pregnant.

If he did… then Goten would know about the scandal. Goten would ever want to ever see Trunks again.

Trunks was incapacitated by the mere idea of Goten learning how far Trunks went to betray him.

Trunks had thought it was over. Trunks had believed he could have just walked away, and put the past behind him. He was on track to keep Goten. But now… now…

Trunks couldn't bear the thought of losing him. The idea made his body tremble, and he was weakened with despondency.

He grieved because he couldn't keep it a secret. Goten would find out.

Trunks was anguished and terrified of the news also reaching his family. He could hardly handle his own judgments of himself, screaming through the voice of Chi Chi… but now the idea of everyone else judging him too was an all-encompassing ocean of mental trauma.

Trunks was drowning. He was crumbling. He was breaking down.

And he couldn't go to anyone about it.

He spent the next days and nights praying that everything was a bad dream, that everything would just go away.

He prayed to all of the Kais, and all of the gods of all the different religions.

He bargained to the gods and said if they just please made it go away, Trunks would do anything the Kais wanted.

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Within days of Havana relaying to Trunks about her pregnancy, her true colors started to show.

Havana's texts began to shift into questions about his trust fund and how it was set up, and what it would take for her to get onto it.

And then all the texts became about money from there.

.

.

.

Trunks was trapped.

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–1/18/24–