Goten knew he had to apologize to his mother for storming out like he did. That was not his normal behavior, but the air was getting stale. He had to get out of that atmosphere. The son of Goku wanted to go to a bar and drink until he felt numb. He knew that this wasn't the best coping mechanism, but he didn't want to feel right now. Back in his playboy days, he would also score with a woman, but he didn't even have the confidence right now.
The half-Saiyan finally decided on a bar and was about to take flight when he felt his best friend's ki outside.
"Goten, wait!" Trunks yelled, "Let me come with you." Both hybrids knew that even if Goten attempted to fly off without him, Trunks would catch up with him quickly. It was no use.
The son of Goku wanted to be alone, "I'm not sure about this, Trunks." He admitted. He didn't want to talk about his feelings at all. It's been a sensitive topic for him.
Trunks walked to his long-time best friend, "I will always listen, so please let me come with you. You deserve a good friend even if I haven't been a good one."
Goten gave in and nodded his head, "Let's go to 115th Street, my usual bar is over there." Trunks nodded and the pair of best friends took fly to the bar.
The flight to 115th was silent mainly because Trunks didn't want to bring up any sore topics for his best friend. Trunks was mentally beating himself up because he failed to see all the signs of Goten's depression.
The Saiyan hybrid also knew he had to apologize to his best friend. He hasn't even thought about how he was feeling post-injury. He went to Goten's rehab appointments, helped him walk again, and sometimes cooked dinner for him. But not once did he even think Goten was still mentally struggling. He thought he was fine since they endured worse as children.
It also didn't help that Korin passed away and no one knows the senzu beans recipe to continue to make them. Bulma has been trying to replicate it but hasn't had any luck. So Goten healed the normal way and it didn't help that his father decided to leave when his youngest son needed him the most.
The boys landed at 115th Street and walked inside the bar. Goten found an empty table and Trunks ordered a pitcher of beer.
"I hope my mom isn't too mad at me." Goten began, "I have to apologize to her." Trunks poured a glass for his best friend and passed it to him, "I think she will understand, this is a sensitive topic and my dad being an asshole did not help." He added, "Man, listen, I need to apologize to you."
Goten sipped his beer, "Why do you need to apologize?" He questioned him as Trunks poured a glass of beer for himself.
Trunks sighed, "I didn't realize you were mentally struggling about your last fight." The younger demi-Saiyan felt a pang in his chest. "I'm sorry I never asked you how you were really doing." Empathized really.
"Trunks, I don't think I would have been honest with you though." He sighed as he ran his fingers through his coarse hair, "This was a rough situation for me. And then my dad left again."
"I can't imagine the pain you have been through." The lavender-haired man said, "How have you been coping?"
Goten shrugged his shoulders and looked up towards the ceiling. His therapist told him multiple times that drinking and ignoring the situation were unhealthy coping mechanisms. The hybrid tried writing and taking walks, but nothing seemed to help him. That's why he stuck to drinking.
"I haven't. I haven't fought in months, it's hard enough for me to show up to work." He stuttered. This was the first time he admitted the truth to someone besides his therapist.
Trunks rubbed his best friend's back as he drank more of his beer, "It's hard to be reminded every day when you go to work. Do you want to switch careers?"
He shook his head no, "No, I think I'll be okay. I just don't know when that will be." He sighed again, "I never thought my life was going to be like this."
His mother told him multiple times last year that he should consider switching careers. She said that he should become a professor like Gohan. But he never wanted to be a professor. The issue is, he doesn't know which career he would switch to. All his life he dreamt of being the champion fighter and he was going to accomplish it.
"I think that's okay," Trunks started, "You can't plan your life out, things just happen."
Goten knew that Trunks was right, but it was also hard for the younger Saiyan to believe since everything worked out for Trunks. It pained him when his life didn't work out the same.
"Everything worked out for you! The job, the house, the girl, everything!" He cried to his best friend, "I lost everything!" He quickly wiped the few tears that escaped.
Trunks shook his head, "I don't have everything. I struggle too, I guess, I just don't tell anyone." He added as he finished his beer and poured himself another glass. "I decided that if something is not meant for me, it was not meant for me."
Trunks was right and Goten knew Trunks was right, "I never thought about it like that. It sucks when everyone around you seems like they have their life sorted out."
"I get that, but you are twenty-seven Goten! You got your whole life ahead of you!" Trunks exclaimed as he saw a slight smile on Goten's face, "You lost the fight, that means the title wasn't meant for you yet." Goten appreciated everything that Trunks saying to him. This is what he needed to hear, some of this wasn't meant for him yet and everything that is meant for him will fall in place at the right time. He just needed to believe in Kami.
"Everything will fall in place for me at the right time" Goten repeated, "Thanks Trunks." His best friend smiled at him. "I'm going to get another pitcher. " Trunks offered as he got up from the table.
"No, let me," Goten suggested as he got up from the table.
The son of Goku always came to 115th Street. It was his place to go to clear his mind. He won't ever admit it to Trunks, but he was glad that he came with him. He would have just sat at the bar and drank so much alcohol to numb the pain. This past year has been the hardest for him mentally. He lost his groove and he misses his dad. He didn't know when he would be returning.
As Goten walked to the bar, he noticed a new bartender. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her. She was gorgeous. When Goten was a champion fighter, he was a lady's man, similar to Trunks but Goten wanted to settle down and get married.
The younger half-Saiyan hadn't had a serious girlfriend in a few years, and he wasn't looking to date. But seeing her, he was willing to change his mind. His palm was starting to get sweaty which isn't normal. He couldn't recall the last time a girl made him this nervous.
"Hi, what can I get you?" She asked.
Goten cleared his throat, "Another pitcher of beer, under my friend's tab."
"Last name?"
"Briefs." He added. He wanted to speak, but the words wouldn't come out. He watched her as she poured the beer into the pitcher.
He was mesmerized by her, and he could feel a smile form on his face. "Here you go." She said as she handed the pitcher over to him.
Their hands briefly touched as Goten grabbed the pitcher from her. "Thank you." He responded shakily. He turned on his heel and started to walk back to the table where he and Trunks were sitting.
Goten's heart was pounding the whole time, their hands briefly touched. The younger hybrid feels he is making the small situation into a big deal, but he is loving every second of it. This was the first time he genuinely felt something in a while.
"What's got you in a chipper mood?" Trunks asked as Goten returned. He still had the same big smile on his face.
"The bartender," Goten began, "She made me so nervous, I haven't felt that way about a girl for a while." Trunks could see his best friend's mood changed completely and he loved every second of it.
"Our hands briefly touched, but Trunks, I promise you, I felt sparks." He continued, "I'm making the situation bigger than what needs to be."
His best friend shook his head no, "No, I disagree, if you think there was a spark, there was a spark. You haven't mentioned a "spark" with a girl since Laney."
Laney was Goten's last serious girlfriend. Everyone loved her and he thought she was the one. He asked Marron for help to get her ring size since he was planning on proposing to her. Laney broke up with him without any warning which wounded him deeply.
This is where Goten's life began to "crumble" in his eyes. He was never the same after the break-up and threw himself into training to get her off his mind. About half a year later, is when his accident happened.
He attempted to date but it was never the same. He never felt that spark feeling that he felt with Laney and he started to lose hope.
The son of Goku nodded his head, he was right. He hadn't felt the same spark in years, and he got him feeling excited.
"You're right, Trunks, I need to stop being so pessimistic, let me get back to myself again." A smile formed on his best friend's face, "That's what I want to hear. You deserve everything and more."
Once again, Goten knew that Trunks was right. He needed this talk with Trunks. Drinking until he was numb was not the right was almost 2 a.m., and the boys decided to leave the bar and head home. "You can spend the night." Goten offered. Even though it took Saiyans a lot more to get drunk, he didn't want Trunks to be flying home late at night.
He understands if Trunks declines because he wants to make it home so his girlfriend doesn't worry. Goten's place is closer and he can sober up and get home safely in the morning.
"I might take you up on that offer. Marron would rather me be safe and she said we can get breakfast in the morning at the cafe on 103rd." Trunks added.
Goten nodded, "I would love that, I haven't seen Marron in a while, it will give us a chance to catch up."
Trunks smiled as he texted his girlfriend the plan and the best friends began walking to Goten's apartment. Goten has a two-bedroom apartment and Trunks used to spend the night plenty of times in the past. It felt like they were in their early twenties again, they both missed their college days.
"Thank you," Goten said to break the silence. This alerted Trunks, "For what?"
"I know my mom understands why I fled the dinner party. I'm still going to have to apologize to her. Thank you for coming out tonight, listening to me vent, and being a great friend."
Trunks cleared his throat, "I will always be your friend, and I'm sorry for not seeing that you were truly struggling. Let's make a deal." Trunks started.
"What do you have in mind?" He asked the son of Vegeta.
"Let's get together, drink, and talk about life once a month. I needed this night out just as much as you. I think it will be helpful. Because I can't tell you the last time we just had a bro's day."
Goten smiled as he pulled his keys out of his pocket as they made it to his apartment complex, "Yeah I would love that." He responded, "Thanks Trunks." Even though Goten dreaded this day, he was glad it happened. Things may start looking up for him.