Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Ménage ❯ Marooned ( Chapter 4 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

A/N: Self-Mutilation warning (very descriptive), and underage drinking.

Bulma gave her lover one last wave before he exited her hotel room. Her and Yamcha had gotten into it another argument over the phone almost a week ago, so she found herself a boy-toy to keep her company during her mini-vacation.

Today, however, after being gone for two weeks, she was going home. She tried keeping in touch with Trunks, but he next to never answered his cell phone that he had a fit over, so the most she could do was send text messages or leave voicemails.

She gathered her things and got ready to leave on her private aircraft. She hoped that things were alright at the castle, especially between Trunks and Vegeta. She didn't mean to stay gone more than three days, but the country was so beautiful, and she honestly needed an extended break from all of the chaos.

Trunks never sounded upset with her on the phone. Their few conversations were short, and Trunks always seemed distracted. Still, there was no telling what kind of reaction she'd get out of him when she got home. She was personally glad she picked him out some nice gifts.

She went to an emptier part of the hotel parking lot so she could unleash her small, capsulated aircraft. Upon flying, she imagined ways she could make things up with Yamcha. Sure their last argument was about exactly what happened when they split, she got a new boyfriend. She didn't care for his jealous tendencies, but she also got jealous occasionally when Yamcha would get phone calls from lady friends. The jealousy didn't stick around, though, as she knew that the other women wouldn't stick around long, and she always had her secret weapons of getting Yamcha back.

Just wait until he gets a look at this new lingerie I bought! Bulma thought to herself, giggling a little. Then the idea hit her, maybe she'd visit him first, that way she would ensure her relationship with him; plus, none of the others knew she was coming home, so what's another few hours?

She landed in front of Yamcha's apartment and re-capsulated the aircraft. Normally one would have to enter through the gate at the drive-way of the apartment complex, after, of course, checking in with the gate guard first. The gate guard to the complex, however, was very well aware of Bulma methods of transportation, and no longer had an issue with her abrupt appearances.

She climbed the stairs to Yamcha's second-story room. She then tugged down her shirt a bit, showing the maximum amount of cleavage that the fabric would show. Satisfied with her wardrobe-adjusting, she knocked on the door.

Shortly afterward, the door opened. Yamcha stood before her looking disheveled, especially his messy long hair, with a toothbrush stuck in his mouth. He obviously had just woken up right before she arrived. She couldn't help but wonder what he could have been doing that would make him sleep in until three in the afternoon.

The tall ex-bandit turned and lazily beckoned Bulma inside the apartment. She waited patiently in the sitting room while Yamcha finished getting cleaned up and properly dressed.

The one bedroom apartment was small and plain, but still neat. The walls and ceiling were painted white, and softly-glowing bulbs were screwed into indentions made in the ceiling. Beech flooring was placed, with decorative rugs resting on top in various places in the room.

"What's up?" Yamcha asked innocently, walking back into the room, and looking a bit more awake. He didn't act like there was anything wrong, which raised Bulma's suspicion even more. First, the ex-bandit was sleeping in, which he next to never does, and secondly, he was awfully friendly, despite their last fight. Yamcha and Bulma usually held grudges when it came to being mad at each other, so something had to be up.

Bulma stayed quiet for a moment, wanting to choose her words wisely. "Did you have a late night, or something?" She asked, trying to keep her voice as pleasant as possible.

The bandit shrugged, "I just went out with the assistant manager and the coach from the team; we had a few drinks." He then took a seat next to the woman and stretched his arms along the headrest of the couch. "So, you're back in town? You didn't call."

"I figured I'd surprise you," Bulma replied. She found Yamcha's story hard to believe, but she didn't want to start another fight. Also, she supposed she was probably just a little paranoid and insecure, especially since finding out that her husband was fooling around with another man. Yeah, that one was a definite ego-deflator. "Did you have any plans for today?"

"Not that I can think of," Yamcha got quiet for a moment before continuing, "Look, uh, what I said the other day, I didn't mean it. We're not a couple, and what you do and who you're with while you're away is none of my business."

The blue-haired woman sighed, "You know I'd love to take you with me, but your job keeps you busy, and sometimes I just need to get away, and-"

"I know, Bulma, I do. I just can't help but get worried, I guess, when you act so...recklessly."

Breathy laughter escaped Bulma's lips and she smiled at her lover. "And drinking all night with your baseball colleagues isn't? Or did you do something else?" she questioned a bit teasingly, even though she was seriously curious.

"I picked up a hooker."

"Jeez, Yamcha, do you really have to be so desperate that you resort to paying for sex?"

"I'm joking! Actually, I met someone after Chad and Nathan left." He gave a slight shrug, as if the person he'd met wasn't all that important.

Bulma felt a twinge of annoyance. So that's why Yamcha was out so late! He met a girl! She shook her head. "It figures," she muttered a little bitterly.

"What, Bulma? You didn't even give me a chance to tell you who it was! It was a dude named Turles, who looks like Goku and is in a metal band."

"Looks like Goku? Damn, Yamcha, if you're going to lie, at least make it believable, shit."

"I'm not lying! And so what if it was a girl, which HE wasn't? I am allowed to date whoever the fuck I want, just like you do. Besides, I do wanna get married sometime, and since you have made it perfectly clear that you're not leaving Vegeta, I must look somewhere else."

"You know that I would, but my career..." she started slowly.

"I know," The ex-bandit sighed as he stopped the same explanation he'd been handed a million times. He said nothing more and stared blankly at his hands folded in his lap. He didn't like to argue with Bulma, but he wasn't going to stand for any double standards.

"I'm sorry, okay?" Bulma said after a few minutes of awkward silence, "I'm just being insecure, I suppose. It's just so hard, because you're the only one that actually gives a damn, but we aren't, and can't be together." She then stood up feeling a wave of depression hit her. "I'm just gonna go...gotta get back to the castle."

"I'm sorry, too, Bulma," Yamcha replied, watching the woman head toward the door. "I'll just call you later on-or you can call me."

Bulma gave a slight nod of her head, indicating that she heard him. "Whichever," she agreed, half-heartedly, as she stepped through the door.

-0-

Trunks and Goten walked into the gated outside garden that was directly below Vegeta's tower, and led into the main hall through glass doors. The darkening, cloud-laden sky was streaked with pink and orange near the distant mountains.

"I hate that you have to go," Trunks pouted at his boyfriend.

"I've been here three days straight, Trunks, and Mom wants me home." Goten gripped Trunks' shoulders and pulled him into a quick kiss. Upon trying to pull away, he found himself being crushed against the other's body, which deepened the kiss.

Suddenly, the sound of someone coughing could be heard, which broke the two boys apart. Still holding onto each other, they looked toward the sound of the cough. They found none other than Seventeen smoking and sitting on the side of the ornate fountain that occupied the very center of the garden. He seemed more interested in staring blankly at the foxglove flowers that took up the portion of the garden across from the circular walkway that surrounded the fountain.

"He knows we're here," Goten grumbled, glaring at the primly-sitting man. "He can sense ki."

"I don't see what your problem is," Trunks responded a bit too cheerfully, also staring at Seventeen. "He's obviously minding his own business, or else he'd be over here." He then turned back to Goten, who looked ready for a fight. "Well, you gotta leave now, don't you?" he asked a bit hastily.

The younger half-saiyan huffed loudly and punched his boyfriend in the shoulder. "I'm your fucking boyfriend! And, besides, you wanted me to stay mere moments ago!"

"And you were saying you didn't wanna be in trouble," Trunks argued. "And I don't want you to be, either, alright?" he smoothly answered as if he hadn't just been upset a few seconds ago.

Goten glared angrily into cerulean eyes. "You're a walking contradiction, you know that?" He spat before turning to the sky and flying off.

Trunks watched as the figure became smaller and smaller. Finally Goten was nothing more than a tiny dot in the sky. He then strode over to where Seventeen, who had thumped aside his joint end, sat.

"Hey," He said glumly, taking a seat next to the black-haired man.

"I couldn't help but overhear," Seventeen began, "That your beloved boyfriend is jealous of me."

"No, he just doesn't trust you...or me."

The older man turned and faced the younger and smiled pleasantly, "I actually consider it a compliment. It shows that he finds me attractive enough to actually be a threat to him."

"You really do adore yourself, don't you?" Trunks laughed.

"And why not? I am the only one I care about."

"You don't have any family members you care about?" the teen asked curiously.

Seventeen paused a moment, a little stunned at how he didn't expect that question, then quickly righted himself. "No, I do not." He then became very quiet.

Realizing that he might have touched a nerve, Trunks quickly switched the conversation back to Goten. "So, yeah, he's a bit threatened by you, and thinks that we're doing something together. It's pretty annoying," he scoffed at the very idea of this attractive man actually reciprocating the teen's feelings and desires.

The black-haired man smirked and cupped Trunks' face in his hands. He tilted his head slightly and pressed his lips softly to the blushing teen's, as if he were his precious lover.

"There you are," he said charmingly, fixing his empty, pale-blue eyes on shining cerulean ones. "Now Goten really has a reason not to trust either of us."

The red-faced half-saiyan stared in shock, raising his hand to his mouth. What was Seventeen trying to play at by kissing him? "I-um..."

"Liked it," Seventeen interrupted, continuing Trunks' sentence, "And obviously your boyfriend hasn't fucked you yet, or else you wouldn't be chasing me so soon in your relationship."

Trunks sighed and looked at the fountain. Was he that obvious? Was he that desperate for sex that he had to unconsciously hound other men? He really was a fool. He didn't want to cheat on Goten, and sharing a house with such an attractive person must be a test of loyalty and willpower.

Suddenly, the garden's lights turned on, indicating that the sun had fallen. The lights illuminated the running water and the enormous glass doors leading into the castle.

Seventeen took advantage of Trunks' silence and kissed him once more, this time more deeply. He placed his hands upon the teen's chest, feeling the rapid heart-rate. "Do I make you nervous?" He whispered, staring intently into the saiyan's eyes.

Trunks face turned redder, but he didn't move away, "Yes," He answered truthfully, "W-we shouldn't-I mean, I shouldn't," he babbled, unsure of what to do in this situation.

"You're doing an awful job of fighting me off," The older man slid one of his hands through long, lavender-colored hair, his face barely an inch from the other's, as if he were teasing Trunks to take the next step.

Resolve crumbling, Trunks gave in. He tilted his head and pressed his lips to Seventeen's. The older man promptly opened his mouth slightly to allow his tongue to sweep across the seam of Trunks' mouth. His hold on the back of the teen's head tightened once he was able to coax pliant lips open to allow both tongues to meet.

Trunks' mind screamed bad idea! but his body suggested otherwise. His heart raced, and his arms wrapped around the slim form, which pulled their bodies closer together. He craved the touch that his own boyfriend continually denied him, and he was quite certain that Seventeen would indulge him in his desperate need if this continued on.

But isn't this cheating, too? He asked himself mentally, No, it's just a kiss, right? I can stop at any time...any time...

But when was any time? What if Goten did the same thing? The questions kept going through his head as the fervent kiss intensified. He had to make a decision quick, because he was sure that Seventeen wasn't going to just keep making out with him without there being an afterward.

Suddenly, as if on cue, a very familiar ki was felt. Barely a moment afterward the sound of a loud, whirring engine could be heard a bit outward in the lawns.

"I think that's my mom," Trunks said, almost thankful for the excuse to break apart from the make-out session. However, a small part of him did feel a bit disappointed that he would have to waste such a perfect opportunity to indulge himself in such an interesting and arousing man.

"She can wait a little longer to see you," Seventeen muttered, pulling Trunks back into the kiss.

"Please, Mel, I've got to go," The young half-saiyan whispered urgently.

The black-haired man blinked at the name Trunks just called him. He hadn't been called Mel in a long time, and it caught him off guard.

"I'm so sorry," Trunks said, pushing himself from the fountain bench. He gave one more regretful glance before walking off toward the glass doors. He wondered what in the world possessed him to be so apologetic. Goten was his boyfriend, not Seventeen. He shouldn't care whether the man's feelings were hurt or not. Regardless, he still felt like such a jerk. He had managed to piss off his boyfriend and stand-up a hottie all within a matter of fifteen minutes.

He stepped through the threshold of the glass doors leading into the main hall. He glanced back at the fountain, and could not see Seventeen at all, even under the lights. "She's going to trip out when she finds out about Dad's housemates," he muttered to himself. "And Goku's been around an awful lot, more than usual...I swear something's going on..."

He heard the tell-tale sound of heels clicking against the stone floor, and waited with bated breath as his mother stepped through the threshold connecting the hall to the foyer. She must have left all of her things outside, since she didn't carry any bags. Trunks supposed that she would simply ask a servant to fetch her things.

"Hey, Trunks!" She squealed happily, rushing over to her son and hugging him tightly. "How are you?" she asked once she pulled away from him, giving his body a quick once-over to make sure he was truly okay.

Trunks shrugged, "Alright, I guess." He sighed a little sadly. "You've been gone too long, Mom."

"I'm sorry, honey, my business trip took longer than expected." She then brightened. "I bought you some things, though."

"Thanks, Mom," Trunks responded a bit more somberly than usual when there was a mention of presents.

"About damn time you came home," Vegeta said suddenly, stomping down the stairs agitatedly.

"And hello to you too," Bulma responded coldly, folding her arms across her chest. "Hope you've had a nice time while I was away."

Her husband stopped a little more than three feet from her. "Of course," he responded with a mocking smile.

Bulma only huffed at his answer and turned her attention back towards her son. "How was school?"

The teen gave a slight shrug. "Same as always, I suppose."

The woman nodded, not surprised at her son's answer. "You and your father didn't get into too much fighting, did you?" She shot a nasty look at her husband.

"Not really, but it's mostly because..." Trunks started but was quickly interrupted by his father.

"I've invited some people to stay here with me, so I would appreciate it if you didn't show your ass while you're home."

"Oh, so your little black-haired bitch is still here, then? Y'know, the very feminine one?" Bulma spat, half-forgetting that her son was standing next to them.

Vegeta smirked victoriously. "Yes, why? Are you upset that I didn't invite Yamcha to stay?"

All the while Trunks stared back and forth between his parents. Although they were both professionals at keeping their arguments quiet, as Bulma didn't want Trunks to hear how bad the problems were; they seemed to have forgotten that their son was standing there taking it all in.

"What do you mean, Dad?" He demanded. "Why would Yamcha have anything to do with this?"

"Oh, you haven't heard?" Vegeta chuckled. "That's your mother's new boyfriend." The prince crossed his arms and continued to smirk at his wife.

Trunks' eyes widened, "So that must mean..." Then he gasped and stared wildly at his father, "So you've been messing with Seventeen?"

The older man snorted, his smirk turned quickly into a scowl. "And why not?"

The teen's eyes then fell on his mother. "And you both know about this? This isn't right!" He knew his parents hadn't been on the best of terms since, well, it seemed like forever to him.

Cerulean eyes never leaving Vegeta's, Bulma said, "Trunks, I think you need to go to your room. Your father and I need to talk."

"I'm not going any damn where!" The teen stomped his foot down on the floor as his hands tightened into fists.

"You don't have to," Vegeta growled and gripped Bulma's upper arm. He then stepped forward slightly and Apparated.

Trunks couldn't believe his father had done that! Actually, he couldn't believe that he had just made out with the same dude that was sucking his dad's and Raditz's dicks. Also, that had to explain Goku's multitude of appearances at the castle! But that would mean that Goku was cheating on Chi-Chi! "I fucking knew it!" The teen hissed out through gritted teeth.

And his mother; he would never have dreamed that she'd go after Yamcha of all people again! Not with how much they argue. That made him wonder what else she's done and why she had so many business trips, and that most of those business trips always seemed to get extended unexpectedly.

He stormed through the double doors in the foyer that led to the dining-hall. His footsteps echoed loudly against the extremely-shiny marble tile floor. The dining hall was narrow compared to the main hall, but quite long. Hanging against the walls between enormous round-topped windows to the left were large white tapestries with what was found out to be the red Saiyan crest made onto it. Along the center was a lone, long, wooden table with blood-red cloth covering its surface. High-backed wooden chairs were placed along its length. The intricately-molded ceiling seemed to be as high as the castle itself, therefore causing any noise to echo, making it an awkward place to enjoy a meal.

From there he burst through the smaller wooden door, directly behind the table, that led to the kitchen. The kitchen was smaller than the dining hall, and just about every surface was a type of shiny metal; it looked a lot like a restaurant's kitchen. There was a double oven integrated into the wall, and automatic meat slicers were bolted into the end of the island table. What was strange was all of these looked unused; being that the servants mostly used magical methods to prepare food.

The upset teen sighed. The whole situation was extremely confusing to the boy. Why would his parents openly cheat on each other? Were things between them that bad? Surely, it wasn't too late for them to work things out?

Trunks lifted a trap door that led to a section of the vast basement. He remembered how Goten hated going down to the basement because of the large array of spiders decorating the ceiling.

He then descended the stone steps that stuck out into the darkened space below.

As soon as he was completely immersed in the basement, lights magically flickered on from hanging lamps in the rafters. The room he was in was low-ceilinged and made of dark stone. Along the left wall were wooden wine shelves holding countless dusty bottles of wine. On other shelves were expensive liquors.

There was a big silver metal door built into the back wall that led to the refrigerated alcohols. Trunks made a beeline for the door, and pulled the silver handle on it. The door opened, allowing fog to billow out in swirls, causing a spooky effect on the rest of the small wine cellar section.

Inside the refrigerator were countless frost-covered bottles of alcohol. Trunks' skin instantly rose into bumps upon entering the over-sized cubicle. He knew that his father was quite fond of his expensive alcohol collection, and even though he had an incredible number of different liquors, Vegeta would never let Trunks have any when asked. However, that didn't stop the teen from stealing from the collection from time to time, along with the fact that his father hadn't caught onto the thievery yet.

Not wanting to be in the cold for much longer, he quickly grabbed a bottle containing clear liquid and left the extremely-cold room.

As soon as he entered the kitchen once more, he noticed that he wasn't the room's only occupant. Seventeen was busy filling a glass full of water from the tap integrated into the double-door refrigerator.

The teen froze, remembering what he had just learned about the man from his father.

"Drinking alone?" The black-haired man asked in his amiable voice, glancing at Trunks' frosted bottle of alcohol.

Trunks remembered once more why he was in the kitchen in the first place. "Yeah," He said quietly, and walked over to one of the glass racks hanging below the cabinet. The teen chose a spindly bell-shaped glass which hung from its flat stand. He filled the glass halfway with the clear liquor, and tried to down as much of it as possible in one go.

"So it's true you've been having sex with my dad?" He asked once his glass was completely emptied. A part of him hoped he hadn't sounded too harsh, but the rest of him was too pissed off to care.

Seventeen leaned back against the refrigerator and raised his glass to his mouth, "I'd have thought you'd have it figured out by now."

Trunks felt a twinge of annoyance at the older man's lack of responsibility for what he has caused. "Is the same thing going on with Goku as well?" Instead of acting on his urge to start screaming, he busied himself by shakily pouring another generous amount of alcohol into his empty glass.

"Oh absolutely," Seventeen laughed. "There isn't a single doubt that those two are fucking."

The young half-saiyan felt sick to his stomach. What he was just told fully confirmed his suspicions. He was totally fine with knowing his father had a male ex (who currently resides at the castle, but is away on a job at a distant beach). However, he couldn't quite understand what his dad was really doing messing around with his best friends married father.

"I can't believe you let me kiss you knowing what you were doing with my father," The teen muttered angrily, already going for his third glass.

Seventeen's expression suddenly went blank. "Trust me, it could be worse," He said grimly.

Trunks scoffed, "As if, I can't think of anything that could be worse than that."

A strange quiet fell over the older man, and he seemed suddenly quite interested in the water in his glass. Trunks took advantage of the silence as his cue to leave. He gathered up his glass and alcohol and strode out of the room, unable to stand being in the same room as the person that was the object of his secret lust not even an hour before.

Elsewhere in the castle, Bulma was trying to steady herself. Her arms were stretched out in front of her as she took in deep gulping breaths of air. Vegeta, on the other hand, was already half-way across the room. His heavy footsteps were practically shaking the floor as he made his way over to the table where his amber-colored stress-reliever sat in a clear bottle.

"Fucking hell, Vegeta!" the woman panted as she finally gained enough control to stop wobbling. Her breaths still came a bit deeply, but at least she wasn't gasping for air anymore. "Was that necessary?"

"Your son wasn't going to go away, so I fixed the problem. As if it isn't bad enough that the boy now knows our dirty laundry," he snorted, filling his ever-present tumbler with liquid. "I should be asking what the hell is wrong with you." He lifted the glass to his mouth, letting the rim sit on his lips as he eyed his still-disoriented wife. When he received a glare, Vegeta tipped the glass up and swallowed the contents.

"I thought he'd already figured it out, since you've invited the slut to stay," Bulma spat, her arms crossing over her chest as she finally stood up straight. "He's a smart boy and no matter how secretive you are, I'm sure…."

"He hadn't," the man hissed. "Do you think I'm that idiotic? That I'd let something like this slip between the cracks, even in front of my own son?" He scoffed, setting the glass back down on the table before he could crush it in his hand.

Her blue eyes flicked with fire as her husband's voice rose as did both of their tempers. "Right, well, you sure didn't have a problem pushing Yamcha out as my boyfriend," she growled. "As if he'd wanna stay here, anyway."

Vegeta rolled his eyes at the bitter statement. His palm remained firmly on the tabletop as he reigned in his temper. "That much of a pussy, huh?" he sneered. "It's probably for the best, since Raditz would more than likely tear the man apart."

Bulma's head whipped back at the unfamiliar name. "Raditz? Who the fuck is that? Here you are rubbing shit in my face over Yamcha, and now you've got two complete strangers living under the same roof as my son?" her voice screeching by the end of her tirade.

"Raditz is another Saiyan. I was stationed with him and Nappa while in Frieza's army," he easily supplied the information.

"Oh, that's just great. Some guy you worked with—"

"Saiyan," Vegeta reminded, even though he knew she wasn't paying attention.

"—while under Frieza's command is now living here. So we've got a slut and a murderer walking around the hallways. I, in no way, will fear for my life while being here," she huffed out sarcastically.

He snapped after having had enough of her backtalk. His hand rose, only to slam back against the top, shaking the table and threatening the bottles and glasses to tip and bust. "This is my Goddamn castle!" he finally barked. "And I, may I remind you for the millionth time, am a Goddamn Legilimens!"

"I don't care!" She threw her arms to her sides, hands turning into fists as a growl built in her throat. "You have never been this reckless before! What if someone finds out, aside from Trunks? What if these other men go talking about things while they're not here?"

Vegeta only scoffed. "They've been here long enough that if they had talked to anyone about staying here, I think shit would have already hit the fan."

"Fine," she snapped back, turning her head to the side as her jaw clenched. "I don't give damn, and if your precious Ministry finds out about what's going on here." She threw a smirk in his direction. The man deserved to be caught; he was being too arrogant about his position, thinking he could get away with anything. "I've tried to be supportive and understanding—"

"Bull-fucking-shit," he muttered.

"—after our fall-out, but I can't stay here knowing what's going on behind my back."

"Oh, yes because seeing that ex-boyfriend of yours coming back around for the past two years was a pleasure for me." The Saiyan rolled his eyes again at his wife's stupidity. "And just where exactly will you be going?"

"I don't know," she said softly, her anger wilting. "I just need some time." Time to adjust that my husband is obviously more attracted to men after spending years with me, she thought bitterly.

"Do whatever you want, just be sure to cover your trail."

Dry laughter spilled from her lips. "Right 'cause you're one to talk," she mocked before turning on her heels and leaving.

-8-

Feeling the swoon created by the generous amount of alcohol he had chugged in such a short amount of time, Trunks' angry trek down the hall turned into a sort of frustrated wobble.

"Maybe if I go wanderin' around the woods, a werewolf or somethin' might put me outta my misery," He sniffled pathetically. He spotted his door nearby and made his unsteady way toward it. "This situation sucks," He finished as his door responded to his familiar touch and opened for him.

The lights in the room automatically turned on to a comfortable dim level. Trunks' owl, Uno, slept peacefully in his cage.

Forgetting the glass he held loosely in his hand, he upturned the bottle. The taste didn't even affect him, being that he was already quite numb from drinking more than a third of the contents by himself.

He then stared hatefully out of his window in silence for a while. What was wrong with his family? They had money and power, why would they be so unhappy with each other? He simply couldn't accept that his parents had given up on each other after being together for almost twenty years. Everyone has problems that they work through, so why was it that two of the most driven and strong-hearted people couldn't fix their own marriage?

Suddenly, a soft knock on his door broke him from his reverie. Trunks was so upset and disoriented, that he didn't feel the ki of his own mother coming closer.

"Go the fuck away," Trunks said, "I don't have nothin' to say to you."

"Trunks, I just want to apologize to you," The woman insisted, "Please let me in."

The teen grumbled and set the bottle down on his desk. He nearly tripped on a pair of combat boots on his way to the door, which caused him to swear loudly. When he finally made it to the door, he opened it about two inches, so that he could peer at his mother, and make his point that she wasn't welcome. "Apology not accepted," He muttered darkly. "Go the hell on somewhere." He tried to snap the door back shut, but a perfectly-manicured hand stopped the motion.

"I know you're upset, but you're not going to speak to me like that," Bulma warned, pushing the door all the way open to reveal her drunken son.

"What are you gonna do? Get your stupid boyfriend on me?" Trunks rolled his eyes, "I'll kick his goddamn ass if I ever see his sorry face again," the teen spat at his mother as he stood on wobbling legs.

Bulma lightly sniffed the air, and the smell of alcohol hit her nose. "That explains why you're so belligerent; Trunks, why have you been sneaking your father's liquor again?" Like father like son, she angrily and begrudgingly admitted to herself a she remembered Vegeta's favorite escape route.

"Don't change the subject Mom!" The half-saiyan shouted, scaring his owl. The bird shrieked and flapped its great wings in anger. As for Trunks, the effort of the shout seemed to be too much, and the teen hiccupped and fell onto his ass on the bed. "Why do you and dad have to cheat on each other?" He shouted over the wing-flapping. "Why can't you fix it?"

"Your father and I are no longer attracted to each other," Bulma said simply once the bird calmed down. She said this believing that honesty was the best route in this case. Her son was a lot like Vegeta, even more-so when the boy was drunk, and therefore didn't like to be bullshitted with. Straight-forward was the best approach when dealing with either of them. "We have completely separate interests, and there is no connection between us anymore."

Trunks felt hot tears spring up in his eyes, but did nothing to stop them, "But why do you two still stay married? I don't understand..."

Bulma sat down next to her son, "You're only sixteen," She said gently, "Of course you're not going to understand the whole situation. Maybe one day, though. However, I am truly sorry that you got dragged in the middle of it."

"I'm not just some kid," Trunks sobbed, "I'm smart, and I'm going to be of age in November! Don't treat me like I'm s-stupid,"

"I'm not, really-"

"I can only imagine what Goten'll say when he finds out that-" Then he suddenly stopped. He almost blurted out about his suspicions concerning Goku and his father. Was now the right time to say such a thing?

"Trunks, I believe it's best to keep Goten out of our business," Bulma said firmly, misinterpreting Trunks' statement. "It's bad enough your father has two complete strangers living here around all of this magic, which is a breach to the Statute of Secrecy itself."

"But Raditz has magical blood in him," Trunks argued, no longer crying, "He was just never trained as a wizard."

"Alright, but what about the sl-your father's other friend?"

Trunks shrugged moodily, but said nothing more. He was still pissed that he had been used by that guy.

"Have either of them ever tried to get you to do something that you didn't want to do?" She asked in dead-seriousness.

Trunks shook his head. It wasn't a complete lie, the men had never had to pressure him into doing certain things. However, he didn't want his mother finding out that he had done drugs with them, especially Seventeen, who his mother seemed to feel the most animosity toward. Trunks' drug indulgences with Seventeen and Raditz had gone no further than snorting a Xanax bar once, and smoking weed, but that was still more than enough to cause his mother to go ballistic. Shit, if she even found out about the two occasions that he and Goten had smoked low-grade commercial marijuana, someone would have to come lock her up from the fit she'd have.

"Are you sure?"

"YES! I'm sure! Please stop botherin' me about it!" And with that, the teen started crying again. "Shut up, Uno," He mumbled when his started clicking his beak agitatedly.

Bulma had a sinking suspicion that Trunks wasn't telling the truth, but she didn't want to upset him any more than she already had. She still had to tell him that she was leaving again, and she knew that it wasn't going to go down very well.

"Trunks," the woman finally spoke again, after a few moments of awkward silence aside from Trunks' sniffling, "I can't vouch for your father; hell, I can't even begin to wonder what in the world he thinks he's doing, but please know that I love you. And I'm quite sure that deep down; your father loves you, too."

"Fat chance," Trunks scoffed, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

Bulma sighed. She didn't think that she was going to have much luck with getting Trunks to believe her, or to see reason. After all, he had just been burdened with heavy news that most young people couldn't possibly begin to understand or cope with. He was already dealing with an awful lot, what with school and maintaining positive grades. She almost had to wonder if leaving was really worth the amount of stress it would bring the boy, being that he wasn't partial to being left alone with his father.

Still, the thought of being under the same roof as those strangers, especially the murderer, unnerved her greatly. Where she lacked severely in physical strength, she made up for with intellect. Still, one had to wonder how much intellect would work while being torn limb-from-limb by a savage Saiyan.

That's one thing she could say for Trunks; though he didn't like to, at least he could fight and go Super Saiyan if need be. Plus, when he turns seventeen in November, he would have magic at his disposal as well.

"I'm going to be gone for a little while," She finally said, and braced herself for the shouting that would ensue.

Trunks instantly stopped crying for the second time. "Didn't you just get the fuck back?" He asked in disbelief, "Why?

"I'm sorry, honey, I really am, but I really can't put up with the drama for much longer. As I said before, I don't know what's going through your father's head," But something's not right. She finished in her head.

"But where are you going? When will you be back?"

"I can't give you a definite answer," Bulma answered sadly. She hated the betrayed expression on her son's face, and she knew that there was no way that he was going to forgive her any time soon. Still, the damage was done. "Just know that I will be back before you go back to school in September. We can do something nice together when I get back, maybe we'll go to Diagon Alley together."

Trunks glared at his mother. "Whatever, Mom, just get the fuck outta here, alright? Go fucking run away to your fucking boyfriend. But don't you dare bring him around here, 'cause imma kill him."

Bulma stood up. "I'll see you later, then," she said. She told her son that she loved him, only to get snubbed rudely. Without saying anything else, she left the teen to his own devices.

Trunks watched the door clos gently behind his mother, and instantly broke down into a sloppy, crying mess. He had no one; his mother just abandoned him, his father didn't want to be around him, Seventeen was a traitor, Raditz was gone, and Goten probably hated his guts.

His breathing became a bit labored and he felt panicky. The effects of the alcohol made these reactions that much worse, though the realization that he was all alone, in itself, was enough to scare him. His watery eyes fell on a small box that sat upon his desk next to his laptop.

He grabbed the box shakily and slid the cardboard tray outward. Inside the tray was a small crowd of box-cutter blades. He chose one and slid the paper covering off of the sharp end. He eyed the shiny blade for a moment, turning it in his hand.

Trunks tucked his shirtsleeve back, leaned forward, and rested his left forearm, underside up, on his leg. There were numerous scars of various lengths and angles striped across the skin. Most of them looked superficial, but there were a few particularly dark, deeper-looking scars that stood out amongst the lighter ones.

He positioned the blade against his skin, slightly angled to the right, and slowly dragged it across in a downward-diagonal motion. His jaw dropped slightly at the sharp pain coursing through his arm; he was certain that the pain would be worse if he weren't drunk.

A high completely unrelated to the alcohol fell over the teen. He lazily dropped the blade onto the bed next to him and watched the crimson blood flow profusely out of the two-inch-long cut, around his wrist, and onto the floor. When the relaxing feelings subsided, he pressed a shirt that he had thrown onto the floor against the wound.

He stared numbly at the space before him; he hadn't had to resort to drastic methods in a while. Tears still flowed from his eyes, but he made no noise. He had to leave the castle, at least for a night. The only place he knew to go was Goten's.

He hoped, as he was climbing out of the window, that Goten would let him stay. They could work things out, he was sure. He wobbled on the edge of the window and let go, falling a few feet before realizing that he also needed to exert some flying energy.

Trunks let off a burst of energy, which propelled him in the air in the direction of Goten's house.

-8-

Thankful that they didn't use Secrecy Sensors or burglar alarms, Trunks quietly made his way out of the bamboo grove, and across the small, flat-grassed lawns.

He made it to Goten's bed room window. Even though Gohan was gone, and had the bigger bed room, Goten was much too lazy to move his stuff.

He peered inside through a small gap in the window's curtains. Hoping that neither of Goten's parents woke up, he tapped on the glass. The room's occupant stirred, but did nothing more. Trunks tried tapping once more, just a bit sharper than the last, but still quietly enough to hopefully not wake anyone else up.

Finally Goten's dark-brown eyes opened and stared directly at the window. It was creepy, like a scene from a horror film, as he looked in the direction of his window.

"Let me in," Trunks whispered through the glass.

Goten scrunched up his face in confusion. "Trunks? What are you doing here?" He mumbled, getting untangled from his bed-sheets and then going over to the window.

"Goten, I'm so sorry about earlier," The older half-saiyan whispered quickly through the thin glass. "Please let me in."

The younger half-saiyan opened the window and allowed Trunks to clumsily climb through. "Is that what you've come all the fucking way out here for? To apologize for that?" Goten rolled his dark brown eyes and laughed quietly. "Trunks, I forgot all about that shit by the time I came home."

Trunks' expression softened, and he pulled Goten into an embrace. "I'm so glad!"

"Jeez, Trunks, have you been drinking?" Goten pushed away from his boyfriend, and looked him up and down, as if there were a sign pinned on him that indicated that he was drunk.

"So what?" The older teen giggled happily, as the thoughts of loneliness left him after hearing Goten wasn't mad.

Goten merely rolled his eyes and steered Trunks over to the bed and sat him down. Trunks looked over at his boyfriend and gave a small smile, "I'm happy you've let me in," He said, "'cause there is another reason why I came out here tonight."

"The younger teen backed up a little, "Hey, don't go looking for sex here. I'm not gonna risk wakin' my parents up!"

"No, no, no," Trunks shook his head, "I'm not here to pull a stunt, I actually have something to tell you that's kinda important." He paused for a moment, as the overwhelming sadness came over him once more. "My parents're cheating on each other, and have been for a while, it seems." He blinked back tears, not wanting to break completely down in front of his boyfriend.

"Damn, that's fu-fu-fucked up," Goten said, yawning.

"And that's not all," The older half-saiyan continued, "I really think that our dad's are messing around with each other 'cause Seventeen told me they were."

"What makes you think that he's not just bull-shitting you just to be an ass? I mean, you did tell me that he liked to joke around and fuck with you."

Trunks huffed angrily. So the bastard was toying with him in the garden. He leaned back against the pillows on the bed and stared moodily at the dark ceiling. He didn't realize how tired he was until he actually laid there. Just the flight there alone was exhausting, but at the time he was too emotional to notice.

"And I'm not going to believe something that silly unless I see it for myself." Goten finished, laying next to Trunks, "But, for real, I'm very sorry that you have to deal with this bullshit with your family." He slipped his arm around the surly teen's middle, "Wanna spoon? It'll make you feel better."

He received no response, so he pulled the body closer to him so that his chest was touching Trunks' back. He raised himself onto his elbow and leaned over, almost lying on Trunks. "I love you," He whispered, gently brushing strands of lavender hair out of his lover's face. Doing this revealed that the teen was already asleep.

Light from the flood-lamps outside shone across the older half-saiyan's face; his arms were bent outward. Goten wondered what Trunks was doing wearing long sleeves as hot as its been, until a darkened stain at the end of the left sleeve caught his attention.

A small gasp escaped his lips upon tugging the sleeve back, which was kind of stuck to Trunks' arm where the stain was, making the older teen whimper a bit in his sleep. He couldn't believe that things had gotten so bad at the castle that Trunks had to resort to self-mutilation. He looked sadly back at the older boy's face, wishing that there was something he could do to help.

-8-

"Where are you going, Goku?" Chi-Chi asked her husband later that morning.

The saiyan laughed nervously, "Just to Vegeta's, he wants to hang out."

"Well you're not going anywhere," The woman said plainly. "There's some work that needs to be done around the house, and you and your son are going to help me." She began filling the sink with water, before once again glancing at her husband. "Speaking of Goten, I want you to wake him up."

Goku sighed and rolled his eyes once Chi-Chi was out of his face. He hung out with Vegeta the day before, but it had been a few days since they'd been able to do more than just the usual—meaning, they hadn't been able to get the privacy they needed to have sex. Maybe if he and Goten work quickly, then he could still go.

Doing as his wife asked, he walked down the hall to Goten's room. He had been too busy worrying over Chi-Chi that he failed to notice the extra ki in the house. Without knocking, he opened the door, revealing his son's poster-covered room. He tapped on his son's shoulder, and the boy's eyes fluttered open.

Upon realizing who had just woke him, his eyes widened and he sat bolt upright. "We didn't do anything we weren't supposed to!" He said quickly in his defense. "H-he was just stayin' over." Goten stumbled as he glanced over at his bed partner.

Trunks, slowest to rise, stirred and then also opened his eyes. "What happened?" He muttered, rubbing his eyes. The instantaneous effects of a hangover hit him, making his head throb horribly. He groaned and held his hand over his eyes. He also felt a painful throb coming from his arm, and a strong urge to scratch at his wrist.

"What you guys did is your business," Goku said. "Still, you know that your mom will be upset if she found out that Trunks was over here without permission, so he'll have to leave for now." He paused, giving the boys time to adjust and wake up more. "She also wants you up for housework. So if you want to hang out at Vegeta's, I suggest we move quickly so we can get this stuff done," Goku suggested a bit too eagerly before disappearing from the room, intent on getting the chores started.

"He seemed to be pretty dead-set about being quick to go the castle," Trunks stated observantly.

"Oh, Trunks, don't start that shit again," Goten groaned. "He just don't wanna be on Mom's shit-list."

"Well, then, we're just gonna have to spy on them," The older half-saiyan said simply. He then sat up, and held his head in his hands, swearing under his breath.

"You know what?" Goten asked, "I'll come over later with dad, and we'll spy on them, alright? Just so you'll shut up about it." There was no way he could believe his father was doing anything than sparring and generally annoying the older Saiyan.

"And you'll see just how right I am," Trunks smiled, and slowly got off of the bed. He walked deliberately over to the window, where Goten followed him.

He leaned forward and tried to kiss his boyfriend, but Goten held a hand up to stop him. "I'll kiss you after you don't taste like damn stale booze." The dark-haired boy said as he leaned his body away from the older's face.

Trunks rolled his eyes. "Fine, but you owe me." He then looked out of the window to see if anyone would see. When everything was clear, he climbed out of the opening and took off.
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