Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Broken Road ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: xVeronicax 
Anime/Manga: Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Comedy | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 03.28.2010 | Updated On: 03.31.2010 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.5K | Visits: 304 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Comedy | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 03.28.2010 | Updated On: 03.31.2010 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.5K | Visits: 304 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter 3
The next morning, Gohan dutifully made his way down the hall to Trunks' bedroom. Before he left for work, he wanted to make sure his roommate was awake and would make it on time to class. As he approached the door, he noticed it was already slightly ajar. Knocking quietly, Gohan waited for an answer before pushing the door open slowly. He was slightly hesitant to open it at all, because he was sure he'd heard Trunks come home with someone last night. But he had to make sure the teenager was up before he left because Bulma would question him about it when he arrived at Capsule. Luckily Trunks was there, sitting on the bed alone. Gohan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hey, kiddo," he said.
"Oh." Trunks looked up in surprise, as though he had not previously realized Gohan was there. "Hey Gohan." His voice was emotionless. His normally bright eyes were glazed and even a little red. Gohan wondered if he had been crying. Trunks stared off into the distance again.
"You okay?" Gohan's brow creased in worry.
"Yeah," Trunks said. "Just tired."
"Ah." Gohan accepted his explanation, not wanting to pry as to the reason he was so tired. From what he had heard last night, the younger man probably had good reason to be tired. "Well, just make sure you and your friend get to university on time, okay, Trunks?" Gohan's voice was soft as Trunks seemed rather fragile at the moment.
"Huh? What friend?" The younger man continued to stare forward, seemingly distracted.
"Oh, um-just I thought someone was with you last night. I'm sorry."
"Oh, it was just Goten. He went home though."
Gohan frowned in confusion. "No, I meant when you got home from the bar-" He knew Goten had been there earlier but- Well, clearly there was some miscommunication. Either way, it was none of his business. "Nevermind," Gohan said. "I'll see you tonight around dinner time."
"'Kay.
After Gohan left, Trunks slid himself out of bed and made his way to the closet. He grabbed the first pair of jeans he could find and slid a clean Capsule Corp. t-shirt over his head. He padded into the bathroom and took in his reflection in the mirror. He looked like crap. He had barely slept at all and it was entirely Goten's fault. Why did the other boy suddenly need to question everything? Why couldn't he just be happy? Surely, Trunks was all he needed to be happy. Wasn't he? Goten's words had made Trunks question his own self-worth and had swiftly brought out the sense of failure that the young prince irrationally harbored. He constantly felt unable to live up to his father's expectations. But now he apparently wasn't enough for Goten either. Again his eyes stung as the tears threatened to fall
Pull yourself together, Trunks, he mentally chastised himself for being so pathetic. Splashing some water on his face, he tried to focus on something else. School. Yes, school was more important than Goten. This morning he had physics. He had always liked physics. Maybe the class would take his mind off things. Except that Goten was also in it. Trunks had insisted they take as many classes together as possible. And in the back of his mind he was vaguely aware of some reading assignment they were supposed to do for today, which he had carelessly disregarded in favor of going out and getting drunk with Goten.
So much for class providing a welcome distraction, he thought as he exited the apartment.
***
Goten walked into the classroom with five minutes to spare. He heaved a sigh of relief, but his breath caught in his throat when he saw Trunks already seated in the back row. Between Chichi's yelling at him for not calling home in two days and his worry over his fight with Trunks, he had not gotten much sleep last night. But his friend looked even worse than he did. He hoped desperately that he could still smooth things over with Trunks. Although he had meant what he'd said the night before, he wanted more than anything to remain friends with his longtime companion.
Trunks could feel Goten approaching and was already on edge by the time the other demi reached the back row. Goten laughed nervously, "Hey Trunks, how are you?"
"How do I look?" Trunks asked sarcastically.
"Well . . . I have to admit purple facial hair isn't exactly flattering." Goten's attempt at humor was not well received.
"And I have to say 8-inch spikes make you look just like your dad. You are so Planet Vegeta." Trunks rolled his eyes. He knew that Goten, one, hated when people compared him to Goku and, two, was desperately afraid of anyone finding out he was half-alien. It had always annoyed Trunks how desperate Goten was to fit in.
"Shhh!" Goten hissed, sliding down in the seat next to Trunks and glancing around to see if anyone was within earshot. They both looked up as Tiffany and Kim, the coeds who had introduced themselves the previous day at lunch, started to giggle. Tiffany whispered something to her friend. Trunks looked at Goten then and saw the horrified look on his face as he realized that they had probably heard what Trunks said.
What, does he like that girl or something? Trunks wondered. Is this giggling idiot the person he thinks can replace me? Is this what's `out there' that he's so excited to find? Trunks looked at his friend incredulously. The prince then began shifting back and forth in his chair. In a slightly louder voice, one he was sure the girls could hear, he exclaimed, "Damn, Goten, my ass is killing me this morning. You just couldn't go easy on me last night, could you?" He reached over and pushed Goten's long black bangs behind his right ear, flashing him a sweet smile. Goten's eyes widened and his jaw went slack. At that, the girls' giggling got twice as loud and their whispering twice as fierce.
Trunks got up from his seat and took his books in his hand. Shooting a glare that spoke volumes at Goten, he walked calmly out of the room. He had no reason to stay any longer. With that little stunt he had accomplished two things for the price of one. He had succeeded in embarrassing Goten, which had been his original goal. And he had confirmed his biggest fear: that Goten was embarrassed of him.
***
Trunks' calm demeanor disappeared as soon as he walked outside. The cool fall breeze stung his eyes and he didn't bother to try to stop the tears from falling. He only wanted to put as much distance between himself and the school as possible. He started out for home, but stopped in his tracks, worried that Gohan might come home for lunch and find him there, skipping classes. Though, maybe he could talk to Gohan about all this. No, he banished the thought from his head. Gohan would never understand. First of all he didn't know about the relationship that the boys had shared and if he found out, Trunks had no idea how he would take it. The last thing he needed was another person telling him what he felt was wrong.
He looked around, wondering where he should go. Capsule Corp.? No, Vegeta would be there. Trunks loved his father, but he was not the most sympathetic person. And he would probably call Bulma, who would come home and question him about why he wasn't in school. He would just have to kill time until the evening.
Trunks began to wander in the general direction of his apartment when he saw the bar that he and Goten had been in the night before. Against his better judgment, he decided to go inside. The atmosphere had been nice and it looked like they had some good food, not to mention a large selection of liquor. Both of which he figured he could use right now.
At this hour, the place was almost deserted. Only a few unsavory looking characters were seated inside. The type that normally drink before noon, Trunks thought, now realizing he had become part of that crowd. He took a seat at the far end of the long wooden bar. "What would you like, young man?" the older gentleman asked.
"To not feel feelings anymore," Trunks answered dryly.
"Well you've come to the right place."
Without any further questions, the bartender began mixing a stiff-looking drink. A few of Trunks' fellow patrons lifted their glasses and mumbled, "Hear, hear." Obviously, he was not the only one who came here to drink away his problems. He began to relax, feeling that he was in good company.
Taking a large gulp of the drink that had been plunked down in front of him, he enjoyed the feeling of the liquor stinging his throat. It was a feeling that meant soon he would be too drunk to obsess over Goten. Yes, sweet oblivion. That was what he needed. Passing his platinum MasterCard to the bartender he said, "Keep `em coming. And a round for my friends, too."
"Hear, hear!" The other men at the bar were much more animated this time.
***
Several hours later, Trunks was seated at the center of the bar, animatedly filling his newfound friends in on Goten's betrayal. "Eighteen years!" he exclaimed. "Eighteen years we were best friends-can you believe that?" He clapped his right hand over his heart "And he says he wants to know what else is out there." Trunks leaned his entire upper body over the bar and put a finger in the bartender's understanding face. "Do you know what that ish?" he asked, slurring slightly. His legs dangled in midair behind him, as he crossed and uncrossed his ankles, balancing on his stomach. "That's. Messed. Up." With the last word he nearly poked the bartender's eye out.
"Whoooaa there, buddy," said the rough-looking man sitting to the right of him. "Don't get too wound up there." He put his hands on Trunks' waist and guided him back to his stool, saving the bartender from any further theatrics.
But the man to his left said, "Hey the boy's got good reason to be mad. Ish hard to find a good friend nowadays, and his friend doesn't appreciate him at all! He don't know how lucky he ish." The man pounded his fist on the bar to drive home his point.Trunks shook his head in agreement. In the back of his mind, he knew these guys were only being nice to him because he was buying all the drinks. Still, it didn't matter. It felt good to have someone on his side, even if he had to buy their allegiance. "I have to . . . ." He nodded in the direction of the bathroom and slid off the bar stool. The room spun slightly as Trunks stood up. Attempting to blink away his double vision, he made his way towards the restrooms. What time is it? He wondered. I've got to get home and sleep this off before Gohan gets there. Trunks couldn't imagine how angry he'd be if he knew this was how the young prince had spent his day. Trunks entered the bathroom and approached the urinals. Steadying himself with an arm agai
nst the wall, he relieved himself with a sigh. As he washed his hands, the restroom door opened and Trunks recognized the man who entered as one of the bar patrons. He nodded in acknowledgement.
"Hey, buddy," the other man said. "Listen, I hope you don't mind I followed you in here. I just wondered if you'd be interested in trying something." Trunks regarded him with narrowed eyes and made a fist with his right hand. This guy would be very sorry if he tried anything weird. "No, no, friend!" The man seemed to realize that his words had come out the wrong way. "I just mean that, well, you look like you got some money to spend and I might have something you want." The man started to reach towards the waistband of his pants. Trunks began cracking his knuckles with a look that told the other he should stop talking right now if he wanted to leave the bathroom in one piece. "Wait, wait! This isn't coming out right. Here, look." The man produced a small baggy from his jeans, filled half-way with a grainy white powder. He lifted both his hands above his head to show he meant no harm.
Trunks looked at the baggy. He knew what it was. He and Goten had not exactly been saints during their teenage years. But the only drug they had ever tried more than once was ecstasy. Trunks felt a sudden shockwave run through his body at that particular memory and again steadied himself against the wall. He rubbed his eyes, trying to force the images of he and Goten out of his mind.
"Come on, you can try it on the house. If you like what I'm offering, I'll sell you this bag for fifty zeni. It's the purest you can get in West City." The man paused for a minute to let Trunks consider the offer. Then he added, "You look like you could use a pick me up. This stuff'll clear your head, friend."
The guy had a point. The stimulant effect of the cocaine might wake Trunks up a bit from his alcohol-induced grogginess. Maybe even enough that Gohan wouldn't notice his inebriation. Trunks nodded toward the sink and the man didn't waste any time cutting two lines. Trunks accepted the rolled-up dollar bill the man offered him and bent down over the sink. Tips of lavender hair grazed the countertop. Here goes nothing, he thought. But as he felt the drug burn the inside of his nose and throat, he couldn't help but feel that everything was slipping through his fingers. He felt he was loosing control over it all-over his relationship with Goten and even his own actions.
Trunks swallowed the bitter taste of the powder as it spread through his sinus cavities. But soon a pleasant feeling of numbness took its place. Ah, that was what he had been looking for. Trunks withdrew his wallet from his pocket and removed a fifty zeni note. After they made the illicit transaction, both men made their way back to the bar. "What time is it?" Trunks asked the bartender. "I have to get home before Gohan does."
"Well, it's about five o'clock, there, sonny."
Shit! Gohan would be home any minute. Trunks threw the bartender a generous tip and took leave of his bar mates. He didn't even notice as three of them locked eyes and then quickly followed him outside.
***
The inebriated demi decided that the streets were far too busy for him to take off and fly home. But he did know a shortcut to his apartment through a nearby side street. Heading quickly off in that direction, he tried to locate Gohan's energy signature to see if he was home yet. But in the state he was in, he couldn't lock in onto anything. His poor concentration was soon interrupted by the sound of scuffling feet behind him. Trunks continued along the narrow side street but was stopped in his tracks by what he swore was the sound of a semi-automatic handgun being cocked. What the fuck?
He turned around to see three of the men from the bar spread out in a semicircle behind him. The man on the left was the one who had followed him into the bathroom. "Hey, friend," he said. But the ass-kissing tone had left his voice and been replaced by a threatening one. "Look, we don't wanna hurt ya. We just come to relieve you of the rest of that cash in your wallet." Oh you have got to be kidding me, Trunks thought as he rolled his eyes skyward. This was the last thing he needed today.
"Listen, guys," he warned, "you really don't want to do this."
"Come on pretty boy," the man in the middle coaxed. He was the one holding the gun. "We've got families to feed and you've got your little boyfriend to get home to." He laughed. "Let's make this snappy."
Trunks slowly raised his right hand and held his fingers out in front of the snickering man. "Snap," he whispered. His thumb and middle finger clicked against each other as, in the same instant, he ascended to Super Saiyan. Three sets of eyes grew wide with confusion and fear and the demi took the chance to relieve the man of the gun that was staring him in the face. With a kick that none of the men could even see, he sent it flying against a nearby brick wall where it smashed into pieces.
Before any of the men could recover their composure, Trunks flew forward and grabbed the middle man by his collar. Pulling him off the ground, he held the man's face a few inches above his own. The guy's toes scraped on the pavement as he gasped for breath. Trunks gritted his teeth and tightened his grip. Then, before he could do something he knew he'd later regret, he tossed the would-be criminal in the direction of the same brick wall. He hit the bricks and then the pavement with a thud.
Trunks looked at the other two men who stood frozen in place, not sure what they had just seen. He returned to his normal state just as quickly as he had transformed. "Let that be a lesson to you not to sneak up on people in dark alleys, friend." He then turned and continued in the direction he had been traveling as the frightened bar patrons rushed over to the aid of their wounded comrade. Trunks knew the groaning man would be fine. He had not so much as broken a bone, but it had taken an enormous amount of restraint. Trunks noticed that he was rather dizzy, though, which was strange because he had not exerted any energy at all except to make his transformation. Then he remembered that he hadn't eaten anything today. That must be it, he thought. By the time he made it to the end of the alleyway, he had to rest against the wall. He tried to focus on a street sign and willed the rest of the scenery to stop spinning around him but it wasn't working. What the hell? Making his way out onto the lighted
part of the main street, he heard a woman yell as he almost crashed into her. "Sorry, sorry," he mumbled. Focus, Trunks, he told himself as he spotted the door to his building on the next block. Using handrails, fences, light posts, and whatever else he could find to steady himself, he made the short walk to the door.
Francis, the door man regarded him with concern. "Mr. Brief, are you okay?" he asked, opening the door quickly for the young man. Trunks attempted to say something, but his blood was rushing in his ears and he wasn't sure whether anything was coming out of his mouth. The last things he heard were Gohan shouting his name and the sound of his body hitting the pavement with a loud smack.
The next morning, Gohan dutifully made his way down the hall to Trunks' bedroom. Before he left for work, he wanted to make sure his roommate was awake and would make it on time to class. As he approached the door, he noticed it was already slightly ajar. Knocking quietly, Gohan waited for an answer before pushing the door open slowly. He was slightly hesitant to open it at all, because he was sure he'd heard Trunks come home with someone last night. But he had to make sure the teenager was up before he left because Bulma would question him about it when he arrived at Capsule. Luckily Trunks was there, sitting on the bed alone. Gohan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hey, kiddo," he said.
"Oh." Trunks looked up in surprise, as though he had not previously realized Gohan was there. "Hey Gohan." His voice was emotionless. His normally bright eyes were glazed and even a little red. Gohan wondered if he had been crying. Trunks stared off into the distance again.
"You okay?" Gohan's brow creased in worry.
"Yeah," Trunks said. "Just tired."
"Ah." Gohan accepted his explanation, not wanting to pry as to the reason he was so tired. From what he had heard last night, the younger man probably had good reason to be tired. "Well, just make sure you and your friend get to university on time, okay, Trunks?" Gohan's voice was soft as Trunks seemed rather fragile at the moment.
"Huh? What friend?" The younger man continued to stare forward, seemingly distracted.
"Oh, um-just I thought someone was with you last night. I'm sorry."
"Oh, it was just Goten. He went home though."
Gohan frowned in confusion. "No, I meant when you got home from the bar-" He knew Goten had been there earlier but- Well, clearly there was some miscommunication. Either way, it was none of his business. "Nevermind," Gohan said. "I'll see you tonight around dinner time."
"'Kay.
After Gohan left, Trunks slid himself out of bed and made his way to the closet. He grabbed the first pair of jeans he could find and slid a clean Capsule Corp. t-shirt over his head. He padded into the bathroom and took in his reflection in the mirror. He looked like crap. He had barely slept at all and it was entirely Goten's fault. Why did the other boy suddenly need to question everything? Why couldn't he just be happy? Surely, Trunks was all he needed to be happy. Wasn't he? Goten's words had made Trunks question his own self-worth and had swiftly brought out the sense of failure that the young prince irrationally harbored. He constantly felt unable to live up to his father's expectations. But now he apparently wasn't enough for Goten either. Again his eyes stung as the tears threatened to fall
Pull yourself together, Trunks, he mentally chastised himself for being so pathetic. Splashing some water on his face, he tried to focus on something else. School. Yes, school was more important than Goten. This morning he had physics. He had always liked physics. Maybe the class would take his mind off things. Except that Goten was also in it. Trunks had insisted they take as many classes together as possible. And in the back of his mind he was vaguely aware of some reading assignment they were supposed to do for today, which he had carelessly disregarded in favor of going out and getting drunk with Goten.
So much for class providing a welcome distraction, he thought as he exited the apartment.
***
Goten walked into the classroom with five minutes to spare. He heaved a sigh of relief, but his breath caught in his throat when he saw Trunks already seated in the back row. Between Chichi's yelling at him for not calling home in two days and his worry over his fight with Trunks, he had not gotten much sleep last night. But his friend looked even worse than he did. He hoped desperately that he could still smooth things over with Trunks. Although he had meant what he'd said the night before, he wanted more than anything to remain friends with his longtime companion.
Trunks could feel Goten approaching and was already on edge by the time the other demi reached the back row. Goten laughed nervously, "Hey Trunks, how are you?"
"How do I look?" Trunks asked sarcastically.
"Well . . . I have to admit purple facial hair isn't exactly flattering." Goten's attempt at humor was not well received.
"And I have to say 8-inch spikes make you look just like your dad. You are so Planet Vegeta." Trunks rolled his eyes. He knew that Goten, one, hated when people compared him to Goku and, two, was desperately afraid of anyone finding out he was half-alien. It had always annoyed Trunks how desperate Goten was to fit in.
"Shhh!" Goten hissed, sliding down in the seat next to Trunks and glancing around to see if anyone was within earshot. They both looked up as Tiffany and Kim, the coeds who had introduced themselves the previous day at lunch, started to giggle. Tiffany whispered something to her friend. Trunks looked at Goten then and saw the horrified look on his face as he realized that they had probably heard what Trunks said.
What, does he like that girl or something? Trunks wondered. Is this giggling idiot the person he thinks can replace me? Is this what's `out there' that he's so excited to find? Trunks looked at his friend incredulously. The prince then began shifting back and forth in his chair. In a slightly louder voice, one he was sure the girls could hear, he exclaimed, "Damn, Goten, my ass is killing me this morning. You just couldn't go easy on me last night, could you?" He reached over and pushed Goten's long black bangs behind his right ear, flashing him a sweet smile. Goten's eyes widened and his jaw went slack. At that, the girls' giggling got twice as loud and their whispering twice as fierce.
Trunks got up from his seat and took his books in his hand. Shooting a glare that spoke volumes at Goten, he walked calmly out of the room. He had no reason to stay any longer. With that little stunt he had accomplished two things for the price of one. He had succeeded in embarrassing Goten, which had been his original goal. And he had confirmed his biggest fear: that Goten was embarrassed of him.
***
Trunks' calm demeanor disappeared as soon as he walked outside. The cool fall breeze stung his eyes and he didn't bother to try to stop the tears from falling. He only wanted to put as much distance between himself and the school as possible. He started out for home, but stopped in his tracks, worried that Gohan might come home for lunch and find him there, skipping classes. Though, maybe he could talk to Gohan about all this. No, he banished the thought from his head. Gohan would never understand. First of all he didn't know about the relationship that the boys had shared and if he found out, Trunks had no idea how he would take it. The last thing he needed was another person telling him what he felt was wrong.
He looked around, wondering where he should go. Capsule Corp.? No, Vegeta would be there. Trunks loved his father, but he was not the most sympathetic person. And he would probably call Bulma, who would come home and question him about why he wasn't in school. He would just have to kill time until the evening.
Trunks began to wander in the general direction of his apartment when he saw the bar that he and Goten had been in the night before. Against his better judgment, he decided to go inside. The atmosphere had been nice and it looked like they had some good food, not to mention a large selection of liquor. Both of which he figured he could use right now.
At this hour, the place was almost deserted. Only a few unsavory looking characters were seated inside. The type that normally drink before noon, Trunks thought, now realizing he had become part of that crowd. He took a seat at the far end of the long wooden bar. "What would you like, young man?" the older gentleman asked.
"To not feel feelings anymore," Trunks answered dryly.
"Well you've come to the right place."
Without any further questions, the bartender began mixing a stiff-looking drink. A few of Trunks' fellow patrons lifted their glasses and mumbled, "Hear, hear." Obviously, he was not the only one who came here to drink away his problems. He began to relax, feeling that he was in good company.
Taking a large gulp of the drink that had been plunked down in front of him, he enjoyed the feeling of the liquor stinging his throat. It was a feeling that meant soon he would be too drunk to obsess over Goten. Yes, sweet oblivion. That was what he needed. Passing his platinum MasterCard to the bartender he said, "Keep `em coming. And a round for my friends, too."
"Hear, hear!" The other men at the bar were much more animated this time.
***
Several hours later, Trunks was seated at the center of the bar, animatedly filling his newfound friends in on Goten's betrayal. "Eighteen years!" he exclaimed. "Eighteen years we were best friends-can you believe that?" He clapped his right hand over his heart "And he says he wants to know what else is out there." Trunks leaned his entire upper body over the bar and put a finger in the bartender's understanding face. "Do you know what that ish?" he asked, slurring slightly. His legs dangled in midair behind him, as he crossed and uncrossed his ankles, balancing on his stomach. "That's. Messed. Up." With the last word he nearly poked the bartender's eye out.
"Whoooaa there, buddy," said the rough-looking man sitting to the right of him. "Don't get too wound up there." He put his hands on Trunks' waist and guided him back to his stool, saving the bartender from any further theatrics.
But the man to his left said, "Hey the boy's got good reason to be mad. Ish hard to find a good friend nowadays, and his friend doesn't appreciate him at all! He don't know how lucky he ish." The man pounded his fist on the bar to drive home his point.Trunks shook his head in agreement. In the back of his mind, he knew these guys were only being nice to him because he was buying all the drinks. Still, it didn't matter. It felt good to have someone on his side, even if he had to buy their allegiance. "I have to . . . ." He nodded in the direction of the bathroom and slid off the bar stool. The room spun slightly as Trunks stood up. Attempting to blink away his double vision, he made his way towards the restrooms. What time is it? He wondered. I've got to get home and sleep this off before Gohan gets there. Trunks couldn't imagine how angry he'd be if he knew this was how the young prince had spent his day. Trunks entered the bathroom and approached the urinals. Steadying himself with an arm agai
nst the wall, he relieved himself with a sigh. As he washed his hands, the restroom door opened and Trunks recognized the man who entered as one of the bar patrons. He nodded in acknowledgement.
"Hey, buddy," the other man said. "Listen, I hope you don't mind I followed you in here. I just wondered if you'd be interested in trying something." Trunks regarded him with narrowed eyes and made a fist with his right hand. This guy would be very sorry if he tried anything weird. "No, no, friend!" The man seemed to realize that his words had come out the wrong way. "I just mean that, well, you look like you got some money to spend and I might have something you want." The man started to reach towards the waistband of his pants. Trunks began cracking his knuckles with a look that told the other he should stop talking right now if he wanted to leave the bathroom in one piece. "Wait, wait! This isn't coming out right. Here, look." The man produced a small baggy from his jeans, filled half-way with a grainy white powder. He lifted both his hands above his head to show he meant no harm.
Trunks looked at the baggy. He knew what it was. He and Goten had not exactly been saints during their teenage years. But the only drug they had ever tried more than once was ecstasy. Trunks felt a sudden shockwave run through his body at that particular memory and again steadied himself against the wall. He rubbed his eyes, trying to force the images of he and Goten out of his mind.
"Come on, you can try it on the house. If you like what I'm offering, I'll sell you this bag for fifty zeni. It's the purest you can get in West City." The man paused for a minute to let Trunks consider the offer. Then he added, "You look like you could use a pick me up. This stuff'll clear your head, friend."
The guy had a point. The stimulant effect of the cocaine might wake Trunks up a bit from his alcohol-induced grogginess. Maybe even enough that Gohan wouldn't notice his inebriation. Trunks nodded toward the sink and the man didn't waste any time cutting two lines. Trunks accepted the rolled-up dollar bill the man offered him and bent down over the sink. Tips of lavender hair grazed the countertop. Here goes nothing, he thought. But as he felt the drug burn the inside of his nose and throat, he couldn't help but feel that everything was slipping through his fingers. He felt he was loosing control over it all-over his relationship with Goten and even his own actions.
Trunks swallowed the bitter taste of the powder as it spread through his sinus cavities. But soon a pleasant feeling of numbness took its place. Ah, that was what he had been looking for. Trunks withdrew his wallet from his pocket and removed a fifty zeni note. After they made the illicit transaction, both men made their way back to the bar. "What time is it?" Trunks asked the bartender. "I have to get home before Gohan does."
"Well, it's about five o'clock, there, sonny."
Shit! Gohan would be home any minute. Trunks threw the bartender a generous tip and took leave of his bar mates. He didn't even notice as three of them locked eyes and then quickly followed him outside.
***
The inebriated demi decided that the streets were far too busy for him to take off and fly home. But he did know a shortcut to his apartment through a nearby side street. Heading quickly off in that direction, he tried to locate Gohan's energy signature to see if he was home yet. But in the state he was in, he couldn't lock in onto anything. His poor concentration was soon interrupted by the sound of scuffling feet behind him. Trunks continued along the narrow side street but was stopped in his tracks by what he swore was the sound of a semi-automatic handgun being cocked. What the fuck?
He turned around to see three of the men from the bar spread out in a semicircle behind him. The man on the left was the one who had followed him into the bathroom. "Hey, friend," he said. But the ass-kissing tone had left his voice and been replaced by a threatening one. "Look, we don't wanna hurt ya. We just come to relieve you of the rest of that cash in your wallet." Oh you have got to be kidding me, Trunks thought as he rolled his eyes skyward. This was the last thing he needed today.
"Listen, guys," he warned, "you really don't want to do this."
"Come on pretty boy," the man in the middle coaxed. He was the one holding the gun. "We've got families to feed and you've got your little boyfriend to get home to." He laughed. "Let's make this snappy."
Trunks slowly raised his right hand and held his fingers out in front of the snickering man. "Snap," he whispered. His thumb and middle finger clicked against each other as, in the same instant, he ascended to Super Saiyan. Three sets of eyes grew wide with confusion and fear and the demi took the chance to relieve the man of the gun that was staring him in the face. With a kick that none of the men could even see, he sent it flying against a nearby brick wall where it smashed into pieces.
Before any of the men could recover their composure, Trunks flew forward and grabbed the middle man by his collar. Pulling him off the ground, he held the man's face a few inches above his own. The guy's toes scraped on the pavement as he gasped for breath. Trunks gritted his teeth and tightened his grip. Then, before he could do something he knew he'd later regret, he tossed the would-be criminal in the direction of the same brick wall. He hit the bricks and then the pavement with a thud.
Trunks looked at the other two men who stood frozen in place, not sure what they had just seen. He returned to his normal state just as quickly as he had transformed. "Let that be a lesson to you not to sneak up on people in dark alleys, friend." He then turned and continued in the direction he had been traveling as the frightened bar patrons rushed over to the aid of their wounded comrade. Trunks knew the groaning man would be fine. He had not so much as broken a bone, but it had taken an enormous amount of restraint. Trunks noticed that he was rather dizzy, though, which was strange because he had not exerted any energy at all except to make his transformation. Then he remembered that he hadn't eaten anything today. That must be it, he thought. By the time he made it to the end of the alleyway, he had to rest against the wall. He tried to focus on a street sign and willed the rest of the scenery to stop spinning around him but it wasn't working. What the hell? Making his way out onto the lighted
part of the main street, he heard a woman yell as he almost crashed into her. "Sorry, sorry," he mumbled. Focus, Trunks, he told himself as he spotted the door to his building on the next block. Using handrails, fences, light posts, and whatever else he could find to steady himself, he made the short walk to the door.
Francis, the door man regarded him with concern. "Mr. Brief, are you okay?" he asked, opening the door quickly for the young man. Trunks attempted to say something, but his blood was rushing in his ears and he wasn't sure whether anything was coming out of his mouth. The last things he heard were Gohan shouting his name and the sound of his body hitting the pavement with a loud smack.