Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Time's Lessons Learned ❯ Epilogue ( Epilogue )

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball Z, Akira Toriyama does. This fan fiction means no harm to the anime or manga.

 

Epilogue

 

Through the darkness of night Gohan flew, droplets of water still pelting his energy trail. He did not bother to hide his ki signature, soaring along from West Province 439 towards Satan City. Far better, it was to alert Trunks to his arrival, Gohan figured. Tightly his hand clutched the grip of the suitcase and backpack he carried with a few meager possessions. He had the feeling he would not need much at this point.

 

Like a lighthouse beacon, he homed in on the azure ki. This would be his guiding force rather than the wishes of others. HE would forge his own destiny with Trunks, side by side. No longer would his mother live vicariously through him or his father take him for granted. One regret was that he could not bring Goten. Yet he would keep a close eye on his little brother once he was established in his new abode.

 

Gohan felt numb inside, from the efforts of composing himself. He knew as soon as he touched down and arrived at his destination the mask would crumble and tears would burst forth. As it was, he could hardly keep the tears from blurring his vision. Downright rejection from his mother and confusion from his father hardly dissuaded this conclusion. Only Goten seemed to accept the situation in his usual childlike way. Was this because of the possibility that Goten only had interests however young in Kid Trunks? It was too early to tell.

 

Gracefully he arched down towards the parking lot. He toyed momentarily with the idea of rapping on Trunks window, but figured it was better not to draw any more attention to him. Leather shoes touched lightly down on the rain soaked asphalt. Overcast skies reflected the orange haze, hanging over the city like a pall. The absence of twinkling stars tugged his spirits down a few notches. From the front door, he could see movement, a dark figure running rapidly towards him.

 

"Gohan..." echoed thoughts in his mind.

 

"Trunks," Gohan answered, letting his suitcase and bag drop. Shakily he moved forwards, as if in a dream. Indeed, he now surrendered to long withheld emotions, paying the price for his calm and collected demeanor earlier. There was only so much he could hide, and in front of his love, he could let it all go. Not even looking up he fell into the outstretched arms held up to catch him. Burying his face in the hollow between neck and shoulder, he deeply inhaled the reassuring scent.

 

"Shh, easy there Gohan. Let's get you inside," Trunks answered, not even bothering to ask Gohan why he was here, or what happened for that matter. One glance down at the bags a few paces away told him all he needed to know. Lifting his head from Trunks shoulder, Gohan stared up into the warm concerned blue of his lover's eyes. Inside his stomach twisted and convulsed in knots along with his lungs heaving in and out for air. Swallowing his sobs Gohan could not keep his chin from wobbling so he clenched his jaw tightly.

 

"I came here because... I..." he began.

 

"Let's get your things and get you inside Gohan. Tell me all about it once we've gotten you a hot drink and out of those wet clothes," Trunks said with a teasing wink. Letting go of Gohan, he still kept one hand in contact with his body, sliding it along to wrap around his lover's shoulders. Almost sleepwalking in his misery Gohan let Trunks lead him over to retrieve the case and book bag.

 

"That was supposed to be a joke to cheer you up, Gohan," Trunks reprimanded him, seeing the tears trailing in columns down Gohan's smooth cheeks.

 

"S... sorry Trunks. I'm not in a great mood now," Gohan apologized, grasping his bag.

 

"No, I'll carry the case. I insist," trunks said, tugging him along towards the front door.

 

Gohan pressed tightly to Trunks side on the walk through the lobby, and the ride inside the posh elevator. His eyes wanted to glance down at his shoes more than his surroundings, for he warred for self control. Still he shivered, accepting the warmth radiating from Trunks body, and clinging to the sold strength of his frame.

 

When the doors dinged open Trunks grasped his hand and urged him out. Gohan felt the world graying out around him as he retreated somewhere inside himself. He had perfected a reaction over the years to emotionally distance himself from his immediate surroundings. At that moment, he realized how long he had been in this mode; since dinner around the Son Family table. Split into two halves, the rational Gohan sat back as a spectator while the emotional Gohan silently bit his lip and forced back his tears.

 

"Gohan, don't hold it all in like that. You'll make yourself sick," Trunks whispered, rubbing his back as they walked along the hall to his apartment. Stopping by the door, he then set down the case and fished in his pocket for his key lanyard. Gohan glanced down to notice flannel slippers and sweatpants, and then trailed up Trunks figure to behold the raincoat he had thrown on. It was evident that Trunks must have dressed in a hurry to rush out to meet him.

 

Deprived for a second from contact with Trunks body, Gohan struggled to keep his knees from buckling. It seemed all strength was drained from his body, his stomach rumbling. No doubt, he had failed to eat enough at the dinner table. Not that he could stomach his mother's cooking anyhow after the verbal harangue. Trunks gentle shakes snapped him back to reality again, and he somehow gathered things up and entered the apartment.

 

Peace fell like a blanket once he stood inside the quiet dimness. Vertical blinds were open to reveal the twinkling stars of city lights. Behind him the door clicked shut, banishing the outside world and with it Gohan's last reservations. Grasping Trunks outstretched hand Gohan allowed himself to let out an audible sob. It sounded so loud in the apartment's silence. Instantly fingers pried the case and strap from his hands, and pulled him forwards. Pressing his face into Trunks collarbone Gohan leaned fully against him.

 

"That's it Gohan, just cry. I am not going to ask you to hold it back. Just let it out," Trunks encouraged, squeezing him tightly. Gohan's hands slid up Trunks back diagonally, gripping great folds of Trunks top between them. Trunks did not care that Gohan was soaking wet or sopping into his dry clothes.

 

Somehow, Gohan had to force himself to make any noise because he had grown so accustomed to crying silently. He knew that audible sounds of sobbing and weeping added to emotional expression and it felt good to release the pent up tightening in his chest. He was accomplished at letting tears flow, but anything past sniffles seemed forbidden. For a few minutes, Trunks simply held him, letting Gohan give voice to his sorrow. Then he released him to cup his cheeks with both hanks and press his brow to Gohan's.

 

"Listen to me Gohan, you don't ever have to hold back or pretend you're something you're not as long as you're with me," Future Trunks said firmly, eyes steadily locking into his. "You always have a place with me."

 

"I know, but it hurts like hell," Gohan answered. "It took all I had to just leave there without screaming and yelling... or letting them see me cry."

 

"Gohan, I know it's not going to be easy, but you must have been very brave to come here this time of night. I am sure it was the hardest thing you've had to do. Am I right in assuming your parents didn't take the news of us being together really well?"

 

"N...no," Gohan half laughed. Trunks wiped away the tear with his thumb.

 

"Let's get you into something dry, and sit down. I put on water for tea, and you look like you could use something to calm you. It's freezing out there and ki or no ki, you're soaked and chilled to the bone," Trunks patted his back, aiming him towards the sofa.

 

A few minutes later Gohan leaned back on the sofa, wearing a pair of sweatpants, and one of Trunks warm flannel shirts. He reached up to accept the cup of hot broth that Trunks handed him, holding it for warmth between his fingers. Trunks sat next to him, putting down a tray of sandwiches and two cups of hot chocolate. Hip touching Gohan's Trunks wrapped his arm around the younger demi. Gently he pressed a kiss to Gohan's cheek, rubbing his shoulder.

 

"You don't have to talk right now. Just get some of this into you," Trunks said.

 

Gohan swallowed his bullion eagerly, then set the cup down and accepted the mug of hot chocolate. After a swing, he said, "Mom totally lost it. You should have seen her face. She looked as if she was going to have a stroke. And Dad... he just sat back and said nothing... nothing..."

 

"I'm not surprised. I am sorry to have put you through that Gohan. I didn't expect this to happen... this way..."

 

"She said as long as I lived under her roof I lived by her rules. I pretty much told her I figured I needed to live elsewhere. So here I am..."

 

"But I'm glad you came here. IT was the right choice," Trunks soothed, squeezing Gohan's free hand not holding the mug.

 

"I'm glad Trunks. However, what about tomorrow at school? I mean won't that create a problem for you if they find out that a teacher's taken up with a student?" asked Gohan.

 

"Let's worry about that when it happens. Besides, if it gets to be an issue, we'll move back to Capsule," Trunks nodded.

 

"But my scholarship..."

 

"Capsule can give you a scholarship Gohan. You don't need to worry about money, food or those things," Trunks said.

 

"But I can't ask you to..."

 

"We're in this together Gohan. Are we or are we not lovers?" Trunks reprimanded him. "I want to help you Gohan. Can't you accept what I am freely offering, and stop trying to always take things on that you shouldn't? Like your parent's happiness?"

 

"I know Trunks but I'm just not used to leaning on someone like this..."

 

"It's not that hard to accept my love Gohan. All you have to do is be yourself. Let me love you, and accept what I have to offer. Because if you don't receive it, how can you give love?" Trunks asked him. Gohan set down his mug and turned to Trunks. The deep soft kiss both astonished and silenced him in a satisfying way. Gohan sealed his future with that kiss. He was ready to accept what Trunks had wanted to give all those years so freely. In return, he had so much more to gain, and nothing to lose by opening himself to a relationship that forever bound him to his lover. In putting his own happiness foremost this time, he had gained far more than he could have imagined.