I'll Love You Forever

Chapter 13:

Trunks’ POV

My body froze. My mind screamed for it to move, to chase after Goten, to do something, but it refused. Someone bumped into me from behind, jolting me forward and breaking the paralyzing spell.

“Goten,” I whispered, immediately leaping from the table and shoving my way through the crowd and out the door. I didn’t know where Goten was. He could easily still be backstage, but I knew he saw me, and I also knew he would run.

I sprinted down the alley, circling the club and checking all the alleys. When Goten took the stage, I wasn’t sure if it was him. I knew that body, knew it from childhood when we had bathed together, and knew it in adolescence when we sparred, and knew it in adulthood, when I wished it was mine. When our eyes met, I knew without a doubt.

After ten minutes of searching fruitlessly, I stopped and leaned against a wall. Gathering my frantic thoughts, I forced myself to concentrate on finding Goten’s ki. Only the weak ki’s of the city’s citizens assaulted my senses. With the collar on, Goten’s ki would be greatly reduced…but it would still be slightly higher than a ordinary human’s. I strained to locate it, and jumped when I received a small spark.

It was fading quickly and I immediately ran for it. Goten must have been on foot because as I ran, I approached the ki signal quickly. With his lowered ki, Goten’s speed was pitifully slow and my Saiyan strength carried me to the street he was on.

I turned a dark corner to see his black silhouette rushing down an alley. His cloak billowed around his ankles, making it seem as if he were floating. He was completely oblivious to my presence, and I crept after him, levitating slightly off the ground so as not to make any noise.


Normal POV


A few feet from Goten, Trunks heard a small sob. He listened closely and realized Goten was crying.

“You idiot,” Goten muttered to himself as he walked, head bowed with tears streaming down his face. “How could you have let this happen?”

“Let what happen?”

Goten whirled around, catching sight of lavender hair before he was tackled to the ground. He struggled, but he was quickly flipped onto his back with his hands restrained over his head.

“Goten, why?” He knew even before he opened his eyes that he would see ice blue. Those piercing eyes glared down at him, smoldering with a mix of emotions: rage, hurt, and forgiveness. When Goten only continued to gape, Trunks shook him slightly. “Answer me!”

“I-I…why what?” Goten finally stammered.

“Why did you leave me?” Trunks repeated, almost in a scream, his voice cracking. “How could you leave me?”

Goten felt the tears welling in his eyes again, but he forcefully willed them away. “I had to,” he whispered. “I couldn’t hurt you…”
“Hurt me, Goten?! THIS is what hurt me!”

“Please, Trunks! Let go, you’re hurting me!” Goten cried when Trunks’ powerful hands tightened painfully around his wrists. “Just leave me alone! I can’t do this to you, I can’t!” He struggled wildly, pulling with his arms and kicking with his legs.

Trunks blinked, then did the first thing that came to mind; he pulled Goten into his arms. Goten stiffened, his sobs caught in his throat, then seemed to melt into Trunks’ embrace, crying openly.

“Shh,” Trunks whispered into Goten’s hair, rubbing his hand in soothing circles on Goten’s back. “It’s ok now, I’m here…”
Goten only cried harder. Trunks kept up his comforting words and was eventually rewarded with a slowing in Goten’s tears.

Eventually, they stopped completely and Goten sniffled occasionally into Trunks’ shirt. “Feel better, Chibi?”

“Chibi…” Goten said, pushing away from Trunks and sitting up, “I haven’t heard that in a while.”

In the dim light, Trunks thought he saw a smile flicker across Goten’s lips. Before he could say anything, the sky lit with electricity and cracked once before pouring rain. Goten squeaked and jumped, hugging his trench coat around himself.

“Crap,” Trunks muttered. “Come on, Chibi,” he said, standing and offering Goten a hand, “we have to get out of this rain.”

Goten eyed the hand, looking torn. He could refuse and return to his new life as a stripper, saving Trunks from him…or he could obey his heart, thundering at him louder than the storm to accept.
He closed his eyes. Water ran down his arm and dripped from his fingertips as he raised his hand, feeling Trunks’ warm, familiar hand close around his.


Trunks pulled Goten into his arms and hustled them to the street, where he hailed a taxi and directed them to a hotel. He threw a wad of bills at the driver, telling him to keep the change, even though he had paid him almost five times more than he should have.

The receptionist at the hotel recognized Trunks immediately. After all, this was a top notch hotel and the staff was trained to know top spenders. Trunks was definitely of that category. “A suite, sir?”

At Trunks’ nod, she grabbed a key, led them into an elevator, and showed them to their door. She unlocked it and handed Trunks the key, bowing and saying, “Enjoy your stay, sir.”

As soon as the door clicked shut, Trunks tossed the key onto a nearby table and led Goten into the bathroom. The dark haired boy was shivering from the cold and rain. Trunks grabbed a fluffy towel and wrapped it tightly around his friend, wrapping his arms around the trembling form for added warmth.

Goten’s shivers ceased quickly, his body rapidly warming and drying with Trunks’ steady ki pouring into him. “Feel better?”
Goten nodded. “Mmm, yes.”

“Come on.” Goten squeaked when Trunks lifted him up bridal style and carried him to the bedroom. “Go ahead and change, there are probably clothes in the closet. These hotels always provide some sort of nightwear.”

When Goten took a step forward, Trunks closed the bedroom door and retreated to the living room. He ordered room service then leaned against the back of the couch. “Chibi…”

As if he had heard, Goten arrived at that moment, clad in a silk set of light blue pajamas. He paused at the entrance to the living room, peering at Trunks shyly.

“Looks good on you,” Trunks commented, making Goten blush.

“Oh shut up,” Goten snapped back playfully, plopping down by Trunks.

The doorbell rang at that moment and Trunks went to open it. He returned with a cart of food, which he placed by the couch.

“What is this?” Goten asked, looking at the silver covered dishes curiously.

“Food, of course. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”

Trunks watched as Goten’s eyes lit up when he uncovered the dishes. It was obvious Goten had not eaten decent food in awhile, most likely living off junk food. Trunks piled Goten’s plate with his favorites, then loaded his own. They ate in silence, enjoying the meal and thinking about the other.

Finally, when the dishes were set aside and the two leaned back comfortably on the couch, Trunks said Goten’s name. Goten looked at him expectantly. “Tell me what happened,” Trunks said quietly, looking in Goten’s dark eyes.

Staring into those familiar eyes, Goten felt his resolve melt away. He could never refuse Trunks anything. He sighed, took a deep breath, and began.


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