For What it's Worth

Trunks groaned as he fell hard onto the ground, catching himself on his hands and knees before falling flat. He fell hard enough that he could feel the rocks digging into his hands and the blood seeping out of the small cuts that were forming. Before he had a moment to actually catch his breath after the fall he felt something hard coming down into his back and causing him to lose his balance on his hands. He cried out as he felt the bones inside of him sinking down and cracking. He hadn’t trained this hard in a very long time; Goten had never been that rough on him.



“Get up? You aren’t really tired already are you?”



Trunks tilted his head up, glaring at his father as he used the last little bit of his strength to sit back on his knees. He was worn out from training all morning. They didn’t even stop to set up the camp site beforehand. He didn’t have an answer for his father; if he told the truth then he knew that the session would not be over any other way.



He was really starting to wish that they didn’t split up like this to train. Why did it have to be him to be stuck with his father? He had hoped that maybe it could be all of them together or maybe that he would get to train with Goten while Vegeta and Goku did so, but no… that did not happen for Trunks. It was just his luck. This entire camping trip was starting to go downhill all on the first day!



“Hey guys, dinner is ready!” Trunks looked past his father to see Goku calling out to them cheerfully. Apparently they had got done training before Vegeta and Trunks, at least long enough to find dinner and cook it. The lavender haired boy groaned as he stood up, hoping that he would be able to make it back to the camp site to even get a senzu bean in him.



Vegeta eyed him before turning away and walking towards Goku, “You are not in that bad of shape, you are just not used to it anymore.” There was a strong hint of disappointment in Vegeta’s voice and Trunks was sure he was the only one who was able to tell that it was. He frowned to himself, he couldn’t sulk all the way back to the camp site then Goten would know how much Trunks had failed at keeping on his feet. He only hoped that his father wouldn’t rant about it when they got there. He was sure that Goku had gone a lot easier on the younger half breed than his own father had on him.



When they made it to the camp site, Trunks took in the area, and carefully looked over Goten. He did have a few minor cuts and bruises on his visible skin, but he didn’t look too worn out at all. He must have not had a senzu bean either. Trunks rolled his eyes, of course only he would get the man that wouldn’t hold back on him. He walked over to Trunks and sat down.



Goten laughed before shaking his head, “You look rough, man.”



“Yeah… you would too if your father didn’t take it so easy on you.”



Goten looked at Trunks with wide eyes, “Easy… no Trunks… he did not. You really haven’t been training at all have you?”



“You mean you have!”

Goten laughed again, “Maybe I’m actually stronger than you for real?”



“Pssh, whatever.” Trunks looked away. He knew he still had the possibilities of beating Goten, but a person’s punches are not going to be strong as they can be when they have been traumatized from hitting their father. Trunks still hated the idea of Vegeta actually getting mad at him for hitting him while they were training. He knew that if he actually tried hard enough Vegeta could still be angry.



Trunks looked up to see his father and Goku already getting their food, of course those two wasn’t going to wait at all. He knew that if he and Goten took any more time to talk, the food would be all gone and they were not willing to chance that one.

……………



“Maybe we can convince them to let us train together tomorrow?” Goten asked hopefully as sat down next to Trunks. They had ventured off away from their fathers despite the fact that they were both tired from the day long activities.



“Fat chance.” Trunks rolled his eyes as he leaned back against the tree. “I’m honestly not willing to chance it and ask.”



“I’ll ask my dad then.” Goten laughed, “I don’t think you could take training with Vegeta all week anyways.



“I don’t think I could stand being around my dad in such a close way for that long.” Trunks laughed sarcastically. “I vote that we leave them.”



“No way Trunks!” Goten shouted, a little too loud. “They’ll be mad.”



“Your dad won’t be.”



“But yours will, you are too young to die.” He laughed, poking at his friend.



“Thanks for the encouragement there buddy.”



“You know he’ll be mad at you. And… I really do think it’s bothering you.”



“It’s bothered me, ever since it bothered him that I am helping mom with her business.” The older half breed sat up and stood and looked down at Goten, giving him the sign that he wanted to head back so they could sleep.



Goten stood to follow suit, but instead of following Trunks he grabbed his wrist and pulled him back, “Well can we at least go swimming first?” Goten gave Trunks an innocent look, the one that he always tried to give to get his way.



“Goten… the water is probably freezing this late.”



“Are you afraid of a little cold water? Hmm? I thought you were a big tough Saiyan like your daddy.” He teased.



Trunks gritted his teeth; it was always Goten that actually knew how to grind his gears. He just pushed the right buttons at any time he wanted to.



Goten pushed at Trunks gently, laughing as he made it to the edge of the lake.



Trunks turned around quickly and knocked Goten over. “Haha.”



Goten made his way back to the top of the water and glared at his best friend, “Trunks! Not in my cloths.”



“They’ll dry. You have pajamas back at the camp site anyways.”



He grinned down at Goten before he was knocked over as the younger pounced on him. “Shut up.” It wasn’t demanding when it escaped Goten’s lips. It was like he had always seemed to Trunks, so submissive and as if he was afraid to raise his voice at him. Trunks wondered if it was just the difference that the two boys had grown up. Gohan and Goten had both turned out so respectful and of course Trunks always did his best to corrupt the younger Son.



He was staring up at the other boy in awe from the thought until Goten pulled back slightly. “Trunks…?”



“Hmm? He was only slightly pulled out of his revere as he heard his named called out by the other.



“Can I tell you a secret…”



Trunks laughed as he felt like they were little kids again just by that question. He was still foggy in his brain; he must have been too tired to think about anything Goten said. This moment felt a lot like a dream, or like it wasn’t really happening. The only thing that made him feel real was the fact that his body still felt rough from Vegeta’s punches. They had refused to allow him to have a senzu bean, saying that he was not in bad enough shape.



“Trunks… I’m serious!” Goten frowned down at him. He thought he was able to trust Trunks enough to tell him what had been going through his mind, not be laughed at.



“I’m sorry Goten.” He laughed as he sat up on his elbows as Goten slipped off of him. “You can tell me. You know you can.”



“Okay, but please don’t tell anyone.” It was a plea that wasn’t even needed. He knew that Trunks wasn’t going to say anything. His best friend had always been the best at keeping secrets next to Gohan, even if he was some-what of a bully when they were younger. The younger Saiyan mix bit down on his bottom lip, obviously searching for the words to tell Trunks what was on his mind.



“Trunks, I think… I think I don’t like girls much. I mean, I don’t think I’d ever act on those feelings… but…” He frowned and looked over at Trunks to check the reaction so far. “I really needed to tell you, it just feels weird to keep it to myself and away from you.”



Trunks’ eyebrows knitted together as he tried to comprehend what Goten was trying to say to him. He never would have thought that it would be true, considering the fact that Goten had more girlfriends than he did. Rather Goten was able to keep those girls or not, well, that was a different story. Trunks was pretty sure though that Goten had never gone very far with any of them though. He was more than positive that Goten would tell him something like that as well.



“Hey guys, come on to bed. We are getting up extra early to train in the morning.” Goku was smiling wide at them as he came walking up and Goten froze, hoping that he wasn’t close enough to hear him say anything, but then again Trunks had been silent for so long that he wasn’t sure how much time could have passed with silence as Goku made his way to them.



Goten sighed as he stood up causing Goku to laugh, “Did you decide to take a swim in your cloths there son?”



Goten blushed, “Trunks pushed me in when we were joking around.” Goten said as he pointed to Trunks.



The eldest laughed and tried to act innocent, “I was only trying to defend myself, he tried to put me I in there after all.”



“You boys should refrain from pushing each other in with your clothes on.”



“We’ll try… maybe…” Goten smiled and walked ahead of the other two. He was too embarrassed to even try to look at them. He was afraid of what Trunks would have said if he had the time to and rather Goku heard or not, though his father did not act like he did.

…………….



Trunks’ eyes opened, burning from little sleep he had, but the dream he had was nagging at the back of his head and much to strange for him to go back to sleep. It wasn’t the only problem had had awoken with either. He groaned as he closed his eyes tight. There was no way that dream really bothered him enough physically…



His eyes scanned the tent, trying hard to not notice the sleeping figure next to him. ‘Kami, why couldn’t I have a tent to myself or with Goten?’ At least Goten would have understood the situation a lot more. This added to Trunk’s list of things he hated about the day and it had to be the top.



He bent his knee up carefully without stearin around too much, in hopes that it would make the obvious bulge less noticeable. This was the most horrible time to have a steamy dream like that and then be hard from it. After staying still for what seemed like forever he could not contain himself and his fingers traveled slowly to the waistband of his pants. Trunks reminded himself that he could always point the finger and blame Goten for the fact that he was about to traumatize himself.



He froze hearing a deep sigh, his body going stiff as he closed his eyes tighter. He did not want to wake up to see someone else awake. “If you are having that much trouble then I suggest that you go get in that cold lake now.” The voice was not at all enthused about this situation.



Trunks eyes darted quickly at his side, seeing Vegeta’s back to him. It didn’t take him a second thought to make a quick exit out of the tent and to the lake.





Trunks had the brief thought of drowning himself in the lake, yes that was much better than ever facing his father again. He sunk down further into the water, just leaving his head above it. He couldn’t believe himself and to think he was actually going to reach for it! He rolled his eyes for his own stupidity. Was he really that repressed?



His gaze went up from the water as he heard someone. He figured it would be Goten, he knew the other well enough to know that he got up in the middle of the night to pee. He probably heard Trunks splashing in the water when he got in.



“What are you doing out here?” Goten laughed, his voice still filled with sleep. He stepped closer to the edge of the water and looked down at Trunks. “Isn’t it freezing?”



“I guess that’s the point…” His blush had to be obvious, even in the moon light it was noticeable. He was turning a deep shade of pink causing Goten to have a questioning look.



“Um…?” Goten giggled not sure if he had the right thought in mind as he sat down so that he didn’t have to stand half asleep and to see Trunks closer in the dark.



“Ugh Goten… you don’t want to know. This day had just been so fucking stupid!”



It was rare for Goten to actually hear Trunks curse, though he did every once in a while, but that was usually when they were playing video games and Trunks was losing. “It’s going to suck worse if you don’t sleep you know…”



“Yeah, well…” Trunks blushed as he buried his head in his arms that were resting on the side of the bank. “You know how I had to keep a secret for you, well… my problem is bad unlike yours and it’s not a secret from my dad.”



“What…?” Goten was completely clueless to everything.



Trunks rolled his eyes, “I had a dirty dream.” He admitted as he felt his face grow hot. “And apparently my father was awake… how wonderful is that?”



“Oh!” Goten laughed after he heard Trunks admit to the dream. He really doubted that he would admit something like that, but of course, knowing his own father he’d get picked at for it. “So who’s the lucky lady.”



“Yeah, I knew you’d say something like that. Go away!” Trunks splashed at Goten, giving him a warning.



“Hey! You already wet my cloths earlier.” Goten shouted, jumping back from the water.



“Please just go away Goten…” Trunks pleaded, “You should sleep anyways.”