Disclaimer: I am far too lazy to come up with quite a complex series such as Dragon ball Z. I don't own it, nor do I wish I owned it, because that sounds like a lot of work…

Summary: 14 drabbles about Goten and Trunks' Valentine's Day.

Word count: 5111 (ending off with a bang)

Rated M for language, sexual scenes, etc.

Happy Valentine's Day! Thanks for riding this roller coaster with me!

Our First Valentine's Day

Drabble #14- Valentine's Day (revised)

Cayon was unhappy, and that was putting it considerably lightly.

No one could blame him for being upset, really. Anyone would be upset if their best friend was marrying a good-for-nothing boob of a man (and Cayon laughed at the term 'man'), who then had the audacity to walk out on the most amazing person to have ever graced this undeserving Earth with his presence. Anyone would be upset if they also weren't very fond of the good-for-nothing boob, and yet was the only one able to find him because it was a secret that the boob was gone in the first place, and his own brother had no idea where the said boob could be.

Of course, Cayon wasn't born yesterday, and was very much aware that Gohan was being quite the liar. Cayon knew that if Gohan wanted to, he could find his younger brother in seconds, and be by his side in an equal amount of time. No, Cayon understood completely that Gohan's "I can't find Goten" really meant "I have no idea what to say to him, so you go instead".

It wasn't the best solution that the supposedly intelligent man had come up with, but to be fair, Gohan, even after all this time, did not know how he and Goten truly felt about each other. He was under the impression that they were close friends, which is about the farthest thing from the truth. In any case, there was no other option so he went. Cayon did feel a bit bad for Gohan, all things considered. It must quite saddening to not only lose sight of his younger brother on the day of his wedding, but also having no idea what words to say to bring him back.

Cayon has known him for years, but in all honesty, he didn't know Goten all that well. Their shared insults and put-downs and petty arguments hardly constituted as "bonding". Pretty much everything he knew about Goten came from Trunks' lovingly biased, word-of-mouth descriptions. Even still, it was enough for him to know exactly where he was. Goten was enamored by urban life, but he would always be most comfortable around nature, and he'd be even more comfortable if he went to a place that was more special to him; a place that held significance to him.

That place was the lake just by his house. It was the same lake where he'd celebrated his 17th birthday, and the one he'd apparently fallen into during that one crazy blizzard, and the place that he and Trunks went to when they were visiting his mother's house and wanted some time alone. There was no doubt that he was there, and all Cayon had to do was bring him back.

Cayon considered himself an honest man, and will admit that he did not really want too, but it wasn't about what he wanted.

It took him nearly half an hour to reach his destination. From his descending window he could see Goten exactly where he knew he'd be. His hair was still a bit of a cringe-worthy mess, but it was obvious that someone had attempted to tame it. Fortunately, he was completely dressed in his immaculate black tuxedo. He looked good, even if the seat of his trousers were no doubt dirty from sitting against the gritty dock.

Cayon felt his brow twitched.

Undeterred, but thoroughly annoyed, he landed the air vehicle. He jumped from the doorway and stomped forward until he stood just behind the silent Son. Goten gave no indication that he noticed.

"I am going to give you fifteen seconds."

Goten was silent for about four seconds. Then, "I can't do this." His voice was odd, but predictably broken.

A few more moments passed. "I never should have asked him... gods I'm an idiot."

Cayon inspected his nails. "You're running out of seconds."

"Why are you here?" Goten asked. He was glaring up at him, but his tone was more miserable than irritated.

"I'm here to tell you to stop bullshitting around," Cayon said, peering down at his watch. "If you haven't noticed, we don't exactly have an endless amount of time here. Just tell me what your apparently soul-crushing crisis is so I know what I have to work with."

Goten turned back to the lake, curling his legs tighter against his chest. "You're probably ecstatic right now. You can finally have Trunks all to yourself."

Cayon quirked his brow. "Yes, certainly Trunks would love that. In fact, he probably wants nothing more! I'm sure he'd gladly set aside his pride and dignity so that he can be passed around like a bottle of Crown Royal."

Goten's head shot up. "I didn't mean it like that."

"You did, though. Don't worry, I won't tell him you basically just compared him to a whore. He'd be quite offended."

Goten winced. "Stop it. You know that's not what I meant. I just... I've fucked up, and now you can have that chance I robbed you of. We all know you were the right choice."

The thought passes through his head, but he doesn't dwell on it. Had Trunks wanted him, he might have entertained it, but Trunks doesn't, so he won't. His role is the conflict inspiring character in their romantic drama—nothing less and certainly nothing more.

"Last time I checked, I was just some asshole who wanted to fuck him," he said, crossing his arms.

"It seems I've been wrong about a lot of things lately."

Cayon says nothing. They really are running out of time, but he can be patient.

Sure enough, Goten starts speaking, his voice distant, as if he were talking to himself instead of his long time rival. "It hit me the other day. We were in the bath and Trunks said something about kids. I was so excited when he said he wanted them too. I love kids. I've always loved kids. I've had fantasies about how many I'd have and what they'd look like, and I've had their names picked out since I was a kid myself. The fact that Trunks wanted them too made me happy."

Goten buried his head in his hands, his fingers carding through his hair. "But then... then I wasn't happy. I was freaking out. I was freaking out because Trunks wasn't fighting me anymore. He wasn't fighting me about anything, anymore. He's been so... so anxious about this whole thing, and I guess his anxiety made it... less real to me? Or maybe like this whole thing wasn't as serious as really is, because Trunks knows how to be serious and he wouldn't act that way if it was serious. But then suddenly he wasn't anxious anymore, he was ready. I've been waiting for him to finally meet me halfway, and now that he's there I realize that I never was."

Goten's body had curled in on itself, his fists clenching as the words spilled from him like an open floodgate. "I'm nineteen. I'm supposed to be partying and failing classes and having flings. I'm not supposed to be getting rings cut, or debating whether I want to change my last name or not, or writing my vows. I don't have a real job, I'm barely educated... just what am I exactly? Who the hell do I think I am? Did I really think I could pull this off? Does Trunks really think he can pull this off? What makes him so sure? He's so smart and yet he really thinks we can get married? This was a stupid idea. I'm stupid for bringing it up and he's stupid for agreeing to it and—"

Cayon isn't quite sure what else Goten had been about to say because he suddenly saw red. His body was on auto-pilot as he reached out and knotted a hand in Goten's hair. He yanked his head to the side and struck his fist out. The punch landed hard on his face, knocking his body aside, no doubt further dirtying his suit.

He vaguely recalls that twice he had been dealt the same treatment, and he feels a sense of satisfaction. Goten's body was too resilient to bruise, but not so much that he wouldn't feel it. Cayon felt satisfied with that as well.

The Son is rightfully stunned, but Cayon give him no chance to recover. He grips Goten's tie, yanking him forward until their noses are pressed together. "You've got a lot of nerve. How dare you? How dare you? You dare call him stupid, when he did nothing but love you, even when your sorry ass didn't deserve it? You're such an ungrateful brat! The gods have blessed you, and not only do you want to waste it, but also hurt the person who did nothing to deserve it? What is wrong with you?!"

Goten looked away, and Cayon jostled the tie to get the attention back.

"So, what's your plan? Say 'to hell with Trunks' and leave him stranded on the altar without so much as a word? Then what, get hopelessly drunk at your parties that are apparently so important to you and begin your never-ending line of flings with people whose names you'll never remember and who won't give a damn about you, while the one person to ever genuinely care about you wonders where it all went wrong? Is that what you want?"

"No," he said, his voice small.

"Then what do you want?"

"I don't know," his voice was breaking.

"Wrong answer. What do you want?"

"I don't know!" Goten tried to pull away, but Cayon held strong.

"You sure chose a very convenient time to be indecisive," Cayon snarled sarcastically. "This whole time you seemed absolutely content with the picture-perfect future the two of you were planning together, but once it's finally happening you want to tuck tail and run? You call me an asshole and yet you don't even have the balls to say it to his face! What was the point then? Was this really all just a game? You think you can drag the one most important person to me around like an old blanket and drop him when you don't want him anymore and get away with it? Is that what this is?! What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

"I'm scared," Goten sobbed, and Cayon faltered.

Goten drops his head, and Cayon lets him. shuddering, and for a moment, Cayon thinks he might actually be crying.

"I'm strong, but not so much that it really matters. I'm not smart like you guys are, I'm an idiot. I'm childish, and annoying, and I can't do anything right, and the only things I can do right are meaningless. I mooch off of him and make him dumb himself down just to talk to me, and I always, always get in his way."

Goten made a noise that almost sounded like a humorless laugh but lacked the conviction to make it so. "I should have listened to you; you've been right since the beginning. I'm an ungrateful brat. I get the one thing I've always wanted but I'm not strong enough to keep it. I'm never going to be enough for him. Why would I marry him if I can't keep him happy? Maybe if I had taken your advice, he wouldn't have wasted his time on me and found what he needed in you."

Cayon remembers falling in love with him. It was no special defining moment, just waking up one day and realizing that Trunks meant everything to him. He remembers the elation he'd feel when Trunks would smile at him, and the pain he felt every time he said Goten's name. Trunks' love for his true best friend had been obvious long before he admitted it, and it hurt like no one's business watching as they came together. He wondered about the 'what ifs', all the time. He wondered what would have happened had it been Cayon in his life first, instead of Goten. Would it have mattered? What if Goten never existed in the first place? Would Trunks have wanted him then?

He remembers the one time Trunks did want him, even though he really hadn't. He'd had a bit too much to drink that night of the New Year's Eve party, he'll admit, but that hadn't been the only reason he had lost his carefully fabricated control. He's not sure why he faltered, he's normally stronger than that, but the need in Trunks' eyes—the desperation, it was all too much. He remembers how perfect Trunks seemed underneath his touch, even when he knew that Trunks wasn't seeing his brown eyes, but black ones; even when he knew Trunks wasn't kissing his tanned lips, but pale ones; even when he knew it wasn't 'Cayon' he was moaning, but another name entirely.

Goten's intervention had been a curse and blessing all wrapped in one.

There is no fondness when he recalls that night. He wishes he didn't remember it at all. It was wrong, he knows that now. It was so wrong what he did.

Trunks had forgiven him, told him that he did not even care, that it was okay. It wasn't okay, Cayon knew. Trunks was not angry but that did not mean that a line had not been crossed, that Cayon was edging into dangerous territory that would not be so easily brushed aside.

Cayon liked to think that he was not the same person he was two years ago. Scratch that, he knew he wasn't, because he promised himself that he wouldn't be. There had been no punishment, so Cayon gave himself an ultimatum. He would be better. He couldn't be the lover that Trunks wanted, so he would be the friend that Trunks deserved to have.

Goten looked up at him then, his eyes desperate in an entirely different way than Trunks' had been that night. "What do I do? How do I make him keep loving me?"

'I don't know, I never got him to love me at all.'

"Well," Cayon said, his voice as even as he could make it, "you could maybe start by not running out on your wedding for stupid reasons."

Goten was watching him in complete seriousness, as if he truly believed Cayon had the answers.

He shook his head. "If you're looking for someone to make you feel better, then sorry, but I'm not that guy. I genuinely believe everything you just said about yourself. I'd almost say I hate you, but that spot is reserved for Akeno, so I'll have to settle for a strong dislike. As far as I'm concerned, there are absolutely no good qualities about you, and yet somehow the universe has graced you with everything you could ever want. You're the exact type of person I despise."

Cayon cocked his head and thought for a moment. "Well, I guess that's not entirely true. I will admit that you have one good quality."

Goten furrowed his brow in question.

Cayon sighed. These words were hard, and he didn't want to say them, but for Trunks' sake, he would. "You're honest in your feelings. When you hate something, you hate it, and when you love something, you love it with all your heart. I can't even question whether you love Trunks or not, because it's so real I can almost feel it myself. I couldn't ignore it even if I wanted to."

He looked directly into those dark eyes. He tried, but he couldn't see the black magic, or the onyx gems, or the midnight ocean, or the starry night sky that Trunks oh so dramatically insisted was there. "That's what I don't understand. How could you love Trunks this much, and yet have this much doubt? Do you think you're the only one who's scared? All of these doubts that you're having, have you ever thought that Trunks might be having the same ones, too? Trunks may be ready, but that doesn't make him any less terrified."

"Then why," Goten asks, his voice little more than a mumble. "Why does he do it if he's so afraid?"

"Because he loves you," Cayon said, despite the sharp hurt he felt in his chest. "Why else would he do it? He's scared too, but he's willing to take the risk simply because he loves you and wants to be with you. He doesn't know if it'll work out, or if you'll be just as in love with him as you are today, fifty-years from now. He doesn't know anything, but he's going to try. I imagine you proposed to him for the very same reason. You love him, and at one point, you were willing to take the chance too."

Goten didn't say anything.

"Well, what are you thinking now? You may have thought that before, but it's entirely possible to change your mind, you know. Are you going to take the risk, or are you going to give up? Do you want to be with him, or not?"

"I... I want to be with him," Goten said, his eyes on the wooden dock beneath them, his voice barely above a mumble. "I love him. I love him so much. I don't want... I want to take the risk."

"No half-assed feelings," Cayon warned with a hard frown. "You've got to mean it. I could drag you along that aisle and threaten you up and down until you say, 'I do', but you know it will all be pointless if you don't mean it. You don't need to be honest with me; be honest with yourself. Are you willing to take the risk, or are you giving up?"

Goten snapped his head up, and Cayon was almost moved by the determination and truth in his eyes. For just a moment, Cayon thought he could see the glimmer of the midnight sky. "I want to take the risk. I have to."

Cayon bowed his head and smiled, satisfied and melancholy all at once. "Splendid choice, Son-shine. It wouldn't have hurt to come to it a little sooner though."

"Why? How much time do we have?"

Cayon looked at his watch. "Ten minutes."

"T-Ten minutes!" Goten sprang to his feet, cursing all the way. Cayon didn't have time to be properly amused, though, because suddenly his feet were no longer on the ground and his abdomen was nestled against Goten's shoulder and both of them were in the air.

XXX

"I hate you," Cayon said honestly, smoothing out Goten's suit as they speed-walked. "I hate you so much."

"But I love you, though," the Son countered. "You just saved me from making the biggest mistake of my life. How could I not love you?"

"Dammit, Goten, you've got fucking bugs in your hair," Cayon complained, desperately picking them out.

Goten suddenly stopped walking. To Cayon's questioning gaze, he said fondly, "You called by my actual name."

Cayon blinked, and then gave him a very hard glare.

"Goten!" suddenly, a shrill cry broke through the air, just before said Son was slapped soundly upside the head.

"Ow! Mom..."

"Don't 'Mom' me!" Chi-Chi whisper shouted, earning Goten giggles from his niece and sister-in-law, and a pitying look from his father. "Do you have any idea how late you are?! You were supposed to walk down the aisle ages ago!"

Goten had the grace to look ashamed, just as Chi-Chi noticed Cayon.

"Cayon, thank goodness!" She immediately started shoving towards the opened doors. "It's time for the best men to walk. Go, hurry!"

Cayon nearly stumbled from her freakishly strong shove. He looked back at Goten, who was getting an imaginary speck of dirt cleaned off his cheek by his mother's saliva-coated finger, gave him a thumbs-up. He then shared a look with Gohan, who was offering him a relieved and grateful smile, before they both walked in side-by-side. He could see Trunks there, all grins and confidence, and if Cayon hadn't been paying attention, he would have missed Trunks' anxious trembling—nervous and yet so undeniably excited. Cayon didn't have a word for how the sight made him feel, but it was definitely good.

He wondered what excuse Gohan came up with to explain Goten's lateness. Cayon prayed it was a good one. Trunks was happy and shouldn't have to be burdened on his big day.

Cayon had just barely taken his spot when the young girls entered soon after. The need for a flower girl wasn't necessary for their ceremony, but Bra had insisted she have a part in her big brother's wedding, bride-less or not. She was practically skipping as she tossed down handfuls of flower petals, humming a tune as the guests awed at her dress and general adorableness. Pan received her own awes as well in her handsome suit that matched the other girl's dress, walking more carefully with her pillow holding two very bright and precious rings.

His attention was taken off the kids however, and he abruptly had to fight the urge to slap his own forehead. It seemed that this wedding did, in fact, have bride. That bride came in the form of Goten, who had his arm hooked around a slightly-confused Goku's. The two Sons stepped among the petals, the younger oozing with confidence that only someone of his idiocy could maintain.

The guests were unsure if they should laugh or not (given that it was a wedding and all), before remembering just who Goten was, and opting for amused applause. Trunks' smile grew until it was blinding, and even though it wasn't directed at him, Cayon found himself filling with joy at the sight of it.

It seemed that the Goten who had been so lost and broken before was gone. His smile was wide, and the emotion in his eyes shone like a beacon, daring anyone to deny their authenticity. When he spoke his vows, they were surprisingly low, as if he truly meant for them to only be heard by Trunks alone. He slid the twinkling ring on with care, as if Trunks' finger would break if he wasn't careful. He kissed Trunks before the words of permission were even finished, wrapping his arms around him and lifting him off his feet. They paused for a moment to kiss their mothers (who were both crying), before hurrying off in their exit.

Through it all, Goten's eyes never left Trunks, looking as him like he was his whole world. He probably was.

Cayon was happy. He'd never been happier, and yet he still felt his eyes sting.

It was over.

The theme of their wedding was red, and the deep color looked so beautiful in the evening. He held strong through the reception: he talked with his older brother, Sharpner, and played with his nieces, and maintained his reputation as a good-for-nothing flirt. He didn't mind, though. There was only one person whose opinion mattered, and that person was lost to him forever.

Not that that was new. He had been lost to him since the day they met, but he supposed that now there was more of a finality to it.

It was okay though. He'd been okay yesterday, and he'd be okay tomorrow.

He was okay watching them, even. They swayed together on the dancefloor, as if they were the only ones there. The setting sun shined gracefully on their happy faces, their lips whispering words only meant for each other's ears. Trunks gripped their hands to their chests. Goten leaned in and kissed him.

They may have come to some sort of truce, but all Goten would ever see him as was an asshole who only wanted to screw his lover. Maybe it was better that way.

All Trunks would ever see him as was the best friend he could turn to whenever he needed and would always be there for him. Cayon could live with that.

Maybe one day, if he tried hard enough, the burning devotion he felt towards Trunks would fade.

Someday, but not today.

'I love you. I love you so much, so please, be happy.'

It was when he turned away from the couple that he noticed the man in the corner. He was an older man, perhaps in his late-twenties or early thirties, and very handsome. His build was lean, his skin was very dark, as were his eyes, and his hair was cut close to his head. There was a mature, serious air about him. He was undeniably an adult living with purpose and Cayon found himself immediately intrigued. It wasn't often that he was genuinely interested in someone right off the bat.

Upon walking over, he began to recognize the man. They'd never spoken, but he was suddenly aware that this man was the assistant that Trunks seemed to like so much.

Sitting down next to the man, he held up his phone and said with genuine distress, "Could you help me? I think there is something wrong with my phone."

"What is the problem?" The deep timber of his accented voice sent shivers down Cayon's spine.

"It doesn't have your number in it."

The man was confused for a moment, before a very unprofessional laugh burst from him, and Cayon was sent reeling from how delightful it sounded.

"I believe that since I went through the trouble of making you laugh, you could at least tell me your name."

The man regarded him for a moment. Then, with a raised but undeniably intrigued brow, he said, "You are very bold. I am Zareh."

Cayon smiled. "That's a handsome name."

XXX

Goten couldn't get enough.

He was quite sure that he'd marked every inch of Trunks' body. He couldn't help it though, it was, in fact, a very beautiful body.

"I love you," he said against Trunks' lips.

Then against his jaw: "I love you."

In Trunks' ear, down his neck, against his collarbone: "I love you... I love you... I love you."

Trunks couldn't talk much even if he wanted to—he was too lost in his moaning. Goten didn't mind. He was speaking enough for the both of them.

He kept up his mantra, even when they were finished, and he was trying to catch his breath. "I love you... I love you... I love you."

"I know, you don't have to tell me every other second." Trunks said, petting his hair.

He did, though. He had to because Trunks thought he knew, but he didn't really know. He would never know just how much Goten loved him.

He turned his eyes towards the window, focusing them on the glittering Eiffel Tower. Paris would always be a special place for them. It was only right for them to honeymoon there.

"I love you," Goten said against Trunks' shoulder. He could still taste the chocolate he'd licked from there earlier. What could possibly be better than Parisian chocolate on Valentine's Day?

Parisian chocolate on Trunks skin on Valentine's Day, of course.

"Goten."

"Come on, how else am I going to make it up to you?" Goten moaned dramatically. "I was late for our wedding! My baby was waiting for me all alone—all apologies are meaningless!"

Trunks rolled his eyes.

Goten poked his shoulder. "Really, though, you're not mad at me, are you? You haven't said anything."

Trunks sighed, stretching his arms. "You think I'd let you defile me in this bed even though I've just had the most tiring day of my life and would like nothing more than to sleep until next year if I was mad?"

Goten smiled sheepishly. "I am sorry though. I just got... sidetracked, I guess."

Trunks turned on his side to face him, frowning. "You all must think I'm an idiot. I know you left."

Goten felt his heart drop and his blood run cold.

"How... how did you..."

"Didn't I just say I'm not an idiot?"

Goten could hardly hear him. He was starting to feel sick.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Alright."

"I'm sorry," he choked, his eyes pricking. "I'm so sorry."

"I know, I heard you."

Goten was crying now, hot tears dripping down his face, his body shaking. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"It's been a while since I've seen you cry," Trunks said, his fingers stroking his cheeks. "Real tears, not those silly ones like when you're watching some cliché movie where the dog dies at the end."

"I'm sorry!" Goten sobbed. "Please f-forgive me! Oh g-gods, I'm s-so sorry!"

"I know, Goten. I know."

Trunks held him as he cried, rubbing his hand up and down his back. He didn't say anything to Goten's broken apologies; the only time he spoke was when he coached Goten into relaxing when his sobs turned into violent coughs. He can't remember the last time he's cried this hard.

Goten did calm down eventually though, his weeping falling into sniffles, until there was nothing left but a headache. Trunks busied himself with wiping his chest off with his discarded t-shirt, and if he was disgusted by the sticky mess on his skin, he didn't comment on it.

"Are you okay now?" Trunks asked, wiping the t-shirt against Goten's damp face.

He nodded, thoroughly embarrassed, but glad that the weight on his chest was lifted.

Trunks watched him for a moment, petting Goten's hair once again. They were silent for so long that Goten almost found himself asleep. He could hear Trunks' voice though, soft but sure.

"You don't have to be sorry, because I wasn't worried. I didn't have any reason to be. I figured that after two years of fabricated calmness, your 'freak out' moment would be all big and dramatic. I knew that once you were over it, you'd come running right back. I hate to say it but you're a little predictable."

Trunks kissed him, before snuggling up against him. "You couldn't leave me even if you wanted too."

Goten smiled, because he was right. "I love you, babe."

"I figured you did, but it's nice to hear. I love you too. With that out of the way, you may now leave me alone and go to sleep. Have sugary dreams and all that."

Goten grinned cheekily. "Who needs sugary dreams when I've already got such a saccharine reality?"

"Ditto to that. Now, go to sleep before I slap the mess out of you."

"I think you've been watching too much 'Love and Hip Hop'," Goten said, but did as he was told, and his dreams were almost as sweet as the world he had wrapped up in his arms.

THE END

And thus is the end of this universe. I hope you all enjoyed!