Welcome to Boxer & Rice

“Bulma, it’s Christmas Eve, can’t this wait a few days?” Goku said good-naturedly but to those who’d known him all his life the whine in his voice was evident.

“No and in fact since you didn’t return my calls last week we may not have enough time as it is now move it mister!” Bulma ordered. Grumbling, Goku set down his sake and got up to follow her out of the room. Bulma’s sudden appearance and outburst was not enough to put a damper on the little get together as Goten pretended to wrestle Grandpa Ox King on the floor but it did draw the attention of Chichi as she came in with a tray of refreshments.

“And just where do you think you’re going?” she frowned at him.
“Oh, well, Bulma said she needed a favor, Chichi…” he explained.
“What! You haven’t taken care of that yet?” she hissed under her breath, “I told you she called over a week ago!”

“Heh, I guess I kinda forgot to call her back…” Goku said, rubbing the back of his neck. Chichi looked like she was about to burst a blood vessel.

“It’s ok, we’re going to take care of it right now, aren’t we Goku?” Bulma prompted him.

“Yeah, right away, don’t worry Chichi, I’ll take care of everything!” he said pushing Bulma out of the hallway ahead of him to escape his enraged wife. Amazingly, Chichi let him go with only a glare. Bulma grabbed her coat and lead him outside; it wasn’t currently snowing but the drifts were deep on the slopes of Mt. Paozu.

“Ok, so what was it you needed, Bulma?”

“I need you to take me to Namek.”

“Uh, come again?” Goku asked, confused.

“Namek, Goku, you do remember Namek don’t you? You let Frieza blow it up and we had to wish for a new one? Ring any bells?” she said sarcastically.

“I remember Namek, Bulma” Goku said defensively, “What I meant was why do you want to go there right now?”

“Let’s just say I have a couple questions that need answering,” Bulma replied, “questions that only the dragon balls can answer.”

“But why don’t you just gather the ones here? Why do I have to leave the party?” Goku pouted.

“We can’t use the ones here because it hasn’t been six months since the boys made that horrendous wish. Besides, we’re saving that one for reviving the people affected by their poor judgment” Bulma lectured him, “And you’re having to leave the party because you’re a forgetful jerk who doesn’t keep in touch with his friends, that’s why. I should be putting the finishing touches on the celebration for tomorrow myself but no I have to fly all the way out here to the wilderness instead…”

“Bulma?” Goku interrupted her rant.

“What??” she said.

“Can we go to Namek now?”

Be Calm. Deep breaths, Bulma told herself.

“Yes, hurry up already ” she snapped. Maybe living with Vegeta all this time was finally starting to rub off on her… Goku put a hand on her forehead, his giant palm covering a good portion of her head and then raised two fingers to his temple. In an instant the piles of snow around them were replaced by blue, lush grass, and several shocked gasps sounded around them.

“Goku!” several of the voices exclaimed. Most Namekians recognized him on sight now since he had come for Dende all those years ago.
“Hey everyone!” he said with glee.

“We’re on a serious mission, one that’s time sensitive as well, please, I need to see Elder Mori as soon as possible” Bulma informed the Namekian closest to her. With a wide eyed nod they were taken to him immediately.
………..

“The dragon balls? I’m sure you’re intentions are good but I do have to ask, what kind of threat are you up against that the power of Shenron would not be enough?” Mori looked startled. Bulma explained what the boys had done and the need to save their remaining wish to make right the wasted one.

“So you see, there isn’t time to wait for Shenron though I’m sure he’d have the power to get it done” Bulma finished.

“Hmm… Normally, we would frown upon the use of the dragon balls in such a manner being that the ones on your planet were so recently used so irresponsibly… But, those boys were integral in the fight against Buu so I suppose it can be overlooked just this once” Mori cautioned her.

“Thanks!” Bulma winked, “Besides, the wish isn’t actually for me or the boys, it’s for Gohan.”

“For Son Gohan? Well, why didn’t you say it was for him in the first place?” Mori asked, “I’ve never met such a brave and kindhearted young fellow before; if you need a wish for Gohan, then by all means, go ahead.”

“Well, we might technically need all three of them, depending on how it goes…” Bulma let slip.

“Why didn’t you tell me this was something for Gohan?” Goku asked, slightly hurt.

“Because I didn’t want his crazy alien hearing to pick up on it while we were still there; and also, honestly, you can’t keep a secret for crap, Goku” Bulma said, frowning at him.

“Oh, yeah, I guess that’s right, huh?” Goku laughed. Bulma rolled her eyes.
“You have to swear not to say anything about this, Goku, it’s only one day so even you should be able to do that, right? Now, go run and gather up the dragon balls” she said, handing him the radar.

“Oh, come on, Bulma, I can keep quiet for one day… Besides, I don’t even know exactly what we’re doing anyway!” he said as he took to the air after the first ball. Bulma sighed and accepted the tea offered her by Mori.
…………

Goku bounced from one foot to the other in anticipation as Bulma called the dragon. He loved surprises. Her first wish certainly was one though, it left him scratching his head.

“Pssst. Hey, Bulma” he whispered as Porunga agreed to grant the wish.

“What?”

“Why would you want to bring the other Trunks, the one from the future, here? And why for only 24 hours?” he asked quietly.

“Ok, first off, why are you whispering? And secondly, are you serious? Have you not seen your son moping around and pining after him these past few months?” Bulma replied.

“Well gee, now that you mention it, I guess he has been pretty down lately… You think it has to do with future Trunks?” Goku said. Bulma whacked him upside the head just as a tall, lavender haired man popped into existence beside them. Having been whisked from his familiar surroundings, future Trunks flashed super Saiyan immediately and was already in a fighting stance when he realized who it was standing in front of him.

“Mom? Goku? What time is this?” he asked, letting his blonde hair fade.
“Hey, Trunks!” Goku said, rubbing the back of his head, “Why would Gohan be pining for you?”

“Wh-what?” Trunks stuttered.

“Oh my god, Goku, go fly around the planet a few times or something, would you?” Bulma said in exasperation. Thank god she had already been with Yamcha when that boy came of age, she thought. If she had married him instead of Chichi, she would have throttled him in his sleep by now. She and Vegeta may fight a lot but at least he knew what was going on around him…

“Trunks, sweetie, it’s so good to see you again” she said, giving him a hug.

“It’s good to see you again too” he said squeezing her tightly.
“Well, since Goku spilled the beans, I guess I’ll just get right to the reason I brought you here. A few months ago, the younger version of yourself and Goten, Gohan’s little brother, made a poorly worded wish that made the barriers between our two ‘worlds’, or time lines, unstable-”

“Oh god, is that what happened?” Trunks interrupted her, reeling in shock, “So wait, all of the stuff that’s been happening every Halloween, that’s been real?”

“Um, yes” Bulma informed him cautiously. To her surprise, instead of the look of horror continuing to grow on his face, he dropped his gaze and blushed profusely. Interesting.

“And it’s been ever since then that Gohan’s problem’s began… You know, I figured it was more of a ‘what if’ kind of thing but now I’m starting to wonder if something didn’t actually happened” Bulma teased.

“I don’t know what you mean” Trunks said, his blush deepening.
“Oh, but I think you do, Trunks…” Bulma shook her head, indicating he couldn’t hide it from her, “That blush does make what I’m about to ask you a lot less awkward though.”

“Less awkward?” Trunks said raising an eyebrow, finally meeting her gaze.

“Assuming you’ve taken care of all the baddies in your time since you are indeed standing here right now, would you be willing to come and live here in our time if you had a chance at being with Gohan?” Bulma asked him seriously. Trunks just blinked at her, not having expected that at all. His gaze drifted from her to the surrounding countryside as his mind tried to make sense of what was happening.

“It’s ok, take your time… Well, not too much time, to think about it – but just know, we have two more wishes left so you would have a chance to go back and say any goodbyes if you chose” Bulma took his hand and squeezed it, “I don’t know what’s been going on with your end of things but I think knowing how the other person feels can make all the difference when deciding what’s real and what’s crazy.”
Trunks squeezed her hand back, “He’s really been pining for me? Are you sure?”

“Completely. We actually had kind of a heart to heart over the difficulties of loving a saiyan prince” she chuckled softly.
“Ok, I think I’ll stay then. I mean, I do want to go say good bye, explain things back home but I could never pass up a chance to actually be with Gohan” Trunks said, his eyes misting up as he thought about it.

“I’m glad to hear it, here, let me ask Porunga something real quick” Bulma hugged him again and then turned to the dragon, asking if her next rather complex request was possible. She was afraid it might have to be broken down into two wishes, which would risk spoiling the surprise for Gohan but you never knew until you asked.

“Yes, that wish can be granted” Porunga boomed.

“Thanks, I make that my second wish then” Bulma was really excited now, all her plans were coming together. Trunks looked like he was about to say something to her but he winked out of existence before he could speak. Oops. Oh, well, he could tell her in a second. True to it’s word, the dragon made Trunks reappear a moment later, though he had spent an entire week in his own time. The Trunks that reappeared though, looked completely different from the one who had left. Faded jeans and a t-shirt were replaced with slacks and a button-down, semi casual shirt. He wore nice looking loafers and his hair was tied back by a small band of leather.

“Hey” he said, smiling and tucking a stray bang behind his ear. Bulma noticed how he fidgeted with his nicer clothes and thought it was adorable how hard he was trying. She had definitely made the right decision.

“You are so cute, honey” she beamed.

“Thanks mom” he said almost painfully, rubbing the back of his neck and blushing again.

“Oh, by the way, it’s Christmas Eve here in our time but don’t worry, you don’t have to get him anything, you are the present” she winked.
“Oh my god. Mom, what are you saying?” Trunks was horrified and pleased at the same time.

“I’m saying that we won’t be going to see him right away, we’ll hide you for a bit and then bring you out tomorrow afternoon for the Christmas party at Capsule Corp. You might want to wear something a little more dressy for that event but don’t worry, I’ve taken care of all of that… But that does remind me about the third wish, though… You go get Goku so we’re ready to go home once it’s done” she directed, turning back to the dragon as Trunks flew off obediently, his mind reeling once again. “Porunga, for my third and final wish, I wish for you to mask this Trunks’s ki, so no one can sense him until Gohan meets him tomorrow afternoon.”

“Very well, your wish has been granted” Porunga said, then disappeared in a blinding flash of light. Once Goku and Trunks returned, Bulma swore Goku to secrecy once again and then had him take her and Trunks back to CC before heading home himself. They had only been gone for a little over an hour all together. Excellent, she would still have time to wrap up a few last minute things.

“Here, you can use this guest bedroom until we have a chance to get you settled in, I’ll start working on an identity for you and everything after the holidays, if that’s ok” she asked him.

“Uh, yeah, that’s fine… I guess I can be your Trunks’s older brother or something” he mused, looking around the room.

“Excuse me, I am nowhere near old enough to have a son whose, whose… How old are you anyway?” she questioned him with a frown.

“Uh, 25?… Sorry…” he said hesitantly.

“Right. Anyway, we’ll make you into some long lost cousin or something, don’t worry about it” she said with a wave of her hand.
…………

Later that night, after being brought up to speed on everything that had happened since his last visit here, Trunks tossed and turned in bed, his nerves getting the best of him. There was still a bit of an age difference between them but it wasn’t as big a deal now that Gohan was 18… There was also that little issue of reality rarely happening the way your fantasies had played out. And tomorrow was Christmas; if this went badly, he was pretty sure the holidays would be ruined for both of them for the rest of their lives. Ok, maybe he was being a bit over dramatic. He sighed into his pillow. It wasn’t until long after midnight that sleep finally overtook him.
…………

Gohan was excited for the CC party. Bulma, being a gazillionaire, came up with some pretty extravagant presents sometimes. Not that he cared how much money was spent on him, it was just fun to watch everyone open them and have a good time together. He couldn’t help but sigh a little as he looked at himself in the mirror. It didn’t really matter if he looked good or not, nobody he cared about seeing him looking good would be there… But his mother insisted, of course. This suit was new too, he’d grown at least 3 inches in the last year and the old one had been on the snug side even before that. Straightening his tie and satisfied that he would pass his mother’s inspection, he went to help Goten with his outfit.
…………

When Trunks felt Gohan’s ki suddenly appear in the main room down stairs, he figured Goku had finally instant transmissioned his family to the party. Trunks’s heart rate doubled, just at that knowledge. God, he still hadn’t thought of anything to say and he felt like a fool in this suit Bulma had given him. He’d never worn anything so fancy in his entire life. He took a deep breath and checked the clock again for the 300th time. His mom had promised to keep everything moving along and that they would open presents on the hour so he would know when to make his appearance. What if Gohan wasn’t excited to see him? He would die right there, that’s what… Damn it, he felt like a 14 year old kid going through his first crush again… Hmm, come to think of it, that was a fairly apt analogy… He smiled to himself thinking about it, trying to calm his nerves.
…………

Gohan was fairly certain something was up when Bulma made such a fuss about starting on the presents – normally they all visited for a while first but she insisted they get to them quickly this year. Something about having time to enjoy them afterward… It didn’t really make any difference, he supposed. He was admiring the robotic something-or-other that Goten had received when Bulma pulled him aside and said that the next gift was for him.

“It’s actually a joint present, from me and your parents” she informed him with a wink. He nodded his head, that was odd, his mom and dad had already given him a present this morning…

A hush fell over the room as Trunks entered it. Gohan’s back was turned to him and he was talking to Bulma, agreeing with her about something. He looked just the same as the last time they had seen each other, that Halloween, only he was wearing a nice suit just as Trunks was. More than nice. My god, it made his ass look amazing. Quickly Trunks remembered that all eyes were literally on him and that it probably wouldn’t do to be caught staring. Taking a deep breath, he walked over and put a hand on Gohan’s shoulder.

“Merry Christmas” he said softly. Gohan turned to face him, the look on his face instantaneously going from confused to astonished.
“Trunks?” he said, mouth agape, every fiber of his being tingling as the familiar ki was unmasked in front of him. The look of wonder on Gohan’s face, coupled with the broad smile on his half parted lips, made Trunks throw all caution to the wind. Leaning down slowly, he captured Gohan’s lips with his own, kissing him just as gently as the night he had thought he was a ghost. You could have heard a pin drop. Then he felt Gohan’s hand wrap around the back of his neck and it was as if the whole room burst into applause on cue.

Startled by the noise, Gohan jumped a bit and broke the kiss, looking wide-eyed towards the rest of the gathering and blushing. He ducked his head down at the cat-calls from a few of the more outgoing members of the group. Trunks chuckled. He was also blushing a bit himself but this was certainly going well; better than what he had hoped for and nothing like what he had feared. He brought Gohan’s face level to his with a finger under his chin.

“Hey, aren’t you going to wish me Merry Christmas back?” he said jokingly. Gohan looked like he was about to cry or burst into hysterical laughter, one of the two…

“Merry Christmas” he said, overjoyed and it was he who closed the distance between their lips this time. When the kiss was done, Gohan kept him close for a moment, leaning in and pitching his voice so only Trunks would hear it above the turmoil. What he heard next made Trunks wonder just how much Gohan had already grown up in his absence.

“So do I get to unwrap you now or later?” Gohan whispered in his ear. Trunks couldn’t help but blush though he wouldn’t say he didn’t enjoy Gohan’s forwardness.

Chuckling, Gohan said, “I’ll take that as a ‘later’ then.”