Welcome to Boxer & Rice

"Dude. I can't believe you just ate a dog biscuit."
"I didn't eat a dog biscuit. I ate half a dog biscuit."
"That doesn't matter. The fact still remains that you ate it."
"So? Wouldn't be the first time..."

~My funny Valentine, Sweet comic Valentine~

"Are you sure you don't need any help, Goten?" I will not laugh. "I mean, I know--"

"Trunks."

I can't help the smile, he just looks so damn cute in that apron. But now was a time to be serious.

"Now is a time to be serious. You know you've got work to do, and I refuse to further aid you in the procrastination of aforementioned commerce affairs."

I blink. "Nani?" The man means business. "What in the Hells--" and again, I get cut off.

"Sh!"

No respect, I tell ya...

"I refuse to distract you." He folds his arms to his chest, chosen utensil resting against his bicep like some sort of...staff.. "It's just dinner, Trunks. I can deal." Obstinate Son to the end, ne? "You." He starts pushing me down the short hall toward my makeshift office. "Out. Work." I turn to see him leaning against the doorjamb, arms re-folded and a look on his face that would possibly put papa's best glower to shame.

You know, sometimes I wonder about their relationship...

"I'll let you know when I want you."

"What? Is the fire already gone, Goten?" I slid up beside him, and I know he can barely resist my debonair--

"Hentai. Yamero." He slaps my hand away. Damn wooden spoons. Must've gotten it from his mother... "You work." Smug in his victory, he throws a final glance over his shoulder as I reluctantly moved toward the desk. "Dinner'll be done when it's done." And thus my sleek li'l demi-demon turned on one heel, strutting his dominance down the passageway to the kitchen.

Tripping twice and falling into the wall once on his way.

Good thing we had the sides reinforced a few months ago...too bad about the carpet, though...

"But...what is it...?"
"Bakana. Don't be as dense as my father. Only he and Gohan pull off the innocent act like that."
"No way. I'm serious. What is it?"
"It's a ring. I got it outta the gumball machine, and it just so happened to be the exact size of your finger."
"A ring...what...what's it for..."
"It's for you, Trunks. It's my way of asking you 'that question'..."

~You make me smile with my heart~

Yeah. I know better than to laugh. As if I ever follow my own advice...

But before too long, I hear a pan drop, some water splash, a string of profanity that would most certainly throw the middle Son into a fit of pink and red, and then a shout down the hall.

"I'm fine! Stay there! It's all right!"

Reclining back into the worn leather of my grandfather's chair, I twist it from the door, noting with a sidelong look that I can see him at the stove, stirring something and muttering to the contents of the pot...as though threatening its life'll make the dish better...alternate cooking methods, class one: food intimidation.

Dende-sama...how long has it been since I've been home...? Scanning the file on the bottom tier of the tower of back work I promised to finish by Monday morning, the date...Sugei...this is only a week's worth of working dossiers to get through...not too bad...not too good, either.

If mama finds out I've been slacking this much...

"Dende-dammit! I said stay!!"

If nothing else, the man makes me smile...but that's unfair. There are too many other things he does for me.

"Ef you, thing."

I chuckle.

Everyday I'm with you, I thank the gods I said yes, Goten.

"Come on, Goten! They're waiting out there! You know I've got to do this..."
"But Trunks-kun...you said I wouldn't have to--"
"I know what I said, Go-chan, and I'm sorry, but I really need your help with this. I promise it won't take long, Chibi. And after that we can go."
"Trunks...but you said I wasn't gonna hafta wear a dress..."

~Your looks so laughable, un-photographable~

Damn hair. I need another cut...Dende knows I'm not letting your brother do it again, and if I let it go much longer, nobody's gonna be able to tell T-kun and I apart.

Kinky bastard. I bet he'd like that.

"Dammit!"

I sigh and open the first file of the evening. Three days...two-hundred and six dossiers...

"Fuck me!"

"Now...? Hn..." Probably not. Two hundred and six dossiers and one Go-chan...three days...how will I get through this...

I smirk at the growl I can actually hear creep down the hall. It is not going well...

And yet...as I try to stare at this damn form, all I can see is the li'l picture of us I got taped to the wall before me. Dende...we were so young then. After Buu was destroyed...after we were all wished back...after fusion...

Heh. This was the same day we booby-trapped the Lookout with water balloons and crepe paper. Now that was fun.

Though I don't think Dende thought it was as funny as we did. I'll never understand why.

I think that was the first time I ever saw Piccolo-san smile at something...

And now I'm distracted again...damn me for keeping all the pictures of you in the middle drawer...damn you for looking so good in a tux...

"Shiiiimataaaaaa...."

And fuck you for being such a chibi all the time...

Hn.

I think I've got more pictures of you with food on your face than with clothes on....

"Damn it, Goten! Why'd you have to go and do that?!"
"What? I thought it looked good like that..."
"Red paint?! Do you know how hard that's going to be to get out??"
"It's just dye, Trunks-kun...it's not like I tried to do it with blood, or Kool-aid..."
"Blood would have washed out! Kool-aid...Kool-aid...fuck, Goten! What am I going to tell mama?"
"The truth. You always wanted to be a red-head...?"

~But you're my favourite work of art~

I can't help it. You're just so...

"KUSOOOooooo!!"

I bite my lip. I will not ask again. You said you wanted no help, and that's exactly what you're going to get. And you know...for someone as good as you are at so many other things...I'll never understand why it is you can be so damn accident prone...and you'd think I'd be used to it by now, you know...? All the time we've spent together and all...

Do you know I can still remember the very first time I met you? You were so small, so...different from anyone else I had been raised around.

You had dark hair! Dark eyes! I remember trying to get your hair to do what mine did by pouring my sippy cup of juice on it.

That just made it worse...

"IIE! Yamero! Rolling boil, you bastard..."

He's really taking this whole anniver--good Dende-sama...where did this come from...? If anyone ever got a hold of this, mama would probably find a way to fire me and pass the company to Bra...Sugei...kinky Sons and their fetishes...

Who'da thunk you could make a banana last that long...and under such harsh conditions...

I won't even go into the toy thing...that was strange. Fun, but a little more taboo than I'm used to. I did say he got whatever he wanted...

"Wiggly little fuckers...damn holes..."

Aishetaru, Go-chan...

I blink. "Sweet Dende-sama..." Where in Dende's blue heaven did this come from...

"Goten...? Go-chan...are you all right...?"
"Hai, Trunks-kun...I'm fine... I just...I...gomen nasai, Trunks. I gotta go--"
"Iie, Goten. No running away. What is it that's got you so spooked...? It's not like we've never done this before. What's going on...?"
"Ano, Trunks...it's...it's silly...you don't need to hear it. I'm fine. We can fin--"
"Yamero. What's got you all...different, Son. You know you can trust me, ne...?"
"Hai Trunks. I know. It's just...it's just that I...I think I'm...falling in love...with you..."

~Is your figure less than Greek?~

Damn you look good naked, Son. Have I ever told you that...? Hn. Of course I have. It's now all a matter of whether or not you listened. Good gods...

Spinning my chair to face the door, I stare at you. Still fighting with the stove, but intent to prove your dominance over the baka appliance.

You'd think your family would have this whole cooking thing down to a science or something...ironic, ne...?

Hmmm. Bend over the sink again...? Reach up...up...stretch...oh yeah...gotta get that platter off the top shelf...reach a little further for me, Go-chan...?

Damn. I hate it when you levitate. Always finding ways to spoil my fun...

But I do love it when you wear those pants...I've never seen slacks look so good on a guy before...lucky me, I think I married the only one...

Nestling back in my chair, I set the file on the desk and...you really are perfect, Goten. Have you seen you? Can you even conceive of the utter flawlessness? The faultless charisma, the wonderful smile, the great personality...

The sweet, tight ass...

"Hentai..." I need to verbalize that...?

Dende...tan slacks...leather belt...cotton button-down with the sleeves rolled up past the elbows...teal socks...you and your socks...but then again, the pink apron really adds a little something...

Domo arigato, Bra-chan. That was easily the most unexpected Christmas gift I'm sure he's ever gotten... But at least he uses it. Crispy edges and burn marks be damned, the boy owes his life to that thing...

Well, mebbe not his 'life', but you get the idea.

"Kuso..." A crash...I can see the lid rolling around in a circle, clanging to the floor as it stops. Yeah...bend over a little further, boy...

"Dende-sama...you're so..." Handsome? Pretty? Elegant...? I wish I had the words to describe you, Son Goten. Everything you touch turns to gold...

But then, I guess that comes with the territory...having a heart of pure gold, and all...

"...Na...na...ni..."
"Gomen nasai, Trunks-kun...I told you it was silly..."
"...Goten...what...iie...it's not silly, I just...I...I don't know what...what did you just say...?"
"...I...I said I...I think I love you, Trunks..."

~Is your mouth a little weak?~

"Dende-damned, cum-sucking mother fuckers! What the hell!!"

I don't think you're even this verbal in bed...damn...I never knew spaghetti could be so...so...

"Dammit!"

...Yeah...anyway...

The chair creaks as I shift, sliding forward in the cool leather, I rest my elbows on my knees. Why is it I can never stop watching you, koi? Every time I see you doing even the most mundane thing, I can't help myself...your every movement is so hypnotic, so...

"I love you." But I know you can't hear the whisper. You would have just smiled and returned the sentiment, not realizing the weight those words carried, the honesty and affection I wish I could find a way to show you...

If it has no numbers in it, I can't deal.

If I can't try to sell it to somebody, if I can't dissect it with parabolas, logarithms, or bar graphs...

How did we get here, Goten? How on earth did this happen...my future was so far planned...so set. I was supposed to marry into some ridiculously rich business affiliate's family, our companies would merge, I'd be unhappy, she'd put up a good front...mama would've been so proud of that move...

I'm still surprised she came to the wedding at all...

I smile...damn tears...every time I think about that day...Dende, I am such a pansy. Papa was right. Why do I even get the honour of the title 'prince' is beyond me...

Can you believe he's actually still running through the ceremony with Gohan-san and your father? I can't be a prince! I mean, the media thinks I already am, but for real...?

When papa said I had to lead my people, I seriously thought he was kidding.

Bra's still too young, too carefree and ill experienced.

He's full Saiyan. He has one subject to his name.

Me...? I'm a demi-Saiyan. I'm the prince of an entirely different race in his eyes...

And you...you are my king...

"...Love...love is a serious thing, Goten...I mean, what makes you think...why...me..."
"...I...I just...I love you, Trunks. I mean, I always have...but I think...we could be so much more...I...I want to give you so much more than I do..."
"Goten...yamero...you give me plenty, I don't need anything more than I've already got."
"But you do. You deserve to have everything, Trunks. And I would find a way to give you the moon if I could...assuming there was a way to get it back, I mean..."

~When you open up to speak~

I would do anything for you. And you know a prince's word is his bond...

"K'so..."

I don't deny the smile; I love watching you move...you bring such amazing...damn...I never was good with words...you know that, everybody knows that. I don't think I'll ever be able to live down the vows...

How many other couples would be able to trip over the phrase 'I do' as well as we did...

Dende...and then the reception? Oi...who'd've known your father would have such a great singing voice. I mean, I guess that's where you got it from... Heh...the shock when you went up there...denying Krillin-san's attempts to get you to use the monitor...telling him you were singing acapella... I've never seen a man so heartbroken to have his offer of canned sound refused...

And then you started...I came out of the bathroom to the sound of your voice...

My king...my seraph...

"Let set for how long...? Where's the tin? Did I stick it in the sink again...?"

...my all...

You have the grace of a devil, the voice of an angel, and everything I am belongs to the man I love most....

I love you, Son Goten...Dende knows my heart is true...and every time you look my way I can still feel that little flutter...that little coiling in my stomach, just like the first time you spoke to me--the first time you looked at me with those eyes...the first time we realized our friendship was...more than we thought it was...

"That's better...know your place, thing."

You were the eloquent one...you were the one with the voice, the one who knew what to say and managed to figure out how to say it.

Fucking bi-polarity runs in your damn family. One minute you're all thumbs, the next...

"Good."

...The next you're so...you're...proposing...

"Ano, Chibi..."
"You don't need to say anything, Trunks-kun. I know I was a little out of place..."
"Iie, Go-chan...that's not what I'm saying..."
"I don't know, Trunks...I mean...well...what are you saying..."
"Me? I...I don't...we...what are you saying, Goten. Maybe if one of us really knows..."
"I guess what I'm really saying, Trunks, is...well...Trunks...would...will you...marry me...?"

~Are you smart?~

Swiveling from my view of you through the hall, I hang my head as I regard the manila mountain of uninteresting...whatever...

Dende I want you here now...sitting in my lap, fingers locked behind me, your arms wrapped around my shoulders...nipping, kissing, licking my cheek and chin while you make life a little more bearable for a while, both of us chuckling through the furrow in my brow as I attempt to get my ass in gear...yet again...

"Oi! Trunks-kun! Dinner's almost ready! You still alive in there?"

I glance over my shoulder, and he waves his confirmation, holding the apron in his other hand. Turning to face the monstrous maw of junk--it's my own fault, really. I should've brought more with me on the trip...three days...

Sighing, I push back from the desk and stand, heading absently toward the cool call of bright tile and white floor.

"Damn, that smells good." Turning the corner, I smile at the layout... "Well, at least one of us has been busy." He pulls back from the table, blowing out the match he used to light the tapered candle in the very center of counter, and starts with a smile.

"What? Haven't you at least gotten through the top bunch yet? Is there that much to go through?"

He has the most beautiful eyes... "Not exactly..." I shrug, sliding into the seat nearest me. I've always wondered if it was possible I had one of those learning disabilities...every time he's anywhere near me, I lose all focus...

"Well, you gotta get your ass in gear, you know. You're mother's coming over for din on Monday. I suspect she'll be looking forward to seeing a cleared desk." He winks. "Though I think my idea for cleaning it off would be a little faster than any method you'd choose..."

"Goten? Did you just make a sexual innuendo?" He's full of surprises, ne?

A shrug. "Mebbe..." he wiggles his brow as he sets the plate before me, "what's it to ya..."

I smirk. You want to play, we can play. "You know, I've been thinking about you all day..."

He moves, adjusting bowls and flatware to better suit his needs. "Oh really...and what, Briefs-san, should you have been doing instead...?" I smirk. He so distracted...I think I can use this to my advantage.

"Fucking you."

...

Like I said, full of surprises.

Surprises--like the piping hot marinara being poured over my crotch.

"GOTEN!!" After the delayed reaction, I jump up, chair falling back in my haste, hands swatting at the mess. "Hot! Hot! Hot! Hothothothothothothothot--"

"Trunks! Here!"

I face him, trying desperately to find the fucking zipper through the chunks and slop--

"..."
"Trunks-kun...?"
"...I..."
"If...I can handle rejection, Trunks...I just...I think I should go...I...I've got some work I need to..."
"Goten."
"Hai, Trunks...?"
"I...I don't think you should really go anywhere just yet..."

~Don't change a hair for me~

"Better...?" I can only blink. Not only am I probably scarred for life, but now...

I love you, Goten...remember that, ne...?

He puts the pan back in the sink, closing the spigot as he reaches for a towel. "Trunks-kun...?" You know, I have no idea how I feel about this whole thing.

Food sex, I can deal with...

Showers are good, too...

Combining the two...and in the kitchen...hmn. Not so good...

He kneels before me, wiping the chaos from my confused crotch, apologies falling to my feet like some useless offering. "Chibi."

"What's wrong, Trunks? You...are you all right...?"
"Hai, Goten, I'm fine."
"Fine...? Just 'fine'? You want me to get you something? I mean, on my way out--"
"Hai, Goten."
"Okay. What do you want."
"Iie, Goten."
"...You need to make up your mind, Trunks-kun. Do you want something, or not?"
"Hai Go-chan, I want something."

~Not if you care for me~

He looks up, pausing in his recitation, lower lip curling quietly into the dark, moist, warm, desired--

"--come, Trunks...?" I don't care what he just said. All I can see are those lips...Dende, I love those lips. I've spent many a good hour worshipping those pert buds, relishing the flowery down of them both...

He tilts his head to the side, staring at me as though I just told him I was pregnant with my mother's third child.

Hn. That was...creepy...

"Goten...Dende, you're so..." I wish I could trade everything I knew for the words to describe how perfect you are. "I love you, Goten. I've loved you for a long time, and I can't see myself ever falling out of love with you..."

Good gods...my cheeks are about as hot as that damn sauce was... I feel like I've just been caught by his parents watching porn...

"Trunks-kun..." the blush creeps across his nose, and if I dinnit know any better, I would have thought him drunk. "I love you too, Trunks." He shifts on his knee, one hand raising to continue its desecration of my khakis. I place a nervous palm over his own, and he pauses, eyes slowly rising to meet my own.

Kami-sama...you always looked so good in black... "Goten..."

"Nani, Trunks-kun? What..."
"I want you, Goten."
"..."
"I think...hai. Hai Goten-chan. I will."
"...Trunks...I...I...I don't know...You will...?"
"Hai."
"You really will...? You mean it...? For really?"
"Hai, Son-kun. I'll marry you. If you'll let me..."

~Stay little Valentine, stay~

"Let you what, Trunks?"

He's so simple, so...Dende-sama... "Goten..." I kneel, wrapping my fingers around his stilled hand as I shift, moving towards eye level with my love. I feel like there's a lump in my throat...I'm a man. I'm not tearing up.

"Trunks...oh, good Dende, Trunks--do we need to get you to a doctor...?" He's so concerned...but...he could never realize why I cry....

"Iie, Goten. I'll be fine." No physician could ever repair the damage you've done, Son. "I'm all right, relax a bit."

"Then why are you crying...? Geez, I'm really sorr--"

"Saaaaa, Goten-kun..." I swear he talks too much, sometimes... "Just...wait a minute..." I wipe the thick veil of tears from my eyes, trying to capture his elegance and easiness again...as though I ever held on to it to begin with...

It's impossible to claim something so wild and free as your own...

"I...I should tell you...I should tell you how much..." I am a pansy. I really am. I smile weakly, but I mean it whole-heartedly. "How much I love you...I don't think you really understand--I don't think you ever have..."

He smiles, a light blush tainting his features like too much champagne. "And I...love you, too, Trunks..." a quick kiss to my cheek, and all I can do is chuckle.

"Iie, Chibi...I don't think you could possibly understand what I mean." His eyes widen and he looks at me as though I've transformed. I shake my head, smile broadening. "I love you, Son Goten. I love you more than you could ever imagine." He blinks; I slide a little closer, trying to divide my attention between his lips, and his eyes... "Dende...you have the most beautiful eyes..."

Bowing his head he smiles, pale pink deepening to almost a burn of tanned flesh. I hear him mutter a thanks that's unnecessary--after all, I had no hand in the creation of this perfect being. I was merely graced with the esteemed privilege to worship him. Raising his chin with a finger, I blink back the passion that so easily flows with my love. "Goten-koi..."

He chuckles, shaking his head, trying to distract me again. "Trunks, dinner's getting cold, Trunks. We should...go..." I hush him with a kiss...such an easy remedy for awkward situations...and so rewarding...

I never want to let him go...wrapping him in my arms, keeping him safe from everything that would taint his splendor, from everything that would see him change, see him harden with age and irritation and anger and sadness...

I feel like if I could just keep him here, kiss him like this, hold him forever...

I reluctantly end our delicate union, softly brushing ill-obedient bangs from my sight. "Goten...promise me..." I love you Son Goten... "Promise me you'll never leave, promise me this'll last forever...? Or at least until the oceans are all gone, and the sky no longer kisses the mountaintops...? Promise me we'll always be here--like this, together..."

Blinking his reply, his mouth hangs open... I don't think I should tell him about the little bit of oregano he has stuck to one of his teeth, or about the tomato chunk crusted to his earlobe...and I don't think I'll mention how foolish I sound spouting off silly clich�s in order to make him understand...

I cry for you, Son. I cry because...dammit... "You're so beautiful...I feel like I need to give you something in return for all you've ever given me...I'm not crying because you've probably just scarred me for life, and I may never get it up again--or for the fact I think I'm caught in the zipper..." he smiles, huffing a light chuckle to the side, "I never know what to give you, Goten...so instead of nothing...I...I give you my tears..."

Dende...I can be such a dramatic sometimes...but it's true, Son. Every word of it...

"Trunks-kun...yamero...I don't know what to say..."

"Say yes."

He tilts his head, brow arched in synchronized time to his action. Swallowing that lump, I pull him close, littering his cheek with ginger kisses, and near-invisible licks. "Marry me, Goten. Marry me, again."

"You mean it, Trunks...? You really mean it?
"Hai, Chibi. What makes you think I don't...?"
"N...nothing, Trunks...I...I'm just...really happy..."
"You make me 'really happy', Go-chan...I never want it to end..."
"Me either, Trunks...me either...."

~Each day is Valentine's day~


Song: My Funny Valentine by Elvis Costello