art by ao3 user realidadcaotica
(The Lake - Trunks’ Future Before Future Gohan Died)
Trunks and Gohan had just fought the androids in a devastated city. The androids grew bored and left when Trunks and Gohan could no longer continue fighting. As Trunks and Gohan flew away from the ruined town, they felt sad, knowing that there weren’t many people left and that they couldn’t defeat the androids.
As they flew, they spoke to Bulma and Chi-Chi from a distance, confirming that they were fine. But then Trunks spotted something intact in the distance.
“Gohan, look!” Trunks exclaimed, “Follow me!”
Trunks and Gohan descended to the ground, discovering a beautiful lake surrounded by grass, like a mirage in the desert.
“Wow…” Trunks said, smiling, “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Gohan smiled too, equally surprised.
“It seems like the androids haven’t reached this place yet.” Gohan sat on the grass and gestured for Trunks to join him. “We might as well rest here while it still exists,” he said in a bittersweet tone.
Trunks nodded and sat next to Gohan, exhausted. He laid his head on the grass with his arms behind his head and his knees bent. He sighed wearily. Gohan smiled at him and breathed a sigh of relaxation, enjoying this rare moment. Gohan was happy and wanted to hold Trunks’ hand, as he usually did when Trunks panicked due to their situation. But since Trunks had his hands behind his head, Gohan gently placed his hand on Trunks’ knee as a way of showing affection.
“It’s true you’ve never seen anything like this, right?” Gohan said, “When this is over and the androids are gone—because it’s going to happen someday—you’ll see beautiful landscapes like this everywhere, Trunks. Peace… the peace and hope that you will bring to this world.”
Trunks listened to Gohan speak while gazing at the gray sky, which, for once, had the sun shining through a lighter cloud. He breathed in, feeling hopeful, anxious, and scared all at once.
“What about you?” he asked, “Don’t forget, we’ll bring peace to this world together .”
Gohan’s expression grew serious. “One day, you’ll have to fight on your own, Trunks. I know you can do it. You are my hope.”
Trunks understood that Gohan was referring to the possibility of his own death at the hands of the androids, a nightmare he hated to think about.
“So are you to me,” Trunks replied.
Gohan seemed touched and saddened by that. He understood how deeply hurt Trunks would be without him. Trunks then noticed Gohan’s hand on his knee and felt slightly flustered. There was something Trunks hadn’t told Gohan: the confusion he felt due to his feelings for him.
“Gohan?…”
“Yes?”
‘How am I supposed to ask about love without making it obvious that I think I love him?’ Trunks thought.
“Don’t you… Uh… Um. Don’t you ever miss women?”
‘That… was random.’
Gohan was taken aback by those seemingly unrelated words. “Huh? What do you mean?”
At that point, Trunks was blushing, so he tried to hide it.
“It’s just that it’s only us and our mothers. We don’t really see other people. And you saw the world before the androids destroyed it, didn’t you? There used to be other people. You must have had a girlfriend or something back then, right? …A first love? Do you ever miss that, falling in love with someone?”
“Hmm… Actually… no, I’ve never fallen in love with anyone.”
Trunks felt as if he had been struck in the heart.
“Never?” he asked.
“I was just a kid when the androids appeared. Before them, I was only focused on defeating the bad guys—like Frieza and your father when he was still an enemy—and studying. After the androids, everything was about fear and danger… surviving. So now that I think about it, I’ve never had time for things like love.”
“I see…” Trunks replied.
“Why are you asking?”
“I was just wondering what love feels like. But you haven’t experienced that either, so you can’t really tell me.”
“I’m sorry,” Gohan said.
(Present Gohan’s House)
Trunks stood on Gohan’s balcony, hearing the laughter of Gohan’s happy family—Videl and Pan—from inside. He should have felt happy, but instead, he felt… jealousy.
‘It should’ve been me,’ Trunks thought, hating himself for it.
Then he heard the sliding door open. It was Gohan.
“Hey, you were distant at dinner today. Are you okay?” Gohan asked Trunks.
“Yes, I’m fine. Just… thinking.”
“About what?” Gohan inquired.
“Videl… You’re happy with her, right?”
“Of course I am. I really love her,” Gohan replied happily, then noticed Trunks’ serious expression. “But you have something else to say… You don’t like her, right?”
“It’s not that I don’t like her,” Trunks replied, “It’s not her fault. It’s not your fault either. But…”
Gohan raised a brow and waited for him to explain.
“I just…” Trunks’ voice cracked; he was on the verge of tears and didn’t want to be.
“It’s okay. Just tell me,” Gohan said, putting his hand on Trunks’ shoulder.
“I… always wondered if my Gohan—the Gohan from the future—would choose me as a partner if we weren’t in that apocalypse, if we had other people,” Trunks confessed, “If we could ever be happy together… But now that you’re married to Videl, I see that my Gohan only chose me… was only close to me… because we were unhappy together. If it hadn’t been for the pain, he wouldn’t have looked at me,” Trunks said, crying.
“Trunks…” Gohan muttered, filled with concern.
“No, no, I’m sorry for bringing this up in your happy life. I’m so selfish for thinking this and not being happy for you…” Trunks said.
“It’s okay,” Gohan replied, hugging him. When he pulled away, he added, “Aren’t you and I happy together though? When we hang out… when you come over to eat with my family… Aren’t we?”
Trunks sniffled. “…Yes.”
“I do like you, Trunks. I know I didn’t marry you, but if you had returned to this reality earlier, then maybe…” Gohan paused. “Maybe we could have had something. I waited for you to come back someday. I never forgot you.” Gohan finished, uncertain if his words would make things better or worse. He hoped for the better. “You are important to me, not because of the tragedy of your world, but… because you’re you.”
“You… waited?”
“Yeah, and I’m glad to see you again. I know this isn’t what you imagined, but… you can still come here whenever you want. Because I love you, Trunks, I always will… even if it’s not in that way… and your Gohan… I know he loved you, too.”
Gohan then kissed Trunks on the cheek.
Trunks knew it then. What they had… it was real. It wasn't what he dreamed of, but maybe, it was enough.
“Thank you… so much,” Trunks said, smiling, “I really needed to hear that.”
Gohan smiled back.
“I’m glad I could help. And… Videl, Pan and I are about to watch a movie on TV right now. Want to come back in and join us?”
Trunks nodded. “Sure thing.”
Gohan went back inside, and Trunks followed him. But before joining the family in the house, Trunks looked back at the dark night sky, and for a moment, he thought he could see Future Gohan in the stars.