Familial Expansion

Chapter 89

In the days following the video call with his Grauntie Peggy, Goten happily goes about his usual routine.

Playing with Trunks, Icarus, and DUM-E throughout the various floors of Stark Tower, or in the atrium of Capsule Corp.

Alternating days of learning cool tech and science stuff with his Daddy and Uncle Bruce down in their labs, or being his Mommy's helper and Uncle Happy's deputy in the SI offices.

Then finally comes his favorite part of his day, (besides meal times that is) training sessions with his Bubba, Uncle Piccolo, Videl, and Trunks.

He was in the middle of one of those training sessions right now, in the wide open fields of Monut Paozu.

Afrer a couple hours of sparring, Piccolo goes off to meditate (or nap, if Videl and Trunks are to be believed) while Gohan prepares to run the rest of them through a really fun Ki control exercise. 

Well, fun for Goten at least. Videl and Trunks don't like it very much.

"You guys ready?" Gohan asks.

"Yeah!" Goten cheers.

"Yeah." Videl and Trunks groan.

"Love the enthusiasm." Gohan shoots his brother a sincere smirk, and a wry one at Videl and Trunks. "Let's get started."

They each sit a few meters away from each other, take a meditative position, and close their eyes. 

Once the trio are all comfortably situated, Gohan begins his instruction. "Alright, make 10 Ki spheres, each around the size of a baseball or tennis ball."

This part was essentially effortless for all 3 of them. In the blink of an eye they had each generated the requested Ki spheres.

"Good." Gohan praises. "Now start moving them in circles around you."

Like the planets of a parent star, the Ki constructs begin revolving around their creators.

Gohan nods his approval, then remembers everyone's eyes are closed, so he tells them, "Alright, float upward and hover in place."

Simultaneously, the 3 pupils rise up into the air, stopping at various heights.

After giving them 30 seconds to adjust, Gohan issues his next order. "Steadily increase your Ki spheres' speed while expanding their radius around you.

Without delay, Goten completes the task with minimal effort.

Trunks is just a few beats behind his younger friend.

As for Videl, beads of sweat begin to form on her forehead as she hurries to catch up to the boys.

Another 30 seconds. "Now have half of your Ki spheres rotate in the opposite direction."

Once again, Goten quickly complies, half of his Ki constructs immediately start moving in the opposite direction.

Trunks and Videl both have to momentarily stop half of their Ki spheres before they start moving in the desired direction; their brows crease from the strain of the task.

Gohan gives the trio 30 more seconds before issuing a brief warning. "Time to kick it up a notch."

The teenage Saiyan conjures a golf ball sized Ki sphere for each of his students and flicks the tiny energy constructs toward them. "Remember, once you get tagged 3 times, you're out."

Gohan's Ki spheres begin erratically darting around their targets, attempting to make contact with them.

Goten is easily able to repel his brother's Ki sphere with his own while Trunks and Videl both get tagged within the first minute.

Once Trunks and Videl adjust to fending off the single mini Ki sphere, Gohan conjures another for both of them as well as Goten.

Every 30 seconds Gohan declares the next round and sends yet another Ki sphere toward each of his pupils.

Videl is out by the 7th round, dropping to the ground and splaying out onto her back to catch her breath as the boys continue the exercise. 

2 rounds later, Trunks joins Videl on the ground, though slightly less winded as he still has enough energy to punch the ground in frustration. "Damn it!"

"Easy, Half-pint." Videl tiredly chuckles. "What would you do if your Mom heard you talk like that?"

Trunks scoffs while grumpily wiping his sweat soaked bangs away from his brow. "Tell her who I learned it from."

Fear briefly flickers in Videl's eyes as she springs upward. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Wanna bet?" Trunks asks.

The pair's antics get a chuckle out of Gohan. "Easy, you two. If you've got the energy to bicker, maybe you'd rather go another few rounds instead."

Videl and Trunks both glare at Gohan. "No way!"

Goten giggles to himself as his friends quickly backtrack on their squabbling in favor of having a longer break.

Videl overdramatically sighs. "Damn, you're more ruthless than Piccolo."

Gohan snorts. "Oh, come on. I'm not that harsh."

"You absolutely are." Videl doubles down. "You’re just more subtle about it."

Gohan amusedly arches an eyebrow and crosses his arms. "Is that right?"

Videl nods. "Yes it is. With Piccolo, you're gonna be mercilessly beaten into the ground until you learn, but you're well aware of that from the get-go."

"True." Gohan concedes. "Can't argue that."

"I can hear you, you know." Piccolo grumbles while maintaining his meditation. 

"We're gonna pay for that later." Gohan muses. 

"Yeah yeah, whatever." Videl dismissively waves a hand in the Namekian's direction, then points an accusing finger at Gohan. "But you, between the kind smile, gentle corrections, and genuine encouragements, we're all so distracted we don't even notice you're working us to the bone until we can barely move."

Well, she's not entirely wrong, but still. "Geez, tell me how you really feel why don't ya?" Gohan quips.

"Pretty sure she just did." Trunks deadpans.

Goten smiles to himself as the trio laugh together.

The brief bout of laughter is enough to wind Videl again. As she lays back onto the grass, she quips, "One brightside of you heading off to school means less sessions with the slave-driver for the foreseeable future."

The mention of Gohan soon leaving for school freezes Goten in place. His Ki spheres cease all movement along with him, leaving the boy vulnerable long enough to get tagged by one of his brother's Ki spheres.

"Crap-baskets!" Goten yelps as the minature Ki construct barrels into his unguarded side.

Feeling his Ki making contact with Goten far earlier than it usually does during this exercise, Gohan glances over at his brother and asks, "You ok, Goten?"

"I'm fine!" Goten rushes to assure before refocusing on manipulating his Ki to repel Gohan's.

Though as he settles back into his usual flow, Goten can't stop himself from dwelling on his brother's upcoming move.

Gohan had already been about to move to MIT's campus to acquire the last credits needed to get his degrees, but Loki's attack had pushed that back.

But now that the damage done to New York has been repaired, and there have been no signs of other threats since, Gohan decided it was time to head to school.

All their family and friends seemed happy for Gohan, they were even planning a farewell party for him, but the thought of his brother living somewhere else hurts Goten's heart. 

Gohan will be staying on campus every weekday, though he'll at least be back home on weekends.

Plus, he's gonna take a beacon with him in case of emergencies, but despite knowing all that, Goten still doesn't like it.

He hasn't been this upset since he and Gohan stopped sharing a room.

Or when Loki mind controlled Mr. Barton to hurt Uncle Piccolo and Uncle Happy to make him go with them and get mind controlled himself. 

..or when he found out Grauntie Peggy was sick in a way even Dende or the Dragon Balls can't fix.

...or when he thought they were gonna lose Daddy after he flew that big bomb through the portal in the sky.

Goten shakes his head to rid himself of the scary and painful memories. 

Ok, so it's not the worst thing that's happened to him, or is going to happen, but Goten still hates it.

He'd beg his brother not to leave if Gohan didn't seem so excited about going to school.

Gohan had been homeschooled since he was Goten's age and this was his first chance to go to a regular school like most people, to meet more people his age. (Or at least closer to it since he'll still be a couple years younger than the other students.)

Goten may only be 4 (and a half!) years old, but even he knows it would be selfish to ask his brother to stay just for him.

So he's done his best not to think about it and just pretend nothing's wrong.

As Goten was about to shove his thoughts and feelings over Gohan leaving to the back of his mind where he keeps the memories of Loki, his attention wavers once more as he overhears Gohan and Videl talking again.

"You do realize that me being at school means Piccolo will be taking charge of training, right?" Gohan asks.

Videl nods. "I'm well aware, but as we just established, that'll be preferable."

"You really know how to make a guy feel wanted." Gohan deadpans.

As Goten listens, he feels himself growing increasingly irritated, his focus slipping away with each passing moment.

Videl shouldn't joke like that. As if Gohan leaving isn't a big deal. It's not funny.

"Well if it makes you feel any better, I'll still want your help with my homework." Videl teases. "Assuming Mr. College Student will have the time to help me with my little old high-school assignments."

Gohan chuckles and flashes a cocky smirk identical to his father's. "Of course, you know I can't resist an opportunity to show off my big brain."

The pair share a laugh, but it goes unnoticed by Goten.

Videl's crack about Gohan still being able to help her with her homework stokes the surge of anger rising within Goten.

The fur on his tail puffs up, the appendage uncoils itself from around his waist and begins aggressively flicking back and forth.

Unaware of the brewing storm inside Goten, Videl continues her teasing. "Also, since you'll be gone anyway, you won't mind me borrowing your consoles will you?"

Before Gohan can even ponder a retort, Goten's aura explodes outward as the boy turns Super Saiyan. 

The unexpected eruption of Ki cuts through the chatter and grabs everyone's attention. 

As everyone stares at Goten in stunned silence, the furious boy levels Videl with a fierce glare and shouts, "Would you shut up already?!"

For a tense few moments, no one says a word, completely caught off guard by Goten's outburst.

None of them, not even Gohan had ever seen such rage from Goten.

Not even the boy's first Super Saiyan transformation was fueled by such raw anger.

Snapping at Videl distracts Goten enough for all his Ki spheres to dissipate; leaving him wide open for one of Gohan's Ki spheres to ram into his gut with surprising force.

Goten is shot backward, the force of the impact knocking him to the ground.

Dropping out of Super Saiyan, Goten lies motionless, stunned and breathless. Pain radiates through his body and tears sting his eyes as his frustration grows.

Gohan's snaps out of his daze when his brother hits the ground. "Goten!" He dashes toward him, concern etched on his face as he races over to Goten.

He hadn't meant to put that much force into his Ki.

He'd been so distracted by his brother's sudden mood swing, he must've unconsciously matched the strength of his Ki construct to Goten's power spike. 

Trunks and Videl are a couple steps behind Gohan as he reaches Goten, helps him to his feet, and frantically looks him over for any injuries. "Are you alright?!"

Goten weakly nods, refusing to look up at Gohan, trying to shove down the pain and embarrassment. "I'm fine."

Once assured Goten wasn't seriously hurt, Gohan crouches to his brother's eye level and places a hopefully comforting hand on his shoulder. "What happened, Buddy?"

Goten suppresses a sniffle and attempts to explain himself. "I'm sorry, Bubba, Videl. I didn't mean to yell, I just couldn't focus and got frustrated."

Couldn't focus? Goten's never had trouble staying focused during training. 

Videl obviously shares Gohan's confusion as she incredulously asks, "Couldn't focus? Kid, I've seen you spar with Piccolo and your bro at the same time with a blindfold on while planning a sleepover with Trunks and not get hit a single time."

"Yeah." Trunks concurs. "Are you sick or something?"

Gohan's not even sure Saiyans can get sick. Throughout his own life he's never had so much as a cold or flu.

He did have a bad fever once, but that was during his intense training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber with Goku.

He's never seen his brother get sick either. But better safe than sorry. Gohan gently presses the back of his hand against Goten's forehead.

He doesn't feel overly warm. "Are you not feeling good?"

Goten adamantly shakes his head and once again tells Gohan, "I'm fine." Then looks over at Videl and Trunks and says, "I could only do that cuz Bubba and Uncle Piccolo were using the Multi-Form and holding back a lot."

Sensing the boy's discomfort and having a pretty good idea what's really going on with him, Piccolo steps in and suggests, "Maybe we should just take this as our cue to wrap it up for today."

Gohan meets Piccolo's gaze for a moment and nods, a similar understanding dawning on him. "Sure." Then checks with Videl and the boys. "Everyone good with that?"

"Oh hell yeah!" Videl eagerly agrees. "I'm exhausted and there's a lounge chair with my name on it waiting for me back at your place."

"Yeah!" Trunks cheers. He grabs Goten's hand and tells his friend, "C'mon, Goten! We can get some snacks and play Smash Bros or Mario Kart."

Goten forces a smile and nods. "Ok." 

Gohan's still worried about his brother, but he drops it for now and stands back up to full height. "Alright then." He digs the beacon out of his pocket and opens a portal. "Let's go."

As everyone steps through the portal, Gohan resolves to keep an eye on Goten.

Day of Gohan's Party:

Over the remaining few days leading up to Gohan's departure, as preparations for the farewell celebration buzzed around Stark Tower, an undertone of concern arose.

Gohan has helplessly watched his sweet natured, happy-go-lucky baby brother steadily become despondent, distant, yet also extremely clingy. 

The kid would barely speak to him, yet stayed glued to his side as much as possible.

Gohan knew Goten was taking his fast approaching move hard, but he wasn't sure how to help.

He, their parents, Steve, Bruce, Rhodey, and Happy couldn't ignore the shift in Goten's mood.

They exchanged several ideas, recognizing the need to address the little Saiyan's feelings, but nothing they came up with seemed to help.

They tried various family activities: game & movie nights, pillow fort slumber parties, all while ordering from his favorite take-out places every night, and though they did manage to get an occasional smile or giggle out of the boy, it never lasted long.

After many Pokémon marathons and (extremely heated) Mario Party wars with little progress, the day of the party arrived.

The communal floor of Stark Tower buzzes with activity as friends, Avengers, and family members gather to send Gohan off with joyous wishes.

However, in a quiet corner of the room, Goten sat alone, his eyes downcast, a palpable sadness practically emanating from him.

Trunks had kept him occupied for a while, but the slightly older boy got sidetracked with a Mario Kart tournament Videl had started up; giving Goten the chance to seclude himself and stew in his feelings.

Tony and Pepper notice Goten sequester himself. The co-parents sport matching looks of concern as they exchange glances across the room.

As the festivities settle into a steady hum of conversation and laughter, Tony and Pepper join Goten at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the family penthouse, his small frame huddled, lost in thought.

Pepper sits down beside him, her warm presence a comforting embrace. "Hey, Goten. Care to share what's going on in that sweet, little head of yours?"

Tony joins them, crouching down to be at eye level with their youngest. "You know we can tell when something's eating at you."

Goten sighs, his eyes drifting toward the lively gathering in the living room. He had tried so hard to keep his feelings to himself, but he can't hold it in anymore. "I don't want Bubba to go away for so long. What if he forgets about us?"

Tony exchanges another glance with Pepper, understanding the deep-seated fear that often accompanies the departure of a loved one.

Pepper gently places a hand on Goten's shoulder. "Gohan could never forget you. He loves you too much. This is just a new adventure for him, but he'll always come back home, and he'll always be your big brother."

"I know it's hard, Monkey." Tony chimes in. "We're all gonna miss him, but sometimes people have to go away for a little while to learn and grow. But it doesn't mean they stop caring about the people they love. In fact, it's because of that love that they work hard to make the people they care about proud."

Goten's eyes flicker with a mix of understanding and lingering sadness. "But it's gonna be lonely without him."

Pepper gently hugs Goten to her side. "We know, Sweetheart. And it's okay to feel that way. But you're not alone. You have all of us here. And when you miss Gohan, just remember he'll be back every weekend."

Tony ruffles Goten's hair. "And you know what? You've got the coolest big brother in the world. He's going to MIT to learn amazing things, and he'll be back to share it all with you. Plus, we're going to make sure you have the best time while he's away."

Goten looks between his parents, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. The weight on his young shoulders lifts a tiny bit, replaced by the warmth of understanding and assurance that he was surrounded by a family that cared.

On the opposite side of the room, as Gohan chats with various guests, he occasionally glances over in his brother's direction. Which doesn't go unnoticed by a certain party guest.

Clint Barton, ever observant, clearly sees the worry written all over the Saiyan teen's face. Sensing that something was amiss, Clint decides to approach Gohan, weaving through the crowd until he stood beside the young Stark.

"Gohan," Clint greets, his voice laced with concern. "Everything alright?"

Gohan had been so focused on his brother, the sudden proximity of another person startles him. He turns to find his fellow Avenger, Hawkeye. "Oh, hello, Mr. Barton," he responds, his tone polite yet slightly distracted. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Clint claps Gohan on the shoulder. "No need for formalities, Kid, we fought on the frontlines together. Just call me Clint." He casually remarks. "But nevermind that, you seem a bit preoccupied." His keen eyes not missing where (or rather who) the worry in Gohan's demeanor was directed toward. "Is something up with the little guy?"

Although he'd apologized several times after the Battle of New York for his role in the youngest Stark's abduction as well as wounding Piccolo and Hogan, Clint can't help but still feel guilty. So if he can help the kid even just a little bit, he'll do it. It'll help him feel more like he's truly made amends.

Gohan hesitates, finding he still feels partially distrustful of the man.

He internally chastises himself for it, well aware that Clint wasn't in control of his actions when he hurt Piccolo and Happy and took Goten.

Reminding himself of the many apologies Clint offered after Loki and the Chitauri were dealt with, Gohan decides to open up to him. "Yeah...Goten's taking me going off to school pretty hard," he admits, confirming Clint's suspicions. "And I'm not sure how to help him."

Understanding Gohan's dilemma, Clint leans in closer, slightly lowering his voice. "I got ya," he says sympathetically. "My own chicks had similar problems when I had to go out on long-term missions. Thankfully, Coulson commissioned me some special, untraceable communicators that let me routinely check in with my nest. It really helped ease their separation anxiety."

Gohan's eyes widen with realization as Clint's words sank in. "Communicators...that's a great idea," he murmurs, a spark of inspiration igniting within him. "Thanks, Clint!"

Before Clint can respond, Gohan flashes him a quick grin and flashsteps to the elevator doors, leaving the archer chuckling to himself.

Feeling a renewed sense of determination, Gohan finally has a solid plan to help ease Goten's worries, and he knew just where to start.

Gohan dashes into the tower elevator and wastes no time in instructing JARVIS to take him down to his lab. The doors slide shut, and the elevator begins its descent, carrying him swiftly towards his destination.

When the elevator doors open, Gohan practically flies out. He makes a beeline for his workbench, pulls up a familiar set of schematics, and gathers the necessary materials to replicate the watch that houses his Saiyaman Suit for Goten.

Goten's always admired his, Dad's, Steve's, and Bruce's 'Super Hero' personas, and their Dad has made him plenty of toy replicas of various bits of their equipment: a set of Ironman gauntlets and jetboots, a Saiyaman helmet and belt, a Captain America shield, and a set of foam Hulk fists. (Though Bruce pitched in on the Hulk fists.)

They were some of Goten's favorite toys, so Gohan figured adding another to his collection would be just the thing to cheer his brother up, especially as this replica will be fully functional, with all the same features as his own, including a communicator. 

Since Goten doesn't have a cellphone yet, this would be a perfect way for his brother to keep in contact with him while he's away at school. 

Gohan's surprised (and a tad embarrassed) no one had thought of such a simple solution sooner, but better late than never.

With JARVIS's assistance, Gohan's task becomes much more streamlined. The AI swiftly accesses the necessary schematics and starts 3-D printing and assembling the required parts with remarkable efficiency.

As the components took shape before his eyes, Gohan feels a surge of gratitude towards JARVIS. The AI's assistance was invaluable, allowing him to expedite the process and ensure that Goten would have his own communication device as soon as possible.

"Thank you, JARVIS," Gohan says, his voice filled with sincerity as he worked diligently to complete the replica watch. "I really appreciate your help with this."

"You're quite welcome, Young Sir Gohan," JARVIS warmly responds. "Consider it my farewell gift to you."

Gohan chuckles at the AI's lighthearted remark. "You got it, JARVIS."

With JARVIS's support, Gohan assembles his gift for Goten in minutes. As each piece came together, he felt a sense of satisfaction knowing that he was taking a proactive step to help ease Goten's worries.

Once the watch was complete and Gohan triple checked that all its intended functions functioned properly, he rushes back up to his party.

Gohan finds Goten with their parents, Steve, and Grandpa Ox, all sitting together on the couch watching Videl and Trunks going head to head in Smash Bros.

Gohan approaches his younger brother, the newly crafted watch held behind his back. "Hey, Goten. I've got something for you."

Goten looks up, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "What is it?"

Gohan hands him the watch, a reassuring smile on his face. "It's a copy of my Saiyaman watch. It has a communicator in it, so whenever you miss me or just want to talk, press this button right here."

Gohan demonstrates, showing how his own watch flashes when called by Goten's. "It'll be like having me with you everywhere."

Goten's eyes widen as Gohan explains how to use the watch. The gloom that had shrouded his little heart for so many days finally fully lifts, replaced by a spark of joy. He clutches the watch tightly, a newfound connection to his big brother. 

He's so excited, he leaps from the couch and into Gohan's arms. "Thank you, Bubba! thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Gohan gladly reciprocates the hug, beyond relieved his brother was acting like himself again. "You're welcome, Buddy."

Tony, Pepper, Steve, and Ox smile at the loving, brotherly display.

"I'm glad you found a workaround." Tony says with a proud grin. Looking between both of his boys, he playfully suggests, "So how about we crank this party up a notch, catch you both up on the fun quota."

Gohan and Goten nod in unison, ready to truly enjoy the festivities. 

Tony briefly glances up at the ceiling, and JARVIS quickly interprets the silent cue and begins playing music, sectioning off a portion of the living room with a hologram border to create a dance floor.

Tony snatches Goten out of Gohan's embrace and tells them, "Let's boogie, boys." 

The music's pulse synchronizes with Tony's steps as he carries his youngest to the makeshift dance floor.

Chuckling at his Dad's antics, Gohan follows a few steps behind him along with his Mom, Steve, and Grandpa.

The room buzzes with curious excitement as the music plays, various guests gathering around the dance floor.

With Goten securely in his arms, Tony begins to move to the beat. Light-hearted laughter echoes through the room as Tony dips and twirls his son, Goten's gleeful giggles blending seamlessly with the music.

The infectious energy spreads, and soon, others join in the impromptu dance. Gohan, Pepper, and even some of the Avengers can't resist the magnetic pull of joy emanating from the father-son duo.

Fueled by the laughter of the boy in his arms, Tony lifts Goten higher, twirling him in the air. Goten's eyes sparkle with a mix of glee and wonder, the impending departure of his big brother no longer weighing so heavily on his mind.

The music soars, and Tony, ever the showman, dramatically dips Goten, eliciting peals of laughter from the young Saiyan.

The room, now transformed into a dance haven, pulses with the shared joy of family and friends.

As the song reaches its crescendo, Tony raises Goten high above his head, their silhouettes outlined against the warm glow of the room.

In the brief gap between songs, Tony feels a tap on his shoulder.

He turns to find Ox King smiling down at him. "Mind if I steal my Grandson for a dance?"

Tony smirks, shifts his gaze to Goten, and asks, "What do you say, Monkey?"

"Yeah!" Goten eagerly nods and raises his arms toward Ox.

Tony hands Goten over to Ox and watches the larger man begin to dance with his youngest in his arms.

With Goten now spoken for, Tony looks around for another dance partner. 

He searches out Steve first, but finds his boyfriend already partnered up with Coulson, Natasha and Clint standing a short distance from the pair with matching amused smirks.

Tony's not sure how they got Phil to go along with it, but the starry eyes and slightly red tinge to his favorite agent's cheeks as Steve wraps an arm around his waist is a sight he'll treasure for years to come. He'll have to thank Romanoff and Barton later.

He continues his search, crossing Pepper off his list as she's currently paired with Happy. (which crosses Happy off his list as well)

Rhodey and Bruce must've anticipated Tony's search for a new dance partner as he can't see either man anywhere.

Finally, Tony casts a glance over at Gohan, who was observing the festivities with a contented smile.

Tony can't resist the opportunity to pull his oldest into the dance.

With a mischievous smirk, Tony strolls over to Gohan and taps him on the shoulder. Gohan turns surprised, but his expression shifts to one of fond amusement as Tony offers his hand to him and gestures toward the dance floor.

"Care for a dance, Mr. Genius?" Tony teases, a glint of playfulness in his eyes.

Gohan chuckles, his reserved nature giving way to a more relaxed demeanor as he places his hand into Tony's. "I suppose I can spare a dance for you."

Tony grips Gohan's right hand with his left, securely wraps his right arm around Gohan's waist, and leads them into a dance. The music providing the backdrop as father and son twirl and move with an easy familiarity.

Once they get into a rhythm, Tony lightheartedly quips, "So, leaving the nest, huh?"

Gohan nods, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "I suppose so."

After a quick twirl, Tony asks, "You ready for college life?"

Gohan laughs as he's spun and nods again once he's returned to facing his Dad. "I think I am." A mix of excitement and uncertainty in his tone. "I'll do my best."

Tony nods back, "That's all anyone can ask ask for." A proud glint in his eyes. "You're really growing up, Squirt. Making your old man proud."

Gohan's smile widens. "Thanks, Dad. I couldn't have done it without you, Mom, and everybody."

"I don't know about that," Tony shrugs. "but I'm glad to have been along for the ride."

As they sway to the music, Gohan lets a serious question escape his lips. "Dad," he begins, his voice carrying a note of uncertainty, "is it really okay for me to go off to school, especially so soon after Loki and the Chitauri?"

Now that his worries about Goten had been eased, Gohan couldn't help letting his other anxieties run rampant. 

Tony's eyes soften as he looks at his son. "Gohan, you have the right to live your life how you want. You've been shouldering so much stuff beyond your years for so long. It's high time you experience the world beyond our little superhero bubble."

Gohan nods, absorbing his father's words. "But what if something happens? What if the world needs Saiyaman?"

Tony grins, twirling Gohan once more. "Kid, we've got this. Steve and I, the rest of the Avengers, we can handle any threats going forward. Though if by some chance, another cosmic, world ending monster shows up that requires the Saiyaman touch, you'll have a beacon at the ready to bring you back home in no time to kick some alien ass."

Gohan laughs, reassured by his father's words. "Thanks, Dad. I guess I needed to hear that."

Tony pats his son's back before dipping him. "It's what I do, Kiddo. Now, no more stressing about what ifs, let's enjoy tonight. You're starting a new journey tomorrow."

Once he's lifted back up, Gohan confidently nods. "Right."

For the rest of the night, Gohan does just that. Between the dancing, video games, movies, and massive feast, the Saiyan teen allows himself to enjoy the party, creating plenty of memories with his friends and family he'll cherish for the rest of his life, his smile never fading even as he finally fell asleep in the early hours of the morning. 

The Next Day:

Gohan carefully folds his clothes and neatly stacks his study materials. The anticipation of moving onto the MIT campus, the final stretch toward the degrees he'd been diligently pursuing since the tender age of 12, tingled with a mix of excitement and nostalgia.

Though the prospect of being away from home for extended periods looms over him, the budding scholar in him yearns for the challenge and camaraderie of campus life.

As Gohan finished packing the last of his luggage, he glances over at Icarus, who was sitting on his (freshly made) bed, observing him with curious eyes.

With a fond smile, Gohan walks over to the dragon and sits down beside him.

"Hey, Icarus," Gohan softly greets, reaching out to pet the dragon's scales. "I'm going to miss you, buddy."

Icarus affectionately chirps and nuzzles against Gohan's hand, oblivious to the bittersweetness of the moment.

Gohan chuckles to himself before looking into Icarus's eyes. "Listen, Icarus. I need you to do me a favor while I'm away."

The dragon cocks his head, curiously waiting to hear what Gohan has to say.

"I need you to look after Goten for me," Gohan continues. "He's going to need someone to keep him company and make sure he stays out of trouble."

Icarus lets out a soft growl, as if to assure Gohan he understands the importance of this task.

Gohan smiles, giving Icarus one final pat on the head. "Thanks, pal. I knew I could count on you."

Gohan stands up and gathers his bags, ready to head out, feeling an extra layer of reassurance knowing Icarus will be watching over his brother in his absence.

Downstairs, on the communal floor, the rest of the family is gathered, ready to accompany Gohan to MIT's campus.

Gohan makes his way downstairs, his bags in hand, and is greeted by hugs and words of encouragement from his loved ones.

The trip to the airport and ensuing flight seem to go by in an instant. 

As the rental car rolled closer to the MIT campus, Gohan's excitement grew palpable. He can't wait to explore the campus, meet his professors, (in person) and dive into his studies.

But amidst the thrill, a pang of nervousness lingers in his chest.

As if reading his mind, Pepper reaches over and squeezes his hand, offering him a reassuring smile. "You're going to do great, Gohan." she assures him.

Tony chuckles from the driver's seat. "Of course you will, just try not to throw too many wild parties, huh? Can't have my kid breaking my record."

Gohan laughs, grateful for his father's attempt to lighten the mood. "Don't worry, Dad. I'll save the partying for when I'm back home."

As they pull up to the campus gates, Gohan's eyes widen in awe at the sight of the sprawling campus. Buildings of varying sizes and architectural styles dotted the landscape, bustling with activity as other students congregated.

The car comes to a stop, and Gohan steps out onto the pavement, his heart pounding with anticipation.

His nerves gradually give way to excitement as he imagines himself sitting in classrooms, collaborating with peers, and fully delving into the world of academia.

He's eager to start this new chapter of his life, but saying goodbye to his family is even harder than he'd anticipated.

So if they took their time checking in with the faculty, grabbing Gohan's schedule, and exploring the campus as they head to the dorms, no one mentions it. 

But they could only put it off for so long.

Once they find his dorm, he turns to face his family, a bittersweet smile on his face. "Well, here we are." he says, attempting for a lighthearted tone.

Tony claps a hand on Gohan's shoulder, a proud grin on his face. "Your new home away from home. Just think of it as another lab, only with more books and less explosions."

"Hopefully far less explosions." Pepper chuckles, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Gohan's gaze shifts to Goten, who was trying his best to hide his quivering lip.

"Hey, Buddy," Gohan coos, crouching down to his brother's eye level. "It's gonna be okay. I'll be back to visit on weekends, and we can video chat whenever you want."

Goten nods, gripping the watch strapped to his wrist to remind himself of just that, but a tear trickles down his cheek nonetheless. "I know, but I'm still gonna miss you, Bubba."

Gohan pulls Goten into a tight hug, a lump forming in his throat. "I'll miss you too, Goten."

After a few moments, they reluctantly pull apart, and Gohan stands up, taking a deep breath to steady himself.

He turns back to his parents and they envelope him in a tight embrace of their own.

"We love you, Gohan." Pepper tells him.

"We'll see you soon, Squirt." Tony assures him. (And himself) 

"I love you too." Gohan replies. "I'll see you next weekend."

After one last squeeze, Gohan sees his parents and brother out, waiting until his family was out of sight before stepping back into his dorm room to unpack. 

Once Gohan had organized the last of his belongings, he fully registers he's alone for the first time since his arrival.

The silence of the room amplifies the sudden wave of crushing loneliness, worsening his homesickness.

To take his mind off his solitude, he spends the rest of the evening further familiarizing himself with the campus and greater Cambridge area.

He returns to his dorm when it gets dark, goes about his usual bedtime routine, and just as he's about to turn in for the night, his Saiyaman watch rings.

His heart warms at the sight of Goten's picture displayed on his watch. With a smile, he gladly answers the call.

As Goten's face appears on the holoscreen, Gohan smiles at the sight his little brother in his (Ironman themed) pajamas, curled up on his bed with Icarus snoozing beside him.

"Hey, Goten," Gohan greets with a fond smile. "What are you still doing up? Isn't it past your bedtime?"

Goten playfully pouts, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'm not a baby anymore, Bubba. And Mommy and Daddy said I could call you before going to sleep tonight."

Gohan chuckles at Goten's response. "Fair enough. So, what did you do when you got back home?"

Goten's face lights up with excitement and he launches into a lively recount of his day. "I met up with Uncle Piccolo, Trunks, and Videl for training."

"How did it go?"

"It was a lot of fun! Though Videl didn't think so."

"Oh really?" Gohan asks, his smirk turning a tad smug.

"Yep." Goten confirms, then looks around his room before leaning closer to the screen as if to let Gohan in on a secret. He whispers, "She told me not to tell you, but she says she misses your training already."

Gohan laughs. "I thought that might happen." Piccolo can really hold a grudge.

Goten giggles and continues talking about his day. "After that, Trunks and I played Mario Kart with Daddy! Trunks kept tripping Daddy with banana peels."

"I wish I could've seen that." Gohan comments. 

"And then, after dinner, I helped Mommy bake chocolate chip cookies!" Goten exclaims. "She said I'm getting really good at cracking eggs without making a mess!"

Gohan chuckles at the image of his little brother covered in flour, attempting to bake cookies with their mother. "I'm sure you are, Goten."

As the conversation wound down, Gohan found himself reluctant to say goodbye, but he could see his brother was struggling to keep his eyes open. "Well, it's getting late, Buddy. You should probably get some sleep."

Goten sleepily nods, his eyelids drooping slightly. "Ok, Bubba."

Gohan smiles warmly at his brother. "Good, now don't forget to brush your teeth before you go to sleep."

Goten tiredly giggles, a yawn escaping before he assures Gohan. "I won't forget, I promise."

"I'll hold you to that." Gohan teases. "Goodnight, Goten, I love you."

"Goodnight, Bubba," Goten replies, rubbing his eyes. "I love you 3000."

Gohan ends the call, his heart full of love for his family. As he settles into bed, he closes his eyes, his loneliness and homesickness completely forgotten.