Chapter Text
It all began a week after Julius Root's memorial plaque had been hung in the lobby of Police Plaza. After his shift, Grub made his way to Trouble's tiny office, knowing that the Major would still be busy with paperwork at this hour. His brother. In a desk job. He knew how frustrated Trubs was with it, but he was finding more ways to make the position more hands-on, which in itself was an impressive feat.
Grub hovered at the door for a moment, doubt creeping into his thoughts. He took a deep breath and knocked, tapping a secret code that he and Trouble had used as kids. Without waiting for a response, he pushed the door open.
"Trouble? I'm sorry if I'm interrupting at a bad time…"
Trouble had looked up from his work at the knock. "No, it's fine. I was about to wrap up anyways. I can finish this tomorrow. What's going on, Grub?" He motioned for his brother to have a seat. "What's wrong? And don't say nothing, because you have that look on your face," he added quickly, before Grub had a chance to protest.
Grub shook his head as he sank into a chair. "What isn't wrong these days? Honestly everything is a nightmare around here with Sool in charge."
Trouble merely nodded. He couldn't argue with that statement. Grub tugged at a loose thread in his jacket. "But I came here to make a confession… that night Foaly says that Opal supposedly escaped… I was on guard duty. It's my fault she got out. I wasn't paying attention and then the lights went out and everything was a blur." He was rambling, his words nearly unintelligible because of how fast he was speaking.
Trouble held up his hand. "Grub. You did what anyone else would have done. No one took Koboi guard duty seriously."
Grub was frantic now, shaking his head. "No no no, listen. If I had been paying attention, Commander Root would still be here. Holly would still be here. And that… that pig , wouldn't be in charge." His face was red with frustration and he swallowed hard, trying to compose himself. "Which is why I've come to give you this."
He reached into his pocket and tossed his acorns onto Trouble's desk. "My resignation letter will be in Sool's inbox in the morning, but I wanted to tell you first. I.... I can't do this anymore Trubs. I can't work for someone like him. All he does is yell, but not like Root. Sool doesn't care about us."
Trouble was surprised to hear his brother speak so bluntly. He stared at the golden pin on his desk. "Grub… I.... " He couldn't find the words and he sat there, looking like a fish with the way his mouth opened and closed, his eyes wide with disbelief. He finally managed to get a few words out, still trying to wrap his head around what was happening.
"I thought you always wanted to be an officer?"
Grub shrugged. "I thought so too. Now I don't know what I want to do, but I'll figure it out. Don't tell Mummy. I've already filled out an application over at the Moonlight Cafe. They needed a barista. It will suffice for now."
Trouble slowly nodded, offering him a bit of a smile. "Of course, Grub. If this is what you want, then I'll support your decision."
"It is Trubs. I'll be fine. I'll figure something out."
A week later, an idea struck him while he was watching a movie, another one of those human Westerns he was so fond of. Movie forgotten, he hurried to look into the courses that the nearby universities offered. It was perfect, honestly. Why hadn't he thought of it before?
Grub grinned as he scrolled through the major offerings at West Haven University. "Film studies… I suppose it's a start." he muttered to himself. "After all, if I hadn't been focusing on that movie, then perhaps Opal wouldn't have escaped and I wouldn't be in this position right now."
Flash forward two months later, he was submitting his finally complete application, Trouble sitting nearby. Trouble had been completely supportive of his brother's decision, even mentioning that he might even be good at film critique. "All of that complaining has to be good for something right?," he'd said, laughing as Grub rolled his eyes in response.
Grub shook his head and suddenly handed Trouble his laptop. His hands were shaking. "I can't do it. I'll never get in."
"Nonsense. You've worked hard for this and I'm not letting you back out now." Trouble shook his head, laughing for a moment before checking over the form to make sure it was all filled out and then sending it and passing the computer back to his brother.
Grub stared at the screen in front of him.
Application submitted! Thank you for your interest in West Haven University!
No going back now.