Chapter Text
It was a quiet night in the forest. In the middle of it was Rhonda fast asleep near a calm flowing river. Inside the big van, a small light was on and two brothers were there. John Dory was still awake, getting himself ready for bed while his little brother Floyd was already fast asleep.
Floyd had been staying with John Dory ever since the rescue mission as he didn’t really have anywhere to go yet (Branch is working on it).
Until then, Floyd was content to stay with his big brother and Rhonda. In fact, Floyd was dead asleep, feeling like he hadn’t had a good sleep in years.
John Dory smiled at his little brother, ruffling his pink and white hair. He went to get himself comfortable but before he could lie down, he heard a whimper.
Thinking he was just hearing things after a moment of silence, he went to lie down.
And then he heard another louder whimper before hearing a soft and scared “Please no…”
John Dory looked at his little brother who started shifting around in his sleep.
“Please stop— no…!” Floyd said. “It hurts…! Please…!”
John Dory furrowed his brows in worry before he got up quickly. He went over to the shaking troll before sitting beside him.
“Floyd…?”
“I don’t want this I don’t want th— stop!” Floyd started to kick his legs frantically, shaking his head. “Please!! I said no!!”
John Dory frowned and put his hand on Floyd’s hair, causing him to scream and jerk back, startling him awake. He stared up at John Dory with wide eyes, his face showing genuine fear. It was clear that Floyd was half asleep and paired with the dim lighting, Floyd could barely see who was with him. “Please no more— whatever I did, I won’t do it agai—
“No no no… hey…” John Dory said gently. He brushed Floyd’s bangs aside gently and cupped his face. “It’s just me, Floyd, you’re safe…”
Floyd’s breathing was ragged, his eyes were teary and his hands shook as he reached up to touch the hand on his cheek. He blinked finally, he was fully aware of his surroundings. “John Dory…?”
“Yeah. It’s me. You’re okay…” JD’s thumb gently caressed his face, immediately soothing Floyd. Floyd’s eyes fluttered closed and he rested his head on his pillow with a heavy and relieved sigh.
“I’m sorry if I woke you up…”
“No no, you didn’t. I was just getting ready for bed. It’s okay.”
Floyd hummed softly and looked back up at his brother. JD smiled reassuringly before kissing his forehead. Floyd smiled and chuckled tiredly.
“Wanna tell me what you were dreaming about…?”
Floyd’s smile immediately faded and he looked away. “I… um…”
“… You don’t have to tell me right now if you can’t.”
“No, I wanna tell you. It’s just… I don’t know how… it was about something that happened to me… it’s hard to even think about, let alone talk…”
“That’s okay. But just know that Velvet and Veneer won’t hurt you anymore. You’re okay—“
Floyd sighed and rubbed his eyes. “That’s not it…”
“What…?”
“Something else happened from before then and it was… honestly worse…”
John Dory frowned worriedly before running his fingers through Floyd’s hair. “Floyd, if something bad happened… if someone hurt you… you can tell me. I just wanna make sure you’re okay…”
“I know that. It’s just that— It…” Floyd’s voice wavered and his eyes filled with tears. He took shaky breaths. “… It hurts… it’s hurts to remember it all…”
John Dory looked at him sadly, a hand rubbing Floyd’s arm gently. “I know how that feels… believe me, I do. And you’re not alone, okay…?”
Floyd nodded and sniffled, wiping his eyes as best he could. It was a long minute of silence and John Dory whispering soft words of reassurance but not forcing Floyd to say anything. Whatever choice Floyd made, John Dory would honor it.
“… John Dory…?”
“Mhm…?”
“… I… I-I…” Floyd stammered. “B-Before I got kidnapped… I met a guy… he saw me performing… and he loved my voice… my music… and he made me feel like the most important thing on earth… he made me feel so special.”
Floyd smiled sadly at the memories. “He took care of me cause I had nowhere to go after leaving home. He helped me with my music… and he promised to help me become a star again…”
“What happened then…? Did he… die…?”
Floyd’s smile dropped slowly. He laid there in silence, dissociating as he relived the memories, each one turning more and more dark and grim.
“No… He slowly gained my trust. I was 17 and stupid and he had me wrapped around his finger the second he seduced me… he told me I had to listen to everything he said, never make a move without him— especially in music. I always had to dress a certain way, never talk to certain people… but then it got worse… a-and then… th-then he—” Floyd covered his mouth and started to cry softly. He felt so sick to his stomach. “I’m so sorry—”
“No, no, it’s okay! You’re okay. It doesn’t matter, you don’t have to tell me—“
“No! I’ve been— w-wanting to tell you this f-for so long, John Dory… I was so scared and didn’t know where to go and I didn’t know where you were and—“
“Deep breaths, Floyd. Breathe…”
Floyd sniffled, wiping his eyes again. He took several deep breaths then closed his eyes. Inhaling softly, he kept going.
“He hurt me… very badly… he screamed at me, pulled my hair when I didn’t listen to him, got angry when I talked to guys or tried to do anything without him… a-and then he… h-he beat me constantly…”
John Dory stared at him in horror. Someone… did that to him…? To his little brother? How could someone do that to someone!? Especially someone so sweet and gentle and caring!?
“H-He abused me in every sense of the word…” Floyd paused, looking away anxiously. John Dory understood and he was beyond horrified. Floyd took a shaky breath.
“… That’s… that’s all I wanna say for now I think… everything else would be nightmare fuel.”
“No shit… I can’t believe this…”
“Yeah…”
“How could some… some… waste of air do that to someone—? To YOU!?”
Floyd tensed up at his voice rising, looking away. “John Dory…”
John Dory, despite feeling immense anger, softened when he saw how nervous he was making Floyd.
“I’m sorry…” he whispered. “I just… that’s… oh my god…”
“I know…”
“I… I wish I was there for you when you needed me…”
“No, it wasn’t your fault…”
“But I still left…”
“I left too! And if I didn’t just trust some random dude that gave me even a little bit of affection, I wouldn’t have—“
“No, Floyd! Don’t you dare! You did NOT deserve any of that. None of that was your fault.” John Dory scolded gently but strictly. His own eyes were watery. He was heartbroken.
Floyd stayed silent as he looked away from him. His eyes began to tear up all over again and he let out a sob. “He hurt me so bad, John Dory…”
“I know… I’m so sorry, Floyd…”
“I wanted it to end so bad… I was so desperate to leave but I felt so hopeless!”
Floyd covered his eyes and began sobbing. John Dory pulled him into a tight hug, rubbing his back and caressing his hair softly.
“It’s okay… he won’t hurt you again. And if I ever see him, he’s dead.”
Floyd clung onto him as he sobbed into his chest. It was a long minute of crying and being held after 20 years of being hurt constantly and having no one to run to. John Dory was a strong but gentle person and Floyd once again felt so safe in his arms.
“I love you, Floyd.” John Dory whispered before kissing his forehead. “Don’t ever doubt that you aren’t alone.”
Floyd hiccuped and pulled away sniffling. “I love you more. Thank you so much…”
“Of course. It’s what brothers do.”
Floyd smiled and sighed. “I’m exhausted… but I’m too scared to go back to sleep… I don’t wanna see… him.”
“Then I’ll sleep with you.”
“You don’t have to—“
“No no, come here. Cuddle close, scooch in.” John Dory lied down next to his little brother who giggled a little.
“JD—“
“Shush. Get comfy.”
Floyd smiled and shook his head before snuggling close to his big brother. His head rested against his chest and he closed his eyes with a sigh. JD had his arms wrapped around Floyd tightly, giving him a secured feeling.
“Comfortable?”
“Mhm… thank you, JD.”
“Like I said, it’s what brothers do. I love you guys more than anything in the world.”
“Me too… I know that being with you guys, I’ll be okay…”
John Dory smiled before placing another kiss to Floyd’s forehead.
They both soon drifted off to sleep and Floyd had no more nightmares that night.