Chapter Text
Clay laid in his bed in Branch's bunker, curled up in a tight ball. He'd been having a difficult time since they'd saved Floyd.
Since they all came home.
To Branch's home.
Clay found out pretty quickly how difficult it was to get to know Branch. Honestly, who could blame him? Not one of them had stuck around.
Why would he trust them? They were strangers in his home.
The four left their baby brother with their grandmother without a second thought. Sure, she was a capable and trusted adult, but she could have died at any point from anything.
She did.
Clay sighed, closing his eyes as he thought about his Baby Blue. The kid so full of life and love had turned gray at the age of five.
Five.
He found that part out from Poppy, with a reluctant Branch letting her tell the story.
I'm a failure. I let my baby brother down, I should have stayed. If I had, he'd be okay. He's hurting and it's my fault. Now, I'm intruding on his life.
What right do I have?
We already saved Floyd. What am I still doing here?
A knock sounded at his door, making Floyd jump as it brought him out of his thoughts.
“Clay, breakfast is ready!”
Branch sounded exhausted already, Clay wasn't sure if it was the lack of coffee or the fact that all four brothers were intruding on his life.
Maybe it was both.
Reluctantly, Clay got up to eat. He stepped around the mess, heading for his door. He paused at his small mirror, running his paw through his hair to fix it as much as possible.
Nobody needs to see him struggle. He had two baby brothers to take care of.
Branch especially didn't need to know.
If he was going to exist in Branch's life, the least he could do is not be a burden.
That included hiding anything and everything wrong with him.
Clay got dressed, wrapping his tail around his leg to keep it under control. He headed down the hall to the kitchen.
Clay wasn't very hungry, but Branch always worked hard on the meals. He wasn't sure why the youngest did so much for them.
They left! For twenty years! Yet Branch didn't even snap when they got back to the bunker. He simply ordered everyone to bed, showing them to their rooms.
Their rooms had been kept clean over the years, which only fueled Clay's guilt.
He was waiting.
When it took days for anyone to be helpful, he still waited.
When it became clear that Floyd wasn't going to be fine for a while, he waited.
Branch worked hard while they recuperated. Clay wasn't sure how Floyd lasted two months, but he was sore for days after. Branch still waited with a smile, as if everything was fine. They weren't sure why he was so calm about it.
He still waited.
He's still waiting.
Clay groaned, leaving his room. How long had he kept his brothers waiting?
Entering the kitchen, he got his answer. They were halfway done eating.
Deciding to play it off, Clay stretched, cracking his back in the process. “Morning.”
Branch shared a look with the other three as Clay took his seat.
JD folded his arms, opening his mouth to say something, only to get a kick in the shin by Bruce.
“Ow! You little-”
Clay looked over with a raised eyebrow. “Are you okay, John?”
“He's just old.” Floyd patted John's back, “Don't worry about it.”
Clay rolled his eyes, “He's only forty-five.”
Branch laughed, “That only makes Floyd old too. What are you now? Forty?”
Floyd pouted, “I'm thirty-seven, thank you very much.”
“Wait. Really? I thought you were at least sixteen when you left.” Branch sat next to Clay, putting his head in his palm. “Let's see, that would've made you thirteen.”
“Yeah, Clay was fifteen when we left.” Floyd smirked, he was proud to not be the oldest.
“I knew you guys were ancient, but I didn't know it was that bad.” Branch took a bite of food, snickering at the glares he received.
“You're pushing it.” Bruce warned, “We aren't afraid to take you down.”
“If I remember correctly…” Branch reached over, booping Clay's cheek. “Protector Clay Robot, on.’
“Beep boop, robot…restarting…” Clay made his movements more robotic, getting a laugh from the others.
He'd only do this for Branch.
“I can't believe you remember that!” Floyd chuckled, “I may have been your favorite, but Clay could never escape without playing a game with you.”
“That's why he was my second favorite.” Branch shrugged, “You two are chopped liver. Don't think I forgot what you did to Miss Cuddles.”
“What did they do to Miss Cuddles?” Clay eyed the oldest brothers. “What did you do!?”
“It was years ago.” John sighed, “Look, I am sorry, but-”
Bruce quickly covered his mouth. “But! We were very stupid and are very sorry. And John is very bad with his apologies.” He sighed, “We were messing with Branch and ended up destroying the plushie.”
Branch pouted, “They paid me off with cookies…”
Clay touched his shoulder, “Hey, do you still have Miss Cuddles?”
Branch hesitantly nodded, walking away. A few minutes later he returned with a bagged plushie that was completely destroyed. There was paint on it, the limbs were separate, and the stuffing was laying out.
“What the hell did you two do!?” Floyd hissed, “Oh muses, that must've been why you shut down for a week.”
Branch gave a slight nod, looking at John and Bruce. “I can forgive you for leaving, but never for hurting Miss Cuddles.”
Clay took the bag, looking it over. “Nurse Floyd, are you up for the task of bringing back the dead?”
Clay pulled a needle and thread out of his hair. “Of course.”
Having forgotten their meals, they got to work on the plushie. Occasionally, they glared at Bruce and John with all the protective big brother energy they could muster.
Branch sat quietly, watching with interest as they not only sewed Miss Cuddles back together, but worked to scrub her clean.
They worked fast, giving their all for him. Neither forgot about.Miss Cuddles, she used to be Branch's favorite. Until she went missing.
Now they know why.
Clay sent the most powerful kick their way, hitting Bruce in the shin.
“It was twenty years ago!” Bruce held his leg, whining.
“Floyd?” Clay glanced over at his little brother.
“Time doesn't matter, Bruce! Just because you two were too cowardly to tell the truth, doesn't mean we can't feel anger for what you did to our baby brother!” Floyd folded his arms, “You two shut up a baby! Do you understand the amount of years he needed that comfort!?” He used a cloth to wipe sweat from Clay's forehead. “How close?”
“Very.” Clay finished by sewing the eyes on, presenting it to Branch.
Branch hugged it tightly, purring loudly as he snuggled the cuddle pup plush.
Clay rubbed his cheek, smiling softly at his baby brother. That was the sound.of a happy child, he was going to protect it from now on
“How does my Baby Blue feel?” Clay hummed, rubbing Branch's cheeks.
“Happy.” Branch leaned into his touch. It didn't matter how adult he was, he was still the kid they remembered him as.
Still sweet, kind, and gentle.
Clay turned to John and Bruce. “You two are on dish duty. I swear, if you try to make Branch do it, I'm personally throwing you both out. Don't think I won't.”
His tail hit the air with a snap, he was beyond pissed. Nobody could mess with Branch and get away with it.
“Fine.” Bruce nodded, “We can do them tonight.”
Clay relaxed, allowing himself to eat. It may have been cold, that was okay.
Branch was worth it.
Branch buried his face into his cuddle pup, he hadn't seen her in over twenty years.
Clay and Floyd shared concerned looks, deciding to give the youngest time to process.
“Oh, I wanted to ask if you slept well.” Branch's voice was small, vulnerable. This was new Terri for him, but he trusted Clay and Floyd the most at the moment.
“I did, you?” It's been Clay's goto response for the past week. He was lying, of course.
Normally, it wouldn't have been questioned, but Branch had noticed many things going on with Clay.
“I slept okay, except for the giant waffle chasing me.” Branch shook his head, “It was so weird.”
Clay chuckled, the first Branch had heard all week. It was a good sign that maybe things weren't as bad as they appeared. There was still time to fix this.
“Waffles are so terrifying.” Floyd teased, earning a playful pout from Branch. He laughed at the sight, reaching over to ruffle Branch's hair.
Batting Floyd's hand away, Branch glanced at Clay. The unfinished meal was pushed aside, a usual sight at the table.
Every single one of Clay's meals only got half eaten, Branch never complained.
Unfol now.
He gave a nod to the others, watching as JD and Bruce helped Floyd up, taking him to the living room.
Branch grabbed Clay's wrist to keep him from leaving, noticing the way he flinched. He shifted his hold, grabbing his paw instead.
“What's up?” Clay turned, his smile faltered when he noticed Branch looked…
Scared?
He blinked, confused. Why was Branch afraid? They were safe in his bunker, nothing would happen.
Right?
Clay squeezed his paw, crouching in front of Branch. “Baby Blue, what's wrong?”
Branch's tail hung limply, his ears flattened against his head. He squeezed Clay's paw, thinking through his words.
“You aren't okay, are you?”
The words hung thickly in the air, spoken by a tiny voice filled with anxiousness.
“What do you mean?” Clay placed his other paw on Branch's cheek, smiling comfortingly. “I'm perfectly fine.”
The smile didn't reach his eyes.
Branch felt his heart break, he knew Clay was lying. He used the same tactics. “You don't finish meals, you stay in your room most of the time, your hair-”
He gazed up at Clay's hair, seeing how messy it was. It was so tangled, as if it hadn't been washed in a week.
Everybody knew a troll's hair was extremely important to them.
“I'm fine, B.” Clay rubbed his cheek, “Don't worry about me.”
The smile he gave was one to placate Branch.
Branch was having none of it.
“We're spending time together.”
“I'm okay. Besides, don't you have a date with Poppy?”
Clay had taken it upon himself to memorize Branch's routine and plans, in case he needed to step in when something went wrong.
He wanted Branch to be enjoying his life. Not dealing with him and his mess.
“We canceled.” Branch shrugged, as if it wasn't a big deal.
But it was.
At least to Clay.
“Why? Is something wrong?” Clay's tail swished nervously, “Do I need to talk to her?”
“Nah, we just came to the realization that neither of us spend enough time with our siblings.” Branch rested his head on his cuddle pup, meeting Clay's eyes. “I want to spend time with you.”
Why? I ruined your life and I didn't consider your thoughts and feelings on the mission.
Getting no response, Branch had to use a tactic he hadn't used in a long time.
“I'm the baby brother, so I get whatever I want.” He huffed, glaring at Clay as if begging him to challenge it.
It was the sake look JD or Floyd received when he demanded they give him snuggles or read to him.
“You know that doesn't work anymore, right?” Clay raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
Branch switched tactics, tears filling his eyes. “You don't want to spend time with me?”
Clay's eyes widened, his heart shattering. He quickly grabbed Branch's cheeks to comfort him, just like he used to.
“No, no, it isn't that.” He rubbed soothing circles on his cheeks. “I'm just not sure I'd be very fun today.”
Branch leaned into his touch, sighing softly as he closed his eyes. He needed his big brother.
“Please? I need you right now.” He whispered, “I need you.”
Clay wiped away the tears that were spilling over, seeing Branch so vulnerable was strange. He didn't like that his baby brother was breaking down.
“Okay, we can spend the day together.”
Branch relaxed, he hadn't meant to be so vulnerable, he couldn't stop himself. He was still that little boy they had abandoned.
The only difference is that the little boy was holding on by a thread. A simple snap of it would send him plummeting.
Clay was in the same situation, but he'd be damned if he didn't help Branch this time.
“What do you want to do?” Clay wiped away the last of Branch's tears, smiling when he saw those beautiful blues look up at him. They were still filled with love when he saw Clay, not an unwelcoming sight.
“I want to take care of your hair.” Branch's voice was so soft, Clay had to strain to hear.
His hair? Why? Shouldn't they be doing something fun instead of worrying about something so insignificant?
With a sigh, Clay rubbed Branch's cheeks. He smiled, hoping to reassure him. “Why not do something fun inst-”
“Please?” Branch released Clay's paws, tapping his fingers together. “I really want to do this.”
Clay raised an eyebrow, the last time anyone else took care of his hair was Viva after they had found the putt putt course. He'd been too busy making sure others could have their hair taken care of by loved ones, he didn't have time for others to take care of his.
Branch looked up at him with pleading eyes, he was the only one who never got to experience tending to any of his brothers’ hair. It was something they all did, a way to bring each other comfort and safety.
“Alright, let me clean it out.” Clay couldn't stand when Branch used his baby brother powers against him
Branch smiled, a real one.
He couldn't stay mad, seeing his baby brother happy meant the world to him.
Clay headed to his room, closing the door behind him. Reaching into his hair, he pulled out two books, a medkit, and hsi extra wristbands.
He paused, glancing at the ones on his wrists. Removing them, he quickly changed the bandages, putting the wristbands back on.
What Branch didn't know wouldn't hurt him.
He left the room, feeling a little lighter after removing the items. Part of him looked forward to this.
Viva brushing his hair was great and all, but nothing beats his brothers.
He approached the living room, finding the other three doing their own thing. Catching JD's eye, the elder gestured to a corner in the room.
Said corner was decorated with plushies, pillows, and blankets. It was evident that Branch was focusing on comfort for this.
Clay approached, raising an eyebrow. Branch had everything needed for this, including hair ties. Apparently he wanted to give Clay full hair care.
Seeing as Branch had planned this out, he let out a sigh. He'd feel bad if he said no now.
He sat down, raising an eyebrow. “I thought you only wanted to do a simple hair care?”
“Nope! Your hair is in desperate need of everything.” Branch smiled, as if he was excited for this.
Why would he be excited?
Folding his arms, Clay rolled his eyes. “My hair isn't that bad.”
Branch folded his arms, raising an eyebrow as he matched Clay's energy.
The two stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, challenging each other.
Clay sighed as his resolve faltered. “Okay, maybe it's a little bad.”
“A little?” Branch looked at him incredulously, his mouth open in complete shock. Reaching over, he ran his paw through Clay's hair, only being stopped by tangles before he got halfway through.
Clay groaned, “I've been a bit busy.”
Branch removed his paw, frowning as he shook his head. “Lay down, so we can get this handled.”
Clay shifted, laying down so his hair was in the water filled basin. He folded his arms, letting out an exasperated sigh.
“I know you don't actually hate this.” Branch chuckled, running his fingers through Clay's hair, gently working through any knots he came across. “You just hate needing help.”
“Yeah, yeah. You know everything.” He sighed, staring up at the ceiling. He didn't mean to be an ass to Branch, he just wanted to be left alone at the moment.
But Branch wanted him there.
“Clay, what's going on with you?”
“What do you mean?” Clay lifted his head a little more, meeting Branch's eyes.
They softened, as if he was concerned.
Why would he be?
Branch tilted his head, “Don't play dumb, I'm the smart one.”
Clay smirked, “What if I said it was Floyd?”
“I'm emotionally intelligent, Branch is the genius.” Floyd called from the couch. “He is not paying me to say that.”
Branch chuckled, “Thank you, cookies are behind the couch!”
“Yes!” Floyd nearly dove over the back of the couch, barely being caught by Bruce and John.
Clay watched from his position on the floor, smiling a little. His attention was brought back when Branch tapped his forehead.
“Spill.”
“I'm fine.” Clay looked up, meeting Branch's eyes again.
“Fine isn't staring off into space, every day, when you could be reading your favorite book or enjoying life with your favorite baby brother.”
“You know Floyd will always be my favorite, right?” Clay smiled, “He's why I'm no longer the baby.”
Branch scoffed, “Yeah, but I'm the youngest and the adorable one.”
“Pretty sure Floyd is still the adorable one.” Clay chuckled as Branch rolled his eyes.
“Alright, tell me or else.”
“Or else wha?” Clay challenged, he highly doubted Branch could really do anything.
Branch looked him dead in the eye, his ears drooping. His plan was to use his baby brother status to its full advantage.
“I just want my big bubby to be okay.”
“Branch, I'm fine.”
“You aren't fine.” Branch frowned, “Give me a little credit here, I know you better than that.”
“You don't know anything!” Clay pinched the bridge of his nose. “Twenty years ago, maybe, but we've all changed since then.”
The room fell silent.
Clay was right, Branch didn't know them like he used to.
But he observed.
Branch squeezed shampoo onto his paw, continuing to wash Clay's hair.
“I know that you love to read.” He hummed, “I know that you've always been a protector and one hell of a medic.” He tilted his head, scrubbing. “I know you love me very much, and I love you too.”
“Why?” Clay finally asked as tears filled his eyes. “I left you. I knew grandma could go at any time for any reason a d I still left.”
“Yeah, you did.” He shrugged, “So did those jerks over there.”
“We hurt you.” Clay frowned, “We shouldn't have left. We shouldn't have told you we'd leave again.”
“No, you shouldn't have.” Branch continued to calmly scrub out the dirt from his brother's hair.
“Then why give a damn about any of us!?” Clay demanded as tears streamed down his cheeks. “Why give a damn about me? I saw John and Bruce leave and I didn't stay.”
“You're here now.” Branch paused, changing basins once Bruce brought him a fresh one. “I'm mad, but I don't hate you.”
He sighed, resuming cleaning. “I tried, believe me, I wanted to hate you with all my guts.” He frowned, “There were times where I would hope that none of you would come back.”
Clay sniffled, “What changed?”
Branch grabbed a towel, drying bks paws. He gently grabbed Clay's face, bending over to see him better.
“Floyd was captured.” It was such a simple answer.
“How does that-”
“I'm not done.” Branch hummed, “Not only was he captured, but he was tortured.” He frowned, “All I could think about from the start of the mission to today were the what ifs.” He wiped away Clay's tears, his heart breaking for him.
“What if it was one of you instead?” Branch's voice cracked, “We're lucky Floyd lasted so long, but I'm not sure the rest of you could. I'm not even sure how long it would've taken to find Floyd had any of us been caught instead.”
Clay leaned into his touch, “You'd have looked?”
“Had I known you, Bruce, or the jerk over there who left first-”
“Hey!”
“-had been trollnapped, I would have kicked down every damned door to save you.”
Clag smiled a little, “We would have saved you too.”
“I know.” Branch sighed, “I guess I'm just-” He patted Clay's cheeks, thinking. It was a familiar thing Branch used to do.
“Why didn't you come back or write? During the escape, you found Viva.”
“I did come back.” Clay touched Branch's paws, frowning. “I stayed back, yelling for you, grandma, and Floyd. I went home when I didn't see you in the crowd.”
Branch's eyes widened, “You came back?” His mind filled with the new possibilities.
“Of course I did! We were finally escaping, I thought at worst grandma might die, but I could still get you two out.” His ears lowered, “You weren't there. I-I looked everywhere, but when I found grandma's room empty and dusty, then Floyd's…” He took a shaky breath, “I didn't check yours. I couldn't! I-I thought-”
Branch rubbed his cheeks, waiting patiently. He waited twenty years, he could wait another few minutes for Clay to find his voice.
Clay swallowed, he closed his eyes to calm himself. “That's why I ran to you when I saw you. It wasn't a complete slight against John, I wanted to make sure you were real.” He sighed, opening his eyes, “I still can't believe you're real.”
“Oh, Clay…’ Branch continued to rub his cheeks.
“I dimmed when I thought you were dead. I-I didn't go completely gray until a year later.”
Branch's breath caught in his throat. That wasn't supposed to happen. His brothers were supposed to be okay.
“H-How long?” He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
“Four years.” Clay sighed, that nearly broke Branch. “I threw myself into my work, became the serious troll I needed to be.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “I had to protect the others from losing more of their family. Viva and I thought we lost ours, we weren't going to let the others lose anyone else.”
Branch gave a slight nod. “I went gray for twenty years.”
Floyd coughed, choking on his cookie. JD patted his back, dislodging it from his throat.
Branch looked over, “It's nothing to die over.” He paused, “Floyd, stop dying.”
“Will do.” Floyd cleared his throat.
“Twenty…?” Clay breathed, “Oh, Baby Blue…”
Branch turned back to Clay, “It's not your fault, so stop thinking it.” He flicked Clay's forehead. “You can think about the what ifs for the rest of your life, or you can realize that shit happened and the best thing to do is move forward.”
He patted Clay's cheeks again, “I've thought through the what ifs a million times, but the answer is always something could happen that leads us to this point anyway.” He shrugged, “This isn't the best outcome we could've had based on the what ifs, but it is a good one based on what we ended up with.”
“But-”
“No. Buts.” Branch huffed, “Clay, we can all agree that what happened to us sucks, but look around you.” He gestured to their surroundings, “We're here. We're home and safe! I'm okay, I promise.”
Clay whined, “I just-” he fell silent when Branch's eyes narrowed. “Okay.” He sighed in defeat, “I can't stop thinking about it though.”
“I know.” Branch resumed washing his hair, “I know, you want to fix everything. I do too, but we can't change the past, we learn from it.”
“When did you grow up?” Fresh tears filled Clay's eyes.
Branch smiled a little, “A long time ago.” He sighed, “I'm not always okay either, but I have you guys. Right?”
“Always.”
“Then I will be okay, and so will you.” Branch rinsed Clay's hair, running his fingers through it. “There, all better.”
Clay sat up, wringing out his hair. It fell down his back. “I can't remember the last time it was this clean. Usually I take a quick shower.”
Branch rolled his eyes, “Yeah, I can tell.” He eyed the other three, aiming the hairbrush at them rather threateningly. “You're next.”
“My hair's fine, Branch.” Bruce ran his paw through it, stopping when he felt a knot. “Fine, it's not the best, but-”
“Bruce, don't make me tie you down.” Branch glared at him.
“He's channeling his inner grandma.” Floyd chuckled, “Bruce, just go with it.”
“Fine.” He groaned, “Only if you're gentle.”
Branch moved the dirty water aside, drying Clay's hair as he smiled in triumph. “Hold still, you're getting the Branch Special!”
“Branch Special?” Clay turned his head, raising an eyebrow.
“Yup! We're going to make you look like the best troll ever.” He turned Clay's head back around, brushing his hair. “I can't believe how long it is.”
Clay scoffed, “My hair isn't even close to being the best.”
“Floyd told me it used to be the softest, prettiest hair that could rival Bruce.”
Clay chuckled, “Really? I actually learned everything about hair care from Bruce.”
“Figured.” Branch huffed, “I had to figure it out on my own. Bruce, you're the worst brother in history!”
“I'm sorry!” Bruce whined, “I'll make it up to you at some point.”
Branch rolled his eyes, “You're on dinner duty tonight.”
“Fine.” Bruce smirked, “Any other demands, o' sweet prince?”
“Plenty, I have a whole twenty-four years of catching up to do.” He ran his fingers through Clay's hair, “Wow, it's super soft.”
Clay chuckled, “Having fun?”
“Yes!” Branch cleared his throat, his tail coiling around him. “Un…a little?”
Clayaughed, “You know, the first time Bruce let me brush his hair, I was super excited.”
“He was the cutest five year old.” Bruce leaned into his palm.
“You all were.” John smiled, “Once they hit five, grandma and I taught them hair care.” He looked over at Branch, “Mainly because Bruce was two when we tried teaching him, he ripped some of my hair out.”
Bruce chuckled, “Oops?”
Branch nodded, “I used to borrow books from the library about hair care.” He paused, “Of course, I also experimented with my hair and Guy Diamond allowed me to steal him when necessary.”
John nodded, “Bruce learned to brush my hair, Clay learned to brush Bruce's, and Floyd learned to Brush Clay's.” He smiled a little, “I'm surprised you chose Clay.”
“Depression is a bitch and I'm its destroyer.” Branch hummed as he braided Clay's hair.
Clay laughed a little, “Thanks, B. I'm feeling a little better.”
“Good.” He finished the braid, smiling proudly at his work. It had taken years to perfect.
Clay felt the braid between his fingers, he smiled brightly. “I love it, thanks.”
“You're welcome.” Branch taced him in a hug, intertwining their tails. “I love you very much.”
Clay hugged back, holding his baby brother close. “I love you too.”