Chapter Text
Branch headed for the elevator, humming as he ran a paw through his indigo hair. He checked for his weapons, medkit, and emergency whistle.
He was heading to the market, Floyd needed a better cane. He didn't exactly feel safe, but who would when you had so much trauma.
Branch stepped onto the elevator, only to be tackled in a hug by Floyd. He stumbled, just barely managing to catch them both.
“Floyd.” He chuckled, wrapping his arms around his big brother.
“Just wanted to give you your daily hug.” He smiled, “Be safe, I love you.”
“I love you too.” Branch hummed as Floyd tightened the hug. He stroked his brother's hair, smiling softly. “Everything's okay.”
“I know,” Floyd sighed, pulling back a little. “I just missed you so much.”
“I missed you too.” He led Floyd back to the couch, helping him sit down. “You know you shouldn't be walking around without your cane.”
Floyd whined as he sat down, folding his arms. He knew better than to argue with Branch about this.
It had been a month since they saved Floyd and brought him home, Clay and Bruce had to leave for home two weeks ago.
Floyd was getting better, thankfully, though he did have bad days. Those were the days that terrified Branch.
“Get some rest, I'll be home for dinner.” He touched Floyd's cheek, it was his way of ensuring his brother was real, alive, and safe.
Everything would be okay.
Floyd leaned into his touch, relishing the fact that he had his brothers back. “Okay. Remember, John is cooking tonight.”
Branch nodded, giving Floyd one last hug before heading back to the elevator. “Bye, John! Love ya!”
“See you later, I love you too!” John sat by Floyd, giving him a bowl of fruit and a glass of water.
For a moment, Branch watched his brothers. Floyd ate a strawberry, his first since they got back. He was healing from the trauma he'd been put under, that helped Branch to relax.
Finally leaving the bunker, Branch headed to the market with a pep in his step. He was humming, feeling like today would be a good day.
His ear twitched when he heard something right behind him, he froze.
He heard something else, a twig had snapped.
Branch turned, reaching in his hair for the whistle, only to get a rock to his head.
The last thing he saw was a purple troll closing in on him as he collapsed.
“Floyd…” he whimpered, “John…?”
Black dots filled his vision as he dropped the whistle.
~~~♡♡♡~~~
Branch groaned as he woke up, the last thing he remembered was heading to the market.
How long had he been out?
He laid on the cold, hard ground for a few minutes, trying to get his bearings.
It felt like stone.
Stone?
He blinked as his pounding head became less fuzzy. Trying to move, he found his wrists bound behind his back.
Panic set in.
“What the hell?”
He frantically looked around, finding that he couldn't see anything.
He was scared and had obviously been trollnapped.
Branch forced himself to take a deep breath as he struggled to sit up. “Okay, you're trapped and you can't see anything. You're terrified right now and that's okay.”
He grunted as the rope dug into his wrists, he was so going to kill whomever did this when he got out.
Managing to sit up, Branch felt around with his hands and feet. He was definitely sitting on a stone floor.
He used his shoulder, working to remove his blindfold. It was a bit tight, but he almost had it.
“Your brothers will be looking for you when you don't come home. Don't panic, they'll find you.”
He sighed, “They'll find you. Just be patient. At worst, you'll just have to escape on your own.
Branch heard a door open, his blood ran cold.
His blindfold was placed back into position, made tighter by whoever had him.
He wasn't getting out on his own. That much was certain.
~~~♡♡♡~~~
Floyd sat outside the bunker with John, watching the setting sun. Neither were enjoying it, Branch hadn't come home and it was getting dark.
Nothing about this felt right.
Floyd leaned forward, hugging his knees tightly. He looked around for any sign of his baby brother.
Normally he'd pop up out of seemingly nowhere, carrying supplies.
But this felt off. Branch would never miss dinner with them.
John touched his shoulder, smiling a little. “He'll come home. I'm sure he just got distracted.”
“What if he got hurt or something?”
“It's Branch, he'd figure out some way to come home.” John's smile faltered, “He'll be okay.”
“Can we look for him?” Floyd turned to John, “Just in case he needs us.”
John nodded, standing to look around once more. He helped Floyd up, giving him his cane. “Let's go. If he isn't back by sunrise, we can get Poppy.”
Floyd kept close to John as they walked around, calling for Branch. Dread filled them when they didn't find anything suggesting he was out there.
~~~♡♡♡~~~
An hour later, they had to return to the bunker. Floyd was in pain, but he wouldn't stop until he found Branch.
So, John forced him back home.
The two sat on the couch, waiting as the hour ticked by. Neither could sleep, they just wanted to see him.
He wouldn't just leave them to worry.
Something was wrong.
When they heard the elevator, Floyd was quick to stand and stumble over to it with hope.
He tripped, falling right into two pairs of arms. Looking up, his eyes widened when he saw Clay and Bruce.
“What are you two doing here?” John reached over, helping to steady Floyd.
“We got a bad feeling.” Clay looked down at Floyd, eyeing him for injuries.
Bruce looked around, “Where's Branch?”
Looking between John and Floyd, his heart dropped. Their expressions turned solemn.
He knew then and there that he and Clay had been right about their gut feelings.
~~~♡♡♡~~~