Chapter Text
Upon boarding Rhonda He couldn't help but smile seeing his older brothers praise Branch for the song however watching Branch and his older brothers a familiar feeling that he hadn't had in a long while was surfacing telling him under all the praise something wasn't right underlining their words was a hint of nervousness and the look they all gave branch was one he seen countless time in the mirror when he looked at himself thinking about the promise he had broken it was guilt.
He knew he had to make it up to Branch and he figured what he was picking up was their guilt for leaving Branch but he had a sinking feeling that there was something more something that the brothers knew and it was even more evident with John John had that same look when he reunited with him for the first time but it was different it was as if they knew leaving branch had some sort of impact on the younger troll something Floyd didn't know about.
And what worried him more than anything was the fact branch colors were way more muted than they should be as Branch's eyes met his own he smiled catching the small smile that branch returned. Standing up he slowly made his way causing Branch to run over to give him a hand.
"I'm fine branch i just want to ask to talk to the others privately for a minute if that ok with you."
"Oh uh yeah that's fine with me I can go check on the girls." He said pointing towards the couch behind me where the girls were laughing about something." As he walked towards them I turned to face my three older brothers before taking a seat at the kitchen table next to them.
"Ok spill something either happened between you three and branch or you know something that I don't?" At my words, I saw them tense.
"Listen Floyd maybe we should discuss this when you're feeling better and maybe after we get you checked out." John said laughing nervously.
"That statement doesn't make me feel any better about this listen there is something I was wondering and frankly I have a feeling it has something to do with what you lot are going to tell me. Pushing beside the fact that the letter you got was clearly a trap and an obvious one at that. Why when you did show up with all our brothers why was Branch not with you?"
"Floyd I get you want to know this but I think John's right we will have a proper talk about everything and catch up but as of right now you should take it easy at least until we know what kind of condition you are in we don't know what kind of side effects having our talent stolen may have."
"Listen, Spruce..."
"Actually it's Bruce i changed it a while back." he said not minding the correction if it affected him that much but frankly I needed to get to my point.
"Bruce... I get where you're coming from but at the same time, I noticed something in both your and Branch's behavior and frankly it's not sitting right with me. I don't need you guys to go into full detail but I would at least like an idea of what is going on."
"Fine, we'll explain a few things now and talk about it more in detail later. Is that fine with you?"
"It's better than not knowing anything at all." I said Crossing my arms.
"Ok well, you see right before we came to get you we sort of upset Branch and during it, he got mad and revealed some things to us that frankly, I don't even know if what he said was everything but Floyd what he said didn't exactly paint a happy picture." John said rubbing the back of his neck.
"Let me guess him turning gray was part of it."
"Yeah, how?"
"John I may be physically weak right now but I'm not blind. Don't get me wrong most troll's colors do tend to become muted over time but not that muted and not only that but I noticed his ears drooping that's a side effect from being gray for a long time."
"Wait if that's true then does... that mean?"
"Oh, so you notice. Yes, I was gray for a little over a month after I lost someone close to me. Anyway, I'll accept this for now but we will be having a talk then after that, we will be discussing what we're going to do from here on out no offense but I think we owe it to Branch to be straight with him about what our intentions are and frankly I want to make up for everything I miss out on. The last thing we need to do is get Branch's hopes up if any of us ain't serious about being a part of each other's lives."
The moment I said that I saw them tense up again nervously fidgeting in one way or another. "Unless that's what upset branch. Please tell me you didn't already screw things up." Their silence was more telling than anything Making me sigh. "Did you guys at least apologize?"
"Not yet we have been trying to figure out how to after everything we don't even know where to begin."
At their words I became speechless myself in fact I too needed to apologize for breaking the promise I made when he was little and yet I didn't know where to even begin the sinking feeling was only getting worse.
Suddenly I jumped out of my skin as the pink troll I knew my brother was in a relationship with based off the kiss suddenly spoke up breaking me from my thoughts. "Oh sorry, Floyd I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's fine huh? Sorry, but I don't think I got your name?"
"Oh right, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Queen Poppy I'm Branch's Girlfriend."
"Wait, Queen. my baby bro is dating the Queen." I said smiling. "that explains the kiss earlier. At this, she giggles.
"Yeah sorry, I got carried away in the moment anyway I was talking to Branch and I got him to agree but once we arrive at Pop Village it will be late so we all will be having a huge sleepover in Branch's Bunker."
Upon returning it was late so it was decided and hesitantly agreed to by branch that the brothers and sisters would spend the night in branch bunker after branch revealed he had the space much to Poppy's surprise who was sure he didn't from the countless times she's been in his bunker.
Only for him to mention the locked door across from his room making Poppy gasp at the realization of what branch words met making the brothers look at each other.
"Locked room?"
Upon arriving Branch had John park Rhonda a little away from The Village so she wouldn't freak everyone out existing Rhonda we had to walk a good minute before coming to this rock where Branch typed something into a pin pad before opening a latch.
To say I was excited was an understatement this was the so called bunker my baby brother only ever talked about. As we went down the elevator I couldn't help but feel Guilty it was something we were supposed to build together. Something that Branch had wanted to make with all of us in mind.
Just another reminder of the promise I broke.
But the words of my brothers floating in my mind only made that Sinking feeling worsen looking at the near emotionless expression of Branch if it wasn't for the occasional glance our way or the slight frown that should just how nervous and and scared he was. It was becoming clear there was no doubt Branch was happy to have us back but he seemed torn about us being here.
As we entered the main room my attention was immediately grabbed by John's voice as he commented on the layout well clay commented on the small bit of storage space on the wall. Clay seemed sincere and his thoughts on it but John's nervous laugh seemed as if he was trying to ease the still evident tension between him and Branch.
With a short response and a simple thanks towards Clay the girls and I just watched until Poppy approached Branch before whispering something to him which seemed to make him relax the sight made me smile as the guilt just grew Branch wasn't comfortable with us being here.
With a sigh, I made my way over to him. "Hey Branch listen I know us being here might be too much so after tonight if you want we can find other arrangements we appreciate this but you don't have to force yourself to do all of this especially if you're not ready to have us here."
"Floyd?" He said looking hesitant on rather he wanted to speak before his face shifted into one that showed a mixture of sadness and fear as he spoke. " It finds fine really year it difficult to have all of you here but it more than that i just don't know how to explain it in a way that would make sense. But what I do know is a part of me does want you here. It's just that...
That it. There it was that fearful look as it dawned on me. He was afraid. "You're afraid. Afraid we're going to leave you again. Oh, Branch... I'm so sorry but I'm not leaving after all these years I miss I'm not missing out on more. I know something went down between you and the others and although they won't tell me what they did I want you to know I plan to do whatever I can to make up for my biggest mistake in leaving you. Your my baby brother and I weren't there for you and it hurts me to know. That my choice to put off coming back had hurt you. I know saying this can't undo the pain I cause but I'm...So Sorry Branch."
As I reach out bringing our foreheads together. As I watched Branch tear up I could feel our brother's eyes on us. When my attention was brought back to Branch as I felt him suddenly pull me into a hug I happily returned however the sound of poppy gasp made it obvious this Hug meant something more than I knew my guess Branch doesn't usually give Hugs on his own accord. Reach ment this hug was something for me to treasure in this moment who knew if this would ever happen again?
This Sinking feeling still won't go away but at least this was a Brand New Start for not just Branch and me but for all of us and although Branch is unaware I made a new Promise to myself to always be there for every moment no matter what I would never leave my baby brother again I won't miss out not this time not ever.