Chapter Text
John Dory tosses his large bag to the side, letting it hit the wall with a satisfying thud. He roughly grabs his well-worn skates, the frustration and sadness running through him. Why did his brothers have to be so annoying?! Why did they always have to fight him?! They just won’t listen!
He ignores the cold creeping up on his exposed body as he finishes tying the laces, standing and walking closer to the ice-pond, eager to use up the restless energy running through him.
He skates around the ice-pond with practised movements in solitary silence. The ice-pond was a well-known, long-standing area of the troll tree, but it was hardly visited, being so cold and exposed at the bottom of the tree.
But it was perfect for John Dory. For him to process the break-up of Brozone and the fight with his brothers…
0o-o0
Spruce growls, holding tightly onto the bar of the cage, rocking his body back and forth as he works up the courage to jump, anger and fear building into a dangerous mix of adrenaline.
He doesn’t want to go back to Brozone, to Trollstice, to JD. So, heart in his throat, he jumps.
Instincts take over almost immediately, hair stretching out, catching the ledges of window sills, gracefully lowering himself to the cobbled street below. Spruce is grateful for his extensive training regimen, allowing him to start running, not tiring until he’d run through Bergen town.
Until he was firmly in the surrounding forest, collapsing to his knees, legs burning. In the new silence of his freedom, he laughs until he cries, without his brothers…
0o-o0
Clay left the pod in the heat of the moment with his big brother, Spruce, and he doesn’t regret it. They’d split up a few minutes after, giving each other a smile and a ‘good luck’ to their new lives without Brozone.
On his own, in the middle of the night, Clay naturally decides to go to the library - it’s public and open all day and night, perfect for him. Clay naturally grabs his favourite sad story, settling into the comfortable seat at the back of the library pod, staring at the book.
He only gets a few pages in before his eyes blur, emotions building. He stubbornly wipes his eyes, glaring at the page as he continues to read. It gets harder, now the tears have started. He clears his throat, blinking harshly as he tries to focus.
He jumps when a hand lands on his shoulder unexpectedly, turning his head to spot… Viva’s shyly smiling face, politely ignoring the redness of his eyes, the hiccups in his breath, “Are you reading another sad story, Clay?”
“Yeah, no-yeah. It’s a sad story, you know how it is,” Clay clears his throat again, closing the book, hoping she missed the fact he was only a few pages in - he hadn’t reached the sad part yet. “What’s up with you, girl? Why are you here?”
“I was looking for you, I was, uh, at the concert…” Viva tentatively starts, Clay doesn’t let her finish, “Yeah, it failed ‘cause of stupid Dory. Bossin’ us around and acting all high and mighty.”
Viva nods along silently, smile dimming, not quite understanding - the similarities and differences of their responsibilities leaving a gap in her ability to comfort her friend. But there is one thing she can do, “ Do you want to come to my pod? Dad won’t mind. We can make candy necklaces and read some sad books?”
Clay’s glare drops, looking at his friend with a soft smile, “Yeah, thank you. I’d appreciate it.”
0o-o0
Floyd enters easily, if silently, to the family hideaway. He curls up in the mountain of blankets and pillows left behind each Trollstice and struggles to sleep as the night keeps repeating in his head.
Brozone breaking up, JD leaving forever, Spruce and Clay storming out and saying bye to Branch…
Should he feel guilty? Leaving his brother so easily? Not even fighting for them?
But… he wanted a life for himself, out of this tree and, not away from, but separate from his brothers… But he promised to come back! He can explore and live like the rest of his brothers, and then in like a year or so he’ll come back for Branch, right?
0o-o0
John Dory sighed as he made his way slowly back to the family pod. He still feels emotionally rung out from yesterday when Brozone split, angry with himself, embarrassed at his childish reaction - but… he was eighteen, a grownup. He needs to suck it up and come back - he needs to carry on looking after his brothers.
…If they’d let him. Spruce, Clay and Floyd might just laugh in his face, but Branch…
Now his family had blown up spectacularly, JD supposed he had a chance to live . He’d always wanted to go to the Never Glade Trail, and now was his chance… But he didn’t want to be too hasty, like last night. He wanted to say goodbye to Gramma Rosiepuff and pack their things.
He swings up to the pod, stopping at the entrance and listening for anyone inside - all he hears is silence from the usually loud pod. Gramma and his brothers must be somewhere else.
JD sighs, but carries on with his plan, moving straight upstairs and into his room, grabbing two random, large duffel bags and putting them on the bed, wondering what to bring. A few pieces of clothing , obviously, JD thinks to himself, purposely keeping his eyes off the mini shrine of records, albums and Brozone merch he’d collected over the years.
He checked over his desk next, snorting self-deprecatingly as he tossed his song book into the bin next to the desk, “Won’t be needing that anymore,” He mumbled, but looking through his draws, he saw old art pads, pencils and a jumble of other things . After a moment of thought, he brought it all to the duffel - it will be something for them to do.
JD did a quick check under his bed and dragged out a wooden box and opened the lid, taking a long look before closing it back up. It was only some basic courting jewellery from the fans who wanted to try their luck - nothing he’d be needing, really.
He zipped the bag up and lugged it out, grabbing the other and making his way to Branch’s room.
It was a diddy room for a diddy trolling, and it didn’t have much yet, Branch being only two years old , he’s only just reached some point of independence. JD smiled and looked about, taking a recent picture with all of his brothers and Gramma smiling happily at the camera, cushioning the framed picture between stacks of Branch sized clothes .
He was still learning to read and write so JD’ll pack some good books he remembers Clay and Floyd liked, and can’t forget his stuffies . He zips up the duffel and looks around the trollings room and wonders if he’s missing anything before he hears the tell-tale sound of Gramma and Branch’s voices entering the pod.
JD exits Branches’ room, duffel in hand, and grabs his own before he goes down the stairs. He spots Gramma immediately, but not Branch - crazy kid must have run off to the living room immediately.
He chucks his duffels down to the side again and smiles when Gramma meets his eyes. Her surprised look softened into a sad smile, drawing him into a hug, talking quietly, “I really thought you had gone…”
JD shrugs awkwardly, because he had come back but not for long… And Gramma realises that soon too as she looks at the duffels. But to her credit, she just raises a brow, asking, “Two? Why you takin’ so much?”
JD blinks, explaining, “One’s for me and then for Branch. I got some clothes, books and his stuffies, but do you think he might want anything… Gramma?”
Gramma had a look on her face and JD didn’t know what to make of it. Her eyes were soft and filled with tears even as she smiled wider. She wiped her eyes and sniffed, “Oh, John Dory, my sweet boy.”
“What? What’s wrong?” JD questioned, confused. But Gramma didn’t get a chance to explain as a little squeal was heard. JD looked on instinct and spotted Branch looking like his birthday had come early. The trolling squealed again, his little feet started running, “JD!”
“Bitty B!” JD bent down, opening his arms as Branch ran into them, instinctively lifting the trolling as far as he could, getting the sweetest giggles and dropping him gently to rest on his hip, peppering kisses on Baby Branch’s cheeks.
“My goodness, what has my baby so excited?!” JD exaggeratedly gasped, watching with a smile as Branch wiggled happily, eyes flitting around his face, taking a moment to find his words, “You and- the- Clay and Floyd and Spruce and you were sad after the concert. I was, um, worried about you. But you’re back!”
“That’s very kind of you to worry, baby, but I’m okay now, and hopefully after a break, our brothers will be okay too,” JD explained, eyes locked with Branch as the trolling very seriously absorbed what he said. Gramma cleared her throat and they both turned to look at her, “I think after a bath, you can tell your big brother all about our dinner at King Peppy’s and then go to bed.”
Branch gasps in excitement, putting a hand on JD’s cheek to turn his head and starts talking immediately, “Yeah! We went to King Peppy’s for dinner and we had lots and lots of um, macaroni and I played with Viva and she told me a story…”
As Branch rambled on about his day, JD nodded and hummed in interest. JD sent his Gramma a last confused look, to which she smiled in understanding and tilted her head in the direction of the stairs.
Okay, first a bath for Branch - oh, maybe he should take some bubble bath with them, Branch likes bubbles - then an explanation later.
0o-o0
“...and-and then me and Gramma went up the tree and Gramma let me use my hair! And we came back and then you were here and I was very happy,” Branch finished his story and let out a big yawn as he watched his big brother pull his bed covers all the way up to Branch’s chin before sitting on the side of the bed, JD smiled, “That sounds so cool. And did you tell King Peppy and Viva thank you for dinner?”
Branch paused, furrowing his brows as he thought, before a sleepy smile came to his face, “Yeah. I did and I gave, um, Viva a big hug ‘cause she was sad Brozone has gone.”
“Aw, that is so kind, Branch,” JD praised, and Branch giggled bashfully, face hot and embarrassed. “Now, let’s see,” JD counted on his fingers as he faux thought, “You’ve had dinner, you’ve had a bubble bath, and you’ve told me all about your day. Gosh, what do we do next?”
“It’s bedtime, silly!” Branch giggles, yawning again. JD exaggeratedly gasps, “You're right, Branch! So would you like a lullaby tonight or not?”
Branch thought for a second, before answering, “No, I don't wanna lullaby. I want Croco.”
“Alright,” JD said, looking around the room, before suddenly remembering, “Oh, I need to go and get Croco - I put him in my bag.”
“Okay,” Branch yawns, and JD quickly jogs down the stairs, opening the offending duffel and finding Croco, jogging back up the stairs and entering Branch’s room, “Here we go.”
JD passes Branch Croco, and the trolling pushes down his covers to push the stuffie into the bed with him, smiling sleepily as the day's events catch up to him.
JD tucks both the boy and toy in, pressing a kiss to Branch and Croco’s heads. He doesn’t miss the boy whispering, “JD?”
“Yeah?” JD whispers back. He feels his face doing something odd, but trying not to show it as Branch whispers, “Are you still sad with me ‘cause of the concert?”
“No,” JD answers instantly, because it’s true, he’s sad at himself - he means mad at himself. He bites the inside of his lip, before whisper-asking Branch, “Are you sad at me? For being mean at the concert?”
“No, ” Branch says simply and pushes his sleepy body up and presses a kiss to JD's cheek, closing his eyes, ending the conversation in a way only a child can.
JD smiles at his sleeping baby, pressing one last kiss to his forehead before walking quietly out of the room, turning off the light and closing the bedroom door halfway before going downstairs.
0o-o0
JD goes into the kitchen and, naturally, finds Gramma sitting and playing card tricks. She looks up at him and he smiles, sitting at the table, not wasting any more time, “Why were you crying earlier Gramma? Is something wrong?!”
“No, no. I’m okay. Nothing’s wrong,” She sighed, putting her stack of cards down. She sighed deeply, putting a hand over his on the table, “I’m going to talk now JD, and I need you to listen. This has been long overdue.”
She takes a deep breath and looks at him, “Thank you for being such a good big brother.”
JD makes a confused sound. Where was this conversation going?
“When Terra came home, holding you in her hair - I was so happy, of course - I was going to be a Gramma. But… then, when you were about a year old, she just… up and left you. I took over, of course, you're my grandson - I love you. And then she reappeared with Spruce’s little egg .”
JD’s brain moves through the old memories of his childhood as Gramma talks, “You loved being a big brother, and whenever we asked, you’d jump to do everything you could with that boy.”
Gramma sighs, fond, wistful smile on her face, eyes wandering away with memories, before her smile dimmed a little, “ Next was Clay… I honestly can’t remember what Clay was like for the first two years… when your grandad passed away, I… Even when the grief lifted, all I could see was you being such a good boy,” Gramma wipes her eyes, and JD looks at his lap, chin wobbling and eyes burning. Gramma raised his chin with a hand, looking serious, even with tears streaming down both their cheeks.
“It was like you’d turned into a completely different little troll - not at all in a bad way but…” Gramma paused, struggling, “When you fell over, before, you’d cry and want a cuddle and need a plaster for days on end… And then… when you fell over, you’d get the first-aid kit and patch yourself and you’re brothers up…You’d grown up…”
JD looks down at his table, he doesn’t know what to think. He knows all this - he lived it. What was Gramma trying to say? She laughs hollowly, “A grown-up six-year-old.”
“And…” Gramma took a shuddering breath, “I just let it carry on. I was a Gramma, I wanted to give advice and live my own life after I raised Terra,” Gramma sobs, “God, I used to wonder where Terra got her habits from - guess I know now.”
JD didn’t know what to say. Gramma wiped her tears again, looking stubbornly back at him, “Next thing I know, Terra’s given us Floyd, and when he hatche,d you stepped up to the plate and became - their father,” Gramma shrugs and JD naturally tries to protest but stops when Gramma glares, “Don’t. You raised Floyd and you did a damn good job. You turned into their father way too young.”
“And now, you’re raising Branch.”
Gramma smiles, and it's something fragile, “I thought last night, when you left, you’d finally get to be yourself and I’d take on Branch, but no… you’ve still come back and come for him.”
JD nods silently, wiping his eyes. When he tries to talk, his throat feels swollen and his voice is weak, “Maybe in another life but…”
“You’re his daddy,” Gramma smiles sadly, knowingly, as JD’s face scrunches - not making any noise, but the tears are coming faster and hotter. Gramma stands up and walks around the table, wrapping her arms around him again, “I am so proud of you, John Dory.”
JD hugs his Gramma back, the rollercoaster of this - his lifetime - catching up and draining him of what he had left.