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“...But they’re not as good as Fizzleberries, which I discovered just outside the village when I first started foraging. When you bite into them they make a ‘fzz’ sound, and the juice is full of tiny bubbles that tickle your mouth!” Branch glanced back at his eldest brother, John Dory, and was surprised to see him actually listening. Not many trolls liked to listen to Branch ramble about his discoveries, and it made his stomach turn with excited anxiety to know someone was paying attention. The younger troll cleared his throat and turned back to look where he was stepping, unaware of the fond smile shot his way as his ears twitched happily.
John Dory was more than content to just listen to his little brother go on and on about the things he’s found. He had a plethora of weird flora and fauna to share as well, from his time on the trails, but he loved learning more about his brothers. Listening to Branch didn’t just tell him about the strange life surrounding Pop Village, it also gave him hints about Branch’s experiences and interests. And he didn’t even have to ask!
“So while Growl Beasts actively hunt for trolls, I still think adult Cuddle Pups are more dangerous. They’re bigger, faster, and quieter.” He waved his hands about as he talked, unconsciously picking up Poppy’s habit. “Growl Beasts will growl when they’re close, hence the name, so you have some warning ahead of time.”
Branch trailed off as the brothers paused to pick berries and collect some edible fungi. Despite the 20 year old tension between the two, the silence was comfortable. Nothing but the rustle of wind between leaves, and the pitter patter of little critters. His voice was much softer as he interrupted the quiet.
“Regardless, both are dangerous and should be avoided.” Branch muttered, slipping his pack back onto his shoulders. “In a group, you could probably fight them off. But alone, a troll doesn’t stand a chance unless they flee.”
“Sounds like a blast.” John grumbled sarcastically. He climbed up the side of a fallen tree in their path, and peeked back over at his brother before sliding down. “I bet Rhonda could take them on.”
His youngest brother quickly joined him on the other side of the trunk, landing with a solid thump on his feet. “Well, she is pretty big. You might win that bet.” He shrugged, and continued walking.
“Yeah she is! She’s even fought off Grubblepuffs! Probably one of the most dangerous critters I came across on the Neverglades. They look real cute, like little puffballs of fluff! Until they’re gnawing your limbs off.” JD gave an exaggerated shiver, and grinned at the little huff of a laugh he got from Branch. It wasn’t much, but any reaction he got from his little brother was like a breath of fresh air.
“Why are they called Grubblepuffs?” Branch asked, his expression a mix of amused and confused.
“The puff part is obviously from their appearance, and the grubble is because of the sound they make. It’s like… a gurgly growl?” John trailed off into a mumble, wracking his brain for words to describe the weird sound accurately. “Yeah, that’s the best I got. I don’t know, it made sense at the time.” That earned him another chuff from Branch, and JD broke out in a smug grin.
The brothers kept up a steady conversation as they continued on, and their rough edges slowly smoothed out to fit together. It was what Branch always wanted, deep down, and John Dory could see it in his brother’s face. It made the guilt in his stomach that much heavier, but seeing his baby brother any kind of happy made it easier to carry.
The bonds between all of the brothers still felt delicate and thin, making them hesitant to address it out loud. It was why Bruce was still hanging out at the bunker, even though Floyd had healed enough for him to be able to leave without worrying about him. It was why Clay made sure to return to the bunker every night without fail, no matter what he was doing. Whether it was hanging with Viva, working on integrating the Putt Putt trolls, or expanding his Sad Book Club. It was why John made sure to sleep in the bed Branch set up for him in the bunker, despite feeling anxious without Rhonda.
They would try to reassure Branch that they meant this, even though some of them would have to leave eventually. They’d come back, or at least stay in touch, even if they were too nervous to say it out loud.
“Thanks for coming with me, John Dory. It was… fun. Somehow.” Branch carefully teased, smirking at JD to hide his nerves. He squeaked in surprise as John suddenly dragged him into a side hug, grinning from ear to ear.
“Of course, lil bro!” He chuckled at the disgruntled pout on Branch’s face, and ruffled his hair. “Any time you want my help, just ask. I’ll be there.” John’s voice softened as he grew serious. The guilt and anxiety was clawing at his throat, but he needed to say it. He needed Branch to hear it. The warm pressure of his baby brother relaxing into the hug brought him out of his thoughts.
“Alright. I will.” Branch assured gently. Even when he had every right to reject John Dory. The older troll could feel his nose sting as his vision blurred with tears, and he scrunched his face up to fight it off. Branch glanced up, and had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing. It felt mean, but his brother just looked so ridiculous.
“A-are you okay?” He asked shakily, muffled behind his hand.
“Yup!” John Dory croaked. He dragged his free hand over his face, like he could wipe away his feelings, and released Branch from the hug. “I’m so okay.”
The moment was interrupted as shivers suddenly exploded up their spines. Fur stood on end, and both brothers could feel their hair stiffen in defense. Something was wrong.
Without a moment to waste, JD snagged Branch by his vest and dragged him back under his arm. His eyes carefully swept over the surrounding foliage, searching for any little sign of movement. He could feel the burn of something’s gaze on them, but he couldn’t pin down from where. His instincts screamed at him to take Branch and run, but experience told him running could make it worse when you weren’t sure what you were up against.
“Do you see anything?” Branch uttered just loud enough to be heard by his brother. John Dory grunted a negative, and spared just a second to glance down. From his position tucked against his older brother, Branch couldn’t really look around. Instead, his eyes were squinted in concentration as his ears twitched back and forth. As John goes to look back up, he feels Branch tense. In the same moment he spots movement to their right, and he springs in the opposite direction with Branch still held tight to his side.
“Stay behind me!” JD hisses, shoving his little brother back.
Creeping out of the underbrush is a lizard-looking beast nearly as long as Rhonda. It doesn’t have her bulk and size, but it’s still much bigger than a troll. Muddy scales trailing from its nose to the tip of its tail, and large slitted eyes staring very intently at John Dory. Its long tail swished over the grass, like it was taunting him, but JD refused to look away from the beast’s face.
He’s always been the type to rush in with no regard for the consequences, but he’s frozen. One misstep is all it would take. One mistake, and his baby brother could be torn to shreds by this thing. He had to think of a plan that would keep him safe, but he never got the chance.
The reptile launched at them with no warning, and John Dory didn’t have time to react before he was being yanked to the side by Branch.
“Would you pay attention?!” He shrieked, still dragging the older troll by one arm. “You’re supposed to be the experienced one!”
“R-right.” JD mumbled as he found his footing. The beast turned to them again, moving almost leisurely. It felt a little insulting, drawing John further out of his thoughts. He yanked two of his glitter bombs out of his hair. “As soon as they go off, run for it.”
Without waiting for a response, he threw both bombs at the ground just in front of the beast’s face. Thankfully, as John Dory turned to follow, Branch was already sprinting in the vague direction of the bunker. He hoped they were close enough to spot landmarks sooner rather than later, but seconds later there was a shadow flying over his head. The lizard beast landed in front of Branch and swung its tail to knock his feet out from under him.
Time seemed to slow down as John watched his brother hit the dirt. He moved on instinct, whipping his machete out of his hair and forcing himself forward faster. With a wild snarl, he leapt over his brother and swung at the beast’s face. The blade skidded over the hard scales between its eyes, and it reared back before he could land an actual blow. Adrenaline rushed through him, and as his feet hit the ground John crouched to take another jump at the lizard.
In an instant there was a tail slamming against his side, and he was flying through the air. Pain pulsed across his back and shoulders as he crashed into the trunk of a tree, driving the breath out of his lungs. John Dory caught a glimpse of his brother’s horrified expression before he landed face down in the dirt, and for precious seconds he felt too stunned to move. He desperately tried to catch his breath while staggering to his feet, leaning on the tree for support. Meanwhile Branch was trying his best to keep the lizard’s attention, throwing anything and everything he had hidden in his hair at its face.
“...and then I’ll tear your tail off and force it down your throat!” The sound of his little brother’s angry screams slowly broke through the buzzing in JD’s brain. It hurt hearing Branch like that, like he was going to fall apart. It forced John forward, gritting his teeth and snatching his machete from where he’d dropped it. He was going to enjoy ripping the bastard apart.
With the beast’s back to him now, John Dory shot his hair up to one of the lower hanging branches to yank himself up and drop down on its head. He braced his feet and dug the tips of his fingers under the scales on its face to hold steady, and as it started to try and swing him off JD plunged his machete into one of its eyes.
The screech of pain it let out made his ears ring, but he didn’t stop there. John ripped the blade back out, and reached across himself to try and get to the other eye. It wasn’t easy with the way the beast was frantically flailing about, and he quickly lost his footing. With one last ditch stab, he lodged the machete in the lizard’s other eye, and was thrown from its head. Now blinded, the beast thrashed about in a panic before diving into the underbrush.
Branch felt rooted to the spot, his whole body trembling from the adrenaline rush. He finally tore his eyes away from the lizard’s blood trailing into the bushes, and jerked his head towards his brother’s limp body.
“John!” Branch gasped, chest heaving as he fought to breathe through the panic. His vision tilted as he stumbled over to John Dory, and he dropped to his knees. “J-John, hey, p-please say something. Anything! Just please be okay!” Branch’s hands couldn’t sit still, brushing back John’s hair one second and then immediately moving to try and check the pulse in his wrist. Just as he could feel himself start to despair, there was a big warm hand against his cheek.
“M’kay… I think?” John Dory grumbled. He cracked open one eye and scrunched his face up in pain. “Ugh, ever’thin’… hurts.”
“Oh, you’re…” Branch muttered breathlessly as tears slipped down his cheeks. “You’re okay.” He placed a hand over JD’s on his cheek, and gave it a shaky squeeze. John forced his other eye open to get a proper look at his little brother, and shot him a smile as comforting as he could manage.
“I’ll be just fine. Promise.” As awareness came back to him, the wobble and slur in his voice left. The smile grew into a teasing grin. “I’ll be even better when we figure out how to get me back home.”
“Right.” Branch sniffled and chuckled, letting his older brother wipe away the tears still on his face.
They moved slow, but Branch eventually got John Dory on his feet. His machete was a lost cause, still stuck in the lizard’s face, and his goggles had been flung off somewhere in the scuffle. Bruising peeked out from the back of his vest, stretching across his shoulders, and his nose was starting to bleed. It was worth it though, John Dory was absolutely sure of that as he glanced down at Branch tucked under his arm to help him walk. He’d do it again in an instant if he had to, for any of his brothers.
“You are not to move from that couch, do you understand me?” Bruce growled, gently shoving JD’s face against the cushions. The eldest was laid on the couch face down, multiple ice packs strewn across his back. Floyd and Clay were in the kitchen, whipping up something for them all to eat, while Bruce was on bedside duty. Which, with John Dory, deserved pay.
“I understand that you’re being dramatic! I’m fine, it’s just some bruising. I’ve had worse!” JD whined, but didn’t move from his spot. He saw Branch move just out of the corner of his eye, and reached out to gently run his fingers through the youngest’s hair. He was passed out leaning against the couch, having refused to leave John’s side even as the adrenaline crash hit.
“ That makes me feel worse! ” Bruce roared, somehow not waking Branch. He angrily threw a blanket over John Dory’s legs, and carefully moved the ice packs to check the bruising even as he yelled. “I swear to a higher power if there is one, if you so much as move one leg off this couch I will drag you to your bed by your hair! Do not test me, John Dory!”
The threats shouldn’t make him feel all warm and fuzzy, but they did. JD tried to hide his dopey grin in the couch cushion, but Floyd caught a glimpse of it as he left the kitchen. He patted Bruce on the shoulder as he walked up, smiling contently.
“This reminds me of whenever John Dory would get sick. You were the only one that could wrangle him into resting.” Floyd reminisced as he took a seat on the arm of the couch by John’s feet. “Guess that hasn’t changed.”
“So what you’re saying is, JD always has and always will be a pain in our asses.” Clay grumbled, joining his brother’s in the living area. “Fantastic.”
John tried to lift his head with an incredulous “Hey!” But was quickly shoved back down into the cushion by Bruce.
“But would you have it any other way?” Floyd asked with a cheeky grin that only grew as Clay huffed and looked away, not denying it.
“John Dory will always be John Dory.” Bruce said with a dramatic sigh, but the fond smile on his face gave it away. They loved their big brother just as he was, hassle and all.
“Love you guys too!” JD’s yell was muffled by the couch cushion since he couldn’t be bothered to turn his head. It sent his brothers into a fit of laughter, even Branch gave a quiet snicker as he slowly woke up to the tail end of the conversation. He’d never felt so content, seeing his brothers smiling and laughing together as JD’s fingers still gently brushed through his hair.