"No, John! Give me one good reason why I should be going with you right now!"
After John Dory, Branch's long lost and eldest brother, had suddenly and unexpectedly showed up to the Bergen King and Queen, Bridget and Gristle's wedding, everything was madness. He had tried to convince his younger brother to embark on a quest to retrieve the rest of their brothers and get their old band back.
And of course, given their past and how much it damaged him for nearly his entire life along with other events that followed, this obviously frustrated the poor troll, way more than the fact that he just rudely interrupted his two friends' wedding.
Poppy, standing next to him, could see how he was beginning to get more and more stressed out by the minute, which in turn and in response, caused her to worry for him, but she didn't know what to do other than to let the two hopefully talk things out.
"Aw come on Branchhh! Branchhh my guyyy," John walked over to him with a smirk and ruffled his hair only to have his hand quickly swatted away by the blue-grayish troll.
"Never again-"
Right after that moment, John, unknowingly, made the mistake of asking two specific questions to him.
"Don't you miss the band? Don't you miss us?"
And just like that, right then and there, Branch felt like he was going to lose his mind.
He stopped talking for a minute or two and looked down at the ground whilst holding a genuinely astonished expression on his face.
Even more worried now, Poppy eventually called to him putting a hand on his arm gently.
"Branch?"
John looked more confused than worried and was about to speak up as well until Branch finally spoke again.
"Wow.." Branch shook his head for few seconds, then slowly returned his gaze to his brother.
"You really think you have the right to say that to me?"
Now John was even more confused.
"What are you talking abou-"
"You left, ALL of you left, and the first thing you say to me, face to face after so many years, is ask if I miss you? Or the stupid band?"
Branch didn't mean it when he called the band stupid, it was one of the things that meant everything to him, but he was just so understandably angry and hurt so of course he couldn't help it, nor did he even care to control it.
As he continued talking, he took slow, aggressive but light steps closer to John.
"How selfish can you be?!"
Though he had no reason to, JD looked slightly offended at the callout his younger brother just made towards him.
Raising his hands to his chest, he attempted to defend himself.
"Hey, whoa, whoa, I'm not-"
"Yeah, you are," Branch interrupted him for the second time; John's lack of self awareness would slowly begin to drive him to the edge and he now felt he had more of a reason to not hold back on anything.
"You always have been, and you leaving was the last nail in the coffin." He mumbled that last part, turning his head slightly to the left to look away from him once again.
John stood there speechless, holding a similar astonished face to what Branch held before, not knowing how to respond to what was rightfully said before him.
Poppy stood speechless as well, wanting to comfort her boyfriend desperately but didn't know how to, and she really didn't wanna jump into their conversation despite them having it right in front of her, so she figured just being there for him would be best for now until she felt she had a pass to speak.
Suddenly, though, Branch began to completely turn away and walk off on his own, not even thinking much about it.
Feeling bad for John but feeling worse for Branch, she looked back and forth at the two for a few seconds before obviously deciding to wander after her partner.
She didn't say anything but just stayed by his side while they walked, grabbing hold of one of his hands, and to Branch that meant everything.
John, feeling perplexed with his emotions after the twists and turns of events that just occured, was very much less confident now.
But, nevertheless, he wouldn't give up just yet.
"Branch, hold on," He began to call out to him.
Branch pretended to not hear him, although his voice was starting to get drained out from the gradual distance between them due to how long they've been walking, which was only for a few minutes, but there was still quite a distance.
Poppy did happen to look back a few times and felt a strong urge to answer, because of course, she was Poppy, but in spite of such, she respected and loved her boyfriend and understood what he was feeling, and wanted to be with him after this difficult situation, even if deep down she didn't want to just leave this broken bridge behind.
She could definitely tell that because he was so hurt and angry at him, Branch most definitely still loved his brother, so of course he would express the pain that he felt after he stepped out of his life and suddenly came back saying all these nonsensical things and not even taking a moment to consider or talk about how his baby brother may have been feeling.
But again, she wouldn't make him do anything, not if he wasn't ready, not if he wasn't comfortable, and for a situation like this, it really wasn't her place to anyway.
"Branch, wait!" John began to slowly jog after his little brother, much to said brother's unamusement,
"There.. there's more to this than just getting our band- I-I mean our brothers back, you just gotta let me explain!"
That was true, there was definitely more than John was letting on, but beforehand when he arrived, he wasn't planning on explaining in the way he is trying to right now.
Now that got Poppy's attention, but not Branch's.
"I don't want you to explain anything else, I've already heard all I needed to hear.." Branch spoke up and started to slow down his steps, but still continued walking.
"How can I just believe you? How am I supposed to believe you're not just using me right now or.. or planning to use me then get rid of me all over again?!"
"Branch.." Poppy mumbled, sliding her hand up to his shoulder as she gave him a solemn glance, and that caused him to stop in his tracks completely.
She didn't word it verbally, but just by how she was looking at him and from her body language, she wanted and hoped that she was trying to tell him to at least try and hear him out, not for John, but himself. After all this time and what he's been through he did deserve to know the truth.
But leaning onto John's side, though Poppy definitely did not know John or his situation with Branch like Branch did and definitely was not sympathizing with him because she knew now that he was for sure in the wrong, she knew herself well to remember that she did still believe in seeing the good in people when they've done erroneous and have believed they've seen the error of their ways and want to fix it, and felt as Branch's oldest brother he should have that light shone upon him, for Branch as much as himself.
Branch didn't turn to look at her but didn't push her away either, and from the corner of his eye he could tell what she was trying to say.
But he reached to his shoulder to take her hand into his and shook his head slowly, indicating he wasn't ready, and just wanted to get out of there and be alone.
Poppy slowly nodded, understanding how he was feeling and would not push him any longer, squeezing his hand as she returned the gesture kindly.
She took one last look at John, a slightly glum expression she held, then turned back around to continue walking away with Branch.
It wasn't over, though, because John still wouldn't give up.
"Branch- Branch!"
It took him a few seconds for him to get this next part out as he felt stuck, but what he said after would change everything.
"Floyd's been kidnapped!"
Branch stopped.
Poppy stopped, not even a few seconds after.
His hand would slowly lose grip of her hand as he stared out into the open, and after hearing the shocking news and seeing his reaction, she would immediately proceed to look over at him with worry all over again.
"..what?"
John repeated himself in a calmer manner, and just hearing the words again would only make Branch feel worse than what he was feeling earlier.
Floyd was the closest he had ever been to out of all of his brothers, and they would do most of everything together. Though he was upset at him for leaving as well, hearing that he got kidnapped just made him feel sick.
Floyd was all Branch knew besides Brozone and his Grandmother. He was there when his Grandmother was away or his brothers just couldn't be bothered to be around him. It wasn't that they didn't care, but they, being older, just had more interest in themselves and in their band rather than some baby, despite that baby being their younger brother.
But Floyd would wake up everyday excited to play with his baby brother whenever he got the chance, or when he wasn't occupied with anything else, and was part of the reason their older brothers would even begin to pay a little more attention to Branch.
All that sadly changed, though, when he told him these last few words, before he would remove himself from his life for the next twenty years,
"Branch, we're out of sync, we've gone from boys to men and now there's only one direction for us to go.. the backstreets."
Ever since then, Branch still never found a way to properly interpret those words.. did he not love him anymore, was it his fault he and everyone else left? Was he.. not good enough for them?
Either way, it caused him a great amount of pain for the longest time and he would never forget how much someone who meant a lot to him hurt him.
Despite all that though, after he was told what was just told, his feelings started to change a little.
But he had to know if it was true or not before he could confirm those feelings.
"How do you know this?" Branch slowly turned his head towards John's direction.
John took a few steps closer after this and Branch took a small hesitating step back, his older brother getting the picture and stopping in his tracks.
"I uh.. the truth is, I've been around a lot after we all left.."
After a little while, John would finish up his story of how he found out about Floyd getting kidnapped, and how he made his way here. Everything was extremely complicated and Branch and Poppy almost didn't know what to think of most of it. New villains, new territories, kidnapped brothers?
"So that's why I need you to come with me, little brother. We need to go save Floyd."
It wasn't that Branch didn't believe him, but when he first arrived he didn't seem like he was all that worried about their brother being taken away by some people they didn't even know, and to add salt to the wound, those people apparently weren't trolls or bergens, so it made this even more confusing and stressful.
"Well.. it didn't seem like Floyd was your biggest concern when you came to ruin my friends' wedding just to come see me. How am I supposed to believe you're doing this for him and not just the band?" He retorted righteously while crossing his arms.
Apparently just like Branch used to have (and still sometimes has), John had an issue with proper social cues and just seemed to be completely ignorant of his lack of self awareness, which would explain his reintroduction to everyone prior.
"I know, I know, not the best idea- I just wanted everyone to know that I'm still cool and stuff you know so I just- kinda did that ahahaha.."
He stopped his chuckling when he saw Branch's facial expression didn't change.
"But but seriously though, I know I messed up before, but I can make it up to you.. if you help me get our kidnapped and not kidnapped brothers back, and we can fix all this! The not kidnapped brothers have to be first though because getting Floyd will prooobably be pretty dangerous, and we'll need all the help we can get.." He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Did you see what the people who took him looked like?" Poppy spoke up, expressing her worry for the second youngest Brozone brother.
"No, I didn't, but I should've tried to look more. I only saw their legs and gosh they're tall, I mean after that there's no way I'd wanna look at them anymore." John shuddered.
Branch contemplated what his next decision would be. Yes, he was upset at Floyd for leaving him behind along with his other brothers, but should he let that get in the way of how much he truly still cared, and of what was important right now, which was making sure he would get a safe rescue home from these unknown abductors?
At that very moment, he took a deep inhale and exhale, putting all of his feelings and trauma to the side, to be able make the right choice.
He looked up then walked forward, closing the rest of the distance between him and John.
"You got a plan?"
John began to smile a little hearing this.
"Uhhh no, actually no, but I have a caterbus! Her name's Rhonda and-"
"Yeah okay, we'll think of one on the way, now if you will-" Branch gestured his hand to imply that he wanted John to lead them to where the caterbus was.
John said nothing more and just nodded, forcing a smile as he turned around and marched, trying to hold a more positive mood.
His marching would slow down a little though when Branch would say this from a few centimeters behind,
"Just to keep things clear if they're somehow not by now, I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing this for Floyd."
John didn't respond for the next few seconds, but soon replied saying,
"Hear ya loud and clear bro! Just glad you're coming with me."
Branch just crossed his arms again and continued to walk behind him, but slowed down a little when he felt a light touch on his shoulder.
"I'll go with you." Poppy said, walking next to him.
"No, Poppy, it's fine, really, you can stay here-"
"No! I wanna be there for you and make sure everything goes okay, I know this was already a big decision for you and you're still hurt, I'm going."
"But, you really don't ha-"
"I'm going and you're not talking me out of it."
It was Poppy's turn to cross her arms now.
Branch sighed and didn't try anymore after that, a small smile forming on the corners of his lips. He was grateful he had such a supportive and loving girlfriend and he honestly wanted nothing more than for her to come, he'd definitely feel better with her there.
For once he actually adored her stubbornness in such a serious situation like this.
"I just don't want you to feel like you have to go.. plus, you heard John, those people sounded dangerous." He reached down to take her hand gently.
Poppy smiled and squeezed his hand again.
"Branch, I most definitely have a choice, and I'm making the choice to go with you. I wanna be with you through all of this, you would've done the same for me."
She leaned in to kiss him on his cheek softly.
"And hey come on, I'm a strong troll, you know that by now! I mean what haven't we been through together for you to not know that at this point?"
Branch chuckled giddily and rubbed the back of his neck in response to her sweet gesture.
"Thanks Pops, I know you are."
"Hey, you two comin 'or what?!" John shouted from a few inches away, for a minute they forgot they were going with him.
"Yeah hold your horses!" Branch shouted back, keeping hold of Poppy's hand as they caught up to him.
"Ahh I see your girlfriend aka the Queen's gonna be joining us?" John smirked as he put his hands on his hips.
"You know very well I'm not in the mood for this-" Branch replied sternly.
"Yep, got it, I'll tease you later."
John had a finger pointed at him and turned back around with the same finger pointing forward, then got back to walking.
Poppy couldn't help but smile a little at this interaction, she had hope that Branch would be able to repair his relationships with his brothers. Even if it took a while, it would all be worth it in the end.
Meanwhile, all Branch could think about was Floyd, hoping that wherever he was right now, he was okay. Though he did grow anxious thinking about how it would be seeing his two other brothers after so long, his mind just kept drawing back to him no matter what.
We're on our way, Floyd. Hang tight.