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In hindsight, they should have seen this coming.
Especially Branch.
It’s just… so many things happened. None of them had any time to reflect on what they’d been through, what they put their youngest through. Troll’s old habit of burying negative emotions really died hard, and it didn’t help one bit. That one outburst inside Rhonda hardly qualified as them properly addressing the issue. They managed to save Floyd, and that was all that mattered.
Or so they thought.
Returning to Trollstopia, Branch was acutely aware of something bubbling inside him, now that danger had passed. That unnerving feeling whenever he looked at his older brothers worsened when he had to interacted with them. But Floyd was so weak from that near death experience, he had to put a lid on it. His brother’s wellbeing must be his first priority. Whatever he felt, Branch could deal with later.
He couldn’t be more wrong.
Moonbloom had no problem fixing Floyd up, almost in a jiffy. Turned out, getting his talent sucked out of him was just half the problem. His brother was left to starve. A proper diet, some rehabilitation exercises to get his circulation going, and he’s back on his feet in no time.
Then there came his brothers’ request to see the town. Who was Branch to deny them? It gave them a reason to stick together, if only for a while longer.
They shouldn’t have visited that music store that day.
Clay could have paid attention to any other instrument.
Yet his eyes fell on that piano.
Still, Branch could just stay away, instead of wanting to try it.
The moment his fingers glided over the keys, his dam broke.
One note, two note… then the melody spilled over all by itself. Branch’s hands moved like he’d been possessed.
“When my brothers loved me”
Troll’s natural music talent could be both a blessing and a curse. Given the many plights they’d gone through, one would think it’s the latter. For the exceptional like BroZone, or in this case, their youngest, it’s even worse. Noise around him slowly faded into nothingness. Only his brothers remained.
“Everything was beautiful
Every hour we sang together
Lives within my heart”
Something in the corner of his eyes moved, likely their lips calling out for him, but Branch just… couldn’t stop. That one thing he’s forced to put a lid on, now overflowed like a flood, and there’s little he could do beside letting it play out.
“And when I was scared
They were there to dry my tears
And when they were happy, so was I
When they loved me”
Bruce moved closer, but Clay put his arm out to stop him. Floyd clung to John Dory’s vest like his life depended on it. By the tone of Branch's voice, the melancholy piano accompanied it… it wasn’t hard for them to see where this was heading.
“Through the summer and the fall
We had each other, that was all
Just us brothers together
Like it was meant to be”
Branch could feel a chill running down his spine. He’s losing grip on whatever little control left of his emotions. What scared him more was… he wanted to. He knew he’s making a scene. Every other shopper, as well as the shopkeeper now had their eyes on them. And… sad as this song might be, it captivated them.
“And when they were sad
I was there to comfort them
And I knew that they loved me”
His fingers moved ever so gracefully slow across the keyboard. He could stop anytime, or any of his brothers could step in to pull him away. Yet… they’re all stuck in place like their feet were bolted to the floor.
“But…”
Tear welled up in his eyes. Branch found his voice cracking. But it was all too late. Here went everything.
“From that fateful night
I stayed the same
While they began to drift away
I was left alone
Still, I waited for the day
When they'd say: "I will always love you""
Tear freely rolled down his cheeks now, yet he barely registered it. At this point, nothing else existed except for Branch, his brothers, and the accursed piano that he’s sitting at, emotions unable to contain.
“Lonely and forgotten
Never thought they'd come back here
And they smiled at me and held me
Just like they used to do
Like they loved me
When they loved me”
Each word, each note was like knives running across his skin. Branch wasn’t a stranger to pain, but this kind of self-inflicted one was different. It’s a necessary one. His only regret was how they all saw him publicly breaking down.
“When my brothers loved me
Everything was beautiful
Every hour we spent together
Lives within my heart
When they loved me”
Dead silence reigned over the shop. Without realizing, his brothers and even other trolls had been closing in on him. Branch jerked his hands away from the keyboard as if it’s made of lava.
“I… I…” He stammered. “I’m sorry… I don’t know what came over me…”
“Shh.” John Dory’s arms enveloped him. The others followed suit, shielding him from view as well as blocking his vision. Branch buried his face into that worn leather vest, allowing himself to heave.
He barely recognized Poppy’s voice over the muffled noise. He later learned she and the Snack Pack had done their best distracting the crowd. Their intervention allowed BroZone to slip away and back to Branch’s bunker. His legs gave out the moment they reached the hatch.
“We’re sorry, Branch. We’re so, so, sorry…”
Whispered apologies repeatedly filled his ears, with arms embracing him all the way down the elevator. They carried him to the couch, piling pillows behind his back. The patchy furniture had only three seats, but they managed to squeeze in, just to wedge him safely between them.
“You’ve been holding it in all this time, dontcha bro?” John Dory knelt in front of Branch, hands on his knees.
Unable to trust his voice at that moment, Branch only gave a small nod.
“Well… we’re here if you wanna talk about it.”
Another small nod.
That night, none of them slept alone. And for the first time in years, Branch felt that familiar warmth aside from Poppy’s…