Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

They quieted down as they entered the kitchen where Bruce is cooking.

They crawled across the ceiling silently, getting closer to him.

"Bruce!" Floyd called.

He turned around, looking confused when he didn't see Floyd behind him, "Floyd?"

Floyd and Branch stood up, both of them giggling like demonic little girls.

Bruce's eyes widened when he saw them and he took off running with a girly shriek, "JOHN! CLAY! THEY'RE BACK, THE DEMONS! THEY'VE GOT BRANCH AND FLOYD! HOLY FUCK!" He screamed.

John and Clay are in the living room, looking confused and concerned by Bruce's screams as he stumbles into the room, grabbing a broom to protect himself.

Two seconds later, Branch and Floyd crawled in, still on the ceiling.

John and Clay froze for a moment.

Clay giggled and slightly pointed at them, then he fainted.

John caught him and harshly shook him, which thankfully woke him up.

"BRUCE GIMME THE DAMN BROOM! CLAY GO CALL EVERY DAMN PRIEST FROM EVERY TROLL GENRE AND BRUCE GO GET SOME HOLY WATER!" He screamed.

The younger two ran off to go do as he said.

But he stayed behind and pointed the broom at Branch and Floyd who both had tears in their eyes from laughing so hard.

Branch crawled closer to him, reaching for the broom.

He screamed like a little girl and dropped the broom, running away, "EVACUATE! EVACUATE! OH MY TROLL GOD! RUN! BRUCE, COME ON!"

Bruce paled and quickly chased after him, the youngest two laughing as they crawled after them.

"Brucie~ Johnny~" Branch sang, "Come out to play~"

They both screamed as loud as they could and hurried to the elevator, quickly making it go up.

Branch and Floyd took this moment to catch their breath.

"Did you see their faces?!" Floyd laughed, falling onto his back as he laughed.

Branch cackled, "We need to be more creepy! How high can you make your voice?"

Floyd smirked, "Baby bro, I love the way you think."

Branch grinned, "Let's do this."

-With Clay-

Clay ran through pop village, ignoring worried shouts of other trolls as he barged into a large meeting area where all the leaders are.

"GIVE ME YOUR PRIESTS!" He screamed.

Viva ran over to him and grabbed his hand, rubbing his back, "Clay! Clay, breathe. There you go, in and out, in and out, good...now what's going on?"

Clay grabbed Viva's shoulders and began shaking her as he screamed, "I TOLD YOU THAT FLOYD AND BRANCH WERE DEMONS! I TOLD YOU! I TOLD YOU!"

Viva was becoming dizzy as Delta Dawn walked over and pulled Viva away from Clay.

She put a hand on Clay's shoulder, "Use your words, sugar."

He took a deep breath, "We need all the priests we can get so we can save Branch and Floyd from the demons inside them!"

Trollex floated over, "Why would you think they have demons in th-?"

He got cut off by a high pitch scream.

Everyone turned to where it came from and Clay whimpered, "They're here...or at least Branch is.." he mumbled...

Poppy stared at Clay for a moment, "There's no way that was Branch. It was so high!"

Clay whimpered again and clung to Viva, "I can't go through this again...NOT AGAIN!" He screamed.

"What do you mean, 'Again'?" Trollex asked.

He fiddled with his fingers nervously, "B-Back when we lived together, th-they would do this all the time, nothing could make them stop! We called priests, used the Bible, and Bruce even threw holy water at them...and you know what the worst part was?"

Delta Dawn looked concerned, "What?"

Clay looked at them with haunted eyes, "They would scream bloody murder when they'd get hit with the holy water..." he whimpered.

There was another shriek and Clay hid under the table.

Everyone glanced at eachother.

Chapter Text

Bruce and John are running for their lives through pop village, ignoring worried shouts as they run into the meeting room.

They both immediately notice Clay under the table and they dive under with him.

They all huddled together, Clay being between the two oldest.

Viva kneeled down in front of them, along with Poppy and Delta Dawn.

"It's play time~" a voice cooed.

"Come out and play with us, big brothers~" the next sang.

Bruce whimpered and Clay cuddled closer to him as JD began to mumble a prayer under his breath.

The two voices giggled and spoke in unison, "We wanna have fuuuuuun~"

Trollex looked around everywhere but couldn't find anything, when suddenly, he was pulled up to the ceiling.

"HELP! HELP! OH MY-" Trollex went silent.

Clay nearly burst into tears as Bruce and John huddled even closer to him.

Branch laughed sweetly, allowing them to see him crawl on the walls, staring at them all.

"You lost big brothers~"

Floyd crawled down next to him and smirked, "You weren't playing the game right~" He cooed.

Everyone stared at them in horror.

Then they all ran out, screaming for priests, even Barb looked terrified!

Floyd chuckled and went to free Trollex who immediately took off running with a loud scream.

Branch giggled, "This is fun."

Floyd nodded, "I agree."

Chapter Text

Every nosy troll who had surrounded the entrance where the leaders were, jumped back as the doors slammed open and they ran out screaming.

Synth was concerned, his king hadn't come out yet.

It was a few seconds later when Trollex ran out screaming.

Delta Dawn ran over to him and dragged him farther away, "Trollex, are you okay?" She asked.

He looked petrified but he nodded.

Synth quickly floated over, "What's going on?"

Trollex took a shaky breath, "Don't. Synth, don't go in that room."

He looked up at Delta Dawn, "Why...?"

She put her hands on Synth's shoulders, "Listen here, sugar. There's some demons in there and it's in your best interest, not to go in there, ya hear?"

He was more confused now, "Demons? What do you mean?"

Trollex took a deep breath and looked Synth in the eye, "Your boyfriend and his brother. They've gotten possessed by demons."

Synth raised an eyebrow, "Is Branch on the ceiling again? I told him to stop doing that..especially after the holy water incident.." he mumbled.

Clay ran over to them and shook Synth, "DO YOU KNOW HOW TO STOP HIM?! HE'S THE RING LEADER AND THEY'RE ENCOURAGING EACHOTHER!"

Bruce and JD ran over.

"Yeah, if we take out one of them, the other will stop." JD said.

Bruce nodded, "They always did everything together, they still do. If one of them couldn't or wouldn't do something, then the other wouldn't either."

Synth stared at them for a moment, "Yeah, I can make him stop, but if he's having fun I don't wanna take that away from him..."

By now, the other leaders had surrounded them.

Barb walked over and grabbed his shoulders, "Please."

He sighed, "Is it really that bad?"

Trollex nodded, "When they grabbed me they tied me to the ceiling by one of the light things and when they scared you all off, Floyd came back and they set me free."

Synth smiled, "See? They don't mean any harm! They're just having fun!"

"YEAH, HAVING FUN TORMENTING US!" Clay, Bruce, and JD screamed.

Barb crossed her arms, "Are you telling me...they only showed up...because of you three..?"

Clay shuddered, "They always loved how we would scream.."

Bruce nodded, "They loved watching us run from them.."

"Don't forget how they love traumatizing us. You remember the first and last time we all ganged up on them and tickled them until they nearly passed out? They got us back tenfold." JD said.

Bruce and Clay shuddered, "Never tickling them like that again." Bruce said.

Clay nodded with wide eyes, "I still don't know how they managed to make the blanket float..and Bitty B's screams that day..." he curled in on himself a bit, "He shattered so many windows.."

Barb deadpanned, "This all started...because you fucking tickled them?"

Bruce shook his head, "No, no! They would've done this eventually. That was a reason of the past. We don't know why they've started up again. It could be for their own entertainment." He shrugged.

Chapter Text

Synth cooed, "Awww...Dubstep is entertaining himself! He's having fun, you guys are his older brothers, shouldn't you be happy he's having fun?"

The oldest three brothers stared at him.

"I don't want you anywhere near Branch." Clay said.

"Or Floyd." JD said.

Bruce shook his head, "We can't have you encouraging them."

Synth sighed, "Come on! I'm sure it's fine!" He said, walking towards the room.

"Dubstep?" He called.

Branch's head popped into their sight, he's on the wall above the door, upside-down.

"Synth!" He said happily, reaching for a hug.

Floyd stopped him, "Hold on, bro..this could be a trap.."

Branch pulled his arms back and nodded at Floyd, "Right, thanks."

Floyd nodded, "Of course, man."

They grinned at eachother.

"Sorry, Synth! I can't trust you until we're done terrorizing our brothers, which won't be for a while. We can go on a date soon though!" Branch said as he and Floyd crawled back up to the ceiling.

Everyone watch the door slam closed in front of Synth.

Synth turned back to the leaders slowly, "They need to be stopped." He said, wanting to go on his date with Branch the day it was planned rather than later.

Chapter Text

Barb smirked, "Awwww, did you get blown off by your boyfriend?"

Clay snickered, "You're his boyfriend, shouldn't you be happy he's having fun?"

Bruce and JD laughed at Synth's upset look.

"Well...look, I didn't know that him being a chaotic little gremlin meant that he wouldn't go on our date!" He huffed.

Trollex was about to say something when two high pitch laughs came from the meeting room.

The brothers took off running with loud screams.

"NO, NO, NO!"

"VIVA, HELP!"

"NOT AGAIN, SHIT!"

Viva caught Clay who tried to run by her and she pat his back gently, "There, there..deep breath..."

"SOMEONE GET MY WIFE!" Bruce shrieked.

JD looked at him, "WHAT WOULD SHE BE ABLE TO DO?!"

"SHE COULD HOLD ONTO THEM UNTIL THEY CALM DOWN OR FALL ASLEEP!"

"WHAT THEN? AND WHAT IF THEY BITE HER?!"

"SHE'S A MOTHER OF 13 SHE CAN CALM THEM WITH EASE!"

"YOU'RE THE FATHER OF 13 AND THEIR OLDER BROTHER!"

"YOU'RE OUR OLDEST BROTHER! GO BE OUR SACRIFICE!"

"A SACRIFICE TO THEM? NO FUCKING WAY IN HELL! I'D RATHER BE SACRIFICED TO DEMONS THEN BRANCH AND FLOYD!"

"OKAY, CALM DOWN!" Delta Dawn screamed.

Bruce and JD looked at her.

Clay glanced up from Viva's shoulder.

She took a deep breath,  "I know you're all petrified of your baby brothers, admittedly, we are too." She gestured to the other leaders and herself.

"But, if we all work together, we can calm them down."

Synth nodded, "Yeah! Just keep Floyd away from Branch, I can stop him but not with Floyd there. If Branch is the ring master, then he's also like a puppet. Floyd is keeping him close and away from me, so even if I get close, Floyd will be there to stop Branch."

Bruce, JD, and Clay all looked at eachother.

"We can get Floyd's attention." They said in unison.

Barb sighed, "I can help you guys, you're obviously scared of them."

Viva nodded, "I'll also help!"

Clay shuddered, "Oh, while we're terrified of Floyd, he ain't the one we're petrified of. Bitty B...he's...he's something else..."

Bruce nodded, "He's a special one."

JD bit his thumb nervously, "Oh ho, yeah..."

Chapter Text

Branch laughed in the highest pitch he could get, which is honestly, pretty high.

Floyd cackled and crawled next to him, "You ready, baby bro?"

He nodded, "I was fucking born ready!"

Floyd smirked, "I know you were, bud."

They stared at eachother before laughing.

Then they both slammed open the doors, startling everyone outside them.

They both crawled out and climbed up the side of the building.

"Johnny~" Branch sang.

Floyd smirked at them, "We caught you~" He cooed.

"Brucie~"

Floyd cackled, "You're next~!"

Branch then looked at Clay, crawling down the side of the building and hopping to the ground, getting close to Clay with Floyd close behind him.

"CC~"

"Be ready~" Floyd giggled.

The three older brothers looked ready to faint.

Bruce flicked holy water at them.

Branch screeched bloody murder as Floyd hissed at them and shrieked.

Delta Dawn paled, holy water hurts them. Got it.

Barb looked terrified, literal demons. The both of them.

Trollex looked concerned but horrified.

Poppy and Viva clung to eachother, staring at Branch and Floyd nervously.

Synth sighed, "You okay, Dubstep? Come here.." he said, kneeling down a few feet away from Branch.

Branch shook off the holy water and whimpered.

Floyd growled demonicly and grabbed Branch, dragging him back into the building.

"Are you okay, angel?"

Branch nodded, "I think..but it really hurt.."

Floyd nodded, "I know, buddy, I know..but we can get them all back. Let's go gather some blankets!" He gigiggled.

He bounced in place happily, "Really, really?!"

Floyd laughed and nodded, "Yeah! This is how we'll get them back!"

Chapter Text

Bruce sighed, he hated hurting them with holy water but it had to be done.

JD was pale, "Bro, they said they caught me.."

Clay stared at him for a moment, "What do you think that means, bro?"

"It means I'm already done for." He mumbled.

He quickly began to scream, "SAVE YOURSELVES WHILE YOU STILL CAN!"

Delta Dawn walked over to JD, laying her hand on his shoulder as he freaked out, "Now hold on there, sugar. We'll help ya catch the little rascals!"

Trollex nodded, "Synth said he would help, so it should be a bit easier now!"

Barb nodded, "Yeah! And since most of us are going against one of them, it'll be an easy win!"

Clay shook his head, "You shouldn't underestimate either of them. They truly are little devils."

Bruce nodded, "When we go in, we need to be prepared for literally anything and everything."

JD's breath shuddered, "Yeah.."

Chapter Text

Branch giggled, everything was ready for when they came back in!

Floyd smirked, he can't wait for those screams.

The doors slammed open and the leaders ran in, most of them splitting off to one side, a few going to the other side, and Synth staying in the middle of the room.

Their older brothers were no where in sight.

Branch huffed, "Damn it.."

Trollex screamed and ran right back out the doors, "FLOATING BLANKET! FLOATING BLANKET!"

Barb growled, seeing a hint of pinkish red in the corner of her eye.

She smirked, there's Floyd..

She jumped at him and tackled him.

Floyd screamed as he was tackled off the wall, "BRANCH DON'T STOP! DON'T LET THEM CATCH YOU!"

Branch heard his screams and he growled, "Fuck.."

Barb struggled to hold Floyd down, "STAY DOWN! STAY!" She screamed.

Delta Dawn hurried over, grabbing Floyd's arms as Barb grabbed his legs.

"ON THREE! ONE, TWO, THREE, LIFT!" Delta shouted.

They both lifted Floyd and carried him out as he screamed bloody murder.

"BRAAAAAANNNNCH!"

"SYNTH, GET BRANCH WHILE WE'VE GOT FLOYD!"

They carried Floyd out of the room.

They ignored the staring trolls as they pinned Floyd to the ground.

"STAY DOWN!" Barb commanded him, like he was a dog.

Floyd growled and tried to bite Delta who pulled her arm back to avoid being bit.

He now had a hand free, he tried to punch Barb, but he was quickly stopped when Clay grabbed his hand, pinning it back down.

JD hurried over, helping Barb pin down his legs.

Bruce took a deep breath and kneeled next to Floyd, he had no idea if this would work, but it was worth a shot..

"Floyd." He said sternly, looking his brother in the eye.

Floyd glanced at him, still struggling.

He put a gentle pressure on Floyd's chest, "Floyd. Calm down. Now. Or else."

Floyd cackled, "OR ELSE WHAT?! FUCKING COWARD!"

He sighed, this most likely wouldn't work, but it would probably make him laugh..

Which would calm him down a bit.

"Or else I'll put you in time out."

For a moment everyone stopped and stared at him.

But then Floyd whined, "No! That's no fair! You guys mess with us and none of you go in time out!"

Bruce himself was shocked that his threat had worked, "Well, that's because we're older then you two!"

Floyd pouted, "Stupid age differences!"

Chapter Text

Synth sighed as he was left alone in the room with Branch.

He won't lie, he's a tiny bit afraid about what Branch has planned..

"Dubstep? Come on! We can go on our date now, right?"

He looked around, finally seeing Branch sitting in the corner.

Upside-down...

On the damn ceiling...

"Dubstep! Come here, are you okay, love?"

Branch bit his lip, he desperately wanted Synth to comfort him after he got holy water flicked at him.

But he can't!

He promised Floyd he would stay strong!

Synth sighed and quickly came up with an idea, "If you come down here right now, we can cuddle for however long you want!"

Synth barely got to finish talking when Branch was curled up in his arms, and cuddled close to him.

Chapter Text

Synth chuckled, hugging Branch tight, "Awww, Dubstep.." he cooed.

He smiled as Branch cuddled closer.

He held him tight and walked out of the room, ignoring the shocked looks of most trolls.

Barb looked like she was short circuiting, "He was stopped by a threat of time out...how did...how...Synth how did you stop that one..?"

He smiled, "Love, comfort, and patience~!"

JD knelt in front of him, his head bowed, "Thank you so fucking much."

Clay actually kissed the ground around his fins, "You. Are. Awesome." He said, kissing the ground between words.

Bruce sighed in relief, holding a pouting Floyd on his hip, "Thank you for stopping him."

He felt a bit uncomfortable but he nodded, "Yeah...sure..?"

"No, seriously. You have no idea what horrors we went through, being terrorized by these...these...things!"

He held Branch closer, "Branch is a sweetheart! I don't know much about Floyd, but at least he played nice with Branch!" He huffed.

Clay stood up with JD.

"YOU TRY LIVING WITH A BABY DEMON AND A TEEN DEMON, SEE HOW YOU FUCKING LIKE IT!"

"THEY TRIED TO OFFER ME TO THE GOD'S!"

"THEY TRIED TO SELL OUR DAMN SOULS!"

Nobody spoke after that, too stunned and frightened to say anything else.