Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The night was calm, quiet, and peaceful. There wasn't a single creature stirring, and both the moon and stars shined brightly in the cloudly sky. There was a slight gentle breeze in the air, making the summer night nice and cool. It was truly a perfect night. 

That's what young Kendra thought as she walked along the outskirts of the village, her tail swishing back and forth gracefully. She was a seventeen year old girl with sunset yellow skin and honey yellow hair that she kept in a pony tail, her bang falling to frame her face. She wore an iceberg blue dress with a cobalt blue sash around her waist that tied into a giant bow behind her back, as well as a rose red half jacket with a black rose embroidered on the front left chest pocket. She wore a green and pink braided friendship bracelet that her best friend had given her a few years back, and she wore red heart earrings. Her eyes were a dark forest green, and she wore matching eye shadow.

She was having trouble sleeping and thought a stroll would help tire her out. After all, the night was calm and peaceful. Not a single creature was stirring around. Surely-

"Hey! Help! Please you have to help him!"

Kendra jumped and looked to her right, and what she saw was made her blood freeze. Not too far away from her, there was a lime colored skinned Troll with red hair, supporting another Troll with light blue skin and Teal hair with goggles on his head. The blue skin Troll was hanging off the other, and Kendra could see blood heavily running down from his head.

"Holy Gumdrops!" Kendra exclaimed as she ran over as fast as she could.

The moment she got close enough, Kendra was able to better assess the situation. The lime colored Troll seemed to be holding the other up, having their right arm slung over his shoulders while using both his free hand and tail to hold the, apparently, unconscious Troll by the waist. His outfit was...weird, but Kendra decided to not focus on that, since there was more pressing matters at hand. The unconscious Troll wasn't just bleeding profoundly from his head; he had severe wounds everywhere on his body.

"He's still alive, but I'm not sure how much longer he has." The lime skinned Troll said, surprising Kendra by his strange accent.

"The hospital Pod isn't to far away, here let me help support him." Kendra said as she moved to help support the unconscious troll up, wrapping her own tail and arm around his waist to lift him up more. 

"Lead the way."

With that, Kendra began to help guide the lime colored Troll towards the Hospital, praying that the two of them could get this poor Troll there in time.

Chapter Text

John Dory felt sore, nauseous, and dizzy. He doesn't know what hit him, but whatever it was, it had to be big. As he rose from his slumber, he tried to make sense of his surroundings. He could a steady and constant beeping, and he could smell what he could only describe as medicine. It felt like he was resting on a comfortable bed with soft sheets and pillows, but it also felt like he was being propped up. He had to struggle to open his eyes, but when he was finally able to, he could see that he was in a large room...

Hospital Room.

That's what his brain had supplied, but he doesn't know how he got there. What he does know, is that he can't stay there. He didn't care if he was sick, or injured, or whatever the reason for his being there was. He needs to find...

Wait...

What was he trying to find again? He couldn't remember.

. . .

Actually...

He couldn't remember much of anything. He knows that his name was John Dory, that he was only eighteen, and he was trying to find something...no...he was trying to find someone. But...

Who was it he was trying to find...?

And...

Who exactly was he?

Despite feeling sore and stiff, John moved to sit up, letting out a soft groan as he did. In doing so, he saw that he was almost wrapped head to toe in gauze bandages. He was also in what looked to be a hospital gown, but he figured that would be the case. Once he was fully seated up, he looked down at his hands to see that they too were bandaged up...and he apparently had blue skin. Cool. Oh! And he could feel that he had a tail that wagged slightly. Neat.

What exactly kind of creature was he?

. . .

And more importantly, what happened to him? Why couldn't he remember who he was besides his own name and age? And where exactly was he? Were the people here friendly, or was he their prisoner?

"Oh good, you're awake!"

John glanced over and spotted another being resembling him, likely his doctor based on the lab coat. This male figure had light green skin and a troll-like appearance, with teal hair that transitioned into light blue and then light green at the tips, complemented by a dark blue nose. He wore his hair in a ponytail secured with a red tie, allowing it to cascade just beyond his shoulders, while his bangs framed his face, accentuating his striking grey-blue eyes. Under the lab coat, the doctor was wearing dark purple scrubs, and around his neck was stethoscope. 

"We were starting to become concerned that you might be out for quite some time. I'm River, your doctor, and I'm here to take a look at your vitals, okay?" River said, offering a warm smile that felt genuine. 

John responded with a nod instead of speaking. Despite the doctor's friendly demeanor, he felt it was wise to remain cautious, just to be safe. He watched as River proceeded to do as he said, checking the machines that John was hooked up too. He continued to watch in silence, and it wasn't long until River addressed him again.

"The two teenagers who brought you here will be pleased that you're awake. Do you remember what happened?" River asked.

". . .I can't exactly remember who I am, so I don't think so."

River paused as he looked at John, his eyes wide with shock. John couldn't blame him, he probably wasn't expecting John to not remember anything.

"What do you mean, you don't exactly remember who you are?"

"Well...I know my name and how old I am...but I honestly don't know who I am, you know? And...could you tell me what kind of creature we are? Cause I noticed not too long before you came in that I had a tail, which isn't bad, but I'm just not sure what creatures have tails and are, well, like us...does that make sense?"

River gave a soft chuckle as he moved to sit next to John, reaching into his hair and pulled out a small flashlight. Ok, so, whatever they are, they can store things in their hair, huh? Neat.

"Well, I must say, you're rather calm for someone who seemingly has amnesia. Let me check your eyes real quick before I answer your question, ok?"

"Kay."

River flashed the light in John's eyes, seemingly looking for something. While the light hurt his eyes a bit, John didn't make any complaints. River was just doing what he needed too after all. It wasn't more than a couple of seconds before River turned the light off, placing the small flashlight back into his hair. 

"Follow my finger with your eyes, please. And since you remember, can you tell me your name and age?" 

With that, River held up a finger and began to slowly move it side to side, and John did as he was told and followed it with his eyes.

"Long version or short version?"

"Of your name? It would be best if I have the full name."

"Johnathan Dorian Marian Silver-Song. John Dory for short. And I'm eighteen."

"I see. Well," River sighs as he placed his hand back down, " I don't see anything wrong, but we won't fully know what damage there is until the MRI comes back. Alright, so you wanted to know what species we are, right?"

"Mhm."

"We are known as Trolls, specifically Pop Trolls."

"Pop Trolls?"

"Yes, meaning our specific species of Troll revolve our lives around Pop music. This, well, this is actually new information for our entire tribe. The young man who brought you here, his appearance stirred the village immensely."

"So...the entire tribe didn't know that they were known as 'Pop Trolls'?"

"Nope, just our King, King Peppy. He was sworn to secrecy by his father and it was apparently a family tradition for centuries."

"Why was it kept secret?"

"Well, according to King Peppy, it was because the other tribes never got along with Pop Trolls, or with each other. They used to, before they began to disagree what kind of music was better. Soon the tribes split, and never reconnected."

"Geez."

"Turns out that wasn't true."

"Huh?"

"We had the history completely wrong, apparently. Turns out, centuries ago, the leader of the Pop Trolls tried to destroy the other genres of music. They stole the other tribes' Musical Strings, which apparently are the embodiment of each musical genre. Along with Pop, there is Classical, Hard Rock, Funk, Techno, and Country. The Pop leader got greedy and almost destroyed the other genres."

"The hell!?"

"Yeah," River said with a small chuckle, " King Peppy was devastated when he learned that. Though, it makes sense that our history was mislead over the last few centuries, which was most likely due to the Pop Trolls being imprisoned by the Bergans."

"Imprisoned? Bergans?"

"Ah, yes. That's going to be fun to explain." River said with a sigh.

". . .I don't like how that sounds. . ."

"Mm, your right to feel that way. Before I explain all that, you should know that we've escape recently, about three years ago. So, we're safe."

John Dory nodded, but that didn't ease his nerves. He just learned that his entire race of people were imprisoned by these Bergans, whatever they are. He doesn't want to even imagine what kind of horrors his people had to go through.

"Now, compared to a majority of the world's creatures, Trolls as a whole are small but happy creatures. Most Trolls, or at least to my knowledge, love to sing, dance, play games, and all things fun. If they could, Trolls would rather have fun all day and night."

"Really?"

John found the idea quite unappealing. A life filled with play and devoid of work didn’t sit well with him. He wondered how their community could thrive without any effort being put in. However, considering he was in a hospital conversing with a real doctor, it seemed there must be some balance between work and leisure in their tribe. Otherwise, he would have reason to be concerned about his health. Still, River appeared to be a skilled doctor, so John felt reassured.

"Yes, but we manage to keep a good mix of work and play. Without that balance, I wouldn't feel secure about raising my child in a world where a strong work ethic is seen negatively." River said with a small chuckle, a fond look in his eye as he mentioned his child. 

John smiled when River mentioned his kid, but he soon found himself...longing. Like he was...supposed to be with someone himself, but had yet to find them. Could this person he was searching for be a child?

"Anyways, the Bergans are these giant, depressed creatures who don't feel happiness whatsoever."

"They don't?"

"Nope. As far as I know, they just don't understand what it's like to be genuinely happy. And when they found us Pop Trolls centuries ago, they imprisoned our ancestral home, the Troll Tree, and built their homes around it. They even created this holiday for themselves, one that they called 'Trollstice'."

"So...these Bergans found us, and they imprisoned us to make themselves happy?"

"Pretty much, yes."

"Well...I guess that doesn't sound too bad. And this Trollstice, what, were we forced to sing for them or something?"

"Well...no. You know how I said that the Bergans can't feel genuine happiness?"

"Yeah. And then they found us and imprisoned us in our own homes. Was it because they were jealous of us or something?"

"N-No. It's...well...okay, like I said, we've escaped three years ago, so we're all safe from them now."

"I...don't like that tone."

He truly didn't. River appeared to be struggling with how to share some news. Had the Bergans committed an even more terrible act? Was there something more sinister than just their imprisonment? Did they force the Trolls into a troubling situation?

The flood of questions swirling in his mind was overwhelming, leaving him feeling lightheaded. With each passing moment of silence, his stomach churned more, amplifying his unease.

"Yeah, trust me, you're not going to like what I'm about to say any more." River sighed as he rubbed the back of his head, his shoulders then sagged as he adopted this defeated look, then he look at John with these sad eyes before he spoke again.

"Every year, on Trollstice, every Bergan would take a single Troll, and for them to feel true happiness, they would eat the Troll."

"They'd WHAT!?"

Chapter Text

John felt sick to his stomach as he began hyperventilating. His people were basically terrorized for centuries by huge creatures that made a whole holiday about eating them! And River said that they were free now, but for how long!? If they were truly the only thing that kept those...those monsters happy, who's to say they won't find them again!? Oh God, did they eat children!? What about John's family, were they eaten as well and-

Family.

Suddenly, John began to truly panic. His family. He can't remember them but...

"Hey, hey I need you too breath."

His family. They were gone weren't they? He didn't have them anymore! They were gone! Dead! All because he wasn't there!

"Hey, I need you to look at me."

He wasn't there for them! He promised! They were gone because of him!

"Hey, look at me. It's ok, look at me."

John sensed a gentle brush against his face, prompting him to turn his gaze to the side. There, he found River, who was tenderly using his tail to stroke John's cheek, exuding a sense of warmth and comfort through his soft, inviting eyes. In that moment, John felt a wave of tranquility wash over him, helping to ease the grip of his panic attack.

"There we go, now can you please focus on what you can hear and what you can feel?"

John started to adhere to River's guidance, shutting his eyes in an effort to steady his quickening breath. He sensed his tail gliding over the bed sheets, the soft fur at its tip lightly grazing his leg. The hospital gown he wore was a constant reminder of his situation, along with the gauze bandages that encircled his body. The rhythmic beeping of the machine beside him filled the air, blending with the sound of his own breath, which was gradually becoming more measured. If he concentrated, he could also pick up on the distant voices of doctors and nurses, along with the murmurs of other patients outside his room.

"Feeling better?"

"Y-Yeah, sorry about that." John said as he opened his eyes, feeling calmer then he was before, leaning against the pillows behind him.

He was overwhelmed with fatigue, and the feeling of panic that washed over him was something he despised. It only served to fill his mind with an avalanche of questions that seemed to have no answers. What was the promise he had made? Why did he believe he had let someone down? And why did he have the unsettling thought that his family was no longer with him? River had mentioned that they had all managed to escape three years prior, so surely his loved ones were safe too... right? Or was it possible that he no longer had a family to return to? The thought gnawed at him, filling him with guilt. If his family had fallen victim to those monsters, it would be heartbreaking to realize that he had no memories of them at all.

"Don't be. Considering your condition, your reaction was expected." River said as he began to gently run a hand through John's hair, a motion he was sure River was used to as a father.

John hummed as a response as he closed his eyes again. He may not remember much of anything, but someone running their hand through his hair was a warm and familiar feeling.

"You said that our people escaped, right?" John asked as he opened his eyes to look at River. 

"Yes. Three years ago."

"Are we truly safe? I mean, if our people were the only things that brought those...monsters happiness, wouldn't they stop at nothing to find this place?"

River let out a fond chuckle, gently ruffling John's hair.

"You sound like my husband. Don't worry, King Peppy is in the midst of preparing for just in case they do. He's even taking the advice of a young child and helping create someplace we could escape too in case of emergencies." River said as he took his hand back.

"A child?"

"Mhm, a brilliant kid too. Had this whole idea of an underground 'hideout', as he called it."

Hideout....

That sounds really familiar. 

"Well he sounds like a smart kid. Do you know his name?"

"Oh yes," River chuckled, his tone full of fondness, "it would be impossible for me to not know his name, since he's all my son seems to talk about. His name is Branch."

. . . .

That name. . .

He knows that name. . .

"I think, I think I know that name."

"Really? That's good!"

"It is?"

"Yes, it means you're still somewhat aware of your past, even if you can't remember it. Even if he is still young, perhaps Branch can provide you with some answers, or at the very least his presence could kick start your memory." River said with a bright smile.

"Can I meet him then?"

"Of course. I'll go get it set up, in the mean time I want you to relax and get some rest, alright. The two who brought you in would like to see how you're doing as well, but they probably won't be here for a while. Would you like to meet them as well?"

"Yeah, I mean I kind of owe them my life and all."

"Alright then," River said with a smile as he stood, "you go ahead and get some rest, and I'll get it all set up."

"Thank you." John sad with a smile of his own.

"Of course." River said before he turned and left the room.

John watched him leave before turning his attention to stare up at the ceiling. Branch...he knows that name, and for some reason he wants to jump out of his bed just to find this kid and hold him in his arms and never let him go. John took a deep breath and held it for a moment before letting it out as slowly as he could.

It's alright, John.

Everything is alright. You're gonna meet this kid, and maybe he can give you some answers. Everything is going to go fine...hopefully. 

Chapter Text

River quietly hummed to himself as he diligently jotted down notes for his patient’s file, carefully recording details like his name and age. It was a relief that John could recall those specifics, especially since he remembered his full name. With the last name Silver-Song now in hand, River felt there was a chance John might be listed in the hospital's records, as many files had been gathered and brought along during their escape. River also found comfort in the fact that John seemed to have a connection with young Branch. He could only wish that this newfound bond would provide Branch with the additional support he so desperately needed. 

Suddenly, River halted, struck by a thought: should he have mentioned to John Dory that Branch was grey? The boy was a familiar figure in Pop Village, yet few were willing to offer him the encouragement he deserved. Many adults viewed Branch as 'broken' or 'cursed' simply because he didn’t conform to the singing and dancing that was expected of children his age. This narrow-minded perspective might stem from the long history of imprisonment that many Pop Trolls endured, leading them to mistakenly believe that Branch was somehow flawed. In truth, Branch was far from broken; he was simply traumatized, and River hoped that one day, others would see that too.

"Papa, Papa!"

River was brought out of his thoughts at a familiar voice calling for him. As he looked up, a wave of joy washed over him when he spotted his beloved son, Creek, sprinting toward him. At just six years old, Creek was the shining star in the lives of both his dads, bringing endless happiness and laughter. With a beaming smile, quickly placing his notes into his hair, River knelt down on one knee and spread his arms wide, ready to embrace his little one as he leaped into his waiting arms.

"Papa!" Creek exclaimed joyfully, wrapping his little arms around River in a tight hug, relishing the comforting warmth that his father offered. The moment was filled with pure delight, as Creek's excitement radiated through their embrace, making it a cherished memory for both of them. 

"Well, hello there, my precious little one! What a wonderful surprise this is." River responded with a beaming smile, lifting his son effortlessly and settling him on his hip. As he held Creek close, River's tail wagged enthusiastically, mirroring the joyful energy of his son, creating a heartwarming scene of love and connection between them.

"Papa, I missed you! You've been at work for forever!" Creek exclaimed as he broke the hug to grab his Papa's face, giving the man a sad little pout.

"It's only been two days, sweetheart. And you saw me last night. I tucked you in!"

"That was still forever ago!"

River could help but chuckle at his son's declaration. Creek always was dramatic when it came to wanting his parents' attention. Honestly, River believes that Creek got his attention seeking from his other father...

River struggled to suppress a frown as he shifted his gaze toward his husband, Radley, who stood a short distance away from him and Creek. Radley was an imposing figure, a tall Troll with striking grayish-purple skin and a distinctive peach-colored nose. His vibrant red hair was styled just like their son's, curled at the top and slicked back slightly. And his amaranth-colored eyes had a way of captivating River, making his heart flutter. Dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt layered with a red sleeveless jacket vest and dark blue pants, Radley’s unique style was complemented by a black choker around his neck and a single black fingerless glove on his right hand. River had always found Radley’s fashion choices a bit unconventional compared to the other Trolls from the Troll Tree, but it never bothered him until recently when he discovered the truth about Radley’s origins. It turned out that Radley was not a Pop Troll like the others but a Rock Troll, a revelation that had come to light through the young man who had brought John Dory to them.

Radley offered River a tentative smile and an awkward wave, a gesture that felt heavy with unspoken words. Their communication had dwindled since the village learned the truth about the different tribes, leaving a palpable tension between them. River felt a deep sense of betrayal that Radley had never shared his true heritage with him; it stung even more that Radley had avoided discussing his parents, even when River had inquired about them. Each time the topic arose, Radley would simply shrug it off and redirect the conversation, leading River to believe that it was a painful subject tied to the tragic fate of many from the Tree, who had fallen victim to the Bergans. However, the reality was far more complex—Radley’s parents were not part of the Tree at all, as he hailed from a different lineage entirely.

Despite the hurt that lingered in River’s heart, his love for Radley remained unwavering. He truly didn’t care about the type of Troll Radley was; what pained him was the fact that his husband had chosen to keep such a significant part of his identity hidden from him. River felt that in a relationship built on trust and openness, there should be no secrets, especially not from someone as important as Radley. This concealment was what truly wounded River, leaving him to grapple with feelings of confusion and disappointment.

"Papa, when are you coming home?"

River looked back down at his son, his smile becoming less strained as he looked at his son's adorable pout.

"Well, I have good news, sweetheart. My paitent woke up today. So I don't need to keep a constant watch on him. I'll be home tonight."

"Really!? Yaaaay!" Creek cheered as he wrapped his arms around River's neck, hugging his Papa joyfully as his tail wagged rapidly, to which River happily returned.

"So he's ok then?"

River looked up towards his husband, and seeing how concerned Radley was for the amnesiac teen was heartwarming. 

"Yes, but unfortunately he has amnesia, so there isn't much to tell about him. He just knows his name and age."

"Well, at least that's something." Radley said as he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, his accent sending a shiver down River's spine. It wasn't fair, River was upset with his husband. Radley has no right to use that intoxicating accent like that.

"Yes, but he does seem to have a connection with that little boy, Branch. I mentioned him and my paitent claims to know him, despite not remembering. I was going to try and send for him, so that maybe some of his memories might return." River explained, clearing his throat as he pushed down the blush that was growing on his face.

"Branch is coming here!?" 

River jumped slightly in surprise before looking down at his son with a smile. Creek was looking up at him with wide, hopeful eyes, his tail wagging even faster than before. River couldn't help chuckle softly at the sight. Creek has been absolutely fascinated with Branch since he first saw the grey trolling during recess on his first day of kindergarten. He always speaks about how he tries to get the grey trolling to play with him, but the poor thing is far too shy and always runs off when Creek isn't looking.

"Yes, sweetheart, he is. Provided that he wants to of course."

River couldn't help but chuckle at the small little excited squeal Creek let out, watching as his son's tail wagged even faster. Honestly, Creek's little crush on the grey trolling was far too precious and adorable.

"Creek, mate, while you're waiting for Branch, why don't you go play with the other kids at the hospital's daycare, yeah?" Radley asked as he moved to stand closer to his son and husband, though still kept a small bit of distance from River.

"But I wanna stay with you and Papa." Creek said as he looked to his Dad with a pout.

"I know, mate, but Daddy and Papa need to have a, um, a very important grown up discussion." Radley explained as he scratched the back of his head nervously.

"Oh, okay then! But you'll come get me when Branch gets here, right?" 

"Of course, sweetheart. Go on now. You remember the way, yes?" River asked as he placed Creek back onto the floor.

"Uh huh!"

"Alright then, mate, off you go. Make sure not to disturb the other nurses and doctors." 

"I won't!"

With that, Creek turned from them and hurried down the corridor towards the daycare, skillfully sidestepping the nurses he encountered along the way. River observed his son with a warm smile, fully aware that as soon as Branch arrived, his little boy would do everything possible to attach himself to the grey trolling. The thought of it was simply heartwarming.

"River?"

River sighed gently as he stood up, scratching the back of his head. 

"I've got to put the information I've gotten from my paitent into his file, then I need to send someone to inform Branch's guardian of the situation. Then we can talk." River said.

"...You know that my love for you and Creek surpasses everything else in this world, right?" 

River felt a chill run through him as he detected the urgency in Radley's tone. When he turned to face his husband, he was taken aback to see the glimmer of unshed tears in Radley's eyes. It was clear that Radley was looking at him with a sense of fear, as if he were worried about something significant that was left unspoken between them...almost like...

River let out a soft sigh, his heart aching for the one he cherished as he stepped closer to Radley. With tender care, he lifted his hands to cup Radley’s face, his fingers brushing away the tears that had begun to spill down his cheeks. "Oh, you big dolt, you don’t really believe I would walk away from you because of this, do you?" he asked, his voice filled with warmth and reassurance.

"Y-You're not?" Radley asked, his eyes wide with uncertainty as he stammered. He clutched River's hands tightly, seeking comfort in the connection they shared, his voice quivering with the weight of his fears. The vulnerability in his expression tugged at River’s heart, making him realize just how deeply Radley felt the threat of losing him.

"Absolutely not," River replied softly, his gaze steady and filled with love. "We have to discuss what’s going on, but there’s no way I’m letting the love of my life slip away." He offered Radley a gentle smile, one that radiated hope, before leaning in for a kiss. Radley eagerly responded, wrapping his tail around River’s waist, feeling a wave of relief wash over him as their lips met, solidifying the bond they shared.

It was moment before River broke away from their kiss, placing a second one on his husband's nose before speaking. "Now, you can go wait in my office until I get there, okay?"

Rather than a verbal response, Radley let out a small whine and tightened his tail firmly around River, causing the shorter male to chuckle at his husband's actions.

"Ooor, you can just follow me to get these things done, then we'll head to my office to chat. Does that sound better?"

"Mm." Radley hummed as he placed a kiss on River's forehead, earning him a giggle from said man.

"Alright then, my love. Let's get going." River said as he gently pulled away from Radley, intertwining their hands together before leading him down the hall.

For someone who is technically a 'Hard' Rock Troll, Radley is possibly one of the most sensitive men River has ever met in his life. And that's one of the many reasons why River loves him so much.

***

John Dory laid back, staring at the ceiling as thousands of questions began to race through his mind. Mostly he would ask himself about who he is, what he was like before losing his memories, and how could he go about regaining his memories. Alot of the time, his mind would turn towards his family, leaving him wondering who they were, and more importantly, if they were even alive. Did he have parents? Grandparents? Aunts or Uncles? What about siblings? Did he have any? And if so, how many? Was he an older sibling, or a younger sibling?

Another set of questions that would race through his mind would be regarding his injuries. He was severely hurt, and he couldn't even lift his arms up too much without them screaming at him to stop. How did he get this hurt? What happened? Did he get hurt trying to find...whoever it was he was trying to find? Was he running from something? Or...someone?

Run!

John's breath began to pick up. Panic began to rise in his chest. He couldn't stay here. No, no he can't! 

He'll find you! He'll force you! He'll kill them! You have to run! You have to find them and protect them!

John could barely hear the heart monitor next to him begin to pick up in its pace. It was becoming harder to breath. His vision was beginning to cloud. He couldn't breath. He can't stay here!

Out of nowhere, John sensed a tiny hand clasping his own, which was gripping the bed sheets with a tightness that spoke of his anxiety. He quickly turned his head to see who it was, and to his astonishment, he found a small child gazing up at him with a look of genuine concern. In a fleeting moment, he realized that the child bore a slight resemblance to his doctor, which added an unexpected layer of familiarity to the situation.

"Are you alright, Mister?" the child asked, their voice soft and filled with innocence. At that moment, something shifted within John. The simple question seemed to pierce through the fog of his worries, and he felt a wave of calm wash over him. His breathing gradually steadied, and the frantic beating of his heart began to slow, as if the child's presence had a soothing effect that he desperately needed.

As the heart monitor beside him resumed its steady rhythmic beeping, John couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. The small hand in his felt warm and reassuring, grounding him in the present and pulling him away from the chaos of his thoughts.

"I-I, y-yeah, I-I’m alright, really," John replied, feeling a wave of calm wash over him. The tension that had gripped him began to ease, allowing him to breathe a little easier.

The young boy, with a curious tilt of his head, looked at John and asked, "Should I go get a nurse for you?" His innocent concern was evident, and it brought a small sense of comfort to John.

"N-No, that’s not necessary. I’ll be fine, I promise," John assured him, offering a weary but appreciative smile. The boy’s kindness was touching, and it made John feel a bit more at ease despite his fatigue.

The boy's face scrunched up in concentration, his eyebrows knitted together as if he were wrestling with a tough decision. John couldn't help but find the boy's serious demeanor utterly charming, and he had to stifle a laugh that threatened to escape. Before long, the boy broke the silence, his tone now filled with resolve. "You had a panic attack, so it’s not safe for you to be by yourself in case it happens again. If you don’t mind, I can stick around until my Papa returns. He’s your doctor, after all."

Oh! So this is River's son? That explains why the kid kind of looks like him, the hair color should have been a dead give away. 

"So you're River's kid, huh? He talked about you." John said with a soft smile.

"Uh huh! My name's Creek! What's your name, Mister?" The boy, Creek, asked happily, his little tail wagging happily behind him.

"John Dory. Nice to meet you, Creek."

"Papa says that you can't remember anything, but you think you know Branch. I know him and I can tell you about him if you want!" Creek exclaimed excitedly, smiling widely at the name of the other child, and was that a small little blush on Creek's face? Even his tail began to wag faster.

John couldn't contain his chuckle. It was clear that this boy had at least a small crush on Branch, and honestly it was very adorable.

"That would be helpful, thank you." John said, giving the boy a grateful smile.

Creek beamed and began to climb up onto the bed before placing himself next to John. And with great enthusiasm, began to describe Branch too him. From how the boy had grey skin and black hair, to bright blue eyes. How he wore a green leaf vest over his brown overalls, and how he didn't seem to like big events. And as he listened to Creek talk about the young boy he'll be meeting soon, John could feel a sense of dread wash over him as a question popped into mind out of pure instinct.

Why wasn't Branch blue?

Chapter Text

John listened to Creek's little ramblings about Branch, and while he was concerned about the Trollings colors, he couldn't help but smile at how eagerly Creek was talking about him.

"—And! Branch is super pretty! Like, he's prettier than any of the girls in my school, but I don't think that he thinks he's pretty. He tends to hide himself from people, and tries to make sure people don't look at him. And Branch is also super smart, because I asked around and he's already in the third grade, but he's only four! Plus, Branch really loves animals, especially cute ones! I've seen him at the Critter Sanctuary feeding some of the baby critters, and he always seems to be having fun and—"

John couldn't help but notice the way Creek's face would brighten at the mere mention of Branch's name. It was as if the sound of it sparked a joyful energy within him, leaving him almost giddy with excitement. This reaction was undeniably charming and incredibly heartwarming. What added a layer of humor to the situation was the possibility that Creek might not even realize he had developed a crush on Branch, making his enthusiastic chatter about the other boy all the more endearing.

"You know, you kind of look like Branch."

John blinked in surprise at the sudden declaration. He...looks like Branch?

"I do?"

"Uh huh. You have the same blue eyes, and some of the same facial features." Creek said as he stared at John's face.

"Huh, well," John said softly, "maybe it could be a coincidence. Or maybe, Branch and I could be related."

"You think so?"

"Maybe. Does he have any other family that I should know about? Just in case."

"Hmm, well, he does have adopted brothers. Four. Two older and two younger. I only know cause the two older ones are the ones who told me a bunch about Branch, since he tends to keep quiet or run away from me." Creek said simply.

"Runs away? Why does he do that?"

"His brothers, Ablaze and Hype, they say it's cause he's really shy and cautious. Apparently, a lot of grown ups aren't really nice too him."

Something inside John jerked. And he could feel himself grow angry. Branch was only four, and yet many adults were being cruel towards him? Oh, John was not happy.

"I see."

"Uh huh. And Ablaze said–"

"Oh thank goodness, yer awake!"

Both John and Creek shifted their focus to the entrance, where John found himself captivated by the figure standing in the doorway. The newcomer was a tall male Troll, his skin a striking shade of lime green, complemented by vibrant reddish-orange hair and matching stubble that framed his face. His nose was a cheerful yellow, and John couldn't help but be enchanted by his deep forest green eyes, which seemed to hold a world of mystery. Dressed in a light green button-up shirt layered with a brown vest, he wore light blue denim jeans secured by a brown belt. Atop his head sat a distinctive white ten-gallon hat adorned with a brown stripe. Despite having no memory of ever meeting this individual before, John felt an undeniable certainty that this was the most handsome man he had ever encountered.

"I done nearly had a heart attack when them nurses said that ya had woken up, and I came a running as quickly as I could jus' ta see ya, Johnny." The mystery man said as he stepped closer to John.

John could feel his face heat up, and he could faintly hear his heart monitor pick up in its pace as the handsome stranger moved closer. Holy shit, his accent was so hot.

"Oh! I know you! You're the mysterious man that brought John Dory to the village!" Creek exclaimed excitedly, his tail wagging happily as he moved to sit on his knees.

The handsome stranger chuckled at the child's excitement, before tipping his hat in greeting. 

"That I am, kiddo. Name's Hickory."

Hickory. . .

. . . .

He knows that name, but he can't remember why. Dammit! The most gorgeous guy ever is standing in front of him, apparently knows him, and John can't remember who he exactly is!? Uuuugh! Why was life being so unfair right now?

"I'm Creek! My Papa is Mister John's doctor!"

"Oh! So yer River's pride and joy, yeah? Yer Papa gushes about you whenever he's given the chance to do so." Hickory said before giving the child a playful wink, which caused Creek to giggle.

John smiled down at Creek as he giggled, but his smile fell as he watched Hickory walk closer to them, his face growing hotter as the heart monitor began to race faster. 

"You lookin' after my Johnny while yer Papa is off doin' paperwork?"

HIS Johnny!? Holy–was Hickory his boyfriend or something!? OK! OK, calm down John Dory. You have to keep calm, otherwise you're gonna make the heart monitor go crazy and worry everyone.

"Kind of. Papa is with my Daddy having a grown up talk. I'm supposed to wait in the hospital's daycare, but on my way I found Mister John having a panic attack and I didn't want to leave him alone in case he has another one." Creek said simply.

"Wait, what? Panic attack? Johnny, you ok, darlin'?" Hickory asked as he moved closer to John, moving to place a hand on John's own hand, and John had to really focus on not losing his cool.

"I–uh, I um, I'm, I mean, that is, uh...wh-who are you?" John stuttered out softly, feeling his face heat up even more. However, guilt quickly filled his chest as he watched the confusion and hurt fill Hickory's eyes.

"Wha-? Johnny, baby, it's me. Hickory. Yer boyfriend?"

And just like that, the heart monitor started going nuts, and soon a couple of nurses came rushing in, forcing Hickory to move from John's side, picking Creek up off the bed so the nurses can do their job and check on John properly. 

. . . 

HE HAS A BOYFRIEND!? AND ONE AS FUCKING HOT AS HICKORY!? GOD DAMMIT! WHY CAN'T HE REMEMBER ANYTHING!?