Rose

Bedtime was always rough with the yodeling brothers. Usually ending in frustrating yelling and both ending up with frustrated broken hearts. This didn't change with the addition of the pop troll, at least not t first.

For the first few weeks of living with the two yodelers John seemed to avoid Hickory like the plague. Unless of course the younger troll walked up to John and directly asked for something, in that case John would do whatever the troll wanted mindlessly. If the two of them where in a room though, John would eventually leave. Dickory asked him after the first week, but John just brushed him off saying he couldn't sit still.

Considering the amount of sugar Dickory was having to purchase for John he didn't doubt that.

One night, that started like many others, something changed in the pop troll. He hung around the cracked door of Hickory's bedroom, watching as Dickory failed to get his younger brother to sleep.

Finally after a while of helpless back and forth between the two brothers Dickory was at his wits end.

"If ya' don't go to bed right now I swear by all the harmonies-"

"I already told' ya Dickory I ain't tired. I couldn't sleep even if I wanted."

"Oh you'll sleep like the dead after I pack enough elderberries in ya to knock out a yeti"

John could see from his perch that this argument was going no where, and the longer it went on the more John could hear the echos of his own frustration from putting clay to bed. He couldn't handle living in that situation again, he couldn't go back to the yelling and guilt and frustration. He didn't want Dickory to go through that either.

The door squealed as he pushed open the door drawing both brothers ire's toward him. The dejia vu alone made him want to cringe back and run to the safety of the couch. Still he pushed the door open wider stepping into the war zone of the bedroom.

"Hey um- John squared his shoulders telling himself that he's not being stupid, "Would you guys want to join me in a late night dance party?"

The room seemed to hush in confussion, Dickory's frown slipped into a more annoyed confused scowl. Before he could say anything though Hickory seemed to pipe up from the bed eagerly.

"That sounds fun! Can we Dickory?" He turned to the older yodeler an excited smile on his face at the idea of putting off bedtime for a while longer.

"What? No. You need to sleep, Dory can do his stupid dance party by himself" Dickory gave John a betrayed scowl, his eyes giving a warning glint to not push back on this descision.

John's never been good at not pushing things though.

"Common five minutes Dickory, I promise we'll dance so hard that he'll pass out on the spot."

"Dory." Dickory warned his glare hardening, he was already at his wits end it wouldn't take much for something to push him over the edge.

"Dickory, Five minutes. Scouts honor he'll fall asleep, won't you Hickory?" John asked giving a conspiratorial look to the young boy. Dickory followed the look to Hickory his glare softening the barest bit.

"Yeah! That's right I'll pass out right away Dickory." Hickory exclaimed hurrying off the bed to stand by John. The two misschief makers waited as Dickory fixed them both with a scowl before he sighed rubbing his brow.

"Fine fine, but if he's not asleep in five minutes Dory you'll be the one I'm shoving elderberries into."

"Don't even worry about Dickory, I'm a master of getting little brothers to sleep." John boasted puffing out his chest, Dickory just rolled his eyes the corner of his scowl twitching up.

Hickory tugged on John's hand bouncing on the tips of his hoofs. "What song are we going to dance to, a pop one?"

"Oh sweet melody better not be" Dickory ground resting against a desk of drawers.

"Considering I'm a pop troll it's kinda of hard not to sing a pop song…unless" John gave a mischievous grin at Dickory who raised his brow at the grin.

"Whatever you are thinking dory, don't."

"Oh well, I guess you'll just have to deal with your little brother listening to a pop song to go to bed."

"Whatever" Dickory huffed looking away from the two energetic trolls.

John shrugged turning back to Hickory. "You got something you want the song to be about little man?"

Hickory took the question very seriously, his bushy little brows furrowed in concerntration. Just as John was going to tell him to stop, he'll get wrinkles if he kept doing that, Hickory seemed to come to a conclusion. Only it seemed he was nervous to ask for it, giving John a hesitant look.

"Um We can sing about your family? I know you don't talk bout them cause they are like me and Dickory's mama and papa but i would like to hear about them. Cause ya know it makes them feel good even though they aren't here." Hickory rambled still holding onto John's hand.

Any warmth that had formed in the room fled as John stared down at the young yodeling troll. He couldn't move for a moment frozen in the moment. the wind whistling outside the house even sounded like their screams.

"Hickory!" Dickory hissed pushing hiself off the chest of drawers.

"No- no its okay Dickory. I- I haven't sung about my parents in a long time Hickory." John crouched down next to the younger troll. He was the same height as Floyd had been when it happened, John took a deep breath pushing away the thought. "While I appreciate you trying to keep their memory alive I um, I can't sing about them yet."

Hickory who seemed to slump under the guilt of the conversation adverted his gaze. John smiled bending so he could make eye contact with the boy.

"However would it be okay if instead sung about my Great Great Grandma? My mom used to tell me and my brothers stories about her. It's a little bit easier for me."

The yodeler thought about it before nodding, his eyes seemed to be glossy with guilty tears. John quickly ruffled the more orange then red hair he had.

"Well then let me see where does it start?" John hummed rubbing his chin theratrically enjoy the excited wiggle Hickory gave. "Oh, Dickory would you mind adding some of your yodeling charm to the story?"

"For fucks- Sure Dory just get on with it" Dickory grumbled slumping back against the chest of drawers trying to seem like he was disinterested as possible.

"good to know, okay i think i remember where it starts." John cleared his throat and gave one last smirk at Hickory before starting. "She was born by the sea, Her father bounced her on his knee. While he shared past stories of grandeur."

Hickory giggled as John pulled him into a jumbled mess of dancing singing in a sea shanty way that bounced off the walls jolly and loud.

"That would dance inside her head, Every night while tucked in bed. Same tales, different actors." John sung smiling as Hickory tried to sing along but the words kept being interrupted by his laughter.

"There were costumes on the floor, She'd use a wooden stick and bored. To vanquish the foes that were after all them stuffed up toys, that were sticking round by choice. They were a family, in this together." John felt his chest get heavy at that verse thinking of his own family, no longer together all be cause of him. As if sensing his sadness Hickory pulled John towards him trying to get the pop troll to swing him around again. John obliged trying to let the yodelers giggling heal the hole he caused in his chest.

"Well she grew like a tree, She sought out bonny company- built the finest crew you could ask for. They were brave and sturdy lads that reminded her of dad. Back to back birds of a feather." John looked over a Dickory who was watching the two trolls dance, meeting John's eyes he raised a brow confused. John reached over grabbing Dickory's hand, pulling him towards the dance despite the trolls protest.

"This is your cue come on sing with us." John grinned as Dickory glared at him, only the green of the yodelers eyes were soft and his scowl had softened into a annoyed grin. "Repeat after me; Ah-di-ah hi-di-oh, a voyage for the soul. Back to back- Birds of a feather."

Dickory didn't hold back, atleast he didn't after he heard John's poor attempt of a yodel.

"Never do that again, your yodelin' is a crime against my people" Dickory criticized but John just smiled at him continuing onto the next verse.

"With a scaled down graph, her husband did the math. On a course to have the advantage, 'Cause the- Yodelers they ere smart, but they didn't have the heart of our strong Pop companions!" John sang pulling both yodelers along into a wild dancing. Dickory hearing the part about yodelers threw his head back in laughter joining the joyful melody that Hickory was already singing.

"They can write shoddy laws, and try to buy her off but they'll never own what we have here. A solidarity within familiar seas, 'cause we are one in the thousands." Somewhere in the lyrics Hickory seemed to have let go of John's hand yawning pitifully. Scoping him up, John gave Dickory a nod as he finished the verse cueing him for the chorus.

"Ah-di-ah hi-di-oh, a voyage for the soul. Back to back- Birds of a feather." Dickory sang, and John couldn't help but join in. The two seemed to be lost in the melody as they danced around each other arms connected like a may fair pole. "Ah-di-ah Hi-di-oh, A voyage for the soul. Back to back- Birds of a feather."

Hickory joined in leaning against John but still giggling and singing. John allowed his body to be gentler switching to more a steady rock then a swinging and dancing of arms.

"She defended her name as the cannon shots and flames. Tried to deter what she was after, and although she lost her love She's never giving up. To these tyrant, dirty ol' B Words" John sang giggling with Hickory as he censored the swear word. Dickory just laughed, which John admitted sounded really really nice.

"We would charge as a pack, you could never hold us back. We are fierce and grew with each battle. 'Cause it's etched inside our veins, The hardship that we've gained. We've become a myth unraveled." This time when John went to signal Dickory he found the other troll pulling him into a new dance one with feet and movements that were foreign to John but Dickory seemed to know by heart. This time when they started the chorus all three of the trolls joined in.

"Ah-di-ah Hi-di-oh, a voyage for the soul. Back to back, Birds of a feather. Ah-di-ah Hi-di-oh, a voyage for the soul. Back to back, Birds of a feather."

John peaked down at Hickory smiling as he saw the younger trolls eye's closed and his lips sleepily mouthing along the lyrics. He gave a glance over to Dickory and nodded towards the sleepy troll. Dickory's brows widened before he just let out a soft chuckle, John couldn't help but join in. Placing a finger over his lips he softly finished out the song swaying with the rhythm.

"In those final days. In the castle she had claimed she drew the sword that had brought her, through countless victories that she survived to see. In the tale of her own grandeur" John sung softly moving towards the bed as Hickory trailed off in his arms.

"Ah-di-ah Hi-di-oh, a voyage for the soul. Back to back-birds of a feather. Ah-di-ah Hi-di-oh, a voyage for the soul. Back to back- birds of a feather. Back to back, birds of a feather. Back to back birds of a feather, back to back birds of a feather…" Dickory settled on the other side of the bed and finished out the chorus brushing the stray locks away from his baby brothers face. John joined in softly letting the song slowly fade into the darkness of the room.

Hickory snored in the quiet and John could practically see the weight melting off Dickory's shoulders. John Dory of course could never let a good thing last.

"Told you he be out in five minutes flat" John teased. Dickory's soft smile fell as he gave John a annoyed glare.

"This proves nothing, Dory." Dickory huffed before he gently pulled the comfort around Hickory tighter making sure no stray cold air would disturb his baby brother.

"Right sure, you know you can just say thank you" John grumbled mirroring Dickory to make sure Hickory was good on his side.

"…thank you dory. You were somewhat useful tonight with this." Dickory confessed looking anywhere but John.

"Somewhat useful?" John asked.

"Don't push it dory." Dickory growled moving to leave the room shooing John out with him.

"Okay okay, got it I'm a somewhat useful pop troll." John grinned.

"I'm warning you pop troll. I will kick you out on the streets"

"But then you wont have a somewhat useful pop troll to help you put Hickory to bed" John laugh dodging the pillow that seemed to hurl at him from Dickory's bed. He gave a hesitant look towards the couch rubbing his back, phantom pain already forming on his lower back from the lumpy furniture.

Dickory seemed to catch his Delima because the next thing John knew there was a grumbling yodeling troll shoving him into the only other bedroom in the house.

"Uh, what's going on?" John asked allowing himself to be herded into the bedroom.

"Get in the bed you useless pop troll, before I change my mind." Dickory grumbled crawling onto the other side of the mattress.

John opened his mouth to respond, to tell Dickory that he didn't need to share his bed with him. When he was about to say something though he noticed Dickory was giving him a glare.

"Would you stop over thinking this Dory, I don't need the smoke from your big head filling the room."

John hesitantly crawled into the bed letting the mattress cradle his muscles, it felt like heaven. When was the last time he slept in an actual bed? It must have been months maybe more.

The comforter was pleasantly warm, the wind howling outside reminded him of the breeze that would rock their house in the troll tree, Dickory's dip in the bed strangely reminded him of when spruce would sleep with him, and he… he felt so comfortable. Sleep muddled his mind until he could only think in half coherent thoughts and emotions.

The bunker was bigger than hickory was expecting, when they had been corralled down into the hole he had been convinced that Dickory would flip his lid. Of course they had come this far and John was next to them leading the way. A ghost come back to the life.

He couldn't believe he was alive.

John had passed out soon after they got back to the bunker, the excitement of the day must have drained him. Dickory practically growled at branch when he tried to separate the two so john could go rest. Thankfully the grump didn't put up too much of a fight especially when john asked for him to stay.

He brushed his hand over the dirt wall, grimacing at the gritty texture seeping into his paws. John's room was covered in the soft glow of lichen, it helped the sickly pale color of his skin look somewhat normal. He looked so different then he used to, but the same glimmer shown in his eyes that hickory remembered.

It almost seemed normal, John curled up next to dickory his snores softer then before but the rumble was the same as ever. His swiped at his eyes pushing down the tightness in his chest.

"It's not as bad as it looks"

He glanced over one of John's.. brothers was next to him, Floyd maybe. His pink hair fell softly over one eye with black highlights racing through the strands a cruel mirror to the white ones that seem to run through John's hair. He gave hickory a gentle smile looking at the two trollls in the bed.

Hickory followed his gaze looking at John again, seeing the bags under his eyes, the scars littering his body, the way his chest stuttered with each inhale like they hurt, what happened to him that it just hurt to breathe. Hickory grimaced eyes making contact with dickory for a second seeing the matching bags under his own brothers eyes. The defensive position he'd put himself in able to jump over john to protect him with his life, the same one hickory remembered he brother used to do when they were out on bountys.

The anxiety settled in his chest, a writhing mass of worry and fear.

"Okay…its- its pretty bad" Floyd admitted the same anxious gaze in his eyes.

"What-..what happened?"

He didn't want to know but he had to know. He needed to know how john had seemed to lose all the pop troll energy hickory had always known him to have.

"Two teenagers used him as a talent supplement, sucked all the pop essence right out of him."

"Wha- what?"

"It's… a long story" he was given that same small smile, it seemed Floyd had a specialty in making them.

He glanced back in the bedroom, dickory shuffled closer to john brushing the fading hair from his face. His brothers hair was loose down his back,a rare show of vulnerability from his overly defensive brother. Harmony help the troll that decides to bother his brother while he's like this.

"We got time, no ones gonna get withn' fifty feet of john right now."

Floyd gave the duo a wary look glancing over to hickory a nervous grin on his face.

"We have refreshments in the kitchen, I think, but you sure your bother won't do anything that might hurt john."

"Oh no' he'll wait till john has energy back in him before he kills him."

"Oh.." Floyd gave a more nervous glance at dickory.

"Not actually of course, he'll just yell at your brother for a few…hours maybe a day or two."

"Yeah well he can get in line, i think we all have some choice words for john." Floyd joked making Hickory chuckled. Floyd gave him another one of those perfect smiles he seemed to have mastered. It made hickory want to smile back in a way that he'd never felt before.

"Come on the kitchen isn't too far"

"Thank you"

"You aren't the only one who's worried about him."

"Yeah' but I'm the only one who can pull dickory of one of ya' brothers if he decides their a threat."

This time Floyd laughed, not the quiet sweet thing that his smile was but.. oh that's why hickory liked it so much, it reminded him of John's laugh. It wasn't as deep but he could still hear it. The loud echoing joy that always made him feel like the house was a home, that even the creaking cold drafts were hugging him.

Floyds was sweeter, but his mirth could be felt through every breath- his grin was contagious as a cold. Hickory found himself giggling along with the pop troll chasing the joy that seemed to spill from the others lips.

"Oh, Floyd by the way. I don't think we were properly introduced."

Hickory took the pop trolls hand shaking it like the respectful gentleman delta had shammed him to be.

"Hickory, I remembered your name vaguely from John's stories. There was one he always told about you sneaking out and getting your ear pierced."

Floyd grin turned into a grimace like the memory put a bad taste in his mouth, "oh that's…awesome."

"I remember wanting to get one just like you did when he told me the story, even tried to do it myself once with a hot iron. Didn't turn out well though for me."

Floyd nodded retreating into the kitchen, it wasn't anything special just a dingy room with a small kitchenette and a plain wooden table in the corner. Hickory wondered over to the table running his hand over the wood of one of the chairs, only one of them matched the wood of the table the rest of the chairs seemed to have been scavenged from all over the house. One of them even looked like it was supposed to be a rocker for the living room.

"You like anything specific," Floyd called fiddled with the gas stove before letting out a triumphant grin as he managed to light it.

"Y'all got any sweet tea here?"

"Um yeah? I'd assume so pop trolls love sweet things."

"You say that like ya' ain't one?"

Floyd turned to him resting his back against the counter, a quirked brow that made hickory feel like he was missing something.

"Well..I am technically but I don't really see myself as a pop troll anymore."

"oh."

"Yeah, I've been with the rock trolls now longer than I ever was with the pop trolls. So…I kinda consider myself a rock troll. I don't mind pop music, but it just doesn't really… It just doesn't feel like me." There was a new sharpness in Floyd's tone, and hickory could see that the soft gaze he had been given all morning was only a act of kindness. Floyd eyes could have easily skinned hickory from head to toe if he wanted them to. "I hope that isn't an issue for you hickory."

"N-no not at all" He was pretty sure Floyd could smell fear. "Actually i uh- I get what you mean. I mostly stay with the country folk's now a day, they just… they feel right in a way yodeling never did. So I get ya', no worries from me."

Floyd let up on his murderous gaze, his eyes softening back to their merciful state. Hickory tried not to let out a relieved sigh. The rock troll pushed off the counter taking the small steps necessary to walk over to the table and take a seat.

"You mentioned early that john used to tell you stories about us?"

"Yeah, never anything bad! At least not ta' me"

"What… did he tell you?" Floyd asked the guarded expression was back in his eyes, but it more nervous like he wasn't scared of hickory hurtin him but more like the actual stories would.

"Well um," he trudged his memories up in his mind trying to remember the details that got forgotten in the fog of emotion. "I remember from the stories that you always sounded like you watched out for your brothers, and I remember that john told me once that you do really neat eyeliner. I didn't know what eyeliner was but the way john talked about it was like it was a mighty fine thing ta' learn."

Floyd let out a wet chuckle quickly wiping at one of his eyes. "Ah, I um I never knew he liked it. He always seemed so annoyed when I did his makeup."

"Whenever he told me about it, I always got the feel'n he felt guilty. He- ya know john, he would smile but it never reflected in his eyes ya know?"

"Yeah… I know the face your talking about. He was so stubborn about admitting that he wasn't happy. Drove me crazy."

"Don't I know it, Ya know one night Dickory seemed to break through to him."

"Really? I didn't think it was possible."

"Honestly the only one who matches dickory in stubbornness is john. Unstoppable force meetin' a immovable object those two."

Floyd chuckled at that letting the room fall into the comfortable warmth of his mirth. Hickory relaxed into the silence, grinning

"So, um how did you guys meet up with john?"

"uh- I'm not really sure if I'mma be honest, apparently dickory and him met when I was pretty young. It's kinda a blurry memory for me." He tries to think back to the day they met but his mind failed him,memories of john reading him bed time stories and the loud laughter that used to get his brother grinning popping up instead.

"Oh! Did john stay with you guys long?" Something shifted in floyds gaze as he asked and the warmth of the room seemed to get distracted by something leaving them back in the coolness of earth.

"Um a couple years, we… we lost him in an avalanche. Dickory thought he was gone but, I don't know he always seemed larger than life ya' know. Didn't feel right, think'n of him as dead."

"Yeah… he's he always seemed that way." Floyd agreed his eyes distant.

The kettle screamed at them from across the room, interrupting whatever Floyd was thinking. Hickory watched as he swiftly moved across the room, gracefully even. He really didn't seem like a rock troll but hickory had learned better than to judge a book by its cover. There was still something bothering him about the whole situation.

"Ya know, I don't mean ta pry but why weren't you with john when we met him?"

Floyd seemed to freeze at the kettle, before stiffly pouring the two cups of hot water into the cups and placing gigantic sugar cubes in them. Hickory was so engrossed in watching him he almost missed the answer that Floyd seemed to whisper.

"He wasn't John when I last saw him."

Hickory stared trying to figure out what that meant. John had always been John; loud, sad, and energetic John. Floyd turned back to hickory before he could get a question together.

"After our parents died…John started to do anything to not think about them. We were in a pretty popular band and so he turned all of his attention to that. He stopped being my big brother John after a certain point, and it just hurt to be around him. It hurt to be around all of my brothers after a while."

The room hadn't changed in any real way, but it still felt different. Like the walls were hushed trying to make way for the truth that Floyd confessed.

"So… you just left him?"

Floyd seemed to crumble at little at the question, he turned back to the tea trying to shield his face.

"There was nothing else I could have done, He wouldn't listen to me"

Hickory stood up taking care to push the chair back under the table before walking over to the rock troll. If Floyd noticed his approach, which he had to have noticed it by the little flick his ear gave, he didn't say anything. Reaching over hickory picked the tea up resting back against the counter facing the door.

"I ain't judging you Floyd, ya'll's story seems…"

"Complicated?"

"That seems like quiet an understatement."

This seemed to encourage a laugh out of Floyd that made hickory's poor country heart warm. The rock troll turned around holding the cup of tea in his hands. Together the two of them leaned against the counter letting the quiet seep into the cracks a slowly ease the pain.

"Thank you." Floyd whispered, the words barley strong enough to move the steam from his cup.

"Ya don't need to thank me. I should be thank'n you."

Floyd gave him a impish grin that hickory damn near melted in. Seriously what was with the pop trolls and their ability to change the world with smiles.

"How about we call it even, both of use helped the other. Deal?"

"Deal." Hickory couldn't stop the stupid smile that came to his checks as he reached out and shook floyd's hand.

Torn paper glared at John from the bin, the smudged writing on the paper mocking his idiocy.

It's stupid to fall for your friend, John knew that. It was stupid for him to allow Dickory into his heart like this. Suddenly, the bin didn't seem like enough punishment for his stupid heart.

The paper crumpled in his hand as he walked to the kitchen opening the heavy metal door of the oven, and throwing the paper into the burning wood. The heavy metal door didn't muffle the thoughts rolling in his head. The melody calling like a siren singing the lyrics that now burned to ash.

'Fire hair burning my skin, brush of flesh ripping my heart. Handsome eyes and stony grin seeing all my sins.

I'm dancing around your fire worried of getting burned cause' I'm a fool at heart for falling for your flames'

He took a deep breath feeling dizzy from sudden weight on his heart. Hickory and Dickory were out of the house, meaning, thankfully no one was here to see pathetic display he'd become. Developing feelings for the troll that saved his stupid ass was bad enough. Now he couldn't stop writing yearning love songs about him.

He fell against the wall pressing the palms of his hands into his eyes.

Why couldn't he just keep it together?

Letting out a sigh he let his hands drop to his sides, staring at the wood burning stove listening to the crackle of fire hopefully burning whats left of his shame. He needed to pull himself together, Dickory would be home soon and hickory would follow.

Pushing himself off the wall he pulled the kettle down from the top shelf. Might as well turn his shitty love song into something nice for his two roommates. Filling the kettle with water he placed it on the burner, opening the small kitchens cabinets he grab the coffee grounds. He stared at the contraption that Dickory used to make his coffee in the mornings. Hesitantly pulling the machine apart he tried to recall how the older man had shown him how to use it.

Stumbling through the steps he managed to make what he thought would be a good cup of Joe for Dickory. Placing the mug aside he grabbed a cup from the cabinet filling it with some local berry juice he picked up from the store that morning.

The door creaked open, whining against the push and pull of use.

"Dory?" Dickory called out peaking into the kitchen still dressed in his winter outerwear minus his shoes. His hair had been pulled back away from his face when he left that morning, but the wind must have pulled it out. Small rings of fire curled towards his face standing out in front of the green. He was giving John a weary look glancing towards the steaming mug.

"Dickory! I um I made ya' a cup of Joe, I remembered you typically enjoyed it after work and well.." He looked between Dickory and the cup before handing it to the other man. "Figured we could um share a cup together ya know?"

The weary look suddenly turned surprised and then soured. "We'll I appreciate the offer, but I'm not interested. I don't know what you think this is-"

"Wait- what. What I think what is? You always drink coffee when you get home I just figured we could have some together?" He interrupted pulling down a matching mug before filling it with coffee as well.

Dickory glared at him for a few more moments before moving to the table setting his cup down slightly louder than necessary. John knew that was a classic "I will murder you" sign from Dickory, but he couldn't help indulging his foolish heart with some time with the troll.

The coffee sloshed into his mug looking especially disgusting today, he really didn't know why Dickory liked this stuff. Maybe its a yodeling troll thing? Pulling down the sugar from its spot in the cabinet John made sure to pour at least a couple tablespoons within the mug. Then there was no more stalling he could do before moving over to the table with his sludge of coffee sugar.

"So- is there a reason we can't have coffee together?" He awkwardly started watching the liquid in his mug turn more disgusting by the second.

"No" Dickory said sipping his coffee before grimacing, "Scheiß- what the- what did you put in this?"

"Just coffee? Why whats wrong with it." John took a sip of his own coffee before promptly spitting back into the cup. "Ah- Well it is not supposed to taste like that."

"No it is not. Tell me you didn't use my good coffee grounds for this."

"Um.. I don't- I used the black bag that we keep next to the sugar and stuff."

"The black bag? I don't keep the coffee in the…"

Dickory trailed off looking down at his cup before up at John with the most disgusted shocked look. Clay used to give him that look a lot, it was a classic "John Dory do not tell me you are actually that stupid". It sent a small pang of homesickness through his heart, he wondered what his brothers were up to.

Before any classic self-loathing thoughts could form in his head though, the most incredible thing happened. Dickory's shocked frown smudged into a grin, then he was laughing. He was letting out this beautiful loud laughter that seemed to vibrate the air around him.

It was music, the feeling of a melody in his body, scorching fire on his finger tips.

Oh muses, He was so fucked.

He had to be blushing, did he leave the oven on for too long it felt so warm in the house all of a sudden.

"You used kümmel to make coffee?!" Dickory cried starting up his laughter all over again.

"How was I supposed to know, they look the same!" John defended, Dickory's laughter soothed most of the embarrassment but he had to defend his honor a little.

"They do not look similar at all!" Dickory argued back grinning wildly now, this vicious smile that made Johns stomach twist and flutter with unexplainable emotions. "Come on- I will show you how you're supposed to make coffee."

"What- no you don't have to"

"I cannot allow you near my spices ever again if you think coffee and kümmel look similar. Come." Dickory commanded hoping from his seat and walking the short distance to the kitchen counter. John followed hesitantly behind him, unsure how the fluttering in his stomach was supposed to make him feel.

Pulling a stepping stool from its place against the wall Dickory positioned himself in front of the dirty coffee maker grimacing at its misuse.

"Actually, you are banned from making coffee ever. How did you fuck this up?"

"I've told you it's not common in pop trolls t-"

"Yes- yes, it's not common for you people to eat anything that doesn't cause your bodies to rot from the inside out."

He pouted as Dickory grinned up at him looking way too smug for someone who just insulted an entire tribe of trolls.

"Just because you guys have to eat cheese and meats does not mean your better than my sweet diet." His sound argument was waved off as Dickory flipped his hair and began to clean the coffee maker. John shamefully watched like a drunk man seeing his next drink being made.

Dickory was not a young troll, and he didn't stay inside all day and write songs or preform in a boy band for most of his life. Instead, Dickory worked outside helping the community with construction or clearing paths or just helping with live stock. So, Dickory did not have John soft palms with squishy callouses only newly born from a life in the wilderness. No, Dickory's hands where cakey and rough. His callouses had callouses which in turn also had callouses. If he truly wanted he could have used his hands as a makeshift scrubber, the wrinkles could buff out any metal ware they had.

But even though his hands were rough and grimy in a way Johns had never been, it seemed that they always moved with a kindness John's hands could never understand. Dickory never said kind words, or even nice words for that matter, but his hands told of a gentleness softer then the inside of a gum drop. Even now while he's teasing John's stupidity about making a tea out of what was basically black pepper, his hands cradled the metal appliance like a baby. Gently scrubbing away grim and bits of kümmel.

The song from early wriggled into his head, and ear worm that had been fed well by his heart.

'I wonder if its reasonable be jealous of logs, to be envious when I see the way you cradle them

I wonder if its sane to yearn to be burned by you, to die in your merciful arms. I know its wrong baby- I know its wrong'

"Dory?" John looked up realizing that Dickory finished cleaning the coffeemaker and was know looking at him in a annoyed-concerned stare. "If ya just gonna watch me do dishes you at least could make yourself useful and grab the towel to dry them."

"I thought we were making coffee?" Still John grabbed the towel taking the wet dishes Dickory handed him. Sometimes Dickory made him feel…relaxed in a weird passive way. It was like someone had picked a weight of his shoulder that he never knew existed before. When Dickory was around that weight..it just wasn't as unbearable as it had always been his life.

"You didn't seem to be quiet interested in that. You're eye's glazed over like a dead fish when I started to explain how the machine worked."

"Well yeah, that's because it doesn't make a gosh darn lick of sense."

"John. You put a filter over the funnel and then put the coffee grounds in it and pour water over that. How is that too complicated for ya."

John elected to ignore that response by ensuring that the current plate was completely dry. Also trying to the fact this his heart practically did a complete jump for joy at Dickory saying his first name. Hopefully the flush he felt on his cheeks wasn't too noticeable.

"Oh all right look, ill even make ya a sweet one too." Dickory grumbled his hands setting up the coffee maker lovingly. "To accommodate your pop troll tooth rotting goals"

"Maybe the sugar helped my bones remember their goal was to grow upwards and not outwards."

"Watch it pop troll"

Despite his tone John was indulged once again with a sly grin from the shorter yodeler. Dickory placed the paper into the funnel- thing keeping eye contact with John as he did so.

"The filter is very essential for pour over coffee dor- John, without it the grounds would go into the water and make the coffee gritty."

His stomach seemed to flutter as Dickory's eyes never left his face, he could only nod mutely as the shorter one continued.

"So we put the coffee grounds which we keep in the white bucket in the pantry into this here funnel. Think ya can grab that for me John?"

He nodded his mouth felt way too dry to try and talk, and the grin Dickory had made his brain forget the difference between a flat and a sharp. The white bucket sat in the corner of the pantry just as Dickory said it would. It was a bit heaver than it looked though and he grunted when he picked it up.

"What, I thought pop trolls sugar diet made then have Superior strength?"

"Nah just the ability to be average height" he rasped placing the bucket in front of Dickory.

"What good is height if you can't carry a wee bucket of coffee."

The coffee grounds did admittedly look very different from the coo-mel or whatever he had used. Dickory pulled a spoon out of a draw and scooped two pile of coffee beans into the funnel. John filled the kettle up with water before putting it back on the stove. He did not feel the urge to jump for joy at Dickory's approving nod.

The silence seemed giggle at the two of them standing awkwardly. John was pointedly staring at the kettle like it would speed along its need to whistle. From the sound of it Dickory was messing with the bucket and putting it back in the pantry. It seemed from the other side of the room he found the courage to break the silence.

"So, John what made you want to have coffee with me?"

He turned looking at Dickory who was wearing the guarded expression again, although this time he was relaxed his hands moved restlessly through his hair pulling it out of its updo.

"Um well, I guess I just… wanted to?"

"And that's it, ya just wanted to have coffee with me"

"Yes. I was in the kitchen and realized you would be home soon and…well I like talking to you"

"You like talkin' to me?"

"Yeah? Although from your reaction I guess you don't feel the same."

"Nah, I don't mind talkin to you John. You're…pleasant company, for a pop troll"

"We really need to work on your racism dude" John grumbled, but Dickory was smiling at him and he couldn't muster up the energy to be disgruntled with the full force of butterfly's in his stomach. The shorter man seemed more relaxed now, his shoulders slumping down looking as beautiful as the mountains surrounding their little village.

Damn his biceps looked like they could crush the boulders at the base of those mountains.

"John, the kettle?" Dickory interrupted his smirk more shit eating at catching being ogled.

He turned to the screaming kettle next to him pulling it off the stove. "Right- right sorry got lost in thought."

"I'm sure ya did. Sit down before you ruin my coffee for the second time today"

Dickory moved next to him taking the kettle from his hands.

"What but-" He argued giving up easily as their hands brushed against the handle.

"Sit down I will bring ya the coffee." Dickory shooed turning away from John his hair falling down his back like the closing of a door.

He opened his mouth to argue but just takes his seat at the table scooting the "Kümmel Tea" away from him with a grimace. Dickory came over passing John a cup of coffee the same color as milk chocolate, while his own mug seemed to be pure black.

"I did ya the courtesy of sweetin' it for ya. Should up to pop standards with the amount of sugar I put in there."

Taking a sip John grimaced, it wasn't sweet exactly but… He took another sip finding the taste wasn't that bad. There was a bite of sweetness that seemed to draw him back in. Before he knew it the cup was almost empty of the milky liquid and there was a quiet buzz of energy that settled in his bones.

He glanced up taking another sip of the warm drink. Dickory was staring at him his eyes a warm and intense green that seemed to shimmer in the room. His coffee was barley been touched in front of him.

'Chase any chills away from here melt the icy December hold on my skin'

"John I should tell you something" Dickory began eyes dropping down to his mug, pulling it closer to himself. "This is-"

The squeaking of the door seemed to echo in the house. The two men froze as the shuffling of feet made its way into the kitchen. Hickory froze in the doorway staring at them.

"Are…are you two haven' a coffee?" He asked glancing at both of them and lingering on the coffee cups at the table.

John glanced down at his mug then Dickory, this seemed like a trick question. Their eyes met and it seemed like their was supposed to be a conversation happening but honestly John had no idea what to say. Somehow Dickory came to a conclusion from the look.

"Yes, we are having coffee what of it" There was a tone in Dickory's voice, it almost felt like he was challenging hickory to say something. What he'd have against the two of them having coffee though John had no idea.

"Nothing," Hickory quickly defended walking towards the fridge.

"I made you some juice, I thought we could have coffee together." John explained rubbing the back of his neck suddenly feeling very silly for making a cup of juice and then putting it next to entire jug of juice in the fridge. He glanced at Dickory, their gazes met for a second before the other quickly looked back over to hickory.

"You made me some juice?" Hickory asked sounding touched.

John frowned confused at the two brothers reaction. "Uh, yeah I thought you would appreciate it." He explained watching as hickory held the glass close to him like it was precious gift and not just a glass of juice. It was literally the simplest of gifts he could have ever given hickory.

The younger sat in the chair closest to John, which wasn't really true as there was only three chairs at the table and hickory just happened picked the last available. Still John couldn't help the simple joy the bloomed in his heart from the younger troll sitting next to him.

John looked up at Dickory feeling the warmth in his chest expand as he caught the other troll looking at hickory too. The older yodeler's eyes seemed soft as he gazed at his younger brother, and John felt the crush deepen as he saw the love the troll had for his family.

'Oh the warmth you've hidden in the flames, Oh the kindness you've seared away.

Hickory didn't know when John came to live with him and his older brother Dickory. It was just that one day he opened his eyes and John had been there. The days of living with just his older brother in a quiet empty house were chased away with the mans loud laughter and constant conversation.

Logically Hickory knew that he had lived with his birth parents before living with his older brother Dickory. That he had a life in a different house, a different yard. He just didn't remember it much, and everything he did remember was so faint he had to concentrate really hard to bring forth the memories.

Flashes of his parents face would appear in his mind, memories of smiles and their old house appearing like shapes in the clouds. He would be in dreams and think that the house around him looked just a tad too familiar. Dickory would make kielbasi and the smell would make something tender in his heart ache.

It was like he was two different people, one with his parents in their hazy warm house and one with his older brother Dickory. Is it weird to mourn someone who was you, but isn't anymore? Is it weird that whenever he thinks of living with his parents, the Hickory in the picture is never really him. Its a "Other" Hickory that is smaller, chubbier, and happier still in the swaddles of youth?

Whenever he thinks of his home, of his childhood it's only Dickory and John in the picture. The three of them together with Hickory in the middle; taller, less chubby, but still happy. It feels real to think of them as his family, John and Hickory watching over him. His older brothers.

Well except for the fact that john wasn't technically his older brother. He wasn't related to Hickory at all actually. They weren't even the same color. John had wild curly hair that he sometimes dyed green, and these bright blue eyes that would blend in with the morning sky. He also had the best laugh and the loudest voice that he'd use to sing off-key melodies in the kitchen while cooking breakfast.

Hickory looked nothing like him, with his straight red hair and same family green eyes as Dickory. The two of them in the same room couldn't look less like brothers. A small ginger hair boy next to a large green curly haired one, a freak show of a family.

John was family though, he would tuck Hickory when he was younger. The man always sang the softest lullabies, he always gave the best hugs, always smiled at Hickory like the two of them were peas in a pod.

John was an amazing big brother.

The best part about John though was that he made Dickory smile. Whenever John was around Dickory and him were gripping with each other. They always bickered, talking back and fourth like two yolders singing to each other.

The two of them never could agree on anything but also seemed to agree on everything. The station on the radio would change every hour a constant battle of melodies playing in the house. However lord forbid he forget to do his chores, or he talk back because suddenly the two of them are a solid wall of discipline.

His friends at school were convinced the two of them were dating; along with the grocery store workers, his math teacher, the police offers that walked him to school, the local grandmas, his guitar instructor, and the local librarian.

It was more annoying than anything, people asking him when the wedding was or if he loved one of the duo more than the other (He obviously loved John more).

What was more annoying though was the moments when he could even tell the two liked each other. Moments at dinner when John would go quiet and he'd look up and see him just watch Dickory eating his food. It was sometimes funny to watch him sputter about something random when the other man would catch him staring. Moments of his brother glancing at the clock a mixture of worried and irritated as john had yet to appear home after his shift. Moments of waking up delirious from a bad dream and creeping to his brothers room only to see John already there.

It didn't really matter to him if they were together or not. It was annoying of course to watch the duo dance around the elephant in the room, but in the end he knew they loved each other and that they loved him.

At the end of the day Dickory would ask how classes went, helping with homework, and start dinner. John would come home from work, changing the radio to some terrible pop song before pulling Hickory into some messy dance that had them both laughing. Dickory would complain about the music trying to change it back to the country station he liked, and john would reach out pulling him into a clumsy stomping of feet and laughter.

Hickory would watch as Dickory fought against his smile before inevitably giving into the charm that was Johns laughter. The two of them would fall into a weird folk dance holding onto each other like the morning fog clung to the grass.

A feeling warm and large would expand in his chest making his toes buzz with a joy only felt when one truly loves and is loved.