Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Veneer,

Sorry for just leaving you like this. I know you’re hoping the Trolls can help us…. Maybe they can… but I need to figure some stuff out on my own. I just really need to figure who I am, and so do you. I changed you and I’m sorry. I didn’t want to tell you because I KNOW you would follow me. Not this time Veneer. I’ll be back, I don’t know when. Just stay out of trouble. Don’t do anything stupid. And PLEASE make some friends! Again, DO NOT FOLLOW ME! I’ll see when I see you.

- Velvet

Veneer awoke to find his sister’s room empty. She had gone and taken all her things. He didn’t know how long he cried for. First their parents, and now his sister has ran off to who knows where. He was alone… he was truly alone.

She couldn’t have gone back to Rageous…there was nothing for them there. If she went back they wouldn’t accept her on top… she’d go back to lower parts of Rageous…. Should he go after her? Should he drop everything and follow her? But she said not too? He felt so unsure.

The next couple of days after her disappearance he spent clinging to the Trolls. He was afraid to be alone, afraid dark thoughts would seep through. Floyd was more than happy to have Veneer around…

Floyd,

Don’t leave Veneer alone for too long. Keep an eye on him.

-Velvet

That’s all she had written him. Floyd wondered what she had met by that…So he kept him close. Slowly most of the Trolls accepted him, Poppy, Viva, and most of his brothers…Branch wasn’t to easily convinced.

Branch stared in jealousy one day as Floyd and Veneer talked during their stay in Bergentown, a big goofy smile on the Rageouns face. Veneer began to dress more normal, well normal for a Rageoun….

“Looks like Bitty B has a GIANT admirer.” John Dory chimed in.

“What?” Branch asked.

“The kid. He follows you around like no tomorrow! He really looks up to you.” JD smiled.

“Yeah! And I don’t know why! I guess “leave me alone, go away” means “let’s hang out” in his language.” Branch scoffed.

“Come on, give the kid a break…. He’s alone right now is. Who knows where Velvet went too.” John said.

“Probably to go steal more Trolls…. I don’t trust them. It’s sad how they have Floyd at the palm of their hands still.” Branch said as he glared at Veneer. He continued to frown on how well Floyd got along with him…. Floyd was his brother, not Veneers. Branch couldn’t take it anymore, he walked away…. He needed some space…. He needed to take a walk.

Branch made his way towards the gates that lead outside and followed a path.

As he walked he felt the ground shake slightly.

“What the heck?” He murmured.

“Branch!” Branch heard a voice… he grunted and rolled his eyes. Oh no, Branch growled. He ignored Veneers call as he approached… he kept walking.

“Hey wait! For something so small, you walk fast.” Once he caught up Veneer had no problem keeping up with Branch. They walked in silence for a moment.

“Where are you going?” Veneer asked.

“Forward.” Branch responded. Veneer giggled.

“Duh! But like where?” He asked again.

“Just forward Veneer.” Branches patience began wearing thin.

“Okay.” Veneer said. More silence…

“Hey! I did some, uh, lyrics. Silly huh? Would you like to take a look at them? I want your opinion. Oh! Maybe Brozone can use them for your next album! Cool right!  Hey maybe you think I can help out? I can be your lighting and sound technician! Do you guys have machines for that in my size? Anyways…” Veneer kept rambling on. He was nervous, Veneer always rambled when he was nervous. He kept talking and talking that he didn’t see Branch ticking like a fuse bomb….

TICK. TICK.

“DUDE SHUT UP!” Branch yelled. Veneer stopped in his tracks, staring at Branch confused. “Can you not get the hint! You’re annoying Veneer! I don’t know why you keep following me around! I don’t trust you, I don’t trust your sister. You kidnapped my brother and nearly killed him! I never wanted you guys here, I DONT want to be your friend! I’ll NEVER forgive you! Can’t you understand why maybe your sister left! Maybe she couldn’t stand you! Because I definitely can’t right now!” Branch yelled staring up at Veneer. His breathing was hard as his anger fused…. The Rageoun was silent… Branch could see tears beginning to form in Veneers eyes. A lumped formed in Veneers throat…he wanted to say something… but he felt that whatever he would say wouldn’t matter. Veneer knew now how Branch really felt about him now, how everyone probably did. Maybe he was right? Velvet left because she couldn’t stand him…. No one ever did. He swallowed the lump in his throat and turned around. Hugging himself, Veneer walked away.

Branch just stared after him until he disappeared from his line of view. His anger began to go away. It was then Branch realized what he had said to Veneer…. Guilt began to settle in. No! Branch thought to himself… he wasn’t going to feel sorry. Kid or not, what Veneer did was unforgivable…Branch continued walking the opposite direction….. his mind was set… but his heart was still telling him that he shouldn’t have done that, he shouldn’t have said those things….

Branch didn’t know how fragile Veneer really was.

Chapter Text

It had been a week since Veneers encounter with Branch.

The little Troll noticed a change in behavior in the kid. Veneer was more withdrawn, he stopped approaching the Trolls in general, only to exchange a few words… and that was it. Most of his time now, he’d spent alone.

Branch couldn’t help but feel a small amount of guilt. One night he walked by the room Veneer and Velvet used to share. He heard small cries coming from inside. The small Troll hesitated, he waited a moment by the door. Should he go in? Should he check on him?…. No! Branch decided. It wasn’t his fault of the kid couldn’t take the truth.

The first to notice Veneers change in behavior was Floyd. He was the only one Velvet left a note too before she left: “Don’t leave Veneer alone for too long. Keep an eye on him.”

And he tried, but the Rageoun would constantly avoid him, only exchanging a few words and smiles…. He sensed that Veneer wanted to be alone… and that was a scary thought.

“You know what’s been up with Veneer lately?” Floyd asked Branch one day.

“No. Why?” Branch was short with his response. He knew it was his fault in the kids sudden change in behavior.

“You haven’t notice he’s been distant? Quiet actually…. I’m worried.” Floyd said.

“Why? Why do you care? Don’t you remember what they did to you?”

“Yes. But you didn’t know them like I did…. Before all this happened…. It’s always been the two of them. Now Veneer doesn’t know what to do without his sister.” Floyd hesitated a moment before choosing his next words, “Veneer can get…. Bad thoughts in his mind…”

“What do you mean?” Branch turned around and eyed him curiously.

“Veneer… He’s…. he can… hurt himself… if he really felt like it.”

“Hurt himself? Why would he want to do that?” Branch asked.

“…. I don’t know Branch. Some have ways of showing their feelings because sometimes others can’t understand it… or fail too. Which is why we need to be there for him.” Floyd had said.

Floyd walked off, leaving Branch thinking… Had the words he said triggered something in Veneer?… No he didn’t, Branch had only spoken the truth.

It was late in the night. The Trolls decided to stay the night there at the Bergen castle. Branch got hungry, so he made his towards the kitchen. He yawned and rubbed his eyes. He neared the kitchen when he saw Veneer walk out…. There was nothing in his hands, no snacks, no anything, but Branch could see he walked out hiding something within his red hoodie. Veneer took no notice of the little Troll.

“Whatever.” Branch thought. He continued walking towards the kitchen…. That’s when an awful feeling hit his gut…. What if-

No. Branch was being silly, the kid was old enough to understand, old enough to take things like a man…. But Branch still stayed frozen, he didn’t move, couldn’t move… what if he grabbed something that he could hurt himself with? The words Floyd told him echoed through his mind: Don’t leave Veneer alone for too long….

“Dang it!” He grunted to himself as he made his way to Veneers bedroom.

When he approached, Branch could see the door was slightly open….

“Veneer?” He called out as he went in. There was no sign of the Rageoun anywhere. Maybe he hadn’t come in his room….

CRASH!

Branch was startled by the sound coming from the bathroom.

“Veneer?”

“I’m fine!” He heard Veneer try to call out happily. “Accidentally knocked over the hand soup!”

Branch could hear weird sounds coming from within along with Veneers hustled movements. Branch heard sniffles and small little whimpers.

“You good?” The Troll asked.

“Y-yeah.” Veneer said. Branch could hear his voice break, like he was trying to hide that he was crying.

“Open up. I have something to show you.”

“I….i am n-not d-decent…” the voice broke again.

“Okay. Then.. night.” Branch made it seem as he was leaving…. Silenced passed… he knew Veneer was waiting to make sure there was complete silence…. Branch waited…. He heard the sound of slight clanging metal…

“AH!” He heard Veneer cry, the sound of metal hitting the floor. That’s it… Branch took a running start and slid under the opening of the door.

He came into Veneer sitting on the floor, trying to hide what he just did…. Branch saw what he had gotten from the kitchen, its metal sheath shining in the light. Veneer held his arm… blood spilling from the side.

“Veneer….” Branch said softly, his eyes wide with worry.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t…. I don’t know why I did this…. I just…. I feel so alone!” He hugged his knees, his shoulders shaking violently as he cried. The small Troll approached the tall Rageoun quietly. He placed a hand on his leg…. Now Branch understood what Floyd meant… what Velvet had said…

“… I’m sorry…” Branch began, “I’m so, so sorry. For everything I said a week ago. I was mad. And I still want to be mad… but now I understand you. Veneer, what I said, I’m sorry. You were trying, and I was stubborn not to let you try, to appreciate that you tried, that you put a stop to it. Forgive me?”

Veneer peered up, staring at the small Troll, tears still streaming down his face.

“But you didn’t do anything wrong? It’s me who should apologize, I hurt your brother, I hurt you guys. I couldve stopped it sooner… I know why you hate me, why my sister hates…. I hate me.” Veneer cried, blood still trickling from his arm.

“…. I wanted to hate you…. I thought I did…but… I can’t… I don’t want to hate you.” Branch looked up Veneer.

“But Velvet left…”

“She told us to watch out for you. She still cares… and thats what I’m going to do. Me, Floyd…. Everyone.”

“…. But why would she leave me….” That’s what was wrong. Veneer was trying to fill the loneliness of his sister leaving. He hated feeling alone… and Branch understood that…

“Somethings can’t be explained yet.” Branch responded.

Veneer turned and looked him….. there was a small understanding…. A small connection…

“Let’s get you cleaned up?”