Brozone Brain Rot

When the past meets the present (3)

The next few days were uneventful mostly as they all just stayed inside the bunker. The next two days the teen John Dory kept making coffee in the morning but would fall back asleep. The third day he didn't make coffee.

Floyd walked downstairs to see all their kid selves in the living room sleeping soundly. Floyd chuckled quietly, before walking over to tucking them all in best he could.

Young JD cuddled under his blanket more in his sleep.

Floyd chuckled lightly once again, he wished he could have gone back in time to take care of the younger version of his oldest brother, the poor kid shouldn't have to do all he does.

Floyd put the kettle on to boil before starting the coffee pot. He knew better than to try and cook breakfast, John would grab him by the ear if he caught him.

Shortly after that John Dory came downstairs, a little confused seeing Floyd awake already but started making a simple breakfast none the less.

"I'm kinda hoping they remember this." Floyd speaks up in a hushed voice.

"Hmm? Why?" JD asks, flipping a pancake.

"Because maybe then our lives won't be as fucked up and we'll still be together and stuff. Maybe Branch won't grow up alone." Floyd mumbles the last part, sipping his tea.

"Maybe but then we wouldn't be who we are now. I think if I stayed with you guys I'd go crazy and snap. Maybe run away before any of you had the chance, I had been thinking about it since my seventeenth birthday. I hate to say it but I don't think I would have been able to take the pressure much longer after that. I'm not saying I'd go hike the Neverglade Trail or something but I'd definitely get myself away. I think the band breaking up was good for all of us, not the running away though. You and Clay should have stayed at least. But if we all stayed, Bruce wouldn't have found Brandy and started his family, Clay wouldn't have met Viva and started his book club, you wouldn't have met Shiv and performed on your own but also wouldn't have died so there's that, Branch wouldn't have had to raise himself and would have had help digging the bunker, and Grandma might still be alive. But none of that is guaranteed." John Dory says quietly, thinking about how differently their lives could have gone.

"Yeah, I think we really just needed a break from each other. And kinda from your bossiness but I know that was just your reaction to being a parent, band manager, big brother, and leader all in one. You for sure needed a break from us. You probably would have went gray into your twenties if we had stayed all together." Floyd teases, scrunching his nose up at the eldest.

JD chuckles softly and rolls his eyes, plating a couple more pancakes.

"Food?" Spruce says groggily as he sleepily walks over while rubbing his eye.

"Yeah, wanna help?" John offers, halfway turning towards the thirteen year old.

"Really?" Spruce perks up slightly.

"Yeah, you can help make more batter." JD answers, gesturing towards the box of pancake mix next to a large mixing bowl.

Spruce excitedly walks up and begins reading the instructions before making more pancake batter.

"Why did you ask me and not Floyd?" Spruce asks as he measures the powder.

"Because Floyd can't cook to save his life." John Dory answers as he finishes plating the last of the pancakes he had.

Spruce nods slightly before looking towards the older Floyd who has started scrolling his phone. "How are you a grown adult and can't cook?!"

Floyd sputters for a moment, looking baffled.