Boxers
"Okay, Val, so this is one of those times we've talked about." Branch put the binoculars over his eyes and took a very close look at the Pop Queen who was obsessively strimmering strimmers all over the trees.
"Can we do this creep thing of spying on Poppy somewhere else?" Val asked in annoyance, scratching her arms because the infernal bush that she had been hiding in was making her itch.
"Pay attention," Branch hissed, "She has spent weeks planning this party and she's not going to have a good time because she'll be too busy making sure everyone else has a good time." He pointed at Dante who was unsuspiciously floating around, admiring the decorations. "This is a big party so we'll need help to make sure there's nothing left for Poppy to obsess over."
"And you want me to talk to Dante because…?"
"Because he accepts nothing less than meticulous work. Everything he sets on doing comes out perfect. And if we want Poppy to have a good time, we need sharp eyes to spot any flaws and plan for any eventuality." Branch hid the binoculars in his hair and jumped out of the bush.
"Eventualities make parties fun!" Val pointed out and Branch rolled his eyes. She had so much to learn.
"Poppy won't accept eventualities." They heard a grunt and turned to see Poppy holding her hair up in a loop to grab hold of an incredibly heavy commemoration statue.
Seeing this, Dante Crescendo backed up to float next to Branch and Val, looking incredibly worried.
"Is it normal for her to work so hard?" The classical composer asked his friends.
"Totally normal, not that I enjoy seeing it." Branch crossed his arms and allowed a small frown to appear on his face, "I bet she's prepared a backup statue somewhere."
"So, the plan is to do all the work before Poppy has a chance to do it." Val concluded and Dante grinned. He was more than willing to help the queen.
A painful scream interrupted their conversation. The three conspiring friends turned to see Poppy's hair twisting painfully after setting the statue down. The young queen curled forward, dropping on her knees and holding her hair in her hands.
"Poppy!" Branch broke in a run towards her, shortly followed by his friends.
"I'm fine. I'm fine." The pink girl replied, obviously not fine.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
By the end of the party, Poppy's cast was full of drawings and names. Branch watched from afar, holding an almost empty cup of milkshake, as Val dropped by the queen's bed to ask if she needed anything.
Ironically, it was probably the first party Poppy hadn't worked herself to exhaustion. The music was getting lower and tired trolls started paying goodbyes to return to their homes. Dante announced that the sandwiches that remained on the trays could be picked for a nightly snack, if anyone wanted to take them home.
Apparently, Demo was going to take a few trips to the fridge that night because he stuffed sandwiches in all of his pockets.
Fuzzbert appeared next to Branch with his hair slightly down, looking like he needed to rest.
"Thanks for the help with Poppy, today." Branch slurped on the rest of his drink. "Do you think you guys could take her bed back to the royal pod? I'll walk her there." The hairy troll said a few incomprehensible words before heading out to do what he was asked.
"I hope you've learned your lesson, Popsqueak. When Branch and I team up, you can't fool us." Val teased and stole a quick glance at the teal troll who approached them.
"Do not get used to it, Val." Poppy looked at her boyfriend while she said this. Gratitude for their kindness didn't match the smart reply.
"I think it's time for a real bedrest." He offered his hand to help Poppy stand up.
Smidge showed up, ready to offer some help taking the queen home, but Val put a hand over the smaller troll's mouth to stop her from speaking. The rock girl didn't even have to explain herself. The sweet look that Poppy and Branch shared was enough for the Helper to understand that it wasn't time to intrude.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Branch got courageous to hold Poppy's hand when they were just under the tree where her pod was. They had taken a long stroll there so Fuzzbert would have time to set her bed back in place. As he hooked his finger on hers, Branch pretended to stare in the opposite direction, just to watch her reaction with the corner of his eyes.
Poppy blushed and curled her finger as well. They weren't fully holding hands in public, but somehow it was enough given the awkward feeling that they were being watched from every pod above.
Or it could be just their imagination…
"So…" Branch was the one to break the silence. The small climb to the front of her pod was unusually long, with his heart beating wildly with the offer that was stuck in his throat. "You are going to behave and rest your hair, right?"
"Jeez, sometimes you talk to me like I'm a kid." Poppy playfully rolled her eyes, but her feet that drew circles on the floor showed that she wasn't as annoyed as she would like to sound. Actually, she looked quite embarrassed.
"I would feel better if you agreed to stay in the bunker tonight." Reaching inside her pod, Branch turned on the lights to check if everything was perfectly in order. "I still need to pay you back from the amount of pampering that time when I sprained my ankle."
"I must stay here tonight." Poppy stepped inside and turned around to see that her boyfriend stood by the door, looking concerned, but completely respecting her wishes. "You could stay…" Bright red colored her cheeks. She played with the tip of her fingers. "... I'd love to cuddle…"
For the first time, Branch could experience things from her point of view. Stay in her pod? What would other trolls think? Sneaking inside at night and leaving early next morning… he would die of embarrassment if he was spotted.
Fudge… did she feel like that every time she spent the night in the bunker?
And where would he sleep? She had only one bed. A big one, it was true, but still it was only one bed for two of them. Not that they hadn't shared a bed a couple of times, but it had been inside his underground fortress, with the security system fully functioning to make sure they had a well-deserved privacy…
… her pod was open at all times. People could peek inside. People would most likely peek inside since they were all concerned about her injury.
"You're thinking too hard." Poppy pointed out. To ease the atmosphere, she opened her closet and picked up yellow shorts and a top. "I'll grab a quick shower. Make yourself at home if you decide to stay."
The sound of running water soon echoed through the pod and Branch felt a little tension leaving his shoulders. Yes. He was concerned about her reputation, but perhaps he should be more concerned about her feelings that night.
Poppy was hurt, she had just said she wanted to cuddle. She would have to sleep in pain and alone if he didn't stay.
And she was surprised to see him sitting there when she emerged from the shower, looking steamily yummy and smelling strongly of soap. He decided to stay and he knew he would need to be strong to resist her all night.
"I may have to run to the bunker to get my pajamas…" He started saying and his voice failed a couple of times in that small sentence, giving away his thundering hormones.
"There's no need." Poppy opened up a drawer and a big smile at the same time. She only realized she had revealed a small misbehavior when Branch frowned in confusion, staring at the small pair of white boxers in her hands.
"I don't remember leaving any underwear here." The timid troll was completely puzzled. The queen looked like a child caught with her mouth full of chocolate.
"Ah… you see…" She felt an incredible urge to scratch her hair, but the cast stopped her nervous tick. "I sort of… ran out of underwear when I was taking care of you… and I didn't want to come home so I… got one of yours."
"You STOLE my boxers." Shocked. He was completely shocked.
"I didn't steal them..." Poppy defended herself. She handed him the cute piece of fabric with heart shaped drawings. "... I was going to return them… but…" His eyebrow raised in suspicion, which made it really difficult for her to finish her sentence. "You see… they are really comfy… and I was… wearing them… to sleep…"
Should he feel flattered? Branch was feeling flattered. She was wearing his clothes to sleep. Was it like… a personal mark?
With his tongue tied, he headed to the bathroom to take a cold shower to get his head in place, leaving a very confused queen staring at the pink hairy wall for a few minutes. He couldn't think clearly about her transgression. He was immensely happy about it, but it felt like he should be offended somehow.
Then he remembered when he was caught sniffing her yellow panties.
She had been really nice even if she had felt weird then…
She had been wearing his boxers to sleep, Branch thought as he slipped them on. He could smell her strawberry scent on his clothes. It was so massively hot that he had to recompose himself before reaching for a shirt…
What shirt?
"Hm… Poppy…?" He opened the bathroom's door just a little so she could hear him clearly, "You didn't manage to bring a shirt as well, did you?"
"Hm… no." She was already lying in bed and the lights were out.
Branch looked at the shorts and vest on the floor. He had been wearing them all day and they were stinking… there was no way he would wear them in bed.
And he felt too exposed wearing only his underwear.
"There's a blanket with sleeves right there." She pointed at a chair right next to the door and Branch gladly wrapped himself with it. There was no way that blanket was coming off that night.
The atmosphere was so thick he could barely take a full breath. Laying down next to her, his eyes were fixed on the ceiling, as if he was too afraid to look anywhere else. Poppy was the one to be brave and move her yellow blanket to cover him, while he gripped the one around him like his life depended on it.
"If it's uncomfortable for you, you can go."
The tone she said that got his attention. She was feeling rejected. Branch turned his head to see she was lying as stiff as he was.
He painfully recalled her words when they had an uncool sleepover. You don't really want this. And by this she had meant the relationship. She had been expecting him to be more forward then, but backed away to give him space.
And yet… she had asked for a hug. That was all. Nothing more.
She wanted to cuddle and to feel safe while her hair healed.
Why was he debating this?
Poppy's eyes closed, fighting the burning feeling of tears that insisted on trying to shed and give away how troubled she was.
The sheets and blankets moved. She was sure Branch had made his mind and was going to get dressed and leave, but the next thing she felt was his warm hands sliding around her to bring her towards him from under the covers.
She opened her eyes in confusion.
Branch had thrown away the sleeved blanket and pulled her close so she could rest her head on his naked chest.
The sensation of lying there, feeling his skin under her cheeks, his warmth practically burning her in a gentle caress made her feel like it was home.
That spot… right there… was where she belonged.
They amazingly fit. Like they were made to perfectly mold into each other.
"I'm sorry." He whispered against her hair and, involuntarily, her leg hooked over his and gladly she met no flinch and no gasp. Just pure acceptance.
"Good night, Branch."
"Night, Poppy."