Cloudless times

Poppy was a mystery sometimes. Years ago she was a shallow little princess who thought about nothing but hugging, dancing, and singing. Or… that was what she externalized.

Poppy had a serious side in a deeper layer hidden by a thick surface of being a good queen. A side that was carefully covered so no one would notice. Maybe not even herself.

It was hard to pinpoint when she started allowing that grown-up side to come up to shine, but it was possible to see small glimpses of it if one paid close attention.

Like when Cloud Guy was deciding who was going to stay in his place when he left for Cloud College. Not only Branch but the annoying vapor friend also got scared at Poppy's sudden appearance.

Those crossed arms, that frown, and bossy attitude could easily belong to an angry mother, or a teacher, or worse… a queen. Then, out of the blue, she squealed and was back to her usual self once it was all settled.

When Cloud Guy left, it was up to Branch to wonder when Poppy started having an effective behavior to solve problems instead of trying to hug solutions out of the blue.

It made the survivalist pounder if it was time to share deeper conversations with his girlfriend. Not just Trollstopia schedules or fun and games, but… maybe what she expected from the future.

So Branch opened two folded stretcher chairs and put them next to each other. Lemonade and a couple of cupcakes on a small box that could be used as a side table were perfect to show her that he intended to spend the quiet time with her, enjoying sunbathing and maybe a couple of touches.

"Hey, Branch." Poppy showed up right on time for their half hour of heavenly silence, although she looked too jolly to settle down for that long. "Cupcakes! I love how you decorated them!"

"Thought you would like the heart-shaped sprinkles." Branch chuckled, taking her hand and leading her to her chair. "Have as many as you want."

"Wow, what's got into you?" Poppy's eyes sparkled at the taste and comfortably laid on the chair, right next to him with a dreamily face. "This is so good."

"Have as many as you want." But just to make sure, he snatched one before she ate them all.

"So, is this going to be our quiet time routine?" That toothy smile, right there, made him agree with it immediately, even if he didn't think for it to be a permanent thing, he was quick at changing his mind.

"Well, without Cloud Guy around we will be undisturbed any time, but yeah, it would be amazing to have this routine with you." He quickly took a bite of his cupcake to hide a blush. He loved the idea of enjoying a pleasant time with his girlfriend so much that it made his heart flutter.

"It reminds me of our Snow Weekend on the Safe Island." She looked down at her feet and wiggled her toes as if remembering the velvety sensation of the warm sand.

It was the best weekend. The sun, the sea, and delicious fruits seemed to exist only there. It was a big contrast to what the other trolls had on their cold and snowy days. They were even snowed in! It took an entire week for the weather to clear completely.

Not that he would tell the others that they had a tan or that he learned Poppy didn't know how to climb trees without using her hair. Branch definitely wouldn't tell anyone that he came close to kissing her many times, but he blushed and found something else to pay attention to. And he wouldn't tell anyone that she had slept curled on his side and that one leg was draped over his and it gave him trouble sleeping.

Branch returned to the present moment and looked at Poppy to ask if she wanted to have another trip, but found her eyes closed, lips slightly parted, breathing deeply. He shook his head with a smile. He took too long in his thoughts, as usual. He lost the timing for an answer.

What was left for him to do in the next ten minutes, before Trollstopia raised with games and laughter again, was to watch his beloved sleeping.

His smile slowly turned down. Branch blinked a couple of times when Poppy's bright pink colors flicked gray. It was a small glitch in his mind, the survivalist concluded. It had happened a couple of times before, providing him with a deja vu feeling. An instant in time that didn't seem to belong in their lives, thankfully.

Poppy was too dear for him and it was true that she loved him more than he was prepared for. He had to adjust along the way. The newest findings about her devotion reached him through King Peppy.

The old King caught Branch digging a tree trunk and decided to reveal one of Poppy's secrets. She had a bad case of Guilty Sneeze for a couple of hours because she had come to the conclusion she needed to be drastic with a troll. Poppy had to be forceful with Bernadette because of some vile rumors the old lady was spreading and the queen had to put the old troll back in her place.

Branch connected the dots. He never thanked Poppy for defending him and he hoped she'd tell him one day about it. In the meanwhile, he was filled with gratitude for her watching his back in silence. If she still was that bratty princess he had known, she'd certainly demand a party for her good deeds.

"Hmmm…" Poppy rolled to the side, lazily looking at him. "I dozed off. Sorry."

"You're working too hard," Branch couldn't resist her sleepy face. She perched her puffy face on her hand to focus on him looking so incredibly cute that her boyfriend had to reach out and pretend to brush something off her cheek to have an excuse to touch her. "I have a suggestion if you don't mind." And if she was willing to listen to him.

"Of course," a small and one-sided smile brightened her cheeks.

"If trolls have free time to come up with their own games, then maybe you'll have time to enjoy the day as well, instead of always running around to chaperone marathons or parties, or concerts." Branch was prepared for a frown or a doubtful shrug, but she surprised him by actually engaging instead of dismissing his idea at once.

"I do have more on my plate than I can handle." She nodded, "but what if they fall into boredom?"

"We're trolls, Poppy." Branch pointed out.

"Oh, I know a troll who finds it fun to separate different kinds of leaves for composting." She teased.

"Hey!" Branch thought he was alone at that moment! "Were you watching me?"

"Cloud Guy's fault!" She quickly defended herself and sat up straight once again. "But I think I could give it a shot. You've been proving you are right from time to time."

"Wow, are you actually going to listen to me?" That was news. Bewildering news.

"Hey," she raised an eyebrow and crinkled her nose pretending to be insulted. "I always listen."

"No, you don't."

"I may not agree with you or do as you say, but I do listen."

"My words go in one ear and out the other!"

"I may intentionally ignore you sometimes." Coyly, Poppy stood up and stretched her dress, stepping closer.

His heart seemed to stop to see what she was going to do. He nervously looked left, then right. Poppy did the same before opening a big smile.

No one was around.

It was a quick peck. The kind that left him wishing for more. Fast and lip-crushing. If it was a second longer he might have lost his head and pulled her closer. He wondered if she would yelp if his hand went to the back of her neck.

"I'll see you tomorrow at our quiet time " her pretty magenta eyes stared at him before blinking those enormous eyelashes.

He heard her giggles for a while. His mind echoed those soothing sounds for the rest of the day and he found them even more peaceful than separating grains of sand.