It was after the basketball match that Poppy tried to talk to Branch aka Ace. Her plan was a simple approach to tell him it was feeling awkward to have him pick his own nickname.

She had a weird deja vu feeling. Branch wasn't acting like himself and even if his confidence was a nice improvement, her boyfriend wasn't like that. His essence was sucked away.

Just like Frond.

But the talk wasn't going to be easy. She realized that the moment she stepped inside the bunker and was welcomed with a full table of cupcakes, flowers and candlelight.

Poppy gulped nervously. Branch had gone straight for her heart. She really wanted a romantic date with her boyfriend, but with Branch, not Ace.

"I was wondering when you'd come looking for me." Branch lowered his sunglasses and blinked at her.

"Why do you have sunglasses in the dark?" Poppy replied, trying to keep an emotional distance from all the scenario he created, but it seemed Branch had anticipated her thoughts and he wasn't going to allow her to talk him out of his plans. Taking her hand and spinning her around, Branch tightened his hold on her waist and dipped down, surprising her with his skills at ballroom dancing.

"Impressed?" He asked, raising a confident eyebrow at her.

"Well… yes. I am impressed." Untangling herself from him, Poppy managed to walk around the table, deeply aware that his eyes followed her every move. "You're confident." She tried to work on a cue to talk about his nickname.

He put his sunglasses down.

"Wouldn't you prefer a confident boyfriend?" He pulled the chair for her and Poppy sat down. "With cupcakes, roses, everything you deserve?"

"You already give me everything I want. Daily."

Branch chuckled and served her a plate with a single cupcake with cherry on top. He opened a bottle of what seemed like sparkling champagne and poured her a glass.

He sat down on the opposite side of the table and rambled on about how Ace was the perfect nickname for him. How he felt different, with more energy to fulfill whatever was asked of him.

Poppy could only try to listen to him as she quietly munched on her dinner. It was hard concentrating on him, especially with an attitude like that. He was boring her to death!

"Branch." Poppy interrupted him when she noticed that she had eaten all the cupcakes and drank all the champagne. She had nothing else to focus her attention on, but him. "As much as I love this side of you, I'm worried."

"There's nothing to worry about." To prove her wrong, or to convince her that Ace was more interesting than Branch, her boyfriend stood up, taking her hand to lead her to the couch.

He sat down next to her. Closer than he usually would. Poppy placed both her hands on her lap, biting her lower lip nervously.

It was what she had wished for, wasn't it? For Branch to be more courageous and take the lead in their relationship more often.

Before she could answer herself, Poppy felt his lips softly brushing over hers. Her stomach fluttered when she felt his hand warmly cupping her cheek while the other slid down her back to rest on her waist.

It was the sweetest kiss he had ever initiated.

Breathless, she closed her eyes and opened her lips to inhale. Branch took the opportunity to invade her mouth with his chocolate flavored tongue, overwhelming all her senses.

Her knees tingled. Her feet raised from the floor, involuntarily finding his legs to hook on.

She felt his hand in her hair, causing her to roll her eyes back as a moan escaped from her throat.

She felt his mouth curve in a smirk.

No. It wasn't right. She wasn't making out with Branch, she was melting into Ace; she couldn't indulge his attitude any longer.

"Branch-humph!" He quickly covered her mouth when she tried to speak. The hand on her waist slid down to her thigh.

Hair, he could be divine when he wanted to.

"Stop." She pressed her palms to his chest - a chest that was glued on her own to the point of causing her to feel his warmth through the fabric of her dress and bra.

Even against his will, Branch broke their kiss and pulled back. He looked down at her with hazy eyes. For a confused moment, Ace had disappeared.

"As much as I love this-" Poppy softly touched his cheek to make her point, "my boyfriend is Branch, not Ace."

"Argh." Frustrated, he backed to the opposite side of the couch. "You're the only one who doesn't like Ace!"

"I like you, Branch."

"We've been through this when I told you about my nickname." His attitude changed. His back hunched a little and he lowered his tone. "It's important to me. I feel popular. Like someone who is respected. "

"You are respected." It was Poppy's turn to frown. "You are the troll everyone calls when they need the job done. You don't need to change who you are."

"I'm way cooler as Ace. I wish you'd support me!"

At that, Poppy closed her mouth. All protests died when he spoke like that. Ace irritated her, but Branch wouldn't have a girlfriend who didn't support him.

"I'll prove to you how Ace is popular," he stood up, getting the sunglasses back and putting them on.

Poppy didn't say they were underground with dimmed lights; instead, she did her best not to groan in frustration.

"Fine. We'll see how it goes in the morning." She stood up, walking past her boyfriend and going straight to the elevator.

"At least admit you liked it." Branch said when she was already halfway up.

Poppy pulled the lever, stopping completely; she blinked a couple of times before looking down at him.

"I loved the cupcake, the champagne and the mind-blowing kisses." Smiling bitterly, Poppy continued. "I just wished they were from Branch."

She continued her way up, glad she had said something that could make a point.

The cold night air felt incredibly liberating.