AN: Your typical 'Branch was supposed to be kidnapped instead of Floyd', except that he dies! I suck at thisssss….

I suck at angst, so, hope you guys will understand.

As you can see, this is heavily inspired by 'I want you back' by NSYNC, some of the lyrics will be hidden in between every here and there.

Hope you like it, enjoy!

_

Promises never last forever

"Poppy?" Branch gasped.

Alright, he was losing it. Great, just what he wanted. There was no way his girlfriend could have found him.

Right?

"Branch!"

Branch's eyes widened. She was here. She was real. He tried to stand, steadying himself against the diamond walls as he slowly raised to his feet, though it was clear he looked on the verge of collapsing.

"Branch, oh my gosh, you're alright!" Poppy exclaimed, relief flooding her entire being as she stuck her body to her partner's prison, her cheeks getting cold from the contact. But she didn't care, if this was the closest she could get to a hug, so be it.

Branch coughed, 'hugging' his girlfriend back. "I'm alright, don't worry."

It lasted for only a few seconds, though it felt like an eternity to the couple. Their eyes were closed as they focused on each other's presence, their anchor to reassurance. They were alright. They were together-

Branch's eyes widened. They were together.

"Poppy, leave," he gasped, breaking their connection and locking their gazes. "Leave before Velvet and Veneer come for more."

"Come for what?"

"My talent."

"Your WHAT?!"

Branch quickly shushed her. "Poppy! Keep it down."

"Sorry, sorry," the pink troll muttered. "Stealing your talent…?"

Her boyfriend nodded.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get you out of here!" Poppy attempted to break the bottle, banging her hands against it furiously till they stinged, completely oblivious to her boyfriend's pleas for her to stop. It was no use, he's tried already, but this was a diamond prison, and there was only one thing powerful enough to shatter diamond.

"Poppy, it's no use. This is a diamond prison." He coughed, doubling-over against the wall. "I need my brothers to sing the… perfect family harmony."

"Then we'll get them- Excuse me, did you just say 'brothers'?" Poppy's eyes were wide. Maybe it was the reveal? Branch didn't know, or he did, however, he knew what was coming next.

He hesitated, before saying, "Brozone-" and quickly covering his ears.

"BROZONE?!"

"Keep it down-"

"You were in Brozone?! And you didn't tell me?!"

"It's a long story," he replied.

"We were dying out there."

Branch panicked, almost falling to the ground. "Poppy… go, please."

"But-"

"Go!"

Poppy flinched. Her boyfriend was yelling. He was yelling at her. She nodded, quickly disappearing back into the air vents just before the twins burst into the room. But she couldn't bring herself to leave, she needed to know what they were doing to Branch.

"You're literally sucking the life out of me!"

She covered her mouth. Her boyfriend seemed different, almost… crystallized. How come she didn't notice? They were doing it again- they were sucking out his talent despite his pale appearance. He was floating inside the bottle while they did their act, and Poppy could see the strain etched on his face throughout the process.

Finally, Velvet and Veneer were satisfied. The blue aura surrounding Branch slowly dissipated, revealing a weak, clearly-duller troll. Poppy froze. She needed to leave, her mind screamed at her, but she couldn't move, she needed one last reassurance from him that he was still awake, still holding on.

And there it was. Branch looked up, forcing a small smile upon noticing the worried pair of eyes watching from afar.

He'll be okay.

Branch smiled, before he felt the familiar pit in his stomach, and he knew what was happening next. He fell to the floor in a heap, limbs feeling like lead as he struggled to at least get himself in a sitting position. He was used to it by now, he didn't need to focus to realize he was coughing violently, crimson droplets staining his palm. Two months of having your talent sucked out of you does that to a person, he figured, add to that not singing a single tune in twenty years. But he was fine. He had to be.

He promised.

—--

He promised.

So why was he lying still in Poppy's hands?

"Branch?" she whispered, not bothering to look up at the figures that surrounded her.

"Branch? Wake up, man, come on." Floyd's voice was the first to break the silence, tears that threatened to fall glistening in his eyes as he stared at his baby brother's lifeless body.

A wave of terror and remorse crashed over the four brothers as they witnessed the scene before them. They had forsaken him for decades. They had allowed Velvet and Veneer to suck their brother's talent and soul, leaving behind a lifeless shell. And now, he was no more. Poppy wailed softly, holding her partner to her heart. She had fought to save him, to shatter the walls that were bound to separate them. But she was too late. If only they had been a minute earlier. If only they hadn't wasted precious time bickering and fighting.

"It's your fault…" she whispered, not even bothering to look at the ones her speech was directed at. They knew themselves.

"How dare you do this to him?" Poppy mumbled. "He adored you, he idolized you. And you stabbed him in the back, you walked out on him and you let them take him away!"

The brothers flinched, feeling a pang of guilt and shame. They wanted to say something, to apologize, to explain, but the words just wouldn't come out. They felt Poppy's gaze burning into them, accusing and condemning them. They lowered their heads, unable to face her or their brother.

Viva approached her. "Poppy, I'm sorry-"

"He promised he'll be okay…" She was shaking, physically and emotionally, as she continued, "And I promised I'll save him…"

"We're sorry…" It was John who first found his voice. He didn't know who he was apologizing to - Poppy or his brother, but either way, they both needed to hear it, he needed to say it to both of them.

"Please, man, wake up." Bruce was next, his voice filled with remorse and hope as he gently shook Branch's shoulder, hoping for any sort of response.

But there was none.

Not even a twitch.

Clay shook his head, looking away. "No, no, no…"

Viva frowned. She walked over to the lime-haired troll and held his hand, intertwining their fingers in an attempt to assure him it's going to be okay. However, he didn't even look at her, and she wasn't surprised.

Poppy stared at her boyfriend's face. A tear. Another one. Then another one. Then a waterfall was rolling down her once-bright cheeks. He looked so at peace, and the thought sent shivers down her spine. His eyes were closed, but there was no tension in his expression, and his crow's feet were now barely visible in his new shell. His lips were slightly agape, but she could swear there was the tiniest hint of a smile tugging at their corner.

"Branch, please, open your eyes," she begged. "You promised…"

"I heard you built our hideout…" Floyd choked out. "Don't you wanna show me?" His tears were now falling freely, staining his baby brother's limp form. "I'm sorry I took so long…"

Bruce chuckled bitterly, caressing his forehead. "You're an uncle now, you know?" He looked at Branch's face. "We'll be a family again… just wake up."

Poppy felt a sob escape her throat, as she wrapped her arms around her boyfriend. She pulled him close to her chest, as if she could bring him back to life with her warmth and love. She buried her face in his what-used-to-be hair, inhaling his scent, remembering his smile. She kissed his forehead, hoping against will that he might at least stir. She had told him not to worry, that everything would be alright, but he was right - life isn't all cupcakes and rainbows. She whispered his name, over and over, hoping he would answer.

But he didn't.

He was gone.

And they didn't know if they would ever be the same again.