Did you expect another chapter so soon? Neither did I.
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Branch was fast.
Poppy considered herself to be pretty scrappy, but apparently that was nothing compared to her boyfriend on a warpath. In any other situation, she would find that hot (oh, who was she kidding she did find it hot). But now wasn't the time for those thoughts! Now was the time to worry about whether or not her boyfriend would deck the first troll he saw.
"Branch!" she called futilely. "Branchifer, you come back here right now!" He ignored her, continuing his angry trek. "Don't make me call reinforcements!" Again, he didn't answer.
Poppy huffed, then made a sharp turn towards the Bunker. If there was anyone who could talk the sense back into her boyfriend, it was his favorite brother. She clambered into the hatch and nearly took the elevator lever off as she descended. "Floyd!" she shouted, tripping over her own feet.
Floyd, who was reading a book on the couch, glanced down at her. "Poppy," he greeted calmly. "What's wrong?"
She scrambled to her feet. "Branch is gonna kill someone!" she told him.
Nothing surprised the second youngest Brozone member. He cooly marked his place in his book and set it down, moving towards her. "Elaborate?" he asked politely. "And breathe, you look like you're going to pass out."
Poppy did as he said, taking a deep breath. "Branch is mad," she explained. "Like, really mad. At the village, a-and my dad. I don't want him to do something he'll regret."
Floyd seemed to consider her words. "Does he have a good reason to be mad?"
And how could she answer that? Did she admit that she felt abandoned by her village, that she felt hurt by her father? Or did she tell him that Branch was overreacting and being overprotective? That nothing was wrong?
What was the right answer?
But in not answering, she seemed to give him his answer. "Sit down," he instructed her gently. "I'll make hot chocolate."
Poppy did as he said.
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Floyd didn't push her. He didn't ask her what was going on or prod her for answers. He simply handed her a mug and sat beside her. Poppy was anxious; she came over here to get him to stop Branch, not to make her heaven in a cup! But she didn't say that, she simply took a sip; he had gone to the trouble to make it for her, after all. He had even put extra marshmallows in hers.
"Sometimes, when I'm having a rough day, hot chocolate helps," Floyd told her. "It doesn't fix anything, but it makes me feel better."
Well, that made sense. How could anyone be upset drinking hot chocolate? Poppy took another sip; it tasted just like how Branch made it. He didn't like a lot of sweets- he preferred salty, spicy, and savory- but she had discovered he had a special fondness for chocolate. He claimed it was because of its nutritional value.
Floyd put a hand on her shoulder. "You look like you've been having a rough day for a while now," he continued.
Poppy wouldn't be able to explain why she started crying at those words. But the dam broke, and she began to sob. Ugly, wretched sounds escaped her, sounds she didn't even know she was capable of making. Floyd kindly rubbed her back, gently urging her to let it all out.
The elevator shuddered suddenly, startling them both.
"JOHN DORY, LET ME GO!"
"No way, bro! You look like you're gonna bite the first troll you see."
"Yeah, and it'll be you if you don't put me down!"
What met them was a startling sight. John Dory had Branch wrapped in his green hair, Branch squirming and trying to free himself. Viva and Clay were behind him, looking extremely confused and worried.
Poppy felt relief swell in her heart. "Branch!" Huh, looked like reinforcements did show up. Even if they weren't the ones she'd sought. Suddenly, she was really glad that JD stalked the outskirts of the village. She might have not been able to catch him, but survivalist extraordinaire John Dory could.
Branch calmed at the sight of her, though he was still writhing in his brother's hair. "Poppifer," he said. He frowned, no doubt taking note of her red, teary eyes.
She tried to smile. "Branchifer," she replied, her chin wobbling. "I'm guessing they caught you just in time?"
He scoffed. "Unfortunately." John Dory let him down and he stepped forward, lifting up a hand to thumb away a stray tear. "Especially because they made you cry."
He meant the villagers, of course. Poppy shook her head. "They didn't make me cry." She didn't know what did. They were tears she felt she had been holding in for so long, and didn't realize that until she finally let them loose.
"Poppy," Viva chimed in. "I know something's wrong. It has to be if Branch is this upset."
Poppy took a deep breath. "I don't know," she responded. She turned away from them for a minute, not wanting the group to see her face. "I guess I'm stressed, with the trial and everything. It's not a big deal."
Branch scoffed. "That's not it and you know it."
"Branch," warned Poppy, turning to glare at him.
But he wasn't going to be deterred. "The village has been outright avoiding her," he told the group. "Because of her bruises, because she got hurt."
Poppy closed her eyes, though her ears picked up Viva's gasp. "Branch," she pleaded. They didn't need to know this, Viva didn't need to know this. She could deal with it, it would stop. Everyone was going to be upset over nothing. Branch was already upset and she didn't want him to be, not because of her.
"Poppy," breathed Viva. "Why didn't you say anything? You know that isn't okay. I would have done something, and you know Branch would have."
"Like what?" asked Poppy pitifully. She felt like she was surrounded with no way out, even though this was supposed to be her family. She knew they weren't her enemies, and yet- "You can't change what people think, Viv."
"We can tell them off when they're being shitty," Branch shot back. He moved in front of her, cupping her cheeks in his hands. "Poppy, you don't deserve to be treated like this by them, by your dad. Please tell me you know that."
"Dad?" Viva repeated. "What does Dad have to do with this?"
"He told Poppy to go easy on Creek and Daisy," Branch spat out, like the words were poison on his tongue. He was mad, really mad. Angrier than Poppy had ever seen him, even when he was gray.
"WHAT?" came the resounding response from everyone else.
Viva was the loudest. "Why would he do that?" There was so much hurt in her voice, just like Poppy knew there would be. She didn't want her big sister to be hurt, why couldn't anyone understand that?
"For the 'sake of the village,'" Branch told her. Viva flinched, turning away. Clay was at her side in an instant, hugging her close and whispering things she couldn't quite make out.
Poppy felt like everything was coming apart around her. She felt her body shake, the bruises littering her body screaming in pain. She tried to breathe, but her chest was tight and the air was barely making it through her nose. Her vision blurred. What... What was happening?
"Branch." John Dory's firm voice cut through her panic for a moment. "Ease up a little."
"But-"
"I know you're upset," came Floyd's soothing intervention. "But look at her, Branch."
Quiet. The only thing Poppy could hear was Clay's low murmuring. Then, strong arms wrapped themselves around her, arms she knew well. Branch. "I'm sorry," he mumbled into her ear. "I didn't mean to make you upset."
Poppy clung to him like he was her lifeline. She buried her face into his warm neck, feeling the panic subside just slightly. He had that effect on her, that calming sensation. "It's okay," she whispered back to him. She didn't care what he had said, she just wanted him.
"Bring her to your room," instructed Clay. "Let her rest for a minute, we'll decide what to do after." Branch did as he said, gently gathering her into his arms and carrying her away. Poppy burrowed her face into his chest, feeling warmer than she had in days.
When they got to his room, Branch gently set her down onto his bed. It was firmer than hers, but she settled into it much easier than she had her own the previous night. Also, it smelled like him which was always a plus.
He leaned down and kissed the side of her face. "You look tired, Pop," he told her softly, thumbing the skin under her eye.
She leaned into the touch. "I am," she finally admitted, her chest feeling a little less heavy. She felt tears she didn't even know were there fall freely down her face. "I'm so tired, Branch."
Branch brushed some hair out of her face. "You can rest here," he assured her. "You're safe." He went to leave-
Only for Poppy to yank him down into the bed with her. "Stay," she begged. He couldn't leave her, he couldn't.
Fortunately, he obliged, scooting onto the bed with her. "I'm not going anywhere," he promised. He curled around her, his warmth enveloping her smaller body. "Try to sleep, okay Poppy?"
Her eyes were already drooping. "Okay," she agreed.
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Lolz, I know you guys wanted to see Branch go off on the village (Peppy), but I decided no. Why? Because I like to torture you.
