Been noodling around with an angsty Trolls Fic idea I might write…
Post World Tour Branch gets stuck as a Rock Zombie, Poppy goes to his bunker in hopes of finding something that will break the spell. She finds a bunch of invitations and cards that she had given him over the years (she thought he had thrown most of them away) and behind all of them was a single beat up field journal. At the beginning the entries are very straightforward and factual with the occasional picture of some other trolls. After further investigation she realizes that the other trolls are Branches brothers who made up the band “Brozone”. After the events of the first movie the entries start to get more open emotionally. The most recent entry, dated the day they got the invite from Barb, said that Branch was going to tell Poppy that he loves her and wants to be more then friends. Poppy tears up at this and fades to a desaturated pink and her hair wilts. She hugs his journal to her chest takes a deep breath, her pink color returning as her determination to help Branch fills her. She sticks the journal in her hair and starts gathering supplies for her new adventure. She sets out on a mission to find and bring them all to Pop Village to help bring back Branch starting with John Dory and the Neverglades. Beginning of her journey parallels the first movie, she overcomes any challenges that come her way thanks to Branches survivalist training. After finding John Dory the rest of the story follows the same beats as Band Together from there. During the journey she is much more solemn than usual because she’s worried about Branch.
Back at Pop Village Tiny Diamond and her other friends are in charge of taking care of Branch who’s zombie condition is causing him to be more aggressive (think the animals affected by the night howlers in Zootopia)
Really Hope we get another TV show episode or another Christmas special similar to "" the search for piece "" episode of TT at some point in the future since it would be nice to see the Bros's reaction to Branch's "" issues "" shall we say.
I Just think it'd be nice to see a piece of Trolls content again in the future similar to this episode.
now that Branch's brothers are back in his life as it could explore them seeing Branch have his problems for lack of a better word after being Triggered by something and Reminded of Grandma and just all the years he spent alone.
and we see the bros learning more about it from Poppy and how to better support him at the times when his Trauma resurfaces.
I think it'd be a nice little mental health awareness thing for Trolls to have about his family learning to better understand and be there for him with them maybe having been under the Belief he was "" Fixed "" or whatever.
plus it would be a good chance to see them actually being good older Brothers and stepping up to be there for him like they weren't when he was a kid.
which I feel after the way most of them Behaved in TBT is Desperately needed.
The overall theme was "Relationships"! I chose to focus on Branch and Kismet! Read it on AO3 Here or below the cut! Thanks again @sing-it-togetherzine for hosting this amazingness!
Find the Zine for download Here! And check out all the amazing contributors!
Branch had spent 20 years of his life stubbornly alone and dedicated to the hard work it took to keep himself- and the village- as safe as it could be. He rarely had time for breaks, though his routine was something he’s grown accustomed to, a system that worked for him and allowed him to be as prepared as he possibly could be. A system that was currently being uprooted and redone as his life as he knew it changed, as he had to try to adapt to new circumstances and being a part of a society again- Not that he was complaining!
At least, not out loud…
He just hadn’t thought so much would change over such a short time! A little over a week ago, he was the village outcast, a paranoid party pooper with very little social contact. Now, with colors renewed and everyone more than surprised he helped with the rescue at all, they were all testing the waters and expecting things and Poppy was so excited for him and he didn’t want to let her down. Not to mention his friends-the ones who almost died, the ones who had been trying for years to help him out- he didn’t want to disappoint them.
So, despite the tribe's forte of making quick work of projects, despite Poppy’s unnatural gift of creating a scrapbook in mere seconds, the week had been filled dusk to dawn with repairs and preparations. Because of course they were going to celebrate, and that meant a party, and with everyone working together under Poppy’s lead, Branch had no doubt they’d yield the hoped for results. He just… had little experience working with others. Brief childhood moments of it sure, but this was the village that ostracized him for two decades, it was… strange. It was taking all his energy to keep up with all these social obligations and keeping his newly regained colors as bright as was expected. To say he was tired was an understatement, but it wasn't a new feeling, he’d dealt with far worse over the years, and he wasn’t doing anything different than everyone else!
So no, Branch wasn’t sick.
There was too much to do and he was simply a little tired. Nothing was wrong.
He wobbles slightly on his feet as he stands, but obviously that's just because he stood up too fast, so he widens his stance, stretches out his tail as a counter balance, breathes and continues on because he has to. He has to collect those… whatever it was on his list, and then head over to the square to give them to… whoever… and then he was supposed to help set up! Poppy insisted, and he was trying to be better after… everything.
Helping Poppy on her rescue mission to save captured Trolls from Chef, then somehow turning that into stopping Bergens from eating Trolls ever again, and regaining his color, it had been a… wild ride to say the least. And now, now he was supposed to be a part of society again, and contributing in ways that ‘mattered’ and ‘made a difference’. That meant helping set up and getting supplies and attending and-
He sways on his feet again, he’s barely made it to the lift. He needs to finish his list. Grabbing his basket, forcing his legs to stop shaking, he heads up and out to find… berries? Yeah that sounded right, he would find the heck out of those berries…
~~~
Being captured by Bergens and living their worst nightmare had been… an ordeal. But to admit that it was still affecting them when they were ‘friends’ with the Bergens now, when they as a society frowned on holding onto the negative, it wasn't something they wanted to advertise. Besides, the snack pack seemed fine, so if they could focus on the party, so could they!
But first maybe they’d just go bug Branch instead… to make sure he didn’t need help collecting all those ingredients.
“Usually we’re keeping others from bugging Branch about a party, a little ironic that we’re going to bug him about preparations for one.” Boom remarks idly, smiling slightly at the thought.
“It's certainly different.” Hype agrees easily, walking backwards as he swings his own tail around nonchalantly.
“Hm, I’m a little worried to be honest.” Ablaze admits quietly, far enough from the Village now to speak more freely.
“I don’t know, I mean…” Trickee gives an unsure shrug, “He’s actually socializing…that has to be something right?”
Even as he says it, they can all agree there's an uneasiness that can’t be ignored. As they come upon Branch’s bunker, entrance ajar, it grows further. A shared look is all it takes before they begin their frantic search.
~~~
Branch stares up at the orange sky with a confused tilt to his brows.
It… It had definitely been morning when he’d left his home…
Did he… get stung, or attacked? He feels… wrong, off, not good. Why? What happened? He was… collecting something… for the… Party! He has to get to the party! He’s so late! They’re gonna be so mad that he didn’t show up to help! He was supposed to be doing better! He needed to-
His body refused to move, limbs uncooperative, and head spinning at the very thought of changing position. His chest feels like he’s been crushed by a boulder, nose stuffed and throat dry and scratchy, maybe he was poisoned… It's happened before. So long as a predator wasn’t nearby he could probably get by with resting here a few moments until he could drag himself home. He’d… he’d have to write Poppy an apology letter.
Something moves in his peripheral.
He curses his luck as his vision blurs when he moves his head, and darkness befalls him before he can take in the threat and even try to convince his body to do anything else. He supposed he wouldn’t have to write that letter afterall.
~~~
Trickee’s heart is in his throat as he runs, had been the minute they’d seen the bunker entrance, knowing that Branch would never be so careless. With his home empty and no sign of him in his garden or otherwise, they’d spread out to search his usual paths, where he’d go to collect supplies. It’s been hours since then, sunset starting to set in and threatening to make their search all the harder- all the more dangerous. The very thought of Branch being in trouble, from predators or otherwise, felt like a stab to the heart. They should have been there, they should have come earlier, should have checked on him, anything! If something were to happen to him-
He slides and topples over when he catches something just to his left, rolling back to his feet covered in dirt but without a care. Shoving foliage out of his way to get a better look, relief and fear hit him like a caterbus. Branch is laying in a small clearing next to a bunch of berry bushes, his head turning ever so slightly before his eyes roll up into his head and close, body going limp. To say his heart stops as he stumbles forward is an understatement, tripping over his feet, stepping on his own tail, and crashing to his knees beside the prone form of one of his oldest friends.
“Oh please be alive, don’t do that to me, I will be so mad-” Tears blur his vision at the very thought, hands fluttering about as he blinks quickly to assess the damage.
His lips are parted, his breathing shallow and harsh- sounding wet and congested- but he’s breathing and Trickee will take it. Besides the flush to his cheeks and the furrow in his brow, his fur and skin below it seem pale, but the dimming light is no help. A shiver wracks Branch’s frame, the air is still pleasantly warm, he needs to get him home. Taking a few breaths, he releases a sharp tune of a whistle, waiting to hear it echoed through the trees, before carefully gathering his ailing friend in his arms.
They’d take care of him.
~~~
Branch stares at Grandma where she flits around the room with a nervous hum under her breath, adjusting this and that before adjusting it back to where it was before. Usually she’s only like this with his brothers’ stuff, the things they both silently hope they’ll return for but they don’t talk about, but this is his room. Or… he thinks it is. It looks different, not the soft glowing colors of a pod, but rather an earthiness that reminds him of-
Dirt, hard beneath his knees as he stares at desaturated hands, one arm limp and his side gone scarily numb-
Dirt, surrounding him as screaming Trolls run and scream and shovels and pickaxes are breaking through above them and he’s lost and alone and scared-
Dirt, caked onto his feet, smeared in the corners of a bustling kitchen-
Dirt, carved through with his own two paws, stabilized and organized with years of blood sweat and tears and hard work-
Grandma comes closer and brushes a gentle hand over his forehead, a sad smile on her face-
Branch’s eyes pop open, the room spins and blurs, a nauseating mix of earthy tones and a few pops of colors that confuse his tired brain. A slightly calloused hand lays across his forehead, sound tries to reach his ears like he’s trapped underwater and he can’t make anything out- His heart beats like a stampede, his aching limbs refuse to find purchase enough to move him away, he doesn’t know what's happening-
One of the blobs of color moves closer, until the gentle ‘thunk’ of a head meets his own and he’s eye to eye with familiar iris’. His body relaxes before he can consciously make the decision, staring blearily into waterworn seaglass of warm brown, as his brain fails to catch up with anything besides ‘safe’. It takes only a few moments more for exhaustion to pull at his eyelids and limbs, for that ache in his head, nose and chest to turn heavy and persistent. For having just woken up, and to have been panicking at the unknown just a second ago, his body sure is quick to decide sleep is fine again.
One slow blink turns to two, a tingle in his throat makes him want to cough, a warm cup to his lips clears his nose for just a moment before a soothing path of heat travels down his throat, and his eyes slip closed as his head hits the pillow once more.
~~~
As their youngest friends' eyes close again, their shoulders sag simultaneously. Branch had woken on and off multiple times the last few days, either loopy and mumbling things that made their heart hurt, or terrified as he cowered away which also made their hearts hurt.
Honestly their hearts hadn’t stopped hurting since this whole thing began. They had seen Branch bustling about the village as they repaired and prepped, but only in passing, they were all beyond busy so it wasn't a surprise, and they had planned to have a small cozy get together with Branch to thank him for everything. Not to find him passed out and sick with concerningly fluctuating colors.
He’d looked overly saturated back in Bergen Town, not the colors of his youth but like an overly bright picture of what one would expect. It’d calmed down a bit when they’d gotten back, looking a little more familiar, then it had changed at every glance they got of him. From the overly saturated tones to something a bit duller than those around him, now-even in unconsciousness- everytime it shifted to that darker tone closer to what they'd grown used to over the last couple decades, Branch would get this panicked look on his unconscious face and they’d suddenly get brighter. This is usually when his fever would spike again.
The four had no idea what to do, Branch was never awake long enough to talk about it.
“You know,” Trickee starts hesitantly, hand finding Branch’s own, “You accepted all of us without much thought as kids, you were in pain and scared, but your heart of gold… colors or not Branch, you’ve always had a glow about you.”
“I don’t care what the village says, Branch. You’ve always been…” Hype struggles for a moment before his eyes light up, “Like a shooting star! You're this light, that can’t see itself while you're like magic to everyone else.”
“You’ve turned pain into passion, You’re still alive.” Ablaze places a cool cloth on Branch’s forehead, a soothing hand smoothing out his hair where it's been caught by sweat.
“And none of us are going to leave.” Boom sits at the foot of the bed, a gentle hand on a sheet covered ankle, “You couldn’t get rid of us after 2 decades of grumpiness, it's not gonna change now.”
They all share a look with soft smiles, of conversations shared when death felt certain,
“We love you Branch, your scars, your glow, your grumpiness, your heart, your color no matter what it is, your everything. We aren’t going anywhere, we’ve fallen, and we’re fine with that.”
They don’t know if it got through, if Branch can hear them at all, but they’ll say it as many times as needed.
~~~
“I told you guys to leave me alone.”
Don’t get too close.
“Maybe we’re just collecting berries.”
My scars are too deep,
“You don’t like these berries, Hype is allergic, and Boom has a garden that is Ablaze’s only source he trusts to pick from.”
I don’t want you guys to fall… to get hurt… because of me.
“I trust Boom,” A bump to his shoulder, “Just like I trust you.”
Why? Everyone around me leaves or dies.
“Oo, what are those?”
So why have you stayed?
~~~
“We love you Branch, your scars, your glow, your grumpiness, your heart, your color no matter what it is, your everything. We aren’t going anywhere, we’ve fallen, and we’re fine with that.”
The words echo like a dream lingering on the edges of your memory as you wake, but Branch has never had such dreams before.
He would do anything for the four Trolls sure, the very thought of leaving them to be Bergen chow did not cross his mind. It was either die trying to save them or get them back safely, there was never another option. Living without them just… didn’t seem possible.
But everyone he’d ever loved…
His eyes have to be peeled apart, the dim lighting of the room still too bright. His head still throbs dully, his limbs heavy, but he feels better than he had. He knows where he is, his bunker, safe and sound, but the last thing he remembered….
The party!
Oh cupcakes, he was supposed to be collecting supplies and helping set up! What time was it?! He forces his body to sit up, the wave of dizziness hitting him like a catterbus and sends his stomach roiling.
“Whoa, alright, it's okay, you're okay, just breathe,” some rustling beside him, “get the waste basket!” their volume is low, he appreciates it immensely.
Someone fluffs his pillows up, leaning him back gently as a trashcan is held near him, but he doesn't think he has anything to put in it anyway. He feels weak and empty.
“Can you hear us, B?”
He raises his head slowly, taking in the room more carefully this time and actually seeing the four other occupants. He blinks a few times in surprise, as if to clear them from his vision as hallucinations, but they remain. Those words ring again and a light blush rises to his cheeks,
“You guys,” his voice grates on his throat, a hoarse cough interrupting the words, “are actually here…”
“And you're actually seeing us!” Hype grins widely, pure joy at the notion seeping from his very being.
“You gave us quite the scare, Branch, how are you feeling now though?” Trickee is holding a mug of something steaming and Branch doubts its coffee but he’d take just about anything at this point.
He takes the mug in trembling hands, with a grateful nod, allowing the hot broth to soothe his throat and settle warmly in his gut before responding.
“I’ve felt worse.” He says honestly, he holds the mug close to his face in hopes of hiding his next sentence or at least the blush, “Nice sight to wake up to though…”
By the surprised and downright dopey grins he receives in return, he didn't hide it well enough.
“Awe, Branch!” Coo’s fill his room as the four Trolls get closer with teasing glints to their eyes.
“Stop it, no, I take it back, you're all actually the worst.” Branch sinks into his sheets, flushed and awkward and avoiding looking at them all as he prays to be swallowed whole by his bed.
“Alright, all teasing aside!” Boom cuts in first, mirth and sympathy an odd mix to his tone- though he is usually on the receiving end of such teasing, so his mercy is appreciated- his voice coming from right beside Branch as the bed dips, “We’re glad we got to you when we did.” A heavier air falls on the room.
Chancing a glance, he finds his yellow friend with a morose expression, staring hard at the sheets, or perhaps through them. The other three aren’t much better, and it has a guilt settling over his heart deep and painful.
“Sorry…” He utters, stress was the last thing he meant to cause with all of this, not after all they’d gone through. This party was supposed to help them relax and wind down from the terrifying experience, not add to their plate.
“Hey, none of that.” Ablaze chastises gently, sitting at the foot of the bed, “Honestly, kinda glad we didn’t have to go to the party. Would’a preferred it be a nice movie night, but the fact there was a you to take care of was fine too.”
“We’re mostly just saying to tell us next time you aren’t feeling well.” Boom finishes, hand landing on his covered leg to draw soothing circles.
“Especially with forcing your colors,” Trickee cuts in sternly, “You could have caused yourself some serious harm, Branch.”
He flushes again, though in mortification this time, Ablaze holds up his hand before Branch can stutter out a response,
“We’re here to help you out now, B.”
“Not getting rid of us, that's for sure.” Hype agrees, “If Troll eating giants can’t keep us apart, I don’t think a few scars will either, yeah?”
Branch looks from one friend to another where they sit around his bed, open faces with soft smiles and tired eyes full of hope. He doesn’t know how long it's been, how long they’ve stayed by his side in the throes of his sickness. The weight on their shoulders is visible, and Branch can only imagine all that's going through their minds after everything.
“I’d fight every giant in the world for you guys.” Branch admits quietly, “I hope I don’t have to, but I would. Anything for you all.”
And if that weight lessens just a bit, well Branch will do everything he can to continue helping, to stay by their sides like they’ve stayed by his. The misty eyes that meet his own are the only warning he gets to put the mug aside as he’s tackled in a group hug. Warmth spreads across typically cold and numb limbs, feeling safe and protected, and loved.
“I love you guys too.” It's tentative, spoken quietly into the tangle of arms, but from how they tighten, he knows he was heard.
He was not pushed away, or shot down, and they have proven over and over that they would stay.
Branch accidentally kicking the shit out of one of his brothers because they tried to sneak up on him as a joke and don’t know how intense his fight or flight reflexes are.
Now to make it sad because thats who I am, they think it’s fucking hilarious so they set up another brother to spook him so they get beat up too. But Branch isnt in the same sort of headspace as before so instead of hilariously kicking their brother into a wall he jumps out of his skin and books it.
I heard that in one the Trolls series’s Branch and Grandma Rosiepuff would do puzzles together so I thought it be cute if one of the first times they do it it’s a Brozone puzzle
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Branch knew that his brothers would have to leave. He'd be stupid to think that they could stay forever. They had their own lives to live and homes that they made for themselves, they couldn't just leave that behind and Branch didn't want them to. That didn't mean he wanted them to leave. He knows that they never had any plans to stick around, they'd made that clear to him, but he wasn't ready to say goodbye.
It's worse when it looks like they plan to try to be a family together. Without him.
Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three
Branch tried. He tried really hard to keep his brothers at arm's length while they were trying to figure out how to stay in each other's lives but, no matter what he did, they still managed to worm their way past his defenses. He really liked having them around. It was still awkward and sometimes they got on his nerves but when Clay caught up with him on his morning patrols, or he woke up to find Bruce had made breakfast, he felt a soft happiness bloom in his chest that he was quickly growing addicted to. It was unfamiliar in the best way and he'd tried so hard to keep these attachments from growing because he knew that they couldn't last. Good things come to an end, and Branch had spent too long waiting for the worst just to stop now. He knew that this little bubble would pop and he wanted to keep his heart sheltered from the inevitable disappointment.
It's already been a week since they'd brought Floyd back to Pop Village and Branch knew this couldn't last much longer. They all had lives to live and goals to accomplish. He doesn’t know why they were fooling themselves into thinking their family could just knit itself back together. They'd already made it painfully clear to him that being a family again had never been their end goal anyway. That's what he gets for letting himself hope. He should have known better but Poppy's endless optimism seemed to be rubbing off on him. Hell, Bruce has an entire other family to get back to! There's no way that he had room in his life for a grumpy little brother. Halfway through the week, they stopped trying to include him in their conversations planning the future anyway and that had been the first sign. At least the first sign that couldn't be explained away by his overthinking.
"Hey," Branch glances up from his place nestled against the trunk of a tree to see Poppy's pretty face. "What's on your mind?" She asks, expression open and soft with a concerned little furrow between her brows. She lowers herself quietly down beside him and cuddles herself immediately against his side with a content sigh.
Branch chuckles and lets his head fall gently on top of hers. He already feels a bit lighter with her here and the worry feels just a bit farther away. "Just thinking," He lets his gaze wander out into the village in front of them, watching the daily hustle and bustle of the merry trolls fill the streets with a life that he used to resent. He remembers when he used to despise how bright and joyful Pop Village is, and even though it was barely a few years ago now it felt like a lifetime. His life has changed so much since he'd ventured to Bergen Town with Poppy that first time but some things have stayed the same. He's still a lot duller than the other trolls, and he doesn't think he'll ever be without the paranoia that lingers just beneath his skin, but he's happy in a way that he hasn't been since he was just a kid.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Poppy presses after a few beats of silence. He thinks that she's soaking in the sights of the village too, basking in the joy of her people. She's done an amazing job as Queen and he's sure she'll only continue to shape the future of all trollkind with her compassion.
Branch sighs, sagging further into her, "No." He doesn't. He isn't even sure where he'd start and he doesn't want to know what Poppy would say. This past week he's felt like he's gotten closer to his brothers than he ever has before while simultaneously being an outsider looking in. It's like he has a front-row seat to what his family could be and the closer he gets to the inevitable end the more it tears him apart. He'd forgotten how much he wanted this until he was waiting for it to be taken away from him again.
"Okay," Poppy agrees with no small amount of hesitation. Branch is glad that she isn't going to pry right now but he's smart enough to know that it won't last. Poppy isn't good at staying away from things she thinks she can fix. It's why she stuck with him for so long. He was grateful for it then but it only amplifies his dread now. It's strange how many things can be a double-edged sword. "Do you want to spend the rest of the day people-watching?" It's an offer to sit with him for as long as he needs. He smiles even though she can't see it.
"No," He carefully detaches himself from her and stands with a big stretch. He's been curled up against this tree for a few hours now he thinks. It's about time he gets up and faces the music. He turns back to Poppy and offers her a paw up, pulling her to her feet with ease when her hand slips confidently into his. "Maybe we could get lunch?" He suggests instead.
"I'd love that," An adoring smile spreads across Poppy's face and Branch's heart melts at the sight. He doesn't think he'll ever get used to her looking at him like that but he doesn't mind the way it makes his heart race and his cheeks warm. She pulls him along by their hands still clasped together and he follows after her without hesitation. He's learned time and time again that he'd follow her anywhere.
It's still strange to filter easily into the busy pathways. No one sends him weird looks or whispers conspiratorially behind his back. He just slots as easily into place as Poppy does, just another troll in Pop Village with somewhere to be. Poppy clearly has a place in mind so he doesn't mind letting her lead the way, watching the scenery change from the dense collection of pods to the stalls and storefronts of the marketplace. Poppy makes a beeline for a cute little stall off to the side. It has an off-white awning decorated with pink hearts and yellow stars and Branch can immediately understand why his girlfriend is drawn to it. It has a few round tables for outside seating with closed parasols matching the stall secured to each one. It's adorable. Poppy immediately bounces up to the stall and drags Branch along with her. He sends her an amused glance, "You come here often?" he teases fondly.
"Of course!" Poppy beams back at him, eyes shining. She gestures to the stall with her free hand, "I mean look at this place, it's so cute. And they have the best little sponge cakes, like, ever." She points to the small chalkboard menu propped up beside the stall and Branch skims it over. It's mostly overly sweet pastries and cakes but Branch sees a few muffins that sound pretty good near the bottom.
He shrugs as the stall worker greets them. They're a lilac glitter troll with periwinkle hair and a white apron that reads Honey's in swirling gold script across the chest. "Sounds good to me," he agrees easily, watching with a soft smile as Poppy squeals. The glitter troll doesn't react much beyond a happy smile of their own but Branch supposes that most Pop Trolls are probably used to Poppy's antics, and if she frequents this place they must hear this all the time.
"Okay, okay," Poppy reads over the menu in a millisecond before looking up to address the worker with a bright wave, "Hi Lavender. Could I get two of the mini jam sponge cakes and a pink lemonade please?" She orders kindly, watching as Lavender jots down the order before they both turn to Branch expectantly.
Branch glances over the menu one last time to make sure nothing else catches his eye before ordering. "I'll take the sour cherry muffin and an iced chai if you can." Lavender writes down his order with a swift assurance that it'd be no problem at all before turning around to start fixing up their drinks. Branch can see why Poppy likes this place so much. It's cozy and easy but filled with an obvious love and care that would draw her in immediately. It makes him like it that much more.
Poppy swings their hands between them in wide arcs while they wait. Branch sends her an annoyed scowl but she just grins back and keeps swinging. She knows that if he was really bothered he'd just pull away and she takes full advantage of that. He rolls his eyes but doesn't try to stop her. He'd never try to stop her, not when her excitement was this innocent and this pure. She's happy and it warms his heart and fills his stomach with butterflies and it's nice. He can allow them both something nice.
It's only a few minutes before Lavender is pushing their drinks across the stall counter and just a few more seconds before they're placing little plates with their food next to the cups. Branch finally pulls his hand back to trade a few bags of tea for the goods while Poppy grabs their drinks with a cheery thank you. Lavender thanks him greatly for the new blend to try, even raising the cloth bag to their nose to sniff the loose leaves, and he offers them a soft nod in kind while he gathers up the plates. It's such an easy interaction but Branch can get thrown off by the unending kindness sometimes.
"Where do you wanna sit?" Poppy asks, still bouncing on the balls of her feet as her excitement grows. He loves how her energy seeps out. Poppy is constantly moving. Always rocking back on her heels or bouncing in place or dancing through town with a hum caught on her breath. She's so bright. She's always managed to light up Branch's dull life and ever since she became a real part of it he's only gotten brighter with each day that passes.
Branch glances at the three empty tables before looking back at Poppy, unimpressed, "They're all the exact same." He monotones. While he adores her he can admit that sometimes she can still be too much for him. They're very different trolls but something about them just works. He's amazed that they can slot so nicely together but he wouldn't trade what he has with her for anything. She's always believed in him in a way that no one else has and he couldn't imagine what he'd do without her.
Poppy pouts, "Branch," She whines, gesturing to the empty tables with their drinks. "You have to pick. If you don't pick we're sitting on the ground." There's a sparkle in her eye that tells Branch she's just pushing his buttons but that doesn't mean she's not serious. She may be a pest but he knows well that she takes that role to heart.
Branch groans and moves towards the closest table before she can spot the smile trying to take over his face. He sets their plates down carefully, settling the two sponge cakes in front of one seat while placing the muffin in front of the other. Poppy easily plops their respective drinks down and dramatically pulls out Branch's chair before he can do it himself. He raises an eyebrow, "Really?"
"Yep!" Poppy chirps, wiggling the chair at him expectantly. With another dramatic roll of his eyes he sits down and chuckles warmly when she briefly struggles to push the chair back in. "I got it, don't laugh." She huffs but she does scoot the chair in with a little extra force.
"I would never," Branch promises. He's lying out his teeth and they both know it but Poppy doesn't acknowledge it outside of a quick glare she shoots his way. He waits for her to get comfortable and pick up a fork before he even looks down at his own snack. The muffin is a nice brown with little dots of dark red scattered throughout the bread, the top glistening slightly with what Branch could only assume was a light glaze. It looks good enough so he delicately peels off a piece of the top and pops it into his mouth.
Oh, wow. It's actually really good. The glaze isn't too sweet and it balances out the tartness of the cherries really well. The bread itself is moist and dense. He feels a little bad for being so surprised. Poppy smirks at him from across the table, "I know, right?" She nods, already halfway through the first cake. It's a round little thing layered delicately with cake, jam, and what looks like a cream of some sort. There are even a few fresh berries nestled on the top. "Honey's is really good. Most trolls walk right by it but I love it here." Branch can understand why as he picks off another bite of his muffin and savors the flavor. When he takes a sip of the chai to wash it down he's equally impressed, a soft hum of satisfaction slipping out before he could even think about it. Poppy's eyes widen at the clear praise and she reaches out with both hands, "Oo, I haven't had their chai yet, lemme try." She makes a little grabby motion with her paws and Branch can't help but comply. Her face absolutely lights up when she takes a sip and his heart melts.
"Oh, hey," A voice cuts through the moment and Branch looks over to see his brothers a few yards away. Anxiety claws its way to the front of his mind at the sight of all of them together and he hates that his own insecurities are ruining such a sweet atmosphere. Suddenly the muffin doesn't taste quite so sweet. Floyd offers a soft wave when his brothers get a little closer and Branch returns it on autopilot. "Are we interrupting a date? We can come back later." Bruce looks between Branch and Poppy sympathetically. If anyone understood the importance of an uninterrupted date it was Bruce if his stories about his children were anything to go by.
"No, no, of course not! We're just getting lunch." Poppy assures before Branch can come up with some plausible excuse. He's glad to share a few more moments with them before they all leave but there's a pit suddenly growing in his stomach that easily overshadows that.
"Oo, what'd you get?" John Dory leans in, quickly invading Branch's space and nearly knocking him over in an unnecessary rush to get a closer look at his plate. John laughs at Branch's disgruntled complaints and leans back, ruffling Branch's hair in the same motion. Branch growls and pushes his brother away with a sharp glare but John Dory only smiles back and raises his hands in mock surrender. John seemed to get great pleasure in mapping out Branch's boundaries through trial and error but when Branch tells him to quit it the eldest insists that it's an older brother thing.
Poppy sends Branch a quick glance to gauge where he's at before looking back at his brothers with a welcoming smile, "What brings you guys out here?" She asks, munching curiously on the remnants of her first cake while she looks between each brother with searching eyes. Her curiosity was a thing to be reckoned with.
"Well," Clay starts, straightening up and looking proud, "We think we've finally gotten everything all figured out. When it comes to sticking around, ya know?" He explains with a satisfied grin. The details had been Clay's favorite part from the bits and pieces that Branch caught around the bunker. He tried not to mind that his brothers only talked about how they'd keep in touch when he wasn't around but, even if it wasn't something he was a part of, he would have been more than happy to help them figure everything out.
"Oh, that's great!" Poppy throws her hands up, her smile becoming impossibly brighter when faced with the success of the people she cares for. She didn't know his brothers well but Poppy assured Branch that the people who were important to him would always be important to her too. That meant the full nine yards when it came to the Queen of Pop. She's even squeezed in one-on-one time with each of his brothers during the measly week they've been in Pop Village.
"Yeah, it took some time but I think we've managed to work it out," Floyd nods, clearly pleased but also fondly exasperated by his brothers' antics. He looks over at Branch's drink curiously and sends Branch a curious look in silent question. Branch shrugs and picks up the cup, holding it out to Floyd. "We still want to have plenty of time to live our lives but after everything," Floyd pauses, managing to look both sheepish and haunted. He takes the cup with a small smile, "Well, after everything it'd be nice to see each other a little more. So every couple of months we figured we could meet up for a while." Floyd takes a small sip of the chai and his eyes widen in silent surprise. He takes one more drink before passing it back to Branch with a soft thank you.
"Yeah, we've got a whole rotation figured out. Vacay Island is plenty big enough to house everyone and then I can introduce you all to the kids." Bruce looked so impossibly happy at the idea and Branch couldn't help but share the sentiment. He was overjoyed for his brother when he first heard that he had a family of his own, all undercurrents of bitterness chased away by just how content Bruce seemed to be. He thinks, maybe, he might want to get to know his niece and nephews at some point if he'd be allowed.
"And the Putt Putt Trolls have more than enough extra space in the Course, we could take in a few more trolls any time." Clay crosses his arms, nodding once, somehow managing to look even more accomplished. It wasn't as enticing as Vacay Island but it would be nice to know more about how Clay has been living these past many years. Branch takes a slow drink of his tea and glances between his brothers curiously. He figured they'd been talking about their plans after Pop Village without him but he hadn't expected so much planning to go into how they would spend time together. Without him.
John Dory adjusts his jacket, puffing up the collar with his usual smug aura, "We can even spend a few nights in good ol' Rhonda here and there. Make a camping trip out of it." Poppy might as well have literal stars in her eyes with how she's beaming at his brothers. She's not even the biggest fan of camping but she is a huge fan of campfires and s'mores. Not to mention the fact that Poppy had grown fond of Rhonda on their latest adventure.
Branch is too busy focusing on how no one brought up Pop Village to be excited for them. "That's great," He smiles, trying his best to make it look genuine despite how his stomach was twisting into knots and his eyes were starting to burn. Of course they'd visit each other. Floyd would probably move in with the Putt Putt Trolls or bunk with John Dory and then they'd all get together every few months to catch up. He doesn't know why he's surprised, he figured he would have to say his goodbyes, but somehow it still hurts.
He'd really hoped that maybe after everything they changed their minds. That maybe they could try to give this family thing a shot again, even if it would be hard and complicated work. At the end of the day it looked like they were ready to spend time with each other but not with him. It's been a week of walking into a room only for it to suddenly go quiet and he thinks that maybe in the end it hadn't been his paranoia that made him think they were leaving him out.
"It's not perfect but we can make it work." Floyd's smile is too soft and too kind and it makes the pit in Branch's stomach claw it's way up his sternum. His fingers were starting to become cold and clumsy as his dread grew and his heart thumped a pathetically fast rhythm against his ribs. He had tried so hard not to get attached again but now all he could think about was the impending goodbye he wasn't ready to give. He wanted more time.
Poppy's looking at him now and he can see her smile starting to drop as she realizes that something's wrong. The excitement is visibly bleeding out of her and a calculating expression is swiftly taking its place. It's only there for a brief few moments before she turns a polite smile back to his brothers, "I can't believe I forgot, there's something I'd like to show Branch if you guys wouldn't mind?" She sounds so genuinely apologetic Branch would be more surprised if he wasn't so focused on how tight his chest was getting. He knows this feeling, he's well accustomed to the first signs of a panic attack, but no matter how familiar it's never any less terrifying.
"Oh, no, of course not!" Bruce assures quickly with a wave of his hand. "We can talk more later, obviously. You guys go have fun."
Poppy doesn't even wait for the merry agreement from the others before she's out of her seat. She grabs a few of the available to-go bags from the market stall and easily sweeps the remaining food into them with one quick motion. She practically pulls Branch out of his chair. "Can you grab the drinks, sweetie?" Oh, she's worried. She only ever calls him sweetie when she's worried.
"Yeah, of course," He agrees numbly before grabbing their cups from the table with shaking paws. It's not too noticeable he doesn't think. Maybe he can only tell because he can't help but stare at how the cups tremble almost imperceptibly in his grip.
"It was nice seeing you guys!" Poppy waves happily at his brothers before ushering him away. It takes him a few seconds to realize she's pointing him in the direction of her pod but when he does something small relaxes beneath his ribs. He'll be okay there. He tries not to listen to the cheerful goodbyes of his brothers behind him, cringing away from their farewells like the words themselves could cause physical harm. Poppy ducks in close and tries to meet his eyes with a pinched expression. She doesn't ask if he's okay, she already knows the answer.
