Inseparable - Trolls Mythology AU

Chapter 3 - The Night and the Day

The hill looks so high today. For the first time since Poppy got her deific responsibility, stepping upon it is hard. But she does it without hesitation. She knows she has to.

The goddess of the Light had enough time to think during the Day. She holds everything she wants to say in her mind, but when she finally faces the god of the Night, the words don't want to come. She even can't look at him. She just shows him the Staff of the Light and let him grab it. In Silence.

Branch stands a few minutes like he's surprised. But then he just turns back and walks away.

- I'm sorry.

The gray silhouette stops halfway on the hill. He turns to Poppy and she doesn't need to see his face under his hoodie to know he is shocked.

- I'm sorry - She repeats a bit louder, but still shyly rubbing her elbow. - I just... I was so thrilled when I got my god duties, I was so focused on my plans and... I was so stupid that I was ignoring you this whole six months. It was nothing but selfish. You were greeting me and I barely noticed that... You deserved better. And... I was trying to fix that after I finally noticed it. But I was just so pushy and stubborn to make you my friend. I always thought we could be a great team, you know? - She tries to smiles, but it goes so awkwardly. So she looks down. - I just want to say, it's ok if you hate me or something. I think I deserve that.

Against all of the shame she feels right now, Poppy forces herself to look up to the god.

- I'm sorry, Branch.

Surprisedly, he doesn't walk away. He stands very still, staring at her, and making the goddess even more guilty. And then he does something, she didn't expect he would anywhen do.

He takes his hoodie off.

Poppy holds her breath. Branch looks... much different she imagined. She thought he would look old and ugly for some reason. But he has black but nice hair, his eyes are gray but also pretty, and his face isn't frightening, it looks even friendly... So yes, he isn't very different than other Immortals. To be honest, he is exactly like other Immortals. Which means, godly handsome.

But the most surprising is his words.

- I don't hate you - He says. - I never did.

And he talks to her with the very same voice that he always uses, but now when he's talking calmer, it sounds much more pleasant, like a quiet lullaby sung before sleep.

- I'm sorry I was so mean to you - Branch adds, looking down. - I thought that you hate me. I thought you were teasing me last week...

- I didn't! - Poppy almost jumps.

Branch chuckles.

- Well, now I know - He smirks only slightly, but it's enough to make Poppy smile at him with pure relief and glee. This tiny smile of his was everything she wanted to see last week. And here it is. She never was so happy seeing such a little lift-up of a corner of someone's mouth.

- How could I hate the guy who was greeting me for six months without my answer? - She grins widely. - To be honest, it was the nicest thing someone did for me!

- You exaggerated a bit - Branch lifts one of his eyebrows.

Poppy giggles. Maybe it wasn't so funny to giggle, but Poppy is so excited with every minute he doesn't walk away. He stays like he doesn't mind putting his duties on the back burner to talk with her a bit. She doesn't want to finish talking. If she starts talking, she wants to talk as long as it's possible, not just a few minutes! If they can talk, she has to take this opportunity and not let it go!