Meltdown (BRANCH IS SPIDER-MAN AU)

Higher Than the Itsy Bitsy Spider

Branch rushed back to the apartment and in his hurry, he made too much noise getting into his room through the window. As he was quickly taking his spandex suit off he slipped and fell face first on the hardwood floor.

"Shit." He mumbled to himself, rubbed his eyes, the felts scratchy and irritated.

"What was that?" A voice came from the kitchen. Branch felt panicked as he quickly picked himself up from the floor, hearing careful footsteps approach the door with fearful whispers following behind. He quickly rushed to his wardrobe, leaving his backpack in the fire escape. He unsecured his suit and took it off completely, quickly putting a shirt on and falling out of the wardrobe in his panic.

He'd only been in his boxers and the shirt he just put on. He was only able to get on all fours before the door opened, revealing Clay and Poppy, with a few unrecognizable people standing behind them.

Poppy and Clay made eye contact with Branch for almost thirty seconds.

"Uh- I uh- had an accident... on the way here."

'There's no way I actually said that'

Clay eyes stayed furrowed for a moment until he suddenly burst out laughing.

"Oh my God, and you came up the fire escape!?" Clay cackled and held his stomach. His laughs hacked through his throat and his breathing became uncontrollable. He wiped tears from his eyes and tried inhaling, in attempts to control his breath. "Oh my gosh, you're unbelievable, I thought someone was robbing John."

Poppy gave him a sympathetic smile and turned around to the small crowd. "Okay guys, it was nothing, let's leave Branch alone for now. Everyone slowly retreated from the door including Clay, who was still chuckling. Before Poppy closed the door she winked at Branch which made his lips that were in a fine line turn to a small smile.

Branch, adrenaline gone, felt exhausted. He changed into jeans drowsily and put slippers on, not feeling the shoes that had matched the outfit better.

He walked out his room slowly and snuck up behind Poppy who was talking with her friends, tapping her right shoulder but appearing on her left. When she looked right and realized he wasn't there she looked to her left quickly and smiled. "Glad you could make it."

She looked at him more carefully and whispered, "You okay?"

Branch furrowed his eyebrows and nodded, confused. "Of course I am."

Poppy purse her lips but decided to leave it alone.

Branch looked at her friends carefully before looking at her and nodded with a small, quick smile. He looked down nervously and played with his fingers, leaning on the counter to his left.

"Guys, I'd like you to meet Branch," Branch looked up to Poppy and watched as she spoke. She motioned her hands toward him and she turned to him with a gentle look. "Branch, these are my friends."

Branch followed her hand as it moved from Branch to two identical girls. They both had gradient hair that started as teal from the roots but faded to purple. Branch's hearing noted how the girl to the left had a murmur in their chest. "The one on the left is Satin and the one on the Right is Chenille."

He's heard those names before, specifically in the story of Poppy meeting Branch.

"Their twins of course, Satin is Manager of the Cheer team and Chenille is on the cheer team." Branch nodded and gave the girls a small, humble wave.

"Hi," He said in a low voice.

"Hello Branch, we've heard a lot about you." The girls said, looking at each other before giggling. Branch took in a breath and let it out to try and calm his heart.