Meltdown (BRANCH IS SPIDER-MAN AU)

If You Leave Then What Am I?

It was the day of Poppy's return and Branch has never felt more anxious. He'd even almost fell while shooting a web earlier that morning. More often than not, Branch found himself going on patrols more often. Not having school to take up his days made this slightly more boring. Before he was Sentinel, his summers would be filled with trips to the library or studying for the coming year. He never made many friends, he'd had a few acquaintances, but never a full-on friend. He'd liked his personal space and assumed that he just wasn't meant to be in a friend group. And Branch was almost 30% sure that Poppy had tried to integrate him into her friend group so he wouldn't be alone the next year. It only worked partly. Branch considered them friends instead of acquaintances, but he didn't know if they did the same. He hadn't a clue if they would sit with him during lunch even after Poppy left.

That was until his phone spammed with messages as he watched his brother speak in front of a huge crowd.

Diamond Du Pont: i don't know???? poppy said he doesn't text like us so i thought that meant he just reads them.

Chenille Russe: NO! it meant he texts like a grandpa! what if he can't even go because of the short notice?

Unknown: oh please they were going to spend a few hours together, party or not.

Branch Bosch: Pardon?

Suki Morgan: shut up creek, always ruining the conversation with your green bubbles.

Unknown: you guys are so connected to your phone, how about unplugging once in a while?

Branch Bosch: Sorry, I still don't know what's going on.

Chenille Russe: hey branch, sorry for the short notice, but we're throwing poppy a party for going to her new school. you think you'll be able to come? ik it's short notice but i think poppy would really like you there.

Branch Bosch: I could ask my brother. How did you get my number?

Chenille Russe: from poppy's phone. please lmk if you do end up coming so i could give you the address.

Branch Bosch: Will it just be this group?

Unknown: no, we invited a lot more people.

Branch Bosch: And what do you consider a lot?

Satin Russe: at least a hundred have sent rsvp's so far.

Branch Bosch: 100?

Suki Morgan: a few people from MR wanna come.

Branch Bosch: I don't know about this. I don't really do parties.

Unknown: come on branch, stop being selfish. it's for poppy.

Branch looked up from his phone, seeing his brother stand on the podium and speak to different reporters. Most of them wanted to talk about the suspected terrorist. Branch didn't think that position suited Vigor, since he had no rhyme or reason other than chaos, but it's what the press had been calling him.

Branch Bosch: I cannot ask John now, but I will let you know when I get an answer.

Branch turned off the screen and set his phone aside, opting to pay attention to the last seconds of John's conference.

"We have established that Sentinel is not a threat. This has been solidified after the Dr. Creel incident. As for the new vigilante, Valiant, we are unaware of her status. Many people in the community view her as dangerous and a liability. The truth is, we can't be sure about her motives or stance as a vigilante. But, if anyone has information that is valuable to the SGPD, please call the tip line on screen. Thankyou, that will be all today."