Idk. Hahahahahahagaga- I HAVE WRITER'S BLOCK HELP-
Poppy felt her eyes open, bleary and unable to completely see through the dark.
Dark? What? Why was it so dark in here...?
Immediately she sat up, her head already pounding. She gripped her head and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to force away the pain. The pain was extremely familiar.
So was this room, actually, but, ughhh, the dumb brain wasn't training at the moment.
She felt tears squeeze through her eyelids, unsure if it was from now tight she was closing them or from the throbbing of her head.
She gave a light moan as more tears dripped down. What was wrong with her?!
"Shhh...lay back down, Poppy."
The voice was extremely familiar as well, but she jumped. No one has been beside her a few minutes ago.
Before she opened her eyes, Poppy felt a wet cloth placed on her forehead. It felt so wonderful and she gave a soft sigh.
A hand gently guided her back down, then caressed her cheek for a while.
Poppy peeked between her eyelids. A blue troll with the softest blue eyes filled with concern and love looked down at her.
"...Branch..."
Her voice croaked the name before her brain processed it, as if her eyes had remembered his face before her brain and had told her mouth themselves what to say.
She smiled, thinking about how messed up her thinking was.
Branch returned the smile, looking a bit relieved. "Don't think too much. It'll hurt you." He chuckled. "Usually I tell you to do the opposite."
Poppy felt her mind clear a bit more at the chuckle. She remembered how much she loved his laugh.
"What...hhhhh," she sighed, the pain returning, "what happened?"
"Don't worry. Just a sugar rush." Branch's smile was strained, as if he was trying to convince himself too. "You collapsed at the party. Right after mentioning..."
He stopped.
"Mentioning what?" Poppy whispered.
Branch frowned slightly at her for a bit. "Poppy... I think you need a vacation."
Poppy sat up quickly, then immediately regretted it. "Why? I have so many things to do!"
"Exactly. You mentioned...pressure. Stress. That's not good for you. Everyone needs a break, Poppy. Even queens." Branch took her hand and forced her back down, pressing the cloth against her forehead once again.
She sighed. Maybe she shouldn't move.
"Just a sugar rush?" Poppy asked.
"Yup." Branch smirked. "Usually I would be worried about your health, but I know you've gone through worse, so I won't worry as long as you promise to be more careful."And
Poppy didn't promise anything. She asked immediately, "And you brought me here?"
Branch flushed. "What do you mean?" He knew what she meant.
"When I collapsed. You brought me here instead of to my house."
That's why it was so dark, she had realized. It wasn't her pod. It was the bunker.
Branch shrugged, still flushed.
"Why?"
" Well... I don't know." He sighed. "Poppy, your life is such a chaotic mess all the time, I never am sure you're completely alright unless I'm there."
Poppy grinned. "What you're trying to say is that you were worried about leaving me there alone and so you took me here. Right?"
"Right." He nodded.
"Without bothering to ask Viva to stay with me at my pod," Poppy added teasingly. "I know she would have."
Branch rolled his eyes.
"She offered to, didn't she?"
Branch groaned. "Of course she did! But I can't make sure you're always safe when you're not with me!" He let out an annoyed scoff. "Go to sleep. You'll get a headache."
"I can't always be safe, y'know?" Poppy teased.
"Yeah, well, I can make sure you always are when I can help it," Branch replied.
"Always is a strong word."
"That's why I'm using it." Branch looked grumpy for a bit, then looked back at her and smiled gently. "Close your eyes."
Poppy suddenly felt the headache return, and realized she didn't really want to be alone. Closing her eyes, she whispered, "Are you staying? Can you stay?"
"Always."
The smile in his voice was evident . She smiled also when he whispered, "Besides, this is my bed. I need to sleep too, y'know. "
When she felt him slip under the covers next to her, and wrap his arms around her, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Sure, Branch was a worrywart.
But that just meant he would always be there for her. Always watch out for her. Always love her.
And she would always love that about him.
Always was definitely her new favorite word. And she had a lot of words She loved. Party, Fun, Cupcakes...
But none of them were always.
She smiled as she nuzzled her still pounding head into his arm, which wrapped tighter around her as his soft breathing helped her drift to sleep.
Welp. I don't know, but it is finished. Thanks for reading, ur the bestest! ❤
