Modern AU/Superheroes AU/Human AU

Ten years ago...

The laboratory was in flames as the large machines fell apart crashing to the floor. The equipment,such as computers and control panels, would immediately shock anyone who dared to touch them just a like the machine behind the glass. The expirement room was designed especially to contain the electricity from the expirement in the room to ensure nobody but, subject experienced the process.

There was somebody in there still unable to escape. The teenage girl's leg was trapped under the machine as the electricity in her body made her untouchable. Branch had marks as a result from the unwanted expirement as her regular clothes were torn and damged from the expirement as well.

Who ever owned this laboratory had kidnapped her and was using her as both a test subject and bait for her friend. They knew what they were doing but, the state of the lab after an earlier event wasn't part of the plan. The door to the closed off test room was completely ripped out the door way with one very motivated pull.

Poppy's regular clothes were covered in ash and he hadn't had time changed into the suit his mentor gave him to fight in. He didn't care about anything but, getting Branch out of here before it was too late. He wasn't there when she needed him earlier but, he wasn't going allow anything stop him from saving her this time. You could easily see the panick and fear in Poppy's eyes when his eyes landed on an close to being unconscious Branch. He could hear her coughing from the smoke weakly.

Some random equipment crashes in the background loudly as the fire intensified. The teen hero in training dashed to his friend and lifts the machine off of her leg. Branch's eye lids felt heavy but, she still glanced up at Poppy weakly as she heard him free her hurt leg. Her leg wasn't broken but, her body couldn't handle getting up and standing on it's own. On the inside besides feeling weak, Branch could feel a major difference in her body. It was like she had uncontrollable energy and electrical sparks but, it was ready to force it's way out at any moment.

" Poppy...", Branch says weakly between her coughs.

He quickly gets on his knees to help her up but, the second Poppy tried to wrap his arm around her back a jolt of electricity or lighting went through him. He instantly jumps back away from her completely taken back by what happened. Random and small devices became charged immediately but, broke as well blowing up with sparks flying!

The Fire Engines could be heard easily just arriving and the very worried yelling of Poppy's mentor telling him to get out of there. The boy couldn't leave without Branch but, he couldn't just lift up like he used to. He knew that the only option in that moment was to do it anyway and he knew it was gonna hurt but, it was a do or die situation... Do or Die!

The boy quickly picked her up taking on all the pain. Branch was fading in and out of conscious with blurry vision as Poppy ran towards the now seemingly far away exit. It was too unsafe to fly out due to the fire! The laboratory began to fall apart itself more adding more fuel to the fire and it's destruction. Poppy had never been so scared in his life up until now! His heart sounded like it was pounding in his ears as Branch was battling to stay awake. Then just before the exit was blocked off by falling apart Poppy ran out still carrying Branch in his arms!

Nobody but, Poppy's mentor and the crew of specially trained paramedics were there. The Fire Engines were at the front of the lab trying to deal with the fire. The boy suddenly fell onto his knees unable to handle holding an now unconscious Branch any longer! The Superhero Paramedics wasted no time in yanking the girl out of his arms! That's when Poppy fell into darkness too with the last image he saw was the paramedics' feet and Branch being taken away...

Present day...

Eversince the incident happened Poppy wasn't exactly the same anymore... Something within him changed. He became more serious about being the hero everyone in his city needed and yet was trying to prove to himself that he was good enough for the job. There was guilt and painfully strong emotions in his heart... No matter what Poppy did nothing could take away the bad memories of how he both failed and almost failed a second time. He failed her...

Now twenty-five year old Poppy climbs to the roof top of his apartment building. Everyone in the area are too busy focusing on their own lives to even notice him. Poppy made sure to not make noise as he walked up the fire escape. In minutes he reached the roof and jump over onto it. The building had no rules against anyone hanging out on the roof so Poppy could easily come up here whenever he wanted.

The sun was slowly going down as the hero perched his arms just before the edge of a roof corner. He had an good view over the city but,he wasn't really enjoying it. The super human pulls out his phone from his pocket and makes a call. The phone just rings for a couple minutes until somebody finally answered the call.

" Poppy, you don't have to report to me anymore at the end day. You don't need anyone to monitor your activity for crying out loud! ", Poppy's mentor says annoyed on the phone.

" Raymond, that's not why I called and since you mentioned it. One hangbag thief and a crazy guy who was poorly attempting to commit a hate crime. Both in jail. ", Poppy replies honestly into the phone.

" Okay,kid. What's bothering you?", Raymond replies on the phone caringly.

Raymond was in fact old enough to be Poppy's father. Back in the early days when Poppy had recently got his powers Raymond was assigned to teach him. They spend so much time together that he became Poppy's father figure. Poppy still would call Raymond from time to time after he had finished his training.

" Have you heard anything from Dr. Austin? About Branch? ", Poppy asks softly and lowly into his phone.

" Not recently but, last time I checked she was fine... I know you still write her letters but, why don't you ever actually visit her? I'm sure that she misses you too. ",Raymond says honestly on the phone.

Poppy let's out a sad and guiltful sigh. One of the reasons he still gave a quick report to Raymond was because, he was afraid what happened with Branch would happen again. Ever since the whole incident Poppy became much more serious about his training but, he wasn't excited about it anymore. The harsh realty check made Poppy understand the level of responsibility he had as a hero but, the price would never leave his mind.

Branch had to be taken to the hospital for superheroes and was in a three day coma. Then after she woke up her uncle, Dr. Austin, took her far away to provide her with the treatment she needed and to ensure that one day she could simply walk outside freely without a single worry. He couldn't take away the power she had without killing her but, he still tried to make her days more manageable with it. Poppy would write to him sometimes to check in but, the news wasn't always easy to swallow.

Branch's life would never be the same and that was his fault. Poppy felt like he let her life get ruined because, he wasn't careful enough. She had to live in isolation for four years and was completely scared of herself, like she had become a monster in her own eyes. She had scars both mentally and physically. She didn't deserve to be experimented on or the horrible consequences ruling her life.

"Poppy, she is still in your city and I'm sure she would be happy to see you again. None of what happened was your fault! An crazy psychopath, who is now thankfully locked away, did all of the damage with a grin. Not you... Just visit her while you still can. There's a chance she might just get relocated out of your city. Nothing bad will happen...", Raymond says sympathetic and truthfully on the phone.

Poppy still wasn't convinced that he didn't have a part of the event. If he had just took Branch home himself, the villain would had never had the chance to kiddnap her in the first place. She was worried that something bad would happen but, he saw it as her overthinking everything again at the time. He could had easily dropped her off at home on his way to training but, in reality Branch would had still choosen to take the bus if he offered her a ride that day.

" Your right... b- ", Poppy says lowly but, gets cut by Raymond mid sentence.

" Don't you dare say "but" or "if"! Your going! It's for both your own good and Branch's. You can't run away from from this anymore. It's time to let go of your guilt before it ends you... ", Raymond said firmly with authority on the phone.

Then the call just ends as Poppy heard someone snatch the phone from Raymond while saying that he will call him back later. He definitely won't be calling back. This is not the first time it happened nor will it be the last. Poppy stared at his phone screen as he stood there under the darkness of night. The city lights were on and bright lighting up the city. The young man felt like he had a bigger pit in his stomach.

A few days later...

Poppy couldn't believe that for the first time in years that he was going to actually see Branch again. The newer laboratory Dr Austin ran was more advanced in technology then Poppy had originally thought. Everyone was either working on their own solo projects or were working in group projects. They were clearly dictated to their work.

Poppy knocks on Dr. Austin's office hoping that he would be there. He was indeed in there. The man was just going over his past reports on Branch's development and was comparing them to how she was holding up currently. If you ask him, he will most likely say that there is always room for improvement. When Dr Austin heard the knock he didn't even bother to look up and contuined to study his papers at his desk.

" Come in...", Dr Austin says politely.

" Hey Dr Austin...",Poppy greets politely and happily.

The young hero was trying to hide his nervousness with a smile and a positive attitude. On the outside Poppy tried to play it all off as if nothing was wrong but, on the inside Poppy had an more worried attitude towards the situation. Only those closest to Poppy would had noticed the subtle change in him. Dr Austin wasn't that close to him even know they stayed in touch over the years. They only ever talled about Branch and how she was holding up.

After an delayed minute of processing what he had heard, Dr Austin looked away from his work and up at his guest. He was a bit surprised to see Poppy again. The last time he saw Poppy was when he took Branch away. Out of all of Branch's friends at the time, Poppy was the one who cared the most. The scientist has been hoping that he would come to visit one day but, Dr Austin never thought that day would be today. Raymond did tell him about Poppy finally coming to visit but, Austin had forgetten about it.

" Glad to see you again,Kendrick...", Dr Austin says warmly welcoming Poppy.

AN: I have more hope for this concept...