Modern AU/Superheroes AU/Human AU

Poppy caught Branch as her body became heavier and collapsed from the unusual outburst of electricity! She never used so much of it before due to how draining it could become sometimes. Her body wasn't used to outputing massive amounts so of course it would take away a large portion of her energy from her. Branch was a litteral battery that could recharge and store an unlimited amount.

The cable was already put back into it's proper place so Darnell and Poppy were sololy focused on Branch and her worrisome state. To say that they were both panicking over Branch's current state was a correct assumption to make. Darnell ran into her house to get something for her drained friend to eat. Anytning would do. Poppy gently lowered Branch to ground as she rested her head against his chest. He had his arms wrapped around her and continued to hold Branch as she closed her eyes laying still. Branch felt completely safe in Poppy's arms. It was so familiar and yet also foreign to her.

The hero looked down at nearly asleep woman he was holding worried. He didn't know what to do. Poppy's heart beated rapidly from the stress of the situation. Was she going to be okay? Was this normal for her? He hoped not but, that also made the situation worse. What if Branch ended up falling into another comma or sick? What if she accidentally harmed herself internally or physically? The nearest undercover superhuman hospital was miles away!

Darnell rushed back to the two with first edible thing she managed to find. She got on her knees breaking the wrapper apart as Poppy positioned their friend into sitting up. Branch's eyes kept opening and closing like she was fighting to stay awake but, her body demanded sleep. Feeding the living battery didn't have an immediate on surface affect however the leftover unstable and subtle sparks from her finger tips stablized ending the tingling feeling in Branch's hands. Soon Poppy and Darnell had moved Branch to the guest room of Darnell's house so she could sleep comfortably. 

Poppy stared Branch as she peacefully slept lost to his mind with memories playing like a movie. Memories that gave the hero an sense of savior's guilt. How he failed to save her sooner. He could still remember and invision her laying in a hospital bed trapped in a coma. He had visited her everday until she was awake and discharged but, then she was taken away by her uncle. Poppy knew that Branch sleeping right now wasn't the same as a coma. However the same unwanted feelings and thoughts lingered never disappearing. 

" This is kinda normal for her. She just over did it this time. It's my fault that it happened,Pop. Branch should be okay when she's up. " Darnell interrupted Poppy's thoughts.

Poppy moved his gaze his friend's sister nodding his head. " So how did you meet Branch again?"

" I was a intern and found her in the testing room. She was out of the standard test subject or patient clothing and looking through the research papers on the table so I just assumed she was an intern too. She never really agreed or disagreed with my assumption. " Darnell explained again.

" How long have you been doing this?"

" Doing what?" Darnell seeked clarification.

" Helping Branch. You know. Being there for her and stuff. " Poppy stated.

" Well maybe a few years now. More or less. I say we are good friends. " 

" I know this may sound random but, did she ever menation me?"

The taller woman paused for a moment thinking. Branch didn't like to share most of her secrets but, the one she didn't mind sharing was her relationship with Poppy. Her High School best friend. However Darnell still felt at certain points that her friend wasn't telling everything as she claimed. She didn't dig too far into Branch's past but, considering Branch's best guy friend was still here maybe he could fill in some gaps. Branch probably wouldn't had liked it if she dug too far so a select few details will have to do. 

Poppy waited as his right hand began to fidget with an random loose thread from his shirt. His finger twirled it until was completely wrapped then unwrapped it. His head didn't move away from Darnell's direction but, every now and then he would briefly glance at the sleeping peacefully powered being. Random strands of Branch's hair would glow a brighter blue with the ends sparking electricity. Poppy's glances became an full head turn watching in awe. The superhero didn't know why but, seeing her hair behave like this caused a thought of touching it to surface.

Then Poppy felt a hand on his shoulder. " Let's move this somewhere else." Darnell spoked quietly.

He removed his attention from the impulsive thought to his friend by turning his head. Poppy nodded his head then got up following Darnell out into the hall. Once both of them were out of the guest room the house owner closed the door. She made sure to more delicate and silent doing so. Soon Poppy and Darnell were in the expensive looking living room. The guest sat down on the couch sitting across from the host.

" Don't tell Branch I said this... She missed you and used to ask her Uncle Tony about how you were doing all the time. When she found out you and me knew each other through Coop, she started asking me too. She always wondered how you turned out after the incident. " Darnell admitted.

" She did? So she really doesn't hate me? Not even a little?" Poppy uttered surprised.

" Well yeah. Don't see why B would hate you but, she definitely doesn't. She never said a single ill word about you. " 

" Seriously? She would insulted me to my face back in High School shamelessly. No filter whatsoever. " Poppy chuckled.

" If you want her to do that again, you gotta annoy her then double down until she's mad. She'll roast you til your crispy. Got burnt a  couple times myself.  " Darnell joked.

" So... What else did she say?"

" Nothing much but, how you meant a lot to her. " Darnell answered.

Poppy looked down at his hands smiling. All these years he been beating himself up but, yet Branch still remembered him fondly. His hero's guilt wouldn't allow him to feel like he deserved any of it but, it did still feel nice to know that she still cared. There wasn't a day that passed where he didn't think about her.

Daylight turned into nightfall by the time sleeping Beauty woke up. Strenching her arms she sat up with her mesey hair returned to it's natural state. No sparks or electrical currents running through them. Readjusting her clothes her eyes opened half way lazily. Slowly getting out of bed yawning Branch rubbed her eyes accidentally igniting barely visual spark but, Branch didn't react used the afternap charges.

" Hey... How did you sleep?" Darnell leaned against the door.

" Feel like someone hooked me up to a charger but, it was halfway in. " Branch grumbled.

" So better than last time. " Darnell joked trying to lighten the mood.

" What time is it?" Branch moved her hair out of her face.

" 7 p.m. C'mon. I ordered us takeout. Got your favourite and about earlier-" Darnell pushed the door further open.

" Don't apologize. I knew what could happen and did it anyway. " 

Darnell knew that was true but, she was well aware of her role in the situation. No matter how many times the eveny occurred ,which wasn't often but enough to predict the future, Darnell was not going to stop at least giving one apology and  making up for her involvement. Getting them dinner treating her special needs friend was one of those methods. 

" Still I knew better too and got you involved anyway. Now come down and eat. Poppy is just about leave. I just thought you might wanna say "Good Bye" before he goes..." 

Branch blinked confused at first still not fully awake. It took her a moment just to remember that her Uncle Tony had brought her a visitor. She didn't know what to expect but, for a day of catching they didn't do as much as she would like. Branch didn't want today to be their very last day together but, she wasn't going to force him to hang around. He must have a busy schedule amd life to balance between having a life and saving the day. He probably wouldn't be able to come see her most days as far as she knew. Maybe she should give Poppy her number? It wouldn't hurt to try.

Nodding her head Branch fixed her hair then walked passed Darnell. The other woman had a hopeful smile serectly wishing that Branch would actually rekindle her relationship with Poppy. The two very obviously missed each other dearly. Branch needed more friends than just her, Treslio, Wendy, Hickory,Delta and Carol. Chaz doesn't count. Branch couldn't stand his existence. Poppy also seemed to be going through some issues since he was so surprised earlier when she told him Branch didn't hate him. Their reformed relationship could benefit them both for the better. Branch will socialize more and Poppy will get closure.

Downstairs Poppy sighed  getting ready to leave. He wanted to stay longer but, he needed to get back to his apartment. He had to go back to his civilian job in the morning, as usual the city might suffer another villain attack and his cat is probably waiting for him at the door again for dinner or destorying a scrapbook in his abscene. Pulling out his phone he quickly turned it on to check the time while reaching for the door handle but, the sudden sound footsteps caught his attention. He looked up to see Branch up, hair somewhat messy making her appear more adorable and coming down the stairs.

" Hang on..." Branch called out.

Poppy released his grasp on the door handle losing his prevous train of thought entirely. His eyes followed her like he was looking at angel. In awe and yet terrified but, he refused to let it show. His expression remained netural until his lips betrayed him by forming a small smile. Now Branch was standing before him so close that he could touch her if he wanted to. Her blue eyes locked with his eyes bearing no threat but, an enchanting pull keeping Poppy's sight on her only. Were her blue eyes always that hypnotic? The man couldn't remember getting lost in them like this in the past.

" I would take your phone but, I might break it. " Branch said offering a folded piece of paper.

Poppy blinked confused only snapping out of the trance now. " Hm?"

" Aren't you gonna take it?" Branch asked still holding up the paper.

The confused man said nothing mentally trying solve the mystery of what she was talking about. He glanced down at the paper noticing a single number peeking out from the bottom fold. Curiously he took it hoping to figure out what he missed while unintentionally not listening to the first half of their conversation. Slipping his thumb between the two folded sides Poppy spread the small piece of paper revealing a phone number. Branch's phone number.

Embarrassment washed over him as it finally dawned on him. Blush spread throughout his cheeks and his smile turned awkward. If he could physically make the meme shocked pikachu exactly to the tiniest detail he would had done so already. Feeling like a clueless idiot he mentally slapped himself. 

" Oh Of Course! I mean- Sorry... My ADHD kickes in randomly. " Poppy nervously laughed.

It wasn't a lie but, his sudden blanking out wasn't ADHD related. At least not this time to be exact. Branch paused followed by an eventual nod. His answer wasn't too much of a surprise considering the fact she seen him take his medication and had remind him a couple times to do so back in High School. 

" So you'll text me later,right?" Branch asked double checking.

" Sure thing and if I forget just blow up my phone. I'll surely notice it. " Poppy joked.

" Hmmm... You didn't give me your number..." Branch took out her Austin Tech smartphone.

" Right. Right. I'll just put it in there." 

Poppy reached out his hand grasping the device. Unavoidably his finger tips made contact with Branch's palm. Brief spark ran through them but, instead of jumping back at the voltage he within drew his hand with the phone. Luckily it didn't ask for a password since Branch had put hers in already. Branch looked over beginning to get nervous as he went into her contacts. Others handling her phone lately woke up unexplainable anxiety for Branch but, she bite down her lip attempting mask all of it as she watched Poppy type in his number into her phone.

" Tada. Now you can blow up my phone." Poppy contuined to joke handing the phone back.

Relief washed over Branch the sceond her device was placed back onto palm. Her smile widen pulling her phone closer to her chest unconsciously. The anxious sparks jumping out from the split ends of her blue hair subsided. 

" Trust me. You don't want to me to do that..." Branch chuckled referencing the literal possibility.

Poppy chuckled adoring hers. " I can afford a new one. Don't worry. I guess this is the part where we actually say "Good bye."

Branch nodded her head.  " Not for forever this time."

" Yeah... I like the sound of that. Good bye,Branch..." Poppy softly smiled

" Good bye,Poppy..." Branch smiled back.