Modern AU/Superheroes AU/Human AU

A cat chased a ball of yawn Poppy was using as he updated an old scrapbook. A scrapbook he made to remember Branch by when he thought he would never see her again. He cut a small piece not taking a break to breathe from talking. Coop who looked almost identical to her twin,minus the longer and dread locks hair, grinned listening to her friend's story. She sat across from the couch on a beanbag. Poppy's mouth fired words at record breaking speeds.

" I was like! I forgetten how to person! In front of her several times! That isn't like me. Why am I so freaked out? Branch wasn't mean or anything. Really understanding. Not that she wasn't understanding or nice before. She's just so- and is so beautiful - I mean - It's just- AGH! "

" Bro,chill! So what if you didn't know that she was giving you her number? You still got it. I call that a score on it's own. " A male voice spoke up from the kitchen.

Poppy turned his head towards it to see one of his best friends,Barbaro or Barb for short, raiding his fridge for beer. Barb was somewhat taller with a damaged ear and tattoos on his arms. His hair was dyed red but, his roots revealed his orginal hair colour which was black.  He pulled out a six pack ,which Poppy only got cause he knew Barbaro was coming over, breaking out one can from the plastic.

" Just don't be a creep or a weirdo and you'll be fine. " Barb advised.

" You make it sound simpler than it is. " Poppy commented.

Barb placed the rest of the six pack back into the  fridge. " And your overcomplicating it. " 

Barb walked out of the kitchen dragging a chair. He flipped it around so the back support would be facing both Poppy and Coop. Not caring how it looked from others perspectives,the man sat down on the chair opening the beer with his legs straddled. His left arm rested on top of the chair. Poppy's cat, Perky jumped into his owner's lap then stretched before laying down. The pet owner petted and stroked Perky from his head down to his back. Perky would happily pur occasionally.

"You should ask her out." Coop suggested.

" What? No! I'll scare her away and she'll have another target on her back. I'm surprised that she doesn't hate me. I hate me!"

" You need help,bro. Seriously. Therapy. " Barb rested his right arm over his left one.

" Why do you keep saying that? You don't even get it for yourself. " Poppy stated.

" One. Your walking baggage of guilt. Two. I actually do but, that's none of your fucking business. Three. I'm saying this one time only. Therapy. Get it,check yourself and figure your shit before Branch is a link on your arm. " 

As Barb listed the parts of her reponse,he lifted a finger for each point. He didn't like telling people he was in therapy due to the pity looks that he would get but, now he needed it to prove his point. His best friend wanted to hear that he practiced what he preached? Fine but, he wasn't going to give up details. Somethings should stay private.

" I'm not that bad... " Poppy paused. " Am I?"

" What  I said earlier. " Barb took another sip of his beer.

Poppy sighed still petting Perky. " I'm not asking Branch out. We just met yesterday."

" Then be her friend and get your shit together anyway. " Barb advised.

" I get it! I get it... Therapy. Maybe later..." 

A message alert ding went off lighting up Poppy's phone. Unable to move Coop grabbed it handing it over to him. She understood the cat rule of if they declare you their seat or bed don't move. Poppy gratefully nodded his head accepting her assistence. Tapping on the message Poppy found himself under Branch's contact. His eyes widen laying their sights on the text.

" Hey Poppy. I know it's only been a day and your a busy person but, Darnell is making me go out this weekend to a party cause I apparently need to "socialize" so I was wondering if you would like to be my plus one. I don't want to be alone. Sure D will be there but, she disappears randomly and I rather talk to you than be alone with some stranger. We didn't really get to catch up much yesterday so I thought maybe we could try again. If that's okay with you. You don't have to come. Your probably busy saving the city right now. " Branch texted which was followed by another apologizing for the length of the first text.

" It's Branch! She wants to see me... This weekend! And go with her to a party! Is she asking as a friend or- Probably just as a friend. What do I say? " Poppy panicked.

" Hello? Hi? How are you?" Barb scarastically remarked.

Poppy glared at Barb. " Not helping."

Meanwhile at Branch's house, Branch was fidgeting with her gloves while Darnell braided her hair into fishtail braid in the kitchen. Branch sat the island while her friend stood behind her. Darnell had her own pair of protective gloves on since Branch's hair was quite special case. Little sparks ran through it some random strands levitating up into the hair. Her bangs litterally stood up. Darnell kept redirecting the loose hairs adding them to the braid. The unofficial persona of electricity breathing gotten heavier as her thoughts clouded her mind.

" Maybe I said too much and too soon! " Branch said anxious.

" Breathe. Remember what Dr Katelyn said. " Darnell reminded.

" Stay home?" 

" No. Breathe and think about the things your looking forward to. " Darnell corrected.

Branch breathed in and out a couple times. " I don't see why you, my Uncle and Dr Katelyn insist I socialize. I already do enough of that at work. " 

" You barely talk. Your co-worker assumed you were mute and tried to talk to you in sign language. " Darnell pushed down Branch's bangs gently parting them.

Branch groaned grabbing her rubber stressball squeezing it. " What if he doesn't like me?"

The darker skinned woman tied the end of Branch's braid neatly with a thick rubber band. Her eyes looked down when she noticed the shift in Branch's anxiousness. Her tone had gotten sadder,softer and more self-conscious. The thought of not being liked usually didn't bother Branch as much as her paranoia but, she was still capable to expanded her fear of people and social anxiety. Darnell viewed Branch as a flower. A flower that growing in the deep ocean longing for sunlight but, too scared to reach out above the surface.

Darnell frowned. " What if who doesn't like you?"

" Poppy..." Branch uttered faintly staring at her phone.

Shaking her head Darnell grinned. " Poppy? He loves you. He missed you so bad that he thought about you everyday wondering if you were happy and okay. "

" He does?" Branch turned her head no longer abusing her stressball.

A subtle glitter of hope flashed in Branch's eyes. Her hair's electric currents stopped glowing lower her fishtail braid onto her shoulders. Not single strand was out of place. Darnell put down the comb onto the island counter pulling out a chair beside Branch for herself to sit down. Branch's blue eyes stayed focus on Darnell seeking more reassurance.

" Yes. He's a good guy and a true friend. You said it yourself before. No matter how mean you were to him in High School he still stuck around and liked you anyway.

Branch lookee down at her stressball. " That was High School... We're adults now..."

" Doesn't mean you lost the bases of your friendship. Sure... Life is very... different for you both but, that doesn't mean you can't contuine having a relationship. Besides you still miss him too. "

" I guess your right... " Branch smiled a little returning her gaze.

" Plus Tresilo, his new girlfriend Wani,Wendy,Hickory, Delta, Carol and Charles and oh Barb is coming with him will be there. So if anything happens you got backup with extra backup. With Poppy as your plus one you'll be more than fine. You'll be safe and protceted."

Branch's smile went from there to awkward then non-existent. Her breathing didn't become heavier but, sweat ran down her forehead. Her heartbeat sped up at the thought of having to meet,see and mix with so many people. Her blue hair lit up completely but, didn't lift up. The ends relased a brief and minor bolt at Branch's phone charging it from 20 to 100 percent.

" That's a lot of people,D... Your kinda scaring me. At least Chaz and Creek won't be there. I don't know who Barb is and Wani is nice enough I guess. Does the party have to be so big?"

Darnell chuckled. " It's a Val Thundershock's party,B. That big southern flirt, Holly Darlin probably be there too.  "

" He doesn't flirt with me. He just says that I'm cute,plays with my hair just like you do and calls me "Sugar" sometimes. That's just him being friendly and it's not like I ever told him I liked him like that. "

" Oh sweetie... " Darnell commented tilting her head.

A familiar message chime echoed from Branch's vibrating phone. She looked down away from her friend who still giving her the "Oh you sweet summer child" look like mother to their innocent daughter. Branch's electricity bearing hair lost of it the second Branch checked Poppy's reponse. Unknowingly holding her breath Branch tapped on it.

" He said "Yes"..." Branch released her held captive breath.

" I said "Yes"..." Poppy whispered back in his apartment. " I'm going on a dat- No. Not date. Hangout with Branch... "

Poppy panted smiling so wide it hurt his cheeks out of nervousness and relief from actually replying. He stared down at his phone screen waiting for his old friend to text back. His left hand contuined to stroke Perky's back and said cat had fallen asleep. Coop pulled out her own phone to find a message from her sister inviting her as her plus one to the same party Poppy and Branch were going to.

" Yay! I'm going too!" Coop exclaimed startling Perky awake.

Perky leaped off Poppy's lap" Perky! No! Come back!" Poppy called out.

" Charles ran out of string cheese again. " Barb rolled his eyes at his boyfriend's text.