Inseparable - Chapter 15
Tags: Broppy, Slow Burn Fluff, Not rated, Trolls Mythology Au
Ao3 is here
Notes: Umm... Feel free to leave a like or a comment? xD I noticed I have many readers, but I barely got any feedback from you. Even if you don’t like it (but still read it somehow), feel free even to openly hate me xD
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- Yeah, you were right - Branch admits with a gentle smile. - That was fun.
They're leaving the little village they've just visited to check if everyone sleeps well. But Guy Diamond already was there and powdered some glitter on trolls' eyelids. The townsfolk have sweet dreams for sure.
- Chaos can be so surprising sometimes - Poppy chuckles, thinking about the last Night. - Who would expect the group of Party Goddesses?
- "Silver Party Goddesses" you wanted to say - He shakes his head with amused disbelief. - What were their names, again?
- Wani, Ari, Baby Bun - Poppy starts counting with her fingers. - Kim-Petit and... Gonbori?
- Gomdori - He corrects her.
- Yeah
- I'm glad they came at the end of the party - He confesses. - I mean, that was fun, but I don't want to party every Night.
- Me neither, to be honest - She smiles at the stars up her head. - I really took to the calm sounds of the Night.
Branch smiles warmly, glancing at her. Their eyes meet and she adds:
- But we'll come to parties sometimes, right?
- Of course! - He beams.
- You were wild on the dance floor!
The god explodes with a laugh.
- I was dancing just like you!
- You humble dork! You are a really great dancer! And oh my goodness, you sing so well... I mean, your voice was always so warm and calming, but when you sing, guh, you do such amazing things with your voice!
Branch blushes, feeling a bit shy. He starts rubbing his neck awkwardly.
- Well, thank you - He murmurs quietly. - I always thought that your voice is... Well, angelic. Sound, soft, melody. I just had your beautiful voice to harmonize with at the party, that's all I can say.
He corrects his cape near his neck and finally looks into her eyes. Her cheeks are magically charming with a rose blush decorated by her sparkling freckles.
- Aww - She smiles tenderly at him. He looks away with an awkward smile.
- And now we're all red and shy - He chuckles shyly.
- Yeah, now we're all red - The pink goddess grins.
- There has to be some medicines for that or something - He rubs his face. - It's ridiculous to turn all shy every time we complement each other. No one reacts like that!
- I don't know - She smiles at him sweetly and grabs his arm. - I like it this way. We are dorkly original.
He gazes into her joyful eyes, being so close now. His cheeks get warmer, of course. Her wide smile forces him to smile back. A deep, glad sigh escapes from his lungs.
- You are so adorable - He says warmly.
- And you are so handsome - She whispers playfully.
Branch giggles.
They walk like that for a while. The long sandy road guides them in the dark,coniferous forest. One of the stops on their way. The god of the Night has to check here if critters are in their homes, caves, minks, hollows, and nests. He always needs to find every lost one and helps them. Being in a safe and warm place during the Night is really important. So the moment they arrive at the woods, they split up, walking around and making sure if every critter is in their place. It's Branch's job of course, but they started sharing their responsibilities more and more during the last months, doing almost everything together. It has one, really attractive advantage - they do their jobs much quicker, so they have much more time to waste with each other.
Therefore, Poppy's part is to find lost ones in the woods when Branch is tending sleeping animals. She walks around the whole forest, but luckily this area is empty. No one got lost here. She comes back to the god, finding him near to a little hollow in the big pine tree.
- No one gets lost or hurt here? - The god guesses, when she stands by his side.
- No - She tilts her head aside with curiosity. - Is that a squirrel hollow? Can I take a look?
- Sure - He makes space for her and invites her with a hand gesture. She stands on her toes to peek in the hollow.
The squirrels are sleeping peacefully, gathered in one place. The biggest one is surrounding its offsprings with a long, fluffy, deep orange tail. Little squirrel's children are squatting, hiding their noses in their parent's belly.
- What are they doing? - Poppy asks.
- They're sharing warmth - She hears Branch's answers behind her. - I like to call it "hug". Or "cuddle". They are lying really close to each other and keep the warmth between them. All animals do that during the Night.
- Why? - She frowns.
- Why?? - He sounds really surprised. - It's really cold during the Night! Don't you notice that? They can freeze if they are not with their close ones.
Poppy is still staring at the little squirrel balls. Their tiny, orange muzzles show comfort and serene peace. They all look safe and happy. She can't take her eyes off them, they are so adorable.
- Why is the Night so cold? - She asks another innocent question with the purest curiosity in her voice.
- How is it possible you don't know that? - His voice is a bit impatient now. - The Night is cold because I am cold.
The goddess finally turns to him. She blinks, tilting her head like a surprised puppy.
- But why? Why are you cold?
Branch heaves a sigh, slouching a bit.
- I just am - He looks aside. He sounds a bit disappointed in himself. - I always was.
- You feel it? Do you feel cold? - She peers worryingly at his face. - I mean, are you freezing? It has to be unpleasant...
He shrugs his shoulders blankly.
- Yeah, but I got used to it.
She steps close to him. She's always warm, even during the Night, so she just didn't realize what Branch can feel. How horrible is to always be so cold and not be able to do something with it? She remembers his touch, she knows how cold he is. And she knows, he doesn't like to be cold at all. Her every touch makes him calm, blessed... He desires warmth so much.
- So that's why you always wear your cape? - She asks.
Now the god chuckles at her innocent question.
- It's funny that you noticed those only now. I thought it was so obvious for y...
Branch stops with his eyes wide open. It hits him sharply. The soft warmth, the scent of the wildflowers, shiver on his back... He loses his breath. Her little arms embrace him around, place on his back, little warm hands on his back, under his cape, her heated soft beating chest on his chest, fast strongly beating heart, her chin on his cold shoulder, and her cheek pressing gently into his...
- What are you doing - He blows weakly. His arms, wide open, get lost, and freeze lifted in the air.
- I share my warmth with you - He hears her sweet shaking whisper right in his ear. - I'm hugging you. What is it like?
He blinks. He still tries to get his lost senses together. Poppy is... Poppy is everywhere. So close. Her warmth hits him from every possible direction. His whole body desperately absorbs it like a thirsty animal in the desert. Her soft warm touch... It makes him melt and shiver, it makes him burn and calm down, it fills him like empty vas, it fills him with unknown feelings, it makes him forget about the whole world, about himself, about everything. All he knows now is the warm arms of the pink goddess around him and her sweet scent in his nose...
His breath gets calm and deep. He carefully puts his free hand on her back. She's so little, so fragile, his fingers cover almost the whole of her back. Her skin is so delightful to touch, soft like silk. Oh, her supple body clings to his, surrounds him. The sweet, fragrant cage, the exitless trap of her arms... He closes his eyes, sinking into an infinity abyss of bliss.
- It... - He tries to answer her question from the last minutes, but his mind is still dizzy with feelings. His whispering voice turns husky and low. - It's... Let's just say... Please, never let go of me...
Poppy chuckles softly into his ear, making him quiver again. She nestles up to him even tighter, and he starts wondering how it's even possible to be even closer, to touch even more, to feel even deeper... Their hearts beat like one, their chests breath in a common rhythm. They freeze like that, in the middle of the warmest moment in their life.
Branch sighs blissfully. He corrects his grasp on the Staff. Now the hand on it is the only quite cold part of him. He wishes he had both hands free. He wishes he could just leave the Staff somewhere for a while... He wishes he could embrace Poppy with both of his arms, trapping her in him, and never let go if she doesn't refuse. Oh, is there any limit of intimacy?
His nose gets stuck in her silken strawberry pink hair and he breathes in her warm scent. Oh, how amazing she is, she’s a huge mysterious world he can explore endlessly. An ocean without the bottom, he can dive in and never come back, swimming down deeper and deeper and never looking back. He can't ever get enough and equally he always has much more than he could even wish, than he could ever dream or imagine. His nose gets deeper in the sea of her beautiful hair till it touches her warm neck. It makes her skin shiver, it forces a sudden pleasant sigh of her. Branch smiles. So she likes to be touched here.... But he doesn't move anymore. Even if he wants to, he feels his body weak and strong, burning and melting, his heart can explode if he moves even the slightest step closer. He stays where he is, and he doesn't need more in his entire life. Just to be. To be a man in Poppy's arms.
Neither of them knows how long they are cuddling. Maybe an hour, maybe a half. But also neither wants to push others away. They cling to each other, feeling so safe. They're in hog heaven. Calm, but also burning. They're all heated. Much warmer than Poppy was at the beginning. Sharing the warmth makes them both warmer somehow...
The goddess heaves another deep, content sigh. Her hand gently strokes his back under his cape.
- We should finish - She murmurs into his shoulder.
Branch purrs lingeringly as if he misses her at the very thought of letting her go. He fondles her neck gently with his nose, snuggling his face. Her hands on his back grab his shirt and clench into it.
- Branch... - She breathes out shakingly, during another deep sigh. She puts her chin on his shoulder to be more hearable. - Really... I really enjoy this... But your responsibilities... We need to stop...
He chuckles softly into her ear.
- It's you who is hugging me, sweetheart... - He whispers warmly, with a tender smile she can't see.
Poppy heaves a sigh one last time. She slowly, unwillingly leaves his arms. She steps back and immediately loses her balance. The god grabs her arm, stopping her from falling. She staggers a bit until she stands on her leg. She puts her hands on her face and then sinks her fingers into her hair.
- I'm so dizzy - She mumbles, squinting.
- So am I - He chuckles dorkly, staggering and then lying down with the Staff.
- What are you doing? - The goddess giggles, getting on her knees next to him.
- I'm drunk - He confesses, gazing adoringly into her eyes with such a wide smile. - Drunk with you.
She rubs her cheeks, smiling at him.
- You are so cute and handsome... - She whispers purringly.
- And you are so stunningly beautiful and adorable... - He replies with a low, husky voice.
They gaze at each other tenderly, until Poppy chuckles sweetly.
- Look, we don't turn red! - She points out, giggling.
Branch laughs heartily, closing his eyes. For the first time in his life, the ground under him is colder than him. He's warm. He's really warm. He laughs with happiness inside him. He's so purely happy.
Then, the sudden sound of clearing someone's throat interrupts their laughs. They both look up at the orange god who appears in front of them out of nowhere.
- Can I ask you what are you doing? - Gust frowns at them with puzzlement.
- We're nuts - Branch giggles. - There are so many weird things about us. You don't want to know. Just keep walking.
- Branch! - Poppy laughs, covering her eyes with her hand with amusement.
- Actually, I'd like to know - The god of the Order looks at them calmly. - King Peppy sent me to you to ask why the Night became warm.
Indeedly, the world around, even if still covered by the blanket of Darkness, feels warm. Not as warm as during the Day, but not cold at all. It is really nice temperature, the grasshoppers sing happily on the nearby meadow.
- It's her fault - The blue god points at the pink goddess next to him. She shrugs her shoulders, grinning.
- Well, how to say it - She chuckles. - I shared my warmth with Branch.
- She's amazing.
- I know, I know. And now we're both kinda drunk.
- We didn't drink. We were just hugging.
- Basically, we have no idea how we work.
- We work amazingly for me - He smiles at her dreamily as if Gust isn’t there.
Poppy giggles. She points at Branch, turning to the god of the Order.
- See? Just look at him, isn't that the most charming and taking smile in the world?
The blue god sits up.
- Disagree! Your smile is the most adorable, breath-taking and mesmerizing miracle that could happen on the Earth.
- Ok, stop - Gust chuckles awkwardly, lifting open hands with the peace-offering gesture. - This... I don't know what's happening with you two, but you seem to have some sort of fun, so I'm going to tell King Peppy that everything is great.
- Yeah, It is great - Poppy smiles dreamily.
- Super great - Branch adds, lying down again.
- One thing - The god of the Order says with a bit firmer tone. - The Staff. The Gold Sphere should not lie on the ground.
The god of the Night turns his head to the side and glances at the Staff in his hand. He drops his dorky smile and blinks. Reminding him about his responsibilities sets him up. He stands up straight, brushing his clothes down with one hand. He corrects his grip on the Staff, dusting the Gold Sphere off a bit. It is so fragile, so fragile that a slight hit can crack it. He should never forget to care about It. He clears his throat shyly, seeing Poppy standing up next to him out of the corner of his eye.
- Sorry - He says, looking down a bit ashamed.
- It's okay - Gust smiles at them comfortingly. - Just be more careful about It.
Branch nods with a serious face.
- Farewell - The orange god says and disappears, just like Immortals like to do.
- Well, that was embarrassing - Poppy announces, turning to her company. She frowns with surprise. - And what are you doing now?
Branch is unclenching his cape, trying to take it off with one hand.
- I feel warm, I don't need this anymore - He throws the cape on her shoulders.
- Hey, I don't need it either!
- But you want it - He smirks at her, trying to lay the cape on her with only one hand.
- Branch! - She giggles, grabbing the edges of the fabric. - It's huge!
- Let me see you in it - He steps back and views her slowly. Poppy giggles and puts the hoodie on her head. She rubs the fabric across her cheek and smells it.
- Okay, agree, I want it - She admits. - It smells like you.
- And how do I smell? - He chuckles.
The goddess looks aside, smiling shyly.
- Like the woods, trees, leaves. Like safeness and care.
Branch smiles warmly at her.
- Well, you look pretty safe in this - He puts the top edge of the hoodie on her eyes. She puffs, amused. - Come come, we have res pon si bi li ties
Poppy lifts the hoodie, looking up at him with a smirk.
- I really like your mood now - She says genuinely.
He grins in the way she usually grins at him, making her smile even wider.
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- The Night is almost over - Poppy announces, unclenching the silver buckle under her chin. - Maybe you want your cape back?
- No, not really.... - Branch starts, but the goddess is already getting the cape right on his shoulders. - Oh, okay. You don't like it though?
- No, it's really comfy, especially when I hide in it whole - She smiles, clenching the buckle on Branch's neck. - It just can bother me during the Day.
She brushes the cape on his arms to get it right. She meets his adoring eyes and caresses affectionately the corner of his smiling lips with her hand.
- Grab the Staff - He orders quietly.
She frowns.
- It's not the time.
He squints at her with discontent.
- It's just a few minutes - He argues. - Can't you start the Day a bit earlier?
- For what?
He looks up, smiling dorkly.
- What is it? - Poppy chuckles. - Can't it wait a few minutes?
- Can't you grab the Staff earlier?
- Tell me what you want! - She beams at him.
- I want you to take the Staff from me - Branch smiles mysteriously.
Poppy is gazing at him with puzzlement. She hesitates for a while. Her curiosity fights with her head. A few minutes aren't a big deal, right? She carefully grabs the Staff, the sky gets lighter and beams with the colors of the dawn, and almost at the very same moment Branch embraces her suddenly. His arms cover her whole. She loses her breath.
- You waited to hug me with both your hands? - The goddess breathes out, giggling. He purrs "uh-huh'' into her shoulder, which wakes up pleasant butterflies in her stomach.
Poppy closes her eyes. His big hands drape her whole back, she sinks into him, in his warmth, in his care and safeness. She cuddles tight, letting him hide her into his arms, conceal her from the whole world around. She breathes his warm heavy scent. Now she notices why he was so desperate to hug her with both arms. The Staff in her hand doesn't let her fully snuggle with him, it stops her from diving deeper, she has to keep the Staff as far from Branch as it's possible, cause he can't touch it during the Day.
But even with the Staff in her hand, she's in their small, pure, warm heaven. His fingers sink tenderly into her hair, forcing her to sigh. Oh, may this moment last forever...
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Index
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moonkxssed:
Selene felt like she was walking on incredibly thin ice. Like if she said anything else wrong at the moment, it’d have her getting into even more hot water with her rival-and yikes, did she NOT want to deal with that situation. …it’s not like she wanted to deal with the current one happening either. Selene restrained her urge to take a step back as he slowly approached, instead steeling herself for whatever would come. Though his exhale gave her a least a fraction of relief-maybe he wasn’t AS mad as earlier, now? Despite how she tried to hide her unease, her wide eyes said it all for her.
…but the way he’d started caught her completely off guard. Even if his tone gave her the impression she was in for some sort lecture, well THIS was one she wasn’t going to tune out if that was the case.
It struck a chord in her, to hear it so plainly that this wasn’t what he wanted to do with his life right now-that there were other things he WANTED to be doing right now. A sense of OBLIGATION. That was the reason he’d stepped up like this to be acting President-and that was something that in a way of her own, she could relate to (it was a significant force why she got involved in the UB recovery mission). Still, it made the Champion feel even worse now to think that he’d been trying to do his best to make up for trouble his mother caused, and finding out that there was something else big (related to that) going on that HE wasn’t involved in. And seeing the emotion in his eyes at the brief mention of his father…it also tugged on her heartstrings. He and Lillie…maybe even Lusamine too must all be hurting so much…
The girl remained silent, listening intently with her stare fixated on him. …but it was when she could clearly hear his ADAMANT attitude towards rectifying the mistakes of Lusamine and helping Aether and Alola, that her expression shifted-some mix of concern and determination. It was ADMIRABLE to her to see his sense of responsibility. But at the same time-
-his final statement processed in her mind.
So now he wanted to get involved with the UB misson? It’s not like she couldn’t see it coming after everything he’d said, but…just how was she supposed to make this happen? Arceus, she was going to have some EXPLAINING to do to Wicke, Looker and Anabel. But she could think about that later.
“Gladion…” She started, an exhalation of her own escaping her. “I have a feeling I can’t talk you out of this, so I won’t try to. But if you’re going to get involved in this too, I’m not gonna let anything bad happen to you. Lillie needs you.” And I care, were the words that went unspoken. “I know this involves YOUR family, and I think…I think it shows how strong you are to have taken up this position and now deal with everything going on…but? You and Lillie don’t have to handle this alone by yourselves. As Champion, I should be protecting this region, but beyond that Lillie is my friend and you’re my rival.” She bit her tongue to fight the word friend which dared to slip out. “I WANT to help you both out too, if I can. That’s what friends do. I just want you to know that you can count on me for help or support.”
Selene paused, wanting her words to sink in and hoping he’d feel her sincerity. “I messed up,bad, not telling you this. I just….I didn’t want to burden you with it-not when I saw how hard you were working and thought about all that happened last year. And I didn’t want you to have to deal with…” She sighed, maneuvering and letting her coat fall down her shoulders and revealing the scars upon her arms. “…this. These beings are so powerful and…they might come after youwith that strength instead of your Pokemon. It’s happened to me with all of my encounters. It’s a lot, but…” A pause, as she averted her gaze for a moment.
“I know you and your team can handle the risks too.”
Gladion was half expecting Selene to try and get him to back out of it, and was almost preparing for their confrontation to be extended, but thankfully she seemed to see how determined he was about this. Though she was the one to talk about handling things alone by themselves. Still, he was surprised to see how many cuts and scars she had on her arms, a visual reminder about how dangerous these things are. It explained why she often wore a lab coat around the foundation.
“Thank you, Selene. It means a lot as your rival. I just.... wish you and everyone else didn’t go around my back for this. I’ve been... trying to get things under control here, and in order to do that I need to make sure I’m respected just as mom was. Even if no one else in the foundation should know, I would like to make sure there aren’t any more.... secrets kept hidden from me.” Gladion let out a sigh, his grip softening on the beast ball that he still held.
Walking up to the champion, Gladion grabbed the lapels of her coat and lifted them up, returning it to where it was so that she could hide those scars. “Just so you know, since we’re doing this together, I’m not gonna let those things give you any more scars. If my dad’s findings are still right, the beasts are attracted to Ultra Energy; they’re probably targeted you because you’ve been in Ultra Space.” Hopefully Interpol wasn’t taking advantage of that. Placing the beast ball back in her hand, Gladion gave her a small but confident smile to show that he finally calmed down enough to talk to everyone else.
“We should go. I’d rather get this out of the way now than to wait.”
Unintended Findings {Selene and Gladion}
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