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Tuesday May 12th: (Living Together) Poppy and Branch decided to move in together. Do they live in Branch's Bunker? Do they live in Poppy's Royal pod? Or do they find a place of their own and call it home?
Soft golden light filtered through the woven curtains of the bunker bedroom, painting warm patterns across the walls made of carefully polished wood and colorful patchwork fabrics. The underground home no longer felt like the lonely survival shelter Branch had once hidden inside for years. Since Poppy had moved in officially three days ago, every corner seemed brighter somehow. Tiny flower arrangements sat on shelves where canned supplies used to be stacked with military precision. Glittery pink throw pillows had appeared on the couch overnight. Strings of glowing bug lanterns twinkled across the ceiling in winding lines that reflected softly in glass jars filled with polished stones and seashells. The entire bunker carried the comforting scent of cedarwood, fresh berries, and the faint sugary smell of pastries drifting in from the kitchen.
Curled beneath an oversized quilt stitched together from old TrollsTopia festival banners, Poppy stirred slowly in her sleep. Her pink hair spread around her like a fluffy blanket all on its own, tangled adorably across Branch’s side of the bed. She blinked once, then twice, her face scrunching in sleepy confusion as she stared up at the unfamiliar ceiling. For one disoriented second she looked genuinely alarmed, sitting up abruptly and clutching the blanket to her chest.
“Wait... where am I?”
A quiet chuckle answered her from nearby.
Poppy turned quickly toward the sound and found Branch leaning casually against the bedroom doorway with a tray balanced carefully in his hands. He looked ridiculously handsome in the soft morning light, his dark blue hair slightly messy from sleep and his expression warm in a way only she ever got to see. He wore a simple forest green shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and there was flour dusted lightly across one cheek like evidence of whatever he had been doing in the kitchen.
The confusion melted from Poppy’s face all at once.
“Ohhhh,” she said slowly, blinking as realization hit her. “Right. Right! I live here now.”
Branch smiled wider, clearly entertained. “Good morning to you too.”
Poppy dropped back onto the pillows dramatically with a groan. “My brain keeps forgetting. Every time I wake up, I think I somehow wandered into your bunker during a sleepwalking accident.”
“You did that twice before we started dating,” Branch reminded her.
“That was completely different.”
“You were carrying marshmallows both times.”
“I get hungry under stress.”
Branch laughed softly and walked over to the bed, carefully setting the tray across her lap. The smell instantly made Poppy gasp. Sitting on the tray was her favorite breakfast pastry from the bakery in Pop Village, a golden raspberry swirl dusted with sparkling sugar crystals and drizzled with sweet cream icing.
Poppy’s eyes widened dramatically. “Branch.”
“I may or may not have gotten up before sunrise to trade for them.”
“You went all the way to the village bakery before dawn?”
“Maybe.”
“You absolutely did.”
Branch shrugged with fake casualness, though the tiny smile tugging at the corner of his mouth gave him away completely. “You said moving in permanently deserved a proper first week celebration.”
Poppy stared at him for a moment with pure affection shining across her face before she suddenly launched herself at him. The tray wobbled dangerously as she wrapped both arms around his neck.
“You are the sweetest troll alive,” she declared loudly.
“I’m literally holding pastries. There’s strong competition right now.”
Poppy laughed against his cheek before peppering several quick kisses across his face. Branch closed his eyes briefly, clearly enjoying every second of it. One of his hands slid gently into her hair while the other steadied the breakfast tray before it could tumble onto the blankets.
When Poppy finally pulled back enough to grab the pastry, Branch sat beside her against the headboard. She took an enormous bite immediately, making a ridiculously happy noise that echoed through the room.
“There it is,” Branch said fondly.
“What?”
“That exact sound you make whenever pastries are involved.”
Poppy pointed the half eaten pastry at him accusingly. “Don’t judge me. You make weird noises when petting fuzzy blankets.”
“That’s different.”
“It absolutely is not.”
“It’s scientifically different.”
Poppy laughed again, crumbs scattering onto the blanket. Branch reached over automatically and brushed them gently from the corner of her mouth with his thumb. His touch lingered there for a moment longer than necessary, his expression softening.
“So,” he asked quietly, “how’s living here so far?”
Poppy chewed thoughtfully before looking around the room again. Her gaze drifted over the shelves now filled with both of their belongings mixed together naturally, like they had always belonged side by side.
“It still feels surreal,” she admitted. “Sometimes my brain forgets I officially moved in. I keep thinking I should go back to my pod at night and then I remember Smidge practically tackled me trying to claim it.”
Branch snorted softly. “She moved in fast.”
“She had measuring tape before I even finished packing.”
“She also asked if the jacuzzi counted as shared property.”
Poppy grinned. “I told her absolutely not.”
Branch watched her carefully for a moment, his expression turning gentler. “Any regrets?”
Poppy looked genuinely horrified. “Branch.”
“Just asking.”
“I spent five months discussing closet space organization with you.”
“You made charts.”
“You color coded the charts.”
“Fair point.”
Poppy set the pastry down and shifted closer to him until their shoulders touched. “No regrets. None at all.” Her voice softened warmly. “I like waking up next to you.”
Something vulnerable flickered briefly across Branch’s face before he looked down with a shy little smile. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Poppy nudged him playfully. “Even when you steal all the blankets.”
“I do not steal blankets.”
“You cocoon yourself like a burrito.”
“That’s survival instinct.”
“You trapped me against the wall with exactly one corner of blanket left.”
“You survived.”
Poppy laughed so hard she nearly dropped the pastry again.
Without warning, Branch reached out and pulled her fully into his lap. Poppy squeaked in surprise as he wrapped both arms tightly around her waist and buried his face against her neck. His voice came out quieter now, almost thoughtful.
“I really like waking up next to you too.”
Poppy’s entire expression melted instantly. She ran her fingers slowly through his hair while Branch pressed lazy kisses along her jaw and cheek. One kiss turned into several more, scattered everywhere he could reach. Her forehead. Her nose. The corner of her mouth.
“Branch,” she giggled breathlessly, trying unsuccessfully to dodge him. “I’m trying to finish breakfast.”
“Mhm.”
“You’re distracting me.”
“Good.”
He kissed her again, longer this time, smiling against her lips when she laughed into the kiss. Poppy attempted to reach for the pastry blindly while Branch continued covering her face in affection.
“You are impossible,” she informed him.
“You love it.”
“I really do.”
Branch leaned back slightly just to admire her for a moment. There was still disbelief hidden beneath his happiness, as though part of him could not quite believe this was real. Poppy noticed immediately because she always noticed.
Her fingers brushed gently against his cheek. “Hey. What’s going on in that brain?”
Branch hesitated, then sighed quietly. “Nothing bad.” He looked around the room. “It’s just weird sometimes. Good weird.” His arms tightened around her instinctively. “I got so used to being alone down here that now every little thing surprises me.”
Poppy’s expression softened completely.
“The hair products taking over the bathroom?”
“Terrifying.”
“The glitter somehow appearing on all your clothes?”
“I’ve accepted my fate.”
“The singing while cooking?”
Branch smiled faintly. “Actually kind of nice.”
Poppy beamed proudly.
Branch looked at her again, warmth shining openly in his eyes now. “I love you,” he said simply. “And I’m really glad I’m not alone anymore.”
The sincerity in his voice hit Poppy so hard her eyes watered instantly.
“Oh no,” Branch said immediately, concern replacing his smile. “Why are you crying?”
“I’m not crying,” she sniffed dramatically. “My emotions are just aggressively appreciating you.”
Branch laughed softly in relief.
Poppy grabbed his face with both hands and kissed him deeply before he could say another word. Branch melted into it immediately, one hand sliding carefully along her back while the other cradled her jaw. The kiss lingered warm and affectionate, filled with the kind of comfort that only came from truly knowing someone.
When they finally separated, Poppy rested her forehead against his.
“You’re never alone again,” she whispered.
Branch closed his eyes briefly at that.
A comfortable silence settled between them for several moments before Poppy suddenly narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“Wait.”
Branch blinked. “What?”
“You definitely have more surprises planned.”
His expression instantly became guilty.
Poppy pointed at him dramatically. “I knew it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You have your sneaky face.”
“I do not have a sneaky face.”
“You absolutely have a sneaky face.”
Branch tried to maintain a serious expression for approximately three seconds before failing completely.
“Fine,” he admitted. “Maybe I planned a few things.”
“How many things?”
“Depends how fast you get dressed.”
Poppy gasped loudly. “Branch Trollstice, are you bribing me with mystery activities?”
“Maybe.”
“That’s manipulative.”
“It’s effective though.”
Poppy pretended to think very hard about it before taking another huge bite of pastry. “I’ll consider your offer.”
Branch immediately attacked her neck with kisses again.
“BRANCH.”
“You’re stalling.”
Poppy dissolved into helpless laughter as he continued peppering affection everywhere he could reach. He nuzzled against her cheek while she tried unsuccessfully to maintain dignity with half a pastry in her hand.
“You are extremely clingy this morning,” she teased.
“You moved in permanently. I’m celebrating.”
“You celebrated yesterday too.”
“And I’ll celebrate tomorrow.”
Poppy grinned so brightly it practically lit the room.
Branch eventually allowed her to finish breakfast, though not without repeatedly stealing quick kisses every few seconds just to distract her. By the time she finally climbed out of bed, both of them were smiling so hard their faces hurt.
As Poppy searched through the shared closet, she paused unexpectedly, staring at the sight of her dresses hanging beside Branch’s jackets.
The simple normalcy of it hit her all over again.
“Okay,” she admitted quietly. “This part still makes me emotional.”
Branch walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, resting his chin gently on top of her head.
“What part?”
“This.” Poppy gestured vaguely at everything. “Us. Living together. Sharing a closet. You willingly allowing pink clothing into your carefully organized bunker.”
Branch looked deeply offended. “The organization remains intact.”
“There are glitter socks in your tool drawer.”
“They migrated.”
Poppy laughed warmly and leaned back against him.
The bunker no longer felt like Branch’s lonely hiding place.
It felt like home.