Chapter Text
Admittedly, Poppy was rather conflicted on what to do.
Branch's siblings, after the whole rescue a while ago, have settled out some of their issues and are now properly rebuilding their relationships not only with each other, but with branch especially! The one they wronged the most with their departure.
She's stumped, not because they are finally getting along! She's very happy branch has his family again. It's mainly because out of all his siblings, he's grown very close to John Dory, the scapegoat of their main problem. Branch had resented him the most, but now they're almost inseparable. They've had many private conversations and hang out a lot as just brothers, as poppy has already inserted herself enough at this point, but she would really appreciate knowing what went down for this sudden attachment to occur. One day, he looked fine enough, just a little uncomfortable as he always does, and the next he looked winded, and exhausted from whatever deep conversation they'd had and conflicted. She tried to ask what was wrong initially, but he brushed her off and said, “Don't worry about it, Poppy.” followed by a quiet, “please don't push.”
Well, she's very worried now, because there's cruel assumptions being made by her and she would really like to know she's just making stuff up in order to apologize to branch for thinking such things.
Branch and JD's relationship is currently a little too similar to Viva and their father's relationship.
It's not wrong for Branch to cling to the eldest of his siblings, in fact, she's glad he has someone he can look up to in a bit of a parental manner, but this isn't just looking up. Branch has a certain look of uncertainty etched on his face almost permanently, and he was almost always holding onto JD's hand or wrists, looking at him with wide eyes. He looks lost, like a trolling trying to find guidance from their parent. JD is rather doting too, constantly indulging branch's sudden bouts of affection by holding his hand and kissing his forehead, and even with teasingly poking fun and provoking branch, there's a certain fondness and affection in his expression, that of a parent looking at his child.
It doesn't make sense in her eyes, because he's Branch's brother. Yes they can definitely be affectionate! She's not saying they shouldn't when she's always encouraging it, but this feels very deeply personal and more than just ‘I see my brother as a father figure. Branch is not as subtle as he wishes and everyday he looks both more emotionally exhausted and emotionally repressed all together.
—
So, she's decided she's done enough backing away, and decides to visit them when Branch and JD are together. They're in ID's new home in the village this time, so she makes her way over, and knocks gently at the door of the pod. She doesn't receive an answer, and after some hesitation, she decides to come in any way. When she enters the small home she hears faint singing;it sounds like JD. “.. So when I die which I must do, could you shi~ne it down here with you.”
She follows the gentle voice, and peeks into the room. JD is brushing branch's hair gently, his hands gentle as he undos whatever knots there may be. Branch looks… sweeter, softer. He hugs his legs, eye's droopy as his brother sings to him tenderly with affection she's only heard from parents. “ My love, mine mine mine .” JD puts the brush down, and gently jabs branch's side, earning him a gentle chuckle as he pulls the younger troll close and into a hug. “ nothing in the world belongs to me but my love mine, all mine, all mine. “ JD kisses branch’s forehead, and she backs out, several steps in fact, until she's back at the entrance of the pod.
She takes a breath, and calls out, “Branch? You in here?” The gentle song stops, and branch peeks out, eyes wide in surprise. It's that look again- as confused little kid is what he is. She softens, and smiles gently when his voice carries out softly, “Hey Poppy.” She huffs fondly, “hey branch. Just wanted to have a little talk if that's fine.”
Branch looks into the room briefly, and has a resigned look on his face. “Sure, c'mon.”
She steps into their room, and waves at JD who waves back with a large smile.
“hey poppy! What brings you around? “ she stays standing, while branch sits back on the bed and smiles gently at her. She clears her throat, willing the warm red on her cheeks down and instead focusing on why she came. “I actually just wanted to make sure everything was alright with you and your brothers, branch. Sometimes you look like you've swallowed a lemon, or eaten the best strawberry there is.” Branch's eyebrows furrow, seemingly now realizing his behavior and scratches his neck, looking at JD for guidance. The troll smiles gently, patting his back. The look on his face looks like it says, ‘it's okay.’
He breaths, and starts to talk. About how they still fight sometimes, how they baby him still despite his protesting, how they've grown closer and started talking about things even he hadn't known, like his brother's mother.
“-and… I'm- not actually their brother.”
Her heart breaks a little, but only for a moment before her assumptions begin to crowd her head and suddenly she knows where this is going.
“Uhm, John actually had my egg. I'm his son. He's my father, and his siblings are actually my uncles.”
That's a whole load and more, she has to contain herself from freaking out like she usually does, but branch looks like he can breathe again- she must be the first outside their family to officially know. “branch, I'm so happy for you.” She means it, really. He doesn't have brothers, but he has a father, and three amazing uncles that all love him dearly. But… “but, wait, how old were you then, JD? It must be young, based on the public pictures of you all together…” JD suddenly looks much older yet, much younger but exhausted all the same.
“I was 15 when his egg showed up in my hair.” that's… Young. Way too young. JD doesn't want to talk about how it happened, but he says, “I never regretted him though. How could I?” JD looks strange with that too gentle look, as she's used to seeing him with a brighter more excitable expression. He holds branch’s hand gentle in his,“I was too young to raise him by myself, so we let him think we were his brothers. I still loved him so much, even though I just wasn't ready. He's my kid! I made him! How could I not love him? “ branch smiles, and it's the power of a million suns. She jumps to hug him, squeezing tightly and feels his hand on her back. “I'm so happy things are working out with you and your family.”
She leaves because she's got what she had came for, and apologizes for intruding on their private moment.
The next time she sees them, it's during the brothers' midnight performance, this time without branch as it's for him. She allows him to lean against her as his brother's sing that same song JD sang to Branch. “He wrote it after I hatched.” Branch smiles widely, as the group finishes up, all while looking at their youngest member.
Branch has a family now, and she's happy they're doing all their can to mend their mistakes.