Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Poppy was a student at Pop Academy, where she spent her free time studying for exams, hanging out with friends, and participating in her older sister's swing dancing club on Friday nights. It was the start of her second year semester and each year, the winner of the academy's swing dance competition had their tuition covered. She was a decent dancer, especially when she took the lead, but she didn't mind following either. It just never seemed to go well.

Not like it mattered. It wasn't about the money. Poppy enjoyed meeting new trolls, having fun, and spending quality time with her sister every week. As she stood waiting for the competition to begin, she leaned against the wall, smiling. 

Suddenly, a voice cut through her thoughts.

"Branch, you said you would do this," said a light blue troll with messy lime green hair to a duller blue troll with straight dark hair. She tilted her head in curiosity. Poppy recognized Clay as one of them; he was the co-leader of the swing dance club with her sister. The other troll, Branch, was unfamiliar to her.

Branch seemed less than thrilled to be there; his arms were tightly crossed over his chest and he tapped his foot impatiently on the floor.

"I've never danced in public before, Clay. Why did you drag me here?" Branch asked, frustration clear in his voice. 

"Well it's either this or working extra shifts at Bruce's restaurant to pay off your tuition fees," Clay retorted sternly.

"I'll take my chances with Bruce yelling at me about nachos and grease stains over a random troll stepping on my feet," Branch muttered sullenly. "None of them look like they can dance."

"You're going to eat your words if you lose." Clay retorted in a deadpan tone. "Don't make fun of my club, Bitty B." 

Branch scowled at Clay, but his anger seemed to deflate slightly as he looked around.

"Whatever," he grumbled, unfolding his arms. "I'll do it."

Poppy couldn't help but snort at his comment. She could only imagine the poor soul who would end up being that guy's dance partner tonight.

Just then, her sister stepped onto the makeshift stage at the front of the gym, mic in hand. "Welcome to the annual Pop Academy Swing Dance Competition!" Viva announced, her voice echoing through the speakers. The crowd erupted in cheers and claps. Clay patted Branch on the back before joining Viva on stage to co-host the event. 

"As you know," she continued, her eyes twinkling, "the winner of tonight's competition will have their semester tuition completely covered. So everyone please pick a number from the bowl Clay is passing around."

The crowd moved forward, paws diving into the large glass bowl filled with numbers. Poppy made her way through the crowd and grabbed a slip of paper just as Branch hesitantly took one under Clay's gaze. 

After everyone had picked, Viva announced, "Okay once we call the numbers, you'll meet your partner and then you dance right there on the spot! Remember to have fun!"

Poppy glanced down at her slip—number 14. She scanned the room, a lot of trolls she had seen before and some new faces. Viva held out a paper with a number while Clay held out another, announcing the pairs.

"Number 3 and 10!" Viva shouted into the microphone, and Guy Diamond and Meadow made their way towards each other from opposite ends of the gym. They greeted each other with paw shakes and big smiles as the crowd cheered them on. The music started playing and Guy took the lead, dancing like a gleaming disco ball while Meadow tried her best to keep up. She seemed a bit hesitant at first, but soon she was smiling and enjoying herself as the audience cheered them on. Poppy joined in, clapping along to the beat and rooting for Guy. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Branch, still disgruntled, but watching their dance with every step they took.

Interesting, she mused.

Once the dance was over, Guy and Meadow took a bow to the cheering crowd. The night continued with more randomly paired dancers taking the stage, some not as smooth as others while others stealing the show. Surprisingly, Karma and DJ Suki were the pair to beat, with DJ Suki effortlessly following Karma's lead. Normally, DJ Suki would take the lead in dances. Poppy clapped as Viva called for the next number. 

"Number 22!" Viva called out, and Branch sighed as he reluctantly stood up from the crowd to go to the center of the room. Poppy couldn't help but snicker, ready to see who would have to deal with his grumpiness. Clay reached into the bowl of numbers before showing it to Viva, prompting her to call out "And number 14!"

The smile disappeared from Poppy.

Well, phooey.

That was what she got for laughing. She stood up from the floor, stretching. Oh, well. It should still be fun. 

As Poppy made her way to the center of the gym, she could feel all eyes on her and Branch. Branch was already standing there, looking like he would rather be anywhere else but here. She gave him a cheerful smile, hoping to break the ice. "Hey there," she said, extending her paw. "I'm Poppy."

Branch looked at her paw and then back up at her. "Branch," he replied curtly, not taking her paw. 

Okaaaay. How was she going to dance with him if he wasn’t going to even shake her paw?

Poppy decided not to let it get to her. She pulled back her paw and clapped them together with a brighter grin. "Alright, Branch, let’s win this thang!" 

Normally, she wouldn’t care about winning the contest but it appeared that he was more focused on the prize over having fun. Branch lifted an eyebrow, his expression not as disgruntled as before. 

"You’re optimistic," he muttered. 

"Someone has to be!" Poppy chirped back, bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet as Viva called out for the song to start. It was a fairly popular song, one that Poppy recognized because of its upbeat tempo. Before she can react, she felt his rough paw on her back and taking hold of her left paw. Startled, Poppy allowed herself to be led into the first steps of the dance. Branch, surprisingly, wasn’t as bad as she thought. His movements were a bit stiff but his timing was on point with the beat of the song. 

Every time you come around, you know I can’t say no

After being suddenly grabbed, Poppy's stubbornness kicked in and she took the lead by spinning Branch around. He stumbled a little, giving her a look of annoyance, but managed to catch up and follow her lead without missing a step.

Every time the sun goes down, I let you take control

Not willing to give up the lead, he pulled her in again so they were pressed chest to chest. He whispered under his breath, "What are you doing?" 

Poppy flashed him a cheeky smile. "I'm dancing, Branch. What does it look like?" Her tone was light, teasing, as she spun out from his grasp and then twirled back into his arms. Poppy could feel the tension between them. She looked directly into his eyes and whispered, "Not bad."

My bad habits lead to late nights endin' alone

Then when the beat dropped, she switched to lead by pulling him gently into a swing-out, smoothly transitioning each step in time with the lively beats. To her surprise, Branch mirrored her steps almost perfectly, his footwork improving as the song progressed. Their dance became a battle of leads and follows, each trying to outdo the other with quick twists and spins.

Nothin' happens after two, it's true, it's true, my bad habits lead to you

They glided and twirled across the dance floor as the crowd clapped and cheered them on. Branch guided her back to the center of the gym, his lips grazing her ear as he whispered, "Poppy, your name is it?" He led her into another spin before dipping her down.

My bad habits lead to you

He straightened her back up with a surprisingly gentle pull, their faces just inches apart. His breath was on her neck, hot and fast. She felt a shiver go down her spine before looking back up. Poppy could see the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of Branch's mouth. It was as though he had forgotten about the entire room around them, caught up in the challenge and thrill of the dance.

"Yeah," she replied breathlessly. 

My bad habits lead to you

Their eyes met and held for a moment, a spark of something unspoken passing between them. Then, with a graceful motion, Branch spun her away before pulling her back in, their bodies moving perfectly to the beat of the music. The tension that had started their dance as a battle of wills seemed to change into a challenge against the rhythm itself. 

The song neared its end, and with a final, dramatic move, Branch twirled her around a few times as she laughed delightedly, enjoying the dizzying spins. The last note played and he ended the song the same way he started—pulling her close into another slow turn. He held onto her for a few more seconds, the music dying away and they both collected their breaths. 

Then, there was another round of stronger applause from the audience, in the form of claps and cheers. For a moment, neither Poppy nor Branch moved. They stood there, panting lightly, their gazes locked. She never had a dance like that before. Something that was supposed to be just for fun turning into a little more intimate, a little more charged. Branch's eyes held a warmth that Poppy hadn't expected to see.

Viva rushed towards them, microphone in hand and excitement written all over her face. "Let’s hear it for Poppy and Branch!" she exclaimed, prompting another round of cheers from the audience. "Wasn’t that just remarkacular? That’s remarkable and spectacular everyone!"

They snapped out of their brief trance and smiled at the audience, acknowledging the applause with a slight bow together. Once the applause died down, Poppy and Branch made their way off the dance floor. Her heart was still racing from the dance, a mix of adrenaline and something else, something she had never felt before. They walked off the floor and back to their seats on the floor. Viva called out the next pair and the music kicked up again. Their shoulders lightly brushed as they sat down. 

"Think we’ll win?" She said as she looked onto the stage for the next pair. 

Branch glanced at her, the ghost of the smile still playing at the edges of his lips. "Well."

He looked back at the stage, his fingers briefly touching hers on the floor. "Even if we don’t, I’m okay with it."

Poppy looked surprised, and then her surprise melted into a soft smile. "Really?"

"Wanted to win the competition at first but," he shrugged lightly, "doesn't matter. I think I ended up winning something better."

Poppy blushed, her eyes widening slightly at his words. "Yeah," she managed to say, her voice softer than she intended, "me too."

It was only an hour later that they exchanged numbers after they won the competition.

Chapter Text

Branch exhaled slowly. He adjusted his tie nervously, feeling like it was more of a noose than an accessory. The restaurant buzzed with quiet conversation in Chez Dante, but to Branch, it was all muted in the background. His focus was solely on Poppy, sitting across from him, radiant in a sparkling dress. 

"You okay?" Poppy asked, her fork punctuating a piece of chocolate cake as she tilted her head curiously at him. "Do you want a piece of my chocolate? Sweets always calmed me down." 

Branch could hear the light teasing in her voice, which made his nerves ease just a little. He rolled his eyes affectionately and gave her a slight smirk. "You know that's not true."

Poppy laughed. It always sounded like music to his ears, no matter where he went—his girlfriend of six months.

Always amazing.

Always there for him.

After months of dancing, dates, and loud evenings together, he knew in his heart that Poppy was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Her laughter, her spirit, her optimism. He never knew he needed that color in his life until he met her that night at the swing dance competition. He was sure she would say yes.

Right?

This may be a mistake. Poppy wasn't the type to be easily fazed, easily to say yes to. What if she wasn't ready to spend the rest of her life with him? What if he was moving too fast? Branch's doubts crept in, making his palms sweat and his heart race. But he took a deep breath. He had to do this. He wanted to do this.

Poppy loved surprises, and she loved his romantic side. Everything was set up. It had to be tonight.

Branch cleared his throat. He watched Poppy take another bite of the cake, unaware of what he felt inside. She had chocolate on the corner of her mouth, and her usually bubbly personality made it impossible for him not to smile. 

"Poppy," he began with his voice cracked slightly, so he tried again. 

"Poppy."

She looked up at him. "Hmm?"

This was it. There was no turning back now. 

"You know," Branch said, shifting in his seat uncomfortably. "The night we danced together for that swing competition, I thought it would be a disaster." 

He chuckled. "You were stubborn, too optimistic, and I swore you would step on my feet at one point." 

He fiddled with his tie once more. "But you challenged me instead. You pulled me into your world before I realized what was happening, and by the end of that dance... I knew you were something special."

Poppy smiled at him, her cheeks flushed with a darker pink hue. "Branch," she said, giggling. "Are you saying I'm a better dancer than you?" 

Branch scoffed, shaking his head. "No way. I'm still convinced I carried us through that competition." 

Her laugh bubbled out again, and for a moment, he felt calmer. Okay. He could do this. He reached into his jacket pocket, and his smile dropped when he felt nothing but air in his pocket.

Empty.

Holy muses.

Branch froze, his hand patting the empty space in his jacket pocket where the ring should have been. His heart stopped for a moment and then picked up again at an alarming speed.

No ring.

It was gone.

He swore he'd put it there before they left for dinner. He *swore* he had checked at least twice before stepping into the restaurant with her. Panic struck him as he tried to be calm on the outside. The small velvet box that held everything he'd been building up to for weeks... it was supposed to be there.

"Branch?" Poppy tilted her head. "Are you sure you're okay? You're looking kinda... sweaty."

He forced a tight-lipped smile as he fumbled with his jacket pocket again, hoping—praying—that maybe he'd just missed it somehow. But no, it wasn't there.

"Y-yeah," he stammered, pulling his hand away awkwardly and reaching for his glass of water like it was the most fascinating object in the world. He took a long sip, though it did not calm him in the slightest. Where could it have gone? Did he drop it on the way here? Forget it at home? Or, muses forbid, had someone taken it?

"Branch," she said softly, leaning forward and resting her chin on her paws. "Seriously, what's going on? You're acting weird."

He set the glass down a little too quickly, and its clink against the table made him wince. He rubbed the back of his neck and gave her a forced smile. "Nothing! I'm fine," he lied unconvincingly. "Just... wanted to ask you something."

Oh, crap. Why did he say that? He can't propose without the ring!

"Ask me what?" She asked. She leaned forward as if she could sense he was about to say something big. Branch stared at her. Not saying anything. The awkward silence was building up while his mind raced for some sort of solution. He couldn't just blurt it out without the ring! That wasn't how this was supposed to go. Everything had been meticulously planned—well, as meticulously as Branch could manage without second-guessing himself into oblivion.

"Would you like to dance?" The words came rushing out of Branch's mouth before he could stop them. He mentally kicked himself. Dancing? Really? That's what he came up with?

But to his surprise, Poppy's eyes widened and her face lit up. "Dance? Here?" She glanced around the fancy restaurant, where most trolls were quietly dining. "I didn't think this was that kind of place."

Branch stood up abruptly, nearly knocking over his water glass. "It is now," he said with forced confidence, extending his paw to her.

Maybe if he could just buy some time, he could figure out what happened to the ring.

Or at least come up with a better plan.

Poppy giggled and took his paw, allowing him to lead her to a small area near their table. As they reached the spot, Branch realized with horror that no music was playing. The restaurant's noise was hardly danceable.

But Poppy didn't care. She placed one paw on his shoulder and the other in his palm, looking up at him expectantly. "Well?" she said with a playful grin. "Aren't you going to lead?"

Branch swallowed hard. Right. Leading. He could do that. Through the months they had spent together, they would take turns leading. He placed his free paw on her waist and began to sway, humming softly under his breath. It was a familiar song, one they had danced to many times before.

"I've waited a hundred years," Branch sang softly, "But I'd wait a million more for you,"

Poppy smiled as she recognized the song. Their eyes stay locked. Even without music, they fell into a slow step. 

"If I had only felt the warmth within your touch," 

As they swayed gently to Branch's soft singing, Poppy rested her head on his shoulder, her eyes fluttering closed. 

"If I had only seen how you smile when you blush," he continued singing quietly, his cheek pressing against her hair. "Or how you curl your lip when you concentrate enough..."

Poppy lifted her head, her magenta eyes sparkling as they met his. "I would have known what I was living for all along," she sang back to him. "What I've been living for."

They rested their foreheads against each other while they slowly swayed to their gentle melody. His steps were steady as he guided her in a small circle. Love. This was what it was about. Even without a plan, without a ring, she made everything feel right. The world seemed to fade away until it was just the two of them, lost in each other's eyes. Ring or no ring, he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

"Your love is my turning page," Poppy sang softly, nuzzling her nose against his. "Where only the sweetest words remain."

As their song ended, Branch pulled back slightly. "Poppy," he whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "I love you. And I..."

He took a deep breath. This wasn't how he planned it.

Poppy interlocked her fingers with Branch's as she gazed adoringly at him. "I love you too, Branch."

Even without the ring, the words were on his tongue, begging to be said. He couldn't hold them back any longer. He squeezed Poppy's paw gently.

"I want to dance with you forever, I-I want to spend the rest of my life with you, be there for you, love you for the rest of my life." Branch's voice wavered with emotion as he held Poppy close, their bodies still swaying gently. "Poppy, will you marry me?"

A smile grew wider on her face, slowly, wider until it was a full-blown grin. "Yes, Branch, of course, I'll marry you." 

Poppy's answer rang in Branch's ears.

Yes.

She said yes. A wave of joy washed over him, so strong that, for a moment, he forgot they were in the middle of a restaurant. He picked her up and spun her around, a huge smile on his face.

Poppy laughed joyfully as Branch twirled her, her dress sparkling under the dim lights. When he set her down, she cupped his face in her paws and pulled him in for a kiss. Soft. Sweet. His thumb swiped against the soft pink fur of her cheek as he deepened the kiss, pouring all his love, all his joy, into it.

As they parted, Branch suddenly remembered the missing ring. "Oh Poppy, I'm so sorry, I had a ring, I swear I did, but I think I lost it somehow, and I had this whole plan, and—"

Her giggle interrupted him as she reached into her hair and pulled out a small velvet box. Branch's eyes widened in disbelief.

"You mean this ring?" Poppy gave a pursed-lipped smile.

"How... what... when did you..." he sputtered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

Her eyes twinkled. "You dropped it while they brought out the breadsticks," she finished, smirking playfully as she twirled the velvet box between her fingers.

"I saw it fall out of your jacket pocket and figured I'd hold onto it. Thought you might need a little help tonight."

Branch stared at her, completely dumbfounded. "You... you've had it this whole time?!"

Poppy shrugged innocently. "Well, I wasn't going to let something that important get lost, was I? Besides," she added with a grin, "this way, I got to see you sweat a little. It was kind of cute."

Branch groaned, running a paw down his face. "You are impossible," he muttered, shaking his head—but his tone was warm, affectionate.

"And yet," Poppy said brightly as she opened the box and took out the ring, "you still asked me to marry you." 

The bright blue gem sparkled under the lights. He stared at it, smiling at how it reflected their future.

"Well?" she teased. "Aren't you going to put it on me?"

Branch let out a breathy laugh, shaking his head as he carefully took the ring from her fingers. "You are absolutely impossible," he repeated, his voice soft now as he slid the ring onto her paw, where it fit perfectly.

Poppy lifted her paw to admire the gem, her pink eyes sparkling like the ring. "Definitely better than the ring I have for you," she quipped, reaching into her hair again, where she pulled out a ring with her pink heart gem on top of it. 

Branch blinked in surprise as Poppy presented her own ring. "Wait, you... you were planning to propose too?"

Poppy grinned sheepishly. "Well, yeah! I mean, we've been dancing around this for months now. Literally and figuratively." She winked at him. "But once I saw you drop the ring, I figured you beat me to it before I get to do it myself. I know how you love your plans, Branch," Poppy finished, "and I didn't want to steal your thunder." 

She leaned forward to slide her own ring onto Branch's trembling finger. He stared down at the ring now on his paw, the pink heart gem catching the light much like Poppy's eyes caught his attention every time she looked at him.

"Well, mister," she said, teeth showing and her freckles glittering in the night, "looks like we're both engaged now."

Forever smitten, they shared another kiss. With future dances, future adventures, and a lifetime of love awaiting them, Branch couldn't imagine a more perfect moment than this one right here with Poppy in his arms. His dance partner, forever and always.