Work Text:
Poppy and Branch are passing love notes to each other while Satin and Chenille are showing off their new clothing line with Smidge as the model. Chenille accidentally took one of Branch's love notes that her wrote for Poppy. She reads it out loud along with Poppy's intimate nickname that Branch has for her.
The fashion studio belonging to Satin and Chenille was absolute organized chaos in the best possible way. Bright fabrics draped from every corner of the room in glittering waterfalls of color while sequins, ribbons, sketches, pins, and half finished outfits covered nearly every available surface. Music pulsed cheerfully through hidden speakers while massive mirrors reflected the warm afternoon sunlight pouring through the windows. In the center of it all, Smidge stood proudly atop a small rotating platform wearing an aggressively sparkly jacket covered in silver fringe while Satin and Chenille circled around her making dramatic adjustments.
“More shoulder glitter,” Satin declared.
“Definitely more shoulder glitter,” Chenille agreed immediately.
Smidge struck another dramatic pose. “I was born for high fashion.”
“You were born four feet tall and angry,” Chenille corrected.
“Exactly.”
Poppy sat nearby on a velvet couch trying very hard to pay attention to the fashion presentation happening in front of her.
Trying.
Unfortunately, Branch was sitting beside her.
And being deeply distracting.
He leaned comfortably against the back of the couch with one arm stretched behind her shoulders while pretending to casually watch Smidge model outfits. Every few seconds, though, Poppy would feel his fingers brush lightly against her hair or her shoulder or the side of her hand, and every single tiny touch made warmth spread through her chest immediately.
Which was exactly why passing notes had started.
It had begun innocently enough about twenty minutes earlier when Branch had quietly slid a folded piece of paper into her lap while everyone else argued over fabric colors.
Poppy had opened it curiously beneath the couch cushion.
You look really cute pretending to pay attention right now.
Poppy had immediately glanced sideways at him in disbelief while Branch looked entirely calm.
Then she’d written back.
You’re supposed to be supporting Satin and Chenille.
Branch’s response had come less than a minute later.
I am supporting them.
Emotionally.
Mostly I’m supporting my girlfriend because she’s pretty.
Poppy had nearly combusted on the spot.
Now the secret note exchange had become a full ongoing problem.
Especially because Branch apparently found it hilarious how flustered she got every single time.
Across the room, Chenille adjusted another sparkling jacket onto Smidge. “Okay, pose like you just emotionally destroyed someone.”
Smidge crossed her arms and glared.
“Perfect,” Satin whispered dramatically.
Poppy tried to focus on the fashion show again.
Then another folded note landed gently against her knee.
She looked at Branch suspiciously.
He raised one eyebrow innocently.
Poppy unfolded the paper carefully beneath the couch cushion.
You keep smiling every time you read these, Lovebug.
Poppy immediately looked down to hide her blush.
Because unfortunately…
He was right.
Her lips curled upward helplessly every single time.
She quickly scribbled a response.
That’s because you’re ridiculous.
Branch took the note back while Smidge strutted dramatically across the platform in glitter boots.
“I call this look,” Smidge announced proudly, “tiny but dangerous.”
“You always look dangerous,” Satin informed her.
Branch unfolded Poppy’s note beside her and smirked faintly before writing another response.
Poppy watched him out of the corner of her eye while trying not to smile too hard. There was something unfairly attractive about the concentration on his face while he wrote, especially knowing he was probably writing something completely devastating on purpose.
A second later, another folded note appeared in her hand.
Only ridiculous for you, Poppifer.
Poppy’s soul immediately left her body.
Her face turned bright pink so quickly it almost hurt.
Because Poppifer was private.
Very private.
One of those embarrassingly affectionate nicknames Branch only used when they were alone together.
Or apparently in tiny secret notes now.
Poppy pressed the paper dramatically against her chest while Branch watched her with entirely too much amusement sparkling in his eyes.
“You’re blushing again,” he murmured quietly.
“You wrote Poppifer.”
“You like Poppifer.”
“I do not.”
Branch leaned closer. “Liar.”
Poppy looked away immediately while trying not to laugh.
Across the room, Satin noticed everything.
“Oh my gosh,” Satin whispered to Chenille. “They’re doing the thing.”
“The in love thing?”
“The disgustingly in love thing.”
Chenille glanced over and smiled knowingly. “Aww.”
Poppy attempted to compose herself enough to write another note.
Stop distracting me.
Branch read it.
Then calmly wrote back.
Never.
Poppy stared at the paper in disbelief while Branch fought back a grin.
“You’re impossible,” she whispered.
“And yet,” Branch replied softly, “you keep looking at me like that.”
Poppy opened her mouth to deny it.
Then realized she absolutely was looking at him like that.
Warm.
Affectionate.
Hopelessly in love.
Her blush deepened instantly.
Smidge noticed and cackled from the modeling platform. “Poppy’s losing the battle again.”
“I am not!”
“You absolutely are,” Smidge replied proudly.
Before Poppy could defend herself further, Chenille suddenly walked over toward the couch holding fabric swatches.
“Okay, we need opinions on this shade of blue versus this shade of blue that looks almost exactly the same.”
Poppy reached automatically to help.
Unfortunately…
At the exact same moment, Branch attempted to hand her another folded note.
Chenille accidentally grabbed it instead.
Silence.
Poppy’s eyes widened in horror.
Branch froze.
Chenille blinked curiously at the folded paper in her hand. “Oh?”
“Don’t,” Poppy said immediately.
Too late.
Chenille unfolded the note with dramatic interest while Satin practically teleported beside her.
“Oh this is gonna be good.”
“Guys,” Poppy whispered urgently.
Chenille cleared her throat theatrically and began reading out loud.
“Lovebug,” she read dramatically, “‘if you keep looking at me like that, I’m absolutely kissing you the second we leave.’”
The room exploded.
Smidge screamed laughing.
Satin clutched her chest dramatically.
Poppy made a sound of pure horror while burying her face in both hands instantly.
“OH MY GOSH,” Satin yelled. “LOVEBUG?!”
Poppy wanted to evaporate.
Completely.
Immediately.
Branch, meanwhile, looked deeply entertained.
Chenille wasn’t done.
“Oh wait,” she gasped dramatically. “There’s more.”
“CHENILLE.”
“‘Also your hair looks really pretty today, Poppifer.’”
Poppy nearly slid directly off the couch.
Smidge physically collapsed onto the platform laughing.
“POPPIFER?!” Satin shrieked.
Branch finally laughed properly beside Poppy while she covered her burning face with a pillow.
“I can’t believe this is happening.”
“Oh it’s absolutely happening,” Smidge informed her through tears of laughter.
Chenille pressed the note dramatically against her heart. “This is the cutest thing I’ve ever read.”
Poppy peeked through the pillow at Branch in complete betrayal. “You wrote my nickname down!”
Branch shrugged lazily beside her. “I didn’t think anyone else would steal the note.”
“You’re not embarrassed at all?!”
“Not really.”
Satin pointed dramatically between them. “See, that’s what surprises me! I expected Branch to be the flustered one.”
“Nope,” Smidge replied proudly. “Branch weaponizes affection now.”
Poppy groaned loudly while Branch casually wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer against his side.
“There’s my embarrassed girl,” he murmured teasingly.
Poppy looked up at him in disbelief. “You are enjoying this way too much.”
“A little.”
“A little?!”
Branch grinned. “Okay, a lot.”
Chenille handed the note back carefully while smiling warmly. “Honestly, this is incredibly romantic.”
Satin nodded immediately. “Like disgustingly romantic.”
Poppy accepted the note back while still blushing furiously. “Can everybody stop reading our private messages now?”
“No promises,” Smidge said.
Branch tilted his head thoughtfully while looking down at Poppy. “You know, for someone claiming embarrassment, you still kept the note.”
Poppy froze.
Because she was still clutching it tightly against her chest.
Smidge pointed immediately. “Oh she’s down bad.”
“I hate all of you.”
“No you don’t,” Branch murmured softly.
Poppy glanced sideways at him helplessly.
And immediately melted a little because he was looking at her with that warm teasing affection that always completely ruined her ability to stay annoyed.
Satin noticed instantly.
“Oh wow,” she whispered. “They’re gone gone.”
“Tragically,” Chenille agreed.
Branch reached up and brushed a loose curl away from Poppy’s face while she tried very hard not to completely collapse emotionally in front of everyone.
“You’re cute when you’re flustered,” he said quietly.
Poppy narrowed her eyes weakly. “You made me flustered.”
“Exactly.”
Before she could respond, Branch leaned down and kissed her cheek gently.
The room erupted all over again.
“THERE THEY GO.”
“I KNEW HE WAS GONNA KISS HER.”
“THIS IS BETTER THAN FASHION.”
Poppy buried her face against Branch’s shoulder while laughing helplessly. “I’m never recovering from this.”
Branch wrapped both arms around her comfortably now, entirely unbothered by the audience.
“You’ll survive, Lovebug.”
“There! You said it again!”
“Mhm.”
“And now everybody knows!”
Branch looked thoughtful for half a second. “Honestly, I think everybody already knew we were obsessed with each other.”
“That’s fair,” Smidge admitted.
Chenille sighed dreamily. “I want somebody to write me notes threatening to kiss me.”
“Same,” Satin agreed immediately.
Poppy finally lowered the pillow from her face enough to glare weakly at Branch.
“This is your fault.”
“You liked the note.”
“That’s not the point.”
“You smiled when you read it.”
Poppy opened her mouth.
Paused.
Then groaned because unfortunately he was right again.
Branch’s smile softened immediately at her expression before he leaned down and kissed her properly this time.
Slow.
Warm.
Completely affectionate.
Poppy melted instantly against him while the others collectively screamed in the background. Her hands slid up to rest against his chest while Branch held her gently against his side like kissing her in front of everyone was the most natural thing in the world.
When they finally pulled apart, Poppy rested her forehead briefly against his while trying to recover.
“You are impossible,” she whispered softly.
“And you love me anyway.”
Poppy smiled helplessly. “Yeah. I really do.”
The sincerity in her voice made everyone nearby collectively emotional for approximately three seconds before Smidge ruined it completely.
“Okay but I’m still calling you Poppifer now.”
Poppy gasped in horror.
Branch laughed so hard he nearly fell backward off the couch.