Chapter 4

After talking to Papa for a bit, Hefty headed back to his house. He grabbed a couple of small dumbbells and the book Brainy had lent him ages ago that he kept putting off reading. Once he had those, he dropped by Tailor's to see if Poppy inquired about a vest for Branch and then to Baker's for some bread and jam that he could make sandwiches with and would be fine at the Recovery Mushroom or a bit.

By the time Hefty returned to the Recovery Mushroom, it was close to dinner time. Of course, he found Poppy and Smurfette still in the bedroom with a sleeping Branch but hadn't expected the scene in front of him.

Sitting pretzel style on the bed, Poppy had moved to the side of the bed Hefty normally was and was braiding Smurfette's hair, who was sitting on the stool next to the bed. That wasn't the odd part though. The off-putting part was Branch, while asleep, apparently put his bad arm around Poppy's waist, the arm resting in her lap, while he sort of curled around her back.

"Hey Hefty," Poppy greeted softly as if she didn't have the Troll Hefty loved wrapped around her. "Got everything you need?"

"Yeah," Hefty quietly put the things he retrieved to the side, trying with all his might not to kick Poppy out of his spot. "What's going on here?"

"I'm braiding Smurfette's hair," Poppy beamed, "Isn't it pretty? Of course, it's always pretty but-"

"Not that," Hefty suggested towards Branch.

Poppy looked at Branch, then Hefty, then back to Branch before getting what he was asking, "Ah that." She shrugged and went back to braiding. "Branch was cold but absolutely refused to snuggle with me, the stubborn Troll, so he agreed to this and I agreed to stop talking so he could sleep."

Smurfette giggled and turned to Hefty, "The way they talk, it's like watching you and Bainy argue. Only Poppy is way more affectionate then either of you combined."

"And proud of it," Poppy finished off the braid and reached into her own hair. She gathered a few loose strands and used them as a ribbon to tie the braid off. "There, perfect."

"You really do use your hair for everything, don't you?" Hefty shook his head at himself for overreacting. Poppy had made her affection for Branch clear and it wasn't her fault that Branch wasn't sure. He needed to learn not to jump to conclusions if he ever wanted to get anywhere with Branch.

"It's a Troll's best friend," Poppy patted her ponytail with a smile. "If you had hair I could do something with yours too."

Hefty frowned, "I have hair, you just can't see it from under my hat." He reached up and pulled his hat off, careful not to let any of the things in it to drop out.

Letting out a tiny gasp, Poppy stared. Before her, Hefty had short dark blue, nearly black hair that was buzzed in an undercut around his ears but then grew thicker higher up and fluffed up adorably by his forehead. She blindly reached out and started to shake Branch's shoulder.

"Don't wake him," Hefty started to put his hat back on.

Snatching away the hat with her hair, Poppy shook Branch more, "Wake up Branch!"

Though he startled a little, Branch didn't spring up, looking around in confusion, "Poppy, what-"

Not listening, Poppy helped Branch sit up and pointed, "Look at Hefty!"

Half asleep, Branch looked at Poppy's pointed hand first and saw the hat she had captured, "Why do you have a Smurf hat?"

Poppy hushed Branch and physically directed Branch's face in the proper direction, "Look!"

Finally, Branch's eyes landed on Hefty. His eyes became wider, more awake, but he remained silent.

So, that's what typical Smurf hair looked like. At least that's what Hefty's hair looked like. Before now, Branch thought male Smurfs were bald until they grew beards in their old age.

Besides Troll newborns, Branch had never seen hair so short but it suited Hefty. The hair was a good color with his cerulean blue skin and surprisingly didn't look greasy from being under a hat all day. In fact, it looked really soft and Branch sort of wanted to touch it.

At the staring, something clicked in Hefty's brain. Of course, Troll's would be attracted to hair. Hair was like one of the most fundamental parts of their lives that they used for everything as far as Hefty could tell. He made his way over to the bed, sitting down in front of Branch and flashed his most charming smile.

"You can touch it, if you want," Hefty offered.

Branch swallowed and looked at the hair, clearly tempted as he fiddled his hands together. Slowly he raised his uninjured hand, glanced at Hefty's face again, before finally touching the Smurf's hair.

The buzzed part was a bit bizarre feeling but interesting and lead the way up to the thicker hair, teasing Branch's hand with its softness. The short strands made it fascinating to run his fingers through and tickled a little each time he pulled his fingers free, so unlike Troll hair that you couldn't touch all of in a single stroke.

At first Hefty watched Branch's rapt expression as the Troll marveled at Hefty's hair but the stroking felt so nice his eyes drifted shut so he could concentrate on the feeling. The hand was curious but gentle and Hefty had to take in a deep breath from making any sort of inappropriate noises.

Ears catching the deep inhale, Branch looked back at Hefty's face to see that the Smurf had closed his eyes. The expression there was of such deep contentment that Branch felt his cheeks burn a bit. Also, this was the closest Branch had ever been to Hefty's face. If circumstances were different, it would have been a perfect position to kiss him.

Now that was an odd thought. It also reminded Branch that Poppy and Smurfette were watching Branch pet Hefty's hair for a longer time that was decent.

"Um, thanks," Branch stammered as he regretfully pulled his hand back to himself. When Hefty open his eyes to look at him, he felt the need to say more. "It's really nice… and soft."

"Thanks man," Hefty smiled warmly and it made Branch feel warmer.

"Oh, I wanna feel," Poppy squealed. "Pretty please?"

Hefty chuckled and leaned a little to give Poppy access.

Poppy squealed again and buried both hands into Hefty's hair, ohing and awing at all the different textures and frustrating Branch to no end.

"Poppy, stop molesting Hefty's head," Branch groaned. "You're really overstepping boundaries here."

"But it's so cute and soft," Poppy actually nuzzled the top of Hefty's head. "Just like a little Trollings."

"Okay, I draw the line at being compared to a baby," Hefty straightened, forcing Poppy to release he hold and ignoring her pout.

After Poppy's crazy exploration Hefty's hair was splayed about wildly at awkward angles. Perfect excuse for Branch to touch it again, trying to tame it with his fingers.

"I don't suppose you have a comb?" Branch ventured.

"Nope," Hefty replied, perfectly fine with Branch's fingers doing the work.

"I have one," Smurfette offered, reaching into her hat to pull out a small pink comb. She pretended not to see Hefty's dirty look and held the comb out to Branch.

Though he wasn't sure why Smurfette would give him the comb and not Hefty, Branch shrugged and took the comb anyway. He carefully tried to style to back to the way it was before, half aware that Hefty was watching him the whole time.

Once Branch was done, Poppy returned Hefty's hat but Hefty didn't put it back on. Instead he served up the bread and jam he brought, along with the rest of the soup.

The blue jam didn't smell familiar, Branch dipped his finger into some of the jam on his bread for closer inspection. It definitely wasn't blueberry; the color was a bit too bright. He licked his finger, then sucked on it a bit to make sure he got it all. The jam was sweeter than he expected but still unidentifiable.

"It's sweet," Branch murmured. "What is it?"

"Smurfberries," Smurfette giggled, but what was so funny about that?

Turning to ask Hefty, Branch found Hefty staring at him, "What?"

"Nothing," Hefty said quickly and stuffed far too much sandwich into his mouth.

Smurfs, Branch shook his head and began to eat.

Soon all the food was gone and the dirty dishes were stacked into the soup pot.

"I'll wash these and return them to chef," said Smurfette, picking up the dishes.

"I'll help," Poppy announced.

"Wait, aren't you staying here?" asked Branch.

"No, I'm sleeping over at Smufette's," said Poppy.

"But-" Branch started.

"You don't need me crowding you and I'll see you in the morning," Poppy promised and kissed his forehead. "Good night Branch."

Branch sighed once the girls were gone, "At least she didn't boop my nose." At Hefty's confused look, he continued. "It's something Creek back home does, super annoying."

"Sounds like it," Hefty closed up the jam. "So, are you ready for some more medicine?"

Looking out the window, Branch shook his head, "It's still early. I rather wait until it's closer to bedtime so I can sleep through the night."

"Good thinking," Hefty ran his hand through his hair, not used to not wearing his hat and liking the way Branch stared each time he did it. "What would you like to do now?"

Branch spotted the dumbbells Hefty brought over, "Why don't you work out?"

"Wouldn't that be rather boring for you?" asked Hefty.

"You've been watching me sleep for most of the day," pointed out Branch. "I think I can handle being bored for a few hours."

"Alright," Hefty began to stretch.

Alright Heft-man, Hefty cheered himself on, time to be impressive. Show this Troll what a fine specimen of Smurf you are.

Watching Hefty stretch was much different then all of Hefty's numerous boastful flexes. Branch could actually see the muscles move, how they worked, fluidity between relaxed and tensed as they worked was a little spell bounding.

Then Hefty began to work out, running in place and doing push-ups. First with both hands, one hand, then a finger? Now he was just showing off.

It didn't take long for Hefty's body to start to glisten with sweat and Branch was starting to feel a little weird watching this. Somehow it seemed… intimate, even though something told Branch that Hefty worked out in public all the time.

Time moved quickly and before Branch knew it, Hefty was doing cool down stretches. Still stretching, Hefty snuck a look at Branch, noting the intense stare and the plum colored blush on the Troll's cheeks. Perhaps Hefty underestimated Branch's interesting in him after all?

"Well," Hefty said casually, "I feel much better." He ran his fingers through his hair again. "I'm going to wash up really quick." With a smile, he headed to the washroom.

Silently watching him go, Branch wondered what the heck was happening to his brain. He said say something right? Like, "good 'cause you stink" and throw in a "muscle head" for good measure but the words did not come out.

The washroom door closed and Branch could fully breath again. Why the split ends was he reacting this way? To Hefty of all creatures?

This was so incredibly stupid. Hefty had only been interested in Branch's voice and the possibility of becoming friends. Heck, the Smurf had thought Branch and Poppy were due to be married just earlier that day and Hefty didn't seem the sort to be interested in breaking up what he thought of as a couple.

Take all these stupid, whatever they are, feelings, put them in a box and bury them below the bunker. They would do nothing but cause trouble.

When Hefty came out of the washroom, Branch was looking at the book Hefty brought.

Putting his towel around his neck and absently holding onto the ends, Hefty walked over and leaned over Branch to look at the book, "Can you read that?"

Branch glanced at Hefty but quickly returned his gaze to the book, determined to not stare so much this round, "Yes. I guess our languages are similar enough that I understand most of this."

"What don't you understand?" Hefty sat on the bed next to him.

"Oh just 'Smurf this' and 'Smurf that' and 'Smurfy' and 'Smurfing'," Branch listed a few. "I hadn't realized you used 'Smurf' as an adjective for so many things and in some instances, I can't tell what it's in place of."

Hefty hummed, not sure how to explain it, "Maybe it would make more sense if read out loud?"

"I'd probably get the inflection wrong," said Branch.

"I meant me reading it to you," Hefty reached for the book.

Branch held the book out of reach, "I'm a little old for a bedtime story."

Hefty rolled his eyes, "It's not a big deal. Look, Brainy leant me that book ages ago and I have yet to start it. Why don't you take your medicine and I can read it out loud until you get tired? That way we can both enjoy it."

"Hmm, fine," Branch relented the book. "But if you try to do stupid voices or anything I am taking this book and hitting you with it."

"Would like to see you try," Hefy dodged a pillow and went to get the medicine.

After the medicine was taken, Hefty propped up some pillows so they could both recline back but be a little upright to read the book. Branch ended up with his head on Hefty's shoulder so he could look at the book while Hefty read. Hefty didn't seem to mind so Branch didn't move.

Before Hefty began, he hesitated, "Hey Branch?"

"Yeah?' Branch half looked at him from the awkward position.

"Did your parents ever read to you?" Hefty asked softly, sure he was breeching a sensitive subject but it didn't feel right not asking as well.

Looking back at the book, Branch didn't seem like he was going to answer, then he shrugged, "I don't know, they were gone before I was old enough to form memories of them. It had just been, just me and Grandma."

Ah, so it was Branch's grandmother that he lost, Hefty surmised. He wanted to ask more but that could break his promise to Poppy and he was a Smurf of his word.

"So maybe they did," Branch continued, unaware of the questions going through Hefty's mind. He hesitated, then added, "But Grandma used to."

"Did your Grandma use voices?" asked Hefty.

"No voices," Branch warned. "Stop yammering and Smurfing read already."

Hefty laughed, shaking Branch a bit but Branch didn't mind. He started out with a silly voice but, at Branch's pinch on his arm, spoke normally, his voice calm and steady.

Mid-third chapter, Branch's eyes begin to droop. He found himself sleepily snuggling up to Hefty's warmth but really too tired to care.

"Want me to stop?" Hefty's voice was soft, it took Branch's mind a groggy minute to figure out what he meant.

"No," Branch shook his head a bit. "Keep going."

Hefty paused, then said, "Lift your head for a second."

Branch lifted his head but kept his eyes closed. He felt Hefty shift and then a hand came up to gently tilt Branch's head back onto Hefty's shoulder. Now he could feel that Hefty's arm was around him, becoming a bit more of a pillow. The arm around him adjusted slightly to reach up and absently play with Branch's hair as Hefty went back to reading.

This was odd. This didn't seem normal for friends to do. But it also felt really nice and Branch drifted off feeling safer than he had for a very long time.

In the morning Branch woke up, feeling calm. He was warm, but comfortably so, and his head felt a lot better.

Slowly Branch became aware of what was around him. He was still on Hefty's shoulder, the Smurf still fast asleep, and most of Branch's hair had curled around Hefty's head. The rest of Branch's hair had stretched out, lightly wrapping around Hefty's arm that Branch could see and Branch could feel more of his hair wrapped around Hefty's arm that was around him.

The hair's hold on Hefty was gentle but possessive and protective. It was the sort of holding lovers would sometimes instinctively do when sleeping beside their mate.

"Stop it," Branch hissed at his hair, watching it carefully release Hefty and return to its rightful place. Thank goodness Hefty hadn't seen, He wasn't sure how he would have explained that to the Smurf.

Carefully getting out of Hefty's hold without waking Hefty, Branch slipped from the bed and just stood still to test the waters. His head was still feeling good and nothing was spinning so that was promising.

Branch used the washroom and cleaned up, feeling a bit better after being in bed for so long. He snuck passed Hefty and to the other room, curious to finally look at all the things there. It didn't take long to find a book about healing herbs and he started to look through it, curious if he could find any of these near the Troll Tree.

Absently Branch began to hum, then, not really paying attention to what he was doing, he sang to sing, "There'll be no strings to bind your hands
Not if my love can't bind your heart
And there's no need to take a stand
For it was I who chose to start
I see no need to take me home
I'm old enough to face the dawn

Just call me angel of the morning, (angel)
Just touch my cheek before you leave me, baby
Just call me angel of the morning, (angel)
Then slowly turn away from me."

Still looking at the book, Branch turned to see if he could find an example of the herb he was looking at but then jumped back, having almost walked into Hefty. "What the heck, Hefty? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

But Hefty didn't answer. He just stood there, with ridiculous bedhead, and stared at Branch as if seeing him for the first time.

"Hefty?" Branch tried again, starting to grow concerned.

"You," Hefty finally found his voice, "you were singing."

Instantly Branch's body stiffened, stumbling back until he hit the counter.

Hefty followed him, lifting a hand to touch Branch's cheek, "You're brighter."

Both quickly and too slowly, Branch raised his hands to look at them. Sure, enough he as a brighter blue. It still wasn't the blue Branch recalled from his youth but still a shade brighter than the dull blue he had been previously.

There was a mirror in the washroom but Branch was so used to not looking in mirrors that he hadn't noticed the change. He pushed passed Hefty and to the washroom for a better look, shocked that the brighter blue indeed covered all of his skin. His hair was even brighter as well as a little bit longer in its relaxed state.

How? Why had this happened? What was different?

"Hey," Hefty called, almost nervously from the bedroom.

Branch half turned to stare at him.

"Does this mean you're happier?" Hefty asked.

Instead of answering, Branch slammed the washroom door shut and locked it.