This chapter is for Lantherien on AO3 whose comments make me super happy!

Chapter 9

When Hefty woke up that morning he became aware of three things. First of all Branch was still sleeping. Secondly, Branch, at some point, put his arm around Hefty's waist so they were currently in a sleepy half hug. Thirdly, something else was holding him too.

Blinking away the sleep from his eyes, Hefty tightened his hold around Branch and looked around. Instantly his eyes were met with the blue/purple haze that was Branch's hair, which had moved under Hefty's head like a pillow but then stretched and wrapped around Hefty's shoulders and down to the bicep he wasn't sleeping on.

Though surprising, the hair was not uncomfortable. In fact, it almost felt like being wrapped in a blanket since the hold was gentle and didn't restrict his movements in anyway.

Carefully rolling to his back, and taking Branch with him, Hefty looked at the hair some more. Experimentally he bent his arm at the elbow to touch the hair on the connecting shoulder, watching loosen a bit more in response. Seems like he could get free of it if he wanted but he wasn't in a rush to untangle himself just yet.

Before, when Branch's hair wrapped around Hefty's arm, Branch said he didn't know what it meant and that his hair had never done that before. Trolls, outside of Branch, participated in Hug Time every hour and Branch, when half asleep and more willing to accept affection, reacted almost touch starved at times. Maybe this was a subconscious attempt just to make the closeness last a little longer?

Finally, Hefty looked at Branch and smiled, the Troll was a little brighter this morning again. And again, he marveled at how Troll colors worked, wondering how much emotion it took to cause changes. Poppy's were always consistent while Branch's shifted at their own whim, possibly due to Branch having been gray for so long. Was Poppy just that happy or was Branch just that more sensitive to his moods?

Sighing, Branch stirred, his hair starting to retract back to it normal length. A bit of hair caressed the side of Hefty's face as it swept by and almost made him laugh as it brushed against his ear.

Closing his eyes, Hefty put his arm back around Branch and pretended to be asleep, curious as to what the Troll would do.

Yawning, Branch snuggled more against Hefty's chest and hummed, realizing that wasn't quite right. Slowly he pulled back and looked at Hefty's face. He stared for so long, Hefty thought Branch knew he was faking, but then Branch turned, carefully removed Hefty's arms from around him and got out of the bed.

For a bit, Hefty just listened to Branch move around the room. He just managed not to jump when the covers were pulled up to cover him more but couldn't help but smile at the simple action.

If Branch noticed the smile, he said nothing and walked away from the bed. Soon after he began to sing, softly as if not really sure or trying to hold it in but failing, "Can this be true?
Tell me, can this be real?
How can I put into words what I feel?
My life was sturdy
I thought I was strong
Why do I feel like I'm losing control?"

Turning towards the singing, Hefty snuck a peek, seeing Branch stand by the window, looking out, and hold himself in a sort of self-embrace.

Unaware that he was being watched, Branch sang on, "I never thought that I could feel like this
And you've changed my world from the abyss
How can it be that right here with me
There's an angel?
It's a miracle…"

There was a pause and Hefty earned for Branch to continue, but he saw Branch shake his head and begin to turn away from he window. He got a glimpse of Branch highlighted by the morning sun before he closed his eyes to continue feigning sleep.

"Stupid," Branch murmured and somehow Hefty knew that Branch wasn't referring to Hefty, the Smurf listening as Branch left the room.

No longer able to contain it, Hefty got out bed and rushed to follow Branch, watching the Troll look at the book of herbs like he had the previous day but Hefty's heart sunk

Branch was back to being pale blue. It had come and gone so quickly Branch probably never even saw it.

This time it didn't startle Branch when he turned and Hefty was standing in the doorway, staring at him again, "Good morning Hefty."

But Hefty couldn't reply, just staring at Branch.

"Hefty?" Branch tried again, frowning a little. He had thought that Hefty had been asleep but it's possible Branch's singing woke him up. Was Hefty always going to react like this if Branch sang in the morning? "Hefty, what's wrong?"

I love you, Hefty wanted to scream but the words wouldn't come out. I love you and I think you love me! Why do you keep pushing it away? Let me love you. Let yourself love me. I want so much to make you happy.

"Hefty?" Branch slowly stepped closer, unsure of what was making Hefty react this way.

Charge in, Hefty's thoughts screamed.

"Should I go get your Papa?" Branch stopped before reaching Hefty, not liking the way Hefty was staring at him.

CHARGE IN, Hefty's body finally moved forward.

In a blink, Branch found himself pinned against the wall. Normally he was close to being equal to Hefty in height but in the rush backwards he had slipped a little and now Hefty towered over him, both of the Smurf's hands on either side of his head. The Smurf's gaze on him now was determined, dangerous; Branch felt ice coursing through his veins.

Hefty was going to kiss Branch. He was going to kiss him again and again until Branch was breathless and then Hefty was going to tell Branch that he loved him. That he was willing to do anything for his love.

Then Hefty looked at Branch's face. Branch's eyes were wide, staring at Hefty as the pale blue of the Troll's skin started to sink into gray. He had made Branch afraid of him.

Sighing, Hefty wanted to punch the wall but held it in, dropping his forehead onto Branch's shoulder, hoping it would help him earn the Troll's forgiveness.

"I'm sorry," Hefty finally managed, speaking against Branch's collarbone, struggling to think of a way to explain this. "I didn't mean to… I'm sorry."

Slowly Branch let out the breath he was holding and started to breath again. Cautiously, he raised a pale blue arm to hold onto Hefty's forearm, which still framed his head, "I-It's okay but, what brought this on? Are you alright?"

Really Hefty wanted to say 'no' but instead he murmured, "It's complicated."

A knock made both of them jump and turn towards the door.

"Good Morning boys," Papa Smurf greeted as he came through the door but stopped when he saw Hefty pining Branch to the wall. He'd think he was interrupting something if not for the fact Branch looked a bit freaked out. Well, more freaked out then one normally be when your friend's, and possible partner's, father walked in on you in a compromising position. "What's going on here?"

Finally, Hefty released Branch from the wall but he didn't answer.

Straightening, Branch stepped closer to Papa Smurf and softly answered, "I have no idea."

Papa Smurf was silent as he sat across Branch, examining his arm. He snuck glances up at the boys; Branch who was trying to pay attention to Papa but kept shifting his eyes towards Hefty like he expected to he jumped, and Hefty who was leaning against the doorframe to the bedroom and not really looking at anything and just looking tired.

In hindsight Papa knew he should have realized something was happening between these two earlier. Only with Willow and the girls visiting his attention had been divided and he missed the signs. Now he's worried that it took a bad turn and these two will fall apart before they've even begun.

"Well," Papa began to get Branch's attention again. "Your arm is doing much better. I'm going to rebandage it but I think you're safe to travel now."

There it was, a definite slump in Hefty's shoulders and a look Papa wasn't used to seeing on the strong Smurf's face; one of defeat. Now that just wouldn't do.

Papa grabbed fresh bandages and began his work before speaking again, "Poppy has invited a few of us to the Troll Tree but only under the condition that you're okay with it."

That was unusual for Poppy, especially considering her new relationship with Smurfette. Maybe that was why Poppy said that, knowing full well Branch wouldn't refuse and upset the Troll princess.

"I'm okay with it," Branch said softly and turned to Hefty, waiting until the Smurf noticed and returned his gaze. "I trust you."

Hefty blinked but then smiled so warmly Branch had to look away, feeling a burn in his cheeks. What was it with this Smurf and causing weird things with his emotions?

Besides the obvious Hefty and Smurfette joining in on the journey to the Troll Tree they were joined by Papa Smurf and Smurf Willow, which Branch thought it was insane to have both leaders venture out into danger but he was ignored as always. With them came Clumsy, which could make things tricky, Smurf Storm, Smurf Lily, and Brainy with Snappy Bug currently residing under his hat. Each Smurf carried a little backpack of supplies, of which all of them absolutely refused to let Branch carry anything. Even Poppy got to carry a spare bag of Smurfberries and gave him a triumphant little smirk which he was going to get back at her for later. But like his concerns over both Smurf leaders leaving the village, Branch's protests that having an injured arm didn't make him an invalid went ignored.

There hadn't been much opportunity to look around the Smurf's forest when Hefty first took Branch and Poppy to the village, Branch having been too busy protesting being carried as if his legs were broken, but once they went through the hollow log to leave the village Branch was taken back by how peaceful it was. Or rather how alive, it wasn't. None of the flowers reacted to Poppy's humming, hills were just made of dirt and there weren't any bizarre creatures around every corner. It was almost freaky how "normal" it all was.

So far, the trip had been filled with Brainy's talking, the spectacled Smurf telling the Trolls about the last time he and a few of the others first went to the other side of the wall to find the "Lost Village", which made Smurf Storm scoff, to warn them about Gargamel. Even with the constant noise, Branch felt something was off.

Pausing, Branch just listened, blocking out Brainy's voice as much as he could. There was something moving in the woods, something big.

Quickly realizing that Branch was no longer walking with them, Hefty stopped and looked back. He watched Branch stand still with his head tilted slightly, only bit of his moving was his raised ear trying to catch something.

"Branch," Hefty tried to walk back but stopped when Branch raised his hand.

Whatever this thing was, it was coming their way.

Looking around, Branch spotted a tree with some mushroom's growing off it's side. It would be better to be under something to be more hidden but Branch didn't see a closer option and he wasn't sure how much time they had, especially since no one else seemed aware of the approaching creature.

"Everyone, follow me, quickly," Branch grabbed Clumsy as he headed for the tree, making sure the Smurf didn't trip and get left behind.

"What is it Branch?" Papa Smurf followed first and the others followed suite.

"Maybe nothing, but I rather be sure," said Branch, making everyone stand together against the tree but there were too many for him to cover. "Poppy, do what I do."

Standing slightly in front of half the Smurfs, Branch grew out his hair and changed the color, shaping it around them so it looked like they were just another mushroom on the tree. He could faintly see through his hair that Poppy had done the same for her group.

The forest appeared silent for a little longer but soon the footsteps became apparent, shaking the ground of the much smaller creatures as it approached.

A creature unlike anything Branch had seen came into view. It was roughly Bergen in size but that was all. The creature didn't appear to have any fur, only a pale peach color for skin tone and balding black hair that matched the black cloak it was wearing along with red shoes as he looked down at a map.

"Gargamel," Clumsy gasped but Smurf Storm covered his mouth before he could make another noise.

That was Gargamel? Branch imagined something much more intimidating outside of sheer size. This creature didn't have claws or even sharp teeth.

"No, no, no Azrael, we've already looked here," Gargamel scratched something off his map but Branch stopped paying attention.

At the mention of the cat, Branch felt his breath quicken. His mind wouldn't stop replaying that night he first saw the beast. Each flash of pain, the desperation to protect Poppy and the fear that he was going to die clawing through his very being.

Branch didn't realize he was shaking, thus shaking their hideaway, until he felt Hefty's arms slip around him from behind. He didn't even have to look, he just knew it was him.

"Don't think about it," said Hefty softly as if he knew exactly what was going on in Branch's mind. "Don't give it a second thought; Azrael is never going to get near you again. I won't let him. Just breath."

Taking a deep breath, Branch managed to stop the shaking but his heart was still beating rapidly. He could see Azrael's tail peeking out from behind the wizard; he was so close…

Keeping one arm around Branch, Hefty raised his other hand to cover Branch's eyes. "He's not going to find us. Just keep breathing and trust me."

Despite himself, Branch slumped back against Hefty, clenched his eyes shut and clung to the arm around him. During the fight Branch didn't have time to be afraid of Azrael but now he'd almost prefer a Bergen. At least with a Bergen he could run and hide and being so much smaller was almost an advantage. Now he just felt powerless to do anything but wait and hope that Hefty was right and it was a horrible feeling.

Even with his eyes closed, or even more with his eyes closed, Branch could hear Gargamel speaking to the beast and Azrael yammering wordlessly in reply. He could feel Gargamel's steps shake the ground but gradually become fainter.

"Alright, they're gone," Hefty removed his hand from over Branch's eyes but kept his other arm around him, not that he had much choice with Branch clinging to him. Not eager to pull back, Hefty wrapped his other arm around Branch again to hold him closer.

Though he had never stopped breathing, Branch finally felt like the air was reaching his lungs again, simply concentrating on that as his hair returned to its normal state.

"Oh Branch," Poppy's voice cried before suddenly Branch was being hugged from the front as well and of course it was Poppy, he knew that without looking as well.

Still with his eyes closed, Branch raised one arm to hug Poppy back, keeping his other arm on Hefty's around him. He didn't resist Poppy nuzzling the side of his head, though he pulled back a little when he felt her try to stroke his hair.

"Okay, okay, enough of that," Branch opened his eyes and frowned at Poppy. "Save the hair stroking for your girlfriend."

"You know like it, stop being stubborn," Poppy grinned and tried again, giggling when Branch batted at her hand like a Trolling who didn't want their parent's fusing.

After a pause, Branch lightly elbowed Hefty's stomach, "Um, thanks…"

"Anytime," smiled Hefty.

"You can let go now," said Branch.

"You know you like it," Hefty held on tighter.

"What's with you and Poppy telling me what I like? Let go," Branch began to squirm but, like when Hefty was adamant about seeing the cut on Branch's finger, Branch couldn't get Hefty to budge. Really, was this Smurf nothing but muscle?

Papa Smurf cleared his throat and Branch stilled, feeling awkward, "Hefty, Branch asked you to let him go; respect his wishes."

"Yes Papa," Hefty released Branch with a sigh.

Taking a step away from Hefty for safety, Branch turned to Papa, "You are my favorite Smurf."

"Hey!" Hefty protested.

Unable to resist, Branch playfully stuck out his tongue at Hefty, making Poppy, Smurfette and Smurf Lily giggle. It was a nice distraction from his pounding heart.