Chapter 13
The day went by in a blur. Branch was aware that he did things, that he ate and that he made something for something but each time he was really aware of anything he was staring at the bunker door. Several times he reached up to unlock it but he'd just hold his hand there for a while before back away again.
"Hey," Poppy reached in and petted the top of Branch's hair to get his attention. "Have you moved since this morning?"
"I'm pretty sure I did," Branch mumbled. He wasn't hungry so he couldn't have imagined eating, right?
Softly, Poppy sighed and continued to stroke Branch's hair, "You should have come, if only to say good bye yourself; Hefty waited for as long as he could."
Branch shook his head but didn't move away from her touch, "I did the right thing."
Poppy very openly scoffed at him, "Keep telling yourself that." She paused in playing with Branch's hair until she looked up at him. "Will you come out now?"
Branch swallowed, "I don't know Poppy."
"Please," Poppy pleaded. "The others, they feel bad; they want to make more of an effort to be your friend. Cooper even has cupcakes for you."
"Argh, don't threaten me," Branch purposefully made his expression as disgusted as possibly, feeling a small victory when it made Poppy laugh.
"Fine, I'll make cupcakes," Poppy smiled at him, "I'll even let you lick the spoon."
Lips twitching, Branch made a show of considering it, "Chocolate with strawberry frosting?"
"Double chocolate with strawberry frosting," Poppy promised.
"Well, my arm is sufficiently twisted," said Branch, undoing the padlock. "But don't think I'm above hitting you if this is an elaborate ruse and Hefty is out there."
Poppy overdramatically gasped, taking her hand out of the peek hole so Branch could open the bunker, "Do you really think I would do that?"
"Yes," stated Branch, poking only his head out to look around. He was both satisfied and a bit disappointed when there wasn't a certain Smurf in sight and he crawled the rest of the way out. "Now… I believe you owe me a slap."
Chuckling Poppy stepped closer and gently patted Branch's cheek, "Slap, slap."
Slowly, Branch gave her a tiny smile, "I am sorry Poppy."
"I know," said Poppy and held his hand, lifting his arm for a better look at the new scar. "You took off your bandages." She lightly traced over the spot where the beast's teeth had sunk in and threatened to rip off her friend's arm.
"It doesn't hurt," Branch promised.
"I still hate it," Poppy gave the scar a little kiss, "But thank you for saving me."
"I'd do anything for you Poppy," said Branch sincerely.
"I know," Poppy cupped his cheek. "And I would do anything for you, but please try to avoid dying on me, okay?"
"No promises," teased Branch, rewarded by Poppy squishing both of his cheeks and moving his mouth around until it was an awkward smile.
Poppy held the smile into place, "You know I'll love you, no matter what your colors are, right?"
Taking her hands, Branch pulled them away from his face so he could talk, "I know, and I love you too, you pink bundle of sugar and, bleh, glitter."
"Hey, what about gray Poppy?" Poppy teased.
"What gray Poppy?" asked Branch. "I have never seen a gray Poppy. Never have, never will; I won't allow it."
Poppy laughed, "Dork." She took his hand and started to lead him away from the bunker.
Part of Branch really wanted to go back to the bunker and stay there but the rest of him was grateful he had Poppy to pull him back out. He would go to Poppy's pod, make cupcakes and maybe become friends with her friends. It didn't feel likely but if they were willing to try, then so was he. Eventually life would return to normal and maybe he'd get back to being pale blue again.
After a bit, Branch realized that they weren't walking towards the Troll Tree. Instead they were in a small clearing surrounded by trees a short distance away.
"Poppy?" Branch started to ask but then saw someone start to approach from the other side of the clearing.
"Really Branch, you should have known better than to trust me," grinned Poppy.
Up ahead was Hefty. His vest and hat were gone and he was… sparkling a bit in the moonlight. It definitely wasn't glitter, more like a shimmer that had been sprinkled over the Smurf's cerulean skin.
"Poppy," Branch stared at Hefty, brain screaming to run but unable to look away. He clutched Poppy's hand, trying to find anchor in his thoughts and partly wanting to punish her for her part in this.
"You're welcome," Poppy nudged him.
Music started and Branch finally managed to look around. All around them in the trees were Trolls and Smurfs with various instruments. In those tree limbs, someone shined a light down on Hefty which only complimented the Sparkle.
Then Hefty began to sing:
"Hands, put your empty hands in mine
And scars, show me all the scars you hide," Hefty sang as he walked towards Branch.
Hefty's voice was strong like the rest of him, rich and deep and bold. It was familiar too, like something out of a dream but Branch couldn't help but be pulled him. Even with the air of confidence always surrounding the Smurf, Branch could tell Hefty felt nervous; his walk was slow and he was avoiding looking at anything, including Branch. Branch knew Hefty was used to singing as one of many and especially not in front of so many people but his nerves did nothing to stop him.
"And hey, if your wings are broken
Please take mine so yours can open too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you," Hefty sang, gathering up the courage to look up into Branch's eyes, "Oh, tears make kaleidoscopes in your eyes
And hurt, I know you're hurting, but so am I
And love, if your wings are broken
Borrow mine so yours can open too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you-"
"Hey," Branch sang out and everything stopped. The music was gone and he could feel all eyes on him. It was only a single note but it was the first any Troll but Poppy had heard in twenty years. He swallowed thickly, letting go of Poppy's hand to continue the song, stepping towards Hefty a bit, "Slow it down
What do you want from me
What do you want from me?"
Music began to play again, going along with Branch's song. It seems like they were prepared to jump in for any song after a few lines.
Branch swallowed again and continued, "Yeah, I'm afraid
What do you want from me
What do you want from me?"
Though Hefty started in song, Branch completely expected Hefty to speak to him in reply. He was taken back again when Hefty sang again and a different song on top of it;
"So, you're scared, to show your feelings
Baby, I do understand
Well, I don't make a promise I can't keep
And I vow to be a real good friend
In those big blues eyes, I see a glow of love
I just hope that I'm the one you're dreaming of
Let me be the one to love you
Let me be the one to care
Let me be the one to light your flame
Oh, baby, oh, baby, let me be the one," Hefty closed the gap between them and took hold of Branch's hand, lifting it up to give it a kiss.
But Branch slipped his hand away before he could and sang, "You must understand though the touch of your hand
Makes my pulse react
That it's only the thrill of Smurf meeting Troll
Opposites attract."
Slowly Branch started to walk backwards, away from Hefty, "It's physical
Only logical
You must try to ignore that it means more than that ooo…"
Branch tried to turn around so he could leave but Poppy turned him right back around and pushed him back towards Hefty. Fine, if Branch couldn't walk out of this, he would have to discourage it.
Now Branch walked towards Hefty, moving a bit to the music as he sang, having to be doing something right because Hefty was the one backing away from Branch now, watching him with wide eyes, "What's love got to do, got to do with it
What's love but a second-hand emotion
What's love got to do, got to do with it
Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?"
But Branch must have sang the right/wrong thing because Hefty stopped backing away. He stopped and straightened, almost making Branch collide into him. He started to dance a bit awkwardly, probably with moves Poppy taught him and sang, "Don't wanna break your heart
Wanna give your heart a break
I know your scared it's wrong
Like you might make a mistake
There's just one life to live
And there's no time to wait to waste."
Hefty reached for Branch but Branch all bit glided away to the music and gave him almost a challenging smirk. Poppy had been right, singing would make Branch relax and open up a little but Hefty hadn't expected the effect it would have on him. If Hefty hadn't already been in love he would have been done for with each smooth step, each tilt of the hip and shake of the shoulders Branch all but tormented him with. Then that smirk, Hefty couldn't get enough, especially has he saw a bit of blue returning to Branch's skin.
Grinning, Hefty sang, "So, let me give your heart a break
Give your heart a break
Let me give your heart a break
Your heart a break
Oh yeah, yeah-"
But Branch continued to dodge each attempt Hefty made to dance with him and shook his head, "Please have mercy on me
Take it easy on my heart
Even though you don't mean to hurt me
You keep tearing me apart
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart?"
Still Hefty didn't give up and continued to try and dance with Branch as he sang, "I'm never gonna let you down
I'm always gonna build you up
And when you're feeling lost
I will always find you love
I'm never gonna walk away
I'm always gonna have your back
And if nothing else you can always count on that
When you need me
I promise I will never let you down."
There was a slight shake to Branch's shoulders not from dancing. A silent laugh perhaps? He shook his head, giving Hefty a tiny smile, "You're such a hard act for me to follow
Love me today, could leave me tomorrow, yeah
But if I fall for you, I'll never recover
If I fall for you, I'll never be the same."
"And hurt, I know you're hurting, but so am I," Hefty insisted.
"What do you want from me?" Branch asked again.
"Let me be the one to love you-"
"What's love got to do, got to do with it?"
"Let me be the one to care."
"Mercy."
"Let me be the one to light your flame."
"Mercy."
"Let me give your heart a break."
"On my heart."
"I promise I will never let you down."
"If I fall for you, I'll never be the same."
"Shut up and dance with me," Hefty sang, finally able to get a hold on Branch. He smirked, the Troll was so surprised that he fell silent so Hefty lead them in a dance and a new song, "When everything feels all over
Everybody seems unkind
I'll give you a four-leaf clover
Take all worry out of your mind."
Somewhere around them Branch recognized Creek, Biggie and Guy Diamond's voices join in as background singers and backup acoustics.
"Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
To your heart, to your heart," Hefty sang, starting to lead Branch in a more energetic dance and doing his best to never let Branch go, not even for a moment.
Before Branch sort of just let Hefty pull him around but he found himself dancing with Hefty, silently challenging him to up it up a bit. A smile he couldn't fight was forming on his lips and he could almost swear his blue as getting brighter each time he got a glance of himself.
"I have the only key to your heart
I can stop you falling apart
Try today you'll find this way
Come on and give me a chance to say," Hefty pecked a kiss to Branch's hand and continued,
"Let my love open the door
It's all I'm living for
Release yourself from misery
There's only one thing gonna set you free
That's my love
That's my love
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door."
Hefty pulled Branch closer for the next bit, "When tragedy befalls you
Don't let it drag you down
Love can cure your problems," He grinned and winked playfully at Branch,
"You're so lucky I'm around," He smiled more at Branch's fond roll of his eyes,
"Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
To your heart."
The song was over and Hefty stilled the dance but kept Branch close and waited.
Slowly, Branch reached up and cupped Hefty's face.
Branch's smile took Hefty's breath away.
Then Branch sang, "Wise men say only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you."
This time it was Branch who closed the gap and kissed Hefty.