Chapter 15

When Hefty woke up, he was sure he had dreamt the entire thing. There was no way he agreed to put that weird shimmer junk on himself and sang, alone, in front of every Smurf he knew and every Troll he just met. Yet he did and it worked; Branch admitted that he loved Hefty back and they were going to try and make this relationship work.

Then why was Hefty in bed alone?

Practically leaping from the bed, Hefty nearly tripped over the blanket but managed to get out of the bedroom without embarrassing himself. He immediately began to search the bunker but did not find Branch in the kitchen or at his desk or-

There was the sound of something pounding and it wasn't Hefty's heart. He instantly followed it to a little workshop that Hefty hadn't seen yet and finally found Branch.

Not noticing Hefty yet, Branch was a light blue and working on sanding something that he was partially blocking from Hefty's sight. When Branch moved to clean off the sawdust, Hefty could see that it was a chair, matching the one at Branch's table.

"I didn't know you knew carpentry," said Hefty, walking further into the room, relieved that Branch hadn't woken up, changed his mind and ran from the bunker while Hefty was sleeping.

Pausing in his work, Branch turned to Hefty and shrugged, "It's not a big deal." He absently brushed off some more sawdust, "I didn't wake you, did I?"

Hefty quickly shook his head, "Nah, just woke up on my own and wandered where you were. How long have you been awake for anyway?"

Again, Branch shrugged, "A while I guess; I typically wake up pretty early when I'm not sick. Normally I'd go scavenging for things but, frankly, after big parties like last night it's safer to avoid going above ground until all the Trolls have slept in and had lunch."

A small chuckle escaped Hefty, "Almost sounds like they're hungover."

"That's a good way to put it," Branch nodded, drumming his fingers over the back of the chair. "So, um, what happens now?"

"What do you mean?" asked Hefty.

"We're, um, dating," Branch said the word as if unsure what it was or if he was using it correctly. "Is there something we're supposed to be doing?"

Smiling, Hefty walked over to Branch and took hold of his hand, "Whatever we would normally do, plus anything we'd like to do with the bonus of being able to kiss whenever or wherever we want."

Plum colored Branch's cheeks, "So, essentially, nothing's changed besides kissing?"

"Well there's hugging and cuddling and, um, other stuff," Hefty blushed a little but cleared his throat and continues before Branch could ask about it, "but we're still who we were before the relationship. And there's still a lot more we have to learn about each other." He suggested towards the chair, "Like what else can you do?"

"To the chair?" asked Branch.

Hefty chuckled, "No, I mean like do you make other things besides chairs?"

"Oh, yeah, I make lots of things," said Branch.

"That's informative," teased Hefty.

"It was sort of a broad question," said Branch. "But I've learned a lot of thing when I thought I'd only have myself to relay on after a Bergen attack."

"I can imagine," Hefty said slowly, "I guess I'll learn it all in time. What were you making a chair for anyway?"

"For you, Doofus," Branch rolled his eyes and let go of Hefty's hand to pick up the chair, "Or were you planning on standing at the table at breakfast?"

Not waiting for Hefty to reply, Branch headed out of the room.

"I'm still objecting to Doofus," Hefty called after him and quickly followed.

There was just so much in Branch's kitchen Hefty wasn't sure how Branch managed it all by himself. The wood burning stove, as he had noted previously, had several shafts to vent out of the bunker and was a decent size with multiple spots for pots or pans. There was also a lot of things stored there as far as food went, even though Hefty knew there were rooms more elsewhere.

After putting the chair at the table, Branch went straight to the kitchen and to work. Water was poured into a kettle from a large glass jar and put onto the stove before Branch started to prepare some food from the supplies there.

Honestly Hefty didn't know what most of it was but his nose didn't seem to care, taking in the smells with great delight.

"You cook too," Hefty stood close enough to watch but stayed out of the way, unsure of what he could do if anything.

"I sort of have to," commented Branch. "Don't you?"

"Ah, not really," Hefty scratched the back of his neck. "Baker and Chef pretty much do all the food prep."

"They do all the food prep for the approximately hundred Smurfs in your village, not taking in account the girl Smurfs?" Branch blinked, unable to believe it. "That almost has to be a day in, day out sort of thing. Do they ever get a break?"

"Ah," Hefty was embarrassed that he never thought about it before.

"Can't say I envy those jobs," commented Branch, returning to cooking. "Do Smurfs drink coffee?"

"What's coffee?" asked Hefty.

"That answers that question," Branch murmured and used the kettle already on the stove to brew some coffee. He poured a cup and offered it to Hefty, "It's a drink to help you wake up in the morning like tea but more bitter."

Taking the cup, Hefty sniffed it a little. It smelled nice but when he took a sip, he barely managed to swallow it and not gag. "You complain about Sarsaparilla but you'll drink this crud?"

Despite himself, Branch chuckled, "You might like it better with sugar."

"Nah-ah, not tricking me twice," Hefty held the cup as if it was poison.

"Tea then?" asked Branch, taking the cup back and taking a drink, not caring that Hefty had just drunk out of it.

"Ah, yes please," said Hefty, watching Branch start up another kettle. "Um, can I help?"

"I get the feeling you don't know your way around a kitchen," commented Branch.

"But I can follow instructions," defended Hefty.

Branch hummed, grabbing the second mug he made when Poppy started to visit him at the bunker before she managed to convince him to move to a pod. He also grabbed a couple of plates and silverware, "Take these to the table then, the food is almost done anyway."

Hefty nodded, taking the items from Branch and setting the table. When he was done, he looked at the mug, it was pink with little blue flowers on it.

"Poppy's mug?" Hefty held it up as Branch came over to serve the food. He sat and glanced at the one Branch was using, rather plain and lacking design in comparison.

Nodding, Branch poured Hefty some tea before sitting as well, "She acted like I gave her the world when I first gave it to her to use here."

Smiling, Hefty could easily imagine it. There was probably squealing and really tight hugs involved. He could also imagine it being early in their friendship and Branch being flustered by the whole thing. He took a sip and asked "Will she be upset that I'm using it?"

"Maybe but she'll just have to live with it until I can make you your own cup," commented Branch, starting to eat.

Hefty looked at the little pink cup again, "You made this too?"

Not thinking much of it, Branch nodded.

Eating his delicious food, Hefty wondered what the heck Papa would have named Branch if Branch had been a Smurf. The Troll just had too many talents. He had a thought and chuckled.

"Share the joke?" asked Branch.

"Branch," grinned Hefty.

"Ah, yes?" Branch blinked.

"No, I mean, your name," Hefty tried to clarify. "I was wondering what Papa would have named you if you had been a Smurf and I realized it would still be Branch because your talents are so far spread and reach towards the sky tree branches."

Branch stared and didn't say a word, feeling his cheeks heat up. How the heck was he supposed to respond to that? Would it be appropriate to just kiss him? It seemed like the sort of thing to do and, really, Branch really, sort of, wanted to.

"I guess it isn't such a stupid name after all," Hefty winked.

"Just had to go and ruin the moment," Branch frowned but then smirked behind his coffee cup. "Just when I was thinking I'd stop calling you Doofus."

Instantly Hefty's eyebrows shot up onto his hair, "Come on, I was joking! Branch is a great name; the best name ever!"

"Too late," Branch barely held in a laugh, "Doofus."

"Ah Smurf," Hefty pouted and Branch couldn't help but find it adorable.

They continued eating over light banter, it feeling easier than Branch thought it would be. Branch expected it to be strained and awkward but maybe that was just Branch. Things weren't much different than before, just lighter and more open. And, like Hefty said, it had the added bonuses of kisses.

Branch stood and softly kissed Hefty without a word before returning to the kitchen. When he came back Hefty was still grinning dopily to himself and Branch wondered if Hefty was always this cute or if it took falling in love for him to see Hefty that way.

Carefully, Branch lifted Hefty's chin so Hefty's face was looking upward again, "Hold still."

Honestly, Hefty was expecting another kiss, he nearly jumped when Branch started to wipe his face with a warm washcloth. "What are you doing?"

"You still have that wanna-be glitter all over you," commented Branch. "I'm going to have to wash my bedding, it's probably covered in it too."

Despite his best efforts, Hefty blushed. His brain could not help but provide him of ideas of other ways they could have dirtied Branch's bedding. They were very nice images, ones Hefty would visit later, but now was not the time for that with Branch so close.

Suddenly Branch stopped, "Are you alright? You're looking at me funny."

"It's nothing," Hefty lied, "Just wasn't expecting you to wipe my face, that's all."

Branch remained silent a moment, then offered Hefty the washcloth.

Smiling, Hefty closed his eyes and leans towards Branch, "I didn't say I objected."

There was a pause, but the washcloth returned, wiping Hefty's face more, then down Hefty's neck. From the neck it went across Hefty's collarbone, and then over his shoulders.

Maybe this was a bad idea after all? It felt really intimate but also really good. Branch should probably stop doing this but Hefty really didn't want him too.

Hefty swallowed and opened his eyes, watching as Branch lifted Hefty's hand to wipe Hefty's arm from the shoulder down. He could have sworn Branch squeezed his bicep before sliding down his forearm and going around his wrist.

Almost the entirety of Hefty's being screamed to pull Branch closer and kiss him. To pull Branch onto his lap and kiss him senseless and get a better feeling of what Branch's skin felt like in return. But the stupid part of Hefty's brain cautioned that such an act might be too much too soon. Hefty didn't know much about relationships, what he did know came from observation, and what Branch knew seemed to be even less. He was not going to screw this up by scaring Branch off with his eagerness.

But Smurf it all, was Hefty eager. Hefty turned his hand after Branch finished cleaning Hefty's wrist, and held onto Branch's hand. He then kissed the top of Branch's hand before looking up at the Troll.

Branch watched Hefty do this, then smiled softly when Hefty looked up. He leaned down to give Hefty a proper kiss on the lips.

Unwilling to let it end too quickly, Hefty cradled the back of Branch's head with his free hand and deepened the kiss. He almost pulled Branch closer to sit on his lap like he wanted but he managed to resist for the time being.

When they finally managed to separate, it wasn't for long. Hefty got one look of Branch in his brightly colored glory and just had to kiss him again.