Chapter 16
Initially Hefty thought Branch's colors changed with all his moods but that wasn't the case. Branch could be annoyed or happy about something and not change from his currant shade but feeling such things more intensely could. Like Branch could be light blue and laugh without getting brighter or be light blue and be angry without getting any darker.
That being said, light blue seemed to be Branch's new go to shade. Not to say that Branch wasn't happy, like the bright blue would indicate, but the bright blue seemed hard for Branch to keep hold of after the "high" of whatever made Branch turn bright blue faded. Possibly Branch was too practical to be the constant happy other Trolls were naturally in their care free states?
Still, Hefty was constantly finding Branch more and more amazing. Not just in his colors but with everything he learned as Branch gave him a tour of the bunker.
Like Branch could give Brainy and Handy a run for their caps with everything Branch had learned over the years. Besides the basic dig out of the bunker, nearly everything in it was made or gathered by Branch. The Troll knew what herbs to gather for all sorts of medical treatments and how to store them so they would last. He made all the furniture, plus the stove, plus other odds and ends like candles and "Bergen traps".
A few things Branch had figured out on his own over time but many things he learned from other Trolls in the village, especially when he was younger. Whenever he wanted to know something he would figure out who knew the most on the subject and work for that Troll in exchange for lessons. Often, he would end up staying with them for a while and head back to the bunker after he learned all he could.
"What happened when it came time for you to leave?" asked Hefty, looking over some of the food that Branch stored that could last for a while, such as jellies and jams. "Did they ever ask you to stay longer?"
After pausing to think about it, Branch shrugged, renewing his writing on a few jar labels that had faded, "A couple of times but they had their own kids to worry about and I had crowded them long enough at that point."
Though Hefty didn't say anything, he wondered if those Trolls had been trying to adopt Branch but the then, gray child, had been unable to see that. He paused when they came across a room that was actually had a door to close it off as opposed to nearly all the other rooms that were open doorways, "What's this one?"
"That one is just a bunch of rocks and dirt," Branch kept walking. "A failed attempt to make another exit to the bunker that caved in."
"It caved in?" Hefty quickly caught up to Branch, "Wait, what happened?"
"I'm not sure," Branch admitted. "I think I hit an air pocket or something and it caved in on me. Lost a few tools in there but it wasn't worth the risk to get them out."
"Wait, it "caved in" on you?!" Hefty knew very well that Branch must have gotten out fine but Branch had been down here, alone, who knows at what age, and no one would have known Branch needed help. He couldn't not know what happened or his imagination was going to play the horrible of "what if"s on him.
"Yeah," Branch looked like he didn't understand what the big deal was but continued when Hefty stared at him, "I had gotten most of the way out when I felt it begin to give way but I did get pinned for a bit." He paused and awkwardly tried to look at the back of his left leg. "I think I still have a scar from one of the rocks."
Hefty was tempted to look for himself, but figured he could find it later, "Obviously you got out but what happened? And how old were you."
"Around thirteen I think and I was a bit disoriented by the time I got free," Branch admitted. "Blood loss and the beginning of a fever. I actually left the bunker instead of going to a med-kit and passed out somewhere between the bunker and the Troll Tree." He sighed, "I woke up at the children's home I had run away from."
Carefully, Hefty took Branch's hand, hoping it would distract Branch from noticing that he had gone back to pale blue. "Let me guess, you tried to escape?"
A soft chuckle escaped Branch, the light blue returning, "Several times. Miss Frizz, the head of the home, said that she didn't care how old I was, if I tried to get out of bed one more time she'd spank me." He paused, giving Hefty a serious look. "I stayed put after that."
Hefty laughed, "I take it that she took care of you?"
"I think so," said Branch. "I don't remember much after that, my fever got worse and I was pretty out of it for a while. I just remember Creek being there a few times."
"Creek was at the home too?" asked Hefty, surprised.
"For a while," nodded Branch. "Creek lost his parents in Bergen Town shortly before the escape and things were pretty chaotic for a while after we settled here. His uncle found out Creek was still alive and took him in a few months after things settled down but Creek's uncle was a lot older than Creek's parents and died shortly after Creek became a teenager so he was back at the home for a couple of years before he went out on his own."
Great, now Hefty felt bad for being so hostile towards Creek. Still there was something that just rubbed him the wrong way whenever Creek was around. Especially when he talked.
"I'm pretty sure it was his uncle that taught Creek about yoga, chakras, auras and all that other stuff Creek is always going on about," commented Branch. "I met him a few times; he was very calm for a Troll."
"What happened when you got better?" asked Hefty.
"I stayed for a while, worked around the home to thank Miss Frizz for taking care of me," replied Branch, "And, yeah, she asked me to stay but she knew she couldn't make me. Creek tried too, saying I was safer at the tree then trying to kill myself at the bunker but…" He suggests around them, pointing out what Branch's answer had obviously been.
Hefty hummed, "Is this Miss Frizz still around?"
"All of the kids are grown up now so she just goes by Frizzy, but yeah," Branch nodded, "Why do you ask?"
"I want to thank her for taking care of you," Hefty grinned, "And shake the hand of the woman who would have spanked you."
Branch's cheeks turned plum, he lightly punched Hefty's arm before continuing the tour.
There were store rooms upon store rooms of things. Food, traps, supplies, raw materials and though there were med-kits scattered throughout the bunker, there was a room just for medical supplies. More herbs, bandages, ointments and other things Hefty wasn't sure what was.
Curious, Hefty picked up on of the jars filled with something that looked a little like jelly but was clearer. It sort of looked like something he was sure it couldn't be, "What's this?"
"That's multi-use," replied Branch. "It's good for blisters, lotion and chaffing as well as loosening things like screws and such."
Lube. Branch had several jars of the stuff sitting out in the open next to gauze and apparently had no clue about it's less than innocent purpose.
It took Hefty a moment to realize that the screaming he kept hearing was going on in his head. It took even longer for him to convince himself that he promised himself he wouldn't be so damn eager but Branch was making this very hard.
"Hefty, are you okay?" Branch called. "You haven't blinked in, like, two minutes."
"I'm fine," Hefty squeaked and quickly cleared his throat, trying again in his normal voice, "I'm fine."
Branch frowned, "Weren't you just saying how you'd talk to me if something was bothering you?"
Oh Smurf, abort, abort, abort, Hefty's head was screaming but he couldn't think of another way out. He tried, "I'm not sure you want to hear it."
Frown deepening, Branch crossed his arms and waited. He was still light blue but Hefty got the feeling he'd be seeing pale blue real soon if he didn't start talking.
Helplessly, Hefty held up the jar, "Do you know what this is?"
Branch looked at him oddly, "I just told you."
"Yes, but, do you know what this is?" Hefty tried again, hoping if there was a higher power it would save him from having to explain this.
"An ointment?" Branch tried, making Hefty lose all faith in a higher power. "And why are flushing so much? Are you overheating?"
"In a way," Hefty swallowed. "Branch," He set the jar down before he dropped it, tapping the lid. "This is, um, it's lube."
Blinking, Branch looked at the jar, hard, then turned back to Hefty, "Are you acting all embarrassed because this can be used for sex?"
If Hefty hadn't grabbed the table, he's sure he would have fallen over. He never would have expected Branch to say that so blatantly, especially considering how easily Branch blushed at other things.
"Ha, ha, very funny," Branch grumbled, giving Hefty a dirty look. "Yes, I grew up in a bunker but I know what sex is."
"That's not what I meant," Hefty defended himself, still feeling like he might fall over. He really needed Branch to stop saying 'sex' so casually.
"Then what is it?" Branch demanded.
"Please don't make me say it?" Hefty was going to die of heat stroke, he just knew it.
"Say what?" Branch was starting to go paler.
"We're dating!" exclaimed Hefty.
"Yes a-" Branch stopped, stayed light blue, and stared at Hefty. Then his eyes went wide and he joined Hefty in the race to see who would blush to death first.
"You seriously, never thought of it?" asked Hefty, before he thought better of it.
"No," Branch snapped all too quickly.
"I'm going to try and not be offended by that," said Hefty.
"That's not the issue here," shouted Branch.
"That's the issue here besides us blushing like a pair of virgins," grumbled Hefty.
Things went quiet, really quiet. Slowly it dawned on Hefty that maybe he shouldn't have said that last thing.
In the silence, Branch's brain was working into overdrive. Hefty had said that as if he didn't think either of them would be virgins. But Branch was. Who did Hefty think Branch would have had sex with? Who could Hefty have had sex with? Hefty had said that he thought of all the male trolls in his village as brothers and he never got anywhere with Smurfette. That left a whole village of girl Smurfs has possible candidates.
No, Branch probably did not want to go down this path. Hefty's past was Hefty's past and it didn't matter if they weren't both inexperienced in this field. No reason for that to make Branch any more nervous about the possibility, right? Right?!
"Branch, relax, it was, like, fifty years ago," Hefty tried to assure the Troll.
At first Branch laughed, but then noticed Hefty's serious expression, "Wait, how old are you?"
"Uh, 160," Hefty answered, confused by the question.
"Split ends, you're older than my Grandma," mumbled Branch, trying to wrap his mind around it.
"What?" Hefty questioned. "What are you talking about?"
"Hefty, I'm 24," Branch stated, watching Hefty's eyes widen. "Trolls don't usually live to be a hundred; Mid-Eighties is an average Troll lifespan."
"Oh Smurf," said Hefty, sitting on the table so not to fall over. "I knew a lot of creatures had shorter lifespans but I just assumed…"
Slowly, Branch came over and leaned against the table next to Hefty but didn't say anything. His mind was too busy to really think of anything right then and there.
"Are you freaking out?" Hefty asked softly.
"A little," Branch admitted, "Never thought I'd date anybody over twice my age but, in a way, it sort-of makes sense. Smurfs don't have a lot of outward magic but you're full of magic potential, right, and that must come through in the aging process."
"So, you're okay with this?" asked Hefty.
"More one the lines of worried," said Branch.
"What about?" asked Hefty.
Branch half turned to Hefty to look at him, "Hefty, how long do Smurfs live?"
When Hefty didn't answer, Branch sighed, "I'm taking that as a long time. Hefty, you're going to outlive me, by a lot. The way I see it that leaves three choices.
'One: We stay together but then you'd have to see me grow old and die.
'Two: We stay together but then break it off when I start to get old.
'Three: We break off things now before we get too attached-"
"Nu-uh, not happening," Hefty pulled Branch close and just held him "I'm already very much attached."
Turning a bit more, Branch held Hefty back, "It doesn't seem fair to be with you and expect you to just deal with the aftermath of when I'm gone."
"I don't care," Hefty smiled as he played with Branch's hair, "I rather have as much time as I can with you then have none at all. And, who knows, maybe an option four will show up somewhere down the road."
"Optimist," Branch smiled a little to himself.
"That's me Hefty Optimist Smurf," grinned Hefty.
"Hmmm, where does Doofus, fit in there?" asked Branch.
"Hey, who's ruining the moment now?" asked Hefty.
Branch pulled back slightly in order to kiss Hefty softly and smile at him, "Forgive me?"
"Ah, no, I need to be further bribes," Hefty leaned in, wiggling his eyebrows.
Despite himself, Branch chuckled, "Doofus," and kissed Hefty again before he could protest.
Loud knocking above, startled them into breaking the kiss.
"Branch and Hefty! Branch and Hefty! Branch and Hefty!" Poppy shouted as she knocked.
"Either we missed lunch or Poppy actually got up early," commented Branch.
"I guess we should see what she wants before she breaks in," said Hefty.
"Probably a good idea," said Branch, backing off slightly so Hefty could slid off the table. "Maybe I should step out first?"
Hefty slid off the table, "Not that I'm not disagreeing, but why?"
"So, Poppy doesn't try to murder you the moment she sees I'm not," Branch suggested to himself, "brightly colored."
"Ah good thinking," Hefty followed Branch over to the lift.
"Hefty Smurf, are you afraid of Poppy?" Branch teased, activating the lift so it would take them up the shaft to the entrance.
"I'm not afraid of her," Hefty frowned, "More on the lines of, if I hurt her, even accidentally, you might break up with me."
"Valid fear," Branch nodded, expression completely serious.
"Hey, you weren't supposed to agree," Hefty huffed.
"Just being honest," said Branch. "I'm pretty sure you'd be pretty mad at me if I hurt one of your brothers."
"Depends, would it be Brainy?" Hefty tried not to smile.
"Even if it was Brainy," Branch rolled his eyes as the lift stopped at the top. He paused and kissed Hefty's cheek, "I love you."
Hefty smiled so brightly, Branch wondered if the sun had broken into his bunker, "I love you too." He took hold of Branch's hands, kissing them. "And it looks like we have a little time before we have to tell Poppy about your colors."
Branch looked at his hands in Hefty's and found that his skin had indeed brightened at Hefty's words. He lifted a hand and chuckled softly, amazed by how easily Hefty could bring this out in him.
"Hey if you start turning lighter, I can just say 'I love you' again," Hefty winked.
Plum burned Branch's cheeks and he tore his hands away to head for the door.
"Come on Branch," Hefty followed him, "I love you. I love you! I love you so much!"
"Ah, shut up you Doofus," Branch ran for the door, blushing worse at Hefty's laughter and wishing he could control his pounding heart.