Chapter 17
Really Branch should have expected it but didn't dodge the onslaught of glitter the moment he stepped out of the bunker. Some of it even came out of his mouth when he coughed and he had to breath in deeply to not strangle Poppy himself, especially when he heard Hefty start to laugh again behind him.
"Next time, you leave the bunker first," grumbled Branch, trying to wipe the glitter off. Argh, he had more hair for it to get stuck in now, what an unfortunate side effect.
"Nope," laughed Hefty, fully leaving the bunker to help brush Branch off, "Never again."
"Fair enough," mumbled Branch and looked up to see who was there.
Gathered around the bunker was, of course, Poppy but also Smurfette, the Snack Pack, and the rest of the Smurfs that made the initial trip with them there. Satin and Chenille were holding up an absently brightly colored banner above the group.
"Congratulations?" Branch read out loud and turned to the princess. "Poppy, we just started dating last night; we didn't get married."
Unable to contain it, Poppy dropped her glitter expelling card and leapt forward to hug Branch. "But Branch, it's so much more than that! You sang, you danced, you got your colors back and, of course, you got Hefty! There's so much to celebrate."
"Please don't say that I got Hefty like that, it sounds weird," Branch hugged Poppy back, trying to keep her from jumping them both around in excitement. He finally got he to settle, and took hold of her shoulders, "And Poppy, about my colors-"
"I know, they're just so beautiful," Poppy cupped Branch's cheeks. "We've been debating what color you actually are all night!"
"There's nothing to debate, he's blue," Stormy snapped.
"Green," Satin and Chenille argued.
"Teal," put in Suki.
"Aqua," suggested Lily.
"They're lovely colors Branch," Biggie smiled.
"Um, thanks Biggie," Branch said awkwardly, turning back to Poppy. "Look, I appreciate your excitement but," he sighed, "my colors still shift around."
Instantly Poppy froze and looked at him, "What?"
Branch made sure he had a firm grip on Poppy before he continued, "My colors shift. I know you thought Hefty and I getting together would bring back my colors permanently but a relationship isn't an instant fix for things. I'm still me and I still have all the issues that made me gray to begin with. Being with Hefty does make me happy but… I guess I'm not a constantly happy kind of Troll. Do you understand?"
"No," Poppy murmured and hugged him, "But I'll try."
"Thanks Poppy," Branch hugged her back and turned to the others, "Now, as for the rest of you, I need to thank you as well."
The group stared at Branch, making Branch feel a little uncomfortable.
"Um, that is," Branch stumbled a bit, "Troll wise we've never been close. And Smurf wise, we all just met each other. But you all came together last night to help and I really appreciate that so thank you. And maybe it's not as far-fetched as I thought that we could be friends but I'm telling you right now I don't want to join in hug time and it might be a while before I want to sing and dance in front of anyone again," he swallowed, "Okay?"
There was silence and then the all too familiar chime of the hug time bracelets. Immediately all the Trolls turned to Branch.
"What did I just say?!" asked Branch, shouting a bit when Biggie suddenly lifted him up along with Poppy for a bear hug. He grumbled as Poppy giggled, just hanging there like dead weight, turning light blue and plotting murder for the moment this was over.
"Not fair Biggie," Guy Diamond protested.
"Yeah, we all want to hug the grumpiest Troll that ever lived," laughed Suki.
"You're all jerks," Branch tried to struggle and managed to slip free just to be tackled by more Trolls the moment he hit the ground. "This was a mistake…"
"Oh hush, you can deal with one hug after running from them for twenty years," Creek hugged one side of Branch while Guy got the other and Cooper bent his neck to put his head on top of Branch's head.
"I never ran; just good at avoiding," Branch grumbled, then sighed when Smidge jumped up to hug his front.
"Okay guys, that's enough," Hefty pulled Creek off first, "You're making him uncomfortable."
"Just a little more," Suki insisted, hugging Branch where Creek had been.
Instantly Satin and Chenille pulled Cooper and Guy out of the way to hug Branch's other side and back.
Creek laughed, ignoring the dirty look Hefty as giving him, "Look at you Branch, such the lady's man."
"Shut it Creek," Branch glared but stayed still. "Isn't hug time over yet?"
Clapping, Poppy was barely holding back laughter, "Hefty's right you guys, back away from the grumpy Troll."
The moment Branch was free he leapt out of the way of the Trolls only to be hugged by Papa Smurf and Smurf Willow, freezing in their hold. "What's happening?"
"Just wanted to say that we've enjoyed having you around," said Papa.
"And that we're glad that you'll be coming to the village to visit," added Willow.
"Um, thanks," Branch awkwardly patted their arms.
When Branch was released again, he looked at the other Smurfs warily.
"I ain't hugging you," said Stormy, crossing her arms.
"Me neither," huffed Brainy.
"I can wait until you're more comfortable with it," said Clumsy.
"Me too," assured Lily.
"Thanks," Branch made his way back to Hefty, a bit relieved that it was over.
Hefty gently took Branch's hand and smirked, which could only mean trouble. He turned to Poppy, "Hey Poppy, watch this."
"Don't you-" Branch put as much silent threat in his voice that he could muster.
"I love you," Hefty beamed at him.
Turning back to his bright color, Branch covered his blushing face at Poppy's awws and the others good intentioned chuckling, "Would you stop that?!"
"Never," Hefty swore, kissing the top of Branch's hands.
It took some doing but eventually Hefty got his hat back from Poppy. Then he had to stand still for Poppy and Smurfette both fiddling with the hat to make sure his hair still showed until Branch shooed them away.
Soon enough the group headed back to the Troll Tree, Hefty and Branch amazed by the sight of all the Trolls and Smurfs co-mingling all around them.
"What's that thing you said the other day?" Branch stared around them, "A workout for your eyeballs?"
"Yep, double time," Hefty absently nodded, taking hold of Branch's hand again.
Poppy giggled, "Well you boys have fun around town. Smurfette and I are going on a date where I shall serenade her at any given opportunity."
A light blush covered Smufette's cheeks, "That's really sweet Poppy but-"
Poppy took hold of Smurfette's hand, singing as they danced away, "Do I love you because you're beautiful, or are you beautiful because I love you?
Am I making believe I see in you a girl too lovely to be really true?
Do I want you because you're wonderful, or are you wonderful because I want you?
Are you the sweet invention of a lover's dream or are you really as beautiful as you seem?"
Papa chuckled, "Life certainly is interesting around here."
"It sure is," Willow agreed, then smiled, "And it looks like we have company."
A few of the Trollings ran up to the Smurf elders, much to their delight, and all but overpowered them with cuteness into playing with them.
"I guess once a Papa, always a Papa," commented Brainy.
"But he's always been Papa," said Clumsy.
"Well, yes, to us, but I'm pretty sure he wasn't named Papa when he was a Smurfling," pointed out Brainy.
"What was his name?" asked Branch.
Brainy shrugged, "No clue, Papa doesn't really talk about his life before we came along."
Branch hummed, wondering why there weren't any Smurfs Papa or Willow's age around besides the two of them.
"Come on," Hefty squeezed Branch's hand. "I want to meet this Miss Frizz."
"Alright but we shouldn't bother her for too long," Branch agreed as they parted from the group. "She doesn't have charges anymore, hasn't been an orphaned Trolling since we left Bergen town, but she sometimes watches the kids of the kids she raised while they're working."
"How do you know that?" asked Hefty, letting Branch lead the way since he had no idea where he was going.
"I'd see her sometimes when I came into town," replied Branch.
"You were checking up on her," smiled Hefty.
"She's a grown Troll, she doesn't need anyone to check in on her," Branch's plumed cheeks said otherwise,
Chuckling, Hefty let it drop, looking up when they came up to a larger pod a little closer to the ground than the others, "Is that it?"
"Yeah," Branch nodded, "Easier for small Trolls to get in and out of while they're learning to control their hair." He paused and looked at Hefty. "I'm going to have to carry you up there."
"No, I can climb that no problem," protested Hefty, already looking at the tree for the best route.
"Don't be a Smurfling," Branch teased, "You've carried me, how many times now? And even if you can climb the tree that high, you can't reach the door without Troll hair anyway." He held open his arms and grinned, waiting.
Hefty glanced at Branch but looked back at the tree, trying to figure it out. He definitely could make the height but the distance from the tree to the dangling pod was definitely an issue. Sighing, he stepped closer to Branch, "Fine."
Unable to contain his smile, Branch picked Hefty up with ease, barely holding back a chuckle when he saw Hefty's face flush slightly, "Not used to being the one carried, are you?"
"No," grumbled Hefty, "And you are a lot stronger then you look."
"Not sure if that's a compliment or not," commented Branch, extending his hair to lift them both up to Miss Frizz's pod and having Hefty knock on the door.
Soon an older Troll with light orange hair that puffed out in a sphere, rather than a typical point upward, and red skin came to the door. She wore a pink dress with a strange print of numbers and letters mixed together all over it.
"Good afternoon Miss-" Branch started, barely to keep himself from shouting when Miss Frizz pulled them both in. He barely had time to set Hefty to his feet before Miss Frizz separated them and started to circle him.
Humming to herself, Miss Frizz looked Branch over from top to bottom, lifting his arm and frowning at the scar there but smiling when she looks at this face again, "Look at you." She cups Branch's cheeks and smiles more, "I knew there was some beautiful color hiding underneath all of that gray."
"Miss Frizz," Branch took hold of her hands, doing his best not to blush, "We came here because Hefty-"
Immediately Miss Frizz turned and inspected Hefty, circling the Smurf before cupping his face as well, "So you're the Smurf Creek told me about yesterday. And you're the one who brought out Branch's colors I hear." She pulled him into a hug, "You must be an angel."
"Miss Frizz," Branch tried again, wondering what made him think this wouldn't go horribly wrong.
"Oh, I'm being rude," Miss Frizz released Hefty from her hug but took his hand. "Have you boys had lunch yet?"
"No ma'am," Hefty answered before Branch could.
"Oh, he's cute, you got yourself a sweet one Branch," Miss Frizz smiled at Branch, who was too busy rubbing over his forehead to notice. She turned back to Hefty, "Call me Miss Frizz, all my kids and their spouses do."
"We just started dating," Branch groaned.
"Oh hush," Miss Frizz dismissed him, "the kids are napping but you can join us for lunch once they wake up. Come with me to the kitchen, you can sit with me while I get things ready." She started to drag Hefty to the kitchen without waiting for an answer.
Branch took in a deep breath as he followed, "This was a bad idea. Why did I think this wouldn't be a bad idea? I really should have known better."
"I can hear you mumbling sweetie," Miss Frizz sat Hefty at the table and turned back to Branch. "Do you still like peanut butter and jelly?"
"Yes," Branch sighed, "But you sit down and I'll make it. Goodness knows Hefty has questions and you have stories and I want to be embarrassed at a distance."
Miss Frizz smiled and gently patted Branch's cheek, "You were always such a smart boy."
Blushing, Branch headed to the kitchen.
With a smile, Miss Frizz joined Hefty at the table, "Ask away."
"How many kids were here besides Branch? I know Creek was here too but that's about it," Hefty decided an easy question was best to start with.
Miss Frizz hummed, "Let's see; there was Branch, Creek, Posy, Bluebell, Grasshopper, Tiger Lily, her sister Stargazer, Tinsel, Taffeta, Chiffon, Tartan, Damask, and Brocade so…Thirteen total to start with. Creek was taken in by his uncle a few months in, Tinsel was adopted soon after and then Branch," she sighed, "I raised the rest all the way through."
"Ten kids still seem like a lot for one person," commented Hefty.
"They didn't make it easy, especially that one," Miss Frizz pointed towards the kitchen.
"It's rude to point Miss Frizz," Branch commented.
"It's ruder to run off and worry me silly," frowned Miss Frizz.
"I was fine," Branch brought over two cups of tea for them.
"You were stubborn," said Miss Frizz, taking the offered cup. "You're lucky I had my hands tied with ten Trollings or you wouldn't have gotten away so easily. And I couldn't get any help hunting you down when you at least kept coming in for school."
"Lucky for me," agreed Branch, giving Hefty his mug before heading back to the kitchen.
"Stubborn," Miss Frizz frowned and sipped her tea. "But I love all my kids so the trouble was worth it." She smiled towards the kitchen, "Even the stubborn ones."
Hefty looked towards the kitchen but Branch had his back to them and was probably doing it on purpose as he started to make the sandwiches.
"What's your next question, sugar?" asked Miss Frizz, turning to Hefty again.
"Um, what was Branch like when he was here?" asked Hefty.
"A little thunder cloud," laughed Miss Frizz. "Mostly gloomy and didn't say much but when he did; watch out!"
Hefty chuckled, "That sounds about right. Can you give me an example?"
"Oh, I have dozens," smiled Miss Frizz. "Branch wouldn't sing or dance or even play with the other kids and was pretty well behaved until something pushed him too far. Sometimes it was me trying to encourage him to engage with the other children. Mostly it was the other children picking on each other."
"They picked on Branch?" asked Hefty.
"Yes, but Branch ignored it," replied Miss Frizz. "It's when he saw them picking on someone else that he got mad. Once I walked in to Brocade trapped under a laundry basket and Branch sitting on top because Brocade had been picking on Tartan. Again.
'Honestly Brocade was usually the biggest instigator, being the oldest of the bunch. When he wasn't picking on Branch's colors he was normally teasing one of the others for whatever he felt like at the moment. Usually after Branch trapped him under a hamper or whatever else Branch had at his disposal, Brocade would spend the next half and hour staring at the corner afterward.
'Didn't have the heart to punish Branch for trapping Brocade though. Usually Branch would just clean up whatever mess was created in the skirmish without me having to say a word and the few times I tried, Creek objected."
"Creek?" asked Hefty, not expecting it.
"Yes," Miss Frizz nodded. "Creek always said I couldn't punish Branch for standing up to a bully. Never would have thought Creek would become Branch's bully when they got older."
"Creek bullied Branch?" Hefty kept himself from seething.
"Nothing physical," Miss Frizz assured, "But words can hurt all the same. Unfortunately, Creek wasn't my charge at the time and his uncle kept blathering about karma righting things later on and did nothing to stop it." She smiled, "Rest assured the moment Creek was back under this roof I told him it was unacceptable and Creek backed off, for the most part."
"Some of it is just Creek's personality," commented Branch, setting a plate of sandwiches on the table, back to being light blue. "You're still watching five kids, right?"
"Right," said Miss Frizz slowly, watching Branch with concern.
Noticing the look, Branch gave her a small smile, "It's alright, my colors just shift around now. I'm not any less happy then I was a minute ago."
"But I can brighten then right back up again," Hefty winked.
Branched blushed, "Don't-"
"I love you," Hefty beamed.
Turning brighter blue, Branch blushed further, "You are so lucky we are at Miss Frizz's right now or I'd push you off that chair."
Hefty just laughed in reply.
Miss Frizz smiled, "Split Ends, isn't that the most amazing thing I've ever seen?"
"Split Ends?" Hefty repeated in surprise.
"Oh yes, it's what I say to keep from swearing in front of the kids," Miss Frizz nodded. "It's a bit of a habit now."
"It's cute," Hefty smiled, "Branch says that too."
Branch shot Hefty a dirty look, somewhat made milder by his bright skin and plumed cheeks.
"At least I had some influence on him," Miss Frizz smiled. "Come sit and be embarrassed up close while I share some more stories."
"You're both horrible," Branch grumbled and sat, ignoring their laughter.