Chapter 19

Hefty woke up to the sound of whimpering. He blinked a few times, trying to figure out if he dreamt it when he heard it again. Turning, his heart broke at the sight before him.

Though still asleep, Branch had curled into himself as small as he could get and was crying softly. Each little sob and whimper cracked Hefty's heart into smaller broken pieces, as well as the sight a Branch being back to pale blue and going into gray.

The last time Hefty saw Branch having a nightmare it had been violent. The Troll had been thrashing around and tossing while he cried that Hefty thought Branch would accidentally hurt himself. When Hefty tried to hold him and wake him, Branch fought with all his might as if his life depended on it.

Cautiously, Hefty sat up and stroked over Branch's back. He couldn't help but wince when Branch jumped at the touch and began to shiver fearfully in his sleep, "It's okay Branch, it's just me, I'm right here…"

A bit more confident that Branch wouldn't lash out this time, Hefty gathered Branch up into his arms and held him close. He wiped at the tears on Branch's face, then altered between stroking over his hair and back as he hummed, unable to think of a song.

Slowly, Branch relaxed in Hefty's arms, the sobs quieted down into sniffles and his skin returned to light blue. After a bit, he nuzzled Hefty and opened his eyes, "Hefty?"

Hefty gently smiled at him, "Yeah, its me.'

"What's happening?" Branch's question was a bit incoherent but he was still half asleep and oblivious to his nightmare as he had been last time.

Really Hefty could say nothing and let Branch ease back into sleep but this seemed like a reoccurring issue. He was no Therapist Smurf but they probably should talk about this.

"You were having a nightmare," said Hefty softly.

"I was?" asked Branch.

"Yeah, I take it that you don't remember again," sad Hefty.

"I never remember my dreams, good or bad," stated Branch. "Sorry I woke you."

"Hey," Hefty kissed Branch's forehead. "Don't worry about that. I'm more concerned about how distressed you were and that this seems to be a semi-regular thing."

"It used to be worse," Branch shrugged.

"That isn't all that comforting," commented Hefty. "I think you should bring it up at your next session with Therapy Smurf."

"Alright," agreed Branch, not sure what difference it would make since he didn't even remember them. "Do you remember your dreams?"

"Sometimes," said Hefty. "Usually they're the sort of dreams where you're doing stuff you normally do but things are off and you don't know why until you wake up. Smurf-boarding and flying dreams are fun whenever I have those. But lately, before meeting you, all I was dreaming about was meeting the source of the voice I kept hearing."

Branch hummed, "What a nightmare."

Hefty chuckled and kissed Branch softly, "More like a dream come true."

Though Branch snuggled close, he hummed again, eyes drifting shut, "Still not sure what you're getting out of deal. There are better singers in the village."

Raising his hand, Hefty cupped Branch's cheek, caressing it with his thumb until Branch looked up at him. He then leaned in to kiss him again.

Branch had expected another gentle kiss. Instead Hefty fully dived in, sliding his hand from Branch's cheek to cradle the back of his head, and kissed him deeply.

The kiss gave absolutely no mercy; burning, claiming, licking, nipping and biting without pause until Branch was pass dizzy. Branch wasn't even sure when he came to be on his back with Hefty on top of him, the heat surrounding him and steaming the air he gasped for between each kiss that further seared into him.

When Hefty finally pulled back enough to let Branch breath, he didn't pull back far. His hand stayed buried in Branch's hair while the other kept Branch pressed against him, and his face hovered near enough to Branch's that he could lick Branch's lips between words if he wanted.

"I love you for more than just your voice," Hefty's voice sounded deeper then normal, his eyed almost glowing in the dark. "I love your fighting spirit. I love bantering with you and teasing you. I love how you keep going with how much you've suffered even though I hate that you've done it mostly on your own. I love your protectfulness towards Poppy and your people even when they drive you crazy. I love your resourcefulness. I love how crazy talented you are in so many things that you take for granted. I love that I am constantly being further amazed by you. You're beautiful no matter what shade you are and your smile takes my breath away. And, eventually, I'm going to ask you to marry me and you're going to say yes. So, yeah, I'm getting a lot out of this deal."

Branch blinked and just stared for a while. Hefty worried that maybe he took that a bit far when Branch blushed so much he could almost be entirely purple.

"Branch," Hefty began, not about to apologize for any of it. No, he meant every word. He was just a bit concerned by the lack of response.

Then Branch responded. He reached up, took hold of Hefty's face and pulled Hefty to close the little amount of space between them and kissed him again. He still didn't consider himself an expert in kissing by any stretches of the imagination but not kissing Hefty with everything he had just was not an option at the moment.

When both of them were calmer they laid together in a tangle of blankets and limbs, Branch's head on Hefty's shoulder.

"Hey Branch," Hefty absently stroked the Troll's hair, "Have you ever done anything like that before?"

"No," Branch yawned and nuzzled Hefty sleepily.

"You know, you never really said anything when I made that remark about us both blushing like virgins," Hefty finally realized.

"I thought it was rather obvious that I am one," commented Branch. "Who the heck do you think I would have had sex with?"

Hefty shrugged, twirling a bit of Branch's hair between his fingers, "I don't know; some Troll I would forever despise or some mysterious handsome visitor of another species you happened upon and had a scandalous affair with. Whom I would also despise."

A soft chuckle escaped Branch, "I had never really been interested before and even if I had, no Troll would have been interested in me when I was gray." He smiled a little at Hefty's comment of "their loss" and continued, "And you're the only handsome visitor that ever happened upon me."

"Luckily for me," Hefty smiled and shifted just a little so he could kiss Branch's forehead, "I love you."

"I love you too," Branch nuzzled Hefty more, "Now go sleep."

"Will you marry me?" asked Hefty.

"Good night Hefty," murmured Branch.

"Good night Siren," smiled Hefty, holding Branch close.