Chapter 24
After spending far too much in the shop, Creek arguing that Branch couldn't send rejections on post cards until Branch gave in and got some stupid blank cards with envelopes, the two Trolls headed back to the bunker. Each time a Troll started to approach them, Branch all but ran to avoid them, yelling at Creek for accepting the gift on Branch's behalf when the guru caught up.
"I was actually raised to have manners," commented Creek, arms full by the time they got away from the Troll Tree.
"I'm sorry your teacher failed you so badly," said Branch.
Creek made a show of rolling his eyes.
Back at the bunker, there were even more gifts covering the hatch than the first time Branch tried to go home.
Creek's body shook with the effort to keep from laughing again.
"I'm so happy you're here to enjoy my personal hell," seethed Branch.
"A good thirty Trolls think you're fabulous and want to marry you," Creek made his face as deadpan as he could manage, "What a nightmare."
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Branch started to move around gifts, trying to find his door, "You're used to this sort of attention; I'm not and I don't want it."
"Yes, you only want attention from the barely discernable from his brothers variety," Creek started to use his hair to carry some of the gifts.
Branch found the door and opened up the bunker, not caring that he toppled a few gifts over or that a couple fell into the bunker on their own. He kicked another one in for good measure before glaring at Creek. "You made your apology, you can go now."
Shaking his head, Creek carried a few more of the gifts over to the door, "Even if I wanted to I can't trust not to insult all these Trolls for having ill-fated attraction towards you."
"What if I used big words that they won't understand?" asked Branch.
"You're only proving my point," Creek used his hair to lower some of the gifts into the bunker. "Come on, sooner we go through all these gifts, the sooner we can make the letters and be done with this."
Taking in a deep breath Branch, released it slowly, "Fine but I'm not being nice about it."
"You've made that very clear," commented Creek. "And you keep doing that."
"Doing what?" asked Branch, gathering up more of the gifts.
"Taking in a deep breath and releasing it slowly," said Creek, "It's almost if you're really badly trying to meditate."
"It's something Therapist Smurf recommended," said Branch, lowering the rest of the gifts into the bunker. "It's supposed to give me a moment to concentrate on something else rather than anything that might really be," He paused to look at Creek, "bugging me."
Making a curious noise, Creek followed Branch into the bunker, "I still don't understand what it is that Therapist Smurf does. By how Poppy talks about him, I'm surprised that Smurf of yours lets him near you."
"Hefty," Branch emphasized each syllable. "And you know how Poppy can be."
Creek nodded, "I suppose that's true. But if he's teaching you breathing techniques you could have just asked me."
"I don't really want to hear about my clouded aura or that other stuff you go on about," commented Branch.
"I actually do think you'd enjoy yoga if you'd give it a chance," said Creek.
Rolling his eyes, Branch moved a few of the gifts onto the lift, "This is going to take a couple of trips."
"Well I'm going down the first trip," said Creek, "I don't trust you to not leave me up here and just wait for me to get bored and leave."
Branch narrowed his eyes at Creek, breathing in deeply again, "Fine, get on the lift."
Once on the lift, Creek was silent on the ride down, looking around curiously. He helped unload the first batch of gifts and when Branch went back up for more he moved the first batch of gifts over to the table before looking around some more. It definitely was not the dungeon he imagined, surprisingly cozier than the pod Poppy had somehow managed to convince Branch to make and he had seen only once when he had gone there with Poppy to hunt Branch down and ask him where he kept disappearing to.
Then again, Branch spent very little time at his pod, still preferring his bunker or Poppy's company which often led him to spending the night on her couch. Creek knew this because he had gone over to Poppy's one morning to pick her up for yoga class and Branch was still asleep there. Poppy told Creek to be quiet, to let Branch sleep, as she finished getting ready and Creek had been as quiet as possible, just staring at the pale blue Troll until Poppy's return. They left Branch there alone, Poppy telling him Branch would wake up and head about his day like he did whenever he slept there, always leaving Poppy a note so she wouldn't worry.
Honestly it had been a bit disgusting how much of a couple Poppy and Branch were without actually dating. It had been that way ever since they were Trollings; Poppy chasing Branch around to try and make him happy and Branch yelling at her constantly to leave him alone but always, not so secretly, concerned about her happiness and safety in return. Creek thought it was only a matter of time until they announced their engagement, especially after Branch's gray first turned pale blue due to something Poppy did.
But that didn't happen. They both disappeared for days, which was normal for Branch but not for Poppy. Then when they come back Branch is gray again and surrounded by an obvious admirer of some species of duplicates. One of them, the lone blond female, even stole the princess's heart away from Branch. It was all too much to take in at once and Creek couldn't believe it. Even after the admirer ran after Branch, Creek couldn't believe it. All this time it was supposed to be Branch and Poppy and Creek had accepted it but this, this had been unacceptable.
Disturbing Creek's thoughts, Branch came down with another load of gifts, Creek going over and gathering a bunch in his hair to pile near the table. The last on he set down he put on top of the table.
"What's special about that one?" asked Branch, carrying over the last of the gifts.
"It has air holes," Creek suggested to the little holes, almost perfectly hidden within the design of the yellow wrapping paper.
Moving closer, Branch opened the gift.
Flying out came a familiar fat firefly, cooing at the sight of Branch.
"Pudgy?" Branch blinked, surprised.
"You already know this little guy?" Creek absently used a finger to scratch under what would be the firefly's chin.
"Yeah, he and his buddies follow me around in the woods sometimes," commented Branch.
"And you couldn't think of a better name than Pudgy?" asked Creek.
"I like Pudgy," Branch defended with a frown. He looked over the box, "This one doesn't have a tag."
"Could have fallen off during all the transferring," commented Creek. "I'm sure if they don't get a rejection post-it note from you that they'll send another one soon enough."
"Post-it notes were an option?" Branch managed to say it seriously, but cracked a smile when Creek shot him a disapproving look.
"Oh, so you can be funny," Creek teased. "Though I can see you doing it." He imitates having a wad of sticky notes and sticking them in the air, about where a Troll's forehead would be. "No. No. Never. What were you thinking? No. Shame on you. No. No. No, you nitwit."
A soft chuckle escaped Branch, taking over scratching Pudgy's chin as Creek stopped to do his mime bit.
Creek smiled at the noise. He almost wished he had Poppy there to scrapbook the moment but knew it was better to keep it for himself.
The firefly, Pudgy, landed on the table and started to nibble on the ribbon of the box he was gifted in.
Carefully, Branch pulled the ribbon from Pudgy's mouth, "Don't eat that; I'll get you some actual food." He paused and turned to Creek, "Would you like anything?"
"Tea would be lovely but you don't have to go through the trouble," Creek assured him, pulling the ribbon off the table when Pudgy tried for it again.
"It's no trouble; green or black tea?" asked Branch.
"Green please," said Creek, waiting until Branch left for the kitchen before turning to Pudgy, "This is our little secret, right love?"
Pudgy cooed and flew up, making itself comfortable in Creek's hair where his gift box had been hidden not too long ago.
"I'm taking that as a yes," said Creek and looked over the gifts. None of the others seemed to have air holes so there was no rush to open any in any particular order. He grabbed a few from the top and put them on the table to start with, organizing the cards and envelopes at the table for when they got started.
When Branch returned he carried two mugs and a plate of cookies, looking around a bit before spotting Pudgy in Creek's hair, "He likes you."
"He's a firefly of excellent tastes," smiled Creek. "Though he isn't allowed to eat in my hair all the same."
Rolling his eyes, Branch set everything down on the table, putting the mug he made for Poppy closer to Creek before lifting a cookie and waving it around a bit.
With a little trill, Pudgy flew out of Creek's hair and snatched the cookie from Branch's hand. He then flew off to enjoy his treat elsewhere in the bunker.
"Hope he doesn't get lost down here," commented Creek.
"If he doesn't come back in a bit I'll go looking," said Branch, he sat and picked up the next gift as if it burned to the touch.
Resisting rolling his eyes, Creek looked at the mug Branch gave him tea in, "Poppy's mug I take it?"
"Yeah," Branch started to unwrap the gift, "I only have the two mugs currently but I'm going to go find some clay to make another one." Again, he paused and looks at Creek, "If you think you'd visit again, I could make you one too."
Though he fought the urge, Creek smiled, "That would be lovely, thank you." He suggested to the box. "Now stop procrastinating."
"Fine," grumbled Branch opening the gift.
As they went Creek would write the name of the giver on an envelope and Branch would write the rejection card. A few times Creek made Branch rewrite it to try and spare some of that poor Troll's feelings but all were pretty cut and dry despite Creek's best efforts. Each gift was then put into a pile; keep, give-away or destroy. Almost all the gifts had been put into give-away so far since Branch really was too practical to destroy anything useful even if it wasn't useful to him. Technically Pudgy was the only thing in the keep pile but the firefly as too busy flying around for the pile to have a spot.
Still most of the gifts were rather frivolous. They were all pretty much shiny trinkets or frivolous items that probably would impress the typical Troll but Branch was anything but typical. Branch didn't like things just because they were pretty. This was a Troll that enjoyed practicality and usefulness.
"None of these Trolls know you at all," Creek muttered as Branch unwrapped another wind chime that was useless in the bunker and would all but be ignored at Branch's pod.
"Weird that they want to marry me," Branch commented, "I mean, I know it's really a courtship thing to try dating and see if we would want to get married but, like you said, none of these Trolls know the first thing about me to even consider it."
"They just know that you have a beautiful voice and you're equally as beautiful to match, especially when you're happy and your colors are shining," said Creek. "That's all it takes to get some Troll's interest I guess."
Branch stared at Creek.
"What?" asked Creek.
"You just called me beautiful," said Branch. "It's sort of weird."
Creek hummed and drank some of his tea, "Weird because it's coming from me and not Poppy or your Smurf?"
"Hefty," Branch frowned, "And yes."
"I don't recall ever calling you ugly," commented Creek.
"You used to call me 'Gray Dot', 'Coal' and 'Soot', among other things, when we were children," Branch reminded him.
"We were children," Creek repeated, "And that was a comment on your gray, not your physical attributes. I didn't understand your gray attitude, still don't in a lot of ways, but I shouldn't have treated you that way. If I haven't said I before; I am sorry."
Branch was silent for a long time, considering this. He took in deep breath and let it out slowly before speaking, "Thank you Creek; I appreciate your apology."
Creek nodded, "I'd also still be happy to teach you more breathing techniques, yoga or meditation if you'd like. I won't even say a word about your aura."
"I'll consider it," said Branch but really doubted he would. This was the first one on one time he had spent with Creek in ages and while it wasn't entirely uncomfortable, it wasn't comfortable either. Sort of like a weird off feeling that something wasn't quite right.
At least all the gifts were almost open. Some of the items he would probably give to Poppy but most were going to Miss Frizz to hand out to her foster grandchildren or for her to sell/trade for whatever she might need.
When Branch bent to pick up the next gift, Hefty's picture fell out of his inner vest pocket. Instead of the gift, he picked up the picture as he sat up and stared at it.
Hefty had been gone less than a full day and Branch already missed him horribly. He hated not knowing if Hefty even made it back to the village safely. He hated that the bunker felt emptier than it ever had in his life. He hated knowing that he would go to bed tonight alone and wake up without Hefty being there. Most of all he hated the doubt that kept trying to creep in that distance would make Hefty change his mind and Branch would never see him again.
There was a loud clang that startled Branch into looking up.
Creek had stood quickly, knocking over his chair and was staring at Branch with wide, horrified eyes. Before Branch could question it, Creek rushed over to him and looked like he wanted to hug him but put his hand Branch's instead, "It's okay, whatever it is it's okay."
Confused, Branch lifted a hand to touch his face. He wasn't crying, what was- he looked down and saw that he was graying. His skin hadn't gone all the way to gray yet but it continued to sink in that direction. He clenched his hand and tried Therapist's Smurfs breathing technique repeatedly but it wasn't helping.
"Branch, what's wrong?" Creek asked, then spotted the picture in Branch's other hand. "You, you miss your Smurf? Hefty?"
Swallowing, Branch looked down. He didn't know how to say what he was feeling. He didn't want to acknowledge his doubts out loud. He especially didn't want to spill it all out to Creek and let the guru know just how pitiful he really was.
For a moment, Creek was silent, watching Branch go grayer. His mind told him to use his own breathing techniques but his blood was boiling too much to obey. He let go of Branch's hand and headed for the lift, "Fine then."
"Creek?" Branch barely managed to look up, not sure what to make of the sudden tension in the air.
"Don't fret Branch," Creek paused to turn to him. "I'm just going to grab Poppy and we're going to go retrieve your Smurf."
Branch knocked over his own chair in his rush to stand, "Don't!"
"Why the bloody hell not?" demanded Creek, walking back towards him.
"I don't," Branch tried but he couldn't say it.
"Am I not allowed to help?" asked Creek.
"That's not it," said Branch.
"I think Poppy and I can manage to convince your Hefty to come back," said Creek.
"I don't want you too," protested Branch.
"Why should I allow you to be miserable over him?" Creek barely kept from shouting.
"I don't want him to know how pathetic I am," shouted Branch, going all the way back to gray skin and black hair. He breathed hard, not able to stand the way Creek was staring at him now, but also unable to contain it now that he opened it up. "It's barely been a day. One day and I'm back to being gray and I should be able to handle this. I was alone for so long that the fact that he's not here shouldn't be killing me like this. But it is and it feels like everything is going to fall apart because I can't take this distance but I can't ask him to leave his village; they need him. And I can't just leave either, even though, despite all his fanfare about my voice, I'm sure most Trolls would be fine with me being gone. But Poppy was the first and is the very best friend I have and I can't just leave her. I don't want to. But I love Hefty and I don't want this to end. I don't think I could handle it. I don't… I can't…"
For the first time in several years, and the first time to Branch's knowledge, the gray Troll broke down into tears in front of Creek.