Chapter 29

Night had already fallen and Hefty should have stayed with Poppy to discuss Creek. He definitely should not have left Smurf village without telling a single Smurf, seeing as Poppy was the only one he told. But the moment Hefty heard the faint call of Branch's voice, he couldn't resist his siren.

This time Hefty didn't grab anything before he left. He didn't plan on being gone long but he just had to see Branch and tell him what happened.

There was no sign of Gargamel, Azrael or Monty in the woods when Hefty left the village. He ran straight for the wall and from there to their field, just having a feeling that's where Branch would be as he sang.

As Hefty got closer, Hefty started to make out the words to Branch's song, "My broken pieces
You pick them up
Don't leave me hanging, hanging
Come give me some
When I'm without ya
I'm so insecure
You are the one thing, one thing
I'm living for."

Oh, Hefty knew this song! It was one of the ones Poppy taught him in "Singing Boot Camp" while they prepare to trick Branch out of the bunker. If he hurried he might make it in time to sing with Branch.

Branch's voice called out to him, "I don't wanna be needing your love
I just wanna be deep in your love
And it's killing me when you're away, ooh, baby,
'Cause I really don't care where you are
I just wanna be there where you are
And I gotta get one little taste."

Running to the edge of the edge, Hefty smiled when he caught sight of Branch. The Troll was pale blue but dancing surrounded by the fireflies who provided backup.

Not seeing Hefty yet, Branch continued, "Your sugar
Yes, please
Won't you come and put it down on me?
I'm right here,
'Cause I need
Little love, a little sympathy
Yeah, you show me good loving
Make it alright
Need a little sweetness in my life
Your sugar! (sugar!)
Yes, please (yes, please)
Won't you come and put it down on me?"

Grinning, Hefty sang out the next line before Branch could, "Yeah
I want that red velvet."

Hearing Hefty, Branch jumped and turned, looking stunned for a moment. But then he smiled, his bright colors returning as he ran towards Hefty.

"I want that sugar sweet," sang Hefty, grabbing Branch and swinging him around as soon as he was close enough, "Don't let nobody touch it
Unless that somebody's me," he set Branch down, cupping his face,
"I gotta be your man
There ain't no other way
'Cause boy you're hotter than a southern island day."

Letting go of Branch's face, Hefty took hold of his hands to dance with him, "I don't wanna play no games
You don't gotta be afraid
Don't give me all that shy shit
Let your colors shine on,
That's my-"

"Sugar," Hefty and Branch sang together as they danced,
"Yes, please (please)
Won't you come and put it down on me (down on me)?
I'm right here (right here), 'cause I need ('cause I need)
Little love, a little sympathy
So, baby, (yeah) you show me good loving
Make it alright
Need a little sweetness in my life
Your sugar! (sugar!)
Yes, please (yes, please)
Won't you come and put it down on me?"

No longer caring about finishing the song, Branch grabbed Hefty, pulling him close and kissing him.

Definitely not objecting, Hefty held Branch close, kissing him back.

Slowly, Branch pulled back, giving Hefty a smaller lingering kiss before pulling back just enough to look at him, "Not complaining but what are you doing here?"

"I heard you singing," smiled Hefty, absently caressing Branch's hips with his thumbs.

"Those ears are amazing," murmured Branch, kissing him again.

This time it was Hefty who regretfully broke the kiss, "I have to tell you something."

"I love you too," smiled Branch, moving in for another kiss.

Kissing back, Hefty lamented how easily it was to be distracted by this beautiful Troll but couldn't complain as he slid up a hand to cradle the back of Branch's head. As much as he wanted to deepen the kiss, he pulled back to speak against his lips, "That too, always that, but that's not what I need to tell you."

Humming, Branch's hand slid up Hefty's chest, making him shiver, before coming to rest on his shoulder, "What is it?"

"Creek came to the village-" Hefty began.

"What?!" Branch stepped back, snapping to light blue. "That jerk! I told him to leave it alone; I'm going to kill him!"

"Well, um, Gargamel made it easy for you," said Hefty, "Creek is at the Recover Mushroom with bruised ribs-"

Branch's eyes widened, returning to pale blue. He grabbed Hefty's hand and headed out of the field towards Smurf Village.

"Wait, where are you going?" asked Hefty, despite knowing the answer.

"To yell at Creek until he wishes I killed him," grumbled Branch but then stopped with a sigh. "But I suppose we should tell Poppy that I'm going."

"Um, Poppy is already there," said Hefty.

Frowning, Branch groaned, "Why do my friends make me think murderous thoughts?"

Once Branch was a little calmer, he and Hefty returned to the bunker for Branch to pack a couple of things, Pudgy following them the whole time.

"Did you adopt Pudgy or something?" asked Hefty, watching the firefly make himself comfortable on one of Branch's pillows.

"Sort of," said Branch. "I, um, also have some, not so great, news."

"Is everything okay?" asked Hefty, concerned that Branch suddenly looked nervous.

Instead of answering, Branch led Hefty back to the dining room and pointed, "See that pile of junk?"

"Yeah," said Hefty. He had noticed it coming in but didn't really think it mattered.

"Those, and Pudgy, were all, um, wooing gifts," said Branch, though his voice got softer the longer he spoke.

Hefty's jaw dropped, "What?!"

"I'm not keeping any of them!" said Branch quickly. "They're all going to Miss Frizz and the kids, besides Pudgy. Honestly I thought he'd fly away once I got him back to his buddies but I guess he wants to stick around."

"Keeping them or not is not the issue," said Hefty, "Who the Smurf is giving you wooing gifts? They were all there when we got together; they even helped!"

"That's what I said," exclaimed Branch. "Those Trolls have brain damage, I have no interest in them, and I already sent out rejection cards."

Sighing, Hefty rubbed over his face. Creek was one thing but at least thirty Trolls were suddenly interested in his mate. Wait… "Who gave you Pudgy?"

"I don't know," shrugged Branch. "That was the only gift without a tag."

Creek, Hefty inwardly groaned, "I don't suppose you have the names of the rest?"

Quickly, Branch shook his head, "Like I would keep a hit list for you laying around? I want my mate with me, not in jail."

Instantly Hefty straightened and turned to Branch. That was the first time Branch referred to Hefty as his mate. Especially without quickly adding a "potential" to it. And, by the blush on Branch's face, the Troll realized that too.

Clearing his throat, Branch stepped a little closer to him, "There is, um, a way to show every Troll that I'm not interested in anyone but you."

"What's that?" asked Hefty softly.

Staying silent, Branch lifted Hefty's left hand. His hair moved and wrapped around what worked as Hefty's ring finger. When the hair pulled back, the was a little ring made Branch's hair there.

Lifting his hand Hefty stared at the ring for a rather long time before looking up at Branch, "Did you just propose to me?"

Blush worsening, Branch slowly shook his head, "Um, more like a pre-engagement. It's an old Troll tradition that's called a Lock Ring. It means that even though we're not engaged yet, I'm not interested in anyone but you. Grandma used to say it was like giving someone the key to your heart."

Moving closer, Hefty gently pulled Branch into his arms and held him tightly. He knew how hard it was for Branch to speak about his Grandmother and he wanted to show Branch how much Hefty loved him and appreciated Branch being comfortable enough to share that.

Leaning against him, Branch held Hefty back, and left himself just curl into his warmth. Despite his worry over Creek and Poppy, he could just feel his colors brightening.

Hefty kissed Branch's forehead, "How do I gave you the key to my heart?"

Blush renewed itself on Branch's cheeks, "Normally you'd give me a Lock Ring of your own hair but it's a bit too short for that."

"I'll grow it out," stated Hefty.

Branch chuckled, "That sounds interesting but your hair suits you."

Holding Branch closer, Hefty hummed, "I have an idea." He gave Branch a squeeze before pulling back and taking off his hat.

Curious, Branch watched as Hefty worked three strings loose from his hat, pulling them out. Putting his hat to the side, Hefty had Branch hold onto the ends of one side, then braided the strings together, remembering how from when he watched Poppy. He tied the ends, then tied them together to make a ring before slipping it onto Branch's finger.

"I hope that works," Hefty smiled a bit awkwardly.

Branch smiled, "It's perfect." He gave his ring a little kiss before pulling Hefty in to give him a proper one.