Mature themes ahead. You have been warned.
Chapter 37
It was the sound of rain drops that awoke Branch in the morning, a bit surprised at first since he normally didn't hear it in the bunker. As his mind woke up further though he remembered where he was and that it was Hefty surrounding him with warmth rather than the blankets.
Turning more into Hefty's warmth, Branch kept his eyes closed, content just to lay in bed for a while. Yesterday had been rather hectic after they had showered and gotten back on track.
First, they had went to Handy's to start building a few things to make the clothes washer and showed him Branch's basic ideas for Chef's kitchen. Handy had been impressed and joked that Hefty wasn't smart enough for someone like Branch, which got the two Smurfs into a playful fight until Hefty managed to get Handy into a headlock and Handy surrendered.
Next Hefty gave Branch a proper tour of Smurf Village, the Troll finally seeing all that was there. Besides all the mushrooms there was a little stage with numerous seats for plays and other occasions. There was also a bit of field around the whole village but on the side opposite of the stream was where the girl Smurfs had made their camp of temporary structures until a final decision was made on whether or not they were staying, though it seemed more likely every day. And on the side opposite of the entrance to Smurf Village was Farmer's mushroom where he used that part of the field as farmland to grow much of their food. The field from the village to the entryway as just the path and wild plants.
After that they went to check on Creek, but he had been sleeping at the time. Both Branch and Hefty had been surprised to find Brainy reading by the purple Troll's bedside, though the smart Smurf had thought nothing of it when they questioned him.
They assisted Chef with finishing dinner and ate with Poppy and Smurfette, both of which seemed fine after whatever it was that Smurfette wanted to talk about in private with Poppy. The four of them then helped Chef clean up for the night, Poppy singing the whole time and managing to rope Branch in for a few songs. When they parted ways for the night, Poppy gave Smurfette a kiss saying that she would be staying with Creek to make sure he was okay before running off.
Once they were back at Hefty's mushroom, Hefty and Branch got ready for bed and snuggled together as Hefty read out loud from the book they started the first time Branch came to Smurf Village. Branch wasn't sure how far they got before he dozed off.
Though things were progressing to be more intimate between them, overall, they hadn't changed. Branch still blushed at some of Hefty's comments and Hefty still showed off at any given opportunity, especially if it was for Branch. If anything, things were more comfortable around them. Yesterday they had been halfway through dinner before Branch realized they had been holding hands the whole time which made Poppy giggle until she fell off her chair, and then giggle some more.
Now, here, listening to the rain outside and Hefty's heartbeat, Branch couldn't remember ever feeling so content. He wanted this moment, this life with Hefty to last forever. And, he only wanted it to grow as well. Before Branch thought it, would be a long time before he was ready for sex but maybe he was closer to being ready for it then he thought?
Taking a deep breath, Hefty yawned when he started to wake up, instinctively stroking over Branch's back while snuggling closer. He blinked a few times, trying to wake himself up, then kissed Branch's forehead.
"Good morning," Branch greeted, staying close.
"Good morning," Hefty turned to hold Branch a little closer. "Did I wake you?"
"I was awake," Branch shook his head, "Just comfortable and thinking about stuff."
"Am I stuff?" asked Hefty, Branch able to hear the grin in his voice.
A soft chuckle escaped Branch, "You are part of stuff, yes."
"What's the rest of stuff?" asked Hefty.
"Lots of things," said Branch, "Thinking over yesterday, rethinking a few plans and wondering why Poppy thought sharing a bed with Creek would be a good idea considering he's got bruised ribs."
"It's Poppy," said Hefty.
"Excellent point," Branch agreed.
"What ideas were you rethinking?" asked Hefty.
"Chef's kitchen," said Branch. "It probably wouldn't hurt to make some improvements but Chef's mushroom isn't really Chef's."
"What do you mean?" asked Hefty.
"Chef's mushroom is a giant kitchen, a dining area and a washroom," said Branch, "I'm assuming he has a bedroom but for it being his home, none of the space is really his besides that and even than it's got to be rather small considering the available space."
Hefty nodded, wondering why the thought had never occurred to him before. He almost would assume the situation was the same at Bakers and possibly Tailors, as well as a few others.
Branch kissed Hefty's cheek, then sat up in the bed, "So why not make a giant, community mushroom at the end of the village? Once more mushrooms are made for the girl Smurfs, it would be in the center of everyone and be big enough for everyone to eat inside when there's bad weather. Plus, we could make the kitchen as big as Chef wanted and if anyone would want to help out there wouldn't be any crowding. Maybe a double kitchen so Baker can have his bakery there too since I imagine his mushroom is similar to Chef's in the set up."
Staying laying down, Hefty propped his head up and smiled as he watched Branch talk. He couldn't help but be spellbound by all the effort Branch was making to make life for everyone in Smurf Village better. Plus, he could almost swear that Branch hadn't gone a shade lighter than bright blue since they exchanged Lock Rings and that filled Hefty with a warmth that he couldn't begin to describe.
Not noticing Hefty watching him, or used to it by now, Branch reached into his hair and took out his sketchbook. "We'll have to talk to them and Handy to see if its plausible and if they'd want to share a kitchen or maybe put one of each end of the Communal Mushroom." He started to sketch out a rough floor plan, "I bet you could even save a space to put the tables and chairs if you ever wanted to have some party or other event there."
"Like a wedding?" asked Hefty.
"Yes, like a-" Branch paused, blushed, and narrowed his eyes at Hefty.
Hefty grinned, "Just saying."
"Uh-huh," said Branch, unconvinced. After a pause, he turned back to his sketchbook. "I've had this other idea for a while but never had a need to work on since I don't use many dishes but if I work with Handy maybe we can work it out and make clean up in the kitchen much easier and faster."
"As long as he keeps his hands to himself," Hefty muttered, "Hey Branch?"
"Yeah?" asked Branch.
"Have you done projects like this at the Troll Tree?" asked Hefty.
Branch didn't answer but Hefty could see that he stopped sketching, frowning a but at his sketchbook.
Hefty sat up, "Branch?"
Sighing, Branch looked up at Hefty, ears dropping a little, "No Troll wants to listen to the gray freak that's obsessed with Bergens."
Frowning, Hefty scooted closer and put his arm around Branch, "Screw 'em."
A huffed laugh escaped Branch out of surprise.
"So, seriously," Hefty smiled and gave Branch a squeeze. "If it took your colors and your singing voice for them to acknowledge you, then they're not worth your time thinking about. Keep Poppy, obviously Miss Frizz, and Creek and maybe a few others but the rest can put their opinions where the sun won't shine."
Again, Branch laughed, "I'm surprised to hear you include Creek in the keep selection."
"Well, he's less of a jerk then I thought," Hefty admitted and, hesitantly, added, "And he cares about you so that's worth something."
"What did he say to you to change your mind?" asked Branch.
Hefty swallowed, covering it up with a shrug, "He came to get me because he wanted you to be happy, that says a lot."
"Maybe but I keep feeling like there's something more to it," said Branch.
"What do you mean?" asked Hefty.
"Well ever since Creek has started to try and be friends again, I can't help but feel like there's something he's not telling me," Branch paused and looked at Hefty, "And I keep getting that feeling from you too whenever he comes up."
Ah, so Branch wasn't as unaware of the situation as everyone assumed, but that just made Hefty want to pretend this conversation wasn't happening. He didn't want to tell Branch anything against Creek's wishes and he really didn't want to lie. Worse of all, he didn't want to tell Branch about Creek and find out that maybe Branch would prefer another Troll after all.
"Hefty?" Branch called, frowning when Hefty went quiet. He lightly nudged Hefty's side with his body to get his attention, "Talk to me."
Sighing, Hefty scratched the back of his neck, "Creek, well, he said some stuff about your guy's childhoods and, well, I'm not really supposed to talk about it. Poppy may hurt herself trying to kill me if I did."
Branch rolled his eyes, "Then don't tell me about it." He laid his head on Hefty's shoulder, "Tell me why what he told you bothers you."
A light chuckle escaped Hefty, "Sending you to Therapist Smurf has made you dangerous."
"I've always been dangerous," Branch smiled when it made Hefty laugh again, "He does say some useful stuff though."
"Yeah, I remember," commented Hefty.
"You've seen Therapist Smurf professionally?" asked Branch, surprised. He wanted to throw Hefty's comment about problems running away at the sight of his muscles back at him but it didn't seem like the time.
"Yeah, pretty regularly about fifty years ago," explained Hefty, "I hadn't wanted to at first but Papa insisted and I think it helped. Now I just check in on occasion."
"Do you mind my asking what it was about?" asked Branch.
Hefty shook his head, "I don't mind, but it might make you a little uncomfortable. It's about the person I first had sex with."
This caused Branch to frown but it was more out of worry than anything. Why would Hefty's first relationship cause him to need to see Therapist Smurf? Did things just end that badly? Had they died? No, that didn't seem right, Hefty spoke as if it was possible he could see this person again even if it was unlikely.
Sitting up again, Branch set aside his sketchbook so he could readjust and put his arm around Hefty as well, "If you don't mind talking about it, I'd like to know more about it."
Though Hefty nodded, he was silent at first, gathering his thoughts, "Let's see, I was roughly 110 and I decided to sneak out of the village to explore the woods a bit on my own."
"Bet your Papa loved that," commented Branch.
Chuckling, Hefty shrugged, "What can I say, I was at a rebellious age."
"Yes, the early hundreds are brutal for any parent," teased Branch.
Rolling his eyes, Hefty kissed Branch's cheek before continuing, "Anyway, I got lost. This was before Gargamel was around so I wasn't too worried; youthful and stupidly cocky."
"Besides youthful, what has changed?" asked Branch.
"Haha, one of these days I'm going to find where you're ticklish and exploit it without mercy," Hefty threatened.
"Yeah, good luck with that," smiled Branch.
Hefty experimentally poked Branch's side as he spoke, "That's when I ran into Veratrum, she looked a little like how Papa described pixies only her wings didn't look like an insect's; they looked more like a bat. I guess that should have been a warning sign."
Again, Branch frowned, pretty much ignoring Hefty still trying to tickle him as he told his story. The earlier comfort and humor had evaporated and he just felt a weight starting to build in his stomach.
Not noticing Hefty moved a little so he could poke at both of Branch's sides, "She spotted me and glided over and I knew I should have left but, it as like I was in a trance, I couldn't stop looking at her. She asked me what I was doing there and I told her that I was lost; she just laughed and said she would help me home but for a price."
The air felt heavier and Branch was vaguely aware that Hefty had stopped poking him. Instead Hefty just kept his hands-on Branch's hips and stared absently at Branch's chest, seeming lost in thought.
Slowly, Branch reached up and cupped Hefty's face, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Staying silent at first, Hefty nestled his face further into Branch's hands, moving closer at the same time. Their foreheads were almost touching when he spoke again, "It's pretty vague really. Part of being in a trance, I guess. It didn't even seem like that long but I had actually been gone for days when I wandered back into the village."
Not saying anything, Branch pulled Hefty closer and wrapped his arms around him, just holding him close. Even his hair enfolded around Hefty, trying to completely envelope Hefty in Branch's embrace and comfort Hefty the best that Branch could without words.
"I told Papa everything of course," Hefty continued. After a moment he allowed himself to rest his head on Branch's shoulder. "Never saw so many emotions on his face before or since; he didn't even scold me for wandering off. Instead he carved this rune symbol thing on my arm as a ward to keep her from summoning me. I guess she could have; just summoned me to her whenever she wanted for as long as she wanted if Papa hadn't given me some protection. Thankfully I never saw her again though and Papa insisted I talk to Therapist Smurf regularly for about a decade, after that he let me talk to Therapist as much or as little as I wanted. A couple years later I covered the rune with my tattoo."
"Your tattoo," Branch repeated without thought. He couldn't help but glance towards Hefty's 'heart on his sleeve' where he knew it would be under the wrapping of Branch's hair.
"Yeah, you can still sort of feel the rune underneath," Hefty answered absently.
Silence stretched out for a while but no words came to Branch to say. Nothing seemed appropriate. Nothing he could offer felt like it would hold any weight. All he could do was hold Hefty and hope it would be enough until Branch could muddle through the sheer overwhelming need to just protect Hefty for once while his mind tried to think of something else.
"I guess the whole thing with Creek got me thinking," Hefty continued after a while, surprising Branch who had completely forgotten that this conversation had started due to his questions about Creek. "That if things had been different, if Creek had told you that he liked you as more than a friend years ago that I never would have had a chance with you. That maybe one day you're going to realize that you'd rather be with someone like him, or any of your Troll admirers rather than someone like me."
Where Branch's brain had been had a stand still moments before, too many thoughts came crashing in now, all demanding to be said. He held Hefty tighter and took in a deep breath, trying to organize them all.
"Hefty," Branch started, taking in a deep breath again, "You're a doofus."
Blinking, Hefty looked up at Branch the best he could with the weird angle.
"Where to begin," Branch sighed, pausing to smile gently at Hefty and kiss his cheek. "I love you. Finding out you weren't a virgin didn't change that. Finding out your ridiculously long age didn't change that. Any Troll's interest in me will never change that. And learning this doesn't change that either.
'In fact, I'm rather in awe right now of how strong you actually are beyond the physical. Of course, I wish it never happened, no one should ever have to go through something like that, but you are amazing. You still love so openly and care so deeply and you aren't afraid to take risks, even with your heart.
'And even if there aren't times you don't feel brave, I want you to know that I am here for you, like you've been there for me. I love you, Hefty Impossible Optimist Doofus Smurf, and I'm going to never stop loving you.
'Now tell me where it is you found that thing so I can rip off her wings and beat her to death with them."
Hefty stared, blinked, then smiled. A small laugh escaped him as he curled up against Branch, letting a few tears sneak out of his eyes, "I love you too, but the answer is no."
Relieved at the sight of the smile, Branch cuddled Hefty closer, "What if I gave you a hickey?"
Again, Hefty laughed and Branch never heard anything more beautiful.