Chapter 38

There was an unwritten rule in Smurf Village that on rainy days, everyone was on their own for breakfast. No other mushroom had a full kitchen like Chef's but the hearths could be used to make something simple or warm up a drink.

The blanket Branch had put in Hefty's pack was laid down in from of the fireplace and Hefty got out his kettle to make some tea. Hefty offered Branch a Sarsaparilla leaf from his hat, almost falling over laughing at Branch's disgusted face.

"It would probably be too much to put kitchens in all the mushrooms but you really should store some food in here for days like this," commented Branch, holding up his hands to block the sight of the Sarsaparilla leaf when Hefty waved at him again. "Besides whatever you happen to have in your hats."

Chuckling, Hefty finished off his leaf, "I think I might still have some of the food you packed for me in my bag." He stood and headed for it, "You put so much in there I might never be fully unpacked."

"Ha ha," Branch rolled his eyes and sipped some of his tea. "You're lucky I didn't have more warning you were leaving or I would have put more in it."

"We barely got it closed as is," protested Hefty, grabbing up the bag and setting on the bed to look through it better.

Standing, Branch walked over, "And next time it will be heavier so not even you can lift it and you'll be unable to leave."

Shaking his head, Hefty chuckled, "Diabolical, though your plan might not work if you tell it to me in advance."

Branch crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, "Are you going to stop me from putting things into your bag that I want you to have because I love you?"

Pausing, Hefty looked up at Branch and stared for a while before cursing, "Oh Smurf, I'm in love with a diabolical mastermind."

Chuckling, Branch went over to the pack he brought and put it on the bed next to Hefty's to look through as well, "I wouldn't call it diabolical, though you managing to lift the pack only to fall back with your legs kicking in the air would be the funniest thing I can imagine."

"Never going to happen," said Hefty, kissing Branch's cheek.

"We'll see," grinned Branch.

Shaking his head, Hefty took out the remaining food Branch had packed for him then continued to take out some of the medical supplies, curious as to what all was in there. There was gauze, splints, burn balms, cough medicine and much more.

"Branch, what did you think would happen between the Troll Tree and Smurf Village?" asked Hefty, amazed Branch had fit so much in his bag. "I don't think the Recovery Mushroom keeps this much in stock."

"Well they should," said Branch, taking the food he had put in his own bag before they left. "And, honestly, I was just grabbing one of everyone I could carry." He grabbed a berry to munch on, "I was a bit distracted as you can imagine."

Hefty hummed but didn't really answer at first, looking at the latest thing he had pulled out of his bag, "I can tell."

Curious, Branch turned to first see Hefty grinning at him before noticing the jar Hefty was holding up. That is the jar of lube Branch must have put into Hefty's bag.

From head to toe, Branch blushed. Without thought Branch's hair rose up, then swept down to cocoon Branch out of sight as the Troll made incoherent, embarrassed noises.

Nearly dropping the jar, Hefty carefully set it down as he tried not to laugh, "Oh come on Branch, its not that bad. You said it yourself you were just distractingly grabbing things. Unless, of course, this was all part of your master plan to seduce me. In that case, it worked, I am completely seduced."

The hair cocoon parted slightly so Branch could reach out and lightly smack Hefty's arm. But the arm didn't make it back into the cocoon before Hefty grabbed it.

Smiling, Hefty kissed Branch's hand, "I was joking."

"No, you weren't," grumbled Branch from within the cocoon.

"Okay, partly joking," Hefty admitted, turning Branch's hand to kiss his wrist. "I've been completely seduced by you from the start."

Adjusting the cocoon, a little, Branch peeked out at Hefty, "I sort of doubt you were seduced when I tried to stab you."

"I don't know, I already got a gander of you singing in the moonlight," grinned Hefty, kissing Branch's forearm. "What's a little attempted murder when it comes to love?"

"Doofus," muttered Branch, slowly raising the hair cocoon but still blushing.

Smiling, Hefty stepped closer, wrapping his arms around Branch and kissed him softly, "Your Doofus."

Branch smiled, wrapping his arms around Hefty in return and kissed him again, "I think you've actually warmed up to 'Doofus' as a pet name."

"Eh, you say it with such affection, how could I not?" smiled Hefty. "So, no calling anyone else Doofus, ever again."

"I think I can do that," Branch kissed him again before glancing at where Hefty left the lube. "So, um, what now?"

Hefty glanced at where Branch looked, spotting the lube, before turning back to him, "We have breakfast."

"Really?" asked Branch, surprised Hefty would let it drop so easily.

"Really," Hefty kissed Branch's forehead. "We're not going to do anything you're not ready for so it's just going to go in the nightstand drawer until further notice. Or in the washroom if you really want it out of sight, out of mind. But not the Recovery Mushroom because I cannot answer where it came from without doing an imitation of an overripe Smurfberry." He smiled when Branch chuckled and gave the Troll a small squeeze. There was a moment of hesitation but he continued, "And it may not be my first time but it will be the first time it matters and I don't want any sort of over eagerness to ruin it for us."

Softly smiling, Branch pulled Hefty closer and pressed their foreheads together, "I love you."

"I love you too," Hefty closed his eyes to enjoy the closeness.

They kissed once more before they separated, gathering the food they scavenged from their packs over to the blanket by the fire to eat together. As Hefty went to refill the kettle for more tea, Branch took a majority of the medical supplies to Hefty's washroom.

The jar of lube, however, went into the nightstand drawer.