Chapter 40

The rain didn't let up as the day went on but that was fine. Hefty and Branch were content sitting by the fire on the blanket in solely each other's presence. After they ate breakfast, Branch began sketching out rough plans for his ideas and Hefty laid out to watch him.

Overall the mushroom remained silent besides the crackle of the fire and the scratching of Branch's pencil on the paper. On occasion they seemed to pause at the same time, look at each other and smile before going back to what they were doing before, words not needed.

Later, when Branch looked over to Hefty again, he saw that the Smurf had dozed off. Setting aside his sketchbook, he lightly ran his fingers over Hefty's hair, smiling when Hefty sighed but stayed asleep.

There were so many things running through Branch's mind right now. Things that he couldn't even consider thinking about when Hefty was awake and could see. The Smurf seemed to have a way of knowing exactly what was on Branch's mind.

Of course, there was anger. That creature, Veratrum, was up there right with Bergens in the deepest, most hated things that Branch despised with his very soul. In truth, he didn't know who he hated more in that moment.

All his life Bergens just seemed like hungry, cruel, mindless beasts that snatched away loved ones without a conscious. They were heartless creatures that didn't think twice about enslaving another race of creatures for their sick desire to eat happiness.

But Veratrum definitely was not mindless. This pixie like thing was obviously intelligent and knew exactly what she had done. There was even something about her that made it so Hefty couldn't even think to fight back and just used him as she pleased.

Before Branch had said it to try and make Hefty laugh but Branch definitely would not have any qualms about finding that Veratrum beast and beating her to death with her own wings. How could she do that to someone as kind as Hefty? To a creature that stumbling upon her on pure chance just to be turned into some sort of sick prey?

There was absolutely no reason to ever hurt someone in that way. It was sick, cruel and could destroy someone from within their very mind. It was a small miracle that Hefty survived it and got the help he need to heal, though it obviously still haunted him in a way.

That's where so many more emotions came into play. Admiration, awe, love, the need to protect and so much more continuously feeding off of each other. He hoped he expressed even a fraction of all this properly to Hefty earlier but wasn't sure if there were words to ever fully explain it outside of his own head.

Adjusting, Branch laid down beside Hefty and wrapped his arms around him, just holding him close. He enveloped his hair around Hefty in a make-shift blanket, tucking it around him.

"Love you," Branch said softly, kissing Hefty's cheek before settling down to rest beside him for a while.

When Hefty woke up, he found himself wrapped in Branch's hair again, the Troll asleep as he held the Smurf close. He chuckled a little and snuggled further into the Troll's embrace, wondering when he had dozed off.

Honestly Hefty hadn't known what to expect when he told Branch about Veratrum. Papa had reacted with concern and fear, working to make sure Hefty was protected before stopping to talk to him about it. Therapist Smurf never really gave an opinion, simply doing his best to make sure Hefty had the tools he needed to work through everything. No other Smurf knew and Hefty had no plans to tell them. Really, he never really considered telling Branch, it happening long before Branch was even born but Branch had asked about why Hefty had seen Therapist Smurf professionally and it all just came out.

There was no history of such assaults happening among Smurfs. All the Smurfs had grown up together, boys in one village and girls in another for some reason or another. None of them were technically related but the thought of ever hurting one another in such a way was such a foreign concept most didn't even know it existed. Papa and Therapist only knew from their studies of humans, which often seemed violent by nature even to their own kind. Smurfs have met and befriended kind humans over the years but for the most part they stayed separate and kept their village a secret from them.

Considering what Hefty knew of Trolls, such assaults didn't seem like it would be a thing in their culture either. They were all far too happy go lucky, even after their years trapped and slaughtered by those monstrous Bergens.

Still Branch had understood what Hefty had told him and didn't think less of Hefty at all. In fact, Branch said he had been in awe of Hefty and, more importantly, still loved him. And it was a bit hilarious to try and imagine Branch trying to beat someone to death with their wings, even if it was Veratrum, as Branch was mostly bark and no bite.

Eh, bark, Hefty silently laughed at his unintended joke. Or was it a pun?

In any case, things felt better somehow. Like the air was lighter and everything felt more open between them.

"Smurf, I want to marry you," Hefty barely spoke above a whisper, nuzzling Branch, snuggling close and just breathing him in, savoring the warmth between them, wrapped around them and growing within him every day.

The rain was still going on outside but that gave Hefty an idea.

Very carefully, Hefty wiggled an arm free of Branch's hair and stroked over it.

Initially the hair pulled Hefty closer but slowly loosened and released Hefty, going back to its relaxed state.

Now came the hard part. Careful, and with much regret, Hefty unwrapped Branch's arms from around him. He slipped away, almost giving in and going back to those arms when Branch sleepily reached for him. Instead he made sure Branch was far enough from the fire, that the flames wouldn't spark into Branch's hair, and grabbed the end of the blanket to pull over Branch.

"No burrito," Branch sleepily mumbled.

"Huh?" Hefty blinked, surprised to see Branch looking at him through half eyelids.

"What are you doing?" Branch asked instead.

"Um, I need to run to Chef's and stuff," Hefty quickly lied. "It's almost lunch time."

"I'll go with you," Branch started to get up, mildly surprised when Hefty gently pushed him back down.

"I only have one raincoat," said Hefty, stroking over Branch's hair and smiling when the Troll's eyes drifted back closed, "You just rest, I'll be back soon."

"Soon," Branch yawned, starting to doze back into sleep.

"Soon," Hefty leaned down and kissed Branch's temple. Once he was sure Branch was asleep, he got up and grabbed his raincoat, glancing back at Branch with a smile. "Love you."

There weren't many people out and about in their raincoats but Hefty instantly picked out a pair of pink legs walking away from Tailor's.

"Poppy," Hefty called and rushed after her.

Turning, Poppy was carrying a second raincoat and grinned when she saw the Smurf, "Hey Hefty, what's a happening?"

"I need to talk to you," Hefty looked around, wondering where would be best. He didn't really want to do this in front of Smurfette but there weren't many other options.

Smiling, Poppy took hold of Hefty's hand and headed back towards where she came from, "I'm sure Tailor won't mind us sitting in his shop for a bit. He's rather busy trying to make raincoats for all the new girl Smurfs."

They popped into the shop and Tailor barely stopped to say hello, going about his work and adding to a large pile of raincoats each time he completed one. To stay out of the way and to keep the conversation private, they sat in one of the bigger changing rooms.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" asked Poppy. "No, wait, let me guess; Branch?"

Hefty nodded, "I want to marry him."

"Ooo," squealed Poppy, "You move fast." She poked Hefty's Lock Ring, "Then again, so does Branch in a way; locking you down like this. Most Trolls don't use Lock Rings anymore, they're a bit old fashioned."

"Considering it was his Grandma that told Branch about them, I guess that makes sense," commented Hefty.

"Branch has talked about his Grandma to you?" asked Poppy, "I'm so jealous; Branch has never told me about a single member of his family! Tell me about her?"

"Ah, I don't know much, honestly," said Hefty, which was the truth. All he knew as that Branch's Grandmother told him about Lock Rings and how Branch lost her. And those things weren't his to share any further then he already had. "But I need to ask you about Troll engagements. I mean, I sort of skipped the wooing gifts part I think… so how do I get Branch to agree to marry me?"

"The song ambush was sort of a wooing gift," Poppy pointed out, "As for an official engagement it's usually done by song, dance and presenting a ring."

"Of course," sighed Hefty, looking down at his finger. "So, another Lock Ring?"

"No," Poppy shook her head, "An actual ring that will last forever. A lot of Trolls like gold because its shiny but it can be anything. Precious stones, polished rocks, crystal, specially blended and polished wood; you name it. Guy Diamond's dad was able to make a ring of his own glitter for Guy's mom."

That just raised even more questions than Hefty already had about Glitter Trolls but that could wait for another time.

"Do you have a Jeweler Smurf?" asked Poppy.

"Besides those necklaces the girls wear, Smurfs don't normally wear jewelry," commented Hefty. "I guess I could as if any of the girls could make a ring."

"Why don't you ask one of the jewelry makers at the Troll Tree?" asked Poppy.

"Trolls use money, Smurfs don't," commented Hefty.

"I got you covered," said Poppy.

"But Poppy, I won't be able to pay you back," said Hefty.

"Pfft, you can and you will," grinned Poppy. "You will pay me back by making Branch happy and I expect payments for the rest of Branch's life."

A surprised laugh escaped Hefty, throwing his arm around Poppy in a half hug, "You're the best Poppy."

Turning, Poppy hugged Hefty more fully, "So are you." She pulled back and tossed off her rain jacket, jumping to her feet and dancing in place. "Now, let's find you a proposal song."

"Ah, we can't really have song boot camp in Tailor's shop," Hefty sort of wish they hadn't sat in the changing room. There wasn't a clear escape route here.

Humming, Poppy turned and shouted into the main part of the shop, "Tailor, do you mind if we sing in here?"

"Please do," called back Tailor.

"I told Branch I'd be back soon," protested Hefty.

"Just tell him that you were held captive by me; Branch will sympathize with your plight," said Poppy.

"But-" Hefty tried but was cut off by Poppy ordering him to stretches before they began their first dancing lesson. He sighed and hoped Tailor had a strong tolerance being a song boot camp bystander.