7 Chapter Seven

"Hey there, Dumpy Diapers. What're you up to this fine, sunny morning?"

Branch grimaced inwardly when he looked over his shoulder at the precipitating white mass that had just appeared in his garden. Cloud Guy sauntered up behind Branch and leaned up against the makeshift scarecrow staked into the ground, crossing his skinny blue arms, smiling pleasantly at the dark troll.

"Not much, Guy," Branch said in a detached tone. "I'm working, as you can see." With a sharp yank, Branch pulled a rather tangled weed protruding from his row of lettuce heads and tossed it with the rest of its brethren. He had already sweat over an hour crawling through the dirt tending to his vegetable garden, so his level of patience was thin. The tiny patch of carefully fertilized and sowed land was only a five minute walk from his bunker, nestled in a hidden enclosure away from prying eyes. Fall was upon them and he had to get his supplies packed for the winter before they got ruined. Branch was a natural early riser due to the multitude of chores he worked on; gardening, crafting, hunting, scavenging, and the like. This gave him a lot of quiet reflections since most of the village was still asleep at this time. It wasn't normal for Cloud Guy to come bother him so soon in the day. The sun had barely peeked over the horizon. The air smelled suspicious with this visit, but he could spare a minute to humor the puff of cumulus. "Can I help you with something?"

"I don't need help with anything. I'm perrrrfect," the cloud purred. "You, on the other hand, need some help. I sense trouble in paradise, little amigo."

"Excuse me?"

"You're excused, sir."

Branch rolled his eyes dramatically and smoothed over the clean soil with his glove, feeling for more leafy intruders. "Cloud Guy, as much as I'd love to chat I never have have time for this. If you want something just spit it out, or go away. Preferably the latter."

"Harsh man," Cloud Guy mused with a smirk. "Actually, I was just curious about the little purple predicament that's roaming around inside your batcave."

"That's Creek, obviously" Branch said, ignoring the prickling that started to crawl up the back of his neck. Creek had only stayed there a single night, how was it possible that he knew about him already?

"Oh, I know it's Creek," Cloud Guy said, his grin spreading wider.

"… And?" Branch urged him, frowning at the possibilities.

"Who would have thought that a sour puss like you would wanna play house with his bitter rival," the cloud quivered with excitement. "THE famous Creek. Rival by day, but so dashingly handsome at night. Intelligent and articulate to boot, and that accent –!"

"That's enough!" Branch glared at Cloud Guy ludicrously and then stood up from the ground. He peeled off his gloves and slapped his dark work pants of dirt violently. He was thoroughly done talking with this air head, especially if he was going to continue gushing about Creek. He didn't owe Cloud Guy anything and he wasn't going to give in to his tricks this time around. Everything was a joke and it could be too much sometimes. Visions of Creek caressed his thoughts and his heart did a subtle acrobatic. Shoving the awkward feelings aside, he gathered up his gardening tools and briskly turned heel, walking away from the cloud with hard defiance. Things were bad enough for Branch already, he didn't need extra harassment about sharing his bunker with Creek.

"Hey, hey, hey, don't run. My bad, Branch." Cloud Guy floated through the air and caught him in a mere second, keeping up with the troll's breakaway pace.

"I'm not running, I'm busy," Branch grunted.

"I know what you're on about," Cloud Guy continued. "This is a touchy subject, amirite? This guy makes you feel things you've never felt before. You don't know if you 'hate him, tolerate him, or actually enjoy his company'. I'm here to explain these things for ya, free of charge."

Branch stopped abruptly, causing Cloud Guy to bump into his back with an 'oof'. The grey troll turned and squinted at him. "That's oddly specific..."

Cloud Guy grinned and pulled Branch's leather bound journal out of his fluffy body, holding it up with a little shake. Panic flashed through Branch's face and he quickly grabbed at his journal, dropping his tools all over the ground, "How did you get that?!" but the cloud was faster and whipped it out of reach, moving backwards a step safer.

"Cool your fans, grabby hands. I'm a Cloud… Guy. I seep in anywhere I want and borrow things undetected. Oh, and I broke into your bunker too," he said nonchalantly, shoving the stolen journal back into his body. Branch thrust his fist into the puffy white depths and felt around for his book, but to no avail. All he could feel was a cold breeze and the reverberating giggles of a perverted vapor of water. "Please be gentle," the cloud cooed at him.

"Argh! Unbelievable." Branch pulled his hand out in frustration and continued the walk back to his bunker, abandoning his tools on the ground. "You know what, just keep the stupid thing! Get back in the sky and do whatever clouds do. Float around, make it rain, whatever it is. I have nothing to say to you." He practically sprinted the rest of the way home and lifted the wooden door in a hurry, but the cloud was faster, yet again. Cloud Guy slammed the hatch shut right before Branch could jump into the den, making him yelp when his feet almost got caught.

"No, sweet lover boy. I'm not letting you get away so easily this time. I really think you should listen to what I have to say."

"Oh please, you're out of your damn mind," Branch bit off. "The only I love I feel is when I imagine wringing out your neck."

Cloud Guy stepped languidly around the troll and wrapped a slender arm around his stiff shoulders. "I don't physically have a mind, if you think about it," he said lightly. Branch scowled and crossed his arms tightly, tapping his fingers impatiently on his bicep. Unphased, Cloud Guy held out his other hand in front of them with wide, shining eyes, "Once upon a time," he whispered ominously with the gesture. "There was a beautiful forest. A couple of cute, dancing fireflies. A magical waterfall..." Branch's entire body shuddered involuntarily and the cloud tightened his hold on his shoulders. "Oh, is that familiar?" he asked innocently.

"W-What do you..." Branch's tongue stumbled and his defenses faltered. How far into the journal did this creature read? Cloud Guy possibly knew absolutely everything that had happened between him and Creek over the last couple of days? Of course he did, he was a cloud and could be anywhere in the sky at any time. He probably had a front row view with popcorn in hand! Branch suddenly felt embarrassed and exposed. It was true that he was having different kinds of thoughts about his situation with Creek. The purple troll has been pleasant enough to him. He couldn't feel the malice and there weren't many pokes about the hue of his skin. It's almost like Creek had a personality makeover and Branch missed the unveiling event. The unexpected acts of kindness, the small smiles, and the quiet glances that Creek made were like molten daggers that drove straight into Branch's chest.

Cloud Guy took Branch at the shoulders and shook him roughly, pulling him out of his momentary stupor. "Under this grumpy, unattractive exterior is a sickeningly romantic troll who's ready to find his mate this spring, and I know the perfect one to compliment you!"

The statement shocked the grey troll and caught him completely off guard. "MATE?" he yelled. "Is that what you're trying to rile me up with? I wouldn't be caught dead mating with anyone! You're seriously wasting your time if you think I would take part in the troll mating season, especially with Creek! I wouldn't touch that ass with a ten foot pole."

Cloud Guy raised a seductive eyebrow, "What if he's your soul mate? You wouldn't be able to refuse that bubble butt then, buddy boy."

The hysteria was never ending. Branch paled out and covered his mouth with his hand. The amount of delirium that he was being subjected to in this conversation made him want to puke. He tried his best to quell the tornado inside his stomach, forcing out his words. "No, that's insane," Branch said through his fingers. "I've known Creek since we were small, there's no way something like that is possible. If we were m-ma... meant to be, it would have happened already." His face was on fire and his stomach lurched again, the word 'mate' repeating over and over inside his head like a ticking time bomb. He's met every troll in Troll Village and he already concluded at a young age that he didn't have a soul mate. Not everyone had one since the Bergens began feasting on trolls. It was entirely possible that his potential soul mate was already long gone. A million and a half irrational thoughts tumbled through him, but the only thing he wanted now was to get into his bunker and get away. His mind's eye flashed a vision from the night before, when Creek reached out and pet his thumb across his cheek.

"Oh Romeo," Cloud Guy smirked knowingly and side stepped away from the bunker hatch, glancing at it for a split second. "Soul mates are serious business and work in mysterious ways. Sometimes it takes awhile before you realize who they are. I should know, I have at least four of them."

Branch made a callous laugh, moving his hand to his aching belly. "What would you know about troll soul mates? You're more ridiculous then I give you credit for, Guy."

Cloud Guy grinned wickedly then latched both arms around the grey troll and hugged him fiercely, causing Branch to make a repulsive face. In the next moment, sounds of rustling and thumping came through the ground. Branch turned his attention to his bunker when the door opened from the other side. 'Speak of the devil and he doth appear' Branch thought bitterly, eyes grazing over Creek's perfectly combed teal hair. The purple troll climbed out of the bunker carefully before being surprised to see them there at the entrance.

"Oh, Branch, I thought you were asleep still," he said with a nervous smile The two trolls stared at each other, making Branch swallow thickly. Creek immediately flicked his eyes to Cloud Guy's arms draped around Branch. Cloud Guy smirked at the purple troll and leaned in, nice and slow with puckered lips. He planted a large, wet kiss on the grey troll's face, earning another queasy look from his hostage.

"Could you NOT, Guy?" Branch groaned, struggling to get out of the endless clutch of a hug. It was annoying how toothpick thin the cloud's arms were but how strong they held with minimal effort. How were his arms even attached to his body?

"You realize you are in public? What is this, even?" Creek asked perplexed, gesturing at the two of them. "I heard a loud noise and came to investigate but..." he stopped when the entire state of Branch's distressed face combined with the smug look on the cloud unconsciously switched something inside him. It was primal, the way he felt his aura heat with possessive emotions. Branch continued to pry himself out of Cloud Guy's arms but they only squeezed him tighter, making him grunt in frustration.

"What does it look like, pretty boy?" Cloud Guy said coolly. "Branch and I were just getting a cozy before you so rudely interrupted."

"That's disgusting," Branch said with a wry face.

"He obviously doesn't like what you're doing, let him go at once," Creek said tightly, flexing his fists at his sides. The threads of his control were unraveling at an alarming pace the more he let Cloud Guy's irritating facial expressions bare in. He never particularly liked this cloud, so Creek never paid him any special attention. They got along appropriately because they were never were together, so Cloud Guy's taunting games were cheap and boring. Until now, that is.

"A little hypocritical, aren't you?" Cloud Guy chuckled. "Why don't you make me let go?" the cloud challenged, hinting that he knew more about Creek's actions then he let on. He leaned in to give Branch another kiss and the grey troll shrunk away from it in terror.

"Ugh, please stop that," Branch grimaced.

"Let him go," Creek commanded again, his voice darkening. The creature was crawling under his skin like a parasite. He would never admit it out loud, but there was now something he hated more than the lack of colors in Branch's skin.

"Little Branch was just about to accept my proposal to be his mate for this coming Spring match-making," Cloud Guy said proudly.

"Okay. Now that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard you say all day," Branch muttered.

"Branch deserves more than an irritating, no-class fool like you," Creek growled, surging forward and taking a sharp swing at the white mass, but his fist merely whiffed through the soft air. Cloud Guy made an appreciative 'ooo' sound and let Branch free from his hug, the grey troll stumbling some.

"Nice hook there, that could have been painful," Cloud Guy drawled, sucking his legs and arms into his torso and levitating towards the sky. "This guy totally ruined the mood. I'll be back with a promise ring, Branchy-poo, wait for me!" Cloud Guy winked at the two trolls then disappeared into the wavy breeze.

Branch breathed heavily in relief as soon as the cloud was out of sight, "Thank God, he's gone." He mumbled a string of curses to himself, ignoring Creek and to go back and fetch the gardening tools he left laying in the grass. He scolded himself on being way too lenient in most situations. The next person to mess with him was going to get clocked right in the jaw, no questions asked, no matter who it was. He's gotten pushed around by Creek, Poppy, and now even Cloud Guy? Sometimes he wished that he was the one that caused the troubles.

Creek followed after Branch, still somewhat irritated with Cloud Guy's antics. "He wasn't being serious, right?" Creek asked slowly, touching the tips of his fingers together while he tried to find the peace within himself. He could feel his energy flickering like a vibrant flame. It was normal for him to become easily angered at stupidity, but not being able to get his feelings in order after the fact was uncomfortable. There wasn't any legitimate sense to the way he lashed out at Cloud Guy. He regretted letting violence get the better of his actions, but seeing how close they were when Creek was attempting to repair the bond with the dark troll… His temper was with himself more than with the cloud.

"What kind of idiotic question is that?" Branch irked. "Cloud Guy was just being a nuisance, as usual." Branch picked up his spade hand shovel and inspected it with a frown. "Also, I don't need you to come to my rescue like I'm some damsel in distress. I was perfectly fine."

"You didn't look fine," Creek countered defensively. "You are the only troll I know that despises hugs."

"Yeah, well," Branch flustered, rubbing the tingles out of the back of his neck. "Just don't pay any mind to it. He caught me with my guard down and I'll be damned if I let him do it again."

"Do you normally let your guard down around Cloud Guy?"

Branch turned his blushing face away when he saw Creek's pained, concerned expression. "N-No, not normally.. he was just poking his nose into my private business. It's too early to be dealing with this kind of stuff," Branch murmured. Creek pressed his mouth closed and kept the rest of his thoughts to himself, kneeling on the ground next to Branch and picking up the rest of the gardening tools for him. Branch studied Creek's action curiously but said nothing about it.

They made their way back to the survival bunker and Creek helped him put his supplies away in one of the upper compartments of Branch's living room closet. He used his coarse black hair to push back the items securely on the high shelf. Creek was standing just a step behind him, holding out the tools one by one while Branch took them to put them in their proper place. It was a different kind of feeling, having someone there who wanted to help him with such a minuscule task. He didn't need help, but Creek was a stubborn mule and insisted. The smell of soft, sweet mint glazed over Branch's senses, causing him to slam his palm into the closet door frame for immediate support. Creek blinked at him, confused. Branch removed his hand and chuckled nervously, "I thought there was a spider," he lied, grabbing the last item out of the purple troll's hand and shoving it unceremoniously into a random box before snapping the door shut. He brushed passed Creek and moved to his writing desk near the main hall.

Creek pulled a fine tooth comb out of his hair and brushed up the long locks with a hum, "It's practically midday," he said. "The designer twins should be awake and running about by now. I'll be some spending time replacing my personal items."

Branch grunted in response, focusing more on the next chore he had to work on. He had pulled out his checklist clipboard from the desk and was flipping through the pages. He'd lost a lot of ground this morning and there was still so much to get done. Weed pulling, done. Next was preserving the hoard of berries he'd picked last week and rotating them into his winter stock.

"Branch, make free time for this evening," Creek said, slipping his comb back into his bright hair.

Branch glanced up at the troll and raised an eyebrow, "Make time for what?"

"I've prepared a small gift to share with you, in return for letting me use your spare room. It's only appropriate since I know you were forced into this."

Branch went back to his clipboard and thought about protesting. "It's not necessary to give me anything, I'm just helping a fellow troll in need... for Poppy. But if it's something small… I guess it wouldn't hurt."

Creek smiled at the grey troll and strode to the elevator, "Perfect, I'll be back before dark." He jumped onto the pad and threw the lever, rising up to the exit.

Branch thumbed the corner of his checklist, feeling the all-too-familiar coil of apprehension wrapping around him. It felt slightly different this time, more captivating. Creek had a present for him? That was weird. Everything about the company they shared was weird. It really was nothing like how he remembered it. Creek was supposed to be a vile, relentless bully at every corner of conversation. The Creek that he invited into his bunker was different. He was still sarcastic and had many saucy comebacks, but there was kindness and understanding laced into his expressions. He liked that Creek wanted to help him. He liked that Creek wanted to defend him from Cloud Guy. Branch was interested, but also scared of this new Creek. He was also scared because he was interested.