He wasn't afraid to admit that he'd been freaked out at first.
But one look from Poppy and Creek and he decided to just let it happen.
Branch was clinging to him.
Him.
Not Poppy or Creek like usual.
Biggie smiled a bit at the younger troll, Branch was such a sweetheart some times...
If only the rest of the village could see that...
As Branch clung to him, Biggie walked around the village, trying to remember what he needed.
Creek and Poppy were with him, neither one ever too far from Branch, as they tried to help him remember.
Then he had a question.
"Creek, Poppy, is Branch always this clingy or..."
Creek bit his lip, "Well...he has been since...umm..the night we escaped.."
Poppy nodded, "That night traumatized him, it really boosted his anxiety and paranoia too.."
Biggie nodded, allowing Branch to take Mr. Dinkles when he reached for the worm thing.
It made sense now that he thought about it.
But he couldn't understand why he wasn't clinging to Creek or Poppy.
So he asked, "But...why is he clinging to me and Mr. Dinkles instead of one of you?"
Poppy bit her lip and frowned, "Well if he's really bothering you I could take him..."
Biggie shook his head, "No, no, he's fine, just wondering..."
Creek sighed, "Well we can only guess, I mean, maybe you remind him of...her...somehow?"
Poppy winced and nodded, "Yeah...remember the other day? He thought it was..her but it was just a random troll.."
Creek scoffed, "A random troll and a messed up prank, you mean?"
Poppy nodded, "They hadn't known eachother long, but they were still so close..you remember how terrified he was, right?"
Creek crossed his arms and nodded, "They cuddled that night..I remember walking in to wake them up only to see...her giving me the death stare as Branch slept.."
Biggie silently listened to their stories, short but happy, as Branch clung to him.
The day continued like that, Branch clinging to him and holding Mr. Dinkles, while Creek and Poppy shared stories about...her.
He never remembered what he had needed.
