Chapter 35

Oddly when Creek woke up, Brainy was still there, sitting next to the bed and reading as he had said. He thought for sure the Smurf would have gotten bored and left but maybe Smurfs had more tolerance for silence then Trolls.

"Hello again," Creek greeted.

Looking up, Brainy smiled softly, "Hey there, how are you feeling?"

Creek shrugged, "Same as before, sore."

"Do you want more medicine?" asked Brainy.

Immediately Creek shook his head, "I'd like to spend some of the day awake at least; and the pain is mild for the moment."

"That's good," Brainy nodded.

"You don't have to stay to play nursemaid," said Creek. "I'm fine on my own."

"I'm sure you would be but," Brainy hesitated, chewing on his lower lip again, "Well, I like talking with you and learning more about Trolls in general and, um, more about you."

Now that was an interesting admission. If Brainy had been anything but the smart Smurf, Creek would have thought that he was developing some sort of crush on him. But Brainy was too reasonable to be interested in a long-distance relationship with a member of a different species. That foolishness was saved for strong and lone blonde Smurfs and the Trolls that had been suckered in by them.

"I enjoy talking with you as well," Creek admitted. The conversation, for the most part, had been a good distraction from Creek's thoughts due to lack of meditation and yoga. Still the conversation would be better if it was less about him to avoid possibly dredging up bad memories again. "Though, I would like to know more about you as well."

At first Brainy looked surprised, adjusting his glasses before speaking, "Of course, um, how about we go back and forth with questions so no one dominates the conversation. Everyone says I have a tendency to talk too much."

"I don't mind," Creek assured. "I dominated most of the conversation earlier after all." He spotted Snappy Bug and Pudgy napping down by his feet. "You mentioned earlier that your little friend was your lab assistant; why don't you tell me more about that?"

Though he chewed his lip for a moment, Brainy nodded and began to talk about Snappy Bug's capabilities. That lead to Brainy talking about some of the things he's had the ladybug record and that lead to talk about some of his experiments. Some sounded absolutely brilliant while others were disasters waiting to happen.

It didn't take long or Creek to realize that Brainy was actually easily excitable. He talked animatedly about his interests, using hand gestures and a range of expressions Creek was sure Troll children would adore if the subject manner were different.

Soon enough it was also easy to tell that Brainy wasn't used to being able to speak so long. He would pause on occasion and just look at Creek. At first Creek thought Brainy was pausing to see if Creek was still paying attention. Then he realized that Brainy was waiting for Creek to tell him to be quiet.

Considering how obviously passionate Brainy was about his experiments, that seemed like a shame. It would be like telling a Troll to stop singing. Or telling Branch to stop being so Branchy, as Poppy liked to put it.

Creek half wondered how they were doing and if anyone had told Branch about Creek's feelings for him even though Poppy and Strong Smurf both said they wouldn't. Poppy was horrible at keeping secrets short of planning surprise parties and Creek didn't trust that Smurf as far as he could throw him at this given moment.

"Wait," Creek picked up an interesting tidbit, "You've used Strong Smurf as a lab rat for your experiments?"

"Yeah," Brainy said uncertainly, "Usually all Hefty has to do is sit there," he quickly added, "And I've never hurt him."

"Too bad, I would have liked to have seen that," Creek mumbled absently.

"You don't like Hefty very much, do you?" asked Brainy.

Staying silent, Creek just looked at Brainy.

Taking the look as a question, Brainy explained, "You avoid calling Hefty by name. And when you speak of him it's, well, it's not friendly."

Sighing, Creek nodded, "I suppose I don't hide it well."

"Is it because of Branch?" asked Brainy.

Eyes going wide, Creek stared at the Smurf.

Again, Brainy took the look as a question, "You were rather upset when Branch returned to the Troll Tree gray. I think you blamed Hefty for it once you learned about his feelings for Branch, though I thought you let it go when you assisted in the song ambush."

Relaxing a little, Creek thought of how to answer, "Indeed," he leaned back and thought it over some more, "I only helped because Poppy asked me to."

"Because she's the princess?" asked Brainy.

"Because she's my friend," Creek corrected.

"Well Branch is your friend too, right?" asked Brainy. "Don't you think it will make things weird for him if you don't like his partner?"

Creek looked up at the ceiling, gathering his thoughts, before turning to Brainy again, "Honestly, Branch and I have only recently begun to be friends again."

Confused, Brainy frowned, "But you said you grew up together."

"We were at the same home for a while, yes, but it was short lived," Creek explained. "I was taken in by my uncle and Branch, stubborn from the start, ran away constantly, until Miss Frizz couldn't get help to track him down anymore, so he could build his bunker."

"So, Branch, essentially, raised himself in the wild?" asked Brainy.

Unable to stop himself, Creek chuckled, wincing and holding onto his ribs after, "Yes; explains a lot about him, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," Brainy agreed slowly, looking down at Creek's torso. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you laugh again."

"Don't fret about it," Creek unwrapped his arms from his middle. "There are much worse pains then laughter."

Brainy tilted his head to the side, thinking about it. Deciding not to comment on it, he instead asked, "What was your uncle like?"

A smile lit up at Creek's face as he thought of his uncle. He told Brainy that while his uncle sang and danced like any Troll, he was overall much calmer, preferring studying nature to parties. His uncle taught him all about plants and their various purposes as well as meditation, yoga, chakras, auras and much more. Creek still kept all of his uncle's notebooks with his teachings, wrapped and in a trunk to keep them from drawing moisture.

"It sounds like your uncle was very wise," commented Brainy. "I bet he and Papa would have gotten along."

"I imagine so," Creek nodded though he was amused to think of what his uncle's reaction would have been to seeing Creek flirt with the elder Smurf.

"Do you still read his notebooks?" asked Brainy.

"I haven't in a while," admitted Creek, "But I'm going to lend them to Branch when we go home, at least one at a time. Perhaps you would like to read one as well the next time you visit the Troll Tree?"

Brainy stared at Creek, "You would lend me your uncle's notebooks?"

Not sure why Brainy was so surprised, Creek nodded, "I'm sure my uncle would have appreciated someone as inquisitive as you."

Though he blushed, Brainy smiled widely and Creek thought it was nice that something so simple could make the Smurf happy.

Soon Snappy Bug and Pudgy awoke from their nap and chased each other around the room as Brainy and Creek chatted. The conversation only paused when Brainy went to get them all something to eat for dinner, finishing off the porridge and eating the muffins Brainy had brought. Though, to be fair, Creek fed a majority of his muffin to Pudgy because his stomach still felt uncomfortably full rather quickly.

When Brainy offered Creek the next dose of medicine, Creek sighed, "I suppose I should…"

"Papa wouldn't say that you should take it if it wouldn't help," commented Brainy.

"Indeed," said Creek, taking the medicine. "I suppose I'll just be grateful it makes me more sleepy than loopy now."

"I'm having a hard time imagining you loopy," Brainy admitted.

"I said something about bananas being oranges earlier," said Creek, then paused, "Or was it the other way around?'

Adjusting his glasses, Brainy thought about it a moment, "Because they both peel?"

"I think that was my reasoning, yes," Creek nodded.

Brainy just smiled, "I guess I should leave you to rest. I'll come back tomorrow." He cleared his throat awkwardly, "That is, if you don't mind."

"I don't mind," said Creek, relaxing back, "I quite enjoyed talking to you actually."

If Brainy's smile got any bigger, Creek thought it would extend off his face, "I enjoyed talking to you too. Um, good night."

"Good night," replied Creek.

Flying over to Brainy, Snappy Bug landed on the Smurf's shoulder. She then flapped her wings and repeated, in Brainy's voice, "Good night."

Pudgy trilled in reply, flying up to make himself comfortable in Creek's hair.

Frowning, Creek waited until Brainy was leaving to look up at the firefly, "You're snuggling up to the wrong Troll you fluff ball."

In response, Pudgy just cooed but remained in place.

Sighing, Creek closed his eyes but opened them again when he heard talking outside. He looked towards the door just in time to see Poppy skip in.

"Oh good, you're not asleep yet!" Poppy beamed and bounded over to him, sitting on the bed next to him. "Brainy said you ate and took your medicine already but I wanted t give you this." She reached into her pocket and pulled out Creek's hug time bracelet. "Smurfette and I went out and found it for you."

"Poppy, love, that was very sweet but you shouldn't of," Creek wanted to scold her but just couldn't manage the right tone with her smiling so brightly at him. "What if that Gargamel giant had been out there?"

"We were careful," Poppy promised but that didn't assure Creek at all. "The flower is busted but we can fix that right up when we go home."

"Indeed," Creek agreed, watching Poppy set the bracelet on top of all the books Brainy had brought for him. "Where is Smurfette anyway? Waiting for you outside?"

"No, she's at home," said Poppy.

"She's making you walk to her mushroom all by yourself?" Creek asked. "I'm subtracting points for that."

"Don't you dare," gasped Poppy. "I told her to go; I'm staying here with you."

"Poppy, no, go be with your girlfriend," Creek reached up to push at her but couldn't quite reach from his position. "You don't have to be here to watch me."

"But I left you alone all day," Poppy pouted. "Thank goodness Brainy as here or you would have been all alone all day!"

"That would have been fine as well," said Creek, "I spend lots of time alone."

"Yes, but you're meditating for lightning normally," said Poppy.

"Enlightenment," Creek corrected. "And really, you can't sleep here."

"Why not?" asked Poppy. "We've slept together lots of times!"

"Split ends Poppy, are you trying to get me murdered?" asked Creek. "We've never slept together. We've slept next to each other."

"Same difference," shrugged Poppy.

"Poppy, princess, you're adorable, but no," Creek poked her arm since he couldn't reach her nose. "And it's because of those naps that I know you're a cuddle monster and I don't need my ribs to be squeezed any more than they already have like last night."

"I'll build a pillow wall," Poppy insisted.

"Poppy, please?" asked Creek.

Sighing, Poppy plopped down next to Creek, "No, and I don't care how much you use the magic word; I'm staying." She crossed her arms and wiggled in a show of getting comfortable.

It was really hard not to laugh but Creek managed, "Pretty please?"

"No," Poppy grabbed the end of the blanket and pulled it over herself in an awkward half cocoon.

"Pretty please Princess Poppy?" Creek poked her side exactly where he knew she was ticklish.

Squeaking, Poppy jumped away from the poke, off the bed and onto the floor. She sat up and glared at Creek from over the edge of the bed, looking like the sun when it first came over the horizon, "That was evil, Creek. Evil!"

No longer able to contain it, Creek laughed. It hurt and his eyes watered a bit but he couldn't really care at the moment.

"Yeah, laugh it up you big, stubborn meanie," Poppy just rolled her eyes and came back up to sit on the bed next to him. "Are you sure you'll be alright on your own?'

"It's just sleeping, Poppy," Creek offered her a smile as he wiped the moisture from his eyes. "If I need help in that arena I'll ask."

"You better," Poppy gave Creek a smooch on his forehead. "I'll expect a full dream report in the morning."

"Of course," Creek held Poppy in place so he could kiss her cheek. "Now run along to your Smurfette to sleep; just sleep."

"Pervert," Poppy teased as she stood.

"You started it," Creek insisted.

Poppy giggled as she bounded out the door.

Once Poppy was gone, Creek became aware of the ache in his ribs from laughing. He wrapped his arms around his torso and just concentrated on his breathing, waiting for the medicine to kick in.