Chapter 41

As the day went on, Creek wasn't sure if Brainy had a crush on him or if Creek imagined it from what Brainy had said. Over the years, Creek had dealt with many crushes on him. Most of the time Trolls followed him around, flattered him and laughed when he said nothing funny, all the while trying to invade his personal space. There had been a few that reacted differently, such as the girl who boldly proposed marriage when she presented her wooing gift and boy who acted like Creek was something sacred, not even allowing himself to hold Creek's hand.

But Brainy didn't really act like any of them. Staying at the Recovery Mushroom didn't really count of following Creek around, especially since it could be written off as concern over Creek's well-being and being trapped by the rain. There were a few comments here and there that were flattering but they seemed more interested in Creek's foreignness as a Troll rather than flirty. Also, a lot of Creek's comments, that were testing the waters to see if Brainy did have a crush on him, were met with Brainy rolling his eyes at him and the occasional "jerk". Brainy did smile or chuckle when Creek said something genuinely funny so it wasn't as though Brainy didn't have a sense of humor. And though Brainy now sat on the bed next to Creek, it was at a respectful distance.

As Brainy had chased Pudgy around that morning, Creek dug around in his hair, grateful to find that he still had his MP3 player in it. After Brainy gave up his muffin to the firefly, the device fascinated Brainy for some time, distracting the Smurf from asking Creek anything personal as he tried to figure out how it worked without taking it apart. The Smurfs excitement over the little device was, admittedly, rather cute but that didn't mean anything.

After Creek ate and took his medicine, he told Brainy that he could mess around with the MP3 player as much as he wanted as long as he didn't break it. The last thing Creek saw before he dozed off was Brainy absolutely beaming at him.

Now they were just sitting together on the bed, each reading a book and sharing the earbuds so both of them could listen to the music. Creek let Brainy control the MP3 player, Brainy having figured out how to control it while Creek had been asleep. It was interesting figuring out which songs piqued Brainy's interest, the Smurf turning up the volume a bit, and which songs Brainy liked, going back to listen to them again. So far Brainy hadn't skipped a song but they were all new to him and he did turn the volume down on ones that didn't seem to interest him much, but never too much that it inaudible.

The atmosphere was relaxed, more like friends hanging out then a prospective romance. How many times had Creek listened to music with DJ Suki or laid around reading with Biggie and Mr. Dinkles? Heck, he had been in bed with Poppy more times than he could count and that was completely platonic. Maybe Creek just imagined Brainy might have a crush on him due to what Poppy said and the rest was in Creek's head?

Placing a bookmark into his book, Brainy stopped the music and turned to Creek, "I know you're probably not feeling hungry but I am. Is there anything you want me to grab you from Chef's?"

"A salad would probably be light enough," commented Creek, "But Poppy said she would be back for lunch."

"Yeah but she could have gotten busy or something," said Brainy, standing off the bed. "And worse comes to worse, she brings food too and we'll just eat it later."

That sounded like Brainy had no intention of returning to his own mushroom but Creek didn't really mind, "What about the rain?"

"There's usually a spare raincoat in here," said Brainy, going to the closet and finding one. "Bingo!" He slipped it on and turned to Creek, "I'll be back in a little bit."

"Alright, see you soon then," Creek nodded.

Brainy paused by the bed, "Want to come Snappy Bug?"

The little lady bug looked out the window and shook her entire body.

"Alright," Brainy chuckled, he waved at Creek and headed out.

After Brainy was gone, Creek turned to the bugs, "Can't say I blame you for not wanting to go out. Cute little things like you would get drenched in this rain."

Snappy Bug fluttered her wings and repeated the word, "Cute" but it wasn't in Creek's voice. It was in Branch's.

For a moment, all Creek could do was stare at Snappy Bug, "C-could you repeat that?"

"Cute," Snappy Bug fluttered her wings to repeat Branch's voice again.

Creek released a shaky breath and blinked away tears that threatened to form. He knew he would never hear Branch say that to him but still, there was something that ached in him to hear it and pretend for a bit. Instead he asked, "Do you have other things in Branch's voice?"

Snappy Bug paused, seeming to be considering it before repeating Branch's words:

"Idiot, did nothing wrong."

"I'm not mad. Leave me alone."

"Then go home."

Now that sounded like half an argument. Creek was curious about the other half but it was probably better not to go snooping further then he already had.

The front door of the mushroom opened and closed, taking Creek by surprise.

"That was fast," Creek commented. He blinked when the one who opened the door came to the bedroom doorway. "You're not Brainy…"

This new Smurf smiled but Creek had no idea who he was. He looked exactly like most of the other generic Smurfs.

"Indeed, I'm not," said the Smurf as if it was something to brag about. "I'm Singer Smurf and it's so nice to finally get to meet you after hearing you sing at the Troll Tree; you have a beautiful voice."

"Um, thank you," said Creek slowly, spotting the Smurf carrying a basket. "Um, Brainy is already getting some lunch for us."

"That's nice of him but I'm sure you'd like a break from Brainy's constant yammering," commented Singer, setting down the basket next Creek.

Though Snappy Bug's mouth was not visible to frown, her eyelids lowered to glare at Singer Smurf.

"Oh, Brainy's pet," Singer recognized her, "Hello Snippy Bug."

"Snappy Bug," corrected Creek, "And that's Brainy's lab assistant."

The little ladybug smiled with her eyes at Creek.

"Oh, he fed you that line too?" asked Singer, seeming amused.

Again, Snappy Bug glared at Singer.

Not noticing, Singer opened up the basket, "I'm amazed you're awake if Brainy has told you about all those weird experiments he does. Smurf knows it only takes five minutes to tune him out."

Remembering how Brainy seemed to wait for Creek to tell him to be quiet, Creek frowned, "Oh, you actually let him talk for five minutes?"

This just made Singer Smurf laugh, "We try not to, not like anyone can understand Brainy's babble anyway."

"I see," Creek's frown deepened. "I guess that just goes to show how lacking in intelligence you are."

Singer blinked, then stared, "What?"

Creek, idly smoothed out the covers over his lap, "I'm not the most intelligent Troll around but I've been here, what, two days, and I can already blatantly tell that Brainy doesn't really get to talk about his interests and I can't understand how he tolerates the lot of you shutting him down like this."

"No wait a minute here," Singer raised his hands in self-defense. "You haven't had to listen to him for over 150 years."

"Does Brainy tell you to stop singing?" asked Creek.

"What? No, of course not," said Singer.

"Haven't you been singing for 150 years?" asked Creek.

"That's different," Singer protested.

"How so?" asked Creek.

"Because my singing is beautiful and interesting-" began Singer.

Creek shut Singer up with a cold glare, "Brainy's experiments are beautiful and interesting to him. And despite not being related, the lot of you grew up together and I would think that would qualify some level of respect if not common decency towards each other."

"You're acting like we're cruel to him," said Singer.

"Constantly shutting someone down or out because of their interests is cruel," said Creek. "I must admit that I don't understand everything Brainy says, but he's so passionate about his interests, his experiments and the things he discovers that I don't need to understand. Just listening to him makes him happy and if you bothered to try you'd see how excited it all makes him, how animatedly he speaks that it's a bit of a dance all in itself.

'But you can't even be bothered to remember Snappy's name or her position in Brainy's life. So, no, I don't need a break from Brainy. I need a break from your toxic, self-centered aura. In fact, make that a permanent departure from my presence. You may leave now."

For a moment Singer stared, then opened his mouth.

"I am being nice about this," Creek cut him off before he could speak, his voice calm but cold. "Take your basket and leave now or you shall find out what Troll hair is capable of."

Swallowing, Singer blindly grabbed the basket and ran for it, nearly knocking down Brainy who was standing in the doorway.

Brainy watched Singer go, barely grabbing his raincoat before escaping the house. He then turned and just stared at Creek.

"Hello," Creek said slowly, suddenly feeling a bit nervous. He swallowed, "How much of that did you hear?"

When Brainy didn't answer, just staring at him, Creek felt worse. Maybe Brainy didn't appreciate Creek butting in like that? Or speaking to his fellow Smurf like that? Maybe Brainy didn't like the bit of temper Creek just displayed there.

Moving forward, Brainy set down the basket but didn't take his eyes off Creek. It almost seemed like the Smurf had forgotten how to blink.

"Look," Creek attempted, "I'm sorry-"

In a flash Brainy was sitting on the bed next to Creek and, half laying across the Troll's chest as he hugged him tightly around the shoulders so to not agitate Creek's ribs.

Not sure what to make of it, Creek slowly reached up and hugged Brainy back.

"Thank you," Brainy's voice was so soft Creek almost didn't hear it.

Staying silent, Creek just continued to hug Brainy back.

Slowly Brainy pulled back from the hug but didn't pull away. He was still rather close and looking at Creek rather intently.

This, Creek swallowed, this was definitely the look of someone with a crush. But the look was definitely more intense then Creek had seen from any Troll before and he was struggling to think of something to say that wouldn't hurt Brainy's feelings.

"Do you boys know why Singer looked like Gargamel was after him?" Papa asked as he walked into the room, stopping when he saw the scene in front of him. "What's going on here?"

Blushing, Brainy backed away from Creek but seemed incapable of speaking.

"Nothing," Creek said simply. He hoped that it would maybe dissuade Brainy from pursuing this if he feigned ignorance.

Though Brainy said nothing, he looked down and Creek felt bad but it was definitely for the best to squash this crush now before it got out of hand.

"Alright," Papa let the matter drop, even though he didn't believe it. "Poppy said earlier that you were interested in some medicine that would let you be awake for longer?"

Creek nodded, then thought better of it, "Yes but I've been thinking and maybe it might be better if I slept longer? Sleep speeds up healing, right?" If Creek was asleep then there was less time to interact with Brainy and hopefully help him get over this crush of his.

"Yes, but you still need to eat and such," said Papa. "Tell you what, I'll make more of what you have been taking so you can stay on the schedule you have been on but a few stronger ones for at night. After tomorrow your can start taking ones that will help you with pain but won't put you to sleep and you can start doing some moving around again."

"Could I go home after tomorrow then?" asked Creek.

"I wouldn't recommend it," said Papa. "Even with magic it will take at least a week for your ribs to fully heal and that much walking so soon would probably be painful."

"Indeed," Creek sighed. Hopefully a week wouldn't do too much damage. He really liked Brainy and hoped that they could still be friends after this.

Papa looked between them and turned to Brainy, "Would you like to assist in making the medicine, Brainy?"

Nodding, Brainy stood and followed Papa to the other room, glancing back at Creek once before he disappeared.

Sighing, Creek rubbed over his face.

Cooing, Pudgy walked over to sit on Creek's lap.

"You're not my firefly," Creek sighed but reached down to pet over him anyway, "Branch has to be wondering where you are."

Either not understanding or not caring, Pudgy continued to coo under Creek's attention.

Looking out the window, Creek watched the rain fall and sang softly, "Here comes the rain again
Raining in my head like a tragedy
Tearing me apart like a new emotion…"