Chapter 43
It didn't take long for Papa Smurf to make more medicine, especially with Brainy's assistance. Before the elder Smurf left, he used a bit more magic to help speed along Creek's recovery and headed out.
"Can all Smurf's do that?" Creek asked trying to keep the conversation light, wiggling his fingers and suggesting towards his torso to indicate Papa's magic.
Pausing to chew his sandwich, Brainy sighed a bit, "Potentially but Papa is the only Smurf who has harnessed it so far. I've been trying to learn but I haven't gotten far. At all."
"I'm sure you'll figure it out," Creek assured him, nibbling a bit on his salad. He tried to ignore Brainy beaming at him again by feeding a carrot slice to Pudgy, who played with it a bit as if it was a stick before gobbling up. "If you happen to see Branch the next time you're out, you should let him know where his firefly has wandered off to."
"Not many Smurfs wander around when its raining," said Brainy, "And, considering your lack of appetite, I grabbed plenty of food for us to have for dinner later so there's no reason for me to head out until tomorrow at the earliest."
That definitely meant Brainy had no plans to leave any time soon. Creek tried to tease, "Just can't tear yourself away from me, can you?"
A slight flush, crossed Brainy's cheeks, "Jerk; I'm not about to leave you alone. I'm the nice Smurf, remember?"
Despite himself, Creek smiled, "Indeed you are… Though I can't help but feel like I'm taking advantage of your niceness."
Still blushing, Brainy took a drink of his Smurfberry juice, "I don't mind."
Creek stared at him, suddenly feeling odd. He had the craziest urge to just hide Brainy away and never allow another Troll near him again, with the exception of Branch and Poppy. Maybe he'd keep Smurfs away too besides Smurfette and Branch's Smurf if he was forced to include him. Brainy was just too sweet and naïve to realize what he was saying.
"Brainy," Creek started, pushing the weird urge back, "Would you do me a favor?"
"Ah, sure," said Brainy without thought, which tried to bring the urge back up in Creek but the Troll pushed it away again.
"Never say something like that again," said Creek, "Especially not in front of a Troll. Some would definitely take advantage." He muttered, "Some in more ways than one."
Brainy blinked and scratched over his cap, "What other ways would there be?"
Again, Creek stared, feeling a bit awkward that he even alluded to sex in front of Brainy, "Um, I feel like that might be a better conversation to have with your Papa."
For a little bit, Brainy was silent, seeming to be thinking it over as he ate his sandwich.
Not wanting to choke in response to anything Brainy might say next, Creek hesitated in eating further.
"Were you referring to copulation?" asked Brainy as if it was the weather.
Now Creek was definitely happy he wasn't trying to eat anything when Brainy said that, heat raising a bit in his own cheeks despite having not been a virgin for a long time, "I don't know what's worse. You not understanding the initial reference right away or saying 'copulation' so casually."
"Why?" asked Brainy. "Sexual intercourse is rather basic in most species."
"And 'sexual intercourse' is worse than 'copulation' for future reference," Creek rubbed over his face in second hand embarrassment. Or was it first-hand since Brainy was not affected by this at all? "For being so old, you seem rather, well, innocent. It's weird having this conversation with you."
"I've only been an adult for 59 years by Smurf standards," Brainy frowned and adjusted his glasses.
"Only 59 years. By Troll standers I'll be middle aged and heading into seniority when I'm 59," Creek sighed, hoping the reminder would help deter Brainy's crush on him from going any further. "And that doesn't negate your aura of innocence."
"Possibly because I have no first-hand experience with," Brainy paused, thinking about his word choice, "Copulation. Or romantic relationships for that matter."
"You've never even dated?" Creek found that part hard to believe.
"Who do you think I would have dated?" asked Brainy. "You heard Singer Smurf; most of the Smurfs I grew up with find me annoying and we've only met the girl Smurfs recently."
"Well, maybe you'll find a lucky girl Smurf to date?" Creek put the idea out there casually, returning to eating his salad.
Brainy frowned a little but didn't comment on it, finishing off his sandwich.
Soon Creek ate as much as he could and took the next dose of medicine when Brainy offered it to him. He sighed as he settled down, "Are you going to read some more?"
Nodding, Brainy sat beside Creek in the bed again, "Would you mind if I listened to your music some more as well?"
"Be my guest," said Creek, handing Brainy the MP3 player before closing his eyes.
Watching Creek for a bit, Brainy waited until he was sure Creek had drifted off before putting in the earbuds to listen to more of the songs. He didn't read, just concentrated on the words that accompanied the music.
No longer aware of Brainy's presence, Creek turned to his side and curled up, frowning in his sleep. He clutched onto the blanket around him, curling up a bit as he began to sniffle.
Listening to the music, Brainy didn't hear Creek at first, but felt the movement, looking over to check on him. His eyes widened, seeing Creek beginning to cry in his sleep. He all but tossed the MP3 player aside, reaching out to hold Creek's hand, "Creek?"
At the touch, Creek only curled up more, crying a bit harder and began to mutter under his breath.
Remembering what Creek said about Poppy cuddling him into submission, Brainy laid down and tried to take Creek into his arms.
Brainy's proximity only made it worse, Creek shouting out, uncurling only to blindly try to push Brainy away, Brainy now able to hear Creek mutter, "no," repeatedly under his breath.
"Creek," Brainy tried to hold on, Creek's pushing more awkward than hurtful in his unconscious state, "Creek, it's okay; wake up."
"No," Creek's voice whimpered, sounding broken and afraid.
"Creek!" Brainy shook Creek as gently as he could, scared to hurt his ribs.
Creek's entire body tensed as his eyes flew open, almost impossibly wide. He stared at Brainy, breathing hard as he caught up to reality, "B-Brainy?"
Nodding, Brainy kept Creek close, "Yes; you seemed to have been having another night terror. Can you tell me what it was about?"
"I just," Creek started, eyes still wide, not completely back yet. "I just wanted it to stop."
"Wanted what to stop?" asked Brainy.
"I don't know," Creek covered his face as he began to cry again.
Frowning, Brainy pulled Creek closer, trying to offer as much comfort as he could, "Creek, I really do think you should talk to Therapist Smurf."
"No," Creek stammered, keeping his face hidden.
"This isn't healthy," said Brainy. "You can't keep living with this hanging over you and never dealing with it."
"I don't want to know," cried Creek. "I just want it to be like before. To be home and pretend nothing ever happened!"
"I'm sorry," Brainy said softly, "But you can't. You're not well enough to travel and this only seems to be getting worse. Therapist Smurf can-"
"I don't know Therapist Smurf," Creek protested, "I don't trust him!"
"Do you trust me?" Brainy asked.
At first the question seemed absurd. Creek barely knew Brainy. He had only known the Smurf two days and yet, yet there was something that made Creek want to say yes. Still, he couldn't find his voice to do it. Instead, he slowly nodded his head.
"Then trust me when I say Therapist Smurf would help," said Brainy. "And you don't have to do it alone. I can be right outside the room waiting for you. Or in the room, covering my ears, if you want. Whatever you need."
It felt like a very, very bad idea. One Poppy definitely would not approve of. But Branch thought Therapist Smurf did something worthwhile. And Brainy was vouchering for him…
"Can I think about it?" Creek asked softly, just feeling exhausted at the moment.
Brainy sighed, but nodded, "At least you're considering it now."
"I'm sorry about all this," Creek slowly lowered his hands, out of tears for the moment.
"Don't worry about it," Brainy shook his head. He hesitated, but slowly reached up to rub the back of Creek's scalp and neck. "You just rest."
Closing his eyes, Creek felt horrible, "I am definitely taking advantage of you…"
"I don't mind," replied Brainy.
"What did I say about that?" asked Creek.
"I won't say it in front of anyone but you," Brainy assured him.
"Brainy, I'm the worst one to say it to," Creek mumbled. He didn't want to but he was starting to relax to Brainy's touch, sleep wasn't too far away.
"Agree to disagree," Brainy said softly, mildly aware of Pudgy flying up to lay down above their heads and trill softly.