This chapter is for "InugamiKudo". Their comments made me very happy. :)

Chapter 49

The morning sunlight woke Creek up, though for a moment he could have sworn he saw something else glowing but only Brainy was in his line of vision. He stayed laying down, just watching Brainy for the moment and wondering if the Smurf would keep to his word and let his bizarre infatuation with him die.

Carefully slipping his hand out of Brainy's lax grip, Creek sat up and slightly pressed over his torso, surprised to feel no pain. After slipping out of the bed, Creek used the washroom and then returned to the foot of the bed to try some simple yoga stretches.

So many days of not doing any yoga had Creek's muscles a bit stiff but no pain followed so he worked through it. He pressed down his hands and stretched his back, moving into a slightly more intense position.

"Damn, you're flexible," the voice all but groaned.

Creek's arm buckled and he fell over.

"Creek?" Brainy awoke at the noise. He came and peered over the end of the bed as Creek was sitting back up, "What are you doing?"

"I was attempting yoga but I," Creek looked around, still not finding the source of the voice even when he knew he wouldn't, "I slipped."

"Are you well enough for that?" Brainy frowned.

"I feel rather fantastic actually," Creek stood. He petted over the top of Pudgy's head, smiling as the firefly woke up. "Why don't we go get breakfast?"

"Are you sure?" asked Brainy, eyeing Creek worriedly.

"We can always come back if it's too strenuous," commented Creek. "I need to get out of this room anyway, I feel like I'm going crazy."

"Alright," Brainy hesitantly agreed and got off the bed, "Just let me use the washroom first and I'll be ready to go."

After the door closed behind Brainy, Creek turned to Snappy, "You haven't been hearing anything odd, have you?"

Chirping, Snappy Bug shook her head.

"It's getting worse," Creek mumbled.

Flying up Pudgy nuzzled Creek's face.

"Not that I don't appreciate it, but you're Branch's firefly, not mine," Creek pointed out again but petted under Pudgy's chin and was rewarded by the firefly's gentle coo.

When they got to Chef's, Chef informed them that they had just missed Poppy and Branch grabbing a bunch of food to go.

"That Smurf let Branch out of his sight?" Creek asked.

"I know," Chef laughed, "It's a small miracle."

"I wonder if they were going to check on you," Brainy commented Creek.

"Perhaps, but let's eat something before we try to track them down," said Creek. "I'm actually hungry."

"That's great!" Brainy beamed.

"Now tell us how you really feel," Creek teased, enjoying Brainy's blush. Things were probably going to be off for a while, but he did enjoy Brainy's friendship. He hoped that it wouldn't fade when Brainy's feelings for him did.

While they ate, Creek kept feeling like he was being watched. He tried to tell himself that it was just some curious Smurf but he feeling wouldn't fade. He fed Pudgy bits of food as he ate, trying to ignore it.

"Are you okay?" Brainy asked as they left Chef's, "You seem distracted."

"I keep feeling like I'm being watched," Creek admitted.

"You probably are," said Brainy. "I'm sure everyone is curious about you."

"Maybe," Creek agreed, "But it doesn't feel right."

Singer Smurf approached them, "Good morning Creek."

Creek stared, unable to tell which Smurf it was but guessed, "Singer?"

Grinning, Singer nodded, "That's right."

"Ah," Creek turned to Brainy, "Brainy if I threw Singer very, very, very far away, would you miss him?"

"Um," Brainy hesitated.

"Oh, don't be like that," Singer pleaded. "I came to apologize."

"Indeed," Creek suggested to Brainy. "Apologize away."

Singer chuckled, "Not to Brainy, to you."

"Indeed," Creek narrowed his eyes at Singer and crossed his arms, "How do you come by that logic?"

"Hefty told me that you had feelings for another Troll," said Singer.

"Oh, did he now?" frowned Creek.

"Yes, and I'm sorry," continued Singe. "I never would have bothered you if I had known you were in a relationship."

"Is that so," Creek glared, "So you think the only reason I did not fall into your ever so charming embrace is because I'm already in a relationship?

Singer wisely began to back away, "Um…"

"Well I have news for you," said Creek, following him. "I am not in a relationship. And I rather be single for the rest of my, significantly shorter than yours, life than date you. Not only did you ignore everything I said about Brainy from out last encounter, you have yet to even greet him properly and laughed when I suggested that you owe him an apology, which you still do. Your blatant disrespect is not even remotely attractive and I emphasis that I never want you anywhere near me, ever again. If you we meet again, I shall throw you very, very, very, very far away and I will aim for something pointy or deep. Have I made myself abundantly clear this time Singer Smurf?"

Not answering, Singer turned and ran.

"Moron," Creek grumbled, turning back and gently directed Brainy away from the scene with a hand on his back, "I don't know how you tolerate this lot."

When Brainy didn't answer, Creek turned and saw Brainy just smiling at him, "What?"

"Nothing, just," Brainy smiled more, "You, um, you say 'indeed' when you don't know what to say or in place of an insult."

Creek opened his mouth but closed it again. Then he said, "Well, you nibble your lower lip when you're nervous."

Blushing, Brainy covered his mouth, making Creek laugh.

This was much better. Creek felt better physically and it was good to be outside again. He could hold out a little longer and make it home before things got out of hand.

"You're mine."

Creek jumped and looked but, as always, there was nothing there.

"Creek?" Brainy called, voice concerned again.

"Sorry," Creek kept looking, unable to meet Brainy's gaze just yet. "I thought I heard something."

Hefty came around a mushroom and spotted them, "There you are!"

Creek jumped and turned, grumbling when he saw him, "Oh, it's you."

Huffing, Hefty headed straight for Creek, "I need to talk to you.'

"Do you have to?" Creek asked, making no attempt to hide his disgust at the notion.

"Yes," Hefty nodded, then spotted the firefly, "Pudgy?"

Seeming to smile, Pudgy cooed at Hefty.

"Do you know where Branch is?" Creek asked, "We can reunite Pudgy with his bad name-giver owner."

"He's looking for you," commented Hefty. "He'll head back to the Recovery Mushroom in a bit with Poppy and Smurfette when they don't find you."

"So, we need to go to the Recovery Mushroom," surmised Brainy.

Creek groaned, "Do I have a choice in the matter?"

"No," Hefty frowned.

"Fine," Creek sighed, "Lead the way."

Turning to Brainy, Hefty hesitated, "Um, Brain-man, I really need to talk to Creek alone. Could you find Branch and them all know where we are?"

Chewing his lower lip, Brainy looked between them and didn't move.

"It's alright Brainy," Creek assured him. "Strong Smurf and I have an understanding: he tolerates me and I openly hate his guts but as long as he makes Branch happy I stay out of the way."

Brainy looked between them again and stopped on Hefty, "You know?"

Blinking, Hefty looked at Brainy in surprise, "Yeah, I take it you know too?"

"Yes, it's a very open secret apparently," Creek rolled his eyes. "Could we get this conversation over with?"

Rubbing the back of his neck, Hefty sighed but nodded, "Let's go."

Though Hefty and Creek walked away, Brainy still hesitated to leave them alone. He was relieved when Pudgy flew after them, thinking that was at least a little better, and went to go find Branch. Maybe he could ask him a few questions before they went to the Recovery Mushroom.

When Pudgy caught up to them, he made himself comfortable in Creek's hair.

"No, go with Brainy," Creek frowned at the Firefly, "He'll take you to Branch."

Snuggling further in, Pudgy cooed contently.

Creek sighed, speaking to Hefty without looking at him, "He's confused as to who he belongs to, I think."

"Well, you are the one who originally caught him," commented Hefty.

Though surprised, Creek chuckled, "You're smarter than I thought."

"Geeze, thanks," Hefty muttered.

"Don't be grouchy," Creek rolled his eyes, "That's another Smurf's trait."

"I'm not grouchy," Hefty defended himself, really not looking forward to this conversation with Creek.

"You're acting it," said Creek. "You don't have to worry, Pudgy was not a wooing gift. I simply used the opportunity to insure Branch wouldn't be alone while you were gone."

Hefty stared at Creek.

"You're going to walk into something if you don't look where you're going and I'm going to laugh at you," said Creek, keeping his gaze forward.

Huffing, Hefty barely looked forward for a second, and turned back to Creek, "You are one hard guy to figure out. And I really wish I could hate you."

Creek eyes Hefty, grabbing his arm to keep him from walking into another Smurf that wasn't paying attention without saying a word and letting go as if he had never done it, "It's easy. Just remember that I love Branch and hate you; see, simple?"

"No, not simple," Hefty argued, "You drive me crazy from the start but then you help me with the song ambush."

"Poppy asked me to," Creek waved his hand in a dismissive gesture, "It was not for you."

"She didn't force you to," said Hefty.

"She doesn't have to," said Creek, "I adore Poppy; it's hard for me to refuse her anything."

Hefty hummed, wondering if this was because of Poppy helping Creek after the incident Creek was trying to repress, "But you could have. You've made it quite clear that you really don't approve of me but besides a few slips, you've done nothing to try to drive me away. You refuse to tell Branch how you feel but you're always looking out for him; it seems like you always have." He noticed Creek giving him an odd look and added, "Branch told me how you attacked Brocade for throwing out his blanket from his Grandmother."

"I-Indeed," Creek stammered, walking a bit more stiffly at the mention of Brocade, absently messing with his hair to distract himself. "I wasn't aware that Branch even remembered that."

"I imagine that would be hard to forget," commented Hefty, watching him. "Look the point is; I don't hate you but this weird 'understanding' is just awkward."

Creek paused, looking at Hefty oddly, "You want me to try and steal Branch?'

Also stopping, Hefty rolled his eyes, "No. I'm saying that you don't have to tell Branch anything if you don't want to but I think it would be better if we could try to be friends."

Frowning, Creek and pointed at Hefty, "You," points to himself, "and me," his frown deepened, "Friends?"

"Yes," Hefty started walking again, continuing when Creek followed, "It's something I have been thinking about but Poppy said something today and, well, I think we might have more in common than we thought."

"Well, we have the same tastes in Trolls," Creek admitted, still didn't quite understand where this was coming from. "Is this what you wanted to talk about?'

"No," Hefty opened the door to the recovery mushroom, "But I sort of hoped that this would help you understand that what I want to talk to you about; I'm not doing it to hurt you."

"That's unsettling," Creek stepped away from the Recovery Mushroom. "What is it that you want to me about?"

"Just come inside and sit down," Hefty suggested to the door.

"I'm not going anywhere until I get some answers," Creek stepped further back.

Looking between Creek and the door, Hefty sighed, "It's about what happened after you moved into your own pod."

Eyes widening, Creek took a few more steps back, "I don't want to talk about that, especially not with you."

"Creek," Hefty stepped towards him but stopped when Creek jumped backwards.

Struggling to control his breathing, Creek looked up at Hefty, "You might be the Strong Smurf but there's something I must point out." He smiled slightly, "I'm faster."

Creek turned and ran.