Chapter 60

"And I vow to be a real good friend
In those big green eyes-" Hefty's singing cut off with a shout as he was sprayed with glitter. Again. "Hey, I didn't screw up the lines!"

Creek rolled his eyes, "What color are Branch's eyes?"

"Blue," Hefty glared at Creek between trying to rub the glitter off his face.

"And what color eyes did you just since about?" asked Creek.

Pausing, Hefty realized his error and groaned, "Ah Smurf."

Rolling his eyes again, Creek turned to Poppy, "Do you really think this Smurf can learn enough to sweep Branch off his feet in one day?

Smiling, Poppy walked over and helped Hefty wipe off the remaining glitter, "He's too determined not to."

Chuckling, Hefty smiled at the princess, "Thanks Poppy."

Still smiling, Poppy took of Hefty's vest, putting it to the side, "But of course. Now, do you think a demonstration would help?"

Hefty shrugged, "It couldn't hurt."

Rushing off, Poppy took the spray bottle of glitter from Creek and gave it to Smurfette to hold, pausing to kiss her cheek before returning. She turned to Creek and grinned, "Think you can keep up, Creek?"

Though he shook his head, Creek smiled fondly at Poppy, "To say the least; I'll even give you a head start."

Tisking, Poppy suggested towards Creek, "Age before beauty."

"But ladies first," Creek mock bowed.

Grinning, Poppy flipped her hair in a dramatic fashion, "Well, if you insist."

Creek's smile faded as he turned to Hefty, "We'll try to stick to songs we've sung for you earlier but we may add more as the conversation calls for them. Try and pay attention to where we change lyrics and the dancing if you can pay attention to so much at once."

Glaring, Hefty sat on one of the rocks near where Clumsy and a few others were watching. Brainy was nearby as well, but he only seemed to be half paying attention, messing around with some of the glitter he got from Guy as a sample, "Could you be less of an ass?"

"What fun would that be?" asked Creek, grinning when Hefty grumbled. He looked over to Poppy, watching her jump around a bit as a warm up, "Ready, love?"

"Ready!" Poppy jumped higher up before going to the area they were using as a make-shift dance floor and winked at him, "Try not to be blinded by my brilliance."

"Try not to swoon over me in front of your girlfriend," Creek teased back, playfully sticking his tongue out at her when she rolled her eyes.

At Poppy's signal, Suki started up the music.

Jumping around a bit more, Poppy turned it into a dance as she began to sing, "Well you're a real tough cookie with a long history
Of breaking little hearts like the one in me
That's okay, let's see how you do it
Put up you dukes, let's get down to it

Hit me with your best shot
Why don't you hit me with your best shot
Hit me with your best shot
Fire away."

Smiling, Creek suggested to Poppy as he sang, "Everybody knows she's a perfect ten."

Grinning, Poppy made an 'oh you' gesture with her hand.

Reaching out, Creek quickly grabbed Poppy's hand before she could retract it, pulling her in to dance, "And I'm hanging on tight 'til the whole thing ends
'Cause this sky don't get much brighter
She sets, she sets the city on fire."

Creek began to lead Poppy into a tango, "Somebody told me
If I'm not careful, well, this one's gonna roll me
I got my hands full and this one's gonna own me and control me
I'm so mystified-"

Though Poppy shook her finger at Creek in a scolding gesture, she continued to dance with him, "Look at him," She twirled herself slightly away into a 'ta-da' pose,
"Look at me," she twirled back and the dance turned from a tango into a salsa,
"This boy is bad
And honestly
He's a wolf in disguise," she caressed Creek's cheek with her finger as she looked into his eyes,
"But I can't stop staring in those evil eyes."

Poppy moved as Creek directed, "I asked my girlfriend if she'd seen you round before," she turned her back to Creek, keeping hold of his hand as she shimmied her hips and bent her knees in a bit of a backwards grind,
"She mumbled something while we got down on the floor baby
We might've," Poppy cut herself off with a gasp, a grin and a wink before returning to the salsa dance and continuing her singing, "not really sure, don't quite recall
But something tells me that I've seen him, yeah

That boy is a monster
M-m-m-monster
That boy is a monster
M-m-m-monster
That boy is a monster
Er-er-er-er."

Rolling his eyes, Creek twirled Poppy out a bit, changing the dance to a quickstep, keeping Poppy as arm's length as he began to sing as if to show her off, "I kn-kn-know a girl
She gets what she wants all the time
'Cause she's fine," Creek pulled Poppy back to dance normally,
"But for an angel, she's a hot, hot mess
Make you so blind
But you don't mind."

'Cause she's an uptown, get-around, anything-goes girl," Creek pulled Poppy closer,
"She's a hardcore, candy-store, give-me-some-more girl," He dipped her as he swayed her, tips of her hair almost brushing against the ground before she's righted again.

Moving faster, Creek twirled Poppy and held her out to show her off again, "She'll make you take her to the club, but then she leaves with her friends
She likes to stay late at the party cause the fun never ends
And all her clothes are on the floor, and all your records are scratched
She's like a one-way ticket cause you can't come back!"

Pulling her back, Creek twisted Poppy in a toss, dipping her as he caught her, "Sayin' yeah, and you want her
But she's so mean," He flipped Poppy but to her feet and returned to the tango now,
"You'll never let her go, why don't you let her go?
Yeah, and you want her
But she's so mean
You'll never let her go, why don't you let her go?"

"So how do you know when it ends?" Clumsy suddenly asked.

Both Poppy and Creek stopped, Creek's arms around Poppy's waist in a sort of embrace that had Smurfette fiddling with the glitter spray bottle and Brainy pointedly not watching.

"Excellent question," Creek righted Poppy to her feet before releasing her. "Normally it ends when someone submits or can't think of another song." He turned to Hefty, "In your case, it might be when Branch punches you."

"Very funny," Hefty grumbled.

When Hefty began to do a bit better at remembering lyrics, he started practicing singing with Poppy but Poppy was definitely taking it easy on the Smurf, not even trying to trip him up like Creek knew Branch probably would if only for an opportunity to get away from this song ambush. Despite his better judgement, Creek took over from Poppy to practice with Hefty.

Creek let Hefty go first but then went in for the kill, singing, "I don't mean to be so uptight, but my heart's been hurt a couple times," Creek tilted his head and peered up at hefty through his eyelashes,

"By a couple guys that didn't treat me right
I ain't gon' lie, ain't gonna lie," Creek straightened and walked towards Hefty, pleased as the Smurf backed away with wide eyes,
"'Cause I'm tired of the fake love, show me what you're made of
Boy, make me believe~"

That part of the song ended, leaving Hefty free to reply but the Smurf's mouth simply opened and closed, too stunned to respond.

So, Creek sprayed him with glitter.

"Stop that," Hefty growled, coming back to himself, "You took me by surprise!"

"If you think Branch won't bat his eyelashes to catch you off guard, you have another thing coming," Creek shook his head and turned to Poppy, "Are you sure-"

"Yes," Poppy exclaimed from her spot on Smurfette's lap.

"You'll need to catch Branch off guard," Creek said for the tenth time, which was ten times too many already, "And swoop in to get him to dance with you. He won't willingly go along with your backwards attempts at dancing like Poppy or be forced to by Poppy like me."

"I'm not enjoying your proximity either," Hefty grumbled, shouting when Creek sprayed him with glitter, again, "What was that for?!"

"Being ungrateful," Creek glared back before turning to look at Poppy. He had left her to her own devices for too long. Now the princess's attention was completely ensnarled by Smurffette, Creek probably would need a crowbar to separate them at this point. "I guess another dancing demonstration is out."

From his spot on the rock, Clumsy raised his hand as if he was in class, "Why don't you dance with one of us?"

Humming, Creek looked the baby-face Smurf over, "I suppose that would work." He went over and offered his hand to Clumsy, "Shall we?"

Face turning darker blue with a surprised blush, Clumsy quickly shook his head, "Not me, I'm Clumsy, remember?" He suggested to the side, "Brainy could do it though."

The spectacled Smurf looked up from his project and looked at Clumsy with what Creek could only describe as alarm. This Smurf hadn't said so much as a word to Creek the entire time they'd been at the Troll Tree and often looked away whenever Creek looked in his direction. Creek wasn't sure if it was shyness or if Creek had offended him at some point.

"Brainy, is it?" Creek went over to him and offered his hand.

Staying silent, Brainy looked at Creek's hand as if it would bite him.

"The dirtiest thing I've touched is your muscled companion, I swear," Creek teased, smiling a little when he heard Hefty grumble behind him.

A small chuckle escaped Brainy, alerted Creek to the fact that this Smurf was, indeed, capable of making noise. He hesitated a moment longer but took Creek's hand and stood. But as Creek lead him to the dancing area, Brainy looked back towards Clumsy, hesitant.

Putting a finger under Brainy's chin, Creek directed Brainy's gaze back to him, noting the Smurf's blushing face as he began to sing, "Oh don't you dare look back," Creek released Brainy's chin to suggest to his own face,
"Just keep your eyes on me," Creek walked backwards to keep eye contact to go the rest of the way to the dance area,
"I said you're holding back
He said shut up and dance with me
This Smurf is my destiny
He said oh oh oh
Shut up and dance with me."

Using the hand holding Brainy's, Creek pulled Brainy closer and began with a simplified waltz, "We were victims of the night
The chemical, physical, kryptonite
Helpless to the bass and the fading light
Oh we were bound to get together
Bound to get together."

Creek was surprised by how quickly Brainy adapted, moving in whatever direction Creek silently suggested with a tug on the appropriate hand. Of course, Brainy's dancing was definitely that of a novice, and rough around the edges, but it had potential, "He took my arm
I don't know how it happened
We took the floor and he said," Curious, Creek added some quicksteps to the mix,

"Oh don't you dare look back
Just keep your eyes on me
I said you're holding back
He said shut up and dance with me
This Smurf is my destiny
He said oh oh oh
Shut up and dance with me."

When Brainy almost fell over, Creek covered it up by catching Brainy and spinning them together and almost returned to the waltz but the Smurf was definitely, somehow, more determined to do well than Hefty. Once properly back to his feet, Brainy repeated the step, grinning in satisfaction when he succeeded.

"A Smurf hat and a pair of specs
My exceptional pirouette Smurfy dream," Creek sang, amazed when Brainy actually went up onto one foot, allowing Creek to spin him,
"I felt it in my chest as he looked at me
I knew we were bound to be together
Bound to be together."

Brainy looked up and smiled at Creek and Creek smiled back, tilting his head and raising an eyebrow, silently asking if Brainy wanted to step it up a notch. Brainy blushed but seemed to understand, giving a short nod.

"He took my arm," Creek took Brainy's hands and stepped back a moment,
"I don't know how it happened,"
"We took the floor and he said~"

Turning the dance into swing, Creek took Brainy through a basket whip move, amazed when their limbs didn't tangle together. When they were facing each other again, Creek tilted his head to the left and took hold of Brainy's waist, further astounded when Brainy moved perfectly as directed without verbal instruction, jumping up at the right time to allow Creek to lift him and swing him to Creek's left hip, and then again to the right.

"Oh don't you dare look back
Just keep your eyes on me
I said you're holding back
He said shut up and dance with me
This Smurf is my destiny
He said oh oh oh
Shut up and dance with me," sang Creek, continuing the swing moves with Brainy. The moves had some hesitation to them on Brainy's end but Creek could see the mounds of potential that lacked in Hefty.

There was more to the song but Creek stopped early, absolutely grinning at Brainy, "That was bloody fantastic." He turned to Hefty and smirked, "I'd dare say your brother has a far better shot at winning over a Troll then you."

Though Creek knew Hefty had glared at him and said something rather unwitty in response, the Smurf stayed silent. All around them had suddenly gotten cold and dark in a way it hadn't the day before the song ambush.

Creek tried to pull his hands free from Brainy's to wrap his arms around himself to try and get back some heat but Brainy wouldn't let go.

"Everybody's looking for love, oh, oh," Creek froze the moment he heard that hauntingly familiar voice singing behind him,
"Ain't that the reason you're at this club, oh oh."

When Creek wouldn't, couldn't turn around to look, Creek was suddenly torn from Brainy and forcibly turned to face Brocade, alive and towering over him.

"You ain't gonna find a dance with him, no oh," Brocade sang, pulling Creek further away from Brainy, even as Creek tried to dig his heels into the ground,
"Got a better solution for you boy, oh oh."

Creek looked around him, desperate for help but no one was paying attention. Suddenly Branch was there, dancing with Hefty, while Poppy was dancing with Smurfette. Brainy and the other spectators had all but disappeared.

Using his superior strength, Brocade forced Creek into a dance as he sang, "Just leave with me now, say the word and we'll go (and we'll go)
I'll be your teacher, I'll show you the ropes (you the ropes)
You'll see a side of love you've never known
I can see it going down, going down."

Tears burned Creek's eyes and screamed seared his throat but neither would release themselves. He struggled against Brocade but the part giant Troll barely even acknowledged his attempts to escape.

Brocade continued to sing, "In my head, I see you all over me
In my head, you fulfill my fantasy
In my head, you'll be screaming more
In my head, it's going down
In my head, it's going down
In my head, yeah, in my head oh yeah."

Suddenly Brocade's massive hand cupped the back of Creek's head and tried to force him closer for a kiss but Creek fell back. Suddenly Creek was no longer outside in a field near Branch's bunker.

Creek was in his pod, on his bed.

Brocade was above him.

Creek awoke to a sob on his lips, barely able to manage it with how little air he could feel in his lungs. Worse of all, he still felt hands on him and he wanted to scream.

"It's okay, Creek, it's okay," Branch's voice had Creek opening his eyes. Lying next to Creek, Branch was trying to comfort Creek without touching him but Creek could see Branch's hands reach out and pull back as he spoke, not sure of what to do.

Air was hard to take in, but shaking breaths panted between stifled sobs until Creek could think again. He wasn't in his pod with Brocade six years ago. He was in Smurf Village, in the Recovery Mushroom in bed between Poppy and Branch as Poppy slept clinging to his back, like the cuddle monster she was, and Branch was in front of him, trying to sooth him without freaking him out further with his touch.

"Branch," Creek's voice came out as a whisper, barely able to speak with how hard he as crying and grasping for air.

Making a decision, Branch lightly pinched at Poppy's hands until she grumbled, let go of Creek and rolled away, luckily without falling off the bed. He then moved closer, giving Creek time to protest if he wanted to, as he wrapped his arms around Creek and just held him close.

Despite himself, Creek slumped against Branch, the familiar feeling of security that Branch provided from their childhood, able to put him at ease and help him get his breath back. Again, against his wishes, he chuckled.

"What's so funny?" asked Branch but he stayed close.

"This reminds me of when we were kids," commented Creek.

There was a pause, as Branch thought over what Creek meant, "Back when we shared a room at Miss Frizz's?"

"That," Creek admitted, "But also when you would have nightmares." He paused to see if Branch would say anything and, when he didn't, continued, "I would wake up to the sound of your crying in your sleep so I'd crawl into bed and just hold you until you calmed down. Sometimes I'd go back to my own bed afterwards but other times I just slept beside you and got out in the morning."

Branch stayed silent for a little longer, absently playing with Creek's hair as he thought it over, "Why didn't you ever tell me before?"

Shrugging, Creek concentrated on the feeling of Branch's fingers in his hair, "You never woke up and I never really thought about it as child. By the time I realized I should have said something, you had run away and wouldn't have believed me."

"Why are you telling me now?" asked Branch.

"Therapist Smurf says I should be more honest," Creek partially lied, "I've kept a lot of secrets from you, even before Brocade."

Again, Branch took a moment to think it over. He was curious, of course, but Creek was definitely vulnerable right now. It wouldn't be right to take advantage, "You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to Creek."

When Creek remained silent, almost seeming to snuggle into Branch's hold, Branch thought Creek might have dozed back off. He was surprised when Creek spoke, in more ways than one, "I had asked my uncle to adopt you too."

That was something Branch couldn't ignore, "Why would you want me butting into your family? Especially back then when you just, essentially, got your uncle back?"

"I didn't want to leave you," said Creek, "I adored you the most out of our foster siblings." He could feel Branch get warmer, probably blushing. "I'm sorry I left. I'm sorry Bro-" he swallowed thickly, "that you were picked on more after I was gone. If I had stayed, maybe you wouldn't have run away."

Branch sighed, "No, I would have. I was planning on the bunker before your uncle came to get you." He absently twirled a strand of Creek's hair around his finger, "But, honestly, I did leave sooner than I originally planned. I couldn't stand it there without you being a semblance of sanity in that place."

A small chuckle escaped Creek, "Couldn't take Damask's singing every word anymore?"

"Or Tartan constantly seeing what stupid way he could break another bone," groaned Branch. "I can't believe he lived long enough to reproduce."

"Life does have some small miracles," Creek mused. "Did you ever think we'd manage to find a way to being friends again?"

"Not really" Branch admitted, "But I never thought I'd willingly be friends with Party Princess snoring away over there, either. Let alone fall in love one day."

Creek went silent and Branch hit himself. Here he had been trying to avoid relationship stuff in front of Creek, even after Creek insisted he was okay with it, only to bring it up himself. Why must he constantly screw up this comforting thing?

"I don't expect an answer," Creek began softly, so hesitantly Branch froze his moment, even slowly his breathing in order to listen, "But I feel the need to ask."

When Creek didn't ask, Branch wrapped both arms around Creek again and just gave him an encouraging squeeze.

After taking in a deep breath, Creek asked, "Did it hurt?"

Branch blinked, unable to figure out what Creek was asking.

"It was the most painful thing that's ever happened to me," Creek continued softly and Branch connected the dots in horror. "I've been with others, when I couldn't remember, but not like that. I didn't remember, but I just couldn't do it. I just wanted to ask, to make sure."

Though he blushed, Branch sighed, "It didn't hurt, a little sore after if anything, but never any pain; Hefty made sure of that."

Creek let out the breath he had been unwittingly holding and pulled back from Branch in order to sit up and wipe at his face, "Good, I'm glad." He tried to joke, "I'd have to add to my body count if he had hurt you."

Sitting up, Branch rubbed over Creek's back, "I'm sorry."

"Whatever for?" asked Creek.

Branch hesitated, "For not protecting you."

"That was never your job," Creek couldn't help but smile a little though. This protective aspect of Branch was something Creek had loved for so long.

"Maybe not but I tried to look out for all of our siblings," commented Branch, "And there were times I thought he was creepy when it came to you but never that he was a danger. He was an ass but I didn't think he was evil."

"Obviously, neither did I," commented Creek, blinking back tears, "I liked him."

"I know," said Branch, "Never could figure out why but you two flirted constantly. Taffeta and Chiffon had a pool going on how long it would take for you to get married."

"Married?" Creek repeated, his head swimming. Everyone, including Branch, thought his being with Brocade was inevitable. Would anyone back at the tree believe that Creek hadn't wanted what Brocade had done?

Branch watched as Creek began to cry, "Oh shit, Creek, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"

"I need air," Creek stood on the bed and walked straight off and towards the door.

"I'll go with you," Branch stood to follow.

"I need to be alone," Creek spoke through the tears. "I know you said it was probably the worse thing for you at the time but I need it. I need to clear my head on my own for a bit."

Drumming his fingers over his sides, Branch looked around the room for something to make him feel les anxious about this, "At least take Pudgy."

Creek sighed, "I finally get him out of my hair and you want me to take him along? Fine, if it gets me some peace and quiet for a bit."

Rushing back to the bed, Branch picked up the sleeping firefly, smiling a little at him when Pudgy awoke and gave him a purring trill at the sight of him. He carried Pudgy over to Creek, "I make no promises on how long I can keep myself from following you."

"I thought your Smurf was the stalker in your relationship," teased Creek, wiping at his face before taking Pudgy.

"Your alone time is shrinking," Branch warned.

"So hasty," chided Creek but hurried out of the Recovery Mushroom. Once outside, Creek rubbed at his face some more.

Trilling, Pudgy flew up and nuzzled Creek's cheek.

Creek petted Pudgy under his chin, then set out to walk a bit. He didn't know the Smurf Village that well but he knew if he kept heading in his currant direction he'd end up at that field Brainy had found him in that night he ran out due to a night terror to sing chaotically. After his dream that began with Hefty's song boot camp, he did feel an itch to sing. He reach out with his voice and maybe sooth the thoughts trying to claw away at him.

"I've walked the distance, I paid my dues and tried to have a go at what I thought I knew was real," sang out Creek, "Held no appeal
I've been to places, I've seen the tidings,
I bought a book of rules for every coin that I could steal," he looked up at the night sky,
"And so I came to gaze upon the stars, when they were yet unborn
And consequently, tear at my old scars, and the mask I had outworn."

Almost more out of habit then desire, Creek changed his walk to be more fluid to match his singing, "So when I'm crying alone
Yeah, when I'm cold as a dying stone

Grow me a garden of roses
Paint me the colors of sky and rain
Teach me to speak with their voices
Show me the way and I'll try again."

Up ahead, Creek could see the bridge over the stream that lead to the field, "I've heard the rumors, started fires, I sowed a sordid lot of plays for keeps for what I need," he held out his hands, suggesting to himself,

"Behold the demons that I freed
I've tried my best at wearing the hard hat, but healing doesn't seem to happen when you hide away the seed."

Instead of walking across the bridge, Creek jumped up to walk on the decorative stone arches across it, "And so I came across the medicine man, and he showed me what I'd forlorn," Creek paused to look into the water,
"For if I'm stayed it happens by my own hand, and my own voice full of scorn."

Jumping down onto the grass, Creek continued, "So when I'm crying alone
Yeah, when I'm cold as a dying stone

Grow me a garden of roses
Paint me the colors of sky and rain
Teach me to speak with their voices
Show me the way and I'll try again."

Now standing in the field, Creek held out his arms and danced a slow waltz with an imaginary partner, not even sure who he imagined anymore, "Without you I'm nothing at all
And life has the face of a morbid game
With you nothing seems impossible
It all seems to fit the frame."

Creek released his imaginary partner, and continued on his own, "So when I'm crying alone
Yeah, when I'm cold as a dying stone

Grow me a garden of roses
Paint me the colors of sky and rain
Teach me to speak with their voices
Show me the way and I'll try again."

Letting the song trail off on its own, Creek sat down on the grass. After a moment he laid down to gaze up at the moon.