Chapter 62

The kiss was brief, more like a grazing of lips aching to touch but not properly connecting. Still Creek's hand stayed in Brainy's hair, his other arm coming to wrap around Brainy's waist, and Brainy held onto Creek's arms for balance and proximity.

"Brainy," Creek said softly, his breath beating against Brainy's lips. He opened his eyes to better look at the Smurf, "I feel strange."

Before Brainy could question it, he saw Creek's eyes close again and his entire body just crumple as he passed out. Brainy's hold on him allowed him to keep Creek from falling too quickly but he barely managed to keep from falling over himself, making sure Creek didn't hit his head during his descent.

Easing Creek, the rest of the way into laying position, Brainy checked Creek's breathing. Satisfied that Creek's breathing was stable, Brainy pulled back in order to stand and elevate Creek's legs off the ground.

Slowing his run into a walk, Branch looked at Brainy oddly, "What are you doing?"

Barely sparing Branch a glance, Brainy kept his eyes on Creek, "When someone faints blood rushes from their head down to their legs. This will help to even out blood flow."

Walking the rest of the way over, Branch knelt beside Creek, smiling a little at the fact that Creek's colors looked back to normal, "Any idea why he fainted?"

"I'm not sure," Brainy admitted, "He said he felt strange right before." He looked at Branch, "How long were you watching for?"

"Not long," Branch shrugged, "I saw the end of you two dancing and singing together." He gave Brainy a small smile, "You really are a fast learner."

"Thanks," Brainy blushed a little. He returned to looking at Creek, eyes worried.

Creek's eyelids scrunched tighter before slowly blinking their way to being half open, speaking softly, "Am I levitating?"

"You fainted," Branch shook his head, "How do you feel?"

Again, Creek blinked a few times but his eyes still never fully opened, "Branch? I could have sworn I was just talking to Brainy."

"He's the one holding up your legs, you Guru nut-job," Branch rolled his eyes but his smile remained in place.

Turning his head, Creek gazed upward.

"Um, hi," blushed Brainy, feeling stupid. He probably would have waved like a bigger idiot if he wasn't holding Creek's legs, "How do you feel?"

"Dizzy," admitted Creek, letting his eyes close again. "The room feels like it's moving."

"We're outside," Branch reminded him.

"The outside feels like it's moving," mumbled Creek.

Branch turned to Brainy, "We should get him inside and get him something to drink."

Brainy nodded, "Some fruit juice would be best, I'm sure Papa still has some Smurfberry juice at his mushroom."

"You think your papa should look at Creek?" asked Branch.

"He did faint," commented Brainy, "It doesn't hurt to be cautious."

"He is too dizzy to stand right now," put in Creek, keeping his eyes closed.

"He doesn't have to," replied Branch with another roll of his eyes. He turned to Brainy, "Do you still need to hold his legs?"

Blushing, Brainy lowered Creek's legs in silence.

"Okay Creek, I'm going to help you sit up, okay?" asked Branch.

"If you must," said Creek.

Going slow, Branch helped Creek into a sitting up position, then slid his arms beneath Creek's knees and behind his back to support him. Once he was sure Creek was secure, he stood, lifting Creek with him.

Slumping again Branch, Creek frowned slightly, "I had no idea you could lift me."

"I can carry Hefty, you're a feather in comparison," commented Branch.

"You can?" Creek hummed, "I would have liked to have seen his expression when you first did that."

"It was priceless," agreed Branch with a smile before turning to Brainy, "Which way to your Papa's mushroom?"

Brainy looked between Branch and Creek a few times, hands fiddling together.

"Brainy," Branch tried again, not sure why Brainy suddenly looked so uncertain, "Are you alright?"

"Papa's is this way," Brainy dodged the question, heading back for the village.

Still not sure what to make of it, Branch silently followed.

Following, Pudgy flew up and landed on Branch's shoulder. He gazed down at Creek and trilled worriedly.

"Creek will be alright, Pudgy," Branch assured the firefly.

"Then can we skip the trip to Papa Smurf's?" asked Creek, staying against Branch, "I much rather go back to bed."

"You're the one who wanted some fresh air and fainted, scaring me and Brainy. You can tolerate Papa giving you a once over," said Branch.

"That sounded worse than how you mean it, I'm sure," commented Creek.

"Trolls that fainted can stop talking now," said Branch.

Humming, Creek stayed silent.

Shocked, Branch turned to Brainy, silently asking if he saw this small miracle.

But Brainy wasn't looking, he was looking ahead as he led the way.

"Brainy?" asked Branch.

"We're here," said Brainy quickly, knocking on the Mushroom's door.

Frowning, Branch looked Brainy over. There was something obviously bothering the smart Smurf but he couldn't figure out what it could be.

After a moment Papa came to the door, wearing a long red nightshirt, "Oh dear, what's happening here?"

"They're worrying needlessly," yawned Creek.

"You fainted," Branch reminded him.

"I'm sorry Papa," said Brainy, "I know its late but could you take a look and make sure he's alright?"

Papa patted the top of Brainy's head with a smile, "Of course." He stepped aside and held open the door for them. After they were in, he closed the door and set about lighting the room. "Set Creek down on my chair, please."

Nodding, Branch walked over to the armchair and carefully set Creek down, trying not to be concerned when Creek barely responded to the movement.

"Alright, Creek, could you open your eyes?" asked Papa, carrying over a stool to sit on and be closer to Creek's level.

Humming softly, Creek didn't seem to hear him, staying still as if still trying to go to sleep. But, after a moment, he turned his head more towards Papa's voice and blinked the tiredness away. It took a few attempts for him to open his eyes fully.

Seeing Creek's eyes, Brainy gasped, Branch's own eyes went wide and Papa frowned in that fatherly fashion that emanated worry.

"What is it?" asked Creek, looking between them.

"Your eyes," Brainy attempted but couldn't finish.

"What about them?" asked Creek.

"Um," Branch could only stare, unable to explain it.

Holding onto the arms of the chair, Creek pushed himself to his feet, wobbling a little.

"Creek, you should stay sitting," Brainy approached Creek to try and ease Creek back down with a push on his shoulders but stopped when Creek gave him a look.

"If you aren't going to tell me, I'll see for myself," commented Creek. He knew the basic layout from their earlier visit, and headed for the washroom, staying close to the wall in case he needed support.

"Maybe you shouldn't," Branch tried to follow.

"It can't be that bad," Creek insisted but stopped when he saw his reflection. Immediately he noticed that his color was back in his skin and hair. He looked a lot more like himself until he looked at his, unrecognizable eyes.

To be truthful, Creek was never sure what the color of his eyes actually were. Some days they looked blue. Other days they looked purple. In some lighting, he even thought, he saw a bit of pink in them. Usually he just called his eyes indigo for simplicity's sake.

But now there was no blue or purple or a hint of pink. Creek's irises had gone a light gray, barely distinguishable from the whites of his eyes. Part of Creek thought the gray was interesting but mostly he hated how dead it made his eyes look, how haunted.

Without rational thought, Creek punched the mirror, shattering his reflection.