Chapter 70

For the brief amount of time they were back in Smurf Village before leaving again, Creek avoided eye contact with the elder Smurf. After his word vomit, spilling out his own secrets, there was no doubt in Creek's mind that Papa Smurf would want to talk to him and that was a conversation he really didn't want to have. And even though he successfully avoided that trap for today, he still felt the rather heavy weight of Papa Smurf's gaze on him the whole time. Given Papa's Smurf's nature, the look was probably concern, but there was still a part of Creek that expected disgust and he didn't want to be proven right.

On the walk to the wall, Creek noticed Gargamel watching them. He stopped and met the giant's gaze, glaring at him, and almost instantly Gargamel cowered and ran. Branch's lie seemed to be working better than expected if that's all it took to make the brute scamper off like that but Creek kept it to himself for the moment.

With Poppy carrying on the conversation and songs as they walked, Creek allowed his mind to think about what he didn't want to think about; the idea that Cinnamon could have been Brocade's victim, almost having to be before Creek's own assault. Remembering his own ordeal, there were many things about Cinnamon that he adored that now concerned him.

For the entirety of their two-year relationship, Cinnamon almost always asked for permission to kiss Creek. The only times Cinnamon did not ask was when Creek gave previous, ongoing, permission, like when they were in bed together. It was something Creek always found rather sweet but now he wondered the reasoning behind asking permission, like he needed to.

Then there was the way Cinnamon always wore a long-sleeved shirt. Most male Trolls went shirtless or wore vests, very few wore shirts and especially not all the time. But Cinnamon wore a long sleeve shirt no matter the weather and even to bed. Cinnamon joked that he was always cold but it had always been warm in his arms.

Part of Creek had though Cinnamon had been shy about his body, especially considering Cinnamon never tried to have sex with Creek. Even when Creek made his interests known, Cinnamon insisted that he wanted Creek for more than his body and their moments of intimacy never grew very heated, even when he could feel Cinnamon reacting to him.

After Brocade, Creek had suppressed his memories but, as Therapist Smurf pointed out, he had still been affected by it, especially in his relationships. Without help and without memory suppression, were all these things how Cinnamon dealt with the trauma? Had Cinnamon been on pain on his own and Creek too blind to even suspect?

"Creek," Therapist Smurf's hand gently touched his shoulder to stop him and get his attention, "A smurfberry for your thoughts?"

Looking up, Creek noticed that they were past the wall and almost to the Troll Tree. Plus, most of the group had gone on a bit a head of them, though Brainy kept glancing back in his concerned manner. He turned back to Therapist, "Is this a session?"

"A bit too open for a session," Therapist suggested around them, then smiled. "Just wanted to check in; you've been quiet for a while."

Creek looked ahead, noting Brainy trying to act like he hadn't been watching, before looking down at his hands, "Just thinking about Cinnamon."

"Clumsy mentioned that you had concerned for your friend but he wasn't sure why," said Therapist, "I take it that he doesn't know what happened."

Shaking his head, Creek stretched out his fingers, "Neither does his girlfriend."

"Things might come out if they're around while you talk to Cinnamon," pointed out Therapist, "Would you be alright with that?"

"I'm not really alright with myself knowing," commented Creek, "But I blurted it out to your Papa last night and Hefty told Clumsy about himself so I'm sure it would be alright for him to know. I don't know about Girl Grouchy Smurf but I don't know her that well."

"Her name is Stormy, and what do you mean that you blurted it out to Papa?" asked Therapist, voice becoming concerned.

"There a whole mess there I rather save for another time," admitted Creek, "But if Cinnamon did go through something like I did, you'd help him, right?"

Therapist smiled, "Of course, it's what I'm here for."

That made Creek feel a little better, though not by much. He nodded and walked back to rejoin the rest of the group with Therapist.

It wasn't too long until they heard music.

Gasping, Poppy all but bounced in place, "A music number is about to start; I hardly ever get to see anyone else perform!"

"That's because no one else gets to perform with you hogging the stage," Branch's face was serious but his voice had a teasing hint to it, making Hefty chuckle.

"Just wait until your singing and dancing bug kicks in," taunted Poppy, walking faster to hopefully not miss the beginning of the big number.

"Pretty sure I had my shots," countered Branch but walked faster too, curious.

Once they reached out outskirt of the village, they could see the Trolls gathered around. Many were already dancing to the song they were vocalizing together along with the instrument playing Trolls.

And there, in the center of it, Brainy knew, just knew, that he had spotted Cinnamon.

This Troll was a wonderful shade of orange, mostly visible on his handsome, smiling, face as he wore a plaid button up shirt and a pair of brown pants. He had tall, white hair and purple nose and looked like he was about to start singing.

Instead of a bouncy, happy song the Smurfs expected, Cinnamon smoothly began to sing, "When Rome's in ruin,
We are the lions free of the Colosseums
In poison places, we are anti-venom
We're the beginning of the end."

As he sang, Cinnamon's dancing was upbeat, clashing a bit with the lyrics but almost making them meld together at the same time, "Now wait a minute can't you see I'm lost
I try to get it but I may be too far gone
I think about it baby then I'm wrong
I try to beat it but I'm no good on my own
You say you don't see what you know about me
I got a penchant for the revelry
Now I been the best that I can be
But there ain't no good plans for me."

Listening, Brainy couldn't help but think of what Creek had said about all kinds of songs making people happy. But he also wondered if this was a way of secretly letting out pain in the only way a Troll knew how.

Not seeing them, Cinnamon continued to sing, "Tonight, the foxes hunt the hounds
It's all over now
Before it has begun
We've already won."

As Creek watched, he frowned. There were really too many Trolls around to try and catch Cinnamon after his performance. More than likely he would get lost in the crowd and Creek didn't want to have to hunt him down afterwards when there was so much Creek needed to talk to Cinnamon about.

After a twirl, Cinnamon sang, "Just wind it up and let it go
And when it gets to the other side, oh no
We will not care where it lands
When I'm wide awake, let it slide
Everyone says I'm crazy but my, my
I'll get my sleep when I'm dead."

Normally it would be easy for Creek to slid in, joining the singing and dancing but normally he didn't have gray eyes, a visual cue that there was something wrong with him. Joining the festivities and gaining Cinnamon's attention would gather the gazes of the rest of the village as well and while Trolls were often too caught up in song and dance to notice small things like the change in Creek's eyes, anyone close would see the moment the song was over.

Touching his own cheek under his eye, Creek's frown deepened. He had been so eager to go home, more desperate once he heard about Cinnamon, and now he felt stuck.

Reaching out, Brainy gently touched Creek's arm, smiling softly when Creek looked at him. He gave Creek's arm a small, reassuring squeeze.

Hand raising up, Creek managed a tiny smile, feeling a little better for a reason he couldn't quite name. Releasing Brainy's hand and taking a deep breath, Creek walked into the crowd of dancing Trolls, singing out, "In the middle of the night
I go walking in my sleep
From the mountains of faith
To a river so deep."

Stopping, Cinnamon smiled warmly as he watched Creek approach, putting a feeling of dread into Brainy's stomach.

As he walked, Creek put a little dance in his step, "I must be looking for something
Something sacred I lost
But the river is wide
And it's too hard to cross

And even though I know the river is wide
I walk down every evening and I stand on the shore
And try to cross to the opposite side
So I can finally find out what I've been looking for."

Smiling, Cinnamon offered his hand to Creek, singing, "Hello, is it me you're looking for?
'Cause I wonder where you are
And I wonder what you do
Are you somewhere feeling lonely, or is someone loving you?
Tell me how to win your heart
For I haven't got a clue
But let me start by saying-"

Taking hold of Cinnamon's hand with one hand, Creek raised his other hand to put a finger to Cinnamon's lips to cut him off, using his voice to harmonize into a new song before singing, "Oh, through the wilderness
You and I we're walking through the emptiness
Oh, my heart is a mess
Is it the only defense against the wilderness?"

Smiling, Cinnamon pulled Creek into a dance, "We are wild
We are like young volcanoes
We are wild
Trollicana, exotica
Do you wanna feel a little beautiful, baby?"

Returning the smile, Creek moved perfectly with Cinnamon's dance, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, "Cross my heart and hope to die
Taking this one step at a time
Got your back if you got mine
One foot in front of the other
One foot in front of the other."

Together Creek and Cinnamon sang, "One foot in front of the other."

Keeping hold of Creek's hand, Cinnamon sang, "Right now I'm falling over but I'm keeping right
Feeling better than I did this time last night
I stumble out into the city lights
I got a voice in my head that I just can't bite
People seem uptight, there's no hope in sight
But if I loosen my head a little then I'll be all right
But when the morning comes I do it all again because I

"In the middle of the night," Creek sang.

"Wind it up and let it go," Cinnamon continued.
"I go walking in my sleep."

"And when it gets to the other side, oh no."
"Through the valley of fear."

"We will not care where it lands."
"To a river so deep."

"When I'm wide awake, let it slide."

"And I've been searching for something."

"Everyone says I'm crazy but my, my."
"Taken out of my soul."

"I'll get my sleep when I'm dead."
"Something I would never lose."

"Yeah."
"Something somebody stole."

While the two countered each other in their songs, Poppy grabbed Brainy and tried to push him forward.

With a tug, Cinnamon pulled Creek in for a closer dance, "Oh, through the wilderness
How come even together there can be loneliness?
Oh, our heart's a mess
But it's our only defense to brave the wilderness."

Digging his heals down, Brainy managed to turn away from Poppy's attempt to force him into the crowd, "What are you doing?!"

"You need to get out there," Poppy suggested to the crowd, "Cinnamon is practically wooing Creek right in front of you. Go show Creek you're the better mate!"

Blinking, Brainy stared at the crowd with wide eyes, "You want me to sing, in front of all these people?"

Unaware of the conversation, Creek continued to dance with Cinnamon and sang, "I don't know why I go walking at night
But now I'm tired and I don't want to walk anymore
I hope it doesn't take the rest of my life
Until I find what it is that I've been looking for."

Cinnamon dipped Creek and for a moment it looked like they were going to kiss.

Though Brainy's heart lurched, it was beating too rapidly, his feet felt like lead, and the growing weight was spreading to the rest of his body, "I, I can't."

Twisting in Cinnamon's hold, Creek glided back to his feet and gave Cinnamon an almost challenging smile, a bit more like his normal self, "Cross my heart and hope to die."

"You could lose him," Poppy protested.

"Taking this one step at a time," Creek returned to dancing with Cinnamon.

"He's not mine to lose," Brainy protested.

"I got your back if you got mine," Creek sang.

"Fight for him," Poppy pleaded.

"One foot in front of the other," Creek sang.

"I can't," hissed Brainy, "I put the decision is in his hands."

"One foot in front of the other," Creek and Cinnamon finished the song together, the Trolls together all instinctively striking their ending poses.

Poppy sighed, trying to hide the sadness in her eyes by looking at the crowd, "I hope you know what you're doing."

"So do I," mumbled Brainy.

After a pause, all the Trolls relaxed, taking their breath, heading off to do other things or gathering together to talk. A few welcomed back Poppy and her group as they approached the main performers.

Still holding one of Creek's hands, Cinnamon raised his free one to cup Creek's cheek as he looked at the different color of the Guru's eyes.

Staying silent, Creek swallowed and waited.

Instead of commenting, Cinnamon smiled, "May I?"

Relieved, Creek nodded.

Leaning down a little, Cinnamon kissed Creek's cheek, "You have no idea how worried I was when your friends told me you ran off to Smurf Village on your own."

Despite himself, Creek blushed, "I didn't run, I walked."

Chuckling, Cinnamon shook his head, "Same difference, you wanker."

"Your voice," Brainy stated as they made it up to the duo, a little confused, "You have the same accent as Creek."

"Perhaps but I think it sounds better with Creek's voice," commented Cinnamon.

"Creek has a beautiful voice," Brainy agreed, half smiling.

"Should I leave so you two can get a room?" asked Creek.

"Jerk," Brainy and Cinnamon stated together but while Brainy blushed, Cinnamon just laughed.

"I'm afraid I haven't had the chance to meet many of the Smurfs yet," Cinnamon offered his hand to Brainy, "I'm Cinnamon."

"Brainy Smurf," Brainy hesitated but shook Cinnamon's hand.

"Nice to meet you Brainy," Cinnamon smiled and went on to introduce himself and meet the other Smurfs that had come along this time.

As Cinnamon did this, the Snack Pack all but ran over.

"We're so happy you're back girl," Suki squeezed Poppy tightly, "And you even brought back another small party."

Poppy giggled as she hugged her friends, "Where I'm at is always a party."

"That must be why you're always exhausting," stated Branch, smiling when Poppy stuck her tongue out at him.

"Why did you run off, Creek?" asked Biggie.

"I didn't run," Creek paused as he looked up at his giant Troll friend.

Creek had known Biggie since they were children. Biggie was one of Creek's closest friends. Biggie wouldn't harm a fly, let alone Creek.

But suddenly Creek couldn't see Biggie's dark blue skin or concerned face. All Creek could see was dark green and a possessive smirk.

The air felt tight in Creek's lungs, making no room for new breath. Everything was spinning. He couldn't breathe.

Everything went dark.