Chapter 71
Having been the closest to Creek when he crumbled from fainting, Cinnamon just barely managed to catch Creek and ease him to the ground. Setting him down to lay flat, he stayed kneeling beside him and checked Creek's pulse, looking up in surprise when Brainy lifted Creek's legs to elevate them.
Seeing Cinnamon looking at him, Brainy attempted to explain, "When someone faints blood rushes from their head-"
"Down to their legs and elevating the legs will help to even out blood flow," Cinnamon finished, then smiled, "I'm not a doctor but I did study some first aid when I was apprenticing for my apothecary business."
Staying silent, Brainy nibbled his lower lip and looked away, back towards Creek's sleeping face.
"You make medicine?" Therapist asked, taking out his small notebook to jot that down.
Cinnamon watched Therapist write curiously, but didn't ask about it. Instead he nodded, "Yes, I make all sorts of medicines. Branch is actually a big supplier of the herbs I use."
Humming, Therapist seemed to mumble "interesting" to himself but it wasn't loud enough or the others to be sure.
Murmuring, Creek began to stir.
"Goodness Creek, are you alright?" asked Biggie, stepping closer to peer down at the Guru.
"Um, Biggie, maybe you shouldn't-" Branch tried to motion Biggie to step away as he watched Creek start to wake up.
Spotting Biggie, Creek's eyes went wide and he screamed, turning to try and scramble away, kicking out and accidentally kicking Brainy in the stomach in the process.
Coughing, Brainy let go of Creek's legs to hold onto his stomach.
Before Creek could try to get up, Cinnamon quickly wrapped his arms around him, holding him close, "Easy, Creek, easy."
Unable to move, Creek tried to curl into himself, whimpering, "no" over and over again.
Half releasing him, Cinnamon used his free hand to pull Creek's head closer, against his chest and over his heart, "It's okay Creek; it's just us, you're safe here."
Breathing hard, Creek stayed curled up and tense but he seemed to hear Cinnamon's heartbeat more than his words, slowly unclenching. Slowly he opened his eyes and looked up at the Troll holding him, "Cinnamon?"
Smiling, Cinnamon nodded and released his hold on Creek's head to cup his cheek, "That's right, Spirit, I'm here."
A soft blush flushed across Creek's nose, "You need to stop calling me that, we're not dating anymore."
"You still call me 'Peaches'," Cinnamon pointed out.
"You look like peaches with whip cream, not my fault you were named wrong," Creek teased in a grumpily voice.
"And you'll always be 'Spirit' to me," Cinnamon smiled, caressing Creek's cheek with his thumb before helping Creek sit up a bit more, but sticking close, "Now, want to tell us what spooked you so much?"
Looking up, Creek had almost forgotten that he had a crowd and quickly looked away when he realized that his screaming had drawn in more of a crowd, "N-not here."
Glancing around him, Cinnamon nodded, "Alright then," he stood, picking up Creek as he went, cradling him against his chest.
"I can walk," Creek protested, voice soft.
"You just fainted, I rather be safe than sorry," commented Cinnamon. "Now where to and who's all coming?"
"Your pod or mine would be fine," after a moment of hesitance, Creek continued, "You, Branch, Poppy and the Smurfs," he swallowed, "But not the Snack Pack."
Immediately the Snack Pack all started protesting at once.
"Shut it!" Branch yelled them into silence, "This is bad enough without a crowd. Creek will tell you guys when he's ready, if he wants to."
The Snack Pack looked at each other, uncertain.
"What Branch tried to say," Poppy shot Branch a scolding look, "Without yelling," she smiled at her friends, "Is that this is a rough situation and it would be better handled in smaller quantities, whenever Creek is ready. He just really needs to start with Cinnamon, you guys understand that, right?"
Suki was the first to speak, "Of course, just, we're worried too you know. It feels like we've been out of the loop a lot lately."
"You'll let us know if there's anything we can do to help," Guy Diamond turned to Creek, "Right?
Staying silent, Creek nodded after a bit, "I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry," Biggie said tearfully, "I didn't mean to scare you."
"Mew," Mr. Dinkles seemed to sadly nod.
"I know," Creek nodded again, though he avoided eye contact, "And I know you'd never hurt me. I'm sorry I reacted that way."
"Is there something I can do so you don't react that way again?" asked Biggie.
"I don't know," Creek admitted, hating it.
Looking between them, Cinnamon quickly adjusted Creek a little, "We should probably go before my arms get tired and I drop Creek on his ass, hopefully this will all be cleared up soon." He headed away from the group without waiting for a response.
Frowning, Creek lightly poked Cinnamon's stomach, "I said I could walk."
"And I said that it's not happening," said Cinnamon, he turned to Poppy, "My pod is a bit closer but it might be harder to get to for the Smurfs."
"I can carry Smurfette up and Branch can carry Hefty," commented Poppy.
Branch grinned at Hefty's near pout at the notion.
"We'll need to make another trip for Stormy, Clumsy, Brainy and," Poppy tried not to frown, "Therapist."
"Princess," Cinnamon purposefully gasped her title in a dramatic fashion, "I'm shocked; I thought you had a giant heart with room in it for everyone. What did poor Therapist Smurf ever do to you to make you turn that smile upside down?"
Instantly, Poppy's face darkened, "He didn't, I mean I don't, you see he's-"
"It's complicated," assisted Therapist Smurf.
Face darkening a little more, Poppy avoided all eye contact.
"You know, for being one of the sweetest Trolls I know, you really don't pull back your punches when you don't want to," Creek narrowed his eyes at Cinnamon.
Instead of responding verbally, Cinnamon just grinned at Creek until the purple Troll surrendered by looking way first.
Watching them, the gnarling pit in Brainy's stomach only seemed to grow larger.
Soon they arrived at an orange pod, looking a bit like an orange growing from a tree. It hung near a branch, acting like a platform where one could walk into the pod once they were high enough.
"I could climb that," commented Hefty, already looking for the best way up.
"Or, I don't know, stop being weird and just let me carry you for thirty seconds," Branch deadpanned.
Turning slightly darker on his cheeks, Hefty coughed a little to cover it up.
"We could make you more uncomfortable by having me carry you up," Poppy offered.
"Branch it is," said Hefty quickly.
"I thought so," Poppy grinned.
Chuckling, Cinnamon extended his hair up towards his pod, "Never a dull moment with your friends around, Spirit." He headed up towards his pod, still carrying Creek.
As they headed up, Poppy pouted.
"Something wrong, Poppy?" asked Smurfette.
"We're always Creek's friends," commented Poppy as she picked up Smurfette, "He's never referred to us as his friends despite us telling him too many, many times."
"You can't tell someone to consider you a friend, Poppy," Branch rolled his eyes as he picked up a still blushing Hefty.
"It worked with you," Poppy stuck out her tongue, then heading up with Smufette.
Branch scoffed at Hefty's chuckle, "It took twenty years for that to work," and followed her up to the platform branch.
Unlocking his door, Cinnamon carried Creek in and set him down on his armchair, "Be back in a moment, Creek, just relax."
"Easier said than done," Creek grumbled but sighed, "Thank you for carrying me though."
"No need to thank me, I quite enjoyed it," Cinnamon smiled and tucked back a few of Creek's stray hairs.
Standing behind them, unfortunately no longer carrying their mates, Branch and Poppy exchanged worried looks.
As the Trolls went to get the next back of Smurfs, Hefty turned to Creek, "So, that's the guy you used to date, huh?"
Creek nodded, not sure where Hefty was going with this.
"He seems nice," Smurfette tried.
"He is nice," commented Creek.
Outside, Cinnamon kept his hair stretched out when he landed on the ground and turned to Brainy, "Ready?"
Stepping back, Brainy nibbled his lower lip and kicked himself for actually, physically putting a distance between himself and Cinnamon. It wasn't the Troll's fault for having a history with Creek and still being on good terms with him, making Brainy question his own chances with the Guru.
"I won't drop you," Cinnamon promised.
"It's not, I didn't mean," Brainy wrung his hands together, before stepping closer to Cinnamon, "Sorry."
"Don't worry about it," Cinnamon picked Brainy up, cradling him the same way he had done to Creek, "I wouldn't be too fond of heights either if I didn't have magic hair."
"Yeah, heights," Brainy absently agreed, trying not to look down as they headed up.
Poppy carried up Stormy as Branch lifted up Therapist, Cinnamon going back for Clumsy once Brainy was inside the pod.
Stepping in, Brainy paused when he saw a yellow, female Troll with orange hair and nose standing beside and talking to Creek, "Hello?"
Turning, the yellow Troll smiled at the Smurfs, "Hello."
"Everyone, this is Daffodil," Creek introduced the female Troll as she waved.
Brainy recognized the name from when Branch told them about Brocade attacking Cinnamon and asked, "Cinnamon's girlfriend?"
Immediately Daffodil's face scrunched up in disgust, "Ew, no; I'm his cousin."
"Practically my sister," Cinnamon added in, walking in with Clumsy.
"I changed his diapers," said Daffodil.
"You most certainly did not," Cinnamon frowned at her, "I was no longer wearing diapers when I came to live with your family."
"Oh right, it was Sunny who was still in diapers," Daffodil smiled widely, pretending like she had just remembered that.
As Cinnamon shook his head and asked Daffodil what she was doing in his pod, Brainy looked around said pod.
There were several bookshelves filled to the brims with books and a small side table with a couple of picture frames; one of Cinnamon with Daffodil and the other of Cinnamon with Creek. All round the room hung different flowers and herbs to dry out, giving the pod a very nice, relaxing scent.
Suddenly, Brainy realized Cinnamon was standing beside him, looking like he had just asked a question, "I'm sorry, what?"
Smiling, Cinnamon suggested to a door, "Come with me to the kitchen?"
"Ah, sure," Brainy said softly, glancing at Creek, before following Cinnamon out.
The kitchen was also filled with flowers and herbs drying, almost more strongly scented with the warmth of the sunlight coming in through the window.
Brainy never had a kitchen in his mushroom, never had a need with Chef and Baker doing all the meal prep. But suddenly he found it very domestic, almost able to picture Cinnamon and Creek making meals together here surrounded by the drying plants and he couldn't help the pang of longing and the stab of envy.
Cinnamon chuckled a little when Brainy jumped in reaction to Cinnamon taking hold of the bottom of Brainy's jacket, wiping the front with a wet washcloth in order to attempt to remove the dirt Creek had unintentionally kicked onto the Smurf, "You seem rather distracted, if you don't mind my saying so."
Blushing, Brainy watched Cinnamon wiped off the dirt, "Sorry."
"No need to apologize," Cinnamon put the washcloth into the sink once the dirt was gone, "It's not hard to tell that something serious is going on."
Nodding, Brainy stayed silent. It wasn't his place to explain as it was up to Creek how much he wanted to divulge.
"But I got to ask," Cinnamon suggested to Brainy's jacket, "Why are you and Creek dressed to match?"
"Oh," Brainy tugged on the jacket, absently, "It was Tailor's idea."
"Tailor?" Cinnamon repeated, "I take it that 'Tailor' is the name of another Smurf?"
Brainy nodded.
Letting out a small breath, Cinnamon smiled a little but didn't say a word. He didn't need to; it was obvious that he was relieved, making the pit in Brainy's stomach grow larger.
Rejoining the others in the living room, Brainy had little choice but to sit to the floor with Clumsy, Stormy and Therapist; there not being enough room on the couch other than Hefty, Branch, Smurfette and Poppy already sitting there with Daffodil sitting on the couch's armrest. Though Brainy kicked himself for not thinking of it, himself, when Cinnamon sat on the armchair's armrest next to Creek.
"Daffodil, I'm afraid you need to go now," said Cinnamon.
Daffodil frowned, "Why?"
"Creek has something he wants to discuss with me and I didn't know you'd be breaking into my pod again when I suggested we come here," explained Cinnamon.
As Daffodil pouted, Creek looked up at Cinnamon, "She can stay."
"Are you sure?" asked Cinnamon.
"You tell her everything; might as well get it over with," said Creek, looking away.
Frowning a little, Cinnamon reached out and gently turned Creek's face back towards him, "Is this about your eyes?"
Though not pulling away, Creek look down, "It's part of it, yes."
"Come on Spirit," Cinnamon caressed Creek's cheek with his thumb, "Talk to me."
Still looking down, Creek reached up and held onto Cinnamon's sleeve. He truly regretted saying the others could be here for this, despite most of them knowing about him. He should have thought more of Cinnamon's comfort in dealing with what had to be asked, "Branch told us something and, I have to know," he looked up to meet Cinnamon's gaze, "Did Brocade do anything to you, before the day he died?"
Eyes widening, Cinnamon's hand twitched against Creek's face. He glanced over at Daffodil, then looked over their audience, then back to Creek, "Could we discuss this alone?"
Though Creek perfectly understood Cinnamon's request, he couldn't stop the overwhelming fear suddenly filling him. It felt definite that Brocade had hurt Cinnamon the way that he had been hurt and Creek had been blind to it, making Cinnamon suffer alone. He couldn't stop the tears spilling out before he could even acknowledge them forming.
Quickly, Cinnamon reached out and held Creek tightly against him, "Don't cry Spirit, don't cry; they can stay."
"I don't care about that," Creek sobbed and held Cinnamon tightly in return. "I'm sorry I never knew. I'm sorry I never helped you. You went through this alone for so long because of me, because I wouldn't let you in with my own secret."
Petting Creek's hair, Cinnamon tried to piece together what Creek was saying, "Creek, what does your secret have to do with Brocade?"
"The bastard hurt me too," Creek barely managed to get out.
Pulling back a little, Cinnamon looked Creek over. His hand ran lightly over the smooth skin of Creek's arm, "Your marks seemed to have healed better than mine."
Creek's tears calmed at that, suddenly too angry to fall anymore. He reached blindly for the front of Cinnamon's button up shirt.
"Creek, wait," Daffodil quickly stood.
But Creek wasn't listening. He all but ripped open Cinnamon's shirt and froze at the sight in front of him.
All over Cinnamon's torso were scars, light from age but angry and numerous, almost as if he had been hit by a series of sticks, multiple times over years. The sole different one was a circular one over Cinnamon's heart, the lines a bit swollen and jaded, looking a little bit like a child's drawing of the sun but more than likely from when he had been stabbed by Brocade from Branch's retelling of events.
Several times, Creek's hands rose up to touch the scars but he couldn't bring himself to do it, to fully acknowledge the pain they represented. He held onto the front of Cinnamon's shirt, trying to use it to keep him grounded, "You always said you were cold."
"I'm sorry," Cinnamon said softly, awkwardly trying to cover his front and take hold of Creek's hands at the same time.
"You hypocrite," Creek sniffled, "We broke up because of my secret."
"You wouldn't talk to me," Cinnamon tried to reason, "If you had asked, I would have told you; I just never knew how to talk about it. You always got uncomfortable looking whenever Brocade was mentioned and no one ever believed me about Brocade except for Daffodil."
"You told people Brocade forced himself on you and they didn't believe you?" asked Creek, grip tightening on Cinnamon's shirt.
"I don't understand what that means," Cinnamon admitted.
"Why don't you tell us what Brocade did?" suggested Therapist, notebook at the ready for Cinnamon's story.