18 Chapter Eighteen

[One day before]

Poppy and Creek were spending some quality time together in her pod, scrap booking the day's events and sipping tea while sitting on the plush carpeting. Her bedroom was lacy and dyed in soft pinks; stuffed toy critters littered the bedspread and the walls were adorned with fresh flowers and pinned photographs of all her friends. The princess hummed to herself happily, laying on her stomach at the foot of the bed and cutting felt pieces into perfect shapes for her book. Among the mess of clippings, Creek sat next to her crossed legged, cup in hand, observing the artwork peacefully.

"You haven't used much green, today," the purple troll commented.

Poppy tilted her head to inspected the page then buried her arm into a nearby box to withdraw a fist full of green construction paper. Creek chuckled and took slow drink from his tea cup.

"By the way," she said, pursing her lips and squinting at her project. "Fuzzbert said your pod is finished. It's hanging in the same spot as your last one, ready to go. You can move in whenever you want."

Creek froze, a sour seed of grief planting into the lining of his stomach. Then he tapped his fidgeting finger on the side of the cup. "Poppy, my dear… I thought you said you'd tell the construction to wait."

"Yeah, but come on Creek," she looked over at him with a quirk in her brow. "We both know you're just buying time. You shouldn't make the fuzzlings wait when they've got so many other things to do."

His mouth twitched and he avoided her gaze, staring down into the dark liquid of his drink. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Poppy smiled and put her hand on his knee, giving it a pat. "You're being evasive," she teased knowingly. "Is there something wrong?"

"Not at all..."

"That's not what my dad told me," Poppy whistled, resuming her snipping of the green paper.

"Urgh, your father – !" Creek groaned, covering his face with one hand. He should've known the daffy old troll would spill to his daughter. They shared everything to one another, even if it was a secret. Creek would never win a war against the dynamic duo. "And what exactly did King Peppy have to say," Creek said through his fingers, praying that Peppy was spared from most information.

"You like living with Branch, don't you?" Poppy asked, bypassing his question and keeping her attention on her snipping scissors. "Is that why you don't want your pod back?"

Creek pressed his lips together tightly and his cheeks tinged with color. "I don't mind it, but that's not the problem," he said, being wary of every word he said. Poppy was smart and would pick him apart if he wasn't careful.

Poppy tossed down her supplies and scurried up into sitting position, a huge grin on her face. "That's it, isn't it? Tell me more about you and Branch," she blurted out happily.

Creek felt the urge to retreat, his oncoming blush reaching unbearable levels. That didn't take very long, did it? "There's nothing!" he said quickly. "There is no Branch and I."

The pink troll wasn't deterred, "But there is something, isn't there?" Poppy pushed, scooting closer to Creek and staring him down with giant, bright eyes. They shimmered with excitement and Creek's heart throbbed in his chest, stricken with guilt and longing.

"N-No," he denied again. "Nothing with us." It was true, there was nothing between the two trolls, but he couldn't hide his erratic emotions from his best friend when the dark troll's name was mentioned. "Just… just me. It's just me, Poppy," Creek admitted faintly, averting his eyes.

Poppy squealed loudly and tackled Creek into the floor, hugging him tightly. "Oh my gosh, I can't believe it! You love him – you love him! You love Branch, don't you?!" The purple troll gasped and wriggled under her, but she wouldn't let up just yet.

"Can't breathe!" he cried out, tapping her on the back. The princess leaped off quickly and helped him back up, raving her apologies while grinning from ear to ear.

"I'm just SO. FREAKING. HAPPY," Poppy giggled, hugging herself around the middle and twisting around from all the pent up energy. "This is the most amazing thing in the world!"

"Alright, alright!" Creek said with a grimace, rubbing the back of his bumped head. "I admit it, I do like him but you need to calm– "

"Love," Poppy corrected him, sticking out the tip of her tongue.

"L-Love… him…" he sighed, touching his cold palms over his fiery cheeks. "But Branch, he… I'm not a match for a guy like him. He's so creative and intelligent, and I am nothing in the face of that."

"What the heck are you talking about?!" she squealed, grabbing his shoulders roughly and rattling him. "You're PERFECT for Branch! You guys are like two peas in a pod, a pair of matching socks – You complete one another and I've never seen a more perfect troll couple!"

"But we're not a couple," Creek frowned. "Even if I have feelings for him, it's impossible, Poppy. Branch is barely my friend... I can't jeopardize that again. I'd rather us stay like this for the rest of our days if it meant being able to stay in his life."

"Well, I for one, don't want either of you to be this miserable anymore," Poppy said, taking up Creek's hand and squeezing it lovingly. "Don't worry about a thing, I have a surprise for Branch at the festival games and it'll help him see just how amazing you are."

"A surprise?" Creek questioned worriedly. Poppy surprises were always well thought and considerate, if it were for a normal troll. He wasn't so sure if what she had planned would be a great gift for the irritable grey troll. He seemed to dislike everything that Poppy threw at him, but Creek was in no position to tell her to stop.

"Nothing too crazy," she assured and opened her arms to him. "Just make sure to take him the game zone when the festival starts, that's all you have to do."

The princess smiled sweetly at the purple troll and then he slumped his shoulders in defeat, going in for another hug. Creek sighed slowly and she rubbed his back with a hush. The weight of his worry lessened now that Poppy knew the secret that was locked in his heart. He felt significantly better, but there was an ominous cloud of apprehension cast over his head.

- - - - -

[Present time]

Creek heaved from running, leaning one shoulder against a tree to catch his breath. His entire body was damp with a thin layer of sweat, the icy breeze chilling straight to the bone. He was so scared and embarrassed. He had to calm down, before anything else happened. He had to get out, get into nature, away from the village, the festival, and all the trolls. Inside his pants, a trickle of fluid traveled down his leg.

"YOU'RE SUCH A HYPOCRITE!"

Creek flinched at the angry shout that drifted over the wind towards his direction. Without looking back, he slipped into the forest to find a spot to rest. "I'm so sorry, Branch," he said shamefully, pushing past a thicket of prickly brushes, "I didn't plan any of this!" Guilt ripped into his conscience with zero clemency. He was running away from Branch, leaving no word or explanation as to the reason why; he was running away from his soul mate and they were going to hate him til the end of time, but Creek's fear of his own changing body overcame everything else.

In that tiny closet, riding up against the dark troll in a frenzy of intense emotions and desire, he'd sensed Branch's soul. The scent peeked out and caressed Creek with the smallest of touches but he caught it and held it to his heart for dear life. The essence of Branch was smokey and dark like his skin, but invigorating to suck in like white cedar trees after a dousing of rainfall. The strong and demanding musk was sweetly edged with sugar, inviting him in with a curling finger. It teased him with dirty vows and Creek could compare it to digging through a wild, thorn-filled berry patch just to get a taste. He fought so hard, clawing his way in Branch's life in search of the sweet taste he longed for and he'd finally achieved it, finding it was everything he'd wanted and more.

Creek stumbled over a thick protruding root and fell to his knees. He sat there on his calves and teared, hastily swiping his eyes in an attempt to harden up. He was so uncomfortable and confused, inwardly tightening against the sticky, hot mess coating his inner thighs. He wanted to mate so badly. Feverish thoughts and urges pulled at him from different directions, telling him to go back and throw himself at Branch like a wanton, loose troll. Creek trembled at another influx and groaned in desperation. He'd never heard of male trolls becoming so needy; He didn't even know he had the parts, it was like he was going into heat! His aura burning while running through a maelstrom of fiery torture that screamed to bed the grey troll without any remorse for the consequences. Every Spring, Creek managed to keep the slim hinting of arousal buried out of sight, even when he was surrounded by dozens of couples, kissing and fondling each other in public. He'd become numb to the entire season. This erotic feeling was advanced and new. What he really wanted was to clean himself out and cool down or he was going to lose his head in Branch's presence; Doubtful that the grey troll would have the patience through his red fog to deal with any of Creek's pleas.

Sitting there in the coming darkness of evening, the purple troll missed how much time had passed. He felt alone and secluded, surrounded by thick bushes and long, swaying grass. Gusts of wind threaded through the forest and a few more dead leaves broke free from the overhanging branches, littering the earth in brown and yellow. Everything was eerily quiet, like the forest was vacant of life. Creek sniffed and wept in small intervals, feeling victimized by nature and a convicted felon for hurting Branch's feelings, then he decided to hobble back to his feet. He used a nearby tree to balance his weak knees and slumped into the trunk, wondering if he should head to his new pod and lock himself away, never to be seen again.

"Found you," came a profane growl from behind him.

Creek whipped around and was faced with a fuming monster. Branch looked livid with fists clenching at his sides, eyes dilated and glowing in outrage. He'd never seen him so angry before and a new fear speared through his chest.

"STOP! Stop running!" Branch seethed, halting Creek in his tracks when the purple troll had tried to move. He stomped over to him and snatched him around the neck with a whip of his black hair, smacking his back into the tree with an acute force that didn't seem possible. Creek choked and became dizzy, the air knocked out of his lungs. "That's for running away from me," the dark troll explained, then he reared back and threw a heavy blow into Creek's abdomen, his fist backed by all the fury he had. "And THAT'S for fucking with me and my feelings!"

Creek heaved and clutched his stomach, white spots dazzling over his vision. He spluttered over the incredible pain and paled out. Branch released him and Creek dropped heavily to the ground on his knees, face planting into the grass.

Branch glared down at the troll with daggers in his eyes, the urge to kick him while he was down prodding into his mind. "You think you're smooth, don't you," he hissed, his lip curling.

"N-No," Creek managed to say, shaking his head and coughing.

"It was only a matter of time before I found out. My miserable life must be incredibly entertaining to play with," Branch said with a venomous cruelty. "The unhappy troll. The colorless, grumpy troll," he continued, squatting down and grabbing Creek by his ear's edge to force his face up to look at him.

The purple troll winced and grit his teeth, peering up at Branch, "Hold on, what are you –," but then his face was dropped mercilessly with a fresh scowl.

"I guess I'm an easy target," Branch scoffed, "because I'm sure you all know that deep down, I really wish I could be just like you guys. You and Poppy were really conniving this time around, I'll give you that much!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Creek shouted. He used all his energy and clambered back to his feet, face twisted while holding his aching stomach. Branch stepped a few feet back and his anger reboiled.

"Don't pretend to be stupid, I'm not fucking with this anymore, Creek! I'm out of this game!"

"There's no game," Creek said, "I would never play with your feelings..." He knew that running away would leave him angry, but he didn't expect this. There had to be some sort of misunderstanding between them. He felt lightheaded and nauseous, but there would be a worse pain if he couldn't talk Branch out of his hysteria.

Branch ignored him, fidgeting and beginning to pace back and forth across Creek's path. He muttered to himself and ran his hand through his hair, then he laughed flung his arm out, pointing at the purple troll and making him flinch. "You know, it's alright," he said, his face smiling but hard emotional pain was etched into his features. "I've been a fool my entire life, it's not only your fault. It's not like this hasn't happened before. Twenty years ago, I looked to you and I loved you more than anyone, and then Rosie was taken. I couldn't handle it like everyone else did and then you ran when things got rough. Life is cruel, isn't it? It's coming full circle again and I didn't learn my lesson the first time."

Creek's mental strength failed while he watched Branch unravel before him, tears breaking and rolling down his cheeks. He recalled the normal start, sunny day of his childhood and the emotions he felt when he lost his best friend to the darkness of having no color. "You pushed me away," he said, grieving at the memories that haunted them both. "That day, when I – I wanted to give you my book, to make you happy. You pushed – "

"Is that all it takes?" Branch snapped. "One slap away and you become the shallowest of friends? I wasn't worth the trouble in the end. Not then, and not now. You're in it for your own gain; You don't actually give a damn about me at all!"

"That's not true!" Creek cried, stepping forward and reaching out to the grey troll. "Everything I do now is for you, only you. I think of nothing else!"

"And now, what is this?" Branch's voice wavered and he retreated out of Creek's reach. He clutched his upper arm with one hand and his eyes filled with oncoming tears, face dipping past his shoulders. Creek's heart twisted painfully, gaping wide to the agonizing emotions bubbling up over Branch's fortitude. "You just keep going on and on, you just keep playing," he stifled a whimper, gnashing into his lip. "Why are you doing this to me? I've left you alone, haven't I? I never tried to bother you. I've kept alone my whole life and you've been screwing with me, making me feel things for you all over again, wrapping me up and leading me on because what – you're bored?! WHY?!"

"We're soul mates!" Creek yelled, snatching Branch's wrist and pulling him in to get his full attention. "We are destined. I don't know where you've been getting these conclusions about my intentions but the only thing I've been trying to do is get closer to you because I love you!"

The troll's cloudy pupils blew momentarily and then he squinted his eyes shut, ripping his arm out of the hold easily. "BULLSHIT!" he yelled back, "What about all the badgering around with Poppy? How many times a day did you frolic with the princess behind my back, planning some new hair-brained scheme to make me miserable?! How many laughs did you guys get at my expense?"

"Poppy does what she wants, it has nothing to do with me," Creek pleaded. "I can't do anything to stop her, you know that more than anyone. But I want you, Branch. We're soul mates. I'll say it over and over again, I'll do whatever it takes. We have all the signs, don't you feel it too? Don't you feel the pull in your soul?"

Branch crossed his arms tightly over his chest and stared into the purple troll with a menacing look, his cheeks wet and shining from his crying. "We're not mates," he said icily. "You don't really want me, and I don't want you either!"

It was just like when they were small. The young, distraught voice echoed in his ears.

I don't want you either!

We can support each other. I can help you get your color back…

I don't WANT my color back!

I don't want you either!

Creek's heart shattered like a pane of thin glass. He hiccuped a sob and covered his mouth tightly, an endless streaming of tears casting lines through his flushed cheeks. Branch didn't move, his gaze baring into Creek's form and watching him cry. He grit his teeth and said nothing more, the lines in his face lessening while he finally achieved making Creek feel just as badly as he did, but it didn't seem like that's what he really wanted.

This would be the end, if Creek gave up. In the fury of Branch's misunderstandings, there was still a misting of truth. He was right, he didn't try hard enough. He was a hypocrite. He ran away when it got too rough and he waited twenty years too long to try and support what he really cared about.

"I loved you too, when we were trollings," Creek whispered. The troll wiped his eyes slowly and continued, even if the backlash were to hurt him more. "You were my entire world and I've hated myself to this very day for not going back to you when you lost your color. What could I have done, not knowing an ounce of what you were going through? What could a small child do then, to fix something as serious as this?"

"I don't know," Branch said under his breath, averting his eyes. "It's not my problem anymore."

Silence daunted over them and Creek moved forward again, merely a yard away. His arms ached to capture the troll and hold him, if not for Branch's sake then for his own.

"I love you," Creek proclaimed softly.

"Stop," the dark troll replied sharply, but he pressed onward to counter his standoff.

"Soul mates or not, color or no color, I don't care. Cast aside the memories and the troll tales and all we're left with is each other, right here, face to face, and I'm telling you I love you. Hit me again if it'll make you feel better, but it will all the be the same."

Branch swallowed slightly and unfolded his arms. "Well, I don't really want to love you," he grunted stubbornly. "Nothing you say is going to change that."

"I love you," Creek repeated vehemently, closing the distance and slipping his hand into his. He'd say it a thousand times over if it meant getting through the tough exterior of his adamancy.

Branch snatched his hand away hastily, "I don't really want to love you," he frowned, his voice pitching up with his stirred emotions. Creek's eyes widened in surprise. It had finally been too much for the grey troll to handle, the deluge of his feelings breaking out in the form of song. The intense energy flowed from the root of his foundation and out of his chords.

Branch's lip curled into a sneer and he shoved Creek back roughly, making him stumble, "Over and over, I try staying sober, but I can't seem to get myself straight," he sang to him. "Still trying to erase all the feelings that stayed, the minute that you walked away... Is this love, or obsession?"

"Aren't the two exactly the same?" Creek replied in verse, smiling slightly when Branch became flustered.

"But you still keep me guessing and that's the reason I ain't sane," the grey troll bit out, a touch of color forming in his dim cheeks. "I don't really wanna love you, I don't even care that much! I just wanna see the day when I don't think of you.

I don't wanna get with you baby, I just wanna give you up! I just wanna see the day when I don't think of you."

His voice was incredible, the rhythmic octaves chilling colder than ice but effortlessly birthing flames. Branch jabbed his index finger into Creek's chest and stepped closer.

"Week after week I see you in my dreams, but I don't even want you there," he serenaded, his tone softening. The clear, sweet notes punctured the purple troll and his own blush became more prominent, lips parting slightly for air while the alluring melodist moved in on his face. "I swear that I'm good, boy, I just wish I could fix what only time can repair… Is this love, or obsession? Are the two exactly the same? But you still keep me guessing, and that's the reason I ain't sane."

A wave of heat washed through Creek and he shivered, sucking in a slow breath while his pulse thundered radically. Their noses were only a few inches a part. Branch stared him down with shadowy eyes, momentarily flickering down to his lips. Then, he backed up with a soft huff, turning away and rubbing the back of his neck.

"You stink," he muttered tiredly.

Creek swallowed and licked his dry lips, "It's my soul," he said quietly, "because you're my mate."

"How long are you going to keep up this charade," Branch growled. "Don't you have any shame? I don't know anything more about this soul mate crap than the next troll. How can you claim that I'm yours?"

"Give it a chance, Branch," he asked him desperately, wringing his hands together. "I have looked for all of the answers to the plaguing questions. I've read books and researched auras. I've practiced meditation and touched the other world, all in an attempt to find this missing part of me."

"I wish I had that much free time," Branch huffed sarcastically.

Creek grimaced but continued to try, "I've even talking with King Peppy because he's one of the few elders that still know the fine details. Our village has lost everything when it comes to soul mates... but I have no doubt in my mind that we are two halves of a whole."

"Just give up," the grey troll said, throwing him a look of disdain. "You're good at that."

Another hot sting of heartache buried in his chest. He deserved that, but Branch would not win this fight, not while he could still breathe. "I will not give up," Creek replied defiantly.