The snow melted after about a week. Brainy had unexpectedly enjoyed the first few days of snow but inevitably Hefty had caught up with him on day four. Being kicked out of the village was bad enough on a normal day but landing on cold, hard, ice was significantly worse. However the words bruised much worse, reminding him smurfs were only nice to him out of pity and gave him muttered reminders that he was still a no good traitor. The words, as usual, had cut into him and more than once he had relapsed back into the company of his letter opener. The third time he had stopped regretting it afterwards, at least to the point that he would no longer he horrified at himself for giving in. He needed it, that was all he knew.

The first warm day in a while came with a cloudless sky, light streaming through the crack in his curtains. He still had a sharp stinging feeling under his clothes from the night prior with the letter opener and turned to face the wall instead of the light. He didn't want to get up. It was one of those days where his thoughts were scrambled. The blankets had long since been kicked off by restless sleep and he was cold but still he didn't move. His joints were stiff and besides turning over he hadn't yet moved. He knew he had to: he had tried to skip a meal a few days ago but Gutsy had stayed true to his word of making sure that the brainiac was attending meals. He huffed, trying to get the motivation to get up but moving wasn't interesting. Motivation for anything these days was hard to come by anyway. He finally sat up, forcing himself to stand up before he just went back to sleep, and slowly went about getting ready. He was only just done by the time there was a knock on the door. So I did nearly miss breakfast again.

He opened the door, seeing Gutsy casually leaning against the wall.
"Trying to skip breakfast, laddie?" Gutsy asked. The expression was a calm one but the under layer of worry was somewhat apparent. A slight headshake. Gutsy gave him a disbelieving look. "I just didn't want to get up." Gutsy chuckled slightly.
"That has to be one of the most relatable thing you have ever said," he commented between laughs. "Everyone has one of those days. Especially those days were your bed seems more comfy than usual. Let's go get breakfast!"
"Fine..." Brainy agreed.
"Let me guess, not hun-" Gutsy began but trailed off when he saw the new bruises scattering the other's arms. "Hefty, again?! That smurfing jerk! It isn't like you even smurfing fight back!"
"It's fine, Gutsy," Brainy said, calmly. "I'm long since used to it."
"That doesn't make it fine," Gutsy muttered. "Nosmurf should be used to getting hurt! Especially somesmurf who clearly can't fight back!"

Brainy blinked behind the oversized glasses, not quite understanding why Gutsy was so angry. The anger seemed to be a good thing but he wasn't quite sure why. He didn't care if he got hurt: he expected it and accepted it. Then again he did care enough that the emotional devastation had caused him to start amplifying the regular sense of pain.
"I have an idea," Gutsy said, pausing midstep. "I could give you self defence lessons." He noticed the doubt flooding Brainy's features and raised a hand to halt his protests. "Think about it, it would at least make it harder for Hefty to hurt you."
"He would absolutely crush me if I so much as tried to defend myself," Brainy said, bluntly, not seeing how this would help. "If anything it would only annoy him more. He hates me and me stopping him doing what he wants to do wouldn't make that better."

"I guess but still. Some basics couldn't help in case he was going really overboard," Gutsy pushed. "Come on, you need to stand up for yourself, at least a little."
"If it'll make you happy," Brainy said, giving up with a loose shrug.
"It isn't about me!" Gutsy exclaimed, exasperated, face palming. "At least you're willing to give it a try though." Brainy sighed, his expression listless. "I'll make it fun, don't worry."
"That can be fun?" Brainy asked, dubiously. Gutsy nodded enthusiastically. As awful as it sounded at least he would get an excuse to spend time with Gutsy. That was something.

They arrived at breakfast, Brainy sent tumbling to the ground when somesmurf stuck their foot out.
"Enjoy your trip, Brainy?" Hefty asked with a smirk forming across his features. Gutsy helped Brainy up then turned his gaze on Hefty.
"Can't you just leave him alone?" he snapped, crossing his arms over his chest. "And don't give me the 'traitor' nonsense you smurfing jerk! If you hate him so much then why interact with him?!"
"Stay out of this, Gutsy," Hefty snapped. "This is between me and him." He took a threatening step forward, only to be blocked by Gutsy.
"Okay, you two, break it up!" Papa's voice rang out and he stepped between the two, giving them stern looks. "It is not necessary to start a fight!"
"He was picking on Brainy!" Gutsy protested, the indignation clear in his voice. "Again!"
"He sold us out to Gargamel!" Hefty protested. "It isn't any less than he deserves!"

The two began yelling at each other again. Before long the whole room joined in. A few was taking Gutsy's side but the vast majority agreed with Hefty, some even voicing the suggestion that Brainy should be kicked out of the village. Amidst the chaos Brainy could feel cracks forming on his calm façade. Whilst everysmurf was distracted he slipped away unnoticed. Where do I go? He wanted to be alone for a few hours. Instead of heading back to his mushroom he headed into the woods. He went to the usual small pond, staying to the far edge so if anysmurf came along they would be less likely to see him.

He sat with his back pressed against a tree, arms wrapped around his legs. He was beyond the point of crying. He was completely numb, the confirmation of everysmurf hating him just that. He stared at the water, imagining sinking beneath the surface. Water would fill his lungs and it would be cold. But, then, he would drift away. There would be nothing forever. He let his hand go into the water, feeling the cold creep up his fingers, glaring at his reflection. Then he pulled away, sighing. Not yet.

He heard someone call his name and wrapped his arms around himself tighter. He recognised the voice as Gutsy's but he just wanted to be alone. He was worrying more than ever that his presence was only causing issues in the village and if he disappeared again things would be better. The voice grew louder and he realised Gutsy probably guessed where he was. No worries, possibly the other smurf would look in the obvious place and not just around the corner. On the other hand he was fully aware that Gutsy was stubborn, more so than most smurfs, and seemed determined to cheer him up or lie to him about him belonging in the village.
"Brainy! There you are, laddie!" a relieved voice called out. Great... He glanced up as Gutsy approached, who quickly sat opposite him. "Are you okay?" A nod. "Are you lying?" A shrug.

"What did I miss?" Brainy asked. Gutsy frowned slightly, hating how flat and emotionless the brainiac sounded again.
"Um...Grouchy punched Hefty in the face," Gutsy said, smirking slightly at the memory of some karma finally catching up with Hefty from someone besides him.
"Why?" Brainy asked, surprise flooding his features.
"Why?" Gutsy repeated. "Because he smurfing deserves it!" Gutsy huffed. "Honestly, he beat me to it."
"That doesn't really answer my question," Brainy said, carefully. He didn't want to anger Gutsy who was one of the few smurfs who was nice to him. Gutsy sighed.
"He made some extremely cruel comments about you," he admitted. "Even lower ones than usual. I think Grouchy just snapped. Even Papa gave him a pass for hitting Hefty right in front of him."
"That bad?" Brainy asked, surprised. He wasn't entirely sure what Hefty could say that was worse than usual but to be fair his cruellest comments were usually said when the two were alone.

"Want to head back to the village?" Gutsy asked. He wasn't surprised when Brainy shook his head. "Mind if I keep you company for a bit?"
"If you want," Brainy said with a loose shrug. He wasn't sure why he had to return to the village when everysmurf had made it apparent that he wasn't wanted. Or – he noted, given at least a few stood up for him – nearly everysmurf at least. Gutsy didn't know what to say. He could tell that Brainy wasn't okay, anysmurf could tell, and he wanted to help. He just didn't know how.