Chapter Text
Shrimpo was bad at time. In fact, he didn’t care for it, or a lot of things for that matter.
He cared for his instruments though. He put time in effort into cleaning them so they played well. But, once he realized how time scores and tempo worked, and how long he’d need to practice in order to perfect these instruments, Shrimpo decided it was time to turn a new leaf.
It started with changing how lazy he was, and then controlling that temperament of his. He was planning to exercise with the other toons, get a feel for how interactions worked so he could pick up social cues.
He just wasn’t sure who to pick to be his little guinea pig for his reintroduction into society. Shrimpo had practically trashed his relationships with everyone with his outbursts, but he wanted to mend as many as he could.
And just as he was thinking of who to pick he turns around and suddenly Cosmo, easily one of the most well-liked Toons in the building, is in his doorway looking sick to his stomach and a bit pissed.
What came next and after was anything short of a miracle in Shrimpo’s eyes. Not only did Cosmo agree to being taught the drums, but he also helped Shrimpo a lot with how to talk to people!
He originally thought Cosmo was always hiding something - this vague disdain for everyone he interacted with. Turns out he was right. One night, after Shrimpo had gotten away from his handler and straight into Sprout’s face and started a fight, Cosmo brought Shrimpo to his room.
It was the first time Shrimpo had ever been invited into someone’s room, and it was anything short of surprising.
The inside of Cosmo’s room was toasty, a polar opposite to how cold his room could get, with soft shades of brown from top to bottom. It had a nice rug, even a seating area that Cosmo told him was given to him by Teagan, as a “birthday gift.”
Shrimpo just nodded, deciding not to mention how he’s never been given a birthday gift. He figured it’d just sour the good mood. Cosmo gave him a brief room tour but cut it short once Shrimpo revealed just how scrapped up he was from Sprout’s punches.
Cosmo nearly went white when he saw Shrimpo bleeding and beginning to bruise and directed him to one of the seats. Shrimpo went and sat down, not daring to touch anything since he’d just get it dirty.
Cosmo came over with a medkit and sat on the other seat. He reached for Shrimpo’s chair and scooted him closer. Shrimpo blinked rapidly and held his breath as his chair was dragged across the floor.
It was weird. Shrimpo believed he was becoming weird.
Originally he would get in Cosmo’s face whenever he’d piss him off or say something dumb, but now he can barely look him in the eye. It was so stupid! He was stupid.
Cosmo reached for Shrimpo’s palms and rolled up the sleeves of his hoodie, a white one from Cosmo’s closet. It was just a small gift, a “thank you” for having Shrimpo teach Cosmo how to play drums.
Shrimpo would never tell a soul this but this hoodie he was wearing was his most prized possession. The fact he’d stained it with his own blood devastated him. Cosmo didn’t seem to mind though, focused only on the cuts and bruises.
He applied ointment and bandaged them up. Then Cosmo got up and grabbed an ice pack, ordering Shrimpo to place it on the wounds until they stopped aching. Shrimpo nodded, taking the ice pack and resting it on his skin.
He shuddered. Cosmo chuckled at the response, discreetly looking to the left when Shrimpo glared up at his face. “You’re enjoying this aren’t you!” Shrimpo accused.
Cosmo shrugged, still smiling. “Maybe I am, maybe I’m not.”
Shrimpo rolled his eyes, sitting back. “I bet you love treating me,” he said with a teasing smirk. That was new. Shrimpo was never so forward.
Seriously, he was becoming weird! He was sure Cosmo was beginning to notice because as soon as the words left Shrimpo’s mouth Cosmo’s face darkened, becoming flushed from his words. He was embarrassed!
Shrimpo’s initial thought was “oh shit,” because he doesn’t want to make things awkward, but damn it, his head! After the initial thought came and went, only one thing stuck with him: he looks so cute .
Shrimpo shot up, dropping the ice pack. “I need to go!” he exclaimed, stepping past Cosmo.
Cosmo got out of his seat and walked after him, asking, “What do you mean “go?” Where are you going?”
Shrimpo shot his hands up, shaking his head. He grabbed the doorknob, opened the door, and rushed out. “DON’T FOLLOW ME!” he shouted, turning to the right and running off.
Seriously. There was something so totally fucking wrong with him. This was Cosmo he was talking about. Sensitive, quiet, go-with-the-flow Cosmo. They were total opposites!
How could a guy like that like him?
**
Cosmo watched as Shrimpo played the guitar verse for a song called “Yellow,” apparently made by a band called Coldplay. Shrimpo introduced the song to him from a radio he’d stolen from the handlers lounge and let Cosmo give it a listen.
Inspired, both of them got to work matching up and practicing the drum and guitar parts, respectively. He had to admit, it was hard. Cosmo was still sloppy and awkward with holding the sticks and came in late a couple times, but Shrimpo never stopped to correct him.
He just went with the flow, mistakes and all. It put Cosmo at ease.
Finally, they finished and Cosmo felt a wave of accomplishment go over him. He looked over to Shrimpo, who was staring fondly at him, and grinned. “Let’s goo!” Cosmo cheered, clapping his hands.
Shrimpo laughed, cheering too. “Give it up for our drummer, Cosmo! Best drummer in the nation.”
Cosmo laughed, rolling his eyes in amusement as he set the drumsticks to the side and put his hands up, moving them up and down, as if to shush a cheering audience. “Please, please. All my fans, please! It’s too much, thank you.”
Shrimpo wheezed, slipping his guitar off and setting it on a guitar rack. “Yeah, guys!” Shrimpo said, looking at their ‘audience’ (which really was just the walls of Shrimpos’ room and his doorless doorway) and playfully shushing them.
Cosmo watched Shrimpo slip behind the drum set to where Cosmo was and looked down at him, smiling. “You played well,” he complimented.
It was new, the complementing. It was something Cosmo recommended he do in order to get back on people's good side, and encouraged Shrimpo to try it out on him until he felt comfortable enough to say it to others.
This would make it the fifth compliment of the day, not even close to beating his record of twenty-five. Cosmo smiled nonetheless, shrugging. “It was alright. I guess I still have some things to learn.”
“Yeah, well it's a good thing you have me then!” Shrimpo said, reaching out a hand for Cosmo to take. Cosmo gladly accepted, allowing himself to be dragged to his feet by Shrimpo.
He guided him out from behind the set and over to the doorway. They’d agreed that after playing the song they’d go to Cosmo’s room for a “sleepover,” a celebration for all the progress they made.
Cosmo had invited others when Shrimpo requested it, but once everyone knew Shrimpo would be attending they all suddenly seemed to be busy. Shrimpo knew what they meant, and even Cosmo wasn’t that gullible to believe they were all busy.
Shrimpo stopped, letting go of Cosmo’s hand. “Are you ready for our sleepover?” he asked, looking at him.
Cosmo stared down at his empty hand, then Shrimpo’s. He reached over, interlocking the fingers, then glanced up to Shrimpo to nod. “Yeah, I’m ready now,” he said, smiling.
Shrimpo’s face immediately became flushed, but Cosmo decided not to point it out. With how badly he was overheating and beginning to sweat Cosmo bet he looked equally as red.
Together, hand-in-hand, they walked across the hall and into Cosmo’s room. He instinctively locked the door, turned off the lights, and let go of Shrimpo’s hand. The shrimp moved to Cosmo’s bed, guided enough by the nightlights that he was able to avoid the few scattered objects on Cosmo’s floor.
Cosmo got himself busy with a tape, sliding into a VHS player. He’d managed to convince Vee to borrow one of her TVs, but he’d have to make sure to return it tomorrow or else she’d get mad.
Cosmo tweaked the setting and channel and before he knew it the TV switched from static to the old-timey quality of one of the episodes from their show. Cosmo grinned and grabbed the remote, underhand throwing it to Shrimpo, who caught it.
Cosmo then walked up and hopped into his bed. He picked up the covers and laid it out over their bodies, covering their legs and a quarter of their torsos. He glanced over to Shrimpo and smiled. “Ready to unpause it?”
Shrimpo nodded, glancing down at the remote. He struggled for a second because of the dark but after Cosmo told him where to look, Shrimpo nodded, put his finger on the button, and pressed “play.”
The episode opened with the show’s theme song, a simple jingle that was practically burned into his head from all the episodes he starred in. Once it was over it was Finn who came onto scene. Cosmo had just grabbed a few random tapes for them to watch, so these were all episodes he didn’t know about beforehand.
Finn was on a ship sailing through the seas. He was manning the crew, captain of the ‘low-lifes’ aboard his vessel. Gigi was there squawking orders at the other crewmates, Poppy and Goob, with Glisten supervising.
“I remember this episode,” Shrimpo murmured, piquing Cosmo’s interest. “It was meant to be a lesson on giving people second chances.”
“Really?” Cosmo murmured, glancing back to the screen. Glisten had moved away from the front deck up to where Finn and the wheel was.
Finn greeted him with a smile, tail wagging, as he stared at him with his one eye. Finn, in reality, had both of his eyes but, for the sake of the setting, wore an eyepatch to conceal the other. It was a very stereotypical pirate outfit, outdressing everyone else in terms of quality and design, but nothing too over-the-top.
Glisten said his fair share of “hellos,” and Finn began to talk to him about the crew.
“ As second-in-command I expect you to be on top of things! Ya’ never know when someone will need help, ” Finn said, as a reminder to Glisten, who seemed less impressed with the lecture.
“ I’ve been running this vessel alongside you for years, Captain. You know very well I’m capable of toughening these seapups into seals ,” Glisten hummed, looking out at the horizon.
Finn just laughed, tipping his hat. “ Of course, of course ,” Finn said, remaining from lecturing any further. “ This is why I trust you so much. You’re my best friend .”
Glisten clicked his tongue. “ Just that? I would’ve thought we’d be more by now ,” Glisten murmured.
Finn’s brows furrowed in a confused panic. “ W-what! You mean like… my best friend to be my righthand man? Like that? ”
Glisten just looked at Finn, amused. “ Sure. Let’s go with that. ”
Cosmo snorted. “Wooahh, Glistenn,” he cooed.
Shrimpo chuckled, gently elbowing Cosmo’s shoulder. “Shaddupp!.. Ah, if I remember correctly I was the villain here, and Glisten was in debt to me. He had to betray Finn, but when Finn found out, asked for forgiveness.”
“And did he?” Cosmo asked.
“Well, yes, that’s the whole point of the episode,” Shrimpo said, matter-of-factly, “but I’m sure our actual Finn would’ve accepted Glisten back anyways. They’re endgame.”
Cosmo had to turn his head to laugh.
Shrimpo just huffed, pushing Cosmo. “WHAT! WHAT’S SO FUNNY?” Shrimpo exclaimed, embarrassed. “I DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING WEIRD .”
“No, no!” Cosmo wheezed, “it’s just I’d never imagine you’d say something like ‘endgame.’ I thought you didn’t do relationships.”
The shrimp clicked his tongue, crossing his arms. “Saying endgame isn’t weird,” he said flatly. Cosmo nodded in agreement, mouthing an apology. Shrimpo then added under his breath, saying, “and for your information I do do relationships.”
Cosmo held his breath. Not that he knew why but he felt tense waiting for Shrimpo to elaborate.
“I just haven’t exactly found the right person to do the whole… dating thing with,” Shrimpo said, trailing off.
For a second Cosmo felt the oddest sense of relief. He was… glad, almost? Happy to hear Shrimpo was interested in anyone. But, then again, Shrimpo wasn’t interested in anyone. Hearing that and knowing that it… it kind of hurts? Cosmo was confused.
He tried to play it cool though, shifting back to his previous position and gluing his eyes to the screen.
Roughly five minutes passed of Cosmo overthinking and planning before he said anything, and by then they’d gotten to the scene where Glisten meets with Shrimpo to exchange information about how they were sailing for lost treasure and where it was located.
“Soo, you haven’t found anybody you like?” Cosmo asked, deciding to play it cool.
Shrimpo didn’t reply. It made Cosmo so nervous and he felt his body heat rise and sweat begin to trickle down his neck. Was it a mistake to ask or were they just not close enough for Shrimpo to share stuff like that?
He wasn’t sure, but he needed an answer or else Cosmo would combust from anxiety.
Just then, Shrimpo answered. “I… I think I have, but he’s… taken.”
He. He . Shrimpo liked a guy. Who on Earth could that be? Cosmo had to know. Now.
He sniffled, scooting back more. “Yeah? That’s… awful.”
Shrimpo hummed in agreement. “Yeah, I guess so. You? How are you and Sprout going?”
Cosmo raised a brow, confused now. How’d the conversation switch to him when he still wanted to know who Shrimpo liked!
Cosmo didn’t even think of the question, just impulsively replying. “Sprout and I are good. Why do you ask?”
Shrimpo shrugged. “Just wondering how you guys are doing, it must be nice to be dating a Main. They’re stars of the shows in comparison to us commoners,” he said, chuckling softly towards the end.
Cosmo froze as he processed literally everything that was just said. Sprout and him were dating? Since when?
Cosmo shifted to look at Shrimpo, no longer caring for the progressing plot unfolding on the screen. Shrimpo copied, shifting to look at Cosmo, though his brow was raised and he looked confused.
“What?” Shrimpo murmured, glancing from the screen back to Cosmo.
“Sprout and I aren’t dating. Where’d you get that from?” Cosmo interrogated. Was someone spreading rumors? Ruining Cosmo’s chances of getting closer to… to Shrimpo.
What? What was Cosmo thinking? He didn’t know, and he didn’t like how he was feeling either. It felt icky, clinging to him and to his relationship with Shrimpo. If it was Shrimpo’s misunderstanding keeping them from getting closer then Cosmo had to clear it up.
Shrimpo just stared at him, dumbfounded, forcing Cosmo to elaborate.
“Sprout and I never dated. He’s been…” Cosmo paused, rethinking his words. Could he even say that? He wasn’t sure, but the look Shrimpo was giving him compelled him too anyways.
“Sprout’s been dating Astro for a few months now, and was totally smitten for like a year prior,” Cosmo explained. Shrimpo didn’t say anything, just shaking his head in disbelief and looking down.
Cosmo furrowed his brows and reached over, clasping Shrimpo’s hands. “Shrimpo,” Cosmo whispered, like a plea for him to look at him.
Funnily enough Shrimpo did. He stared up at him, confusion mixed with… well, something he couldn’t put his finger on.
“There was never anything going on between Sprout and I, trust me.” He swallowed, thinking now. “Who’s the guy you were talking about? Who’s he dating?”
Shrimpo gawked. Cosmo could tell a million things were going through his head but Cosmo desperately wanted an answer. “Shrimpo!” he said, squeezing his hands. “I swear I won’t tell anyone. Please, who is it?”
“I can’t…” Shrimpo murmured, looking away.
Cosmo lifted a hand from Shrimpo’s in order to cup the side of Shrimpos’ face. He redirected him back to looking at him and God… Cosmo didn’t know what was going on but why did Shrimpo look so cute?
Shrimpo shuddered, looking down to their touching hands with a shamed expression. “If I tell you, you can’t overreact.”
Cosmo’s heart was about to beat out of his chest. “Okay,” he said, serious.
Who was it? Finn? Maybe Rodger? Technically he wasn’t in a relationship with Teagan anymore, but then again it wasn’t finalized so who knows. Cosmo just needed to know so that way his mind could stop racing. He wouldn’t judge, he wouldn’t panic, he’d just react normally.
But deep down inside Cosmo hoped for something he didn’t want to recognize in the moment. He held his breath, anticipation adding to his nerves.
Shrimpo let out a shaky sigh, squeezing his eyes shut. A silence carried that made Cosmo’s heart beat and he squirmed, too anxious to wait. “Can you just tell me, please? You’re making me nervous. Is it Rodger, or is it Fi–”
“Damn it, Cosmo, don’t you know it's you?” Shrimpo grumbled, trembling with fear.
Cosmo stopped in his tracks, jaw dropped.
Shrimpo stared at him, eyes wet. He recoiled when Cosmo failed to say anything, scrambling off of his bed. At first Cosmo didn’t even register it, too focused on one of two things:
One, that Shrimpo liked two. Two, that… God, that Cosmo liked him too. And oh my God, he was about to let Shrimpo leave! Shoot.
Cosmo scrambled out from under his sheets and to Shrimpo, who was already at the door and stumbling with the lock. “Shit!” Shrimpo hissed under his breath as Cosmo reached him, slowing down to hover behind him.
Shrimpo’s shoulders raised with every breath he took, body still shaking from the nerves he must be feeling. Cosmo understood it all too well. What was he meant to say? What could he say in order to convey he felt the same?
Cosmo didn’t know, and he felt his head begin to fuzz with panic as Shrimpo tried again at the lock. “Wait!” Cosmo exclaimed, “please, Shrimpo.”
“FUCK MAN!” Shrimpo screeched. “Don’t try to hear me out, or understand my perspective. Your reaction was clear enough you think it’s SOOO fucking gross that I like you.”
Cosmo scoffed. “What are you talking about? Please, can you just lis–”
“NO, COSMO, FUCK OFF!” Shrimpo yelled, spinning around to shove him.
Cosmo grabbed hold of his shoulders, holding him still as Shrimpo wiggled and struck him, landing blows that, while they stung when making impact, the pain instantly faded. Shrimpo wasn’t actually trying to hurt him, and Cosmo trusted he wouldn’t.
“GOD!!! YOU DON’T EVEN LIKE ME, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?” Shrimpo asked, voice cracking as his body shook.
Was he crying? Cosmo didn’t know for sure, but it did sound and look like it. He moved off instinct, pulling Shrimpo into him and wrapping him into a hug. Shrimpo just stood there, only occasionally fighting it as he sobbed into Cosmo’s hoodie.
Shrimpo shook and cursed and for a moment that’s all they did: Shrimpo mumbling, and Cosmo occasionally shushing him and reassuring it’d be alright. All while embraced in a hug that fueled Cosmo with life.
Eventually, Shrimpo called down enough that he could coherently speak. When that came Cosmo slowly released him and Shrimpo took a step back, leaning into his door and staring up. He looked tired, confused, and God, just in love.
All of it was so obvious on his face that it made Cosmo question how he didn’t see it before.
“Why are you doing this?” Shrimpo asked, staring at him in tired defeat.
Cosmo wasn’t sure how to put it. How could he word a feeling so strong into a single sentence? Into a vow of affection? He couldn’t. He reached out a hand, cupping Shrimpo’s face. He ran his thumb across his wet cheek, wiping at a tear that came falling down.
Shrimpo glanced down, looking at his finger. And that moment there was perfect. Cosmo didn’t know what compelled him to do it but he leaned in, planting a kiss on Shrimpo’s forehead.
He leaned back, creating space, and stared down at Shrimpo’s shocked expression. And then, just like before, came the waterworks. Cosmo just smiled softly, leaning back to litter kisses across his face.
Shrimpo just sniffled and sobbed as Cosmo kissed his tears and his thumb wiped them away.
“Why…” Shrimpo murmured, voice hoarse. “Why are you doing this?”
Cosmo pulled back a few inches from Shrimpo’s face, tilting his head to press their foreheads together. Cosmo was able to look him in the eye this way, staring at the affection swimming in Shrimpo’s eyes, reflecting Cosmo as he stared at him.
“Because I love you, Shrimpo,” Cosmo said, effortlessly. Was it that simple? Was it really easy enough just to say those five small words in order to convey how he felt?
Cosmo still wasn’t too sure but it worked regardless. Shrimpo cried harder now, but a smile was creeping onto his face between the sobs. “You do?” he asked, a whimper. “Are you sure?”
It broke his heart to hear Shrimpo ask if his feelings were genuine. Cosmo just nodded, lifting his head to kiss Shrimpo’s forehead again. He whispered “I love you’s” on his brow, words of reassurance on his cheek, and told him when he fell for him right on his lips.
Cosmo leaned in, pressing his lips gently against Shrimpo’s, who weakly reciprocated because of his crying. Still, it set fireworks up in Cosmo’s body, excitement and love coursing through him.
He pulled back just to stare, holding Shrimpo’s face in both his hands now, and smiling. Shrimpo was still in the works of reeling himself in but even in this state Cosmo found him absolutely adorable.
He chuckled. “I love you, Shrimpo,” Cosmo said, sincere.
Shrimpo smiled, swallowing more sobs. “Why don’t you kiss me again to prove it?” he said through a hoarse laugh, taunting and inviting.
Cosmo just snorted, shaking his head playfully as he inched closer. “Just one kiss?” Cosmo asked.
Shrimpo smiled. “Kiss me however many times you want.”
Cosmo moved his right hand to the lowerpart of Shrimpos’ back and pulled him close. Shrimpo stared at Cosmo as Cosmo stared down at him, locked in a trance of temptation.
“With pleasure,” Cosmo whispered, kissing him again.
He’d get to kiss him more often now though, Cosmo thought. Because Shrimpo had just become Cosmo’s first boyfriend.
And God was Cosmo lucky.