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Sprout looks down at his hands. One was normal, while the other one was, completely covered in ichor. Not to mention that his vision was blurry and he can only see through one eye. He glances around the room. It’s a small closet, which he can barely fit in. It had shelves full of useless equipment and boxes— A bunch of boxes.
The noise of ichor dripping onto the floor is the only thing he can hear. It doesn’t help him— in fact, it makes him feel more uneasy. It makes him wonder what lead him here. All he remembers is opening his eyes and he was in this tiny closet— which he assumed no one has used in the last few years due to the smell.
Everything smells rotten..and he swore he saw some ants just a few moments ago. Maybe that was his mind playing tricks on him— why wouldn’t it? Being locked away in a tiny room is enough to drive anyone insane.
He sighs, curling his legs against his chest. He wraps his arms around them and rests his head on top of his knees. It gives him more room— only the tiniest bit more.
The only upside he has is that he can see in the dark— he’s pretty sure it’s dark. He glances up at the light bulb. It doesn’t look like it’s producing light, if it is, it must be very dim then.
He listens to the sound of the ichor dripping. It’s the only thing he can focus on, really. Nothing else in this room interests it.
After a few minutes, he lifts his head and scans the room once again. His eyes stopped at a certain poster. How could he miss it? It’s him and his best friend— but he’s mainly focusing on Cosmo.
He missed him. It makes him wonder where the other toon is. If he’s safe at all, or if he’s been turned into a..twisted.
If he has, he’ll still be by his side. He never wants to separate from him. He glances around the room once more, his eyes sometimes returning to the poster to only stare at Cosmo.
He sees Vee and Shelly. He’s close to Shelly, not so much with Vee. He still worries for her, though. Recently, she got into an argument with Dandy. Shelly tried to tell her to make amends, but Vee ignored her.
He’s on Vee’s side, much to Shelly’s disappointment, who chooses to stay neutral. It makes him wonder if Shelly knows what’s going on, or if Dandy is feeding her lies like how he did with Astro.
Or if Shelly just wants peace all around— he’s worried for her. Although, it seems like slowly she’s siding with Vee, even if she says she’s neutral. Maybe there’s still hope left.
He hums, glancing around the room once more. Each poster he saw left another thought in his head. It left him feeling worse about the predicament he was in. He failed to protect his friends— he failed to protect Cosmo . What if Cosmo is suffering the same fate he is? He never got to say goodbye— what if he never sees him again?
Each thought left his heart aching more and more. It feels like he was stabbed right through the heart— No, it feels like his heart was ripped out of him. Just the thought of losing Cosmo alone is enough to send him into a spiral. The world would end if that happened to him— it is happening. He stares at the poster of Cosmo, hoping— no, praying he’s still alive, praying nothing has harmed him yet.
He glances around the room once more, trying to calm himself. Think positive, Sprout. He could be fine— or hopes Cosmo is fine at the very least.
Just as he had that thought, he heard footsteps. He glances over at the door. He wants it to be Cosmo— would Cosmo even know where he was? He hopes so. He wants to see the Swiss roll one last time. He misses his awkward smile— to him that smile meant the world— the universe even. To him, that smile was the most perfect thing he has ever saw— besides the entirety of Cosmo himself, of course.
The doorknob was turned to the side, then it was opened very slightly. A hand— a hand familiar hand turned on the light switch. It made his eyes burn just a tiny bit, but it’s worth it. Anything to see Cosmo again.
“..Sprout?” Someone whispers, with a hesitate tone. The door was opened slightly and Sprout’s face— or at least his eye, light up.
It was Cosmo. Oh, how he missed seeing him. “..Cosmo.” He muttered, standing up. He stares down at Cosmo— he never noticed how tall he really was.
Cosmo stared up at Sprout, with a frighten look. He starts to fidget with his hoodie strings. “..Sprout, what—what happened to you?” The other toon whispered. “I..was trying to find you and um—“
“I don’t know what happened, Cosmo. I..woke up like this.” Sprout sighs, looking away from Cosmo. “..Where are the others?” He looks back over to Cosmo, tilting his head.
“..Most of them aren’t here. I don’t know where they are.” Cosmo steps back. He looks back up at Sprout. “..Does it hurt being like this?….You’re so uh..different.”
Sprout shakes his head. “..Barely, my eyes hurt though.” He whispers, kneeling down. Cosmo is still shorter than him—he never considered how short Cosmo and the other toons are.
“..Is there any way I can help you?” Cosmo whispers, leaning against the doorway.
“..It would be better if you were in here.” Sprout whispers, glancing away.
Cosmo sighs, taking a few steps inside. He fidgets with his fingers, staring up at Sprout. Sprout stares back. Maybe there’s a way that they can be together forever. Would it be too selfish to ask?
Cosmo sits down on the floor, glancing up at Sprout. “So um..how have you been?” He tilts his head. Sprout glances down at Cosmo. “..Just been thinking.”
Cosmo giggles, rolling his eyes. “So descriptive.” He sighs, looking down at his own lap. “..So what were you thinking about?”
“You..and how lost I would be without you.” Sprout whispers, reaching out his non-ichor covered hand go grab Cosmo’s own. “You’re like the universe to me. If I could, I’d search the ends of it to find you.”
Cosmo stares back up at Sprout, smiling softly. “I..would do the same. Life without you is so difficult sometimes.” He mutters, glancing away. “Call me clingy all you want, but—“
“..I have an idea.” Sprout sighs, holding out his hand to Cosmo. “I um..have an idea on how we can be together forever. It might be a painful process though.”
Cosmo stares at Sprout’s hand, then he glances up at Sprout. “I..don’t think I can, Sprout. As much as I would want to—“
“Cosmo, please, we can have each—“
Cosmo stands up, walking backwards. “As much as I love you, Sprout, I can’t. If things were..different, then maybe I would.” Cosmo turns around, walking to the door. He pauses and turns around to look at Sprout. “I’ll see you again, I promise. Maybe it’s in another life— or..a different universe..I don’t know— but I have to go.” Cosmo whispers, opening the door, then he slams it shut.
Sprout rushes to the door. He tried to unlock it— it’s one of those doors that have lock from the outside. Fuck .
Sprout banged on the door repeatedly, but there was nothing. No sounds of footsteps, no sounds of anyone else talking, nothing. The only thing he could hear was the thoughts racing inside of his head and him screaming Cosmo’s name like it’s the only thing he knows. Maybe it is— maybe he was made to say that name.
He lost Cosmo, he lost him.
And with that thought alone, his eyes flickered opened. Sprout turned on his lamp and looked over at the alarm clock. It was four am. How long has been having that dream? He doesn’t know— or it was more like a nightmare.
Could it be insinuating something? He doesn’t like the thought of that. Losing Cosmo would be like losing a piece of him— no, it is losing a piece of him. A piece that makes him feel full. His other-half, in a way.
The only good thing about the dream was the fact Cosmo said he loved him. Maybe it’s true, or is that hoping for too much? He loves Cosmo— more than anything else in the world. If Cosmo even felt a sliver of what he felt, he’ll be beyond happy.
He looks down at his hands— everything was normal. He glances around the room, then he sighs. He hated that— is Cosmo alright? That’s his main priority. He slides the blankets off and he gets out of his bed. He remembers Comso’s room— mainly because it’s right next to his own room. He suggested it to Dandy multiples time, before Dandy finally agreed.
It would be rude to disturb him, but still. He needs to make sure Cosmo is okay— and to make sure Cosmo won’t leave him like he did in that dream. He grabs his spare key and walks over to his door. He opens it and grabs his own key. He unlocks it, then he closes the door.
He walks to the left, sighing. That dream wasn’t the worst one, yet— he always has a nightmare it seems. Every time it’s different, but at the same time, he loses Cosmo. He goes to Cosmo to be consulted— it’s a routine at this point. Sprout wipes away any tears forming in his eyes. Sometimes he wakes up the room being colder than usual.
Sprout knocks gently on the door. Cosmo is a light sleeper, luckily. After a few seconds, he unlocks the door. He closes the door gently behind him and locks it. He’s probably sleeping. Cosmo sometimes wakes up early to help prep Sprout with the kitchen, but that’s only sometimes.
Sprout walks to Cosmo’s bedroom, gently knocking on the door. He slowly opens it, smiling softly at Cosmo. He’s okay. That’s the only thing that matters. His heart swells at the site of Cosmo— he’s so adorable.
Sprout listens as Cosmo rustles for a few moments, then he hears a yawn. Cosmo sits up on the bed. He looks up at Sprout, yawning once again. “Sprout..?” He whispers, tilting his head. “Did you have another—“
“..Yeah, I did.” Sprout sighs, sitting down next to Cosmo.
Cosmo yawns, stretching his hand across his chest. “Why don’t you sleep with me? I suggested that before.” He whispers, stretching his other arm across his chest.
Sprout remains silent, wrapping his arm around Cosmo’s shoulder. “..I don’t know. I just don’t want to wake you up—“
“..You already do that.” Cosmo sighs, lying back down on the bed. He looks up at Sprout. He grabs the other toon’s hand. “..Also, I want you to remember I won’t ever leave you. You mean a lot to me, remember?”
Sprout sighs, interlocking their fingers. “How did you know the dream was—“
“You had the same nightmare for the past week, Sprout.” Cosmo grabs Sprout’s other hand. “No matter what form you’re in, I’ll always be your friend.”
Ah. Maybe the dream was lying. Cosmo said he loved him in a dream— why should he believe a dream? He’s stupid.
“I’ll always be your friend no matter what too.” Sprout whispers, staring down at Cosmo.
“..Sprout, just cuddle with me. I think that’ll help you.” Cosmo sighs, scooting away to make room.
“..No, no. That dream made me wide awake. Good night, Cosmo.” Sprout whispers, leaning down to kiss the top of Comso’s head.
“Please, Sprout? I want you to stay with me.” Cosmo frowns, letting go of Sprout’s hands. How can he ever say no? Sprout sighs, lying down next to Cosmo.
“..Can we talk about what uh..specially happened in the dream?” Cosmo whispers, wrapping his arms around Sprout.
“..You should rest—“
“..You’re the one who woke me up, so I want to help you. I want you to know I’ll never leave you— I won’t even consider the thought of it.” Cosmo mutters, staring into Sprout’s eyes. “The only option for me is staying with you.”
All of those words— this is his favorite part of the morning. Cosmo is always so sweet to him. Maybe his favorite part of the day is when Cosmo is present in it. “..I could say the same for you.” He whispers, moving his hand to hold Cosmo’s cheeks. “The thought of losing you is a nightmare which I don’t want to face, ever .”
Cosmo nods, leaning up to kiss Sprout’s cheek. “I um..I know.” Cosmo sighs, staring up at the ceiling. He rests his arms to the side. “Can..can you tell me what happened?” He looks over at Sprout.
“..I became something I don’t want to be.” Sprout whispers, glancing away. “I really wish could tell you, but it’ll have to wait.”
Cosmo sighs, sitting up. “..It’s fine.” He mutters. “I just want you to know I love you too much to ever consider leaving you.” He looks over to Sprout. Sprout stares back at him.
Is he dreaming again? He doesn’t know, but this makes him feel like he’s in heaven. Maybe Cosmo himself is heaven. It explains a lot— how some toon could be so perfect.
“Ignore that, I—“
“Cosmo, I love you too.” Sprout sits up. He holds Cosmo’s face once again. He runs his thumbs onto the stars.
Cosmo giggles softly, glancing away. “..Oh..”
sprout leans down to kiss the top of Cosmo’s head. Cosmo stares at Sprout for another moment. “..I love you more. I promise I won’t leave you—“
“I believe you, I promise.” Sprout sighs, leans back up. “..We can cuddle now— I was just worried I would’ve said something and—“
“..I understand, Sprout. You don’t have to explain.” Cosmo giggle, tilting his head. “..When will you tell me your dreams though?”
As much as he loves Cosmo, he doesn’t get the hint. He can’t tell him. It’s better for his safety, after all.
“..Soon.” Sprout says, moving off of the bed. “Go back to sleep, okay?”
Cosmo gives Sprout a defeated face. He lays back down on the bed and closes his eyes.