Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“From this day forward, Gardenview will be closing. We're sorry to all of you, from this day forward please remain calm. Toon handlers will be around to help toons move aboard our buses to be sent to different loc--”

“They're lying, y'know!”

Sprout turns his head to Dandy, who is looking up at the TV unbothered. “What… what did you say?”

“Lying.” Dandy’s head snaps towards Sprout. “They're lying…” Sprout watches with horror as Dandy’s eyes begin turning that infamous twisted red, and his face begins to melt into puddles of ichor. “They're lying. They're lying. They're lying.”

Sprout watches in horror as Dandy’s hand turns into claws and grabs his head. The fully conscious twisted pulls the strawberry closer, mouth turning into that vicious smile as it begins dripping ichor down onto Sprout's face. “Dontcha want to know what they're going to actually do to you?”

Sprout looks down, only to see his hand now fully covered in ichor. Becoming monstrously huge, and showing some claws.

Sprout shoots up in his bed, staring at the familiar red walls of his room. He runs his hands through his leaves and smacks his cheeks to make sure he's awake. They sting slightly. “What the fuck, Astro…”

He pulls the covers off, taking a glance at his alarm clock. It's eight in the morning, he's late. He's supposed to be up at seven to help Cosmo with the daily breakfast for the other toons. Then helps Cosmo with lunch at eleven, and then he has an expedition at two.

Sprout is not surprised Cosmo didn't wake him, but he is a little annoyed. He's not a delicate little flower, he doesn't need sleep! He's tugging on some random sweater and pants from his floor before he’s out the door. A couple of toons give him glances as he's rushing towards the dining hall. Sprout hopes it's not because he looks like he rolled out of bed a couple of minutes ago.

He makes it to the dining hall with his speed walking in less than five minutes. The dining hall is already packed with toons grabbing from the usual breakfast buffet, some already sitting down at their tables with their respective friends.

He's going into the kitchen with a frown on his face, ready to give Cosmo an earful for doing this all by himself only to discover the swiss roll isn't by himself. Astro, wrapped in the familiar blue cloud-patterned blanket, has a smile on his face as it looks like he is intently listening to whatever Cosmo has to say.

Cosmo, however, is quick to notice Sprout's entrance. Cosmo smiles and gives Sprout a little wave. “Morning sleepyhead~!”

Sprout frowns and makes direct eye contact with Astro. The other toon pointedly looks away, not usually a fan of eye contact or any sort of confrontation. An opposite reaction to what Sprout hoped, he wished the moon would have taken the opportunity to leave the room so Sprout and Cosmo could be alone. Sprout frowns and switches his attention to Cosmo. “You could have woken me up, I wouldn't have been mad.”

“It's okay! Astro ended up helping me today! He's super helpful in the kitchen.” Cosmo shoots a knowing smile to Astro, who's still turned to look at the wall, a dark blue creeping up the toon's neck.

Sprout suddenly feels out of the loop. He'd also never say he's jealous of anyone's closeness to Cosmo, he knows he's number one, but…

Sprout crosses the room to run up to Cosmo, taking up all of the roll’s eyesight. “Still! What if he hadn't been? You shouldn't do all that by yourself!”

Cosmo rolls his eyes and pats the taller toons on the shoulders. “I wouldn't ruin your sweet dreams like that!”

Sprout wants to keep arguing, but then he remembers he didn't have sweet dreams. He turns to ask Astro, only to notice the blue moon finally took the chance to escape. The blue blanket trailing out of the room without a goodbye. He decides not to dwell on it, after all, he can talk to Atsro about it later. For now, Sprout wants to spend some time with Cosmo before his expedition. There's only so much time before they have to start making lunch.

“Whatever! What did you make today with Astro?”

“Oh, we did omelettes today!”

“Yeesh. For every toon?”

“Nah. All with cheese, each different meat or meatless.” Cosmo turns towards the toaster oven, pulling out an omelette that had ketchup in the shape of a strawberry on top. Sprout grins widely. “I kept you a special one! No cheese or meat, just vegetables.”

“Cos! You didn't have to.”

“Of course I did! Got to make sure you eat up before your expedition today!”

Sprout smiles as the two move to sit down at the countertop. He's quick to shovel part of the omelette in his mouth, but he savors the fluffiness of the egg and how perfectly crunchy the vegetables are. Cosmo has gotten so much better at cooking!

“Who are you even going with today?”

Sprout hums as he tries to think back to the shift rotation sheet. He shrugs, then swallows down his bite. “All I remember is Coal, Bobette, and Ginger.”

Cosmo perks up. “Tell Ginger I said hi! I'm surprised there's a handful of holiday toons going.”

Sprout lets out a small laugh. “I guess that means today is Christmas!” Sprout finishes his omelette with one last bite.

“Every day is Christmas, Sprout!” Cosmo laughs. “Gee, you sure finished that fast. Hungry much?”

Sprout sets his plate down on the table and then pulls Cosmo in for a tight hug. “Thanks, Cos. Your cooking is a lot better than I remember!”

He feels Cosmo tense up, like Cosmo usually does, before the swiss roll finally wraps his arms around Sprout's waist and returns the squeeze. “That's good to hear. Have to keep our number one resident medic in perfect condition!”

The two pull apart and Sprout rolls his eyes. “And what about the other number one resident medic? Is he in top condition?”

“Oh c'mon Sprout, we both know you're a lot better than I am!”

“We're equal.” The strawberry huffs, crossing his arms as he stares Cosmo down. “Still, that's not an answer. How are you, Cos?”

“Well… I am feeling a little bored…”

“Ah. What do you want to do to pass the time?”

A mischievous grin paints Cosmo's face. “I never thought you'd ask.” Sprout tenses up as the swiss roll goes towards one of the cupboards, and pulls out the dreaded green card box.

“Cos. You said we would never have to play Skip-Bo again!”

Cosmo sticks out his bottom lip and flutters his lashes. “Awh. But it's been months! Please!”

“Agh! It's been two weeks!”

“Please Sprout!”

Sprout crosses his arms, prepared to stick his foot down or throw the cards into the oven, but Cosmo flutters his eyes once more. “Please Mr. Seedly!”

Sprout shutters. He lets out a sigh of defeat. Cosmo is already pulling the cards out of their home. “You… are the worst.”

Cosmo smirks as he begins shuffling the cards. “What can I say? I'm your biggest fan and your biggest hater.”

After Sprout loses a couple of times, it's finally eleven. The two begin going through their stock and decide on spaghetti for lunch. Sprout can already hear the cheering from Goob, and the dismay from Shelly for the lack of meatballs. They are, however, fresh out of meat. Cosmo had used the last of them for the morning omlettes. They don't even have tofu. He makes a mental note of that for the expedition later, something meaty might cheer everybody up in the coming days.

The two fall into a quick and silent routine. That's one of the things Sprout truly loves about Cosmo being his best friend, the two of them in the kitchen always feel just right. They don't often exchange words, just looks and nudges. The two don’t need anything else, because no matter what the result is always flawless. Aside from a couple of times Sprout has set something aflame in the oven. But over the years Cosmo always got into the habit of checking the oven for Sprout, and that's once again why he loves the two of them in the kitchen.

They finish cooking before twelve. The spaghetti turns out amazing, just as expected. The two are still in the kitchen, eating at the same countertop from before, as Sprout turns to Cosmo with a smile.

“You outdid yourself with the noodles this time, Cos!”

A blush dusts Cosmo's cheeks, and Sprout has to bite back the urge to tease him for being so bashful. “It's nothing special… your pasta sauce is really good!”

“I wish we still had shallots… they would've made this taste a lot better!”

“Ugh… Or parmesan, I know Goob was ecstatic, but the shredded cheese is kind of sad…” Cosmo twirls some pasta onto his fork.

“I'll find some parmesan for you today! I'll make sure we don't go back up until we do.” The way Cosmo perks upon hearing that almost makes Sprout mean it.

“Well, you don't have to go through all that trouble...”

“I'd fight any twisted to get you that parmesan.”

“Sprout!”

Sprout laughs as Cosmo gives him a look of bewilderment. “I'm only joking, Cos!”

“You better be!” Cosmo angrily shoves pasta in his mouth. He swallows and points his fork at Sprout in a threatening manner. It would be threatening, if it wasn’t Sprout he was pointing it at. “The only thing I want is you back safe and sound!” Sprout’s heart skips a beat. “You're the one who was all grouchy about me cooking without you, you're going to leave me to make dinner by myself?”

Sprout scrapes the pasta off his fork with a tender smile. He then interlocks his fork into Cosmo's own, causing Cosmo to stare a bit dumbly at the forks interlocked. “I'll always make it back safe and sound, don't worry! I'd die a hundred times over if I left you to cook by yourself.”

Cosmo stares at the forks a second longer before pulling his own back and turning away from Sprout, grumbling. “What did I just say to you?”

“Don’t be mad! I promise I'll come back.”

The silence between them is a bit thick. Sprout has to bite his tongue from producing word vomit to keep Cosmo from being mad at him. Just give it time, just give it time…

The swiss roll sighs and turns back to the plate in front of him. “Okay. You promised. Don’t break it.” Sprout holds back his sigh of relief.

They finish the spaghetti in a comfortable silence after that. They're packaging up the leftovers when Astro makes a reappearance.

The two don't notice him at first, the moon making no movement or voicing his arrival. It isn't until Cosmo nearly jumps, turning to put the leftovers in the fridge, that Astro’s presence is acknowledged.

“Gee Astro….” Cosmo clutches the tupperware in one hand and holds his heart with his other. “You scared me!”

“...Cosmo.” Astro mumbles.

“Uh. Hey Astro, what's up?” Cosmo tilts his head in question, kind of like a dog, Sprout notes.

“Ginger has fallen sick.” Cosmo freezes up. “I know it's your off day, and that you probably want to go check on her, but…”

“You'll need another medic for today's expedition.” Cosmo sighs.

Sprout frowns. “Is Ginger okay?”

“Yeah. She just strained her neck.”

Then, Sprout smiles. He turns to Cosmo, almost crushing the tupperware in excitement. “Oh! It's been a while since we've been out together on an expedition!”

Cosmo turns to Sprout, then places his hand on his chin as if he were deep in thought. “I don't know… Does this guy have to be there?” Cosmo turns to Astro with a deadpan expression.

Astro looks between the two confused. Sprout lets out a horrified gasp. “How could you! I thought we were friends. Are you saying you don't want to spend time with me?”

Cosmo turns to Sprout, hiding the cheeky grin on his face from Astro. “I don't know, Sprout, I'm kind of tired of seeing your face.” Cosmo sighs dramatically, then turns back to Astro with a small shrug. “Yeah. I'll go.”

“Uhm… Okay..?” Astro looks between the two again, then turns back to Cosmo. “We're leaving at two. I'll see you then.” He exits the kitchen quickly.

The two giggle at their antics that probably confused the poor moon. They pile the spaghetti containers in the fridge.

“I guess I better go get ready. I want to go check on Ginger as well.” Cosmo mumbles, then turns to Sprout. “Are you going to be okay if…?”

Sprout nods, understanding what Cosmo wants to ask. “Tell Ginger I said hi, and that I'm sorry I can't visit her.”

Cosmo pulls Sprout in for a hug this time. The strawberry squeezes him, relishing Cosmo making contact first. “Thank you, I'm sorry!”

Cosmo moves to pull away, but Sprout gives him one last squeeze before they part. “All good! You know I could never be mad at you.”

Cosmo smiles, he turns to leave but then stops. “Uh… I haven't been on an expedition in weeks… Did they make machines easier yet?”

Sprout smirks. “Let's leave all the machines to Bobette, yeah?”

Cosmo huffs, then turns swiftly, stomping off towards the door. “I'll meet you at the elevator!” There's no malice or actual anger behind his words. Sprout has to hold back his laughter at Cosmo's display of ‘anger’.

“Meet you at the elevator!” Sprout calls before Cosmo leaves for good.

Sprout stays in the kitchen and uses the last bit of his time tidying it up and washing any leftover dishes from lunch, there’s even still some from breakfast. Cosmo often stays behind and cooks for the toons, he isn't the greatest at machines, and also not the fastest when it comes to running away, so for his safety everyone deems him the head chef of the kitchen. It also worked out, because then they had a medic always left in Gardenview, and of course, Cosmo was an amazing cook. But everyone got their turn, so it wasn't like Cosmo always stayed behind!

It's one-fifty by the time Sprout finishes up. He gives the kitchen one last once over before leaving, praying whoever takes on dinner duty isn't Shrimpo, Goob…. or Poppy…. Her result was fine, but the results before that… Sprout nearly throws up the state she got the kitchen in, and he still doesn’t quite get how she did that.

Sprout makes his way to the center of Gardenview. As he approaches the array of elevators he spots Bobette, Pebble, and Coal already in front of the elevator. As he walks closer he wonders how he drafted Pebble and Coal for today's expedition.

Bobette lifts her head from the rocks to give Sprout a wave. “Merry Christmas! Hi Sprout!”

“Uh.. Yeah. Merry Christmas Bobette.”

“Are you excited for today's expedition?”

Both of the rocks turn to Sprout, and he locks eye contact with Pebble, who as usual seems to stare into his soul. He shivers, then smiles and turns his full attention to Bobette. “Yeah. I didn't realize we had the dogs today… How's Ginger doing, by the way?”

“Oh! She's okay. I think she strained her neck somehow, she's having a hard time moving it, but I heard they're letting Teagan try taking care of her this time around!”

“Ouch. Hope she's okay! But good for Teagan. Can't wait to have a fourth resident medic.” Sprout makes the mistake of turning down to Pebble again, who is still staring.

“Oh! Hi Rodger, Hi Glisten! Merry Christmas!” Bobettes cheering breaks him away from the staring contest he is definitely going to lose.

“Merry Christmas Bobette. Hello Sprout.” Rodger now takes over Pebble’s job of staring into Sprout's soul.

“Hi Rodger. Glisten.”

“Sprout. Hey Bobette!” Rodger nudges the mirror with his elbow. “H– Merry Christmas!”

Bobette smiles brightly. “I'm glad everyone is feeling so festive!”

Sprout has to hold back his laughter as Glisten stiffly smiles back. The poor mirror made the mistake of ruining the illusion for Rudie a while ago, Bobette gave him an earful and he's been afraid of her since. For holiday toons, it's always their holiday. No matter what.

“So…” Rodger starts, as his eye shifts between Bobette and Sprout. “Would either of you—”

Sprout cuts him off first. “No.”

“There’s no such thing as a naughty list, Rodger! Let's not start one!” Bobette chimes in.

“But it's not—” Pebble cuts Glisten off with a bark. Smart rock, Sprout thinks, refusing to turn down to Pebble, because he can feel those eyes.

“I'll get you guys another time,” Rodger grumbles.

“Hey everyone, sorry we're late.” A new voice cuts in.

The group turns to see Astro and Cosmo side by side. Sprout's mind flashes back to the morning, but all emotions that he might've felt die as Cosmo comes and stands beside him. “Merry Christmas Bobette, hi Glisten, hi Rodger!”

“Merry Christmas, Cosmo!” Bobette cheers. Rodger gives him a small wave, as Glisten makes a big deal, and doesn’t stop aggressively waving until Cosmo waves back. Annoyance bubbles up in Sprout, Glisen can hate the strawberry all but want but does he have to act overly friendly just to piss him off?

Rodger cuts in before Sprout’s thoughts can go any further. “This is everyone, then?”

Coal barks this time, and Bobette translates it with a nod. “What a team we have here today! This will be fun!”

Glisten perks up. “Machines will be a cinch this time around. Well…” His eyes wander toward Sprout and Cosmo. Sprout narrows his eyes, to which Glisten’s own eyes linger on the swiss roll for a second before they shoot toward the elevator. “Who's ready to go?!”

“What was that about…” Sprout grumbles under his breath. Cosmo, seeming to have heard grabs the sleeve of Sprout's sweater and tugs him along in the elevator with the rest of them.

“Best not to pay him any mind,” Cosmo smiles.

As the elevator shuts and begins its descent, Sprout can't help but stare holes into the back of Glisten's head. That better have been an insult towards him. If it was an insult to Cosmo, he'd make sure next time he goes to tell Bobette it's not Christmas he isn't interrupted. Even if it causes the poor bauble to shut down in the middle of the run, at least they’d get to go back up and he wouldn’t be around Glisten anymore. Cosmo's even doing them a favor, coming down here as a second medic! Sprout should go out of his way to leave Glisten–

“Hey, Sprout?” Sprout snaps his head towards Cosmo. “Stop thinking about whatever you are thinking about. We both know we're better at finding supplies anyway.” Cosmo smiles brightly.

You live another day, Glisten. “Of course. I was thinking we should make something spicy for dinner tomorrow.” Sprout makes sure to talk loudly, watching as the mirror tenses up in the front of the elevator. He smirks, then turns his attention back to Cosmo. “Remember to call me if you get into trouble, yeah?”

“Of course!”

The elevator dings and Pebble is already running out at full speed.

Glisten wasn't exactly wrong, machines were being completed fast. Cosmo and Sprout both barely had any time on earlier floors to scavenge before the alarm bells were blaring and Pebble was barking up a storm. They kept going down, and down, and down…

Sprout doesn't know how long they've been going at this for. Longer than usual it feels like. He's wrapping some gauze around Bobette’s leg where his twisted self got her on the last floor. The elevator keeps descending deeper. Dandy’s shop appears in the back, the flower smiling brightly as his eyes narrow in on Sprout as if he can smell all the tapes the strawberry is hoarding.

“After this floor, we should head back up,” Cosmo speaks up, gesturing towards the pile of goods the team had scavenged. “Plus, we should’ve headed back up anyway. Bobette is getting the short end of the stick today…”

“You guys are pretty far down!” Dandy adds with a cheer. “I don’t think I’ve seen a team go down for this long before.”

Glisten takes his eyes off the bottle of pop Dandy is selling to give the flower an inquisitive look. “How far down are we?”

“This will be floor thirty,” Astro answers instead. The toons all look at Astro, who shrugs underneath his blanket. “I always make sure to keep track.”

“No wonder the number of machines has increased,” Rodger grumbles.

Bobette pats the heads of the two dogs who are beside her, their little eyes filled with worry and regret. “These two are doing such a wonderful job, it honestly feels like a winter breeze with them!”

“Still. I feel like Cosmo is right.” Sprout finishes fastening the gauze on her leg and gives Bobette a thumbs up. “After this floor, we should go up. Pebble and Coal ought to be tired. Plus, we should be right around dinner time soon.” Coal only nuzzles into Bobette's side as a response, while Pebble stares eerily at the place Sprout finished bandaging her leg.

“Plus, Bobette's been getting beat up like a Shrimpo. We should be taking her to the medbay soon.” Cosmo reiterates.

“Then it's settled,” Rodger crosses his arms as the elevator halts. “Let's get what we can on this floor and get out.”

The door begins whirring as the chains begin to lift it, but Sprout hears the ambiance noise immediately. The sound of bells jingling, and growling in the background. He eyes around the elevator, no one else notices anything, other than Pebble, who immediately jumps up on high alert.

When the door finishes opening the giant counterpart of the little dog begins to run at them. Pebble immediately begins barking and running out, luring twisted Pebbles away. The rest of the toons then realize their situation when Twisted Bobette immediately begins following the two Pebbles away from the elevator as the lights flicker and then die, leaving the toons to stare at nothing but the darkness.

Coal nudges Bobette one more time with a whimper. Then the bigger dog is out of the elevator to round up the inevitable other twisteds wandering around the floors.

“...And let's go fast,” Bobette adds.

Glisten and Rodger nod. Both pull out a flashlight and set off in different directions. Sprout holds out his hand to help Bobette up. She takes it with a smile, dusts off her sweater, and begins out of the elevator as well. When Sprout turns it's just Cosmo, Astro probably already has gone off to help keep the dogs energized and refreshed, and keep an eye in case he needs to alert to give them medical attention.

Sprout gives the swiss roll a weak smile. “Are you okay?” Cosmo slightly turns his head and eyes Sprout.

He doesn't miss the way Cosmo swallows nervously, but inevitably puts a smile on with a nod. “I think I'll stick close to you on this floor, just in case?”

Sprout pulls out his flashlight and smiles back. “Sounds good, let's go!”

As Sprout turns to go, Cosmo slides their hands together. Sprout pauses for a second before his smile goes out of control. He gives Cosmo’s hand a comforting squeeze before the two set off into the darkness together.

Sprout opts to do machines and keep his ears posted on the walkie-talkies in case he has to tag out Pebble or Coal, or deliver some emergency aid to the two. He's not as fast but has a bit more endurance on the dogs in case of emergencies. Cosmo sticks close, keeping his hand in Sprout's unless the strawberry is on a machine, and then he uses his flashlight to scout the vicinity for any other supplies they could bring up.

The machine dings as Sprout finishes, and Cosmo is back at Sprout's side in a flash. “Hey, come to think of it… This is the first blackout in thirty floors… are you scared of the dark?”

“N-No! Just…” Cosmo sighs as the two walk along, Sprout keeping a hand on the wall to track where they're going. “The unknown is scary. And I find comfort in your presence… it's something I know.”

Sprout's heart flutters at that. “Thanks, Cos. You make the darkness less scary too.”

They round a corner, and Sprout smacks into something hard.

“Ouch…” Bobette groans.

“Oh, hey Bobette! Merry Christmas.” Cosmo whispers from behind Sprout.

“Merry Christmas you two! One more machine left… This floor has been going well!” She smiles.

The walkie-talkie buzzes, and Rodger's voice triples as Bobette, Sprout, and Cosmo’s devices all chime at once. “Glisten is on the last machine. He's ready to teleport whenever. I'm bringing a mirror to the elevator. Let's go.”

Sprout picks up his walkie-talkie and smiles. “Perfect. I know the way back.”

Bobette smiles. “I'll follow you then!”

“Bobette and Cosmo are on me,” Sprout replies into the device. Then the three of them are turning back to where the pair just came from.

As they turn the bauble notices the pair holding hands. “Oh! Holding hands is smart, can I hold your other hand, Cosmo?”

Sprout slightly frowns at the idea of Bobette holding Cosmo's hand. “A-Ah… yeah! Wouldn't want you to get lost!” He’s neither toon can see how he frowns a bit more as Cosmo responds.

“Yay!”

Sprout huffs quietly. He can't hold it against Bobette either, she's too friendly and optimistic with everyone. And again, he knows he’ll always be Cosmo’s number-one friend. The walk isn't that long, but they're only halfway there when the alarm bells start blaring.

Sprout immediately kicks into overdrive. “Fuck, I thought they were going to wait for us to make it there!”

He begins going into a sprint, hearing a gasp from Cosmo, but a cry from Bobette. Both food toons quickly turn to her as she regains her composure from a stumble. “I-I don't think I can run, my leg…”

Cosmo doesn't hesitate in scooping the girl up. “Let's go, Sprout! I'll follow you!”

Sprout stares in shock for a moment. He had no clue Cosmo was so strong…

“Sprout!” Cosmo snaps.

Overdrive kicks back in and the three of them make a break for it back to the elevator.

He sees the white lights of the elevator when he hears the growling of a vicious beast. Then, loud barking reverberating through the walls around them. “Cosmo! We gotta go faster!” Sprout yells. They don't stop moving forward, but the growling gets louder.

“Oh… I’m too heavy aren't I,” Bobette's usual cheer is devoid of her tone. It almost sounds like Glisten told her it wasn't Christmas. “Just… put me down! I can make it.”

“No way!” Cosmo gasps. “We're almost there, we can make it…!”

The elevator isn't that far, but neither is the sound of the growling from behind them, curious, Sprout turns his head and almost freezes in fear.

“Cosmo!”

It happens so fast.

He goes to shove Cosmo out of the way of the jaws about to clench down, but almost as if anticipating it, Cosmo throws Bobette at Sprout. Sprout can’t catch her with the short reaction window, and the two stumble to the ground. Bobette lets out a cry, the throw probably hurting her leg.

Ichor splatters from the side of Cosmo’s head that Twisted Pebble bites. Coal comes out of nowhere and scoops Bobette up on her back, allowing Sprout to grab Cosmo as Twisted Pebble is chewing the piece he bit, probably savoring the taste of chocolate in his mouth. Or dying to it, he is a dog after all.

Coal and Sprout make a break for it as the elevator door begins whirring, but Sprout can only hear the beating of his heart in his ears, as his fingers clench to the receding warmth of the swiss roll in his arms.

They slide under the door and Sprout makes a break for the corner with their medical supplies, Cosmo still in his arms.

He can't hear anything. He doesn't even process the sound of Rodger and Glisten bickering, Bobette crying, the two rocks barking. His hands are shaking as he grabs a medkit.

Cosmo is somehow still lucid. His eye slowly drifts up to Sprout, who is clenching his teeth and shaking, trying so hard to keep his composure, but…

The bite is so big. Half of Cosmo's face is gone. There's a puddle of ichor pooling underneath him. A medkit isn't going to fix it. No medkit is going to fix this. He fears nothing is going to fix the gaping hole in Cosmo’s head. Sprout pushes that thought deep into his brain as he grabs another medkit.

Cosmo reaches up towards Sprout, and only does the strawberry realize he is crying when a tear meets Cosmo's cold, cold hands. He also doesn’t realize he’s babbling about something until a thumb presses over his lip and he completely freezes.

“H-Hey… Sprout?”

“C-Cos?”

“...What do you… What would you do…. if… I became… twisted?”

Everything is so deadly silent other than the harsh beating of Sprout’s heart in his ears. The answer is instant in Sprout's brain. “I wouldn't leave you… I'd become twisted too if I had to!”

Cosmo chuckles. “What… A boring… answer…” Red begins to tinge Cosmo's working eye.

“Why?” Sprout hiccups, pressing the hand not gripped around a medkit around Cosmo's hand clutching his face. “What would you do?”

“Isn't.. is it obvious?” Cosmo closes his eye. “I'd… S…aaa…aaargh…..raaa—” The sentence begins to delve into the normal twisted growls before it is cut off by a medkit dropping on Cosmo's head and splattering what's left of it.

Sprout lets out a scream. One he's been holding in since Twisted Pebble was hot on their trail. He puts his face to Cosmo's chest, and all of the sadness and realization of the situation hits him.

Cosmo sacrificed himself. Cosmo is gone.

Sprout lost his best friend.

All he can hear is the sound of his screaming, and the only feeling left is the cold body he’s clutching in his hands.

Cosmo's ichor begins to pool around where Sprout kneels. He almost feels like he's sinking.

He looks up and he isn't in the elevator anymore, he's surrounded by darkness, and well, he is sinking.

Chapter Text

Sprout pushes himself up and out of the ichor, only to look down and realize his left hand is coated in ichor. When he goes back to look up, he's standing in front of Dandy. The toon is giving him a wide grin, and a stare out of some Halloween horror episode. “Dontcha wanna know what they're actually going to do to you?” Dandy's stare feels like it's going through his soul.

Sprout gulps.

“Do you know what happens when toons get sad, Sprout?” Dandy eyes the strawberry’s hand.

Sprout looks back to it, the hand that was covered in ichor is now fully made of ichor, turned into a monstrous claw. The claw clenches at his command. This feels familiar…

He shoots up in his bed. His body is weighed with such dread. He turns to the clock, it's eight am. His mind wanders back to what happened. Was that all… a dream? It felt so real. Cosmo.

Cosmo.

Cosmo should've woken him up by now, they have to make breakfast together. But if… If Cosmo…. but then, Who would be making breakfast? Sprout quickly pulls on his clothes and is out the door.

He's almost as fast as Pebble as he runs through the dining hall, ignoring the feeling of eyes on his back. He bursts through the kitchen door and he feels like throwing up.

Much like in his dream… in his nightmare, Astro and Cosmo are talking to each other. Cosmo notices his appearance and shoots him a wave. “Morning sleepyhead~!”

Sprout has to choke back his tears, as relief floods through his entire body. “Cos…!”

He’s already running up to the toon and pulling him in a tight bear hug. As always, Cosmo freezes up for a second before he wraps his arms around Sprout’s waist. He hugs the strawberry back just as tight, which makes Sprout melt into the hug.

“Sprout, are you okay…?”

Sprout squeezes Cosmo even harder, causing the swiss roll to gap for air. The sound itself startles Sprout and causes him to completely pull away. This time he’s able to take Cosmo all in, perfectly healthy and alive. Cosmo has both sides of his head. Sprout lets out a sigh of relief. “Yeah… just a—” He stops his words to whip around and give Astro a piece of his mind, only to find the moon has left the kitchen already. Sprout turns back to Cosmo with a weak smile. “Yeah, I just… missed you, a lot, Cos.” He relishes the way Cosmo’s face turns red with those words, the way Cosmo’s eyes widen before he glares at Sprout.

“Mhmm…” Getting over the sudden sappiness, Cosmo does not believe him.

“Sorry… You know I tell you everything, but I think I have to confirm this one for myself first…” Besides, Astro is one of Sprout’s close, not as close as Cosmo, friends. Giving a dream like that to anyone, let alone a friend would be diabolical. And for now, he just wants to stay in the presence of his best friend. Cosmo was right, after all, it’s comforting to be around something he knows.

Sprout reaches his hand out to the left side of Cosmo’s head, pressing it down firmly on the side of the roll to make sure it is tangible and not some fake hallucination. Cosmo blushes again, and swats Sprout’s hand away with no real force. “Whatever you say, are you sure you’re okay? You’re kind of…” Cosmo frowns, as he eyes Sprout up and down. “I don’t know. You just don't seem like yourself…”

“I’ll be fine as long as you’re here.”

“A-And you’re being really sappy!” Cosmo turns away from Sprout, probably hiding another blush. Everything about the situation makes Sprout’s stomach churn, he can’t tell if it’s from happiness or the uneasy feeling still stuck in his head.

He feels his stomach drop when Cosmo turns around with a familiar omelette in hand. “Astro helped me make the buffet this morning, but I figured I’d make a special one for you! No meat, no cheese, just vegetables.” The strawberry drawn in ketchup on top almost feels like it’s mocking him.

A premonition, maybe? Is he still dreaming?

“Sprout…?”

“Sorry, I just can’t believe you. Thank you, Cos.” Sprout takes the plate out of Cosmo’s hand and holds it with care.

He stares at it a second longer before he brings it over to the countertop so he can eat it, so Cosmo stops staring at Sprout as if he’s an alien who is new to this planet. Cosmo just watches as Sprout tentatively eats it. “Good, can’t have you not healthy before your expedition!” Sprout stops himself from freezing up. “Who are you going with today?”

Sprout slowly chews a piece of the egg in his mouth. Cosmo’s cooking is so good. He’s happy he gets to taste it twice, at the very least. “Bobette, Coal… I think Rodger, Glisten, Astro, Pebbles, and…” He stares at Cosmo for a second, who is eyeing Sprout with curiosity. “...Ginger.”

Cosmo perks up. “Tell Ginger I said hi! I'm surprised there's a handful of holiday toons going.”

Sprout finishes his omelette with one last bite. “Yeah… I will.”

“Gee, you sure finished that fast. Hungry much?”

Sprout sets his plate down on the table and stares at Cosmo with an intense look. “Cosmo. If you cooked for me every day I would combust. Your cooking is the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”

Cosmo turns away from Sprout’s eyes. “S-Sprout..!” Sprout simply smiles, and Cosmo regains his composure. “T-That's good to hear. Have to keep our number one resident medic in perfect condition!”

“And what about the other number one resident medic? Is he in top condition?”

“Oh c'mon Sprout, we both know you're a lot better than I am!”

“We're equal.” Sprout feels like he needs a pin pulled from the back of his neck to unravel all the stress that’s building in his body. “Besides, you didn’t answer. How are you feeling?”

“Well… I am feeling a little bored…”

“Ah.” His brain flashes back to the abhorred card game. Sprout laughs nervously. “Should we go back to Bobette for some arts and crafts today? I never got the hang of that origami from last time!”

A mischievous grin paints Cosmo's face. “I had something different in mind.” Sprout tenses up as the swiss roll goes towards one of the cupboards, and pulls out the dreaded green card box again.

“Cos. You said we would never have to play Skip-Bo again!”

Cosmo sticks out his bottom lip and flutters his lashes. “Awh. But it's been months! Please!”

“We literally played it–” He cuts himself off before he can say yesterday. Cosmo raises his brow and takes the opportunity to bombard him.

“Please Sprout!”

Sprout crosses his arms, prepared to stick his foot down or throw the cards into the oven, but Cosmo flutters his eyes once more. “Please Mr. Seedly!”

Sprout shutters. He’s not going to give up this time, dream or not, he just played fucking Skip-Bo! “Agh! Why can’t we play Uno, or Go Fish?!”

Cosmo begins sniffling. He dejectedly lowers the cardboard, rubbing at his eye as he sticks out his bottom lip even more, somehow. “O-Okay… we don’t have to…”

The sight breaks Sprout’s heart, even if he knows its manipulation. It’s almost as bad as–

“Fine! Fine!” Sprout bursts out, mainly trying to distract his brain. “We can play Skip-Bo!” Cosmo perks right up. He pulls the cards right out of the box. “You… are the worst.”

Cosmo smirks as he begins shuffling the cards. “What can I say? I'm your biggest fan and your biggest hater.”

After Sprout loses a couple of times it's finally eleven. He can’t recall if those games were familiar or not, because he is just that bad at Skip-Bo. It’s the only card game he never wins. Cosmo is about to go through their stock when Sprout suggests spaghetti.

“Hm… I think I used the last of our meat on the omelettes this morning.” Cosmo sighs.

“Yeah, the only person who might be sad about a meatless lunch is Shelly. We can get more on the expedition for dinner.” Sprout smiles, Cosmo puts a finger to his mouth in thought then shrugs.

“Sure, at least I can’t hear Goob complaining about it!”

Sprout stifles a laugh. “Goob never complains.”

They fall into their silent cooking routine, and it’s the first time since Sprout woke up that he feels at peace. This time he even takes the opportunity to do what he does best, which is tease Cosmo, and eat one of the homemade noodles raw. Cosmo lightly smacks him in the shoulder for it, but in usual Cosmo fashion it wouldn’t even hurt a fly. It makes Sprout feel better. Even if it doesn't calm his queasy stomach.

They finish cooking before twelve, again. The spaghetti turns out amazing, just as expected. The two are still in the kitchen, eating at the same countertop from before, as Sprout turns to Cosmo with a smile.

“Really, Cosmo. You’re getting better every day.”

A blush dusts Cosmo's cheeks, and Sprout really has to bite back the urge to tease him for being so bashful this time. “It's nothing special… your pasta sauce is really good!”

“Would taste better with shallots.” Sprout dismisses him.

“Ugh… Or parmesan, I know Goob was ecstatic but the shredded cheese is kind of sad…” Cosmo twirls some pasta onto his fork.

“It’s okay. We’ll get some parmesan today.” The way Cosmo perks upon hearing that almost makes Sprout try to recall if they got some last time.

“Well, you don't have to go through all that trouble.”

“I'd fight any twisted to get you that parmesan.”

“Sprout!”

Sprout smiles, almost bitterly, as Cosmo gives him a look of bewilderment. “I'm only joking, of course. I’d die a hundred times over before I leave you to be by yourself.”

Cosmo angrily shoves pasta in his mouth. He swallows and points his fork at Sprout. “The only thing I want is you back safe and sound!” Sprout’s heart skips a beat. He shares the same sentiment in his head.

Sprout scrapes the pasta off his fork with a tender smile. He then interlocks his fork into Cosmo's own, causing Cosmo to stare a bit dumbly at the forks interlocked. “I'll always make it back safe and sound, but you have to promise me you’ll make it back safe and sound too, okay?” Cosmo stares at the forks a second longer before pulling his own back and turning away from Sprout. He mumbles something, and Sprout leans in closer with a grin on his face. “What did you say?”

Cosmo is almost vibrating in his seat. “I’m not even going on this stupid expedition!” He turns to face Sprout again, his face filled with embarrassment as he re-interlocks their forks. “Of course, I’ll always make it back safe and sound.”

Sprout’s heart feels like it’s out of control. Really, Cosmo is cute. There’s no denying that. Anyone with eyes can see it. But this adorably flustered side of Cosmo, that only Sprout has seen? He silently prays whatever person comes into Cosmo’s life in the future never sees the swiss roll like this. That this is the only side of Cosmo that Sprout has for himself.

They finish the spaghetti in a comfortable silence after that. They're packaging up the leftovers when Astro makes a reappearance.

Sprout notices him this time. “Hey, Astro.” Sprout greets him. Cosmo turns around with the tupperware in his hand, and Astro’s eyes are deadlocked onto the swiss roll.

“...Cosmo.” Astro mumbles.

“Uh. Hey Astro, what's up?” Cosmo tilts his head in question, kind of like a dog, Sprout notes.

“Ginger has fallen sick.” Cosmo freezes up. Sprout does too. “I know it's your off day, and that you probably want to go check on her, but…”

“You'll need another medic for today's expedition.” Cosmo sighs.

Sprout frowns. He wants to ask Astro what the actual fuck is happening right now, but he doesn’t want to seem even more crazy and worry Cosmo even more. I’ll just let this play out instead, Sprout clutches the tupperware in his hand.

Cosmo asks the question this time. “Is Ginger okay?”

“Yeah. She just strained her neck.”

Then, Sprout turns to Cosmo. “You don’t have to go, why don’t we ask Teagan and see if she wants some field practice today?”

Astro’s expression doesn’t even change. “She’s helping Ginger in the med bay right now, if Cosmo would prefer that I can go ask her.”

Cosmo turns to Sprout, then places his hand on his chin as if he were deep in thought. “I don't know… Does this guy have to be there?” Cosmo turns to Astro with a deadpan expression.

Astro looks between the two confused. Sprout begins to gnaw on his lip. Cosmo turns to Sprout with a look of worry on his face, then sighs as Sprout doesn’t play into his antics. He turns back to Astro with a small shrug. “Yeah. I'll go.”

“Uhm… Okay..?” Astro looks between the two again, then turns back to Cosmo. “We're leaving at two. I'll see you then.” He exits the kitchen quickly.

Sprout is almost about to drop everything and race after Astro when Cosmo speaks again. “I guess I better go get ready. I want to go check on Ginger as well.” Cosmo mumbles, then turns to Sprout. “Are you going to be okay if…?”

Sprout hesitates, it would be irresponsible of him to leave all these dishes to Cosmo while his cousin is in medbay. It would be even more irresponsible to tell him to go, and then leave all these dishes for the person who ends up on dinner duty. He huffs in defeat. “Tell Ginger I said hi, and that I'm sorry I can't visit her.” Cosmo hesitates for a second, definitely about to ask if Sprout is sure before Sprout quickly pushes his worries down with some gentle teasing. “Maybe get Ginger to give you some machine tips while you’re there?

Cosmo huffs, then turns swiftly, stomping off towards the door. “I'll meet you at the elevator!” There's no malice or actual anger behind his words. Sprout has to hold back his laughter at Cosmo's display of ‘anger’.

“Meet you at the elevator!” Sprout calls before Cosmo leaves for good. Sprout frowns, realizing he didn’t get a Cosmo hug this time. He shakes it off, no time to be sad, he has work to do!

This time around Sprout goes fast and still tries to be thorough. If he goes fast enough, he can ask Astro some questions before they go down. He could always ask while they’re down, but Astro is usually hard to find during expeditions, or he is right beside the person on twisted duty to make sure they’re doing okay.

The dishes were finished at one-thirty-five this time. He exits the kitchen with haste, and thinks back to his ‘dream’. Cosmo and Astro arrived together, so maybe Astro is where Ginger is? He’s going so fast and without any thoughts that when the door to the medical bay opens he smacks straight into Cosmo. The two fall on the floor and groan.

“Sprout…?”

He tries to stretch his neck to see past Cosmo into the room, but the swiss roll, as always, steals his attention in the end. “Ugh. Sorry Cos! I finished early, wanted to come say hi to Ginger.” Sprout hopes his toothy grin is enough to hide the fact that he is lying.

Cosmo eyes him suspiciously, and he mentally curses that the swiss roll knows him too well. But Cosmo brushes it off. “Ah, Teagan just shooed me out to let her rest. I did tell her hi for you though, she said she’s sad you guys couldn’t exchange recipes this expedition!”

Sprout perks up. “Is…Astro helping… or?”

“No, why? I haven't a clue where Astro is.” Now it’s Sprout's turn to raise a brow because Cosmo is a bad liar. The two stare at each other before Cosmo bursts out in maniacal laughter. “He definitely isn't creating some memory wipers because Ginger told me how her neck broke! Ahaha!”

Sprout blinks. He doesn’t want to know, but he feels off about that sentence.

Sprout gets up off the floor and offers his hand to help Cosmo up. “Well, whatever. Let’s get to the elevator then?”

Cosmo nods and takes Sprout’s hand.

The walk is silent, and when they reach the elevator the only person missing is Astro, unsurprisingly. Bobette waves at the two.

“Merry Christmas Bobette.” Sprout waves back, not even bothering to greet the other two, or get into another staring contest with Pebble.

Bobette gapes, probably shocked that Sprout said it first, but smiles and waves a little bit faster. “Merry Christmas Sprout! Merry Christmas Cosmo!”

“Merry Christmas Bobette!” Cosmo smiles back. “Hello Rodger, Hello Glisten!”

“Hi Cosmo,” Rodger nods.

“Hey, Cosmo!” Glisten gives him a wink, then goes back to inspecting his nails.

“Are we just missing one then?” Rodger eyes the crowd, to which Sprout nods.

“Just Astro, I believe.”

The group stands in silence before Rodger turns his eyes over to Sprout and Cosmo. “So… Can I ask why you too arriv—”

“No.” Sprout shuts down Rodger immediately. The magnifying glass squints, and Sprout rolls his eyes. Oh, he’s full of secrets too. “We’re best friends. Unless you want to start telling the class why you and Glisten are always out and about together?”

The two freeze up. Cosmo blinks a couple of times and turns to Sprout with his mouth agape. Bobette is talking to Coal and Pebble like nothing else is happening. Astro arrives. “Hello everyone, sorry I’m late.”

“That’s everyone then. What a team we have today!” Bobette cheers.

“Into the elevator, shall we?” Sprout shoots Rodger and Glisten a shit-eating grin.

As they descend Cosmo leans over to Sprout to whisper, “How did you know about that?”

Sprout smirks. “Toodles told me.” Cosmo giggles.

The elevator door whirrs open.

They’re going fast again. Even with Sprout sticking to Cosmo’s side this time, they still get a haul closer to what he had in the dream. When a tentacle gets Bobette’s leg again, Sprout becomes absorbed in his work until he hears Cosmo.

“After this floor, we should head back up,” Cosmo gestures toward the pile of goods the team had scavenged. Sprout feels himself freeze up. “Plus, we should’ve headed back up anyway. Bobette is getting the short end of the stick today…”

“You guys are pretty far down!” Dandy adds with a cheer. “I don’t think I’ve seen a team go down for this long before.”

Glisten takes his eyes off the bottle of pop Dandy is selling to give the flower an inquisitive look. “How far down are we?”

“This will be floor thirty,” Astro answers instead. The toons all look at Astro, who shrugs underneath his blanket. “I always make sure to keep track.”

“No wonder the number of machines has increased,” Rodger grumbles.

Bobette pats the heads of the two dogs who are beside her, their little eyes filled with worry and regret. “These two are doing such a wonderful job, it honestly feels like a winter breeze with them!”

“Still. I feel like Cosmo is right.” Sprout finishes fastening the gauze on her leg and gives Bobette a thumbs up. “Who knows what could come for us next…” Coal only nuzzles into Bobette's side at Sprout’s somber tone, while Pebble stares eerily at the place Sprout finished bandaging her leg.

“Plus, Bobette's been getting beat up like a Shrimpo. We should be taking her to the medbay soon.” Cosmo reiterates.

“Then it's settled,” Rodger crosses his arms as the elevator halts. “Let's get what we can on this floor and get out.”

The door begins whirring as the chains begin to lift it, but Sprout's ears lock onto the ambiance noise once more. The sound of bells jingling, and growling in the background. He eyes around the elevator, and no one else notices anything, again, other than Pebble, who immediately jumps up on high alert.

When the door finishes opening the giant counterpart of the little dog begins to run at them. Pebble immediately begins barking and running out, luring twisted Pebble away. The rest of the toons then realize their situation when Twisted Bobette immediately begins following the two Pebbles away from the elevator as the lights flicker and then die. Coal nudges Bobette one more time before she's off again, too.

“...And let's go fast,” Bobette adds.

Glisten and Rodger nod. Both pull out a flashlight and set off in different directions. Sprout holds out his hand to help Bobette up. She takes it with a smile, dusts off her sweater, and begins out of the elevator as well. When Sprout turns it's just Cosmo. Sprout gives the swiss roll a weak smile. “Are you okay?” Cosmo slightly turns his head and eyes Sprout.

He doesn't miss the way Cosmo swallows nervously, swallows nervously, but inevitably puts a smile on with a nod. “I think I'll stick close to you on this floor, just in case?”

Sprout holds out his hand. “Sounds like I’m returning the favor since I’ve been sticking so close to you.”

Cosmo stares at the hand Sprout’s holding out. He looks away, bringing one hand up to cover his mouth as Cosmo slides their hands together. “Really… you’re being so…. weird today, Sprout.”

Sprout squeezes Cosmo’s hand before he pulls out his flashlight and begins tugging the other toon along. “Well, we promised each other, right? Safe and sound.”

Sprout feels like he’s going to combust when he feels Cosmo squeeze his hand back. “Safe and sound…” Cosmo mumbles.

Sprout opts to do machines again, but he keeps his ears posted on Cosmo, who is once again keeping his hand in Sprout's unless the strawberry is on a machine, then he's using his flashlight to scout the vicinity for any other supplies they could bring up.

The machine dings as Sprout finishes, and Cosmo is back at Sprout's side in a flash. His stomach feels like it’s going to sink. “I’m glad you’re beside me, Cosmo…” It’s too dark to see Cosmo, but he can picture the way the toon is blushing beside him. “Your presence is comforting.”

Cosmo squeezes Sprout’s hand. “Your presence is comforting, too…” Sprout's heart flutters.

They round a corner, and Sprout smacks into something hard.

“Ouch…” Bobette groans.

“Oh, hey Bobette! Merry Christmas.” Cosmo whispers from behind Sprout.

“Merry Christmas you two! One more machine left… This floor has been going well!” She smiles.

The walkie-talkie buzzes, Sprout is already pulling it out and preparing to respond. Rodger's voice triples as Bobette, Sprout, and Cosmo’s devices all chime at once. “Glisten is on the last machine. He's ready to teleport whenever. I'm bringing a mirror to the elevator. Let's go.”

Sprout notices Cosmo goes to talk, but Sprout is faster. “Perfect. I know the way back. Bobette and Cosmo are on me, please don’t pop until we’re within eyesight.”

“Roger that.” Glisten’s voice rings out.

Bobette smiles. “I'll follow you then!”

This time, Sprout holds out his other hand to Bobette. “Here, hold my hand so we don’t get lost. You’re injured, I wouldn’t want to lose you in this.”

“Oh! Thanks!” She puts her gloved hand in Sprout’s own, and he begins tugging the two toons along.

He notes that holding Bobette’s hand is nothing like holding Cosmo’s. Maybe it’s the glove that isn’t providing the warmth Cosmo’s own does, or the lack of skin contact that doesn’t make Sprout want to squeeze her hand repeatedly until she squeezes back so he knows she's safe. Maybe it’s because he’s Cosmo’s number-one friend? He harbors no ill will towards Bobette at all, but they weren’t close until the Ichor Operation happened and he finally got to see the holiday toons regularly. Halfway into the walk, the alarm bells start blaring.

Sprout curses under his breath. Adrenaline courses through his veins, and it feels like his head is pounding. “I thought they were going to wait for us this time!”

This time, before they start sprinting, he rips his hands from the two toons and turns to pick Bobette up himself. She lets out a gasp. She is not heavy at all. She weighs almost as much as a sack of flour, and the image of strong Cosmo with her in his arms crumbles Cosmo stares at him with horror, mouth agape. Sprout finally kicks into overdrive. “She can’t run, she’s injured! Let’s go!”

The two begin running. Cosmo, like last time, lags behind Sprout a bit. So it wasn’t Bobette’s fault, it was never Bobette’s fault in the first place. He would never blame anyone but himself for what happened. Sprout is grinding his teeth when he sees the white lights of the elevator when he hears the growling of a vicious beast. Then, loud barking reverberating through the walls around them. “Cosmo! We gotta go faster!” Sprout yells. They don't stop moving forward, but the growling gets louder.

“Oh… I’m too heavy aren't I,” Bobette's usual cheer is devoid of her tone. It almost sounds like Glisten told her it wasn't Christmas. “Just… put me down! I can make it.”

“We’re going to make it together!” Sprout is yelling from all the adrenaline.

The elevator isn't that far, and almost as if he wants to see the train hurdling at him, Sprout turns his head.

“Cosmo!”

Cosmo shoves Sprout forward causing him and Bobette to fall on the floor. Bobette lets out a cry again. Ichor splatters again. Coal comes out of nowhere and scoops Bobette up on her back, and Sprout doesn’t hesitate to grab Cosmo again.

Coal and Sprout make a break for it as the elevator door begins whirring, the two slide under the door and Sprout makes a break for the corner with their medical supplies, Cosmo still in his arms.

The sound of his heartbeat in his ears is loud, but this time he’s more lucid about everything happening around him.

“Why did you pop it?!” Rodger roars.

“I-I saw Pebble run towards me! It scared me, I freaked!”

“Well, fuck, Glisten! Look at what– Ugh. It’s, it’s okay.”

Bobette is crying, loud, and ugly. “You should’ve put me down..! It’s all my fault, I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry! He would be alive instead of me!”

Sprout turns to her, anger dripping in his voice. “Don’t say that! It’s no one's fault, your life matters as much as his!” Bobette only cries harder.

The dogs are barking, and Astro is attempting to calm them down with hushes that are being drowned out by how loud they are.

Cosmo reaches up towards Sprout, and the strawberry turns his head back to the swiss roll once more. Now Sprout starts ugly crying at the repeated horrible memory in his head. A cold thumb presses over his lip.

“H-Hey… Sprout?”

“C-Cos?”

“...What do you… What would you do…. if… I became… twisted?”

“You can’t keep asking me this.” Sprout sobs. “I wouldn't leave you… I'd become twisted too if I had to!”

Cosmo chuckles. “What… A boring… answer…” Red begins to tinge Cosmo's working eye.

“Why?” Sprout hiccups, pressing the hand a hand to Cosmo’s hand that is clutching his face. “What would you do?”

“Isn't.. is it obvious?” Cosmo closes his eye. “I'd… S…aaa…aaargh…..raaa—” The sentence begins to delve into the normal twisted growls before it is cut off by a medkit dropping on Cosmo's head and splattering what's left of it.

“Sorry, Sprout.” He hears Rodger grumble from behind him. “I’d rather not lose another friend today.”

Sprout doesn’t answer him. This time, Sprout cradles Cosmo closer to his chest. The crying doesn’t stop. Pebble worms his way into Sprout’s lap whimpering, and he feels familiar gloved hands wrapping themselves around him to give a comforting squeeze. All Sprout can numbly think is that the corpse isn’t Cosmo, and it’s never going to be Cosmo again. He should’ve known… he should’ve known! Astro!

He whips his head around to confront the toon, but he’s once again surrounded by darkness. He’s sinking, but he can‘t sink. He has to get back to Cosmo. Sprout pushes himself up and out of the ichor, only to look down and realize this time his whole body is covered in ichor. He can’t fully pull himself out, either, his legs are stuck drowning in the substance. He’s snapped out of it when a forehead is pressed against his own with a wild grin. “Don’t you know what happens when toons get sad, Sprout?” Dandy stares for a second then rolls his eyes as he stands up straight. “Whatever, you’ll find out soon enough anyway,” Dandy waves it off and turns to leave, Sprout opens his mouth to let out a scream.

Then he’s staring at familiar red walls. Cosmo. He doesn’t have to check the clock to know it's eight in the morning. I need to find Astro. The kitchen.

He slams open the kitchen door, which this time startles both Astro and Cosmo. “Morning, sleephead~!” Cosmo still smiles at Sprout nonetheless.

Instead, for an odd change, Sprout narrows his focus on Astro. “Are you fucking with me?!”

“Sprout!” Cosmo gasps.

Astro begins to physically recline under the attention. “Uhm.. what?”

“Am I dreaming?! What are these dreams I’m having?! Why have—” Cosmo rushes over to Sprout immediately, pressing the back of his hand to the strawberry’s forehead.

Sprout’s anger dies down as he stares into Cosmo’s eyes. The familiar comforting brown and cyan causing him to regain some composure he was quickly losing. “Sprout? What’s wrong?”

“I… I keep. I keep repeating this day, it feels like, and I think I’m dreaming. Sorry, Astro, I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

“Hmm…” Astro responds, pulling the blanket a bit tighter around him. “No, it’s okay, that’s scary. But I… I don’t think this is a dream…? It doesn’t feel like one?”

Sprout almost collapses. Well… he does, Cosmo quickly wraps his arms around Sprout’s waist to keep him up. “Then what’s… happening to me?!”

“Uh… Maybe… Laplace’s demon?” Astro mumbles, Sprout gives him a frustrated look. “The idea that if someone knew everything’s position all at once at any moment, you could predict the future? Or change the future, but how that would apply to you….” Astro shrugs. Sprout wants to sink even further, but he doesn’t, instead, he regains himself on his feet but shivers slightly as Cosmo only wraps his hands around Sprout tighter. “What keeps happening at the end of your dreams?”

“I… I…” He stares down at Cosmo. He looks back up at Astro. He presses his lips into a thin line. Astro nods, whether he understands or not Sprout doesn’t know.

“Maybe, given this knowledge, some you out there is trying to change the outcome? And maybe it won’t stop until you’ve gotten the outcome you wanted.”

Sprout sighs. He puts his head in his hands. “I see…” He lets out a sigh. “Ugh, just forget I said anything! Maybe my dream just repeated twice.” Sprout goes to pull Cosmo off himself, but the swiss roll only squeezes him tighter.

“Ah… I’ll go read through some books, try and find you an answer. I’ll see you at the expedition?” Astro doesn’t wait for a response, despite phrasing it like a question. Astro gets out of the kitchen quickly.

“Are you doing okay?” Cosmo mutters.

Sprout holds back his laugh. He pats Cosmo on the head. “I’m always better when you’re here, Cos.”

Cosmo hugs him back tighter. The day goes on like he would expect, or rather as he has experienced. Yesterday is today, but Cosmo always has this look in his eyes like he wants to say something to Sprout, or he’s worried his best friend is going to collapse in his arms again.

They’re back down on the expedition, They’re going fast, no surprise there. This time, at panic after Bobette’s leg gets nabbed, Sprout pipes up. “We should head back up.” He says, leaning down to begin his usual work on Bobette’s leg. “Bobette is getting eaten alive!”

Cosmo, who has been giving Sprout a worried look this entire time, nods. “I agree.”

Glisten is looking at his nails. “How far down are we, anyway?”

“This will be floor thirty,” Astro answers instead. The toons all look at Astro, who shrugs underneath his blanket. “I always make sure to keep track.”

“No wonder the number of machines has increased,” Rodger grumbles.

Bobette pats the heads of the two dogs who are beside her, little eyes filled with worry and regret. “These two are doing such a wonderful job, it honestly feels like a winter breeze with them!”

How is… everything repeating?!

“One more wouldn’t hurt, even numbers make the cake!” Glisten smirks at Sprout. Sprout wants to bite his head off.

“I should be good for one more! I am sorry for being such a hassle, I’ll be sure to treat you two to some hot chocolate later!” Bobette smiles towards Sprout and Cosmo.

Sprout feels Cosmo’s eyes on him. “Bobette's been getting beat up like a Shrimpo. We should be taking her to the medbay soon.” Cosmo reiterates.

“Well, all in favor of one more floor?” Rodger raises a hand. Glisten raises a hand. Bobette raises her hand, despite Coal trying to knock it down. Astro raises his hand. Pebble jumps up and down. “Then it's settled,” Rodger crosses his arms and hits the down button once more. “Let's get what we can on this floor and get out.”

Sprout is grinding his teeth as Dandy appears. “Sorry for being such a hassle…!” Bobette sighs.

Sprout looks up from his work and smiles at the bauble. “Bobette. Nothing is ever your fault, and nothing will ever be your fault.” Bobette frowns, and exchanges a look with Cosmo. The elevator comes to a halt, as Sprout finishes the work on her leg.

Everything repeats. Sprout doesn’t even let go of Cosmo’s hand when he’s on machines, but Cosmo doesn’t try to let go either. The two do machines together, and Cosmo lets out a little laugh. “Feels a bit silly when we do it like this, doesn’t it?”

Cosmo squeezes Sprout's hand, causing a weak laugh from the strawberry. “Everything feels better when we’re together, Cos.” Sprout squeezes back. “We should stay together forever, okay?”

The machine buzzes. Cosmo turned it a bit too fast. “Okay,” Cosmo replies instantly.

That idea doesn’t sound too bad, Sprout thinks to himself. Just Sprout and Cosmo forever. The two round a corner, and smack into Bobette together this time. This time Sprout wastes no time, he picks Bobette up with one hand as if she were a sack of flour, he grabs Cosmo with the other and they’re running off towards the elevator.

When Rodger calls through the walkie-talkie, Bobette answers. “We’re on our way! Be there soon!”

He was not fast enough. Cosmo shoves him forward, and like before Coal picks up Bobette.

He brings Cosmo into the elevator. There are no tears to cry, he just feels numb. He stands over Cosmo’s body with a medkit in hand.

“Hey, Cos?” Sprout mumbles.

Cosmo blinks wearily, looking up at Sprout with pain diluting his eyes. “Y...Yeah?”

“If you became a twisted…” Sprout lets out a sigh. “I’d join you.” He drops the medkit himself this time. Glisten tackles him to the ground, screaming about how they could have saved him as if his weird situationship hadn’t dropped the medkit the other two times. Sprout blinks slowly, and when he reopens his eyes he’s drowning in the ichor.

There’s no Dandy this time, but his legs are still completely submerged. He lets out a scream.

He wakes up screaming.

Here he goes again.

He doesn’t talk at all this time, only opting to hold Cosmo’s hands even in Gardenview, savoring how easily the toon gets flustered by him. It goes like the second iteration.

He ends up back in the black box of ichor, sinking slowly.

Chapter Text

Cosmo cannot go on that expedition. It is the only thought Sprout has when he wakes up this time. It’s been attempt number five, and there’s nothing he can do on the expedition to stop it. He doesn’t head to the kitchen first thing, instead, he goes to the med bay to convince Teagan. It’s completely locked, much to his surprise. It quickly rules out that option, at least this early on. So instead, when they’re putting away the spaghetti, Sprout turns to Cosmo.

“Hey, I have to go do something real quick. Do you think you’d be okay by yourself for a second?”

Cosmo furrows his brow. “You’re going to make me do this all by myself?” Cosmo sighs dramatically.

Sprout walks across the room and takes Cosmo hand’s in his own. He can feel the way the other toon goes still with shock as the two lock eyes. “Cosmo. I promise you, with my whole heart. I will always come back for you.” And considering recent events, he does mean it. Cosmo’s hands curl up in Sprout’s own, and the toon feels like he’s shaking. Sprout is about to pull away and ask what's wrong when Cosmo finally responds.

“O…Okay!” Cosmo retracts his hands and looks away from Sprout. “I’ll see you soon, then?”

Sprout smiles and nods. He wishes he were still holding Cosmo’s hand, he’d want to kiss the toon’s knuckles as if he were a knight in shining armor. He sure feels like one, at this moment. The thought lingers for a second before Sprout takes a deep breath and pushes it away, heading to the door. What would his best friend think if he did something so cheesy? He needs to steel himself.

He almost runs into Astro on his way out. “Oh, Astro! Hey, I was looking for you!”

“Oh. Uhm, actually, I was going to talk to Cosmo—”

“Yeah, yeah. I heard, about Ginger’s neck.” Astro grimaces at Sprout’s bluntness. “I was wondering, instead of another healer, with the lineup we have going, why not try Tisha?” Sprout smiles.

Astro raises a brow. “Any… reason why?”

“We have a lot of toons familiar with the machines, why not get another one and just make the floors go even faster? Plus, another support might make it easier for you.”

Astro stares at Sprout for a moment, before sighing. “Okay, okay. I’ll let Cosmo have his day off. Anyway, why were you looking for me?”

“I had a question actually, about repeated dreams.”

“Repeated…. Dreams?”

“How common are they? Like if my dream kept repeating the same day over, and over… and over again?”

Astro clings to his blanket a bit tighter, as if in thought, then lets out a sigh. “Not very, for something like that, it might be a coma or something like Laplace’s demon… which uh—”

“I’ve heard the theory.” Sprout cuts him off. Astro simply nods wearily, then shrugs.

“Do you want me to visit your dreams tonight? Something I can help with?”

“...Sure, the more the merrier.”

“...Okay, I’ll see you at the expedition, then?”

Sprout nods and watches Astro leave the dining hall for good measure. He turns back into the kitchen with a smile on his face. Cosmo has his head in the sink, but he turns over when Sprout walks back into the kitchen. “Oh, that was quick.”

“Of course, I would never leave you waiting.”

Cosmo turns back to the dishes, and Sprout helps out by sweeping and wiping down countertops. What usually takes two hours, becomes one. It's only one in the afternoon by the time Sprout and Cosmo are done cleaning.

“Ah, so what’s going to be for dinner tonight?” Sprout smiles.

Cosmo hums then turns to the fridge. “Leftover spaghetti?”

“And face Shrimpo’s wrath?”

Cosmo laughs. “Okay, okay. I don’t know, ugh. I don’t want to make something by myself. Maybe I’ll see if Boxten wants to learn something again?”

Jealously strikes through Sprout quickly. “You’d… cook without me?” It’s Sprout’s turn to pout.

“You want me to cook by myself?” Cosmo puts his hand to his head and sighs dramatically. “You want me to be a housewife, cooking a meal for her family while her husband is away?”

The idea of Cosmo in an apron, waiting for Sprout to come back home. And when Sprout finally comes back, Cosmo welcomes him with open arms, offers him a back massage, maybe even a ki–?

“Why, Mr. Seedly, you’re blushing!” Cosmo gasps. Sprout covers his face with his hand only to feel it burning under his fingertips.

Being stuck in the middle of a consistent time loop of your best friend dying over and over is certainly an odd time for these thoughts to be popping up. Well, is any time a good time? Is any thought like the thoughts he’s currently having about his best friend a good one to have?

His thoughts snap when he hears the melodic sound of Cosmo’s laughter, something he hasn’t heard in a while. “Don’t tell me, are you seriously imagining me as your housewife?!”

Sprout lets out a long groan. This has to be karma for making Cosmo flustered all those other times, but really, it’s the other toon’s fault! He’s so easy to fluster! “It’s your fault for putting those thoughts in my head!”

“Oh yeah?” Cosmo inches closer to Sprout, wiggling his eyebrows. “What kind of thoughts?!”

Sprout covers his eyes completely and turns away from Cosmo, beginning to fake cry. “You… you in a dress! Cosmo…. Blue is not your color!”

Cosmo gasps, and flicks Sprout's forehead, causing the strawberry to burst out laughing. “I’ll have you know, I’d look good in any color, unlike you! Blue would clash with your skin!”

It’s Sprout’s turn to gasp. He takes his hands off his face to clutch his chest dramatically. “You take that back!”

“Never!”

“I’ll just have to prove you wrong! I’m going to wear blue tomorrow just to hear you say you were wrong!”

The two burst out into laughter. Cosmo laughs so hard that he ends up snorting, which in turn only makes Sprout laugh even harder. The two end up on the floor, clutching their sides and wheezing from how hard they were laughing. For Sprout, all worries and regrets leave his shoulders for a second. He rolls on his back and stares up at the ceiling. Cosmo rolls over beside him, and the two stare at the ceiling together.

Cosmo coughs, Sprout almost sits up but Cosmo speaks first. “Sorry, I laughed too hard… It’s been a while since the two of us just had a moment to relax, huh?”

Sprout lets out a sigh. “Cos… It feels like it’s been days.” Cosmo has no idea, it’s been days.

“Ah, when is your next day off?” Cosmo turns to look at Sprout, a soft smile on his face.

Sprout turns to stare at him too, giving the best shrug he can as he is on the floor. “I don’t know, I’d have to check.”

“Let’s bake something together! It’s been a while since we got the time to bake.”

Sprout smiles, his heart feels at peace and he forgets the world around him and just indulges in Cosmo, this once. “Okay, but it doesn’t make up for you cooking with Boxten!”

Cosmo rolls his eyes. “Okay, okay. I’ll just cook alone, then, all by my lonesome.” Cosmo sighs.

“...You can cook with Poppy or Goob.”

“Why no Boxten?”

“He gets too close to you.” Sprout pouts.

Cosmo almost doubles over in laughter again.

Sprout turns to look at the wall, and he feels Cosmo’s hand patting his head. “Okay, okay. No Boxten! I get it. Just make sure you get a lot of sugar and flour today, okay?”

Sprout jolts up. Right, the expedition. His days repeating. “Fuck, the expedition.” He grumbles, jumping up and dusting off his back quickly. One of the clocks in the dining hall read one-fifty-five. “I’m gonna be late!”

Cosmo jumps up alongside Sprout. “Well! Hurry up! Let’s get you over there!”

The two make a break for it out of the kitchen, running side by side down the halls of Gardenview. They make it to the elevator, but Astro is already there, who is usually the last at the elevator. Sprout feels a pang of guilt and shame because again, he is usually so punctual! Today is just not his day! He wants to bang his head against the wall at that thought.

“Huh… There you two are.” Glisten smirks, eyes shifting between Sprout and Cosmo. “What were you two busy doing?”

Glisten knows how to get under Sprout’s skin quickly. Sprout opens his mouth but is cut off by Astro. “Ah… good think you brought Cosmo. If you wouldn’t mind… Would appear we need an eighth.”

Sprout feels like he’s going to throw up. “What happened to Tisha?”

“It’s two-ten. She got tired of waiting, said if she’s not going she has chores to do.” Rodger says matter-of-factly.

Cosmo looks at the group. “Well… why are you guys still waiting?”

“Astro said he had a hunch another one might show up!” Bobette cheered.

Sprout wants to die. For more reasons than just one. He resists the urge to scream and gnaw on his sleeves as Cosmo agrees to go down with them. He resists the urge to bang his head against the wall until he just dies from blood loss and the day probably resets anyway. This would’ve been a good day to move forward on! Why does the universe hate him?!

They descend. They descend. They descend.

Floor thirty hits and the usual dialogue plays, and Sprout feels himself growing desperate. He’s tried everything, well... Almost everything. He eyes Dandy’s shop, he and Cosmo are near the other toon to account for their stash which they keep in the corner. He hears the sound of the doors whirring. Dandy sighs, reaching for the lever on his left. Time moves in slow motion as Sprout waits for the right moment.

The hatches on Dandy’s shop begin to close. Sprout grabs the back of Cosmo’s hoodie, the smaller toon letting out a grasp and a choking sound. No one is near them or fast enough to stop Sprout as he throws Cosmo into the hole closing that Dandy leaves behind.

“Sprout?!” Cosmo yells, and the floor closes with a click.

Glisten breaks the silence. “Erm… Okay?”

Then he hears the growling, and the sound of bells, and Pebble barking. Each toon moves out, leaving Sprout to stare at the patched hole he just threw Cosmo into. He prays to the universe Dandy doesn’t kill him for that one. He exits the elevator before it closes behind them to keep twisteds from going up to Gardenview with them.

Relief floods through his veins, and Sprout goes on his usual route. It’s a bit more peaceful to know that there’s no way at all Cosmo is going to get bit this time. When he runs into Bobette, he smiles.

“Merry Christmas, Bobette.”

“Merry Christmas, Sprout!”

“I believe they’re on the last machine, we’re a bit of a way away from the elevator. Would you be okay if I picked you up to get us there faster?”

“Oh! Uh…” Bobette's smile twitches slightly. “You’re not going to throw me… are you?”

Sprout laughs. “No that was… Think of it as an early Christmas gift! I’d never hurt my friends.”

Bobette blinks. Her expression shifts, she opens her mouth but closes it, almost as if she’s holding down a question. She gives Sprout an almost scared smile. “Oh! Okay! I don’t mind then!”

Sprout scoops her up and begins running through the darkened halls. The alarms begin blaring. The strawberry thinks back to when she voted against going back up. “Uh…Hey Bobette?”

“Yeah, Sprout?”

“Why are you pushing yourself so hard?” The bauble pointedly looks away. “You more than anyone else deserve to want to go back up, well… er. If you wanted. It must not be fun getting so injured and then still going down.”

Bobette hums. “Well, we all keep going for some reason! I think we all get the feeling of feeling useless, unable to do much.” Those words hit Sprout hard. “ I just want to prove I’m useful outside of Christmas too, y’know? And that I'm tougher than I look!” She flexes in Sprout's arms.

Sprout chuckles. “You’re useful no matter what, and you are tougher than you look. I would’ve asked to go back up by now.” Bobette grins.

They’re nearing the elevator, when Sprout sees a familiar swiss roll and his heart drops. What the fuck is Cosmo doing back. !

“Sprout! You--!”

There’s loud barking, Sprout wastes no time, he shoves Bobette in Cosmo’s hands and pushes the duo toward the elevator. He feels the warmth of jaws around his head before he feels nothing at all, but the sludge of ichor around him.

He’s still sinking, of course. It’s gone up to his waist, finally. He looks down and wonders if maybe he should just dive in. Then Sprout is back to staring at the red walls of his stupid bedroom.

He convinces Astro to get Tisha again. This time, after Cosmo brings up Boxten, Sprout has to push down his jealousy.

“Well… He’s not as good as me, y’know.” Sprout pouts.

Cosmo stifles a laugh. “What? Are you jealous?”

“Of the air you breathe? Of course.” Sprout grumbles, he stands up, missing the way Cosmo nearly chokes on air, flustered from his comment. “I’d better go.”

“Ah, why don’t I walk with you?” Cosmo smiles.

Sprout has to bite his tongue to keep from yelling at the toon. He needs Cosmo to stay away from the elevator at all costs this time. “Sure! I—” Sprout fake trips over a bag of flour, making sure to kick it all over the floor. “Ah. Shit. I’d love to help you clean this up, and I hate asking this of you, but I really gotta go!”

“Wait, Sprout!”

“Sorry Cos! I’ll see you later!”

Sprout is sprinting as fast as he can. He makes it to the elevator, and Tisha is still there.

This team still makes it to floor thirty, surprisingly, but with a little bit less of a haul of resources, as it’s only Sprout now raking through the wreckage on each floor. Sprout also never runs into Bobette, instead, he just gets the walkie-talkie call from Rodger, which is surprising and leaves him a bit afraid for Bobette. The alarm bells still blare when he’s about halfway. He makes it to the elevator, barely, sliding under the door. Hope fills his heart when he sees everyone in the elevator, Bobette is leaning on Tisha, the tissue box had probably followed her just in case since she was injured. It makes Sprout happy that everyone is safe.

“What a long run we had.” Tisha remarks. “A shame we didn’t get more supplies.”

“Well hey, we should do this team again!” Bobette smiles. Coal barks in agreement.

“I wouldn’t mind something like this again either.” Astro smiles.

Sprout feels like he could cry tears of joy as the elevator dings and begins its reascent to Gardenview. It’s honestly too good to be true.

A sudden pain strikes Sprout in the chest. He doubles over from how strong it is. Bobette and Tisha are quick to rush to his side. “Sprout?! Are you okay?” Tisha calls, but it’s so quiet compared to the blaring pain he feels.

Sprout pukes ichor.

It was fucking too good to be true.

Then Sprout is submerged in ichor once more. He screams into the void this time, banging on the ichor surface. Laplace’s Demon his ass! That's all he wanted that run…! Everything was right in his hands, and the universe had struck him down!

He goes to run his hands down his face only to realize his arms are now stuck in the ichor as well.

He's staring at a red wall. At least now his hands are free, he pulls at his cheeks with annoyance seeping through his veins. He doesn't get to live, Cosmo doesn't get to live, this is all so! So!

He screams in his room.

He goes at it again. And Again. And Again. Every time it’s the same, he becomes overcome with a searing pain and he pukes, then passes out, and ends up back in the stupid ichor box.

He stands up, and this time he puts on the same pants he's been putting on for the tenth today, but he goes to his closet specifically for a blue hoodie today. Cosmo won't get it, but the act makes him giggle on the inside.

As he goes to the cafeteria he's still getting looks. And as per usual, when he enters the kitchen Astro and Cosmo are sitting there talking.

Cosmo has a worried look on his face, but when he turns to Sprout it melts away. “Morning, sleepyhead~!”

Every bone in Sprout's body feels like it weighs a ton. His brain is so tired, he feels foggy. He just wants to go back to sleep. He wants tomorrow to come. Sprout wants his best friend to be alive and well. He silently walks across the room to Cosmo, and when he finally stands in front of Cosmo once more he can't do it. Sprout falls to his knees and begins to cry.

“S-Sprout?!”

Cosmo falls beside Sprout, immediately pulling the strawberry in his arms. Sprout hasn't cried like this since the first and second time Cosmo died in his arms. That thought only makes Sprout push his head into Cosmo's shoulder and let out a sob that leaves his body shaking.

Cosmo squeezes him tighter, to which Sprout finally wraps his arms around him and squeezes him for all he's worth. Then there's a hand on his head, softly stroking his head, and everything melts away into the overwhelming sadness Sprout feels. The tears soak Cosmo's hoodie and he cries even harder at the thought of ruining Cosmo's hoodie. He cries even harder because it's not like it matters, when it becomes today again he'll have a whole new sweater that had never even touched Sprout. When the day resets again, Cosmo is going to die again. Or Sprout is going to die again. They don’t get to walk into tomorrow together, no matter what Sprout tries.

Why does Cosmo have to go on the expedition? Why does Cosmo have to die every day? Why can't it be like yesterday, and the day before, where Sprout and Cosmo just get to be that? Why can't Sprout and Cosmo just exist together for one day?!

Sprout doesn't know how long he cries into Cosmo's sweater like that. It is long enough that he eventually has nothing left and he's just dry-heaving into the sweater. His thoughts are finally clear at that point, just the feeling of Cosmo stroking his head, and humming a nursery rhyme. It soothes a deep ache in Sprout's heart.

He doesn't know how long the two stay on the floor like that, but it's Cosmo's voice that breaks the empty silence. “Sprout… what's wrong with you today?”

Sprout sniffles. His voice comes out soft, almost like it would break him if he talked any louder. “I don't want to go on the expedition today.” Cosmo lets out a shaky breath. Sprout feels it. The swiss roll attempts to gently push Sprout off, but Sprout instead sinks his head lower and into Cosmo's stomach, his hands resting on the dough's thighs as he tries to hold back new oncoming tears. “I don't want you to go either. I just want to spend the day with you.”

Cosmo's hand refinds its way to Sprout's head, gently scratching where the leaves meet his skull. The water dam in his eyes breaks again, but not as strong this time.

“Please…?” Sprout chokes out. “I really won't ask for anything again.”

“Of course we can spend the day together.” The softness of Cosmo's voice only makes him cry harder. “Do you want to tell me what's going on?”

Sprout shakes his head instead of answering. Cosmo pats his back with the hand not on Sprout's head. “Okay,” Comso pauses, then lets out a little giggle. “Do you want to play Skip-Bo to feel better?”

“Fuck no!” Sprout shoots up. He wipes away his tears quickly and tries his best to muster a glare. In all ten retries of this day, Sprout has never won Skip-Bo once. That game is bullshit, and Cosmo has to be cheating!

Cosmo bursts into laughter, his hand reaching out to brush the leaves in front of Sprout's eyes. “Okay, okay. No Skip-Bo. Just… don't go looking in the top cupboard.” Sprout gives out a small laugh as he can already picture the mischievous grin as Cosmo pulls the cards out from the same spot, every time. “I'll grab you some water, and how about you tell me what you want to do today after you take a couple of sips?”

Sprout nods and watches as Cosmo gets up and heads to the sink. His heart already sinks as his best friend leaves his vicinity.

Best friend… That title feels too dull for the swiss roll, now. Sprout doesn't treat anyone like he treats Cosmo. He also would call Astro one of his closest friends, maybe number two on his tier list, but he would probably never go through this turmoil for the moon, maybe once or twice before Sprout fully gave up. For Cosmo? He's never lied. He would die a thousand times over.

Cosmo comes back with the glass and hands it to Sprout, who chugs it all down in a second. He stares at the empty glass for a second, before staring up at Cosmo, who is looking down at him with worry. There are a million things Sprout wants to do with Cosmo. There's always been a million things he wants to do with Cosmo.

“...Well, we should still make lunch.” Sprout mumbles and Cosmo lets out a hum in agreement.

“Astro owes me a favor. He could take care of it today.”

Sprout has never seen Astro cook, the thought sends shivers down his spine. He shakes his head. He thinks back to the promise the two made on this very floor. “Then… could we maybe bake something after? It's been a while.”

Cosmo hums. “I don't know if we have supplies—”

“I'll get extra next time.”

Cosmo only nods in response. Sprout puts the glass down beside him and gives his friend a weak smile. “Then maybe we can play Skip-Bo if you still really want to.”

Cosmo laughs. “We don't have to!”

“If it'll make you happy, it'll make me happy.” Cosmo turns away, and Sprout has to hold back the pout in that he can't see a flustered Cosmo.

As per usual, the two make spaghetti for lunch. They interlock forks together. Then, when they go to put the spaghetti away, Sprout locks the kitchen door. Astro won't knock loudly, he never does. And if they send Glisten in here Sprout will air out the dirty laundry he's been testing the waters with the past couple of resets.

“Ah.. what should we bake today?” Cosmo mumbles as he sifts through their pantry.

Sprout eyes the swiss roll, and lets out a hum. “Do we have anything for tiramisu?”

He can't see it, but he can tell how wide Cosmo is smiling at the idea. “Oooh, I hope so, I love tiramisu!”

“I know.”

Cosmo hits his head on the cupboard.

“Cos?!”

“I-I'm okay! Thought I saw a rat.” Cosmo is a really bad liar. “We would have to make the ladyfingers from scratch unless we sneak into Teagan's room.”

“Ah. Let’s try to avoid that.”

“Agreed.”

Sprout goes through the fridge, unsurprised to not find mascarpone but delighted to find heavy whipping cream, and lots of it. When he turns, Cosmo is already holding up the espresso powder and lemon juice.

“We could make mascarpone!” Cosmo frowns. “We don't have enough for everyone, though.”

“Then let's just make it for the two of us.” Cosmo nearly drops the espresso powder. “It'll be like a cute baking date.”

Cosmo whips around to slam the ingredients on the countertop. “Y-Yeah! Two best friends on a baking date together! Ahaha…!”

Sprout pauses for a second, only to grind wildly. Once again, a really weird time for some realizations. Oh, Cosmo. Are you as in denial as I was oblivious?

They gather the rest of their ingredients in total silence. Once they have everything, including bowls, mixers, and measuring cups, the two nod in silence.

Cosmo of course preheats the oven. Sprout works on separating whites from yolks for the ladyfingers. Comso takes care of mixing of course, and Sprout prepares the baking sheet. Piped, and into the oven, they end up playing a round of Skip-Bo waiting for them to come out. Sprout's loss comes with the ovens ding.

Sprout starts up the espresso and begins to make the homemade mascarpone. Cosmo takes care of their whipping cream. They take turns dipping their, sad and thin, lady fingers into the coffee. Exchanging smiles and glances. Sprout grabs two glasses, and Cosmo layers everything for the two. Sprout finishes the dusting of cocoa powder as the two smile at their work.

“These look.. wait.” Cosmo turns to Sprout, a blank stare on his face. “Aren't we supposed to refrigerate these before eating?”

“I don't think—” Sprout stops, and mirrors Comso's blank stare. “Shit, I think you're right. Why don't we freeze them for like ten minutes first?”

“Well… couldn't hurt to try…” Cosmo grabs the glasses and walks away. Sprout sits at the countertop and stares at the ceiling.

What a feeling. He's missed this.

Cosmo comes back and slides on the chair beside him wordlessly. He's smiling, but he has that look on his face where he wants to say something. Luckily, Sprout knows what. “Sorry for… uhm. You know.” Sprout turns to stare at the wall. “I don't know what came over me, there.”

“...Is it something you're ready to talk about?”

It's nothing you'll understand. That dies on his tongue. He’s tried doing that one already, twice actually. Both times Cosmo acted like he believed him, but he was very skeptical. Which, why wouldn’t he? Even Sprout still can’t fully grasp his situation. Instead Sprout turns with a grin on his face. “Maybe for later? I'm pretty sure emotional baggage comes after the third date.”

He holds back his laugh as Cosmo turns almost red. “I think I should get to know your emotional baggage before you kiss me, don't you think!”

“Why, Mr. Cosmo, are you implying you want to kiss me on the first date?”

Cosmo doesn't even answer. Sprout doesn't think he can, his whole body freezes and Sprout thinks he can see smoke coming out of his ears. He laughs it off and pats Cosmo on the head. “You have to at least hug before you kiss, Cosmo. Who gave you dating advice?”

“I'm going to go check on the tiramisu!” He's bolting off the seat.

Sprout can't stop the goofy grin forming on his face.

When Cosmo comes back he has two spoons and seems to be more relaxed, still a bit jittery when he sees Sprout’s grin. He sets them down on the countertop, sliding one to Sprout.

“Well, here goes nothing!” Cosmo dips his spoon in and tastes a little bit of the treat before letting out a squeal. “Hey! It's not that bad!”

Sprout follows suit. It's sweet and bitter, a perfect mixture. The two don't even have to look at each other to complete their high five.

“I wish we could bake more often, I miss sweet treats.” Cosmo sighs, as he puts another spoonful in his mouth.

“...Well maybe we could bake for just us more often.” Sprout mumbles.

“Mmm. That'd feel mean.”

Sprout shrugs. “It’d be nice to just bake again in general.” He turns to see Cosmo has already finished the tiramisu. He smiles and gingerly pushes his half-eaten glass over to Cosmo.

“You don't want it?”

“You want it more than I do.”

“But–”

“Ah. What did I say earlier? If it makes you happy, it makes me happy.” Sprout smiles and opts to enjoy whatever's left on his spoon.

Cosmo doesn't turn away this time as he fully turns red. “...Thank you, Sprout.”

“Anything for you, Cos.”

He watches as Cosmo finishes the last of their baking experience. A million different lines swirl through his head, he has to bite his tongue to stop himself from saying them. But why does he? Why can't he say him? What's stopping him?

“Besides, if I really wanted to taste the tiramisu, I'd--” just ki—

The rest of his sentence is cut off by pain wracking through his chest. He lets out a gasp, and Cosmo quickly jumps up. “S-Sprout?!”

He forgot where he was again.

He pukes ichor all over Cosmo.

Tears blur his vision as Cosmo stares at him, horrified.

Everything fades back to that black box. That stupid, stupid, stupid. Black. Ichor. Box.

Sprout's arms are still stuck. He wants to sink even lower into it, how can he drown himself in this?

As if the wish is his command, he slides through the ichor and falls right into another box of ichor. This time, he's free. But when he looks down, he still has that ichor claw, and his legs, his torso, they're all covered in ichor.

He looks up.

Red walls.

Sprout sinks back into his bed. What's the point of getting up if it's just going to end the same?

There's no end to his torment.

He grabs the end of his duvet and throws it back over himself. He's not leaving his bed today. Maybe even ever again? What's going to happen then? Is he still going to puke ichor and pass out? He stares at his stupid wall.

He doesn't know how long he's been staring at his wall when something floods his mind. He sighs and stares at the wall. All he can think about is Cosmo. Cosmo, Cosmo, Cosmo. Is he ever going to live past today? Is Sprout ever going to get to hold his hand again? Bake with him again. Will… Sprout ever….

His thoughts are interrupted by a knock. “Hey… Sprout? It's eleven? I get beauty sleep and all… but you're worrying me.” It's as if Sprout's thoughts summoned him.

He makes no effort to move, he has no will to even speak to Cosmo. The thought only pushes him deeper into his bed with a groan.

“Sprout? Are you in there?”

He hears the opening of his door, then it’s shutting with a soft click. He never locks it. Before the fall of Gardenview Sprout used to sneak Cosmo into his room for sleepovers since only mains were allowed in the main rooms. He never really fell out of the habit.

He feels Cosmo looming behind his back. “Hey… Sprout?” A hand presses on his shoulder and gently shakes him.

Sprout wants to lash out. Kick the wall, scream, something. Can't he have a day to be depressed to himself? Even if it's just today? There's still today tomorrow. That won't change.

He sees Cosmo leaning over him out of the corner of his eye. The toon smiles, a sort of relief washing over his face. “Hey… you're not sleeping! Sprout, c'mon! If you don't move I'll have to make lunch with Boxten.”

Sprout wishes he could jump up and be jealous about that. It's not like Boxten gets to keep that moment anyway! So what does it matter, go cook with him. Allow him simple pleasantries he will never experience.

Cosmo's face falls. Sprout can see it out of the corner of his eye, and it makes him feel even worse, somehow. An idea to make it stop flashes faintly for a second, but before Sprout can fully process the thought he's grabbing the front of Cosmo’s hoodie. He pulls the swiss roll down in the bed beside him, wrapping his blanketed arms around the toon.

“S-Sprout! What are you doing--?” Sprout presses Cosmo’s face into his chest to shut him up

Like that, he and Cosmo are locked together. Cosmo has no idea that Sprout has no intention of getting out of bed for the rest of the day. The idea of them like this for the rest of the day isn’t enough to stave off the overarching dread Sprout is drowning in, but enough to make him feel content until he probably pukes ichor. He wonders how hard it would be to get ichor out of his bed sheets if he ends up puking in here, but the thought is drowned out quickly with the realization that it doesn’t matter.

He hugs Cosmo a bit tighter, and it’s with that motion that Cosmo manages to pull himself away from Sprout and rip the covers off the strawberry. Sprout is about to groan, be immovable as stone, but instead Cosmo moves closer, throwing the blankets over the two of them, and pulls Sprout into a hug.

Sprout hums contendly. “We can stay like this for a bit, okay? Then we really should go make lunch.” Oh, Cosmo, they’ll be fine.

In the end, there's a bang on his door. “Sprout! Helloo~? It’s eleven forty and no one is in the kitchen! Are you not making lunch today?! Cosmo is gone too!” It’s Poppy. Cosmo tenses up and moves to get up. Sprout pulls him closer and sticks Cosmo’s head back in his chest just in case.

There’s some murmuring behind the door, before Boxten screeches. “Poppy! Don’t kick down Sprout’s door!”

“Ugh, but, lunch-! Then, let’s go Boxten, we’re making lunch together today!”

“W-What?! No, Poppy…” His voice trails off, probably being dragged by the bubble to the kitchen.

Sprout let’s go of Cosmo’s head. The swissroll looks up at the strawberry. “You know they’re going to make a mess in there…” Sprout only squeezes Cosmo tighter. Cosmo sighs. “Okay, okay, what about your expedition later?” Sprout shakes his head. “You’re really going to lay in bed all day?”

Sprout nods with a hum. “Hey Cosmo,” his voice comes out a bit raspy. “You keep asking me this question repeatedly, but you never get to answer it for yourself.”

Cosmo hums. “I don’t remember asking you any questions, could you re-jog my memory?”

“You keep asking me, what I would do if turned into a twisted… So, what would you do if I turned into a twisted?”

“Well, I think I’d save you of course.” Sprout’s heart skips a beat. “I don’t remember asking you this question, ever, are you sure it was me?”

“Yeah. I’m sure.” The memory is forever etched into his brain. “...What if the task of saving me felt impossible?”

“There’s nothing more impossible than us being separated.” Cosmo mumbles, Sprout only hugs him a bit tighter. “Why? What was your answer?”

“...I think it’s changed, a bit.” Sprout mumbles.

“Oh yeah?”

“I think I’d save you, too…” but I don’t know how much longer I can go on for. Sprout pushes the thought down. It doesn’t matter how much longer Sprout has to go on for, he has to go on. For Cosmo.

The two go back to their silence. At some point, Cosmo falls asleep. But Sprout is still awake, staring at his door, nothing but dread and scenarios filling his body. Then, there’s a bang at his door.

“Uh, hellloooo~? Sprout, just because you hate me doesn’t mean you can skip out on the expedition!” It’s Glisten. He turns down to look at Cosmo, still fast asleep. Which is surprising, because Glisten is loud.

There’s a low murmur, probably Rodger, and Glisten responds as the sound dies down. “Well, it’s true! It’s hard to not hate the true meaning of perfection when you act it every day.” Glisten bangs at the door. There’s more low murmuring, “Well, ugh! Maybe I’ll just—”

“—Glisten.” Rodger cuts him off, loud and bold for the magnifying class.

He hears Glisten sigh, “Fine! I didn’t want to run an expedition today anyway.”

He glares at the door.

He blinks, and when he opens his eyes they feel heavy. He must have fallen asleep at some point, but his door is opening. Astro slips through the door and softly closes it behind him. Sprout blinks for a second, wondering if his mind is playing tricks on him, only for the moon to move closer to the bed.

“Sprout.” The Astro in front of him seems more tired, and more sure of himself than any other Astro from today. Sprout tenses. “I’m sorry, there’s not much time left for today. When you wake up again, come find me in the med bay.”

Everything in Sprout’s body goes on high alert. He shoots up from his bed, startling Cosmo awake from beside him. “You said you—” He whips his head to the wall and pukes out ichor. The taste is vile on his tongue. He whips back to Astro, who has a solemn look on his face. Cosmo looks horrified. He has so many questions. “You said you didn’t know!” Sprout snaps.

“Sprout?! Are you okay— Astro?!” Cosmo looks between the two with confusion.

“I’m sorry.” Is all Astro says.

Sprout motions to get out of the bed, but he ends up puking ichor over his bedside, and then he’s falling.

Chapter Text

He falls back into the black ichor box. He shoots up, mind swirling. He looks down at the ichor and almost recoils from the sight. The substance is reflective, and, the sight looking back at him is one he’s seen roaming the halls and attacking his friends with no remorse.

Is… he a twisted?

He shoots up from his bed, red walls.

He has no time to waste. He needs answers.

He’s running in the opposite direction he usually is when he starts his day. He swings open the door to med bay, wondering if he’s going to find Teagan or Ginger there already, and also questioning how it’s not locked, but he’s greeted with a room that looks nothing like what he is used to. The walls are covered in a light green wallpaper, and there are four beds, each separated by curtains, but they’re all currently pulled back. Astro sits at one, turning his head slowly as Sprout takes in the sight.

“You said you didn’t know what was happening to me.”

Astro sighs. “I fear that wasn’t the right me you talked to then.” Through the blanket Astro gestures to bed across from him. “Sit down, there’s a lot we have to go through.”

Sprout narrows his eyes. He takes a seat like Astro offers, and there is a long silent pause. Astro is staring at the floor, while Sprout refuses to take his eyes off Astro.

“How many times have you gone through this day?”

Sprout recalls the days in his head. “About thirteen.”

“Shit…” Astro mumbles, fidgeting in the spot.

“Are you going to explain, or—?”

Astro cuts him off with a sigh. “You won’t remember it, but you have lived through and past today.” Sprout tenses up. “The first expedition you went on, Ginger went too. Glisten popped the machine early, scared as Pebble accidentally led his twisted counterpart to him. You are still about halfway there and kick into a full sprint. You bang into Ginger and Bobette, twisted Pebble hot on their trail. You have an air horn, you use it to take attention. You don’t make it into the elevator.”

Sprout stares at Astro in disbelief. “B-But… Cosmo… is the one…”

“Do you remember that week Vee got sick? Or the week Shrimpo was sick?” Astro pauses, and he finally meets Sprout’s eyes. He looks tired. “Do you remember how Shelly came back from an expedition before yours and has been on sick rest for a while?”

Sprout pauses. He doesn’t remember anything else other than today, the more he thinks about it. He knows little things, like his… relationship with Cosmo, his friendship with Astro, and his dislike of Dandy, but… What had even happened yesterday? But what Astro is saying sounds right. He holds the side of his head, the dread filling his blood once more.

“...Dandy has a way to restore toons from their twisted forms…” Astro mumbles, Sprout stares up at him in horror.

“So I am—”

“Yes, and no.” Stars float out from Astro’s blanket, familiar ones, they’re what he uses to do machines, usually. “He can change their forms, but their minds usually stay corrupted. That’s where I come in… Your brain usually only remembers the last day you lived, and all I can do is keep your brain in that day. Usually, what I do is bring in someone close to you and have them relive that day with you over and over again, with pleasant memories, so your brain becomes stronger against the corruption. I use these.” He nods towards the stars. “They can implant in your brain seamlessly, they don’t hurt, and they help me control and stabilize the corruption.”

“Wouldn’t they remember they’re repeating the same day over and over?”

“...That’s the thing. This is all my fault, I messed up.” Astro’s face scrunches up. “Cosmo is the one who is supposed to reset the day, and remember every day, but instead, when I cast the charm on one of my stars, I cast it on the one I put in your head.”

“But… I haven’t been resetting the day?’

“Your brain has. This is because today stops at seven for you.” Astro frowns.

“How would me reliving a day over and over again stop corruption?”

“Corruption prays on your worse fears to spread. If we eliminate your fears and replace them with good memories, the corruption has nothing to latch onto, it’ll dissipate. But… your days haven’t been going well, and the corruption is spreading.”

“But, the first day, Cosmo died…?”

“The first day there are always interruptions. I usually oversee the resets and talk to the people, but then Brightney got bit and I couldn’t stay for too long. In the morning I told him as long as he talked over the walkie-talkie instead of you, everything else in the dream would freeze for next time.” Sprout thinks back, he was quick to respond to the walkie-talkie. Cosmo probably thought for the next day, he could do it. But, well, he didn’t know.

Sprout blinks. “Wait, Cosmo… Is…?”

“Yes. That’s the actual Cosmo that’s been here every day. He just only remembers that he is here to save your life, as I gave him the rundown on the first morning, expecting he’d remember. He doesn’t know what, or what he’s supposed to do.” Astro sniffles, “And, the issue is, because of the way it’s been going down, your brain is almost corrupted.”

Sprout’s head hurts. Everything is too much. “So… I’m… becoming a twisted, but mentally?” Astro nods, a tear rolling down his mask.

Sprout takes the moment to stare down at the floor. There’s so much to sort through, and one thing is sinking into the front of his head. “So… All the suffering I was doing to save Cosmo, was…. Just…. Useless?” He frowns.

“I don’t think so,” Astro wipes the tears away, taking in a deep breath. “I think you would’ve corrupted a lot faster without that idea in your head. Plus… Knowing you, I think you’d still do the same thing even if you knew.”

Not like Sprout could deny that claim. He would. But still, the suffering from the past what feels like forever sets heavy in his bones. “So, why are you telling me this? Can’t you just fix your mistake?”

Astro shakes his head. “Your brain is too far gone, as soon as I remove the star to fix it I think you’ll fully corrupt. I… can modify Cosmo’s, however.”

Sprout nods. “So, I can see him one last time? And he would remember everything?”

“Yes. If that’s something you want.”

Sprout nods.

“Okay, when I do it, the day will reset again. Which I’ve come to understand is hurting you, I’m sorry. I’ll also have to take the star off in the end, which I’ll do at the usual reset time, so you’ll have until then with Cosmo.” Astro bows. “I’m sorry that I did this to you.”

Sprout laughs weakly. “I’m not mad, mistakes happen. Just…” Sprout sighs. “So, this isn’t the first time you’ve done this?”

Astro shakes his head. “Dandy usually asks me to reset everyone’s memories of somebody being bit, he’s a bit worried if people realize they could come back twisted…” Astro doesn’t have to finish.

“Never thought I’d agree with Dandy.” He can only imagine how much more reckless people would become if they knew there was no real danger of dying to a twisted. Or if a case like Sprout’s appeared, and the kind of panic it would cause. His mind flashes back to what Astro said earlier. “How’s Brightney? And Shelly?”

“Ah, Shelly has recovered. Brightney’s mind is stable as of yesterday, we’re just waiting for her to wake up.”

“That’s good!”

“...No matter what happens, I’m sorry, and I wish you the best. Sorry for not being truthful with you, Sprout.”

Astro looks like he’s going to cry again. Sprout, pulls the moon into a hug. It’s almost like hugging Cosmo, the hesitation, then the return of the hug. It’s not as warm, and… “Do you have four arms?!” Sprout gasps. He’s never seen Astro without the blanket.

Astro pulls away, pulling the blanket over his nose to hide his embarrassment. “Uhm… yeah. It’s kind of… embarrassing to talk about… haven’t you ever noticed my twisted form?”

“I-I just thought it was some ichor add-on!” Sprout clears his throat. He doesn’t want to make Astro implode in on himself. “I’m not mad, and no matter what happens, I thank you for everything you’ve done for me… and thanks, for being my friend and taking care of me.”

Astro nods, lowering the blanket to show off his soft smile. “Sweet dreams, Sprout.”

Sprout feels bad for puking all over Astro. As his vision hazes, he notices the way Astro scrunches up at the ichor all over his blanket. He tries to muster out a sorry, but instead, he falls face-first into the ichor he just puked up, and he’s back in the ichor room.

His reflection fizzles in the ichor, showing the red of his working eye. He wonders if that’s where he got bit, the other eye covered completely by ichor.

Sprout wonders if this dream he’s seeing is the actual dream Astro has been keeping him away from, and this is showing how his corruption is getting worse. He also really can’t believe it. Sprout wonders if he figured out how to save Cosmo sooner, this wouldn’t be happening to him. He also can’t believe it’s real, but then again, reliving the same day over and over also sounds impossible.

He falls to his knees as he claws at his face, staring at his complexion. Well, it’s not like he can dwell on the past now, right?

When he blinks, he’s staring at red walls.

He clutches his blanket, wondering what he should do. Obviously, face Cosmo. But… say goodbye? Tell him how he feels? Will they even get to spend the day together? He feels so hopeless. His head is pounding.

He gets up and puts on the same outfit he’s been putting on. He stares down at it, wondering if maybe he should wear something nicer? Should he dress like he’s going to a funeral? A wedding? Or is this fine?!

His door swings open. Cosmo is standing there with his eyes wide, and he seems out of breath.

“C-Cos?”

“Sprout!”

Cosmo runs up to Sprout and jumps on him, both falling to the floor as Cosmo pulls him into a tight hug. “H-Hey!”

“I know! Everything!” Cosmo squeezes Sprout tighter. “I’m so…! I don’t!”

Sprout squeezes him back. “Hey... it’s okay! We’re both here now.”

Then Cosmo lets out a gasp. “I just realized! You totally told me we could bake together, then you took a different me baking!”

Sprout bursts out laughing. “It was still you?”

“That’s cheating! It wasn’t me at all!” Cosmo squeezes Sprout so tight that the strawberry ends up coughing. Cosmo pulls away, sitting up with a frown on his face. “You’re also awful, teasing me like that all the time! I’m going to get you back, just you wait—” Then Cosmo’s face falls.

Sprout feels the tension rise. “Well, like I said. We’re both here now.”

“No, absolutely not! I can’t just bully someone on his—” Cosmo bites his tongue. “Ugh. This is so awkward.”

Sprout smiles, tinged with the sourness of his situation. “Does this mean you’re going to be extra nice to me for these eleven hours?”

Cosmo huffs, and crosses his arms. “Well, I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

“You could just be mean,”

“You don’t deserve anyone being mean to you.” Cosmo raises his hand and caresses Sprout’s cheek.

The strawberry pushes his face deeper into the swiss roll's palm without thinking, causing Cosmo to pull back his hand as if Sprout had torched it. Sprout sticks out his tongue mischievously. “You’re not even going to let a dying man indulge during his last moments?”

Cosmo frowns but puts his hand back on Sprout’s cheek, and the strawberry can feel how sweaty they got in such a short time. “You promised you were going to come back, safe and sound…” Cosmo pinches Sprout’s cheek. “We interlocked forks over it.”

“Sorry.” Sprout finally sits up, a smile still weakly stuck on his face. “I’m doing my best.”

Cosmo sighs. “It’s okay…”

“Well, why are we stuck in my room, right now? Let’s go bake something today.”

“Oh? Are you going to cheat on the other me now?”

Sprout rolls his eyes. “Didn’t you essentially cook breakfast with Astro every single day?”

“Uh… n-no!”

“Liar.” Sprout stands up, and pats dust off his pants. Then he holds out his hand to Cosmo. “C’mon, I want every waking movement I have left to be with you.”

Cosmo turns red, and this time locks his eyes with Sprout. Cosmo places his hands in Sprout’s, surprised as Sprout helps him up slowly. And when the swiss roll goes to pull away his hand, the strawberry locks their fingers together. He squeezes Cosmo’s hand, and Cosmo squeezes back. Then they're off to the kitchen.

There are no other toons around at all, Sprout notes. Cosmo and Sprout are the only ones in the dream, even if everyone else is technically part of the ‘dream’.

“Since we don’t have to worry about anything, let’s make cheesecake!” Cosmo motions to the fridge as the two enter the kitchen. “I know we have some cream cheese, Rodger usually hunts for it for his bagel.”

Cheesecake is Sprout’s favorite. “Sure, why not?” Sprout pauses. “Wait, let’s not make this mistake again, we have to refrigerate that overnight.” Cosmo deflates. “Why not cupcakes? Salted caramel, of course.” He knows that those are both of their second favorites, thanks to a Halloween costume from a while. Cosmo nods, and the two pause before they go off and begin, squeezing each other's hand before they finally go off.

They finish baking at one. Throughout the endeavor, Sprout notices how heavy his body feels, and how just like the last reset his brain feels a bit numb, and tired. It’s not affecting his ability to bake, so Sprout keeps it to himself, and if Cosmo notices, he doesn’t say anything. Besides, baking with Cosmo again is always a gift Sprout welcomes. The wordless endeavor, and the perfect end product. And just… spending time with Cosmo.

The two sit at the countertop and smile, both lifting a single cupcake and air-toasting them together before they bite.

“Sucks this is a dream,” Sprout mumbles, licking off the icing he feels on his cheek. “These might be the best we made.”

Cosmo covers his mouth as he speaks. “I think it’s because it’s a dream that it tastes so good.”

“I guess we can’t ever find out.” Sprout mumbles as he sticks the rest of the cupcake in his mouth.

Cosmo puts the unfinished cupcake on the counter. “I feel like we should stay positive. Who knows what’ll happen?”

Sprout sighs and nods. For Cosmo’s sake, he’ll stay positive. But he feels so drained. Sprout looks at Cosmo, taking in the star freckles on his cheek, and the way he also looks tired. Today, Sprout will be letting all his thoughts win. He pokes at the star freckles on Cosmo, earning a shocked noise from the swiss roll. “Well, no matter what, we’ll always be best friends.”

He sees Cosmo deflate. He pulls back his hand and stares at the wall. Sprout isn’t exactly stupid, and Cosmo isn’t either. All the teasing, the blushing, the jokes, the time spent together, but… Well, is a time like this the best time to water this flower?

Cosmo clears his throat. “Well, what else do you want to do today?” There’s a mischievous hint in his tone. Sprout snaps his head to Cosmo, the swiss roll bursts out laughing. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding. No more Skip-Bo. You definitely played a lot of it.”

Sprout holds his head in his hands with a groan. “Oh, you really remember everything?”

“It’s almost embarrassing you didn’t win once!”

Cosmo pats Sprout’s back as the latter groans even louder. After getting over his… several… losses, Sprout turns to look at Cosmo. “I don’t know, it’d feel lame to ask if you wanted to bake or cook again.”

“You like baking that much?!”

“I like baking with you, that much.” Cosmo turns his head to the wall. “Well, I don’t know, why don’t we go… watch a movie or something?” Cosmo turns back to Sprout with his brows raised. Sprout shrugs. “Something to lighten the mood, maybe…?”

The two do end up watching a movie, it’s some sappy romance that Cosmo picked. It ends bittersweet, with the main love interest dying and the main character promising to live their life and visit the love interest once it's over. It’s like an unspoken promise between the two. Then it's four in the afternoon. Sprout feels sick when he counts down the hours until his eventual demise, so Cosmo suggests a walk. The two admire the sunrise through the sunroof, then end up back in Sprout’s room. It's five.

“Would you, uhm, want to come in? Maybe we can pretend we’re about to have a sleepover?”

“Sure! Why not!”

The two end up in Sprout’s bed, staring up at the ceiling, not saying anything to each other. Until Sprout stays true to doing whatever he wants today. He turns to Cosmo and pulls him into a hug.

Without warning, a sob comes from the swiss roll. Sprout simply holds Cosmo tighter, as the other toon cries into his sweater. “It’s.. unfair! It’s so unfair!” Sprout couldn’t agree more, but what else could he do? Sprout puts his hand on Cosmo’s head and strokes it softly, and the act only seems to make the roll cry harder. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I don’t mean to ruin your last moments with my emotions—”

“It’s okay to be sad.” Sprout mumbles. “This situation is shitty.”

“I want to do so much more with you…!” Cosmo sobs. “I want to see the ocean with you, I want to make macarons successfully, I want to just live a long life with you!”

This time, before Sprout does what he wants, he hesitates. It’s… not the best time, but he swore himself one thing for today. And really… he really wants to.

He slowly pushes Cosmo away, who looks up at Sprout with sadness and confusion.

Sprout grabs Cosmo’s chin and pulls the toon's face to his.

The kiss was gentle. Nothing more than Sprout pressing his lips to Cosmo, and Cosmo sitting there in shock. Sprout pulls away, the suspense of Cosmo’s lack of reaction making him want to freeze up and explode.

“S-Sorry, I shouldn’t have—”

This time, Cosmo pulls him in. There’s more force and desperation. Cosmo pulls away for a second, and as if they are magnetic their lips meet again. If Cosmo pulls away, Sprout pushes, until the two are pulling away for air.

It’s quiet for a second, before Cosmo hums. “I… always expected our first kiss to have more tongue?”

Sprout feels his face heat up. “You were expecting us to kiss?!”

Cosmo blinks, then moves to lie on his back, staring up at the ceiling. “You’ve never thought about kissing me before?”

“I, uh,” Sprout follows suit and stares up at the ceiling. “Not until… we made tiramisu together…?”

Cosmo hums. Then he bursts out laughing. “Really?”

“W-what?!”

“I’m not, I’m not making fun of you!” Cosmo is still laughing. “It’s just, I don’t know. Everyone was always, ‘Oh Sprout is so in love with you, how can you not see it?’, because you were so oblivious to your own feelings up until now?”

Sprout feels like melting into the bed. “E-Everyone says that?!”

“Yeah.” Cosmo stops laughing, turning his head to Sprout. Sprout wants to face the wall, but in true last-day fashion, he faces Cosmo, feeling like his face is on fire. “I didn’t believe them, not once, or at all.” Cosmo smiles.

“Why… not?” Sprout frowns. “Am I ugly?”

“No, you’re the most beautiful toon I’ve ever seen,” Cosmo says with a shrug as if he didn’t just make Sprout’s breath hitch. “I don’t know. Doubt? Disbelief? Maybe they were blind and lying? Besides, I like us the way we are.” Cosmo smiles and leans in closer. “I’d have been fine with being your friend forever, as long as I am close to you.”

This kiss is soft again. Sprout, wanting to suddenly live up to Cosmo’s expectation, parts his mouth a little, and prods his tongue at Cosmo’s lips. He feels Cosmo smile against him, as their tongues touch for a second before Sprout pushes past, feeling along Cosmo’s tongue.

Unsurprisingly, Cosmo tastes like chocolate. The taste was so addictive Sprout didn’t think he could ever pull away again.

Until well, he pushes Cosmo off him. Pain throughout his body, and it’s more intense than any of the other times he felt it.

“S-Sprout?!”

He’s puking ichor, and his eyesight is dizzy. Fuck. Can’t he have more time with Cosmo?

…Can’t he have forever with Cosmo?

He at least wants to say one more thing.

Sprout pukes more ichor, wheezing as he opens his mouth. “H-Hey..Cos..”

“Sprout… I…” Cosmo starts crying again. What an awful look for such a pretty face, Sprout thinks. It’s also the last thing Sprout does, as his body falls directly into the ichor he pukes up once more.

Cosmo lets out a scream.

There are no ears it reaches.

Chapter Text

Sprout is sitting in a cube of ichor. He’s not tired, frustrated, or feeling like he’s running in circles, anymore. He’s sad.

He also feels stupid. Stupid last-day rules, he should’ve listened to himself! He shouldn’t have crossed that line with Cosmo, especially not with so little time before he... Oh god, he probably puked all over Cosmo, didn’t he?!

Cosmo. Cosmo. Cosmo. He wants to see Cosmo again.

He’s never going to get to see Cosmo again, is he? He just wants to hold him again, kiss him again, tell him that he loves him!

Even though he knows there’s no one around, Sprout can’t help but look around anyway, embarrassed by the exclamation that came from his thoughts, and stayed there…

He wonders if this is how it feels like to be a twisted, he thought he’d be more angry, but instead, his thoughts are full of his best friend. His… lover? Well, his ex-lover?! He groans, falling over and laying in the ichor, staring up at the ceiling.

Is it going to be like this for the rest of time?

Cosmo, Cosmo, Cosmo, Cosmo..

He stands up, shaking his head. Surely there has to be other things around here to distract him. He stares down at his complexion, watching as ichor drips from his mouth and his scarf down into the puddles. Right. Something else to distract him, then!

Instead he starts wandering, and it feels like every five steps his mind drifts to something familiar.

The feeling of Cosmo's freckles under his hand, vibrant even as the person they're attached to is lifeless.

Okay, bad thought.

The feeling up Sprout's spine as he and Cosmo interlock hands, the look on Cosmo's face as he's embarrassed, but clearly so happy he could burst.

Ugh, stop that.

The smell of chocolate and buttercream icing lingering in his room after sleepovers, something that he remembers trying to air out so they wouldn't get caught.

Uuuuuughhh….

The feeling of Cosmo’s lips--

Sprout throws himself backward into the ichor, hoping he'll sink in it or it will just go back to the horror shit from before.

Shouldn't he be more upset?! Angry?! Frustrated?! Why does he feel so lovesick, he's never seeing Cosmo again! He doesn't even want to cry at that statement, he just wishes he could've held the swiss roll for a bit longer.

Ugh, Cosmo…

He hopes Cosmo is doing okay. That's the thought that almost chokes Sprout with sadness. He hopes Cosmo doesn't become some widower, he hopes the swiss roll just moves on from him and-- who is he kidding, jealousy rises quickly in his throat. He hopes Cosmo is okay, and never moves on from him, even if that is selfish.

It really is going to be like this for the rest of time.

Cosmo, Cosmo, Cosmo.

Cosmo, Cosmo, Cosmo.

Sprout wants to see Cosmo again. He wants to hold Cosmo in his arms again. He wants to kiss Cosmo again. He wants to properly confess his love to Cosmo.

Cosmo. Cosmo. Cosmo.

“Sprout!”

He feels like it’s too early to already be imagining his voice. Sprout knew he was going crazy, but going this crazy already?!

“Sprout!” He hears the sound of ichor splashing.

He sits up. “Holy fuck I’m already crazy?” Sprout exclaims, because, Cosmo is running out towards him. How long has he been like this?! It feels like it’s only been a ten minutes since the reset.

“Sprout!” Cosmo exclaims, falling to his knees in front of Sprout with a wide smile. “You didn’t get to finish what you wanted to say!”

Sprout blinks. “Uhm, what sentence?” Sprout reaches out and presses his hand ichor-covered hand against Cosmo’s chest. He feels warm, he’s also so lively... Is he… “Cosmo?! Are you actually in my twisted hell space?!”

“Yup!” Cosmo pops the ‘p’.

Sprout quickly switches to be on his knees, getting in the swiss rolls face. “Why are you here?!”

Cosmo smirks. “Don’t you remember your original answer? If you were to become a twisted, then I’d become a twisted too!”

“What?!” Sprout becomes filled with shock. “No! What, you can’t be a twisted!”

“What? You could become a twisted and I can’t?”

“No— you just— we were just! Don’t tell me you came all this way just to hear what I had to say!”

“Of course not, I came here to see you!” Cosmo pulls Sprout into a hug, and the strawberry feels like he is going insane.

“No, no no! You’re supposed to live a long and prosperous life! Then you get to see me at the end, to live without any regrets!”

“Ugh, like that stupid movie we watched?”

“Yeah! I! I!” Sprout deflates. He wraps his arms around Cosmo in defeat. The familiar chocolate and buttercream scent puts him at ease. Sprout squeezes, and Cosmo squeezes back. Cosmo, Cosmo, Cosmo. “There was something I wanted to tell you, I guess…”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

The two part to stare at each other. Sprout feels embarrassed by Cosmo’s intense gaze. Cosmo tilts his head, waiting with a smile. Sprout takes a deep breath.

“Hey… Cos?”

“Yes, Sprout.”

Sprout feels like his whole body is set aflame. “I love you.”

The smile Cosmo gives Sprout feels like even the ichor around him is burning. Like the darkness is turning into light all around them. “I love you too, Sprout.”

Sprout sits up. He’s not in front of Cosmo anymore, he’s also not staring at red walls. He vaguely remembers the green wallpaper he sees, his head feels fuzzy. He stares at the wallpaper a bit longer, and then it clicks. The room Astro brought him to in his dream when he told Sprout he was dying.

Right, Sprout should be dying.

Wait, right, Sprout should be dead.

Wait, didn't Cosmo die too?!

The sound of a curtain being pulled back startles him from his thoughts. A red petal is at the end of his bed, until Dandy peers from the side of his bed with his usual eerie smile. “Sprout! You’re awake!”

“I’m… awake?” Dandy nods. “I’m… not dead?” Dandy nods, he seems to be getting annoyed. “My brain wasn’t corrupted?”

“Ugh, I wish Astro wiped your stupid brain.” Dandy rolls his eyes. Sprout goes to open his mouth, but Dandy holds up a finger. “We don’t know what happened. The corruption receded a bit after Astro removed the star, so we sent Cosmo back in for five minutes, and then the corruption started receding rapidly. Cosmo begged if he and you could keep your memories, and Astro agreed, and now you’re awake. It’s been two days since that happened.”

“So Cosmo is okay?!”

“Didn't I just explain that? Yes.” Dandy waltzes up to Sprout and grabs Sprout’s face, using his fingers to spread open his eyelid as he observes it. Then he picks up Sprout’s hand and looks under his fingernail. “You seem fine. Ugh.” Dandy sticks out his tongue in disgust.

“What…?”

“Nothing, Astro just… Had this theory…” Dandy grumbles, dropping Sprout's hand without a care. “I'm gonna go call you a medic, lover boy.”

Sprout feels like he's being set on fire.

Dandy is off, leaving Sprout with the same two questions repeating in his head as his face cools off the embarrassment. Cosmo’s alive? Sprout… is still alive?

He stays still in the bed, a bit unable to believe it, until Cosmo is rounding the corner. The two stare at each other, neither having any words to say.

I want to tell him that I love him. The words repeat in his head like a mantra. Instead, Sprout ruins the silence by blurting out, “So, if our first kiss was in a dream does that mean we’ve never kissed before?” That's not what he wanted to say!

A blush creeps up Cosmo’s neck as he laughs. “Does that mean you’ve also never had your realization? Are we going back to being best friends now?”

Sprout, much to his horror, lets out a whine. Cosmo bursts out laughing. “Can we at least be best friends who kiss?”

“Hmmm… I don't know. Wouldn't that be cheating on Dream Sprout?”

Sprout has to dig his fingernails into his palm to suppress another whine. “Cos… stop bullying me, can you come here?”

Cosmo nods between his laughter, slowly moving beside the bed and staring at Sprout. Longing and love filling Comso's gaze has Sprout melting on the spot. “Uhm, hey…”

“Hi.” Cosmo says way too flirtatiously. It makes the strawberry feel like he is going to combust. What happened to all of Sprout's charisma?! Must've died with him! “I missed you.” Cosmo breaks the silence, a hand coming up to cup Sprout's cheek.

I missed you too. “I love you.” Sprout responds with instead.

“I love you too.”

Sprout pulls the swiss roll closer by his hoodie’s drawstring, and this time, their first kiss, to Cosmo’s surprise, has tongue.