Chapter Text
Cosmo awoke in rather cramped, bland room, the lights flickering ad if they were cheap or uncared for, dust covering every surface, the only thing of note is a mirror… he tries to remember what he was doing before waking up, looking for Sprout and getting help from a staff member and then nothing… odd, he might be overthinking but he feels like he might've been drugged. He sits there pondering for a moment, hands on his log-shaped head, as if that would soothe his nerves, he doesn't break out of his thoughts until he hears the door opening.
Sprout fidgets with his scarf, being held in an interrogation room is not fun but he refused to answer any questions, at least until they brought in a tablet. What an odd thing Sprout thought at first, how Would they make him talk with a tablet? But then they show him what's on it… Cosmo? They better not be-
“What are you going to do to him?” Sprout asks, trying and failing to reign in his fear and anger. They know he loves Cosmo, it'd be so easy to use him to get to Sprout.
Cosmo screams in pain after being whipped and slapped, everywhere hurts, everywhere aches, he doesn't know what's going on.
“why-? What did I- STOP!” his words come in between sobs and screams, why must he suffer? He's been good, he hasn't been breaking the rules, he's been helping kids and baking- why is he being punished? It's not fair! Every once in a while his face is shoved in front of the mirror and he's forced to look at those bruises and cuts that will definitely leave a scar… he doesn't understand why Is it just another layer to the torture?
Sprout was basically screaming at them to stop hurting Cosmo at this point, he knows it’s his fault though- for thinking he could get away with a lie or hesitating to answer- maybe that's why he eventually just told them what they wanted to hear…
“stop crying, you're on the last question” the lady in front of him spoke, a cruel, sadistic smile upon her face, she had him exactly where she wanted him, “remember, if you tell Sam, I will make sure that you will never forget his screams.” As if Sprout could ever forget seeing his best friend in that state, whimpering and begging for the pain to be over, on the brink of consciousness. just one more question? And then they'll be free… he can do that, right?
“I hate you” Sprout says under his breath, knowing that the woman didn't cate about his personal feelings as long as she got answers.
Cosmo was relieved when he got let out, especially since he saw Sprout immediately after. They hugged, Sprout initiated it with running to Cosmo and scooping the smaller baker up into his arms before realizing that he might've caused Cosmo more pain but, Cosmo clings to him too, god did he miss the feeling of Sprout's embrace, though it's more frantic this time. as if he feared if he let go he'd lose the other. Tears welling up as they hugged as if they were trying to become one… Sprout definitely learned his lesson in defiance…