Chapter Text
I love Sprout. He’s nice, he’s sweet, I can talk with him about anything. He helped me realise that I liked they/them pronouns more, and he’s such a caring boyfriend. It's been a comfortable routine; the days when I get to wake up to his warmth are the nicest ones.
It's not like we do much differently, well, besides the kisses here and there… and the increase in cuddles… but still, it's not like it's a secret that we're together. I even remember Astro thinking that we’re together for longer thanks to our dreams… That was a little embarrassing to hear, I'll be honest.
I love the alone time the two of us spend together, I love the routine that the two of us have… So why is this clown here?
“Sprout! Cosmo! What are you baking today? I'm sure it'll be berry good~”
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Hi! The dumb clown walking towards the most loving couple while one of them stares daggers into them is me! Looey! Now you might be asking, ‘Why are you doing this?’ The answer to that question is ‘I HAVE NO IDEA!!!!!!’
I guess I just find their dynamic comfortable. All the love, on full display, the fact that I'm not the focus of the group… It's nice to be a third wheel, to have no big expectations on you. They have each other to entertain; I just want to be the extra in this cozy, strawberry cake-scented company.
Besides… seeing these two together makes me feel nice… Even if it hurts… BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YES!.. Even if it was something else, what right do I have to think about it that way? I'm ju-
“Oh, hey Looey! Last run go ok? No one got hurt, I hope?” Sprout says, only sparing me a glance. Right, no time for this, be the silly clown you are, Looey!
“Ah, yes, don't worry! Tisha and Rodger were there to keep everything organised, and we didn't go too far due to Toodles tagging along. Besides, with Blot helping too, everyone had an easy time! I even got to do a few machines! I have to say, I don’t think I'll ever get used to-”
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I tune Looey out, focused on adding a few last finishing touches to the cookies that Cosmo and I made. Looey has been appearing more and more whenever Cosmo and I are out and about. The moment they see us, he starts rushing towards us.
At first, it was kind of… overwhelming. I didn’t want someone else to butt in while hanging out with Cosmo, I just wanted to be alone with my partner… but after me and Cosmo started to practically live together, I’ve started to enjoy Looey’s presence a lot more, even to the point where I start looking forward to the silly dog’s visits. The difference from our first meeting is… really evident.
It was a while ago, 7 to 8 months ago, I remember whenever we passed the circus trio, I'd feel eyes on the back of my head. However, that time, I also felt a touch on my back, someone trying to grab my attention. It was the clown dog, asking how Cosmo and I were doing. I looked and I saw the other two look over, with a… proud(?) look on their faces before moving on.
Cosmo jumped into the conversation, my delay having made the silence start to get awkward. “O-Oh, we're fine, thanks. Did you need something from us?” The clown looked around, anywhere but our eyes… seemed quite uncharacteristic for such an upbeat toon, so I started to worry. “Actually, are you ok? You seem anxious about something.”
Looey gasped slightly, removing his hand from mine that I didn't even notice I grabbed. “A-Ah, yes, I'm fine! I-I just thought that m-maybe y-you… could… uh… help me make something for Blot and Yatta, yes! I've tried, but they never came out right! Seems another joke I could use is what a joke of a baker I am!” He said, trying to hide his obvious anxiety with his joke… I didn’t buy it, but Cosmo was happy about the opportunity, so I just grinned and bore it… I forgot to ask Astro if his dreams would have told me anything.
“O-Oh, we'd be happy to! Wanna come with us so you can tell us what you're planning?” Cosmo excitedly asked, already starting to walk to the kitchen, dragging me by holding my hand. “Yeah, we can help you make it.” Usually, I'd rather it be just me and Cosmo… but Looey still looked… not back to normal. I've never seen them this nervous ever or since…
“O-Oh really!? Thanks, you two, you're the best!” Looey said before hugging us both… Maybe they were better than I thought, looking back…
Looey always seemed slightly more anxious while talking with us, yet he kept appearing, much to my dismay. That was until I realized why, with an off-hand comment he did. While doing a run (without Cosmo, unfortunately), we were talking, and he commented how he didn’t want to waste my resources healing him. I shut him down. I may not have liked his interruptions at that point, but I wasn’t just gonna let that comment slide, but it made me realize that Looey wasn’t as confident as I thought.
He’s still the same clown everyone knows, but I’ve started to notice how slowly he seems to relax while with us, cracking fewer jokes, talking less, and just… enjoying himself. I don’t know how, or why, but it might just be seeing me and Cosmo working on things, making him relaxed, or maybe it’s the domestic vibe we try and bring, something different from the rest of the decrepit building.
Well, if I’m able to comfort someone, especially if it takes no effort, why not do it? Besides, Looey doesn’t interfere with me teasing Cosmo with love, so who cares~.
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“Aaaaaaand done~!” Sprout says, snapping me out of my ramble. I look over, seeing what he and Cosmo made today, to see cute little cookies of all of us. I can’t help but look at Sprout and Cosmo’s, their cookie being made together, both of them back to back, doing a heart with their hands in the middle… I want to eat that one more than I want to eat mine, but let’s not think about that! Let’s think about how to complement mine so that they’re happy about it!
“Aaaawhh! Look at me! He looks just as silly! Thanks, you two!” I say, looking to them, hoping they let me take it. Seeing no objection, I take it and eat it at lightning speed. I always love the things they make… I should help them get the cookies to everyone else… yes… that’s what I should do…
I proceed to steal their cookie and sprint into the other room. Hey, I said I liked being the third wheel and not being the focus of the group, not that I liked being like that all the time. Besiiiideeeees, I’m not gonna eat it! They made it for themselves, I’m just… taking a closer look… Hm…
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“LOOEY COME BACK HERE- Where did he even disappear to…” I say, looking around to see if they went to hide in the dining room.
“Cosmo! Did you find him?” I hear Sprout yell from the other room.
“NO, HE STOLE OUR COOKIE AND THEN DISAPPEARED INTO-” I then feel someone poke in between my eyes with a “Boop”, and I instantly relax. “God damn it Looey, where did you hide?”
“Right there!” he says, pointing to the table I was just by… I need to pay more attention…
“Well, that’s great, but can we have our cookie now?” I say, playing it up since I know that they only meant it as a quick prank, but not playing it up too much. I’m still annoyed, we still have to get the cookies to everyone else!
“Hehe, I know what you’re thinking! Don’t worry, you and Sprout enjoy yourselves together, I’ll bring the cookies to everyone else!” Looey says with a smile, giving me back out cookie before sprinting to the kitchen again to grab the cookies.
“... He never lets up now, do they?” Sprout says in a sigh after reaching me, taking a piece of the cookie, and eating it.
I sigh right back and reply, “Well, at least now we’re alone. We can finally continue doing our little surprise.”
Sprout smiles and nods, “Looey’s birthday is tomorrow, so we'd best do what we can while he isn’t here!”
…In case you were wondering, yes, I actually want to do this for Looey. Sure, I might not like it when he intrudes between me and Sprout, and sure, I’d rather just be distant friends than ‘hey, I’m gonna bother you every time I see you, even if I’m with my circus troupe' friends, but he’s still a friend…
So what is this dislike that I’m feeling… Why can’t I stand the thought of Looey spending time with us… Am I becoming like Sprout? I know spending time with someone will eventually lead to you getting some traits from them, but I don’t wanna be overbearing like Sprout! Or… well… like Sprout was, I guess?
No, Cosmo, back on topic… Hhhhh, I don’t know! I know Sprout loves me, and I love him, so why? Why, why, why, why, why? Why is it every time I see that tail wag, I get a dull pang in my chest? Why is it that every time Looey rushes over with a smile, I glare? Why is it every time that he makes… that… look… that look… the same one… I do? Wait… Wait, wait, wait… Does Looey like Sprout too?! No, there’s no way! But… but he does… o-or-or they might. I- Is that why I started to slowly feel like this? Did I subconsciously feel threatened? W-Wha-
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“COSMO! Hello?! I’ve been calling for you for AGES!” That seems to snap them out of whatever stupor they got, their answer delayed a little bit.
“A-Ah.. Y-Yes, Sprout?” Hmm… What were they thinking about so hard that they couldn’t even hear me..? I’m gonna have to ask later, right now, let’s just use the time we have without Looey to talk about something that's been bothering me.
“So… What’s your opinion on Looey?” I ask, subtly trying to see their reaction… Was that a flinch?
“W-What, wh-why do you ask?”
“Cos… I’m not blind. I know you’re getting uncomfortable with something about Looey. I know you still want to be his friend, but something is rubbing you the wrong way. It has for a couple of weeks now. I was hoping you’d talk to me about it at some point, but it’s been a while, so I thought I’d ask.” I say, looking down at the batter I’m mixing, trying not to look at my Swiss roll so as not to add pressure. Remember, Sprout, they need time, let them think.
“It’s… Ok, it’s not nothing, but it’s not something Looey themselves did. I’m not even sure if they’re aware of it. It could also be me reading too much into things. But whatever the case, it’s fine. He’s not interfering; it’s just like having anyone else watch us. He doesn’t get between us one bit.” …They seem to be telling that to themselves as well, since they got more assertive the longer they talked. Uuuuuurgh, I really wanna push it, but I know they won’t tell me! Urgh, alright, some teasing should work~.
“You know~, you say that, but you certainly made sure Looey’s was perfect, huh~? Anything you wanna tell me, my Swiss roll~?” Aha! There’s the reaction I want! A blushy, stuttering mess! Gosh, Cos, you’re adorable, hehe~.
“WH- WHUH- HUH? NO? I spent the same amount of time on everyone’s! Besides, Looey has all his polka dots, so even if I spent more time on him, it made sense as to why!” They say, crossing their arms in indignation. Truly the cutest~.
“Of course you did, my love, I’m sure they appreciated it, even if they ate it really quickly,” I say, hugging them softly. I like teasing, but let’s not get them too huffy. Time to try and guess what's been bothering him?
“Cos, I know you don't wanna tell me what the issue is because you would have told me already otherwise. And although that annoys me, and you know it does, I won't try and push it, just let you know from time to time that I want to know about it. Wait, no time for jokes.” I squeeze my hug tighter. Let's hope my guess is right. “If you want some more alone time, you just need to ask, ya know? Sure, I've started to enjoy Looey’s company, only second to yours, but your feelings are the most important to me. Just ask, and I'll ask Looey to give us space, ok?”
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I lean back into the hug, Sprout's arms hugging me tightly. See, Cosmo? He cares, he loves you… Why would you think like that about Looey… But don't I deserve to be a little cautious? Ugh, no, Looey doesn’t deserve this; he's done nothing wrong. Even if he realises their feelings, even if he likes Sprout, I can see that they enjoy both our company. And Sprout himself said it, he likes the dog's company. It wouldn't be fair to make them drift away over some misplaced jealousy. I sigh and break off the hug.
“No, Sprout, it's fine. These are just some thoughts and emotions I have to sort out on my own. You said it yourself, you want to hang out with him, and you know that even if I’m feeling something about it, I also want Looey to be happy, and they're happy when with us. I'll try and deal with it as much as I can, ok sweet berry?” I say, trying my best to smile. It seems that my answer, while not what he wanted, was good enough as Sprout gives me a quick kiss before nodding and getting back to work… I guess that for all our sakes, I need to talk with that clown.