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Sprout and Cosmo have always been rule followers. When it comes to their handlers orders, they’re the first to salute and do whatever it was. They went into their rooms by 9. Lights were off by 10. No sneaking out or parties were allowed - not that late into the night. Book club was an exception… though… did they ever make that much noise? Regardless - the two were always the first to follow the command; always the first to fall right asleep once everything went quiet… but for some reason, the two seemed a bit extra quiet tonight.
Gardenview was dead silent by midnight. Occasionally there’d be a bit of whispering and muttering; usually from Astro or Dazzle as the two night owls spoke the night away, but other than that, silence.
That was, until Sprout opened his door, slow and steady. With bated breath, he peeked through and looked around. No lights, no sounds of steps. Just as he thought it’d be. He held onto his scarf with one hand and held onto the doorknob for dear life with the other, trying to close the door as slowly and quietly as possible behind him. Once it clicked, he was quick to sneak off, head occasionally turning as he turned a corner, practically hugging the wall as he walked along the hallway. Before he knew it, he was already at the big panel doors. He opened the door as small as he could in order to sneak through it; it was a bit difficult with his figure, tall, and broad. But despite finally making it into the lobby without anyone noticing, Sprout couldn’t help but feel even more anxious.
The lobby was dark, the only source of light seeming to be natural, and where Sprout was heading. As Sprout took in the sights - finding the stillness of it all somewhat uncomfortable, he shifted his hand into his scarf. It was only until he pulled out his charm, barely worn yet well loved, that he began to walk. His eyes focused on Dandy’s shop as he walked, nearly grimacing. It was too still for his liking, frankly. And yet… he couldn’t stop staring at it. Even long after he had passed the store, it seemed like he was still trying to find a way to look at it. Was he just that shocked about the lights being off? Or was he simply avoiding looking at something else? If he couldn’t look at the store, he was looking at his feet.
“Sprout,” a whisper practically snapped Sprout out of whatever haze he was in, eyes suddenly wide as he frantically looked around. It’s really only until he hears a breathy, quiet laugh that all of his anxiety seems to practically dissolve. “I’m over here.” Suddenly, a hand seemed to wave behind the tree, beckoning Sprout over. Sprout made sure to take the steps, finding himself adjusting his scarf and brushing his shoulders with a hand as he walked up. Once he finally approached the tree, he finally had a smile on his face. Merely because someone else had one on their own.
Cosmo seemed nearly visibly tired; the sudden shift in routine already messing him up. But regardless, the toon had the biggest smile on his face as he shifted his legs to his torso, wrapping one arm around them as he patted to the side of him with the other.
“Sorry if I’m late.” Sprout scoffed as he quickly followed, sitting right down on the grass and tucking his legs in the same way Cosmo did. Cosmo’s eyes squinted and brows lowered in a smile, a quiet snicker leaving him. It made Sprout feel a bit airy in his chest.
“Oh! Oh, no, you’re not. I made sure to be a little earlier than we said. Just because I wanted some time to… aha… um… ground myself.” Cosmo waved his hands as he tried to find the words, gaze nervously going from one place to another. Sprout hums in response, showing off a little shrug as if he hadn’t been visibly anxious mere moments before.
“Okay… I see.” Sprout hums as he shifts his body, finding a more comfortable way to stare at Cosmo. He found some sort of beauty in the toon's anxiety; how he seemed to try and stick a smile on his face no matter how nervous he was. It was cute. Though, Cosmo seemed to get visibly flustered the longer he stared; the longer the silence was between the two.
Cosmo shifts a hand onto his freckles, fidgeting with them as he shifts his focus to what was above the two, expression visibly softening as he points. “Look.” he hums as his eyes focus on something, Sprout quick to follow.
Sprout had no idea the stars shone so brightly at night. Maybe it’s the lack of lighting both in and out of Gardenview that forced the stars to make up for the lack of. He can’t help but make a sound of amazement as he gets a good look at it, maw just barely open as he soaks it all in.
The stars all seem to flicker in the night, some smaller than others. Beautiful hues of blue and purple completely coat the sky despite it being so late in the night. A long, gorgeous line of pure cosmo seems to practically split the stars along different sides of the sky, hoarding a few to make the area look extra bright. The middle nearly looks orange - Sprout can’t help but be completely infatuated with the sky for a few minutes.
The silence gets more comfortable as the two look into the night sky, soaking in all they can. The most the two can muster for a long while are hums of affirmation.
Though, Sprout finally breaks the silence. “This is gorgeous,” he whispers, not finding it difficult to shift his gaze from one beautiful sight to another. The cosmos practically brighten Cosmo’s eyes, eyes fixated on the stars above. Sprout squints in his smile now, finding himself getting a bit closer to the other. Sprout eventually got close enough to practically feel Cosmo’s body heat, having to lean a bit in order to avoid pressing against his head. But he’s been close with him before - this is all mere routine to him. “You’re gorgeous.”
Sprout’s repetition nearly wakes Cosmo up, eyes suddenly widening and becoming visibly flustered as he pulls himself closer in. “Oh… oh, stop that.” That’s Cosmo’s way of saying ‘Keep going- keep flattering me.’
“I mean it!” Sprout chuckles as he speaks, leaning back and shifting his shoulders in order to get a good look at him again. “I never get to see you like this. Not in this lighting. Not this infatuated with something that isn’t baking.” He whispers the words now - if they were any louder Cosmo may just melt right then and there. He nearly does, smiling so hard his eyes are just barely open and blushing hard enough for Sprout to feel the heat come off his face. He eventually waves a hand at Sprout, giggling as it somehow lands on his face.
Sprout puts his hand onto Cosmo’s own, keeping it there and holding it tight. Cosmo’s giggles now turn into laughter, forced to keep quiet in hopes that neither of them got caught in a time like this. It only fuels Sprout to keep going, now taking his hand off of Cosmo's own, instead placing both of his now on the others face, cupping it. Making it stay right where it is as carefully as possible.
“Sprout!” Cosmo laughs his name, face so hot of embarrassment that he feels as if he’s gonna explode. His eyes are closed now, eyebrows furrowed as he now places his hands onto Sprout’s shoulders. Not in order to push him back, but instead make sure that he stays as close as he is.
The galaxy practically reflects off of the toon. It laughs and rejoices and celebrates with him - despite it being night, the sky had never seemed brighter. The joy that bubbles up in Sprout’s gut completely washes away the anxiety as he shifts his wrists towards him, moving Cosmo’s face along with it.
Sprout shuts his eyes the moment his lips meet Cosmo’s, smile nearly making it impossible for either of them to share a genuine kiss. It’s awkward and weird, but the two are having the time of their lives sharing it. They hum nearly synchronized laughter together as they melt into one another, each of them pulling each other more and more in by the moment.
Once they part lips, they completely forget about the fact they have to be quiet - laughing loud enough to be audible throughout the whole room. They stare into each other's eyes as they laugh, faces evidently red and anxious. The laughter dies down not too long after, and the comfortable silence washes over them yet again.
Their wide eyes become hooded as they grow quiet yet again. Sprout strokes his thumbs on Cosmo’s face as he stares into it, whilst Cosmo’s hands fiddle with the others' scarf.
“Thank you for taking me here.” Sprout ushers the words, getting one, final good look at Cosmo before he finally puts one hand on the ground, partially shifting his body to the side.
“It wasn’t exactly my idea,” Cosmo couldn’t take credit for anything that wasn’t his and his idea alone. “I got it from a friend. But I’m glad you came.”
The two share one final glance before they shift themselves closer, bodies now pressed against one another as they stare up into the night sky yet again.
Maybe it was nice to break a rule once in a while.