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Sprout rose up from his bed, one thing he noticed was how unstable his legs were. They shook and trembled and he tried to walk. He felt his head spin, and started to fall to the door catching himself with the doorknob. If he was wise, he’d go back to bed, but he and Cosmo planned this baking session last week, he can’t just back out.
He swallowed his thick saliva, and forced himself up, wrapped his scarf around his neck and mouth to avoid coughing on Cosmo.
He groaned as he walked to the kitchen. He entered the room, fresh pastry smell wafted in the air causing a bout of nausea. He forced it down and put on a tight smile. “Hey Cosmo” he waved, ignoring the tickle in his throat.
“Hey!” He smiled back looking at his dear friend, but soon he frowned, "you don’t look too good..” Cosmo mentioned
“Mmn, no no I’m fine,” he passed off “just sleepy, hah hah”
“You think you can lie to my face” Cosmo crooked an eyebrow
“Um-“ he gets caught off by Cosmo putting a hand on his forehead
“That’s what I thought” he huffed “you’re sick” he grabbed Sprout’s hand and started dragging him back to his room
“C-Cosmo I’m fine, promise!”
“Shut it,” he cuts his best friend off “I’m in charge today,”
“What do you mean,” Sprout started to cough loudly
“It means, you're under the care of Dr Cosmo, and I have a strict regiment,” Sprout sweats and not just from the fever. His protective personality was clashing heavily with him being taken care of. While he was lost in thought Cosmo successfully walked him to his room. “Bed, now” Sprout did as told. He started to lay on top of his blankets, not even bothering to tuck himself in. Cosmo tisked and started to wrap Sprout up in blankets.
“Cosmooo…” he whines as he was sinking into the sea of blankets
“No, you lost freedom privileges,” he finished the burrito. “You're mine for the time being,” he stroked his leaves which got a happy trill. “How about some soup? Ramen? tea?”
The main coughed before answering “s-spicy ramen…?”
“Of course” he soothed “right away,” he started to exit leaving Sprout alone with his thoughts.
He lounged in his temporary confinement and huffed, waiting for Cosmo to return with his food. He didn’t wait long as Cosmo soon opened the door with a bowl of steaming ramen.
“Yummy…” was the only thing he said. Cosmo adjusted his blanket so he could grab his noodles. He held the bowl and started to slurp, not caring about the noise he made. The spice soothes his sinuses and stomach. Cosmo watched him with fondness as the strawberry devoured the ramen.
He sighed in relief as the food was finished as Cosmo took the bowl and disposed of it. Sprout snuggled back into his cocoon and lazily watched Cosmo’s movement. He was soothed for now, but he had one request, even though it was a bit embarrassing.
“C-Cosmo…” he whined
“Yes Sprout?” He replied with a calm voice
“Cuddle…” he begged
“Aww you want snugs?”
“Yes please…”
“Well since you were so polite,” Cosmo carefully climbed into his blanket burrito, trying not to disturb Sprout’s current habitat. Sprout immediately pulled him close, holding on for dear life. “You’re so warm, maybe a cold compress will help?”
“Nooooo” he whimpered, because that meant Cosmo would leave him.
Cosmo chuckled “ok ok, I’ll stay for now, but later I’ll get one for you”
“Ok…” he yawned before snuggling up to get comfy. Cosmo stroked his leaves, shifting them to the side so he can have access to the scalp. He scratched his head letting Sprout unwind a bit. He soon heard snoring, Sprout was asleep. Good, poor thing was exhausted. Cosmo started to nod off too. Might as well. A nap with Sprout sounded pretty nice right now anyways.
Cosmo snoozed quietly when Sprout awoke with an awful swirl in his stomach. It was a sick nauseous sensation that crawled up into his throat. His saliva tasted bitter in his mouth, and his neck tensed putting pressure on his throat. He was going to throw up.
He tried to get out of bed without disturbing Cosmo, but his legs were wobbly and unstable. Despite this he succeeded in getting out, but getting to the bathroom? That was an entirely different mountain to climb.
He put a leg in front of the other but they were unstable. His knees gave out and dropped. He tried to muffle his yelp so as not to disturb his best friend snoozing on his bed. Thankfully Cosmo was a heavy sleeper. He slowly but surely crawled to the bathroom as his stomach leached, he couldn't hold it in for very long. Just get to the bathroom. He felt his stomach flip in its socket. Bile started to flood his mouth. No, he’s gonna spill his guts on the carpet, and poor Cosmo is gonna have to clean it up, he can’t do that.
His stomach repelled, as bile spilled out of his throat, his abdomen pumped more out of him as old noodles came back up. He coughed and choked as a second wave came. He started to cry from the pain and horror of it all. His sobbing was loud and overwhelming as even more vomit came up.
He felt steady hands rub his shoulder and back as he continued. They were warm and kind, trying to stabilize the weeping. Eventually the gagging stopped but not the sobbing
“C-cosmo!” He cried “I’m sorry! Hic! I’m so sorry!”
“Sorry about what hun?” Pet names, he’s using the big guns.
“I vomited on the carpet.. and hic, I’m sorry!”
“Bud.. you couldn't help it, it’s not your fault,” He kept his voice low and calm as not to agate Sprout. The berry in question just continued to cry and sniffle. “I know it’s gross, why don’t we get you nice and clean, and then we can move to my room with out the smelly stuff”
“Mhm…”
“Ok, I’m gonna lift you in the count of three..” Cosmo warned “one, two,” he prepared to lift “three!” He helped Sprout stand and got him to the bathroom . He leaned him by the tub, before starting the water. Cosmo puts his hand under the faucet, making sure the water was perfect. Then he added a bubble solution.
Soon the bubbles foam up, creating a soothing sensation for Sprout. “Ok hun, I’m gonna take off your scarf, it needs a wash anyway,” Sprout whined. “I know, but it has vomit on it, plus you can’t take it in the bath silly,” he spoke, but then started to negotiate “I’ll trade ya, take the bath and let me wash this, and in return you can borrow my hoodie”.
This.. was acceptable. Cosmo slid the scarf off and gently put it in the laundry before helping Sprout into the bath. “Come on, in you go,” he encouraged “good job,” Sprout melts in the tub, getting his shoulders underneath the warm water. “Careful,” Cosmo teased, “don’t drown , I still need my best bud,” he got a cup to scoop water to pour it over his leaves. Sprout hummed as the warmth hit his scalp.
“Scratchies?” The main asked
“Yes, I got you” she grabbed some leaf conditioner, he squeezed some on his palms before slicking them up, “scratches for you…” he started to massage Sprout’s head, getting the conditioner evenly across his hair. Sprout leans heavily in Cosmo’s hands. He was in heaven. His eyes closed as his muscles relaxed. “Does that feel nice?”
“Mhm…” he barely murmured. Soon Cosmo finished conditioning his leaves, he let it sit as he grabbed a wash cloth to clean his face and chest. A gentle scrub dawned his face as Cosmo traced around his eye lids and cheeks with a tearless soap. He then scrubbed his shoulders and chest, any residue was washed away.
After he was fished with the rag, he hung it to dry and picked the cup back up. Cosmo rinsed the conditioner out, giving more head massages. Sprout sighed and tilted back. He’d never admit it, being pampered felt so good. Maybe he should get sick more often.
“Ok, it’s time to get out,” Cosmo soothed
“Noooo..” he whined sinking deeper in the bath “warmmmmm” only his eyes were peaking out from the bubbles
“I know, but it’s time to get to bed,” he whispered, stroking his neck. “Remember, you get my room” he started to allure Sprout. “You can have my blankets, my sweatshirt, my pillows.”
“Ok..” he started to get out of the tub but stumbled. Cosmo caught him.
“Easy does it, good job,” Cosmo helps Sprout up and dry him off. He walked Sprout around the pile of vomit, and out the door. Sprout stumbled and leaned on his friend. They paced through the hallway into Cosmo’s room. He settled Sprout down into his bed, tucking him in. The pastry grabbed a bucket to reject in and a cold compress to reduce fever.
Sprout whined as the cold fabric touched his forehead. He tried to move the rag but Cosmo stopped him. “Let it stay,” Sprout looked at Cosmo, before he realized “ah I did promise my sweatshirt yes?” He pulled off his jacket, revealing his undershirt, and handed it to Sprout to snuggle. He immediately clings to it, using it as a replacement for his comfort scarf. Cosmo slid back into bed, and held Sprout close.
“It’s really gonna be ok I promise,”