Chapter Text
Life was good in the town of Gardenview. The streets dim with soft yellow lights that softly dance across the sparkles of the fresh blanket of snow. Inside of a nice little house, filled with the warm scent of freshly baked cookies. Sprout leans against the doorway to the kitchen, crossing his arms as he watches Cosmo open the oven and take out a fresh batch of cookies.
Cosmo smiles as he sees the results, glad that the cookies weren't a disaster this time. Unlike the flutter-gumball-eye cookie incident.... "Well, what do you think Sprout?" Cosmo turns to him, a smile on his face. Sprout smiled as he walked over. "They look as delicious as ever." He replies, looking down at the chocolate cookies with colorful sprinkles.
"Glad to know, I think I might give cupcakes a shot now that I'm used to the oven not burning." Cosmo joked slightly, chuckling nervously. "Really? Hah! I guess I'll have to teach you how to make the batter!" Sprout nudges Cosmo with his elbow a bit. "Right, as if you don't mess it up 80% of the time." Cosmo shakes his head. Sprout looks at him, his expression feigning offense. "Hey! C'mon, my cupcakes aren't that bad." Sprout protests. Cosmo gives him a look that says "are you serious?"
Sprout huffs, crossing his arms. "What, so now you think just because you're not a rookie you're some kind of professional baker now?" He said, only partly joking. "Sure, better than you." Cosmo sets the tray of cookies on the counter. Sprout huffs, feeling a slight pang of annoyance.
"Okay, I burn things every now and then, but I'm just as good as you." He grumbles. Cosmo puts his hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay. I was just joking." He mutters. Cosmo reaches for the icing. Sprout stops him, walking up behind him. "Before you ice those, take off the oven mitts silly!" Sprout reminds him, chuckling a bit as he gently pulls the oven mitts off. Cosmo giggles "Oh! Hehe... right."
Sprout laughs and shakes his head. Typical Cosmo. Cosmo squeezes the icing from the piping bag onto the cookies and shows them to Sprout after he's done. Sprout nods approvingly. Cosmo smiles, glad that Sprout thought they looked good.
They end the day by putting the cookies away, hoping to give them away to their friends tomorrow. Sprout tucks Cosmo into bed next to him and lays down before turning off the light. "Goodnight Cosmo." His voice is soft. "Goodnight Sprout." He replies. The two drift off to sleep...
The next morning… Sprout wakes up, drooling slightly. He groans and sits up. Cosmo is already awake and peeks into the room. "You awake Sprout?" He asks. Sprout yawns, sliding his feet over the edge and pushes off onto his legs. "Mhmm..." Sprout mumbles. Cosmo laughs. "Goodmorning to you too, mr. grumpy pants." Cosmo teases as he walks over to him. Sprout grumbles at the teasing. Cosmo shakes his head, smiling as he pulls his sleeve over his hand and wipes the drool with his thumb.
"There, that's better." Cosmo's smile widens. Sprout feels his cheeks heat up a bit. "Thanks..." he mumbles. "You ready for breakfast, tall guy?" Cosmo asks. Sprout nods tiredly. Cosmo gently takes his hand and they walk to the kitchen. Of course, out of the two Sprout was the better one at cooking. He cracks some eggs onto the pan as they start to sizzle and cook. The scent of pancakes, eggs, and bacon soon fill the air of their house.
Sprout finishes cooking and serves Cosmo a plate. He made sure to always decorate Cosmo's pancake with fruit and whipped cream. He sits across from Cosmo as they eat. Cosmo's fork clinking against the ceramic plate as he gently stabs it into the delicious pancakes draped in sticky sweet syrup.
Later... They decided to go to their favorite café, run by their friend Teagan. The bell hanging on the door rings as they walk in. Teagan immediately greets them. "Sprout, Cosmo. Welcome in! Do tell me you brought some sweets made by Cosmo?" She was practically praying. Cosmo smiles and holds up the container of cookies for her to see. "Baked them last night!" He chirps. "Wonderful!" Teagan exclaimed excitedly.
While they're chatting it up, Sprout decides to go look at the snacks they have to offer. An unfamiliar face walks up, tapping Cosmo on the shoulder. Cosmo turns around with a "Hm?" The stranger who had tapped his shoulder was a cherry. "Did you make those cookies?" The stranger asks. Cosmo nods, "uh yup. They're mine... did you want one?" He holds out the cookies, opening the lid to the container. The stranger nods. "These look delicious." He purrs as he grabs one, taking a bite. He hummed at the nice texture and flavor. "They taste even better than they look!" He said, that was meant to be a compliment... right? Cosmo closes the container. "You think so?" Cosmo asks, a bit shy. "Do I think so? I know so! You've got talent." The cherry exclaims. Cosmo smiles a little at that.
"I gotta know your name! I'm Charlie, and you are?" Charlie gestures to Cosmo with his hand. Cosmo was a bit taken aback. "Me?- um- I-... my name's Cosmo." He stammers out. "Cosmo, cute name." Charlie blurts out without much thought. He realized what he had said. "Um, sorry... that wasn't weird, was it?" Charlie chuckles nervously... Cosmo shakes his head "Um, no! Not at all..."
Charlie smiles. "I'd like to get to know you better. You mind if I buy you a coffee?"
He offers. Cosmo was surprised. "Me- um.. yeah, sure." He stutters. This was all so sudden. Charlie's smile widens at that. "Great! It is so nice to meet you Cosmo." He shakes Cosmo's hand enthusiastically. Cosmo's eyes widen slightly and he almost drops the cookies. "Y-yeah! Nice to meet you too..." he smiles nervously. Charlie orders him his coffee and the two sit down.
They chat a bit, get to know each other and share similar interests and even exchange phone numbers. Cosmo was smiling and laughing at his jokes. Although he didn't notice the slightly flirty undertones of some of his comments. That was the thing about Cosmo. He was very gullible. All the more reason for Sprout to be so overprotective.
Sprout walks back over with some snacks. He notices Charlie. He glances back and forth between the two, unsure of what to say. Cosmo looks up and notices Sprout. "Sprout! This is Charlie. I just met him!" Cosmo exclaims happily. Sprout looked unsure. Almost skeptical. "Really... Nice to meet you. Charlie." He came off as a bit stand-offish. Of course, he was never good at being social.
Charlie makes eye contact with Sprout. A slight tension rising in the atmosphere around them. "Nice to meet you too... Seedly? Was it?" Charlie says in a tone that didn't sit right with Sprout. Charlie knew his last name because Sprout was popular. Was it in a good way? Ehh… Sprout wasn't sure if it was intentional or not, but he didn't want to upset Cosmo. "It's just Sprout."
Charlie glances at Cosmo, who seems a little uncomfortable from the tension. Charlie seems to back down. "Right... Apologies." He surrenders. Sprout didn't seem to be any less tense. Although he seemed less aggressive. Sprout gently nudges Cosmo. “We should go, Cosmo… we have to get more ingredients.”
“Oh, um… right.” Cosmo glances at Charlie before looking up at Sprout as Sprout takes his hand. “I'll see you later…” Cosmo cuts it short, knowing Sprout gets a bit clingy sometimes. They walk out together. Charlie narrows his eyes as the two walk out. Surely he would get another opportunity with Cosmo. Alone.
Later… They were walking through the aisles of the grocery store, Cosmo was pushing the cart. Sprout was reading the list. He looks up as they get to the aisle with all purpose flour. Sprout reaches up and slides the flour into his arms and sets it into the shopping cart. All they needed now was eggs. While on their way to the eggs, they run into Vee. Sprout has a slightly pouty expression as the smug green TV walks over. “Hey there berry boy!” She snarks. Sprout groans. “Hello there, Vee.” He crosses his arms. “Are you still hanging around with that cake roll?” She asked, already knowing the answer.
Sprout's expression darkened slightly. “He has a name, y'know." His voice dripped with annoyance. Vee rolls her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Is it really that deep?” Her voice, as usual, is full of attitude. She sure was sassy for a robot. “Whatever, Vee. What do you want?” He huffs. “Nothing, just checking on you. Y'know. Since you're always hanging with Cosmo? Like 24/7?” She tilts her head, antenna twitching.
“I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be? Cosmo's my best friend. I don't see the issue.” He grumbles, glaring at Vee. “Yeah, but have you ever noticed how he actually has friends other than you?” She glances at Cosmo, then back at Sprout. Cosmo shuffles uncomfortably. Of course he had other friends… but he wouldn't ever choose his other friends over Sprout… right…?
Sprout uncrosses his arms at that. “It's none of your business. Now if you'll excuse us, we have things to do.” He reaches back and grabs the front of the cart as he pulls it past Vee, brushing past her as Cosmo tags along. “Whatever floats your boat. Seedly!” She calls out to him as he practically storms off.
Vee's words stuck with him. A pit rising in his stomach. Cosmo was his best friend. He could trust Cosmo. He DID trust Cosmo. Sprout was quick to hurry with the groceries and get out of there. Vee was just bluffing. She always had something to say about everything. Surely this meant nothing.
Later, they arrive home. Sprout puts the groceries away. He turns back and notices Cosmo on his phone. Who could he be texting? It wasn't that cherry, right? No… it couldn't be. He shakes his head and puts the last thing away into the cabinet. Cosmo takes a seat on the couch, focused on his phone. Sprout looks over at him. He didn't want to pry, or seem creepy by asking him who he was texting. Maybe it was his cousin Ginger. Maybe it was all a coincidence. It was none of his business. Maybe he just needed to take a shower and wash this paranoia away.
Later… They were in bed, the usual routine. Sprout tucks Cosmo in, he lays down and turns off the light. “Goodnight Cosmo…” his voice almost sounded unsure. “Goodnight Sprout…” Cosmo sets his phone off to the side on the night stand. Sprout gently holds his hand, and they both drift off to sleep.