Chapter Text
Shrimpo knew a lot of things.
Shrimpo knew (almost) everything he needed to know in his opinion.
He knew Brightney is bright and an eyesore. He knew Sprouts’ cooking sucks just as much as Cosmo’s baking. He knew Pebble is just a stupid, spoiled, entitled rock and he knew–
Finn was weird.
When toons saw Shrimpo coming their way they usually did everything they could to avoid him, the last thing any Toon needed was to be a victim of Shrimpo's wrath.
No one ever sought Shrimpo out willingly, no one but Finn.
Every day without fail he’d find a way to squeeze his way into his (what used to be lonely) life. Shrimpo, at first, had tried to do EVERYTHING to get him to go away.
But.. nothing worked.
Finn was determined to stick by his side, with all his annoying fish puns and inspirational quotes in tow. He was loud, (like Shrimpo) honest, (like shrimpo?) and he just- never shut up! (Just like..) Shrimpo should hate him.
Finn should be just like everyone else, there shouldn't be anything different about him.
So why is there..?
Why doesn't Finn hate Shrimpo like he should?
What does he see that everyone else doesn't?
Shrimpo doesn’t understand Finn. The way he smiles at him, the way there’s a barely subtle glint in his eyes when he sees him coming down the hall, the way he doesn’t get mad when he yells and refuses to listen to him or his advice, and the way he decides to spend his time with him and not.. Anyone else..?
Shrimpo knows a lot but he doesn’t know Finn.
Finn is weird.
—
There’s been a shift in the atmosphere lately.
Not that anyone would say it out loud lest they jinx it, but things have been rather peaceful. Unusually quiet even, no one's complaining though– especially not Sprout!
In the dimly lit kitchen stood a lonesome strawberry– wiping down the counters so he could start the second batch of meal prepping for the week.
Lost in the morning’s somnolence, he slips into an auto pilot as he slowly cleans the kitchen and daydreams about the day's current events.
He finally has the peace and quiet he's been praying for at night! Now he has time to focus on himself just a little more.
He's been pretty rusty on his baking skills, This is the perfect opportunity to make up for his lack of experience!
Now he can take as much time as he wants without any interruptions to refresh on the basics again!
“Sprout?”
It really is a dream come true, Cosmo has been passing him up on baked goods for AGES. Sprout’s way better at cooking of course! But it doesn't hurt to be a little competitive every now and then does it?
“Sprout the stove-”
Baking can’t be that different from cooking can it? All you have to do is throw some dry ingredients in a bowl and then.. What else was it?
I wish cosmo was here to help… But that’d ruin the whole point of one upping him wouldn't it?
“Sprout what the heck are you doing!? Sprout!!”
Wait, isn't he supposed to be making something? What happened to the–
“MOVE YOU STUPID STRAWBERRY!!”
Just then, before sprout even has a chance to react to the voices yelling at him, he's flung to the ground. (Or more like.. Shoved.)
Dazed, Sprout holds a hand to his head as he sits up. Green leaves noticeably more frazzled than before, he glares up at what he expects to be just Shrimpo– ready to chew him out for pushing him, only to be met with two disapproving figures standing in front of him.
Cosmo stands over him with his arms crossed, an annoyed look on his face, and Shrimpo stands next to him with his usual frown.
Maybe just slightly less.. ‘frowny’ than usual actually?
“Sprout, are you out of your mind!? You almost lit yourself on fire!”
He what? When did he do that? Wasn’t he just wiping down the counters? How could he have-
“WOW. I KNOW YOU SUCK AT COOKING BUT THIS IS A NEW LOW, EVEN FOR YOU.”
Right, He was meal prepping for his second batch. He forgot to watch the stove again. He really has to stop doing that, one day he might actually burn the whole place down…
With a sigh Sprout got off the ground, looking at the charred food then sheepishly looking to Cosmo, completely ignoring Shrimpo. He was NOT going to let Shrimpo ruin his perfectly good morning, MINUS THE FIRE!!
“Sorry cosmo.. I was–”
“You were what? Too busy staring into space?”
“Like you’re any better! How many times have you left the oven on after hours, huh?!”
“Yeah, like that comparison does you any good. Last time I checked, ovens don’t catch on fire if you leave them on at night!”
As the two began to bicker, a certain crustacean’s antennas began to twitch in annoyance. His foot tapping against the tile of the kitchen floor fairly loud in a subconscious attempt to get their attention,
“I HATE WHEN YOU TWO ARGUE OVER STUPID STUFF!! BOTH OF YOU JUST SHUT UP!!
The kitchen fell silent as the two stopped their bickering to stare at Shrimpo, and with a scowl sprout tilts his head in Shrimpo’s direction,
“..Why is he here again?”
“I’M HERE BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO TRY MAKING ROASTED SRAWBERRIES!!”
A snicker leaves Cosmo as he mumbles to himself
“Pff.. R-roasted strawberries??”
Sending an unimpressed look Cosmo’s way, Sprout turns to Shrimpo and raises an eyebrow at him,
“What do you want, Shrimpo? You only come here when you either want to torment someone or you need something.”
“SHRIMPO DOESN'T NEED ANYTHING FROM YOU!!”
Sprout suppresses a heavy sigh.
“Then why are you here Shrimpo.”
Hesitantly Shrimpo points to the counter, where three trays of pastries are laid, left over from the day before. A dozen each.
“...GIVE SHRIMPO THAT TRAY OF DESERTS.”
Why would Shrimpo need a whole tray of desserts? He doesn't even like sweets. Okay Maybe he does but the guy complains about everything! How would sprout know??
Before sprout could decline Shrimpo’s request, Cosmo puts his hand in front of Sprouts face and smiles,
“Oh, the pastries? You can have them all if you want, they were left out all night and I doubt anyone would want them anyways since we’re making a fresh batch for the week!”
Sprout swats Cosmo’s hand away with a frown. Glaring at Cosmo and then Shrimpo in suspicion, he says
“Wait wait wait! Why do you need three dozen pastries if you don't like sweets! What are you planning on doing with them?”
Shrimpo stomps over to the counter, picking up two trays with a surprising amount of gentleness..
Why'd he do that? Shrimpo never handles something with so much care.
“THEY’RE NOT FOR SHRIMPO. THEY’RE FOR-”
“Good morning Shrimpo! How are you eeling?”
Slightly started, Shrimpo turns to Finn before letting out a puff of air and shoving both of the trays into his arms and grabbing the last one, (and shoving a couple napkins into his pocket).
“HERE. AND THAT WAS A HORRIBLE JOKE.”
Fumbling with the trays in his hands Finn chuckles nervously,
“Yeah.. sorry. My gills haven't started turning just yet!”
They stare at each other for a second, and Sprout could've sworn Shrimpo's eyes softened when Finn looked at him.
“WHATEVER. HELP ME BRING THESE TO YOUR ROOM.”
With an unnecessary amount of complaints, Shrimpo grabs Finn with his free hand, careful not to grab too tight or knock over the trays Finn's holding, and begins to drag him back to his room.
“Sure thing captain!!”
…
Huh. Shrimpo being nice, That's new.
“...Finn and Shrimpo are getting pretty close… You think it’ll work out?”
Sprout nodded as he sighed,
“For our sake, let's hope it does.”