Late Night Bake-scapades

by cheesee_eater

Summary:

“Sometimes I wonder, does the moon ever get lonely lighting up the sky by itself?”

This gave Sprout pause as his whisking slowed to a stop. He thought for a moment before answering. “Maybe. But it hardly lights the sky itself, it usually has the help of the stars. How grateful it must be for the stars, hm?”

“But the stars only light up a small fraction of what the moon does.” A small pout sat on Cosmo’s lips, his eyes trained upwards at the window, fixed on the sky.

“But the stars are what really glow. The moon is just a reflection of the sun’s light.” Sprout recalls what he had heard from Brightney, glancing over at Cosmo.

“How grateful the moon must be for the sun, then.”

 

“But the sun isn’t what accompanies it in the sky.”

Chapter 1: The Moon’s Companion

“Sprout? Sprout!” Cosmo’s concerned voice came from outside Sprout’s door, accompanied by his all too familiar soft knocks.

“Are you in there? C’mon, I’ve been waiting in the kitchen for hours.”

Crap.

“Uhh just a second!” Sprout panicked inwardly, shoving the small box of supplies under his bed. You’re such a sap. Of course you spent too long on it. He sighed, shaking the thoughts out of his head. His cheeks burned with embarrassment as he nearly tripped over his scarf scrambling back up. It had to be perfect, so naturally he’d want to spend hours on it, right?

He clutched two things in his hand, pulling it behind his back and out of sight. The door swung open. “Cosmo! Heyy..” He smiled sheepishly, beads of sweat clinging to his brow. “Sorry for the hold up. I was just.. messing with something.” He laughed awkwardly.

Was it hot in here or was it just him?

This felt familiar..

 

—-

 

Sprout’s palms were drenched in sweat, his eyebrows knitted in a familiar concerned expression. He knew he was overthinking this whole “new toon” thing, but he was already told so many things about his new baking partner. And it’s not as if he was overreacting; he would be spending hours upon hours with this toon, and the whole prospect of it threw his meticulously crafted routine for a loop.

Sprout hesitantly approached Gardenview’s central tree where he agreed he’d meet Shelly. His stomach twisted uncomfortably at the thought, and he was sure he looked like he was about to regurgitate this morning’s muffins. Curse those delicious chocolate chips..

As he treaded up to the tree, he recognized the unmistakable outline of his friend Shelly seemingly having an animated conversation with a toon just out of Sprout’s sight. Her arms gestured all over the place, and Sprout only picked up on a few words in her spew of syllables. Poor toon. Once she got that way it was hard to shut her up. Though, it didn’t really bother Sprout; he would just tune her out most of the time.

“Hey Shelly!” He spoke, his voice cutting through her rant with a tinge of nervousness that he hoped wasn't too noticeable. “So, uh, you said you had someone you wanted to introduce me to?” Of course, doofus. You already know exactly who you’re meeting.

“Oh, Sprout! You’re here!” Shelly whipped around, practically beaming as she bounced giddily on the balls of her feet. She cleared her throat dramatically, stepping to the side. “Behold, the one and only, totally-awesome-and-talented baker Cosmo!”

Once Shelly had stepped aside, Sprout’s vision of the mysterious toon was unobscured, and he unconsciously zeroed in on him. His eyes widened immediately at the sight, and he felt the tension drain from his shoulders.

Cosmo was… the cutest thing he thinks he’s ever seen. And yes, he rivals even Pebble on the day of his release. The toon in front of him was small, but chubby in an endearing way, like a little chipmunk. His small hands pulled down at his oversized hoodie, almost anxiously. He wore pastel rainbow thigh-high socks that looked like a doll accessory, and his head? Oh, don’t even get Sprout started.

His eyes were trained on Sprout in a careful admiration, dazzling blues and pinks swirling in his irises like little constellations. His head was shaped like a roll cake, and white frosting decorated the top in a perfect swirl. His cheeks were tinged a more vibrant dark brown, small blue pink and green stars dusting them like glowing freckles. Sprout almost wanted to reach out and see how they’d feel under his fingers.. Were they as soft as they seemed? Would they taste like candy or choc- wait. What was he thinking?! Come on Sprout, pull it together! You look like an idiot with a “deer in the headlights” stare!

“Heyy..” He forced himself to say, blinking a couple times to hopefully snap him out of his embarrassing trance. He forced a polite smile onto his lips, though a hint of smugness pulled the corners upwards a bit more than his usual faked enthusiasm.

To Sprout’s surprise, the pastry looked even more awkward than he did. Cosmo gave a light giggle, one that made Sprout’s stomach flutter. “Hi..!” Cosmo spoke softly, extending his right hand for a handshake as a nervous smile clung to his lips. “I’m Cosmo. I heard you like uh.. baking?”

“Oh, yes!” Sprout immediately lit up and reciprocated, giving Cosmo’s smaller hand a gentle shake. He was mindful of his grip, holding Cosmo like he would a fragile creature. His eyes were alight with excitement as he continued. “I *love* baking! Especially cupcakes! Though I’m not the best icer, so be warned. In fact, most of my icing attempts end up looking worse than that one time I left a batch of cookies in the oven for over 2 hours.” His tone was light, joking.

And then Cosmo laughed. Like, really laughed. And Sprout couldn’t help but feel an odd swelling in his chest. Weird.. he’s heard plenty of toons laugh before. What was so different about this one? The bounciness of it? Maybe the genuineness behind it? Oh, probably the unique shake it had to it, as if it wasn’t quite sure of itself. Either way, it was adorable.

“Oh- ehehe they must’ve been completely charred! How could you forget about them? Did you even start a timer?”

“A timer? I thought I did, but it’s not like it would’ve mattered. I got caught up reprimanding Shrimpo for the fourth time that day, which is always a treat...”

“Ooh, is Shrimpo the short one with the permanent scowl?”

“Pfft- yeah that’s pretty accurate. It’s the only expression he knows how to make, I swear to you. His whole range of emotion is just a scale from mad, angry, to pissed.”

This seemed to entertain Cosmo even more as he laughed again. He was loosening up with every word, and the conversation began flowing with a surprising amount of fluidity, as if they’d spoken for years. Sprout had nearly completely forgotten about his previous reservations upon actually talking to the pastry. I mean, just looking at him had already eased a lot of his worries.

“Hey, do you wanna see the kitchen? I mean, if you haven’t already..” Sprout’s tone shifted slightly, his smile suddenly a bit softer.

Cosmo’s eyes lit up immediately, and he seemingly couldn’t help the adorable goofy grin that broke out across his face. “Really..? I mean- yes! I haven’t seen the kitchen!” He spoke enthusiastically while his fingers fidgeted absently with his hoodie strings. “But, only if you want to. I wouldn’t want to keep you for too long. I heard things get busy around here.”

“Pfft- of course I want to, or I wouldn’t have offered!” Sprout tilted his head teasingly as his smile grew. “Gardenview can wait. I want to give you the expert tour. You’ll know where every pot, pan, and measuring cup is by the time we’re through!” Sprout spoke confidently, puffing his chest out and putting his hands on his hips. “Trust me, you’ll be glad I was your tour guide.”

Cosmo attempted to repress a giggle at the sight of Sprout’s exaggerated confidence. “Mm I’m sure there’s no better guide in all of Gardenview.”

“You’re right. No toon knows the kitchen like I do. Shall we?” Sprout winked and teasingly extended an arm in an offer. Cosmo took it after a slight hesitation, and the warmth of his hands seeped into the strawberry like a freshly baked cookie. Sprout resisted the urge to pull him in and soak up all that warmth he radiated.

“Lead the way.”

And then they walked, chatting like best friends as they fell into step towards the kitchen, arm in arm. Sprout was so caught up in Cosmo’s brilliant smile, he forgot about all else, including Shelly.

She didn’t seem to mind, though. Her eyes just locked on them as they walked together, and a fond smile grew on her lips. “Well that went better than expected.” She spoke after a minute, her gaze finally snapping away from the two and glancing to the side.

“Never expected Seedly to get along so well with someone.” An unmistakable voice cut through the air, punctuated by a slight static. Vee stepped out from behind the wall. “From my vantage point it looked like Sprout was genuinely smiling. He almost laughed.”

“Cosmo seemed relaxed too. More so than when I was talking to him.” Shelly hummed thoughtfully. “Well, at least they’re happy. Maybe Sprout can be less lonely now.”

“Oh I hope so. Maybe he’ll stop locking himself in his room every time he gets all wound up and he can work through his problems like a big boy.”

“Vee, c’mon, that’s mean.”

“It’s true. He needs to open up at some point. Hopefully that shy little pastry can get it out of him. Wouldn’t that be a miracle.” Vee scoffed, striding towards Shelly so she could watch the two walk down the hallway.

Shelly just sighed, her expression soft. “I’m happy for them.”

 

—-

 

Sprout laid on his back, sprawled over his bed. The encounter replayed in his head. Cosmo’s gravitational watercolor irises, his lips that quirked into an awkward smile, his little fidgets that - for some reason - caught Sprout’s eye.

He groaned, tossing himself onto his stomach. This sucked. He couldn’t sleep. And it’s not as if there was anything else he could do at this absurd hour.

 

Unless…

 

Hoisting himself up, he didn’t even bother to change out of his pajama pants. He opened his door and shivered slightly as the cool air of the hallway hit the bare plain of his chest. Fine. He begrudgingly snatched an oversized shirt from his closet, throwing it on as he trudged into the hallway, his door closing behind him with a soft click.

Sprout padded down the familiar hall, lit only by the reflection of light in the lobby and the dull glow of the lighting fixtures mounted to the wall. There was something serene about the quiet. Something personal and intimate.

His feet came to a stop outside the kitchen. He paused for a moment just to breathe. The scent of cookies filled the air. Something sweet yet slightly savory, like a perfect mixture of sugar and salt. Wait.. cookies? He didn’t bake cookies.

Once Sprout had come to his senses, he stepped closer. The sound of soft shuffling came from inside, barely detectable. Who would be up at this hour? And in the kitchen, no less?

He moved towards the sound, squinting to make out the silhouette of the toon moving around in the warm oven light. It almost looked like.. oh. “Cosmo..?”

Cosmo whipped around, his eyes blown wide as if he’d just been caught doing something he wasn’t supposed to. “S-Sprout!” Cosmo stuttered, stumbling back from the counter. “Oh goodness- I’m sorry. Did I wake you up? I was trying to be quiet.”

“What? No no-“ Sprout quickly assured, stepping closer and raising his hands as if he were calming a skittish animal. “You’re not- well, you didn’t..” He sighed, rubbing his face. “Why are you up and baking so late?”

Cosmo shrugged, seeming a bit guilty. “I couldn’t sleep. This is all still so new to me and.. geez I’ve only been here for a couple days. Baking is the only thing I know, so I thought maybe it’d bring me some comfort..” He fidgeted with his hoodie strings, his eyes avoiding Sprout’s. “I know it’s stupid.”

“Stupid? No, that’s not stupid.” Sprout moved over towards Cosmo, leaning against the counter next to him. He stole a glance at Cosmo’s tray of cookies, a soft smile finding its way onto his lips. “I actually came in here for the same thing. Looks like you beat me to it.”

Cosmo’s eyes widened a bit, and his focus found its way back to Sprout’s face, trying to silently analyze his expression. “Really?” He spoke quietly, almost unsure.

“Mhm.” Sprout’s gaze drew back to Cosmo’s. He couldn’t help but notice the sparkle that persisted in his eyes even in the dim light. “I couldn’t sleep either. Maybe we could try baking together. Call it a.. late night baking sesh.” He grinned, pretty proud of himself for that one.

Cosmo snorted, finding Sprout’s confident, yet cheesy title endearing. “Oh really? That’s creative.” He tried to keep the sarcasm from his voice, hoping his fond smile was enough to cover it up.

“Hey, baking isn’t the only thing I’m good at. I have a way with words, you know.”

“I can tell. You should write poems.”

They continued to chat as they began to bake in tandem, a healthy mix of friendly banter and teasing finding its way into the conversation. It felt nice, getting along with someone so easily. Sprout found himself wishing the night could stretch on forever.

Though, when the last batch had finally finished, they were both too tired to whisk up any more. They bid each other a half-asleep goodnight before Sprout collapsed back onto his bed.

 

He slept well that night.

 

Somewhere along the way, it had become a part of their routine. The “late night baking sesh’s”. As the months drew on, their sessions persisted. There was something so reverent about the silence of the center when every other toon was asleep. The way the moonlight would seep in through the few small windows the establishment had, bathing areas in its soft milky light.

Then again, maybe he has just come to love the moon because of Cosmo’s words.

“Sometimes I wonder, does the moon ever get lonely lighting up the sky by itself?”

This gave Sprout pause as his whisking slowed to a stop. He thought for a moment before answering. “Maybe. But it hardly lights the sky itself, it usually has the help of the stars. How grateful it must be for the stars, hm?”

“But the stars only light up a small fraction of what the moon does.” A small pout sat on Cosmo’s lips, his eyes trained upwards at the window, fixed on the sky.

“But the stars are what really glow. The moon is just a reflection of the sun’s light.” Sprout recalls what he had heard from Brightney, glancing over at Cosmo.

“How grateful the moon must be for the sun, then.”

 

“But the sun isn’t what accompanies it in the sky.”

 

Cosmo turns, his eyes flicking to Sprout with a thoughtful gleam. Moonlight reflects over his features in a way that makes him seem to nearly glow, a sight that easily flips Sprout’s stomach.

Sprout just gazes at Cosmo, enthralled. Slowly, almost tentatively, he reaches out, cupping Cosmo’s cheek. His voice comes out softer than he knew it could. “Cosmo, will you stay alongside me like the stars reside with the moon?”

Cosmo’s expression shifts as he inhales a sharp breath. Awe, fondness, maybe something deeper flickers in his eyes. He raises a trembling hand, resting it against Sprout’s. “You don’t have to ask. I’ve already decided.” He whispers. “No other would I reside with.”

 

Something blossomed at that moment. Neither toon could tell you exactly what it was, but it was something warm, yet electric. Something steady, yet intangible. Something they couldn’t ignore, yet couldn’t bring themselves to acknowledge.

 

Something delicate.

Notes:

Fun fact: This is my first post on AO3!!

I fell in love with these two, and with making this chapter. I probably got carried away, but it’s fineee… It’s not like this whole writing thing has rules, anyway.

I had “moonlight on the river” on repeat for part of this btw. 10/10 Would recommend.

Chapter 2: Blooming Season

Summary:

“I’m not ‘getting’ anything. You’re just imagining things.”

Vee grinned, leaning forward over the table. “Really? Cause it looks to me like you’re in a blooming season.”

“Vee Version One, shut up.” Sprout snapped, plucking the buds from his foliage in a quick motion. He couldn’t let Cosmo know about his body’s embarrassing reaction to strong emotion.

“Blooming season?”

 

Great.

Sprout stood at his door, left ajar. Cosmo - with that dumb worried expression - stood on the other side.

 

That’s when he felt stupid, like really stupid.

 

“Ah.. this is so childish, where do I start..” Sprout fumbled over his words, his grip on the two items tightening behind his back.

 

Cosmo looked just as confused as ever. He tilted his head in an attempt to get a better look at what Sprout was hiding. “What do you mean?”

 

“I wasn’t really just messing with something, Cosmo. I was um.. working on making two- well.. I uh-“ This is painful. Bracelets! Just say bracelets! Sprout tripped over his words, blinking rapidly as he felt his face heat up out of embarrassment.

 

“Sprout.” Cosmo’s eyes had softened. When did they do that? Oh, curse those dumb, big eyes. Cosmo just smiled faintly, as if he could read his mind. “It’s just me.”

 

That’s the problem! He wanted to say. It’s you!

 

“Oh, right.” Sprout’s shoulders slumped and his expression shifted to a wary smile. “Well.. I hope it’s not too cheesy, but I made these.” He rubbed the back of his neck, unable to meet Cosmo’s entrancing gaze. “For us.”

 

He pulled the bracelets out from behind his back, extending his hand towards Cosmo and opening it. The beads glistened in the hallway light, reflecting the warm tones of the center.

 

Cosmo gasped, drawing Sprout’s attention back to his face. A small, brown hand reached out, tentatively grasping the star-charmed, multicolor bracelet. For a second, his fingers brushed against Sprout’s, a moment of contact that culminated even more tension in the air between them.

 

Cosmo’s expression was filled with wonder, confusion, but mostly fondness. “Oh, Sprout..” He whispered almost inaudibly.

 

Sprout’s mind was racing. Here he was, acting like a fool, coming forward with some immature gift. Cosmo deserved more. He deserved the most perfect of bracelets, something that Sprout couldn’t even dream of creating. “It’s sloppy-“ He spoke too quickly, his fingers wrapping around his own bracelet tightly. “I’m sorry, I just decided that - for some reason - I had to do it all tonight. I’m sure there are better bracelets out there, if you- uh.. prefer. It’s not like I’d be mad if you-“

 

Cosmo sniffled.

 

Sprout came to a dead halt mid-sentence, his eyes widening as he took in the shift in Cosmo’s expression.

 

“You made this for me..?” Cosmo looked as if he were on the verge of tears, his hands trembling as they held onto the bracelet like a lifeline.

 

“For.. yes?” Sprout blinked, now fully alert. “You hate it. I should’ve known to trade out the brown for green-“

 

“This is.. this is the nicest thing any toon has ever made for me.” Cosmo’s eyes glossed, and he covered his face with a silent sob. Wetness rolled down his cheeks and landed below him on the floor, all the while his body trembled.

 

Sprout stood there in shock for a moment, unsure of what to say. “Cosmo..“ He stepped forward, not even conscious of himself. He wrapped his arms around Cosmo without a thought, cradling his head gently against his chest in an attempt to soothe him. He felt small hands grip at his shirt, the sniffles beginning to waver.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

Cosmo stepped back from Sprout, wiping his face with a shameful expression. He eventually met Sprout’s gaze, an embarrassed smile forming on his face. “I just.. I really love it. You’re so.. sweet and thoughtful-“ Cosmo rubbed his arm sheepishly. “-And I was just worried you didn’t want to bake with me tonight.”

 

Sprout looked down at the toon in front of him, dumbfounded. He immediately shook his head and took a slight step forward. “What? No, no. It’s my fault for not telling you. I just.. I wanted it to be a surprise.” He felt a bit of remorse bubble up in his stomach. He never meant to worry Cosmo.

 

“I overthought it, I know.” Cosmo let out a soft, breathy laugh. His eyes crinkled a little, tinged with mirth. “But can you blame me? You never miss our daily ‘late night baking sesh’.”

 

Sprout couldn’t help but snicker. “Oh, so now you’ve come to expect my presence? How funny. Maybe one day I’ll decide not to show up again and I’ll jump out and scare you when you come looking.”

 

“Pfft.. You’d probably fall asleep waiting for me to come out.” Cosmo spoke easily, his tone growing more teasing. “And then I’d find you all curled up behind some large potted plant, slumped against the wall, and I’d have to carry you to your bed.”

 

Sprout smirked and raised his eyebrows. “But what if-“

 

“Don’t even think about it, Sprout.”

 

“Fine.”

 

Sprout pouted, crossing his arms. This just made Cosmo laugh, that lovely laugh that made Sprout’s stomach do somersaults. Stupid pastry, I’ll make sure he knows I can do as I please.. eventually. He huffed inwardly.

 

“Well, if you love that bracelet so much why don’t you put it on?” Sprout jested, regaining some of his own teasing tone.

 

Cosmo seemed to have just remembered what he was holding, and he looked down, turning the charms in his palm. “Maybe I will.”

 

Sprout watched quietly as Cosmo carefully took the bracelet in his other grip, gently weaving the accessory around his hand and onto his wrist. He took a moment to smooth out the beads, breathing out a soft sigh. Sprout was surprised to see how beautiful it looked on him, highlighting his natural tones and his multicolor accent stars with ease.

 

Cosmo beamed, his gaze flicking up to meet Sprout’s eyes. “It’s perfect.”

 

Sprout felt his cheeks flood with warmth at Cosmo’s soft praise. He deflected lightheartedly. “Yeah.. sure. I mean, you’d make anything look good..” He caught himself, his eyes widening.

 

“Wait what?”

 

The door shut, leaving a dumbfounded Cosmo alone in the hallway once more.

 

 

—

 

 

It had been the morning after the incident where Sprout slipped up, and he found himself stressing over his current situation. He and Cosmo were supposed to bake a big lavish breakfast for all the toons in Gardenview this morning (per Glisten’s request), but he had messed up so bad the night before, he surely couldn’t show his face for at least 2 more weeks!

 

“Ughh” Sprout collapsed back onto his bed, face first, after three whole minutes of pacing. This sucked. 

 

A slight tug at his leaves pulled him out of his thoughts. That felt faintly familiar, the tugging sensation. Suddenly, it clicked. He was starting to bloom flowers. Presumably from the intense turmoil he was experiencing. Not good. This had rarely happened in the past.

 

He ran his lean fingers through his hair, muttering something into his pillow as he plucked the cream colored blossoms from his leaves. He laid there for a moment, wallowing in shame.

 

Pathetic. He has to get up, no matter the circumstances. He can’t leave his best friend hanging.

 

He considered his options for a moment before sighing in resignation. With a renewed sense of purpose, he pushed himself out of his plush bed and dressed up in his usual attire. He left the top button of his long sleeved shirt undone as per usual, thinking the flair added to his charm (though no one really noticed. Especially considering the fact he wore a scarf).

 

As Sprout forced himself out of his room, he was hit with the familiar quiet that only clung to the center in the early morning and late evening. It was a silence he grew accustomed to filling with Cosmo’s laughter.

 

As he approached the kitchen, he made out the familiar form of his friend; his back was turned toward the door, as it usually was. A light tapping could be heard from his area, a common nervous habit Cosmo had that Sprout could easily pick up on.

 

“Cos’.” Sprout spoke quietly, his eyes softening upon seeing Cosmo’s tensed body language.

 

“Oh-“ Cosmo turned around, his worried expression shifting slightly upon seeing Sprout at the entrance. “Sprout! I didn’t know if you’d come. W-well it’s not like I didn’t expect you to but.. I don’t know. I guess it was just last night..”

 

“I know. I’m sorry.” Sprout frowns, rocking on his feet with a nearly sheepish demeanor. “I kind of panicked.”

 

A pause.

 

“Can you tell me what you meant when y-“

 

“Nope!” Sprout was blushing furiously, wanting to switch the topic as quickly as possible. “So do you think Glisten wanted the main dish to be waffles or pancakes? What about both? Both is always good.” Sprout slipped on his apron and began gathering the breakfast supplies with practiced ease, though a bit too eager and fumbly.

 

Cosmo seemed to begrudgingly respect Sprout’s wishes to drop the topic, slipping into his own apron. “Oh, knowing Glisten, it changes with every day. Both is probably the right call.” He took his usual place at Sprout’s side, working in tandem with him to prepare the supplies.

 

Despite Sprout’s embarrassment, he couldn’t find it in himself to dislike Cosmo’s company. The warmth he emanated had become a comforting presence for Sprout, a constant throughout their baking sessions.

 

He also couldn’t help but notice Cosmo was wearing his bracelet. Sprout was wearing his too, though he didn’t know if Cosmo had noticed.

 

He felt himself smile unconsciously, a small bloom forming in his hair, unbeknownst to him. It was only when Cosmo pointed it out that he realized. Oh, how embarrassing.. He quickly plucked it out, mumbling some lame excuse. “Oh, I was helping Tisha reorganize some plants yesterday. I must’ve caught a stray.” He laughed uncomfortably, hoping it’d clear up some of the twisting in his stomach.

 

Cosmo just scrunched his nose for a second before relaxing, accepting the half-baked answer. “Oh, that reminds me, we still need to reorganize the spice cabinet. Tisha won’t let me forget about the cinnamon incident. Remember how she was stuck cleaning some cinnamon-sugar concoction from the tile for an entire week? She was seething.”

 

Sprout recalled the memory, a small smirk finding its way onto his lips. “Oh yeah, how could I forget? I didn’t know a toon as blue as her could turn that shade of red.” He held back a snicker as he poured some of their freshly made batter into the waffle iron.

 

“Sprout!” Cosmo gawked, giving Sprout’s arm a lighthearted swat, which elicited a giggle out of the other. “Be nice!”

 

“No promises.” Sprout stuck his tongue out playfully, giving Cosmo a slight nudge with his hips.

 

Cosmo just shook his head fondly, snatching the batter-filled bowl from Sprout’s hands. “My turn.”

 

“Heyy..” Sprout pouted, extending his arm out for the bowl that Cosmo had pulled just to the left of his reach. “Meanie.”

 

 

 

As they continued working, they exchanged their usual words, the awkward tension of yesterday’s interaction long forgotten. Making breakfast had finished as soon as it started, it felt like. And soon enough, they were plating.

 

“So who do you think will be the first to greet us today?” Sprout asked playfully as he dished out the last of the eggs.

 

“My money’s on Toodles.” Cosmo smiles, finally finishing the bacon-pancake smiley face on the smaller toon’s plate. “She’s usually shamelessly eager to get her serving.”

 

Sprout nods with a smile of his own. “She’s always bounding around, we have to make sure she’s getting enough protein to account for the energy she’s using.” He speaks matter-of-factly as he dusts his hands off on his apron.

 

“Definitely.” Cosmo giggles, grabbing a couple plates and shooting Sprout the ‘go time’ look. Sprout obviously catches onto this and straightens up, grabbing a few plates of his own.

 

They pad out of the kitchen side by side, holding their respective dishes. “Breakfast is ready!” Cosmo projects, smiling as they enter the bustling dining area.

 

Toodles is the first to greet them, as she practically bolts towards them. She attaches herself to Sprout’s leg, giggling. “Uncle Sprout and Uncle Cosmo!!” She chirps. Sprout couldn’t help but laugh, as she was practically vibrating on him. “C’mon kid, did you get into Yatta’s candy stash again? You know that stuff is bad for you” Sprout spoke in a slightly scolding tone.

 

She shakes her head and pulls off after a second, stretching her arms up towards Cosmo. “Nope!! I’m just excited for pancakes!” She bounces on her feet, a wide, toothy grin stretching across her face. Her adorable tooth gap was extra noticeable this way.

 

Cosmo leans down with a gentle smile, offering her the plate. “Now you make sure you don’t drop it, ‘kay? Uncle Cosmo made sure it looked just the way you like it.”

 

“M’kay!!” Toodles grabs the plate and zips away to the general vicinity of Rodger, earning her a small head pat from the other.

 

Cosmo sighs happily, righting his posture as they walk from table to table, dropping off dishes. They got the usual ‘thank you’s and occasional small talk. Nothing out of the ordinary.

 

 

Well, that was the case

 

 

Until..

 

 

“Darlinggg- you made it! My extravagant breakfast!” Glisten purred, extending his arms and pulling Cosmo into a dramatic embrace. Sprout just grimaced from the side, disdain evident in his expression.

 

Cosmo laughed awkwardly. “Ahah.. Glisten, I’m glad you like it! Sprout and I didn’t have to spend too long making it, honestly, so it really wasn’t much of a hassle.” He pulled back, shooting Glisten a clumsy smile.

 

Glisten just smirked and pat Cosmo’s head adoringly. “Aw, I’m sure. But no matter. You always make the sweetest pancakes.” This just made Sprout’s gut twist. Something about Glisten’s smile and Cosmo’s innocent nature caused him to flare up. A cream colored bud grew through his leaves, and he yanked it out with annoyance before it could even bloom.

 

“Actually, we both made the pancakes.” Sprout spoke flatly, seizing one of Cosmo’s shoulders almost possessively. He wasn’t going to let that mirror lay another finger on Cosmo when he was sure it made him uncomfortable.

 

Glisten’s smirk only grew. “Oh, I’m sure. Quite the team, you two. You both make a lovely strudel.” Glisten drawls. “Well I best be off before Boxten says something he’ll regret without my help at covering it up. Ta ta~” He struts off, carrying his plate and Boxten’s. Cosmo waves goodbye.

 

Sprout resists the urge to roll his eyes, not even sparing Cosmo a glance as he leads him to their usual table. Shelly perked up upon seeing them. “About time you two sat down! Every day it feels like you take longer to eat. I’m dying to talk to you here!”

 

“Your food will be completely cold if you waste another second. Come, sit.” Tisha added, patting the chair next to her with a stern expression.

 

Cosmo and Sprout wasted no time getting comfortable. Sprout finally relaxed into his seat and began to eat. The two settled into a rhythm of conversation with the others, occasionally hearing a new fact from Brightney’s current focus book, a complaint from Tisha about Brusha’s messy tendencies, or a slew of words from Shelly about one of her museum exhibits. It was nice, everything was back on track and going as it typically does in Sprout’s daily routine. Just the way he liked it.

 

Then, Astro had mumbled something to Cosmo, causing him to light up. He began chirping about a new recipe he and Sprout discovered for graham cracker honey cookies a few nights ago. Sprout developed a smile, taking a bite out of his bacon while gazing at Cosmo like a lovesick fool. He was hoping no one would notice.

 

“..Right Sprout?” Suddenly, big cotton candy eyes had landed on him, expectantly.

 

“I uh.. What?” Sprout felt his cheeks flare up. Gosh, he wasn’t paying attention.

 

“He was asking if you had the recipe in your room.” Astro spoke quietly, his thoughtful eyes glued on Sprout as if it had been analyzing him for some time. “For the graham cracker honey cookies.”

 

“Oh. Yes!” Sprout smiled, still embarrassed. “It’s in one of the cookbooks Brightney gave me.” He rubs the back of his head with a nervous chuckle, only to feel familiar soft petals shift under his fingers.

 

Oh. No.

 

“Don’t tell me you’re getting those again, Berry Boy.” Vee’s voice cut through the air, a slight entertained smirk forming on her lips.

 

Sprout covered the flowers with his hand, shooting Vee an unmistakable glare. “I’m not ‘getting’ anything. You’re just imagining things.”

 

Vee grinned, leaning forward over the table. “Really? Cause it looks to me like you’re in a blooming season.”

 

“Vee Version One, shut up.” Sprout snapped, plucking the buds from his foliage in a quick motion. He couldn’t let Cosmo know about his body’s embarrassing reaction to strong emotion.

 

“Blooming season?”

Great.

 

 

“It’s nothing, Cosmo. Just Vee trying to get under my skin.” He made sure to give Vee a look that could burn holes into her screen.

 

Vee snickered, clearly unbothered. “Oh yeah, don’t worry about it. You weren’t here the last time we had an incident like this.”

 

Sprout cleared his throat. “We’re done talking about this.” He declared, pushing himself up out of his seat. He grabbed his half-eaten plate and stormed off, seething.

 

Cosmo followed suit, getting up after him. He trailed behind Sprout, presumably to try and fix whatever had just happened.

 

Vee just watched for a moment before glancing back at the faces of the other toons at the table. “So much for Seedly opening up for once.” She scoffed.

 

 

(Enjoy this quick sketch I did last night (at 4-5 am..) of Sprout’s blossoming issue, inspired by the chapter.)

Notes:

Ahhh how is this chapter even longer than the first one? Send help, oh my goodness.

Sprout does NOT know how to handle his emotions. Like.. my precious Cosmo is in for a ride.

Thank you guys for reading and commenting! It really means a lot to me! :)

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of Cheese and Fruitcake