Chapter Text
Sprout rushed around the kitchen, almost bumping into Cosmo as he reached for the napkins,
“Sorry!!”
Cosmo ducked out of the way, immediately slipping over some flour right afterwards and landing awkwardly on his face, letting go of the tray midair, “..No worries-” He replied with a muffled voice, giving a small sigh before letting his arms go slack on the wooden floor. “You might want to work on your timing with running across the room while I’m walking with a batch of notably very fragile cookies.”
Sprout helped Cosmo up with a faint teasing look playing on his face, looking apologetic, “Okay, I heard you the first time you said that. It’s just. You know.” He spun around again, washing his hands under the freezing water of the sink.
“Another tea party? It’s alllmost as if you-” Cosmo jumped back as Sprout swatted jokingly at him, suppressing a laugh, “Alright! I get it. Have fun!”
He only replied by scooping up the unbaked cookies, placing them one by one back on the tray, “What are you even trying to say? I’m not leaving without you Cosmo.”
“Sprout! I’m perfectly capable of doing stuff without you.” Cosmo said, putting on his most serene face as he watched Sprout’s eyes narrow in suspicion, “There’s basically one more thing to do and that’s it-”
“Nope. You’re coming with me.”
“Sp-”
“End of question!” Sprout said cheerfully, shoving the tray into the oven and slamming it shut, “Done! Come on!!” He grabbed Cosmo’s hand, dragging him out of the kitchen and into the hallway.
Cosmo followed behind Sprout, matching his pace perfectly within a few heartbeats as he held up a small container, “I brought your biscuits you made, if you were wondering.”
Sprout flashed a grateful look back as they ran, pushing his scarf out of his face as he skidded to a stop in front of a certain door.
“Teagan!! It’s-” Sprout cut himself off as the door opened, revealing Poppy as she waved to them happily.
“You guys are here!!” She stood up straighter, her bow tipping with her movements, “Come on in!”
Sprout stepped aside so Cosmo could walk in, distractedly looking around the room as he almost collided with Shrimpo (Who practically snapped at him before storming out the room).
“Sprout!” Teagan stridded across the room in a few quick steps and swept him up in a hug, taking a polite step back after, “How are you, darling?”
Sprout gave his smile as always, following behind her as they sat down at the table, “I’m good. How are you?”
Teagan covered her mouth as she smiled, taking the teacup in gentle hands and pouring it into their cups, “I’m wonderful. It’s quite a lovely day, don’t you think?”
“It is!” Cosmo spoke up, sounding delighted. “Teagan, would you like some biscuits? Sprout brought some for you!”
“Oh!” Teagan turned to Sprout as he held out the circle container, looking thrilled, “I would love some, yes. Your baking is always fashionable, both of you.” She opened the cap, passing it out between everyone before taking a cookie herself.
“-Hopefully it’s not too burnt.” Sprout said in a hurry, glancing sideways at Cosmo as he was kicked under the table, “What?? I mean- You know, The oven kind of-”
“No, it’s nice.” Teagan said with a small laugh, fixing her dress, “As I said, everything you make is wonderful.”
“..Really?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t lie to you.”
Cosmo gave Sprout a look as he cleared his throat, “I told you Sprout!”
Teagan gave both of them an amused look, a faint smile on her face, “Is that really?”
“...”
“Besides the point, I’ve been wanting to talk about some toon.”
- TIMESKIP…. SKSKSKS SORRY -
How did he get to this point?
What even happened??
Ever since this ‘ichor’ was introduced, time skipped by in a blur. Days turned into week, which turned into months, each one seeming empty.
Well.. Almost empty.
Sprout frequently talked to Teagan and Cosmo, although they rarely had tea parties anymore.
Now, he was racing across a floor they should have abandoned a long time ago, ducking behind a wall and letting out a sharp breath as he felt the footsteps behind him slow to a stop before wandering away, glancing back in relief as he watched the ‘twisteds’ walk away, losing interest in chasing him.
Jeez, he can’t keep walking into them like this.
Sprout adjusted his scarf as he heard the elevator open, his steps speeding up again as he headed for the bright lights (well, bright compared to everything else in this building) that signaled the elevator’s location, trudging inside and watching as the other Toons joined him.
Including Teagan.
She appeared on his left side, glancing at him in concern, “Sprout? You’re okay, are you?”
“I’m fine.” He replied back, shaking off the ichor that was spilling out of a cut on his arm and walking towards Dandys shop, “You?”
..How was this guy so happy all the time??
Teagan followed him, giving Dandy an unamused look as she saw the items, “I shouldn't be your concern right now, we need to find something to help your arm.”
“My arm will be okay, it’s not a big deal.”
“..If you say so.”
Whiiiiich was probably a big mistake.
Sprout had no possible way of avoiding the twisted (which looked a LOT like Shelly.?) as it dove into him, so why was it walking away after one attack?
‘Maybe because you're in a puddle of ichor, idiot.’
Sprout sat up slowly, his hand going up to hold his head as he peered through the darkness, watching the twisted vanish with a flick of its tail. He glanced down, bringing his left hand up to his face and watching in a mix of horror and amazement as it started changing where the ichor touched it.
“Sprout! Sprout-” Teagan took a step back as she finally saw him, immediately rushing over a second later and ignoring the ichor as she held his hands in hers, “What happened-?? Oh, dear.”
Sprout instinctively backed up, his eyes flickering over where Teagan also got ichor on her as she crouched by his side.
He could have sworn he wasn’t THIS tall. Especially sitting down.
Teagan held him close, blissfully unaware of the ichor traveling up her arms,
“I told you to be careful.”
“...”
“I’m not leaving you. No matter what happens.”