Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sprout walks into the kitchen, he had just finished his daily checkups. Cosmo was taking brownies out the oven, which surprising still worked. It had been years, Sprout was surprised Cosmo had even found ingredients for brownies.

“You made pastries? How? I thought all the supplies were destroyed or inedible.” Sprout said walking his moldy strawberry self over to Cosmo, taking a fattie fattie bite out a brownie.

“You shouldn’t eat th—“ Cosmo watched as Sprout immediately spat out the brownie, dramatically acting out his surprise.

“These are missing most the ingredients Sprout. It’s just batter and chocolate chips. Maybe even some water, I don’t remember.” Cosmo explained as he watched his dramatic friend attempt to get the taste out his mouth.

Sprout sighed, looking at Cosmo’s failed attempt to make brownies. They both knew no toon would eat this. They were hungry, but definitely not hungry enough to eat this. Cosmo scowled at his creation, angry. Not at anything in particular, but angry that he had to suffer through this. That his friends had to suffer through this.

Sprout grabbed a few brownies, placing them in his pouch around his waist. Sprout waved off to Cosmo, going to go deliver some brownies. Many toons didn’t need food. They consisted of Vee, Poppy, Scraps, and Eggson.

No one knew why Eggson never got hungry. He was an egg. Maybe he was eating himself from the inside, slowly killing himself. Sprout shook away the horrifying thoughts and stepped into the large elevator. It worked. They weren’t going to complain or question that.

Sprout walked into the toon rooms, at least the ones he could access. Many of the rooms had been blocked off by rubble and ichor leaks. Sprout walked towards Boxten’s room. It was where the mains stayed. They could’ve went to their own floors, but the others insisted they stayed. Everyone was much safer together.

Sprout walked in, waving over at Vee. Vee just stared back. Sprout and Vee hadn’t fought in a while, Vee thought it was a waste of battery; while Sprout saw it as a waste of air. Sprout handed Astro a brownie. Astro lost his sense of taste a while back, he was the only one willingly eating Cosmo’s failed creations.

“How’s the taste?” Sprout said with a teasing smile. Astro on the other hand did not find that joke very funny. Astro lazily rolled his eyes and continued nibbling on the brownie. Sprout’s smile awkwardly fell and he began walking near Shelly. Just like before she was often ignored, only talked to when needed to go on supply runs.

Sprout tossed a brownie near her with a smile, then he walked out the room. Sprout had a daily cycle. The cycle was driving him to insanity. Get supplies, check on toons, hand out food, repeat.

Sprout gripped his wilting leaves, tugging on them to relieve some stress. Sprout was beginning to calm down until he was rudely interrupted by a nosey magnifying glass. Rodger

“Sprout, my research has led me to find an interesting discovery. I’d suggest you follow me.” Rodger said voice strained. Rodger began leading Sprout to the toons room kitchen, pausing his steps if Sprout drifted behind.

Rodger pushed every other toon aside, leading Sprout to the front. It was a puddle of ichor, dripping from the ceiling.

“Rodger, this is just a puddle. We see these all the time.” Sprout said, a rude tone dragging behind his words. Rodger looked beyond offended, he motioned towards the puddle, speaking up.

“It is not JUST a puddle, Sprout. The ichor is moving. It does not just move. I am asking you to look closer..”

Rodger said leading Sprout closer to the puddle, other toons beginning to rush away. Sprout should’ve found it suspicious, should’ve questioned it. But he didn’t. Eventually it was just Rodger and Sprout in the kitchen. Rodger’s glare from his singular eye intensified.

It wasn’t until Rodger and Sprout were directly in front of the puddle, feet just inches away, that Sprout opened his mouth. “Rodger, I thought you said specifically not to go close to ichor. We’re basically touching it.”

“Basically. But you will literally be touching it soon.” Rodger looked away, raising his hand onto Sprouts back. “I do deeply apologize for this Sprout. But it’s mandatory for research purposes.”

Sprout raised one eyebrow, silently questioning Rodger. Just as he was about to ask Rodger why he was sorry, he was pushed forward. Slipping off his feet he landed face first into the ichor puddle. One side of his body entirely submerged into the ichor. He felt his arm tighten, twist, burn. It hurt. He yelled for Rodger. Rookie mistake. The ichor got into his mouth, sliding down his throat. He struggled to speak and fight, before eventually giving up, lying there on the floor.

Rodger’s guilt filled expression was shaken off, Rodger walked away mumbling something under his breath. ‘Killing one toon to save many others will be worth it Rodger. You’re not a bad guy.’ But Rodger didn’t believe his own words.

Sprout lay on the floor, stuck there as the ichor slowly took over his mind. Slowly and painfully. He knew who was his first target, that’s something he’ll never forget.

Chapter Text

Sprout was very popular with the children. Not only because of his ‘amazing’ cooking skills, but because of his outfits. During birthday parties, or just in general, he always wore ‘girlish’ outfits. He wore them with confidence. Sometimes he even convinced Cosmo to dress up for afternoon tea with him.

Astro, the sleepy moon, was popular with kids for his facts about astronomy. Kids knew to be quiet around him, and would shush others who were loud.

Astro and Sprout weren’t friends. No, they barely even saw each other. They were acquaintances, there for each other if needed. Astro had a secret he kept. A crush.

The crush wasn’t on Sprout in specific, nor Cosmo. Bone of the other female toons really called to him. He had been confessed to on multiple occasions, but denied them all. He lied saying he just wasn’t looking for anything currently.

Astro’s heart sped up, when he saw Sprout in a dress. Sprout in a skirt, or even with eyeshadow on. He would stumble over his words, and even fidget under his blanket. It was a strange feeling. It wasn’t like that when he saw Sprout with his normal apron on. When he wore a suit, even when it was just his scarf.

He could talk normally to Sprout when Sprout wasn’t wearing dresses or skirts. He didn’t fidget, or avert his eyes away. He even found Sprout slightly annoying sometimes.

Astro sat on the couch in the back of his room. He was blushing, remembering Sprout in pretty dresses and skirts. He stared up at the ceiling, his love struck look clear on his face. Astro was shook out his dazed faze be Sprout. He was wearing his scarf, a friendship bracelet resting on his wrist.

Astro stared at Sprout, blinking slowly. “Astro, the toon handlers need all mains.” Sprout was always strict to many toons. Astro nodded and hopped off the couch, following Sprout.

It was a pity a woman like Sprout didn’t exist.

Astro walked into the elevator, standing in the middle next to Sprout. Astro looked at Sprout from the corner of his eye.

It was a shame Sprout wasn’t a fag.

The elevator Astro and Sprout was in stopped at the lobby. They stepped out walking towards the other mains and toon handlers.

The only woman Astro ever loved was Sprout in drag.