#(the ship)

Sprout sipped his Feelings Milk as he sat in the alcove in Sam's living room, tail tucked around him and covering up his feet, hair down and hiding most of his face, and the bootleg plush of Cosmo was placed right on his lap. It was tucked between his stomach and legs, standing, and he had his chin resting on the top of it, deep in thought. Sam was nearby, reading a book in their recliner, silent. They both were silent. They both knew something was missing that they couldn't get.

"I'm hungry." Sprout suddenly stated, getting a soft hum from the human as they picked up their phone.

"Pizza should be here soon, I'm sorry it's taking so long. I woulda cooked if I didn't have to work overtime..." Sam said softly, then went back to reading.

"You know I could've made it myself, right? I used to cook for you all the time..." He pointed out, wincing when his stomach soon growled. Sam just nodded.

"You deserve to rest too hon, you used to overwork yourself so often you'd pass out in the kitchen. I don't want you to keep doing that, plus we have snacks in the pantry if you're really that hungry." Sam explained simply, getting a heavy sigh in response.

"Right... Right... Do you trust me?" He asked, and they nodded.

"If I didn't, you wouldn't be in my damn house." Sam pointed out, getting a laugh from Sprout as he adjusted himself a little bit.

"Right, then... Can I go and grab something I forgot at Gardenview tonight?" He asked, making Sam pause, then set their book down on the coffee table, leaning forward as they thought.

"Your bracelet... It's still there, isn't it?" They asked, and he just nodded, pulling his leaves back up in a ponytail.

"I know exactly where it is... I just-"

"Then go. After you eat dinner, you go and you get that, I know how much that means to you. I would've gone and gotten it myself if I were in your shoes... Just don't forget to lock my door when you come back inside, okay? Take a flashlight too, you'll need it." Sam said, getting a nod from Sprout as he slowly got up, putting the plush on his seat while he walked off.

"Pizza's here, I'll get the dishes." He called out, getting a quick "thanks" in reply as the human got up to get it. Sprout just shrugged as he did what he said he'd do, grabbing the paper plates they always used whenever Sam was too tired to cook and set them on the counter, then he opened the fridge and got the two drinks, setting those on the counter as well. He looked at that, then sighed, feeling weird having so little out. He just turned and opened the cabinet, grabbing a bag of chips and a bag of croutons before closing it again. He then went and grabbed two bowls, then got out some veggies to start making a salad from the fridge, though before he started anything, Sam walked in and raised an eyebrow at him as he held a head of lettuce awkwardly.

"Sprout."

"A salad doesn't hurt anyone-"

"The salad isn't the problem." Sam stated, then sighed as they took the lettuce away and put the pizza on the counter.

"Stop overworking yourself, take a break from cooking god dammit." They continued, putting the stuff for the salad he didn't make away so he wouldn't, so he just silently got the bowl of chips ready for them to have with dinner, which Sam just chuckled at.

"You really do make sure everyone leaves full though, don't you?" They asked softly, getting a nod in reply.

"Yeah... I don't like seeing people I like suffering, I worry about it a lot. Some say I'm overprotective, some just think I'm a good friend, I don't know. I just want everything to feel okay again..." He admitted, looking away from them when he said that, though he looked back when they patted his head gently.

"I get that completely, I really do. It will feel okay again eventually, I promise." Sam reassured softly, which made Sprout just smile a bit at them.

"Thank you... I needed to hear that right now." He stated, getting a quick "welcome, kid" in reply before they walked off to eat. Soon the two were back in their spots, eating in peaceful silence yet again, just enjoying the other's presence for the time being. After dinner, Sprout checked on his arm injury before he got everything ready for his trip back, doing his best to hide the fact that he wasn't going for his bracelet- he was going to see his boyfriend again, even if it meant he'd get severely injured in the process. Fortunately for him, Sam didn't seem to notice his alternative motives, so he went off on his walk without much stopping him, going right back to the still surprisingly unlocked employees entrance and going down the fire exit like he did to escape from there. He stopped at the door to the kitchen again, staring at the handle. His bracelet was still there, but now a note and Cosmo's was attached to the handle as well. He gently took the note and opened it up.

"Hey dude, Gi here, found the matching bracelet and returned it. If you see this, I'm still thrivin'! ;)"

Sprout blinked a few times at that, then looked around suspiciously. How the hell did that Gigi clone... Escape out here? He took the bracelets and just put them in his pocket, opening the kitchen door and just letting himself in afterwards. He was further shocked to find Gi there, leaning over a knocked out twisted. The light blue Gigi turned and looked at him, still in her yellow raincoat and boots, chair in hands. Sprout blinked again.

"What in the world-?"

"Heya Berry Bro, glad you're back. I'm guessing you were... Looking for your... Uhm..." The Gigi paused as they looked back at the twisted they'd knocked out, then at Sprout.

"Husband?"

"Boyfriend."

"Close 'nuff." Gi stated as they poked the twisted with the chair they still weild, then shrugged and tossed it across the room, laughing when it knocked the other one out cold. Poor Boxten... He's probably been chaired so many times by the suspiciously intelligent clone, Sprout couldn't help but wince at the thought of it. And wince again when he realized he could've been a victim too if they didn't ask if he wasn't a twisted first-

"Uh anyways did you ever find out why you're sentient?" Sprout asked awkwardly as he walked over to the twisted Gi was standing near. It was Cosmo... They'd knocked out Cosmo with a chair to the head too. What's up with that creature and knocking people out with chairs?

"Nah, did find out most of y'all were NOT straight though, pretty cool. Uh, sorry about your boyfriend, he snuck up on me."

"Don't worry about it, I have a medkit. Several actually... Need one?" Sprout offered, opening up his bag to give them one, but the gachapon shook their head as they walked off to do some machines and probably find some more things to knock out with a chair, so Sprout focused on the real reason he was there. He gently started cleaning up as much ichor as he could from Cosmo's face, being as gentle as possible as he worked, muttering to him that it would be okay. He didn't even notice that Gi had came back over, not until they gently put a bandage over the cut they left on his head. Sprout just mumbled a thanks, sitting fully on the floor, letting them sit with him.

"While I don't understand myself still... I think I understand you originals better... And I just want to say, I am so sorry for everything they did to you." They softly said, making Sprout shake his head as he grabbed Cosmo's right arm, cleaning it up the best he could while he could.

"It's not your fault, just keep thriving, that's all I ask." Sprout replied, getting a giggle from the clone.

"Will do Berry Bro!" They replied with a salute, which made Sprout giggle just a tiny bit. He couldn't lie, they were pretty charming for a clone of his dead friend, really chaotic and spontaneous. He wondered if they were still the only one, however he couldn't ask as the twisted started to stir. Gi stood up immediately, backing up a bit, though Sprout kept cleaning his arm. He didn't care, he just was happy to be touching Cosmo again, to be tending to him, even if the first thing he did when he woke up was try to bite him. He stopped him faster than he thought he could with a dirty rag to the mouth.

"Bad Cosmo, bad." He scolded, making Gi giggle while the twisted just... Laid back down. Defeated. Sprout giggled himself at that, then sighed, patching up a hidden cut on Cosmo's arm while the twisted was still down and willing to cooperate. What he wasn't expecting though, was for him to grab his arm gently. Sprout blushed hard when he felt the gentle grip on his arm, looking over at Cosmo's non-ichored hand before looking over at his face. His eyes... Were different in some way he couldn't put a finger on.

"Sprout..?" The twisted softly asked, tears forming in his eyes. Sprout smiled as his own eyes welled with tears, nodding.

"It's me, I promise. I'm here now..." He reassured, doing his best to keep himself in check for the other. Gi watched intensely, chair back in their hands, ready to smack anyone who dared to ruin the moment- which soon was twisted Boxten, as he had gotten up again, and soon was knocked out yet again by another chair to the face. Poor Boxten... Sprout didn't care, he was just focused on helping his boyfriend sit up, watching over him carefully as he coughed up a bit of ichor. Though afterwards, Cosmo just looked at Sprout, then reached up and flicked one of his leaves with a playful smile. Sprout just fake pouted and blew a raspberry at him, getting a few giggles out of the other.

"You look nice with long hair." Cosmo complimented quietly, leaning against Sprout soon afterwards for support, snuggling deep into his sweatshirt when the berry just pulled him close.

"That's such a weird way to say "hello, I missed you", Cosmo." Sprout teased as he sniffed back a sob, getting overly emotional as he cradled his partner like he would shatter if one person breathed on him wrong. Cosmo sighed, sniffling a little himself as he clung to his boyfriend's shirt.

"I love you." Cosmo murmured.

"I love you too, honey." Sprout softly replied as he slowly stood up with him in his arms, leaving the extra medkit on the floor as he turned and started carrying the drowsy and pretty confused swiss roll out of there. Gi followed silently, opening the door for them when they got there, and followed them out the employee exit to help out a little more.

"Thanks for helping me with the doors, Gi. I'll see you around, right?" Sprout asked after they had gone outside, though Gi shook their head.

"I love it here, I love the thrills of doing runs and doing machines, I ain't leavin chief. However if you come back and ever need me, just scream like you're dying, I'll be there. Or don't, we seem to just run into each other. Have a great new life you sweet little brownie man!" The Gigi clone said before waving their yellow coat-sleeve-covered hand excessively before turning and going right back into Gardenview. Cosmo just stared tiredly, then looked at Sprout.

"Why was Gigi light blue and yellow?"

"Dandy cloned everyone with different colors and outfits, that one though, that's the only one that actually talks and acts alive, the others act like NPCs from a video game. It's quite uncanny..." Sprout explained, completely unaware he was from a video game and breaking the fourth wall a little there. Cosmo just nodded, yawning.

"Where do we go now..?"

"My handler's house, you remember Sam right? They took me in, and Shanon- Shelly's handler- she took in Shelly and Vee, and we can see them tomorrow if you want."

"I'd love that as long as you're there, Sprout."

"Oh trust me, I'm not leaving you alone near Vee for even a second, I am not letting you become a walking disco ball right after I got you back." Sprout firmly stated, making Cosmo exhaustedly laugh.

"But what if I wanna be one?"

"Then I'll watch you be one... Wait what-?" Sprout asked, though when he looked back down at him, he was already fast asleep. So Sprout just sighed and smiled at him, carrying him all the way back home and letting himself back in. Sam was still in their chair, reading a different book, though they immediately looked at him in confusion and fear when he came in with Cosmo like that.

"Sprout do not tell me you committed a kidnapping-"

"He fell over halfway here and I carried him the rest of the way." Sprout lied casually, making Sam facepalm.

"I am never letting you go back there again..." They muttered, getting a simple shrug in reply.

"And I'm never going back because I got what I wanted, goodnight Sam." Sprout replied as he just walked off to his room, which made Sam chuckle as they shook their head.

"I still can never be actually mad at you two, so damn cute. How in the heavens did he... Do that though?" Sam asked to themselves, attempting to understand how in the world Cosmo was twisted one minute and totally fine the next, minus some scars.