Chapter Text
| 526 words |
Sprout would lean against the counter, his elbows supporting his weight as he leaned down to read a cookbook. He was going to try baking cookies for once. Snickerdoodle cookies! With his pointer finger guiding through the ingredients outlined, he couldn't help but worry. Cosmo was the baker, not him. Sprout cooked savory dishes rather than baking sweet treats. He looked over at the ingredients he gathered to the side of a bowl and wondered, "If only Cosmo were here to help me out."
Unfortunately for him, Cosmo had to attend a planned run. Ever since Bassie and the Easter crew made their return to Gardenview, she basically became a reliable "healer", allowing Sprout and Cosmo more down time. As much as Sprout loved healing and caring for his run-mates, he's found himself to grow more anxious and apprehensive. Accidental heals thrown, tapes lost at close collisions with Twisted Teagan, watching distractors handle multiple twisteds at one time.. It was a lot for one berry toon to handle. As much as he insisted in aiding within today's run, Cosmo hindered him. "If you find yourself growing more anxious about us, just bake! That always helps me when I'm feeling that way!" The memory of Cosmo pulling him into a hug before meeting up with the others at the elevator complemented Cosmo's reassurance.
Sprout preheated the oven as soon as he created a batter that looked somewhat similar the book's description. He stepped back to examine the clutter of ingredients, when he noticed an unfamiliar one. A small bottle with a dropper-like lid that read "Delictable" in a cursive font.
"Huh, I've never seen this one around.." The baker wondered to himself. He'd pinch the bottle between his two fingers, bringing it closer to his line of sight. He looked over at the cakey-mixture in the bowl and looked back at the bottle. Thoughts of his chef title swirled in his head. Images of unsatisfied toons tasting his cookies, toons creating excuses not to have another bite.. and worst of all, Sprout being called a terrible baker! Sprout shook his head to scramble the words in his brain to form more pleasant ones.
Cosmo! Cosmo could use these cookies as another option to the current chocolate chip the toons know and love! Genius!
Sprout would untwist the cap to the mystery elixir and add a few drops into the bowl. He closed the lid and hid it out of sight. He put his fists on his hips and smiled to himself. The oven dinged, ready to accept Sprout's experiment.
...
Once Sprout transported the batter to the tray, then into the oven, he focused his attention onto the Run Calendar. Everything appeared as expected: Cosmo as a Healer; Gigi, Shelly, Rodger, and Toodles as Extractors, Bassie as Support, and Pebble and Looey as Distractors. Wait..
Sprout reviewed the names once again. Cosmo, Gigi, Shelly, Rodger, Toodles, Bassie, Pebble... Goob?! The absence of Looey's name raised concerns to the overprotective toon. If Looey was not in attendance, then where was he? Sprout pulled on his apron's bow anxiously, going to the elevator to begin his search.