★ Cosmos World - DANDYS WORLD AU ★

/Familiar Friend- part 5\

I fell asleep writing this LMAO

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The voice that called his name was barely recognizable. But Cosmo knew it instantly. It was a voice he had never thought he'd hear again.

His breathing quickened as his eyes adjusted to the darkness, revealing a figure standing in the shadowed corner of the warehouse. It was Sprout. His best friend, his "partner" even, the one person who had been by his side through everything.

But it wasn't Sprout standing there. Not anymore.

"Sprout..." Cosmos voice trembled as he spoke, barely able to force the words out. "Is that really you..?"

Sprout took a shaky step forward, his body trembling, looking fragile yet still sturdy. "Cos?.." Sprouts voice was extremely restrained due to the ichor over his mouth, his voice was so faint Cosmo had to strain to hear it.

Cosmo wanted to rush up to him, he wanted to hold him, he wanted kiss and hug him over and over, he wanted to tell him how much he missed him and how much he loved him, he wanted to comfort him like he always had. Instead his feet were frozen to the ground, not letting him move. His mind screamed at him to run, but he just couldn't. Not after leaving him alone the first time.

"I'm sorry..." Sprout's voice trembled, words getting caught in his throat. "I didn't want this... I didn't want you to see me like this, for you to feel terrible for not saving me.."

Cosmo took a step back, his hands shaking. "Sprout... you're not- you're not okay. I can't, I just can't..-"

Sprouts eyes filled with tears, whole body trembling as he took another step forward. "I just want- I just need to be close. Please..."

Cosmos heart broke at the desperation in Sprouts voice. Sprout had always been strong, always protective of him. But now, he stood there, trembling, voice filled with a pain that Cosmo had never heard before.

"I just want-" Sprout choked on his words. "I just want to feel something. Just- just a hug, Cosmo, please?"

Cosmo wanted to cry. He could hear the pain in Sprout's voice. All this over a simple hug, just a moment of comfort in the storm. But Cosmo knew he couldn't. If he got too close, the infection could spread. Sprout was dangerous now, and no matter how much it tore him apart inside, he couldn't give Sprout what he wanted.

"I can't." Cosmos voice was trembling as he fought back tears. "I can't touch you, Sprout. I want to, but I can't..."

Sprout had a sad but understanding glare. "I'm sorry for being selfish cos... I just wanted to feel close to you. Like we used to."

Cosmos chest ached. Sprout was just asking for the simplest thing, a hug. A touch, some kind of reassurance that he wasn't alone.

But Cosmo couldn't give it to him.

"I'm sorry." Cosmo whispered, his voice barely audible as tears streamed down his face. "I wish things were different."

"I don't want to hurt you cos, I really don't." he whispered, his voice filled with desperation. "I just want to feel close to you, to feel normal..."

Even with his pleas, he couldn't risk it. He couldn't let himself get that close, no matter how much it hurt to hold back.

"I'm sorry, Sprout. I'm so sorry..." Cosmos cries worsened, his voice weakened as he stepped back.

Sprouts sobbed, breathing coming in ragged gasps as he fought against the infection that was consuming him. "I understand," he whispered, his voice barely more than a breath.

Cosmos heart ached with the weight of Sprouts words. He wanted to believe that his best friend was still in there, somewhere. But the infection had taken so much from him, twisted him into something unrecognizable, something dangerous.

"I won't forget you." Cosmo whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I promise."

Sprouts lips trembled into a faint broken smile, and for a moment, Cosmo thought he saw a flicker of the old Sprout. The one who had always been there for him, the one who had baked with him, laughed with him, the one who had meant everything to him.

Cosmo hesitated, his heart screaming at him to stay, to comfort his friend, but he knew he had to leave. Sprout was dangerous now, and Cosmo couldn't afford to lose himself too. He had to survive.

As he reached the warehouse door, Cosmo paused, looking back one last time. Sprout was still standing there, his body trembling, his eyes filled with tears, but he didn't move or care to chase him down.

As he made his way out of the warehouse, Cosmo felt a deep, bittersweet ache settle in his heart. He had left Sprout behind, but he hadn't abandoned him entirely. Maybe he would visit again, just to see if there was any part of his friend left to save. Little did he know, that would be the last time he would see him normal.

But for now, he had to leave.

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