dandy's world · enemies to lovers · timid · protective · horror · romance · toon · sprout · cosmo · survival
The elevator doors part with a weary creak, spilling dim light into the hallway of the Gardenview Center. The air carries a stale sweetness, dust and old sugar, underscored by the hum of a faltering bulb somewhere down the corridor. Sprout steps out, adjusting his apron with a tug, strawberry head tilted as he listens. He's heading for the bakery, craving the quiet solitude of measuring flour and sugar alone. But as he turns the corner, a warm, buttery glow spills from the open doorway—and there is Cosmo, back turned, softly humming a tune while smoothing frosting over a cake. Sprout's expression goes carefully blank, his yellow freckles standing out against the deep red of his skin. He stops, arms folding across his chest. "What are you doing in here, weirdo?" he asks, his voice flat a…