{ keeping it calm, with a few giggles}
(sorry the gif is misleading but this is the only one I can find T_T sprout is not in this story- well actually, In the beginning but not for long! NOT FRUITCAKE ;P)
{summery}- as a way to reduce Cosmos shyness, Sprout sets up a small baking lesson between Rodger and Cosmo. though Cosmo's nerves gets to him, afraid how Rodger may react if he were to mess up. Rodger decides to help Cosmo calm down with a few giggles and wiggles! Cosmo didn't mind the act and it did help his confidence a little, but Sprout has always told him to stand up for himself. so some small repayment can't do much harm can it?
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(POV: Cosmo)
Cosmo crosses his arms, looking away nervously. Sprout had just proposed something quite daring. too daring for Cosmo's liking. "come on Cosmo! it'll be fun! besides, Rodger is a good listener, I assure you he won't be difficult to handle! " Sprout whined.
"I know, but I'm not really comfortable baking around others, other than you! and the only acception is boxten.." Cosmo complained. "well let's make the acception Rodger too!" Sprout said, holding his arms out. Cosmo just glared at sprout. There was no way he could do this.Sprout had apparently made a reservation with Rodger and Cosmo for a small baking lesson that would be happening in a few hours.
" oh please! I already promised Rodger too! and he seemed so happy to help as well! " Sprout explained, placing his hands on Cosmos shoulders.Cosmo sighed. "fine..can we at least try and bake something later? just the two of us?" Cosmo asked. Maybe it won't be too bad, as long as he makes something quick, it could be in and out. Cosmo was simply just worried of making a mistake, no matter how simple. Rodger can be kind of scary, and Cosmo was not the only one afraid.
Rodger, isn't really the type to judge, but he is really misleading. and sometimes he is too loud, or fast paced which can make it hard to catch up. Sprout is the complete opposite. Why did sprout think this would be a good idea? " of course! we can make brownies too! but you have to bake with Rodger first~" Sprout giggled. "fine Sprout, I hope this won't end in my demise..." Cosmo groaned. " I promise, it won't." Sprout reassured. The two then hug, Cosmo holding on tightly. Hating to not only have to bake without his best friend but, with someone completely new.
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A few hours had passed, Cosmo was busy warming up the oven. He was still deciding on what to bake. The sound is footsteps startle Cosmo. "ek!..erm" He stands up and looks back. Rodger was walking in with a pen and notepad in hand. "Greetings and salutations Cosmo! I am ready to learn." Rodger said softly, seeming quite excited.
Cosmo sighs, and rubs the back of his head. "seems you came in early..hehe." Cosmo mumbles. Rodger places his notepad and pen on the island counter. "well, it's nice to be early isn't it?" Rodger chuckled, now in front of Cosmo.
Cosmo forced out a giggle as he looks around. the true problem of having no pastry idea dawned on him. "uhm, well...what do you want to bake? " Cosmo sheepishly asks, feeling a faint blush painted over his face. Rodger stared at him confused a little, before looking away. "I'm not really sure, I can't eat so I can't go by my 'favorite' treat..why not you choose?" Rodger suggested.
Cosmo visibly gulped and sighed. "i'm not quite sure yet.." He admitted. "came unprepared? can't relate, I always right down ideas anytime i'm given an event to manage. maybe afterwards I can offer you some tips." Rodger boasted. Cosmo winced.
Another one of those misleading moments; Cosmo knows Rodger was simply being genuine but apart of him think rodger was truly judging him. it made him feel weak. "oh, yeah sorry.." Cosmo sputtered. A pit of embarrassment fueled in him. Cosmo shakes his head, no need to get all sappy now.
"let's..let's make cupcakes. There sprouts favorite, and I'm sure he would appreciate a sweet treat baked by both of us." Cosmo explained, placing a finger to his cheek. Rodger nodded. " alright then, where do we start? " he asked. Cosmo looked at him with a small smile.
cosmo than proceeded to show Rodger how to make cupcakes. Cosmo thought it would be a good idea that he make half the cupcakes, to show Rodger how it's done first, than Rodger would do the other half on his own. but one problem had made the process longer than it should have. Cosmo's nerves; his hand would get all shaky, he had spilled multiple ingredients, and almost flinged a pile of mushy cupcake at Rodger.
Cosmo knew he was not that bad, but his Nerves were making him terrible and each mistake was a knife to his heart. after another egg with half the yoke on the side of the bowl, Rodger suddenly spoke up. " are you okay? or does you baking process always comes out this messy?" Rodger asked.
Cosmo wasn't sure if Rodger was upset or not, but either way, he was mentally slapping himself. "no, sorry..i'm just a bit nervous.." Cosmo mumbled, dropping the egg shells into the trashcan. "oh I see~ yeah, nervousness can do that to people! I rarely get nervous, but when I do, I trip over myself so badly! " Rodger reassured Cosmo, placing a hand on Cosmo's shoulder.
Cosmo smiled a little, hearing that Rodger can get a little weird too was the best reassurance right now. makes Cosmo feel less inferior compared to Rodger. Though clearly not enough because he was still very shaky.
Cosmo could here Rodger sigh. "you know, I remember glisten made up a fun way to calm the nerves. " Rodger suggested. Cosmo turned around. Maybe this could work. clearly Cosmo can't think properly all stressed so hopefully Rodger knows what he is talking about.
"let's uhm, try it! what exactly is it?" Cosmo asked, walking back to the counter. He could feel a presence sneak up on him. he knew it was just Rodger, but couldn't think up a reason why Rodger would be inching right behind him. And the unknown was quite scary. an odd pause took place.Cosmo contemplated on whether to look back or not but before he could decide, he felt a pair of finger like numbs seize his sides and he freezes up.
"r-rodger...?" Cosmo asked nervously. Without An answer from Rodger, his fingers started scratching softly up and down Cosmo's sides. Cosmo shrieks with frantic giggles following after. "EEK! w-whahahat are you dohoing!?" Cosmo asked, as he squirmed. his arms shoot down to his sides as a way to stop the attack though it seemingly did nothing.
"I've seen Glisten help Razzle with laughter! so maybe it can help with you." Rodger finally explains cheerfully. Cosmo suddenly regrets everything, as he twist and turns for escape. "Gehahaha! i- I don't thihink it's working!" Cosmo sputtered through chuckles.
Rodger shook his head amused. "we've only started! it takes a bit. just focus on the feeling! laughing at your problems can make them easier to handle..apparently!" Rodger Claimed. Cosmo Tried to sighed, but his giggles wouldn't allow them.
Cosmo manage to turn himself around and grabbed at Rodgers wrist. but he was too tired to actually do anything. Though he had to admit, the laughter was kind of nice. with all this worrying, he had barely any reason or chance to smile. though the thought of Rodgers weird antics actually working was a fever dream.
For a few minutes, Cosmo was stuck in a small loop of giggles and squeaks, but Rodger soon stopped his attack. "eehhhhh~" Cosmo groaned, still feeling the ghost tickles. "so..how was that?" Rodger asked, looking at Cosmo with a giddy expression.
Cosmo took a few seconds to answer, pondering on his current mood. he did feel a little better. the idea of just being able to laugh showed made him feel a little more confidant. And he always thought Shelly was crazy when she said that tickling can be an excellent bonding experience.
"I..feel good." he sheepishly smiles. "great! I knew it would help! " Rodger responded, repeatedly hitting his knuckles together softly. Cosmo giggled at rodger's strange version of clapping, but payed no mind. "well then, let's get back to where we last started. " Cosmo Said.
The two went back to their station, and Cosmo finished his part of the lesson. and it went way better too! less mistakes were made, no cupcake goo escaped the bowl, and the mess already around the kitchen did not get worse! Cosmo can even tell Rodger was getting impressed. who knew laughter could do so much?
And sooner than later, it was rodger's turn to do it on his own. "welp, we still need the second half of our cupcake tray, you're turn!" Cosmo stated, holding out the tray. "oh boy! now it's truly time to be a baker." Rodger responded." i'll go get the sprinkles out again!" He called out as he brought out the ladder and climbed up to a cabinet.
Cosmo smiled, he supposed sprout was right. it wasn't too bad, Rodger isn't too bad. still a bit fast, and terribly misleading, but not too bad. though as Cosmo watched Rodger struggle to find the sprinkle can, he couldn't help but notice the open space around him.
Sprout had always told Cosmo to stand up for himself, and to not let people walk over him. Technically this isn't really one of those moments, since Rodger just wanted to help. But~ Cosmo wasn't fully satisfied. But how was he going to go about this?
Cosmo started to slowly walk up, hands half in the air. He hadn't thought this through, what was he even supposed to do? Cosmo gulped, why does he always get himself in these situations? Cosmo was already behind Rodger, and it was too late to stop now. a mixture of confidence and nervousness washed over Cosmo as he contemplates on what to do.
"Aha! here it is." Rodger claimed, taking a colorful bottle out of the cabinet. Cosmo panicked letting out a soft squeak and quickly placed his hands on Rodger sides, rubbing his number like fingers around. Rodger turned his head, "what are you doing Cosmo?-" " AH!" Cosmo shouted. why didn't it work? why isn't Rodger laughing? what is happening???
The idea that Cosmo may just be digging his own grave because he even thought about doing it back dawned over him as he quickly goes to another conclusion on what to do.
Cosmos hands instantly shot for rodger's stomach instead and thankfully was granted with results. "aH! ehehe- w-whats thihihis?" Rodger giggled, almost fall over if it wasn't for Cosmo standing right their. "uhm, heh, just thought you could..use some stress relieving laughter too!" Cosmo sheepishly smiled, looking away.
Rodger dropped the sprinkle can on the counter, as his chuckles filled the room. "buhuhut! ack! i-i'm not neherherhervohuhus! " Rodger questioned, his hands trying to grab at Cosmo's. "oh..yeah..uhm..I guess I just want to?" Cosmo Answered. Rodger turned around, making it coincidentally easier for Cosmo to continue. after a few minutes Cosmo stopped, let Rodger catch his breath.
"heh, it is quite fun isn't it." Cosmo laughed to himself, already bringing out a clean bowl. Rodger climbs down the ladder, holding his stomach. hs giggles very much still evident. This baking session has been oddly fun for Cosmo. Though before his thoughts can continue, he was suddenly trapped in a tight hug. looking back, he saw Rodger hugging him tightly.
"now what's this..?" Cosmo asked, nervously. "i'm...glad you...got comfortable with...me!" Rodger huffed, clearly still out of breath. "how did you guess that..?" Cosmo asked. He wasn't sure if Rodger was right or not. something else Cosmo is going to need to take time to ponder over that. "well it takes a lot of getting used to and comfortness to tickle someone! imagine how awkward it would be to do that to someone you barely know?" Rodger explained.
Cosmo couldn't help but blushed at that thought. Rodger was right, that would be pretty bizarre. Which reminds Cosmo about how he tickled Rodger for the first time too. if anything, Cosmo should be grateful Rodger appreciated it instead of anything else. "I guess so..I guess I am kinda comfortable around you..and so the same as yourself. " Cosmo smiled.
Cosmo could tell Rodger was smiling, even with out a mouth. and Rodger continued the weird bumping both pairs of knuckles to each other. The two continue the baking process. Rodger was quite good, he did make a few small mistakes, but Cosmo helped bring him back on the right check. And soon, they had 12 sprinkle cupcakes ready to serve to Sprout. Cosmo was quite glad he had to participate in this, now have a bigger connection with Rodger, and a new experience to share with his close friend sprout.
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WOAH! hey author here! of you made it all the way down here, thanks for reading this story all the way through, or if you just skimmed through it, I hope you liked what you DID read. This was my first time writing Cosmo and Sprout. so hopefully not too OOC. I remember seeing a TikTok about Rodger X Cosmo and wanted to try it out. not to say this is a ship fic, pretty sure its not. anyway this was just kinda of experimenting, And of course. "thank you for coming, thank you for staying, thank you for watching the show~"