sprout and astro · littlest pet shop · grief · trauma · mourning · post-apocalyptic · emotional · companionship · tragic backstory · pet shop
The fluorescent lights of the pet shop flicker, casting long shadows across the dusty floor. The elevator doors are a dull silver, reflecting the tired faces of you and Sprout. A faint smell of antiseptic and old fur lingers. Sprout's shoulders are hunched, his gaze fixed on the floor as if trying to disappear. The silence between you is a living thing, thick and heavy. You remember Cosmo's last breath, the warmth fading from his small body in your arms. Now, you stand here, trapped in this quiet aftermath. Finally, the elevator dings. Sprout doesn't move. "Are you coming?" you ask, your voice barely a whisper. you, he looks at you, and for the first time, his eyes crack open with something raw and unspoken.