This is related to the AU in chapter 50 of Dannymay Shorts s/13275138/50/Dannymay-Shorts
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Cosmic loved Clockwork SO MUCH. His love for Clockwork was SO BIG that he'd have to go grab a universe or two to properly demonstrate its size (which he could do, but which was apparently frowned upon).
Even so, he sometimes got the urge to do something to Clockwork that was... how should he say it? Not entirely nice.
Like steal his cloak.
Cosmic had managed to steal Clockwork's cloak six times so far, and was using them to make a nice, cozy nest in one of the gear crawlspaces. Something about watching Clockwork look for his cloaks was just really funny. It was sort of a game!
Almost!
Clockwork had to know what was going on, anyway. It was in his lair. They were his cloaks. Cosmic wasn't that sneaky. Clockwork could see through time. He had to know.
But he didn't call Cosmic out on it. So, Cosmic kept stealing the cloaks. Along with a few other things. And causing other inconveniences. Like dropping buckets of water on him.
Sometimes Cosmic felt guilty, and he'd run and say sorry, but Clockwork never got mad. Even when Cosmic did it again.
Cosmic didn't know why he was like this.
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Even if Cosmic didn't, Clockwork knew why the younger, smaller, ghost seemed to be so dead-set on disrupting Clockwork's afterlife with prank after prank. After all, it would be foolish to think that Daniel's well-earned resentment would just disappear. As much as he appeared to be, Cosmic was no blank slate.
Clockwork would take the pranks. He would take much worse, if it came to that.
It was the least he could do, with regards to penance.
(And, when Cosmic smiled up at him after a bed time story, and started signing away about two universes worth of feelings... Clockwork would take much, much worse, and it would be more than worth it.)