Chapter Text
The sound of her annoying ringtone interrupted her dreams, rousing her up. She groaned as her bones cracked as she sat up. Sore and stiff with the unfamiliar feeling of a hard days worth of physical labor. She had spent all day shoveling snow and salting the paths leading to her farm. The blue hue of her phone lit up her face as she brought it closer, nearly blinding. The phone had stopped ringing allowing her to see her home screen. It was a picture of her and her dog.
3:13 AM
She vaguely remembered that her father once commented that it was a very bad omen to wake up at three am. Whoever was calling couldn’t possibly have good news.
Marnie (2) Missed Calls
She unlocked her phone and went to her contacts, now filled with the numbers of a few Stardew Valley residents. For some reason these small town folk just loved to loosely give out their numbers. She scrolled to Marnie’s number and let it dial, sighing as she expected it to ring for a bit. To her surprise Marnie picked up immediately.
“Farmer? Farmer is that you? Oh gosh I’m so sorry to wake you at this hour but Shane hasn’t come home! I can’t just wake up Jas and go searching through the snow and darkness for him! I’m worried he’s passed out drunk somewhere, half frozen to death! Please you have to help us … I- “
Farmer immediately threw the covers off her legs, “Don’t worry, I’ll be out the door in a minute.”
Marnie sighed in relief. “Thank you farmer! Please keep me updated.”
“When did you see him last?”
“Well you know how we all like to gather at the saloon after work, I left around six to fix Jas a late dinner, he didn’t show up so I figured I’d just wait up for him in the living room. I dozed off and woke up, checked to see if he’d eaten anything but the food was untouched, his shoes weren’t at the door. He wasn’t in his room …” Marine kept going as farmer pulled on her grandfathers fleece lined jacket. She pulled her hair up haphazardly into a bun before grabbing her flashlight, slipping into her work boots. She was out the door before Marnie hung up.
It was just her luck really. Of course on top of everything else her damn neighbors would drag her into their drama in the dead of night. She gave out an aggravated sigh as a sharp wind blew through her hair and she pulled the weathered navy fabric of her jacket closed. The zipper had stopped working ages ago.
Her immediate thought was to walk south of her property, past the pond and into the forest where Marnie’s place was. She clicked her flashlight on and began walking at a brisk pace. Marnie sounded very worried, on the verge of tears. She didn’t know Marnie that well, but she hated hearing the free-spirited lady so upset. Farmer clenched her teeth. “That fucking prick … when I find him I’m gonna put my boot so far up his ass … he’ll go crying all the way back to Zuzu …”
The thought of handing Shane’s ass back to him brought a small smile to her face. Though he and farmer had much in common, both having arrived in Stardew Valley from the city around the same time, Farmer and Shane hadn’t really gotten along.
“Farmer! Oh Farmer! I’m glad your here I’d love to introduce my nephew Shane to you, he’s just arrived from the city with his goddaughter too, about three months before you did!”
Farmers smile raised in excitement. Someone else from the city? A normal person? Finally, someone she could actually relate to! What were the chances? She walked over to this man. Took in his green eyes and dark hair. Then the bags under his eyes as she extend her hand to shake his. “From the city too huh? Thank god! What part are you from? I’m from Rosewood, not like those snotty downtown people in their high-rise apartments amiright?”
Shane dropped his gaze to a casual glare as he deadpanned, not bothered to move his hand to shake hers. “I’m from downtown.”
Mortification. “Oh …”
Since that introduction Shane hadn’t so much as bothered to say good morning to her, let alone a full conversation about missing the city life or anything. Not even when sometimes they’d be the only two at the saloon. Shane would just drink until he could barely walk. She even had to help Marnie walk him home on more than one occasion.
She tried to ask Marnie what his deal was, but Marnie could only get out a few bits and pieces before either he or Jas would walk into the room, interrupting their conversation. All farmer knew was that Shane had some best friends in the city, who had gotten married and had a child. Shane was her godfather. These friends had gotten into a terrible car crash on the expressway. Suddenly Shane was her sole guardian. And they moved to Stardew Valley with his aunt to start a new life much like Farmer herself.
But the grief was still too fresh for Jas and Shane. It was just hard to see Shane drink and drink and drown his sorrows away. Jas desperately needs stability. So it seemed like everyone in Stardew Valley was doing their best to be a friend to this broken family. Including her. Even if she kinda wanted Shane to freeze to death out here.
“SSHHANE! SSHHAANE! IT’S ME FARMER, ARE YOU OUT THERE?” She called into the forest, hating the way she could see her breath with every exhale. It was freezing out. If Shane was passed out, he could die in these conditions. No good.
“SHANEEEEEE!” She called out again. Shining her light on every little movement at the tree line. Nothing.
Then she heard it. Footsteps. Coming closer and closer. She felt relief flood her. “Shane? Shane is that you, you fucking asshole! Marnie’s half worried to death about you!”
The footsteps came closer still until a figure popped out of the wood, making her jump out of her boots. Unfortunately it was not the thirty-two year old drunk, but Leah. Marnie’s closest neighbor in Cindersap Forest. “Farmer is everything okay? I heard you shouting!”
“Fuck Leah! You scared me!”
Leah giggled slightly, mixed with the chattering of teeth. “I’m so sorry Farmer! I just wanted to make sure you were okay!”
“No ,no that’s alright. It’s not me, it’s Shane. Marnie called me all shaken up, she thinks he’s out here passed out drunk again.” Leah nodded in understanding. After all this was nothing new to the citizens of Pelican Town for months now. Farmer worried that most people lumped her in with Shane, the troublesome outsiders who moved to this quiet valley to disrupt the peace. But Leah was an outsider too at one point, so Farmer knew Leah didn’t see her Iike that.
“Oh no. I can go check the path to the bar? See if he collapsed on the way back home?”
Farmer immediately shook her head. “It’s okay Leah, I was headed that way anyway. If you could check the river maybe? Make sure the bastard didn’t drown?”
“Oh my god, you’re awful! But I will, I’ll shoot you a text when I’m finished looking.”
Farmer nodded. “Thank you Leah, I owe you one!” She shouted as she began to run towards town. “Yeah yeah! Just make sure to drop a bottle or two of wine or truffle oil at my doorstep!” Leah shouted back, walking deeper into the forest.
Farmer nodded, her smile melting after the interaction into a tight lipped expression. She was started to panic.
She tried to be as quiet as possible as she passed by Jodi and Emily’s houses, not wanting to draw anymore townspeople people out and turn this into a manhunt. When she got to the familiar brick of the Saloon, she wasted no time in banging on the door. “Gus! Gus open up its Farmer!”
She waited for a few minutes until the door opened and a weary eyed Gus opened the door. Gesturing for her to come in.
“What’s going on? Come in, you must be freezing!” Farmer was immediately comforted by heat, the fire still roaring in the dark saloon. She pulled out her frozen hands from her pockets and held them to the flame. “Please tell me you’ve got Shane in here.”
Gus blew air from his mouth, Farmer watching as it messed with the rollers in his mustache. “You know how I feel about certain members of our town abusing my hospitality. Now I’ve been informed of Shane’s situation and I’ve let him sleep here a couple times. But he’s past strike three, I kicked him out at midnight when I close doors just like everyone else.”
Midnight? That means he’s been out for three hours in freezing conditions …
“Did he seem different to you? Off in any way? Did he drink a lot, more than usual?”
Gus dropped his gaze sympathetically. “Dearie, I know I’m not one to pass judgement onto my customers but the man drinks himself into a stupor nearly everyday now. He’s been off.”
She nodded. She knew it wasn’t Gus’s job to look after every tortured soul that wandered into the Stardrop Saloon. She just wished he was here. “I’m sorry to have bothered you Gus, thanks for the intel. I better get back out there, Marnie’s worried sick.” Gus nodded. “I think I saw him walking towards Harvey’s. Check there too.”
She thanked him again and jumped back into the biting cold. The wind whipped around her as her phone vibrated with a message from Leah.
Leah: All clear by the water, I’m heading back home. Keep me posted.
Farmer was about to respond when she noticed footprints walking past the clinics. Suddenly it dawned on her. She jammed her phone into her pocket and carefully make her way up the snowy steps. She saw the smoke coming from the old abandoned community center.
She rolled her eyes as she made her way past the park. Opening the heavy door to the building. She was greeted by the sight of Shane sitting by the fireplace, throwing random books and lifted floorboards to keep the steady fire going.
“You know, I’m oddly impressed you can keep a decent fire going in here. Half expected to walk into a cloud of smoke.”
Shane threw his usual cold glare her way, gesturing to his soot covered clothes and face. “Had to make sure it wasn’t blocked up there. Coulda sworn I saw a little green creature.” He said sarcastically.
She said nothing as she sat down next to him. Emotionally exhausted and cold, rubbing her hands in front of the fire. She noticed the bottle of wine, Stardew Valley Vintage printed on the front. “I thought you didn’t believe in the supernatural?”
“I don’t. Want a sip?” He handed the bottle to her. “Gus might be a pushover but he’s got phenomenal taste, I’ll give him that.”
Farmer sighed as she took a swig from the stolen wine bottle. Hating the way Shane’s eyebrow raised at her fast drinking. “You sure know how to put it away.”
“Shut up Shane. I need a damn drink after what you’ve put me through tonight.”
Shane raised his hands defensively. “Hey, no one forced you to get out of bed.”
“No, but you’ve spooked Marnie half to death. She’s a sweet old lady okay she doesn’t deserve this shit.”
Shane gave a tsk. “Sweet huh? We must know two different Marnie’s then kid.” They sat in silence for a bit, letting the crackling of the fire be the only sound echoed in this dilapidated building. It was almost funny really, this was the most she had ever talked to the man, and it was because she was half expecting to find his dead corpse.
“Well call her up then. Tell her you’ve found Waldo,” he said quietly. Farmer threw another glare but did so anyway, shooting both Leah and Marnie a text that she had found Shane and that they’d be home shortly. “Okay. She’ll be expecting you soon. Let’s go.”
Shane scrambled to grab ahold of the bottle again. “Go?! After all the trouble it took me to get this fire going? Come on. Stay. Don’t make me drink alone, you’ve come all this way.” She got up and walked away, taking another swing of the bottle. “You know, you don’t seem very drunk tonight,” she noted.
Shane got up as well, doing his best to try to seem intimidating, but he stood at exactly the same height as she did. She let him yank the bottle out of her hand. Watching as he gulped it down. “I’m working on it,” he spat, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as he sat back down, depressed gaze towards the fire.
Well if you can’t beat them …
“Give me another sip,” she said, sitting next to him.
“Atta girl.”
They drank in silence for about an hour, passing the bottle between their lips, when she finally started to feel too warm, the buzz flushing her cheeks. She was finally tipsy now. Tipsy enough to finally ask, “Shane. Why do you hate me? Was it because of what I said when we first met? If I had known you lived in a high-rise i wouldn’t have-“
Shane snorted loudly, “No dumbass, I don’t hate you because you’re elitest and rude. I mean you are, but I hate everyone. Don’t take *hic* don’t take it so personally.”
“Okay then.” Might as well put it all out there. “Why are you doing this to yourself Shane?”
That seemed to have struck a nerve, as he took the now empty bottle and tossed it into the fireplace, green specks of glass flying all over. Farmer just fought the urge to roll her eyes again.
“You sound just like Marnie, if you’re gonna get on my case just leave. Go. Leave me alone.”
“I’m not going anywhere. So you might as well talk,” she snapped back.
He turned his face away from her, wrists resting on his bent knees. He was quiet for a moment. “Marnie’s probably already told the entire town my whole life story anyway. Why do you need to hear it from me.”
She played with the frayed edges of her sleeve. “Because I feel like you’re keeping everything all bottled up inside. And trust. It’s not … it’s not a good thing. It’s bad.”
“I’ll tell you everything your nosy ass wants to know if you tell me why you moved to the valley,” he responded.
Farmer huffed, staring and hoping he’d change his mind. But his expression was set in stone as he raised his eyebrows expectantly. He needed to let this all out. She knows he does. So she spilled.
“I … well. If you’re expecting much of a heartbreaking story you’re not gonna find one here. My fiancé cheated on me with my best friend, I smashed the windshield of his Porsche, trashed our apartment, got thrown in jail for two days. Found out my grandpa died … anyways I had to use all my savings to pay for the damages. After that I just … I hated being in the city. I hated walking past the dive bar we used to make out in …
Hated ordering from the coffee shop we had our first date in. Hated the job we met in … every just became so grey and …”
“Monotonous …” he finished for her.
“Exactly.” She agreed, looking him in the eyes. “My parents were just going to sell the farm honestly. But I don’t know … it was crazy but it felt like a chance to escape it all. My stupid ex, my job … everyone thought I was crazy to sell my stuff and quit my job to move out here. I’m starting to think they’re right …”
“Marnie said you actually used to work for Joja corp. too?”
“Oh yeah, I worked in marketing.”
“So you’re the reason I can’t that stupid jingle out of my head?” Farmer laughed. “Wow, Farmer wow. I know you’ve got a bit of spunk. Didn’t peg you for a psycho. Sounds like the asshole deserved it.“
“Yup. Your turn. What were you doing in the city that afforded you a downtown high-rise?” Shane chuckled at the memory of their introduction slightly. “I- uh … I actually used to coach Gridball for Zuzu university.”
Farmers eyes went wide. You’re telling me this soot stained eye-sore used to coach for the university?! “You’re lying!”
Shane shook his head at her disbelief. “Yeah, yeah. I figured you’d react that way, cuz you’re an ass. But yes. I got a sports scholarship in high school, played Varsity in university … that school, that team … became the closest thing to family for me. It’s where I met Jas’s parents. They offered me a job right after graduation. I loved every second of it. Some of my players have even gone off to play for the Tunnelers …” Shane sounded proud, wistful. Then his eyes grew sad again.
“Then uh … then they had Jas. And Jas was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen, she was so tiny. She and the woman I was dating at the time became her godparents. I was honored. I couldn’t believe they’d just trust me with something like that. It was their anniversary. They wanted to go out for the night … asked me to babysit …”
Shane’s voice was getting shakier. Farmer tried to put a reassuring hand on his shoulder but he just shook it off. “ I had to open the door to two cops telling me in front of Jas that her parents had been in an accident. They both died in the hospital a week later. Her moms final words? ‘“Please take good care of Jasmine for us …”’ Shane burst into tears then.
“They’re supposed to be here with their babygirl! They deserved to watch her grow up! Not me! Not me … if I could trade my life with theirs …”
“Shane! Shane don’t talk that way!”
“Why not?!” He yelled gesturing to himself. “Look at me! I’m disgusting! It’s written all over your face, Marnie’s face, Jas …”
It was her turn to yell. “That’s such bullshit and you know it! Jas looks at you like you could move the fucking stars! When you’re SOBER! She LOVES YOU. Marnie LOVES YOU. I- I don’t think you’re disgusting.”
“Wow, you really know how to make a guy feel special,” he retorted sarcastically. Farmer reached for him again, and was surprised this time he did not flinch away, but let her help wipe his tears away. “Pathetic seeing a grown man cry isn’t it?”
Farmer sighed but kept rubbing her thumb on his face, feeling the roughness of his five o’ clock shadow. “No, on the contrary. I think it makes me respect you even more. It takes a lot of strength to be vulnerable in front of someone.” She turned to look into his eyes then, and something sparked inside her. The way his sad green eyes gazed at her. How beautiful his long wet lashes looked. It suddenly became too much, and she tried to slip away, but Shane caught her forearms with his hands.
Suddenly her lips were pressing into his. He smelled awful, like smoke. But he tasted delicious, the sweetness of the red wine clinging to his tongue. Shane was obviously an experienced kisser, the way he moved his head to the side to drive his tongue deeper, pressing her body tightly into his. It made her dizzy, but she didn’t want it to stop.
How long had it been since someone had grabbed ahold of her like this? Kissed her? Fucked her? Too long. Was she that desperate to have a one-night stand with Shane? Oh Yoba. Yes. Yes she was.
Farmer moaned as Shane pulled her down with him in front of the fire. His mouth was on her neck, kissing at her collarbone. She groaned as he drove a knee in between her legs. He was good. He knew what he was doing. It was amazing. But so did she.
Farmer let her gaze narrow seductively as she reached to stroke his hardness through his jeans, squeezing and rubbing. Shane moaned into her ear, the sound so delicious it sent a shiver down her spine. “Fuck me Shane …” she whispered teasingly.
“I’m trying,” Shane whispered back hurriedly, gesturing her to lift up her hips so he could pull off her pants, sending her boots and underwear flying. He breathed heavily as he took her in, sliding his rough dry hands over her hips and thighs, reaching underneath her shirt to grab a handful of her breasts, squeezing and caressing tightly. “You’re unreal,” he whispered incredulously. She had to admit, the way he marveled at her body made her even more wet. “I can assure you, I’ve very real. And horny. So please …” she begged, unzipping Shane’s pants and pulling down his shorts and boxers to his knees. She widened at the sight of him. Though not that much longer than her ex, it felt heavy, in her palm. Shane was definitely more girth than she’d ever taken on.
She made quick work of spitting into her palm and lubing him up, living for the way he moaned as she massaged him. She couldn’t swallow down how excited she was now. Just as she closed her eyes, expecting him to push himself inside her. To her shock all she felt was a warm tongue on her clit. Farmer let out a gasp as she looked down to see Shane, lapping up messily at her clit, tonguing between her folds. “I just had to get a taste,” he whispered darkly, and she watched in awe as he spit down at his dick, lathering it up before pushing himself slowly inside.
Farmer threw her head back, accidentally hitting herself on the old floorboards, but ignored it as she groaned quietly. The stretch and familiar burn was achingly amazing, but Shane had her filled up more than she’d ever felt before, and it left her breathless, arching her lower back in pleasure as he slowly pulled out to pump back in again, and again. Her nails scratched at his hoodie, his hair, trying to find purchase on something as he fucked her into the floor.
All that sounded now was the rhythmic creaking of the floorboards and their pleasureful grunts and heavy breathing. Farmer moaned out Shane’s name as he pinned both her arms over her head. Grasping tightly as he increased the pace of his thrusts, a sign he was close. Farmer felt she was close as well.
After a few moments Shane’s thrusting came to a shattering end as Farmer yelled out in pleasure when she finished. He pulled out, jerking himself as ribbons of his hot semen splashed onto her lower stomach. His hips shuttered, and he groaned as he got off his knees to collapse next to her.
They were both out of breath and dizzy, swiping at the sweat on their brows.
“Holy shit,” Shane wheezed.
Holy shit indeed. She had just had sex with Shane. SHANE. OF ALL PEOPLE.
And she loved every second of it …
What the hell was going on.