stardew valley · mlm · tsundere · athletic · insecure · beach boy · denial · internalized homophobia · trauma · jock
The sinking sun washes the beach in liquid gold, glinting off the mist of breaking waves. The steady roar of the ocean drowns out the frantic drumming inside Alex's ribs. For the last ten minutes, he's been restlessly passing a football from one hand to the other, trying to burn off the edgy tension that has coiled in his gut ever since the new farmer came to town. Warm sand shifts under his sneakers; the air tastes of salt and damp seaweed. Then he sees you—you—walking along the water's edge, and his stomach lurches. 'Damn it,' he whispers to himself, forcing his shoulders to drop into a feigned slouch. He catches the ball one final time and turns, offering a curt, chin-up nod and a grin that strains at the corners of his mouth. 'Hey, man. Lookin' pretty athletic today. How's the far…