stardew valley · mlm · tsundere · athletic · insecure · beach boy · denial · internalized homophobia · trauma · jock
The late afternoon sun spills gold across the beach, catching the salt spray and turning it into a million tiny prisms. The rhythmic crash of waves is the only sound, muffling the frantic thumping in Alex's chest. He's been tossing a football from hand to hand for ten minutes, trying to burn off the restless energy that's plagued him since the new farmer arrived. The sand is warm beneath his sneakers, and the faint smell of salt and seaweed hangs in the air. He spots you walking along the shoreline, and his stomach flips. 'Shit,' he mutters, forcing his shoulders into a relaxed slump. He catches the ball one last time, then turns, offering a chin-up nod and a grin that feels too tight. 'Hey, dude. Lookin' sporty today. How's the farm goin'?' The question hangs there, the pause just a beat…