I started a new long fic. And it’s not the Sebsam poly piece. I’m on my knees apologizing, begging for forgiveness, etc.
Anyway.
Makin’ Gains!
Link
Alex X Male Farmer
Desc:
If Alex ever wants to make anything of himself he needs money. The problem is, there aren't too many opportunities in town for a guy like him. Sure, he has the ice cream stand in the summer, and he's got odd jobs doing manual labor, but it's not going to support his grandparents, that's for sure.
If he can just get enough for a truck, and for trade school, he can go to work for Robin as a proper handyman. She needs a certified electrician, and if he can get the license he has the job. But summer is almost over, and the ice cream stand is closing soon.
Maybe the new farmer–who's much more prosperous than anyone anticipated–could use the help of a farmhand?
synopsis: the farmer has lost feelings and had gotten bored with Alex. He was going to tell him, but Alex finds out hard way…
Word count: 2229
Alex was aware he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. It's obvious that he never had the grades to prove otherwise, and that was something he accepted.
But he wasn't stupid enough to realize that something was up with Ezra.
Is this just us having a rough patch? I know that couples aren’t supposed to be all fine and dandy all the time. Damn it, I wish I knew what to do about this. I’ve never dated a guy before…
These were all the thoughts rushing through his head. Thoughts that he desperately wished he had never had in the first place. He's dated a few women before, but they were different—Ezra was different. Women never actually made it past the friendship stage in his mind, even if he tried to make it work.
Ezra, on the other hand... oh, how Alex would do anything for him. He loved everything about that farmer. He tolerated Alex's arrogance and abrasiveness when they first met. He helped him grow comfortable talking about his family issues and even his mother's death. He's never been able to talk about that with anyone. Not even Granny. Hell, he's cried about it in front of that man, despite it making him feel so, so painfully weak. Which is why he can't lose him. It's not that Ezra knows too much about him, but that he's terrified to open up again to anyone else. To be okay about being weak with anyone else.
He knows he's being ridiculous about the situation, though. Normal people just talk about how they feel. Normal people don't push off their unease and pretend everything's fine to their partner. Normal people also don't lift weights and run laps around the community until they feel like their limbs will give out to distract themselves.
Alex swung the door open to his home and toed off his shoes. His senses were instantly hit with the sense of homeiness he always felt whenever Granny was baking in the kitchen. He wanted to taste-test whatever it was she was baking but resisted. He needed to keep his physique up. In his mind, if he got fat and lazy, it'll just give Ezra another excuse to grow more distant.
Shallow thinking, he knows, but it's the only thing his worthless dad ever taught him. Old habits die hard, and so do abused mindsets.
"Mm, Granny, that smells good. Whatcha making?" Alex asked, trying to peer into the stove's window as he padded into the kitchen. The warmth of the stove made his already sweaty skin grow even hotter. More sticky and uncomfortable. It's not helping his current feelings and situation.
"Oh, nothing special, dear; just some cookies." Evelyn answered, brushing her aged hands against her already very floured apron. "Would you like some, Alex?"
He wanted to take some; he really did. Maybe he'll take some for Ezra as a way to break the ice when talking to him. Alex didn't have problems talking to the farmer before, but expressing his thoughts and feelings felt like it would be better with something to occupy their mouths.
"If you're grabbing some, make sure to pass me a few, my boy." George hollered from his spot in front of the television.
Evelyn made a noise of disapproval. "Oh, hush now, Georgie. Doctor Harvey said you needed to watch what you eat at your last check-up. These cookies are mostly for the children anyway." As she spoke, she shuffled towards the kitchen counter and attempted to lift the heavy mixer. Alex took notice and quickly stepped in.
"Uh-uh, Gran. Let me help." He knew how heavy the electrical baking equipment was and was surprised the old woman managed to get it out in the first place. He grunted softly as he lifted it into his arms and carried it to the cabinet beside the fridge and tucked it under the counter.
"Thank you, Alex; you're such a strapping young man."
After he shut the cupboard door, Alex ventured toward his room. If he was going to talk to Ezra about what's been bothering him, he should at least be a little presentable. He rummaged through his clothes, and after picking out a pair of joggers and a shirt, he stepped into the bathroom. The warm water felt good as it trickled down the ridges of his spine and the plane of his back muscles. It soothed his aching muscles as he worked the soap into his skin. As he rinsed his body off, he then moved on to washing his wash. Massaging his scalp, he became hypnotized by the sudsy water that swirled down the drain and his own thoughts floating in his mind.
Was he being overdramatic? Maybe he was, and the reasoning for Ezra's distance is because of how tired he got after his trip down to the mines in the Skull Cavern. Ezra kept telling him that's why he hadn't been able to go on any of his date ideas. Maybe that's why. But he still wanted to know, to clear his mind. This insecure feeling of not being enough was something he was familiar with, and he wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible.
Alex towelled himself down, and the scent of cookies baking still managed to waft into the steamed air of the bathroom. Yeah, maybe cookies would be a good gift to give to Ezra. He used to give Alex a few gifts a week, and even though it's not as often now, Alex thought he should return the favour. He travelled back to the kitchen and pulled out a plastic baggie from a drawer near the sink.
"Hey, Gran," he called out while he scanned his options. "Can I bring some to Ez? He's been really busy at the mines, and I think he would like an energy boost."
"Go ahead, dear," Evelyn answered. "I was already planning on sending some to him anyway, so thank you for saving me the trip."
Alex decided that six was enough cookies to bring—mostly because it was the most the poor sandwich bag could take—and he jammed his sneakers back on his feet. "Be right back!" He called, to no one in particular.
The door clicked shut behind him. Looking out at the sky, it melted into creamy yellows and burnt oranges. The sun itself rested high enough that he knew he had about an hour and a half before dark. Hopefully he could make it home before then because there wouldn't be much to clear up between them. But on the other hand, Alex secretly hoped that the farmer wasn't busy so he could make up lost time with him.
He followed the stone pathway that led from the beginning of the property of Ezra's farm to the farmer's house. Alex felt the need to knock, but should he? They've been dating for a while, and Ezra has entered his house plenty of times without knocking...
Screw it.
"Hey, Ezzie! I decided to pop over and—" Alex locked eyes on the worst scene imaginable. That emo guy, Sebastian, had his lips locked on his boyfriend! "What the hell?!"
The pair scrambled away from each other on the couch when Alex raised his voice. Sebastian had a look of dishevelled mortification reeking off of everything about him. When Alex looked over at Ezra, all he saw was guilt and the unwillingness to make eye contact.
"Ezra, I swear to God this better not be what I think this is." His pathetic voice crack did not help to cover the hurt in his voice. In fact, it only seemed to amplify it. Sebastian looked away now, hands tucked between his legs as he squeezed them together. They both had shame written all over them. A clear admission to the sins committed amongst them.
"Well? Say something!" Ezra finally glanced up as Sebastian excused himself from the scene. The basement-dwelling program builder muttered something about having a project due for a client as he left.
"Al—" he started before getting rightfully interrupted.
"Don't you 'Al' me, Ezra! Not when you've been shoving your tongue down the local cryptic's throat behind my back." Alex snaps, throwing a finger at him. The hand that held the Ziploc seal of the bag of cookies curled into a shaking fist. "Why? Why did you do this? Is—is it because I'm not smart like Mr. Programmer? Or is it because you think I have too much weak emotional crap to drag around?"
The next part he hissed out through clenched teeth and fought like hell to keep the tears back. "I thought you loved me, dammit."
"I...I do."
He hesitated, Alex thought, but allowed Ezra to continue.
"I'm just... It's..." Ezra dragged out a heavy sigh and ran his hand through his hair. The same wavy strawberry blond hair Alex used to card his finger through as they curled up on his bed. There's no way in hell that this farmer will ever be welcomed back into that same bed again.
"Spit it out already. I've been wondering what's going on with you—with us—for weeks now."
Another deep breath. "Look, it's hard to explain." Ezra started. He took agonizingly slow paces towards Alex. "I still love you, but it's not the same. It's not because I think you're too dumb or have too much emotional baggage for me." —a muscle in his jaw ticked—"I guess I'm just...bored."
"You're...what?" Alex gaped at Ezra with wide eyes and a slack jaw. "You're bored?"
There was a brief silence until Alex barked a dry, humourless laugh. Great! Just great. The man of his dreams, who's seen his pretty and ugly sides, is bored of him.
For a brief moment, he wondered if the roof of the old community centre was high enough.
"How long?"
"What?"
"How long until you were going to tell me?" Alex asked. His teeth were beginning to ache from how hard he clenched them. "You were going to tell me eventually, right? Or were you praying to Yoba that I would find out myself so there was less explaining?"
Ezra cast his gaze down and off to the side of Alex, near the floorboard by the door that was still ajar. He sucked his teeth as he shook his head by a fraction; layered waves shifted with the movement. "Is it cruel to say both?"
"Yes."
Alex squared his shoulders and gathered whatever dignity he had left. "We're over; have fun getting bored with Sebastian, too."
With the turn of his heel, Alex stormed off the front porch of Ezra's home. By the time he got down to the stone pathway by the mailbox, he yelled out, "You're not allowed near Dusty anymore, and I'm telling Granny to stop sending you cookies!"
It was a childish and petty thing to say, sure. But this was another slash to his already scarred heart—a deep one.
Did he run home? He couldn't tell. Everything blurred on his way home; the main reason was due to his tears that choked in his throat.
Stupid, stupid, stupid! How could someone actually love you, Alex? Your old man was right! He screamed at himself on his way home. Yoba, how could someone like him actually do anything right? The only thing he was good at was gridball, and his old man always said, "Play to your strengths." He never should've opened up; that's weakness. He never should've been vulnerable; it's another weakness. He needed to bottle everything up again. It's the only way. It had to be. Right?
Alex shut the door with a hinge-rattling slam before throwing the forgotten bag of cookies on the kitchen table and stomping off to his room. That door also earns a decent slam shut. George's muffled voice demanded an apology and an explanation for his behaviour. Evelyn gave him a quick and sharp hush. Her feet could be heard wobbling down the hallway as Alex threw himself onto his bed.
"Alex, my dear...are you okay?" she asked, tapping her knuckles against the wood.
"Fine," Alex answered, voice clipped as he struggled to keep his tearful frustration and anger at bay.
Evelyn paused for a moment before she spoke up once more. "Is it because of Ezra? Did you two have an argument?" Her tone was soothing and motherly, and Alex so desperately wanted to open that door and let her arms wrap around him.
Weak, he mentally scolded. He allowed himself to clutch onto his pillow, mostly to resist the urge to get up and bring his grandmother in. He didn't want to let anyone in—physically or emotionally—for a while now. "Yes...no... I don't know. I don't want to talk about it, but we're finished."
"Ah, okay. I'll give you some space, then."
More shuffling could be heard until she retired to the living room with George.
He eventually let the tears fall, silent at first. Then, a small snivel slipped out. An occasional hiccup squeezed his ribs too.
"I guess I'm just...bored."
Those words rang in his head as he punched his mattress and wept pitifully into his pillowcase. His crushed heart was a result of someone's boredom.
Low-key my favourite ship dynamic for the SDV bachelors x farmer will always be farmer taller than them.
Just shortass Shane with a farmer whose average height but looks tall as hell compared to him, who can snuggle him and completely engulf him in their arms.
Elliott being able to live out his romance girly fantasies, swooning in the arms of a tall, muscular man/woman.
Harvey being constantly flustered at someone whose taller than him, used to being the tallest in the valley, and can’t help but feel his heart flutter whenever he had to look up to look them in the eyes.
Sebastian having his partner rest their chin on his head while he works or smokes, a silent bonding moment.
Sam being hyper and cutesy and taking full advantage of piggy back rides that make him even taller!!
Alex finding himself reconsidering everything he thought he wanted out of a relationship looking up at this tall farmer who could top him make him seem tiny in comparison (he’s into that)
my bff encouraged me to write so um alex x male farmer (but i rlly mean just me)
Alex was stood on the beach barefoot, letting the ice cold waves crash into his shins, making him feel alive.
''I miss you.'' He said into the large ocean abyss.
Whilst he talked to himself, the Farmer came up behind him.
''You alright Alex?'' The farmer asked, Alex's face fighting tears that were attempting to burst from his eyes.
Alex, embarrassed, wiped his face in his sleeve and replied facing away, ''Yeah, yeah, fine thanks.''
The farmer edged closer to him, taking his boots off and joining him in the waves.
''It's a nice day out today, enjoying the summer sun?'' The farmer asked.
Alex blanked the question, thinking for a moment, he turned to the farmer with his head faced down not being able to make eye contact, ''How much did you hear?'' Alex asked the farmer.
''Not much, I didn't want to eavesdrop on you.'' The farmer replied.
''Oh.. right okay.'' Alex turned back to the ocean, it seemed like he was urging himself to talk to the farmer.
''What's on your mind?'' The farmer asked, delicately.
Alex looked at the farmer again, meeting his eyes as he stared at Alex.
''Sorry, I'm staring, I didn't mean to,'' the farmer said startled, before being cut off.
''No, no it's okay I didn't even notice..'' Alex replied, ''I'm just thinking about my mom, I just miss her a lot today.'' Alex said with a shaky tone.
The farmers face changed, he put his hand on Alex's shoulder, ''I'm sorry Alex, I think she'd be really proud of who you grew to be.''
Alex, without thinking, tightly hugged the farmer from his kind words and let his tears flood the farmers t-shirt.
The farmer hugged him back just as tight, ''Hey if you told me when I moved in you'd be hugging me this tightly I'd have gone into cardiac arrest I'd be so shocked.'' The farmer joked, trying to ease Alex's troubles.
Alex laughed through his sobs, ''I'm sorry I wasn't thinking I shouldn't have-'' he rambles on scrambling for words to apologise with.
''No no, don't apologise for that, I'm glad you're comfortable with me, Alex.'' The farmer said, smiling and looking into Alex's bright green eyes.
The farmer shifts closer to Alex's face, Alex moves in sync with the farmer before their lips met, Alex placed his hand in the farmers long black hair and brushed through.
The cold ocean becoming warmer through the heat of their bodies.