Oh, Pumpkin...
Shane Stardew Valley Fanfiction
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I haven't published a fic in a billion years but here we are hope you like it
Had some inspirations for writing from this drawing and this comic by @chickenmanbeloved and @azuneekun, so some aspects are based on their art :)
I wrote this back in May and just reread it and I actually really like it sooo...
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A yell involuntarily escaped Shane's lungs as he sat upright on his mattress in a cold sweat. He covered his face with his hands, taking in short and shallow breaths as tears threatened to fall from his eyes. But he cocked his head up when he heard the wails of an infant. “Yoba dammit…'' he cursed himself under his breath as he quickly got out from under the blankets, walking over to the crib that lay beside his bed. Inside was the baby he was tasked to take care of, Jas. “I’m sorry, Pumpkin… I should've been quieter…” he whispered as he scooped Jas into his arms, cradling her gently against his chest as he lightly bounced her. “We’re really in it now, huh? Just you and me… against the world…” he spoke softly as he wandered over to the window of his apartment building, staring out onto the streets of Zuzu City, watching each car drive by. It was raining hard, surely no time to be driving. Shane shook away the thought, memories plaguing him. “I had that nightmare again… of… that night. It was so vivid, the sounds of the sirens through the phone, that damned cop’s stupid voice…” he sniffled, realizing he was crying silently as he stared out into the seemingly endless city. “...You deserve better, Jas. Yoba knows why they chose me of all people...” He looked down at her, she was still awake, just looking at Shane with her big brown eyes. He pursed his lips, he couldn't help but smile at the young child. “Actually… I know… they… they were my best friends, weren't they? I would've put them as godparents in my will in a heartbeat, so, I guess they did the same for me… but… oh, boy… huge mistake, I'm just a disaster, aren't I?” He let out a weak chuckle, his voice cracking as he held Jas closer, making sure to support her neck still. “Bad time to quit Gridball, huh? I’m running on an empty bank account, how the hell am I supposed to take care of you on minimum wage? I can barely afford this damn apartment by myself, let alone with a baby…” He sighed, watching as teardrops fell onto Jas’s purple onesie. He planted a kiss on her forehead and she let out a little giggle, making Shane smile warmly down at her. “...I’ll figure it out for your sake, Pumpkin.” He set her down in her crib, tucking her in and gently rubbing his thumb between her eyes. To his own surprise, he started to sing a lullaby.
“When the light is running low
And the shadows start to grow
And the places that you know seem like fantasy
There's a light inside your soul
That's still shining in the cold
With the truth
The promise in our hearts
Don't forget
I’m with you in the dark…”
Jas's eyes fluttered shut, starting to snore peacefully. He gave a weak smile, pulling his hand away and turning around, a framed photograph on his nightstand catching his eye. He picked it up, staring at the faces within the frame with adoration, longing. “I don't have pipes like you, huh, Erica?” He chuckled at himself as he looked over the photo of Jas’s parents, but it was more than that, they were laughing, holding their baby girl with excitement in their eyes as Shane stood by them, laughing along with the two. A tear fell onto the glass encasing it and Shane wiped it with his thumb, needing to preserve this memory. His grip on the photo tightened, running his fingers along the lost people like he was trying to melt into it. He let out a shaky breath, hitting the frame against his forehead “You have no idea how bad I miss you two… Justin, I…” he started giving in to his crying, his voice cracking. “I should really get my head outta my ass huh…?” he mumbled. He set down the photograph, not being able to look at it anymore as he wiped his face of tears. Shane stole a glance at Jas, making sure she was asleep. There was this itching feeling inside him that was slowly turning into an ache, he sighed, walking out of the room into the kitchen. “Fuck, I need a drink…” he muttered under his breath. Just one, just one to put him back to bed. But he knew deep down it wouldn't be just one.
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Don't talk about how I added a Deltarune song as the lullaby please I thought it fit 😭
