Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

You pack your things, and you head for the beach. Your farm has been set up for a year, a silo for your animals, barn and coop. Cows, pigs, goats, chickens, rabbits, ducks. Even some dinosaurs! The entire nine yards. You've gotten so far in this year you cannot physically believe it.

You set aside your things today to fish, its raining, middle of summer, perfect time to catch some of those pesky summer fish down in the ocean.

Your mom keeps sending you packages, making sure you don't forget about her with all of the money you're making. She sends you money sometimes, even though you're pretty sure she needs it way more than you do, as well as cakes and other desserts.

You walk out onto your porch, and you smell the rain in the air. Wonderful, perfect rain. You grab your rod, some bait and tackle and some trout soup. You can't explain it but by eating this the fish bite faster, and you feel somewhat better at fishing when it's ingested.

The gravel crunches under your boots as you walk down in the rain, you spot Sebastian, going to the same place as you. He's an odd one.

He looks at you before scoffing and ignoring you. You haven't really spoken to many people here. Your closest friends are probably Willy, Gus, Marnie and Robin. Maru and Harvey are sweet, but you don't speak to them very much. You suppose it's about time to do so.

You cross the bridge over the river from the mountains to the cindersap forest, and into the beach. The rainy, wet beach.

Willy shouts for you.

"Aye, lad! Come to fish?" You walk up next to him, set down your things and turn to him.

"Sure am, Willy." The old man flashes a large grin at you.

"Hope you have some luck, lad. I've gotta open the old shop now." He gets up but as he does he stops.

"What is it?" You look in the direction he's looking in, and there, over by that old, old cabin is a tall, handsome man. You have never seen him before and based on his reaction, never has Willy.

"Aye, seems like we've got a new resident!" Willy shouts, the man looks over to us, he's accompanied by Lewis and Robin. Much like you were when you moved in.

"Willy! Y/N! Come over and greet Pelican Town's brand new resident!" You get up and walk over to greet him, he smiles widely at both you and Willy.

"I'm Elliott, pleasure to meet you both." He holds out his hand for the two of you, and you both take it.

His hand is soft, uncalloused, he doesn't do much work with his hands.

"Ah, these are hands of a man who does a lot of handy work." He says, his voice is smooth, very, very smooth. "Or am I wrong?"

His tone is joking, he's teasing you.

"Y/N here is a farmer! The one who actually helped fix the bus, and a lot of the things around here, in fact." Lewis says. Elliott looks at you.

"You have a very poetic name." You have no idea what that even means, but you think it's a compliment.

"Thank... you?" He laughs.

"We were just telling Elliott here that I could fix this cabin up for him if he wanted us to. It's... really run down." Robin says, you almost laugh.

"Run down doesn't nearly sum up what it is." You open the door and they can see there's holes in the roof you can't see from the outside, fungi growing in between the floorboards, and rain seeping through every crevasse.

"Oh dear." Elliott says. His face is so worried and distraught.

"Is there nowhere for me to stay while this gets fixed?" Robin shrugs.

"You could ask one of the towns residents to house you for a few days. Other than that, no." Lewis says. Elliott sighs. This new resident, he's a little odd, but he's so sweet.

"You could stay in my farmhouse. Just a few days while you scope out the area, and while Robin gets this thing fixed." Elliott's eyes are wide.

"There's no way you'd do that for a stranger." He says. You laugh a little bit.

"I would, and I am." He smiles at you so wide, and he shakes your hand firmly again.

"Thank you so much, Y/N." He grabs his things, and allows you to lead him through the town.

You're a little cautious, but he looks like the most harm he could do is water his plants with seawater.

You've always sort of believed that life is a form of art. Your life is either a song, a poem, a painting, or a book. You still aren't sure which one you are yet. But Elliott could be an added verse in your art form.

Chapter Text

After you agreed to house Elliott, he's been so kind. Helping you with the animals, crops. Anything to earn his keep. You really feel like you two have become friends.

You step outside and you see Elliott sitting under your pomegranate tree, reading a book. Or is he writing?

He looks up at you, smiles and waves. He has a quill in his hand.

You walk up to him, "do you not have a pencil?" He laughs.

"Oh, no I do. I just prefer quills. It makes me feel closer to my writing. With a pencil you can erase. but with a quill... you have to know what you want to write, write from the heart. Because if you mess up you have to restart." You smile at him and sit down next to him.

"I've already fed and pet the animals, and gathered the ripe crops." He points to a basket beside my mailbox. "I wasn't sure if you wanted to sell them or keep them, so." He smiles at you.

"Thank you Elliott." You hear footsteps coming down your gravel path. It's Robin.

"Elliott! Y/N! I've finished the cabin." It took her a few days, but she did it!

You turn to Elliott, and he seems a little disappointed.

"Right, of course. Thank you, Robin. I'll move in right away." He closes his notebook and stands up.

"I loved my time here, Y/N. You were such an amazing host." He smiles at you. Though you can't help but think it was sadder than you thought it would be.

"I'll help you pack." You tell him and you walk inside together.

Robin goes home, and you take his papers he's been writing on and put them together on a desk.

"What's wrong, Elliott?" He laughs to himself.

"Your farm. It's so beautiful. I love your pomegranate tree, and the company of your ducks as I write. I love everything here. I hate to leave, but... I wouldn't want to impose any longer." You laugh a little bit.

"Elliott, you are welcome to visit anytime. If your cabin is getting too cramped or not inspirational for you feel free to come down here and write under my pomegranate tree. My ducks love you, and you aren't terrible company either." You hand him the papers and he smiles widely.

"You know, that's perfect. I appreciate it, Y/N." He looks at you and his gaze is so soft.

"I'll walk you to the beach."

You both walk to the beach, in complete silence. You can really feel that he's sad that he's leaving.

Once you two reach his new cabin, his face shifts to awe. "Robin did this all by herself?" He says.

"Robin is very talented. Every structure you saw on my farm, including the house, Robin made." A wide smile grows on his face.

"Amazing." He opens the door, and it's pretty basic. Robin didn't really put much in there. A bed in the far right corner and a desk in the parallel corner.

He turns to you and he's beaming. You've never seen a man so happy.

"This is more than I could have ever imagined." He takes your hands in his and holds them. "You have made this transition into the valley so smooth and warm. I must thank you."

"Elliott you already have. You've thanked me enough already." He really has, he's done your chores most the time while he was over, he's cooked you breakfast, lunch and dinner some days. And never once did he overstep anything.

He was never really sure of what he was doing, but he helped regardless. He never sold anything without asking you first. He never did anything with your animals products without permission, and after all of that in the mornings he's always stayed out of your way with anything else you had to do.

"You were the perfect guest." You tell him, he grins.

"And you were the perfect host." He tells you. You lean in and hug him. It's quick, and you can sense he appreciates it.

"I'll be going now, don't be a stranger. Drop by whenever, you don't even have to announce yourself. You already know your way around my farm so well." He smiles wider at you and nods.

"I'll see you around, Farmer Y/N." He says.

"I'll see you around, as well. Writer Elliott."

Chapter Text

You haven't seen Elliott around much. He said he'd stop by whenever he could, but you haven't seemed to catch him. Although, you know he's been at your tree. He's left a bottle of ink, and a duck feather there. As well as a halved pomegranate. It's as if he's making sure you know he's been there.

You think maybe you should have told him to drop in, you wanted to talk to him. Though you did have a plan. A gift for him. Because, well. Why not?

He's a friend, isn't he? Why not get him a gift?

Though you do have a while before you head down to the beach. You have to fish anyways, so might as well do your chores first.

You walk out of your farmhouse, and you're surprised by the boy sitting under your tree. He's feeding small pomegranate seeds to the ducks and chickens.

"Elliott! Lovely to see you!" You shout from your porch, he looks over with a smile.

"Ah, Y/N! Lovely to see you as well." He stands up, duck in his arms.

You notice the duck has a loose feather, one that can be plucked with no issue.

You walk up to him and the duck and carefully take the feather from her. Elliott smiles widely at the feather.

"How beautiful." He comments. He sets the duck down and plucks the feather from your fingertips.

"Nature truly is a mystery. And things like this, are reasons why people need it. Look how magnificent this basic feather is. Pretty things like this is why this world is worth living in." He says, you've noticed he seems to speak in verses.

He speaks in poem, in story, and even in song sometimes. It's just how he is. And you sort of adore his outlook on life.

"You love the arts, yes?" He asks you.

"Oh the arts are wonderful. I love reading." You tell him.

"Do you write?" He asks you.

"Oh, no. I'm sure it would just be gibberish. There's a reason why I'm a farmer." He laughs at your joke.

"You should try it sometime. You may find it therapeutic. Sometimes writing about your day, a bad, or good, memory in a poem or song can help you overcome the bad, and help you remember the good. I have many stories like that. Poems, songs, you name it I've probably written it." He tells you.

"I've always thought of life as a sort of art form. I'm still not sure what form my life is written in. But whatever it is, must be beautiful." You tell him.

"Your outlook is gorgeous, Y/N. I believe my life is a book. Written page to page, chapter to chapter. Being made up as you go. That's really what writing is, is it not?"

You laugh. Thinking of writers go along with their brain, not thinking it through ever is funny to you.

"It'll take me a while to understand what art form your life is in, but I'll get there." He hands you back the duck feather.

"Keep it, it could be a nice quill." You tell him. His face shifts to a smile. "Speaking of, I do have a gift for you." You shift through your pockets and hand him a medium bottle of blue ink.

"It's fresh from my midnight squids. I usually just sell them, sometimes I'll keep them. Would you like it?" He takes the vial of ink from you and smiles.

His smile is so bright, you just want to keep it like that forever.

"I would love it. Thank you." He looks around at the farm.

"Oh dear, I've kept you too long. Let me help you with the chores." You stop him.

"No, no. You sit and write. I don't have much to do here, and I have to go fish anyways." He huffs a little before sitting down under your tree and watching you do your chores.

You fix your hat, the hat Lewis gave you when you won the egg hunt last year. You catch him watching you and he only waves. You wave back and set down the basket of eggs. A few dinosaur eggs, your ducks didn't give you any today, and a few chicken eggs. You set them aside for now and feed them before grabbing your fishing gear.

You say goodbye to Elliott and make your way down to the beach.

It was nice seeing him again. It seems he's adjusted well to everything here. You're glad. The town now has a writer boy.

Chapter Text

You've been down at the beach for a couple hours and it's starting to get dark. You hadn't seen Elliott come back to his cabin yet, so you're wondering if he's still at your farm

Not that you cared. You doubted Elliott would steal from you, he's probably just immersed, and doesn't wanna stop.

You packed up your fishing gear and headed out from the beach. The sand crunching under your boots. You took a second once at the bridge, just to look at the sky. The sun going down was such a nice sight in the valley.

You continued down the path, you watched in silence as the villagers were going home.

Abigail back into Pierre's, Jodi going back home with Sam not to far behind her. Shane was heading into the saloon and so was Willy.

You turned the path into the bus stop, and continued down the dirt road.

As soon as you stepped into your farm you saw him. Elliott was sitting on your porch, halved pomegranate on a plate next to him, petting your pet.

You didn't necessarily mind that Elliott was picking your fruit, but it wasn't ripe whatsoever. It's the middle of summer and pomegranates really only blossom in fall.

You set your stuff down next to your mailbox. "That must be a very sour pomegranate." You commented.

He laughed. "So it is. I hardly mind, though. The fragrance is enough for me." He told you.

"Ah, so you've been sniffing my pomegranates then." He let out a boisterous laugh.

"You make it sound weird." He comments. You shrug and sit down next to him. Your animal coming up wanting to be pet.

"How was fishing?" He asked you. You shrugged.

"Same, same. It was okay. The beach doesn't have much for you to catch. Not unless you wanted to catch an octopus." You laughed a little. "I normally just catch them for food. I can make sashimi with any kind of fish." You thought about the other things you could do with fish, but you didn't really care too much.

He only nodded.

"Nothing poetic to say about fish?" He leaned back on his hands.

"Not particularly. I think I'm all poemed out today. I wrote more than I intended."

"I would love to read it someday. The legendary book written under a poor farmers pomegranate tree." He laughed.

"You may be anything, but you are certainly not poor." He says. "You could be anything you wanted to be. Even a poet." You shook your head, looking up at the sky and sighing.

"I don't think I'm anything. Just a farmer. I wanted to escape the big city, and a boring, demanding job. So I came here." Elliott moved in a little bit.

"I wish to hear the story of this farmer boy. Why'd you move from the city, tell me all of it." He says.

"I used to work for Joja. You probably have no idea who they are, they left a little bit before you got here. Now there's just an empty building where their store used to be." You thought for a while. "Before that my grandfather passed away. Right here in this old farmhouse. He sent me a letter, told me not to open it until I wanted a better life. It sat in my desk for months, maybe even a year before I decided to open it. In that was the deed to this place, left for me in his will, and a little money to get me started." Elliott seems immersed in the story of you, never wanting to take his eyes off of you.

"I really am, just a farmer. There is nothing special about me at all. I believe that. I'm just as boring as Sam, and just as interesting as Clint. I do not have much going for me except a few cute ducks and a pomegranate tree the new writer boy seems to be obsessed with."

"That tree with only give me it's true potential in the fall. I know that. But even then, it's enough for me." He turns to you. "Thank you, Y/N. This was a great conversation but I must get going now. I'll stop by again sometime this week." He takes your hands and smiles at you. That's all he does before waving you off and disappearing behind the barrier of trees and foliage.

You hung on the story a little. Your life feeling a little bleak. Is that truly all you were? A farmer boy who barely knows anybody and whose closest friend is an old fisherman?

We're you ever going to find love? Any kind of it? A best friend? Perhaps both in the same person? You wondered all of that. Still unsure what your life led up to.

You got up from the porch and went inside, going to bed early.

Still completely unsure what you're even doing here, even after a full year.

Chapter Text

You woke up later than usual this morning. Still feeling the slight tightness in your chest from being unsure what you're doing here.

You bury that down, deep down in your brain before getting up and heading outside.

Elliott wasn't here today, and being so close to fall it seemed your pomegranates were nearly ripe.

A few more days and you could drop by a basket of ripe pomegranates by his cabin.

You went through the next few days in an almost haze. Just waiting for those pomegranates to be ripe. There wasn't much else for you to do anyways.

Once those leaves turned brown, and began to fall and the grass tanned itself you gathered up as many pomegranates as you could into a basket and headed down to the beach.

You knocked on his door and walked in. He was playing the piano and didn't seem to notice you.

It's a beautiful tune, one you haven't heard before.

He stops and turns around. "Oh, I thought someone was here." He smiles. "Wonderful to see you, Y/N."

"That was beautiful, Elliott." You said to him. He smiled and shrugged.

"I haven't been playing for very long. It's just fun and gives my mind a little bit of a break." He told you. "What can I do for you?"

"Oh, I've noticed even when my pomegranate tree wasn't ready you still picked the fruit, perhaps just for a whiff. So I thought that once the tree flowered you would enjoy some of the fruit." You held up the basket and a wide smile crosses his face.

"Oh, Y/n! These are beautiful! Thank you, I appreciate this a lot." He says as he takes the basket from you. You smile widely at him and somehow there's a small tingle in your chest. Enjoying the sight of him smiling.

You stuck around for a little longer, just talking to Elliott. You enjoy talking to him, you're not entirely sure why yet.

You went home that day all smiley and giddy about it, enjoying that Elliott enjoyed your gift.

Chapter Text

There may be a few topics spoken about that some may find upsetting, continue at your own risk.

TW: Talk of depression and self-deprecation.

That next day after your visit to Elliott's, despite the happiness lingering just a little bit after it you began to feel that same sinking feeling once more.

Your days are so cut and dry, so boring and so... exactly the same. The only difference you get is when Elliott comes over and that's rare these days.

It's almost the exact same way you felt working at Joja.

You get up from your bed and you immediately head out to Pierre's. It's a little later in the day so he should be open by now.

"Good morning, Y/N!" Pierre says as you walk in. You smile a little bit, forced and frankly just a tiny bit sad.

"Hey, Pierre. Can I just get some corn seeds?" He nods as he dips into his stock.

"No pumpkins this year?" You shake your head.

"I think I'm just going to stick to this for now." Pierre looks at you for a bit before handing over the seeds.

"Are you alright?" You take the seeds off of the counter and pay.

"I'm fine, thank you, Pierre." You walk out of the store and back to your farm to plant the seeds next to your sprinklers.

Once finished planting the seeds you sit down on your porch, sighing and hiding your face in your hands.

You may have done a lot in a year, but you haven't made any promising friendships or relationships while being here and honestly... things are feeling bleak.

Does anyone in this town call you their friend? Really and truly?

You're so buried deep into your own terrible thoughts you didn't notice someone standing in front of you.

"Y/N? Are you alright?" You look up quickly at meet eyes with Elliott. You didn't even notice the tears streaming down your face.

"Uh- Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." You wipe your tears away and Elliott only shakes his head.

"Right, try and bullshit a bullshitter and you get nowhere." He sets a bag down next to you and he kneels down. "What is it?" You're surprised by the slip in the poetic way he speaks. He seems genuinely worried.

"Do you ever feel like you don't belong somewhere?" Elliott says nothing but nods. "I've had this feeling for weeks, like I don't know what I'm doing here and it's ruining everything. I don't really have any friends here and I certainly don't have someone who's more." Elliott smiles just a little.

"You want that? A person to spend the rest of your life with?" You nodded. Feeling silly being so torn up about this.

"Whether it ends up being a romantic partner or just a lifelong friend. I just... want to feel needed somewhere." Elliott rests a hand on your knee.

"You are needed here. Probably a whole lot more than you think." You laugh to yourself and wipe tears away. "You allowed me in your home for days, despite barely even knowing me. And you allowed me to come back. You became my first friend here and, well..."

Elliott's POV

Looking into his sad, sad eyes. I can't help but feel bad, no, not bad. I don't feel sorry for him, nor do I pity the farmer.

From the moment I met him to now not once has he taken his abilities to the real level they're at. Always using negative diction to describe himself.

"Poor farmer." Saying he wouldn't be good at anything and he thinks he deserves whatever bleak life that the universe has handed him.

Well... I have one thing to ask the universe.

Why hand such a gorgeous, kind, wonderful and smart human such a bleak life to begin with? He deserves so much more than he was given, he's been here for a year and he's sitting here telling me that he hasn't made any lasting impressions on anyone.

Anyone but me.

I think about this man every chance I get, he's the sole reason why I can even do anything with my writing and he brings me gifts?

Unacceptable.

"I appreciate you so much. You really and truly have no idea." Looking into his eyes now, I can see it.

His sadness, his stress, his emotions. His appreciation for... me?

"Look at me and tell me you think you deserve any less than I would be willing to give you." He just stares blankly at me for a moment before snickering.

"And what are you willing to give me, Elliott?" I only grin at him.

I take his hands in mine and pull him up.

"Come with me. Let me show you something." His hands remain in mine, I haven't felt them since the day we met and they're just as rough now as they were then.

I take him to his coop. Opening the door many chickens and ducks run up to us. I let go of his hands and bend down to pick up one of the ducks. She quacks happily at me.

"These creatures are able to have a large farm and home to roam around because of you. They love you, and they appreciate you." He laughs.

"They're animals, Elliott. They couldn't care less about who takes care of them." I shake my head.

"Keep telling yourself that, but if I were to take one of them home with me they would be entirely unhappy." He shrugs.

"Maybe. But this isn't telling me what kind of life you'd have given me." I grin and set the duck down.

"Walk with me then." I lead him to the Cindersap Forest exit, and we sit down underneath a large tree, watching the sun.

"You told me the story of you working for a corporation you didn't enjoy. A demanding job with little pay. I would have never let you go through that. But, then again. Maybe if you hadn't worked for them you wouldn't have ended up here like you did." I sigh.

"I would give you the exact life you want. A special someone to spend the rest of your life with. A lovely home with children, if that's what you want of course, a stress-free life that you can lay back and enjoy."

"You deserve all of that and more." I look over to him and there are tears streaming down his face once more.

"Did I say something wrong?" He shakes his head.

"No, you said everything right. This is so silly, you should be back home writing and not dealing with all of this." I shake my head.

"I came by to see you, not to write under your tree. I needed a break and really and truly, it doesn't matter to me what emotion you're in. As long as you don't turn me away I am truly happy."

This time when I look at him he has a smile on his face, with the sunset on his cheeks and face he stares past my head at it. But when I look at him I get a feeling in my heart I've never felt before. A swimming in my stomach I've only read about in books.

Oh dear.

I'm falling for the farmer boy.

Chapter Text

Elliott's POV

All I have been able to think about is him.

He's been swimming through my head and heart ever since the forest. We stayed there for a little bit longer, just talking until he felt the need to head home. I could tell my presence there helped him a lot just to relax.

Walking him home he tried to apologize to me for taking up so much of my time.

"You shouldn't have to deal with stuff like this." I only laugh, moving my hair from my face. He bends down and picks my bag up from earlier, handing it to me our hands brush.

"I've said it before. You have nothing to apologize for. Emotions are emotions. Things happen." My chest flutters as he smiles at me.

"I don't deserve someone like you, Elliott." I sigh as I fix the bag over my shoulders.

"It is I who doesn't deserve you, Y/N."

In that moment I wanted to hold him, show him affection I can feel he rarely ever gets. I almost moved forwards to hug him until he had walked inside after a meek goodnight.

Yoba, I wanted to knock on his door and tell him I wanted to stay longer, I wanted to talk to him longer. Tell him things I never thought I would get the chance to say outside of my writing.

After a small sigh and feeling stupid I stepped off of his porch and drug my feet back home.

I suddenly began to remember one of the many memories I walked away from that farmhouse with a few weeks back.

Perhaps the moment I realized this farmer could possibly be something to me.

I reach for some yellowed parchment on my desk and a quill.

It was a rainy day, the smell of that dewy rainfall clung to the walls of the house like webs spun by a spider.

Neither of us minded, however. Feeling all comfortable and content inside, watching the television and backs against the couches and the smell of coffee brewing.

He had looked at me with a gentle smile. "What brought you here?" He had asked me. I admired the way his hair fell over his face, the way his hands clung to the coffee mug and the way his slightly crooked tooth poked out from his smile.

It was the first time I had looked at him, first time I had actually admired him. The skin on his cheeks a little darker from the sun the day before, his eyes staring into mine. Awaiting for an answer, and there I was, staring at him like an idiot.

I cleared my throat and answered him. "I came here thinking it would hold more inspiration than the city." His lips upturned in a more, teasing and mischievous than the previous one.

"And?" He took a sip of his coffee.

"And what?" I had asked like an idiot.

He laughed. Looking back at it now that laugh, oh my that laugh.

I stop, that laugh. My heart pounds thinking about his laugh. It's so... pretty. So, wow.

I can imagine what he would say about me now, my inner monologue being completely lost for words.

"Wow, Elliott. Just a mere farmer boy getting your words all twisted?" His voice in my head makes my stomach flutter. "Did I steal them? Do you want them back?" I hide my very flushed face in my hands and groan.

I look back up and continue writing.

"Has the valley disappointed?" He asked me. I laughed just a little and shrugged.

"Well it certainly hasn't failed me yet." I had looked away from him. "I have a good feeling about this place." I had said.

A knock lures me out of my own head and the haze my brain has been in for the past hour.

I did not realize it was raining beforehand.

I get up and answer the door and in stumbles, Y/N. Completely drenched from the rain and utterly breathless.

"I am so sorry about this. I was headed down to the beach to drop off some materials for Willy and then it started pouring rain." He leans against the now closed door and looks at me with a little bit of amusement in his eyes.

His clothes cling to his skin and his hair is draped over his forehead.

Would it be too cliche to brush his hair from his face? To want to... kiss him in the rain?

Certainly it is.

He laughs and sighs. "I suppose I panicked and thought, 'Elliott wouldn't mind me dropping in, would he?' And from the looks of it, you haven't told me to leave yet so I suppose this is where I should be for now." His eyes never leave mine, even when I stride over to my desk chair and sit down.

"I would never turn away a soaking wet farmer who appeared at my door wanting help. That wouldn't be very friendly of me, would it?" He laughs, oh my, my face flushes just a little and I cover it by rubbing my eyes.

"No I suppose it wouldn't." He sort of just stays against the door, a little awkwardly.

I watch as he shivers and I stand up immediately. "Let me get you some dry clothes."

"Oh, no. You don't have to do that. I'll be okay." I look at him, raised eyebrow.

"You're cold. I can't have that." I pull out my hotplate I use for tea and turn it on with the kettle using a water bottle I pour him some tea before pulling out some clothes he can change into.

I hand him the clothes and I tell him he can change in the bathroom. Once he's disappeared behind the door I sit down at my desk and bury my head in my hands.

I can hardly even keep my composure around him, what is wrong with me? We're friends above everything else but I can't help but want more.

To hold him, tell him stories others will never hear, write poems about him and share them on special occasions. I want, more than anything, to be his special someone.

His person, the person he wants to spend the rest of his life with, helping him with chores and then cuddling up at the end of the day, soothing his sore muscles until he falls asleep. Everyday breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Feeling that stress when he's late coming back from the mines but always comes back in one piece.

I want all of it.

I sit up when he emerges out from the bathroom, seemingly more comfortable.

"This is a lot better, thank you." I smile warmly at him as the kettle begins to whistle at me. I get up and pour the water into a mug with a teabag. I reach for sugar then stop.

"Sugar?"

"I'm sorry?" I laugh a little.

"Your tea, sugar?" He smiles and nods. I pour some sugar in and hand him the mug.

"You can get back to writing if you wish. You won't even know I'm here." I shake my head.

"You are here though, I would much rather talk to you. Who knows, maybe you'll give me more inspiration." He takes a sip of the tea and sighs happily.

"I couldn't have chosen a better place to come to." He sits down on the edge of my bed, setting his shoes down at the foot of it on the floor. "It's a lot warmer in here than I expected." He looks up at me. "It's nice."

The sound of the rain on the sides and the roof of my cabin makes this moment feel much closer and honestly, it makes the entire interaction feel more... intimate isn't the right word but perhaps more comforting. Comfortable. He looks cozy with his tea and dry clothes, my clothes that it makes me feel more relaxed as he is.

"What have you been writing?" He takes another sip of the tea and smiles at me. Awaiting for an answer. That same crooked tooth sticking out of his smile that just makes my head whirl.

"Uhm- ha. I haven't quite decided on a genre yet. I've sort of just been writing things I think of and memories I enjoy." He raises an eyebrow with a mischievous smile painted on his lips. I study his face for a moment and something dawns on me.

"I like to believe that people's lives are art forms. I haven't quite decided what mine is, but maybe I'll figure it out soon."

I lean forwards and study his face. "You're a painting. That's your art form."

He laughs abruptly.

"A painting? You think I'm interesting enough for that?" I snicker.

"Oh yes. Your features are wonderful, quite nice for a watercolor, perhaps an oil or maybe even just a mere sketch. Doesn't matter you would look handsome in any style. Just by looking at you, you can't tell much of your life. Definitely can tell you're a farmer, that's for certain, but the emotion is in the style. You can really tell a life with paintings." I jokingly put up my fingers in a portrait mode, pretending to be mapping out a way to sketch him. He poses along with me and we both laugh. "Your life could be told beautifully with just one greatly made painting."

He looks at me in such a way that makes me want to kiss him, reach out and hug him, kisses on his forehead and oh, oh my.

I really have fallen for him.

"That's sweet to say. I quite enjoy that look at it." He stands up and takes a few steps towards me. He leans over the back of my chair and looks at the piles of pages. "Anything you'll let me read?" I glance at the pages and I coyly hide the one I had been writing earlier.

"Maybe someday."

Certainly one day, don't worry.

You'll be the main event for my books. As long as you'll let me.

Farmer Y/N.

One day I'll tell you how I feel. And maybe you'll return the favor.

I can only hope.

Chapter Text

You had stayed at Elliott's overnight due to the hard-pouring rain. And, your slight sneeze.

"Are you getting sick?" Elliott asked you, looking over

"I hope not." You say as you sneeze again. "Crap." Elliott looks at you with a little bit of sadness.

"Next time check the forecast before you walk over on a cloudy day." He says, standing up and walking over, gently pressing the back of his hand to your forehead.

If you weren't warm already, you are now. Him doting over you is... The least you can say is attractive. The way he flicks his hair back behind his shoulder as he sighs.

"It doesn't seem like you're running a fever. Maybe you're just adjusting to the temperature change." His face is still so close to yours, you can feel the gentle breath he releases as he looks into your eyes.

Somehow you manage to chuckle and keep eye contact. "I'll be fine." You manage to squeak out.

"I'm sure you will, but still. I'll grab you a blanket." He says right before he moves away from you.

The blanket he grabs is big and warm and he places it around your shoulders. You blushed a little bit though he didn't seem to notice.

Something hits you about him.

Ohhh shit. I am falling for him.

You really didn't think you'd feel that emotion in your life. You thought it was just something in movies and books. You thought that no way people actually felt those strong emotions.

Until now.

When he moves his hands closer to you, your heart skips a beat at just the thought of him touching you. His smile makes you smile and his laugh is infectious.

Oh jeez. What is wrong with me?

"Tell me more about you, we're such good friends but there's not much I know about you. What kind of things do you like?" You think for a moment.

"I really like collecting forageables. There's so many to choose from and they're all cool." He nods and sits next to you, pulling the blanket over your shoulders a little more. Making you blush.

"Tell me more about you. Anything you want to tell me. I wanna hear another story of yours. Did you leave behind any friends from the city?" You shudder a little.

You had an ex-boyfriend from the city you hadn't thought about in a while.

Though, you aren't sure you should tell him.

"Well, I didn't have many friends. The ones I did have understood immediately what I wanted to do and promised to keep in touch. I've only heard from one of the three and she sent me a letter a little after my farm was in the news. She had said she was happy for me, and said this was the best decision I had made. The other two didn't bother, but I know they're busy." Hes listening to you intently and leans in a little more, interested.

"There isn't anyone else?"

"No," you trail off a little, making him see through your words instantly.

"But?" You laugh as you decide to tell him about your ex.

"I wanted to bring someone with me." He raises an eyebrow. "My ex-boyfriend. I wanted to take him with me, build this life together but... We had an argument and he said I was being childish. That Joja was making me plenty of money and he didn't understand why I wanted to leave. 'That broken down farm he left you has no guarantee that it'll make you any money!' He had told me. I told him I didn't care and that I needed to leave, with or without him. Turns out, it was without."

"Oh my. Thats-" You laugh a little.

"Don't worry. It was a while ago. It doesn't hurt me anymore. Though he was wrong. This farm is making me more money Joja could ever think of making."

"For the record, I don't think it was childish at all. He was an idiot. You did a good thing leaving the city." You smile at him.

"You did too. I think you'll do great on your book." He thinks for a moment before turning back to you.

"What's your favorite book genre?" You think for a moment.

"Romance. It's not necessarily my favorite but I've read more of it than anything else." He looks thoughtful before nodding.

"I'll remember that."

Maybe you can wait a little longer before getting closer to him. You don't want to ruin whatever friendship you have with him.

Chapter Text

That trip to Elliott's you had taken was last week, time flies by working on your farm far too quickly and you hadn't noticed the amount until you had found Elliott on your porch super late in the night.

Damn. He looks tired.

"Elliott?" He blearily looks up at you, you're up much later, coming back from a mining trip super late and a little hurt.

He looks at you with wide eyes. "Woah! Are you hurt?" You wipe a little bit of soot from your face and wince at the same time.

"Slightly bruised and some cuts and scrapes but I'm alright. What are you doing here?" He shrugs a little and beckons you to sit next to him.

"I was feeling a little cramped in my cabin, went for a walk and found myself here." He laughs to himself a little bit. "I've been meaning to stop by but with all the leeway I've been making I've just been forgetting." He shakes his head and looks down, the darkness around you two leaves the little bit of light seem like so much.

"I suppose my brain told me to come here without me even trying." He looks up at you and smiles.

"You look tired, Elliott." He laughs and narrows his eyes slightly.

"You must be far more exhausted than me. Is there anything I could do to help?" You shrug.

"I've been taking trips to the mines in the desert very often ever since the bus was fixed so I'm used to feeling a little bruised afterwards. Nothing to be concerned about." You blush just a little bit at his offer and go to stand up.

He grabs your hand and sighs. "There is a better reason why I'm here. I was going to send you a letter but I sort of thought that it would mean more to me if I saw your reaction in person." You raise an eyebrow.

"Elliott what is it?" He smiles widely and this goofy grin on his face makes your heart flutter.

"I finished my book. I already asked Gunther and he said I could do a reading of it in the library. It'll be happening all week." His grip on your hand tightens ever so slightly. "Say you'll be there."

"Elliott that's amazing! Of course I'll come!" He laughs and stands up, pulling you up with him and hugs you tightly. You hug him back after a little bit of shock and after that he pulls away.

"It'll start at 1pm, I look forward to having you there." For a moment your brain wanted you to kiss him, he was right there and you know you wanted to. Instead you give him a smile and say a small goodnight to hide your disappointment about not being closer and to mask your excitement about tomorrow as well.

You had gone to bed after changing clothes and grabbing a cup of tea to calm your muscles a little and washing off the dirt and grime that had cloaked itself to your body in an awful mixture of sweat and purple slime.

The next morning you had felt none of the past soreness and bruises from last night and only an exiting array of, what the hell should you bring Elliott?

You agree on a small basket of a bottle of wine and some of the last pomegranates of the season and before heading down to the library you watered your plants and pet your animals.

On the way to the library you started to feel very nervous, you haven't heard a single thing about his book and you're curious to see what he's written over the time you've been friends.

The town looks so pretty today you wonder if it's just the emotions piled up or if it's the way the sun lands on the trees, and the falling leaves and the grass turning browner or the sparkling river. Everything at once. All so beautiful.

Once at the library you walked in, nerves in your body slightly easing when you see the stand of Elliotts book. It doesn't have a cover, not yet at least and it's all homemade, something Gunther probably shoved together.

"Y/N! You're here!" You laugh when Elliott emerges from some shelves and hugs you. Just like last night it's the same. Once pulled away he pulls one of the copies from his bag. "I may have lied just a little last night, the night you left my home I finished my book with some added moderations and sent the final draft to Gunther. He managed to whip this up rather quickly." He notices his rambling, his nerves must be soaring much higher than yours. "This copy is for you. Don't open it until the reading starts." You're unsure why but his hand that's hovering over the copy once you take it is shaking.

"You're nervous." He laughs.

"Must be pretty obvious, huh? I don't know why, these are people I've lived around for a few months and-" he sighs. You take his hand and pull him behind some bookshelves to see if you can calm him down a little.

"You're going to do great, Elliott. This whole thing will get easier I promise." He smiles and takes a deep breath before his eyes lock onto the basket I have.

"Oh yeah, for you. A little bit of a congratulations. Also the fruit is starting to go out of season so. I would rather you have them. Without you picking them I'm afraid they're not of use." He smiles as I hand him the basket.

"Homemade wine?" You nodded.

"Starfruit wine. It's delicious." His eyes widen.

"This stuff is expensive! And way out of season!" You laugh just a little and shrug.

"It's been sitting in storage since I made it last month so, I figured you would enjoy it." He hugs you once more, this time feels just a little more intimate.

"The reading is about to start." He says as he pulls away. He hands the basket back and smiles a little, trying to ease his own nerves. "Hold on to that, I'll take it back afterwards." You smile and nod.

"Good luck, and break a leg. I believe in you." He smiles and takes a deep breath as you turn to stand with Caroline.

You run your hands over the cover of the copy he gave you, somehow if feels like there's more love piled into this one than any of the others.

Elliott steps out and addresses the crowd.

"I want to thank everyone for coming, and I won't go on a monologue about this book, but let's open the covers to the dedication." He looks at you pointedly and you do so, as does the rest of the crowd. Once you do you see Elliott's penmanship all over the inside of the cover.

Before you begin reading it he starts talking, which makes your eyes scan to the other side of the page which pointedly says. "This book is for Y/N. For being the person who helped me the most in the creation." You look up at him with a face so flushed you're positive you look exactly like his jacket.

The moment seems like it's just you and him until you're aware of everyone's eyes on you. You clear your throat and nod. He lets out a relieved sigh and continues on.

The book reading was as beautiful as you find him, he read out a beautiful depiction of a romance book, and afterwards you were looking at what he wrote you until he walked up to you. Stopping you at the first word.

"I hope you enjoyed it." You close the cover and nod. "What I wrote in your cover?"

"I haven't read it yet. Walk with me." You two leave the library and you pull him to the river edge in front of the building. You take a seat on the grass and beckon him to sit with you, he takes his jacket off and lays it next to him as he sits down beside you.

"The reading was beautiful, Elliott. I enjoyed it." He looks at me a little nervously.

"You should read what I wrote." He says, looking at you with a little bit of uncertainty.

"Right, of course." You open the cover back up and read what he wrote.

Y/N, I cannot express how much I appreciate you being here. You were the first one who reached out and helped a complete stranger back in spring and through all of that we became friends out of it. I remember a lot of the times we had, with rose colored glasses or not I treasure them above everything else and I can't tell you how much I never want you to leave my life. I like you a lot more than I thought I did. Look at me, Y/N.

You look at him and he smiles and takes your hand.

"Your turn to walk with me."

You walk with him down to the beach and by the docks there's a small boat, he grabs some oars and helps you into the boat.

He rows in silence as you appreciate the way the ocean moves. Suddenly he stops and turns to you.

"I must say, everything I wrote was true but it couldn't encapsule everything I want to say to you right now. You are the only reason I finished my book." His smile is genuine but he's a little nervous. "I uhm- gosh I can't seem to find the right words." He takes your hands in his and squeezes them gently. "I like you, so much. I never thought I would ever feel these feelings for another man but love comes from all directions and you came from left field."

Your heart begins pounding, you can't believe your ears. This writer boy likes you and he's telling you now. Right here, just the two of you.

"There's so much I've wanted to say to you, and if I can find the way right words-" he stumbles and stumbles over his words and you pull his hands in closer to your body making him pull in closer as well.

"For a writer words don't come easy to you do they?" He chuckles before you pull him into a kiss. Tender, and fleeting kiss the one you've been wanting to give him for the past week.

You two stayed in each other's embrace until he decided to row you two back to shore. You parted ways and hugged the book to your chest on your way back home.

Chapter Text

This chapter will be written in first person instead of second. Let me know what pov you prefer.

Since that day Elliott took me on his boat I have not been able to stop thinking about him. Winter is here now and I think I'm overdue for a visit.

I lace up my snow boots and bundle up all nice and walk out of my door, and to my utter surprise is the man I had left to see.

"Elliott! I was just on my way to see you." He smiles and sets down a basket on the steps, walking up with outstretched arms. The hug is tender and honestly so nice. I've missed his scent and his touch.

"I've missed you." I smile into his shoulder and pull away. "I was hoping you would go on a walk with me. I have a small thing planned if you aren't busy."

"I'm all yours." He smiles widely as he grabs the basket and my hand and we walk into the forest.

Something surges through my hand as he rubs his thumb over the back of my hand. I look at him with such tenderness and affection he blushes the moment he looks over at me.

I chuckle a little bit as he looks away flushed.

"Anyways, what are we doing?" He looks back at me with a less flushed face and as we reach a very large tree in the Cindersap forest he drags me behind it. "This doesn't answer my question!"

I stumble a little bit to keep up with him, being unfamiliar of these woods, he looks back and steadies me. Hands on my arms and looking me in the eyes.

"You alright?" I nod, and grasp at his forearms to steady up a little bit more.

"Yeah, just a little unfamiliar with the woods over here." He nods.

"As am I, well, a little less than you since I had to scout the area but. This area just opened up recently." His hand leaves my arm and wraps around my waist. "I was out foraging over here with Leah a few days ago and found the perfect spot for us." We continue walking a little more until we're in the treeline to the farthest part of my farm and the secret woods.

"Since we're so close to the secret woods stay close, okay? There are some slimes in there and they could come over here." I tell him, grasping my hand around the hilt of my sword.

"Oh, don't worry about that. I'm sure we'll be fine. Besides, you encounter much worse in the mines, right?" We stop walking and he opens his basket, pulling a blanket out from it and sets it down on the forest floor.

"I do yes, but you're unarmed. I wouldn't forgive myself if you got hurt." He turns to me and takes my hands in his.

"Okay, okay. I promise I'll be on the lookout, alright?" He kisses my forehead. I smile at him and we sit down.

"I chose today because I've been watching the forecast super intently. Waiting for a warmer day where it wasn't snowing and this is the warmest day of the week." It's still pretty cold but it is warmer than some of the other days.

"What all did you bring?" I ask him, he reaches farther into the basket and pulls out a cookout kit. He hands it to me and chuckles a little.

"I found that and I figured you might know how to set it up. Because I sure have no idea how to." I laugh and set it up for him, the fire started effortlessly and I set the small pot above it.

I've used some of these before in the mines. It's good if you have ingredients but no food. It's better to make some random maple bars or sashimi than it is to take a trip to Harvey's.

"What did you bring to cook?" I try to reach for the basket but he stops me.

"Ah-ah. It's all a surprise. I wouldn't want you to spoil it." I raise an eyebrow.

"It's all food isn't it? What kind of surprise could be in there?" He laughs and brings my hands to his lips.

"I never said it was all food. In due time, Y/N." I sigh and shrug, smile playing at my lips as he kisses my knuckles.

"Okay, okay. Go on, you mysterious man." He lets out a bark of laughter as he pulls out some of the stuff from the basket.

I watch as he makes two mugs of hot cocoa and hands me one, his rests on the side as he continues making stuff.

As he's multitasking he's telling me a story about his childhood. Nothing that important but a treasured memory he has from his hometown.

"A lot of them thought I was crazy, said I wouldn't make it as a writer." He sighs, his face over the fire casts strange shadows. "Such pessimism, I hate it." He leans back a little, spoon in hand tasting what he's making. "Perfect. Anyways, I sent some copies of my book back home. My parents wrote me back saying they loved it and asked about you."

"Me? Why?" He chuckles and stirs the pot once more.

"Because you're the dedication, silly. And because in my letter I did mention you. Anyways, I sent a letter back and told them all about you. I think for once they're happy for me, proud even." He sighs happily. He looks at me through the corner of his eye, takes a spoonful of whatever he's making and offers it to me, hand under the spoon to catch whatever spills.

"What is it?"

"Must you be so curious? Just taste it." I chuckle to myself and let him feed me whatever is on the spoon and the moment it hit my tongue a burst of different spices erupts.

If I were more of a cook I'm sure I would know what all he put in it but I still can't place what it is.

"So?"

"It's delicious." He lets out a sigh of relief and nods.

"It's a recipe from back home. It has ingredients you can't find here in the valley. The travelling cart actually held some last Sunday. I was surprised to say the least." He provides bowls from the basket and pours some for me and for himself. "It's really just soup, honestly. But I used to think it was some sort of magic." I raise an eyebrow as I take the bowl from him.

"Magic? Why?"

"Because I would always feel a little happier after eating it and feel a little more energetic. I haven't had it in a few years, however. We shall see if I feel the same."

I love hearing stories from Elliott. As a writer I assume he knows how to tell his memories as if they were a scene in a good book, and it really shows.

I raise the bowl to my lips and I take a good sip of it. I can feel the warmth spread throughout my body and I can sort of feel the energy he spoke about before.

We fall into a comfortable silence as we eat, and once we're both done we enjoy the others presence. I lean against his side with his arm around my back.

"So, writer boy. What else do you have planned?" He lets out a breathy laugh.

"I don't have anything else planned. Just, us." He sighs then shakes his head. "Nevermind, there's one more thing." I sit up and watch as he digs through the basket. He makes an effort to hide what he grabbed behind his back so I can't see it.

"Okay um, I have no idea where to start with this. But, I'll try anyways. I know neither of us have talked about this yet because we're content on how we are now. And don't get me wrong, I could do this forever but. I want more. I want to say you're mine when people ask. So, Y/N? Will you be my boyfriend?"

My heart leaps out of my chest as he shows the huge bouquet of flowers, the bouquet people in the valley use to ask someone out. Pierre sent me a letter about it a few days ago.

I look at him with wide eyes and he gives a small smile, waiting for my answer.

I take the bouquet and I can't help but letting my heart melt. I set it aside and he watches as I do.

"Y/N?" He looks nervous, I smile and nod, moving closer to him, my hands wrap around the back of his neck as I pull him into a sweet and tender kiss.

His hands wrap around the small of my back and he pulls me in much closer than we already were. The kiss started out as a sweet and tender way to tell him yes and it turns into a little more passionate and needy.

His hands grasp around my back and mine tangle in his hair as he leans forwards more to deepen the kiss. In this moment it's only the two of us, just him and me.

I stop when I hear some ruffling in the snow. He hears it too with the way he turns around.

"What was that?" He asks. I look at him and shrug.

I stand up and move towards the sound, hand on the hilt of my sword and for good reason too because out jumps is a slime.

I pull the sword out in a flash, just as quickly as it jumped out at me it was dead. And I was covered in blue slime.

"Oh come on. Really?" I look down and sigh before looking back at Elliott.

He's looking at me with wide eyes and laughs a little. He walks towards me with some paper towels and starts wiping away some of the blue slime from my jacket.

"Thank you." He says, I chuckle.

"I told you we would have to be careful." He looks at me with kind eyes that makes me flutter.

"That you did." In a flash he pulls me into another kiss. This time shorter and more tender.

"It's getting a little dark, isn't it?" He says. I look up and nod.

"Let's pack up and head back to your farm." I shake my head.

"Let's head to the saloon. I've got to drop something off for Gus super quickly and then we can go, if that's alright." He nods and we pack up, I hold the bouquet close to my chest as my other hand is interlaced with Elliott's.

He kisses my cheek and we begin walking out of the forest together.

Chapter Text

Slight Angst ⚠️

Being with Elliott officially now has been my greatest dream. I finally feel like I know what I'm doing here. I don't feel like I dropped my life in the city for nothing.

His touch is soft and gentle against my skin and he very often leaves feather light kisses against my face. I see him a lot more now that it's winter, there isn't much for me to do anyways.

I love him. I know I do, I haven't gathered the courage to say it, it's still too soon, right? But I know I do. He's the only reason why I even get up in the mornings because I know he's going to be at that tree and I know he's waiting to see me.

Only tonight seems to fall differently.

I went to the mines and I had awoken to find myself in Harvey's clinic. Hooked up to many different machines and wires I couldn't tell you what all of them do. The bright damn lights above me makes my head spin and I can't seem to form words.

"You're awake. That's good." Harvey comes in and sets a clipboard down. He yawns and that's when I smell the freshly brewed coffee. "How do you feel?" I open my mouth to speak but the only thing that escapes is a coughing fit.

Harvey hands me a glass of water and I take it graciously. The water moving down my throat soothes something I didn't think needed to be soothed.

"I feel like death. What the hell happened?" He sits up straight and grabs the clipboard. I sit up as well and rest against the headboard of the bed.

"I was hoping you could tell me. All I know is that Marlon had brought you in all battered and bloodied. I had to perform an emergency surgery." He stands up and feels my forehead for my temperature. "Fevers gone. That's at least good." He writes something down then it looks like he remembers something. "Do you want me to call Elliott? It's pretty late at night but I'm sure you'd feel a little better with him here." My heart sinks and I shake my head.

"I do not want him to see me like this." Harvey's face drops and he shakes his head.

"He's going to find out either way, I have to keep you overnight to make sure nothing goes wrong. Are you sure you don't want me to call him?" I sigh and think for a moment.

On the bright side I would be able to talk to him, see him right now and I wouldn't be bored all night. On the contrary I would have to see him worried and upset.

"You're right. He'll find out one way or another. Go ahead and call him." He nods and moves to pick up the phone and calls Elliott. He picked up pretty quickly and I can hear the panic on the other line from Elliott as Harvey explains things.

Once hung up Harvey turns to me and sighs. "Let me check your vitals real quick before he gets here. Then you should be good." I nod and he checks my blood pressure, pulse, my temperature and the wounds he had to stitch up.

"I know Elliott is already going to give you this speech about being careful, but seriously. You have got to be careful." I nod.

"I know. It was the first time I've been there in a few weeks and I was rusty, I just- I know. Thank you, Harvey. I'm sure you don't want to do this so late at night." He shrugs and takes a sip of his coffee.

"It's my job, it's what I have to do. And besides, we're friends. I would do it even if I wasn't a doctor." The door opening and Elliott's footsteps stops Harvey in his sentence and he steps away from the hospital bed and disappears behind a door.

"Oh my, darling." I reach my hands out for him and he does the same. He looks at me well, his hands cupped around my cheeks. "What happened? Are you okay?" I nod. He must have left rather quickly. He's still in his pajamas. Though his hair, as always looks gorgeous.

"Don't worry, I'm fine." His eyes narrow and he scoffs.

"Don't lie to me, what happened?" I sigh.

"It's a little fuzzy but I know I was attacked. I was in the icy levels of the mines and I was farming for coal from the soot sprites and I was ganged up on. I'm sorry, I promised you I would be careful." Elliott sighs and rests his forehead on mine.

"It's okay. I'm just glad you're alright. You are, okay, right?" I nod.

"I'm injured but I'm alright. Harvey said I needed a surgery but as far as I can tell I'm fine." Elliott leans back quickly with wide eyes.

"A surgery!? That's not okay! Y/N..." I take his hands in mine and I kiss his knuckles.

"I promise, it was just a few stitches. I'm fine." He looks at me a little sad but nods.

"No, you're right. I'm sorry, I'm just- goodness I had such a bad feeling this morning when you said you were going mining. I should have told you not to but I understand that you require ores and coal." He sighs. I cup his cheeks and run my thumbs over them.

A small tear rolls down his cheek.

"Oh, darling. Hey, look at me." He looks at me with sad eyes and it breaks my heart a little. "I promise you I will be so much more careful from now on okay? No more recklessness and I will buy better equipment." He sighs and nods.

He leans in and kisses me gently before sitting down in a chair beside me.

"Harvey said I have to stay overnight but I should be discharged in the morning." Elliott nods and moves the chair closer to me.

"Get some rest, darling. I'll be here when you wake up." I nod and lay back down to drift off to sleep.

Elliotts PoV :)

Once Y/N fell asleep I remained by his side, my nerves finally calming seeing him so calm and tranquil. I take his hand in mine and I kiss his knuckles. "I love you." I whisper into his hand.

Because I do. I really do. I haven't had the chance to tell him yet but I do really love him.

"Hey, Elliott." I look over and I see Leah standing in the doorway.

"Leah? What are you doing here?" She shrugs.

"Harvey called me, figured you may need some support." I smile at her and nod. "I also brought you a blanket." She sits down next to me and rests a hand on my shoulder. The blanket in her lap.

"How are you feeling? Are you okay?" I let out a strained sigh and I can feel those tears bubble up once more.

"I was so scared, Leah. I got the call and I assumed the worst- I can't handle it." She pulls me into a hug and rubs a small circle into my back.

"It's okay, he's okay." I take a deep breath and nod, pulling away from the hug.

"No, I know. I just. I know this may happen from time to time and I should be ready for it but I wasn't. I didn't think it would be so soon." She nods.

"Y/N is strong, you know he can handle himself. But it's okay to be worried. I would be worried too." I take another deep breath and wipe away my tears.

"Thank you, Leah. I'm okay." She smiles and hands me the blanket.

"Get some rest, Elliott. It's late." She leaves the clinic and I lay my head down on Y/N's bed. Drifting off to an uncomfortable sleep.

Back to you!

I woke up in immense pain, my head and my ribs throbbing along with the stitches in the side of my waist. I figured it would be bad but damn.

I go to move until I see Elliott's head laid down on the side of my bed. His eyebrows are pinched, looking like he's in pain or worried.

I sigh and shake my head. I really should have been more careful. I have him all worried and upset. I feel terrible.

I reach my hand out and run it through his hair. Gently massaging his scalp with my nails. His eyebrows relax ever so slightly and he shifts. Lifting his head up looking at me.

"I didn't mean to wake you." He shakes his head.

"That's okay. How do you feel?" I look at him and sigh.

"Everything hurts." He looks around and grabs a blanket. "Where'd that come from?" Something in it shakes and he reaches around and pulls out pain medicine.

"Leah, she stopped by to see how I was doing." I smile and gratefully take the pills, taking it with the glass of water Harvey left.

"I'm sorry for all the stress this has probably put you though. This is the last thing I ever wanted to do to you." He laughs and leans in a little.

"What's the first?" I blush profusely and the heart rate monitor starts to increase. I forgot I was still hooked up to that and looks as if he did too. He covers his mouth and starts laughing.

"Stop it! It isn't funny!" I say, though I'm also unable to stop myself from laughing a little bit.

"Sorry, sorry. I'm sorry. I completely forgot you were hooked up to that still." I watch as he checks the time and sighs.

"It's 6:30. No idea when Harvey will come down but we'll be able to get home soon." I relax a bunch when he takes my hand in his, the heart rate monitor slowing. "You'll be stuck with me for a few days until you're better."

"I want to be stuck with you forever, but I'll take it." He looks surprised and laughs abruptly before looking at me with a thoughtful gaze.

"What is it?" I ask him, he shrugs and runs his fingertips over my palm.

"I'm just thinking about finally getting you home and out of this clinic." I smile.

I jump a little when I hear a door open next to me, Harvey steps out and smiles when he sees I'm awake.

"I didn't expect either of you to be awake yet. I can go ahead and check you out real quick and then I can discharge you." I nod and Elliott moves out of the way, he still looks super tired, and he's wavering where he's standing.

Harvey checks my vitals once more and then changes any bandages then calls it done. "You can change clothes real quick I'll just be up at the counter filing this paperwork."

"Thank you, Harvey." He smiles at me and disappears behind the front two doors.

Elliott helps me out of the bed, he turns to pick up my clothes but I can sense his heart dropping.

They're all ripped and bloodied. Covered in slime and soot.

"It'll just be for a few minutes, it's a pretty quick walk to my farm, okay?" He sighs and hands me my clothes and goes to join Harvey as I get changed.

As I'm changing I finally look at my wounds. I have a large gash on my waist, the one he had to stitch, cuts and bruises and my ribs are incredibly bruised. I struggle a little to get my shirt on but I manage to.

Once changed I head out and Elliott helps me to my farm. I'm in so much pain about halfway through Elliott is basically dragging me.

"Darling, would you like me to just carry you?" If I were in any other situation I would be flustered but my head is swimming so much I slightly ignore it.

"That would be nice, honestly." We're both exhausted and he best way for him to carry me right now is piggyback.

He carries me the rest of the way up to my porch and once inside I collapse on my bed.

"Where are your clothes? Let me get you some clean ones." I point to a dresser and he rustles around for something comfortable before coming back over and handing them to me.

"I'll step out and allow you to change but once I come back you need some more rest." He leaves and heads into the kitchen and I change quickly. I suddenly feel all of the exhaustion hit my bones the moment I'm finished and I reach out and grab my nightstand.

A framed photo of my grandfather falls and clatters to the ground, shattering. I sigh heavily as Elliott enters the room with worry. "I knocked it over, I'm okay." I sit down on the edge of the bed and Elliott cleans up the glass, taking the picture of him from the frame.

"Lets get some rest okay? I'll be out on the couch if you need me."

"What? No." I take his hand in mine and rest my head on his chest.

"What was that? Do you want me to stay with you?" I nod, face still buried into his chest. He chuckles and we climb into bed together.

I fall asleep in Elliott's arms that day, and we didn't wake up until a while later. I love him, and the life I've carved so far.

The best thing I ever did was move to the valley.

(Like Stardew Valley?? Check out my other stories.)

Lovers Madness (Sam x TransMasc ReaderAU) an alternate universe where you and some of the others are childhood friends and you moving back to the valley stirs up old emotions.

Black Coffee (Harvey X MascReader) follows the games storyline but with a more adventurous and playful farmer, showing up more and more to the clinic causes you to begin to fall for the town's doctor.

The Perfect Poem (Elliott X Masc Reader) My first stardew valley work, not exactly the best and some updates may come to it soon, it is currently completed but I may come up with some new ideas to add to it. You were a hermit farmer, on the farm long enough to complete the community center and unlock Ginger Island but you hadn't run into Elliott at all, you became good friends and a small kiss at the spirits eve festival changes your whole dynamic.

Most of my work doesn't follow heart events to an exact, but the content from them if important to the storyline I'm trying to achieve will remain.

I hope you enjoyed! <33

Chapter Text

NSFW ⚠️

I wake up clung to Elliott's side, his arm around my back, and I don't move a muscle. He's sitting up and reading a book, one of mine, I hardly mind but my head in his lap is so comfortable.

Though I am in a lot of pain, I never want to move from this spot.

"Good morning, Y/N. Or I guess good evening." I look out the window and back up at him.

"There goes my sleep schedule." He laughs a little and places the book down on the nightstand.

"Hungry?" I move in closer to him, wrapping my arms tighter around him, he adjusts immediately to it.

"A little, but I want to stay here for a little longer." One of his hands run it's fingertips over my back.

"Of course. How do you feel? Any better?"

"A little. Still in pain but that's to be expected." I move up just a little to rest my head on his chest, feeling his breathing and listening to his heartbeat.

The rise and fall of his chest could lull me back to sleep. He dips his head down and kisses my forehead.

I know I'll end up having to go back to the mines soon, I have to. I need coal and ores, gemstones and such. Elliott won't like it but I have to.

"Once I heal, I'll have to go back to the mines." His face twists with concern and what looks like a little bit of anger. "That won't be for another few days, maybe next week. And I will be so careful, I'll talk to Marlon, get some better equipment and make sure I get what I need without getting hurt." He sighs and moves some of his hair from his face.

"I know. I know you have to, I do. But I despise it. I would rather you just buy the stuff from Clint but I know how expensive that is." His hand moves up to touch my cheek. "You promise me you will do everything to come back to me in one piece?" I lean my head into his touch and nod.

"I promise. I've made that promise before and I'll do it again as many times over I need to. I will never break that promise." He nods.

"Okay. I feel a little better now." He kisses my nose and I close my eyes, feeling his body next to mine, his hands around me and his breathing.

That was a few days ago, thanks so some wild medicine my wounds have healed completely over and Elliott has helped me as much as he can.

Now I'm planning my trip back to the mines and Elliott is doting over me.

"Okay, okay. Here, there's a healing elixir in there I found from the travelling cart, and some extra food of course." He hands me a bag and it has a lot more in it than he said. But he's worried, and he's being careful. Making sure I have everything I need.

"Elliott." I watch as his brain begins to unravel, plaguing himself with every terrible scenario.

"Is there anything else you need? A muscle remedy?" I set the bag down on the table.

"Elliott." He doesn't stop.

"Some water? More food?" I grab his hands and have him look me in the eyes.

I have one thing to have him stop and listen to me. "I love you." And he does. He looks me deep in the eyes.

"What? What was that?" I cup his cheeks.

"I love you, Elliott." He smiles.

"I love you too. Oh my, I'm sorry. I'm spiraling."

"It's okay, you're just making sure I have everything I need to be safe. It's kind of cute. But I promise you, I will be fine." I lean forwards and kiss him.

"Okay, I'm done worrying. Go, be careful and come back to me. And go be wonderful." I hug him before leaving.

It's a short walk to the mines and I see Marlon standing at the cave entrance.

"Y/N. Welcome back." I smile at him.

"Hey Marlon, I know the guild isn't open yet but could I pop in just to see what you've got? There's got to be something stronger than what I have." He shrugs and nods.

"I don't see why not. Come on." We walk over to the adventurers guild and he unlocks the door. I immediately see something that wasn't here before.

"Ah, yes that's the lava katana. Strongest sword you can buy from us." I ask if I can hold it and he hands it to me. "I can give that to you now that you've plunged the mines to the deepest level, care for it?"

It has a tag on it that says 25k. "Oh wow." Marlon chuckles a little.

"Yes it is pricy, but I've always said you can't put a price on safety." I laugh, myself.

"Yes, because you're the one getting the cash." He laughs a little.

"All true. Will you be taking it?" I stand back from him and everything else and swing the sword around a little.

"Yeah I'll be taking it. It's an investment but I'm sure I'll make it back in due time." We get it checked out and after that I'm on my way to the mines.

I take the elevator down to floor 40 and finish up what I had started a few days ago. Getting all the coal I need.

I continue collecting iron with fending off anything that gets close.

In an instant I'm getting hit in the head and crashing against the cave wall. I reach out and kill it rather quickly and then call it day.

Reaching my hand up in touch where I hit my head and theres blood trickling down my face.

"Elliott won't be too happy about that."

I walk my way home, happy with what all I collected.

Walking into my farm I see Elliott outside reading a book, he looks up and sees me.

"You're back!" He stands up and rushes over, I can see the happiness fade from his face when he sees the blood. "What happened, are you okay?" I nod.

"I'm fine. I just hit my head, it is the only thing that went a little wrong." He smiles a little.

"Okay, I can handle that. Come on, let's get you cleaned up." We head inside and I empty my pockets into my mining chest then I sit on the counter to allow Elliott to tend to my head injury.

He wipes away the blood then inspects where I hit the cave wall.

"Mmm, a little bump and wound but I don't think there's anything to be worried about. Though you should still see Harvey tomorrow, make sure there's no concussion." I nod as he finishes up cleaning it.

"I'm glad you kept your promise. I don't ever want to see you in the hospital again, though I know it'll probably happen again. But when it does I'll be right there." He runs his hand down the side of my cheek and leans in to kiss me.

His fingertips trail down the side of my neck, sending shivers down my spine, he deepens the kiss and continues to trail his fingertips over my body, sending more and more shivers over me, he chuckles against my lips, throughly enjoying watching and feeling my breathing increase.

He gently grips my chin in his fingers and lifts my head up to face the ceiling, pressing kisses from the corner of my mouth down the side of my neck. I can feel my face heat up from the contact and reaching my hands out to interlace them with the roots of his hair he pulls me just a little closer to his body.

His kisses trail back up to my ear and I can feel and hear his breathing against it and oh my.

"You are the only thing I want." He whispers, it sends a shiver through my skin and I pull his face where I can kiss him.

I get off of the counter and I push him farther over to the bed.

That experience was something I never thought I'd feel. I felt amazing and he knew that. And he knows how to amplify it. Send me over the edge, having me run my nails across his back and grasp at the sheets.

He knew how to make me tick and he used it, he used everything he could to make sure I felt good. And oh my, did it work.

He liked listening to the sounds that would escape me, and he enjoyed switching roles.

The way his voice would lower as he would tell me what to do would send my brain soaring, and how he would listen to me in a heartbeat.

He would run his fingertips over my scars and make sure I felt loved.

We laid in bed talking until he felt his hair was far too knotted and I offered to brush it out for him.

Elliott doesn't live with me, not yet but at the same time he kind of does. He stayed here because of my injury and hasn't felt the need to leave. And I certainly don't mind.

He sits in front of me, humming to himself and allows me to brush through his messed hair. I hug his waist once I'm finished and rest my chin on his shoulder.

"Is this the life you thought you would have?" He asks me. I laugh.

"No, not at all. I thought I would be stuck in the city, living a life that wasn't mine to live. However, here. I'm in control of what I do. I can stay above ground and not even worry about the mines, perchace stuff from Clint and never set foot in the deep dark."

"I like the sound of that." I chuckle.

"That's not the kind of life I want though. I do enjoy crops and fishing more than mining. Willy is one of my closest friends. But I don't want to have to spend so much of my money on materials I can gather myself." He nods.

"I get it. Don't worry." I kiss his cheek and leans farther in to the crook of his neck.

"And I never thought I would have ever found someone I wanted to do any of this with. Even with my ex, him and I never really did any of that. And if we did I did not enjoy it as much as I enjoyed that." He looks back at me with a little bit of surprise.

"Maybe you just didn't like him as much." I shrug.

"Or he was just terrible in bed." Elliott laughs and leans back into me a little.

"I'm exhausted, and famished. Want to help me cook something?" I nod and we get up, dress ourselves again and we start cooking.

We cooked, we ate then we slept. Actually slept. I get the best sleep while in his arms and I can only thank him for that.

I love him, and he loves me. And for once I am truly happy.

Elliott is my endgame. He always was.

Chapter Text

That morning you had gotten up a little later than usual, though that hardly mattered because of the season. You felt good, content with the life you've carved for yourself. With Elliott by your side, as he'll stay.

You look over at him and he looks peaceful, though he'll be hungry when he wakes up. You had gotten up and started to cook. An omelet for him and one for you.

While cracking the eggs in the pan you feel arms wrap around your waist and a tired head on your shoulder. He startled you a little bit, you didn't hear him get up.

"Oh, goodmorning, Darling." He lets out a small sound.

"Come back." You crack another egg into the pan.

"To bed? No, it's time for me to get up. My animals need to be taken care of." He holds you a little tighter and groans.

"Please." You laugh a little, cracking one last egg into the sizzling pan. You find him so cute when he first gets up. He fights so hard not to get up but usually gives in when you promise him something in return.

"I can't, darling. However I promise to cuddle later." He lets out a hmph and agrees.

"I know it's still a lot earlier than you usually get up, but you do not have to help me with anything if you aren't up to it." You finish up the first omelet and you plate it. Elliott still attached to your hip. You can feel his breathing on your neck as he watches what you're doing.

"Here, darling." You handed him the plate and he takes it and peels off of your waist. "There's also hot water for tea or there's coffee ready in the pot."

You watched as he pondered for a moment before settling on tea. Your mind goes back to last night for a moment and you blush.

You wondered if he was going to say anything about it. And if he did what would he say?

"Hm, I think I'm going to head back to my cabin today. I need to check my mail and gather some of my writing stuff." You smiled and nodded.

"Alright. I think I'm going to head down to Harvey's and get this checked out." Your brain wandered for a moment. "If you want to go home you can. I know you were only staying here to help me get around when I had surgery. We're still really new in this so, I can understand if you don't want to be around here all the time." He chuckles to himself.

"I like being here, if it's alone time you're worried about me getting not enough of I get plenty of it. You're off doing other things and I'm doing my own thing." You look at him over your shoulder and chuckle a little.

"Wow it already seems like we're married." He almost chokes on his omelet. "Woah, I was just joking." He shakes his head as he takes a sip of his tea.

"No I just, hadn't thought about that at all. Is that something you want?" You plate your omelet and set it down on the table opposite of Elliott.

"I mean, yeah at some point. Not for a while though. I don't think I'm ready for that yet." He nods a little and continues eating. You watch him for a moment, thinking about him being your husband makes you a little giddy.

"Is it something you want in the future?" He looks at you with that same look he gave you when he first kissed you.

"Absolutely. If only it's with you." You blush and laugh. You're glad he's positive you'll be together that long. "I couldn't imagine myself being with anyone else." He reaches his hand across the table and grasps yours, planting a small kiss on the back of your knuckle.

"I love you, Elliott." He smiles.

"And I love you, Y/N."

After all of breakfast you headed down to Harvey's.

Opening the door Harvey looks up and grins a little bit.

"Hey, everything going alright?" He asks. You nodded and explained the situation.

"I'm okay, but Elliott wants me to get checked out for a concussion. I hit my head pretty hard last night." He nods.

"Of course, come on back." You had headed back with him in his back room and he checked a couple things, and everything turned out to be completely fine.

"No concussion! You're free to go." You thanked him and left. Elliott was at his cabin but you just decided to head home for an early night.

Sometimes working on a farm just means to take plenty of calm and chilled days. You sat home re-reading Elliotts book with him swimming through your head with every passing second.