Frogs in the Rain (Stardew Valley // Sebastian)

The Frogs

Nix dreamt of the train. She saw herself lying in an empty boxcar, traveling to nowhere. The roof was missing, leaving a starless sky above her head. She reached towards it, extending her fingers into the abyss until the blackness oozed onto her skin, dripping down and hitting her cheek. She winced, her throat hot. Sputtering, she rolled onto her side, spitting out a mouthful of the dribbling abyss. She rested her head against the metal flooring, breathing deeply before hearing shuffling beside her. Lifting her head groggily, she spotted a familiar figure with beautiful, honey-colored hair. They sat with their feet pulled behind them, one hand against the floor and the other tucked in their lap.

"Mother," Nix choked, crawling closer before collapsing at the woman's folded knees. "Mother, I-" She looked back up at the woman's unsmiling face. "I'm sorry." Her eyes filling with tears, she rested her head against her mother's lap and cried her confessions to the empty boxcar. "I'm sorry for leaving you. When you called me by Father's name, I... I was so horrified of becoming him that I just ran." She laughed through the tears, trying to smile. "I guess I was right to be worried, huh?"

A soft hand inched its way into Nix's hair. She only cried harder, her sodden fingers digging into her mother's legs.

When Nix woke up the following morning, her fingers gripping a different clothed flesh, she almost thought her mother was real. However, after catching the faint whiff of cigarette smoke from this new body, she remembered where she was and who held her. She could hear Sebastian's sedating heartbeat in her right ear, each rhythm quelling the abating pain in her abdomen. He held her hand gingerly, their fingers intertwined against his shoulder. Her stomach growled. It was well after breakfast time for her, as confirmed by Navi's patient stares from the doorway. Slowly, the grunts leaving her throat in wheezes, Nix removed herself from Sebastian's chest before studying him. He lay like a stone, unmoving and stoic as he slept. She was quite used to his smileless face, but it was troubling to find that, even in his slumber, he didn't look at peace. She pulled the blankets up to his chin before rising from the sheets and hobbling into the other room.

She walked to the bottom cupboards, pulling out a bag of dog food, and bringing it to Navi's bowl. The German Shepherd panted in excitement, her tail wagging as she ate her meal. Nix smiled before moving to the fridge, looking for something to make. If possible, she was really craving baked snow yams. She scrunched up her nose, finding none.

I thought I picked some before I left? She half-huffed before closing the fridge door, heavily considering going out to find a couple. Cindersap Forest had an abundance of them, and she doubted the trip would take too long, even in her condition.

But what if they come back? Her conscience screamed. She bit her lip, a tremor in her hands as she looked about the farmhouse.

If... If I take Navi, she'd definitely get help if something happened, Nix reasoned with herself, taking a deep breath. And I can take my sword too.

She scanned the kitchen for her coat, wondering where Sebastian put it until she heard him gasp from the bedroom. Making her way back, she saw he was seated up, his palms and trembling forearms supporting his weight. He didn't see her at first, his eyes glazed over as he took deep breaths, but he soon settled and found her again. He relaxed at first, slumping forward and pulling his arms into his lap as Nix walked towards the bed, but then he pursed his lips. "Why are you up?"

"I was looking for something to make breakfast with," she replied.

He grabbed her hand, his movements automatic. His breath caught in his throat, and Nix felt him almost let go. "You should be laying down. I can handle breakfast."

Nix shook her head. "I have to take care of the farm too."

Sebastian parted his lips to argue, but a creak outside, followed by knocking at the front door, stopped him. A high voice called his name, to which he let out a shallow breath. He squeezed Nix's hand. "It's my mom. She can't find out I'm here."