"Hey, little guy..."

The frog croaks back in return as Y/n steps onto their porch. It seemed almost exhausted, frazzled maybe.

They were coming home from a long day at the mines when they found a black, purple-ish coloured frog waiting for them at the steps of their cabin. Its body was dusted with freckles and its eyes were a deep black only the sky could compare to. Y/n assumed it had just wandered there from the bushes or the ponds that surrounded their property. But they couldn't help but feel concerned as it tried to follow them inside their home.

There was a bump at the door as they shut it closed. Alarmed, they open it again to see the frog laying on its back.

Y/n panics and kneels, picking it up and checking for any injuries they may have caused.

"I'm so sorry dude! Are you okay? Oh my god." They don't hesitate to bring it inside. Shutting the door behind them as they walk to the kitchen table for a better surface.

The frog seems fine. But it jumps when the farmers' cat nudges at it curiously.

"He's fine, C/n. Just a little in shock. There are no injuries as far as I can tell so he'll be going back into the wild. Don't worry." There's a reassuring smile that reaches their face as they scratch the back of their cats' ears. It was a kind of smile a parent would give their child when in need of care. Even the air around them began to loosen in the presence of their warmth.

The fireplace crackled in the distance, and the frog could only hope for another moment of its heat before he's being picked up again.

'No! Wait-'

"There we go. I'm sorry for shutting the door on you. But you head on home." Y/n places him down on the last step of the porch and pats his head gently with a smile.

They walk into the cabin again. Something small slipped from their hands as they shut the door. The frog remains hopeless, but it hops once again back onto the same spot it had been in before. Staring at the object, the frog notices its glow. A ring that illuminated. It reflected brightly against the moon and the frog had to squint to keep himself from being blinded by its light.

Waiting for a moment, the frog watches as the light in Y/n's room shuts off and he takes the ring into his mouth. Holding it as it hops off the porch and by the water bowl that's kept outside for the farmers' cat.

'Guess it was no use for tonight.'

____

"That'll do it." Y/n huffs.

They wipe the sweat from their brow with the use of their sleeve as they finish gathering their brand new harvest, shutting the lid of the shipping bin for Lewis.

Just then, fast approaching footsteps are running towards the farmer from behind and they turn to catch Robin nearly tripping over her own feet.

"Y/n! S-Sebastian. Have you seen him? Is he here? Did he spend the night?" Red-faced with worry, her hands clutch onto Y/n's shoulders so tightly her knuckles turn white. Sebastian and Y/n were best friends. Having instantly clicked when they'd met, being in the valley for three years gave them time to grow an even closer bond than when they first started.

Sebastian often slept over, if not in his own room, he'd be in Y/n's. Typing away on his laptop in their bed that would be covered in their scent. Usually, though, Sebastian would leave a note in the kitchen for his mother to see. Hence why Robin had visited.

There was no note this time.

"Um, no Sebastian isn't here. Why? Is he gone right now? Have you checked Sam's and Abby's?" Y/n tries to relax, grabbing at Robin's wrists to calm her down.

"I've called both their house phones and he's not there! Plus you know Abby's whole 'I'm too gay to have boys come over' rule- she'd rather listen to her father than ever let a man into her room! Let alone Sam or Sebastian, she treats them like siblings since she's an only child!"

Robin paces around the farm, Y/n watching helplessly.

"I... I'll give him a call." Muttering, Y/n tosses their work gloves onto their porch, a frown on their face.

Not too far away, the same frog from the previous night is watching the scene unfold. Both Robin and the farmer now wearing worried expressions. He watched as Y/n exhaled shakily, bracing for whatever outcome was to come.

He hadn't run off to the city, did he? If he had, wouldn't he have told them? Stopped by for one last goodbye? He promised.

____

"I think I'll move to the city around the end of next year. If not, sooner." Announced Sebastian.

He and Y/n were hanging out in the bathhouse, joking around and sneaking into the change rooms to commit vandalism in various stalls and mirrors. Sitting by the edge of the pool, Y/n's knees are up against their chest, while Sebastian was sitting cross-legged.

The farmer turns their head to look at their best friend. They felt the stabbing feeling in their heart, but didn't mention it, nor did they try to pay attention to it. "I'm proud of you." Y/n simply said.

They didn't wanna over complicate things. He had enough on his plate with his step-father on his ass every second and every move of his life.

"Is that okay with you?" He questioned curiously.

Sebastian wasn't an idiot. He could read Y/n like a book. And something told him they weren't fully with him on the idea of moving to the city.

"You want my honest opinion, Bastian?" Snickering softly, a pink colour dusts over Y/n's cheeks. Ashamed for admitting such embarrassing thoughts. But there were no secrets between the two. Uncomfortable conversations like this one were what kept them going. It's what drew them closer.

If not for those moments, where would their newfound comfort in each other be?

Nodding firmly, Sebastian is eager to hear what

Y/n has to think. He's nearly excited.

Sighing, they begin; "I... I guess I'll just really miss you when you're gone. To be honest, I'd like it better if you stayed. But you know, It's not my decision or place to be so selfish like that. It's your life and I can't control where you go or what you do. I just know I'm gonna miss seeing you every day. Don't get me wrong though, I know it's what you've been wanting for a while... so I'm happy and proud that you're finally making your dreams come true you know? As long as you're happy, Bas."