Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sam didn't hate anyone, now don't get him wrong he had dislikes. Like how there wasn't a skate park in Stardew so he got in trouble for skating around town, or how his mom nagged him about finding something "real" to do with his life, or heck the way Vincent asked about their dad. All those things bothered him but it wasn't like he hated it, he understood that Vincent didn't really understand the concept of combat, and his mom was trying to raise a rowdy kid and keep track of a twenty something year old. So Sam didn't hate anyone or anything. That being said, Sebastian's new girlfriend Hannah? Anna? Brianne? who cared, was cutting real fucking close to being the first person to be hated by Sam.

In all honesty it wasn't her fault she was sweet, she played all the games he and Sebastian liked, she understood all of Sebastian's programming jargon, and she was alt as well. In all honesty she was perfect for Seb, there was just one problem. She was not Sam, and Sam hated it, I mean Sebastian is his best friend and has been since he was four. It was wrong for him to want Sebastian all to himself the way he wanted him, and not just because of their history together. The worst part of Seb's girlfriend, she lived in Zuzu City which was roughly an hour away and meant that Sebastian would leave on weekends to go see her and hangout, sure she came to pelican town too, when she could but she apparently had an apartment and a job in the city so she didn't come as often as Seb left.

This weekend was one of those weekends that Sebastian had gone to see her, which left Sam alone. Sebastian had even cancelled their band practice on Sunday, which wouldn't bug Sam as much if this wasn't the third time in three weeks. Sam sighed and rolled to his side, he stared at the wall annoyed, before getting up and changing. No Sam did not hate anyone or anything but he was certainly unhappy, he walked out into the living room, he heard his mom in the kitchen and walked in.

"Hey mom," he murmured out. Jodi jumped a little before turning and smiling gently at her oldest.

"Hello Sam, you okay you seem...down"

Sam looked at the floor, he sighed and sat at the table, smoothing the fabric of the cloth. A habit built in as he had taken up more and more roles around the house. He stared at the paisley flower print, if you looked at it in a certain way they made little frogs across the length, Sebastian loved frogs.

"I'm alright, Sebastian's out in the city with his girlfriend this weekend," Sam fiddled with the corner trying to even out the cloth, moved from Vincent the night before, "So I'm just bored, anything you need help with."

Jodi smiled softly turning back to the dishes she was washing, "the living room could used swept, that Sebastian seems to have found a good one...well for him at least, gets me wondering when are you going to start looking for a girlfriend, there are quite a few young ladies here in town you don't need to go find a city girl." Sam sucked in a sharp silent breath, see here's the thing Sam was irrevocably and undeniably gay, second problem Sam's mom was seriously religious and while never outwardly said anything Sam hadn't built the courage to tell her of his orientation.

"I don’t know mom," Sam sighed. He stood and walked out into the living room grabbing the broom out of the closet and started to work on the living room, he lost himself in the monotonous movements of cleaning. His phone rang in the other room and he rushed to pick it up groaning when he saw the number for his boss Morris from Joja mart. He picked it up and was told that someone had called out and he was expected to come in and cover immediately before the call ended. No questions asked, just an expectation and so Sam shouted to his mom about how he was headed over to work, which resulted in a lecture of how he shouldn't shout in the house.

Today would have been a good day to go to Sebastian’s and light up with him, but no he was out in Zuzu having an amazing time with his girlfriend. Sam marched over to Joja and clocked in, at least it was some money, most which went to help cover house bills and the like but the small amount he saved, well one day he’d get out of pelican town, move and do something with music, forget about his unreciprocated feelings for his best friend. Maybe he’d actually start a relationship with someone who knows, he just needed to stomp out these feelings for his best friend soon, which if the past three years of this crush had anything to show, wasn’t gonna happen.

So no Sam did not hate anything or anyone, He greatly disliked a lot of things, but hate no. At least that is what he was forever going to tell himself.

Chapter Text

A couple weeks pass by, the lovely days of spring give way to the hot and humid weather of Summer. Typically Sam loved summer, summer meant skating, summer meant hanging out at the beach with Sebastian, well at least it used to. Now it meant that Sam never saw him, if it was warm enough Sebastian would take out his bike and ride up to Zuzu, without the constraints of work slowing down, plus a brand new portable laptop, Sebastian would just go whenever. It drove Sam crazy, so on a whim Sam searched up some queer clubs and places in Zuzu.

Seven, that's how many he found, seven different clubs or bars specifically for LGBTQ people to meet and hang out. Sam was especially drawn to one called Rainbow Oasis, and on a Friday night he took the bus system (fixed recently by the new farmer) out to Zuzu, under the guise that he was going to a small band gig to get ideas. Something he has done in the past, the only reason his mom let him didn’t question it. She’d gone the first two times to make sure he was being honest, and when she found he was she stopped asking questions. In reality the club did have a live action band performing and Sam was interested in music coming from his community, so he reasoned that technically it wasn’t dishonest.

Sam wore his favorite “secret” outfit, all things his mom and friends have seen just not all together. He wore a pair of ripped acid wash jeans that fit a little too well around his round ass, an old navy blue Queen band shirt. He accessorized it with his white mesh cover up and far too many chains to be necessary, along with the blue converse Sebastian had gifted him like three birthdays ago. Covering up with his grey hoodie he left the house with a rough time of return and headed off to hopefully kick himself into reality.

The bus ride was uneventful, and living in the age of GPS on maps he found the club easily enough. The club was vibrant to say the least, the tables were all wood painted in the shades of the rainbow and had a tropical vibe to the whole place. Sam was soon swept into the bright atmosphere of the bar and found himself chatting with several of the patrons. He danced along to the upbeat music as the band set up and ordered a drink, something fruity, he doesn't know what, the bartender had recommended and he’d figured it was best to leave it up to the man who handled bottles for a living. A few sips in and feeling comfortable in the environment, a man sat next to Sam, he was taller and more built, kind of reminding Sam of Alex. Though Alex swore clubs and bars of any kind weren’t his scene.

“New here?” the Man said, his voice was rough, in a way that a quiet person’s voice is. Sam looked at him a little longer, the man was cute he supposed, long brunette slightly curly hair, green eyes, roman nose.

“Yeah, first time, I'm Sam”

“Cameron, you ‘bout finished with that drink there…let me buy you another?” The newly introduced man asked, Sam hesitated. On one hand his dad had always said don’t accept drinks from strangers, on the other hand maybe this guy was what Sam needed to get over his three year long very deep crush on his best friend. So Sam gave a slow and nervous nod to Cameron. Who promptly ordered another one of whatever the hell it was Sam was drinking.

Only two drinks in and Sam felt good, a testament to the rarity of his drinking or the strength of the alcohol unknown. The band had finished setting up and Sam found himself dancing a little more freely, giggling and enjoying himself as they played. Cameron stayed next to him, making flirty comments and laughing at Sam’s antics, it was nice. The night wore on a bit and Cameron got more handsy, and while Sam was comfortable with touch for the most part this felt wrong. Looking at the time Sam excused himself to catch the late bus back to Stardew.

Cameron offered to walk Sam back to the Bus stop, and despite his better judgement Sam agreed that it was a good idea. They had walked a few blocks before Cameron had roughly shoved Sam against the wall of an alley that he'd pushed Sam into and kissed Sam roughly all teeth and tongue, Cameron’s hand dipped below his belt and groped at Sam’s junk roughly. Cameron's other hand dropped and pulled Sam's hand to his own groin. Horrified Sam pushed at Cameron’s chest and froze for a moment before taking off. It wasn’t until he got probably a block away did he realize the bus stop was in the other direction, and he would have totally missed the late bus back.

This left two options, one) he could call his mom or 2)he could call Sebastian. Sebastian it was, Sam decided. Fishing for his phone Sam dialed his best friend and long time crushes number and waited for the connection.

“Sam?” Sebastian’s tired and slightly annoyed tone rang through the cell. Sam sighed in relief.

“Hey Seb, could…could you come pick me up… I'm really sorry to bother you but um…please,” Sam could hear his voice distantly, it sounded shaky and soft, so unlike his usual peppy and loud personality. Sebastian seemed to key into the change in Sam’s demeanor.

“Where are you.” Clipped and sharp, it left no room for anything other than an answer.

“Um I'm on old main street, a block away from the Rainbow Oasis” Sam heard a sharp intake of breath and the sound of rustling, then keys.

“Stay there, don’t talk to anyone, I'm on my way” The call ended and Sam sat on the curb, his arms wrapped around his knees, feeling dirty and at fault. Sam only had to wait maybe ten minutes before he heard the soft thrum of a motorcycle, and looking up he saw his best friend sitting on his ride, helmet on, visor up looking down at him in worry.

Sam stood up and at Sebastian's subtle hint, he mounted the bike behind him. Ready for the long ride back to Stardew and the scolding likely to come from his mom, and the concern from his friends when they weasel the story out of him later in the week.