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Krobus wasn't quite sure when the farmer's demeanor changed. He only knows that it did, and not for the better.
The weather was warm outside, the sun shining brightly in the middle of the summer. Krobus stayed in the farmhouse, enjoying the humidity and picking away at the house bugs as per usual. The farmer seemed to be in a good mood too, collapsing onto the couch with a satisfied hum; they'd just come back from harvesting and replanting some red cabbages in the fields outside.
The two of them exchanged pleasant small talk as the farmer relaxed in the living room. Krobus made sure the humidity wasn't too bothersome; the farmer ensuring the shadow that it was alright. After a few moments, the farmer rose from their spot on the couch to stretch. As they did so, the phone stand positioned against the wall rang. Krobus left the space to give them some privacy to answer it, heading down the hall to his own room.
The farmer had recently gotten their hands on a new catalogue, -one with a plant theme from the looks of it- and gave Krobus full access to it so he could decorate his room however he'd like. Initially, he didn't have much desire to change the look of his living space, but curiosity got the better of him one morning and he found himself looking through the list of furniture. A few items had caught his eye, and now he planned to spend a few hours arranging and rearranging the decor he selected; all while the farmer went about their own day, unable to keep still as always.
After a few minutes however, a faint clattering noise emanated from the living room, followed by quick footsteps and the slamming of a door. When Krobus peered around the corner, the farmer was nowhere to be seen. What he did find was a disgruntled looking phone stand, the speaker half dangling off the table by its coiled wire. He crossed the room and lifted the device, but he found no noise coming through it.
He placed the speaker head back onto its rightful spot on the phone and looked out one of the front windows. Through the pane Krobus could see the farmer hacking away at the tree a little ways down the path. They had an odd expression on their face as they swung the axe again and again and again.
Krobus didn't know what to make of it.
Later in the evening, Krobus noticed a shift in the farmer's demeanor. They seemed agitated; pacing the house when task-less and acting rough with the tasks they did have. At one point they even let out a frustrated yell; startling their cat, Buttercup, into hiding behind a bookshelf, which Krobus was just barely able to coax her out of before the farmer made another loud noise and Krobus had to give up on getting the feline to reappear.
If he was being quite honest, Krobus was nervous. He'd seen the farmer angry before, yes. But he wasn't sure how to approach them, especially without having any idea as to what was actually wrong. He began to wonder if maybe it had something to do with him? Perhaps the farmer had grown bitter about their living arrangement and was too polite to say anything.
There didn't seem to be any other visible problem after all. The harvest was coming along nicely, the house was clean, and there's no social drama with the townsfolk- the farmer normally tells Krobus if there is. They don't usually do- well.. this. Krobus listened from his (temporary?) room as a chest was slammed shut, harsher than usual, from upstairs. He watched the sunset from a nearby window noting the farmer stalk into the kitchen, starting on some food for dinner.
Krobus didn't leave his room like he usually did once the smell of freshly chopped vegetables wafted throughout the building. He remained stood upon pale tiles that almost felt cold, even in the humidity, as the stillness of the night crept into the house. He listened to the faint ticking of a nearby clock until the room was fully shrouded in darkness. None of the lamps had been turned on, so he remained with the shadows. It was quiet, save for the clock's ambiance and the sounds of movement from the kitchen. It was almost peaceful, and Krobus fully intended to spend the rest of the night where he was.
That is- until a sharp clattering noise rang throughout the house, followed by a muffled curse.
Venturing down the hall, Krobus rounded the corner, the kitchen coming into full view.
And with it, the farmer: curled up on the floor, back against the cabinet, and head between their knees. A knife laid discarded onto the floor a foot or two away from them.
Before he knows it, Krobus finds himself knelt next to the farmer. He doesn't remember crossing the distance, just hearing their muttered curses and seeing them cradling their non-dominant hand.
"..Farmer?"
Immediately, their head shoots up from its spot between their knees and that's when Krobus gets his first proper look at them.
Their eyes are slightly red, eyebrows drawn together, and jaw tightly set. The hand they have cradled has a cut along one of the fingers, and their knees are drawn almost completely up to their chest.
All in all, they look distressed. And Krobus wants nothing more than to help.
"..Are you okay?"
Those three words alone seem to snap the farmer out of the trance they were in, knees hitting the tile as they start to attempt to stand.
"Ye-ah" Their voice cracks and they swallow thickly, "..Yeah. I'm fine I just- I just lost my grip for a minute. I.. um."
Krobus looks to the knife on the floor. Sure enough, there's a small bit of blood along the blade from where it met the farmer's finger. The farmer seems to follow his gaze as they reach for the knife.
"I will- I'll just clean this up. Dinner, it won't make itself! You- you know?"
The second they lift the knife from the tile, Krobus seizes their wrist, gently easing the blade from their grip.
"You're shaking-"
"I'm fine."
"Farmer-"
"I said I'm FINE."
Krobus pauses at the farmer's sudden outburst, so do they.
"..You're clearly not."
"..."
"Farmer," He places the knife back onto the counter, turning back to their hunched form. "You know you can tell me if anything's bothering you, right?"
The farmer sits there for a moment, silent as they stare down at their hands. Krobus watches them, reaching into the shadows and pulling out a first aid kit to address their injury while he waits for a response.
It doesn't take very long to bandage their hand after cleaning it and applying some healing cream from the kit. Once Krobus finishes tying the gauze, the farmer pulls their hand back against their chest. Krobus decides to get comfortable, sitting next to the farmer, his own back against the cabinet. He makes sure to give them space, staying close, but not touching them. Silence passes easily between them as the night gets deeper.
"..It was my parents."
The sudden, quiet voice of the farmer surprises Krobus.
"Your parents..?"
"On the phone, earlier today-" So that's what the call was- "They called me to ask about when I was going to visit them next."
From what Krobus remembers from the farmer, their relationship with their parents is a strained one. That, paired with the fact they hardly talk about them, makes this information all the more surprising.
"..Do you want to? I can manage watching the farm for a few days if you-"
"No-" They start, "No, I- Sorry, you don't have to do that. I didn't mean- I don't plan to visit them."
Now Krobus is confused.
"Did something happen.?"
The farmer worries their lip with their teeth for a moment, as through they're debating saying anything more. Thankfully they seem to decide on the affirmative as they take a deep breath before speaking.
"It's just they- We've never really gotten along. Especially these past few years. Since I moved to the farm, they've been hearing from me less, and they aren't really happy about it. They make sure to let me know that every time they call."
The farmer exhales shakily before continuing.
"And.. this time, they wanted to know when I'd be- you know- bringing someone with me. And- and I told them, I reminded them that I have you as my roommate and I won't bring anyone home and they just- ...we didn't agree. We argued. And then they just started saying a bunch of stuff-"
A choked sob escapes the farmer, cutting them off. They cover their mouth with a trembling hand and Krobus tilts closer. The farmer takes his unspoken offer and leans against him, exhaling shakily as tears wet their face. They're quiet for a while, only the occasional sniffle or hiccup escaping them. Gradually, they start to relax, shaking less and wiping their eyes on their sleeves. Krobus doesn't say a word, letting them collect their thoughts.
"..thanks."
Krobus nods, shifting to face them more.
"You.. you don't have to to talk about it if you don't want to."
"No.." They mumble, sitting up a little straighter while still leaning against their roommate. "No, I want to.."
Unsure of what else to say, Krobus simply nods. The farmer takes a deep breath.
"They said.. well, they said a lot. But basically that they didn't raise me to be.. like this. We argued for a while but it's like they weren't even hearing me. It was so frustrating and got to a point where I.. I just couldn't listen to them anymore and hung up. I went outside to let loose some steam but- it never stopped bothering me." They wrap their arms tighter around themself. "It's like I'm just going to keep disappointing them, being the way I am."
Krobus blinks. "The.. way you are?"
The farmer looks up at Krobus slowly, something different in their expression. "..yeah. With the whole 'not marrying anyone' thing."
"..I don't understand."
The farmer glances down, staring hard at their knees.
"It's not normal I guess. They want me to find someone nice to settle down with. Have a family. They've never outright pestered me about having kids but-" They squeeze their eyes shut, leaning their head back against the cabinet. "It's not something they've had to say outloud. It's implied well enough."
Krobus thinks on this for a moment. The most confusing part of it all being the "family" comment. The farmer has referred to Krobus and the household pets as family before, why would human children need to be involved?
"And part of me thinks they're right." The farmer mutters. "Like maybe I should just try to make it work-"
"Would you be happy?"
The farmer pauses, looking at Krobus again with that same mysterious emotion in their eyes.
"I mean.. no. Romance and having kids hasn't really ever been for me. I can't.. I don't feel that way about other people. My parents think I'm weird for that. Most people back at home do. Like- I'm broken or something. ..I don't know. It's stupid."
Krobus is silent for a moment before he hums to himself. "..Us shadow people don't partake in those feelings either. We can care and form familial bonds with one another, but that's the extent of it. They too think I am strange for the way I care for you.. You're not broken."
Krobus feels the farmer stiffen next to him and he looks over at his roommate.
His roommate who now has fresh tears streaming from their eyes. He immediately panics.
"Farmer?? I'm sorry- did I say something-"
"So- you're okay with it..? You're okay- with me?"
Oh.
Oh.
"I- yes. You know-"
He wants to say more, to further assure the farmer, that he's here with them because of them, not their ability to love or feel in a way others apparently expect them to; But he doesn't get the chance, as the farmer engulfs him in a tight hug, a familiar action he gladly reciprocates. In the darkness of the kitchen, sitting on the floor, they stay for a moment.
He wonders quietly if the farmer knows already; if they can tell from a simple "yes" that Krobus doesn't find them to be less, or broken, and that they're family enough. He hopes the farmer does.
"...I know. Thank you."
And they do.