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When Kent returned home, he didn't expect to see a new face in town. His older son, Sam, had told him all about this farmer, Layton, and how the two had been close since he moved to the farm a year ago. Hearing his son talk about this new farmer piqued his interest; he remembered how an old man, he forgot his name, used to live in that farm, and he had recently passed away while Kent was away. A few years later, this farmer, his grandson, took over the farm and he has been there ever since.
"He's a cool guy!" Sam explained with a wide grin, "You should meet him!"
Kent would have protested at that, saying that he just returned home and he needed to recover from his constant battles in the war. But seeing the bright eyes of his older son, he couldn't just say no. Besides, he was sure that this Layton would come by and say hello. It would be rude to not introduce himself to the newcomer.
Kent woke up at his usual time—five AM—before he dressed himself and headed out the door. He wasn't tired at all despite how early it was; he was used to waking up at this time while he was at war. He knew he needed to be quiet as he headed out, however; everyone else was still asleep, and he didn't want to wake them up. Especially his wife, Jodi—she needed all the rest she could get before she started the day.
He traveled the streets before he headed west; it took an hour to get there, but he managed to get to the farm.
He was surprised to see that there were no numerous trees, large branches, rocks, and grass that littered the farmland. On his right was a sign he didn't remember being there, with the words "Welcome to Cloudsky Farm!" written in bold, neat writing. Up ahead was a coop, with a silo close by, and close to the entrance were stone walls surrounding tilled ground, with a few scarecrows between the walls. No crops had been planted here, but he knew why—winter had just passed, and Layton likely couldn't farm his crops then.
He froze in shock when something rubbed his leg, and he held back his instincts to kick away whatever it was. He glanced down, eyes wide, but let out a small sigh of relief when he saw that it was just a cat. The cat purred as it rubbed itself around his legs, before glancing up at Kent and meowing a greeting.
Kent chuckled, bending down to pet the cat. Its light orange fur felt soft and silky, and Kent felt something hard but silky when he petted its back. He checked the cat's fur and noted that there were two large scars hidden underneath on its back. He tilted his head.
Seems like a former stray, he thought, looks like a tough little fighter.
He sighed, shaking his head at that brief thought. He shouldn't be thinking about that right now. He was here for a reason.
He stood then, and as he walked towards the large house nearby, the cat followed him not far behind, watching him closely. Kent stepped up the stairs to the house and held up a fist to knock on the door.
Right before he could do so, the door opened, and Kent stopped to avoid punching the person in the face. He lowered his fist to study the person.
Standing in the doorway was a young man, who looked around Sam's age. A blue handkerchief was bound around his neck, and a brown jacket nearly hid his white shirt underneath, only exposing the middle of the shirt. His blue jeans matched his outfit surprisingly well, and his brown boots had helped add to the outfit. A swashbuckler hat perched on top of his head, hiding black locks underneath, with a few of the hairs poking out on the sides. In his right hand clutched a cup of hot, steaming coffee. His green eyes met Kent's, as the two stood in silence for a few moments.
"Hey," the man greeted with a small smile. Despite how small it was, it was a warm and gentle smile that relaxed Kent somewhat, "are you new here?"
"...Not really," Kent answered somewhat timidly. He ran a hand through his hair before he continued, "you're the new farmer in town, right?"
"I am," the man nodded, taking a quick sip of his coffee. "I'm Layton. And you're…?"
"Kent," Kent introduced himself, "I came back from overseas last night. My son, Sam, told me all about you."
Kent caught an upwards quirk on Layton's lips, as the farmer let out a chuckle. Taking another sip of his coffee, he said, "Oh, Sam? Yeah, he told me about you, too. Welcome home, Kent."
Kent couldn't help but feel a twinge of hurt in his heart. While Layton wasn't aware of everything he went through in the war, and that Kent was safe and away from it, he couldn't help but think of what he had gone through. Being captured as a POW, struggling to escape.
Kent shook his head for a moment, before giving Layton a forced smile. "...Well, I just wanted to come by and introduce myself. See you, farmer."
Layton tilted his head, a frown on his face as Kent moved to leave. "That soon?" He asked, "Why not stay for a few minutes and rest? I have plenty of coffee left if you want some. Besides…" he glanced down at Kent's feet, chuckling when the cat rubbed on Kent's legs again. The small animal looked up at its owner and trilled. Layton patted his knees before opening his arms, and the cat took it as a cue to hop into his arms. "Pickles seems to like you a lot. He would love some new friends besides the chickens at the coop."
Kent held back a chuckle at the name. Pickles? What an odd name for a cat like it. But it added its cute but gruff charm.
Kent nodded at Layton's offer. The trek from his home to here was tiring; he needed to stop and sit down for a few minutes, at least.
Layton moved aside, gesturing with his head to let Kent inside his home. Kent entered and Layton followed behind, placing Pickles on the wooden floor before shutting the door behind him.
Incessant chatter of the television rang in Kent's ears—the Queen of Sauce channel was currently on, he recognized, and it was showing how to make a homemade pizza. On top of the stove sat a black pan, with two eggs sizzling in it. The smell of the eggs along with the coffee wafted in the warm air of the house, tickling Kent's nostrils as the man sat down at the wooden table. He didn't remember that the house was this big—before he left to go to war, the older man who lived here had a much smaller cabin. Had Robin improved the house to make it much bigger since Layton began living here?
Layton hummed as he walked towards the pan, looking over the eggs that were sizzling on the pan. With a smile, he took a plate from the side and used a spatula to scoop out one of the eggs from the pan. With precise, careful movements, he placed the egg on the plate, before he grabbed another plate to do the same with the other egg.
"I was going to eat both of these," Layton explained, "but since you're here, you can have one of them."
Kent merely nodded, watching as the man placed the other egg on the other plate. Once he was done, Layton took another mug from the top shelf and poured some coffee into it. He turned to Kent again, asking, "You want milk and sugar in your coffee?"
Kent shook his head to decline, "Black coffee will do for me," he answered.
With a nod, Layton placed his cup down and poured more coffee in his, before he delivered the other mug to Kent. With a whisper of, "Thank you", Kent took a sip of the coffee. Fresh and hot, albeit bitter, as he expected, and he groaned in delight.
Layton took the two plates and set one of them in front of Kent before he sat across from the man. "So…" Layton began, "how are you doing?"
Kent took a fork and took a bite of the fried egg. Almost as good as Jodi's fried eggs, he noted. The only thing missing was the pepper. Swallowing, he answered, "I'm doing better now that I'm home." Well, that was a lie. Last night since he returned home, he struggled with nightmares. And he was sure that he would have more when he slept again tonight. But he decided not to dwell on that now. "I'm just glad that my boys and my wife are doing all right. Sam… seems much brighter than he was before I left."
Another small quirk on the farmer's lips, before he said, "Sam and I have been… close." Layton averted his gaze away from Kent and gulped. Kent tilted his head with an eyebrow raised. Why was he acting like that? "He, Jodi, and Vincent made me feel right at home when I moved in."
"Heh, I figured," Kent chuckled. A fake one, but a chuckle nonetheless. "Sam is a good boy. It looks like I raised him well."
"He's the one who first greeted me when I went into Pelican Town," Layton continued, "he gave me a tour around town, and introduced me to the store owners too."
He would do that, Kent thought with a smile, taking another bite of his egg. Sam was always a friendly guy—it was definitely in character of him to give a newcomer a tour.
Layton let out a dreamy sigh, to which Kent quirked another eyebrow as the farmer stared into the distance. He tilted his head, before calling out, "Er… are you okay?"
Layton snapped out of his thoughts then, shaking his head before turning to face his guest. He waved his hands in panic. "O-oh! I'm fine! Sorry. I was… distracted." Layton then took a fork and took a bite of his own egg. "You've definitely raised Sam well. You and Jodi are good parents."
"...Yes," Kent muttered, unsure of the compliment. He knew that he and Jodi were far from good parents, but he decided not to comment on that. "We, ah, do our best."
Layton chuckled, unaware of Kent's unsureness. He sipped his coffee, as he began, "My grandpa used to live here. He entrusted me with taking care of the farm when he passed on. I always wanted to have a farm, so this is perfect for me! I know a lot about farming thanks to him, and…"
Kent listened in closely as he sipped his coffee and ate his egg. Layton appeared to be passionate about farming, much to his surprise. From what he understood, Layton was a city man, someone who would likely not know about farming at all. But from the sounds of it, Layton had studied and learned about farming thanks to his grandfather, and he knew the ins and outs of farming.
Sounds like a lot of hard work, he thought, wish I had a life like that though.
He took a quick glance at the clock, and his eyes widened at the time. Ten AM already? How long was he here?
"Ah dang," Kent spoke up, unintentionally interrupting Layton's talk. Layton stopped, tilting his head before he glanced at the clock. Seeing what time it was, he knew that Kent needed to get home.
"Sorry for keeping you," Layton apologized. "Thanks for coming in and introducing yourself, Kent."
"Of course," Kent said with a nod. "Thanks for the egg and coffee."
Kent stood and walked towards the door, stopping for a moment to pat Pickles on the head. He left the house then, waving at Layton as he closed the door.
As he walked back home, he smiled slightly. This time, it was a genuine smile. Sam had a new friend, and he was glad that he had someone who was grounded like Layton.
_____
Kent didn't expect a knock at the door the next day. Nor did he expect Layton to be behind that door. Kent raised a brow when he recognized the farmer; he didn't remember inviting him for something. But nonetheless, he was a friend of Sam's; he didn't mind the unexpected visit.
"Hey, Kent," Layton greeted with a smile. Kent noted that there was a small gift box wrapped in yellow paper wrapping in one of Layton's hands. He tilted his head in confusion. Who was it for? "Sorry for coming in unexpectedly."
"It's… okay," Kent said hesitantly, staring down at the gift box in his hand. "Is there something you need?"
"Oh!" Layton piped up, "Is Sam home?"
Kent's eyebrow rose then, his eyes still glued on the gift box. Was that for Sam? No. Probably not.
"He is," Kent answered, gesturing at the door on the far right. "He's in his room."
Layton nodded with a smile, before entering the house. Kent watched him carefully as he approached his older son's room. "Thanks, Kent!" He thanked the man, before knocking on Sam's door. A few seconds passed, and Kent heard a creaaaaak as Sam opened the door slightly. The blond peeked from the crack of his door, and upon seeing his unexpected visitor, Sam fully opened the door with a wide grin.
"Lay-Lay!" He gasped, his arms open for an… embrace? Kent wasn't sure.
To his surprise, Layton enveloped his son with a one-armed hug, and with a wide grin, handed the gift box to Sam.
"I, uh… got this for you, Sammy," Layton stuttered, his head turned away to avert his gaze at Sam.
Sammy…? Kent's eyebrow rose further, as he continued to watch the two from behind the wall. What was going on?
Sam's smile grew wider from there, as he took the box and opened it with excitement. A hand flew to his mouth when he saw what was inside—a tigerseye, from what Kent saw when Sam pulled it out from the box. Sam's eyes lit up with excitement and awe, as he held the tigerseye to his chest.
"Aw, babe," Sam said, "you shouldn't have!"
Layton chuckled in reply before he pulled the other man closer to him.
Kent's eyes widened when their lips met then, his heart nearly stopping at the sight of his son—his own son—kissing another man. He remembered how Sam, when he was a young teenager, dated a girl before they had a messy breakup. He didn't expect his older son to like men as well. Or was his "date" with that girl just Sam's way of trying to fit in? Or worse, please his father and mother?
How long was I away without noticing this? He thought, his heart dropping, I thought I knew my son more than this… was I gone so long that I missed certain parts of my son's—
"They're so cute together, huh?" Jodi's voice from behind Kent startled the man. He turned, his heart pounding in his chest, but let out a sigh of relief when he recognized his wife.
Jodi frowned, realizing her mistake. "Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you, dear," she apologized.
"No, no, it's okay, love," Kent replied with a shake of his head. "I didn't even know you were there."
Jodi didn't reply to that, as she watched her son and Layton enter Sam's room, closing the door behind Layton along the way. She giggled, before turning to see her husband's reaction. Upon seeing the confused look on his face, she began to explain, "Layton and Sam have been dating since last year. They've gotten closer since then, and it makes me happy to see Sam happy. I haven't seen him smile that brightly before."
"...I never thought Sam was…" Kent trailed off, the shock not wearing off as his mind tried to process what he just witnessed. His son? Dating another man? He was fine with that, yes, but the fact that his own son never told him about this…
"Bisexual?" Jodi finished for Kent. "I was surprised too until Sam introduced me to Layton as his boyfriend."
"...Why didn't he tell me…?" Kent muttered, his heart breaking. He bit his lip, his eyes gazed down at his shoes. Was his son that worried about how he would react to him dating someone of the same gender? Was he that bad of a father?
"Don't worry," Jodi tried to comfort upon seeing Kent's crestfallen expression. "Sam was nervous about telling me, too. He did ask me to keep it a secret, but… it's an open secret at this point." She giggled. "Even Sebastian and Abigail knew of their relationship, and they were supportive of Sam."
"It's not that," Kent answered with a sigh. "It's just that… was I gone for so long that I forgot so much about my own son?"
Jodi frowned then, placing a hand on his shoulder. Yes… he had been gone for a few years then. It was only natural that he would feel this way.
"Oh, honey," Jodi comforted, "it's not your fault that you were away for so long. You did what you needed to do, and now you're back home safe. Even if you do forget so much about us, you're given the chance to relearn everything." She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, taking one of his rough hands to squeeze it. "It will be okay, love. None of us are mad at you for being away for so long. We're just so happy that you're back home in one piece."
Kent sniffled then, holding back tears as he registered what his beloved wife had said. While the guilt remained, she was right; he was home, safe and sound, and he could get a chance to spend more time with his family.
No more wars. No more fighting. No more death.
Just peace and love.
"Dear, I…" Kent whispered. "...Thank you."
"Anything for you," Jodi giggled, rubbing the back of his hand.
Kent knew that it would take some getting used to, returning to his regular old life, but as long as he was here, with his family, he knew he would be okay.
_____
Layton visited Sam every day, and Kent began to notice how much closer the two had been. Seeing Sam smiling wide made him want to smile just as wide too. His son was quite happy with the farmer, and his heart warmed up.
Not only that, but Kent began to see Layton as a family friend. The moment when Layton helped deal with his PTSD when Jodi tried to make popcorn, he knew that Sam chose the right man to fall in love with. Layton had a good head on his shoulders, and was more grounded than Sam, ironically. Kent didn't mind, though; as long as Sam was happy, he was too.
A few years had passed then. Kent was still not used to the peaceful life he was thrust back into, but with the help of his family, and of course Layton, he began to settle. He didn't have to worry about the war he had endured for so long.
When he came home with groceries in his hands, he raised a brow when he realized that Sam wasn't in his room, loudly playing his guitar. Not only that, but Layton hadn't been at their house either. Perhaps they were in the kitchen?
He walked there. Neither of them were there, except for Jodi, who was frying what appeared to be eggs in a black pan on the stove.
Kent tilted his head. Where were they?
Jodi sensed a presence behind her, and she turned to see her husband standing in the kitchen. She smiled brightly before greeting, "Oh, hi love."
"Hey," Kent greeted back. "Where's Sam?"
"Oh!" Jodi said, glancing back at her eggs for a second before turning to face him again. "He and Layton were going out to Cloudsky Farm. They said they'll be back in a few hours."
"...Huh," Kent muttered, tilting his head in curiosity. What was so important that the two needed time alone at Layton's farm? He wondered this as he placed the groceries on the kitchen table.
"Sam didn't say why he was heading there," Jodi explained as if she read Kent's mind. "He and Layton said that it was… important."
"Hmm…" Kent hummed, his mind wandering. Usually, Sam would have told Kent everything. Why was he so secretive, especially with the farmer man? Was he and Layton doing something…?
"Mom! Dad!" A cry came from the door.
The two turned to see Sam and Layton, their arms linked together, entering the house. Sam's eyes glossed over with… tears? But a large grin was on his face. Why was Kent's boy crying?
He immediately jumped to the idea that Layton had harmed him in some way, but upon seeing a familiar item in Sam's hand, his eyes widened. Jodi gasped, covering her mouth with both of her hands.
Both of them recognized that blue, seashell-shaped pendant. Kent had proposed to Jodi with that exact same item many years ago.
Sam's grin seemed to grow, and Layton mirrored his beloved's expression.
"Mom, Dad!" Sam exclaimed, "Layton and I are engaged! We're gonna get married!"
Kent's protective instincts kicked in then. He was happy that his son had a good man, yes. But he couldn't help but be protective of his eldest son. But Layton, during those few years of knowing him, was a friendly and gentle farmer, who loved farming. Why was he feeling this way?
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Jodi's voice broke Kent's train of thought, "I'm so happy for the both of you! When's the wedding?"
"This summer!" Layton piped up with a wide grin, "I felt it would be better than spring!"
"Are you excited, Kent?" Jodi asked, turning to face her husband. However, seeing the stoic look on his face made her slowly frown. "...Honey…?"
Kent stared at Layton, his eyes looking up and down at the farmer. Layton fidgeted, apparently uncomfortable with the staring, as he turned his head away to avoid Kent's gaze. Kent continued to struggle with his mixed feelings; Layton was a good man, but he couldn't let him off before he could marry his son.
"Jodi, Sam?" Kent whispered, "Can Layton and I talk? Alone?"
Layton gulped, and Sam and Jodi raised their brows in confusion. What was wrong? Why was Kent acting like that? However, they knew better than to question it, as Sam and Jodi nodded and left the room.
Layton continued to fidget, before taking a risk and glancing at Kent. Kent's expression remained stoic, but his eyes continued to burrow into Layton's soul.
"Is…" Layton questioned, "Did I do something wrong, Kent?"
"No," Kent shook his head, approaching the farmer. He stopped in front of the other man before he continued, "Layton… I know that you would never hurt my son. Sam has… gone through more than enough in his life." He placed both of his hands on Layton's shoulders, squeezing them slightly. Layton cringed at the sudden touch but kept still. "He needs someone like you, Layton. I know that you would never break his heart, and I know that you will keep him happy." He smiled, alleviating Layton's concerns somewhat. "You're a good man, Layton. Just promise me one thing."
"Y-yes?" Layton stuttered.
"Always keep my son happy," Kent said. "He needs that light in his life. And I know you're the right person for him."
Layton's smile returned then, as he nodded. Of course he would keep Sam happy. Kent knew this, too. And he knew deep down that if he hurt Sam, Kent would hear of it. But both he and Kent knew that would never happen.
"I promise I'll keep him happy, Kent," Layton promised, "Sam is also my light just as much as I am." He patted Kent on the shoulder, "I'll take good care of him."
Kent let out a huge sigh of relief that he didn't realize he was holding. Good. Layton would make sure of that promise. And for the few years he knew the farmer, Layton never broke promises.
"Thank you."
_____
Summer came quickly, and before Kent knew it, his son's wedding had arrived. Everyone from Pelican Town gathered around in the town square, much to Kent's surprise; apparently, Layton had made many friends when he first came to the farm, and it alleviated Kent's concerns about the farmer.
He stood between Jodi and Vincent, watching as Mayor Lewis began his speech for the wedding. Vincent bounced on his tippy toes, to which Jodi silently scolded him for but Kent didn't mind—his younger son was excited to see his older brother getting married to the grown-up he so adored.
Lewis droned on and on about the wedding for several minutes, before they finally arrived—Sam and Layton, both dressed in black tuxedos, walked down the aisle, their arms intertwined. Layton's smile was wide, as Sam took a quick peek at his family. Kent smiled slightly, nodding his approval, to which Sam grinned before he continued to walk down the aisle with Layton—his husband, Kent realized.
The two made it to the front, and Lewis continued to drone on about the two. Kent didn't bother listening to him—he began to think.
Seeing his boy—someone he held since Sam was a small baby—look so grown up in that tuxedo made him smile widely. But it also made him sad. For so many years, he and Jodi raised Sam, watching him learn his first words. His first steps. His first everything. And now there he was, a fully grown adult, marrying someone who would be there for him, to keep him safe.
It was a happy occasion, but Kent couldn't help but feel sad, as tears began to form in his eyes.
"Will you, Layton, take Sam as your lawfully wedded husband?" Lewis asked.
Layton grinned, nodding, "I do."
"And will you, Sam, take Layton as your lawfully wedded husband?"
Sam's grin grew wider. "I do!"
"Then…" Lewis announced, "you may kiss the… well, groom!"
The moment his son and Layton kissed, Kent couldn't hold in the tears anymore. The tears fell down his face like mini waterfalls, as the crowd around him cheered and hollered for the newlyweds. He sniffled, hiding his face with his sleeve so as not to worry his wife and younger son. He hadn't cried for a few decades like this. He didn't even cry when he lost his good friends in the war. But at this point, he didn't care.
His son— his little boy —was grown up, and he was so happy for him. So, so happy.
"Honey?" Jodi questioned, her mouth in a thin line. "Are you okay?"
"N-never better." Kent's voice cracked as he continued to sob.
It wasn't a lie. He was never better now that his son was happy.