Disclaimer - I don't own My Time At Portia or Stardew Valley. This is the first prompt fill for the monthly Froday challenge for May which is a Bingo challenge with three by three bingo cards.

Way the Wind Blows

Words sank into the water as if they were being run through a washing machine. Yet, Sebastian could make out what was being said by the person standing in the bathroom doorway, invading his personal space and privacy. "He threw up."

Sebastion clenched his eyes shut, trying to forget how he'd managed to throw up in front of several individuals in Portia, his arms wrapped tightly around his thin frame as he held his breath as Sebastian soaked all the grime off his body. The need to scream in frustration resulting in air bubbles escaping, lessening the time he could hold his breath under the warm water, his frustration with the person standing in the doorway growing.

"I don't know why," they—Gust—said.

He sat up, gasping for air, his arms reaching out for the tub's sides as he tried not to pay any attention to the older cousin who, from what Sebastian remembered, always hated him. He glanced around, attempting to give Gust his best glare, hoping all the glares he'd received from his mother would pay off, although the way Gust raised his eyebrow indicated it may not have paid off.

"You can't soak in the tub all day."

Sebastian gritted his teeth together, fighting back the urge to say something he knew he would regret, mainly since Gust's younger sister was likely within earshot. His eyes closed as his entire body tensed despite how the warm water should be relaxing him instead. He took a deep breath, thoughts in his head tumbling. "How many people know how messed up I am now?"

"Mint?"

Sebastian's eyes blinked, his head turning to look at Gust, his body relaxing at the unexpected use of the childhood nickname. His mouth opened and closed, his mind confused as Gust had never used the nickname to his recollection, but then Gust had never referred to him by name, even when they lived in their grandparent's home. At the same time, Gust attended the university in Atara, and Sebastian attended the high school headed by the same university.

"Mint," Gust said more firmly, obviously annoyed.

"The high school I dropped out of," Sebastian thought while saying, "What?"

"You've got Father and Ginger worried, you know," Gust said, keeping his voice low, almost as if to not worry Ginger.

"Given Ginger's illness…." Sebastian thought to himself, swallowing, feeling too ashamed to even apologize for making them worry, although in reality, he should apologize to their faces. His head tilted, so he could look away while feeling awkward sitting in the bathtub, naked, while his cousin intruded.

"And I'm worried as well," Gust said. "This isn't like you."

Sebastian felt his eyes widen, then looked at Gust, horrified at the idea that Gust thought he knew him, or perhaps he was horrified at being judged for how far he'd fallen in his cousin's eyes. He swallowed, choking out what he wanted to say. "What do you mean this isn't like me?"

Gust's eyes, a vivid blue, widened, surprised at the outburst, which in Sebastian's mind meant he was in for a lecture from his older cousin. Only—

The lecture never came.

"You know, I think that's the most I've heard you say since you arrived back in Portia a couple of months ago," Gust said. "Most of the time, you respond with a single word, typically yes or no."

"Sorry."

"Or that," Gust said, letting out a sigh. There came a silence between the two.

"Alright. How do I manage an even longer sentence telling him just how comfortable it is for him standing there while I'm naked without managing to tick him off, resulting in the famous family temper mom's side of the family is known for? Well, except for Mom's older brothers and Ginger."

"Earth to Mint," Gust said firmly. "I'll repeat. You can't stay in there all day, although I can't blame you for hiding after the embarrassing spectacle earlier. The only ones who'll make a big deal of it are the kids in town, you know."

"You're making a big deal," Sebastian said, looking away again. "And what did you mean by me not acting like myself?"

"What," Gust said, then somehow managed to choke out. "What happened to you? You didn't," Gust said, letting out a deep breath. "You didn't use to act like this?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know," Gust muttered, his voice low. "It's as if you're afraid of your own shadow. Which is weird given Arlo's your older brother." He let out a sigh. "Anyway, get dressed already. Ginger found some of my old clothes for you to change in. And yes. I know they're not this weird Goth Emo thing you've got going on."

"That's me," Sebastian muttered, leaning into his arms. "Goth Emo kid."

"Good grief," Gust said, his exasperation finally reaching its limit. "You're not a kid anymore, but seriously. You can't soak in the tub all day and avoid everyone."

He turned his head, feeling defeated. Wet locks of hair hung down in front of Sebastian's face, which in his ever-present cousin's eyes, must look like the right mess of things. "Privacy?

"I—sure," Gust said. "Please don't make me come and check on you again. Alright? You've got everyone worried." And then. "Can I add Arlo to the list even though he's not here?"

"Please, Gust," Sebastian said, looking up, only to freeze upon seeing the look on Gust's face. He swallowed. "Privacy? Please?"

"Alright, alright," Gust said, finally closing the door.

Sebastian let out a sigh and sunk back into the water again.

…

Eventually, he emerged from the bathroom, towel in hands drying his hair, feeling quite awkward as his uncle Gale's home wasn't his, although one could say the same about the home back in Stardew, even his mother's old workshop just outside of town. None of those places felt like home. He didn't make any eye contact with anybody, yet politely took a seat when his uncle held out a hand, indicating he should do so.

And there he was, amongst his cousins and uncle, while their butler started serving tea; he felt utterly awkward about the situation. Gale cleared his throat. "I'm glad you're finally able to pay us a visit, Mint; given how busy you've been with the workshop, are you currently working on any projects?"

Sebastian tensed, words not able to come out of his mouth. Mentally, he knew his uncle meant for that to be a conversation starter, yet conversing wasn't his strong point, so he remained there, unable to say anything.

An unexpected touch of his shoulder made him tense up, only to jerk away upon realizing he'd flinched at the lightest touch from the one person Sebastian hadn't wanted to react that way to. Ginger sat there, her smile warm like he always remembered, his brain saying he didn't deserve such kindness. Her hand hovered. "Mint? Are you alright?"

"Of course he's not," Gust said, the irritation in his voice evident, leaving Sebastian thinking yet again that he would be in for a lecture from his cousin. Mentally, he wasn't looking for it. "I told you, he threw up. That's why I brought him here. And no, it's not because he's caught a bug. It looked as if he saw a ghost or something."

Sebastian tensed, pulling the towel down over his eyes, taking a deep breath, trying not to think about seeing the ghosts, knowing he should say something at the very least about Maru being in town. Yet, he didn't want anyone to think she was the reason he reacted so negatively, although he couldn't say he was pleased to see her after what happened, nor did he like hearing another lecture about doing the right thing regarding something he hadn't done.

No, it had been the person who made everyone back in Stardew Valley think he'd not done the right thing, resulting in him reacting the way he did. "Why are they both in town?" And then, "Well, all of them, since Penny is with them."

A knock came at the door, and Russo went to answer. He could hear Gust's business partner say, "So, I have this young lady here who's looking for her older brother," Albert said, resulting in Sebastian standing up.

"Mint?" Ginger said. He could hear the worry in her tone as the towel slipped away from covering his eyes, yet he didn't look anyone else in the room in the eye.

"She thinks he's here in Portia," Albert continued as Sebastian headed into another part of the house where Maru, but more importantly, Abigail, wouldn't be able to see him if they were invited in. "I told them the mayor might be able to help with that."

"Where are they from?"

"Stardew Valley," Sebastian heard Penny say, to which he leaned up against the wall.

"Mint?"

He nearly jumped out of his skin upon realizing Ginger had followed him, worried as she was. He started sinking. He could hear Gust say from the other room. "Stardew Valley. Isn't that…."

"Yes. It is," he could hear his uncle Gale say, the tone of voice—

Sebastian sank, feeling a sweat break out as chills ran down his spine, his mind instantly saying, "I don't want them to know what happened. Of what I was falsely accused of. It's fucking embarrassing."

"Hold on," Gust said, followed by footsteps indicating he was drawing near. When he stood a few feet away, he said, "If you want, we can send them away. They are the reason why you're upset, isn't it?"

Sebastian shook his head. "It'd be super awkward for the mayor to turn away family."

Ginger frowned. "Family."

"Demetrius is her father," Sebastian said. "But she's not the problem."

"Which one?"

"Gust, don't make a scene," Ginger said. "If you do, you'll make it worse for Mint."

He heard Gust sigh. "Got it. Got it. Don't make a scene. Let's go and greet our guests, then?"

Sebastian heard him leave, while Ginger said, "Don't worry. We'll take care of the situation."

"Yes, but," Sebastian said, wishing he could be hiding in the bathroom again, only to cringe at the sudden thought of Abigail walking in on him in the bathtub, naked, which would be her wildest dream come true. He placed a hand on his forehead, groaning as he did.

"So," Gust said from the other room. "Welcome to Portia. You said you're looking for your older brother?"

"Uh, yes. Well," Maru said. "Sebastian is…."

"Ah, yes," Gale said because of how Maru was getting to her point. "Mint."

"Mint?" Abigail let out a laugh.

"Abigail," Penny said, her tone indicating she wasn't happy with Abigail laughing at him.

"I'm sure there are reasons Mint left," Gust said. "So…."

"Pregnancy scare," Abigail blurted out.

Sebastian groaned, letting his head sink into his arms while one hand wrapped around the back of his neck to try to calm himself down. Penny said from the other room, "Abigail, really!"

"Are you insinuating," Gale started to say, as Sebastian felt like leaving the house through the back entrance, even a window, given he didn't want his uncle thinking he'd been having premarital sex with anyone, let alone Abigail.

"Funny," Ginger said. "You're not his type.

There came silence, and Sebastian's head went up, confused at what Ginger had just said. Maru was the first to speak. "Wait? Are you saying Abigail isn't," and then, "But Sebby has a crush on her!"

There came a sound from Penny while Abigail. "That's right. We're a thing." And then, brilliantly as ever, Abigail said, "Are you implying you're his type?" Sebastian's mind recognized the words as an attack against his dear cousin, one who'd always been kind to him and everyone else, and stood up, letting out a deep breath before heading into the room, knowing he couldn't hide forever. "You're way too soft for adventuring."

"My cousin knows far more about adventuring than you ever will, Abigail," Sebastian said, not hiding his displeasure while still remembering how she'd tried taking on adventuring just to impress him. He looked at her, but then a look from Maru made him look away."

"Your cousin?" Penny said.

"Yes," Gail said. "Robin is my sister, by the way."

To which Ginger piped up and asked, "So does Aunt Robin know you're here."

And there it was, the temper the females in the family were known for. Maru stared at her, her mouth dropping.

"I mean, the red hair is quite common in this family," Ginger said, "But you share more in common with Aunt Robin than you do Mint's father."

"She doesn't know Sebastian's here either," Maru protested.

"I'm sure Mint has his reasons for not telling my sister," Gale said. "Although, really? A false pregnancy scare? Getting accused of something he didn't do."

"He's not," Abigail started to say, almost as if she were going to imply he wasn't innocent in that way.

"Oh, stop," Penny sighed. "This is why Sam asked me to chaperone Maru because he knew you'd try to make people think something that isn't true is."

"Sam?" Gust asked.

"Different, Sam," Sebastian muttered, looking at the ground, shifting from one foot to another.

"Different," Gust said before shaking his head and changing direction. "And how did you find out that Mint's here if Aunt Robin doesn't know?"

"What is with," Maru said before asking, "Why do they call you Mint?"

"We've called Sebastian that since he was little," Gust said. "Please don't avoid the question.

"Gust, be polite," Ginger said as if she hadn't moments before been ready to jump down his throat.

"Sam," Maru blurted out.

Sebastian looked up, frowning, thinking in his head Sam wouldn't give away where he was.

Penny took a deep breath. "Sorry. She actually learned from Vincent, who'd been listening in to your's and Sam's calls, but apparently, Portia came up around him."

"Sebastian, you need to come home," Maru said.

Sebastian let out a deep breath and then said. "No."

"What?" Maru stared. "Why aren't you wanting to come home?"

"But he is home," Gale said. "Or did you not hear that we're family? That Robin is my sister? Sebastian is also an adult and quite capable of deciding things on his own. Plus, I think Arlo would want a say."

"Arlo?"

As if on cue, the home door opened, thudded more likely as Arlo's exuberance got the better of him, and Sebastian groaned as Arlo said, all sweaty and filthy as he said he was from doing whatever he'd been doing to distract himself. "So, I decided to come and check up on Seb." Everyone else stared at him, and he said, "Wait? What's going on?"

Sebastian sighed. Not knowing how Maru found out she had yet another half-sibling would go over, but perhaps the worst was behind him.