🌸💞 Welcome Home x reader oneshots 💞🌻

🌿 Howdy x gender-neutral reader 🌿

this chapter is for my cavetown pals

TW: slight violence, slight blood

uugghh I love howdy so much I wish men were real

~~~~~

It was only slightly cloudy outside. The clouds rolling across the sky a dove-gray color increasingly overshadowing the bright sun as the day grew late. 

I neatly swept behind the counter of Howdy's shop. I was recently employed, perhaps about a month or so ago I was hired. Howdy needed more help with more customers coming in. Though somehow, it was a very slow day. 

I wore a shamrock-green apron with slightly-clumsily stitched letter pasted across the chest that read "Howdy's place." Next to it was my laminated nametag clipped to the fabric.

Howdy was currently stocking the shelves. He didn't need a latter, since he was already one of the tallest people in the neighborhood. 

Howdy finished the restocking and stepped back behind the front counter. "Great job, y/n. It sure had been a lot less stressful with you here." He smiled brightly, dusting off his hands.

"Of course Howdy. It's great to work with someone who doesn't keep me past midnight." We shared a chuckle before the bell rang above the store's door. We both tuned our heads towards the door. A short, though burly man pushed open the door. We wore dirty overalls and a green flannel with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. I turned and away and continued sweeping without another thought. Howdy leaned on the counter and gave his salesman smile. He looked down upon the man, considering the same difference. "Hello there kind sir! What can we get you today?"

The man impatiently drummed his fingers on the counter, his eyes darting around wildly as he spoke. "Uhh, yeah. Hey man- I need a shovel. The best shovel you got, like- something that will dig deep." 

"Howdy lifted an eyebrow, though still kept his smile. "I'm sorry sure, the order for shovels was delayed this week. They'll be shipped in about a week or two. I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

The man didn't seem angry, just skittish. Strangely skittish. His eyes began darting faster as his breathing sped up. "C'mon man...You must have at least one left. I'll pay anything." I looked up from my sweeping. My eyebrow now raised along with Howdy's. This man gave me a bad feeling...

"Again, I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Perhaps if you check another store in town..." Howdy looked down. I did the same. With a small gasp I realized splatters of blood on the pan's pant leg and boots. The man's eyes stopped darting as he stared at Howdy. His body froze, as if contemplating what to do. And then- hesitant, though with much force- he drew his fist back and punched it into Howdy's face.

Howdy stumbled back, I caught him by the shoulders as he fell back, but his weight was too much for me and I fell back under his weight. The man stared at me a moment, panic in his eyes, and then fled out the store.

I pushed Howdy off me and sat him in a chair. I thin trail of blood dripped out of his tightly closed right eye. I small tear pricking out of the other. He looked up at me his face twisted in pain. "Are you ok?" He asked, his voice shaking.

"I'm fine, Howdy. It's you have to worry about..."I looked around the shelves and saw bandage wraps on the lowest shelf. I grabbed it, yanked it out of the box, and began gingerly wrapping Howdy's bleeding eye. He stayed quiet, though I could tell he was hurting.