Work Text:
He used to love Stanley more than he loved himself.
But then he grew up and he loved science and the weird and the wonderful more than he loved the either of them.
Ford saw the bigger picture where Stanley didn't. And that made Ford better and smarter and more prepared for the future.
And
Then
Stanley
Put
Himself
First
And
Broke
His
Heart
Then he loved being the first, the one on top, the one everyone called the genius more than he loved science or Stanley or himself.
Then he loved Bill.
And nothing else mattered.
Then he found out that he was nothing and nobody. Just a rag to be used. A tool to shape the world into Bill's chaotic image.
Thats when he realised that without Bill, without science or the weird or the wonderful, all he had was himself.
But he was nothing.
And all that was left was Stanley.
Ford should have remembered that Stanley had only ever cared about himself.
And he does remember eventually.
Just
As
He
Passes
Into
The
Portal
Then Ford doesn't love anybody. Not Bill. Not Stanley.
And certainly not himself.
He does see the weird and the wonderful, but it doesn't make his heart race like it used to.
Ford comes back into his world and he loves Dipper and he loves Mabel, and he hates Stanley.
And Stanley hates him.
Ford hates him so much that his heart aches and the pain brings tears to his eyes and its all Stanley's fault.
He loves the kids so much that he only wants the best for them. He loves them more than he loves himself.
He loves them both so much that he doesn't want the same heartbreak to happen to them that he experienced. Separation now when they are young will help them in the long run.
Ford knew this because he was good at seeing the bigger picture, knew what to sacrifice and when for the best outcome.
But he was looking past Dipper and Mabel and didn't see the consequences of his actions until they were kneeling at his feet.
And they looked suspiciously like himself.
But the memory gun wasn't pointed at Ford, it was pointed at Stanley.
Stanley who loved Mabel and Dipper, and Soos and Wendy more than himself.
Stanley who loved Ford more than himself.
Ford hesitates but he's always been good at seeing the bigger picture so he pulls the trigger.
And hates that he never appreciated the smaller picture until now.
Not until the man who once was Stan looks at him in confusion.
Ford has never hated himself more.
But then
But then...
Stanley remembers.
And Ford remembers how to love Stanley more than he loves himself.
And this time, Ford won't forget.