Work Text:
Ferb has never had trouble falling asleep. His calm nature allowed him to experience dreams that none of his friends could. Of course, he never told anyone about them.
However, one winter night had a different effect. The night went on and on as Ferb tried to clear his mind. Something just didn’t feel right. After tossing and turning, he finally decided to stand up.
He wasn't quite sure where he was going, but something made him get dressed and go outside. After loafing around for a bit, Ferb noticed that the light in Isabella's house was still on. What was she up to? She wasn’t the kind of person to stay up late. Perhaps she couldn’t sleep just like him? Ferb decided to just knock on the door, he had nothing to do anyway. After a couple of seconds, the door opened, revealing Isabella holding a book.
“Ferb?” They both stood there, unsure how to greet each other. It wasn’t often they met each other without Phineas’ presence. Finally, Isabella made a gesture for Ferb to get inside.
“Come in Ferb, I was just reading a heartwarming book.” Ferb closed the door behind him and glanced around, wondering if Isabella’s mom is okay with him paying Isabella a visit in a time like this.
“My mom isn't home, she had to take Pinky to the vet." Ferb raised his eyebrow. "I know it's midnight, but he looked really hurt and we had no idea what was going on."
"Is that why you're up late?"
Isabella nodded. "I grabbed this book to help me relax before going to bed. What about you?"
Ferb shrugged, he wasn't really sure what was bothering him.
"You know, I heard that creativity is a great way to make yourself tired."
Ferb followed Isabella into her bedroom. It felt different than usual. Bright colors and smooth edges of furniture greatly contrasted with his own room. This place felt warm and welcoming, made even better with Isabella's smile.
"How about we do some drawing?" She pointed at her wide desk, carefully taking out a paper sheet. Ferb always preferred building but maybe a simple task like this can still help him calm down and fall asleep.
"Let's do it."
As the night went on, Ferb got really invested in his works. The pair exchanged glances, and their unspoken connection was all they needed to communicate their shared love for art. They drew all sorts of animals, trees, and even cartoon characters they loved to watch years ago. However, there was a drawing that completely stunned Isabella. Ferb captured the essence of the night sky, meticulously drawing constellations with his steady hand. Each stroke of his pencil brought the stars to life, creating a celestial masterpiece on a simple piece of paper.
"Ferb…this is…phenomenal! I have never seen something so beautiful before!" Ferb chuckled. The feeling of someone appreciating his work made him more satisfied than he could imagine.
"Thank you for coming today, it was a lot of fun. I know it's really late but…how about one last drawing?" He nodded, simply taken back by how the night could have gone differently if he just stayed in bed.
Isabella looked around, searching for something to draw. In the end she met Ferb's gaze. "Maybe we can…draw each other?"
"What?"
"I know it sounds silly but I'm sure we can pull this out." Ferb sighed, not sure how to deal with this challenge. Eventually, Isabella's frown made him reconsider and change his mind.
"You're right, we're able to draw humans. Let's go."
Isabella looked at her piece of paper. After a minute of planning, she got to work. This took them the longest out of every drawing, as they tried to prove their best by using a lot of details. As soon as Ferb finished his work, he showed it to Isabella. It was a pretty realistic portrait of her, with a gentle smile and closed eyes. She teased him that he just took a photo of her and called it a day. Ferb found himself smiling back, even if every cell of his body wanted to just fall down and sleep. Isabella's drawing of Ferb was a cartoon version of him, with big eyes and a ridiculously huge smile. He was holding a wrench in one hand and Steve The Chameleon in the other. The sole reminder of his old friend caused him to shear a single tear. Isabella put her arm around him as a comfort gesture.
"I'm sure you'll meet him again someday."
"I should go." Ferb stood up and helped Isabella to clean up the room. When everything was done, Ferb headed towards the door. He offered to shake hands but Isabella surprised him with a tight hug. Without a word, both of them knew that each other's company made tonight way better.
"Goodnight Ferb."
"Goodnight."
Finally, Isabella let go and Ferb shyly smiled back. When they got back to their respective beds, they fell asleep in a matter of seconds. No one knew what happened between them, but even Phineas was able to see how Ferb looked at Isabella after that night. Ferb was in trouble…or was he?