Work Text:
Sitting in the shack, Mabel was bombarding me with questions. I was just trying to sink as far as I could back into Stan's lazy chair, as possible. I could feel my hair being messed up pressing against it.
Mabel looked excited and my cheeks were mad hot. "Y/N! You didn't tell me you liked-" She was being quite loud, and she seemed to be quieter in the next part of her statement, "-Grunkle Ford!!" The last bit was her whisper-yelling at me, her excitement barely keeping inside her body.
For how young she was, the girl had experienced a lot, or so I've heard. I came here, wanting a job and my mom said since I was doing nothing in my gap year, I should try and get job experience. I ended up staying working at the shack, it didn't pay excellent, but it was enough! Stanley had seemed reluctant, but Soos had stepped in, seeming optimistic. I had been working there for nigh on.. probably 4 months now?
The small place was cozy. I took a particular interest to... the reason I stayed working there, Ford. To put it shortly, he was fascinating.
Mabel seemed like she would explode, and sitting up straighter, I pulled my knees to my chest and stared down at her. She grabbed my hands.
"Leave it to me Y/N this" She puffs her cheeks in pride, "matchmaker will win you my Grunkle!" I could just feel my ears being taken over by the heat that was already in possession of my cheeks and entire face.
"I- Mabel you really-" I start to say this, when a curious Stan poked his head through the door. I take my hands away from Mabel's, putting them in my lap and my feet go back to the floor.
"What're you kids doing? Y/N it's late I hope you're not expecting overtime for this." He was in his usual house outfit, being in his boxers and saggy beater. It did not hide much. The first time you saw him like this, I felt quite awkward, but he didn't seem to care much about that, not really noticing.
I shake my head, trying to regain my lost dignity of Mabel's prying questions. Mabel perked up, "Y/N li-" I shot my hand over her mouth, pulling her onto my lap as I wrap my arms around her.
"Yes Mabel we all know I like the colour red." I say a random colour, not really hitting any mark. Stan seems suspicious, but doesn't question further.
"Alright.. I'll be outside if ya need Push-pop." Stan had adopted this nickname after seeing me fail and a simple push pop got all over me. Stan left the room, and Mabel breaks away from you.
"Y/N! Heyy I wasn't going to say anything!" The 15 year old looked defiant, crossing her arms, and closing her eyes. I give her a "Hmm." look as she pops an eye open.
"Anyways! I'm going to-" She was cutoff by Waddles bursting into the room with what seemed to be a book in his mouth. Shortly after, Dipper, ran through the room, bending over and panting.
"He.. took my journal..." Dipper sighs, saying this within breaths. Mabel took off after Waddles. "WADDLES!" She yells out the room. Dipper seemed out of breath. I stood quickly.
"Dipper I might- get a snack and call it quits for the day-" He nods, seeing how short I was. I was fidgeting with my gloves and he finally stood.
The boy had grown quite a bit, reaching my eye height and finally being a bit taller than Mabel. "Okay! Any particular reason?" He seems curious at my intentions.
Shit... ahh, "Uhhm, tired-?" This did not hold a strong reason, as I had fallen asleep and slept most of the afternoon.
Dipper doesn't seem to buy into it well. He shrugs though. "Alright! I- better go get my journal, see ya!" I smile and wave as he takes off, running out the front door.
I sigh in relief, and go into the kitchen. I look in the fridge, grabbing an apple and taking a bite out of it. "God damned Mabel can be so.. pushy- he's over twice my age he woul-" I was mumbling, but I froze when you heard a voice clear itself behind me.
Ahh shit. "Y/N? You al- alright in here?" Turning around, and of course, it was Ford. I thought he was out. Shit.
He was wearing his usual outfit, a beigish trench coat draped over a fluffy red sweater, along with black pants that fell over his brown boots that had caked over with mud and dirt. Ford was raising an eyebrow, possibly at my grumbling.
Ford looked at me, expecting an answer. I felt my face get hot. "Yeah, I was just- heading ho- home." I stuttered. God dammit. Why do I always do this.
"Would you like someone to walk you home, or drive?" he offered. He knew I lived across town. It- would be nice. It's not like a simple car trip could ruin anything.
"Uhh- yeah, let me grab my stuff, alright?" Ford was always being polite, and he always seemed rather concerned when you acted off. I left the room fidgeting, and he raised his voice so I could hear him. "I'll be outside Y/N!"
"Okay!" I yell back as I hear the front door close. I ran into the gift shop, ducking behind the counter. I grabbed my bag, containing my sketchbook, phone, and pencils. I always had at least my book.
I start to head outside, and hear Ford and Stanley speaking. I hang back inside the house for a minute, listening.
"I'm driving Y/N home Stan, we'll be back shortly, alright?"
"Ooooooo you and Y/N hm?"
"Can it Stan we're not-"
"You seriously don't see the way Y/N acts around you? You're oblivious Ford."
Ford stayed silent, and I could feel my face being red hot. I walked out of the house, my bag slung across my torso. I looked at the men.
Ford was standing at the edge of the stairs. Stan was sitting on the couch on the porch drinking a Pitt Cola and watching Dipper and Mabel try to get Waddles back.
Ford looked up toward you. He had a slight tinge of pink on his face. "Ah, Y/N, we should leave now." He nodded and I smile. "Oke!" I reply to him.
"See you tomorrow Stan!" I say goodbye to Stan, and he replies back with "Alright, stay safe kiddo." He gave me a smile and we headed over to the car.
Usually if someone drove it was Stanley, and I had shortly learned in my two times of him driving that it was better to walk 20-30 minutes home.
Ford slid into the driver's seat and buckled his seatbelt and I followed suit into the passenger's seat. He gave my a smile, hand on the wheel.
"You ready?" Ford asks, and I nod, putting my bag in my lap. I fiddled with it as he pulled out of the drive, his demeanor being in control. I opened it, planning on drawing a funny looking kid I saw today.
Suddenly he swerved on the road, his look becoming quite panicky. My book flew onto the dashboard and he looked over at me, putting a hand on my arm.
"Oh my gods I'm sorry Y/N are you alright? There was a possum." He got back onto the road, glancing at the fateful drawing my sketchbook had landed on. The book had landed open, sliding across to where he could see it but I couldn't.
I reassure him saying, "Yeah- just not expected is all." I took a few deep breaths, calming myself. He seemed to be in control again. He grabbed the book, and now I could see what he was looking at. Shit, shit, not that... page.
His face seemed curious, and then he adjusted his glasses, clearing his throat. He handed the book back. "Nice linework." His voice seemed awkward. It was funny, seeing him awkward.
My face was sure to be red by now. The page of course had to be one of the many that I drew of him. It had to be this one in specific though... It depicted him pinning me against a wall, our faces together..
Oh god. Oh Jesus what do I do now. He knows. He looked over, his face taking a pink twinge. Ford cleared his throat and addressed me, "What uhm- inspired the work?" His voice seemed nervous.
I didn't know how to answer this, shoving my book in my bag. I stare nervously at his face, trying to swallow away the lump of nervousness I had. My voice was quiet, "What are you thinking right now?"
I was quite nervous. He seemed to think for a minute, hand still on the wheel. He didn't seem to be in a particular rush for the car ride. "Honestly? Nothing bad. It is... alright." Ford seemed to want to say something else, but stopped.
"You're- sure?" Uncertainty spiked my thoughts. I often overthought and I couldn't get it out of my head. He nodded, seeming sure of himself. His hand finds yours, squeezing gently.
He looked over again. "Nothing is wrong with that, in fact, I was just thinking about..." He trails off. I stare in nervousness, and I watch his face become red.
"Ford?" He squeezes my hand. His voice is soft, "Y/N, the feeling is mutual." The words, they couldn't be real. This felt like a dream.
I look at him, and he looks over. His eyes showed nothing deceiving, and his red face didn't say he was trying to mess with you.
He looks back to the road. Wow, wow, oh my... How- in what universal dimension did I just- His hand in yours, just felt so right though. The silence was awkward, but a warm sort of awkward. His hand was rough, but he was so gentle with holding mine. It's like our hands were made for each other.