Chapter Text
Ford grinned, “This is it, Stan, I can feel it.”
Stan rolled his eyes as he drove past the “Welcome to Gravesfield” sign. “Yeah, just like the last three places were, right?” He teased in his gruff voice.
Ford chuckled and playfully slapped his brother's arm, “Shush Stanley.”
The two old men continued their playful banter until Stan pulled into the parking lot for the small hotel they had reservations at.
“Seriously, Pointdexter, we’ve been to a bunch of towns now – when are we gonna get back to the Stan O’War?”
Ford’s smile dimmed; his expression impossible for Stan to read; Stan winced at the sight of it.
Things were better between them now, some days, most days it was great even! But there were some days, some days that Stan thought back, to Ford’s science fair project, to just after bringing him home through the portal, getting kicked out by pa and being told to leave when there was no need for someone to take care of the kids…
Stan forced a grin onto his face as he grabbed all their bags at once, “Oof, eh, don’t worry about that, Sixer. I’m just messin’ around, gonna go check in now.”
Ford nodded, maintaining that expressionless face that hurt Stan, cause if Ford thought that Stan was too much trouble, complaining too much, being too much of a bother, suffocating him again…
His heart clenched at the thought of Ford getting rid of him again, he didn’t know if he’d be able to handle hearing Ford say such a thing again, but better that than Ford keeping him around out of pity.
Stan turned around and casually, even if he was a little hasty, walked into the hotel to check in, mentally patting himself on the back. He’s showing how useful he is, in the actual adventures and even the more mundane stuff like this that he knew Ford hated even more than him. If he keeps this up, then no matter his faults, Ford will want to keep him around.
A dream fulfilled.
Ford couldn’t keep his frown hidden anymore as he watched Stan walk inside, familiar feelings bubbling up again: shame, guilt, and self-hatred.
Since they were children, Stan wanted to sail and explore the world – a dream he was robbed of when Pa - Filbrick, he spat the name out in his mind - threw him out at seventeen, because of Ford not making his project durable enough, homeless without a penny to his name, with no future except a life of crime-!
Ford took a deep breath, calming himself down. He was lucky, Stan had more than every right to hate him, to not forgive him. Every bad thing that happened in his life was Ford’s fault – from all the bullying when they were young, to their teachers putting Stan down when compared to Ford, their parent’s comparing the two of them, and not to mention everything Ford is directly responsible for…he still felt guilty about making Stan feel like he thought so little of him for so long.
His past behavior and beliefs disgusted him now.
Especially when Stan does stuff like this - how could he ever think him selfish?
…When it came to Ford anyway, to people outside the family, he could still be pretty selfish.
Still, for all his faults, he did so much, things that Ford struggled with, like dealing with human people, other kinds of people Ford was a bit better with.
Even now, so hundreds of miles from the ocean and their boat, he didn't complain about being so far from their dream life, he would sacrifice it to make Ford happy.
Ford took a deep breath, forcing calm to return and collect himself as fast as his mind would allow. He was lucky, he told himself, incredibly lucky that Stan was even giving him the time of day, let alone willing to travel from town to town with him like this. Stan had every right to hate him, as Ford told himself he hated Stan for so long, and he knew it, had every right to leave him behind. Instead, Stan had forgiven him, something Ford could now recognize is something he was unable to do.
And that’s why, Ford told himself, if they didn’t find what he was looking for in this town, he’d throw in the towel and head back to the Stan O’War.
Back to their dream life exploring the unexplored creatures of the ocean - many of which were so strange, even when compared to some of the creatures he’s encountered in the thirty years he spent exploring the multiverse. Stan sacrificed so much for him, it was time for him to repay the favor.
Ford gathered himself and began to head to the hotel doors, schooling his expression back into something neutral that wouldn’t give away his inner self-loathing to Stan - his brother would undoubtably have words to say about that and Ford wouldn’t let Stan get dragged into anymore of Ford’s emotional problems!
Eda grinned.
Life was good for them now, their problems all but gone. Sure, she had the occasional run-in with the law, but that was just part of who she was, and it was too much fun to give up. Especially when Lily got that exasperated expression when Eda would brag about it to her sister.
The Isles were still being rebuilt, even after all this time, Belos’ institutions ran deep into just about every corner of society. But they were rebuilding, making a better Boiling Isles for everyone with wild magic.
Luz was excelling at Hexside, King even went there now, as a student not a teacher, and why Bump had to specify that to her and why King was so amused at that was a mystery she was content to let lie for now.
Eh, couldn’t be too important anyway.
Raine smiled at her, “Ready to check out that cafe Camila recommended?”
Eda nodded, “Sounds good, Rainestorm. Sounds good.”
“So, what’s the plan? We going to stick together this time or split up again?” Stan asked, watching Ford rummage through their clothes in their luggage to retrieve some small handheld scanners. Ford was pretty paranoid about hiding them, something Stan didn’t disagree with, considering some of the crazy nonsense Ford insisted on always traveling with - like that stupid die that almost got his and Dipper's brains eaten, and beyond that, Ford’s tech was out of this world with how impressive it was - more oft than not, it literally was out of this world, and this universe.
Ford finally pulled out one of the scanners, “I think we should split up.” Ford paused for a moment, Stan felt a tightening in his chest, his recent fears bubbling to the surface during Ford's brief pause. “We can find any evidence of a portal quicker if we split up after all.”
Stan nodded, his face displaying an easygoing expression, “‘Kay, makes sense.”
Yet internally, he wrestled with mixed emotions. He couldn’t shake the feeling—one that had nagged at him throughout this adventure—that maybe Ford wanted them to split up because he was irritated with Stan. Logically, he told himself, that Ford would tell him if he had a problem with him, but that fear lingered and festered within him.
Urg, or maybe some piece of Cipher that got left behind in his mind was screwing with him.
…Gross. Just gross. Stan didn’t know if that was better or worse than all these pessimistic thoughts coming from him or not.
Stan grabbed one of the scanners and chuckled, burying any thoughts of Ford being sick of him or Bill having any access to his mind deep down, “So, let’s get started then. Sooner we do this, sooner we grab dinner.”