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Summary:

A depressed Stan has accidentally spilled an age reversing substance on himself when Ford was out hiking. He was in the cabin alone with Fiddleford who is here to reassure him everything is fine. c:

They have defeated Bill and are healing.

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:

“My God ya' look younger than Tatertot-” Fidds muttered. He stood in the kitchen by the sink. He literally dropped a pan at the sight of me standing under probably about three feet tall. My clothes barely fit, clutching my now blanket sized jacket over myself.

“Fix it-” I growled cringing at my raspy squeaky voice.

“Stan, how in tarnation did this happen??” Fiddleford looked as if he was about to pick me up and I snapped smacking at him. It didn't do much; he still pulled back.

Jesus Fiddlesticks was tall like this…

“Fix. It. Now”

“Explain what happened,” Fiddleford placed his hands on his hips with a sigh, “I bet it was that fountain or youth water Ford found recently wasn't it-?”

“What! When did he find that?” I groaned, taking a step back from Fiddles, nearly losing my balance for a second, “Fix it now!!”

“Alright, alright, but Ford's the one that's smart with this type of stuff Stanley” and there was the grab- Fiddlefords hands slid under my armpits and he lifted me like a bag of potatoes. I squeaked as he sat me in the now looking very tall kitchen chair.

“Hey don't do that!” I snapped smacking at his hands again.

Fiddleford just huffed, “Sorry. I thought I heard you fall a few hours ago? Was that it-?”

“Uhhhg” I shoved my hands into my face. I was trying to clean dust off of one of Ford's nerdy science shelves and maybe broke some stuff… and spilt something… that apparently is some weird.. younger making potion… I groaned again, deciding on saying nothing. Ford might not find out I broke some of his stuff if I didn't.

And I really don't want to get kicked out right now…

“So it was.” Fiddles huffed, leaning back on the counter “Darn it… ya' feelin’ okay?”

“Uhg. I'm fine” I huffed. “I did pass out for a while though-” my stomach growled and I scowled. I swear to god-

“Ill make ya' somethin-”

“I'm not iiiin…..able” I huffed, crossing my arms when I realized I couldn't even… reach the top of the counters. For fucks sake I was too short to get off the chair without breaking my ankles or somthing!!! Fiddleford just sighed pulling some sandwich ingredients out. “This sucks-” I muttered.

“I'm sure Ford can fix it up when he gets back from his lil’ hikin’ trip”

I leaned on the table “Yeah, guess so-” After everything that dumb triangle did it's kinda surprising Ford can even go outside alone now. Took him damn months to be able to do this but if that nerd can put expectations to shame. He can do anything “You call Emma recently?” I cringed again at how that sounded with my voice right now. Jesus did I really use to sound this squeaky?

“Yeah, we are going to have such a great birthday party for Tater. I'll be missing ya' guys when I go over to… ah… make things up with em-”

“Nah, your fine Fiddles-” I huffed picking at my now small fingernails. Jesus, that is so weird. “Just have some fun or whatever”

I was snapped out of thought as he dropped a plate in front of me and Jesus christ the amount of whiplash I got from how hungry I was nearly made me nauseous. It reminded me of the streets. Instantly snatching the sandwich (which Fidds remembered as my favorite somehow) I ignored the eyebrow raise from him as I stuffed half of it in my mouth.

“Whoa careful there-” He hovered.

It's not like I'm a fragile piece of glass just because I'm now a stupid ki- I felt something get lodged in my throat and choked.

-and that's why you don't even think about that type of stuff…

I leaned forwards unable to breathe, feeling some panic creep into the sides of my head. But I'm ok. I'm fine- Fiddles is here and… I'm not suffocating from being waterlogged. I'm not. Rico isn't here.

“Shoot, hold on Stan-!” After some uncomfortable seconds of the Heimlich maneuver I coughed the sandwich (if you can call it that anymore) out and gasped. Fidds sat me back on the chair frowning “You ok??”

I grimaced slumping after the panic faded letting a faint nod out, “Uhg… there goes my appetite” I ignored the growl from my stomach as Fiddles sat across me.

“Phew. ya' really got me sittin’ on edge fer’ a second there” Fiddleford said relieved. Uhg… gross… people being relieved for my well being. Ford might strangle me for thinking that still but he can suck it.

I slumped into the table feeling defeated both physically and mentally. Why did I have to become a child again? Why me… “I hate my life-” I dramatically smacked my forehead into the table with a soft thump ignoring the stupid persistent growls from my stomach.

Fiddleford sighed “I really still don't think Ford and you should be left alone…” he rubbed the bottom of his chin squinting at me.

I bristled, “What the hell is that supposed to mean??”

“Uuhh” I looked up when Fiddleford cleared his throat, “N-nothin’ anyways ya' should try ta’ eat somethin’ I can't imagine how much energy it musta’ taken’ to shift that rapidly from adult to child. Sweet hot cakes Ford is going to go down a rabbit hole with that one isn't he-?”

I just let my head thump back into the table and groaned, grabbing the sandwich lazily. I didn't choke this time trying to feed myself.

Notes:

Fiddleford "My friends are terribly unstable.... Maybe Tater can wait a bit longer"

Stan "Kill me now. I hate these tiny hands"

Ford- out hiking the whole time, completely oblivious "Wow... Another mushroom species!!!"

This was a Stanuary prompt for 2026, it is Age and Youth :) I'm happy to participate eheh. Thanks for reading my little story I scrambled up at 2 AM I'm the morning.

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