And here's the ficlet that goes with these images:
Fiddleford didnât really know why he gave his phone number to Stan. It had just felt like the right thing to do at the time.Â
Some of the things Stan had slipped when heâd tried to leave at first just didnât sit right with him. âHe already has a low enough opinion of me,â and the look he gave Fiddleford when he realized Ford hadnât even mentioned having a twin⌠He shouldnât get involved, he knew. It wasnât his problem to fix, and he already had enough issues with his own family.
But then, Stan had called him, and asked if heâd wanted to go have a drink and Fiddleford had said yes, because going out always sounded more appealing than staying at home.
It hadnât always been this way, but it was now that heâd accepted the job with Ford. Emma hadnât taken it well, which didnât help matters. âYouâre going to miss seeing your own son grow up?â She had asked, disbelievingly. âI thought you loved him, I thought we found a way to make this thing work, and youâre what? Just going to run away?â She was right of course, which had made it so much more hurtful.
And he did love Tate, but he was so scared of messing up. Heâd lost his temper once and made him cry and he hadnât known what to do. How do you explain to a toddler that youâre sorry for raising your voice? He supposed that was his fault for not telling Emma he didnât feel ready to have kids. Sheâd wanted them, and she so rarely asked him for anything that he felt like he would have let her down, if heâd said no.
She could get behind their marriage being a facade for their respective catholic families, she understood when heâd asked if he could see other people on the side, since he wasnât into women. She supported his dreams to build personal computers, had fought with her family to defend him, when their opinions got in the way. So he gave her the son she wanted and then he ran away and tried to forget his guilt by getting engrossed with his work.
Heâd missed their anniversary this year. And her birthday. So he asked Ford for a vacation, to apologize to her, the both of them aware that he would likely miss Tateâs birthday as well.
Perhaps that was why heâd drank a little too much tonight. To help him forget about his guilt.
Heâd had fun with Stan, telling stories about Ford and their research in the woods. Stan had mostly offered funny stories from their childhood, sharing very little about his life after high school besides a few crooked tales where he got in and out of trouble in epic ways.
He thinks it would have been interesting to have him around campus, if heâd come to college with Ford. They would have gotten into so much trouble, the three of them. Perhaps he should invite him to come to Gravity Falls with him.
Stan was driving him back and he was saying something so Fiddleford made an effort to tune back in.
â...guess what Iâm trying to say is thank you.â
âFor the drinks?â He asked, hoping he didnât just make a giant fool of himself.
Stan glanced at him, apparently picking up on the fact Fidds was a little too drunk for this. âYeah, I guess. That was nice of you to cover.â
He gestured dismissively, âdonât mention it.â
âAlright, I wonât tell everyone that a pretty twink bought me a drink then,â he joked, nudging Fiddlefordâs arm.
He snorted disgracefully, âanâ I wonât tell no one my best friendâs secret twin is such a charmer.â
Stan scoffed, âno one would believe you.â
Fiddleford laughed tiredly, charmed by Stanâs dry sense of humour and witty comebacks.
âCould you -hum.â Stan started, then stopped, his eyes doing quick back and forths between Fiddlefordâs face and the road.
âWhat?â Fidds asked eventually, when the heavy silence had stretched too long for comfort.
âItâs stupid,â Stan said dismissively, âbut could you not tell Ford?â
âAbout this evening?â Fidds asked, a little confused. His sluggish, alcohol addled brain not connecting the dots.
Stan nodded, clearly uncomfortable. âJust, about me in general.â
âAre you afraid of what he might think about you?â Fiddleford asked, before realizing this was getting a little too personal a little too fast for Stanâs taste.
âNo, I know what he thinks about me.â Stan answered, almost too quietly to be heard over the soft purring of the engine. âThereâs no point fueling the fire, is there?â
Before Fiddleford could answer, Stan stopped the car and gestured to the house outside.