(ofc ignore this if it's not the vibe - :) e)
"Who is it?! Have you come to steal my eyes?!" Ford barked, voice shaking almost as much as the crossbow in his hands, Stan had his hands raised on instinct.
Ford lowered the crossbow after he saw him, though, which was nice. Stan was really hoping he wouldn't be hunted for sport as revenge. "Can always count on you for a--" He started, but then the crossbow hit the deck.
And Ford had wrapped his arms around him. He smelled like coffee and a gym locker, but his shoulders were shaking, nose buried in the crook of Stan's shoulder, Stan was almost too shocked to catch him when his knees buckled. He was still light enough to carry, though, just like when they were teenagers.
He didn't know what he was expecting. Ford mad? Definitely. Ford dead? Possibly. But his brother crying on his shoulder? Trusting him like that, wanting him to lean on? He couldn't have hoped for that. But at the same time, Pines men didn't cry for nothing.
Stan gently swung his brother back and forth while Ford panted into his shoulder. "I'm here." He said. "I came. I'm here to help."
Ford giggled a little, still warbling. "Of course."
Of course. Of course Stan would come. What did that mean? If Ford knew he was more than a soul-sucking leach and was actually loyal enough to come when Ford called, without any doubt, of course, then why the fuck did it take so long?
He tried to put Ford down, easing his weight off of Stan and back onto the ground, but Ford wouldn't let go.
"You gonna tell me why now is when you call me?" He asked.
Ford broke away, finally using his own damn feet, keeping his arms linked behind Stan's neck while he just looked at him with his big glasses-enhanced bug eyes. "Why wouldn't I call you?" He asked like the last 10 years weren't dust in his eye while Stan spent every night berating himself for a stupid teenage mistake.
Stan shoved Ford off. "What the fuck? Why would you? Did you seriously forget why I was kicked out?"
Ford just tisked. "Don't take the day out on me, I don't know what happened at work but dinner's getting cold, Stanley, and I worked very hard on it."
Stan hadn't eaten in four days. "Don't fucking brush me off, it had to have been life or death for you to call your bum of a brother out to your big fancy house after a decade of apparently not giving a shit, just let me know who I need to bury and you can save this bullshit act."
Ford's brows furrowed. "I would never! We can speak after dinner, I made meatloaf."
Stan wanted meatloaf so much he could cry, but Ford was acting like he always used to once he figured out him being the smart twin meant he was better. Like Stan's words were bubkis. "No, Ford, I don't want your shitty meatloaf and I don't want your shitty misdirections, I have better places to be." He didn't. He really, really didn't.
Ford's grown adult face twisted with the same embarrassed heartbroken expression as when they were ten listening to Crampelter call him a freak. His hands hid behind his back. "Why are you acting like this, Stanley? I just... I just wanted you to be happy coming home."
Stan felt like he got cold water dumped on him, even in the blizzard. "What's that supposed to mean?" He asked, sounding weaker than he meant. Ford wanted to have him back? Like back back? With no money?
Ford gave him a very confused look, still hesitant, still with his hands hiding from Stan like Stan was some bully. "It's - you're back from work so - this is what I always do."
Stan blinked. "Ford, what the hell are you on?"
Ford blinked. He blinked again. He grabbed Stan by the front of his shirt and yanked him inside, flashing a pen light his in his eyes while slamming the door shut with his boot. "You're not... Anyways. I... Apologize for my behavior. But I have something to show you."
"Yeah, meatloaf apparently." Stan said, already fantasizing about it. He meant to add something about Ford's sudden tone shift when Ford gave him a very sour look.
"No. I need something from you urgently."
Stan's heart gave one defeated throb. Of course.
THIS IS LITERALLY THE VIBE!! THE VIBE!!
Oh this is great, and then the little reality check bouncing Ford out of it briefly. Oohhhh my goodness smiley you fucking did it again.
