Chapter Text
It was nice going to this nerd convention with Ford, being able to go somewhere with his twin was a treat. Stan was still nervous with how many people were after him but Ford had brought up a great point: Since Ford was well known in the scientific community, it would be weirder if he didn’t go. Plus, it was understood that he had taken a research assistant, so it would be weird for Stan not to be there with him.
And the people hunting Stan down would never think to look at some nerd convention for the conman grifter they were after. Hell Stan would never think to look somewhere like this for any of the targets he used to be sent after. Why would anyone a cartel is after, be smart enough to be invited into a science convention?
It had been almost a full month since Ford found out that Stan smoked and now every day some new item would be where Stan visits the most. Just yesterday there was an entire book on his pillow about the horrors of smoker’s lungs, it had pictures and all. It was nice what Ford was trying to do but this wasn’t something that Stan could give up that easily. He’s been smoking for most of his life now, sometimes it was the only thing that kept him warm in those cold months when he couldn’t afford the gas to use his heater.
Sure, now he could afford to stop smoking. He’s even cut back substantially from before. But this is still a comfort he’s scared to stop. He dreams of him smoking, has nightmares where his lighter is gone, even cried when his lighter he left home with had finally run out of fluid. It’s a piece of himself that he’s honestly scared to lose. Everything he owns has a light smell of tobacco and burnt fabric; it’s a part of him.
Eventually he will stop smoking, most likely at Ford’s insistence with how things are going. For today though, Stan is just going to spend time trying to understand whatever nerd things Ford is excited to show him. His twin was ecstatic to bring him along to this convention specifically, even Fiddleford was coming to it.
It wasn’t unusual for Fiddleford to come with Ford to these, but as far as Stan knows there are no mechanical displays. Nothing like the conventions Fiddleford usually attends.
Not that Stan is complaining, having someone who at least remembers others exist is nice. Stan loves his brother, but he tends to spend more time fawning over science than spending time with Stan at these.
They were staying in an apartment style hotel with three separate rooms and a kitchen. Stan was more than willing to cook for them all week if they all stayed in the same suite. More money on a good room and less on food and gas, more bang for their buck for this little week long adventure.
Stan had just set his bag inside his room when the suite’s front door opened again, making the hair on the back of his next stand up. Despite how long he’s spent around others recently, being cooped up in the hotel room has Stan on edge. He has too many memories of running and laying low in motels hoping people don’t find him, not to be.
Gripping the brass knuckles in his pocket, slowly creeping to his own door, Stan peeks his head just far enough out to see the entry door. Letting out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, Stan sees that it was just Fiddleford arriving. The southern man had a little hop in his step that sent his banjo bouncing off his back, a wide smile plastered on his face.
It was going to be a great week with these two. Stan hadn’t left the house in a while, only heading into town once every two weeks for short grocery shopping. The twins hadn’t gone on some adventure in the woods since almost getting killed by the Dawn Tooth, a large snake-like anomaly that lives near some magic mailbox. They had to jump off a cliff and luckily enough Ford carried some crazy invention Fiddleford had made in college to save them.
Right now though, it was just time to enjoy this week long convention with these nerds. It might even be fun going to do whatever Ford had planned. Stan was determined to at least try to learn something, to enjoy himself in the knowledge that the nerd patrol loved so much. He loved them both too much not to at least try.
They got up early for the first day of the convention, getting there before the doors were even unlocked. The moment that they could get in, Ford grabbed Stan’s hand and started pushing through the crowd. not caring who he cut off or pushed to get them to wherever he was leading him.
It reminded Stan of when they were just kids on Glass Shard beach, spending their days running around. They didn’t care who they bumped into or where they were allowed, only that there was adventure to be had.
Together they burst into a small side room, Ford practically vibrating in place. He turned excitedly towards Stan with stars in his eyes.
“The reason we are here at this conference is mostly because of this.”
Stan looked around confused, there wasn’t really anything here. Nothing but dirt and some weird looking pieces covered in cloth.
“And what is... this?”
Ford’s smile grew at his words, sweeping his arm across the room. Being dramatic as usual.
“This is the hall of dinosaurs,” Ford does something, “and they are bringing out the most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton in the world and a complete life size model of a Spinosaurus.”
Stan stared at his brother in shock, he loves dinosaurs. He has always loved dinosaurs in fact, and who doesn’t? They are huge terrifying lizards, that’s the coolest thing he knows of.
Ford took some bullshit paying conference panel so Stan could come see these dinosaurs. Just for Stan.
“God it’s so dusty in here from these bones.” Stan stuttered out, trying to wipe away the gathering tears.
Ford’s hand squeezed his, a small laugh blurted out in surprise. Stan watched as Ford nodded, using his unoccupied hand to readjust his glasses with a smirk.
“Dr. Pines?” A familiar voice carried across the small room.
It tickled the back of Stan’s mind and not in a good way. Someone who made his gut churn with nausea, maybe an old client? That can’t be right, they called out Stanfords name not his.
Then it hit Stan like a bag a bricks, it was technically a client. It was that weirdo that the Fords™ watched him give a blowjob to in an alley.
Stan froze, his whole body locking in place as he realized. He didn’t know what to do, how he should react to this. How do you confront and or have a civil conversation with a man your twin and his best friend watched you blow in an alley?
Ford looked annoyed and a little mad at the voice. Like he had swallowed a lemon he didn’t know was there. It would be funny if Stan wasn’t panicking a little.
Dread pulling any happy feelings Ford had worked towards. Stan looked over Ford’s shoulder to where Henry was looking at them, his eyes locked onto the manic gleam the younger man had. There was an energy the man had that made Stan shudder, it reminded him of Rico.
The desire to own someone, to take someone and never let go. It was something that Stan was unfortunately very familiar with. It felt like a lifetime ago that Stan was owned by Rico, held prisoner by drugs and feelings that were never real. It hurt in so many ways for Stan to see the same desire echoed through the young man in front of him.
There was a piece of Stan that wanted to take Ford and just run, get out of the entire town and keep running. That was what kept Stan alive in the end, his ability to just go . His brother apparently didn’t have the same urge to get out as fast as possible.
“I told you after the last convention to never talk to me or anyone else I know again Henry.” Ford’s voice rang out, there was no room for arguing by the way he talked.
The way the man ignored his brother's cold tone could only tell Stan how blind he was by his own ego. He walked closer with strong strides, eyes never leaving Ford in that possessive way.
“Please Dr.Pines,” Henry begged as he kept walking towards them, “You are my hero. I have pictures of you in my room, I even have this picture of you right now!”
Henry reached inside his jacket, making Stan tense ready to jump in front of Ford. That was the same spot Stan would keep a gun or something else to hurt whoever his target would be. Stan kept his eyes locked on all of Henry’s movements.
Ford took a half step to the side, covering Stan almost completely from Henry’s view. It was weird how protective his twin was, like it was Stan that Henry was after, not Ford.
“I do not care Henry,” Ford tilted his head up and straightened his shoulders back, “After what you did last time, you are no longer welcome in my presence.”
Ford never acted like this around other people who got on his nerves, this kid must have said something crazy about his hands or Fiddleford.
“Dr. Pines,” Henry was right next to them now, “I really am sorry that you took offence to what I said last time.”
Ford clenched his hands at his side, his body was slightly shaking. He must be really mad, Stan could almost hear his teeth creaking.
“Henry,” Ford’s voice took a dangerous edge, some kind of primal rage Stan hadn’t heard in a long time, “I am not joking with you. I told you to never come near me or anyone else I care about again.”
Henry rolled his eyes, “All I said was that your brother gave a good blowjob.”
Stan bluescreened, Ford was mad at Henry because of him ? The reason Ford looked like he was going to kill this young man was because he didn’t like how he talked about him!
Ford took a half step towards Henry, rage visible in every cell of the man in front of him. While Stan couldn’t see his face, he could imagine the flush and flare of nostrils present on his twin's face. The way his body shook told Stan all he needed to know about how angry he was.
“I am giving you one more chance here Henry,” Ford growled out in a low voice, “I am losing patience with you.”
This young man had some balls on him, just rolling his eyes at the clear threat. Even deciding to relax into a slouch instead of leaving like he should.
“Maybe you should let your brother make the choice himself.” Henry almost jeered, lip curling up into a smirk.
Henry let his eyes slide away from Ford, locking onto Stan with a look that made his blood turn into sludge. Those possessive eyes looking him up and down like he was a piece of meat, Stan did not miss getting looks like this. It brought up long forgotten memories Stan tried to keep pushed down, ones of Rico and all the things that happened before .
Henry flippantly decided to try to talk to Stan, his eyes piercing into his soul, “I have money, if you want to-“
Ford’s fist cracked against the younger man’s cheek, ringing out in the small room. He was breathing heavily, eyes made of stone as he stared down the man now on the floor.
“If you ever talk to me or anyone else I know I will make sure there isn’t a body to find.” Ford loomed over the young man, anger drifting off him and making the air in the room tense.
The heavy footfalls of security came bursting through the room, surrounding the three of them. Stan wanted to leave, right now, yesterday at this point. This entire exchange made his skin crawl and his veins wiggle with the throbs of his heavy beating heart.
Before anyone could do anything, Fiddleford came bursting into the room with some old man in tow. Scanning the room before locking onto the group, making eye contact with Stan. There was a rage in his eyes that mirrored Ford’s, his soul burned with the same passion of anger.
“Looky here,” Fiddleford threw his arm towards them, raising his voice to echo in the room “your student that Ford told to leave him alone was buggin him and probably said somethin insensitive!”
The new stranger next to Fiddleford sputtered as turned a deep red at his words, giving up and just deciding to walk towards them. He didn’t say anything to anyone but the guards before dragging Henry away, the younger man just staring at them. He had a small smirk and a dangerous look plastered on his face, this won’t be the last time they deal with Henry, Stan was sure of it. Right now, all Stan wants to do is go back to their hotel and recuperate for a little bit. Then they could head back in and do all the cool things, but he was feeling buzzing under his skin right now.
Luckily the Fords™ could tell that Stan needed out and helped him back to the hotel, either one standing shoulder to shoulder with him. Ignoring everyone else as they walked three wide, Stan felt safe like this. Not that he would ever tell them that, though he was sure they already knew.
Stan was getting soft, letting these two nerds lead the way. He was supposed to be the muscle here but instead they protected him. Stan was happy to be able to drop the walls that he used to have to keep himself alive, he had never felt safer than with these two by his side.