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goodoldfashionedengineer · 1 year

Text

A Road Less Traveled

Ao3

Chapter: 1/2

Word Count: 2032

Summary: Gravity Falls, the only place where he would ever fit in.

This was fine. He should be happy that at least his brother had friends. It was his own fault that caused his only friendship to break.

At least he found some comfort in the forrest.

Or: Ford thinks his friendship with Fiddleford is unrepairable, finds some comfort, only to be reminded that he would be alone forever.

Or would he?

Relativity Falls AU

Chapter 1: A Lone Hero

Gravity Falls was a strange place.

It was strange, just like him. Half of the summer was over, but it felt like he had already been here for an eternity. Stan and him were always on adventures, finding something new every day, cataloging it all in his journal. And they still had to figure out who the videographer was and what happened to him.

He finally felt free. It was the beginning of his twins' and his career as adventurers. Just the two of them and occasionally Great Aunt Mable.

Until it wasn't just the two of them anymore. Until Stan had found friends beside Ford. Until he had realized that he didn't actually know who he was without his twin.

And it got him thinking. Some of those thoughts made him feel so very guilty because how dare he think that.

He pretended that he didn't mind that Stan was spending more and more time with his new friends. He ignored the silent voice in his head that told him that Stan's friends must hate him because why wouldn't they.

However, mostly he felt jealousy. And he wasn't very proud of it. Stan had offered to Ford to come with him but Ford declined every time. On the other hand, he wished that it would be as easy for him to make friends as it had been for Stan. Stan was always better when it came to social skills. Something that Ford could never truly master.

But then he met Fiddleford. Finally, Ford had someone who didn't mind listening to Ford's scientific rambling and he actually contributed his own knowledge. Fiddleford didn't make fun of him for his love of the board game "Dungeons, Dungeons & More Dungeons". Quite the opposite happened because Fiddleford found a liking in the game as well.

It was like a dream. At long, long last, he had found a friend who didn't judge him. Think of him as awkward, weird or freaky. It was so easy to spend time with him. Conversations seemed so natural.

It wasn't long until Ford had invited Fiddleford to come with him on a monster hunt. Which turned out to be a fatal mistake.

They encountered a scampfire, usually not a large threat. Despite that, Fiddleford got too close to it and one of his pant legs caught fire. Ford reacted fast, poured some water over it and thus, the burn spot was only minor.

Still, Fiddleford seemed pretty freaked out over it. So he suggested heading towards the town's site.

Luck wasn't with them that day and they encountered a Killbilly. They ran as fast as they could. Still being followed, they hid in the closest convenience store, and the Killbilly was denied entry for lack of shoes and shirt.

Fiddleford was shaking like a twig in the wind. His eyes were wide open and his teeth clacked. Ford offered to walk home with him. He didn't even get a verbal response, just a nod.

Ford's eyes switched between looking at the ground and looking at Fiddleford. It was obvious that he was seriously shaken up by this day's events.

When they arrived, he said goodbye but didn't get a response.

—

He came home and it was loud. In the living room were Stan and Mabel, dancing to some song he didn't know. Ford rushed to the attic, got his journal, and made his way to the woods again. He needed time to himself.

The thirteen-year-old made his way to his hiding spot when he needed peace. The log was there, the light had this same yellowish glow it always had at this time of day. It was a place at the edge of the forest, but far away enough to not see the shack anymore.

Ford felt bad. Awful even. He never wanted to cause his friend anxiety. Fiddleford wouldn't forgive him. Ford had his one chance and messed up and now he had to live with the consequence. To be alone again.

Opening the journal on a blank page made him pause. Normally, he wrote how he felt or doodled something. But all he felt can only be described as sorriness and nothingness. He didn't know how the rest of the summer would look like now. A lone researcher isn't too bad of an image, is it? Maybe he could draw that. But how do you draw loneliness without being lonely? Lonely didn't have to be something bad, did it?

Absent-minded he traced out the triangular shape on the log. A lot of the trees here had this symbol. Was it native to this particular species or just a coincidence?

Suddenly something heavy fell onto his head. After searching the area, his eyes found the thing which caused his pain. It was an animal with an extraordinary pattern of pelt, which looked just like Boyish Dan's jacket. Ford heaved it up. Close resemblance to a platypus, but the pattern was very unusual.

Was this one of the creatures Boyish Dan told him about?! A Plaidypus? Is the legend true after all? He thought it was just one of the many folklore stories but it really is just another anomaly local to this strange town.

The Plaidypus emitted some odor. Ford took it closer to himself without a second thought. After taking a few deep breaths through his nose, he classified it as maple syrup and bacon. It was comforting, homey and familiar.

Ford now held it at eye height. The eyes were round and cartoonish. But it didn't show any signs of distress. Or judgment. It looked kind of cute even.

Ford took it to his chest again and gave it a hug. There was no struggle, so he continued to hold it, taking deep breaths through his nose.

His thoughts didn't stop during that hug. The Plaidypus would make a great pet. He wouldn't be lonely if he had a companion. But then he also had to give him a name. Flannel! Flannel. Flannel wouldn't leave him behind. Ford would protect Flannel how Stan protects him. He wouldn't let anything harm Flannel.

He looked Flannel into the eyes and he still had the same look. After a small, quick kiss to Flannel's forehead, he gave him a second hug.

Eventually, he laid Flannel down on his lap and returned to his journal. The once blank page now had a realistic looking drawing of Flannel.

He had to find out what Plaidypuses' diet consisted of. Surely Dan could help him. What were their natural habitats? There were so many things he needed to find out about these creatures. Were there others of his species? Had he family?

Had Flannel family? Had he friends?

Would he strip Flannel away from them if he would just take him home?

As much as Ford didn't like not having a brother or a friend to replace him, he couldn't make Flannel a loner as well. It wouldn't be fair. He just had to get used to it and wait it out. Until when is still unknown.

With glassy eyes he put Flannel down to the ground. The animal stared back. Ford closed his eyes and told himself that maybe he could find him again one day. He knew that he had three stripes going around his belly instead of two.

Flannel was still there when his eyes opened.

Why did farewells always have to be unexpected?

It was already hard enough not being liked by his brother's friends, harder to be the reason why your friend doesn't like you anymore. Why was he forced to make the farewell?

Trying to relax as much as possible and convincing himself that he wouldn't cry, he stood up and left.

His pace became faster and faster, never looking back at the only place where a freak like him fit in. He didn't need anyone.

Before he knew it, he had already got to his desired destination. The front door was opened and the music rushed over him again. Running up the stairs and locking the door upon instinct.

Had they even noticed he was here at all? They didn't greet him the first time he arrived. However, he didn't greet either nor did he join them.

The attic was quiet. The only sound was his own panting. Was he truly destined to be alone forever? Was he always meant to be the puzzle piece which wasn't even part of the puzzle?

Clearly people didn't like him but was he that odd?

Was he that strange?

Ford began to believe he was.

Not even his family really understood his quirks. Shermie liked spending time with Stan but he just couldn't click with Ford. His mom always called Stan her free little spirit. Dad didn't hate him but he still told him to let go of his "absurd" obsessions like the supernatural, something that brought him joy.

Stan was the one who danced with Great Aunt Mabel.

Ford didn't cry.

He didn't cry.

It was like Schroedinger's cat, if nobody saw it then nobody could be sure if he was crying or not, maybe it was both, who knew?!

Why was he so jealous?! Stan had to go through as much pain as him. The bullies said horrible things to him as well and when he went alone to the playground, he came back with a black eye more often than not.

Stan was allowed to be happy. Why couldn't Ford be just happy for him?!

It was never like he had a chance at all. Stan did.

The universe was kind enough to give him one as well. He was the one who ruined it. He had his one chance at being normal and destroyed it. It was his fault, really. Fiddleford wasn't Stan, he was not as brave as him, but he had a gentle, open and kind nature. And because of him, that was all gone.

One part of him wanted to sail away forever like they promised. The other wanted to stay here in Gravity Falls because it seemed like the only place where he wouldn't be a freak and his world just made sense. The adults didn't believe in the supernatural, even if it was right under their noses. Or in their near, at least.

In this town, he was just another anomaly among many. Maybe he could find himself here if he just embraced the strangeness. He didn't "fit in into the mold" so why should he even try? The anomalies were kinder than most people he ever met. He didn't need anyone except himself.

A smile crossed his face. With a plan in mind, he went to his bed, ready to continue reading the science book which he didn't finish last night.

What he forgot was the notice board on the wall. The notice board full of photos of this summer.

He picked the book up anyway and avoided the notice board. This topic was fascinating and he didn't know about it before. That was the truth. It only seemed similar to the topic he learned about two years ago.

Eventually, his subconsciousness betrayed him and he took a quick peep to the notice board. One turned to more until he just stared at it.

The majority of pictures included just Stan and him. Some were of Gravity Falls itself. There was a photo from Glass Shard Beach right next to one of the lake in Gravity Falls, his favorite places. A few of Fiddleford and him were also there.

It felt like someone squeezed his heart. He knew he was lying to himself. He knew it but he also knew why he still did it. It was easier than admitting that he really liked going on adventures with Stan, telling Mabel all he knew about a certain topic for hours and playing board games with Fiddleford but nobody reciprocating those feelings.

Fiddleford deserved at least an apology. A genuine one. Yes, it was also to mentally prepare himself for the farewell, but his former friend had a right to it.

Nonetheless, it could wait until tomorrow, so Fiddleford could recover from the shock.

This totally wasn't just another excuse.

#gravity falls #ford pines #stanford pines #gravity falls fanfiction #gravity falls fic #relativity falls au #relativity falls #young ford pines

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