I honestly don't know why I wrote this haha. I was just feeling like I wanted to write some angst.
I have this idea that Ford was very conflicted and distraught after Stan was kicked out. He was actually very remorseful immediately after, but let his anger grow throughout the years, and thats what we see in the episode. So I wrote some about that .
Anyway, enjoy!
The curtains were old, the threads worn and fraying, the cotton material an ugly shade of yellow. Ford had never noticed just how intricate the textile work was, how each thread wove together and through each other.
He had plenty of time to study it now.
He couldn't move, couldn't pull his gaze away from the two pieces of fabric he'd thrown together. He was frozen at the window.
Why didn't he say anything?
Why did he only watch?
Why had he shut those curtains?
There were too many unanswerable questions.
Of course, he thought he'd known the answer. That's why he didn't say anything. That's why he only watched. That's why he shut those curtains.
But now, he didn't know.
He'll come back. He has to. Sure, he's upset right now, and Dad is too, but he'll come home.
He always comes home.
But deep down, Ford knew he was lying to himself.
What kind of brother am I?
What kind of brother doesn't say anything when he needed to?
What kind of brother lets his father disown his own twin?
Ford noticed an odd stain on the bottom of the left curtain. He remembered the day that happened.
He and Stan were eight. They'd been working on a cool flag for the Stan'O'War, painting bright rays of sun and ocean waves on it. Then Stan had spilled the paint on the floor, splashing up onto the curtains.
Their father had been so mad. He made the twins clean it all up. At first, Stanford had been upset that he had to clean too, as Stanley had been the one to make the mess. But after a while, he didn't mind.
He didn't want his brother to suffer alone.
They'd never gotten the paint stain out. And they'd never changed the curtains.
Why couldn't things be like they were back then?
Why did he have to change so much? Why did he have to break that stupid project?
Ford felt his anger flare up again, but he repressed it. After all, it was over now. It was all over.
Stan was gone.
"Ford? Are you coming down for dinner?"
He heard his mother's voice behind him, but he didn't respond. He didn't move.
"Stanford?"
Silence.
He just stared at the window.
Ford heard his mom shift in the doorway, seeming like she wanted to come in, but didn't know if she should. Finally, he heard her footsteps on the carpeted floor, moving back down the hall and toward the kitchen.
But he still didn't move.
Those curtains were old, the threads worn and fraying, the cotton material an ugly shade of yellow.
And now, they were blurred as Ford's eyes filled with tears.
Wow that was pretty bleak. Sorry about that haha. Hopefully it was still enjoyable.