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Stanley pines was a broken man.He has been ever since he was born.He was the loser twin who couldn’t learn how to read, and couldn’t do anything right.And that was only perpetually made more and more defined as the years ticked by. With every single thing he did on the streets, the more trauma he experienced, the more guilty he felt, the more broken he became.The only thing that kept him from killing himself was the faint hope that Stanford would forgive him, that he could make millions and come home, or that someone would kill him so he didn’t have to.So when a light came through the tunnel he has been digging since he was born, he followed it.The light was a postcard from the person he still loved more than anyone else even after everything. All it said was “PLEASE COME - FORD” and that was enough.He came in under two days, and all he could do when he got there was stand and stare at the door that separated him and his twin.This is it.“WHO IS IT? HAVE YOU COME TO STEAL MY EYES!?!?!?!?”That’s……..not what he was expecting. To be fair he didn’t know what he was expecting but it wasn’t that.“Well, I can always count on you for a warm welcome.”Okay that was really sarcastic, but what do you expect? His brother just shoved a crossbow into his face.A crossbow.Apparently Stanford could only use fairy tale weapons well living as a secluded scientist in a creepy cabin in the woods.That’s great, just great.What did you get yourself into Sixer?Because he was genuinely worried. As sarcastic as he can be, he cares. He cares so, so, so much.He probably cares more than Ford will ever be able to comprehend.Ha! See that world? Stan Pines knows a few big words!And that’s sad, considering all of the big words he knows are from ford.During all of that time he spent thinking, Stanford invited him in.And proceeded to shine a light into his eyes.Wait what?“Agh! What is this?”Stan didn’t like being manhandled. Especially after everything he’d gone through. Chewing your way out of a trunk after being dragged into it to hopefully kill you was no joke.“Sorry, I just had to make sure you weren’t-“ he shook his head “it’s nothing.”He stepped farther in and noticed something.Ford’s house was really cold.Like really, really cold. As if he didn’t have a heater.Which would be impossible in a big, nice cabin in the forest in Oregon. Right?And Ford looked really bad - as if he hadn’t slept in about a month, and forgot that taking care of yourself is important. And maybe even that food existed.And junk was all over the place. The house was a mess, with papers, books, and everything in between littering the floor.Is that blood?In the lighting some things looked like they had red-brown stains on them. Hopefully it wasn’t blood.What happened to you?Because whatever or whoever made Ford concerned about his eyes being stolen and made him forget how to take care of himself is going to burn in hell. Stan would make sure of it.“Are you gonna tell me what’s going on? You’re acting like mom after her tenth cup of coffee.”“I’ve made huge mistakes.” Stanford tilted a skeleton’s head. Why he had one, Stan had no idea. “I don’t know who I can trust anymore.”So that’s why he called the family screw up.Yeah, whoever did this turned his loving, soft spoken, trusting brother, with his head in the clouds, into someone who can barely trust Stan will pay. No one does this to ford and lives to tell the tale.No one.They needed to work this out.“Hey take it easy, we’ll talk this through. Okay?”He said that as soft as he could as he put his hand on ford’s shoulder.Ford stopped in his tracks and leaned into the touch.Good, we’re getting somewhere.Ford’s breath hitched though. And he started whimpering. Was he crying?Stan then did the only thing that all his instincts would allow him to do.He hugged his brother.Ford froze, then he turned around and leaned into it.Even if he wasn’t crying before he was then.A wet spot formed on Stan’s right shoulder. But that was alright. He was fine with a little wet spot if it meant he could make his brother happy in the long run.Stan didn’t know how long he sat there with his brother. All he knew was ford needed him, so he was right there.When ford’s sobs started dying down, Stan had to say a few things.“Sixer, I love you, I love you so much. I just need to know who the fuck did this to you. Who the hell would turn you, the smartest, most loving person I know into someone who is worried about his eyes being stolen. I need to know what’s going on. Poindexter, I need to help you. I need to keep you safe, to make you smile again. Just what’s going on?”That was maybe a bit harsh, but he couldn’t let ford be in to much trouble. He needed to know that second what was wrong.But ford kept crying, so Stan gave him a few minutes to find his voice.“St-Stanley, I - I need to show you s-something, something y-you won’t believe.”“Look sixer, I’m sure whatever it is I’ll understand. But, you need to calm down first.”After a moment he got a shaky “okay” from his brother.It took a while, but Ford did calm down eventually. Not much, but enough to have a coherent conversation with.“Okay, do ya mind tellin’ me what’s goin’ on?”Ugh! His accent was coming through! Stupid emotions! Can he ever get a break?Well no, he can’t. Living on the streets, you don’t get breaks, You get broken bones that you have to heal yourself.You don’t get to fix your car, you’re chewing your way out of the trunk of one with a bullet wound in your side.His life has been anything but PG since he was 17.“Stanford, before ya answer that one, do ya mind telln’ me the last time you slept?”Because now that stan was looking a little closer at Ford, he saw that Ford looked like he hadn’t slept in at least three weeks.“I-I can’t sleep, he’ll get me! B-but that’s not important right now. We can worry about me later. I’ve made huge mistakes. I don’t know who I can trust anymore.”Huge mistakesDon’t know who I can trust anymoreStan knew Ford had said that earlier, but now the words were hitting him more.Ford couldn’t trust anyone, but Stan.Stan his fuckup of a twin brother who was never worth anything.Stan who ruined his life.Stan who was five minutes off from killing himself when the postcard arrived.What makes me so trustworthy? Does he still care? Does he love me? No that can’t be it. Can it?that put stan into a daze. was he really the first person Ford turned to?“Ford, look whatever happens. whatever happens, I will protect you. I’ll do whatever it takes. because whoever the fuck did this will pay. I’ll make sure of it.he said that so truthfully, so precisely, with so much confidence that Ford had to smile through the tears pricking at his eyes.And yay, more crying!Okay that is sarcastic, but what do you expect from Stan Pines?Stan pines, the man who would make sure his brother lived longer than him. No matter what the cost