The Mysterious Origin of the Mister Pines'
This is a fic based off of @jackyjackdraws Mystery husbands Au, WITH A TWIST! Intead of meeting Stan in his older years, Kevin grew up with Stan and Ford in Glass Shard beach. I loved the premise, but I had one question: What would happen if what happened, happened? And here we have my own answer to that question. I hope you enjoy!
The last of the winter snow crunched softly as a single car parked itself in the middle of the woods. The strong oak trees towered high above, as through holding up the sky itself. There was a beat before Kevin Griffth stepped out of his car and into the first day of spring in Oregon. The smell of real trees was a breath of fresh air compared to the artificial air freshener in his car.
He took a look around, the woods were thick and seemingly never ending. Kevin turned his gaze back down the dirt road, the nearest building was a mile back. A cool wind blew through the trees, and Kevin pulled his coat tighter over himself. His eyes wandered back to the wooden shack, it had a satellite dish pointing out of the roof, a radio tower and other weird tech stuff poking out of it.
“Looks like somewhere Ford would hole up,” Kevin smirked. He leaned against his car, trying his best to ignore the twist forming in this stomach.
He took another deep breath before walking over to the mesh door and giving a firm knock that sound echoed through the house.
After a few moments, a man stepped out of the front door. His hair was short and brown, his jaw was strong and squared off nicely. He wore black suit and a matching pair of six-fingered gloves. A pair of square glasses sat on his large nose completing his look. Kevin gulped, that was definitely Stanford Pines.
“Listen, I don't need any more life insurance funds. So take your forms—” Stanford’s voice was gravelly and stern. The minute his eyes fell on Kevin his deep frown lifted into a smile. “Kevin?”
“In the flesh.” Kevin scratched the back of his neck.
“How have you been?” Stanford approached Kevin with a wide smile.
“How have I been? Stanford, how are you, lad?” Kevin asked, concerned that the grief had driven Stanford into denial.
“Me? I’m peachy. Feelin’ like a million bucks.” Stanford waved his hand.
“Why wouldn’t I be? I get to see one of my best friends for the first time in who knows how long.”
“I know you probably don’t want me to feel bad, Stanford. Like you said, we haven’t seen each other for a while. So I understand if you forgot to invite me but you don’t need to pretend that your brother’s funeral wasn’t last week.” Kevin said calmly. He placed a hand on Stanford’s shoulder, offering an understanding smile.
Stanford looked like a deer in headlights. Kevin remembered that look in Stanley’s eyes when he was reminded about homework he missed. He stared at Kevin for a moment before his smile returned. It was much wider than before, unnaturally so.
“Yeah, that was…sad, but you know Stan. He wouldn't want me too mopey about him croaking,” Stanford said nonchalantly.
“Are you kidding me, lad? Your own brother died, and you don’t even feel sad?” Kevin stared in disbelief.
“Of course I’m sad, but it’s not like I can do anything about him being dead.”
“But, he’s your brother, your twin…my—how can you move on so quickly? Don’t you feel anything? Were you that upset after what happened?” Kevin’s voice hitched. He couldn’t believe that this was really the same bookworm he had known in his youth.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Stanford narrowed his eyes.
“I don’t know what happened the night that Stan disappeared, but it’s been ten years. I know a grudge can be hard to let go of, but for goodness sake lad, he’s your brother,” Kevin pleaded.
“Why do you care?” Stanford’s smile fell, his brow furrowed. “The bastard was a swindling grifter. He got what he deserved. The world is better off without him. Now that he’s gone I can finally get my work done without anything getting in my way.” Stanford stared at his gloved hands, closing them into tight fists.
This was far from what he had imagined would happen on the drive over. He had hoped to console a grieving friend and reconnect, or in the worst case, be told that he wasn’t invited on purpose. However, the words that left Stanford’s lips struck Kevin’s heart like a series of knives. One after the other, Kevin’s stomach began to twist tighter. He wanted nothing more than to go home and leave this mess behind him. Go to sleep and wake up ignorant to the loss he’d suffered.
But that loss was why he came here. He was hoping to find out more, perhaps be given the opportunity to grieve. Instead all he found was desecration.
“I loved him,” Kevin said quietly.
“What?” Stanford raised an eyebrow.
Kevin felt the pain in his heart spread throughout his chest. This warmth wasn’t the same as earlier. The weight of a week's worth of pent up emotions caught up with him and he glared at the man before him. His nails dug into the palms of his hands as warm tears began to prick the corners of his eyes.
“Don’t act surprised, Stanford,” Kevin spat. “You were there when he and I agreed to be boyfriends. You agreed to help us keep it a secret from your parents.”
“Those were some of my happiest days.” Kevin didn’t bother to hold back the hot tears as they fell down his cheeks. “We spent so much time together, running through the beach, studying for our exams, getting milkshakes. He wasn’t perfect. He made mistakes, but damn it all he tried his best.”
“Kevin—” Stanford stepped forward, arm outstretched.
“I don’t wanna hear another word from you!” Kevin could hardly breathe, his chest felt tight as he struggled to speak between sobs. He pushed Stanford away. “I drove here from Jersey. I spent a week hopping from motel to motel, driving non-stop. Just hoping, praying to catch the tiniest reminder of my best friends. I don’t know what happened that night after the science fair, but whatever it was doesn’t justify treating your brother like this.”
“You’re not the man I thought you were. You’re not the friend I once had!” Kevin jabbed his finger into Stanford’s chest. “I didn’t even know that Stan had died until your mother returned from the funeral still crying her eyes out. My own Ma spent a week comforting her. Did you know that? My own Ma found out about my ex-boyfriend being dead before I did.”
Kevin took a shaky breath trying to compose himself. He stepped away from Stanford. His face long with a forlorn frown. “Maybe I should have taken that as a sign that you had changed. I was hopeful. I wanted to think that you had just forgotten. Turns out I was wrong! You’ve just become the same bitter bastard that your father was.”
Stanford stepped back, his eyes wide with horror. He blinked a few times, and Kevin could not tell if it was a trick of the light, but he thought he saw tears starting to form in the corners of his eyes. Part of him wanted to apologize, wrap his arms around his old friend and forgive the past; but his chest still burned with anger and was tight from sadness. Stanford had crossed a line, and he deserved to feel bad.
“So what have you got to say now Stanford?” Kevin asked after a beat, cheeks flushed red.
“I thought you moved on,” Stanford said quietly.
Stanford breathed sharply, he stared at Kevin with a pained gaze.
Kevin watched as Stanford opened and closed his mouth multiple times before staring at his feet. There was a moment of silence as the trees rustled in the wind.
“What do you mean that you thought I moved on, Stanford?” Kevin insisted. He leaned closer, to get a better look at Stanford’s face.
“Just go home Kevin,” Stanford said slowly. He was unwilling to raise his gaze to meet Kevin’s. “Please.”
“I spent a week of non-stop driving to get here. I’m not being sent home until I get what I want.”
“What do you want? Money? The death certificate? Do you want me to dig up the cadaver so you can see the empty casket?” Stanford stepped forward, pushing himself into Kevin’s face.
“Damn it.” Stanford turned away.
“What’s going on here, Stanford?”
“Please, just go away,” Stanford begged in a weak voice. He raised his glasses and rubbed his eyes. Without his glasses in the way, Kevin could clearly see that Stanford had begun to cry.
“So you really did care.”
“Of course I fucking cared. I never stopped caring. But I made one mistake and then I lost everything. Then when I got a second chance, I screwed up and lost it all over again,” Stanford cried.
As he spoke, something clicked in Kevin’s mind. He took a moment to observe Stanford’s gloved hand as it reached to wipe away his tears. The second pinky was much stiffer than the others. It hardly moved when Stanford reached for his eyes. Almost as though the sixth finger in that glove wasn’t being filled properly.
“No.” Kevin shook his head, placing his hand over his mouth. His heart fluttered with hope. “You can’t be… Stanley?”
“Is this some big joke?” Stanford scowled at Kevin. He raised a gloved hand at his face. “Did you spend so long on the road that you forgot how to count?”
Kevin’s heart beat loudly as his hand reached out for Stanford’s, his throat felt dry as he felt the fabric of the glove against his palm. ‘Stanford’ was taken aback, but before he could pull away, Kevin gave a gentle squeeze of his hand. All but one finger felt soft under the fabric. The last felt hard, like a pen had been forced into the glove.
“You really are Stanley aren’t you, lad?” Kevin said slowly. A wave of confusion, relief and excitement washed over him.
“Kevin, please don’t stick around. I…I’ve already fucked up with Ford. I can’t lose you too.” Stanley fell to his knees, tears running down his cheeks.
“Not again.” Kevin wrapped his arms around Stanley. “I lost you once without explanation. I’m not letting that happen again.”
“Stanley, I came all the way out here for you. I chose to do that. No matter what you did, I’ll forgive you. Just…please tell me what's going on.” Kevin pressed his forehead against Stanley’s.
Kevin felt Stanley wrap his arms around him and lean into the embrace. He heard his old friend let out a heavy sob and heave, trying to breathe as the weight of years of abandonment caught up to him, afraid that this tiny moment of comfort would be torn from him just like his brother was. He tightened his hold, silently praying that if this was some sick dream that he could stay asleep. Soon Stan was pressing his face into Kevin’s shoulder, sobbing loudly not caring about his facade anymore.
“You’ve been through a lot since we last saw one another, haven't you?” Kevin spoke calmly. He rubbed large circles into Stanley’s back.
It was several minutes before Stanley was able to compose himself. He was out of breath, red in the face, but slowly, gingerly he picked himself up. He pulled off his gloves and pocketed them, revealing his five-fingered hands. Wordlessly he took Kevin’s hand in his own and led him into the shack. The pair walked past several rooms before arriving in the kitchen.
Kevin followed along, taking a seat at the kitchen table and watched as Stanley cluttered through the drawers and cupboards. Leaving Stanley to his own devices, Kevin took in his surroundings.
The kitchen itself was rather clean, a couple of plates sat in the sink waiting to be washed and the table had a few aged stains in strange colours. Before he could dare to touch a bright green stain that was shaped like a human ear, a mug of hot chocolate was placed in front of Kevin.
Kevin looked up and saw Stanley sitting opposite him. Nursing a matching mug. Stanley’s eyes didn’t rise from his mug. Kevin could see that he was deep in thought and gave him a moment to gather himself.
“I didn’t have anything fancy… but I remembered how your Ma would make hot cocoa when I used to spend the night,” Stanley said quietly.
Reaching out slowly, Kevin took the mug into his hands. It was warm.
Kevin took a sip and felt a wave of nostalgia crash into him like a truck. It tasted sweet, it was creamy, and felt like he had been sent back to those old days where things were simpler. It wasn’t perfect, but Stanley had never perfected the recipe no matter how much he insisted that he had.
Kevin raised his gaze to see Stanley staring at his own mug, twiddling his thumbs.
“It’s delicious.” Kevin said.
“Stanley. Please talk to me.” Kevin reached out, placing his hand in Stanley’s.
Stanley flinched. He fearfully raised his gaze to meet Kevin's before dropping it once again in shame.
“I… I don’t know what to say.” Stanley admitted.
“Can we start with the beginning?”
“Oh boy. That’s a can of worms.” Stanley sighed.
“We have an entire factory of cans waiting to be opened, might as well start somewhere.”
“Remember that science fair that Stanford was all excited for?” Stanley fearfully looked up at Kevin.
“Well turns out he did such a wiz-bang job that some fancy Schmancy college wanted to give him a scholarship and all that. It all woulda been perfect, if someone hadn’t fucked everything up.” Stanley sighed deeply. “Long story short, Ford’s project was totaled. His scholarship chance was canned and everyone was pissed. Pops was sick of me, and that was the straw that broke his back. He threw me my old gym bag and told me to get lost.”
“Wait…is that why you disappeared?” Kevin covered his mouth.
“Pops said I wasn't welcome back until I made back the money I lost the family. So I…left.” Stanley placed his face in his hands.
“Stanley, I’m sorry you had to deal with that.” Kevin reached out a hand for Stan’s shoulder. “But you know you would have had a place with me and my Ma right?”
“I thought about it when I was halfway over the border, but I wanted to stick it to my old man. I wanted to show him that I wasn't some freeloader and that I could make it on my own.”
“Oh Stanley.” Kevin muttered.
“And that’s just the beginning.” Stanley blew out a breath. “A month ago, I got a letter from Ford sayin’ he needs help,and I thought ‘hey, it’s been ten years maybe he’s over everything.’” Stanley paused and then sighed, “This next part would be easier if I just showed you,” Stanley said with a sigh.
He pushed himself up from the table. His mug of hot chocolate sat untouched as he walked out of the room, beckoning Kevin to follow. Kevin found himself led through a door to a wide open room. There were some tacky postcards, hastily made novelty T-shirts and some crudely designed key chains that hung from some old wooden shelves.
“Is this a gift shop?” Kevin asked. He turned to find Stanley fiddling with a heavy metal door.
“I’ll…I’ll get to that, for now you’re gonna wanna follow me ‘cause trust me, it’s a lot to take in.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and held the door open for Kevin.
Kevin eyed the dark hallway behind the door. “Stanley, what have you gotten yourself into?”
“I don’t know.” Stanley sounded tired.
Kevin watched Stanley disappear into the hallway. He waited a couple of moments before following after him.
As they descended, Stanley regaled the tail of his life on the road. The crimes he commited, the many names he took. As they entered the elevator to the basement, Stanley began to talk of his arrival to Gravity Falls. The confrontation with his brother. The revelation of the portal. Of their argument, the painful branding and the abrupt disappearance of Stanford through the bright light of the portal.
When Stanley finished talking, the pair were standing before the giant triangular portal in the basement.
Kevin stared in awe. The portal towered over him, reaching several feet to the ceiling above. The basement itself was cold and unwelcoming, a shiver ran down his spine as he looked around the room. The ground was strewn with cut wires, loose tools and screws. Kevin could tell that Stanley had spent countless hours trying to get this terrifying machine started. It felt surreal, his mind raced with so many thoughts.
“This is all so much.” Kevin said slowly.
“I…I wish you didn’t have to see me like this.” Stanley said glumly.
There was a beat. Kevin stared at his reflection in the metal portal frame. Behind him he could see Stanley staring at his own hands. While his mind felt like a tangled mess of fairy lights, Kevin knew one thing, he had come here to comfort and reconnect with a Pines twin after ten years. He took a deep breath before turning to face Stanley.
“You’re stubborn as you’ve ever been, aren’t you lad?” Kevin sighed. He slowly walked towards Stanley.
“Too stubborn for anyone’s good.”
“You made some big mistakes,” Kevin agreed, walking past the discarded tools, “but look around you. If you were a bad person you wouldn’t have been trying to bring your brother back.”
“You might have acted rashly and cut me out of your life without hearing my piece—”
Stanley gulped. His head was hanging in shame once more. Kevin, now standing in front of him, cupped a hand under Stanley’s chin and tiltedtilted his head up to look him in the eyes.
“—but you were trying to fix your mistakes. I’m upset, and I’m hurt, but now that I know what you’ve been through, or at least some of it. I’m willing to forgive you.”
“Why?” Stanley cried. He stepped back and pushed Kevin’s hand out of his face. “Why are you trying so hard to be nice to me? I’ve been horrible to you. Even when we were together as kids. I was always terrible. So why don’t you just leave me alone in this shit?”
“What?” Stan furrowed his brow.
“I loved you when we were younger, through thick and thin we were there for one another back then. And now, looking at you and how much you’ve grown, yet still stayed the same. I can still feel the warmth in my heart that I felt back then.” Kevin smiled fondly. “Stanley Pines, I love you.”
“Dammit Kevin I’m no good for you. I’ve lied, I've cheated, I've stolen. I’m a crook through and through. You deserve someone worth your time.” Stanley cried.
“Do you hate me?” Kevin asked bluntly.
“Did you stop loving me?”
Stanley let out a sigh. “I still love you. Yes.”
“Then why shouldn't we try being together once more.” Kevin said.
“Kevin, please just trust me. If you stay with me this will be the rest of your life!” Stanley pointed to the portal.
“Then at least I’ll be spending my life with someone I care about.” Kevin replied.
Kevin wrapped his arms around Stanley once again. He gave a tight squeeze before the other man could protest.
“You’re scared of hurting me. I get it. But I’m a grown man now. I can handle being hurt,” Kevin whispered into Stan’s ear.
Stanley wrapped his arms around Kevin, returning the tight embrace. The pair stood in the middle of the basement, enjoying the comfort in one another that they had sorely missed. After a few minutes Kevin pulled back and held onto Stanley’s hands.
“Stanley, I want this. I want us.” Kevin said earnestly.
“I know you’re afraid.” Kevin cast a glance at the portal. “I am too. But if you’re with me, I feel like I can take on anything.” There was a beat before Kevin continued. “I love you Stanley Pines. There’s no changing that. But if you feel that you don’t want me in your life, then I will not force myself here. But, if only this once, would you give me a chance?”
Kevin looked into Stanley’s eyes. They were surrounded by heavy bags, yet behind the stress and tiredness, Kevin could still see a shine of hope. A spark of joy that he hadn’t seen in ten years. He wanted to hug him again. He wanted to hold him here until all his pain and sleeplessness had left him. Kevin squeezed his hands and watched as Stanley returned the gesture. There was a calm silence between the two before Stanley spoke once more.
“I don’t know how we’ll get this to work. But I missed you Kev. I really did.” Stanley reached out, hugging Kevin one final time, burying his face into his shoulder.
“I missed you too Stan.” Kevin said softly. “I missed you too.”
