Uncertainty - Stanford Pines x Reader (female)

Chapter 6

As I lounged in the corner of the living room, lazily flicking through a comic book from Soos, I couldn't help but overhear the chaos erupting from the gift shop. It sounded like Mabel, Stan, and Dipper were having another one of their zany episodes. I set the comic aside and peeked around the corner just in time to see Ford burst through the vending machine door, a bizarre creature latched onto his wrist.

"Everyone, get down! Don't let it taste human flesh!", Ford shouted, punching the creature off his hand.
"What is it?!", Dipper exclaimed, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Can we keep it?", Mabel's voice chimed in with her trademark enthusiasm for all things weird and wonderful.
Stan, however, had a different reaction. Swatting at the Cycloptopus with a rolled-up newspaper, he growled, "Kill it! Kill it!"

As the chaos spread, the Cycloptopus suddenly darted towards me, its tentacles stretching out as it slithered quickly across the floor. Startled, I leaped back, instinctively shielding myself with my arms as it neared.
Before anyone could react, the creature lunged at me, aiming for my arm.
I yelped as pain shot through me, but Ford was quicker than I expected. With a swift motion, he intercepted the creature, pushing it back with a burst of energy from his gloves. The creature screeched and retreated into the shadows, leaving me shaken, thanks to Ford's timely intervention.

Ford calmly cornered the creature and expertly subdued it. "Patience... and gotcha!", he declared, holding up its burnt body with a proud smile.
"Great. Now get it outta here. It smells like if death could barf.", Stan grimaced, clearly unimpressed with the aftermath of the encounter.

I rubbed my bruised arm where the creature had tried to attack me, still slightly phased by the sudden assault. Stanford had managed to keep his cool the entire time, responding almost automatically to the creature's attack on me. I couldn't help but admire him for that.
"Yeah, yeah, that thing is definitely not sticking around.", I muttered under my breath.
"Y/N, are you alright?", Mabel asked, concern etched on her face as she rushed to my side.
"Yeah, I think so. Just... startled.", I managed to say, still reeling from the adrenaline.

Dipper, always eager to learn from Ford, rushed over with Journal 2 in hand. "Great-uncle Ford! You need any help with that? I've read all about these creatures in your journal, and I think I know how to–"
Ford cut him off abruptly. "No. I'm sorry, Dipper. On the dark, weird road I travel, I'm afraid you cannot follow. ... Well, call me for dinner!" With that, he disappeared back into the vending machine.

I watched as Ford quickly vanished. The rapid shift from what had just happened to Ford's mysterious exit left me somewhat dumbfounded.
"Maybe next time then? Or not? Or never.", Dipper muttered, disappointment evident in his voice. He looked at me. "I have so many questions...", he muttered under his breath.
"Believe me, Dipper, you're not the only one.", I whispered, my gaze still fixed upon the closed door of the vending machine.

"Aww, Dipper, don't take it so hard.", Mabel consoled him, her voice filled with sympathy.
Stan, however, took a more stern approach. "No, do take it hard. Take it hard and serious. My brother is a dangerous know-it-all, and the stuff he's messing with is even worse. Do yourself a favor and stay away from him, you hear me?"

I raised an eyebrow, a bit taken aback by the harshness in Stan's tone. Mabel, as usual, took it in stride, giving Dipper a reassuring pat on the back. But Dipper looked somewhat dejected, seemingly taking Stan's words to heart.

Dipper looked crestfallen, actually, torn between his curiosity and his uncle's stern warnings. "But, Grunkle Stan, all summer long I've wanted to know who the author of the journal was. Now the guy lives in our basement and I can't even talk to him."
"Don't worry about what's in the basement. You belong up here with me and Mabel.", Stan insisted firmly.