(Ford x Reader) Hickory Pines

CH. 14 That Kind of Night?

(A/N: here's a little break chapter. No worries, things will go back soon.)

Y/N POV

I wait where the path splits, enveloped in darkness. The vibrant purples and oranges of the sky have faded into deep velvety blues, accentuated by glittering stars. The moon casts a soft light on the barely visible clouds. I find myself pacing back and forth, anxious. Where is Stanford? It's been hours! After I discovered the crash site, I rushed back here as quickly as I could, even tumbling down the hill in my haste. A few scrapes don't matter compared to what I need to share, but my concerns for Stanford's wellbeing overshadow everything else.

I glance at my compass, contemplating whether I should search for him. The eerie atmosphere of the forest gives me the creeps—what if something happened to him? He mentioned a Mothman, didn't he? What if the Mothman took him? Or maybe he got into trouble with the gnomes? My thoughts spiral as I dig into my backpack, searching for something useful. I really should go after him.

I trust Stanford to hold his own, but that doesn't mean he won't need my help. I pull out a flashlight, a second map I hadn't noticed before, and my gnome cap filled with rocks. If I swing it hard enough, it could make a decent weapon. I really wish I had found the map sooner.

I tap the flashlight against my palm until it flickers to life, illuminating the green leaves around me. So far, everything seems clear, so I take a deep breath.

I'm coming for you, Stanford—

"Y/N!" A voice calls out, making me turn abruptly. Stanford winces as I accidentally blind him with my light. "Stanford!" I call back, rushing toward him. I open my arms for a hug, then think better of it and grab his shoulders instead, shaking him slightly. "Where were you? It's so late! Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

He grabs my arms to stop me from shaking him and looks a bit dizzy. "Please, stop..." I look away sheepishly. "Sorry," I say, allowing him to step back. He leans against a tree, his face pale, which only heightens my concern. "I lost the TMI, so I couldn't backtrack properly," he explains, slicking back his hair. "I used the moss on the trees as a compass, which made it take longer."

I close the distance between us again, placing my hand gently on his shoulder. "Want to head home?" I ask. He nods. "Oh, most definitely." He pushes himself off the tree and walks over to my purple bag, handing it to me. I check to make sure everything is still inside, then follow him as we head home. He carries the compass this time.

As we walk, I keep my arm around his shoulder, eyeing him curiously. "Stanford, how did you lose the TMI?" I ask, but the only reply is the sound of our footsteps in the stillness. He stammers, his mouth opening and closing in silence before finally finding his words. "The magnetic input became too strong, overwhelming the sensors and causing an overheat. It... destroyed the device."

I pout and cross my arms. "Really?"

He nods, furrowing his brows as he looks straight ahead. I notice how peculiar his behavior is. To lighten the mood, I nudge him with my elbow. "If you still have it with you, maybe you can fix it?"

Stanford blinks as if coming out of a trance and glances down at me. He chuckles softly. "Of course I have it with me. Once it cooled down, I couldn't just leave it. It's in my bag."

I continue walking, relieved. After finding the crash site, having the TMI would be essential. A smirk plays on my lips as I lean into him with a teasing purr. "Good, because I have some news..."

He raises an arm to give me space, scoffing lightly, though I see a smile on his face. "Can it wait until we get to the lab?" he asks, his voice dropping and reigniting my concerns. "I really need to think..."

I step back to give him some room. "Of course. How about I tell you tomorrow at breakfast instead?"

"Ah..." He hums, taking longer strides to outpace me. "Yes, I would love to talk about it after being woken up by the fire alarm..."

I scoff in mock offense and roll my eyes. "So it's a date?"

Stanford coughs in surprise, sighing loudly before chuckling to himself, pinching the bridge of his nose and adjusting his glasses. "If that's what you call a date, it starts to make sense why you write about romance instead of experiencing it..."

I gasp, quickening my pace to catch up with him. "Ouch! Didn't have to hit me there! But seriously, are you okay with discussing it over breakfast?"

A six-fingered hand moves to my hair, ruffling it. "I don't see why not," he replies, though his tone grows grim. "But Y/N, I really need to think right now. Please keep that in mind. No entering my workstation—not for a while. Got it?"

"Got it. But take care of yourself," I plead, watching as he sinks his hand into a coat pocket. "You tend to neglect yourself when you get really engrossed in something."

Stanford waves it off. "Oh, come on, it isn't that bad."

I raise a skeptical eyebrow, and his lips turn into a thin line.

"Fine..." he admits with a heavy exhale. "You'll see me at breakfast, and we'll discuss things then. I'll even bring water with me."

I raise my brow further.

"And I'll set alarms to remind me to eat."

Now I'm really raising it.

"My god, what else do you want from me?" he whispers, exasperated.

I lower my brow and pat his back. "Just don't beat yourself up if you don't find anything in your lab or if today's expedition didn't yield results..."

His eyes soften, as if he hadn't expected that. A subtle red tint creeps up his ears as he slumps forward in defeat. "Okay..."

He looks away, muttering under his breath, "It's hard to stay mad at you..."

I pat his back once more, smiling at him. "It's annoying, but that's what friends do. Now, let's grab a really late dinner and pass out."

"Here, here..." He looks back at me and straightens his posture, trying to walk confidently home. He's such a dork. With a quick laugh, I hop behind him through the trees.

If this were a cheesy rom-com, I can imagine a slow fade through the trees, with a shot of the moon lingering on the stars.

It really is that kind of night, isn't it?