Between Mysteries And Heartbeats (Stanford Pines x Reader)

Chapter Seven: Honey, I Shrunk The Scientist

The next few days passed seamlessly. You went about your shifts at the convenience store, often coming home to share stories with Ford about the annoying teenagers who kept coming back, blasting music outside your window. Afterward, most of your time was spent in the lab, working alongside Ford as you continued learning and exploring his research. You only paused to tend to your animals or to cook dinner, often preparing meals for both of you.

Occasionally, the two of you ventured into the enchanted forest, hoping to stumble upon something new and strange. While those excursions hadn't turned up much lately, the shared adventure brought you closer, the thrill of discovery never fully fading.

In the quiet moments in the lab, when Ford became engrossed in his work and his mind wandered too deeply into research, you found it impossible to resist reminding him of your attraction. Whenever he wasn't paying full attention, you'd sneak up and kiss him, leaving him looking adorably flustered. Ford, the ever-serious scientist, would freeze for a moment, before offering a shy, flustered smile that warmed your heart. It became your little game—to catch him off guard with affection, whether by pulling him into your arms or pressing your lips against his when he least expected it.

It had become your way of keeping him grounded, of reminding him that he wasn't alone in his thoughts anymore. Each stolen kiss, each spontaneous embrace, carried a deeper message, one that said you were there with him, fully invested in both his world of mysteries and the budding romance between you.

Your fantasies had become an almost nightly ritual, a secret indulgence that left you feeling a mixture of guilt and excitement. With each passing day, the tension between you and Ford grew, an unspoken desire simmering just beneath the surface. It felt as though you were teetering on the edge of something, going mad with the need to feel more than just the occasional kiss or fleeting touch.

Yet, you reassured yourself, it was natural. Everyone has those private thoughts about someone they're drawn to, right? Even Ford, with his reserved nature and focus on work, must have had fantasies about you. The idea of Ford imagining you in that way—those intense, piercing eyes filled with need—made your mind race. The thought hit you so hard, your knees actually buckled beneath you.

"Whoa, you okay?" Ford's voice snapped you back to reality. His hand instinctively reached out to steady you, fingers curling around yours with a soft yet firm grip. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver up your spine, adding to the haze of your wild thoughts.

You quickly scrambled for an excuse, your heart racing. "Uh yeah, I'm fine, just lost my balance a little," you stammered, hoping he wouldn't notice the flush creeping up your face.

Ford looked at you, concerned but not overly suspicious, his brow furrowing just slightly as he held onto your hand for a moment longer than necessary. "You sure? You look a bit faint," he added, clearly worried.

You forced a smile, trying to steady yourself both physically and mentally. "Yeah, maybe I've just been standing for too long. I'll sit for a minute." You pulled your hand gently from his and settled onto a nearby stool, trying to focus on something other than the thoughts racing through your mind.

As Ford turned back to the gadgets he had been tinkering with, you couldn't help but steal glances at him, the tension between you almost palpable. It was becoming harder to control your feelings, and every touch, every shared moment, only intensified the longing inside you.

Wanting to clear your thoughts and shake off the overwhelming tension in the room, you decided to break the silence. "Hey, did you wanna go hiking today? There's that dark corner of the enchanted forest we still haven't explored yet, remember? The one where we got turned around by those barf fairies?" You shuddered at the memory, the unpleasant encounter still fresh in your mind.