Let Me Count The Ways
Summary: Stan wonders why his family thinks he's worth a celebration. Ford takes their birthday as an opportunity to remind him of so many reasons.
“You’re strong.”
“Well, that goes without saying. Look at these arms!”
“You’re resilient and brave, even if it is to the point of recklessness—”
“Yeah, and how many times has it saved your skin?”
“And on that note, while I may not always appreciate it in the moment, I can’t deny the potency and effectiveness of your protective streak.”
“Isn’t that kinda just like saying the same thing twice? Come on, Poindexter, you’ve got a big brain and an even bigger mouth for all this waxing poetic but I doubt even you can come up with sixty-something reasons I’m apparently so great or worth celebrating.”
“Is that a challenge, Stanley?”
“Uh, no? But you’re probably going to take it as one anyway, aren’t you? If you’re really that invested in swelling my head up as big as these balloons, feel free to keep trying, I guess—”
“Very well then, I will, considering the fact that I still have a plethora of wonderful things to say about you! You’re shrewd and savvy, and not just as a businessman crunching the numbers. No matter the situation, you continue to think outside the box and look at things from distinctive, fresh angles. Your unique perspective and insights always find a way to surprise me.”
“Heh. That’s me, Mr. Full of Surprises!”
“You’re creative and offbeat. Your humor may not be very opportune or to my particular taste but I have to admit—”
“Aha, so you do think I’m funny! Yes, yes, I knew it! Trust me, I’m gonna remember you said that!”
“I didn’t even get to finish what I—”
“Don’t have to! A ‘have to admit’ is good enough for me to hold it over your head next time you try to say my puns are terrible.”
“The puns are terrible.”
“You’re smiling!”
“Never mind that I’m smiling, let me make my point! What I was going to say is that I can’t fault your enthusiasm. When you’re at your best, your happiest, your spirit is infectious. You’re…uncontainable. You inspire me.”
“Ahh, geez, anything but inspiring! Lord knows you don’t need me feeding any more of your crazy ideas!”
“Haha, perhaps not—but if or when those ideas take any unfortunate turns, I can trust that you’ll be right there to face them with me. I’ve never known anyone else to have such unshakeable loyalty…even for those who may not deserve it.”
“Wha—Hey, don’t say that. You do, you deserve it.”
“Just as you deserve to be acknowledged for it. You deserve to be appreciated; you deserve to be thanked.”
“You’ve already thanked me.”
“I can never thank you enough, Stanley—for all of it, everything you’ve done for me. Everything you are to me.”
“You…Ford, come on…You don’t have to get all serious about it.”
“I am serious. It may not look or feel like much to you but don’t forget, I wouldn’t be here—I probably wouldn’t have survived to see this birthday if it weren’t for your hard work, your care, your determination, forgiveness and faith, your heart.”
“…Ugh, you really do go for a plethora, don’t you? You don’t have to make such a big deal out of…I mean, what else was I supposed to do, just let you go? There really wasn’t much reason to celebrate our birthday without you.”
“I suppose you’re right. I wouldn’t be here to celebrate you properly.”
“T-That’s not what I meant, stop turning it around on me!”
“Why? This is what we agreed, isn’t it? We agreed to be more open with what we’re feeling and this is it. I know perfectly well how much love you have to give, how much you always give for this family. Now I need you to know how grateful I am to be included in it, to be one of the people you love—to be one of the people who get to love you too. If it takes sixty-something reasons to convince you, that’s what I’m here to do.”
“…”
“And this time, when I thank you, I mean every word. I’m—truly, I’m so grateful, and so glad, and so honored to be your brother.”
“…”
“Stanley? Are you—?”
“…Jerk.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Jerk. You and all your words. Y-You know there’s no way I can top a speech like that.”
“Heheh, yes, well, I wouldn’t ask you to try. There is something else you have that I don’t; it will be a much more beneficial gift to me than words.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”
“Your healthy appetite. I need you to polish off what’s left of this cake before Mabel tries to push one more slice down my throat. It’s even more saccharine than my speech.”
34 notes
·
View notes