#i wanna write more for hiiiiiim i love hiiiiiiiiiim

[allisquish]

Gold-plated Silver Lining

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Part 4

Honestly really happy w this part, and proud of myself for finishing a fic and sharing it for the first time in a long time.

-

It was a day or two before you found yourself back at the Mystery Shack. You were nervous going back. And why wouldn't you be? There hadn't been a chance after Gideon's arrest for you to talk to Stan. And even if there had been, what would you even ask or say that wouldn't give your feelings away? Would they even be returned?

So, you stayed away from the Shack until you were sure you wouldn't embarrase yourself. You might have waited another day or two if it hadn't been for the Mystery Shack employee group chat. The Shack was relatively untouched by the Gleefuls; but there was a ton of work to do to get ready for her grand reopening at the end of the week. 

Did you purposefully choose a day when Wendy was complaining in the chat about being left alone in the Shack while Stan was out getting supplies? Of course not, it just worked with your schedule at Greasy's. Really.

"Thank god," Wendy called as you stepped in through the gift shop door, "Can you believe how much stuff Stan is putting out?"

"Where'd all these boxes even come from?" You gingerly step around the piles of cardboad boxes stacked haphazardly around the room.

"Apparently Stan had this all in storage."

"Do you know why he wants it all out now?" You peered into a couple of the open boxes Wendy was working through. There were snowglobes, keychains, bumper stickers, bobbleheads... and were those Mystery Shack air freshners?

"Who knows." The teen shrugged, contiuning to stock the shelves.

You tucked your bag under the register's counter, and set about helping Wendy get things stocked and straightened out in the gift shop. Between the two of you, you got through a good chunk of the boxes; before the bell above the door cut through your conversation.

You didn't mean too, but your head snapped towards the door, frozen like a deer in headlights.

"Hey dudes!" Soos greeeted from behind yet another stack of boxes he carried into the shop, "Can you believe all this cool merch Stan has?"

"That's one word for it." Wendy mumbled, hanging up more moon and mountain lion shirts.

You couldn't help the sigh of relief as Soos added his boxes to the pile you were working from. Thank goodness it was just Soos, you really weren't sure what you'd do if it had actually been-

"Alright kids, let's get this show on the road!"

It was the most natural, instinctive reaction to dive behind the register and duck down as Stan and the twins followed Soos inside the Shack. You were not hiding. Just getting your bearings! Honest.

... This was getting ridiculous. You were an adult! An adult who could handle getting a quick kiss from your crush and not spiral. You could do this, you could-

"Woah Wendy, I'm impressed! This place is looking real good!" Stan whistled.

"Thanks, I had help." Wendy replied, leaning back against the counter and looking where you were totally not hiding.

Crap.

"Found it!" You announced, picking up a keychain from a box beside you and standing up.

There was an uncomfortable beat of silence as you looked anywhere but at Stan. The twins luckily broke the silence, as Mabel skipped over.

"Did you come over to help?" She asked, hopping up to sit on the counter.

"Of course! Couldn't leave my favorite duo in a pinch." You grinned, grateful for the distraction from your awkward first instinct. Dipper and Mabel immediately started updating you on the ongoings of the Shack since you had last seen all three Pines.

You laughed at their antics, "Sounds like you guys have been busy!"

"Yeah we have!" Mabel agreed, her hands landing on her hips, "And where have you been? We haven't see you in days!" From the corner of your eye, Stan stiffens at the comment along with you.

"Ah, well," You stutter, "Uh, just. Y'know. Adult stuff?" Somehow comes out as a question.

Was this a bad idea? This was a bad idea. You could so not do this-

"Oh, is that the time already? Man, I'm gonna be late to Greasy's, let me just," You drop the keychain back into it's box, and quickly gather your apron and purse. You start shuffling out from behind the counter, making your goodbyes to everyone.

As you make your way to the gift shop door, Stan calls your name.

"Lemme walk you out."

The air is thick with tension as you leave the Shack. Your mind is spinning, trying to think of something, anything to break the silence but nothing comes. But you have to ask. You need to. You want to know if Stan keeps thinking about that brief kiss the way you do. You think you know the anwser, and you're not sure if you're ready for it.

It's going to keep eating at you if you don't.

You pause at the totem pole, opening your mouth to speak, but Stan breaks the tension first.

"Look, kid," He sighs, bringing one hand up to rub the back of his neck, "About the other day..."

You wait for him to continue, your own hands twisting together.

He huffs, looking up over your head, "Look, I shouldn't've done that. It crossed a line, I know it made ya uncomfortable... and I'm sorry."

Your heart dropped. This is not what you wanted.

"I'm not." Somehow, you forced the words past your lips.

"Wassthat?"

You swallowed, trying to feign a confidence you didn't feel.

"I'm not." You repeated, squaring your shoulders, "I'm not sorry, it didn't make me uncomfortable..." Oh god, were you really doing this? Be brave, be brave, you kept telling yourself. You reached a shaking hand out, grabbing onto Stan's lapels and pulling him towards you, "I want you to the cross the line again."

You searched his face, but all you could find was shock as you lightly brushed his lips with yours.

This was different than the one you'd shared in your apartment. This was brief and delicate; an offering with no pressure.

It was over as quickly as it had started, with you falling back onto your heels. You bit your lips, studying Stan's face. The look of shock was gone. Instead, a blank, expressionless mask stared down at you.

"You don't want this, kid," He sighed, his hands coming up to hold your wrists. Your own hands were still latched to his jacket.

Something in you snapped.

"Don't tell me what I want, Stan Pines," You hissed, pulling tighter on his jacket, "I know what I want. And I want whatever you'll give me." One steady hand reaches up to cup his cheeck. His rough stubble feels wonderful on your skin, "Do you know what you want?"

He finally met your gaze, his dark eyes boring into yours. You met his gaze and held it, jutting your chin. The flame you held for this man was blazing, and you wanted him to feel the heat of your yearning.

One of Stans hands moved to cover yours, still holding his jacket, while the other tilted your chin. His movements were slow and deliberate as he leaned down and once again brought your lips together.

You poured all your affection into this kiss, you both moving slowly together, melting into eachother. Tenatively, your hand moved from his cheek to the nape of his neck, brushing through his hair, your nails lightly scrapping his scalp.

Stan shuttered and moaned softly into the kiss, pressing his body closer and closer to yours, his hand trailing down your arm and around your side. His other hand left your chin to cup your cheek, deepening the kiss.

This kiss was everything, and you never wanted it to end, you could just keep going, kissing Stan forever-

"Aw c'mon, right in front of my bike?" You and Stan instantly broke apart, mumbling as you turned to face Wendy, holding her bike helmet in hand.

"Whatever," She sighed, before giving you a slightly confused stare, "Aren't you gonna be late to Greasy's?"

"Shit." You curse, checking the time on your phone. If you rushed, you should be able to make it.

"C'mon doll, let's shake it!" Stan grabs your hand, pulling you towards his car. You can't fight the smile breaking across your face. You'd gotten your anwser, and it was more than you could've hoped for.