Hello? Anyone there? I wouldn't blame if ya'll abandoned me...

The sky grew darker and Ford's foot tapped with apprehension. It was almost time.

The plan was simple enough. Apparently, Stan had slowly stowed away different supplies in his car (including cash) for the last month or so.

He'd also somehow obtained a job.

Ford wasn't sure how that was going to work out, exactly. Still, he trusted Stanley enough to go with it until it could be explained. Now he was just waiting for the sun to fall over the edge of the horizon, Ford groaned. He could feel his wings begging to be stretched.

His job was to jump out a window.

Well, fly out, to be more precise. The note had specified that as soon as the sun fell, Ford was to escape to the beach. Stan was going to be waiting for him.

Although it was never explicitly said out loud, or even written, Ford knew they were running away. Not that he was complaining- he was more worried about his mother than anything, even though Stan had told him that even that had been taken care of. Which Ford could only assume meant that Mom was completely supportive of their decision.

It made Ford wonder about how frightened she'd looked the day everything had changed. How much worse could it have been? He...didn't want to know.

That only left the details- like where they would be staying. If they were still going to school, if they were ever going to have clean laundry again, questions with answers that could only be given by his brother- the one person Ford wasn't allowed to speak to. He still had a hard time comprehending the fact that his father had practically banned him from his twin.

Although he didn't dwell on it just then. He had to focus.

Ford was breaking the rules tonight, he was running away from the rules. It made him let out a spontaneous, tense laugh that quickly died.

Never had Ford ever imagined this. Not in all the daydreams and stories had this been theorized.

The sky suddenly went black and the streetlights flickered weakly on the ground and Ford took a steadying breath as he slipped out from the harness, his wings stretching free. He let out a whimper as his wings cracked and cried out at him, sore from being restrained for so long. He shook them out, trying not to hit anything. Ford stared out into the distance through his open window. Jaw tightening, his lips set in a determined and concentrated frown, Ford took a step back.

It was time.

Running forward he swooped down, quickly snatching up the bag he'd packed and nearly forgotten about before shooting like a bullet out the window. He had a brief moment of panic before letting his wings expand above him and catching the air beneath him. Suddenly his eyes were wide with relief and joy.

This was freedom. He let out a true laugh compared to the tense one before as he made his way towards the beach.

...

Stan was waiting on the shore, letting his wings hang free. He didn't really care if anyone saw just then. Although, the feeling was a useless one. No one was allowed on the beach after nightfall. {I think it's pretty obvious how they would get over the gate.}

The tips of his feathers slid through the water and Stan lifted them out, shaking away the droplets. He'd been on the beach ever since school ended. He had been worried that if he had returned home that he wouldn't be able to get away. The only reason he let Ford stay back was that he had only just earlier given him the note and Ford needed time to grab whatever he wanted to bring before they left. It wouldn't have been fair not to let him have some choice in what they brought. Plus, Ford was slightly more attached to inanimate objects, like their living quarters for the last seventeen years, than Stan ever was.

Stopping abruptly, Stan fell unceremoniously to the ground.

Crossing his legs beneath him, Stan sat on the sandy shore and stared out into the horizon, a small smile on his features as he relaxed. His feet were in the water, but he didn't really mind. He'd been on the beach for several hours- making sure he had everything he wanted and just wandering the beachside. He took off his shoes at some point, but he thought he might live to regret that. The beach wasn't called 'Glass Shard' for absolutely nothing.

Stan thought about how he was going to manage to go to work, go to school, and make sure his brother was alright all at the same time.

The sun fell below the waves of the ocean's extent and Stan picked himself off the sand. Guess he would just have to wing it.

Hehe, puns.

What Job did Stan get? Did anyone spot Ford flying? Did anyone see Stan walking? Did Filbrick already note their absence? FIND OUT IN THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF The Winged Stans au!

Stan: That was the most cliche sales pitched I've ever heard.

Ford: Cliche, overused, and unoriginal, but hopefully effective? I don't want them to abandon us just yet, the story is just getting good!

Stan: Yeah yeah, just saying she coulda done better.