Spoilers for "Not What He Seems". Crossposted to my new tumblr as well. Just a little drabble I couldn't get out of my head. I think this is actually my first foray into writing for Gravity Falls - oh well, better late than never.
Trust (No One)
Dipper is angry, and mad, and confused, and scared, and maybe a little relieved, but all in all he's a mess of emotions and doesn't know what he should feel.
This man - this is the author? Stan's brother? (If Stan is even named Stan - he doesn't know anymore, isn't sure anymore, and the book's words echo in his ears - Trust No One.)
As Soos faints he stares, trying to process the scene, and starts when he feels a hand grasp his. It's Mabel, and for a split second he contemplates ripping his hand away - trust no one, she didn't listen to you - but he's so nervous, and scared, and unsure, and Mabel is the only constant he can even hope to rely on right now. So Dipper grips her hand tighter, and feels her shaking, and steps in front of her ever so slightly to protect her from whatever may come.
The man is staring at them, vaguely puzzled, and the realization hits Dipper that this man - he is the grandfather they never got to meet. The one who died when their dad was young, when their parents hadn't even met yet.
He should be ecstatic, then, right? That was what he thought would happen. But no, the feelings if resentment and betrayal and hurt will not go away. And - is Grunkle Stan even their great-uncle anyway? This man may be Stan's brother, but if Stan isn't related to them then this man also has no familial ties to them.
Behind the man the portal sputters and dies out. Mabel grips his hand a little tighter. He lets her.
"You're -" she pauses, sniffling, then turns to Stan, who has gotten to his feet by this point. "You just wanted to - to save your brother?"
Stan nods, mutters "yeah," but his eyes never leave his brother's figure. The man - the author - meets Stan's eyes, and Dipper can definitely see the similarities. But, but still -
"You still lied to us," Dipper growls, and the brothers turn to look at him. The author's mouth is open - he must have been about to say something. Mabel looks at him with concern, then yelps when he yanks his hand violently from hers. "And Mabel - Mabel, I trusted you."
"I did what I thought was right, Dipper." Mabel's voice is small, and her lip is quivering - the signs that she's about to cry, but somehow Dipper can't bring himself to care. "I- I-"
"I trusted you!" Dipper screeches, backing away from all of them, avoiding Soos, who is still on the ground. "I - you trusted him over me?! I can't believe you!"
"Dipper, please," Mabel sniffles, and there are tears streaming down her face now.
"Kid," Stan says, stepping forward. "Don't blame your sister. Don't-"
"DON'T TALK TO ME!" he screams, eyes wide with rage. "DON'T ANY OF YOU TALK TO ME!"
The author is strangely silent for the whole ordeal, and Dipper dares to lock eyes with him. "Trust no one, your book said. Well-" and he spins on his heel and stalks away.
"I won't trust anyone else ever again."
(If anyone noticed the strange gold glint to Dipper's eyes, or the way his pupils were a little more elongated than is normal, no one gets a chance to comment.)