A/N This chapter was a request from a Guest review. If anyone has requests for this story, let me know!

This chapter is dedicated to those of us who have AP exams coming up.

Set after Dipper vs. Manliness (S1E06)

Dipper Pines usually never gave a second thought about his appearance.

Sure, his arms were a little noodle-y sometimes, and sure, he was slightly shorter than average…and yeah, his face sometimes looked a couple years younger in a certain light, and okay, whenever he rose his voice, it cracked.

But those were all normal things, right?

Everyone was different.

Right?

He stood in front of the bathroom mirror, towel wrapped around his waist, wet hair dripping onto the floor. There was the same familiar face, the same familiar body he'd looked at in the mirror for almost thirteen years.

He didn't realize he'd been crying until his sister started pounding on the bathroom door.

"Diiiiipper? What's going on?"

His head jerked upwards, and he rubbed his face.

"Nothing, Mabel. I'm fine, everything's fine!"

Silence. And then,

"Dipper, you're a pretty dang awful liar."

He sighed, stood up, and opened the door a crack. "Now's not the time," he mumbled, scrubbing a fist across his eyes. "I'm busy."

"Well, I am too. Busy with you." Mabel shoved the door open, causing Dipper to stumble backwards and almost drop his towel.

"Mabel! What the heck?"

"What, you think I'm just gonna sit on the couch watching Smooch Town while you're upset like this?"

"Like what?" Dipper said angrily, eyes flashing, and he crossed his arms about his chest. "So I had a bad day. So I have no chest hair, no muscles, and a cracky voice. So what, Mabel?" He sat down on the edge of the bathtub with a thump. "I'm completely humiliated. So what? And you, my own freaking sister, you know I get insecure sometimes. But you were laughing at me too!" He paused, quieter now. "From Stan I can expect it. But you're my twin sister." His face was twisted up like he was trying not to cry, and his hands gripped the edge of the tub.

Mabel sat down beside him, looking at the floor for a few moments before speaking.

"Dipper—" she started, then stopped, turning to face her brother full-on, grabbing his sweaty preteen boy hands and fastening her eyes on his. "Dipper, listen to me. This is going to sound like I'm lying, but I swear I'm not."

Dipper nodded, blinking quickly. "Okay."

"I was teasing you and stuff because it's not true. I thought you could handle it, because I thought that after all the brave things you've done so far, all the heroic stuff you've done for me, and for our friends, and our family…" She broke off. "God, Dipper. Every single thing you've done since we've got here is manly." She squeezed his arm. "Do I need to run through it all? Saving me from a giant gnome monster, fighting a bunch of wax figures and a dude that literally had telekinesis—"

Dipper gave a watery laugh. "Mabel, most of that stuff wasn't even that awesome. Gideon's like, what, ten? And—"

Mabel covered her mouth with his hand. "Shush, you big dumb dumb. You know I'm right."

Dipper gave a small smile, picking at the fabric of his towel. "If you say so."

Mabel grinned, punching his arm. "I do say so, silly goose." They stood up. "I'm sorry, Dipper. I'm really, really sorry. Do you forgive me?" She held out her arms, and he hugged her.

"Yeah, Mabel. I forgive you."

A/N Like I said before, requests are greatly appreciated. Don't forget to drop a review to tell me how I'm doing, what you liked, didn't like (:O), etc… Thanks!