HAT: This is kind of a continuation of Acrophobia (chapter two) when it comes to the flashback. This is what happened after they got away. Anyway, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I only own the OCs, Gravity Falls belongs to Alex Hirsch and Disney.
Trust:
"I promise that I didn't do it!" Wendy insists as she looks directly up to her boss.
Stanley glares down at his redheaded employee. "Wendy, after all the stuff that you've done, how do you expect me to believe you?"
"I expect you to trust me enough to know that I didn't do it!"
"Kid, I don't know if I can," he admits as he leans back in his chair and looks away. "The security tape caught everything."
"Fine! Don't believe me, then," Wendy shouts and then storms out of the Mystery Shack all together.
"Grunkle Stan, why don't you trust anyone?" Mabel asks while looking up at her grunkle.
He sighs. "It's a long story..."
...
"Jake, hurry up," Stanley hissed to his friend. "They're gonna get us if we don't."
"Slow down, man, we lost them three blocks ago... dude, are you okay? You still shaky from almost dying?"
"I was falling off of a building, yes, I'm still shaky," Stanley snapped while stuffing his hands into his pockets.
Jake rolls his eyes. "Fine, I'll hurry up."
Twenty more minutes and they were in Jake's apartment. It was mostly bare with boxes to sit on and an ashtray in the middle of the floor. Jake was getting ready to move and most of his stuff was in the new place aside from his bed, his clothes in the closet, and such.
Stanley sat on one box next to Jake while smoking a cigarette to calm his nerves; his hands shook as he brought the death stick to his lips and took a deep breath. He'd never been more thankful for his friend- one of a few- and he was just glad that he got in a tight relationship with Jake. This man was just like a brother- one that won't abandon him for anything and he knew that he'd do for this man like Jake had done for him.
There was a knock at the door and the two of them froze and looked at each other, wondering who it was that could be knocking on Jake's door.
Jake snatched the cigarette form Stanley's fingers and brought them to his lips and took a drag as he walked to the door and Stanley went into Jake's room and hid in the closet in a trunk. He was in there for about ten minutes before he heard a gunshot. He nearly jumped out of the chest at the sound, but he knew better. If it were Jake that did the shooting, he'd come to tell him it was safe and if not- and he prayed that this wasn't the case- he'd have to wait until he was sure that everything was quiet.
"Stan!"
Stanley pushed his way out of the trunk and ran out into the living room and saw his friend lying on the ground with a hole in his chest. "Jake, who did this?"
"Tony... save Tony..."
"I gotta get you to the hospital," Stanley insists, but jake won't hear this.
"Get Tony, trust... no one..."
Stanley curses under his breath and runs into Jake's room, grabs the garment that his hand could reach and ran back into the living room and wrapped it around his torso. Once this was done he put the phone next to his bleeding friend while dialing 9-1-1.
"Talk to them, I'll go get Tony."
Jake nodded. "Go."
Stanley turned and ran out of the apartment with his mind mentally going through every place that Tony could be. He decided to check the man's apartment since it was nearby and wound up coming up short. He stopped and tried to use his head. It was Thursday so from 6 to 6:30 he was at home trying to take up trying to get to work and then from 7 to 3 he was at work and then from about 3:30 to 6 he was at home and from 7 to 9- at the moment it was 9:04- he went jogging in a random direction after a week just in case he had been tailed. That meant he was on his way back.
It's spring, second week of April... route 14. Without hesitation he ran down the return route and looked desperately for Tony's familiar blond hair. He rounded a corner and saw something that was both a relief and a cause for panic. A large red haired man with pale skin dusted with freckles in a suit- he was 25- was towering over a smaller man with blond hair trimmed relatively neat with a little hair flopping over his left eye- he was 19.
"Frank, c'mon, Stan's our friend!"
"You know what happened to jake when he didn't tell me where Stan was?"
Tony blinked. "No... Tell me you didn't kill him!"
"Just tell me where Stan is and you'll walk away."
"I'm right here, Frank! Let the kid go! I'm the one you want, okay?"
Frank gives a crooked smile. "I'm guessing you were there right before Jake died."
Stanley narrows his eyes at his old friend. "I thought we were brothers, Frank! Why're you doing this?"
"Nothing personal, just a paycheck. You're wanted dead and I've gotta deliver. Who cares if I kill a kid to do it?"
"These are our friends- our family!"
Frank points the trigger to Tony's back. "I. Don't. Care."
And then the trigger's pulled and Tony collapsed. Stanley ran forward and fell to his knees beside Tony and gathered the boy into his arms. He felt the gun being pressed to his head, but he didn't care at that moment, he was more concerned with Tony.
"Tony, stay awake."
"Avenge me and Jake..."
Stanley didn't need to be told twice because he whirled, disregarding the gun on his head and punched the man in the gut. The gun clattered to the ground and Stanley picked it up and stood to his full height. He couldn't have this. He didn't want to kill the first man he gave his trust to after being kicked out of his home by his father six years ago.
"Do it, kill me!" Frank roared, dark brown eyes meeting Stanley's.
Now Stanley couldn't do it because of how much pain were in those eyes. "Why?"
Frank lowered his head. "After all I've done you still won't pull the trigger will you?"
About three years ago Frank had tried to test Stanley to see what he was made of and tried to get Stanley to shoot him in the chest. Of course he wasn't trying to kill himself, he placed it in a place where he'd survive, but Stanley couldn't bring himself to kill him. Staney was a criminal, but he was primarily a conman. He wasn't a killer until it was necessary.
"N-"
"You're a fucking idiot!" Frank laughs.
Everything moved in slow motion as Frank pulled out a knife and started up to stab Stanley, but didn't get far because Stanley pulled the trigger and there was a hole in the redhead's head. He looked down at his first friend and realized that trust shouldn't be so easily given.
He turned to Tony and picked him up. "C'mon, kid, let's get you to the hospital."
...
He hadn't told Mabel the story, he refused to anyone about his past, but he decided to spend the rest of the day looking through everything thoroughly, checking security cameras more than how many fingers and toes himself an his brother had combined. That made his redheaded employee seem guilty, but he'd never seen so much determination in those emerald eyes.
Why does everything I have make her seem guilty? Stanley thinks while pinching the bridge of his nose.
Then he notices something small with white hair sneaking away from the destroyed property just as Wendy was walking away. Everything makes sense again. Gideon!
He picks up the phone and dials Wendy's number- he memorized it the first month after she got her cell phone- and waits only to get the voicemail. "Hey, Wendy, it's Stan. I just called to say that... I'm sorry... if you don't wanna come back to work here, that's fine. I don't blame you. It's hard working for a boss that doesn't trust anyone, I suppose... uh, goodbye."
He hangs up and takes off his fez and fixes his hair before putting it back on.
-The Next Day-
Stanley opens up the Mystery Shack and starts to get everything ready. He feels terrible for not believing Wendy, but what can he do if she chooses not to come back. He'll just have to deal with an angry Dipper for a while. He can stand that for a little while.
The door opens and he expects it to be Soos- it usually is- and continues to make everything presentable. It's only when he hears a feminine voice when someone clears their throat does he turn around to see Wendy standing there.
"Hey, Mr. Pines."
Stanley clears his throat to try not to seem awkward. "Uh, how's it hangin'?"
"I got your message and I was wondering is you still had the cashier spot opened?"
"Yeah... you want the job, kid?"
"That'd be great!"
"Well it's yours."
"Thanks for the job."
"You can start today."
"Cool."
HAT: I honestly couldn't think of any other way to end this. Stan and Wendy have this weird relationship with each other where they butt heads a lot, but are cool with each other at the same time. I figured the two of them would have a kind of awkward thing like they did at the end.
Wendy: I'm glad you're putting me in something. I'm tired of being kicked out of everything. I wasn't even in the last two episodes except in the one epilogue!
HAT: I know! I miss seeing you!
Wendy: Dudes, you should totally review!
HAT: Wanna go get some pizza?
Wendy: Sure.
Both: *walk out of studio*