Chapter Eight
Strange
"So..." Dipper said as he scribbled down notes in his journal- complete with a pine tree marked with a clear '1'-, "Ghosts are creatures who don't need to engage in cellular respiration-"
"-Because we gain energy from the Ghost Zone, and possibly from negative emotions of our own, and humans," Danny finished, shoving a few potato chips in his mouth.
"But halfas are different," Dipper said, "You obviously need to eat." He frowned, "Do you need to breathe?"
Danny also frowned, "Not necessarily. I need oxygen, but not as much as regular humans,"
Dipper scribbled that down.
"Is the pine tree a pun?" Danny asked, stuffing yet more potato chips in his mouth.
Dipper grimaced, "Yes, and no,"
Danny quirked an eyebrow, "Am I supposed to understand that?"
"It's probably best that you don't,"
"Okay..." Danny didn't push the kid's boundaries, "So... Wendy's been weird the past few days,"
Dipper frowned, "How so?"
"Well, she keeps making weird ghost puns," -Dipper laughed at that- "But they're like specifically aimed at me. Like my parents wouldn't be weird, but..." He kicked his leg against the side of the bed, "If she knows my secret, she's in danger,"
Dipper looked alarmed, "Does that mean that I'm in danger?"
Danny scoffed, "What, you thought research was dangerous? But, yeah, you are. Skulker might try to use you as bait- if you let him know that you know. It depends. Keep yourself away from Phantom, and you shouldn't be,"
Dipper fiddled with the hem of his shirt, "So, I can't help you out in the field?"
Danny laughed, " 'The field'!? Oh my god, that's incredible. But- erm- I'm already iffy about Sam and Tucker helping me, and you're, like, 13,"
Dipper grumbled, "Yeah, but I'm also way smarter than you,"
Danny sighed, "Not in battle, kid,"
The door opened, and Wendy stepped in, "Ay, boys," she said, grinning at them, "Whatcha doin'?" she sat down next to Dipper, looking at the journal, "Ford would be impressed if you showed him this."
"Danny knows a lot about ghosts," Dipper said, excitement bubbling up, "HisparentsareghosthuntersandI'msoexcitedbecauseheknowsalotanditssocoolansjust-'"
Wendy ruffled his hair, "You're a nerd, Dipper," she pushed herself off of the bed, "Mabel and Pacifica were looking for you. Said something about bringing 'Wendy's cute cousin'," She shrugged, "I assume you, Danny boi,"
Danny grinned, "O shit waddup."
Wendy grabbed a pillow and whacked him with it, "Shut the fuck up." She turned to Dipper, "You two go meet the girls. They're at the Shack."
...
"I'm just sayin'," Pacifica said, "I would go there."
Mabel sniggered, "Same."
They stood with their arms around each other for a moment, "Are we going to tell him?" Pacifica asked.
"No," Mabel responded, "Especially not around Wendy's cousin."
Pacifica sighed, "I meant at all," she smiled, "Your brother's cute, but he's oblivious."
Mabel hesitated, "Eventually," she decided, "Bu-but... Dipper finally found a friend as nerdy as him that isn't Grunkle Ford. And with Danny Phantom showing up, and that ghost attack, and what he whispers in his sleep..."
Pacifica went rigid, "What does he...?"
"He talks about explosions and Weirdness- with a capital W- and ghosts and a statue-"
Pacifica put her hand on the side of Mabel's face, "I get it. Just relax,"
Mabel nodded, "Okay,"
"Mabel!" Dipper's voice rang throughout the Shack, "You home?"
"In our room BroBro!"
Pacifica untangled herself from Mabel, and shuffled over.
Dipper and Danny stepped into the room, Danny waving awkwardly.
Dipper flopped down in his bed, "What's up?" he asked.
"What are you up to?" Pacifica asked? "You've been in Gravity Falls for 2 weeks, and I haven't even gotten a 'hello'."
Dipper turned the colour of strawberries, "I'm so sorry, Pacifica!" he flopped his head into his hands and dug his fingers into his hair, "I'm such a shitty friend!"
"I'm wouldn't say that," Pacifica started.
"But that is so low." Danny cut in, "Like, really, dude."
"I got distracted!" Dipper tried to reason, "I was doing research and- and-"
"It's alright, Dipping Sauce," Pacifica smiled at him, "You're still pretty alright."
Dipper smiled into his hands, "Thanks,"
"Welcome,"
...
O shit waddup