HAT: I've honestly got nothing to say except: enjoy!
Disclaimer: If I owned Gravity Falls Grunkle Stan would take his fez off more often... no real reason- just because. The only thing I own is the plot and OCs.
"I think you kicked me," Stanley complains while rubbing the small of his back.
"I think you're just getting old," Stanford retorts in defense.
"Hey! You're old, too!"
"Boys, boys, you're both old," Mabel states only to get her mouth covered by her brother and receive glares from both great uncles.
"What'd you say?" Both of them ask.
"N-nothing!" Dipper assures. "Sh-she said "you're both gold," y'know? Being amazing great uncles and all."
"Nice save," Stanley grunts as he grabs a bowl for some cereal. "And guess who's working today?"
"Why?" Dipper asks.
"Think of it as building personality," Stanley replies "brightly" before his usual frown goes back into place.
Stanford raises an eyebrow at his brother. "A bit more parental of you."
The larger twin rolls his eyes and goes to take a shower. Soon after this he makes his way to his room warily. Not only has he had the nightmare in there, but he's also been with his brother the past two nights. It's not that he isn't grateful for the gesture, but this is getting ridiculous- especially when his brother ended up sprawled over his stomach like Stanley was the bed. Stanford insists that it was Stanley that used him as a teddy bear, but Stanley got woken up by his brother rolling over on him.
I'm gonna set up a camera and show him proof, Stanley thinks as he gets dressed. Despite himself his mind goes to the nightmare and the entire lack of it when his brother is around. It makes him feel like a child being dependent on their parents again and he can't stand it. He's a grown man- in his sixties- and he is too old to be running and crawling into bed with his brother to stop a simple nightmare. He's been dealing with his problems by himself for forty years and he'll be damned if he has to rely on anyone after coming so far. You're fine, just go to work.
He thinks this, but he spends an extra ten minutes making sure the silver locks are nice and neat even if no one will see them underneath his trademark fez.
There's something about the Pines males that make them want to groom themselves to be presentable at all times after a certain age- usually after puberty really sinks its teeth in them so about the age of fifteen or sixteen. Even his father spent a good fifteen minutes making sure his hair was nice even though he wore a hat every morning. There was a time when Stanley and Stanford would have to wake up an hour before they would if they hadn't cared about their hair so that they wouldn't be late for school because they were making their hair look nice. Stanford had gone for the "messy" look while Stanley went with the neater look. Stanley went through a lot of hair gel in those days and the only reason his father didn't cease him using so much of it was because he would be a hypocrite (he didn't use much, but he used enough so that it was nice.
"Lookin' good," Stanley compliments his reflection after taking thirty seconds to make sure his sideburns look "on point" as he's heard kids say. He puts on his fed and goes downstairs to open shop. "Doo di doo doo dooo!"
"You're in a good mood," Wendy notes as she walks into the Shack, emerald eyes narrowed at her boss. "You didn't find out anything, did you?"
Last time he had been mumbling a merry tune in the morning before he had even made any money form his suck- er- tourists he had found out that Wendy had been stealing his snacks and he'd been holding back on telling her that he new for about a week before he gave her a real scare when he threatened to fire her. He found that to be one of the more amusing days in which he could finally get a reaction out of his redheaded employee.
"What?" Stanley asks innocently. "Can't a man just be in a good mood?"
She smirks. "Yeah, but not you."
He rolls his eyes. "Bah, you don't know what you're talking about it."
Just glad I didn't have the nightmare, he thinks to himself before observing his employee closely when he notices something is off. He doesn't know what's off yet, but he knows that it's something.
"I'm- uh- gonna get to work," she says, turning and going to the counter.
Something's definitely wrong, Stanley thinks, knowing his female employee does not like to work. Hiring her at such a young age, he got to know her a bit better- in almost an uncle-like way, but he'd never admit to any attachment that he has for his employees. He glances at the sign at the door to make sure it hasn't been flipped to say that they're open and is relieved to see that he still has the Shack "closed" at the moment.
"Alright, Red, what's up?" Stanley asks.
Wendy blinks in surprise, having not been called that term of endearment in at least two years. "W-whaddoyoumean?"
"I mean what I say: what's up, Red?"
Forget his problems, he's seen this girl grow from an awkwardly tall young girl to a rebellious teenager- and hopefully into a beautiful young lady- and he knows when something's wrong. Hell, he got her through her first period until he managed to shove her father into her direction, he feels he should be able to handle anything that this girl can throw at him.
He observes her to find what was different about her. She was wearing the usual clothes, her hat was on, he couldn't see any cuts, scrapes, or bruises. She was the same shade of pale as she's always been, she has slightly more freckles on her cheeks, but that always happens during the summer. There are no bags under her eyes and there isn't anything discernible that can give him a clue to what is going on with the young woman in front of him.
He doesn't know what makes him notice this, but he does take notice. Her hair isn't parted to her right like it normally is, but to the left. It's such a small change, but it makes a huge difference in tipping him off that something is wrong.
"Nothing," she insists and he could have believed her- even let it slide- but her voice is an octave higher than normal.
His chocolate eyes narrow and he reaches forward with a calloused hand and moves to brush her hair from her face, but she turns her head away which makes suspicion and worry blossom in his chest. Before he even knows what his hands are doing he's grabbed her chin with his right hand and moved her hair with the left and he sees a bruise forming mostly underneath her hair while creeping from underneath her hairline to have it nearly touch her temple.
Stanley can't explain the anger that builds in his chest at this- but he has to find out everything first. He learned when his own nephew was younger to get all the facts before acting so brash and going out to attack the first person that he finds.
"What happened?" Stanley demands as she jerks her chin from his grip and his hand lowers to the counter. Her emerald eyes stay on the counter and he grits his teeth in frustration- this girl may not be his blood, but she's family for all intents and purposes (along with Soos, but he'll never admit it about either aloud). There's more, but that's for another story for another time. "Wendy Lee Corduroy, what happened?"
She gulps and lowers her head a bit more. "I told you- it was nothing. I was roughhousing with my brothers."
He clenches his jaw and gives her a hard stare, knowing that her brothers wouldn't do something like this to her- on purpose. "It's that boy isn't it?"
Her gaze snaps up to his with a glare. "It wasn't him!"
"Damn it, Wendy!" He growls, throwing himself away from the counter and turning to pace, similar to that of a lion.
She blinks in surprise, having rarely heard him curse in all her time in working for him. "Mr. Pines?"
"None of that," Stanley snaps, turning to face her fully. "Tell me the truth. Did that boy do this to you?"
"U-Uncle Stan..."
If she didn't believe that he was serious before then she knows now. "Uncle Stan" is something that comes out when certain situations. After the first year of her working for this man her father had made him her godfather- or at least one of them- and she got into the habit of calling him "Uncle Stan" every now and again and eventually she grew out of it, but every now and then he would have something about him that would make her call him that once again and this is one of those occasions. He truly filled his role as a godfather and every now and again he pulls that authority- like he is now.
"Wendy."
She bites her bottom lip in hopes of stopping the tears from welling in her eyes, but she nods. "Y-ye-es."
As soon as the first sob is unleashed Stanley is already around the counter and hugging the girl. "Oh, Red..."
"I don't know why he did it," she sobs and rests her forehead on his chest. "I don't know what I did to deserve it."
"Wendy, Wendy, listen," he says holding her shoulders and lowering his head so that they are eye level. "It's not you."
"But, Uncle Stan, I-"
"It's not you. It's him. Now I told you to never let any boy put his hands on you- even if it's your own father or myself or your brothers- never let anyone put their hands on you. You are a young woman and you deserve nothing less than respect and love in your life and if they aren't going to give you that, they don't deserve you," Stanley says strongly with a firm grin on her shoulders and his chocolate eyes locked with her emerald ones. "Now tell me where that boy is."
"No!"
Ohhh, shit! Stanley thinks as he groans. "Don't tell me you love this boy after what he's done."
"He didn't mean it!"
His dentures grind together for a moment before he speaks. "What happened? Were you two arguing?"
"Y-yes."
"If he does that when he's angry, he's going to do it again. I don't care how much he says that he loves you, you're only gonna get hurt... now I'm gonna find Dan and I'm gonna teach him what happens when a one puts his hands on a woman."
"Uncle-"
"Watch the shop," he grunts as he marches toward the door.
"He's gone! He left town," she explains. "He said he felt guilty and had to leave for a little while."
He frowns. "Fine... we'll work today, but don't go to sleep- got it? And if Dan comes back, call me- understand?" She nods mutely, staring at him with surprise in her eyes. He sighs and gives her a strong hug in hopes of making her feel even the tiniest bit better. "It's okay, kid, I'll be here for you no matter what."
She gives a small smile and hugs him back. "Thanks, Uncle Stan."
"No problem, kid," he grumbles and then pats her back and coughs awkwardly into his fist. "Er- now- uh- get to work."
"Okay, Mr. Pines... and... thank you."
"Don't mention it," he grunts with a fond smile.
As he walks out to get his eyepatch and cane he thinks, I've gotten soft.
HAT: ... what? It's not all about Stanley all the time. Other people have problems, too.
Wendy: Since when is Mr. Pines my godfather?
HAT: I'm gonna put how in the other story.
Wendy: Oh... why'd you make him my godfather?
HAT: It felt right! Leave me alone, I'm writing this as I go with a loose plot in mind.
Wendy: *holds hands up* Okay, oaky. *turns to camera* Review please.
HAT: *grins* Thank you for being amazing and not having me ask you to say it before you do.
Wendy: You're welcome.