I'M BACK!!!
TW: thanks underlying abuse if you squint.
I'll probably work on a cover picture when I get my new stylus in.
Kudos and comments are welcome!!!
Chapter Text
Uncle Endicott retold story after story of how he got his riches. A lot had been going on since Wirt was resting. He was starving but he was happy to see Greg in his high spirits. 'Maybe the couple haven't been turned yet?' He hoped.
"I was no such thing, Darling! How rude and in front of young ones!" Mrs. Endicott gasped in indignation.
"I remember when I lived a life of crime. But not no more. I got- I got an honest job now." Fred said, putting his head through the window.
"Let's move subjects, at least before things get…inappropriate." Paz drawled, while the other teens agreed.
Wirt was lost on what they were even talking about and it seemed so was Greg.
"That reminds me! Wirt, would you come with me?" Mrs. Endicott asked, making Wirt tilt his head. She stood, ushering him to follow.
"Might I ask why?" He replied, standing and feeling the chill of the dining room waft through the holes and tears in his clothes.
"I might have some clothes that'll fit you. You can't possibly run about in those. The ferry will be close in a few hours." She patted her dress and Wirt sighed, following, feeling the other's eyes on his back.
"You didn't have any spare of Endicott's clothes?" Wirt strained, coming from behind the dressing curtain.
Mrs. Endicott went about helping him with his attire. "I'm afraid you're more my body type. You'd look like a harlot waking from a man's bed if you were to try Quincey's clothes. Better than rags, though."
Wirt forced himself not to look down. Instead of his clothes, she had dressed him in a simple dress. Long white sleeves, a braided blue shawl, a black corset and a long white skirt with delicate design near the bottom, the end reaching Wirt's calves. Barefoot still. He gulped. He didn't mind dresses, didn't mind dressing such, but white was not a favored color for him. It brought unsavory memories back.
"Come along." She said, leading them back downstairs.
Wirt gulped down a breath. His anxiety brewed under his skin, but he had to fight it. The gesture was beyond generous.
He'd be fine.
Paz, Fred, and Beatrice laughed. Dipper looked to still be processing what he was seeing, Endicott was muttering to his wife about if Wirt was a male or if he'd been misgendering him. Greg looked confused. Greg had seen him multiple times in dresses but that was usually reserved for "luring", not necessarily to wander in. Mabel was excited, on the other hand.
He decided to ignore most of them, sitting back down, though now his gestures resembled a more feminine gait. From the corner of his eye, he caught Dipper staring. His smile turned flirtatious, trying to ignore how the dress made him feel. "Like what you see, Dip.N.Dot-ah?" He sounded the nickname out breathily, purposely, raking charcoal eyes lazily up and down Dipper.
Dipper's face turned bright red, he immediately averted his gaze, trying to let out an excuse, though his voice came out cracking and stuttered.
None were the wiser to the force Wirt used to keep his legs together, for not the first time in his life, wishing he didn't have a thigh gap.
"So, Wirt. Wear dresses often?" Paz asked, her perfect brow raised.
Wirt gave her a glance. "Sometimes." He didn't want to elaborate, even though Paz kept her gaze on him strongly. She wanted details, that was obvious.
"Me n' Dipper used to dress up similarly." Mabel butt in.
As Mabel went about telling stories, Wirt forced his heart back down his throat. He hated white gowns. Cream, eggshell, beige. They stain with blood so easily and hide the stains he wanted gone the most. He suddenly felt nauseous. "I'm…I'm gonna go outside for a moment." He leaned towards Greg, knowing his brother would leave him.
Greg gave him a concerned look, but nodded, sitting in Wirt's spot as his brother snuck to outside.
"Is he okay?" Dipper leaned to whisper to Greg.
The kid gave him a sad look back, shrugging. "When he wears dresses, sometimes he gets like that. He never tells me when I ask. Maybe he'll talk to you?" Greg gave him large puppy eyes, his lower lip pouting out.
Unlike Greg, Dipper wasn't so sure about that. If there was anything Dipper had learned, it was that Wirt kept a lot of secrets, even from Greg. It both infuriated and enamored Dipper. Mabel decided to drag him and Greg into the conversation then, distracting the boys.
Neither had a chance to check since both startled at Wirt walking up behind Greg and messing with his hair after awhile away. Dipper found it amusing how paternal Wirt was with Greg. If they weren't so close in age, he would've thought Wirt was his parent.
Dipper couldn't help the gaze he held, seeing how different Wirt held himself. On the ferry, he held himself close, taking up as little space as he could, looking anywhere but down. Taking a deep breath, he went towards where Wirt was gazing out the end of the ferry. "H-hey. You-uh-have been quiet. I won't tell, if you need to talk." He played with the edge of his shirt, nervous for what face Wirt would make at him. He felt his cheeks toast.
Wirt observed him for a moment, seeming to think of what to say. "Just need a bit to myself. I don't know this way. The direction we're going. Maybe it's forcing us to get Lost." He mumbled, turning his head away.
Dipper wasn't sure about this Wirt. This quiet, closed in Wirt. "We could ask the bird lady." He shrugged.
He was relieved when that got a small chuckle out of him. Dipper looked to his eyes, not liking how dull they seemed. The laugh didn't reach his eyes, at least not by much. "Beatrice would know. But-uhm…can we-can you-I mean…can you just…stay right here, for a moment?" He then saw a chill wrack Wirt's body, his face scrunched as if in pain.
Biting his lip, Dipper made an impulse decision. He stood in front of Wirt and grasped the taller's hands, putting them with his own hands in his vest pockets. "M-my parents always said the best way to warm up is through body heat. You're cold right?" Something was wrong, Dipper could tell, so he let Wirt do what he needed, which included struggling to allow his frozen hands to be held. "You can talk to me." He whispered, tilting his head so he could look into Wirt's eyes. If he was going to push, it might have to be when there was no place to run.
"I'm fine. Just tired." Wirt spoke back, voice small, a lie. He went to pull his hands from Dipper's and out of the vest, but Dipper tightened his grip. Not by much, but enough where Wirt knew he wasn't dropping it.
"Please…talk to me. Secrets are never worth the silence. If you can't talk to Greg, then talk to me, or Mabel. If you and Paz could get over your-your whatever it is you both have against each other…" Dipper smiled when that earned him a small breathy chuckle and a snort.
"It's not me." Wirt tried defending himself.
"It kinda is, Wirt." Dipper chuckled, happy he was beginning to see the old Wirt. "Paz is protective of us, just as you have Greg. You two are more alike than you realize." With their hands still in his pockets, Dipper took a leap of chance, something he'd learned to do even in social situations over the years, and held onto Wirt's hands, the long fingers, shaky against his warm palm. "Should we start out small? Continue with where we left off maybe?"
Wirt hesitantly roamed Dipper's eyes, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Why are you trying so hard? I can…I can understand putting up with me since you all have to get home-"
"Ever think we see something you don't?!" Dipper's voice rose in frustration, dwindling at Wirt's flinch, "Wirt…", Dipper trailed off, "what's your favorite Holiday?" 'Small. Trust, but in baby steps.' Dipper gulped, holding Wirt's fingers tighter.
"C-Christmas. Not for any religious reasons. It's…its just…" his brows furrowed and Dipper crowded him more against the rail, trying to hide Wirt from view. Wirt's lip wobbled. "It's just…it's so wonderful to see Greg happy. Even-even Beau will get him a present and since it's usually snowy, he doesn't have to be forced into anything, and he can be a CHILD-" Wirt cut off, ripping one hand from Dipper's pocket to cover his mouth, ashy tears building in his eyes, which were widened in shock at how much he rambled.
Dipper processed and stared at Wirt. It was always about Greg. Maybe because Mabel was his twin, he didn't understand the laser focus Wirt had when it came to Greg. What he rambled, though very little, did shed some light. He felt he'd have to ask to confirm, though he doubted then was the time. "I love Summerween. It's two Halloweens in a year. You carve watermelon instead of pumpkins. It's just fun. Even as teens, me n Mabel still dress up. The Grunkles still torment the kids for their candy too. That reminds me. When we get back, I want to introduce you. If-if that's okay. Um…" he gulped nervously.
"Dipper. You…you realize I'm not someone you introduce to your family. You know that. I know you haven't forgotten what I am." Wirt's voice held strong, tone neutral, despite his hands shaking.
When Dipper lifted his head to look, Wirt's eyes were iridescent. They looked to be in pain. It was strange how he could tell, but he didn't dwell on it too much. He opened his mouth to retort back, frustrated out of wits.
"Uh…not to interrupt your moment, but we missed our stop." Beatrice's voice broke through, a cocky smirk on her mouth. Greg was right behind her, snickering.
"There's no other stops till the end so it looks like we're gonna have to follow the ferry till the end." Paz said, her and Mabel coming over as well.
By then, Wirt forced his limbs back to himself, closing up. Dipper sighed, annoyed. "Do we know where that'll lead us?" He asked his sister.
Mabel put up her hand in a 'meh' motion. They looked to Wirt and Beatrice. Beatrice shrugged and Wirt gulped. "To be honest, it's been a long time since I took the ferry. I'm not sure where it's going to take us." He admitted sheepishly.
"That means we get to sleep on the ferry!" Greg yelled. He bounded around then ran up to Dipper, grabbing his hand. "Come on! Help me find the best spots! Please?!" He gave him puppy eyes and everyone snickered. Sighing, Dipper chuckled and agreed. If he wanted to be in Wirt's life, that meant being in Greg's too.
It didn't take too long to find a place where there was no frogs and toads. Greg had gotten quiet after a few minutes, which was unnerving. "Hey Dipper?" He stopped, looking back to the teen.
Dipper rose a brow. "Yeah? What's wrong?" He turned from where he was staring out passed the water to the child.
Greg looked at him long and hard, hazel eyes focused. "Do you like mysteries?"
Dipper nodded. "Yep. What about you?" He smiled.
"I like having fun. Say, if you had to choose between someone's feelings and a mystery, which would you choose?" He asked.
Dipper hummed. He did that a lot as a kid. Solely focused on the next adventure or mystery that he brushed off everyone's feelings. All their actions and love. It was unintentional, but he recently did it…didn't he? Wirt told him not to do something, and he brushed him off. "I wanna say I'd put others first," he rubbed the back of his neck, "but I have a habit of getting pulled into the mysteries I'm working on. It's not on purpose." He realized immediately, he probably should've lied.
Greg came up closer, patting his hip. "Then leave Wirt alone." His eyes were harder than Dipper had ever seen them. A threat lied in them. "I'll tell you what you want to know, but when it comes to Wirt, don't lure his heart to sate your need to solve a mystery." He then put on a fake smile. "That's all, so let's tell the others we found some sleeping spots! Come on Dipper! I'll race you." Greg ran ahead, leaving Dipper hurt, confused, and oddly…scared.