Dipper stared down at his intertwined fingers, twiddling his thumbs. The cushions he sat on were uncomfortable, but it was something he had gotten used to since he got here.
But now…he needed to get out. He misses his sister and she misses him. He can't live like this any longer…
He has to tell them the truth …
Dipper stared listlessly at his reflection in the mirror while brushing his teeth, his sister prattling on about something Waddles had done from her perch on the toilet as she brushed her hair.
Breakfast this morning had been the norm, as it was for the past week that Dipper and Mabel had arrived at their new home. Stan cooked a decent meal, Mabel was the main voice around the table, and Ford didn't show up, though Stan did leave a plate of plain eggs and toast in the microwave. Their first breakfast did have Ford present, though the man seemed rather skittish, not unlike three years ago when he arrived with Stan for the holidays. And just like that time, the man practically bolted to his room – the basement, apparently – when breakfast was done and rarely attended meals since then.
Ford barely ate what was given to him, Dipper noticed, even back then. Not that Dipper had any right to judge.
This morning had been the third morning in a row that Dipper hadn't eaten his breakfast. He just…wasn't feeling it. Dipper could tell that Stan was curious about the behavior and he felt anxious for the day the old man would confront him on the matter.
"Huh?" he says after spitting out the toothpaste froth.
"I asked what you wanted to do today, Dipper," Mabel said, giving her brother a smile. "It's been a week and you haven't gotten out of the house yet. Annnd, I can tell you're getting bored."
"What? Do you have something in mind?" Dipper asked doubtfully, knowing that Mabel was on the same boat. Sure, she had played with Waddles outside of the shack, but Mabel always stayed within the property.
Mabel drummed her fingers together, knowing that her brother knows. "Well, no…but we can ask Grunkle Stan. He's been around waaay longer than we have. Maybe he knows something."
"I would like to know why we can't go into the forest."
"Me too. But, didn't Grunkle Ford say something about it being dangerous?" Mabel asked.
"Says the guy who goes out there regularly," Dipper glowered, folding his arms.
Mabel frowned at her brother's dour attitude, the hint of sadness in his eyes. She remembered he and Ford clicked three years ago, how Ford would humor Mabel and some of her craft experiments. And now it seems that Ford is putting them at arm's length from him. She remembered giving Dipper words of encouragement on their way to Gravity Falls, that Ford would be happy to spend time with him after all this time.
Things clearly didn't pan out. Any attempts from the twins to spend time with Ford had met with declines and excuses.
Mabel takes one of Dipper's hands, a hand with faint scars, from his arms and holds it between hers.
"It'll be okay, Dip-Dop," she said in an assuring tone. "Remember how it took Grunkle Ford days before he decided to open a little? And…a lot has happened since then. Just give him time. I'm sure it won't be long until you and him can nerd it out!"
It didn't look like her words were getting to Dipper, his eyes pointed downwards. But, Mabel did feel his fingers curl around hers.
That was enough.
Stan hummed to himself as he finished the last of the dishes, placing the plate on the drying rack. The man doesn't fancy himself much of a cook, but he liked to think that he did a pretty decent job.
He looked over at the dinner table, where a single plate of eggs, bacon, and pancakes sat alone.
Dipper's untouched breakfast. A third occurrence.
Parts of Stan's psyches told him to just eat it or throw it away, but he didn't want to do either. At least, not while feeling guilty for such actions. And Stan isn't going to force the food down the kid's throat. He'd rather not traumatize the boy more. So, he instead decided to wrap plastic around Dipper's plate and placed it next to Ford's plain breakfast.
Seriously, what's with smart people and poor eating habits? Has basic needs been thrown away for more room for more nerd thoughts?
Though, something tells Stan that what's going on with Dipper has less to do with moments of forgetfulness. The kid seems to have a bit of anxiety going on. Ford's the same way growing up and now. Too much frazzled nerves can ruin an appetite. Stan needed to find something for the kid to do around here, to help him keep his mind occupied.
Maybe…help around in the gift shop? That's one option. Stan had thought of another one, but he's not sure if his brother would agree to it.
Stan made his way to the den, intending for a day of relaxation to think on things when some sort of commotion racketed from the gift shop. He dashed through the employees' only door to see what was going on.
His brother, Ford, was chasing to grab what looked like a fugly green octopus. And fugly was the right word for the thing. It stinks to high heaven too.
Assisting his brother with the capture was a freckled and green-eyed teenage girl in a flannel shirt, jeans, and dirtied boots. Her long red hair, a trappers cap covering her head, was put in a loose braid.
It was Wendy Corduroy, the only daughter and oldest child of Gravity Falls' manliest lumberjack.
Standing a safe distance from the chaos was Soos.
"Oh! Good morning, Mr. Pines!" he greeted, acting like a tussle wasn't happening just now.
Ford and Wendy had the creature cornered at the far end of the gift shop. They both had their hands raised, covered in black gloves with blue wiring.
"Easy does it now…slow steps…" Ford said in a low tone. The creature shrieked, its eye appearing in its toothy maw.
*SCREEEEEEEEEEEEECH*
"...Now!"
Wendy dove down and grabbed the creature. Blue electricity surged from her gloves, shocking the thing into submission.
"Got it," she grinned, holding the creature by one of its tentacles. She tossed the anomaly into a box and Ford closed it.
"Excellent work, Corduroy!" Ford congratulated. Wendy gives him a thumbs up.
"...Okay. What the hell was all that?" Stan asked.
"A cycloptopus," Ford replied while Wendy maneuvered herself to sit on the box. "I've come across one during my travels. It's quite the delicacy over in Dimension 34-Beta from what I remember."
"Ugh, how can you say that when this thing smells like if Death could barf?" Wendy asked Ford.
"Wait, can Death barf?" Soos asked. The question goes ignored.
"And it's in the shack because…?" Stan asked.
"We found it this morning and Doc wanted to study it," Wendy said.
"It's a different variation and I wanted to see if it's because of its environment. Sort of like the finches of the Galapagos Isles," Ford said.
"Well, hurry up and take down in the basement before the kids see it," Stan said.
"See what?"
Everyone turns to see Dipper and Mabel, plus Waddles, behind them.
"What was all the commotion down here? Did you guys find another possum?" Mabel asked.
"Why does it smell like that four week old sandwich we found in the loft?" Dipper asked.
Soos smacks his forehead. "D'oh! I was wondering where I left that."
Wendy shrugged. "Eh. Something like that." The box under her shook.
"...Sooo, what's in the box?" Dipper asked, suspicious.
"Um–" Ford started.
"A raccoon," Wendy said coolly, keeping a schooled grin. The box shook again and there was a muffled screech. "A rabid one."
Ford coughs in his fist. "Y-Yes. It is indeed a rabid raccoon." His response was clearly robotic and Stan resisted the urge to facepalm.
"Okay. Let's not talk about the incredibly dangerous animal in the box and talk about something else," Stan insisted.
"Oh, yeah! Grunkle Stan, do you know any cool places to go to in Gravity Falls? Ya know, since you've been here for like a century now?" Mabel asked.
"I'm not–"
"Wait. You guys are asking your great uncle about any hotspots in Gravity Falls? This old fart?" smirked Wendy.
"Now, hold on. I happen to know a couple of places," Stan insisted defensively.
Wendy's smirk grew. "Oh, yeah? What places do you hang out at besides Greasy's Diner and the Fisherman's Lodge?"
Stan glowered. "Shut it."
A victorious Wendy gets up on her feet. "Looks like I'll be taggin' along with you dorks."
"Really?" Mabel asked, smiling big.
"You sure?" Dipper asked.
"Yep. Just leave it to Big Sis Wendy." Wendy takes off her gloves and hands them to Ford. "I know this town like the back of my hand."
"Awesome!" Mabel sees Ford watching them closely. "You wanna come with, Grunkle Ford?" At this, Dipper looked at Ford.
The question startled Ford. "I…No. I'm not...I don't…" He could feel his heart ache at the hope in Dipper's eyes dying.
Thankfully, Mabel seems to have remembered something.
"Oh! R-Right! Silly me! I just remembered that you don't like being around other people. That's why it took you a while to come visit us back when Mom and Dad were alive. Right, Grunkle Stan?"
"That's right, pumpkin," Stan said, throwing his arm around Ford's shoulder and slapping on his Mr. Mystery smile. "Stanford's still a little wonky about being around folks he's not used to. Besides, he's still got this…raccoon to deal with. Right, bro?" He gives Ford's shoulder a light squeeze, like a signal.
"Yes. The raccoon." Ford tries not to make eye contact with Dipper.
Stan gives his shoulder a pat before letting go to look at the three youngest people in the shop. "Now, you three go wait in the car while I get decent."
"Wait. You've got clothes other than that stained shirt, underpants, and a suit?" Mabel asked curiously.
"Ignoring that. Now, vamos."
"Can Waddles come with us?" The pig oinks.
"As long as he doesn't make a mess." Stan tosses his keys to Wendy. "Get in the car, but don't drive it."
"Got it," Wendy said. She leads the kids and pig out through the gift shop entrance.
"Stanford, this is the fourth weird ass thing that came up onto this property in the last week," Stan said to his brother, his tone scolding. In response to the tone, Ford furrowed his brows and frowned. "I thought we agreed to keep this whole anomaly thing a secret from the kids? They were this close to seeing that thing."
"Apologies, Stanley. The cycloptopus proved to be just as intelligent as any other cephalopod in our world and escaped its enclosure." Ford's hard expression turned soft. "I'm more relieved that it didn't get to the kids."
"Yeah, you should be! I thought we're protecting the kids from all of this, not mentally scarring them more!" snapped Stan.
Ford barely held back a flinch and glared at him. " Stanley…"
Realizing what he said, Stanley quickly backpedaled his words. "I know. I know. I…" He sighs. "I'm sorry."
Ford shook his head. "I should have anticipated the creature's intelligence." He ran a hand through his hair, from the short and fluffy strands on his head to the ponytail that hung at the base of his neck. "The fault is mine. After all, it was I who wished to keep this whole ordeal a secret from the children." He cast his eyes down and started wringing his shaky hands and wrists. One of Ford's nervous tic, Stan knew.
He also knew of the looks that his brother and grandnephew were giving each other.
Once Ford got over his nervousness upon meeting their niblings, the one that he connected the most with was Dipper, which didn't surprise Stan in the least. Dipper reminded Stan so much of Ford, it hurt and gave Stan greater motivation to bring him back so that they could enjoy each other's company.
And, as much as Stan wanted that to come back, for his troubled brother and grandnephew to do nerd things together again, he wanted to respect Ford's wishes when all this happened.
Stan puts a hand on Ford's shoulder and when he doesn't flinch away, gives it a comforting squeeze, rubbing his thumb for good measure.
Watching the exchange, Soos smiled happily.
Stan sighed through his nose. "Ugh…well, I got a change of plans," he looks down at his sweatshirt and striped underwear, "and a change of clothes to deal with. As for you two, get rid of that thing and clean this place up."
Soos salutes. "Yes sir, Mr. Pines."
"And Ford?" Ford looks at his brother quizzically. "Would it kill ya to eat a little more? I'm starting to think that Dipper is emulating you. And no. Those stupid, nasty ass pills don't count."
Once Stan was gone, Ford harrumphs. "Honestly…does Stanley truly think I would be that irresponsible?" Ford asked, mostly to himself.
The cycloptopus screeches and leaps out of the box to latch itself to Soos' face.
"AAH! It's trying to suck my eyeballs!"
Soos skitters backwards as he tries to pry off the creature and Ford goes after him.
"Be careful, Soos! Don't let it taste human flesh!"
*SCREEEEEEEEEEEEECH*
"It burns!"
Two twin preteens, a teen, and a pig sat patiently in the El Diablo as they waited for Stan to come. Dipper already had his seatbelt on and opted to look out the window. He was both excited and nervous to go into town.
Excited that he will finally get out of the house and see more of this town.
Nervous about how he'll react. During his two years at the psych ward, he barely got out of the building's property. Many of the faculty were afraid of him running off and getting hurt as they tried to help him with his trauma and other complications.
What if he…has an episode?
And how will Stan react?
Would he send him back?
He could feel Mabel hopping in her seat beside, pulling him away from his racing thoughts. Well, sort of beside him. Waddles took a spot between the twins, sharing the seatbelt with Mabel.
Wendy sat in the passenger side, texting on her smartphone.
"Hey, Wendy, how come Grunkle Stan won't let you drive his car?" Mabel asked.
"I might have taken it on a joyride," Wendy grinned as she remembered. "Without a learner's permit."
"Sounds like fun!" Mabel said. She looks over at her brother, who still looked out the window. "...So, Wendy…you work for both Stans, right?"
"Yep. Sure do. Mr. Pines' cashier by day and Doc's assistant by night. Well, more like a glorified bodyguard."
"Does Grunkle Ford need protection? He looks like he can take care of himself," Mabel said, recalling a time hugging Ford's arm. He tensed up at the action, but even through that, Mabel could feel muscles. The kind that told her that her other grunkle can pull a punch just as good as Stan.
"True. But, he's kinda absent minded whenever he's like nose deep into his research. There was this one time he nearly walked off a cliff before I pulled him away."
Mabel giggled. "That sounds like the time Dipper almost walked into a street lamp while reading." She looks over at her brother again, hoping that he'll join in on the conversation. At first, he doesn't, the only change to his expression was a frustrated look in his eyes.
Then he spoke up.
"Is it really that dangerous in the forest?" Dipper asked.
"Sometimes. Especially at night if you don't know what you're doing," Wendy answered casually.
"Then what's in the forest that's so dangerous that great uncle Ford doesn't want us to know and what's so bad about it that he barely has time for us?" Dipper ranted.
"Dipper!" Mabel said with a worried frown, taking Dipper's hand.
Dipper casts his eyes down feeling more agitated as the past week of events go through his mind. All the times that he had tried to spend time with Ford, only to be pushed aside.
Wendy had sat up on her knees to reach over the distraught boy, giving him a sympathetic smile as she gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze.
"Dipper, I get that you're frustrated. Believe me. I've pestered the Doc enough to let me in on the things he does. But, the difference between you and me is that you're his family. Doc…Ford just doesn't want you to get hurt." Dipper looks up at her, looking like the kid that he is. "As for the whole avoiding thing…It's not my story to tell. Let's just say that he has a lot of baggage that he still needs to sort out."
Before Dipper could ask for more elaboration, Wendy returned to her seat as the driver's door opened.
"You brats talking crap about me behind my back?" Stan asked as he climbed into the car.
Wendy looks at Dipper through the rearview mirror and does a zip-lip motion and throws away the metaphorical key.
"Just talking about the time you taught me how to drive," Wendy told the old conman.
"Oh, yeah? Did you mention the moment you drove my car into a ditch?"
Mabel giggled and, despite himself, Dipper smiled.
"Okay, Wendy, since you're the one with a teen brain, you're gonna have to tell me where we're going," Stan said.
"On it, boss."
As Stan drove, Dipper noticed a structure just across the road. It looked like a big, teepee tent. The sign above the entrance read 'The Tent of Telepathy'.
"Hey, Grunkle Stan, what's up with that tent?" Dipper asked.
"Nothing important," was Stan's blunt response.
Annnd the secrecy continues.