Chapter Text
"Sh...Show me."
Words finally allowed itself to tumble out of her mouth but it shocked even the owner. What was she asking of him right now?
Even Mason's eyebrows rose at the request.
Hypothetically speaking, if someone had finally made such a request (one that he'd been waiting for but would never admit )- maybe he would've been a little..eager, you know..to abide.
Hypothetically of course.
Mason watched as Pacifica swallowed a gulp, her eyes determined and her lips pursed. Even if he wanted to say the word "no" purely to keep his image, how could he? How could he, when her expressions shun clearly as her face bathed in the dazzling sun?
But of course there is a start to every story, and this one starts a little differently. What else would you expect from the gleeful twins - the siblings who were raised to normalize violence in their daily lives?
Oh, pardon me- was that too forward?
Alright then, let's be a little more subtle. Why don't we go ahead and travel a few weeks before the encounter happened - beginning on another normal day for Mason who constantly, despite his own wills, gets dragged around by his sister to places he hasn't the slightest interest in.
"Remind me what we're doing again?" Mason had said, knowing fully well what they were doing; just delaying the inevitable.
The brown-eyed girl huffs, her clenched hands kept on the steering wheel as she replies enthusiastically, "Heading to the Pines'!"
He rolls his eyes at her, a gesture that seemed to be a staple of their interactions. "And pray tell, dear sister, why have you decided to drag me into your shenanigans yet again? My interest in that family hovers at a solid zero." His eyes roved over the passing trees as he made no effort to hide his lack of enthusiasm.
"Oh please. It's not like you had anything better to do anyway."
"Are you implying that I'm free just because you've exhausted my other possibilities?"
She pouts, "Come on, Mason. Isn't spending time with me a reward in itself?"
He leaned in slightly, his expression faux thoughtful. "Let me think... No."
"Ugh. I hate you."
"It's mutual."
It's important to note though that their relationship might be unconventional, but it was built on a foundation of mutual understanding and acceptance - however weird that may be considering the current situation.
As their destination loomed ahead, their banter subsided into an uncomfortable silence. Mason returned his attention to the passing scenery. He had been perfectly content before Mabel had burst into his room with her latest scheme for that brat. Now, he was being forced to spend time with the Pines family, a prospect he found far from appealing. It was a good thing he was at least given time to get dressed or it was Mabel's head next.
And why? For the stupid Pines boy. He doesn't even know what she sees in him. He's not one of them, neither is he close to being on their standard. Mason insists that he wouldn't give a damn about who her current crush is, if he weren't dragged around everywhere for that lowlife.
Mason rolled his eyes. The whole thing felt like a colossal waste of his time. Gideon was nothing more than a nuisance in his eyes, and Mabel's incessant fascination with him only served to exacerbate that sentiment. That wretched, measly little boy. Thanks to him, its only been "Gideon this! Gideon that! Gideon, Gideon, Gideon!". He could never get a word out about his new discovery on the journal or literally anything else with her hogging everyone's attention with her latest crush. That white-haired brat was a blight on his existence – another person to steal Mabel's attention away. Mason wasn't sure what his sister saw in the boy, but whatever it was, he was certain it was utterly nonsensical.
That reminds him, why in the world is she driving? It doesn't matter if they were of age, they have a driver for a reason! If Diane wasn't free, they still had his driver to take her place. But of course, Mabel probably just stole the car keys instead of being sane.
Good.
Now he had a legitimate reason to scold Diane. Maybe fire her, even. He never liked her anyway, she had talked back to him once.
"We're here!" Mabel announces, slowing the car to a stop. She doesn't bother hiding the car from prying eyes and parks it right in front of the Mystery Shack. Isn't she afraid he'd just lock her out again?
Mason's sigh was almost audible, his boredom returning full force. He'd endured many of his sister's escapades, and he was already prepped for another one. Yet, as the car came to a halt, he couldn't help the hint of curiosity that nipped at the edges of his indifference. Ever since Gideon first attended one of their Magic Shows, his 'unique' white hair had piqued Mabel's interest. From being some kind of experiment, Gideon has now escalated into her crush and she was determined to have him as her own. What made it harder was that Gideon didn't like her. At least not after she hypnotized him merely to get what she wanted.
Not his fault, really - Mason had mused.
"Mabel, what makes you so sure he'll let you in this time?" He questions, raising an eyebrow.
"It's not like he has a choice." She answers and flicks her hair. "He loves me. He just doesn't know it yet."
Mason kept his expression blank. Sure.
"Stop criticizing me." She snaps.
"I didn't say anything"
"You didn't have to."
They both step out of the car and he follows her as she sashays her way to the door. She attempts to push it open, but it doesn't budge. She tries again, but fails.
"Oh, would you look at that? It's locked. I wonder why." An amused smirk tugged at Mason's lips as he watched his sister's failed attempts. "It appears the universe has decided that today is a day of miracles. Let's head h-"
Undeterred, Mabel turned her frustration into determination, her fists starting a rhythmical beat against the door. Mason's expression morphed into something akin to horror.
"Mabel! Stop that!" he whisper-shouts, slightly embarrassed by her actions. His eyes rolled heavenward, a mixture of embarrassment and frustration washing over him. "What the hell are you doing?!"
"Gideon~ It's me! Mabel!" Mabel continued her onslaught of knocks, and Mason had enough. If she was going to continue this spectacle, he might as well spend his time in the comfort of the vehicle. He was on the brink of storming off when a familiar truck makes a sharp turn to the only parking space.
So it really was coincidental.
Huh.
He turns to Mabel, her line of vision aimed at the same truck, a chilling smile slowly forming on her lips. But Mabel's demeanor shifted once more, her brows knitting together in a frown. Whatever she'd been expecting wasn't coming to fruition. Instead of the joyful greeting she likely envisioned, her gaze had locked onto something beyond him, something that wiped the excitement from her features.
Curiosity piqued, Mason turned around, only to be met with the sight of a blonde girl stumbling into him. The collision was hardly jarring for him, but the situation itself was unexpected. He hadn't predicted to meet a pair of the most mesmerizing dark blue eyes he had seen, staring back into his.
"Oh god, sorry, I didn't mean, oh sorry-" she stammered, her cheeks turning a delicate shade of pink. Her voice held a hint of embarrassment, and Mason couldn't help but be intrigued by her. His gaze swept over her, taking in the varsity jacket, tank top, and white shorts that composed her outfit. Her blonde hair was tied back, and as his eyes met hers, something about them held his attention. He'd never seen such blue eyes – a hue that reminded him of the ocean's depths.
No wait anyway, who is this girl? Why was she with the Pines? Did he have a sister Mason wasn't aware of? But that couldn't be. The twins knew everyone who lived in Gravity Falls. That means she must've just arrived here today.
It was a second too long before he realized she was staring at him. The realization broke the spell, and his lips curled into a teasing smile.
"Like what you see?" he purred, his voice dripping with amusement.
Instead of flattery or a bashful blush, her eyes narrowed, and a smirk tugged at her lips – a response that caught him entirely off guard.
"Sorry, Dipper," she retorted, her tone laced with sarcasm. "I'm just trying to figure out if that birthmark on your forehead is a map of your ego."
Excuse me?
His eyebrows shot up in surprise, her audacity momentarily rendering him speechless. She brushed past him, her shoulder colliding with his. This time, there was no apology, and he was left standing there, a mixture of astonishment and curiosity swirling within him.
He blinks a couple times.
No, no there's no way he heard that right. He couldn't have possibly.
As she walked away, her blonde hair swaying with her every step, Mason found himself fixated on her. His sister's antics were momentarily forgotten as he turned the encounter over in his mind. This newcomer had challenged him – and in doing so, had earned his attention. She clearly held herself high, having the audacity to talk back to him just to proclaim what's left of her dignity.
Mason's mind started working in overdrive. He found himself intrigued by this newcomer who dared to challenge him. He was determined to bend her will, to show her the extent of his power over Reverse Falls. His eyes turn to slits.
A fresh face in town.
She's yet to understand the power of a gleeful.
He shove his hands in my pockets as he walks to their vehicle. Mabel stomps to the driver's seat and starts the engine, driving away from the mystery shack. She begins rambling about Gideon's actions and the mysterious blonde girl. Being the great brother he is, he doesn't bother listening to her as he rests his head in his palm, focusing his attention on the view outside.
Mason's thoughts linger back to her. Her messy blonde strands unattractively sticking out of her head, asking to be tamed. Honestly, if he could - he would pluck a few strands out to experiment on it. Maybe blonde hair would produce different results, who knows? But besides the logical factor, he couldn't forget her eyes. Her eyes were blue, an inviting blue that felt calming to stare into and it reminded him of the ocean. He also couldn't forgot how those eyes mockingly glared at him as she uttered a ridiculous nickname,
Dipper.
His fingers subconciously reach up to his forehead, the tips of it just grazing on the Big Dipper birthmark. No one had ever called him that before.
And he's going to make sure it stayed that way.