Chapter Text
“Are you sure about this, Dipper?”
Mabel paced back and forth as she nibbled on her usually well-kept nails. The big city was never a good idea. It’s a place where Mafias, crimes, and almost everything bad breeds. She wondered what kind of entity possessed Dipper to pursue a career in such dangerous place. She did try to influence both Stans not to let Dipper go, but they just gave him a pat on the back, and muttered words of encouragement, to which Dipper was ecstatic to hear. This only fueled Mabel’s worry.
“Of course,” Dipper replied as he stuffed the few clothing he owned inside his duffel bag. He made a beeline towards his bedside table and retrieved his journal, adding it to the things he was going to bring with him. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
Mabel gave an exasperated groan as she flopped herself on her twin’s bed, her pleated skirt sashaying. Dipper gave her a reassuring smile, but Mabel only pouted in response. “Dippin’ Sauce, you can become a writer here in Gravity Falls! I’m pretty sure some companies are willing to pay you big bucks for your talent!”
“And be like Toby?” Dipper retorted. “I don’t want to sound mean or rude Mabel, but I want something more than just that. And this is not about money.” He closed his bag and gripped his suspenders, satisfied with his work. “And why are you so against this?”
“Dipper it’s not that I don’t trust you-”
“It’s okay, Mabel. Just tell me the truth-”
“I don’t trust you,” Mabel deadpanned, her brother’s face slowly contorting into a frown. “You’re too clumsy for your own good. Chances are- as much as I hate to even contemplate the idea- you’ll die the moment you step off the train,” she admitted, Dipper’s eyebrows raising at her bluntness.
“That’s pessimistic, coming from you,” he muttered, sitting down beside his sister and gently taking her hand. “Mabel...” he started, his twin still worriedly watching him. “Trust me on this. Besides, I got Pacifica to look out for me there. I’m pretty sure she won’t just forget about me.”
“She better not or someone’s gonna get the biggest slap of their entire life!” Dipper chuckled at that. Soon Mabel followed along. As their laughter receded, Mabel leaned her head on her brother’s shoulder.
“Sometimes I wished Paz hadn’t made that offer. It’s obvious that you’re too gullible-”
“Hey!” Dipper intervened.
“-to accept the offer,” Mabel continued as if he hadn’t spoken up. She turned to him and tried a smile, which looked obviously forced. “I’m going to miss you, bro-bro,” she said quietly, Dipper replying with a sad smile.
“I’m going to miss you too, Mabes,” he said, ruffling Mabel’s long, brown locks. Mabel extended her arms outward and smiled sheepishly.
“Awkward sibling hug?” she proposed, trying to cheer herself up for her brother’s sake. She didn’t want her twin to leave, but what can she do? Dipper is as stubborn as a mule. The only thing that she could actually do was to be happy for him.
“Awkward sibling hug,” Dipper affirmed, and immediately pulled his twin in an embrace. He buried his face in Mabel’s hair, taking in his sister’s scent. “I’m going to miss you. A lot,” he mumbled as tears threatened to flow down his cheeks.
Mabel, on the other hand, didn’t even try to suppress hers, and cried as she returned the hug tightly. “Me too...”
Only God could guide him now.
+++
Dipper stood nervously on the terminal as he waited for his train to arrive. He can’t believe it. He’s actually going to Manhattan! To become a writer! His mixed feelings made him want to throw up, but he restrained himself. He felt Mabel put a hand on his shoulder to assure him.
“Are you okay, bro-bro?” she asked, Dipper clutching his duffel bag tightly. Both Stans were also there to watch him leave for Manhattan.
“Y-Yeah. Just a little anxious about all... this,” he stuttered, trying his best to calm himself down and not make a fool out of himself. He started to tap his right foot in an attempt to do so.
“You just gotta remember, kid...” his Grunkle Stan started, draping an arm on his shoulders. “Don’t let the cops catch you if you’re up to something illegal there!” He chuckled loudly, his twin shoving him away from the boy. “Hey!” he cried indignantly.
“Don’t listen to him, Dipper. If you just stick to the clean jobs then I’m pretty sure the city life you always wanted would be yours!” Ford assured him, Dipper smiling up to him. His great uncle Stan was a great man, sure. But great uncle Ford was amazing. Both of them shared the same interest, and could go and talk for hours nonstop.
Their conversation was interrupted when the train signaled its arrival. Mabel’s face immediately shifted to concern. When the train stopped in front of them, Dipper turned to his only remaining family. “This is it,” he declared, a determined look on his face.
“It is...” Both Stans muttered. Dipper ran up to both of them and pulled them into a big hug, catching the other pair of twins off guard. Ford immediately relaxed and hugged back, while Stan awkwardly returned it.
“I’m gonna miss you. Both of you,” he muttered to them. When Dipper realized Mabel was not joining in, he pulled away from both Stans and turned to his twin. “Mabes?” he called only to be greeted with the teary-eyed face of his sister. “Aw c’mon Mabes. We agreed not to cry here-” he was cut off when Mabel tackled-hugged him.
“I know. Just going to miss my little bro. Make sure you’ll take care of yourself,” she muttered quietly, Dipper playfully protesting at being called ‘little brother’.
“Of course. And Mabel, you’re older than me for only 5 minutes,” Dipper stated a matter-of-factly, only to have Mabel shush him.
“Hush! Don’t ruin the mood!” she cheekily grumbled as she tightened the embrace, Dipper returning it with the same fervor. When the train signaled for its departure, Dipper gently patted Mabel on the back.
“Mabes, you’ll make me miss the train.”
“That was the plan, dummy,” she chuckled as she pulled away. They smiled at each other before Dipper jogged and hopped onto the train, hands still tightening around the duffel bag. “Call when you get there!” Mabel yelled loud enough for Dipper to hear.
Dipper poked his head from a nearby train window and shouted in response, “I will!” Mabel watched somberly as her brother disappeared from her sight. Stan patted her head to indicate that they were leaving. As she turned around, Dipper poked his head back out again. “Take care guys! I love you always!” he yelled as the train chugged away.
“We love you too!” Mabel shouted back.
+++
Ah, Manhattan.
Dipper watched from his booth as the train slowly skidded to a stop. He finally reached Manhattan! Dipper could hardly contain his excitement. Ever since he was 12, he had always wanted to go to the city. Great uncle Ford had told him stories about it; from the bright city lights to the busy night life, it was too different from Gravity Falls.
Damn, he was ecstatic!
He immediately retrieved the small belongings he brought with him, and dove among the crowd hastily trying to get off the train. When he was finally out of the bustle, Dipper searched the terminal for that familiar tuft of probably fake blonde hair. When he cannot find who he was looking for, Dipper started to (slightly) panic.
“Oh no. Oh no. Where is she?” he mumbled as he still desperately scanned the crowd, breathing turning ragged and beads of sweat forming on his forehead. None. Where is she?! When he thought he was about to faint then and there, a slim woman stood in front of him.
It was Pacifica.
“And what are you doing?” she scoffed, offering him a hand to calm him down. Dipper took it gratefully. Pacifica Elise Northwest, daughter of the richest couple in Gravity Falls. When the twins met her, they weren’t immediately the best of friends. Pacifica was bitchy and mean, especially to those who she considered ‘not of her level’.
But after an incident involving him, Mabel, and her parents, Pacifica had considered them the closest friends she got. Now, they hang out in the shack or the forest whenever they can, away from the prying eyes of Pacifica’s controlling parents.
One time, when they were sitting on the shack’s porch, Dipper had shared his dreams of becoming a writer in the big city to the girl.
“Why don’t you?” she asked as she worked on the scarf she was knitting, a hobby she picked from Mabel. “You’re quite talented when it came to that field, what’s stopping you?” Dipper mumbled a few incoherent words, making her stop from knitting to look at him with a raised eyebrow.
Dipper groaned before he spoke up, “I’m just a measly country bumpkin, Paz. I won’t survive there. ‘Sides, how am I even gonna get there?” he grumbled, exasperated. When Pacifica’s expression didn’t change one bit, he gave her a look of slight annoyance. “You’re rich, Pacifica. Of course that’s an easy feat for you. I, on the other hand...” he gestured to the shack and shrugged. Pacifica only rolled of her eyes and resumed her knitting, the subject dropped and probably forgotten.
That’s what Dipper thought until one day, Pacifica offered him a position in their publishing company located in Manhattan. Dipper, of course, immediately jumped at the offer, and though he found it quite awkward, pulled Pacifica in an embrace due to his ecstasy.
Which now led him here in the big city with Pacifica holding his hand to ease his anxious nerves. When he deemed he was okay, he slowly stood himself straight, and let go of the woman’s hand. He faked a cough and dusted a nonexistent soot off his long overcoat just to ease the awkwardness.
“T-Thanks...” he stuttered while giving Pacifica a sheepish smile. Even though the girl had known about how easily nervous he could get, he still feels embarrassed about it. “S-Sorry ‘bout that. Just anxious about all... this.”
Pacifica gave him a reassuring smile, hooking her hands to his arm. “It’s okay. But believe me, you’ll gonna get used to this place in less than an hour,” she replied, dragging the boy towards the exit. To any passerby, they would look like a couple and truth be told, neither of them mind. Back in Gravity Falls, they were teased a lot by the townsfolk, saying they would make a great one. It was awkward for them at first, but both got easily over it, especially when Pacifica confessed to Dipper about her attraction to his twin. It surprised Dipper, but he was actually pretty cool with it. In fact, he helps Pacifica when it comes to wooing his sister.
But despite Mabel being an ‘expert matchmaker’, she was quite blind to notice Pacifica’s efforts. Still, that did not stop him and Pacifica.
Dipper was snapped out of his reverie when the colorful lights of the city assaulted his eyes, brighter than all the lights in Gravity Falls combined. His jaw went slack, hands gripping his duffel bag tightly. He’s here! It’s not a dream anymore! He is really in the big city of Manhattan! Dipper’s head whipped around as he took the sight around him. Fancily dressed people, seemingly endless stream of cars, colorful billboards, and catchy music coming from pubs and bars. It was all like how Ford described it.
Full of life.
A grin slowly made its way to Dipper’s face, a burst of energy immediately swirling through him, his previous anxiousness already dissolving. In his excitement, he pulled Pacifica with him as they passed by a casino. “Is this what they call a casino?! God, it’s huge!” he cried in excitement, making Pacifica chuckle lightly. Dipper turned to her, making her snickering stop.
“What?” she asked, confused. Dipper just shook his head and motioned for her to lead the way.
“Nothing. It’s just that I thought you’d get humiliated by being seen with a bumpkin,” he stated, earning him an elbow to his side. His grin widened as he raised an eyebrow to the girl. “W-What?”
Pacifica rolled her eyes at him and lugged him a little harshly. “Shut up, dweeb. I’m not who I used to be,” she huffed, expertly avoiding a tipsy man holding a bottle of whiskey in his hand. Her faced scrunched in disgust as she caught the scent of said man. “God, he reeked!” she complained when they were a little farther away.
Dipper laughed as he let Pacifica guide him around the city. Come to think of it, she hadn’t told him where they were going. “So, where we headin’?” he asked to the blonde. Pacifica slowed her pace so Dipper could fall into step with her.
“To your flat, dummy. I was actually thinking of taking a cab, but I guessed you’d want to explore the city on foot,” she replied casually, huffing as she adjusted her frock coat.
“Well if you’re uncomfortable, I don’t mind taking the cab,” he said, feeling guilty for letting Pacifica travel by ‘peasant’ means. Pacifica just gave him a reassuring smile, but froze when a mob of finely dressed men appeared from a corner. She immediately pulled Dipper to the side, the boy yelping at the sudden movement. He made eye contact in an attempt to ask her silently, but Pacifica just gave him a ‘don’t question my motives’ look, and continued to stride forward. The boy noticed her becoming tenser than usual.
He glanced at the finely dressed men. Whoever they were, people seemed to fear them as everyone parted like the Red Sea when the group walked past. What caught his attention was the man who was leading them. He had a black fedora with golden lining perched atop his asymmetrical golden locks styled in an undercut, the lower part a rich brown. He has an eye patch obscuring his right eye, giving him an image of an enigma. His black and golden pinstripe suit along with his gold tipped pointed shoes screamed expensive and ‘You can never afford me!’. He guessed that the man might be in the same status as Pacifica, which led him to wonder why she was acting so frightened.
He turned to look at Paz who was on stealing glances at said men. Who were they to gain such-
Dipper was snapped out of his trance when the man he had been examining earlier bumped his shoulder, causing him to fall down on his ass, Pacifica immediately letting go of his arm as to not tumble down with him. He muttered curses under his breath, while he nursed his butt because of the impact. Pacifica ran to his side and slowly helped him stand up. He heard people gasp as the man that he bumped into stopped to scrutinize him.
“Oh no...”
“Poor boy.”
“That woman should have just run off while she still can.”
Those were the things Dipper heard as he dusted soot off his coat, Pacifica avoiding eye contact with the leader (because he looked like their leader). He probably should too, considering that almost everyone here feared the man, but instead he just glared back at him. He wondered where the surge of confidence and defiance came from (especially when he was super anxious just moments ago), but he did not dwell on it as his mouth decided to grant him his death wish.
“You should really apologize to people you bump into,” he scorned, trying to add more venom in his words. The blond man just quirked an eyebrow at him, while the men with him, probably his underlings, sneered at Dipper. “Manners are important, especially to people of your status.”
“You’re quite disrespectful huh, bitch?” one muttered, and was probably about to give him his grand tour to heaven (Mabel was right about him), but an outstretched arm stopped him before he could do anything.
“Hush, Valentino. I’ll take care of this,” the man said, voice a little too high for someone who was so intimidating. Dipper would have laughed if it weren’t for his impending vacation to heaven. The man strode closer, gloved hands clasped in front of his chest. Dipper looked up. The man was taller than he was, Dipper groaning inwardly. Despite being 25, Dipper was only a few inches taller than Pacifica without her heels. Yet the man in front of him surely knew what the weather up there feels like. “I am very sorry for bumping into you, oh royal highness,” the man mocked, bowing a little lower for emphasis.
It hit a nerve.
As he was about to retort something rude and nasty, Pacifica pulled him to her side, and stepped in front of him to do damage control. “I am so sorry about his horrible manners, dear sirs. I promise he won’t do it again,” she apologized, covering Dipper’s mouth as he tried to open them again. When the man only replied with a smirk, Pacifica took it as a cue to tow the poor boy away with her. Dipper sputtered protests, but Pacifica just glared daggers at him and did not stop.
Dipper took one last glance at the man, only to be greeted by a golden iris examining him with mild interest.
+++
“Are you crazy?!” Pacifica cried when they were far enough from the group of men. She paced back in forth in front of Dipper, fanning herself with her hands as if she was hyperventilating. “Going against him?! I thought you were anxious?! Where did all of it go?!”
“C’mon Paz, what he did was rude!” Dipper answered, eyes darting back to where the commotion happened. Pacifica just groaned louder, grabbing his lapels and giving him the best death glare she could muster.
“If you want to survive in this city, Dipper Pines...” she hissed, Dipper cringing at the use of his full name. Wow, Paz is really pissed off. “Never. Talk. Back. To. The. Mafia.” she sneered, punctuating every word as if drilling it into his head.
The Mafia? Did he just answer back to a Mafia member? And could it be that it was the boss?
Pacifica let go of him and adjusted her coat. “Sorry. Just panicked,” she apologized, hooking her hand to his arm. Dipper dumbly nodded as Pacifica gave him a forced smile. “Let’s just get dinner first. That thing you did there made numbers to my stomach,”
“Okay then...” Dipper hesitantly chuckled as he followed Pacifica into a fancy looking Italian restaurant.
+++
Bill Cipher smiled as he remembered the boy’s defiant look. What a daring child, he thought to himself. His strides became more bouncy, his men wondering what got into him.
“Are you alright, boss?” the man with inky black hair, Valentino, asked. Bill just waved a hand to assure them that he was.
“Of course I am, why wouldn’t I be?” he replied casually, enjoying the view of the people immediately parting for them. I feel like Moses, he thought, snickering at the idea. As far as he knew, he was nowhere near to Moses’ ankle to be considered holy.
“Well, that boy disrespected you...”
Bill chuckled, catching his underling off guard. He clasped both of his hands, and slightly turned to look at Valentino. “Well he’s feisty one! I like him! The people of this city aren’t fighting back anymore and it gets a little...” he paused, looking for the right word, “...boring.”
Valentino’s face contorted into confusion at his Boss’ explanation, to which Bill just waved another hand, obviously to dismiss the topic. No matter how much he explained, his underlings would never understand. He let his hand fall to the side, humming a tune only he could hear.
Funny would it be if he could meet that fascinating boy again.