Chapter Text
Snow covered the ground as Virgil Sanders looked out the window. Snowflakes fell from the sky and landed onto the ground in a thick sheet of snow. It was cold in the old bus.
Honestly, the things should have been scrapped years ago. His was doing nothing for his anxiety. The roads were frozen here in Oregon, the bus could slip at any moment and kill them all. Though he preferred this to flying. They had been in the air just a couple of hours ago and Virgil had been freaking out.
A bubbly boy that look nearly identical to him kicked his legs back and forth in his seat. Patton Sanders was Virgil's identical twin brother. The boy pushed back a brown curl from his forehead as he turned to Virgil.
“What do you think Uncle Emile is like?” Patton asked.
“A serial killer,” Virgil stated, dead serious.
Patton frowned at him and gave him a stern look, “Virgil.”
“We could only be so lucky,” Virgil sighed. “We met him when we were two, Pop Star. From what I can remember, which isn’t much, he spent most of his time watching SpongeBob with us.”
The twins might be identical, but you could tell them apart quiet easily.
Virgil had straight hair that covered one eye. The color was a mix of both brown and purple. He was paler and looked even more pale with the black eyeshadow that was applied under his eyes. Virgil tended to wear the same thing every day: a pair of ripped black jeans with dark purple tights underneath, a black T-shirt, his large purple and black flannel patched work jacket, and black and purple combat boots with purple socks peeking out.
Patton had curly brown hair with a single ringlet hanging perfectly on his forehead. He had light peach colored skin. A pair of black glasses were perched on his nose. He wore a light blue shirt with a large white heart in the center. Long white sleeves went down his arms, but he tended to change the color each day. His cat hoodie was tied around his shoulders instead of on him. He wore a pair of light beige skinny jeans with converse that were the same color as his shirt. His white socks pecked out the tops of his shoes.
They both shared many similarities, though. They had the same brown eyes. Both had a splash of freckles covering their cheeks and nose. Both had the same face shape. Their hair was the same shade of brown. They even had the same mole on their left cheek.
“This is our very first trip away from mom and dad,” Patton slapped his hands on both of his cheeks. “They’re on the other side of the country. All the way in Florida!”
“And only one call away. We should just call them now and go home,” Virgil grabbed the phone from his jacket pocket.
It was snagged from his hand and held away from him, “Bro, this is the purrfect opportunity to show them we are cat-able of taking care of ourselves. Besides, do you really want to get on a plane again?”
Virgil sighed, and placed his hands on his lap. He did have a point though. Planes were the worst.
They passed a sign that said now entering Gravity Falls.
“I’m so excited!” the older twin squealed.
Virgil just zipped up his hoodie and grabbed his backpack. He only had that and a suitcase. Patton was the one who was carrying about ten different things with him.
The bus soon stopped, and the driver screeched at them, “Gravity Falls!”
The emo twin ran off, he hated that driver. Patton on the other hand smiled and told the driver goodbye before stepping of the bus. It did a U-turn and left the twins in the cold snow.
The town had a strange feeling here. Something that was foreign but comforting. Virgil shivered in his spot from the cold weather. He was spending his winter break in the middle of nowhere.
“Where is he?” Virgil looked around for their uncle.
Emile Sanders ran a museum in the middle of the forest that surrounded Gravity Falls.
“Maybe he got held up in traffic,” Patton suggested.
That was unlikely. There were no cars in sight, and the heavy snow falling down made sure that no one would be driving today.
A car pulled up to them. He could hardly see the red paint with all the stickers that covered it.
The window was pulled slightly while someone began to sing Da Dadadada Dum song from SpongeBob. Once they finished they were out of breath, but they could finally see the person.
He had blond curly hair. His hazel eyes were framed with a pair of brown glasses. He was wearing a white dress shirt with a pink tie. On top of that was a brown cardigan, and on top of that was a white coat.
"You're Patton and Virgil, right?” he asked.
Virgil had moved behind his brother, peeking from behind the luggage. Virgil wasn’t a people person. It was Patton’s job to do the socializing.
“That’s us! I love your car!” Patton smiled as he looked at the colorful stickers.
“Thank you,” Emile said as he got out of the car to help the twins place their things in the back.
Now that he was out Virgil could see him better. He was about 5'10''. The man wore a pair of regular jeans and brown loafers.
"Hi, well I'm you're Uncle Emile, but you can just call me Emile," he said.
Virgil waved, but kept himself behind his brother.
“My Dark Strange Son is shy,” Patton stated. “But it’s okay, because I talk enough for the both of us.”
Their uncle smiled at him, “Are you two a pair? Aren’t you cold?”
“Nope,” Patton replied. “It’s nice here. There’s not a snowball chance of it snowing in Florida.”
Emile got into his seat and turned the key.
“I work at the Mystery Museum which is also my home," Emile told them. "You two will be living there too while you're in Gravity Falls."
“Mystery?” Virgil asked, perking up.
The man nodded, “It belonged to friend of mine. I’m just running it until they come back.”
Virgil always loved mysteries. He’d stays up all night to watch conspiracies online. He' loved it.
Soon they were at large building. The front read Mystery Museum, though the second M looked like it was about to fall off. Virgil was quick to grab his stuff from the trunk and make his way inside the museum. Patton was a few feet behind him.
“Thomas!” Emile called out through the building. “My nephews are here!”
Soon enough, a teen appeared from the back room. He had a slightly lighter shade of hair then theirs but had the same brown eyes. He wore a shirt that looked a lot like Steven Universe’s shirt along with a black and white jacket. He wore a pair of black skinny jeans with a pair of fuzzy looking snow boots.
“Thomas is my cousin,” Emile replied.
“Hi,” Thomas waved. “Patton and Virgil?”
Virgil was back to being behind his brother. He didn’t like the multiple eyes on him. He really just wanted to get to his room.
“I’m Patton,” Patton stated. “And he’s Virgil.”
Virgil’s eyes scanned the room around him. There were statues of creatures like werewolves, vampires, zombies, etc. He wondered if any of them were real or not. He wanted to ask questions, to see what his uncle knew, but that feeling inside of him wouldn’t let him talk.
Luckily, his brother asked the question that Virgil really wanted to ask.
“So, is this all real?” Patton asked as he looked at the statues.
Emile shook his head, “No.”
Virgil deflated a bit. It would be awesome if at least one thing was real.
Thomas must have noticed because he was quick to say, “There are a lot of strange rumors around here that seem pretty paranormal to me.”
“Those are just rumors,” Emile sighed. “As fake as Robo-Krabs.”
Virgil looked back down at his feet.
Patton gave his hand a small squeeze before turning back to the older two.
“Hey,” Patton started. “Why did the old man fall in the well?”
Thomas shrugged.
“He couldn’t see that well,” Patton finished, grinning like a maniac.
He laughed at that, and so did Emile. Virgil even gave an awkward chuckle. He knew just how to cheer him up.
Patton started up a conversation with Thomas. Talking was always easy for Patton. All the friends that Virgil had back home were friends with Patton.
“So if your Emile’s cousin,” Patton placed a hand on his chin. “And we're Emile’s nephews. What does that make us?”
Thomas thought for a second, “I think you’re my first cousin once removed.”
Patton grabbed the hood of his hoodie placed it over his head, “PAWsome!”
Thomas looked at him grinning, “Cat believe you just said that!”
It was then that the great cat pun epidemic of 2019 began.
Virgil started to feel a little bit more uncomfortable. While his brother continued to make puns, he felt himself being excluded from the conversation. Virgil wished that he could talk, but something with in him stopped him from saying anything. What if he said the wrong thing?
After ten minutes of cat puns being thrown around, Emile took them up to their knew room. The only one that was free was the attic, so they were both sharing a room. It didn't really mattered since they've always shared a room.
There were two beds already up here and a table in between them. Behind the table was a bay window with a triangle pattern. A closet was on one side, and a dresser was on the other.
Virgil took the left and Patton took the right of the attic. He got the dresser and Patton got the closet.
The emo began place large band shirts, purple tights, purple socks, and ripped jeans in the dresser. He set a stack of books in one corner and his artist set in the other. Then he began to place band posters up on the wall.
“I forgot my tape at home,” Patton said. “Can I borrow yours when you finish? I won’t tell anyone, my lips are sealed.”
“Yeah,” Virgil snorted as he put up another Evanesce poster.
“Woah!”
There was the sound of slipping, but a crash never came. Virgil had turned, hands coming out, stopping his brother from falling even though they were five feet apart. Hair had moved away from his covered eye revealing a purple glowing eye. His brother was about three inches from falling face first onto the floor.
“Thanks Virgil,” Patton said sheepishly. “I- “
His face connected with the floor before he could do anything.
“Sorry,” Virgil got off his new bed and went to his brother. “I thought I could hold it for longer.”
Patton got on his elbows and blinked a few times, “It’s fine. Would have hurt a lot more if you didn't stop me.”
Virgil didn’t know how he got them. They’ve always been there. He’s always possessed these powers. Telepathy, telekinesis, and time stopping. Though he barely used them because he didn’t know how to use them. Every time he used them it was a spur of the moment. They sort of just happened.
Telepathy was the only power he could use constantly. That was the problem though, because he couldn’t stop using it. That’s why he used his bangs to cover his eye.
His purple eye possessed the powers. His brown eye was normal.
Virgil slipped his hands under his brother pulling him up from the ground.
“I need to try and keep that on the down low,” Virgil mumbled. “They’ll just tell mom and dad, and that will just make everything worse.”
“Or they will help you. The museum is filled with supernatural things,” Patton countered.
“It’s all fake,” Virgil replied.
He wasn’t going to risk it. He was never going to risk it. The only one that knew about his powers was Patton.
They never really were able to hide anything from each other.
It was the next day. Virgil was sitting on a counter at the gift shop, reading a hard-cover book. Patton was staring from behind the counter at a boy that was in there with them.
He looked to be about the twin's age, maybe a little older. He seemed to be prepared for the winter weather outside with his brown trench coat. It was opened revealing a blue sweater vest and black polo. He wore jeans that were pretty faded and a pair of snow boots. His black hair was slicked back with hair gel. The boy's blue eyes were framed in a pair of black glasses.
“Thomas,” Patton whispered. “Who is that?”
The teen looked up from the register, “Oh, that's Logan Crofters. He lives in the woods with his parents. He comes in every day for his daily human interaction.”
Virgil didn’t even look up from his book, “Pop Star, you’re in boarder-line stalker mode.”
The boy walked up to them, “Salutations, Thomas,” his head cocked to the side at Virgil. “I have not seen you before. I am Logan Crofters.”
When Patton didn’t make a response, Virgil mumbled out, “Virgil. My brother and me are new here.”
The boy squinted his eyes like that would help him hear Virgil better.
Thomas saved him, “They’re Emile’s nephews. And technically, mine too, I research it last night. They're spending their winter break here.”
Logan nodded, “Where is the other one?”
“Being gay behind the counter,” Virgil whispered, so that only Patton could heat him.
There was a gasp and Patton shot up hitting his brother in the back of the head. He was quick to turn around to the boy.
“Hi, I’m Patton,” the bubbly twin smiled as the emo one rubbed the back of his head.
He looked at Patton with a cocked head. He then looked away immediately when he saw the book in Virgil’s hands. Interest shown in Logan's eyes. In the corner of his eye, Virgil saw his brother deflate.
“What novel are you reading?” he asked.
“A Tale of Two Cities,” he mumbled, hoping to someone that the boy will focus on anything else other than him.
Logan nodded, “A great read. I read it last summer.”
Patton seemed to like Logan. Probably, forming a small crush on the boy. Virgil tried to find a way out of the conversation.
His prayers were answered when Emile walked through the gift shop door, “I need someone to hang up these signs in the forest.”
“I’ll do it!” Virgil replied, jumping up and grabbing the stuff from his uncle. His book, now forgotten, sat on the counter.
He pulled his gloves out of his pocket pulling them on. He zipped his jacket up, tightening it around him and pulled his hood up. After that, he went out into the cold.
It was no longer snowing outside, but there was a pretty deep layer of snow on the ground. It didn’t go above his boots. This is why he wore tights and socks. Though back in Florida he was sweat all day long for his fashion choices. He trudged through and made it to the first tree, nailing the sign to it. Each footstep crunched into the snow. When he had gotten to the next tree, he nailed in another sign.
He had gotten about halfway down with the signs, when he muttered, “Why is it so cold?”
It was never this cold in Florida.
He sighed as he began to tap in another nail, but a hollow metal noise echoed through the woods. Virgil looked at the tree and tapped it again with the hammer. It gave another hollow echo. Virgil dropped the signs and tighten his grip on the hammer in his hands. If something popped out, he’d just throw it whatever was attacking him. The fake tree was cold as he dragged a gloved hand along the surface. Dust rubbed onto his glove. He found an unnatural line and pulled at it.
It squeaked as it fought to stay closed, but Virgil managed to open the door. Cobwebs stretched and spiders crawled out. A good thing Patton wasn’t here right now. Inside was some sort of machine. He tightened his grip on the hammer as he flipped the two little switches. The first on did nothing, but when he hit the second on, he heard another noise from behind him. He tightened his grip on the hammer and turned.
There was a hole.
He walked over; it was now filled with snow. He pushed his hand into the snow, searching and hoping there wasn’t a murder ready to pull him in. His hand brushed against something and it moved. Virgil was quick to dig it out.
A book was in his hand. Virgil brushed away the snow revealing to reveal the cover. It was a maroon color with a golden figure on the front. If he had to guess, Virgil would say that it was a coffee mug. In the center that was a 3. He opened it up to the first page. It had a note stuck to it and it read Property of, but the name had been ripped off. Virgil felt a little frustrated at that. Who would try to hide their book? Could it hold secret that were too great to know? Was it written by an alien? Could it be a bomb?
He moved an eyeglass before reading, “It’s hard to believe it’s been six years since I began studying the strange and wondrous secrets of Gravity Falls.”
Virgil smiled at this. As he flipped through the pages, he felt his heartbeat pick up. Pictures of gnomes, gargoyles, creatures of the night, sightings, and evidence was drawn and written into the pages. Each was excellently recorded. Beautiful drawings were on each page. All of them done in ink.
He flipped to another page before being to read again, “Unfortunately, my suspicions have been confirmed. I’m being watched!”
Virgil found himself looking around the forest. His anxiety might be getting the best of him right now.
“I must hide this book before he finds it,” Virgil felt himself begin to sweat even though it was extremely cold. “Remember: In Gravity Falls, there is no one you can trust.”
To his right a twig snapped. He shut the book and held it to his chest, beginning to back up. A small growl came from within the woods and he took off back to the museum.
The book was pulled to his chest. He tightened his grip on it as he ran through the woods. Once he was in the yard he stopped and began to puff. White breath filled the air. He turned around, looking at the woods. It looked like whatever it was didn’t follow him.
“Hello!” a voice yelled behind him.
Virgil jumped turning, just seeing Patton.
“Oh hi,” he breathed out.
Patton squinted his eyes, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” he replied.
Suddenly his twin’s eyes were on the book, “What’s that?”
“Um…” Virgil looked around. “Let’s take this inside.”
Virgil made sure that no one was in the living room except Patton and him. He sat down on the coffee table skimming through the book.
“It says that all of these creatures live here in Gravity Falls,” Virgil said, excitement filled his voice as he showed Patton the journal’s pages. “Whatever Emile said about the rumors being fake, he was wrong.”
Virgil has always loved the unknown since a young age. He found that he could relate to it. Having these unnatural abilities that he’s had to keep hidden for his whole life. Virgil felt that he wasn’t that weird.
“It looks like whoever it was just stopped,” Virgil looked through. “Like something happened to him.”
Patton grinned, “That’s awesome! I mean the supernatural thing, not the author going missing.”
He heard the doorbell ring and he tilted his head to the side, “Who’s that?”
Patton smiled, “That’s my date.”
Virgil blinked, “You asked out that Logan dude.”
“No,” Patton frowned for a second, before smiling again, “This other guy came in later after Logan left. We talked and he asked me out.”
With that Patton left to get the door, leaving Virgil to read the book.
“What’s that?” Emile appeared in the door, drinking a soda.
He didn’t want to show him yet. What if he took it?
Quickly, he placed the book behind a pillow and grabbed a stack of papers that were stapled together.
“Um…the entire script to Steven Universe,” Virgil mumbled, trying to keep his face from flushing too much.
“Oh, that’s where I put it,” his uncle smiled to himself as he took a sip of his soda.
“Family, this is Norman!” Patton appeared with a teenager.
Virgil didn’t like him one bit from the sight of him. First, he looked like a plainer version of Virgil, with the brown hair over eye, pale skin, and black hoodie. He had a twig stuck in his hood and there were many dirty stains covering him. Though what really set Virgil off was the mysterious red stain on his cheek.
"Sup," the teen waved at them.
Virgil squinted, his anxiety melted into suspicion, “Hi.”
Emile gave a smile, “Hey.”
“Is that blood, Norman?” Virgil pointed to his cheek.
“It’s…JAM!” his voice was gravelly and forced.
Virgil didn’t trust this guy for a second. Patton could be too trusting sometimes. It was Virgil’s job to make sure that he didn’t end up with someone that could hurt him. He wanted to get a reading on the guy, but he’d have to uncover his hair for that. Patton would tell and get upset. He’d have to wait.
“I love jam!” he grabbed the man’s arm, squeezing it. “Got some muscle there…that’s nice.”
Emile smiled at them, “They’re such a cute fusion.”
Virgil glared at the teen as he left. There was something off about him, something that Virgil didn’t like at all. He needed to find out.
So, he went to the attic and read through the pages.
He stared at one page.
“None for their pale skin and bad attitude, these creatures are often mistaken for teenager!” his eyes widened. “Beware Gravity Falls' nefarious…zombie!”
He turned to see his brother and Norman. He grabbed one of the headbands on the table and pushed back his bangs. He opened the window to get a clearer reading.
He focused on the man.
Mine all mine.
Pretty. Pretty.
Want to hold.
Never let go.
AAAHHH!
He fell to the ground with a large thump.
That voice in your head is always at the same volume. It was that all those voices were going off at once that scarred him. Why were there so many? Did zombie’s have multiple voices in their head?
He ripped the band off his hair and got back up.
“What happened?” Thomas asked as he ran in. “I heard something fall.”
“It was my shirt,” Virgil replied in a whisper, he doubted he even knew what he was talking about
Thomas only smiled at that, “Sound heavier than a shirt.”
“I was in it,” he replied, a slight grin formed on his face.
Should he ask Thomas for help? He seemed like a cool guy and he seemed to believe in the paranormal. It probably wouldn’t hurt to ask.
“Can I get your opinion on something?” he mumbled.
Thomas nodded, moving to the bay window and sat next to him.
“Would it be crazy if I thought Patton's new boyfriend was a zombie?” he mumbled.
Now it was out in the open. Thomas probably thought he was crazy now.
Thomas shook his head, “Honestly, that would not be the craziest thing I’ve seen in this town. Like I’m pretty sure that the mailman is a werewolf. But you need evidence, or else everyone will just think you’re crazy. And if you really think that guy your brother is dating is a zombie, do what you can to protect him.”
“Thanks Thomas,” Virgil nodded.
The older boy ruffed his hair before leaving the attic.
Virgil looked around before grabbing his phone and the journal. He placed the book in an inner pocket of his hoodie and his phone in his front pocket. He looked around for anything that he could use as a weapon, only to come out short-handed. In the end, Virgil hoped that he could use his powers if needed.
He spent the day following his brother and his new boyfriend. The man showed many signs of being the undead. For example, instead of using a doorknob he punched the window out and opened the door from the other side. He also, got hit by a swing showing no sign of physical pain and had a very late delayed response to the pain. And he fell into a grave and crawled out of the dirty.
That was all it took to set Virgil over the edge.
So, Virgil sat waiting for Patton in their room.
When the boy finally returned Virgil was hugging the journal to his chest, “Patton."
His brother removed his heart shirt and white undershirt grabbing a dark blue undershirt and putting the heart shirt back on. He turned towards Virgil and the younger twin screamed when he saw the giant red welt on his cheek.
“Did you see the smooch mark Norman gave me?” he grabbed his cat hoodie and tied it around his shoulders. “Nay, it was just an accident with the leaf blower.”
“I need to talk about Norman,” Virgil looked up.
“Isn’t he the best?” Patton began brushing his hair.
“I don’t think he’s what he thinks he is,” Virgil replied. “I saw that he was acting weird and videoed him doing some creepy stuff.”
Patton turned, “You were stalking him?”
“No, I think he’s a zombie," Virgil showed his brother the page. “The groaning, the pale skin, he never blinks!”
“Son, you match all of those things too, and maybe he's blinking when you're blinking,” Patton replied. “Now I have a date.”
Virgil shook his head, “Patton, I read his thoughts. They’re all jumbled and multiple thoughts that no human can have. I don’t trust him.”
Patton frowned, “I thought you were keeping you’re powers on the down low. Can you trust me at least?”
“You know I trust you,” Virgil replied. “I’m trying to protect you. Norman is bad news.”
“I don’t need your protection, Virgil! Stop getting in the middle of everything! Now I’m going on my date with Norman and that the end of the story!” with that Patton left.
Patton never yelled at him. What did Virgil do wrong? He must have done something to make his only brother yell at him. Tears formed in his eyes.
Virgil placed a hand on his face and felt tears pouring down his face, ruining the eyeshadow he was wearing. With that he walked over to the bed and curled up. The journal was pushed into his chest.
He curled up in on himself when he felt a breeze fill the room.
“I’m just being stupid,” he mumbled.
He looked as his phone at the videos.
“I have no real proof.”
Suddenly, he blinked rewinding the video. It was Norman and Patton looking off at a pretty view. His hand was wrapped around Patton’s shoulders. Suddenly, Norman’s hand fell off and he tried to cover it up. He looked around before placing his hand back where it belonged.
“Patton!” Virgil screamed, throwing his phone onto the bed and running.
His brother was already gone. He went running outside. He didn’t know where Emile was. More tears fell down his face. He placed the journal in his jacket pocket.
He used the sleeves to wipe away his tears, though that probably made his eye shadow worse.
Find Patton.
His brother was in danger and he couldn’t just stand he and cry.
He found Thomas at the golf cart. The teen was stepping out, holding the keys in his hand.
“Thomas, I need the golf cart keys to save my brother from a zombie,” Virgil stated.
The man smiled before throwing him the keys, “Don’t hit any pedestrians. Wait!”
Before he could leave the man grabbed a shovel and gave it to him, “This is for the zombie.”
“Thanks,” Virgil reverse and went into the woods in search of his brother.
Patton smiled as he and Norman walked through the woods. He was his first boyfriend. Norman was kind and sweet. He didn’t even care that Patton was only twelve years old.
“Patton,” the man sighed. “I need to tell you something.”
Patton placed a hand on the man’s shoulder, “You can tell me anything.”
He tried to forget about earlier. His little twin was trying to protect him. He didn’t need protecting though. But Virgil’s always been there for him. Virgil was scared of people, but if he saw his brother getting hurt, he’d get up and stand up for him.
His mind went to earlier, though. The fact that Logan didn’t show any interest in him and rather talked to his brother. It was stupid because he didn’t even know the guy. He got a date with another cute guy that walked into the museum. Then when Virgil had mentioned his suspicions, Patton lost it. In his mind, he saw his brother keeping him away from two guys that he liked. Then he went and took his anger out on his little brother. He needed to apologies. Patton made a vow to himself that he would next time he saw Virgil he's apologize.
“Just don’t freak out,” slowly Norman unzipped his jacket.
There were five tiny men. The one on top looked to be the youngest as he pushed his hair back behind him. Patton stared at the little men.
“Is this weird?” the top one asked. “Okay, I’m Jeff, this is Carson, Steve, Jason, and … sorry I forgot your name.”
“Shebulock!” the last one yelled.
“Shebulock,” he smiled. “Anyway, we’ve been looking for a queen for a while…most of the girls here are…well, self-absorbed. Then you come in, you’re sweet, kind, and big enough to scare off predators. So?”
The gnomes knelt down on one knee and pulled out a ring, “Patton, will you join us in holy matrignomey…matrimony…can’t talk today.”
Patton shook his head, “I’m sorry, Jeff, but I can’t. I’m a human and you are gnomes and it’ll be like what.”
Jeff nodded, “We understand. We’ll never going to forget you. Because we’re going to kidnap you.”
“What!” suddenly Jeff launched himself at Patton’s face.
They surrounded him trying to get their hands on the boy. Patton continued to fight them off. Kicking at the swarm.
He screamed.
Why didn’t he listen to Virgil?
Virgil…his little brother was probably crying in his room. He needed to get to him. Find him and make sure he was okay. Virgil would take something think that to heart.
He was so lost in his thoughts, that he needed notice what the gnomes were planning.
Suddenly, the gnomes managed to knock him down and they began to tie him to the ground.
“What the fuck is going on here?!”
A shovel was pointed at Jeff as a very pissed off Virgil appeared behind him. His one visible eye glared at them.
“Hey, your brother isn’t in any danger,” Jeff smiled. “He’s just going to marry all 1000 of us and live with us for all eternity.”
“Nope, not going to happen,” Virgil glared.
Patton knew that look. It was look that Virgil got whenever kids bullied Patton for not being smart. It never ended well for the receiving end.
“You think you can stop us boy,” Jeff glared. “The gnomes are a powerful- “
Virgil wacked the gnome away before cutting his brother free with the shovel.
Patton pushed his way away from them and ran to his brother. He grabbed his extended hand and went to the golf cart. After the two were strapped in Virgil booked it.
“Are they following us?” Virgil asked.
“With their little legs?” Patton raised an eyebrow.
Suddenly, stomping was heard so Patton turned to see them all joined together into what looked like a giant gnome. Jeff was at the top of it, controlling the whole creature.
“Um…what do we do if they become Voltron?” Patton asked.
“What?” Virgil turned behind him. “FUCK! Patton grab the Journal and see if there is any way to stop them!”
He grabbed the journal from his brothers jacket and flipped through it until he got to the page, “Weakness: Unknown. Come on!”
Knowing the book wouldn't be any help he put it back in his brother's pocket.
“Come back with our Queen!” Jeff yelled.
Suddenly, he launched a group of gnomes at them. They grabbed at the golf cart, not letting go.
Patton elbowed one off the cart while Virgil grabbed another and slammed them against the stirring wheel.
Another one grabbed onto Virgil’s hair ripping at it to get him to stop.
“OW!” his purple eye was revealed as he tried to shake it off.
“I got it!” Patton grabbed the gnome and started ripping him off Virgil, though it was putting up a fight.
“OWWW!” he screamed.
The little thing wasn’t letting go.
Virgil’s eye glowed and the gnomes froze in place
Patton was quick to rip off the frozen gnome of off Virgil’s hair and throwing it off the golf cart.
“You froze it,” Patton said.
“Shit,” Virgil mumbled.
“How long do we have?” Patton asked.
A roar was heard behind them.
Patton turned in his seat eyes widened as he saw the gnomes behind him threw a tree at them. Luckily, it went over them. Unluckily, it landed in the middle of the road.
The twins screamed. Virgil slammed on the breaks, but Patton knew that they weren’t going to stop in time. By some chance, they manage to go under the tree instead of crashing into it.
They spun out of control and the cart landed on it's side. The two pulled themselves from the ground. The snow seeped into their clothing. That was going to leave a bruise or two. They had landed back at the Mystery Museum. Neither could feel relieved as the monster walked up to them.
As the two back up, Virgil grabbed the shovel. Soon they were pressed up against the side of the building.
“Just stay away from us!” Virgil yelled, throwing the shovel at them. They only punched it into the ground.
Patton looked around. There had to be something he could do.
His eyes landed on Virgil.
Virgil was too pale. His hair had been forced away from his face, revealing his purple eye. His eyes were right on the monster in front of them. It took Patton a second to realize why. All of the gnomes’ thoughts were going through his head right now. Too many thoughts to comprehend. His forehead was covered in little scratches, some had blood while others were just little red marks.
But what really got Patton, was his eyeshadow. It streaked his face like he had been crying. He had been crying. Most definitely at the argument they had earlier.
How could he do that to his brother over a couple of guys?
Patton forced himself in front of his brother. Pushing them both into the wall. Virgil’s arms had circled around his arm.
He needed to act.
“I’ll marry you, Jeff,” Patton stated. “Just leave my brother alone.”
“Patton, no,” Virgil was hugging his arm tighter. “Please don’t.”
The older twin faced him, “Please, just trust me, Virgil.”
I know what I’m doing.
Virgil nodded slowly and let go of his brother’s arm. Patton was quick to place his hair back over the purple eye.
Patton walked up to the monster as Jeff made his way down. Once he had gotten there, Patton knelt down so that he was closer to the gnome’s height, but he still towered over the little man. He held out a ring before slipping the ring onto Patton’s presented finger. While Patton was looking at the ring, Jeff turned around.
“Let’s get you back to the woods, honey,” he said.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Patton stated, as his hand gripped onto the leaf blower behind him. “You get to kiss me now.”
“Don’t mind if I do,” the gnome said.
As Patton leaned down, he pulled the tool closer to him.
Once Jeff was close enough, Patton pulled the leaf blower in front of him.
“This is for lying to me,” he yelled as he sucked the tiny man up. “This is for breaking my heart,” he tightened the nob as hard as he could. “And this is for hurting my brother.”
He aimed the leaf blower at the monster. It gasped and began to back up a bit, but without a person controlling it, it couldn’t do anything.
“What to do the honors?” Patton asked turning to his brother.
“On three,” Virgil smiled.
"One, two, three!”
Virgil hit the release and the gnome went flying into the monster. Just like that all the gnomes began to fall to the ground like it was raining gnomes.
“I’ll get you for this!” Jeff yelled as he was launched into the woods.
“Orders I need orders.”
“My arms hurt.”
Patton began using the leaf blower to scare them away.
“Does anyone else want some of this?” the two yelled out at the now retreating army.
Once they all disappeared, Patton turned towards his brother. Before either could say anything, Patton pulled Virgil into a tight hug. Slowly, Virgil awkwardly placed his arms around him too.
“I’m sorry!” Patton cried into his shoulder. “I should have believed you. I can’t believe Norman turned into a bunch of gnomes.”
“Wait that was Norman?” Virgil asked. “I guess I was wrong about the zombie thing.”
Patton nodded, “I didn’t mean what I said. You were just trying to look out for me. And I got anger over the fact that Logan showed more interest in you, then when you started the whole zombie thing, I lost it.”
Virgil tightened his hold, “Hey, you saved us back there. And I’m sorry too. I was just being stupid and should have talked to you instead. And if Logan can’t see the…pawsome person that you are he’s not worth it.”
“YOU MADE A CAT PUN!” his brother squealed.
They pulled away smiling at each other. Patton knew they both looked like a mess. He could feel the dampness in his clothing and there were probably twigs stuck in his hair. He saw them in Virgil’s hair anyway.
They walked inside, seeing Emile counting today’s earnings. He looked at them as Virgil used his foot to close the door behind them. Patton felt Virgil’s hand tighten on his arm.
“Did you two get hit by a bus?” he asked as he put the money in the register.
Patton began leading Virgil back to there room where they could change out of their wet clothing. Virgil brought a sleeve to his face and began to wipe at his messed-up eyeshadow.
“Wait!” Emile looked at his register for a second before looking back at the two. “I um…overstocked. Each of you take something on the house.”
“Really?” Virgil asked.
The man nodded, so the kids looked around.
Virgil looked at a purple shirt with a storm cloud in the middle. He took a large since he liked his clothing being on the big size.
Patton continued to rummage through boxes until he found the greatest thing ever.
“And I will have,” Patton twirled around smiling. “A grappling hook!”
“Wouldn’t you rather have a toy or something?” Emile tilted his head.
“GRAPPLING HOOK!” he used it raising himself off the ground on one of the ceiling beams.
In their room, Virgil and Patton had gotten ready for bed. Virgil had pulled on a large black Evanesces shirt and a pair of purple boxers for his pajamas. He was currently curled up in his blankets writing in the journal.
Patton was next to him jumping in his bed, wearing a cat onesie. In his hand was his new grappling hook.
“This journal told me there was no one in Gravity Falls that you could trust. But when you battle a hundred gnomes side-by-side with someone, you realize that they probably always have you’re back.”
Next to him Patton used his hook to grab a stuffed lion. The boy grinned to at his brother when he succeeds.
“Hey, Pop Star,” Virgil placed the book under his pillow. “Can you get the light?”
Patton took aim with his grappling hook, grinning, “I’m on it.”
He released the hook and it hit the lamp, breaking it along with the window behind them.
The two of them began laughing at it.
“Our uncle told us there was nothing strange about this town. But look at me, and what I can do? Who knows what other secrets are waiting to be unlocked?”
Emile looked around him. Thomas had left hours ago, and the kids were asleep. They were all the way upstairs too, so they wouldn’t be able to hear him. He walked over to the vending machine and typed in the code to get in.
Before he closed it, he made sure that no one was watching.
He then closed the machine’s door.