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Dipper and Mabel's parent's shipped them off to their uncle's house "to get some fresh air" Is the excuse given to Stanley and Stanford. The younger twins knew better, Dipper was trans and when he came out, their parents weren't exactly accepting of him. So when it was suddenly sprung upon them that for the summer they will be going to an unknown city with their uncles that they barely met before this. They were more than sure that it was because of Dipper's "situation."
Dipper was ecstatic to get away from the house and his transphobic caregivers. Let's say the young boy didn't really consider this house a home and his guardians his "parents." I mean hell the degrading comments about his gender, the constant use of his dead name and the wrong pronouns. When he came out god the response haunted him. Being at this house made him feel hollow and numb, he felt like a ghost in his own home. He's aware that his parents would announce him by his dead name to the brunette's uncles. And the young boy's looks didn't really do him any favors. He has long brown hair that was forced upon him. Only truly owned skirts and compresion shorts once his parents found out the quickly took anything that could be deemed unisex, his normal shorts were disappearing fast.
Mabel hasn't felt the same about her parents since Dipper came out. She saw their parents as good people before, but they began treating both of them like garbage. Mabel already knew before them, and helped Dipper come out. Their guardians partly blamed her for "putting ideas in her head." I mean she always wanted a brother, but she would never make Dipper do this, and he definitely wouldn't go along with it.
So the pair were more than excited to get out of this house they have been stuck in. The long bus ride of around a day due to all the stops, they wish their caregivers would have just drove them here. It would only have taken 11-ish hours, maybe 12 at best. But they made it exhausted and disoriented.
Their uncles picked the pair up from the bus stop. Ford reached out for a handshake to Dipper, who silently noticed the sixth finger on the older man's hand. Dipper didn't want to start the summer by saying the wrong thing. Then he reached out and shook Mabel's hand and the first thing spoken by her being "Cool, a six fingered handshake, it's a full finger friendlier than normal!" Which immediately makes Dipper flush a deep red and cover his sister's mouth.
"Oh my god I'm so sorry about her, she's a bit weir-ugh gross Mabel! You licked me!" He quickly took his hand to his skirt, wiping it aggressively.
Ford lets out a soft chuckle, Stan joins after a few seconds. "Oh no it's fine my dear girl, it's good to hear kind things about my hands." Dipper cringed softly at the name. Ford noticed the face, Dipper can tell, but he continued what he was saying. "You kids remind me of Stan and me when we were younger."
The older set of twins introduced themselves to the younger pair. Uncle Stanford, well uncle Ford introduced himself with a "Greetings you can refer to me as uncle Ford. Just so you know, some things I enjoy here are a few hiking, odd shaped Jelly Beans, and cryptids." Which peaked Dipper's interest.
The other man, uncle Stanley who said to call him uncle Stan, started with "uh- I'm uncle Stan, I’m wanted for tax fraud in several different states, enjoy violence, and I'm up for anything chaotic." Mabel sparked up Dipper knows she was thinking of the chaos they can get into.
Then Ford began again "so since you're Mabel-" he pointed to Mabel, than to Dipper "you must be Makayl-"
Mabel cut in "Dipper!" She paused for a second, "His… His name is Dipper!" She gave a nervous smile. Dipper stared at the ground, ready to be shamed. Mabel and Dipper had discussed this on the bus ride, but god was Dipper not ready.
The older twins took a minute before speaking, Ford and Stan looked back and forth at each other as if communicating with only their eyes. "Alright, my boy, Dipper it is."
Stan gave a smile, "I always wanted a nephew anyway." He ruffled Dipper's hair. Dipper sighed, god, he felt like he could cry. Mabel was basically vibrating with joy, she had hope that it would go their way, and it did. "So let's get your bags in the car, and we can head to the shack." He grabbed a few of the bags, Ford grabbing the rest. Both going to the Car's trunk and setting them inside. Dipper and Mabel climbed into the back seats, Ford getting into the driver's seat and Stan in shot-gun. It started with small talk, and branched out into genuine conversation soft laughter following it. This is the first time in a while that Dipper and Mabel truly had a good time.
After a few minutes, they make it to the shack, a little run down, still a nice looking place. It looks like a home. Dipper winced at the thought, he shouldn't think like that. They all step out from the vehicle, a bit more family feeling than when they got in. The pair of graying men walk to the trunk, with the younger pair following. Stan and Ford grabbing the luggage, "you guys don't have to grab all of it, we can help." Dipper rubbed his neck, nervously.
"Oh nonsense, my boy-" Dipper beamed at hearing the nickname again "-you're our guests, let us do what hosts are supposed to do." He gave Dipper a smile and ruffled the brunette's long hair that was in a ponytail, the young boy gave a soft giggle and smiled up at his uncle.
They walk into the house Mabel holding the door for the adults with their arms full getting a "Thanks." from Stan.
A "thank you." from Ford. Dipper and Mabel followed behind the older two. They brought the luggage up the stairs and announced that the pair would be living in the attic. Dipper and Mabel quickly decided whose side was what as the other set of twins laid the luggage in the middle of the room for the twins to pick which was what.
The room in question had two dressers, two beds, two night stands, a few blankets, pillows, a few plushes and books laying on a desk in the corner. "Ford and I couldn't decide on what would be the best thing for kids your age so we just kinda got both." Stan let out an awkward chuckle and gestured to the plushes and books. Dipper and Mabel were like magnets quickly gravitating to the items they preferred. The young boy going to the books, and the young girl going to the plushies.
Out of the corner of their eyes they can see the older twins mouthing 'I told you so.' To one another. It gained a silent chuckle from Dipper and his sister. "Want assistance unpacking?" Ford gave a tilt of his head to emphasize his question.
Mabel gave an exaggerated sigh dragging her hands down her face "uhg, can I unpack later? I'm all tired from the bus ride." Stan chucked.
"Yeah kid, all the way. We can go watch TV. " Stan ruffled her hair with a smile leaving the room her following behind waving a goodbye at the other two. Stan shooting a "see ya'." To his brother and nephew.
The other two who stayed in the room continued the conversation "well I don't need any assistance unpacking but, I wouldn't mind company." He gave an awkward smile at his uncle.
Ford gave a smile back "Of course my boy." The older of the two ruffled the younger's hair; he took a seat on Dipper's bed as the other flung his suitcase on the unoccupied part of it. He unzipped it slowly, taking out his clothes and refolding them before putting them in the dresser near his bed. Ford watched as the young boy folded the shirts and skirts, slowly folding it the same way Dipper was and passing them to the boy as he put up the ones he folded, making his work a little easier on him.
"Uncle Ford you don't have to do that." Dipper gestured to the man folding his clothes giving a gentle smile.
"Oh nonsense, it's nothing Dipper." The brunette felt his chest fill with joy and pride at the use of the name.
"Fine, fine, if you insist." Dipper and Ford wore soft smiles as they folded the laundry and put it up in comfortable silence.
Until Ford broke the silence "So I have a query, my boy." Ford continues to fold as he starts the conversion looking down at his lap as he refolds a shirt.
Dipper looks up from his lap finishing folding a skirt Ford passed him the now finished shirt. "What is it, uncle Ford?" The brunette takes the shirt from his uncle placing it in the stack he's making of clothes.
The six fingered man grabbed one of the younger boys skirts "Okay so, I mean you can wear whatever you want, and identify as whatever you want. I'll accept you for who you are. But you just don't seem comfortable with these.-" Ford raises the unfolded skirt up to show his point "Do you actually want to wear them?" The younger of the pair let out a puff of air.
He shook his head "No I don't like them. It's all I really have, okay?" Dipper grabbed the skirt quickly, folding it and taking the pile of clothes to the dresser and putting them up.
The graying man chimed in "what do you mean 'all you really have' why don't you just get regular shorts?" Ford tilted his head at the boy.
The brunette slid the dresser drawer closed and sighed "I can't, okay." A pang of dread ran through his chest, he felt his eyes begin the water and he felt embarrassed. The boy wiped his eyes which quickly began to fill with more tears. He looked up to the ceiling hoping to stop the water works but it was inevitable. A tear ran down his cheek. He brought his hand up and wiped it hopefully before his uncle saw it.
"Oh god, I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you upset." The older man quickly stood walking to his nephew. The older man pulled him into a hug. Dipper quickly returned it sobbing softly into his uncle's shoulder.
"It's not your fault-" he let out a soft hiccup "I'm not allowed to have shorts because my parents don't accept me." He stumbled through his words sobbing and hiccuping through it. The older man's shoulder was now wet with tears.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry my boy. I'm sorry." Ford squeezed the boy tighter to him. Rubbing his back gently, his other hand stuck in the hair of his nephew running though it in a calming manner. "You can wait to answer this, but. Are there any other things that have been kept from us, my boy?" Dipper nodded but didn't speak, not yet his throat burned from the crying and he couldn’t get anything out through the hiccups and sobs. So they wait, Ford continuing the gently rubbing of the kids back and running his hand through the others hair. Soon enough Dipper's breath evened out and he quieted down. Before slowly pulling back from his uncle's shoulder. Ford walks them to the empty bed across the room before sitting down, Dipper following suit.
"There is-" the boy's voice cracked and he quickly cleared his throat "there's more things they do that's kept from everyone." Ford nodded waiting for him to continue. "I came out a few months ago to them. As trans of course. The first response is from the 'mom' with 'silly girl' and 'father' saying he doesn't accept me." The brunette made sure to put air quotes around mom and father wanting to get his point across. The young boy looked down at his skirt and pulled at his hair a few pieces get ripped out in the process. His ponytail was ruined. "So, they ignored my coming out, not shocking. But quickly after that they prohibited all shorts except compression shorts, hair cuts, hats, and anything remotely boyish." He ran his fingers through his bangs, brushing them down making sure to cover his birthmark. "They only use she/her pronouns with me.. they used to call me Dipper because it's a nickname but now it's strictly back to, uhg back to Makayla." Dipper and Ford both wince at the name.
"Oh my boy, if you would have told us sooner we would have did anything we could to help, not that you really knew us." Ford rubbed his nephews back. "I'm sorry this is happening to you my boy." The older man's chest aches at the thought their brother Sherman would have the heart to do this, Ford expected better of his older brother.
Dipper rested his hands in his lap before bringing them up undoing the mess of a ponytail quickly. The young boy ran his fingers through it, before pulling it into a new nicer looking ponytail. "it's okay uncle Ford. I just want to have a good summer, away from them. So far it's been great and it’s only been maybe an hour? let's get back to unpacking and we can join Mabel and uncle Stan watching T.V.” The older man nodded back at his nephew both walking over to Dipper's bed again Ford taking a seat the boy standing. They both began folding the clothes again discussing the town around them.
It feels so relaxing letting that weight off his shoulders. Dipper feels like he can finally breathe, the kid actually has hope that just maybe this summer will be great. With the both of them folding the clothes the job was done quite fast, same with organizing most of Dipper’s possessions. The pair move Mabel’s bags to her side of the room before joining their siblings down stairs, catching them in the middle of a show called duck-tective. Mabel sat on the arm of the chair Stan was sitting in both intensely watching the show. Dipper and Ford both sat around the chair on the ground.
Stan let out a chuckle “Sixer, I think we need a bigger couch.” he gestured to the pair that are sitting on the floor.
Ford smiled back at his brother "maybe just a little." He gave a shrug and turned back to the T.V. Who cares right now? It's late in the day, a great time to sit and watch television with people you just realized are real family.
The quartet sat watching the show for a while, so long that Dipper fell asleep. Head falling upon his uncle Ford's shoulder, the man smiled softly before readjusting his seating arm wrapping around Dipper holding the young boy against himself. Giving the kid a better position to sleep in. Soon following Dipper, Mabel also fell asleep leaning against their other uncle.
Stan gave Ford a soft nudge with his foot, the man sitting on the ground turned to his brother seeing what he wanted. Stan pointed to Mabel with his free hand, and mouth 'should we bring them to their room?' Ford gave a soft nod before slowly picking up his nephew, Stan doing the same to Mabel. Slowly bring the other set of twins up their stairs and to their beds. Stan layed Mabel down and stepped out of the room. Ford followed suit laying Dipper down, but all the movement startled Dipper awake.
Dipper mumbled softly before speaking "Uncle Ford?"
The older man replied quickly, kneeling down "yes my boy?"
Dipper blinked his eyes open "thank you and Stan for accepting me for who I am, I appreciate it. You don't understand how much that means to me." Dipper smiled at his uncle softly.
Ford smiled back "it's no issue Dipper just glad you were comfortable enough to tell us my boy." The older man rubbed his chin in thought before snapping "I have a question for you."
The kid nodded "ask away." He leaned back on his pillow.
"So about our talk earlier, can I tell Stan about some of it. Just so he understands what you have gone through and to make sure he knows what's going on. Of course you can say no and what was said stays between us." Ford patted Dipper's head gently ruffling his hair.
Dipper took a moment thinking this over and he mumbled "mmm, okay." He gave a lazy smile "Don't tell him I cried though, that should never leave this room." The boy let out a soft laugh.
Ford chuckled, "Alright, I can leave that detail out. Good night, my boy." The man ruffled the boy's hair one last time before standing up and walking towards the door.
The kid smiled at his uncle, "Good night, uncle Ford." He gave a small wave "see you in the morning." The boy took his hair from his ponytail. He listened to the door click shut, seeing the small crack of light dissipate, and heard his uncle's steps get farther and farther away. He turned on his side looking at his sister who was snoring and drooling against her pillow. She was right, summer really is looking up for them. For the first time in a while Dipper went to bed with hope that a better day would follow this one.
Ford distended down the stairs meeting his brother at the bottom "Sooo what took you so long?" Stan questioned.
"Dipper woke up, and we had a little talk about some things." Ford smiled at his brother both walking towards the kitchen.
"Do I get to know about 'things' or is it personal?" Stan takes a seat at the kitchen table while his brother grabs two Pitt sodas.
"Actually the conversation was about telling you something, and I got a yes so you do get to know." Ford let out a soft chuckle, passing one of the sodas to his brother keeping one for himself. He quickly popped the tab and took a sip.
Stan opened the can of soda as well, "Go on, enlighten me." He lifted the can of soda to his lips taking a long sip.
"So you know the boy is trans, right?" Stan gave a nod and rolled his eyes.
"Clearly, I was their sixer." He raised the can and twirled it softly.
"Okay, so a lot of the conversation was about that and his parents, you know shermie and his wife." Ford cleared his throat "Dipper came out to them a while ago, and they were not accepting of him."
Stan eyes widening "huh, seriously? He always seemed okay with it, you know?" Stan shook his head gently.
His brother nodded "yeah, I guess he changed once his own son was trans. Seems like he was just hiding the truth. I just feel utterly astounded that he would do such a thing to Dipper."
Stan tilted his head "Do what? What did Shermie do?" Stan took another sip of the drink.
Ford sighed, rhythmically tapping his fingertips on the table. "Stan, he- god- fuck-" Ford was stammering he knew Stan wasn't going to react well to this. Hell he himself didn't react well to this, sure he was calm and collected on the outside. Though on the inside he was boiling with rage, and agony.
"Woah, Ford take a breath." Stan reached out, rubbing his brother's back. The man hasn't seen his brother this upset in a long while. Stan knows this isn't going to be good to hear from his brother, typically cool as a cucumber, is stammering and swearing.
"Shermie isn't respecting Dipper. Stanley, he's- he's shit he prohibited Dipper from getting normal shorts, from getting his haircut, he deadnames the kid, and he doesn't use the kids pronouns." Ford's hands were shaking slightly "Stanley, how could his father do this? How could our own brother do this?" Ford feels a tad nauseous.
Stan's mouth was slightly ajar, "he wouldn't, he did that. To his son, to our nephew." Stan was shocked beyond belief.
"So, I have an idea." Ford lit up, he stood pacing.
"What is it, Poindexter?" Stan gave a very soft smile.
Ford turned to his brother's determination in his eyes "we're going to take him to get shorts, and a haircut, and we're using that boy's pronouns and name." He gave Stan a mischievous grin. "We're going to let Dipper have the things his parents won't let him have. We should take the children to the mall tomorrow, and- and- and-" Ford was too excited about this plan.
Stan let out a laugh "I get it, I understand the plan. Sixer, I'm in. We'll go tomorrow, which means we need sleep tonight." Ford was basically vibrating with joy. Him and Dipper really connected today and he was glad he could do this for his nephew.
"Alright, Stanley." He shot his brother a smile, "I think I'm going to head to bed, you should too." Ford grabbed his empty can, chucking it in the trash.
"Yeah yeah, I will don't worry. I want Dipper to feel accepted here. And I'm sure Mabel won't mind shopping. The kid is a ball of energy, I like her." Stan waved to his brother as he stood, throwing away his soda can. "Night, sixer."
Ford waved back "goodnight Stanley." Ford walked to the door leading to the basement as Stan walked to the bathroom. Tomorrow was going to be a great day.