Tension
Here is my other Secret Santa gift for @crosskid. They requested some ParaPines fluff so I did my best. Awkward conversations are what I live for. Happy holidays!
Maybe it was bad idea to have their first date on the roof of the Shack. Dipper contemplated scrapping this (stupid, ridiculous) plan and improvising – Norman would probably (possibly) believe him if he said that he had actually planned something else for the date. Maybe Greasy’s was still open at this hour?
No, he couldn’t take Norman there! First dates were supposed to be great and not awkward or causing you to worry that you’re doing everything wrong.
“Are you okay?” Dipper quickly snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at the dark-haired teen beside him, the latter’s brow furrowed slightly. Oh, man. How long had he been consumed in his inner thoughts? Did Norman think he was being weird or didn’t know what to do? (Well, it wasn’t like the latter wasn’t true…)
“Uh, yeah! I’m cool, how about you?” He flinched inwardly at his words. How about you? Seriously? This is going nowhere!
To his luck, Norman didn’t appear to be annoyed by the question. The concern faded a little from his blue eyes and he looked up at the stars. If he stared a bit harder, the brunette would have noticed that Norman was blushing. “I’m doing well.”
“Oh. That’s…good.”
Dipper wanted to hit himself in the forehead. This wasn’t how he had planned the night at all. Once they had gone out on the roof he had begun to question whether this was the best plan considering this was their first date (first date, oh god, they were actually finally dating), and now he had turned into a stuttering red mess. It would be a miracle if Norman (his boyfriend, his actual real boyfriend!) didn’t notice his uncertainty.
“The stars are out tonight.” Dipper drew himself back to the conversation again. Norman was staring up at the stars still, a soft expression forming on his pale face. It was utterly breathtaking (both the stars and the boy sitting so close beside him). “It’s weird – in Blithe Hollow we don’t always see them. Probably because of pollution.”
“That stinks.”
Norman snorted. The ghost of a smile flickered on his lips. The brunette wished it would grow to become a real smile (those were always the best coming from Norman).
“Yeah, I guess. It’s…nice to get away from there. Not that home is bad or something but, well – ” His cheeks reddened a little. “You know…”
“It’s easier to escape in Gravity Falls,” Dipper blurted out before he could stop himself. He could feel his own cheeks turning red as Norman turned to him in surprise. He looked away, his hands clutching tightly at the roof shingles.
“Yeah. Exactly.”
The way the other’s voice softened, just like his expression had, sent something warm fluttering through the brunette’s stomach. He could practically hear his twin sister’s eager voice cheering him on in his brain, telling him to just go for it.
(No, he couldn’t, it wasn’t the right time, it was probably way too soon for that sort of thing and who knew if Norman even would like it?)
There was a small sigh from the teen beside Dipper. “You know, before we met the only friends I had were Neil and Salma. Not that they aren’t great but…sometimes they didn’t always understand. And then you and Mabel and everyone here was so accepting about – well, I don’t know why – ”
“Why wouldn’t we be?” Dipper found himself turning to Norman again. He knew bullies, yes, but the thought of hurting Norman (good, kind, caring Norman) sent a physical wave of sadness through him. “Norman, just because you’re special doesn’t mean anyone should treat you different.”
Norman studied him for a moment. “Would you still…care about me the same even without me being able to see ghosts?”
Dipper did a double take, seeing the seriousness in the teen’s eyes. He wondered how many people would have said yes to that question and the very idea made him seethe internally.
“No. Never. I… I like you because you’re my best friend, next to Mabel, and you’re not afraid of going on adventures with us or to just do normal things like watch TV or throw water balloons and – MMMPH!” Dipper’s rambling was cut off swiftly when the dark-haired teen gripped his vest and pressed his lips against his.
The closest thing he had felt resembling a first kiss was giving Mermando “reverse CPR” (which he shuddered to remember). This kiss (they were kissing, Norman was kissing him, oh god it was happening) was nothing like that. It was softer and Norman’s lips were hesitant, as if he were afraid that Dipper was going to shove him away. His brown eyes fluttered shut as a hand gently ran through his hair.
It felt like an eternity before Norman hurriedly pulled away with scarlet cheeks and a slight smile on his lips. Dipper stared at Norman (his boyfriend, his boyfriend who had kissed him), out of breath.
“Good.” Norman’s voice was small, but not weak. If anything, it was the strongest he had ever heard the medium sound. “Because I like you a lot, if it – if it wasn’t obvious.”
“Y – Yeah.” Dipper cursed his stutter and quickly cleared his throat when he heard a soft chuckle from the other. “I… I like you too.”
The two sat in a companionable silence (Norman had kissed him, Norman liked him too, Norman was his boyfriend) for a time before Dipper muttered, “Fuck it,” and pulled Norman right back for another, longer kiss.
