promises of a delphinium [Dipper x Pacifica]

Chapter Ten - Not-So-Poisonous Cookies

"M-Mabel," He didn't stutter.

"Mason." He hoped she did. 

Silence hung heavy between them, punctuated only by the distant rustle of leaves in the breeze. Mason's heart pounded in his chest, a sense of unease settling over him like a heavy cloak. He couldn't afford any slip-ups, not now.

"I understand what it seemed like. But I can explain," Mason attempted, but his words felt feeble even to his own ears.

He tried to regain his composure, reminding himself of the calculated, emotionless persona he had meticulously crafted over the years.

"How much did you see?" he asked, his voice betraying a hint of urgency.

Mabel's smirk widened,"Enough,"

Fuck.

"Look Mason, it's nothing to be ashamed of." She stated coyly.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, "I'm not ashamed, Mabel. I don't get ashamed."

She giggled (which was never a good thing) and placed a finger on her chin, "Well there was that time when you wet the bed-"

"I was FIVE-"

"And the other time when you lost to Alfred at chess."

"I'm telling you he must've cheated-"

"Or the other time when you-"

"Enough." He interrupted, his cheeks flaming slightly. The guards were nearby and within earshot. He didn't like the thought of that.

"So what's to be ashamed of rejecting a girl?"

Another silence stretched between the twins.

Mason blinked his chocolate eyes cluelessly, "Wait, what?"

She rolled her eyes "Oh please. As soon as I came here I hear a girl yelling and I see you covered in cookie crumbs. I'm not an idiot." She crossed her arms and cocked her head, "Good for you though, huh? One of your admirers finally confessed to you. I never thought they'd have the balls."

Gathering himself, he scoffed, "I'm not that surprised." 

"Well I am. You let her roam free? What's up with that?"

He placed his hands behind his back, now able to calm himself due to Mabel's complete misunderstanding, "She confessed unlike the rest. I respect the small ounce of courage, you could say." He lied. "Though it was foolish of her to think she had a chance with me. I've never cared about another person enough to think of them in that light." This one was the truth. It was.

Mabel made a weird non-committal noise, "Hm, respect you say.." She trailed off before her smirk shows itself again. "You're getting sof- OW DON'T HIT ME" She whines, rubbing her upper arm where he whacked her.

"Roll your eyes all you want Mason. Let's see who's dinner gets poisoned next."

He sighed, "At this rate, sister dearest-"

All of a sudden, his finger started to burn with a familiar sensation. 

The delphinium.

His heart skipped a beat as he realized she must be angry – angry at him, angry at their argument, angry at the accusations he had hurled at her.

He looked up at Mabel, who stared at him curiously. "Huh. I've never seen that look on you before."

Remembering he had cut himself short with no explanation, he internally cursed but doesn't let  it show. Instead he pursed his lips, as if to insinuate he was just mildly interrupted by his sister again. "What are you talking about now."