Back To Gravity Falls: Beware the Beast (Multiverse Crossover)

The Mystery Kids

Full chapter title: The Mystery Kids (Are On the Case)
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The closer that Norman got to Dipper's face, the more he could see. As he reached over and pulled a cord to turn on a small desk lamp he saw how Dipper's eyes blinked violently, his eyes unfocused. Norman didn't sense any paranormal happenings, nor did he see any obvious signs of possession. He took a few breaths to steel himself and began leaning Dipper up, holding onto his arms. He was much more equiped for the paranormal; the mundane was unfamiliar territory.

"Dipper," he muttered quietly, trying to rub circles on his friend's elbows. He'd read somewhere that a grounding touch could bring someone out of a night terror but this was his first time watching one firsthand. It scared the shit out of him; to see Dipper's eyes open, and yet not be there, but the situation seemed almost managable compared to a paranormal problem.

Suddenly, there was the sound of heavy footfalls bounding up the stairs, finally responding to Norman's yells.

Dipper began calming, blinking more slowly as his vision came into focus. Dipper's open mouth, which had been dripping with drool in his fugue, began to close. Dipper began swallowing normally, albeit manually, still dazed when Mabel began waking up, taking out her headphones without bothering to pause the song, and moving to their bedside as Soos watched from afar.

"Night terror," Norman told the two, focusing on Dipper and keeping his hands on the boy's elbows, rubbing small circles on them with his thumbs as Dipper began to regain himself.

"N... Norman. I saw-... Bill... I was reliving my possession. " Dipper supplied, leaning his forehead on Norman's shoulder as he tried to force himself to breathe steady. "It was awful... It was like I was feeling it all over again. The sensation of spiders under my skin... The burning behind my eyes... His voice in my head... I thought I was over it..."

Mabel sat beside Dipper then, wrapping an arm around him to hug him, "You don't just get over that, Dipper. It's not possible. I have my own share of nightmares, it's not always as easy as just getting over it..."

Soos spoke, "If you dudes want, I can sleep up here on the floor with you."

Dipper shook his head slowly, his throat dry, "Thank you, but I'll be okay. I just... need to go back to sleep."

Norman eyed Dipper with suspicion, but Mabel just nodded, giving her brother a brief and tight hug before returning to her bed, opting to not listen to music in her sleep this time. Mabel wanted to be able to wake up easily, just in case.

Soos left begrudgingly, not closing the door all the way. He opted to sleep in the room down the hall for the rest of the night to soothe his worries about Dipper.

Norman left the bedside lamp on, moving back to his position with his face against the wall, the coolness calming him some. His heart still beat rapidly in his chest, scared on behalf of Dipper as well as the whole situation itself. He steadied his breathing as his breath hit the wall and warmed his face.

He had nearly forgotten this part about the incident in Blithe Hollow. He had forgotten that beyond the excitement, danger never left you alone- even when you tried to sleep. This danger felt like eyes in the darkness, feeling them watching you, but unable to see them; much too scared to turn on the light and reveal your suspicions to be correct.

Norman's daze was halted when he felt a shaky hand tugging lightly at the end of his shirt. Norman turned over to see Dipper near tears. Norman never really learned how to soothe the crying of someone other than himself, so the shock showed easily though he tried to hide it. Even more so, Norman appreciated the trust Dipper showed by allowing himself to be vulnerable, but Norman kept these thoughts to himself.