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“So.... that's your dad?”
“Ehh, no but kinda yes? It's complicated dude.”
“Ah.”
Soos and Tate currently sit on the docks together, relishing in the awkward silence. They both watch as a boat float across the water in the distance, with two old men sitting inside. Stanley and Fiddleford were currently fishing together, laughing loudly as they give each other playful shoves. Stanley going over the top, and splashing fiddleford with some water, before getting a bucket of water splashed back at him.
Stan and Fiddleford had been getting closer ever since they've both started hanging around Ford again. It was unavoidable that they would see each other more often, but with their natural wit and personalities, they hit it off right away. Soon, they became friends in their own right, besides their connections to Ford.
Soos cleared his throat, trying to make some conversation with the stoic man beside him. “So... how have you and your dad been?”
“... Complicated.”
Soos nodded his head in response, staring out at the pond while fidgeting with his hands. Ever since Mr. Pines and Mcgucket started hanging out, he's tried to engage with Tate a lot more. However, it seemed he didn't really have much to say.
Soos glanced over at the man. “.... Do you wanna talk about it, dude? I'm all about talking out our feelings and stuff. Only if you want to though.”
Tate let out a grunt in response. Soos couldn't tell if Tate was looking at him or not, due to the hair constantly in his eyes. Tate was a whole different type of mysterious, at least to Soos.
“... things have always been complicated with my dad. He left me and Ma back in California just for his old college buddy. He used to write letters and call us, but it all fizzled out once him and Ma got a divorce. I didn't see him again after that. When I got older and moved to gravity falls to find him, all I found was a nutty amnesiac who started a cult and only knew how to deal with emotions by building large, dangerous robots. Safe to say things are a little strained with him.”
Soos sucked in a breath through his teeth once the story was done, nodding his head with a sympathetic sigh.
“Man, that sucks my dude.”
“... If it makes you feel better, my dad left and never came back too. Though, mine used to send me postcards and tell me he’d come back when... he never did. He didn't even bother to call or nothing. He wasn't doing anything cool like building portals either, he just... Didn't bother coming back.”
Tate nods his head solemnly in response, keeping his gaze on the pond.
“... I'm sorry to hear that. So how did you meet Mr. Pines?”
“Oh! I met Mr. Pines on my 12th birthday! That was the year I realized my dad wasn't coming back. I was in such a funk about it, when I found a screwdriver on the ground near my house. Then suddenly Mr. Pines came along, threw me a shirt and welcomed me to the mystery shack! I've been around ever since.” Soos finished with a fond nod, looking out towards the boat with a wide smile.
“You must have been with him for a long time then. What's he like? Besides being a lying, cheating conman.”
“He's not that bad, really! He’s a pretty cool dude once you get to know him. He taught me how to be a good handyman! He also taught me everything else my Abuelita wasn't able to. Ya know, like with cars, shaving, even some boxing!”
Tate lets out a nod, putting his hands into his lap as he listens. Slightly tilting his head. “... that sounds nice. At least you had him in your life.”
They both stare out towards the boat once more, watching as the two old men joke around with each other in the distance. Tate continued to stare at his father's gap-toothed smile, remembering the man he used to be when Tate was still small. Still so fragile from all his years of lost memories, but slowly becoming more recognizable. It felt... melancholy. To know that man was inside him all along, but was inaccessible. To know he finally had his father back, but knew he was far too old to NEED a father in that way anymore.
Soos tilted his head, watching as Stan grinned with all his teeth, revealing the new gold tooth he had gotten. “Perfect for a sailor”, he has said at the time. He probably knocked out another tooth from his adventures with other Mr. Pines. He doesn't remember seeing Stan this happy before, at least when he wasn't amongst the kids. It was a nice change, after all these years of Stan sneaking around at night, indulging in a cigar or two. Constantly hiding bottles from Soos when he was a teenager.
“... So, do you think Mr. Pines and mcgucket will hit it off?” Soos asked suddenly, turning to Tate with a curious smile.
Tate made a noncommittal huff, his head bobbing for a second. “... Not so sure, if I'm honest. Dad definitely seems happier with Stan than he ever did with my mother. Or Stanford. He always seemed... somewhat miserable with the both of them. Either sick with worry, or sick with guilt. Maybe Mr. Pines will be a change of pace for him.”
Soos nods in agreement with the analysis, letting out a hum. “I think it will be good for Stan too. He seems happier with Mr. Mcgucket too. I'm just happy he finally found love with someone who isn't a coin machine.”
Soos scratches his chin. “Though, old Goldie does resemble mcgucket in a lot of ways...”
“What??”
“Nothing dog.”
They both sit in silence for a few more minutes. Though this time, it felt a bit less uncomfortable. Maybe Tate wasn't so bad. Sure, he was extremely quiet and mostly kept to himself, but Soos figured he just wasn't very social. Soos could work with that. He’d figure out a way to be his best buddy yet.
“So, do you like fishing dude?”
“... I run a bait shop, of course I like fishing. Why would I run a bait shop if I don't like fishing?”
“Mr. Pines runs an attraction about scientific anomalies, and he doesn't really care about that stuff. Beyond making weird taxidermy of them and punching them, at least.”
“that's Mr. pines. Not me.”
“Fair enough.”
“.... So, do you wanna go fishing with me sometime my dude?” Soos asked with a wide grin, his eyes practically sparkling at the idea of connecting more with Tate. A hint of excitement in his voice.”
Tate stayed silent for a few moments, simply pondering the question. He couldn't refuse cracking a smile, at least a small one. “... we’ll see.”
“I didn't hear a no! I'll take it.”