The Shack is Back
"Thank you for coming to the grand reopening of the Mystery Shack," the young man dressed in a sleek black suit announced from the podium that had been erected on the porch. He smiled at the cheering crowd, reaching up to quickly brush some of his hair back. It had been slicked up with gel so it was out of his face, and also gave him a more sophisticated look. This was a significant occasion, after all. He knew his birthmark would be in full view, but he didn't mind people seeing it. He was very confident in himself now, so there was no reason to hide it.
Next to him stood a tall man with dark skin, also dressed formally in a black tailcoat over a yellow shirt. He was even more formal, though; while the first had a red bolo tie on, the second man was wearing a black bow tie and top hat, and leaning on a cane that he likely didn't even need. He wasn't speaking, merely surveying the crowd with bold golden eyes that didn't seem natural, smiling serenely. No one missed that he had one hand resting on the other man's back. But with them being Gravity Falls latest power couple, no one cared.
"There are many people I would like to thank for making this possible. I would like to thank the Northwest family for helping me pay for the building to be rebuilt. I want to thank my family and friends for supporting me during those first... difficult weeks after the fire. I want to thank all of you for offering your sympathy and raising money to help us restock the shop and put together attractions for tours. And finally... I'd like to thank my great uncle, Stanley Pines, for entrusting care of this business to me. To honor him, I am dedicating the new Mystery Shack to him. Bill, if you would."
The taller man picked up a plaque from the podium and turned toward the doorway that led into the main museum floor, walking toward it. A blue magic surrounded the plaque, and he raised it slowly up toward the wall.
The crowd clapped and people took pictures. Bill had no reservations about using his magic in front of them; they knew by now just how supernatural this town was. They knew his partner was fully capable of magic as well. It just made the two of them even more popular.
When the plaque was raised high enough, it was carefully hung onto the nail that had been embedded over the door earlier. Then Bill returned to stand next to his partner, slinging an arm around his neck and continuing to smile.
The man, who was named Dipper, resumed addressing the crowd once they had quieted down and lowered their cameras. "In memory of Stanley Pines, I declare this Mystery Shack officially open once more. Please feel free to come in, our gift shop is open and I will be leading the first tour in twenty minutes. While waiting, you can look around at the many oddities we have in the store. Thank you."
He stepped back from the podium, posed with Bill for some final pictures, and then headed inside. Several people followed him in. Bill went to take his place behind the counter, and the handyman, Soos, soon came in to join them, tidying up a few things before heading back outside.
Dipper spoke to the guests while waiting for 8 AM, collecting the payments for the first tour, directing them to where they could donate money if they wished. Many offered him their condolences on the loss of his uncle, as well as how proud they were of him for continuing his work.
Finally the time came for the first tour, which was probably one of the largest the Shack has ever had. Dipper ended up having some of them stay behind and only going out with about twenty. He led them a short ways through the woods outside, where they could see supernatural creatures with their own eyes (mostly the jackalopes and a swarm of fairies) before taking them back to the Shack to see the things he had set up inside. He only allowed people to see harmless creatures, and sometimes even fake ones. Most tourists couldn't handle seeing the real horrors of the town.
It was a very busy day, which was surprising considering it was almost winter. But he knew that after the novelty of having the Shack back wore off, things would get very slow. But he didn't worry about it. He and Bill had other ways of making money. And there was always the online shop.
Dipper never really got a chance to sit down, until about halfway through the day, when he went to Bill and insisted, "Please take them on the next tour, I need a break."
The demon grinned at him, playfully reaching out to smack the strings of his tie around, before saying, "What's in it for me?"
"It'd be the fair thing to do, jerk."
"What makes you think I'm fair?"
Dipper glanced at the people in the shop, but none were really looking at him too closely, so he leaned close to the demon and whispered, "If you do it, I'll reward you later." He smiled seductively.
Bill's grin faded, eyes widening slightly. Then it was back, even more cocky than before, and he now had a small blush on his face. "You make a persuasive argument, Pine Tree. All right, I'll give you a break." He stood, and Dipper respectfully stepped back so he could come around the counter. The other leaned down to press a quick kiss to his lips, and then headed to the waiting group at the 'tour starts here' sign. He introduced himself to them, made sure they had all paid, and led them out.
With a sigh of relief, Dipper sank onto the stool behind the register, flexing his toes inside the uncomfortable shoes he was wearing. Just four more hours, he told himself. Then they could close up for the day.
He rang up orders for people while waiting for the tour to return, and whenever he got a free moment, would mentally check in on Bill through the link they shared. They didn't really use words; it was more like a brushing of their hands against each other, like a soft nuzzle. But it was enough to reassure them that the other was doing all right.
Then a new group came in, and Dipper had to go settle them down and find a way to entertain them while they waited for the next tour.
Finally, Bill came back with his group of tourists, setting them loose in the gift shop. They were talking excitedly, and grabbed plenty of items to bring to the counter.
"What did you show them?" Dipper asked Bill in wonder as the demon stood next to him, elbow on his shoulder.
"I happened to lead them past a Manotaur. I don't what he was doing this close to the Shack, but it was quite exciting. He posed for pictures, flexed a lot, took beef jerky from one of the guests and I saw him start bench pressing a log as we walked away."
"Hmm. I wonder why he came out here. Maybe I should go talk to him."
"Nah, he's gone now. I checked for him before we came inside, he must have gone home."
"Ah. All right. So, I guess you want me to do the next one, huh?"
"Well..." Bill brushed his nose against Dipper's cheek. "Maybe we could negotiate. Agree to do whatever I want you to tonight, and I'll agree to handle the rest of the tours today."
Dipper hesitated. That seemed like a great bargain, but... Bill was extremely dominating and could be intimidating when allowed to have total control over any situation. He muttered, "Last time I said I'd do anything you want, I wasn't able to get out of bed the next morning for like an hour. And then you had to carry me into the shower so I could get the wax and blood off me."
"Heh. Yeah, you were so cute that morning." Bill affectionately stroked his neck, which almost always had visible splotches on it from teeth. Dipper leaned away, but only because he had to take care of a customer. Once they were gone with their bag of merchandise, he responded to Bill.
"Look, I'll do it, just... go easy on me, all right?"
"Heh. You really expect a demon to go easy on you? You're deluded." Bill leaned down to kiss his neck, which still made Dipper shiver, despite how used to it he was. Bill just had a knack for finding right where he was most sensitive.
"Don't break anything," Dipper clarified. "And don't make me pass out from blood loss. Um... and I want to be able to get up in the morning. Besides that, do what you want."
Bill grinned. Dipper really did not like that look. The demon gave his rear a squeeze that made him jump, and walked over to speak to some tourists. Dipper rested his head in his hand. What has he agreed to?
"Thank you for coming to the grand opening!" the two owners of the Mystery Shack called as the last group of tourists headed out with their arms full of merchandise. They waved goodbye to each other, people got in their cars or buses, and left. Soon, it was only Dipper, Bill, and Soos left.
Soos was heading out almost immediately, though. "Melody went to see the doctor today and I want to make sure everything is all right."
"Two more months," Dipper said cheerfully.
He smiled. "Yeah, dude. Two more months." He waved before getting in his truck and driving away.
The moment they were alone, Bill grabbed Dipper by the arm and pulled him back inside. He closed the door, and then slammed the human roughly against the wall, kissing him deeply.
Dipper's back arched in response, pressing his body up against the other's as he kissed him back, moaning as the grip on his wrists tightened until it was painful. But he liked it like that.
Bill pulled his mouth back, and began nipping down Dipper's neck, purring into the skin just above his collar. "You look fantastic in these clothes. You need to wear suits more often."
"This is extremely uncomfortable though," Dipper replied. He tried to rub himself against the other better. "I can barely feel you through this material..."
Bill chuckled and raised his head, gently biting down on one of Dipper's earlobes and tugging on it. "Then how about you get out of it?"
Dipper blushed, and started to agree, only for Bill to continue, "And into some jeans and a jacket, we're collecting some payment tonight."
"Oh. Um... right. Okay." Dipper pulled his wrists free and rubbed them as the other stepped away from him. "And then?"
Bill laughed and reached over to cup between Dipper's legs, and he definitely felt that. "Then we have some fun."
Dipper swallowed, legs shaking. "All right. Yeah."
Bill took his hand away and walked out of the room. Dipper barely remembered to lock the door and flick the lights off before following him. They went upstairs to their room, and in no time had changed into much more casual clothing. Though Bill wouldn't want to hear it, Dipper thought he looked much better when he was wearing those skinny jeans and a black hooded jacket that cast his face into shadow when the hood was up. He usually couldn't resist leaning into it to kiss him.
Bill took a few moments to go to the bathroom and redo his make-up, and in that short time, somehow managed to add contours and highlights that made his face look even sharper, and would likely be terrifying in low light.
He returned to Dipper and gave him the details on where they were going and who they were looking for, and the human took his hand as they teleported there together. Upon arriving, they set about tracking the man down. Dipper was beyond the point where he wanted to know what their victims did; he simply found them and then did to them whatever Bill wanted. He knew that this man's name was Mike. Beyond that, he didn't care.
Mike didn't take long to find. He was walking outside, on his way to a club according to Bill, and wasn't really paying attention to his surroundings. So it was easy for the two of them to walk up behind him, seize his arms, and drag him into the alleyway between two buildings. They took him back until they reached a fence, at which point Dipper swept his leg out from under him and caused him to stumble onto his hands and knees.
By the time Mike was getting up, Dipper had taken out his best knife, its etchings glowing red as he put magic into it and swung it. Mike tried to jump back, but the blade caught him across the neck. Blood sprayed out and he yelled, one hand trying to cover the wound while the other threw a punch that managed to hit Bill in the chest. The demon responded by kicking him hard in the stomach, and as he doubled over in pain, Dipper went in with his knife again. He was inhumanly fast, cutting a deep gash across the front of Mike's throat. Blood poured out, cascading down his chest, and his eyes lost focus as he fell over.
Bill shoved him as he fell, and the moment Mike hit the ground, Dipper was bringing his heel down on the man's skull. As he had chosen to put on leather combat boots with thick soles, this had quite a satisfying result. He felt the bone crack underneath his boot and then give, as easily as stomping a fruit. He wasted no time in calling on his magic to wrestle the soul out. As usual, he split the energy with Bill. What used to be a horrible pain now filled him with ecstasy as he absorbed it, feeling fresh power surge through him. Souls just didn't hurt him like they used to. He was accustomed to it.
"Quick and brutal, I like it," Bill said as Dipper lifted his foot and put it on the ground, trying to wipe the blood and hair off it. "Why don't we get some energy from his blood as well?"
"Good idea." Dipper knelt down, passing his hands over the gash on Mike's neck, and the blood turned into a red mist that absorbed through his clothes and skin and into his very being. Bill crouched on the other side of the body, taking his share of the energy.
Once they had collected all they could, Bill leaned over to seize Dipper by the collar and drag him close, kissing him roughly. Once he had gotten the human flustered, he separated and grinned.
"Let's head back, Pine Tree."