"Mabel," Dipper paused before looking down, "I'm going to have to keep you here until I figure this out." He couldn't bear to look at whatever destruction or betrayal crossed her face for fear of changing his mind, "It's for your own good... And also the good of the known universe," he gave her a brief glance, "but you know your good is more important to me."
"Dipper," her lip quivered, "The best thing for your sister would be freedom. C'mon, we need to figure this out together. You can't just leave me in some tube in the basement like your other experiments."
Her twin stood for a moment before her, body in contemplation of moving. Towards or away from her, she didn't know. "Mystery twins?" Her eyes sought his as her hand formed the familiar fist against the glass.
"I'm sorry, Mabel," he turned before she could catch the tear falling from his eye. His back stiffened as he emphasized, "I'm going to get Wendy and Soos- they're a part of the prophecy and they already know what's up. I'll be back really soon. I promise."
"Dipper!" She cried after him as she heard his feet padding up the uneven stairs. "Wait!" The vending machine door opened, "DIPPER!" It closed just as swiftly. Mabel was left in the dark with the faded light and murmuring air.
##
"Wendy!" Pnk! Pnk! The pebbles made noises as they bounced against the window of her childhood bedroom. "Wendy!" The voice screamed in an urgent whisper.
"Dipper?" she rubbed her eyes as she remembered she left the window partly open for some air. She shuffled over in plaid slippers and opened it all the way. "What's up man? It's kinda late… Or early." She yawned. "Your pick."
"Mabel's in trouble!"
"What? Hold on, I'll be right down."
Wendy stuffed her feet in some worn jeans under her t-shirt and slipped on some converse before heading out the door.
"What's up with Mabel?" She put an arm on his shoulder in consolation. No longer are they the noodles they once were. They would have been freckled with sun if he ever took a step out of the lab.
"Remember that guy we saw her with?"
"Did he hurt her? I'm still handy with an axe, if you know what I mean."
"You said he looked familiar."
"Yeah, I couldn't place it. Dipper, what's this all-"
"That guy- that thing- it's Bill."
"Oh," she took a moment to imagine the triangle as a person, "shit." Her eyes widened as she took a breath, "It is him, isn't it?"
The boy nodded as he tried to put up a strong front.
"It's okay to be scared, Dipper. That guy had a lot of power. Tell me, what exactly did he do to Mabel?"
Dipper's lip became a thin line as his face grew red all the way down to his neck. Whether it was from embarrassment or anger she couldn't tell.
"How many bases?" Wendy cut to the chase.
Dipper looked up in utter shock. Still a total virgin. It was cute.
"Come on, I saw the way she looked at him. That wasn't the first time she'd seen him."
Dipper looked at the ground. "Home base, I guess? I don't know." He gave an awkward shiver.
"I see… I know this is tough. Was it consensual?"
Dipper threw up his arms, "I don't know, Wendy! Can you consent to demons?!"
"Hey, man, you're the expert here. But, she wasn't crying to you after? She didn't ask you for help?"
"No… She was acting embarrassed though. Her face was always flushed. She kept it a secret."
"Ah," she gave a relieved smile. "From what I saw, Mabel likes the guy. I could be wrong, but I think she was protecting him."
"From what? He's an all-powerful demon."
"Her big, strong, Bro." She punched his arm.
Dipper smiled goofily before coming back to himself. "Wait a minute- are you saying you condone this?"
"If Bill is the same as he was, then heeeell no. But I don't see any floating pyramids in the sky this time."
"He doesn't have his body."
"He's got a body. Which he's just using for fun."
"Gross, Wendy."
She stuck out her tongue, "Sorry, I know. Just trying to prove a point. Why don't we hear the guy's point of view? If he's as bad as he once was, we'll smash that statue of him in the woods."
"He already spoke his mind from inside Mabel."
Wendy's mouth hung open.
"In her head! Inside her head!" Dipper palmed desperately at his face, wishing he could hide under his hat.
##
She hadn't heard anything from Bill in the twenty minutes that felt like eternity. What was this gas doing to him? Was it suffocating, was it painful? Guilt ate at her insides for both her family and the man in her mind. But right now he was the one in immediate danger. And even if he turned out to be an enemy she cared too much. She couldn't even swat at the moth that ate her sweaters. Mabel placed her hands on the glass. It was just glass after all, not some strong plastic or whatever indestructible material. Maybe she could kick or punch her way out. No. Think Mabel. That would end up in glass shards everywhere, most likely her face. She looked at the entrance, maybe there was a way she could wedge the door open. Her fingers inched through her hair. Aha! She found a bobby pin, which she wedged under the plastic coating as she placed her other hand on the sliding door. And that's all it was, like the one on the back porch at home, it just slid open.
Huh, she thought to herself. That must be because they thought no one would be dumb enough to leave. Surprise family! Mabel proves herself to be the dumb one once again!
As soon as the door opened the air automatically cut off. At the same time, Bill's prone body materialized on the rubber mat in front of her. "Bill!" She screamed as she fell to her knees in examination. She grasped his pale cheeks. His hair appeared even more blonde, devoid of any yellow. He was cold and unconscious, but he was breathing.
