*Clears throat* I'm so sorry for keep ya'll waiting. There's been a lot of stuff going on with me that I'd rather not go into. But that's not really the reason this message is here. I'm here to WARN you: Bipper is being a creepy bastard. Oh and self harm.

Dipper will not come back... yet... maybe. (I'm such a tease!)

Anyway enjoy Mabel's mental breakdown.

But I cannot

Chapter 10: Falling Apart

Mable exploded off her bed in the morning, heaving in a panic. The irritated groan informed her that her unwelcome guest had indeed stayed the night. She pressed herself against the bathroom door, shaking like a leaf, just staring at the groggy demon rub the sleep out of his eyes. Well, that's what she thought he was doing but his mask was determined to block her view of him.

"What are you doing?"

"I uh," Mabel stuttered.

"Nevermind, it's too early for this… Where's my hat." Bipper muttered to himself, groping around on her bedside table for the black silk garment. Once he'd gotten his gloves on it his coat started to glow again and any exhaustion disappeared from his demeanor with a pop. "Well, I've got to get going. Universe to conquer and all that."

"Why?"

"Hu, I dunno, feel like it I guess."

Mabel shook her head, leveling her own brown hues at Bipper's golden mask. "Why did you help me when you got nothing out of it? W-why did you sleep next to me all night?" Despite herself, a light pink rushed onto her cheeks.

"Simple." He moved forward purposefully, trapping her between the door and himself. "You're something special Shooting Star… You make me feel… conflicted."

She kept her gaze locked on his cloth eye, feeling somehow emboldened by his words. "How so?"

Bipper pinched her chin and leered, "Nice try."

Mabel had enough of the demon's coyness. Yes he could probably eradicate her in an instant but he hadn't so there had to be something there. She seized his wrists and stepped forward. While Bipper was off balanced and surprised, Mabel slammed him against the wall. "And you're not getting off that easy."

Her glowing 'prisoner' laughed. "Wow, how did I fall for that?" He studied her irritated countenance, undoubtedly picking up on the desperation in her face. "You're a light in the dark, Mabel." She gasped when he used her actual name, the gentle way the word drifted from him sent an angry bolt of pins through her head. "Part of me," with her grip slackening he pulled his wrists free gently holding her shoulders, "wants to protect it above everything; the other part well," Mabel cried out as he clamped down like a vice, pulling her face to his mask 'eye', glowing bright red, "wants to snuff. You. Out."

Desperation to know was replaced by a desperation to escape though every attempt to move was met with pain. It was a simple thing for Bipper to flip her around against the door again. His cloth eye glowing with a predatory tint that sent her into uncontrollable shivers. He leaned into her, taking a deep breath of her hair before giving a contented sigh.

"To say I didn't get anything out of it is an incorrect assumption, Shooting Star. You're, maybe, the only thing I want from this wretched world." Mable leaned away from him as much as possible, heart in her throat still pounding away at a dizzying rate. The feeling of his tongue darting over her neck elicited a stifled scream of shock and Bipper savoured the sound.

"N-no… please…"

One of the demon's hand reached up to gently stroke his fingers through her hair. "Now, now, I'm not going to hurt you. Watching you squirm is so much more fun." He pulled back and leered down at her. "Don't pretend to be so brave again. Bravado doesn't suit you."

Bipper took two steps back, looking over her shaking form with palpable lust before tossing a casual wave and vanishing into thin air.

Mabel slid down the door, her legs finally buckling now that the golden-clad demon was gone, trying to swallow her rapidly palpitating heart. Her palm burned intensely from the prolonged contact with Bipper. That wasn't the only thing burning, her throat was tight with anticipation, a tightness in her core that was so unfamiliar. It terrified her. She couldn't catch her breath.

Had Bipper done something to her?

Hre mind scrambled for an answer she just didn't have. The heat wasn't ebbing, if anything it was getting more intense. What was this desire to be near him? It was literally driving her crazy.

Mabel stood without ordering her muscles into action. She wasn't in control of her own movements. Stop. Her legs guided her into the bathroom. Stop it! Resting on the sink was a glowing blue dagger, obsidian blade, pinewood handle. Her hand clutched it. Don't do this! The sharp edge was cold against her flesh. It tugged cleanly through the length of her arm. Mabel's mind screamed and thrashed futilely against the action.

One red ribbon.

Two red ribbons.

Three…

Four…

Five…

Five ribbons of blood dripped down her forearm, the rivulets of life brushing against each other, kissing the tender abused skin.

A triangle.

A circle.

A line.

Mabel chokes a sob, feeling the pain that had been held away during the maiming. Her own hand had done this, branded her with his all seeing eye. Why? How?

She had no answers. She never had any answers. She lived because Bipper said she could, and that was all there was to it. Mabel didn't understand it but she didn't have to, didn't need to.

Her hands shook and in the fit of disgust, Mabel threw down the twisted, blood kissed dagger. It vanished.

She crumpled on the floor and wept, nothing but sorrow and agony. Bipper had done it. He had snuffed out her light.