*Whoops. My finger slipped.

Haha what a tease, amirite?

Chapter 12

Both Bill and Dipper are standing outside of the shack. Dipper has a big jacket and he's standing with his crutches, shivering from the cold.

"Alright Pine Tree, are you ready?", Bill asks the freezing teenager.
"Ready for what? You haven't even told me what were fighting against," he responds, "why is it so cold? It's summer." His nose and cheeks are significantly pink from the weather.
"You're right. It's also Gravity Falls."
"What are we doing, Cipher?"

"Wonderful question!", he exclaims while he turns, and starts walking toward the woods, "I'll explain everything on the way."
Dipper slowly follows, wobbling on his crutches as he does.
"Where are you taking me?", he asks.
"To the woods, of course."
"Why?"
"Because I need to make sure nobody else is around when we do this."
"Do what?"

The demon doesn't say anything as they get to the middle of the forest. He stops walking and turns around on his heels to face him.
"Tell me, why do you think were out here?", he asks the younger brunette.
"Well, I don't know, you won't tell me. You said earlier that you wanted to prove that you could win, but you never said with what."
"But what do you think the competition is?"
"Knowing you, probably a race."

The blond laughs at his response, then smiles, "no, it's not a race. Actually it's nothing."
"What do you mean?"
"There is no competition. There was never going to be a competition, because I don't really care if I win against you or not."
"So then why are we out here?"

A twinge of fear shoots through Dipper. The sudden realization that he is outside at night, alone with Bill hits him hard. He looks at him, waiting for an answer. Hoping for an answer, soon.
"We are out here because I want to show you something. Something that I think you'll like."
"Please. Please don't show me a dead animal, or a still beating heart, or an image of my death. Just don't."
"I wasn't going to," he chuckles out, "I can't even show you your death. I don't know how you'll die, nor do I really want to."

He takes a step closer to the taller brunette, and holds a hand out in front of him. Dipper looks at his hand, then back at him, "what?", he questions the older man.
"Just be patient, ok?"

Not very long after, a large blue flame forms in his hand. As it does, Bill smiles widely. Dipper's eyes widens, and meet with Bill's single one when they shoot up.
"When I fixed your hat, it helped push my magic a bit further. I thought it was because I had to use magic to fix it."
"And was that it?", Dipper asks a bit timidly.
"I don't know anymore. Before, I was only getting little sparks, but now I'm getting a full flame. I'm getting my magic back."

He puts his hand down as the flame goes out. Dipper watches, nodding slightly.
"Yeah, that's.. That's really great. I'm happy for you."
"Come on, Pine Tree, be a bit more excited. I know how much magic fascinates you. I could even teach you, if you wanted. And just imagine how much more I can do with my magic back. It would be much easier to find the person who hurt you, too."

The younger male nods again, "yeah, that sounds awesome."
Bill's smile fades, "you don't seem like you mean that. What, does it scare you? If it does, I'll stop. I don't want to scare you."
"No, no, it's not that."
"Then what is it?"
"I don't like magic anymore, Bill. I've seen what it can do, and I've seen how it can change someone. If you want to have your magic, that's fine, but please don't drag me into it."

Bill stares at the brown eyed boy in front of him. He looks at him, a bit shocked and upset.
"I thought you'd be excited for me?"
"Honestly, I'm not. I don't think something like magic is good for you to have. I'm just starting to trust you, I don't want to regret it."
"Do you have any idea how much I've worked to get my magic back? Four years of constant energy draining. I trained for hours on end until my hands bled. I fought so hard to be able to get back the one thing that makes me feel the same, and you're putting me down for finally getting a taste of it? I don't even have all of it back. All I can do is one stupid flame. After four years, all I can manage to do is ONE flame. After four years! The least you could do for me is pretend to be happy for me."

"Why does it matter to you so much?", Dipper starts back at the demon in front of him, "why do you have to have magic? You're fine without it. In fact, I think you're better without it. For once, I've finally seen something in you that I never had seen before, and that's heart. You have heart now, and I don't want you to lose it because of your obsession with getting your magic back. Please, stop glorifying the one thing that's always made me fear you. I get that you've worked hard for this, but you don't have to anymore."

Bill looks at him for a while. He can't find the words to say back, and so he looks around, and walks over to a tree. He turns around to where his back is against it, then sits down. He just looks down at his feet, not saying anything. Dipper walks over to him, and looks down at him.
"I like you too much now to see you go down that same path again," he says to the blond on the ground, sincerely.

Bill looks up at him, "I have more self control now. I wouldn't do that, you have to trust me."
"I know that, and I do. I trust you a lot more now than I ever thought I would, but I don't want to risk losing you. I know how easy it is to get pulled into that. Being bad and evil is always the easier route, and you have too much passion and general kindness in you now to just let all of this go."

After another moment of silence, Bill nods.
"Fine."

Dipper sighs as he slowly sits down next to him, moving his crutches to the side. He looks over at him, and smiles slightly, "it's great that you're learning it again, but I don't want it to consume your life. I'm actually starting to like you dude, don't ruin it."
Bill laughs slightly, "you mean to tell me that you didn't like me before? Dipper I'm hurt. I thought we were best friends before?"
"Bill, Robbie was a better friend to me than you."
"That is a complete lie. You hated Robbie."
"Yeah, and I hated you too."
"More than Robbie? That's unlikely."
"Is he even alive now? I haven't seen him."
"Yes Dipper, he is still alive despite your wishes."
"I never said I wanted him dead, I just asked if he was."
"Well, he's not. He still lives in Gravity Falls, and is as strange as ever."
"Well cool, I guess."
"Not really, he's a dick."

Dipper starts laughing loudly at Bill's very blunt statement. Bill joins in, laughing more at Dipper than himself.
"What? He is," he explains.
"Oh, I believe it," Dipper replies back to him, "is he with Wendy?"
"Why do you care?"
"Well, I still care about her," he laughs out, "if he's a dick and they're dating, I won't be happy."
"Ok well, no they aren't. They got back together for a little bit after you left, but it didn't last long. Wendy isn't stupid, she knows he wasn't really good for her."
"Well good."

Bill looks over at the younger boy as he looks up at the sky.
"It's a beautiful night," he says.
Bill nods in agreement, "yeah, it is."
He continues to look at the young brunette beside him, then leans toward him. When he does, Dipper turns his head to look at him, and smiles, "what is it?", he asks. Bill doesn't respond, and instead he puts a hand on the side of his face.

Dipper glances down at his hand, then up at him, "Bill, what are you doing?", he asks softly.
"Honestly, I don't know anymore. But it feels right," he replies back to him.

With out another thought from Dipper, Bill suddenly leans forward and presses his lips to the teens. Dipper's eyes widen in surprise before closing, as he kisses him back.

~~~
~Dipper's POV~

I suddenly wake up in my bed. I feel like screaming, but I don't. Instead I quickly sit up and look around. No one else is in the room, and the sun is shinning brightly through the window. I slowly put my fingers to my lips. Was that a dream? It felt real. Why would I dream that?

I feel heat rush to my cheeks as I try to recollect my memories. That had to have been a dream, but why? Why would I ever, EVER, dream that? I can't get the thought of him kissing me out of my head now. Did we even go outside last night? Did that entire conversation even happen? The magic, Robbie, the kiss?

I get out of my bed, and am met with the sudden realization that my foot is still in a cast. I fall to the ground with a loud thump. I groan and grab the crutches that are leaning against the wall. I slowly pull myself up, and start walking to the door. When I get out, I hobble to the bathroom.

Looking in the mirror, I see myself for the first time this morning. My hair is a mess from falling asleep with it wet, and my entire face is red. I can't tell if it's from falling, or the thought of kissing Bill Cipher. Why am I thinking about that? Dipper stop. You don't want to kiss Bill.

But there's a reason I dreamt that.

Dreams mean nothing though!

I bet Bill would disagree with that. He'd tell me something smart and amazing like 'dreams are your subconscious telling you what you want,' well guess what Bill? I don't want to kiss you! I know that much.

I splash some water in my face, then walk out of the bathroom. When I do, I suddenly bump into someone. I immediately apologize, then look up to see Bill. My face goes red again at the sight of him.
"Oh it's ok," he says in that oh so wonderful voice, "are you alright? You look odd."

I quickly nod, "yeah I'm totally fine!", I laugh a bit nervously.
"Ok?", he says a bit slowly, looking at me confused.
"Hey, so uh," I begin, "what happened last night? I don't really remember."
"Oh well, that doesn't surprise me, you were on some pretty heavy pain killers last night. After we talked when you got out of the shower, you took some pills, then passed out. Nothing much happened."

So it was a dream.

But I was on pain killers, which means my mind was making up crazy stuff, right? Yeah, I'm going with that.

I look at him, then smile, "so is the competition still on?"
Bill laughs, then ruffles my hair, "I was just joking about the winning thing, kid. You would probably win against me anyway."
I start to get embarrassed as he walks off. I watch him as he goes, then put a hand on my chest. Letting out a shaky breath, the thoughts of my dream come back to me. It felt real. I thought it was real.

I was hoping it was real.