"Hello, kids." Norman, no, Bill hissed. It was Norman alright- not many guys had Norman's naturally up-turned faux hawk- but Bill's voice filled his mouth instead of Norman's usual soft, hoarse one. Dipper and Mabel exchanged knowing glances, and Dipper reached for the Journal and Mabel her old grappling hook. "Been a while, hasn't it? How have you been?"
"Shut up Bill, Norman has nothing to do with our conflict. Why are you using him?" Dipper challenged.
"Oh Dipper, so quick to begin the questions. Can't we just duke it out and ask questions afterwards for once?" Bill sighed with fake disappointment, Norman landing on the ground gently, electricity still sparking off him like an open wire.
"Absolutely not- not while you're using him." Mabel interjected. Bill scoffed, shaking his head.
"Why do you care? Your petty admiration for him doesn't exactly justify your sudden loyalty to him. He's just a band member to you, Mabel, and just cause he spent a day or two with you doesn't mean anything." Bill sneered. Mabel's face dropped, and her confidence wavered. He was right- did she only care because she idolized him?
"Can it Bill! Regardless of our reason, we're not going to let you use him. Why him, anyways, if he doesn't really mean anything to us?" Dipper countered, glancing at Mabel with worry. Bill laughed, and the electricity pulsed.
"Look at him. Not even he truly grasps his power," He clenched his fists, and a claw of lightning stuck out from him and at Dipper, missing by only a few inches, "He's not just a medium. He has way more psychic abilities than he should- he's a part of a very ancient lineage of spiritual vassals that bridge the supernatural and mundane world. He could've spent his whole life not tapping into any of his powers, but after looking into his memories a bit, he had partially at one point. This isn't even the best he can do." Bill replied, voice filled with awe and eagerness. Dipper had barely flinched at the lightning strike, but now he was looking around more warily.
What did he mean- Norman could do more than this? He was already created a storm and spitting like a live wire.
"If he's so powerful, how do you know you can control him?" Mabel taunted, a little bit curious herself. Bill smirked and ground his teeth in slight agitation.
"He is powerful- but gullible. He's angry with you, you know. I told him about your supernatural hunting, Dipper. He has a very deeply rooted sense of," Bill breathed in sharply and spat out the next word," Compassion... For supernatural things. He knows you hunt and kill." Dipper scoffed indignantly.
"I don't kill supernatural things! I mean, there was that one elf, but it was trying to eat Mabel!" Dipper confessed. "Whatever, it doesn't matter- Norman wouldn't let you hurt anybody!"
Bill laughed, shaking his head. 'Oh my dear dear Pines children, he's not so against the idea! But that's beside the idea- you're doing that distracting thing again! Getting me to talk to stall!' He grinned maliciously, flexing his hands and the lightning exploded. Tendrils of white energy lashed out, reaching like starving snakes for the twins. Mabel's arm latched around Dipper and he suddenly felt he was being pulled back quicker than Mabel should have been able to run. When his feet left the ground and a tree branch knocked him in the head, he realized she had used her grappling hook to get them away- which was good since the ground where they had previously been was smoking and black now.
'You can run, but I'll find you~' Bill called playfully, and after adjusting his footing on the branch he and Mabel were perched on (and making sure they weren't about to break it), he pulled on her arm and began to quickly scale back down the tree. When his feet touched the grass, another streak of lightning ripped through the air next to his ear. It was intolerably loud- like a jet-engine version of a whip-crack. He could smell burnt hair, but he didn't look at Bill, just checked to see his sister drop down safely from another branch and grab her wrist, bursting into a sprint back in the direction of the car. Another sounding crack of lightning and a yelp from Mabel pushed him to run faster. They finally found the concrete path that snaked through the park, following it back to the front entrance and dashing out onto the now mostly empty street.
"You know..." Mabel wheezed next to him," We should stop leaving... our things... In the car..."
Dipper made his way to the car, kicking the trunk open after unlocking it, and pulling out a belt with bottles attached to it. He tossed it to Mabel and she fastened it around her waist, pulling off a bottle and popping it open. He turned back to the trunk, pulling out an old shoe box and a large wrapped piece of sage. He turned to Mabel, who was dabbing the contents of on of the bottles behind her ears.
"Mabel you don't need to do that."
"Shush, let's go." She scolded, kicking him lightly in the leg and turning to sprint off down the street. Dipper glanced at the entrance of the park just long enough to see Bill round the corner leisurely, the trees near the entrance began to brown and wilt. He ran after Mabel, opening the shoe box a bit and reaching inside and pulling out a box of matches.
'Kids, c'mon, don't make this more difficult than it needs to be!' Bill called after them, and though Dipper knew he was way behind him, Bill sounded very very close. He yelled at Mabel to go faster, and she popped off another two bottles from her belt, slowing down enough to turn and pelt one at Bill. This caught him off guard and it shattered against his leg, the clear liquid inside splattering all over him. As Dipper turned the corner, he heard a loud screech, and the earth shook beneath his feet.
"We need to find a parking garage- and FAST." Dipper yelled to Mabel.
Norman sat underneath the burnt tree, legs hugged against his chest and chest resting on his knee. The amount of guilt he felt was indescribable, and even though he was there the whole time Bill and the twins were, he couldn't do anything to help. He didn't even have a place to be angry at Bill- he had won fair in square in a match of mind powers; or well whatever the hell happened. He'd fucked up thinking he could control his own body and mind enough to out-mind a goddamn mind demon. He sighed, holding up his hand and staring through it at the somewhat translucent image of grass behind it.
"I'm such an idiot... I can't even control my own mind..." He whispered quietly.
"Well, he's a crafty one ain't he."
Norman's head shot up and he met eyes with a rather older looking gentleman spirit. He blinked at him owlishly.
"Um... Excuse me?"
"Bill. I don't blame ya' for not bein' able to keep it together." The man sighed, floating over and taking a place next to Norman on the ground. He leaned back and let out a aching groan. "Still too old for this stuff..." He mumbled to himself. Norman was astonished.
"You know Bill?" He asked in awe.
"Oh yeah. Knew 'im when I was alive- which wasn't too long ago." He laughed emptily.
"What- how? Did he kill you?"
"No no... Natural causes for me. Just got too old, y'know?" He gave Norman a reassuring smile.
"Oh... That's just sadder." Norman frowned. The man laughed, sitting back upright.
"You know those kids?" He asked, his tone unreadable.
"Kinda... I ran into the girl the other day. A lot has happened in the past few days- especially with them around. And my life is already pretty weird." Norman explained.
"Yeah," The man laughed," They do that. Trouble follows those two- though it's partially my fault." He said sadly.
"Oh... You knew them too?"
"Yes." It was only one word, but it was such a... Sad word. The way his eyes seemed to look at nothing and his lips became taut; he felt like there was a lot behind it.
They stayed quiet for a few moments before the man spoke up again.
"What's yer name, kid?"
"Ah, Norman. Norman Babcock." He replied, and was surprised to see a quick flash of recognition in his eyes.
"Babcock... So that's why Bill was after ya'." He shook his head. "Look, I'm gonna ask somethin' of you that's totally unfair." Norman furrowed his brows in confusion.
"What?"
"Well... Those kids... I know ya' don't know 'em well, and that they're probably done ya' more harm than good, but... If you could keep fightin' Bill for 'em... Just, go after 'im and try and get yourself back again- for their sake- then... Well, I don't know, but I'd be able to rest at ease for a lil' while." The man said slowly, rubbing the back of his hand absent-mindedly.
"You mean... help you cross over?" Norman asked hopefully.
"Nah... I won't be doin' that for a while now... I just am scared for 'em- Bill really does have it out for those two, and I know they can do well on their own, but this is something I don't think they can do on their own." He laughed softly, shaking his head again. Norman took a moment to think and analyze the man. He was definitely older, maybe in his 70's or so. He had a larger nose in an almost comical way, but his eyes were drooped and exhausted looking in a a way that almost seemed like they were dripping down his face. The man turned and looked back at Norman, waiting for a response, and Norman bit his lip.
"I guess," He began slowly," I guess I could give it another shot..." He offered, smiling. The man sighed in relief, nodding.
"Thanks kid."
"No problem." Norman said, standing up and rubbing his neck as the man stood up with him. "I should probably get going then."
"Yeah, before Mabel runs out of holy water." He laughed and Norman nodded. He went to turn and go find wherever Bill and the twins might be but a firm hand grabbed his arm and he turned back curiously.
"One other thing, kid..."
"Yeah?"
"Could you tell Dip it ain't his fault? Everything. That he doesn't need to feel bad and that he and Mabel will be just fine on their own?" Norman stared at the man before he frowned.
"Yes but... Could I ask your name?" The man paused for a moment before letting Norman go and straightening his suit jacket.
"Stanford."
You didn't think I FORGOT did you? PFFT
