The work was exhausting and by the end of the day both Bill and Dipper were tired. Dusk had fallen as the two climbed the stairs back to the attic.
Once inside the room, Bill sat down on the floor, sighing softly. "I don't understand why you humans have to work so hard to get money." The demon groaned unhappily, lying down. "Why do we want to follow the rules anyway? Us demons break the rules all the time. They were meant to be broken."
Dipper gave a halfhearted shrug, flopping onto his bed unceremoniously to rest. His hand dangled near the blond as he gazed down at him. "Trust me; we break the rules plenty of times. It just doesn't always turn out," he responded, wincing. "And ah, everything hurts . . . Be glad you didn't have to lift heavy boxes all day. It's more of a killer than fighting gnomes."
"Fighting gnomes." Bill shook his head, remembering the twins' encounter soon after they arrived in Gravity Falls. "Their weaknesses aren't leaf-blowers, but that sure was creative," he commented then thought of something. "Hey, I think I might know a pain-relieving spell. Even if I wouldn't usually use it, it's still probably in here." He tapped his temple with a finger.
Dipper sat up for multiple reasons, a curious smile splitting his face. That might be useful to know.
"True. Give me a minute to see if I can recall it," Bill said and closed his visible eye, concentrating.
The boy sat quietly, the anticipation of learning a new spell driving away his other thoughts. It might not be the adventure that Bill promised him, but he would be more than happy to wait. Besides, they were both tired.
Without warning, the young man sat bolt upright, eye widening in alarm. "Uh-oh! Someone's summoning me. I'll be unconscious for a while. I'll see you when I get back," he said quickly right before he passed out, falling like he had done before.
"Bill!" Dipper cried out, shocked to see the sudden inaction. He dared to sit on the floor, never taking his eyes off of the other. Bill seemed to be dead, though when he reached out to touch him he was still warm and living. Who could be summoning him? Bill. Bill? There was no response. Dipper made a face, dread settling in the pit of his stomach. This can't be good.
A chubby boy in orange attire stood expectantly in front of the drawing on the cell wall, malicious smirk widening for a moment when he was sure his message went through. He snapped the stick of chalk he was holding in half, letting the remains fall onto the torn cat poster on the floor. He could wait no longer. And he wouldn't have to.
Bill appeared as the world changed to the familiar monochrome color scheme, draining the area of whatever brightness existed. Only the male and himself remained vivid.
The dream demon leered at the boy in orange, recognizing him immediately. "What do you want now?" Bill asked, annoyed. "It's not like I was busy or anything." The triangle rolled his eye, hands placed on his 'hips'.
Gideon Gleeful made an effort to keep his smile, voice piercingly sweet though he was tensed with anger. "Good Mr. Cipher, I have . . . a proposition for you. As you know, our last affair was cut rather short, but this time I have you something neither of us can afford to pass by."
"Cut to the chase. I'm on a time limit here." Bill looked down at his wrist boredly, as if checking a watch. "I do have the right to decline if I want to. You were quite rude to me last time, considering the fact I could have still found a way to retrieve that memory."
The male grimaced, heat pooling uncomfortably at his cheeks. "Ya' see, my dear father happened to stop by earlier today and told me that that accursed boy Dipper Pines was runnin' around town with a rich man no one's seen before. I got information as quickly as I could muster. William Codex. Blond. One visible eye. Dressed with clothes from the mall and sportin' a tattoo of the same wheel that's used to summon you," the prisoner explained. "It doesn't take a genius to figure out his true identity. You and I know what we want. I want out of this darn prison so I can get my revenge on the Pines family. And now that you have power on the outside — money, looks, a connection with my Mabel's troublesome brother — I'm sure we can work something out." Gideon grinned evilly, holding out his hand. "How about it?"
"Most of the people in Gravity Falls are idiots," Bill muttered. "So if you have this fabulous deal, what do I get?" He stared at him with a piercing gaze, hovering unamusedly in the air.
"Only the finest help from yours truly and his ol' buddies! With the status I've raised in this filthy place, I can easily arrange a force to do any task you could care to throw my way! Once out of here, I'll make Dipper Pines and his loved ones writhe in agony for taking away sweet Mabel!" he hissed, leaving his palm outstretched. "They are gonna wish they were never born!"
Something clicked and Bill turned a shade of red. "You better watch it, kiddo! I'm the only one who gets to touch Dipper! Don't you dare lay a single fat finger on the boy or I'll enjoy burning your unruly corpse until your own mother can't recognize it anymore," he growled and turned around. "I'm not making a deal that's a waste of my time. I got everything I need already: Dipper's trust, a human body, money, and once I get that rift, this world will be mine, with Pine Tree as my prince! I'm out of here!" The dream demon was sizzling with fury, floating up into the air in preparation to leave.
Gideon was practically falling apart from that shocking defense. He didn't expect this. There wasn't time to think. "Wait! Y-you're makin' a mistake!" he pleaded, taking a hasty step forward. "Cipher, I can do more for ya' than you can imagine! I can give you information! Support! Partners, for say!"
"I don't make mistakes, kid. I'm a demon." Bill's red color flickered a little bit as he turned back around to face Gideon. "I'm partners with Dipper right now. I don't want to work with you." Then he paused, getting a good idea. He faded into a slightly tainted version of his usual form. "However . . . you seem desperate. I do like when humans beg. Makes me feel superior. So if you beg, maybe I'll make a deal with you. Better make up your mind fast; I'm leaving in two minutes."
Gideon seemed to have adopted the red color scheme. His fists clenched with rage that he quickly smothered. Or veiled, hidden and waiting for the moment when he could lash out for vengeance. He could not afford to loathe the being he was trying to persuade. "Two minutes is more than I'd ask for," he said, tone sweetening. "Now if you'll set 'widdle ol' me free, I'll be plenty happy to enact any of your fancy endeavors. And I know just the way to do it. Gravity Falls is mayorless. With your qualification and influence, you could ease your way right through the ranks during the elections! With the respected William Codex as rightful mayor, you would have the adoration of an entire town and the power to do whatever you want in it and eventually carry out whatever diabolical plan you have in mind! You want control. I need out of here. I won't even touch . . . Dipper . . . Dipper Pines if that's what it takes. You do me that simple favor and this deal would set me up to help ya' out. Will ya' please, oh Bill Cipher, future ruler of the world?" Gideon finished his short speech with a degrading bat of his eyelashes and a growing show of malice underneath it all. Bill would have to either be completely set with a plan or have horribly prideful judgement to refuse. It was foolproof.
Bill was silent for a few seconds, turning yellow once again. He preferred Dipper's flattery and praise over Gideon's, but the baby man sure could use that tongue as a weapon. "Alright," he gave in, blue flames flickering as he shook the boy's hand. "You have a way with words, Gleeful. I have no desire to become mayor, unless Dipper thinks it's a good idea. His great uncle is running anyway. I'll get you out of here soon, but when I need you to run errands and do some quick favors, you'd better do them immediately or you'll be begging for death to come sooner." He let go of Gideon's hand and disappeared on that note, his looming presence fading from the atmosphere.
Gideon couldn't keep from giggling happily when the color began seeping back into the room. "You have my word," he murmured in an excited, depraved way.
One of the jailers yelled out in an irritated tone, tired, "You'd better not be doing anything to escape, Gideon! Be quiet and go to sleep or I'll come in there!"
"You'd better shut your — I-I mean: yes, mister!" he interrupted himself, back in that same sweet voice. The nine year-old smoothly wiped away the chalk design on the wall, blinding the eye he made for Bill, and lied back on his cot, comfortably reclining. "You bet I will."
Bill's real eye snapped open and he slowly sat up, looking at Dipper. "Hey, Pine Tree. I'm back." He smiled at him, happy to have returned.
Dipper was crouched down next to the bed and jumped, looking over with surprise and relief. "You're back! W-what . . . happened?" he asked, blushing as he slipped a box he was holding back under the bed.
"Gideon happened. I still don't like him. I refused his demands since he threatened to hurt your family. I told him that I would protect you. I think I scared him," the demon sighed, not wanting the boy to take the truth wrong, and looked at him. "What was in that box? Are you hiding something?"
"No — I uh, it's nothing. Just where I kept some . . . things that I had to get rid of," Dipper responded, smiling at Bill. It filled him with happiness to think he would defend him when he wasn't there. He loved Bill like he could never love anyone else. That he was certain wouldn't change in centuries. "Should we worry about him?"
Bill found his response for the box a bit suspicious but let it go. "Nah. He won't be coming anywhere near you and Mabel for a while. I'm sure he got the message that I would torture him if he did." He grinned.
"He'd better know it," Dipper huffed, standing up. "If I have to deal with that maniac one more time . . ."
"Dipper! Bill!" Mabel's footsteps raged up the stairs and she soon popped into the room wearing a new sweater.
The brunet blinked, wondering what it was that had her acting like that. "Mabel?"
"Grunkle Stan says that he's running for mayor of Gravity Falls tomorrow! And Grunkle Ford said that we'll get to go to the first election together!" she beamed as if they hadn't heard it before.
"Great!" Bill waved at her. "Stan told us earlier." He looked over at Dipper again. "Right?"
"Pretty much," the boy said, smiling back at this sister. It still didn't feel natural.
"Oh, he did? I guess it was a bigger surprise for me," she laughed, bouncing in the doorway. "Do you guys want to do anything before dinner?"
Bill shrugged. "I'm all for relaxing and chilling back. That work was tiring." The blond casually leaned on Dipper's leg. "What about you, Pine Tree?"
The boy stayed standing where he was, allowing the former triangle to do his thing. "I'm okay. I'll do whatever you feel like."
"Sooooo . . . nothing then? Alright, cool-io, bros! I'll be downstairs watching TV shows with Grunkle Stan if you need me! Don't be late for dinner!" she advised happily, starting back down the steps.
"She seems cheerful as usual," Bill commented. He stopped using Dipper as a rest and went to lay on the bed. "Hey, Pine Tree. Got any books you could read to me?"
"Yeah, I have lots. Do you like mysteries?" he perked up, trying to ignore the uncomfortable feeling his sister gave him. Dipper sorted through the novels in his room. "All of these are really good."
"Sure. Just pick your favorite." Bill observed him fondly, lying on the bed. "I figured it would be fun and relaxing. And we could cuddle." The demon blushed lightly. That was a good thing about being a human. He liked cuddling.
Dipper liked it way too much. He flushed thoroughly, grabbing a random book instead of trying to choose a between them. They were each done well in his opinion. But mostly, he just wanted to settle down with Bill. The boy joined him on the tiny mattress. It was a miracle that they were both able to fit on it at all, considering that it was a twin size made for one kid. Dipper lied down next to Bill, enjoying how close they were. "This is . . . a nice idea."
The young man gave a smile, snuggling up to him and wrapping his arms around his shoulders. "This is a great idea. Read to me, kid." He looked at the book Dipper had picked out with somewhat curious eyes, even though he had watched the tween read all of his novels over the summer. Bill mostly wanted to hear Dipper speak and feel his warmth. It was the best way to relax.
"Out loud?" Dipper asked automatically, laughing on the inside. Of course he'd worry about that. "Okay, okay. Um . . . 'In the deepest depths of the city, sitting still on a lone bench, is a man whose appearance would long be forgotten by those who hardly cared to look. We were passing by on a case, focused until he made a shady motion for us to approach. I was the first to insist that we should see what he wanted. Dangerous or not, it was our job as investigators to gather as much information as possible. And that's when things got a little strange . . .'"