"You have to be fantastic at everything, don't you?" Pine Tree smiled lovingly, arm linked around Bill's, tummy warm and full from breakfast and a happy morning. They were nearing the end of the hall.
"Of course. But you get the best treatment!" Bill replied cheerfully. "So, what would you like to do today?"
"Maybe later I can take you up on that offer to teach me to play the piano," he grinned, feeling giddy. "Or we could go and do what you want. But . . . we do have some important things planned, so we should probably get them out of the way first."
"A-okay, kiddo! We can do important things first and then I'll teach you to play piano! I know a small song that you can learn. It's one of my favorites," Bill said with excitement, walking into the throne room once again.
The brunet beamed, a bounce in his step as they entered their glorious area. "Ah, it's actually pretty nice here," he said, affectionately pressing closer to Bill. "Mmm . . . who do you think needs to be checked on today?"
He made a thoughtful face. "Well, it's up to you. I figure we should stay away from Ford until you're ready. Maybe see the rest of your friends at the Shack?"
"Will they even let us go back there?" he asked, huffing a bit. "I would like to . . . but they've got to be holding a bad grudge on us. Actually, everyone is. Gideon, Ford, Wendy, Stan . . . I think our only luck would be with the clones or the other demons. And that's not saying much." He looked at the blond, a little frustrated. I need a kiss. It was a fleeting thought, one that brought an embarrassed flush to his face. S-sorry . . . I didn't . . . sorry.
Bill giggled. Ah! Silly Pine Tree, he thought and pulled the boy flush against him. "I'll kiss you anytime you want. Just ask, kid." To prove his point, he leaned down and kissed Pine Tree, cheeks tinted red.
It was chaste, but the tween was drenched in passionate love afterward. He felt so beautifully weak, leaning into Bill like he was his lifeline. Goodbye, frustrations. "You probably shouldn't give me that privilege. I'd use it too much," he joked, beaming.
Bill laughed, arms around him gently, lovingly holding the kid up to his chest. "That's fine. I enjoy every second."
"I enjoy every millisecond," he smirked back in mock evil, eyes glinting with laughter. His blush didn't go away.
The blond shook his head in amusement before kissing him again. He closed his eyes, simply letting their emotions flow through him.
Pine Tree did the same, fully smitten, perfect, everything perfect. He enamoured the former triangle, his flawless lips wonderful on his own. If they were going to do something, he pushed it aside. This was the real priority. No complaints from his department.
Bill let go of his worries and plans. Weirdmageddon and stage two didn't matter at the moment. Just Pine Tree. His Pine Tree. He lost himself in the fervor and sensations, the world around him disappearing into the far background. The male had replaced everything with the boy in front of him. Bill hoped the kid felt the same thing, wanting both their worries to disappear.
There was no need to hope, for the same dedication reverberated over their connection as Pine Tree found himself helplessly in love. He even liked the possessive hold Bill had on him, though it felt protective more than anything. Because Bill was everything. His stolen breath came with a huge grin, and the boy found himself panting. "W-wow . . ."
Bill's eye opened after they pulled away, glowing gold with happiness and love. The king didn't need a mirror to know what he looked like. Parted lips, flushed cheeks, and messy blond hair. He was smiling. "You said it."
Heart thudding once-impossible magic through him, the young prince adjusted his crown, taking heed to his posture. Puffing out his chest a bit in the mood, Pine Tree had to fight the urge to kiss Bill for the third time since breakfast, a task at hand. He was sure he appeared an embarrassing level of pink, though he kept his voice steady. "I love you, but I think it's time we get going. How about we see if anything came up with the demons outside and then try our luck with Ford?" he suggested, still sparkling with adoration.
Taking his hand to show that he agreed, the blond took them out into town to check on his demons. Personally, Bill didn't care much about them. They were inferior and were only there to serve him in his army. Plus, they were mainly for company before he met Pine Tree; a gang he could spend time with during his sentence in the Nightmare Realm.
Pine Tree just really wanted to know if the Gravity Falls resistance was stirring up any actual trouble. Mabel's bubble was there on the horizon when he checked for it. The town itself was an even bigger mess than it was the day before. "Yeesh, they've gotten restless," he commented, eyeing the scene.
"Yeah, they have been since phase two has been delayed," Bill replied, clicking his tongue and noticing a group of them stomping down trees. "All the citizens have been taken care of so I bet they've been playing with plants and animals."
A pine tree fell on its side, crashing into a weirdness bubble. It wobbled for a second before it sprouted legs and tried to run away, only to get incinerated in a matter of heartbeats. The ashes were thrown about like snowballs.
Pine Tree caught himself staring, a chilled unease settling in him. "I can see that," he coughed awkwardly, steadily floating away from that particular group. An eyebat flapped past him, causing the boy to startle, ignoring the fact that it was as languid as could be. The creature spared the prince a glance before lackadaisically scanning the life-stripped lands again, in routine. The boy absently rubbed his tattoo, chewing on his lip. Everything was worse than he'd thought.
"We'd better get to phase two or I'm afraid this place won't be suitable for life for a long time . . ." Bill muttered, scanning the wasteland once more before glancing at the Fearamid. The ominous floating pyramid cast a shadow over part of the town, its presence sending off waves of weirdness energy. "Anything else you wanted to do here before we go back?"
"Mabel's bubble. And the Mystery Shack," he answered immediately. "I mean, I don't think we can go there without someone trying to fight us. But I'd like to know . . . what's going on. I thought a demon would be able to tell us, but then there's the whole thing with our deal and you not letting them get too close to them."
"Hmm . . . there might be a totally different solution." The blond untied his eyepatch. "I'm not sure about Mabel's bubble, but I do know the Shack has a lot of my eyes." A projected holographic image popped out from his special eye, showing a view of the Mystery Shack from one of its many triangular windows. "If you want to check up on them without anybody knowing then this is the best way. Unless you wanted to do it in person?"
"I-I just want to see how everyone's doing," he said, watching the hologram in awe. Bill's eye that he kept hidden was actually kind of amazing. "Do you think you can find Grunkle Stan? Or maybe their hideout, wherever that is?"
Bill nodded. "Yes, I should be able to find him." Concentrating, an image of Grunkle Stan sitting on a chair in the Mystery Shack's living room popped up, the rest of the town's stragglers around him.
"I see Pacifica! And McGucket and Soos!" he exclaimed, looking closely at the group. Wendy wasn't there. Neither were the copies. A couple of supernatural creatures were huddled around the old man, probably talking to him. Pine Tree didn't know how to read lips.
"Hmm, I wonder . . ." Bill made a thoughtful face, tapping his chin. "I'm gonna try something, though it might be creepy." When he opened his mouth again, voices from the image came through.
"Guys, Ford's probably fine. Let's just relax. I have plenty of brown meat to feed all of us for a few years," Stan was saying to the nervous beings in the room.
"No, I'm sorry , but I don't think I can eat another bite of it. I need double-stuffed burritos and marshmallow cream sundaes!" the chubby employee protested in exasperation. "Who's with me, dawgs?"
"Settle down, fatty," Pacifica retorted, a hand on her hip. She was dressed rather expensively, the only sign of her hardship being the tattered ends of her outfit and dirt smeared on her girly shoes. "I don't want to be crammed in here as much as you do, but it's horrible outside. We wouldn't stand a chance. I say we stay hidden until those evil bozos get bored with this town."
The creatures exploded with opinions of their own, all at once.
Pine Tree frowned, looking back at Bill. It wasn't creepy as it was making him want to curl up in a ball. "I really wish they didn't hate us . . ."
Stan tried to quiet the clamor, yelling over them to shut their yaps.
Bill cut the audio off, wincing at the loud noise. "Seems they're restless too . . ."
"But I don't think they'll be able to interfere with our plans like this," the brunet finished, still looking at the hologram although it wasn't showing him anything important. "I mean, they'll be fine after we . . . move on, right?"
"Of course. They'll be left alone. The demons and I have no purpose staying here," he replied, the hologram disappearing as he tied the eyepatch back over his eye.
"And me too . . . I'm going to be with you? All over the world?" he pressed, floating closer to the blond. "This was what you meant when you said I didn't have to go back to California. I wonder what my parents would think . . ."
Bill shrugged. "You're safe with me. Imagine: we could go to Paris and kiss at the top of the Eiffel Tower," he suggested temptingly. A vision of both of them flying to the tip and kissing in Paris flashed before the demon. He grinned at the kid next to him.
His face immediately flushed over. Worldwide Weirdmageddon actually wasn't sounding that bad. "Mmm-maybe . . ." Pine Tree hummed, feeling needy from the thought. He wrapped his fingers around Bill's, smiling. "Why don't we do a quick fly over Mabel's bubble and then head back?"
"Alright," he agreed, taking them to the tween's huge pink bubble. "At least we know Shooting Star's happy and protected in there, right?" Bill gave Pine Tree's hand a gentle squeeze.
"Yeah," he agreed, blinking down at it as they passed. The artificial world was completely intact, and the bridge was littered with used survival supplies. And a torn, flannel shirt. He frowned. Do you think Wendy keeps trying to go back in there?
It wouldn't surprise me. She's stubborn enough. They made it back to the Fearamid. "Ah! Home." He was happy to be back in his own castle with Pine Tree.
The boy shook his head, ridding the peeping worries that attempted to plant themselves in his mind. "Yup. Home," he smiled in return, alighting with a sigh as gravity regained hold on him. "Now all we have to do is talk with Ford again . . ."
"We do. But! I'll be right by your side and I'm always open for kisses." To prove his point, he leaned down, lightly pressing his lips on Dipper's.
The tween's insides exploded with happiness. It was so perfect. Even though it was over, he was already moving closer to Bill, wanting more. But he stopped himself, a laugh escaping him. "W-wow. I have it really bad for you," he stated, grinning. It had become the plainest of facts.
"You do. And I love it." The blond ruffled Pine Tree's brown bangs and beamed. He linked their hands together again, stepping up to Ford's metal statue. "Ready when you are."
With a wave of Pine Tree's will, the man was released from his petrified prison halfway down his shoulders.
Ford hissed through his teeth, struggling again, and then stopped. He eyed them warily.
"Learned your lesson yet, Sixer?" Bill sneered. Oh, this was great. Ford was trapped and couldn't do a thing to stop them.
"The only thing I've learned is not to trust you," he responded indignantly, grimacing. "I'm not going to just hand over the formula. And you can't get into my mindscape and take it from me."
Bill's grip on Dipper's hand tightened, a deep growl resonating from the demon's chest. "Looks like we get to play dirty."
Ford's eyes narrowed in anger, gaze darting between them. "What do you want with my grandnephew? Why haven't you tried to get rid of him yet?"
"Get rid of him? Gosh, no. I'm keeping him here. It's his home just as much as it is mine. We're celebrating Weirdmageddon together! The grand finale will be worldwide if you'd cooperate with us. Why don't we make a deal, huh?" Bill tried again. For Pine Tree's sake, he wasn't going to hurt Ford just yet, but he was on the verge of torturing the old man.
"This isn't his home! You can't expect me to believe that he's comfortable here! That he'd be fine with this!" Ford protested, struggling again. "He has family and friends and a good heart, deep down! He's smarter than you'd think! One day, he'll figure out the truth!" Nervous sweat beaded and dripped down his forehead.
Pine Tree found the slightest satisfaction in that. But he couldn't help the pang of regret that rippled through him. It was the tiniest smidgen. "The Fearamid is my home now. And I'll be comfortable as long as Bill is," the boy corrected, staying strong. "Besides, your word isn't worth anything."
Ford stiffened, something flashing over his visage. "The third journal. Where is it?"
"Hm? You're talking about this, Great-uncle Ford?" Reaching into his vest, the prince pulled out Journal Number Three, holding it in front of him for the Author to see.
Ford looked like he was going to faint, both from relief and from fear. "T-there's a passage . . . and if you have the others, you should be able to fix . . ."
Pine Tree threw the book to the floor, it landing in a plume of dust. "This isn't worth anything, either. Not anymore, now that I have Bill. And it doesn't matter whatever 'solution' you have written here. It's useless."
A thrill of satisfaction went through Bill, absolutely loving Pine Tree's responses. In the heat of the moment, Bill pointed at the Journal on the floor, willing it to burst into flames. It did on his command. "It's useless now, anyway. Whatever 'cure' you have to rid Weirdmageddon is gone. Not to mention that I have more knowledge than that ratty old book does." Bill placed a hand on Pine Tree's back, supporting him.
The twelve year-old watched the fire in a sort of stupor, somehow shocked that the book he'd relied on the entire summer was smoldering into ashes. Even though he caused it. He managed a smile, leaning into Bill, and soon his grin wasn't forced at all. There was no loss.
"No . . ." Ford choked, brow furrowing as he scowled. "You can't do this!" His life's work, destroyed. Just like that.
"I can do whatever I please, Fordsy. I'm the king of the apocalypse. And Pine Tree is the prince. You have to answer to us!" Bill grinned, happy that the Journal was ruined. "Where're the other two journals? I'd like to burn them as well."
"How dare you . . ." Ford growled, looking up from the flaming heap to glare at Bill. "I'm not telling you anything. For the sake of the universe, my knowledge is sealed, Cipher!"
"This universe could use some chaos. But I'm done arguing with you. I'll make you talk a different way." The demon was done holding back. He was annoyed by Ford, wanting nothing more than to hurt him already. Bill glanced at Pine Tree. Hope you don't mind, kid. I've got to get him to talk somehow. He shot a laser of electricity from his finger towards Ford, enough to shock him.
The man cried out, smoke curling off of him as the charge set his nerves into panic. Bill's blast was so strong that the statuesque part of him started to disintegrate, revealing a good portion of his living form.
Pine Tree fought hard to keep his limbs imprisoned with his magic, the same feeling as when they were punishing Gideon making his chest tight. He could hardly concentrate.
Ford wheezed in a gasp, coughing. The tips of his hair were singed. But his expression was stoic and still. He kept his gaze pinned to the floor. "Y-you can't . . . make me talk."
Pine Tree was able to take control of the material again, keeping his great uncle immobilized. But barely. Bill . . . I don't think I can hold him back if you keep doing this. And . . . I think . . . Dipper's eyes shone with a plea, the brunet making a face at the blond, it might be better to get him to tell us without the torture. Pine Tree couldn't believe he was asking that of Bill. He hated Ford. Right?
"Oh, yeah. Like talking to him got us anywhere," Bill snapped. "Fordsy deserves this anyway. Sometimes with mortals, breaking them in the only way to get them to talk." The demon's fists clenched, trying to control his wrath. Slowly, he relaxed, forming a better idea than one that simply used anger and force. "Let's try a simple human torture method. Hey, Sixer, I know you've been off the grid for a while in that other dimension, but perhaps you've heard of water torture?" The king smirked. "Ya' know, the slow one where water drips on your head in the same spot for hours. I think the government made it illegal? Eh, who cares. Point is, it might not hurt, but I heard it works wonderfully against the mind." He laughed. This one won't hurt him, but it has psychological effects.
Dipper pursed his lips, feeling a little dejected. But he got over it. I know about that. I used to study criminal justice techniques and forensics in elementary school . . . I wanted to be a detective. The Journal's engulfing fire started to die down.
Ford seemed stunned. "What? That's it?"
Pine Tree curiously glanced at the old man, who looked at both of them with bewilderment. And suspicion.
"You imprison and electrocute me, burn away years of my valuable research and now you want to drip water on my head?" Ford gaped at the apocalyptic royals, dumbfounded. "You think that's going to make me talk? Either you've gotten soft or you have something malicious planned."
Bill cackled, ignoring his comment about him being soft. I'll show him "soft". "Ain't it crazy, Fordsy?" He didn't give him time to reply. "Good, and because I love crazy so much, this torture will be different! I seem to remember you starting to hear things in your dreams thirty years ago." He tapped his chin in thought. "Those dreams got under your skin. So just for the heck of it, each time a drop lands on your head you'll hear voices, whispers, and screams! Oh, you'll go insane! Just like your friend Fiddleford. Ta ta!" Bill grinned, his wicked version of water starting to drip on Ford. Pine Tree, make sure he can't move his head.
"Bill . . ." the boy huffed, not quite a complaint. He cast his magic out, forcing the gun's material up Ford's neck, stopping there. He wouldn't be able to turn even a bit.
"Dipper! You know what's right!" his great uncle attempted, flinching as a drop hit him in his graying mess of hair. "Don't let yourself be fooled!"
Unease smacked into the brunet again, but the prince stood taller, walking past the fiery book and heading away. He didn't bother correcting his name. "Bill, I believe we have a piano lesson to get to."