I've been working on this chapter for almost two weeks. I needed to post it tonight as starting tomorrow I have a full schedule: 1) I start classes to obtain a license I need for work. 2) I'm auditioning for a musical. 3) It's nearing fall which means multiple costumes will be required, all of which I must hand make myself. 4) My blood sugar hasn't been good lately, so I'm putting myself on a regular exercise plan to help lower and maintain my glucose level. Maybe then I won't be so tired all the time. Well, hoping at least.
With all that out of the way, I present to you chapter forty three of Bonded: Year Two.
Thank you to Emerald Cipher, Energy witch, Guest, and Quickest Secret for your reviews on the last chapter.
Bill led Handrina through the golden maze. He looked over his shoulder regularly to see her keeping steady with his pace, no doubt aided by the Mindscape's removal of reality's limits.
Bill hurried down the hallway he traveled once before. He had memorized the route revealed to him by the locator spell during his last visit, and reminded himself often when alone in thought.
The blond man skidded to a stop as they reached the end of the hallway. Handrina materialized a staff to catch her balance. She slowly approached Bill who stared grinning at the desired door. The witch scowled.
She glanced over to the door on the right. Pointing at said door with her staff Handrina questioned, "Isn't this the one we need?"
Bill glared at the old woman then the door that contained information on the foe whose day of arrival grew closer. His attention drew back to the door adorned with his own name. When he returned to his previous glory, there'd be no need for whatever lied behind Kryptos' door.
Bill's fingers caressed the etching of every letter written in gold.
"I can't count how many times I dreamed of returning to you," Bill whispered to the door. "The memories of my past forced into a sad fantasy soon to be transformed into a happy reality."
"Should I leave you alone with the door?" Handrina asked.
Bill remembered the other being in the room. He lowered his hand to the knob and as predicted it had locked. He turned to the witch, offering the sweetest smile.
"Can you do what you did before?" Bill asked.
"Open your eye?" Handrina inquired.
Bill eagerly nodded.
"On your knees," the witch commanded.
Bill obeyed and shut his eyes, his smile in full extension, his heart raced, fingers twitched. It took all of his strength not to demand Handrina to move faster.
As before Handrina chanted and the markings on Bill's pinky glowed, revealing the third eye on the demon's forehead. Bill listened carefully to each word the woman muttered, although unable to catch a few. No matter, if his plan succeeded there'd be no need to return at a later time.
The third eye on Bill's forehead flashed and the two heard the door unlatch. Bill jumped to his feet, the eye immediately vanished. He salivated as his hand turned the knob then with his entire body pushed it open.
Upon his entrance the fireplace and sconces illuminated. Bill greeted the familiar decor, the room he claimed as his home. Handrina followed behind; she nodded her approval then seated herself down on the plush couch while Bill rushed over to the bookshelf.
Bill blew the layer of dust off the top row of books. Blood rubies were out of the question, and as much as he'd like to kill Ford, the current bond wouldn't let him.
The blond skimmed through the contents of the remaining books. For one reason or another nothing written in the thousands of pages could help him. Handrina scanned the room for a refrigerator.
Bill picked up a blue book that lacked a title. In its place were the very markings that adorned Bill and Ford's pinky fingers. Bill snapped off the feeble lock and opened to the table of contents. He read through the selections of topics: how to bond with a demon, how to transfer a bond (as Remington had tried in the past), how to temporarily bend the bond during battle (which he had experienced himself countless times), and then the chapter he sought. Chapter eleven: severing the bond.
Bill flipped through the pages until he reached chapter eleven on page two hundred ninety six. He threw himself in the comfortable recliner with the book on his lap.
"Can't you offer a woman a drink?" Handrina complained.
Bill glanced up from the book. Without hiding the annoyance in his voice he said, "We're in the Mindscape, think up whatever you want." He then returned to the knowledge written in black ink.
Handrina sat with a cold soda in hand and watched Bill soak in the information. She gulped down a heavy swallow then asked, "How did you find out about this room?"
Bill grunted and glared at her for a moment then continued his reading. Without removing his gaze from the page he answered, "I came here before. When Sixer sent me to look for something. Didn't really have time to look then." Bill turned the page. "But now...yes, it'll be worth the wait."
Handrina watched Bill's eyes quickly dart down the many lines of a single page, then jump to the next one when finished with the last. She downed the rest of her drink then let the empty cup rest on the cushion.
"That's it!" Bill exclaimed. He jumped out of his seat then pushed the book into Handrina's face. "You read it."
The old woman plucked the book from Bill's grasp then threw on her reading glasses. She skimmed the information then met the demon with a frown.
"I already told you I don't do spells," Handrina stated.
Bill groaned. "All you gotta do is read it," he pressed. "I can't remove the bond myself, and according to this Fordsy can't either." He shoved the book back into her wrinkly hands. "The magic in your blood should make it work."
Handrina read the text a second time. The paragraph before the incantation read: Another, one not connected to the bond can remove either party from the bond by speaking these words.
"I say this spell and your bond to Stanford immediately breaks?" Handrina asked.
"Yes," Bill answered, barely able to contain his excitement.
"Then there's only one thing to do," Handrina said with a chuckle. She grasped the book in one hand and the other she placed atop the page.
Bill shook with delight. He closed his eyes, already anticipating the surge of power about to rush through his body. Within seconds Kryptos would no longer be a threat, and Ford could no longer hold dominion over him.
Bellmar guided the group into the adjacent dimension. Pyronica warned their leader this stranger might lead them into a trap. Already aware of the possibility, Kryptos ordered Pyronica and Pacifier to be on their guard.
Pacifier let out a sigh of relief at the cooler atmosphere in the dimension. Bellmar informed the group they entered the kingdom of Hawthorne. The ruler of the land was indebted to her for a recent favor, and would be their ticket to Bill's current location.
The seven walked down the cobblestone path that led to the stone palace in the near distance. Several of the guards bowed to Bellmar, while others made no attempt to hide their contempt for the creature. Xanthar and Pacifier found the land remarkable while Pyronica could only see it as cliche. 8-Ball pondered on the princess who had sought their new acquaintance's help. Kryptos only hoped this to be an actual lead, as he felt it be a pity to have to kill Bellmar should she disappoint him.
Seven sets of feet ascended the stairs and met the stern face of the head guard. He recognized Bellmar's face and with a slight scowl nodded for her and her party to follow.
On his command the doormen pushed aside the iron doors which revealed the pristine golden walls and floors inside. Their feet clacked along the shining marble floor.
Rows of the fancy dressed ceased conversation and stared at the odd creatures that made their way through the hall. Beautiful decorated furniture lined the interior of the throne room. Every so many feet rested a portrait of a woman with gold curls that lined her rather hideous face.
There seated on the throne at the end of the hall was the very subject of each portrait so accurately captured by the multiple artists. The fine clothing and distinguished curls did little to hide the irony of both her vanity and repulsive features.
8-Ball scrunched his nose and turned his head away.
The ruler frowned then nodded to the body guard to her right. He moved in a vanishing flash and appeared behind the party. Before any could respond the guard slammed a mace over 8-Ball's head. The green demon fell barely conscious to the floor with a loud thud. Hobb screamed and Kryptos grinned.
"Princess Maelie," Bellmar greeted.
The woman smiled at the mention of her name. "The rumors already arrived that you completed your mission," she spoke with a great grin.
"It was a simple task," Bellmar answered with a dismissive wave.
"Still, you've done me a great service removing that pest," Princess Maelie spoke.
"Then you have what you promised?" said Bellmar.
The princess nodded. "The water from the well will transport you to any dimension you desire," she said. Her thin arm stretched out towards the window in the direction of the mentioned well. "But as I informed you last time it can only be accessed at dawn."
"So we're too late?" Kryptos interrupted.
Maelie looked up at the rhombus with a frown.
"Did they assist you?" she asked motioning to the Henchmaniacs.
"Not at all," answered Bellmar. "I just met them actually. They also have grievances towards Bill Cipher."
Maelie leaned back in her chair. "From what Bellmar told me, this Bill Cipher sounds like a great nuisance." She shut her eyes and added, "Very well, you did me a great favor, so take as many as you'd like."
"What kind of favor did you do?" Pacifier asked.
"I took care of a rival princess who sought after the same prince as Princess Maelie," said Bellmar.
"The idiot found her prettier," Maelie spat. "I intended to have him slain too, but watching him cry over her corpse was much merrier." The princess sat up straight and smug. "I'll make sure to remind him he's the reason for her fate the rest of our lives."
"Death would've been better than having to marry her," 8-Ball said as he stood while rubbing the bump on the back of his head.
Maelie glared at the guest. She snapped her fingers and the guards attacked. Hobb jumped out of the way while Kryptos and his group watched the men wrestle their teammate to the ground. Two blades rested diagonally over either side of 8-Ball's head.
"As per the law, anyone whose tongue disrespects the princess shall be beheaded," the lead guard spoke as the others shackled the visitor.
8-Ball stared at Kryptos. He begged his leader for help. Kryptos merely looked away and the others followed suit. The guards dragged the wailing demon away to the dungeon where he'd await his fate the following morning.
"I take it you'll all want to stay here for the evening," Maelie offered.
"If you don't mind," Kryptos replied.
The princess clapped her hand and the summoned maidservant approached and gave the monarch a low bow.
"Prepare rooms for our guests and give them anything they desire," demanded Maelie.
The servant quietly nodded then scurried away to fulfill the princess' request. In the brisk motion Pyronica caught a glimpse of the massive scar that disfigured the maid's face.
"You proved yourself worthy," Kryptos said to Bellmar.
"I remind you of your end of the bargain," said Bellmar.
Kryptos chuckled. "When I tire of Cipher, he's all yours."
The star-shaped demon grinned.
Pyronica placed a hand on Kryptos' shoulder.
"This is a waste of time," the pink demon whispered.
Kryptos sat his hand atop of hers. "There's nothing we can do until dawn. Besides, we should all rest so we'll be at our best when we strike."
Pacifier grinned. "Too bad we'll be gone before 8-Ball's execution."
Pyronica rolled her eye. "I can't believe you let him stay this long."
Kryptos patted the top of Pyronica's hand. "Maybe I can persuade the princess to schedule the execution sooner."
"It'll be a nice dinner entertainment," Pacifier commented.
Not long after the maidservant returned to show the guests to their chambers. Bellmar and Pyronica were to share a room, Pacifier, Xanthar, and Hobb, and lastly Kryptos was granted a room to himself. Despite his orders for his group to rest, he knew he'd get little sleep as his imagination's many fantasies of maiming and torturing his former friend would keep him awake into the early hours.
The maid reminded each that if they required anything to ring for her or one of the other servants.
Once alone in their room Pyronica placed one hand on the door then turned to face her new acquaintance. Despite their enormous difference in size Bellmar held her glare against Pyronica.
"What interest do you have in Bill?" the fire demon asked.
Bellmar scoffed. "I'm not obligated to answer to you," she said and headed for the bathroom.
Pyronica blocked her way with crossed arms. "Perhaps not, but you don't want to make an enemy of me."
Bellmar scowled, "If you're trying to intimidate me, I promise you you'll need to try harder." She moved ahead a few feet then stopped. The star looked over her shoulder then said to the now seething demon, "And don't get it wrong. It's you who'd be careful not to make an enemy of me."
Pyronica stood with her mouth agape as Bellmar disappeared into the washroom. The fire demon clenched her fists and stalked out of the room. She slammed the chamber door behind her. The noise startled the maidservant who had been sent to retrieve white wine for Kryptos.
"Hey, servant girl!" Pyronica called.
The maid shivered under the glare of that crimson eye.
"What's your name?" Pyronica asked as the servant cautiously approached.
"Amelie," the girl answered, her gaze on Pyronica's feet.
The demon lurched forward and grabbed Amelie's chin. She lifted the girl's face so that their noses nearly touched. She felt the tiny servant's accelerated throat pulse against the side of her finger.
"What happened to your face?" Pyronica questioned.
Pyronica felt Amelie swallow saliva. The girl's brown eyes averted away from the much taller creature.
"Answer," demanded Pyronica, and Amelie jumped. "I've been in enough battles to know it's not a birthmark, or an accidental scar." Pyronica traced the scarred tissue with her finger causing the maidservant to flinch. "I can see the trail of the blade."
"The-the princess," Amelie replied. "She said I was too pretty." She swallowed then in a quieter voice added, "She said she couldn't...couldn't stand to look at my face."
Pyronica released her hold on the girl who fell to her knees.
"I want to bathe in champagne, bring me your best," Pyronica ordered.
Amelie bowed her head.
"Then bring me your best berries and cream and a bottle of your finest wine," continued Pyronica.
The maid hurried off to comply with the guest's wishes.
Meanwhile Bellmar rested in the porcelain bathtub. She leaned her head against the back of the tub with the warm, lavender water soaking her body.
She closed her eye and memories of her mother surfaced: a beautiful octogonal demon of a radiant pink shade similar to Pyronica's skin tone. She once greeted the world with bright blue eyes, but years of dismay dulled them in both hue and mirth.
Bellmar recalled how those in her village avoided them whenever they walked into town. Whenever she approached a group of children they dispersed. Some even ran to their parents who stared on at the young girl with contempt. Bellmar remembered how many times she heard whispers behind hands, the words masked, but the eyes always on her and her mother.
Bellmar opened her eye to see her gripping her own arms. She lowered her hands to see defined red marks where her nails previously star sunk lower into the lavender water.
Bellmar remembered the morning she woke to the horrid stench. She entered her mother's room as she had grown accostomed to doing each morning only to find the woman in her bed, dead. There was only one to blame for her passing: Bill Cipher.
Bill's grin stretched as far as his cheeks physically allowed. With the book in hand, opened to the correct page, Handrina stared into the glowing gold eyes before her.
"I say these words and you're released from that body?" Handrina asked.
Bill nodded, his toothy grin not moved. A sliver of saliva dripped down his chin.
The witch frowned. "And what will happen to Stanford and I if we're still trapped inside your head when you're set free?" she inquired.
Who cares? Bill thought to himself. He merely shrugged and said, "You'll wake up in your own bodies. Probably."
Handrina stood quietly for a moment. The only sounds in the room emanated from Bill's heavy breathing and the crackling of the fireplace.
"Read it," Bill ordered with a giddy laugh. "Stop wasting time, read it now."
Handrina stared down at the text before her. She warned Bill beforehand she wasn't a spellmaster. The language too foreign, her brain unsure how to form the words on her tongue.
"Read it," Bill whispered, the words slinging spit from his lips.
The handwitch stalled for a few seconds more, causing Bill's grin to fall.
"What are you waiting for? Read it!" he yelled.
"Yes, there is only one thing to do," Handrina said.
Again Bill shut his eyes. A part of him wanted to look at his human reflection one last time before it became a painful memory, cast aside as the fleeting embers of a nightmare. He had almost forgotten what his true from felt like, but once returned he'd never take that beautiful triangle body for granted again.
Handrina turned and tossed the book facedown into the fireplace. The pages erupted into flames, the one containing the restoration spell the first to burn.
Bill's eyes flew open. He screamed and dove into the fireplace. He reached his hands into the flames, ignoring the searing heat that lapped at his fingers as he grasped for the smoldering binding. His fingers gripped around the charred spine and he plucked the blazing object from its oven.
The book disintegrated into ash in his hands. He sat heavily breathing as he grasped at the warm ashes collected by his knees. His fingertips spread the gray dust on the golden brick floor, leaving black streaks in their wake.
"No," Bill gasped. "No, no, no, no, no, no," he cried. His eyes welled with tears as he willed himself to restore the book to its original form. Unfortunately his brain contained no knowledge of the information written in that book, and it was forever removed from his consciousness.
The fire spread from its contained space to where Bill sat. It lapped at his golden curls he tossed about his face as he lamented his loss. He smelled the cinders and hurried to his feet and rushed towards the bookshelf on the wall. The flames from the torches rained down onto the shelves. Bill jumped back to watch the fire engulf the bookshelf.
He reached for the most promising titles only to watch them crumble into dust the second his finger touched their binding. The shelf blazed burning away every chance of restoration his mind once archived.
Bill gripped at his hair and lowered himself into a sitting position. He watched the books burn unable to do anything to stop their permanent destruction. His heart burst and for a moment he felt like he would cry, but the sobs halted in his throat. On the way out they transformed into laughs.
"I am finished," Bill cried. He tossed his head back with another round of cackles. "Oh, I am me no more."
He let his fingernails form into claws then dragged them down his face. He repeated the action a second time and laughed at the tingling pain along with the feeling of warm liquid streaming down his cheeks.
"Look at me," Bill laughed. He leaned the back of his head against the brick wall. "I've let dear Fordsy to mold me into this hollow shell." He laughed harder then held out his hands before him. Blood-stained nails glimmered in the flame light. "I don't even recognize myself."
Bill looked over at the portrait that hung over the fireplace. Even without the warm flames flickering between the logs he clearly stared at the image of himself the way he had imagined for millennia. That dream had been stolen from him when his soul had been shoved into a foreign body and forced to follow the ways of the human world.
"That's not me anymore," Bill said in between laughs. He forced himself to his feet and wobbled as he had after inhabiting a host body for the first time. He stumbled over to the chair and fell to his knees. He leaned his chest and head into the seat of the plush chair.
"Come, let's go, you're embarrassing yourself," Handrina said.
Bill snapped from his lamentation at the sound of the old woman's voice. Having temporarily forgotten her presence he rose to his feet, his shoulders hunched and fists clenched.
"You," Bill growled. He turned, his eyes red and fangs bared. "You can't even fathom what you just cost me!"
Two extra arms on either side burst from Bill's abdomen. Bill's body grew until he towered forty feet over the handwitch. His tongue lengthened, hanging from his mouth. The irises crimson and the whites of his eyes transformed into black.
His voice contorted and echoing he snapped, "Shredding you will be my consolation prize."
Handrina gripped her walking cane. She apparated seven severed hands to her side. Bill walked through the flames which repelled away from his body.
Bill snapped his fingers and each of the disembodied hands reduced to ash. The demon snatched the cane from Handrina's grasp and snapped it in half.
Handrina jumped backwards. She clapped her hands and another army of severed hands appeared at her call. On Handrina's order the hands advanced. Bill stomped on the hands while his arms swatted the attacking ones out of the way. Bill's top right arm reached out and grabbed Handrina by the torso. Handrina grabbed a fallen fire poker as she was hoisted into the air. She threw the fire poker straight into Bill's right eye.
The demon screamed and one of his left arms cradled his face where the object pierced. The left glowing eye glared at the witch. With her thumb and forefinger Handrina whistled summoning more hands to her aid.
Bill plucked the fire poker from his skull, taking the eyeball with it. One of the right arms yanked the orb from the weapon then jammed it into Handrina's stomach, nailing her to the wall. The hands abandoned their mission and in turn aided their mistress in releasing her from where she dangled impaled to the golden bricks. He heaved as he watched the old woman squirm as blood seeped from the wound and collected in a puddle on the floor.
The right eye regenerated in the black socket. Seething, flames erupted in each of Bill's hands, hotter and brighter than the ones that surrounded them. Handrina shut her eyes and imagined black chains that materialized and encircled themselves around each of Bill's arms. The flames extinguished, he fought against the binding, exact replicas of the weaving marks on his finger.
Bill's arms reduced to two and he shrunk back to his normal size. The chains fell at his feet and vanished into black smoke.
"You're nothing more than a brat with a temper," Handrina scolded. The hands pulled the witch free then formed a set of stairs that assisted her to the ground. They scurried up the witch's legs and rested on her arms and shoulders. The wound on her stomach quickly healed at the woman's request. "Thankfully for you I've traveled to the Mindscape long enough to know nothing here is permanent."
Bill's mind rushed through the various satisfying ways he'd slaughter her when she no longer had the Mindscape or the bond protecting her.
"My vision showed me that in order for you and Stanford to win you need that bond," Handrina explained. She pointed to the markings on Bill's finger. "There's nothing you can do to convince me to get rid of it."
The two heard footsteps and looked up to see Ford in the doorway.
"There you are, I looked..." he trailed off when he noticed the room ablaze. "What the hell happened here?"
"This room is destroyed," Handrina said as she exited back into the hallway, grateful for the cool, albeit musty air. "Did you get what you needed?"
Ford nodded. He glanced down at the binder in his hand. "I think this will close the portal...for good."
Bill blew air out of his nose, but said nothing.
"Good, let's get out of this miserable place," said Handrina.
Ford pocketed his journal then grabbed Handrina's hand. Bill resisted for a moment, but eventually gave in as there was no reason for him to remain in the Mindscape. One glimpse at Handrina assured him that now she'd never fill him in on how to travel the Mindscape while he slumbered.
Ford spoke the words that transported them back into their dimension.
Stan jumped when the two figures suddenly appeared in the living room next to the bed where Bill slept.
"You weren't even gone five minutes," said Stan.
Handrina pulled away from Ford's hold. "I only did this as a favor to Fiddleford," she said then accepted her still damp jacket from Soos. The witch pointed a bony finger at Ford. "But don't any of you ever come to me for help again, 'cause I won't do it."
With those final words Handrina showed herself to the door. She slammed it behind her causing a few pieces of the roof to fall.
"Good riddance," Stan said with a mock wave in Handrina's direction. He lowered four of his fingers to offer her a favorite farewell gesture.
"How long 'til Bill wakes up?" Soos asked.
"Probably another hour," Ford replied. "That potion works quick, but isn't long-lasting." He pulled the journal from his jacket pocket and opened it to the most recent page that contained the opposite formula he used to create the portal. "I have work to do and can't afford to be interrupted."
"The lab hasn't finished airing out," Soos warned, putting his arm out to stop the older man.
"I don't have a choice," Ford argued. "Besides, I'm sure there's a gas mask down there somewhere."
"If you start seeing weird crap, get yourself out of there," Stan called.
Soos sighed as he watched Ford walk into the gift shop where he descended into the lab to work for hours on end.
Stan put a hand on Soos' shoulder. "Don't worry. We were exposed to much worse in the seventies."
Soos gave his boss a half smile, but found it difficult to find much joy in the much too quiet shack.
Not quite an hour later Bill stirred from his sleep. He rubbed at his eyes as he sat up. His right hand touched the bandage and he slowly lowered it, remembering the useless organ beneath.
The room vacant of any other living person filled Bill with a queer chill on a summer evening. The rain still poured outside. He recalled all that happened earlier and guessed Ford worked away in the lab.
Bill suddenly wondered if there was a permanent way to close travel between dimensions. There were other objects such as Kellen's mirror that allowed travelers to cross between the borders. He pondered if gluing the gate shut would override all those objects.
Bill glanced over at the clock on the wall then jumped up from his bed. He hurried to his room to dress for the guest scheduled to be there in twenty minutes. He pulled a clean black shirt from his dresser and a pair of blue jeans. The shirt was slightly wrinkled, but would have to do, after all it wouldn't be on for long. He sprayed a dash of cologne that Mabel gave him earlier that summer as a present. Bill sniffed the cuff of his shirt and wrinkled his nose at its bitter odor, but hoped the human on his way would appreciate the scent.
In the kitchen Bill caught Stan and Soos at the table playing a game of poker. Soos snacked on one of the chipackers that was meant as tokens. Stan slammed his hand on the table, chastising his employee for eating the money.
"Hey, you're up," Soos said when he noticed Bill in the doorway.
Bill nodded, still groggy from the drug.
"I ordered you lo mein," Stan said and snatched up two cards from the deck.
Bill silently nodded. He rubbed at his head then asked Soos if he would help him move the bed back to his room. Soos set the cards down on the table showing he had two pair. Stan slipped an extra ace from his pocket and tossed down his "winning" hand of a full house. Laughing, the old man pulled the stack of chipackers towards himself.
Soos followed Bill back into the living room where the slightly disheveled bed waited (although the linens still in better condition than Bill usually left it during the day). Soos took the heavier end of the bed and Bill on the other side. Soos bore the majority of the weight, aware that Bill wasn't in the best condition to be carrying furniture.
It was a short walk to Bill's room. The two men set the bed down in its usual spot. Bill attempted to clean the mess by stuffing everything he could fit under the bed and a bit more into the closet.
"Look, I know you don't want my opinion, but I really don't think you should be doin' this," Soos offered. Bill cut his eye at the handyman. Soos held up his hand. "I'm just saying, you don't know this guy, and you just got out of the hospital a few days ago, and your medicine-"
"I don't need you looking after me," Bill interjected.
Soos sighed. "I know you don't think anyone here cares for you, but I do," he said. He put a hand on either of Bill's shoulders. "I think you need to take things slow, you know, just for a little while."
"I can handle it," Bill said and removed Soos' hands from his shoulders.
Soos wore an expression that displayed his thoughts about Bill's choices, even though he knew there was nothing he could truly do about it.
Half an hour passed with Bill sitting on the edge of his bed. He looked out the window every few minutes to see only rain. He sighed, hoping the weather hadn't kept the visitor away.
Ten minutes later Bill jumped up at the sound of knocking on the front door. He rushed to the backdoor to see Soos in conversation with the person on the other side of the door. Soos shut the door with the large paper bag of food in hand. Bill's heart sank.
On Soos' command Bill followed him to the kitchen. Soos sat the paper bag on the counter and removed one steaming plastic dish after the other. The container of noodles passed from Soos' immense hands into Bill's tiny ones.
Bill sunk into one of the chairs, suddenly not having much of an appetite. He opened the lid and the scent of chicken lo mein reminded him of how hungry he truly was.
Bill managed to eat two thirds of his dinner when a fist pounded on the door, startling both Stan and Soos. The shack's owner made his way to the door with the other two men close behind.
Expecting one of the government agents Stan opened the door to meet a bulky man in his late thirties. He had shaggy dark hair, a thick mustache, and a permanent scowl.
"You better not be Bill," the stranger greeted.
"Who're you?" Stan responded.
"If this your kind of joke, I might just have to-" the man threatened. He stopped only when Bill stepped into view.
"I'm Bill, you must be Mack," said the blond.
Mack frowned and looked his date up and down. He pushed Stan aside and made his way towards the smaller man.
"What's wrong with your eye?" Mack asked, flicking the bandage.
"Be careful!" cried Soos.
Mack's glare stopped Soos' advance.
"I got it cut out," Bill said.
"You said you were hot," Mack hissed. He grabbed Bill by the chin. He took in Bill's physical appearance a second time. "But I suppose you'll do." He produced a bottle of gin from his pocket.
Bill selected two glasses from the cabinet then handed them to his guest. Bill took the alcohol from his date and opened the bottle with his teeth. He gulped down three heavy swallows then with a grin beckoned Mack towards his bedroom.
Soos shifted on his feet. "I don't want him alone with Bill," he said and headed for his friend's room.
Stan planted a hand on Soos' shoulder and dragged him back. "That's Blondie's choice and he ain't gonna appreciate you interfering."
Soos tried to protest, but deep down knew it would accomplish nothing. He looked in the direction of the laboratory's entrance.
Another twenty minutes passed before Ford emerged into the kitchen where the two men had resumed their poker game. Ford grabbed the remaining container from the paper bag and opened it to bask in the fresh scent of sesame chicken. He picked up a chair and sat down at the edge of the table. With the complimentary chopsticks Ford scarfed down his meal.
"How's the portal goin'?" Stan asked.
Ford hurriedly chewed a particularly tough piece of chicken. He swallowed then replied, "It's going to take me all night. If I work without rest."
"You ain't fifteen no more," Stan scolded then gulped down the rest of the beer in his can.
"We don't have a choice," Ford retorted.
Stan nodded. For the past few nights he wondered what they would do should Ford's plan fail. At the very least the kids and Madison would be safely out of Gravity Falls when and if the demons attacked.
"I take it Bill woke up, though he's probably pouting in his room," Ford assumed.
"Oh, he's in his room alright, but I doubt he's poutin'," Stan laughed.
Ford placed the chopsticks down on the plastic container. "What do you mean by that?"
"Judgin' by what we heard, he's havin' it out with that man," Stan explained, still laughing.
"Come again?" Ford asked.
"I don't like that guy, Mr. Ford, but Bill won't listen to me," Soos added.
Confusion dissipated when Ford recalled Bill mentioning he had a date earlier that day. The old man sighed and looked away.
"Can't you do something about it?" Soos asked.
"What's there to do?" Ford replied, harsher than he intended. "Bill's a grown man. We're not together anymore, so he's free to do whatever he wants with whomever he likes."
Stan caught his brother's tone and simply hummed in response.
The door to Bill's room opened, greeting those on the other side with Bill's high-pitched laughter, and inaudible words spoken from a deep voice.
Bill waltzed into the kitchen wearing only an oversized sweater (the gray one Ford once loaned him). His eyes glazed over he skipped towards the fridge, opened it, and peeked inside. Bill pulled out the five that remained in a six pack of beer.
He tripped over his own feet and caught his balance on the counter, tossing the beers on the surface. Bill laughed at his own blunder then picked up one of the cans, the rest dangling in the plastic rings.
"Bill, are you drunk?" Ford called.
The blond stopped laughing and turned to face his ex. That familiar scowl halfway sobered him up.
"This is none of your concern," Bill replied.
"Hey, sl- what's taking you so long?" Mack called from inside the room.
Bill spat at the floor in front of Ford's feet then hurried on back to his bedroom and closed the door behind him.
The door was shut for less than a minute when the others heard Mack yell followed by Bill's laughter. The beer can slammed against the wall then they listened to Mack shout something unintelligible then a loud slap. Bill silenced, Mack continued to scream obscenities. Bill lashed back and fell to his knees. Two more slaps and a harder blow echoed in the room.
Ford rushed over to Bill's room with the other two quickly behind him. Ford took the doorknob in his hand the moment Mack threw the door open. Ford grabbed the door in his right hand, his eyes on level with the other man. Inside the room Bill lie on the floor, clutching his stomach, a pool of vomit next to his face.
"Of all the idiot whores in this town," Mack raged, his fists still clenched. Drops of beer had splashed his face and stained his shirt.
Bill lifted his head to show a dribble of blood leaking from his nose.
Ford grabbed Mack's arm and squeezed the skin. He threw the younger man face first up against the wall and brought his arm into a chicken wing. Mack cried out in protest. Ford pushed the man's elbow further into his back making him yell.
In the man's ear Ford firmly whispered, "I never want to see you near Bill, or on my property again."
Ford released his hold on the man who backed away then inspected his arm, certain it had broken. He glanced up at Ford who still wore that same glare.
"Get out of my house," Ford bellowed.
Mack drunkenly stumbled out of the room. A few seconds later they heard the door open and slam closed behind him. Ford watched the man hop inside his truck and drive off, hoping he crashed on his way back into town.
Soos helped Bill sit up then used a towel lying on the floor to wipe away the blood and vomit from his friend's mouth.
"The can sprayed him," Bill explained. "I laughed and he hit me. I tried to deck him back, but..." Bill looked down at the bond marks. "He wasn't so happy about me fighting back."
"It's alright, we won't let him near you again," Soos consoled.
"You ain't gonna say 'told you so'?" Bill asked with a smirk.
"I'm glad you're okay," Soos said and pulled Bill into a hug.
Bill sat stunned for a moment, then closed his eyes, and returned his friend's embrace.
"Watch out, Question Mark, I just might fall for you," Bill teased.
Soos pulled away, the shock clear on his face. Bill burst out laughing at his friend's expression. Realizing he only jested, Soos too laughed.
Sensing Bill would be fine, Ford turned away from the others. He walked back to the lab where he'd spend the rest of the night working to close the portal.
This chapter is the calm before the storm. Lots will be heating up in the next one. Stay tuned. ;)