Dipper was slowly awoken by the quiet sound of someone moving in the room and the light coming through the window which had their curtain open. He lazily looked around to see where the sound was coming from, imagining the dogs might have gotten in or something. He was instead surprised to see the butler quietly taking care of the abandoned clothes, making sure to be as silent as possible.
It wouldn't have been a problem to the young author if he wasn't being held against Bill's torso the way the man was doing. It was giving the impression that there was more than what there was. Just to make him feel even more self-conscious of the situation, he was actually enjoying being held like this by the mobster.
Suddenly his eyes meet the older one, making him blush and look away quickly. "Good morning Mister Pines, I hope you were able to sleep well" he politely greeted Dipper, his tone calm and a little quiet so he wouldn't disturb his master sleep. "Good morning, and I did" whispered Dipper, trying gently and slowly to get out from Bill's arms.
Once he managed to get out of his arms he got out of bed, getting closer to the older man, trying to ignore the embarrassment, supposing it wasn't the first time the butler must have seen someone in his master bed. "I have a message from Mister Hyde for you" pointed out the butler, going to the wardrobe to look for something "Your sister would like for you to call her as soon as possible, I believed she said she would be at Miss Northwest mansion".
It wasn't a big surprise that she wanted to speak to him. He sighs silently, needing to find back his coat so he could find back the number to Pacifica's mansion. He was surprised when he felt a dressing gown being gently placed on his shoulder, turning toward the man. "It might be a little cold in the morning, the heater isn't working well" explained the older man with a small smile. Dipper shyly thanked the man, putting the piece of clothes correctly on himself.
They then got out of the room so he could make his call, helping him get his little notebook back so he could have the number. Once mister Kasper was out the room he quickly turned the number on the disk, anxiously waiting for someone to pick up. Had Mabel already told their great-uncles? Was she going to be angry at him for the next weeks to come? Was she going to ask him to never see Bill again? He couldn't really calm himself as the wait for someone to pick the phone was agonising.
He jumped a little when someone picked up, he tried to keep his voice the most composed and calm possible, stating his name and saying he needed to speak with Mabel Pines. Of course, he had to wait a little more so the person could get to his sister. He wanted to walk around to make himself less tense, but he couldn't since he needed to hold the phone.
"Dipper, where are you?" he heard once Mabel had picked up the phone. "Good morning to you too" he said with a sigh, looking around a little "Still at Bill's house, I woke up maybe fifteen minutes ago" he responds. He could hear a groan from the other side, not exactly surprising and recognising it as 'why Dipper, why'.
"Did anything happen? Why are you at his place? No, no, better question, why are you associated with him?!" she asked, not leaving him time for any kind of answer. Dipper sighed again, passing a nervous hand on his face. "It complicated, but I swear it isn't something bad and Bill doesn't want anything bad for me either" he tried to explain, still not touching the reason of WHY he was actually stuck in this situation. "Look, I can explain it to you better in person, but please promise me you won't tell Stan and Ford".
Silence answered him first, making him worry that she might have stopped listening or something before Mabel was back with force. "Not telling Stan and Ford!? They are family, how can you even ask for me to hide it from them? How DARE you ask me to not tell them? Mason, I can't lie to family, especially not for something like this".
"Mabel please calm down" started the young author a little panicked from her outburst. "I promise I will tell you everything if you let me explain and I will tell you why I don't want to tell them, so please just don't tell th-" he said, yelping in surprise as he was cut at the end of his demand, surprised by arms looping around him.
He could suddenly hear the worried voice of his sister asking what happened, even if it was faint as he wasn't holding the phone next to his ear anymore. He felt a body against his back and a head placing itself on his left shoulder. He turned to see Bill with a shit-eating grin, apparently happy with the reaction he got. "You scared me!" exclaimed Dipper, before turning his attention back to Mabel, excusing himself and saying it was nothing, just Bill doing a dumb joke.
"I thought it was funny" still said the mobster, not even trying to keep it down as Dipper was on the phone. Mabel was probably gonna complain about it, but Dipper didn't give her the time "Look, I know you are worried about me Mabel, but could you please let me at least the chance to explain?". He was again meet with silence as his twin was clearly thinking about it before he could hear a frustrated sigh "Okay, but if it not good enough I tell them". He didn't really want to agree, but did anyway, knowing she wouldn't budge from her idea otherwise "Let just meet at the small diner you like, I will get you the special waffles plate to make it up to you". "You can't buy me with Food Dipper" warned Mabel, even if she accepted the offer anyway, telling him to meet her in an hour so she could get dress.
The young man finally put down the phone, leaning a little against the taller body, his head falling a slightly against Bill's shoulder. "Mabel is angry" he stated, Bill gently humming. The mobster had easily guessed that part, otherwise, Dipper wouldn't have to nearly beg her to listen to him. "I need to go and get ready" he said, his hand trying to gently unwrap the arm from around his middle.
"I'm coming" stated the mobster, surprising Dipper a little. Why did he want to come? Not like it was going to be that interesting, he just needed to convince his sister. Bill must have sens it since he started to explain "William is already gone for a little job and it could still be dangerous for you outside" he stated without letting go "Also I'm hungry".
The young man looked at him in disbelieve, before thinking about it a little more. Well, he guesses it was true, they still weren't sure they had given up on him. He sighed, "Okay, but don't say anything stupid, I need to convince her you are a nice guy, not that you are going to do something sketchy with me" he demanded. "Sure, I'm just going to watch and listen, don't worry" promised the man.
Dipper wasn't sure about that but didn't argue. After more teasing from Bill who wouldn't let go of the young author, they both went and got dressed, Dipper needing to borrow a shirt; He apparently got his dirty the day before and the butler was already washing it. By chance, he was still able to wear his own pant, it would have been embarrassing otherwise.
When they arrived Mabel was already there waiting for them, drinking a cup of coffee as she was reading the newspaper. When she saw her brother she couldn't keep a smile from forming on her face before it dropped when she noticed Bill next to him. "What is he doing here?" she asks bluntly, not seeing the point in hiding her question.
And with further inspection, she realised this was in no way his brother shirt. It was too large for him, the sleeve rolled up because otherwise, they were in the way. What had they done the day before for Dipper to be wearing what she assumed to be the Gold Demon clothes?
Dipper throws a quick glance at Bill, before looking back at his twin "Because he was hungry?" he suggested first "And to make sure I would be fine" he adds hesitantly, knowing it would worry her. Mabel annoyance seemed to melt to let place to concern, worried about what kind of problem Dipper might have gotten himself into.
They quickly took place on the banquet facing Mabel, Lazy Susan coming at their table at that moment to take their order. When she noticed the mobster she tensed, looking from one twin to another, unsure, before Dipper smiled at her reassuringly. Mabel asked for what her brother had promise, the young author going for some bacon and eggs, with some waffles and fruit. "I will take the same thing as him" smiled Bill as he also asked for some coffee. He didn't know the place and it didn't really look that great, so he would go with what Dipper was taking. He was, at this point, a little more used to expensive places, though he could understand why this was a place Dipper like.
"Why are you wearing his shirt?" started Mabel, knowing very well Dipper didn't have any light yellow shirt, hell he didn't even have anything other than blues, white or grey shirt. "Pine Tree shirt was dirty so my butler took care of it, I lend him one since he needed one" responded Bill with a grin, before turning to Dipper "Blue is a colour that suit you better, but I think yellow is still pretty on you~" commented the mobster, making Dipper blush a little, turning away to look at the blackboard where there was the menu, mumbling "If you say so".
"Dipper... why are you associated with him?" she asked, not wanting to turn around the bush for too long. Dipper heavily sigh, passing a nervous hand in his hair, biting his lips as he was looking for how to tell her. "I got in trouble with some gangster" he started before being interrupted by the young woman "I knew it, you are preying over my brother!" accused Mabel as she turned towards the mobster.
Bill acted as if he was offended and shocked by them as he put a hand over his heart, before laughing in her face, placing back his arm on the back of the booth, nearly circling Dipper's shoulder. "You should learn to listen before throwing such accusation at powerful people, it could be dangerous you know" he warned her, his voice sounding more amused than threatening.
Dipper tenses a little at the warning before he tries to tell his story. He started to explain to her how he actually got in trouble with another group, how he was getting deeper and deeper in debt and how Bill was now helping him. At some point Bill's fingers were slowly started to stroke his shoulder, helping the young man to calm himself. Mabel was surprised by how he could do that to her brother, still not understanding where he was taking the right to touch Dipper this freely.
"And this is how I came to work at Bill's house and having Will with me most of the time, he is just trying to help me" he finishes, unconsciously leaning into the gangster touch on him. "You really want nothing more than him working at your mansion?" asked the young woman, not believing it was true. She only had heard stories about how the man was always accepting deal only if it could give him something he wanted. How was helping Dipper with important debt for such a small demand could give him anything? There was clearly something fishy in her opinion.
"Obviously, otherwise I would have asked more from the beginning" said the man with a shrug, not seeing anything wrong. She might not see it like that, but he was gaining something out of it, he just didn't have to tell her.
They interrupted their conversation when their plate arrived, the twins thanking the older lady for the food. Mabel was silent for the following minutes, only looking at them as she was eating her pile of waffles and fruits. "Why you don't want me to tell them?" she finally asked. It was something that was still bothering her, they never really kept anything from their great-uncles, or at least never something that big.
This was also interesting the mobster, he was curious as to why he wouldn't tell them about it. After all, his twin already knew, so why not them too? He was always talking about his great-uncles as close family.
"You know how they will find a way to get themselves hurt if I tell them, especially Ford" sighed the young author. "At best they will both try and make us run away for somewhere safe, at worse they are going to try and take care of it themselves in a more legal way". His respond seem to amuse the mobster that was until now silently eating next to him, surprising him "What is funny?".
"I wouldn't let them take you away Pine Tree~" he said with a grin, even if there was some warning in his voice "Don't underestimate criminal organisation, they would eventually find you back, I prefer having you under my own protection". This was surprising Dipper even more, making him ask why he would care so much about him. It's not as if he really did anything to have his attention, he was pretty much a nobody compared to Bill.
The twins then started to argue over the fact that they needed to tell their great-uncles, Dipper nearly begging her not to. She could see his argument, but how could she keep such a lie from them? Why was her brother so secretive all of a sudden? Bill clearly had some bad influence on him, what if he was hiding more?
"Whatever" groaned Dipper as he was standing up, excusing himself as he needed to go to the restroom. Silent then fell at the booth, Bill lazily looking at his form going at one of the corners of the place.
"What do you really want from my brother?" Finally asked Mabel in a serious tone, frowning at the man. She was clearly a little scared, after all, he was the head of a powerful criminal organisation, but her brother was worth risking some. Bill was impressed by her guts, he didn't know many who had enough to stand that strongly against him. Though, she did have some advantages since he was liking Dipper that much, he wouldn't deceive him by hurting his precious sister.
"Can't I just enjoy his company?" he asked amused. She clicked her tongue, not really buying it "I don't believe someone like you would just want to hang out with someone like my brother" she said. "Believe it or not, I just like him" he said, leaving it pretty vague for her to try and see what he was meaning with that "He's an interesting young man and I like interesting people" he simply adds.
"You will only cause him trouble and harm, leave him alone" she accused, trying to brush away the confusion she had from his vagueness over liking her twin. She surprisingly got a more serious look out of the man at this accusation and demand. Clearly, Bill didn't like being told what to do, even more demand to leave someone he was finding such interest in. "If it wasn't for me, our precious little Pine Tree would probably be half dead by now" he pointed out, probing his elbow on the table and crossing his finger "Being with me is why he can be safe" he explained.
He then thought about himself harming the young man, as it was her second accusation for him, making him laugh drily at the preposterous idea. "What would be the point of harming him if I'm trying to protect him?" he asked while looking her in the eyes "In no way I want to harm him, quite the contrary even" he simply added. "Don't assume things you know nothing about young lady, it could bring you problem one day" he warned.
They stared like this at each other, the air tense between them. Mabel didn't really want to trust him, after all, he was a criminal, but what would the man really gain from showing her how much he seemed to care for Dipper? It could probably be seen as a weakness, he wouldn't create himself fake weakness, would he? Also, her brother didn't seem to actually be forced to stay with him, otherwise, he would be way tenser around the man. Maybe she should trust her brother?
"Promise me you will keep him safe" she then asks. This only made the man smirk, as if he needed to promise her that to do it anyway. "I sure will do, eh-eh" he said as he stopped her from talking again "no need to gives me warnings, you couldn't do much anyway, you can just have my word, I don't go back on my promise, I will keep him safe as much as possible" he added. He then saw Dipper coming back to them, untangling his finger as his mood changing completely from very serious to his happier and more relaxed one from earlier. "Your brother is getting back, you should try to look a little less angry at me" he said with a smirk.
Dipper excused himself for the time he took, someone was already there before him so he needed to wait. He wasn't sure if he should be surprised by the tension there seem to be between them, but at least they were not killing each other, so it was good. "Don't worry, we had time to introduce ourselves a little better" smiled Bill before attacking his breakfast again, which was better than he would have thought in this place.
Mabel seemed to hesitate a little as she watches Dipper eat, before sighing, getting her twin attention. "I won't tell Stan nor Ford" she finally said, to the surprise of Dipper. What had changed her mind like this? She was so opposed to that idea not so long ago. "If... If you say you are going to be fine I will trust you, but keep me informed on what is happening okay?" she simply asked. At that, Dipper gently smiled before accepting. It was most likely the least he could do, keeping her informed on what was happening.
"It doesn't mean I trust you more" she still clarified towards Bill. She maybe wasn't really trusting him, but she didn't seem to have much more of a choice, because as much as it was annoying her, she knew Bill was better for this than corrupted police officers.
After that, the breakfast was less tense and their conversation was more light. At least he wouldn't need to worry about it more and even better he wouldn't have to worry about his great-uncles doing something stupid to help him.