Things had been going surprisingly smoothly for them over the past week. Dipper was able to slip out from the shack easily without putting too much suspicion on him. After all, he was always trying to figure out a way to reverse all this and he needed subject to test on and study. Of course, Stan hated seeing him go alone, he had learned from his twin carelessness not to let one of them out alone with no way of contact. But he couldn't change Dipper's mind and he would always sneak out anyway, so he dug out some old walkies-talkie, at least with those Dipper could contact them. Not like he had a choice, he needed to do it every hour or they would be worried.
Mabel did follow once, which mean he had to leave Bill alone for a whole afternoon, but he made it up to him by staying the night, saying he wouldn't be able to get back to the shack before sundown. Lying this much to them wasn't something he was loving to do, but he didn't really have the choice, otherwise, it was Bill who would be in trouble.
He also had given up on using the leash after a couple of days. What was the point? He was always staying close to him or letting the zombie get really close, the leash was pretty much useless like this. Plus, since it was useless, it was just feeling weird to keep him on a leash like that. He thought that maybe he would try to go away at some point, but Bill never did that, instead always keeping close to him or nicely waiting for him to get back to the cabin.
He really had the feeling he made a new friend out of someone who was probably not totally alive. This was weird to think he would befriend something that normally would want to attack him, but he wouldn't complain and wasn't surprised. He had learned that he was good at befriending and getting close to none human creature.
"Yes Stanley, I'm fine, I just hit my foot over a rock while speaking to you, over" he said as he was letting go of the button, sighing over how worried he was. Really he was safe, sure it was getting late, but he would be able to make it to the cabin in time for the night. He simply had lost track of time in his trying to make a spell work on a zombie (spoiler, it hasn't worked at all). He did have to argue some more with Stanley so they wouldn't get out for him, saying he was fine.
"Alright, if you say so... but don't you dare get yourself infected kiddo, or I'll get mad, over" this made him laugh a little, somehow sadly too, knowing why he was so protective. This sadness seems to be noticed by Bill, as he felt a hand brushing against his, fingers trying to lace with his. He offered him a small smile, murmuring that he was okay. "Don't worry about that, it won't happen, say good night to Mabel for me, over" he didn't really put much attention on the next respond, knowing it would be him rogering this information and saying good night.
He locked the walkies-talkie back to his belt, letting the cold fingers lightly holding his, feeling somehow calmer. "You heard that, I'll get in deep trouble if I became a zombie" he laughs a little, looking around to make sure they were on the right path and still safe. He turned back to him when he heard the weird noise he had come to assume was a laugh, making Dipper smile.
"But I can see why he's like that, it would be bad if another Pines was zombified" he said, passing a hand through his hair. This seems to catch Bill's attention, as he was cocking his head on the side, sign that he was curious about that new information. "Not a very happy story" commented Dipper, somehow hesitating about telling him.
Well, what bad about telling him? Not like it would change anything about the situation or could be used against them. Even less in Bill's state. "I wasn't alone at the start of this chaos" he explained with a smile "My great-uncle Ford was helping, or I guess it would be more correct to say I was helping him, we were looking for a way to turn everyone back into humans without it causing a problem to the person who's changed back, he got infected once when we were out at night and since Stanley is more protective of us, he'd probably flip out if I told him you were always around me". He left out a little laugh at the last mention, knowing very well how he would react.
He tried not to think too much about it, it was difficult to think about the fact they had lost Ford, or at least up until he was able to fix this up. Though he would still need to find him back, he couldn't have gone that far, right? He wasn't even thinking about the idea that he might... have been put down by some other people. It would just be too much for him to think about. After all, Ford had been a big part of his life after their first visit at Gravity Falls, he had helped them with problems even when they were back in the city.
He left out a shaky breath as he realised he had let himself think about the worse, shaking his head to chase away those thoughts. He missed the worried look Bill had as he was looking around, happy to see the cabin not far from them.
"Oh, I made something that might help us communicate, you want to try?" he asked as he finally turned toward the zombie, an excited smile plastered on his face. After all, it had been hard for them to do it since Bill couldn't do much more than grunt and shake his head. They had realised he was somewhat able to write, but the handwriting was so bad he couldn't understand it.
They quickly reached the cabin as he noticed a silhouette standing farther away, not wishing to bring attention to him right now. Once inside the cabin he was starting to call home, he locked the door and then went to light up the old lantern he was using to keep them out of the dark. Before going at the table he made himself a quick sandwich, following by quickly putting everything on the table.
He could see Bill fixing the board he just sat on the table, before he looked back at him. "I know it looks like a Ouija board, and it is, I'm not gonna lie, but we're not calling ghost with it, it's so you can spell words" he said, proud of the idea he had. Sure, it could be a little long, but it was still better than grunting and shaking his head as if the were in a game of charade. The idea seemed to be appreciated by Bill too, as he placed his fingers over the bottle cap Dipper had set down for him.
Dipper had a notebook with him, ready to spell out every word Bill would put down. "Okay, with what can we start... oh! Were you already in Gravity Falls when it happened?" he asked after searching a question, wanting to start with something simple, but still interesting. The zombie seems to think about it a little, before sliding the bottle cap over "No". "I see, were you close by then? Or did you walked aimlessly until you found me?".
"Both" came the first part of the response, before he slowly spell "close by bored city too much undead wanted see elsewhere". Dipper was so excited to finally be able to ask some questions about him. He was so curious about it and he could even ask Bill to help him in his research, obviously only if he wanted to do so. "So you walked the road aimlessly" at this Bill simply nodded, apparently happy too to be able to communicate with Dipper too.
It went on like this for a while, Dipper asking a question and then writing down the answer. He was often doing yes or no question since it was easier for both of them, but still did a lot of question he needed to develop on a little more.
"Do you like being like this?". No.
"Did you manage to stay human at the beginning". Yes.
"Were you with other people?". No.
"How did you got infected?". Got bitten by surprise.
"Does it hurt in your state?". No feels numb.
"So you don't really feel it when you get yourself hurt?". No.
"Do you think you've ever healed an injurie?". Don't know.
"Did you followed my scent back to town that time?". Yes.
"Do I smell that heavily?". No just different than zombie.
"Do you come from a big city?". Yes.
"Do you have something big that would force you to get back there if everything goes back to normal?". No my job what you mean.
"W-well, like your job, your family or a relationship". Just work.
The last question seemed to amuse the zombie, as he gently laughed. Was Dipper scared he would run away the exact moment he would be human? Dipper couldn't even answer this question himself, he wasn't even sure why he was appreciating Bill so much in the first place.
He was taken out of his thought when he saw Bill starting to spell something else, writing it down, soon understanding it was a question for him. "Why you are middle of nowhere". Dipper was confused at first, before realising he was talking about Gravity Falls. This made him chuckle a little, thinking about it.
"I know Gravity Falls might look like the middle of nowhere and pretty boring, but... there is so much here" he explained, excitement slowly taking place in his voice. "You might not believe me, but there are so many supernatural being in those forest around us, it as if Gravity Falls was a magnet for weird things. I guess I fell in love with this place the first time we came here, I was sad to get back in the city, it's not as exciting if you want my opinions" he added. After that, he went on what kind of adventure he had, either alone or with his family. It was pretty clear that he was in love with this place, he was even thinking about permanently moving there.
As much as Bill wasn't finding the place interesting at first, hearing the young man talk like this was slowly changing his mind on this place. It had been a long time since the last time he heard someone talking with such passion about something. Maybe if Dipper managed to find a way to change him back he would stay longer to see what he's talking about.
After a good fifteen minutes, the young man finally realised he had been talking nonstop, blushing a little. He wasn't used to being listened to when he was gushing about stuff like this. Sure Mabel was interested, but clearly not as much and not about everything. "Sorry, I got excited" he said, only gaining a smile and a shake of the head to tell him it was okay.
"Did uncle show all to you?" came the next question, Dipper quickly understanding he must have been talking about Ford. "When we first came I started alone, then he came back and did show me a lot of new things, but I took off by myself quite soon to learn and discover things without someone showing me around all the time. Sometimes we were going to look for new things together.
"He has been studying this kind of thing for decades, he was a real expert on the subject. I'm pretty sure he knew Gravity Falls like the back of his hand... He was the biggest chance we would have to find a way to correct everything, with his calculation and research skills... But now it all falls on me and I'm not sure I can really do it, I go over his journals again and again without much success and even try other things".
He paused a second, still remembering the moment it all happened. Dipper had been a little too careless and if it wasn't for Stanford pushing him away and protecting him he would probably have been the one to become a living dead. He couldn't bring himself to tell the others, he was scared they would get mad or even that Stanley would kick him out. After all, he already had lost his twin brother for thirty years and only got him back a couples years ago, now if Dipper was unable to find a way, he would lose him definitively.
Guilt was filling Dipper eyes, causing for Bill to be worried, trying to spell out questions, but it was useless, the young man wasn't really paying attention to the board. He was too stuck back on what happen and thinking it was all his fault. He was putting so much burden on his own shoulder that it was causing him to be overwhelmed by all of it when being reminded that they were counting on him to makes it all okay or when they were mentioning grunkle Ford.
The young Pines jumped a little when he felt cold finger stroke the back of his hand, trying to catch his attention. Looking back to Bill, Dipper didn't need him to spell out what he wanted to ask, his eyes saying everything. "It's nothing" he tried to lie, even if his voice was slightly shaky. Bill didn't look really convince, the young man not sure if he should tell him. He really needed to tell someone, it was starting to be heavy on him and he was afraid to write it down just in case someone would fall on it.
"It's all my fault Grunkle Ford was bitten, I wasn't paying enough attention and was being careless, he was bitten to help me" he then finally said, "And I can't even try to save him, I'm so useless that even after so many attempts I can't find a way to bring people back, I can't even be sure to help you out, or anyone for that matter" he continued, falling into self-doubt.
The zombie didn't seem to like this way of talking of himself, getting up to join him, loosely passing his arms around Dipper who was still sitting down, gently patting his head in an attempt to reassure him. This surprised Dipper at first, unsure if he had made him angry with his statement, but soon he understood it wasn't that, relaxing. He slightly hugged the man waist, letting him do his hug, trying to calm down.
No. It wasn't time to put himself down. He could do it, even Ford had told him so. Doubts were still there, but he was trying to bring confidence to the front. Saying it all out felt good and it was even better when the person listening didn't seem to be accusing him either.
He got out of the other arms when he felt better, the cold hand resting on his shoulders as Bill seemed to be scanning his expression to makes sure everything was now fine. Dipper offered him a small smile, starting to get a little tired. "Thank you" he said while looking back at him, "It feels good to finally says it to someone without being scared they might hate me afterwards".
Bill then slightly raised an eyebrow, seemingly not understanding where that reasoning was coming from. "Stan really likes his brother and they were apart from each other for over thirty years, Ford had only come back a couple of years ago, he would be mad that I made him lose his brother permanently if I can't be as much of a genius as Ford" he explained slightly.
They stayed in comfortable silence for a little while, still without changing position. At some point, Dipper pushed his notebook a little more on the table, standing up. "Okay, let's go to sleep, I'm starting to be tired" he admitted.
With that, he changed into something more comfortable to sleep, going to bed. Bill went to sit next to the bed like he nearly always do, still looking at him to make sure he would be fine. This made Dipper smile slightly, tapping the bed next to him. "Come next to me, you can make sure I don't get nightmares while I sleep" he suggested, also feeling like he needed a presence closer to him.
The zombie didn't really hesitate before coming on the bed, Bill going to lay down next to him, leaving little space between them since the bed wasn't exactly made for two grown men. The situation made the young Pines laugh a little, amused that he was sharing his bed with a zombie. Clearly, he had thrown caution out the window long ago. Still, having someone next to him was making him feel more secure.
He was a little surprised when Bill decided to slightly grab his hand, offering him a small smile. It did earn a smile from Dipper, who manage to relax a little more. Soon he fell asleep, his well being cared for by the zombie laying down next to him.
That night, he managed to not have nightmares about what happened with Ford after remembering it so much that day.