The Weakest Link

It took a long time, but Bill did eventually wake up. The moment his left eye opened, he swore.

"Fuck, that hurts!"

Dipper jolted up, and pain raced up his arms as he used his hands, but he couldn't care less at the moment. "Bill! You're alive!"

"Yeah I'm alive, holy hell that is painful!" Bill's hand covered the empty socket, and he winced, blinking his remaining eye.

"Well, uh... it looks like he did a clean job, at least..." Dipper said weakly.

Bill scowled, fingers probing the socket. "Yeah. It's surprisingly clean... Pavonis is efficient. But fuck, this isn't gonna be pretty."

Dipper leaned into him, letting some weight off his protesting hands. "You can just wear an eye patch."

"Hmmph. Great." Bill sighed and lowered his hand. "Fine. Could be worse. He could have removed both."

"Yeah..." Dipper sighed too. "I'm so sorry... I'll try to heal it later. If... you know, if I can still use my magic after all this..." Using magic seemed like such a distant possibility now. He hasn't done it in so long. They still wore the collars, and their energy was constantly being sapped from them. Even if his collar was taken off, he doubted he'd be able to do anything.

"Don't worry about it. I've had vessels mutilated before." Bill smiled. "I'm pretty tough, you know."

Dipper laughed. He was surprised he still could despite how horrible their situation was. "Yeah. You are."

"Heh." Bill's laugh and smile lightened the mood despite everything. "So where'd Pudgy and Peacock go?"

"Gideon said he was tired of doing this today and left. Pavonis went with him." Dipper slowly tugged over the blanket, going ahead and pulling it over him and the other. They probably weren't going to move anywhere for the rest of the night.

"Really? Hmm. Is it just me, or does Gideon seem like he's not enjoying this anymore?"

"Oh no, I noticed it too. He always leaves first."

"It's hard to tell without my usual perception, but I think he's starting to regret this. Even when he's helping with the torture... I don't know, he doesn't seem as into it. It doesn't hurt as much."

"Yeah." Dipper nodded. "I think he wants to quit. Just pay Pavonis and let us go. Since we've suffered enough."

"We really have. It's going to take some seriously healing magic to fix us up... or a long time in the hospital, if we can't use our magic."

Dipper's eyes drifted shut as his exhausted, abused body urged him to sleep. "I know they've been taking our magic... do you think it's gonna cost you your demonhood?"

"I don't know. I don't think so. Maybe." Bill shrugged. "I can't tell at this point. Pavonis has taken a lot from me. I honestly don't even know how much power is available to me right now. I am literally unable to sense it. But... I'm hoping he's an amateur when it comes to this, and that I'll be just as much of a demon as I was before."

"I hope so too."

Bill nuzzled Dipper as he slid his arms around him. "Do you want to talk?" He always asked him that. Best for his love to get his emotions out early, so they wouldn't fester and lead to mental illness later on. The past days have been very traumatic and Bill did his best to put the other at ease at night.

"N-no, I think I'm all right, I just..." Dipper freed one of his hands from the blanket, holding it up and nibbling on his lip. "How am I ever going to write again?"

Bill looked at his hand sadly. "You still have your fingers... most of them. Your pinkie..." His eye widened. "They removed that one too?"

Dipper nodded.

"Those... bastards!"

"It was Pavonis who did it..."

"Of course it was. I hate that fucker so much... Oh, dear Pine Tree, I'm so sorry..." Bill gently cradled Dipper's hand, but even that soft touch hurt him, so he quickly let go. "But you'll be able to write. Trust me."

"Okay." Dipper moved his hand back under the blanket.

"Anything else?"

"No... I'll be okay... I'm just glad I have you. Being able to lay here with you, talk to you... it helps keep me strong." Dipper gently pressed their lips together. Bill smiled and responded, then reached up to brush his hair over his empty socket.

"There," he chuckled. "Out of sight, out of mind."

"That'll work." Dipper leaned up to tenderly kiss below the socket, then kissed Bill's mouth again. His body got its usual flush as he did, which helped distract him from the cold. They stayed together for several long moments, before they had to separate.

"I love you," Bill said quietly.

"I love you too."

"We'll get out of this. One way or another."

"Bill, I've tried to think of ways out of this, but I just can't, we're trapped unless they decide to let us go, I can't-"

"Ssh." Bill stopped him with a kiss. "I understand that you're the smart one. You're the one who gets us out of trouble and comes up with the plan. But it's okay to not know how to get away from this. They've got us good. Relax, I don't blame you."

"I'm sorry, just... I don't know, I'm sorry, I'm freaking out..." Dipper was starting to panic, and Bill held him more tightly. He was used to this.

"Hey, remember when you said you were all right? You clearly aren't. Let's talk."

"There's nothing to talk about, I should be able to get us out of this and I can't, that's all there is to it!"

"Don't be so hard on yourself. I tried to think of a way out of this too. But I got nothing. I wouldn't expect you to." Bill settled him with well placed kisses and soothing whispers, and Dipper finally relaxed, face flopping against Bill's chest.

"I'm sorry. I'm so tired."

"I understand. So am I. Today was rough."

"That's the understatement of the century." Dipper coughed quietly, and as he sniffed, remembered again that he was sick. "Tonight is gonna suck. I wish we had your dream magic."

"Me too. Try to get as much rest as you can, though." Bill shifted, sacrificing his own comfort to gently maneuver Dipper into the most comfortable position he could offer him. This also involved Bill giving up a good portion of the blanket so the other could be warm, but he didn't mind. Dipper was the mortal. Bill's vessel could always be replaced.

Dipper was quiet for so long that Bill was sure he had fallen asleep, but then the human spoke. "Hey... Bill?"

"Why aren't you sleeping yet?" Bill chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to the other's temple that made him laugh too.

"I will, just... I wanted to tell you..." Dipper chewed on his lip, then said, "I... forgive you."

"Hmm? For... Oh." Bill's eyes widened. "You... forgive me?"

"Well... 'forgive' might be too strong of a word... but I've accepted what you did, I'm... not mad about it anymore. Just... figured I should tell you that I don't have any hard feelings toward you, in case... I mean, I wouldn't want us... me... to..." He lowered his voice, almost sounding ashamed, "Die... with you thinking I hate you."

Bill stared at him, then laughed weakly. "Dipper, you really think... oh, Pine Tree..." He nuzzled him gently. "I know you don't hate me. You accepted the reality quite a while ago... and hey, you are not going to die. I'm not going to die. We will survive. I do not expect forgiveness from you. But you have put it behind you, and I appreciate that. But it wasn't necessary."

"I know. I just don't want to hold a grudge against you."

"What I did is completely deserving of a grudge."

"Yeah. It was. But... it's in the past. I'm just... going to let it go."

"If that's your decision... then thank you."

"No problem... goodnight." Dipper rested his head down against Bill's chest, eyes closed. The demon slowly stroked his back.

"Goodnight. And you aren't going to die," Bill said firmly. "So don't say that."

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you too."

Bill watched as it grew steadily darker outside, listening to Dipper's unsteady breaths as they slowly evened out, waiting patiently for the man to sleep before he even thought about closing his own eye. He found that he didn't miss the other eye too much. It was just annoying still being able to feel eyelids there, but no actual eye. Maybe he would mind more if he gets into a situation that requires depth perception, but for now, it made no difference.

Dipper did drift off eventually, he always did. Bill smiled as he felt him relax, letting himself relax as well. He was used to sleeping on the wooden floor, and while it wasn't comfortable, it was tolerable. He could certainly ignore it by now.

As he felt himself slipping into that welcome darkness, a familiar noise outside made his eye snap open again. No. It couldn't be time yet... it's only been a few hours. It was still night.

But that was definitely the sound of Gideon's motorcycle. He still couldn't believe the teen drove that thing through the woods to get out here. He must be pretty skilled on it. That or there was actually a road of some sort to this location.

Bill glanced at Dipper, who slept on. He decided not to wake him. He just listened, hearing the sound come closer and then stop right outside. A few minutes passed, and then the door to the room quietly opened. Gideon stepped in, then immediately stopped when he saw Bill staring at him.

"Cipher," he said quietly.

"Gleeful," Bill hissed.

"Ssh, you don't need to wake Dipper up, just... I um... brought something." Gideon hesitantly walked closer, leaning down to set a bottle next to Bill.

Raising an eyebrow, Bill stretched out an arm to pick it up. It was hard to read the label in the dim lighting, but he could make out enough. "Is this cough syrup?"

"Yeah. Um... for him." Gideon gestured to Dipper. "And for you, I guess. Just in case. It's not much but it should help."

"Why did you bring us this?"

"Because he's sick."

"I know he's sick, but why do you care? You've been torturing us for days."

"Look, I..." Gideon glanced around, then leaned closer. "I feel bad, okay? Just take the damn cough syrup."

"You do realize we won't be able to keep this, right? Pavonis will see it. And he'll ask questions."

Gideon sighed. "Right... okay. You'll just have to take your doses right now then. I can bring it back later..."

"I guess that's the only option. Dipper, love, wake up." Bill gently shook Dipper's shoulder.

The human whined as he shifted. "Is it morning already?"

"No, it's not. Just wake up, I have something for you."

Dipper opened his eyes, blinking and giving Bill a dazed look. "What?"

"Gideon brought us medicine." Bill showed him the bottle.

"Wow, what?" Dipper woke up more fully, examining the bottle. Then he looked over at Gideon, furrowing his brow. "Why?"

"As... kinda an apology, I guess? You two are going through so much... I don't want you to have to deal with being sick on top of that." Gideon looked awkward, but sure of himself. "You can't keep the bottle though. Take some and give it back."

"I don't understand you," Dipper sighed, but he looked at Bill and nodded. The demon quickly uncapped the bottle and tore off the protective seal. He didn't bother using the measuring cup, just taking a swig of it. He grimaced at the candy-cherry flavor of the stuff, and then held it out to Dipper. The other carefully took it and gulped down a fair amount for himself, sighing at the taste. It wasn't great, but it beat a dry mouth any day. He almost drank more, but refrained, handing it back.

"I hope this helps," Gideon said, capping it and sliding it into a pocket. He stood. "Um... need anything else?"

"Freedom would be nice," Bill replied.

"Right. Well, have you two repented for what you've done?"

"I don't regret a single one of those murders," Bill said blankly. "And neither does Dipper, I'm sure. You're punishing us for something that we feel is justified. And you feel justified as well. Neither of us are really winning here."

"Well, maybe after you've gotten to feel some of that stuff you've inflicted on others, you'll be more hesitant to keep doing it, and will instead use more humane methods," Gideon said. "Think about that, and I'm gonna talk to Pavo tomorrow. He's been really enjoying this, so convincing him that you've had enough may be difficult..."

"What did you promise to pay him?" Dipper asked curiously.

"Well, I told him that if he tortures you two, he can have all the magic he wants from both of you. In fact, I pretty much gave him all of Bill's power, because I can't use it myself. Too risky. But yeah, he's doing this for the incredible magic you two have. So I'd have to convince him to just... take it all tomorrow, instead of drawing it out over the course of weeks. I'm sure he can do that though."

Bill nodded. "He should be able to. It's just more difficult. And if he's this sadistic, he's obviously wanting to prolong our suffering. But yes, talk to him."

"I will. I need to go back anyway, I've been practicing some magic of my own lately and I kinda want to test this artifact I found while cleaning out my room... See you two tomorrow." Gideon waved and headed out.

Once the sound of the motorcycle faded into the distance, Bill looked at Dipper with an amused smile.

"And there is our weakest link. If anyone can get us out of here, it'll be him."

Dipper nodded in agreement, snuggling with the other and yawning, trying to ignore the cherry taste still on his tongue. "Yeah. He feels bad for us. He's trying to act like he doesn't, but... he does. Natural sympathy. Or whatever..."

"Yep. Keep your hopes up, Pine Tree. Something tells me this will all be over with very soon, and we can get the medical attention we need, possibly get evidence that Gideon was responsible for this and have him thrown into prison again... we can sleep in actual beds... just wait."

Dipper smiled as he fell asleep. "I can't wait until we're free again."