Hello guy, girls and in-betweeners! its been a productive couple of weeks but the holidays are almost over which means the posting of this story might become erratic. Sorry about that but VCE is time consuming.
Disclaimer: I hope to one day have my name on the title card of a show but Gravity Falls is not the one, so sadly I cannot say I own it.
Stan was waiting with the others when they got back down stairs. They were all huddled at the bottom their ears strained clearly waiting a cry or scream to call them upstairs to help. They obviously thought that Bill would decide to kill him. They didn't trust him and Dipper was thankful for that, he didn't trust him either and he would make sure Bill wasn't close enough to touch him unless Dipper was asked to come closer. He had no chose but to go to him if he was asked, he couldn't let Bill hurt his family.
He had to try and make it look like he wanted to be with the demon. They both knew that he was just acting but Bill knew that if you tell a lie long enough you start to believe it yourself.
They all gave a sigh of relief when they saw the boy clamber down the stair carrying his duffle bag full of clothes and his backpack full of his pens, note and his beloved journal. Of course he would gladly give up the book if he could have his life back. But that wasn't an option for him. It was his life for the lives of everyone he loved.
Stan looked incredibly tired like he hadn't slept at all last night. His hair was ruffled and unkempt and his suit was crimped. He wasn't wearing a ratty pullover that looked like it belonged to Ford and a pair of shorts instead of his suit for tours or even the clothes that he had taken to wearing after he came back with Ford. Of course they could still be told apart but now that they had the same haircut and dressing styles it to a close call and it came down to either the amount of fingers they had or the amount of fake curse words they could fit into a sentence.
"Bag check for Stan's eyes," Dipper smiled weakly up at his Grunkle he was repeating the line that he had used last summer in a situation that was a lot like the one they were in now, only worse. This time no amount of tickles could solve the mess they were in.
The older man wrapped Dipper in a warm comforting hug with a chuckle. He was quickly joined by Mabel who squeezed his waist happily as she nuzzled into his chest. He could hear Stan snuffle quietly as the man held back tears. Dipper gave him a quick squeeze as if to say that he knew that he was crying and that he didn't mind. Stan understood and squeezed back and pulled back to smile down at him. Puffy red eyes looked into puffy red eyes.
"Hey kid. Sorry I was here for you. I'm sorry I couldn't have been there to help you." Stan's gruff voice seemed to echo in his ears. They both knew that was in no way true. Stan had had no idea where Dipper was going the morning beforehand because Dipper hadn't told him. He hadn't even told Mabel where he was really going. That had been part of the notes rules. The note he now knew was written by Bill through Ford's hand. 'Tell no one. Trust no one.' This in itself should have caused him to theorise about why his Grunkle wouldn't want anyone to know or tell him to trust no on when they had had many lengthy discussions about trusting your family.
"It's alright Grunkle Stan, I know. But you can't blame yourself, you couldn't have known." Dipper couldn't find it in himself to blame anyone but himself even though that was also true. They should have tried to find Bill body which had turn into a cool grey stone statue. He had been a ghost of who he really was yet something that still had the power to destroy them all and they still had no idea how he had been freed from his prison of stone. It was possible Bill himself only had a small idea of how he had been freed and was just using his unexpected power and freedom to his advantage.
"I knew my brother would put you in danger and won't be able to get you out," Stan muttered. A flown creased his face twisting it into an emotion that Dipper knew all too well when his Grunkle's talked about one another. It was a mixture between love and loyalty with the smallest hint of mistrust.
"It's not his fault," Dipper's voice was muffled from Mabel's hair. He looked up to Ford and his respect for the six fingered man was unspoken but very real. He didn't blame him for any of this and although he had made mistakes in the past he had learnt and overcome them and that's what Dipper respected to most. He didn't want his Grunkle to doubt his brother when they were getting along so well after their trip together.
"Yeah you're right, if it's anyone's fault it's his," he growled pointing a wrinkled finger at Bill who poked out his tongue at the old man, returning his glare. "How are you even here, you monster?"
"Well that would be telling wouldn't it," the demon smirked.
"I'll see if he tells me how later. I'm sure he won't keep it from me. He likes to brag about stuff like that." Dipper whispered into his Grunkle's ear before the man could become angry at the demon.
"Don't think I didn't hear that, Pine Tree!" Bill screeched in reply from his place on the stair.
"Heh, you do that kid, just… watch your back," he gestured over his shoulder and Dipper knew he was talking about. It was the branding on his back that Dipper had theorised to be a tattoo of so long.
Bill slid down the banister until he reached the bottom. He put his arms around him and pulled him away from the old man and the girl. Dipper didn't struggle as Bill lifted him into his own hug forcing him to drop his bags on the ground. Dipper heard a cracking sound coming from inside the baffle bag. He let out a low whimper. He knew it was the picture frame of the photo they had all taken on the first day of this summer.
He loved the photo, it was the only one he had with both the mystery twins and the adventure twins together and happy and accompanied by Wendy, Soos and of course Waddles. It had been a miracle that bill had let him take it as he thought he would be barred from anything that reminded him of his family. But Bill had simply shrugged and told him to remember their deal.
He wriggled to show that he wanted to be put down to rescue the image but Bill just held on tighter. Dipper stopped trying to escape. He could tell that Bill knew what had been broken and was testing him to see whether he would break their deal or not. The question: would he tend to the picture of his family of let Bill held on to him and not let go.
"Just don't hurt them," he whispered, letting his head rest against the demon's neck. He heard Mabel lapse back into tears again behind him.
"You're such a good little puppet." Bill purred loudly, stroking his hair. Dipper wanted to cry again. He wouldn't lie and say that he wanted to go with this man. He didn't want to have to live with him. It would be almost bearable when he knew that he might see Mabel again soon but once summer was over he wouldn't be able to lie at all. He knew he couldn't; there was no way he would survive that. Looking back on every time he had faced Bill, he had never faced him alone, not without Mabel. She was the kitten fists, the tickles, the boundless optimism and the grappling hook. He had never been without her. They were the Mystery Twins. The twins that would never be split apart by fighting and hatred like the Adventure Twins before them. They had learnt from the older twin's mistakes and wouldn't let history repeat itself. In a sick twisted ways history wasn't repeating but choosing a darker path for him that would split them apart whether they liked it or not.
Silent tears fall down his cheeks but they were quickly wiped away as Bill out him back on the ground with a warning look. He was warning to put on a face, to make it look like he wanted to go.
"Welp, I think we should be going now, what do you think, kid?" the demon patted Dipper in the back but he couldn't feel it. He was too busy trying not to look at anyone or cry.
"Um… y-yeah I guess w-we better go. S-see you around okay," He tried to smile but it felt fake. He hiccupped as his body starting to shake with the effort.
He picked up the fallen bag and hugged it to his chest.
"I don't want you to leave Bro-bro! I'll go instead! I'll go with Bill. I don't want you to be with him. I don't want him to hurt you!" Mabel cried as she clutched at Stan's legs.
Dipper supposed he shouldn't have been shocked by Mabel's selfless act but it was very unlike her. He knew that Bill had been somewhat right about how Mabel always wanted goal achieved over others even if that was winning and pig or getting a boy to like her. But that was who she was. Everyone had their flaws and he still loved her unconditionally for everything else.
"Make like a shooting star and crash to the ground in flames," Bill hissed as Mabel came too close. "Why would I want you? I want Dipper because I like him more than you! I'm not swapping him for a cry baby like you little girl!"
"Bill, don't say that to my sister! You promised you wouldn't hurt anyone and that means hurting them on the inside."
"Well you got me there Pine Tree!" Bill laughed after a second of deliberation. "We never said it would be limited to physical pain, did we? Too bad," he pouted impishly. "Sorry Shooting Star, I just don't like you! Don't take it personal."
God Dipper hated the Dream Demon in every way.
He hated the way the demon could just do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. He could take a stroll through Stan's mind and almost destroy in, twice! He could manipulate Dipper to give up his body to be used as a puppet by simply using sly word play and, as Dipper had realised later, a dream where the laptop was counting down the time he had to recover the information before it was erased. He could deceive Mabel into giving up the rift just so she could have the summer of her dreams. He could torture his Great-uncle for information and become the reason for his other Grunkle's Alzheimer's.
"Can I at least give him a hug?" Mabel whispered looking up at the man with large doe-like eyes that were still watering despite the fact that she had almost been crying for the entire time Dipper had been there.
"I think he's all hugged out." Bill growled at her, pulling the boy towards the door.
"Mabel, I'm sorry but it isn't safe. See you later," Dipper smiled sadly as he was led towards the door. He turned back as he reached it and gave them all a cheerful wave. It wouldn't be forever and he knew that. He would come back. He didn't know when but he knew he would and then they would come up with a plan to break the deal no one getting hurt.
"Don't follow us or I will disassemble your molecules without thinking twice about it! This time I won't be stopped by good old Fordsie trying to be a hero! Nothing and no one can make me stop if I want something!" The demon hissed with a glare at Mabel who shrank into her Grunkle's arms. Not even a stupid little deal that I made just to stop you from annoying me with your screams in the middle of the night. Don't get me wrong I love the sound of screaming flesh bags but it gets to a point where even the funniest of jokes can become fickle. Bill thought hurriedly as he turned away from disgusting family with their stupid love and endless amounts of hugs. I should have just killed you all when I felt like it.
Bill grabbed Dipper's hand and held onto it, swinging it slightly. He didn't try to pull away from the contact. They walked together towards the forest in silence until they were out of sight of the shack.
"This time I won't be stopped by good old Fordsie trying to be a hero! Nothing and no one can make me stop if I want something not even a stupid little deal that I made just to stop you from annoying me with your screams in the middle of the night. Don't get me wrong I love the sound of screaming flesh bags but it gets to a point where even the funniest of jokes can become fickle."
"Do you want to walk home or take a short cut?" Bill asked.
"Can I walk to the house alone?" Dipper looked up pleadingly, his eyes large and watery. He wanted time to think, time to breath.
"Don't ask stupid questions!" The demon screeched angrily, looking down on the boy and gripping his hand tightly.
"I want to walk back to the house then," Dipper grunted lifting that bag higher onto his shoulder as it began to slip.
"It's your home now."
"Why did you have to act like that back there? I mean you were just doing it to hurt them; you weren't doing it because you want me to be with you. I can tell that you don't like me even though I'm your 'favourite meat sack' and I know that you're only doing it to hurt them." Dipper commented, trying to change the subject. He didn't want to talk about homes and houses and he was still angry at the demon being aggressive and overly possessive back at the Shack.
"Then why do you ask?" He said in mock innocence as if oblivious of what he had done and how it might be seen as annoying or bad.
"Because I don't understand why you're hurting them." Dipper yelled, stomping his foot on the ground allowing the jarring pain to radiate though his body. He was tired, drained of emotion and sick of bill treating him like a child. He was thirteen now! He was technically a teenager so the demon had no right to act like he didn't know how to tie his own shoes. It was a simple question, the least he could do was answer it.
"Why? Why! Because you humiliated me in front of my friends. You tricked me! You made me weak! You made me get stuck here!" Bill screeched in his shrill voice with a pointed glared in his direction.
"Why is that a bad thing?" Dipper asked, looking over at the demon warily as if worried that he might lash out at him in anger. He wouldn't be surprised as the demon seemed a little unstable at the moment or in fact any time really now that Dipper thought about it.
"Because I don't have anything here... without my friends and Weirdmageddon I don't have enough power to destroy this dimension. Yeah I have amazing power and I could kill everyone in this town but I still can't leave and I tried to get it out of Sixer's mind but it wasn't there! It was like he had used that stupid memory gun on himself!"
"But it doesn't work on him." Dipper frowned as he thought though how this could have happened. He wished to could have known about it to ask his Great-uncle when he had the chance.
"I know! And I don't understand it! It frustrates me!" Bill snarled like a wild animal that had been kept in a cage for too long. His eyes glowed red, a tell-tale sign that he was pissed off. His teeth were like fangs as he hissed the last few words: "and now because of him I can't leave!"
Dipper felt a flash off understanding about Bill's motives now. It was revenge. Pure pay back. Granted Bill had told him this but now the boy knew why he had chosen this form of punishment over the others. He wanted Dipper to feel trapped in an unescapable prison. He wanted Dipper to know how it felt to be alone and helpless, unable to get back to the place he belonged. He wanted them all to suffer for his suffering.
"I know first-hand that revenge is underrated." Dipper stated absentmindedly, remembering a time when he wanted to get one up on Pacifica and had laughed at her screams of indignation. He now felt hollow inside.
"Yes, Pine Tree. Yes it is…"