Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Touch the statue! Touch the statue! Touch the statue!"

The group of teens cheered their friend on, in a half circle around a statue most pretended no longer existed. The adults' insistence to ignore it and forget about it only spurred on the rumors and the gossip among the youth of the town. How dangerous could a hunk of stone really be? Everyone knew Bill Cipher was dead, thanks to Stanley Pines. Everyone says it. So what's the harm?

"See?" Robbie scoffed, holding the statues hand. "It's just a dumb rock. You all are babies for being scared of it." Robbie laughed. "Trust me. I went head to head with this thing. He's Nothing."

"Oh yeah?" Nate smirked. "Then take your gloves off, coward."

"Whatever!" Robbie rolled his eyes, yanking the cloth off. "I'm not afraid!" He reached out, hesitating. "Just admit you're all scared and we can go home."

"Someone's stalling~" Lee laughed.

"I am not!" Robbie huffed, grabbing the hand firmly. "See, it'd- shit." He hissed, yanking his hand back.

"Dude??" Thompson worried. He knew they shouldn't be messing with this! Why do they never listen to him?!

"I'm fine." Robbie sighed, clenching his fist. "Stupid thing's just jagged. Cut me. Let's get out of here. I am SO not getting an infection at the start of summer."

"Yeah, alright." Nate nodded. "Does it need stitches?"

"Nah. Just gotta get home and wash it." Robbie tucked his glove in his pocket, leaving with his friends. "Stop shaking, Thompson. It's just a stupid rock. Surprised the Pines' haven't taken a sledgehammer to it."

Tambry snorted, "Maybe saving it for the kids' 18th. Think they're coming back this summer?"

"Uhg, who cares??" Robbie shook his head.

Tambry shrugged at him. "Gotta admit there's more to post about when they're around."

"I just want a normal summer with no weirdness."

"In this town?" Lee laughed. "You'd have a better shot at winning the lottery."

The group all cracked up. Sure, the world wasn't ending anymore, but Gravity Falls was still weird. No one would have it any other way.

Dipper sighed as the bus rolled into town, "Aw, man. It would be storming our first day back."

"Eh," Mabel shrugged, "Just means we get our Grunkles and Soos all to ourselves for the night!"

"True." Dipper grinned. "I guess it could be worse... You don't think it's an omen, do you?"

"Brobro." Mabel looked her twin dead in the eye. "I think you're paranoid."

Dipper rolled his eye and laughed. "Yeah, maybe. Can you blame me tho?"

Mabel giggled and shrugged, grabbing her bags. "Oh, I can't wait to see everyone!"

Dipper nodded. "Hopefully we can have a normal summer."

Mabel made an error noise, "That's boring!"

Dipper laughed, holding his sister close. "Okay, a not deadly summer."

"Mmm, fair. I just hope it's a happy one."

"Agreed."

The woods were eerily silent after a lightning strike that shook the ground. The first noise to break it was a groan of pain. A body sat up from the rubble of worn stone and moss. Where was he? What were these-  These weren't his hands? Were they? He had to think. The last thing he could remember was-

Guess I was good for something after all.

Pines. He sat up. His last memory was of Stanley Pines. That's right. He died. Technically speaking. His invocation must have worked. So where was he now? He swallowed, an instinct, and an odd one at that. Glancing to his hands. They were darker than the last few hosts he'd hand. The nails were cleaner too. Some schmuck must have shook his hand. Odd. Usually he'd hear the host's voice in his mind, or see them floating nearby. Perhaps his last invocation was stronger than he thought?

It didn't matter. Right now he needed to get up, and figure out when he is. Bill grit his host's teeth as he stumbled up onto his feet, wobbling. Weird. This host seemed to lack muscle memory?? Was he still possessing Stanley and he'd crisped up out in the sun? No, that doesn't seem likely. These arms and hands didn't look even close to either Pines. Besides, they surely wouldn't just leave him out here. Perhaps this body was on death's row itself, and that was why it shook his hand?

Not important. He still needed to figure out when he was, and where. The woods, for sure. But how deep in, he couldn't tell. This body's night vision is remarkably horrible. Bill took a deep breath, another foreign action, but one he had seen helped many a human before. He reached out to the trees, using them as support. He should know how to do this. He has several times before. Why did this feel so different??

Bill grimaced, glancing down to the body's bare feet. The woods hurt. Sure, usually that's fun! But right now, he was so overwhelmed trying to figure out what was going on, it just pissed him off. Whoever this was must have never gone barefoot a day in their life. No durability at all. He could feel every rock and twig jabbing into him. Was he naked?? That was fairly normal as a triangle, sure. But he couldn't recall ever inhabiting a host without clothes. What kind of lunatic has he possessed??

Bill groaned in frustration, running a hand down his face. Well this one at least doesn't have glasses. That was a small win. He reached up, running the hand thru the hair. Down to his shoulders, it seemed. Some sort of dark color, the night made it hard to tell completely, but he'd guess black. He could work with that. At least he didn't look stupid. Probably. Well, stupider than every human always looks.

This body was certainly scrawnier than either Stan. Not quite as bad as the child tho. Still, he doubted he could pull off half the stunts he used to as Stanford... Stanford.... He wondered what he was up to. What? No, he didn't! He didn't care. This body must just be delusional. He probably needed water. Yeah, that's it. Human bodies need water to not get stupid.

Bill squinted thru the dark, trying to gauge where to go. He awkwardly crouched down to the rubble below him, trying his best not to fall flat on his ass. Grabbing a large chunk of rock, he stood back up, chose a direction, and began to walk.

Bill sighed in exhausted relief to come across a small river. Finally! He could give this form it's required babysitting. Then he'd get on with- Whatever the hell he wanted! Bill crouched by the water, leaning forward to drink from the river. Yellow eyes blinked back up at him.

Bill shrieked and recoiled from the water. He wasn't a total expert in humans, but he knew those were not human eyes. It didn't even seem like the usual brief glint possession causes. Something was wrong. Bill crawled back to the water's edge, glancing at the reflection once more. Yellowed eyes with slightly narrow pupils. Ears a bit more pointed than he thought was normal from his observations. His face framed by black hair. Bill frowned, then glared. It couldn't be-

It simply couldn't.

Bill growled, shoving the head into the water. If he knew one thing about humans, they ALWAYS reminisced on their memories when they think they're about to die! then he'd see who's body this was. Bill found himself jerking from the water, coughing up water, instincts forcing him to not just kill himself entirely. The only memories in his mind, his own.

No.

No no.

Bill tried to will himself out of this body. Tried to view the mindscape. Tried to- ANYTHING.

Bill stared in horror at the hands below him. The hands with no muscle memory. With no callouses or use marked on them. The mind with no memories or second thoughts.

"YOU. FRILLY. ASSHOLE!!!" Bill shrieked into the sky in rage.

The body's stomach- no. His stomach. sank in dread as something behind him snarled.

Dipper chewed on his pen as he starred at the Sudoku puzzle he'd been working on for an hour. The pen itself was added challenge. He couldn't put a number down unless he was certain it was right. He'd much rather be out exploring some more with Mabel, but the rain had been off and on since they arrived three days ago. So it was mostly just, catching up with family and board games. It was leaving him more than a little restless, being inside so much. They came here to get OUT. Not stay IN.

Dipper almost jumped out of his skin at the knock on the door. "Grunkle Stan??" Dipper called, "Are we expecting anyone??"

"Not that I know of." Stan called back from the kitchen.

"Ooo!" Mabel ran over, covered in glitter glue. "Maybe my friends came to see me?"

"Oh- yeah." Dipper nodded, getting up. "Leave it to them to not care about a little rain." He chuckled, answering the door while Mabel ran off to grab their gifts.

Bill grinned and waved, covered almost entirely in various shades of blood. Most dried, some fresh. He was more than a little delirious from exhaustion. Sleeping in the woods wasn't easy when you're edible. "Hey, Pi-"

Dipper screamed and slammed the door on the strange figure. "GRUNKLE STANS?!"

Ford and Stan wasted no time abandoning the food, running over.

Ford's hand already on his gun. Stan armed with a bat.

"What's wrong?" Ford grabbed Dipper, pulling the child behind him.

"There's some weirdo at the door!" Dipper backed away, letting the adults handle this.

Ford looked to his twin and nodded, grabbing the handle.

Stan braced his bat, ready to swing.

Ford threw the door open and froze. Those eyes.

"Sixer!" Bill cheered, stumbling forward to hug his old ally.

Bill only just barely saw a blur moving towards him, before everything went dark.

Chapter Text

"Kids, get upstairs!" Ford demanded, stepping back from this strange being.

"Who is that?" Dipper worried.

"I don't know. We'll handle it. Get upstairs." Ford repeated.

Dipper frowned and went to the attic with Mabel.

"Why are they naked." Stan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"No clue." Ford sighed as well. "Grab. . something. I'm hosing them off. We aren't going to get any answers for awhile. Nice aim, by the way."

Stan snickered and nodded, heading for the gift shop. He'd charge them for it later. Right now, he didn't want the kids seeing some weird naked man.

Ford discarded his coat onto the couch, picking the blood covered person up. He was thankful for the shade of night. He could only imagine how this would look to an outsider. Not that it looked any less strange for them.

Ford carefully propped the person up against the side of the house and grabbed the hose. The blood was caked on so thick, it took several minutes to get him presentable. Although some still remained matted in their hair.

Ford and Stan awkwardly maneuvered the stranger into some shorts and shirt from the gift shop, before hauling him back inside.

"What if he's dangerous?" Stan worried.

Ford shrugged. "We could cuff them down in the lab until we know more?"

Stan nodded, helping Ford haul the body down the steps. "I didn't kill the guy did I?"

"No, he has a pulse. Given the marks all over him, I'd wager he's just exhausted. Looks like he had a fight with several creatures."

"Tourist who got lost?"

"Possibly. Tho, why'd he naked?"

"Hmm... Maybe it's one of those survival challenge lunatics Soos watches online."

Ford snickered at the thought, setting the light human into a chair. "They're certainly in for their money's worth here."

Stan chuckled, handing Ford a set of cuffs.

"Doesn't seem like they're very prepared for it." Ford shook his head, chaining on arm to a pipe on the wall. "The pig has more muscle."

Stan sighed. "I'm gonna check on the kids."

Ford gave a nod, watching Stan head back upstairs. He frowned. He had to have misheard. There's no way some stranger knew his nickname. Ford swallowed the lump in his throat and reached out, hand hesitating near the stranger's face. He was being paranoid. He had to be.

Bill was dead.

Ford carefully pried an eye open, and fell backwards in terror. An all too familiar eye stared back at him. This time, there was no mirror or glint of the light tho. Ford scrambled to his feet and backed away. It couldn't be. He had to be seeing things. Or going crazy. Yes. That was it. Age was getting to him, and he was hallucinating. Bill couldn't possibly be back. Stanley defeated him.

The stranger groaned, other eye cracking open as they finally awoke. Bill glanced to his arm and the cold metal on it. He glared at the cuff, trying to will it to melt. Or burn. Or anything remotely weird.

It did nothing of the sort.

Bill huffed, and yanked his arm. Over and over. Metal cutting into his skin from the force of it. He didn't care. He just wanted it off. He'd shatter this disgusting hand if he had to!

"Bill? . . ." Ford whispered.

Bill froze. That voice. He grinned wide, turning to see his human standing there, starring at him in horror. Finally! Some proper treatment. "Miss me, Sixer?~"

Ford glared, fear replaced by burning anger. He aimed his gun at Bill's head. "Give me one reason not to shoot you, right now!"

Bill just laughed at his pet trying to play brave. "The fact you're giving me a chance to at all tells me all I need to know!" He grinned wider, leaning forward and propping an elbow on his knee, resting his chin in his unchained hand. "Don't miss this time."

Ford grit his teeth. His finger tensing... He lowered his gun. He needed answers first.

"Good boy." Bill coo'd.

Ford ignored how red his face went, storming forward to grab Bill by his shirt collar. "How are you back?!"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Bill laughs. "Tell you what, you answer my question, I'll answer yours! Deal?"

"I don't make deals with you anymore." Ford tosses Bill back into the chair.

Bill just laughed harder, straightening himself out. He grimaced at the shirt. "What is this? What am I wearing??"

"That's two questions." Ford scoffed, holstering his gun for now. "I couldn't have a naked man near the kids. You're in what we can spare. Deal with it."

Bill gagged. "It stinks-... Stinks? Huh. Guess things are different when it's my own mind."

"Your own- ..." Ford's brow furrowed. "Are you.... human??"

"Beats me!" Bill shrugged. "Woke up like this!"

"Woke up?? What do you mean woke up??"

"That's two questions." Bill mimicked. Grinning at the parallel to their first meeting.

Ford scowled.

"Not the sentimental type." Bill shrugged. "How long's it been?"

"Almost a year since we kicked your ass."

Bill rolled his eyes. "That's a bit of an exaggeration."

"How are you back." Ford repeated, demanding.

Bill once more shrugged. "You'd have to take that up with the frilly guy upstairs! Trust me-" Bill's face fell into a serious scowl. "I'd never chose this form willingly."

Ford sighed. That's one thing he could trust to be true. "So. You're back. As a human. With no clue how or why."

"Well, I didn't say NO clue! Just not by my own power."

Ford rubbed his temples, exhausted already. "Your question."

Bill leaned back, thinking carefully. He'd only string Ford along on this game for so long. He grinned. "Have you missed me?"

"We're done here." Ford shook his head, turning to leave.

"Aww, c'mon! Aren't you curious where the blood came from?? Or where I woke up?"

Ford left the lab, slamming the door.

"...Great." Bill frowned. "Could've at least left a light on for me...." Bill glanced to the cuff. Breaking his hand to escape may prove more of a risk than he thought. If it had been a year, those brats were probably back. Trying to escape while the zodiac was whole was a risk he wasn't sure he could take on these untrained legs.

Ford pinched the bridge of his nose as he froze at the bottom of the stairs, watching Bill Cipher gnaw at the metal chain. "You are going to break your teeth."

Bill froze. He was so busy chewing his way to freedom, he hadn't heard Sixer approach. Odd. Just another reason this body sucked. It didn't hear when distracted. Bill sat up, trying to seem composed. "Decided to continue our game?~"

"No." Ford huffed, flicking a light on.

Bill flinched, shielding his eyes. Sensations were VERY different when it was your own mind feeling them. Not someone else's you were piloting. Bill blinked the spots from his eyes and looked up to find a sandwich shoved towards him. "What's this?..."

"Food. You look like shit."

Bill scoffs. "I am a being of pure energy-"

"You WERE. Now, you're a human who needs food. But by all means. Test that theory. It'll save us a lot of hassle."

Bill glared and snatched the sandwich. He stared at the food. Sure. He knew how to eat. He had as a triangle, and a few times as Ford when his late night calculations became too hard to do over the sound of his stomach. It didn't mean he liked the action tho. It was vile. One of the many issues with this form.

"You open your mouth and use your teet-"

"I KNOW HOW TO EAT, STANFORD." Bill huffed, turning red. He awkwardly chomped down on the sandwich, trying not to heave at the feeling.

Ford pulled over a chair and sat down. If he had his powers, he'd be free now. Right? "....Frilly guy upstairs-"

"Hm?" Bill looked over.

"Would that be The Axolotl I've heard about?"

"I don't recall it being your turn." Bill smirked, taking a second bite before chewing the first.

Ford rolled his eyes, rubbing his temples again. He could just lie. But that would only goad Cipher on more to keep digging. Perhaps honesty would get the demon to talk? "I missed feeling like I had someone who believed in me."

Bill rolled his eyes, taking a third bite.

"You're going to make it worse biting off that much."

"Fuck you! Don't tell me how to eat." He pettily took a fourth bite before trying to chew. It was indeed far worse.

Ford raised an amused brow. "Well?"

"It's- ... fine." Bill lied, fighting the growing need to vomit before he's even swallowed. "Y-... Yes, I mean the-...." Talking was making the mush in his mouth infinity worse. Bill found himself in yet another new time of pain as he vomited up mostly stomach acid with a scattering of berries he'd plucked on the way here. The sob of pain after was involuntary. He had to fix this body's piss poor pain tolerance asap.  Even Pine Tree's form could handle way more than he could right now.

Ford frowned in concern, taking the sandwich back and heading back upstairs without another word.

Great. He thinks I'm a fucking idiot now. Bill sighed and curled into a ball on the couch. "You having a good ol' laugh out there?? Is this what you wanted? To watch big bad Bill starve to death?" Bill rasped, throat raw. "Everyone thinks you're suuuuch a nice guy. Here you are, kicking a triangle when he's down. Your vacant stare can't fool me, Frills. You're just as much of a sadist as I am!"

Bill sighed into the silent room. He was talking to himself, wasn't he? He glanced to his arm, reconsidering the broken hand thing again.This time, Bill did hear the footsteps. He glanced to the stairs, glaring.

Ford returned, this time handing Bill a thermos with a sip spout.

"What's this?"

"Not your turn yet." Ford snickered at the glare that earned him. "It's soup. Tomato. Should be a bit easier."

Bill scoffed, but snatched it. If only to get this vile taste out of his eye- mouth. Mouth. It was a mouth now.

Ford said nothing as he grabbed some supplies to clean the floor.

Swallowing mouthfuls of garbage still was vile, but Bill couldn't deny this was indeed better than chewing. "Yes, I meant the Axolotl." Bill sighed. If only to not deal with the silence.

Ford hmm'd to himself. Considering this. Bill's word hardly counted for anything. But it didn't seem like him to use that name so casually. IF he was telling the truth, Ford should let this be. Who was he to meddle in the plans of gods? It could be a trick tho. In which case, they should just end him now. While he's not a threat.

But he has come back once. What if he came back as something worse?

Ford watched Bill. Tomato soup dribbling down him as he struggled to eat properly. Covered in cuts and bruises and gashes from whatever he went thru before arriving here. Powerless for sure. Ford nodded to himself. "Your question."

Bill rolled his eyes. "I'm bored of that game."

Ford shrugged. "Going to fill me in the rest of the way, then?"

"Nope." Bill chugged the last of the soup. "Water?"

Ford watched him a few moments longer, before nodding. "Yeah." Ford went to his lab's sink, filling the nearest clean beaker with water and bringing it over. "You're staying down here for now."

"Isn't this kidnapping?" Bill teased, taking the water and chugging it to get the filmy feeling off his teeth.

"No one's left to report you missing." Ford reminded, leaving.

Bill ignored the way his chest sank at those words. Of course his maniacs had moved on. It wasn't like any of them to stick around for a dead guy. He sure wouldn't. Whatever. He's always been fine on his own. Bill finished off his water eagerly. Shattering the glass beaker against the wall and grabbing some of the pieces. He could at least make this body more durable and fun while down here!

Ford called his family to the kitchen. Life taught him the hard way that secrets only ever hurt him in the end.

"Is everything okay?" Dipper asked, sitting down.

"I believe so?" Ford shrugged.

"Who was that?" Mabel worried. "Are they okay?"

"He's- . ." Ford chewed his lip. Where to even begin.

Stan raised a brow. "What's goin' on, Sixer?"

Ford braced himself, and spoke as calmly as he could. "That would be Bill Cipher."

"What?!" Dipper paled. Mabel held her pig close.

Stan glared, reaching for his own gun. "You're sure??"

"Down, Stanley." Ford chuckled. "I'm certain. BUT. I don't believe he's a threat at the moment."

"Not a threat?!" Dipper's jaw fell open. "Grunkle Ford-"

"I know! I know who he is kid! I know better than anyone else. But. The fact of the matter right now is, he is human. Completely. If he had powers, he would have used them by now. The one thing Bill Cipher is not, is patient. I don't know exactly how he is back. But I know he's powerless right now. He's just a human. And we do NOT take human life."

"He's Bill-" Stan glared.

"I KNOW." Ford repeated. "It will take me some time to verify if he's lying or not, but he claimed the Axolotl brought him back. IF that is the case, it's for a reason. We need more information before we can act."

Stan sighed. Sixer did know much more about these weird interdimensional beings than the rest of them. "So.... What's the plan then?"

"For now?...." Ford frowned. "Keep your friends close, and enemies closer. We keep him here to keep an eye on him."

"Here?!" Stan's jaw fell open. "In this house??"

"Would you rather he run free and loose??" Ford reminded.

"No way, Ford! We aren't keeping him near the kids! I won't have him here!"

"Might I remind you this is still MY House??" Ford rolled his eyes. "I know, this isn't ideal! But do any of you have any better ideas??"

Dipper huffed. "We could freeze him in your Cryo chambers."

"That'd risk Shifty unfreezing, and I'm in no rush to deal with him again."

Dipper snorted. "You named it Shifty?"

"..... Not the point." Ford snickered.

"We could take him to jail!" Mabel beamed.

"....Mabel. Sweetie. Do you remember who our officers are?" Stan reminded.

".............Right." She sighed. "So. That's it then? We just.... Let Bill live with us?"

Ford shrugged. "We let Stan move in" He joked.

"Hey!" Stan laughed. "Between the two of us, pretty sure you have the bigger record!"

"Probably." Ford laughed. "I'm confident we can handle this. Together." He held out his hand, palm down.

Stan scoffed. "Yeah, alright. Together." He put his hand over his brother's.

Dipper frowned. "We trust you, Grunkle Ford." He added his hand to the pile.

Mabel nodded happily, placing her hand and Waddles over theirs.

Ford smiled, relieved to have his family behind him.

"PINES!" They all cheered.

Mabel glanced to her Grunkle. "He probably needs a bathroom if he's human."

Ford grimaced at the thought. She was right tho. "I'll sort something out."

She snorted, hugging her grunkles before heading back upstairs. In no rush to remeet the demon just yet.

Dipper followed. "If he tries anything. Hit him in the head with the grappling hook."

"Oh yeah." She nodded.

"So, what are we going to do then?" Stan looked to Ford. "I don't feel comfortable setting him loose in the lab."

"Of course not." Ford agreed. "The only solution, until we know more, is my room. Help me clear out all the experiments?"

Stan nodded. "Melody's not gonna like this when they get back."

"I am more than aware." Ford sighed. "I hope it doesn't stress her out too much."

"Soos'll help her thru it." Stan assured. "He helped the kids."

"True."

The pair carefully made Ford's master bedroom as dangerous item free as possible.

"Gonna bunk with me like old times? Or keeping an eye on him?"

"Not too eager to sleep around him again, but. More uncomfortable leaving him unsupervised."

Stan nodded in understanding. "I'll get the air mattress set up."

"Thank you, Stanley."

"You sure this is a good idea, tho? Keeping him around?"

"Honestly? I have no idea. But I don't want to make assumptions and make this worse."

"Fair enough. Good luck."

"I'm going to need it." Ford headed back down into the lab. "WHAT IN GOD'S NAME-" Ford shouted in distress. Bill was yet again covered in blood.

Stan ran down at the shout, "FORD?!"

Ford glanced to his brother, "Med kit!"

Stan nodded, running for the cabinet while his twin rushed to Bill's side- Man that felt wrong to think about.

Ford quickly unlocked Bill's cuff, briefly worrying this was a ruse. The lack of response only worried him more. "Bill??"

The twins frantically cleaned and bandaged the several cuts and designs Bill had carved across himself. It seemed like a disjointed effort to restore his brick patterning on his legs.

"What the hell is wrong with him?" Stan huffed.

"A lot of things." Ford shook his head, carefully picking Bill up once he was fixed up. "At least moving him upstairs is less risky now."

Stan didn't comment, merely holding the doors for Ford as they headed for Ford's room. "He gonna be okay?"

"Should be. Most the blood on him when he arrived wasn't his. Still. I'll monitor his pulse until he wakes up."

Stan gave a nod. "How are we explaining this to everyone?"

"I have no idea. That's tomorrow's problem."

"Good idea." Stan chuckled. "Try to get some sleep, okay?"

"You too. Don't stay up all night guarding the attic."

"I make no promises."

"Lock the door behind us?"

"You sure?"

"I want the kids safe, first and foremost. I can handle him."

Stan nodded, shutting Ford's door and locking it from the outside.

Ford set Bill down on the main bed. Sure, the air mattress was for Bill. But something about placing a human covered in bandages and bruises on the floor simply felt Wrong. Regardless of who they are. Ford checked Bill's pulse, before tucking him in. "You're a pain in the ass, you know that, Cipher?" Ford huffed.

He shook his head and laid down on the air mattress, facing the bed. He wouldn't make the mistake of turning his back to Bill. Ford glanced up at the slight groan above him. Good. He was still alive at least. "......Yeah. I missed you." Ford sighs to himself, closing his eyes for sleep.

Chapter Text

All Bill could hear around him were screams.

All he could feel was heat.

He hadn't been able to feel heat in eons.

Everything was burning, but he couldn't see any of it thru the smoke. Stumbling blindly on unfamiliar legs, in unfamiliar strides, across too familiar streets.

Two voices cut above the screams. He tried not to hear them. He had to keep running. It was the only thing he knew how to do. His lungs burnt from the flames and smoke. His hands were as blackened as his pants at this point.

Pants?

Bill paused. He was wearing shorts last, wasn't he?

He doesn't wear clothes, does he? He's a triangle- He's a human, now. But this place. When he was here-

Why did you do it, Billy?

Bill covered ears he shouldn't even have. "LEAVE ME ALONE-"

Bill shrieked as the ground vanished from below him. Dropped into the abyss of space. Hurtling thru the nothingness blindly. A star falling from the sky, to places unknown.

"STOP!"

Bill groaned as everything halted. He'd didn't feel an impact, but the abrupt stop still left him disoriented.

He held his head- Another thing he shouldn't have. With a hand that had five fingers- Shouldn't he have four?? He recounted. Yeah, that's four. Is that right? He couldn't keep track. He shook his head, groaning as it sent the world spinning again. There were voices again, but he didn't know these ones.

Bill forced his eyes open, looking up. He was in the back of an auditorium. Someone was giving a speech at the front. Bill squinted in the dim lights. He grinned wide. Sixer!

As if he could hear the- Bill wasn't sure anymore. Sixer's head snapped up, eyes locking on him.

Ford sighed. "I should have known it was a dream." With a wave of his hand, the crowds vanished as Ford floated over to Bill.

Bill recoiled from the sudden approach, expecting a fight. Instead, he sent himself tumbling thru the air, unable to control his floating. "WOAH- Wh- Where's the balance point on this thing?!"

Ford snickered at the tumbling creature. "It's in your core- use your hips-"

"I'm not even supposed to HAVE hips! And neither did you last I used your form!"

Ford shook his head at the jab, grabbing Bill by the arm and pulling him upright. Ford's hands came down to rest on Bill's hips. "Like this."

Bill frowned as he felt his face heat up. "Wh- what's wrong with this body?? Did I break it already?"

Ford only laughed at him. "Not exactly. You have a lot to learn." Ford smiled so fondly-

Wait. No, Bill's seen that before, hasn't he? This wasn't right. This wasn't-

"You're not real. Are you?" Bill glared. He did not appreciate being tricked. Again.

"I'm as real as you want me to be." The human whispered, grabbing Bill's chin.

Bill yelped as he sat upright. The auditorium and the fake Ford both gone. He panted. What was that?! What was any of that about-

"Bill?"

Bill went stiff. Shit. Was he not awake yet?? Why was it so hard to tell?

Ford scoffed behind him. "I thought you didn't have powers anymore."

Yes. Good. This one sounded normal. This was correct- Bill's brow furrowed, glancing behind him.

Ford's glare softened to see just how confused Bill looked. "Are you... okay??"

"What's going on??"

"...Are you not doing this on purpose?"

"You think I'd CHOSE to still look like this?!" He frantically gestured to his distinctly not triangle form.

"You're-" Ford grabbed out a handkerchief and held it out. "Your eye is.... Bleeding? I think?"

Bill's brow furrowed further as he swiped his cheek. The cloth stained in a glitchy silvery liquid. "Well that's new. And unwelcomed..." Bill sighed, glancing himself over the best he can. "The clothes here are at least an upgrade."

Ford shook his head. "I guess you can still dream hop.... Lucky me." Ford sighed sarcastically.

"Hey. This isn't my idea of fun right now either." Bill defended. "I'm not used to being so-" He sighed. Why was he justifying himself?? He could do and go wherever he wanted. He didn't need permission.

Ford backed off, seeing how on edge his former friend seemed. Ford tapped his foot slightly before nodding. A chess set appearing on a table. "Well. We may as well pass the time."

Bill looked up, confused. He snorted to see their old chess set. Yeah. This was a real Sixer. Bill shakily stood up, wobbling. He went over, sitting on the stool and turning the board so he'd get first move.

Ford rolled his eyes but said nothing against the action.

"Are dreams usually so- discombobulated??"

"Sometimes." Ford studied Bill's first move, trying to guess what strategy he was using this time.  "Although. Given how you arrived at the shack, I feel safe assuming your time from  whenever you became human to not has been, distressing to say the least. On top of the fact your mind most likely passed out in a distressed state as well. I'd wager whatever you just went thru was not a dream but a nightmare."

"I don't GET nightmares. I AM the nightmare." Bill corrected.

"Well. You do now." Ford shrugged.

Bill grumbled at the thought. Him? Nightmares?? As if. What did he have to be scared of. He was Bill Cipher.

Bill took notice of how much quieter then mindscape around them was. Ford was most likely keeping a close hold on it with Bill near. Bill glanced over to his opponent. Watching the way his jaw and brows twitched as he contemplated the game.

"You're starring." Ford commented idly, never looking up from the game board.

Bill went red, glancing down. "Was not."

Ford exhaled audibly, but said nothing.

Bill chewed his inner cheek. This silence was going to suffocate him. "Your dreams are incredibly dull."

"Then don't come back to them if they bore you."

"Hey, I didn't do this on purpose! I was just trying to g-" Nope. He was not going to remember the nightm- The dream. It was a dream. He did not get nightmares- Or is calling that a dream worse?- It doesn't matter! None of it happened!

Ford raised a brow slightly, Bill's hands were turning red. Glancing up, his face matched.

Bill made it a point to not glance away from the board or at Ford.

Ford shook his head, focusing back on the game. Whatever crisis the ex-triangle was having was not his concern. He'd done more than enough already.

Bill groaned in pain, head pulsing. Good. It was tolerance building. He was fine. He slowly pushed himself upright, glancing across the bedding around him. He recognized these blankets. These were- He glanced over, spotting Sixer fast asleep on the floor, having rolled off the small mattress. Bill snorted, must be taking his time to enjoy his dream solo.

Bill detangled himself from the sheets and awkwardly dropped himself onto the floor. His legs were on FIRE. He ignored them. Crawling over to the mattress on the floor and sitting on it. Bill pulled his legs to his chest, watching Ford sleep.

Ford yawned as he blinked awake. And then screamed to find Bill leaned over, watching him.

Bill yelped at the sudden noise, falling backwards and off the other side of the air mattress.

"What is wrong with you?!" Ford bellowed, scrambling to his feet.

"Hey, not like I had anything else to do in this box." Bill defended, gripping the bed to pull himself up.

Ford frowned and rushed over, offering his hand.

"I don't need your help!" Bill insisted, hissing in pain as he put pressure on one of his legs.

"And this is why we don't mutilate ourselves. I'm sure that doesn't feel good."

"It. Feels. GREAT." Bill lied, smacking the still outstretched hand away as he stood up. "See?? I'm fine. I'm Bill Cipher! I don't need anyone's help!"

"Needed help with your portal." Ford smirked, folding his arms.

Bill glared and grit his teeth, slowly shuffling his way to the bathroom. "I. Am. Fine."

Ford shook his head. Stubborn. He didn't even jump to Stan throwing the door open.

"What'd he do?!" Stan demanded.

"Nothing." Ford assured. "Just was a bit disoriented when I woke up. Apologies for worrying you, Stanley."

Stan sighed. "So you're okay?"

"I'm okay." Ford gave his brother a good morning hug.

"Yeah, okay... I'll get breakfast started."

"Thank you. Oatmeal for him. He's having trouble with solids."

Stan snickered. "So, bulk up on baby food then?~"

"Be nice." Ford scolded while trying not to laugh.

Stan shrugged and headed for the kitchen.

Ford sighed and went thru his things. Hopefully he still had some things from his younger years somewhere in here for Bill. Having a room that's been locked for thirty odd years had its perks.

Ford laid a few things out he hoped would work, glancing to the bathroom door. He sure was taking- Ford paled. He had shaving razors in there- He rushed to the door, opening it.

Bill didn't even glances at him, perched up on the sink, leaning close to the mirror and looking himself over.

Ford sighed in relief. "I need to shower at some point, you know. Door's unlocked. Stanley's making food."

Bill gave an idle nod, not listening. He frowned as reached up to.... His face. He guessed it was now. Finger tracing a faint scar across his cheek.

"Bill."

"Yeah?" Bill snapped out of his thoughts, glancing over. "Ever heard of knocking?" He snorted to see Ford in the doorway.

Ford didn't dignify that with a reaction. "Out. I need to shower."

Bill rolled his eyes, hoping down. He hoped the wince he gave at landing on his sore legs wasn't visible. Bill ducked around Sixer, careful to not make contact.

"If you can fit anything on the bed, you're welcome to it." Ford let him know before shutting and locking the bathroom door.

Bill gave the clothes a glance over. None of them were even close to his style. Sure, the pine tree shirt and shorts weren't either. But at least they came with the joy of knowing it probably kills Stanley inside to give up merchandise. Bill paused, glancing around. He hesitantly left the room, on a search. It had to be around here somewhere.

Bill crept as quietly as he could which is to say not at all into the living room. Bingo. He grinned, picking up the tattered coat. Sure, it was a bit dingy. But he still bet it'd make him look badass. Bill pulled the coat on, heading back to the room to look himself over in a mirror.

He pulled a face. The coat made him look smaller and more pathetic. Bill huffed and yanked it off, tripping over the back of it and crashing to the floor. He growled, trying to ball it up to toss it out of his way when he froze. Bill glanced to both doors. Both closed. Bill hesitantly pulled the coat closer, taking a sniff. There was no mothball funk like the gift shop clothes. No dust like the bed clothes. Bill held it closer. He wasn't sure what this weird feeling was, but it was warm and.... nice? Yeah. Nice. Bill closed his eyes, enjoying the comfort of the jacket.

"What the hell do you think you're doing." Ford snapped

Bill jumped out of his skin. Curse this form and not listening!! He kicked the jacket away as he scrambled to his feet. His face was on fire again. He hated it. It didn't even hurt! It was just an uncomfortable feeling!

Ford pinched the bridge of his nose, collecting his coat. He opened his mouth several times before deciding he actually did not want to know. He just put the coat on and headed for the kitchen.

Bill clutched his chest. Why did it feel like it was being crushed? Shirts surely weren't that heavy, were they? Bill sighed, taking some deep breaths like he knew Ford used to when meditating. That was at least a bit better. Bill headed for the kitchen nervously. Hoping this form didn't betray the turmoil his mind was in. He'd have to figure out how to properly guard himself, mentally and physically, in this body. The game was no fun when everyone could see your cards, after all.

Bill sat down in the nearest chair. Totally not because his legs hurt in a way that wasn't fun. Nope. He just liked this seat. He'd tell himself that until he believed it.

He nodded in acknowledgment as Stan placed a bowl in front of him. It took Bill a few tries to get his spoon comfortable. Last time he held one, it was in a six fingered hand. He ate quietly.

Bill glanced over at the sound of... footsteps? He thinks? They sounded weird- Bill shrieked as he scrambled onto the table to avoid the large pig trying to take a bite out of his feet.

"WADDLES. DOWN!" Ford tried to shout between laughter at the sight.

"WADDLES!" Mabel ran over, scooping him up easily. "Don't bite him! You'll get sick!"

Bill glared. "Excuse you?!"

The pig let out an annoyed squeal, but stopped trying to lunge for Bill. Mabel set him down and poured him some food. "Good boy."

Bill huffed, trying to climb off the table. Only to crash to the floor.

Ford winced, once more rushing over.

"I already told you, I do not need HELP!" Bill shouted, embarrassed, in pain, and upset.

Ford ignored him, grabbing his arms and hauling him up.

Bill glared as he felt the fire return to his face at how easily he was being manhandled.

"You're Welcome." Ford said, pointedly.

Bill shrugged him off, grabbing his spoon and what was left of his spilled oatmeal. He ate quietly, legs tucked crisscross in his seat in case the swine changed its mind. He was starting to wonder if he was better off in the woods.

Chapter Text

"I need one of you to keep an eye on Bill for a bit." Ford informed as he gathered the dishes.

Bill rolled his eyes. He did not need a babysitter. What was he going to do with this form anyways?

"I need to go warn Fiddleford about this before I give the poor man a heart attack." Ford explained to his family.

Bill huffed in annoyance. That hick was still a thorn in his side??

"I'll do it." Mabel offered. "Dipper might just kill him." She giggled.

Ford snorted at Dipper's shrug. "Thank you, sweetie."

Bill scoffed. "Yaaay, a whole day of a pig trying to eat me."

"Grunkle Stan can watch Waddles." Mabel assured.

"I did not agree to this." Stan side eyed his niece.

Mabel put on her best pout. "Please??"

Stan sighed. "I agree to this."

Bill raised a brow. Interesting.

"Yes!" Mabel beamed.

Ford shook his head and dropped the dishes off in the sink. "Keep him away from sharp things."

Bill snickered. Yeah, like that'll stop him.

Mabel looked to Bill, "We should probably find you some shoes. Let's go loot the lost and found!"

"I'm into looting." Bill cackled, hesitantly getting out of his chair, keeping a close eye on the pig napping in the corner.

The pair headed behind the counter of the gift shop. Mabel dragged a large box out and opened it up, rummaging thru it.

"Why are there shoes in the lost and found?" Bill mused, leaning over the counter from the other side.

Mabel gave a long shrug. "It's better to just not question things here."

Bill laughed. "Fair enough."

"Try these!" Mabel popped up, a pair of rain boots in hand. "We can find you socks later."

Bill hauled himself up onto the counter, pulling the boots on. "I have no idea how these are meant to feel to fit right."

"Right... Eh, let's just go find socks. I'm sure Stan has some in his room."

Bill snickered. He doubted the old man would like that, so, Bill was on board.

Mabel happily ran off to another room, full of energy.

Bill was thankful for her speed. It left no witnesses to him barely avoiding faceplanting into the floor as he got off the counter. He composed himself and tried to figure out which direction the ball of energy went. He didn't get far before she popped up behind him.

"Found some!"

Bill shrieked, flailing and catching himself on a door frame.

Mabel snickered, taking pride in frightening him. She proudly held up a pair of socks.

Bill sighed, exhausted already. "....Finding these first probably would've made more sense."

Her grin only grew. His eyes narrowed, a growing suspicion she was doing this on purpose. He grumbled and sat down on the floor to take the boots back off. He made no comment about the pieces of fabric landing on his head. He wouldn't give her the satisfaction.

Unlike Ford, the child made no offer to help Bill off the floor. Instead watching him awkwardly struggle to his sore feet.

Mabel grinned and pulled out a notepad. "So. Bill."

He gave her a side eye, taking a step back.

"What made you decide to come HERE?"

Bill rolled his eyes and shoved past her, not answering.

"H-hey!? Where are you going??"

"Out."

"Nuh Uh! Grunkle Ford said I had to keep an eye on you!"

"Then you better come with. Because I have a time sensitive matter to attend to."

"Like what?" She jogged over to catch up.

He had the door open before she could stop him, stepping out. "Like none of your business."

"It is my business since I'm coming with."

Bill ignored her, pausing and glancing around.

"I can scream loud enough to be heard across the whole town if you're trying something!" Mabel warns.

"Noted." Bill headed for an axe stuck in a log, prying it free and giving it a few test swings. He could work with this.

The child looked the sane amount of scared. "What's that for??"

"The woods have gone feral without my presence here."

"The- We're going to the woods?? Why?"

"No. I'm going to the woods. You're free to stay here."

"No way!" Mabel glared. "I said I'd watch you!"

"I am older than your planet, I don't need a babysitter."

"The bandages all over you say otherwise."

"I wasn't armed then." Bill let the axe swing idly by his side as he headed for the woods. The child followed, to his annoyance.

Mabel sighed, easily keeping pace with Bill's awkward strides. "You sounded happy to see Grunkle Ford last night."

"I was delirious from blood loss." He dismissed.

Mabel hmm'd, scribbling in her notebook.

"And just what do you think you're doing?"

"Don't worry about it. On a scale of one to ten, how relieved would you say you were to see the Shack?"

"On a scale of one to ten, how much do you want this axe in your leg." Bill snapped back. Glaring to see her write more down.

"Do you always resort to violence when annoyed?"

"What are you? My therapist??"

"You have a therapist?"

"No." Bill rolled his eyes.

"Maybe you should."

"Maybe you should mind your business."

Mabel shrugged. "....We aren't really going to need that axe, are we?"

"Dunno. I hope so."

"Of course you do." She sighed.

Bill smirked, noticing the trail of questions stopping as they reached the trees. She at least was smart enough to not draw attention.

His peace was broken shortly after by another question, "Are we going to your statue??"

"Figure that out all on your own?" Bill siiighed.

Mabel eyed the axe, debating how easily she could steal it.

"Will you relax?? If I could get my powers back that easily, I would've. I'm just grabbing something-...... sentimental." He frowned. That was telling her too much. But he didn't want to risk she mess this up.

"Oh?" Mabel's tone softened. "What is it? I could help look?"

"You wouldn't be able to spot it, kid. But.... It'll be in my hat."

"....The one Grunkle Ford shot?"

Bill grit his teeth. "Yes. And he got VERY lucky that he didn't aim a little lower, or I would have been FAR more cross with him."

Mabel frowned. This did sound really important to him. She supposed even crazy triangle demons must still care sometimes. All the more reason to probe on why he came back to the place that most wants him dead.

Bill sighed as they reached the rubble remains of his beautiful exoskeleton. "I hope it's even still here...."

"We just need the hat, right?"

Bill gave a nod. "I hope so."

she hmmm'd. "We could jigsaw the pieces back together. Everything we can confirm is NOT a hat, narrows down what IS a hat."

Bill gave a small huh, glancing to her. That was. Actually a pretty good idea. He gave a nod.

The two worked in silence, trying to piece back together chunks of rock to narrow down what it could be. Bill became increasingly agitated at each failed chunk.

Mabel tapped her chin, thinking. "I've got it!" And with that, she sprinted away.

Bill rolled his eyes, glad to be rid of her. He sat quietly, waiting to see if her shout attracted anything. He ran his thumb over the edge of the axe, watching how the blood pooled up. He used the blood to attempt a summoning rune on the stone pieces. He sighed. Seems even baby magic was locked firmly away from him. Odd Frills didn't seem to catch his dream magic then. If that even was real? He wasn't sure any more. Sixer sure didn't mention it.

Bill glanced to his human hand with its five fingers. His triangle only ever had four on a hand. He briefly debated using the axe to fix this. Glancing around him at the woods, he decided against it. He wasn't about to struggle for his life again.

Bill frowned and got up. Resigning himself to having lost it forever.

He was not proud of the scream he let out at hearing the ankle-biter's snorting.

Mabel was at least kind enough to attempt to not laugh at him, Waddles in her arms.

"I thought Fez was watching that THING?!"

Mabel did giggle at that. "I went back to grab him. Pigs can sniff things out!"

Bill doubted this, crossing his arms.

Mabel set the pig down, holding a piece of statue up to it's snout. "Can you find more pieces for us, buddy?"

Waddles gave a few sniffs, and was off.

"I'm not running." Bill informed, bored.

"....Why's there blood on these stones?" Mabel frowned.

"Don't worry about it.... It didn't work anyways."

"What didn't work??"

"You ask a lot of questions. I was just trying to summon my piece."

"Piece of what?"

Bill frowned and didn't answer. The child took the hint and didn't push it.

It only took a few minutes for the pig to return, a cylinder of rock in its mouth.

Bill's jaw fell open. "He found it?!"

"Told you!" Mabel beamed, petting her piggie. "Good boy! Who's a good boy!"

Bill took the in tact hat from the pig, starring at it slack jawed. "Good boy." He agreed.

Waddles snorted in joy, rolling over.

Mabel eagerly gave her pet belly rubs.

Bill set the hat down, raising his axe to bust it open. He hoped it was still inside. Bill's axe slammed into the dirt beside it as he vaulted, the child screaming behind him.

Bill ripped his axe free and spun on his heels in time to see a bat the size Shooting Star herself swooping past. Barely missing grabbing the pig.

Mabel held the swine close, trying to back away, only to nearly be grabbed herself.

Bill glared. "DUCK."

Mabel did as told, the axe swinging over her head and taking off a chunk of the bat's wing.

It wheeled around on the trio, feet aiming for the pig once more.

Bill growled, slamming the blunt end of the axe down on the leg. Too close in proximity to the child to use the blade. He'd be in far less trouble for a bruise.

The bat recoiled away to gather itself.

Bill took the time to shove Mabel and the pig behind himself, flipping the axe back around to use the blade.

When the bat charged one more, Bill didn't hold back, taking off an entire wing.

The bat shrieked in pain as it fell to the ground. Bill wasn't done. He wasn't going to let this forest think it could push him around! He didn't keep track of how many times he brought the blade down.

A desperate tugging on the back of his shirt finally made him stop, axe raised high above his head.

"Bill!" Mabel cried. "It's dead!.... You can stop...."

Bill panted, glancing to the dismembered creature. He shook from the adrenaline. Bill tossed the axe aside and flopped onto his butt.

"Are you okay?" Mabel frowned, setting the pig down beside him before kneeling down.

"I'm fine." Bill insisted. "My arms won't stop shaking."

"Your muscles are probably tired.... We should get home tho. In case it has friends."

"Right." Bill took a deep breath, forcing himself back up.

Mabel stood, offering her shoulder to him.

"I don't need help." He picked the axe back up.

Mabel frowned in concern, but said nothing. She grabbed the stone hat.

The two walked back without any annoying questions.

"Sit out here. Grunkle Stan might get the wrong idea if you come inside covered in blood.... Again." Mabel placed the hat down on the steps.

Bill flopped onto the patio without a word. He was vaguely aware of the door as Shooting Star ran inside.

Waddles snorted in concern, resting his head on Bill's chest.

Bill sighed, too tired to be annoyed. He idly petted the pig. "I'm fine. Just tired."

Bill groaned and sat up as he heard Mabel return.

"Here." Mabel handed him a new shirt.

Bill nodded, taking the old one off.

Mabel winced. "Bill??"

"Yeah, kid?"

"I think you got yourself a few times." Mabel whined, worried.

Bill glanced down. Sure enough, he had some long gashes across his sides. "Ah. So I did." He shrugged, tearing apart the old shirt to wrap around the wounds.

"You need stitches."

"And what are we telling the hospital about me?"

Mabel frowned. Unsure. "Grunkle Stan could-"

"I'm not letting that swindler near me."

She sighed. "......I can ask Dipper to go get Grunkle Ford?"

"Do whatever you want, Shooting Star. I'm fine tho."

Mabel sighed and headed inside once more.

Bill kept wrapping the bloody shirt pieces like bandages. Tying them off before putting the new one on. Sure. It was going to get bloodied too. But he didn't care. They weren't his.

Bill picked up his stone hat, looking it over for a crack. Once he found a spot, he carefully placed it down, beating it with the butt of the axe until it broke. Bill held his breath as he carefully tilted it.

It felt like an eternity of shaking the hat back and forth, watching useless pieces chip and tumble free. Finally tho-

Bill carefully picked up the small black stone. No more than a pebble. But he knew. He could tell by it's every carefully memorized ridge and dip. Bill carefully cupped the pebble, holding it close to himself. His home was safe.

He wasn't sure how long he sat there, simply holding his one possession close. He also wasn't sure if he'd lost track due to spacing out, or due to yet again suffering fairly severe blood loss. All he knew, was he was jostled from his moment of peace by hands gently shaking his shoulders.

"Bill?!" Ford called, frantic.

Awhile. Bill guessed. He'd zoned out for quite awhile by the concern on the faces of the three Pines around him.

"Kids, get the doors." Ford instructed, carefully scooping the smaller human body up.

Bill found he didn't even feel like protesting. He must really be out of it. His fist curled tighter around his stone. He had to stay focused enough to not drop it.

Bill pulled a face at Ford covering his eyes before opening up his lab entrance, but still said nothing. The warmth of the arms holding him felt nice. He almost felt like he could take a nap.

"You reckless idiot!" Ford scolded him.

Bill only hmm'd without a proper come back.

Bill groaned as his senses came back to him. He was on something soft, but he couldn't really tell what.Everything felt almost. Muted.

Bill's eyes shot open as he realized his hands were open. His attempts to sit up were instantly stopped by a firm hand.

"You're not in a condition to move right now." Sixer spoke.

Bill blinked, eyes adjusting to the lights. "Where's-"

Ford held up the stone. "Right here. It's right here on the table next to you."

Bill sighed, letting himself relax into the bed.

"Mabel filled me in. Once she mentioned it was in a hat, I had a guess."

Bill sighed, staring at the ceiling. "Shouldn't I be in pain right now?"

"I'm not heartless. I have you on an anesthetic for now. You needed several stitches. What were you thinking??"

"I was thinking I wanted it back, and you know why."

"I could have gone-"

"You'd never let me back near myself. You'd be too worried of the consequences."

Ford sighed. Bill was right after all.

"Is Shooting Star okay?" Bill shocked himself by asking.

"Her leg has a nasty bruise, but. All things considered, she's fine.... Thanks to you, she tells me."

Bill gave a shrug. "Don't read into it. It wasn't for her."

"I'm sure." Ford didn't buy it.

"I'm just reminding this town and its creatures who's in charge here. The shits tried to attack me far too much before I got here. I needed to put them back in their place."

"Of course." Ford wasn't convinced. "Regardless.... Thank you."

"I didn't think you knew those words." Bill teased.

Ford rolled his eyes. "I'll see what I can find so you don't get bored. But, please..... Just stay laying down. You severely need to rest. You've put your body to its limits."

Bill gave a shakey thumbs up, still too out of it to be himself.

"Stanley says he's going to start charging you for those shirts." Ford calls back as he's leaving.

Bill laughed at that. "Put it on my tab."

Ford chuckled at him.

Bill froze, soaking in the sound. He hadn't heard Ford laugh in- He shook it off. It didn't matter.

Bill stretched as he stepped out into the sun's warmth again. "MAN! Am I glad to be out of that lab!"

Mabel snorted, on Bill sitting duty again, "Next time be more careful and you won't end up stuck down there for medical treatments."

"Nah!" Bill laughed. "It was pretty fun having Sixer bring me my meals and games!"

Mabel laughed. "I see you have more bandaids."

Bill shrugged, "I have been banned from foods that use forks!"

"Why??"

"Because I stabbed-"

"NO. I can see that. WHY?? Why do you want to hurt yourself?"

Bill gave a shrug, rocking on his heels. "I'm working with the worlds worst canvas here! Gotta spruce it up somehow!"

Mabel gave a thoughtful hmm. "I may have an idea you'll like?"

"Shoot!" Bill grinned. Sure. She was annoying and a gross human. But, of all the Pines, she seemed tolerable! Fun even! The ideas she came up with for things to do were almost as wild as Bill's own. Almost.

"You'll see! Come on. I'm leading today."

"Waddles coming with us?"

"Nah. He's a bit adventured out."

Bill nodded, following Mabel thru town. He put on a pair of sunglasses. A requirement from Sixer until they could explain this to the town.... Somehow.

"A graveyard?" Bill tilted his head, grinning. "Are we grave robbing??? MAN! That takes me back!"

"What?! No??" Mabel starred in horror. "When did you graverob??"

"Me? Nah! It's a long story! I'll tell you over dinner!" He grinned. He was sure Sixer would LOVE that storytime!

Mabel laughed and headed for the house nearby, knocking.

Bill smiled out fondly over the graves, trying to spot the one he was near when Sixer first ever shot at him. Good times!

Robbie threw the door open, sneering down at the kid. "What do you want."

"Hi, Robbie!" Mabel beamed. Whether she was oblivious to his disdain, or willfully ignoring it, Bill couldn't tell.

Robbie rolled his eyes, about to shut the door.

Mabel caught it, "You still want to practice piercings, right??"

"You're too young-"

"Not me." Mabel snickered. "This is my- cousin?-"

Bill snorted. Lying was not her strong suit. "Melpomene." He grinned, holding out a hand. "Call me Mel."

"....Okay..." Robbie did not take his hand.

Bill shrugged. "It's Greek."

"Whatever." Robbie ignored him, glancing to Mabel once more.

"I was hoping you could pierce his ears for him." She beamed.

".......Yeah, sure." He shrugged, letting them inside. He didn't have much else going on, and practice was practice. "Hold old are you?" He checked.

Bill gave a shrug. Using the first age that came to mind, When Ford Met Him. "32."

Robbie raised a skeptical brow.

"Hey, just because you get your view of how people look from TV doesn't make me a liar."

Robbie gave a shrug. Fair enough. "Sit." He pointed to the couch.

Bill flopped down, glancing around. "Nice place."

"Don't patronize me." Robbie rolled his eyes, heading to his room for his supplies.

"32?" Mabel whispered, snickering.

Bill gave a shrug. "Didn't think he'd buy over a trillion."

"Yeah, probably not." Mabel laughed, kicking her legs as they waited.

"So. What kind of piercings were you looking for?" Robbie asked as he returned.

Bill gave a shrug. "Anything interesting. Have fun with it!"

Robbie snorted, setting up. "That's a risky choice."

"I like risk! Go nuts kid."

Robbie did his best to not get blood on the couch. Less out of concern for it, and more to prove he could really do this properly. He managed two in the curve of one ear, both lobes, and was about to start one on the curve of the other side, when 'Mel' suddenly sprang up. The needle ramming right thru the center of his outer ear.

"DUDE?!" Robbie panicked.

If 'Mel' noticed the needle in his antihelix, he didn't comment on it. Running right for a photo on the wall.

"B- Mel??" Mabel corrected.

Bill grinned, picking up a photo. "Look at the hair on this one! Man! That's way more fun than my mop!!"

Mabel went over, peering at the photo. "Oh, that's Tambry. She dyes her hair a lot."

"That's an option?!"

"Yeah?" Mabel shrugs. "Tho, it's a bit harder on black hair. And could fry it. We can grab some bleach at the store on the way home."

Bill grinned and nodded happily, casually pulling the needle from his ear.

Robbie stared, horrified. "Yeah. You're done. I'm not ruining my reputation on someone who can't sit still."

Bill gave a shrug, tossing the needle onto the table. He had new priorities. "To the store!"

"Your ear is bleeding." Mabel reminds.

He gave a shrug.

Mabel sighed, grabbing some bandages from Robbie. "Grunkle Ford's going to kill you if you need more blood again."

Bill just laughed at the idea.

"Out?!" Robbie shouted. "I don't want any part in whatever is going on. OUT!"

Mabel rolled her eyes, leaving with her Grunkle Bill for the store. "We can chose a color once there." She held the bandage up to him.

Bill siiiighed dramatically and wrapped his bleeding ear.

To no surprise, Bill chose a bright yellow dye.

Mabel carefully avoided her Grunkle when they got back, not wanting him to spot and worry over the stabbed ear yet.

Bill grinned eagerly, "Got an idea for this?"

"You're letting me chose?" Mabel was surprised.

"Sure, why not! You were right about the needles being fun!"

"I think you gave Robbie a heart attack moving so suddenly."

"Hey! He wanted practice! Now he has practice on chaotic people!"

Mabel laughed and got the dye ready. "This might not be enough for a full head if you have thick hair like me. So..... I have an idea."

Bill nodded eagerly, sitting down to let her work.

Chapter Text

Mabel hmm'd, looking over the firey blue nails she finished. "If you want. I think a glitter coat will help these shimmer a bit more like fire?"

"Just don't get it in my eye this time!" Bill laughed, admiring the familiar blue.

Mabel grinned and rummaged thru her kit, finding her sparkle top coat and setting to work.

Bill grinned back, nodding in approval. "Oh yeah! That's the look!"

"Yes!" Mabel cheered, glad to have nailed it. Pun intended!

Bill chuckled. "You know what, Shooting Star? You just might be my new favorite."

Mabel beamed. "What about Grunkle Ford?"

"Don't push it." Bill snorted, getting up. "Think there's food?"

"Maybe. Oooo, you can try Mabel Juice!"

"Hard pass." Bill shuddered.

"Awww, c'mon! It's good."

"I'm no human expert but I am fairly certain nothing in that drink is edible."

"I drink it just fine."

"........You'd be a fantastic Henchmaniac." Bill laughed, heading back downstairs.

Mabel shrugged, following behind him. "Don't knock it til you try it!"

"I will knock it all I like." He turned to give Mabel a mocking bow. "A-Thank You."

Mabel snickered, watching Bill crash into Ford as they rounded a corner.

"Ack?! Couldn't warn me, Star??"

Mabel cracked up harder. "Where's the fun in that?"

Ford chuckled, making sure Bill was stable on his feet. "I see you two have been having a fun day?"

Bill took a step or two back, ignoring the annoying warmth his face seemed to enjoy having against his permission. "Like it?" He grinned, gesturing to his hair.

Ford gave a nod. "Suits you-" He sighed deeply.

"What?"

Ford reached up, hand moving towards the side of Bill's face.

Bill hoped that Ford couldn't feel how warm Bill's face was turning. The embarrassment snuffed out as his bandaged ear received a firm, hard flick. "HEY?!" He recoiled from the action.

Ford tsk'd in disapproval. "Can you go one day without hurting yourself??"

Bill scoffed, crossing his arms. "It's fine! I'm fine!"

"How bad is it." Ford asked the child instead of Bill.

Bill grit his teeth. "Don't talk over my shoulder. I told you it's fine."

"He got a sewing needle thru his ear when Robbie was piercing them." Mabel answered honestly.

Ford tensed, giving both of them a scolding glare. "You took him into town??"

"Relax." Bill scoffed. "I wore the dumb glasses. And as far as Mr.Moody knows, my name's Melpomene."

"Huh-" Ford took a moment to think on the name. "Clever." He rolled his eyes, face softening into amusement.

"Why, Thank you." Bill laughed.

"Still." Ford regained his serious composure.

Bill sighed.

"You two took an unnecessary risk."

"It was not unnecessary." Mabel insisted. "I figured, maybe if he liked his looks more, he'd hurt himself less."

"Mabel. He's Bill-"

"He's right here." Bill reminded.

Ford continued on as if Bill said nothing. "He's not going to stop being a danger to himself so long as he still looks human."

Mabel gave a big shrug. "He's been behaving today. Maybe YOU don't know everything about him." And with that, Mabel skipped off to the kitchen to feed the pig.

Bill grinned at Ford's flabbergasted expression. Oh yeah. She was for sure the second favorite of the household.

Ford rubbed his face, worn out.

"Breathe, Sixer. It's a tiny hole. It probably isn't even bleeding anymore, I just forgot it was bandaged."

Ford glanced to him, raising a brow. Had Bill really been enjoying himself then? Or was this another scheme. Bill was always playing some game or angle, and Ford was having trouble figuring this one out.

Bill rocked awkwardly on his heels at the silence. "Well. If you're just going to stand around like an idiot. I was promised food."

Ford gave a nod, heading for the kitchen. "Ready to try something more solid again?"

"Guess I have to eventually." Bill shrugged. "Do I get a fork again?~"

"Not. A. Chance." Ford glared. "I'm not helping you destroy yourself."

Bill rolled his eyes. "I'd hardly call a few decorations 'destroyed'."

"They're not decorations Bill! Human forms aren't LIKE your old form-"

"Trust me. I'm aware. That's the problem."

"And hurting it won't fix that! Bill-" Ford sighed. "I'm TRYING to help you."

"I don't NEED help."

"I'm ordering pizza." Ford shook his head. "No utensils needed of any. kind."

"Booooo." Bill huffed. "At least make it something interesting."

"You'll deal with whatever you get."

Bill intentionally and pointedly rolled his eyes, and head, as over dramatically as he can, before going to the living room and flopping on the couch to turn on the TV.

Bill managed to not shriek when Shooting Star suddenly draped herself over the back of the couch and into his face.

"BILL!"

Bill slowly released his deathgrip of the couch below him. "Yeah, kid?"

"Can I see your pebble?"

"Pebble?" Bill scoffed.

"Yeah, the hat rock!"

Bill glared. "It is not. A pebble."

"Well it's small and round and you won't tell me what it is, so it's a pebble."

Bill clicked his tongue. "What do you want it for??"

"It's a surprise! Please?? It'll only be a few minutes and I won't damage it at all, I PROMISE!"

Bill huffed. "Not a chance, Shooting Star. It's important."

"I know! That's why I need it! Pretty please!"

"No! Bug off!"

Mabel gave Bill the same pout she weaponized against Fez before.

Bill grit his teeth. He hated how effective it was. "Five minutes. TOPS. Or I eat the pig!"

"Deal!" Mabel beamed, holding out a hand and opening and closing it rapidly. "Gimmie!"

Bill let out a long, deep sigh and dug in his pocket. He pulled his stone out and hesitated.

"I was right about the piercings, and the hair. And the nails!" Mabel reminded.

Bill took a deep inhale and placed the stone in her palm. Shifting to grip her wrist. "If ANYTHING happens to that stone!"

"It won't! I get it! It's as important as Grunkle Ford!"

Bill's face exploded in bright red heat as he let her go in shock, "EXCUSE YOU?!"

Mabel giggled proudly and ran off.

Ford ran over at the shout, concerned.

Bill grabbed the nearest pillow and chucked it at Ford's face to buy time to grab the other and hide his own face in it. "GO AWAY."

"What is going on in here?!"

"Don't worry about it! Leave!"

Ford sighed, seeing no sign of danger. "You are going to be the death of me."

"No one's asking you to come running at every minor issue." Bill huffed, turning his back to Ford to further hide his face.

Ford shook his head, walking over to the couch to replace the pillow.

Bill went tense as he heard the footsteps. He had to get this under control. He did not show his cards like this. He hated it. It was too open.

Ford placed the pillow down, then flopped in the nearby arm chair. "Anything good on?"

"No. You human shows are all drivel." Bill latched on to the new topic eagerly, straightening out enough to toss Ford the remote.

Ford hmm'd and flipped thru a few channels. He grinned, landing on one he recognized. "Not this one. It's one Stanley and I BOTH enjoy."

Bill rolled his eyes. "That doesn't inspire hope, Six-" Bill's sentence fell off as he watched a vehicle of some sort suddenly explode into a cloud of dust. "WOAH?!"

"Bill Cipher. I give you the greatest show of the modern era- Mythbusters."

Bill grinned, intrigued by the intensity of the intro.

Mabel happily flopped on the couch next to Bill, awaiting a commercial break.

Bill glanced to her once the show paused, "Where's my stone." He demanded.

"Hold out your wrist." Mabel beamed.

"No. Give me my stone back-"

"I'm TRYING! Hold out. You wrist!" She demanded, unbothered by his anger.

Bill sighed. She had guts, he'd give her that. Begrudgingly, he held his arm out to her.

Mabel grinned wider, tying something to his wrist proudly. "Now, you can't lose it!"

Bill pulls his arm back, starring at the yellow and black woven band on his wrist. Carefully tucked in between the strands in the center, his stone. Bill used his other hand to poke and nudge at it. Relieved to find it firmly held in by a cage of wire under the bracelet fibers.

"It's a friendship bracelet." Mabel smiled. "And now a keepsake holder too."

Bill slowly glanced up to the small human in shock. Friends?

He'd never had those.

Servants? Sure. Henchmen? Duh.

Friends?

Bill smiled fondly at the bracelet. "Thanks, Mabel. It's perfect......"

Mabel bounced in excitement, before giving him a hug.

Bill froze. Unfamiliar with such kindness.

"I'm gonna go grab Dipper. He LOVES this show!" And with that, she skipped off.

Bill stared at the stone on his wrist, trying to sort out these weird new feelings. It was different to. Any other he'd had before..... No. That was a lie. He'd felt it once before. He'd just ignored it in favor of ambition. But that was gone now. His goals were unreachable in his current form.

That left him with only one feeling he couldn't hide from. One he'd never known the name of. Because it was never his to have before.

"Bill?" A hand gently rested on his shoulder.

Bill glanced up, wiping away tears he hadn't noticed were falling.

Ford stared at him, silently. Bill didn't know the word for the expression Ford had either.

He didn't know so much right now. It was unbearable. Bill got to his feet, running off for the room.

"Bill??" Ford followed him, worried and concerned.

Bill slammed the door behind him, locking it. He knew Sixer could just pick it, or find a key, or break it. He just needed some time.

Bill ran for the bathroom, slamming his hand the one without the bracelet. He couldn't dirty that. into the mirror. Frantically grabbing one of the pieces. He needed to feel familiar. He needed to hurt. Hurt was safe. Hurt was comfortable. He dug the glass into his arm sloppily, he knew he'd be stopped in mere seconds.

Sure enough, Ford was over him in seconds, yanking the glass from his hands.

Bill panted, waiting for the shouting and the scolding.

Ford did neither. Only grabbed the med kit and began cleaning him up.

Bill frowned. That's not how the game was played. That's not familiar.

Bill grit his teeth, grabbing another shard, and slamming it into the hand currently cleaning his arm.

"DAMNIT, BILL!" Ford raged, grabbing Bill by his good arm, and dragging him close. Physically pinning him to the counter, Bill's good arm wedged between himself and the counter. Ford gripping his injured one tight as he cleaned it.

Bill glared into the shattered mirror pieces at how easily he was defeated in this form. How one stupid emotion could knock him so far off his game.

Ford said nothing once more, expression full of thought as he tried to read the sloppy carvings as he cleaned them.

Chapter Text

Ford sighed gently as he let Bill go, carefully sitting him down on the edge of the tub. Blocking him from leaving as he cleans the glass.

"Not gonna shout at me this time??" Bill scoffed. "Chide me like a child?"

Ford thought his worlds over carefully, chewing his lip.

"Well, wise guy??"

"We aren't as different as you seem to think, Bill.... It's why I want to help you."

"I don't-"

"Need help, yes, yes. I know. It's your catchphrase at this point. Isn't that exhausting?? Always being alone? Never having someone to lean on?...... Aren't you tired of this self righteous martyrdom?"

Bill rolled his eyes.

Ford sighed, carrying the bag of glass to his closet to dispose of later. He rummaged thru the closet a bit, glancing over his shoulder at the sound of Bill's footsteps.

Bill didn't try to leave the room, simply sitting on the bed.

"I don't know what you've done before, that you think you don't deserve to be happy now. But, I promise you. It's okay to move on." Ford spoke gently, bringing over a sweater.

"Don't act like you know me, puppet. You only know what I want you to know." Bill snapped.

Ford's lip twitched, but otherwise he managed to not show how deep that cut. "Put this on. You are NOT making Mabel feel bad for that bracelet. We can claim in the morning that you did this after a nightmare- Or got bored at night." He corrects, realizing he would cause a fight by implying weakness.

Bill grumbled, pulling the sweater on. If he took his time getting his limbs thru the holes, who could blame him? He wasn't used to this, he'd claim. He took distinct notice, however, that this was one of Ford's sweaters. A bit cleaner than the jacket, sure. But it was unmistakable.

"Need h-"

"No, I don't need help!" Bill snapped, face bright red as he yanked the clothing the rest of the way on. "See?!"

Ford snorted and shook his head, amused by the little act. He grinned, and decided to provoke the ball of anger some more by reaching out and brushing Bill's hair free from the back of the sweater. "There you go."

Bill's grip on the bottom of the sweater tightened. He REALLY needed to figure out how to STOP his face from betraying him by turning colors.

Ford chuckled fondly before leaving the room.

Bill glared after him, taking some deep breaths before following him back to the living room.

Mabel frowned over at them, voice full of concern. "You guys okay?...."

Ford gave a simple nod. "He just got cold. Probably a side effect of recovering from blood loss."

Mabel grinned, having a different idea of what happened entirely. "Sure."

Bill side eyed her. She only grinned harder. Whatever. Let her think whatever she was thinking. Bill flopped back on the couch, adjusting his sleeve so he could still see his bracelet.

Dipper grumbled, getting off the couch and sitting on the floor by Ford's feet.

Bill snickered, calling over jokingly, "Don't think we've gotten to properly meet yet, kiddo!"

"Don't talk to me." Dipper glared. "Grunkle Ford, how long is that thing going to be here."

Ford ignored him, ruffling his hair. "Pizza's on the way."

Dipper sighed, pulling his legs to his chest. This was going to be a long summer.

Bill relaxed. Some things still made sense around here.

"Stanley!" Ford called into the house. "Mythbusters is on!"

Stan came over, kicking at Ford's feet. "You're in my chair."

"My chair." Ford joked, getting up anyways.

"Yeah, yeah. Move it."

The elder twins shared a laugh as Stan claimed his solo seat. Ford went to sit next to Mabel, but she suddenly shifted to the opposite end of the couch from Bill. Ford rolled his eyes and sat down between Bill and Mabel.

Bill hoped everyone was too busy watching the show to see his red returning.

Dipper was the one to spring up and run for the door when Pizza arrived, probably to get away from Bill.

Good. Bill grinned. Someone here still respected his presence.

Mabel glanced to Bill, grinning. "So, you promised me a graveyard story??"

"OH yeah!" Bill cracked up, lighting up at the idea of embarrassing Sixer.

Ford raised a slow brow, "Bill-"

"So! It begins post break up-"

"Don't call it that." Ford groaned, covering his face. There was no use hiding it from the kids tho. It would only prompt more questions.

"Need me to lock the door again?" Stan checked as everyone stumbled of to bed.

"......I don't think so." Ford shrugged. "I think it's setting in for him that he's just a human now."

Stan gave a nod and a hug. "Night, Sixer."

"Good night, Stanley." He of course hugged his brother back.

Bill rolled his eyes, ducking around the pair and into the room. He glanced over the two beds, and flopped onto the one on the floor.

Ford frowned as he entered the room. "You're injured still. I'd feel better with you in a proper bed."

"And your old. From what I know of humans, being down here on the floor isn't great for you."

"Bill-"

"I'm already comfortable, so deal with it."

Ford sighed, heading for his proper bed. It still didn't sit well with him, but he knew there was little point arguing with the stubborn man. "Good night, Bill...... Sweet dreams."

"Yeah. Whatever." Bill grumbled, hiding the lower half on his face in the sweater.

Ford raised a brow. "You can take that off now."

Bill didn't answer, turning his back to Ford.

Ford shook his head, resigning himself to never getting that sweater back.

Ford stretched, blinking awake. He frowned, the room still dark. Glancing to his clock, it wasn't even two in the morning yet. He groaned. It wasn't like him to wake up randomly in the night.

Ford sighed and sat up, hoping a walk would clear his mind enough to go back to bed. Ford tensed. The air mattress was empty.

"Shit." He whispered, grabbing a flashlight from the drawer and doing his best to not make noise as he speed walked thru the cabin. He didn't need to wake his family and cause a panic.

Kitchen, maybe he got hungry? Nope

Kids' rooms? Was he goofing off with Mabel? Nope. Both thankfully still asleep.

Living room? Empty.

Ford's anxiety grew. Dread filling him. Ford carefully made his way to the giftshop.

His heart sank. The vending machine was open.

Ford rushed down as fast as he could, wishing he'd grabbed his gun.

Bill's name sat heavy in Ford's throat, ready to shout at him, when his voice froze. Bill was simply sitting on the floor, quietly. Staring at the wall where the portal one was.

Bill sat, knees to his chest, arms curled around them, head resting on his knees.

Ford said nothing about the tear stains obvious even in the dimly lit room, sitting down beside him. Ford frowned to see the journals all open in front of them.

Bill gave a shrug as a welcome.

Ford sighed, speaking softly. "What are you doing?"

Bill gave another shrug. "What's it look like?"

Ford closed up the journals, moving them to the side. "Honestly, Bill? For once I don't have a guess."

Bill sighed, turning his head to face away from Ford, speech muffled by the knee now pressed  against his jaw. "What would be the point...... Even if they were still around. They'd never take me serious like this. I'm a joke. I'm less than a joke. A joke's at least fun to kick around....... Doesn't matter. They wouldn't be there anyways. I failed them. They'd have dipped out and found new work elsewhere...... There's no one waiting for me now."

Ford frowned, glancing to the empty wall. The portal he devoted so much of his life to, with such an intense passion. Now dismantled and sold as scrap. He'd be lying if he said it didn't hurt a little. "Maybe that's why he brought you back in this form..... Humans have this weird tendency to pack bond with even the most dangerous creatures. If there's any chance of you having a second chance... Well." Ford reached over, placing his hand over the Stone. "It's not the home you know...... But maybe it can be one anyways."

Bill tensed, not answering.

Ford stood up. "Close the machine behind you. You'll give Stanley a heart attack. And then even I can't protect you from Dipper's wrath."

Bill let out a huff of a half laugh. He sat there silently for awhile longer, before grabbing Journal 3 and flipping thru it. Fingers running along ever torn out page. Wondering what they used to say. He put the books back where they belong, heading back to the bedroom.

Bill glared to see Ford once more on the air mattress. Bill shook his head, curling back up in the main bed. Stubborn old man.

Chapter Text

Bill glanced around, better prepared for the fire. He tsk'd, hoping every dream wouldn't start this way. Bill huffed and laid down, hoping if he was facing up, it'd all fade away like usual.

Bill frowned. There were no stars in this sky. Somewhere deep in him, he knew. It was because of him.

Bill didn't flinch as he felt himself falling. Letting himself fall down an invisible slide. His frown deepened, as he felt loops and swirls-

He sat up, plummeting thru a silly straw, into a bubbling brew below. Dream or not, Bill found himself trying to grip the smooth sides, trying to stop his fall.

Bill heard his scream cut off abruptly as his shirt collar choked him, everything coming to a sudden halt.

"Thought you were some master of dreams." A voice scolded. Teased? Bill wasn't sure.

He glanced up to find Stanley pulling him out of the straw, setting him down on- Well. Nothing.

Bill took a few deep breaths. Right. Dreams. This was still a dream. Bill ran confused hands down his face. Why would he dream of this loser??

"Yeesh. You look like you're about to pass out." Stan shook his head. "Somethin' against slides?"

Bill snapped his fingers, dropping them both into Ford's old Cabin. Before the Mystery Shack.

Stan glanced around. "Guessin' you don't approve of my changes either?" Teasing. Bill was sure now. He was joking around with Bill.

Bill sat on the floor, looking himself over. He was in some sort of suit, with a yellow tailcoat. His belt the same blue as his fire. His hands blackened like they used to be. They looked thinner than a human hand should, withered. He didn't think they were last time. He wasn't sure if that was a good or bad sign.

"Give me somethin' to work with here." Stan scoffed, sitting in his usual chair.

Bill glanced up to his guest. "Am I imagining you?"

"I wish." Stan rolled his eyes. "Not really eager to share a mindscape with you again."

Bill frowned. This only got more confusing. Sixer he understood. But this bozo?

"Seems like you got a lot going on in here."

".....Wait- So YOU are in MY dream?" Bill clarified.

"Well, I'M sure not the one dreaming of fire and curved slides."

Bill frowned. He was fairly certain last time it was Ford's dream. So it seems to function both ways? "....Sixer didn't happen to mention to you his dream last night, did he?"

"No? Should he have?" Stan glared.

"No- We just- Played chess. I'm just trying to figure out what.... Any of this is."

"You aren't doing this then?"

"I don't know." Bill admitted. "I'm not even supposed to be ABLE to dream. INVADE dreams sure. Have my own??"

"Fair enough. So you made this Sixer's problem last night?"

"I don't- I think I was in his dream. I didn't feel as in control. And he seemed surprised at my appearance, not his own."

Stan hmm'd, reclining his chair and summoning a dream beer. "You're ancient, yeah?"

"Compared to humans, yes."

"......And you clearly have things you ain't facing."

"Excuse you??"

"Maybe your mind realized it can't save itself. So it's trying to reach out to those who might be able to."

Bill glared, hating the accusations. "I'm fine!"

"Fine people don't get defensive about being told their past is full of messed up shit. And don't even claim your past was great. You were being burnt up back there."

Bill grit his teeth and looked away. "It wasn't my fault."

Stan raised a brow. "Sixer ever tell you why we split?"

"Yes. You ruined-"

Stan made a loud error buzzer noise. "Nope."

"Yes, you did! I've seen his memories, Fez."

"He ain't got memories of things he didn't witness."

Bill rolled his eyes. "Oh, so the science fair happened all on it's own then?"

"Nope. Come on." Stan got up.

"Where?"

"Down memory lane." Stan shrugged. "There's a dumb old saying that there's three sides to every story. Yours. Theirs. And the truth. And it's almost always somewhere in the middle."

"........." Bill sighed and got up. The pair left the cabin, walking down shifting streets to Stan's old high school.

Together, they watched a younger Stanley pacing the fair. Bill frowns as Stan's fist hitting the table knocks off Ford's improperly tightened screws, and it breaks. As the machine keeps spinning, Stanley unaware anything was wrong.

"It was an accident..... But it still hurt him." Stan shrugged to Bill. "It's still my fault. Even if I didn't mean it. Even if I didn't know. It's taken me years to accept that. Me and him were both wrong back then. But he's the one who paid for it."

Bill glanced to Stanley.

"I don't know what baggage you got going on. But I do know, that guilt and those chains? They only tighten the more you pretend you had no hand in it. So whatever you're running from in these dreams? Whatever chain you still got? Maybe start by admitting it. Just to yourself. We don't gotta know. But you can't fix a problem you don't see."

"And why should I trust anything you say, con artist?"

"Look. I don't like you. I ain't gonna pretend to. But. Regardless of what I think, it's plain as day you mean somethin' to Sixer for some reason I cannot fathom. So, it's in my best interest to help you. Cause I ain't about to see how it'll affect him if you die from whatever bullshit you got going on."

Bill rolls his eyes. "You sound like Mabel."

"Good. Kid's got a good head on her shoulders, and a better heart on her sleeve. I owe everythin' I have back right now to her."

Bill folded his arms, glancing away. "I'm fine."

"Maybe." Stan glanced to him. "But you could be better too."

Bill panted as he shot upright, chest aching. He wasn't seriously that affected by- Oh. No. He really wasn't. The pig grunted up in annoyance at him, having been jostled off his face. Bill sighed, pushing it onto the floor.

It snorted at him in indignation before trotting back off to Mabel's room.

Bill glanced to Ford, still fast asleep and snoring. Bill glanced to the closet. He carefully crawled off the bed, tiptoeing over to it. He tried his best to time his every move with a snore to mask it. He carefully opened the door and the trash bag inside. Bill peeked in, pocketing a small shard. Tying it back up and closing the door, he crept back over to Ford.

Bill sat down silently, watching Ford sleep once more.

Ford didn't yell this time. Only rolled his eyes once he woke up. "Is that going to become a thing?"

"Your eyes move a lot when you sleep."

"Yes, it's a known thing in humans. Our eyes twitch as we enter REM sleep. Dreams."

"Hm." Bill got up. "What's today's plans?"

"Dipper and I were going to play some D, D, & More D today. You're welcome to join."

"I don't think Pine Tree will enjoy that."

"You'd be surprised what he'd do for that game." Ford laughed.

Bill gave a nod, finally prying the sweater off. "How do you and Shooting Star wear these all summer??"

"I have the benefit that I am old, so I get cold easy. No idea her excuse."

Bill snickered, tying the sweater around his waist. "This is mine now."

"I figured." Ford snorted, smiling.

"Hey. Sixer."

"Yes, Bill?"

"........Did we share a dream last night?"

"After your nightmare? Yes. Why?"

"Just sorting out what's real."

Ford gave a nod. "Could keep a journal. Might help."

Bill gave a hmm, following Ford out to the kitchen.

Bill's mood brightened as Shooting Star greeted him with triangle shaped Waffles.

Ford glanced to Dipper. "I've invited Bill to join us for our game."

"Why." Dipper glared.

"You can't deny, he'd be creative."

"Grunkle Ford-"

"Hey, I already know how the game works from Sixer's younger years. I could make some enemies you won't feel bad tearing apart because it won't be destroying anything he worked on building up." Bill bartered.

Dipper considered this. "He's not borrowing my dice."

Ford laughed and nodded. "So, he can join?"

"ONE CHANCE!" Dipper clarified. "He gets ONE game to not be completely insufferable."

Bill grinned, "I better get to planning then."

Ford nodded, fetching him some supplies and paper to plan on.

"Oooo, if Bill's playing, I want to join!" Mabel cheered.

Dipper shook his head but smiled. It WAS more fun with a larger party.

"Stanley." Ford grinned to see his brother. "In for D,D,&D with the kids, Bill, and me?"

"Ah, why not." Stan nodded. "We'll need to push it back a few hours tho. Soos and Melody come home today."

"Ah- Right." Ford nodded.

"Gives me more planning time." Bill cackled eagerly.

Ford smiled. Perhaps this would ease them into this situation too.

"Know how to tell them yet?" Dipper worried.

"I'm just going to be honest, I suppose." Ford shrugged. "No use dragging it out."

"Who's Melody?" Bill glanced around. He thought he knew most the town.

"Soos' wife. She runs the shack with him when Stanley and I go sailing."

Bill's mind filled with static. Right. Ford travels. Ford's going to leave again. Bill nodded, reaching into his pocket and squeezing the shard of glass. Careful not to break skin, Ford would take it away. But enough it ached. "I thought I was only gone a year?"

"Yes, well. Nearly dying helps a man realize where his heart lays I suppose." Ford gave a shrug. "They were both eager to reunite."

Stanley chuckled, "Guess when you know, you know."

Bill gave another nod. He focused on eating his waffles. The disgusting sensation of food turning to mush a welcome distraction from the train wreck of thoughts in his mind. Sixer couldn't leave if the boat- No. He'd surely get killed for that. Could he frame someone else? Probably not. It'd be too easy for them to mention who they talked to. Sixer keeps mentioning getting older. Maybe he won't even feel up to travel come the end of summer. How long do humans even live? How many more years does he have than Sixer?

Bill gripped the glass tighter. He needed his powers back. He needed to make sure things would stay, forever..... Maybe he didn't need his powers. Gravity Falls is weird. Something here has to be useful for stopping the march of time. Could he provoke Time Baby and earn a time wish? No, that's right. He's dead in this time. It'd be thousands of years before he could pull that off.

Bill didn't even care that he could feel his hand bleeding. He'd find a new piece of glass later. Right now?

Right now, his only dream was to rewrite nature itself. He let Sixer slip thru his fingers once. Bill Cipher did not make the same mistake twice.

Chapter Text

"Don't stay up too late." Ford nodded to Bill, scooping Mabel up.

Bill gave him a nod back, straightening out his papers and plans, noting down where they're leaving off.

Bill smiled fondly to himself as he listened to Dipper and Ford discuss the game as they took Mabel off to bed.

Once his game plans were safely filed away in the games cabinet, Bill walked quietly across the house, making sure he knew where each resident was.

Once sure he was alone, Bill headed for the vending machine once more. Grabbing the journals, Bill sat in a corner. He knew most the contents already, but he knew Sixer and the kids had all added notes since he helped with these. Perhaps they stumbled on something he could find useful.

Bill glanced around the living room, confused. When had he even come back upstairs? Bill frowned and went for Sixer's room.

Odd.... Sixer wasn't in bed. The air mattress was deflated. Bill tried to call out, but no sound came out. He groaned, rubbing a hand down his face. He wasn't upstairs. He fell asleep. Still. This was weird, even by his standards.

Bill wandered the house, only finding empty rooms and empty beds.

Outdoors was no better. No people, no cars, no signs on life in the town.

Bill frowned, looking skyward. Only to see black. Not a star in sight.

Bill tensed, gritting his teeth. This was just a dream. It was gibberish made up by human minds to not decay from stagnation.

Why did you do it?

Bill was thankful the lab sat so far under ground. It meant hopefully no one heard him scream as he woke up.

Bill stumbled to his feet, shaking and in a cold sweat. He rushed to the elevator, using the wall to hold himself up. Everything around him felt too cold, too empty.

Bill cupped his hands around his face to block out his extended peripheral vision as he raced to his room.

He only allowed himself to relax once he had the door open, starring at Sixer fast asleep on the air mattress. Snores never sounded so wonderful to hear.

Bill swallowed, grabbing the pillow and blanket from the main bed, and squeezed himself onto the smaller mattress on the floor, back pressed against Sixer's warmth.

He wasn't alone. He'd never be again. That was over. He was fine.

Bill growled in anger to find his dream persisted. Alone in-

This wasn't the cabin?

Bill glanced around. He'd never seen this place before. Strange. He'd never dreamed of somewhere unfamiliar. He must be in someone else's again?

Bill wandered the foreign halls, confusion growing. It seemed half decorated? Dust rings betraying where objects once sat.

Bill glanced into an ajar door, the only one not firmly locked. "Pine Tree?......." Bill stepped into room.

The child huddled in the corner of his bed barely even glanced his way, pulling his brown star hat lower.

"Where are we?" Bill asked, frowning at the empty bed across from Pine Tree.

Dipper continued to ignore him.

".......Kid. You're asleep. Whatever- This. Is? Isn't real."

"Yet." Dipper whispered harshly.

Bill rolled his eyes, flopping onto the bed next to him. "I'm not going to hurt Shoo-"

"Not everything is about YOU."

Bill jumped at that, glancing to this odd Pine Tree. Less put together and cocky than Bill was used to.

"I don't know what this is about. But I know your Grunkles would raise hell if anyone ever tried to split you two up." Bill snorted. "They love you both to absolute pieces."

"Why are you here?? I don't WANT you here!"

"Yeah. I know." Bill scoffed. "It's not something I control anymore."

"Well, go away."

"Not sure how yet. Still learning...... Stanley theorizes it connects me to whoever is most helpful for me in the moment. I'm thinking that's not too far off."

Dipper glared, kicking Bill off the bed. Literally. "Get out of my head!"

Bill oof'd as he hit the floor, sighing. He was well aware of the irony of being the one whose help was being shoved away. "Yeah, yeah, okay. I get it. Real funny."

"Who..... are you talking to?"

"........I don't know, kid. Whatever sent me here I guess." Bill stood up. "Let's fix this up."

"Fix.... what?"

"This!" Bill gestured to the empty side of the room. "Let's see..... In the totally impossible case you two were ever split. She'd be sure to make sure you can't get rid of her. We need...... Some drawings painted onto the wall." Bill ran his hand over the wall, covering it in various doodles he's seen from her.

Dipper snorted. "Not enough glitter...."

"UHG! No." Bill gagged. He wasn't fond of the stuff after getting an eyefull of it.

Dipper sat up a bit. "She wouldn't draw it on her side if it's for me..."

"True." Bill grinned, grabbing the drawings and tossing them onto Pine Tree.

Dipper yelped then bit back a laugh. "I didn't mean on me!"

"You telling me she wouldn't spend her last night drawing alllll over you in sharpie?"

Dipper laughed fully at that, shaking the drawings off onto his bedding. "She does that NOW if I'm not careful."

"Let's see. She'd also need one of these-" Bill opened a drawer, pulling out a walkie talkie. "Probably modified by Sixer to have extra long range."

"True." Dipper nodded, shifting to the edge of his bed.

"Oh. And you for SURE would get one of these." Bill walked over, handing Dipper a bracelet.

Dipper smiled and took it. "Yeah....."

"And then she'd probably run away from wherever she is, and come climbing in here from the window."

Dipper rolled his eyes. "Assuming they even live close to us...."

"The girl who hijacked a golf cart for a boy? You think she wouldn't be finding a way over here?"

"Uhg. Don't remind me of that day."

Bill cackled. "What? Don't miss the taste of fish?"

"UHG! How do you even know about that??"

Bill laughed harder, watching the room spring back to life. Full of Mabel's whimsy.

Bill glanced to Dipper. "Whatever's going on?.... Turns out your Grunkle Stan's pretty good at advice.... Talk to him in the morning."

Dipper nodded, fixing his hat to his signature Pine Tree. "........Thanks..... Bill- Oh that's weird to say."

Bill shrugged. "I wasn't about to spend my night just watching you mope for hours."

".........You really can't leave here, huh?"

"Not til I wake up."

"Weird.......... So.... What do we do until morning then?"

"........Wanna see the weird shit Sixer did back before the portal stuff?"

"Yes??" Dipper beamed brightly. Author lore!

Bill cackled and nodded, heading outside to show what he remembers from keeping an eye on his human.

Ford rolled over in his sleep, grunting at finding something in his way. He yawned and sat up, fumbling for his glasses. Any embarrassment or shock he had to see Bill so close quickly snuffed out to see the tear stains across his face.

Ford sighed. He carefully stood and picked Bill up. Ford placed Bill in the proper bed, retrieving their bedding. Ford went to the door, shutting and locking it in case anyone case looking for him come morning.

Ford put his glasses on the nightstand, and curled up next to Bill in bed, holding him close after wiping the tear stains away.

Chapter Text

Bill yawned, feeling more rested than he had the past couple weeks. Bill tensed, realizing he wasn't facing the bed anymore, but a chest. Bill nervously glanced up, and sighed in relief to see Sixer fast asleep still.

Bill sighed, curling close. He may as well enjoy this for a bit longer.

Ford stretched a few minutes later, resting his arm back over Bill's side after. "Good Morning."

"Morning." And Bill was red again.

Ford sat up, putting his glasses on. "Everything okay last night?"

"Of course." Bill lied, not even really thinking on it. Lying was second nature to him.

Ford shook his head, pulling back the covers to get ready for the day. Ford let out a deep sigh, staring at the blood stained bedding.

"......What's wrong?" Bill sat up, waking up fully. The movement very quickly filled him in on the issue tho, as pain shot up his leg. Right. He had a shard of glass in his pocket last night. "Ah."

"'Ah.' 'Ah'?!" Ford huffed. "Bill, what the HELL?!"

Bill sighed, busted. "I might have forgot I had a mirror shard in my pocket last night."

"BILL CIPHER." Ford glared, stressed out.

"It's fine!"

"Stop! Saying that!" Ford got up, picking Bill up and not so gracefully dropping him onto the air mattress. "STAY!"

"I'm not a dog-"

Ford ignored him, stripping the bed down to get it all in the wash. Hopefully it'd come out.

Bill rolled his eyes, pushing the shirts up carefully until he found the shard jutting out from his upper outer thigh.

Ford returned, dropping a first aid kit next to Bill. "Don't get the mattress covered in blood too."

Bill rolled his eyes, "Not gonna help me out?"

"You should know how to by now as much as you keep doing this shit." Ford scolded, leaving the room.

Bill frowned, sitting there in the silence. What just happened?.... Ford always patched him up. "Sixer??"

Bill sighed. He was probably just busy with the washing. Yeah. That's it. Blood stains badly sometimes. That was fine. Bill could.... probably. Do this. Bill took a deep breath, grabbing the glass and yanking it free. To his credit, he didn't cry out in pain. Bill grinned, he was finally getting used to it!

The rubbing alcohol proved that a lie as Bill yelped in agony, unaware that's not used on deep wounds. This was fine! He grit his teeth, wrapping his leg in the bandages.

Bill panted as he got up, gritting his teeth with every step. This was fine.

Bill flopped into a chair at the breakfast table, worn out. Both kids staring at him in concern. "What?!"

"You were shouting... and your shorts are covered in blood." Mabel frowned.

"I'm fine." He lied. "Just pulled open some stitches." He figured that was safer than admitting he was carrying around broken glass.

That seemed to work, tho both still kept glancing to him in concern.

"Want cereal?" Mabel offered.

"Sure, kiddo." Bill smiled, just glad to not need to grab anything himself.

Mabel hopped up, making Bill some food.

Bill ate silently, trying to brainstorm what could be useful in his mission.

Ford came into the kitchen, grabbing some fruit to go. "Stanley and I are going to do some repairs and upgrades to the Stan O' War." He pointed to Mabel. "No taking him into town." He turned his finger to Bill. "Behave. For the love of god. Behave."

Bill rolled his eyes. "I always behave."

Ford clenched his fist and left.

Mabel glanced between the pair, concerned. "What was that about?"

Bill gave a shrug. "Must've woke up on the wrong side of the bed."

The twins shared a skeptical look.

Bill finished his food and put the bowl in the sink. "Well. I'll be back-"

"Grunkle Ford said to not go into town." Dipper reminded.

"I'm not going into Town."

"I can go with you-" Mabel offered.

"No." Bill snapped. "I'm not putting you in danger again."

"Where are you going that's dangerous?" Dipper challenged.

Bill ignored them both, heading outside to find the axe in case he needed it again.

"Do we go after him?" Mabel worried.

"No? Let him get himself killed." Dipper scoffed.

"Dipper!"

"Look. He can clearly handle himself. Let's just have a normal summer. Babysitting adults isn't our job."

"I guess." Mabel sighed, still worried.

Bill grinned as his target came into view. He tossed the axe aside, he was going to have fun with this.

"Who goes there?!" The unicorn in front of him huffed in annoyance.

"Name's Bil Cipher! Nice to meet you! I'm gonna get right to the point. I need some blood and or tears. So you can do this the easy way, or the hard way."

The unicorn reared back in anger. "How dare you?!" She charged at him.

"I was hoping you'd chose the hard way." Bill grinned.

Ford sighed in relief to be back in the shack's AC. Working on the boat in the summer was always taxing. "How are things here?"

Dipper glanced up from his book. "Quiet mostly. How's the boat?"

"She's doing great. Might haul her on land to give her some fresh paint next week."

"Can we help?"

"I don't see why not." He chuckles. "Where's Bill?"

Dipper gave a shrug. "You didn't say for any of us to watch him, so....."

Stan snickered. "Kid's got a point."

Ford rolled his eyes. "I'm aware. I don't think we have to be as cautious. He doesn't seem to be even trying to regain his powers. So I'd assume he can't."

Stan gave a nod, going to take a shower.

Ford headed for the tool closet to return the supplied Stan and he took with them. Ford's relaxation ended as he frowned as a few small droplets of blood on the floor. Following them, he facepalmed to find himself at the vending machine.

He told Bill to be cautious about this. Ford glanced around before quickly letting himself inside and heading for the lab.

Ford watched silently as Bill poured over the journals, various other notes, and a chemistry kit. "Jut what do you think you're doing."

Bill vaulted at the voice, scrambling to block his work from view. "Sixer?? How did you- I mean- What are-"

Ford sighed, the source of the blood trail easy to see. Bill looked as rough as his first night he arrived. His head was still bleeding, albeit slowly, from a curved mark on his cheek. "You left a trail." Ford gestured to the mark.

Bill swore under his breath, wiping his face.

Ford took a step toward him-

"No, no, no! Stay over there!" Bill insisted. "This is a surprise! Please!!"

Ford rolled his eyes, his curiosity peaked. "A surprise?"

"Yes.... For you." Bill admitted, hoping that was enough. "......Please, Sixer..."

Ford chuckled and shook his head. "Then come back upstairs. You need some first aid."

Bill frowned, glancing to his work.

"That will be here tonight, once Stanley's asleep. You're not allowed down here, technically, remember?"

"Right..." Bill gave in. Making sure any burners were turned off before joining Ford by the elevator.

".........How did you get a hoofprint on your face."

"..........I volunteered at the animal shelter-"

"Try again." Ford side eyed.

"There were pony rides for kids-"

"Bill!"

"Fine!" Bill huffed. "I paid a visit to the unicorns."

"Why???" Ford was beyond exasperated.

"It's part of the surprise. I needed ingredients."

"This is worrying me more."

"Awww, c'mon. Don't you trust me?" Bill grinned.

".........." Ford pressed the button to take them back up.

Bill's smile faltered. Ah. Okay then.

Ford glanced around the corner cautiously before escorting Bill out of the secret area. Using his boot to smear the small trail until it wasn't visible for now, he led Bill back to their room.

The silence as Ford patched him up, and double checked his work on his leg, was tense and uncomfortable.

Bill grit his teeth thru it. It'd be worth it once he could tell him. He just didn't want to speak too soon and get both their hopes up.

"We need to take you shopping for your own clothes later." Ford sighed.

"I dunno, Six. I'm having fun mooching off the gift shop."

Ford let out a snort and half a smile. "Of course you are."

Bill grinned, glad to feel at least some of the tension melt.

He was fine.

They were fine.

Chapter Text

Bill behaved for several days. In large part due to his fight with the unicorns worsening how sore his injured leg was. He passed his time as his wounds healed by working on his D,D,&D plans by day, and working in the lab by night. He made sure to always go to bed before he got too tired. Not willing to risk another nightmare like before.

Not that it stopped them. They just weren't the isolation one so long as he headed for the room first.

Sharing a bed with Ford became the standard. Bill suspected it was to prevent him from sneaking more sharp objects around. Stanley made quite a fuss about how it could've stabbed Ford instead when he saw the sheets in the wash.

Bill currently was painting figurines for his next campaign with Mabel. Capturing the sheer horror of his monsters in paint was vexing, but she made it seem so easy. If he ever tried to take over the world again, he was for sure asking her to paint him a few murals!

Bill snickered as he glanced to the approaching footsteps. "What are you wearing??"

Ford rolled his eyes. His coat was absent, Bill was going to find it later, as was his usual sweater. Instead he wore a yellow button up and jeans, with rubber boots. "I'm heading out for a bit." Ford informed. "Fiddleford invited me fishing with Tate and him."

Bill raised a surprised brow, sitting up a bit straighter.

Ford let out a sigh. "What?"

"Nothing! Nothing." Bill insisted. "Just surprising."

"Just because you enjoy bickering and fighting, doesn't mean everyone does, Bill."

"Yeah, no duh." Bill scoffed. "I'm not stupid. I'm just surprised the kid agreed to let you come along after- Well....... Everything."

"And what does that mean." Ford huffed.

Mabel fidgeted awkwardly, uncomfortable.

"I mean." Bill leaned back, surprised he has to spell it out. "Specs' did kinda abandon the kid to chase you around up here. I'd imagine that'd leave some pretty bitter feelings."

"He was not-" Ford groaned in frustration. "Fiddleford is aware there are some. Tensions. And that is WHY we are all going fishing. To find some peace, so he doesn't have to chose between us at social events. SOME people prefer to FIX the relationships they ruin."

Bill rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "Oh, yes. Because THIS-" He gestures to the paints around him. "Totally is me NOT trying."

"This isn't-" Ford took some deep breaths. "I will be back by dinner." Ford left, slamming the door behind him.

Bill glared at the door. Who needed the hick when he was here?? Why was he STILL in Bill's way?! 

Mabel cleared her throat. "Are you-"

"I'M FINE!" Bill snapped, getting up and pacing. "He can spend all day with the idiot who tucked tail and bailed the second things got hard! It's fine! I'm sure they'll have a GREAT time!"

".......Grunkle Bill?"

Bill froze. Did.... Did he hear her right?

"Are you jealous?"

".....No." Bill huffed, crossing his arms tighter. "I'm fine."

Mabel frowned and got up, hugging his side.

Bill tensed. "W- What are you doing?"

"Are you worried Grunkle Ford likes him more?"

"No?!" Bill lied. "I just think he's better off leaving Specs' poor brat alone."

Mabel hmm'd. "I shouldn't..... But.... I'm going to show you something Dipper showed me awhile ago. But you have to keep it secret, okay?"

"........Deal." Bill sighed, ruffling her hair.

"I'm not letting go until you hug me back."

Bill laughed at that, awkwardly hugging her. He wasn't very practiced in any shows of affection.

Mabel grinned and let go, leading him to the gift shop.

Bill raised a brow. It rose higher to see her approach the machine. "I'm not allowed down there."

"I know. We'll be quiet."

Bill snickered. She took a bit after Ford after all.

As they rode the elevator down, Bill glanced to her. "Fair warning...... I already come down here."

Mabel snorted, not surprised. "Does Grunkle Ford know?"

"Yup. Busted me night one."

She giggled and nodded.

"We're hiding it from Fez."

"Got it." She zipped her lips.

Once at the bottom, Mabel went over to a file cabinet, pulling open a drawer.

"All that's in there are-" Bill started, only to see her pry off the bottom of the shelf. Bill's jaw fell open.

Mabel walked back over, handing Bill some pages.

Bill took them. He recognized instantly that they were from one of the journals. Bill went over to his chair, sitting down.

"What's under the tarp?..."

"Surprise for Ford. Don't peek at it."

"Cute."

Bill glared. "What's that mean?"

"Nothing, Grunkle Bill."

Bill went red. He did hear her right. He ignored her, glancing thru the pages.

Mabel carefully balanced herself on the arm of the rolling chair, making him hold out a certain page.

But F confessed that he's flying back home to visit Emma-May this week, leaving me in the lab alone for the holiday. Of course... who could fault him? I sometimes forget there is a world outside my lab.

I hope my Muse visits soon...

Mabel spoke softly. "He's always thinking of you. Even when Mr.McGucket is around. You don't need to worry about them."

Bill smiled softly at the pages. Flipping thru to see most of these were pages about himself. Removed, but not destroyed. That's right. He was Ford's priority.... He just needed to remind Sixer of that. "Thanks, Shooting Star."

"Of course." Mabel beamed, taking the pages and putting them back where they were.

The pair returned to the surface, Mabel less cautious about exiting the lab than Ford was.

"I'm gonna head into town, okay? Browse some clothing stores or something." Bill lied.

Mabel nodded. "Want me to come with?"

"Nah, I need some me time."

"Alright. Don't forget your sunglasses."

"Got it." Bill nodded, grabbing a pair off the shelves.

"Bill-" Mabel tried to scold, but he was out the door. Mabel sighed, shaking her head. She wondered how Grunkle Stan was going to make him pay this all back later.

Ford's face fell into an unreadable mask as he arrived home to find Bill sitting on the porch, yet again, covered in blood and cuts.

Bill gave a wave. To his credit, he was currently wiping his wounds down with a wet cloth. "Fun trip, Sixer?"

"What is this."

"Oh. Nothing." He shrugged. "Just needed to get some supplies from the Eye Bats. Turns out, I am NOT good at hand to wing combat!" He laughed, holding up the wet rag. "Want to help?"

"I had plenty of claws and tears from them in the lab."

"Did you? Must have missed it."

"Are you doing this on purpose." Ford snapped.

Bill jumped a bit at the tone. "Whatever do you-"

"You are. Aren't you?!"

Bill frowned. He was changing the script again. He's supposed to fret over-

"God DAMNIT! Bill! I can't keep doing this!"

"What?- Sixer-"

"No!" Ford huffed, holding his face in his hands. "I'm done, Bill! I can't TAKE this. I can't take YOU."

"Excuse you?!"

"I can't keep worrying every single time I so much as leave the house if I'll come back to you DEAD! I can't keep worrying when I'm next going to steal blood from the hospital that people NEED, Bill!"

"Okay! Okay! I'll try to not get hurt as bad-"

"NO! I don't want you getting hurt at ALL, Bill! This THING you do?! Destroying yourself? I can't do it anymore! I keep putting my neck on the line to defend you! To insist you're safe to have around the kids, but you're NOT!"

"Hey, you're no better than me!"

"I try to keep the kids out of my adventures, Bill! I don't make them see me covered in blood! I don't make them WORRY. Do you even CARE how much it hurts us to see you like this?!"

Bill frowned at that. He was fine. Why would they worry?

Ford took a few deep breaths, and spoke in a level and cold tone. "I cannot do this. Anymore. If you can't make an effort to stay alive, then- ..... Then you can't stay here. You need to find somewhere else to stay. I'm. Done."

"Excuse you?!" Bill stood up, fighting to not wobble from the pain. "It's your fault I'm even stuck in this horrible body!"

"MY FAULT?!" Ford glared.

"If you had just stuck to the program, I never would've died in the first place! You could've been at the top, right by me! You could've had EVERYTHING you ever wanted!"

"What I wanted?! You NEVER cared about that!"

"I GAVE YOU EVERYTHING STANFORD! I GAVE YOU LIMITLESS KNOWLEDGE. YOU COULD'VE BEEN A GOD. WORSHIPED."

"All I EVER wanted was somewhere I BELONGED, Bill! Where I was loved despite-" Ford choked on his words a bit. He took a breath. "Despite.... EVERYTHING that I am... Everything wrong with me.... All I wanted was to be wanted."

Bill glared, hugging himself. "Yeah, Well...." He sighed, turning to head inside to go shower since clearly he was patching himself up. Again. "Guess that means we have something in common. So did I."

"I ALREADY D-" Ford caught himself.

Bill froze to his spot. The seconds felt like hours as Bill slowly turned his head to stare at Ford with wide eyes full of surprise.

Ford was almost shaking, trying to calm his emotions. ".......I guess that's something else we had in common then.... We're both so busy gazing up at the stars above, longing to be there... We can't see when we're already surrounded by them."

Bill opened his mouth to speak, but found no words. Trying to process what Ford was revealing.

"But." Ford spoke, softer. Sadder. "Except I got better. And you won't. Because for all your talk of escaping your world? You haven't."

Bill's brow furrowed in confusion.

"You still have a flat mind. With flat dreams. And a flat. Heart." Ford sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets. Hiding himself.

Bill frowned. His chest ached with an emotion he wasn't sure the name of, but had felt many a time before.

"I keep thinking.... You'll change. That maybe- Maybe I'd be enough..... Guess that's on me. For expecting anything but shallowness from you....... Maybe I just don't count enough." He let out a bitter laugh. "Go figure... Wouldn't be the first time in my life." Ford walked past Bill, aware of the eyes following him. "......I can't keep doing this." Ford shut the door behind him.

Bill stared, tears falling before he even realized they were pooling. Bill shifted his arms, death gripping the fresh scars of a long lost language on his arm.

He wasn't fine.

Chapter Text

He just needed to finish his project. Then things would be fine. He'd show he wasn't whatever Sixer seemed to think he was. He just needed to finish it.

Bill stomped thru the creek, kicking over rocks as he tried to search. The stupid thing had to be around here somewhere, right? It didn't go to the lake did it? Was the stupid thing even still alive? Did they live this long? Bill had no idea. He knew many, many things. He made a point to know as little as possible about axolotls. But. He knew one thing. They could regenerate. And he needed that.

Bill kicked another rock, slipping and falling into the water fully.

Bill frowned as he glanced around. He was sure it wasn't good to find himself suddenly in long dead streets. Did he falls asleep before or after he got in the water? Did it matter?

Bill tried to ignore the visions haunting his peripherals. Blue and Red triangles. Swirling silly straws as the sign posts. Bill grit his teeth, running. He didn't want to deal with this.

Bill froze, staring up at the Mystery Shack, the door locked and sealed in chains. Bill turned to leave, only to run straight into Ford. "Sixer-"

"I told you to go away."

"Just let me explain-"

"I told you to go away!"

Bill was falling again.

No?... No, he was floating. Bill glanced around him, floating in the cosmos.

"Do you understand now?" a voice spoke gently.

Bill turned around, staring up at the Axolotl.

"Why are you here, Bill?"

"I'm trying to fix my mistakes." Bill admitted. "Ford missed out on three decades because of me.... I want to give them back- or.... whatever the closest I can do is."

"Why are you here?"

Bill frowned, holding himself.

"Do you understand?" The axolotl asked again, softer.

"......." Bill glanced to his arm, but couldn't find the scars he knew should be there. ".......... I can belong here...."

The god smiled gently. "You should probably wake up now."

"Wait!- ...... Please....... I need your help... I-" Bill grit his teeth and sighed. "I can't do everything alone."

The axolotl leaned forward, nuzzling the side of his face. "Wake up now."

Bill jolted awake, suddenly aware of the fire in his lungs as he flailed his way to the surface.

Bill coughed and wheezed, vomiting up the river water. Bill's brow furrowed in confusion as he raised his clenched hand. Two pink tendrils, the 'feathers' on an Axolotl's gills, sat in his palm. Bill grinned, despite how badly he was shaking from the cold water. Thank you. He thought only, throat too ragged to speak out loud. He just needed to-

Bill frowned. How could he finish his potion if he wasn't allowed in the shack? He'd just have to talk Shooting Star into letting him in. For now, he needed out of these woods.

Bill forced himself to his feet, shaking even more from the effort. Bill carefully tucked his frills into his bracelet, between the cords. He had to get-

Bill froze, staring down at the bracelet, but not looking at It.

Home.

He had to get-

"I understand." Bill whispered to himself.

Ford glared at the door as the doorbell ring. He'd made himself clear. Ford grabbed his gun, just in case. He stomped over to the door.

Ford threw the door open, starring in shock to see two figures.

Fiddleford gave a wave, Bill's arm around his shoulders as he desperately tried to keep Bill upright. "Ah know you two are in a bit of a feud again, but he's running quite a fever-"

Ford paled, carefully scooping Bill up in concern. "Thank you, so much. Where was he??"

Bill mumbled, but Ford could hardly tell what he said.

"I found him up on the shoreline by the lake. The amount a mud and algae on him, looks like he probably fell in at some point."

Ford frowned in worry, feeling Bill's forehead. Bill tried to push him away, tried to climb down entirely. Ford tightened his hold.

"Need any help?" Fiddleford worried.

"I've got him- Ah... I'd appreciate some fresh medicine? I doubt if Soos or his grandmother thought to get any while we were away."

Fiddleford gave a nod. "Course."

Ford carried Bill to the room, laying him on the bed and rushing to find a proper thermometer.

Bill whined and tried to sit up.

"You need to rest." Ford insisted.

"Need the... Lab-"

"No. You need to rest." Ford insisted. "Don't make me tie you down."

"Kinky." Bill giggled.

Ford rolled his eyes, pinching his nose. "I'm going to blame that on the fever. Please. Bill. Rest. For ME."

"....Okay." Bill sighed, laying back down.

"Everything ok?" Stan peeked in.

"Wherever Bill has been, he caught a flu or fever or something." Ford sighed.

"I'll go get some soup on." Stan gave a nod.

"Thank you. Let everyone else know?"

"Course." Stan headed off.

Ford gave Fiddleford a hug when he returned with medicines. "Thank you, Fids."

"Course. Just glad I spotted the fella."

"Me too."

Fiddleford patted his back and headed home.

Ford sighed, reading over the medicines and pouring some out. He went over to Bill, "This should help, I hope. Really hope we don't need a real doctor. Not sure how I'd explain you."

Bill wobbled as he sat up, taking the cup. The moment he sniffed the distinctly medicinal scent of the liquid, his entire demeanor changed. Bill shoved the cup back into Ford's hand and scrambled away, flattening against the wall.

"I know it smells bad- tastes it too frankly, but it'll help you-"

"No. No, no, no. Please- Please, don't-" Bill outright Begged.

Ford frowned. "Bill- It's for your own-"

"Please, no, no. No." Bill sobbed, curling in on himself, covering his eyes. "Please. Please, don't make me take anymore. Please."

"Bill?..." Ford paled, realizing this was beyond him.

"Please. Please. Please... I won't mention it anymore. Please-"

"Okay. Okay." Ford assured softly, pouring the medicine back into the bottle. "No medicine. I promise. See? No medicine."

Bill glanced up, shaking.

"We'll just.... wait this out. Okay?" Ford sat the bottle on the night stand, sitting next to him slowly.

Bill nodded, hugging himself.

Ford pulled Bill into his lap, holding him close and rubbing his back. "We'll wait this out... Together. Okay? You and I."

Bill gave a nod, nodding off. Exhaustion catching up to him.

Ford sighed, resting his chin on Bill's head. So much for done.

At least he knew Bill was okay.

Chapter Text

Bill groaned in aches and pain as he woke up. He frowned to see himself in a bed, glancing to his arm. The scars were still there. So he was awake. Bill sighed and tried to sit up, only to find he couldn't.

Bill rubbed the sleep from his eyes, glancing down to find an arm firmly around his waist. Bill craned his neck, despite knowing who he'd see.

Ford snored softly behind him, glasses smushed into his face from falling asleep with them on.

Bill carefully rolled himself over, taking the glasses off and setting them as far to the side as he could. Bill glanced to his other arm, and paled. His bracelet?!

Bill did sit up this time, fear overpowering Ford's grip on him.

Ford groaned awake. "You're up."

"Where is it??" Bill begged, worried.

"Nightstand-" Ford yawned, sitting up and glancing around, putting his glasses back on. "Didn't want you throwing up on it."

Bill practically crawled across Ford's body to reach the stand, sighing in relief as he grabbed his bracelet.

"You have far too much energy for being dead to the world the past week." Ford chuckled.

"Huh?" Bill glanced to him, putting the bracelet back on.

"You've had a high fever for about four days. It finally came down yesterday, but you were still pretty badly out of it."

"Oh." Bill went red from embarrassment.  Then dread, remembering what caused the fight last time. "I'm sorry......."

"What?" Ford blinked in surprise. Was he still asleep??

"Making you worry about me... again." Bill curled into a ball, trying to hide his feelings physically.

Ford sighed, hanging his legs over the edge of the bed. "You can't help getting sick, Bill. It's the intentional and intentionally reckless worries that upset me."

Bill mumbled against his knees. "I don't know how else to be."

Ford frowned, studying what he could see of Bill. ".........Are you ok?"

"...........I don't know."

Ford stared in surprise to not be met with the usual reply.

"You are enough, Sixer... You always have been. I just-......... I just suck. Okay?"

"Well." Ford shrugged. "Admitting it IS the first step to fixing it."

"I'm serious. I never tried so hard to get any other human to join my crew. You're special. You always have been."

"I wish I believed you."

"......Can we even fix this?...... Do-...... Would you even want to anymore?"

"A sane person would say no."

Bill gave a small nod, trying to hold his emotions back.

"A sane person also would have walked away when they found a strange cave with paintings to never read a specific incantation aloud."

Bill glanced over, tense. He was toying with him.

"........I don't make a habit of giving third chances, Bill. If you make me regret this, I will do what I should've done the night you showed up at this shack."

"Don't promise me a good time, Sixer."

Ford facepalmed and groaned. "I was hoping that was the fever talking."

"What?"

"Nothing. Forget it." Ford shook his head, chuckling. ".....What got you to finally see reason?"

Bill bit his lip. He didn't want to be open. It wasn't natural to him.... He supposed nothing he'd experienced lately had be. He took a deep breath. "I guess- I just finally found the name for the weird things I feel around you."

"And what's that?"

"Home. I feel like I have a real home."

"It's a nice feeling, huh?" Ford chuckled fondly. "To feel like you have a space you belong."

"Yeah... I've never had it before."

"What about...." Ford gestured to the stone in the bracelet.

"I never belonged there, Sixer. I was never wanted there....."

"But you still care about it?"

"Yeah, well.... I don't know."

"Hey. I get it. Really, I do..... I'm beginning to suspect we're more alike than either of us knew."

Bill smiled, tears falling. "Why am I crying? I'm not upset..."

"Sometimes, the human brain cries in joy too."

"Oh... Then I guess I'm just..... Really happy? To not be alone anymore."

Ford smiled at that, reaching over to hold the back of Bill's head as he kissed the top of it. "Welcome home, Bill. Promise me, you'll try not to die?"

"I'll..... see what I can manage." Bill sighed.

"Why is it so important to you to hurt yourself so much??" Ford sighed at hearing Bill's disappointed tone.

Bill's face fell into an unreadable mask as he thumbed his bracelet. "I don't know." He lied.

Ford watched silently. Trying to solve the riddle with broken clues. He still wasn't sure what exactly, but he was beginning to understand.

Ford reached over, holding Bill's hand. "I'll be here once you do."

Bill gave a nod, starring at their intertwined hands.

Ford gave a squeeze before letting go. "Go shower. You need it after the week you had. I'll make some food."

Bill nodded, cautiously getting up.

Ford glanced to him. "By the way. You owe Fiddleford a thanks for you being alive this time. He's the one who found you."

Bill side eyed, huffing. "I still don't like him."

"Yeah. I know." Ford snorted, shrugging. ".....Tate still doesn't like me.... Guess we all need to learn to be civil."

Bill snickered at hearing he was right. "Fishing didn't go well then?"

"Yeah, yeah. Live it up. I still think it's worth trying to make amends anyways."

"...I guess." Bill sighed.

"I'm not asking you to like the guy. I doubt he likes you either.... But I do need you to at least be polite and not insult him or snark him when he's around."

Bill siiiiiiighed harder. "I'll TRY." He said in an exaggerated tone. Then added, more seriously. "Honest."

Ford ruffled his hair, heading for the door.

Bill stretched, groaning at how stiff he was, and headed for the bathroom. He glared at the bottle on the counter. He knew it was different. It wasn't the 'Juice'. But it still filled him with a deep seated hatred and rage. His rage cooled somewhat to notice the bottle was still entirely full.

Bill frowned, glancing to the door. How much did he say when sick??

Bill sighed, shoving the bottle into a drawer to ignore.

Ford rolled his eyes but made no comment to see Bill join him in the kitchen, wearing Ford's coat.

Bill raised a challenging brow, grinning.

Ford handed him a plate of Dino Nuggies and ketchup. "We need to go grocery shopping...."

Bill beamed, sitting with the plate as he re-enacted the extinction of the dinosaurs, complete with ketchup blood.

"........There is something deeply wrong with you." Ford laughed, watching the detailed massacre.

"Yeah. But you love me anyways.~" Bill joked.

Ford laughed fondly. "Yeah. I do."

Bill went red at that, almost choking on a nugget's bitten off head.

The silence was cut short by Bill being tackled out of his seat by a wild Mabel.

"YOU'RE BACK!"

Bill groaned as he hit the floor with force. "You're- Heavy."

Mabel snickered and got up, holding her hand out. "Sorry."

Bill took it, getting up.

Ford watched silently, mouth slightly agape.

Bill sat back down. "Want to learn how the dinosaurs REALLY went extinct?"

"YES!" Mabel cheered.

Ford chuckled, grabbing her a plate as well. "Just be sure to actually EAT some of them."

"We will!" Both embodiments of chaos cheered.

Ford leaned on the counter, happily watching the pair goof off.

Ford sneezed, and groaned.

Mabel glanced over. "......" She glanced to Bill and scooted away. "I have a date tomorrow. I am NOT getting sick. Sorry, Grunkle Bill!" And fled to her room.

Ford's jaw fell open. "What did she just-"

"Yeah. She's been doing that for awhile." Bill laughed. "Let's get you back to bed, huh?"

"I'm fine." Ford rolled his eyes.

Bill raised a brow to his hairline, snorting. "We both know that's always a lie."

Chapter Text

"Is this really necessary?" Bill scoffed, glaring at the air mattress, back once more. This time in Soos and Melody's room.

"Yes." Melody shook her head. "If you two keep holing up together, you're just going to keep getting the other sick. Besides. No one else was willing to sleep around you."

Bill grinned a bit at that. Even if they were warming up to this sad meatsack him, he still left his impact.

"That's not a good thing."

"For you."

She shook her head again.

"...He's going to be okay, right?"

"Of course. It's just a flu, and he has plenty of medicine."

Bill grit his teeth. "I needed someone taking care of me-"

"You've also never been sick before. At least, not here. He has been. He knows how to take care of himself."

"He also throws his back out just handling groceries." Bill worried.

"Good thing he doesn't need to lift anything heavy while sick then." Melody laughed.  "Hey. Why don't you help me make him a soup, yeah? Then you can help him get better still."

"Guess I do need to learn to make food for this flesh prison eventually...." Bill sighed dramatically.

Melody chuckled and headed for the kitchen. "You haven't cooked yet?"

Bill glanced to her. Was she not aware he was banned from damned near every utensil besides a spoon at this point? "It hasn't come up."

"Well. Maybe you'll find it relaxing. I know I do."

Bill snickered, eager to raid the fork- He promised to stop doing that. Didn't he? Bill sighed to himself. This was going to be boring.

Melody raised a brow, tying her hair up to keep it out of the food. "You okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Alright." She nodded, grabbing ingredients.

Bill adjusted his own ponytail to include his golden hair.

Melody set out a cutting board and some vegetables. "Can you chop these up thin for me? I need to get the chicken ready."

Bill raised a brow at her. Glancing to the knife.

If she noticed, she said nothing, grabbing her own board and setting to work.

Bill shook his head and began to chop the vegetables. His chopping slowed as he stared at the knife in his hand. This weird human hand with an extra finger than his triangle ones had. He's heard that biting a finger off is as easy as biting a carrot. He wondered if that applied to knives. His hand shook slightly at the thought. He promised to behave. He wanted to hurt.

"Hey." A soft, gentle voice snapped him from his thoughts.

Bill glanced, confused to the hand gently covering his.

"Are you okay?" Melody asked, concerned.

Bill didn't answer her, setting the knife down.

Melody hmm'd to herself. She gave a nod and left the room.

Bill starred after her. He was alone. In the kitchen. He could make all these thoughts silent with one movement. It'd be fast. He would lose everything, again, if he did. His mind felt on fire with the conflicting thoughts and feelings.

Why is it so important to you to hurt yourself so much?

For once, Bill felt like the one with a thousand eyes on him.

Bill was not proud of the yelp he let out to feel someone holding his arm. Blinking free from his thoughts, Bill glanced down confused at the rubber band that had been placed on his wrist, just below his bracelet.

Bill glanced up to Melody, confused. "Why do I need a-"

Bill was less proud of the second yelp as the band was snapped against his wrist.

"It's not.. great. But. It's better. A baby step to work down from." Melody explained.

Bill stared at her, then the band, then her.

"If you start feeling overwhelmed, and like you might slip. Just, snap that instead until it goes away. Just be sure to switch wrists now and then so you don't mess one up too much. And try to only snap the back. The front of your wrist is a lot more delicate."

Bill glanced back down to band. He gave it a testing snap. It stung. Not really enough to feel satisfying, but it was close enough to get his hand to stop shaking. "I'm not supposed to be... I told Sixer...."

Melody gave a shrug. "He's smart enough to see how asking someone to cold turkey a habit is a horrible idea. If he doesn't, you let me know and I'll set him straight. Kay?" She smiled.

"...Kay." Bill nodded. Humans never failed to surprise him.

"Once you're done with the vegetables, put them in the pot with a little bit of oil to soften them."

Bill took a breath, picking the knife back up. "...........Thank you." That was the correct response, right?

"We all start somewhere." She assured. "The important part is Starting."

"Wish my mom was as nice as you." Bill laughed out before he could process his own words. As soon as he said them, he paled.

Melody only gave an understanding smile. "You're welcome to come to me, anytime. Okay? You're family now."

Bill stared down at the carrots he was cutting, trying not to cry on them. Damn this stupid human brain and its tendency to cry at every little emotion.

He was fine. It's not like having a loving family mattered to him. Not at all.

He was fine.

Bill glanced to Melody, watching her cook happily. Comfortable around him. Probably in no small part due to not seeing him at his worst. Surely she heard about it, didn't she?

"Why are you so nice to me??" Bill snapped. His urge to cause issues bubbling up.

Melody didn't even flinch at the tone. "Because being nice makes me feel good." She shrugged. "I don't gain anything by assuming the worst of people. And no one can change if they have no reason to want to. So. I chose to be kind. Even when it's hard. Because that's the world I want to live in.... What about you? What kind of life do you want to live in?"

Bill glanced to his bracelet from Mabel.

"You don't have to actually answer that." Melody smiled. "But it's a good thing to figure out, for yourself. Myself? Well... I think this life I have right here is pretty darn great."

Bill gave an idle nod, scraping his chopped vegetables into the pot. "How much oil?"

"Just to cover them-" Melody glanced over, watching him pour it. "Yeah, just like that. Now stir them every once in awhile."

Bill paced the lab, snapping the rubber band against his wrist with each step. He hoped Melody was right that Sixer wouldn't be too upset at the welt beginning to crest on his wrist.

He glanced to his slowly dripping brew, hoping it worked. He wasn't sure Frills would give him any extra if he messed this up.

As the final drop landed, Bill went to a cage, grabbing out the rat. It had become a favorite of his to hunt down, for no particular reason at all.

He got lucky, he didn't even need to damage this one itself. He'd managed to catch it because it was already in a bad state. He was disappointed to find thinking Die really hard at the things no longer killed them.

Bill plopped the weak rat onto the table. Gentle was still not a concept Bill was familiar with. He snickered at its sad squeak up at him. Bill grabbed a pipette and carefully took a small portion of his potion. He had to be careful, he needed to leave enough for later.

Bill pried open the rat's mouth and made it take the odd concoction. He rolled his eyes to watch even vermin cringe at the flavor of it. It couldn't be THAT bad. Bill sat, observing the rat silently.

Bill held his breath as he watched this frail rat begin to stand up on its own once more. Bill grinned as it suddenly bolted away as a rat properly should. Sure. It didn't guarantee it'd work on humans, but. It was as good of a test as he could manage without raising some major concerns around the shack. And wasting the limited amount of brew he had.

Bill carefully poured the contents into thermos, in awe at it. He seemed to have enough for....

Two.

Bill's mouth went dry, staring at the liquid. Who knew what it could do for a former Triangle slash Dream Demon slash God. What it would do to him now, if he tried.

Bill lifted it to eye level, starring at his reflection in the metal container. This awful, wretched reflection. Could he fix it? Would he be whole again? Bill ran a finger down the faint scar on his face. How powerful was the Axolotl's Frill? Would he really hand Bill the key to his true return?

Bill swallowed the dryness in his mouth best he could, heart racing in anticipation.

He could fix Sixer back up, then himself, and then they'd have eternity.

Right?

Chapter Text

Bill took a nervous breath, heading for the living room. Ford had finally gotten over his flu, the kids were out of the house for the day. Bill had to finally make his choice. Bill cleared his throat, unsure how to start.

Ford glanced up from his book, leaning against Stanley who was watching TV. "Got bored of harassing the customers?"

"Never." Bill snickered. "You remember that surprise I was working on?..."

"Yes?" Ford replied, a bit skeptical. They still hadn't told Stanley he had been down in the lab several times.

Stanley glanced over, distracted from his show. This was either really good, or really bad.

"Well. It's finally finished."

"Oh?" Ford bookmarked his page, sitting upright. "Do I finally get to know what it is then?"

"Yup... It's... For you and Fez both."

Ford's intrigue grew.

Stanley raised a brow, skepticism growing.

Bill gave a tense nod, grabbing two cups from the kitchen and his carefully guarded thermos. "I guess I should warn it's not.... entirely? Tested? I tested it on a rat and it worked."

Stan raised a brow at his twin.

Ford merely shrugged.

Bill sighed and poured out the liquid. "Don't get it twisted. I'm still being selfish." Bill hoped changing his wording would put them at ease. "I just- Look. I just don't like how stupidly fragile you humans are. You get hurt just by existing long enough. And while I may not know exactly how long this flesh prison has in it. I know it's longer than yours does and I just- I don't like it! Okay?! And I know that's..... a lot. My fault-.... That you missed a lot because of my portal-"

Ford decided to spare the obviously flustered and nervous Bill. "What? You discovered the fountain of youth?"

"Not exactly- But... It should help at least somewhat. I don't know if it can buy you more time or not. Or how much even.... But I am sure it can at least help you make the most of... however much is left."

Ford grabbed a cup, examining the odd liquid. "Is this what you beat up the unicorns for?"

"Little bit, yeah." Bill shrugged, rambling off the ingredients, hoping it'd buy him any faith.

Ford's brows shot upwards, "The axolotl appeared to you??"

Bill went red. "I just figured- they can regrow limbs so-"

"No- Bill-" Ford snorted. "I'm just concerned. Wasn't the last time you saw him... because you died?"

"Huh?- Oh. Well yeah, I think I was mid drowning this time."

"BILL?!"

"You knew I was found drenched in water! Don't 'Bill' me!" Bill huffed. "Look! I went thru a lot to make this stuff, and I'm fairly sure it works so. Just drink it!"

Stanley snickered. He'd never turn down less back pain. If Sixer didn't see any issue or red flag in the ingredients, he sure didn't. He grabbed the other cup. "If it works, why are you still all beat up?"

Bill went even more red, crossing his arms and glaring at a wall. "I could only make enough for two."

Ford glanced between Stanley and himself, then to Bill. He opened and shut his mouth several times. Pondering the same questions Bill had. What would this do for him?

Stanley gave an understanding nod. It'd be rude to waste it. Stanley threw back the cup, unphazed by the odd flavor. He'd had beers worse than this.

"Stanley?! He just said that's untested-" Ford sighed, watching his twin down the entire glass without hesitation.

Stanley's jaw fell open as he felt it working. "Holy shit!"

"Stanley??" Ford's worry grew.

"I forgot back's weren't supposed to ache all the time!" Stan grinned wide.

Bill puffed up in pride. It worked?! Of course it worked! He made it.

Stan grinned, elbowing Ford a bit. "One word. Keeper."

Ford sputtered and went red, shoving him away.

Bill snickered, raising a brow. "Well? Going to let Fez have all the fun?"

Ford sighed, taking a deep breath and chugging the liquid. His attempt was not nearly as graceful as Stanley's, but he managed to keep the foul liquid down. He coughed once done, wiping his mouth. "Certainly leaves something to be desired."

"Beauty is pain." Bill shrugged.

Ford set the cup down, stretching his arms up as high as he could. Ford sighed in relief. "I don't think I can remember the last time I wasn't in some ache or pain or other."

"Yeah, that's called your awful posture, Pointdexter." Stanley grinned, shoving him lightly.

"Oh, don't even!" Ford guffawed. "Yours is worse than mine!"

"Oh, yeah??" Stanley grinned, pulling his twin into a headlock. "Prove it, nerd!"

"Stanley!" Ford protested, laughing.

Bill snickered, watching the two brothers descend into a half hearted wrestling match. They certainly had their energy back, even if they didn't look any different.

Ford eventually managed to shove Stanley off, laughing and straightening himself out. "Thank you. Bill."

Bill gave a nod. "Worth the wait?"

Ford gave a nod, pulling Bill into a hug.

Bill went red as he did his best to hug back. The gesture still felt unnatural to him.

Ford let go, holding onto Bill's arms tho. He glanced to the side, towards Stanley. "Really.... Thank you." Ford repeated.

Bill gave an awkward shrug. "It's the least I owed you, Sixer."

Ford smiled, resting his forehead to Bill's.

Bill couldn't tell if his face was on fire, or if that was just the heat from Ford's own so close.

Ford whispered, quietly. "I know you, Bill. I know this wasn't easy. It really does mean a lot to me tho."

Bill was about to reply, to dismiss the accusation, but found he couldn't speak, for there were lips on his own. Bill felt like he was floating again. Every inch of him felt just as warm as his face. And just like that, the lips were gone.

Ford chuckled softly at Bill's expression. "You ok?"

".......There's needles stabbing my fingers and toes..." Bill whispered.

Ford grinned proudly at that.

Stan rolled his eyes, slinging an arm around his bro to ruin the moment in the way only a sibling can. "Think I'd be able to make it on Ninja Warrior now?" He grinned wide.

Ford doubled over in laughter.

Bill went even more red, stepping back. He completely forgot Fez was in the room. "Right! Well- I'm going to- Go- ...... Bye!" Bill fled to the shower attached to his room- His and Ford's room- To douse himself in ice cold water.

Ford shook his head, shoving Stanley. "Dick."

"It's my job." Stanley shrugged, laughing. "So. What'cha thinking? Gold or Blue?"

Ford hmm'd. "I already used gold for mine. So probably the blue."

Stan gave a nod. "Don't make him pop from embarrassment while I'm gone."

Ford shook his head, returning to his book on the couch.

Bill managed to avoid both brother's for the rest of the day. Quietly curling up as close to the wall as he could on the bed. He hated how easily he turned red again at feeling Sixer join him.

"Hiding from me?" Ford snickered.

"No." Bill lied.

"Good." Ford grinned, pulling him close and spooning him from behind.

Bill buried his face in his hands. "I hate you."

"No, you don't." Ford laughed. "Good night, Bill."

"...Good night, Stanford." Bill sighed, turning around to curl close. Even embarrassment could not keep Bill from wanting to curl up in Ford's scent.

Bill sighed, glancing around at the fire. He'd hoped this would have stopped by now. Bill shook his head, glancing to his five fingered blackened arms. An odd middleground between his two forms. He'd take it.

Bill flinched, glancing up in confusion as rain began to snuff the fires around him. He rolled his eyes as the droplets that hit his face informed him it was tears not rain. He was never a fan of metaphors.

Bill raised a brow, realizing the world was flooding from the rain. He didn't have to wonder long tho, quickly finding himself floating weightlessly once more. He glanced around, but couldn't see the god he knew was there. "It worked." Bill informed the sea around him. "....Thank you."

Bill heard no reply, but he could feel it, in his soul.

I'm proud of you.

Bill smiled softly. He'd never heard those words before. He liked them.

Bill's brow furrowed. Wait. Didn't he nearly die last time- "The pig's on my face again. Isn't it." He deadpanned.

His only reply was a snicker.

Bill flailed as he woke up, scrambling out from under- Oh. Bill's groaned as his face was on fire again. Realizing he'd damn near suffocated from being pinned under Ford's chest. They both must've rolled a bit in their sleep.

Bill's embarrassment turned to confusion as he looked himself over. He wasn't familiar with this new feeling-

Ah.

Bill was so glad Sixer was asleep. Or he'd never hear the end of this. Bill shook his head, ignoring the complications of being human. He was too tired to care. Bill rolled Ford onto his back, to not get squished again. Then curled up against Ford's side, back pressed against Ford. It was as comfortable as he could manage. Bill pulled Ford's arm over to use as a pillow, drifting back off to sleep with a content smile.

For once, he really was okay.

Chapter Text

"Can I open my eyes yeeet." Bill groaned. He felt like they'd been walking for hooours.

"Amost." Ford chuckled. "Have some patience."

"You know for a fact I never have."

"Learn some."

Bill siiighed, dragging his feet and only managing to not trip entirely because of Ford's hand on his back guiding him.

Ford snickered. "You'd think you'd know how to walk by now."

"Fuck you!"

Ford laughed fully at that. "Alright. You can look now."

Bill sighed in relief, opening his eyes. He glanced to Sixer in confusion.

They were by the lake, specifically, by the boys' boat. Stanley holding a small bucket of paint.

"Why did you bring me way out here?"

Ford shrugged. "It seemed only fair you get to put a handprint on the Stan O' War as well. Since you'll be on it too."

"...What?!" Bill's jaw fell open.

"You didn't think we'd just ditch you here for months on end, did ya?" Stan snickered.

Bill gave an awkward shrug. "I dunno- I mean-..... Kinda?....."

Ford rolled his eyes. "I'm offended you think so little of me."

"That is not it, and you know it!" Bill huffed, turning red. "I just- Figured.... I mean. Sailing together was your dream for years-...."

"And? We'll still be sailin' together." Stan pointed out. "We'll just have another set of hands on deck to help out now."

Bill looked between the pair, in awe.

"Well? Gonna mark her or not?" Stan shook the small paint can.

"Her?" Bill snickered, going over.

"Yup. All boats are Hers."

"That's stupid." Bill informed.

Stan shrugged, pouring the paint into a tray. "It's tradition."

Bill beamed to see his bright fire in paint form. Bill dipped his hand in, letting himself pretend for a bit that it really was fire.

"I know you're more of a gold guy, but I kinda used it already." Ford shrugged.

"This is perfect." Bill assured, glancing to the red and gold hand prints already on the boat, just below the name. Bill hesitated, nervous if he even deserved this.

Ford put his hand over the back of Bill's, pressing it against the wood, right beside the gold six fingered print.

Bill stared in awe at the sight, starring for nearly a minute before peeling his hand off.

Stanley nodded. "Once that dries, I'll put some sealer over it. Then we'll give you some boat safety lessons."

Bill nodded, wiping his hand off on his shirt. He frowned, going pale at the blue and red on either side of the gold.

Ford glanced to him, rubbing his back. "You alright?"

Bill blinked. Glancing between the pair. A new context for the colors. "....I will be." He nodded. "....I think I'm finally going to start that journal idea..."

Ford gave a nod of understanding. "You know who to ask for help."

"Yeah... I really do." Bill smiled. He couldn't tell them... Not yet.... But one day, he would.

"We ready to set sail?" Stanley checked. "Not forgetting anything?"

"Checklist triple checked." Ford assured.

Bill leaned against the side of the boat. "I read the other day that your species knows more about space than they do about the depths of your own oceans."

"Not sure that's entirely accurate." Ford snorted. "But, yes. The sea is rather unexplored. Its depths reach immense pressures we have trouble navigating."

"In a way.... I guess sailing the seas..... Isn't that different from exploring the stars then, huh?"

Ford chuckled. "Suppose so. Nervous?"

"Nah. Just hoping I don't have sea sickness."

Ford laughed. "That would be bad, yes. I have to help Stanley get her sailing, alright?"

Bill gave a nod. "Have fun."

Ford kissed his cheek before setting about his tasks.

Bill stared out over the water as they began to move, watching the town fade into the distance. Guess Ford helped him leave the Falls after all. He chuckled to himself.

Once firmly on their way, Ford rejoined Bill at the edge of the ship. The pair leaned on the railing.

Bill watched their reflections warp and waver in the water as he intertwined his fingers in Ford's.

"You know, Sixer.... I think I've finally found something I like about this body."

"Oh? What's that?" Ford smiled, glancing to his muse.

Bill smiled softly, holding on to Ford's hand a bit tighter. "My hand fits perfectly in yours like this."

Ford glance to their hands, smiling fondly. "So it does.... That's a pretty good thing to like then."

"Yeah?" Bill leaned against him.

"Yeah." Ford smiled, kissing the top of Bill's head before resting his own on top of it.

Chapter Text

Dear Mom,

It's been awhile. A lot of things have changed for me.

I think I'm finally starting to figure life out. It's been confusing, and upsetting. But I'm learning a lot. And I learn even more each day. Life's been pretty good. Confusing. But good.

I have friends now. I know you never thought I'd make any, as different as I am. They're different too. It's not dangerous like we thought. It's kinda nice. Not being alone for once. I even have a boyfriend. Crazy as it sounds. I know, right? Me. Who'd have thought?

I found someone who finally loves me as I am. Despite everything that I am. It's wonderful. And scary. To care so much what someone thinks of me.

I hope you'd be proud of me. I finally found where I fit in. They have a few more angles and curves than you'd probably approve of. But I think you could've grown to love them too.

I don't hate you. I probably should. But I don't. I think I get it. I don't understand it, but I get it. You were scared for me.... Of me? Does the difference matter? You were scared, and confused. So you lashed out. Because it felt like you were in control.

Guess I learned it from you.

I don't think you'd recognize me now. Not that you ever really saw me back then. But I see. I always have. And it's only getting clearer now. Things are so much more complex than I knew.

And it's wonderful.

Despite it all, I wish you could see it. I wish you could be here. I wish things had been different.

I wish we both hadn't been so scared.

I hope you're doing okay. Whatever became of you. Wherever you exist now. Even if only in my memory.

I really hope the best for you. Despite everything. Because I chose to.

I miss you.

~Billy.

P.S. I still hate shoelaces, but I can tie a knot now.

Bill sighed, sniffling as he closed his journal.

"You okay, love?" Ford asked, sitting by him.

"....." Bill chuckled and nodded, glancing to him. "Golden."

Ford snickered, shaking his head. "We're arranging with the kids' parents to possibly meet them at a beach for the winter holidays."

Bill grinned. "Melody and Soos going to fly out there with us?"

"Not sure yet. Hopefully tho. Excited to see their baby?"

"Of course." Bill snickers. "Me and Mabel-"

Ford exhaled. Bill and Stanley both have grown increasingly worse grammar to irritate him.

"Are going to make sure the kid comes out to be a third harbinger of chaos."

Ford laughed, shaking his head. "Speaking of trio's. Stanley's trying to convince us into getting matching tattoos next time we reach port."

"Yeah?" Bill snickered. "Of what?"

"So, the kids got him into this video game. And there's this thing called a Triforce...."