It's Just Part of the Deal

Part 9

"But you're okay now, right? No pain?"

"No, I'm fine. I actually just feel bad for him now- I mean...after hearing that, I just- I don't know. It kinda put a lot of pieces into place that I didn't even realize were missing, y'know?" I shrug, despite knowing he can't see me.

"I guess," He sighs, taking a moment to think. "Is he there now?"

"Yeah, he's outside sitting on the porch right now."

"Okay, sorry to ask, I know it's probably a bad time, but-"

"It's okay, I understand, let me go ask him." I push myself off the couch to join Bill outside on the porch. I'm surprised to see him looking completely calm, just resting in an old lawn chair. Just quietly listening to the world around him. "Bill, you okay?" He nods, but doesn't do much else to acknowledge my presence. "Tom wants to talk to you." I mutter, gently holding out the phone to him. He huffs, now glaring at the ground. "I don't give a damn, bastard needs to learn to mind his own business."

"Bill, please? He's just concerned."

He groans, taking the phone from my hands. "Fine, but I get something in return for this!"

I blink, about to ask just what it is that he wants but he quickly brings the phone up to his ear, giving Tom a harsh 'what' before I can.  It's muffled but I know Tom is yelling or at least talking loudly on the other end since I can kind of hear him. Suddenly it stops though and I can't hear it anymore. But I know Bill isn't pleased with anything that was just said to him.

"I won't." He mutters, listening for a moment longer before handing me back my phone. Tom must've been the one to hang up, so I just put my phone back into my pocket and lean against the porch railing in front of him.

"You okay?"

"You've already asked that."

"Yeah but that was before you got yelled at outa no where."

He looks at me for a moment, then huffs, folding his arms over his chest and staring off into the forest.

I want to laugh at how childish he looks but manage to pull myself together before I can upset him over something stupid. "So, you said you wanted something in return for talking to him. It's not another 'token' is it?"

Bill remains silent, just staring at the woods before muttering a quiet 'no'. Then holding out his hands like he's silently asking me to pull him to his feet. I roll my eyes, thinking something along the lines of 'lazy' but am quickly proven wrong when he yanks me down into him after I take hold of his hands. I squeak, startled by suddenly being pulled off balance and into his lap. "Just a hug." He whispers, his arms snaking their way around my waist and holding me tightly.

I blush but hug back since I guess he technically did ask permission first, he just wasn't clear about it. "You need to get better about asking for things, Bill."

"But I didn't hurt you this time."

"That's true I guess." I sigh, moving to get up, this time actually getting him to get up with me and take him inside. "Come on I think it's supposed to rain again soon."

"I think I like the rain."

I smile, walking to the kitchen area to start making something for dinner. "Yeah? And why is that?"

He's quiet for a moment, just watching me move around the kitchen as I work before he finally gives me an answer. "It's pretty."

My movement freezes at his words. I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't something as simple as that. Shaking off my momentary shock I continue with dinner. "Yeah, I guess it is."

"What are you making anyway?"

"Spaghetti." 

He give me an odd look but just shakes his head and continues watching me. It isn't long before everything is ready and I make sure that when I make Bill's plate to cut the noodles a little short. The look he gave me earlier could only mean one of two things. Either he's seen the dish and never knew what it was called, or has absolutely no clue what it is what so ever. Which makes me worried he might choke on the noodles. Hell, I've practically grown up on them and I've almost choked a couple times when I was younger. "Here ya go. Remember to chew."

"Okay! I pour soda into your eyes one time!" He huffs. "And for the record I did it cause I knew it would freak you out."

I roll my eyes, laughing slightly. "Well mission accomplished then; you not only managed to freak me out, but successfully made it to where I will forever worry if you actually know how to eat or drink anything." I smile, happily eating my own plate of pasta.

Bill glares at me, but in the end shakes his head with a slight smile of his own before turn his attention to the plate in front of him. "I didn't know you could cook...did Shooting Star teach you?"

"We are talking about the same Mable right?" I laugh, twirling more noodles onto my fork. "If it weren't for me, she'd only ever eat sugar and glitter."

"Wait, I thought glitter is bad if a human eats it." He asks, poking at a few hunks of tomato.

"It is, but that doesn't stop her- and that doesn't mean you  should try it either!" I jump, pointing my fork at him.

He smiles, putting his hands up in mock surrender. "I won't, I won't."

I smile, finishing my food and getting up to wash the dishes. I wasn't really paying attention to Bill at that point so I hadn't even heard him get up, or even that he had come to stand beside me; so I nearly jumped out of my skin when he suddenly placed a hand on my shoulder. "Ah! geeze, don't do that. You scared the daylights outta me, Bill!" I sigh, placing my hand over my heart like it was gonna jump out of my chest if I didn't.

He laughed,  "Sorry."

"It's fine, just don't do it again." I mutter, taking his dishes from him and washing them as well. "So...what exactly did Tom say? I could kinda hear him yelling, but I don't know what he really said."

"Don't worry about it, Pine tree." His mood quickly souring.

"You can't hide everything from me Bill."

"The deal states I can't hurt you."

"How does tell me what Tom said to upset you, hurt me. Besides, you're the one that said a deal would never interfere with your personal desire. You wouldn't hurt me even if it wasn't part of the deal." I point, placing my hands on my hips to face him.

His face a mixture of shock, anger, and what I think is fear. "Why do you want to know so badly?"

"Because its weird that you're bold enough to call me your favorite toy but not about the conversation between you two." I want to smile when my comment manages to make him blush, but I'm honestly just more concerned more than anything right now.

He sighs. "Fine, the reason he's so bent on this is cause of you."

"Wait, what do I have to do with anything between the two of you?" I ask, following him to sit on the couch. "I mean- I understand you being bound to me, you explained that. And that he thinks you'll start another apocalypse, but-"

"That's not entirely true...I only told you that so you wouldn't question it anymore, but he ruined that by calling again."

I stare at him, a swirl of emotions rushing through me faster than I can realize. "What is the truth, Bill?"

With a heavy sigh, he gently reaches his hand up pushing my bangs out of the way to reveal my birthmark. "You are." He whispers, dropping his hand to take hold of my own. "You're the reason he keeps calling, making me promise to never hurt you just like everyone else that surrounds you. I know I've screwed up in the past and I know I'm not always right in the head but I'm in more control of my thoughts than people realize."

"W-what exactly are you trying to say Bill?"

He stared at me, gently taking hold of both my hands now. "I'm bound to you."