It's Just Part of the Deal

Part 10

"I assume Tom's human has mentioned something along the lines of a blood moon before, correct?"

I nod, "Yes, Marco explained to me that when two people dance under it's light then their souls are bound to each other- Wait! What do you mean by 'Tom's human'? Marco doesn't belong to Tom!" I screech, quickly getting distracted from my previous questions.

Bill stares at me for a moment before calmly regaining composure after my sudden outburst. "Oh, I guess he wouldn't tell you about that. Not like he actually knows himself."

"W-What do you mean? Marco doesn't know? Doesn't know what exactly?"

"Marco and Star may have bonded their souls under the blood moon, however having a soul bond doesn't mean the same as a soulmate."

My eyes widen. "Soulmate?"

"Yes, think of demons like wolves. We mate for life. Some of us are lucky enough to stay within the realm of immortals while others, such as Tom and myself, are cursed to watch our partner grow old and die over and over again."

My chest felt heavy and my head dizzy. "So...Marco...and Tom..."

"Yes, they are soulmates. Judging by your reaction I'm going to assume Tom hasn't told him, he most likely doesn't want to scare him away."

"And..." My words get trapped in my throat, choking me to the point it hurts to keep them bottled up but I can't seem to force them out. Regardless he understands and nods, carefully placing his hands on each side of my face.

"I...am bound...to you, Dipper." He whispers, pressing his forehead against my own. "You...are my soulmate."

Snapping out of my stupor I push his hands off me and back away, resorting to pacing around the room. "No...no no no no. No! That's not possible! I-I'm not- we- You...ugh!" I groan pacing more rapidly, my hands getting tangled in my hair as I tug at it. "I can't be your soulmate. I can't, I just can't! I-I'm human! I'm human, y-you're a demon. You're a demon a-and-"

"Dipper!" Bill shouts, grabbing my wrist and putting them down at my sides. "Enough. I know what I am. I know what you are. And I can promise you this is not the first time I've found you."

"F-Found- you mean? ...You mean I- I mean...w-we've..."

"Yes. I have found you, loved you and watch you leave over a hundred times in my many years."

"B-But...it..."

Gently shushing me, he guides me to the couch to sit down. My mind feels like it's on autopilot, and my body is numb. He's been in this cycle for thousands of years. "I know, it's a lot to take in. It's why I don't normally tell you; typically I do what I can to find you, and do what I can to get just a few more good years while you're hear before you leave again." His voice is calm, soothing, like he's been practicing. Although, I guess he kinda has done this before if what he says is true. "Sometimes it's better than others, sometimes I find you, sometimes I don't, sometimes I'm too late."

"Too late?"

He nods, "I never know when or where you will be born next, it could be a few days or several decades before your soul returns and when I finally find you there are times I didn't find you fast enough and you'll have already lived a long life or already be with another." 

His voice sounds so broken, it hurts. It hurts to listen to this and it scares me more than anything ever has in my life, I can feel myself shaking, but I need to know this. "T-the apocalypse...Weirdmagedon...you...you d-didn't just start it to um...because humans are ruining the Earth...did you?"

He stared at me for a moment before sighing, "No...I didn't..." he whispers, gently taking my hands in his and tracing the lines on my palms. "The last time I saw you was in Massachusetts the year 1692. Salem."

My eyes widen, "I-...Who was I?"

"Mary Easty...it was our first life where we actually had kids" He smiled slightly, but it quickly faded. 

"How many?"

He stared at me, confused by my questioning. "How many kids?" I nod, my nerves finally calming enough for me to actually listen and scoot a little closer to him. His eyes soften, his smile back but only slightly. "Seven."

"Was...Was I a good mom?"

Finally that gets him to chuckle and he nods, catching me off guard and pressing his forehead to mine once more. "The best."

"Bill..." I sigh, knowing it's none of my business, but still. "Marco and Tom, did they?"

"Yes... Not as long as you and I, but Tom's in the same cycle as I am. After the trials is when I was locked away in the void, I'd never seen you killed before then and it broke me. Humans never change but other demons that have immortal mates like themselves infuriated me. I wanted them to feel the same pain that we are forced to endure."

"I-...um...I'm not saying I love you. And I'm not saying I ever will, if our history is true then odds are I will eventually, but we've been going through this for centuries. And I never remember our past life. Have you...-"

"Ever tried to steal your mortality? No...I brought it up with you on one of the early runs, but much like now, you have family. You have a family that will grow old and die and the process to make you immortal is extremely long and painful. An ordeal I can't fathom inflicting upon you, not in this or any other life."

I nod, understanding, but still...maybe I should.