Pines, Reporting for Duty

Chapter 17

(Dipper pov)

I slowly peel my eyes open, recognizing that I'm back in Bill's bedroom as sunligh streams in through the window. I look over at Bill feeling him rubbing my bare shoulder.

"Morning, Pinetree."

"How long have you been awake?"

"Long enough. Come on." He rises from the bed and I sit up looking at him confused.

"Why? What's going on?"

"You need to be punished for what happened yesterday, silly."

"What? But you already punished me when you threw me down the stairs."

My blood goes cold as he throws his head back laughing loudly.

"Silly silly little Pinetree. That wasn't your punishment. That was just to make sure you didn't try to run away while I had to think of a proper punishment for you."

"B-Bill, please please don't do this. It won't happen again, I swear."

"That's exactly what you said last time. Get up, now. I will not be asking again."

"I am begging you. You don't have to do this. I know that you don't wat to."

"That is where you are horribly wrong." He grabs the back of my neck in a death like grip as he pulls me off the bed forcing me onto my feet. "Move your fucking ass, now."

I grab at his wrist, weakly trying to pry his fingers off of me as he drags me out of the room and down the hall.

"S-Stop, Bill, please!"

"Shut up. Just shut the fuck up already!"

He pulls me into the bathroom, throwing me into the bathrub that was already full, water splashing all over the floor.

He puts his hand around my throat firmly, roughly pushing me under the water.

I claw at his hand, desparately trying to come up for air, but he refuses to budge even the slightest.

Reaching up I manage to claw at his eye, hearing him cry out in pain as he lets go.

I sit up gasping for air but it's short lived. His hand tightly grabs my throat again slamming my head against the wall dazing me before he shoves me hard under the water before I can even take a last breath.

I struggle for air, needing air but it's useless. I can feel my body growing weaker and darkness slowly starts to invade my vision.

Just as I'm about to slip away into the darkness, he pulls me out of the water and throws me onto the bathroom floor.

I lay there soaked to the bone as I cough and sputter up the water that had snuck its way into my lungs.

"Fucking bitch." He says before he kicks me in the stomach hard making me cry out in pain. "You're lucky that I'm not punishing you more for nearly taking my eye out like that."

"I'm....I-I'm s-sorry...."

"Save the petty excuses for someone who actually gives a fucking damn about you. Clean yourself up and come to the living room. Do not keep me waiti again or else."

He walks out slamming the door shut behind him. I flinch slightly before I painfully manage to push myself up to my feet.

I go to the bathroom mirror, some dry clothes folded on the counter. I look in the mirror seeing blood dripping down the side of my face from where my head had hit the wall.

Sighing softly I strip out of the soaked clothes and change into the dry ones. I put a band-aid on the open cut before leaving the bathroom.

I make my way to the living room, hearing faint guitar music. I stand in the doorway of the living room, my eyes wide in surprise seeing Bill sitting on the couch playing a guitar as he softly sings.

"When we met i don't know if i planned on falling
But now i'm too far gone
When i picked up the phone didn't plan on calling
But now the light's still on

At three a.m
And i made you laugh
And that made me smile

And i'm pretty sure that my dad can't stand you
But i don't really care
Cause i come undone when i'm without you
And your hands in my hair

We're on the bridge
And you're in love
And i am, too

We just met but i swear it's been years
I'd pay any price to stay right here

Felt it the moment we locked eyes in class
And you askеd for my name
And i knew on the night that you snuck through my window
You wеre my endgame

We just met but i swear it's been years
I'd pay any price to stay right here
Though the sirens sound the sky is falling
Love, you are the path i'll keep on following

Stay with me, i can't go alone
Promise you i'll hold on to hope
Stay with me, i can't go alone
Promise you i'll hold on to hope
Stay with me, i can't go alone
Stay with me, i can't go alone

Turn back time, the fault's my own

You were all i needed now it's clear
I'd pay any price to have you here
Though the sirens sound my world is falling
Love, you're still the path i'll keep on following"

He glances over at me as he finishes playing. "You took your sweet ass time."

"I didn't know that you could play."

"Taught myself when I was a kid. No one else was going to teach me anything."

"What about your birth parents?"

"Dad was a drunk, mom was a whore who was always high. I was on my own long before the state put me in foster care."

"That's a shitty way to grow up."

"It's not like I've known anything even remotely different."

"That doesn't make it any less sad though."

"Come sit by me instead of standing there all day." He holds his hand out to me. I hesitate before taking it as he gently pulls me onto the couch next to him. He puts a hand on the back of my neck as his lips softly kiss my forehead.