The Witch in the Woods (Bill Cipher x reader)

Chapter 25

There's no movement or sound for several seconds. You doubt you'd be able to hear anything even if it was due to how loud your heart is beating in your ears. You don't think you're even breathing anymore. This is the reality you feared facing. The reality where everyone realizes you traded your friendships to give a demon his powers back. A reality that some part of you knew was inevitable to face.

Bill steps forward and the clarity of the situation hits you as he opens his mouth. You planned for this exact scenario. Every word, every step, every breath has been thought through to secure your innocence. Yet, suddenly, it doesn't seem like it's enough. You're still certain of its capability of convincing everyone, but now, you don't feel that it will cure the searing flame in your chest. You throw your hand in front of Bill and your eyes meet.

"Some of it is true." The words come out of you like you'd been punched in the gut. You're flying by the seat of your pants at this point, and adrenaline is beginning to course through your veins. It feels like you can breathe again. "But give me the time to explain everything. From beginning to end. Before you condemn me." You speak steadily and surely, and whether or not it helps in convincing Ford doesn't matter because he nods his head for you to continue and you feel your whole body get lighter. This is your chance to open all their eyes.

"A week after Summer had ended, Bill appeared in my garden. He looked human and had burns everywhere which I had guessed was from the memory gun frying him. I didn't know it was him at first, but it wasn't hard to guess because of what he was wearing. I gave him medical aid, cleaned his burns, and gave him some potions to help heal him up. He was…a bit of a jerk at first, but he wanted to make a deal with me so I listened."

"The deal we made was this; For helping him regain his powers, I basically get to order him around and do whatever I ask of him. We also agreed to protect each other in the meantime. We have these glowing blue chains around our wrists that you can't see, but they signal the deal we made and they glow red whenever one of us is in trouble." Which, you notice with stark clarity, they are still glowing red at the moment. "And since then, we've been living together."

"He was really irritating at first and got on my nerves way too often." You throw a look at Bill and he not-so-subtly grins at you. "He kept trying to ruin my potions or bother me or what have you. But over time, we kind of reached an understanding with each other so his company became…much more tolerable. I started teaching him tricks of my trade. Potions, remedies, herbs, basically medical care to the magical creatures of the forest, and so on."

"Over time, we grew closer and…You could say a romantic relationship bloomed as well." A pink hue cascades across your cheeks, but you keep going. "The point I'm trying to make is that Bill has changed since he became human." You take a deep breath and steel yourself. "He's a sweet guy. Mabel can attest to that since she was the first one we told the secret to. He's been kind to me, helped me at home. He took care of me when I got glass in my foot." You sigh, your chest tightening as your speech is coming to a close. "I'm sorry that I stole from you Ford, I really am, but we needed it to give Bill his powers back and I knew you would never give it to me if I told you what it was for. But Bill won't be a danger to any of you. I'd trust him with my life."

You inhale sharply, wondering if what you have said will be enough. Your stomach is twisting, but your heart is fluttering with the hope that everything you have said will keep complete anarchy from exploding upon the Mystery shack; That even after all of this, things can go back to normal, or at least partially.

Yet, as the seconds tick by, you can see unfiltered disappointment shining behind Ford's eyes and there's not a single doubt in your mind as to whom it's directed towards. "Oh, (Y/N)." And there's so much sadness behind those words that your heart aches. You recall a time he had used that exact tone with you when you were but single digits of age and you had tread into the forest alone, but that's a long time passed. "He's just using you."