Little Dipper

Companionship

"Dudes, that wedding brought me to tears of joy!" Soos said as they took a break for lunch. "Now I know how I'll react at a REAL wedding! Which is actually kind of important."

"How come?" Mabel asked.

"Well..my brother's getting married soon, and I've been invited! Only problem is, he wants me to bring a date. I don't have a date! I don't have a girlfriend!" He pulled out the invitation from his pocket. "Oh man, I don't know what to do about this."

"Well, there's plenty of nice girls your age! And if Grunkle Stan can get a date, surely you can! You're funny, and witty, and make funny animations!" Mabel said cheerfully.

"What is it with you humans and this obsession with finding a mate? Is it some survival instinct or something?" Bill asked as he refilled the pamphlet holder on the copy machine.

"I don't get it, either." Tyrone commented. Dipper nodded.

"It's not an obsession with finding a mate." Mabel said, shaking her head. "Everyone needs a companion, whether it's for love, family, or whatever else. We're a pack-animal species, we don't do well alone."

"Rawr." Wendy playfully swiped at the air with her fingers bent like claws.

"Huh. Explain this pack-animal thing to me. I mean, I have my—HAD my group of friends, probably not anymore after what happened with Kryptos, but my species are, well, elite. We look down on those that aren't...perfect." Bill leaned on the counter.

"Just say you guys were Nazis." Wendy said lightheartedly.

Bill stared at her, then brought his hands up to his eye, using his Sight. After a bit, he lowered them with a grim expression. "...Sounds about right."

"Whoa, seriously? Dude, I was joking." Wendy cringed.

Bill shrugged. "Well, it's pretty similar to how my government was. If it's different, change 'em. If you can't change 'em, kill 'em. If they don't have perfect angles, they aren't worth living." He glanced away bitterly at that last part.

"I am SO sorry I brought this up." Wendy placed her hand on his arm. "Anything I can do to help you feel better?"

"I burned that place to the ground and killed the government leaders." Bill shrugged. "They got what they deserved."

"Sometimes I forget you used to be a criminal." Soos commented.

"Anyways, companionship. It's just wired into our DNA." Mabel shrugged. "So, you need a girl? This weekend, you're getting a girl."

"Need a wingman?" Wendy asked with a grin.

"Bill, Dipper, you wanna come?" Mabel asked.

"Oh, gee, that sounds incredibly fun, Shooting Star, but I have plans." Bill waved his hand in refusal. "Tad's invited us out that day."

"Bill's got a date!" Mabel gasped dramatically.

"...Ew." Bill made a face. "Not Tad, not ever. He's like my old uncle that actually isn't related to me at all."

"Wait, how much older than you is he?" Mabel asked.

"Old enough to be a working adult by the time I was a preteen." Bill shrugged. "I never asked."

"Anyways, have fun on your date!" Mabel grinned.

"Who's got a date?" Stan asked, walking in.

"Bill does. And Soos, if I can help it!" Mabel nodded firmly.

"It's not a date. Tad's asked me to hang out, that's all." Bill shrugged.

"Bill?" Dipper tugged on his coat. "Can we take Shifty with us? He needs to get out."