Heartless, right?

Chapter Twenty One

AN: My stupid ass really thought 500 (give or take) word chapters would cut it. For the sake of everyone's time and sanity word count will increase (time to stop forgetting/procrastinating chapters) and we're gonna say in this universe, school starts in late September. Hopefully this will help the flow of the book because I know y'all aren't gonna wait for chapter 50 for these fruity bastards to get together. Anygays, enjoy the first long chapter 😁

"I talked to Grunkle Stan and he agrees." Mabel says. For the past three days she's been trying to convince Dipper to go back to California for Halloween. It's not that he doesn't want to, he'd love to see his mom and sister. But something is about to happen, he can feel it. "It's Bill, isn't it?" She asks, as if sensing his anxieties.

"A little, I guess." Dipper lies.

"He can't leave Gravity Falls, coming home for a few days would actually be the perfect escape. If only to keep you from jumping off the water tower."

"Hey, I'm not gonna commit suicide over a bit of anxiety."

"Bipper might though." Mabel mumbles. He hasn't heard that name is years.

"Mabel, that's not gonna happen, okay?"

"Whatever, but seriously, has he been messing with you?"

"No, that's what's concerning. Three weeks and all I know is that he's been watching me, but that's it."

"Maybe he's lost interest. Should've gone after the Alpha Twin." Mabel laughs.

"What? No, I'm half a foot taller." It feels good to joke with his sister again.

"But I was taller first, I will always be the Alpha!"

Dipper hears another voice on Mabel's end, "Is that Mom?"

"It sure is." His mother's voice calls out before taking over. "Are you coming home next weekend?"

Saying no to Mabel is one thing, but to his mother, that's another story entirely. Not just because he doesn't want her to think he doesn't want to come home. But to her, it would be for no reason at all. Dipper and Mabel had both agreed that it would be best not to tell anyone in California about Weirdmaggedon or Gravity Falls' general weirdness, other than a believable version of Ford's return.

"I'll try, it honestly depends on how much help Stan needs with the Shack."

"I thought he gave it to Soos."

Mabel speaks up, "Oh, I forgot to tell you. He and Melody are having a baby so he gave it back to Stan. Doesn't want to end up like his father."

"Aw, such a sweetheart. Well, Dipper, tell Stan to suck it up for three days. Maybe pull Ford out of the lab for once."

"As long as it's coming from you."

"Perfect, love you sweetie. And try to text me every now and then."

"Love you too, Mom, and I will. Bye, Mabel."

"See you next week, Bro-Bro!"

Dipper sets his phone down and leans against the window. Three weeks and nothing has happened. Maybe Bill lied about the Phaeloxians coming after Dipper, maybe it was his way of getting out of the deal. Maybe Mabel's right, the demon lost interest. But if that's the case, he could be after someone else. Bill isn't going to just leave without revenge.

"Overthink much?" Bill asks, appearing in the center of Dipper's room.

"Given the situation, I think I'm allowed to overthink as much as I want." Dipper snaps.

"Feisty. Anyways, you'd be happy to know that because of me, fifty Phaeloxians are dead and four small rifts have been sealed, you're welcome."

"Did you seriously come for a 'thank you'? I didn't ask you to do any of that." What is he planning?

"Of course, you didn't. Self-preservation has never been your strong suite. But I, on the other hand, can't stand the thought of those dirty hell demons getting to you first. All because of a stupid prophecy." Bill flops onto Dipper's bed. "But no, I'm not here for your gratitude. Although it would be nice, I did almost die multiple times."

"Cool. So, unless you've decided to reinstate our deal or say goodbye, you can go."

"You do realize that our deal means you and your family die." Bill looks at Dipper with both confusion and concern.

"Not if I convince you to make everyone forget about me." Dipper shrugs.

The chaos god studies him for a moment. "Didn't you just tell your sister you wouldn't commit suicide over a bit of anxiety?"

The question catches the boy off guard. Sacrifice isn't the same thing as suicide, is it? Even if it is, why does Bill care? How Dipper chooses to protect his family is his choice. So he decides that's the logic he'll continue to go by.

"You're the one who wants to kill me. I feel like I should get to choose the circumstances of my death. Besides, it's not like I want to die, but I don't really have a choice."

"Fair enough. Although I'd like to say you are horrible at guessing. I'm here because I can't keep hunting Phaeloxians alone. As you know my powers are limited, you guys are gonna have to start pulling some weight."

"I'm not dragging everyone else into this. If they're after me, I'll be the one to pull the weight."

Bill groans, "Why are you so stubborn? At least get Ford to help, if the asshole hadn't found the prophecy-"

"Someone else would have."

"Nope, you're not protecting him on this. If you don't tell him to do something to help, I will and I won't be nice about it."

"Fine." Dipper relents, but something else is bothering him. "Why go through all this trouble? Warning us about them, freezing the deal, hunting them alone, only demanding help after almost 'dying'? Wouldn't it be easier to just kill me yourself and call it good?"

"I told you; I don't want them to get to you first." Bill shrugs. "I don't understand how you sleep on this thing, it's so lumpy." He adds.

"Then get off. And you didn't answer my question. I know for a fact that under any other circumstances you wouldn't go through all this bullshit."

Bill sits up and locks eyes with Dipper, "I've met a lot of beings. But I have never met anything: human, demon, entity, or monster like you. Something's off about you, and I can't figure out what it is if you're dead."

Dipper frowns, "There's not much to figure out."

"Then why of all living things, specifically human, did the stars bless you, give you the opportunity to destroy the most infamous dimension, and give you the ability to outsmart and defeat me."

"Dumb luck and a lack of self-preservation." How the fuck is he supposed to know?

"If you say so." Bill shrugs and disappears.