Heartless, right?

Chapter Twenty Two

"I know for a fact that under any other circumstances you wouldn't go through all this bullshit."

Bill could almost hear the fighter Dipper used to be. What happened to him to make him become the selfless death seeker? Bill sits on the cabin porch steps and connects to their mindscape. Of course, music drowns out everything.

'I wanted to forgive, I'm trying to forget'

He walks the long halls of memories, each door more neglected than the last. But none stand out to him.

'Don't leave me here again'

Until he reaches a padlocked door, cracked and bloodstained.

'I am with you forever, the end'

The door crumbles beneath the demon's touch.

'Sing something new, I have nothing left'

There he is.

'I can't face the dark without you'

Fighting Mabel's abusive boyfriends.

'There's nothing left to lose'

Screaming at his father.

'The fight never ends'

Staring into fires, imaging his enemies burning.

'I can't face the dark without you'

His worried mother trying to get through to him.

'Holding the hand that holds me down'

Mabel convincing him that he's the only one keeping the family together.

'I forgive you, forget you, the end'

Dipper never changed; he only hid himself to please his family.

●●●●●

Ford watches the anomaly tracker, the triangle disappearing from Dipper's room. The demon couldn't have done much in the five minutes he was there, but Ford still worries that he's corrupting his nephew. The opening door quickly eases those thoughts.

"Dipper, are you alright?"

"Yeah, listen, Bill needs help taking care of stray Phaeloxians. He insisted that at least you help." Dipper states quickly.

Ford doesn't know whether he should be surprised by Dipper's acceptance of the demon's manipulation or his annoyance that Ford was recruited to help.

"Stray Phaeloxians?" He decides it would be best to keep the boy talking.

"I guess? The asshole has been hunting them the entire time." Why is he so upset by this?

"Did he not tell you that before now?"

"He hadn't told me anything in three weeks, not a single word, he's barely been in my head."

Ford looks at him and Dipper catches the man's expression before he can change it.

"I'm just annoyed," Dipper clarifies. "Three weeks of waiting for an attack, or-"

"I understand, Dipper. Bill has a way of making things complicated. What does he expect us to do, though?"

"I have no idea, communication isn't his strong suite."

What else could they have talked about if not Bill's expectations? Does Dipper not remember what that monster is capable of? The mind games he plays?

"I'm sure he'll pop up when he figures it out." His nephew shrugs.

"Possibly. Just remember to take precautions to protect your mind, alright?"

The boy nods, tapping the headphones around his neck. Ford had never considered music as a repellant before.

"Dipper! Help me stock the gift shop!" Stan's voice interrupts.

Of course, just when Ford is about to uncover something, his brother has to butt in. Dipper runs back upstairs to help Stan.

●●●●●

"What were you nerds taking about?" Stan asks, throwing his nephew a bag of keychains to sort through.

"Nothing." Dipper sighs.

It was obviously something considering the way the kid was running down the stairs, but Stan decides not to push. The poor guy is going through enough as it is. He'll talk when he's ready, until then it's time to get him out of his room and away from the lab. Nothing like a stress relieving restock to bring his nephew's spirits up.

"Eh, I probably wouldn't be interested anyway. What I am interested in is when you're gonna get out of the Shack and make friends."

Dipper laughs, there already working. "I have friends."

"Yeah, kids from California and the Northwest girl. Why don't you join a frat or something, I made a ton of friends at frat parties."

"Did you even go to college?"

"Nope, but I still mingled. Get it, 'cause I was single, ready to mingle."

"If you're trying to give me dating advice it's not happening."

Stan smirks, something tells him that sentiment won't last long. "Hey, as long as you don't get someone pregnant, dating is a free for all."

"Okay, okay, I will try to make one new friend."

"Perfect, why don't you start by manning the cash register." Stan grins, adding, "And don't give out discounts."

When Dipper waves his hand in response, the man enters the lab to confront Ford.

"Why didn't you try to talk him out of it?"

Ford looks at him like an idiot. Is this man serious? He can't be if he thinks that Stan's going to just allow that bastard to use Dipper as demon hunter. No one in their right mind would send that kid after any type of monster, especially if it means life and death.

"Stanley, I don't it either," his twin admits, "but what other choice do we have? Cooperating with Bill is the only option until this gun is finished."

Stan looks at the gun on the table. The same gun Ford pointed at Cipher the day he broke into the house. So, the nerd was bluffing, not surprising but not helpful either.

"This gun can completely destroy the soul of the target, and with Bill's soul tied to that body, it will be a guaranteed kill." The scientist continues.

"As guaranteed as trapping him in my mind and erasing him." Stan deadpans. He can't put his trust in some stupid invention if the asshole's just going to find a new way back.

"The only reason he came back was because a powerful entity owed him a favor."

"And how many other ones owe him? Have you really thought this through, Ford? You can't keep endangering the kids like this!"

"No one is in danger; this gun will completely destroy Bill. No resurrection, ever."

"And the other demons."

Ford waves the gun. Yeah, one gun against an entire army. They're screwed, and Stan wasn't even asked to help. He knows Dipper's just trying to protect everyone, but it still hurts that Ford would be the one chosen to keep him safe. The one who doesn't care about anything but his research and glory. Fucking triangle bastard.