The Puppeteer (BillDip)

Chapter 25

We sat in silence for a while, unsure of how to break the solemn tension that drove us further apart. I could feel his eyes drilling into me, but I refused to meet them. As he desperately tried to figure out my thoughts, my motives, my eyes wandered aimlessly to the endless mystery around us, that closed in with every sharp breath I took. It was only a matter of time before they caught us, only a matter of time before we could finally stop running away from the truth.

"...Grunkle Stan?" his name escaped my lips, hoarse and wavering. "Are you okay?"

"What? Oh... yeah kid, I'm fine, always have, always will be. And even if I'm not, I find a way to make it through, you know that. Why'd you wanna know?"

I could see through the con artist's lies, the smile he had haphazardly plastered on, the spark in his iris that was slowly burning out as he continued to lose hope. After all, there was only so much lying he could get away with, but neither of us thought I'd be his downfall.

"Oh, uh... I guess, because Ford didn't take the news too well, I thought maybe-"

"Never compare me to him, Dipper," he spat through gritted teeth. "We're cool now, and I do love him, yeah, but I still can't handle being... like him. Does that make sense?"

"Yeah," I nodded, patting his knee with my scarred hand. "I mean, I wouldn't want to be compared to Mabel, even though she's my favourite person in the world, so yeah, it's fine."

"Look, I didn't want to bring this up, but I think there's something you should know..." he trailed off, not quite meeting my eye.

"What?" I was too curious, as always. Bill had told me I was too curious for my own good, and, that day, I finally understood what he meant. "What is it?"

"I'm going to be honest with you... Mabel's condition is bad, and it's only getting worse. The doctors think that some freak at the nightclub you we're at spiked her drink, but the drug, it... They don't quite know what it is exactly. Some hip new pill, I don't know, but it wasn't tested properly, and now... Apparently it's a really rare form of retrograde amnesia... As her caregiver, I don't want to prevent her from going out and exploring: it's the only way she seems like her old self. But it wouldn't be safe if she collapsed without anyone to help her. And, because the last time knocked out her memory, Dipper... th-they think..."

I tried to stay strong, for him, but I was shaking, shivering. The water that formed in his eyes only tore me apart, shattered my into fragile shards of glass that cut their feet as they danced, and I couldn't help believing it was my fault. That, if I were normal, we'd all be safe, and happy together. That we'd be a family.

"The doctors think that the next time she falls down, she won't wake up," a single tear splashed onto the dirt below us. "I didn't want to tell you like this, kid. Ford said I shouldn't say anything, but I couldn't lie to you about her. You guys were always a team, you, above all people, should know what's happening. I know you've been going through some rough shit, but please, could you do something for me?"

I gulped as I nodded, unable to comprehend all the information, laid upon me so suddenly. I didn't want to cry - that would only make him feel worse. Still, I couldn't stop my upper lip from wobbling as I finally looked up to meet his blurred eyes. There, I felt like I saw him for the first time since he was bound to the walls as the portal whirred.

"Spend the rest of the week with her, okay? Make her happy, like the old days, when you were those two happy little weirdos. I know she'll appreciate it. But don't tell her about her condition. I don't want her to be sad, she might not have too long left, and she has to live those days to the fullest. Look, all I wanted was for you two to be happy, but I guess it's too late... C'mon, let's go home, yeah?"

I took his outstretched hand, and he pulled me up to his level. I could tell he was deep in thought, like he was debating whether to tell me something. Like there was more to tell, even bigger than what I just heard.

"And, Dipper," it looked like he had finally made up his mind. "I do want the best for you, and... if being with him makes you happy, and you're absolutely sure you want to do this, I won't stand in your way."

"Thanks, Grunkle Stan," I sobbed into his blazer. "I'll never forget you."

"Same here, kid. How could I?"

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Long chapter... that can ONLY mean good things, right? Also, Mabel... will she live or not? Love you guys,
Em xx