Never Letting Go of the Stars

Blood red coat tails trail in his wake, silent as they flap in the night's cool, sea breeze. Soundlessly he prowled his ship, silently berating himself for his actions.

It hadn't occurred to him that the celebration he threw in Dipper's honor would have such repercussions. It might not have, had he kept his distance. if he hadn't flirted and danced with the pink haired pyromaniac in an effort to make the object of his affections jealous. And he'd been too caught up in it, that he didn't realize it was the dumbest thing he'd ever done and succeeded in doing. He made Dipper jealous alright, but it drove him away, and Bill didn't notice the other's confidence wane and crumble at the sight.

Not until he saw the man's retreating form, all decked in blue. He failed to notice how the stars, so like his Pine Tree, were dulled that night, their light drowned out and understated until he saw him walk away from the noise, the lights, the lanterns bright and the members of his crew loud and boisterous. No one else noticed the kid leave, but Bill did. Bill saw everything, knew everything ... except when it came to Dipper Pines.

He'd wanted this to turn out so differently...

He wanted Dipper to feel like he was one of the crew, to help him forget his homesickness, which he begrudgingly knew was his own fault. Bill wanted to show his Pine Tree the splendor of life at sea. He seemed to enjoy it for the first couple of moons. Until now. Now that Bill admitted to himself that this was more selfish than anything he'd done previously to catch the other on his toes, to lower his guard and reach the forefront of his mind. He was always thinking of the brunnette, it was why he sought him out, why his stares lingered longer than they should. It was why he invited him on his ship, though it was also to spite Stanford. He didn't understand why everything he knew failed him when he wanted to chase after the man with the constellation at his brow, why the other never seemed to notice the efforts he took for just a glance in his direction.

The silver moon painted his coat a fine and vibrant wine red as he stalked behind the unsuspecting mortal before turning the very same brunette to face him, doe eyes blown wide with shock, greeting his own ocean blue ones. At the man's expression he feels his mouth upturning in wicked amusement, daggers for teeth shining clear and brilliant in the moon's pale light. And it's just the two of them, monster and man, the mask slowly dropping to reveal the former's disguise of humanity. Bill allows his arms to wrap around the other's waist as he draws him closer and flush against himself. Dipper flushed scarlet, not entirely because of the alcohol that was flooding through his system, though he'd claim otherwise. He knew Bill had no sense of personal space (around him at least, he noticed how Bill respected all the other members of the crew), but this was where he drew the line! Especially as he saw how he danced with the lively engineer. "Bill! What are you-?" He didn't finish his question, he couldn't when he was looking in those murky blue pools again. The bastard probably knew it too!

"Why did you leave? Was it Pyronica?" Bill asked, a hand moving to cup his cheek. Dipper wanted to shout from the masts that yes , yes it was because of Pyronica, but when he opened his mouth, the words failed him. "I... No. No, it wasn't because of Pyronica.", and he realized it was the truth.

Bill seemed to brighten at this for a brief moment, before furrowing his brows in puzzlement. If it wasn't because he danced with someone else, then what was it? Dipper beat him to the punch, however, he just couldn't hear him ask that question.

"Pyronica might have been the last thing I couldn't take... but she's not the reason I left. I left because of you ." Bill flinched and loosened his grip. Him? Dipper felt dizzy now, and his head didn't feel like it could take this anymore. He couldn't take it. Did Bill fail to understand how tiring it was to dance around him while he paraded about like a peacock and teased and- and... He was too perfect damn it! Dipper couldn't look away and had far less sense within himself to pull away now. It was slowly, but surely killing him.