Bill hummed as he thought about how to make the best move possible in this game they called, what was it, dungeons, dungeons, and more dungeons. Playing against Ford was like a trap full of tricks and tangles.
Ford sat, waiting for Bill to decide. Though if he was truthfully honest, he found it amusing that the demon was trying so hard to understand the game.
"Gah! Why is this game so troubling?!" Bill finally complained.
Ford chuckled. "Finally give up?" He held his hands together under his head.
"Nope! I'm not gonna let you beat me again, Stanford." He narrowed his eye only for it to widen to the sound of the shack's main door opening.
"Oh hey, the mystery twins are back." Wendy said from her spot leaning against the cashier counter.
Mabel laughed as she ran into the shack, her long brown hair tied into a ponytail as she held her grappling hook in hand. Her eyes sparkling more than all the glitter she had stashed under her bed. A large smile on her face.
"Adventure!!" She raised her fists into the air in excitement as Wendy pulled a leaf from her ponytail while snickering.
Bill walked away from Stanford, secretly happy to have an excuse from the game and not feel like he lost. He approached Mabel.
"Had fun, Shooting Star?" He didn't even have to ask.
"You know it!" She high fived Bill. "It was a blast!! Right Dipper?" She turned to her brother.
The male twin had just reached the doorway to hear Bill talk to his sister. He had his jacket sleeves folded up, and one of Ford's journals in hand. Dipper chuckled softly, dusting off his hat before putting it back on.
"It was more than a blast." Dipper smiled warmly at his sister.
"Woah! Did you two go rolling in a dirt patch or something?" Wendy noticed the dirt all over the Pines twins' shoes and legs.
"No, just ran into a little monster trouble." Dipper brushed some of it off his knees before Mabel rested an elbow on her brother's shoulder.
"Nothing we couldn't handle." She said proudly before shoving Dipper as he tried to brush the dirt off her bare knees. "Hey!"
He laughed a little, making sure he didn't stumble into the wall. "Well you weren't probably gonna do it."
"Eh true." She waved her hand off his direction before running off. "Waddles!!"
Wendy fist bumped Dipper before leaving for the afternoon. He watched as she left then turned back into the room to find Bill at his side.
"Oh, hey Bill." Dipper said calmly, kissing his cheek lightly before walking to the stairs.
Bill was shocked. Normally Dipper was eager to blabber on about the adventure to him or even jump startled by the sudden appearance of the demon now beside him. Something wasn't right and Bill felt like it was his job to find out.
"So are we gonna continue our game, Bill?" Ford asked him like nothing just happened.
"Hit pause, Pines. I have more important matters." He hurried over to the stairs after Dipper.
Dipper opened the door to his room, throwing his hat onto his bed. He stretched his arms before opening an eye a tiny bit then closed it as he let his arms back down.
"I know you're there, Bill." He heard the blonde groan as he walked into the room from the hall.
"Aw man. What gave me away this time?" Bill asked.
"Nothing. I just knew.." He took off his shoes and socks, leaving them near his bed.
Bill floated off his feet, crossing his arms behind his head as he leaned back against the air. "So how was the adventure, Pinetree?"
"Interesting as always." Dipper placed the journal next to his nightstand.
"Interesting like always...." Bill whispered as he narrowed his eye suspiciously on Dipper.
The brunette turned to see Bill floating upside down in front of him. He jerked a little before exhaling, crossing his arms. He raised an eyebrow.
"What?" Bill was relieved that at least Pinetree wasn't in some surpriseless state.
"Need something?" Dipper replied unamused.
"No." He turned back over, sitting on the bed.
"Ok then.." Dipper picked up his hat from beside Bill, hanging it on the hook he had put in the wall above his bed before leaving the room.
Bill looked around the room. His gaze ended up on Dipper's hat. The blue and white hat hanging on the hook, waiting until Dipper needed it again. Then it sparked in Bill's brain. His hat.
A bit of blood had stained it. Red blood, blood that looked too fresh to be from an adventure a few years ago. Bill carefully picked it up. He ran his thumb over the blood stain before sniffing it softly. His eye widened as the yellow soul inside shrank.
Dipper walked back into the room tiredly, running a hand through his hair. He then noticed Bill, becoming a little confused.
"Um Bill, why are you sniffing my hat?" He asked the dream demon.
Bill quietly placed the hat back on the hook before turning halfway to face Dipper. "Who hurt you?"
Bill's cold voice sent shivers down his spine. "What do you mean? No one hurt me."
"Lies!" Bill got to his feet, approaching Dipper.
"What?! No, Bill, really. No one hurt me." He raised his hands up to keep space between them as Bill looked at him seriously.
Bill looked like he was about to snap but took a deep breath, closing his eye. He took hold of Dipper's hands, feeling his rage die. He opened his eye, a small amount of concern and care mixed in it.
"Are you sure no one hurt you? You just didn't seem ok when you got here." He asked gently.
"Yeah, I just got a scratch from my arm from the monster we had to take down in the forest, see?" Dipper turned his arm to show a scratch across it. "Also I'm just tired. Mabel's not the easiest person to keep up with sometimes, you know?"
Bill breathed out relieved, placing a kiss on Dipper's forehead. "Well.. ok."
Dipper smiled a little as their eyes met. They slowly leaned closer to each other. Their lips almost meeting before Mabel came running in, snatching Bill's hat.
"Ha!" Mabel blew a raspberry at Bill before running out of the room.
"Hey! Shooting Star!" Bill started after her before looking back at Dipper.
Dipper crossed his arms amused. Bill quickly kissed him before chasing after Mabel. The pines twin chuckled softly, taking care of his scratched arm.
He cleaned it then bandaged it. Maybe wincing a few times but he did it without a problem. Dipper sat on his bed, taking his jacket off.
Bill soon returned with his hat. "Your sister is crazy-..." He stopped, smiling.
Dipper had fallen asleep, laying against his bed with his jacket in his arms. Bill walked over to the sleeping boy. Carefully he took Dipper's jacket from his arms, and layed a blanket over him.
Bill placed a kiss on Dipper's head before walking off, placing his jacket on the nightstand. Dipper nuzzled the blanket in his sleep.
"Sweet dreams, adventurer.." Bill smiled warmly at him before turning off the lights and leaving to let him rest.
