My Name Is Bill Cipher One Shots

December 2015: Yule

December 2015
Yule's POV:

"Welcome home, love!" I hear my mom call from the kitchen as I pull the door shut behind me. I stamp my snow-covered boots on the doormat and shake out my snow-dusted hair. I can still hear the blizzard raging outside. Christmas break has just begun. This snowstorm came out of nowhere near the end of the school day, and it took twice as long for the bus to get to my stop today after school.
My mother pops her head out of the kitchen. "Wow, that's quite the storm out there." Her eyes widen as she gazed out the window. "I was getting worried."
I flash her a smile. "I'm fine, Mom."
She melts just as quickly as the snow on my boots does. "I can't believe my beautiful son is about to turn fifteen!" she gushes proudly.
I blush in response and look away. "Mom."
"It seems like only yesterday that we were fawning over you in the hospital when you were born," she sighs, a forlorn smile on her face. "Your father was so happy we had another son that he was in tears, Yule. And Tyler's face when he met you! Oh, it was the most precious thing-"
"Mom, I know, you tell us all the time," I respond with a smile. She really does tell this story all the time. It's endearing, and I never want her to feel like I don't want to hear it again, but sometimes it goes on for awhile, and I... Honestly, I get a bit nervous when she mentions my dad. I love hearing about him, and I do remember him and everything, but his passing ripped her apart. I remember some of that, but Tyler remembers it so much more vividly. He's told me how terrifying it was seeing her in pieces like that, the only things holding her to reality being the two of us. We never want her to get like that again, in fear that she might not recover from the heartbreak another time.
Mom laughs gently. "I'm sorry. I get a bit carried away with that one." She looks toward the door. "Where's your brother? He was on the bus with you, wasn't he?"
"Uh, yeah, he just went to put all the stuff outside in the garage so it doesn't get lost in the snow," I reply. However, Tyler has been acting reclusive today. Well, more reclusive that usual, that is. When he spoke to me just minutes ago, he was mumbling, not even making eye contact with me, burying himself in his scarf more. I wonder if he's sick?
The door opens and shuts behind me, bringing a gust of wind and snow inside. Tyler hurriedly rids himself of his winter wear.
"Hello, honey. How was your day?" Mom asks him.
Tyler yanks his scarf off and mumbles, "Fine," in a clipped voice. He walks quickly to his room and shuts the door firmly behind him.
"Someone's in a mood," I huff with a smirk, though I can't help but feel a bit worried. Tyler may keep to himself often, but he's almost never grouchy.
"I should check on him," Mom says, concern in her voice.
"No, I'll do it," I reply. "You finish with dinner." As far as sibling relationships go, my brother and I have a pretty good one. He's more likely to share whatever's bothering him with me than with Mom.
"Thanks, Yule," Mom says gratefully, blowing me a kiss and returning to the kitchen.
I go to Tyler's door and knock cautiously. I'm not exactly sure how to deal with an angry Tyler. I hope he isn't mad at me. Will he even let me in? "Ty? It me. Can I come in?"
"Yeah." His voice is muffled through the door, but his response of clear.
I walk in and shut the door behind me. I turn to my brother and gasp when I see his face.
It's bruised. His whole cheek, his upper jaw, it's turning colors of blue and purple. He looks away when he catches me staring.
"Tyles," I choke out. "What happened? Did you- did you get in a fight?"
"No," he replies in a low voice. "Not a fight." I can tell he not going to continue, so I press him.
"So? Did you run into something? Did- I don't know, Tyler, help me out here!" I exclaim, throwing out my hands in annoyance and concern.
"It was Rainy, okay?" he snaps, shooting up from his seat on the bed. "Can we let it go now?" He's distraught, he angry, he's... he's sad.
"Rainy?" I ask softly. "Tyler, has- has this happened before?"
He purses his lips, then nods reluctantly.
Pain fills me from head to toe. "No. How could she- she- how long, Tyler?"
"The past month," Tyler murmurs with a forced shrug.
"Month? You've only been with her for a little more than a month!" I'm angry with her, I'm disappointed in myself for not noticing sooner, and I'm feeling betrayed because Tyler never told me that she'd been abusing him! "How could you not tell me? Was she always like this? I thought you liked her! Why haven't you left her if she's been mistreating you like this?"
"Shut up, Yule!" Tyler cries out, his fists shaking. His voice quiets. "I thought I liked her, and then she turned out to be a horrible person, but I've just been so lonely." His voice cracks with emotion.
"Oh, Tyler..."
"And I can't leave her now. I mean, Christmas is coming, and Mom adores Rainy and-"
"Tyler," I say, interrupting him. "Mom only likes her because she thought you did! Yeah, of course she's excited that you were able to make such a close friend, a girlfriend, no less, but if she knew how Rainy's been treating you, she would want you to break off the relationship, no matter what."
"This is stupid," Tyler growls, but his voice quivers. "No guy is the one getting hurt by his girlfriend. It's ridiculous. I'm pathetic."
"You are not!" I counter him firmly. "Absolutely not." I point my finger at him accusingly. "It's sexist toward guys to think that way! We are not sexist in this house- not on my watch!"
Tyler laughs. Mission accomplished. "You're a good brother, Yule, you know that?"
I smirk. "Of course. I'm one of the best. You just got lucky."
His eyes narrow with a smile. "Don't get too big of a head, now."
"So will you call it off with her?" I ask him seriously, narrowing my eyes.
Tyler shifts uncomfortably. "I don't know, Tide. I don't have many friends at the moment, and I feel like I've actually done something right with Rainy, you know?"
"Tyler, it's not like you've been doing anything wrong," I insist. "Plus, I'm your friend, too, right?"
"That doesn't count. You're my brother," he says, but I can see he doesn't really mean it due to the pain in his gaze easing. He looks at me. "But if it will make you feel better..."
I wiggle my eyebrows at him. "I can find you a new girlfriend," I singsong.
Tyler guffaws. "Are you kidding? You can't even find yourself a girlfriend!"
"Hey!" I shout with mock offense. "Someday, brother, you'll see! I'll have the prettiest girl on the planet! Just you wait!"
"Okay, okay!" Tyler laughs. Then his smile slides into a frown as he flops back onto the bed. "I thought moving back here would make everything better, you know? But... it didn't. I'm still as worse off as I was before. This place still feels lonely and it brings back bad memories."
"I know... I'd been having a hard time for awhile, too. But now I've made a friend," I add, trying to give Tyler hope. There can be a place for us here. "I still can't quite get my mind around the guy, though," I remark. Bill really is something else, and yes, there is something off about the guy. "Maybe I can get him to come over sometime."
Tyler snickers. "You're the odd one."
I smile, glad he's acting more like his normal self. "So, you good?"
He smiles back. "I guess I will be."
"Good." And I hope he truly means it.