Back To Gravity Falls: Beware the Beast (Multiverse Crossover)

The Hand That Feeds

Gideon felt a wave of apprehension as Mabel left him alone in the library. He began to hyperventilate as he rushed out the door behind him to follow her, he caught up to her stride with ease. The mid-afternoon sun was hot and uncomfortable.

"Mabel, what's going on? You think Bill's after me again? I just-- I don't want to consider it. I don't wanna be a pawn again!" Gideon drawled, his fear evident as the hand that grabbed Mabel's shoulder to halt her shook as he removed the hand apologetically.

"Anything weird happen? Anything you remember?" Mabel asked, crossing her arms. She tried to squash the feeling she was wasting her time.

"You'll think it's stupid but--"

"Spit it out."

"I've been sleepwalking."

"Sleepwalking?" Mabel scoffed, "That's the big reveal? Sleepwalking?"

"Every night for weeks I wake up with dirt on my feet, leaves in my sheets with no memory of leaving my cottage, and a few nights ago..." Gideon bit his lip, looking around before lowering his voice. "I found blood spatter on the cuffs of my pajama pants that wasn't mine. The next morning I heard they found a body."

"Come with me. If that's true, we need to keep you under lock and key." Mabel adjusted her backpack securing the straps on her shoulders.

"Don't I get a say in this?" Gideon half-joked, eyes darting for an escape route.

"Nope." Mabel gritted her teeth, sidestepping behind Gideon and wrenching his arm behind his back.

"Ow! What the hell, Mabel?!" Gideon yelled, the few passersby that were out watching with mild interest.

"Didn't trust you then, don't trust you now. New leaf or not, I can't risk others getting hurt because of you-- again." She emphasized with a tug on the arm, earning a squeak of pain from Gideon. "I wish it wasn't such a long walk... Guess I can catch a ride..."

Mabel saw that Wendy's house was in close proximity and figured she'd understand her distrust better than anyone. Once she got to the door, she kicked the door a few times with the toe of her shoe to make sure she did not take her hands off Gideon's arm.

Gideon squirmed uncomfortably, "This really isn't necessary, I won't run."

"Funny thing, but I don't believe you. Now shut up." She had never felt such a strong urge to kick the legs out from under someone before. She wasn't a violent person, but Gideon just brought that out of her.

"Mabel!" Wendy grinned, before noticing Gideon and her face fell to bored interest, "Oh geez, this is a business call, I see."

"Need a ride to the inn, got any rope?" Mabel smiled cheekily, "Don't trust him to not run away."

She held up a finger with an inquiring look of concern, as though she was going to say something, but stopped herself, "Yeah. I'll get my stuff. Give me a sec'."

...

It took about five minutes of Gideon being hogtied in the truckbed, driving to the shack, for Wendy to ask the reason for Gideon's current predicament.

"Well, based on what he said, Bi-- I mean Xolotl-- got his hands on Gideon as a vessel again. He said he's been sleepwalking with no memory of how he spent that time, said he even found blood on him once the night before a body being found was announced." Mabel informed Wendy, who was taking the situation with surprising calmness.

"Ever considered it was his own blood? There weren't any evidence of humans other than victims at the crime scenes." Wendy asked, turning left and Gideon sliding in the truck bed and hitting the side with a thud and a grunt.