Chapter Text
Bill straightens Dipper’s bowtie, frowning in concentration.
“Are you done already?” asks Dipper, shutting his eyes briefly. He tries to push Bill’s arms away and, as usual, fails to overpower this demonic asshole. “This is obsessive”
“Don’t care. You are not,” Bill says, sounding more firm than anything else - he’s done with the tie, he tugs at Dipper’s sleeves, shuffles the jacket around - adjusts Dipper’s belt, he flinches at the touch - “Going to embarrass me.”
Bill’s already manhandled Dipper more than a bit, and he’s still doing it. He had to tackle him to get him in the suit in the first place. Among other things. Another set of normal clothes, ruined, ripped apart by this demon.
This is the least intolerable part of the preparations so far, setting everything into place according to Bill’s standards - but it’s still annoying.
Dipper leans his head back, and sighs. “How bad can it-”
Bill interrupts, slapping him painlessly on the cheek. “Quiet. Put up with this.” And the look on his face is so serious - there’s none of Bill’s usual humor, no anger, no mockery -
Dipper shuts up.
“We’re about to walk into something, and try something, pretty much no other mortal is equipped to handle,” Bill continues, looking a little pleased with his human’s sudden compliance, “So you better follow my orders.”
Dipper narrows his eyes, he’s not some kind of servant-
“Not talking about treating you like a servant,” Bill continues, sounding tired, rolling his eye. The demon might not be able to read Dipper’s mind - but they know each other well, he guessed that thought. Bill’s hands fiddle with Dipper’s clothing a little more, frowning. “Wouldn’t come off the way I want it, anyway. But I’m the guy who know’s what’s up with everyone, and the entire point of all of this is showing you don’t need to be coddled. I give you a hint? Take it.”
That makes enough sense that Dipper - even though this is annoying, and… a little terrifying - can’t argue with it. He nods.
“How will I know-”
Bill just gives him a look, hands resting on Dipper’s sides.
“Right,” Dipper says, weakly. He takes a deep breath. “Got it.”
He’s going to have to take very, very subtle cues to know what to do. Bill can’t be heard giving him direct instructions, Dipper’s supposed to hold his own. That’s the whole point. Showing off Dipper’s abilities, showing that he’s one hell of a mortal.
Because they’re going to a party. In the Mindscape.
Technically? They’re actually crashing the party. Bill caught wind of it, and he wasn’t invited, but he doesn’t seem to be worried about that in the slightest.
This is going to be the grand reentrance of Bill Cipher, in front of a ton of demons, after being gone so long. With the human he ‘owns’.
They both look like humans, but Bill’s got no limits in his own realm, and can make it known who he actually is. He even seems to be looking forward to it. He must have a plan, something dramatic, that’ll make him look good. Bill’s going to be fine.
But Dipper actually is human, he’s going to get into trouble. He’s going to have to fight. Bill made it clear that that was inevitable, and - okay, kicking some demon butt if he has to is actually really appealing - thankfully, he’s got Bill’s power behind him. He’s going to need it.
Dipper’s also starting to get a little nervous about pulling off this performance.
He has to make an impact, or Bill’s going to be less than thrilled, and since they’re married, and stuck together for life - This is going to set the whole stage for the rest of the time they’re involved, as far as Bill’s concerned. If Dipper doesn’t manage to make a show of himself… he’s going to have a demon who just sulks all the time, furious with him, because this first impression is literally going to last for eternity.
“Decent enough,” Bill says, grudgingly, after adjusting and readjusting Dipper’s suit for the thousandth time. “Let’s get going.”
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Dipper fidgets a little. It’s the first time he’s going into the Mindscape to be around demons besides his own, and it’s… unnerving. “I… what if I need more time?”
Bill looks him over. His face is still calm, and serious.
It makes Dipper more worried. It’s so rare to see Bill not smiling. The demon’s more than a little concerned about this, and Dipper’s pretty sure most of that is because Bill’s wondering if his human is going to fuck this up.
If Dipper fucks this up, the rest of his life might as well be spent in hell, because Bill never, ever forgives things, and he’s a tormentor extraordinaire.
“It’s the best I’m gonna be able to manage with you. And I can’t put this off much longer,” says Bill, after a second. He looks Dipper over, critically. “Now just…” He trails off… then his eternal smile comes back. “Anyone fucks with you,” Bill’s fingers trace down Dipper’s neck, he looks smug - “Burn them to ashes. You’ve got enough power!”
Dipper swallows - he’s still worried, but he does have power, and fire - “I will.” He’ll have to. Thank hell that anything Dipper attacks during this is, genuinely, evil. If it weren’t for that, he’d have never agreed to be Bill’s unexpected plus-one to this party. It makes things easier. Really… Bill’s giving Dipper a challenge, but in some ways, it’s safe.
If something goes haywire, Dipper’ll have the demon for backup. The real problem isn’t fighting someone, or worrying about dying - Bill won’t let that happen, he’s too fond of his human to see him dead - but…
Bill Cipher has never had a mortal before. Apparently, other demons do - there’s like, a club or something. It’s a kind of hobby, for some of them. The mortals are pets. Their minds and wills broken. Physically gorgeous, but empty inside, like statuary.
And - well, Bill never got into that activity, according to the demon it’s stupid. Feeling that way about that ‘hobby’ makes sense, with what Dipper knows. His demon wouldn’t want something without a mind.
But he has a mortal.
Bill Cipher is arrogant, and self-important, and he’s contracted together with a human.
Apparently very few demons ever get into this kind of relationship. Dipper’s mostly surprised it’s ever happened - but It’s something Bill can’t avoid telling the truth about. If he does, and that gets found out - it’ll look like he’s ashamed, like getting hooked up with Dipper is the accident it is.
So they’re doing this instead. Admitting it.
Very publicly, at least to other demons. And Bill has lectured Dipper over, and over, and over again about things he should and shouldn’t do.
For this to go right. Dipper has to find some weird, careful balance between kicking some ass, to look like someone that nobody could capture. As well as looking affectionate, devoted to Bill. And be clever, and witty, and attractive - Bill likes Dipper’s mind but… Dipper doesn’t even know what other demons find attractive, what if he does something wrong.
All of that. And probably more. He’s lost track of all the things Bill wants him to do. He guesses he’ll have to wing it.
Bill’s not going to be pleased if his mortal companion doesn’t show himself to be better than every other one. That’s ever existed. Dipper’s not sure he can do it. But Bill dragged him into this anyway, and - Dipper will just have to remember that, because if his demon didn’t think he could be better than every other contracted human? Bill wouldn’t try this tactic.
…It’s the most indirect compliment ever… but it still is one. Dipper almost wants to smile.
Bill likes him.
And there is a faint, vague, almost invisible chance that there’s another thing.
Dipper’s been looking for signs, and over the time they’ve known each other - he’s built up a suspicion. Evidence is there. It’s possible, just maybe, that Bill has been so messed up by their awful relationship - just like Dipper’s been messed up - He shouldn’t be with Bill like this, but he wants it, he had an out, once, but chose to get rid of it, kept his demon…
In any case, there’s a chance Bill might feel something no demon should ever, ever feel.
One day, Dipper’s going to tell Bill he knows he likes him. Bill will be furious that Dipper’s figured it out. He can’t even deny it, Dipper’s got proof. Totally winnable argument. But he’s got to save this one. He only gets one shot to use it. Maybe, if Bill’s being a complete jerk at the time…
Dipper will even use that thing, that Bill might have, just as backup ammunition. Because for a demon? That accusation would be nothing short of horrible slander.
Bill will be so upset by that. It’ll be great.
“So! Mindscape,” Bill says suddenly, grinning. He crooks an arm, and plucks Dipper’s hand up, resting it on the inside of his elbow. Dipper reluctantly holds on. “Or we’ll miss the chance. Things go a lot faster up in my place.”
Dipper takes a breath - the greyscale of the Mindscape floods into the world. Bill makes a soft, pleased sound.
“We’ll knock ‘em dead, kid.” He says, and his smile is sharper than normal, the slightest bit more tense. He darts a glance at Dipper. “And I’m literal about that. Find a chance to kill someone.”
“That’s… not really encouraging,” says Dipper, clamping his hand around Bill’s elbow harder.
“Not meant to be,” Bill says, and pats his hand. “Don’t mess up.” He starts walking.
They stride off into the stranger regions of the Mindscape, places Dipper was told never go even think about going to - Until now.
Dipper tries to make himself look confident and relaxed as they walk. The Mindscape’s full of ideas - random inventions, strange images, floating clocks and heads, weird, imaginary monsters that run past them. The colors around them shift, there’s so much weird crap floating around, but Dipper pays no attention to it. His mind is racing.
He’s got no idea what to expect from this party crashing. Bill was as cryptic about what might happen as he always is - hell, maybe he couldn’t go into detail. Demons are really, really weird.
Dipper has to show up in front of a bunch of the most bizarre, malevolent beings in the universe, hanging off the arm of one of them, and pull off looking really good.
If only he knew how to do that.