Chapter Text
Waking up in the middle of the forest was a new experience. Bill had done a lot of strange things in his life, and in his mind, this situation would be fairly normal. If it weren’t for the context of how and why he fell asleep here.
Cipher propped himself up on his elbows to get a better look around. Everything looked the same as it did before he lost consciousness. He expected something newer and more interesting from an another dimension. If he even managed to change it. His head still ached a little, and the strange artifact—invention( that he had secretly stolen from Dipper Pines) didn't look too good. He wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about these scientific things, but he could tell that it was very, very broken. He wasn’t worried about getting into trouble for breaking something; as usual, he would shift the blame onto others and play the victim, as he always did.
Besides, it seemed that this thing didn’t work at all, since everything around him looked absolutely the same, even the drawings on the ground that he had made. Only now, it was morning instead of evening, as he remembered. But most likely, he had just slept through the entire night here.
Reluctantly, he got up and headed toward the Mystery Shack, hoping that miss Mabel wasn’t too upset about him being late for work.
On the way there, he thought about those words Mr. Pines had said about his travels through dimensions, which was very exciting. Come to think of it, he had acted too impulsively. He noticed the journal and the invention unattended and simply didn’t miss his chance. He hadn’t even thought about what would happen if it actually worked, how many problems it could cause. So, in a way, he was even lucky that nothing happened.
Thoughts about other dimensions gradually gave way to thoughts about how everything had changed recently. Everything changed with Dipper's arrival, and Bill didn’t like it. Now Ford gave his attention to the man, rather than to his muse (Stan had once let it slip that his brother called Bill that, and ever since, Bill had been forever nudging Ford about it). It was jealousy, a need to be adored by him alone.
But that wasn’t the only change. The Shack always had a depressing atmosphere. Miss Mabel had become more distant and sad. The twins seemed to have distanced themselves from everyone, especially from each other. If before, they were always together, now it was rare to find them in the same place. It had been incredibly awkward being in that atmosphere all this time.
The approaching end of summer worsened his mood even more. School was a dreadful thing.
All these reasons led Bill to yet another terribly foolish and poorly thought-out action.
The Mystery Shack looked exactly the same. He cautiously entered and quickly glanced around. It was quiet, no one was rushing about, which was a good sign. Maybe he could just pretend he’d been here since morning, and nothing would happen. With his acting skills, that wouldn’t be a problem.
Bill turned towards his workspace and froze right there in the doorway. A red-haired girl was sitting at his spot, reading some magazine. It was strange, in a bad way. Mabel had threatened to fire him if he kept being late, but he was sure she was bluffing. She was too kind for that. Even if she had fired him, finding a replacement so quickly was nearly impossible!
“I can’t believe she found a replacement for me so fast,” he scoffed and walked over to the counter. The girl didn’t even pay attention, calmly continuing to read.
“Can I help you?” Wendy asked with complete indifference when he made it clear that he was approaching her. To her, he was just another customer.
“Yes, actually, you can. Could you call our dear Mabel,please? I need to have a little chat with her,” he leaned on the counter, forcing a smile.
“Alright?” the girl gave the boy a slightly wary look but did as asked. A loud “Mabel, someone’s here to see you!” echoed through the house.
“She could’ve mentioned who it was,” Bill thought, rolling his eyes.
Maybe if she had, Sixer would’ve come running, hearing who had come to visit, checking if everything was okay. But instead of Ford or the old lady, a young girl in a sweater ran into the room.
“Who’s here to see me, Wendy?? Oh my gosh, did Mermando get legs and come to see me?? Has my soulmate found me?? Or is it the gnomes again? Please, not the gnomes,” Mabel was clearly eager and excited as she looked at her friend expectantly. Wendy just nodded towards the boy standing nearby. Then there was a brief pause. Bill looked at the girl in complete confusion. She looked like Mabel and didn’t at the same time. She seemed to be the same age as the twins, not in her 60s. But that smile, sweater, and silly earrings...
“Um... hi? Do we know each other?” Mabel broke the silence, eyeing the stranger curiously. “Your earrings are cool; I like nachos too,” she said, pointing to Bill’s earrings, which were simple yellow triangles.
“It worked,” Bill whispered to himself. He had landed in another dimension. Not the most epic one, just a few people in different age. But more interesting than nothing! But the excitement didn’t last long; soon, the realization hit that he was in another dimension. The thing that brought him here was broken, which wasn’t good. As usual, he hadn’t thought his idea through. He was in another dimension, without friends or family, without a home or job. Bill just stared at the girl, hoping that the local Dipper could help him with the device.
“Um? Is everything okay?” the girl asked, coming closer to the guest. “My name’s Mabel. What’s your name?” she smiled her signature smile.
“Oh, right. Where are my manners?” He snapped out of his thoughts. He leaned down to be at Mabel’s eye level, then shook her small hand. “Cipher. Bill Cipher,” he said with a smile and slightly tipped his hat.
The moment he said his name, the girl’s expression immediately changed. The kind smile turned to fear in her eyes. In an instant, she pulled her hand back and ran off with a loud “Grunkles!!” leaving Bill utterly perplexed. People had different reactions to him... But like this... It was as if he was some sort of monster whose very name instilled fear.
He straightened up and awkwardly looked around. It was... It was very awkward to get such a reaction, especially when he was about to ask for their help. Bill didn’t have time to think of anything else before an old man burst into the room. Behind him, Bill saw Mabel standing in the doorway, and behind her, another kid who looked too much like her. But now his attention was focused on the old man, who in a second pinned him to the wall, holding him up by the collar.
“Hey! Easy,” Bill almost squeaked. He panicked, grabbing the man’s hand, trying to resist. “Where did this old man get so much strength?” Bill thought, trying to free himself, but without success. The situation was getting worse and worse. It seemed that in this dimension, he wasn’t a very welcome guest.
“I can’t believe you’re stupid enough to come here,” Ford restrained his aggression, but barely. His glare made it clear he was furious, and his words dripped with hatred. One hand held Bill, the other rested on a gun at his waist. “What did you want with Mabel?!”
“Let me go!” Bill panicked. Now he fully understood how bad this idea was. If something happened to him here, or if they did something to him, no one would know about it. Now he was on his own, and no one would help him. This fact terrified him.
Cipher hated this feeling. He hated being afraid. He had done everything to never feel it again, but here he was, in a situation where he was completely helpless and could do nothing to his abuser, as if he were back in elementary school.
Ford watched carefully, observing every movement. All his instincts told him that this was his enemy, a monster. But logic told him something was off. This was just a scared teenager.
For a moment, doubt flickered across his face. A slight reflection of “what if this isn’t Bill?” but it was replaced by a more aggressive look. He knew Bill and knew that he was a master of manipulation, and this could easily be just another way to trick him.
“Grunkle Ford! Let him go,” Mabel cautiously approached and tugged at Ford’s coat. Maybe this really was their family’s arch-enemy, but he was scared, and she could see it. Besides, if he wanted to hurt her or anyone else, he wouldn’t have told them who he was.
“Mabel, what are you doing?” Dipper hurried after her, finding the situation too dangerous to leave her alone, especially so close to Bill. Ever since Mabel had come running with the news that Bill was back, he was in the panic.
Ford cast a confused look at the girl, then at Bill, who hadn’t stopped trying to break free.
“I think it’s not him. And even if it is, he can’t do anything while in that body, and you’re here,” Mabel looked at him pleadingly, while Dipper looked at her and Ford in confusion, trying to decide whose side to take.
"I think she's right. He... doesn't really look dangerous," Wendy said, finally looking up from her magazine. She wasn’t surprised by the situation; after all, this was just another typical day in Gravity Falls.
"Just no funny business," Ford said with a heavy sigh, releasing the teenager onto the ground. Mabel was right. He wouldn’t do anything as long as he was being watched.