Description
Here's Another illustration representing the recent chapters for the Fic, Bonded from LittleAmberamethyst. In this particular scene, Dipper being stubborn assumes that Bill's playing his family for saps, mostly driven by grudges and jealousy for Bill had become close to both his sister Mabel and mostly Grunkle Ford. After putting Bill to sleep he uses the machine that can read thoughts hoping to find evidence. To his surprise, he sees everything Bill goes through which proves, that he isn't the same dream demon from last summer.
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The machine scanned Bill's thoughts.
"Stanford Pines," Dipper said. "What do you think about Stanford Pines?"
The machine beeped and the main screen showed an image of Bill and Ford's first meeting. Dipper cringed at rewatching how easily Bill tricked his brilliant uncle. They shook hands and Ford asked Bill to call him a friend.
It took all of Dipper's strength not to throw the nearest object at the screen. The desire to know more steadied his hand.
The scene switched to Bill's first moment in human form. Dipper watched as Ford pulled him out of the fearamid before it crumbled. Dipper wondered why Ford didn't just leave him in there to die like Bill wanted.
The next memory was one Dipper had never heard about. Bill ran into a forest, but it didn't look like any from the present town. Bill appeared to be crying. He leaned against the tree while tears fell down his face. Slowly Bill slid down against the tree trunk and sobbed. Had Dipper not known it was Bill he would have felt pity for the man. Ford walked over and tried to comfort him. Bill was hesitant at first and then verbally lashed out at Ford. In response the author pulled Bill in his arms and let him cry it out on his shoulder.
Every emotion looked real. Dipper wondered just how good Bill's acting talents were. Ford dried Bill's tears and helped him up. Nothing in those gold eyes looked deceptive, but Dipper still wasn't convinced.
The next memory showed Bill running through another forest. Urgency was apparent in his eyes. The scrolling text displayed a need to save Ford from death. Dipper was astonished at that point as he figured Ford's dying would break the bond. Bill stopped and pondered that exact same thing. His former grin covered his mouth as he decided he would let Ford die as revenge for trapping him.
"I knew it," Dipper muttered. He sneered at the sleeping demon. "Once a liar always a liar."
His eyes moved back to the screen. The text showed Bill's inner battle on whether or not to save Ford. In the end he chose to rescue him and ran himself to exhaustion to reach someone who could rush Ford to safety. Dipper felt a hint of anger that Ford had never spoke of that incident with him. Even more he was certain Bill had an ulterior motive for saving Ford's life. He'd keep watching until he had his needed proof.
Another image flashed on screen. Bill and Ford had just exchanged some heated words. Ford let it known that he was not sorry for capturing Bill and stealing his powers if it meant saving his family.
Dipper smiled.
The next moment forced the smile from his face. Ford and Bill shared their first kiss. Dipper shut his eyes wishing he could rid his mind of that disgusting picture. Luckily for him the machine picked a different moment.
The next clip was of Bill holding a dagger above Ford's chest. The smile on his face proved Dipper's point.
"I've got you know, you fake," Dipper spat.
Bill's smile left as he looked over Ford's sleeping face. He trembled while holding the blade. Ford woke up at the wrong time and assumed the worst. Bill was kicked out of the house. The memory switched to inside Bill's Mindscape. Dipper watched the demons who once followed Cipher abuse and torture him mentally and physically. The text scrolling across the images displayed Bill's apologies and regrets for what he considered doing to the man he loved.
"Love?" Dipper asked. He tapped the machine. "It's another trick," he said quietly. "He must know he's being watched."
He then viewed the memory of Bill in the Mindscape apologizing to the illusion pretending to be Ford. He spoke his sorrow on ever considering taking the other demon's offer. He cried how he couldn't do it and sought Ford's forgiveness. The false Ford abused Bill while the real one watched from behind.
Dipper glanced away from the screen to see Bill's sleeping face beneath the helmet. For a moment the demon looked pained. Even after all Bill had done to him and his family it was nearly unbearable to watch him suffer. Dipper looked back up and winced at the sight of another human being being pummeled by a deranged version of his grunkle. The boy had to remind himself that the person hurting Bill was not his uncle, but a mere illusion created by one of those demons.
Again the scene switched. Dipper watched the new leader of the demons appear on screen. Kryptos verbally tormented Bill with the reminder that he had no friends. He was hated by both sides. How Stanford Pines was now happy that he was no longer a part of his life. Ford argued against everything Kryptos threw in Bill's face. Ford's eyes showed that he sincerely meant every word.
Dipper's heart burned at that. How could Bill's own friend tell him that? Even if Bill was the enemy it was hard to watch. Having a clear view of Bill's face on the screen made it even more unbearable. It reminded him too much of how the bullies back in his hometown taunted him on a regular basis. The bullying was more often verbal than physical, but hurt just as much.
He had seen enough.