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Stanford and Stanley Pines were only twins by birth standards. Every other aspect of their lives was opposite, like two sides of the same coin. Stanley was tall, wild, and full of personality. At least that’s what his mother always said. Stanford was heads, curious about anything he could ask questions about. Which was everything. He was exceptionally intelligent which made him stand out among his peers. That and his six fingers. Oh, and the strange six sided star right below his left wrist. It is slightly darker than the rest of his skin and only about two inches wide. The star’s edges were jagged and disproportionate to each other. It was as strange as it was intriguing.
As a child, Stanford would peek out the window in the room he shared with his brother and look up at the sky. New Jersey wasn’t ideal for stargazing but he could still see shiny dots winking down at him. As if they knew he was there and greeted him. It made Stanford feel like someone was watching from the other side of the universe. In a small way, he felt less alone in the world.
As he became an adult it felt childish to call it a star, instead referring to it as a hexagram: a star-shaped figure formed by two intersecting equilateral triangles. He once made the mistake of using the Latin term sexagram in front of Stanley, he never used that word again after his wisecracking twin teased him about it for a week.
As Ford’s education expanded he had a hobby of researching astronomy and star signs. His six fingers and odd birthmark only added to his interest in the supernatural and strange anomalies. Leading him to continue his studies in the strange and quiet town of Gravity Falls.
~~~~~
Two Dimensions To and Fro
You Always Know Which Way To Go
If You’re Lost Don’t Be Afraid
In Euclydia You’ve Got It Made
Run Too Far To Right Of Frame
You’ll Appear On Left Again
Jump Too High Don’t Cry Or Fret
You’ll Pop Up From The Ground I Bet
In This Place There Is No Fear
Loved Ones Will Always Be Near
Roles and Rules Always Clear
Euclydia We Hold You Dear
Bill was born into a world that didn’t understand him. Quite frankly he didn’t understand his world either. Flat people with flatter dreams. They settled for the plain and simple. Shapes are born with a mark to tell them exactly who they belong with. Rules to tell them exactly how they should act. All the roles are given out and expected to be fulfilled. When his parents gazed upon their son for the first time they were filled with a mix of joy and confusion. Their son had a single eye right in the middle of his body and below his right wrist was a strange pointy shape.
Later in life, Bill would try to explain the shape to his parents and others. It was a star, not only that but the sky above was full of them! Someday they would see and finally understand what he was trying to tell them. Surely his soulmate, wherever they might be, gazes up at the sky and sees what he sees.
Even though his world lacked depth, Bill didn’t. He told himself once he found his soulmate and showed his people what they can’t see then his life would be complete. He could finally feel understood.
———————
Sometimes when I CLOSE my eyE I caN STilL sEe ThROUgH THe EyES OF EVeRYONE I’VE EVER KILLED
———————
Bill knew he was the one. Finally a human stupid enough to manipulate but smart enough to build his portal! He floats in front of Ford giddy and holds out his hand with a blue flame shimmering outwards.
Ford stares at his muse awestruck and excited, “Then it’s a deal, from now until the end of time.”
“Just let me into your mind Stanford!”
“Please, call me,” Ford says, taking his hand and the blue flame engulfes them, “a friend.”
The deal was sealed and just as Bill was ready to pop himself into Ford’s little nerdy head he felt a shock run up his arm. It went into his core and his whole being froze in shock. Ford felt it too, he blinks and pulls his hand back in surprise. He looks at his hand and still feels his nerves tingling from the sensation, “My muse?”
Bill knows his devotee is speaking but he doesn’t register the words. It feels like something deep inside of him woke up from a trillion year slumber. Two slots clicked into place. A candle becomes a blaze. The very moment you jump into water and realize you have descended much deeper than you intended to go.
His eye snaps back into focus and he only falters for a moment before he puts back on the façade, “Wow that’s quite the grip you’ve got there Sixer! I knew you were always a genius but it looks like you got some brawn as well!” Ford blushes and sputters out something incoherent.
Bill takes his hand again and inspects it, he looks at each finger carefully. Each one looks exactly as it should. He pushes back Ford’s sleeve and inspects his forearm. Nothing. He shouldn’t have his hopes up but…
Bill takes Ford’s left hand and brushes it up his sleeve. A matching star below Ford’s wrist confirms Bill’s suspicions.
Ford watches flustered and confused, “It’s my birthmark, another unusual quality about me.” The scientist feels shy at the sudden interest his muse has in looking at his body. Sure he’s made plenty of remarks about his six fingers but this felt strangely more intimate. Four smaller fingers are wrapped around his wrist studying the mark with such intense focus that he swears he feels Bill’s touch burning him.
Bill can’t believe it, seriously. He doesn’t believe this. His soulmate, his supposedly other half, his better half, is human. He’s also ALIVE.
Ford feels his god’s touch leave his arm and he looks up at him, “My muse? Is everything alright?”
Bill needs to wrap his mind around this, but not here. Not with those big brown eyes full of wonder and trust staring back at him. He almost reaches out. He wants to feel that surge of electricity when they shook hands moments ago. But he floats further upwards, “Peachy! I have some business I need to attend to. Be my good little helper and get that portal up and running! I’ll be watching!” He snaps his fingers and is gone before Ford can open his mouth to reply.
~~~~
This changes everything. It would be so much easier to trick the stupid meat sack into building his portal. Then turn him into an egg or a new backscratcher.
Bill feels it now. That lingering shock in his system is making him want to slowly peel his skin away. It’s a vulnerability he doesn’t want to have. A weakness in his grand plan of domination.
He scratches at his wrist and gets frustrated enough to rip off his glove covering his arm. He wears the gloves and boots mainly as a style, they match the hat and bow tie. But he also didn’t want to see his soul mark and be reminded of his loneliness. What he lost.
Now he has to replan a few things. Maybe this wasn’t the end. In fact, it’s the beginning! He can slowly lull Ford over to his side and have him forever! After all who wouldn’t want to rule over a dimension that’s shunned him his whole life?
Bill pulls his glove back on and cracks his knuckles. Easy peasy. His little pet is already enthralled and fascinated by him. Just a little nudge in the right direction. It’s fair to say Bill already knew he was special, now he’s extra special!
This is all starting to feel like it was meant to be. He takes over the world with his soulmate and they live happily world domination ever. Heck maybe after the portal opens up and he’s free to invade he will pull Ford aside and explain their little cosmic connection.
What could go wrong?
~~~~~
A fractured triangle floats in the emptiness of space.
Two pink hands scoop it up and examine it. Turning the broken being around for a better look.
A single eye opens up halfway, his vision is blurry but he understands where he is. Who he’s with?
A deal between gods is made.
Death is a funny thing. It’s not technically the end. Just a chance to be something different. If Bill wishes to continue living he will need to become something else.
Perhaps his ‘better half’ has the potential to help.
The Axolotl sends Bill to therapy while he constructs a plan.
~~~~~
A letter from the Threaprism came to Ford explaining that Bill was alive and being put in his care for a year. Of course he torn the letter up and thought it was some cruel prank before finding the same letter every morning for a week in random spots in the shack. He eventually told Stan and the two of them anxiously awaited to see if the mysterious letters held any truth.
A loud sound and flash of light awoke up the senior residents in the shack early one morning. Ford and Stan fell asleep on the couch rewatching old childhood videos. They made it a weekly tradition to keep Stan’s memory as sharp as possible, they also liked to reminisce about their childhood. Before it all went to shit.
In the middle of the living room is a bright ball of light. It floats a few feet off the grown glowing a soft pink. On the ground next to it is a birdcage with Bill Cipher inside of it. He’s hunched over and he’s facing away from everyone.
Ford is immediately on guard, jumping up from his seat and grabs his weapon from his belt. Stan is still rubbing his eyes and grumbling as he wakes up,
“What the hell is going on?”
The light echos a soothing voice, “Greeting Pines family, we at the Theraprism are grateful for your cooperation in housing and assisting in the rehabilitation of William Cipher.”
Ford puts his gun away and glances down at the cage, “You are here sooner than we expected. Why is he in a cage?” Stan walks over and pokes the metal bars with his foot, that causes Bill to turn around and snap at him with his eye turned mouth. Stan jumps back and the light continues, “He is quite upset at the moment but his powers have been restricted. We feel you can decide when you want him free in your home. We will return for him in a year, glory to the axolotl!”
The light disappears with a flash.
For a moment it’s quiet as the two men stare down at the fractured triangle. It’s a strange sight for someone once so powerful to be dwindled down and trapped. He looks weaker, there’s a large blue scar running across his face. More noticeable is the missing hat, bow tie, and-
“Your hands and feet are yellow?”
Bill shifts uncomfortable under their questing gaze, “They took my gloves away.” His voice sounds smaller than what the Pine twins were expecting. No longer loud and boisterous.
Stan raises an eyebrow clearly amused, “Not so high and mighty now are we.” He rattles the cage and Bill flails around. Stan laughs and Ford frowns at him, “Stanley, quit messing around. We need to put him somewhere safe before we decide our next step.”
Bill sits up in his cage rubbing his eye, “Glad to see old age hasn’t taken away your sense of reason Sixer. Did you miss me?” Bill teases and Ford ‘accidentally’ knocks the cage over with his foot leaving Bill to smack against the bars, “Oops.”
Stan and Ford chuckle at the triangle’s annoyance as they move him upstairs. The brothers clear out a spot in the attic and places Bill’s cage on the ground by the window, the morning light shines in on him. He hisses at the new brightness, “Can’t you put me in some dingy dark closet?” He covers his eye with his hands.
“You have to be where we can check on you easily. Besides the light is good for you.” Ford couldn’t care less where they put the little demon, he just needs to be able to see him properly. His mind is running with questions but he knows Bill will be reluctant with information.
Stan looks at Bill before turning his attention to Ford, “I’m going back downstairs to make breakfast. Let me know if he acts up and I’ll throw him in the frying pan.” Stan leaves Ford and Bill alone.
It’s quiet as Ford shuffles around the room moving and rearranging the furniture. He slides over a table to place Bill’s cage on top of instead of the floor.
Bill doesn’t catch his eyes when he glances his way, he feels too humiliated to even address the man. At the mercy of his enemies was worst than the endless hours of therapy.
Ford pulls up a chair and sits down facing Bill. He pulls out his journal and starts scribbling away. It gives Bill a small sense of relief at the familiar sight of Ford being sucked into his writing. He always had the itch to document and record. The various drawings of Bill across his journals were both flattering and hilarious.
This time Ford was taking his time capturing Bill in all his broken glory. His pen slowly scraps across the paper to replicate Bill’s scar. Ink blotches stain around the edges of his illustrated cage.
”Drawing me like one of your French girls Fordsy?” Bill felt naked without his normal attire. Even if he never technically wore clothes. He poses with his legs crossed and his arms resting to his side.
Ford sets his journal down and squints at his ex, “What’s that?” He points at Bill’s wrist.
Bill puts his hands behind his back, “What’s what? Your eyesight is probably deteriorating. Especially since you haven’t changed your glasses since-“
Ford shakes the cage slightly, “Stop changing the subject and answer the question Cipher.”
Bill catches himself against the bars and huffs, “This old thing? I’ve always had it. Just couldn’t see with the gloves.” He hopes with the question somewhat answered then Ford would be satisfied and move on. But Ford is never satisfied. Something Ford and him always had in common.
Ford frowns and looks at his birthmark. He glances between the two of them.
”We match.” It seems to be both a question and a statement.
”Yeah lucky us. Would you believe that we were destined to be together?”
”What are you talking about?”
Bill sits back in his cage, “I’m talking about soulmates. See back in my world it was a thing where you had someone who shared the same mark as you. A little straightforward if you ask me.”
Ford slowly soaks in the information. Under any other circumstance he would believe it to be another lie out of Bill’s mouth- eye? Whatever it was, he never could be trusted.
”Except this isn’t your world, Cipher. That wouldn’t even be possible.” Ford looks back at his birthmark and touches it lightly.
”You don’t have to believe me, IQ. I don’t even know how it ended up this way. Probably some multi dimensional joke we haven’t figured out yet.” Bill seems so casual about it. As if he-
“You don’t seem surprised. You already knew?” Ford stands up, clearly upset, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Bill shrugs, “It wouldn’t have changed anything. You were either joining me or I keep you as a fidget toy.”
Ford blinks at him, “What does a soulmate mean to you?”
It wasn’t a question Bill ever really thought about. Not in a long time at least. It used to mean his life long friend and partner. After meeting Ford he believed it to be having a partner in crime.
Now…
Bill doesn’t answer.
Ford sighs, “A soulmate on Earth is a lot of things. To me it would be someone I trust, I can share with, and love…” he pauses, “that used to be you.”
The knife in Bill’s core feels like it’s being twisted as Ford speaks.
”I…I did care about you. The best way I knew how too.” Bill looks up at Ford. Ford watches him and reposes, “You can’t care about anyone but yourself.”
Bill wants to protest but his rebuttal falls flat. He’s selfish and he doesn’t deny it. He wanted to show his people the stars, he wanted to party across the multiverse without consequences, he wanted Ford all to himself. He takes and takes until there isn’t anything left to salvage.
“I could have killed you but I didn’t”
Ford scoffs, “You hurt me and hunted me down like game. My family almost died several times.” He runs a hand through his hair and walks to the door, “If you want to prove that you changed so you can be set free or whatever, you have a lot of work to do.”
The scientist gives Bill one last long look with an unreadable expression before shutting the door behind him and joining his twin for breakfast.
Bill sits by himself.
His thoughts rattle around in his geometric mind. He didn’t want to change, not really. But clearly he can never return to his original glory. Ruler of the nightmare dimension and a host that never dies with a party that never ends.
Seeing Ford again was causing certain emotions, mainly longing and frustration, to rise to the surface.
Nothing was certain now. Not with the mystical fish above watching his every move. If he can just play nice for a little while, maybe get his old partner on his side again, things would be okay.
Bill closes his eye as he starts to enjoy the warm the light from the window is sending through him. It’s a small pleasure but he hasn’t felt any kind of pleasure in a long time.