Chapter Text
Dipper woke up late.
7:40 am.
His head was pounding and his bones agonized. The stuffy mattress in his sister's guest room did nothing to comfort his night. He kept tossing and turning, tossing and turning, and tossing and turning. It was pretty much periodic for him. He'd been out of Bill's house for about two weeks, enough time for him to settle into a new home in a new city. Far away from Bill. But for the life of him, Dipper just could not. He had to remind himself every second that he couldn't go back to Bill.
Bill had his chance- more than once, and Dipper just kept letting him have them. It took all of him to walk out of that door and not turn back to run into Bill's arms.
Dipper has a normal life now. Well...as normal of a life he could have after being- no not being... after associating with one of the biggest Mob bosses.
It didn't matter anyway. Dipper made up his mind...and Bill didn't stop him.
Bill...
With a groan, Dipper rose up from his bed and stretched his aching body. He had work in an hour and he was hoping to get a head start on his day, but it was too late for that.
Begrudgingly, Dipper tugged himself off of the bed and marched over to his closet. On his rush out of Bill's home, he didn't have enough time to pack all of his clothes, so now he only has four clean shirts, two pairs of jeans, and his uniform shirt. Mabel had hooked him up with a job down the street from her penthouse. Nothing too big or fancy, he was a waiter for a small diner.
Dipper quickly got dressed and headed downstairs to the kitchen. He really missed Alice's cooking, but he had to make do with frozen waffles and strawberry's. Dipper heard the sounds of heavy footsteps running down the stairs and chiming keys; Mabel was awake.
"Good morning, brother of mine." Mabel smiled. She's dressed for work; a nice tailored suit, the slacks are high waisted and cut to her ankle, an elegant white button-up, and thin black heels, her hair pulled back into a low, slick ponytail. She looked like a business lady who could destroy the world in a second, while Dipper looked like a bum. He self consciously looked down at his plain clothes and sighed. "How'd you sleep?"
"Good, I guess. You?" He plainly answered, really not in the mood to open up to his sister. She didn't question him when he showed up at her work with a single backpack and a tear-stained face, and she still hasn't brought it up. So no point in talking about it.
"You guess?" She quirked an eyebrow. "Dipper we need to talk..."
'Perfect- here it comes' Dipper mentally cursed. He clearly spoke too soon.
"There's nothing to talk about. I'm gonna be late to work."
"Why did you leave?" She questioned, walking over to the table and plucking a strawberry off of Dipper's plate. "Why are you here? And why haven't you said anything to me? What's going on?"
"Mabel..." Dipper cautioned.
"Talk to me man. What happened? Did he hit you? Did he do something to you? After everything he's done to you, I can't imagine what had to happen for you to leave like that. I honestly didn't think you'd have it in you- to leave that is. I thought I'd have to go in there and drag you out. I was surprised when you showed up-"
"Jesus Mabel!" Dippers blood boiled. "God, you're the one who wanted me to leave that place so bad. I didn't come here for you to assume the worst or for you to ridicule me. If I haven't brought it up what do you think that means? I appreciate you worrying for me and giving me a place to stay- but stop pushing me to talk to you." Dipper snapped. "I'm going off to work. I told you I'm late."
Mabel's face was scrunched up with concern and hurt, and Dipper almost apologized, but he was to mad to even think about her anymore. Instead, he grabbed his bag, jacket, and keys and stepped out of the kitchen and went on about his morning.
It was super cold; sunny with a high of 25 and a low of 15 because of wind, although very cold- it was still such a beautiful morning. The sun was on the rise and by the time Dipper got done with his walk and started his shift at 8:30, the sun was already hung high.
It was a slow morning, not many customers. It gave the workers all a chance to talk and hang out. For the first four days, Dipper had felt like an outsider. Everyone here has been working with each other for years or months; long enough for everyone to become good friends. On days like this, Dipper would just awkwardly stand on the register and wait for a customer.
But then he met Jonathon.
Dipper was getting orders from a table filled with frat boys; one who was obviously flirting with Dipper- according to Jonathan; Dipper swore up and down that it was just friendly banter. And every day since that afternoon, the jock would come back and flirt, and everyday Dipper and Jonathan would become closer friends.
"Okay no- but here's the thing," Jonathon talked with his hands a lot, they were always moving, never in one place. " she told me that she wasn't ready for me to met her friends - and I respect that you know- but it turns out- are you ready for this?" He quirked a perfectly groomed eyebrow. "She was just scared that her friends would try to hook up with me!"
"Oh wow..." Dipper's eyes widened. He was leaning on the counter, one arm holding his head up and the other on his hip. "Did they?"
Jonathan scoffed. "Of course they did, look at me." He ran his hands up and down his body; a cocky look on his face. Jonathan really was a handsome; tall, tan skin, curly short hair, and dark brown eyes. He was captain of the soccer team in high school and now he's the captain of the soccer team AND tennis team in his college. He was the perfect guy.
"No..." Dipper smiled, "I don't see it."
"Okay." Jonathan dramatically slammed his hand on the counter and pointed an accusing finger at Dipper. "Fuck you dude. Fuck you, man. I am a god!" They both started laughing, not being able to take each other seriously for more than two seconds. "No, but actually- I told her not to worry because she's all I've ever wanted and I'm not stupid enough to throw that all away for some petty girls."
Dipper hummed in agreement. Turning his attention towards the jingle of the door. "Welcome to Dash Dine." The two boys say in unison.
"Dipper, my love!" It's the jock. Dipper checked the clock above the door. 10:15- right on schedule.
"Good morning, Justin." Dipper smiled, rolling his eyes. "The usual?"
"You know me so well, Dipper." He smiled, shining perfect white teeth. He's your typical jock. Tall, well built, blond short hair, blue eyes, and of course- the big letterman jacket.
"Get over it, Justin." Jonathan smiled. "You're never gonna get him."
"Oh that's not true, one day I'll get you to fall in love with me. Just you watch Dipper." He promised, jogging over to the counter seats, plopping right in front of Dipper.
Dipper laughed, getting the pancake supplies together and pushing them over to Jonathan. "Get to cooking, please. I'll get you your hot chocolate."
"Did you guys hear about the beating that happened last night?" Justin spoke up, looking away from his phone.
"Yeah I think I saw it in the news this morning- I didn't get to hear much about it." Jonathan placed Justin's pancakes and scrambled eggs in front of him.
"No, what happened?" Dipper shook his head, handing Justin his drink.
Justin moved in his seat; taking off his jacket and rolling up his sleeves- ready to eat. "Okay so, there was this like the really important guy- I don't remember his name- but he was found in an abandoned warehouse last night by his wife. And she reported it to the police." He spoke in between chewing.
"That's awful." Jonathan gasped. "Why did they do that to him?"
Justin looked around nervously. "Well, a friend of mine told me it has something to do with that guy..."
"What guy?" Jonathan questioned.
"Dude keep it down, you never know whose listening." Justin looked around again. Dipper followed his gaze around the diner. There was and a couple sitting by to window, a girl with her laptop and headphones drinking a coffee, and another guy in a black hoodie looking at the menu. "Okay so...he's this really important guy- has the whole world wrapped around his fingers..." Justin looked between the two boys.
Dipper's heart dropped. The guy and his wife-it all added up his head. But no- he wouldn't do something this messy, he wouldn't leave him in that warehouse to be found- that's....no.
"Dude- enough with the suspension- tell us," Jonathan complained, throwing his hands up in the air.
'Please don't tell us...please. Just walk away Dipper just go!' He told himself.
"Okay okay...Bill Cyphe, but don't tell anyone! This isn't public knowledge." Justin smirked.
"Then how the hell do you know? And who that hell is that?" Jonathan's face scrunched.
Dipper's knees went weak. His heart pounded out his chest, that couldn't be right. It couldn't be. Dipper's head began to spin; Ignoring the conversation the other two boys were having. He slowly began to walk away, needing to be away from them. They wouldn't notice- that didn't notice, he just had a few more steps and then-
"Dipper." He heard a small voice call out. The voice was so familiar to him, sweet and laced with honey. He turned around- his whole body shaking. "Dipper we need to talk."
Alice was standing in front of Dipper. Her face calm, like always, and wearing a thick sweater and jeans. Dipper glanced behind her; the man with the menu was looking directly at them. He's one of Bills guards- how did Dipper not notice earlier?
"A-Alice?" Dipper's voice shook, "What are you doing here?"
"You need to come back- it's B- Mr. Cipher is- we need you back Dipper. He needs you. We need to go now."
"But- my work."
"Dipper, is everything okay?" It was Jonathan. Dipper didn't want to turn around, he couldn't. Bills guard stood up and rolled his shoulders back.
"Yeah, everything's fine, just taking an order."
"Okay then..." Jonathan's voice was hesitant, but when Bills guard sat back down Dipper figured he was gone.
He looked back down at Alice. Her eyes pleaded with him. "We need to leave now, grab your things and act like your sick, we're parked outback. Dipper...it's important."
Dipper knew he should've said no, he knew he shouldn't have tried to have a normal life. He knew he should've said something to the boys whenever they gave him questioning looks. He should've told Mabel that he was currently on his way back. Back to Bill.