Chapter Text
Dimension #5150
Neutral Zone, Outside Regular Time
Patient #323322
The Axolotl had enough patience to last for trillions of years. Yet even that, it seems, was never enough to handle the hazard that was Bill Cipher.
In the short century he had spent his time here, he had already set fire to a patient, (claiming the intention was that he wished to be reminded of his henchmaniacs), bashed in the skull of two others for 'boring him out with sob stories', painted inappropriate images all over the walls, driven out several of his roommates over the years, and made everyone avoid him out of fear that he relished in, even without his powers.
Well, it's not like he could be blamed! When he called The Axolotl for help, he expected to be put together again, and then be sent back to the Nightmare Realm, where he belonged. And when pink frills mentioned some sort of 'rehabilitation program', he consented, expecting something else, not therapy. Therapy that he didn't even need! It was a mistake to limit his powers here, like he was going to do something other than turn a few staff members inside out and rearrange their molecules.
Eventually, the staff had enough of him terrorising the other patients, and put him in a small, lonely, white-padded room. He was only allowed to come out for therapy sessions or wellness activities, and even then he was fully monitored.
But it was fine. He would get out sooner or later. All he had to do was finish this book that would act as a peephole for his psyche and make a deal with the first unsuspecting human that picked it up. Then he could take over their body and be scott free.
Outside his room, he could hear the rolling of a staff member a mile away, getting closer to his room. He quickly shoved the book underneath his mattress and laid on it, pretending to be asleep when the door opened and the ball peaked inside, probably making sure he wasn't doing anything to himself specifically.
"Mr. Cipher." The ball called out softly. He didn't respond, hoping it could leave him alone at the sight of him sleeping. But he heard it roll closer to his bed, the door closing behind it.
The ball patted a side, and he flinched, jumping into the air, far above out of reach, rubbing his side where the hand had been. The ball only looked at him calmly, or maybe with a twinge of pity? Bill didn't know. He didn't bother to learn their names, much less how they felt about him. He couldn't care less! Pity wouldn't make him crumble into pink frills or his underlings' hands like the other patients.
"Mr. Cipher." The ball spoke again, "The Axolotl wishes to speak with you."
"About time!" He said bitterly, crossing his arms and floating back down onto his bed. Frills had been so caught up in their work, Bill had barely heard anything of him ever since he got here. He'd hoped that at one point, he would realise he was a lost cause, give him back his powers, and send him on his merry way. Then he could celebrate with his henchmaniacs and liberate other dimensions, or better yet, get revenge on the Pines.
Now though, he stared at the ball with a twinge of unease. He couldn't look through their heads (unfortunately) but he had a feeling that Frills wouldn't let him off so easy. But it wasn't anything a little negotiation couldn't do! All he had to do was play super nice and all mushy, and surely he would be let go.
"If you were to follow me, Mr. Cipher." The staff ball said, and, as if on cue, the door opened. The ball rolled out, followed by Bill hovering behind it. He couldn't help but shoot a glare to a few of the patients that moved out of his way, fearing that he might try something, even with the guards in place.
The ball pushed open a door more grand than any other Bill had seen in the Theraprism. Inside, there was a glowing pink and blue column, shaped like a tree trunk, only it swirled with energy, resembling the dna of humans. The trunk towered over everything else that was pristine white in the room, towering far beyond the eyes of any creature, including Bill. The trunk had a clear barrier surrounding it, preventing it from being laid a hand upon.
Then it hit Bill, and he curled his eye in what could only resemble a frown. Of course, frills would be too cowardly to see him in person, so he had to hide behind a trunk of energy. Bill dangled his limbs limply and floated to the trunk, tapping the barrier with a finger. A 'gentle' nudge. Sure enough, it hummed with pure energy.
"Apologies." He heard the staff ball say behind him, almost forgetting it was there. "The Axolotl has been busy at the moment, but he tried his best to make time to speak with you."
"More like busy hiding from me." He muttered, then he felt a presence, a slight change in energy. Bill knew that The Axolotl was listening in, so he cleared his throat with a cough, before putting on his best innocent expression --
"Hey frills! You gonna let me go or what? Haven't I been soooo great in your little prison?" He said, tilting his angles to the side and clasping his hand over at the sides, batting his eyelashes. He hoped that Frills could see it, that it was believable enough. The words echoed around the room, but there was no response, and Bill became frustrated and confused. Was he not there?
"Oh come on, frills! I thought you said you wanted to see me! Or do you just like lying to all your patients?" He said, stepping closer to the trunk. He heard the staff ball let out a sound of disapproval at his tone, but who could care about it now?
"Don't talk about The Axolotl in that way! He is a benevolent and divine go--"
"Yeah, He's nice and sweet and yada yada yada, who cares?! He's not as great as you think, furball!"
"How would you know? You've never known a life under him and his kindness--!"
A loud, pulsating hum of energy made both creatures stiffen and turn back to the trunk. Bill stepped a bit away from the column, but he was relieved nonetheless.
"Bill Cipher." A voice spoke, clearly coming from the trunk, both male and female with an underlying energy that forcibly cooled every nerve through Bill's exoskeleton, "You have... severely disappointed me."
Bill's face fell. It was the last thing he wanted to hear. Now he'd probably be forced to go back to the Theraprism in more activities that were plain torture for a creature of chaos, or maybe Frills would like to actually torture him, by putting him back in the Nightmare Realm without his powers, or leave him floating in the void, or, or --.
Another wave of calmness washed over him, numbing his thoughts, but he forcibly shook it off as the Axolotl continued to speak.
"But I am willing to give you a second chance. Fear not for your end. I trust that you will be able to come to terms with yourself and what you have done." He said. Bill perked up, his confusion back and running, before he broke out into a grin, even if he was unable to show it.
"Huh? "Come to terms with what I've done"?? Oh, oh! Frills, you're so clearly mistaken!" He said, holding back laughter as he felt tears forming in his eye, "I haven't done anything that I've regretted!" Except for going into that genetic inferior copy of Ford's head, he left out.
The column went silent, literally. It was impossible to detect the emotions that came from it when it seemed so devoid of energy.
And then it was back, pulsating. He heard the Axolotl suck in a breath.
"I'm sure you know I mean, Bill." The Axolotl said with a tone that made him freeze in place. "The things you had done to the people of Euclydia--"
"HEY! I didn't do anything to those two-dimensional freaks! I liberated them from their bodies and showed them something greater than they could possibly imagine" He snapped, turning red with anger. Another wave of calmness washed over him, this time in a way of comfort, or pity. But Bill didn't want either of those things. Though he knew that if The Axolotl were here in person, they would look at him with kindness that he couldn't possibly stand it.
"You hold on to the anger you had felt in that moment, and I do not blame you for it. I agree with your statement, but you must work on it, so that you do not react with anger. More importantly. you should learn to accept forgiveness, and forgive yourself in the process. Which is why I would like to speak with you on a new, final form of rehabilitation." Bill let out a scoff at their words, glaring.
"A word of advice, frills: I don't need rehabilitation. I'm perfectly fine with myself, there's no one I have to beg forgiveness from, so maybe save your little plan for someone else that actually needs it."
"I wouldn't have called you here if you didn't. But you accepted the rehabilitation when I saved you from your demise, but you have shown no room for improvement. And if you make progress with it, you will get your powers back and be sent back to the Nightmare Realm. 365 days is all I ask from you. It is not much in our lifetime."
Bill raised his brow, "So you're bribing me? Wow, frills, out of aaaalll the things I would expected you to do, this wasn't it, buddy. And what happens if I don't comply, or don't do all this 'forgiving' bullshit? What're you gonna do then? Break me into little pieces and scatter my atoms across the multiverse? Huh?" He felt the trunk pulse with energy, with an emotion he couldn't describe.
"If you consider it bribery, then so be it. But I see it as a necessity, and if you do not comply with my terms, you are free to spend as much time as you would like in the Theraprism, until I am sure you have reached rehabilitation, and then you will be free to go."
The triangle paused in his tracks, blinking at the trunk. Only a moment later did he let out a sigh, a sigh that he hoped the Axolotl caught as "you got me there." Because they did. He was being forced to choose between another millenia or two of boredom, or 365 days of torture, where the latter could lead to the former if he didn't act correctly. Oh if he had to choose...
"Well, frills! You really an expert at manipulation! No wonder so many of these patients open up about their sob stories here! Then again, I can't expect anything less from an interdimensional being that's lived longer than me!" Bill exclaimed with forced joy, spinning upside down for good measure, "Tell ya what! I'll gladly accept this new form of rehabilitation, lay it on me, big guy!"
Balls of energy formed a contract in front of Bill's face, and a quill appeared in his hands. He messily signed his name in the space for it, hardly sparing a glance to the fine print. The contract disappeared in flash alongside the pen, and he felt the trunk pulse again, this time he hoped it was approval as the voice came again,
"Very well. You will, for the time period of your rehabilitation, stay in Gravity Falls, Oregan, in Dimension 46'/. You have caused a great deal of suffering in that town, specifically to the Pines family, and you must earn their forgiveness."
Bill's eye widened. Gravity Falls! Of all places, he just had to be there! The place where he'd get killed the second Fordsy or Stan laid their eyes on him. Other than that, though, it seemed that there no problems, only that Sixer and his genetic inferior were the biggest problems in the multiverse. The Axolotl, however, seemed to be aware of his alarm.
"Do not fret, Bill. You will spend your time in a human body to blend in. No one outside the Pines family may recognise you unless you make it out to be so. You will have to learn and manage your time under their terms. I will send a letter to them so they do not desert you."
"A human vessel?" Bill let out a nervous laugh, "Okay, frills, don't you think you're getting too ahead of yourself there--?"
"They're only human as well, Bill. And the suffering you have dealt upon them was more than any other creature you've raised havoc on. It is only fair you experience it as they do." Bill groaned, rolling his eye. Bill couldn't help but wonder why they cared so much about insignificant species anyway?
"Ugh, whatever, big guy. Don't expect too much."
The trunk let out another wave of energy, "I do not. But I do believe it will help you more than you will realise. I trust in that and I trust you, Bill."
Every other word that came from the Axolotl's mouth only served to heighten Bill's frustration. It was a terrible idea to ever trust an interdimensional being capable of causing even the greatest of lifeforms nightmares in the multiverse. The last time some creature had trusted him, they'd almost died, fearing sleep, fearing his presence. There was no way he would be all sappy and nice by the time he got back. He would just serve another millenia or two in the Theraprism, and eventually, the Axolotl would give up on him.
"The transfer will begin soon, if you were to just close your eye, it will not be any different from sleeping dreamlessly." He said, and, despite everything he wanted to say, Bill closed his eye tightly.
"You will not retain your powers in that body. Goodbye, Cipher."
That made the triangle open his eye in shock.
"WHAT?! HEY?! ---"
Bil could barely speak before he was cast into some sort of void.