(A/N Hi. Update for you. Happy Birthday.)

The steps Dipper took towards the paralyzed captain were unsure, and the sound of boot soles padding against the planks were silent. He could still change his mind, he could still run to the water. He could still be with his family. Even so, his hand extended to Bill's shoulder, with a his back still turned, Bill wouldn't be able to see his conflicted expression. The furrowed brows, beads of sweat sidling down his temples, lips curved into a frown. Curse his curiosity, curse it! The boy wasn't used to seeing Bill be so creepily still- of course, the captain could clearly not control his movements, and for someone as hyper as him- it must be absolutely devestating for him. Dipper pondered possible ways to undo the spell Tad had cast.

He considered consulting the book of spells he bought in the town, but the leather satchel was nowhere in sight. Maybe he could throw Tad overboard? No, that just wasn't right. Even though Tad insisted his great and painful suffering was just a joke, letting his body sink to the seafloor to drown and decompose would be all too cruel. He resulted in shaking the captain's shoulders, hoping it would stir some kind of movement. No dice. He still had a very statue-like Bill donning a still neutral expression, the boy sighed.

"Bill, I don't know how long we have, don't know if you can even hear me, but wake up- please?" the boy asked.

A few moments passed and he cursed himself for being so stupid. Of course asking politely wasn't going to break the spell.

A for effort!

Dipper paused, looking at the captain. Still frozen in place, but he definitely heard that familiar, mocking tone.

"Uh, Bill? Did you say that?" he asked.

Say what, Pine Tree?

The boy paused, dumbfounded for a second, "You know... talk to me... through the air..." he muttered.

Ever heard of telepathy, kid? Since I'm having trouble moving every limb in my body, lips included- poor you, I have to resort to this.

"Oh, that's-"

And I LOVE hearing my voice, too...

Dipper sighed, inwardly expressing his distaste with the sudden vanity.

"How do I undo the spell Tad cast on you?" Dipper asked, not too sure where he should look.

Staring at the monotonous expression and listening to the upbeat tone of Bill's voice just did not match and he couldn't stare at him for too long. It was so mismatched, it was irking.

Well, knowing my brother- he probably has to undo it himself. Or y'know- bread.

The boy quirked a brow, "Bread?"

O~ho. Boy. He loves his bread. He would kidnap a child and torture them eternally if they took his br-

"..."

Pine Tree. Did you...

"..."

You took his bread?!

"He bought out the whole store! What's one freaking tart?!" he shouted, all that responded was a silent wind, the mast of the ship flapping slightly. After a long pause, Bill's voice returned.

...Well, that explains it.

"There's something wrong with your family. No joke." Dipper concluded, taking a step towards the still breathing brother of Bill's.

Pine Tree?

"Don't kill him, alright, Bill?"

Nnnn.

The brunette knelt down to the beaten, sleeping figure and pat him a few times on the cheek, "Mr. Tad- uh, sir. I owe you... an apology." he muttered, watching indigo eyes flutter open slowly.

The dilated, black pupils focused on the boy, before enlarging to it's normal size, "I'm listening." he responded, slowly.

Guess he was concious a while ago, huh. How did you manage to beat this guy in a fight? I'm embarassed for our family lineage! Haha. No. Reaaallly don't care.

The boy ignored Bill's ramblings, focusing on the raven-haired demon.

"I didn't realize you value bread over the well-being and innocence of a child- but I do apologize." the boy murmured, tone apologetic, "And your jaw. Sorry I broke your jaw." he added, watching the chin go slack when Tad moved his head.

The man seemed to ponder this, and attempted a friendly smile, "I'm sorry, too. We had a bad start." he said, "...and don't mention the jaw. It'll heal." he said, gesturing to the already half-formed jawline.

Dipper grinned, "Right. Still sorry." he said before offering a hand, his good hand, to Tad.

The man took it and Dipper struggled to hoist him to his feet, but managed.

Ugh, Pine Tree. Listen to me. I'm talking to a WALL. No. A WALLED IN WALL. Tell him to unfreeze me before I SHOOT MYSELF IN THE KNEES. OH WAIT! I CAN't CAUSE I CAN't MOVE!

"Bill wants you to unfreeze him." Dipper said, pointing back at the still man.

Tad grinned, "Oh, I know he does." the man said, before pointing a finger towards Bill. A healed finger, in fact.

"Rye." he muttered, before a spark escaped his fingers, zipping across the planks of wood till it hit Bill in the back, sending a visible shock down his spine.

Tttthhhaaa

"Aaaannnnk Yooooooou!" the man called, his body uncurling from its kneeling position, "I was about to somehow kill myself!"

The grin was back, splayed dauntily across his lips and the golden tailcoats of his coat flourished in the wind. He put his hands on his hips, his golden eyes meeting with the two.

Dipper found a sense of relief, seeing that smile, the eyes, but he quickly shook the thoughts from his mind.

"I knew it would have something to do with bread." the blonde exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at Tad.

The man rolled his eyes in response, "Don't make me freeze you again." he half-threatened with one side of his lip curved upwards.

"Just try it, T~addy!" Bill laughed, watching his brother's face scrunch into disgust.

He sighed, fingers pushing the sides of the bridge of his nose, "Please, Bill. Don't call me that." he muttered, watching the blonde cackle in response.

He then blipped in front of Dipper, causing the brunette to jump in surprise, then pressed his lips against the others cheek, snarky smile in response to the boy's shocked one.

"W-w-w-wha-" the boy paled, before the captain wrapped an arm around the others chest.

"Thanks, kid." He grinned, looking at the teen with a suprisingly ernest expression, "You didn't leave- surprisingly enough."

Dipper reddened, "Uhhh..." the boy responded, unsure how to react, his body pressed close to the vibrantly colored coat.

Tad coughed, clearly surprised by the amorous action Bill had treated Dipper with. He felt the need to vacate, but this was his ship, where else would he go? The man found himself looking off in the distance, or finding the floor interesting.

"Well, I don't mean to interrupt, but there's a whole crew watching you..." Tad mentioned, watching the blonde smile innocently at him.

"What crew?" he asked, before nuzzling his face into the boy's neck, Dipper squirming in surprise.

"Bill!" the teen exclaimed, feeling an intense need to run away and shy away in his own humiliation.

The blonde shrugged, "Fine. You're pretty injured there... so I'll grant a little bit of mercy." he commented, then let the boy out of his hold.

He then snapped his fingers, and a wave of relief instantly washed over the boy. Open wounds began to join back together, he could feel his bones beginning to reconstruct themselves, snapping back into their rightful place.

Dipper sighed, opening and closing his fist- testing out all his limbs to make sure his body was truly all right. The boy was seriously astonished.

"Pine Tree, was it?" Tad then asked, the boy shaking his head in response, "No, no. My name's Dipper- Bill just calls me that, reasons unknown." he explained to Tad, watching him nod in response.

"Well, Dipper- my crew is still under your... whistle- think you could undo it?" he asked, watching Bill's eyes slowly widen in surprise.

Golden eyes moved to the brunettes relaxed ones, half surprised.

"I can try." Dipper said, not realizing his captains burning stare, before turning to face the crew.

The varying angry faces made the boy flinch in surprise, but quickly regained composure. He let out a sharp whistle, thinking Undo while casting- and a wave of sound rushed across and over the rocking ship. The hull creaked, and the mass of people lurched in surprise, some regaining their balance and some falling pathetically to the ground.

Dipper heaved, the weight of keeping so many frozen suddenly leaving made him sigh in relief.

The crew then looked with confusion to Tad and then Dipper. They were even more confused to see the infamous, Bill Cipher- standing wistfully aboard the ship.

The boy turned back to the pair, surprised to see Bill's downright appalled expression.

He then remembered Bill hadn't seen his entire fight with Tad- hadn't been there when he discovered his siren capabilities- and hadn't been there when he chose Bill, strangely enough,t over his whole family. Sure, his memories weren't all in one place- but at the time, he knew where he wanted to be. Exploration, discovery, knowledge were all kinds of things he seeked in life. At least, that's what he thought he seeked in life.

With Bill completely naive to the whole situation, Dipper couldn't help, but laugh- Bill's dumbfounded expression was probably something he'd never see again.

"Pine Tree... you... do you know?" Bill said, before turning to Tad, then the crew, "Leave." he said sternly.

Tad rolled his eyes, "Bill- this is my ship, just teleport back to your own." He defended, watching the demon's eyes glow an even brighter yellow,
"L e a v e ." he said, voice echoing in such a sinister way, it sent chills down everyones spines.

Tad took a breath, before backing off from his seething brother, "Okay, Bill. You win." he said, before leading his crew below deck.

As everyone was shuffling downstairs, Dipper paled- backing away slowly. Maybe he could just... slip in with the crew, and avoid this whole ordeal.

The eyes were then on him, catching him as he made his way to the retreating crew.

"Dipper." He said, the real name showing his seriousness.

The boy turned around, before an invisible force pulled him in front of Bill- who stared down at him with those ethreal eyes.

As everyone exited, his composure seemed to relax, "How much do you know?"

(A/N DUNDUNDUNDUN DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNN. What's going to happen? I don't know! How should I know? Only the author would know something like that. Well, don't forget to like, subscribe, follow, flag, report, comment, donate all down below! Bye, SEE YOU NEXT (SUMMER)UPDATE.)