Primal Instinct

The aroma that flooded Dipper’s senses when he was pulled from his slumber was strong. It had his nose twitching, and brows furrowing above closed eyes. The smell was horrid. It blanketed the one he had grown so fond of without even thinking, the one that had caressed him on their way back. This thought shook some sense into him, lashes fluttering open in alarm.

Dipper tried to process his thoughts slowly. His gaze absorbing every little thing with heightened fear, it was hard not to be scared. Even if he stood tall and puffed out his little chest with every challenge he faced, he was an Omega. A small Omega in unfamiliar territory. He was surrounded by things that had his heart racing. There was no word to describe the feeling that swelled up within him. All thinking really got placed on the back burner as he looked around with wide eyes. He sunk deeper into the plush chair someone placed him on however long ago, he was whining.

Mounted high on every inch of the wall were dead creatures, a very wide variety of dead creatures.

They came in all forms, some big, some small. He flicked his terrified gaze between the vacant stare of a long gone rabbit and the gaping mouth of a stuffed bear. All of them were stuffed and without life, he couldn’t help the way his body curled inward. Fingers wrapped around his knobby knees as the door beneath a mounted deer creaked open.

Bill stood there. A tray full of food, and a drink in one hand while a bottle of medication clutched in the other. He tilted his head in confusion. His own nose twitched at the fear pooling off the other, Dipper sat in a tight ball within the man’s chair. Bill Cipher had seen a lot with years of hunting, and the way this boy sat only reminded him of a cornered animal.

“What’s wrong?” Bill asked, setting his things down and approaching the other.

With bared teeth, Dipper hissed lowly. It was entirely instinctual seeing as he did not care for the others presence at the moment. It didn’t seem to do a damn thing considering Bill continued to close the distance, more cautiously yes, but the look in his eye seemed all to amused.

“You know what’s wrong.”

“Do I?”

“Don’t play dumb. This is sick!”

With another touch of amusement, Bill chuckled.

Dipper had never hated a sound more in his entire life. No longer could he feel the warmth it usually radiated, or had he just imagined that. Hope had a cruel way of playing tricks, shining light on things that didn’t have any potential to begin with. Instead it sounded grating, and cold. Almost like a handful of pebbles being tossed into the blender.

This Alpha was a mirage, a sunny oasis with a blinding smile that would be just about anyone’s downfall. Dipper had been blinded with promising smiles and the spark of potential he had spotted deep within the other. All he wanted to do was protect the animals, but along the way it seemed he had fallen victim as well.

“Pine tree, I was never reserved about my hobbies. I told you from day one what I was doing in those forests. You couldn’t possibly of thought I’d leave without my prize, not when I worked so hard?”

It was true, he had made it clear from the start. Another reason Dipper wanted to smack himself silly for being so dismissive. Of course Bill brought these home, what was a hunter without his trophies? He thought bitterly, all while scowling away from the man. It was ridiculous to think he could help.

Bill was not born yesterday. He could read people like an open book, and Dipper practically wore his heart out on his sleeve. So he played along in hopes of softening the little Omega up, opening his walls that were already climbing high. It wasn’t hard to glue on a pleasant grin and stare warmly at the other. His voice so soft, “I could take them down if you’d like?”

Plump curls bounced with his sudden movement as those all too large eyes shot open in pleasant surprise. A blinking light inside of Bill’s mind was practically screaming, BINGO! He cupped his hands together, that spark of hope once again burning full force.

“You will?” Dipper asked in nothing short of disbelief, his eyes twinkling with what seemed like relief.

Bill nodded twice as he calmly set back to his things. He grabbed the checkered wash cloth beside the plate of food while fumbling around a bit for the thick bottle of rubbing alcohol. With a pop of the lid he was soon dowsing it in the liquid, humming as he did so.

“Sure will. I’ll take them all down if that would make you more comfortable.” Hell i'll burn em' up for you kid, He he thought with a snort.

That was the smell Dipper had awoken to, the distinct smell of medical supplies that still lingered heavily. He glanced down at his leg in dismay. Expecting to see it swollen and ugly with different shades of color, blue, red, purple, maybe even black. It wouldn’t of surprised him in the slightest. Now what did surprise him was how well treated it appeared.

Up to his knee it was wrapped with gauze. The cream colored fabric looked soft against his skin, it was pretty almost. He blinked down at the care he had received without a word. How long was he out for? Dipper had seen the wound, it was deep and wide. No doubt he would need stitches, had Bill taken care of that?

“Four stitches,” Bill answered the unspoken question. His golden orbs dancing under the dim light of this horridly decorated room, “wasn’t hard with you out like a rock.”

Dipper’s lips parted in awe. He had been out like a light while someone sewed his skin shut? Impossible, but someone believable as he stared down at his neatly wrapped leg. You’d figure you’d feel something during a thing like that? Maybe the fall had really taken it’s toll on him.

Never even occurred to him he might’ve been drugged.

“Where’s my phone?” Dipper spoke out so suddenly. His eyes darting around him, brows practically shooting up to his hairline. There wasn’t anything in the room, not his bag, or his phone. For a moment he feared he had left it in the forest during his little fall. Could’ve tumbled right out of him pocket and into the dirt.

As if on cue, Bill waved the little device in front of his face. He was reminded of his mother, holding out a piece of candy with the most taunting look you’d ever seen. Her voice was so clear in his head, “the word is called please.” With desperate fingers, Dipper reached out to snatch it from his hand. Bill only coiled back with the phone and that terribly sharp grin of his.

“Hey now, I think I deserve a thank you.”

“For what?” Dipper snarked.

Bad move. The phone floated away from his vision and back into the other’s back pocket.

Dipper chased after the phone and almost fell out of his seat. Had it not been for the long finger that poked him directly in the chest, stilling him. “I did go through so much trouble for this little thing after all. I searched the forests for a good while. I think it even chimed a few times?”

A renewed sense of panic followed these words. Dipper felt his stomach roll at the thought of his sister, had it been her? The thing must be spammed by now. The messages would be hasty and panicked he could picture them now, could see the long list of calls he had never picked up. The worry that would no doubt drive his sister ill.

“Thank you.” Dipper gritted out quickly. He held out an impatient hand, glared at the gloved one that followed. Bill dropped the small device within his palm with an all too pleased look.

His fingers tapped urgently at the lock screen ignoring the wandering eyes of his new friend as he finally heard the thing click open. Wouldn’t you know it the thing was flooded with worried texts and too many voicemails to count. He sighed, scrolling up and down the paragraphs of messages. All with the same bottom line.

Where are you?

Dipper typed out a sloppy response, something that seemed too small for something so big.

I’m safe, and will be home soon. Please do not worry.

How silly and immature of him to pull a stunt like this. It was ridiculous to had let the Alpha carry him home. What kind of Omega would put themselves in that sort of danger, even if Dipper had known Bill for a sparse amount of time. The man was still a stranger. You don’t just run off with a stranger when you had loved ones at home who have no clue where you are.

“I screwed up,” Dipper grumbled. He ran his hands along his face, feeling the dirt and grime that had coated his skin with this unfortunate night.

He jumped at the damp fabric that touched his cheek. Bill had the soaked cloth down his cheek, pressing against a small cluster of scrapes that had revealed themselves under the filth. Dipper hissed in pain, teeth scraping against his tongue as Bill tenderly cleaned his face. It was so odd. How this Alpha could end a live, but still somehow be capable of such a gentle touch.

“What’s done is done. You can’t change the past, so try to mend your mistakes now.” Bill voiced from his perch on the floor. Both of his legs folded under him as he tended to the Omega who sat thoughtfully before him.

“You’re right, but I don’t know how I’m gonna fix this one.”

“You will. Give it time.”

“How do you know?”

A sigh fluttered past the man’s lips. Small and weightless as he tiled his own head in thought. Piano fingers ghosting over the bridge of his nose and the height of his cheek bones. They weren’t prominent like Bill’s own, but they were there all the same. “Because pine tree, everyone makes mistakes. If you love someone enough you get past it. No matter how intimidating this problem may seem.”

Dipper’s gaze was faraway. Those words settled heavy, and he couldn’t understand why. It was quiet after that with only the occasional rustle of fabric as Bill shifted, or the tiny squeak his chair released with any movement keeping them company. His phone chimed twice, the corner of his phone blinked continuously with the color green.

Nipping the bottom of his lip, he unlocked the phone. Inside were three words that held enough anger in each one to make him flinch, his lip wobbling. Christ if he had a tail it would be tucked between his legs at the moment. Even Bill, who had been reading over his shoulder gritted his teeth.

“Yeesh kid.”

Call me, now.