#70 'what are you afraid of?' im not sure if my original request got posted or not but here i put in a prompt now. Can you do this prompt with reverse mabill? A particularly dark one?? >_< btw i love you work, its hard to find good mabill fanfics ♡♡♡♡
God I’m so sorry this took so long! Life is super busy this month but I finally had an hour or two to quickly get this out. I’m sorry if it seems rushed. D:
(It didn’t end up being super dark, but the ending is definitely not happy.)
- Paper and Glass
In the beginning the thing he was afraid of most was them.
Summoned and enslaved against his will with his powers restrained, the demon found himself humiliated and beaten daily by the twins. There was scarcely a day in which he didn’t have bruises blossoming or cuts marring his skin.
He was a demon who didn’t fight back and who healed quickly.
The perfect punching bag.
.
One year in enslavement to the Gleeful twins and he was paid a visit by another demon.
A demon named Albus that William had lost a bet to a few millennia ago. At the time it hadn’t been a bother since he’d been powerful enough to suppress the guy with just a flick of his fingers and back out of the deal.
Now though?
Now he was pathetic and weak.
He was utterly defenseless as he was grabbed and kidnapped, his former gambling partner taunting promised torture and he with no way to prevent it.
One moment he was being carried away.
And then he wasn’t.
Albus released a bellow of pain as he was hit from behind and before Will could understand what was happening, he found himself on the floor. Pushing himself up and turning his head, he blinked at the sight of the two Gleeful twins stood before him, acting as a shield between he and Albus.
“Now, now, it’s not nice to touch other peoples pets,” Mabel chided, blue flames spilling from her hands with the power she’d “borrowed” from Will.
Dipper clicked his tongue at the large demon, holding an incantation book under his arm as he regarded the thief. “I think we need to teach him a lesson.”
They defeated Albus so easily.
Will realized he had a lot more to be afraid of.
.
He was also afraid of the dark.
Releasing a yelp as something crawled up his leg, Will quickly grabbed onto the nearest individual as he shook his leg violently to get the creepy thing off him.
Mabel grunted as he gripped her arm tightly, whipping the flashlight around to shine in his face and glare at him with icy eyes.
Realising his mistake, he quickly released her with a gasp and bowed his head. “S-Sorry... It scared me.”
She scoffed and resumed walking in the lead with Will staying close behind. He didn’t really like the idea of exploring an underground cave but Mabel was on a mission to meet up with her brother.
The brunette turned a corner. “You’re scared of everything. How you were once known as a powerful demon I have no idea - me and Dipper clearly recieved a defective version.”
He lowered his head. “There’s a lot of things to be wary of when you’re capable of dying.” If he didn’t have these shackles on his wrists he’d have access to his unlimited power and needn’t have to worry about anything touching him.
“Being mortal is a scary thing,” he muttered, hugging himself. “How can you do all these dangerous things when your bodies are so fragile?”
Mabel turned her head and quirked an eyebrow at that. “Fragile? Is that what you think I am, Will?”
The demon stopped short, meeting her eyes and quickly backtracking. “Ah, n-no, no, of course not! You’re the opposite!”
He expected her to hit him.
Instead she chuckled.
He blinked in surprise as she gave him an amused smile. “I’ve never been described as that in my entire life.” She took a step towards him. “If I’m fragile, then what does that make you?” Another step. “You’re weaker than me.” Another step. She now stood directly in front of him, staring down. Too close by far. “If I’m glass that shatters when hit, then you’re paper. No solid formation and easily blown away by a breeze.”
She raised a hand, gliding it along his jaw with a coy smile. “You simply exist to be used by me and Dipper. Then, when we’re done, we’ll throw you in the garbage.”
He swallowed.
She gave another smile before turning and leaving.
He was still scared of her.
.
“I can’t believe him,” Mabel muttered as he knelt behind her on the bed, running a brush through her hair as she sat on the edge “How dare he turn me down! Does he have any idea how lucky he is that I even give him the time of day?”
She’d been ranting about Gideon Gleeful turning down her advances for two hours. Will continued to brush her hair as she spoke, allowing her her vent it out. Better she release her anger verbally than against him physically.
Eventually though the girl sighed and leaned back, head resting against his chest. He froze. Huffing, the girl stared forward. “Men. They’re all the same.”
He paused before tentatively asking, “even your brother?”
“Especially him!” she snapped, sitting back up and turning her head around to face him. He flinched, worried he might have provoked her.
Instead, she regarded him and cocked her head. The ire in her eyes faded to something else.
He wondered what she was thinking but before he could ask a sly smile appeared on her lips.
“Hmm, let’s try something.”
He blinked. “What?”
Then she kissed him.
Will froze, unable to respond or do anything as her soft lips moved over his. He felt her hands moving down his torso as she pressed her body against his.
He did eventually jerk back, looking flustered and confused. “W-What-“
Mabel frowned. “You’re meant to kiss back, y’know?”
“I-I... I d-don’t understand?”
“Urgh.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s not that hard to understand. I’m frustrated and don’t have a boyfriend so you’ll have to do.”
“I… will?”
“Yeah.” She moved forward again and he swallowed, leaning back until he hit the wall. Mabel smiled at him, reaching a hand to his face as she traced her fingers softly along his jawline. “But don’t tell Dipper, okay? This’ll be our little secret.”
His trepidation must have been clear because she pouted. “Cm’on, it’ll be fun. What are you afraid of?”
A lot of things.
He could name various reasons why this wasn’t a good idea and they shouldn’t do this but her gaze was determined.
Did he really have a choice to begin with?
He gave a small jerk of his head which could be perhaps interpreted as a nod, resigning himself to this.
It was enough for Mabel who with a triumphant smile leaned forward and claimed his lips again.
.
Time passed and Mabel started being somewhat nice to him over time. Still mocking and insulting but no longer did she physically abuse him - the only physical activities were making out. Infact, she often got him out of beatings with Dipper by insisting she needed him to attend with her elsewhere.
One day he won a prize for her at the annual Gravity Falls fair, the Gleeful twin having put forward a large amount of money and demanding he use his skills to win the pig before “that dirty bitch” Pacifica Pines got to it first.
He managed to get it in after only forty tries.
She squealed in delight as she picked the pig up with amazing strength, covering the pig in kisses and calling it Waddles. As she span around with the swine held out in her arms who squealed in terror Mabel laughed, lips pulled back into a wide grin and eyes sparkling with happiness.
It was the first time he’d seen her genuinely happy.
His heart skipped a beat and then he froze.
He clenched a fist over his chest, swallowing thickly.
A bigger fear had appeared.
.
He loved her.
William Cipher was in love with Mabel Gleeful.
And she could never know about it.
Because as much as he adored and had fallen for her, he also knew there was no chance she would feel the same way. He was afraid that if she found out she’d use it against him, simply another means to tease him as she held his hand in her heart.
No. She could never know.
He wouldn’t let her.
.
“She doesn’t love you, you know.”
Will flinched at the words, gaze snapping towards Dipper by his side as Mabel stood on stage practicing an act. The pair of them were stood at the back of the tent in the shadows.
His heart leapt into his throat, voice unworking. “I… I-I…”
“Save it,” Dipper held up a hand in his direction, eyes trained on Mabel. “I can tell you have feelings for her.”
His blood ran cold. “Y-You do?”
Dipper nodded. “It’s obvious. The only reason my dear sister hasn’t noticed is because she doesn’t care enough about you to notice your feelings.”
He knew that but even so the words pierced his heart.
"Even if she did love you, it wouldn’t matter,” Dipper went on, voice flat and unsympathetic. “You’re a demon who never ages and we are humans who will die one day. I’m sure you’re aware of that.”
Will clenched a hand over his chest, the pain in his heart excruciating. He tried to keep his gaze down on the floor but couldn’t resist raising his eyes to look at her as she twirled on stage to an invisible audience.
He could have sworn she looked his way when she winked.
“She’ll never be yours.”
He knew that.
He’d always known that.
The thing he was afraid of the most was being forced to watch as the woman he loved found another lover and grew old, leaving him behind. Mabel had warned him that once she and Dipper had no need for him any further, they’d throw him aside.
And to his fear, that would one day be true.
And there was nothing he could do to stop it.
