Chapter Text
Bill grumbled as he struggled to keep up, trudging behind Ford, who continued to walk swiftly through the forest without a glance back at the triangle. The scientist chose to ignore the little grunts and laboured breaths coming from behind him, instead, he just kept moving forward as he flipped through a notebook in his hands. He landed on a page with a hand drawn map of Gravity Falls, something he sketched 30 years ago to mark the location of all the anomalies he encountered, and according to his data, the Lumina Frostbloom was supposed to be nearby.
He first heard of the magical flower from an old research report he found in the Gravity Falls library dating back to the 50’s. Unfortunately, the botanical researcher who wrote the report was discredited after not being able to prove his findings, which prompted Ford to use the town’s museum to gather more information. The pioneers of Gravity Falls left behind some diaries, a great source of information about the town’s supernatural history, however, they’re never taken seriously. Luckily, Ford was able to find some passages about the flower from some of them.
They all described the flower’s appearance as glassy and crystal-like, something that should stand out in the green wilderness, yet, in the past few hours of scouting, they still haven't found a trace of it.
For a moment, Ford wonders if he miscalculated the blooming season. No, that can’t be it . He checked all the information he could find, and according to the dates written in the pioneers’ diaries and the research report, the flower only blooms every 55 years. He knew the stakes. The date had to be exact, otherwise, he risked losing a vital opportunity — something Ford would never let past himself. That’s why he triple checked his calculations before setting out to hike in the woods.
Sighing, the scientist pauses in his steps to pinch the bridge of his nose and think, but his train of thought is quickly interrupted.
“Ughhhhh” a weary voice groans behind him.
Ford brought Bill along only because Melody coaxed him into it. She said that the triangle rarely left the house and that this was a convenient excuse to get him out for fresh air. Ford told her that Bill didn’t need air to breathe, which might’ve been true before, but now, as he hears the loud wheezing coming from the other, he questions whether that’s still the case.
“Hey brainiac-” Bill huffs out, then pauses to take a couple of shallow breaths. “-whatever weed you’re looking for hasn’t shown up. Let’s just call it a day.”
And with that he drops himself flat on the ground, front side up and back side sinking into the mossy ground beneath him. Ford finally turns around to look at him, annoyance clear on his face.
“Could you at least pretend to take this more seriously? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
“‘Once-in-a-lifetime’ for you, schmuck. You meatsacks and your miserable life spans. I mean I’ve been around since the dawn of time. I’ve seen empires rise and fall, and you’re worried about a little weed?” Bill scoffs, not bothering to get up or look at the other.
Ford, however, was fed up. He tried to ignore Bill the entire trip. Hell, he tried to ignore the fact that Bill was even alive and living with them in the Mystery Shack. Then again, anything about Bill is just impossible to ignore.
The man huffs in frustration, then stomps over to where the triangle lays. “Why are you even here?”
“Because Mel threatened to take away my computer time for a week if I didn’t-”
“You know that’s not what I meant.” Ford interjected.
Bill was silent for a moment, then he finally sat up and glared at the other. “It’s not like I chose to come back to Gravity Falls. I was sent here! I didn’t have a choice, smartass!”
“Nonsense! I know you’re planning something! Tell the truth, demon!”
“Whatever” Bill crossed his arms and rolled his eye. “I told you what I know, whether you believe me or not is not my problem.”
The triangle got up from his resting spot and dusted himself off, causing the bits of green that were stuck to his work shirt to fall back to the ground. His attitude remained arrogant and that’s what Ford hated most. Bill was supposed to be gone, but since an ancient being resurrected him for unknown reasons, he’s alive and acts like he’s got nothing to be modest about. Like he never ruined 30 years of Ford’s life. Like he didn’t almost kill his family. Like he deserves a second chance.
The man narrowed his eyes at the triangle, who was now adjusting his top hat. He knows that starting an argument is a bad idea, petty even, but even Ford had his limits and trying to ignore his problem (and his only problem being Bill) isn’t going to fix things. His patience has been wearing thin ever since Bill came back, and this expedition is what finally made him snap.
Ford silently brought out his photon laser gun from its holster and aimed it at the back of the unsuspecting shape; but as soon as he turned on the power switch, the gun began whirring into life. Alarmed by the sound, Bill spun around. He saw the weapon pointed at him, and before Ford pulled the trigger, Bill dived to the side, dodging the surging beam of photons just in time.
Rolling onto his back, Bill winced at the stinging pain of his scraped knees. He looked at the gaping crater where he'd just been standing moments ago, the charred earth still smoking ominously.
“What in the name of all dimensions are you trying to do?!” Bill shrieked as he turned to the man who nearly killed him.
“Doing all of us a favour!” Ford sneered, repositioning his gun on Bill. The dense forest offered perfect seclusion, no witnesses to the justice he was about to deliver. He wouldn't let anything stand in the way of ending the pesky, little bastard.
Bill’s eye widened at the threat, a show of panic that Ford savoured before firing his gun again. Unfortunately, he missed and Bill was now fleeing through the woods trying to save his own hypotenuse from getting shot. Ford grumbled, his frustration evident, but he quickly set off in pursuit, confident that he had the advantage.