For the last two days, things have been going smoothly. More or less.

Their profits have been raising surely, but Will didn't like how this had turned his brother into a bit of a tyrant. Bill gave orders without a moment's hesitation, and refused to listen to anyone else's ideas. Will wasn't the only one frustrated by this, and on the start of the third day, he complained about this to Wendy.

"I think he's just stressed out about Stan," Wendy noted, while reading a magazine by the counter.

"Still, he's not alone in this," Will said. "He doesn't have to be such a jerk."

"Since when was your brother not a jerk?"

"Good point."

Wendy closed her magazine, so she could look him in the eyes. "For one, I agree that Bill needs to cool it," She admitted. "Mabel was pretty upset that she couldn't collaborate her idea, and that goes for me too."

"Oh yeah, you wanted to catch a creature for an exhibit?"

She nodded. "I thought it'd be cool, and it wasn't like I was gonna let it run loose."

"I believe you on that," Will said, recalling that his redheaded friend was an expert monster slayer.

"But, it's alright, I guess," Wendy sighed.

Will frowned, looking at her thoughtfully. Before he could have a second thought, he said. "Maybe...you can include your idea."

Wendy looked at him in surprise. "What? But, didn't Bill refuse?"

"We didn't clarify who the boss was of this operation," Will reminded. "This shack belongs to the both of us, so I think my word should count too."

"Hmm, that makes sense," Wendy admitted, then smiled. "And thanks for giving me a chance. You won't regret it."

"Of course," Will smiled back. "I'll take your shift, while you're out."

"Great!" She beamed, stepping away from the counter. "See you later, hopefully with something awesome."

Then, the redheaded Guardian walked out, leaving Will to stand behind the counter. He looked worryingly at the door, before turning to the spot in front of him.

This was a good idea, He thought, trying to convince himself.

❇❇❇

Meanwhile, Bill was busy working on an exhibit, a stuffed antelope with a six-pack, when Mabel confronted him.

"Bill, I finally finished the costume for Dipper," She smiled.

"What took so long, Shooting Star?" Bill remarked. "Couldn't you have poofed one up in thin air?"

"It's more fun if I put actual effort into it," Mabel insisted. Then, she turned around. "Dipper! Come out, and show Bill!"

"Mabel, I look stupid in this!" Dipper called from the other room.

"No, you look like a friendly suburban mascot!" Mabel remarked. "C'mon, I worked hard on that outfit, the least you can do is show it off."

There was a heavy sigh on Dipper's part, then the brunette slowly stepped in. Bill's eyes widened. The male Guardian was wearing a pair of grey furry pants, with fake wolf ears, and fake wolf paws covering his hands. His torso was bare, revealing his toned chest and stomach, something that Bill found hard not to look at.

"OK, I don't hate this," Bill admitted.

"Thank you," Mabel said, proudly. "When I started thinking about potential mascot ideas, I first thought about kittens, cuz' kittens are great. But then I realize, the shack is located in the woods, and you know what else is in the woods? Wolves!"

Dipper blushed harshly, trying to cover his chest with his arms. "This is so embarrassing."

"In retrospect, I should've added a shirt," Mabel admitted. "But, I couldn't find anymore material."

"No need, the revealing clothing will pull in teenage girls and lonely housewives in no time," Bill grinned, eyeing Dipper's midsection.

"Bill, I am this close to throttling you!" Dipper snapped.

"You can spend that throttling time, by practicing your selfies, because people will be asking for them."

"Bill, I swear to Axolotl--"

"What, do you want a raise for that?"

"What I want, is for you to stop staring at me like that!" Dipper deadpanned, though it was depleted by his red face and stuttering tone.

"Staring like what?" Bill asked.

The brunette looked physically in pain when he replied. "Like...like you...want me."

Immediately, a silence drifted into the air, as Bill could only stare at the blushing brunette before him. Mabel looked between them awkwardly.

"Uh, bye," She said, before running off.

Dipper quickly turned away, as though too embarrassed to face Bill. The blond finally snapped out of it, but continued to stare at Dipper.

"Pine Tree, may I ask when it was applied that I would want you in that way?"

Dipper winced, as though something in the blond's words stung him. He hesitantly turned to face Bill. "The morning after Summerween, I thought that--"

"You ran off before I could explain myself!" Bill insisted. "The night of Summerween, you grabbed me in your sleep, and you wouldn't let go. That's how I ended up in your arms that morning."

Dipper's eyes widened, then he bowed his head. "I'm so sorry."

Bill regarded him in sympathy. "It's alright, let's forget it ever happened. Alright?"

"Yeah," He agreed, softly.

Bill felt a blush of his own surging up his neck, and he ignored it. He had to change the subject, or else the air will grow more uncomfortable. Fortunately, there was something on his mind that he was hoping to bring up with the Guardian for a while.

"Pine Tree, at the night of Summerween, you remember the Oak twins, right?"

"It'd be weird if I didn't."

Bill trudged carefully as he spoke. "You see, your counterpart...he's been cursed, by Kill himself."

Dipper's eyes widened in shock. "What does this curse do, exactly?"

"From what I learnt, it makes him go crazy violent whenever he's really angry."

"I see," The brunette said, looking troubled by this.

Bill looked at him intently, trying not to get his hopes up. "Is there a way to break the curse?"

"I'm sorry, it's impossible to break a Demon's curse," Dipper said, sorrowfully. "Unless--"

By then, Bill caught the sound of the front door opening, and people pouring in. "Customers!" He announced. "We'll discuss this later, Pine Tree."

"But, Bill--"

Bill couldn't hear him, because he already walked away. Later, Bill welcomed the customers in with hospitality, and another day of work began.

❇❇❇

Will blinked. "Wendy...what is that?"

Wendy had recently brought in a huge cage covered with linen. Under the coverage, were a series of growls and hisses.

"I can't remember the name, exactly," Wendy admitted. She looked like she was racking her brain, before her face lit up with recognition. "Oh! It's called a Gremloblin."

The creature growled loudly, and Will looked at the cage fearfully. "Wendy, I thought you'd catch something small and easy to contain! Like a gnome or a pixie, or a cute baby deer!"

"It's either go big or go home, that's what life taught me," Wendy said. "Also, it's perfectly contained...probably."

"Bill is going to freak when he sees this," Will panicked.

"You're right about that."

Will stiffened with fear, before slowly turning around. Unsurprisingly, he saw Bill standing behind him, with a scowl on his face.

"What is that?" Bill demanded, pointing to the cage.

"A Gremloblin..." Will answered, sheepishly.

"And what is it doing in the shack?" The blond interrogated, stepping closer.

Will rubbed the back of his head. "I told Wendy to along with her suggestion."

Bill glared. "And you did it, without consulting with me first?"

"If I did, you would've tried to dictate the situation again."

"What do you mean by that?"

Meanwhile, the cage nearby started shaking furiously, but the twins didn't notice. Wendy did, however, and she turned to the brothers urgently. "Guys..."

Will didn't hear the distress in her voice, and stared determinedly at Bill. "For the past few days, you made us work non stop, without any appreciation in return."

"Oh, in that case, sorry for not coddling you in the workplace," Bill remarked, sarcastically.

"I'm not asking to be coddled!" Will snapped. "These are your friends, the least you can do, is be nice to them."

Wendy spoke again. "Guys, I think the monster is feeding off your negative energy, maybe you should--"

"I'm trying to get our home back," Bill shot back. "And, I would like it if you stop keeping things behind my back!"

"It's hard not to, when you act the way you do!"

"ENOUGH!"

Both twins turned, seeing Wendy trying to hold the cage shut, as the hatch shook in it's hinges.

"Stop fighting, and help me!" She yelled, desperately trying to hold on.

Like that, their argument was forgotten, and they rushed to give Wendy assistance. However, it was too late. The three were flung across the room, as the cage swung open. The Cipher brothers landed on the floor, while Wendy was thrown to the wall and collapsed.

There was a loud roar, and the twins spun in horror, when they saw a ferocious monster crawl out of it's confinement. Terrified, the brothers ran to Wendy's sides, trying to gain her attention, but she was unconscious.

"Red, wake up!" Bill screamed, but she was unresponsive.

Another roar pieced the air, and they turned back to the monster. It bared it's slobbering tusked teeth, before charging at them.