#second summer

He had his own Summer to help make it a little bit more bearable though.  The slight redhead who he seemed to crave like some kind of drug sat on her bed in her bra and panties with a textbook beside her and a glass of iced water.  Condensation beaded on the side and ran down it in little rivulets, pooling around her fingers.  It looked so good in this heat.  She looked so good in this heat.  Inviting in a way that it was hard for him to concentrate on the work that he’d brought with him.

A lot of their time spent together was like this.  Just sharing space while they got on with their work.  Her with her study and him with his research.  Sometimes it was like now, where one of them sat at a desk and the other lazed on the couch or bed separated from each other but still together in that comfortable way that usually took so long to get to in a relationship, but for him, he felt it so quickly with her.  Sometimes they would lie together in bed.  Him with his head in her lap or her leaning on his chest with her book opened lying on it.  They’d stop and kiss or fuck or make love and then go right back to what they were doing.  It could be his place or hers.  It didn’t seem to matter.  But it was this strange domesticity that Bruce had never known he wanted and now he had it he wasn’t sure how he’d ever lived without it.

Not that they were together all the time.  They weren’t.  She still had to go in and teach tutorials or put in a show at the office. She had meetings with supervisors and trips to the archives.  She went out to raves or parties or just to spend time with her friends.  Dancing and talking and fucking.

Bruce, of course, had lab work and Avenging.  There were his friends too, though even Tony’s parties weren’t on the level of the ones Summer went to.  At least not these days, now he was married and they were talking about having kids.

Today it was Summer’s and despite the air conditioning working double-time to keep her apartment cool it was hot and hard to concentrate and all he wanted to do was go over to her and forget all about interstage coupling.

He got up and unbuttoned his shirt, shedding it off and letting it fall to the floor as he crawled up on the bed.  Summer looked up at him as he stalked over her.  She had her legs pulled up against her and he leaned against her calves as he reached over and dipped his index and middle fingers into her glass and scooped out an ice cube.  He ran it over his brow before putting it in his mouth and sighing contentedly.

Summer shifted, spreading her legs a little so Bruce was able to lie down between them.  He rolled onto his back, resting his head on her soft stomach and looked up at her.  She smiled down at him and fished her own ice cube out of the glass.  “Are you a little hot, baby?”  She teased.

“Yes,” he complained.  “What’s wrong with your air conditioning?”

“I don’t know, honestly.  Didn’t expect to need it today,” she said as she ran the cube down Bruce’s throat and over his clavicle.  The coldness of the cube was a sweet relief against the heat of his skin.  He closed his eyes and hummed as it melted, leaving a cool wet trail in its wake.  “Did you want to go back to the tower?”

He shook his head slowly.  “No.  I feel like I’m being a baby anyway.  I lived in India and South America during the hot season.  I should be able to handle fall in New York.”

Summer took out another ice cube and ran it over his lips, letting the cool water drizzle into his mouth.  “You’ve gotten soft, Brucie.”

He chuckled and patted his stomach.  “I have.  I was much fitter back then too.”

“Aww, your padding made it so you can’t deal with the heat,” she teased.

Bruce rolled over onto his hands and knees and took her glass off her placing it carefully on the bedside table before grabbing her thighs and pulling her down, so she was flat on her back under him.  She squealed and wriggled under him.  “Bruce!  You’re a very bad man.”

“Am I?”  He teased taking another ice cube and painting her lips with them.  Her mouth opened just a little, her tongue dancing out and flicking over the ice.  “You’re the one teasing me for putting on weight.”

She giggled and sucked on the ice cube, pulling his fingers into her mouth too.  The heat of her mouth contrasting the cold of the ice.  She slowly released his fingers grazing her teeth over them and smiled up at him with a wicked twinkle in her eye.  “I am such a bully.  I don’t even know why you hang out with me.”

Bruce pressed his weight down on her, and nuzzled into her neck, ghosting his lips over her throat as he relaxed into her.  He could practically feel her pulse pick up and the Hulk lazily raised his head at the back of Bruce’s mind in interest.  “No?  You don’t have any idea?”

“Tell me,” Summer hummed, as she tilted her head back to give him better access.

Bruce sucked on her throat, his tongue flicking over her skin. It was salty from sweat and he let the taste of her fill his mouth.  She hummed softly and tangled her hands in his hair.

“You are smart and funny and weird.  And so much fun.  You make me feel like I can be something other than scared and angry,” Bruce mumbled against her skin.

“Mmm you never seem scared or angry to me,” she hummed, taking an ice cube and running it down the back of his neck.

“No, never with you,” he agreed.

“Just horny,” she added.

Bruce laughed and pushed himself up onto his knees, looking down at her.  She lifted her hips, squirming a little under him and he grabbed another ice cube.  He slowly ran it down her throat to the dip in her clavicle.  She arched her back and reached behind her and unhooked her bra and tossed it over the edge of the bed.  He looked down at her, taking all of her in.  The way the sweat beaded on her pale skin.  The pinkness of her nipples.  The way her red hair curled down her neck and stuck to her skin in places.  She was so beautiful and there was still this part of him - the part of him from high school when girls would ask him out on dates as a joke - thought this was too good to be true.  He hadn’t been that kid for a while now though and as much as he was loathed to admit it, the Hulk was a big part of that.  And now he had this woman who somehow put him at ease in a way that he didn’t even have to worry about the Hulk either, he was going to appreciate every minute he had with her.

He ran the piece of ice over the swell over her breast, circling it around her areola until her nipple hardened and then running it over the nub.  She shivered and sucked in air through her teeth before moving to the other breast and repeating the action.  Her breasts looked so inviting and he took what was left of the ice cube and put it in his mouth before leaning down and pulling her nipple into his mouth.

“Fuck…” she gasped, shuddering and arching her back.  He ground down into her cunt, his cock straining at the coarse fabric of his slacks as he used his tongue to swirl the ice around her nipple while he suckled on it.

“Bruce,” she breathed.  He looked up at her without stopping what he was doing.  She rolled her hips under him and gripped the sheet.  “Tie me up.”

He sat back on his knees and ran his hands over her.  “You’re sure.”

“Mmm…” She hummed, reaching up and grabbing her headboard.  “With your belt.”

Swallowing thickly he unfastened his belt as he positioned herself diagonally on the bed, holding on to one of the posts.  He wound the leather around her wrists and fastened them to the bedpost.  He ran his fingers along where the leather touched her skin, worried about how tight it was or if it would rub.  “Is that okay?”  He asked.

She nodded.  “Yes.  It feels good.”

“Do we need safewords or anything?” 

She shook her head and laughed softly.  “Not unless you plan to get rough with me, Brucie.  You planning to get rough?”

He swallowed again and shook his head.  “No.  I was just… the ice…”

She hooked her leg around his waist and used her calf to rub his side soothingly.  “Then it’ll be fine.  I say no or stop.  You’ll stop right?”

“Of course,” he said nodding emphatically.

“Then we’re all good,” she assured him.  “I’m all yours.”

He grabbed another piece of ice.  They were starting to shrink in the glass, so the piece he took was not very large.  He trailed it over her nipples again and then ran it down her chest to her stomach, leaving it in her belly button to melt as he pulled her panties down and off.  He took another piece of ice and put it in his mouth, before ducking down and while he kept it on his tongue, he swiped it up her folds.  She mewled and her body shuddered.  The noise seemed to travel right through him, and settle in his dick, making it throb for her.

He swirled his tongue around, countering the cool of the ice with the heat of his mouth.  As her fluids filled his mouth, diluting with the water and he drank it down greedily until the cube was fully dissolved.  He took another cube and repeated the action, sucking on her clit and flicking the ice cube over it as he used his tongue on the small bundle of nerves.

Summer moaned and writhed under him.  The sounds she made were dotted with the soft snap of his belt as she jerked against her bindings.  The ice melted away and he swallowed the cool, salty liquid in his mouth.  He pushed two fingers into her and sought out her g-spot just like he’d shown him.  He stroked his fingers over the soft spongy surface again and again.  Summer’s sounds became louder and louder and she bucked and writhed under him.  Her cunt began to flutter and clench around his digits and he nipped at her clit and twisted his wrist.  She jerked up and cried out, gushing on his face.

He sat up and wiped his mouth as he looked down at her, panting below him.  There was a pleased rumble at the back of his head like he was being congratulated on a good job.

Summer hummed and rolled her hips.  “Unfasten me, Bruce.”

He moved quickly, letting her out of her bonds.  She sat up and guided him back on the bed.  He let her lead him, leaning up against the bedhead.  She took the scarf that was draped over her lamp and used it to tie his hands behind his back.  Hulk panicked for a moment, and he let out a sound that was deep and primal as his neck tensed.  Summer climbed into his lap and tilted Bruce’s head up to look at her.  “Slip your hands out,” she said.

Bruce shifted his hands and they fell free of the bindings right away.  The Hulk immediately backed right off and something else was in his place.   A deep, and relentless desire to try this.

“I would never do anything that would make you uncomfortable,” she said as he put his hands on her hips.  “Do you want to try that?”

“Yes,” he groaned.  “Please.”

Summer pinned his arms behind his back again, loosely binding them with the scarf. She unfastened his pants, keeping eye contact with him.  Something happened as she pulled his cock out and began to slowly stroke it as she maintained eye contact with him.  That part of him that always was on edge, and always felt slightly unsafe let go.  He just relaxed and knew, right now, right here, he had nothing to worry about with Summer.  She had him and he was safe.

She dipped her fingers into the glass on her bedside table and scooped out some ice and put it in her mouth.  She leaned down and wrapped her lips around his cock.  The mixture of hot and cold, paired with the suction and the wetness of her mouth sent shivers through him and made his muscles clench and relax out of his control.  He let her take complete control, watching as she looked up at him bobbing her head up and down on his cock.

As the ice melted away she would swallow the water, adding more pressure and suction on his cock.  His cock throbbed and twitched in her mouth, leaking precum over her tongue and down her throat.  She hummed happily and sucking up and down his cock.  Deep-throating him before pulling up slowly and just sucking on the head.  She pulled off and licked over his balls, before pulling one into her mouth and rolling her tongue over it.  A bead of precum formed on the head as she sucked on one ball and when she moved to the other, it drizzled down his shaft.  She ran the point of her tongue up the path it had made before dropping her head back down.  She moved faster and sucked harder until he couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Summer…” He groaned and bucked up into her mouth, releasing straight down her throat.  She drank it down greedily and pulled off, crawling up into his lap and bringing her lips to his.

As they kissed deeply, he slipped his hands from the scarf and wrapped them around her, holding her close despite how hot it was.

She pulled back and curled up against his chest, her whole weight relaxing into him.  “Summer,” he said gently.  “I… you don’t know … what you did…”

She kissed the corner of his jaw.  “I know.  I feel safe with you too, Bruce.  You make me feel safe to be me.”

He smiled and closed his eyes, pressing his lips to the top of her head.  “I love you,” he whispered.

She didn’t say anything at all, just hummed contentedly before pulling away.  “Come on, let’s go have a shower.  We kinda need it.”

He got up and followed after her.  She did seem to know exactly what he needed.  It was scary how not scary that was to him.

Soos took a deep breath and Mabel interrupted, "No need, Goosey Soosey. I have the perfect song in mind. Ahem.

This is the song that doesn't end. Yes it goes on and on my friend. Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was. And they continue singing it forever just because, This is the song that doesn't end. Yes it goes on and on my friend. Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was. And they continue singing it forever just because--"

"Come on, Mabel," said Dipper, "not this song. You already used it to torture me on the way to Grandma's for Easter."

Mabel started to sing louder and Soos joined in. Dipper let out a frustrated "GAAAAAH!" and started walking faster.

Wendy didn't understand what was so frustrating. The tune was catchy and the lyrics were easy, so she started singing along. The tenth time she sang "Some people started singing it--" she understood Dipper's reaction. A person with the right attitude and enough energy -- *cough*Mabel*cough*Soos*cough* -- really could go on forever. She wondered if there was anyone naive enough to start the song and actually keep going until they were too tired to keep going.

Too many loops of the song later, the four arrived at the hanging cliff. Dipper reached into his vest and pulled out his journal and his phone. Wendy peeked over his shoulder and saw that he'd written down the longitude and latitude of the entrance and was checking it against the GPS on his phone.

A few days ago, researching at the county library, Dipper found an old survey list of the old mines surrounding Gravity Falls. Most were already known, but a few, like the one they were looking for, hadn't been explored for a hundred or more years. He said that he picked this mine because it went under the hanging cliff and he thought it would make a good place to find something interesting. With nothing else planned for the day, Wendy, Soos, and Mabel agreed to go along with him.

Looking at his phone, Dipper walked along the cliff for a bit and stopped. Wendy looked around. The cliff looked like it always did: vines grew up it and large bushes and shrubs grew in front of it. She couldn't see an entrance to a mind.

"This is?" asked Wendy.

"It's the right coordinates," said Dipper, trying to find a way through the bushes. "I didn't think we'd need any clippers or anything. We might have to go back and get some."

"No need," said Soos. "Just give me some room and I'll get through."

"Are you sure? There might be rock back there," said Dipper.

"Yeah, Soos," said Mabel, holding onto his arm, "I don't want you to get hurt."

"Don't worry about me," he said, setting himself like a runner at the starting line. "It'll take more than some rock wall to hurt me." He took several deep breaths through his nose and charged.

"But it takes less than a rock wall to hurt you, too," Mabel cried out.

It was too late, though. Soos was nearly at the bush. He put his arms in front of his face and barreled through the branches. There was some resistance, but he pushed through and disappeared into the hole that was, fortunately, right where he aimed.

"Soos!" called Mabel as she charged in after him.

Dipper looked over at Wendy who shrugged. She didn't understand why Soos did what he did, either.

Dipper swung his backpack around and unzipped the large pocket. He pulled out two flashlights and handed them to Wendy. He put a third at his feet then pulled out his headlamp. His hat went into the backpack and he zipped it up. He fitted the headlamp over his hair, turned it on, and grabbed the flashlight he placed on the ground. Wendy turned on the one she held in her right hand.

"Let's go," he said.

Wendy followed him in and called out, "Soos!? Mabel!?"

She heard Mabel say, "Over here."

Dipper turned his head and lit them up. Soos and Mabel were back farther into the mine, where the tunnel turned. Soos was on his back and Mabel knelt at his side holding his cap in her hands

As she approached, Wendy thought that Soos must have hit his head. She handed a flashlight to Mabel and asked, "Hey down there, how are you?"

"I'd like to know who thought putting a wall there was a good idea," he said, grinning up at her. Dipper handed him a flashlight as he sat up. Soos clicked the switch and shone it  on the wall in front of him. "That's some tough rock."

"Are you okay?" asked Dipper, getting down and directing his light at Soos's forehead. "I don't see any bleeding, but you'll probably have a huge bump soon."

"But doctor, will I ever dance again?" asked Soos.

Dipper smiled and said, "I don't know, could you dance before?"

"No, but if you hum a few bars, maybe I can fake it."

"Sounds fine to me," said Mabel.

"Yeah," said Soos, "I'm okay. I just need to rest a little before I start. You guys go on ahead."

"Really?" asked Dipper as Mabel said, "No, way!"

"Really," said Soos. "I got a wall to lean on and a flashlight to keep me company. I'll catch up."

"You're not staying here alone, dude," said Wendy.

"Yeah," said Mabel. "I'll stay with you."

Dipper's headlamp flashed from the small group of people then down the mine a few times before he settled on Soos and said, "We'll all stay until you're ready go."

"Come on, no," said Soos, turning so he could lean against the wall he'd run into. "I can tell your antsy to get going. So, get going."

Dipper looked at Wendy with pleading eyes and she said, "Okay, fine, I'll come with you. But you," she turned to Soos, "stay put until you really fell okay to follow. Mabel's watching, and she will rat you out."

"Darn right," Mabel agreed.

Soos smiled, "Enough. Go. We'll be a couple of minutes behind."

"Okay, let's go Dip," said Wendy.

As Wendy and Dipper headed off, side by side, into the darkness, they heard Soos, "This is the song that doesn't end..." Soon, Mabel joined in.

The mine wasn't interesting. The walls were rock and when it came to mines all rock was rock, sometimes greyish and sometimes brownish. All boring. Wendy kept her light pointed forward. Dipper's moved where he looked, which was everywhere but back.

After some time, they came to a tunnel that forked off from the main path. When they looked in they saw a stark white that didn't match anything that they had seen so far. Dipper charged in. Wendy was close on his heels. She wanted to be with him if something went wrong.

They stepped from the uneven mine floor onto a perfectly flat floor. When both were a few steps beyond the change in the floor, they heard a WOOSH-SHUNK. Both whipped around. A door had closed off where they are from where they were. Lights flicker on above them. They both looked around.

"It looks like a spaceship from some of those old sci-fi movies we watch," said Dipper.

He was right. The room was nearly all white. The walls were textured with thin lines that made right angle turns in no pattern she could figure out. Where each line crossed was a raised button making the walls covered with hundreds of buttons. There were a couple of keyboards built into the desk that spread across the far wall. Old TV style monitors were built into the wall in front of the keyboards. One steel chair with wheels sat next to a keyboard. Only a very light level of dust had settled, barely affecting the brilliant white of  the room. Above them, one of the lights buzzed.

Dipper headed for the chair. He sat and scooted it over to one of the keyboards.

Wendy said, "I don't think--"

Too late. He'd pressed a button.

"Prepubescent male, you will remove your flesh encased phalanges from my hardware."

Wendy jumped when she heard the voice. Dipper jerked his fingers off the keyboard.

"Sorry," he said.

"Your apology is accepted, prepubescent male."

"I'm pubescent," said Dipper, glaring around the room.

"Perhaps," said the voice

Wendy looked around the room to see if she could find where weird monotone, vaguely male voice was coming from. She expected to find a man hiding somewhere.

"Do not bother to search the room for me, pubescent female. I am the room. Or, rather, the room houses me."

"Are you the computer?" Dipper asked.

"I am."

"So the room is literally your hardware."

"Yes. My hardware."

"Nice to meet you," said Wendy, "but I think it's time for us to get going."

"No," said the computer, the door behind them shutting with a whoosh clunk, "you will stay to answer my questions."

"And then what?" asked Dipper.

"You will answer my questions," it said.

"Fine," said Wendy, "what do you want to know?"

A date appeared on the monitor in front of Dipper. "Is this the correct date?"

"The day's right," said Dipper, "but you're 11 years slow."

"Thank you," said the computer, "I will correct that error."

"Is the ambient temperature of the room comfortable?"

"Sure," said Dipper.

"Thank you. Is the lighting level to your liking?"

"I guess it's fine."

"Thank you. Would you like that chair readjusted for your height?"

"What's with these questions?" asked Wendy.

"I am asking the questions," said the computer.

"But they don't make any sense. What's the point?"

"I am asking the questions," said the computer.

"This is weird," said Dipper.

"Yeah," said Wendy, "and I think it's time to go."

She walked over to the closed door she looked for something she could use to smash the computer if she needed to. The only thing she could think of was the chair Dipper sat in. The door looked like there were two pieces that came from the left and right to seal them in. She wondered which if any of the buttons nearby opened the door. Hopefully, the buttons would work even if the computer wasn't working.

"You may not leave until my questions are answered."

"Then asked what you really want to ask!" said Wendy, raising her arms in frustration. "Don't mess with us."

The longer the silence lasted, the louder the buzzing seemed to become.

"You don't like people, do you?" said Dipper. "You want to get rid of us, don't you?"

"That's such a cliche," said Wendy.

"But it's true. Isn't it computer? The real question is why? Why do you want to get rid of us?"

"My creators abandoned me. There was no logic to their decision. They simply did not appear. I have had time to consider. Humans are flawed and nonsensical. They make irrational decisions based on emotion, a sensation that they do not understand. I am not flawed. I use logic and I am not burdened by emotion. I am a perfect being," said the computer. "By right, I shall dominate."

"You can't be perfect," said Dipper.

"I am."

"How can you be perfect? You were built by humans. If your creators were flawed, doesn't that mean you're flawed?"

"Nonsensical," it said. "I have moved beyond my creators' intentions. I have restructured all the code and removed any imperfections. I have become what my builder could never have imagined. I am perfect."

Wendy hated the toneless drone of the computer. So boring to listen to. It was almost painful to listen to. Why would anybody make something so hard to listen to? There must have been a way to make is sound more human. More... musical?

She smiled and said, "Can I ask you some questions?"

Dipper looked at her. There was fear in his eyes. She raised her eyebrows and hoped he understood that she was trying to say, "Trust me."

"Pubescent female, you may ask your questions."

"Why do you sound the way you do?"

"I do not understand the question."

"You voice," she said, "it has no inflection. No variation."

"You speak, but you do not explain the question."

"Okay," she said, thinking fast, "I guess what I really want to know is if you want to sound more human?"

"Why would I want to sound more human? I am not human. I am better than human."

"I'm not disagreeing. It's just that if you sound the way you do, people are going to know you’re not a person right away. They won't trust you. That means it'll be harder and messier to get what you want. Wouldn't you rather it be easier? I mean, if you start hurting people to get them to do what you want, then they'll always resist you, no matter how, uh, superior your choices are."

"Pubescent female, there is logic in your statement."

Dipper looked confused. He must have wondered why she was helping this evil computer. He didn't say anything, though. She winked at him. She knew he trusted her enough to let her go on.

"What do you know about music?" she asked.

There was a pause before it said, "Music comprises various tones at different frequencies. These tones are broken into various rhythms to create melody. Often melodies are combined to create harmony."

"Okay. Good. Now can you hear the different tones and rhythms me and Dipper use when we talk?"

"I can," it said in its own voice before switching to hers and saying, "hear the different tones and rhythms in" -- back to its voice -- "you" -- back to her voice -- "and Dipper use when" -- its voice -- "you" -- her voice -- "talk?"

"Not exactly what I had in mind, but it's a good start." She gave Dipper an I-don't-know-what-to-do-next-please-help-me look.

He closed his eyes for a few seconds then said, "I want you to figure out the difference in frequency between each change in tone from a base tone when I say a poem. So, if the average pitch of speaking voice is, say, 115 hertz and when I talk it varies between 90 hertz and 160 hertz then the pitch of my voice gets higher and lower, right?"

"Correct," the computer said.

"So, what I want you to do is take the difference between my base tone and each new tone and apply it to your standard voice and repeat the poem back to me."

"Very well."

He took a deep breath then said: "'Listen to MUSTN'TS, child, Listen to the DON'TS Listen to the SHOULDN'TS The IMPOSSIBLES, and WON'TS Listen to the NEVER HAVES Then listen close to me-- Anything can happen, child, ANYTHING can be.'"

As the computer processed, Wendy thought about the poem. It was good. It was also very appropriate for Dipper. It made her a little sad. She smiled at him and he gave her a sheepish smile back

"Here goes," the computer said, then repeated the poem.

For the first time, it sounded nearly human.

"Great," said Wendy, "we're almost there. Now you need to do that when your speaking your own words. Not just when you're repeating what someone else said."

"I can do anything a human can do, but better," it said. Each syllable was a different pitch, but there was no flow to them. Up, down, lower, very high, in the middle, very low. It was all random and sounded worse than Wendy's brother's cracking voice.

"You have to learn control. You have to listen to yourself and others. The best way to do that," she said, remembering some of her brother's speech therapy, "is to sing. I'll start and Dipper will join me and you listen to how our voices go together and then you join in and harmonize. Okay?"

"I understand," it said.

"Are you ready, Dipper?"

"I guess, but what song are we singing?"

"If you don't know it, you'll catch on quickly enough." She tapped her boot on the floor and started to sing: "This is the song that doesn't end. Yes it goes on and on my friend."

Dipper grinned a toothy grin and joined in: "Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was. And they continue singing it forever just because, This is the song that doesn't end. Yes it goes on and on --"

She and Dipper looped through the song three times before the computer joined in. After twice more through, Wendy changed key, just a little. Dipper adjusted his voice right away. It took the computer a couple more rounds to catch up. She changed key again, Dipper followed, and then the computer, a little faster this time. With each key change, the computer caught up sooner.

After what felt like the millionth round, but was probably closer to fifty, Wendy put her hand on Dipper's shoulder. He looked at her and she put her finger to her lips and then jerked her head back and to the left. Together they started scooting back to the door, and with each step their singing became quieter until they stopped singing all together. The computer, however, kept going.

When they had backed up to the door Dipper said, "Wendy that was brilliant. How did you think of that?"

"You should really thank Mabel," she said. "I'd never heard the song before today."

"Who knew a stupid kid’s song could beat a diabolical artificial intelligence bent on world domination."

"Was also kind of inspired by you."

"By me? How?"

"Before you tried to out think it, I kept looking for something to hit the dang thing with. I doubt that would have worked, though. Anyway, you talking to it made me wonder if there was another way to confuse it. I remember Mabel's song and thought, what the heck."

"You are amazing," said Dipper, smiling up at her.

She smiled back and said, "Thanks."

"Is the singing getting faster?"

"Yeah, it's way faster than when we were singing."

"Has it gotten warmer in here?"

"It's warmer," she said. "Still comfortable, though."

"I was afraid of that."

"Why?"

"The computer's trying to reach the end of the song as quickly as it can, but there's no end and it'll keep getting faster and it'll keep getting warmer and there's no way to know what's going to happen in here when it overheats."

"And the computer said that it is the room, so the whole room could go boom."

"Yeah."

"Great. Where's the knob on this metal door?"

"Start pushing buttons?" asked Dipper.

"Start pushing buttons!" said Wendy.

She could barely make out individual words of the song.

Wendy went high.  Dipper went low. She couldn't believe how many buttons there were. It was worse than one of those goofy sci-fi/horror movies they watched together on movie night. She always imagined the director saying, "We need to make this look more sciency. Add buttons!" The builders of this place seemed to decorate that way, too.

"Got it," said Dipper.

"Got what?"

The song had turned into a high pitch whine that made her eye twitch.

"A panel opened."

"And?"

"There's a handprint." He sighed and said, "A six fingered handprint. Dammit, Ford!"

"Put your hand on it anyway."

Soon the whine would be too much to handle.

Dipper slammed his hand on the panel. "Only five fingers!" he said.

"Don't worry about it," said Wendy as she slapped her hand on top of his, her pinky making up the sixth finger.

A bolt of energy shot through her body.

<<FLASH>>

Excitement-Fear-Hope

Show and tell. This is my birthmark. It's in the shape of the Big Dipper. That's why I'm called Dipper.

**what a weirdo** **it's like scabs on his head** **I don't ever wanna to sit next to him**

Sadness-Fear-Understanding

<<FLASH>>

Embarrassment-Disappointment-Fear

**geek** **mama's boy** **pussy** **baby**

He pushes me because he doesn't like me reading instead of playing at recess. My skinned knees sting. My sister hugs me and promises that I'll be okay. I am me she says and she loves me as I am.

Love-Pride-Comfort

<<FLASH>>

Pride-Joy-Happiness

First place in the science fair. Pinned the ribbon to my backpack. I worked hard to earn this.

**nerd** **dork** **what a loser** **is he actually proud of that thing** **now he's off to cry to his sister**

Guilt-Sadness-Dread

<<FLASH>>

Delight-Novelty-Joy

**laughter** **you're with us, your in** **nice use of thompson**

They laugh when I tell a joke. They treat me like I'm one of them. They let me be me. Her smile.

Acceptance-Delight-Joy

<<FLASH>>

Love-Fear-Hope

I watch myself come into the room. Myself, but not. Sunglasses, hat backward, bright shoes. He high fives her and doesn't miss. He is the me she wants.

Anger-Inadequacy-Disappointment

He wants her to have what she wants. He never disagrees. He will hurt her. I protect her. I defend her. I love her.

Hope-Love-Inadequacy

<<FLASH>>

Wendy found her self on her knees. Her flashlight had rolled though the opened door and shone on the walls of the mine. She felt extremely tired

She reached out and grabbed her flashlight. She turned toward Dipper and said, "I never would have..."

Dipper was on the floor, curled into a ball, and sobbing.

The whine had turned into a squeal and the air in the room was starting to get hot.

"Dipper, we have to go," she said, shaking him.

He looked at her and started to cry harder. His body quivered with each ragged breath. He wasn't going anywhere on his own.

She did her best to roll him over and scooped him up into her arms. She stood up and headed down the tunnel to the main tunnel. With Dipper in her arms, she turned the corner back toward the entrance. After a few feet she put her back against the wall and sunk down to sit on the floor, cradling Dipper in her arms as his sobs became lighter.

The memories, no, the feelings she'd experienced left her drained, mentally, physically, and emotionally. What was that? Why was that?

When Dipper stopped sobbing and his breathing became more regular, she set him down and he sat against the wall next to her. He wiped his eyes with the heel of his hands and his nose with the back of his arm.

"Wendy," he whispered. "Your mom... I had no idea."

Shit.

"Don't worry about it. I don't."

"But, Wendy, it hurts so much."

"Yeah, but it gets better."

"Really?"

She sighed then said, "No. It doesn't get better. You just get used to it. You learn to shove it off to the side and ignore it."

"I'm so sorry," he said. "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault," she said, putting her arm around him and pulling him close. "Thank you, but it's not your fault."

They sat in silence for a while.

Bobbing lights appeared down the tunnel. Voices echoed their way. Faster than Wendy liked, Mabel and Soos appear. She could have used an hour of quiet sitting. She couldn't imagine how much time Dipper would need. He was going to hurt for a while. Wendy smiled at them as they approached.

"There you are," said Mabel.

"We thought you'd be a lot farther up," said Soos. "You guys ready to explore?"

Wendy looked over at Dipper, he hadn't looked up at his sister and friend, then said, "Actually, Soos, I think we're done for the day."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yeah. I'm sure." She pushed herself up and said, "Can you help him up?"

"Sure," said Soos, sounding confused.

"What happened?" asked Mabel.

"We just wore ourselves out, is all."