'Yeah! Game night!' Fionna whooped as she ran over the gold tinted hills, the sun painting wide orange streaks across the sky as it set to her left. Cake trailed sulkily behind her, pouting.
' Fionna, my game night is Card Wars with Lord. Why do I have to come with you to Mar-mar's?' She whined, her tail drooping and her ears turned back. Fionna looked back at the cat and rolled her eyes, putting a hand on her hip. Ever since the adventuress had turned eighteen, it seemed that a curse that had made Cake the clucky, over protective mother hen she had been althrought out her childhoods had been lifted. Now it was Lord M this, Kittens that, "Either go adventuring with me or I'm gonna bugger off to see my boyfriend."
' Cake, c'mon. Everybody's gonna be there, even Lord. I already talked with P-balls about it.' Cake twitched her whisker and sniffed.
' That's not the point. I want to play my game with my man. Not everyone else.' Fionna cast her a knowing look and giggled. Cake raised an eyebrow at her, confused.
' What you laughing 'bout?'
' Yeah, so Card Wars was totally all you had planned for this evening. Just a nice quiet card game with your boyfriend.' Fionna replied, her voice dripping with intention and sarcasm. Cake hissed at her indignantly, her cheeks turning pinkish underneath her white fur.
' What, just 'cause I finally caved and told you about tier fifteen you're suddenly an expert? Get outta here.' Fionna laughed, grabbing the straps of her backpack as she continued to trot towards Marshall's house along side her cat.
' Nah. I'm no expert. It's a bit gross, really.'
' Stop lying, Fi. If Gumball came up to you and was like, ' I love you, come up to my bedroom.' You'd go. And then you'd be like ' Oh, Gumball! Not there!' Cake squealed, putting on a breathy imitation of Fionna's voice. Fionna punched Cake in the shoulder, shaking her head.
' Ew, no! I'm so over Gumball that that's not even funny, Cakey.' Cake eyed Fionna skeptically, then blinked at her in surprise when she realised she was serious.
' But I thought you went back to liking him after you broke up with Flame Prince for the second time.'
' Nah, he's my bro. And so is FP. They're all just my bros now, I don't need no man.' Fionna said, strutting up to the cave entrance then wiggling her hips as she snapped her fingers in a z shape in front of her body.
' I'm a strong independant woman who don't need no man!' She proclaimed, striking a pose as Cake burst out laughing at her.
' Mhm, I know that's right.' The cat snickered, shrinking and climbing up Fionna's side to wriggle inside the front of her hat.
' You're also a dumb blonde in a bunny hat who knows how to shake what her mama gave her.' Fionna blushed as Marshall-lee smirked at her, poking his head out his front door. He shook his head at the suddenly shy adventuress.
' Your eloquence is astounding, Marshall.' Fionna heard Gumball say from inside the house. Marshall-lee pulled a face over his shoulder then turned his startling red eyes back to Fionna.
' C'mon in, you guys were last to get here.' He said, jerking his head and stepping back from the door as Fionna ran down the slope of the cave floor and into his unassuming lillac and cream cottage.
Inside, crowded around a low brown coffee table in front of Marshall's infamously uncomfortable couch, was Prince Gumball, Flame prince and Ice Queen. The two elementals sat on opposites sides, occasionally shooting each other suspicious glances. Lord Monochromicorn's front half was next to Gumball, and the prince was using his shoulder as an arm rest. His back half appeared to be curled up in the kitchen.
' Hello Fionna.' Gumball said, looking up and smiling as she stepped inside, Fionna waved at him politely as Ice Queen frantically gestured for her to come sit next to her. The adventuress obliged, plonking herself down in the gap between Ice Queen and her ex-boyfriend, Flame Prince.
She was mostly back on good terms with him, but they didn't really hang out one on one anymore because the last time, they had ended up making out accidently ( It had started raining and she had to keep him warm. Touching her had warmed him up well enough) and then awkwardly avoided each other for a few weeks because Fionna didn't want to start anything again. Because whenever they did, it always went great until the physical side came into question. Then it all fell apart.
' Hey, Fionna.' Flame prince said quietly as she settled down. Fionna flashed a quick glance in his direction and felt her cheeks heat up as their gazes locked. Bad pun, but he was stil smoking hot. She nodded to him nonchalantly then looked back up at Marshall-lee, willing herself not to focus on the fire prince.
Marshall-lee had seen the moment of tension between Fionna and Flame dork, but pretended not to. He was the only guy in the room Fionna didn't have history with. She'd have to come to him eventually (Heh..) but looking desperate while he waited wasn't on his to-do list
' Alrighty then, Game night. Everybody was supposed to come with something to play so lay it on me. We're playing my game last, because I said so and this is my house.' Nobody thought the vampire was being unreasonable with this statement and all eyes turned to Ice Queen when she raised her hand.
' Can we play truth or dare? Oh, I so want to play truth or dare!' Everyone except Gumball immediately rolled their eyes. The prince however, appeared interested by this suggestion.
' Actually, that was the game I was going to suggest.' This came as a surprise to everybody except Lord, who had already known his master's intentions. Fionna threw a questioning look at Gumball who shrugged, straightening out his black t-shirt.
' It's interesting. Picking truth implies you're insecure about something concerning your ability to act in a certain fashion. Picking dare implies you're trying to hide something.'
Marshall-lee sighed.
' I was hoping for something a little less ten year old girl sleepover, but alright. Simone-'
' That's me, right?' Ice Queen piped up, recognising the weird nickname Marshall-lee had for her. A shadow of sadness crossed the vampire's face before he nodded.
' Uh-huh. Your game, you start.' Ice Queen surveyed all the people in the room, narrowing her eyes when she looked at Flame Prince, who returned the favour.
' Gumball. Truth or dare?' Gumball thought for a moment as everybody watched him expectantly.
'... Dare.'
' I dare you to marry me for a week!' Gumball groaned loudly as Fionna and Cake started laughing, and Marshall-lee shook his head. Lord pounded on the ground angrily until Cake left Fionna and went to calm her boyfriend down, and Flame prince appeared bewildered.
' You can't do that!' Gumball whined, as Ice Queen scooted around the table until she was right next to him.
' Where does it say I can't? And if you say no, you lose the game.'
' And you know what happens when you lose the game.' Marshall-lee suddenly interjected, grinning mischeviously. Gumball eyed him apprehensively.
' What?'
' You have to leave. Whoever loses the game we play has to leave Game night. Victor is the last one left.' Everyone immediately started protesting this unforseen rule change until Marshall snarled viciously at all of them and they shut up.
' Like it or lump it. That's the rules.' He growled firmly, and after a little bit more whining and moaning, everyone begrudgingly accepted it.
' Fine, I'll do it! Only 'cause I don't wanna lose the game.' Gumball said, sighing morosely as Ice Queen squealed in delight and cuddled into his side.
Marshall-lee laughed at them and folded his arms.
' Congrats, Gumbutt. Your turn.' Gumball glared at Marshall, taking offence to the nickname.
' Marshall-mallow. Truth or dare.' Marshall-lee hissed at him, flushing slightly. Gumball had promised not to tell anyone that his mom called him that! Jerk.
' Dare.' He said without hesitation. Fionna immediately started bouncing up and down in her seat, reaching across and shaking Gumball's shoulder. She had the best idea for a Marshall dare.
' What, Fi?' Fionna got on to her hands and knees and leaned over Flame prince, whispering in Gumball's ear. Marshall-lee glared at Flame prince when he caught him appreciatively eying Fionna's backside. When FP noticed, he shrugged unrepentantly and made a spanking gesture, grinning obnoxiously when Marshall-lee's eyes flashed in annoyance and he bared his fangs. Just because he'd had the chance to hit that, Flame dork thought he was some kind of ladies' man? Hell no. Fionna didn't belong to him anymore, she was fair game, and Marshall was not going to acknowledge how hypocrytical it was for him to be annoyed at Hothead for looking at Fionna's butt when he stared at it regularly.
Gumball laughed and nodded at Fionna, who started to giggle and looked at Marshall-lee excitedly. Marshall felt a touch of curiosity. What did Fionna want him to do, eh?
' I dare you to stand on the coffee table and sing a song. But I say you have to use the words pendulum, sidewalk, beckon, lesson and uh... whip.' Gumball said, smiling smugly. There was no way he'd be able to fashion a coherent song with all those words. Then he'd have to go back on that stupid rule and Gumball could nullify his upcoming nuptials.
Marshall-lee pounced on the suggestion. This was perfect
'So I have to make it up?'
' Unless you know a song that has those words in it, I guess so.'
Marshall-lee raised an eyebrow at the prince as he mulled it over.
'Whip? Really?' Gumball realised the connotations of the word and blushed, shrugging innocently. Cake rolled her eyes at him as Fionna cocked her head, confused. Flame prince snickered slightly and as she looked at him, she flushed, annoyed that he got the joke and she didn't.
Marshall could see Fionna was still a little bit nervous about being around Flame dork and that just wasn't right. She needed somebody new to focus on. Somebody older, smarter... sexier.
Fionna watched eagerly as Marshall-lee prepared himself, clearing his throat. Truth be told, she had only suggested it to Gumball because she knew his dare would be lame otherwise and she liked hearing Marshall sing. Although he was always playing his bass, singing little ditties, it was rare that he would actually play a real song. And even rarer that it would be one of his own. The notebook he kept upstairs and wrote all his songs in was intensely private and anyone who looked in it and got caught was guaranteed to be disemboweled. Fionna had had a peek once or twice. There were some funny, flirty ones, and some dirty ones that had made her feel like a pervert just from reading them. Surprisingly though, a lot of the songs seemed to deal with his frustrations over someone, a fact that made her a little jealous. But she quickly pushed that thought to the back of her mind as Marshall-lee picked up his bass. They were just mates and she was fine with that.
Marshall-lee eventually came up with a song that he thought would say just enough for his liking. He ran his fingers down the strings and flashed a wink at Fionna, then flicked his hair over his eyes and stood stock still, head hanging down. He started picking a slow, sultry tune on his bass, tapping his foot in time to the music.
'Baby bite me, hurt me real good.
Give me all you got like you know you should
Cause I've been a bad little boy and I need to know
whether we're taking it fast or real slow
So bite me!'
Marshall-lee finally looked up and locked eyes with Fionna, his voice low and rough, almost a purr. Fionna was completely awestruck by this whole performance. It was so... sexy. There was no other way to describe it. She knew he was good looking, she wasn't blind. But she also knew he was a ladies man. And besides, They were just friends. And she didn't wanna get all awkward by suddenly treating him like a guy rather than a bro. But still, damn. He gave Flame prince a run for his money, never mind Gumball.
'Teach me a lesson, set me right
Oh, teach me all you know tonight
Hold me close, push me away
Whip me baby, till the break of day
Oh honey, tear me all to bits
you don't know what I'm thinking when I look at your lips
You torture me without even trying
and if I said I didn't like it, then I'd be lying...
Cause I, I can't seem to catch hold of you
Despite everything I've tried to do
you run along a melting sidewalk as the fire burns
Why not douse the flames and give the dark side a turn?
Flame Prince glanced at Fionna and saw her watching the vampire in captivation, unable to take her eyes off of his slender graceful fingers stroking the guitar strings in an almost inappropriate manner and his hypnotic blood red eyes, which hadn't left hers for several verses. Flame prince scowled at the vampire, immediately jealous. Fionna wasn't his girlfriend anymore, but that was mostly her decision. And Marshall was directly implying that Fionna should forget all about him and shack up with the vampire king, right in front of him. See, he would never do that. Not in front of him.
'Swing you hips like a pendulum
you get me hot all over and then some
I'm going crazy over you and I love every second
Because the way you're shaking that ass beckons
Darling, bring that body next to mine
I'll make you scream my name, scream it out to the sky
Ain't no little girl, now you're all grown up
and damn, you turned into a chick that I really want to...'
Marshall-lee smirked salaciously at Fionna before finally looking away from her and drifting off of the coffee table, floating above his miniature audience. Fionna blinked, as if coming out of a trance, and realised her whole body felt hot, particularly her face and-
Ugh, why did he have to sing that at her? I mean, obviously it wasn't about her-it couldn't be, the chick that song had been written for sounded like a sex godess- but whoa.
Flame prince noticed Fionna's flushed cheeks and twisted his mouth angrily, folding his arms and continuing to watch the vampire in stony silence. Somebody dare him to punch that smug vampire right in his stupid mouth.
'Baby bite me, hurt me real good.
Give me all you got like you know you should
Cause I've been a bad little boy and I need to know
whether we're taking it fast or real slow
Yeah, bite me, hurt me real good.
I'll give you all I've got 'cause I know I should
Cause I've been a bad little boy and babe, I need to know oh-oh...'
Marshall-lee drifted to a stop right in front of Fionna and let his eyes drop to her lips before slowly winking at her as he grinned.
' ...Where we're going'.
Realising that she was staring, Fionna quickly faked a smile and broke out into applause, which was dutifully followed by everybody else in the room except Flame prince.
The adventuress calmed herself as the vampire bowed, flourishing dramatically. Why did she hang out with such attractive guy-friends? I mean, that was asking for trouble, wasn't it? though Marshall just seemed far too casual about stuff like that for him to ever give her a relationship other than the physical kind. Besides, he was her bro. You can't just suddenly decide that your bro is a potential love interest. Get that thought through your thick skull, girl!
But he's hot!
No, he isn't!
Maybe a purely physical relationship wasn't such a bad idea though. He could definitely show her the ropes. Teach me a lesson indeed...
No, that would get messy. Mates, Fionna! Just friends! Just cause you can do tier fifteen now doesn't mean you should, and certainly not just because you can!
' Alrighty, my turn. Fionna, truth or dare?' Marshall-lee said, after putting his guitar back and resuming his position floating slightly behind Gumball. Fionna considered it for a moment, after firmly telling herself that they would continue this argument later.
'... Ah, truth.' Knowing Marshall, if he picked dare, she'd either have to kiss somebody or eat something gross. Vampires have a weird oral fixation, seems to come with being a bloodsucker.
' Truth...' Marshall echoed thoughtfully, looking around the small group. Gumball was busy fighting off Ice Queen, who was badgering him about the tux he would wear for their wedding, and Cake was blushing and giggling as she quietly whispered to Lord. Ew, save the dirty talk for the dates. But Flame prince was watching him unblinkingly, arms folded and legs crossed. If looks could kill, Flame prince would've decapitated him with that glare. Fire boy had to be the first to leave. And since he was quite clearly still in love with Bunny, if she wanted him to go he'd do it.
' Fionna, how far did you go with Flame prince?' Everybody stopped talking for a moment and all eyes turned to Fionna and Flame prince. Flame Prince looked daggers at Marshall, his cheeks flushing deep orange, while Fionna blushed and stuttered. Cake let out a conspiritorial whoop.
' Yeah, you never told me what happened when you guys went on dates! Spill, girl!' Fionna gaped helplesly at Marshall-lee, who shrugged and smiled, aware of FP's glare almost literally burning a hole in the side of his face.
' I, uh.. Well.. Um...' Fionna looked down at the floor and mumbled something, shifting a few inches away from Flame Prince, the only one who had heard what she said. He responded by covering his eyes and shaking his head, sighing in exasperation.
' Fionna, nobody heard that. Do you wanna be the first one to lose?' Marshall-lee said, subtley appealing to her deeply competitive side. No way would she let herself be the first to lose. Plus, now he'd get to know whether she and Hothead had actually done anything worth wondering about.
' I kissed her. Tongue. Might've gotten a little handsy once or twice. That's it.' Flame prince finally spoke up, after Fionna had dissolved into a small puddle of embarrassment. Cake's eyebrows shot up her forehead and she hissed at him in surprise. She had thought they had only kissed once or twice. But by the way he described it, they had had full on make out sessions. While Fionna was still only a teenager. As Cake growled at Flame prince, Marshall-lee narrowed his eyes and tutted.
' That was Fi's answer to give, FP. I get to give a you a penalty dare as punishment.' Flame prince immediately started to protest but everybody thought this was fair, especially Cake who shushed him loudly, her hackles raised.
' Okay, Flame Boy, dare. I dare you to find a bottle of adhesive lubricant and bring it back here before the sun sets. You've got about half an hour. Go.' As Flame Prince stood up and dusted himself off, Gumball opened his mouth to say something but quickly shut it again at the warning look from Marshall. Fionna still appeared too mortified to say anything, but she did look a tiny bit more relaxed now that Hothead was gone.
Gumball raised an eyebrow at Marshall, who shrugged.
' If he was stupid enought to fall for it, then he deserves it.'
' What?' Fionna finally managed to say, feeling like perhaps the attention on her had disappated.
' Adhesive lubricant, Fionna. There's no such thing, it's a paradoxical item.' Gumball explained, feeling a reluctant twinge of admiration for Marshall-lee. It was a very well disguised oxymoron. Marshall-lee nodded then looked at Fionna, smirking to hide how disappointed he was that the adventuress definitely wasn't so innocent anymore. What did a little handsy mean? Had that little spanking gesture been more than just bravado? Dear gob, he hoped not, because if so then Flame boy was gonna get it.
' Well, let's move on from your sordid escapades, bunny. Your turn.' Fionna immediately turned a tasty carnelian colour as she glared at the vampire, then looked over at her best friend, flicking her hair in a sassy manner.
' Cake. Truth or dare?' Fionna asked, refusing to acknowledge Marshall-lee's silent laughing fit. Cake looked up from Lord, eyeing Fionna apprehensively.
' Baby, can we just go? I don't even want to be here.'
' Ouch, Cakey. That hurts, right here.' Marshall-lee interrupted, clutching his heart with a wounded expression while secretly yelling in glee mentally. If he could get them gone, then it was just Gummy and his bride he needed to get out the way. Cake rolled her eyes at him then looked back at Fionna, sighing as she noticed the adventuress's stoic expression.
' Fine. Dare.' Fionna considered Cake for a second, then snapped her fingers, her face lighting up with inspiration.
' I dare you to imitate everyone in this room for ten seconds each, starting with me.' Cake was about to decline so that she could run off with Lord then stopped. That actually sounded pretty fun. But she wanted to leave. Dammit, Fionna!
' Okay, if I do this can I go?' Fionna sighed and looked at Marshall-lee expectantly, who tried to give his consent without seeming to desperate. Cake nodded at his agreement then reluctantly moved away from Lord, climbing on to the coffe table and shape changing to look like Fionna. Seeing as she just couldn't resist a dare like this, and she knew Fionna had done that deliberately, she was gonna have some fun with this.
' Hey, I'm Fionna! I love meatloaf and spaghetti, my best friend Cake is the coolest person in the world, and even though I act like I'm so sophisticated and tough, secretly I have no clue what I'm doing, especially when it come to my guy-friends! I'm so over Gumball! I 'm still attracted to my ex but I don't want him back! Oh, Marshall's so sexy but I'll never say it out loud!' Fionna gaped at Cake in mute outrage as she started to shape change again, winking cheekily at the adventuress as she did so. What the hell, When had she ever told Cake that she thought Marshall was hot? She had never, ever said that, regardless of whether it was true or not.
Cake settled on Lord, and started tapping on the table, looking straight at him as she did so. Ice queen, (Who was too busy wondering aloud about canapes to notice) Fionna and Marshall-lee all had no clue what she was saying to him, but everybody guessed when a horrified expression crossed Gumball's face and he blushed deeply. As Cake turned into Gumball, she pointed at him threateningly.
' You dare repeat that, I'll have yo guts baked in a pie. Hello, I'm Prince Gumball! I know everything about everything! I use massive words all the time so no-one can understand me because it remind everybody how much smarter I am than all of you! I pretend not to notice everyone questioning my sexuality! Pastel colours, sweetness and light, Science sparkle poof!' Gumball immediately started spluttering his protest, but he was drowned out by the sound of Marshall-lee's uproarious laughter. Fionna was frantically trying to hold hers in, faking a coughing fit to cover up the internal hemorrhaging caused by her suppressed giggles.
Cake decided it was time to do Ice Queen, but seeing as she wasn't paying attention to anything, now talking into a banana about wedding plans, Cake didn't really have anything astutely witty to say.
' I'm the Ice Queen! I'm completely bonkers because I put on a magic tiara, pity me! I'm the cougar to end all cougars, I like leopard print a little too much, and I'm irrevocably in love with a weird male version of Fionna that exists only in my head!' Ice Queen's only reaction was to mumble ' His name is Finn.' before going back to her one-sided fruit conversation.
Cake had deliberately saved the best for last. Marshall-lee. Oh,she was gonna wring this boy out. Did he seriously think she hadn't noticed the implications of that song he had sung earlier? And even though Fionna was now technically an adult and could do as- and who- she pleased, she was still Cake's baby sister and she didn't like men ( particularly half-way decent ones) talking to her like that.
' I'm Marshall-lee, the vampire king! I'm so full of myself that if I was a girl I'd want to get it on with me! I'm evil as all get out, sexier than sex appeal and you should all worship my perfection!' Cake drawled, strutting across the table top. She had draped her tail over her ears as a substitute for Marshall-lee's long, tousled locks and was performing an exaggerated hair flip as she spoke. 'Secretly though, I'm terribly insecure about my worth because I feel so guilty for all the unintentional pain I've caused. Plus I'm lonely with mommy issues, and I have the hugest crush on Fionna that I think no-one's noticed, but is obvious to anyone who has eyes except her, funnily enough.' Marshall-lee, who had only just gotten over his laughing fit at her Gumball imitation, immediately went stock still and stared at the cat, uncomfortably aware of a hot flush creeping up his neck. Cake wiggled her eyebrows at him knowingly then jumped onto Lord's back. The monochromicorn reared, kicking his legs in the air as his girlfriend grabbed his mane with her paws.
' And now I'm getting out of here. Later, hacks!'
Marshall-lee glanced at Fionna, who was studiously avoiding his gaze, then frowned at Gumball, who was overcome by mirth of similar proportions to his own earlier.
' Oh man. She got you right on the nose didn't she? I've never seen you make that face before, Marshall!' The candy prince choked out between laughs. Marshall-lee hissed at him and sighed.
' She was so wrong I cannot even begin- Look anyway, she's left so new game. Fionna, gimme what you got.' Gumball immediately dissolved into another fit of laughter and Marshall-lee blushed, covering his eyes with his hand and shaking his head. Oh Gob. Why, fucking why did he have to phrase that like that? Fortunately, Fionna was deep in thought and didn't appear to have noticed.
He had no problem with making obviously sexual innuendos around her, but only intentional ones. And only when they were alone. Having Gumball laughing at him for talking dirty to Bunny was not something he wanted to endure all night. He had other plans...
Author's note: So that's the end of part one! Each chapter will be devoted to a different Game, because believe it or not, these four and a half thousand words account for only one. Phew!
So this was Ice Queen/ Gumball's Game. Next is Fionnas, but after that it's a mystery. Suggest which Game you think Flame prince will want to play! And Cake just might end up coming back too. What will she want to play? And what is this mysterious plan Marshall is alluding to? Review please! 3
-WRA