The candy prince sat hovered over his desk, his brow furrowed, and his head rested in his palm. He sat his glasses on top of his unkempt hair, revealing his heavy bags. His stained lab coat slumped a little below his shoulders, too focused on his work to pull it back up. He sighs, grabbing one of the many beakers and studied the liquid inside of it, then drew his eyes back to his notes. He took the hand he was resting his head on to lazily grab his pencil on the messy desk to jot down some more things on the paper.
Soon the silence in the dark lab was broken as the big edible door cracked open, making a small echo sweep through the room. "Sorry for interrupting your majesty" Peppermint Maid's sweet voice followed right after. Gumball looked up from his work, squinting over to his maid, trying to adjust his eyes to the crack of light coming from the outside of his lab. He forced a small smile to break his tired face, and nodded a little.
"Yes, peppermint, what is it?" he replied in a tired voice. Peppermint's face turned into a sympathetic frown.
"You've been in here for three days your highness… You need your rest." The prince shook his head, running his gloved hand through his bubblegum pink hair. "No, I'm too far away to the answer." He grunts. Peppermint maid rolls her eyes, stepping all the way into the laboratory. "oh my prince. I don't think making a replacement for your thrown is a good option." Gumball snapped his head back to her.
"I don't have any other choice…" he sighs.
"But last time you've tried this, it turned into a disaster…"
"But I understand what I did wrong. I'm positive that this will work, I know it will. I'm not going to live forever Peppermint… I need the perfect ruler for my beautiful kingdom. This is very important to me" She could hear his voice strain, as he kept describing the importance of this project.
"Why don't you just find someone capable of taking your place" she interrupted. "I'm sure Fiona would be perfect for ruling the kingdom. She's powerful, brave, and an inspiration to all the candy people." Her minty face brightened up like she had the best idea of all time.
He shook his head. "Humans only live for a maximum of one hundred years. She would be too old to do her duties by the time I'm gone. She's already serving me as an outside protector of the kingdom. She wouldn't be able to do important tasks and quests if she was a princess." He tapped his gloved finger off his chin. "But finding a replacement is a good idea…" he thought out loud. He shook his head out of thought. "Anyways." His face attempts to perk up while sleep still pulled down on it. "What is my schedule for today?"
"I rescheduled everything for next week, so you could have a few days of rest." She smiles. "So please sir, get out of this dark lab, and get some fresh air. I'll have someone make a nice warm bath for you, while I clean up in here a little." Gumball sighs, shakily standing up, and grabs onto the chair to balance him. He had to be sitting in that chair for at least two days, unless he got up to get a tool or something. He slides off his lab jacket, and gloves, setting on the chair, then folded his glasses, setting them on top of the note filled paper lying on the desk. "Okay Peppermint Maid, you persuaded me" he lightly chuckles.
The candy prince was in his comfortingly warm bubble bath. He had a small pillow resting his tired head. He felt as relaxed as a baby in its mother's arms, as the bubbles gently brushed against his body. He began to think. If only he had someone to rule by his side. The thought just made him feel like half of the land of Aaa was lifted off his shoulders. Maybe he could have a beautiful queen to rule beside him. He sank deeper into the warm bubbly water so that it would cover his mouth.
A queen… He never really was attracted to a woman. Fiona was more like a daughter to him than anything. Every woman that came to the palace never really caught his eye, no matter how beautiful, or interested they were. He sighs, making the water ripple. He brings his knee up, so he could hug onto it. A king would be a better choice. They wouldn't have to be together. It would just be a business relationship. He nodded to himself, and decided to make his next mission about finding someone to run the kingdom with him. He wasn't going to die anytime soon, he just needs to be more cautious instead of doing life threatening experiments and tasks. He wants to find someone himself. He sat up, bubbles clinging to his body. It's official. Tomorrow, he will travel around the land of Aaa to find the perfect person to rule alongside him.
After his bath, Peppermint Maid shooed Gumball to his room, so he could get some sleep. He looked down at his dark pink smooth velvet bed, seeing that Peppermint laid out his favorite pajamas. The black band shirt Marshall gave to him about a year ago, and a pair of pink sweat pants. He smiles, dropping his towel, and slides on the shirt and pants. He plops down onto the bed, and crawls under the covers, moving his many throw pillows out of the way so he could get comfortable. He lies on his side, facing away from the glass balcony doors, and spoons one of his pillows. He missed his comfortable plush bed. He smiles to himself, and starts to doze off while thinking about his plan to find his king. The moonlight shimmered onto the candy palace, making a beautiful peaceful light reflect through the balcony doors.
Gumball slowly wakes up, instantly sitting up and looking around the room tiredly. A gentle breeze nipped at the side of his arm and face, making him shiver, and pull the covers up over his shoulders. He saw that the balcony doors were wide open. His face was puzzled, not really knowing how they could be open.
"hm.. one of the maids must've forgot to close the latch.." he mumbles to himself, groggily walking over to the balcony door and properly closes it. He makes his way back to his bed, and snuggles into what he thought was his pillow before realizing that it was way bigger, and felt like a person. He gasps, jumping back, and looked at the intruder in his bed.
Marshall lied in a sexy position; his head rested in his palm, and one of his legs was folded up. "Hey Bubble Butt~" his crooked smile made Gumball shiver.
"Marshall! How many times have I told you to stay out of my kingdom unless if there's an important matter to discuss!" Gumball barked, as he sat up, crossing his arms. His face heated up from embarrassment. Right when he was about to scream for the Banana Guards, Marshall covered his mouth, propping himself up.
"I just missed you, bubba," he cooed with puckered lips. He loved to embarrass him like this. "You weren't in your room for like, four nights." He playfully pouted.
"I was working…" he grunts, pulling his face away from him. Now get out, I need to sleep. If you don't I'll call for the Banana Guards."
"Fine, but I do need to discuss 'important matters' with you, but one of your little edible servants told me that I need to meet up with you next week" He sat up, a little more serious acting.
"Make it quick, and then leave. Plus, I don't like you talking about my people in that way"
"Alright, fine." Marshall looked at the shirt Gumball was wearing and smirked a little. "I need you to retrieve something for me in the Light Kingdom"
"What business do you have with the Light Kingdom?"
"I need light potions. Please Bubba?"
"Why don't you bother someone else who isn't busy running a kingdom? I'm sure Fiona and Cake would love to do it"
"Fiona has the flue or whatever, and Cake fucking hates my guts"
"Language," Gumball warns, rolling his eyes. "Well I'll give her a call, and have her run the task for me instead of you. Why did you come to me out of all people?" Gumball tilts his head some.
"You're still my best friend." He smirks a little. Gumball blushes.
"I don't see how… we barely ever see each other," Gumball shrugs.
"I try to visit you, but you always kick me out." Marshall crosses his arms, starting to float around the moonlight kissed room.
"That's not a proper visit, that's trespassing. That's also while I'm trying to rest. Plus I have too many responsibilities to fool around with you."
Marshall stops floating around and stands at the end of the bed, looking down. "You think I'm so irresponsible, don't you?" Gumball could hear the rage gather up in his throat.
"I never said that. But you need to notice that I'm busy twenty four-seven. When I'm not busy, I'm sleeping, which is what I should be doing right now." He replies, lifting his head, making his point.
"You just make yourself busy with useless shit!" Marshall growls, his eyes starting to glow with anger. "Your little candy people are lucky to have someone who cares so much for them, and would go out of his way to do the most ridiculous shit just to make them smile.."
"Marshall keeps your voice down," Gumball whispers raptly. "They're not ridiculous; I just take my job very seriously..."
Marshall Lee grasps onto his hair, his fangs starting to grow larger. "No, you don't get it. I'm always alone! Nobody cares about the blood sucking vampire. Oh don't worry, I have no feelings. I'm just like a machine… Who needs friends and love when you have your horrid thoughts to listen to? I'm sorry that I exist, and want to be around you, Gumball! Remember when it was only you and me... Remember before Fiona was even born, and you weren't so caught up in your dumb work? Remember what we had? Did that mean nothing to you?" Tears started to roll down his pale cheeks, his face still flustered from anger.
Gumball was frozen. He had no idea that the Vampire King took all this to heart, and couldn't help but think he was overreacting. It's like he was trying to make a scene, but nobody was there to see it. "…Marshall, come here." He held out his arms, sitting back on his bed. He had a strong temptation to comfort the broken vampire." Marshall looked at him with his red glowing eyes, standing there, thinking whether he should accept the candy prince's offer. He was just going to tell him to piss off, and leave, but he needed to calm down, and he wanted comfort.
He draws in a breath, tears still rolling down his face. He shakily crawls onto the bed, his breathing a little deeper than usual, and falls into the prince's arms, nuzzling his head into the crook of his neck. Gumball felt the warm tears hit his collar bone, but he didn't really mind it. He gently pets the vampire's hair, going down to his back, tracing his fingers up and down it.
Marshall Lee sniffs, closing his eyes and gently sobs. "I just want you to care about me… I just want your approval." He whines, nuzzling further into his neck, grasping into Gumball's band tee.
"Marshall, I'm not your father. You don't need my approval. I do care about you, but my kingdom is always first. If I knew you were struggling, I would've made room for you in my busy schedule." Gumball comfortingly replied. A knock on the door made both of them jump as it echoed through the now silent bedroom.
"Excuse me your majesty, is everything alright? I heard crying and yelling, who's in there with you?" Peppermint Maid's voice going through the closed door made the two males freeze in fear. Gumball put the covers over Marshall Lee and him.
"Don't worry Peppermint maid, everything is fine. I guess I was making noises in my sleep. I'm terribly sorry if I worried you," The prince sweetly replied, hoping to not sound suspicious.
"Well, alright sir... If you need anything, please call, Pleasant dreams." The shadow under the crack of the door disappeared, followed by the clacking sound of heels. Marshall sniffed, his normal appearance back to normal.
"I should leave," he hoarsely croaked, his smooth deep voice nowhere to be heard.
"No, stay here a little longer," Gumball demanded. "I need to discuss something with you." Marshall looked up at him, his face a little puzzled, and puffy from crying. Gumball was so hard to read, and usually he could read anybody by just staring at them. They usually are scared of him, and scream in fear when they see him mad. He has a stone cold stare, but Gumball never looks away from his ruby orbs. Instead he stares into him, and it feels like he's being read like a book. Maybe that's why he loves to be around him. He makes Marshall feel alive. The prince treats him equally, even though he's too caught up in his stupid duties to show it, but he actually is a lovable caring person when it doesn't deal with his kingdom.
"Marshall Lee, did you hear anything that I said?" Prince Gumball's voice seeped into his thoughts, making him jump back into reality. He blinked a few times before realizing he was blankly staring up at Gumball like an idiot. "What?"
Gumball rolls his eyes, huffing. "Like I was saying, I'm on the search for someone else to help rule my kingdom, so I can have less weight on my shoulders. When I find somebody, we'll have more time to do whatever you desire" He smiles some, his princely words turning into a normal sounding person.
Marshall noticed the awkward position they were in and quickly floated up off of Gumball. "I'm surprised you're willing to loosen up a bit, and trust somebody else to help run your little edible kingdom." He smirks, lying back in the air with his arms behind his back, acting like nothing happened.
"Oh hush. I'm going to take my time on finding the perfect person." He crosses his arms. "Anyway, you should probably leave. I need to sleep, and it will be light out soon."
"Aww I hate when you're right" He jokes, floating over to the balcony doors, and opens them. "I'll check up on you tomorrow night, Gummy Butt" He smirks, floating out the doors, closing them behind him. Gumball watches him leave before getting comfortable in bed again, starting to drift back into sleep.