Marshall raced home and immediately started a fire in his fire place, freezing. Being cold blooded made it even harder to keep warm, and he had one less blanket then before. He cuddled Schwabelle tight and breathed quickly to keep warm. As soon as he slipped inside snow dumped on the outside world, everywhere. He moaned in an irritated way as he slowly realized that he'd be snowed in for a while, freezing his butt off. He glanced around, looked towards his phone, then sighed. He wasn't going to be a nuisance and call Bubba as soon as he left. Plus, he'd look desperate and that would be weird. He was cool and sexy and edgy, not dependent on anyone. He enjoyed that image, and that was the way he wanted to keep it.
Bubba remained in the bath for a while, relaxing. He really did hope Marshall got home okay. He read an old book, one that he read probably fifty times. After soaking he managed to clean himself and stand, then dry off. He waddled like a penguin for the first few steps, legs stiff and spread. Some time passed and the pain became tolerable, then he dressed for the rest of the day with a less than pleased frown. Sometimes he hated the clothes he wore. Pink and purple were very nice colors, but he felt it was over kill. Even his boxers were pink, purple, or both pink and purple combined in some pattern. That was why he loved his black shirt so much; not only did Marshall give it to him, it also provided a chance to express himself, even if it was only during bed time. He moved down to do his work, placing his readers on his face as he did every time he had to read.
After the house began warming up, Marshall fell asleep with his zombie cat, floating softly with his sweetie curled on his chest. They both rested for days in this position, catching up on sleep and enjoying the warmth. About three days into the storm Marshall wakes, feeling hungry. Bubba's blood didn't hold him off for quite as long as he thought it would. He floated into the kitchen and found that his fridge and pantry was once again empty. He had devoured Bubba's gift already, and suddenly felt a surge of anger. Marshall kicked a can across the room in absolute frustration and fury. Nothing to eat, once again. He didn't really have any money, or spare things lying around that he could sell. Marshall sat down and pouted, sticking a piece of cinnamon gum in his mouth, incredibly upset at his situation. A poor, hungry, cold king.
About an hour passed of Marshall's stomach rumbling when there was a knock on the door. He frowned and went to answer it, opening the door with a blanket around his shoulders. He was rather shocked to see a banana guard on the other side, looking very cold. "Uh..." Marshall Lee began, squinting. "Yes?"
"Mr. Abadeer, the prince has requested me to go and retrieve you. He said he wished to see you at once." The guard shivered, watching Marshall skeptically. "I really couldn't tell you why."
"I'm coming, frozen chocolate covered banana." He teased. "Wait here."
"Hurry up!" He responded in an irritated tone as Marshall shut the door and dressed himself in a nice outfit. Bubba wanted to see him, so he wanted to impress. As he looked at himself in the enchanted mirror, he chuckled in disbelief. Bubba made him do the weirdest things, including dress up and turn all mushy, without even asking. He had dressed in nice black dress pants, a white long sleeved shirt, a grey vest, a red tie, and grey suede dress shoes. He put in a ruby earring and puffed his mohawk to his liking, then threw an old book in a bag and scooped up Schwabelle. He couldn't leave her to freeze. He threw on his heavy coat and exited with his things, locking his door. Buried in an old scarf, he followed the guard to Monochromicorn, who was breathing hard and shivering. Clearly they were going through a lot of trouble to pick Marshall up, especially in this blizzard.
"Thanks... Uh, I'll tell Bubba to make sure he treats you both for this." Both the unicorn and banana guard nod at him, and they take off. Marshall curled into his cat and held on to his things. They arrived at the castle within ten minutes, as Monochromicorn was extremely fast. Marshall hopped off and entered the castle, running in to escape the bone chilling air, wind, and snow outside. He looked around a minute before Peppermint Maid approached with a smile that wasn't fake. She seemed to be happy, and was. If Marshall made Bubba happy then that was that, and it was fine by her.
"Hello, Mr. Abadeer. Prince Gumball is in his bedroom, changing for your visit. You have definitely presented yourself well in order to see him..."
"Yeah, yeah." Marshall blushed deeply, a little embarrassed. "This is a stretch and doesn't happen often. Where is his room from here?"
"Just up these stairs here and to the left. I don't think he expected you to arrive so soon. The door may be locked."
"Radical." Marshall nodded and moved up the stairs, carrying the bag in one arm and his cat in the other. He turned invisible and permeable, moved through the locked door with ease, and then set Schwabelle on a heater in a corner, hidden by a bookcase. He set the bag beside her, then moved to Bubba, who was shirtless and staring into his closet, frowning. He had dressed in purple slacks with nice dress shoes, and was trying to decide on a top.
"Alright. What will Marshall like most? What looks least child-like?" He said to himself as he rubbed his chin. Marshall moved close and breathed down Bubba's neck, causing him to jump. "M-Marshall?" He called quietly into the empty room. Bubba determined it was his imagination, although he swore that he had gotten a whiff of cinnamon, which he knew was the type of chewing gum Marshall tended to use to calm his hunger. After a minute, the vampire slid his cold hand across Bubba's tummy, giving him all kinds of shivers. Marshall added another arm and hugged Bubba from behind, then made himself visible. "M-M-Marshall!" Bubba hollered, then shivered and pushed him off. He crossed his arms and turned around to face him. "Jerk."
"What? Me, a jerk? I was only giving you a hug..."
"You very well know that you scared me...! I do not enjoy being scared and I do not enjoy being touched when I don't expect it! You need to knock or at least make yourself visible as you barge in! You know-" He was instantly cut off by a kiss on the lips that he couldn't avoid. He blushed, trying to be angry and pouty still. Marshall set himself on the ground and held Bubba's waist. Marshall felt Bubba reach over and rest his pink hands in place over his own greenish-grey ones. He stepped closer, whimpering softly, unable to keep his ground and be angry. The vampire pressed their torsos together, definitely getting a reaction out of Bubba, who let out a small cry of pleasure.
"I like you better without a shirt anyways." Bubba took a deep breath in and blushed at Marshall's sexy yet dirty words.
"That's distasteful Marshall." He corrected him, still pretending he held his ground even after the kiss. "I look decent with a shirt on." He looked at Marshall with his nose up and blushed. "You, though, look absolutely fabulous. Why don't you dress like that all the time?"
"It's a pain in the butt and-"
"It's so sexy..." Bubba admits, observing the classy outfit on his partner with a certain naughty look in his eyes. He rubbed his arm and shifted softly, clearly experiencing some excitement in his nether regions.
"Oh and that isn't distasteful?" Marshall teased warmly, gesturing, and Bubba nodded quickly.
"It's horribly distasteful! You do it to me though! It's all your fault! Hush mister! Stop it!" He stammered with a blush on his cheeks as he moved to sit down. Once he did Marshall glided over him and pushed him to his back in an instant. Bubba smiled and allowed it willingly. "Oh glob it all Marshall. I like feeling this way. I like it a lot..." He whispered, wrapping his arms around the vampire's neck with a grin as he experienced tender kisses on his own neck. "Just be careful dear..."
"Alright Gummy, alright... By the way, you need to give that one banana guard a raise and Monochromicorn some serious repayment... Your subjects and friends are so good to you." Marshall tossed him further up onto the bed, and he willingly allowed the vampire to take control. Bubba suddenly felt tears fill his eyes, and he tapped Marshall's shoulder. He pulled back then asked, "What is it?"
"M-Marshall I have to choose a bride within days and I really don't know what to do about us!" He burst into tears, incredibly upset. He loved Marshall with all his heart and soul, and knew he could never find love in anyone else. Bubba watched Marshall's face and sobbed harder. He looked thoroughly crushed. He'd forgotten about this whole mess. "I could never be happy with another! I can't explain my situation to my people, because if I did they'd get scared or upset and explode! It'd be murder! I can't drop my title either... They'd feel so betrayed. You understand that though, don't you? We have responsibilities that are bigger and more important than us. A good ruler sacrifices everything for the well-being of his people!"
"I don't understand that. I'm only the Vampire King because there aren't any other vampires left!" He was on the very brim of crying, despite the fact that vampires weren't supposed to cry. "The Nightosphere isn't even my responsibility! My mom runs the place! Bubba I'd never sacrifice my happiness- in fact, that's the exact reason I left! For my own sanity and happiness! It sucks having no money and being hungry half of the time and living in a freezing cold or searing hot house, but I do because I know I'd be even more miserable down there! I put my happiness first!"
"It's selfish, Marshall. I can't do that." Bubba said in a whisper, then sniffled. "I am going to ask Fionna to marry me. It'd be easiest with her than anyone else. I'm sorry, Marshall. It's part of my responsibility as prince. I must become a king, and have a queen. We have to terminate our love affair Marshall." He sniffled again, and looked deeply into Marshall's eyes. Marshall's features hardened in response, furious.
"I am not selfish, Gumwad. Look, I don't even want to be with you anymore anyways. You think you're above me and that you are just too good for me! Apparently the Candy Kingdom is more important to you than me! Plus, I'd look like such a fag if anyone saw us together. It was an experiment- I kissed you and I liked it. Big whoop. We took it further and you admitted your love to me, and I only said I loved you back not to hurt your fragile feelings! Plus, I only wanted more sex!" Marshall began to raise his voice, entirely devastated. He was being dumped, just like that, and he wasn't going to go down easy. He certainly wasn't going to let Gumball have the leg up.
"You don't mean any of what you just said." Gumball breathed out harshly, incredibly hurt. "Tell me you don't mean it." He demanded, sitting up, tears stopping. "Tell me right now that you don't mean any of it!" He wailed, heart pounding as he screamed. Marshall winced and swooped in close, pressing his forehead to Bubba's. The prince trembled as he felt heated breath on his neck.
"Make me. Make me. You can't. Why? Because I meant it. I couldn't lie. Lying isn't my thing." He mocked Bubba from and earlier conversation, knowing how to upset him perfectly and get under his skin. He was rubbing dirt in the wound.
"No you don't!" Bubba pushed him back as hard as he could, but Marshall didn't go anywhere. He was way too strong. "Say you're sorry and that you don't mean it!"
"MAKE ME!" Marshall bellowed into Bubba's face, baring his fangs threateningly, causing him to shake violently everywhere. He was so stricken with fear that he began to heave, unable to get an adequate air supply. A panic attack. He stared at Marshall with his eyes and mouth opened wide, begging for help without saying a word. The vampire panicked, eyes darting around in a frantic search for something that could help. Luckily, Peppermint Maid had rushed up as soon as she heard their yelling. She entered the room and immediately tended to Bubba by taking a small syringe from his nightstand, sticking it in his side, and knocking him out. He fell under the drug within seconds, and gradually stopped shaking. He took in normal breaths, and his head sank back into the pillow as he calmed.
"Get out." Peppermint Maid told Marshall instantly.
"Peppermint, he broke my heart! He did and he did it on purpose! He'd rather marry Fionna than be there for me!"
"No, Mr. Abadeer, that isn't it. He hates the decision he made but it is the right one. He has hundreds of people that need him, that are dependent on him, and he decided to do what was right. I sat down with him and we talked after you left, and he cried unceasingly. He physically could not stop. He loves you with all he is, Marshall. I have never seen anyone love a person so much. You are the only being that puts the life in that boy's eyes. Now I don't know what you said to him, but I request that you leave at once." The vampire looked at Bubba, so fragile and pale on the bed. Marshall began to cry suddenly, very hard. He sobbed uncontrollably.
"Tell him that I didn't mean it. Tell him that I'm sorry, and that I didn't mean it! Tell him that I'll never stop loving him. Tell him I won't forget him..." Marshall scooped up his cat and grabbed his bag, then moved to the closest exit, flying out the balcony doors as fast as he could. He stopped in a nearby abandoned house, and cradled his cat as he sulked. A poor, hungry, cold, unloved king.