Coronavirus
The Morrow's caw echoed through the air, it's arrival announced before it even came into view. The giant eagle soared through the sky across the Grasslands before its big clawed feet hit the ground not far from The Treehouse, still a work in progress after Golb's monstrosities wrecked the place. Climbing off the large bird was Princess Bubblegum, looking dressed for a typical day in her Princesses' Best dress. She had a basket hanging from one of her arms, covered snugly with a cloth. She wished she could've said she was out for a lovely picnic, but right now she had more important matters to attend to. The Princess walked to the treehouse, or what was currently built of it, while her eagle flew into the sky to await her call later.
"Boys! It's me!" She called out, knocking on the door to the relatively small house at the tree's base. "I brought some stuff for you!"
She waited a moment without reply before placing her ear near the door. She could make out some quiet exchanges.
"Open the door, man."
"You open it, I'm dying here, man."
"I'm dying too, man."
"BMO!" Both voices called out simultaneously.
"I can't reach the door!" A happy voice replied.
After a bit of groaning, there was more silence. Bubblegum patiently remained where she was, until eventually she could hear the knob of the door move and click some. After what appeared to be a struggle, the door opened a crack. When Bubblegum entered, she could see an orange arm stretched out and flaccid at her feet. Her eyes followed up the arm, till she saw Jake sitting on their couch covered snugly in a blanket.
"That took everything in me." Jake exclaimed, shivering in distress. "EVERYTHING!"
Stepping around his arm and walking further in, Bubblegum could see the place wasn't looking so good. Along with Jake suffering on the couch, there was Finn face-planted onto the floor. BMO was merely standing some feet away from her, looking up at her with a happy face on his screen.
"They're dying." He helpfully stated to her, using the same cheery tone.
Bubblegum sighed, and placed her basket on the table.
"They're not dying." She corrected the little robot. "Probably. They're just sick."
"How bad is it, Princess?" Jake asked out to her, turning his head over and the look of death upon his face. "It's not like Butt Disease is it? PLEASE DON'T SAY IT IS!"
"We're gonna die!" Finn unhelpfully cried out, muffled from his face being in the floor.
As the two started wailing, Bubblegum rolled her eyes and let out another sigh. She started unpacking her basket, which was filled with food and water.
"You're not going to die." She stated very clearly to them. "This disease is very akin to the common flu, you're both young and healthy and therefore will more than likely overcome it. It's older and weaker people we should be more concerned with."
Bubblegum had spent a lot of time studying it in her lab. Though the disease wasn't anything too unusual, it certainly has everyone in a panic. At least those not made of candy, who have proven to be completely immune. That was fortunate for her especially, otherwise her responsibility as Princess would be getting a lot more demanding.
"I've called it Coronavirus." She said, turning around to face them. "I don't know where it came from yet, but I'm hoping to learn more soon."
If she knew where the disease originated from, it could help her figure out a way to stop more cases like this. For now, everyone had to stay inside and limit social contact before a herd immunity could be built.
"I don't want Marceline near me ever again!" Jake spouted out, twisting himself in his snug blankets. "Who knows what else she's carrying! You're lucky you and everyone else in the Candy Kingdoms can't catch it, Princess!"
That was the awkward part. After some testing, it appeared Marceline was the carrier for the disease. Though she had shown no symptoms herself due to being a vampire, she had spread it to everyone she had recently came into contact with. Finn, Jake, LSP and Simon namely. By now, those four had already spread it to more individuals. The Slime and Fire Kingdom were beginning to show cases...there was no sign of the spread slowing for now.
It was getting hectic.
"Come on, Jake. Don't blame Marceline." Bubblegum said, breathing out sadly. "She didn't know, she can't get sick. It's all just an unfortunate case."
Marceline herself was unsure of how she could've caught such a thing. So for now, they were in the dark. All they could do was try their best to control the spread until Bubblegum could figure out a vaccine. That conclusion however, seemed to be a long way away yet.
"But still, I've taken measures." She assured them. "Until I'm certain she's no longer a carrier, I've put Marceline on lockdown. As for everyone else, you gotta stay inside until we figure this out."
That's why she was here. Giving them essentials so they didn't have to leave...she was their friend, after all. Her and the rest of the Candy Kingdoms had a responsibility to help out, being the only ones immune to the virus.
"Thanks for helping, PB." Finn spoke, turning his head to move his mouth off the floor. "We were nearly out of toilet paper, I was dreading it."
Bubblegum chuckled and walked over to Finn. She helpfully scooped him off the floor, then placed him onto the bed. He snugged himself in.
"Just take things easy and recover, boys." She told them, before looking down at BMO. "Keep them alive, BMO. I'll be back tomorrow to check on you all."
The little robot saluted to her.
"Thanks Princess." "Thanks, PB." Finn and Jake both called out to her.
Bubblegum left their house, feeling good about being so helpful and kind. Her day wasn't over yet, however. She had to make another visit or five. So after taking some steps from the treehouse, she called up into the sky.
"MORROW!"
With another loud caw echoing in the air, Bubblegum was swiftly snatched up by the large bird again, taking her to her next desired destination.
"Look, LSP...I didn't...yeah, I know but..."
Marceline was floating just over her bed, in a laid down position with her phone to her ear. The vampire was in an intense conversation with her lumpy friend. Judging by the fact she had to move her phone away from her ear briefly to avoid her eardrum rupturing, it was easy to see the conversation wasn't going pleasantly.
"Just listen, I'm telling you I didn't..." The voice from the phone cut her off, making Marceline roll her eyes. "You're not even listening!"
Their conversation didn't go on for much longer because Marceline was hung up on. Putting her phone aside, and placing her arms around the back of her head, she let out a long sigh. She was woken up in the middle of the day just to have an unproductive argument. But this was just one little thing in a sea of worry.
This was so humiliating. Knowing that everyone was going to blame her for this virus that's been on a rampage...she was just hoping everyone would forgive her when this eventually passes. They probably would. LSP just seemed like she needed someone to take her anger out on just because she has to cancel all her plans with Lemongrab, who was immune to the virus.
Marceline was in a pretty similar situation herself.
She had been so bored. She couldn't leave her house except to stretch her wings for a bit once a day. There was only so much time she could spend playing tunes, watching movies and messing around with Schwabl before it got boring. The past week had been awful. But she couldn't risk infecting others, so until everyone got better...her home had become a bit of a prison. She certainly looked like she had been cooped up, dressed in the sleepwear she hadn't changed out of for days and her hair being unattended to and messy. She had no desire to maintain herself with no company and nothing to do or even look forward to.
She hadn't even so much gotten a visit from anyone.
'Understandable, I guess.' She thought.
Having been woken up and her nocturnal sleep pattern disturbed, Marceline spent the next while immersed in her thoughts, while picking her nose and flicking whatever she could scoop up. Feeling the need to do something, the vampire floated downstairs to see her zombie poodle lying on the couch.
"Want something to bite on, boy?" She wondered. "Let's see what I still got, huh?"
She flew to the kitchen and opened up the fridge. There wasn't a whole lot in it, but what was there came only in red, mostly. Her eyes scouted past a couple apples and a crayon, until she saw a raw steak. Her last one.
"Here, that should last you a while." She said, throwing the steak across the room to land near the zombie poodle.
Before she closed the fridge, her eyes did make notice of something else that was in inside. A packet of spaghetti, to be served for one. It made her sigh sadly, before she closed the door.
Later on in the day, Marceline was napping over her bed and scratching her stomach, trying to relax herself back to sleep. Until her ears pricked at the unmistakeable sound of the front door being knocked. Her brain pondered if she was just hearing things, going crazy from loneliness. But soon enough, she was certain that it was real. Moving quickly, the vampire sprung to life and floated back downstairs. Before opening the door, she hastily snagged her mask to wear around her face. Really, she looked like the source of it all.
"Hello Marceline." She was greeted with when she opened up the door. "Sorry if I've woken you up at this hour, I came in the evening so I wouldn't take too much sleep from you."
The vampire's eyes widened. She didn't know quite what to expect, but to see none other than Bubblegum standing before her in her typical glamorous princess-y attire still managed to surprise her. What with her pleasant face, straight posture and...pinkness. Marceline didn't look nearly as impressive with her messy hair, sleeveless crop shirt and sweatpants.
She was in a state.
"Oh, B-Bonnie!" She exclaimed, her hunched posture straightening up as her naked feet planted on the floor. "Oh it's fine, I couldn't sleep anyways. Ahem...what brings you to my domain today?"
Marceline propped her arm against the door frame, and her other hand on her hip. She presented a chill, cool greeting on demand. Bubblegum's eyes merely scanned her up and down, expression unchanging.
"Can I come in?" She asked politely.
Marceline almost choked on the oxygen she was breathing, quickly removing herself from her stupid seductive posture and stepping aside.
"Y-yeah, come in." She urged her, holding the door for her. "Sorry, I'm a mess. Haven't had a visitor in over a week."
"Yes, I'm really sorry I didn't visit sooner." Bubblegum said, walking in with another basket hanging from her arm. "But I'm happy to see that you've been keeping yourself in isolation."
As Bubblegum went over to the kitchen to put the basket down, Marceline discarded her mask before following her, not having to fear infecting a being of candy. She was looking at the back of her head with a nervous smile.
"Happy about it, huh?" Marceline forced an awkward laugh.
Bubblegum turned her head to glance over at Marceline. Her pink face would change to show a sympathetic, compassionate look.
"Oh, Marcy." She sighed out her name. "I didn't mean it like that. I can see that you've been very cooped up...I should've visited earlier but I've been so busy dealing with all that's been going on."
"Nah, it's cool." Marceline assured her, scratching her neck. "A cure for all this stuff I've unleashed is more important than my amusement."
Marceline floated over to Bubblegum's side, watching her unpack the basket. She knew Bubblegum had taken it upon herself to supply her isolated friends with the essentials.
"Red for your fridge." Bubblegum stated, placing several apples down.
Good thing. Marceline always grew very anxious when she ran low on red. Without it...things were never pretty. She couldn't help but take one of the apples right then, and placed it against her fangs as the red drained from it before sighing with satisfaction.
"And some other essentials."
Marceline picked up a roll of toilet paper, a look of relief in her eyes. She hugged it, cherished it as though it was Hambo.
"Thank you." She spoke out, clearly very grateful.
When Bubblegum was done emptying out the basket, and Marceline put the stuff away, she met Bubblegum in the lounge room. The Princess was petting Schwabl, sitting on the couch.
"Hey, can I make you something?" Marceline wondered, being a polite host. "I've got something in the fridge I could whip you up real quick."
Letting go off the zombie poodle, Bubblegum looked over at Marceline.
"Hm, well I suppose I could use a timeout." She considered, crossing her legs. "I've been all over the place today. Sure!"
Nodding with her fangs poking out from her mouth, Marceline went back into the kitchen. She opened up the fridge, and reached for the packet of spaghetti. Finally, she could use this.
"Sooo, how are Finn and Jake?" She asked out from the kitchen as she started boiling water in a pot. "Still blaming me for something I had zero idea I was carrying?"
"Hm. Yes, but they'll be fine, I think they're being a little dramatic." Bubblegum called out in response, her eyes gandering at the decor she'd seen many times over.
"Hah, those two are always such dorks." Marceline chuckled, seasoning the boiling water with salt. "They know I'm sorry about everything, right?"
"Don't worry. Whatever grudges anyone is holding against you, they'll forget it once they get better."
Marceline sure felt assured by that. She really had no idea that she was carrying a virus. Luckily Bubblegum was immune...if she got sick, Marceline would've felt so particularly guilty.
"It's just so humiliating." She sighed.
How she caught such a thing, she was clueless.
Marceline looked down at the steaming bowl of spaghetti. This was probably the most important bowl of spaghetti she had ever made. Finding it satisfactory and finishing it with another sprinkle of salt, the vampire took the bowl and floated over to the living room. Bubblegum watched her come over, and put her hands together in delight.
"Oooh, spaghetti!" She exclaimed happily, taking the bowl graciously. "My favourite."
Marceline helpfully gave her a fork, which Bubblegum used to wrap a big twirl of spaghetti around. With pleasure, she opened her mouth wide and took the delicious pasta in before chewing. Marceline felt pleased to see her enjoy it.
"Mm. So you have something that isn't red in your kitchen...and it happens to be my favourite food?" Bubblegum couldn't help but say, covering her filled mouth slightly with her hand. "Coincidence?"
"Hah. Hah." Marceline dismissively forced out a laugh, her face flushing slightly.
A little while passed, the two conversing about a few things. Princess business, more Coronavirus epidemic stuff, how Marceline's song writing was going on...until Bubblegum finished her spaghetti.
"Thanks, Marcy." Bubblegum said, handing her the bowl back.
The Princess stood up, and kissed Marceline on her cheek. It made the vampire smile, made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. But that pleased look soon faded with what Bubblegum had to say next.
"Well, I guess I should head back to The Kingdom." She supposed, brushing her hand through Marceline's black hair delicately. "Hm, when was the last time you had a bath, Marceline?"
It was a pretty embarrassing question. She probably felt how messy her hair was. The Vampire Queen nervously rubbed her neck, looked away from her.
"Oh, you know...a little while." She muttered, before speaking up. "I mean, I'm not going anywhere. I've had no visitors until now. I just can't be bothered, you know?"
"Hmm."
When Bubblegum looked like she was up and ready to go, Marceline stopped her for a moment by raising her voice, speaking out to her clearly.
"Hey, wait." She called out, Bubblegum stopped and looking over her shoulder. "I was thinking, maybe...you don't have to go just yet, right? Why don't we just hang out for a bit?"
Marceline tried to be reasonable about it. Proposing the idea, not asserting it. Her clinginess and want for attention was a part of why their relationship didn't work the first time. She didn't want to repeat any element of that past they shared. Especially now that they were closer than ever.
She considered herself more grown-up now. Different. More worthy of Bubblegum.
"Hmmm." Bubblegum's face had a thoughtful, turning around. "Well, I mean..."
To subtly convince her, Marceline gave her a cheeky smile, her fangs presenting themselves a bit.
"Would you rather...govern your dorky candy peeps..." The vampire put her hands on her hips, tilted her posture slightly. "...or hang out with your sexy vampire GF?"
Bubblegum couldn't help but smile and roll her eyes, her face going a slightly deeper shade of pink.
"It's up to you. I'm not forcing anythin' on ya." Marceline assured her, closing her eyes and flushing slightly.
She could feel the sensation of Bubblegum approaching her closely, that subtle smell of gummy sweetness in her nose.
"Hm. Okay, Marceline." She said, chuckling and kissing Marceline's cheek again. "I'd love to spend some more time with you."
That lifted Marceline's spirits. If she had to spend much more time isolated, she was going to lose her mind and bury her head in her toilet.
"Awesome!" Marceline squeaked, her eyes and mouth opening like an explosion before her mind went to work thinking on what to do together, which took a little moment. "Hmm...wanna watch a movie? I still got my TV in my room."
As well as her growing collection of spooky films.
"Hmm, a movie night?" Bubblegum supposed, smiling.
"A horror movie night..."
Bubblegum frowned a bit. She didn't like that little bit of elaboration Marceline added, but she supposed she may as well give it a shot...it's not like she'd expected Marceline to have other genres. She'd soon see the vampire studying her closely, her green and red eyes scanning her up and down.
"Uh, Marcy...?"
Bubblegum felt the vampire's hand softly touch her pink arm.
"You're gonna need something more comfortable than that prissy dress."
Bubblegum looked down at herself as she tugged at the black shirt she was now wearing, with a pair of shorts to go with it. She was no stranger to wearing Marceline's clothes, and she supposed this was much more comfortable for an evening in with her undead companion. She sat down at the couch in the corner of Marceline's bedroom. Her pink eyes took in her surroundings, of a room that most definitely had Marceline written all over it. The lights were off and there was the head of a creature mounted on the wall above them...certainly fitting for a movie night. Soon enough, Marceline floated up the ladders with a big bowl of strawberries. Though the vampire had seen the need to change Bubblegum's clothes, she was seemingly still content to go around with the same old dirty sleepwear.
Bubblegum knew Marceline wasn't the most hygienic person, anyways. Not that she ever told her that.
"Soooo...what should we watch?" She wondered, putting the bowl in Bubblegum's hands before going over to the tapes on the floor next to the TV. "I got...Heat Signature, that's a great spooky one Finn gave me. The Night of Flesh-Eating Zombies, sooo violent. Oh! Catalytic Embryo, man this one is weird."
She looked over her shoulder, and saw the look of mixed disgust and uncertainty on that pink face. It made her chuckle, turning her head again and picking out the most tame movie she had: A Ghost's Diary.
"Alright, I'll show mercy. I wouldn't want my Bon-Bon having nightmares, would I?"
Marceline put the tape into her player and got the movie ready while Bubblegum sighed.
"I've seen enough scary things in real life to not let your silly movies haunt me." She told her with pride, before biting one of the juicy strawberries in the bowl. "It'll be you needing me to tuck you in tonight."
"Hmm, maybe I'd like that."
When the movie starting going, Marceline sat herself beside Bubblegum. The former had taken a relaxed, casual posture with her legs curled up on the red cushion, her arm stretching out over the backrest past Bubblegum's shoulders, who was sitting politely and straight. Marceline felt pleased. Her kind of movie, a bowl of red, the only light source coming from the screen before them...and, of course, Bubblegum to be her company for the night.
"This is already the best night I've had in, like, over a week." Marceline couldn't help but state, her eyes fixated on the screen.
Bubblegum was flattered, but then an aftertaste of sympathy whelmed her.
"I'm sorry I got you feeling all cooped up like this." Bubblegum apologised, looking at her. "When I know you're clean and not carrying the virus anymore, you can escape from here as much as you want."
Marceline appreciated that. She briefly glanced at her from the corners of her eyes, before looking ahead again.
"Trust me, it's starting to feel like a prison." Marceline sighed. "At least you can't catch this dumb virus, that means you can come visit me like you have today. About the only thing keeping me sane right now."
"Hmm." The Princess smiled sweetly, tilting her head a bit.
They watched peacefully together for a while. The overall tone of the film seemed more of an angsty drama than anything too dark as Marceline was no doubt tempted to expose Bubblegum to. Bubblegum found herself quite enjoying it, honestly. The mood, the movie, the...company.
"Shall I hit you with some red, Vampire Queen?" She kindly offered, holding a strawberry up to Marceline.
Marceline leaned forward to poke her fangs into the fruit, sucking the colour from it. Then leaning back with an sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Candy Princess."
Bubblegum ate what Marceline left. The grey strawberry was admittedly quite bland.
"You look good in black, by the way." Marceline couldn't help but casually note, not making a big deal out of it, or at least trying to look that way.
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Makes your pinkness...pop out, yknow?"
Marceline felt the need to get that out there, and quickly went back to watching the movie quietly with a slight flush in her face. Bubblegum ate another strawberry, feeling good and cozy. There was another quiet period between them, their eyes shining in the light from the TV screen. Even in these peaceful moments, they found bliss in each other's company. Their eyes would occasionally shift to glance at each other without turning their heads, or they'd shuffle their posture slightly. Eventually, Bubblegum would come to notice something about Marceline. Her flat stomach, presenting itself rather nicely between her crop shirt and her sweatpants. More specifically, the way the vampire's hand was scratching it. She watched her pale hand grow increasingly interested with exploring the equally pale stomach's belly button.
'Ew.' She couldn't help but think.
Marceline didn't pull attention to it, and was just casually beginning to stick one of her fingers in there. They didn't seem to notice Bubblegum watching out of the corner of her eyes, finding this relatively unhygienic display to be more interesting than the movie itself, even with the loud yelling and arguing that could be heard from the TV. No, even that couldn't stop Bubblegum from just...watching Marceline play with her flat tummy. She was surprised with just how far Marceline could stick her finger in there after a while.
'Gee, how...deep does it go?' She continued to ponder.
She tried to ignore it. To focus on the movie. But the temptation to see what the heck was going on down there was too great. Yet, throughout all of it, Marceline was very casual about it...as though the vampire was doing it by pure habit. It eventually got to the point where she was sticking her finger in good, and wiggling it inside.
It's like she was fishing for something.
"You okay, Marcy?" Bubblegum asked.
The vampire looked at her briefly, hummed a acknowledgement. Her hand's actions swiftly changed to look more like she was lightly scratching her midriff. But after some time, it began to ease back into her playing with her belly button. For every little detail, Bubblegum watched.
She had no idea why. She was just fascinated.
"Lemme snag another strawberry from ya." Marceline said, moving her stomach-tainted hand to pick a piece of fruit from the bowl, before draining it of its red. "There ya go."
The hand offered the drained strawberry to Bubblegum, who looked down at it with slight hesitation before taking it from her. Instead of eating it, however, she just put it back into the bowl. There was another period of Marceline's hand opting to scratch and sometimes rub her stomach, but soon enough it progressed into belly-picking once again. Once again, Bubblegum couldn't stop watching.
Maybe it was the mere idea of Marceline doing it that bothered her. Maybe the fascination as to what Marceline was even trying to do. Maybe...she found the sight oddly attractive. Whatever it was, it was getting rather annoying. Bubblegum was close to demanding for Marceline to stop, but she was halted by the most disgusting sight she had seen all day...and she saw a lot of sickly people today.
Marceline's fingers had pinched and tugged out a worm. A whole worm, poking out of her belly button...and being slowly pulled out by the vampire. Bubblegum glanced at it in shock. The thing was still alive, wriggling slightly...it had been living in her stomach.
"Urgh! Marceline!" Bubblegum shrieked, leaning back from her, eyes wide. "You have WORMS in your STOMACH?!"
Marceline stiffened and removed her fingers from the worm, which swiftly slid itself back inside her. Her face would immediately blush a deep shade, her eyes looking at Bubblegum from the corners.
"Uhh...you saw that, huh?" She awkwardly laughed. "I thought I was being discreet about it."
She'd usually save such a thing for when she had some alone time, and she had plenty of it lately. But when that tickling sensation starts to pop up in her tum...
"Marceline, that is gross." Bubblegum, frowned at her. "You're really unhygienic."
While she gave Marceline a judgemental look, and the vampire practically died from embarrassment, something clicked in Bubblegum's head. There were many clues to suggest Marceline was far from clean. Not bathing, not changing out of that sleepwear for days, having...literally having worms in her belly button. She understood she was undead, but...
"Marceline..." She began supposedly. "This virus...do you think...?"
Marceline took a moment. But she caught on to what Bubblegum was thinking. She looked down at herself, at her stomach. Then looked back up at Bubblegum.
"Uh, I dunno...maybe?" Her eyes trailed off awkwardly. "I didn't really think it'd be a big deal..."
In any event, Bubblegum didn't look too thrilled to see what Marceline was keeping in her navel area. Things had to be rectified.
"I'm NOT gonna tolerate that poor a level of hygiene, Marceline." She declared, standing up. "Still got those miniature pliers?"
Bubblegum went off into the bathroom to seek out the tool. All Marceline could do was lean back on the couch, scratching the side of her head and letting out a big sigh.
"Way to go, Marceline..."
This wasn't quite how Marceline imagined this night would go. She found herself sat on the couch straight, looking like a child being lectured while Bubblegum was stood before her. The Princess had a pair of miniature pliers readied in her hand, and placed aside a small jar.
"Alright, this isn't the first time I'd have done this, so..."
Marceline's hand reached out, expecting to have the pliers handed to her. But instead, she'd only see Bubblegum looking down at her with crossed arms.
"If it isn't the first time, you probably aren't doing it right." She told her. "Lie down. Spread your legs."
Marceline stared at her blankly for a moment, before doing as she was told. The vampire leaned her back down, and parted her legs. She couldn't help but blush at Bubblegum for the vulnerable position she placed herself. Bubblegum couldn't help but notice it too, both the blush and the position. But nonetheless, Bubblegum kept up her firm stance on the matter, and knelt down between Marceline's legs.
"If things like this are why you've spread this virus, then we need to clean you up good." She started explaining. "First, we start by taking out whatever is in your tum."
Marceline might've been nervous to have tools near her belly button if she hadn't done this multiple times before.
"Bonnie, I can do it-"
"Ah-Ah! I'll do it. I'll do it right."
Marceline sighed again, and allowed Bubblegum to take the initiative knowing it'd be pointless to argue. She supposed this was at least still better than spending yet another day in total isolation.
'Lying down. Having my girlfriend clean my bug-ridden tum.' She thought miserably. 'So romantic.'
This wasn't how she wanted to spend this night.
"Okay so...I'll just ease this in." Bubblegum said reluctantly, readying the tool over the belly button. "And...take it slow."
Marceline watched attentively as the princess began the navel inspection. For all the different kinds of experiments she had done, from creating zombies to constructing robot versions of herself, it was a new kind of oddity to be delving into someone's belly button. She supposed she could see this as another essential task to help the people of Ooo, and that there was absolutely no other factor in play as to why she wanted to do this personally.
The tool poked itself into Marceline, Bubblegum taking things cautiously and slow.
"Yup. Just...don't be afraid to get in there." Marceline told her, shuffling a little uncomfortably. "Just dig in, I guess."
Assured by her, Bubblegum became a bit more bold. She wiggled the miniature pliers in her, got in deeper. She was surprised by how far this could go in.
"Ugh. Yeah." The vampire continued to assure her. "Just like that."
Bubblegum rummaged around a bit, tried to clutch onto anything that didn't belong in there. Soon enough, she eased out the tool as Marceline groaned...and fished out the foreign invader in her tum. That same worm she saw Marceline tugging out earlier. It wiggled its green self, it's smiling face looking so oblivious. Bubblegum could only wonder what sort of afflictions existed within it.
"Got it." Bubblegum declared, a bit pleased.
Marceline simply hummed.
"Nothing' I couldn't have just done." She said, her face unamused. "I dunno why you're insisting on doing it."
Bubblegum ignored her embarrassing question and placed the worm somewhere where it wouldn't crawl into anymore tums, into the jar she put aside for the inspection. She figured she could study the worm later, see if it could be the source of the virus.
"Feel anything else in there?" She asked.
Marceline breathed in, and rubbed her hand across her stomach. Bubblegum's eyes once again couldn't help but stare at her midriff area, as though she found the sight entrancing. Alluring. As though she wished it could be her who was rubbing her hand across it at that very...
Her eyes widened. She blinked. She tried to force where that thought was going out of her head, but glimpses of it kept popping in her mind.
"I don't think so."
Marceline stuck her finger in her tum a bit, found it pretty cleared out. She supposed it hadn't gotten so bad this time. When she looked up at Bubblegum, she caught the glimpse of her eyes quickly trailing up to meet her own, her pink face going a slightly deeper shade. But the vampire didn't make much of it.
"Peebs, I...I think maybe we should just call it there." She suggested, her mood clearly spoiled. "I've got an air mattress if you'd like to stay the night."
Bubblegum noticed the change in Marceline's mood. She wasn't able to see it earlier, but when she thought about it...she supposed she did sorta ruin the mood. And by sorta, she was sure she completely wrecked it. They were having a nice quiet movie night together, and she had to spoil it. All because she couldn't stop staring at that stomach and obsessing over it.
Even now, her eyes still felt that pull to just glance at it. A drive, which controlled what she said next.
"Wait, I wanna make sure we do this right." She spoke up nervously, eyes trailing down. "Please sit back down, Marcy."
The vampire almost couldn't believe what she was hearing. She almost scoffed, ridiculed the Princess. But she kept her composure, and swallowed up any frustration she was feeling.
"Uh, can we please stop?"
"It'll just be a moment!" Bubblegum asserted her will, her hands hovering over Marceline's shoulders to urge her to sit. "Just making sure we've done it properly, okay?"
Marceline pouted, and with a huff through her nose, she sat herself back down. She spread her legs once again, and watched Bubblegum politely go down on her knees.
"I'm not a baby, Princess." Marceline told her, looking down at her with a slight frown. "Make it quick."
Bubblegum was face to "face" with that lovely midriff once again, smiling to herself and taking in the sight. It didn't even occur to herself how unusual her behaviour was. It's not like this was the first time she saw Marceline's stomach, the vampire would commonly wear clothes that exposed her tum. It definitely was a cute look, she thought. She didn't tell Marceline that, but maybe she could begin to show some appreciation.
The Princess reached up with her hand, and hovered it over the side of the stomach. After building up done courage, she softly touched it. Her hand comfortably held her side. She so badly wanted to just...stroke.
"Come on, stop messing around." Marceline urged her, eyes trailing off to look away from her and face blushing. "I don't like you being all up in my tum."
Bubblegum's eyes looked up at the vampire. She saw the embarrassment she was causing her. There were things she wanted to tell her, things that she believed she could be honest about. But the mere thought of saying such things, the temptation to just get it out...filled her with embarrassment too. Their faces were both looking like a pair of ripe fruits, one a blackberry and the other a raspberry.
"Okay, sorry." Bubblegum whispered. "I'll just, uh..."
She was about to leave it, to stand up again. But when her eyes looked at Marceline's stomach once again, she stuttered. Such a close up view of it, her mind was running wild with thoughts so inappropriate for any princess. It kept her where she was.
"...I'll just do this!"
Bubblegum, in a surprising turn, put her mouth on the stomach and began rasping her lips while tickling the vampire with her fingers. Immediately afterwards, she heard Marceline shriek and explode into a fit of giggles and flailing limbs.
"Ahah! Bonnie! Bonnie, stop!" She yelled out, twisting around and hands going to grasp Bubblegum. "No! Please! Aaaahah!"
Bubblegum smiled to herself and continued tickling and blowing the stomach relentlessly. She enjoyed every sensation of the pale skin against her fingertips and mouth and nose. A certain soft warmth against her own gummy skin.
"Mhm." Bubblegum chuckled with her mouth full of tum, her assault on the midriff not stopping.
Marceline wriggled and resisted and screamed some more, until Bubblegum finally decided to show mercy and stop. The vampire settled down, quietly giggling and getting it out of her system. The whole while, Bubblegum kept her pink face near the stomach, her hands holding it rather snugly. Marceline looked down at her, down at Bubblegum between her legs with her face and hands in such an intimate position upon her body. In all the excitement, Bubblegum found herself leaning forward over Marceline's midriff as while latter was leaned back on the couch.
Marceline couldn't help but go a deeper shade, flushing at the sight. Bubblegum followed suit, blushing in return. Their eyes staring into each other, an internal acknowledgement between them...they both knew exactly how intimate they looked in that moment. Something in Bubblegum's mind would see exactly what Marceline was thinking, and vice versa.
"Uh, hey." Marceline greeted her awkwardly.
Said awkwardness was killing Bubblegum. Her feelings mustered up inside were getting too much to bare, she couldn't afford being reluctant and slow anymore. Becoming emboldened and being courageous, she placed one of her her hands on the vampire's thigh, and then brought her face in to deliver a surprising smooch on the skin of the stomach. That was nearly it for her. She was so close to backing off, her head almost retreating back...but she didn't want to just stop there. Instead, she delivered another good smooch close to where the last one was. Then another. And another.
"B-Bonnie?" Marceline stuttered, both feeling and hearing the wet, lustful kisses on her stomach.
Marceline looked down at herself with wide, surprised eyes. Looked at Bubblegum as she lovingly kissed and pecked her stomach many times, her eyes closed and her hands touching her intimately and softly. Marceline breathed cautiously and her hand hovered out to Bubblegum, as though she wanted to stop her. But she didn't. Her hand rested itself back down, and the vampire became content to just simply...take in what Bubblegum was doing.
"Ohh..." She breathed out, watching with her eyes slowly narrowing.
Those pink lips continued to make love to that flat, pale stomach. Bubblegum purred and smooched, Marceline breathed through the mouth in pleasurable ways. The erotic sounds escaping them would soon become music to their respective ears. Both of them becoming more and more comfortable. Marceline sat up straighter, one of her hands going to encouragingly hold the back of Bubblegum's head. She kept her close, kept looking down at her with a heavy look, eyes near closed and mouth open ever so slightly.
"Ohh, Peebs..." She breathed out one of her many nicknames for the princess.
This was such a pleasant surprise to Marceline. So much time without any contact and understanding that she hasn't been the most hygienic, this was the last thing she should've expected from Bubblegum. She supposed she could be extremely thankful that the candy people weren't effected by this virus she had gone spreading.
It meant she didn't have to feel so guilty about getting this close to her.
"Oh, Marcy..." Bubblegum breathed out her name in return, looking up at her, the smooching ceasing momentarily.
Their eyes connected, taking in their flushed, loving looks...it inspired Bubblegum to keep going. The princess slithered her pink tongue out of her mouth, and seductively stroked it across the flat stomach. The sight aroused Marceline in particular, letting a small moan escape her mouth.
The tongue stroked, licked. Bubblegum enjoyed the sensation, the taste. Her savouring of her vampire companion would grow more focussed on the navel area, giving her a teasing sensation around the area. That was before she boldly dove her tongue into that belly button finally, with great lust and enthusiasm.
"Ohh!" Marceline gasped, the slightly ticklish and intense feeling giving her a jolt of life. "Ah!"
Her green and red eyes widened, her hold on Bubblegum's head tightened. Before she melted once again. Easing every muscle in her body. The vampire let go of her, slumped back some, tilted her head against the couch. She could only groan as Bubblegum heard the positive feedback, continuing to taste the tummy button and swirling her tongue inside. Her hands firmly grasping the sides of the midriff. Her pink eyes would occasionally go up to look up at Marceline. Seeing the vampire with her eyes shut lazily and her forked tongue hanging slightly out her lips was all the clue she needed to know she was doing good.
Then eventually, she stopped.
Marceline "recovered" from practically melting from the pleasure she experienced. She lifted her head up and opened her eyes. Only for them to widen again and a stutter to escape her lips.
"B-Buh-Bon..."
Marceline leaned back, her hands gripped against the couch. In front of her, she saw Bubblegum stood up and pulling her black shirt she borrowed over her head. Her shorts were already discarded by her feet. And Marceline could only look at her flabbergasted. All that pink skin with nothing but her equally pink underwear to cover it.
Just so much pink.
"What?" Bubblegum asked with a smile, dropping the shirt from her hand. "Not the first time you've seen me like this."
They've beached together and exchanged clothes many times before.
"C-context..." Marceline told her, still a bit shaken before forcing a cough to regained her composure. "I-I'm cool. It's cool."
Bubblegum found Marceline's cracking composure to be pretty adorable, especially considering how confident she often was otherwise.
And judging by what Bubblegum could see between Marceline's legs, she knew the vampire liked what she saw.
"Hm. You're so cute, Marcy."
Bubblegum stepped up to Marceline, and climbed over her legs to sit by her. They looked intimately into each other's eyes, their eyelids heavy with lust.
"I'm really glad you came tonight." Marceline expressed quietly, hand reaching out to affectionately stroke that gummy hair. "Glob, I've felt so lonely. Thanks for staying the night..."
Having someone as pretty and sophisticated as Princess Bubblegum sat nearly naked next to her in spite of all this virus stuff...Marceline was grateful.
Amongst other intense emotions.
"You may be one icky vampire." Bubblegum smiled, guiding the hand on her hair to her pink cheek. "But you're MY icky vampire."
Marceline saw those pink eyes flutter. In her head she could only think about how things were going the way they clearly were and if she was ready. Their faces were slightly blushed, but their growing comfort with one another made the deeper shades fade slowly over time. Marceline removed any doubt from her mind. It's been a thousand years...it was about time she got to tier fifteen.
She deserved this. As did Bubblegum.
"Hm. Hey, did I mention an air mattress before?" Marceline spoke with a dumb smile.
They both chuckled, their other hands lovingly stroked one another. It was clear to them both that an air mattress wouldn't be necessary tonight.
"I think this couch will do just fine." Bubblegum whispered, inching closer.
They had talked enough. The two scooted up to one another and leaned forward. Their lips came together, Marceline's hand holding Bubblegum's face close, and Bubblegum encouraging her to do so with her own pink hand upon the pale one. The two smooched in many ways. Short kisses, long kisses, quiet smooches, loud smooches. Heads tilting slightly and hands going in various places upon their bodies the whole while.
Eventually Bubblegum raised herself up slightly, start urging Marceline gently down on her back so she could lie on top of her. The kisses and exploring hands not ceasing. What little clothes they had on being removed over time and discarded below the couch.
Their night had really only just begun.
Bubblegum tugged at her pink princess dress in the mirror of Marceline's bathroom. As the princess dressed herself and straightened out her gummy hair, Marceline floated over and kissed her on the cheek. The vampire hugged her from behind, pale hands going around her waist. Bubblegum continued looking in the mirror with an affectionate smile, seeing only herself in the reflection.
"I would make you breakfast, but I haven't got anything in the fridge." Marceline said to her. "Nothing good for brekkie, anyways."
Bubblegum chuckled, before turning around to face her. She casually placed her arms around the vampire's neck. The princess couldn't help but notice all the hickeys around the small couple of holes on the pale neck.
"It's alright, you just worry about you." She told her, eyes moving up to meet those green and red ones again. "What are you gonna start doing from now on...?"
Marceline sighed, eyes trailing off and lips forming a small smile.
"Gonna bathe more often, clean my tum properly and more often, and get this place exterminated for insects."
Bubblegum nodded, then looked down and tugged at the vampire's sleepwear that she had just put back on.
"And change out of these." She helpfully added for her.
A week or so of proper cleanliness, and Bubblegum was sure Marceline being a carrier for this virus would pass. When that happened, the vampire would be free to do as she usually does.
And perhaps soon enough all of Ooo could get over this Coronavirus. Then everyone would be free to live as they did before.
Later on, Marceline opened the front door for Bubblegum courteously. The two exchanged more affectionate words, and shared a quick kiss. The princess had to go check back on Finn and Jake to make sure they were still alive.
"I'll be back in a week to check on you." Bubblegum called out over her shoulder as she walked past the white fences. "Clean your navel area or I will!"
Marceline watched her go, before closing the door and pressing her back to it. Last night really breathed a whole lot more life into her.
Her spirits were lifted.
The vampire soon looked down at herself, and pressed her hand against her stomach. She never knew that it could have such an effect on both Ooo...and her girlfriend.
'She just wants to worship this tum, she meant.'
Well, best she kept it clean for her.