Summary
A few years into highschool on a relatively calm summer break the Wattersons have decided to to to the beach out of Elmore for once, and it only took Nicole putting the fear of god into her boss to get there too. But things come up that makes the once confident Gumball really need to take a break and question his sexuality.
With the summer heat in full swing and a nice vacation planned the Watterson's have spent the day's morning prepping for the beach, with their swimwear all put together and ready for the day. Naturally the car was in its usual chaos, singing mixed with petty arguments about the pronunciation of mozzarella. It was around 2 in the afternoon when they actually arrived at the beach, battling for parking space only to realize this wasn't Elmore… so people weren't as feral about where they actually decided to park. Keyword there being as feral.
"Kids! Were here, help your father and I unpack our things" Nicole would request as she got out of the car, taking a breath and taking in the serene ocean breeze. Gumball and Darwin would practically shoot out of the doors the second they parked, excited for the day ahead of them. Anais and Richard got out, Richard more so due to smelling the nearby food stand beginning to cook the next person's order. Seemingly ignoring their mothers request the two brothers would race for the beach, only to hear their mothers anger.
"BOYS! GET BACK OVER HERE, WE DON'T WANT TO END UP LIKE LAST TIME DO WE?" She'd yell at the two, who skidded in the sand before running right back to the car.
"Nope uh, definitely not…." Gumball would say a bit panicked, taking a moment to try and remember how they got banned the last time… Oh yeah, damn they really messed up badly. No wonder they were banned from every beach near Elmore. Whelp! At least this vacation spot hasn't gotten word of it! He would think to himself.
"It's not my fault that I took offense to their don't feed the fish signs, I mean! How else am I supposed to eat!" Darwin would say defensively, his arms crossed he would go help and bring out the chairs to set up at their spot.
"Darwin… They meant the wild fish. You know, like the ones in the water, that live over there" Anais would respond, only resisting the urge to facepalm due to the fact this conversation had already happened before. Each time getting dumber and dumber. She would start to grab some of the snacks… before there's a gust of wind and all of a sudden Richard is holding both the cooler for the drinks, and the bags of food. She's still amazed how fast he can move with food on his mind. So she'll grab some of the other chairs.
Gumball would be tasked with carrying basic supplies like towels, fur combs, and a few bottles of sunscreen, some for fur and the other for Darwin's scales. He would lay the bag on the ground, taking off his shirt before spraying on the sunscreen and patting it in so his fur doesn't just soak it all in before putting it back in the bag. I mean, they can just put it on when we set up, but I'm bolting for the water the second we get there. He'd think to himself with an internal grin. "I always hated how this stuff makes me feel like a fur ball drenched in olive oil… but if it stops burns I can't complain"
With all their things in hand the family would find themselves a nice spot near the water. Having a relatively normal time finding a spot. As they arrived, to no one's surprise, Gumball bolted into the water and dived in. Laughing at the misfortune Darwin and Anais would push past the sand bound Gumball into the water before him. Teasing him about his misfortune Anais would say "C'mon Gumball get over here! You don't wanna be baking in the sand over there do you?" She'd call out to her brother, egging him on to join in. Adding in a splash at his direction to accentuate the point a bit.
Only to hit his head on the ground as he had jumped too early. A bit dizzy he'd get up before shaking it off and running into the water.
Today would be a good day for the family. Pranks in the water, a nice food break, swimming around in the water. Generally just having fun with each other. Until of course Darwin ends up getting sand in his gills from a mud slap and needs some help to get it out, leaving the water to have Anais try and clear them for him. Of course Nicole would drag him out of the water soon after to dry off and in her words "Calm down and not cause anyone to feel like you're trying to get your brother killed". Which is fair considering the people here don't know the Watterson's well enough to tell that apart.
Gumball would dry himself off a bit, his fur all fluffed up and messy, he would brush it but, lets be honest here, its Gumball, he couldn't give less fucks about how tidy his fur is at the beach. He'd wave to the others saying "I'm gonna go take a walk around the beach, I'll be back in a bit!"
"Okay honey! Don't go too far though we'll probably leave sometime soon, it's getting a bit dark and I want to take us out for dinner!" *his mother would respond, laying back in a chair and drinking some water, a towel draped over her. Gumball would walk on for a bit before just having a look around, taking in his surroundings and looking at the people there. Hmmm… there's a spot with a good view of the ocean over up by that booth but, two people are up there. They look like teens by their setup with the laptops and well the band shirts, meaning they'll be just as easy to distract as I am. From what I'm seeing a bird guy and someone else who's a bit obscured… Think Gumball, think, it's time for your master plan. Step one! Use my master stealth to get up there, step two, cause a diversion, step three use the distraction and steal their seats, step four bask in my new
view. He would plan out meticulously. Sneaking up the side he'd get ready to throw a rock at something but would stop and pause.
Upon getting there he'd finally have a view of the other guy, a tall dragon man was getting ready for the water and had just taken off the Hawaiian shirt he was wearing. Holy shit the dude was built like a brick shithouse. What the fuck do his parents feed him? Piranhas on growth hormone??? Jesus Christ those muscles, dudes hot as fuc-... Wait. HOT? Nah nah nah there's, okay it's totally normal for guys to think another one is hot right? Yeah totally. But unfortunately for poor Gumball, the dragon needed to stretch a bit, his joints feeling a bit tight. Stretching and displaying the fine details in his physique. God damn, what I wouldn't do to be in those arms- nonono okay. That definitely isn't a normal thought. But that chest- But a penny is cool too! Just think about her- HOT DAMN THOSE SHOULDERS Gumball's brain went into full Adhd rambling as a blush very quickly found its way on the cat's face, unbeknownst to himself he had been getting closer and closer.
"Okay yeah he's hot but that doesn't mean anything right?" He intended to think to himself, but would say out loud on mistake. The bird laying next to the dragon raising a brow at Gumballs statement, but this would make him a bit more aware where he was, now up top a jutted platform, the same he wanted to take over, right next to the both of them… fuck.
"Dude, are you good? You seem a little… out of it." The bird would question with a moderate amount of concern on the awestruck cat. Gumball didn't answer, he was still in adhd limbo on what to do. "Um… hello?" Gumball finally snapped out of it and looked dead on at the red bird. "H-hi!" He stammered out. The bird gave a weak wave before giving a look to the dragon. "Do you uh, need something?"
"Oh- i uh… came over here to chat as… we have the same sunscreen!" Picking up a nearby bottle quickly and hoping it didn't look stupid. Saved it. He most certainly did not save it. An awkward look on his face. The dragon, having finished his stretches, would chuckle at the situation. Seeing what Gumball was holding was an empty bottle. Which only served to deepen the blush on the cat's face.
"... You use air as lotion?" The bird would ask. Both suspiciously and with a slight smile due to the absurdity of the situation.
"Yes!" Gumball would make an overly complicated display of scooping up the air around him before rubbing it into his fur like a lotion and patting down some of the messiness while he was at it before standing proud. Hoping that would hide the amount of bullshit that statement was. Though this just made the dragon go into full on laughter.
"Dude you're fuckin hilarious, if you just wanted to hangout with us you coulda said so. I'm Draken and the red bird over there's Avery. Seniors at the High School around here" The dragon would say once his laugh had died down again, his voice melting Gumball's brain even more. Why is his voice getting my heart funky, WHY COULDN'T HE HAVE JUST SOUNDED LAME. dgwuia. Fuck, yeah ,I'm definitely not straight, I'm gonna have to reconsider myself later.
"Well uh- i uh.. Wanted to make an impression? But uh, I'm Gumball, I'm kinda on vacation, but I'm uh, uhhh…. The one under that. Like a senior but less ya know, senior." Stumbling over his words in the awkwardness that is Gumball he'd introduce himself, not sounding as certain as usual. The group would talk a bit longer, not too much being said but certainly with Gumball trying, and failing to avert his gaze from the now named Draken. But Fortunately, and unfortunately, Gumball picks up his mother calling his name to get over to her.
"Ah shit guys my moms calling me over, guess were leaving now" He'd say sounding genuinely
disappointed, he was having a good time and well, he isn't sure how to admit the other part of it to himself yet. Trying to comprehend that he, Gumball Watterson, was at least physically into guys.
"Do you want our numbers to stay in touch? You're pretty funny and a hell of a lot less boring than the lameos over here-" Draken would say, Avery nodding along to that. Who can blame em, even the average person from Elmore is more interesting than the people here; they looked so painfully normal. Gumball would swiftly interject, a little too excited "YES! I mean uh, yeah sure if you want to" Exchanging numbers and setting up a little group chat for the three they'd wave goodbye to Gumball. Once thought out of earshot, Draken would say to Avery, trying to be a bit quiet, "I mean hey, he was kinda cute right? Sounds like a win" Unfortunately for Gumball's blush, he was a cat, and had far better hearing than the average person, hearing that just furthered the panic onset in his brain as he tried to speed up on the walk. Grappling with his own thoughts as he tried to clear up his face.
So um, hmmm yeah I Definitely like boys, fuck I'm totally gonna have to tell penny about this. I mean I'm still in love with her but shit. Man I did NOT expect me to have a sexuality crisis while on the beach. Gumball would finally make his way back to the rest of them, Darwin was looking fine, Richard burnt as he was too busy eating to apply sunscreen. Nicole was actually looking relaxed for once, and Anais was soaked after someone threw daisy into the water and she desperately dove in to save the plush. But they'd dry up and head into the car, driving over towards the hotel they had rented. On the way, Nicole would ask "So gumball, how was your walk around the beach. Meet anyone cool?"
"Met this cool dragon guy and his bird friend, they were fun. Made me start questioning my own sexuality though" He would reply rather bluntly, before realizing what he just said. And the next thing he hears is the car swerving off before recentering.
"WHAT"