Bones Exposed - Five

The Swordcery Fair is one of Prince Gumball's favourite events. He absolutely adores the recreation of the medieval times, and watching everyone else enjoy the festivities makes him feel even greater. Everyone looks absolutely adorable in raggedy clothes, metal corsets, and dirty leather boots. The food is fantastic, the jousts are so intriguing to watch, and the games are really fun.

Fionna and Cake go with him every year. They're really fun to hang around, especially now that he's in dire need of a pick-me-up. Marshall Lee's sudden reappearance has done nothing but bad for his emotional and mental health. The vampire king is the only thing on the prince's mind now, and his face- that gorgeous, conniving face- haunts his dreams again. All he can think of are those pearly white teeth, that sexy smirk, his long ebony locks, his honey-like voice, and those muscles...

Oh Glob those muscles.

"Uhhh, PG?" Fionna asks, waving her hand in the gummy man's face. "You alright?"

The prince blinks back into reality. "Huh? Oh, um, yes, Fionna, I'm fine. Thank you for asking."

The girl nods reluctantly and continues following her cat companion towards the pie catapults.

Marshall Lee would like the pie catapults.. He'd love covering innocent bystanders in the cream and laughing at their shocked faces. Then he'd look over at Gumball and stare for a bit before kissing him. Oh how lovely that'd be, their lips together again..

They'd actually done something similar before. Gumball was being taken to meet the vampire's mother. He, of course, was really nervous, so Marshall Lee suggested before they got to the diner, they do "something fun". Now, Gumball wasn't going to say no. Like any other normal being, he liked fun, and he also wanted nothing but to please his lover, so he obviously said "Oh heck yeah, that sounds great.".

Marshall Lee took the pink man's hand and led him somewhere he'd never been before. It was a thriving city, odd for the post-apocalyptic-seeming atmosphere the world had had at the time.

"What is this place, Marshy..?"

"It's a community of sticks," the pale boy said quietly, a small, mischievous grin on his face. "Well, maybe 'community' isn't the best word for them. They all hate each other, a lot. It's really funny."

Gumball didn't know what to say, so he didn't say anything.

"Sometimes I come here and pick on them, telling them lies about whatever and throwing things at them and they think it was someone else."

"What!? Why would you do something like that?"

Marshall Lee cackled and pulled his boyfriend closer, then placed a soft kiss on his temple. "Because it's funny, babe. Watch."

Bubba watched as Marshall Lee picked a berry from a nearby bush and flicked it at one of the sticks. The stick angrily turned around and glared at the one behind it.

"Did you just throw a ball at me?"

"What's it to you?"

"You threw a ball at me!"

The sticks then attacked the other, and a circle formed around the fight.

Gumball was very confused at what had just happened, but he smiled at the boy beside him's laughter. He watched Marshall for a bit, admiring his face and the beautiful noise coming from those vocal chords. The vampire's laughter was almost as mellifluous as his singing. Once the fit had stopped, Marshall Lee's eyes were looking into Bubba's. Slowly, he moved in, his eyelids closing. The two kissed, a sweet, gentle kiss. They'd done it many times before, but it still felt so youthful, so firework-y. It felt.. perfect.

Prince Gumball would kill for that feeling again.

It's too bad Marshall Lee isn't interested in him anymore.


After hours of watching jousts and Victorian plays, smiling at the victims of cream-sault, dancing with maidens, and snacking on bread, fruit, and turkey legs, the festival was over. A sleepy Prince Gumball slumps up the eternal-seeming stairway. Upon entering his room and turning on the lights, he shrieks as he sees someone on his bed. The figure laughs, and the prince places a hand over his rapidly beating heart.

"Goodness, Marshall Lee, you scared the crud out of me! What on earth are you doing in here?"

The vampire casually stretches his arms and floats over to the prince. "Just relaxing." He looks from the pink man's face to his outfit and stifles a laugh. "The hell are you wearing, Bubba?"

"It's a costume. Now kindly get out so I can change."

"Get out? I've seen you naked, Gumbutt, why do I have to get out?"

"Because I don't want you in here; I'm entitled to my privacy. ... And don't call me that."

"What? Gumbutt?"

"Yes, that, don't call me that."

"Why not?"

"Because it's rude."

"But it's true. Your butt is made of gum. I would know."

The prince's cheeks grow red from embarrassment. "Could you please leave, Marshall Lee? I'm tired, and this is not going to be comfortable to sleep in."

Marshall Lee stares at Gumball for a bit, his eyes grazing over every detail they can find, before obliging. In a kind manner, he closes the door on his way out with no other words.

Prince Gumball changes from his oldish attire into a pair of butterscotch-yellow boxer shorts and his favourite t-shirt. He flops down face-first onto his bed and instantly regrets doing so.

That damn vampire.

Now the sheets smell like him. This is going to make the prince have an even harder time falling asleep. He'll be so lonely..

He rolls over and groans. Why must this happen to him? Why must he be the one being put through so much... emotion? His life was so much better being emotionally isolated, not letting anything influence his limbic system's hormone regulation, not letting anyone pull at his heartstrings as if they were those of a guitar. He needs that feeling again, but stronger. But how is he going to achieve such a desolate state once more? He's a prince for Glob's sake; there are so many people he cares about, and so many people who care about him. He'd feel even worse about himself if he wasn't there for those who rely on him. He's already gone through it once. He'd be such a butt to do it another time.

And he can't possibly ignore the beauty that is Marshall Lee.. No matter how cold he'll try to act, the prince's heart won't fail to swell at the sight of the king, and his emotions will most definitely go all over the place when words start escaping those soft, beautiful lips.

Dammit.

Nothing's going to stop him from feeling this way. He's going to be a hot mess for the rest of his miserable life.


Author's Note: Hey guys! It's been.. forever. Because I know for a fact I won't be updating around the time it actually happens, happy one year anniversary! Six chapters in one year.. I'm terrible. :P
I hope you all are enjoying this so far. (: