The team arrived outside of the cultural center. If there was a dance, or any life within the center at the moment, it sure didn't sound like it. The group got to work. Simon, Bubblegum, and Finn searched for any clues on the ground while Marceline started looking for hidden cameras from the sky. Every so often, Finn proudly called the group over to display his latest findings. Usually, they were deemed worthless. A rock that was a different color than the rest, a patch of dirt that tasted different from "normal dirt", or a particular piece of ground that was sending the hero suspicious vibes. But to his credit, the rest of the group was making the same amount of progress.
What seemed like an hour had passed. Marceline had gotten bored of not finding cameras. Periodically, she would swoop down with a random item- a brick, a rock, or some poor soul's wallet and insist it was the camera they were looking for. Her restlessness did not go unobserved.
"Geeze I'm bored." Marceline groaned. She floated towards Finn and softly beat his head like a bongo.
"Hey, quit it! I'm trying to work here!"
"Right because of all the brilliant discoveries you've produced so far."
Marceline left the young man and turned to Bubblegum. Normally, distracting Bonnibel while she worked was something she learned to not do. But she had been good today, she deserved some leniency to bother her a little.
Marceline laid back and rested her elbows on Bubblegum's head.
"Find anything yet?"
"No. Have you found any hidden cameras?"
"I brought you like six of them so far. You keep dismissing my very important contributions." Marceline started. She cleared her throat and mocked Bubblegum's voice.
"Marceline that's not a camera, that's a piece of fruit. No Marceline, that's an apple you've drained the red out of." She grinned.
"Maybe we just have different definitions of cameras Marcy." Bubblegum smiled. She was tired, but appreciated the attempt to make her laugh. She stopped rummaging in the ground and pecked Marceline on the cheek. Marceline got the hint.
Finally, she floated to Simon. From the corner of her eyes, she had seen him observing her. She put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a soft noogie. Before he could protest, they were interrupted.
"Hey guys. I know I've been calling a ton of stuff out, but I think I've gotten something this time!" Finn yelled.
"Finn, if this is another waste of time, I'm gonna pound you into next Monday." Marceline said.
"No, I swear this time it's the real deal!"
The group gathered around him. Finn held out his hands and opened them. In the left there was a green patch of cloth while in the right a single black hair.
"See told you it was the real deal"!
Marceline sighed. She pulled back her arm, and wacked him across the back of the head.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"For wasting our time again! What's this gonna tell us?"
"Actually, quite a lot Marcy." Simon spoke up. Bubblegum nodded in approval.
"Simon's right. The settlement has a database of all the people living in it- and more importantly, their DNA. So, we should be able to cross reference the database with this piece of hair after we get it to a lab. The cloth might indicate what an attacker could have been wearing since Marc didn't wear anything green today. At the very least, we might spot someone with a missing green patch on their clothing." Bubblegum said.
Finn rubbed his head and looked at Marceline.
"Guess I was wrong. Sorry Finn."
"Sorry isn't going to make my head stop hurting."
"Don't be such a baby, dude. I barely tapped you."
"Well what would you have done if the situation was reversed?"
"Probably smack you back harder. But you're not really in a position to do that." Marceline grinned as she floated out of his reach.
"Marceline as long as you're up there mind keeping an eye out for cameras again?" Bubblegum called.
"Peebs you know me when I'm restless. I get bored and distracted easily. I need a partner in crime to hold me accountable." She smiled.
"Well, I'm going to find a lab to get this stuff checked out so it won't be me."
Marceline looked at Simon. Her smile widened.
"I'm going to the lab as well Marcy. Bubblegum probably needs me for something. Right?" He turned away from Marceline.
Bubblegum turned to him. She was about to say she would be fine by herself, but stopped. He silently pleaded, mouthing the word please at her. He did not want to be carried for the 50th time today.
"Yeah, Simon's right. I'll probably need him just to get permission to use the lab. You should have Finn look for cameras with you."
For a second, Finn smiled. He could get her back when didn't expect it. His smile turned into a frown. She could easily just get him back in turn, or worse. He was Marceline's friend, but he was also the only one of the three currently present who she still pranked. And knowing her, he might not convince her to resume looking for cameras that might not exist- even if it was for the settlement's safety.
"No. I think I might be more useful than Simon for getting you in PB. I'm Minerva's son after-all. I should be able to get the humans to let us do anything we need. I could get access to the data base from my mom too. Besides, Simon and Marceline should spend some more quality time together. And he can keep her on task better."
Marceline put her hands on her hips. So that's how it was going to be. She thought to herself. Well, let's see who was going to get thrown under the bus.
"Uh, well I spent a lot of time with Marceline all week. I don't want to suffocate her. Besides, I'll probably get distracted while looking for cameras. But you were able to find a ton of useful things Finn."
Bubblegum began to snicker. Truth be told, she was hoping they wouldn't turn on her. If Marceline's earlier antics were an indication of how the rest of the search would go, they'd both be useless during it.
"Finn brings up a good point Simon. Besides, we wouldn't want to leave these two alone. Finn might be covered in bruises by the time get back. At least we know Marceline won't hurt you for being annoying."
"Yeah. I'd totally try to get her back for bopping me earlier, and playing my head like a drum, and launching me through Penny's door too. In the interest of my safety, you should be her partner Simon. Besides, like she already said, I mostly found junk today."
Marceline smiled. Messing with Finn was fun but could get old fast. Simon might give small complaints, but it was always just a game between the two. Unlike when she messed with Finn, she never intentionally did anything Simon would get upset about. Besides, her jokes wouldn't fall on deaf ears if he was around. Especially considering parts of her sense of humor came from his. She'd have to get him back for trying to pass on spending more time with her though.
Simon meanwhile was backed into a corner. Looking for cameras that may not exist was frankly a boring job. Even if it was with Marceline. And he hadn't been lying- they were bound to distract each other from looking for them. Not to mention her current restlessness. At the same time, he was probably the only one who could get her to focus at the moment. And obviously he never disliked spending time with her - even when she was in a prankful mood. He sighed and smiled.
Before he could agree, he was dangling in the air. Marceline had clearly already made her choice. She flew near the top of the cultural center where she had left off, and they resumed the search. Bubblegum and Finn watched before walking back in the direction of the medical facility.