AN: Warning for this chapter; threats of violence, manipulation, general creepiness from Chicle.
Fern was glad that he didn't have eardrums. If he did, they would be bleeding at the sound of his human counterpart's scream of terror. He transformed one arm into a vine to restrain him and his blade arm pressed against the human boy's cheek. "Shut up, or I'll give you a reason to scream."
The boy's screaming softened into whimpering. "Who- What are you?"
Fern opted to ignore him, deciding that Gumbald would be the one to handle this mess. He flinched when the door slammed open and Aunt Lolly scurried in.
"Oh dear. I heard what... happened. Fern, you haven't done anything to him yet have you?"
"Just told him to shut up. He's fine." Fern materielized various weapons in a not so subtle attempt to intimidate his 'brother'.
Aunt Lolly's presence seemed to calm Finn down dramatically. Is it because she reminds him of Mom? Or because she looks human? Either way, his counterpart was relaxed enough that he seemed to be observing Fern through new eyes. "Who are you? Are... you going to hurt me?"
"Of course not dear!" Aunt Lolly reached out of the room and brought in a cart of food. "We're your family! Fern is your Big Brother so he's just grumpy he's not the only one now. You can call me Aunt Lolly."
Finn calmed down considerably as he ate. Fern's irritation only built as the Human continued to ask questions about everything. Lolly seemed unfazed by the questions and answered them without issue, forging a story about who Finn was and why he was there. She threw in a few details about how dangerous it was for him to leave the palace, listing out things that might want to hurt him. If those things happened to include some of Finn's closest friends it was purely coincidental.
When Gumbald and Chicle entered, Finn reacted with suspicion. Dum-dum juice must not be as effective on humans. He's still capable of recognizing threats. I'll have to play along if I want to get him alone again. His role had already been established. Fern was, like Finn, an 'attempt to recreate human life'. Big brother Fern... funny how he's getting the connection he wanted in a sort of roundabout way. The two Gum men had wildly different reactions to Finn's new ignorance. Gumbald seemed to already be scheming about how to use Finn. While Chicle on the other hand seemed... excited. Like a child given a new toy.
"We'll give you some time to settle in." Aunt Lolly grabbed her 'husband' and 'son' and began to drag them out. "Come along Fern. Finn needs so time to himself."
Once outside Gumbald began to gush. "It worked like a charm! He's completely at our mercy. With him, I'll be able to create candy people far more advanced than those peasants Bonnibel has scurrying about."
Aunt Lolly frowned. "Why didn't we just go with my plan? With the treaty in effect, we'll have to stand down. Not to mention, she'll notice if her champion doesn't return and will suspect us."
"Not if we offer to help find him. After all, he left such an impression on us. We'd be devastated if something were to happen to him." Chicle offered.
Gumbald nodded in agreement. "We watched him leave to tell Bonnie the good news, it's not our fault that he has so many enemies who wish him ill."
"Liiiike, Sir Slasher? Or maybe Ricardio?"
Fern scowled. He was on that list of enemies. Would they throw him under the bus once they thought he wasn't needed? He glanced back at Finn's room. "What do you plan to do with him now that you have him to yourself?"
Chicle grinned in a way that reminded Fern of the way LSP looked at Finn. "What can't we do? He's so pliable now, we can convince him to be anything we want."
"First," Gumbald cut in. "We are going to ensure that Bonnibel does not and will not suspect us. Then, I will begin studying him. Until then, Lolly will be in charge of ensuring his loyalty to us and that he doesn't make his presence known to the outside world."
Finn felt out of place in the room he'd woken up in. It had no windows, it was too neat, there were very few items on the wall outside of pictures of the bald man he'd met. He felt like... he was trapped.
Not trapped. They're keeping me safe! Outside are Vampires, and witches, and mad scientists who'd love to get ahold of me. He frowned. I should try to be helpful... Helping. Yeah, that feels right.
He explored the bathroom, finding the bare essentials stocked in a cabinet. After he showered and dressed in the loose pants (too long, boring color) and warm cloak(No shirt?) he'd been given, he noticed a small pile of books. With those books came a revelation...
Finn hated reading. Only a few pages in and he felt like his soul was begging to be put out of his misery. He shouldered on reading despite not understanding half the words in the dense text. Aunt Lolly came in a few hours later to find him stubbornly attempting to continue reading, even though he'd barely gotten half way through.
"Are... you alright dear?" he nodded. "Why don't you take a break and eat something?"
"Okay."
Banana Guards swept the area around the castle calling out for the Champion of their princess. Jake was also participating in the search, sending a message to his Pups to keep an eye out for their uncle. Meanwhile, Bubblegum awaited news of her friend's safe return. She tried to focus on reinstating a more peaceful mindset in her populace(Finn probably worked very hard to get that treaty, she couldn't just throw it away.) but doubt took hold of her mind.
She wanted to believe the best, he was probably lost or got distracted helping someone. But she couldn't trust her family. If Finn went missing under their care it couldn't be a coincidence. Her eyes continued to drift to the treaty, noticing one of the inclusion of one thing in particular... Shared military forces. But if Finn had returned that would also include him wouldn't it? Why would they capture him and not Jake? What could they possibly gain from imprisoning him if they wanted peace? She groaned. It didn't make sense. The treaty made them look innocent, if she made a move against them it would put her in the wrong.
Her hands were tied.
"Peps?"
"Yes, Princess?"
"Make a copy of the treaty. I want to send them a signed document."
Her loyal servant was shocked. "Are you certain princess? What if they're..."
"I know but if Finn doesn't reappear soon, and some new threat shows up, we're going to need the Green Knight." She signed the document next to Gumbald's, officially accepting the truce. Please be okay, Finn. This is the least I can do right now. When you come home you'll have the peace you wanted.