AN: Here it is: Fionna will finally find out about Marshall and Prince Gumball's past!
"And that is how Bubba and I met." Marshall said floating a foot up into the air rolling onto his side to look at the little blonde adventuress.
Fionna's eyes were full of questions while she was busy trying to process all the information she had just been given. Curiosity for the rest of the story hit her the most.
'What kind of friendship had they had, and why do they fight so much now? And, hold up… five hundred years ago?! That means…..' Fionna looked at Prince Gumball. "PG… You're like really really old dude! What the bumble day you weirdo! You're like way more than five years older than me."
She said the last part with a bit of harshness. Frustration was not something she could hide. It's not like knowing this information would have made her think different of him. Would it?
Prince Gumball's face flushed and he put his hand to the side of his neck to gently fiddle his fingers across his pink skin. "Well, I am actually five years older than you. I am simply stuck at the same age like Marshall Lee. So yes, technically I am much older than twenty one, but my body has not aged past twenty one." He explained.
Fionna took a moment to think. "So.. no one has ever asked you about this? And how many times have you had the same birthday over again? Most candy people live that long?"
Prince Gumball shook his head. "No. Only candy people who contain a certain mineral can. Of course that is rare these days, because most of the people carrying that gene have already died. You see, the mineral does cause prolonged life but not immortality. Candy people can die just like any other mortal." He put his hand to his chest to gesture to himself. "As royal blood of the candy kingdom I carry that trait, because it was passed to me by my father." He explained not bothering to answer how many times he's had the same birthday.
Marshall and Gumball locked eyes. They exchanged unspoken words while Fionna let the information sink in. Marshall huffed and looked away from the candy prince crossing his arms.
"Even with the mineral you would still age, Bubba. It wouldn't be as a human ages, but you would still look older than you do now." He looks back locking eyes with him.
"You are correct." Prince Gumball crosses his arms and glares at Marshall, his voice irritated. "You know why I do not age any further. That is not something to discuss at this time."
Fionna watched them her mind still full of curiosity. She analyzed the two and decided to steer them away from being snappy to each other. There was more to learn about the odd friendship they had. She spoke up.
"Okay. You don't have to explain it now. We can always talk about it later. How about when I bring over those journals?" She looks over to Marshall. "You can be there, too."
Both Marshall and Gumball look at her. Gumball's face looked like her was trying to hold back utmost excitement. Marshall's face was undistinguishable. Maybe curiosity? It's hard to guess when it's the vampire king.
"Okay." The candy prince answers with a smile.
"Yea, I'll come, too." Marshall answers thinking about his own journal he has at home hiding under his pillow.
"Math! Sooo…." She looks at the vampire king who is looking at the ceiling. "Did you go back that night?" she asks with excitement.
Marshall looks over at her. "Huh?"
Fionna rolls her eyes. "Dude, when PG asked you to come back to hang out that night. You didn't finish the story." She stated
Marshall looked into her eyes, not really sure if it would be best to tell the rest. He glanced to Bubba, who didn't seem to care if he told her about that night.
Marshall voiced himself into the candy prince's head. Normally he tries to not do things like that, because sometimes there can be left over essences. Like, if you lock minds with someone sometimes you can receive some of their emotions, or memories. Really whatever they carry in their mind or emotions can somehow get into yours. It's the whole everything that's magic has a price thing. Plus, it's something he learned a long time ago that's best to not use. Some things you see in other people's heads are just not meant for you to see. Also, sometimes they can see into yours, and that truly is scary for people. No one likes to face the vampire's demon side.
'Do you want me to tell her Bubba? It is kind of your deal.' Gumball jumped at the vampire king's voice being so loud in his head.
'You don't have to be so loud! You answer her and I will tell her the rest.'
'Tell her EVERY thing ?' Marshall asked a little surprised.
'I will tell her what happened that night, yes. Besides, we didn't really do anything. If we will end up telling her about us it doesn't matter. We have been friends long enough with her to trust her.'
Marshall nodded his head in agreement. He could feel the candy prince's anxiety and nervousness from being connected to his mind.
"Yes." He looked at Fionna. "I did come back later that night." His voice was cool and collected.
"Okay…" she responded in a way that said continue.
"Ahhhhhhh!" Gumball let out an ear piercing girly scream of surprise covering his face.
Fionna and Marshall jumped startled at the scream and looked over to the candy prince. Prince Gumball blinked a couple of times and tried to quickly compose himself breathing hard. Fionna was breathing hard as well, because damn…. That was random and startled the shit out of her. Marshall blinked a couple times and then laughed. He couldn't help it.
"Holy cosmic owl…." Prince Gumball quietly remarked rubbing his face.
"What the hell PG!?" Fionna yelled at him pushing his shoulder. She studied his face. Gumball's face was pale, and his eyes were still wide. Concern filled her. "Gum gum…. Are you okay? What happened?" she asked worried.
"No-nothing to worry about. I saw a shadow and thought something was beside me." He responded breathless. Gumball voiced in his head to the vampire king hoping he could still hear him. 'What the fuck Marshall Lee!' Marshall shrugged with an apologetic smile.
Gumball saw a very demonic looking demon. It had razor sharp claws and teeth. The skin of it looked rubbery and was tar colored. The demon looked dead and then sprung back to life with a vengeance. The prince shuddered at the image of the demon's head being ripped off. No wonder the vampire had nightmares. With memories like that who wouldn't?
Fionna took one of his hands in hers and squeezed it to comfort him. They locked eyes and shared a smile.
"No one here but us." She said to reassure him. "Now, Marshall, you came back that night? What did ya'll do?" she asked because she didn't want them to change the subject just yet. There was more to learn or know. She just felt it.
"Yes, I came back." Marshall answered looking straight ahead with a blank expression.
The memory flooding back of discovering Bubba covered in bruises was like a smack to the face. It was like that often. He would visit the candy prince, and somewhere there would be a new mark. The candy prince had an excuse every time for the bruise or cut that adorned a discolored spot.
Fionna sat up until she was in front of her vampire friend. She put her face in front of his, but he averted his eyes to the side. Fionna furrowed her eyebrows. Gumball cleared his throat causing her to look at him.
"Perhaps I can take it from here?" He suggested.
The adventuress nodded her head, and sat with her back toward the foot of the bed. She grabbed Marshall's hand lacing her fingers with his, and crossing her legs Indian style. The vampire king grasped her hand gently, but held his gaze the same. Fionna tilted her head at Prince Gumball, who cleared his throat to begin.
"He did show up an hour after it had turned dark. Actually, he was here right when the sun was setting, but he couldn't find me outside."
**Flashback to Scene**
Not being able to find the prince outside Marshall decided to check his room. He floated up onto his balcony finding that the window was left cracked open. Opening the window he climbed inside. He smelled the air. Gumball had not been in his room since early morning. He few minutes passed by when he heard the doorknob click. Marshall made himself invisible just in case.
Prince Gumball walked into his room limping while holding his knee. His silky white button up shirt was ripped and disheveled. His dark pink pants were no better than his shirt, and both also were stained with blood. Dark purple bruises lay across his cheek with a cut in the middle. His nose was swollen and bloodied. A cut above his brow still bled. One of his sleeves were missing, and a long cut was wisped down his arm surrounded by multiple bruises.
Marshall turned himself visible again and let his feet touch the floor. He felt a series of emotions rush over him. Shock, anger, sympathy, sadness, with some other emotions he wasn't sure what to classify as. Not knowing what to do at first he just stood, watching.
Gumball closed the door, with his head still down he hadn't seen Marshall yet. He limped over to his dresser and slumped over it to pull some fresh clothes out. Marshall could see the bruises that wrapped around his neck and throat. The candy prince's breathing grew heavy when he tried to bend over to find clothes. He coughed blood into his hand and began fall backwards. Marshall was by his side to catch him in an instant. The candy prince's eyes were still open when he looked into them.
"You came back." Gumball said quietly. "Sorry if I kept you waiting long. Lessons ran late today." He looked around and blushed realizing that he was in Marshall's arms, yet again.
He moved to get up, but Marshall wouldn't let him. Instead he floated the prince over to the bed and placed him on top of the comforter. Prince Gumball had a face of thankfulness and embarrassment.
"Bubba, what happened?" Marshall asked coldly knowing the answer.
The prince looked away. "It doesn't matter." He answered with sadness so strong that vampire king could taste it.
Marshall growled deep in his throat. "What? Have you seen yourself? Tell me what happened." He basically demanded the last part.
"Sshhhh, don't be loud." He looked to the vampire. "This" he waved his have over himself. "is part of my lessons today. I brought this onto myself for yesterday." He sounded as if it were justified.
Marshall snarled and jerked himself back away from the bed. He paced the room back and forth trying to not go demon. Stopping at the foot of the bed he glared at the floor.
"This… this is not okay." Marshall stated.
Prince Gumball sat up on his bed and started to unbutton his shirt. "Well, bleeding all over my bed isn't okay." His arm that was slashed shook as he struggled with a button.
Marshall pushed him back onto the bed. "Stay here and don't move."
The vampire king floated to the bathroom rummaging around. The sound of water running echoed for a while then stopped. Marshall came out with a first aid kit and a basin filled with water. He then floated to the dresser and pulled out some fresh clothes.
"What are you doing?"
Marshall put the kit on the bed next to the prince. "What does it look like?" He answered a little annoyed.
It's not like his reputation wouldn't be damaged if someone found out about the candy prince. His people would think he's growing soft and would try to kill him. Knowing this he still wanted to help the prince. There was something about him that was refreshing and innocent. Yet, there was something about the prince that was familiar. Something he could relate to. It was confusing to him.
Marshall started to unbutton Bubba's shirt so he clean up the wounds that were scattered all over his chest and abdomen. Some were deep and some were only scrapes. Dipping the sponge in water he washed first his chest and stomach. He moved to his face and Gumball winced when Marshall touched his cheek. The vampire king bandaged the deep wounds, and left the smaller ones to scab over. Marshall turned the prince over to do the same with his back.
"Does this happen a lot?" Marshall asked looking at the scar that looked like something gashed his back open.
"It's not as bad as you think. He's tough on me because he wants me to be tough." Gumball answered defensively.
"He's doing this to you because he can get away with it. I bet he wouldn't try this on someone his own size." Marshall retorted. "What a wimp."
"You don't know him. He is just looking out for me in the long run."
"You can't be serious. You honestly believe that?" Marshall paused and looked PG in the eyes.
"I have to." Gumball answered quietly.
After Marshall finished with the candy prince's upper body he decided to take a look at Gumball's leg. He was worried about the prince's limp.
"You dislocated your knee." Marshall stated. "Hold on to somethin' Bubba. I'm gonna fix it."
In one swift motion and a sickening pop sound the knee was set back into place. Prince Gumball sighed in relief. Marshall bandaged his knee, and gave Gumball a pair of sweat pants.
"So, I think we should just chill in your room tonight." Marshall said as an obvious statement due to Gumball's apparent injuries.
Marshall and Gumball talked and laughed all night. Gumball ended up falling asleep while talking. Before he fell asleep they agreed to meet up in a couple days to hang out.
A couple days passed and they did. That was their routine from then one. Well, for at least another three and a half years. With all the time they spent together they only got closer and closer; forming a strong bond with one another. Feelings developed as a product of that. By the time Bubba turned fifteen they started getting intimate.
**End of Flashback Scene**
Fionna sat with her lips slightly parted. She looked down and then back to Gumball with her brows furrowed.
"What does intimate mean?" She asked with her voice innocently curious of the word she had never heard before.
Prince Gumball blushed at her question. "Intimate means…. closely acquainted; familiar, close."
"Oh. Cake and I are intimate!" She exclaimed proud to learn something new.
Marshall erupted into laughter and Gumball's face got redder. This confused Fionna.
"What is so funny?" For some reason Fionna's face lightly flushed.
"… Don't ever repeat that again…" Gumball answered patting her hand.
"Why?" Fionna still didn't get it.
"… oh Fionna, you really are so innocent sometimes." Gumball said shaking his head with a soft smile.
Fionna only furrowed her brows again and her face was struck by total confusion. Gumball glanced to the still laughing Marshall Lee for help. Marshall quieted down his laughing and cleared his throat.
"It means that you're close in a physical way. Like….. Cake and LM." Marshall said in thoughtful way. It's not like he wanted to say sexual. That would probably freak her out.
Fionna looked at her lap right away and blushed crimson down to her neck. It was impossible to be any redder than that moment. She was running that information through her brain at a sonic speed. Marshall and PG exchanged unspoken words at her reaction. At least she didn't scream and run.
Fiddling with the sheet she tried to think of something to say. I mean, what would you say?
"Um… okay then." She started. "So… you um, dated?" she asked confirming the information was being processed properly.
"Yes." Gumball and Marshall answered in unison.
"And you guys… did…. tiers?" She asked treading carefully.
"Yes." They answered in unison again.
Silence reined for ten minutes while she tried to keep collected and process. The guys patiently waited. They both prepared for her to fully flip, respond negatively, or the chance she would just accept it.
"Okay." She remarked after she completed her thought process.
"Just okay?" Marshall asked trying to feel her out.
"Yep." She answered as if the answer was simple.
"Could you possibly elaborate on your answer to us, please? What we just told you was very personal for us. No one knows and we would like for it to stay that way. Our discussions must stay between us three." Gumball paused touch her shoulder. "We are putting our trust in you."
Fionna put her hand on his and looked him in the eyes to confirm her words absolute truth.
"I will never utter a word to anyone PG. If you want other people to know, you will tell them. It's not my p biz to tell." She held both Marshall's hand and Gumball's.
"You're really okay, then?" The vampire king asked.
"Yea dude. Love holds no bounds or boarders. You feel what you feel, and you can't help that." She answered.
Prince Gumball gave a nod of newly found respect for the human girl. Marshall couldn't help but do the same. Her understanding and acceptance surpassed many. It was if she had grown before their eyes with those words. Her grown maturity on the subject of love showed.
"I have another question." Fionna looked back at her lap. "Do you still have any feelings for each other?"