The land of Ooo was naturally a warm and sunny place, but today was one of those days where the sun's rays seemed to brighten the world just a little bit more than usual, where the sky was the bluest shade of blue and there wasn't one candy cotton cloud to be seen from Princess Bubblegum's balcony window. She gazed out at her kingdom, savouring the view of her people enjoying the lovely weather, off to meadows for picnics and many headed to the beach for some sea and sand. Fate had smiled upon her, because today happened to be one of the very few days she awarded herself just to relax and take a break from paperwork and Royal affairs, today was her first day off in weeks and she intended to enjoy it.
Her thoughts drifted to Marceline, as they frequently did, before she realised that of course, she would be asleep during the daylight hours, so unavailable to hang out while she had this free time. She hadn't seen her since that movie night at Finn and Jake's a few days ago, but knowing Marceline, Bubblegum was expecting a familiar tapping at the balcony one evening soon- she may not be sure when she would come to apparently 'convince' her, but at least this time Marceline couldn't catch her off guard.
She should have known better.
Bubblegum was just dialling Lady Rainicorn's number into her telephone, when she heard it. Tap tap tap. She froze for a moment, this didn't make sense. Her room was lit with the bright glow of daylight, but there was absolutely no mistaking that knock- she spun round expecting to see Marceline's figure outside her window (impossible though it was) but instead she saw…well she wasn't really sure what she saw. Marceline was there, oh yes, but she was accompanied by some huge object, she could see hooks and handles and planes of fabric that were filtering the light into dim colours on Marcy's grinning face. Bubblegum's scientific mind was baffled, she could still hear the dialling tone of the phone she held in her hand, but her arms hung limply at her sides as she stared, trying to figure out what the sight before her was.
"Um…Bonnie, are you gonna let me in or just keep staring at me? Cuz I know you like me and all and who wouldn't want to look at this hot bod, but you're looking ever so slightly like you might have poo brain"
Bubblegum shook her head to break her daze and rushed over to open the balcony doors, she dropped the phone to the floor as she tried to shield Marceline instinctively from the bright daylight and usher her into the safety of her room, though Marceline remained completely content, and still floating allowed Bonnie to push her inside.
"Morning sunshine!" she said buoyantly, with an air of smugness.
"What are you doing here, I mean how can you be when it's-"
"Daylight? Yup, I know" offered Marceline, putting her head in her hands, her grin only widening.
Bubblegum paused for a moment as a huge smile formed on her face; confusion could wait because right now the phrase 'pleasantly surprised' seemed just too weak to express what she was feeling. She threw her arms around Marceline's neck and pulled her in for a hug,
"But this is wonderful! How?" Ordinarily the princess wouldn't have been so shocked to see Marcy out in the daytime, but the fact that she had arrived on her balcony meant she'd had to have flown over, and no matter how much she covered up, on this cloudless day with the sun beating down there was no way she could have so easily flown through the light that Bubblegum knew would cause her skin to burn and boil if ever given the chance. Besides, she was only wearing some black shorts that cut off just above her knees and a grey tank top, not even a hat or gloves to shield her…
"Follow me and I'll show you…" she said as she floated backwards out the balcony doors, wiggling her eyebrows and waving her arms around for effect. Bubblegum laughed (before covering her mouth as she was taught a Princess should, so it was more of a giggle), and followed Marceline out onto the wide balcony to find herself under a huge canopy of colours.
She looked around her in awe; somehow Mary had managed to construct a sort of half dome, big enough for two people to stand below comfortably, out of a number of umbrellas, all of different colours and patterns. Their handles all pointed inwards, and Marcy had used string to tie them to one long pole in the centre, it was essentially one big parasol. Not only this, but around the edges hung an orange blanket that wrapped all the way around, and so extended the parasol's length further downwards.
Whilst Bonnibel was staring at the parasol, Marceline watched her and her smile felt like it couldn't get any bigger. She could practically see the cogs turning in Bonnie's head, she noticed the way her eyes darted back and forth to see how each part had been constructed, how it fitted together- it wasn't even that complicated and she was still so genuinely interested in it… glob, her and her little pink face were cute.
"Impressed?" she said, looking down at her nails nonchalantly.
"Very!" exclaimed Bubblegum "This was a brilliant idea Marcy, ooh now you can come and visit during the daytime and-"
"Yeah well don't get too excited, don't forget dude I need to get my sleep on during the day, I'm only messing up my sleeping patterns just this once." She waggled her index finger in Bonnie's face.
"Oh yes of course, I keep forgetting you're a vampire you know- which is silly considering you're floating most of the time… with fangs… and blue skin…and-oh well it doesn't matter!" she shrugged happily, which made Marceline laugh.
"Right, I take it you were planning on heading to the beach?" said Marceline, floating in circles around Bonnibel, noticing that she was garbed in a pink vest top, some peach coloured shorts and sandals. She even had a pair of pink framed sunglasses resting on the top of her head to complete the look.
"Yes, well. I was going to see if Lady would want to go, I'd just finished getting my bag together and getting ready- although I have to say I don't care much for the candy kingdom beach" she sighed "everyone always flocks straight there, and when there's still sun-beds available those marshmallows have a habit of forgetting their loyalty to their princess" she said, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms. Marceline chuckled before whirling past her and grabbing the Princess's bag from her room, she returned in a second and before Bubblegum knew what was happening she had picked her up, wrapping her arms around her waist and lifted them into the air. Her other arms hugged around the pole at the centre of the huge parasol and suddenly they were flying. Damnit, Bubblegum would never be prepared for when Marcy did that.
Now, Bubblegum had flown before, she couldn't count the number of times Marceline had taken her up into the air, and exciting though it was- this was something else entirely. Rather than being carried or held, all Bubblegum had for support was her hold on the centre pole of the parasol, more than anything she felt like she was flying. Her arms and legs were wound around it desperately as she clung on- though once the initial feeling of terror at having her, now seemingly miniscule, kingdom below her with nothing in between subsided, all she could feel was an incredible sense of exhilaration. Even though the umbrellas and the blanket surrounding them only reached to about the girls' waists, the shade still kept Marceline safe from the sun's harmful rays whilst providing an absolutely breathtaking view of Ooo as they soared above it. In addition, the shade wasn't cold or unpleasant- the air was still warm with a comfortable summer heat as they floated at the mercy of the breeze. All in all, it was one of the most incredible experiences of Bubblegum's life.
Marceline was subtly keeping them airborne with an arm around Bubblegum's waist that held the centre pole, her increased vampire strength made it feel like she was practically holding a feather up while she flew. For the most part, she was basking in Bonnibel's delight; she watched as her expression changed from surprise, to panic, to terror and then to euphoria. Marceline felt an air of pride, damn, she was good.
Though she was thoroughly enjoying the experience, and although her heart sailed when bubblegum looked up at her smiling like the sun, she couldn't help but feel very, very anxious. She tried not to let it show but when the breeze carried them upwards a little suddenly, she knew her leg had almost exited the safety of the shade and she involuntarily drew in a sharp breath. In hindsight, wearing shorts and a vest top- though it added to the impressive effect she was going for- may not have been the best idea.
When Bubblegum turned from gazing at the view below her to smile at Marcy again, she noticed her looking worriedly at the edges of their makeshift roof before the vampire girl covered it up and returned her look with a grin (but Bubblegum could tell when Marceline was forcing a smile, easily). It didn't take her long to work out what was troubling her when she saw Marcy had brought her knees up and her arm was plastered to her side. She exhaled with a huff and rolled her eyes, but smiling in amusement none the less. She timidly removed one of her arms from the pole, wary of losing her grip, and she used it to close the distance between the two girls and pull Marceline in close to her, she'd previously been floating dangerously close to the edge to allow Bonnie space in the centre of the parasol.
Marceline was taken by surprise, but glob she was thankful for that, she knew from experience getting caught in the sun was seriously painful. When Bubblegum realised she'd pulled in Marceline so their faces were only centimetres apart a small blush formed on her cheeks which Marceline couldn't resist grinning smugly at.
"Just couldn't resist me, eh?"
"Ooh don't start, you" Replied Bubblegum, turning to hide her pinker-than-usual face.
"Oh I don't blame you Bonnie, I mean just look at me"
"I'd rather not, I might be overwhelmed by your astounding modesty"
"I can tell ya, it wouldn't be the first time that's happened"
Bubblegum turned around with a stern expression; Marceline looked at her, equally serious.
They both burst out laughing after a total of 2 seconds.
They spent the morning and early afternoon like this, floating aimlessly across Ooo, Marceline had many years experience flying these skies, she showed Bonnibel her world. She taught her about the mysterious places that existed only to the knowledge of few- like the crystal lake buried deep in the grassland forest, where giant shards of ice still jutted out at strange angles- somehow they'd never melted due to whatever enchantment was put on them- instead they just glistened and sparkled in the light of the sun. They floated over these strange places, curious observers to all the land had to offer, Bubblegum's enthusiasm and awe never decreasing in the slightest as she listened to Marceline spin tales and retell myths about Ooo's secrets.
In between times, Marceline would make Bubblegum jump by jogging the parasol abruptly whilst she was staring at some thing or another below. Bubblegum never let her get away with it though, for example after she'd been given a particularly good scare, whilst Marceline was roaring with laughter she let out a bloodcurdling, absolutely terrified scream
"MARCELINE, I'M FALLING, MARCY!" Marceline's laughter stopped immediately, her eyes snapped open with panic to see Bubblegum falling out of her peripheral vision.
"BONNIE?" she cried out, before looking down and realised that actually, Bonnibel had very simply allowed herself to slide down the pole so she was hanging from the hook at the bottom, and this time it was her turn to crease up with laughter.
"Ohmygod, I hate you." Said Marceline, whilst helping Bonnibel back up to her former position.
"Noooo you don't."
"Yup, I do."
"Would you forgive me if I told you that I learnt it all from the master?"
"Well, I am pretty good at-"
"It's a shame you weren't there that day…"
"And we are back to hating you." She said as Bubblegum clutched her side laughing once more.
After they'd drifted around enough and seen as many sights as possible, Marceline began to steer them towards their original destination: the beach. But rather than heading towards the main beach as Bubblegum was expecting, they sailed straight over it- she watched as the tiny seeming people crowded together in the sea and sand disappeared from view.
"Marceline, where are we going?"
"Patience, young one…" she replied mysteriously, doing that eyebrow wiggling thing again. Bubblegum just raised an eyebrow in return and continued to enjoy the view in the meantime.
Soon enough, Bubblegum was fairly certain she could see what they were headed for. Stretching below them were planes of grass that topped huge, towering cliffs at the sea's border. Bubblegum could see a break in the Cliffside, an area where it dipped inwards into the land and sure enough as they got closer she could see the sea seeping inwards to break on the shore of a tiny cove where the water was a bright turquoise blue, and crystal clear. Also clearly visible from the air was a ship, obviously wrecked there from however many years ago that lay ruined on the beach, it made it an even more amazing setting, more secret.
Marceline lowered them closer to the sandy cove below them, personally she preferred it at night, when the moon and the stars would make the white sand look silver and the sea glisten- she reminded herself to take Bonnie here again sometime to see it like that- I mean, she was a hardcore rocker, but that's not to say she wasn't above a little moonlit picnic now and then…
They touched down on the soft shore, careful to remain under the parasol's dome at all times, Marceline easily dug it into the ground while Bonnie stretched her legs, she'd gotten achy from staying wrapped around the parasol for so long. Marceline angled it so that it leaned back slightly, perfect for lying under she thought with a fanged smile.
Bubblegum took off her sandals and walked around on the beach, the sand was perfectly soft- it practically caressed her feet as she walked along it, it was warm from the sun and the sea breeze blew through the gap in the cliffs where the cove hid, she breathed it in with her eyes shut and her face turned upwards towards the sky. She returned to Marceline and found she had already set up their parasol to give her adequate shade, she'd lain out Bubblegum's towel and beach equipment, whilst Marceline herself was applying sun cream by the bucket load- she had several bottles lined up next to her with the highest factor on the label.
"Does that stuff actually work?" questioned Bubblegum
"Well…it's like, this is the strongest stuff I could find in Ooo- if I put a couple of bottle's worth on then it won't hurt if I accidentally get caught in the sun. If I put a whole load on," she gestured to the line of bottles next to her "then for a little while, I can actually go out in it, although the light isn't really comfortable…"
"huh" was Bubblegum's response. She made a mental note to study up more on the effects and limitations of vampirism later.
For a while they both sat in comfortable silence, Bubblegum pulled out a book and became absorbed in it- Marceline had managed to fit her banjolele into her bag, she plucked and strummed it thoughtfully. She'd been having more luck with her music lately (gee, why could that be?) and at the moment she was feeling content enough that the music flowed sweetly and endlessly. Now and then she would pause to put on more sun cream until she'd gone through her entire supply.
"Right, I think I've probably got about half an hour in the sun burn-free. Ready to get your ass kicked in a game of volleyball?"
"Psh, I think you'll find it'll be me who kicks your butt thankyouverymuch. But Marcy, are you sure- with the sun…?"
"N'aw, you're not worried about lil' old me?"
"Fine, let's go then!"
The girls stood up and Bubblegum headed towards the sea, beach ball in hand. Marceline lingered in the colourful shadows of the parasol for just a little while longer before taking a cautious step out onto the sand and…she was… okay. But glob, she was not used to it. She squinted at the brightness and stumbled forwards a little before her eyes adjusted properly, then sun's rays beating down on her tingled uncomfortably- like it was trying to scratch away at her defences so it could attack her again. She sucked it up though, and ran down towards Bonnie. She noticed the Princess' shorts and vest top were lying at the water's edge, the girl was wearing a simple pink bikini that had some lighter pink frills around some of the edges, she looked good decided Marceline shamelessly- and she was waiting in the water with a beach ball in hand.
"Are you coming in or what?" she challenged, having noticed the sun cream bottle had 'waterproof' stamped clearly on the label.
Marceline lifted up her tank top and let it fall to the floor in a pile with Bubblegum's clothes; she was wearing a plain black bikini top on underneath that Bubblegum noticed with a slight blush fitted her well. She left on her shorts, they were made of a thin material that would dry quickly in this heat anyway and she waded out to meet Bubblegum in the waves.
The game started competitively, Marceline had an advantage thanks to her vampire abilities giving her plenty of increased speed and strength- but Bubblegum was patient, she was calculated. She was able to make note of the ball's weight, of Marceline's strength and speed- the direction and speed of the wind; she was certainly not an easy opponent. However, soon enough the waves that made their legs sway and buckle, making them fall over and get tossed around were too much for their game to continue. They ended up falling over and laughing too much, eventually splashing each other and trying to run away by wading through the opposing force of the crystal water- it wasn't long before the ball had drifted away and neither of them could be bothered to fetch it.
For a while Marceline just floated on her back, she let the waves rock her and she enjoyed the feeling of floating without putting in the effort to do it herself- during which time Bubblegum took the opportunity to use her underwater camera to get some snaps of the sea life under the surface of the turquoise water. When Marceline began to feel the itch of the sun's rays a little more painfully than she would have liked, the girls retreated back into the shade of the parasol. They spent the rest of the day doing a number of activities- Bonnibel managed to bury Marceline under the sand, save her head, whilst still under the parasol. Marceline nearly had a heart attack when Bonnie began to move the parasol away, allowing the sun to shine down on her- fearing she'd have to stay under the sand until nightfall to avoid getting burnt. They built sandcastles (and enjoyed trampling them in a blast of destructiveness afterwards), explored the shipwreck, Marceline played a couple of songs for Bonnie, who sung along delightedly- they read for a while, enjoying each other's company and chatted whilst watching the sun begin to fall towards the horizon.
Around which time, they packed up their things, put their usual clothes back on and once more huddled around the centre of the parasol to return back to the candy castle. It was a quiet flight back, the girls were both a little tired by now and the sun's blasting heat had faded away to leave the residents of Ooo to bask in a typically warm summer evening. Both just quite contently let their thoughts drift and ponder over the day they'd had.
It wasn't long before they were making the familiar descent onto Bubblegum's balcony; the sun was finally setting and painted the castle walls with an orange hue. Preferring not to risk it (as if she hadn't enough already) Marceline remained under the parasol and floated on her stomach behind the wall of the balcony- Bubblegum rested her head in her hands on the wall from the other side and let out a dreamy sigh.
"Thank you for today Marcy…I can't even begin…"
"Heh don't worry, I know. I can be pretty impressive when I wanna be."
"Hm, I can't really disagree" said Bubblegum, smiling and shrugging her shoulders. "Just when I think you haven't got any more surprises in store for me, you go and do something incredible, again, wonderful even…." Marceline wasn't expecting the blush that came to her cheeks, but at Bonnie's complimentary words she felt her face heating up. She shrugged it off, trying not to get flustered by it.
"Yeah well…you can be pretty…*cough* wonderful too…I guess…" she said, scratching the back of her head. Bonnibel couldn't help but think the girl was adorable. "So, are you convinced yet?"
"Convinced?" said bubblegum, her brow furrowed "about wha- oh, right!" she'd almost forgotten in the events of the day… "Oh, well I, I wouldn't know where to- I wasn't expecting…" She was interrupted by Marceline's laughter.
"Haha, don't worry I just wanted to see you get all bothered and confused- it's super cute. You don't have to say anything right now, I've still got more planned for you, and like I said, I don't want 'no' to even be an option by the time I'm done" she said, grinning devilishly (one of Bonnibel's favourite Marceline-smiles). It was really true. Marceline was realising ever more how much she wanted to be with Bonnie again, properly be with her. She wanted to hold her again, brush strands of bubblegum hair from her face, she wanted to kiss her and…she felt the colour rising to her cheeks a little and stopped her train of thought there, heh.
Bubblegum let out a relieved sigh, she hadn't even thought about what she would say at the end of all this.
"Okay then, I guess I'll…see you again, soon?" she said hopefully.
"You can count on it" nodded Marceline in response.
"I'm looking forward to it." She was being completely genuine. And she was genuinely surprised when Marceline suddenly stole a quick peck on the lips. She gasped
"Marcy! What are you-"
"I couldn't resist, I guess! And I'm not sorry" she winked as she flew back as far as she could.
"Ooo, you!" Bubblegum shook her fist at her, but she wasn't really angry- quite the opposite actually, but she couldn't admit that, she reminded herself.
Marceline headed back to her cave feeling smug, she'd had a blast today and even better she felt like Bonnie had as well- and nothing seemed to bring her more happiness than seeing her face lit up like that. She cursed herself for being so cheesy.
You're a badass vampire Queen, Marceline- a hardcore rocker, a…
Her thoughts were interrupted again when she remembered the look on Bonnie's face after she stole that kiss and she couldn't help but allow herself a small smile.
A/N: Here's chapter 3, hope you guys liked it! Jeez, the fluff just doesn't stop pouring out does it… ^/^
Thank you for the kind reviews and comments so far, and to the people who have favourited the story, it's really appreciated! As always, constructive criticism is welcome/ if you did enjoy the chapter feel free to drop in a review (or not, don't worry!) :D
See you again at the end of chapter four XD