Chapter 19: test runs

Marshall closed his eyes and took a deep breath, doing his best to concentrate on the task ahead of him. He was never really good at this, and this was the only toss Fionna would allow him since she was nearly professionals plus both sponsors had to participate. Every single time she tossed was perfect. He sighed and opened his eyes. Only one try. Only one chance to get the horseshoe around the pole. It was ridiculous of course, but he kinda had too. Virtually everyone else sucked at it, except Fionna and that baker guy, and he was one of those people. In fact, he can't recall a time in his life he's ever seen a real horseshoe. They were bigger than he had thought.

"Don't worry, okay? Just do your best. It doesn't matter if you get this or not. Either way, we got this round in the bag," Fionna spoke quietly so others couldn't hear.

"Thanks for the pep talk, babe, but I don't think it's helping," he replied. Fionna blushed and mutter something along the lines of "don't call me babe," before backing off and letting him toss.

Marshall chuckled and took another deep breath. His hands shook slightly as he tossed the horseshoe and crossed his fingers once the metal left his skin. He closed his eyes and brought his hands to his face to avoid witnessing his terrible toss. To his surprise, he heard a clink and peeked through his fingers. The horseshoe barely hooked around the pole and was sprawled on top of the rest of the horseshoes.

"Fionna and Marshall have finished first and managed to get all their horseshoes on the pole! Congratulations!" Peggy announced with a grin. Marshall laughed in astonishment and ran his fingers through his hair. He heard Fionna's delightful giggle and nearly fell over when she tackled him and planted a big kiss on his cheek.

"Oh my god! I knew you could do it!" She shrieked and hugged him tightly.

"Really? Miss 'it doesn't matter if you get it or not, just do your best'," Marshall sassed and wrapped his arms around her.

"I still knew you would make it," she grumbled and rolled her eyes at him.

"Sure thing, babe," he provoked and pulled her hair out of her face.

"Ugh, c'mon I told you not to call me that," she complained and tried to wriggle out of his arms. He only laughed and let her grab his hand instead to lead him back to their sites. He looked back and waited to be a good distance away from Peggy before coming up close behind her and placing his hand on her lower back.

"But it sounds so much sexier when I call you babe," he whispered and kissed the side of her neck. Fionna shivered and shot him an annoyed look. He only smirked in reply before placing his hand back in to hers.

"Did you happen to think that's why I don't want you to say it?" She challenged. Marshall's smirk turned in to a presently surprised smile.

"So you do like it when I call you babe?"

"Not around people, but yeah…I guess. Only like a little bit or something," she confessed. "And just because it's sexier doesn't mean it instantly turns me on. It's just more embarrassing when you call me that around people," she snapped. Marshall laughed and rubbed his thumb against the back of her hand.

"I get it, don't worry. I'll do my best to remember that."

"You two took your sweet time coming over here, how'd it go?" Cake asked once they approached her.

"Pretty good considering Fionna did most of the work. My turn was purely luck," Marshall told her as they plopped down on the grass with her.

"Yeah? What was it…horseshoes?" She tried to recall.

"Yup, and it wasn't completely luck. I saw some technique in there," Fionna said pinching Marshall's arm. He jolted away from her and laughed as he rubbed his arm.

"Shit, you pinch hard."

"Suck it up," Cake sassed and took a drink from her water bottle.

"Which one was that? The second to last one?" Fionna asked. Marshall nodded.

"Yeah, the one before was like a pie eating contest or something," he remembered.

"No it was like pie throwing or something. I think we won that one too," she corrected.

"Yeah, you guys really make a great team," Cake added.

"You think so?" Fionna questioned.

"Oh yeah, even when you two were at each others throats you guys worked really well together."

"Hm…I didn't really think that. I just thought people weren't being too smart because most of these things are easy," Fionna spoke as she felt Marshall start to play with her fingers.

"Man, if you watch the other teams play its like watching a dysfunctional marriage. They keep arguing and fucking shit up and nearly screaming at each other. I swear it is not good for my stress levels because watching them will really get you going."

"Wow, I didn't notice at all," Fionna said while she let Marshall hold her hand again.

"What do you think the last challenge will be?" Cake inquired.

"Probably something like potato sack race or three legged race. These things usually end with a race or some shit like that," Marshall guessed.

"That, and they're setting up a finish line in the track over there," Fionna pointed out.

"That too," Marshall nodded.

"Oh and there's a couple of cute ones too," Cake noticed and stood up from the grass.

"Are you gonna talk to one of them?" Fionna asked.

"Girl, are you even asking that?" Cake retorted as she walked away from them. Both Fionna and Marshall laughed while they watched her leave. Fionna rolled her eyes.

"Of course."

Marshall was right, it was a three legged race at the end. It was surprisingly easy for them to run together, but they did stumble a few times. It was a quick and easy challenge compared to the previous ones, yet it was the most difficult for the rest of the teams. They tripped over the finish line, of course, and laughed as they rolled around on the pavement and on to the grass. Once they got situated Peggy announced them as the winners and they kissed as the sun set.

"Fuck, that's a lot of stars," Marshall spoke as they laid back on the grass. Fionna nodded.

"Yeah, it's like impossible to count," she replied. They were shoulder to shoulder with their hands knotted together. This had become normal for them ever since they made up: completely tangled and never apart.

"I bet I can count them," he said bluntly. Fionna giggled.

"I bet you can't," she responded.

"Well, you win that bet because I'm lazy and I don't want to count them."

"You ass," she laughed and nuzzled her head in to the crook of his neck.

"You know it," he muttered and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Fionna smiled and closed her eyes, turning her body closer to Marshall and snuggling up closer to him. It wasn't too cold at night, but considering she was in shorts and a teeshirt it was a bit drafty.

"God are you trying to kill me?" Marshall asked as he felt her soft skin against his. She looked up at him with wide worried eyes.

"Did I do something wrong?" She questioned nervously. Marshall laughed.

"Not even close, are you kidding?" He replied and leaned down to kiss her lips.

"Then what did you mean?" She mumbled against his mouth.

"Just you…being you. I'm running out of really's right now," he told her.

"How many do you have left?" She inquired.

"I've only got one left, and if things keep going on at this rate I'm fucking done for," he chuckled at the end and pulled back to see her better. She blinked at him.

"Only one? Didn't you have four?"

"I had four, which was immediately reduced down to three right after you laughed," he informed her. Fionna blushed. Marshall bit his lip and ran his free hand through her hair for the hundredth time today. She watched intently as he stared at her, and anticipated what he would do next.

"Fuck, I am trying so hard to hang on to that last one."

"Have you thought about what will happen if you lose it?"

"I'll probably go insane and ask you out on a date," he teased and let his hand trail from her hair to her shoulders and then her waist.

"That sounds terrifying," she grinned.

"I know, right?" He laughed. They laughed together and when they were quiet neither of them felt the need to speak again. Instead, they remained on the grass and watched each other. Fionna pulled herself up to reach his lips and pressed a soft kiss to him. It was short, yet sweet, and instantly made him smile.

"I got it," he said suddenly.

"What?" She asked as she pulled back.

"I just found out why I like you so much," he reiterated.

"Oh?"

He nodded with a content grin.

"What? I'm a good kisser?" She quested sarcastically. Marshall shook his head. "Then what?"

"It's hard to put in to words…it's like…when I'm around you I feel like I'm with you and not with the you other people see," he tried.

"Uhh…what?"

"Like, we present ourselves differently to different people, right?" Fionna nodded. "Right. So, when I'm with you, it feels like you're not trying to present yourself a certain way. You're just being yourself, and yourself is fucking rad," he explained more properly.

"Okay, is that all?"

"Not even close."

"What else is there?"

"God, it's everything, Fi. Just being around you is like my own personal high. I feel so good around you. You're like a tangible version of happiness and excitement. Like my own little daydream, but it's not just that. I feel like a better person around you, y'know? Except different. My flaws are still there, but they align with yours a little so I don't feel so bad, and you don't make me feel guilty for not being as kind or sweet as you. It's fucking amazing," he rambled. Fionna grinned and pulled herself up to sort of straddle him, his waist firm under her thighs. She watched his expression change from his goofy grin to his now dumbfounded gaped jaw. She leaned down so her body was pressed against his and kissed him again. He carefully placed his hands on her legs and let her slowly and tortuously kiss him. When she pulled back, his lidded eyes met her wide ones and he smiled back up at her.

"You pretty much described how you make me feel, except you make me feel so wrong sometimes," she whispered. He chuckled and ran his hands up her figure to further her point.

"God, fucking date me please," he begged. She giggled.

"Maybe."