Four months.
Four glorious months.
Giving a lazy smile to his reflection in the mirror, Prince Gumball tied his lavender cravat into place, his thoughts clearly on other things.
While he was normally a very busy man, today would be different. Today he would have time for only one person and one person only, instead of spreading himself out among the citizens of his country.
Today, Prince Gumball was going to pay his loving, wonderful boyfriend a surprise visit.
Usually, it was Prince Applebottom who came to see him, usually announced, but sometimes he'd drop in as a surprise. He would then, without interrupting his day whatsoever, simply join him on his errands. Always offering suggestions as to how he could do things better of course. Prince Applebottom was never without advice.
"You're Highness? Are you all right?"
"Hm? Pepper? Yes, I'm quite alright. Why?" The Prince looked curiously at his maid, wondering when she'd even come into his room.
"You've been tying your cravat on for nearly ten minutes now, Prince."
"Oh." Gumball gave an embarrassed chuckle and quickly neatened his neck tie and the folded his hands behind his back. "I guess I'm just thinking of other things, Peppermint." The blush on his cheeks told the maid exactly what it was he'd been thinking of and she gave him a motherly look, patting his arm.
"Lord Monochromicorn is ready and waiting to take you to the Fruit Kingdom." She informed him, "I believe he has plans with Cake afterward, so you'll be able to have a nice visit, Prince."
"Excellent." He adjusted his crown and plucked at the sleeves of his shirt. "And Lord Lemongrab had been briefed on his duties today?"
"Yes, you're Highness." Peppermint maid gave a little giggle. "He says you may take a longer trip if you wish."
Prince Gumball rolled his eyes.
"I'll bet he does." He smiled at the maid. "I only plan to be gone for the day. But..." He gave a noncommital shrug and briefly allowed his mind to wander as they left his room.
He might only be planning to stay for the day and to return sometime in the evening right now but... Sometimes, things did happen.
The trip to the Fruit Kingdom seemed to take much longer than usual, even with Lord Monochromicorn's company. Gumball knew it wasn't taking any longer than usual to get to the Fruit Kingdom, but when one was in love, any amount of time spent keeping you away from your other half was far too long.
He gave a wistful sigh and then slapped a hand to his forehead. If Fionna could hear him now.
He hadn't seen much of her recently. A couple weeks ago, she'd told him that she was going to try to track down Marshall Lee. He'd told her at the time not to worry, that the vampire was probably off somewhere sulking, or terrorizing some poor innocent and that they were better off without him but... Truth be told, he himself was starting to get worried.
Giving his head a shake, Prince Gumball frowned. Marshall Lee was definitely not someone he needed to worry about. Wherever the vampire had gone, he was more than welcome to stay there. The Candy Kingdom had been a much quieter place since his banishment and the Prince almost wished they'd argued sooner. Almost.
Soon (but not nearly soon enough), Lord Monochromicorn flew them into Fruit Kingdom Capital, the castle looking as beautiful as ever. Sighing in happiness, he pointed down at the castle doors and asked for Monochromicorn to drop him off there. The Lord was more than happy to do so, eager as he was to go see Cake.
The Dragon Fruit Guards were surprised to see him, saying that they hadn't heard he was coming. Gumball told them that he thought he'd pay their wonderful Kingdom a surprise visit and he was quickly ushered into the Castle.
While Prince Gumball waited in the audience chamber, a grape maid hurried to Prince Applebottom, to inform him of his surprise visitor.
"You're Highness?" She tapped on his room door and heard a startled noise inside. "Prince Applebottom?"
The door opened.
"Yes?" The Prince queried, looking slightly disheveled.
"Prince Gumball has arrived for a visit, Highness." The maid curtsied, missing the Prince's alarmed look. When she looked back up at him, he had a cool, collected expression.
"Ah... has he? Hm... Very good. Ehm... Wait a moment."
The Prince disappeared back inside his room for a few minutes and then emerged once again, Princess Bubblebath with him.
"Will you please escort the Princess to the guest wing?" He instructed his maid, giving the Princess, his fiancee a parting kiss. "I'm sorry my dear, a small matter has arisen." He explained and she set a hand to his face.
"Of course. You are a Prince, I understand." She smiled and then, nodding at the maid, followed her away down the hall.
Prince Applebottom watched them go and then brushed some soap bubbles from his shoulder and headed off to the audience chamber to receive his guest.
Prince Gumball looked quite dashing, dressed in lavender shades that complimented his pink.
"Ah, Gumball!" Prince Applebottom swept the Candy Prince into his arms. "What a pleasant surprise! And I see you did what I said and wore something other than pink. Much better." He nodded in approval and Gumball smiled and nodded, already feeling the warm, fluttering sensation of being near his lover.
"I hope I haven't interrupted anything important?"
Prince Applebottom shook his head.
"Nothing that can't wait until later."
Prince Gumball happily looped his arm through Applebottom's and stepped close to him as the Fruit Kingdom Prince lead the way from the audience room. They went to nowhere in particular, merely walking through the halls of the castle, Prince Applebottom filling the Candy Prince in on the people in the paintings on the castle walls.
Their wanderings eventually brought them to the ball room and Gumball looked around the spacious room, giving his head a shake an almost jealous expression on his face.
"All the rooms in your castle..." He gestured at the large windows. "Are so very... Large."
Prince Applebottom pulled Gumball into his arms and gave him a sultry look.
"Yes..." He agreed. "Many of the things in my kingdom are... Large."
Whatever Gumball might've said to that was startled from him by the sudden loud bang of one the glass balcony doors. Both Princes stared at it swaying in the wind and then, cautiously Applebottom released the Candy Prince and walked over to it, stepping out onto the the small balcony.
"How odd..." He looked around, there wasn't anywhere for anyone to go. The balcony was quite high and while a jump from it likely wouldn't kill anyone, they wouldn't be running anywhere very fast afterward.
Gumball joined him out on the balcony. "Someone must've left it open." He commented, looking around as well.
"No. My people are not as careless as yours." Applebottom answered absently, peering over the balcony edge once again. "Though... that seems to be our only explanation. Hmm..." Shivering, he drew Gumball inside and pulled the doors shut. "Come. Let us go somewhere more... Private, hmm?"
Prince Applebottom lead the way from the ballroom and to his own room, letting his gaze sweep appreciatively over the Candy Prince who was shortly after, in his arms once more.
It was almost like a dance, the way they moved about the room, wrapped up in each others touch and hold.
Falling onto the bed, they embraced wordlessly for a moment, tugging at one anothers clothing (curse you royal layers!) until Prince Applebottom breathlessly stopped Gumball.
"J-Just hold on a moment." He gasped, claiming another kiss before climbing off the bed.
Gumball sat up and watched Applebottom move to his bureau. Deciding to get things moving a little faster, he leaned over, intent on pulling off his boots when something shiny caught his eye.
"...Applebottom? What's this?"
In the guest wing of the castle, Princess Bubblebath sipped at fizzy drinks and primped and preened herself in her suite. She didn't know when Applebottom would be back from whatever errand he was running, but she wanted to look her very best for when her darling returned.
Perched at the vanity in the room, she adjusted her cascading, bubbly hair so that it framed her pretty face perfectly, humming a little song to herself when the room door slowly opened.
Blinking, she looked over at it.
"Hello?" She called, rising from her little chair. "Is someone there?" She called again, stepping over to the door, expecting to see a grape servant of some sort. There wasn't anyone there and confused, she poked her head out into the hall. Looking one way, she saw no one, looking the other way... Another door slowly swung open. "Hello? Prince Applebottom?" The pretty princess called, walking out into the hallway and heading for the open door.
Once again there wasn't anyone there, just another hallway – with a door slowly opening about halfway down.
Princess Bubblebath giggled. Prince Applebottom certainly liked to play his games and cheerily she hurried over to the door.
She came out at the top of the left side of a staircase and quickly she hurried down the stairs, pausing to look around at the landing. There were stairs that went down into the main castle lobby and another set of stairs that went up to the right, leading to the other side of the castle.
Down in the lobby, there was a Grape maid mopping the floor and Princess Bubblebath was about to hail her when the door at the top of the right staircase swung open. Smiling, the Princess hurried up the stairs and through the door.
Like before, she looked up and down the hall, hurrying towards the next door that opened. This one brought her into yet another hall – the one that housed Applebottoms chamber and she gave a little laugh. This was her Prince's way of letting her knew he was ready for her. What a trickster! She practically skipped to Applebottom's room.
"What is-?" Applebottom turned around, a jar of apple jelly in his hand.
Prince Gumball was sitting on the edge of his bed, look just as ravished as he and holding onto a shimmery, bubbly object. The pink Prince turned it over in his hands, looking questioningly at Applebottom.
"Is this... Is this a bubble bra?" He asked confusedly.
Applebottom stared at it, brain misfiring.
"Applebottom." Gumball stood, "Is this yours?"
The Fruit Prince blinked and walked over.
"No." He said matter-of-factly. "One of the maids must've left it here." He reached out to take it when quite suddenly, with a giggle the door opened.
"Oh Apple bottom you-!" Princess Bubblebath looked just as startled to see Prince Gumball as he was to see her. She blinked, mouthing wordlessly as she took in the odd scene of both Princes standing by Applebottom's bed, clothes in disarray and looking at, "...You're showing guests my bra!?" Turning bright pink, she covered her face with her hands, giving an embarrassed cry. "Darling! How could you!?"
"Oh glob!" Gumball fumbled with the undergarment for a moment, eventually dropping it and stepping back away from it and Prince Applebottom, his own face burning with embarrassment. "I do apologize! I found it and I-" Prince Gumball stopped. "Darling?" He prompted, looking at Applebottom.
The Fruit Prince looked as though he'd been sucking on lemons.
Not finding any answers from his boyfriend, Gumball looked back at Princess Bubblebath who was now peering at them from between her fingers.
"What do you mean darling?" He asked again, flicking a glance at Applebottom.
"Well..." Princess Bubblebath squeaked, lifting her face from her hands, cheeks still bright red. "What else do you call your fiancee?"
Gumball felt as though he'd been slapped, doused with cold honey and then slapped again. Mouthing wordlessly, he looked at Applebottom, awaiting an explanation.
"That's... er..."
Thankfully (or not), Prince Applebottom was interrupted in his stammered attempt at speech by a sudden laugh in the room.
Floating behind Princess Bubblebath, Marshall Lee, the Vampire King shimmered into view, laughing a cold, cruel laugh.
"I told you Gumball!" He cackled. "I told you!"
"You!" Prince Applebottom shrieked, eyes growing wide as he pointed an accusatory finger at the vampire. "Demon!"
Marshall Lee laughed again, floating over to the Fruit Prince, hovering just over his head.
"Okay, okay." He ran a hand through his hair, smirking. "So, you're the one who's been playing Prince Candyman over there for a fool for months! Just for all of his sweet secrets, while cheating on Bubbles because she's too stupid to notice and I'M the monster?" Marshall laughed some more, moving to float over by the scandalized Princess.
"Sorry Soapsuds, your Prince has been doing a dude." He glided to the devastated looking Gumball, crossing his arms and leaning in close he whispered darkly. "I. Told. You."
Gumball didn't answer, he just stared at the shiny bra on the floor.
Prince Applebottom spluttered, his perfect demeanor vanishing as he lunged out at Marshall, seizing the Vampire King by the arm and jerking him close.
"YOU!" He snarled, spit flying from his lips.
Marshall's eyes grew red, fangs lengthening. Princess Bubblebath shrieked and backed away.
"Don't push your luck Fruit boy..." Marshall snarled, "It won't go well for you." He promised.
Frightened, Applebottom stumbled away from the Vampire King and started bellowing for his guards.
The sudden noise and even the appearance of Marshall's demon eyes seemed to snap Gumball out of the stupor he'd fallen into.
"Take me home." He said simply, as Prince Applebottom yelled for the Dragonfruit soldiers. Marshall Lee stopped menacing the Fruit Prince and turned around.
"What?" He asked.
"Take. Me. Home." Gumball repeated, with more force.
Marshall snorted.
"Gummy, you got an-"
"Just shut up Marshall Lee and take me home!" Prince Gumball commanded, seizing the front of Marshall's shirt, hand trembling, eyes bright with hot tears.
The vampire looked at the Candy Prince's face for a moment and then reaching up, he curled his fingers around the shaking hand buried his shirt.
The sound of ripping fabric filled the air, followed by the breaking of glass as the giant black bat smashed through the room window, clutching Prince Gumball in one clawed hand.
"I told you this would happen Gumball! I fucking told you! But nooooo! Prince Applebottom is nice! He'd never do anything to hurt you!"
Clutching the edge of his room desk, Prince Gumball squeezed his eyes shut, letting Marshall's rant wash over him until-
"I'm sorry! Is that what you want to hear!?"
Prince Gumball effectively cut off Marshall Lee's tirade, a tear sliding past a quivering lip. Angrily, the Prince brushed it away.
"You were right, Marshall Lee. About everything!" Taking a deep breath, his gaze dropped from the startled vampire and to the floor. "Everything..."
Silence settled between them and Marshall began to speak, pausing as he watched several tear drops hit the candy tile. Lowering himself to stand on the floor, the vampire licked his lips and ran and uncertain hand through his hair.
"Fuck... Gumball I-"
"Must you?"
"Huh?"
"Must you always curse and swear?" Prince Gumball glared at Marshall, the vampire giving him a wide eyed look.
"What?"
"Would it really kill you to say please?!"
Flabbergasted, Marshall Lee stared at Prince Gumball like the man had lost his mind.
"Well excuse ME you're Highness!" Marshall's eyes flashed red.
"Just get out Marshall!" Turning away from the Vampire, Gumball pinched the bridge of his nose, his other hand hugging his own middle.
"Wha-?"
"Leave! Marshall Lee! Just GO!"
There was no reply.
Prince Gumball looked up, the only movement was that of the window curtain blowing in the night breeze.
Wrapping his arms about himself tightly, the Prince walked over his bed, lay down and curled up, body shaking. He never noticed the window sliding shut, keeping the cold night air out.