Finn tilted his head to the side, a fireball sailing past where his head had been. Neptr froze as the man continued to read his book.
"Careful." Neptr nodded before realizing his mother couldn't see him.
"Sorry." Finn gave the boy a quick smile before returning to his reading. He'd already read through the entire volume but there was little else to do in the small room. They'd been confined for a week now and he was growing restless. Neptr had taken to the books Flame sent up daily, practicing both healing and fire spells. Flame had also sent up a few books about male pregnancies that Finn had devoured. It was sweet, how much Flame had tried to make sure that he and Neptr were comfortable and well provided for.
Both looked up at the sound of knocking, Neptr rushing towards the door. Before the door could even fully open Neptr was dragging Flame into the room, chattering animatedly to the man about his day and what he was currently reading. Flame grinned over at Finn before turning his attention to Neptr.
"Look, I learned some new fire spells!" Neptr shot a few fireballs from his hands and Flame easily caught them before ruffling the boy's hair.
"You're doing so well." Neptr's answering smile nearly melted the man's heart. Finn reached out to touch Flame's hand and the man moved closer to bring Neptr into their pseudo-hug.
"We have you to thank for it." The three stood for a moment, smiling at each other and taking in the bit of peace that had settled over the room. None had noticed the figure in the doorway, glaring at the trio.
"Am I interrupting something?" Flame jerked away from the embrace, paling considerably, while Finn merely glared at the Ice King.
"My king!" Finn ignored the man, instead turning his attention to Neptr. The boy was glaring from his place behind his mother's legs and Finn gave a tired smile.
"Why don't you go to the other room, sweetheart?" Neptr looked ready to protest before sighing and wandering off to the adjacent room, making sure to slam the door shut behind himself. The three watched the boy leave before Ice King cleared his throat.
"Never would have thought I'd see you two together." Finn rolled his eyes and went about cleaning up the mess of books and rune pages Neptr had left on the floor. Flame managed to gather himself enough to answer the king.
"I just came to check on Finn's health." Confusion washed over the Ice King's face.
"Finn?" Finn finally looked at the man, holding the gathered books in his arms as he moved next to Flame.
"My name." He turned to Flame, smile on his face as the mage tried very hard not to panic. "Thank you for sending the books. Neptr loves them."
"Once he's done I'll send more for him to read." Flame smiled, nervous eyes darting between Finn and the Ice King. "I should go."
Flame fled from the room, not wanting to suffer in the active awkwardness that had permeated the room. Finn turned away from the king, acting as uninterested as possible. He did not want to deal with the man who had confined him once more, no matter how much Ade radiated joy at his presence.
"You two seem to be close." Ice King watched as the blonde shuffled around the room, doing nothing. It seemed Fionna, Finn he thought, wanted to be difficult.
"And? Flame is the only one who visits. Neptr enjoys his company." Ice King huffed, reaching a hand out to grab the man and stop him in his tracks. Finn flinched away from the touch and guilt and despair welled in the Ice King. He pulled back, no longer angry as he tried to quell the sadness that tried to drown him.
"And you?" Finn lowered his head, neither looking at each other. There was too much tension in the room for either to feel comfortable.
"What about me? Why should you care about my wants?" Ice King sighed, curling his hands at his sides. He wanted to reach out again, to show Fionna that he wouldn't hurt the man. At least not on purpose.
"You're carrying my child Fionna." Finn snorted. He could see the torment building in the Ice King and part of him wanted to comfort the man. But if the Ice King couldn't refer to him by his real name then he hadn't come to terms with the truth just yet.
"So you acknowledge her at last. I was beginning to think you'd forgotten." He knew it was snarky but he couldn't help himself. Ice King bristled, angry all over again.
"I needed time! You can't expect me to just readily accept something like that!" Finn growled, clenching his hands as anger washed over him again. Nothing ever changed. Not with the Ice King, not with Gumball, not with Magic Man, not with his parents, not with anyone.
"Time! Time! Time! All you ever need is time!" Ice King startled. First Fionna had ignored him and now he was shouting at the man.
"What? Fionna what are you-" Finn nearly shrieked. How had his life come to this? How could no one accept him?
"My name is Finn! I'm a boy! Why can't you accept that? Why…" He collapsed, sobs overwhelming him. He had hoped for a better life here, hoped to be safe with his son and daughter. And yet even here he was an outcast. It was the same as his home. The same situation Gumball had forced upon him. To be someone he was not. Ice King watched in horror as the blonde cried. He hadn't meant to upset the man. Hadn't meant to hurt him again.
"Finn I-" Neptr slammed the door open, rushing to his mother's side. He glared up at the king, daring the man to take a step closer.
"Leave us alone!" Ice King backed away from the two, watching as Neptr wrapped his arms around his mother. He had damaged them again. Had broken his promise one more time. He was a beast.
Neptr clumsily ran his hands through his mother's hair, trying his best to comfort the man. His mother was on the floor, crying freely for what felt like the thousandth time since they'd been there. Ever since they'd arrived his mother had been subject to pain from the Ice King and reduced to tears whenever they were alone.
"Mama? Mama, are you okay?" Finn wiped desperately at his face, trying to stem the tears that flew down his face. He couldn't cry again, not before Neptr. The boy had already done so much for him, suffered so much. He pulled the boy close, hoping to offer comfort with his embrace.
"I'm so sorry. I'm not a good enough mother." Neptr shook his head fervently, hugging his mother tighter. How could the man ever think that he was less than a wonderful mother?
"I love you." Finn gave a watery chuckle, pressing a soft kiss to his son's head.
"Everything's gonna be fine. I promise." Neptr nodded, keeping himself buried in his mother's embrace. They would be okay. No matter what happened, they would be safe together.
"I know, Mama. I know."
Gumball stumbled as he ran from the cottage. Peppermint had lied to him, lied to him his entire life. Was no one honest? How could the man possibly keep something so important from him? Gumball sobbed as he sank to the ground beneath him.
Magic.
What was so appealing about magic? Why practice such foul arts right under the king's nose? Magic had ripped away those he had cared about most. His mother, Cara, Fionna. They'd all fallen to magic, one way or another. And now Peppermint.
The prince continued to weep openly, loud sobs covering the sound of someone approaching. In an instant there was a knife at his throat, covered in suspicious runes. Green hands traveled down his arms in a mockery of comfort, sending shivers up his spine.
"Your Highness." Gumball tensed at the harsh whisper in his ear. The man from the cottage held him tightly, grip far too harsh on his skin.
"You mean to kill me." He should have known better. Should have known better than to leave an enemy alive and out of sight.
"One has to protect himself." Gumball growled, trying to turn his head to face the man. The dagger pressed harder against his throat and he stilled.
"We weren't going to kill you!" Magic Man rolled his eyes. Who did the prince think he was fooling?
"Yet. How many others have you tricked with your little act?" Gumball sputtered, trying to find something to say.
"I- we never-" Magic Man jerked the dagger, slicing at a bit of the prince's throat and causing the boy to still.
"Save it. I will not die by some human's hand." Gumball sighed, trying very hard not to slump down and further dig the knife into his throat.
"I won't kill you. At least not for being magical. You might be put on trial for threatening the crown prince." Magic Man smirked, letting his dagger run further along the boy's neck. He had to admit, the kid had guts. He was still calm despite the magical dagger at his throat. But that wasn't enough to let him live.
"If you live to tell the tale." Gumball shifted slightly, doing his best to put even a little distance between himself and the dagger that would end him. He looked up at the man behind him, tightening his neck.
"What makes you think I won't?" Magic Man teasingly dragged the dagger down the boy's now taunt throat. Such a brave, stupid boy.
"Your father has ended countless lives for no reason other than his fear. It is no problem for me to end yours." Gumball growled. He had been compared to his father his entire life by the courtiers and servants of the castle. He would not let this murderer compare them as well.
"I am not my father." Magic Man smirked.
"Oh? And you would leave magical people alone? Leave them to practice their ways away from you?" Gumball nodded slightly, trying to twist his head to look back at the man.
"Yes! I want to be better." Such a shame, the kid was a good liar.
"I don't believe you."