Simon took a deep breath, trying to quell the anxiety and fear that rooted around in his stomach. He'd left Fionna, Finn, in his chambers. Fleeing the crying man. He'd done it again. He'd hurt him, though thankfully not physically this time. Instead he had left the man sobbing on the floor of his rooms, his son wrapped around him like armor. He'd called the others, knowing he needed to tell them what he knew and what he had done. He could not keep this secret from them any longer. They deserved to know what was going on.
He watched as those he cared about most shuffled into the sitting room, confusion and worry present on a few faces. Only Flame's face held the same understanding as him, though there was a faint anger there as well. No matter. He deserved far worse.
"I need to speak with you all. It's about Fionna." Marceline and Tree Trunks shared a glance as Flame glared at the Ice King. Tree Trunks decided to break the tension, stepping closer to the man hesitantly. The last time they had talked he'd threatened her with execution.
"What is it, Simon?" Ice King took a deep breath, trying to find the courage to tell them the truth. It shouldn't be this hard. It wasn't his lie.
"Fionna's not a her." Marceline and Tree Trunks looked at the man in surprise.
"What?" Ice King nodded, not daring to look at Flame.
"He lied to me. He's been hiding all along." A smile spread across Tree Trunk's face. If Fionna wasn't a girl then she couldn't be pregnant.
"Then she isn't pregnant?" Simon shook his head again and Tree Trunks frowned.
"He is. He has a magical womb." Marceline gaped at the man in shock. "When I first hurt him, my magic flooded him. It must have created a child."
Tree Trunks shook her head, disappointment flooding her.
"How could you let this happen, Simon?" Ice King growled, turning to the woman he'd thought would support him the most.
"Do you think I meant for this!? If I'd known I would have never have done this!" Flame frowned at the man, speaking quietly.
"It's still your heir. He still holds your child." Ice King sighed, sending Flame a helpless look. He knew the man was concerned for Finn and part of Ice King wanted to be jealous but most of him was just tired.
"His illegitimate child." Ice King flashed Tree Trunks a warning glare. He would not stand her bringing this up again.
"What do you want from me, Melia? To marry him?" Tree Trunks nodded, trying to soften herself. She knew this must be hard for Simon.
"Yes." Ice King stared at the woman in surprise and Tree Trunks stood her ground. "You will not have a child out of wedlock. You've done enough to this kingdom."
"I've-" Ice King frowned. He'd done enough? Anger washed over him and again he sent a glare at the woman who had raised him. "I renounce the throne."
"What?" All eyes widened in surprise and Ice King sighed to himself. When did life become so complicated?
"Marceline, as my closest of kin you are now queen." Marceline gasped, body frozen with shock. Queen? Tree Trunks stepped forward, trying to reason with the man.
"Simon, you can't possibly-" Ice King growled, his eyes flashing a dangerous blue.
"I can do whatever I want! I've harmed this kingdom enough haven't I? Wouldn't it be better if I were no longer king?" Guilt welled in Tree Trunks. She hadn't meant to hurt Simon but he needed to know what he had done to his kingdom.
"I didn't mean-" Marceline pushed past Tree Trunks, vying for Simon's attention in a panic.
"I don't want to be queen Simon! I'm not fit to rule!" Ice King shook his head.
"Then I absolve the monarchy! Or I'll hand it over to the neighboring kingdom!" Tree Trunks reached out to grab the man's arm, chastisement on her lips.
"Simon, stop it!" Ice King flung the woman back, letting small bits of frost stick to her clothing.
"I am the Ice King!" The cold wind that swept through the room was devastating. The three moved away from the Ice King, watching as rage consumed him more and more. Flame let his inner fire burn a little brighter, making sure that no one in the room froze to death. Ice King himself had begun floating, eyes now glowing completely white as his control over his powers slipped away.
"When will you understand? I am not the same man I was when I was young! This is not the same kingdom! We cannot go back! I've accepted what we are, what I am! This is a kingdom of magic, we are people of magic! I cannot condemn anyone in these walls for magic, especially a magic they could not control!" Flame looked up at the man he called his king, smile beaming on his face. Finally. Someone who could accept magic. Ice King opened his mouth to speak again, trying not to freeze the others. "Finn will stay here, until my heir is brought forth and then I will court him properly. Have I made myself clear?"
With that Ice King let himself drift out of the room. He needed to calm down. Needed to calm himself before he hurt someone he cared about. He found himself in front of Finn's door once again, wind slamming the wood aside. He would not leave him. Would not hurt him again with his power. Neptr had taken a protective position in front of the man while Finn was trying to pull the boy behind him.
"I won't let you hurt him!" He knew he must look frightening, floating and glowing with wind and ice swirling behind him. He let his winds gently carry Neptr away from his mother, stationing the boy at the far end of the room and cradling him in snow. His attention turned to Finn, watching as the man tried to scramble away from him. He reached out, fingers brushing against the boy's bare arm. Finn jerked back, tears streaming down his face.
"Ice King, please!" Ice King smiled weakly, though it came out as more of a grimace. Finn was scared of him. He needed to show the man he didn't need to be afraid.
"I'm sorry." Finn paused, watching the Ice King sank before him. The man was on his knees, head bowed before Finn. "I won't hurt you. I'm sorry."
"Ice King?" Finn cautiously reached out to the man, fingers burying themselves in the man's hair. Ice King latched on to the comfort, doing his best not to cry. He needed to show Finn that he didn't need to be afraid. Needed someone to think of him as anything other than a monster.
"I never- I didn't mean to-" Finn shushed the man softly, curling around the now sobbing man. Ice King clung to him desperately and Finn let his fingers drag across the man's scalp.
"It's okay." Ice King buried his face in the blonde's chest. He was so pathetic. He couldn't even hold himself together around the man. How had he ever become king when he was so weak?
"I'm sorry." Finn smiled, letting his gaze drift over to his son. Neptr had freed himself from the snow drift Ice King had buried him in, the now melted snow forming a puddle around him. Finn reached an arm out to the boy, encouraging him to come closer. Neptr moved hesitantly towards the two on the ground, eyes darting towards the sobbing king every now and then. When he reached the two Finn pulled him into the embrace, comforting the both of them.
"It's okay. Everything's okay." Finn held his two boys close, letting comfort wash over the both of them. Everything would be fine.
A/N: So this is the last chapter for a while. I don't really know where I want this story to go anymore and for now it's going into hiatus for a while. I'm sorry that I can't do more with this but for now I'm going to have to leave this story be for a while.