Bubba was the first to wake, after dropping about a foot from the top of Marshall to the bed. He grunted a bit and smiled, then slowly reached up and pulled the levitating vampire into his open and loving arms. Peacefully, he fell asleep again after he let Marshall go to resume his sleep. He had woken up though, and lowered down to rest on the bed. He curled into Bubba, still in his pink sweat shirt and purple pants. Bubba did the same, embracing Marshall in his peaceful sleep. Finally, they were both stress free. The vampire eventually drifted away again, feeling the exhausting after effects of cheating death. Hours passed peacefully, the thick drapes blocking the sun and any sense of time passing.
At about one, there were several bangs on Gumball's door so loud that Marshall jumped in fear as he woke. He transformed into a defensive angry beast, moving in front of Bubba in an attempt to protect him from the mysterious threat. Bubba himself woke with a squeal and hid behind Marshall. "Who- who is it?" Gumball called out, voice shaken.
"IT IS FIONNA AND I EXPECT ANSWERS RIGHT THIS SECOND!" She screamed, pounding on the door again. Marshall turned back into his typical human form and looked at Gumball with sad eyes.
"I think the jig is up bud. She seems to have connected the dots. Or someone threw us under the bus..." He spoke as Gumball stood and walked to the door. The pounding continued.
"Just stay back and don't let her see you yet. I have a hell of a lot of explaining to do." He took a deep breath and opened the door. Fionna stared at him harshly. "Listen Fionna, I can explain everything. I-"
"I don't wanna hear the whole entire stupid butt story alright? I don't. I want you to tell me in five sentences or less what is happening. Are we going to try to be married again or not?"
"No Fionna, I do not want you to waste any more time or effort on me than you already have. I am in love with someone else and was too afraid to say it before. I let things go way too far. I love you, but not in the way you want me to. For that, I am incredibly sorry."
"I don't care! I didn't want to marry you anyways! I was so nervous and almost bolted out like ten times! Cake stopped the wedding because she knew I was scared. I don't want a husband yet, I'm only 13! I was excited when you first proposed, but it slowly dawned on me and I freaked out. I don't really care that you don't love me! I want to know why you asked me in the first place if there was someone else!" She went off on a tangent, infuriated. Cake peeped behind her, blushing, clearly guilty. Gumball blushed and bit his lip, words stuck in his throat. Fionna squinted. "Tell me or I swear I'll-"
"You'll what?" Marshall Lee chimed in soothingly, appearing behind her and resting a hand on her shoulder. She jumped, then sighed, not even looking at him.
"What the bleep blop are you doing here Marshall Lee? This isn't your business."
"Well, actually dear one, it is my business. Sweetie, I am the forbidden lover of your pink friend." Bubba gave Marshall a look, and he chuckled, instantly a different person. A suave, sexy, and intimidating man... so unlike the one who had been a cuddler the night before. "Your friend and I are in love, you see. We have been for a few weeks, ever since the night of his birthday party. Gumball proposed to you because he isn't perfect, even though he thinks he is." Bubba rolled his eyes.
"Marshall I never said-" Bubba began with an attitude, but was quickly cut off by the vampire.
"He put his people and kingdom before his true happiness, and as you can see, that didn't go well. I killed myself and you got upset and he made himself miserable and everyone's lives were flipped upside down with misery because of his stupid decision. No one is perfect though. He was only doing the best he could. It was the wrong decision and it certainly blew up in his face but trust me Fi, his intentions were good." Marshall came beside the prince and wrapped his arm around him. Fionna blushed majorly and studied the pair of them. Gumball blushed and looked down, knowing they were being judged. Marshall kissed his cheek as a cherry on top of the explanation, proving the point. She covered her eyes, so intensely confused. She didn't even know that man on man relationships even existed.
"How does that even work..?" She asked, and Cake decided to step up and relieve some of the pressure of the idiots. They really were stupid for dragging Fionna into it.
"Well sweetie, first off them dimwits should have left you out of their drama and issues. It was dumb of them to pull you in. Secondly, a man and man relationship can work just like a typical man and woman one. Same with a woman and woman. Sweetie all that matters is that the couple love another very very much. Easy as that. These boys love each other. Clearly not many people know about the type of love they have. It is, truthfully, rare and unusual. But it is love, and we 'ought to respect that." She finishes smoothly. Fionna nods slowly, comprehending it all. Before she knows it though, Gumball is in tears and Marshall is shushing him.
"Shhh, Bubs. Hush. I'll tell her. I will." Marshall looks down at Fionna and admits guiltily. "Bubba cheated on you with me the night before the wedding. Ummm... I don't really remember much besides that he told me we were drunk and impaired and stupid idiots. We... We cut into tier fifteen into the relationship cake for the second time, right before the wedding." Fionna walked up to Marshall and Gumball, a disgusted look on her face.
"There's only one way to make this better, fellas. You know that, right?"
"Yeah... Yeah. Get it over with." Marshall stuck his head out, and sucked in air as Fionna slapped him very hard across the cheek. He winced and rubbed his cheek. "Ow. Do me twice. Don't hit Bubba." She nodded softly, fine with it. Bubba cried harder, guilty.
"Very well."
"M-Marshall I-I-I'll take a-a slap." Bubba spoke innocently, sadness in his voice, but Marshall waved him off.
"No no. Just hit me again Fi." She does again, even harder, making his cheek sting once more with a vengeance. Bubba rubs Marshall's face and Fionna sighs.
"I guess I feel better but I am mad at you jerk wads! You could have just told me! You know, I'm going now. I have to go lie down or something to clear my head. See ya." She headed off, Cake following right behind her.
Gumball sighed and lead Marshall back into his room. He grabbed a cold press and held it to Marshall's sore cheek with a thankful rub to his other cheek. The tranquility slowly returned to the kingdom as they calmly enjoyed one another's presence. Bubba kissed and pecked him every now and again, and Marshall smiled. They really didn't have much to say. Marshall took the hit for Bubba, knowing how sensitive and fragile his body was. Plus, he had a healing ability that made the pain go away faster. Minutes of the silent embracing passed when Peppermint called from the other side of the door.
"Bubba? I have your nutrition hon."
"Come in, Pepper." He said smoothly. "Maybe you could teach Marshall how to do it."
"Sure!" She said gently after slipping in. She poured a bowl of clear and a bowl of milky liquid into a bag. She hung it from the pole and connected the tube, then showed Marshall the spot to put the needle. "Instead of poking him every time, he had a pick-line of sorts permanently placed in his body. It is very very small." Peppermint Maid showed Marshall the tiny hole on his inner upper arm, and inserted the needle. After, she pulled it away, only a small plastic tube in his arm, connected to a major artery. She allowed the substance to enter his body, and within minutes he looked refreshed and replenished. It was his life source; his food, his fuel, his energy. She gave him some water to drink, and rubbed his back. An embarrassing question popped into Marshall's mind, and a perplexed expression formed on his face. He opened his mouth to ask, but closed it again.
"What is it buddy?" Gumball asked, noticing his expression.
"Um... Obviously you don't... release your bowels..." He blushed. Marshall didn't either. Red was his energy and nutrition, and there was nothing that wasn't used. Only excess water he drank passed out his bladder.
"And...?"
"Do you need help releasing the extra... water? 'Cause your system is all funky? Or does it work okay?" He blushed, feeling really nosey, but it was important to know. If they were to be married, he needed to know all of his partner's weaknesses and needs. Everything that could possibly go wrong, he needed to know.
"Um..." Bubba blushed and bit his lip, trying to think of a good answer. "Not often. Most of the time my bladder functions normally, as it is one of my organs that is mostly of human quality. Occasionally it does malfunction and I need assistance, but rarely."
"Just making sure." Marshall said, rubbing his back under his tee shirt. "I don't ever want you to be embarrassed about your body or the way it functions, alright? I can only imagine how hard it is to be you."
"It isn't easy but I make do. I love you Marshall. Thank you for caring about me so much. It really is appreciated... More than you could ever know." He rubs the back of his neck, smiling peacefully and blushing bashfully. Pepper smiles and rubs Gumball's hand before walking off and leaving the two alone. Bubba leans back in the pillows and Marshall sucks the red from a few fruits before crawling back on the bed. He rested his head on Gumball's lap and closed his eyes. Before they knew it, the two of them were out cold again, comfortable and happy as could be.