Bones Exposed - Prologue

Marshall lifts his head up to the outstretched hand of his lover. He slowly lifts his own pale hand to take the pink-skinned one, wobbling as Bubba helps him stand. "It's okay," the gum-man whispers, pulling the vampire into a hug. "You're okay. I'll keep you safe."

"Bubba..," Marshall says, tears softly rolling down his cheeks. "Nothing can keep me safe.."

"Marshall, I can. I'll build a kingdom. It'll have a castle stronger than anything. Nothing can destroy it. You'll be there with me. We can live there together, forever, and nothing can hurt us." Gumball says with broken confidence.

Marshall Lee shakes his head and breaks his hug with his beloved beau. "You don't understand, Bubba.."

Gumball wipes Marshall's tears, his fingers running delicately over the vampire's cold skin. "Understand what..?"

"You can build a kingdom bigger than the whole damn planet, baby.. It may be able to not have any outside sources destruct it, and you may be able to protect me from harm, but... Bubba, you can't save me from myself."

The candy-man removes his hand from his boyfriend's face. "Marshy.. What do you mean by that?"

"I'm a monster, don't you get it?" Marshall yells, causing Gumball to recoil. "I'm just a freak who's capable of hurting anyone and everyone! Even you!"

"Marshy..."

"Bubba, I don't want to hurt you.. Hurting you is the last thing I want to do.. I-I think it'd be best if we.."

Tears well into Gumball's eyes. "Break up," he whispers, completing Marshall's sentence. "You want to break up with me.."

"It's the only way I can think of, Bubba.. I don't want to hurt you.."

Marshall Lee watches in woe as Gumball turns on his heel and walks away from him, leaving to pursue a better life.