"You...you just apologized." Fionna repeated, her eyes still wide with disbelief. She was in so much shock that she didn't notice her friend's eyes narrow in annoyance.
"Yeah, yeah. I heard you the first time. Is it really that hard to believe?" Marshall spat defensively.
Fionna felt her face grow red from embarrassment and she sheepishly looked away.
"S-sorry. You just don't apologize a lot."
The corner of Marshall's mouth twitched angrily at her comment.
"I don't have a lot to apologize for." He replied icily.
After Marshall's snide remark the two sat in silence, too unsure of what to say to the other. Both of their hearts were thumping madly in their chests but Fionna's was the loudest. She contemplated on whether she should just dismiss the whole thing and act as if nothing ever happened or continue where they left off. Either way, someone had to break this gut turning silence.
Fionna continued to avoid Marshall Lee's eyes, nibbling her lip nervously. She didn't mean to offend him before. His apology just took her by surprise, that's all.
"I guess I'm sorry too." Fionna finally remarked. Reluctantly, the human's blue eyes met red ones. "Not only for my reaction...but for the way I've been acting. Today's just been a very long day for me."
It was Marshall's turn to look surprised. Fionna couldn''t tell if he was surprised from her reply or by the fact that she didn't defend herself. Even she had to admit that it was very un-Fionna-like of her to not put up a fight. Frankly, she just didn't have the energy right now.
"I don't want your apology, Fi." Marshall replied suddenly. His red eyes studied her face carefully before he let out a heavy sigh.
"Look. I didn't come all the way out here to find you for a therapy section. I came out here to tell you something..."
The vampire gave her a pained look before shuffling on the ground uncomfortably and running a hand through his hair. Fionna watched in transfixiation as he pulled back on his ebony locks. She couldn't help but notice how flawless his face was. Prince Gumball was handsome no doubt...but there was something about Marshall Lee that gave him an almost unfair advantage when it came to levels of handsomeness. Like the vampire had said when Fionna went to rescue PG from the evil pudding.
"Fionna. Look at me. I'm more beautiful than Gumball. I would have been sucked into that pudding in less than a second."
Fionna could only mentally laugh at Marshall's astounding self confidence and inflated ego. Both were probably a product of his (or how he puts it) 'crazy good looks'. Either way, Fionna had always assumed that the flawlessness was a perk to being a vampire.
Marshall hesitated, his eyebrows knitting together in frustration as he tried to come up with whatever it was that he was going to say to her. Seeing him so frustrated wasn't something Fionna was used to, and it made the adventuress let out snort of laughter.
"Don't think to hard. You might blow a fuse."
The vampire king ignored her comment, his eyes staring at the ground in deep thought. Fionna cocked her head to the side, a look of curiosity spreading across her face. What was going on in that head of his?
Finally, Marshall looked up. The pained expression on his face was gone and a thoughtful one had replaced it.
"Fionna. Can I ask you a serious question?"
Caught off guard by his sudden inquiry and seriousness, the human girl nodded in reply.
Marshall leaned back a bit on his hands and looked at the stars above, his feet lazily rocking from side to side.
"What if I asked you to go to the ball?"
Fionna blinked in surprise.
What? Whaaaaaat?
"Ha ha. Come on dude. What're you saying..." The adventuress replied nervously. Trying her hardest to play off her embarrassment the girl pinned her hair behind her ear and looked down at the ground. My my. What interesting grass.
"You heard me." Marshall replied nonchalantly, his eyes still focused on the heavens above.
Fionna's face turned beat red and her mouth opened and closed like an oxygen starved fish.
"Actually...let's make the question more interesting. " Marshall added slyly.
"What if both me and Gumball asked you to the ball. Who would you go with?"
Fionna deadpanned. Why was he asking this?
"Gumball of course." She replied simply. Fionna was hoping to Glob that he couldn't hear her heart because it was beating FAST.
Marshall smirked and let out deep breath before closing his eyes.
"Why?"
Fionna gave the vampire a serious look, her cheeks still adorning a reddish tint as she tried to figure out the vampire's motives.
"Why are you asking me this-"
"Answer me first." Marshall interrupted. The amusement in his voice was gone and now he was staring a hole right through her. The intensity of his gaze cause Fionna to hold her breath. "Why Gumball?"
Defensively, and almost angrily, the girl answered his question.
"Because Gumball doesn't play games."
Marshall Lee let out an indignant snort.
"Because Gumball doesn't play games? Yeah. Okay." He replied rather sarcastically.
"And you don't?" Fionna questioned heatedly.
Marshall opened his mouth and then closed it. His eyes studied her, his facial expression unreadable.
"Psht. Whatever. I'm so out of here..." The vampire king sneered as he started to float off.
"Oh no you don't!" Fionna yelled leaping up and wrapping her arms around his legs. Marshall Lee's arms waffled in the air as he and Fionna were brought to the ground rather ungracefully. The vampire struggled to get out of the girl's vice grip, but by the time Fionna had maneuvered her over him to pin him against the ground Marshall knew that he had lost. He was weaker than usual because he had not fed in a while and it was hopeless to try and escape. Fionna was probably one of the strongest persons in Aaa, only third to him and Muscle Prince so naturally she be able to overpower him so easily.
Fionna's breathes came out in ragged pants as she tried to settle down. Marshall was breathing hard too, probably more so out of frustration and anger.
After regaining her breath, Fionna readjusted herself over Marshall Lee and gave the vampire a stern look. She tightened her thighs on either side of his legs so he wouldn't be tempted to kick her off. She just hoped to Glob that he didn't find the strength to try and levitate while she was pinning him down.
"Why? Why would you ask me that?" She demanded, her brows furrowed in despair.
Marshall looked up at her with equal despairity and bared his fangs.
"It doesn't matter."
"It does too, Marshall!" Fionna insisted, her voice cracking as she tried to hold back the tears that were forming in her eyes.
"You want to know why I choose Gumball?"
Marshall watched stone-faced as tears began to fall down the girl's cheeks. He didn't so much as wince while the tiny droplets of water trickled onto his face.
"I choose Gumball because I'm so used to it. It's expected."
Marshall Lee's eyebrows furrowed. Fionna couldn't tell what the vampire king was thinking and frankly she didn't care. She didn't care anymore.
"It's not funny to ask questions like that. It hurts..."
"Fionna..." Marshall finally remarked. Fionna's grip on the vampire's shirt tightened as she prepared for another half apology.
"Gumball wants you to go to the ball."
Fionna's jaw clenched.
"Stop. That's so not funny."
"I'm being serious!" Marshall snarled. Somehow, Marshall Lee found the strength to push the girl off and free himself. He stood over her, his fists clenched as Fionna stared up at him in shock.
"The reason why your not on the invitation list is because he's going to invite you himself."
Suddenly Marshall Lee stopped, his chest heaving as he tried to stay calm.
Fionna continued to stare up at him, her eyes still glazed from where she was crying before.
"Do you like me Marshall?"
Marshall Lee froze.
Fionna watched as the vampire averted his gaze and looked to the side.
"I don't know."
Fionna's eyes widened and her cheeks flushed. Was...was that a confession? It wasn't exactly a yes but it wasn't exactly a no either.
"But you made your choice clear, that's for sure." Marshall Lee remarked bitterly.
"You...you were being serious?" Fionna asked as she made an attempt to stand up. Wow did her legs hurt.
The vampire king stared at her, his eyes casting a scrutinizing gaze.
"Suprise suprise, huh?"
"But why me?" Fionna asked cautiously. She wasn't quite sure whether she believed him yet or not. She never considered Marshall Lee to have liked her other than as a friend or simple time passer for when he was bored.
The vampire king shrugged in response.
"I just thought your pretty cool and fun to hang around. Plus, you're one of the few people I can tolerate."
Oh. Sooo romantic.
Fionna's eyelids drooped in annoyance from his reply and she folded her arms.
"I'm glad you tolerate me."
Marshall sighed and scratched his head.
"Look. What I mean is...I just. I'm not exactly good with words. All I know is that I'm a little more happy when you're around and you let me lick the ketchup off your fries and I appreciate that."
"Oookay?" Fionna replied utterly lost. Yeah. From time to time she did let him lick the ketchup off her fries but that was only because she absolutely hated ketchup. She didn't realize that it meant that much to him. I guess Marshall Lee was just one of those peeps who appreciates the little things in life?
"I know you're still crazy in love with Gumwad, but I was hoping maybe you could give me a chance."
Fionna once again felt her heart begin to race in her chest. She did still like Gumball, but now Marshall Lee has rolled into the picture. She certainly did get butterflies around him, but she had always assumed that it was just gas or something stupid. Maybe she did like him back and just never realized it? He certainly was nice to look at, and even though his personality wasn't the best he did have some redeeming qualities. There was one thing that was bothering Fionna though...
"What if it doesn't work out though? What if we go to Gumball's ball and it doesn't work out?"
Marshall shrugged again, his familiar insoucient smile placed across his face.
"Then it doesn't. We act like nothing happened and we go back to being friends."
Fionna gave the vampire king a worried look. "Is it really that easy though?"
Marshall frowned at her question.
"Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's not. That's the risk you take."
Fionna thought about it for a minute. Marshall was right. It could end up either way. They're date could end up going great or it could end a four year friendship. Taking risks isnt anything new to Fionna, but this was a risk that had to be weighed with careful consideration.
"I'll go with you."
Fionna felt her face heat up as Marshall Lee blushed. He obviously wasn't ready for such a sudden response.
"But you have to promise me that no matter what we'll still be bros. Okay?"
Marshall, who was still blushing, nodded in response.
There was an awkward silence before Fionna scratched her head and looked at the edge of the horizon. The sky had begun to turn pink which meant that morning was right around the corner.
"So...I guess I better start heading home. Cake will freak if I'm not there before sunrise."
Marshall smirked.
"I can walk you home if you want."
"Heh, nah. It's okay. You better get home before the sun-"
Suddenly, Fionna lost her footing as she took a step forward. Her legs were still exausted from their late night walk.
Before the girl could catch herself she collided into the vampire and her face turned crimson as her lips accidentally met his.