The pink in my cheeks

Heading Out

Gumballs pov

I couldn't really understand why he suddenly wanted to hang out with me, but none the less I was excited to. I'm excited to have a friend my age, if it gets to that point hopefully.

I follow him along "where are we heading, Marshall? "  I ask rubbing the fabric of the shirt he gave me, I feel a little weird wearing his shirt in front of him now that we're leaving the venue

Marshall looked back at me and face palmed "oh nuts, yeah sorry, we're headed to my tree house. Is that ok with you pinky? "

I puff my cheeks in response "it's okay if you call me gumball, or Barnaby"

He rolled his eyes at me, laughing a little "yeah yeah whatever. I'm gonna shower but, then we can hang out if you don't have anywhere to be? "

I pause reluctantly "well... I do have a kingdom.. But, I guess.. It is small. I think butterscotch can handle it for now. I suppose I can stay, it will he fun" I smile back at him

He nodded "good, then let's hurry before we run out of time " He then scooped me up bridal style and picked up off the ground, flying high towards a distant tree

I help and hold on tightly "r-run out of time? "  I don't exactly know why he floats, but it's not unusual for people to do so in this world.

"Oh yeah- I'm kind of nocturnal. The uh- the sun burns my skin real bad, so I try to only be out when it's late " He said awkwardly before he flew through a window, and dropped me on a couch

I landed with a thud and then a cough "interesting home. " I said awkwardly "so, are you something of a vampire then? " I ask, it's known that the sun burns vampires skin.

"Yeah well kinda but yeah basically" He said casually as he stretched "oh, sorry for the rough landing also. Just trying to hurry, I don't have people over often. I'll be back, oh there's another bathroom down here " He flew around the corner and pointed "you know if you wanted to do the same or whatever. I always feel gross after concerts "

I felt nervous, do I smell bad..? I hope not, that's embarrassing "okay, thank you I'll take advantage of it. Take your time though, I think I have time "

He nodded and sat his bass at the foot of the latter and floated up. This is an odd turn of events.

***

Marshalls pov

I can tell he's nervous but hopefully if I play things cool he'll chill. I think to myself as I run the shower, hopping in as I wash off and scrub my hair. I can feel my shaved sides growing in a little , I sigh. Well, I don't mind having it long again anyways.

I hope I don't make him uncomfortable, it would be nice to not be alone all the time. It's also pretty cute admittedly that he put my shirt on so quickly. Looks nice on him too.

I open my eyes as I feel my face heat up. "Ugh" I groan as I feel soap in my eyes. Knew I shouldn't have done that. I scrub the soap out of my eyes and rinse my hair out before I step out of the shower, floating into my room before putting on a pair of blue sweats and my cat sweater. "Ah yeah, comfy cat sweater" I mumble to myself. Then floating down stairs to see him sitting on my couch once again, though, this time without his long sleeve shirt underneath mine

"Thank you for the hospitality " He broke the ice. So proper.

I laugh and float over to the couch, sitting on it with him "ow- I didn't realize it was so hard, I don't sit often"

He laughed a little "that's alright. Most the furniture in my kingdom is made of hard candy because it's more stable. I'm developing toffee for mattresses right now actually, however some candys are dryer naturally than others and toffee is sticky so that may not be a good combination. I'm thinking maybe if I wrap the mattresses in wrapper paper it will solve the issue but then what will I do about the crunch? The candy kingdom doesn't have much access to regular fabric yet, we're doing what we can with what we have but it's a little frustrating." He pauses as his eyes go wide looking back at me "I'm sorry I didn't mean to ramble, how rude of me"

I laugh and shake my head "no, it's not that big of a deal. It was interesting. A whooole kingdom made of candy hm? "

He nodded and rubbed the back of his head a little "yeah- but, it's still very new. I'm getting used to things though as it expands"

I nod "well that's pretty cool. I wouldn't wanna deal with running a kingdom but I guess a small one isn't bad. But, if you need fabric I know a place "

He looked at me with his eyes shimmering again "really? I would be ever so grateful, I'd owe you plenty"

I shake my head and laugh "sure, I'll take you there, but you don't have to owe me anything" I stand back up

He stood excitedly with me "are we headed there now? "

I jump a little "oh, I was just gonna get some hot chocolate. If you tell me where your kingdom is I'll just deliver it to you though, so we can hang out you know? "

He blushed and sat back down "oh of course. I'd appreciate that actually"

I shoot him a wink and float to the kitchen, coming back with two cups of hot cocoa and a bowl of red apples

"So did you shower? " I ask sitting next to him again "man I'm sorry this blows do you want pillows to sit on or something "

He laughed shaking his head as he took the hot cocoa from me "no, I'm alright. I'm made of gum so I'm squishy. The couch feels fine to me" He said taking a sip of the cocoa "it's lovely thank you, and I did, do I still smell bad ? "

I stare blankly "you're welcome, and no-? You didn't smell bad in the first place. You kind of smell like.. Strawberry syrup actually. Still do. But the shirt I gave you may smell bad"

He shook his head "it doesn't, it was nice and dry still when you threw it to me. No sweat" He smiled and set the cocoa down on the floor next to his feet  "uhm- thank you for inviting me over, I don't have a lot of friends aside from my subjects either. Or any, for that matter. "