In-Grave-ing Your Name On My Heart

Chapter 8

The bass, even outside the club, vibrated the ground, causing his body to convulse with a mix of anticipation and nerves. He listened to a couple bands before a stage manager ushered him backstage.

"You're next, Jawbreaker? Weird name you got there."

Gumball gave him a shrug, trying his best to fit in with the others there.

On stage, he surveyed the crowd, looking for that one familiar face that seemed all too far away. Maybe he didn't even come...

He started his song, eyes closed, unable to look into the pulsing crowd that he was no longer trying to impress. If Marshall wasn't there, this was all a waste and he'd go back to living life as best he could tomorrow, with or without talking to him.

He imagined Marshall in front of him, holding him close. He opened his eyes, looking down, "Evil Monster..." He continued, "Show to me the things, I never wanted done."

He looked into the crowd in time to see Marshall pushing his way to the front of the crowd, his dark eyes glowing an usual bright red. Gumball's face heated up as he noticed him, now unable to take his eyes off of him.

"Evil Monster... Do to me the things," He looked into Marshall's eyes as Marshall finally found himself directly in front of Gumball, his body going slack as he looked up at the fragile man that stood in front of him.

"...I never wanted done," He finished, unable to continue anymore of the song. He ran backstage and out of the club, finally collapsing on the grass outside.

The tears started flowing before he could stop them, he'd done it. He'd seen him. Now what? What did he hope would happen?

"Gumball!"

He looked up to see Marshall and a stage manager running after him. He looked away, trying to compose himself as he stood.

"Jawbreaker, what the hell was that? They loved you, you have to go back on and finish," the manager yelled.

"Hey, man, you need to back off," Marshall threatened, his eyes becoming more crimson by the minute.

The man threw his hands up defensively, "yeah, sure, sorry to disturb you two."

As the manager walked away, Marshall grabbed Gumball's wrist, dragging him in the direction of his house.

"Where are you taking me?" Gumball asked softly, his heart pounding in his ears.

"You of all people should know where we're headed. And what the hell, Jawbreaker? What's the deal with that? This new style? What the hell is this Gumball? Who are you?" He yelled, stopping in his tracks to rake his eyes up and down Gumball. "What are you?"

"Broken," Gumball replied, melting under the weight of Marshall's stare.

"I've been so broken since you left, Marshall... Why'd you do that to me? What the hell was that!" He screamed, feeling betrayed.

His voice dropped, "How could you..."

Marshall went lax and grabbed Gumball's cheeks, forcing him to look into his eyes.

"I- I don't know. I'm sorry... I know that doesn't even begin to cover it, but when we fought over the age thing... It just... It riled something in me. I felt like every second I was with you was another second that was slipping away from me... and I need you, Gumball... I need you so much that..." He shook his head, tears threatening to spill from his glowing eyes. He pressed a hand to his lips trying to compose himself again, "I thought that maybe if I left, cut ties with you now... Then things would be easier... I would never see you get old and leave this world... I don't ever want to lose you... Gumball, I-"

Gumball crashed his lips into Marshall's, not wanting to hear anymore.

Marshall lifted him up and carried him bridal style to his house.

Once they reached his doorstep, Marshall put Gumball down, looking over him once more.

"Please tell me all this is fake or washable," He said, touching Gumball's "tattooed" skin and piercings.

"And please tell me I don't have to start calling you Jawbreaker," He said, sounding disgusted.

Gumball laughed, probably for the first time in ages.

"The tattoos come off with this special soap I have at home, Fionna's idea. The piercings.. well.. what if I told you they were real?" Gumball said, sheepishly.

Marshall gave him a look that said he didn't believe him.

"Yeah, yeah, they're fake," He said, pulling off the fake earrings.

Marshall opened the front door and Gumball stared into the empty apartment, the memory of seeing it like that for the first time rushing back to him.

"How can I trust you, Marshall?" Gumball asked, still staring into the empty apartment.

"Because you know I can't lie to you... You know that what I said is the truth, I would never ever leave if it weren't. Do you know how tortured I felt without you?"

"How can I be sure you won't leave again?" He questioned, finally looking at Marshall.

"Because now I know that I can't live without you..."