These Lover's Eyes (COMPLETED)

Chapter 6 - These Lover's Kiss

"WHO'S THERE!?"

Gumball froze in fear, dropping the plastic crown which further alerted the shadowy figure that had just entered the run down bus. The voice struck him familiar so that he was paralyzed, the sound of his rapidly beating heart drowned out any other noise.

It was him.

He could vaguely hear Fionna cursing and yelling trying in vain to drag him out as she threw things at the shadowy figure trying to buy them some time.

The stranger yelped and hissed in pain as he or she dropped to the floor in search for the flashlight they had dropped due to the sudden assault from the feisty blonde.

In the midst of panic Gumball stood still not daring to move let alone speak, as he focused solely on the frantic figure kneeled in front of him.

Marshall! His mind screamed out at him but his lips were too stubborn to pronounce the word just as his eyes were too proud to shed a single tear.

Fionna swore under her breath as she dropped Gumball's wrist and sprinted towards the shattered window "Fuck it, you're on your own" she called and in one single movement she had managed to hoist herself through the open space and shimmy her way out, sprinting away into the welcoming darkness.

"Yeah you better run!!" The pained figure called after her, groaning as he stood up clutching his right arm clearly turning a blind eye towards the frozen figure of Gumball as he examined the deep gash in his arm. It was bleeding profusely onto the scratched up surface of the floor, sounding like the seconds hand of a clock.

Plit. Plit. Plit. Pli-

"What the hell?"

Marshall froze in shock as warm hands that seemed to appear from the stifling darkness reached out and cupped his cheeks gently.

"W-what the-" He attempted to step back but as he did, his red converse came into contact with the damaged flashlight causing him to slip and fall onto his side with a loud THUD.

As if waiting for its que the blinding light of the supposedly damaged flashlight pierced the dark, shining directly into Gumball's face.

However he remained frozen, hands withdrawn and trembling as though he was a deer caught in headlights.

"Who the hell do you think you are bringing your girlfriend in he-" Marshall mumbled as he stood up, dusting himself in the process before he came face to face with those unblinking eyes.

It was as though time had frozen in the space they occupied. The concept of seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks didn't apply to them as they stood frozen, both greatly affected by each other's presence.

The pearlish pink eyes of Gumball seemed to fade even more as they became fogged over with unshed tears. His shaky fingers reached up and found their rightful place against Marshall's cheeks.

Although the blinding light seemed to have no effect on him, it had taken him by surprise thus momentarily blinding him to a point where not even up close was he able to see his ex-lover's defining features.

His fingers caressed as he gently felt over Marshall's facial features, recognizing them instantly by touch "M-Marshall?" He whispered hoarsely as tears slid down his pale cheeks.

In response Marshall held Gumball's hand in place against his cheek and gently nuzzled it as his own tears began to spill over his eyes.

"I'm right here Bubba. Right here" he whispered, his voice cracking as he choked back his overwhelming emotions.

If anyone were to step outside for a breath of air and fixed their attention towards the old-looking bus they would have noticed two shadows doused in an intense light and nothing more.

They never would have guessed that the people; to whom the shadows belonged too, had travelled to the past, the present and the future in that single second.

~

"I-I have to go, I can't be here."

"Bubba! Wait!"

Strong arms wrapped themselves around Gumball's thin waist, lifting him so that his feet hovered over the pavement.

"Marshall let go of me!" The younger male cried out as he squirmed and kicked blindly in an attempt to free himself from his ex-lover's grip. However Marshall remained stubborn as he kept a firm grip on the partially blind male "Bubba please listen!"

Tears began to spill over Gumball's pale pink eyes as he jabbed Marshall's chest with his elbows and dug his nails into Marshall's arms refusing to give up his efforts. "N-no! I don't want to hear it, I-"

He was cut off abruptly when he felt Marshall's lips pressed against his own. His eyes widened and his whole world seemed to freeze with the simple action. His pale fingers found themselves gripping Marshall's fitting shirt at the shoulders before he found the strength to shove him off.

Marshall's eyes conveyed surprise, sadness and what seemed like pain as he stumbled back before lowering his eyes "Gumball I-"

He was cut off abruptly as a wave of unbelievable pain slammed into his face, almost instantly causing a trail of blood to paint a path from his nose to his rapidly swelling upper lip.

"How dare you" Gumball whispered before breaking down into heart-wrenching sobs, followed by desperate breaths of air between each lung choking cry. Whether it was from the pain in his bruised knuckles or from his overwhelming emotions, he couldn't tell.

Marshall stood, eyes lowered to the ground and hands curled into fists as blood dripped from his nose onto the ground.

PLIT.PLIT.PLIT

Bubba bit his bottom lip nervously as he dabbed gingerly at the gash etched on Marshall's lips feeling a wave of guilt wash over him as Marshall hissed in pain, clutching the tattered seat of the bus tightly.

"Quit squirming" Gumball muttered as he tried in vain trying to clean it up with the relatively clean cotton ball dampened with vinegar.

"Sorry. Sorry" Marshall chuckled softly as he became tight lipped making Gumball smile a small smile as he continued to clean up the mess.

Nurse. Scientist. Chef. Marshall smiled to himself, feeling an unbelievable swell of pride for his Gumball and all his accomplishments which only made his chest tighten further at the painful memories that lingered at the back of his mind.

A sigh escaped his lips as he closed his eyes, feeling his mind free fall into the unknown.

Why did I let him go?

~

"Shit!" Flame swore under his breath.

A depressed looking Cake sobbed softly as if her heart would break.

The beloved sassy female cradled Fionna's bruised head in her lap gently. Cake had dark circles underneath her eyes, as though she hadn't slept in days, her eyes red, puffy and swollen from crying since finding Fionna in her bruised, bare state, although she had been used then thrown away like some kind of rag doll.

They were crammed in the back of Flame's car, Cake stationed on her knees in the back of the car with Fionna's head on her lap with Flame driving them back to Fionna's apartment. His eyes flicked towards the rear view mirror, catching a glimpse of the battered Fionna. Her long blonde hair was spread out on Cake's lap and on the car seat giving her an almost peaceful looks as if she were sleeping instead of passed out from being beaten half to death.

His grip on the steering wheel tightened so that his bruised knuckles, evidence of the previous fight, turned white, a low growl escaping his lips as he pressed his foot against the accelerator harder.

-SOB-