Change Everlasting (Fiona + Marshall Lee, FancFic)

Stars

A drawn out yawn accompanied Fionna as she awoke from a dream of infinite stars. She was left with a morbid feeling, which sat heavily on her chest. The dream left her uncharacteristically somber and even...scared. The young woman opened her eyes, suddenly desperate to be grounded by the familiar sights of reality. She absorbed her surroundings, allowing her racing pulse to slow. The dark room comforted her.

What provided the deepest solace was not the room. Rather, it was the boy who lay next to her. Sometime during the night she must have drawn closer to him. And before that, she thought, he must have gotten the bright idea to crawl into bed alongside her. Her leg had curled around his, and her head lay pillowed against his chest. If not for her sense of unease, Fionna would have screamed; would have sent him flying across the room, both figuratively and literally. Instead she sought comfort from the arm that encircled her waist, listening for his non-existent heart beat.

Having found a semblance of peace, Fionna closed her eyes again, relaxing into the embrace. The blonde began to reflect upon the dream she had received that night. A shiver slid down her spine as she recalled the countless burning balls of light. And how as she drifted through them, as one by one they tapered out, until she realized she was no longer among the stars, but thousands of leagues under the ocean, being shoved and jerked through its icy depths. Her mind conjured a fleeting glimps of shimmering silver hair, floating in soft wisps, before vanishing into the darkness.

The dream had been unnaturally clear, even now she recalled each detail with startling clarity. The tree house, where she and Cake had made countless, irreplaceable memories, was torn to pieces. Again, that unmistakable hair flitted through the air.

An instance later she was once more underneath the ocean's crushing waters, and before her drifted a brilliant gem. Even in the utter darkness it shone brightly, pulsating softly. Before her eyes the beautiful crystal shuttered, and a large crack marred its surface. It shattered. And with it everything went black.

The water turned deadly, and Fionna struggled. She couldn't breath. She felt herself slipping. No sooner than panic began to flood her mind did the stars return, and she was set adrift. At that time Fionna was graced with the appearance of a mystical being. The Cosmic Owl flew slowly and gracefully. Solemn, knowing eyes met her own. There secrets resided, waiting to be understood. But, try as she might, they remained unreadable. Again everything vanished, and she was left alone.

It had been her very own croak dream.

Fionna forced her eyes open, body shaking, to dispel the lingering visions. Turning her head, the young blonde pressed her face into Marshall Lee's neck. The adventurer sniffed. Fionna started as Marshall Lee's arms reflexively pulled her closer.

"Fionna?" The vampire lifted the adventurer's head, unsure what to make of the situation. "You're crying again." Still not entirely herself, the young woman merely nodded. "What's wrong?" His voice held no trace of contempt in regard for her tears. If anything, it was compassion. She pressed herself closer to the vampire.

"Marshall Lee...I'm going to die." The words felt odd on her tongue, but were the unmistakable truth. A croak dream came to one when their time had come, it allowed for goodbyes and gave time for the things that needed to be done before that person could pass on peacefully.

"I don't want to, though, Marshall." Fionna cried, daring a look up into his stunned face. How was she supposed to leave, when she had only just begun to live? The vampire king reached out a pale hand, promptly flicking the girl's forehead.

"Fionna, your human. Of course you're going to die." He stated, his smooth feature revealing little. The woman, too preoccupied with her worries, did not notice the almost imperceptible tightening of his jaw at the prospect.

"No! No - that's not what I mean! I had my croak dream! I meet the Cosmic Owl!" Marshall Lee raised two brows in surprise, blinking slowly. He contemplated this a few moments before giving a low chuckle, which carried the air of a vampire king. "I don't care if you met Glob himself." His tongue snaked out, catching Fionna's cheek in an attempt to distract her from her worries. "No one's stealing my little human from me. Not if I have anything to say about it." He teased, his lips slipping into an arrogant smirk. She shoved him slightly with her shoulder, whipping his spit onto his shirt.

"Why are you here, Marshall Lee?" The adventurer changed the subject, referring to their shared bed. She had half a mind to shove him onto the hard floor then and there. The blonde relented immediately, this was his bed after all. Still.

"Us vampires gotta' sleep too, ya know." He replied, playing dumb. Fionna rolled her eyes.

"But you're in the same bed as me, poo-for-brains." She clarified. "If not for that dream I'd have kicked your butt all the way outside!"

"Thinking about butts, Fi?"

"N-no! Don't change the subject!" Fionna flushed, glaring at his accusation. She was not thinking about butts. Especially not his! He gave a lazy grin, relaxing into the soft bed.

"You have a funny, new habit of floating while you're asleep." The vampire gave a toothy yawn. "And it's cold and all. Didn't want my Bunny to freeze." He barred his teeth at her playfully, winking. As she began to protest his possessive phrasing, a lengthy sigh responded to his own. Only then did she notice how tired she was. As though she hadn't slept a wink. Marshall Lee read her expression easily.

"Go back to sleep, Fi." The vampire king commanded, leaving no room for discussion. Not that it was necessary. "I hear croak dreams leave mortals worse than when they went to sleep." Mention of her croak dream brought back worries and fears Fionna was not accustomed to. This was no monster she could slay with a sword or determination. How was she supposed to sleep?

Marshall Lee made an irritated noise.

"Do you think I'd let anything hurt you?" His voice laced with something akin to hurt; did she have so little faith? A smile crawled onto Fionna's face, and, head pillowed against the vampire king, she closed her eyes. However, a question surfaced, and would not permit the young girl to sleep until asked.

"Marshall Lee?" Fionna whispered, her voice hinting to a smile. "I thought you were a bad boy." He grew stiff, and the blonde giggled uncharacteristically in response. "It's nothing bad, you know. Actually... it's pretty rad."

The rest of the night Fionna slept soundly in Marshall Lee's loose embrace. He, rather than sleeping, thought about the young maiden's words, casting an occasional, curious glance into her sleeping face.