Just Pretending (Bubbline/Sugarless Gum)

Domestic Disputes

Bonnibel Bubblegum was annoyed. She knew she made Marceline mad with her honesty, but she felt this was an overreaction. The kiss in itself wasn't bad; she could go so far as to say it was pleasurable, but she figured that was mainly just a physiological response from not having been kissed in so long. It's not like she was attracted to Marceline or anything, that was just ridiculous notion. She could tell Marceline wanted to continue, by the way she was reacting now, but she figured Marceline was also just kissing her based on physiological response, nothing more. She sighed as she continued to look out the window, as Marceline roared childishly at a couple clearly outside on a pursuit of a romantic endeavor, laughing afterwards. She was so thankful at that moment there were no guards around, otherwise their whole mission might've been compromised by Marceline's petty tantrum.

Just as she started to turn around and think it'd be best to start checking over some notes for more clues on the paper-covered desk (she wasn't even sure how she was going to organize it once this ordeal was over), she saw movement in the corner of her eye. She held her breath as she watched the now passed out couple getting dragged off by an unseen stranger, around the corner of the building. She decided Marceline saw it too as she shifts from her Goliath demon form into a small bat, and begins to flutter into the darkness where the couple was dragged to. Figuring she could use back up and this could be critical for finding out where the couples were being snatched to, she ran out of their room, deciding not to lock it as that'd take too long, and bound down the stairs into the hallway that led out to where Marceline just was. She didn't bother to explain to anyone as to why she was running, as that'd take up too much time.

"Excuse me miss!" Bonnibel faltered slightly, and looked over her shoulder just to find a looming man barreling towards her, "I command you to stop running!" That stung; she wasn't used to be commanded, as she was always the one bossing people around. A twinge of irritation shot through her. Nonetheless, she slowed her pace and turned around, coming face to face with a gaunt and somewhat breathless tree-lookalike. The dark skin, the wrinkles, the green hair; he looked like he belonged in the nature outside, not the tiles in here.

"What do you want?" She crossed her arms and glared up at him, trying her best to convey that she did not want to be talking to him.

"You can't go outside." His round, baby blue eyes bore into her, giving him the appeal of innocence, somewhat childlike in quality. It reminded her of Finn.

"And why would that be?"

"That's where she steals them!" Now that piqued her interest, so she raised a brow, prompting him to continue, "She really wants to take your demon friend too!" His eyes darted around and he muttered, "I must go, they're listening."

"Wait!" Bonnibel shouted, as he began to slink away, "What's your name?" He chanced her another glance and she felt hypnotized by the intensity of his gaze, neither friendly nor threatening. Instead of answering her though, he put a finger to his lips then used both his hands to point at his ears, mouthing 'ears everywhere'. He slipped through the double doors that led to kitchen and she found herself wondering how she had not seen him before. He looked completely unfamiliar. She knew he was not an attendee, otherwise she would've seen him at group session, and she definitely knew he was not staff, otherwise she would've seen him in the kitchen or on the grounds at some point. It was almost like the staff made a point to go out of their way to greet you, and make you feel slightly uncomfortable while doing so, so unless he was completely new, she had no idea where he fit in.

"Who was that?" Bonnibel felt the question hot against her neck and she nearly jumped. She knew it was Marceline before she even turned around, so she caught herself wondering why she reacted so much. She pushed the thought aside though as she processed the question and shrugged. Marceline crossed her arms, "What do you mean you don't know? I thought you were the smart one here."

"While I don't disagree with that," Marceline rolled her eyes, "he didn't actually tell me who he was, and I haven't seen him before today either." She glanced around, feeling like the walls had eyes and stood on the tip of her toes to whisper into Marceline's ear, "We should go back to our room. I think we're being spied on." Marceline seemed to catch on, and judging by how tense she was now, Bonnibel thought she was feeling it too. With a strange sense of urgency then walked through the strangely vacant hall, up the stairs, then back up to the safety of their suite. As soon as the door clicked shut behind them, the strange suffocation of the outside evaporated.

"That was really weird Bonnie. Like really weird. I don't like it." Marceline said, "This place is seriously giving me a case of the creeps."

"I know, Marceline. I don't even know how that guy knows all that," Bonnibel looked over at Marceline, who had collapsed on the bed, both arms crossed behind her head, "He says whoever's in charge wants to kidnap you." This seemed to catch Marceline's attention, "Like pretty bad."

"Wait, huh? Why the heck would they wanna kidnap me?" Marceline asked, using one of her arms to prop herself up, some hair falling in front of her eyes. Which Bonnibel did not notice, thank you very much.

"Beats me, but you should be careful okay?" Bonnibel cautioned, walking over to the bed where Marceline was, taking a seat at the edge of the bed that slightly creaked under her weight, "I don't want you to be put in danger because of me." She quickly squeezed Marceline's ankle, trying to convey that Marceline's safety was important to her in a simple touch, not really caring if doing that was particularly awkward; she just needed Marceline to know how important she was to her. Despite being aware she often didn't show it.

"I came on this mission Bonnie, it's not like you forced me to come here," Marceline said, sitting up and gently taking Bonnibel's hand off of her leg into her own cold ones, "also you should take your own advice, 'cause like whatever biz with that guy earlier was seriously weird and I don't want you getting hurt either."

Bonnibel offered a small, uncertain smile, "Well I guess we should both stay out of danger then? I don't know if that's possible on a mission like this."

Marceline snapped her fingers, as if coming to a realization, "Well we're doing this together aren't we? Then we should just research together." She laughed, and fell back onto her back, "If we just do it together we'll be in less danger! Wow, I am seriously on a roll today Bonnie."

Bonnibel sighs and rolled her eyes, "Well no duh that's super obvious! I was just trying to be caring Marcey. Obviously we're here to flipping work together!" She growls and stands up, walking back over to her unorganized desk, "And now people are disappearing by the minute! We're being useless!"

"Hey, don't get angry at me Princess, you were just telling me off a second ago for getting in danger in the first place!" Marceline said, her voice raising and now sitting up feeling her earlier anger make a resurgence.

"What!?" Bonnibel shrieked, louder than she meant to which made her internally wince. She took a deep breath and turned around to face Marceline, "I wasn't telling you off, I was trying to warn you and I was trying to care but apparently you think-"

"Listen Princess," Marceline cuts her off, "I don't have time for you trying to care. If you're going to care, just do it. There's no trying involved."

"Hey, that's not what I meant! I-" She was cut off by someone pounding on the door, and the both of them felt their stomach drop to their feet and felt the room get about 4 degrees colder. Neither had a good feeling about this.

A/N

Sorry I can't help but make them fight, it's so fun to write. They're both so stubborn and reactive, I feel like they end up getting on each others nerves a lot, even if the anger isn't actually directed at the other! Like in this case, they're stressed about the disappearances, the danger, etc. Also I planned out the story finally so I feel it'll go in a direction I want it, thus making my updates much quicker than...say once or twice a year :x

But anyways, let me know what you think, or if it was particularly out of character or poorly written in any way! I'm always looking for ways to improve :) Love you all, thank you for reading this!!