Just a Bit Sweeter

Gone... He's really gone. I've fucked up too bad this time. Marshall held his face in his hands, shaking slightly. He put a twenty on the table to cover the uneaten meal. I... I can't let Gumball know.. I can't explain it, I'm not ready... Fuck, I can't do this. He walked out of the diner, protecting himself from the sun with the help of the clouds. This isn't what I wanted, why did I think this was okay... He's better than her, he could do more.. The pain was much too intense to handle, it was driving him mad in the two minutes he was alone so far. "Gumball?" He called out, hoping he was close enough to hear, but there was no response after a few minutes. He eventually stopped walking towards the castle, silent as he realized there was no point in apologizing if he couldn't explain yet. Marshall turned around slowly, starting for his home. It had been a while before he stayed there overnight, Gumball had wanted him to stay every night so far. Lolli almost blew it. Not sure it'll even work anymore. Gumball's really mad, I'm not even sure he trusts me anymore. I've been nothing but a dick to him since the start, and now I've crossed the line. His line. Marshall opened the door to his house, walking in. I never even got to show him what I learned from her. He would've loved it.. he would've loved me. Screaming 'yes'. But now he won't even answer his phone... what kind of boyfriend am I. He did all of this for me, for us, but I just went and saw another woman instead of him. Marshall looked up, examining the cabinets. I don't care. I'm not ready, but I have to prove to him that I'm worth keeping around.

Gumball was quiet in his room, cleaning what Marshall had left behind. I am such an idiot, why did I ever stoop to such levels for a sick cheater like him. I made so many mistakes for him, I let him abuse my body in such a sick manor. Sex is for the one, not a jackass who seduces you with his dreamy demon eyes... his... shut up, brain. Marshall isn't good enough for you, he's a disgusting vampire who just wanted to play with your body and bang a chick on the side. I gave him my everything, but he just disregarded it because I don't have boobs or whatever. That's all he wanted, something new. He's just as bad as Flame Prince. I just want to erase him from my life completely, start new. I'll just do what Pepper says, find a woman. Someone who'll love me, unconditionally. He shifted, throwing all of his things out the window angrily. "Stupid Marshall... always doing your stupid things with that stupid hair..." Gumball snapped, slamming the window. "I hate him!" He yelled gritting his teeth. "He's scum! He's cheating, lying scum!" Peppermint maid rushed in at the noise, quite worried. "Prince Gumball, what's the matter?" She asked, eyes wide. "Marshall is a no-good, dirty, lying, cheating, ignorant bag of shit!" He yelled, glaring at her. The words were cruel, but he was hurting, a lot. Marshall had broken his heart, leaving him shattered. "Oh, Gumball..." She said quietly, going over to him. "Would you like to talk about it?" Gumball shook his head, sitting down. "No, I just... want to hurt him, a lot. I want to punch his stupid face." He cupped his face, groaning. "I hate this, a lot. This isn't what I asked for in my life. I'm a prince, I'm supposed to worry about my citizens. Not some pretty boy who took my heart and screwed it up. Why should I even love him, he hasn't done anything but shown me I'm gay, shown how easy I am, exposed how fragile I am, and left me more than once." Gumball explained to her, shaking his head. "I hate this, you know? I really do. I had my life laid out in front of me, my whole future. He disturbed it, he disturbed my plans. I'm just going to lay here for the night, lock all the doors and windows. I'm not seeing him no matter how much he begs." Pepper nodded, walking over to the window quietly. Everything was locked, curtains were pulled... nothing was getting in or out. I'm done. I'm letting him go.

Marshall was being 'deleted' from his mind like some computer virus, all of their memories going down the drain. It made him feel... neutral. It didn't make him feel any better or worse. Marshall was just a bad decision he had made by opening the window on that night so long ago... he slept in his empty bed, in the middle. Using up both sides, making sure there was no Marshall Lee left in his life, or at least in his bed. His heart was broken... but he's taking it better than I expected. Pepper thought, looking at his limp body. He's matured, Marshall had made him grow up so quickly. Why didn't I stop it before it was too late, why did I give him that blessing so quickly. This is my fault, I've hurt him too much by letting this go on. She pulled the comforter over his body, making sure he was warm and covered. He'll heal, things will get better. I promise you, Gumball. Things will become perfect soon enough. You deserve it, you've suffered too much to have things crushed so quickly like that. You're a good boy, you need to have a good life. You will have a good life, you'll have someone who makes you happy. I don't care what gender they are, what sexuality you are, I love you anyways. You're perfect, you're an amazing young boy. I'm so sorry I was so rude at first, not understanding. But I know this is who you are, and I know it makes you happy. I know you'll be happy. She lifted her head, hearing a slight noise. The pulling of the balcony door, the struggle to open, then a few gentle taps. Marshall... I can't let him hurt Gumball anymore. But... She looked over at Gumball. Pepper shook his arm gently, waking him after a moment. "Gumball, sir..." The taps continued, "Marshall is at the window..." Groaning, he sat up and looked at the balcony. The room was dark, it was around three in the morning. "I don't want to see him." He stated, rubbing his eyes. Peppermint Maid glanced between the balcony and him, sighing. "Gumball, I know you two aren't... together... but you should cut all the ties. Make sure things are set before you go on." She was right, Gumball had never stated that they were broken up. He just up and left him at the table, with the tab. Marshall was getting worried, more and more anxious by the second. "Pepper, could you give us some privacy?" He asked after a few minutes. She nodded quickly, bowed, and walked out. It was their time now, for whatever would happen.

Gumball stood up, walking to the balcony. "What." He snapped, still hidden by the curtains. "Can I come in, please?" Marshall asked, scratching his head. "Why should I?" Gumball asked, annoyed, placing his hands on his hips. "Because I can fix things?" Marshall offered with a nervous laugh, looking around. After a few minutes, almost seven, there was a click, and the balcony door was unlocked for him. Gumball was sitting in his chair, eyes closed and waiting. Marshall stepped inside, quietly. "You kind of need to open your eyes." He explained, looking at him. "What, so you can show me yourself? Fat chance." Gumball said, his voice cold as ice. Marshall was quiet, scratching the back of his head again. "Please? It's kind of necessary." He pleaded, looking down for a moment. With an unamused grunt, Gumball opened his eyes.

Marshall was holding a tall, slightly lopsided, cake. It was pink, indicating the strawberry flavour, and had vanilla icing smeared all over it. Marshall himself looked quite apologetic, glancing between Gumball and the cake. "I promise I can explain everything, I'm sorry. I thought this would work." The prince was silent, looking at the tall baked good. "Marshall, did you make this...?" He asked quietly, remembering his first attempt at making a cake; burnt and unappealing. "I did, Gumball... the gesture was going to be more grand, but it needed more time." He responded with a slight nod. "Lolli is... she's my cooking instructor. I was taking night classes to learn how to make one of these stupid cakes, because I kind of suck." Marshall looked at Gumball. "I was keeping it a secret, I know you hate those, but it was going to be great. Because... Gumball...?" He asked, setting down the cake so Gumball could read the words written on the top in raspberry jelly. Marshall kneeled by the cake, looking up at him. "I love you so much, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. You changed me and made me a good person, and I can never repay you for that. We've been through hell and back, and glob knows I've put you through more than you deserve, but we do it together. You're my other half, Gumball. The icing on my cake, the apple of my eye, the reason I want to wake up in the morning. And I know I'm a huge dick, I know I don't deserve you, but Gumball... will you do me the honor of being my husband...?" Marshall looked up at him, hoping so much to hear the most beautiful word in the English language... "Yes."

Gumball's smile ran from ear to ear, he was so happy. He only had one emotion for Marshall at that moment, and it was love. "Yes, you dumbass, yes." He repeated, cupping his mouth. The king grinned now, standing up to meet his height. His strong arms wrapped around him as they embraced in a tender kiss, sealing the moment. "Careful with the cake, I spent hours on that." Marshall mumbled against his lips, moving away from the sweets. "I can't believe you..." Gumball smirked, running a hand through his hair. "You made me hate you, then got me to say yes..." The vampire, spun him around, sitting with him on the chair. "My specialty." He said, pulling away and pressing his forehead against Gumball's. "Now, I would've had more time to prepare for this whole stunt if Lolli hadn't been working... she sped things up a little too fast." Gumball chuckled now, nuzzling him. "You think? Maybe she just wanted you to hurry up." Marshall raised an eyebrow, pecking his lips. "You taste like icing." Gumball commented, smacking his lips. "Yeah, well, I made a few cakes that didn't turn out so good. Food's food." The prince raised an eyebrow, looking at him. "You ate a bunch of cakes?" Marshall nodded, seeming quite proud. "I personally think the icing makes me just a bit sweeter." Gumball shook his head. "Marshall you ate a bunch of cakes, you seriously don't understand how bad that is for you." He said, but his king cut him off quite quickly with a kiss. "What's done is done, and I love you." He said, looking at him with those innocent red eyes.

"I love you too, Marshall Lee."

AT: Yes. I realize I've been gone. School happened. Shit happened. Don't bug me about it, okay?