literature

Marceline x Bubblegum short -- Keepsake

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"Thanks for letting me crash here," Marceline said as she walked into Bubblegum's house.

"No big deal," Bubblegum replied, smiling a little. "Just put your stuff up in my room, that's where we'll sleep tonight. I've got a mattress you can use."

Marceline nodded, racing up the stairs until she reached the hallway that led to Bubblegum's room. She opened the door and flipped on the light. She threw her bag on the bed and stood in the doorway for a moment.

She walked over to her bag, pulling out a bottle of Whiskey she had saved for tonight. "Might as well have fun," she muttered, pulling out shot glasses before zipping up the bag again. Her and Bubblegum weren't the average friends; they actually had hated each-other for quite a while due to past issues, but had made up this year. It was still a bit awkward to Marceline, but she hoped that a few drinks would help them patch things up for good. 

When she turned to leave, she saw something shiny from the corner of her eye. She walked over to the closet and slid open the shutters, revealing a picture of her and Bubblegum when they had been friends. She opened her mouth a little, reaching in and grabbing it, running her hand over the frame.

"She kept this? All this time?" She looked at them in the picture. This had to have been a picture from about seventh grade, and it was clean, meaning she had been caring for it, and had not let it collect dust on the shelf. 

She smiled, setting it back down. She grabbed her Whiskey and headed back downstairs, but reminded herself to bring this up to Bubblegum later. "Hey."

Bubblegum was on her couch, watching TV. "You were taking a little bit to come back, I was starting to worry."

"Says the girl who was watching TV."

Bubblegum shrugged, giggling. "Well, it's not like you were going to die if I finished my show. Come on, are you hungry? I made..." she cut off, seeing the drinks in Marceline's hand. "Do you plan on drinking tonight?" Her voice was stern but concerned, and Marceline shrugged.

"I was hoping we could drink a little," she replied.

"I don't drink," she replied carefully. "Thanks though."

"Have you ever tried, Bubbles?"

Bubblegum shrugged, looking away. "I have other things to do besides drink," she retorted.

Marceline put a teasing hand on her hip. "Like school work?"

Bubblegum blushed a little. 

"We won't drink if you don't want to," Marceline told her, and Bubblegum visibly tensed.

"Okay, thanks. Sorry Marceline, I just don't want to start that. I have studies to focus on too, you know? It's almost science finals, and--"

"Alright, alright." Marceline cut her off with an irritated tone. "I get it, bookworm."

Bubblegum laughed. "Maybe after we eat, I'll consider a shot or two."

Marceline smiled. "Great," she replied. "So what's for dinner?"

"I made beef stew. I hope you like it, it's my grandfather's recipe."

Marceline nodded, smiling. "Sounds great." They headed down the long hall to the kitchen, and Marceline took that moment to admire both Bubblegum's house and Bubblegum herself. Both had changed considerably. The house seemed to have been built onto, but it wasn't noticeable to anyone if they hadn't known Bubblegum since Elementary school. The walls were painted, and the floors were definitely different. She remembered them wooden, but they were now marble. Then she looked at Bubblegum.

I remember how you were,
she thought. I remember how we met. Where did things go wrong?

***

"I just don't understand math," Bubblegum said to her friends who walked beside her in the halls of the Junior High.

"Me neither." Finn, one of her closest friends, agreed immediately. The other girl was Fire Princess, but everyone called her Jenny, her mother's name.

"Yeah," she chirped. "It's hard."

Bubblegum shrugged. "Oh well," she continued. "So Finn, how's the tree house coming?"

"Great," he replied. "I've got half of the ladder built."

Jenny looked at him. "You've only got half of the ladder done?"

Finn blushed. "I'm doing the best I can," he retorted shyly.

Jenny chuckled.  

"Look." Jenny's voice stopped all three in their tracks. A girl Bubblegum hadn't seen before was in her locker. Her shirt cut off right above her bellybutton, and her leggings traced her body figure, making Bubblegum blush hard.

"Bubblegum? You alright?" Finn turned to the flustered girl.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I've never seen her before...is she new?"

Jenny shook her head. "She was here last week, too, but she didn't have any classes in this building until yesterday."

Bubblegum nodded. What the hell is wrong with you, Bubblegum?! Compose yourself! She took a sharp breath and cleared her throat. "Well, let's go say hi then."

She walked over to the student, very aware that neither Finn nor Jenny were beside her. Whatever. "Hey," she greeted with a smile.

The girl turned, her eyes dull. "Hello," she replied, her voice a lot higher pitched than Bubblegum had expected.

"I'm Bonnibel Bubblegum. Bubblegum for short." The girl smiled a little, and Bubblegum suddenly felt shy.

"I'm Marceline," she replied, smiling and holding her book close to her chest. 

"Nice to meet you."

Marceline smiled. She liked this girl. "Why is your hair pink?"

"I just wanted to dye it, and with a last name like 'Bubblegum,' I decided pink was the way to go."

Marceline nodded, her eyes finally brightening a little. "Well, I have to go to class."

Bubblegum lurched forward. "I'll walk you," she blurted, louder than she had meant to. A small blush lit up her face.

Marceline put a hand on her hip. "Oh yeah? Well thanks, I guess." 

Marceline felt weird being escorted by her new acquaintance, but she kind of liked this girl. She even went as far as brushing her hand down her arm. She laughed when Bubblegum's face reddened a little and whispered, "you have a crush already?"

Bubblegum made a few exasperated noises, but didn't manage any actual words, and Marceline laughed. "That was fast," she exclaimed, looking over at Bubblegum's dark red face.

"Right," Bubblegum stammered. "I think I'm just tired, honestly. Here, text me. We can try again." She wrote her number on a piece of paper and gave it to Marceline, who pocketed it right away.

"I'll text you later," she replied, and hurried into her classroom. 

***

"Bubblegum, can I borrow twenty?" Jenny walked beside her. "You...did get paid yesterday, right?"

"You know my pay schedule?"

Jenny shrugged, smiling. "I've caught on," she replied.

Bubblegum forked over twenty and asked, "so, do you want to go to the fair next weekend?"

Jenny hesitated. "I can't," she replied after a moment. "I have to house-sit for my cousin. Sorry."

She turned and went down the left hall, leaving Bubblegum alone.

Weeks passed, and Bubblegum's crush faded. Even Marceline could tell it was gone. They became close friends instead, talking between class periods and at lunch, when Bubblegum wasn't crowded with friends. Marceline noticed, even in the somewhat short time they had been friends, that she was always lending out money that her father gave her. One night, they sat out in the field by her apartment.

"I made you something." Marceline handed Bubblegum a shirt that she had made for her, and Bubblegum smiled, holding it close to her.

"Thank you," she murmured. "You know, Marceline, it's weird."

Bubblegum's voice was almost lost in the field they sat in, the cold night air threatening to carry it away.

"What is?" Marceline leaned back on her arms, turning to look at Bubblegum. 

"How close we got," Bubblegum replied, cocking her head to one side. "You don't treat me like the rest of my friends do."

Marceline scoffed, accidentally cutting her off. "Because I don't treat you like royalty?"

Bubblegum furrowed her eyebrows. "Well, that's partially it," she replied quietly.

"They all act like they worship the ground you walk on just because your father owns a big company."

Bubblegum was beginning to get offended. "Well, I don't mind the attention."

"Oh, I know," Marceline replied, her voice now with a slight tone in it. "It's just, I don't see you as anyone special just because you have money."

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

Marceline grunted and sat up, wrapping her arms around her knees. "I won't give you the royal treatment just because you have your daddy's money. You should know this by now."

Bubblegum's jaw gaped. "I never said you had to, but you don't have to point it out! You make it sound like the only reason people like me is because I have money!"

Marceline gave her a long look, and she took a few steps back.

"You bitch!"

Marceline stood up. "Bubblegum, I don't think--"

Bubblegum flailed her hand back, turning and running out of the field, tears streaming down her face. Marceline took a few running steps after her, but realized the pursuit would be pointless. She stepped back, watching the pink haired girl run until she was no longer in sight. 

They stopped talking at school after that. They didn't talk in the halls anymore, and Bubblegum even stopped lending money to people. she eventually drifted into a state of determination, focusing all of her effort on her classes. Finn still remained her loyal friend through it all, Marceline noted, but the words she had spoken could not possibly have been forgiven by the high schooler. 

***

That's where, Marceline decided as she sat down at the table with her friend. She smelled the warm beef stew and smiled at Bubblegum. "It smells great."

"Thanks."

She sat down at the table. They ate in silence, until Marceline asked, "so.. that picture in the closet?"

Bubblegum suddenly tensed, the spoon in her hand flipping and spilling its content onto her dress.

Marceline's eyes widened. "Snap! Wait, I'll get you a clean shirt."

"No, that's not necessary," Bubblegum called as Marceline ran up the stairs. She went directly to the closet, pulling open the dresser drawer and digging through it. She suddenly felt something. She knew this feeling. She pulled out a very familiar shirt, her eyes wide with surprise.

This is the shirt I made her.
 She ran her hands over it. It was worn.

She's been using this. It's in her pajama drawer...is she sleeping in it? 

Bubblegum was coming up the stairs, and she shoved it back in the drawer. "I brought the drinks," she exclaimed, rushing over to where Marceline was and slamming the doors closed. "No need to change my shirt. It's a tiny stain, it'll fade." She chuckled, handing Marceline's drinks to her.

Marceline nodded, trying to clear her head. Maybe a few drinks would calm her down. Or rile me up. She pushed the thought aside. 

She poured the shots.

Bubblegum sighed. "I can't," she confessed. "I'm sorry."

"It's cool."

"You can still drink if you want, Marceline."

Marceline shrugged. "There's no point in drinking if you're not drinking with someone."

"I'm just not a drinker, that's all."

She set the shot glass aside, and watched with silent delight as Marceline did, too.

"Right." Marceline stood up, sighing. "Oh, Bubblegum, would you do me a favor?"

Bubblegum nodded, smiling. "What's up?"

"Go stand by the bed."

"Why..why would I do that?"

Marceline laughed. "Just do it. You didn't drink."

Bubblegum stood up and walked over to the bed. "Okay, now what?"

She felt the breath knocked out of her as Marceline ran at her, pushing her over, pinning her by both the waist (with her own waist pressed against it) and her arms, which Marceline held tightly above her head.

"Hey!" Bubblegum tried to move, but couldn't.

"Bubblegum, I found that shirt I gave you in that drawer. Did you keep that? For the past...four years? Almost five?"

Bubblegum's eyes dilated with confusion for a moment, and she didn't say anything. Then it clicked, and she started blushing. "I...I forgot about it," she lied.  

Marceline leaned down and kissed Bubblegum, gently enough so as not to shock her friend, but roughly enough to get a small grunt from her. She began to move her lips, slowly but surely, until she had Bubblegum kissing back. 

"Tell me why you were sleeping in my shirt," she whispered.

Bubblegum turned her head as Marceline kissed down her neck. "It was like a keepsake," she stammered.

"A keepsake?" She traced her hand down Bubblegum's side, kissing her again. "A keepsake of how much you hated me?"

"A keepsake of how much I love you," Bubblegum replied, her voice cracking as tears rolled down her cheeks. Marceline stopped, sitting up, looking down at her.

"What?"

Bubblegum turned her head a little so she was facing away from her friend. "You were my best friend. My only real friend. I blew that, and I was too stupid to realize that."

Marceline saw a tear slide off of her face and drip onto the bed, leaving a tiny spot of water. She lay a comforting hand on Bubblegum's shoulder. "You never really lost me. I was always looking out for you, even when I left to travel the world and stuff. I was worried about you. A lot."

"You didn't have anything to worry about," Bubblegum retorted, her eyes shining.

"Apparently I did." She kissed Bubblegum's cheek, and the girl looked away, her smile widening.

"I did sleep in that shirt," she muttered. "It was kind of like a keepsake, but it was more. It was the closest thing I had to sleeping beside you. My crush did fade after a while, Marceline, but it didn't go away. And this is where I am now."

Marceline nodded, her eyes bright with an unreadable emotion. "All you had to do was talk to me, and I would have been beside you in a heartbeat." She sat her friend up, holding her as a mother would hold her child; or how a person would hold their lover. "You don't need that shirt anymore," she murmured.

"I figured." 

When it was time for bed, Marceline lay under the covers with her, holding her close, nuzzling her cheek every now and then, mainly to get a reaction, but also because she finally felt warmth from her friend.

"Hey, you aren't gonna go telling everyone about this, right?"

Bubblegum shook her head. "Are you kidding?"

"I'm just checking."

She looked over to the picture on the dresser, the frame shining through the closed shutter closet doors. "Hey, Bubblegum, you never told me about that picture."
Ok, so, for SOME REASON, I am TERRIBLE with writing Yuri?!?! Like what the hell why can't I be good at anything

So, I just...this...yeah. Done. I should note that I do not frequently watch adventure time, so I based their personality a lot off of fanart and such, so I KNOW THEY'RE A BIT OOC, LETS ACT LIKE THIS IS AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE OK
© 2014 - 2024 SebbyxCiel123
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demonlovers's avatar
this is an amazing story!! I enjoyed reading every word of it. You made the characters so life like. Great work!!