Missing

A man of few words, Marshall Lee found himself saying nothing for a long time. He didn't even bother to open his mouth unless to draw the red from one thing or another. He didn't sing. He didn't hum. He didn't venture far from his house, only going so far as the outskirts of his cave. Despite the silence, his mind wasn't quiet since she left.

His Fi. His Fionna had left, stormed out on him. He could only blame himself though. He was the King! But that wasn't right. It wasn't right for her. The vampire had been alone for so long, he scarcely even thought about anyone else, their existences fleeting things compared to his own. It had been a long time since he had become so attached to someone…anyone.

The days and nights passed slowly. The only part of his routine that stayed constant was his occasional strumming on an old bass. Sometimes the boy would feel the urge to sing, but his guilt would choke it down. Guilt over how he had treated someone he wanted to be closer to.

Damn it. He had wanted to draw her close to himself and she would appreciate him in time. Instead he only pushed her further away in his pride and arrogance. Marshall was a king, yes, but not entitled to all the world had. Even if sometimes he felt that way.

This depressing haze lasted just over two weeks, the dark thoughts eating at his being. However, this darkness couldn't hide him forever.

A loud knock rang from the door, jarring Marshall from his reverie. So long in silence and alone had made any sound seem foreign and strange. He almost didn't realize what the noise was, until it came again. He hovered to the door and opened it, feeling numb the whole way.

"Um, uh…There you are." It was Cake. Her voice was hesitant, and the sound was alien, having been separate from people for two weeks straight. Marshall didn't even question why the little cat was on his front stoop.

"Hey Cake. What's up?" It came out weak, dry. Marshall didn't care. His self-imposed exile had caused him to be numb to his usual vanity. His thoughts were erratic, but often quite lucid. So long as the thoughts dwelt on her.

"What's up? Son, I don't know how you can live under a rock for two weeks, but I have to talk to you." She was all business. Marshall Lee had never before seen Fionna's friend like this, Cake often being too afraid of him to even speak to him. He was tempted to scare her with one of his trademark faces, but the look on her face made him rethink it.

"Well come on in then." The vampire motioned for her to come in, and led her into the living room. There she proceeded to look at him again, as if waiting for permission to speak. After a minute, she cleared her throat and then spoke.

"Marshall Lee, I don't know what happened between you and Fionna, but I know that I was angry at you for making her all mad at first. Then she cooled down like she does, and everything was fine." Marshall looked at the little cat. So what then? She was mad, and then she wasn't? Where was this going?

"But then something happened. Or, it didn't. I don't know." She looked a little lost, but continued on regardless. The boy listened intently, wondering what had happened (or not) to his Fionna. Despite how they had left each other, he still thought of her like she was his.

"She started getting mad at little stuff, and getting all blank-eyed and stuff. She didn't want to talk about you or what happened, and if I mentioned anything that even sounded like you, she would get mad. And then…I don't know, something changed again." Marshall's spirits dropped. She was still mad at him for that? Would she ever be his friend again? He couldn't imagine not being her friend. Before his thoughts could take him further, Cake was continuing her story.

"She started talking about you again. In a really…weird way. I don't know what happened, but you need to talk to that girl." Cake was serious. Marshall looked at her in disbelief. He wasn't sure what to say.

"Look, you probably figured already we went separate ways angry, and I don't want to be the one to come crying back to her. So I won't." No matter how guilty he felt, Marshall Lee did not beg. He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth, but he stuck to them.

"Well she's in a world of hurt over your sorry butt. And if you want to be her friend again, maybe you should get off your high horse and talk to the girl. It's the least she deserves." Cake turned and walked to the door. Without another word she left Marshall in his thoughts.

So Marshall sat. And he waited. And after a day or two, he decided that he was going to ignore his problem. Not a good solution, but the Vampire King did not beg.

He started the day slowly, devouring a bowl of apples and thinking to himself. After some introspection, the boy wanted to do more with his thoughts. He dragged his bass into his arms, and started strumming out a rhythm. It was slow, deep, his thoughts of her made manifest. He let it move him, as he drifted and swayed in the room. He let himself get lost in his music. He was almost was so far gone that he very nearly missed the knock coming from his door.

Again? Marshall elected to ignore the visitor, knowing it was probably Cake. She seemed to be in a sour mood when she visited him the other day, and he knew she would be mad that he had done nothing to fix his relationship with Fionna. The knocking persisted for a short while, and he continued to play. The vampire did not much care if whoever it was knew he was intentionally ignoring them. Then he heard a small click. His front door slowly opened not but an inch. He looked up and saw a single eye looking in at him. He stopped his strumming.

"Marshall…can I come in?" It was Fionna. She wasn't mad. She seemed…sad. He could only see her eye, but he didn't need more to know how she felt. He could just feel it.

Nodding, she opened the door and slinked in. Wringing her hands nervously, the girl moved into the room. Standing awkwardly, she looked for a place to sit. Marshall floated into the middle of the room and motioned to the couch. She promptly moved to sit, and then looked awkwardly at her feet. After what seemed like an eternity, Fionna spoke.

"Marshall…I meant what I said." The man in question didn't know what to say. He couldn't hardly remember what she had said. He looked at her quizzically, letting his bass slide in its strap to hang from his arm. She continued.

"I don't belong to anyone." She spoke it with quiet conviction, but there was respect in her tone. It wasn't a stab, there was no venom or spite. He let her go on.

"But…that doesn't mean I don't want to be your friend. It doesn't mean I don't want to be close to you. All I meant by that is that I'm not going to roll over and do anything you want me to." Marshall took this all in. She was right, of course. And he could admit it.

"I know. I'm sorry for what I did. I didn't mean to hurt you, I just…" His voice trailed off. She looked at him with pleading eyes, asking him to continue. And despite his nature telling him otherwise, he did.

"I just didn't want to lose you. I wanted to be with you, I wanted…you. And I didn't think about what you thought about it. I'm sorry. Please forgive me." The Vampire King doesn't beg. But he does on occasion ask politely.

Fionna looked at him in shock. His revelation was something new to her, and Marshall could see she hadn't even considered what he was saying before. It had never occurred to her that he might actually want her. He could see in the girl's eyes how she felt about him: he was a trickster, and this was another trick. But it wasn't. And now she saw beyond the veil, beyond the facade he put up. She looked away, embarrassed.

"I didn't…I didn't know. I'm sorry, I just…I thought we were friends. I thought you just were…" She left the thought open. He didn't need to hear it. Looking flustered, the girl got up and made to leave. Marshall intercepted her, landing on his feet before her. She looked almost scared. The vampire spoke, softly.

"Don't expect confessions or apologies from me every day Fi. But also don't think I'm so shallow to not have those kinds of feelings. Understand me?" She nodded. After a moment their eyes met. They were locked for minutes, hours, days. What was it? Marshall couldn't tell, the moment blurring in his mind. Those beautiful eyes. Could he let them go?

Yes he could. And he would, if that's what she wanted. He was the Vampire King, but he liked her—no, he loved her. Marshall would do anything for her, and damn his pride. A small voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Marshall?" It was hesitant. It didn't want to be heard, but Fionna had let the word out anyways.

"Fionna?" He was hesitant. Willing to do anything for her, but unsure what she wanted.

"I missed you." With those words she dove headlong at him. They fell to the floor in a heap, Fionna's arms wrapped tightly around Marshall's torso. There was a loud twang as the bass hit the floor and bounced, but its owner didn't seem to notice. He was too busy being tackled.

After a moment of lying there, Fionna propped herself up on her elbows, her face merely inches from Marshall's. He breathed heavily, noticing how close they were to each other. She smiled at him, the first he'd seen in weeks. It warmed him from his head to his toes. It was as if the sun shone only for him, and he basked in its glory like he hadn't in centuries.

Smiling back, Marshall heard-and felt-Fionna giggle. It was gratifying. But he couldn't help but wonder.

"What was that for?" His voice was playful again, not the seriousness that had permeated the conversation since she had arrived. The girl played with a lock of his hair, and smiled with her response.

"I was remembering last time we were like this. And how hard I slapped you." With a giggle she looked down at him again. He winced at the memory.

"Can we avoid any more slaps please?" It was partially a joke, but not totally.

"So long as you don't repeat what you did that night." Marshall felt put out. Didn't she seem to want him? What had happened? Did he miss something? Then she smirked at him coyly.

"I didn't like how it was all up to you. I felt like you were the only one with any say in it." The boy looked at the girl, confusion in his eyes. What?

"I think I'd like it if it was on my terms. How about you?" He still didn't totally understand what Fionna was trying to say. He made to say as much.

"I don't und—" Marshall couldn't finish his sentence, as Fionna had leaned down into his lips, kissing him strongly. He returned the kiss, and after a minute or so she pulled back. He understood now. She spoke.

"It seems you'll get what you want after all."