| An Extraordinary Human For An Ordinary Diamond |

[6] The Why, How and When

I couldn't believe it. That gem was going to get punished. I was very grateful for having that lilac gem and those Zebra Jaspers by my side. And now that was sorted, I couldn't wait any longer getting back to Blue.

As I entered two huge doors, I arrived in Blue's chambers. Pearl kept up with me surprisingly easily.

The first thing that exited the Diamond's mouth was this. "Are you okay? What happened out there, Pearl?"

I saw Blue Pearl tense up and put a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, you've got this. I'm here too."

She eased up and began explaining. "Me and Alexandra crashed into each other. Alexandra was being chased down by an Agate and her guards. The guards do not need punishing, they did nothing wrong. The Agate nearly attacked Alexandra but was fought back by Alexandra's escorts; two brilliant Zebra Jaspers. Alexandra then distracted the battle and told... erm... the Agate... off... and now the Agate is being punished." Pearl rushed and said it all in one breath.

Blue Diamond looked less than pleased. 'Oh gosh.' Was the only thing I could think.

"Pearl! You need to be more careful!" A blue aura emitted from Blue and surrounded her, as a furious look was struck on her face.

I rushed forward. Pearl looked terrified and tears dropped down both of their eyes. "Woah, woah, woah! Blue, Pearl did nothing wrong! She doesn't need chastising, it's okay. I'm fine too." I walked forward and Pearl looked in shock, almost amazed I was standing up for her. I ran into the aura and nothing happened, so I touched the bottom of Blue's gown and stroked it. I didn't know whether it would help, but still, I proceeded to murmur how Pearl did nothing wrong and how everything was fine.

The streams of tears to my side began to drip much more slowly. Then the final tear fell, landing with a plop. The whole place was silent now. I looked up. "It's okay."

A delicate finger of hers rubbed one of her eyes, then the other. She looked in dismay; her sunken blue eyes, scanning me speechlessly.

I wasn't very good at sympathy or empathy but I tried.

She put her hand down to allow her to take me up, and I did so, climbing on and clinging onto her thumb. Her Diamond pupils studied me carefully, and a finger stroked my short hair.

"Alex, how did you do it?" Her soft voice was quiet, as not to frighten me.

"How did I do what?" I tilted my head just a little bit and looked at her curiously.

"How did you calm me down?"

I pondered for a moment, taking my time before answering. "Truth is, I don't know either. Since I'm autistic, being either sympathetic or empathetic is normally near impossible for me."

"Aut... autist... autistic? Is that some form of defection? Are you a defect?" She almost looked slightly disgusted. It hurt to hear the words exit her mouth.

"Perhaps put it in more kinder words, please. What you call defects is a part of humanity. Being autistic isn't exactly normal, but having no defects is not normal either."

She gave me a slow nod. "So none of you are perfect?"

"No. And what difference does it make? We're all human here on Earth. Nobody is the same, but I can assure you that we try to do whatever we can right. Life often has other plans." I held my normal neutral expression on my face; mouth a thin line, face relaxed and my hazel eyes slightly sunken.

Blue didn't seem to know what to say. "To answer your question, in your words yes, I am defective. Why does is matter though?"

It was an interesting question Blue had never thought about. "Defects can't do many things right."