No Rest for The Weary| Crystal Gems X Reader

Chapter 88: Stuck Together

"The Rose Quartz." Aquamarine whispered from above. "Can you believe it?"

Steven glanced up at where her voice was coming from, as did the lone topaz holding him. She turned as Aquamarine continued to speak.

"And she just handed herself in." She gestured with a smirk as the Topaz holding Steven turned to face her. The second Topaz looked to Aquamarine, and Aquamarine met her gaze, simply waving her hand in dismissal as Steven began to taunt her.

"That's right. You caught me. Galactic Criminal Rose Quartz. I love shattering Diamonds. I just want to shatter 'em all the time!" He shouted at her, his eyes fixed on the small gem above him. Aquamarine hummed and swooped down to become eye level with him.

"You think shattering's bad? Wait till the Diamonds get their hands on you." She grinned, her wings sloshing around with each heavy flap. Steven sighed and looked away, defeated.

"At least everyone is-" Steven's eyes went wide as he saw Topaz stop suddenly at the top of the stairs at the far end of the ship. Aquamarine noticed his gaze and looked behind her, despite her better judgement. An impish smile made it's way onto her face as she spotted the human standing in Topaz's way.

"Oh?"

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Y/n and Lars' eyes were glued to the floor above them. Y/n felt Lars tremble with each heavy thud as it came closer and closer.

"Oh man, she's coming this way! What're we gonna do?!" Lars whisper-shouted to Y/n.

"Just-" Y/n put a hand out towards Lars, "Stop talking and stay put."

Lars clamped his mouth shut as Y/n rushed up the stairs. His breath hitched as he watched them reach the top, cutting Topaz off. Locking eyes with her, Y/n raised their fists, widened their stance, and bounced slightly on the balls of their feet.

A heavy silence pressed down on the ship. No alarms, no chatter; just the quiet hum of machinery.

"Oh?" The Aquamarine's voice cut through the hush, her tone lilting with mild amusement.

Topaz didn't respond. Didn't move. Just watched as Y/n advanced.

A breath in. A step forward. Then Y/n struck.

Fists hammered into Topaz's torso, each hit landing with sharp, measured force. Jab. Cross. Hook. Again. Again. Each impact sent a dull thud through the still air, the only sound beyond their own steady breaths. With each hit Topaz took a step back but never struck in return. She absorbed every blow, silent and still.

Y/n's breathing remained even at first, their movements fluid and practiced. Footfalls echoed against the metal.

Punch. Breathe. Step. Punch again.

Topaz remained impassive.

Pain crept into Y/n's knuckles, but they didn't stop. Their strikes slowed, just slightly, at first. Then more. The ship blurred at the edges of their vision. How long had they been fighting? How far had they pushed her back? They stole a glance past Topaz's unmoving form; the far end of the ship loomed just behind her now.

They had driven her all the way across.

Their breath hitched. Just a little more.

Y/n mustered up as much strength as they could, winding back then punching forward. The force and swing from their punch almost knocked them off their own feet. Almost.

The next punch was weaker.

And the next, weaker still.

Sweat burned their eyes. Their chest heaved. Their fists throbbed.