i need you [pearlrose]

I need you

It was all his fault. He distanced them away from each other, he acted as if his intentions with Rose were purely selfless, and worst of all, he made sure Pearl knew just how useless she was at this point.

It wasn't fair. What did Greg Universe have that she didn't? The posture of a sloth? Horrid breath? Disgustingly thick body hair? He wasn't all that smart, either. Maybe that's why Rose liked him! His simplicity. However, Pearl's stomach twisted at the thought of Rose not enjoying her company, so she decided to deny that possibility.

At last, she gave up. She needed to concentrate on more important matters, and the only thing puzzling about why Rose doesn't find Greg the slightest bit appalling would give Pearl was a contribution to her already pulsating headache. Sleeping in Greg's trunk was horribly uncomfortable both physically and mentally, as Rose decided to show everyone how dependant of Greg she was.

Of course, Pearl couldn't refuse. The way this was going, even the slightest opportunity to spend time with Rose had to be cherished.

She lay next to Amethyst, whose loud snores filled the van, covering Pearl's shallow breaths. Greg and Rose were still awake, she could tell. She'd be able to tell Rose's voice apart during a hurricane (she was sure of that, as the sound of Amethyst's snores didn't stray too far).

While she couldn't exactly differentiate her sentences, there was one word constantly being spoken; Greg. The way that name slid off her tongue like she had been born to say it made Pearl feel sick. Rose used to say her name like that. The pain in her chest (which she originally thought was Amethyst's leg poking her during the smaller gem's ironically restless slumber) grew bigger. Rose's name, scraping its way off Greg's tongue, only to be said in such a crude and raspy way made her feel even worse. When addressing Rose, even during the latest hours, Pearl's voice was cheery, and Rose's name slid off her tongue just like the other would say hers. They completed each other with grace and elegance. Greg sounded like he hasn't slept or drank at all in a week, which made Pearl even sadder, as she thought he was, to put it simply, undeserving of Rose's love and affection.

Maybe it was Greg's simplicity that attracted Rose, after all. If Pearl had only spoken sooner, she wouldn't be in a stuffed, filthy trunk, listening to the only person in the entire universe who could make her feel special denying loving anyone as much as she'd loved Greg. They'd be together, alone, Rose humming that beautiful tune that made Pearl feel like entire constellations had found their way into her eyes, and Rose was an astronomer, studying each and every star.

Because it would be just like that every time she hummed that little composition; Rose would look deep into Pearl's eyes, and Pearl would do the same, starstruck. To Pearl, it was such a deep expression of affection that she felt her heart sink when she heard the tune in that van, except now she didn't have the heart to try and mute out the sound of Rose's voice. Because, if she focused hard enough to mute out Greg's annoying chuckles, she'd be able to imagine that Rose was singing to her again, and that nothing else in this universe mattered but the two of them, and the strong string of love that tied them together. Pearl couldn't know if her love was requited for sure, but she had the slightest idea. The wonderful tune lulled Pearl into a blessed slumber, filled with warmth.