𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘯𝘢

six//hold

After some very cute and very annoying pleading and scheming, Steven reluctantly allowed Peridot to use his game system. He set some rules, the most important being to have fun, and hopped into bed falling asleep shortly.

Spending the night with the Crystal Gems was eventful, to say the least, and Peri would like nothing more than to relax by occupying herself with video games. She flopped against the mattress -- positioning herself into she was comfortable -- and took the remote into hand; determined.

The energetic gem chose a game Steven wouldn't dare to touch, discarded with some others in a storage unit he found some time ago. She's played and beat the others using her intellect she had been programmed with in little than less in a day. She found they followed very similar tropes that grew boring right away, today she decided to play a "horror game."

Spoiler alert: It wasn't very scary.

The theme was zombies, undead humans that returned to the living with a hunger for brains. Peridot found the concept unrealistic and stupid, but none the less trudged through the mechanics as she wielded her controller having nothing better to do.

Steven was a heavy sleeper, and the other gems had retreated into their rooms for the night. Luckily for the peridot hey didn't hear the blood curdling screams the TV emitted.

Or, so she thought.

Peridot's breath hitched in her throat as the stairs creaked after playing for about twenty minutes or so, the eerie noise filling the blank silence. In one swift motion she had abandoned the game system and ducked behind Steven's bed, and peeked over the edge.

A tall figure loomed over the stairs, shadowed by the dark room. A sliver of moonlight hit the silhouette's clothing, revealing a deep blue skirt. She stared up confused, and retreated from the hiding place immediately.

"Peridot?"

The green gem recognized the voice instantly, "Lapis?"

She giggled quietly, "Hi."

The head of messy blue hair was familiar enough, as well as her usual dress. She flashed an awkward smile, and rubbed her arm shyly as Peridot reacquainted herself.

"Oh, heya, Lazuli. What's up?"

At first, she wasn't able to retort. Stirring for an answer, but her body wouldn't comply. So instead she shrugged, "just... unable to sleep."

"Human rituals, amirite?" Peridot answered as she picked up her controller again.

"Yeah," Lazuli shivered. "I also heard... screaming."

"Oh, that would be the zombies."

The water gem made a face.

Peridot patted the spot next to her, tapping the worn wood with her tiny hands. Lapis, who didn't say a word, joined her friend in front of the television, not sure what to expect. The more she situated herself, the more inviting Peridot became. She studied the screen, words filling it with traces of red blotches.

"As you can see, I am able to control my avatar with my 'joystick,'" she explained suddenly, holding the contraption like a treasure as she demonstrated. "Then I play it. It's called a game. They come in a variety of different genres."

Lapis shrugged, "What kind of game is... this?"

"A scary game."

And just like that, Lapis didn't feel very protected anymore.

Peridot continued to show-off her toy, un-pausing her video game. It wasn't that bad at first, the small gem rambling about how incompetent the system was as well as it was fun made Lapis a little happy. But, as more of the undead creatures appeared, Lapis could feel her skin crawl.

Firstly, a lot of creatures stalked Peridot. They looked a lot like people, but almost lifeless and a lot more... slow. Secondly, Lapis did not like the way they acted. Humans were supposed to behave with emotions, not dead-on stares. The theme seemed to be death, as a lot of skulls and bones littered Peri's landscape.

"So... there is a lot of those zombies, huh?" She asked through quivering lips.

"Well, yeah," Peridot's avatar turned to face one. Lazuli jumped, almost shrieking as the icky flesh of the zombie peeled off. It's eyeballs were absent, only hollow eye sockets peering back. Jaw hanging, teeth missing. It began picking up speed as Peri moved away.

"WHAT AEW THOSE THINGS?" Lapis cried, blue hands flying over her eyes to shield herself.

"The zombies!" She exclaimed, curving an eyebrow at her companion. "What did you think they were?"

"W-what..." She swallowed, hesitantly peeking at the screen through her fingers. "What are zombies, anyway?"

The green gem hummed to herself, studying the monster chasing her. Her specs were lit with the mirrors of the screen as she thought, virtual blood and grunge illuminated them. She looked... terrifying.

"Dead humans, form my research."

"WHAT?"

"Hey, wanna see something," Peridot placed a hand over her lips, snickering behind her smile. "That is the 'cool?'"

"N-NO!" Lazuli shouted. "I HATE THIS GAME!"

She ignored her, equipping a weapon. Somehow she found the will-power to face the dead human, lifting a hatchet. Lapis, as much as she hated it, stared in wonder and horror as Peridot's character lifted the tool above their head as the zombie approached, anticipating their arrival.

The axe came crashing down, splitting the head of the zombie in two as it's blunt blade burrowed a whole into its skull. Sickly red-brown liquid flew in all directions as the its body fell limp onto the pavement. Lapis felt sick, removing her hands and placing them over her mouth as nausea rocked her. Peridot grinned.

"That's right, you clod!" She barked with laughter. "Fall to my feet! Fall! FALL I SAY!"

"NOOO!" Lapis limbs flew around Peridot  making the controller fall to the ground, catching peridot by surprise as her long arms cradled her small body. Lapis curled her legs around the small gem, burying her face in the nape of her neck. Peri could feel her entire body croak with fear as she bathed in the warmth surrounding her, her torso fitting perfectly against Lazuli.

Peridot twisted her head. Lapis didn't say anything, just squinted her eyes shut and held her close. Peridot stared in amazement as the water gem whimpered against her.

It was obvious what was to be done. Slowly, without disturbing her friend, Peridot reached for the abandoned remote. With it, she quietly shut off her game system. It was dark in the room, only a small shred of moonlight pouring through the window. Peridot reluctantly held Lapis' hand, squeezing it gently.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," she soothed with a shaky voice. "I... turned it off."

Lazuli continued to hold her.

"Lapis, I shut it off."

She didn't budge. The bewildered Peridot had a feeling she wouldn't let go any time soon, and she dared even say it wasn't half-bad. Mildly acceptable. This one time, she decided to shut up, and let Lapis hold her.