When Worlds Collide (Blue Diamond x Reader)

Chapter 7: Unbearable

“Now then, if you understand even a word I’m saying, I am Holly Blue Agate, and you may address me as such. We have a bit of a walk ahead of us before we reach the processing area. In the meantime, I will warn you not to step out of line, unless you want to anger the amethyst guards. And don’t waste my time - I have other things to be doing, you know.”
“Ah yes. I’m the first human brought here in months, and the previous two were the first in decades. But please, tell me about how terribly busy you are. Seriously. Name one other thing you could be doing right now.”
Unsurprisingly, she did not respond. After a few minutes of silence, you came to a door flanked by two amethyst guards. One of them opened it while the other snickered.
“Hey Holly!” she called. “Better keep a tight hold on that human so it doesn’t disappear on you!”
Holly Blue Agate’s eyes flashed dangerously. She stormed over, getting right in the guard’s face.
“I warned you - never speak of that again! If the Diamonds ever catch so much as a whisper of that incident, you’ll all be shattered along with me!”
“Uh-oh, y’hear that, 8XH? We’re in big trouble when someone goes all the way to the Diamonds with a rumour and they come here to investigate and find out Holly let a group of rebels walk right in unopposed and leave with two humans!”
“Insolent little -!” Holly moved to swat the guard on the back of the head, but stumbled and fell face-first against the wall. She remained leaning against it, and you saw her shoulders rise as far as they could go and then drop as she let out a massive sign of resignation.
“Careful,” you snarked, “don't go shattering yourself and putting the Diamonds out of a job.”
The amethysts chuckled, but the one identified as 8XH placed a hand on Holly's shoulder.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“I'm perfectly fine,” the agate replied, stepping back and slowly regaining her composure. “Now, back in position!”
“Yes, Holly Blue Agate!” they replied in unison, and notably in a gentler tone than usual.
As you proceeded through the doorway, you opened your mouth to speak.
“Uggh, here it goes again, trying to pretend it’s intelligible!”
You waited until the door shut behind the both of you, then stopped in your tracks.
“Okay, two things. For one, speak directly to me! For another, knock it off. You’re a lot bigger than me, a lot stronger, you have the power to shapeshift, and you’re immortal, so there’s no need to keep trying to prove yourself superior. As should be obvious by now, I can understand every word you’re saying, so if you just hear a bunch of noise when I talk, either you need to get your hearing tested or there’s something missing between your ears.”
“You,” she growled softly, “will mind your tone, ungrateful little-”
“Or what?”
“Or…? PHGFBTFDBT!” she sputtered incoherently. “Or else I shall have to teach you your place!” She drew her whip, which crackled with electricity. You didn’t flinch.
“You do know, don’t you? That I’m just in here short-term? How do you think Blue Diamond is going to like it if her new human tells her they were beaten by the babysitter?” Holly didn’t move a muscle, though you noticed her jaw twitch. You widened your stance and flung out your arms. “Go on then. Challenge accepted. Do it.”
Her face wrinkled into an expression of fury and she brought back her arm, whip in hand, ready to strike. But you didn’t react in the slightest, and after a few seconds of holding her position, Holly’s hand faltered. She shut her eyes and turned her head away, lowering her arm and dropping her whip, which vanished with a flash.
“That’s right,” you said coldly. “You don’t really have it in you. You act authoritative and superior because you can’t stand the fact that you’re a spare part. You don’t have any real power, and even the amethysts you’re supposed to supervise don’t respect you. Nobody does. You’re insecure, you’re smug, you’re irritating, and you’re useless. You’re about as frightening as beans on toast, and half as bright. And you’re terrified because you know, especially after your big failure because of your own incompetence, that if Blue Diamond ever actually heard about how things go around here, she’d realise she hasn’t any use for you at all.”
Her expression turned blank.
“You’re right,” she said in a hollow tone. “You’re intelligent enough to find your own way. Surely one of the guards can help you if you need it. Go on.” She sat on a bench-like ledge along the corridor wall and hung her head. You felt a bit sick, realising you’d gone too far. You’d meant to cut her down to size, but you hadn’t meant to break her like this. You shuffled a few paces, then turned back to look at her. “No, no, go ahead,” she said without even looking up.
You continued on your way, but only around the next corner, where you stopped and leaned against the wall. You remained there for what felt like several minutes, then, with a heavy sigh, turned and shuffled back the way you came, hanging your own head.
“What does it want now…” Holly muttered flatly as you approached. You sat right beside her.
“I’m sorry,” you said quietly. You received no acknowledgment. “I didn’t mean the things I said. I didn’t like your attitude, so I was trying to fight back, but… I went too far. I didn’t want to hurt you.” More silence. You sighed. “I don’t hate you.”
“No… no… you were right. What reason do I even have to be here? I’m surrounded by gems who despise me and respect me less than they would a common ruby.”
“You really think so? Because that’s not what I’ve seen.”
“Uggh… whatever do you mean?”
“Haven’t you noticed the way they act? They like you, Holly. They care about you. They don’t want anything to happen to you. They just like to tease you, and you know they wouldn’t do it if they thought you couldn’t handle it.”
“...Really?” she asked, lifting her head slightly.
“Oh definitely,” you replied with a small smile. “In fact, I noticed a couple of them blushing when you walked by. I think some of them might have a crush on you.”
“Really?” she said again, now perking up quite a bit. “Why would that be?”
You could tell she was fishing for compliments, but decided there was no harm in that.
“Well, for one thing, you’re a really good-looking gem.”
“...Go on.”
“Seriously. That’s one thing you have going for you - you are very attractive. I think so, and we aren’t even the same species! And you’re fun to have around! It probably gets boring, all these years and years at a time out in space, nothing happening… they mess with you, and you kinda freak out, and no one really gets hurt! Plus, not gonna lie, the faces you make when you get all flustered are kind of adorable. My point is, even if it doesn’t seem like it, I know for a fact that they all like you. And do you know what?” You stood and extended your hand. “So do I.”
She looked up, smiling weakly. You both had a few tears in your eyes. She took your hand and you helped her rise to her feet. Once you were standing facing each other, you put your arms around her waist and gently hugged her.
“Oh, very well…” she sighed before hugging back, although she didn't sound like she really objected very much.
“You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar,” you declared.
“Umm… what?”
“Earth saying. You've been trying to promote good behaviour by threatening punishments they all know no one will follow through on. You just aren't sadistic, and that isn't a bad thing. And I very much don't get the impression from Blue Diamond that anyone is going to be shattering anybody. So when you threaten them, nobody's going to take it seriously. I think you'd have much better luck if you went the opposite route - when they do well, praise them! Encourage them to earn your favour. If you feel it's appropriate, maybe hug them sometimes. Because seriously…” - you hugged her a little tighter - “if I were one of them, I'd work pretty hard for one of these.”
“I'm not in the habit of taking advice on how to do my job from humans,” she declared, pulling away and resuming her air of properness. “All the same, I will consider it. And… what did you say your name is?”
“I didn't say, but it's (Y/N).”
“Well (Y/N), I must give you credit where it is due. I've been stuck in this job for over five thousand years, and you are the only human who has ever stood up to me, the only being who has ever apologised to me, and…” she paused, blushing slightly, “the first who's tried to understand me.” You both smiled.
You walked side-by-side the rest of the way, holding her hand. At one point you walked past a stout carnelian and a stick-thin jasper, who both stood at attention and saluted. Holly smiled and marched up to them. They were visibly nervous as she stood silent for a moment.
“Excellent posture, you two. At ease,” she said, giving each a gentle pat on the shoulder before continuing on her way. You started too, but felt someone tap your shoulder. You turned.
“Dude,” the skinny jasper whispered, “what'd you do to Holly Blue?”
“You could say I gave her a bit of a reality check. I suspect things will be rather a bit different here from now on.”
You didn't know the half of it.