Talk To Me

-Till We're in the Sea-

The hot dogs had been delicious. For Lapis, at least. Peridot didn't like meat. But they had liked the barbecue. Stargazing had turned out to be a common interest among the other gems. Stories had been told, names shared, and songs were sung. Pumpkin had even joined the fun. It was a party. Lapis couldn't remember the last time she'd been to a party. It felt good.

Peridot had been so happy.

All that interaction had tired them out, so they'd all said goodnight and went to their respective resting places. Once again, Lapis and Peridot returned to the bathroom. The moon shone clear through their small window, illuminating the patch of floor where Pumpkin snoozed, her leaflet fluttering as she snorted in her sleep. Lapis patted the gourd gently, propped up against the sink. Her eyelashes hung low with fatigue.

"Lapis, are you awake?"

She startled. Lapis thought Peridot was asleep in the bathtub, all cozied up with the shower curtain she'd torn down when they'd had a spirited conversation about how you were supposed to use a violin.

"No. I'm completely asleep."

"Hmm. You lie, Lazuli."

Lapis snickered. "Yeah, I'm awake. I'm just-" (yawns) "tired."

"Me too."

"...What's up?"

"Oh, I don't know. I've just been thinking about...things."

"That's what brains are for, Peri."

"I know. It's my greatest skill! But, I mean, these are very specific things."

"...Can you tell me what they are before I fall asleep?"

"Maybe?"

Lapis sighed. Peridot could be confusing sometimes. Peridot didn't want to be confusing. She wanted to be known.

"Okay. Well, you see, it's kind of like...butterflies."

"Butterflies?"

"Yeah, they only live for a few days and their wings are incredibly delicate, but they can fly so far."

"Okay."

"Well, sometimes I feel like we're like butterflies. Small and flawed, but strong."

"Us two?"

"Yes."

What a thought. Lapis still didn't understand it, but that could have been her drowsiness. She wanted to sleep. She gave Pumpkin one last pat and shuffled to be near Peridot. She slept better when they were close.

"I'll talk to you in the morning, Peridot. Goodnight."

She leaned against the tub, arm slung over the other side, hand grazing Peridot's leg. Peridot felt a flush blooming in her chest and blushed even more at the sensation. "What is this?"

"I'll have to figure this out," she whispered under her breath and brushed a strand of Lapis' hair from her eyes.

"Goodnight, Lapis."

                                                        ***

The days passed by nicely for the denizens of Beach City. There was so much to do, so many new faces to meet, and so much work to be done. It was like a sparkling new colony had just been announced, but with more joy. More love. Peridot and Lapis spent their days helping the Crystal Gems get used to life outside of a bubble and with Bismuth erecting homes on the hillside where the Barn scraps resided. 'Busy' was not the right word for all they had to do.

Peridot had something on her mind, besides the butterflies. "That was all I could say. I just don't know, I don't know what this is yet." Her eyes were drawn to Lapis every time they were together, to the silhouette of her body and the deep pools of her eyes. She hoped it wasn't too obvious. She wondered if Lapis felt the same, if she was embarrassed by this...feeling. "Pfft, can't even name it! How pathetic."

Communication is key.

Today Peridot was at the lighthouse. She wanted to observe the layout of the new gem homes from a distance, just to be sure it was the most aesthetically pleasing. She also needed a break. The sheer amount of people she interacted with every day was draining. A swift breeze skimmed the top of the cliffs and ruffled the edges of her lime-slice hair. It smelled of salt. She wrinkled her nose at the stinging scent and shifted her gaze to the sky. Not even a wisp of a cloud could be seen. Peridot wondered if recording meteorological patterns would be fun. Her train of thought was interrupted by a sudden noise. Footsteps from behind her. She spun around excitedly, her heartbeat jumping.

"Lapis?"

She halted. It wasn't Lapis.

It was Jasper.

"Peridot."

She couldn't respond. The only sound was the wind as it rushed through Jasper's hair and raised goosebumps on Peridot's skin. She dropped her eyes to the ground in panic.

"D-don't run away," she spoke haltingly. "I just want to talk."

"...About what?"

Peridot wished Lapis were here, as selfish as that sounded. She would take her away, talk to her, they would be safe.

"About...Lapis. And you."

"Why?"

Her voice was harsh, unlike her. But she was afraid. Jasper drew back, sensing her discomfort.

"I-I um, want to make things up," 

Peridot caught her breath. "What do I do?" Take her to Lapis, leave her here, try to fight Jasper? She looked around Jasper, trying to see if she could run.

"Please, Peridot. I'm not here to hurt you."

"I don't want to be here...but I want to know what she has to say."

She took a deep breath and looked up at Jasper. "Fine. We'll talk. But only if Lapis wants to."

Jasper nodded and turned to walk down the hill. Peridot followed far behind, hoping she hadn't made a huge mistake.

She hoped history wouldn't repeat itself.