Her Other "Friend" {Spinel X Reader}

Chapter 2: Slight Conflict

A pink gloved hand slips into yours. You help pull Spinel to her feet in a fluid movement. Spinel avoids your gaze nervously, as if she wasn't sure what to make of the situation.

A thought strikes you as you realize... You'd never seen this gem before in all your past years of visiting.

"So, you live with the Diamonds, huh?" Trying to create some conversation, you shove your hands back in your pockets and look over at her. The two of you slowly begin to walk along the shoreline, with Spinel closest to the ocean. "How'd that happen?"

"They wanted me to," The gem tells you flatly. She stares straight ahead.

"Well, do you like it?"

Spinel raises a brow at you and shrugs. "I love them, and they love me, but... Gah, I don't know." She looks down to the sand underneath her spiked pink boots. "They treat me like I'm a child!"

You listen carefully, and hear her mutter the last part, "Now I know how she felt."

"She?" You inquire, kicking a shell out of your way as you two continue to step.

Spinel falls quiet. You only see her glance over at you and shake her head. Spinel's eyes are trained on the ground in front of her, one foot in front of the other. Her spiked twin tails fluidly move with her. Her thin lips purse, as if she's considering explaining herself, but to no avail.

Suddenly, she stops in her tracks. You continue to walk, but once you notice this, you freeze and look back at her.

"You're askin' me an awful lotta questions, Y/N," Her eyes narrow at you. Her face is cold, distrust written all over her expression. "What for?"

"What?" You ask, genuinely confused.

"I tell you all about me, a-and then what?" A crazed look flickers in her eye. "You gonna use my past against me or somethin'? You wanna laugh at my expense? You gonna leave me once all's said an' done?" At her sides, you can see her hands clench and unclench. What the fuck.

"What?" You repeat yourself, trying to process the mere insanity of this conversation. How'd it turn into this? What'd you even say? "No, Spinel, that's not what this is. I just wanted to know a little more about you, considering I only just met you."

She stays frozen in place, several different emotions reading in her eye. Spinel seems to study you again, head to toe.

"Why d'you want to know me?" Spinel's brows furrow. "No one wants me like this." The gem gestures to her face, which you can only guess she's talking about the streaked black lines running down her face. "You're the only person that's talked to me since I been to Earth... No one else cares. So why...?"

Okay, so clearly this gem has some trust issues. Some serious, serious trust issues. You shake your head in disbelief, trying to fabricate a response to that.

"I'm new here, in case you forgot, I don't have any friends either!" Your voice is growing louder and you laugh without humor, throwing up your hands in either direction. You leave out the part about the gems and Steven, deciding that might be sensitive to her. "I thought maybe I could be nice and try to be your friend. What's so fucking shady about that?"

Spinel looks down, mouth slightly agape. It appeared as if she was at a loss for words. As if your words were enough to silence hers. You watch as she opens her mouth only to snap it shut again. With her head still down, the gem's hot pink irises meet yours.

"... I'm sorry."

Regret fills her voice. She's playing with the hem of her shorts as she apologizes. Spinel's voice had gone from a growl to a soft sound, and you sigh. Was it really a good idea to talk to her?

"N-no, Spinel, it's fine," Shaking your head, you step forward again and offer your hand, just as you'd done on the beach. The gem watches your hand with impossible curiosity, eyes coming up once again to meet yours. Slowly, but surely, she stretches her arm over to you to shake your hand. You damn near flinch; You didn't know she could do that. It was interesting to watch her stretch to an impossible length. After she grips your hand, she stretches a leg over to step close to you again.

Spinel scratches the back of her head. "So..." She begins, dropping your hand. "What exactly are we goin' to do?"

Shrugging, you reply, "Well, what do you feel like? We can go to Funland, or maybe get some food at The Big Donut, or...?" As you continue to list off things to do, Spinel only stares at you in sheer confusion.

"What is 'food'?"

Oh, right. Gem. "Uh, it's like what humans need to survive. It's like energy for us, but it tastes pretty good too! The only other gem I know that eats is Amethyst... And she doesn't even eat actual food half the time." You snicker at that last part, finding your friend's strange habits rather endearing.

Spinel's eyes are big as she looks at you, as if she wants you to keep explaining things to her. Despite her intimidating looks, her expression is like that of a child learning how to speak for the first time.

"Do you want to go try it with me?" You offer her a half smile.

Spinel's lips curl up at you, and she nods. She begins to play with her fingers, much like the way you do when you're nervous. You take note of this.

The two of you set off for town together, Spinel at your right side. You're gonna show her the cool things about this town; About being human, even if it is just starting with a donut.