co-dependent (SU fic)

1} beach city

I'm sure hardly anyone had ever even heard of Beach City. I sure as hell haven't. Tiger's Eye had worked before - but usually small jobs in small towns, nothing big enough to support me with. To support herself with.

"This will be a great new start. Chin up, Dommie." She spoke optimistically from the drivers seat. I sat with my head in my hands, the car playing  some pop song on the radio. How could you be sad while a song about teenagers doing illegal stuff was playing?

I could practically feel Tiger's tense nature from next to me. She sighed, sounding annoyed, and for a second I was scared I was making her mad.

"I'm going to find that man. And when I do, oh-ho-ho-ho, he'll barely know what hit him." She hissed.

I shook my head, groaning, the sound came out muffled from my hands. I could tell we were close - the beach's salty smell lingered around the area.

"Don't. Just don't." I mumbled, not wanting to elaborate. Or rather, not having the energy. I was already tired, and it was 3pm.

Quartzes tended to naturally respond to things with anger and eagerness - or at least thats what she's told me. Shes told me Pearls don't tend to do that. Like, how my mom didn't tend to do that.

It was silent for a while, besides the sound of the quiet radio and muffled noises of the town from our cracked windows. The car stopped sooner than I would have liked.

-

The beach smelled like the ground after it rained, deep fried food and machinery. Probably from the amusement park. Tiger's Eye and I went down to the boardwalk for some lunch - she wasn't a big eater, but she usually will try some food if I offer her some.

It was loud, but I kind of liked it. It was lively - our old town was a suburban neighborhood filled with old people that called the police when I had my birthday party sleepovers if we were too loud as a kid.

"I spy with my little eye... something - holy smokes, what is that?" Tiger hissed, instinctively putting a hand on my shoulder as a big, bird-like monster came barreling out from behind the cliff by the beach and towards us. It had big, furry, wings that it flapped while it ran, though it seemed to be flightless. It looked like a colorful, neck-less ostrich.

I looked over to Tiger just as a wave of realization seemed to hit her. "A corruption..." She breathed, instinctively summoning her weapon and starting towards it. She held the axe at an angle where she could easily swing it back and strike.

"Wait for me!" I cried instinctively, scrambling to summon my weapon - which was a simple, double-sided swallow. I ran after her, slipping a bit on my way over, shouting out for her to wait up as I did, but she was already attacking it, and had landed a nice blow on one of it's unusually long legs. Just as I came up, I attacked it from behind, clumsily striking it's back, and somehow managing to cut my cheek lightly in the process. The con of a double sided weapon? You have to PAY ATTENTION to both sides.

I fell back upon the poof, hearing two items clatter onto the floor - a gem and my swallow, which quickly disappeared into a cloud of sparkles.

Tiger turned to look at me, a big enthusiastic smile on her face. She opened her arms up wide and scooped me up, giving me a big ol' bear hug. I always appreciate her hugs, but not when I already am out of breath.

"That was great! I'm so proud of you!" She said quickly, setting me down, which allowed me to breathe and straighten out my shirt again.

I was about to open my mouth to thank her, until I heard someone cry out, "A Tiger's Eye?"

Tiger perked up and looked at where the voice came from, her face dropping for a moment. I turned around and stared at the group behind us. I assumed most of them were gems - the one who spoke was a Pearl. I could tell because of her gem - which was on her forehead. The woman standing next to her was tall - I assumed she was a gem, too, but I couldn't tell what kind. And next to her, was what looked like some kind of Quartz. Then, a human boy, next to her, close to her size.

"Why was there a corruption out on the boardwalk? And why did I have to take care of it to protect him?" She said, gesturing towards me, which made me finally perk up.

"Looks like he can take care of himself." The tallest one spoke plainly. She moved her hands out of a fighting position and the gauntlets covering them disappeared into sparkles. As she did so, all of the others gradually let their weapons go.

Tiger was the last to let her weapon go, and still did so hesitantly.

"You're... gems. What are you doing here?" She insisted. I almost just wanted to go home already.

"We've been here for thousands of years. What are you doing here?" The pearl retaliated tensely.

"We just moved in!" I piped up, trying to ease the tension. My fingers intertwined together and folded in front of my chest expectantly. Everyone suddenly turned to look at me. Oh god, why did I say that?

"Yeah." Tiger hummed. "Just moved in, Chestnut Avenue, has a big 'sold' sign in the front. Can't miss it."

It was quiet for a moment, before the kid piped up. "Why don't we help you unpack?" He offered quickly, side eyeing his friends.

Again, the group went quiet, until the tallest spoke, moving her hand to rest on her hip. "If they need help unpacking, we'd be glad to pitch in." She spoke.

"I'm sure we'll be-"

"We definitely need help." Tiger was always the kind to deny any kind of help, no matter what it was. It was actually one of her biggest flaws. Thats why I had to so rudely interrupt her.

The pearl turned to look at the tallest one, looking like she had many words to say, but then turned to me and Tiger, and nodded.

"Of course we'd be glad to help."