What's Freedom? (Yellow Pearl x Human Reader)

Irrelevant Feelings

"So," as your hands began to sweat a tad, "you were really good a dancing while ago."

"Oh?" Pearl said in her most humble voice, though her face betrayed her. Still holding your hands, she rose. "Care for a lesson?"

Your heart felt funny as you got up. "Oh I--ah, sure."

"Alright, up on your toes," she said as she did so effortlessly.

You stood on your tiptoes, though not quite as fluidly.

"No, not on the knuckles; on the toes themselves." She gestured to her feet.

"My toes can't hold me," you complained, and she rolled her eyes.

"Fine; we'll try the Arabesque."

She took hold of your shoulders, your torso, your leg; bending and adjusting until you were her own wobbly sculpture.

She then made the mistake of telling your foot that was still planted to get up on its tiptoes. You obeyed and came tumbling down on her.

"Oof!" She huffed and pushed your shoulders away.

"Are you okay? I'm sorry!" You scrambled too hastily with trying to get up, and ended up with your knees pushing her legs deeper into the carpet.

"Ow ah oh--Yes well I suppose I literally brought this on myse--"

She locked eyes with you then. Transfixed, you watched her gorgeous eyes take in your face. The two of you rose to your feet in tandem, eyes never leaving each other. As a blossoming heat flowed through your chest, you dipped Pearl down with a newfound grace, and she pulled your face in as if it was a dance you had rehearsed a thousand times.

Your lips met hers.

A rush of stars, of music; it was dizzying and sobering and--and weakening. Your arms and legs were trembling; you couldn't hold her up any longer, but you somehow did. You pulled her up, she rested her dainty hands on your shoulders, and suddenly you had all the strength in the world.

"What..." Her eyes began to glaze over in wonder as her cheeks were gilded. "What was that?"

Then, like day and night, she was aghast. "What was that?!" Pearl tore away from you. "What did we just do? What does it mean?"

You were suddenly awash with shame at your impulsive actions. "I'm--I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking."

"No, no, I was doing my fair share of...that." She touched her lips inquisitively. "My apologies. I don't know what came over me."

An awkward silence. So awkward, in fact, that when you finally spoke again, your voice sounded like it hadn't been used in ages.

"...It's called a kiss," you told the floor.

"What...is it for? Why would I do it?"

"It's um, something you get the urge to do when you have...a specific type of feelings for someone." The grace you had a moment ago had vanished, and your knees were quickly melting. "Pearl, how do you--"

A look into her face sapped the strength in your legs further. "How do you feel about me?"

"Oh? Oh oh oh-oh I um." She tried to hold her hands back from fidgeting. "Not that my feelings are at all relevant, but I certainly hold you in the highest regard as my own--er--my roommate. As well as my utmost gratitude for keeping me out of harm's way on this chaotic planet."

"Is...that all?" You asked, and tried to explain when she looked confused. "Kissing is what you do when you like being around someone a lot, but it's like different with this person. It's a special feeling when you see them, and it's like they open a whole new world to you."

"Pffbt." She waved dismissively. "You make it sound like that 'love' thing I heard about."

"Yes! That's it!"

She stumbled backwards sputtering. "W-what?! Love? That vile transgression that off-colors engage in? Oh no no, I'm not defective--Yellow Diamond would never accept a defective Pearl."

She looked down at her gem and grazed it lightly. "But then, she would never reject a perfect Pearl."

"I think you're perfect."

Her lips squiggled at you in the most adorably flustered way, and you couldn't hold yourself back from continuing.

"You're smart, you're hard-working, you're compassionate, you're beautiful--"

"Why would you need to be around me when you're all of those things?"

"Well," your face flushed at your own praise rebounding, "because you're also graceful and persnickety and devoted no matter what. We go together well."

"I...suppose we do, but...love?" Pearl looked at you, conflicted. "It's just...it's improper. It's wrong."

You swallowed tightly and ignored the sound of your heart shattering. "I understand."

-------------

That awkward silence? The one you could have done without hearing again? It hung over the rest of the evening, and you had a bitter feeling it would be back again and again.

As you were about to drift off into a forlorn sleep though, a gentle knock was heard at your bedroom door.

"Uhh, come in, I guess?"

She strode in as if she were inspecting a troop, and halted abruptly at the foot of your bed. Here she dropped the grandiose demeanor and played with her fingers as she worked up the question.

"Might I...sit down?"

You nodded, unsure if she saw through the traces of moonlight from the window. She sat, back turned, her featherlight form barely making a sound on the mattress.

"What does it feel like? This...love?"

You pondered on it. "I'm...not really sure what it's supposed to feel like. I mean, I've felt other kinds of love, but not this kissing, fluttery chest--Not that I'm feeling all that now, I mean I--"

The words stopped coming to you, and Pearl nodded gently, still not facing you.

"Is it...supposed to be good? Is it something that someone would want to happen?"

"It should be amazing. Intimidating, but worth it."

She barely made a sound, possibly one of acknowledgment, and lightly patted her knees before rising.

"Thank you." She left the room without looking back.

You rolled over and snuggled down with a growing smile, mulling over which romantic comedies might be best to start her out on.