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Some... say I have no direction, that I'm a light-speed distraction, but that's a knee-jerk reaction.

Still this is the final frontier, everything is so clear, to my destiny I steer.

This life in the stars is all I've ever known.

Stars and stardust in infinite space is my only home.

-"Comet" Steven Universe

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It was a pleasure to serve him.

Haruka lived for the sole purpose of protecting him at all costs.

He lived to fulfill all of his wishes and commands.

And it was an honor to be called the Green Diamond's knight.

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Haruka knew that the other three diamonds Pink, Yellow, and Blue, thought of Green to be strange. Or as Green Diamond preferred to be called, Makoto.

This was only one of the reasons he was thought of as odd.

Makoto preferred to be called by his human name. Although all gems were assigned an identification name along with their gemstone name when they were born out of the kindergarten, most gems went by their gemstone name. When Haruka had first become a knight, he thought it strange too. Why would a diamond not want to be called by their official title? Diamonds were the rarest of all the gemstones; There was no way to tell when another would be born, but their births were usually thousands of years apart. So diamonds, being the rarest and strongest of the gemstones, were royalty. The four diamonds were the sole rulers over all the Homeworld. Furthermore, it made sense that any proper diamond would demand to be recognized by their proper diamond name. But it took Haruka no time at all to figure out that Makoto was far from a proper diamond.

"It's ridiculous, really." He remembered Makoto telling him, about four hundred years ago, when Haruka had just been assigned to be his knight. "I didn't do anything to deserve this position... Why should I be treated any differently than an average gem? Because I was born into 'royalty'? Wouldn't it be more fair if we judged gems based on their character rather than something they can't control?"

Haruka remembered being so taken aback by this. A diamond... that humbled himself to the level of an average gemstone? But he was supposed to be a god among gems! The only gems Haruka knew of that went by their identification name were the low class gems who were ashamed of their gem. But if that was what his master pleased, he would obey.

"As you wish, Makoto." Haruka said, feeling very awkward calling such a respectable gem by his identification name, or the more derogatory term, his human name. Haruka lowered himself to his knees, bowing his head.

"Oh, no, please! There's no need for that!" Makoto took his hand and helped him up. "You don't need to bow to me..." The olive haired gem said with a soft smile. And a smile was something Haruka rarely saw anyone wearing, especially on a dignified diamond.

By this point, Haruka was beyond astonishment. A diamond who refused to be treated like a diamond?

"Now, what is your name?" Makoto was still holding his hand gingerly, gazing down at the deep blue gemstone embedded in the palm of Haruka's hand.

"Haruka Sapphire." He said quietly, shocked at how easily Makoto held his hand. Physical contact was something taboo in Homeworld. But Haruka found that he wasn't uncomfortable, in fact, dare he say it, it felt nice. Makoto's hand was warm and inviting around his, and it wasn't revolting in the slightest.

"What do you prefer to be called?" Makoto looked back up to him, his sparkling green eyes conveying something that Haruka had never seen before. It made him feel something. He couldn't quite describe it, but it felt like... He wasn't alone. Like someone... cared about him. Someone acknowledged that he was alive, like someone wanted him around. Which, Haruka also knew, was worse than taboo. It was forbidden in the Homeworld. Having such strong feelings towards another gem... Led to fusion. And fusion was nothing but a weapon of destruction; It would demolish peace in the Homeworld, so it was off limits. Period. A gem was only supposed to care about two things: Loyalty to the diamonds, and fulfilling the job they were assigned to at birth. Caring about someone that way was childish and weak.

Then... Why did he feel this way? Why did he feel a spark ignite in his cold body? Why did he feel that maybe... He was worth something. That maybe there was something more to life than being an interchangeable piece of society.

Haruka stopped himself. What was he even thinking? Having thoughts like that was dangerous! He knew that gems who acted on their unwarranted desires and fought against the government were annihilated. Rebellious gems who disrupted the peaceful society in any way had their gemstones smashed. Haruka had only needed to see one public gem smashing to know that he never wanted that to happen to him. It was utterly horrific. He remembered how they held the poor gem down and ignored his pleading screams as they swung the electric hammer right onto his gemstone, sending shards of it flying everywhere with one last pitiful cry. Just the thought made him feel nauseous.

Haruka quickly dispelled the unpleasant thought from his mind and returned his attention to the question at hand. What did he prefer to be called? He had always gone by Sapphire... But if Green Diamond, his superior and ruler of the Homeworld, used his identification name. Well... Haruka supposed he would give it a try.

"Haruka."

Makoto smiled fondly once again, forming crinkles by his green eyes. "Haruka." He repeated, as if relishing in letting the name roll off his tongue. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Haruka blinked. He wasn't sure how Diamonds were supposed to treat their knights, but he was fairly sure that this was abnormal. At the same time he had this thought, he also realized that Makoto was still holding his hand, making heat rush to his cheeks and his fingers twitch. Makoto seemed to realize this too and drew his hand away.

"Oh! I'm sorry... It's just... Your gemstone is really beautiful. I've never seen anything like it." The much taller gem smiled once again in apology.

This only made Haruka's blush creep down his face. How could he say something so blunt like that? How was Haruka even supposed to respond?

"Um... Thank you." The raven haired gem bowed his head. After all his training to be as stoic and strong willed a knight possible, and the thing that would make him lose his cool was a compliment? Haruka felt ashamed of himself.

Makoto shook his head, still smiling softly. "Haruka, I think we'll be good friends."

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Haruka looked back on this moment fondly. Back then, he'd thought that Makoto was strange. But now, over four hundred years later, the two had built a very strong relationship, and Haruka could safely say that Makoto was the strangest gem he'd ever met. In a fond way, of course. Strange in a way that he was kind, and gentle, and soft spoken, and had a general affection for everything around him. These things were strange enough in a normal gem; But in a diamond it was downright unheard of.

"Haruka, look!" Makoto pointed into the starry night sky, breaking into Haruka's thoughts. The smaller gem's blue eyes followed Makoto's finger to see where he was pointing. It soon became clear to Haruka.

It was Earth.

It was a tiny, seemingly insignificant dot surrounded by thousands of bright stars and huge galaxies, yet this little planet intrigued Makoto the most. Makoto always talked about Earth and humans, and was so fascinated with their way of life. He often read secret files from the Diamond Archive, and told Haruka everything about them. And from the way Makoto spoke about it, it seemed like he would rather live on Earth.

And he would rather be a human.

Haruka found himself a little sadder each time the green eyed diamond talked so fondly about it. Mostly because he, himself was perfectly fine with being a gem, and was perfectly happy with Makoto by his side. And a part of him... Wished Makoto were content with that too.

Haruka looked over to Makoto's face, which was still staring at that small blue and green dot in the sky. His emerald green eyes reflected the light of the twinkling stars, and his mouth was curved in a sad smile.

"Humans are so different, Haruka... Their lives are so short compared to ours... Yet they do so much to make the most out of it; They value life. They nurture it, and they're allowed to care about one another... To be able to have opinions, and choose their futures, and have feelings, and be... free." The taller gem leaned against the railing of the balcony with a sigh, still gazing into sky with a look of desperation.

Haruka watched his face carefully. How badly he wanted to be able to give Makoto everything he wanted. And Makoto only wanted one thing; And it was the only thing out of Haruka's reach. But if only he could change the world for Makoto, if only he could give him the freedom he craved, then Makoto could truly be happy. And then Haruka could truly be happy.

Haruka suddenly felt a pang of guilt because he should be able to give Makoto all of those things. He was Makoto's knight after all; It was his job, no matter how impossible it may be.

"I'm sorry." The smaller gem stared at his feet, wanting so badly to bow in apology but he knew Makoto wouldn't want that.

Makoto's brows furrowed and he turned to look Haruka straight in the eyes. "Haruka" The seriousness in his voice made him look up into Makoto's eyes.

"Don't be ridiculous, it's not your fault the world is this way. If it's anyone's fault it's mine. I could change it... But I'm too weak. I'm not a good leader or a strategist, and no one would listen to me..." It was then that Makoto stopped looking into the sky and instead looked down with shame. He gave a sad, humorless chuckle. "Some diamond I am..." He said just above a whisper.

Haruka shot a glare at him. He hated when Makoto spoke about himself that way. There was no reason for it; Makoto was so much more than he thought he was and it made Haruka angry. Makoto was the only reason he lived, and the fact that he cared so little for himself... Was beyond infuriating.

"Makoto, don't you dare say that! You're more worthy of being a diamond than anyone else. I wouldn't allow anyone to speak about you that way, much less yourself." The raven haired gem scolded.

Makoto's green eyes widened in shock for a second. He then began to chuckle slightly, and Haruka couldn't help but relax a little at the soothing sound.

"Thank you for that, Haruka." The taller gem gave him a thankful smile.

Haruka huffed. Makoto could be so tiring.

"Don't thank me, you should already know that."

Makoto just continued to smile while staring into the sky, not giving a response. Haruka had a feeling that Makoto did not, in fact, know that he was actually extremely capable. For such a smart gem, he sure was an idiot, Haruka thought.

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