The large metal doors hiss open as Yellow Diamond strides through them. She takes about two steps into the chamber before stopping to observe.
The whole area is vast and glittering, yet sleek and long. An arching ceiling looms above her head; the sleek metal walls slope down to a sharp edge, cool to the touch. The floor, made of a hard and smooth rock, reflects even the smallest of sounds whether it be as hefty as a footstep or as insignificant as a sigh. Large, opulent stairs lead up to an elongated platform. In front of the platform lie a colossal window with a view offering the entirety of the Homeworld Galaxy.
Blue Diamond stands in the middle of the platform, gazing out of the thick glass into the infinity of space. The faint glow of distant stars casts a soft light onto her face. Yellow stands below the platform, taking in the sight. Everything is quiet except for the muted rumbling of the idling engine.
"We should be leaving momentarily," Yellow tells her.
Blue looks over her shoulder to the sound of Yellow's voice; her hair spills down her back as she turns. "Oh, good."
"They crew is just waiting for us to leaving the viewing deck."
Blue nods, letting her eyes slide closed. "I want to stay here a little while longer."
Neither of them move. Yellow's gaze shifts to the sight beyond the glass. Stars beam from the endless reaches of the void. The closest glitter with the intensity of a beacon; the farthest like flashing pinpricks in a shroud of darkness. Yellow fixates her gaze on one star of intermediate size. Her eyes instinctively narrow. The Earth's sun.
"Come here."
The words are barely louder than a whisper, but send a chill down Yellow's spine as if they had been shouted.
Blue's voice doesn't rise at all. "Please, Yellow."
The thudding of Yellow's footsteps resonate throughout the cavernous room as she ascends the stairs. She slows to a stop behind the other Diamond.
"Hold me," Blue mutters, eyes still closed.
The movement is natural - they had stood like this a thousand times before - with Blue ever so slightly leaning against Yellow's broad frame as she wraps her arms around Blue's waist. Blue rests her arms atop Yellow's. Their heads tilt together, Blue settles against Yellow's neck, and Yellow puts her chin atop Blue's head.
They stand like that, unmoving, for some time. Yellow lets her eyes fall shut, securing her hold on Blue's slender form.
It was times like these that make up for the years they had to spend apart. Nothing but the two of them, comfortable and happy in each other's' arms. Even if it's only for a few moments: in those moments, all burdens run free. The silence envelops them with ease. Yellow rarely allows herself to lose her grip on anything, but for some reason she has never had a problem with losing herself in Blue. Even after millennia it's unfamiliar territory for her, laying her emotions bare for another to see.
Blue is the one to break the silence.
"Pink says her new colony is beautiful."
Flung back into reality, Yellow's eyes shoot open, and her eyebrows furrow. She lifts her chin away from Blue. "Yes, so I've heard."
Blue tilts her head up to face Yellow. "I can't wait to see it. She says it's promising."
Yellow looks away.
"I've heard," she repeats.
"It's going to be wonderful, Yellow."
Yellow's grip begins to slacken. In response, Blue grasps the other Diamond's forearms, holding them in place around her body.
Without saying a word, Yellow shakes her off, breaking free of the embrace. She purposefully steps away from the other Diamond.
The soft pout of Blue's lower lip solicits an explanation. "Yellow?"
Yellow sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You only want to go to Earth because it's her planet."
Blue is quick to react. "Is there a problem with that?" After a moment of hesitation she takes a step towards Yellow, lifting her hand to touch Yellow's upper arm. "I've always been just as eager to see your new colonies."
"I know." Yellow shoots back, defensive.
Blue retracts her hand.
Yellow softens her voice, turning away. "What I really mean is I only wish I could see you more."
Blue is silent for a few seconds, contemplating her response. She inhales as if to speak, but instead sighs in resignation.
Blue once again lifts her hand to rest on Yellow's arm. "What are you saying, love?"
Yellow extends her hand to cover Blue's. She shakes her head. "Everything has been so hectic these past few hundred years with your new colony in the Andromeda Galaxy and with the Delta insurrection in Redshift 7..."
"My Andromeda colony is hardly new - it's been around for almost a thousand years now."
"Please don't change the subject, Blue." Yellow lets her hand fall, leaving Blue's bare. "It seems that the only opportunity we have to see each other is this - to visit Pink's colony."
The corners of Blue's lips lifts into a sad smile. She grazes her fingers down the length of Yellow's arm, and the golden gem shivers at the sensation.
"I saw you not two days ago," Blue whispers, taking another step closer. She intertwines her fingers with Yellow's, "at the Authority meeting."
Yellow raises Blue's hand to her lips and plants a tender kiss on the back of her palm. "I mean properly see each other. Like we used to."
Blue's skirts sway around her ankles as she steps in front of Yellow. She rises up onto her toes, and Yellow intuitively lowers her neck so their lips meet.
The kiss is closed-mouthed and short-lived, but it's enough to ignite the flutters in the pit of Yellow's stomach. When Blue sinks back down to the balls of her feet, Yellow turns her head away.
"This is what I mean. It can't be like this at Authority meetings. It won't be like this when we land on Earth."
Blue raises her hand to Yellow's cheek and gently guides Yellow's gaze back to her own.
"Earth is going to be beautiful."
Yellow rolls her eyes and turns away. She starts to descend the steps and off the platform, making a beeline for the door. "That's beside the point."
"Yellow," Blue nearly pleads, following in pursuit. She stops at the top of the steps, and her voice, almost inaudibly, cracks when she speaks. "Yellow, please. Don't go."
Yellow stops near the bottom of the stairs. She doesn't turn to look at Blue.
"You love her," Yellow says. It's not an accusation, and Yellow doesn't mean it as such. She makes the statement as if it is obvious, yet Blue looks surprised.
The soft echoes of Blue's quickened breath echo throughout the room. Yellow shakes her head and continues her descent.
After several, long, painful moments, the room fills with the sounds of Blue's footsteps rushing down the stairs.
Yellow concedes to Blue's touch as soon as she feels it, accepting the Diamond into her arms. Yellow twirls her around as Blue leaps up, pressing her lips against Yellow's with a fire. Yellow sets her on the ground and breaks the kiss, resolving instead to bury her nose into Blue's hair.
"I love you," Blue whispers, "You know I do."
Yellow responds with another kiss, long and deep. Her hands drift up from the center of Blue's back and up her shoulder blades until her fingers spread through the hair on the back of Blue's head.
"Let's get off the deck so we can go," Yellow says, rising up to place a kiss on Blue's forehead. Her lips curl into a playful smirk. "You know, I've heard the Earth is beautiful."
Blue smiles, and squeezes both of Yellow's hands before turning to leave. With the hiss of the huge metal door opening, the two Diamonds exit the massive room. Behind them, a metal shield lowers over the expanse of glass, and the door hisses shut one last time.