Precious Gem
Stellar's POV:
Gathering my thoughts I get off the bed and run towards the stairs, "huh?" I voice aloud as I slip over my left foot and start leaning forwards off the edge, "Oh no!" I yell, bracing myself for impact."Ahhhh! Ooophm-" I scream before landing in someone's warm embrace. "Hmmm…" I groan in discomfort, slowly removing my arms that were bracing my head and look up before I see the blank face of Garnet. Stars lit up in my eyes, "Garnet!"
"Stellar, how many times do I have to tell you to be careful, what if you injured yourself?" A deep, baritone voice spoke out.
"But I didn't! That's all that matters!" I say, smiling as I pump my fist in the air, away from Garnet's face.
Garnet sighs as he puts me down, "Just be careful next time, ok? It would make me sad to see my little princess hurt." He said ruffling my long puffy hair.
I grin up at Garnet, before running up to him and hugging his long, muscular legs. He kneeled down to return the hug. Just then a tall, lithe, elegant man and a semi-muscular, average height, careless man came in. Gasping in happiness I release Garnet's leg before running up to the other two gems. Kneeling down, they both open up their arm before I reached destination and jumped into their embrace.
"Pearl! Amethyst! How did your mission go?" I asked, nuzzling my face in Pearl's neck, then moving my head to reciprocate my action to Amethyst. I felt two hands stroke my hair, before I pulled out there embrace, just enough so I can look at them. As I wait for an answer, silence stood between us before Amethyst broke it. Snatching me out of Pearl's arms, he fully encased my torso and spun me around the room as I giggled.
"That's the first question you ask Kiddo?" Amethyst asked in a teasing tone, before setting me down and releasing the embrace to settle both his hands on my shoulder. "It was so easy! We literally just went in there and defeated the little buggers before they even had time to think!"
"Well actually, it's not as exaggeratingly easy as you make it sound. And there called Krillers, not buggers. But it was a successful mission nonetheless Stellar, you didn't have to worry that much!" Pearl immediately said after Amethyst, walking over to us before picking me up and cradling me in his arms. Smiling, he kissed my forehead before I broke out in giggles and I tangled my arms around his neck.
"Way to be a mood killer, ugh!" Amethyst said in an irritated tone before walking towards the fridge.
"Well all that matters is that you guys are safe." Garnet said, putting his hand on top of my head and ruffling it affectionately.
"That's right! You guys are safe! Let's eat now to celebrate!" I scream, pumping both hands into the air as I squirm in Pearl's hold. Letting me down, I run off to the kitchen and stand next to Amethyst who was in front of the fridge. He was already shoving things down his throat. "Hmmm… Which one should I prepare?" I contemplated aloud, tapping my chin with my finger, face scrunching up as I try to decide. A lightbulb basically dinged in my head as I caught my eyes on a couple of small boxes in the corner of the fridge, "This one!"
Pulling out a box of instant taco shells, package of raw beef, ready-set-prepared lettuce, and salsa out of the fridge, I set it out on the counter. "Let's have tacos!" I scream enthusiastically, as I wave my hand to capture Garnet and Pearl's attention who seemed like they were in a deep conversation to notice.
"Come on Kiddo, they're probably talking about something important, I'll help you." Amethyst said smiling down to me. He stood next to me as he started to unpackage the beef, and I just smiled as I gave one more glace over to the other gems direction before fully focusing on preparing the food.
"Ok, let's set up these shells!" I say, pulling my hair back into a low-ponytail. I place 4 plates in a row onto the counter before unpackaging the taco shells and placing them on. "Amethyst do you need help?" I ask, looking over to him as he kneads the meat in a metal bowl.
"Yeah, you cook these after I'm done. I always burn them!" Amethyst says, as he furrows his eyebrows in concentration.
"Yes sir!" I said, smiling as I glance at Pearl and Garnet who were still in a conversation. Sighing, I wonder whether we have cheese before walking back to the fridge and scanning over the food we had leftover. "Hmmm, where is it? I thought we had some left." Seeing no cheese, I just shrug my shoulders before saying out loud, "Well seems were going to have cheeseless tacos for tonight," before walking back over to the counter where Amethyst was just finished with kneading the meat.
"Here ya go. Don't burn it!" Amethyst says, handing the bowl over to me and then rinsing his hands under the sink. After drying off his hands using his pant, he puts both his arms behind his head, and walks over to the other 2 gems.
Setting the bowl beside the stove next to me, I get a pan to set the meat on. Placing down the pan, I set the heat onto medium-high. Pouring on the meat, I take a spatula and just wait until the pan warms up. A few minutes pass before I hear a small sizzle and I look at the pan; there was small steam escaping the meat before I started to stir around the meat to cook all of it so it was brown.
"Hey princess, everything going good over here?" I hear a baritone voice behind me, as arms wrap around my waist and a chin rests on top of my head.
"Mmmhmm, I'm almost done. Just a few more minutes of cooking then it's done!" I say, not taking my eyes off the meat. "Can you get me some salt and pepper Garnet? Pretty please!" I say, staring up at Garnet who was staring down at me. He moved away from his position, before coming back with the ingredients I asked for and setting it down beside the stove before going back to his original spot. "Thank you!"
"Like I could ever say no." Garnet says, kissing the top of my head, then just staring at the pan as I finish seasoning the meat.
Giggling, I turn off the stove, "So what were you talking about?" I ask as I move the pan to the next cooker, to avoid burning the meat. Turning around, I look up at Garnet as he releases his embrace and picks up the pan.
"Nothing important." Garnet says nonchalantly, walking over to the counter where the plates are, carrying the pan and a spoon along the way to fill the tacos with.
"You always say that." I murmuring under my breath, pouting before following behind Garnet.
After filling the taco with meat, I move over to the counter and place the already shredded lettuce on top of the meat and then finishing it off with salsa.
"Done!" I scream, as I give everyone their own plates, then sitting down on a nearby stool. "Come on, you guys sit down too!" I said hurriedly, patting on the seat next to me. Garnet took a seat next to me, Pearl on the opposite side of the counter in front of me, and Amethyst in front of Garnet.
As soon as everyone sat down, I started to bite into the taco. "Mmmm! So good!" I say, closing my eyes in delight, as my gem starts to glow a little from under the table. "Tacos are truly a gift to this world, don't you agree?" I say, opening my eyes as I look at the other gems who just looked at me affectionately. "What?"
Garnet picks me up and places me on his lap, then moves his plate over to pull my plate in front of me. Wrapping one arm around my waist, he picks up his taco with his unoccupied hand and starts eating. I just resumed eating, this happened pretty often so I wasn't that shocked anymore. Soon enough the other 2 gems were eating, Pearl eating as delicately as ever, while Amethyst shoved the whole plate down his throat and burped loudly.
"That totally hit the spot. Tacos are truly a treasure, just like the other hundreds of food you like to call treasure." Amethyst says, kicking his feet onto the counter away from the food, with his hands behind his head.
"Ugh, Amethyst, have some manners, don't you see were eating this delicious human food that Stellar made?" Pearl says, turning away from Amethyst, continuing to eat with delicate bites.
"Well, I'm glad you guys liked it!" I basically chirped, finishing off the last few bites left to my taco. Snuggling my back to Garnet's hard torso, I just enjoyed the warmth that he was emitting as his grip around my waist tightened ever so slightly.
As everyone started to finish off their food, having light banter here and there, I look up to Garnet who hasn't said anything at all.
"Urmmm, Garnet, are you ok?" I ask, fiddling with my fingers.
The room silenced, Garnet finishing his taco with one final bite before wiping his hands and mouth with a napkin. Then reciprocating the action to my face with a new napkin. After placing down the dirty napkin onto the counter, he broke the silence with a nonchalant tone.
"I'm… Fine…" he said, taking out the hair tie that was in my hair, then brushing it out to get out all the tangles.
"Are you sure?" I ask, stopping his hand that was in my hair by holding it, bringing it down close to my chest and looking up to him with a worried gaze.
Garnet sighed before he gave out a small smile, then moving his hands to encase me as best as he could. "I'm fine, sorry for worrying you."
My face furrowed even more than it already was, as I tightened my hand around his. "Stop lying to me, what's wrong?" I ask, looking down onto my lap.
"Stellar, it's not impor-" Garnet starts before I cut him off.
"Yes it is!" I basically scream, "If something is bothering you, I want to know!" I squirm in his hold, jumping down off the stool to face him. "Stop trying to hide things from me, I'm not weak! I can handle these things!"
"No, you're not weak. But I honestly don't think it's important for you to know, it's too dangerous for you princess. Ok?" Garnet said in a calming voice. Getting off his stool, he kneels down to my height and places his hand on my cheek, rubbing his thumb back and forth comfortingly.
Looking down at my feet, I frown. "I'm sorry Garnet, I didn't mean to yell." I said, feeling guilty.
"It's ok, maybe you need some sleep. Maybe that's why you're a little grumpy." Garnet replies, getting up from his position and taking my hand in his to lead me to my bed.
I still stared at my feet as I followed behind Garnet, "yeah, I guess," I whisper under my breath.