Separation
The scratch is long, jagged, covering the width of Steven's diamond from corner to corner. Lapis runs a careful finger across it, then pulls her hand away like she's been burned.
"You're lucky," She tells him, "Just a little further and she would have shattered."
"But she did not!" Peridot says, clearly offended, "As if the great Diamond would shatter to someone lesser."
"Pink Diamond is hardly lesser." Jasper scoffs, and then ruffles Steven's hair, "Only a diamond can cut another diamond. That is why you are so precious to us." She grins.
"Not just that." Lapis hisses, stomping on Jasper's foot, "You can't tell a child you only value them for their abilities! Steven, we also appreciate your humor, compassion, and innovation." She assures him.
"I know!" Steven says, grinning widely, "I care a lot about you guys too, that's why I want to train and help you guys, so I can stop the bad guys!"
"If it was up to me, you would already be training." Jasper frowns, then takes a seat on the motel room bed next to Peridot, "Are you watching the human camp show again?"
"Shh! Percy and Pierre are talking!" Peridot orders.
"Come on Steven, let's leave the fangirls to their show." Lapis says, and leads him out to the pool.
He eagerly jumps in, splashing Lapis, who responds by building a tower of water with him at the top, then releasing so he goes spinning wildly in every direction, only landing in the pool because Lapis arranges for it to happen. He bobs up, gasping between giggles.
"When are you going to train me?" He asks when Lapis picks him up and cuddles him to her chest, even though he's not small enough for her to pick up outside of the water.
"Soon," She says after a long pause, "It's hard to know when. We want you to learn about humans before you learn about gems. That's an important part of our plan. Maybe when Greg's tour ends."
"Dad's always on tour," Steven whines, "He's a big rockstar."
Lapis shrugs and throws Steven, then brings him back on a wave. She repeats it until he's laughing so hard he can barely breathe.
"Do you want to go to bed now?" She asks when he slumps onto her shoulder.
"No, if I go to bed, then that means I'm closer to when you guys have to leave." He moans, but the way he clings to her, eyes closed, tells another story.
"But you'll also be one sleep closer to when your training begins." She says, and uses her wings to support him up the steps and out of the water.
By the time she lays him on the motel bed he's already fast asleep.
