A Whole New World
Chapter Three: Music to My Ears
The last few weeks had been hectic since the cookie incident. There had been the capture of Peridot, her becoming a Crystal Gem, and Steven's birthday. With all that going on, Pearl had come to encounter Garnet in awkward moments: bumping into each other, talking at the same time, or staring at each other. To keep herself from Garnet, Pearl tried her hardest to train to the point of exhaustion, trying to get her mind off the tall, red-ish Gem.
One day (well, it was night now), Pearl came out the temple door as quietly as she could, only to be surprised. She looked up where Steven slept but he was gone. Fear filled Pearl and she was about to run out when she heard that voice that sent a shiver down her spine.
"He's with his father for the weekend." Garnet's voice rang out in its usual monotone way. This made Pearl spin around to see the proper Crystal Gem. "And who knows where Amethyst went, she could be gone for days. Why don't you sit down?" Garnet pat the spot next to her and watched as Pearl hesitantly took the spot next to Garnet.
"You've been avoiding me." Garnet said, looking down at the other. "Did I do something to upset you?" There was an underlining tone of hurt to her voice.
"No! No, Garnet, it's all me, I swear!" Pearl reached and grabbed one of Garnet's almost too warm hands. Squeezing the hand, Pearl looked down and laced their fingers together.
"I've been having feelings that I only held for one other person. And it scares me. Am…Am I betraying her because of these feelings? What would she think if she were here?" Pearl took her hand away from Garnet and cupped her own face, tears forming in her eyes and she tried to stop the sobs that wanted to spill out.
Garnet got off the couch and turned on a sound system and put a violin CD on. Walking over to Pearl, she gently pulled the pale Crystal Gem up and took a dancing stance. Garnet made Pearl rest her head on her shoulder while one hand moved to Pearl's hip and Garnet moved Pearl's to her shoulder.
"We're not going to fuse; we're just going to dance, alright?" She said as she began to dance, twirling Pearl a bit. Garnet was especially gentle and this surprised Pearl. She knew that Garnet was one hell of a fusion dancer, but a ball room dancer.
Pearl wiped her tears away and smiled, going to the beat of the music. Pearl made a small 'ooo' sound when she was dipped and giggled as she was pulled up. Who cared who walked in at this point; Pearl was feeling better than she had in years.
"You know, Rose would have been happy if you were happy with another like you loved her." Garnet tipped the other's head up by the chin while allowing Pearl's head to stay on her shoulder. Garnet gently played with the other's hair as they danced. It wasn't stiff like Garnet had thought it would be. Chuckling, Garnet leaned her head down, almost kissing Pearl.
"My Pearl, you're wonderful." As soon as Pearl heard those words, she pushed back against Garnet, her eyes wide. Had Garnet known Rose said those words to her? That those words meant so much to her than anything else.
"I'm NOT your Pearl, do you understand?! I AM NO ONE'S PEARL!" With that, Pearl went to the temple door and, before she entered she her room; she looked at Garnet with tears already running down her cheeks. Going in her room, Pearl felt she needed a few days alone.
Garnet watched and frowned. Taking off her glasses, Garnet rubbed her two lower eyes. She sighed and slammed her fist on the counter, breaking it where her fist hit. Sighing again, her eyes went to the door. She knew she had messed up. Garnet had been so close to kissing Pearl that she could feel the other's breath on her lips.
Garnet groaned in frustration. She wanted to show her feelings for Pearl but things kept happening. Holding up one of her palms, she replayed the image of them dancing. She could watch this forever. Closing her hand into a fist, the image disappeared and left Garnet feeling…guilty? Like she was in a void? She just wanted to be with Pearl and make her happy. She had seen Pearl suffer for too long.
Pearl sat on her pillar of water and was half curled up. Garnet had a point. Rose would want Pearl to be happy. Pearl could sense Garnet at the temple door and used her gem to open it. "Come in, Garnet." She said and as soon as Garnet was in, Pearl transported the taller Gem right in front of her. She wiped her eyes and it was her turn to pat the spot beside her for Garnet to sit. Once Garnet was next to her, Pearl took in a deep, shaky breath.
"…Before the war.." Pearl started, afraid to look at the other Crystal Gem. "We had a conversation and she said those exact words…'My pearl, you're wonderful'." She swallowed her tears and looked at Garnet. "But you're right. She would be happy if I was in a relationship."
Garnet cupped the other's cheeks and pulled her close. She leaned in and took their first, gentle kiss. She was about to pull back when Pearl wrapped her arms around Garnet's neck and deepened the kiss. Garnet pulled Pearl in her lap but broke the kiss, panting slightly.
"Let's take it a bit slow. Kisses are fine, even flirting, but let's keep it to a minimum around Steven." Garnet smiled and went back to kissing Pearl, though it was on her neck now more than anything. Oh yes, they would have to try to keep their affections to each other.