Jasper was lying on their bunk, casually dressed in their loose training garb. Trying to force back down all the unpleasant memories their conversation with Lapis stirred up. It had been a few hours but still the flashes persisted, tastes and smells rushing back with the all too vivid images to throw them right back into the thick of it.
Sweat beaded their brow and their arms twitched involuntarily as they tried to focus on calmer thoughts.
Suddenly the door slammed open and Peridot burst in, looking slightly bruised and very exhausted "YOU FAULTY, MUS-"
Before Jasper even knew what they were doing they had Peridot pinned against the wall, one hand hefting them off the floor by their neck, the other drawn back into a fist
"eeep" Peridot went limp, their eyes wide in shock
"ahhh… sorry" Jasper carefully lowered Peridot to the ground, steadying them as their knees buckled slightly "I thought I told you not to disturb me?" Jasper turned away quickly so that Peridot didn't see the distressed look on their face.
Peridot took a deep breath, massaging their throat gently "Well, considering the last time one of us disturbed the other it was you tearing my door off, I think I deserve it"
Jasper smiled, the small gem was a welcome distraction
"Furthermore, YOU TRAPPED ME IN A ROOM WITH A SWARM OF ANGRY POLYHEDRONS!"
This time Jasper didn't bother to stifle their laughter, turning around to face the exasperated gem
Peridot was momentarily startled by the look of genuine happiness on Jaspers face but quickly recovered "I'd be beating you up right now if I could lift my arms"
"So you think you'll be able to hit me next time?" Jasper sat back down on their bunk, stretching their arms up behind their head.
"Oh yeah, at least one I'd say. Hopefully somewhere painful"
"Good, good" Jasper closed their eyes "That means I get to hit you back don't forget"
Peridot didn't reply, noticing that Jasper had taken off the tape around their chest. The cracks no longer had gaps in them but they were still deep and quite visible. They shuffled surreptitiously closer to try and get a better look.
Jasper opened one eye and regarded the other gem, frustration and concern now mixed on their face "Can I help you?" a lazy smile still on their face
"Are you sure you won't let me help you? Or are you still going to be all stubborn?"
Jasper groaned "I admit I may have done slightly more damage to myself than I thought"
"Well congratulations moron. Now are you going let me fix you or what?"
"Watch your language Green" Jaspers grin widened "I can only let you get away with so much"
Peridots own grin spread across their face. A slightly lecherous look in their eyes as they held up one hand, summoning a Robonoid into it "I'll take that as a yes. Now lie down"
"Oh no" Jasper held up a hand "I am not letting that thing scuttle all over me"
"Well then I'll do it" Peridot tried to contain their enthusiasm as they shifted their fingers into, wider, flatter shapes. The Robonoid popped its hatch open and dispensed a dollop of the sparkly repair cream into Peridots hand.
Jasper lay back down, looking quite at ease as Peridot moved over next to the bunk and began spreading the cream across their stomach, carefully following the lines of the cracks marring the large gems sculpted abs.
Peridot took their time, gently massaging as best as their dating sims had taught them. Lingering possibly a little too long on the deep v shaped furrow just below Jaspers waist and stretching up slightly higher than the cracks reached, their face deepening into a glowing complexion as their fingers moved up underneath Jaspers tanktop, brushing against the base of their pecs.
As Peridot finally finished the left side of Jaspers chest, getting another handful of cream from the Robonoid now perched on their shoulder, they paused "Ummmmm, Jasper… I don't think I can reach… the rest".
They stood up onto their tiptoes, stretching as far as they could and only reaching a little past the centre of the muscular gems chest.
"Well, good thing I don't mind having you scuttle all over me then" Jasper reached over and picked Peridot up easily, lifting them up and setting them down, straddling the reclining gems waist.
"Ahhhhhhhh… heh" Peridots eyes went blank, their brain processing this newest development.
Jasper just leaned back and closed their eyes "Come on Green, I didn't say stop"
Peridot exhaled deeply, supporting themselves with a hand on Jaspers hip as they leant forwards to continue their task.
After quite a while, Peridot had gone over every contour of their abs about as much as they could justify, Jaspers stomach was well covered with a thick layer of cream.
"So, how long does this stuff take to work?" Jasper asked, a lot more warmly than usual.
"Well, on living gems, a few hours. But then you'll be good as new!" Peridot started to lean to one side, preparing to dismount when Jasper placed a hand on their thigh. Peridot stopped immediately, a shiver running up their entire body.
"Those things are pretty useful after all aren't they?" Jasper smiled at Peridot, holding up their other hand to their shoulder, allowing the small Robonoid to hop onto their palm "It reminds me of a… friend I once had. They could summon Gemlets as well." They ran their hand up Peridots thigh, almost encircling the tiny gems waist "You even have their colour… such a beautiful green" Jaspers eyes were filled with nostalgia and sorrow.
Peridot tried, mostly successfully, to stop their hands from shaking as they placed them on Jaspers shoulders. Pulling themselves forwards, sliding easily on the cream, to move up onto the top of Jaspers abs, bringing them face to face. 'Okay' they thought 'this is it. Just say the line. Stay cool'
Peridot leant forwards, wrapping their arms around Jaspers neck as they moved in, lips inches from theirs "I do know one thing that would work faster"
"Is that so?" Jasper reached up to lift Peridots goggles
"Fuse with me" Peridot whispered
A shattering pop broke the quiet as the Robonoid in Jaspers hand was crushed, leaking fluid down their arm "No." they said instantly, turning their face away from Peridots'.
"What? Buh-Why?" Peridot leant back, a shocked look on their face
"Fusion, it's weak. "Jasper mumbled, not meeting Peridots eyes "Just a cheap-"
"This isn't about strength!" Peridot shouted, a hurt look on their face "and… and I'm not cheap!"
"Everything is about strength" Jasper replied coldly, still looking away
"Well…" Peridot slapped Jaspers hand away. Shaking with conflicting emotions "Fine then!"
They stood up and jumped down from the bunk, turning back to Jasper to say something but not managing anything more than a strangled shout.
With that they dashed out of the room, coving their face with their hands.
Jasper sighed heavily, speaking softly to themselves "That was stupid… They're too young for you anyway. That just proved it…"
Peridot ran through the hallways, not really paying attention to where they were going. Not realising until they were quite close that they had headed towards Lapis' cell. 'Good' they thought, drying their face on their sleeve. They needed someone to shout at.
