Greg and Steven woke up with a start as they shot up from their seats, to what sounded like a thud. Looking for the source of their abrupt awakening they eventually turned to the back of the van to see a large gem cradling her head as she crouched underneath the newly dented roof of the old van. It didn't take long for Greg to place two and two together, although Steven was still confused. Jasper had woken up, quite abruptly as well.
Almost as if sensing the two staring into her back, Jasper turned around, confusion littering her facial features. "What was that?", she started. The two people looked at each other in question, as if the other knew what the behemoth was talking about, although it became very apparent that neither of them did. " What was what Jasper?", asked Steven as he beat his dad to the question, who still had his mouth slightly opened in preparation to speak before he realized his son beat him to it.
Moving her hands from her head, which didn't hurt at all, but instinctual reaction caused her to cradle her head for comfort from the surprise 'injury' anyways, she looked over at the two with expectancy in her eye.
"Them", she paused giving a quick glance around." All those images, the ones that were here a second ago, but they aren't possible because I'm here and those images were...", Jasper trailed off with a nervous glance towards the two, as if afraid to mention it in front of them. Greg was understanding of the situation, she had a nightmare. After having raised Steven he had come to learn that sometimes it was best to not press too much on a problem. Steven, on the other hand, was confused and a bit surprised. Even to the last moment of corruption, Steven just couldn't imagine Jasper scared of anything. She was a being that no one Gem could ever beat her alone, with only fusions ever being able to bring her down. The thought of what might have caused her fear almost made Steven scared himself, and he didn't know how to address that.
Greg on the other had had years of experience and knew just what to do. Moving to the back of the van cautiously as he knew that the Gems had a reputation of being 'flighty' upon arrival on earth, namely Lapis and Peridot being the prime examples he knew of personally.
When he finally reached Jasper after making it through the tangle of blankets that still littered the floor, he stood right next to her. Normally he would crouch down to be on the level of what is usually a child's height, but that was obviously not the case here, so Greg only lightly placed an arm around Jasper's broad shoulders as a sign of comfort before anything else. After being in a slight trance-like state from whatever caused her nightmare Jasper hadn't realized that Greg had moved towards her, only when he placed his arm over her shoulder did she take notice of her surroundings. Having not expected anything and being the trained soldier that she was her reaction was less than subtle. Swinging back her hand to dislodge any possible threat from behind. Her eyes trailed along with her large arm until she realized what she was about to hit was not a threat.
Only her fast reflexes allowed her to stop...only mere centimeters away from Greg's face and saving him from shooting out of the front of the van and becoming a bloody mess a mile away.
Greg's face fell in utter fear as he felt the strong gust of wind sweep across his face, hinting at the power that would have met his face had it not been for Jasper's quick stop. As Jasper lowered her arm, Greg gave a quick glance around, still in shock. The shock only grew as his eyes rested on the side of the van, which had blurred marks that indicated a large force slide across it. It was Jasper's hand that caused that and it hadn't even slowed her swing down one bit, in fact as he glanced back to Jasper and her hand, she didn't seem to be fazed by the impact, as if she hadn't noticed at all.
If anything that knowledge scared him more than the fact that he could have almost died because with that strength the possibility of dying at the hands of the overpowered Gem was more nerve-racking as it was a constant threat opposed to getting over it once and for all. Even the thought of the many possibilities that Jasper could accidentally kill him was enough to make him sweat buckets of pure fear.
The regret was evident on Jasper's face almost immediately.
Why was she feeling like that, what did she care that a human was almost destroyed, it wouldn't be the first one, even by her own hand. So why was this one any different.
She was interrupted from her internal dilemma by the very being that was causing it.
Having noticed that Jasper was not taking what could have been a disaster too well Greg decided once again to help Jasper as he would a child, only this time he would establish his presence beforehand.
Not that he needed to, Jaspers eyes trailed after Greg's every movement as a predator would after its prey. Greg could have even sworn he saw a bright tint reflecting off of Jaspers amber eyes.
Reaching Jasper for the second time, he now had to deal with not only Jasper's fear caused by the nightmare but her seemingly bad reaction to almost pulverizing him a few seconds ago.
Once again attempting the side shoulder hug which he used to use on Rose, back when she had thought it necessary to confess all her 'sins' to him as if to repent for them through him. It worked for one space behemoth, maybe it would work on another as well.
It didn't seem to work at first as Jasper seemed to wither under Greg's very delicate and caring touch.
Unknown to the ones around her, Jasper had never been touched in any way besides by HER and even that had been indirect. She had only ever touched her to 'whip her into shape'. Although she had to admit she was very lucky. She had been under the authority of one of the less abusive 'commanders'. Unlike the others who shared her origins. Everyone had heard the rumors, of what the gems that were formed on the cursed planet where one of the precious diamond was shattered, had to face. Although no one really cared, they only even noticed because they were surprised that someone like her, the perfect quartz soldier, could have been produced in the same place as were many traitorous supporters of the rebellion were born as well.
Yet that didn't mean she was home free from any of the 'training' that all soldiers went through. Although they were created knowing what they were for and how to fight things like obedience were necessary to be conditioned, as made evident by the recent rebellion. The old generation did not have enough respect for authority so they would have to teach the new one like they never did before to avoid another pointless rebellion that only wasted resources. Like they did with Rose.
Jasper closed her eyes a bit to get the images out of her head. She didn't have to think about anymore, even if she went back she was done with her training and would never have to face Holly or her whips again.
After having held on to Jasper for quite some time, Greg decided it was time to pry into what was causing Jasper to act the way she was, only if she was willing to speak, of course, Greg would never force her to talk if she didn't want to.
"Are you OK Jasper? What's bothering you," there was a slight pause of hesitation before Greg's more parental instincts took over "If there's anything wrong we can help you, Jasper, that's what we are here for." Greg finished as he looked up to Jasper's amber eyes if he didn't know any better he could have sworn he saw the beginning of tears creating a coat of gleam over Jasper's eyes.
"I'm fine", was the only response he received as Jasper turned away, no matter what she was better than what was washing over her at the moment. No mere setback would define her image.
Greg nodded his head lightly as he processed what she said.
It wasn't hard to understand where she was coming from. It was a typical bully characteristic. For a while their image and self worth solely depends on the fact that they are strong or at least stronger than someone else. For many it was all they have. Once someone started to peel back the layers it's hard for them to admit that their is more than just strength. It opened the door to ways that thy were 'weak. To how truly vulnerably they were.
It wasn't something that was dealt with immediately. It would take time, patience, and a lot of guidance.
But it wasn't something she would have to deal with alone.
Greg gave one last look at Jasper's shaggy hair and back that was turned to him. A smiled crept onto his face as he decided full heartily that he would help Jasper throughout her healing process. To help her become the best she could be.
Because if there was one thing he had learned from Rose, it was that everyone deserved a chance to live and grow regardless of their past.
Jasper deserved it just as much as anyone.
With a soft smile he gave her shoulders a soft pat. He waited for her to turn around and faced him before he decided to speak.
Her face was downcast, unable to look him in the eye despite having turned around to face him that caused his heart to clench a bit. Despite knowing all that she had done to Steven and the Gems, and probably countless others it was easy to see that behind her exterior Jasper was not a bad person. She had the potential to grow and become better.
Greg gave her a small grin as he gave her a small shake.
"Hey, lets go met up with Amethyst and the others. I'm sure that there is a lot they want to talk about; especially Pearl it wouldn't surprise me if she ended up giving you a lecture about earth culture among a list of rules", he finished with a chuckle, keeping an eye on Jasper to see how she would respond.
He was pleased to see that while she still wouldn't look at him, Jasper gave a weak chuckle of her own in response.
"Yeah", was all she responded with as she finally peeked at him from the corner of her eye. To Greg it made her seem much smaller than she really was.
They stayed like that for a few moments softly gazing at each other, basking in the warm aura that just felt so innocent, so calming.
The moment came to an end when Steven started to come closer to the van, ready to go to the temple and face the other Gems once again alongside Jasper and his dad.
Greg saw Steven approach from the corner of his eye and turned to address him, breaking the hypnotic eye contact with Jasper in the process.
"Hey Stewball, sorry we took a while", he said as he scratched his remaining hair a little sheepishly.
"But I think we're ready to go now", Greg finished as he glanced at Jasper once again. Searching for affirmation to his statement.
Jasper who had been facing Steven since he arrived gave a simple sharp nod in agreement that she was in fact ready to face the others once again.
"Lets get this over with", was her simple response as she heaved herself up from the van.
Greg followed suit and closed the van doors behind him.
"Are you ready to see the others?", asked Steven as he started to lead them all back to the temple. Without giving her time to respond he continued.
"I just wanna say sorry in advanced." He gave a small pause as he couldn't hold in the award giggle before he continued.
"Pearl will probably have prepared a lecture or something for you now that she knows you're here to stay", he finished as he looked over at both Jasper and his dad.
Jasper had a slightly confused but otherwise indifferent look on her face while Greg had a know and sympathetic look on his.
"It's just a Pearl, how bad could it be?"