Authors Note: A BIG thank you for being so patient with me, been in the process of moving and upon finishing this chapter, my computer decided to crash when I was in mid save, thus corrupting my entire story file. That... was not fun -_- anywho, enjoy! Will try to upload chapter 8 later this weekend, we shall see! For now, enjoy ^^

Chapter 7

"Thank you again for staying as late as you had, I really appreciate it."

"Not at all, will never say no to a few more hours in my pocket book."

"Well, thanks again, now get out of here!"

"Yeah, yeah, I am going! Bye!"

Hues of soft pink, purple and oncoming dark blue hung in the waning evening sky, smatterings of clouds drifted lazily high above with few birds enjoying the fading thermals. Sidewalks and streets were becoming empty as the on coming night fell along the small town, a lone headlight illuminated the darkening road as the motorcycle carried its single rider through the desolate streets and out along the freeway toward the country side. Street lamps once many turned to a few, Sidewalks warped to wild trees and brush, the warm summer air losing a few degrees to the wilderness grasp that curtained either side of the freeway. Bare hands untouched by the brisk air, gripped the handlebars loosely, her expression concealed beneath the tinted plexiglass of her helmet, the zipped leather jacket hugging her upper body, keeping the elements around her away. Selenite drove in silence, not much on her mind other than a flicker of a thought every now and again, the drive numbing her thoughts from what was to come soon enough. Throughout her shift at her mundane job, it was difficult at first to not think of what was taking place along the property she lived within, but as time went on, customers poured in, her mind was finally allowed to blank slate and grow numb.

Now though, with the oncoming night, the brightest of the stars beginning to peek through the dark curtain, the cool air whipping over her speeding form; her thoughts began to return once more to that large quartz and what to do with her if she happened to still be around. Recalling her having informed the soldier of her corrupted predicament, Selenite doubted she would have gone very far... The amber signal flashing, Selenite guided the bike from the freeway onto a small exit that was mostly dedicated to two large gas stations for truckers to stop at, refuel and rest on their long trips across the states. Bypassing the stations, giving them no attention, she drove along the badly pot hole filled road, avoiding the worst of the holes, the gem followed the road to what looked like a dead end where a red white badly aged raised plank resided. Swerving around the blockade, the pavement quickly turned to a dirt and gravel road just large enough for a motorcycle to cruise through. This was where she felt the most at home, to see the bats scurry away from the bikes path and blaring light, seeing the occasional owl flit by, or doe dash into the brush. Humans she had learned to respect, but it was this planets wildlife that had made Selenite choose to live in such a distant location.

It only took roughly human time span of thirty minutes when the road took a steep incline, her bike whining for a moment to the sudden steep hill, yet as it capped and evened out on top, there before here was the mixture of cherry trees and weeping willows with their branches full of life, lining alone the pathway that widened where further in seen just around the mild bend; her home.

Gravel crunched dully beneath the weight of her machine as it came to a stop within the driveway in front of the cabin. Turning the handle bars and kicking the stand out to prop the stilled motorcycle in its designated place, Selenite with a soft grunt, pulled the helmet of, an upon tucking it beneath her right arm, turned and looked to the darkened entry way of her cabin where the door use to be hours before. Wait, was that water she heard? Ceasing her motion for a moment, the gem looked over and her eyes fell upon the direction of the babbling water. There in the fading daylight she saw a small creek rushing by. When was that there, she never recalled being able to see a- wait a second; she looking around the area, suddenly realized the large boulder was finally gone. All that remained of its ruin were large stones about chest sized, strewn about intermixed with rubble, pebbles of varying sizes from a fist to a grit of sand. Leading from the rubble were large foot prints both inlaid within the land and shaped in a fine coat of gray dust guiding all the way toward...

A deadpan gaze that was becoming all too familiar thing, fell onto her facial expression as she unzipping her coat and letting it fall open, made her way to the darkened entry way. The gem ceased her movement when having arrived to the doormat, saw the large foot prints leading into her home, yet none showing an exit. Blinking, her gaze peered at the darkness within, wondering just why the quartz warrior had not left or if she had simply made a new 'doorway' to her home. Upon stepping inside, the floor boards creaking ever so slight to her petite weight, her hand trained with memory, reached out and upon grasping the charcoal extended lighter hanging from its string along a hook, lit the nearest wall sconce oil lamp. There, as the flame grew and stabilized, did Selenite be greeted with the scene before her, there were clear dust fueled foot prints leading into her cabin and pacing about, leading to the couch where it resided, covered in the debris of destroyed stone and plant matter, sinking all the more in on itself; so there was that, but where was the- oh.

Her posture was locked in place, arms and hands twisted in the diamond salute given to any higher ups while the Jasper stood nearby where the door resided. It bothered Selenite just how easily she had missed seeing the large gem, no doubt her skills were slipping, yet then again she had been working a full day and having adapted her form and mentality to that of a human, perhaps lack of energy was to blame here; nah, that was bullshit but she wanted to believe otherwise. Still, it surprised, and yet not, Selenite to see the Jasper still here even after all that had taken place not long ago; then again the Jasper knowing her corrupted predicament, it was already an idea she would stick around when it was known her outcome had she left...

With the single wall sconce lit, dark shadows danced over the Jaspers form wildly for a moment before the flame itself settled and became balanced along the wick. Silent and unmoving, only her yellow eye showed life to the brute as she watched Selenite who upon hanging both coat and helmet on the rack mounted on the wall, turned to look at the larger gem while a smile feebly pressed along her lips. It bothered Selenite to see that symbol positioned right at her, she had not seen or performed it since the end of the war. She had out ranked soldier gems but this felt ridiculous, even more so when it was being given to her from a Jasper whose mind was clearly broken. Reaching forward with one pale hand, she resting it along the large crimson hand of the soldier, supplied a touch of force to have the Jasper break her salute and give the petite gem a confused expression of a lifted eyebrow. Selenite felt a faint shiver flit over her spine to the contact, yet pushed it aside, writing it off quickly that she had not touched another in how many years? Too many to fathom and at this moment she was not going to focus her attentions on it as she looked to the Jasper in front of her, and the... branches and debris hanging in her... hair.

"Thank you for taking out that boulder, I really am impressed and truly appreciate it. Please though, you do not need to salute me, we have no diamond to report to and thus our ranks mean nothing here. Although next time if you could, please wipe your feet off on the door mat outside before you come inside... and the rest of you would be preferred..."

As Selenite removing her hand from the Jaspers, she grimaced to the bit of rubble that came from the contact and resided within her palm. Wiping it off along her leggings, the pale gem tried to give a convincing smile to the Jasper as she walking past the large gem, signaled for her to follow as Selenite moved toward the direction of the bathroom. Why she was guiding this wreck of a gem to her bathing room was confusing even to Selenite, but guide her she continued to perform. Was it pity she took on this broken brute, no that was not it, perhaps a part of it, but not the main reason. Maybe because she was lonely; that left a sorrowful bitterness in her mouth, and an emotion Selenite made quick work of shoving down when she nearing the tub, pulled back the curtain and stood aside for the Jasper to see while she made quick work of turning on the water.

"This is a shower, humans use it to clean themselves of the matter this planet seems deem to deposit on anything and anyone staying here. For example..."

With a dry chuckle, Selenite reaching upward, plucked a branch that was sticking from the Jasper's hair, showing it to the large quartz for but a moment before tossing into the trash receptacle not far from the tub's wall. When the soldier did not move, Selenite trying to not roll her eyes, stepped past the Jasper and upon reaching down, turning the water on. Keeping one hand within the torrent to test the temperature, the other worked the basic silver crank along the side of the pipe feeding water to the shower head, helping it crank higher as she looked up to the quartz, wondering if temperature would even be an issue to this Jasper.

"Here, the water is nice and hot, um... seeing you are still in uniform, uh, right, no clothes. Well then, um, if you could step into the tub. This is soap used for cleaning the dirt from your form, and this is shampoo for your... hair. Hmm, I will pick up a few more bottles, uh yeah, hop on in! I will check on you in a bit!"

Flushed with color alongside her face, Selenite near dove out of the bathroom, zoning out the noise of running water as she picking up the box of matches, began to roam around her small home, igniting the wicks within the oil lamps all throughout the domicile. Her mind kept prodding her own words, plotting to purchase more shampoo, informing the Jasper how to wipe her feet, how to use the shower; the Jasper was not going to stay here! Yet... the faint whisper of her mind voice spoke as she dared a quick glance at the bathroom's entryway where steamed pooled from it; this Jasper was corrupted, and any semblance of a normal life was through staying near Selenite... A odd bubble arose in her chest, was it joy, happiness? No, with a toss of her head, she settled the filled kettle of water along the stove's surface before kneeling down and making quick work of last nights faintly glowing embers into a soft fire contained in the cast iron fireplace. She was alone for some time, years in fact after... after all was said and done, maybe someone would help ebb her dull mind and breath some new life in to this place; or... Her eyes glanced to the sad looking couch as it sagged in on itself, rubble and dirt spread upon it; perhaps a soldier gem as a roommate was not the best of ideas.

Biting the tip of her thumbnail, Selenite moved over to the cupboard filled with majority of human poisons crafted and enjoyed by the race of this planet. On one side though there were a few ceramic containers and cardboard boxes filled with various teas that had gained her attention whenever she happened to the food market of the human folk. Plucking a prefilled bag and a mug from the lower shelf, used her heel to gently shut the cupboard and move back over toward the fire place as her mind ticked over this Jasper in her bathroom. It was clear there was more damage than corruption in her, yet trying to make sense of it all was confusing to Selenite. Pouring the hot water into the mug, she pondered what she had already whitnessed and could pluck ideas from. This Jasper was of Yellow Diamond, and as far as Selenite was concerned, Yellow and anyone from her entourage were crazy and beyond stubborn to boot. Yet it was strange how this Jasper's mind seemed lost, she did not seem to respond to anything in the mentioning of Diamonds from earlier, and while first introductions and her harsh attitude to Selenite, that quickly changed but what had started that altercation?

"She was Pink Diamond's..."

A yelp fell from her lips as hot water splashed onto her hand, juggling the cup as a few more good sized spills splashed onto the ground below, Selenite whirled around and looked to the bathroom as steam continued to pour from it, the sound of running water still rushing. Of course, that made perfect sense, the minute Selenite had stated she was of Pink, claiming to have no loyalty to the Diamonds when hers could not be saved, that was when the Jasper had summoned forth the Diamond salute and dropped her arrogant, and harsh air. It made further sense of her own self defeated exterior, she not only had failed Yellow, but her own Diamond as well; a failure that nothing Yellow could make her feel more so. Another Pink Diamond gem; that was something Selenite had not thought to see again, at least on this planet and from that realization, she felt something else arise within her as she took a few cautious steps toward the bathroom.

Being a part of Pink Diamond's entourage do not change the fact that this was a large, a very large quartz soldier with a broken mind in her shower; yet was she as broken as Selenite thought? Recalling the events from earlier, the Jasper had gone and battled out her anger within the forest instead of Selenites home, or her own self. The fact the boulder had been removed instead of ignored when she had left showed the Jasper was able and rather willing to take the issued request and follow through with it. The Jasper needed guidance, a leader to follow but for what purpose, to feel some form of self worth she had lost since the day Pink Diamond was destroyed? Hearing the water turn off, the metal handle groaning ever so slight, Selenite's thoughts were pushed to the side for a moment as she with mug still in hand, made her way toward the bathroom. Rounding the entry way, she looked to the sight before her; water dripped heavily down the large quartz soldier, streams of water cascading down her sodden thick hair that clung to her back and limbs. The large golden yellow hand still held onto the shower's faucet, yet the Jasper was unmoving, her single eye staring at nothing, no emotion shown along her features in any way.

Words were not going to help here, and realizing this, Selenite silently setting the mug upon the ground near the bathroom entry, reached out and grabbing the largest towel hanging up. Moving her way toward the tub, gaining that single harsh eye, following her every step, she gingerly testing her foot along the edge of the raised tub wall, pulled herself up along its edge with towel in her grasp. Catching the yellow eye in her own gaze for but a moment, the petite gem could only offer a feeble smile before lifting the towel up and plopping it on top of the Jaspers head. Large towel her ass, it was dwarfed by the mop of wet hair and quickly becoming saturated itself, thinking quickly, Selenite snatching the towel from its perch on the Jasper's hair, balled it a bit in her hands before working on alleviating the soldier's arm of the droplets of water that remained. A faint flush, no doubt from the heat of the residual steam, yeah that was it, touched Selenite's face as she refusing to look at the Jasper, focused on the task at hand with the towel. She had no real plan to follow, only the knowledge she recently uncovered and recalling her own warning to this Jasper if she were to leave Selenite's presence for too long, and yet still, as she gave into a long drawn breath, dared look at the ever stern yellow eye that watched her intensely.

"I don't have much, and I am no Diamond... but you could stay here if you would like..."