Disclaimer: I do not own Steven Universe.
A/N: Getting down to those last few chapters. Wow this went by quickly!
Warning: Quick reminder that this fanfic is "T". This chapter in particular has 1) a bit more violence 2) a bit more language 3) an attempted non-consensual kiss.
Ruby was at a loss.
How could she console her distressed friend?
It dawned on her that nothing she could say would be enough. So Ruby sat and listened to the other as she shared.
Amethyst had been like a box overflowing. When the lid had opened, everything about her love that had been bottled up for so long came tumbling out.
For Amethyst, someone just listening was enough. By the time she was finished, she had found a new layer of strength that had been hidden underneath her suffering.
It started as a friendly punch in the arm to say thank you and soon turned into the day of training that had originally been planned.
When Amethyst and Ruby returned home that evening it appeared as though life had returned to normal. Had it ever really changed? Rose had left, Pearl was indifferent to the departure and Sapphire was so hyped on coffee that she had gone over her page limit on the paper she was writing. A fact she was very proud of.
"Now for the presentation." Sapphire practically jumped out of her desk chair.
"How long's it have to be?" Ruby questioned from a cozy spot on Sapphire's bedroom floor.
"45 minutes"
"What?!" She had definitely misheard.
Sapphire shook her head, not wanting to even think about it, "I know."
"You can practice on me." Ruby watched as Sapphire slump down on the bed.
"I'll be fine." Sapphire assured, "Actually, I think speaking in front of you would make me even more nervous."
"Why?" Ruby wondered.
"Well-" Sapphire explained, "You would intentionally or unintentionally make cute faces. It would end up throwing me off."
Ruby grinned, ready to reply … but something about the conversation struck her, reminding her about her time spent with Amethyst, "How was Pearl with Rose?"
It was a large change in topic, but Sapphire didn't question. Instead she answered, "Normal Pearl. She cares about Rose a lot. That will never change. But it's different than before. I think she's slowly beginning to move forward."
"Do you know if she's coming to the match tomorrow?" Ruby continued.
"She is."
"Good."
"Did Amethyst say something?" Sapphire's words trailed off and she covered her yawning mouth with a concealing hand.
"You are going to crash so hard." Ruby noted.
Still yawning, Sapphire shook her head.
"And then you'll have to drink more just to get yourself going again." Ruby said, half joking and half serious, "I kind of see where Pearl's coming from."
"I'm fine." But she looked to be stifling another yawn.
This earned her a look.
"Well now you've got me thinking about it." Sapphire defended, "My body's reacting on its own."
Ruby stood, "Your body's saying 'It's time for bed'." She walked to where Sapphire sat, leaning down to give a kiss on the forehead.
"Where are you going?" Sapphire watched the other as she moved toward the door.
"To my room?"
"R-right."
Ruby noticed a subtle ways Sapphire shifted, the way her eyes traveled and lips moved. She recognized it from last night right before-
"Was there another place I should be instead?"
Sapphire blush.
They both knew what they were guilty of wanting. What they didn't know was that the other felt the same.
"What would be the purpose of having a room if it's not being used?" She seemed to be spending more and more time in this room as of late.
"For when you get sick of me." Sapphire suggested.
"That room's going to stay empty then." Ruby replied.
"Would you stay with me, just for a while?"
She felt a shiver at the memory of gentle touches that made her heart race, an embrace that both relaxed and invigorated her. She longed to drown in their sweet soft kisses.
Sapphire wished for time to lose meaning as she looked into familiar brown eyes. She moved back to make room for Ruby to join her, watching instead as the woman slid to occupy the space above her.
Ruby lowered herself, head resting upon a rapidly beating heart. Tiny hands held her, as though she might fall at any moment. She could hear Sapphire's voice as she spoke.
"After the fight, do you think we can meet by the beach?"
The next day moved at a snail's pace.
When night finally fell, Pearl and Sapphire traveled together to the second installment of the match. They both sat together in the crowd of loud spectators. Pearl whispered to Sapphire, commenting on this and that.
But as soon as Amethyst appeared Pearl went silent. Suddenly sitting through the smell, heat and noise seemed worth it. She sat at the edge of her seat.
Sapphire wondered if she had had the same reaction her first time. She turned to the ring. Ruby and Amethyst were speaking to each other one last time before the bell tolled, signaling the start. Ruby appeared to have a confidence as she hit Amethyst's back in support.
The Purple Puma was up.
Sapphire could hear Pearl mumbling to herself as Amethyst danced around her opponent. But something seemed off-
'Honey Bunny', or whatever the other woman's identity was, swung hard. The hit landed dead on.
Pearl covered her mouth.
-Amethyst seemed distracted tonight.
A collective 'Ooo' came from the crowd.
Pearl looked around at the hissing fans. Were they finding some kind of sick joy from seeing Amethyst hurt? It was enough to raise some kind of emotion in Pearl.
Sapphire was surprised to see her friend stand up beside her.
"Amethyst!" Pearl screamed.
"Purple Puma." Sapphire tugged at her, "No real names here." She reminded.
Pearl winced, she had forgotten, "Purple Puma!" She called again, "You can do this!" Her voice cracked.
Sapphire realized that she had never heard her friend scream so loud. Pearl continued to cheer for the Purple Puma as she recovered from the hit.
Amethyst swung her leg down low, knocking the other wrestler off her feet.
Sapphire felt an overwhelming excitement at the comeback. She rose to cheer alongside her friend.
With Ruby as backup, they were truly an invincible team.
The bell sounded the round's end. Pearl did not wait for the M.C. to finished announcing the winners.
"The match isn't over." Sapphire called out to her friend as she made her way to the ring.
"They're done, it's over." Pearl called back. No way in hell was she staying here any longer than she had to. Not in a place where her feet seemed to stick to the floor with every step.
Pearl spotted her friend, "You did wonderfully." She ran to give her a big hug.
"Don't-" Amethyst tried to warn.
But it was too late. Pearl froze. She had not anticipated the moisture.
"-I'm sweaty." Amethyst finished.
Pearl pulled away. She placed a proud hand on her friend's head instead, only to find that too was sweaty, "You did well." She congratulated again.
Amethyst's face was already flush from the fight, "Thanks." But she could feel her cheeks begin to prickle.
Pearl removed her hand, casually wiping it on her pants, "Do you want to cool down by the pier?"
"Sure!"
The two walked into the night air. It was so much fresher than the inside of the abandoned building had been.
"That place has mold growing in it for sure." Pearl commented.
The pair walked down the sidewalk and onto a long stretch of boardwalk. Even though it was late, people were still exploring the various brightly lit venders. Far off in the distance the joyful noises from Fun Land could be heard.
The wind rushed through Amethyst long hair. It was a wonderful feeling. They entered one of the many piers that lined the long shore. Every few posts that stuck out from the salty water had small lights attached to them. It lit their path in a muted glow.
A fisherman dressed in a yellow coat was packing up for the day. He mumbled to them in a friendly way but Amethyst could not understand a word.
"Amethyst." Pearl finally spoke. She seemed completely entranced by the setting. Her voice became as soft as the wind that blew around them, "I love you."
The apocalypse could be happening around them and Amethyst wouldn't have cared. It took her a moment to comprehend.
But-
"No, you don't."
Pearl seemed confused, "What?"
"No, you don't!" Amethyst repeated a bit more firmly, "Don't even play like that."
Pearl was now completely lost, "But I-"
"Your breakup with Rose just happened, and I know you're still upset."
"Really not." Pearl almost smiled, but confusion still dominated her emotion.
"I love you so much…for a while now. But I think you need some time to-"
Pearl's mouth hung open in the most unladylike way, "You… l-love me?" She finally realized the reason behind the confusion.
Amethyst's eyes grew wide, "You meant … as a friend. Didn't you."
There was the most awkward silence.
Pearl could not say anything. She tried to say anything at all. But no words came as she opened her mouth.
Her best friend had just confessed to her. It was not something that necessarily came as a shock, but what was shocking was-
Amethyst swiftly pivoted, running away as fast as she could.
Pearl began to follow, stopping as she came to realize she could never catch up to the more athletic girl.
"Amethyst!" She called, her voice carried out to sea by the wind.
What was shocking was… she had slowly begun finding herself feeling the same.
Sapphire followed the same small pathway she had taken last time. It led her down to the beach. It was a cloudy night; the moon's glow was barely visible through the heavy clouds. It was not at all as romantic as she had hoped.
The soft crunch of sand informed her that she was not alone.
"Ru-" The name fell short as she realized who had found her instead.
"Who did you expect?" Jasper asked, "Ruby?" She seemed impressed that she was already able to frighten the girl so.
"How?" Sapphire wondered aloud.
"Lapis told me that Ruby had bothered her last time." Jasper took a large step forward, "I came to have a talk with her… but seeing you here, I guess I can also return the favor."
"Ruby didn't bother anyone!" Sapphire shouted.
But Jasper didn't care. This went much deeper than Lapis, "You lied to me." She continued on her steady path to Sapphire.
"What?" Sapphire asked, standing her ground.
"You said you didn't know where she was." Jasper remembered, "You've been hiding her this whole time, haven't you?"
Sapphire stood tall. She wanted to appear unafraid, but she was also no fool. Blue eyes darted about, assessing possible methods of escape.
"What lie did she tell for you to believe someone like her?"
"None!" Sapphire spat, already furious with this individual and also to keep herself in check. She had promised herself she would believe in the Ruby she knew.
"Pathetic." Jasper shot back.
Sapphire backed away, her hands balled at her side.
Piercing eyes noticed, "You want to fight?"
"It seems like you're the one itching for a fight." Sapphire observed, "I will protect myself and I will protect Ruby"
Jasper was easily twice her size and all muscle. Sapphire hoped the strength of her words would be enough to drive the goliath away.
"What I want is for you to leave."
"Not happening." Jasper laughed, "I wait for Ruby."
"What did Ruby even do to you?" Sapphire asked, though she was not so sure she would even believe any answer she heard.
"Everything. She showed up out of the blue and took everything that was mine."
Yep. She didn't believe a word, "It seems to me like Ruby is the one left with nothing. How could she have anything of yours when she didn't even have a safe place to-"
That was it. Jasper was like an animal, pouncing on it's pray. Sapphire tried to move out of the way but found her foot slip in the sand.
It was enough of an advantage.
Strong hands gripped onto Sapphire's long hair, tugging it back toward her and up.
Sapphire cried out in pain.
"Do you think this is some bullshit fairytale and I'm the evil step sister? Well guess what. To me she's the stepsister. There's always two sides, Princess."
Sapphire grit her teeth, reaching up to take hold of the hand that held her. She mentally cursed herself for recently cutting her nails; they would have come in handy.
"Sapphire."
She heard a winded voice say.
"There you are, you little shit!" Jasper regarded Ruby. "Dad's been looking for you, and as always I'm getting heat."
Sapphire saw fear and rage as they played on Ruby's face, "I work every day as promised. We had an agreement. As long as I do that he doesn't care what I do with my spare time. Not that you would know."
Sapphire continued her small attacks. Each blow must have seemed like annoying bugs bites because Jasper finally let go. Finally free, Sapphire rushed to Ruby's side.
Their eyes met and in the exchange all was said that needed to be said. Ruby gently guided Sapphire behind her.
"Daddy's little favorite gets everything."
With Sapphire safely behind, Ruby didn't fear as Jasper approached. She used her size to dodge, landing punches here and there, "Just leave me alone!" Ruby snarled, "Leave us alone!"
The hits did not phase Jasper all too much, "Then give it back!" She replied with a hit of her own.
Ruby was obviously crazy if she had thought Sapphire would just stand there and watch. With Ruby knocked to the ground Sapphire came forward. Her leg lashed up and connected with the side of Jaspers face in one fluid motion.
Ruby was momentarily stunned, impressed by the textbook kick.
It seemed as though Jasper was as well. She took a few steps back, looking at the shorter girl in front of her.
Sapphire would not give Jasper time to rest. She reeled back in an attempt to land another perfect hit, but this time Jasper was ready. She knocked the leg aside with ease, reaching forward with her other hand to pull Sapphire to her.
Ruby attempt to come forward-
"I wouldn't." Jasper warned.
Sapphire felt breathless as the arm that held her steadily tightened. Blackness began to overtake her vision.
Ruby didn't dare move, "Let her go." She felt tears form as she held back the impulse to run forward.
Jasper eased her hold and Sapphire felt the world return.
"Good. Now come back home and tell dad you don't want any part of our family anymore."
"No! I've worked hard for this Jasper!" Ruby realized that with every defiant remark she might be putting them in more danger, but she just couldn't back down, "He gave me a chance because I worked for it. What have you been doing?"
Blue eyes were suddenly met with unfamiliar ones as a single hand pressed on either side of her cheeks, holding her face still, "She is a pretty one." She felt the horrible breath of each word on her lips.
Those eyes drifted from blue to assess those of brown. If Jasper was trying to get Ruby to crack, it was working.
"Plenty of them." Jasper grinned, "What's special about this one?"
Ruby felt sick. She could not stand back anymore, her body moved forward all on its own.
"She must be good."
Sapphire saw that terrible face lean forward. With all her might she swung her leg to kick Jasper's stomach.
The predator lurched. The hand fell from her face as Sapphire turned her head to see Ruby come toward her with arms outstretched. If Sapphire could reach out she was sure they would touch.
"Bitch."
A venomous voice flooded her ear.
The world spun, Sapphire tried to maintain her focus but found her senses too overwhelmed to comprehend anything in the blur. Blue eyes finally recognized the rock cliff milliseconds before she found herself flung against it. The side of her body crashed mercilessly onto it's jagged surface.
And everything went dark.