Peridot was on her way to Lapis Lazuli's cell.
One day had passed since she left her prisoner to Jasper and Peridot seriously didn't know how the blue gem was going to react when she saw her.
Maybe she'd be angry again?
Maybe she was not going to talk to Peridot anymore?
She was going to hate her captor for letting her down.
If she didn't already.
But Peridot needed to see her again.
She needed to make sure Lapis was alright.
She needed to look into her beautiful eyes again. Even if it may be for the last time.
Lapis was sitting on the cell floor.
All she thought about was how much she hated Peridot for leaving her. Yes, she'd finally found someone to blame.
And it was not the gem who actually hurt her.
Lapis winced when she heard some heavy footsteps nearby. Who was that? Jasper again? She shivered but then realized that Jasper's footsteps didn't sound metallic.
Lapis lifted her head up and saw Peridot approaching. She let her head fall down again instantly.
Lapis didn't want to see Peridot.
She didn't want to see her, nor did she want to talk to her.
Never again.
"Lapis Lazuli," she heard her captor's voice.
The ocean gem didn't move.
"Lapis Lazuli, talk to me!" Peridot's voice was getting louder. "I – I need to make sure you're okay…I know you are mad at me…and you do have good reasons to be mad…but give me a chance to explain my actions."
A part of Lapis wanted to hit Peridot in her face. Wanted to hurt her, to destroy her for what she did to the blue gem.
But another part wanted to listen to her.
This part was still hoping for her not to be completely evil. Indeed to have good reasons.
Lapis hated this part of hers. What in the world could be a GOOD REASON for Peridot to let her down in this way?
But she still wanted to believe.
When Lapis didn't reply she heard Peridot sighing.
"I didn't want Jasper to hurt you…or whatever she did to you…" Peridot started. "But there was nothing I was able to do to keep her from doing what she wanted."
Lapis still didn't move.
"I knew that I was not strong enough to face her." Peridot continued. "And if I'd tried, she'd first hurt me and then do whatever she wanted to do to you. It wouldn't have helped if I'd tried to protect you. All I wanted was to avoid damage."
Lapis didn't want to listen to these surprisingly comprehensible explanations. She didn't want Peridot to have a good explanation.
She wanted to keep on hating her.
"But I'll do anything," Peridot's voice sounded determined. "To keep Jasper from hurting you again. I promise I'll think of something to make her do what I want but please…talk to me again."
Lapis didn't want to. She really didn't want to but the words just slipped out of her mouth. "Y – You promise to talk to her?"
When she haltingly looked at Peridot she saw her actually smiling.
"I promise."
Hours later Lapis was lying on the cell floor again. She was incredibly bored. There was nothing to do in this prison but to lie here and do absolutely nothing.
Nothing but thinking.
Thinking about Peridot.
Peridot and her reasons.
Thinking about Peridot made her believe in the other gem's good side again. Was she really that heartless? Or was she just pretending?
Was she maybe even caring for Lapis? A little?
Oh man, Lapis sighed, she really had too much spare time.