"I've searched all of the establishments in town. Nobody has seen Rose or Lapis, as we know them anyway. It wouldn't be hard for either of them to change how the humans perceive them, though." Garnet intoned, as they shared fries on the boardwalk.
"Ugh. This is so hard, like- oof!" They were interrupted as a kid barreled past them, face scrunched painfully tight. Garnet caught him before he face planted on the hard surface of the ground. His chest heaved, and tears ran down his face as she righted him slowly. Amethyst winced in sympathy.
"You okay, little man? Someone chasin' ya?" She asked, brushing his shoulder in what she hoped was a comforting gesture. He shook his head mutely, and wiped at his eyes. Jeez, he really had the waterworks going.
"Here, little one." Garnet took a few napkins from their fry bag and passed them over. He took them with a huge sniffle. Aw, man. Garnet led the kid to a nearby bench. Hey, even Mer had sympathy, and this poor guy looked miserable. Besides, something told her to help him, a nagging insistence that she couldn't ignore.
"Are you alright? Be honest; I'll be able to tell if you're lying." The tall Guard said, point-blank, crossing her legs.
"What Garnet means, is that we wanna know if you need help! You're not in trouble, are you?" She translated, letting him scoot closer next to her. Heh, he was kinda cute.
"N-no. I'm fine. Just... personal stuff." The kid said, so stopped up, voice so raw, that Amethyst ached for him. She nodded, and unconsciously began rubbing soft circles into his back. He had to be, what, 10 or 12? Practically a baby. Garnet was looking off at the ocean, glasses shining, probably unsure how to handle such a sensitive situation.
"Well, take a breather, man. Running away never solves anything, you feel me? It's okay to need a minute though, so long as you eventually remember the people you left behind. You got a family?"
The human nodded and sighed. "Yeah."
"And do you think they'll miss havin' you around?"
"Yeah..." He replied after a beat, and Amethyst tilted her head. She smiled hugely, trying to go for reassuring, but his eyes widened.
"N-no way." He said, and promptly shot off of the bench. "You're Mer too?"
Amethyst hid her surprise well. She had been prompting him to see a completely human version of herself, but had he seen past her mind tricks? How? Garnet's head snapped around to look at the human, who backed up a few steps.
"How do you know about us?" She hissed, and the kid looked scared half-to-death. Oh, it was not his day.
"I-I... don't, I mean-" He stuttered, and Amethyst rose lazily, slowly, trying not to scare him. He obviously knew what they were, so he knew what they could do. She didn't blame him for being scared.
"Let's take a walk, okay, kid?" She asked, implying that there was really no room for negotiation. He trailed after Amethyst, untensing a little when he noticed that Garnet wasn't following. They were similar in height, and he probably thought she was weaker than the huge fusion. Heh. They strolled up the sidewalk at a leisurely pace.
"So, guy, spill. Ol' Amethyst ain't gonna hurt you." She invited, and he glanced over to her, eyebrows drawn.
"A-Amethyst? You're Amethyst?" She nodded, and he teared up a little again.
"Woah, hey, it's okay. No more tears, alright? Hey, what's up?" She panicked a little, and he took a deep breath.
"You aren't looking for M- Rose Quartz, are you?" At her nod, he began crying in earnest. "Then you're gonna be really disappointed."
wWw
Garnet knew that both Amethyst and the boy would most likely come back unharmed, so she stayed put. Best to let her de-facto partner handle a matter like this. She was no good with kids. We scared him. We won't be so harsh next time. I like him. Me too. The child's apparent understanding of their species concerned her, of course, but he posed no immediate threat to them. There was no future where he fought. That would be foolish of him, anyhow. She reclined as well as she could on the wooden bench, missing her sponge-padded chair from home. Find the princess, find Rose. Then home. She heaved a great sigh, and leaned her head back. Difficulties in this mission were hard and many. Hearing two pairs of footsteps, she sat back up. Couldn't be caught lazing about on the job. The mood in the air was sour and stale, and Amethyst's grief washed over her like a tidal wave. Quickly she stood, meeting her halfway. The boy had more napkins clutched in one hand, tears running afresh. Eyes haunted, Amethyst looked so out of character, it was jarring.
"What-"
"We aren't gonna find Rose, Garnet. Or, actually, we have." With these words, she lamely gestured to the child, who sniffled.
"I'm her son. And she had to give up her physical form to make me. I-I'm so sorry, I've ruined everything." He closed his eyes, and blew his nose. Garnet's stomach fell, and she felt like she'd swallowed an anchor. It's not his fault. Not his fault! Why would she do this? She did this. Look at him. She did. He was stifling full on sobs. He was so young- he couldn't be held accountable for Rose's actions as much as she fused herself together by choice.
"That's alright." He looked up sharply, eyes raw and red. "It's okay." She knelt so that they were eye level. Good. Poor thing. Sweet child. Come here. Let us...
"Your mother was a wonderful person, with an amazing talent. Quite a few, really. Do you have any of her powers?" He nodded, and looked around furtively, as if they were being watched. They were alone on the boardwalk.
"I-I can protect myself. And heal people. But she was probably so much more powerful than me, I'm useless compared-" Garnet placed a finger on his lips gently.
"You are just what we need. Would you come with us? We could really use your help."
"M-my help?" He whispered. "But I'm not Mom, I can't-"
"Yes, you can." She said, and he fell silent. He pursed his lips, staring up at her.
"... I'll help, if I really can. But... I want Lapis to stay with me if she wants! She ran away for a reason. I think she's unhappy. I... I want her to be happy." Garnet glanced at Amethyst, who looked more pensive than anything. Garnet supposed she was in a dark place, just shocked that Rose was... no longer with them. But, Rose had always been unpredictable, and now they knew that she hadn't truly abandoned them. She shrugged, and ruffled the kid's hair. He startled under her touch, and Amethyst laughed quietly.
"If he can heal White, then Lapis can do what she wants, right?" She said, and the kid looked between them.
Garnet smiled. So kind. So familiar. "Of course. It's a deal, Mr...?"
"Oh, Steven. Steven Universe." He said, wiping his nose one last time.
wWw
She weaved her fingers through the luminous plants, their white light causing odd, specter-like shadows to stretch around the room. They were beautiful, but lacked their full luster without their true Queen. Her heart clenched, and she felt herself wilt inside, like she too was on the cusp of death. She sat atop her borrowed throne, feeling for all the world like a forlorn traitor to her dearest companion. The guilt, on top of the trauma of Howlite's rapid deterioration, had sucked away her vitality, leaving her a husk, a ghost. Empty, lifeless, dull, gaunt. She might as well be dead- she felt as much. She didn't look up when Peridot entered the throne room, head bowed. She couldn't stand to see Cymophane in her present condition.
"Yes, Peridot?" She intoned, voice without inflection. Without life. To any other, she would sound careless, but Peridot knew better. She was suffering quietly, locked away behind a mask of stone.
"Jasper is preparing to depart, and all the arrangements for White Diamond have been made. She is as comfortable as she can be."
"Good. All there is to do is wait, then. Life is so fragile, so capricious. Don't you agree, my dear?" Cymophane said, releasing the glowing tendrils and resting her hands in her lap. She looked positively regal, ramrod straight in that throne, weathered and worn down but still so tall. She looked away from Peridot, not really expecting an answer, and sighed.
"Y-your highness?" Peridot called, concerned. Cymophane's brows lowered, and she bared her teeth.
"Don't call me that!" She hissed, and Peridot recoiled. She began to inch out the doorway, frightened for not only herself but Cymophane as well. Perhaps she just needed to be left alone. She couldn't do much when it came to her creator, but this, she could do.
"Wait, wait. Peridot, I apologize. I'm very high strung as of late. Please, return." Peridot willed herself to ignore her flight instinct. She complied, bowing slightly in front of the stand-in Queen. Cymophane smiled fleetingly, and Peridot shuddered a bit. Her master may not admit it, but she was broken. One could see it in her hollow eyes.
"Actually, Peridot, I think you deserve a break. You may accompany Jasper to the surface, if you so please. I hear the stars are lovely." But Peridot could tell that there was no room for negotiation. Cymophane wanted Peridot away from her, for purposes that the artificial Mer did not want or need to ponder. One look at the Yellow Diamond, once a symbol of guidance and control to the kingdom she helped foster, would reveal the answer. The Mer that sat before her was not Yellow Diamond, if a Diamond at all. She was weak, a shadow of the powerful advisor to White Diamond.
Cymophane wanted to die.
And she knew very well that Peridot would never let her go through with such a thing.
But Peridot was nothing if not a faithful assistant. She nodded once, and held back her tears at Cymophane's grateful smile. She would join Jasper on the surface. But, when they located Lapis, she would bring the young princess back, even if she had to fight tooth and nail. She would save Cymophane from herself. Or die trying.