A/N: A big shout out to the kind reviews, I really appreciate them ^^ Also a thank you to those who have been enjoying this story, it is a lot of fun to work on! Let alone, I actually was able to toss up a good sized chapter this time, and next week I Should be able to upload another if time/life permits. We shall see, for now though, enjoy!
...
The air was muggy and warm, a wisp of a cool breeze graced upon her pale skin causing Selenite to shiver and snuggle all the deeper in her bedding; leaning closer to the larger gem beside her as they sat along the front step of the low porch that still carried its fading scent after being stained a few days ago. Fireflies flickered warmly about the night landscape, only a few plants were barely illuminated by the firelight of the lamp sitting along the porch railing. This was a good night, they had just finished the shed that contained the well and garden tools, the fresh smell of paint still lingered in the cooling night air. The continuing breeze tossed a few strands of her pink colored bangs into her face causing an agitated breath that the larger gem responded with a mild chuckle. Selenite uttered a weak squeak when the large soft purple arm coiled around her shoulders, pulling her all the closer to the larger gem beside her.
"You fuss over the weirdest things..."
Selenite merely glared up at the large soldier as she stubbornly lifted a hand and tucked the loose strands of hair behind her ear causing the Amethyst to laugh all the louder, causing the fireflies to flit a bit further away.
"Like I said!"
"Must you pick on me?"
Selenite mumbled huffedly, yet instead of giving the petite gem a response: Selenite uttered a sudden 'eep' of a cry as Amethyst with her free hand, reached over and ruffled the top of her hair causing any attempt of keeping it tucked and contained from the breeze.
"I have to, to keep your ego in check."
Shoving her hand off, Selenite with a crooked grin, went about trying to save whatever she could on the calamity of her hair. With a resigned sigh, all the gem could do was tug the hair tie out and have the soft purple band come to rest around her wrist as her hair of dark brown and pink hung down over her face. Something catching her eye though, the pale gem, looked over her shoulder as the front door was removed from its hinges, just resting up against the entry way to block the outside elements from getting inside.
"Huh... was that always like that?"
"Sel..."
The door forgotten, Selenite warmly looked back to Amethyst, her expression lit with a smile as she reaching over, fondled a large rough tendril of the soldiers hair within her fingers. The warmth of her bed was inviting, the blanket loosely draped over her form as she sat along the porch front.
"Would we want to lay down soon?"
Upon Selenite's words, Amethyst's smile quickly faded, a brief glint of a spike jutting from her back, ignored, unseen, the corners of her mouth still upturned but only ever so slight. Seeing this change, the air around them becoming cooler, Selenite gaining her own worried expression, releasing Amethyst's hair, reached tenderly up, cupping the side of the large gems face as she searched Amethyst's violet eyes.
"What is wrong?"
"Selenite... I wanted this to last longer; I am sorry..."
Confused, Selenite laced her fingers through the rough lavender hair once more, as she gave a smile even if lopsided and sort of failed as her confusion and worry remained. Rays of soft sunlight slid through the night air, particles of dust flitted about as a large form hovered over her, yet Selenite ignored it as she focused on Amethyst.
"what are you talking about?"
She could not understand what it was she saw, it was for just a second... Spikes violently lanced over Amethyst's form, eyes gone, jaws mutated, body warped and; corrupted. Whirling around, jagged clawed hands reared up to strike, the corrupted beast roaring in rage! In a blink, her eyes wide, breathed hitched as terror lanced through her chest like ice, Selenite looked around... The night air though continuing to grow chilly, was calm, the fireflies continued to dance around lazily, the soft sunlight just beginning to drift over Selenite's face and there sat Amethyst beside her, still wearing that sad, solemn smile. Her eyes darted around for a moment, trying to spy the corruption of her lost love, yet saw nothing, only the feeling of icy terror hung thickly within her chest.
"I-I am scared... What is going on?"
She weakly shuddered, her eyes falling to the quartz soldier as Amethyst's small smile, grew ever so slight, whereupon she roughly rested a large hand upon Selenite's shoulder and gripped it tightly, giving a faint shake as she laid upon her bed with her blanket nearly fallen completely off, chilling her form.
"That is how life is, it can be scary, that is why you need to appreciate what you have even if... it is short lived. Thank you for showing this soldier what life meant, even if it didn't last as long as we had wanted it to."
"Stop talking like this Amethyst... you are scaring me... please stop..."
The landscape around her began to crack and fray, any color turned shades of grey to black, the fireflies flittered out of sight as the stars and moon high above began to fade with the continuing growing brightness of the sunlight from her bedroom window. The soldier while she did not say anything to Selenite's fearful words, her violet eyes became over bright as the hand gripping her shoulder, squeezed tightly.
"Amethyst..."
Desperate to rid her fear, her terror as it consumed her, Selenite threw her blanket off of her form, the mattress; porch squeaked to her rising form as her other hand flew to Amethyst's neck. Her lips met hard with the large soldiers, tears slid from her shut eyes as she held her desperately, hands gripping the larger gems neck and shoulder line. This could not be good bye, not yet, not now! The warmth of sunlight spilled on her back, the beams of light cascading from the window in her bedroom as the fear faded to bewildered confusion as upon her eyes cracking open, stared into the single, wide surprised yellow eye of-
"Jasper?!"
The word was whispered loudly, with a fatigued husky tone rasping through it... Breaking away, her hands quickly releasing the large gem, throwing herself back down onto the mattress causing it to groan in protest, Selenite's hand flew to her mouth, covering it as her eyes were wide with shear terror, her conscious mind rapidly pulling apart the dream from reality. It had been a dream, all of it... all of it that is, but-
"Did I... shit, shit, shit, shit... what are you even doing in here?!"
Throwing the remaining blankets from her tousled form, Selenite shoving passed the Jasper who seemed to give ground easily if not out of just shock, the pale gem raced through her small cabin and with a violent slamming of her body to the broken front door causing it to fall with a loud crash to the ground, stumbled out past the collapsed door and once beyond the porch, her bare feet crushing the grass of her front yard, did the gem cease her panicked run. Face held upward to the sunlight sky, her breaths deep and heavily drawn, breathing in the scents of the early spring upon the lands, her ears listened to the soft chortle of birds off in the distance in the forest surrounding the small cabin. With a wobbly breath, a tear sliding down her face, Selenite dared upon her eyes and upon looking forward, saw merely inches from her, the large maple tree she had planted a while ago since when... Lifting her hand up to the small notch where the trunk split into two upon growing around something in its younger years, where exposed ever so slight near entirely consumed by the trees trunk, a soft white bubble of light, where the tree had grown around, that contained the shards of...
"Amethyst..."
The corrupted beast screeched it fury as its limb dangled, useless at its side, yet the light binding its form together was already mending it as Selenite huffing heavily, weapon in hand, stared at the beast. This was not real... how could it be?! That creature, that... corruption was Amethyst! She should have been cured damn it! This was not how it was suppose to go! Eyes flew wide as the beast roaring, charged with a wicked speed, complete disregard to the damaged limb. Her blade flew, instinct of her creation and of the gem war rushing forward as there... in one flash of light... She saw Amethyst, her eyes tear stained, a sad smile, a nod of her head before... it all shattered before her, the one she loved, her reason of living, her happiness, her everything was gone...
Her hand fell to her side as she with a weak breath, her head pressed onto the trees trunk, her hair slipping down from her shoulders and concealing her face. What had that dream meant, it bothered her a lot... never has she had such a pleasant dream that merged with reality, it had seemed as if Amethyst herself was speaking to her through her dream; how was that possible though... she was locked away here, and corrupted... Even if she had the ability to uncorrupt Amethyst for a short while, in the end, the diamonds final weapon had proven it was all too much. Her chest heaved, teeth were clenched as a wave of agony washed over her, her hand flying up to her night shirt and gripped the material tightly. It was like a wound ripped back open, memories, the laughter, the love, the enjoyment, the anger, the sorrow, the final farewell when her blade... cracked her... it all of it came rushing back.
"Fuck!"
She screamed loudly, her voice warping to that of a pain racked sob as with tears falling freely down her face, Selenite collapsed to her knees as her other hand, fingers splayed, covered her face while her sobbing cries fell forceful from her lips.
"I'm sorry... I am so sorry..."
Over and over she repeated these words as her voice became horse, the tears soaking through her hand and falling to the grass below. She felt the blanket drape over her back, the sudden presence behind her, the warm blanket upon her... it silenced her sobs, the tears stil leaked yet with a shuddering breath, Selenite blinking to clear her vision, meekly looked over her shoulder as there stood the Jasper, yet she was not looking to the pale gem, instead she was looking to the tree, her eyes narrowed as she spied the small white bubble of light near concealed by the tree growing over it.
Seeing her gaze, Selenite following it, gave into a pain sigh as she reaching over to her shoulders, pulled the blanket all the more across her front, not even risking standing up.
"That... is Amethyst..."
It was all she could provide, yet as she watched the Jasper step closer to the tree, the hard look her single yellow eye held... Selenite didn't feel she needed to say more as she hung her head and felt the fresh wave of tears slip down her face. Rolling from her knees and sitting heavily upon the ground, Selenite dabbed the corner of the blanket along her eyes as she heard the larger gem move, and looking up, saw the Jasper having turned, was looming over her, looking down right at her. With a sniffling breath, her eyes became downcast...
"She... was all I had... I failed her... like I will you... the corruption will consume you no matter what I try... I am sorry. I am a failure... I-"
Selenite fell silent when the heavy hand fell onto her head, her gaze turned upward once more. The touch was not the same yet felt so familiar, and her bottom lip quivered as she felt a hot tear escape her eyes.
"I miss her..."
The Jasper came down upon a single knee, her large height still seemingly looming over her, yet for once there was no unease, just no energy, nothing; a creeping numbness. The large hand lifted from on top of her head and for a moment hovered almost awkwardly over her shoulder before falling down, alongside the soldier. Had this not been a horrifying reminder of everything she had lost, Selenite may have laughed at the awkwardness of the situation. They were a sad sight to be had, that was for sure... A soldier who did not know what to do with herself, and an assassin who had no heart to do anything but play as a human and garden.
A few moments had slid past them as they remained there, Jasper along one knee and Selenite promptly sitting in the grass, the morning dew along the plant life seeping into her pajama bottoms. It was not until the heavy breeze racing through the forest and upon their forms causing a shudder through Selenite as she tucked the blanket all the more over her form.
Grunting, Selenite with a form that seemed suddenly stiff, she forced herself to stand up while the Jasper still upon one knee, focused upon her the one yellow eye. With a small smile along her tear streaked face, Selenite held her hand out to Jasper as silence hung between them. Unspoken, the understanding of her offer not missed as the large warrior reaching upward, grasped the hand and with a heavy step back and pull of her petite form, Selenite was rather bemused to see the soldier rise unlike her previous thought of the attempt was a nice notion but not productive in any way. Still, stepping back upon Jasper rising to her full height, Selenite looked up at her for a moment before with a final tug of the blanket around her shoulders as if in a means of silent thank you, turned and began walking back toward her cabin; all that was left of her past life with Amethyst, and why she had remained after all this time since.
Stopping at the entry way, Selenite took a few moments to appreciate that the door had been lifted off of the porch when she had collided through it, and leaning against the cabin wall just to the left of the entry way. Walking in though, Selenite found herself stopping once more, this time her eyes roved over the interior, the memories of her past hanging there thickly... it was Amethyst who liked that wall sconce, the kitchen sink... seeing the forgotten mug of tea by the bathroom entrance, she gave into a small pained smile, almost hearing Amethyst's snark remark on it... Feeling the soldier more so than hear her approach, Selenite side stepped to allow Jasper to enter as well.
"We built this place together... it was our home until... I- Jasper."
Turning to face the soldier who seemed a sudden startled by the motion of the pale gem, Selenite ignored the expression as she attempted a feeble smile toward Jasper.
"I-I... I wanted to say thank you... for the blanket, for... being here in general... I had forgotten what it was like to not... be alone. I am sorry for what happened earlier, that does not normally happen, not a fan of feeling like this or crying... Dreams can do strange things..."
"Dreams?"
That remark alone made Selenite turn and look to the soldier with a dumbfounded look. At first she was going to say that did not make sense, yet it had only been what, not a full two weeks since Jasper came here and became uncorrupted? Before that, she was a soldier sent to- take out the crystal gems and take in their leader. Even if a earth created Jasper, she was still from home world and sleep was a unknown to them. Her mouth closed up as she processed this, how to explain dreams... Well the gem did sleep on her couch so there was that to work with. As Selenite began to think over it all, her own mind felt fatigued, it seemed her world decided to collapse around her and it had only been maybe even an hour since she awoke but it felt so much longer.
"Dreams happen sometimes when you are sleeping, like when you had fallen asleep on the couch. Dreams are either real memories that have happened, or false memories your mind creates from your daily life, be it stress, sorrow, happiness or even anger. Sleep itself is how the organics of this world recharge their energy... gems can absorb energy this way as well, and frankly... it is pretty much how I feel right now even though I just woke up not long ago..."
Picking up her feet, Selenite stumbled her way to the very broken, sunken in couch, and uncaring to the damage, plopped right into it, sinking in a lot more than in the past. That was the last bit she needed, it started off as a small chuckle, than warped to a giggle as she burying her face into the blanket, felt as if she was slipping into a madness. The couch groaned deeply as it sank all the more in on itself when Jasper placed herself beside Selenite, yet did nothing further and the pale gem was thankful; she dared not even think of what the soldier may think to what had happened when she was pulling out of sleep this morning. That alone made Selenite feel her face flush with color, burying it all the more into the blanket, trying to act as if she was merely stressing out; which was true was it not?
"What tasks did you want me to aid in with this... changing of the season as you stated?"
That was such an out of place question it snapped Selenite back to full reality as she for just a moment, stared blankly to Jasper who watched her with what seemed like a bored expression. What did she mean- Wait... Oh right! Last night she had offered Jasper a place of work even if it was basic, simplistic work at that, well sort of? Gardening did tend to take some time, and draining on the energy levels let alone the wanting to keep working after so much time is spent out there. Still though, Selenite's expression brightened as she stood quickly up, missing the look Jasper gave her when she had a sudden change in mood, before making her way toward the bedroom while calling over her shoulder.
"Let me get changed and I will meet you outside!"
...
Where she had first thought it was going to be maybe a few minutes of explaining before the quartz would grow bored; two hours had slid by unnoticed by either gems as Selenite was gleefully taking Jasper about her property, pointing out all of the plants both native and those she brought in and planted, explaining the differences of weeds, ivy, thorns and other obnoxious plants that were invasive to the garden. At one point, she cried out and wrenched the wild fern Jasper who had so easily plucked it from the ground, from her grasp and plopped it back into the hole, tucking soil around the now rather sad looking plant as she explained ferns were wanted and loved here. Then the weather came into play, how the rains were what helped keep the plants green and thriving, yet in the hotter days when rain was scarce, they had to use the well in the shed, pump up the circulation so the hose could be used; seasons were discussed, the shed was opened and all the tools were pulled forth for her to show Jasper and allow the soldier to hold and get a hands on experience in a small patch of soil Selenite had been tending for the upcoming spring.
When the sun faded behind the soft white and grey cloud cover, a chilly wind blustered through causing Selenite to give a shiver and gain a raised eyebrow expression from Jasper. Flushing, she gave into a weak smile and tried to explain that because she took on a form of a human, digestive system and all, she could feel the elements a bit more than a gem would. Yet before more questions could be asked, especially in regards of the need for clothing, her back pocket vibrated, and upon pulling her phone out, already seeing even more questions in Jasper's eye, ignored her as she answering, began to guide the delivery truck up her long narrow driveway from the road side. Typically she never allowed any to know where she lived, this though was an exception... she needed a new couch damn it! Frankly she was getting rather tired of talking, thinking or hearing about it in her own head.
Shutting the screen off with confidence the driver could make their way up here, Selenite tucking the device in her back pocket, turned and smiled up to Jasper who held a very peculiar expression of what seemed mixed amusement and confusion.
"The delivery truck is coming this way with the new couch, which means we need to get that old one out of the cabin-"
"Does it need to remain in its current state?"
"Er... No, no they did not say it had to be, why do you, Jasper, where are you- oh..."
As soon as she had given Jasper the answer the soldier clearly was waiting for, Selenite watched her go into the cabin and before the petite gem could get her next question out, Selenite had her answer when she heard the wood and cloth splinter and shred. It pained her heart only a small bit when hunks of unrecognizable fabric, stuffing and wood was tossed out in large chunks from the cabin. It was one of the last things she and Amythest had purchased, then again it is probably by how old that couch was, why it broke so easy when another soldier gem had sat upon it...
Selenite only blushed all the more when the delivery men stepping out of the truck cab, paused and looked very confused to the ruined pile of former couch. While upon trying to explain to them why it was in such a condition, Jasper had emerged from the cabin and gained their startled yells. Gems were known, even if their actual appearance was rare, and to many humans, were still feared even if a thousand years ago, granted thanks to those... crystal gems, there was some that saw gems in a good light. To be feared or thrown in with that crystal lot; it was no surprise why Selenite went with the third option of acting like a human. Speaking quickly to the humans that Jasper was a friend, the soldier ignored them, the humans meaning nothing to her clearly with how she sneered when walking past and headed to the back of the truck. Within seconds though, Jasper returned and upon looming over the men who fell a few steps back, merely held her hand out to them.
"Key."
"Oh!"
The thinner of the two men quickly fumbled in his work uniform and upon withdrawing a key, dropped it in Jasper's hand who merely looking to Selenite with a bored expression, turned and returned to the truck.
"S-She is safe then?"
Selenite sighing, rubbed her eyes as she felt oddly far more fatigued than normal before returning her attention to the humans before her.
"Yes, the gem wars were ages ago and o- their home world has no interest in this planet."
The men fell silent once more as Jasper with the soft yellow green couch propped easily over a shoulder, braced by one large arm, came over and merely holding her hand out and dropping the key to the ground, stared at the men as if a challenge before guiding herself into the cabin with ease, a loud thump indicating the couch had made it to the designated spot.
"Thank you gentlemen, again apologies for the ruin of the old one, I appreciate you coming out here."
Grabbing a few crumpled bills from her pocket, she held it out to the eldest of the two and with a nod of her head to dismiss them both, she crept her way back inside, carefully watching them as they disdainfully stared to the pile of ruin before beginning to gather it up to toss in the back of their truck. Sighing, happy to be done with that interaction, Selenite turning, looked to the main living space of her small cabin as there resided the light yellow green couch and siting on top of it was Jasper whose arms were crossed lazily over her front while she continued to still wear that bored expression. Selenite giving a crooked grin, leaned her weight onto one leg as she rested a hand along her raised hip while eyeing the soldier.
"You could have been a little nicer to them, it is not like you will be seeing them any time soon or ever again."
"Why? They are humans, here only to drop off what you ordered and would rather stand about than do their task. They are not known by you, so why should I do anything further than finish what they failed? They mean nothing to you or I."
For a moment, Selenite opened her mouth to combat the words Jasper had spoken yet, clapped it shut as she thought it over. To a gem, that was true, the humans task was to deliver a couch, not to be friendly, not to do anything further but that and Jasper had seen to finalizing the 'mission' as it were. A soldier with no purpose from their Diamond, it was clear now Jasper was beginning to seek out her own purpose and in this instance, that was helping remove the old and bring in the new. With a sigh followed by a dry chuckle, Selenite moving, came over and turning her back to the plush furniture, plopped down, allowing the firm and comfortable cushions settle around her as she leaned back into it.
"I had forgotten what a new couch felt like... Thank you for the help, I really appreciate it."
Selenite mumbled merrily as she allowed the comfort soothe over any remaining anxiety and stress she had been feeling this morning. Outside there was the faint rumble of the trucks engine turning over and the crunch of gravel as it began to make its way from her property. Sucking in a deep breath through her teeth, the pale gem closing her eyes, lolled her head along the back of the couch as she exhaled slowly.
"Before all I did was garden, drink tea, read and go to work... shit, what time is it?!"
Her train of thought lost, eyes flying open, she looked to the clock along the wall and saw the oncoming hour of two in the afternoon. Still an hour before needing to head out- Jasper was staring right at her...
"What?"
...
"Um... Sel..."
"I can explain, just... Jasper, you can sit right there."
It was a bit of a disaster, Jasper had refused to remain behind, yet Selenite could understand, there was really nothing at the cabin that would sustain the soldiers attention and she dared not allow the quartz to garden just yet for fear of more incidents like the fern... Upon pointing to the booth at the front of the cafe, Selenite was grateful after getting focused on by that stern gaze, the large gem lumbered to the booth and sat down heavily, leaning against the booths back with arms crossed. Looking back to Lauren, the tall thin woman stood there trying to hold a friendly smile on her freckled face, yet the unease hung there in her brown eyes as she kept glancing over the gem that was inside her cafe in the early afternoon. Gingerly tucking a few strands of blond hair behind her ear, the woman turned her attention to Selenite and giving her a nod, turned and walked around the cafe's counter, through the small kitchen into the back office. Wincing, Selenite looked to Jasper for a brief moment and with a sigh, trudged after her boss, her left hand instinctively reaching up and cupping her upper right arm where the gem was concealed beneath her dark red sweater.
Shutting the door as quiet as she could, Selenite guided herself to the simple plastic chair in front of Lauren's desk that was covered in papers and a laptop with the screensaver of random images fading in and out. Lauren, running a hand over her eyes, let loose a breath and steepling her fingers, looked to Selenite with a stern, worn gaze.
"Selene... I take it you are friends with... those gem beings, but to bring one here into my establishment may not be the best choice when our customers may become uneasy with one... so large. For pete sake, their skin is not even the same color as humans! They look like they came from a crayon box..."
Had she not been feeling already stressed out, Selenite may have laughed at that comment, a random thought of gems in a crayon box all lined up... coughing to cover up the small giggle, Selenite returned her attentions to Lauren who was tapping a finger along the desks surface, clearly awaiting an answer.
"Sh- sorry... I have had a lot on my mind."
"Clearly... so in regards of the gem?"
"Um... well, she is newly met and I did not want to leave her home, i-in case she may be bored! I trust her; entirely!"
That was a lie...
"Look, let me talk to her, maybe just for today she can stay as long as she remains quiet and pleasant?"
The chair creaked as Lauren leaned back into it, a pen in her hand, the end of it in the corner of her mouth as she chewed it, her eyes distant in thought. With a slow exhale, Lauren gave a small nod as she set the pen onto the desks surface amidst the paper scattered about.
"Fine; only today though, and she best behave herself and not worry any of my customers."
Selenite felt relief wash over her as she eagerly nodded while following Lauren's motions, stood up and made for the door.
"Of course, I promise, let me just talk to her real quick! Thank you so much!"
