See disclaimer in chapters one and two.
The sound of waves against the hull and cries of seagulls filled the air as Pearl leaned against the railing. Since human technology hadn't advanced much and there weren't any working warp pads at their destinations, Pearl and Garnet had boarded a ship. Most of the crew avoided them and cast dark looks their way whenever they saw the pair. It had to do with their irrational superstitions. Pearl didn't mind, however, instead enjoying the scent of salt in the air. The journey so far had been smooth.
She heard footsteps on the deck behind her, and smiled recognizing the way Garnet walked. The fusion stopped next to her, leaning against the railing too. She wore a small smile. Pearl moved closer looping her arm around her mate's, blue dusting her cheeks. It felt nice being able to relax. After all the fighting and missions, she was glad Garnet had suggested a vacation. That it included places Pearl had wanted to visit wasn't a coincidence, she's sure.
"Enjoyin' the trip so far?" Garnet asked breaking the easy silence between them. Pearl's free hand rose, fingers fluttering in the air as Pearl spelled yes midair. She looked up, an adorable smile reflecting in the fusion's visor. Garnet chuckled, thinking the smaller gem looked cute when she fidgeted. She felt Pearl remove her hand to sign more clearly, enabling her to use a wider vocabulary.
Yes. This was a wonderful idea. Oh, I can't wait to see what their sword techniques are, how they developed them. They won't be nearly as advanced as gem technology, of course, but it'll be so interesting to see how they work. Do you think they'll have plays too? Hopefully they will. Remember the first one we saw together with Amethyst? Pearl asked.
"Yeah," Garnet said, recalling how cute Pearl had looked that day. "I'm sure they'll 'ave plays there too. Maybe we could visit some o' the temples." At the suggestion, powder blue eyes lit up. They continued their discussion of what they might do when they arrived, making sure to include visiting any Gem centers not destroyed by the war for this planet. The way they kept to themselves put the ship's crew at ease. Pearl often paused to touch Garnet's forearm, a gesture the fusion associated with laughter.
Before long, the sun began to set. Neither Gem seemed to notice it while talking about their plans. During a lull in conversation Pearl glanced at her mate, taking the chance to admire her. She'd memorized the way Garnet looked, talked, and moved, and still she found something new to admire in her partner every time she saw her. This time, she soaked in the sight of Garnet's profile in the starlight, a sight smirk quirking her full lips and one blue eye watching her. Pearl wasn't sure when Garnet vanished her protective shades away.
"You're starin'." Garnet whispered, amusement lacing her words. Pearl blushed so much her gem started to glow, but didn't lower her gaze. Instead she matched Garnet's look with a defiant smirk. A hand reached out, tugging her flush against Garnet. The fusion's smirk grew. She ignored the disapproving whispers of the other passengers on deck, tilting Pearl's face up and kissing her. A surprised huff escaped her, but before she could kiss Garnet back the ship rocked violently.
Garnet tightened her grip on Pearl's waist. Summoning her visor, she looked around for the source of the interruption. She felt Pearl squirm and released her hold on her. The white gem immediately went to check on the passengers and crew. Seeing her partner taking care of them, Garnet looked at the waves, searching for the disturbance. Her foresight gave her only seconds to react this time; she jumped back just in time to avoid the large spiny fin that rose suddenly. Behind her, Pearl stomped irritably.
The ship's crew hurried around decks trying to keep the ship under control. With all the chaos going on Garnet felt a bit annoyed. She couldn't pinpoint where the water creature was, although she was certain it was a corrupted gem. Pearl appeared next to her, glaive in head. She leaned over the railing lighting up the dark water with her gem. An enormous silhouette passed under the boat. There wasn't a gem immediately noticeable, but Pearl suspected it was hidden in a more defensible spot on its body. What do we do, Garnet?
"We have to take care of this before it destroys the ship." Pearl nodded. She frowned, more than a little irritated at having to fight on her vacation. "Any ideas?"
We could jump overboard and fight it in the water. Or one of us could stay on the ship and defend the humans. Either way, it has the advantage here. Pearl mouthed. She knew already which plan her lover would choose. True to form, a hand on her shoulder suggested she stay on deck to protect the passengers and crew. Pearl nodded. Then Garnet summoned a pair of goggles and dove into the ocean.