"Just promise me you'll be careful already." Bixbite voiced.
Garnet frowned as she stepped out of the temple and onto the beach.
"I don't understand...why won't you let me go with you on this mission?"
Bixbite clenched her fists.
The war had finally ended but at a great weren't many of them left but they kept to their vows of protecting and caring for this planet. Which meant the after effects of war left a lot of clean up, and recovery missions. They were all sent out on missions frequently, sometimes for years but years meant almost nothing to a Gem...but not these two fusions.
"It will be fine Garnet. I'll be back before you know it.." She said nonchalantly waving her away.
The problem was..she was lying. Garnet didn't know that but she did feel unease.
Neither of them ever found the words to express their feelings, it was just...too confusing, but regardless they had stuck as close to each other as they could in the past few decades.
"..T-This is a solo mission..Rose's orders.."
There was her fluster again. Garnet tilted her head.
"...Rose has never had an issue with us going on missions before..."
It was the dead of night. The others were either in the temple resting or on their own missions.
So her and Garnet was having this argument on their own and in private.
"Garnet I'll be fine." She pushed getting angry.
She turned to walk away but Garnet had rushed after her when the uneasiness raised in her. She grabbed her wrist in a harsh grip and forced her to face her.
Garnet's face was emotionless but Bixbite could tell her sudden burst of anger bothered her.
Garnet took a moment to calm herself with a sigh at Bixbite's shocked expression.
Bixbite sighed as her mask melted. She thought that this would have been the easiest part...she was after all good at lying and hiding from the universe.
She hesitated for a moment but gently reached out and placed her hand on Garnet's cheek.
"...Garnet...you have to let me go..." She smiled but the emotion didn't reach her eyes. "..it was a good run..."
Her words had started a panic in Garnet. She shifted uncomfortably..her only clue to her hidden panic.
"...Turns out...I can't break that curse fast enough.." Garnet remained quiet but her hand tightened on Bixbite wrist. "...we're not going to make it.."
The sudden anger that raised in Garnet she grasped at desperately not wanting the sadness dwelling at the edges.
"Why didn't you say anything?...I could have helped find a way to heal you." She said through gritted teeth. "Rose could heal you."
"...This goes far beyond Rose's abilities...it goes far beyond my own...it's all my own fault anyway...so it's what I deser-"
"Stop." Garnet demanded firmly.
The silence that followed was long as they just stared at each other.
"...please Garnet...let me go...we want to die together..."
At those words Bixbite began to tremble and tears began rolling down her face, her mask completely broken.
It was the first time Garnet had ever seen her cry...her anger was gone.
Garnet let her wrist go and gently grasped her shoulders and brought her into her arms.
"...there has to be a way..."
"...we don't want to be just in some bubble in the temple...there's no greater shame...and-"
"You're worried about proud in a time like this?" Garnet said in a monotone.
"N-No..I just..."
There was one way...but Bixbite didn't know if it would work...she was more sure it would shatter both her counterparts but she didn't want to cause Garnet anymore pain with false hope. She didn't want to cause herself anymore pain with false hope...she was preparing for her death...and she couldn't ask Garnet to also...she just couldn't.
"...I...I wish we never met..."
Garnet tensed at her words and she bit her tongue at the pain that hit her.
"...because...all I'd ever do is cause you pain..I knew..getting close to you..getting close to anyone would only end in pain...but still I..." A sob came out of her and she covered her mouth in despair.

Understanding Garnet relaxed and pulled her glasses from her face. She lifted Bixbite head to look at her.
"...I don't want you to remember me..." Garnet's eyes grow sad at her broken words. "...don't remember me.."
"Bixbite...don't say that...and don't go..stay..." She placed her hand on her head. "..with me...here."
Bixbite gave a small smile at her words. She grabbed Garnet's hands and turned them to reveal her gems. Carefully she caressed both trying to memorize their cut, facets, and shape by feel alone.
Standing on her tippy toes she kissed Garnet not daring to close her eyes. This could very well be the last time she saw her.
"...I'm sorry...I love you.." She whispered as she slowly backed away.
Garnet stood frozen watching her back away and right was she was able to form words Bixbite literally vanished from her sight...as if she hadn't been there to begin with...
After a moment in shocked silence Garnet covered her face with a hand and tears fell silently...

Far off in the distance Crystal and Scarlet stood on a hill looking back towards the beach that housed their leader-and friend-, their remaining companions and a fusion gem they cared about greatly. They had unfused hoping that if Garnet came and looked for Bixbite she wouldn't find them. Crystal sat on the now light maroon big cat's back.
She looked down at Scar's corrupted form and kissed her head gently, at her pained mew, this was for the best.
They turned and fled into the forest.
Neither knew that they had gotten their wish they requested...