Jasper panted heavily as she ran on all fours. She didn't hold anything back, out in the country land nothing could stop her. The quartz gem glanced behind her and smirked at the cloud of dirt rushing up violently into the air as her feet and hands dug into the ground to push herself farther. Jasper let out a carefree laugh and jumped just in time over a rock jutting up from the ground. As she landed, a roar reached her ears and Lion appeared before her for only a second before he lagged behind. Jasper gave a pleased growl as she skirted around another rock.
She needed this. She needed to feel the ground give way under her hands and feet and the wind tug harshly at her hair. She needed the adrenaline rush through her body at every pound of her heart. But above all else, she needed to get away from the beach house and from that damn fusion's smirk.
A frustrated snarl tore from Jasper's throat as she abruptly stopped. Lion teleported a few feet in front of her and he quickly padded next to her before flopping down. Jasper sat and grunted when Lion laid his head in her lap to be petted. Jasper reached over to run her fingers through his mane when the sun made the bracelet adorning her wrist glint. Her eyes narrowed at the flashing green bulb, signaling that the tracking device was on. Pearl had insisted that Jasper wear the bracelet when she went out but Garnet had said it wouldn't be necessary with that knowing smirk.
"Damn the fusion to whatever hell the humans believe in!" Jasper roared, slamming her fist into the ground. A cloud of debris burst from the floor and a crater was revealed when the quartz gem lifted her fist.
An agitated hiss brought Jasper's attention to Lion. The animal glared at her for a moment and sneezed pointedly but he didn't lift his head from her lap.
Jasper returned the hiss but scratched behind Lion's right ear as a way of apologizing. "What does that fusion know?" she asked Lion, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "Besides everything."
Lion yawned as an answer and closed his eyes. His tail smacked against the ground once as if signaling that he no longer wished to be in the conversation. Soon, his breathing slowed and the pink animal was napping, his head still on Jasper's lap.
The quartz gem gave a sigh and carefully shifted Lion's head so it was laying on the ground. Lion whined almost like a dog and rolled over so he could rest his head on his forepaws.
Jasper got up and with a final glance at the slumbering creature, started to walk. She looked about her and on a sudden whim, turned so she was strolling to the east. The quartz gem continued in this direction, her heart quickening from reasons other than running. She knew that she might get in trouble for doing this but the idea had already taken root in her mind and bloomed into a deadly flower.
A building rose in the distance and the quartz gem's pace hastened before her impulsive courage ran out or sense overtook her emotion. The barn looked no different than before but unlike before, Jasper's body warmed instead of freezing in fear at the sight of the open doors. She took a deep breath and smiled at the recent scent of the water gem. Jasper looked up at the sound of people talking and saw that Peridot was there, watching television from the truck's bed in the wall. The knowledge of seeing her in a similar situation when she first came to the barn struck her as odd. So many things were different now, Jasper being chief among them.
"Peridot," she called up.
The gem technician jumped at the voice but quickly smiled when she saw Jasper looking up at her. Before Jasper could help her or even mention assisting her, Peridot jumped down from the truck's bed. She landed with a thud and backpaddled for a few moments but she caught her balance. Peridot's cheeks sported an emerald blush when she straightened her back. "Jasper, I haven't seen you since the library."
It was true. Once or twice, Steven had brought over Peridot to the beach house to show her his new comics but each time, Jasper slipped out before the green gem could see her. The quartz gem was still too confused about her feelings for the gem and seeing her would make them even more perplexing.
"I was busy," Jasper grunted. She winced inside her mind at how Peridot's eyes became a smidge downcast than before. The technician probably thought Jasper didn't deem her worthy to say what she was doing. "I was reading the Spirit Morph Saga," she explained.
Peridot cocked her head in bewilderment. "You read?" Jasper grunted an affirmative. "I thought jaspers were all too stupid to read." A loud clap sounded as Peridot slapped her hand to her mouth but the words had already come out. "Wait, that's not what I um- what I should have said was uh," she trailed off, her hands holding on to one another and her eyes trained on the ground.
Jasper shook her head to show no harm was done. "It's okay, I don't think any jasper could read before me." Her chest puffed up in pride. "I suppose that I am the strongest and smartest jasper now." The quartz gem grinned at how Peridot's eyes lifted from the ground and a small smile took place of that worried frown. Jasper looked behind Peridot into the barn. "Where's Lapis?"
"She's off with Steven," Peridot answered, her voice cautious. "He wanted to show her his new comics and she wanted to give him some coupons she found in one of her magazines."
So that's why Steven was in such a hurry this morning, Jasper thought to herself. She could not deny the disappointment in her belly but it was overridden by curiosity at the sounds coming from the television on the truck. Jasper cocked her head as she heard two characters talk back and forth, something about a color war. "What is that?" she asked, nodding to the television set.
Peridot's cheeks darkened as she answered. "It's a show called Camp Pining Hearts." She quieted for a moment to listen to the dialogue. "It's the episode where Paulette tried to confess her feelings for Percy but they are on different sides of the color war so Percy says he doesn't care for her but he does because when Paulette's bracelet falls out of her boat in a canoe race, Percy abandons his team to save it and he almost kisses her but then his team comes and yells at him for costing them the race and uh-" her cheeks grew darker. "It's really good."
Jasper didn't understand half of what Peridot was saying, not that she was really paying attention. She was too distracted by the way the technician's eyes lit up and how she had that cute little smile that reminded Jasper of a cat. "I want to watch it," she said simply.
The shock Peridot felt was poorly hidden. "You do!?" She looked at the truck and then Jasper. "I think there's just enough room for us to sit on the bed!" Peridot waited for a moment, staring at Jasper expectantly. When the quartz gem did nothing but meet her gaze, Peridot's face flashed with realization. "Oh, um, I usually have Lapis fly me up to the truck."
Before Peridot could say anything, Jasper bent down and picked her up with one arm. Immediately a fist slammed into Jasper's arm on instinct but the quartz gem paid it no attention. Jasper leapt up and used the free hand to propel herself off of the barn's wall and into the truck's bed. The truck gave a warning whine and Peridot clung to Jasper's arm, afraid that it would break and the two would plummet to the ground. But the truck stilled and Jasper sat down with Peridot still holding her arm. Peridot shakily let go and stood in the truck, her eyes still wide from the sudden jump.
"Who is that?" Jasper asked nonchalantly, smirking at how Peridot still had one hand on Jasper's bicep in case the truck fell.
"T-that's Percy." Peridot sat down and took deep breathes. She watched the episode for a minute before carefully crawling to the television. For some reason, she could feel eyes on her backside but there was no way Jasper was looking at her like that. There just can't be. Peridot pressed a button and the tape was ejected. She switched it with season one and hit play. "This way you won't be lost," she said back to Jasper. There was a light flush on the quartz gem's cheeks but Peridot did not know why. Maybe she was really excited about the show, Peridot concluded, crawling back to her spot.
The two watched the show in relative silence, Peridot speaking up occasionally to explain something or point out something interesting. Jasper tried to focus on the television, truly she did, but the way Peridot was sitting so close to her, her scent clung to the quartz gem like a warm blanket. More than once Jasper's mind wandered off to the green technician and most of the times, she had to end the thought suddenly lest she get too excited. Jasper took shallow breaths and glued her eyes to the screen, never taking any words or actions.
"That's my otp."
"What?" Jasper asked, my eyes finally seeing two characters talking.
"One true ship," Peridot explained, resting her chin on her knees and looking at Jasper from the corner of her eyes. "Basically, I think Percy and Pierre should be in a relationship together." She glanced back at the television and saw another character coming on the screen. "Lapis thinks Paulette and Percy should end up together but my ship is clearly superior."
Jasper hummed, watching the three interact with one another. It was obvious that Percy had feelings for Paulette, especially by the way he was trying to subtly flex whenever she glanced at him. But there was something else too, the quartz gem noticed. Whenever Percy flexed, Pierre's eyes would suddenly move to look at Percy, even if he was talking to Paulette. Paulette too, would look at Percy but at other times she would laugh at something Pierre said even if it wasn't that funny which would cause Pierre to become flustered momentarily.
"What if they were together?" Jasper asked, continuing to watch the three.
"Who?"
"The three of them," she nodded to them. "What if the three of them started a relationship? Percy and Paulette do flirt with one another but Pierre also seems to be another target of their affection."
Peridot's eyes widened and flashed back to the television. Her eyes greedily took in the show, noticing the things that Jasper observed. "The ultimate OTP," she whispered to herself.
Jasper couldn't help but chuckle at the hushed statement and found herself smiling at Peridot. She really was beautiful. The way her eyes lit up at watching the show, the way her lips tilted up at a certain scene, and especially the way she would sometimes glance at Jasper for seemingly no reason at all. How come she never noticed it before she came to this damnable planet? She should have staked her claim on Peridot when they were on that ship. Nobody would have known, possibly. Peridot laughed at something Percy had done and Jasper felt a ridiculous sting of jealousy. She shook her head as she continued to think about Peridot. She was also so generous. She left Lapis alone to her thoughts even though it plainly hurt her, she even invited Jasper to stay and watch some show with her despite there past.
"Why are you staring at me?"
The quartz gem almost jumped. She hadn't realized she was watching Peridot for so long. "You have something on your bottom lip."
Peridot blushed and crossed her eyes as if she could see something on her bottom lip. Jasper almost chuckled but she held it down lest Peridot thought she was making fun of her. Peridot swiped at her lip with her thumb and Jasper desperately wished that it was her thumb on the technician's lips.
A frustrated whine clogged Jasper's throat but luckily the television drowned it out. Was she wishing for too much?
The sound of flapping wings brought both Jasper's attention to the horizon. Jasper narrowed her eyes and could just make out a blue dot in the sky flying towards them. Soon, the dot became a small Lapis that grew bigger with each flap of her wings. "Lapis is coming back," she said to Peridot.
Peridot leaned over the side of the truck, her eyes scanning the area this way and that. "I don't see her."
"I have better vision," Jasper said, watching Lapis glide towards the barn. She looked down at Peridot with a grin. "I say she'll be here within a few minutes."
Peridot pouted at the fact that Jasper was able to spot Lapis first but soon the pout turned into a smile. "Good, her favorite episode is coming on next."
Jasper and Peridot waited patiently in the bed of the truck, absentmindedly watching the show. Lapis did arrive at the barn within four minutes and her face showed the shock she must have felt when she saw Jasper lounging in the bed of the truck, watching Camp Pining Hearts with Peridot.
"Hi, Lapis!" Peridot called out, waving wildly, very nearly falling out of the truck but Jasper would have made sure that wouldn't happen.
"Lion came to the temple without you," Lapis said, giving a nod to Peridot. She hovered in front of the truck as she talked. "Everyone was wondering where you went off to."
Jasper groaned and stood up, the truck giving an ominous creak but staying put. "I better head back before they send out the search parties." She didn't want to begin to think about what Pearl would do if she didn't show up in a timely order. The quartz gem would probably have to endure a lecture for days.
"There's no need," Lapis said, her eyes still on the truck in case it fell and she had to save the two. "You're here and they trust you to head back when you want."
"Really?" Jasper was pleasantly surprised. She sat back down and watched Lapis hover for a few more moments before looking back at the television. For some reason, Jasper knew she couldn't look at Lapis longer lest she grew aroused. She was weak for the two gems and it wouldn't do if they knew. They would have most likely reject her anyway.
Peridot gave a joyful sound that sounded almost like a squeal and set about switching the VCR's. "Hey Lapis, guess what Jasper thought of." She didn't wait for the water gem to respond. "She came up with the ultimate OTP between Percy, Paulette, and Pierre!"
"The three of them?" Lapis asked in confusion, her eyebrows furrowed. "That wouldn't work out."
"No," Peridot argued, pausing the show so she could answer Lapis. "It would take more work but together, the three could rule the camp! Percy with his water abilities, Paulette with her superior arts and crafts, and Pierre with his friendship bracelets of love!"
Lapis hummed as she tried to picture it and her eyes widened at the conclusion she made. Why hadn't the two of them think of this before!? It makes so much sense with its simplicity. Lapis eyed the episode that was paused, excitement grew in her. "Hey, can you move over for a sec, Peridot?"
Peridot seemed confused for a moment but did as she was asked. She scooted closer to Jasper and the shortened distance did disastrous things to her heart. The quartz gem gulped and focused harder on the television show, even though it was currently paused on the show's logo. She was mildly aware of Lapis settling down on the furthest edge of the bed, the three of them squashed together.
"Actually, Peridot, can you come here?"
Jasper heard Peridot take a breath, this one trembling a bit at the end. The quartz gem felt colder and she sneaked a peek to her side, regretting it instantly. Apparently, Lapis knew that the truck's bed was too small for the three so she had Peridot sit in her lap. The two looked like it was the most natural thing in the world, Lapis's head resting on Peridot's right shoulder and an arm wrapped securely around her waist. The two made quite a sight. Jasper shifted and felt the heat rise in her. The water gem was going to kill her.
Lapis reached over and pressed play and the three watched the show, or rather Jasper stared at the screen with the other two actually watching. Her heart pound and she fought against the arousal building steadily. Jasper just managed to keep her tentacle sheathed but she couldn't still her thundering heart. She glanced back at the two and could have sworn that she saw Lapis kiss the junction between Peridot's neck and shoulder.
"I have to go," Jasper said suddenly, cursing her cowardice. Before the two could argue, she jumped down and landed his feet. The two gems' calls for Jasper to come back fell on deaf ears as the quartz gem ran back to the temple. She knew that Lapis could have easily caught up to her if she flew but the water gem respected her sudden wish to leave.
It wasn't long until Jasper was bounding up the steps of the beach house. If her mind wasn't so full, she would have been impressed at the speed she was able to maintain during her run. Jasper opened the door and was insulted by an assortment of foul smells from the kitchen. She held her nose and glared at the cause of this terrible stench.
Amethyst looked at Jasper, the sandwich she had just made held carefully in her hands. It threatened to melt and break in her grip. Jasper could not tell what the sandwich was made with but she did know that it was doused in motor oil to the point that it looked like Amethyst was holding a blob of black gunk. Amethyst smiled and lifted her sandwich in a form of a toast and taking a bite from it.
"Jasper?"
The quartz gem turned her head to face the person who called her name. Garnet tilted her head like she didn't understand why Jasper was here.
Jasper was quick to replace her shame with glee that she finally seemed to shock the fusion. "You don't know everything after all," she declared smugly.
Garnet frowned and pushed her visors up. She sighed with a shake of her head. "No, I never claimed that I do. I simply see the endless possibilities that one can take." Garnet turned her head to look outside, her arms crossed, as if she was trying to see something through the windows into the ocean.
"Sounds like knowing everything," Amethyst said through the mouthful of food.
"I try to cancel most of the rivers out if I can," Garnet replied. She looked back at Jasper. "I did, however, see this possible outcome." She made her way to the temple's door. Garnet showed her palms and it opened with ease. "Oh and Jasper,"
The quartz gem looked at the back of the fusion, only slightly irritated that Garnet didn't turn her head to look at her properly.
"listen to what she has to say." Garnet entered the temple and the doors slid shut without a sound.
"What was that about, sis?" Amethyst asked, taking her last bite of her sandwich.
Jasper simply shook her head in reply and laid down on the couch. Today's events made her exhausted and she could do with a very long nap. Hopefully, her dreams would be peaceful and not filled with lust and the two gems she left at the barn. Jasper tried to get comfortable but found something was amiss. She eyed the table and reached over to grab the book with the orange leaf hidden within its pages and the stuffed alien. The quartz gem held them close to her chest and almost like a spell was thrown over her, her eyes closed and she fell into a deep slumber.