Just another reason Pt. 1

Switch- 6Lack

They all lay on the beach. Enjoying the ocean breeze that brought warmth and good vibes. Shadow was propped up on a sand pillow he had made. Jasper rested her head on his lap, purring like a cat as he ran his hands through her hair.

Steven sat between Pearl's legs. Amethyst changed into a crab to claw fight with one while Garnet stared out at the horizon. No doubt enjoying another peaceful day. It was hard to believe there were huge sentient space rocks that wanted to vaporize them when you looked out at the sea and all you saw was, peace.

The events yesterday were different than today. Lapis left Earth with the barn when they had told her of the events on homeworld. He couldn't blame her but to leave all of them, Peridot was broken up about it. She was in the bathroom now. The gem secluded herself and didn't want to do much of anything. Shadow had caught her a couple times trying to flush herself as a suicide attempt. The only thing she succeeded in doing was clogging the toilet.

"You haven't said anything in an hour Shadow." Jaspers' voice broke through the sound of crying seagulls.

"I've been enjoying the sweet sound of silence. Though I was starting to miss your voice." Shadow pulled at her ear earning him a punching to the leg.

The sun began to settle. Jasper rose up. Her eyes set upon him, pools of fire cooly looking him over. "What's with that look on your face, I don't like it," Jasper grunted at him.

"Glad I asked you for your opinion." He said not unkindly. Jaspers words were blunt, that didn't mean she was being rude. "I'm just enjoying a peace that I feel like I do not deserve." He leaned in to kiss her cheek. "But I have you here, my big beautiful gem." Shadow leaned in and kissed her other cheek.

Jaspers' eyes grew wide, then a tear came to her eye. "Don't say such dumb things." Jasper got to her feet, facing away from him. "I'm going back inside, all this salty air is getting to my head."

"But you don't even have lungs." Shadow protested.

Jasper scoffed at him but she still continued to walk away. "Don't patronize me human!"

The rest of the crew looked at Shadow. Confusion was written all over their faces. Somehow he was glad for that, it was better than the angry looks they use to give the gem. Though he was just as confused as them. She had been acting very odd lately.

Steven sat down next to Shadow with his legs tucked to his chest. His little buddy seemed like he himself was lost in thought today. "Shadow do you think we could talk?" The little boy asked him.

Shadow was shocked he even asked. "You know you can always talk to me Steven, when have I ever been unapproachable?" Shadow patted his head but only got a little chuckle.

"Shadow I-" He shot a quick glance to Pearl. The gem noticed and waved at them, Shadow returned the gesture but Steven looked away, a look of grief on his face.

Stevens' hands dug into the sand. "It's about the planet… something that I saw, a dream."

"Talk to me, little buddy." Shadow sat up to give him his full attention.

"Oh," Shadow didn't know what to think of what Shadow said. At this point, he really shouldn't be surprised by anything. This was different. "So you had a dream that you were Pink Diamond and you saw Yellow Diamond. I can understand that the one thing I don't is why you're acting so strange." Shadow looked to Pearl who was yelling and chasing Amethyst across the sand. He inclined his head towards Pearl, "why are you avoiding Pearl?"

Steven tensed, the tense look on his face says it all.

"You think that Pearl has something to do with Pink Diamonds shattering don't you?"

"Shadow please," Steven grabbed his arm. "Help me talk to Pearl. I'm so worried about hurting her feelings. I have to know, it's driving me crazy."

Steven was really broken up about this. The prospect that Pearl could somehow be closely connected to Pink Diamonds shattering ached his pure soul. Shadow, on the other hand, wanted to know. He never knew if Jasper was really over Pink Diamond. How she use to talk about her made the gem sound like a goddess. She was her protector and she failed. He wanted to know for her, she deserved peace of mind as well. Shadow knew about that darkness that could eat you up from not knowing.

"I got your back, Steven. Will get some answers, even if I have to die to try." Shadow rustled Stevens' hair.

The boy didn't laugh. "No Shadow. Let's not go that far."

The next day Shadow and Steven were relaxing on the couch. Shadow played at a mug of Chai Tea that had long since gone cold. Steven sat against the wall fumbling with his fingers, you could tell he was anxious.

"Come on Pearl you barely know how to use your phone." Amethyst and Pearl came into the living room from the front door.

Pearl had her phone in hand. "I do so use my phone. I use it to check the time, that's a very convenient use if you ask me." Pearl said defiantly.

Shadow didn't really know how to start. A thousand-year-old being and the only thing they did with their time was to argue about the practical use of a cellular device. Really it was astonishing.

The two gems sat at the bar top.

"Now let me show you how you can text-"

Shadow broke in. "Hey, Amethyst do you think we-"

"No wait Shadow I'm trying to teach Pearl how to text." Amethyst silenced him easily.

Steven tried his hand. "No really Amtheyst can we get some time with Pearl."

Amethyst waved him off. Pearl smiled at the two. Suddenly Steven got a text message, then Shadows own phone buzzed from a notification.

Shadow wanted to chuckle at the name he gave her. "Bird mom." that seemed appropriate but now he wished for something a little bit more serious. The text read, "one moment, please." He looked up to see Pearl smiling at him.

He didn't want to imagine Pearl being directly involved in shattering Pink Diamond.

Amethyst had left to her room to grab something for Pearl, a phone case or something.

It was time to make a move.

"Pearl we really need to talk," Shadow urged. She could see what was wrong, his face was stern.

Pearl ran a hand over Stevens head, the look on his face just as worse. "What is going on, is everything okay?"

Steven blurted out the questions. "Pearl what do you know about Pink Diamonds shattering? Did you shatter pink Diamond?!" His words sounded more harsh than intended.

The gem dropped her phone on the floor. Her hands instantly going to her mouth in shock, it was written all over her face.

Shadow stepped up. "Pearl we need some answers. Steven needs answers." He put a reassuring hand on her arm.

"Please Pearl you can tell me." Steven went on.

Pearl mumbled something behind her hand.

They couldn't make out what she was saying. Shadow couldn't remember the last time he saw such a distraught look on her face. Guilt. That's what it was. Something in her eyes told him that she was really trying to hide something.

Amethyst suddenly came out of the room. "Hey P I got the case so-" she eyed them, all three looked like they just caught stealing something.

"What's going on?"

Pearl suddenly had a outburst. "My thank you Amethyst!" She talked louder than necessary. "I will now take this case to protect my phone," Pearl began to walk off rigged and robotically.

Shadow and Steven protested for her to stay but it was to late. The gem had entered her room which closed behind her seconds later. There was no use in trying.

Amethyst just shrugged her shoulders and walked through the front door. Steven and Shadow were left alone in their thoughts.

"Let's just try again later. I don't want to try and break down the temple doors just yet." Shadow tried to sound optimistic and failed miserably, Steven looked at the ground.

His foot kicked at some invisible rock. "I just don't understand Shadow. Why doesn't she just talk to us?"

"I don't have a answer to that Steven." He admitted. "All I can say is give it some time, she'll tell us eventually."

Authors Notes:

Hey, I know its been awhile. My life is still hectic so it's been hard to find some inspiration to type at all. I've had some downtime amongst the chaos and managed to get this chapter and another for my RWBY fiction. Again I apologize for the long delay. Hoped you enjoy and please standby for more.

Shadow out...