Jasper woke up screaming, her hands grasping onto anything they can hold. She could still feel the chains tightening around her neck and the teeth and claws slicing through her body. Her hands gripped at the warm and furry pillow above her as she slowly came back to reality. She struggled to breathe and felt the pillow shift its weight. She realized with the start that what she thought was a pillow was actually Lion.
Lion shifted again, lifting himself so that his mane wasn't pressing down on Jasper's face. He stared down at her with eyes that unnerved Jasper immensely. Every night she would have those damning night terrors and every morning she would wake up screaming, her voice being muffled by the pink animal laying on top of her.
Once Jasper's breathing got under control, she let go of Lion, somehow her claws seeming to not have harmed the animal. Lion yawned and rested his head on Jasper's chest, still staring at the quartz gem. He began to do his strange purr and the last bits of Jasper's night terror disappeared.
Jasper growled at the animal and shoved him off of her. Lion landed neatly on all fours from the couch that Jasper used as a bed for the past week now. She heard a loud plop and groan of pain right after. Jasper sat up and looked down, seeing Steven rubbing his head while looking at Lion. The animal yawned and padded up to Steven's bed before curling up and going back to sleep. Jasper looked back down at the human boy.
"Why were you in my bed?" Jasper growled.
Steven was unfazed by the animalistic behavior and sat up, yawning into his hand. He stood up and scratched at his backside, looking around at the living room.
"Well?" Jasper asked, annoyed that the human didn't answer her right away.
"I was sleeping on Lion and I guess he brought me here," Steven said, yawning again. "Besides I am alive so I just had to be in the living room." Steven grinned at Jasper who only shook her head with an exasperated groan.
"Not only do I have to endure the Crystal Gems' presence but also your insufferable attempts at making a joke," Jasper muttered. Figuring that sleep was now no longer an option, Jasper stretched, pushing out her legs and arms as far as they would go, her claws extending and raking into the couch's armrests.
"Hey, quit it!" Steven chastised, lightly smacking away Jasper's hands as her claws dug into the furniture. She was more like a feline than a gem now, Steven concluded. She would sleep for hours in the middle of the day and watch something without moving at all like a big cat about to pounce on prey. Steven almost laughed at the sudden thought of Jasper prowling on all fours after some mouse in a field of tall grass. Glancing at the quartz gem, he decided that perhaps his mental image wasn't all that far-fetched.
"Jasper really, we already had to replace that mirror four days ago," Pearl sighed from the kitchen. The gem put her hands on her hips and tutted disapprovingly when Jasper flipped her the bird in response. She's lucky that Steven wasn't looking, Pearl thought. She liked the quartz gem's existence less and less as she continued to sleep on their couch. But Pearl also knew that they simply couldn't throw her out of the house, lest Jasper started running amok or worse, go after Lapis Lazuli.
Jasper huffed and got up from the couch, stomping over to the kitchen. She sat down on a stool closest to the window and rested her chin on the palm of her hand, doing her best to ignore the three sets of eyes that were trained on her. She despised the Crystal Gems need to watch her every movement.
"So, how did you sleep, sis?" Amethyst asked.
Jasper grimaced at the nickname and glared at the purple gem. Just because they were both made on earth it did not mean they were related. No gems were related for crying out loud. "Fine," she grunted, "especially considering that you sent your pink fuzz ball to keep watch over me."
"You could at least look at someone when you're talking to them," Pearl said, flipping a pancake she was cooking.
Jasper looked over at Amethyst who was spinning around on her stool. She glanced back at Pearl who was now stacking some freshly cooked pancakes on a clean plate. Jasper didn't have to bother to look to know what Steven was doing; from the sounds the human was making, he was trying to get Lion off his bed. Finally, her eyes flashed to Garnet who was just standing near the fridge, staring into nothing. Jasper wasn't fooled however, she knew that the gems, except maybe Steven, were watching her every move.
Steven came back down with a grin that he flashed to everyone, including Jasper. He took the plate of pancakes from Pearl and sat down right next to Jasper. The quartz gem released a low growl, her lips curling a bit to reveal the tips of her fangs. She heard an angry humph and her eyes zoomed over to Pearl. Pearl looked at Jasper angrily and Jasper smiled at her, making sure that her fangs were on full display. The gem shook her head at Jasper, silently warning her, before turning around and starting to clean the pan she cooked the pancakes with.
Jasper glanced down at the human boy who had already worked his way through two pancakes. "Why do you have to eat?" Jasper asked. Every day she saw the boy eat at least three times at regular intervals like it was a routine. She could sense every gem tensing as if she asked Steven how he would like to die.
Steven seemed delighted that Jasper asked him a question because he put his fork down and spun around to face her. "I have to. My body needs fuel to keep me going!" He patted his stomach and stabbed a bite of pancake with his fork. He held it out to Jasper. "You wanna try some?"
Jasper made a face and shook her head, even though the aroma coming from the food was indeed enticing but she would never admit that out loud for the Crystal Gems to hear. Pearl would most likely hold it over her head for years if not until she was shattered. Pearls always felt the need to try and act like they were better than everyone else.
"I don't understand why you Crystal Gems are so obsessed with humans," Jasper said. "Humans are so inefficient. They have to eat, shit," Pearl shot Jasper a warning look, "and sleep their day away. And even then they only live a few decades, a century at most!" She pointed at Steven. "So why do you pretend to be a human, Rose Quartz?"
Steven swallowed the food in his mouth before facing Jasper again. "I'm half human so I'm not pretending when I eat, sleep, or use the bathroom." He met her eyes as he continued, "And I'm not my mom, I told you that. I'm Steven Universe." His eyes softened and he put more syrup on his pancakes. "Besides, you sleep regularly now too, Jasper."
Jasper glanced away with a huff. "I still don't get it." It was true that Jasper slept every night, something she would have never done before she was corrupted. She felt weak in this new form, always tired, and she had to rest more and more as the days go by, only managing at the most three hours until she woke up shrieking into Lion's mane due to her night terrors. Jasper never told any of the Crystal Gems about it however, fearing that they would use her weakening state against her.
Steven finished his breakfast, getting up to give the dirty plate and silverware to Pearl before coming back and sitting next to Jasper again. "Living like a human is better than being stuck in a magical bubble, corrupted forever."
Jasper sucked in a breath as her chest rumbled with the beginnings of a growl when she heard Amethyst laughing hysterically. She looked over just in time to see the purple gem fall off her stool. "You just got told, sis!" Amethyst wheezed, trying to catch her breath.
"It was a lot less aggravating in that pathetic excuse for a magical bubble," Jasper grumbled.
"We could always put you back in it," Garnet warned, fixing her visors without moving from her spot near the fridge or even turning her head to look at Jasper.
"Welp, I'm gonna take a shower now," Steven declared, hopping off the stool and heading towards the bathroom.
Jasper watched him leave, already feeling the atmosphere become colder without the human boy trying to lighten it. She sighed and once again looked out the window, wondering how a creature so puny and inexperienced best someone like her. Jasper left a scar on his arm where her claws had raked across his skin without even meaning to and now she's at rock bottom, having to play nice with the Crystal Gems. She was literally born to fight and yet a half-human and his gem rejects were able to beat her every single time. Jasper led armies against Rose Quartz's rebellion and now here she was, practically a prisoner who owes her existence to her sworn enemy. Was she really that weak now? Jasper growled at the thought, her claws aching to tear into something. Maybe she should shred the couch, it would be entertaining to see Pearl's reaction.
Steven came back in with clean clothes on after his shower. His hair was still wet as if he hurried to get out of the bathroom. He looked at Jasper for a moment before going into the living room and sitting on the floor to read. He didn't try to sit on Jasper's couch which Jasper appreciated.
"I think it's time for Jasper to meet the others," Garnet suddenly said, finally leaving her spot to stand near the counter. Jasper noticed that the Crystal Gem intentionally stood between her and Steven.
"What!?" Pearl dropped the plate she was cleaning and it smashed onto the floor.
Jasper would have taken this opportunity to rub it in the pearl's face but she was too busy staring at Garnet like she lost her two minds. The fusion really must have scrambled what was left of the sapphire's mind, Jasper thought. Or maybe the ruby was in control of thinking.
"Um," Steven spoke up from his spot on the floor, "maybe that isn't such a good idea. Peridot could trigger the corruption in Jasper because she well, you know," he trailed off, looking down away from Jasper's piercing eyes and sneer.
"Because the bitch killed me?" Jasper finished, rolling her eyes.
"Jasper, watch your mouth in front of Steven!" Pearl yelled as she put the shards of the plate into the trash can. The Crystal Gem was still grumbling as she tied the trash bag and wrote on the black surface, "Broken Glass," with a white marker.
"It's been a week since Jasper's freedom from the bubble and she hasn't caused any incidents," Garnet said. Jasper wondered why the fusion was so focused on getting her to see Peridot. She felt the need to bare her teeth and snarl when she thought of the tiny green gem. Yet another irony to rub salt into her wounds. The earth-loving technician with very little advantage over Jasper was able to kill her.
Pearl looked at Garnet and then Jasper and back to Garnet. She pointed to the painting of a dog in the living room. It may seem like just a regular painting but everyone in the house knew that it was covering up a head-sized hole. "What about that?"
"There was a spider," Jasper explained, already feeling aggravated as she recalled the memory. It was just a stupid house, why did the pearl feel the need to lecture her for hours on end about how to not destroy things and the proper way to dispose of pests. Jasper had the sneaking feeling that Pearl included Jasper in her term of pests.
"You rammed your head straight through the wall!" Pearl yelled, her hands on her hips again.
Jasper pointed at her new horns and tapped one of them for effect. "There was a spider, and I had horns. I acted on instinct," she said. She gestured to Steven who had climbed up on her couch to get a better view of the gems. "If you're so pissy about it, why don't you have the brat fix it with his healing spit?"
"It doesn't work like that," Pearl ground out from clenched teeth. "And his name is Steven." She looked at Garnet again while gesturing to Jasper. "This is exactly why this is a bad idea! She's a loose cannon and who knows what she'll do if she saw Peridot. Maybe she'll act on instinct again and ram her horns into Peridot!"
Amethyst started to laugh again, pounding the counter with her fist. "Oh man! That would be so hysterical!" the purple gem yelled. She looked up at Jasper, or rather her horns, and laughed even harder. "I wonder if Peridot would fly into the barn or into that pool! Oh sis, you definitely have to do it."
"No, she won't," Garnet said, fixing her visors again. Jasper hated when the fusion did that, it was like she knew something that nobody else did. She'll head butt Peridot if she wanted to. "It would be good for Jasper to see that she can have a life on earth, even if she doesn't become a Crystal Gem."
"I do have a life," Jasper growled. She held up her hand and allowed her claws to glisten in the sunlight while she bared her fangs. "I was born to fight and that is what I'm gonna do."
Steven left his couch and walked over to Jasper, playing with his hands in a nervous gesture. "But Jasper, you're tired of fighting." He looked up to her with eyes that told Jasper that he remembered the hellish realm within her mind.
Jasper scoffed and laughed at the words. "I'll never tire of fighting."
The boy just stared up at her with disappointed eyes, like he was hoping that she would suddenly agree with everything he said. Jasper sneered at him and turned around so she wouldn't have to face any of those aggravating gems.
"Then its settled," Garnet said. "Steven and I will take Jasper to the barn."
"Wait, shouldn't we all go?" Amethyst asked, glancing at Jasper's tense back. She didn't mistrust Jasper to the extent as Pearl but she wouldn't put it past the quartz gem to attack Steven when she thought she had a chance.
"No," Garnet said. "You two stay here. We'll be all right." Garnet fixed her visors again. None of the other Crystal Gems tried to argue against the fusion. She and Steven walked over to the door.
When the human boy realized that Jasper didn't move, he smiled at her and made a 'come on' gesture with his hand. Jasper glanced at the other two gems and groaned, slumping off her stool and stomping to the other two. Steven's smile widened and Jasper sneered at him. Steven didn't seem to mind, he just hurried down the steps and waited for the others to catch up, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet.
"Just wait until you see what Peridot did with the barn, Jasper!" Steven exclaimed, either not noticing how the name made Jasper hiss or pretending that he didn't. "It was a real fixer upper before but now that Peridot is living there, you can help her!"
"And why would I help that little traitor?" Jasper asked, looking down at her claws for any imperfections.
"Because she helped save you," Steven answered. Jasper's eyes flashed down at the boy but he met her gaze evenly.
That was another thing Jasper despised about Steven. One moment he was all cheery which aggravated her and then the next he's serious which made Jasper want to roar. But she much rather deal with that than the times where Steven acted like he knows how Jasper feels. Like he knows she's afraid.
"We're here," Garnet said, stopping.
Jasper looked at the barn with a disgusted frown. She had to concede that Steven was right about one thing: the barn really was a fixer-upper. Even though Jasper could tell that Peridot put a lot of time into the building, it still needed a lot of work. She glanced at the pool and wondered why there was a floating ring on the surface.
"Peridot, it's me, Steven!" Steven called out, both his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice.
"S-Steven, Garnet?" Peridot said in surprise. Jasper looked up at the truck that stuck half way out of the barn. Peridot didn't seem to notice Jasper because she rushed down off the bed of the truck and ran up to him, grabbing at his hand. "Steven, you got to see this. I made more meep morps, this time to represent me defeating," her eyes finally trailed over to the third person and her eyes widened in fear, "JASPER!?" Jasper could have sworn she heard something crash inside the barn but her attention was pulled back to Peridot when the green gem tried to haul Steven away from her.
"Wait, Peridot, it's okay," he said, trying to calm his friend. "Jasper's good now."
Peridot stopped pulling on Steven and looked up at Jasper. Her eyes took in the quartz gem's new form before her eyes settled on the horns. She gave a little shriek and ran back inside the barn, apparently trying to hide from Jasper.
"Peridot, come out!" Steven yelled, running over to his friend. He hauled Peridot halfway out of the barn's door but the green gem gripped at the wooden frame. "Jasper won't hurt you, I swear!"
"Liar!" Peridot cried out, pulling herself a little more into the barn before Steven gave a tug. The green gem lost her grip on the frame and the two landed in a heap. Peridot scrambled back to her feet and stared at Jasper. "She was corrupted! Parts of her are still corrupted!"
Jasper narrowed her eyes and growled at the technician's choice of words. Peridot took a step back and hid behind the barn's door, her head peeking out to watch Jasper's every move.
"Steven healed Jasper's gem and reversed the corruption," Garnet said. "Well, mostly anyway."
"Mostly!?" Peridot squeaked back. "She has horns!" Her eyes trailed down, "And claws!"
"And ears," Jasper added. She took a step forward and felt a hand on her shoulder. She glanced back at Garnet who shook her head slowly. Jasper huffed and crossed her arms. Peridot took a small step out of the barn and Jasper titled her head at her. "Did you get even more puny since I last saw you?"
Peridot's cheeks flushed as she clenched her fists. "That's because I don't have my limb enhancers, you clod!" Peridot slapped a hand on her mouth as her eyes widened a considerable amount, realizing what she just called the strongest quartz warrior. "I mean- uh, when I said clod I meant it in a- please don't hurt me!" Peridot shrieked, covering her face with her arms.
"Jasper's not going to hurt you," Steven said, pulling on Peridot's arm so that the green gem was forced to take another step away from the barn. Peridot eyes flashed between Steven and Jasper several times, still unconvinced. "She can't hurt you," Steven said, pulling Peridot a few more steps away from the barn.
"I could," Jasper corrected the human boy. Peridot gave a small meep and hid behind Steven. Jasper sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, flinching when one of her claws accidentally scratched at her scalp. "I'm not going to however."
"Y-you're not?" Peridot asked, poking her head out from Steven's side. She stared at Jasper suspiciously. "Why should I trust you?"
"Because I respect you now," Jasper said, causing Steven to gasp in excitement. She took a step forward and was pleased that Peridot didn't try to retreat back into the barn and that Garnet removed her hand from her shoulder. "You took swift action in killing me when I became corrupted."
Steven raised a hand, "Uh, we use the term 'poof' here."
Jasper rolled her eyes. "Anyway you proved yourself to be a commendable warrior and it would be a disgrace to attack you now when there is no reason to."
Peridot stared at Jasper and threw her hands up in the air. "Okay, I'm done now. This is just too weird." The green gem started to head back to the car and the television.
Jasper suddenly tensed as a breeze blew through the barn and to the gems outside. She tilted her head up and sniffed the air like a dog would when it caught an intriguing scent. Steven looked at Jasper confused for a moment before realization made his face whiten. "Jasper, wait, you don't want to do this," he pleaded, putting his hands up as if he could physically stop the quartz gem.
Jasper shook her head with a growl, her eyes now wild and her fangs bared. Garnet tried to grab her but the quartz gem leapt away before she could, landing on all fours. Jasper released a hiss at the two gems and barreled towards the barn, still on all fours. Peridot shrieked and tried to run into the barn but ended up tripping and falling on her face. She turned over in time to see Jasper leap over her like it was nothing. Jasper went inside the barn and sniffed the air again. She caught the scent she was looking for and leapt to the second floor. She landed lightly and stared at the gem who dropped the magazine she was reading.
Lapis Lazuli backed up until her back hit the wall, her eyes never straying away from Jasper. "No, no, no," Lapis whimpered. "You can't be here, you can't be here."
Jasper stalked over to the water gem until she was right in front of her. She got back up on her feet and smiled at Lapis. She reached out and brushed a lock of blue hair behind Lapis's ear with her clawed hand. Jasper shook her head as her body began to sway on her two feet.
"Lapis," she whispered, Lapis's image blurring as her body slumped forward. She heard Lapis call out her name and felt two arms wrap around her. She tried to say something to calm the water gem but her vision went completely dark.
