Debbie knew she'd overreacted; knew she would too. She'd struggled with things like this for as long as she could remember.
As much as she used to deny it, she had since come to accept her problem. Not that accepting it had made it any easier to deal with. Long story made short, Debbie was very...possessive of her friends.
When it came to people, she wasn't big on sharing. She'd noticed it a little when it came to Steven and the other Crystal Gems. There was this slight barrier of tension. It was likely that Debbie was the only one contributing to it as well.
The woman groaned, slumping in old leather loveseat. "God damn it." She muttered and dragged a hand down her face, "I have problems."
Jealous. That was it, really. Debbie didn't want to share Peridot with this Lapis character and was now jealous of Lapis' budding, if not fully-fledged, relationship with the little green gem.
"...I should apologize."
"I don't get it," Peridot huffed, pacing the length of the barn's interior. "Debbie has never shut me out like that! What's her deal?"
Lapis raised an eyebrow but remained otherwise impassive, "You did say you hadn't thought about her."
"So? It's true. I've been busy." Peridot huffed, folding her arms with a stubborn frown.
"So if Steven forgot to call you on Saturday, like he does every Saturday, and his excuse was 'I was out making friends', you wouldn't be at least a little mad?" Lapis asked.
"No, it's one Saturday-."
"Then what if he kept forgetting? For like...a month? Maybe two." Lapis pressed, actually mustering a little glare.
"He wouldn't though." Peridot huffed, "It's Steven."
"But what if he did?"
Peridot tapped her touch-stumps nervously, unsettled by the thought. "I...guess I'd be a little...I dunno. I would feel...small?"
"Exactly." Lapis muttered, rolling onto her back to stare at the ceiling, "We should really do something with the roof."
"Argh, why are you taking her side anyway?" Peridot snapped, "It's not like you've met her."
"But I know what being abandoned feels like."
"I didn't abandon her!" Peridot shouted.
"Does she know that though? Cause all you told her was that you 'hadn't really thought about her' these last few months." Lapis countered evenly.
Peridot fell silent, feeling worse than before. "I hate this."
"You hate being wrong."
"That doesn't mean you're always right!"
"Sure, sure."
Peridot frowned deeply. "Fine, I'll be back later!"
Lapis watched, face expressionless, as Peridot ran for the warp and disappeared in a flash of light. The blue gem offered a little hum and silently wished her green roommate good luck.
Debbie hadn't expected to see Peridot back so soon. Or to see her so out of breath and at the top of her stairs. The ginger stared in surprise at the gem who gave her a not-quite-glare and marched right up to her.
"Peridot…?"
"Debbie, I realize now that I may have hurt your-."
"I'm going to stop you right there," Debbie interrupted, holding up a hand and forming a stern thin line with her lips. "You shouldn't apologize. I owe you the apology."
"M-me…?"
"Yeah, you." Debbie sighed and somberly patted the space next to her on the couch.
Curiously, Peridot padded over to the woman and took up seat beside her. The woman was quiet for a moment, opting to slowly thumb her warm mug as she gathered her thoughts.
"I...Peridot, I'm sorry." She said slowly, "I tend to be very...possessive, when it comes to my friends. I can't really give you a reason why. That's just how I can be sometimes...not that I'm saying it's right."
"Still, Lapis said that you might have felt abandoned. I didn't mean to make you feel small like that, if I did." Peridot mumbled, stealing a glance at the woman.
Debbie actually chuckled a little. "Again, I'm selfish with my friends. So, maybe I did feel a little lonely, that doesn't make lashing out at you okay. You have your friends too."
"...do you have any other friends, Debbie?"
Much to Peridot's surprise, the woman lowered her head. A bright flush marred her cheeks. "Uh...no, not really. There's not many people I talk to...I guess. Maybe I'm just scared or something. Who really knows at this point."
"So...wait, am I your only friend?" Peridot gawked, not quite willing to believe it.
"What? No! No, no, no! I have other friends...I just. I mean I don't have friends around here." Debbie laughed, "They, uh, I lived in an apartment with some friends in Empire City a few years ago. After I moved here I lost touch with them...even though we were like one big family."
"W-well, you've got me!" Peridot stammered, "And Steven and the other gems. Maybe even Lapis."
"Heh, thanks Peri. But you really don't have to keep cheering me up. I'm just glad you came back for a little while. We haven't really hung out all that much."
"We could hang out now."
"...I'd like that."