By the time Peridots arm had healed they had run about a dozen subsequent diagnostics on Alpha, as they had found themselves affectionately referring to the small Robonoid.
And all of them seemed to show the same thing, it was operating on at least 200% power and despite showing heightened levels of independent decision-making and problem solving was functioning perfectly.
By far the strangest behaviour though was the way it seemed to act 'affectionately' towards Peridot. Sitting next to their injured arm or on their lap, humming softly and butting playfully against their feet.
All of the Robonoids displayed pseudo-sapience, it was part of their programming but this was different and Peridot found it endearing in a way that the other Robonoids, with their hollow, programmed behaviours never could be.
When they finally left their room Alpha crawled up onto their shoulder and perched there, whistling happily as they walked through the ship.
They didn't really have much of an idea where to go to be honest. They wanted to talk to Jasper, to unload some of the burning questions lodged in their breast but they weren't sure how Jasper would feel about Peridots invasion into their past and their privacy.
Despite their reservations they still found their feet carrying them towards the training room from which the sounds of heavy impacts resounded out the open door and down the hall.
Peridot peeped around the corner to see Jasper laying into a large punching bag, their thick back muscles rippling as they swayed from side to side, sending the heavy bag jumping around like a leaf caught in the wind. Peridot continued to watch the large Gems almost hypnotic swaying until they suddenly spun around, tearing the punching back free from the ceiling and sending it flying across the room with an arching heel kick. Peridot ducked back behind the doorway, peeking back out when they thought it was safe to see Jasper, still with their back to them, flex, sending the flecks of sweat coating their arms and chest flying off in a rain of sparkles.
Peridot bit down heavily on their lip, trying very hard not to make a sound.
"Are you just going to stand there?" Jasper called out, still not turning around
Peridot blushed, drawing back to press themselves up against the wall "Ummm, I was just doing a… door check" they called back lamely, trying to sound nonchalant. They rapped their fingers against the frame of the door "yep. Door. It's all good."
Jasper stuck their head around the door and grinned at Peridot, clearly amused "uh huh. So how's your arm?"
"it's fine" Peridot said quickly, swallowing loudly
"yeah, that stuff of yours is pretty handy after all" Jasper patted their bare stomach, no sign of the crack that previously marred it
On Peridots shoulder Alpha whistled happily, rubbing up against Peridots face
Jaspers grin widened as they reached out to pet the little Robonoid, happiness sparkling in their eyes as it started humming pleasantly
"I thought you didn't like them?" Peridot asked, confused at their sudden change of heart
Jasper just shrugged slightly "This one's different, it's more you"
Peridot blushed even more, shuffling slightly awkwardly "So, are you ever not training?"
"Eh, I just prefer moving to thinking. It's easier" Jasper looks pensive for a second but then quickly flashes a broad smile "So, now that you're fixed up, want to try and spar again?"
"Oh, um, yeah sure" Peridot was surprised at the sudden offer, it felt kind of like they were just ignoring the awkward situation that had occurred in Jaspers quarters. They were kind of glad about it though, maybe this meant that they were giving them a second chance?
Jasper walked back into the centre of the room and gestured to Peridot "Come on then, let's see if you still need more target practice"
Peridot breathed deeply, centring themselves and summoning their weapon while moving into the room.
They picked up a bit of speed, running at Jasper and flicking their wrist, sending the Orb spiralling towards Jaspers head. The large gem dodged it gracefully, hopping backwards in a zig zag pattern as Peridot tried to chase them with the Orb, doing their best to aim ahead but Jasper was just too light on their feet, changing direction, ducking and rolling on a dime.
Then Alpha peeped loudly and an idea popped into their head, sliding the Robonoid down their arm they spun, flinging the Orb at Jasper and following it up with Alpha, whistling loudly as it flew through the air.
"Throwing your pets at me now? Seems a bit desperate?" Jasper teased as both of the projectiles flew harmlessly past.
Peridot just gritted their teeth, flicking their arms to send the Orb high into the air.
Jaspers head tilted back, following the soaring projectile as Alpha landed behind them, spinning around and skidding across the floor back towards Jaspers feet, launching themselves into the large Gems ankle as they shifted their weight in preparation of avoiding the Orb.
A look of confusion crossed Jaspers face as their foot flew out from underneath them, Peridot leaping into the air and swinging both of their hands downwards, sending the Orb rocketing downwards towards the large Gem, now falling backwards. The Orb impacted with their chest mid fall, sending them slamming down into the ground with a crash. Dust flying up around them as the floor cracked under their weight.
Peridot pumped their fist in celebration "YES! Eat that!"
Their triumphant grin began to fade as they didn't see any movement from the small dust cloud.
Peridot rushed over, Alpha jumping up onto their leg as they passed them, looking down into the small crater "Jasper! Are you o-"
Jasper was lying on the ground, a stupid grin plastered across their face, the orb sitting on top of their stomach, no physical damage apparent.
"That was brilliant!" Jasper leapt to their feet, wrapping their arm around Peridots shoulders and ruffling their hair "great work Green!"
"Yep, okay, thanks" Peridot struggled out of their grasp, quickly neatening their hair back into its neat diamond, scowling at Jasper slightly, annoyed that they had been so quick to worry.
Jasper laughed, rolling their head around, cracking their neck and rubbing their stomach slightly.
"That was some great thinking, I didn't expect that at all!"
"Thanks…." Peridot scrunched up their nose, trying to figure out if that was a compliment or not.
"But you know what this means?" Jaspers sharp teeth gleamed
"Ummm… I won?"
"Now I get to hit back"
"Oh… no, I think I'm good for now" Peridot turned and started walking briskly towards the door, Jaspers heavy hand on their shoulder stopping them.
"I'll go slow"
Peridot sighed, slightly fearfully "Okay, just… please be gentle"
Jasper laughed "Don't worry, punches and body blows only, just focus on not getting hit"
Peridot steeled themselves, trying to mimic the defensive posture that Jasper had taken before as they stepped back.
"Ready?" Jasper raised their fists into a boxing guard
Peridot nodded and Jasper leant forwards, launching themselves at the smaller gem.
Peridot hopped backwards as Jaspers fist stopped just short of their chest. Throwing themselves to the side to avoid the chasing jab, nearly stumbling but turning it into a duck to avoid the following haymaker.
After a few seconds of frenzied dodging Peridot realised that there was a definite pattern to Jaspers attacks, just a simple loop of jab, jab, hook, uppercut, push forwards, right straight… Once they realised this they started pre-empting the blows, their clumsy dives becoming graceful weaves, moving with Jasper. Their bodies spinning around each other in a careful trade of movements. Peridot felt a strange feeling rising in their chest as a smile spread across their face, sweat dripping from their forehead.
Then, they saw an opening, just as Jaspers hand was coming back from the second uppercut and their right arm was pulling back into a straight their face was unguarded.
They watched, waiting for the moment to come again as they swayed with Jasper, bobbing and weaving almost an inverse to Jaspers own movements.
Then, there it was, Alpha let out a warbling war peep, leaping off of Peridots shoulder onto Jaspers face as they clenched their hand into a fist, pulling back to send their Orb, lying seemingly forgotten on the ground, into the back of Jaspers foot.
Once again the large Gem started to fall back but this time Peridots pre-emptive triumph was cut off as Jaspers arm shot out, grabbing the front of their shirt, pulling them back with them.
Peridot swung through the air, feeling Jasper fling them upwards rather than pulling them down with them. Below them they saw Jasper fall back onto the floor, slapping their arm down to reduce the impact.
Then they felt themselves falling back downwards, only to be caught by Jaspers strong hands around their waist, holding Peridot above them like a dancer in a lift.
Peridot smiled as they saw the same happy grin from before on Jaspers face, the large gem breaking out into happy laughter and Peridot being unable to help joining it.
They felt a warmth spreading through them, a wave of happiness and pride. Then they saw Jaspers gem starting to glow, the large gems eyes tight shut as they laughed uproariously "good work Green" they said happily as Peridot felt their own gem warming, soft green light blossoming forth from it.
Then Jasper dropped them, letting the smaller gem fall the short distance onto their chest and wrapping their arms around them in a tight hug.
Then, everything went black.
Jasper and Peridot opened their eyes slowly, moving their arms around to try and prop themselves up. Four strong hands pressed down on the floor, pushing them into a sitting position.
Peridot could feel Jasper, around them and part of them, held in an embrace where the lines between where one started and the other ended were blurred beyond meaning.
Peridot caught sight of their legs, long and muscular, covered in sharp, angular red, green and orange stripes. Their heart soared as they felt their arms move down to stroke their leg gently, one of them large, bulky and muscular and the other, just below it, slimmer and sinewy, ending in long, delicate fingers like Peridots.
Peridot felt like their heart might burst from happiness when tears began to well in their eyes, a wave of sadness and loss so deep that they could feel the world growing darker around them spreading through their chest.
"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to…" Their voice was deep and husky, with a slight musical tang to it.
They drew their arms in, hugging their broad chest tightly, the feeling of despair starting to overwhelm them.
Peridot tried to push themselves away, their vision darkening as they began to break the fusion.
"No!, Please!" Their voice was thick with emotion, choking on a gasp of pain. "Just… Just don't leave me"
They began to cry freely, Peridot relaxing and pulling themselves closer to where they felt Jasper. Wrapping all the feeling of love and admiration that they had been holding inside them around the small ball of pain and loss.
"It's okay." Peridot wasn't sure who said that as they whispered thee words to themselves, bringing their knees up to their chest and hugging them tightly.
The large Gem felt so small inside them, so dwarfed by the darkness that threatened to overwhelm them. Peridot clung tighter, scared that they wouldn't be enough to hold them together as their vision darkened, Jasper pulling away from them, retreating into themself.
Then they opened their eyes, a small peeping noise coming from just in front of them. Alpha sat on their knee, looking so tiny. It made another soft peep, leaning forwards to rub against their nose but toppling forwards, falling into their lap where it wiggled its legs in the air for a few seconds before managing to roll itself over, snuggling up against their chest and humming happily.
Peridot and Jasper stroked the tiny Robonoid gently, a feeling of maternal warmth that matched Peridots own starting to spread out from Jasper.
Peridot smiling inwardly and outwardly as they felt Jasper coming back to them. The sadness still there, but now it wasn't pushing them apart. Holding them close instead, sharing the warmth as well as the pain.
They began to laugh, tears streaming down their face as they lay back on the floor, hugging Alpha to their chest, feeling it humming with love. Like a tiny ball of happy emotions that had been hidden away and kept safe from the pain that had threatened to crush them.
They breathed slowly, feeling their chest rising and falling together, occasionally catching as their tears continued to flow, letting out the emotions that bubbled inside them.