Reese grabbed Jasper's arm to see a green gem standing there. She was a little shorter than her but her torso looked small for her height. Her fingers floated around and she had a yellowish green visor on her face. Jasper picked Reese up in her arms as a means to protect her.
"Quit playing with these pathetic life forms and let's get out of here. This planet will explode soon."
Reese stared at Jasper and Jasper's face fell into disbelief. She had been so busy with Reese... That she had forgotten about the Cluster.
"Jasper what is she talking about?" the girl asked.
"I honestly forgot about the Cluster I am sorry Reese."
She frowned at her.
"What do you mean the planet is going to be destroyed?!" Garnet yelled.
"There is the Cluster. It will form and destroy this place making it a new home for us."
Everyone stared at Peridot like she had three heads.
"I refuse to go, Peridot."
The green gem glared at her, "Why do you care about her so much, hmm?"
"Because I do."
Reese climbed out of Jasper's tones arms and stood in front of her.
"If you want to fight, fight me."
Peridot was dumbfounded.
"You're kidding me."
Reese glared at her.
"Fine you wanna be stupid-
Jasper pushed her out of the way and grabbed one of the green gem's limb enhancers. Peridot screeched something at her but the quartz soldier ignored it. The Crystal Gems stood there surprised by Jasper's actions. None of them had thought Jasper would defend a human being.
Jasper ripped the other three limb enhancers and threw them at Amethyst and Pearl who caught them. Now, she wasn't so big.
"How dare you?!" Peridot screeched.
"How dare you come along and threaten me!" Jasper yelled.
"I fixed a ship to get out of here! Don't you wanna go better this place blows up!"
"You mean the one in the Kindergarten underground? We destroyed it," Pearl said looking amused.
Peridot stared at her like a deer in headlights.
"What?!"
"I saw you were going to try and escape. We don't need you going to Homeworld and telling them where we are at," Garnet said.
"You stupid fusion!"
Reese placed a hand on Jasper's arm.
"What's the Cluster? What is it going to do?"
"It's... A bunch of shards fused together permanently... It's an abomination that should never existed but Homeworld started messing with it."
Reese frowned.
"They took the shards from the war on Earth and fused them against their will. They are nothing but pieces looking for their other pieces... They are broken forever."
"That's horrible."
Reese looked at Peridot, "What are you going to do now? You have no ship."
"How are we gonna save Earth?" the little boy asked looking upset.
"There's no use on asking the Diamonds to be merciful," Jasper said.
Reese looked down at the ground, "It's one thing for a person to decide the end of their own life, but not for one or two to decide the fate of everyone."
"What are we gonna do? Everything Mom and you guys fought for?"
Reese turned around and started walking around.
"Reese!" Jasper called and she broke out into a full sprint.
X
X
The Crystal Gems had Peridot tied up and was trying to interrogate her but they were getting nowhere. She refused to talk making even Garnet angry.
Reese locked herself in the bedroom with Jasper sitting outside of the door listening to her cry. Jasper couldn't explain the feeling she felt in her chest listening to her cry. She didn't understand why she was crying and she was afraid to ask.
She was afraid that Reese hated her. Jasper didn't want her to hate her. She meant so much to her now for her to turn around and leave alone. Jasper leaned forward with her hands on her face. She felt like she was a horrible person.
Jasper didn't hear the door open up. Reese slipped her arms under Jasper's and did her best to hold her. She placed her tear streaked face against her muscly back breathing heavy and sniffling. Jasper placed one hand on Reese's small human hands.
"Even though... He hates me, I don't want my father to die. No matter what he could've done- I don't want that for him."
Jasper squeezed her hands lightly.
"Remember when you asked if I was deformed?"
"Yea," Jasper said softly.
"I am... mentally I am defective... Humans have an instinct to survive. The will to live. Mine has diminished over time. I don't deserve to live because I had already given up. Maybe it's selfish I'm upset that something is going to destroy the Earth and it terrifies me."
Jasper turned to the side to look at Reese. Her face was pink, her eyes red and some of her hair stuck to her face since it was wet with tears.
"It's not selfish. I don't understand a lot but I think it's strong of you to care for someone regardless of what they did to you."
Reese looked at her with surprised eyes.
"I wish I could make you feel better. I am not better than Peridot or any of the Crystal Gems. We all have done something wrong... We are all selfish and that's OK. By my definition... you're perfect for me."
Reese blinked stupidly.
"Perfect for you?"
Jasper's face turned red but she stared her straight in the eye, "Yes."
"What does that mean?" she whispered.
"I-I... I'm not sure yet. It's how I feel though."
Jasper stood up and picked Reese off the floor.
"If you want I can hold you while we sleep."
"I'd love that."
X
X
Knock, knock
Jasper was the first who got up. She rubbed her eyes and grumbled walking to the door. She was wearing shorts with a tank top for bed last night. She unlocked the door and turned the knob. She glared down at the short purple gem.
"What the hell do you want?"
"We wanted you to come over and talk to Peridot. We need to stop the Cluster and thought maybe you could help."
"I want nothing to do with you or anyone else. I want to be left alone with Reese."
Amethyst sighed, "Listen... If the Earth explodes then-
"Listen here crystal runt, you rebels wanted the damn planet so bad remember? Take care of it yourselves!"
"Jasper! We need help- Peridot won't cooperate."
The quartz soldier rolled her eyes and started to shut the front door. Amethyst held her hand up and forced it back open.
"You love her, don't you?" Amethyst whispered urgently.
Jasper's face turned red.
"Shut up! Keep your nose out of things that doesn't concern you!"
"Then do it for her."
She fell silent.
"I had to watch you and make sure you weren't up to anything but you really weren't. You care about her more than you'd like to admit... Humans don't live forever... So, you might wanna cherish the time you have with her."
Amethyst turned away and walked down the steps.
"Fine, I'll do it. What do you want me to do?"
"Come over in a little while. We'll head over to the barn."
Jasper shut the door and sat on the couch.
Why did I say yes? Was it because she cried and wanted to save her dad? What is wrong with me?
Jasper sat there staring at the Tv's black screen.
"You love her, don't you?"
"Ugh, stupid Amethyst! I don't know what that means!"
Maybe she was right? She hadn't dealt with feelings like this before, it was all very new to her. Did she love Reese? The human was very nice to her and to be honest, she was surprised she enjoyed her company so much. Did she? Was she turning into some sympathetic being?
"I had to watch you and make sure you weren't up to anything but you really weren't. You care about her more than you'd like to admit... Humans don't live forever... So, you might wanna cherish the time you have with her."
"Are you ok?"
Jasper jumped. She was so deep in thought, she never heard Reese walk down the hallway.
"I… I am going over to help them… save the planet."
Reese blinked stupidly.
"What?"
"I'm going… I'm going to help."
Reese's expression softened some and she smiled.
"I wonder why you would do that?"
Jasper's face turned dark red and she made a face at her.
"You're going with me."
Reese grinned.
"Let me shower and I'll go."
"I have a question."
Reese brushed her hair out of her face and sat down beside of her.
"What is it?" she asked with a smile.
"What is love?" Jasper asked avoiding her eyes.
"It's an intense feeling of deep affection. It could be anything family to friends to falling love. It can be a romantic or sexual attraction. It just depends really. Was it something you watched off of Tv?"
"Yea… sure."
Reese made Jasper coffee and handed her some left over cake from yesterday morning. She jumped into the shower letting the warm water hit her body. For some reason… she felt sad. Was it because she the realization of what could happen to the tiny planet with everyone on it or had she hoped that Jasper loved her.
Did she love Jasper?
Tears stung her eyes. No one could love someone who was ready to throw their mortal body into sharp rocks just because they were tired of their live. Her own father couldn't love her or care about her feelings- why would someone from outer space care? She was a human being. Maybe at best she had fifty more years to live.
"I'm so stupid," she whispered.
She washed her hair and her body. She finished up and dried off heading to her bedroom. She closed the door behind her and grabbed a white skirt and a pale blue shirt with white polka dots. She slipped on white flip flops and looked at herself in the mirror.
"Jasper? Are you ready?" Reese called.
She walked into the living room to see Jasper holding one of the couch pillows and her face covered in tears.
"Oh my god! What's wrong!" Reese cried.
"Nothing!" Jasper wiped her face off and stuff off the Tv.
"Huh?"
"Let's go. I bet those rebels are waiting for us."
Reese laughed at the name.
"Aren't they called the Crystal Gems?" she asked as she locked the front door.
"I don't care what they are called; I don't care for them too much."
Reese made a strange face.
"What?"
"I think you should like them some. They are just like you and you don't want to burn bridges with your own kind just in case you need help in the future."
Jasper stopped and frowned at her, "What the hell does burning bridges have to do with them?"
The human smiled, "It's an expression."
"Um… Ok."
They continued to walk through the sand together. Jasper slipped her large hand over Reese's and held it lightly. Reese looked up at Jasper noticing her face was already red. Reese looked straight ahead at the beach house they came into view. Maybe Jasper did love her but she just didn't know it yet.
But it was possible she didn't know how to love to begin with? Love was a human feeling after all.
TheDoctorsTrueCompanion, I had the intention of making the fight scene last a lot longer but it didn't end up that way. I wanted Reese to take up fighting instead of Jasper to save her even though she didn't really need it. The whole point of that chapter was the attack on the beach but it ended up being shorted out. I apologize lol