A Taste of the Flaring Ocean

Chapter Three: A Whirlpool Begins

It had been a couple of days since Lapis had arrived and Garnet had not left her side. Amethyst, Pearl, and Steven were getting worried. They had been told not to enter unless someone was dying or something along those lines. Steven, of course, brushed off the tallest Gem's warning and brought food once a day for Lapis and Garnet (with help opening the door from Pearl or Amethyst). But he wasn't just bringing food, no, he was making sure that the two weren't clashing seeing as the last time Garnet and Lapis had met, Lapis had almost crushed Garnet with a giant ocean hand, but they seemed to be getting along.

One day, Garnet looked at the sleeping blue Gem and she scrunched her nose. Since Lapis had entered her life again, she had been a big distraction to Garnet. Lapis also talked a lot while Garnet responded with nods, 'hmm's, and even a word here or there. Garnet had no idea that a Gem who had been trapped in a mirror for thousands of years would have much to talk about. Then again, Lapis' gem did record all of Gem history that it had seen. Garnet supposed that if she had seen that much she would never shut up either. Then, with a smirk, she shook her head. She had seen all of it with her own eyes yet she kept it to herself. She had used to talk to Rose a lot in private but then Rose had… Garnet shook her head and tensed as Lapis began to move.

Getting off the bed quickly, she made a bubbled gem come down and she pretended to be observing it just as Lapis' eyes opened up and she slowly sat up. Garnet looked over at the other and said nothing as they both looked at one another, no words. Garnet let go of the bubble and went to the end of the bed, their eyes never breaking apart. That was, until Lapis looked at all the floating bubbles.

"So…why?" Lapis simply as her eyes moved back to Garnet, wonderment playing deep in Lapis' eyes. She had never seen so many Gems not in their physical form. Without thinking, Lapis reached up to the ceiling and, to both their surprises, one of Rose's gems began to float down towards Lapis. Garnet quickly grabbed the other's wrist and put it down on the bed, the bubble floating back up.

"Why what?" Garnet asked, not letting go of Lapis' writs, the cool skin feeling very good in her too warm hand. Garnet looked at the bubbles and she sighed. "Why do we bubble them? Because, Gems from Home World made them, used them, and left them to die."

"No, I meant…" Lapis blushed deep blue as she looked at the other's hand holding her wrist, then whispered. "Why don't you just destroy them? Don't you think they would be happier being dead then being stuck in a bubble for who knows how long?" A sad look came over Lapis' face as she now looked up. "Trapped. Suspended in time until someone comes along and sets you free. Until someone fixes you and lets you feel again…"

Garnet listened to Lapis and her heart actually ached for the other Gem. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to be unable to be free, to fight and feel. Garnet looked at Lapis now and something inside wanted to actually hold the other. Rose had always held her when she got sad or upset or, well, just for the hell of it.

"Would you have wanted to be destroyed? Being suspended in time, is it really that bad? We'll never age anyways, but knowing that, while you were imprisoned, other Gems looked upon you for knowledge that only you knew, even when you were cracked. Would you have wanted us to destroy you, knowing that you were broken?"

Lapis looked at the other gem and blushed a little bit. She had never thought of it that way. She had been cracked, broken, and yet she was still useful to other Gems. Even when she was trapped into that mirror, inside her Gem she felt proud that others needed her.

"We fight them all the time. They're broken and cracked, just like you were. Rose Quartz tried to heal them with her tears and Steven with his saliva. Steven came close to healing the Centipeetle, but it didn't end well." Garnet reached out, bringing the Centipeetle bubble to her hands. "They were just like us at one time. We bubble them so that we can figure out and give them a chance to be healed." Behind her glasses, Garnet's eyes were filled with sadness as she looked at the round gem she held.

Lapis could practically feel the grief coming off the Crystal Gem's body and she looked down. Garnet had yet to let go of her wrist, but she didn't mind. Suddenly, Lapis yanked the other close by the hand on her wrist and, though it hurt her physically, she pulled Garnet into a hug.

Garnet had been surprised and ready to fight, when she felt those cool arms wrap around her shoulders. Even through the fabric of her clothing, Lapis' skin could be felt and it made Garnet feel…different. It felt as if she were in the water on a calm spring day, and it calmed her. Garnet, surprisingly, leaned into the other's touch, her hands moving to hold the other's hips, afraid Lapis would pull back.

"I'm sorry," Lapis said, her voice heavy with emotion. "I didn't think of it like that. But…you're right." Lapis knew firsthand about being broken and being healed by Steven. He had been the most helpful and kindest person she had ever met. Holding Garnet, she rest her head on the taller's shoulder, her eyes closing.

The two Gems quickly pulled away from one another as the temple door opened with, who else, Steven with a large tray of food. But he wasn't alone this time. This time, Pearl was behind him with another tray of food. The two walked to the bed, setting the trays down.

"How're you feeling today, Lapis?" Steven asked, his usual smile on his face. Lapis wondered if the boy ever frowned or cried or had any other emotions besides happiness and excitement. He grabbed a cookie from the tray of food and held it up. It was star shaped. "Maybe if you join our team, we can put a star on you somewhere. We all have them!"

It took Lapis a moment to realize that, yes, all the Crystal Gems did have a star insignia on their clothing in one way or another. Lapis wondered where her star would go. Then she blushed and looked away. Why would she even consider joining the Crystal Gems? They had trapped here on Earth for so long. Then again, Home World was so different from when she had last been there…she didn't feel like she belonged anywhere.

While Steven and Lapis talked, Pearl had pulled Garnet away from the pair to talk. Pearl looked at Lapis and Steven before turning her gaze back to Garnet and she looked worried.

"Garnet, I'm not usually one to question your methods, or ever really, but you haven't been out of the temple in days. We haven't gone on any missions lately and I'm…well, I'm worried. What are you doing out here? I know Steven's been bringing you two food and he says you're getting along, but…well…she tried to steal the ocean!"

"I don't think you have a place to question my orders, Pearl." Garnet said, an edge to her tone. For some reason, what Pearl had said made her feel a pang of anger. She crossed her arms and looked directly at Pearl. "If you feel the need to go and do something, why not go out and spend the day with Steven? When was the last time you did something human oriented with him?" She knew that saying this was a low blow, but it was true. It was always Garnet and Amethyst who did things with Steven. That and Garnet was annoyed that Pearl was taking her time away from Lapis.

Pearl's eyes widened, a blush crossing her face. She looked down in shame and sighed. "You're right. I've been a bad guardian." She looked at Garnet and frowned. "I was just worried about you, Garnet. It isn't like you to stay in the temple so long, especially when you know Steven wants to spend time with you."

Garnet looked over her shoulder at Lapis who looked conflicted. When the blue Gem looked up, their eyes connected and time stood still. Neither understood what was going on, but somehow they knew it was something. Turning back to Pearl, Garnet sighed.

"Rose always looked for the good in everyone. Steven does too. If he can see the good in Lapis Lazuli, I should as well. You and Amethyst too. Even if she leaves to go to Home World again, we should try to Follow Steven's way. He is a Crystal Gem and has his mother's gem." Garnet walked over, picked up Steven who laughed and waved at Lapis as he was carried towards Real. Once close enough, Garnet put Steven in Pearl's arms. "Now, let me find her goodness."

Pearl nodded and walked to the temple's exit. Once they were gone, Garnet stared at where the door was, not moving. Was that why she had been so obsessed with Lapis? She wanted to find the good in the ocean Gem? Turning around, she looked at Lapis who had been staring at her. The blue Gem blushed a very dark blue and shifted her gaze up to the bubbles.

A smile actually played Garnet's lips and she walked to the bed. Instead of going to the end of the bed, Garnet sat where Lapis's feet were. When Lapis refused to look at Garnet, the Crystal Gem reached out her hand and grabbed her wrist, as she had done before. This action made Lapis look at Garnet. Garnet looked at the other and it was her turn to pull the other into a hug, her arms wrapping around her waist.

"There is good in all of us." She whispered and closed her eyes behind her glasses. "We just need to figure out where it is." Inside, Garnet felt like she was stuck in a water tunnel, being pulled in all directions. She wanted to believe in what Rose and Steven had taught her, but after the Great Gem War (even though it was over find thousand years ago) learning to trust in others and find the goodness in them was so hard. Yet here she was, hugging who used to be an enemy because it made her feel…safe and even wanted for more then protection. She had lost that feeling years ago.

When Lapis wrapped her arms around Garnet, the two Gems just stayed there. No words. No movement. Just…holding one another. After a few moments, Garnet pulled back and had Lapis…whimpered? No. Looking at the food, Garnet tried not to laugh. Before today, it was obvious that Pearl had made the meals as they were rather healthy. Today? Amethyst had made their daily meal. A bunch of take out and junk food. Garnet looked at Lapis and Lapis looked at Garnet, confused at the change of diet.

"Just try it. It's usually pretty good is Amethyst picks it out. Though…ask me if you feel like it might have gone bad." Garnet remembered the five year old burrito that Amethyst had eaten and prayed that Steven had already done a food poison check.

"Will you eat with me?" Lapis almost whispered. The same question was asked every day when the food was brought and the answer was always the same, a nod from Garnet. The stoic Crystal Gem picked up some fries and began to eat in silence. They both looked at the bubbled gems as if it were the night sky. Somehow, today's meal felt different. Ocean met Fire and neither took dominance, swirling around each other in a perfect dance of curiosity and attentiveness.