Chapter 4:

AMETHYST:

The next few hours felt like a blur to the emotionally exhausted Gem. Her only comfort seemed to be in the predictable feeling of pushing her short thumbs into the controller buttons ,and the soft metallic pings of her more "Steven friendly" video games. A certain blue tipped hedgehog was by far her favorite, she'd even tried incorporating some of his moves into her own fighting and often it worked perfectly. She'd later use that as an excuse to play more games since they were obviously educational in that sense. She kept an M rated stash hidden under the couch ( where no brave soul would dare look) which she'd only play after a certain time when she was sure Steven was in bed. Tonight she'd be needing them. The pure joy of obliterating an opponent, characters who weren't scared to say "Holy shit, there's a fucking hoard of them out there!", and the satisfying images of victory blood were sure to get some of this pent up frustration out.

But for now, the closest thing to violence was the slow death of drowning to dramatic music. And drown she did. Amethyst just was not on top of her game tonight, and it was starting to piss her off. Also, her tummy was getting a bit rumbly and her snack pile was nearly depleted. 'Hooray, another thing gone wrong.' she thought sarcastically and rolled her eyes to the invisible force that was letting her have no fun tonight.

GARNET! (yes she does come into play again)

Garnet was besides herself, literally. Safe in her temple room and aware that Steven was down for the night and wouldn't annoy them, she finally allowed her founding Gems to diffuse for some much needed relief from the headache earlier events had caused. The diffusion was simple and quite, Sapphire appeared sitting down with her dress folding under her while Ruby paced back and forth in front of her with one arm behind her back.

"You saw it yourself Sapphy, we need Opal in future missions." Ruby faced her other half briefly.

"Yes, you're right. But as I've told you, there's only two foreseeable options out of thirteen that Opal won't form smoothly. Being worried about it this much in advance doesn't seem fair." the wise women spoke softly.

"Well if that's true and those two are practically inevitable, why can't we just make them see it sooner?" The fiery Homeworld warrior replied with a smirk.

"If we rush their bond, then there's more chances for error on our part and if they fail to hold that bond when we need it we may not live to forgive ourselves."

Ruby paused and shook her head. "I say it's worth a try." Ruby kneeled and took Sapphires hands in hers. "They're our friends babe, I don't want to see them in such pain and uncertainty when they could be in love. I want them to be happy like us!" with that the crimson cupid kissed her partners hands softly and smiled up at her

The beautifully blue Gem smiled back but stated matter-of-factly"I don't like seeing it any more than you my love, but I just don't think meddling in their relationship is a good idea at this time."

Ruby lifted her eyebrow and smirked "It's not exactly meddling if you're successful and there's no farther emotional turmoil right?"

The psychic gave a puzzled frown. "And what makes you think you're guaranteed at being successful in making these two realize their love?"

The scarlet guard snickered "I got you to realize you loved me didn't I?"

Sapphire reclaimed one one of her hands and covered her giggling mouth from betraying her stance on this discussion. "You weren't exactly smooth Ruby."

In response, the brave romantic used her now free hand to brush her lover's hair out of the way and placed a kiss just above her eye. "I've gotten smoother though haven't I?"

Sapphire smiled in admiration and laughed melodically "Yes! You certainly did."

The Gem before her looked hopefully into her eye and pleaded. "Then can we please try? Let us help them feel like we do."

Sapphire couldn't say no any longer. "Okay my love, we can try."

"We can!" Ruby grinned and helped her soul mate up enthusiastically.

The aqueous Gem giggled. "Yes We Can!"

Ruby gripped her lover's waist and spun her around placing genuine kisses up her neck and finally her lips as a bright light captured them.

Garnet stood up and smoothed her armor down. "Right then, glad I'm on the same page." She walked to her "good teammate surprise stash" and removed a thin plastic case heading to the kitchen.

AMETHYST:

One watery grave and one stomach roar later Amethyst had just about had it with her favorite hedgehog. She slammed the remote down on the couch and sprung up to go get some grub. Stepping out of her cave into the harsh indoor lighting was never her favorite part of kitchen raids, but it was a necessary evil, and as she took her first blind steps in her objectives direction she heard her name.

"Amethyst, do you want to join me?" The voice was cool and low and slightly monotone. In her shock of being caught her black pupils rapidly adjusted to the new lighting making them grew twice their normal size. She may have now looked like a cheesy piece of anime, but they were effective, and she began to make out the distinct shape of her scarlet leader leaning on the counter in front of her. Garnet was drinking a dark red liquid from a tall thin glass that Amethyst knew from experience was actually just dyed grape juice. The Gem leader had been a secret whino and when alcohol was banned she was equally had once snuck into her supply once after the ban was put into place to discover she was not hypocrite Amethyst had been hoping for. Whine Amethyst could use, grape juice and company she could go without.

"Sorry Mamma G but I gotta pass, I'm on fire in there and I just paused for some more gasoline if ya know what I mean. Gotta make this quick or I'll lose my mojo."

Garnet nodded and took another sip. "Fridge is out, check the bag Pearl brought in today."

Amethyst reluctantly slunk over to yet another thing tying into her rejection and peaked inside. Pudding, salami, whipped cream, crackers, popcorn, a six-pack of root beer, hoagie rolls, cheese in a can, and four ice cream sandwiches (probably half melted by now). Amethyst was too overjoyed to be confused as to why Pearl bought all this crap. That crap was all just up her alley. She picked up the whole bag in her arms and started to walk off.

"We aren't stress eating are we?" Garnet called out after her

"Nah" the hungry Gem laughed. "Just eating for two. Me, and what's left of my sanity!"

Amethyst immediately regretted saying that as soon as her cave doors shut, but curiously enough Garnet had not pressed farther so she'd just count herself lucky for now. She brought her treasure back to her seat, opened a root beer she downed in one sip, and started rooting through it for the chaser. Something caught her eye she had not seen in her haste. It was a single lonely apple at the front of the bag. Lifting up she saw a note attached to it.

"Eat this first. Who knows, maybe you'll like it"~ Pearl.

Amethyst groaned, even food was reminding her of the locked up goddess upstairs. Wait, why the hell was she calling her a goddess after this evening? A massive sugar rush coming on, Amethyst removed the note , she grabbed a thick pen she often used for drawing when the electricity was out, and rearranged the it.

"'Eat ME OUT, maybe you'll like it'~ AMETHYST"

Satisfied with her work she reattached the note to the apple and walked to the edge of the waterfall.

" I Wouldn't know how to go about it. Maybe we could try at a time my head and my emotions are on the same page?" She mocked Pearl under her breath in bitter disappointment and chucked the apple up the falls.

"Well fine! I'll be waiting I guess!" She yelled at herself in reply and walked back to her stash.

However, there was one more surprise waiting for her. Once she'd finished her second root beer and wolfed down a salami and easy cheese hoagie she noticed a shiny piece of plastic at the bottom of the bag. It looked like the edge of a video game case. She pushed aside the bags content and pulled out a brand new limited edition copy of the game " UNDEADLY SERIOUS"

"Holy shit!" Amethyst gasped under her breath. Had Pearl seriously bought her this game? But there's so much blood, so much cursing, so much carnage, and she had soooo badly wanted it! Amethyst momentarily regretted the whole apple thing now, but there would be time for regrets later. Right now, she needed to pop this bad boy in!

Not two seconds after the loading signal died down did a snarling zombie start scraping at the screen only to have six rounds blasted into its head from behind. The zombie head exploded and the stories monologue began.

"This is gonna be so sweet!" the defective warrior exclaimed excitedly. "I gotta blast it up!"

She turned the volume to "64" notches and started to build her character. She smirked trying to decide on the dirtiest name the system would let her get away with.

PEARL:

"Pearl." The cheshire cat grin loomed above her as the friction between her own legs painfully slowed. The words came with a hint of labored breathing. "I command you to be louder or I'm stopping."

The alabaster Gem groaned beneath her teeth. Her back sinking into the soft sheets but her arms latched around the warm, bare, torso of her teammate. The pressure building in her core was borderline unbearable.

"N-no, Ame...I need…." she stammered out

"I know you do Princess." The Gem on top of her slipped out of her grip and kissed between her erect breasts before working her way down and drumming on her hips with her short, strong, fingers. " I'm going to need you beg for me by name just a bit louder."

Pearl gulped and shook her head feebly trying to be coy "And...and if a refuse?"

Her partner smirked "Then I'll just have to force you too." With that the violet Gem pulled apart her leg in a swift borderline aggressive movement and lowered her head.

The feeling was indescribable as Pearl arched and moved her head back, opened her mouth, and….

Pearl startled awake looked over at the clock. She then rolled her eyes in frustration. Seven hours since Amethyst had sulked off and she'd only managed to drift into a sleep like meditation twice, only to become aware of a shameful admittedly erotic fantasy about the younger Gem each time. This was going to be torture. Maybe she should just give in to her own desires if Amethyst is willing. But would she still be willing? Probably not, the ship has probably already sailed. Pearl sighed, she'd really screwed up this time because of her damn fears. Even if she was to go ask for it, she'd have to be the one trying to convince Amethyst now. She wasn't nearly confident enough to do that, and she'd never even had intercourse before. What if she simply wasn't as good as Amethysts other partner had been? She sighed again, she was doomed to sit up here in her self pity for the rest of the week.

The sigh was interrupted by a grotesque scream and snarl from over the falls. Pearl sprang to attention and summoned her spear jumping to the edge of the falls. Was Amethyst really that upset. The falls answered her secret concerns "OH SHIT! NONONONO!" and another blood curdling growl.

Pearl's instincts took over, Amethyst was obviously fending off some sort of horrible monster and there was no way in hades that Pearl was going to let her face it alone. In her determination she didn't see the apple who's splash had awoke her from her first fantasy and tumbled down the falls.

Amethysts' cave was huge, and just as disorganized as always. There were no immediate signs of any struggle since it was already such a mess, but the growls were growing louder as she snuck around objects. "Taste metal you fucker!" gunshots rang out and there was a dying gasp of some demented creation. But before Pearl could sigh in relief Amethysts' panicked voice filled the air once more. "Fuck! There's more of them!" More snarls and screeched. Up ahead they were growing louder and there was a violent flash of light. Pearls heart raced and she jumped into the open doing a somersault slash and ended facing another pile of clothes. "Amethyst! Amethyst can you hear me! What's going on?!"

The smaller Gem was closer than she thought as she heard a call from the left "Yo! Down in front!" Pearl looked over confused at the placid Gem lounging on a couch with a controller in her hand then heard raspy breathing on her right. She turned her head just in time to see an undead demon show it's entire mouth the the screen and let out a deafening screech. Pearl sprung back onto the couch clutching her spear in fright. "What is that thing!"

Amethyst just rolled her eyes "Uh-duh, it's an undead creature trying to tear me limb from limb in a game. Which I just died in by the way so thank you very much."

Pearl composed herself and tilted her chin up letting her spear absorb back into her. "Well next time keep the volume down when you play such games, I thought you were actually being attacked down here."

"Oh so what? You came to save me? How noble, maybe you do care." Amethyst said sarcastically and pressed the respawn button eyes never leaving the screen. Pearl tried not to get too offended "Well seeing as it's just your grotesque game, I'll leave now."

Amethyst waved "Whatever, P. And by the way, grotesque game you gave me."

Pearl hated being treated with such apathy "I did not buy you such a violent and unsophisticated, war mongering game. Wherever would you conceive that idea?"

The shorter Gem shrugged "ugh, the fact that it was in my food bag."

Pearl's face burned blue "Your food bag! Steven eats too you know!"

Amethyst paused the game and looked over at her uninvited guest. "Oh of course! How could I forget about your darling Steven! But I sure as hell don't think you'd give him this. I think you gave it to me to get me out of your hair this week and congrats, it fucking worked!"

"Language Amethyst!"Pearl balled her fists at her side to regain composure.

"I fucking like swearing Pearl! It gets out frustration because I don't talk fancy like you! I'm a slob, I eat crap, I play violent video games, and I swear so get the fuck over it! If you want me to act different to win your damn affection then you can stick a long one up..."

Pearl sighed and cut her off giving up the battle. "Your right…"

Amethyst finished "YOUR RIGHT!...wait...huh? I...am?"

The lanky Gem held her arm in front of her and looked down. "I shouldn't ask you to change to win my affection. You already have it. We've just become so different from each other. Sometimes...sometimes I just forget that and expect too much of you."

Amethyst blinked in surprise. "Um...no problem… I guess."

Pearl shook her head. "No, it is a problem Amethyst, I haven't been trying as hard as I could. I don't know you as well as I should. And I want to fix that."

The younger Gem just blinked and stared blankly at this new side of Pearl.

Pearl swallowed hard. "W-would it b-be okay if I stayed? And, and maybe you could teach me how to play your game?"

Amethyst was absolutely dumbstruck and her jaw dropped but then she fixed it. "Yeah, sure. I guess that would be cool, but I mean it's your choice."

Pearl only smiled and nodded "Yeah, I think I'd like that. Thank you."