The lift rose into the office, and heavy footsteps rattled Zircon's teeth. She couldn't think, couldn't move. She'd long lost control of her body — tears and sweat comingled on her cheeks, and she wasn't sure if she could've spoken even if she wanted to. Yellow Diamond was here. And from the sound of it, she was going to the dais and her chair.

"With all due respect, my luminous Diamond," said a pearl's voice, "but you specifically requested that I remind you to take a break in two rotations. It's been exactly two rotations and seventeen minutes."

"Two rotations ago, I did not have six incompetent managers on my hands."

The steps to Zircon's back shuddered as Yellow Diamond stepped up them, a small tap, tap echoing in response as Yellow Pearl scurried after her. When Zircon looked up, she saw Yellow Diamond sit in her lounge chair and pull up a wide array of yellow screens. One floated twenty feet above Zircon's head.

"My Diamond," Yellow Pearl replied, "you told me to tell you that there are no exceptions. You need to rest."

"No, I don't."

"Yes, my Diamond, you do."

"I don't. I understand I gave you orders. But I'm giving you new ones now — stop trying to take care of me."

From the silence, Yellow Pearl didn't seem to like this. But she gave a begrudging "Yes, my Diamond."

Five minutes passed of more silence, broken only by the quiet tapping of Yellow Diamond's fingers against screens. Then Yellow Pearl said, "My Diamond?"

"What is it?"

"Five rotations ago, you met with a yellow sapphire. She predicted that you would need a break at 38:02 on this day."

"This is pertinent because why?"

"It is 38:02, my Diamond."

"No, Pearl. I'm not tired. Go back to your tasks."

"Yes, my Diamond."

Yellow Pearl went quiet. The rhythmic tapping resumed. About fifteen minutes later, Yellow Pearl again reminded Yellow Diamond that she needed a break. Yellow Diamond, again, dismissed it.

This went on for six hours.

The whole time, Zircon stayed at the base of the dais, frozen solid with only one hope — that Yellow Diamond did not look down to her left. But she seemed to have no intention of it; Zircon couldn't even see her face from where she sat. And if Zircon couldn't see Yellow Diamond's eyes, Yellow Diamond wouldn't see her either. Her muscles relaxed minutely — the ones that could. She was still in the awkward crouching position, putting a terrible strain on her ankles and back. She wondered how long she would have to stay there before something happened. Only about three hours ago had she remembered to open her screens and start recording...not like it mattered, anyway. Who was Blue Diamond kidding? It wasn't like Yellow Diamond would waltz into her office and start giving her life story through song for all to hear; all she did was talk about how clearly not tired she was. This mission was pointless…

A screen pinged. "My Diamond," said Yellow Pearl, "there is a message from Blue Diamond."

"Read it."

" 'My dearest Yellow. I know you will not receive this well. My sapphire tells me you will not respond at all. But I am still distressed about the trial, and need to speak with you. Pink Di — ' "

"That's enough, Pearl."

The tonal shift was more like a snap, with Yellow Diamond's voice going from lethargic to almost panicked. Zircon's eyes widened. Yellow Pearl sensed the tension just as well, and her voice went high and shaky.

"Delete the message," ordered Yellow Diamond, her voice trembling. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Y — yes, my Diamond."

A few more taps. Then, another mighty sigh.

"I can't understand her," said Yellow Diamond. "I just...I can't. She knows what I think. I have been as honest with her as possible — the most practical solution here is to forget it and move on. So her feelings were hurt when we shattered that zircon! Well, what does she expect, that I'm just going to let that little thing run free, telling all of Homeworld that — that I — "

She stopped. Zircon's eyes were wide.

"M...my Diamond?"

It was then that Zircon noticed the sound. The soft, but sharp breaths. For a few moments, they stopped, as if Yellow Diamond was trying to hold them in — but only to return. She was…

Yellow Diamond was...crying.

A soft pat, pat, pat interrupted the sharp breaths, like Yellow Pearl climbing the stairs. Zircon only saw Yellow Diamond reach down, and she couldn't see it, but she could imagine Pearl stepping up to the dais, Yellow Diamond picking Pearl up in her palm, Pearl touching Yellow Diamond's cheek or her hand, trying to console her. "If you need, I can cancel the meeting in ten minutes…"

Yellow Diamond hesitated. "Alright. That's...that's fine. Cancel it."

Several taps on a screen. Yellow Diamond let out a long sigh. Then, a humorless chuckle.

"You really do try, Pearl. Thank you. But...you could never understand. You know this."

"I do know, my Diamond. If you would like, I can pretend that I understand."

Another sigh. "Humor me."

"Yes, my Diamond. Ahem, hem. Do not cry. It will be alright. There, there."

Another chuckle. Maybe that one had a little happiness in it. Just a sliver. "Never mind, Pearl. I just need...I don't know. Maybe I should go to that meeting. I only ever get like this when I'm idle. I cannot dwell too much in it. Blue practically swims in it, that's her problem — that's why she doesn't get anything done!"

Yellow Diamond's voice rose, but even though it tried to be angry, something else trembled just below the surface. Zircon found herself biting her own lip.

"She's just hurting herself by thinking of it more!" Yellow Diamond ranted. "By — by dwelling on some, some cracked theory from an overcooked zircon — what did she think was going to happen? That listening any more to that clod would make her feel happy again? She looked us in our eyes, Pearl — she looked at us and she told us that we shattered our Pink! MY Pink!"

The name echoed. It was the only sound in the office. Then, the crying came again, choked and half-restrained. "No, no, no," was all Yellow Diamond could say for a while. She sniffled. "I can't do this. I need to work."

She inhaled, then let out a bitter, barking laugh.

"As if that would help," she said. "It never did. I do this all the time, burying myself in work, and I think I am acting so much more mature than Blue...but sometimes I wonder. If I am the one hurting myself more."

Silence. Not even Yellow Pearl knew what to say.

"I don't even know why I try," whispered Yellow Diamond. "I'll never understand. Why, how she was shattered. It's so much simpler to blame it on one gem, and sweep her under the rug like nothing happened. It just...it hurts. It hurts more than you could know, Pearl."

Again, there was nothing. Then Zircon saw Yellow Diamond lift Yellow Pearl onto the armrest of the chair, letting the pearl sit and rest her head on Yellow Diamond's arm. And while it was sweet, it caused a small jump of panic — if Pearl just turned her head, she could see Zircon.

I have to get out of here.

A notification pinged on one of the floating screens, and with a last, mighty sigh, Yellow Diamond opened it. "Eight hundred six messages. What a surprise," she said dryly. "All of them urgent. Pick your favorite, Pearl."

"I like the one with the blue-and-gold icon. It's cute."

"Read it."

The screen floated down to Pearl, and out of sight. Presumably, Pearl was opening it.

" 'An auto-generated summons request. Aqua Aura Quartz (Facet 1A1C, Cut 2JD) requests immediate private audience with the luminous Yellow Diamond. The meeting will take approximately ten minutes. Sent five minutes ago.' "

Aqua Aura.

Oh, no.

"Blue's highest general," said Yellow Diamond, her tone suddenly back to cold. "She hasn't sent her to me since the war…"

"My Diamond, the notes say that the quartz came on her own. Blue Diamond didn't send her."

"Let her in."

A few minutes later, Zircon's collar was soaked in sweat and the room echoed with the sound of the lift. Military boots pounded against the floor. A familiar, resonant voice cut the petrifying silence.

"Your grand radiance, pardon my interruption. But this matter requires your immediate concern."

"I will be the judge of that," said Yellow Diamond. "What is it?"

Even after the subtle threat, Aqua Aura's monotone stayed unwaveringly calm. "Blue Diamond recently requested your presence, with the foreknowledge that you would reject the invitation. Her sapphire told her, as well, that it would make you rather upset."

Yellow Diamond shifted. "Get to the point, quartz."

"Your radiance, I have no wish to turn you against Blue Diamond. But I came to inform you that Blue Diamond's invitation was a calculated move. She suspects you of shattering Pink Diamond."

Oh. Oh, no.

"She wouldn't," snapped Yellow Diamond. Yellow Pearl jumped from her diamond's arm, just in time to avoid being knocked over as Yellow Diamond stood.

"SHE wouldn't. Not alone," continued Aqua Aura. "You know that Blue Diamond has always been gullible. I regret to inform you, then, that the one starlite zircon you ordered to be shattered is still alive — given asylum by your Blue. It is through no fault of Blue Diamond's. She's just foolish, and she believes that the zircon is right. She was tricked, your radiance."

Oh no, no, no.

"Well, what does this have to do with the invitation?"

"Have you received it?"

"I have."

A short silence, then Aqua Aura said, "Your radiance, Blue Diamond sent a spy to judge your reaction. Through Blue Diamond's pearl, I fed the spy false information about a hiding spot in this very office. That spy is the treasonous starlite zircon, and if I am right, she is hiding behind your dais right now."

NO —

She was frozen. She couldn't do anything. Zircon wanted more than light itself to run, to blink and make it be just some terrifying daydream, but she couldn't do either. Somehow, it was too much to process. Too much to take. When Yellow Pearl whirled around and gasped, when Yellow Diamond's terrifying form blocked out the lights above, when that hand shot down again to surely crush her this time — Zircon couldn't lift a single finger to help herself.

And the world went dark.


the end :)

man i'm so glad y'all stuck with me through this fic. wasn't really sure how to end it but hopefully that will suffice — IM JUST KIDDING IM TOTALLY KIDDING

i'm seriously, totally kidding guys please don't kill me. there are at least 8 more chapters to go, maybe 10. we'll see. but i WONT end it like that.

(or will i?)

ANYWHO that's one of my favorite post-chapter 10 chapters, except for the one that comes right after this one. that one's obvious.

but with this one, i also really enjoyed writing it — YD and YP are just so fun! even if they're ooc. i can't actually say what either of them are like when they're alone with each other; this is completely creative liberty. and for the record: if it seems like i am romanticizing master-slave relationships, i am VERY VERY SORRY. as i was writing this, it came out more as a harried boss-somewhat concerned secretary sort of dynamic, which fits with the fact that YD is absolutely stressed beyond measure and the implication that pearls are to make their diamonds comfortable in any way possible. i tried to stay away from anything risky but i also have no grounds to be ruling what is risky and what is respectful. please let me know if anything came off as insensitive, how to fix it, and i will be quick to amend that as soon as possible!

thx guys, please leave comments and see you next chapter! also i may or may not be releasing an official de facto playlist at some point or another but who knows