A/N: Thought I'd work hard and try to get this chapter out quicker. Well, here it is! I also had a livewrite with this chapter and a bit of chapter 13 and azure-emerald was kind enough to join me! If you would like to join in as well next time feel free to PM me! I also post on my Tumblr whenever I have livewrites so feel free to check that as well! I'm also having a bit of trouble capturing Peridot and Ronaldo's character after StevenBomb 2.0. because Peridot's behavior in Keeping it Together kind of threw me off a bit.
Without further ado, here is Chapter 12!
"Peridot!" Ronaldo yelled, only to hear his own voice echo in the chasm. "Peridot?"
Ronaldo had been searching for the green gem for what seemed to be hours. It was going to get dark soon and Ronaldo was worried he would not find her before sundown. The area was completely silent except for the rocks which crunched under Ronaldo's shoes with every step.
"Peridot?" Ronaldo continued calling into the emptiness. He felt his heart sink and guilt flooded his chest. He didn't mean to cause so much trouble to the gem. He only acted upon what he felt was right. Ronaldo let out a frustrated groan.
"I always mess things up!" He said with frustration and angrily punched the cliff wall. Tiny pebbles fell from the sudden impact on the wall and Ronaldo winced feeling the rocks fall on his head. "Okay, I probably deserved that." He huffed and continued his search.
Another hour passed and Ronaldo was starting to lose hope, but he told himself he would not leave until he found the green gem. After everything that happened, he couldn't just leave her to fend for herself when she could barely take care of herself when they were living together. Ronaldo blushed at the thought. No, "living together" wasn't the correct term; it was more like "keeping each other company."
Another rock fell from above, hitting Ronaldo in the head and he almost lost his footing. He slightly cursed under his breath and his gaze traveled upward, looking for the source. His eyes widened when he saw the familiar triangle shaped hair just two hundred feet above him. Peridot sat on the wall of the cavern with her knees up to her chest. Although the wall was at a ninety degree angle, she easily stuck to the rocky side with the help of her tech.
"Peridot!" Ronaldo cried from bellow, hoping to catch her attention. Peridot shifted, hearing her name being called, but didn't bother to turn around to face Ronaldo.
"Leave." She stated firm, but her voice sounded as if she had spent the last hour crying. Ronaldo clenched his fists against the cavern wall.
"No. Peridot, please. I'm sorry." Ronaldo said, but Peridot did not move nor did he speak. Ronaldo's brows furrowed with determination and he tightly gripped the rocky cliff face, using the holes along the side to climb up. "Peridot, I'm sorry I caused this mess. I'm sorry for speaking against your leader, but all that stuff I said about you was true!" Ronaldo panted as he attempted to climb the cliff. He silently admitted to himself that he wasn't the most physically fit person out there. "Peridot, you're a hard worker and you shouldn't be working hard for someone who doesn't appreciate you. I didn't mean for you to get banished from your home, but from the way you were acting, it didn't seem like home." Peridot's squeezed her legs tighter. "Peridot, you are so much more than just a cog in their machine. You need to understand that, and if you don't, I do!" Ronaldo said, his voice growling louder. He reached his hand out. Peridot was only a few inches away from his fingertips. "Peridot, I lo-"
Crack.
Ronaldo felt her heart drop when he felt the rock beneath his feet give out. His breath caught in his throat as he stumbled to gain foothold again, flailing his arm trying to grab onto something. Ronaldo shut his eyes in a panic as he fell, bracing himself for the painful impact.
"Ronaldo!" Peridot's panicked voice sounded in his ears followed by a loud whirring. Ronaldo slowly and nervously opened his eyes again when he saw with surprise Peridot holding onto him in a death grip with one arm over her head acting as a helicopter. His jaw dropped at the sight when she dropped him back safely on the ground, toppling down to her knees as well in exhaustion. "Ronaldo, you clod! You almost died! When are you going to get it through your thick organic skull that I'm not worth your life?" Peridot hissed with hot tears rolling down her cheeks. Ronaldo gently took Peridot's face in his hands and looked into her green eyes with a serious expression.
"When are you going to stop degrading yourself and understand that I won't let you get through this alone?" Ronaldo said in response. Peridot's eyes widened and she stared at Ronaldo with shock. He cared about her? Why would this human go through all this trouble just to make sure she was okay? He almost died and here he was worrying about her? Guilt filled her chest as she remembered her harsh words from before. Fresh tears rolled down her face and she wrapped her arms around Ronaldo's chest, hiding her face in his shirt not wanting to look him in the eyes. Ronaldo looked down in shock, surprised that the gem actually allowed herself to finally express her emotions. He lightly wrapped his arms around her, his cheek resting on top of her hair. A few content moments passed before Peridot finally spoke.
"Ronaldo…I…I'm sorry." Peridot whispered, her voice still quivering.
"Why are you sorry? I'm sorry for messing everything up." Ronaldo said honestly. Peridot shook her head.
"No. It's my fault for dragging you into this mess. I don't even know what Yellow Diamond plans to do now that I have betrayed her. She still needs the Earth Kindergarten, and she is not going to stop until she gets it." Peridot gulped clenching her fists against Ronaldo's shirt. "Ronaldo…thank you." Peridot said after some hesitation.
"For what?" Ronaldo couldn't help but ask with confusion.
"For being so kind to me. I have behaved poorly around you and I apologize. You showed me why Yellow Diamond was wrong. Earth is full of things we do not understand. Destroying it…I can't believe I was about to do that." Peridot shivered at the thought.
"It's okay. You didn't know." Ronaldo reasoned. Peridot couldn't help but laugh.
"Well, I have plenty of time to learn now that I can not go back home." Peridot said with a sigh.
"I'm sorry you had to leave your family behind and everything." Ronaldo assumed.
"I have no family. I had nothing to leave behind. I mean, sure Homeworld was my entire existence, but it was hardly living." Peridot scoffed.
"Oh. I see." Ronaldo looked over at the horizon and almost bolted up to his feet. "Is it that late already?" Ronaldo yelped earning a surprised yelp from Peridot who was still curled up against him.
"What do you mean?" She asked with panic, scrambling back onto her feet.
"I mean, it's almost dark and we really need to be heading back." Ronaldo said, calming the gem's worries.
"Oh. I see. Well, I suppose." Peridot said pulling up her screen to another map.
"Uh, maybe we should use my map this time?" He insisted, remembering the last time he relied on Peridot for directions.
"Your map? Please, human technology can't be better than gem tech." Peridot insisted.
"Well, prepare to be amazed!"
"How is it that your small cellular device cut our travel time in half?" Peridot yelped in surprise. They were already back in Beach City and were strolling down the shoreline. They had managed to make it just as the sun began to set .Ronaldo couldn't help but smirk.
"You shouldn't underestimate human tech Peri, especially when I have 4G!" Ronaldo said with pride.
"4G?" Peridot repeated with confusion.
"Oh well, you see-" Ronaldo began to explain when a loud roar interrupted him. The two jumped in shock, and before they could react, a purple puma had Peridot pinned down between its claws.
"Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in!" the puma mewled with its chest held high in accomplishment, showing off the purple gem that was tucked in its fur.
A/N: If you didn't get the hint, yes the puma is Amethyst.
Thanks for reading, and as always, Leave a review!