A/N: Not gonna lie, I'm a little proud of how I figured out a way to avoid too much headcanon editing XD I read through past chapters, and because of this little scene I think there was only one eye/eyes error. You'll see why when you read this.

It all begins when Sapphire lets her guard down during a sparring match. She was laughing too hard to brace herself for Ruby's kick (or to notice it was coming at all, really), and ended up getting herself poofed because of course a bitter Plagioclase took advantage of her being forced back, and simply held her sword out at the right angle.

Then Sapphire regenerates, and it's sloppy. Naturally, she notices it too late to change anything.

"Not again," she sighs.

"Tell me about it! Took you long enough to come back. Who actually needs three hours to regenerate, anyway?" is Ruby's greeting. Judging by the footsteps that have literally been worn into the steel floor next to the communication center, she has been pacing rapidly the entire time. Was she really that bored?

"Can you kick me? Hard?"

Ruby stops in her tracks, dumbfounded. "That's how we ended up in this position to begin with," she says. "I don't even know why I thought sparring during rec time was a good idea! This is the second time I've poofed you."

"That was Plagioclase's fault, not yours. Your kick would have been completely benign if she hadn't impaled me with her sword. But that doesn't matter—could you just poof me again, please?"

"What's the matter with you?" Ruby bursts out, waving her arms. "Are you a glutton for punishment or something?"

"No, I just didn't regenerate properly. I need to go back and do it again."

"What do you mean, you didn't do it properly? You look exactly like you always do. You didn't even change your outfit!"

"We can change out outfits at anytime. Besides, I love this dress." Sapphire shakes her head. "We're getting off topic. Will you hit me or not?"

"What are you trying to change?" demands Ruby.

"What does it matter? I'm trying to change it, and I can't very well poof myself." Well, technically she can, it would just take a lot of—

Wait. What?

"Err, Sapphire? What just happened?"

Ruby's voice is distant and easily ignored. At this point, getting her to hit Sapphire would require making her angry, which would require insinuating that—

Whoa.

"It's never been this clear before," Sapphire says softly, in awe.

"Hey, hello? What the hell is going on with you?" Ruby waves a hand in front of her face. Then, upon getting no reaction, she mutters, "Maybe regenerating again wouldn't be a bad idea."

Another. What is the first message that she will open from the Diamonds today?

An inquiry about the likelihood of the Kindergarten construction next to the Whispering Nebula going well. It won't take her long to answer the question, although it would have in the past. The highest probability of success would be to put a new contractor on the job, because the Olivine they've got slotted for it right now is terrible about thinking on her feet. Olivine will make a scene about it, but that problem is easily handled.

"It's never been so immediate, so detailed."

And all it took was allowing this to happen. All things considered, giving up one eye for improved and efficient future vision doesn't feel like a terrible trade.

"What are you talking about?" shouts Ruby, audibly getting frustrated.

She's always worn her bangs long anyway, so it's not like anyone else is going to notice the change.

"You know what?" she says abruptly, lifting her head. "I'm fine after all. Thank you for—" She sees Ruby's realization the instant before Ruby does, and nimbly dodges the red hand that snaps out to move the hair from her face. It's never been so easy to predict the most probable outcome—it's downright effortless. How has she not done this before? Is this what she's always been capable of, all these years?

She can get used to this.

"Sapphire, what is going on?" There's something in Ruby's voice that freezes her in place. It's—softer, more vulnerable. Hurt? She already has implicit knowledge of what's coming next, but Sapphire chooses to let it happen this time, chooses to allow Ruby a step closer. "There's something different about you, and it's…" Either she doesn't have the words, or she isn't willing to reveal the ones she already knows. What she ends up saying isn't what she had been thinking of initially, Sapphire can tell. "I thought we trusted each other better than this."

Well, there are a couple of things she can do at this point, but they all basically boil down to two choices. Either she tells Ruby, or she doesn't—and, conveniently, she knows how each is going to work out this time around.

Nonetheless, it still feels like exposing something tender and vulnerable to say, "I found a way to improve my future vision" and brush her bangs to the side.

"Oh." It doesn't feel like Ruby, when she's this quiet. Sapphire watches, her lips pressed into a tense line, as her friend takes this change in. Then she lets her hair fall back into place.

"This happens when I don't pay attention to my regenerations," she admits—not because it will make the situation any better, necessarily, but because she just… wants to talk about it. "I've never kept it around long enough to understand why, but I like the improvement more than I like the change, so maybe I'll keep it this time."

"Why can't it all be an improvement?" asks Ruby.

Isn't it obvious? "Because gems typically have two eyes?"

"Yeah, but I've seen you with two eyes." Ruby props a hand on her hip and points to Sapphire with the other. "This looks way better."

Sapphire frowns. "I don't need lip service, Ruby."

"Well, that's good, because you're not getting any." She lets her hands fall to her sides and shrugs. "There was just something… off about you having two eyes; I could never put my finger on it before, but the feeling is totally gone now. This feels so much more genuine."

Sapphire hadn't looked into the future before starting this facet of the conversation. That being said, this is probably the last reaction she expected. Something this abnormal—this defective—shouldn't be greeted with approval. Ruby shouldn't be so casual about this. This shouldn't be such an easy change to adjust to.

And maybe her incredulity is really just her projecting her own insecurities on Ruby. There's a reason she hasn't kept the single eye long enough to notice the improvements to her future vision, after all. What if this is just—all her?

"I mean, not everyone is going to tell you this looks better," says Ruby, grimacing. She shifts her weight and flexes her fists in discomfort—but why? Why is she uncomfortable? "For some, like our friends, it might take some getting used to, but that isn't going to make them like or respect you any less." Abruptly, her discomfort fades and her demeanor becomes strong and vehement. "You're defective, anyway. The ones that are going to give you a hard time for having one eye would be doing it regardless, just because your gem's not on your center line. There's no pleasing gems like that, so why even try? Why even give their opinions of you the time of day? They don't deserve it, Sapphire. Your time is worth so much more than that."

Sapphire blinks. Her lips part so she can speak, but no sound leaves; she just gapes. She feels like she's been punched in the gut so hard she can't remember how to breathe. It's not Ruby's insight itself—although she does, undeniably, make a very good point—but rather the passion in which she tells Sapphire her time and consideration are worthwhile that takes her breath away. They're friends, which belies a certain level of mutual respect; and they both have elemental connections, which is so rare that they would have bonded over it anyway; but Ruby thinks this highly of her?

It is apparently possible for rubies to flush, because Ruby does right now. Her color goes from crimson to a deep, ruddy maroon in a matter of seconds, and she averts her eyes. Her fists clench at her sides, quivering. "Th-that's just what I think, anyway," she concludes gruffly. "Just my opinion. I would've said that to anyone, just ask. Apatite's gotten a lecture or two—"

"You really think it looks better this way?" asks Sapphire softly.

"Yes," is the immediate reply. The flush doesn't quite go away, but it fades some as Ruby meets her gaze. "I wouldn't have said so, otherwise."

She knew that already. She did, and yet Sapphire is floored by it all the same. Truthfully, she doesn't know anyone else who would take the time to speak to her like this. "Thank you, Ruby," is all she can manage.

"Nothing to thank me for," Ruby mutters, looking away again. She turns and begins to pace briskly, like she will explode if she doesn't get some energy out now. "You're the one who did all the work."