Emerald leaned against Peridot's shoulder.
For months now, she'd known that they were gonna have their mechanical enhancements. Well, aside from their lenses that helped their eyesight, but it was more of a cosmetic change that they could easily remove if they needed to. This was more of a change that would take a while to undo if anything were to happen. All of them wanted the enhancements like their parents before them had.
Besides Kaminari anyway, though she was too young for them at this point. It was adorable seeing how she responded though.
"I don't want Papa Chiro to be the only one completely organic! I don't want him to be lonely!" She said when their parents asked them about it.
Emerald thought it was the cutest thing and she didn't doubt her parents did too. She was excited about it, but at the same time it was such a huge change that she couldn't help but feel anxious. She was never good with changes if she had to be honest. Whether she wanted it or not, it always ended up making her feel anxious and uncertain. It meant the things she'd grown familiar with would be gone, that they would no longer be around, or if so then it wouldn't be in the same form.
It scared her that it could easily happen just like that.
With this situation, it would be from how different everyone could look. It wouldn't be to unrecognizable levels, no definitely not, but different enough that it would feel weird seeing most of her siblings not looking like they usually do for a while.
She looked at Peridot's face, how different she might end up being in terms of appearances, how her long hair, that which was in a ponytail at that moment, would be gone and replaced by a helmet and antennae. She was afraid of how Peridot, out of everyone there, would seem so different compared to how she looked now. It shouldn't make her feel anxiety inducing like this, yet it did.
Peridot was just in her own world as she designed different outfits, not even realizing Emerald stared at her. Even in silence, joy radiated from her. In a way, she wished she had that. Emeralds quietly sighed before speaking.
"...Peri?"
Peridot immediately snapped out her thoughts and looked at Em.
"Hmm?"
"I know this seems silly to ask now," Emerald looked away, "but… are you sure about the enhancements?"
Peridot nodded. "As sure as when I said it. Nervous, I take it? Anxiety? Unsure?"
As usual, she hit all the right spots like she was in her head. It was nothing short of what she'd expect from her. Emerald nodded her head. Peridot put her pencil down and hugged her.
"It's okay, we'll still be the same ole us. We might look different, but that'll be about it." Peri started. "I know how difficult change is for you, but I promise that I'll always be there to help you through it. Yeah, I'm gonna miss how you hide your face with your hair, it'll be weird to see you without it, but I think it'll be worth it. Everything we could do with those enhancements would be great, mainly what you could do."
"But what about you ?" Em looked at her. "I know you were so happy with how long your hair grew, and after we turn sixteen, that's gonna be all gone… Dactyle too, I know they like their hair tons."
"I'll miss mine, that's for certain, but we'll be okay. You'll be alright too, I'll be sure of it." Peridot smiled.
Emerald held onto her and buried her face in her body. She held her tightly, not wanting to let go. She held her like everything was to happen the next day. Her heart pounded and she felt her body shake. Emerald tried to steady her breathing and calm her body down. Peridot wrapped her other arm and her tail around her. She pulled her as close to her as she was able to. Emerald's tail brought Peridot's tail down from her body and intertwined with it.
Peridot rubbed her back. Emerald tried to focus solely on her touch.
"If you want, we can try to push it back some until you're ready."
Emerald shook her head.
"I- I couldn't do that. Not to any of them, and especially not to you, I know how badly you want this." She quietly said.
"Your feelings count too. How you feel is as important as everyone else." Peridot responded.
Emerald simply closed her eyes and kept her hold on Peridot. Peri kept rubbing her back to help sooth her. Since then, they'd been silent, and that was okay with Em. Being with her was enough to help lighten her mood.
She eventually fell asleep and Peridot laid her down somewhere comfortable.
A/N: Life's been... Kinda hectic. This was more or less made to get how I feel about everything going on for me at the moment, even if this change here is more of a positive one than what's going on in my life.
At least, I'm personally not feeling it as something positive right now.
