Chapter Text
“Thank you for helping me move, Amethyst,” Peridot said as she sat the large cardboard box down in the bathroom floor. “I should be back at the barn in no time with your assistance.”
Amethyst was biting her tongue. Despite that, she managed a casual-looking shrug.
“Yeah, sure, no problem ...” she said, as if nothing about this bothered her.
After all, with Lapis back only days ago and Peridot reconciling with her, it was only a matter of time. Pumpkin was already with Lapis. Amethyst should have seen this coming, but somehow she didn’t ... or hadn’t allowed herself to.
Peridot seemed oblivious to Amethyst’s feelings. She was beaming.
“Now then, we must begin the arduous task of packing!” Peridot said. She pointed to the tablet resting on the sink. “Amethyst, could you hand me my tablet?”
Amethyst did as Peridot asked. Peridot took the device from her hands and gently placed it in the box. She clapped her hands together.
“Excellent! Packing is complete!” Peridot said.
Amethyst rolled her eyes.
“I’m not sure you needed my help for that,” she mumbled.
“Nonsense! You’ve been an invaluable help!” Peridot said. She paused. “Besides, there were some other things I wanted to show you ...”
“Like what?” Amethyst said, glancing at Peridot with curiosity.
Peridot scrambled to the bathtub, searching for something.
“I left it here somewhere ... ah yes!” Peridot pulled out a large folded piece of construction paper almost as big as Peridot herself. “Observe!”
Amethyst felt a flutter in her chest. It looks like a card. She hadn’t expected this.
“Oh ... gosh,” Amethyst said, letting out a flustered laugh. “I don’t know what to say.” She took in her hands. “That’s so thoughtful ...” Amethyst read the front and stopped. Her smile fell. “... oh.”
The front of the card had the words “WELCOME HOME” printed on it and on the front were a green figure, a blue figue, and an orange blob, all standing in front of a red barn.
“It’s for Lapis,” Peridot said cheerfully. “It took hours for me to capture Pumpkin’s likeness.”
“She sure does look ... like a circle ...” She managed, Amethyst, trying to ignore the bile rising in her throat.
“Correct! I knew you’d appreciate it, Ames!” Peridot rubbed her chin. “What do you think of it?”
Amethyst gently placed it on the sink.
“Well, it definitely shows what’s most important to you,” Amethyst grumbled, turning away from Peridot and stepping into the corner. She kept her eyes on the tiles on the floor, biting her tongue so hard it hurt.
“Ah! Then I’ve done an exceptional job!” Peridot said, oblivious. “Thanks for your feedback!”
“No problem,” said Amethyst, almost under her breath. She trembled, feeling like a dam about to burst.
She could feel Peridot’s eyes on her back. A moment later, Peridot cleared her throat.
“There was also something else ...” Peridot said, more seriously. “I wanted to ... thank you.”
Amethyst said nothing. She couldn’t even look back at her.
“This was an exceptionally difficult time for me,” Peridot said. “Perhaps the most difficult period I’ve had since settling on this planet.” She gave a nervous laugh. “And I know at times I can be rather ... difficult. But you’ve all been very understanding. Were it not for you and Steven, I imagine I’d still be wallowing somewhere.”
Amethyst started to shake. She clenched her jaw shut. This was torture.
“And I ...” Peridot sighed. “I just wanted to let you know everything you’ve done is appreciated. I’m not sure I’ll ever understand what I did to deserve such close friends, and --”
Amethyst whipped around towards Peridot, her hair flinging back.
“Peridot, I don’t think you should go!” Amethyst shouted.
Peridot’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“What?” Peridot said. “What do you mean?”
Amethyst didn’t have any time to restrain herself. Everything she wanted to say spilled out like word vomit.
“I mean, you don’t have to automatically leave just because Lapis is back!” Amethyst shouted. “I mean, you were happy! Everyone was happy! You actually hung out and did stuff aside from staying cooped up at the barn all the time!” Amethyst gestured to herself. “We were the ones there for you while Lapis was screwing around on the freaking moon! She was the one who left you and didn’t care much about your feelings, so why should you care about hers? I mean, did she even say she was sorry?!”
Peridot glared and, to Amethyst’s surprise, raised her voice herself.
“O-of course she apologized!” Peridot said. “When she first talked to me, she was in tears! You should have heard her! She felt awful for what happened, awful for how she made me feel! She called herself a coward and ... and she even said she wouldn’t blame me if I didn’t want to come back. But I forgave her!” Peridot held her hands up. “What’s your problem? I thought forgiving people was a good thing!”
“Yeah, but there’s a difference between forgiving people and being a total pushover.”
“Pushover?! What does that signify?”
“It means doormat! Someone who lets everyone walk all over them! A total sap! AKA you!”
Peridot’s face began to turn red. “So that’s what you think I’m being? A pushover?!”
“KINDA!”
Peridot gritted her teeth. “I have no idea what your problem is, but I’m not a pushover!”
“Yeah, you know, I’ll believe that right up until the next time Lapis gets mad and leaves ... AGAIN. And leaves you feeling awful about yourself ... AGAIN. And then you’ll probably just forgive her when she comes back ... A-GAIN.” Amethyst clenched her fists. “I mean, how naive are you?!”
“You weren’t there when we talked! She’s learned from her mistakes! She’s changed!”
“Listen to yourself! You’re the one who got hurt and you’re making excuses for her! People like that don’t change!”
“I changed!” Peridot shouted.
Amethyst flinched.
Peridot glared. “I hurt Steven and all of you without any second thought ... and it sickens me thinking about what I used to be,” she said. “But I changed. And everything I have on this planet is only because Steven and you all chose to give me a chance.” She grimaced. “So yes, I absolutely believe Gems can change. Even if you seem intent on convincing me to not offer someone else the chance.”
Amethyst blinked, her mind only then processing the venom in her words.
Peridot took a breath, then straightened her shoulders.
“Well ... I see no point in continuing this conversation,” Peridot said, deadpan, not meeting Amethyst’s gaze. “Thank you for your assistance. I’ll be going now.”
Great, awesome, this is so what I wanted, Amethyst thought, berating herself. Why had she said that? Not that Amethyst didn’t believe all of that, but the way she said it sounded awful. What was she thinking?
“Peridot, I--”
Peridot didn’t look at her. She picked up her box, walked to the door, opened it.
As Peridot opened the door, Steven and Connie almost stumbled inside.
Amethyst’s eyes went wide, as did Peridot’s.
“Wha--?” Peridot mumbled.