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"Aw! They're so cute I wish I had seen the real thing!" Dia gushes, holding the imitation Lunarian. They don't know what else to say, now that they and Bort have talked. Or have they really?
To Dia it seemed that their admission that distance didn't change anything between them and Bort's resounding agreement meant they felt the same. In everything. Right?
They didn't feel like anything had really been settled. Like the bottom of a disturbed riverbed, the silt of their feelings was still swirling around with nothing to cling to.
"It wasn't anything special. Just soft." Bort says.
"Bort..."
"I'm paired with Zircon today."
"Ah. Yes."
"I should get going."
"Do you like it?"
Over the shoulder, Bort seems to consider this for just a moment," They should be stronger. I'm just saying what needs to be said."
At that Bort strides off, black hair sweeping behind their tall figure like a cape. Imposing and untouchable. Unbreakable, and Diamond considers that maybe this is how they were always meant to see Bort. Looking at their thrown back shoulders watching them pull further and further ahead.
It's later that they see them together. Zircon smiling bright and young, with a stern Bort guiding their hands into a proper fighting technique.
When Bort had pointed out Diamond's flaws, Diamond had...
They hated it. It was overwhelming how much of the bad, that Bort hung onto and relentlessly corrected. Eventually it boiled down to Dia being left aside and ordered to do Nothing.
And they couldn't even do that right.
They sighed, trying to be happy for them. They would work better together. Having worked with Yellow and having a more resilient structure, Zircon and Bort seemed to suit one another. With Zircon's boisterous mood and Bort's seriousness, there was a matched intensity.
Unlike Dia who was wishy washy at best, unreliable at worst.
Do nothing.
Though their suddenly idle hands ached to grasp onto Bort tightly, Bort knew best. Bort was smarter. They proved it everyday and really, Dia wasn't afraid of losing them. There was no chance Bort would end up on the moon.
And even less chance now that Diamond was out of the picture.
Now that they weren't partnered, what point was there in talking? They barely had much common ground as diamond's anyway.
It had been days since that day Zircon and Bort had first teamed up and Dia fought down the urge to take Bort aside. To what, exactly?
They didn't know.
"Walk with me."
Dia startled hard at the brusque tone and nearly stumbled on their way up to their chamber. Even if they had caught themself, Bort grasped Dia’s arm tight, right above their glove and beneath the edge of their sleeve. Bort's gloves were tucked into their belt, their eyes intense and unreadable. Bort pulled Diamond down a step," Dia."
It wasn't begging.
It was that way Bort said their name when yet again they had broken. Almost angry, but not quite. It was projected from Bort's chest with force, but not a yell. Almost exasperation. Almost...something.
Dia smiled," Of course."
The sun dips lower and Dia stifles a yawn. Other than that they just hear the sweep of wind combing through the long grass. The lapping of water at the edge of their sanctuary's stone. The jellyfish occasionally breaching the water.
Bort's steps are loud, heels knocking so hard against the pavement, Dia is sure they'll break from the force.
"If you break those shoes, Red Beryll will have a fit."
Bort pauses and Dia continues," They'll love measuring you again I'm sure."
Bort looks at them, quiet," Dia."
Diamond tilts her head to the side and smiles helplessly. The way Bort says their name doesn't require an answer. It's rhetorical for Bort even if Dia would break themself to pieces to know the question.
Dia trots past Bort, stretching their arms over their head in a sigh," This is nice! Even if I'm tired I always like seeing you. I like knowing you're doing well. I-"
Bort seizes their arm so hard Dia's arm cracks and it startles them both. Bort leaps back, mouth parted, eyes darting from their arm to their hand," I didn't-"
Dia lifts her hands," I'm just more fragile than you is all! You know that better than anyone Bor-"
"You're not!"
Dia pauses, false smile slipping from their face. Bort snarls, mouth angling strangely as they spit their words," You're not fragile!"
Dia shakes her head in protest, but Bort takes their wrist, grips and pulls the glove off. From the force of their grab earlier, Diamond's powder finish has come off and Bort drops the glove to run hands over the exposed fractures, the light cleavage of Diamond's structure and Dia shies away," Bort you don't have to-"
"Want. I want.," Bort corrects brusquely and their bare hands slide over Dia's arm like stones clattering across marble. Light and fast. In the soft light, Dia is casting full spectrums of color that play across the dark of Bort's black hair and it leaves Dia feeling like this is piece of Bort they can keep. Their arms are prickling everywhere Bort touches and they let out a soft sound of pain when Bort's hands glide over the shallow crack they made earlier.
"I just want you safe. I want to tuck you away and-Dia, Dia, Dia." Bort growls against Dia's throat and the other Diamond laughs," I'm as safe as I can get. I...don't do anything anymore."
Bort momentarily stiffens and with a sigh, Dia smoothes over their hair, and Bort makes a low sound in their throat.
They wish to hear it again.
They want that sound etched into every fragment of their being so that no matter how much of themself they lose, they will always have this. Diamond says so, and Bort stops, so Dia pulls them close, hands gripping their uniform at the small of their back and tugging hard.
"My diamond." Dia says quietly against Bort's ear and they whine into Dia's collarbone, shaking like a leaf. They grin and say it again, just to get a shudder out of them," It's getting late, my diamond."
Bort still levels Dia with a hard stare that burns holes into their brain, makes scars across their memory and fills their structure with heat like it's midday and not the dead of night.
"Not a single piece will be taken from me, I swear it." Bort hisses through teeth and Dia let's out a soft laugh that's mostly air through their nose.
Bort hadn't expected to be laughed at, and it's apparent in the way their posture becomes tense, unsure. Dia takes this moment to slip from their loosened hold and grins, "Now that we're apart, I'll be strong enough to make sure of that myself. I have to be."
Bort stills, and the luster in their eyes vanishes, leaving them dull," Goodnight..."
Bort turns on their heel, steps echoing loud and Dia almost misses the almost plaintive whisper of," My Diamond."