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“Left click to shoot. You’re also on the wrong aura, so hit shift to heal.”
Pearl tried to keep up with the sudden onslaught of information as her fingers fumbled over the keyboard. “I have to heal, too? Aura ? What -”
“Quick, someone’s attacking you! Now hit that button!”
“...This one?”
“No.” Amethyst chortled when Pearl’s character accidentally ran headfirst into a wall and used its most powerful ability - that hit absolutely no one. “But it’s fine. Now turn and hit ‘W’ to run forward! Go, go!”
“Which one’s that again?” Pearl tore her eyes away from the screen to glance down at her hands, while the rest of her team were getting decimated at her absence. “Oh, I found it!” She pressed the key to move her avatar toward where the other characters were fighting…
...and immediately got head shot from a sniper across the map.
“Too late, P,” Amethyst sighed in the seat next to Pearl, as the timer on the top finished counting down, and ‘Defeat’ flashed across the screen. “You guys lost. But it’s okay, your tanks were trash anyway.”
“I don’t get this game, Amethyst.” Pearl frowned. She had just gotten home from her classes at Little Homeschool, when the purple gem appeared out of nowhere, grabbed her hand, and pulled her up to Greg’s room, where the owner of said room was nowhere to be found. Pearl was then plopped down in front of Greg’s new gaming computer, which he had built a few years after moving in. After Amethyst showed interest in playing with them, he bought the gem her own personal setup right next to his.
Apparently, when Steven had settled into a place he got in the big city - in a state called Kansas - he suggested to Greg and Amethyst that they hang out playing online video games, since the digital world doesn’t have the same distance restrictions. Amethyst was teaching her how to play this “first-person shooter,” which, if you asked Pearl, was much too violent for a 22-year-old - even if said 22-year-old had gone to outer space to save the galaxy from a bunch of homicidal gems.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it,” Amethyst reassured, “and once you get the hang of the mechanics, it gets really fun.”
“I’ll take your word for it…” Pearl’s attention was called back to the scrolling chat at the bottom of the screen. “What’s a feeder, and why are they calling me that?”
“Ooookay, let’s get you out of this lobby.” Amethyst chuckled nervously before taking control of the mouse and clicking back to the home menu. “Anyway, Steven’s coming online soon, so we can play with him in a bit.”
“Perfect! I was wondering how he was doing,” Pearl said, clasping her hands in excitement. Five whole years had passed since the boy left Beach City to explore the world, and judging from his frequent reports, things have been great so far. He still had slip-ups here and there - and Connie and the gems would support him via video chat in addition to the meetings with his therapist - but overall he’s been making steady upward progress lately. Pearl was so proud of his accomplishments and relieved that he’s finally living his own life, but she couldn’t help but miss the sound of his laughter every time she passed his room. “Oh, I hope he’s been keeping on top of his chores.”
“Steven’s a full-blown adult,” the smaller gem scoffed. “Let him be.”
“Did you see how messy his room was the last time he called? I bet something’s already growing in there. What if he gets sick?!”
“I’m sure he can handle it.” When her words did nothing to ease Pearl’s worries, Amethyst took the alabaster gem’s hand in hers, intertwining their fingers together. “Hey, relax. He can take care of himself, remember?”
“That’s true...” Then, her attention was pulled to their interlocked hands on the armrest between them.
Steven’s life wasn’t the only thing to change in the last five years; Pearl and Amethyst also started to grow closer in little ways. Although Pearl never fully voiced it out loud, she was highly impressed with the purple gem’s evolution over the past decade. Amethyst used to be so self-conscious about what the rest of them thought of her and tried to hide it behind a tough, spiky exterior - which was partially the reason for their spats in the past.
Pearl admitted she also shouldn’t have been so controlling and wished she played a more active role in helping Amethyst love herself, but Pearl had been too focused on her own grief to pay attention to those around her - even to those who were feeling the same pain.
But here they were in the future. Amethyst looked to be more comfortable in her own skin and was content with her new purpose at Little Homeschool. They never fought anymore - not seriously. Amethyst still found immense enjoyment at Pearl’s expense through little pranks here and there, but now they could laugh it off afterward.
Oddly enough, Pearl found herself missing the smaller gem’s laugh whenever they were apart. She would contemplate sometimes on how strangely at-ease she felt in Amethyst’s company. They’d always been close, but this felt different somehow without their constant fighting to balance it out, and without the thought of Rose weighing heavily on her mind. During their family movie nights, she often found herself cuddled to Amethyst’s side, stroking her soft, silvery hair as the other gem rested her head on her shoulder, neither of them paying much attention to the movie at that point.
They were a lot more physically affectionate now, which reminded her of when Amethyst first emerged - all wonder-eyed and clingy. Pearl realized how much she missed picking her up, hugging her close to her chest, and teaching her about the stars late at night when it was just the two of them.
Pearl missed those times, but she could also tell the other gem was happier now. They both were.
She stroked an affectionate thumb over the back of Amethyst’s hand with a smile. Maybe they could be happy together.
Amethyst noticed the upward curve of Pearl’s lips and scooted her chair over to rest her chin on the other gem’s shoulder. “Whatcha thinking about?”
Pearl gave a contented hum, cheeks heating at the other gem’s proximity and from being caught in that particular moment. “Just how far we’ve come. We’re very different people now, compared to before -” She gestured to the room around them, rebuilt after the Diamond attack. “- all of this.”
Amethyst grinned, a playful spark in her eyes. “You mean back when you were all bossy and liked to squawk at me?”
“I did not squawk.”
“Did too! Just like a bird. A cute, noisy bird.” She chuckled when Pearl’s flush deepened to a light blue. “It’s okay, P. I prefer the people we are now, anyway.”
“Yes,” Pearl replied, huffing. “And you actually clean up after yourself nowadays.”
“Only ‘cause I leave all the trash at Little Homeschool.” Amethyst cringed at the unintentional confession. “Actually… just forget I said anything.”
Pearl glared pointedly at the other gem out of the corner of her eye before leaning back in her chair with a defeated sigh. “As long as it’s out of sight.”
“Hmm,” Amethyst mused, curious at the non-reaction she received. “Now that was too easy.” Her breath tickled the taller gem’s neck as she spoke, causing an inadvertent shiver, and she grinned at the response - and when Pearl refused to meet her eyes with flushed cheeks. “You going soft on me?”
“That’s - That’s ridiculous.” Pearl shivered again when Amethyst blew a slow, steady stream of air, this time more purposeful, and the alabaster gem shoved her away with her free hand, laughing. “Amethyst, quit it!”
“Okay, okay, fine,” Amethyst relented, shrugging with a smirk. She sat back in her own seat and scooted back to her desk. “We gotta get back to training anyway. I’m gonna make you into the best player ever!”
Pearl remained unconvinced. “Well... I still don’t know how to use my abilities.”
“All in good time, P. Trust me. After all, you’ve got me as your personal coach,” Amethyst added, waggling her eyebrows. “And I’m basically a pro at this point.”
“Riiiight.”
Back when Amethyst first emerged, Pearl took it upon herself to educate the smaller gem about the Earth and gem culture, but nowadays it seemed to be the other way around. Amethyst was happy to help her understand new human technology and how to socialize with humans - and while Pearl largely enjoyed teaching, she didn't mind the recent change of pace in her and Amethyst’s usual dynamic over the past few thousand years.
Amethyst turned back to her game and queued up for a match. “Why don’t you watch me this time? You can even pick who I play.”
“Okay.” Pearl scooted closer as the game started, and a list of heroes appeared at the bottom of the screen. She took the time to consider each one, before her eye caught on one of the damage dealer characters, pointing her out. “What are her abilities?”
“She makes these little turrets that do damage within an area, and her weapon can charge up the longer it stays on someone. Actually...” Amethyst paused to consider something then snickered behind a hand. “You two have a lot in common.”
“I don’t follow.”
“You both love symmetry.”
Pearl was confused until the character’s name appeared, and she groaned. Symmetra. Of course.
“She’s more of a tactical defense hero with a focus on denying map control from the other team,” Amethyst explained as she walked out of spawn with the rest of her team. “So your team kinda has to play around you and where you set up your turrets. Of course, you can just go ham on the enemy team’s back line if they aren’t paying attention, but I kinda wanna hang back for now and play the point so I can show you some stuff.”
“Um…” Pearl had to admit, she wasn’t expecting this level of analysis from her (Amethyst seemed to function differently when dealing with boring gem-related business compared to things she was actually passionate about) but Pearl realized there were a lot of things she still had to learn about the smaller gem. However, first things first... “I have no idea what you’re talking about. What keys do I press to use abilities?”
“Oh! That’s what I was forgetting, duh. So, this one…” Amethyst continued, going on and on about the different abilities and game mechanics, while Pearl did her best to keep up, as the game dragged on a lot longer than hers did. She knew what to press now and understood the basic gist of how the game was supposed to be played - capturing objectives and using resources efficiently - but sometime during the explanation, Pearl started focusing less on the game and more on the purple gem before her.
Pearl could sit and listen to her talk for hours without getting bored, especially when Amethyst rambled about something she was interested in. She would get this look on her face that showed how happy and comfortable she was with herself, and Pearl was just grateful to share that moment with her.
Amethyst continued talking, and between her explanation of the different game modes and halfhearted attempt to focus on the match, she didn’t notice Pearl get out of her seat to stand behind her chair. Once the taller gem bent to gently rest her chin on the other’s shoulder, tucking into her neck and curiously peering over at the screen, Amethyst’s breath hitched for a moment before continuing.
“S-So that’s pretty much it. Of course some details were left out, but you don’t have to worry about that ‘till much later.” Amethyst gulped nervously when Pearl’s arms snuck their way around her waist. “Any... questions?”
“Hmm…” While Amethyst was distracted by the other gem’s fingers playing with the fabric at her waist, Pearl’s eyes were drawn to the screen by the explosions and light flashes of a fight. Amused, a smile pulled at her lips as she said, “Can’t think of any at the moment. However, it seems your team is dying without you.”
“What?” Amethyst breathed, confused, before turning her attention back to the screen. Sure enough, multiple teammate deaths popped up on the kill feed, all while her character was standing alone on the objective. “Crap!”
The purple gem scrambled to try and save the point from being taken, all the while trying to ignore the soft chuckle by her ear and the resulting light brush of warm breath on her neck that ruffled the loose strands of her hair, tickling the exposed skin. Her cheeks flushed as she tried to focus down the other team’s healer, but all she could think about was how close Pearl’s lips were to hers, and how easy it would be to turn her head and -
Her character let out a pained cry as her health was reduced to zero, while the other team easily capped the objective. Seconds later, she respawned and grouped up with the rest of her team.
Amethyst figured that explaining more game mechanics would help keep her mind off the other gem’s… distracting... proximity. “We just need one last team fight to retake the point and win the game, and we can combo our ultimate abilities for more impact.”
It didn’t work. Her face heated when Pearl smiled against her neck, almost as if she could sense Amethyst getting more and more flustered.
“We, ah... we just… can’t blow all our ults at the same time.”
Pearl hummed before whispering into her ear, “That would be bad.”
Amethyst almost choked. “Yeah.”
The smaller gem was so frazzled that she accidentally used her ultimate before the fight even started, lessening its effectiveness. Her teammates followed suit in a panic, all using theirs at the same time in an effort to take back the point before the game ended. Her team managed to kill a few enemies, until the surviving ones combo-ed their ultimate abilities and wiped Amethyst’s whole team in the blink of an eye.
‘Defeat’ flashed across the screen. “Damn it,” Amethyst groaned, throwing her hands up in exasperation.
Pearl couldn’t help but voice a slight dig at the other gem’s ego. “Basically a pro, huh?”
“Not fair! I was… distracted.”
“Oh ? Can’t imagine why.” She enjoyed their little teasing, but as the post-game highlight played on the screen, a thought occurred to her in that moment, something that had been tugging at her for a while now.
This wasn’t the first time their interactions had taken a strange turn, and to be honest, Pearl didn’t really know what to think of it. They’ve been steadily breaching new - but in some ways, familiar - territory, and the last time Pearl felt anything like this had been…
...with Rose.
Amethyst paused before tilting her head to gaze at the other gem, their faces inches apart. She wore a strange expression. “Pearl…”
“Yes?” Pearl replied, a little taken aback by the sudden change of tone.
“I need to know. What exactly… is this?”
Pearl had a brief thought to deny everything then and there. This moment had been a long time coming, but was she really willing to risk their entire relationship when she didn’t even fully realize what it was she was feeling? The careful eagerness in Amethyst’s eyes demanded an answer though, and Pearl wanted - no, needed - to be honest. She deserved that much.
“Amethyst, I… I’m not sure.” At the dejected look on the other’s face, Pearl hurriedly continued. “But I want to figure this out… with you.” She brought a hand up to softly caress the purple gem’s cheek. “I know that being with you makes me happy. I know that you make me laugh, and I can’t stop thinking about you when we’re apart. I know… that I’ve wanted to kiss you for some time now.”
“I’ve wanted that, too,” Amethyst whispered, placing a hand over the one on her cheek, as if to confirm this was all really happening. She had a feeling that Pearl felt the same way, but to actually hear her say it... “I’ve wanted that and more. It’s just…”
“What is it?”
“I’m not Rose.”
Pearl furrowed her brow. Her voice was stern, but she needed the other gem to understand. “Amethyst, give me a little credit. The person I am now, after everything I’ve been through, would never do that to you.”
Amethyst flushed, guilt churning in her gut. “I think I’ve always known that, but it helps to hear you say it. I’m sorry.”
“No... don’t be.” Pearl brushed her thumb over the other gem’s cheek, smiling when Amethyst gave a soft sigh and leaned into the touch. “It’s important that I say this, as well. Loving Rose was like seeing the sunrise for the first time, feeling the rain on your skin after a desert heat, or like sunbeams through the clouds after a storm. But with you... it’s an adventure every single day with a surprise around each corner. It’s being scalding hot one day and freezing cold the next.” Pearl laughed. “It’s absolutely wonderful and exhilarating - and perfect in every way. Just like you.
“Both experiences are unique in their own ways but are equally important to me. Does that make sense?”
“...Perfectly.”
“Good.” Pearl smiled. “I’m glad.”
Amethyst was speechless at first. Hearing Pearl say those things about her of all people, with poetic words she once reserved for Rose, caught her off guard. Her mind raced as she tried to find the right words.
She settled for the truth.
“Don’t think I can top that, but… you make me really happy, Pearl. Whenever I leave for the day, I can’t get your goofy grin out of my head, and I love it even more when I’m the one responsible for it. I feel like I can be myself around you without judgement because you’ve seen me at my lowest and know how far I’ve come... how hard I’ve worked. And I know that you’re the same.”
Amethyst swung her chair to face Pearl directly, taking her hands in her own, before continuing. “You’re one of the strongest damn gems I’ve ever known, and… I guess what I’m saying is... I’d love to figure out where this goes, too.”
Pearl giggled, eyes tearing up at the other gem’s words, at the prospect of their future - together. “Language.”
“Really, P?” Amethyst replied, but laughed along anyway.
“Forgive me.” She wiped at her eyes, adoring the way the purple gem was gazing back with uninhibited affection.
The following silence was comfortable but expectant. They were done with words, having aired out all the feelings that’s been building between them over the years. Now, as the two leaned closer and their lips touched in a single electrifying moment, all they could think about was how right this all felt, like a culmination of their journey coming to a peak as well as a new beginning, and how much time they wasted dancing around the topic when they could’ve been doing this a lot sooner.
Their lips parted but Pearl stayed, wrapping her arms around the smaller gem’s neck and leaning her forehead against hers, closing her eyes to take in the experience. She played with the silvery strands at Amethyst’s neck and let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. It had been so long since she felt so comfortable with another person, and she wanted this tiny moment between them to last for a lifetime.
Amethyst gave a weak chuckle, holding tight to Pearl’s waist as if she was afraid it was all a dream and the taller gem would disappear forever. Pearl gave her a second kiss in response, pressing her lips against the other gem’s more firmly, as if to say I'm here… and I’m not leaving.
“Huh...” Amethyst whispered after a while, finally pulling back to gaze at the taller gem and take in her flushed appearance. Her own eyes were lidded and hazy. She cleared her throat. “So... that was a thing.”
“And the moment is ruined,” Pearl huffed playfully. She rolled her eyes, but the smirk tugging at her lips betrayed her real sentiments.
“You expect me to be articulate after that ?”
“To an extent,” Pearl replied, smiling. She leaned in for one quick peck on the lips. “I guess I can’t blame you. I may not be skilled at video games, but I do have some experience in this area.”
“That’s for sure…” Amethyst mumbled, her face still hot.
They were interrupted by the sound of an incoming call playing from the speakers.
“Steven!” Amethyst said, after switching applications and answering the call with a click of the mouse. She tried to keep her voice level as if the last ten minutes hadn’t occurred. “Hey dude, what’s up?
“Steven’s here?” Pearl gasped before leaning forward and projecting her voice - right into Amethyst’s face. “Hi Steven! We’ve all missed you so much! I can’t see your face, so I’m assuming this application doesn’t have video?”
Amethyst cringed, lifting her hand to cover the ear Pearl just accidentally yelled into. “Don’t gotta shout, Pearl; he can hear you just fine. The microphone’s right there.” She pointed toward a small camera perched on top of the screen.
“Sorry,” Pearl whispered back with an apologetic grimace.
“Hi Amethyst! Hi Pearl! Sorry I’m late.” Steven’s low, cheery voice sounded a little distant through the computer speakers. There was a shuffling sound - like he was adjusting the microphone - before he continued, this time a bit louder and clearer. “It does have video, but it’s a lot easier to voice chat while playing.”
“Oh… I see.” Pearl pouted, unseen by the boy on the other side of the call. She was looking forward to seeing him again but didn’t want to hold up their game night. Besides, getting the chance to spend time with him, playing one of his favorite pastimes, was a reward in and of itself.
“But let’s video chat after!”
“I was just teaching Pearl how to use her abilities and move around.” Amethyst snickered. “It was kinda bad.”
“Rude, I wasn’t -”
Steven gasped over the call. “Pearl, are you going to play with us? I can’t wait!”
“Indeed, I’ll do my best, but I’m not as good as you two.”
“Don’t worry so much, P. I’m just giving you a hard time.” Amethyst reached over to give her hand a comforting squeeze, shooting her a genuine smile that Pearl returned.
This was their reality now, thought Pearl, as the three of them played well into the night, as the room filled with laughter and playful bantering. This was really happening.
Over the years, she struggled with her purpose, with finding her own place in the world. Rose’s death was an anomaly she wasn’t prepared for - wasn’t made to handle - and just when she thought that this was her life now; an empty meaningless existence, her loved ones helped her realize her own worth.
When she realized there wasn’t some grand scheme she was supposed to be a part of, that she could just live and be happy alongside the family that’s been with her through thick and thin, a crushing weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
As the three of them logged off for the night, and as Amethyst led her by the hand outside to sit beneath the stars so they could cuddle close in the chilly autumn wind, listening to the soft waves upon the shore, Pearl thought life on Earth couldn’t get better than it was in that moment.
The two of them didn’t need to find some missing part of themselves, like so many of the romance movies they watched with Steven had preached. They were already complete but complemented each other nicely, if the way their fingers intertwined and lips fitted together perfectly was any indication. Separately, they were independent.
Independent but together.