Work Text:
The Lunarians are sentient, Rutile realizes halfway through the slash of the moon persons' neck, causing them to dissipate into nothing. It's odd, considering how Rutile isn’t using their usual blade, now unconsciously swiping their broken arm at the first person they see. They’re alone, no Euclase attempting to reason with the ex-medical professional. No Padparadscha in their comatose state beside them, just waiting to be revived.
And Rutile is barging into the hallway, tumbling down and crashing against the wall. Their legs are marred. Attempting to gain balance against the pastel white walls, they stand and limp in an aimless direction trying to find anyone that can lead them to their partner’s whereabouts. Every time Rutile forcibly impacts the floor with each step, they leave fragments of themself behind. Surely, someone is to find them roaming the halls. Not that they care in the slightest.
They scan the area hastily, catching the gaze of a singular Lunarian, wearing something replicating a lab coat. They had a garment similar to that, didn’t they?
Rutile isn’t aware of how quickly they appear in front of the terror-stricken ghost. They stare menacingly, slamming their sharp arm and piercing the wall beside them. Shards fall, making no sound. They probably look similar to Phos' form back when they chased them in the winter.
“Where...are..th…” Rutile can’t finish. Their voice is thick, almost as if their vocals are ripping.
The moonie isn’t able to start their explanation. Rutile lacerates the next Lunarian victim, continuing their trek further and further. They should’ve waited to be fully assembled. Rutile would be more effective at moving swiftly and navigating the halls at an easier pace.
Not worth it.
In the distance, a group of moon people emerges from the hall. They form around a presence, urging them into the hall they’re facing. Rutile briefly catches the color of their hair. Yellow hair. They freeze for a moment, focusing harder on the figure between the bodies.
The morbid Yellow Diamond is forced out of their view.
Rutile’s objective shifts rapidly.
“Yel...ow…Y...el..” Rutile whispers to themselves repeatedly. Their legs hasten to the corridor they disappear into. It has easily been over five hundred years since they’ve last seen the diamond, Yellow’s distressing call being the last memory ingrain in their head after that hurricane of events.
The first they come to view is the green scene of liquifying plants. The lush and vast landscape that they explore frequently doesn’t compare to this desaturate, artificial realm that the Lunarians have made themselves comfortable in.
Rutile searches between the ghosts, hunting for the slant eyes of the amber lustrous. Yellow is conversing but when Rutile really inspects them, they’re distant. From their slouched back to the unsteady smile they give to reassure the therapists, Rutile feels the room get a bit bigger. The person they confided all their operations, thoughts, and trivial squabbles with is no longer present. Yellow Diamond is familiar. But on the moon, they’re unrecognizable.
Until, Yellow casts their head up, staring right into Rutile’s broken orbs.
Rutile is seeing things. Maybe they’ll wake up during a thunderstorm and return to an unconscious form, the shards from past lives that were spent on land. Yellow’s face morphs, their eyebrows lifting and Rutile swears there’s a flash of returning euphoria mixed with bewilderment and confusion.
“Rutile?...” Yellow questions, blinking a few times.
The mangled brown gem collapses to the floor, observing as the diamond cuts through the moon people and calls out to them. Rutile’s inner pressure washes away as Yellow uses their name for the first time. It’s reminiscent of a time before when Yellow would barrel down the halls, to try and catch Padparadscha's awakened state. With a hopeful expression, that they’d have a conversation together.
“Rutile!—“ Yellow wobbles, their robes flicking behind them.
A spear emerges out of Rutile’s torso. They barely register the suddenness of it, watching as it loses speed and crashes against the floor, rolling near Yellow’s feet.
“NO!”
Yellow is reaching their arms out towards them as if they’re able to catch every last piece. It’s not the same as before; passively witnessing their family destroy each other and contributing to their downfall. But, at least they’re trying.
The edges of Rutile’s vision darkens and Yellow holds onto whatever is left of their upper body tightly. They spot their other half a few feet away, the Lunarians picking up the bits of mineral. Rutile assumes one of them is prancing around their pieces, guilty of throwing the spear to incapacitate them.
Everyone in the room begins to speak and it muddles into one noise as Rutile’s consciousness fades.
“...un….able...dition..”
“..ing...ack..”
“..orry..”
They wake up to the same shade of white above. It’s silent and Rutile doesn’t immediately lash out as there are no Lunarians present beside the bed..? Table? Doesn’t matter. They’re alone again. Flexing their fingers and legs, Rutile possesses their body fully and leisurely sits up.
A dull sparkle of yellow creeps around their mind. Rutile palms their forehead, swinging their legs over the edge.
It seems that this world just gets in the way of anything remotely hopeful. Rutile’s need to see them after being planets apart is robbed the instant they see their diamond. If only they waited longer. If only they were patient—
Yellow Diamond stands in the doorway. The gears rotating inside their head abruptly stops. Rutile slides off, planting themself up. They don’t move. They want to walk toward them and completely break against Yellow. As long as they were able to embrace them this once.
“Yellow.” Rutile breathes.
The diamond takes a long, slow step before speeding up. Rutile pushes off, gaining their composure, and reaches out their hand.
Time slows and their hands embrace. Soon enough, the embrace isn’t enough, and Yellow clutches Rutile. Their need satiates.
“I’ve missed you.” Rutile says, lowly. They slide their hand up Yellow’s face and cup it gently, bringing their foreheads together. The elder’s eyes are still close, likely reveling and coming to terms with the reunion.
“Are you alright? D-did they do anything?”
Yellow shakes their head slightly, opening their eyes to reassure Rutile. They glance down at what Yellow is wearing. It’s a sheet that drags behind them. Not the same outfit they wore when they came down to earth with Padparadscha and Phos.
“Where’s Padparadscha?..”
They dare ask at a time like this?
“I don’t know. I don't.” Yellow finally speaks. Their voice nearly breaks as they furrow their brows in distress. They drag Rutile to the floor and continue to hold their hand. “But, you’re here. And that’s all that matters.”
Rutile absorbs their sullen expression and true words. Focusing on finding their partner while they can be anywhere on this massive base is useless. Rutile simply has no direction to follow or go off of. Yellow happens to be the closest gem in proximity. Fate? Coincidence? They’re not sure. Yet, here Yellow is slumping down on their knees and the first one to visit Rutile’s sorry state of mind and body after being a planet apart. An overwhelming sense of guilt punctures at their insides, getting a hold of Rutile’s vulnerable state.
“I was trying to find them. But I’m happy you’re here, Yellow.” They admit, tightening their hold on Yellow’s hand. “I needed to see you.”
“I knew it was you. The first moment I laid eyes on you.” Yellow acknowledges. “It was terrifying. The collapse. And how you weren’t waking up.”
Rutile touches at their torso, noticing no flaw in the repair. Just hours...Minutes? Days? Their other half was across the room and Yellow was reaching to collect their comrade in arms.
“I'm here now.”
“Yes...But, I feel as if I lost you. Back then I did. When you came into the room, a piece came back and went away.” Yellow shakes their head.
“What are you saying?” Rutile asks. The comfort of their hand disappears as Yellow pulls away. They stay silent, unable to give an answer. Rutile almost gives up on the talk. But, they remember the second they seen Yellow.
“I.. didn’t recognize you either. Yellow Diamond wasn’t there. The one I knew… Maybe, it’s best that you lost me.”
“Is that what time did to us? Make each other unrecognizable.” Yellow questions. Rutile’s chest aches. “We can start over.”
Start over.
Rutile snaps their head up, studying what they just heard. Start what? How? Learn about the other gem as if time skipped back to the very beginning? Pretend nothing happened and move on? They can’t comprehend what that encompasses. Or what Yellow even means. Their mood deflates, leaving a bad taste behind.
“What is there to start over?”
“Everything. Everyone is here. We can make a new life.” Yellow attempts to smile at Rutile. It’s a painful one. Rutile would rather be in a comatose state. But, they contemplate.
A new life… This could be their chance. To live in peace with the people they love. With the one they love. The life of war put to rest. If Yellow can say that they can make one, perhaps they will. The route Phosphophyllite once informed them about before is open to exploring. They’re no longer pin down to their duty, no need to follow under Adamant’s figure. The bad taste still lingers, but less after realizing what Yellow Diamond truly means.
“Is that what you want?”
“With you, yes.”
The diamond stands, holding their hand out to Rutile, waiting for them to take it. So they can finally move forth.
“Okay.”
Even as Rutile takes their hand, the tiny voice in the back of their mind can’t agree with the decision.