Chapter Text
Fusion was looked down upon on Homeworld, every single gem was created for a single purpose and it was their job to perform that to the best of their ability. Fusion gave gems a sense of entitlement, gave them power and courage to act out and do such stupid things, as strange as it sounded; fusion, gave gems a mind of their own. Of course it was not unheard of, some Gems would fuse in dire situations, the Ninja Teams were one of these rare occurrences. These Gems were created for the war oh-so-long-ago. They were trained in combat to defeat their enemy and those gone rogue, they would kill and crush traitorous Gems and consume the shards between them, gaining their powers but at a terrible cost to their bodies. Ninja Gems were created together, twins in a sense, bound together in creation and life, perfectly in sync whilst battling, enough so that Fusion was a possibility within their reach. It was never really by choice, most Ninja Gems would fuse because they were ordered too, it was necessary to claim victory. None other was more fearsome than the Fusion of Red Cummingtonite and Bloodstone, two Gems who had been thrust together, two that shouldn’t of found fusion possible, the dreaded Manticore.
He was an almost perfect Fusion between two separate entities, there were no extra limbs, no hesitation when it came to actions; Manticore was swift and violent, he knew how to retrieve corrupt and rogue gems, knew how to inflict pain before crushing their life force in his hands. Normally there was no hesitation, the moment that Gem was in his clutches his fist would enclose and the cracking could be heard, deafening to other gems nearby. Canabalism was frowned upon even on Homeworld, but desperate times called for desperate measures. It was kept a secret from the general population, from even the Gems with the ability, they couldn’t know that they themselves were abominations. Whispers and legends were told though, passed down between Gems to keep them complacent, these myths were greeted with fear, and fear does strange things to fellow Gems.
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The Manticore grinned, sharp canine like teeth pulling back into a sinful smile, the small Purple Apatite cowering before them. It shouldn’t of run. It shouldn’t of tried to stand against them, they were perfect and it was standing in the way of Homeworld, another rogue Gem that had to be dealt with. At first they thought it was going to be a challenge, it hadn’t even summoned it’s weapon before their hand grasped desperately at the gem. They were clawing at it, ripping the projection, the Apatite yelling out in pain before it disappeared in a spray of blood and a cloud of smoke, the Gem landing gently in the Manticore’s bloody grip.
‘Yes, finally, mine!’
‘Ours’
“Of course.” They grinned, raising the still solid gem into the light, watching the reflections dance on it’s glassy surface, there was the smallest hesitation, a second of weakness but it was enough to bring the Manticore to a stop. The Gem was practically in their mouth, teeth poised above the beautiful surface, waiting, just waiting for the sound of that beautiful crunch. "Weren’t really a fighter huh? I wonder."
‘No.’
‘I suppose you’re right.’
Manticore bit down, sharp canines cutting through the stone as if it was nothing, cracks formed along the Apatite before it shattered between their teeth and crunch around in their mouth. Explaining what happens to a consumed Gem is difficult, it is known that powers can become absorbed and transferred to the new host, but that isn’t always the case, sometimes there are just glimpses of a life that once was. What is known to happen is much more serious. Gem shards can not be digested properly by another Gem, they remain and will always scar the cannibal. Sharp protrusions will tear through their skin, marks of each Gem they have ever consumed. The worst is their own stone, a once beautiful Gem now hardened and encrusted with those shards, making it more difficult to regenerate and be healed by others.
Apatite tasted almost sweet, there was nothing vicious about this gem, one part of Manticore kept rolling the chase and the fight in their mind, it didn’t make sense none of it ever did. Red was not a vicious Gem by creation, he was probably not meant to become a Ninja but when he was formed with his sister, and they were split apart, he had been paired with Blood, after the silent Ninja’s brother had been killed, since that day their destinies were intertwined. It made no sense to him, the violence and the eating, yet once he started, he couldn’t stop, like an addiction that had him so hooked that he would do anything for another hit, another Gem to crush and consume.
Red had struggled at first, fighting had been difficult but Blood had been there the entire time, encouraging him in that silent way he was known for. Blood knew that deep down Red was irreplaceable, who else had a Ninja partner that could heal you with just a few hums from his melodic voice, he was not stupid though, he knew his friend, his partner was unhappy and confused, had been for so long. The Apatite was almost gone, stuck between vicious teeth as the Manticore savoured the last bite. Suddenly they gagged, coughing up the small shards, their chest hurt from heaving, tears stung at their eyes, bloodied fingers rubbing desperately at them, tears streaming down flushed cheeks. Another cough, this time so forceful that it tore the two gems apart.
Red Cummingtonite landed with a soft thud, coughing and choking, tears falling freely from his eyes, he couldn’t face his partner, hunched over and sobbing as if he was a newly created Gem. His breaths were ragged in his throat as he spat out more shards of the Apatite, it was then that Red was brave enough to steal a glance at Bloodstone, the other Gem seemingly passive as he wiped absently at his mouth before moving his mask back into place. Red ran a hand through his hair, short, shaggy and covered with sweat, his fingers brushed against a Gem shard, above his right eye, almost near his forehead. That one was new. A hiccup tore from him and immediately he curled up, hugging his knees to his chest as he sobbed into the soft material of his pants.
“Blood?” No answer but Red never really expected one, they had been partners for so long that he could just grasp what his friend was saying without even a word. This time though Blood surprised him, he felt the other Gem’s back press against his own, the smallest gesture that he was listening and that he too needed comfort.
“I’m sorry I got outta control there Blood, I mean I was in control and it tasted good but then it didn’t, it was more like it had gone sour ya know?” No response from Blood. “Yeah you know. I didn’t want it anymore, I didn't want it in our mouth, a part of us. It didn’t feel right. This whole thing doesn’t feel right, that Gem, that Apatite was only young, what the hell could it of done to deserve that?” Silence. “I know it was the enemy. But who decides which Gems are the enemies Blood? Sometimes I just- I just can’t.”
“Yes you can.”
“Blood?” Red was shocked, it’s not that his partner didn’t speak, he could, he just didn’t want to waste words when they weren’t needed. What was surprising was the small tears trapped in the corners of Blood’s eyes, just waiting to fall down his face.
“You don’t have a choice Red, this is what we were made for. We do our job.”
“What if I don’t want to anymore? I don’t wanna kill, Blood, it make’s no sense, I’m a healing stone, I like our music I wanna make gems better not crush them.”
“It’s your job.”
“I don’t want it!”
“Red! Enough.” Blood stood, slowly as he moved around to face his partner, staring the other Gem down with such ferocity that when Red hadn’t moved, Blood reached forward to grasp his arm and pulled the taller to his feet. “Come. Stop being such a baby.”
“No! I can’t do this anymore.” Red ripped his arm free from his partner’s grasp, he sniffed, the sound pathetic as the Cummingtonite gem on his stomach began to glow so softly. He summoned his weapon, a beautiful katana that shone as deep as the blood that had stained it’s blade many times before. Red flicked it around in his hands, the tip pressed against his chest. “I just can’t…”
“Red.”
“You don’t understand do you? Look at you! You were made for this, you are efficient and deadly and perfect and I’m just-I’m just-a monster.” Red pressed the katana against his chest, his blue coloured skin on his cheeks flushed pink, his eyes rimmed red from the tears streaming down his face. He couldn’t look at Blood, his partner seemed fearful, annoyed, frustrated, sometimes it was so hard to read his masked friend’s face. “I was teamed with you Blood, to be there every step of the way, but I can’t, I’ll just drag you down with me.”
“Then leave.”
“Wha-?”
Blood was silent, his piercing eyes boring into Red’s own, he closed the distance between them, his hand’s grasping at the hilt of his partner’s katana, increasing the pressure beneath it, the blade slicing through the material of Red’s top and pressing against his projected body.
“Is this what you wan’t Red, to be put out of your misery?”
“Yes… please, Blood, do it!” More pressure was placed on the blade it caused Red to flinch and blink back the tears to mask his pain, he just wanted his partner to do it, Blood would be much better off. Red looked to the smaller Gem, his eyes watery and unfocused, yet he was sure that he saw his friend’s face soften in sadness.
“Are you in pain Red?”
“Every day. These shards, they burn and tear at me, they anchor to my gem and pull me down with their pain and sorrow. I can’t stop though, I will never stop craving them. The taste, the power, the thrill. It’s too much Blood. I know I’m a monster for enjoying this, but I don’t think I can ever stop. So you need to… Please, don’t look at me like that.”
“Last words?”
“Look after me alright? I love ya.” Red’s eyes widened as his own katana was pushed through his projected form, forcing him to disappear and retreat back into his gem. The weapon poofed along with him and Blood quickly reached out to snatch the falling Cummingtonite from the air before it could clatter to the ground. He held it loosely in his fist, yellow eyes studying the marred surface of the red Gem littered with shards. Suddenly anger flared, Blood curling his fist and hearing a soft crack escape between his fingers, opening them once more he studied his partner, a perfect spider like fracture through it’s surface. Pocketing Red, Blood moved on, he needed to hide his partner, report back that he had died in combat and that it was time to move on with his life.
It took a while to find someone that Blood would consider trustworthy, it took even longer to make what he had in mind, but once it was completed, the Ninja made sure that Red’s Gem would be safe and secure within the small device, the Gem’s cracked face on display once one would open the lid. He tested it again, winding the crank and opening the small box, a soft melody filled the air, one Blood knew very well and that Red would be happy with if he ever wanted out, not that Blood ever really thought about that. Once everything was completed, the only thing left to do was to give it away, very easy considering when one mentioned a healing music box, other Gems jumped at the chance to have it. Where Red ended up? Blood didn’t care, he had stopped caring the moment he had handed the small box over to a shady orange Gem in a back alley on Homeworld.
Then the War had happened.