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The night is alive with gentle moonlight and the song of crickets.
Gem is seated on the edge of her boat dock with Pearl by her side, and there's nothing in the world but them- The other Hermits are off in their own little worlds for the moment. She inhales slowly until her lungs burn from the overabundance of air, and she lets it all out in a gentle huff, she feels the vibration of Pearl's chuckle just as much as she hears it. It brings a smile to her face, as Pearl's joy always does. "What's up, Gemstone?" The Moth Hybrid asks.
How could she answer that? Gem shifts her head to look at Pearl, finding that blue eyes brimming with affection are watching her patiently. Doe ears flick as green eyes scour their surroundings- Water laps at the riverbank, wind ruffles the grass and leaves, Pearl's chest rises and falls in a steady pattern- How could she sum up the fullness of her heart with a single sentence? What words would suffice? Gem decides that there are no words that would do her heart justice at the moment, so she lets her eyes fall closed as she presses her lips to Pearl's shoulder and lets herself linger. The other girl wastes no time in bringing their intertwined hands up to her lips to leave a kiss on the back of Gem's hand, unlike the Deer hybrid though- Pearl does not stay, Her lips lift from their first spot before more kisses are gently placed upon each of her knuckle, Pearl's lips eventually finds its way to the inside of Gem's wrist where she lets herself linger in adoration.
Gem shifts to rest her chin on Pearl's shoulder, and when she opens her eyes she finds that Pearl has not looked away- Pearl's eyes always finds her and without anything else to distract or to demand her attention, she never looks away.
".... I love you." It is all she can say in response to the question left hanging. She still does not think it sums everything up, but she will never let those words go unspoken. The smile that she's granted is blinding, it shines as brightly as it did the very first time she ever uttered those words. This time it is Pearl who shifts in her spot- Leaning into Gem's touch when she brings the other hand up to hold her lover's face. The navy clad girl brings her face close to Gem's, her smile is unwavering and uncontainable even as she closes her eyes and presses her lips to the Deer Hybrid's. Neither of them know how Gem ends up on her back with Pearl comfortably on top of her, they don't know how they go from sharing the quiet of the night to sharing giggles as Pearl lets her lips place fleeting kisses all over Gem's face in that way that she does when the winged girl feels a surge of love so intense that she cannot help but seek a way to let it be known- Let it be felt. Chuckles coupled with restless lips ghosting over that one ticklish spot on her neck sends Gem from giggles to full on laughter. She grabs onto Pearl's shoulders as her lungs burn when the girl in question switches from peppering her skin in kisses, to blowing raspberries instead.
Only when her lungs burn from joy and her eyes sting with tears of laughter does Pearl pull back and cease her mischievous attack. Gem's eyes take in Pearl's figure before both their gazes fall on their joint hands that have not once slipped from each other's grasp, there is brief silence before the sound of fluttering wings permeates the wind and the owner brings their hands to her chest. "I love you." She declares, and doe ears flick as the steady thump-thump-thump of a heart is felt against the back of her hand.
"Kiss me again?" She asks with brows raised in hopefulness.
She can swear that those blue eyes she holds so dear shine brighter than possible when the owner leans down and stops just a hair's width away from her longing lips.
"Gladly." The declaration is whispered between them before her request is granted with gentle devotion.
They break apart when their lungs burn but Gem does not let her pull away. Her free hand shoots out to grip the front of the signature hoodie tightly, holding the winged hybrid close against her; And Pearl with her unfading energy, Pearl who does not cease to move, Pearl who does everything animatedly, Pearl who seems to be such an unstoppable force- Lets herself be kept still by the hand of her beloved Doe.
Gem pulls her so close that their lips are resting against each other.
"Kiss me again." She demands in a hushed, breathless whisper regardless of the burn in her lungs. Fingertips slip under her waistband, and the electrifying feeling has her mouth slightly falling open as shivers wrack her spine.
Pearl presses closer until there is no space between them, and as she answers her lover's demand with desperation; Gem learns the taste of worship.