Chapter Text
Lemon Quartz is not a very emotional person, at least when it comes to feelings like grief or sadness, he prefers happy and fun emotions. However there's always three days out of every year the Quartz Gems celebrate, “石英” (Quartz in japanese) Where Quartz gems across the planet celebrate the independence the Quartz Kingdom gained control over their sacred territory again and a few other milestones for the people.
Lemon was setting up a few candles in his bedroom while kneeling on the hardwood floor, Mango scented candles with slow burning wicks. He hummed a tune to himself as he did. This was his second time celebrating alone without family. He figured he could do it again alone since the other boys didn’t exactly have rituals like this for holidays except for Moonstone and FireOpal.
He was suddenly dragged out of his thoughts by a knock on the door, the door creaking open to reveal Zinc looking down at him.
“Heyy…” Zinc steps inside, looking down as he maneuvers his feet around the decorations.
“You celebratin’?..” Zinc asks, standing next to Lemon quartz who lit a candle before answering.
“Yep, why’re you here?” He tilts his head and looks up at the silver haired classmate.
“I just wanted to check on you. You’ve been in here for two hours.” Zinc said while kneeling down, sniffing the strong scent of Mangos in the air.
“Nothing to worry about, I just wanted to set up early for tomorrow.” Lemon quartz chuckles,
“Decoration usually takes a long time.” He smiles, Zinc nods in response, before looking around the room. A request and a question quickly popped up in his mind.
“Uh, I could help you if you want me too. Also, why the Mango scent?” Zinc asked, shifting down and sitting on his knees.
“Uh, it’s more of a substitute for Lemon. I don’t have any lemon candles. And all of them have been bought up.” Lemon Quartz chuckles nervously,
“I still hope this is good enough.” He smiles down at his knees.
“Wait! I have more from last year you were celebrating. I saw you were struggling to get any so I bought more after it ended..” Zinc said, prompting Lemon Quartz to immediately stand up.
“Where?!” Lemon Quartz asked, a more brighter smile on his face now. Zinc stands up with him and nods towards the door to the kitchen.
“They’re on the top shelf in the cupboard.” Zinc said, he was startled when Lemon Quartz suddenly hugged him, gripping him so hard like he just saved his life.
“Thank you! You're the best man!” Lemon Quartz said before running off to the kitchen. A few minutes later he came back with the candles, switching out the remaining Mango candles with lemon scented ones and lighting those candles instead. He then turned to Zinc.
“Thanks man, you're a lifesaver.” he nods towards Zinc, who gives a sheepish smile.
The two spent the next few minutes talking with each other while Lemon Quartz set up the remaining decorations around his room. Zinc took the time to sit down on the bed and admire the dorm Lemon Quartz had. It was a large room with pale yellow walls and dark green bed sheets. The room had been cleaned for the occasion. And there was a large half circle rug below the bed. A desk on the opposite wall of the door, with a laptop and a few other decorations like a vase of fake yellow flowers.