Chapter Text
That night Pearl walked up to the top of the hill, around the lighthouse, and climbed down to sit just behind the head of the temple goddess.
She crossed her legs, sat and watched the sky. The moon was slight; the stars strong.
This was her secret; a space for the nights she wasn’t watching Steven, or discussing plans with Garnet in low voices. A space she’d cried in so much. A space she’d learned to love earth. A gush of wind touched her arms, ripple on light.
Everything felt so big tonight. Everything felt possible.
It was like this with Rose- at the beginning- Rose had seen so much in her. Training, flexing, dancing, piercing- so many new things Pearl had tried. Rose watching her. It was like everything had expanded. She could be a warrior. She could be an artist. Everything remained to be made. She could forge her own destiny. And there was love...
The sea was a mass of darkness, still, calm. The lights of the boardwalk twinkled.
A human! A human had laughed at what she’d said! A human had given her this... telephone number. How unexpected.
They’d driven back late, Steven falling asleep in the back. Pearl whispering questions. Amethyst said this code meant a lot. It was a sign of interest; it was done by humans when they wanted to meet another. When they wanted to .. ‘date’. Pearl still didn’t fully grasp this concept.
Something fizzed in Pearl’s stomach when she remembered how the girl’s hair had cascaded down as they talked. The girl drove a motorbike! She went to rock shows! She had pink hair! She had metal in her lip. Which, according to Amethyst, was cool.
And. She wanted to meet Pearl.
The next day, Garnet and Pearl went on a mission to the desert. Pearl was glad. She could forget about mystery girl, forget her ridiculous idea of spending time with this human. It probably would have gone wrong.
Who could ever see her like Rose did? Who could ever understand?
Even though there was something so tempting about talking to a human, who would know nothing of homeworld, nothing of Pearl’s history. Nothing of what Pearl had been- what she’d been made to be- what she’d failed to be.
They chased corrupted gems across the ochre sand, dunes rising and falling. They met a person trudging along with an animal, who looked baffled to see them, and then wanted to touch them to see if they were real. When Pearl and Garnet took off, this human shouted something about angels.
Walking back to the warp-pad, Garnet asked Pearl about the previous night.
“...and I’ve never met a human who seemed this interesting before.”
Garnet’s sunglasses flashed, hint of a smile.
“But of course it was just that night. I don’t have time to fool around with humans! I have to train Steven, and Connie, to go on missions, to prepare for our next encounter with Jasper,” her voice rose, became shrill, “and to plan for the Diamonds’ attack!”
Garnet grinned. “I can help you with training Steven and Connie. Make some time.”
“But-“ Pearl spluttered. “You don’t think it’s a bad idea?”
“Why would it be?”
“Because! Because last time I was in love it was torture!” Pearl swallowed. “Because mystery girl has pink hair!”
“Pearl.” Garnet turned to face her, her three eyes open. “This doesn’t have to be like this. You’ve grown. You’ve changed. She is a human; she will be very different.”
“But what if it happens again!”
“There is sometimes pain in loving. But we will be here to support you along the way. And if it works out, it could be great.” Garnet paused as the light flashed.
They reappeared in the temple. Garnet touched Pearl’s shoulder, lightly. “You deserve to be happy, Pearl. You deserve to be loved.”
Pearl stood stock still. Absorbing these words. Her eyes a little wet, she bowed her head in response.
She walked to the kitchen and absently cleaned the counter.
Finally she said,“I don’t even have a phone!”
“I don’t think that will be a problem.” Garnet opened the door for Steven and Amethyst, both giggling, holding a black object. Steven handed it to Pearl while Amethyst chanted “pearl and mystery girl, pearl and mystery giiiirl”.