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If there was ever a time where Lapis felt free and happy for just a moment, it was when she had taken to the sky.
Often when she needed to be alone or blow off some steam, she would just start flying. She never really had a destination in mind, she just spread her wings and let them take her wherever they ended up taking her.
It never failed to make her feel better.
To her, flying felt like she was free and no one could confine her.
And for someone who had spent thousands of years trapped in a mirror and was released only to then lock herself and Jasper in a fusion at the bottom of the ocean, freedom felt simultaneously amazing and terrifying.
What was she supposed to do with all of it? She'd never been given many chances to do what she wanted, so naturally that had led to not even knowing what she wanted.
At least, at first.
But when she met Peridot, the same one who had once been her warden no less, she found that things had started to change.
After a rocky start, they'd begun living together in the barn and creating their own little life.
Lapis had started to trust the shorter Gem a bit more, and Peridot in her, too.
Which then led to today as Lapis ventured over to Peridot, who was currently tinkering with an invention.
“Hey, Peri?” Lapis asked.
“Yeah?” Peridot didn't move her eyes from her work.
Lapis chuckled to herself at how focused the shorter Gem was. “I was going to go out flying for a bit. And…I was wondering if maybe you wanted to join me?”
That seemed to grab Peridot's attention, for she glanced up from her work and shifted her gaze over to Lapis. “You…you want me to join you?”
Lapis shrugged, trying to act casual about it even though it made her feel a bit embarrassed to offer to let Peridot share in on a time that was usually so personal to her. But maybe it just meant she was starting to trust the smaller Gem a bit more. “Yeah. If you want to, I mean.”
Peridot set down her tools and stood. “I would like to, but…how am I going to do that? I don't have wings.”
“Easy, I'll carry you,” Lapis answered.
Peridot blinked, processing the words. “You'd do that?” Truth be told, she wasn't sure how to feel about that.
“I mean, yeah. Like you said, you don't have wings. You couldn't really join me otherwise,” Lapis pointed out.
“Yes, that is accurate,” Peridot conceded.
“So…do you want to or not?” Lapis looked at her expectantly.
“Sure!” the green Gem agreed.
Lapis blinked, then smiled. “Okay. Come with me, then.” She turned and began to exit the barn.
Peridot followed.
Lapis then picked Peridot up and scooped her into her arms.
Peridot blinked a few times, then looked up at Lapis.
Lapis smiled down at her.
Peridot blinked again, an inexplicable heat rising to her face.
Sure, maybe she'd imagined Lapis doing exactly this a few times. But it had remained strictly a fantasy until about five seconds ago. And now she had no idea what to do.
“Ready?” Lapis’s voice broke into Peridot's thoughts.
Peridot just nodded, not trusting her voice at the moment.
“Great. Then here we go.” Lapis’s wings spread out and began to propel her upward as she continued to hold the smaller Gem.
Peridot held on a little tighter. She almost successfully convinced herself that she only did it so she wouldn't fall.
“Is this high enough or do you want to go higher?” Lapis asked as she hovered in the sky.
Peridot tried not to look down only to do just that as the thought entered her mind. She quickly tore her gaze away from the ground and directed it towards Lapis only to just as quickly look away from there too. “Uhm…this is good.”
“Okay.” Lapis began to soar through the sky, feeling as light and free as a bird.
Peridot remained nestled against Lapis, a feeling of anxiety settling over her for a few reasons. Some of which she didn't particularly want to try and work through right now.
Lapis floated a bit higher.
Peridot gripped at her a little tighter.
Lapis glanced down at her. “Don't worry, Peri. I won't let you fall.”
Okay, now Peridot’s anxiety had only increased.
Between the way Lapis used the nickname she had recently taken to calling Peridot, the fear of heights making its grand return, the way Lapis was so quick to reassure her, and the way the taller Gem looked so strong and in control and so beautiful, almost ethereal even, Peridot’s heart was a jumpy mess.
She just nodded, once again not trusting her voice.
Lapis observed Peridot for another minute, then shifted her gaze ahead. She felt nice and free like usual whenever she flew, but also not as much as usual.
Turns out, it was near impossible to not think about someone when quite literally holding them. Who would've guessed?
Lapis was now wondering why she'd offered to let Peridot fly with her when up until this point, it had been something reserved for herself. And especially wondering why she had offered to carry Peridot. And also wondering why she had fallen into the habit of calling the smaller Gem “Peri”. Since when did she do nicknames?
The blue Gem hoped she looked composed outwardly right now, especially since inwardly, she was anything but.
She gazed out across the world surrounding her on all sides, thinking about how small it looked when she was flying this high and how big other things could feel at the same time.
Similarly, Peridot was gazing out at all the sights she'd never seen from this height. As much as heights scared her at times, she was beginning to feel like this was worth it.
The two of them flew together for a bit longer before deciding to head back home.
Lapis set Peridot on the ground as she landed. “So…what did you think?”
Peridot thought for a minute, then looked up at the taller Gem. “I suppose I enjoyed it somewhat. Though I must also note that my acrophobia unfortunately still exists.”
Lapis found herself chuckling at the smaller Gem’s perpetual use of technical words. “Makes sense. But I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it. I did, too.”
Peridot blinked, then smiled slightly. She was glad Lapis didn't regret inviting her to share such a closely held moment. Especially since she had been so shocked by the offer. “I'm glad.”
Lapis returned the smile. “Now, come on. I believe we have some Camp Pining Hearts to watch.”
Just like she always did at even the smallest mention of her newfound favorite show, Peridot's face broke out into a wide grin and she nodded eagerly. “Yes! Let's do it.”
Lapis chuckled. “I knew you'd say that.”
“Am I growing predictable, Lazuli?” Peridot joked.
“Maybe a little,” Lapis teased.
Peridot gasped dramatically and pointed at the blue Gem. “Hey! You take that back right this instant, I do not accept this slander!”
Lapis laughed and headed into the barn. “Never!” She flew up to the TV area.
Peridot watched and followed her, smiling to herself.
She could try and work out these confusing feelings some other time. Right now, all she wanted to do was share her own relaxing moment with the one who had unexpectedly grown to become her friend.