She hadn’t resisted Ruby’s help in getting back to the temple. She’d been the one to ask to be taken back anyway. The emotions swirling within her were getting to be too much; much more than she wanted to display in front of Amethyst and Pearl. It was easier to just confide in Ruby. Of course it was; they’d been together literally forever. When they got home, Sapphire was content to just stay where she was put on the couch. Again, she didn’t resist when Ruby took her hand. Ice particles were beginning to build up beneath her, though. It was clear she was making an attempt to conceal what she felt and failing miserable.
“We failed him,” Sapphire answered. “We promised Rose that we would protect Steven, and this happens, and…” She’d been crying before, but it was starting up again. What was she supposed to do? She knew that believing in Steven was all that they could do, but it didn’t feel like enough.
“I keep looking to the future, to try and figure out what to do, but I don’t see an answer. How are we supposed to be strong for Pearl and Amethyst when we can’t tell them what to do?” A Gem that was supposed to see the future was supposed to have the answers. That was what sapphires had been for from time immemorial. Now, she was a sapphire without a clue. Not even Garnet had known what to do. That was part of the reason she’d split up. The main cause had been the distress of what happened, she supposed.
Her eye shut, and she turned her head slightly.
“I know we’re supposed to have faith in Steven, Ruby. But I see so much that could go wrong. We can’t make it to him in time… Not without a ship. And those take time to make. A-And we still have to tell Greg what happened, and he’s going to be so upset, and Peridot and Lapis…” The advice Garnet had given Connie and Steven would have come in handy there. Giving advice and taking it for one’s self were entirely different things, though. Sapphire knew that.
“I can’t do this… Why didn’t we just try to stop him?”
Ruby had forgotten about the others. This was getting worse by the second. How the hell were they supposed to tell Peridot and Lapis, and even Greg? He was his father, and now because of them not taking action, his son was gone. This was on them. She had an inkling on how he would react, but in reality, she was too scared to face it right now. Eventually, yes, they would have to let them know, but for now, that wasn’t of their concern.
Letting her finish speak, she then let go of her hand, and embraced her. Not only would this help with her not freezing over the temple, it was a way to ease her troubled mind.
“I-I’m worried too, Sapphire. Believe me, I’m scared, and I feel horrible about this happening in the first place! I never once thought that... that he would be stupid enough to go with them! I feel like an idiot!” Sniffling, she forced herself to breathe, even if it was really shaky. She couldn’t lose her cool. Not here, not now.
Lowering her head, she pulled her other half closer, not wanting any space between them. “I don’t know why we didn’t stop him... We were all in shock, but... we could have done something.” Ruby was mostly muttering to herself at this point. She put all the blame onto her shoulders. “Somehow, it’ll be okay... it has to be.”
Her fingers dug into her dress, desperately mustering up the courage to speak again. “I-I... I can tell them if you want. That way you don’t have to.”
