When Pearl says "I love you" first Gem always says "I love you more." At first it's silly and fun. Then, Pearl starts to spiral about it. Does she not love Gem enough? Is she doing something wrong? Then she asks.
"I love you more!"
"Why?"
"Huh? What do you mean why? Why do I love you more?"
"I guess?"
"Baby. I need you to understand I say that because I want you to know I'm completely obsessed with you. You get that right? I might not always express it the same way you do, but I can say it like that, I can be silly and over the top. I love you just as big and intense as you love me. So, I say I absolutely love you more!"
"Ohhh. Well, now I feel silly for asking."
"You're my silly goose, and I love you more!"
"No way I love YOU more!"
"Wanna fight about it?"
"YES I do!"
It turns into a slap fest. Being silly is a shared love language.
“Again?” A soft voice asks. Who knows how late it is. Pearl sits at the end of the bed in complete darkness.
“Yeah” The nightmares come like childhood friends crowding her doorstep, wanting her to come and play. She doesn't want any part of it. It's persistent, it's lonely, and endless. She wishes she could crawl outside of her body to find some peace away from the horrors of her past. Yet, in the dark, a beautiful soft voice again asks if she's okay.
"You okay, Pearly?"
“N-no.” The bed shifts beside her, cold sheets filled in by warmth, by love, by everything she wishes she could hold onto when she's asleep.
“I'm right here. Baby, I’m here.”
When her girlfriend reaches for her, at first she's stiff. Her irrational fear is that Gemini will catch this, too. But, the thing that claws at her very being is locked inside of herself. She can't, she won't let it through. Her shoulders drop as she leans into the woman she loves. Gem strokes her hair and rubs her back, uttering soothing noises. Seconds or maybe minutes pass, she's unsure. Gem carefully leads her back under the covers. The arms holding her shift the stray pieces of Pearl back into place. Gem always finds them for her.
“I love you. You're safe, honey. I promise."
"Love...you."
She doesn't remember laying down, or falling asleep. Gem is there. It's music and magical, while dancing in the ballroom. Gem's laugh washes over her; it's refreshing to her soul. They spin and spin until they both end up on the floor dizzy, and laughing. Sleep should always be this peaceful.
Part Two of my fluffy prompt from here.
Rating this Teen for language and kissing.
Gem's cozily buried in Pearl's arms. But, how was she going to sleep after that? Did Pearl even mean it? Was she sleep kissing? There was the fact that instead of flying home, Pearl flew to her. So, maybe she did mean it? Gem has a full-blown crisis over it. Pearl was so exhausted, it would be cruel to wake her up just to grill her for answers. Gem loves her. Pearl said “Yours.”
“Mine.” Gem whispers, wanting more than anything to believe it. She kisses Pearl's cheek this time. Gem closes her eyes and gives into feeling warm and safe. The kiss playing in her mind. She wants more.
When morning came Gem woke to the chill of an empty bed. It must have been a huge misunderstanding. She'll stay here and rot today, cry even. How was she going to face Pearl now? She covers her face with a pillow ready to cry. It finally hits her that she's hungry, wait can she smell bacon frying?
Oh.
Gem jumps out of bed running to have the quickest shower known to hermit. She gives herself enough time to compose herself or try to. If she acted cool, maybe they could talk about it. Pearl's still here. Pearl wants to be here. That must mean she meant it. Right?
“Hey,” She had to be chill. Maybe some ice water would help. She b-lines to the fridge and ends up with more ice than water in her cup.
“Morning. I hope you are hungry.”
“Starved, actually. How hot are you? I mean, how are you?!” So much for playing it cool. Gem desperately drinks from her glass. “You made all this?” Pearl has eggs, bacon and pancakes made for two.
“Yes. We haven't had a real breakfast together in a while. I had to go get eggs, but I think it's worth it. What did you say? Oh, I'm great.” Thankfully, Pearl didn't hear her past the sizzling of the pan. She's even made extra bacon for sandwiches later.
“Wow.” Pearl went out. She must have been up for a while, that's why the bed was cold. “You didn't have to do all this. It looks and smells amazing!”
“Why not? While I love muffins and coffee with you at Cafe Cleo, we should have something more filling for a change. Here.” Pearl puts the plate in Gem's hands and kisses her forehead.
“Thanks. I love scrambled eggs. This is so stinking domestic, too. It's really cute.” Gem laughs. “I wasn't aware we got married.”
“I know you do, so they have tons of cheese. Maybe we skip dating and go straight to marriage?!”
“I do like eggs with my cheese,” Gem laughs. Why is she suddenly so awkward? Kill me now. “I can cook too, you know! Pearl! Stoop! You're making me blush! Didn't I say no to marriage?”
“I know a lot about my Gem! I think I'm wife material, you should rethink it. Stop fussing, and let me take care of you.”
“I'm not good at that. I admit you are very much wife material, but we haven't had a first date yet.” Gem knows it's a joke but it's still made her blush again.
“I've been trying to take care of you for years! Also, I see you stole my hoodie.”
“Fine! I’ll let you take care of me, if it makes you happy. And, yeah, well, you have like five of the same one.”
“Three. Two now that you’ve taken one. I could wrestle it off of you.”
“Pearl at least let me eat first before you strip me.”
“GEM, You know that’s not what I meant!”
“Here!” Gem takes off the sweater and throws it at Pearl, exposing some of her tummy at the same time. Pearl acts like she's not gawking.
“You nearly got it on my plate! And, it looks good on you, you can keep it.”
“Make up your mind, Pearl!” Pearl puts it on the back of Gem’s chair.
“Someone’s a bit grumpy, did you not sleep well? I thought you’d be cozy. I slept so well!”
“No, I didn’t sleep well. Someone decided to kiss me and immediately fell asleep, dead to the world! Then, you were gone when I woke up...”
“I didn’t mean to make you spiral. I thought my intentions were pretty clear. I’m sorry for not being there when you woke up. It must have hurt. I wanted to cook for us seeing you won't play hungry hermits with me.” The cooking part of the game is real; the food gets put in storage so nothing is wasted.
“I didn’t know if you meant it, or if you were sleep kissing. Or, I don’t know what. It hurt a little, but it's okay. You didn't do anything wrong.”
“Sleep kissing? What the heck, Gem? I don’t go around kissing people in my sleep. That’s absurd!”
“I didn't know what to think. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed the worst.”
“It's okay, Sweetheart. I might have panicked, too if I got the wrong idea after that. Come on, talk through the panic with me?”
Gem looks down, playing with the scrambled eggs on her plate, and has a bite. They are cooked just how she likes them. Pearl has become an amazing cook. “This is so good,” She shovels more food into her mouth so she doesn’t have to answer right away. “I didn’t know how to react, what I did was an accident. Not going to lie, I spiralled, but I didn’t want to wake you up, you were so tired. You looked so peaceful. And, happy.”
“It was intentional. I said I flew home to you by accident. But, I realized that after all that disappointment and the exhaustion; I flew here on what my heart wanted. You. I was miserable and I just wanted to be with you. So, I kissed you.”
“Pearl… Pearl that’s. I-...” Gem gets up and pushes Pearl back from the table so she can fling her arms around Pearl’s neck, clinging to her while sitting in her lap. “I love you. I should have kissed you for real ages ago, honey.”
“I love you, too.” Pearl doesn’t get a chance to say anything else because Gem pulls back from the embrace to kiss her so deeply she feels warm and woozy.
“It’s so unfair, you kissed me first!” Gem laughs. “I thought it would be me. Ugh. Why am I like this?”
“I'm not sorry I stole your thunder.” Pearl laughs, holding Gem tightly. “I want more than flirting. You do want that, right? You want to be with me?”
“Did you not feel that kiss? Of course I do. I want you so badly, it makes me feel like a fool. I had an entire crisis because if you didn't mean the kiss, then I had to face the feelings I've buried. I mean face them alone. I think my heart would shatter.”
“They are not buried. Your feelings can be seen from space.” Pearl could not help but tease. “We were always going to end up here. I hoped you'd trust my actions a little more than that.”
“PEARL!” Gem hides her face in Pearl's shoulder. “Okay. You're not wrong. I do trust you. I didn't drown in my doubt. I talked myself out of it. Even seeing you standing in my kitchen, I was nervous. Not bad, nervous, stomach fluttering nervous. I need this to be real, because I need you.”
“I didn't know I gave you butterflies. That's really sweet. You know I need you, too.”
“You do. And, I mix up my words or panic and say something silly. We've been dancing around this for so long I got comfortable with that.”
“To be fair, I haven't been very subtle either. We keep stopping when it's really time to dance to a different song.”
“It is. You can always fly home to me. I'll do my best to make you feel better. Whatever you need. Whatever it takes. I'll do it.”
“You know you already do that, right? You already make me happy. We can do this.”
“We can do this. Do you want to finish eating and come back to bed with me?”
“Absolutely. You’ll have to move so we can eat. We can't reach the table from here.”
“No way, this is where I sit now. I’ll feed you myself!”
“Is that so, I'm a seat to you?”
“A really gorgeous seat. This food is too good not to finish.” Reluctantly, Gem moves to get her plate and sits the right way around but still on Pearl's knee so they can feed each other breakfast.
“I'll cook for us more often now that I really know what I'm doing.”
“I'd like that. I’m so freakin’ happy.”
"Me too." Pearl kisses Gem’s cheek, it’s sticky from maple syrup. Gem doesn’t seem to care.
Gem takes a huge mouthful of Pearl's coffee.
“Hey! That's my drink!” Pearl protests.
“Shit! But, it's the same coffee. Besides, we just swapped spit.”
“That's a gross way to put it. I want my own drink! Why are you like this?”
“You're the one in love with me!” Gem laughs. She reaches across the table for her own mug. Pearl holds her so she doesn't face-plant into the table. “Here, I only had a small sip earlier; it should be less icky.”
“How are you a troll, while being sweet at the same time? I have no idea why I'm hopelessly in love with you.” She takes the mug and drinks from it.
“You should be hopelessly in love with me, babe.” Gem takes the mug from Pearl to put it on the table, she turns sideways so she can hold Pearl's face as she kisses her long and slow. “Come on, I'm taking you back to bed.”
“You are completely down bad for me! You turn mangrove red if I hold eye contact with you a little too long. So demanding! You're already dressed and showered.”
“Shhhut up! Did you actually just say “down bad?” Gem laughs. “And, who cares if I already showered?!”
“I'm teasing, lovely. Take me wherever you want me. We can clean up later. I just want to be with you today.”
“Every day. I'm going to kiss you until you forget your own name!”
Flying back another round of trial chambers is a bust. It’s late when Pearl lands. Out of sheer exhaustion, she lands at Gem's base instead of her own.
“Pearl?! What the heck are you doing on my balcony? You scared me!”
“I was flying home from trial chambers. I landed here instead.”
“Oh my god!” Gem laughs. “Get inside, it’s raining!”
“Another soggy cat on your doorstep, this is becoming a new joke with us.” Pearl laughs and resigns to stay the night.
“Adorable and pathetic, just how I like you. Come on, my ducky, let me get you some clothes.”
“Shut up, you butt! Speaking of being like a cat, I wouldn't mind scratches if you are offering. Today sucked!”
“You curse at me like a toddler. I could be persuaded into cuddles.”
“Because you’re a meanie! Come on, I need Gem cuddles.” Pearl changes and flops into bed. “Wait, these are my pajamas?”
“Okay to cuddles. You're here enough to have a closet.”
“Don’t remember leaving them?”
“I stole them. That set is comfy.” Gem gets back into bed.
“Thief! I’ll raid your base for my things, tomorrow.”
“My base is Pearl proof. Good luck!”
“Claims to love me, but is soo mean” Pearl is nearly asleep.
“I torment you because I love you!”
Gem moves so she can give Pearl a goodnight cheek kiss. To her shock, Pearl turns her head, and she ends up kissing her on the lips. Gem gasps. Pearl’s eyes are now wide open, looking at Gem’s shocked expression. “I didn’t mean to, you turned your head!” Gem’s cheeks are flaming red.
“C'mere.” She tugs Gem to her, kissing her lazily. Gem sighs into it, melting into Pearl’s arms. She hides her face against Pearl’s neck.
“Mine?” Gem asks, her voice sounds amazed. Her kiss was unintentional, so Pearl kissed her first? Unbelievable!
“Yours, Sweetheart.”
Pearl does end up raiding Gem's base as promised. But this time, to steal Gem's clothes and leave more of her own!
Gem's worried, she hasn't seen Cleo in ages. No one else has seen them either. She has a few ideas of places to check, but she's not sure. When Cleo doesn't feel like much of a person they have a tendency to hide away, and while space is respected, this was a concerning amount of time. The others weren't as concerned. But, Gem knew that sometimes if you disappear, you want more than anything to be found. She checked the pit first, no one's there at the bottom of the cave under Cleo's base. She followed Cleo's tunnels without much luck. The last place she looked was a beach only the two of them went to.
“I thought you'd find me…”
“What are you doing out here by yourself, honey?”
“I don't know. I know we usually come together.”
“You could've asked.”
“That would be sensible wouldn't it?”
“Silly zombie. Do you want to talk about it?”
“No… maybe, yes.”
“I'll sit with you, we can watch the sun come up.” Gem takes Cleo's hand, they put her head on Gem's shoulder.
“Thanks, darling. I've been thinking about my life. I've been like this for so long, I'm starting to forget her. The me that was alive.”
“I can't imagine what that's like. It's okay to mourn that version of you. They existed and got you here.”
“She did. Gods, I don't know how.”
“Spite and big dreams?” They both laugh.
“Something like that. I like myself better now, but it's hard to accept that anyone else does.”
“We all love you, Cleo.”
“I know.”
“Do you?” Gem takes off her bandana and ties it around Cleo’s wrist. “For when you forget.”
“You're going to make this old bag of bones cry.”
Gem laughs, and teases Cleo a little more (because she knows Cleo hates nothing more than being vulnerable and this is an easy way to lighten things.) Then they lapse into a comfortable silence, watching the sunrise together.
Gem doesn’t typically get emotional when Pearl dies during life games, but this time it rattles her. She even tears up. When something isn’t right with Pearl, she knows. She tries to ignore it to continue the game. When it's over, she's relieved to be back home. It was fun, but not her best run.
“Pearl, where are you?”
“Kitchen.”
“Hey, are you okay?”
“N-no,” Pearl cries. She's sitting at the table with a now empty box of tissues. In an instant, Gem crosses the room to her. She wraps her arms around her.
“What happened?” Gem checks her for injuries. It’s not a typical portal to the game world; there are minor side effects: small injuries, nausea, headaches. On top of that games are exhausting.
“It's broken…you're going to hate me.”
“What's broken?”
“Here,” Pearl puts two small pieces of metal into Gem’s hand. Pearl broke her ring. “I didn't know I left it on, I don't know how it broke.”
“Oh, baby.” Gem attempts to dry her wife's tears. “I'm not mad. I thought you were hurt!”
“It does hurt, Gem. "I broke us!” Pearl clings to Gem.
“I know it hurts. But, we’re not broken, my love.” She takes off her ring and slides it on Pearl's finger instead. “Take this, tomorrow I'll figure out if anyone knows how to fix jewellery.”
“But, it’s yours!”
“Right now you need it more than me. I have your necklace. It’s important, too.”
“You’re right. I feel terrible for making a foolish mistake, and I died like a chump.”
“You're okay, we're okay. I promise. You did your best.” Gem takes her bandana out of her pocket for Pearl. “Here, I can kiss you when you're less icky.”
“We're okay.” She repeats, and wipes her nose. “Bet, I look so attractive right now.”
“Like a snot monster, but you're my snot monster.” Gem kisses the top of Pearl's head. “Come on snotty, let's go to bed.”
“My boogies are going on YOU!” Gem shrieks as Pearl chases her until they crash into bed laughing hysterically.
They still have a ring to fix, but that's less important than each other. This piece of metal means a lot to them, but seeing Pearl laugh again? That's a way bigger priority!
“You thought that would keep me contained? Poe lover.”
“Cleo...”
“I love what you've done to the place in my absence. Real classy, hon.”
“It's not serious. It’s all a joke. It’s so they leave me alone. I haven't lost all my marbles, yet.”
“Oh, it tickles me, alright. President of the Poe fan-club? Genius!”
“I-I didn't think you'd be this upset.”
“Oh, but you knew I'd be somewhat upset?
“I'm sorry.”
“It's fine, it’s not the first time I crawled back from hell to be disappointed.”
False knows her partner. She decides to stop talking, instead closes off the space between them. She attempts to hug her. Cleo pushes, but quickly gives in and breaks down crying on her shoulder. False pulls them to sit down with her.
“It's okay, love. You're safe. You're home. What a long trip, hm? You must be exhausted.”
“I really hate you…” They mumble.
“Oh, I know. I'm the worst! Poe lover. That’s me.”
“Don't agree with me, I'm trying to hurt you.”
“I'll never believe you hate me no matter how many times you say it.”
“Damn it. I-I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.”
“You should have come with us.”
“I know, but I was trying to back-stab Ren, not you.”
“Great job.”
“I didn't think it through.”
“No. Now you have to deal with the mess that is me.”
“That's not a problem for me. You'll love me again tomorrow.”
“You'll still be in hot water.”
“I love you more than all the shiny rocks in the world.”
“Stop it, I'm furious!” Cleo sighs, not really meaning the words. holding onto her tightly.
“So, scary. What an evil zombie.”
“I'm not a toddler! Keep digging that hole.”
“Who's acting like one, baby?”
“Yeah well fu-.” Cleo fake coughs on their words. “Fine. I love you, Now kiss me already!”
False makes sure to absolutely pamper Cleo, you know, just in case any of those muderous thoughts come back. Plus they deserve it - riding home through the nether really is a long trip!
(Cleo falls asleep before False can pamper her too much. Guess she'll have to continue in the morning.)
Taking breaks isn't an issue for Peal and Cleo, getting any work done between them was the issue. If one wasn't distracting the other they were being distracted by Gem.
False, however, works harder than anyone, and it took three of them to drag her away for some quality time together. What started as double dates False and Cleo, Gem, and Pearl soon turned into the group bonding deeper than any of them expected.
There's beach trips, managing to figure out how to play TCG in teams of two. Hangouts in Flases's base eating dinner, and beating the heck out of each other in the ballroom. They've become inseparable.
False has so many Gem heads from sword fights during their breaks she makes a silly GeminiSlay shrine. They can beat the sense out of each other for hours on end before the other two have to intervene to feed and water their girlfriends. And, make sure they actually stop to sleep. It's perfect for the other two because they get sleepy cuddles without much protest after they are all tired out.
Pearl and False play “boring” card games like a pair of old grannies. With Gem and Cleo on commentary berating them the entire time. Throwing popcorn and the pair singing badly to get on their nerves. Gem and Cleo end up going for walks together, talking about everything. Sometimes, they convince “the grannies” to play a fun card game like "Bullshit.” At this rate, none of them will do any building ever again. But, they are very happy.
They just need to work out some hanging out ideas that include building. Somehow...
For all the tough guy bravado, she shows the world. Gem is actually very soft inside. For instance, she's incapable of saying no to Pearl. Faced with Pearl dragging out every bit of her name, wanting something from her, Gem is disarmed. She plays it off as if it takes much more than a simple plea to cave into whatever Pearl wants. Truthfully, she's the one who's wrapped around Pearl's fingers. Not the other way around. It's because she's completely enraptured by Pearl. She doesn't mean to but, if she feels like she needs something a little too much, she gets quiet, she wriggles around it, and avoids. Somehow, Pearl always knows. She will confront her in a way even the mighty Gemini Slay can't fight off.
After finding her, Pearl quietly fills the space next to Gem, holding her hand at first, waiting for the right moment to pull Gem into her arms and out of her worries.
"Won't you let me take care of you, Sweetheart?"
"You always win!" If anyone else called her that, they'd be dead.
"This is love, babe. Not war."
"That's so corny. But, yeah, it's love." Gem huffs and headbutts Pearl's shoulder. She reacts as if their love isn’t the most exhilarating thing she's ever felt. (Something she can’t get enough of.)
“You sound so disappointed.” Their teasing is a love language all on its own. Pearl plays just as well as she does.
“Deeply.” She wants to make jokes that cut and bruise. She wants to shove Pearl away. Instead, she folds. "I-I really need you, don't let go." Gem confesses so softly it's barely audible.
"I've got you. I'm here."
Pearl is there, Pearl is hers.
Pearl defuses Gem's knee-jerk instincts. She stops Gem's world from tilting off its axis by being present, and most importantly, patient. Gem's love language is a tenderness she's afraid to ask for. She wants to be hunted down for love, not murder like everyone expects. She's in luck because Pearl is Prince freaking Charming, she's delighted to give Gem everything she needs. The tricky bit is asking.
