Let’s Take A Break (Pearl/Rose)

>You are Rose Quartz, leader of the Crystal Gems, formerly known as Pink Diamond
>You were currently organizing the bubbled corrupted Gems in their storage room beneath the temple again
>it would always get so cluttered if you didn’t check up on it regularly and kept bubbling corrupted Gems
>as your mind tended to do whenever you entered this room, it wandered towards the past
>your mistakes
>your failures
>things you could have differently, so maybe there wouldn’t even be any corrupted Gems to bubble right now
>things like Spinel
>Stars, you regretted Spinel
>it was indisputably cruel what you’d done to her
>you had originally left her there because you were so happy about finally getting your own colony, so you cast her aside in an effort to look more ‘mature’ to Blue, Yellow and White
>by the time you realized how messed up what you’d told her to do was, the rebellion was in full swing and there was simply no time to go back to Homeworld to get her
>you hoped she wasn’t still waiting there in the garden and that someone had gone to get her
>if you ever saw her again, and she figured out your true identity, she’d probably punch you in the face
>which was only fair
>you wanted to punch your past self too
>”Rose?”
>a familiar voice pulled you from your musings
>you turn back to see Pearl at the entrance to the room, looking a bit nervous
>you put on your best comforting smile
“Yes, Pearl?”
>from the expression on Pearl’s face she seemed to be having second thoughts, until she took a deep breath and seemed to steel herself
>”We need to talk, about… us.”
>you resist the urge to roll your eyes
>she always got a bit insecure about your relationship with her whenever you played with humans
>granted right now was a bit odd, she was usually happy whenever one of your human lovers exited the picture
>still, your Pearl needed comfort
“If it’s about Frank, I don’t think he’ll be visiting anymore. He seemed rather angry at me for some reason.”
>that happened sometimes, and you didn’t really get it
>he started an argument with you over something silly, and by the end of it he was screaming at you about ‘not treating him like a man’
>you had sex with him!
>that’s what that meant right?
>so you weren’t sure what he was talking about, but you’re sure you’d get it the next time a human caught your fancy
>Pearl shook her head, “No-well yes, but not the way you think. It’s about something he said to me before he left that has me thinking.”
>you frowned
>you knew Pearl got jealous easily and would often taunt your human lovers, so they’d often develop adversarial relationships despite your best efforts
>that’s the reason more than one of them has left in the past, but that’s no reason to take it out on Pearl!
“If something he said hurt your feelings, I can give him a stern talking-to?”
>Pearl shook her head again, “No that’s not it either. I um… think we should spend some time… apart.”
>...
>What?
>”Rose? The bubble!”
>You were so surprised you nearly dropped the bubble you were holding!
“Right, sorry. What brought this on?”
>”He said something that made me realize, that although we’re free here on Earth, my entire world revolves around you as if we were still on Homeworld.”
>Oh my Stars, it’s finally happening!
>”If something were to happen to you, or Stars forbid you were corrupted or even shattered, I’d have absolutely no idea what to do with myself! And that…. scares me.”
>You feel a grin nearly split your face.
>”I-It wouldn’t be forever, of course! But I want to find out who I am, without you. I spoke to Garnet about it and she agrees.” Pearl finishes, fidgeting again
>Good old Garnet.
>You couldn’t help yourself anymore and let out a loud squeal of happiness, running over and sweeping Pearl up in a hug, much to her surprise.
“Yes, Yes, Yes! Take all the time you need! I’m so happy you finally feel this way!”
>”W-Wait, you wanted me to leave?!”
>You froze, and then put her down
“No, no, nothing like that! I wanted you to realize what you’re missing out on by just sticking to me all the time! I would never send you away like that.”
>Pearl looked confused, “But if that’s what you wanted, why didn’t you tell me?”
>You give her a deadpan look, folding your arms
“Because if I didn’t let you come to this conclusion on your own, you’d treat it as an order and not be personally invested in it. Or you would think I was sending you away because I didn’t care about you anymore. Like just now.”
>Pearl laughs nervously, “That’s fair.”
>You smile again, and pull Pearl into a softer hug.
“But in all seriousness, I’m happy for you Pearl. Just take all the time you need, and I’ll be right here when you get back. I want you to be the best possible version of yourself you can be.”
>you felt Pearl’s skinny arms return the hug, and her body begin to tremble with emotion.
>”I… thank you, Rose.”
>you look down at her, and she looks up at you, and you’re both smiling
>your Pearl was going to be just fine