[Gems] - Beautiful Weather (pt.1)

	Violet streaks of electricity bloomed across the sky in crisp strikes and rolling thunder, clouds sounding much less like fronts of air and water and more like the rumbles of splitting rock and concussive landslide. Rain was coming down in sheets, cold and heavy and fast. The dogs had known the storm was coming before the townsfolk had. They’d been anxious and listless all day, even before the dark and loamy clouds moved in and the air felt crisp and thin. Howl hadn’t been lucky enough to close up shop before the rain hit, though that didn’t bother them all that much. As they moved back out to the farmhouse, they passed by their neighboring humans. It was funny, or at least mildly interesting, how quickly Humans scattered during the rain when they were mostly water themselves. Rain didn’t erode humans, it eroded stones like Howl, who comparatively didn’t mind the wet.

Underneath the growling sky, the only other sound was the wet plaps of Howl’s shoes against the steadily flooding grass. The summer had been hot, even the day had been hot and dry, so the ground was useless for the moment. The only guidance back Home was the mix of movement memory and the faint glowing of the porch light in the distance. Or, there should have been a faint glowing of a porch light. There was a hint of it, but even from this far out Howl could tell that there was something obstructing it, it wasn’t just burnt out or off. The hairs on the back of their neck stood on end and they moved a bit faster, dropping to all fours and taking new form in a momentary shift of white light that was all but drowned out by the heavy rain and the perfectly-timed flash of violet lightning.

Nimble feet rushed the mottled Gem through the long, wet, lapping grass towards their house, just out of sight and pawfalls hidden under the loud hiss of rain. Whatever the figure was, it was looming in front of the door and obscuring the light from inside. Once again, Howl bristled, this time close enough for a low growl to join the bassy grind of stormcloud against stormcloud. They’d nearly made it the entire way to their porch when--

	“--Howl!”

The familiar lilt of tone immediately melts the white Gem and after a stunned moment, they shift back to something more Gem-like. Another crack of lightning confirms their assumption, and another round of loud, wet footslaps rushes them up the stairs and flinging towards the Fusion. They collide, Garnet taking most of the brunt of the force and dispelling it in a spin and an embrace. She doesn’t care that Howl is rain-soaked. Neither does Howl.

“Garnet!” They reply, just as enthusiastic (if not more so) than their impromptu guest. When the spin stops, Howl tightens their embrace and buries their rain-wet face into the top of Garnet’s chest. Garnet buries her lips and chin into the crown of Howl’s head. Neither of them speak again for a bit. They let the thundering of the storm and the closeness of their embrace speak for them.
	It’s time soon enough, though, to part, and Garnet begins to release just as Howl was starting to wane. She sets them down and re-adjusts her new, three-pointed shades. She’s smiling so wide it looked almost Comical. Howl is trying their best not to start crying.

“It’s been--”

	“So long, I know. I wanted to come sooner. Ah’m sorry. So much’s happened, I don’t even know where to begin.” Garnet interrupts, but it doesn’t feel rude. It feels excited. It feels familiar.

“Well, coming inside out of the rain might be a good place to start.” There’s an awkward smile on Howl’s lips, crooked and small but genuine. They’re thankful that their wet hair is across their face. They’re not sure if there are tears or not as they move past Garnet politely and unlock their front door.

“I suppose that’s true. Very wise, Howl.” Garnet replies with a laugh on her voice. It’s warm, starkly so in contrast to the cool of the thunderstorm.

	Once inside, Howl was greeted by their several dogs. It had just been puppy season, late summer when the strays would have their litters and nobody would be around to claim them. It was just until they were old enough to be adopted out, Howl told themselves at the start. Now they weren’t so sure. Garnet ducked through the doorway behind them, gently turned the handle as she shut it, and then briefly crossed her wrists in front of herself. When she separated them, her Gems let off a soft glow which spread to the rest of her body, and in a flash the water that had been on her steamed and dried from the heat of her hard-light. Howl thought it was a neat trick they’d have to ask her about in the future, but now wasn’t the time.

“Please, get comfortable. You can stay for a bit, right?” They asks as they gently usher their several hounds towards their beds. As they moved through the room, they flipped on some of the lights though kept the ambiance dim and warm.

“Jus’ for a bit. Jus’ long enough.”

“...good. Is it alright if I make some tea?”

“Sure. Be careful, though.” Garnet warns as she moves into the livingroom and takes a seat on the edge of the sofa. Howl freezes in place.

“...why?”

“There’s still water in the kettle from las’ night. Take care not to tip it too much when you move it.”

Howl smiles.

	“Alright. Thanks.”