Disclaimer: I do not own Steven Universe.

A/N: Small one-shot on the meeting of Sapphire and Ruby because they are adorable.

Edit: Fixed up a bit.

Being a small gem was difficult in this day and age. Sapphire knew this all too well.

War.

It was all due to pointless civil war. She bit her lip just thinking about all the shattered gems. Shattered gems of the same kin who were forced to fight one another till the last flawless specimen remained. Why should they have to prove themselves worthy?! They were all gems. None were perfect and all were unique.

Sapphire wandered through the abandoned mines. Buildings from a time long past barely stood, mere skeletons of their previous grandeur. The craters reminded her of the mission. A mission she was picked for, and a mission she –

Curly hair wiped around her face as she tried to dislodge the memory that had already buried itself too deep. There was no use thinking of how she had survived to be the last Sapphire deemed worthy of the name. The fact remained, she had.

"It will not be in vain." She promised to the decrepit structures. She wished they could speak back to her. She wished to hear the other's of her kin in the echo.

Would they forgive her?

How could they if she could not even bare to show her true face?

Sapphire sank down. Her gown bloomed around her for an instant before following her silently to the ground. Through parted lips a melody spilled forth. The tune held more emotion than she could ever convey aloud.

"Hello?"

Sapphire froze. Had she been answered?

"Hello!" The voice called out again, this time with no hint of uncertainty.

The acoustics made it hard for Sapphire to determine where the voice was coming from. She stayed perfectly still, poised to defend herself. Stronger gems and fusions formed on power and lust were not uncommon bullies.

"I heard you're song." Came the voice once more. It oriented Sapphire to a location. If she was correct, the unknown gem was just beyond the wall.

With a deep breath, Sapphire stood tall. She would not run. There was nowhere to run on this planet. At that moment a flood of resolved adrenalin rushed through her.

Just as she took a step forward the voice called out.

"AH"

The cry caught Sapphire of guard. The sound of pain caused a change in her.

Concern?

The blue gem continued her steps forward until before her lay a crumpled red gem. It appeared to Sapphire as though the gem had tripped and fallen. Upon further inspection the other gem appeared to be crying.

Sapphire relaxed, "You're tiny." She said to herself aloud.

The red gem swiftly turned her head, face twisted in annoyance.

Red eyes became wide as they found Sapphire.

"And you're pretty…" The fallen gem blushed, it was slight against her own red hue, "small yourself!" She quickly added.

Sapphire smiled, a small giggle laced her lips. Something about this red gem made Sapphire feel a rare comfort. It bewitched her to venture closer, "I'm sorry. Are you hurt?" She asked.

"My gem's fine." Came a curt reply.

"But your leg." Sapphire motioned toward the leg the other girl had been nursing with a careful hand, "It looks painful."

"I'm fine." As if to prove a point the red gem stubbornly stood. It was apparent to both that she was not yet 'fine'. But both knew she indeed would be.

Still drinking in the deliciously unfamiliar feeling, a greeting was extended, "I'm Sapphire."

"Ruby" Came another factual reply.

For a moment Sapphire worried she might have misread this person. This worry was short lived as Ruby continued, "What are you doing out here singing?"

"I wanted to talk to my family." Though she knew that statement made no logical sense, Sapphire was relieved to see pure understanding in Ruby's eyes. "And you? Why are you here?"

"I'm running." Ruby mumbled her confession.

"Running?"

"Why am I telling you this?" The red gem wondered aloud. She ran a hand down her face.

Ruby's hand dropped at a sudden feeling, she looked down at her other hand. Around it was wrapped slender blue fingers. Glancing up at Sapphire she saw, for the first time in a long time, the face of someone who was listening.

Sapphire uncertainly let go of the warm hand she had been so inexplicably drawn to take. It had been long since she had felt another's touch that she hated to part from it. "Please tell me." Sapphire urged, "I won't tell. I have no one to tell." She added almost jokingly.

"They picked me to go on the first mission." Ruby took a deep breath, "I can't- No, I refuse to listen to those gems anymore!"

Ruby paced as she told her tale. Sapphire stayed with her, listening and allowing Ruby to speak her mind. A release she so greatly needed. How long had her words been bottled, that the moment the cap loosened slightly the full contents came spilling forth.

"We should be given a choice!" Ruby finally turning to Sapphire, gasping a little in realization, "Oh no. I've been going on and on about all this and you-"

"It's alright." Sapphire smiled, "I understand, because I don't want to go either."

"You were chosen for the first wave!?" Ruby was at a loss for words, "What will you do?"

Sapphire turned away, "It's not …it's not as though I want to go."

Neither knew what to stay, both tried to grasp for the right words.

Sapphire was the first to speak, "It's gotten late." Her calm voice sounded loud in the dying light. She wanted to look back toward Ruby, but somehow she couldn't bring herself to meet those red eyes. Sapphire felt a sudden pain at the realization that this might be the last time they would see one another.

"You leave tomorrow, don't you."

Sapphire nodded.

Both found themselves worrying for each other. Worrying for a complete stranger… a friend?

Sapphire reached up to her face, brushing her hair out of the way to reveal all she had to hide, "It will be a hard for you to hide from this draft." She covered her face once more, "-but if anyone can it is you."

Although Ruby's mouth was agape, no response came forth.

"It was nice to meet you." Sapphire curtsied.

She did not say goodbye as she turned away, because Sapphire had not been able to resist the temptation to 'see'.

And this was far from the end.

"Wait!" Ruby called. Though it cracked, she had finally finding her voice.

Strong arms caught her waist tightly."Ruby?" The arms tightened, Sapphire ran her hands across those arms. "Is everything alright?"

"I want to go!"

"Where?"

"I want to go with you."