A Taste of the Flaring Ocean

Chapter Four: Steaming Tides

It had been four weeks since Lapis Lazuli had entered the Crystal Gems' lives again and she seemed to be healing nicely, though slowly, like a human. Garnet, on a daily basis, asked that she retreat into her gem to recover in a matter of hours or days instead of weeks but the blue Gem refused every time. After the first two weeks of staying by Lapis' side all the time, Garnet had decided to leave the temple while the blue Gem slept. She had been worried about what Lapis would do when she woke up and Steven came up with a simple human device: a baby monitor. Garnet looked at the strange device and reminded Steven that Lapis was not a baby to which he explained that one monitor would go next to Lapis and Garnet would have the other one that relayed the noises going on in her room, including Lapis waking up. The device had to be modified for longer distances and so the signal could reach out from the temple.

Garnet had thought of staying inside the temple until Lapis was healed all the way, but her Crystal Gems needed her. On one particular day, Garnet was sitting on the couch, thinking of what she was going to do. She was obsessed with Lapis, even when they were apart. When they were together, Lapis kept talking and went through a range of emotions: happiness, sadness, curiosity, and so much more. Garnet had watched the poor Gem go through laughter, panic, fear, and tears. While Lapis slept, it was Garnet's turn to talk. She told the sleeping Gem about the war, about how it had hurt to lose Rose, about how it hurt to see Steven unable to live up to his mother's level that he was striving for so badly. One night she was talking about how she felt bad for Steven's being weak when she looked to see Lapis' eyes wide open. Garnet pulled the hand that had been petting Lapis' hair away and stood up.

"…he's got strength, you know." Lapis said softly as she sat up, holding her hand out. On many nights, Lapis had faked being asleep and listened to what the other was saying. Garnet held Lapis' hand and pet her hair when she talked and listened to every word. Garnet held a lot inside her and it was obvious she was afraid that if she let the other Crystal Gems know they would think less of her. Lapis looked at the other with sad eyes, holding her hand out further. Garnet stared at the out-stretched hand and, very slowly, took the hand in her own. The sadness mostly left Lapis' eyes when their hands connected. Lapis shifted until she was sitting at the edge of the bed. Garnet hadn't let her walk too much over the last few weeks, but she was allowed to sit on the edge of the bed.

"What do you mean?" Garnet asked her stoic tone, sitting next to Lapis, though she made sure there was plenty of room between them. Garnet, always looking into the future (literally) and yet not seeing how it would end. Lapis scooted closer to Garnet as she chose her words carefully.

"What I mean is that he has strength, just like I said. Sure, he may not have all the strength that us Gems do, but he's stronger than anyone I have known. When was the last time you've seen him cry? Or the last time he was denied an idea? Even this…" Lapis pointed to the baby monitor, smiling. "This was his idea, right? I know that he isn't Rose Quartz. I had the chance to meet her before the war broke out. She was an amazing gem and she has an amazing son."

Garnet looked at the blue Ge and listened. Sometimes, she felt as though she was doing it wrong, raising Steven with such high expectations. Shaking her head, Garnet grabbed the monitor and shoved it under the pillow so they wouldn't be heard. Garnet pulled Lapis close, bringing the frail looking Gem into her lap so that they could be close.

"Yes. Steven is amazing in his own way. It's not his fault that he has limited abilities. He strives to live up to his mother's abilities and her leadership skills." Garnet wrapped her arms around Lapis' slim waist. Trying to change the subject somewhat, Garnet spoke softly. "Rose would hold us like this. She was always a great leader and mother figure. She wanted to protect everyone that she loved and she loved so easily." Garnet rested her head on the other's shoulder, thinking carefully. "Ever since Rose….since Steven was born, the other Crystal Gems have looked up to me for leadership. Sometimes…" Garnet trailed off and closed her eyes, but opened them when she felt Lapis shift to straddle her.

"Sometimes you want to be just like Rose Quartz." Lapis said more than asked. Reaching up, she removed Garnet's glasses and put them on the mattress next to them. Lapis looked into each eye and a blush rose to her cheeks. She could feel how tense the taller Gem was by this action, so Lapis tried to quickly set her at ease. "You are so protective and loving. I see the way you look at Steven and even Pearl and Amethyst. Maybe not directly because of your glasses, but your facial features change even if it's just a fraction."

Garnet listened as Lapis seemed to read her like a book. How long had she worked so that would not happen? Placing her hands on the other's slender waist and gripped slightly. Lapis was so close, and her eyes were so deep, just like the ocean she so easily controlled.

"What are you trying to get at, Lapis?" Garnet asked as she tried to relax. She felt so exposed with her glasses off but she felt no need to put them back on at the moment.

"What I'm trying to say is…well…" Lapis blushed even darker as she pressed as close as she could. "Maybe it's time to let someone take care of you. Someone who…maybe…can earn her star and become a Crystal Gem…?" Lapis didn't wait for an answer before she leaned forward and gently pressed her lips against Garnet's. The Crystal Gem tensed for a split second then she returned it full heartedly, pulling the other as close as she could.

After a moment, the kiss was broken and Garnet's breathing was just slightly labored as she looked into Lapis' eyes. Gently, she moved the blue Gem to lay down on the bed, removed the baby monitor from under the pillow, set it aside, and laid next to Lapis. Chuckling lightly, Garnet put her glasses back on and offered a small smile.

"Well, I think that would be a lovely idea. After all, you do have to have your star to be a Crystal Gem. I think you can handle it." Garnet rested her head on one of the pillows and listened as Lapis began to talk.