Chapter Text
Before her eyes, it was finally starting to take shape. Lapis pulled objects from an assortment of metal junk scattered all across the floor below her. Her loft was currently the workspace for her latest creation, a haphazardly strung together tower of metal and wire. One after another she held scrapped appliances above the place she wanted to fill in her sculpture though something about it still felt off to her.
“No, no, definitely no.” The clock wasn’t big enough and the microwave was too big.
“Interesting morp!” Peridot slid in beside her, taking a good look at the precariously held together piece. Shaping up like a body with too many limbs coming out of it.
“It’s not really looking the way I want it to.” Lapis pulled out an old dvd player, comparing the size, “Sure it looks chaotic and messy and like it shouldn’t hold, but it just… it didn’t feel that way.” She was beginning to doubt whether it was a good idea to try and make it out of metal and plastic, but the two of them had an abundance of the junk lying around their home.
Peridot’s eyes turned shifty, looking between the sculpture and her friend. “Ahhah, a personal piece, is it?”
“What? No it’s not. It’s…” Lapis paused for thought, “Well, I guess it is.”
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with where you mysteriously flew off to last night? You didn’t really say anything.”
“I didn’t go anywhere special. Just felt like taking a flight around the countryside.” While she wanted to tell Peridot the truth, her spontaneous fusion with Jasper last night was something she preferred to keep private for now.
“The countryside?” Peridot questioned, clearly suspicious but choosing not to push further. “Well, if you say so.” The short gem levitated the vhs player out of the junk pile and tucked it safely under her arm. “Hey! I was looking for this baby!”
Lapis waved her hand, telling Peridot to just take it. Still, that left this weird disfigured thing that stood before her. The limbs of this daunting beast stretched out, desperately seeking the rest of its body. It’s not like she's ever had a chance to see what Malachite looks like from the outside. For all she knew, this horrifying mess was a perfect reflection of what they made. Still, she wasn’t satisfied to leave it like this in the way this creation was struggling for air.
Malachite. Malachite. Malachite.
The name rattled in her head. When she closed her eyes she could almost feel it again. Once, the memory of Malachite felt like crushing, it was the deep weight of an ocean on her shoulders, the restless thrashing and fighting. Now it was different form of restlessness. For only a moment last night, Malachite tasted true freedom. Now Lapis was yearning to feel it again.
Here eyes opened to the statue, she was disappointed to reach no epiphany on how to fix it. Fearing it might be a lost cause, Lapis hoped a walk around Little Homeworld could settle her hectic nerves.
Gems walked to their classes in Little Homeschool, some were flying over to their new jobs, others sat in idle chatter. The sight of so many gems living together was new, and each day seemed to have some new fusion walking around for the first time. New chaotic forms and shapes would walk around like their first day in the world. Just at the moment, Lapis crossed paths with a short fusion with three legs as they were still figuring out their own movements. After some stumbling, the pair tripped and the small gems separated into an eruption of laughter. They looked eager to try again.
Some others had gotten pretty big too but as far as two-gem fusions go, Malachite was so much larger than any other. Lapis always wondered why.
“All fusions are unique to you, they reflect the gems they’re formed from.” A stoic voice echoed and almost on cue, she saw Garnet across the courtyard giving a seminar to a small group of students. Lapis, not wanting to be noticed, flew up and perched herself above a wall to casually listen in. “It’s not like fusing with another gem of your kind, aspects of you will find a way to your fusions. Multiple limbs, eyes, even a second mouth is possible.”
The colorful shades that rested on her face appeared to glimmer in the bright sunlight. For a moment it seemed like she noticed something, peering over in the direction of Lapis and smiling.
“They will be bigger and stronger but they can only hold together as long as you and your partner can remain in sync. This takes a lot of work, patience and understanding but if you find someone willing to give the same, you can find something amazing."
From afar a soothing bell rang out of a tower at the center of the school. Garnet clapped her hands and waved goodbye to her students as they left for lunch.
Lapis was about to take her chance to fly off and leave before Garnet called out, "You know, anyone is welcome to join the class."
Lapis stumbled, nearly falling right off the wall. "I was just listening in. I'm not-"
"Nervous about it?" Garnet finished. Lapis looked down, feeling the light blush of embarrassment run over her face. “Completely reasonable if you are.”
After a beat of silence, a defeated Lapis floated down gracefully to stand next to the gem who placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"No one is rushing you."
"I, uh…" Lapis considered for a moment, wondering if she should tell Garnet about her impromptu fusion with Jasper the night before. If anyone knew best about the subject it was Garnet but fearing her judgment, Lapis chose to be vague. “I was thinking more about it. I mean, it was always in the back of my mind but more lately I’ve been seeing things differently.”
Garnet simply nodded and leaned against the railing behind her, welcoming Lapis to tell her more.
“I spent so long fearing Malachite, what I did. Everything I did. Things are better now. I’m better. Or at least I think I am.” Her blue arms crossed over her chest, holding herself. “Fusion still scares me, though. I don’t want to put anyone through another ‘Malachite’ again. I know that but…” She let out a heavy sigh, disappointed in herself, “I want to.”
The two stood silent for a moment. Distant sounds of laughter and chatter from the bustling students kept it from getting eerily silent. Garnet was quietly contemplating her response while Lapis felt her emotionless demeanor dropping by the second. Finally, Garnet broke the silence by asking, “You want to fuse again?” Lapis felt shame as she slowly nodded. “I see.” As if she could sense how low Lapis was feeling over this, Garnet comforted the gem by placing a firm hand over hers. “Feeling that way isn’t a bad thing.”
It was nice to hear but Lapis wasn’t quite ready to believe it. “I never did ask you, about Malachite I mean.” Garnet perked up, smile fading. “What you think about…all that.”
“I won’t lie to you.” Garnet uttered, prompting Lapis to prepare for the worst. “Using fusion that way, to trap someone is unforgivable.” The truth was as crushing as Lapis was expecting, the gem was cringing from the blow. “But I won’t ignore all that lead to it. The mirror.”
Lapis froze, recalling the years she spent there. The gems had apologized to her for it before, but she’d be lying if she said the feelings of resentment still lingered.
The fusion continued, “It was unforgivable. Still, you’ve found it in yourself to live alongside us. You deserve the same grace.” Lapis felt like some heavy weight lift from her shoulders. “If you want to fuse again, I think you can.”
“Really?” Lapis asked, surprised as wiped the sliver of a tear from the corner of her eye.
“I wouldn’t rush into it but it could be good for you.” Garnet smiled. “With the right gem, of course.”
“The right gem?”
“Mhmm.” Garnet nodded, “Someone you can trust completely. Someone who trusts you back.”
If those were the traits, Jasper was the last person she should’ve ever considering fusing with. Still, remembering how it felt to be Malachite again after so long. It didn’t turn out to be the tragedy she might’ve expected. Flying around the Earth was frankly fun, and when it came down to it Jasper was the one to unfuse for their sake.
Maybe I could trust her again? Lapis thought and then instantly repressed down. NO! I said we wouldn't ever fuse again. Last night was a fluke, we won't repeat that again! No matter how good it felt-
While she certainly kept herself composed in front of Garnet, in Lapis' own mind she agonized over her regretful want.
Interrupting her internal conflict, Garnet questioned further, “Is there anyone you’ve been considering? Peridot maybe.”
“Heh, its unlikely. At one point I thought, maybe, but I don’t think she’s really interested in the whole thing.” Lapis was actually pretty thankful about that.
The fusion chuckled, “That does sound like her. Bismuth maybe?”
“Bismuth is nice but I’m still getting to know her.” Thinking about it, she wasn’t exactly popular. Always preferring her alone time, Lapis rarely spent time around other gems these days besides Peridot and the Crystal Gems. She wasn’t really interested in fusing with anyone… but…
Her fingers clenched around her arms. She couldn’t even utter the name.
“No one really.”
Garnet let out an inquisitive little hum in response. “Is that so? Then it's just a matter of meeting the right one.”
"Just… not really sure where to go from here." The blue gem slouched over, exhausted.
"Ah, well." Garnet fidgeted with her shades, and answered with the faintest hint of a smirk, "I might try looking for Amethyst."
"Amethyst? Why-"
Before she could explain, Garnet already trailed off. Lapis shrugged and thought she must've been busy with more class work. The aquatic wings sprouted out from her back and she lifted up above the whole school. Amethyst was an… odd suggestion for this problem but at this point Lapis was willing to give it a try.
Below she peered over the pathways and road, looking for some hint of where Amethyst might be. She was a teacher but didn't usually spend time in the school, and Lapis remembered she was usually setting gems up with work in Beach City.
So Lapis glided down gently to one of the boardwalk shops, preferring to keep her space from the crowds. Today looked as busy as ever with the visitors streaming past each other like a chaotic stream in a river. She scanned over the swarm of humans and gems all over until she spotted the lengthy purple hair of an Amethyst down below. The quartz looked like she was buying handfuls of ice-cream from a vendor and Lapis was sure it was her.
"Hey, Amethyst!" Lazuli called out, the small gem turned and looked a little shocked to see Lapis all of the sudden, fluttering down to her level.
"Woaaah, Lapis! What a coincidence to see you here!" Amethyst forced a smile, eyes shifting to quickly glance to her side. "What brings you to the boardwalk, so…spontaneously?"
The oddity of this moment wasn't lost on Lapis as she didn't usually like the crowded boardwalk and wasn't didn't hang out with Amethyst enough to just drop in. "Hahaa, well. I was wondering if you could help me with something, actually.”
“Me? What could’ve ever given you that idea?”
“Uhhh, Garnet?”
“...Ohh.” Amethyst’s sweating intensified. “Ah well, if you really wanna get set up with a job here on Earth you sho-”
“Oh, no! That’s not it.” She instinctively cringed at the idea. “It’s a bit complicated, and a uhm- fusion-related issue?”
“You don’t say…” She panics slightly when she sees something off behind Lapis, “Well if you have a problem you can totally visit me during school hours so if you could just leave now that would be rea-”
“Have you gotten those cone-things yet?” A rough voice bellowed from behind and Lapis caught sight of the shadow being cast over the two of them. Lapis flinched, turning around and seeing Jasper standing behind and squinting down at her before the quartz uttered out a quiet, “Oh…”
“Jasper!? Wha- What are you doing here?” Lapis reflexively jumped backwards a bit before she grasped the baffling situation she found herself in. “...with Amethyst?”
Why was she even here? Lapis puzzled, Jasper never comes into Beach City! She thought, noticing how defensive she clearly was Lapis adjusted herself to keep composed and relaxed. She knew Jasper wasn't a threat to her but still felt an impulsive jolt of fear to see her without warning.
The quartz before her saw this and bluntly clarified, “I wasn’t here today to bother you if that’s what you’re thinking.” Jasper crossed her arms, hunching down to address Amethyst, “You told me she wouldn’t be here!”
“Not my fault! I got Garnet’d!” Amethyst groaned back, angrily pushing into Jasper’s hand before she started explaining, “Sorry for the lie but you weren’t the only one asking for advice today, Lapis.”
Lapis gave a curious glance up to Jasper, who avoided eye contact as she gave the cone a careful fist lick. “You?”
“Blegh” Jasper uttered, disgusted by the strange treat, “I guess… that is what’s happening today.” Her brow furrowed, scanning the crowded boardwalk around them. “I-I’m just spending some time scoping the area while I’m rebuilding my cave.” Lapis vaguely recalled how they may have crushed it to rubble when they fused into Malachite.
Amethyst, clearly getting impatient and decided to be more direct, “C’moon! Don’t you want to tell her something?”
“Tell me what..?” Lapis raised an eyebrow.
The larger quartz hesitated, “Nothing!” The two exchanged some very telling pouts of annoyance at each other as Jasper hastily changed topics. “I was just about to leave anyway.”
“What? C’mon Jasper!” Amethyst yanks Jasper back by the hair, although the giant only barely budges. “I was already planning to give you a tour around Beach City while you’re here!”
Lapis felt the surge of guilt, sensing that Jasper was only leaving because of her. “Oh no, you don’t have to leave because of me. I can just go.”
“Holdup, Lapis!” Amethyst interjected, growing a sly little smile as she schemed up something, “How about you stick with us for a while?”
“WHAT!?” The two gems exclaimed in unison.
“Yeah! You should totally help me show Jasper around Beach City! We were going to just tour the boardwalk now.”
“Oh, I don’t know…” Her voice shook with uncertainty as she avoided looking at Jasper. While Lapis was now more willing to try peaceful coexistence with Jasper, she still had the impulse to flee at this moment. It was unclear if either were even capable of staying civil in public yet, or how willing they were to even try. “It just doesn’t seem like a good idea for me to be here.”
“C’moon!” Amethyst perked up as she quickly schemed. “Look, If Garnet really sent you here, it must be for a reason! Remember? Future-vision? She probably saw good things happening with us today.”
Jasper leaned down, murmuring to Amethyst, “Is that really how that works?” The smaller gem only hushed her to be quiet.
Lazuli considered it over for a moment, wondering why else Garnet would encourage her to come here if it wasn’t to meet Jasper today. “I guess that makes sense.” The gem rubbed her palms together, still unsure about the idea. She glanced over to Jasper, who looked as stone faced as ever and quickly added, “-Only if Jasper is fine with it.”
The gem shrugged off the question before tossing the rest of her ice cream into the nearest trash can, “Fine by me.”
“Great!” Amethyst cheered and stretched her suddenly elongated arms around the pair, pulling them in towards her. “Besides, I think I might be able to help both of you out today!”
They shared the same look of doubt.