Work Text:
There’s nobody better than you.
*.*.*.
’Beach’ is the human name for it. Where the ocean met the shore. Rose liked it, Pearl remembered the time she had brought her here. (With Greg more times than not.) That had became a pattern with everything Rose did. Pearl laid on this beach in the deep evening, recalling one memory, buried in her gem.
“Greg is different pearl! Not like any other human I’ve loved, I’m so glad you can see that too…”
Pearl simply nodded.
“He’s so kind… and everything I could ask from anyone! Imagine it!”
Pearl didn’t have to imagine it, she herself was created to fit Pink Diamond she was made to grant everything she could ask.
This would mean her Diamond wasn’t satisfied.
This would make her defected?
Why hasn’t she been replaced?
She looked out to the sea, nothing filling her thoughts but the crashing of waves and the felling of slow tears rolling down her face.
There isn’t anyone to heal her wounds anymore.
Rose is gone.
*. *. *.
Now I lay as I study a blank wall,
would you spare me your voice if I call?
‘Cause you waited and watered my heart ‘till it grew.
You just grew a little smarter, too.
*. *. *.
Back in the early years of Era 2 when the war had just began; Rose would stress about Pearl throwing herself in front of her in battle. The tears that dripped into her cracked gem after almost every mission, sobbing about how ‘There’s a difference between selflessness and blind sacrifice! I care about you. That’s why I want you to have freedom.’ Pearl never understood why her Diamond was so keen on making sure she got that message.
Why couldn’t Rose stay? Gems don’t age, especially like humans do. Pearl never worried about the future. (…she could just ask garnet) but Rose would last forever as long as Pearl was there to protect her.
But the cause of Rose’s absence wasn't being shattered (like many assumed,) no, it was due to love. Love for someone else. No matter how hard Pearl tried looking over every moment they had alone, every time she was thanked, every time she had given a chance to please Rose over her own life. She couldn't see a single chance or moment to change the present.
Pink Diamond’s Pearl, Renegade Pearl, Rose Quartz’ Pearl. To Rose… she was just ‘Pearl’
Her pearl.
A pearl that belongs to no one.
*. *. *.
I lay as I wonder about you.
Would you just tell me what I'm meant to do?
‘Cause I've waited and watered my heart ‘till it grew.
You can see how it's blossomed for you.
*. *. *.
Because there’s here’s nobody better than you.