Archive of Our Own

"-eat, so I'll get back to y-" Pearl halts, mid-word, to stare at the beaming Gem filling her field of view.

Which is odd, because until the very moment before, Pearl had been speaking to xB.

"Pearl!" Gem throws herself into Pearls arms, squeezing until Pearl can barely breathe. "Oh, I've missed you so much."

"It's been less than a day- Where's the fire?" Only now that she's got her face over Gem's shoulder does Pearl manage to look around.

This isn't her fire tower. Not any of them.

No, what this is, is a very familiar birch cottage.

"In my heart~" Gem giggles, nuzzling into Pearl's neck.

"It's going to be if this is another prank-" Cycling one of her confiscated flint and steels through her hands, Pearl pokes Gem's back with it.

"Pearl! Who do you think I am!"

"A little gremlin." Pearl thunks her head into Gem's.

"Don't you know the window for just repeating the prank to be funny has passed? Can't I just want to spend time with my Pearl?" Gem's grin is too wide to quite sell her innocent act.

"You're up to something. I'll figure it out." Shaking her head, Pearl drags Gem along with her. "But let's get in before it rains."

"You built us such a lovely cottage." Gem gushes. "Hope you don't mind I used the farm. And decorated, of course."

The whole interior might as well be a different place. Pearl's rug has become nether wart, her windows have become tinted. Colorful lanterns hang from the rafters in all colors of safely flickering flame.

All of which Pearl takes in while Gem strips Pearl out of her armor. The feeling of the fire protection lifting is always odd, but moving indoors in such a small space is a lot more comfortable to have the bulk of it all off. Rather than helping, Pearl simply watches as Gem removes her own armor, piece by piece, to hang on stands Gem had already prepared for both of their armors. Figures Gem wold worry about just leaving it jumbled on the floor, even out here. But hey, free show.

There's also a table now, which Gem pulls away to fill with food being warmed by her kitchenette.

The scent of fragrantly spiced roasted veggies with bacon reminds Pearl that she's been too busy building to eat. She was going to get to it in a bit, okay! But now her stomach rumbles, kicking off another little giggle from Gem.

"Yeah, you don't mind. Come on, come on, sit." When Gem pushes her down into the bench, Pearl doesn't resist, though she does drag Gem down with her.

"Got me a meal right here, now don't I?" Pearl hums, bumping her temple to Gem's.

"Food first! Then we'll have time for all the hanky panky you like." Gem pitter patters her hands against Pearl's cheeks, but nonetheless makes herself comfortable on Pearl's lap.

"We will...?" Hm. "How long are we out here for, anyway?"

"Oh, you know. Until Grian reads the sign I left for him to bring us back." Gem grins, unrepentant.

"Gem! That could be weeks!" Pearl balks.

"Mhm. Oh no. I get you all to myself out here. For weeks. How terrible." Gem deadpans.

"I'm calling-"

Before Pearl can even finish, Gem holds up- Two phones. Her own, and Pearl's. Without hesitation, she slides the phones into a bundle, tucked away in her inventory. "Mm. Oh no. No signal out here. How sad."

"I have business-!"

"Yep! You have business to hang out with me. I need a break from staring at roof shapes, and you need a break from running yourself ragged un-firing the server." Gem's tone brooks no argument.

Not that this has ever stopped Pearl. "There'd be less harrying if someone weren't going around setting fires and messing with towers."

"I'll whip Grian into shape once we're home." Gem promises, "Until then..." She lifts a forkful of veggies.

"Why you-" Shaking her head, Pearl relents. Honestly? She probably could use the break. And Gem being all needy and possessive like this is always cute. Pearl doesn't mind leaning in and taking the bite, earthy and sweet with a little kick to it.

"That's more like it, good girl~" Gem gets her nose flicked for that.

"Save it for the bedroom. That you're building, by the way."

"Small price to pay." Gem happily goes back to munching through her own meal as Pearl picks up her fork and does the same.

"You say that now." Pearl relaxes into the warm weight of Gem on her lap, fingers rubbing over Gem's side. It's quiet out here. No rockets sounding overhead, ho horns echoing over the hills. Just the two of them.

"And I'll say it then too!" Gem declares.

"Uhuh, sure." Quiet settles in for most of the rest of the meal, until Peal speaks up again, voice rounded in soft fondness. "Thanks."

"No problem!" Gem snuggles in close. "Someone's gotta make sure you don't work yourself 'til you drop."

"Impulse has been great for that." Pearl teases, pressing little kisses over Gem's cheeks.

"Hey!" Moving to straddle Pearl, Gem pushes to pin her back into her seat. Leaving Pearl to just smile up at her. Yeah, Pearl's coming around to the idea of this vacation.

She's still going to find a way back before the next nautilus race, though.