#mar!

“i love responses like that!” they exclaimed as zircon gave a nervous chuckle. “uhm, do you know where rutile is?” red perked up a bit confused. “where they’ve been ever since.” they stated as zircon nodded, moving to walk to the medical portion of the building, giving a wave to red as they did.

for a good while they’ve felt this building inside them, this weird feeling of uncertainty, anxiety, after every birthday it felt like a relief as it built up to their next birthday, but with so many of the gems they weren’t sure how to go about it. but after...everything it seemed to build up more and more then before; and they had to get it out now.

they gulped once seeing the medical area empty with no rutile in it. immediately they rushed to their room; to no avail. they rarely ever left their place...except one time...they dashed off to the covalescent center, finding bortz already there in relief.

“d-did rutile come by here?!” they asked gaining a confused neutral face. “of course not, not after last time.” they stated as cinnabar emerged from under the large blanket. “their not...inside either...sorry.”

“no no i’m more relieved. their not at their usual place.” zircon stated as the other two looked to eachother. “try the ocean.” cinnabar spoke up shyly. “i...used to see them there...alot to...y’know.”

immediately the curly haired gem left for the beach, looking around the area they finally could see a figure trying to pull out something from the sand. slowing down they walked to them, finding rutile trying to drag out a large chunk of silver, cracks already visible on them.

“do...you need help?” they asked as rutile let go with a loud sigh, looking down at the silver before turning their head to the ocean’s location, up a little to see the sky. walking closer to them zircon looked aswell in silence.

“...do you...ever wonder what’d happen if you went to the moon too?” they asked, gaining a hissed growl in response. “...not anymore.” rutile whispered out as zircon nodded sighing. “yeah...same here.”

continuing the silence rutile moved back to the silver. “get on the other side.” they demanded, zircon moving to the other side of it on instinct, a bit surprised as they helped carry it back.

“...do you...miss em too?” they asked as both walked back, rutile’s hair hiding their face as the question was left unanswered.

once at their medical unit they both dropped it with a sigh. quickly zircon moved to get the powder, dipping the brush in it they moved forward to rutile. “your...cracked alot.” they said shyly, their powder on their cheeks changing to a shade of orange as rutile glared at them before taking a seat, stretching their arm out as zircon carefully applied it.

“...happy birthday.” they looked back to find rutile’s eyes looking to the side. “i know it’s...not today but...whatever.” they mumbled as zircon had the same shade on their cheeks. “it-it’s okay. th-thank you.”

“...why...did you come for me?” they asked, zircon distracted from powdering their leg next hummed. “i was worried bout you.”

“why?”

“cause i like you-” at that they felt their forehead crack as they looked up to rutile’s equally surprised face. “...i uhm...uh i...i didn’t...i mean i do but...” immediately they hid on rutile’s lap from instinct. “th...that was...ss-supposed to g-g-go b-b-be-better.” they stuttered out, hearing a light cough and subtle heave of their chest. was that...a laugh?

looking up they found rutile hiding their mouth with their fist to it, but a crack of their lips showed them smiling as they petted them lightly. immediately the gem hid back as rutile petted them more; their hair felt so soft, so...familiar....they liked it..they liked it alot.