#td;

Aquamarine and Opal were watching one of TD’s horror movies in the living room of Amanda Young, on the couch with blankets and pillows around them. TD had gone to bed a while ago but said the gems could continue watching if they liked. 

And so they were.

The gems were watching one of the dubbed “classics” and it was something they’ve never seen before.

“Her friends are dying, why isn’t she trying to fight what’s killing her friends?” Aqua asked with a frown pressed upon her lips.

“Maybe she can’t...” Mumbled Opal. Aqua looked over at the younger gem, who was avoiding looking back by keeping her gaze glued to the tv. “I mean, she has no weapons and the killer’s probably--” Opal cut off with a scream as the girl they were talking about in the movie met her demise in a jumpscare-esque fashion. 

Her face went into her hands as she tried to hold back a panicked sob.  Aqua moved over to hug her comfortingly, attempting to use comforting words to calm her down. The door to TD’s room flew open and the boy ran out into the living room in his pajamas, sporting a bedhead and a panicked look on his face.

“What happened?!”

“Nothing, nothing! Opal just got a bit frightened, that’s it...”

TD frowned and went over to the couch, taking the space beside Opal and putting a hand on her shoulder reassuringly. “Hey, it’s alright... It was just a movie, okay?” A few heartbeats later, she pulled her dampened face out of her hands and nodded weakly. 

“What were you guys even watching?”

“Well. We’re... not sure, actually.”

It was late in the night and TD and Opal were still up and functioning... Well, partially functioning. The two were watching the ending to a horror movie they’ve seen before but love to watch together. Absentmindedly, they talked about how this movie could have gone in so many directions and even ended early if the characters in it did something else. 

When the movie ended and the credits began rolling, TD got off the couch and stretched, letting out a yawn as he did so. “I think I’m ‘bout ready to head to sleep now...” He murmured, rubbing one of his eyes. Opal nodded and stood up as well, grabbing the remote off the table and turning off the tv.

“You should probably sleep, too.” TD told Opal, looking over at her. “You look like you’re about to collapse.”

“I could say the same to you, TD.” The gem child scrunched his nose and opened his mouth to say something, but Opal continued. “Pluuuus, I don’t need sleep. You do.” After that statement, Opal was greeted with a pout and crossed arms. 

“Come on, TD, you need to sleep.”

“I’ll sleep if you do. It’s a good deal, Opal. Win-win.” 

“How exactly do I win..?”

“You’ll get me to go to sleep.” Opal pursed her lips, thinking over this simple deal before reluctantly nodding. TD’s pout melted into a tired smile. “And you have to sleep, Opal. No cheating. May I get a goodnight hug?” 

Opal rolled her eyes and smiled. “Do you really need to ask?” Pulling TD into her arms, she laughed a bit. “You even hug like a person who’s about to pass out.”

“Opal, please, don’t make me fall asleep on you because I will do that.”

Refrigerator...

A large storing unit that keeps perishable foodstuffs cool... It was very l a r g e and h e a v y...

Opal glanced at the machine that took its place in TD’s kitchen. Seeing the boy walk in and quietly rummage around for a snack, the gem felt a chill run down her spine, making her dig her nails into the palms of her hands. When she noticed TD glance at her, she immediately averted her gaze and pretended she was doing something until he looked away.

Lowering her hands and looking back at the son of Apatite, a cold rush of fear coursed through Opal’s system when he opened the refrigerator door.

“This does... what, e-exactly..?” Opal asked, looking at the new refrigerator they put in.

“It stores food and drinks and keeps them cold. Look! There’s even a freezer that’s a part of it!” Aquamarine’s bubbly voice brought the answer to her question as she pulled open the door.

“Aqua...” started Opal, wringing her hands together. “TD can’t even the reach the h a n d l e s . . . “ 

Aqua didn’t seem too phased, chuckling. “You can barely reach the handles yourself!” She added, making Opal look at her and frown, not finding the joke on her height very funny. 

Eventually, as the young toddler grew older and taller, he was soon able to reach the handles of the refrigerator, occasionally going up to it to pull it open, crawl inside, and grab a juice box before hopping out and walking off, forgetting to close the door behind him.

One time, however, while Opal was watching the little tyke cruise around, letting out his bubbling laughter and giving the atmosphere a nice, happy feel to it, he went to the fridge and swung open one of the doors. He was still holding onto it and found it entertaining that he could swing back and forth if he held onto the handle and pushed himself. Opal found it cute, watching from a few feet away.

Until the refrigerator gave a low creak and began lurching forward. Opal’s eyes widened with horror as she realized that it was about to fall on top of TD. Instinctively, she jumped in and pushed little TD out of the way. He slid on the tiled floor until his back thumped lightly against one of the floor cabinets. Opal, who had been able to get TD out of the way, was unable to get out of the way.

The refrigerator landed on her lower half, making her cry out in pain. She bit her lip and shut her eyes tight before she realized TD was in front of her, seeing this with his own emerald eyes. Opal opened her eyes and looked at the horrified child in front of her, staring at her with his mouth agape.

“D-don’t worry, T-TD! I’m alri--!” 

P o o f !

Opal retreated into her gem before she could finish her sentence, and it was only until Bloodstone showed up, after hearing the crash and Opal’s cry, was TD taken away from the scene in a sobbing state, being rocked gently and reassured that Opal would be alright and that he’d see her again.

“Opal?”

Knocked out of the memory that had played in her mind, the gem blinked a few times to see TD, still in the kitchen, holding a sandwich on a plate, staring at her with a concerned look.

“You alright?” He asked her. Opal quickly nodded in response, smiling weakly and reassuring him, just like how Bloodstone had, that she was alright. He seemed to not let it bother him and went to eating the sandwich he made for himself. 

Opal ran a hand through her and walked to the refrigerator, pushing close one of the doors. “You, ah, forgot to close the door completely...”

TD looked up from his sandwich and back at her, swallowing and letting out a nervous chuckle. “Whoops! Sorry...”

“It’s alright, really..!” she said, smiling a bit and rubbing the back of her head. “Just, ah, be careful around the fridge...” TD nodded and went back to his sandwich.