Steven Universe x Gem! Reader insert

Chapter 28: Recovery Time and The Rubies

That you all for having the upmost patience with me! I really am attempting to update this story more!
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The next few moments went by much quicker than you expected. Peridot had driven the drill to the surface, its metal plating scorched and smoking, most of the paint had been burned off. The second the door opened you were greeted by Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl. You felt almost magnetically repelled by Pearl, but decided not to hold a grudge against her. It seemed she felt the same, as she walked up to you immediately after your exit from the drill cockpit. "(Y/n), I would like to speak to you." You nodded, and could help but smile. "Yes Pearl?" Pearl seemed a bit uncomfortable, as you were, but decided to push past her irrational fears. "I wanted to... apologize for my behavior. I was wrong, and I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive me." You soaked up these words like a sponge, not even needing to process them to say; "I forgive you. I must apologize as well, my actions were fueled by my own fears, and I will try and prevent them from getting the better of me." The two of you shook hands, and made up. Steven had watched the entire thing from afar. "Group hug!" He exclaimed, and immediately hugged you, as you happened to be the most proximal gem to himself. Amethyst joined in next, then Garnet, then Pearl. Don't forget Lapis as well, he stood near Peridot, who was a bit surprised no one had invited her over for this 'group hug.' Herself and Lapis both decided to simply refrain themselves from the embrace. Meanwhile, you were feeling the hugs. It felt nice, and warm, in a caring sense. "Thank you guys, we couldn't have done it without any of us." You said tiredly. You needed rest. The past few days had been trying, to say the very least. You hoped you would never have to see Jasper again. You beamed from nonexistent ear to nonexistent ear, which soon turned into a wide grin. You couldn't help it. Everyone was just there, nobody was severely harmed, or stressed. The Cluster had been defeated in a peaceful manner. Pearl had forgiven you, and you had forgiven her back. You were ready to put the past behind you. After a long five minutes, everyone parted, starting with Garnet, Amethyst, then Pearl, then Steven. You then began to feel sleepy. Very, very, sleepy. If it was the whole episode in the drill-- no, you're putting that thought, that memory away into the vault. And... it's gone. "Dude? Uh... you're looking kinda tired there..." Amethyst commented. "Uh huh..." you said, too tired to come up with a proper response. "(Y/n) needs their rest." Garnet said. "Then why don't they just sleep?" She added. You nodded tiredly. You began to walk to the barn absentmindedly. The second you were inside, you passed out on the floor, with your arms and legs sprawled out next to you. It was a comical sight, and it gained a few giggles from Amethyst. While you were asleep, Lapis and Peridot both agreed to put the past behind them as well. They began to live in the barn together. All through this, you were sound asleep. About a day later, you were abruptly woken up by someone. You probably would have slept forever if it wasn't for them. "(Y/n), wake up! Please!" Steven's voice. "Wait, I've got this." Peridot's voice. There was a short pause, before a shrill; "Wake up you clod!" was shouted into your nonexistent ear. You shot right up, your head colliding with Peridot's. Luckily, due to her visor, Peridot didn't feel a thing. "What is it? What's going on?" You asked, rubbing your eyes. Your body had grown stiff. "Eep!" Peridot suddenly said, as a yellow light flooded the barn. You kept as still as possible, supporting your upper body with your hands as Lapis, Peridot, and Steven pressed themselves against the splintery, wooden wall. You looked out the massive hole in the side of the barn to see a large, spherical, squid-like ship, painted red. It had an upside down yellow triangle for an eye, and had five irises and pupils scattered equidistantly around the sclera. No one dared say a word. Eventually, you four decided to leave the barn, rushing out as fast as you could, only to be stopped by the ship. You were trapped. That ship would blast you and everyone else into a million pieces. Until Lapis stepped forward. She thrust her hand forewords towards the ship, while Peridot cowered behind Steven. You stood next to the two. Lapis' action caused water from a pond near the barn (possibly the now filled hole you had drilled to reach the cluster) to morph into a massive hand, which then flicked the ship as of it were a fly, and then firing it into the ground with a simple downwards tap. The ship was mostly underground. A square-shaped path made of green light appeared to spread from the ship outwards, forming something of a baseball field. "Holy smokes." Peridot said in amazement. In the next second, Pearl's cry was heard; "Steven!" The rest f the Crystal Gems were here. "Holy smokes." Amethyst repeated, noticing the new baseball field. "We saw the ship and came as fast as we could!" Pearl said. "Yeah, I'm okay. Lapis saved us." Steven said, looking at Lapis. "But it looks like Homeworld really has it out for Peridot." Peridot began to nervously walk away from everyone. She was stopped by Lapis. The two shared a very brief converse, and it ended with both blushing and the sky seemingly getting brighter, for it had been plagued with grey clouds. A square segment on the side of the ship opened in a similar fashion to a hatch, revealing a very angry Ruby with her gem on her eye. Luckily, you and the Gems had made it to the inside of the barn before the Ruby noticed you were even there. More Rubies filed out of the ship, five in total. They had gems on their Arm, Naval, Leg, and Chest. The Chest Ruby appeared to be the leader, judging by the visor, and also the fact that she was the only one who did not do a karate move, gasp in joy and marvel at the Earth's beauty, or get distracted, like SOME Rubies did. She stuck her torso out of the pod, searching for something. "Now, where is the gem the scanner locked on to?" She mumbled to herself. "Let's fan out and search the area!" She ordered. Meanwhile, inside of the barn, Peridot was having a mental breakdown. "I knew it, they're after me! This is the end of the line!" She whispered. "You really weren't kidding." Lapis whispered back. "I disobeyed a direct order from Yellow Diamond and called her a clod... to her face." Peridot responded. Pearl then spoke up with a sarcastic open; "Oh honestly, you call everyone a clod." Peridot hopped onto her feet and began to run on all fours towards a box full of sports equipment like bats, gloves, and baseballs. "Yes, but not everyone has the command over all of Homeworld's armies waiting for the word to shatter me!" She said, tipping the box over o empty its contents onto the floor, then rising the box over her head and disappearing under it, curling up into a little ball inside. Steven lifted the box off of her, revealing her pathetic pose. "Peridot, we won't let them get you." He said, placing the box next to him. "Haven't I caused you enough trouble?" Peridot groaned. Garnet stood next to Steven and placed a hand on her hip, a confident smile on her face. "Don't worry Peridot, it is our swarm duty to protect anything that calls this planet home. And that includes... clods like you." Peridot looked up in surprise. "That's my word..." she whispered. "Listen up everyone, I have a plan. Or should I say... We have a plan." Garnet said, then infused into Ruby and Sapphire, of whom were holding each other's hands. You were a bit happy, considering you have not seen Ruby and Sapphire in some time. You grinned, unable to hold it back. "Hello everyone." Sapphire said. "Ruby, Sapphire!" Amethyst, Pearl, and you said at the same time. Steven ran up to the two smaller gems and gave them a large hug. "Hugs...!" He said cheerfully. You almost giggled, not because of Steven's childish manner, but because the Rubies outside hadn't noticed your presence yet despite the large amount of noise you all were producing. "So, what's the plan?" Amethyst piped up. Ruby giggled. Sapphire, after being released by Steven, placed a hand on Ruby's shoulder. "You got this. Just act casual." Sapphire said. She kissed Ruby on the cheek, filling her with anticipation. "Yeah, casual." Ruby said, clenching her gemmed fist and punching the palm of her non-gemmed hand. Ruby then marched outside and confronted the Rubies, while everyone else, including you, watched with your own anticipation. 'This is never going to work.' You though, thinking about all of the ways this could go wrong. You may be no gemologist, but you are sure Rubies are capable of basic mathematics. "Hey, wait a second!" You heard the leader Ruby say. "It seems there are more of us... than usual." If you had formed a heart inside your body, it would be pounding with anxiety. "There's supposed to be: five of us." The Naval Ruby said in a soft, compassionate voice. She seemed to be the kindest of the squad. "Five Rubies!" Arm Ruby exclaimed, holding up five fingers, then clenching them into a fist. Eye Ruby quickly looked at her hand, nodding in agreement. Leg had to count her fingers, reaching four before she was interrupted. "One two three four... five." Leader Ruby said, counting each of the Rubies, forgetting to count herself. Perhaps you were wrong. You were dumbfounded. Questions swarmed your mind, like how did the Leader Ruby forget to count herself? And would Crystal Gem Ruby ever be caught? Why was Naval Ruby such a sweetheart compared to the their Rubies? Crystal Gem Ruby returned with beads of sweat on her forehead. "They wanna search the barn!" She stammered. "We heard." Steven said. "We saw." Pearl added. Peridot jabbered something about being scared. Amethyst raised a bat in the air. "Let's AMBUSH them!" She said impulsively. "No, no one needs to get hurt. Let's be sensible." Sapphire said, which everyone eventually agreed with, including you. "What do I do?" Ruby asked anxiously, worried of the Rubies following her. She began to bite her nonexistent nails. You were surprised that they agreed to let Crystal Gem Ruby search alone in the first place. "Just tell them this is a place where humans live." Sapphire suggested. "I don't wanna go alone..." Ruby said, which you found rather childish. Steven seemed eager to accompany Ruby. "Ooh, I'll come! I'll be your backup." Amethyst handed Steven a bat. "And here's your backup for your backup." She said gravely. Ruby marched outside with Steven, and began to talk to the Rubies once more. "Do you think he'll be okay?" Pearl asked nervously, peering out of the barn doors. "He should be. He does have Ruby with him." You said, which gave Pearl some reassurance, but not much in the end. "Chill P, he'll be fine." Amethyst added.