Quartet Of Misery {A Steven Universe reader insert}

As you climbed out of the hole, the smell of decay met your nostrils, but since you were getting used to it, you didn't throw up. You did, however, feel a deep sadness for those people that died here. They didn't deserve the end they got. So you simply started digging up holes, and putting the bodies in individual graves.

After about half an hour of this, a small, confused voice rang up from your back from Ruby, who had apparently worked  herself out of the slump she was in when you pulled yourself out of the hole.

"Excuse me...but what are you doing?"

You explained that humans don't turn into gems when killed, and to pay them respect, and truly to lay them to "rest", you bury the dead. You expected it to be quiet after that, yet you suddenly heard a small 'thump', after wich Ruby started digging along, her weapon used to help her shovel up more dirt.

Hey, erm...i'm very gratefull that you're helping us dig, of course, but could you tell us why?

Yeah, it's not like we care about them, so why would you?

Then why are you helping, exactly?

.....allright, allright, i do care a little. A LITTLE. Doesn't explain why she's digging though, now does it?

The Ruby looked at you, a bit uneasy and uncertain, showing you that she probably didn't completely understand it herself, before she covering up the grave she just filled, and spoke up.

"I-i think it's because...well, i never truly got to lay my own friends and what happened here to rest, so maybe with this...human ritual, i could.... i guess it sounds a bit stupid if i say it like that, huh?"

You told her that it was completely normal and very brave of her to do such a thing. (backed up by Jade, and a hesitant Tourmaline, who applauded the fact she wanted to honour her fallen comrades, much to everyone's surprise.)

After another hour or two, you had finally finished, and after Ruby hopped onto your back, you ran back onto the road. On the way, you did your best to explain a few simple things about humanity, while Jade and Azurite put in some well-meant but very wrong facts and Tourmaline just gave awful advice.

while you ran, you also realise that the sun was rising again, wich meant that you had been there an entire day. You were about to ask yourself if the others had been worried, until you spotted the gems going in your direction, along with Peridot, Steven and Connie. You didn't quite know where Lapis was, but it was probably best for both you, her and Jasper that you didn't meet eachother anyway.

The first one to meet you was actually Amethyst, who was racing Peridot, Connie and Steven while screaming something along the lines of "shorty squad race!". You then quickly felt the weight of more motivated of the three hanging from your arms while laughing, whilst Peridot was leaning against one of your legs, wheezing and not used to running yet.

Pearl and Garnet arrive a bit later, also seemingly happy to see you. Pearl immediately starts to argue with Amethyst about how she should release you along with Steven and Connie, whilst Garnet just smiled a little bit, before asking the question seemingly on everyone's mind.

"You were gone for quite a while. How was the mission? Did you capture Peridot? "

"AHEM! I will not be associated with a clod like that, thank you very much!"

"Did you find the other Peridot?"

Nope. That green runt knocked us out....

Buuuuuuut, we DID manage to bring commander Garnet a very special present!

Amethyst immediately sprung up from your arm onto your back upon hearing the word 'present'.

"C'mon~ you didn't just get something for Garnet, right? You got something for your pal Amethyst too, right? Like.........OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!"

her sudden loud squeal alerted you to the fact that she had found the shy Ruby on your fact, who really didn't like the fact that some weird purple gem jumped up to her, was pointing at her and was screaming at her. A point she made clear by shoving Amethyst off of your back, after wich you quickly caught her with one of your arms, to prevent her from falling the wrong way and hurting herself. She then rubbed the back of her head with a smile.

"Wow...yeah, that's a Ruby allright."

Upon that phrase, everything became quiet for a second. Then all figurative hell broke loose. Peridot and Pearl immediately backed up a bit, afraid you had brought in a homeworld spie or soldier, Steven was attempting to climb your back to befriend the gem, being helped up there by Connie, while you had to do everything in your power to keep Amethyst from overloading the small gem with questions, food reccomendations and requests to go wrestle.

Garnet though, had the most priceless expression of all. Her fave was sort of a mix between being absolutely baffled, and immense glee, wich made you inwardly snicker because of the simple hilarity of it. After that, you attempted to give a PG explanation of what happened in Silent City, until you suddenly realised you were all in the middle of a road.

About half an hour later you had managed to get to the temple. Whilst Steven, Connie and Amethyst were busy with Ruby inside, you gave a silent report to Garnet and Pearl, glad they would have to explain everything to Steven and not you. Needless to say, their expressions were about the opposite of Garnet's when she saw Ruby.

Garnet was about to immediately run off to find Peridot, enraged, yet Pearl held her back.

"I think you should let us do the work for now, Garnet. I think there is someone who needs you more then we do now."

She pointed at Ruby inside the house, who, while actually smiling a little, still clearly wasn't over everything that had happened. Garnet sighed, adjusting her glasses while looking at you.

"thank you."

After that she walked inside, leaving you with Pearl, who told you you should get some sleep, before walking inside, giving you a smile as she did. It only then ocurred to you how tired you truly were. You then of course slowly pulled yourself towards your house, before flinging yourself onto your bed, giving into a deep, dreamless sleep almost immediately.