Alright, so. I don't like how I did Tag 40.

So I'm redoing it.

This tag is from LapisLazulli2, and it wants me to write a one-shot.

Now you may see that this chapter's header image is different than the first Tag 40. This is because I'm going to make a completely new one shot, that revolves around LukeLazuli (Lapis Lazuli x Luke, the difference between this and the one with Lappy is due to 1 extra "L").

This takes place in the same universe as the SU fanfic my friend made that I made fun of, and is during the night before the group went out to rescue Sapphire.

Without further ado, let's do this, eh?
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Luke's POV

I've noticed that Lapis has acted... strange. I don't know how to put it into words, but something about the vibes she's been giving off has made me worried. I've definitely picked up the fake enthusiasm and smiles, and she always gives me the "Everything's fine." response whenever I ask what's wrong. I'm probably being stupid right now, but I'm confronting her tonight. Since everyone is in their rooms or asleep, I think she'll be a bit more comfortable...

Maybe?

I stepped outside, not being surprised when I saw her on the deck of where we were staying. I walked next to her and looked at the stars, then at the view, then at her.

She's been changing me. Something about her is just so appealing to me. I always want to be by her side. Sometimes when we're in a battle I attempt to keep her safe, and she has to remind me that she's fine on her own. She makes me feel like something in me has been filled, an emptiness I didn't know existed before I spent as much time as I have with her.

I honestly find it amazing that she's capable of me feeling like this. It's confusing. I don't really know what to make of it. Anyway, I'm getting off track. I snap out of my thoughts and focused on why I was out here. Looking at her again, she hasn't noticed me next to her yet. I silently chuckle at the adorableness. I smile at her again before realizing that I've been staring at her. I quickly shake my head and blink a few times before finally starting a conversation with her.

"Soooo..." I started. She jumps from surprise at my "sudden appearance". "Today has been... exciting."

"I don't think "exciting" is the right word, Luke." Lapis replied. I sighed.

"Well I mean. It certainly was entertaining to watch Nemo and Max go at it." I mused. Lapis thought about that for a second.

"I guess it was." She agreed dryly, "His backstory was a bit unnecessary and much." I laughed.

"I have no idea why he told us his life story, even though I'm pretty sure it's going to be completely irrelevant to the rest of this adventure." I added. Lapis nodded with what sounded like a forced laugh. I gave her a look of concern.

"What?"

"You okay?"

"Luke, for the eleventh time, I'm fine." She said a bit irritated. I sighed at her response.

"Has it really been eleven times?" I asked. Lapis chuckled with a nod, "Hey! There's a real laugh!" I pointed out. She blushed a dark hue before turning away.

"Luke..." she started. Crap I screwed up, didn't I? I stayed calm, and pulled off a rather smooth recovery.

"I understand if you don't want to talk about it. But I'm gonna let you know that as far fetched as it sounds because of how much it's told, talking to someone someone about your troubles really does help." I thought about what I said for a second, "Then again, I'm a hypocrite for not doing it as much as I should myself." Lapis stayed silent, but I could tell she was thinking about it hard. "I'm gonna try to sleep now, but just know that I'm here for you, alright?" Lapis stayed silent as I gave her a hug from behind and started to walk away.

"Wait." She said quietly, but not too quiet so that I couldn't hear.

I stopped.

"Come back please." She said a bit louder, her voice sounding a bit shaky. I listen to her and walked in front of the taller blue female so she could see me with a worried look.

I've never seen someone look as upset as she is right now.

She was already shaking and had hot tears falling down her cheek. She closed her eyes as more tears fell down and she closed her hands to a fist. My first reaction was to give her a hug. She started sobbing quietly, and my shirt started to get soaked with her tears. We sat down on the deck in silence as I just let her cry as much as she needed to.

After what seemed like an hour she finally started calming down. I broke the hug, my hands still on her shoulders as I asked her if she wanted to talk about. This time however, she nodded.

She explained how she was trapped in one way or another in the majority of her life. Her relations with Steven, the Crystal Gems, the Diamonds, and so on. She told me how she was in a mirror for thousands of years. She told me about her first experience with the hand ship we were prisoned on, and her time in the bottom of the ocean as Malachite. How she's been running away from her fears for as long as she can remember, everything that's been on her mind and everything that's stressed her out. She told me how she never told anyone because she knew they wouldn't understand, and that she's been trying to hide it all in for so long.

"Lapis," I said, stopping her, "It's okay. I may not understand, and compared to what I've been through, I'm nothing. But I think that you're overthinking things. I do that too, honestly. And, as painful as all that is... it doesn't matter anymore. It's all in the past. Lapis, a good friend once told me that in the end, it's your friends that matter. Even if it's just a couple people, that's all that matters."

"But–"

"It's hard. I get it. And yes, what you went through sucks, but you can't let that control your future. Letting the Diamonds and Jasper get into your head is only going to make things worse." I thought about finding a way that would help her understand what I meant by that, "You remember when we first met how I said Peridot was getting beat up by one of the people at my school?"

"Yes. You called them 'jackasses' if I remember correctly. Why the sudden change of subject?" Lapis asked, visibly confused.

"Well, on Earth, there are these humans that are just mean. They feed off of people's misery and sadness. No one likes them, and they're made to seem powerful because of the fear other humans give them. We call those people 'Bullies'. I tend to call them jackasses however." I explained with a small chuckle.

"Luke, what does that have to do with anything?" Lapis asked, curious about my explanation.

"Well, think of Jasper and the Diamonds as bullies. They may seem tough, and they may act tough. But really, the only thing that makes them stronger is the fear and hurt you give off from them. They're not much without it. So Lapis, don't let the bullies get to you, okay? If you do that, then this fight will end a lot sooner." Lapis thought about it for a long time, then nodded in understanding.

"Thank you, Luke." She said to me with a dark blush on her face. I blushed to while rubbing the back of my head before looking at the watch on my wrist.

12:49 AM

"Holy crap! We need to go get sleep!" I said with surprise. Lapis nodded and we both ran indoors. I was about to go to my own room when Lapis stopped me.

"Luke, I don't have my own room."

Well this is a problem.

"Uhhh... then ummm..." the only place I could think of that she was able to go to was...

My room.

"You can sleep in my room if you'd like? There's a chair by the desk I can sleep in, so you can use the bed." I suggested with a blush. She also blushed, but reluctantly nodded. We walked to my room and I entered it, only to find Peridot sound asleep in said chair.

"Uhhh..." Lapis trailed off.

"How'd she get in here?" I asked. Then I realized that there was nowhere for me to sleep, "Guess I'll sleep on the floor..."

"Uh, Luke?" Lapis started.

"Yyyes?" I replied.

"Do you mind, uh..." she trailed off again, "Sh-sharing the bed with me?"

I blushed into a stop sign, "Uhm..." I have no experience sharing a bed with a girl before...

Unless you count my sister, but that was due to a lack of bedrooms. Do I say yes? Do I say no? I sighed, going with my gut.

"S-sure..." I stuttered.

I've never been one to say "no", okay? The bed was rather small, but we both managed to fit in it. We were a lot closer than I would like to, but I didn't mind, I soon found myself being held, by cool, soothing, blue skin. I turned around and snuggled up against her too, as I enjoyed her smell. It was like the ocean, but better. Her soft touch and power of sleep eventually got to the both of us.

Peridot's POV

I woke up to find Lapis in bed with my sarcastic human counterpart. I don't like to admit it, but the two do look cute together. Deciding to leave the sleeping couple be, I left the room to go elsewhere.

I wonder how Luke will react when he realizes that gems don't need sleep.
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Aaaaand there we have it! A good 1518 words! Much better than the last one.

I do find myself satisfied with this, and I know the LukeLazulli shippers are getting a good kick out of this XD

Anyway, that's all from me! Bye-bye!