Chapter 1

The Off-Colors

Silence reigned over the inhabitants of the cavern. Steven had just entered Lars' hair; leaving the off colored gems with the newly incarnated off color human. It seemed everyone needed to process the fact that they were truly helpless once again, until Padparadscha's vision caught up to the present.

"I predict Steven will leave." Padparadscha sounded so proud of her vision, that no one had the heart to comment on the delayed message.

Lars had no idea what to do. He just died for goodness sake. Not even moments later he was revived by steven's pink boy felt like he had his memory wiped, if the fact that Padparascha's vision was on par with his. His mind was racing with questions. So many questions. What was a fourteen year old zombie supposed to do in this situation? With the stress of everything going on, Lars came up with two different conclusions.

One. He was given a second chance, and he would not waste it. He couldn't abandon his new friends. He had to prove that he deserved this, if not to anyone else, but himself. Memories of his friendship ending with Ronaldo, to all the times he was awful to Sadie, and his parents. Lars closed his eyes. In that moment he decided that he would be the friend he never was.

Two. These gems… The off-colors. They hadn't left him alone on their home world. He would make sure that they were protected until his last delayed heartbeat.

"Thank you." Lars muttered, to the point where the gems had to strain their ears to hear him. "You could have left with Steven, and be safe on Earth, but you stayed with me. So thank you" Lars could feel his neck erupt in a light magenta color as he blushed.

"We protect… Each other… You're now… Part of… Our family,"the wizened fusion spoke. Fluorite smiled towards the small boy. She could tell that he needed them, as much as they needed him.

"I.. I don't have a great track record amongst my family, but I want to prove that I'll be here for you." Lars announced. He couldn't help it, but mentally added in. Until my last delayed heartbeat.

That's when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Rutile had moved next to Lars, and knelt down to make her heads even height with him. The left head smiled, while the right one seemed to be getting ready to speak.

"We appreciate the sentiment -"

"- but if what you went through -"

"- is similar to any of us being shattered -"

"- then I think we need to set some -"

"Ground rules on protecting us." The twins spoke, each head taking a turn to speak. They were in sync on the subject and could guess what the other head would say. Plus, this was a subject everyone in the group would have a say in.

"What do you mean ground rules?" Lars was looking between each head quizzically. Him and rules never really got along that great. His parents had stopped caring about rule-breaking,dulling out consequences, and hoped life would be able to teach Lars better than they could.

"Well, we don't want you risking your life." Surprisingly, it was Rhodonite that spoke up. She was playing with her smaller pearl like hands, with the larger Ruby ones. Making sure to look at the young boy.

Before Lars could mention that he was immune to homeworld tech, one of the rutile twins had her hand gently cup Lars' chin. Lars unexpectedly had his face lifted up to look into the eyes of the right rutile twin.

"Like Fluorite said, you're part of our family now."

"Which means keeping you safe as well." The left head finished, and looked between Lars and Padparadscha. Lars could only nod his head. He may not agree with the gems, but he would listen to them. He wanted them to trust him, wanted to feel accepted.

That's when the boy was pulled into a hug with the conjoined twin gem, his head resting right in the split of Rutile's body. Usually, Lars would push away and fight it, but this time he just accepted his fate. He felt safe with the two arms wrapped around him, one rubbing his back gently, while the other stroked his hair. The feeling of safety, and finally feeling like he belonged, brought years worth of tears to his eyes.

"It's okay." at this point Lars had no clue which head spoke, but he didn't care. Everything was beginning to catch up to him, his death, his rebirth, and acceptance from the fellow outcasts. He broke down. Crying into the gem's neck, Lars slowly cried himself to sleep in the gentle embrace of his new caretaker.

The group of gems smiled at the young boy resting in Rutile's arms. Rhodonite came over carrying the small sapphire to calm the her nerves. Then Fluorite came slithering over, winding around the small family. They were all safe for now, and they had a new member to protect.

"I predict that human Lars will sleep peacefully." Padparadscha announced, before she was gently shushed by Rhodonite.

"Let's be quiet, so he can rest." Rhodonite tried to sound calm, but her anxiety made it sound more like a plea.

Rutile slowly changed their grasp on the small boy, holding him comfortably to make sure their new charge's sleep was un-interrupted. The twins may not have a sapphire's future vision, but they felt like things were going to be looking up for their new family.

Rhodonite, in a way, adopted Padparadscha and made sure the delayed seer was safe. They looked complete. Rutile knew that her relationship with Lars will be similar, and could forsee a development of a close bond with the newest member.

The boy may be an alien to the gems, but he was sweet, protective, and cute. He had defended complete strangers. Most notably of all was that he had a small scar to prove how far he was willing to go for his new family. Yes, the rutile twins would have their hands full caring for the boy, but neither one could see a problem with that.

Grinning, the twins slowly made their way to a hole in the wall, and gently laid Lars down on the ground. Unfortunately, his iron like grip on the gem prevented that, causing the twins to share a look, before laying themselves down, and holding the boy close to their chest.

Sadie Miller's compassionate black eyes, seemed to bore a hole into Lars. They were sitting on the paradise beach Steven had brought them too. Her voice was laced, and dripping with venom, as she spoke about how worthless their friendship was. Of course, Lars knew he deserved every part of it. He never had been a great friend or coworker to Sadie. A hard resounding slap from the small blonde, broke him from his deep slumber.

Lars' encrusted eyes snapped open at that; it was only a dream. Sadie may still hate him, but he would have to wait to find out. Lars internal dread was soon eased by a comforting hand rubbing soothing circles on his back. Melting into the nice touch, Lars' breathing evened out, and he was asleep once again.

Rutile looked down at the pink mop of hair, that was resting on her chest, and couldn't help the grin that spread on both faces. She couldn't tell how long he had slept, but she wanted him well rested. The thought of a place where they would all be accepted was an idea she had always dreamed of, but hearing that such a place existed ignited a new hope in the gem's holographic heart. If there was one thing that rutile wants it would be that her ward returned home.

"He seems like a good kid." The right head finally spoke.

"I'm sure he is, did you see how he jumped at the robonoids with the club?" The left head couldn't help the proud smile that took over.

Nodding in response to the left, silence settled over the twins. The twins pulled the small boy closer against herself, before rubbing his back. They were silent as each head thought of what needed to be done. The right twin thinking of how to escape homeworld sooner rather than later. She didn't want to risk the little gemling resting against her, but he was the only one that could slip by gem scanners. It looked like he would be able to protect his family after all, as long as he followed directions and didn't take risks. The left twin, however, couldn't keep her mind off of her new charge. Gems didn't have children. She felt fully inadequate to take care of a child. The boy had been as good as shattered protecting their family; she didn't know much about organic life, but she knew that wasn't good.

Their thoughts were interrupted when the boy let out a yawn, and stretched his arms. Bending his back into the gems' body; Lars arched his back, stretching his arms as much as he could. Returning to normal, Lars sleepily rubbed an eye, and smacked his lips. Rutile slowly helped Lars sit-up, and followed suit.

"Are you okay?"

Lars turned his head, and nodded at the gem's question. He had no clue which head asked, but then he quickly looked away. Lars could feel himself blush, as he started to remember the events from earlier. He then started to scold himself.

Way to go Barriga! Not even a full day, and you've fallen asleep on some random people, and cried all over them. Real smooth. I'm sure they'll try to drop me off at the nearest caver-

Before Lars could continue his self deprecating thoughts, the rutile gem once again cupped his chin in one hand, and had him look at her heads. They could see the blush creeping around his neck, and around his cheeks. Although, they didn't like the way his eyes maintained looking at the ground as if the dust was the most interesting thing.

"Is something wrong?" The left asked. With her free hand, the gem started to rub the boy's right arm to offer some comfort.

"I cried all over you last night." The response was spoken in a near whisper, the gem could barely hear it, but the response made both heads frown. Why would that upset him? Though the pair figured questions could wait.

"That's perfectly fine-"

"-sometimes you just-"

"-need a good cry." Both faces tried to smile reassuringly to the pink boy.

"Besides your my gemling-"

"-and that means you-"

"-can cry all you want." With that, the boy was pulled into another embrace, that had all his worries slipping away, and a warm feeling buzzing in his stomach. Lars wasn't sure what that feeling was, but it felt kinda nice.

With that, Rutile stood up, and offered her arm to her charge to get him on his feet. Then they walked over to join the other gems near where the boulder blocked the only entrance. As the pair got closer, they could hear Rhodnoite's anxiety bouncing off the walls about how they were doomed.

"I think… With the help… Of our new… Friend. We'll be… Ok." Fluorite smiled down at the boy, before continuing, "The robonoids… Don't detect him… We might… Be able to… Get out… And leave." With that proclamation, the fusion's eyes seemed to be dancing with hope.

"How will we get out though?" Rhodonite couldn't help but ask. She had to admit that leaving sounded great, but how would they leave? They couldn't even leave the kindergarten they had taken refuge in. Besides, how would they get off homeworld?

Fluorite maintained a warm smile, before pointing upwards, towards the rising pillar in the middle of the room. "Why… I think… We'll go… Up."

"What about a ship?" Padparascha's sweet voice spoke up, to ask the question on everyone's mind.

"We'll figure something out, that much I'm sure of." Surprising everyone, Lars had spoken a note of encouragement. He put a smile on his face, to show that he believed they would escape. Rutile put a hand on his shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "We survived the robonoids once, and now we get off this planet together. Like you said Fluorite, us off colors stick together."