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twolfeiiiwrites · 5 years ago

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I've Been Trying To Slow This Life Down

Prologue : Forever And Always

In the beginning, love is mostly about lying to each other. It's like that in the end, too.

- Hazel, Saga, Vol 7

-oOo-

Even before he opened his eyes, Greg knew where he was. Perhaps it was the overwhelming stench of wilted roses, the bitter taste of ashes on his tongue, or the faint echo of Her heartbroken sobs. Regardless of how, he knew where he was, what he would see, and most importantly what he would feel when he finally gave in and opened his eyes.

It would take a moment for his eyes to adjust but when they did he would see a vast, seemingly endless space illuminated in a dull pink light filled with swirling pink clouds that clung to the diamond patterned floor like a fog. It would take him hours, or maybe it was days, admittedly he wasn't entirely sure of how long, but he would eventually find what he believed to be the space's center where it would be. A podium, overrun with withered black vines with gnarled thorns protruding from them. Behind that podium, She would be standing there waiting ever vigilantly for him. Dressed in a stained bubblegum pink suit and a weathered mourning hat with a tattered lace veil that barely hid her tear stained cheeks and puffy bloodshot eyes.

"Shit." He grumbled as he sat up and slowly opened his eyes. Sighing he watched as yet again, the swirling pink clouds began to part, yet again leading him on his journey to the podium and the grieving woman. Grimacing as his aching bones released a faint groan, Greg slowly got onto his feet. "Is this what forever and always was supposed to be, Babe?" Glancing down at the faded black ink of rose tattoo on his ring finger, he exhaled and began his long journey.

-oOo-

Breathing heavily, Greg felt a minor wave of relief wash over him as he flopped onto the ground and looked up at the podium. He had been walking for what had felt like years and he was finally here but that relief, it was short lived. Locking eyes with the grieving woman, his stomach turned as her bloodshot eyes swelled with relief at the sight of him. Hanging his head, he swallowed before whispering, "Whenever you're ready, Pearl."

"Rose, I'll love you forever." Pearl began in a hoarse whisper, "Forever and a day. Even… even now," She paused, taking a slow shaky breath, she looked away from the crinkled eulogy in her shaking hands, and stared, right through him, into the non-existent sea of faces in front of her. Her bottom lip quivering as she momentarily returned her gaze to hastily scribbled words of the eulogy, watching them slowly bend and weaving in and out of each other. Before finally settling into an incomprehensible mess. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and then continued, "I-I can still picture the… the face that She… that Ruh-ruh-Rose would make when I would say that."

Her bottom lip quivered as she forced a nervous smile,

"I can still hear the over-the-top sigh that, uh," Greg whispered in unison with Pearl, "that she always made when I said those nine little words. 'Well, that's not very long.' She'd pout, 'Not long at all.'

Greg couldn't help but laugh as he thought about Rose playfully pouting and teasing him and Pearl, joking that they could love her so much more and that forever, well it wasn't damn near long enough.

Chuckling softly Pearl continued, "She'd even ask, 'What happens when forever ends? What the day after is over? Wi-will you still lo-love me then?' and I-I would tell her o-of co-course, my love. I'll always love you." Tears swelled up in the corner of her puffy bloodshot eyes, as she struggled to continue, "Then...then she'd say 'Wuh-well, I'd rather you love me forever and two days then.'' After that she would smile and uh...um," Pearl whispered, before she hung her head, taking a few shaky breaths as she struggled to hold back the scalding tears that yearned to flow freely, "she'd… she'd say, 'I-I-I…'" Clenching the sides of the podium, she released a low hiss as scalding tears raced down her cheeks before they crashed onto the crinkled page resting in front of her, "I-I-I'm so sorry! I-I'm sorry!"

Watching as she let go of the podium and collapsed to the ground he tried his hardest to stop himself from getting onto his feet and rushing to the podium. Rushing to be at her side, helping her onto her feet then embracing her tightly, all the while his body tensed up preparing for a series of flailing punches and curses that never came.

"It's okay." Greg lied in a soft whisper, "You're going to be okay."

Sniffling she nodded, "I-I'm fine. I-I can finish." Pulling herself from his embrace, she grabbed the eulogy unintentionally crumpling it in her clenched fist.

"Pearl it's okay, just try and take a moment to breathe." He suggested as he led her away from the podium, "And while you do that, I'll do what I always do when I get here. I'll finish reading it for you."

"Yo-you don't..." She stammered as he gently pried the crumpled page from her hands. Grabbing his wrist, she swallowed before she spoke, "You don't have to do that."

"Yes, I do." He replied uncrumpling the paper. As he stared at the scribbled mess of obscenities, accusations, and the cruel reminders of his failings on the page, he wanted to say 'Because it's what I always do. Night after night.' But instead he told her, "I promised Rose that I'd take care of you and Steven. Forever and always." Giving her a reassuring smile, he made his way back to the podium and placed the crumpled page in front of him. Giving it a quick glance, he began to recite the words that had long since been burned into his mind.

"Rose, well she would smile and she'd say 'Well, I'd rather you love me forever and two days then.'' He paused to take a shaky breath before continuing, 'Or, uh… better yet, forever and always.' and then I'd say yes, of course. Rose, I'll love you forever and always, I promise." Greg took a shaky breath and wiped away the tears that had begun to run down his face, "And standing here today, I...I pray that she knew that I meant it and that no one, not a single soul will ever be able to replace her." Clearing his throat, he resisted the urge to rip the crinkled page to shreds and to toss those pieces in the air, proving once and for all that the words scribbled on them were wrong, but instead he neatly folded in, tucked it into his pocket, and mumbled a quick thank you to the non-existent crowd as he left the podium and made his way to Pearl's side.

"Thank you." Pearl stated as Greg took her hand, gently squeezed it and gave her a reassuring smile. Just like he always did, and probably how he always would.

"No problem." he replied, squeezing her hand again, "I'll always be here. For you and for Steven." Swallowing he turned away from her and whispered, "I'll be here forever and always."

-oOo-

#fanfic #my fic #ao3 #writing #grasper #su #steven universe #su fan fic

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