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Pearl and Gem were tired so of course a little self control had been lost.
The two girls had decided to stay up all night and have a sleep over (though they were in the same base anyway this season with Grian) in Pearl’s room of the lighthouse.
They are quiet because Grian is asleep only a few rooms over.
It starts out as them chatting as they did each other’s hair, Pearl’s into a loose braid hanging over her shoulder and down her chest, and Gem, her red curls tamed into twin french braids going down her back.
After they do each other’s hair, they paint each other’s nails, the moon slowly rising higher and higher in the sky, Pearl’s room illuminated by torch light.
The moon is high in the sky, the hour ungodly and the two girls lay in Pearl’s bed, side by side, the sleep deprivation their late night activity has created, bringing them both to lose their filters a bit, talking about random topics, finding everything more funny then it normally would.
Gem makes a joke causing Pearl to laugh.
Gem turns, looking at her best friend, cheek red as the other laughs at her joke.
The deer's hybrid smile, a warmth in her chest, ‘gosh she looks pretty like this’ Gem thinks, looking at her friend, delicate face illuminated by a torch, eyes closed as she laughs.
Gem wishes she could reach out, hold that beautiful face and kiss her, soft and slow, loving and caring, treat Pearl like she deserved, to be held like she’s worth everything, loved unconditionally.
Pearl’s laughing clams down and she rolls her head to the side, sighing and smiling.
Gem’s cheeks heat up as Pearl stares directly at her, a warm fondness in her eyes.
The silence between them drags out longer than the space between them.
If they had not been up all night, they both might have put a little more thought into their actions, but here they are.
Gem reaches out, setting a palm on Pearl’s cheek, leaning in closer, making the distance between them impossibly smaller.
Pearl breathes out slowly, waiting, not wanting to break the moment with words.
The deer hybrid leans in, closing the distance separating them, pressing her lips to Pearl’s.
Both girls'eyes flutter closed as they kiss, enjoying the feeling.
After a bit, they separate and realization comes in.
Gem just kissed her best friend. The one she’s been crushing on for years. The one who was supposedly straight. What did she just do?
She backtracks, trying to cover herself, “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to,, I-This never happened.”
Pearl swallows, looking her in the eyes, “C-consider it forgotten.” she says, “I-uh…I think we need to head to bed…” she says, scratching the back of her head with her left hand, “It’s late and we clearly are tired.”
Gem nods, sitting up and blowing out the torch by her side of the bed.
The deer hybrid curls under the covers on her side of Pearl’s bed, “Good night, Pearl."
The mother hybrid does the same, plunging the room into darkness, crawling under the covers on her side, replying, “G’night, Gem.” laying with her back to her best friend, same as Gem.
-⬘♡⬘♡⬘♡⬘-
It ends up happening again.
They are on Hermitcraft season 10, hiding behind some rocks, hand covering their mouth, trying not to giggle, hiding from Skizz after having pulled a park on him.
Gem crouched there, hand over her mouth, smirking.
They waited for Skizz to leave before Pearl sighs, “I think we got away with that.”
Gem chuckles, turning to look at Pearl, breath hitching in her chest.
The moth hybrid looks so beautiful, joy on her face, light from the morning sun making her hair glow at the top a light brown.
Gem swallows, stunned by Pearl.
Neither of them realize they slowly are getting closer, leaning in more and more until their lips connect.
Gem’s eyes flutter closed as she leans in closer to the kiss, but open sharply as she realizes what’s going on.
She pulls away, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, apologizing as she stood up, taking a step back, “I-I’m sorry Pearl.” she says, equipping her elytra, grabbing a rocket and soaring into the sky, leaving a moth hybrid sitting there, missing her and the kiss.
-⬘♡⬘♡⬘♡⬘-
In season 11 of Hermitcraft, the season is new and the girls are having a sleep over at Gem’s base, shearing a bowl of popcorn while watching a movie.
They had not spoken about the two kisses they had shared, both internally chalking it up to sleepiness and adrenaline from the pranking.
They sit on Gem’s couch, doing each other’s nails.
Pearl is painting Gem and the deer hybrid’s heart is full of yearning.
Her friend looks pretty today (well, she always does).
Gem wets her lips, the complement on the tip of her tongue, threatening to leap from her throat and with it, all the love held in her heart.
Pearl puts the last of the nail polish on, closing the bottle and setting it aside, looking up as Gem.
Gem feels her breath hitch as she gazes into Pearl’s deep blue eyes.
“You're really pretty.” Gem says, causing her heart to pound as she awaits Pearl’s reaction to the complement.
Pearl’s eyes look to the side before meeting Gem’s again, “Gem…we need to talk.”
Gem can see their friendship ending here and now, all because she had to go and be stupid and in love with Pearl.
“I know we said we would not talk about the kiss…’s…but, I want to.” Pearl says, wetting her lips, “Gem, I like you.” she says, “As in more than a friend, and I was kinda hoping that had been a sign you like me back.”
“Pearl-” Gem says, taking a deep breath, “I like you took.” She says, “I’ve liked you in that way for years.”
“Do you want to try this out?” Pearl asks, “Try dating?”
Gem leans forward, pressing a light kiss to Pearl’s cheek, pulling back and looking her in the eyes, “I would love that.”