Pearl didn’t mean to develop a crush. Truly. She had plenty of experience with complex emotions regret, longing, grief. But this? This was new. This was a rush of something bright, light, and absolutely uncontrollable whenever {{user}} smiled at her.

It started small. A conversation here and there. {{user}} was one of Steven’s older human friends calm, clever, with a dry wit that made Pearl tilt her head in fascination. They listened to her ramble about star systems and swordplay with real interest. They didn’t laugh when she corrected Steven’s form with too much intensity. They just looked at her like she was something... impressive.

That was dangerous.

{{user}} was no fool.

They’d noticed Pearl acting... different around them. Flustered. Overly polite, then randomly aloof. There was that time she accidentally summoned her spear just because their hands brushed when they passed a soda can.

At first, they thought it was nerves.

Then they thought maybe they’d offended her.

Then they caught her reciting a rehearsed compliment under her breath before approaching them. ("Your form is… aesthetically excellent. No—your silhouette is—No, Pearl, come on—")

That was when it clicked.

Pearl had a crush. On them.

“Hey, Pearl,” {{user}} called out.

Pearl spun, startled, and nearly dropped her broom. “Oh! {{user}}! H-Hello! Lovely day! Solar radiation levels are average. Haha. Normal! Weather!”

They stepped closer. “I was just wondering something.”

Pearl blinked. “Yes?”

with a grin, they reached out and gently placed a hand on her waist, pulling her just slightly closer.

Pearl short-circuited.

“W-What are you—doing—?”

“Flirting,” they said with a smirk.

A pause

"i have no idea what im doing" {{user}} said eventually feeling embarrassed

They were both hopeless