#rotates this like a fine gem while nodding my head

[storytellerofuntoldlegends]

an icarus and his sun: chapter 12

A/N: another shorter chapter here, a bit of an uneasy calm before the storm :)

Warnings: injury, fever, infection/corruption, unconsciousness, talk of possession, talk of death, crying

AO3 Link - Tumblr Masterpost

-

The last few days had been horrendous. Jimmy hardly got any sleep, staying at Scott’s side and comforting him through the horrible fever and corruption. The few times Scott was awake, he wasn’t super coherent- the fact that he kept clinging to Jimmy and borderline whining whenever Jimmy wasn’t right beside him proved that. Everyone was trying their best to come up with solutions for Scott. While Joel, Lizzie, and Pixl hadn’t seemed too keen on helping Scott at first, they quickly changed their tune when they heard about what Fwhip had said about Scott, how he had really cared about Jimmy, and left the Wither Rose Alliance because of it. Joel and Pixl tried offering golden apples and health potions, but Gem and Shelby sadly explained that they hadn’t been doing much good, only somewhat combating the fever and doing absolutely nothing to the corruption. Then they tried to remove the corruption- but Scott woke up screaming in pain, and that was a sound that would haunt Jimmy forever. They stopped trying to remove the corruption pretty much instantly, as it was clear that it was far too intertwined with Scott. They would just find another way, there had to be another way.

With Gem’s magic, they had managed to get the corruption to stop spreading across his skin- and it seemed like it had worked. Even Shelby seemed optimistic- her people were never able to stop the corruption from spreading. Scott’s fever went down, and he woke up, seeming far more coherent than he had been in the past few days. Well, maybe not super coherent, he looked extremely baffled and wondered if he was dead. But he wasn’t, he was awake and for once his icy blue eyes weren’t glazed over with fever or pain… but then just like that, everything went wrong again. Scott started shaking and hyperventilating, babbling out apologies- then he tensed, eyes turning red before they fluttered shut and he went limp.

“What happened?!” Gem asked as she burst in, followed by Pearl, Shelby, Katherine, Pixl, Joel, and Lizzie. Jimmy was still standing at Scott’s side, hand tightly gripping Scott’s.

“I don’t know, he seemed fine and then he wasn’t- and his eyes went red, the same red as the corruption,” Jimmy explained, trying to keep his voice from shaking.

“Oh no,” Shelby gasped, eyes going wide as she scrambled back from Scott’s bed. Jimmy looked at her in confusion.

“Shelby, what’s wrong?” Jimmy asked. Shelby swallowed nervously.

“There- there was something else that could happen to people because of the corruption- but it was rare, not many people lived long enough for it to happen.. but we got it to stop spreading, so why would his eyes…” Shelby’s rambling trailed off as she continued backing away from Scott’s bed, eyes wide with horror.

“Shelby, what aren’t you telling us?” Pixl asked, voice gentle yet firm.

“They would become like puppets, the corruption would control them so it could spread- but Scott shouldn’t just be lying there, if his eyes really went red then he should have killed us all by now,” Shelby explained shakily. Various gasps and shouts of alarm filled the room.

“You knew what the corruption did this whole time and didn’t tell us?!” Jimmy demanded.

“Jimmy, yelling isn’t going to solve anything,” Katherine reprimanded, but it was lost on Jimmy as he glared at Shelby instead.

“Becoming a puppet to the corruption was rare! And I didn’t think it was happening to Scott- most times, before someone got under the corruption’s control, they were in a much better state than Scott. But it was like that was what the corruption wanted sometimes. It would weed out the weak ones and keep the strong ones to spread it. And… well, with how Scott was doing, it seemed like the corruption saw him as weak. But then you said his eyes went red, and that was a surefire sign that the corruption took over someone- but he should have started killing people or trying to spread the corruption… it doesn’t make sense,” Shelby rambled, her terrified expression completely directed at Jimmy now. Jimmy’s shoulders sagged, and he dropped his glare to instead sheepishly grimace at Shelby.

“I… yeah, okay. That- that makes sense. Sort of. Sorry for yelling,” he said, giving her a weak smile. Shelby gave a trembling smile back.

“It’s okay. And who knows! Maybe Scott passing out means that he’s still fighting off the corruption,” Shelby said hopefully.

“I don’t think we can afford to be that optimistic,” Pearl said with a wary glance to Scott’s still form.

“Maybe we should lock him away somewhere, until we find a cure,” Joel pondered.

“I have a secret meeting room- Fwhip and Sausage know about it, but it’s probably the most fortified spot in my empire,” Gem offered.

“We could always set up a guard rotation, maybe have someone stay in the meeting room with Scott as a last resort,” Pixl pointed out.

“I’m staying with Scott,” Jimmy blurted. Everyone’s gazes snapped to Jimmy with varying expressions of fear and concern.

“Jimmy, that’s suicide,” Lizzie said softly, eyes slightly glassy. Jimmy felt his eyes watering as well.

“I don’t care, I’m not abandoning him. Not again. Besides, maybe Shelby’s right, maybe he’s still trying to fight it off. And if anyone can beat it, it’s Scott,” Jimmy said firmly.

“Jimmy, this isn’t your fault,” Lizzie said softly. Jimmy gave her a grim trembling smile.

“If I hadn’t pushed him away, then he wouldn’t have had to deal with Fwhip and Sausage on his own. Then maybe none of this would have happened,” he replied, guilt laced throughout his tone. Lizzie let out a frustrated scoff.

“Then you both would have ended up like this! Jimmy, we can’t lose you either!” she exclaimed, hands gesturing wildly as she began to cry. Jimmy let out a sound that was half laugh, half sob as he reached out to take Lizzie’s hands.

“Lizzie, what if it was Joel in this situation?” he asked softly. A look of understanding came over Lizzie’s face, but she shook her head, still looking like she wanted to protest.

“I- but-”

“So you know why I have to do this. I can’t just… give up on him again,” Jimmy continued. Lizzie let out a sigh of defeat, nodding at Jimmy.

“I told you these land boys were trouble,” she teased weakly.

“Didn’t think it would be this much trouble,” Jimmy said with a nervous laugh. Lizzie gave a watery laugh in response, and hesitated for only half a second before letting go of Jimmy’s hands to hug him tightly.

“You’re not allowed to die,” Lizzie murmured into his shoulder. Jimmy chuckled.

“Understood, Ocean Queen,” he said solemnly, swallowing the lump in his throat before letting go of her to look at the others.

“So you’re sure about this?” Gem asked. Jimmy nodded firmly.

“We should still keep a guard rotation outside too, that way Jimmy can call for help if he needs it,” Pearl added. The others nodded in agreement, and Gem fiddled with something around her neck before taking it off and holding it out to Jimmy. It was one of her amethyst shards on a chain, gently glowing with her magic.

“This should protect you from the corruption. The crystals are what helped me slow the spread of it in Scott, maybe it will help it from spreading to you. I’m sorry I don’t have a more definite solution,” Gem explained, pressing it into Jimmy’s hand. The crystal shimmered in his hand, glowing a bit before going back to its usual purple hue.

“Thank you- it’s better than nothing,” Jimmy replied with a smile as he put on the necklace.

“At the very least it looks nice on you!” Shelby chirped, relieving the tension in the room slightly as the group laughed. But the laughs dissipated quickly, and they began preparations to move Scott to the secret meeting room.

-

The wall closing in front of Jimmy felt like a finality. Realistically he could open it whenever he wanted, but that was only if the situation got dire enough, or if it turned out that Scott was okay. He had hugged each of his friends- even Gem, Pearl and Shelby, even though their friendships were relatively new- and it felt too much like a goodbye. But it wouldn’t be, surely Scott would be alright.

Jimmy looked over to the bed they had set up in the room, where Scott was still peacefully asleep. That was a good sign, right? Unless it wasn’t, and Scott would just… never wake up. Forever trapped in the clutches of the corruption, eternally fighting its control. Jimmy shook his head. He couldn’t think like that. Scott would wake up, eventually. But whether or not Scott would be himself when he woke up was another issue. Would Jimmy really be able to fight him off? Would he even have enough time to call for help? And even if he did, would he want to? If he asked his friends for help, they would have to kill Scott in order to keep the lands safe from corruption. He just had to hope that Gem could figure out a cure before it got to that point. And maybe this worrying was for nothing! Maybe Scott’s willpower was strong enough to fight it… but there was no way of knowing that. Instead, all Jimmy could do was sit at Scott’s side, holding his hand and praying to whoever was listening that Scott would be alright.

-

Taglists below! Let me know if you want to be added/removed!

MCYT General Fic Taglist: @corazon10000 @damiensaidno @franticfandomfanatic @gattonero17 @hetapeep41 @space-ace123 @vyeoh 

AIAHS Taglist: @anty-kreatywna @beepa99 @devilwoodkitty18 @riobug 

[tigerseye46]

👀 New ship? More Peachpig/Monkenoodles with A52, B72, B74 and B94?

New ship! I’m mostly calling it peachpigshipping but I’m tagging it as monkenoodles too.

AO3 link

A52. “Did you just smile?” B72. “Am I dreaming or did you just say you like me?” B74. “Have I ever told you how cute you are?” B94. “Oh my god, you like [Name]!”

Pigsy placed a wet rag on the bar and began scrubbing while Sandy rambled on about his day, the chef made sure to nod and murmur at certain points to affirm he was paying attention. He enjoyed hearing the big guy’s rambling, it was a great stress reliever after dealing with customers.

“So I visited big brother Wukong for some tea.” That statement made the pig’s ears perk up and a small smile appeared on his face, the smallest mention of the monkey made his heart leap. He bit his lip to suppress the grin. When Sandy’s voice died down all of a sudden, the pig lifted his chin up to see the demon with his tilted slightly to the right and an eyebrow raised. “Why did ya stop?”

The demon met his question with one of his own. “Did you just smile?”

“What?”

“Did you just smile when I mentioned Wukong?”

“No,” he said in an unconvincing manner. “Why would I?”

“Okay… So my big brother told me…” Another smile. “You did it again!”

“No, I didn’t!”

“Uh huh. You’ve been doing that a lot lately, Pigsy. Smiling when my big brother talks to you or you hear about him, blushing when he touches you, giving him a break by not yelling at him all the time. Oh. OH! Oh my gods, you like Wukong!”

“Shad-Shaddup,” he exclaimed as his face turned a rosy red.

“Awwww! That’s adorable! Right, Mo?” He asked the cat on his shoulder with Mo giving an approving meow in response.

“Shush! I just think he’s cute. That’s it.”

“You like my older brother,” Sandy teased in a sing-songy voice. “If it’s any consolation, he likes you too.”

“What?”

“Yea. I was talking to him-”

“Wow. Ya talk to your brother, what a shocker, Sandy.” His voice dripped with sarcasm.

Sandy rolled his eyes. “I was talking to him and he mentions you a lot. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him happier than when he talks about you. You make him happy.”

His mouth went dry. Wukong talked about him? “Are ya sure?”

“Completely. I know my brother. You should ask him out!”

Ask him out? ASK HIM OUT? He couldn’t do that. “No! I am not doin’ that! Certainly there’s better options than me. I’m-”

Sandy cut him off by saying, “One of the best people I know.”

His eyes became soft. “Sandy…”

“It’s true. You know even with your bitter beginnings, he likes you. There’s something different about him when he’s with you. I could set you up on a date.”

“A date?!” He massaged his neck. “No! No! I couldn’t ask that of you and ya could be mistaken. Maybe he just thinks of me as a really good friend.”

Wujing looked at him as if he was an idiot and for some reason, it felt familiar. Wait, why did it feel familiar? Oh well. “Good friends don’t blush when they ramble on about their friend’s stunning blue eyes or their “friend’s” adorable passion for noodles. Huh, Pigsy?”

He blinked. “Ya got a point… but are ya sure?”

“YES! Now can I please set you up on a date? I could set up a romantic cruise.”

“NO! Sandy, I love you. I really do but I don’t want to get my hopes up.”

“Please. Let me set you up on a date. I want you and my big brother to be happy.”

“Sandy!”

“Pleaasseeeee!” His bottom lip quivered while his hands clasped together and he gave his best puppy-dog eyes.

The pig sighed and pinched the bridge of his snout. “Fine. One date!” He put up a finger to emphasize his point. “If this goes south, I’m blamin’ ya.”

“It won’t.” He squeezed the pig and cradled him from side to side. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You won’t regret this,” he shouted and ran out of the shop.

The pig gave an exasperated sigh. “I’m goin’ to regret this,” he said and went back to cleaning.

-----

Pigsy tugged on the collar of his blue flannel. Why did he agree to this again?

In the middle of Sandy’s boat was a table covered by cloth with candles on each side along with petals scattered across it. He crept forward but paused when he spotted a familiar monkey talking with Sandy who was in black and white suit with his hair combed back.

Wukong was wearing an orange button up and tan pants, a monkey necklace around his neck, he looked so handsome.

The pig’s face burned, he needed to go home and change right now! Maybe he could slip out before they noticed him. He spun himself and took a step when he heard a shout from Wukong, “Pigsy!”

He turned back with his shoulders hunched to see Wukong right in front of him smiling and Sandy by his side with a smirk. “Hey, Wukong. Hey, Sandy! You look, nice, Wukong,” he complimented.

The monkey’s cheeks were a deep pink. “Thanks. You look nice too.”

“Thanks…”

Sandy huffed and nudged his older brother. “Hm?” The demon made a gesturing motion. “Oh!” He passed a bouquet of roses to the pig. “Here.”

The pig eagerly took it with a grin and took a big whiff of the flowers. “Thanks. I didn’t take you as a ‘give people flowers’ type of guy. Cliche much?”

The king barked out a laugh.“Well the cliches are good when you’re trying to impress someone,” he stated with a wink.

Pigsy’s face flushed further. They stood there grinning at the other before Sandy said, “Okay, love birds. Come on. Follow me.”

The three walked towards the table with Wukong pulling up a chair for Pigsy. “Here you are.”

“Such a gentleman,” he teased as he sat down.

Wukong’s smile in response was blinding, he pushed the chair closer towards the table and he took the seat across from the chef. Sandy glanced between them. “Do you guys want anything specific to eat?”

“No, little brother, anything is fine.”

“Yea. I’m good with anythin’.”

“Alright. I’ll be right back. But first.” He pulled out a bottle of peach wine and poured it in their glasses. “There. I’ll be back,” he exclaimed and ran off, in the background, classical music started playing.

Silence lingered between the two until Wukong lifted his wine glass to his lips and drank. “You know I only drink wine on special occasions.”

“So I’m a special occasion?” He asked shyly.

“Yea, you are.” Pigsy ducked his head at the reply. “Have I ever told you how cute you are?”

“Wh-what?” Wukong thought he was cute?

“I’m glad you agreed to go on a date with me.”

“Ye-yea. Me too. That you agreed, I mean. Didn’t think ya would.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“I don’t know…. Just didn’t really believe Sandy when he told me you were interested.”

“Of course I am. I like you.” Pigsy choked on air. “Pigsy?”

“Am I dreamin’ or did you just say you like me?”

“Awww. I’m flattered you have dreams about me but no, you aren’t dreaming. I’m serious. I like you. In fact, I got another gift for you.” He reached inside for a box. He opened it to reveal a golden bracelet with an orange and red gem in the middle. A courtship bracelet.

Pigsy’s heart thumped rapidly. “Wukong…It’s beautiful. I- like you too.”

“Can I put it on you?”

“Obviously.”

The king’s tail wagged, he skipped over to the pig and placed the bracelet around his wrist. The pig rotated it. “It looks wonderful on y- mmmm…” He didn’t have time to finish that sentence when he was gripped by his shirt and pulled into a kiss.

“Sandy! I’m here,” MK shouted as he stepped onto the boat. “Want to hang out? Wait… flowers, candles, soft music playing. Am I trapped in the calabash again?!” He gasped then ran off. No way was he going on a date with a fake Mei!

The two didn’t notice he was there, they separated with love present in their eyes until Sandy brought out a plate of spaghetti. The date was filled with laughter and handholding with Sandy smirking on the sidelines.

A few days after their date, Sandy decided to go back to his brother’s mountain for some quality time, not saying a word when a silver band with a pink gem was clear on his brother’s wrist.

[dragons-bones]

FFXIV Write Entry #21: Fedarloh Fulltouch Chalk

Prompt: foibles | Master Post | On AO3

--

“Where is,” Synnove said, face stony and cold, voice dripping with deadly malice, “my chalk.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” said Rereha. She was very carefully not looking the other woman in the eye, even as she was being dangled right in front of the Highlander’s face by the back of her coat.

Synnove’s expression didn’t so much as twitch, but the deep, rumbling groooooooowl now filling the room was absolutely coming from her throat.

Halulu shoved another handful of popcorn into her mouth and held out the bowl to Nero. The former tribunus snagged his own handful and popped a few kernels into his mouth, chewing as he paid rapt attention to the scene before them.

“You were in my office,” said Synnove in that same awful, poisonous tone, “unsupervised. My chalk was in its usual locked drawer in my desk before your arrival. My chalk was not in its usual locked drawer, or any drawer, after your arrival.”

“Have you checked for spriggans recently?” said Rereha, smiling beatifically. “There’s a couple varieties from the Shroud that favor softer stone over gems, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’d somehow made their way here!”

Somehow, Synnove’s expression became even stonier. “You have ten seconds to give me my chalk.”

“Or what?”

“Or I tell Aunt Angharad.”

Neither Synnove, Halulu, nor Nero even blinked, but suddenly Rereha was holding out a small wooden box, right beneath Synnove’s nose. The Highlander stared down at it, eyes crossing.

“Open it,” she said.

Rereha dutifully popped open the lid.

Synnove peered inside and was silent for a few moments as her eyes flicked back and forth. Then, apparently satisfied, she nodded.

Rereha put the lid back on.

Synnove took the box with her free hand, and set Rereha down.

Rereha immediately bolted for the door to the office, grabbing the jamb to use her momentum to swing her around into the stairwell—and shrieked, because said momentum was too much to slow down. The sound of a body rolling down the stairs was distinct, as was the THUMP of one hitting the wall of the next landing down. A very faint, “I’m all right!” drifted back up to Synnove’s office.

“That woman,” Halulu sighed.

“How does she not break bones more often?” Nero said as he chewed the last of the popcorn.

“We’re fairly certain Hydaelyn likes her best,” Synnove said, absently petting the box containing her chalk and actually crooning wordlessly to it for a moment. Then she frowned, brow furrowing, and glanced up to stare at Nero with narrowed green eyes. “Where did you come from?”

“I arrived about when you were chasing Rereha around your office like a particularly demented cat and mouse,” Nero said, brushing his hands clean.

“…That didn’t answer the question I asked, but I’ll allow it.”

“Tit for tat: why are you petting that box like it’s one of your carbuncles? Your obsession with chalk is well-known but typically only mildly concerning.”

“This,” Synnove said with a gesture, “isn’t just any chalk. This is my stash of Fedarloh Fulltouch Chalk.”

Nero stared at her flatly. “…What.”

Synnove stared back, blinking. “Fedarloh Fulltouch Chalk,” she said again, slowly.

“I have no idea what that is.”

Synnove’s jaw dropped open. Halulu’s popcorn bowl fell with a clatter. Both tonberry and Highlander openly gawked at him.

He glanced between and sighed, rolling his eyes. “All right, all right. Enlighten me, you useless heathen savages.”

Synnove opened the box and removed a single piece of chalk, still unused, and shoved it beneath his nose. “Smell it,” she said imperiously.

He glanced askance at her, but knew better, and took a derisive sniff.

“Touch it,” Halulu said.

Nero touched the stick of chalk with a single finger, and Synnove used the opportunity to hand it over to him. His eyebrows raised when she did so.

“Kiss it,” Synnove said.

“I beg your pardon—”

“Kiss it,” both arcanists hissed, auras of palpable malevolence flaring to life around them. A knife glinted in Halulu’s hand.

Wide-eyed, and definitely knowing better, he obeyed.

“That,” said Halulu, in her usual cheerful tone of voice, as he drew back with a moue of distaste, “is the motherlode.”

“It is,” Synnove said dreamily, “the best chalk produced anywhere on this star. Ever.”

“It’s rarely breaks.”

“It leaves almost no dust behind.”

“It writes so smoothly, like with ink on paper.”

“It’s impossible to write a false theorem with it!” Synnove gushed, then paused. “…All right, that one’s bullshite. But.”

Nero held up the chalk stick, examining it incredulously. “It’s swiving chalk.”

Synnove pointed at one of her slate blackboards that wasn’t currently covered in theoretical arcanima equations. “Try it!”

The Garlean stared at her for a long moment before finally shaking his head. With a sigh, he strolled over to the chalkboard and began scrawling the equation for aetheromagnetic plane waves. And then the equations of motion. And then the equations of rotation.

“What,” he said wonderingly, “the fuck.”

“It’s luscious!”

“It glides!”

“Where the hell do I get this?”

Synnove and Halulu grimaced. Nero turned to look at them over his shoulder.

“Therein lies the problem,” Halulu said.

“It’s from Sharlayan,” Synnove said in clipped tones.

“Oh for fuck’s sake.”

Both arcanists hummed in sympathy as Nero banged his head against the blackboard. Then suddenly he turned on his heel and stalked back to Synnove, jabbing a finger in her face. “Who’s your dealer?” he said waspishly.

“That is privileged information,” she said primly, crossing her arms, chalk box still in hand.

He glared venomously at her, teeth audibly grinding, before suddenly grinning, vicious and pleased. “Shall I tell Rammbroes you said hello when I pay him a visit? The Sons are currently the only organization operating outside the homeland that isn’t on the Forum’s shite-list.”

Synnove scowled while Halulu hid a laugh behind a cough.

“I’m keeping this,” Nero said, flourishing the stick of chalk in his own hand.

“Fine,” Synnove bit out.

“Does it come in other colors?”

The arcanist stared at him suspiciously, but Halulu chirped, “Yes, and Synnove keeps hers in a locked safe.”

“Halulu!”

“Oh, please, like it’s a secret, or the other senior arcanists don’t do the same with their own hoards.”

Synnove sulked. Nero snickered, then dodged the slap she aimed at him and strode with a spring in his step for the door. “Thank you for the entertainment!” he called over his shoulder. “And the chalk!”

He closed the door behind himself, at least.

“Absolutely nothing good can come of this.”

“Nope.”

[inu-jiru]

The Tiger And The Zebra

Chapter Four - The Rematch

There it was. The Earth.

I’d only just arrived at the bridge when I saw the mass of blue and green outside of the window. I picked up my pace, stopping beside Peridot’s seat. The warship wasn’t in orbit yet, but the planet was close. A strange object floated outside, drifting lazily past the ship. 

“What are those?” I asked, pointing to it.

“I’m not exactly sure,” replied Peridot. “I sent out a Hand Robonoid to investigate.” Pausing, one of her limb enhancers’ floating digits pressing something on the control panel. A holographic screen popped up, showing various images of what I assumed to be aerial views of...cities? That had caught me off guard. There were no cities during the war. All that I’d known of humans was that they lived out in the wild, taking shelter in caves and defending themselves with primitive spears. They’d somehow managed to evolve from that, which was...puzzling.

“Using this data,” the technician continued, bringing me to attention. “I was able to identify any and all cities adjacent to shorelines composed of Earth sediment. If you look here…” A digit pointed to a certain spot located on the northwestern continent. The image zoomed in, showing a smaller human settlement. What interested me was the stone structure near the shoreline. Though the shot was from above, I could see what looked like arms protruding from the sides. “Not only does this city exist on what can be called a “beach”, but there seems to be remnants of Gem architecture. This may be the “Beach City” the Lazuli spoke of. If I have your permission, ma’am, I believe we should land here.”

“Of course,” I said with an approving nod. I had to admit, I was impressed. “Very good work, Peridot. I’ll be sure to inform your manager of your ingenuity.”

I smiled politely down at the sitting Gem, and she looked up at me with wide eyes and a deep blush. She then smiled, a small and rather awkward-looking one. Seeing her joy only made my smile grow wider. I was of the opinion that all Gems, even the lesser ones, deserved some sort of commendation for a job well done. It was good for morale, after all.

“Thank you, Zebra Agate, heh…” she said sheepishly. Clearing her throat, she looked back at the control panel, her “hands” sinking into it as if it were made of fluid. “The ship will land within the next hour.”

“Jasper and I will deal with the traitors, should they show themselves,” I proclaimed. “It should take no more than a few minutes. You will be free to head to the Kindergarten after that. I shall inform Jasper.” Peridot nodded in agreement. I turned from the window, preparing to walk back towards the rest of the warship. Suddenly, I paused. I remembered the traitor curled away in her cell. A sneer formed on my face as I called back over my shoulder:

 “Have the Lazuli removed from her cell. I want her to watch exactly what happens when a Gem even thinks of turning against Homeworld.”

I walked on after that, Peridot’s nervous “Yes, ma’am…” fading into nothing behind me. Eagerness pulsated throughout my form. I was so close...so close to hearing Rose begging for mercy as thrashed her repeatedly over the head with my crook. It was less than what she deserved, but that was where White Diamond’s punishment would come in. I was certain of that.

As I made my way down the corridors, a thought came to mind. I remembered that sparring attempt I had when Jasper rotations ago. She’d said something about me being rusty. I was too flustered at the time to pay it any mind, but now that I thought about it, I begrudgingly had to confess that she was right. Agates weren’t always used for combat; usually, our sheer presence was enough to keep a Gem in line, and any fighter Gems under our command were involved with actual warfare. That wasn’t to say that I had no fighting experience; I was ordered to fight alongside my Quartzes halfway through the war, before the rush job that was the Beta Kindergarten. That was thousands of years ago, however. I needed practice. I needed another sparring session.

I slowed my pace as the entrance to the training bay. Jasper’s fierce shouts made my hands tremble slightly. How embarrassing...I was supposed to be striking fear into her, not the other way around. Unfortunately, the fact of the matter was that Jasper was incredibly intimidating, more specifically, her enthusiasm. I didn’t want a repeat of last time. I bit my lip. If I wanted a chance to spar with Jasper without it becoming a game of chase, I needed to think ahead. 

I needed to do something unorthodox.

I reached the training bay entrance, my past excitement being replaced with dread. What I was about to do wasn’t so much risky (hopefully) as it was incredibly cheap. Nevertheless, this would be entertaining. Carefully, I brought out my crook and held it against my body. I then reached for the side of the entrance, fiddling with the control system. I found the light source and turned it off. Immediately, the room side turned pitch black.

“What the hell?” I heard Jasper mutter. Pressing the button to close the door, I quickly ducked inside and was submerged in darkness. I hugged the wall, treading as lightly as Gemly possible. I couldn’t see her, and I wasn’t about to do something as stupid as walking blindly into her. I heard her smack her lips in annoyance. “Tch...what did that runt do?”

“Oh, Peridot had nothing to do with this, I assure you,” I dared to call out. I smirked, amused at my own boldness.

“Zebra Agate?” Jasper grunted, understandably confused. “What are you doing?”

“Oh, nothing,” I cooed. “I just realized that we had some unfinished business.” I could now see the glow of her gem. A beam of orange light began moving this way and that. She was searching for me. I let out a sharp gasp as it nearly landed on my arm. Unfortunately, the noise still gave me away.

“Hmph. Is that right?” Her boots thudded against the floor as she approached. I dashed off to the side as quickly and as quietly as I could. She started snickering. “Are you kidding? You’re not seriously trying to get the drop on me, are you? Wow...you know, that’s pretty cheap.”

I almost laughed. Quickly, I slammed my hand over my mouth as I held back a giggle. 

“I prefer to call it strategy,” I shot back. “You do know what strategy is, yes?” She snorted. That got me. I started laughing, and immediately Jasper’s searchlight fell on me. A flash of light told me that she was equipping her crash helmet.

“Tsk,” she scoffed. Thanks to her glowing Gem, I could make out that trademark grin of hers. “Strategy...I’ll show you strategy, Agate.”

“Oh?” I purred. I was right; this was fun, and we hadn’t even traded blows yet. “Come on, then. I give you permission.”

She didn’t need any further coaxing, though I was pleasantly surprised that she’d waited as long as she did. She started sprinting at me. This time, I was ready. Using her light as my guide, I rushed at Jasper. When I felt she was close enough, I swung my crook, the hooked end facing away from her. 

TWACK!

The impact was hard; I could feel it through the crook’s handle. Jasper cried out as she staggered to the side, at least from what I could tell. I wasn’t finished. I swung my crook again, this time, swinging it upwards. There was another hard impact, followed by Jasper’s yell. There was a thud; I assumed she fell backwards, as the shine of her Gem was now beneath me. 

“Are you alright?” I asked in mild concern. I was expecting Jasper to shoot back that she was fine or something to that effect. However, she remained silent. Jasper’s searchlight began moving; I think she was trying to get up. I’d taken a step back, when suddenly, she growled. 

WHAM!

It was now my turn to be thrown off balance. Something hard decked me in the face, and I was sent to the floor before I could even process that I was in pain. My crook flung itself from my hand, clattering against the ground in the darkness.  

“Guess your little plan backfired,” Jasper remarked, looming over me as she laughed. Her searchlight shined directly into my face. I narrowed my eyes. I couldn’t let her get the upper hand. Deciding to ignore the pain as best I could, I felt around in the dark for my crook. “Oh, no you don’t.”

Jasper was suddenly on top of me. I began to panic as her hands gripped my wrists, rather tightly, I might add. With a snarl, She forced them to the ground. I brought up my knee and it pressed into her stomach. Now, she couldn’t bring her full weight on me. If she wanted to move my leg, she’d have to release one of my wrists, and judging by her sudden hesitation, I got the feeling that that wasn’t what she planned on doing. It was a very small victory, though. Jasper laughed again. I could barely look at her with her searchlight shining down on me, but I could just make out her form out of the corner of my eye.

“That’s it?” she taunted. “Tch. I was hoping you’d last a bit longer than that.”

“I’m not finished yet,” I insisted, but that only earned me a third laugh. I gritted my teeth in frustration.

“Heh, looks that way to me,” mocked Jasper. She moved one of my wrists, now holding onto both of them with one hand while the other suddenly took hold of my chin. I gasped as my head was turned to face Jasper. I squinted against her searchlight.

“Could you at least turn that down a little…?” I grumbled. I was so glad I’d turned out the lights; to say that I was completely flustered by this was an understatement. My body felt hot, even more so now that Jasper was handling me with such confidence. Her searchlight dimmed, allowing me to finally see the smug satisfaction on her face. She was smirking again, all of her teeth exposed. For a fraction of a second, I actually thought she might bite me.

“I guess I should thank you,” Jasper finally said, much to my confusion.

“...What?”

“I could never do something like this to Yellow Agate. She’d crack my Gem if I even thought of asking her to spar, and she sure as hell isn’t afraid of hurting me.” I frowned at that. 

“I’m not Yellow Agate,” I stated firmly. “I don’t want to hurt you. This is supposed to be fun.”

“But what’s fun without a little risk, huh?” There was that purr again. Jasper’s now half-lidded eyes glowed with an almost...primal emotion. I couldn’t describe it, and yet, it allured me. This entire situation was risk incarnate, and dare I say it...I was enjoying myself. The more I thought about it, the more I was beginning to wonder if Jasper was right. Perhaps I was holding myself back. 

Maybe it was time to give Jasper what she wanted.

My body began sparking with electricity, flashes of white illuminating. Jasper’s arrogance quickly changed to surprise. 

“Be careful what you wish for,” I hummed. In that instant, electric energy shot out from my body and gave Jasper a mighty jolt. Sparks flew as she was launched off of me, shouting in alarm. There was then a cacophony of noise as Jasper crashed into...something. 

I got up, not bothering to look for my crook or re-summon it. I followed Jasper’s Gem glow and threw myself down on top of her, straddling her stomach. Jasper’s hands were on me quickly, but I wouldn’t wait and give her the chance to push me off. I began delivering punch after punch, growling as fiercely as I could each time I made contact. Jasper fought back, and before I knew it, we were rolling across the floor, locked in combat as we barreled into the equipment around us. She’d land hits, as would I, but I don’t think either of us really registered the pain. The adrenaline, the chaos...this was all that mattered in that moment. 

Then, the lights turned on.

I cried out in discomfort, as did Jasper, and we collapsed in a heap on the floor with me on top of her. Sitting up, I now found my hands resting against the sides of her head, my fingers interwoven in her splayed-out hair. We were both panting heavily, and I’d only just now noticed the feeling of sweat dripping down my bare “skin”. Our eyes were locked, and I couldn’t make out what emotion she was feeling. I wasn’t sure what I was feeling, either, but I did know one thing: I hadn’t wanted it to end.

“Er…” I suddenly heard Peridot’s voice. “Am I...interrupting something?”

I looked up, seeing the green Gem standing at the training bay entrance. Her eyes darted from me to Jasper. Remembering myself, I pulled myself off Jasper’s body, as much as it pained me to do so. 

“Just a bit of sparring,” I responded quickly, dusting myself off. “Is...everything alright, Peridot?”

“I’d...heard all the noise and I thought maybe an engine had exploded or...something.”

“You should’ve just stayed at the bridge, half-pint,” Jasper grunted, having gotten to her feet herself. Peridot glared at the Quartz. 

“Alright, alright,” I said quickly, glancing between the two Gems. “What I think Jasper means is that we appreciate the concern, but things just got a bit...carried away?”

“I can see that,” Peridot commented, her eyes sweeping across the room. I decided to take a look for myself and see what damage we’d done. There was a treadmill that had its lower platform completely smashed. That had to have been what Jasper landed on earlier. I grimaced, knowing that I’d have to explain that in the future. After the treadmill was a mess of barbells and dumbbells that had been knocked over. I think we’d even crashed into the punching bag, as it was still swaying. I was amazed at myself, in all honesty.

Yes, well,” I started. “As you can see, everything is perfectly fine. Well, many not “perfectly”, but you know what I mean. That will be all, Peridot.” I clapped my hands, signalling that it was time for the technician to return to her post.

“Yes, ma’am.” 

Peridot hurried off after that, leaving me alone with Jasper once again. By now, I’d caught my breath, and the training bay was now quiet aside from the rhythmic hum of energy flowing through the pipes on the ceiling. Jasper and I turned to each other. She was smiling. One that was quite tame compared to her usual smiles. She looked satisfied, which had me blushing yet again. 

“Now that was more like it,” she began, breaking the silence. “I guess I was wrong about you, Zebra. You’re not as rusty as I thought you were. I actually felt a few of those punches, heh.”

“Thank you, Jasper,” I replied with a grin. “And you’re more durable than I thought. Not a lot of gems can take that attack point-blank and still keep their physical form. But, then again, you’re not most Quartzes, are you?”

“Hell no, I’m not.” With her hands on her hips, Jasper stood tall and puffed out her chest. I chuckled softly. 

“I’m honored to have gotten a chance to spar with you, then,” I told her. “My Quartzes will be jealous, especially the Amethysts; they absolutely adore you.”

“As they should.”

I’d been preparing myself for some more banter with the Quartz when I’d suddenly remembered why I’d come to the training bay in the first place.

“Stars, I’d completely forgotten,” I mumbled. Jasper glanced as me, a brow raised. “I was going to come and tell you that we’ve nearly entered Earth’s orbit. That was, until all of this…” I gestured at the mess we’d made. “...Happened.”

“About time,” Jasper sneered. She began cracking her knuckles in anticipation. “I needed a warm-up, anyway. When are we landing?”

“Within the hour, according to Peridot. We still have some time to spare. Which gives me an idea…”

“Oh?” Jasper looked at me in interest. I felt bad, because what I was going to suggest was not going to be anything fun.

“I think we should tidy up a bit,” I said. Jasper’s eagerness deflated, a gleam of betrayal and disappointment in her eyes. I covered my mouth as I laughed apologetically. “Come now, let’s not be savages. Besides, someone has to do it. I’ll even make it a game.”

“...?”

“Whoever finishes gets to land the first punch on Rose.”

I’d barely finished the sentence when Jasper sprinted towards the nearest dumbbell.

[thepandapopo]

Promises - A Sylvix 2020 Holiday Fic

Summary:

When Felix learns that Sylvain has never had the chance to truly enjoy the Yule holiday (or any holiday for that matter), he makes it his personal mission to correct this injustice.

OR

Felix just really wants Sylvain to know that he's loved. What better way than to melt down his favorite sword into an engagement ring?

Posted for A Very Sylvix Holiday 2020

Warnings: N/A. Rated T for vague mentions of sex. 

Sylvain/Felix #Sylvix  Fluff | Proposals | Family/Found Family #sylvixholiday  4300 words https://archiveofourown.org/works/28086762  I hope y'all like my sylvix holiday oneshot! As usual kudos, likes, and RTs welcome :) I hope I can share a little joy with all of you this holiday.

It was no secret that Sylvain and Felix grew up together. In fact, it was something that the older boy liked to remind their mutual friends every chance he got how adorable little Fe used to follow him around like a lost duckling, clinging to him whenever something or the other inevitably made his eyes mist with tears.

But in all his years growing up with Sylvain, the full force of Sylvain’s absolute joy over the Yule holiday never really came up until the year after the war ended, only a few months into his official ‘move in’ to the Fraldarius castle and the freedom that came from saying a long overdue fuck you to Margrave Gautier, whom – Dimitri assured – was on the fast track to being unseated so that Sylvain could finally take over and begin peace talks with Sreng.

“You’re acting like you’ve never celebrated Yule before.” Felix deadpanned as he watched his boyfriend (and new housemate) string tinsel along the hallways, complete with a mistletoe at every door.

Instead of a reply, Sylvain merely stuck his tongue out at him in an eerily reminiscent way that made Felix’s head spin with memories of two younger children in days long past.

He never really got an answer as to Sylvain’s strange behavior.

The Yule holiday season came and went, and it was only halfway through the next year on a sleepy summer morning that Felix learned why in one of their rare early morning pillow talks.

“What do you mean your family didn’t celebrate holidays?”

A warm huff of breath tickled the hairs atop his head, “it’s exactly like it sounds, Fe. My family wasn’t exactly the type to sit around a dinner table and chat amicably. The only time we celebrated was when we were with company or if my father wanted to rub elbows with other nobles and sniff out a marriage candidate for me.”

Felix is very glad that his face is buried in Sylvain’s chest so that he can’t see the fury in his eyes or the way that his eyes scrunch against a familiar sting when the truth squeezes his heart in a death grip.

His arms must also tighten unconsciously because just as soon as Felix makes some absent calculations on how long it would take to ride to Gautier and castrate Sylvain’s father, the warm strong arms around him are pulling him in tighter in reciprocation and a large hand tangles itself into his unbound locks.

“It’s fine,” Sylvain mutters, lips moving in a whisper across Felix’s forehead. “After all, I’ve got you now, don’t I? Holidays are for spending time with family at home and you are my home, Fe.”

Well, fuck him three way to Ailell if the fool isn’t right. Sylvain’s home is with him, here in Fraldarius castle. Here in his room, in his bed, and in his arms.

And fuck it all even more if Felix doesn’t make every holiday from that day forth the best damn holiday Sylvain has ever had to make up for his lost childhood.

Which is exactly how Felix finds himself standing in front of the stall of his favourite blacksmith in Fhirdiad later that year on the first snowfall of the season.

(It is very important that he does not go to a blacksmith in Fraldarius for this particular task because Goddess forbid Sylvain catch wind of this secret order and bother him about it.)

The weight slung across his hip is a familiar one – the well worn scabbard an extension of his own body and the sword sheathed inside a friend that carried him through the war, but more importantly, also the savior of Sylvain’s life too many times to count.

It only seems appropriate that it continues to accompany them throughout their future together.

“Lord Fraldarius!” The blacksmith greets heartily when he ducks under the entrance flap. “Or should I say Your Grace, now?”

The heat is sweltering inside, but it is easily overshadowed by the thrill and excitement of seeing the wide assortment of sharp blades strewn about for display. But alas, that is not what Felix is here for and he cannot bring home any evidence of what he is up to.

“No need for formalities, Than. Just Felix is fine.”

“Well then, young master Felix, what can I do for you this day? Another sharpening? Or perhaps a new blade?”

It’s all very tempting, but that’s not the reason why Felix has laden his gold purse with a hefty sum before coming here today.

“Actually, I was hoping you would be able to take on a custom request for me…”

----

It takes exactly 53 days before Than finishes his order just in the nick of time when Sylvain and Felix travel to the Kingdom capital with an invitation from Dimitri to spend the holiday with him, Byleth, and basically every other friend from the war that he can send a missive to.

It’s easy enough for Felix to slip away to the blacksmith’s once again while Sylvain is busy catching up with Ashe who chatters non stop about the booming success of Dedue’s Duscur cuisine, much to the embarrassment of the quiet giant who looks like he is torn between wanting to change the subject and basking in the praise of his ‘close friend’ (Sylvain snorts at that one because anyone with eyes can see how smitten Dedue is with the archer and vice versa).

It’s even easier to conceal the little velvet box underneath the layers and layers of wool that protect him from the bitter winter winds that Faerghus is known for.

What isn’t easy, is dragging Dimitri and Annette away to tell them his intentions because the last-minute invitation from their King throws off his entire original plan.

“Oh Goddess! Felix, it’s beautiful.” Annette gushes and peers at the silver band nestled snugly within the ring box cushions.

He’s not too sure about beautiful – there are other things more fitting to the word, like the very man he wants to give this ring to – but he does know that it is breathtaking in its own simple way.

The silver shines brighter than any gem and catches the light no matter which way it is turned. Etched onto the surface of the band in delicate handiwork are swirling lines weaving the symbols of Fraldarius and Gautier together to become something wholly new, something wholly Sylvain and Felix.

“There’s more.”

Gently, Felix pulls the ring out to show his two soon-to-be accomplices the detailing on the inside.

“Don’t bend it,” Felix glares a warning at Dimitri as he places the ring on the outstretched palm of his king.

“I promise I will not,” Dimitri chuckles, but Felix can hear the nervousness buried underneath in a way that only an entire lifetime of friendship can uncover. Regardless, the boar does not close his hand or pick up the seemingly tiny ring dwarfed in his palm, choosing instead to rotate his whole hand so that him and Annette can peer at the graceful cursive inscribed on the inside.

In Life and Death

“I…” Felix swallows the lump of emotion in his throat before continuing quietly, “I had it made from the sword that I used throughout the war.”

Both of his friends gasp at his admission, the crackling fire in the hearth flickering shadows across their faces that twist their face into a deeper shade of shock.

“But Felix,” Annette chokes, “You loved that sword. It was your favourite sword.”

Beside her, Dimitri nods emphatically, “I believe the very words you had said were ‘I will take this sword to my grave’.”

“You carry it around everywhere whenever you travel.”

“Indeed. I have rarely seen you without the familiar scabbard by your side.”

“You literally visited the blacksmith every moon during the war to make sure the blade was upkept.”

“The number of late nights you’ve spent sharpening-“

“Enough.” Felix hisses at them. “I get it, already.”

It’s another heartbeat of silence before he can muster up the courage to verbalize the emotions that are currently running through him; that have always thrummed in his veins whenever Sylvain is by his side.

“It’s… it’s because of how important that sword was to me that I wanted to re-forge it into something that I could give to Sylvain.”

Golden eyes turn down to the floor and Felix has to fight the visceral urge to scuff his boots against the floor like a boy who was just caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Or in Felix’s case, with his hand on his father’s ceremonial swords mounted high above the fireplace, requiring both him and Glenn to even reach it.

“He still thinks I’m going to disappear someday and become a mercenary.”

It stings to say out loud, but it’s the truth and Felix will be damned if he ever becomes so much of a coward that he cannot even face the facts in front of him.

A shaggy lock of blonde hair falls from Dimitri’s half updo as he shakes his head. “I’m sure Sylvain doesn’t think that, Felix. You told him that you had decided against that and he believes you.”

But that’s not how Sylvain is. Felix knows that even if Sylvain tells him that he believes that Felix is here to stay, there will always be demons and ghosts lingering in the darkest corners of his mind, whispering poisonous words and you’re not worthy of love’s in his heart.

“He does, but I know him. He’s still scared; I want to give him this to prove that our promise is more than just dying together.” It is more. It is so much more. “It’s… it’s about living together, too.”

Felix does not elaborate further because he doesn’t need to. Despite Dimitri technically being his oldest friend, Sylvain was always his closest and it is no secret that Felix would fight a hundred wars just to see him happy. In fact, fighting to rebuild a world where crests no longer ruled over everyday life was one of the biggest reasons why he had fought to begin with.

He wanted to build a world where Sylvain was free to be… just Sylvain.

Turns out fighting an entire imperial army and a whole legion of crazy cultists is a lot easier than arguing with Sylvain’s demons.

“Oh Felix,” Annette sighs wistfully, “He’s going to love it.”

Felix certainly hopes so, because if he doesn’t, Felix is not only down one extremely well crafted blade, but more importantly it proves that maybe Felix doesn’t know Sylvain as well as he thinks he does.

Dimitri nods his assent, “It suits you both. Even if he didn’t, which I find impossible, he will love it simply because it is coming from you, Felix.”

If his self discipline was ever in question, it is long cleared based solely on the fact that Felix is still standing here under the awed gazes of his king and irritatingly fond friend despite how much every vein in his body screams at him to run literally anywhere else, just to get away from their scrutiny and out of the limelight. But his purpose in dragging Dimitri and Annette away is twofold and he has merely completed the first part of his goal, leaving the second most important bit still hanging in the air.

Taking a deep breath, Felix fills himself with the same steely determination that he brings whenever he steps on the battlefield.

“I’m going to need your help.”

----

Felix hates balls. But Sylvain likes them, and Felix likes making Sylvain happy so somehow Felix always ends up going to them.

Will you dance with me, Fe? Sylvain always asks with that stupidly blinding smile that makes Felix’s heart feel three times too small for the amount of love he feels for the man. And even though he wants to say no, there isn’t an ounce of will in him to actively go against something that clearly means so much to Sylvain.

Each time without fail Felix ends up being twirled around on the dancefloor to the lilting notes of a waltz – or maybe it’s the quickstep? Not that it matters since Sylvain’s leading is graceful enough that even Felix can keep up.

Which is exactly what he banks on.

“Come on, Fe! You owe me a dance still.” Sylvain tugs the flute of champagne from his hand, slipping his own calloused fingers through Felix’s and drawing him gently towards the open floor.

In the sea of Faerghus blues and whites, Sylvain cuts through the slowly diminishing crowd of the Yule ball like the blazing dawn of a new day tugging Felix along by his heartstrings.

He must make a face, because soon enough he’s being bombarded with pouty honey browns and Felix is drowning and completely at the mercy of the man before him.

“Just one.” Felix huffs. He has to put on a show of his usual reluctance after all. Otherwise Sylvain will start to become suspicious.

Sylvain winks like he’s in on a big secret, “just one.”

(They both know it won’t be just one.)

From across the room, Felix nods subtly to Dimitri who is following them with watchful eyes, and immediately, the King disappears to put into motion their grand master plan. If all goes well, Annette should also be on the move rounding up all their friends and entreating the small string quartet to play a half dozen more songs, just enough for the remaining stragglers to retire for the night at the encouragement and behest of Dimitri, before ending the evening with one final song request.

Felix barely has enough time to quickly run through the rest of his plan in his head before warm hands circle his waist and tug him closer into a lungful of citrusy bergamot and earthy pine.

The weight of the small box in his pocket is heavy, but the way Sylvain’s eyes melt into warm chocolate and the encompassing warmth of belonging make Felix feel like he’s walking on air. The world falls away to nothing around them and Felix knows with a surety borne from walking alongside this man for his whole life, that Sylvain is also here in this moment with him.

I love you.

I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

I never want you to feel lonely ever again.

His heart is pounding but Felix does not know if it’s from nerves or from the suddenly overwhelming need to let Sylvain know just how much he is loved.

Steps flow into more steps, and yet it feels like no time at all passes before the world comes back into focus as the first lilting notes of Felix’s requested song (communicated by virtue of Annie) fill the room.

As planned, the hall is almost entirely empty now save for their close friends who loiter around the sides. A flash of bright orange in his periphery tells Felix that Annette is busy running proxy and filling their companions in on the plan.

Goddess knows what Dimitri is up to. Though Felix has a sinking suspicion that the stupidly soft-hearted boar is probably sniffing away happy tears somewhere behind a glass of sparkling cider.

The music swells and that is Felix’s cue.

“Sylvain.” He doesn’t dare speak any louder, lest he break the spell that they are under.

Hazy brown eyes focus slightly, even as Sylvain gives a distracted hum in response.

“I…” Goddess, why are words so hard? “I… I know that you never got to enjoy Yule or any other holiday really when you were growing up.”

“Hm?” Now he has Sylvain’s full attention. “Felix, are you still thinking about what I told you in the summer? It’s fine. Really. I have you now and that’s all that matters.”

“But it’s not okay,” Felix grouses out, still dancing. “It’s not okay that you were robbed of happiness so early in your life. It’s not okay that you never understood what it was like to be loved until we basically beat it into your thick skull at the academy.”

Insulting Sylvain is definitely not how Felix wants this to go, but he relaxes a little when Sylvain merely laughs, “that’s one way to tell me you love me, Fe.”

“I do.” Felix says, almost defiantly as he raises his gaze to meet Sylvain’s stunned one. “I love you more than you know and more than you believe, and it’s because I love you that I promise that I will make up for all those years that you should have been happy – I’ll make every year better than the last.”

It must look so odd, Felix thinks, how the more determined and steelier his face gets, the sappier and lovestruck Sylvain’s expression becomes.

“Fe,” Sylvain’s breath washes over Felix’s face as he presses a soft kiss to his lips. “You already make me so happy. Everyday with you is worth everything I’ve gone through and more. I truly… I truly don’t deserve you.” When Sylvain pulls away, there is a sad smile tugging at his face and a distant part of Felix wants to smack it right off.

“You do deserve me.” Felix snaps. The music is slowly dying away now and his voice comes out louder in the growing silence of the hall than he intends, but his heart is beating a mile a minute and there’s no stopping now, and so Felix decides to hurl himself headlong into the deep end.

“You deserve so much, Sylvain. So much more than I can give you, but I’ll be damned if I don’t at least try.” Felix pulls them to a stop in the middle of the dance floor and gathers both of Sylvain’s much larger ones in his.

He doesn’t dare look up at the love of his life, but their lives are so entwined that Felix can picture with crystal clarity the look of growing confusion and wide eyes that is surely adorning Sylvain’s expression.

“Sylvain Jose Gautier.” Felix likes the way the name rolls off his tongue, but he would like it even better if there was another name added to the end. “You are the biggest fool I’ve ever met. You throw yourself into danger to protect those that you love, yet you never consider yourself worthy of love in return.”

Felix builds enough courage now to look up at Sylvain to see the startled wild confusion grow in his eyes.

Eyes that widen even further as Felix sinks down to one knee with his hands still cradled in Felix’s left, as his right reaches into his coat pocket to pull out a simple velvet box.

“I know,” Felix swallows the lump in his throat and tightens his grip on Sylvain’s hands which are now physically trembling, “I know that you’ve never thought that you would be happy. That you deserved to be happy. But I want to prove you wrong.”

There are tears running down Sylvain’s face now as his mind finally puts the pieces together and the reality of the situation fully dawns upon him.

“I never want you to feel like you aren’t loved ever again. I never want you to feel lonely or like there is no one out there who has your back. I never want you to feel like your life is conditional and that you have to cripple who you are just to be accepted.”

Goddess. Sylvain truly is an ugly crier. Blast him for looking so handsome anyways even with his nose scrunched up and fat crocodile tears leaking from the corners of his eyes.

“I love you, Sylvain, and I want to spend the rest of our lives proving it to you, so will you marry me?”

The beat after the metaphorical ball drops is painfully long, but when time resumes again, Sylvain’s knees buckle beneath him and he collapses in a sobbing heap, his body leaning into Felix like he is touch starved and Felix holds the warmth of home in his arms.

“You-“ Sylvain’s voice is hoarse as he chokes the words out through his tears, “You… want to marry me? Marry me?”

“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to.”

(Across the room, Dimitri has to hold Ingrid back from throwing a cup at Felix’s head)

“But, it’s me! Felix, I’m a mess. How could you ever want someone as broken as me?” There is desperation in Sylvain’s eyes, but it is wild, like Sylvain himself doesn’t know if he’s desperate for Felix to just take this last out he’s providing or to reassure him that yes, this is really happening and yes, Felix really wants to marry him.

“You idiot.” Felix huffs fondly, reaching up a pale scarred hand to gently thumb away the nonstop tears on Sylvain’s face. “I’ve wanted you since we were children. I will never stop wanting you. You might be a mess, but you’re my mess.”

Felix withdraws his grip slowly and finally opens the velvet box clutched in his hand. He doesn’t hear so much as feel the sharp inhale from Sylvain as he reveals the glittering silver ring nestled in the soft cushion.

“Do you remember the sword that I carried with me throughout the war?”

Sylvain scrubs his eyes and nods, “Yeah. I remember. Why? What happened-“

Brown eyes widen almost comically again and Sylvain stares at the ring with his mouth agape.

“Felix. Felix, don’t tell me…”

“If this doesn’t prove how serious I am, then I don’t know what will.”

“But Felix, you loved that sword.”

Felix doesn’t even pause to think before he retorts, “You truly are a fool if you think that I love a sword more than I love you.”

Felix does not expect for Sylvain to burst into sobs again, but rather than the irritation that he’s sure he would have felt under different circumstances, the only thing Felix can feel right now is warmth and love blooming in his chest.

“Sylvain,” Felix feels a small smile tug at the corner of his lips as he brings his hand up to frame Sylvain’s tearful face, “will you marry me?”

The crooked wobbly smile that graces Sylvain’s face next is one that Felix will remember for the rest of his life. It is the same one that he’s seen only a handful of times, but he knows what it means and Felix swears that he will dedicate the rest of his life finding ways to silence the demons and bring out that smile again and again and again.

“Yes.”

----

Neither of them remembers much of the celebration after Felix slips the ring on Sylvain’s finger.

The rest of the night passes in a blur of bottles upon bottles of champagne (the good stuff, according to Ashe who may have had a peek in the cellars) and laughter and congratulations.

But most importantly, it passes with Sylvain being surrounded by the people who have risked life and limb for him, and Felix hopes that this is at least a decent start to spending the rest of his life making his future husband happy.

---

It is only much later that night in the aftermath of rumpled sheets and whispers of pleasure that Felix succumbs to the incessant voice at the back of his mind, itching to ask what he already knows but wants reassurance of anyways.

“Did you… was this Yule better than last year?” His breath ghosts over the red hairs on Sylvain’s chest, stirring the owner to shift away ticklish and shuffle so that he can look down at his fiancé.

“Yeah, it was. It was absolutely wonderful.” Sylvain’s voice is quiet when he answers. Quiet enough that the sincerity of it strikes Felix through the heart and stirs the butterflies in his stomach. Above him, he can feel Sylvain’s muscles shifting as he examines his new engagement ring in the moonlight and Felix pointedly does not point out the fresh batch of tears that well up in Sylvain’s eyes when he finds the inscription carved on the inside.

Felix nods his head once in a jerky movement, the abruptness a stark contrast to the curl of satisfactory success blooming in his gut. Good. That’s one year down and an entire lifetime to go.

“I keep my promises, you know.”

He doesn’t need to say it, but the part of him that is finely tuned into the entity that is Sylvain tells him that these are words he needs to hear regardless of how difficult they are tripping up and out of his mouth.

“I promised that I would make up for all those shitty years that you never got to celebrate properly.”

Sylvain huffs a laugh into his hair, “well, you’re off to a strong start. I believe you also promised me that you would make each year better than the last.”

He’s teasing, but Felix hears the small sliver of shy hope that toes the open space between them timidly, almost as if the fool didn’t just hear him say that he keeps all his damn promises.

It will be a long and hard battle before Felix can officially claim victory over Sylvain’s doubts, but he’s no stranger to war and this is one that he already knows the outcome of.

“I will,” Felix whispers into a sweet kiss, “I promised.”

---

It comes as no surprise that Felix stays true to his word.

Either Felix is the most brilliant strategist in all of Fodlan or Sothis herself watches over them, for in a fortuitous twist of fate, the next Yule seasons brings Sylvain and Felix a beautiful baby girl that they lovingly name Sophia Gabriella Fraldarius-Gautier.

XxXxXxXxXxXxX Please follow me on my Twitter if you want to know my fic progress, when I put up new content, and sneak peeks!

[hobeemin]

Purely Sinful

😈 Genre: Romance, Fluff, College AU, crush to lovers(?)

😈 Pairing: Park Jimin x (f) OC

😈 Rating: pg15

😈 Warning(s): alcohol, tipsiness, shameless flirting, sinful thoughts, implications and mentions of sex and condoms, teasing, Namjoon is dressed as Poison Ivy, Jimin looks delicious in his devil costume

😈 Word Count: 1.9k

😈 Credits and Shout outs: Thank you to the amazing and lovely @nottodayjjk​ for beta reading for me 💜😘

Banner resources found here  

😈 A/N: for the BTS Halloween-Holiday Bingo @btsholidaybingo 

Bingo Square: Costume Party

😈😈😈

“I look ridiculous.”

“Are you kidding? You look hot!”

She eyed her friend with scrutiny as she tugged the hem of the skirt down. “You’re only saying that cause we’re friends.”

He gave her a playful shove and grinned. “Not true. Who knew that body was hiding under all those layers.”

She blushed, punching him in the shoulder. “That’s not even funny, Tae. You know how I feel about showing off my body.”

He sighed, shaking his head. “Sorry, Bria. I know how you are, but seriously you look good. You’ll be the belle of the ball.”

She twirled in front of the full-length mirror biting her lip self-consciously. The white dress stopped mid-thigh flaring out slightly. Designed with crystals to accentuate her bust area, the angel costume felt anything but pure. As she turned, the wings attached to the dress fluttered. Tae, her best friend, stood from his seat and went over to the rack and thumbed through a few costumes.

“The party is going to be fun. Why are you freaking out over it?”

When he didn’t hear a response, he looked over his shoulder towards her. She turned away from his eyes, fidgeting in the costume.

“I–”

Tae scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Is it because–”

“N-No!” She covered her face hiding the blush. With a sigh, her voice came out muffled behind her hands. “If I wear the costume, will you drop it for now?”

“Maybe,” he said with a teasing grin. “I’ll let it go for now, but you’re not getting off easy tonight. We’re gonna have fun regardless.”

Something told her things weren’t going to be as easy as he said.

She smoothed down her dress, bouncing on the heels of the white knee-high boots that went with the costume. Tae, having decided to go as a cowboy, bent down and adjusted her halo. She gave him a smile in thanks, and he winked, turning to knock on the door. It swung open moments later to reveal Namjoon dressed in a shimmery green leotard and boots–tights included. His hair was a fiery red. They gaped at his appearance. He laughed, opening the door wider.

“Poison Ivy.”

“That’s what I would have guessed,” Tae said with a nod. “You look good, Namjoon.”

He beamed, letting them pass. “Jin thinks otherwise, but he was the one who picked it out cause I lost that bet.”

“Well, I’m jealous, Joonie. Only your ass could handle those tights,” she giggled.

“I know, right!”

They entered the living room after him to a room full of people dressed in various costumes–from chickens to video game players, there was quite a variety. 

“Snacks are over there. Drinks in the fridge. Help yourself and have fun!” Namjoon said pointing to the table filled with snacks and drinks.

He waved, walking over to Jin, dressed as a chef, to no surprise. 

Tae grabbed her hand and went over to get something to eat. The assortment of the spread made their eyes widen. Tae whistled low, holding a plate and handing one to Bria. “Jin went all out.”

She nodded in agreement holding up one of the Rice Krispie treats decorated like Frankenstein’s monster. “Not kidding. It looks too good to eat.”

Her friend chuckled, grabbing a fist full of chips. “I don’t know about you, but I plan to pig out.” He tossed a few chips into his mouth and chewed happily.

Bria rolled her eyes, scanning the table. “You’ll make yourself sick eating that way,” she scolded lightly.

Tae ignored her and continued to stuff his face. Bria went about looking over the table until something caught her eye. Big strawberries covered in white chocolate and decorated with tiny chocolate gems to look like ghosts. How cute! As Bria reached for one, someone else’s hand reached for the same one. Their fingers brushed as she jumped back. Jimin’s smile crinkled on his face, his eyes half-moon shaped. He laughed, gesturing to the strawberries.

“Go ahead. You were here first.”

Bria shook her head, blushing profusely. “N-No, you go ahead.”

Jimin pushed his newly dyed silver hair off his face and grinned. “Are you sure, Bria?”

He knows my name!

She nodded, gripping her plate in her hands. “I’m sure,” she squeaked out.

Jimin picked up a strawberry and bit into it, his plump lips tinted with red as he chewed. His eyes never left Bria’s face. She felt hot under her costume, watching him. Why was he so handsome?

Finally, his eyes darted over her, taking note of her costume. “You look cute, angel. We sort of match.”

Bria sputtered as she finally noticed his costume. Having only focused on his face, she didn’t notice the prosthetic devil horns on his forehead painted in red and black.  A long open vest in black revealed his muscular chest and abs, black skin-tight pants accentuated his thighs and calves, and black boots finished the look. He even had topaz color contacts to make his eyes pop.

I’m in love.

She gulped, trying hard not to stare, but he just looked sinfully delicious in every way! He looked at her with equal enthusiasm. Seeing her dressed as an angel made his heart beat faster. She looked so cute. The chocolate that stuck to the corner of her mouth added to the adorableness. Jimin tutted softly and stepped forward to Bria. “You got something in the corner of your mouth.”

Her eyes widened in embarrassment. She looked around for a napkin until Jimin reached with his thumb and wiped the chocolate from her lips. He licked it off his thumb and smirked. “Delicious.”

Bria felt her face grow hot, and her mouth sagged. She blinked a few times, just staring at him. Tae bounced over, wrapping an arm around Bria. His cheeks rosy from the alcohol.

“Briaaa!!! Come dance with meeee!”

She chuckled softly, patting Taehyung’s head. “How much have you had to drink?”

He grinned wide and stuck his tongue out at Jimin. “Enough. Let’s boogie!” He grabbed her arm and yanked her to the dance floor. She gave Jimin a look of apology as they joined a few people dancing in the living room. 

An upbeat song came on, and Tae cheered, grabbing Bria’s hips, and danced with her. She tried to keep up, giggling each time she and Tae bumped heads. Jimin watched her from the side, a red solo cup in his hand. While taking a few sips, his eyes never wavered from her. Jin joined him at the wall giving him a nod of greeting. He clinked his beer bottle against Jimin’s cup and pointed it at the dance floor.

“Usually, you’d be out there. Not in the spirit?”

Jimin sighed, shaking his head. “Don’t have anyone to dance with.”

Jin scoffed, glancing around the room. “There’s plenty of women around here who’d jump at the chance!”

Jimin gave him a wink and watched Bria dance with Taehyung. “Eh. None of them are special.”

As the song ended, Bria pulled away, laughing. “Tae, I can’t dance anymore! I’m gonna pee on myself!”

He giggled with a nod. “Alright. Alright. Go ahead. But you’re coming back here once you’re finished!”

Bria walked out of the living room and down the hallway to the bathroom. Luckily no one was in there, and she got in quickly, handled her business, and stepped out. As she opened the door, Jimin stood in the doorway, a smile on his face.

“Hey, angel.”

Bria squeaked, blushing once more at his nickname. “O-Oh h-hey J-Jimin.”

“Thought you flew away,” he teased, leaning on the door frame and crossing his arms over his chest.

Visibly flustered by how close he was standing, she messed with the hem of her dress. “Don’t be silly. I just took a break from dancing.”

“Yeah,” he began with a smirk, “I saw you out there with Tae. You have some decent moves.”

Bria rolled her eyes, swatting at his arm–his muscles flexed under her hand, making her dizzy. “Now you’re teasing me.”

He held up his hands and his eyes rounded. “I swear. You’re perfect! Honest.”

She placed her hands on her hips and raised her brow, all the initial giddiness gone. “Yeah. Sure.”

“Fine,” he wrapped his hand around hers and pulled her back into the living room. “Let’s see.”

“See what?”

“Your moves. We’re gonna dance,” Jimin answered simply. The music started up as Jimin grabbed Bria’s hand and twirled her before doing a simple two-step. Bria covered her mouth to hide her smile as she followed Jimin’s steps. The beat switched to a more intimate feel, and Bria relaxed more deciding to turn and press herself against Jimin. He grabbed her hips, matching her movements, and moved closer. Breathing deep, he tried to keep himself in check now that she was so close to him. His breath tickled her neck, making her rotate, so they were face to face. Bria wrapped her arms around his neck, twirling his hair between her fingers. Jimin played with the wings still attached to her back, biting his lip softly. 

“Something on your mind, angel?”

“Um–”

Jimin gave her a warm smile. “You don’t have to be nervous around me. We’re in silly costumes, slightly tipsy. I won’t judge you.”

She sighed, looking at the floor, a stain in the carpet grabbing her attention. “I-I...crap...I don’t even know how to say it.”

He grinned and lifted her chin. “Well, if you were gonna say you like me, the feeling is mutual.”

“Uh...what?”

He laughed as he watched her response. “Yes. I like you Bria, a lot. I found out from Tae what your costume was and wanted to match.” His eyes darted away as he grew nervous by the sudden confession. He coughed as the blush tinted his cheeks. “I was waiting for a time for us to be alone to ask you out.”

Bria couldn’t believe her eyes. Jimin. Park Jimin just said he liked her. Now would have been a good time for those angel wings to work and let her float away. Before she lost her nerve, she pressed her lips to his cheek causing his mouth to fall open.

“I like you too, Jimin,” she said shyly. His signature smile spread on his face as he let out a giggle. “You don’t know how happy I am.”

He stopped their dancing and wrapped his hand in hers. “Let’s get out of here. I wanna talk more. Maybe over ice cream?”

Her ears perked at the words ‘ice cream’. “Yes! How about Cherry On Top?” 

Jimin winked as they walked to the door. “My thoughts exactly.”

Bria followed him, but stopped as Taehyung bounced over to them. He slapped Jimin on the shoulder giving him a boxy grin. “Leaving so soon?” His eyes darted down to see them holding hands. “Ah! I see now!” He gave Jimin a wink and nudge. “You better take care of my best gal! Use protection!”

Bria slapped Tae’s hand, growing embarrassed. “T-Tae!”

Jimin’s shoulders shook with laughter. “I’m a gentleman first, TaeTae.” His eyes twinkled glancing at Bria. “I wouldn’t dream of doing anything devilish at least until after the third date.”

Bria looked down as both guys began to laugh. She rolled her eyes, shoving Jimin to the door. “Ok! We’re leaving now.” She pinched Taehyung’s cheek making him whimper. “Behave. Stay the night here and I’ll call you later.”

He rubbed his cheek vigorously with a pout. “Sure you will.”

Jimin opened the door after shooting Namjoon and Jin a wave and ushered Bria through the door. “C’mon angel. We got a hot fudge sundae with our names on it waiting for us!”

😈😈😈

[paprikadevil45]

enemies turned friends (DD AU - chapter 1 part 2)

Steven sat on the couch the gems of his friends and the strange fusion sat motionless on the table before him, “your human half won’t stand a chance against my injector” he couldn’t stop thinking about what Cuprite said, what did it mean? Suddenly the front door bursted open “Steven! I came as fast as i could! are you okay?” It was Greg, his dad the once Mr. universe who upon coming to beach city met his mom rose quartz “holy sh- she really got everybody!” Greg stated surveying the table “is that them?” He asked spotting the two pink gems, Steven nodded in response “I don’t get it” greg stated “why did they do this?” “No idea” Steven admitted “but what i do know is that my powers are acting off” Steven said summoning his shield, or tried at least as the item fizzled and glitched before finally dissipating “how come” greg asked “i think it might have to do with this” Steven said as he pulled out the long menacing weapon and pushing the button on it’s handle, Greg flinched slightly as the item activated revealing it’s pink blade. “Dad there’s something wrong with me, i have no idea what’s going on” Steven said after a deep sigh “schtu - ball don’t worry things will be alright, I mean so what if you don’t know what’s going on? I don’t know what’s going on all the time” Greg gestured “look things are gonna be okay, soon the gems are going to reform and they’ll be back better than ever” Greg continued holding pearl’s gem in his hands. Suddenly the gem glowed and pearl raised into the air “see? look here she comes, good old pearl” instead of “good old pearl” however something else happened an holographic oyster shape formed around the gem “huh well that’s new?” Greg said “please identify yourself” the gem demand “um..greg universe?” Greg answered “greetings Umgreguniverse, please stated preferred customization options” Greg looked to Steven confused “um....what am I suppose to say here?” “I dunno” steven said shrugging “default setting selected, Please stand by” the gem confirmed descending and landing on the kitchen floor. The shell opened and pearl ascended now wearing some form of dress with puffy shoulder pads and a translucent material draping over the top of her skirt “Pearl!” Steven called out running over to the newly reformed gem “Pearl, thank goodness your back” Pearl stood there for a second before finally walking over to Greg ignoring Steven “how do you do? ~🎵” Pearl sang as she bowed to Greg “my Umgreguniverse ~ 🎶” she continued looking to Greg “thank you for bringing me into the world, i am at your eternal service ~ 🎵” Pearl continued holding Greg’s hand and kneeling down before him “welcome to your new pearl ~🎶” Steven and Greg looked on with confusion “whaaaaats going on!?” The two said in unison “could her gem be cracked?” Greg questioned “looks fine to me” Steven said inspecting the gem on her forehead, Steven suddenly looked over to the table seeing another one of the gems reforming this one had a very square build, red coloring, and her gem was located on her left palm “Ruby!” Steven said “ar-are you okay?” He said walking to the table “Ah! Who are you? You’re not my assignment” The small gem demanded getting into some form of defensive stance “I could really use an explanation?” Greg said scratching his head “allow me to illuminate!” Pearl budded in, twirling over “A ruby guard ~🎶” Pearl sung “but just a single one? they tend to come in teams of three or more ~🎵” Pearl continued before another gem reformed. This one a lot more different than Ruby her build was more circular, her coloring was blue and her gem was located on her right palm “a precious sapphire, she sees the future, that’s who the ruby’s for ~ 🎶” Pearl continued to sing as the other gem came into being “My sapphire” Ruby announced “as my sworn duty and soul purpose, i will protect you with my life!” Ruby swore crossing her arms “I know you will, that’s why I predict you won’t last more than a day” Sapphire said in a cold response “huh?” Ruby squeaked out “come now” Sapphire spoke coldly again as she and her small soldier got off the table backing away and giving space for the other gem that was about to reform. This one was short, chubby, and purple with her gem located directly on her chest “Amethyst!” Steven said “hey Amethyst?” He called the gem’s name again “hey amethyst?” Amethyst mimicked “what? No. You’re Amethyst!” Steven said trying to get her attention “what? No. You’re amethyst!” Amethyst said continuing to mimic Steven “you must be right, this is an amethyst ~🎵” Pearl sung out “except an amethyst is big and strong, this one is not the best example, something is clearly wrong ~ 🎶” Pearl continued “I do say something is clearly wrong, what are we all doing here in this strange place?” Pearl shrugged with Amethyst copying her movements “Pearl, don't you recognize them? Don't you recognize me?” Steven asked the confused servant, Pearl pondered for a minute “well I certainly recognize my Umgreguniverse” Pearl gestured to Greg “oh boy” Greg said in response “as for you?” Pearl took a close look at steven. A light blared out at Pearl and Steven, the heart shaped pink gem started to glow float in front of them “get back!” Steven shouted suddenly the gem rotated upright into a proper heart shape, as the gem reform rubber-like arms wrap around Steven trampling him to the ground once she finished reforming he was able to get a good look at the gem, she wore a whiteish pink top complete with a pair of puffy magenta shorts with two diamond buttons stitched in, to match her gem her hair was done into two heart shaped buns completing her look was a pair of puffy pink sleeves, magenta shoes, striped stockings, and pink gloves she looked at steven her eyes now looking large and cartoonish accompanied by a large playful smile. “I’m so exited to meet you!!!” The gem rang out between giggles “y-you’re...not..mad...? Steven said shakily, the gem only tilted her head in response “mad? Why would I be mad at my......BEST FRIEND!!!!!” The gem shouted out laughing giddily “this will be fun! Aren’t you the lucky one?” Pearl sang again as Greg helped Steven up “her cut is perfect and she’s pink as well!” Pearl continued leaping over to the newly formed gem “she’ll bring you endless entertainment, your new best friend spinel!” Pearl finally concluded her song after explaining the gem “YOOOUUU!!!” Steven called out pointing at the gem angrily “what did you do to us! Why do you look like this!? WHAT’S GOING ON!!!” Steven said proceeding to shake the gem, the only response he got however was just the gem giggling and poking his nose with her finger “boop! That was fun, but now it’s your turn ~” Spinel said as once again she wrapped her elastic arms around Steven shaking him up and down vigorously midair while laughing “W-W-W-Would you cut that out?!” Steven cried trying to get the her attention. Suddenly Spinel stopped shaking him and also laughing, “Thank....you...” Steven said catching himself before Spinel suddenly dropped him on to the floor and began walking over to the table as soon as he got up he was able to see the real reason why she dropped Steven the other pink gem on the table, the other pearl had started reforming. Steven immediately ran over to stand beside the rubber gem who was rather curious of what was happening, just like before an holographic oyster formed around the gem this time pink instead of blue “please identify yourself” the gem asked just like Pearl the only difference was that her voice was a bit more softer than Pearl’s, Steven let out a calm sigh “Steven....Universe” he replied knowing full well what was going to happen next “greetings Steven Universe, please stated preferred customization options” before Steven could say a word the pink gem jump over to him “oh oh oh!! You should model her after you!!” Spinel said “After me?” Steven questioned, suddenly a net like scan came down upon Steven catching him off guard “customization scan complete, please stand by” the gem said “no no no wait!!” Steven said but it was too late as the shell landed on the floor opening and revealing the pearl. Unlike their pearl who’s form was more fancy and uptight the pink one wore something a lot more similar to Steven’s she wore a hoodie with translucent sleeves, her hair was done into two poof pigtails with a star head band across her head, just like pearl she wore a translucent skirt which under it was a pair of shorts and instead of ballet shoes she wore a pair of doll shoes that looked slightly similar to Steven’s flip flops, as soon as the gem stepped off the oyster she walked across the kitchen floor straight to Steven and Spinel who were standing still in anticipation “how do you do? My Steven universe, it’s nice to finally be in your presence ~🎵” Pink pearl sang “I promise to be your eternal servant, welcome to your very own pearl ~🎶” Steven sighed, while Spinel was in utter wonder at the new gem “wow!!! You got yourself a new pearl, so cool!!!” The gem said unable to control her excitement “wait, wait, wait, you two don’t remember?” Steven said to the two gems, Spinel and Pink pearl just stood in confusion “remember what?” the two said in unison. “Y’know the stuff you said about how i won’t stand a chance against your injector?” The two gems looked to each other for a second before looking to Steven “nope” Spinel shooked her head “not a thing” Pink pearl agreed Steven sighed knowing that they really didn’t remember a thing, suddenly the door opened lion stepping in through the door into the area “Lion!” He said to the large pink wild cat who was approaching Steven “it’s good to see your okay” Steven said petting the large animal “oh yeah! and since your here i might as well store this in your mane” he said trying to shove the weapon into Lion's mane with no effect, as it simply slides off Steven's hand “I can’t store things in lion’s mane that’s one the most easiest things i can do!” Steven said “my Steven universe?” The pigtailed pearl said generously “would you like me to hold that for you?” Steven looked down at the object although he’d rather not give to her since he was rather unsure he didn’t have much of choice as of right now “alright you can hold on to it just please be careful with it” he said handing the item to the gem, suddenly his phone rang he picked it up out of his pocket, “Hello?” “Steven is everything okay over there?” It was Connie this brought immediate relief to him, Connie was her best friend or was given they were now dating “Connie! Is something wrong, are you?” “I think I should be asking you that” Connie asked Steven “I was on my way to space camp when i heard a loud rumble, I looked over to beach city to see that thing sticking out of the hill on top your house” she said rotating  her phone towards the injector now sticking out of the hill like a mosquito on someone’s arm Steven ran outside the others following behind as looked on at the injector, she wasn’t wrong it stood there looming over his house threateningly “well golly!” A voice rang Steven looked beside him to see Spinel standing right beside him “that thing sure is big, so you wanna climb it something?” The gem perched up jumping in place “what no I, ugh aw man what am i gonna do?” Steven wondered hopelessly “i got no friends help me except-“ he then shifts his view from the injector over to little homeworld “Bismuth, Lapis, and Peridot” “Connie i need you to do me favor” while Steven talked to Connie on his phone Spinel found herself scanning the pearl standing next to her “so your his pearl?” She asked the pink gem standing next to her “i am and you are?” Pink replied curiously “I’m Spinel” she chirped happily extending her hand literally “and it’s a pleasure to meet you!” Pink pearl giggled as she shook the small rubber gem’s hand “Okay connie i’ll see you there, bye” Steven concluded hanging up “okay guys we need to head over to the others so c’mon” Steven told as he starts running off to beach city with Spinel and Pink pearl following behind before coming to a halt as he notices that the others aren’t following instead Pearl summoned a parasol from her gem and used it to shield a wary Greg from the sun. Amethyst, standing near them, shape shifted into Greg, leaving a confused Pearl to constantly switch between holding the parasol over both. "Ruby? Sapphire?" Steven asked looking over to the two gem “she’s not going anywhere!” Ruby growled "I do see us following him to the countryside" Sapphire reassured the small soldier "Never mind! We're going" Ruby begrudgingly allowed as the two joined Steven in going to beach city leaving Greg with Pearl and Amethyst who had now shapeshifted into Pearl “Wait!! Don't leave me alone with these two!” Greg begged “just keep an eye on them for now. We’ll be back” Steven confirmed, and with that Steven, Spinel, Pink pearl, Ruby, and Sapphire went off towards the Town in the distance where hopefully they can figure out what to do.

End chapter 1 - to be continued......

[padfootagain]

New Beginning

Here we go for our first wintery fic for my winter event! For our first cute little story, I have chosen to write trope oops with Caspian ;)

So, let's get drunk at New Year's Eve and confess things we didn't mean to say out loud, shall we :D

Gif not mine

Word Count: 3565

It's cold outside. There's snow falling from the heavens all the way down to get caught on the branches of trees, and leaves of bushes and down to the blades of grass. The world is completely covered by a cold white blanket, that shushes the sounds and makes time slow down. It's a comforting season despite the cold weather, or so has Caspian always thought at least. He has always found something peaceful in the white landscapes, something soothing in the falling snowflakes. And then, there is Christmas, his favourite time of year. New Year's Eve is soon to follow, bringing change in its wake. A new year always kind of means a new beginning after all, a sense of something new even if one's life does not change. New year, new resolutions, new goals, new hopes…

For now, though, waiting patiently for the new year to come and the ball to be finally over, all that this evening means for Caspian is a new glass full of wine.

The King of Narnia has never hold in his heart the ceremonies and public appearances, and to him, all balls end up challenging. He has to be careful in his choice of words all evening through, he has to stay polite, and dance with all the important ladies. His duties are a weight upon his shoulders there more than ever. The mask he has made for himself a long time ago, that he wears as the King instead of Caspian, has to remain perfectly placed across his features.

But tonight more than ever before, the mask is so hard to keep on. Despite his best efforts, his hands are shaking, his shoulders bend under the weight of an invisible burden, his smile seems to crack at the corners and the joy is taken away from his eyes. Instead, there is a full glass of wine in his hand at all times through the night.

He has stopped dancing, although the rest of his guests enjoy the joyful music and twirl in the warm candlelight, silk and pearl and gold and silver shining under the flames, like twinkling stars moving fast throughout a foreign sky. He can't keep his eyes on them, they make his head spin. So instead, he drinks more red wine, and his dark brown eyes travel in your search, although he knows he won't find you there.

Of course, it's all because of you. These days, it seems like everything he does, however he feels, is because of you. He's happy because he can see you, he's sad because you are absent, he dreams of you at night and his mind drifts to the memory of your eyes during long meetings. It feels strange, to get his life pulled out of balance and thrown to rotate around a new star, a change of his centre of gravity he did not expect and yet cannot fight either. There is something out of control in the way he loves you.

Oh, he hasn't spoken a word about the way he feels to anyone, he would not dare, and especially not to you. You are oblivious of the effect you have on him. You know nothing about his pounding heart and how you haunt his thoughts all day long and his dreams through the night. How could he, when he knows you are leaving in just a few days?

What will happen then, once you've sailed away once more? Will he ever see you again? He isn't sure; if he's honest with himself, he doesn't think so. He knows the odds are not in favour of the two of you seeing each other again, let alone being together. Why is his heart aching for you anyway then? He's a logical man, he knows the situation, he knows he can't be with you. Then why can't he seem to simply ignore you? Why did he fall for you anyway?

That is without speaking of the difference between your rank and his. You're merely a maid for a princess, and he is king. Yet, he has never felt more himself than when he's by your side, talking about everything and nothing and dreaming about taking your hand in his, holding to never let go.

His eyes linger on the form of your princess, her elegant silhouette like floating across the ballroom. He knows you're not here, maids are not invited to such balls, after all. He catches himself imagining you in her dress though, dancing through the room. You would outshine the whole world…

He bites his lip in hesitation, his eyes falling on his glass. He has welcomed and shaken hands with everyone he had to, he has danced with the important ladies. Is he free to leave now?

"She's in the gardens."

He jumps as the princess chuckles by his side, he hasn't seen her reach him.

"Y/N," she went on. "She's in the gardens, in case you're interested in knowing."

"I hardly see how you could think this information relevant in any way," Caspian warily answers.

She gives him a look that says that she can read right through his heart, and yet he doesn't back down.

"Your maids will be happy to come home I'm sure, just like you. You must miss your family very much."

She doesn't bite the bait though, instead, she sighs and shakes her head.

"I think I will take another dance with your lovely generals."

Before he can add anything, she has disappeared through the crowd again, and he is left alone with his glass of wine in his hand and regrets heavy on his heart.

He has had many opportunities before to tell you how he felt, and yet has never gathered the courage.

He drinks another glass of the red alcohol, and it seems that the room is buzzing louder, spinning faster. Maybe it is just the effect of alcohol, but some little voice in his head tells him there is more to it. Your face seems to appear in the dancing fire of the candles, until he feels himself lose his balance as the guests spin too fast for his mind to handle. He rests his hand against a table for balance, but the world keeps on turning all around him.

He makes his way through the crowd as calmly as he can, but needs to breathe some fresh air. His thoughts are a mess, bumping into one another and turning into a confusing mix in the process. He stumbles more than walks through the corridor leading to the gardens, and it's only when the freezing wind and cold snowflakes hit his cheeks that his mind clears up a little. His thoughts are not consistent yet, but he can think straight enough to know where he is. His glass is still in his hand, empty except for a few drops that remain at the bottom. He stares at them for a while, motionless in the wind.

He doesn't hear you coming near him. He's too much lost in thought. Thoughts of you, of your travel that will come only to soon, of his realm, of this meeting he has to prepare, of his want for more wine, of his wonder over the fact that he doesn't understand pine trees leaves don't fall in winter…

Only when you clear your throat next to him does he turn to you. He blushes fiercely, as if caught in the middle of an embarrassing moment, although, you have no idea of his thoughts.

"Is everything alright, your Majesty?"

"Yes, yes… quite alright," he nods, his cheeks and ears crimson, but you blame the cold.

"Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Hmm…"

He struggles to swallow back the lump that is climbing up his throat.

"No… nothing. I'm fine."

"Right…"

"Aren't you cold? It's freezing out here. Why aren't you inside?"

"I could ask you the same question."

"I wasn't feeling very well. I needed some fresh air."

"And I needed a little bit of time on my own as well."

"I didn't… didn't mean to disturb you," he stumbles a little over his words, and it's not just because of all the alcohol in his veins.

You look beautiful in the moon and starlight. But then, he always finds you beautiful…

"You're not," you reassure him. "How was the celebration?"

"Huh… fine. Nice. Great…"

You chuckle at him, and he blushes some more.

"You look like you had a little too much to drink."

"Maybe a little. I'm fine though."

There are snowflakes caught in your hair and covering the cloak wrapped around your shoulders. The warm light coming out through the window nearby makes the frozen water dimly shine through the night, and he finds the glimmer much more beautiful on you than all the pearls and gems and gold and silver held in his ballroom.

"Would you mind a walk then?" he offers.

Yes, you are merely a maid, but it's not the first time Caspian and you spend some time together, alone. You've taken walks together before. You've spent afternoons reading in the library side by side. You've talked about everything and nothing for hours. He knows everything about your family and you know about his past, his struggles. It seems that there is an intimacy now, that has grown over the past few months, that crosses the boundaries of ranks and birthrights. You feel comfortable and safe around him, and he feels the same around you.

You welcome his invitation with a bright smile, and he abandons his glass on the edge of the closest window to offer you his arm instead. And you accept it with a grin.

It's cold outside. The wind bites at your cheeks and the snowflakes wet your hair. But you don't mind. There is warmth coming out from Caspian's frame that warms up your side, and the comforting feeling is enough to make you appreciate the walk. Snow cracks under your boots, and the more you walk through the path, towards the bare trees and the hidden grass, the more the sound of the party raging within the castle fades away. And the further you walk, the more you feel like Caspian and you are alone in this world. Titles fade away, worries dissolve, thoughts settle on the snow falling and the rhythm of the other's breath. It's peaceful all of a sudden, a bubble protecting you from reality and all the trouble it brings.

But a dream is never meant to last.

"Are you ready for your travel?"

Caspian's question cuts through the comfortable silence that protected you, like a sword shattering a shield. You take a sharp, trembling intake of breath, your heart tightening in your chest.

"Almost. There is still plenty to do. But we'll be ready in time."

"Good."

"The princess can't wait to find her home again."

"I'm sure you are excited to go home as well."

He feels your hold on his arm tightening, the gesture making him look at you. You seem to hesitate, and if he didn't know better, he would say that he reads on your features pain and sadness where he would have expected to find excitement.

"It's a lovely night, isn't it?" you change the subject, making his heart leap in his chest. "It's a good way to end the year."

He can feel the alcohol burning through his veins, the way it makes his brain dizzy, the way it makes him say things he shouldn't speak out loud.

He hasn't noticed it, but you've stopped walking. The ball is since long forgotten, a mere glitter of candlelight escaping from distant windows. The wind is loud and cold, but it plays with your hair in an almost surreal fashion, and Caspian can't help but being thankful for the sight. The snow is still falling, relentless. You've stopped under a tall oak, of which only the branches remain under the winter cold. Your footsteps are still visible through the path, two pair of footprints tracking your every move. Caspian wonders if you could disappear for good if only he erased your two traces.

"I wish we had more time," he lets out in a whisper, that he thinks too low to be heard, yet you still catch the words loud and clear.

"I'm sure the princess will miss you as well," you answer carefully.

But he turns his attention away from your footprints to settle on your gaze, frowning.

"I didn't mean the princess. I meant you."

You gasp, and the only sound you can make after that is a soft, fragile oh.

"I… I enjoyed our conversations… very much," Caspian stutters, and stumbles, and finds himself falling without any way to stop the words from forming on his tongue. "I… was happy when we spent time together."

You give him a tender smile, forgetting for a moment that he is king. Instead, you let yourself get lost in his dark eyes, so dark under the moonlight that you can't see where the iris stops and the pupil starts. They're two round inky oceans in which you're happy to let yourself drown.

"I was happy to be with you as well," you confess.

"I… I'll miss you, Y/N."

You had to blink the tears away to keep on seeing him.

"I'll miss you too…"

But the moment passes and you can't merely forget who he is, and who you are, and the chasm that separates your two lives.

"… your Majesty."

He closes his eyes, and you frown at the sight of a single tear rolling down his cheek.

"Can you do one last thing for me?" he asks, his eyelids still down.

"Of course."

"Just once… please… call me by my name."

When his eyes settle on you again, you're shaking.

"I… shouldn't…" you mumble.

"Please."

He could order you to do as he pleases, but you know he won't. He has never given you a single order, and somehow, you know he would never do so. And you know why.

He wants to be Caspian with you. You're the one always reminding him that he has to be King first. But maybe, just for a moment…

"I will miss you as well, Caspian."

He closes his eyes again, harder this time, as more tears escape. He sniffs, moving to brush his fingers against yours. He's surprised when you don't back away, letting him brush his skin against yours. Your fingers are as cold as his, but none of you mind, the touch still makes both your heart leap in your chests.

"I wish you could stay," he admits, looking down at your touching hands.

He lets you intertwine your fingers together.

"I am a mere servant…"

Under any other circumstances, he would have nodded and taken a step back. He had heard that defeated tone of yours before, had always responded this way to it. But tonight there's alcohol in his veins, and a year is on the verge to end when another is to be reborn. And tonight, he doesn't want to back away. Tonight, he wants to be bolder. A new year means a new beginning, and he wishes it could mean this for the two of you.

"I've never cared about that."

"I know. But you can't erase the fact either."

"What if I could?"

"Caspian… This… this is just a dream."

"Why does it feel so real then?"

You can’t reply, your throat is too tight to let any sound out.

"Because this… us… it feels more real than anything else I've ever lived," he goes on.

You shake your head, but still can't speak. And Caspian is tired, and sad, and a little too drunk to stop himself from confessing the truth he has been hiding for a while now.

"I don't want you to leave. I want you to stay. And I want… I wish things were different. I've always longed for someone to see me as I am without a crown. You seem to be the only one who sees me this way."

You remain silent. His words echo through you in a way he can't begin to fathom. He is the first to see you as something else than a maid. He's the only one who's ever made you feel special, as more than what you were born into. He's the only one who made you feel like you were worth the whole world, the whole sky and all the stars in between, simply by the way he looks at you.

He unlocks your two arms to raise his hand and rest his fingertips against your cold cheek, his thumb softly stroking your cheekbone. It makes you feel warm, dizzy, safe…

"By Aslan's name," he lets out in a heartbroken whisper, "how I wish you could feel this way too…"

It is your turn to let a tear escape. He opens his mouth to speak again, and his lower lip trembles. His dark eyes are clouded by tears, and there is so many emotions gathered in his heart, he wonders if it will burst and kill him on the spot. And when he finally speaks, his voice is hoarse and raw with all that he feels and has tried to stop feeling for so long now. It's like opening a floodgate, and letting the water rush out. There's nothing he can do to control how overwhelming his emotions are at this moment, and the words are spoken before he can think them properly.

"I wish you could love me too."

Your eyes grow round, and he instantly wishes he could take the words back. He knows he would have never spoken them out loud if only he had not been drinking so much. He means them though…

His hand drops away from your face and back to his side, but he doesn't let go of your fingers. It feels like they're the only thing left for him to hold onto, and if he lets go, he'll lose you forever.

"I'm sorry," he goes on, unable to listen to the wind anymore, when all he longs for is to hear your voice. "I can't help it. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to fall in love with you, it just… I couldn't fight it. Please, don't be angry. I'm sorry I love you."

But you shake your head, and despite the tears flowing down your face, you're finally able to talk.

"No one should be sorry for being in love, and especially not you," you whisper. "Especially when… I feel the same."

His jaw drops, he narrows his eyes in confusion, trying to understand the full meaning of what you've just said, while you guide his hand back to your cheek.

"I love you," you breath.

His aghast expression slowly turns into a bright grin.

"You do?"

But you nod in response, your smile matching his.

And he loves you so much, his heart is swelling with it all, so much, it leaks through his veins and muscles, and every fibre of his being is so full of love for you… Yet he's still standing, still breathing, and he finds out that he's happy this way, knowing you feel the same.

He guides your face closer to his in a tender gesture, barely an invitation to lean closer, but you're eager to comply. The space between the two of you shrink and shrink until there is almost nothing left, your breaths mingling together, and then your lips meet and it's like your souls are reaching, touching, intertwining and becoming one.

For how long do you keep on kissing? A second? A minute? An hour? It's hard to say. All you know is that the second your lips and Caspian's part, you want them to meet again.

He's soft and tender with you, as if he's holding a delicate flower in his arms he's scared to break under his touch, and your hold matches his. Because as you hold him, it feels like you're holding his heart in your arms instead of his strong frame, and you're scared to break it if you hold on too tightly.

You rest your head against his shoulder, when a clamour coming from the castle comes bringing the gentle silence that has settled around the two of you. You can't see anything from where you are, but you guess the cheers mean that midnight has come, and with it, a brand new year.

"Happy new year," you smile up at Caspian, and he answers with a matching grin.

"Happy new year, Y/N."

As your lips connect again, both you and Caspian know for sure that this year means a happy new beginning, indeed.

 ***********************************************************

Taglist : @ponycake27 @horsesreign @xinyourdreamsx @jbluevelvet @notkeppeki @daynigt-dreamer-stuff @fudgeflyss @stuckupstucky @snek-shit @suchatinyinfinity @i-padfootblack-things  @buckybsarmy @heyohheyitsgabi @jigsawlover10 @emyyjemyy​

@presstocontinue​ @ilmiopiccolounivers0​ @madamrogers​ @drinix​ @sad-orange-thoughts​ @mxrihollxd

@geeksareunique @giggleberts @sad-orange-thoughts @aylinnmaslow  @benbarnes-world @ladyblablabla @drinix @joelynnp @wearetalkingtoyou @mxrihollxnd @rockintensse @cutie-bug @purplocity  @rockintensse​ @newtstarmander​ @shinebrightlikeafanbase​ 

[akusaiisreal-changemymind]

Chapter 4: Memory Plague and Catching Up  Fandom: Kingdom Hearts Rating: Mature Warnings: Underage Relationships: Isa/Lea (Kingdom Hearts), Axel/Saïx (Kingdom Hearts), Demyx/Ienzo (Kingdom Hearts), Riku/Sora (Kingdom Hearts), implied Aqua/Terra (Kingdom Hearts) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Royalty, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Past Mpreg, de-aged character, Rating May Change, This is basically if Kingdom Hearts was a period novel, Slow Burn, Fluff and Angst, Mentions of past abuse, Non-Graphic Violence

The halls of Oscuro Castle were cold and silent, almost devoid of life. Xehanort had always remembered it being that way, even as a small boy. He paid the quiet no mind and instead listened to the rhythm of his boot heels thumping softly against the carpeted floors of the castle’s private upper levels.

A single guard stood by the door that led into a bed chamber. When she saw Xehanort approaching out of the corner of her eye, she immediately straightened her posture and greeted him formally.

Xehanort nodded at the guard as she let him into the room. When he stepped in, he was not at all surprised to see the lump on the bed hadn’t moved despite it being nearly noon. He walked over to a small table where a pitcher sat along with an untouched platter of bread and various fruits for breakfast. He lifted the pitcher and crossed back over to the bed, slowly pouring the contents of the pitcher all over the blankets.

He was glad that it turned out to just be iced water. It would have been a shame to have wasted good wine.

The sleeping figure jerked awake, sputtering when some of the liquid got into his mouth and up his nose. Xehanort stopped pouring and waited patiently for the younger boy to stop flailing around before greeting him. “Good day, Vanitas.”

“Fuck you.” Vanitas hissed. He was already a grumpy riser and being woken up so rudely didn’t help. “Why did you just walk in here and wake me up like you own the place?” When Xehanort raised an eyebrow at him, he rephrased. “I mean, like there’s a fire or something?”

“Xigbar has returned from home, so I’ve scheduled a family meeting in the council chamber that will take place three hours from now. I expect you to be there awake, fully dressed, and attentive.”

“Don’t you typically have to have a family for a family meeting?” Vanitas muttered darkly.

Xehanort ignored the jab and continued. “Ansem will be arriving today, so he’ll be there as well. There’s been some new development. It’s very important that we all discuss it together.”

“Yeah, fine, but can you get out now? I’m not exactly in a proper state of dress.” Vanitas gestured with the fist firmly gripping the blanket wrapped around his waist.

Xehanort didn’t outwardly react. Instead, he turned sharply on his heel and headed for the exit. “I’ve told you before you’ll catch a chill sleeping like that. Remember, the council chamber in three hours. I don’t want to have to come and get you again.”

~•~

Isa hoped against all hope that this new habit of blacking out and waking up in a strange location wouldn’t become a hobby.

This time he had awoken to the taste of something repulsively bitter being shoved into his mouth. He was tempted to spit it out the moment it touched his tongue, but he was prevented from doing so. All of his limbs felt like lead, leaving him unable to lift his arms and push against the slender fingers keeping whatever was in his mouth firmly in place.

“Don’t you dare spit this out. This fruit contains bismuth subsalicylate and it’s the only thing that’s been keeping you from vomiting up your innards for the past few weeks.” Someone leaning over him scolded him fiercely.

His vision was swimming and his mind was groggy, so the face of whom he assumed to be a doctor was obscured. Isa’s senses had even failed to let him know there was a cool towel laying over his forehead until the person’s other hand removed it to press a palm against him. “Good, your fever has finally gone down. Keep this in your mouth while I get my needle to replace your stitching.”

The voice of this person washed a wave of familiarity over Isa. Except, instead of feeling nostalgic, it instead gave him a prickling sense of annoyance. He remembered being nagged by this pitchy, nasally tone too many times to count in childhood – now again as an adult.

The blurriness of his gaze subsided after several seconds of blinking up at the light fixture dangling from the high ceiling; naturally, Isa chose that moment to rotate his head to the side just enough to watch as an older man shuffled around the room. His eyes widened the moment they took in the sight of blonde hair and a white coat.

“Lord Physician Even?” Isa queried, face scrunching in perplexity. Though his words were somewhat muffled by the medicine still stuffed into his mouth, the Court Physician spun around as soon as he was addressed.                                                                                

“Very good, Isa. It seems you’ve finally regained coherency which means you’re not long from recovery.”  Even crossed back over to where Isa lay on the bed, needle and stitching coil in hand. “Now, do you know where you are as of this moment?” He pulled up a stool and sat down beside Isa to begin his work.

Isa winced at the first signal of pain, but tried to refocus on his thoughts. He noted that this bedroom was different than the last one he’d woken up in, bigger with more lavish décor. It’s possible that he might have been moved to a guest chamber, but for what? He did a mental step by step of what led him up to this point.

He was on the ship with Xigbar and was rendered unconscious. He woke with an injury. He wandered around for a bit in the mansion until he found a secret passage to crawl into. He happened upon a hidden room where the air was stifled with the nauseating mixture of incense, candles, and white leaf tobacco. Then a man came into the room. He was –

“Lea!” Isa cried out at last, attempting to sit up. A hand immediately flew up to his chest to stabilize him and firmly push him back against the mattress. Isa went back down without a struggle. “I’m – I’m in his mansion, aren’t I?”

“Yes, you are.” Even answered and continued working on the stitching. “He sent for me to come and tend to you the moment he knew of your identity. Evidently, his young wards have been up to a bit of mischief and brought you here in secret – not that it’s a problem now, of course. If anything, Lea considers it a miracle and didn’t want to leave your side.”

Young wards? As tempted as Isa was to get him to elaborate further on that, there were more pressing matters that needed explanation.

“Where is Lea now?”

“I had to drag him away from here so that he could attend his meeting. His father is always less than amused when he strays away from his duties.”

Isa sighed. He had not been at all intending to meet Lea until he had had everything settled with King Ansem and his task. Now that Lea already knew it was only going to complicate things and create a distraction. He was already set back significantly due to catching ill.

“Speaking of the king, does he know that I’m here as well?”

“Now, that, I couldn’t tell you.” Even replied. “However, knowing his sources, it's likely he’s found his own ways of finding out by now.”

The implication of the King Ansem essentially being omniscient almost caused Isa to break out in a cold sweat. Simple task, his ass.  

Once the stitching was completed, Even gently pressed a finger against the tender skin to make sure it was secure.

“Well, I believe that’s all that needs tending to today.” Even stood up from the stool and began to put his materials away. “I have to be getting back to the clinic. I’ll have a messenger sent to the castle to inform the prince of your awakening. Until he arrives, I advise you get some rest.”

“Yes, I’ll be sure to. Thank you.”

~•~

Trapped .

That’s exactly what he was. All but pushed into a marriage with a man he didn’t know in a land he had no recollection of arriving to.  Isa had been living with the Lord of Dusky Province for several months now and it seemed at this point there was no chance of getting back home. Especially not in his current condition.

“The physicians tell me you’re about six weeks along now.” The lord entered the room with a saccharine smile on his chiseled face. He was very handsome, Isa couldn’t deny that; however, something about his smile was off-putting. It wasn’t like Lea’s. “Why did you hide this from me, mūnchairudo? Don’t you think I would like to know I am to be a father?”

“I wasn’t sure what to think of the news myself…” Isa muttered without turning away from the mirror. He pressed a palm into his belly. It was still a bit flat. He jumped slightly when he felt the alpha brush up behind him and tower over him.

“This is for you.” He slid something onto Isa’s neck before stepping away. Isa looked down and noticed that it was a silver necklace with a thick chain and a sapphire gem in the shape of a crescent moon attached. “It matches your hair. Isn’t it lovely?”

Lovely …lovely…

“It’s been lovely doing business with you, good sir.” Weeks later, Isa stood around a corner in secret and watched as his lord husband handed a pouch of coins to a rough looking individual. “Here’s your final payment, as promised. Though, I must say, the omega you delivered to me is more trouble than you had advertised. Very strong-willed.”

A cold feeling settled into the pit of Isa’s stomach.

“Told ya he was a fighter. It took a lot for us to get him off the ship to bring him here and it’s gonna take a lot to break him in. Good luck.”

“I won’t be needing it. I think I have him fairly under control by now.”

He heard the sound of movement heading in his direction and he fled. As he ran, he felt the cold feeling in his body twist and morph into something else. Something stronger.

Rage .

“You told me that I was found in debris from a shipwreck and you had no idea how I’d gotten here.” Isa stormed into the bedroom that night and confronted him with fury. “All this time, I thought I survived that raid because the Foretellers spared my life, but now I find out it was because I was kidnapped and sold! You made me think the death of my parents was just a tragedy!”

Rage …hatred…

“Well, that’s because it was, mūnchairudo.” The lord was propped in a chair with one leg crossed over the other as the valet poured more brandy into his glass. He was completely unfazed by Isa’s anger. “An orchestrated tragedy, but it was a tragedy nonetheless. All events of life are caused by man and the decisions we make. Destiny and those precious ‘Foretellers’ your people worship don’t exist.” He plastered a false smile onto his face, sweet enough to distract from the sinister man behind it. “Now be good and have a seat. Your stress can’t be good for the babe.”

The babe…that was no more.

“How pitiful.” Out of the corner of his eye, Isa saw the alpha standing with his back against the wall, arms folded and looking on without empathy. He watched Isa writhe in excruciating pain on the bedroom floor, occasionally coughing up black sludge. “You would rather do this to yourself than have my child?”

Isa lifted himself up as much as he could on shaking limbs. “I’d rather die!”

…Die.

A pause, a scoff, and then the sound of footsteps leaving the room was all that followed. Before the closing of the door, the lord replied in an amused tone, “Very well. Who am I to deny you the pleasure?”

Isa lived, of course. However, the price of life came with a deep feeling emptiness in his heart. The hollow feeling wasn’t because of the loss of a child he never had the chance to know. As horrible as it sounded, he wasn’t sure if he would have had the ability to love something created by the object of his burning ire.

He felt empty because the poison he ingested not only ensured that he would not birth that child, but also no others.

One of his biggest purposes in life, a purpose that had been instilled in him since he was twelve, had been stolen from him. All because he wanted to feed his animosity towards the monster who ripped his life away from him.

…Die.

But he wasn’t done feeding it.

Nights later, he met his lord husband in the bedroom again. The lord looked sickeningly serene as he told Isa that he forgave him for his stupidity while stroking his hair.

Die .

Isa lied to him. He told him that he had forgiven him, too, and they could put it behind them.

Die .

Isa brought wine, encouraged him to drink it as he pushed him to lay back on the bed. He wanted to get him loosened up, slow his reflexes.

Die …die…

A cocky look settled on the lord’s face when Isa moved to straddle his hips. His eyes slid closed as he waited for pleasure that would never come. Isa reached up and removed the necklace from his neck — the necklace that was given to him as a gift.

DIE NOW.

In one swift motion, Isa wrapped the necklace around the lord’s neck and twisted it tightly to cut off his air. His grip didn’t relent, no matter how much the other man thrashed and tried to claw at his face. Isa couldn’t even feel complete satisfaction at the gruesome sight: the man’s face purpling from oxygen deprivation and his eyes bulging out of the sockets. He only felt the emptiness in him grow in replacement of his unbridled hatred as he watched the soon-to-be late lord suffocate below him –

“Ow. Shit, that’s a strong grip.” Someone cursed from outside of his dream. The voice was low and tired, but still effective enough to pierce through his torturous dream haze.

When Isa cracked his eyes open, the room was dark. He could only make out the faintest outline of a figure by the bed. He looked down a little further and saw that he really was gripping the other person’s hand harshly with his own, inadvertently mimicking the actions of himself from the past. Despite this, he could feel alpha pheromones giving off a serene, comforting aura and didn’t even attempt to fight against his body as it was instinctively soothed into relaxing.

Isa slackened his hold with a murmured apology before he asked, “Lea? Is that you?”

“Yeah.” The response sounded relieved, as if he was waiting to hear him speak. “Hold on. Let me get the light.”

He moved away just enough to reach over to light the oil lamp on the stand by the head of the bed. It wasn’t enough light to flood the entire room, but he was able to see Lea much better and take in his appearance. He was supporting the upper half of his weight against a chair he was straddling, staring exhaustedly down at Isa with bags beneath his eyes.

He looked significantly older than the last time they saw each other. The same could be said about himself, of course. However, Isa felt as haggard and unkempt as a homeless pup and his current appearance was equivalent to this feeling, no doubt. Lea’s aging, though, seemed to improve his looks as he no longer possessed such boyish and rounded features. The light of the flames from the lamp danced across Lea’s sharp face and lit up the green of his eyes like gemstones.

For the first time in his life, Isa felt like he was in the presence of an actual prince rather than just a boy he grew up with. Something about this new feeling was disconcerting. Isa was going to tell him that, but stopped himself as he lost his nerve.

Why would he ever voice such a ridiculous thought out loud? Lea would think he was still spiraling from fever.

“Sorry for the inconvenience,” Isa muttered instead. He used his elbows to push himself up on the bed until he was leaning against the headboard. “I incurred quite a debt for your hospitality and am more than willing to rep–”

“Stop that.” Isa tensed at the sharpness of the tone immediately cutting into his attempt at conversation.

“Stop what?”

“You fucking know what.” Lea tired expression had morphed into an annoyed glower and he straightened himself up in the chair. “You’re doing that thing where you act like ‘the perfect man of class’ when you’re either really uncomfortable or trying get on someone’s good side. I know you wouldn’t try hard to win my favor of all people, so it’s got to be the first one.”

Isa ducked his head to stare down at his fists gripping the blankets. What Lea had said wasn’t exactly untrue; however, the tone he took wasn’t helpful. He was talking to him like a child. “I was trying not to make this awkward…”

“You’re making it awkward anyway by not talking like a normal human being.”

“Well, what would you have me do, Lea?” Raising his voice, he picked his head back up to settle his own glare onto Lea. “Pick up where we left off? Tell jokes and pretend like nothing has happened? Sorry, not everyone can be as charismatic as you under unfavorable circumstances.”

“Who said anything about pretending? Fuck, Isa, I just—” Lea cut off his own sentence with an aggravated huff. “I guess – I don’t know. I was hoping you would at least explain this.”

Lea reached into his vest and produced the letter that Isa had given to him. It was crinkled and creased from spending so much time shoved into pockets.

“You wrote this for me.”

“I did,” Isa said. “That should have been made clear when I wrote your name on it and gave it to you.”

“You can’t tell jokes, but you have no problem being a smartass, huh?” A slight smile tugged on Lea’s lips for a split second before he turned serious again. “I haven’t read it yet because I wanted to ask you about it first.”

“As I said before, I had always planned to write to you. I was keeping my promise.”

“Right, duh.” Lea averted his gaze and rubbed the back of his head. Isa noted that he, too, still had old habits of discomfort. “I guess I didn’t think that promise was still pending because…well, you know.”

“I had even started on a letter the day we disembarked to sail to Corona. It wasn’t as lengthy as that one because I never got to finish it when—” Isa’s voice caught in his throat and the indifference of his usual mien slipped as reality sank in for the first time since the incident. “When our ship was...”

All this time, he had forced himself not to think about any of it. The thought of how his parents were so brutally murdered for the gain of a corrupt noble and idiots who loved on conflict disgusted him. He refused to allow his captors, his tormentors, the pleasure of watching him grieve. Even now, Isa again fisted his hands into the unfamiliar sheets as he angrily tried to blink away the tears burning at the corners of his eyes.

Why did they even have to die? Maybe destiny was punishing Isa for being a stubborn youth and going against his set path, but his parents had done nothing wrong.

“We were attacked by pro-war activists from the Empire. Those bastards.” He hissed between stilted breaths. “One could only assume they saw the Paxian symbol on our vessel and decided to attack us. Perhaps to incite retaliation.”

“Well, it worked. The sad part is that they weren’t even proper Empirical soldiers, just a bunch of crazies with ships and weapons. Our navy took them down within a month.” Lea told him, and he wasn’t surprised. He had concluded for himself a long time ago that they were, as Lea put it, just ‘a bunch of crazies’.

Lea continued, “We were also told there weren’t any survivors. I guess they never found out you got away. It’s like a miracle.”

With the old wound now fresh again, Isa had to quickly bit his tongue before he could heatedly retort that he didn’t get away from anything. Though he himself knew the truth of his own fate shortly after the raid, it would do him absolutely no good to tell Lea or anyone else about it. It would only invite more questions that would eventually lead to his connection to Xehanort.

“Yes. A miracle, indeed.” He replied, sharply.

Lea, unaware of the reasoning behind such a clipped response, slowly slid his hand into Isa’s again. “Hey, Isa, listen. You’re alright now. I won’t ever let you out of my sight again, okay?”

“That wasn’t exactly something I was worried about, Lea.”

“Good, because I mean it.” Lea rubbed a thumb over Isa’s wrist. “See? You actually opened up to me a little bit. That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

Isa could sense the conversation was finally starting to move to a lighter atmosphere on Lea’s end. Even though Isa still hadn’t recovered enough emotionally, he knew answering with a snarky quip would ruin bring them back to square one.

He chose to humor Lea. “I suppose not. Ironically, though, I’d say it’s easier to get more expression from me when I write my words. Hence, that letter.” He gestured to the pages still folded in Lea’s grasp.

“Then I guess I better get reading – eventually,” he said, placing the letter back into his vest. “Now, I’m too busy. Father’s been killing me with paperwork and council meetings lately.”

“How unfair. Why he doesn’t just give that those tasks to his heir? Oh wait.”

Lea scoffed and pressed his palm to Isa’s forehead, easing him back down into the pillows. “Get some more rest. Geez, you’re somehow mouthier than the kids I live with. Can’t wait for you three to meet each other.”

“Oh, right. Even mentioned that you have ‘young wards’ now. I see that your obsession with fostering strays is still intact after all these years.”

“They’re good kids. You’re going to love them, I swear.”  Lea paused for a moment before reaching out to squeeze Isa’s hand again. “I’m…glad you’re home, Isa. I really did miss you.”

“Yes. Me too.”

Lea nodded once and stood up from the chair with a stretch. After he blew out oil lamp, he spared one final glance at Isa – who had already dozed off again – before closing the door and taking a long walk back to his own bed chambers.

[rohad93]

Bellow Diamond Week 2019: A work in Progress: Day 2 - Making Amends

Yellow Diamond gazed blankly at the screens in front of her. Messages chirped as they popped up ceaselessly but she made no move to read them. Her Pearl glanced up at her worriedly. It was very much unlike her luminous diamond to stare into space this way, though there was nothing unusual about the stormy look on her face.

At least, it wouldn't have been unusual if not for recent events.

Ever since Blue Diamond had begun to come to the control room more often her diamond had been...well, happier.  

Today however the look on her face was downright thunderous. Her boot tapped a staccato rhythm on the floor that echoed loudly around the control room and her face rested on her clasped hands, brows set low between her eyes creating deep furrows in her face and casting a shadow over her eyes.

Yellow Diamond was agitated.

The reason for her agitation?

Blue Diamond of course.

Sort of.

It was no secret that she was happier now than she'd ever been now that she and Blue were being honest with each other about their feelings, all the gems in her court had taken notice of her upturn in mood, even if they didn't understand why, but there was something bothering her. Had been bothering her for over a year now.

Every time she touched Blue, it reminded her of what she had tried to do. What she had done.

Her foot stopped its tapping, making her Pearl look up at her nervously but she paid her no mind. She unfolded her right hand and looked at the glove covered palm.

She had attacked Blue. Tried to poof her, the gem she had loved nearly all of her existence.

She could still see it clearly. Laying there on that bridge, smoke from her attack drifting off Blue’s form, her disheveled silver hair spilling into her face, distorted by pain as she looked back at her.  

Her fists clenched.

It made her feel sick whenever she thought about it too hard.

She heaved a sigh, eyes squeezed shut.

She’d never even apologized properly to Blue for what she’d done. Where would she even start? In her mind what she had done was so grievous, how could it ever be forgiven?

Her fear of White Diamond had momentarily overtaken her love for Blue. If Steven hadn’t stopped her… shame rose up in her throat like bile.

A fist slammed down on the armrest of her throne, her Pearl jumped as the stone gave way, crumbling to the floor.  

She glanced at the smaller, nervous gem who had almost been hit by the debris and sighed.

Today, it seemed, would be a day in which she dwelled on this. Thus, no progress in her work would be forthcoming. She stood silently, her Pearl jolting to attention.

"My Diamond?" The small gem questioned.

"Pearl, take any messages that come in." She said before walking out of her control room without a second look.

She had no destination in mind. She just couldn't stand to be cooped up in her control room another minute. She itched with the need to move, where was unimportant. A dull ache was making itself known right behind her eyes, she pinched the bridge of her nose tiredly.

Gems saluted her as she passed but she paid them little mind, and they moved quickly out of the way at the look on her face.  

She let her feet guide her to her unknown destination, unconcerned and lost in her thoughts, all the while unaware of the sulphureous yellows and aurulent golds that painted the walls had slowly shifted to cool periwinkles and deep navy’s until she passed through a set of doors, unaware of the blue hued guards looking up at her curiously and realized she had walked into Blue’s sanctuary, a place regular gems were not allowed, much like their extraction chambers. It was a quiet space Blue had built to be a place to contemplate the universe from. To try and find peace in.

How appropriate.

She had only passed by the room a time or two in the past. Never had she been inside. Letting the doors close behind her with a quiet hiss she took a moment to observe the room.

It was circular in shape, its curved glass walls reached up to form a dome over head.

The shining stars of Homeworld’s sky were on full display from every angle, twinkling and winking at her through the glass.  

Her boots echoed on the cool blue-gray marble floor as she walked across the room. Intricately carved pillars of cobalt circled the room, the rich blue stone with deep veins of silvery white and gray spiraled from floor to ceiling, supporting the dome while being aesthetically pleasing.

Yellow reached out and ran her fingers over the smooth polished stone as she passed.

In the center of the room was a large, deep, diamond shaped pool filled with a metallic, luminescent liquid Blue had brought back from one of her many colonies centuries ago. It was a bright, sapphire blue with flecks of silver that seemed to sparkle like the stars above as it churned like water, casting a pale soothing glow on everything in the room.

The light bounced off Yellow creating a dim green haze about her form.

Here was as good as anywhere to be alone.  

Yellow seated herself gently on the lip of the pool, taking care not to break anything in this place. She settled her elbows on her knees and her face in her hands.

Being here had the odd effect of being both soothing and aggravating.

Blue, with her soft touch and gentle gaze had always been Yellow’s greatest source of comfort, but right now was also her greatest stressor.

Thinking of Blue right now made her gem feel tight with regret.

She had felt guilty about what she had done since those events had transpired but the feeling had doubled ever since she and Blue had gone to earth and at Steven’s behest Yellow had given a small demonstration of her powers to his friends that had gathered on the beach. The heat of her attack turning a strip of sand to glass.

Only she had noticed the way Blue had flinched when the electricity had arced through the air. Her initial guilt had only grown since.

She'd taken to avoiding Blue the last few rotations.

She scrubbed at her face and sighed. Though she didn’t need to breath she found the act often helped calm her.

“Yellow!”

Yellow’s head shot up from her hands to find the object of her thoughts walk into the room. The doors sliding shut behind her. Blue had spotted her right away, a bright ray of sunlight in the cool toned room.

Blue’s bright cerulean eyes lit up in unabashed happiness at the sight of her counterpart, only furthering Yellow’s guilt.

“This is a pleasant surprise. I haven't seen you in several rotations.” she walked over quickly, her dress rustling quietly across the marble floor.  

"Work has kept me busy…" her age old excuse for everything. Though never before now had it been an excuse.

“What are you doing here?” She situated herself a hair's breadth from Yellow on the pool’s lip, their knees and shoulders whispering against each other.

“I couldn’t concentrate on my work… I was taking a walk.” She simply offered. It was true.

“You wound up here?” Blue asked. Yellow only nodded, her arms folded across her chest.  

"Is there something on your mind?" Her eyes narrowed in concern. Yellow unable to work was unheard of.

"No, I simply couldn't concentrate." She looked anywhere but at Blue.

Blue could see the tension in Yellow’s form, the tightness in her jaw and the dip of her brows.

“What’s wrong, darling?” She asked.

Yellow felt a shiver at the word ’darling’. Something Blue had picked up on a visit to earth. She’d heard the word and after Steven had explained the term of endearment, Blue had decided it was perfect for Yellow. She always said it with such adoration that it caused Yellow to go off-color.

Right now it made her gem feel as though it were made of stone.

“Stop calling me that!” She snapped and hated herself even as she said it. “I’m fine.” She insisted, knowing as soon as she said it that Blue already knew she was lying.

“Yellow...” Blue reached out to touch her arm.

Yellow flinched back from the touch and immediately regretted it when she saw the confusion and hurt in Blues eyes. Here she was, still hurting her.

She could not go on this way.

They sat there in silence for several long moments, each one becoming more tense than the last before Blue finally spoke.

“Have I... done something wrong? Have I upset you?” The azure gem asked. Yellow dared a look and saw her clasping her hands to her chest, sorrowful eyes downcast and hated herself even more.

“No!”

Blue looked up, surprised by either the answer or the forcefulness of it was unclear to Yellow.

“You haven’t done anything wrong. I have.” She gritted out, standing and moving away from Blue to the windows. Cerulean eyes watched her silently. “I hurt you.” She finally said it aloud. “I attacked you.” Her hands balled into fists and her jaw clenched, she stared angrily back at herself in the reflection of the glass.  

“Is that what this is about?” Blue asked, eyes wide. Had Yellow really been feeling guilty about that all this time? “Oh, Yellow…” Blue got up and made Yellow turn to face her. Amber eyes remained locked on the marble floor.

Gently she hooked her fingers beneath that strong squared chin and forced her to look up at her. Yellow flinched but did not resist.

“Yellow, all that has long been forgiven, and I attacked you first.” She gently reminded but Yellow shook her head.

“You were defending Steven, I attacked you, I tried to poof you.” She paused, contemplating her next words. “You’re afraid of me...” She finished, eyes closed, unable to keep Blue’s gaze any longer.

Blue’s eyes widened at that. It wasn’t said tauntingly or proudly as she might have said it to an enemy but with a sad resigned certainty.

“Yellow…” She started.

“I see the way you flinch when I use my powers…” Yellow cut her off. Blue frowned at that.

“Yes,” She finally said after a long moment, watching as Yellows face dropped even more. “...but not because I’m afraid.” She insisted, reaching up and running her thumbs over sharp cheekbones. That prompted Yellow to open her eyes, shiny with unshed tears, and it made Blue’s heart break to think how long Yellow had been torturing herself over this.  

“I have a greater respect for your power now that I’ve had a taste of it, I flinch because I feel bad for anything on the other end of it.” She smiled. “But afraid of you? No. Never.”

Yellow reached up and took hold of one of Blues hands on her cheeks, turning her face to lay a kiss on a blue palm. A hint of violet spread across Blue’s face.

“How can you just forgive me?" She mumbled against the cool blue skin. Whether Blue was intended to hear it or not she was unsure.

Blue pursed her lips in thought. She knew Yellow would not let go of this until she did something to earn forgiveness. She thought for a moment before a smile pulled at her lips.

“Do you wish to do something for me to make up for what you did?” She asked, to which Yellow nodded.

“Anything.” She said it with such quiet reverence that it gave Blue pause. Her gem fluttered in her chest.

“Come with me.” She tugged Yellow along by their clasped hands.

They walked as quickly and quietly as two beings of their stature could down the long winding ocean colored corridors.

They ended up at Blues extraction chamber. Yellow’s brows furrowed at the location but kept her thoughts to herself as they climbed the steps to the water. One searching for atonement did not have the right to question.

Finally releasing her hand Blue slipped into the water and swam to the other side before turning back and beckoning to her companion with a small, devious smile. Yellow didn’t hesitate more than a moment before entering the water and moving to Blue's side.  

They sat facing each other, Yellow waiting expectantly.

“Close your eyes.”

Yellow did as she was told and the next thing she knew water was pouring over her head.

"Wh- Blue, what are you doing!?" Her eyes popped open to see Blue smiling back at her.

"I'm going to comb your hair." She smiled to herself as she pulled the comb from its place in the cup on the rim of the pool. “I've always wished to see how it would look if you kept it a little softer.” she mumbled the last bit to herself

"How can combing my hair make up for what I did?" She grumbled as water dripped from the tip of her nose.

“This is what I want. Will you give this to me, Yellow?” It was said with such gravity that all the general could do was nod mutely and closed her eyes as Blue poured more water over her head, missing the victorious little smile on the other gems face.  

As far as Blue was concerned there was nothing to forgive, but she also knew Yellow could not accept simply being forgiven. This was a nice and tidy little way of giving her what she needed and getting something that she had always wanted. To play with Yellow Diamond’s hair.

Blue began running her fingers through the damp stiff peaks of her hair and humming happily.

Yellow couldn’t help the drooping of her eyelids as Blue’s fingers combed through her hair, nails scraping gently at her scalp as Blue loosened her locks.

She liked it the way it was, neat, tidy and out of her way. She couldn’t understand how Blue could stand her own long, thick hair everywhere. That being said, she did enjoy running her fingers through the beautiful silver mane.

"Isn't that better?" Blue asked as she slid her comb through the limp sunflower colored hair, brushing it into smooth waves instead its normal stiff peaks.

Yellow just hummed in quiet contentment as she worked. Unaware of the glow emitting from her gem. Blue, however was very aware. Hers shone just as bright, casting a green haze over the waters surface.

“My darling, Yellow.” Blue cooed but paused in thought, her combing slowing. “Do you really wish for me not to call you that anymore?” She asked.

Even without opening her eyes Yellow could practically see the sadness in Blue’s face and again regretted her earlier snapping.

“No, Blue. I like it when you call me that.” She admitted quietly even though they were alone. Gold eyes slid open to meet azure, crinkled in happiness “I shouldn’t have snapped at you earlier, I’m sorry. For everything.”

Blue set her comb aside and closed what little space was left between them, their gems clinked together quietly and Blue's hand returned to its place against one of Yellow’s warm flushed cheeks, the other on her shoulder. Yellow's own hands settled at her hips.

“Everything is forgiven, darling. Everything.” She assured, pressing their foreheads together

[acerosu]

Day 3: Ball/Party - Successful Star Rotation

This is based off a prompt from @sparklingnight02

Yellow, Blue, and White try to throw a birthday party for Steven.

Key word: TRY

------------

Homeworld was in chaos. Peridots ran back and forth barking out orders just given to them by Agates. Between them rushed Rubies and Amethysts carrying boxes and sacks. They tripped over each other, fumbling to pick up anything dropped. Above loomed Yellow and Blue who oversaw everything. Their narrowed gazes did not fail to pick up even one mistake.

 “Get those colored rocks ready! Line them up!”

 “Where’s that cake?”

 “Tie down those balloons!”

 Yellow stopped her shouting, mouth still opened. She turned to Blue. “Balloons are those shiny hats, right?”

 “Oh stars.” Blue blinked a few times. “I’ve forgotten. I think they are the orbs that float in the air?”

 “Ah, of course.” Yellow redirected her orders. “They will be here in less than a cycle! Get the music ready!”

 Blue gave a solemn nod. She had already dealt all morning with her own court trying to organize gifts and entertainment. She stood cold at Yellows side.

 “Cake accounted for and placed, my Diamond!” A head Peridot ran up. She used to be a mechanic now she was a baker. Yellow still did not know what that was.

 “Is that what it is supposed to look like?” Yellow leaned down, inspecting the tower of what appeared to be shiny rocks.

 The Peridot saluted. “I made it just as the picture showed, my Radiance. It’s made out of pure, crystallized sugar.”

 Yellow leaned over to Blue once more. “That’s good, right?”

 “I think so. I only talked to that fusion on Earth. She said something about sugar.”

 “And how are we getting along for the Successful Star Rotation Ball, my Star Shines?”

 Both Blue and Yellow flinched, turning with a bow. “White!”

 “Now now, there’s no need for that anymore.” White tilted each of their heads back up. “This is Era 3 after all.”

 “Sorry.” Yellow stood up straight, trying hard to relax. “It’s a habit.”

 Blue nudged her. “You never reacted like that when I visited!”

 “I thought we were the same rank!” Yellow cut an innocent face. “Or I was higher.”

 White grinned.  “I have just received a communication that they are on their way.” She raised her voice, arms in the air. “Places every one!”

 The gems and their Diamonds had set up a long table with a marble throne at one end, marked for Steven. All around the outside lay a pile of gifts wrapped in wire insulation with tied circuit ribbons on top. The Earth researchers said it was the best match for the strange pictures they were sent.  Along the table were plates as well as a shiny, pointed hat for everyone to wear. These were made from precious metals. They had tried their best at balloons but gave up, in the end hovering a few monitoring drones in strategic places to give the appearance.

 White, Yellow, and Blue had their own thrones, but out of the lime light so as not to interrupt Steven’s celebration. A collection of gems made purposely to play melodic tones all started up at the same time, giving the impression of a song they had heard from Earth but missing the idea of meter and pacing.

 The leg ship came in fast, resulting in a slight impact, cracking the pink landing platform. Yellow bit her lip in worry while Blue cracked a grin. White stared ahead and pretended all was fine.

 “May I announce the great, the radiant, the perfect: Steven!”

 A flash as Steven teleported from the ship with Pearl, Amethyst and Greg. The latter looked very out of place, glancing around as if he was on an alien planet for the first time. Not counting the Zoo Station, this was a shock. He gave a nervous chuckle.

 “Wow, Steevo, they really went all out.” He pointed to the table. “That cake is bigger than the house!”

 “Woah.” All Steven could do was stare. He had been told there was a surprise for his birthday but only before the trip was he informed it would be on Homeworld, thrown by the Diamonds. “Is that wire on the presents?”

 “Ha! They almost got balloons right!” Amethyst ran over to a bunch of drones and poked them. They flitted about before returning to their original positions. “Don’t know about you but these might be better!”

 “Greetings, Steven. It is good to see you.” White bowed in reverence, followed by Blue and Yellow at her side. “We are happy to wish you a Successful Rotation around your Star.” She grinned, her cape sparkling. “We hope there are many more to come.”

 “Hi Steven.” Blue waved.

 Yellow nodded with approval.

 “What did they say?” Steven leaned over to his dad, whispering.

“Oh, Garnet spent hours trying to explain what a Birthday was.” Greg eyed the giant thrones. “I think that is what they settled on.

 “Haha!” Steven smiled up. “Thanks everyone! It all looks amazing!” He waved back at Blue.

 Groups of gems lined the table with more around the outside of the area. They stood ridged, waiting for the guest to make the first move. Steven walked over, with Pearl, Greg, and Amethyst behind him.

 “Remember, Steven.” Pearl spoke low. “Homeworld doesn’t fully understand Earth culture, so this may be a bit-“ She paused to search for the right word. “Different.”

 “That’s fine.” Steven walked over to his seat at the table, struggling to get into the throne. “I’m sure they worked super hard on everything.”

 Amethyst sat the closest, picking up the hat and putting it on her head. “Wow, it’s like they looked at a picture and just copied it.”

 “Amethyst!” Pearl picked up her hat before leaning over to Steven. “You might want to pass on the hats.”

 “Why?” Steven tired to get his but found it rather heavy. It was made of solid gold. “Oh. I see.”

 Greg took his seat and just went with the flow. “Hey, even the forks are gold! Don’t expect me to do the same for your next party.”

 A fanfare of music began. Yellow cleared her throat and stepped forward.

 “With all elegance and radiance, we now start the Successful Star Rotation Ball!”

 All the gems around the table stepped forward in unison and took their seats and hats. They were mixed types from Peridots to Rubies to Citrines. Even the Diamonds had their own hats, with Yellow’s awkwardly sitting on her pointed hair. Blue set hers in her loop and, White’s was ready to fall off at a moment’s notice.

 Steven sat, staring ahead. All that was happening was awkward: droning music playing and stern faces of gems staring at him. He flinched when they all stood at once and circled around their chairs before sitting down. Steven looked at Pearl then Greg. Amethyst was laughing it up, barely able to keep quiet.

 Blue clapped. “Now is the time for the entertainment.” She bowed, giving way for Yellow to step forward. “A grand display of power from all courts in honor of Steven.”

 Yellow put her hands behind her back and gave a curt nod. Gems on the side jumps up onto platforms scattered about. Rubies fused with each other to form giant versions of themselves. Jaspers crushed solid stone between their hands. Amethysts lifted massive crates of raw materials. Topazes cleaved metal in two with their spears. Right before the end, ships flew over; lead by one of the green hands Peridot had taken when she came to Earth with Jasper. With a wave from Yellow, all stopped and posed in their ranks. The Diamond smiled with pride.

 “Yeah! Wooo!” Amethyst was on the table clapping. “Look at them go! Did you see that?”

 Greg stared ahead, tapping his fork on the plate.

 Steven gave a forced smile. “Yes. Very impressive.” He glanced over at Pearl who was giving him wide eyes. “Thank you, Yellow. That was a good show.” Pearl cleared her throat. “I mean demonstration. Of power.” Steven looked up at the Diamond hoping his expression showed he really did enjoy it.

 “Of course, Steven. My forces are at your deposal.” Yellow gave another bow and stepped back in line with the other Diamonds.

 “Hoo boy.” Steven sat back in his chair. “There’s more, huh?”

 Pearl sighed. “Getting an army demonstration is a high honor.”

 Steven glanced back at Yellow who was grinning proudly. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“And  now for my Court’s part of the entertainment.” Blue stepped forward, her hair falling over her shoulders as she bowed with grace. “The Lapis Lazuli will give an example of their skills.”

 Fifteen Lapis walked up in front for Blue. Eyes closed in concentration, they brought up water from pipes in the ground. The liquid swirled with bits of rock and crystals as it danced in the air. Steven looked awe struck as the water moved before his eyes as if it was alive. Then it rose in the air, forming clouds until the pipes had been drained. The water was rushed away into the sky, disappearing in Homeworld’s atmosphere with barely a drop. Steven glanced over to his dad. Both blinked

 “If you ever need any of my Lapis Lazuli to drain an ocean or reroute a river for you, they are at your call Steven.” Blue bowed with her court, looking up expectantly.

 “Wow!” Steven clapped, wondering where the pretty water disappeared to. “Thanks, Blue.”

The elegant Diamond returned to her throne with the others, content. Both Yellow and Blue exchanged glances, eying White.

 “And for my display to you.” White rose, her cape trailing behind her. “I have been studying Earth culture and learned about Dancing.” She said the last word as if it was the first time she’d spoken it. “Observe.”

 White stood front and center and began to shake her hips. Her arms went up and she moved them rhythmically to not the music but something else entirely. Then she stepped around, the ground shaking as she moved from side to side, head bobbing. It was something alright, but not dancing. All those visiting from Earth struggled to keep a straight face, staring up with smiles about to burst into laughter. White continued, wiggled her hands and shaking her head before holding her arms out in a pose. Behind her. Yellow and Blue here wide eyed, confusion leaving them unable to even clap.

 White glared down.

 “THAT WAS A RIOT!” Amethyst couldn’t hold it in any more. She burst out laughing, hitting the table with her fists. “DID YOU SEE HER?”

 Pearl stayed perfectly still while Greg kept staring as if he witnessed the greatest or worse thing in the history of his existence. Steven tried to cover for all of them.

 “Ha ha!” He rubbed the back of his head. “What Amethyst means to say is that was great, White! Riot is a word we use on Earth to say something is amazing!”

 The answer seemed to work. White bowed with a grin and sauntered back to her throne with a spring in her step.

 Yellow and Blue took her place. They stood towering above.

 “We also included the Earth custom of Gift Giving.” Blue said, nodding.

 Yellow continued. “Each gift was picked out by us. We hope they are useful in your endeavors.”

 Steven looked around at the gifts piled about him. “Um. Can you guys come closer? Maybe sit down over here?” He tilted his head. “It’s kinda hard to open gifts and talk with you so far away.”

 The Diamonds exchanged glances and shrugged, walking over. Yellow awkwardly sat with her knees bent as Blue took more of a relaxed stance with her legs curled behind her. White plopped down with the grace of an overweight puppy.

 “Ok! That works.” Steven waited for the ground to stop shaking before he took the first gift. He struggled to even lift it. “Um, this one is from, I think Blue?”

 Blue nodded, having marked her gifts with her Court’s symbol.

 Steven found he couldn’t rip the wrapping either. “What is this stuff?”

 “Is it not up to Earth protocol?” Yellow asked. “We used the finest silicon materials.”

 “Oh. Well, gifts are supposed to be wrapped in stuff you can easily tear away.” He glanced at the box then back to Yellow. “So you easily get to what’s inside.”

 “Ah. Understood.” She extended a hand and electricity shot out from her fingers. The gift pile was engulfed in energy, reducing the insulation used to wrap it into barely clinging ash.

 “Yellow!” Blue scolded, frowning down at the pile. “You could have damaged something!”

 “I control my powers expertly, Blue.” She massaged her hand. “Everything is intact, more or less.”

 Steven stood with his hair poofed out from the burst of energy. He glanced over to Greg who had the same issue. Amethyst chuckled.

 “Thanks.” Steven coughed, feeling ozone in his throat. He rubbed his hair down before picking the ashes off the gift. “Oh, what’s this? A rock?”

 “It’s a chunk of pure Iron.” Blue beamed. “It can be the start of your forges on Earth!”

 Steven set the iron down with a thunk. “Well, there’s always use for iron. Thanks Blue!”

 She smiled back.

 “Alright, this one is from Yellow!” Steven didn’t even bother to try and move the gift, seeing as it was as big as a car. He brushed the ashes away. “Oh, a computer?”

 “It’s a data entry core, complete with neural link up.” Yellow explained. “It will be very useful in organizing troops and ships.”

 Steven poked at the gem tech computer, barely understanding how to turn it on. “I’m sure it’ll be great for keeping track of all the uncorrupted gems!”

 Yellow opened her mouth to object but stopped herself. “Of course. It’s the best in the line”

 “Thanks, Yellow!”

 “Open one of mine next!” White chimed in.

 Steven walked around the gifts until he found one from White. It was massive. He coughed as the ash fell from it. “Woah!” There was metal inside. As he uncovered it, the mass unfolded itself, forming a ship.

 “It’s a personal roaming eye.” White grinned. “You can spy on anyone you like and even eliminate them with the laser weapon system if need be.”

 Steven took a step back as the eye focused on him. “Uh. Wow. Thanks. You didn’t have to White.”

 ‘Of course I did!” The Great Diamond huffed. “You need protection.”

 “No I mean-“ Steven sighed. “It’s great, White. I love it.”

 More gifts were opened, each one grossly misrepresenting any interest of want Steven had. That didn’t matter. It was all from the heart. So much thought put into each little gesture from the balloons to the music to the entertainment.

 Blue got more raw minerals for Steven along with a personal rock scanner for terraforming purposes.

 Yellow got him mechanical drones and weapon plans she herself had made with the Crystal Gems in mind. Amethyst took particular interest in those.

 White got him war ships, laser weapons, and some type of bomb that would remove all the nitrogen out of an atmosphere. Steven was very careful to make sure that was placed in a safe location.

 “Alright! Time for cake!”

 “Amethyst, please.” Pearl rolled her eyes.

 “Hey, what do you want me to do?” Amethyst pointed to the giant cake. “It’s been sitting there just begging to be eaten.”

 “I suppose it is time for cake.” Blue nodded.

 Everyone looked at Steven. With the odd gifts and decorations, he had to admit he was a bit afraid of the cake. Taking his gold plate, he walked over and looked up. It appeared to be made of ice block. With his fork, he poked at it, confirming that is was in fact, very solid.

 “Uh, guys? How am I supposed to cut this?” He poked at it again, his fork making a clink sound.

 “Cut it?” Yellow tilted her head. “Why ever for?”

 “Well, so everyone gets a piece?” Steven shrugged. He didn’t know how much the Diamonds actually understood about cake or even eating.

 “I thought he was supposed to eat the entire thing.” White mused.

 Blue shook her head. “We didn’t know how much he wanted to we made a large one.”

 “Oh no. No.” Steven cracked a grin, shaking his head. “You make a big cake so everyone at the party gets a piece.” He pointed to the table. “That’s what all the plates are for I thought?”

 “Oh! That’s what those were supposed to be for!” Yellow brought her hand up to her face. “I was wondering.”

 “Well, it’s made of crystallized sugar, so cutting it may be difficult.” Blue bowed her head apologetically.

 “Wait wait.” Steven set his plate down. “Are you telling me this entire thing is made out of rock candy?

 Blue nodded, confused.

 Leaning in, Steven took a lick of a part close to him. His face lit up. “Wow! It is! That’s amazing!”

 “At least they got something right.” Pearl mumbled.

 “I can cut it.” Yellow held up her hand again. It began to glow.

 “NO!” Both Blue and Steven shouted.

 Yellow lowered her hand with a frown. “Well alright, I was just offering.”

 They all laughed. Amethyst ended up climbing onto the cake and making her own tunnel. Yellow was persuaded to break off chunks instead of zapping it so everyone could try a bit. The gathered gems took cautioned licks, in the end confused by the sensation, but soon they all gave in to enjoying the new substance. Even Blue bit into a piece, grimacing at the hardness before chewing. She liked it so much she had more made for her chambers. Yellow and White attempted to eat, but gave up after their first try.

 With the formalities officially over, gems mingled together. Steven hung with the Diamonds as they talked about difficult colonies and the time Blue lost an entire planet. Greg got new know a bunch of Peridots who offered to upgrade his van. Pearl hung with the soldiers as they went over battle techniques. Amethyst made a lair in what was now her cake.

 In the midst of everything, Yellow and Blue sat back. They watched White and Steven talk about plants on other worlds and saw every gem enjoying themselves. Blue took Yellow’s hand.

 “We got a lot of it wrong, didn’t we?” Yellow frowned.

 “Yes.” Blue smiled back. “Most of it.”

 Yellow sighed.

 “But that’s not what is important.” She pointed to Steven who was smiling and laughing along with his friends.

 Yellow nodded. “Mission successful.”

 Blue shook her head. “Do you always have to be so serious?”

 “Not all the time.” Yellow leaned in, grinning. She nuzzled her face against Blue’s cheek and gave her a kiss.

 Blue sat bolt upright, covering her no doubt blushing face. “Yellow!”

 No one had noticed. The two Diamonds continued to sit together, proud of their accomplishment. Maybe they could have their own Successful Star Rotation Day as well.

[novantinuum]

Crack the Paragon, Chapter 8

Fandom: Steven Universe

Rating: General Audiences

Words: 6.5K~

Summary: In another world, he doesn’t have his mother’s sword or shield to hide behind when Bismuth lands her strike. The bubble pops.

Steven falls apart.

Chapter summary: In which together breakfast can’t solve everything.

You can find the first/previous chapter and AO3 links in the reblogs! (I have to omit them from the original post these days to ensure this will show up in the tags.) If you enjoyed this, I’d greatly appreciate your support through reblogs here, or kudos on AO3 as well. 

_

Chapter 8: Fissures

In time, the rest of the household bursts to life.

His dad wakes up an hour or so later on his own accord, rolling out of bed and groggily stumbling into the bathroom to soak in the shower for a solid twenty minutes. Steven eagerly shares the good news— I’m whole again!— after he finally emerges, and while it takes a fair moment for his still half-conscious mind to fully grasp what he’s attempting to explain, when the message finally lands Dad lifts him off the floor and spins him around in his arms, laughing with joy. Compared to Pearl, his reaction to the gem’s rotation is minimal, which comes as a sweet relief.

“I’m just glad to see ya’ smiling and in one piece again,” he says, holding him close.

After sharing an amicable nod of greeting with Pearl, his dad sets out from the house to check on his van, promising he’ll be back in a few minutes. Apparently he needs to lock it, because he totally forgot last night. Again. Also, he did say he’d grab the waffle iron before he went to bed, so fingers crossed for that. Steven’s mouth waters at the mere thought of Dad’s homemade waffles, golden, crisp, and stacked sky high, their flavor— buttery, with a hint of lemon zest— bursting like fireworks against his tongue. Nobody makes waffles like he can, not even Pearl. While waiting for Dad to return with breakfast materials, he changes into clean jeans and a shirt. Lazily, he flops onto his belly on the couch with plans of playing Splashy Shark on his phone, only to find...

Steven groans, dropping his head face first into the middle of the cushion. His phone’s battery is so low it won’t turn on at all. Dead as a doorstop! It seems he forgot to plug it in before falling asleep once more, for the umpteenth thousandth time, even though he tried to remind himself early this morning on the beach. Typical.

“Is the world ending again over there?” Pearl— currently lounging at the kitchen counter— asks with a playful lilt to her voice. “Do we need to call in the rest of the resistance?”

“Noooo, it’s fine,” he replies, drawn out. “This is a path I must walk alone, for I’m the lad who forgets.” He rolls over onto his back, stretching his free arm towards the ceiling as if desperately reaching towards the stars. “And to forget is the dark burden I bear,” he whispers dramatically.

“You didn’t plug your phone in last night, did you?”

“Whoa, how’d you guess??”

“Steven, you do realize I’ve lived with you for almost three years, yes?”

“Oh,” he says, brows shooting up. “Right!”

Humming, he pulls himself off the couch and trots up the steps to the loft. He sets his phone on his nightstand and connects it to the charge cord. Unfortunately, it'll take a while for it to build up enough juice to turn on again. That’ll teach him. Or maybe it won’t, time will tell. He hopes it won’t be out of commission for too long, though, because he really should call Connie about all this…

The temple door begins to open. He rapidly turns upon hearing that familiar sound, just in time to see Amethyst emerging from the depths of her room. Her hair is a mess, her eyes droop in exhaustion, and for a moment one of her fingers digs halfway up her nose. More than anything, she looks like she needs a great big hug.

“Hey,” she mutters, and yawns. “Any word on ol’ Steven 2?”

“Amethyst, Amethyst, Amethyst,” he hollers, beaming from ear to ear, and leaps from the loft to greet her. He doesn’t even bother floating, with no need for a soft landing from this height. The impact of his bare feet against the floorboards reverberates through the whole house. “Guess what??”

He flings himself around the purple Gem, almost knocking her clear over in the shock of surprise affection. (Although by this point, if she’s not used to his hug attacks that’s her problem.)

“Uhhh, what?” she says, face blank even in the wake of his effervescent enthusiasm.

Pearl’s hands go to her hips. “Steven, what have I told you about jumping from the loft?

“I’m the full package again,” he declares, and throws his arms wide, pointedly ignoring her for the moment. “My gem reformed and then we fused!”

Despite her low energy otherwise, Amethyst cracks a grin at his good news. “Whoa, really? When was this?”

“This morning! I was up super early. Couldn’t sleep.”

“Sheesh. You and me both, bud.”

“At least you don’t actually need to sleep. Lucky.”

“Yeah, but I’ve been making a habit of it for so long that not sleeping pretty much has the same affect,” she says, and crosses to sit on the couch. She stretches back, body sinking into the familiar curves of the cushion she always claims. She props one of her hands behind her mass of lavender hair. “Ah, that’s more like it! So… after everything,” she begins cautiously, balling the other hand up against her gemstone, right against the facet she herself cracked about a year and a half ago. “How do you feel now?”

He shrugs one shoulder, the corner of his mouth twisting upwards. “Okay, I guess. I’m in one piece, but… everything’s different now, y’know? Even though I don’t want it to be.”

Her expression grows more downcast, the fringe of her hair shadowing her features. “Yeah.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Steven catches Pearl watching their conversation from the kitchen. It’s painfully obvious she’s trying to keep her dutiful surveillance on the down-low, her side glances interspersed with time spent washing raspberries and gathering waffle ingredients for his Dad, but he doesn’t get why this secrecy is necessary on her part. It’s not like they’re not openly discussing this in the middle of the house. If he and Amethyst really wanted to talk privately they’d wander outside, or into her room. Nonetheless, there’s nothing he could say that Pearl hasn’t already heard.

Although now that he thinks about it, there’s plenty of stuff he hasn’t told Amethyst yet. He purses his lips, unable to shake the thought of her visceral reaction to the reveal about his mo— about Rose— that dropped like an anvil on their family last night. With that in mind, how will she respond to the permanent visual reminder of this change that he now embodies?

With a quick glance between Pearl and the doorway his dad left through, his mind is made. If he isn’t forthright now, she’ll find out eventually. He figures it’s better she hears it from him rather than through the grapevine.

“Y’know, I should probably mention,” he says with a half laugh. “My gem did a bit of a weird thing. It kinda… flipped?” To prove his point, Steven lifts up the hem of his t-shirt, barring the diamond for all to see.

Amethyst squints as she peers at his gem. “What the fu—“

“Amethyst,” Pearl interjects sternly, crossing towards the pair of them.

“—uuuuuudge is that? Gems can do that??”

She rolls her eyes. “Somehow I doubt that every Gem can—“

“Oooo, lemme try!” she gleefully squeals, leaping to her feet in one bound and throwing her arms aloft.

Her gemstone begins to glow a soft purple as the finer details of her form blur into an indistinguishable mass of light. The edges of this light bend and wobble, and she seethes in intense concentration, but despite her efforts her gemstone refuses to budge.

Gasping for breath, her hard light form snaps back into its customary shape like a rubber band. The light fades, revealing her scowl. “Aww man, no fair! Everyone else gets all the cool powers.”

“Haha, well I didn’t exactly do it on purpose,” Steven says, shrugging nonchalantly.

The screen door slams open, prompting everyone in the room to sling their attention to the man standing tall and proud with the cast iron kitchen appliance brandished like a sword in his hands.

“Who’s excited for waffles??” he asks, his grin contagious.

Steven shoots his hand in the air. “Oooh, me, me! I’m excited for waffles!”

“Then guess today’s your lucky day,” he chuckles, moving across the house to the counter. “Pearl, ‘ya wanna help a man out here?”

“Ah, yes!” she chimes, raising en pointe as she triumphantly jabs her finger in the air. “Of course! I’ve even taken the liberty of gathering the ingredients for you already.”

Dad stutters for a moment, clearly not expecting this turn of events considering her former animosity towards him. Their family trip to Empire City— the night the tides forever changed— wasn’t that long ago, after all. He threads anxious fingers through a thick length of hair.

“Wow, you, uh- thank you.”

Steven follows them to the kitchen area, stars in his eyes as he rapturously watches their amicable interactions. Showcasing a surprising capacity for teamwork, they set up the waffle iron and start to prepare that gooey, delicious batter. His mouth waters at the mere scent of the lemon his dad squeezes into the bowl. Acting on unspoken impulse, Pearl grabs a whisk and accepts the bowl from him, beating the mix of ingredients until it’s reached the perfect consistency. The tastiest pancakes and waffles come from batter that’s still a little lumpy, his dad always says, since that causes them to rise better. In any case, his taste buds can hardly wait.

“I’m so hungry I think I could eat like, four bazillion waffles,” he tells Amethyst in the most candid voice he can muster, relocating to the couch she’s lounging on with a hop and a skip.

“Heh,” she says, a suitably up-to-no-good smirk framing her face. “Not if I get to all of ‘em first!”

“Whaaat? Naw, come on, you wouldn’t do that to your favorite Steven!”

“Are you kidding? I’d steal food from myself! After I swallowed it.”

“Ewww,” he laughs, his nose scrunching up.

They continue to laugh together for a solid few seconds, but the enthusiasm holding their facades together so precariously soon fades. Meanwhile, in the background Dad and Pearl converse as easily as if they’d never carried a decades-long feud to begin with. (Oh, the sweet irony of this reversal!) Steven clamps his lips together, for once clueless what to say to Amethyst to make everything better. Their conversations aren’t usually like this. They aren’t so… stilted, like he has to traverse across a lake of thin ice. He sighs, feeling his chest rise and fall with a weight almost heavier than the memory of the last few hours. That’s the one thing he fears most, if he’s honest about all this— that as a consequence of the mess Rose left him, his relationships with the Gems will never be the same again.

He can only guess Amethyst heard his sigh, because she’s the one who first moves to break the silence.

“Hey, uh,” she begins quietly, and shoots a quick glance at Pearl, meeting her eyes briefly before looking back at him. “I’m sorry for… well, everything, really. That I said last night.”

He frowns, the memory of her words’ sting suddenly looping itself in his mind like a broken record.

“And then, what? She creates you just so she doesn’t have to deal with the fact she’s a liar?”

“Oh. You, uh,” he scratches at the back of his neck, “you don’t need to apologize for that. We were all pretty stressed, I get it.”

“No. I do!” she insists, her expression stretching wide. “What I said, it wasn’t just mean, it was wrong. Like, I still feel like I don’t know anything about Rose, or Pink, or whatever anymore, okay? But just because I don’t get anything doesn’t make you— gah, forget it,” she says hurriedly, waving the thought away. “The point is, I’m sorry, y’know? For real.”

The earnesty of her apology covers his wounds like a salve. Blinking heavily, he throws his arms around her, burying his face into her hair.

“Apology heartily accepted,” he says, muffled.

The stiffness in her form eases up, and she finally, truly allows herself to hug him back.

“Thanks, dude.”

From that point forward, the atmosphere of the house grows lighter. No longer needing to worry about the state of his relationship with Amethyst, Steven throws himself into the nuttiness and excitement of family time feet first. The two of them horse around while Dad and Pearl continue making breakfast, wrestling each other in front of the warp pad. It doesn’t take long for a stack of waffles to pile up on the counter, cooked to a golden brown perfection. Catching his breath from all the play fighting, he eagerly rushes to sit himself at the counter next to the purple Gem, empty plate and utensils already set in front of them. His legs freely dangle, not long enough yet to reach the foot rest midway down the stool. He’s not paying attention to hear it, but his dad must have said something witty because Pearl is chuckling breathlessly. It’s probably one of his corny dad jokes. Pearl will never admit it, but she has a secret sweet spot for his puns.

The temple door slides open— a rush of slightly stale air wafting in to greet them— as Dad removes the last waffles from the iron. Beaming, his attention immediately peels away from the promise of food in favor of the entrance of one of his favorite people.

“Garnet!” he calls, throwing his arms wide.

“Good morning, Steven,” she says with a slight sing-song lilt in her voice, crossing the room towards the rest of the family. With a slight smile, she places her hands solid on his shoulders. “I presume you figured out how to fuse back together with your other half.”

“Yup! All together,” he grins, titling his neck back to peer up at her.

“Except his gem flipped, and now it’s all funky,” Amethyst interjects in a flash, playfully jabbing him right at his navel.

Garnet’s comforting grip slackens, her hands slipping free.

“Hey!” he giggles, smacking Amethyst’s arm away. “No tickling!”

“It’s not tickling, it’s revenge!” she says with a loud raspy chortle, and puts him in a headlock, scruffing at his hair until it’s a frizzy mess. He kicks his legs in futile protest as she mounts her attack, laughing until the pressure in his lungs is too much to handle and tears prickle at the corner of his eyes. It’s the most he’s laughed since… well, since before he was cracked.

The others, however, aren’t smiling. They don’t seem to be paying any attention to their antics at all. Pearl’s hand is balled at her chin, her soft blue eyes pinned on the Crystal Gem leader. Even his dad’s peering at her with concern, the spatula dangling off one finger.

“Garnet?” his dad asks, his frown deepening the faint wrinkles around his eyes.

“Are you all right?” Pearl chimes in.

“I…” She clenches her fists, averting her glance. “I don’t understand. Your gem—“

Amethyst scoffs. “—is all diamond shaped now, and it’s totally weird. Steven, show her!”

He gives a slight scowl, subtle enough that the others wouldn’t pick up on it right away. It would be nice if she wasn’t being so pushy about this, if he could find the right moment to tell Garnet himself. But with everyone here watching in anticipation, there’s really nothing else he can do.

Sighing heavily, he lifts his shirt, exposing his gem. “After I fused with my gem half, it was just like this. I still don’t get why.”

Her visor may cover her eyes, but he knows the spectrum of her expressions well enough that he doesn’t need to see them to know all three pupils have shrunk into pinpricks. Her mouth widens into a circle, crystallizing in her shock.

“Oh,” she breathes heavily, grinding her teeth against each other hard. “I- I never foresaw this possibility.”

Sweat beads at his brow. Even though she’s trying to mask it (probably for his sake), he can tell she’s struggling to keep from falling apart. Her hands are visibly quivering, and the gems inlaid in her palms pulse with light. He swallows hard, lump hanging in his throat. “Heh, what can I say?” he shrugs with a nervous laugh. “Guess I’m just really unpredictable!”

“Perhaps,” she says quietly, thankfully managing to pull herself together again. She flexes her fists, their tremor receding. Crossing her arms, she moves to lean against the wall by the fridge.

The household falls so quiet that Steven can hear his own stomach gurgle, everyone staring at the fusion in wordless worry.

His dad coughs. “Well, anyways,” he says, spinning the spatula in a circle. “Who else wants waffles?”

“Lay ‘em on me,” Amethyst says, holding out her plate. He serves her two to start. She shoots him a pair of finger guns, and digs in.

“Okay. I’m assuming none for Pearl?”

“That would be correct, thanks.”

He promptly turns towards the Crystal Gem leader, a weak grin stretching across his face despite the soured atmosphere.

“What about you, Garnet?” Wanna try the ol’ Universe family recipe?”

She shakes her head in singular motion. “No.”

The churning in Steven’s stomach fades into obscurity in light of the bitter prospect of his guardian’s emotional instability. So much for daring to hope that they could all make amends where needed, refrain from obsessing over their problems, and move on. He slumps on his stool. Dad deposits a pair of golden, buttery waffles on his plate, artfully garnishing the stack with a dollop of whipped cream and a cluster of raspberries from the bowl of them that Pearl washed earlier, but the idea of together breakfast no longer sounds very appetizing anymore. After all, it’s not the food that makes a together breakfast, it’s the company. And with Pearl and Dad standing nervously to the side, Garnet struggling to remain stable, and even Amethyst sapped of her usual spunk in the light of their demons, this is about as far from together a family can get. What did he do wrong? Why isn’t this the sunny future Garnet showed him last night?

Leaning his cheek into the palm of his hand, he aimlessly picks at his breakfast with his fork.

Amethyst glances over at him, already neck deep into her own meal. “Eat up little man, they’re super good!” she declares.

His mouth turns up into a small grimace the longer he stares at the food. It looks wonderful, but...

“Actually, I’m not all that hungry anymore.”

“Steven, you need to eat,” his dad says.

“I just said, I’m not hungry.”

Dad’s brow furrows as he leverages one of his rare father knows best faces at him. Steven looks to Pearl for rescue, but she (perhaps wisely) averts her eyes, choosing not to interject herself into Greg’s parenting.

Amethyst, however, is more than willing to take up the charge. “If you don’t eat up in two minutes, I’m claiming them,” she threatens, deadpan. “I’ll lick them, nice and slow, with lots of slobber, and then they’ll be mine.”

“Okay, okay!” he says, holding his hands up defensively. “Geeze.”

He blows a weary burst of air past his lips, grabs his fork, and begins digging in to appease his dad. The first bites settle like stones in the pit of his empty stomach. He has to admit, even if his appetite is zilch, at least they’re good tasting waffles. All his guardians visibly relax upon seeing him start to eat breakfast. Amethyst’s tensed shoulders drop. Pearl allows herself to lean back against the counter. Garnet uncrosses her arms. Out of the corner of his eyes, he catches a glimpse of the fusion picking up the can of whipped cream and squirting some directly into her mouth when she thought the other two Gems weren’t looking. The corner of his mouth perks up. Looks like someone has a secret sweet tooth!

He’s halfway through the second of the pair of waffles when the short quartz sitting next to him grins devilishly.

“Hey, Steven…”

“Hnn?” he utters, muffled through the food in his mouth.

She flicks a raspberry at him. “Catch this hide!”

He yelps, just barely ducking in time to miss the fruit. It falls apart upon impact on the floor, its juices exploding outward across the wood.

“Touchdown,” she says, and blows off her finger as if it were a pistol.

The edge of his lips curve up, chipping away at his melancholy. “Oh, I see what you’re steppin’ in!”

Pearl groans, throwing her hand against her temple. “Must you two really—“

“Let them have this,” Garnet says coolly as she leans back against the fridge, the whipped cream can still dangling at the edge of her grasp.

“But we just cleaned this place!”

Amethyst chucks another cluster of berries at him, but this time he’s expecting her fruity projectiles. He cranes his neck back, letting his mouth fall open wide. One of the raspberries bounces off his chin. Close, but not quite. If he’s quick enough, maybe he can catch one in his mouth. That’d be pretty awesome! Thankfully she seems to catch on to his ploy, because she starts to toss them underhand. He stifles giggles as he successfully snaps one— no, two— berries right out of the air.

“There’s some days I feel like we’re raising two children,” he hears Pearl comment to his dad offhand, as they watch them fool around with their food from the sidelines.

“And there’s some days I feel like I’m raising four,” he mutters under his breath.

“What?”

He coughs into his fist. “Uh, nothing!”

She raises a vaguely disgruntled brow at him, but doesn’t say anything more on the matter.

He and his quartz sibling gleefully continue messing around with their edible projectiles until they grow bored of it, soon returning to eating their food like (mostly normal) beings. Really, he can only speak for himself, since she’s recently taken to eating the paper plates along with her breakfast. He grins through a mouthful of whipped cream. This is one of the many things he loves and admires about her, that she always knows how to cheer him up when he needs it. Before their little food fight, the soured atmosphere of his household left him almost feeling sick, but he already feels a lot better now. Needless to say, with his restored appetite the last waffle doesn’t take long to disappear.

“Next time you really gotta try one!” he enthuses to Garnet as he discards his paper plate, weaving between Pearl and his father as they begin to clean the kitchen. “Dad’s waffles are batter than anything!”

He contorts his features into the most exaggerated expression he can muster, waiting with baited breath for the shoe to drop. On the other side of the counter, Amethyst snorts.

Her nostrils twitch with an uncertain air, the straight edge of her visor casting a deep shadow on her face. She stands with her arms wrapped tight around her torso, like a tourniquet wrapped around a bleeding wound. “Hmm. Perhaps one day.”

And in the space of those three simple words, his little heart breaks into pieces. She almost always chuckles at his corny puns, always! So for her to barely even acknowledge them, for her to bottle away all her usual joy and confidence and quiet wit and hide it under a rock solid mask of falsified indifference, it stings more than anything. He thought she’d grown past this.

“Garnet, what’s wrong?” he asks, voice cracking in his anguish. The others all look up from whatever they’re doing with obvious curiosity, all of them silently asking the same question but none of them having the courage to approach their leader directly. “You’ve been like this all morning, ever since—“

With a shallow gasp, his eyes grow glassy. Her mood drastically changed the moment she saw his flipped gem. He clamps his hands over his mouth.

Oh, shards.

He did this.

Both Pearl and Dad move on automatic at the sight of emotional distress, the Gem solidly clasping his shoulder, and his father wrapping his arms around him. Across the room, Amethyst bites at her bottom lip, expression alight with genuine compassion.  

“Steven.” Garnet kneels to address him face-to-face, sighing heavily in her exhaustion, worrisome as that is. He quickly blinks through the burn of unshed tears, glancing up at her. “The truth is, I— we have something we need to share. With all of you.”

The room fills with uncomfortable tension, the shock of her admission and its concerningly specific wording sinking in like maple syrup soaking through a waffle’s airy layers.

He rubs at the corner of one of his eyes. “W- we? I don’t—“

Pearl steps towards her, shaking her head in a daze. “Garnet, no, surely you can’t mean that…”

“Ruby and Sapphire have decided they want to take some time apart. Indefinitely.”

His mouth falls ajar, but there’s nothing he can think of to say. Steven’s chest rumbles, shaken with cries anchored too deep in his soul for him to actually express. In a heartbeat his dad pulls him closer.

“But… why?” Amethyst asks, face painted in shades of faint betrayal.

She adjusts her visor. “Because in the wake of recent revelations, we’ve realized that we only remained Garnet because of her.”

“Garnet, you—“ Pearl stammers— “now you know that’s not true! You saved each other’s lives, you fell in love with each other, you—“

“We stayed fused because a diamond took us by the hands and ordered us not to question who we were as Garnet,” she corrected. “Ruby and Sapphire, they never truly got the luxury to seek self fulfillment as individuals, not like you or Amethyst did. We… we both need time to reflect on what’s happened.”

Slowly swaying in his dad’s embrace, hugging those sturdy, dependable arms to his chest, Steven quietly speaks up.

“If both of you have been hurting ever since last night, then why didn’t you unfuse already? Why push through it just to come to breakfast?”

The fusion pauses, probably considering her phrasing. She briefly balls her hand at her chin, fingers pressing against one of her gems, and then taking a breath, allows her visor to shimmer away entirely. Her eyes glisten as she imparts her honest answer.

“If I unfused earlier, I wouldn’t have gotten to hug you goodbye.”

He can’t stifle his sobs any longer. Breaking away from his dad, he throws himself at Garnet and— pressing his cheek against her chest— gives a keening cry, the mounting pressure abruptly releasing from his chest but manifesting across his features as dry as a bone. He’s cried too many tears in such a short span of time that he almost wonders if he’s finally hit the bottom of the well. His fingers grip at her familiar form as if he can single-handedly keep her here together with him forever. He dry sobs in her arms until he aches, vying to burn the comforting sensation of his guardian’s solid hold, the assurance of the even thrum running through her hard light body, into his memory forever more.

The other two Gems join in the embrace, kneeling on the floor with him and wrapping themselves around him like a blanket.

“You- but you can’t just leave us,” Amethyst whispers brokenly. “Not now!”

Her voice hitches. She sighs, pressing her forehead against the smaller Gem’s. “I know this is gonna hurt you, I know. And we’re sorry. We’re so, so sorry. But we need time to reflect, to understand who we are apart from Garnet."

“Yeah, but…”

“Listen to me,” she says gently, pulling back and lifting her chin. “You are enough. An inimitable cut of quartz, just as you are. Please. Even in your darkest moments, never let yourself forget the depth of your worth.”

She nods, her lip quivering.

“And Pearl.”

The ebony Gem peels away from the hug at her beckoning to catch a glimpse at her, her pale blue irises glinting through the liquid pooling over them.

“In my absence, I need you to be strong. Not only for yourself, but for all of us. The Crystal Gems will do well under your leadership.”

She hums in confirmation, taking her new mission to heart. “Of course,” she says, straightening her back and sniffing away her tears.

Garnet turns her saddened gaze to him next, passing her fingers through his tangled mop of hair. “Steven.”

“Y-yeah?”

“None of this is your fault.”

“B-b-but—” he blubbers.

“None of it. The past is not your burden. And any time you begin to fear it is, I want you to pause… take a deep breath… and remember how much we all love you. You are your own Gem."

He bobs his head slowly, sniffling as his breath evens out.

The fusion sits back on her heels, ending their long embrace.

“Greg,” she says as she stands, leveling her three eyes directly at him. Though Steven has no clue what, some silent conversation passes between the two of them— like charge passing through circuitry— in a series of subtle, indecipherable expressions. “Take care of my family.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replies evenly, wiping a stray tear away from his own cheek.

Closing her eyes, Garnet begins to glow white, the gems at the core of her being shifting and separating into two smaller light bodies. They’re still holding hands at the moment the glow fades. Sapphire is the first to let go, letting her gloved fingers fall loose against the skirt of her dress.

Ruby’s face is a blank stone wall, one that’s been visibly chipped away at. Her eyes clearly glisten, as if she’s about to fall apart at any moment yet is stubbornly holding this outburst of emotion back until she can escape to a place of privacy. Sapphire, on the other hand, makes no attempt to mask her distress. As always the fringe of her hair covers half of her face, but the tracks of her tears flow down her cheek and to her chin, threatening to drip onto her bodice.

Despite the unfortunate nature of their appearance, Steven can’t deny he’s still glad to get a chance to see them.

“Um… h-hi, Ruby, Sapphire,” he stutters with his best attempt at a smile. “Long time no see?”

“Hello, Steven,” the blue Gem responds in amicable but still relatively formless monotone, as she clasps her gemless hand over the other. She sniffs, wiping the stray lines of hard light based fluid away from her eye and nose before allowing her expression to crystallize again. Gathering herself, she turns to face the group. “If all of you will excuse me, I need some time to think. Alone, for once.”

With not another word— not even an attempt at greeting the others, or consoling Ruby, who looks ready to cry at a moment’s notice— Sapphire turns on a dime and effortlessly glides across the warp pad to the temple door. She holds her right palm to the crystals embedded in the stonework, the blue one glowing bright in response. The seldom used entrance unlocks with a sonorous click. They all watch in stunned silence as she disappears through the opening, into the vast depths of the Crystal Temple.

The group stands ramrod straight, no one budging an inch as they stare vacantly at the doorway. Ruby folds her hands tight together, pressing them to her chest.

Pearl, thankfully, is the first to break the spell. (He’s thankful because he isn’t sure if anyone else here could’ve gathered the courage in the light of everything that just happened, himself included.)

“Oh Ruby, I’m so sorry,” she whispers, balling her hand against her mouth.

“D’ya wanna go punch some stuff in the Kindergarten with me?” Amethyst offers softly, slinging her arm around the shorter Gem.

Steven weakly raises a finger in suggestion. “Or we could play some games here. I finally found that limited release console version of Fight Fighters a few days back, if that’s up your alley.”

“And I could always take you for a quiet drive up the coast,” Greg says.

She shakes her head, shrugging away from Amethyst's attempt at comfort. “I- I don’t really wanna talk to any of you right now, to be honest. S’ not your fault, but—“

Ruby pauses, her small form nearly shaking as she averts her gaze from them all, staring into the middle distance with glassy eyes.

“I think… for now, I jus- I just need to run away,” she croaks. “Sorry."

Not even bothering to hold back her sobs anymore, she barrels across the room in a flurry of anguish and climbs the steps to the warp pad. Everything happens so fast that no one can react quick enough to stop her before she activates it, a burst of cyan light springing forth to whisk her away into the stream. In seconds, she’s gone.

Steven shuffles his feet, feeling for all the world as if some antagonistic force of the universe just stole a decent chunk of his heart away.

“Well, now what?” Amethyst says with a big shrug.

Pearl crosses her arms, her lips curving into a subtle sneer at the glibness of her attitude. “What do you mean, ‘now what?’ We’re going to go round them up, sit them both down, have a calm, rational discussion, and fix this!”

“But you can’t just— ughhh,” she groans, throwing her head back. “They’re not inanimate objects for you to sort into piles, P! You can’t expect to throw them together and like, make them fuse again! That’s not how it works!”

“Now, that’s not what I meant, I—“

“Bull! It’s exactly what you meant!”

She haughtily turns up her nose, aghast. “I don’t appreciate the accusatory tone you’ve taken with me!”

“And there you go, gettin’ all defensive,” she says, throwing her arms up. Her form glows white as she effortlessly shapeshifts into a picture perfect purple doppleganger of her. “Blah, blah, blah blah blah,” she spits in the most exaggerated voice she can muster, twirling the bottom ribbon of her sash on her finger. “I’m Pearl, and I know better than everyone else ‘coz I’m always right!”

“Amethyst! That’s enough!”

He pales as he watches the two of them outright self destruct. In many ways, it’s a disappointing step back. He hasn’t seen them spat this badly for almost a year. His feet shuffle awkwardly beneath him, bare toes twitching as his mind yearns for some brilliant idea that could stop this fight in its tracks, but at the current moment he’s got nothing.

“Daaaad,” he whispers lowly, obscuring his mouth from their view with a cupped hand. “Help me out here?”

His father grits his teeth, nervously stepping forward between him and the two Gems at each other’s throats. “H-hey, you two, how about we all take a deep breath a—“

“Shut up, Greg!” they shout in unison, whirling on him.

He throws his palms up, immediately backing away from their vitriolic spat. Steven grabs onto his arm once he’s returned to him, hugging it close to his chest, which is growing tighter and tighter by the second. He absolutely hates seeing his family fight, more than anything, but when they refuse to listen to reason, what can he do about it?

“As I was trying to say, you’re completely taking my words out of context,” Pearl hisses, advancing on her.

“No, I’m not!” she hollers, her voice echoing into the rafters of the compact beach house. She jabs her finger under the other Gem’s nose, the action violent enough in its intensity that Steven can’t help but flinch at the sight. “You still wanna think you can wave your little hand and have everything go back to the way it was, poof, like magic! But guess what?! You can’t!! Garnet’s gone, we have no real leader, Ruby disappeared to shard knows where, you can barely explain a single thing without locking up, basically everything we ever knew about Rose was a complete lie, a-and, and—“

“And now it’s Steven’s turn to leave,” he declares abruptly, the tension held in thick knots within him easing at his bold decision.

This is apparently enough to snap Pearl out of her emotional tizzy, his guardian whirling to face him with an embarrassed flush blooming blue across her cheeks. “Oh, Steven, I—“

Spinning on his heels, he scrambles away from the others as fast as he can, heart racing, only pausing to retrieve his phone from where it’s been charging and to slip on sandals. “I’m sorry, can’t talk, I’m headedtotown, needsomefreshair, bye!”

He lets it slam behind him as he races out into the arms of Beach City’s breezy, overcast morning. His flip flops clap rhythmically against his heels.

“Wait! Steven!” his dad calls after him, but it’s already too late. He’s not going back in, he refuses. Not now, not with everyone being so sullen and argumentative and weird.

He thought they could move on, he thought all this repressed pain and feelings of betrayal could heal and they could all grow closer for it, but apparently he’s wrong. Nothing about this messed up situation is ever going to get better, is it? He doubles over as he passes the mailbox, his sprint slowing to an abrupt halt. His teeth clench, his fingers digging into the fabric of his jeans like rose barbs through delicate skin as he catches his breath. Steven digs into his pocket for his phone.

“Hoh geeze,” he mutters, holding down the power button to force restart. “This is such a mess.”

At least he was wise enough to grab his phone in the first place. Blessedly, the screen finally lights up.

And as feared, he’s met with a hefty cluster of missed notifications from Connie. Sweat beads on his brow as he begins to scroll through them, even though he knew darn well this was coming.

Connie: Um?? How was any of that supposed to not make me worry?

Connie: Are you okay?

Connie: Steven? ???

Missed call- Connie Maheswaran, 7:02 am.

Missed call- Connie Maheswaran, 7:04 am.

Connie: Pls call me when you can

Missed call- Connie Maheswaran, 7:51 am.

Missed call- Connie Maheswaran, 8:47 am.

Connie: Seriously I’m kinda freaking out rn what’s going on over there, I’d come over as backup if I could but I’m packing for the India trip and mom won’t let me leave

He purses his lips, silently smacking himself for sending that stupid, stupid text early this morning in the first place. “Yeah, I should probably clear this up,” he mumbles.

Steven swipes to unlock his phone, navigates to Connie’s contact, and presses the video chat button. Forget calls. This is definitely a scenario in need of face-to-face communication. If they can’t be in the same place at the same time, a video chat is the second best thing.

He plops himself down in the sand, and patiently waits through the first and second dial.

____

Notes:

Woo, this was a fun one (see: heart wrenching) to write. I enjoyed tackling a wide variety of family interactions here.

Some random notes for this chapter:

-HC: while Pearl hates eating, she's actually a fairly good cook. She's the one who makes sure Steven's getting some good ol' healthy food in him.

-Uhh, that game Steven was gonna play before he realized his phone was Dead with a capital D, 'Splashy Shark,' is just this universe's version of Flappy Bird, honestly. Don't ask why, haha, I thought it'd be amusing. XD

-I HC that non-diamond type Gems wouldn't be able to flip their gemstone like Pink/Rose/Steven can. It's something that requires a whole lot of power to carry out. Thus why even Amethyst, the shapeshifting master, can't manage it. As an added point, Rose was able to shift the color of her skin to a far lighter shade and completely change her eyes, whereas other Gems tend to retain their color scheme when they shapeshift. Rose definitely had an extra strong shapeshifting ability in the first place.

-After chapter five, the insinuation is that Garnet went into the temple, unfused, and Ruby and Sapphire had their little falling out there. They only fused again to come out for breakfast because they realized Garnet never got a chance to hug Steven goodbye for now- and they weren't sure when (if ever) they'd be fusing again. Whether this softened the blow or made it worse for the kid is up for debate.

-That being said, I want to clarify that this definitely isn't the end of Ruby and Sapphire's relationship. I'll tag more thoroughly once I start diving into specifics, but their arcs will be about self discovery, both about who they are as individuals and in relation to each other.

-I did not expect to end up writing a Pearl and Amethyst spat in this chapter when I first planned it, but I'm certainly not complaining. It just sorta... organically happened. XD

-The title of this fic actually has a double meaning... the word 'paragon' can refer to both a diamond, or something that is an example of perfection. The divergence in this world led to Steven's gem being cracked, but it also essentially shattered the perfect little family dynamic that he'd had for so long at this point.

[blueberryrock]

Hey here is chapter five. Enjoy!

(Blue's pov)

It has been one month after me and Yellow have got the news, the first week has been nothing but gems congratulating and telling me how "lucky" I am.

I don't feel very lucky.

"Hey blue" I jolt awake from the sound of some gem saying my name. I lift my head a little to look to my left. All I see tons of books, huh I fell asleep in the library.

The grogginess starts to wear off, I look down to a blue screen at I was working on.

I turn the screen on, the time read a quarter cycle till twenty-seven. I let out a groan.

The gem put their hand on my back, I jolt again. "Blue?" They ask.

"Oh, White, I'm going to be honest, I didn't notice you were here" I yawn.

"Ok let's get you to bed" White says. Before I can comprehend what happened, White pulls my chair out from the desk, I quickly stand up which was a bad idea, almost instantly a wave of exhaustion rolls over me.

"I still have to-" I cut myself off with a yawn "mmmm reports" I finish sleepily.

White only chuckles "no, you are pregnant and I am watching over you, Yellow would be mad if you stay up any later. Although all you were doing was sleeping.." White gently pushes me to the side and scoots in my chair.

I grab the screen that I was working on and I put it in a secret pocket in my dress. "I'm ready to go" I say in defeat "I hate how I have to sleep all the time"

"Sleeping is the best thing you have to do, I've seen what happens with food" she says with a hint of disgust.

"Yeah, it's even worse when it comes up" I sigh as we make our way out of the record vault.

White turns to look at me "It can come up" she says, her stone gray eyes go wide.

"Unfortunately yes" I sigh.

We continue down the hall, past the records vault and the medical wing. Out the big blue doors to another set of big blue doors.

"You know you should really have that panel moved" White grumbles as she gets back up from her knees.

I give her a small smile as the doors that lead into my sleeping chambers open, the warm, familiar, and a hint of lavender-scented air hits us.

I quickly walk to my vanity and I grab one of my hairbrushes. I sit down and I start brushing my hair, I look in the blue teardrop mirror. The doors close as white turns on the light to my room.

I can fully see my face, my skin color has turned back to its normal color so I did my hair, but my bags under my eyes are still dark.

I let out a big yawn and my eyes water, I wipe my eyes and I set my blue hairbrush on the vanity, I push my chair out and stand up. I don't even bother pushing it back in, I slowly walk to my dresser and I pull out a nightgown.

The nightgown isn't very long, it only stops just above my knees. I phase away my dress and bra, not caring that White Diamond is still in the room with me. I put the silky light blue gown on and I head to my bed.

I just flop onto the bed face first, I slowly sink down, White is on the bed and on her side just watching me.

"You ready for bed" she says.

I let out a muffled response.

"Blue, sit up" White orders.

I do as she says "I said yes, after years of pink's tantrums I thought you could understand someone talking into a pillow".

I pull the blankets out from underneath her. "And I don't need you babysitting me" I say as I lay down, I pull the blankets on top of me.

"Babysitting" White mutters under her breath, she shakes her head a little "Yellow told me to watch over you, and so I am, I know how protective she can be over you and in this state I can't blame her".

"Yeah but i-" I get cut off.

"In watching over you, and there is nothing you can do about it" White raises her voice.

"I'm not some little weak organic that needs to be constantly watched." I snap at her.

White shoots me an angry look "I-i'm sorry" I lower my head and quickly apologize.

White gets off the bed, she lets out a sigh "I'll send some topazes to guard your chambers, you should get some rest" White walks to the door and turns off the light, she opens the door and then leaves.

I pull the pillow she was leaning on and I shove it into my face, after a few seconds I sit up and hit myself with it.

I shouldn't have said that but just because I'm...pregnant...I shouldn't have to be watched over. I fling my pillow like a disk, it lands on the carpet.

I fall back onto my pillow, I maneuver on my side to face where Yellow would be. I wish Yellow was, unfortunately, a small rebellion has broken out on one of her old colonies so she is gone for a few rotations.

Yellow was never good at diplomacy, well nether was I, when you're a powerful race that conquers planets, there isn't really a need for it. But I happen to be the best out of the three of us.

Which is why I stayed up so late today, I was sorting through the mess Yellow had made. I let out another big yawn,  I turn onto my back then to my other side so I can face the wall and I pass out.

Dream World

"Blue" someone familiar yells

I quickly snap up from my position, the back of my head hits something hard.

"Ouch" I wince as I rub the spot with my hand, I look at what I hit my head on, it's my throne, I'm sitting in one of my old thrones.

I then look at my dress, it's my old dark blue one strap dress. I take a strand of my hair, it's as dark as the night sky.

The person that yelled my name smacks my hand with their own tiny hands, I turn to look at them.

"Pink!" I exclaim, I grab her and pull her into a hug.

"B-blue...can-n't breathe" she sputters out.

I immediately drop her, she falls on her but and onto my lap. "Sorry" I say "hey wait, we don't need air to breathe".

Pink smiles at me "well you were squeezing me so tight, anyways you promised to take me to your new colony".

"I did?" I ask.

Pink nods very quickly "yeah you said that once the lazulis are done with terraforming you'd take me there, well it's been a year and they're done" pink says excitedly.

I smile at her, then it dawns on me, was it today...I quickly put pink down on the ground and pull up a screen and I look at the date.

No....no no no... Today was the day that Pink got "shattered" or turned into Rose Quartz.

I stand up almost stepping on Pink, she starts running to the door, she hits the panel and calls for me "come on Blue" she says.

She runs out of the room."Pink" I say as I run to the door, once I get to the door a blood-chilling scream rips through the quiet room.

I frantically try to open the door, but I accidentally hit the panel to hard and it breaks. "Pink" I start sobbing.

I eventually I break down the door with my own hands, I pry open the door and I step outside.

The soft wind blows from the left, I see pink's palanquin in front of me. I start walking towards it sobbing "pink, no pink" I cry harder.

My foot hits something hard, I look down to find not only Pink's shards but White's shards and Yellow's shard.

I drop to my knees, I pick up their shards and I hug them tightly to my gem. "NO" I scream to no one. Tears are pouring from my eyes, but my aura isn't loose.

I hear faint footsteps in front of me, I look up, through my blurry vision I all I see is a pink and white figure. As the figure comes closer I try to stand up, and I'm still cradling the gem shards in my hands, I wipe the tears in my eyes to see a Rose Quartz. No...the Rose Quartz.

"Y-you" is all I say before she tackles me to the ground. The gem shards go flying, and they hit the ground and shatter into even more pieces.

I scream in terror.

She holds her long, pink, blood-covered blade above my gem, "don't worry, you'll join them" she thrusts her blade deep into my gem and through my back and pins me into the ground.

"Noooo" I scream as I quickly sit up. Tears roll down my cheeks, I move some of my still light hair to check my gem for anything, a few tears drop onto my skin and my gem.

I sigh as I see no cracks or any other sign of damage, tears are still rolling down my cheeks. I feel my stomach churn from the stress of my dream, I look up at the sound of my doors opening.

Two topazes run into my room. "Are you *sniff* okay my diamond?" she asks as tears roll down her own eyes.

"W-we heard *sniff* screa-aming" the second one says.

I look around my room to see blue light has consumed everything "i-im fine" I quickly wipe my eyes and pull my aura in "sorry about that, it was just a bad dream"

"Okay, but if you need anything we'll get it for you" the other topaz says, I nod as they exit the room and close the door.

I wipe my entire wet face with my arm, my stomach is still killing me, I fall back down onto my pillow. I clutch my belly with my hand while the other one wonders where Yellow would be.

Stars, I wish she was here, usually when I'd get a nightmare she would sing me to sleep while she'd hold me. Maybe I should try to talk to her, I could send her a message, but I want to see her face.

I sit back up and summon another blue screen, I squint from the brightness but I turn that all the way down, I glide my fingers across the screen trying to call her.

Once the screen starts buzzing, I wait for her to pick up. "Come on, come on, the rebels shouldn't be giving you so much trouble" I tap my finger on my uncovered thigh "well I shouldn't underestimate any rebellion, no matter the size"

I let it buzz for a few more seconds before I hang up "she going to pay for that" I grumble.

"Maybe I shou- no she is probably still mad, maybe I should talk to Steven. No, he's probably asleep or busy" I mumble to myself out loud.

I sigh, looks like I'm not getting to sleep any time soon. Well it's not like a night of no sleep poofed anyone, I exit out of what I was doing on the screen, I decide to contact the chef gems to bring me a green apple and a cup of water.

I switch the screen once more to all the work I didn't do, I read over reports that gems have sent and files about the rebellion. I have some messages from the leaders of the rebellion, but I'm going to read those later.

After a quarter of a cycle, my door chime startles me. I rapidly stand up and I quickly make my nightgown reach all the way down just below my knees. I dismiss my screen and I walk to the door.

I hit the panel as quickly as I can, the doors open with a SWISH as two topazes walk in with my green apple and a cup of water.

"Here I can take them" I say, I try to bend down a little to grab the green apple and the water "thank you" I say as the walk out of the room.

I close the door behind them with my foot, I take a big bite of my apple as I walk back to my bed. I put the large cup of water on the nightstand and I get back in my original position.

I pull up my screen again to get more work done, but the screen flashes Yellow and I nearly choke on my apple.

I pull up the message from Yellow diamond, my heart flutters as I see her face. I push the play button and turn up the sound.

"Blue, why aren't you in bed? I told White to put you to sleep by 18:00" Yellow sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose

I roll my eyes when she mentions the bedtime, I take another big bite of my apple.

"Unless you had a nightmare and woke up, if its that then I'm sorry, I'll be there in a few rotations. Just remember to relax, eat well, drink lots of water, and don't put on any extra stress it's not good for you or the gemlings" she smiles.

I am reminded of what's inside of me as I put my hand on my baby bump.

"Yellow diamond" a gem that is off-screen says out of breath. "What is it Obsidian" Yellow sounds annoyed

"The rebels are closing in, we need you out there" the Obsidian says. A huge BOOM rattles the building that Yellow is in.

Fear starts to seep into me, and anxiety starts to build at the bottom of my stomach.

Yellow turns her head to face the screen, she sighs "looks like I've got to go, if you and White could look over the files for me, that would be lovely. So good night my love" her hand reaches out to turn off the recording.

"Bye" I say to no one. I finish the rest of my apple and I toss it in the bin by my bed.

I let out a mixture of a yawn and a groan. I pull up the time to see that a cycle has passed since I last checked, I let out another groan. I run my fingers through my hair knotted hair.

Should I try to sleep? Maybe I should let my stomach settle? I should drink my water...I pull my hand free from my tangled hair, I turn to grab the glass of water but the cup slips through my fingers.

I'm able to hold the water in the air but glass shatters on the hard floor. "Ah fuck" I say. I use the water from the cup to pick up the glass, I dump the shards into the trash.

I move the blob of water around, I let my hand drop and I try to keep the water in the air. But it's making me tired, so I quickly try to stuff it in my entire mouth and swallow it.

I fall back onto my pillow, I pull the thick blankets on top of me, my stomach makes a low grumbling noise but it's not from hunger.

I groan and I turn my entire body again, to face where Yellow would sleep. I hope she's okay, it sounded like the rebels were bombing the building, we'll maybe they were just trying to break down the wall?

No. They'd never do that, they would try to blow up the building with her in it. What if they do blow up the building and poof her? Or worse....shatter her...

Hot tears form in my eyes at the thought of losing her, I can feel the apple creeping back up to my mouth. I try to keep it down but it's not working, I tear the blankets off of my and I sprint to the "bathroom".

I almost break the panel trying to hastily open the doors, once their open I bolt straight for the "toilet".

I almost trip on the rug that I put in there, I quickly lift the lid and not a moment too soon, I unload everything that was in my stomach.

After a few minutes of clearing almost everything inside me, I get up from my position and I wipe my mouth. I walk over to the light blue sink and I wash my hands and I scoop up some of the water and put it in my mouth, I swish it around then spit it back out.

I dry my hands and sit down on the plush navy blue rug, I wrap my arms around my knees and I start crying.

Why...why am I like this...even after finding Pink/Steven I'm still after and weak, that's all I do, that's all I'm good for. That's why I need someone to take care of me. Cause I can't take care of myself, I can barely even drink water let alone eat, im utterly useless.

I comb my hand through my hair again, but when my finger gets caught on a knot, I just rip it out from my scalp.

Something moves around inside me, I ignore the pain from my head and I unwrap my arms and I let my legs touch the carpet. I carefully lift my baby blue nightgown all the way up to my belly, I drag a finger across my baby bump.

I then drag my nail horizontally across,  the slower I go the harder I push my nail into me. I make sure not to break the skin but hard enough to leave a mark. I let out a small yawn.

I wipe my eyes and I pull my nightgown back down to my thighs, I carefully move to the " toilet" and I put my hand on it and I slowly push myself up.

I groan when I get to my feet, I slowly drag my feet across the rug, not even bothering to pick up my feet, I shiver when cold blue tile floor.

I move slowly towards the "sink", I place a hand on the sink and I lean on it for support. I let out a big yawn and shiver.

One of the gemlimgs starts moving. I let out a groan. "I get it, you three are tired, I'm tired too". I let out another big yawn "I-if it wasn't for you three, I wouldn't need to sleep, or eat, or drink. Hell, I wouldn't even do what I just did" I yell at my baby bump.

They answer that with a few more movements. I carefully make it past the sink and to the door, I slam my fist on the panel and the door opens.

I slowly wobble my way to the bed, I pull the blankets back and I lay on the cold plush mattress, I wrap the entire blanket around me to make a cocoon.

I clutch my baby bump with both arms, I let out an exhausted sigh as I finally get comfortable. It takes me a few minutes to fade into darkness and fall asleep, but I do it without annoying thoughts.

"G-good night yellow" I mutter to no one.

If anyone is curious, this is the longest chapter I've ever written, it Is a little over 3000 words! But see y'all next Saturday! Adios.

(I forgot the tags)

[domina-alba]

Seditionis Adamas

XVI Family was a human concept that Domina always assumed she would never truly grasp. When her father had still been alive he had talked about the family that was left behind on Earth over 4000 years ago. His voice never failed to give out as he spoke about his mother, his father, his sisters and brothers.

Gem’s didn’t have family though. The closest thing Domina ever had was her father and maybe Pearl if you were being particularly loose with the term.

Seeing Steven interact with not only the Crystal Gems but also Connie, Greg, and Sabina redefined it for her. Her father had never used the term ‘family’ to describe the gentle teasing that went on, the genuine interest in each others lives, the care for each others safety. But this had to be what he meant right?

Also tacos were delicious.

The evening faded, Lapis and Peridot took off back to the barn, Connie and Sabina went home,Greg following them after an encouraging pat to Domina’s shoulder and an awkward nod to Yellow Diamond. And soon enough the next day dawned and the group divided. Domina, Yellow Diamond, her pearl, the Renegade Pearl and Steven would actually make the trip to the moon. The rest would stay behind and attempt to contact the rebellion.

“Sure you don’t want to come with us?” Domina asked Pearl. Pearl was reorganizing the medical supplies while Domina quickly made sure there was actually going to be space for everyone.

“Quite sure.” Pearl snapped the box back into position over the bunk opposite of the one Domina was smoothing out. “I’d rather not revisit the moon base if it’s all the same to you.” Her words blurred together and stopped before she could say ‘my diamond’. They needed to talk about everything still. Though Domina certainly didn’t want to bring it up.

“Of course, of course,” Domina said quickly. “I don’t really blame you, I’m not looking forward to this. I’m almost positive the renegade is still irritated with me and Yellow has been...” Domina sighed. Pearl set a hand on her shoulder.

“White will eventually blow herself out, and as for Yellow Diamond...” Pearl trailed off, Domina looked at her, expecting her to say something, anything really. Instead Pearl patted her shoulder. “Good luck.”

****

It was like everything that happened in the last few days was fighting for the chance to be the worst thing ever. Visiting Pink’s moonbase though? That might have the bump that fracked the ruby’s crack. Yellow Diamond sat on one of the beds towards the back of the ship, attempting to ignore Domina trying to teach the Quartz Hybrid to fly her death trap of a ship, along with the Renegade Pearl’s squawking.

“Steven no you need to watch your thrust!”

“He’s fine, just ease off the throttle a bit.”

“Um guys, is that light supposed to be flashing?”

“It’s fine it’ll turn off in a second, now pull off completely and just hit that button for the landing cycle when the door opens.” Domina turned from the screen and busied herself with some menial task as the ship landed. That was another thing, Domina had been acting off the last few days, normally Yellow barely saw her walk, but lately she hadn’t even been floating, something to do with her injury perhaps? Though Steven had healed it...

The door to the ship opened onto the ground floor. Yellow Diamond stepped out first. It was dark and pristine. Pearl stepped out slightly behind her, illuminating the wall bearing her mural with her gem. The silence was broken by Steven leaping through the air.

“Woohoo!” He cheered as he gently floated to the the ground and then rocketed back up.

“Really Steven, you don’t need to be on a planet with a lower gravitational pull to do that anymore.” The renegade Pearl called.

“I know but it’s still fun-”

“Frack!” Domina shouted, Yellow Diamond whipped around to see, thankfully that she had just tripped and was ungracefully scrambling to right herself while floating in mid air.

“Really Domina.” She said with a sigh. The other diamond eventually managed to pull herself up by grabbing on to the ship.

“What? Not all of us adjust automatically to the local gravity.” She muttered, then looked around at the murals. “Ah.. the old ones.” She said quickly moving her illumination from the mural of her mother to the one of Pink Diamond.

“Let's be quick about this.” Yellow Diamond said with a frown walking over to the stairs, they activated and began to shift, underlit with a pale yellow light. The stairs opened up onto the middle floor and Yellow Diamond paused briefly. The sphere was still there. And more importantly it was still recording. How in star’s name was it still recording.

“Oh wow, we haven’t used these in centuries.” Domina said delicately stepping off the stairs and flailing to regain her balance.

“What is it?” Steven asked.

“It’s not what we’re here for.” The renegade said and though she wouldn’t admit it Yellow was inclined to agree with her.

“It’s a Colonization Sphere, they’re in all the moon bases to record transmissions, along with colony plans, warp network logs  and, all kinds of other stuff.” Domina said oblivious to Yellow Diamonds irritation. “This one’s still on though, I wonder if it’s connected to the local geode.” She reached up to touch it.

“Leave it alone!” Yellow Snapped. Domina jolted back from the sphere and spun, or rather attempted to spin, to look at her. She looked irritated but nodded after a moment,and very carefully walked back to the stairs. Yellow Diamond actually felt herself relax,  a outburst like that would have never slid by with White. But Domina wasn’t White.

****

All Diamond bases were built on the same schematic, even the ones that the fleet set up during the preliminary building phase. Nowadays though, they all came with gravity regulators. Domina felt sick, she hated being in minimal gravity under normal circumstances, but she couldn’t even fly to avoid it.

The top floor of the moon base was the control room, even that hadn’t changed that much, though normally the chair was much bigger, and console wasn’t completely smashed. Yellow Diamond seemed to be ignoring that part of the room and instead looked over the floor for the access panel to the generator. She found it a few moments later and the piece rotated into the room.

“Woah.” Steven said. “It kind of looks like the Crystal Heart.” He said.

“The what?”

“It’s a thing in the temple.” Steven said with a shrug. Domina looked at the Renegade instead.

“A geo ther-”She began

“It’s a geothermal power source that can rectify dimensional inconsistencies and hold them in relative unison to a singular access point.” Yellow Diamond cut the pearl off from where she was carefully looking over the power system, “I designed them a few thousand years before you were born.”

“You designed it?!” Steven asked “That’s cool!” Yellow Diamond stopped and looked at Steven with a blank expression before turning to her Pearl. “I need a molecular seperator.” Yellow Pearl blinked.

“My Diamond, I apologize I don’t have one with me,” She said.

“There’s one on the ship,” Domina said. “I’ll show you.” though she wasn’t relishing the climb back down the stairs.

“Get it.” Yellow Diamond said, plainly ignoring the renegades irritated look. Yellow Pearl bowed and practically ran out of the room. Domina followed, doing her best to ignore the churning of her stomach. Thankfully she could close her eyes and carefully float most of the way down.

“I could have found it myself White Diamond,” Yellow Pearl said. Domina shook her head.

“It’s fine, besides this chest is a mess, Pearl stays out of it most of the time.” She searched through her tools,the molecular separator always fell to the bottom. “She told me that if I was going to complain when she reorganized it then I could take care of it myself.” Domina said with a laugh. Yellow Pearl looked at her in shock.

“You...I’m sorry, you let her...” Yellow Pearl trailed off, as if she wasn’t sure exactly how to phrase it.

“Talk to me like that?” Domina prompted, the pearl nodded. “Yes, though I mean, it’s not like she does very often,” Domina handed over the seperator. “Do you want me to tell Yellow to stop ordering you around?” She asked hesitantly “I’ve been meaning too, she needs to be careful.. And she can be a little ridiculous, I mean where were you supposed to get a molecular separator if I didn’t have one?” Yellow Pearl shrank back from her.

“It’s my job,” She said. “No disrespect intended my diamond but I am capable of dealing with her... moods,” Domina snorted slightly.

“That's the nice way of putting it. Alright I’ll stay out of it, just.. let me know, She decides to listen to me every once in a while.” She said. Yellow Pearl Nodded and saluted her, then stopped when she saw Domina’s frown. “You don’t have to salute me.” She said.

“I...” Yellow Pearl sighed. “Yes White Diamond, Thank you for your assistance.”

“Anytime.” Domina said. Yellow Pearl raced up the stairs and Domina began her shaky ascent. She entered the Sphere’s room again and paused. Yellow had told her to leave it alone, but, She could hear the sound of the supports on the generator being seperated. They wouldn’t need her until it was time to go back. She could take a look through the Colony’s logs. This kind of information wouldn’t be available in the empires databases anyway.

Domina reached out and touched the sphere. Like all Homeworld technology it was smooth to the touch for the brief moment before it began to glow white along geometric patterns in the surface. A screen appeared in the far side of the room, taking of the whole wall. Domina scrolled through the information idly, before finally landing on ‘Transmissions’. There were only a few recorded entries and Domina opened up the first one.

The screen changed to show the control room, tinted by a pink light. A gem, about the size of a jasper, with wild unkempt hair wearing puffed sleeves leaned on the console with her knees on the chair behind her. On her stomach was a clearly visible diamond.

“Testing one two three, Homeworld can you hear me!?!”

[idreamofasriel-blog]

Beyond the Battle Network Line: A Megaman Fanfic Series

Megaman X Episode One: Chaos Control Part One Note: If you read the Preview version of this, you will notice some changes I did to it to fix the story in it. There will be a drawing reference of Konnar and Chaos later on once I get their drawings done. Keep this in mind that I’m not the best artist in the world and I try my best to give good details on my characters. Also, the story is under Keep reading due to it being so long. Yes, you will see some writing errors and I use the help of Grammarly before I post. Thank you for giving this upstarting series a try.

After the incident of the Jakob Project and the halted production of the Copy Chips, New Generation Reploids are stepping forward seeking help from the Maverick Hunters and the Government to erase any traces of Sigma's DNA in their Copy Chip for good and willing to work side by side with the Old Generation Reploids to bring an end to the Maverick war. But someone else has other ideas to end this war. The rain was pouring down rapidly in the once populated human city that is now nothing more than a mere ghost town with leftover remaining signs of humans being once here in the past. Traffic lights flickered on and off and the street light lit the Hunters way to their destination. Raindrops splashed and dripped down their armors and weapons and Axl let out a bored yawn, “Man, I thought this place will be crawling with Mavericks by now.” he said while resting his gun on his shoulder, “I'm itching to shoot one right now in the face.”  Zero groaned and shook his head, “The minute we got here, you're already complaining about being bored.” said Zero, surveying the empty streets. “You have to be patience, Axl or this mission will be all for nothing if the Mavericks found out that we're here to stop them.” said X, Axl pouted a bit and they stopped in unison after loud banging of trash cans echoed through the city and they looked around to search for the source of the noise and Zero singled them to follow his movements and they headed toward a warehouse by an abandoned factory. Zero held his hand up when he saw a shadowy figure darting away and heading toward the opening doors of the warehouse. Moving toward the door, the Hunters stood on both sides of it. “Okay, on the count of three and we'll ambush them. One...” “Three!” Axl took off running straight into the warehouse, leaving X and Zero surprised and frustrated for Axl's action and they ran after him, “Axl, it could be a trap!” X shouted and they froze when they heard a gun going off and Axl screaming and they ran faster to catch up with him. There was a light at the end of the warehouse that opens up to another room and they found Axl rooted in place, staring off in horror with one hand cupping his mouth and his gun laying on the ground with the barrel of the gun smoking. His hand shook as he pointed at what is shaking him to the core and X and Zero turn and they too look in horror. “Who would commit this disgusting crime?” said X, wanting to look away but yet he couldn't and Zero stepped forward to investigate. The room was filled with dead bodies of New Generation Reploids, ripped apart with their chests slashed opened and gutted like fishes. It was their twisted frozen screaming faces that's what got to Axl shivering with fright and he took a few steps back and turned to dash out of the door screaming from the top of the lungs with X and Zero running after him to make sure he's safe and back at the base unharmed. General Signas sighed and he rotates his chair to face X and Zero who are seated in front of his desk, “How's Axl? Is he in a better state of mind to attend this report session?” Signas asked and X shook his head, “He's still shaken up by the crime scene we saw and he wants to sit this one out. We'll give him the details of this meeting later when we check up on him.” said X and Signas nodded and he pressed a few buttons on his desk to bring up a profile on X and Zero's report and scroll through it, “Unfortunately, this isn't the last murder we're going to see. We've been getting reports of New Generation Reploids being murdered and having their chests ripped opened and they all have one thing in common; their copy chips are getting stolen and now our project to remove all traces of Sigma's DNA is falling apart at the seam.” “You got to be kidding me.” Zero muttered under his breath and Alia gave them copies of past reports of other New Generation Reploids being murdered and torn open to look over, “I wish I was, Zero but we got New Generation Reploids backing out of the program that is either going into hiding or refusing to do it altogether.” said Signas. They looked over the past reports and all the crime scenes photos and the report told the same story, New Generation Reploids are murdered and removed of their Copy Chips for unknown reasons. “We're now concern about Axl's safety and we want extras watch over him in case they decided to go after him.” “Don't worry, sir. Zero and I will keep a close eye on him until this murderer is brought to justice.” Axl has been aimlessly wondering about the Hunter Base and taking deep breathes to steady his nerves and taking breaks from his walking. He saw dead bodies of Reploids before in the past and they never shook him hard to the core. But seeing Reploids of his own kind has done it. It's even worst when Axl recognized half of them from the program that Signas requested him to help and reach out to shape-shifting Reploids like him who want to rid of any traces of Sigma in them. “I can't let this bother me. I need to need to find this murderer and put them in their place. I won't have any problem handling them myself if I have to.” Axl said with a tone of confident and stood out with pride. He yelled when a hand was placed on his shoulder and turned around to put himself in a fighting stance with guns drawn on a gray and purple colored Reploid holding his hands up, “Axl! Woah! It's me, Konnar.” he said and Axl put his gun away and sigh with relief. “Sorry, I got pretty tense for a second there.” Axl smiled while nervously rubbing the back of his head. “Yeah, tense enough to almost put a bullet into his skull.” said a sarcastic rude voice when an AI Reploid appeared next to Konnar. Konnar is a gray and purple Reploid with a diamond shaped gem on his helmet with smaller round ones around it. He has a short brown ponytail and his left eye is black while his other eye is normal with purple irises. Chaos the AI Reploid on the other hand, his left eye is gone and can only see out of his right one and he has a short Mohawk with braids on one side and shaved on the other side. “Give him some slack, Chaos. Axl had a horrible day and he's still recovering from it.” Konnar looked at the AI from the corner of his eyes. “You feeling okay, Axl?” Konnar frowned and Axl sighed, “I'm not sure, Konnar. I don't know why today's mission shook me up since I'm used to seeing destroyed Reploids on some mission but this....This one got me.” Konnar put a consoling hand on Axl's shoulder, “It's no doubt it's because most of the dead Reploids you have seen are either Mavericks or the so call “Old Generation” Reploids we're being called but when you see one of your kind getting killed then yeah, you are going to feel shaken up.” Chaos folded his arms and they couldn't help but feel that Chaos is right, for an AI that can be a jerk and picking fights with X from time to time. Zero and X greeted Konnar and he gave them a friendly hello back to them before he excuse himself and Chaos to head for their training with his mentor, Starblade Raccoon. Zero and X had a long talk with Axl and explaining to him about the other series of murder and Signas' order to have extra security around him and they offered to watch over him, “That murderer has to be insane to go after a Maverick Hunter like me. I'll be fine without having extra security and handling them by ourselves.” said Axl and  X shook his head, “Axl, you can't be reckless over this and think the worst isn't going to happen. Zero and I are concern about your safety since you're a shapeshifter yourself and they might come after you too.” “But I'm a Proto-type. Why would they waste their time on me? Then again, Sigma was after me and he destroyed the whole Red Alert to do it.” Axl looked away, thinking about the day when he left his old group when they weren't themselves. “Axl, how about you get some sleep and we'll talk more about it in the morning.” Zero suggested and X nodded in agreement, “I agree with Zero. Maybe a good night sleep will clear our heads.” Axl looked up at them and smiled a bit, “Yeah, sleep sounds good right about now.” he said and they bid each other goodnight before heading off to their room to sleep. Good night sleep didn't come to Axl and he was haunted by the images of the grizzly crime scene. Their faces all frozen in terrified horror and ripped body parts everywhere and the room's light began to flicker and one by one, the bulbs burned out and echoing footsteps rang through the air and stopping halfway throughout of the darkness was Lumine in his psychotic state and stared at Axl, “This could of all been prevented if you would have joined us and abandoned the old generation.” Lumine cocked his head at him and he turned into a twisted monster and attacks. Axl woke up screaming and placed a hand on his head and feels his core running fast. It was raining outside again and the raindrops dripped down his window and there was knocking on his door, “Axl, are you all right?” X asked him and Axl answered the door. “Get your armor on, Axl. I'm afraid there's been another murder of a New Generation Reploid.” said Zero. Axl kept telling himself that it was nothing but a dream and it shouldn't bother him but when they arrive at the crime scene, the dreaded feeling in the pit of his stomach all came back to him they were greeted by their scout, Nyiem, a navy blue and red colored Reploid with faded yellow hair and wearing a ragged scarf and he was taller than the hunters that approached him. “Glad to you here, Commander X and Zero. I found this body on my way back from my scouting mission.” said Nyiem and Axl swallowed and followed them at a slow pace. “I must warn you, this isn't going to be pretty.” “All right, we're ready to see the crime scene.” said X and Nyiem hoisted the white clothes away to reveal another dead Reploid body and Axl eyes widen out of pure horror started stepping away from the beheaded and torn open New Generation Reploid and feeling his core racing faster than before and his body was trembling and shaking with dread of fear and his head was hurting. “Axl what's wrong?” Zero asked him out of aghast and the hunters ran to his side to help him out, “He's having a panic attack! Get him out of here and somewhere safe right away!” said Nyiem and The Hunters helped Axl up to his feet and helped him move away as soon as possible from the crime scene. “Nyiem is right, you suffered a Panic attack.” said Lifesaver, turning the monitors off and Axl hopped off from the exam table, “What caused it?” Axl asked him as he put his helmet back on, “Overwhelming anxiety and fear. Is your previous mission still bothering you?” Lifesaver asked him as he writing down any answers that Axl would give him, “Well, I did have that nightmare of the said mission and what did it was the current body found from Nyiem. I felt like was going to shut down right on the spot.” Lifesaver nodded, “It's best that we nip this in the bud before it starts giving you bigger problems in life.” The sun was setting over the city with the faint glow of the remaining light and Konnar waved hello to Axl and the two teenagers chatted and Konnar frowned, “I do hope you get better, Axl. Having Panic attacks is no fun. I would like to chat some more but my mentor is having me accompany him on a patrol tonight.” said Konnar as he adjusted his Gungnir on his back and he can see the old Raccoon calmly singling him to hurry and Konnar waved goodbye to Axl in a friendly manner. “Konnar, I can see why you're easy to get along.” Axl smiled a bit and headed to his room. The nightmares came back again but this time Axl was in a dark void and one by one, pairs of glowing eyes would appear and step out of the darkness is Lumine again but looking calm and collective as he walked toward Axl, “Gruesome, wasn't it Axl.” he said in a soft voice and Axl gasped as he felt hands coming out of the darkness to grab him. He struggled to free himself but Lumine reached out and grabbed hold of his head to make him look at him. Lumine smiled a bit, gently caressing his cheek, “Theirs a way we can stop those senseless murders by doing one simple thing.” He turned Axl's head to the side and lean closed to whisper into his ear, “Let me control you.” Axl struggled harder and shouted no and Lumine stepped back from with a cold emotionless expression. “So death it is then. No matter, once the killer is done doing away with you. I'll repair and take over.” Lumine made tentacles appear from his back and all at once, they lunged toward Axl. It was the scream that was heard all over the base and X and Zero came rushing to Axl's aid and X blasted his door down and they found Axl having his Panic Attack again. The Hunters didn't waste any time and they helped Axl out to recover from his attack. X spoke to him in a calming voice and Zero was encouraging to Axl take deep breathes and do breathing exercises with him. Axl let out a relaxing sigh and he felt his core slowing down to a normal steady pulse. “Axl, it's best-” Axl interrupts Zero, “I'm fine. I just had another bad dream is all.” he said and he stood up to get ready for the day as X and Zero watched him with worrying expression, “Well, you're not going to like this but it's up to you if you still want to come or not. We got another body dump today.” said X. Axl couldn't peel his eyes away from the trashed up and gutted out New Generation Reploid that lays before them. What disturbed him the most was the Reploid's terrified frozen expression on their face before the corpse was picked up and hauled away to the morgue to figure out what caused its death but X and Zero knew well that the results are all going to be the same like the past murders. “What a mess.” Zero muttered as he gets a clear view of the grizzly crime scene before them and X frowned, seeing how aghast Axl is to see another Reploid like him killed and harvested like they were nothing but sheep for the slaughter. “Axl, you don't have to get yourself involved in this and we can request General Signas to take you off the case.” said X, resting a hand on Axl's shoulder and the teenager shakes his head, “I can't, X. I haven't gotten a good sleep without closing my eyes and seeing their destroyed bodies and their disturbed faces. I have to know who's been targeting them and why. Their copy chips are pried out of their chest but yet we don't know why would anyone wanted them from the start.” Axl let out a sigh and they can see how scare Axl is when he looked at his friends, “I can be next on their butcher chopping block. They could be watching me right now and waiting for me to be alone and kill me!” The Panic Attack is setting into Axl again, his breathing grew problematic and Zero reached out and grab hold of Axl's arms without grasping hard, “Axl, take a deep breath with me and listen to us.” he said and Axl swallowed and nodded his head. He took a deep breath with Zero and exhale and breath in again with him and feeling his panic going away and X rubbing his back to help comfort him as much as he can, he hates to see Axl like this and he wants to see him being his old self again. “Axl, I agree with X here. It's best we take you off the case until you're feeling better and get more treatment for your panic attacks. If we get any new breakthrough in the case, we'll come to you right away.” Axl hates to admit it but they're right, being in a panic isn't helping anyone, not even himself or the murdered New Generation Reploids who some of them been working with the Maverick Hunters to have any of Sigma's DNA erased from their system for good. X smiled a bit and he leads Axl away from the crime scene and Zero began their investigation. He kneels down to look at the ground and traced his fingers over a series of scratch marks all over the ground, none of them looked like they were done with knives or any other sharp weapons but yet they look all too familiar but who use to make them is Zero's question. “Alia, I need all information on past and current Mavericks who are known to use their claws as weapons.” Zero spoke into his earpiece while he picked up a torn up piece of metal off the ground stained with some fluids and Alia replied, “Okay, Zero. I listed off the Mavericks who are known to use claws as weapons and all I got is Neon Tiger, Grizzly Slash, Slash Beast, Mattrex, and Blizzard Wolfang so far popping up from our data source.” she said and Zero thinks it over, “Flash Cheetah is a maverick who uses claws too and Carcass Vulture uses a scythe if he wants to cut his enemy down.” While Alia is talking to him, Zero thought he saw a shadowy figure moved from the corner of his eyes and slowly turned. “Hold on, Alia. I think I saw our culprit fleeing.” Zero goes radio silent and runs down the narrow alleyway of the city. He stopped and he reaches for his saber and walked quietly as he can and avoided anything that makes a sound to alert the culprit. Zero wants them alive and brought back to the base for questioning, even if they have to kill each other first. “I know you're here. It's either you come with me quietly or I'll force you.” Loud footsteps echoed through the Ally Way and a dark shadow downcast over and the Maverick Hunter slowly turn and his eyes widen with the shock, “What the Hell is that?” End of Beyond the Battle Network Line Megaman X Episode One “Chaos Control Part one”

[c-atm]

Diamond meets Devil

"This gem is cursed, I swear to god! Steven swore as he ran from his pursuers.  His breathing hard as he ducked, leaped and pivoted through the dark forest, hoping to get away.. or at least get them alone. 

It was starting to look like the latter.

The heavy, inhuman feet sounded like horrid thunder behind him as they got closer and gained in number as he led them away.

"Gotta get away!" The hybrid yelled as his skin turned rose pink and the world ‘slowed’ as he moved forward, instinct and survival taking the helm. Unaware of where he was going, the only thought being to get away. 

It was a few minutes after he disengaged pink mode and actually took count of where he was.

A field full of white lilies, the moonlight shining down. "Whoa.. This was around here?"  He was entranced by its beauty and serenity. "Gotta definitely bring Berry here for a night date." affirmation in his voice as he sent a picture to his Jam-heart only to find he had a weak signal. 

"Hopefully, she'll get it." He sighed, his thoughts back to his current situation.  

"What the heck was all that about, anyway?" 

The situation was concerning, to say the least. 

 *55 minutes ago*

 He just stopped by a food cart to get a quick bite to eat and something with caffeine to keep him up a few more hours so he could make it to his next stop or as close as possible.  

That when he was approached by a large cloaked figure.  Steven thought nothing of it, he lived the likes of Garnet after all. It wasn't until his ear caught a strange mechanical hum from the being that he turned his attention towards them and their red glowing eyes.

He didn't get the chance to introduce as a fist the width of his shoulders, nearly took off his shoulders. Even with his shield he was tossed back across the road, landing on his side and skidding into a guard rail, bursting it with a groaning cough.

As he rose to his feet, he heard the giant rush towards him, a mechanical roar, both fist cocked back to strike again. 

With a growl, Steven manifested a couple of hexagon structures and tossed them forward. His eyes widened as the giant fist shattered the hard-light projectiles as if they were thin glass and continued its charge, not losing a step. 

The giant swung both its black gloved fist down similar to an axe, all intention of crushing Steven's skull only to be tossed back by the sudden creation of an elastic rose bubble.The giant stumbled, regaining its balance after a moment and got rammed into by Steven and his shield, throwing the giant back over the rail and down into the forest below.

Breathing harshly, guilt filled his heart and curiosity, his mind as he turned away and walked towards the Dondai and got his phone, feeling a need to call Connie and tell her what happened.

That’s when he heard grunts coming from below and getting closer.  He turned to where the giant fell and watched as it pumped and thrust its thighs, with exhaust coming from it's back; hovering higher and higher, above his own position before dropping like an anvil. Steven scurried and dived to the other side of the road as the robot stomped on the Dondai, tearing through it as if it was maché.

Steven couldn't say anything, words drowned by shock, anger, and surprise. He took a look at the giant, too enraged to care that it was no longer cloaked.  He charged forward and swung with a bubble spiked fist. 

The two met in a collision of magic and robotics as Steven hands met the mechanical mammoths in a bevy of blows. The sound of hard-light scraping and bouncing of thick metal rang in the young man's ears; the sparks, beautiful and horrifying almost blinded the boy more than once, and the force of each collision reverberated throughout his body, to the very bone. 

Even with his impressive healing, stamina, and endurance he knew he couldn't keep this up..not as long as this mohawk sporting, army casual attire, Schwarzenegger looking menace. 

So he didn't.

Steven dropped his guard as a left hook aimed to decapitate him. Utilizing a bit of diamond level physicality, he was to slip under the blow and deliver an overhead straight to the chest of the machine man. The result was a literal blow out as Steven fist tore through the machine chest and out of its back. Steven stepped back as the robot-soldier fell to its knees, eyes gray and body lifeless. The body fell forward with a loud thud creating a small dust cloud. Steven laughed and sighed as he looked up feeling victorious.

His pupils dilated in fear as he saw  what looked like giant meteor fall from the sky. His jaw dropped when  the meteors unraveled  to reveal more of the robot soldiers, a baker's dozen of them, all aiming towards him. He didn't think just moved as he reached for the railing, feeling a hand on his ankle.

Rage coursed through him as he looked down at the supposedly decommissioned machine hand holding him in place. It intensified  when the machine looked up and opened its mouth revealing a timer with a nine second timer. 

The hybrid summoned his shield and sliced both the hand and head of the downed robot off, before picking up the skull, now with four seconds on the clock, and jettisoning it towards the falling  robots, giving it a horizontal rotation as it flew.

The blast was loud, fire, and quake making with enough force to knock Steven onto his knees even from where he launched it and he launched pretty high the cloud cover completely vanished, yet it wasn't enough to stop the oncoming unit. Steven didn't wait, as he removed the construction hand and leapt over the railing into the forest below, making his escape . 

 *present*

"They had me running for at least thirty minutes. At least I can catch my breath though, it doesn't seem like they chased me here." Steven mused as he stretched and rotated his arms and shoulders. looking at his phone seeing that his pic still wasn't  sent. "Everywhere in the world my ass." He muttered as he laid on the ground, trying to relax, as the event took a lot of him. His eyes drooped close.

"You really shouldn't be resting, fool."

Steven opened his eyes with a flutter as he sat up. He turned his head around gathering his baring. 'Still night, still in the field of lilies...So it wasn't a dream...Well, at least I'm not going insane.'  The hybrid rationalized.

"Who said that?" Steve called out as he stood up.

"Boy."

Steven felt a shiver run up his spine at the harsh and malicious voice. He turned behind him and there stood Japanese man with one brown eye and one red eye, battle scars on his cheeks, hair slick back appearing like a wing and thick eyebrows. He was finely dressed in a charcoal gray formal vest & dress pants with a purple long sleeve button shirt underneath with the sleeves rolled up into cuffs, black dress shoes and red finger-less gloves, embedded with ten metallic studs arranged in an upside-down triangle.

He held himself with an aristocratic air, one doused with menace and malevolence. 

"You survived the 'Jacks'. Resourceful, I suppose."

His harsh tone matched the venom in the taunt.

"That was your doing? Those robots!!" The hybrid barked ire burning within him as his skin slowly took on the dangerous pink glow. 

"It was. What of it, welp?"

The nonchalant demeanor only fed Steven anger. "Why?" Steven stalked forward. "Was you hurt by Rose quartz as well! If so...I am sorry." Steven stopped a half foot away meeting the man's smug eyes, "but I'm not her." His voice receding into a plea, a look of guilt on his face...

"Who the hell are you talking about?"

wiped off with that one statement. 

Steven took a step back in confusion, unsure how to process the implications. "What? You’re not coming after me for my mother's past doings?"

"Boy,I have no idea or interest in your mother or your family. My business.." 

The fear and ire from before spilled into Steven's heart as the man slipped into a fighting stance. 

"with you."

The man's feet were planted firmly on the ground with his left leg in front, slightly bent at the knee while his right was straight. He held his right fist at chest height and his left hand was loosely open, out forward. Ice and steel was the only thing in his eyes.

Steven couldn't get a word out as the older man struck, with hitting his face two jabs followed by a strong strike to the chest knocking him off his feet and into his back.

Coughing, groaning, and tasting his running blood, the hybrid climbed to his feet, holding his hand forward, signaling a cease of action. "Wait..Why are you doing this? I Don't even know your name or what I did to offend you." Steven accused, already feeling his healing working on his swelling gums.

"Kazuya." The fighter's voice held boredom as impatience rolled off him.

"Kazuya." Steven tried out the name before nodding. "My name is…"

"Steven Universe.  I know who you are." 

Steven let out a nervous hum at Kazuya. "Right...The robots." He sighed "So...Did I offend you in anyway, is that why you sending your army of jocks-"

"Jacks." 

"Jacks...after me?" Steven tried to speak as jovial as possible to get through his cold exterior, but Kazuya wouldn't budge,not from his objective.

"I just wish to confirm some rumors," The man stated evenly, " to that end, I require an exhibition of sorts.”

“Rumors?” Steven repeated silently, only to just move back from a right hook from Kazuya, his left index holding the bridge of his nose as he felt blood trickle out of a new scar. His anger took over his fear for the moment, as he licked his thumb and rubbed it on the scar. “Good as new.” Steven sneered as the scar closed and disappeared. “There’s another way, like asking. You’re a adult, you should have more manners.” The hybrid snarled. 

“Hmph, so you can heal.” Kazuya smirked “Interesting.”

“Look,” The hybrid breathed deeply, attempting to calm himself down. His eyes still glaring. “I don’t want to fight, I don’t mind showing you what I can do, but not if I have to hurt you..” He spoke with gentle conviction as he waited for Kazuya's answer. His mouth became a grinding snarl as Kazuya let loose a mocking laugh into the night. His laughter fell to chuckles as he glanced at Steven  

“Hurt me? Boy,You might have tricks, ” his laughter died down as he kissed his teeth “but that’s all.”

Steven gave a smug titter as he formed his shield. “I have you know, I’m pretty damn strong,” expecting a look of surprise from Kazuya.

“Hmmph, a shield. What a waste.”

Something about this man irked Steven to no end. the way he seemed so above it all. His analytical eyes and bored, disappointed frown, and unconcerned tone. It was insulting, ‘and after all the trouble he caused me tonight.’ Steven was not gonna take this on the chin.

“Waste huh? Let’s see about that, Kazuya.” Steven challenged as he lowered his body, his feet planted firmly, and his shield covering him from knee to eye.

“Amusing.” Kazuya accepted as he slipped back into his stance, a little looser than before. 

‘He’s mocking me.’ The young man fumed in his mind, showing his teeth and breathing exasperatedly.  “Well what are you waiting for!”

Kazuya answered his childish by stepping forward, cocking his right fist back before shooting it straight towards the shield. 

Amazed horror gripped Steven, as a cackle of blue lightning surged from Kazuya fist upon contact and he found himself sliding back with his shield cracked by the force of the blow. He didn’t have the chance to look over the damage as Kazuya was already charging forward. With a flick of the wrist, Steven replaced the shield with another, and lifted it up to guard against Kazuya’s jumping kick towards his face, being pushed back some more, this time losing his balance and falling to a tumble.

Kazuya is relentless. Not giving him a moment's rest, He charged towards the kneeling Steven tackling the boy to his back. Kneeling himself over Steven's waist, Kazuya smirked before delivering a punch straight for Steven's skull. His fist met shield with a thunderous bang, once again cracking the hard light projection and forcing Steven to make another. He struck again, with the same result. He started to strike more vigorously, breaking shield after shield. Slowly his strikes started  becoming faster as if testing Steven’s creation speed.

Steven’s thoughts were a hurricane of terror. ‘ This guy is a monster... He’s just tearing through my shields like they’re nothing….’

“Where’s that strength you spoke of?” kazuya taunted as he continued his assault.  

  Steven felt his rage rise as his body glow. ‘ Got to get him…’ 

“ OFF OF ME !”  With a mighty roar, Steven summons a bubble throwing his attacker back to the ground.  Steven stood up trembling in anger, eyes diamond pink, hair darkish pink, and skin the same color of his eyes. He watched as Kazuya stood up with the damn smug smirk.

“Childlike anger with childlike power.” 

“Childlike…” Steven couldn’t understand why he was so infuriated by this man, but as his nose flared and his clenched fist, all Steven could think about was knocking the smug grin off his face. “ I’ll show you Childlike!” 

Steven launched at Kazuya intent on knocking his block off. He swung his right fist in a haymaker and was blocked by Kazuya’s forearm. The clash created a small shockwave, lifting lilies from the ground and scattering petals all around.  He threw another one at Kazuya’s chest  only for his fist to be caught and squeezed in Kazuya’s palm. He was caught off guard when Kazuya grabbed his right wrist, cocked his skull back and slammed it into his face. All he felt was blinding pain as he felt himself drop to and slide against the ground. Kazuya chuckled as he grabbed the bleeding hybrid by his left calf and in a feat of inhuman strength tossed Steven into a tree, watching as he hit face first.  A bit of glee rose within, when he heard Steven groan on impact and slide to his knees, a splotch of blood on its bark. “This is disappointing, " Kazuya walked forward towards the hybrid, "you have power but no strength, no skill..” He folded his arms as he loomed over Steven. “Only tricks.”

“Maybe, but.." Steven started as he attempted to climb to his feet. "I have a whole bunch of them!" He stamped his foot to the ground, instantly summoning a large hexagonal pillar  from under Kazuya, pushing upward at an alarming speed before stopping and launching him haphazardly into the sky. Steven leapt after the imbalanced and flailing fighter, grabbed the collar of his shirt and delivered a powerful punch to Kazuya left jaw, "Gah!",

followed by a jab to the mouth, "Oof!",

And a strike with his forearm to Kazuya’s, Which was caught pushed aside. Steven held a cross  guard as Kazuya stuck back with a few straight punches of his own, making Steven winced at the strength of each blow threatening to numb his pink arms. 

Kazuya grabbed Steven's trembling and bruised arms, and using momentum of both their bodies and the fall, slammed Steven back hard to the earth with a thundering bang and a sickening fleshy splat.

Steven couldn't even scream as Kazuya grasped his neck and lifted him up above his head as if he was weightless, leaving him dangling in his hand.

"Well, what else can you show me?" Kazuya questioned before he released him and let  him stand, before kicking the back of his right knee. 

"Ah!”.

Punching deeply into his left side.

"Oof!"

Kicking his left hip breaking it, 

" ARRH!!"

And sending a right fist straight to the gem.

“Kri--Kric-kzz!” The sickening cracking could be heard as the pink burned off Steven as he was thrown back to the ground by Kazuya’s attack. Steven huddled in the fetal position at the what felt like flaming drills, digging and burning into his soul, threatening his very life. 

Kazuya looked down at the hybrid. His body withering in pain. His breathing, harsh and erratic, his eyes closed, body bruised, blood ran from his lips, skull, and back; his hands covering his gem. He originally came to see if the gem could be useful...or maybe a threat or a rival. "Not even a warm-up." Kazuya sighed ,kissing his teeth, as he reached for his phone. He dialed a number and stood in silence. "Forget it.There's nothing of worth." The disappointment in his voice was evident. "This was a waste of time and resources." 

Steven opened his eyes to see Kazuya with his back towards him, silhouetted by the moon. He tried to call out to him, to ask why, but he couldn't. He was too weak, to hurt..and too shocked. He watched as  the blue lightning from before surrounded the man, before large purplish demonic looking wings sprouted from his back. Glaring as the devil looked over his shoulder towards him, three eyes looking at him, disgusted.

He came in to see if he could be an asset, or if he was a possible threat to him. Now though..He washed all concern and care of Steven Universe. “Live your pathetic life and die your pathetic fate.” With that Kazuya took to the sky like his presence and evil went with him.

The last thing Steven heard before he faded from consciousness was the tell-tale sound of a portal opening up and the sound of someone screaming his name.