#Fionna isnt a variation of Connie

[just-a-random-steven-au-lol]

Chapter 3: Curiosity Peak

On the next day, Fionna is at the cafeteria of her college. She's still thinking about the encounter she had with that guy, Steven.

She's not sure if she should try to find him again or something like that, he just walked away after finishing drinking and didn't tell much more. She sighs and eats her food calmly.

Suddenly, she feels someone sitting next to her and hears a voice next to her. "Don't tell me I got a space in your mind."

Fionna nearly drops her fork in surprise, her heart skipping a beat at the sound of the voice. She looks up to find Steven sitting beside her, a mischievous grin playing on his lips as he casually picks up a piece of her uneaten bread and takes a bite.

She stares at him, slightly flustered. "What are you doing here?" she asks, her voice betraying a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Shouldn't you be… I don't know, doing something else?"

Steven shrugs. "Nyeh, I thought on getting fully-high today, but I did that last night, so I decided to follow your track."

Fionna's eyebrows furrow in confusion, unsure of whether she should be annoyed or amused. "Follow my track? Are you stalking me now?"

Steven grins, unbothered. "Stalking is such a strong word. Let's call it... casual observation. I mean, you did make quite an impression on me last night." He leans back in his chair, crossing his arms as he looks at her with a knowing glint in his eyes. "I thought I'd see how the fearless Fionna spends her day after a wild night out."

Fionna can't help but laugh, despite herself. "You really are something else, aren't you?" She sets her fork down, leaning forward slightly. "But seriously, Steven... I didn't think I'd see you again. You kinda disappeared on me last night."

Steven smirks, his eyes glinting with amusement as he picks up another piece of her bread. "Well, I'm not the clingy type," he says nonchalantly, his tone light but with an underlying mystery. "Besides, I didn't exactly think you'd be waiting around for me to come back." He shrugs again, looking almost playful. "But here I am. Couldn't resist seeing how you'd react to me showing up."

Fionna narrows her eyes, feeling a mixture of annoyance and intrigue. "You're really full of surprises, aren't you?"

"Hey, life's too short for boring encounters," Steven replies, leaning back in his chair, clearly unfazed by her questioning. "You seemed like the type to appreciate the unexpected." He pauses, his gaze softening for a moment. "Besides, you didn't exactly run away screaming last night. I'm curious to see how far your 'stubborn' attitude goes."

Fionna glances around the cafeteria, realizing that people are starting to notice the unusual presence at her table. She sighs inwardly, feeling a bit self-conscious but unwilling to let Steven off the hook. "I'm not one for drama, you know. And last night was definitely… unusual. But that doesn't mean I'm okay with you popping up out of nowhere like this."

Steven chuckles. "Fair enough. But if you didn't want me here, you'd've already gotten up and left, right?" He raises an eyebrow, challenging her. "You're still sitting here, so clearly, you're not as annoyed as you're pretending to be."

Fionna hesitates, her gaze lingering on him. She wants to be angry at the sudden intrusion, but there's something about Steven that makes her want to understand him more, something she can't quite explain. "I guess you've got a point." She says finally, her voice quieter. "But I don't get you, Steven. You're not like anyone I've ever met. Why are you even talking to me?"

Steven's grin faltered just a bit, and for a moment, something unguarded flickered in his eyes. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his tone dropping from playful to something more thoughtful.

"Maybe I don't know either." He admitted, studying her carefully. "But you didn't look at me like I was some kind of freak. Most people do. And that makes you... interesting."

Fionna felt her cheeks warm slightly but held his gaze. "So, what? You decided to hunt me down because I didn't scream and run? That's a pretty low bar."

Steven chuckled, the playful spark returning. "Fair point. But maybe it's more than that. Maybe I'm just curious. You seem... different. Most people wouldn't handle what you saw last night so well."

Fionna leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Curious, huh? Well, curiosity killed the cat. Or in your case, maybe something a little bigger."

Steven smirked. "Good thing I'm not a cat. Besides, you asked a lot of questions last night. Figured it's only fair I get to ask some too."

Fionna raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so now we're playing twenty questions?"

"Nah. Just one for now. Why didn't you run?"

His question caught her off guard. She opened her mouth, then closed it, considering. Why didn't she run? She should have. Any sane person would have. But instead, here she was, talking to him again.

"I guess... I don't know. Maybe I wanted to understand. Maybe I thought there was more to you than some guy with a rock in his head."

Steven's smile softened. "Diamond. It's a diamond. Makes me sound more valuable."

Fionna rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. "Right. Diamond. Well, whatever it is, I figured there had to be a story behind it. People don't just end up like you for no reason."

Steven leaned back, watching her. "Smart girl. Most people don't bother thinking that far. But you're right. There's a story. Not sure you'd want to hear it, though. It's not exactly a bedtime tale."

Fionna shrugged. "Try me. I've heard worse."

Steven studied her for a long moment before smirking. "Not today. Gotta keep some mystery, don't I? But maybe... maybe I'll tell you a bit if you hang around."

Fionna sighed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."

Steven laughed. "And yet, here you are. Starting to think you like impossible things."

Fionna couldn't help but shake her head, amused despite herself. "You're insufferable, you know that?"

Steven grinned, unbothered by her teasing. "I get that a lot." He leans back and stretches. "So, is there anything interesting I could know about you?"

Fionna was silent for a moment, unsure of how to answer. She wasn't used to people asking about her, and certainly not in such an intrusive, unexpected way. It felt different from all the times people had tried to be polite or ask the usual surface-level questions. But there was something about Steven's presence, the way he didn't shy away from the weird or the uncomfortable, that made her feel strangely at ease.

"Well," She began slowly, her eyes flicking over to the cafeteria tray in front of her. "I guess I'm studying physics, for one. Not exactly the most exciting thing to lead with, though." She hesitated, then looked back at him, her voice growing a little shy. "And I have this taste for anime and manga."

Steven raised an eyebrow and laughs. "So I'm talking to a weeb? Didn't expect that coming."

Fionna's face flushed at the unexpected comment, her initial embarrassment quickly giving way to a slight smirk. "Hey, don't knock it until you try it," she replied, crossing her arms. "Anime has some pretty deep stuff in it. You wouldn't get it."

Steven's grin only widened, and he leaned in slightly, as if considering her challenge. "A weeb with physics and anime? I think I've found a mystery of my own here." He shook his head. "Honestly, I would've pegged you as more of a straight-laced, textbook kind of person."

Fionna rolled her eyes, but she couldn't suppress the smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, well, there's more to me than just equations and physics problems." She hesitated, then added. "And there's more to you than just a guy with a diamond in his head."

Steven chuckled, giving her a mock salute. "Fair point. You're one of the few who doesn't just see the weird shit and run." He sat back in his chair, regarding her with a renewed sense of interest. "Guess that makes us even, huh? A weeb and a jerk."

Fionna laughed, feeling a warm sense of connection with Steven despite the bizarre nature of their interactions. She'd never imagined that a conversation with someone like him could feel so natural, so easy, even in its strangeness.

"Yeah, I guess we're even." Fionna replied, feeling a little more comfortable in the moment. "But you're still not getting my bread."

Steven's eyes twinkled with mischief as he reached for the last piece of her bread anyway. "Oh, I'm definitely getting the bread. This is just the beginning."

Fionna's laughter filled the space between them, but she couldn't help but roll her eyes as Steven grabbed the last piece of bread. She half-heartedly protested, but the playful glint in his eyes made it hard to stay mad. There was something about his easy confidence that was both frustrating and oddly comforting.

"Are you always this obnoxious?" She asked, her tone light but with a hint of challenge.

"Only when it's fun." Steven shot back, taking a slow bite of the bread as though savoring the victory.

Fionna leaned back in her chair, watching him. The cafeteria noise seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in their own little bubble. It felt strange, how easily the walls she usually built around herself were starting to crumble in his presence.

She took a deep breath. "So, what now? You're just gonna hang around and harass me every day?"

Steven laughs and stretches. "Yeah, that's a good idea. But I guess you got better things to do." He rises to his feet and stretches. "Can I see something on your hand?"

Fionna raised an eyebrow at Steven's request. "My hand? What for?"

Steven smirked, his gaze flicking to her hand resting on the table. "Just wanna see something."

Fionna hesitated for a moment before shrugging, figuring it wasn't worth making a big deal out of. She extended her hand toward him. "Fine. You're weird, though."

He grins and take her hand. He pulls a marker from the diamond and quickly write something on her hand before letting go of it. "There's my number. Call me if you want, but if I was you, I wouldn't. See ya, cutie." He turns around and walks away.

The moment Steven walks away, Fionna's mind races, her hand still tingling where his marker touched her skin. She stares at the number written in black ink across her palm, feeling a strange mix of emotions. Part of her is irritated by his cocky, unpredictable behavior, but another part is intrigued, curious about the mysterious person he's revealed himself to be, and unsure of what comes next.

She glances down at the number, as though it might hold some kind of answer. Her heart beats a little faster. Why had she let him do that? Why had she let him in this much already?

Fionna shakes her head and grabs her tray, pushing the confusing thoughts to the back of her mind. She has class in a few minutes, and she needs to focus. But as she walks across campus, her hand still feels warm from where Steven had touched it, and she wonders if she'll ever get the chance to make sense of him, or of what this weird connection could mean.

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

Later that night, Fionna finds herself at her desk, trying to get through her assignments. But every time she looks at her phone, her eyes inevitably drift to the number Steven had written on her hand earlier. It's almost like it's calling to her.

She sighs and places the phone back down, focusing on her homework. But the thought of Steven, his unexpected presence in her life, his playful yet mysterious demeanor, keeps interrupting her thoughts. She stares at her phone for a moment before finally giving in.

With a reluctant breath, Fionna picks it up, unlocking the screen, and taps the number into a new message. Her fingers hover over the keyboard, uncertain of what to say.

"Hey, it's Fionna. You're a pain in the ass, but… I guess I'm curious about that story you mentioned."

She hesitates before sending, her heart pounding in her chest as if it were some huge step.

Almost immediately, the phone buzzes in her hand.

"Didnt expect you to actually text me"

"Im surprised lol"

"Meet me at the park midnight"

"Ill answer whatever you ask"

Fionna reads the messages twice, a mix of excitement and dread rising within her. She looks out of her window, seeing the moon hanging in the sky, and knows that tonight might be the night she finds out more about Steven's strange world.

[TO BE CONTINUED]

[just-a-random-steven-au-lol]

WARNING: This is the chapter 5 of a Steven AU. If you're interested on it, go check the other chapters.

Chapter 5: Peaceful Moment

The following days passed like a blur. Steven and Fionna found themselves hanging out more constantly. Whenever Fionna had a free moment, Steven would show up (mostly unannounced).

In the middle of the night, Fionna's at the library trying to study for an exam in the following day. The soft hum of fluorescent lights filled the near-empty library, casting pale glows across rows of bookshelves. Fionna sat hunched over a thick textbook at a secluded table, her head propped up by one hand while the other lazily twirled a pen.

Her eyes scanned the same paragraph for the third time, but the words blurred together. No matter how hard she tried to focus, her mind drifted elsewhere, to Steven.

"Of course, he's probably off doing something reckless right now." She thought, sighing.

A soft thud echoed in the quiet room. Fionna stiffened, glancing toward the sound. Nothing. Just shadows stretching between the shelves.

"Probably a book falling…" She reasoned, shaking her head.

Then, from behind a nearby shelf, a familiar voice broke the silence.

"Studying this late? Nerd."

Fionna jumped, her pen clattering onto the table.

"Steven!" She hissed, whipping her head around. He leaned casually against the bookshelf, a crooked grin on his face, hands in his jacket pockets.

"What are you doing here?" She demanded in a sharp whisper, glancing around to make sure no librarian was lurking nearby.

Steven shrugged. "Got bored. Thought I'd check on you. Besides, this place is creepy at night. Figured you could use some company."

Fionna pinched the bridge of her nose. "How did you even get in? The doors are locked after ten!"

He smirked, tapping the diamond on his forehead. "Perks of being me."

Fionna groaned. "You can't just— ugh, nevermind."

Steven sauntered over and leaned against the edge of her table, eyeing the dense pages. "What are you even studying? Looks painful."

"Analytic geometry." She muttered, flipping the page with a sigh. "And yes, it is painful."

Steven squinted at the textbook, tilting his head. "Analytic geometry? Yeah, sounds like torture."

Fionna rolled her eyes. "Well, some of us don't have magical head diamonds to solve our problems."

Steven smirked. "Hey, I could help, y'know. I'm practically a genius."

She shot him a flat look. "Oh, really? Alright, Mr. Genius, explain this." She jabbed her finger at a particularly dense problem on the page, a complex graph full of intersecting lines and equations.

Steven leaned over, studying it for a second. He nodded slowly, pretending to understand. "Yeah… yeah. That's, uh… definitely math."

Fionna snorted. "Thought so."

Steven grinned, unbothered. "C'mon, take a break. This stuff is gonna melt your brain."

"I have an exam tomorrow, Steven." She said, rubbing her eyes. "I can't afford a break."

Steven tapped the table thoughtfully, then smirked. "Alright, five-minute break. You need it. Then you can go back to torturing yourself."

Fionna hesitated, glancing at the clock. Midnight. Her head was pounding, and her eyes burned. Maybe five minutes wouldn't hurt.

"Fine. Five minutes." She muttered, leaning back in her chair. "What do you have in mind?"

Steven's grin widened. "Glad you asked."

Before Fionna could protest, Steven reached up and touched the diamond on his forehead. In an instant, a small, black orb of energy flickered to life in his palm, softly pulsing like a heartbeat.

Fionna tensed. "Steven, this is a library—"

But before she could finish, the orb expanded and shimmered, forming into a small, intricate model of the solar system, with tiny planets orbiting a glowing sun. The planets moved in perfect synchronization, casting faint shadows on the table.

Fionna blinked in surprise. "Wait… you can do that?"

Steven leaned back smugly. "I told you, I can do all kinds of things. Figured a nerd like you would appreciate a visual aid."

Despite herself, Fionna felt a smile tug at the corner of her lips. She leaned in closer, watching the tiny planets spin. The soft glow of the miniature sun reflected in her eyes.

"This is… actually kind of amazing." She admitted quietly.

Steven tilted his head. "See? Who says I can't be helpful?"

Fionna snorted. "This isn't exactly helping me with analytic geometry, but… it's cool."

Steven chuckled, watching Fionna's fascination with the miniature solar system. The soft glow of the tiny planets bathed their corner of the library in gentle light, casting faint, swirling shadows on the walls.

"Well, if you're not impressed by that, I could always summon something more exciting," Steven teased, raising an eyebrow.

Fionna shot him a warning look. "Steven. This is a library. And you already broke in."

He smirked. "Fair point." With a flick of his wrist, the solar system dissolved into wisps of black smoke that vanished into the air.

For a moment, there was a comfortable silence between them. Fionna leaned back in her chair, letting her head rest against the cool wood, eyes fluttering shut for a brief moment.

Steven watched her, his usual smug expression softening slightly.

"You know," He began, his voice quieter. "You should sleep. This much studying can't be good for you."

Fionna cracked one eye open. "And what, miss my exam? Not happening."

Steven rolled his eyes, leaning further onto the table. "Yeah, but you're not exactly learning anything when your brain's turned to mush."

Fionna let out a long sigh. She hated to admit it, but he was right. Her focus had been slipping for the past hour. Still, the thought of failing wasn't something she could stomach.

Steven seemed to sense her hesitation and smirked. "Tell you what. You take a quick nap, just twenty minutes. I'll wake you up, and you'll feel like a genius."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "And why exactly should I trust you to wake me up?"

He leaned in slightly, his grin widening. "Because I'm extremely reliable."

Fionna scoffed. "Your criminal record disagrees."

Steven's grin didn't falter. "Details."

Fionna stared at Steven for a long moment, debating. The weight behind her eyes and the fog clouding her brain made the idea of a short nap dangerously tempting.

"Twenty minutes." She muttered, more to herself than to him.

Steven leaned back, satisfied. "Atta girl. Close your eyes, nerd. I've got this."

Fionna gave him one last skeptical glance before folding her arms on the table and resting her head on them.

"I swear, if you let me sleep past twenty minutes—"

"I won't." Steven cut her off, his tone unexpectedly gentle. "Promise."

Her shoulders relaxed slightly, and within moments, the steady rhythm of her breathing softened as she drifted off.

Steven watched her for a few seconds, the usual cocky smirk fading into something more contemplative. The harsh fluorescent lights made the dark circles under her eyes more prominent.

"She's gonna burn herself out." He muttered quietly.

Steven leaned back in the chair, letting his gaze wander around the dim library. The silence was heavier now, interrupted only by the occasional hum of the air conditioning.

He sighs and leans back while stretching. He takes a good look at her, thinking quietly. "... Well, she is cute." He mutters to himself.

The minutes passed by slowly as Steven leaned back in the chair, his eyes drifting between Fionna's peaceful form and the dim, empty library around them. It was rare for him to let his guard down like this… rare for him to care so much about someone. He couldn't quite explain it, but there was something about Fionna that made him want to stick around, even if he couldn't figure out why.

After the twenty minutes, he shakes her gently. "Wakey wakey cutie."

Fionna stirred, her eyelids fluttering open to the sound of Steven's teasing voice. She blinked, her mind sluggish, still tangled in the remnants of sleep. The library's quiet hum greeted her as she straightened up, rubbing her eyes.

"Ugh." she groaned, stretching her arms above her head. "I can't believe I actually fell asleep."

Steven grinned. "Told you, you'd feel better."

Fionna shot him a tired glare but couldn't suppress a small smile. "I actually do." She admitted, looking down at her textbook. The words no longer blurred, and her mind felt less foggy. "That... actually worked."

"Told ya." Steven says with a smirk, his tone more relaxed than usual. He gets up and stretches. "I'm going to a bar. Don't wanna interrupt your studies."

Fionna looked up from her textbook, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "A bar? Really? You're just going to leave me here alone to study again?"

Steven shrugged, a grin playing on his lips. "I figured you've got this now. I mean, you look like you're about to take on the world." He stepped back, giving her a playful salute. "Besides, I'm doing you a favor. No more distractions, right?"

Fionna gave him a tired look. "You're impossible." She stood up and stretched, feeling the lingering effects of the brief nap. "But thanks for… actually helping. I feel more awake, so I guess it worked."

"Anytime, nerd," Steven said with a wink. "Take care of yourself, alright?"

Fionna shook her head but smiled. "Don't get into trouble."

Steven chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Who, me? Never." He turned and started walking toward the library doors, his casual stride betraying his usual confidence. Just before he reached the exit, he glanced back over his shoulder. "Hey, Finn?"

"Yeah?"

He paused for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. "You're doing great. Don't burn yourself out, alright?"

Fionna's heart skipped a beat at his unexpected sincerity. She nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I'll be fine. Thanks, Steven."

With that, he disappeared out the door, and Fionna sat back down at her table. The library was quiet again, the soft glow of the fluorescent lights above and the occasional flicker of the air conditioning the only sounds in the room.

But there was a warmth lingering in her chest. Despite the exhaustion that still gnawed at her, she couldn't help but feel a little lighter. Maybe it was the nap, or maybe it was the reminder that someone cared, even if that someone was Steven, impossible, unpredictable Steven.

Fionna turned back to her textbook, but this time, her focus was sharper. The problem that had seemed impossible before now looked more like a challenge. And maybe, just maybe, it was something she could conquer.

She smiled to herself, a soft laugh escaping her lips as she muttered under her breath, "Yeah. I've got this."

[TO BE CONTINUED]

[just-a-random-steven-au-lol]

Chapter 4: Important Talk

At midnight, Fionna finds herself standing at the edge of a quiet park. The night is cool, the stars shining above her, but there’s a tension in the air. She’s not sure what to expect, but she knows Steven will show up. He’s unpredictable like that.

And sure enough, she sees him leaning against a tree, his figure outlined in the dim light. 

“Heyo.” His voice cuts through the silence, his grin wide as he steps forward.

“You really are a mystery,” She says, taking a deep breath and crossing her arms. “Alright, I’m here. Spill it.”

He shrugs and smirks. “Alright. What do you want to know?”

Fionna takes a step closer, her heart racing as she tries to keep her composure. Her mind is buzzing with questions, but she knows better than to just throw them all out at once. She needs to be strategic, to figure out what makes Steven tick before she dives into his world.

"Alright." She says, trying to sound more confident than she feels. "Let's start with the basics. What's with the diamond in your head?" She gestures toward his forehead, where the shimmering, almost ethereal glow from the diamond still pulses faintly under his skin. "How does that even work? How do you have that?"

Steven whistles. “Wow, you really don’t waste time, huh?” He laughs. “Alright. The truth is: I have no idea. I was born with it and it gives me powers, but that’s all I know.”

Fionna blinks, a little taken aback by his bluntness. "You were born with it?" she asks, her voice a mix of disbelief and curiosity. "How does something like that even happen?"

Steven shrugs nonchalantly, his hands slipping into the pockets of his jacket as he leans against the tree. "I don’t know, alright? It’s not like I asked for it. It’s just there, and it does things. Makes me different, gives me abilities… but beyond that? I don’t have a damn clue why I ended up like this. I just learned to live with it."

Fionna frowns, processing his words. “So, you don’t know where it came from, but you know it gives you powers?” She pauses, thinking. “What kind of powers?”

Steven's grin returns, mischievous and slightly cryptic. "Anything I want, really. Makes me faster, stronger, night vision, and, uh, I can do this." He pulls an axe from the diamond on his forehead. “Besides that, I can store things inside it and make this black energy that can be used for a lotta stuff.”

Fionna’s eyes widen as she watches Steven casually pull an axe from his forehead. It seems like something out of a dream—or a nightmare. Her breath catches in her throat, and she can’t help but take a step back, her mind trying to catch up with what she just witnessed.

"Did you—" She begins, still in disbelief, "Did you just pull that out of your forehead?" Her voice is a mix of awe and incredulity. "How does that even—"

Steven’s grin widens, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Told you, I can do a lotta things." He twirls the axe in his hand effortlessly, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. "The diamond makes it all possible. It’s part of me, but it’s also… like a portal. I can store things, summon weapons, and use it to control the black energy. You could call it a gift, or a curse, depends on how you see it."

Fionna’s mind races, her logical, scientific brain struggling to make sense of what she’s seeing. "But how is this even real?" She mutters, shaking her head. "How can something like that exist? It’s—" She cuts herself off, realizing she’s rambling.

Steven lowers the axe, looking at her with an almost fond amusement. "I get it. It’s a lot to take in. But this is me, Fionna. And if you want to stick around, you’re gonna have to accept it." He gives her a meaningful look. "I didn’t ask for this, and I sure as hell didn’t ask to meet someone like you, but here we are."

Fionna narrows her eyes, her thoughts spinning. "You said you don’t know where the diamond came from… but you’re telling me it gives you all these abilities? So you’ve just been living with this… thing, and never tried to figure it out?"

Steven looks down at the axe in his hand, his expression hardening slightly. "I’ve tried. Trust me, I’ve tried. But the more I dig, the more I realize that there are things about me that no one can explain. Things I’ll never understand." He lets out a slow breath, then looks back up at her, the playful glint in his eyes replaced by something more serious. "I’ve learned to stop asking questions. It’s just who I am now." He drops the axe, making it disappear in thin air.

Fionna watches as the axe vanishes, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and confusion. She’s still trying to process everything, but it’s hard to keep up. Her logical mind is struggling to catch up with the impossible nature of it all.

She takes a deep breath, pushing aside the overwhelming sensation. "So, what exactly are you running from, Steven?" She asks, her voice quieter now, more serious. "You said you didn’t want to ask questions, but there’s got to be something you’re hiding. You don’t just go around with a diamond in your head without something chasing you or hunting you down."

Steven looks away, his gaze flicking to the trees in the distance as if the question itself stung. "Not something." He mutters under his breath. "Someone."

Fionna steps closer, her curiosity piqued, her earlier hesitation forgotten. "Who?" she presses. "Who’s after you?"

For a moment, there’s nothing but silence, the wind rustling through the leaves above them. Then Steven turns to her, his face unreadable.

"I don’t wanna involve any normal person into this shit," He says, his voice low. "But if you really want to know, it’s not just people after me, it is this… organization, G.U.N. I never knew what it meant or why they were after me, but I suppose they want the diamond, my power. They’ve been after me for as long as I can remember. The diamond isn’t just a weird genetic quirk, it’s something more. Something powerful." He sighs. “I managed to escape for now. They probably don’t know where I am, and if they know, they didn’t show up for a few months now.”

Fionna processes the gravity of Steven’s words, the weight of the revelation settling in her chest. An organization hunting him down, after his power. She can feel the tension rising, the sense of danger suddenly becoming palpable.

"So you’re on the run," she says softly, more to herself than to him. "That’s why you’re so... elusive. And you don’t want anyone else getting involved, right?"

Steven doesn’t respond immediately. He just stares off into the distance, as if gathering his thoughts, before giving her a small, resigned nod. "Yeah. It’s been a hell of a ride. And I don’t want to drag anyone else into it, especially not you."

Fionna’s mind races, but she doesn’t look away from him. "But you still told me, Steven. You’re telling me all of this. You didn’t have to." She steps a little closer, her voice gentle yet insistent. "Why are you telling me? Why now?"

Steven looks down at the ground for a moment, his fingers idly tracing the edge of his jacket sleeve. "I don’t really know." He mutters, almost to himself. "Maybe I’m tired of running. Or maybe, just maybe, you’re the first person I’ve met who hasn’t freaked out when they found out about the diamond, and that maybe makes me feel less uncomfortable with you…"

Fionna stands there, processing his words, her chest tight with an unexpected empathy for Steven. His situation, his isolation, it all suddenly feels so real, so raw. It’s clear he’s been carrying this burden for a long time, running from this unknown organization, hiding the truth from everyone around him. And yet, here he is, telling her, someone he barely knows, everything.

She takes a deep breath, her gaze softening as she steps even closer. "You don’t have to be alone in this, you know." She says quietly, her voice full of sincerity. "I’m not just going to walk away because it’s complicated. I don’t know exactly what you’re going through, but you don’t have to keep it all inside. If you need help, or just someone to talk to, I’ll be here."

He looks at her and gives her a small, yet sincere smile. “Thanks, but I’m not worth your time.”

Fionna shakes her head, not buying his words for a second. "Don’t sell yourself short, Steven. You’ve been through hell, and you don’t have to face it alone. Whether you like it or not, I’m not just going to disappear because it’s too complicated. I’m not going anywhere."

Steven’s expression softens slightly, a mix of surprise and reluctant gratitude flickering in his eyes. For a moment, he’s silent, just staring at her, as if trying to figure out what she’s really offering. Then, with a sigh, he looks up at the sky, his voice quieter, more vulnerable than she’s ever heard it. “... Y’know, I can tell you some of my story if you want so.”

Fionna stands there, her heart racing as she processes Steven's words. She’s not sure what it is about him, maybe it’s the vulnerability in his voice, or the raw honesty he’s offering, but she feels the weight of his situation, the burden he’s been carrying all this time.

"You’d tell me?" she asks, her voice a little softer than she intended. “You mean it?”

Steven looks at her, his expression thoughtful, the weight of his experiences pressing on him. He nods slowly. “Yeah. Maybe it’s time. I’ve kept this all to myself for so long. Maybe it’s time someone else knows the truth, even if it’s just one person.”

Fionna’s stomach flips as she steps closer to him, her curiosity piqued but her empathy stronger than anything else. She’s here now. Whatever he’s about to say, she’s ready to listen.

Steven takes a deep breath, his gaze flicking back to the night sky before returning to her. “My full name is ‘Steven Wimbleton’, but my official surname is ‘Pitriadamas’ because I was found in a forest with the same name. I was sent to an orphanage to have a chance to be adopted. Most people didn’t want me because of my skin and because of the diamond. Religious people said it was a ‘devil horn’ while the non-religious thought I’d be an expensive kid.” 

He pauses and sighs. “I was adopted and given back many times. Once I was adopted by a couple. I thought it would be good, but quickly I noticed they were horrible people, being abusive and mean. I barely could look through the window without them screaming at me… I never had anyone to look out for me, just me alone in my own world. When I was 14, I got tired of that place. When my ‘former parents’ were out, I set fire to that house and ran away into the forest.”

Fionna listens intently, her heart aching as Steven recounts the painful details of his past. She can see the weight of the words hanging in the air, the burden he’s been carrying for years. His voice is low, but there's a rawness to it that reveals just how much those experiences have shaped him.

As Steven pauses, Fionna doesn’t say anything right away. She doesn’t want to interrupt his story. Instead, she just stands there, her eyes focused on him, her presence offering silent support.

When he finally continues, the pain in his voice is palpable.

"Some days after I ran from that place, I discovered my powers when I was in a fight with some thugs. I made them surrender and rob them, running away. Then I started living the way I could, stealing wallets, food, having my fun… Until my 17s, when G.U.N found out about me. Then I started to run from them… And that’s basically it."

Fionna stands still, processing Steven's story as it sinks in. The gravity of what he’s gone through, the pain, the loneliness, it hits her harder than she expected. His whole life, he’s been discarded, mistreated, and forced to survive alone. Now, he’s carrying the weight of a mysterious power, an organization chasing him, and years of isolation.

“Steven,” She says softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She takes another step closer to him, her words full of sincerity and understanding. “I’m so sorry you had to go through all that. No one should have to feel like they’re unwanted, like they don’t belong. But you’ve survived, you’re still here. That says something.”

Steven looks at her in silence for a few seconds before he smirks. “Well, thanks, Finn. That… makes me better somehow.”

Fionna gives him a small smile, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "You're welcome. You don’t have to carry all of this alone. You're not some monster, Steven. You’ve been through hell, and somehow, you're still here. That takes a lot of strength."

He laughs quietly, shaking his head. "I don’t feel strong. I just feel like I’ve been running from one thing to another for so long that I forgot what it feels like to just… stop."

Fionna steps even closer, now standing right in front of him, her gaze steady and serious. "Maybe it’s time to stop running. You’ve got someone who’s willing to help you face whatever comes next. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere."

Steven looks at her, his eyes filled with something unspoken, something vulnerable that he’s rarely allowed anyone to see. He takes a deep breath, and for the first time tonight, his guard lowers just a little. "I don’t know how this is going to go, Fionna," he admits, his voice quieter than before. "But… I think I could use someone like you by my side."

For a moment, the silence between them feels comfortable, not heavy, but full of understanding. The tension from earlier has melted away, replaced by a fragile connection that’s just beginning to form.

"You don’t have to do this alone," Fionna repeats, her voice firm yet gentle. "No matter what happens, I’ve got your back."

Steven nods, the faintest hint of a genuine smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Thanks, Finn. I mean it."

Fionna returns his smile, her heart lighter than it’s been in a long while. "Alright then, Steven Wimbleton. Let’s see where this goes."

The two of them stand there, side by side, under the starlit sky. The weight of the night feels different now, not like a burden, but as the beginning of something new. Whatever the future holds, they’ll face it together.

And for the first time in a long while, Steven doesn’t feel quite as alone.

[TO BE CONTINUED]

[just-a-random-steven-au-lol]

Chapter 2: Calming the nerves

[CONTENT WARNING]

First, this is a completely separate story from the original Steven Universe or other AUs. The main character here is an entirely other one. The biggest similarities are the name and being half-human.

Second, this story will have more direct themes, including 'complicated' and not-so-subtle topics (just alcoholism this time, lol).

Third: This whole thing is heavily inspired in @ask-whitepearl-and-stevenin, made by the honorable @thechekhov. If this somehow reaches them, and they don't like it, I will delete it all.

With that said: Enjoy (or probably hate) it!

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

The night air was cold against Fionna's skin as she followed Steven through the dimly lit streets. Every instinct told her to turn back, to head home, to forget about the guy who saved her life. But she was in too deep now, and another part of her was desperate to know more about this mysterious figure.

The bar loomed ahead. A low hum of music and muffled voices spilled out into the night as they approached. As they stepped inside, the smoky atmosphere enveloped them. Patrons filled the room, laughter and chatter blending with the clinking of glasses. 

“Two shots of whiskey.” Steven said, leaning casually against the counter. The bartender raised an eyebrow at him but didn’t question the request. Fionna felt out of place amidst the rough crowd, but Steven’s presence provided a strange comfort.

“What now?” She asked, glancing around as they waited for their drinks.

“Now we drink,” He replied with a smirk, grabbing the two shots as they were placed before him. He downed one in a single motion before handing the second one to her.

“Um, I don’t drink…” She stammered, staring at the amber liquid like it was poison.

“Suit yourself. More for me.” He tossed back the second shot, leaning against the bar with a satisfied sigh. 

She looks at Steven as he drinks, feeling nervous to ask questions. “... How are you so strong? I mean, you bent those bars with your bare hands…”

Steven paused, the glass hovering near his lips as he considered her question. He set the empty shot glass down with a soft clink and turned to her, his expression shifting to one of mild amusement. “You really want to know?”

Fionna nodded, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "Yeah, I mean... It's not every day you see someone do something like that."

He chuckled, a dark sound that sent a shiver down her spine. “Well, it is all because of this.” He passes his hand on his hair, moving it from his forehead, revealing a black, pointy horn-like on his forehead.

Fionna widens her eyes and backs down, surprised. “What IS that?!”

They glance at each other for a few seconds in silence until Steven sighs and rolls his eyes. “Understandable yet offensive.”

Fionna's heart raced as she stared at the “horn”, a mix of fear and fascination flooding her senses. The bar seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them locked at this moment. "I— I didn't mean to offend you." She stammered, trying to regain her composure. "It just caught me off guard."

Steven chuckled softly. "Trust me, I get that a lot. Most people see this thing, and they think I'm some kind of monster. Well, at least it gives me power."

"Powers?" Fionna echoed, her curiosity igniting. "How?”

Steven shrugs. “No idea. Everything I know is that I was born with it, and it gives me some cool abilities.”

Fionna stared at him, her mind racing. "So, you were born with it? Like, it's some kind of... malformation?"

Steven chuckles. "Well, medicine say that. Religion say it is a curse.” He leans closer to her. “But to be honest, some jewelers confirmed it is a diamond.”

Fionna blinked, her mind struggling to process the strange revelation. "A diamond...? On your forehead?"

He smirks. “Well, actually it is inside my head. This is just, like, 20% of the whole thing. Wanna see the X-Rays?”

“... You’re joking, right?” She asked, half-hoping he would laugh it off.

He chuckles and shakes his head. “Of course not, doll.” He puts his hand into this ‘diamond’ and pulls the X-ray exams from inside it.

Fionna’s jaw dropped as she watched Steven pull out a set of X-ray films from seemingly nowhere. He spread them out on the bar, the faint light illuminating the stark outlines of skull and bone.

“Here you go.” He said nonchalantly, gesturing to the images. “As you can see, there’s a diamond right there, replacing my brain and fulfilling my skull. Kinda hard to miss.”

Fionna leaned closer, squinting at the films. “This is… unreal.” She traced the outline of the diamond with her finger, barely daring to breathe. “How is that even possible? How are you even alive? Doesn’t it hurt?”

Steven watched her with a smug expression as she examined the X-ray films. “Nah. I was born with it, so it’s just part of me, like an extra organ. Though I can’t say I’ve had the most conventional life because of it.”

Fionna straightened, her head spinning with the revelations. “So you’ve lived with this… diamond in your head your whole life? How did your parents react?”

A flicker of something darker crossed Steven's face. “... Heh... Well… I don't have parents. I won't give details, but I’ve spent my whole life in orphanages, jumping from family to family, until I got tired and escaped to live all by myself. And I’ve been doing pretty good since then.”

Fionna felt a pang of sympathy for him, realizing that beneath his bravado was a painful truth. “That sounds… really tough… But you’re not alone anymore. I want to help you, whatever that means.”

Steven laughs. “Help? Seriously? You know how the world treats people like me. You think you can just waltz in and fix everything?”

“I don’t think it’s that simple.” Fionna replied, determination creeping back into her voice. “But I want to understand you. You’ve been through so much, and I can’t just ignore that.”

He studied her for a moment, a flicker of interest sparking in his eyes. “You’re different, aren’t you? Most wouldn’t dare to get this close to me, let alone offer to help.”

“I guess I’m just stubborn,” she admitted with a shy smile. “Besides, you’re not a monster. You saved me, and that’s what matters.”

Steven let out a low, almost disbelieving chuckle, his sharp teeth visible as he leaned back against the bar, crossing his arms. "Not a monster, huh? You sure about that?" 

She nodded, her gaze steady. "Yeah. You're not. You're just... different. But that doesn't make you a bad person."

His smirk falters for a moment. He stays quiet for a few seconds and shakes his head. “You’re either incredibly brave or unbelievably naive.” He pauses, and his smirk comes back. “Well, if you insist, how do you intend to help me, doll?”

Fionna hesitated, searching for the right words. Steven's smirk was both a challenge and a mask, and she wanted to peel it back, to understand the person beneath. She took a deep breath. "I don't know exactly how yet. But maybe... maybe it starts with listening. With not running away when things get weird."

Steven raised an eyebrow, his amused expression softening slightly. "Listening, huh? Sounds simple enough. But what if listening's not enough? What if people like me need more than just kind words and sympathy?"

"Then I'll figure it out." She replied, her voice steadier now. "You don't have to do everything alone. Whatever this is, whatever you've been through, you deserve someone in your corner."

He studied her, his gaze sharp and searching. "You don’t even know me, doll. For all you know, I could be dangerous. You sure you're ready for what that might mean?"

Fionna's heart pounded, but she held his gaze. "You had the chance to hurt me and didn’t. You’ve had plenty of chances since. That says a lot more about you than some diamond in your head."

Steven chuckled, a genuine laugh this time, though tinged with disbelief. "You’re a piece of work, you know that? Most people run screaming at the sight of this thing." He said, tapping the diamond on his forehead. "But you? You just keep pushing."

"Maybe I’m stubborn. Or maybe I see something in you worth fighting for." She said, her cheeks flushing slightly at her own boldness.

Steven tilted his head, a flicker of something unspoken crossing his face. "Alright, Fionna. I’ll bite. If you want to stick around, you’re in. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. My life’s not exactly a picnic."

"Neither is mine." She said with a small smile. "But I’m not backing down."

He smirked, shaking his head. "Fine. Let’s see what you’ve got. But first, you’re buying the next round."

Fionna blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, what? I didn’t even drink the first round!"

"Exactly." Steven said, standing and motioning to the bartender. "You owe me. Consider it the first step in proving you’re serious."

Fionna sighed, but couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips. As strange as the night had turned, she felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.

[TO BE CONTINUED]

[just-a-random-steven-au-lol]

Chapter 1: An interesting folk

[CONTENT WARNING]

First, this is a completely separate story from the original Steven Universe or other AUs. The main character here is entirely other one. The biggest similarities is the name and being half-human.

Second, this story will have more direct themes, including 'complicated' and not-so-subtle topics (drug use, swearing and maybe some violence/blood).

Third: This whole thing is heavily inspired in @ask-whitepearl-and-stevenin, made by the honorable @thechekhov. If this somehow reaches them, and they don't like it, I will delete it all.

With that said: Enjoy (or probably hate) it!

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

In the state of Nevaska, it's a cold, and silent night.

The only audible sounds are the footsteps of a short girl with short blonde hair and glasses, wearing a baggy hoodie.

She walks nervously, holding some books. Suddenly, she's stopped by a group of thugs.

The leader of them whistles and says in a rough voice. "Hey, pretty. What would a pretty girl like you be doing in here?"

She takes a step back, evidently intimidated. "I-I was just heading back to my dorm. I went to the library to get some books and—"

The leader interrupts. "Well, that's interesting, but how about a little fun?"

She freezes at the man's words and stutters. "I-I'm not interested, thank you."

She tries to leave, but the group pulls her into an alley, making her drop her books.

The leader laughs. "Lemme break it down for you: Just give in, or it'll be worse for ya."

Terrified, the girl tries to call for help, but the group prevents her from doing it.

They smirk among themselves, but before they could proceed, they hear a rough, heavy voice from the end of the alley.

"Oi."

They look toward the source of the voice and see a tall figure staring at them. Only their dark eyes are visible, glowing with a white diamond-shaped outline. "I see you're busy. I'm not in the mood to talk today, so just let the girl go."

The leader glares at the figure, annoyed for being interrupted. "This ain’t your business, punk. Get lost."

The figure rolls their eyes and passes a hand over their face. "... look, I've got a goddamn hangover today, so let's make this quick."

The figure suddenly rushed to the leader, punching his face hard enough to knock the leader out.

The rest of the group look at the figure with surprise and fear as they knock the leader out. The group draw their knives and prepare to stab him.

The figure shakes their head and let a low laugh. “Goddamn damn…” They crack their fingers and lunge towards the thugs. One of them tries to stab the figure, but the figure dodges and grabs the thug's arm, breaking it with a punch.

The thug screams in pain and another one lunges to stab the figure, but they dodge and punch the other one on the face.

The thugs back down a little, their knives still raised. The figure cracked his neck and shoulders before pulling two large axes from their forehead.

The group looks astonished at the figure. They hesitantly take their leader and run away from the place.

The figure sighs. "Cowards..." They drop the axes, which disappear in thin air. They walk towards the girl and crouches in front of her, getting on her eye level, their diamond eyes glancing into hers. The dim light made him unable to see his appearance. "Yo, you ok?"

She looks at the figure in shock before nodding. "Y-Yeah… thank you…"

They nod. "Cool…"

Silence fills the air between them for a few moments until the girl breaks it. "... who are you?"

The figure shrugs. "Call me Steven."

She nods, slowly calming down and getting up. "... Thank you… thank you so much…" She picks up the books from the ground and looks at him curiously. "I'm Fionna."

He looks at her and adopts with a softer tone. "Nice to meet ya."

They look at each other for a moment, the cold breeze of the night hitting them. After a few moments, Steven stretches and assumes in a nonchalant tone. "Eh, I guess that's it. See ya sometime, I guess."

Fionna widens her eyes, she can’t believe this guy is just going to go away like nothing happened after everything. She just looks at him surprised. “... Okay… bye.”

He nods and walks away. As he tries to leave the alley, he’s stopped by a cop pointing a gun at his face. "Freeze! I saw everything that happened, and you’re under arrest for assaulting and threatening a group! You're coming with me!"

Steven looks at the officer in silence. He simply huffs and raises his hands. “And there it goes my game night.”

Fionna takes a few seconds to process the situation. As she realizes what's happening, she quickly steps forward, saying nervously. "W-What?! S-Sir, he didn't mean any harm. He did it because they were trying to hurt me."

The officer glances at Fionna with an angry look. "Girl, don't try to help this punk. If what you're telling is true, then he's not only going to be arrested for assault, but also for vigilantism."

Fionna gets even more shocked, but Steven shrugs and simply puts his hands behind his back, allowing himself to be handcuffed.

He looks at Fionna, his face still shrouded in the darkness of the night. "Don't worry, I'm more used to this. It won't take one day before I break free."

She tries to say something, but the officer drags Steven to the car aggressively and drives him to the station.

She stands in the alley, surprised and shocked by everything that had just happened.

After regaining her senses, she gathers her books and runs back to her dorm.

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

As she goes back to her dorm a ton of questions invade her mind, "Who was that guy? Why did that guy save me? Where did he take those axes?" And the more she thinks about it, the more she feels guilty for not doing anything against his arrest.

She lies on her bed and covers her face with a pillow, the guilt taking over her.

She keeps thinking on what to do, and she lets a sigh, determined to help.

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

[THE NEXT DAY]

Fionna went to the jail as a visitor. A guard is guiding her through the cells.

The guard looks at her with a raised brow. "I don't understand. Why would a girl like you want to see a prisoner?"

She quickly speaks up. "He's not a bad person. He saved me and was arrested for it, the least I can do is try to get him out."

The guard shrugs. "Suit yourself then…"

As they approach the cell, they feel a strong scent of weed and beer. They get in front of the cell and see Steven lying on the bed, smoking a joint, drinking beer, and reading a magazine.

The guard quickly bangs the bars of the cell with a baton and speaks in an aggressive tone. "Wimbleton! Where do you keep getting that?!"

Steven laughs and stretches. "Like I was going to tell you."

The guard goes to enter the cell, getting the baton to hit him, but Fionna intervenes. She gulps and steps closer to the bars. "... Hi… D-do you remember me?"

He stops and looks at her. "Oh… it's you… the girl from the last night. Fionna I guess?"

Fionna nods. "Yes, that's me… I came here because I want to get you out."

He glances at her in silence and simply raises an eyebrow. "... why?"

She takes a deep breath and approaches, nervously gripping the bars. "... Because you saved me. This is the least I can do… You… you were my hero, my savior, and I think that I should make it up to you… do something that shows how grateful I am for your… generosity…"

At the end of her speech, a comfortable silence settles down between them… before Steven bursts in laughing.

Fionna steps back. She was expecting anything, any word, but definitely she was not expecting… this.

He slowly stops laughing and shakes his head, taking a drag of the joint. "God fucking dammit… I've never heard such a load of bullshit before…" He gets out of the bed and approaches the bars, revealing his appearance: A tall and muscular guy with dark skin, messy black hair covering his forehead and sharp teeth. 

His dark-gray eyes has diamond-shaped irises. He’s using a black T-shirt with a white pentagram, a black jacket with white details, gray ripped jeans and black sneakers.

He glances at her with a smirk while gripping the bars. "Do I look like a hero to you?"

She backs down, intimidated by the real appearance of her 'savior'. "... It doesn't matter your look, you saved me, and that's that. You're a good person."

"Ha! Sure! 'A good person'.” He shakes his head. “I'd say more… an asshole scoundrel.” He nods, his smile widening. “Yeah, that's more like me.”

Fionna looks at him with disappointment, her determination to help him slowly fading.

Steven smirked at Fionna through the bars, his sharp teeth visible as he continued to mock her. "So what's the plan, doll? You gonna break me out? Or maybe talk to the big boys and convince them I'm a misunderstood saint?"

Fionna was unsure of how to respond to his sarcasm. Seeing him up close, hearing the way he dismissed her gratitude like it was a joke, she started to wonder if she had made a mistake coming there.

But she couldn't give up now. Not after what happened the night before.

"I don't know what you've been through, but you didn't have to save me, and yet you did... Maybe you don't see yourself as a hero, but that's what you were to me last night. You stopped them when no one else would. I don't care how you act or what you call yourself, I know there's something good in you."

Steven's smirk faltered for a second, but he quickly masked it with a shrug. "You're wasting your time."

"I don't think so. You were arrested for defending me, so even if you’re not a good person, I need to find a way to get you free."

Steven raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Heh, ‘arrested for defending you’? Girl, lemme break it down for you: I was arrested because that area was guarded by police. Thugs paying cops for protection so they could do whatever they wanted.” He takes another drag and flicks the joint to the ground, stepping on it. “I didn’t save you because I’m a hero or something, I did it because I’d feel bad to ignore a rape.”

Fionna clenched her fists, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "Maybe that’s true. Maybe you’re not a hero. Maybe you don’t even care what happens to people like me. But even if you did it just because you 'felt bad,' it doesn’t change the fact that you did something no one else was willing to do."

Steven tilted his head, watching her with mild curiosity. "You’re persistent, I’ll give you that. Most people would’ve run away or written me off as a lost cause by now."

The guard interrupted with an annoyed grunt. "Alright, sweetheart, your time's about up. And trust me, this guy isn’t worth your energy. He’s been in and out of this cell more times than I can count. Just another lowlife who thinks the rules don’t apply to him."

Steven shot the guard a wicked grin, his sharp teeth glinting. "Aw, Officer Grumpy, you wound me. I thought we had something special."

The guard scowled but didn’t take the bait.

Fionna ignored the exchange, her focus unwavering. "There has to be a way to prove what happened. Maybe I can talk to the police chief, or the mayor, or someone who can—"

Steven chuckled darkly, cutting her off. "Girl, if I wanted to leave this place, I’d have already done.” He stretches and goes back to the bed. “Now go away.”

Fionna looks at him in disappointment, but she stomps the ground and crosses her arms. “I’m not going away until you leave this cell.”

Steven pause. He looks at the ceiling and huffs. “... You’re really not going away, huh?” He sighs deeply and turns to stare at her. "Fine. You want me to get out, huh? Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you." He approaches the bars, forcing them in order to break free.

His muscles flexed, and for a moment, Fionna thought it was a joke. But then the metal started to groan, and to her shock, the bars bent outward under the pressure of his hands.

The guard, who had been standing nearby, whipped around at the sound. "Hey! Stop that!"

He raised his baton, ready to strike Steven, but before he could swing an attack, Steven punched him in the face, knocking him unconscious.

Steven let out a low chuckle, stretches, passing through the bars. He glances at her and gestures in mockery. “I’m out. Happy?”

Fionna stood there incredulous. She definitely hadn't expected he would do… that.

"You… you just bent metal bars with your hands..."

Steven shrugs, as if it was just a regular part of his day. "Yeah, I did that. Well, I get to go to a bar to drink something... and you, doll, go live your life."

Fionna blinked, still processing what had just happened. "You're just… leaving? After all?"

Steven shrugged, walking toward the exit like nothing had happened. "Yup. I'm not sticking around here. You wanna help? Just stay out of trouble."

Fionna stood frozen for a moment, her mind racing. She knew she was being reckless, but something in her refused to let this go.

"Wait!" She called, taking a few hurried steps after him. "I'm coming with you."

Steven stops in his track and turned to face her. "Coming with me? You wanna tag along with a guy who just broke out of jail?"

Fionna nodded, swallowing her nerves. "I told you, I want to help you. And… I want answers. You’re not a normal person, that’s obvious, but I want to know more of you."

Steven stared at her for a long moment. Then, with a deep sigh, he rubbed the back of his neck. "You really don't know when to quit, do you? Fine, if you wanna follow me, don't say I didn't warn you."

Fionna's heart raced. She knew this was dangerous, everything about him screamed trouble, but she felt like this was her only shot to understand who he really was.

Steven started walking again, and Fionna quickly caught up to him.

"Where are we going?" Fionna asked nervously, trying to keep up with his long strides.

"There's a bar a few blocks down." Steven said casually. "I need a drink. After that, I don't know. Guess you'll have to find out."

Fionna wasn't sure if she should feel relieved or more nervous. She had no idea what she was getting herself into, but there was no turning back now. As they stepped out into the cold Nevaska night, she glanced at Steven, trying to figure out what made him so different. His strength, his eyes, the way he carried himself, it all felt unnatural.

And as much as she was afraid of what she might uncover, Fionna couldn't shake the feeling that she was about to learn something far bigger than she ever imagined.

[TO BE CONTINUED]