A/N: Dedicated to Fenton. This is my first time writing for Steven Universe, especially Peridot and Lapis. Very challenging but this will be a two parter, as I got carried away.

Disclaimer: Obviously do not own, that honor goes to Rebecca Sugar and CN.


Peridot examined the video 'disk' Steven had given her a while back. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" it was titled. She hadn't looked at until now, having thrown it to the side when he had given it to her, her mind had been too busy thinking of "her" Diamond, Yellow Diamond, and how to get back to her. But now that was all over, so far, at least she hoped so. Now she had time for these things and found she even enjoyed such human things. She looked closer at the picture; it featured a man, no, two men, a woman and other characters. They were holding ... glowing sticks? What was this? She walked over to the TV and inserted the disk into the slot Steven had instructed her to, pressed play and walked over to sit on the sofa she had constructed recently out of pillows and a table from the garage.

To her surprise and slight annoyance Lion, that pink Lion that hung around Steven, was lounging on it, looking for all the world as if it was his. Well. Fine, she thought, pushing at his back to make him move, surprisingly he felt different than other animal's she'd touched. Strange... but she cast the thought away as she heard what she had come to know as "opening music." He moved with a slight growl and she hurriedly crawled into the tight space before he moved back. She sighed with relief and turned her attention to the screen and watched.

At first she scoffed and rolled her eyes. Honestly, all this technology is impossible, she thought. No way could they built flying ships like that. (And those light sabers! Weird, just weird... why make them look like sticks? Humans are strange! Triangles would be cooler.) But soon her disbelief turned into slight amusement and interest. She liked this Finn, Rey, pilot man and even the villains. They all felt lifelike, like the people in Beach City, though she hadn't interacted with them much, she had seen them,

As she watched, she felt something soft lay it's head in her lap, her vision briefly clouded by pink fluff. "Ugh! Stop it, you're impairing my vision, you clod!" she exclaimed, trying to knock the fur from her eyes, but to no avail, he just grunted and nuzzled his head against her leg.

She stopped. Was... he trying to bond with her? Initiate friendship? Were lions capable of friendship as humans are and (some; okay, just her and Lapis and the Crystal gems so far) did Lion like her? She quickly hit the pause button on the remote, she didn't want to miss her movie. She put the remote down and slowly placed her hand on his mane, her hand sinking into his fur. She inhaled. It was so soft and fluffy, she hadn't felt anything like it before.

She moved her hand around in it, feeling the softness between her fingers. Still, it was getting uncomfortable with his head in her lap and she wanted to finish her movie. She had an idea.

"Lion, there's a huge Lion Licker on the rug!" she screeched and as expected Lion leapt up, landing on the rug, looking intently for the ice cream treat.

She felt bad when he turned and looked at her, accusingly and a bit sad, so she got up and sat on the rug, "I have no food to give you, sorry, that's Amethysts' sort of thing, When she comes by, I'll get her to go get you some." she offered and patted the rug beside her, "Here, come sit down by me and let's watch this together."

Lion walked over to her reluctantly and laid down, putting his head on his paws and looked at the screen. Peridot smiled and pressed play and feeling a rare sense of affection for the animal, moved over and laid her head on top of Lion's head. He made no show of moving or anger, she she stayed where she was.


Steven sighed as he climbed the stairs. He felt as if someone was hitting his heart with a hammer. Ever since Bismuth, he hadn't . . . he heard a loud shouting noise, breaking him out of his temporary revere. It sounds like Peridot, he thought, going into battle mode. Who is attacking her? Is she hurt? What should I do?

Too worried to get help, he summoned his shield, and ran up the final steps and took his battle stance. "I don't know who you are or what you are, but if you-" he faltered and stopped, when he saw Peridot. Her head in her hands, her elbows propped up on Lion, her eyes focused on the TV in front of her.

Oh. She was watching Star Wars. That explained her screaming. It was on the part where Kylo Ren killed his father, Steven hated that part. How could someone kill their dad? But, it was Peridot he was more worried about, she looked so upset.

"Um... Peridot, you might not wanna scream, I thought you were hurt... " he said, walking towards her.

"But he just killed his dad! I... I thought maybe... " she said, her voice trembling slightly. Steven stopped right beside her and was shocked to see she was crying. Peridot rarely cried, to his knowledge.

"Peri," he paused the movie before he continued, "are you okay? What's wrong? Is it what just happened to Han Solo?" She nodded, sniffling loudly.

"I had hoped, that you know, he could change, from doing bad stuff and become a good guy... "

Steven sighed and looked away, thinking of all he had learned about the Diamonds, "Sometimes, people can't change." She sobbed louder at that and turned from him.

Confused, he tried to reach out to her but she pushed him back some. "Don't touch me, you c-clod!"

Steven took a step back at her tone. Why was she so mad? He hadn't done anything to her lately, he hadn't done anything but be friends with her. What had gotten her so upset? What... it dawned on him. He had said sometimes people can't change. Was she still insecure about her status on Earth? Did she think she hadn't changed still? She must've related to Kylo Ren, he realized, and she must've thought she was like him, how he hadn't changed. He moved forward and embraced her from behind.

She stiffened in shock, a choked sob coming from her, but she relaxed gradually and sobbed quietly. "Oh, Peri, you have changed and people can change sometimes. You're one of them, you're a great gem and my friend. Kylo Ren can change, too, it won't change his actions but one day he too could become good. I believe in it, like I believe in you as well." he said, hearing her sob made tears come to his eyes, sad that he couldn't help his friend out more.

"Steven... you really think so?" she whispered hoarsely.

"Yeah! Otherwise, I don't think Lion would let you lay on him." he glanced at the Lion who watched them with some interest.

Peridot turned and wiped her nose on her arm, raising her eyebrows and looking at Lion. "Yeah, that is weird, what's up with him?"

Lion opened his mouth and roared at the ceiling, but not in a ferocious, loud way. More like a huge yawn. Laughing, Steven and Peridot stood up and Steven smiled at Peridot. "So, feel any better?"

"Yeah, oh my diamond, just wait til I finish this and then show it to Lapis! She's gonna love it!" Peridot said, clutching her hands into excited fists, stars in her eyes.

Now that was something that would be interesting, Steven thought later, as he walked home, a smile on his face as he looked up at the starry sky, his troubles briefly allayed for the moment.