Disclaimer: I don't own Steven Universe.

Title: Ashes And Blood

Summary: Connie is forced to come to terms with her humanity after a battle with Homeworld.

Warnings: Missing limb, mentions of blood in later chapters.

Author's Note: So, if any of you have read my Amethyst story, I mentioned a possible Connie story. So I decided write the first chapter... and then disappear off the face of the interwebs for a week or two. =) I'm not sorry.

...

Connie wakes up on Steven's bed.

It's not the slow kind of wake up, either. It's the 'oh-crud-what-happened-where's-the-explosion-is-anyone-dead' kind of awakening. The kind where you burst up and then realize a second to late that your sense of balance is shot and struggle to right yourself.

Connie gasps for air like she's been underwater for weeks. She checks herself for injuries. Is she bleeding? Is she... oh.

She reaches up to trace the nub that juts out a little past her right shoulder blade with trembling fingers. Right. That's a thing now.

It's almost completely healed over, which is a bit of a shock. The gems must've used some sort of magic on it; maybe Rose's fountain? They've never tested it on humans before, as far as she knows. But could they have gotten her that far before she... well, you know. It certainly couldn't have been Steven's doing.

Her mother would be ecstatic if she managed to learn a magic capable of healing torn-off limbs and present it to her in a- mostly- scientific manner. Connie got the feeling that, despite the possibilities it presented, she didn't want to know.

(Honestly, why were some people so against the idea of getting a little spit on them in return for their lives? Sheesh.)

Pearl is sitting on the couch below, using what looked to be some sort of handheld torch. She doesn't seem to notice her, but Connie isn't stupid. She knows the older woman is waiting for her to make the first move.

Getting out of bed is easy enough, albeit a tad awkward. They still had sleepovers, obviously, they'd keep having them until the end of time, but they usually just camped out on the couch together. Or a pillow fort.

Pearl still doesn't look up as she trails down the stairs and sits down on the couch, legs tucked under her, but that's to be expected. The gem got buried in her work rather easily, and it would take someone actually saying something to her to draw her out of it.

Connie puts her hands- puts her hand on her knee and waits. If she spoke up now, she wasn't sure she could control what would come out.

Eventually (actually, it was probably only a few minutes, but it felt like an eternity), Pearl glances up from her work. "Connie. I'm glad to see you're up and moving. Any noticeable injuries?"

"No, ma'm." Besides the obvious. Connie bites her tongue. "Steven?"

"Still in his gem. Considering the fact that regeneration is typically for gems and Steven is at least partially organic, I suppose it is to be expected that it would take him a while to regenerate."

'If he regenerates' a tiny voice in her mind says. For once, she squashes it out with ease. This is Steven they're talking about, after all. "How long was I out?"

"Oh, only a few days. Your body reacted surprisingly well to the healing magic. We were expecting you to be out for a week or two."

There's pride in her voice, like her body's ability to heal and will to survive is her doing. And the thought isn't entirely unfounded, honestly. Her training and Steven's healing spit; one had made her stronger, the other had helped her body learn to accept and allow healing magics to flow through her body from years of Steven fixing her up after training so it could work quicker and better than with someone just using it for the first time.

"My... parents?"

That makes her pause in her work. "The town is still evacuated. The ship was dangerous enough the first time, but there were gems involved. We need to make sure no weapons or remains are left behind before they can be allowed back. You can stay with us until then. Take Steven's bed. It's not like anyone's using it right now."

Right. Gems.

(And gem weapons like the one you were forced to watch helplessly as it pierced Steven's- your best friend, your liege, your fellow knight- chest and- shut up. She didn't want to think about that.)

"Amethyst should be home soon. She's been getting a head start on the clean-up."

"Okay."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fi- no," She shook her head. "I can't say that. I'm not fine. I won't be for a while. I'm just... numb, I guess." She paused. "It'll all catch up with me later. Then Steven and I can have some big crying session together, or something. He's gone through a lot too, with this being his first regeneration and all." Pearl wasn't there when Steven was stabbed. She didn't have to know about her failure. Not yet. He could tell her himself.

Pearl hums in agreement and gets back to work. Connie lets her, focusing on the sounds of machinery and the gem humming an idle tune rather than think about-

Well. You get the point.


Amethyst returns an hour or two later. Neither woman has moved. Connie isn't sure where Garnet is, honestly. The way Pearl was talking made it sound like she wasn't cleaning up, that she was doing... well, whatever Garnet did when she disappeared. She could only assume it was important, whatever it was. Maybe she was watching over Steven? That would explain why she had yet to see his poofed gem.

Her eyes lit up when she saw her. Not in a physical sense, obviously, as her eyes were always dark, but the smile on her face suddenly looked that much more natural. "Hey! You're awake!"

"I'm awake." Connie agreed. Amethyst stands on tip-toe to examine her right shoulder.

"Wow." She says with a whistle. "Nice."

"Amethyst!"

"It's okay, Pearl." She prefers the treatment, honestly. It's better than being fussed over. "It certainly is one heck of a battle scar." She says, addressing the shorter gem with a smile she didn't quite feel.

"Yup. Looks pretty cool though." She falters. "You, uh, you doin' okay? If I'm buggin' you, just say so. I can't always take a hint."

"I've been better." She answers bluntly, then pauses. "Uh, Amethyst? Could you help me with something?"

Amethyst blinks at her. "Sure. What?"

"Well..." She tries to figure out how to phrase her request and keep her dignity. Amethyst is kind-hearted and carefree in a way her mentor is not, which is why she was asking her rather than the gem who'd been sitting next to her for over an hour, but it was still hard to get the words out when she knew Pearl was listening. "My clothes are kinda blech, and I don't know how... I'd only need help with a little bit..."

Amethyst's eyes light up again, this time in understanding. "Oh. Oh. Yeah. Cool. Come'on." She grabs her wrist in a surprisingly gentle grip and leads her into her room.

As it turns out, Amethyst has loads of normal, human clothes scattered about her room. They're a bit outdated, but perfectly wearable.

She shrugs when she asks. "I went through a fashonista phase back when me and Vidalia hung out more. Take your pick. 'S not like I need 'em or anything."

Connie finds herself a dark purple tank-top relatively close to the one Amethyst used to wear before she got rid of the thing entirely- one side with a strap and the other without- and a pair of jeans. It might be inside out, considering the one the gem wore always trailed over her right shoulder, but it's clothing that isn't torn to shreds or smells like ashes and blood, so it's perfect.

"Nice." Is all Amethyst says after helping her pull her jeans up and button them. She zipped them herself, though. She still had her pride. "It's a good look for you."

"Thanks."

Pearl's finally moved from the couch when they arrive. She's in the kitchen, making her something to eat and trying to ignore the smell of food, judging by the way her nose is scrunched. Two of the barstools are filled, but before Connie can think of it further she's tackled to the floor by a small blur of blue.

She blinked at the pile of blue hair right under her nose. "Sapphire?"

"Connie." She greets calmly, despite the harsh grip on her sides. Ruby waves at her from the side, having stood up during the commotion.

"What're you two doing apart?" She asks, partially out of concern, mostly because she just can't help herself. The last time she's seen them like this was at Steven's last birthday, and that was plenty. Don't get her wrong, she loves them, but Garnet is who they are. She understands that. Respects it. Forcing them to un-fuse was like forcing her to fuse with Steven for more than a few days at a time.

(Long weekends and slumber parties can lead to accidental fusion training on more than a few occasions. Just a warning. She likes being Stevonnie, it feels amazing, but it gets kind of lonely after awhile if it's not under the right circumstances.)

Connie tries to sit up, but it's not as easy as it used to be now that she's missing a stabilizer. Sapphire sees this and helps her into a sitting position.

"Hey, every couple needs some time apart here and there." Ruby shrugs, but she can't meet her eyes while she says it.

Connie really wants to ask, but she's got enough problems on her hands- no, wait, too soon. Ouch.- as it is, so she doesn't. They'll tell her when they're ready. Or they won't. Whichever works.

"It's not important." Sapphire agrees, pulling her to her feet. Connie is grateful for the assistance. "We need to work through some... things. Come on, Pearl made lunch. You need to regain your strength."

Connie didn't argue.

Author's Note: Before you ask, there is a reason why Ruby and Sapphire are un-fused. They aren't doing it just because I like the characters or anything. Also, I'm not going to go into any of the 'what might happen if Steven were forced to regenerate' theories. I love 'em all, don't get me wrong, this just isn't the 'fic for them.

Also, I was trying to describe Amethyst's season one outfit; how the one strap was like a tank-top sort of deal.

I'd also like to think that this is when they are older. Not teenage-older, but around puberty age. Maybe a year or two ahead of the show.

Only my second time writing about a character having lost a limb, and the other one already had a prosthetic at the start of the story (I really need to finish that one). How am I doing?

No flames! Don't like don't read! Review!