Chapter 1 Draft
"Pearl! I'm not a little kid anymore! I can go on missions without your constant worrying!" Steven eyes were shut tight in anger and he was breathing heavily. When the Crystal Gems warped back from their latest mission the first thing that came out of Steven's mouth were shouts of anger towards his comrade that only ever protected and cared for him, Pearl, and from the look on her face it hurt more than Steven realized.
Steeling her expressions and without a word, Pearl walked out of the room as Amethyst and Garnet stared at a still enraged Steven. "Hey calm down goof, you know that she only cares…" Amethyst soothed placing her hand on Steven's shoulder. Steven opened his eyes at the touch and saw that the object of his now fading anger had left the room. He felt ashamed for driving her out but he didn't regret it, it had been now ten years since their encounter with the Red Eye and he wasn't as useless as when he was a small child. He still didn't quite understand the full potential of his gem and he couldn't freely call upon its power, but it was getting easier. Remembering that Amethyst was trying to calm him down, he looked to her, a small frown planted on his face.
"I know but…I'm stronger now! I can fight…" He whispered the last part before letting out a long sigh and leaving the house, needing an escape from being a Crystal Gem at the moment.
His feet were submerged in water, his knees drawn up to his chest as his arms crossed and rested on his knees, He stared out at the ocean that was in front of him. "I'm sorry Pearl…" He whispered softly. Steven knew that she wasn't around to hear it but he didn't want to say it to her face just yet, he was upset and he was sure that she was upset with him as well. He hung his head in between his arms and let out a huff of frustration. He wasn't like this every day, most days he was the normal goof ball that made jokes, sung songs and played around but during their mission today Pearl had put her arms in front of him and let Garnet and Amethyst fight a battle that he should have been a part of saying that he was 'Still just a child'.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and he lifted his head to see who it was that disturbed him. Steven smiled brightly and his eyes widened at who he saw. "Connie!" He jumped up and embraced her in a hug, spinning her around before setting her down. Connie giggled before noticing that Steven's happiness didn't last long as he was back down on the sands huffing and puffing like a small child who wasn't getting his way.
"What's wrong Steven?" She questioned him resting her hand on his shoulder as she sat next to him. She had moved back to the beach where she made her first friend only to find him so distraught for a reason unknown to her. Steven shook his head, not wanting to worry Connie. Steven recalled when he first saw Connie and how smitten he was over her. He still harbored some of those feelings even after some of the events that had perspired in the past. "Nothing…I'm fine!" He smiled brightly making sure to show his teeth in a happy go-lucky smile. Connie wasn't too sure about if he was being honest but let it go. She suggested that they go and have some fun together now that she was back.
When Steven finally did arrive back at his home he noticed that the lights were off and everyone seemed to be in their respective rooms. When he stepped inside the first thing that he thought about was the fight that he got into with Pearl and how even after a day that consisted of rides, games and food, all he could think about was Pearl. Pearl, Pearl, Pearl his mind was filled with her and it made him want to scream aloud. In the past he hadn't seen Pearl as more than someone who loved and cared for him as how a mother might but he didn't want her to see him as her child! Steven didn't know why it bothered him so much recently but it did and he didn't like it or find comfort with it as he once did. He let out a sigh and fell onto the couch that served as a bed when he was too tired to make it to his actual bed.
For an hour he tossed and turned on the couch his mind locked on a certain Gem. There seemed to be nothing that could get his mind off of her, not even Connie…One last time he whispered the same words that he did at the shoreline earlier that day. "I'm sorry Pearl…" Her name was quiet when it left his mouth and as he said it, he felt himself finally lull into a deep sleep.
Pearl looked at the form of a sleeping Steven, she had heard his apology and it made her smile. She was hurt from his comment that morning and it had cut deep. Pearl sighed as she thought about what Rose would have thought at how she cared for her son that she gave her life for. Pearl had treated Steven as son and she could see it bothered him and she now wondered if it would have bothered her former partner.
"I'm sorry too Steven…" Pearl whispered before going back to her room.