After a long mission, Steven once again settled down for another TV episode of the crying breakfast cereals. Lion was beside him as Steven Idly pet at his mane. He had a sparkle in his eye as he saw the others weeping on the show. The other gems were around the home doing what they most loved. While Amethyst made a mess, Pearl was quick to clean up right behind her with a groan. She huffs and as elegant as she always is, makes her way up to Stevens "room" if you could call it that. It was more of a second floor inside balcony but he claimed it as his place. The show was rolling the credits as he turned off the Television and turned his attention to Pearl. Her expression was that of someone who was slightly irritated. Before he could even ask she blurted out,
"Steven! Can't you keep your room clean for more than a week at a time?"
She sighs but begins arranging the action figures on the windowsill as she always did. Steven sighs at the familiar sight. He remembers that not long ago she was resting in her gem and he was trying to teach 'other' Pearl how to arrange them. He smiles; glad she was here and begins to help her clean up.
"Sorry Pearl! But every time I put something away I find another cool thing I haven't seen in ages!" he explains, laughing despite her anger.
Her face softens, smiling at his remarks and lets out a content sigh as she says ever so gently,
"Well…You may not be a neat as your mother, but you do have a wonderful perception on tasks like her"
She laughs and continues to clean. Steven smiles but turns away quickly to hide his frown. Every time the Gems compared him to his mother, it made him slightly insecure about himself. He tries to shake it from his thoughts and continues the task silently.
When the "room" was close to being done, Garnet suddenly stood up and started walking to the teleporter. Of course, they all knew this meant she was off on yet another mission by herself and were not too concerned. Steven dropped his current task and quickly called out,
"Garnet wait! I need to give you a good luck goodbye hug!"
Garnet stopped and turned to him while replying in a monotone voice
"Steven, you know I have future vision. Nothing is up to luck with me"
he grins and nods as he hugs her. Garnet places her hands on his back and lets out a small, almost invisible smile
"But it's always good to have some good luck. Just in case"
Garnet then stands up and goes on the teleporter. It flashes a bright light, does a slight chime to indicate it being used, and then goes silent. The only difference was Garnet was no longer standing where she was previously. Steven beams as Amethyst lets out a snort. Steven was confused and turned to her with a raised brow.
"Amethyst? What's so funny?" Steven questioned the other,
Amethyst had to wipe a tear from her eye, big grin on her face as she flicks back her hair and leans back in the couch to reply
"Man. I SWEAR I had de ja vu! Your mom used to do the same thing to Garnet all the time!"
She again began to snicker and laugh. Pearl sighs in irritation but smiles to Steven
"That's a good thing Steven! Besides, Amethyst is clearly having a faulty memory.." with the word "Faulty" Pearl let out an almost growl towards the other gem. Steven again tensed up and took deep breaths. He told himself over and over again to just ignore their words but it continued to get harder and harder. He glanced up at the picture of Rose on the wall and his voice goes quiet, almost in fear before he looks at them both
"….Do…Do you ever with Rose was back? Instead of me?" He asks them with almost a whisper in his voice.
Pearl goes wide-eyed as she turns to face the other and bites her lip. His facial expression really hurt her and she plans her words carefully. Amethyst was quiet and for once, had the better judgment not to say anything.
"Steven" Pearl finally manages to say after a moment of silence and she kneels down and rests her hand on his shoulder
"We all miss her. Every day of our lives but we've learned to move on. It's true you're not her. But you're our Steven!" she concludes as she tries to comfort him. Usually this would work and he would greet her with a reassured smile but this time he kept his head down and she grew concerned. She was about to say something else before he slapped her hand off his shoulder and backed up. She let out a gasp in surprise before he looks up.
Tears were streaming down his cheeks and he was very upset. His body was trembling and he rushed to the Pad to teleport away. He turned back to them and yelled out, filled with anger and grief
"YOU JUST WISH I WAS HER! WELL I'M NOT AND I WON'T EVER BE!" he screams before teleporting before they can reply and he rushes to the strawberry battle field and sobs as he hides in a bush and curls into himself. He was overwhelmed and hated that everyone expected so much of him. He buries his face in his knees and hiccups from crying.