A/N: Chapter seven, here it is! College is fun. I like having things to do now. Only problem is there's too many things to do. Ah well, c'est la vie.
Hope you like this!
(I don't own Steven Universe)
VII: Momentum, Part III
The floating island was quieter than Steven remembered. A portion of that was his doing, though. He walked through the dense jungle in silence for a short while, Amethyst matching his quiet the entire time. He could have reasoned their refusal to speak was so that they could hear any sign of the others, but that wasn't entirely true. Moreover, being silent was mainly out of not wanting to discuss what was on his mind. Mentioning the change in Amethyst's skin felt like it would solidify the fact as too permanent. Even talking about the dots on her face didn't feel right.
Then, just as he thought to shrug off his concerns with one of his usual optimistic phrases, the brush of green ahead had rustled. Some kind of panic forced Steven's arm outwards in front of Amethyst. It was less to get her to halt and more to be ahead of her, which was hopefully difficult to tell. Amethyst's questioning expression didn't leave many doubts that she did notice.
"Pearl?" she hesitantly tried. She took a step forward, though Steven's arm was still in front of her. There was a good chance another oddity lay behind the leaves, judging by the bird that forced them into such a rough landing onto the island. Out of the corner of his eye, Steven could see Amethyst give him a skeptical eyebrow-raise. He lowered his arm, though not without another hesitation.
The greenery shuffled again, and a second later, a familiar looking spear cleaved through. After moving a couple leaves aside, the clearing separated enough to reveal the recognizably pale complexion of their companion. Steven finally released his breath, shaking his head.
"There ya are," Amethyst said as a kind of greetings. A noticeable delay passed. Then, Pearl stepped through the leaves cautiously, her other hand also occupied with something. Her bright attire stood out well against the warm colors of the jungle. The Gem visibly recoiled when she finally made eye-contact with Steven. He gave a small wave.
"Steven?" she let out, obviously confused by his presence. Her eyes moved to Amethyst, promptly widening out of sheer befuddlement. She shook her head on some skeptical instinct. "Amethyst? What-"
Somehow, the Gem's posture grew even stiffer, and she looked Amethyst up and down incredulously. Steven could see the exact moment she noticed the new color Amethyst's skin had gained. "What happened to you?"
Her being more worried about the state of Amethyst than being in front of her felt appropriate to Steven, if only because he agreed with her priorities. Amethyst didn't seem to award as much severity to the change in her color, looking over her arms with a bored expression. The Gem shrugged as she took a few steps towards a nearby tree, leaning on it lazily.
"Nothin' too crazy," she remarked, crossing her arms. On the outside it seemed like a basic enough change, but Steven had a suspicion that there was more to the alteration than she was letting on. Maybe that was paranoia, but understanding that much didn't alleviate it. Amethyst moved some of the dark hair from her face, ignoring the slightly reddened hue her skin possessed. "Got some color to me now, so that's something."
Amethyst didn't expand on what (if anything) was happening to her. Mentioning the oddity of her subtle freckles somehow felt important to Steven, though he kept quiet, allowing Amethyst to return Pearl's question with one of her own.
"What about you n' G?" the Gem asked, nodding towards Pearl. Her posture still wasn't all that relaxed. "Pullin' off an all-nighter okay?"
Pearl's expression relaxed. She let go of her spear, disenchanting it into sparkles to wipe her brow. Still, she held onto the orb in her other hand. Leaning a little closer, Steven saw it was one of her pale bubbles, almost filled to the brim with colorful stones of every shape and size.
"I wouldn't say 'okay'," the tall Gem answered honestly. Despite the clear sunlight of the day streaming through the trees far above, Pearl seemed even paler than usual. Her skin was borderline translucent from fatigue. "This island is… strange, to say the least. It's as though it has its own Gem-based ecosystem."
"'Strange,' I believe," Amethyst granted, rolling her eyes. Pearl tilted her head in curiosity. For a brief moment, Amethyst glanced at Steven, eyeing him like she was waiting for him to explain. Being a bit too preoccupied in his thoughts prevented him from speaking for a tad longer than usual, creating an awkward pause of silence. Eventually, Amethyst sensed his unease, though couldn't seem to place it.
"Saw a weird bird when we got up here." Amethyst removed herself from the tree she stood against, taking a slow step towards Steven. Her expression was on his the entire time, which translated to her attempt to read him. He promptly turned away.
"What do you mean, Pearl?" Steven asked. Even he could hear how purposefully conspicuous his tone was. Pearl answered before Amethyst got the chance to ask what was on Steven's mind, ultimately forcing her to forget about it. Still, the odd determination on her features didn't leave Steven too sure.
"Garnet and I have found a staggering amount of Gems," Pearl explained, sounding usually dramatic. With her being so obviously weathered, her voice seemed much more credible. The surrounding heights of trees and foliage around them helped. "But not all of them can really be called that. Some hybrid of wildlife and Gem."
That was an oddity enough to accrue some of Amethyst's attention. She finally broke from Steven's gaze, raising an eyebrow. To say Steven was relieved wouldn't tell the whole story.
"Some weird Bambi twist or something?" she asked. Pearl hesitated before attempting to explain the situation further.
"Not quite." The tall Gem brought the bubble in her palm to her front, "holding" it with both hands. Both Steven and his companion took a step closer, inspecting the Gems inside. There was more than the usual inconsistencies between each Gem; every one of them could've been from a different planet. Some were red, others blue, some round, others sharp, and every different kind of shape inbetween. Pearl observed the bubble's contents alongside the others, speaking slowly like she was afraid to be wrong. "Gem 'offspring' are essentially extensions of a parent Gem. They're created similarly to how we make our clothes or weapons."
That much was understood before, but Amethyst seemed surprised by the news. A troubled grimace settled on her features as she hummed acknowledgement, and she looked down towards the violet Gem in her chest. Pearl didn't seem to notice as much, talking further, but Steven found the sudden trouble impossible to ignore. Most things about Amethyst felt that way at the moment.
"That's why they dissipate when the parent Gem's body is destroyed," Pearl continued. She shook her head, her grimace intensifying for a brief moment. "But these ones have their own Gems. Some have dissipated already, and others still maintain their form."
Steven nodded mostly out of instinct, still watching Amethyst. He had enough experience to know when something was bothering her, and enough sense to assume it was something to do with her Gem. Being bothered himself, though, Steven wasn't immediately ready to mention how troubled Amethyst appeared. She continued staring at her Gem for a couple more seconds, eventually returning to the explanation Pearl was giving.
"Wouldn't that mean the thing we bagged yesterday ain't the mom for all of 'em?" she asked, crossing her arms like she was attempting to cover her Gem. Steven followed after her example and turned his attention back to Pearl. He also made a note to ask about Amethyst's Gem later.
"Normally, I'd think so," Pearl answered. She lifted the bubble just a tad higher, emphasizing the slew of stones that it contained. "The Gems that haven't lost their forms seem…inert, though. Garnet is convinced there's some connection, and given how most of them dissipated around the same time Steven had captured the mother, it's not a stretch."
Amethyst shrugged dismissively. "Eh," she granted. "Long as there isn't another mom." Pearl hummed agreement, looking up from the bubble she held. After a brief glance at Steven, she moved her eyes back to Amethyst.
"Garnet should be able to tell you more," she admitted, lowering her bubble back down. A usual degree of maternal concern returned to her eyes. "But, Amethyst… you're certain you're fine? Steven had mentioned you were 'hungry' earlier."
The short Gem shrugged again, rolling her eyes like Pearl had asked if she had napped at all recently. Everything about the motion was as normal as Steven could've expected from Amethyst, and yet the black of her hair combined with her freckles ensured a completely alien effect instead. She certainly felt different to Steven, somehow. More… sincere. Maybe he was reading too much into what she looked like, but the impression seemed authentic enough.
"I'm doing ace, P," Amethyst assured the Gem. "Thanks fer' asking." Pearl visibly relaxed at the confirmation, similar to how Steven found a little comfort in his assumption of her character being justified. Unfortunately, it was still difficult to take her words.
A few moments passed as Steven contemplated Amethyst's self-assessment. His own assessment of her had a few contradictions with what she called "ace", resulting in a worried pout. Amethyst eventually caught his gaze. After clearing her throat, she spoke again, sounding a little more honest. "Little tired, but that's par for the course by now."
Abruptly, Amethyst moved to Steven's side before giving him a confident pat on the back. She was remarkably good at hiding how bothered she was a few moments ago. If it wasn't for Steven knowing her so well (now more than ever) then he would've thought he'd imagined her earlier discontent. Having his own discontent didn't let him forget it, though. Amethyst's voice grew more earnest as she spoke. "This guy's been taking care of me. He makes a good babysitter."
Even Pearl let out a few chuckles before Steven could. Not that he wanted to force it. Unfortunately, Amethyst could notice his lack of optimism, inspecting his face a little more intently as Pearl waved off the unsurprising fact of Steven being an effective caretaker.
"That's a relief," she breathed out. Pearl straightened her back, seemingly invigorated, and drew her spear once again over the next few seconds. "Hopefully any further…'changes' of yours remain superficial."
Still Amethyst eyed Steven, probably a little intrigued by how much difficulty he found in matching her smile. She stepped a tad closer, her footfalls surprisingly audible on the soft dirt underfoot. Stepping away would've been a bit too noticeable, though Steven still looked to the side as subtly as he could. Amethyst promptly leaned around him, forcing him into eye-contact.
"You doin' alright?" her features seemed to ask. All Amethyst had actually said was an offhand "Yeah," of agreement towards Pearl, and yet Steven could've sworn he heard a different message from her. In that sincere tone she'd recently gained, too."What's wrong?"
Abruptly, Steven shook his head, too put off to even act casual.
"I'm gonna go help Garnet," he announced, sounding more directed at himself than the others. Amethyst appeared surprised by his declaration. A second later, Steven continued out of sheer paranoia, taking a couple steps towards the direction Pearl had come from. "We'll get the rest of the Gems faster if everyone pitches in."
Pearl nodded, even smiling in pride from Steven's initiative. "Good idea," she said, looking to the bush she was surveying earlier. The tall Gem motioned behind her with her spear, saying, "Garnet should be that way. Don't get lost."
Amethyst was hesitant to say anything. Then, she hummed herself, though the noise sounded torn between agreement and disapproval. Steven didn't pay enough attention to be certain, purposefully striding past her and following the point of Pearl's weapon. Then, the short Gem began following him. She got about two steps in before Steven rose a cautionary hand, stopping her abruptly. Whatever his intended message was, Amethyst didn't seem to expect it.
"I can help her," he told his companion. The combination of surprise and suspicion on her features made speaking a whole lot more difficult, though he just barely accomplished as much after an awkward pause. Pearl turned, hearing the silence and lowering her spear for a moment. "You should stay and help Pearl."
Amethyst's obvious befuddlement didn't clear. It wasn't that Steven wanted to actively create distance between himself and her; just that she probably wouldn't want to discuss what he desperately needed to. Getting her to understand with Pearl in earshot didn't feel practical, either. Of course, Amethyst returned to her usual stubbornness, either out of her usual character or some continued concern for Steven. He had a feeling it was the latter.
"C'mon, this borin' bird?" she joked, pulling her lips up in a casual grin. Amethyst at least appeared to understand Steven didn't want to have another empathic session of candor right away. Pearl rolled her eyes, unamused by the title Amethyst had so graciously given. "Why don't you n' me team up? Could even be a little fun between the two of us."
Steven hadn't considered that argument. As much logic could be found in her proposal, though, his conviction didn't waver. However, he also didn't have much of an idea on what to say back. Amethyst rose an eyebrow while he thought in silence. For a fraction of a second, Steven looked to Pearl for help. The awkwardness of the delay before she spoke up was palpable.
"I could use your help, Amethyst," she abruptly told her, now sounding weathered like before. It wasn't exactly the best acting performance Steven had seen, but it did enough to grab Amethyst's attention. Pearl went so far as to lean against a nearby tree out of mock fatigue, using her spear like a cane or walking stick. "The grass can hide Gems a little too well, and they're…low to the ground…?"
With Amethyst knowing Pearl as long as she did, it was obvious she wasn't that convinced. She glanced at the tall Gem skeptically, then looked back to Steven. His heart dropped into his stomach at the sliver of hurt on her features, Amethyst obviously unable to understand Steven's intentions. The subtle freckles on her cheeks didn't help. A couple more seconds of silence passed as Amethyst eyed Steven. Then the Gem sighed, shaking her head.
"'Cause I'm short," she breathed out. She might as well have apologized for a murder she didn't commit for all the remorse Steven felt from her tone. It'd almost moved Steven to apologize himself, but she turned around before he could. "Low blow, P. Fine, whatever."
Steven watched in silence as Amethyst moved to Pearl's side, noticeably less enthusiastic about staying with her as opposed to Steven. He might've been flattered by the favoritism if he wasn't so guilty about denying it. Too much was on his mind to drag Amethyst into it, though, especially when she was the main cause for his concern. Just as he returned to the direction Pearl had clarified for him, Amethyst threw a defiant hand in the air behind her.
"Be back soon, though, alright?" She tossed the words behind her, though they sounded incredibly earnest for someone as usually comical as her. That sincerity of hers seemed pleasantly persistent. Steven paused for a moment, listening as his foot hovered an inch from the thick brush he was about to move into. "I prefer your mothering to Pearl's."
Again, Pearl didn't seem that amused by her comparison. The portion of her expression that wasn't shrugging off Amethyst's compliment appeared intrigued by the compliment. Steven let the words sink in himself, still pausing in front of the thicker portion of the jungle he had yet to traverse.
"Okay," was all he could say back. He found his eyes lingering on the black hair of his friend. Amethyst didn't even wait for a direction from Pearl, moving past her and forcing the tall Gem to follow into the low-hanging leaves. The last thing Steven had heard was Pearl stressing that there couldn't have been that many Gems left on the island.
Steven strode through the grass and trees in silence for a short while. While he probably should've been paying more attention to the direction he was headed or even be on the search for Gems, his mind was far too cluttered to have much room for the jungle around him. He didn't want to just leave Amethyst with Pearl (with no offense to the Gem). Her proposal to team up with him was honestly tempting, if only to keep an eye on her. Unfortunately, being with only her would've cluttered his mind even more.
Her hair moving to a black not dissimilar to his was weird, but it didn't seem too severe. The first change in her skin wasn't that upsetting at the time; it was her being hungry that put Steven on edge. That had been dealt with, though, and given how something as simple as some bread and water revitalized Amethyst, he had to reason she wasn't too terribly afflicted by that much. Even Amethyst being so repeatedly tired after unfusing now felt easily dealt with. It was the second change in Amethyst's skin that really let it sink in for Steven.
Without a doubt, Amethyst was becoming just like him. Not in how she acted, though Steven would be lying if he said he hadn't noticed how much more earnest she was being in his presence, but in… what she was, he supposed. An odd combination of both human and Gem. No longer being the only weird hybrid probably should've felt comforting to Steven. And, in a sense, it did make him feel a little less "special", which he counted as a good thing considering someone as close as Amethyst had granted that much.
But it was Amethyst that had become just like him. No longer being the only one of his kind was one thing, but forcing that humanity onto one of his closest friends was a different degree of guilt entirely. Sure, Amethyst had doubts that she was the one that had incited such an odd change by causing Smoky to unfuse so hastily, but Steven was the one that even had that human-ness in the first place. He was the one that really changed her for the worse. He'd take it back and return to being the only Gem-human person in the universe if he knew how. His earlier hope of his mother's fountain now felt optimistic at best.
Abruptly, a harsh branch collided with Steven's forehead, tearing him from his thoughts. He recoiled, regaining his balance over an impressive amount of seconds. The impact wasn't that painful, though it was still a little jarring. Steven recalled enough of what he was supposed to be bothered with to take a brief look around the foliage.
"Garnet?" he hesitantly called out, cupping his hands around his mouth. Who knew how far Pearl had been from the fusion when they found her. He couldn't see much recognizable red through the leaves and trees of the jungle, and all he could really hear was the occasional bird chirping. Or, according to Pearl, the occasional bird-Gem hybrid chirping. The island certainly seemed different now that Steven knew most of its occupants were more-or-less like him.
He called out again, walking a bit deeper into the jungle. Yesterday's experience let him be wary enough to note where the edge of the island lay, some distance to his left. Steven promptly gave it a slightly wider berth.
About another minute or two passed before Steven heard a voice return his. Garnet's iconic accent echoed through the foliage, telling Steven "Over here!" and inciting a louder response from the birds still hiding above. There didn't seem to be as many in this particular part of the jungle. Nodding to himself, Steven followed after the Gem's voice. If he wasn't so bothered, he might've let out a loud "Marco!" in an attempt to ease himself.
Steven passed through one final brush of green before seeing Garnet, the Gem hunched over in a small clearing of grass and broken trees. Then, taking a look around, Steven noticed he was about where Smoky had fought the large corruption yesterday. Some patches of the ground possessed footprints far too large to belong to any normal animal, and Steven tried to ignore the substantial displacement of dirt. The day's warmth didn't get that much more comfortable at the memory. He took another glance at the snapped and bent trees surrounding them before moving towards Garnet's side.
She held a palm upwards, motioning for Steven to stop. He froze with his foot in the air. Carefully, the fusion bent a little further in the grass, cautious to keep her own bubble in her palm. Her other hand paused in the air for a moment before rapidly slamming downwards into the grass underfoot. A subtle *poof* was heard just a second later.
Garnet's posture relaxed. Taking the cue, Steven closed the distance between himself and the fusion. There seemed to be even more Gems in her bubble than in Pearl's. She rose from the ground slowly, turning towards Steven as she placed a shiny shard of green in her bubble. It clinked against the other Gems.
"They're not all from here," she began, foregoing the usual greetings Steven would've expected. Given the stiff disposition she emanated, usual mannerisms seemed less important at the moment. It wasn't too unusual for Garnet. "Some of these Gems… they're too different. It's as if they were brought here."
Steven hummed, unable to contribute much to the sudden explanation. "Pearl said some of them were like wildlife," he returned. Compared to her and Garnet, Steven didn't exactly have a whole lot of experience with the island's occupants. All he had to go off of was the odd creature they captured yesterday and the massive corruption Smoky had neutralized. The thought of that particular fusion forced Steven's eyebrows together, though Garnet didn't seem to notice.
"Something like that," she confirmed, nodding. Even with her sunglasses, Steven could see her uneasy glance at the bubble in her palm. "But corrupted Gems rarely collect in one area, especially somewhere so remote. For them to affect the environment this much is…"
Garnet paused. Steven waited for her to continue, unsure of what point Garnet was attempting to get across. The island being strange wasn't the most imperative thing in the world to him; by now, he'd be happy chalking it up to the ever-growing category of "mysterious Gem business" and forget about it. There were more important things to worry about anyways. Or, more accurately, there was a more important close friend to worry about.
Eventually, Garnet shook her head, as if to clear it. "You said the Gem had glowed when you found it?" she questioned, looking down to Steven's agitated countenance. A fraction of her own urgency relented. Still, he answered, rubbing his arm.
"Yeah," he told her, shrugging. Being polite and at least attempting to put the island higher on his list of priorities ironically wasn't that high on his list of priorities. "Just for a second. It stopped after I bubbled her."
A grim hum from Garnet did little to give Steven patience. She placed a hand on her chin, stepping past Steven and towards the center of their grassy clearing. The fusion didn't exactly seem exhausted, but there was a subtle sluggishness to her steps that didn't fit her character. Her hair looked like it was straining to keep its block shape.
"It must have been trying to regenerate," she said, pacing in the tall grass. She was almost as agitated as Steven at the impossibility. "It must have, but that can't be…"
Steven scratched the back of his neck, looking around at the damaged environment they stood in. Being needlessly massive and strong wasn't too out of the ordinary as far as Gem corruptions were concerned. An oddity like quickened regeneration felt apt for a huge corruption. Honestly, Steven was having more difficulty understanding why Garnet was so preoccupied with that matter instead of the much more pressing matter of Amethyst's condition.
"Maybe she was worried about her friends," Steven muttered, shaking his head. Garnet didn't immediately seem to hear him. The borderline-rude tone of his voice, though arguably justified, didn't alleviate any of Steven's worries. Then Garnet froze in the tall grass, snapping to him like a motorized statue.
"Maybe," she repeated after Steven, as though she just had some epiphany. Her words quickened as some kind of enlightenment elevated her eyebrows. "Maybe it was trying to force its form back together. To keep the other Gems from losing theirs. They're connected."
Steven blinked. That wasn't exactly what he intended to propose. Regardless, Garnet appeared proud of his "forward thinking", reanimating and moving to pat his shoulder in appreciation. She solidified again after realizing his troubled posture, her hand tensing. For a brief moment, she glanced at the bubble in her palm, eyeing the collection of Gems inside. Steven watched her in silence. Then, she sighed, shaking her head and lowering her bubble for a moment. The fusion crouched to Steven's height, adjusting her sunglasses with her free hand.
"You're not here to help me look for Gems," she told him knowingly, nodding. Steven had the idea that she didn't need her mystical future-vision to see how different his priorities were from hers. The cross of his arms probably conveyed enough, with or without his grimace. At least Garnet had finally moved away from the weirdness of the current island. Steven dropped his arms, humming confirmation.
"It's Amethyst," he began, mirroring her initiative to get straight to the point. Rather than mention how Steven almost ignored what was happening on the island, Garnet hummed understanding, probably used to what he counted as worth worrying about. That fact made him feel just a tad better, as did actually discussing what was worth worrying about. "She keeps… changing."
Now Garnet gave him her full attention. Despite her obvious fatigue from scouring the island for so long, she seemed to put a bit more effort into listening to Steven.
"Pearl had told me she was 'hungry' earlier." The tall fusion stood up, seemingly contemplating something as she walked to a bush past Steven. She placed her bubble on it tentatively. Somehow, it managed to float just a little above the leaves. Garnet spoke slowly, moving back in front of Steven at a matching pace. "It is… odd, but I trust you took care of her well enough."
Garnet's second assumption didn't seem linked to her future vision either. Her tone made it seem like she was trusting Steven's capacity to care for his friends. In truth, he took a little pride in the fact, if only because it made and Amethyst and him feel like equals. She often took care of him in the past when he was sick or out of commission. Returning the favor felt apt.
"Yeah," he replied to Garnet, returning to why he was so worried now. Subconsciously, he scratched the back of his neck, not exactly eager to openly acknowledge what was happening to one of his closest companions. Steven forced the words out of his mouth regardless. "But… her skin changed again."
There was a surprising amount of guilt in his voice. Hearing his reluctance, Garnet stepped closer to him, tilting her head as she waited for him to continue. Eventually, he did, still with that degree of remorse.
"It was after we fell on the island." Steven took a brief sigh, trying to remember that he could afford to be honest with Garnet. She usually forced the truth out one way or another, anyways, either with her future-vision or simply her character. "Now she looks… tanned, kind of. Definitely less gray than before. She has freckles, too."
Evidently, Garnet didn't expect that kind of description for Amethyst. Steven didn't think he'd describe his friend in the same way, either, but here he was. Garnet looked up at the foliage above them, apparently thinking. It was difficult to mention what was happening to Amethyst without stating why, but Steven eventually forced himself to speak.
"I think it's my fault," he said, each word tumbling out of his mouth. Of course, Garnet looked back to him, an easing expression curving her lips upwards.
"It was Smoky's unfusing," she quickly replied. Steven wasn't all that surprised at her argument. That earlier explanation she gave to Amethyst and him seemed to be what she was going off of. "No one can be blamed for worrying about the other. And I doubt you have much active control over your humanity."
Steven shook his head. "I don't mean that," he told her. The calming expression on Garnet's features made way for a curious pout. Steven's arms crossed over one another again, this time more out of regret than impatience or being upset. He took a preparatory breath, explaining as best as he could.
"After you left yesterday to help Pearl, Amethyst and I talked about it," he recounted. Garnet returned to listening without skipping a beat. "Why Smoky unfused and everything. I'm glad we talked, but…"
He paused for a second. Even speaking to someone as maternal as Garnet was rendered difficult. It was her experience with fusion that persuaded Steven to finish, albeit nervously.
"But then we fused."
With Garnet being as used to fusion as she was, Steven could understand her not seeing an issue right away. At the time, he didn't see much of a problem with it either. The implications were only settling in just now. Garnet hadn't yet reached that point in understanding, the fusion unable to link Steven's fusion with any kind of malign effect.
"That was you plan, wasn't it?" she asked. A portion of her voice was nearly eager, though Garnet at least seemed to be attempting to suppress her affinity for fusion. Steven could appreciate the effort, though not enough to calm his doubts by any meaningful degree. "It might've not worked as you anticipated, but-"
"I didn't mean to," Steven interrupted her. The words were quiet amidst the ambient noises of the jungle around them. Now Garnet appeared surprised. As much as she could with her reflective sunglasses, at least. It was still a considerable amount of shock. Steven rubbed his arm, too far into his confession to back out now. "I was just… really happy that I could help her. And, well, I was happy we hugged, too, but not…"
Steven let out a troubled sigh. The guilt in his breath was apparent as the streaks of sunlight beaming through the leaves above.
"I wasn't sure at first," he admitted, still rubbing his arm. Garnet gave him her complete attention now, which was a little more intimidating than she probably meant for it to be. "I thought maybe Amethyst had wanted to and I just went with it. But when we made it to the island, I think it happened again. Just for a second."
Garnet didn't even let out a contemplative hum. She was silent, her expression now unreadable behind her sunglasses. All that Steven could notice was a subtle tense in her body. He looked to the grass underfoot, some part of him expecting to be reprimanded. A punishment felt logical, in a way. From his peripheral vision, he saw Garnet look to her palms for a moment, like she was about to explain fusion again. Maybe he did need a reminder, if the past instances with Amethyst meant anything.
"Fusing… on accident," Garnet eventually let out, still eyeing the Gems in her hands. Steven shook his head, trying to explain as much as he could.
"It's because I'm part human," he said, convinced. No other explanation came to mind. He might've been relatively inexperienced with fusion, but he at least understood that it was an agreement. Without the intent of fusing, surely as much couldn't really happen. All his previous intents had consisted of was a great deal of care for Amethyst. He simply wanted to comfort her, and in the case of falling onto the floating island, protect her. Were those really grounds for fusing?
Shaking his head, Steven went with his reasoning, if only because nothing else made sense to him. "It has to be. Some weird… 'connection', maybe, since Amethyst and I are both Gem-human people now."
Some quiet moments passed while Garnet took in his explanation. She probably did, at least. It was hard to tell with her still looking at the Ruby and Sapphire Gems in her palms.
"That's..." she murmured, almost inaudible. For a second, Steven glanced at the bubble she previously put on the bush behind him. The Gems seemed so trivial compared to Amethyst. At the moment, most things did. Another dozen seconds passed before Garnet answered Steven's explanation directly.
"Maybe," was all she replied with, lowering her hands back to her sides. Her features, while still as neutral as usual, now seemed purposefully blank, as though she didn't want to give Steven anything to read into. He wasn't sure if he would've, even given the opportunity. Rather than focus on the discontent she was likely hiding from him, he decided to continue.
"I think I'm why Amethyst keeps changing," he told her. Saying it out loud felt a whole lot worse than silently adhering to his conviction. A knot formed in the pit of Steven's stomach. "Every time we fuse, she gets… more human, I guess."
After a fair amount of time, Garnet reanimated herself again. She took a few steps to Steven before crouching down to his height. As an effect, he instinctively looked away. The most he could identify was a brief smile on her features, like she was trying to ease him. That was a task far more difficult than she probably anticipated, but her effort didn't waver. It should've been comforting enough on its own.
The sounds of the jungle filled in her following silence. Rather than say anything to alleviate some of Steven's worries, Garnet remained quiet, seemingly attempting to read him. All that Steven had left to say was the one thing he really didn't want to acknowledge, more than anything else. Avoiding his last confession ironically made him feel even guiltier. As a compromise, Garnet said it for him, eventually realizing what the permanent grimace on his features was for.
"You don't want to be around her," she spoke, her tone as purposefully neutral as her expression. The fusion placed a comforting hand on Steven's shoulder, offering a secure grip. He couldn't entirely relax at the contact. Still, he didn't shrug it off either. It finally persuaded him to talk again, which he was semi-grateful for.
"I do," he clarified, looking down again. A few beetle-like Gems scuttled around in the grass, though neither Garnet nor he moved to capture them. "I love being around Amethyst. But… I don't want to hurt her."
Steven hummed, trying to word himself better. This part of the explanation also felt the hardest to say, both internally and out loud. "Make her more human, I mean. If we keep fusing on accident, then..."
The grip on Steven's shoulder tightened for a brief moment. He could feel the hard surface of Garnet's Ruby through his shirt, but it wasn't uncomfortable. More reassuring than anything else.
"Then talk about it with Amethyst," Garnet presented simply. She didn't expand on her solution, apparently treating Steven's accidental "gift" of mortality like being too good at beating Amethyst in a video-game. Needless to say, he had trouble giving it as much triviality.
"I want to, but I don't know how I can just bring it up." A minor warmth rose to Steven's cheeks, some of his guilt transforming to apprehension. The trade-off wasn't that great. "I can't just say, 'We've been fusing on accident.' That doesn't... sound right. And then she'll blame me for how she's been changing, and I know she should, because it is my fault-"
Abruptly, Garnet chuckled. The noise was so unexpected that Steven halted completely, still feeling a little too much heat on his face. Whatever trouble she had earlier about Steven's confession dissipated alongside her laughs. She spoke honestly, her tone remarkably sincere despite how dire Steven was treating the situation.
"Amethyst will understand," she told him. The simplicity of Garnet's statement awarded itself a bit more confidence, subsequently allowing Steven to take that confidence a bit more seriously. She tilted her head down a little, giving Steven a reflection of his troubled countenance among the green foliage behind him. "You two... seem to get each other best."
That part was correct. The relationship Steven was lucky enough to have with Amethyst did allow for an easier understanding between them, which was proved true enough yesterday. Steven just hoped that he wouldn't lose that bond in telling Amethyst his doubts. Nothing that came to mind felt as important as maintaining his closeness with her.
"I hope so," he returned, letting out a sigh. Judging by Garnet's grip persisting, she was still worried in some regard. The usual concern she had for his emotions wasn't too out of place. It was familiar enough that Steven thought to mention that maybe things did have a chance of staying the same through his future confession to Amethyst. Before he could speak, however, a glint of light attracted his gaze back to the reflection in Garnet's sunglasses. She interpreted that as some kind of forced eye-contact, tilting her head and moving the mirror-like effect.
To be sure, Steven turned around at the bush behind him. The bubble Garnet placed on it earlier sat dormant, as still as it was when she first put it there. Some shuffles in the grass told Steven the fusion had looked to where his eyes lay, standing up and removing her grip from his shoulder. They looked at the bubble in silence. Or, more accurately, the Gems inside of it.
One of the copious shards within the barrier flashed white.
"...are they supposed to do that?" Steven questioned. He was hesitant to think that was another normal oddity with the Gems of the floating island. Garnet's sudden movement maintained his hesitation.
"No," she returned, now as dire as she was when Steven first found her. The fusion took a few hasty steps past Steven and towards the bubble. "No, they're not-"
Suddenly, the other Gems flashed white. The effect multiplied over each of their colorful surfaces before an iridescent glow engulfed the bubble's interior. A loud *pop* echoed from the orb as the luminescence threw itself outwards in all directions. Garnet leaped back to Steven's side, raising an arm in front of him. Instead of the light splitting apart into multiple forms, it stretched out in a singular blob-like mass, morphing into a variety of shapes in the process.
Then, after what seemed like a visible hesitation, the white light coalesced into a sizable orb, expanding rapidly and shooting multiple protrusions in seemingly random directions. Steven took a panicked step backwards alongside Garnet, watching the mass. It showed no signs of slowing down, soon crushing the bush Garnet's bubble had sat on and reaching into the trees. Four snake-like extensions stretched to the ground, and the moment they made contact with the dirt underfoot, the light began dying down.
Both Steven and his mentor were speechless as the light solidified into a mess of colors. Whatever form had taken shape, it was as big as it was disorganized. None of the creature's legs were the same length, each sporting a variety of appendages not usually found on Earth. Then Steven recognized more than a few out-of-place extensions as smaller Gems poking out of the corruption's hide.
Before Steven could see much else of it, a low thrum from Garnet matched the corruption's constant droning. The next noise Steven could recognize was the definite impact when Garnet launched herself towards the corruption like a rocket. Her gauntlet-adorned fist slammed into a tree directly behind the corruption, seemingly unfazed by piercing the corruption's semi-formed hide. Some leaves were shook free and glided to the grass underneath.
A few moments of staggering passed, and the corruption dissipated before it could even fully form a body. Dust was thrown everywhere in the following destruction of light. Shards of every shape and color flew outwards, soon dotting the grass surrounding them and glinting meekly in the sunlight. A few collided with Steven's face, though the impact was far from dangerous.
As the final Gems hit the ground, Garnet turned back towards Steven, lowering her fist from the tree and revealing a large impression of starred knuckles in the wood. Her posture returned to the strained and fatigued state she had from searching for these very Gems for hours on end. Unsurprisingly, she was the first to speak up.
"Get to the Temple," she began, her tone void of her earlier casualness. She pointed towards the jungle's foliage, likely at the direction of the warp-pad. Steven, still wide-eyed from the Gem's attempt at regeneration, stared as she spoke. "Bring the mother's Gem back here."
The dire familiarity revived Steven's attention. He gave a silent nod, then noticed one of the Gems that had landed right next to his foot. Already it was giving off a bright light, attempting to rise into the air. Instinct alone allowed him to grasp the stone and put it in a bubble of its own. The light diminished, though not entirely. One more worried expression towards Garnet was given before he tossed his pink-tinted bubble to her. She grasped it with one hand, her other already reaching towards a collection of other Gems. Steven turned around, running back towards the others.
The last thought he had before altering his path was the memory of Pearl having a similar bubble to Garnet's.
A/N: Annd we're ALMOST there. Amost.
