Disclaimer: I don't own Steven Universe!
Title: I don't need the world to see, I've been the best I can be
Summary: Greg and Barb become an item, forcing Sadie and Steven to find middle ground between their hectic lives.
Chapter Title: Cotton Candy
...
Shep's kisses, like every other kiss ever, tasted like whatever they'd eaten last. Tonight it's cotton candy, and Sadie felt so bubbly as they pulled apart she couldn't help but wonder if the sugar was in her all along.
"Sleep good, baby," they whispered, bumping their foreheads together. "I'll call you in the morning, alright?"
Sadie giggled. "Dork."
She was loathe to let go of their hands, then to close the door behind them with a quiet click. Sadie craned her neck to see over the edge of the door, making absolutely sure that Shep got down the path and to their car before flicking the outside light off.
The floorboards creaked, startling her out of her reverie. Barb smiled and lightly patted her shoulder. "They seem like a good match."
"Yeah?"
"Of course, honey. You smile so much more." The mailwoman cocked her head to the side thoughtfully. "I'm just glad this one's got some meat on their bones. I was always scared I was gonna break the Barriga boy in half."
Sadie snorted and shucked off her coat. "We grabbed some Chinese while we were out. Then we went to Funland and got cotton candy."
"This late?"
"I know, right? We're rebels." She paused, awkwardly fiddling with her hands. "Sorry if I left you with a lot of leftovers."
Barb laughed and shook her head. "Nah, s'alright. Me and Grego gobbled 'em all down, and lemme tell you, it was not a pretty sight."
"Mr. Universe was here?"
"Still is, in fact. He's having a snooze on the couch."
Sadie craned her neck around the doorway to see the muted glare of the TV highlighting Greg's sleeping form. His head was tilted backwards, leaving his mouth wide open as he snored. A line of drool went through his beard. "Oh." She shoved her hands into her pockets. "How come he never takes you to his place?"
"He lives in his van, honey."
"I mean, he did, but he's rich now, isn't he? Shouldn't he at least have an apartment or something?"
"Try tellin' him that." Barb leaned on the wall. Sadie saw her smile turn softer as she watched him sleep. "He's a bit of a dummy, but he's good people."
Something in her chest twisted. "Good people don't constantly hang around other people's houses. He's a grown man! He shouldn't be sticking you with the bills."
Barb stared at her, surprised by the ferocity in her tone. "Sadie, I know this hasn't been easy, but Greg isn't like that. He's payin' bills, and for food, and he gets up and goes to work every day." She slapped her hip. "And it's been... nice. Having someone else around to cook and clean. You know how my knees are."
"I could do that," Sadie said.
"Aw, you're a grown lady, you gotta do grown lady things." Barb squeezed her shoulder. "You just focus on taking the next steps with you and your band-buddy. Have you picked out a name yet?"
She squirmed under the question. "No."
"I believe in you, sweetheart." She bent down and kissed her cheek. "I know, wherever you and Shep go next, it'll be great. Go get some sleep."
"Night, mom." Sadie balled her fists. "I love you."
Steven's contact photo was out of date. Sadie hadn't paid it much mind before now, since it was rare that she communicated with him via text message, but the bright smile and sparkling eyes looked ancient. He hadn't been hip-height for over a year now.
She clicked on it, finding a just-as-old message. It was covered in emojis and promises of help. Sadie thought that if messages had a smell, it'd reek of glitter. Swallowing the sense of whiplash, she started to type.
You lived with your dad once right
There was a noticeable pause.
Yes?
Where
?
Where did you live
His van. Steven seemed to hesitate before going on. Why do you ask?
He keeps sleeping over at my house. isn't he, like, super rich? why doesn't he have his own apartment or smth?
I don't think he's ever had one tbh. Idk the whole situation, but dad either got kicked out or left pretty young, and has lived in his van ever since. It's a unit of a vehicle for surviving all the waffle-irons it's taken over the years.
Sadie wasn't sure where to take the conversation. She'd wanted confirmation, she supposed, to stave off that shriveled up voice that kept looking for the cracks in some made-up façade, but now all she knew was that she was being ridiculous. I think my mom wants him to move in.
OK.
You text like an old man I stg. how am I supposed to take "ok."
It's "I'm being very pointedly neutral on this subject bc it's my dad and I want him to be happy" in emotionally-constipated-teen.
I think i'm jealous? its stupid but its true
Oh big mood, I've always wanted my dad to get a place so he could have, like, proper air conditioning and heating and stuff, but I always thought he'd just cave and live with me and my many murdered TVs.
til that steven universe has killed TVs.
Oh, man, I am, like, DESTINED to kill all TVs I come near. I've killed at least five.
Sadie covered a snicker with the palm of her hand. You criminal!
Ngl I'm kind of an anxious mess rn and this is helping a lot, can we keep texting for, like, an hour?
whats up?
Nothing crazy, I'm just worried about side-effects. I just took my first dose of happy pills and I'm stressing over potential side-effects that prlly won't happen.
Oh shit man. Her fingers hovered above the keys. Sadie got a sneaking suspicion he'd brought it up to keep her mind off of what was going on in her living room, but it was still a very real thing. Sure, man, I won't go anywhere. Wanna hear some first draft names Shep and I are working on?
Heck yeah
Author's Note: I've been sick for like a week but I wanted to get this chapter out so here we are. This one, I feel, is a turn towards what the story is about- Steven and Sadie coming to rely more on each other.
Fun fact I was a nervous wreck when I first took meds bc of potential side effects. I had no side effects. I think it's just a fitting Anxiety Mood, which is a good chunk of Steven as a whole.
-Mandaree1