CW: *Announcer voice* And here we are in the incredibly long ninth inning and our characters are coming round second base! The ushers will be coming around to check IDs as its all hands on deck for sexual content! NSFW, activate incognito browsers, my god what a play!
VIII: Amethyst, Part I
The librarian stood in the middle of the Big Donut, eying the display case with a slight frown. Even faced with an endless array of sweet treats, it wasn't enough to boost her mood.
I'll love you forever until you can't stand it.
She'd stewed on it as she brushed her teeth before bed. She'd tossed and turned all night, her sleep fitful as her subconscious stewed on it some more. She'd glowered over her coffee, thoughts reaching a simmer. By the time she grumbled and huffed and stomped her way through Beach City on her way to the Big Donut her anger had reached a low boil.
I'll love you forever until you can't stand it.
How dare he…. How dare he. How dare he!
How dare Steven Universe say something so dangerous…So wonderful… Followed by something so supremely irritating.
Maybe you were right. Maybe we shouldn't see each other.
That was her line! How dare he flip the script on her. She was typically not a violent person. But right now the idea of throttling something sounded supremely excellent. It was a good thing she was on her way to her first training session with Amethyst.
"Two raspberry filled and two strawberry glazed with sprinkles, please." She decided, telling the man behind the counter.
"If you really want to take the raspberry to the next level you should get the lemon glaze." A lofty voice at her back weighed in unprompted.
She turned, eyebrow raising at the stranger at her back. He was tall, with swirled pink hair in wisps that reminded her of Lion. He had skull gauges in his ears and the ensemble of a swashbuckler, right down to the collared cape. His skin, his hair, his eyes…all of him was bubblegum pink.
Any other city she would have thought he was a cosplayer. Here, in Beach City, she had no doubt he was another alien.
Another pink alien at that.
Great.
Her expression curdled and the captain grimaced.
"Sorry… Used to work here. Old habit." He laughed, gloved hands raised in good natured protest.
Her expression softened but only slightly.
"Lars!" The man behind the counter exclaimed. "Good to see you. Picking some up for the crew?"
"You know it, Dewey." The alien, newly identified as Lars, gave the man a thumbs up. The man behind the counter, Dewey, nodded, glancing back to her.
"Miss?"
"Make one of the raspberry a lemon glazed?" She asked, shrugging.
"Coming right up." He confirmed, grabbing a white paper bag and flicking it open. At her side, Lars smiled politely at her. She swallowed her foul mood and made an effort to keep her emotions off her face. After all, it wasn't his fault.
"I don't think I've seen you around before. You a tourist?" He asked carefully, head tilting as he surveyed her.
She was a cute thing, mass of hair swirled into a messy ponytail on the top of her head. She had octagon glasses and wore an electric purple athletic wear set.
She shook her head, tone neutral, "I'm the librarian for Buddwick. Just started a few months ago. Are you from Little Homeworld?"
He laughed, shaking his hands in protest, "I'm not a Gem. Beach City is my hometown. Although I guess the pink is a little much of a giveaway I'm not human. Well, anymore."
"The pink isn't as strange to me as you'd think." She muttered lowly.
His eyebrows raised at this, "It isn't?"
She hadn't been as quiet as she thought, apparently.
"Not really. There's a bossy guy I know who turns pink occasionally." Her expression was sour.
"Ah so you have met Steven Universe." Lars confirmed, smirking. Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth to ask him about it when she was interrupted.
"Your order." Dewey handed her the donut bag and she went to pay from a tiny bluebird coin pouch.
Lars cut in smoothly, gloved hand pushing her coin purse to lower, "Add 'em to my tab. I'll take a dozen Deweys to go."
"What? Are you sure? I couldn't…" She protested modestly but Lars only shook his head.
"Consider it my fee. I was hoping we could talk?" It had been a while since he'd attempted to charm someone before and he felt rusty. But from the way she flushed perhaps he wasn't as bad as he first thought. She took the bag from Dewey.
"Oh. I was on my way to the Temple Beach to meet someone. But you could walk me?" She offered. Lars grinned.
"Sure. I know the place… You meeting Steven or the Gems?"
"Gems. Well…a Gem. Um… Amethyst? She's giving me combat training. It's… a long story." She sighed, reaching into the bag and pulling out the lemon glazed.
"Love to hear it. If you're inclined to share." Lars pursued.
"Maybe." She hedged and took a huge bite out of her donut, "Oh stars this is amazing."
"Told you." Lars laughed. She made a face but smiled, a beautiful thing that made him feel warm. She continued to munch, eyes glazed over in happiness.
"So… You know Steven?" She asked after a pause, keeping her tone deceptively casual to hide her interest. It didn't work and Lars looked amused.
"Hard to find somebody in this town who doesn't. He got Dewey the job here. And me… Well, I wouldn't be where I am today without him. The real question is how do you know him?" Lars asked, eyebrow raised.
"I… Well… He…" She colored, fidgeting.
Ah.
"It's like that, huh?" Lars asked, smiling knowingly.
"It's complicated." She settled on finally, unable to meet his gaze.
"Been there." Lars paid for their haul. "Thanks Dewey!"
Lars took both their orders, opening the door for her gentlemanly on the way out.
Just outside, Steven Universe froze, seeing Lars and the librarian exit the Big Donut together.
Since when did she know Lars? Did they show up together?
Lars held the door for her so smoothly, a considerate smile on his face. He was saying something and the librarian laughed, a full smile that caused something in Steven's stomach to clench before twisting. He hadn't seen her smile that way at him in what felt like forever. What had Lars said to her to earn it?
Something ugly and uncomfortable simmered inside and he held back, not wanting to get closer but also unable to look away when-
"Yo! Steven!" Lars yelled out, spying him.
He blanched for a moment but recovered, smiling nervously and giving the two of them a wave. He had always been excellent at masking his emotions to protect other people from them, sometimes to his own detriment as Doctor Bright had noted. Steven slid the familiar mask on now anyway.
"Heeeey guys…" He trailed awkwardly, purposefully not looking directly at the librarian. He didn't know if he could handle that right now.
For her part, the librarian was also a ramrod straight bundle of tenseness. She hadn't planned on seeing Steven, although she knew it was a possibility given her plans for the day.
For all her stewing she should should have been lit off into anger instantly. Instead the sight of him caused all of that anger to be sucked down into a churning vacuum of nausea and hurt. Seeing him so casual under this fake veneer of everything is fine was awful.
Everything wasn't fine.
I'll love you forever until you can't stand it.
Stars, he was so handsome. It wasn't fair. She watched him, the way the bright oceanside light reflected in the swirls of his hair, so dark it almost slid into other colors like the wings of a raven. He was talking to Lars now, she realized dimly, and she fought to keep her face from blushing and to pay attention.
"I didn't realize you were home from space, Lars." Steven observed with forced cheer.
It was the wrong thing to say and he realized his critical error too late.
At Lars' side, the librarian's eyes got big and round and she whirled, excitement palpable, "You've been to space?" Her gasp got bigger, "Oh man! Dewey said crew. You have a crew? You have a spaceship?" Her questions followed faster and faster in excitement, making Steven crack a thin smile. She was still the same when it came the spaceships as she was their first date.
Lars laughed, eyes sparkling, "Yeah. I do. If you ever wanted to go for a spin, I could take you."
At her starry eyed expression Steven felt a spike of irritation.
"She's already been."
The librarian sent Steven a startled look, one that he didn't show a shred of remorse at.
Lars' eyes narrowed, darting between the two of them, his lips curled slightly as the pieces fell into place. Oh this was too easy.
"Only once!" She huffed, displeasure apparent.
"Well. It probably wouldn't be safe anyways. My crew and I are space outlaws, after all." Lars shrugged with casual indifference that was actually calculated. He could practically feel Steven's annoyance with him and it was delicious.
She took the bait, eyes sparkling with stars.
"No way! What for?"
"Oh, you know. General Robin Hood escapades here, a little anarchy over there. Steven usually gives me a finger wag at least once a month." Lars sighed with a devil may care shrug and attempted to ooze the ambivalent bad boy charisma ladies loved. He was fairly certain actual steam was pouring out the ears of young Universe and it made Lars want to cackle with glee.
"If you would stop stealing from Homeworld liberated planets I wouldn't have to call you." Steven ground out between clenched teeth.
Back in Era Two and when he was younger, Steven thought Lars was cool with his thieving. Now that Steven fielded most of the planetary complaints he found the undead space pirate a vexing thorn in his side. The two were still friends, with age just came a certain level of nuance.
"Yeah, yeah. And if you paid attention to half the stuff that went on elsewhere out of your jurisdiction you'd be singing a different tune." Lars shrugged.
They had this same fight in a new flavor nearly every time they spoke anymore. Steven, annoyed that Lars kept stealing. Lars, annoyed that Steven didn't use his position as Pink Diamond to do more.
The librarian's watch beeped and she glanced down, "Ugh, I'm going to be late."
"Come on, I'll walk you." Lars offered smoothly, gloved hand resting at her back. It took everything in him not to shoot a smug glance over at Steven but he reined it in, managing instead a cool glance. Steven's gaze darted to Lars grip, up to glare at him. Huh. So this is what 'if looks could kill' meant.
"Late?" Steven heard himself blurt out. He couldn't let this conversation die. If she walked away… With Lars' hand doing that thing…
"Training with Amethyst." She murmured, not meeting his gaze. Their previous fight flashed through his mind. He did remember hearing her say Amethyst was going to train her, although he was surprised Pearl hadn't been her first choice. He still didn't have to like it, regardless of which Gem she chose.
In fact…
"I was just headed to see Amethyst myself. I'll come with you!" Steven bulldozed ahead.
Lars looked dismayed, much to Steven's immense satisfaction. The librarian's head swiveled, gaze darting between the two. She sighed and shrugged. With no polite reason to object, Steven quickly fell into step next to her.
The three set off, the librarian cringing at the tension. She racked her brain for a neutral topic.
"So… Lars… You've traveled space. Run into any beings called Metals?" The librarian asked, chancing a glance to her left. She was thanking her stars it was a short trip. The Big Donut was beach front. It was a straight shot of half a mile and around a cliff to the temple.
Lars winced, "Not the friendliest group. Why do you ask?"
"I… had a run in myself recently. Just trying to figure out what I'm up against." She sighed, looking contemplative. From her right, Steven shared a glance with Lars.
"They're trying to kidnap her." Steven explained, distaste apparent.
"They're a nasty bunch. Trained warriors since birth, a conqueror race with an unbending will. I ran into a fleet of Iron in Beta Seven and they blew so many holes in my engine it looked like Swiss cheese. Why are they after you?" Lars asked, looking down at her.
She glanced over at Steven, who made no indication she shouldn't share.
She flushed, freckles lighting up, "I'm a Light Prism…er…super weapon from space, apparently."
"You? Well… I guess stranger things live in this town. But I never would have guessed it by looking at you. Just thought you were a regular babe." Lars mussed aloud, gazing at her with a grin. Surprise seemed to seep into her features and she blushed.
Steven stumbled over his feet for a moment before sending Lars a look. His cheeks were flushed in anger. He opened his mouth and the librarian cut in quickly.
"Well would you look at that! We're here!" She squeaked, cheeks dark. From ahead she could see the fingertips of a stone hand pointing out the sand. The purple Gem stood on one fingertip, balancing her whip handle on her nose like a seal. The librarian smiled at Lars, taking her donut bag swiftly off the top of his own box.
"Come on. Amethyst isn't the most patient." Steven goaded her, a few paces ahead.
"I know, I know." She sighed.
She gave the space pirate a quick half hug, "It was nice to meet you, Lars. Thanks for the donuts."
He blushed, "Any time. My number's on the bag. Give me a call if you ever feel like seeing the sights off planet."
"I might." She smiled at him and Steven knew then with a sinking sensation what he was feeling. He was jealous, terribly jealous of the smile she sent Lars.
"Or if you just want to talk…" Lars continued smoothly, "I'd love to listen."
Steven felt like walking straight into the ocean and screaming.
"Thanks. See ya!" She gave him a wave. The space captain waved and turned around, heading back to town. She made her way across the sand, cheeks pink. She didn't look over at Steven but she could feel his gaze on her, eyes shrewdly scanning her reaction.
She barreled ahead, determinedly not making eye contact, making a beeline across the sand for Amethyst. Unfortunately her legs were not as long as Steven's so it was not as quick as she'd have preferred.
He caught up to her easily, walking backwards to scrutinize her expression.
"You might, huh?" Steven couldn't resist, parroting her reply.
"Why not? Lars was very nice. You on the other hand…" She sniffed, trailing off slowly.
Steven grit his teeth, "I was really polite, under the circumstances."
"What circumstances?" She bit back testily.
"He was flirting with you just to make me mad." Steven stated, tone scathing.
The librarian felt her blood boil, "He was being nice! Not everything is about you, Steven!"
Steven opened his mouth to retort when he realized Amethyst was watching them.
"Am I interrupting something?" Amethyst asked, nose wrinkling. The librarian turned away from Steven and he watched as she adopted a tight smile.
"Nope! I brought you your favorite." The librarian greeted her, tossing the donut bag up to the Gem on top of the stone hand.
"All right!" Amethyst ate the donuts, bag, Lars' phone number, and all before the librarian could protest.
"Are you a Gem or a goat?" The librarian asked weakly.
Silently, Steven made a promise to buy Amethyst a whole box of donuts in thanks. She burped.
Amethyst promptly shape-shifted into a purple goat, chewing cud, "Bit of both." The librarian laughed and Amethyst grinned, reverting back.
"Ste-Man! Didn't expect you to show up. You here to help with training?" Amethyst asked, jumping down from her stone hand perch.
"…Why yes. Yes I am." Steven trailed slowly, devious smile growing as he caught the librarian's outraged expression. He hadn't really come up with a good excuse on the way over here for actually seeing Amethyst.
He really just hadn't wanted to leave the librarian alone with the space captain.
"Really?" The librarian cut in sternly, arms crossing over her chest. "Because yesterday you said you didn't want me anywhere near a battlefield."
"Still true." Steven confirmed, "But if you're gonna not listen to me anyway, I might as well stick around in case you hurt yourself."
The librarian glared at him, "Appreciate your vote of confidence."
"Ooh.. Should I leave?" Amethyst cringed.
"No!" Both parties shouted at the same time at her.
"Yeesh." Amethyst stated, looking displeased.
The librarian glared at Steven before stepping forward, "I'm sorry Amethyst… We are fighting but it won't get in the way." She shot a stern look in Steven's direction and he broke eye contact, "I really am ready to learn."
"Well… Not that I'm not down or anything but… You sure you don't want Pearl for this? This kind of training junk is more her speed." Amethyst asked a bit vulnerably, arms stretched back behind her head. She avoided eye contact pointedly.
The librarian shook her head adamantly, "These Metals are warlords and warriors and from talking to Connie… Pearl's methods are very traditional. I'm behind the curve as it. I need unconventional."
Amethyst chanced a glance up at her, smile forming, "In that case you came to the right Gem."
There was a crack and Amethyst's whip flew out, wrapping around her right ankle and jerking her feet out from under her. Breath knocked out from her the librarian blinked rapidly from flat on her back. She heard Steven shout her name out in a surprise and she waved her hand, choking in air.
"Ground rules are lame but necessary. Rule one: Steven minds his business. Every time Steven doesn't mind his business is one donut for teacher." Amethyst stated, arms crossing.
"Fine." Steven grumbled.
"Rule two: Whatever awkward feelings you two dinguses are going through does not get brought on this beach to mess with my training. I will literally steam roll you if you make it weird."
"Fair." Her pupil muttered from the ground.
"Last rule: You tell me or Steven if something hurts. You do not get brownie points for being a pain martyr. I'm not gonna hold back." Amethyst warned her.
"Okay." She nodded.
"Good. Now are you just going to lay there or are you going to get up and fight me?" Amethyst asked, eyebrow raised.
"But I don't have a weapon."
"La-ame! Figure something out." Amethyst yelled, tugging the whip at her ankle forward. The librarian started sliding along the sand, panic apparent.
"Amethyst… She's new at this. You have to actually teach her." Steven intoned, arms crossing. Amethyst gave the girl a yank, sending her flying up into the air, arms windmilling frantically. The Gem and the half Gem stared as she sailed up, up, way off the ground and into the clouds.
"Annnd… That's one donut for me from Steven." Amethyst stated, studying her nail beds for a moment in indifference. The librarian came plummeting back down to Earth and Steven caught her effortlessly in a giant heap.
"Make that two. Seriously, butt out Steven." Amethyst huffed.
"You okay?" He asked the librarian softly. She was panting but nodded shakily, slowly slipping to her feet. Suddenly Steven was very grateful he had decided to invite himself to her training sessions.
"You can't just vault her thirty feet off the ground and tell her to figure it out, Amethyst! You're gonna kill her pulling a stunt like that." Steven yelled, turning on the Gem. The librarian raised an eyebrow, surprised he was so defensive of her. She didn't expect him to be laughing it up at her getting beat up by Amethyst. But she didn't exactly expect this either. Her brow knit.
"Oh, I'm sorry dude, do you not approve of my methods? You think the Metals are gonna go easy on her just cause she's a total beginner at fighting? She's a Prism, man, not a human. Let her figure it out herself." Amethyst countered.
"She's right." The librarian huffed. "I need to do this on my own."
"We never fight alone. You shouldn't have to train alone either." Steven insisted. "Let me help." His expression was so soft and earnest she blanked for a moment on why she was mad at him.
"You are. Now sit down and supervise." She directed, regaining her senses.
"Three donuts." Amethyst mouthed silently at him. Steven groaned, throwing his hands up and turning to settle in at the base of the stone hand.
The sun rose then began to set and Steven watched through his fingers as Amethyst spent the rest of the afternoon whipping and tossing the librarian around like a rag doll. All of her effort was put into defense, dodging and dancing, rolling this way and that as the crack of the whip sounded.
Embarrassingly, it wasn't until hour three that the librarian thought to get creative.
She rolled, grabbing a hand full of sand in the process. She turned, tossing it in Amethyst's face, blinding her. Amethyst stumbled back, shocked, and the librarian went for the whip handle, desperately trying to pull it out of her hands. Unfortunately she was neither strong enough or skilled enough for such a maneuver.
Amethyst flung her back with a blow from her fist, sending her tumbling across the sand. It cracked across her jaw, an explosion of pain followed by an ache. She spit blood, panting on her hands and knees in the wet sand of the tide.
She could hear Steven calling her name from above the roar of the surf.
Amethyst's hand came into view. "Now that's what I'm talking 'bout!" The Gem smirked.
The librarian looked up at her and chuckled. The librarian took Amethyst's hand but her smile faded. The girl pulled, using the momentum and her feet to flip Amethyst behind her. From behind her she heard Amethyst's thrilled shriek of laughter on the sand.
"Not bad. Now you're getting it. If you don't have a weapon look around you. Use your opponent against themselves somehow." Amethyst advised, "I could train you for ten years on combat and you'd still suck compared to a Metal. Steven says you're smart. Use your strengths."
"Are you okay?" Steven huffed, running up to the two of them.
"Fine." She smiled, laughing a bit actually. He pulled her to her feet, eyes scanning over her for injuries. Her bottom lip was swollen, bloody. He debated kissing her to heal it but couldn't work up the nerve.
"You've got… Um…" He cleared his throat awkwardly and licked his thumb. He brushed it over the corner of her mouth, healing her busted lip. She blushed, feeling the fizz of magic, eyes round in surprise.
"I think it's time for a break." Amethyst stated behind them. The two snapped from whatever trance was between them and the librarian laughed nervously.
"Oh thank the stars. I think I'm gonna jump in the ocean and cool off. How bout a swim?" She asked, both of them.
"Nah." Amethyst shrugged.
Steven shook his head, "I didn't bring a bathing suit."
"Neither did I." She laughed, stripping her shirt up and over her head without a second thought. She was sweaty and covered in sand. Clad only in a sports bra and leggings Steven felt his mouth go dry. There was so much skin…
He was above ogling her, he chided himself. Above it.
He kept staring anyway as she slowly pulled her hair from its high ponytail, hair tumbling free and the ends dancing around the curve of her butt. Was everything in slow motion? He was pretty sure he was watching her move in slow motion. She glanced over her shoulder at him.
He swallowed thickly as he watched her kick off her shoes. She caught the slack jawed look on his face and smiled impishly, running into the surf, laughing before diving under completely.
Amethyst laughed watching her, "She so wants you, dude. I don't know what you two dorks are fighting over but make up already."
"I… I just want to keep her safe. She wants to learn how to fight and she won't carry the destabilizer Bismuth and I cooked up and I'm terrified the Metals are going to hurt her or even worse, I'm going to hurt her and-" Steven admitted, words tumbling rapidly out of him as they both watched her laugh and bob up and down in the waves.
"Woah! Woah man!" Amethyst interrupted him, hand on his upper arm. "Have you talked to anybody at all about this?"
"Not really." Steven had the sense to look abashed.
Amethyst sighed, "Steven, you know better than that. Talk to me. What's got you freaked?"
"She has!" Steven exclaimed, gesturing out to the librarian at sea, "She's driving me crazy, Amethyst! You know what a battle is like! She doesn't and what if… What if something happens to her?"
"I get that. All three of us felt that way about you when you first started coming with us on missions. You have to trust her. And all of us too, man. You know we're all going to look out for her."
"I know." Steven sighed, looking down guiltily, "Part of me just wants to keep her some place where nobody will hurt her."
"You can't, man. She doesn't want that. Which makes it kidnapping. You'd be no different than the Metals." Both of them looked out over the ocean, suddenly standing up.
"Do you-"
"No, dude! I don't see her." Amethyst agreed.
The waves were empty and both of them immediately barreled for the water, going underneath the sea. Steven was in his pink bubble, Amethyst as is, not needing to breathe.
Underwater was alive with coral and fish, a swathe of color different from on shore.
They hadn't gone far under when they saw the problem. A silver mechanical beast, shaped like a sea monster had a metal tentacle wrapped around the struggling librarian, pulling her under and towards its mouth.
Steven saw red.
He flung his shield out, slicing through tentacles and Amethyst grabbed her, the two swimming for the surface.
His shield dissipated and the beast roared, bursting up and above the waves after them. Steven followed, gathering speed as he grabbed both Amethyst and the librarian by the waist. The three narrowly avoided a burst of tentacles. He propelled them both out of the water and into the air, floating down onto the sandy beach. The librarian let out a gasp, choking as she greedily inhaled oxygen.
"Okay?" He asked shortly, staring down at them. Amethyst gave a thumbs up. The librarian nodded and Steven returned it tersely.
"Steven!" Garnet and Pearl were running down the steps of the temple and across the sand, summoning their weapons.
"Light Prism! Oh Light Prism!" A space craft appeared, floating behind the screaming metal tentacle beast just off shore. "How do you like my newest pet?" Copper's face appeared via hologram, glee unbidden.
"Copper." She said, getting to her feet shakily, "I'd say it's good to see you again but I'd be lying." Steven wedged himself in front of her stubbornly, tense. Garnet and Pearl reached the three on the shore, standing next to them in anticipation.
"I see you've found more weak Gems to cower behind. It's no matter. I'll shatter them all if that's what it takes." He crowed, surveying the Crystal Gems.
"You aren't hurting anyone." Steven insisted in fury, pupils Diamond. He phased magenta, a translucent pink shield with swirling vines summoning with a weighty thunk onto his right arm.
"Oh ho… Pink Diamond! So it is you. I wondered when you'd show your face. Hand over the Light Prism, thief." Copper demanded.
"No. She's not yours." He insisted, chin raising defiantly. The librarian felt her cheeks flame.
She's mine. It burned through his blood, a belief so strong and so intense in him it ached.
"Not for long!" Instead of a beam of light, this spaceship shot a net. The formation of Gems scattered, dodging the net as it exploded across the sand. Steven, or Pink Diamond as he was now, gripped the librarian close pulling her from range. He set her down under the stone hand and turned to the others.
"Pearl, guard her. Garnet, Amethyst, the sea monster." He directed calmly. In front of him, the librarian blinked, sense of panic rising.
This was actually happening. They were going to fight. Steven was going to fight. She looked at the giant metal beast and the floating space bot and fear curled around her.
As if sensing her discomfort, Amethyst put her hand on her shoulder.
"You can't wig out, okay? Keep your wits and listen to Big Mama P, alright? We'll be okay. We're in this together." Amethyst assured her hurriedly.
The librarian nodded, swallowing her nerves. Her failures had seemed fine earlier, when she was training with the stout purple Gem. Now she realized all those mistakes would have gotten her killed. She didn't have three hours and numerous failures to learn pocket sand techniques. She had one shot. One. If she was lucky.
"She'll be fine." Pearl confirmed, spear whirling.
"What about Copper?" Amethyst asked.
"Oh I've got that covered." Pink Diamond promised them ominously. The Metal was his to fight.
The three split ways leaving Pearl and the librarian on shore.
"Sorry about this. Nobody like babysitting duty." The librarian muttered self consciously, crossing her arms. The two watched as Amethyst wrapped her whip around a group of tentacles, binding them tight. Garnet came in like a speeding bullet, ripping through the appendages with an iron gauntlet.
"It's really not so bad. Everyone loves a free show." Pearl assured her, eyes on Pink Diamond as he deflected net blast after net blast with his shield. He flung a spiked bubble out as a projectile and it crashed into the spacecraft, sending it and the hologram Copper flying.
"I haven't seen Steven fight before." The librarian admitted, flushing as she watched the half Gem dodge an arm spear from the spacecraft. He rolled up and over the extended arms and straight into a downward punch that decked the craft under the waves with inhuman strength. She should not have found the show of strength, the way his biceps tensed as he wielded the shield to block deadly blows, as hot as she did.
"Hmmm. Form's a little sloppy." Pearl mussed critically next to her, surveying them, "He must be mad."
"He's pink, Pearl, what do you think?" The librarian muttered sarcastically.
She was jerked from her musings by Pearl barreling into her, pushing her out of the way of a strike from above. The two rolled head over heels in the sand. In front of them was another claw spacecraft bot with a cannon underneath it.
"I guess it was naive to think we'd sit this one out." Pearl commented lowly.
"Pearl… Give me a weapon. Steven says you've got all sorts of stuff stored in there." The librarian begged, the two of them scrambling backwards across the sand. There was a popping noise and a burst of light and Pearl handed her a second spear. She took it, grateful for anything that wasn't sand.
There was a burst of net and the two dodged opposite ways. The spacecraft speared its arms towards Pearl, firing another net at the librarian. She sliced the spear through it, twisting to the side in time to avoid the craft launching at her by inches.
"Pearl!" Pink Diamond yelled, concern growing as he watched the craft advance on the librarian. He blocked two blows from his own space bot opponent, helpless to intervene.
"I'm on it!" Pearl shouted back, scrambling to the librarians side.
"Worry about your own battle, Diamond." Copper spat, metal claw piercing him in the upper shoulder and spraying blood before sending him plummeting beneath the waves.
"Steven!" The librarian called out, panicked.
"He'll be fine." Pearl assured her, parrying two arm attempts to grab her in rapid succession.
"Give yourself over to me, Light Prism. I'll spare their lives if you come willingly." Copper enticed her.
"I don't believe you!" She yelled back, spear piercing through a metal arm of the craft fighting Pearl. She was immediately wrapped in the arms of the bot that had been fighting Steven, the metal sliding tight around her body, constricting and twisting tight like a boa snake. Pearl had been hit by a net, pinned to the ground.
"Clever thing." Copper grinned, bringing her even with his hologram screen. "But I've got you now."
Pink Diamond suddenly burst from the bottom of the ocean, hurled by Garnet like a javelin. He crashed through the craft, fists pink, into one side and clear out the other in an explosion of wires and sparks. The craft died with a sputter. He ripped the machine off of her, pulling the librarian free by the waist and letting the powered down space craft crash into the ocean.
The librarian's eyes through all this were on Pearl though, claw barreling towards the net covered Gem to spear her through. Subjectively, she knew Gems couldn't die. But the human part of her was convinced Pearl was going to die. She couldn't let Pearl die!
She panicked and glowed white, her hair, her garment, all of it flashing brilliantly as she summoned a weapon, a crystal version of a halberd. It sparkled in the light, a rainbow of colors reflected as she flung it at the craft. Pearl scrambled free out of the way, stunned. The librarian's eyes burned white, absent of iris and pupils, as she willed the halberd to turn with a coax of her pointer finger, attacking the craft and shattering it with a mighty sweep of the axe blade.
The hologram of Copper glitched out as he stammered, "Impossible! You shouldn't be able to make constructs on your own!" His screen flickered away into darkness.
Awareness seeped back into her and the halberd phased away into nothingness. In the background there was a bellow and a shriek, the kraken ripped through by Amethyst, who had taken the form of a mighty T-Rex.
"Pearl, are you okay?" The librarian yelled.
"Fine!" Pearl assured them with a wave and bait of chagrin.
The librarian sagged a bit, feeling a large bit of her energy go with it.
"It's okay, I've got you." Pink Diamond assured her. And he did, he had her. He phased back to regular Steven Universe with little fanfare. She whimpered, blinking rapidly to get her focus back, everything bleary for a moment.
"I'm fine." She repeated over and over, dazed.
"Don't push yourself." Steven soothed. She buckled again in his hold and he sucked his teeth in a sound of disapproval. He swept her legs out from beneath her, arm circling the back of her knees.
"Steven… Seriously." She protested, staring up at him. His jaw clenched and he floated the two down to Pearl and the others on the sand. He needed… He just needed. His gem was practically singing with it.
"I'm taking her home. She burned herself out using that kind of power." Steven stated.
"Don't go all that way. Bring her inside." Pearl insisted, gesturing to the Temple.
"I'm right here, you know! And I'm fine!" She huffed, put out that no one was listening.
Steven nodded dryly, "Uh huh. You're laying down inside anyway." He insisted stubbornly.
"We all could use a recharge in our rooms." Garnet started calmly. The three Gems nodded. Steven made his way up the temple steps, still toting the red faced librarian. He was carrying her bridal style, as if she weighed nothing.
"R-Really, you can let me down. I'm okay." She promised him weakly. She tried to squirm free but he glared at her and held her tighter, his grip like iron. He ignored her, kicking the screen door open with his foot slightly and swinging her inside across the threshold.
"You still need to rest." He insisted. He climbed the stairs, feeling a tenseness in his shoulders ebb now that he had her within his familiar walls. He lowered her onto his duvet. As he transitioned her, she felt her fingers brush something wet and tacky. She pulled her fingers back, her fingertips tinged red. Her eyes widened.
"You're hurt! Your shoulder… You shouldn't have carried me." She protested frantically, grabbing his shirt sleeve in worry. There was a hole in his black star t-shirt where the space bot's claw had pierced clean through, blood caking his skin and obscuring it. He hovered, seated on the edge of his mattress.
"It's healed, honest." He assured her, watching her expression of concern in amusement as she tucked her legs under herself, sitting closer to inspect it. Her fingers kneaded the skin nearby, attempting to see if a wound opened. It was hard to tell under the caked blood and sand.
"Steven, you sure you don't need anything?" Pearl called up to him.
"We're okay!" Steven assured her, simultaneous with the librarian's, "A first aid kit."
Pearl was up the stairs in a second, kit, bowl of water, and washcloth in hand. "Steven, are your healing powers not-" She began worriedly, expression tense.
"They're fine." Steven sulked, secretly thrilled, "She's just being stubborn."
"I just want to clean it and make sure!" She insisted vehemently. Pearl relaxed, setting the supplies on his nightstand. She knew from years of raising Steven the half Gem was likely healed. But it was good to see someone else worry and dote about him for a change.
"He'll be fine. But I'll just leave these here anyway." Pearl managed with incredible difficulty.
"Thanks Pearl." The librarian smiled. Pearl retreated back down the stairs and the librarian grabbed the washcloth and dunked it in the water bowl.
"Shirt off please." She demanded clinically, pleased her voice didn't crack at the request.
"No way. I'm telling you there's nothing to worry about." He insisted, flush rising.
"Then you should have no issue showing me!"
"That is not what I have the problem with." He flushed hotly.
"We're both adults here." She insisted. Steven was well aware of that. She was undaunted.
"Steven… Please?" She asked worriedly. It was her change in tone that gave him pause. He could see the slight hints of vulnerability, the worry.
"Fine." He sighed, raising his arms. Her hands gripped the bottom hem of his black t-shirt and she tugged it up and over his head. Steven felt his blush burn red, face close to her jaw as she weaved with the motion in and out of his personal space.
Embarrassment ebbed as he watched her, fascinated as she dunked the washcloth into the bowl and began running it along his right shoulder. The tacky blood and sand melted away at the motion. Steven exhaled shakily, feeling her fingers glide over his skin through the wet terrycloth.
He always healed and the Gems had long since quit worrying themselves.
Subsequently he hadn't had someone tend to a wound, touch him like this in years.
"It is healed, I can't believe it." She marveled, shock apparent. The washcloth plopped in the bowl again and this time he felt just her bare fingers on his clean skin, smoothing up and down right where a hole should have been. There was no wound, no newly healed pucker, not even a scar. She glanced up at him, surprised to find him watching her intently.
"I told you. A wound that size is nothing." He promised breezily. From anyone else it would have sounded arrogant. From Steven it was reassuring. Her fingers trailed from the junction of his shoulder, touch changing to a caress. Her feather light touch smoothed to circle the swell of his bicep on autopilot and he stiffened.
The librarian felt her mouth go dry, their situation beginning to dawn on her.
"I-I'm sorry… I should um…"
"It's fine." He assured her hurriedly, his voice high and strangled. "More than fine."
Color bloomed in her cheeks, but her hands weren't able to stop. She recalled the battle, the way he'd looked fighting for her. Her eyes skittered over his bare chest, at the smattering of dark curls, the defined pecs trailing down the rounded hint of abdominals, and finally to the pink flat top of the diamond where a belly button would be.
He was staring with rapt attention at the appreciation on her face as her gaze raked down him. His brown eyes shifted molten with a word that could only be hunger. Her gaze met his.
"We're turning in, night you two!" Garnet's voice floated up the stairs.
"Night." Steven called back to them deceptively cheerful, gaze never leaving hers.
"You should go before the sixth phase of the temple door." He warned her quietly.
"Why?" She asked him simply. His control slipped and his eyes burned pink.
"I'm giving you a very short window for retreat as a courtesy. If you stay, I'm not holding back." He warned her.
Three opens, three closes. His restraint could last that long, but only just.
Her eyes widened, breathing hitched. Steven stayed frozen and counted.
One, Two.
He expected her to scramble for the stairs in a burst of activity. She wasn't moving.
Three, Four.
Her hands were still on him. He could be imagining it but he could swear they even tightened.
Five, Six.
He wasted no time sliding across the bed, crashing into her body, against her mouth before she could change her mind. His hand slid up and clenched into her hair tightly, his opposite ghosting over her hip bone before digging in there. He held her to him where there was no escape, his thoughts racing from how she had looked at him, that she hadn't left and had wanted this.
"Steven…" She breathed pleadingly when she managed to surface for air. He moaned lowly at the desperate sound of his name, tongue brushing past hers in total abandon. He cradled her jaw, eyes drifting closed as he threw caution to the wind and indulged himself in tasting her. It was a cocktail of bliss but it only deepened, a burgeoning unnamed craving. He chased after it in her mouth, determined to find the answer but was only left with more wanting. He could feel her hands running up his bare chest, gripping his shoulder, his neck. She did not shy away, meeting him kiss for kiss, just as hungry. And when she did pull back slightly, it was only to nibble and suck at his bottom lip.
"This doesn't change anything, I'm still mad at you." She protested weakly, climbing into his lap. Her fingers dug into his hair, clinging to his thick curls. Her thighs straddled his hips but gave them space, not giving them the contact he knew they both burned for.
"I'm sorry." He breathed against her lips, running his along her jaw line. They slipped lower, falling down her neck, "I'm sorry… You can yell at me all you want after this." He murmured, tasting the slight salt of the ocean on her skin. "But I need this right now."
I need you.
Between his burning jealousy over Lars, the second appearance of Copper… He bit down lightly where neck met shoulder causing her to gasp against him. He pulled the injury into his mouth with a suck, healing the broken skin in a flurry of pink magic that left her panting and twisting in his lap. She felt her abdominal muscles tighten at the sensation, a desperate pang of want spearing through her.
"Oh god…" She gasped, "Is your healing magic always like this?" She breathed shakily.
"Like what?" He murmured distractedly, completely lost in her. Pink Diamond had experienced something similar to this with her when he had dreamwalked. Steven could recall the sensations, though they had been doubly muted by both his Diamond and the dreams. Now he was adrift and inundated, drowning in her.
This… this was so much more.
His lips ran across the hollow of her throat, her collar bone.
"I… Ah!… I'm pretty sure it's an aphrodisiac or something? I've never felt anything like it." She admitted, grip clenching him. "It's driving me crazy."
He let out a whine of multiple notes at this revelation, his brain going haywire with the knowledge he was reducing her to a trembling mess, fingers digging into her hips. She rocked against him, lips finding his once more. There was teeth now and she bit his bottom lip, an angry clash of wills as she moved and danced with him. It wasn't gentle or tender or sweet. But it made him feel.
He could feel the heat of her skin, the true sense of touch. All of his senses felt heightened, tuned in to her and alive, so very alive he couldn't bring himself to stop.
"I can't stop touching you." He breathed helplessly, feeling like he was on autopilot as his hands slid back to grip her butt and pull her against him. He should have felt more panic about this but instead he watched from beneath her, fascinated with the breathy gasp she made as he forced her hips to grind down on his own. His own breaths came in pants at the sensation of feeling the delicious ebb of pressure rubbing against his arousal.
"Steven…" She whimpered pleadingly, and he swallowed the sound, kissing her slower now, trying to tamper the inferno between them but fueling it instead.
"The destabilizers in my pocket." He panted as she pulled back from his lips. Her fingers were in his hair, hand on his shoulder, traveling upwards. He nearly groaned. The heat of her touch felt incredible on his bare skin. This had spiraled well out of his control but he reveled in it.
"You have to… You have to…" He lost his train of thought, feeling her suck gently at his bottom lip.
He dissolved into a desperate whine, need clenching within him.
"No. You're not hurting me. You're… oh god, Steven!" She moaned, head tipping back.
Something in him snapped at the sight of her bliss and clear need for him. He needed this too but she was begging, begging him so sweetly.
If she wouldn't stop him there was really only one other course of action. He zoned in on a new goal. He'd make her feel so much pleasure she couldn't possibly hate him.
He shifted them, pulling her back and down onto her side, back against his chest. His arm curled around her lower hips, stronger than iron and unmovable. She panted and he could feel her squirm against him, her butt rubbing against his arousal.
"You… are the most stubborn, most infuriating girl I've ever met." He breathed into her neck with a hint of resentment, cheeks heating as he murmured into her skin. "Why do you fight me on everything? Why don't you ever do as you're told for once?"
"Because… you'd hate it. Too boring." She trailed hazily, earning a dark laugh from him.
She was right of course, he realized bitterly.
"Then I'll just have to be creative." A wicked gleam rising to his gaze.
"Tell me to stop." He practically growled at her, his gaze on her expression intently as his fingers crept downwards, slipping into the front of her pants. He hesitated for a moment, prepared to withdraw if she showed any signs of panic. She made no move to object and he zeroed in, fingers brushing her clit before beginning a circle, a rhythmic brush that coaxed her hips into opening wider for his hand. Her eyes fluttered closed and she sank back against him in surrender.
"Tell me that you don't want this. That you don't want me…" He trailed off into a groan, his fingers slipping farther down and into her wetness. She was soaked for him. He'd never done this before but he listened with a laser focus, varying his pressure and his speed experimentally until he found the pace that had her shaking. She let out a needy sob and his fingers increased their speed.
"No!" She hissed passionately. "No, no - Yes! - I want you, Steven…" She was practically trembling. She didn't know what was the right answer anymore only that she wanted this and she'd say anything to keep his hands on her. Triumph and happiness bled through Steven. He swiveled his wrist, driving two fingers into her core. She jolted against him and he clenched his jaw.
He began a steady rhythm that had her hips canting and rocking to meet his hand.
"Holy shit… Oh, stars… Steven." She barely recognized the sound of her own voice, it was so messy and needy. Steven covered her mouth with his hand, muffling her cries as he set about playing her like she was his new favorite instrument.
"Shhh.." He breathed soothingly into her neck, "Don't want the Gems coming back out to this, do we?" He chuckled softly, placing a lingering gentle kiss on the shell of her ear.
"Or is that what you want? Do you want an audience? People to watch how much of a mess you are for me?" She writhed against him and he grunted before chuckling darkly, enamored with the pleading whines she made for him. This was exquisite.
She shook her head frantically against his hand, making noises of protest. He practically sighed in pleasure, "Mhm… That's it, Stardust. It's all for me, isn't it?" He coaxed her, pupils pointing.
He could feel his Diamond side studying her with just as rapt attention, how every motion he made, every slightest tweak of angle or pacing would flicker expressively across her face. He was fairly certain this was his new obsession.
The librarian was overwhelmed, voice frozen in her throat. She felt like all of her nerve endings were a live wire, pushing her into mindless ecstasy as he overloaded them with every stroke of his hand. She was blown out on pleasure, her vision hazy and desperate as her eyes locked on his.
"Me… Only me." He couldn't tell anymore if he was telling her or assuring himself. She could feel him grinding against her, as he drove her to the brink matching the pace of his fingers.
"Yes. Yes! Steven… Please, whatever you want… Just don't stop. Please don't stop. I'm so close!" She almost cried into his wrist. His hand covered her mouth again and he held her tighter to him, kissing frantically against her neck. His fingers sped up and he bit her shoulder. He drug his tongue across it slowly, magic tingling, and the broken sound she made muffled into his hand at the sensation was perfection.
"Stars, I want you so much. You're beautiful. So beautiful…" She shook and he felt her legs tremble as she fell apart against him. He could feel the rhythmic flutter of her orgasm around his fingers draw out as she crashed over the edge with a shudder, gasping. His gaze bled pink as he watched it happen. He wanted to burn the look of desperate bliss on her face into his memory forever. It was enough to push him over the brink after her and he shook, coming in his pants as he ground against her.
Reluctantly he pulled his hand from her pants, releasing her mouth as well. There was a bit of fumbling as he found some discarded garment to wipe his hand clean on.
He sighed, feeling her melt back against him. She tipped her head back and he kissed her again this time long and slow. The light from his gem surged bright before fading away as he pulled back.
"How do you feel?" She asked worriedly, twisting in his grip to face him. Her hand slid down the front of his chest and he shook his head, grasping her hand in his.
"Don't worry about me. I'm fine." He assured her, "You?"
"Is that even a question?" She murmured, burying her face into his shoulder with a breathy sigh of contentment. She was blissed out after possibly the strongest orgasm she'd ever had in her life. He chuckled lowly at this, unable to stop the sense of pride he felt in his chest.
"How 'bout your Diamond side? Everything okay?" She asked lightly, peeking up at him.
"Better." He stated softly, surprised to find it was true. He flushed, "I think… Connie might have been right." He admitted hesitantly. She laughed.
"Of course she is. She's right about everything." The librarian grumbled.
Steven murmured, "She was wrong about something though. Now that I know touching works I don't think a week locked in here with you is enough."
The librarian flushed, "Does this mean you'll keep touching me?"
Steven lifted an eyebrow, "Does this mean I'm forgiven?" He countered.
She smiled wryly, "It's certainly a good start, Universe. Although I could always use more convincing." She waggled an eyebrow.
He laughed, fingers brushing over her cheek. His brown eyes seemed to soften, melting fondly as his fingertips caressed her cheekbone.
"I really am sorry, you know." He murmured to her quietly.
"I know… I'm sorry too. We both said a lot of things, in the moment." She conceded, voice barely above a whisper. He nodded slightly, pensive.
"I don't want to fight you… This… anymore." He admitted wearily. Her nose brushed his.
"Good. Because I don't want to either." She murmured softly before letting out a yawn right in his face. He laughed, the sound teetering on a giggle and she looked embarrassed.
"You need rest." He cupped her face in his hand, fingers sliding behind her hair to the nape of her neck before tracing down her spine. She shuddered, a full bodied thing, bliss flooding her face openly at his touch. Steven's eyes widened.
"I can't if you keep doing that."
He swallowed, pulling his hand back. If she hadn't been so tired, so spent from her power burst, training, their activities earlier…
He wanted to spend hours, learning every inch of her and studying how she reacted to his touch.
"Sleep." He whispered. "There's time for that later." He assured her, but mainly himself. She settled in against his chest with a sigh, leg curling to hook around him. His fingers brushed her hair back and he stroked it soothingly.
He'd craved this, feeling her wrapped around him. Relief sunk into him deep down to his gem. She was here with him, safe with him in this moment. He began a gentle hum, a soft melody of notes he'd been working on that had her sighing louder. She could feel the vibrations in his chest as he experimented with the sounds lazily, trying to find an order he liked.
She drifted off to sleep in his embrace, the first deep sleep she'd had in weeks. Slowly the notes hung longer and longer in the air, measured rests becoming sustained ones.
Steven floated in to dreams behind her, an aching peace settling through him.