Steven ran his fingers through his hair, making sure to get rid of any tangles or knots he found along the way. He inspected his reflection, and frowned at the dark rings under his eyes. Connie would be here soon and he wanted to look presentable, like he hadn't spent the last few days wallowing alone in his room.

"I can do this." He contorted his lips into an awkward imitation of a smile, and kept the strained expression up for a few seconds before sighing and allowing it to fall lifeless. It was no use. Lying had never been his strong suit, and Connie was far too perceptive to fall for his cheerful facade, especially after the incident on the beach.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he froze. No doubt, it was Connie reminding him of his upcoming appointment at the hospital. Not really somewhere he was eager to go, but she had insisted and he had eventually relented. It would be fine. He had faced things that were much worse than a hospital before.

He took in a deep breath and focused on calming his nerves. He flashed himself another grin, this one slightly more convincing than the last. Yes, there was nothing to worry about. Everything would be just fin—

A loud crack pierced the air. Deep fissures branched out on the surface of the bathroom mirror, distorting his reflection until it was something unrecognizable. His hair looked shaggy and unkempt, crimson eyeshadow standing out against a pale face. His jacket was black with yellow trimmings, a blood-red Diamond in the place of his usual gold star.

Blinking, he looked down at himself only to see that nothing had changed. He was still in his pink jacket and jeans. It was his reflection that was different. He leaned in closer, trying to get a better look when his reflection did the impossible and winked at him. He jumped, leaping away from the mirror, heart hammering against his chest.

"I did it," his reflection cheered in a voice identical to his own. "I finally did it!"

Another voice coming from inside the mirror spoke, "The connection is unstable. Attempting a transfer now wou—"

"Shut up! Just do it already."

The mirror glowed a soft white, growing brighter and brighter with each passing second. Steven turned away, screwing his eyes shut when the light became too blinding to look at directly. There was a loud boom, and a shockwave ripped through the small bathroom, sending him crashing against the nearest wall.

He landed in a crumpled heap on the cold floor, ears ringing and head throbbing. He groaned, blinking away the dark spots that dotted his vision. The sound of glass crunching under boots steadily grew louder until it was right next to him.

"Nice bathroom." Chills ran down Steven's spine at the sound of his own voice. He must have been going insane. Reflections didn't speak, couldn't speak. It should have been impossible, but the figure looming over him proved otherwise. Someway, somehow his reflection had come to life.

Before he could properly wrap his head around the situation, a black boot slammed into his chest, leaving him breathless and in pain. He tried to get up, but the boot kept him pinned to the floor.

"Get off me!" Steven grabbed onto the boot and pushed, his arms shaking under the weight of his attacker. His reflection was strong, really strong. He was using his full strength, and he could barely lift the boot an inch off his chest.

His near twin peered down at him, a sharp and twisted grin on his face. "You won't mind if I borrow your clothes, right?"

He wasn't given a chance to respond. A sickening crack pierced the air as the boot slammed against his head.

Despite spending a large portion of her childhood in and around hospitals, Connie never grew a fondness for them. The cold white walls, the eerie silence that seemed to cling to every room, and the strong smell of disinfectant that permeated the air made her stomach churn.

To distract herself, she glanced over at Steven who sat stone-faced and stiff in one of the many uncomfortable plastic chairs that littered the waiting room. His eyes were glued to a pamphlet as he slowly leafed through it. He had been uncharacteristically quiet since they had arrived, nodding and giving one word answers to everything she said.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, breaking the silence.

He turned a page. "Fine."

She frowned. Steven didn't even look up from the pamphlet which, upon closer inspection, she could see was upside down, and in Spanish.

"It's okay if you're a little nervous." she said, attributing his silence to their location. He had been very resistant to the idea of visiting a doctor, after all. "Believe it or not, I don't really like hospitals that much either."

He paused mid page turn, his eyebrows squishing together.

"Hospital?" he mumbled under his breath so softly she barely even heard it. She waited for him to repeat himself or elaborate, but he did neither and instead turned the page of the pamphlet he was 'reading'.

Ok, so that was really weird.

Then again everything about Steven had been really weird lately. From the random swelling, to the glowing pink skin, and the…

"Connie... will you marry me?"

Connie's face flushed. Her cheeks burned bright red. Thankfully, the door to the hospital room opened before she could dwell on the memory.

Mom walked out into the hallway closely followed by a short, chubby businessman. She was reading something off her clipboard while the man absentmindedly nodded in agreement.

"... and be sure to monitor the amount of sodium in your diet," she advised, but the businessman didn't seem to be paying her any mind, merely humming in agreement before sauntering off toward the direction of the exit. She let out a sigh of frustration, scribbling something down on her clipboard before finally turning to greet them.

Steven remained seated. His eyes were glazed over, gazing past the pamphlet at something only he could see.

"Steven?" Mom called, frowning at his lack of response.

"He's just a little nervous," she explained while trying to fend off her own growing concern. She placed a worried hand on his shoulder. "Steven?"

He jumped. The plastic chair scraped against the floor as he rushed to place some distance between the two of them. His eyes snapped back into focus, the fog that clouded his vision lifting and giving way to a fierce glare.

Connie's head jerked back, breath hitching in her throat. Steven's eyes had narrowed into menacing slits that pierced through her very soul. She blinked, and the silent fury in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a bored indifference. Had she simply imagined it?

"Sorry." He flashed her a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Aside from raising an eyebrow, Mom did not comment on his strange outburst. "Yes, well, let's get you to an examination table," she said, before turning on her heel and disappearing into the room.

Connie pushed aside her worries and moved to follow after her, stopping when she noticed Steven had yet to move from his spot. Like a statue, he remained emotionless and unmoving.

"Steven?" she called, a tinge of worry leaking into her tone. "Is… everything all right?"

"I'm fine." He flashed her another strained smile.

Her frown deepened. There was definitely something he wasn't telling her. She didn't want to pry and risk making him uncomfortable, but she also hated being unable to help her best friend.

"You can tell me anything," she said."You know that, right?"

Steven responded with a slight and almost imperceptible tilting of his head. He was staring at her the way one would stare at a particularly difficult puzzle. There was also something swirling in those brown eyes of his, an emotion she couldn't identify.

Whatever the case, it was clear he wouldn't be telling her anything. Instead, he plastered on another fake grin and uttered more reassurances. "I'm fine," he said. "Everything's fine."

Connie grabbed his hand and threaded their fingers together, hesitating slightly when he stiffened. Steven didn't pull away, but she got the impression the contact wasn't very welcome. Was he mad at her because of the incident on the beach?

"I… I'm here if you ever need to talk," she said, locking gazes with him. "I mean it."

Sadly, Steven remained silent, and Connie looked away in defeat after a few moments. She sighed and led him into the room where Mom was patiently waiting.

His eyes scanned the room with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. Connie led him over to an examination table and gestured for him to sit, which he did after a moment of hesitation. She explained the situation to her mom who was confident she could find the cause of his strange swelling episodes.

She sent Steven a reassuring smile. "I'm sure it'll all be fine."

Steven's face was an emotionless wall. The only indication that he'd heard her was the stiff nod he gave. She spouted a couple more reassurances, making sure to keep her smile up before excusing herself under the guise of giving him some privacy. Her smile fell the instant she stepped out into the hallway.

She pulled out her phone and began to dial Mr. Universe.

The shrill sound of scraping metal pierced the air, clearing the remaining tendrils of sleep from Steven's foggy mind. The cold hard floor made for a horrible bed and aggravated his already aching back. He sat up, his head throbbing in protest to the sudden movement, and did a quick scan of his surroundings.

A single ray of light illuminated the otherwise dark room. Panic blanketed his mind as he struggled to recall what had happened to him. He had been getting ready for his trip to the hospital, and then…

Shattered glass and deranged laughter.

A smirking stranger who wore his face.

A black boot crashing down on his head.

He'd been attacked.

Steven shot up off the floor, summoning his shield as he readied himself for a fight. He peered into the darkness that surrounded him, searching for his violent reflection. Once he was certain no attack was forthcoming, he dispelled his shield and focused on the ear-splitting sound echoing throughout the room.

Stumbling blindly, he headed in the direction where the noise was the loudest, nearly falling on his face when he tripped on a large pink bag. The bag—a first aid kit—Steven realized, had a silhouette of a human plastered on its front. Zipping it open revealed an assortment of bandages, pills, and other medical supplies. Thinking it useful, he carried it with him as he continued toward the source of the noise.

Even in the dark, Steven was able to make out the faint outline of a person. At least, he hoped it was a person. Still aching and bruised, he wasn't equipped to fight anything in that moment.

"Hello?" he called, pausing as he waited for a response.

The noise stopped for a split second, and then resumed much louder than it had been before. Steven winced as the unpleasant sound aggravated his pounding head. He took long strides to quickly close the distance between himself and the stranger, hoping to stop the noise before he went completely deaf.

Finally reaching the corner, Steven rapidly brought a hand up to cover his nose. His eyes could do nothing to filter out the grotesque sight of smeared red across the wall. His stomach heaved.

Amongst the blood lay a human slumped on the floor, leaning against the wall for support, and a jagged dagger securely in their grasp. There was a slight tremble to their arm as they slashed at the wall, slowly dragging their blade against the already damaged surface. The resulting high pitched tone assaulted his aching ears.

"Hey…"

There was no response. He placed a hesitant hand on the stranger's shoulder, his eyes never leaving the sharp blade.

They froze, knuckles turning white as their grip on the dagger tightened. "Go. Away."

The voice gave him pause, it was one he would recognize anywhere. "Connie?"

The stranger finally whipped around to face him. Her hair was shorter and she wore a scowl instead of her usual smile, but it was definitely Connie.

"Leave me al—"

The words died in her throat, and the dagger clattered onto the ground.

Connie's face twisted in a grimace. She lurched forward, falling onto her knees as violent coughs racked her body. Steven was at her side in an instant, reaching to help her up. She choked out a string of harsh words as she shoved him away and forced herself to her feet. Her breaths came in ragged gasps as she glowered. "Leave me alone."

The metallic odor of fresh blood suddenly grew a hundred times stronger. Connie's blood, he realized, heart sinking in horror.

"Connie, you're bleeding!" he cried.

"No shit, Sherlock," Connie seethed through the hacking.

Steven blinked at her, eyes wide. For a moment he had no idea how to respond, then, she spat out blood and he was once again at her side.

With a thundering heart and shaky hands, Steven pulled the bandages and a small bottle of antiseptic out of the bag. The supplies were immediately slapped out of his hands. The bandages fell into the pool of blood, becoming a soaking red mess, and the bottle rolled far out of his reach.

He stared, skin still stinging from the hit. "Connie?"

Connie reached over, a pained expression on her face as she grabbed the first aid kit. She chucked it across the room. It's contents scattered all over the floor and disappeared into the darkness.

She sent him a fierce glare, her eyes boring through his skull. "Leave me alone."

"Leave you alone? Connie, you..." He bit his lip, eyes darting to the pool of blood quickly growing around her. He needed to do something, and soon. "Let me help you."

Connie laughed, a harsh and mocking sound. "Since when do you care?"

"How could you even ask that?" Steven clenched his jaw and took in a deep breath. "Of course I care. I love you, Connie."

Connie's eyes went wide, and she stared at Steven as if seeing him for the first time.

"Please." He shot her a pleading look. "Let me help you."

She looked away. "Whatever."

Taking that as permission, Steven wasted no time and searched for the wound. Lifting up the hem of her bloodied shirt revealed a deep gash running across her stomach. He winced at the jagged wound. What had happened to her?

The medical supplies were long gone, but he still had his healing spit. His mouth was dry from worry, but he managed to wet his palm regardless. Connie hissed in pain when he pressed his hand against the wound.

Connie shoved him, glaring daggers. "What the fu—"

She fell silent, watching in amazement as her skin stitched itself together, leaving nothing behind but a trail of dried blood.

"You.. healed me?"

Before Steven could reply, a sharp pain erupted in his head. He dropped to the floor, his body bucking and convulsing. The pain was unbearable. His skin glowed a soft pink, illuminating the dark room. Connie rushed to his side, shouting his name, and shaking him.

A dark, inky shadow began to creep over his vision. Steven's eyes closed shut as he allowed sleep to take him.

When Priyanka handed Steven a pen, he didn't just take it, he studied it, turning it over and over between his fingers as though looking for hidden traps. He filled out the form in silence, his free hand clenched and unclenched at his side, knuckles turning white from the effort.

"If you don't mind me asking, who's your GP?"

Steven gave her a blank stare.

"You know, your general practitioner? Your regular doctor?"

Steven blinked.

"You have been to the doctor before, right?"

Steven paused, then slowly shook his head.

She would have a talk with his father later, Priyanka decided. A growing sense of shock washed over her, as she looked over the paperwork Steven had filled out. Illegible nonsense was scrawled all over the forms. She set it aside, deciding not to comment on the strange doodles.

"Get undressed, and let's get you into a hospital gown." She offered him a gown, but Steven made no move to grab it. "Steven?"

"No." His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Priyanka took his response in stride, attributing his odd behavior to fear. "I can't continue with the physical examination if you don't change."

Steven relented, slipping his jacket off at a glacial pace, looking like he'd rather be doing anything else. With nothing left to cover his arms, a long jagged scar became visible. It snaked down his forearm, and the skin around it was discolored, tinted an unnatural blue.

She gasped and reached out to examine the scar, but Steven leapt off the examination table before she could.

"Don't touch me," he said, a quiet fire in his voice.

Priyanka raised her hands in a placating gesture. Steven eyed her warily, but didn't react. She took a step forward, and he immediately scrambled backwards, placing as much distance between them as possible. When his back hit a wall, and he realized he had nowhere to run, Steven panicked. His eyes went wide and fearful, as he scanned the room for a means of escape. His breaths began to come out in short erratic puffs.

"Steven." She said his name slowly, as if to make sure he was listening. "I need you to take slow and deep breaths."

Her words fell on deaf ears. Steven's gaze passed right through her, his eyes distant. She placed a steadying hand on his shoulder, hoping to bring him back to reality, but Steven's demeanor quickly shifted.

His soft features hardened into a scowl, lips curling back into a snarl. "Don't fucking touch me!"

Connie ended the call, feeling like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Mr. Universe would be here soon. Hopefully, having his dad around would make the situation easier on Steven.

The muffled sounds of distant shouting cut her relief short. Worried, she began to make her way back to Steven, gradually picking up speed as the shouts grew louder.

"... stay away from me!" Steven's voice was frantic.

"Try to calm down, Steven," Mom said.

Connie flung the door open, and stood frozen in shock. A glowing pink dome continued to shrink in around Mom, threatening to crush her. Steven watched, seemingly unconcerned. He muttered to himself, clutching at his head. Connie had no idea what was going on, but she definitely knew she needed to put a stop to it.

"Steven?"

He froze, dropping the dome in surprise. He slowly turned to face her, his eyes glazed over and confused. He clutched at his arm, pulling it protectively against his chest.

"What's going on?" Connie began to approach, stopping when Steven shot her a glare.

"Stay away from me!" he barked, and immediately collapsed onto his knees. "That's an order!"

"Take deep breaths, Steven," Mom advised, keeping her distance. "You're safe."

"Steven, please..." Her voice took on a pleading tone. "Tell me what's wrong, let me help you."

Steven ignored her, keeping his gaze glued to the floor.

Connie stepped forward, cautiously offering her hand to him. Steven looked from Connie to her mother and back again, as if confused as to why either was offering to help him.

"It's okay." She gently nudged him, trying to take his hand and help him to his feet.

Steven slowly reached out to her, like a wild animal being tamed by a caring zoo keeper. She helped him up, careful not to alarm him with any sudden movements. The three of them walked slowly to the examination table. Connie's concerned eyes remained glued to his face, searching for any indication of what troubled him.

Mom handed Steven his jacket, making sure not to invade his personal space. He rushed to put it on, and in the process uncovered the arm he'd been clutching. Connie's heart sank. A large teardrop-shaped scar dripped down his forearm. Before she could ask about it, Steven turned a bright pink. He shook his head, as if to rid himself of the color, and muttered some harsh words.

"Steven?"

He abruptly fell silent, slumping over, completely motionless.

Author's Note:

Inspired by ET, a character on flynnaw00's Tumblr blog.

Chapter titles are based off "Lost in Thoughts, All Alone", a song from Fire Emblem Fates.

Cover done by paw_pao

Updates will be really slow

This fic takes place during Growing Pains.