Admin Notes:
Fanfic has been sleeping on the fact that Adult Steven is going to be like the perfect romantic lead. So I wrote it myself. Be the change you want to see in the internet.
The librarian is not named and is female presenting. It's you with long hair now. All other features, size, and color intentionally left ambiguous. Have fun.
Also, it's mentioned in the story, but all human and hybrid characters are mid-twenties.
I Connie
This was all Connie's fault. Steven groaned as he hit his mattress face first, stifling his pink cheeks in his bedding.
"Steven, is everything still okay up there?" He heard Pearl call out from the living quarters down the stairs.
"Fine!" He groaned out from his pillow, willing the rosy hue to dissipate from his body, to regain a sense of calm. He turned his mind to the breathing rhythm Garnet had taught him, to the assurances of his therapist that he was in control… But oh wasn't that the problem? That he wanted control? Again the pink surge, emanating a glow when he thought of her and Steven curled in on himself, around his gem. He closed his eyes, willing the telltale light to stop, for the song in his blood to cease.
He should be better at tampering these feelings. He was a grown man, or as Amethyst liked to mock him, a young adult. Yet here he was, yet again wrestling the half of him that was Pink Diamond back for control of his body once more. Except this time the problem wasn't rage. No, rage he could handle. He'd traveled the entire country sorting that particular mess of emotions out. He'd been seeing Doctor Bright for years now.
This wasn't rage. He'd never felt anything like this before.
This was Connie's fault. After all, she was the one who'd introduced him to her.
He felt a pink hue overtake his limbs once more at the thought of her and he shuddered, biting back a groan.
It had all started when Pearl asked him to drop some books off at the library. He hadn't thought much about them at first and really, he'd only been half listening. Connie was waist deep in her dissertation but she was coming back to Beach City. Despite the vast resources of her own university's library, Buddwick Public Library was the library Connie knew best. She knew the inventory like the back of her hand. She was coming back to access some obscure title on politics and Steven was going to meet her. It was a two birds with one stone situation.
He hadn't thought much until he saw the giant cardboard box with thick dusty tomes, scrolls, and leather bound copies brimming out of the top. He squinted at the titles, all of which some variation of Gem glyphs.
"Pearl, these are Gem books not library books." He pointed out, confused.
"Steven for the love of… Were you not listening to a word I said? They're part of Little Homeworld's community cultural exchange initiative. Buddwick's librarian is sending some essentials on human culture for Little Homeworld's collection back with you. So don't forget to drop these off and pick those up around seeing Connie." Pearl told him pointedly. Steven flushed guiltily but waved his hand. He couldn't help that he was distracted!
"Yeah, yeah. I'll remember." Steven assured her, shutting the trunk to the Dondai.
When he reached Buddwick, he'd gone in without the books. There was no rush after all.
Connie had been seated in her favorite chair towards the back, the one she proudly bragged to him had memorized her butt grooves. He'd breezed in and past the front desk without so much as a glance.
"Oh hey Steven!" Connie sighed, looking up abruptly from the page and giving him a two fingered salute of a wave.
"Hi Connie." He whispered, happy to see her. Her hair had grown back out longer in her mid twenties but she was still the same old Connie Maheswaran. She beamed at him and he collapsed next to her feet, the position less comfortable than he remembered as a kid.
"I won't be long." Connie assured him, eyes flicking over a page. She balanced a notebook against her knee and scribbled a note. Steven raised his brows but said nothing. He'd heard that one before.
He let out a sigh, his own leg jittering a bouncy rhythm. He was anxious for some reason.
Was he nervous about seeing Connie? No, that wasn't right. They video chatted a few times a week. And she was just his best friend. Sure, he had once upon a time hoped for more with her when he was a child. She was his first friend and his first crush. And his first girlfriend. They had tried to date. But the love that he held for Connie, when they were Stevonnie, it was a love that was pure. It was chaste. It was something delicate and soft, familial. When they had tried to be more it was missing a fire, a passion. It had felt wrong to force that relationship into the sexual. They had both admitted it felt like kissing a sibling and had gone back to being what they were best, ultimate jam buds.
"How's the paper coming along?" He asked, chancing a glance up.
Connie had started ruffling her hair as she read. That was never a good sign.
"Fine, fine. Just a few gaps I need to fill. I actually finished a draft of it. The librarian's looking it over. Bless her." She mumbled.
"That old lady's still around?" He asked, rubbing the back of his head.
"Nah, she passed away last year. Someone new took over." Connie shrugged.
Steven raised up a bit stealing a peek towards the front desk and immediately froze.
Looking back, Steven was fairly certain he made a sound that mangled between 'Gosh' and 'Ungh.'
What Connie heard was: "Gunghhh."
At the noise her eyes raised from her book. Steven had his eyes locked on the librarian and his whole body had flashed momentarily full rose pink.
A slow smirk spread across Connie's face as her gaze flicked between the oblivious librarian and Steven, who looked on with wonder, like he had found something shiny.
"Like what you're seeing, Universe?" She asked, a slow grin forming.
"She… She's uh… She's new." Steven managed to spit out, still not looking away. He had never seen so much hair on anyone other than Rose Quartz, a flowing mass that was piled on top of her head in a twisted hive of waves with what looked like pencils for hair sticks. She had large oversized octagon frames that balanced on the edge of her freckled nose. She was wearing red lipstick and twirling a red pen in her fingers like a baton as she flipped through the pages in front of her.
All of his anxious energy seemed to flow back into him with a snap, making his body flush pink. He had seen giant women, three armed women, and women that could fit in his hand. But he'd never seen a woman like her. He stared at her with stars in his eyes.
"Who?"
Connie stated her name as a question, amused. "She's been in town for oh… four months? Took them forever to hire someone. She's good people." Connie shrugged. "How do I not even live here anymore and I know this?"
"Because you know everything." Steven finally recovered, only partially joking.
"Hmph!"
"What do you know about her?" Steven urged.
"Mhm let's see… She's a recent grad and I think she's a writer? She hasn't mentioned much about her family but I don't think she's a relative of anyone we know. I'm pretty sure she's moved in to the old Hershel cabin on the other side of the wharf?" Connie stated, half her face hiding behind her notebook as she joined Steven in staring.
"What else?" He asked faintly, distracted as he watched the librarian's eyebrows furrow. She didn't like something she'd read. She nibbled on the cap of her pen, making notations here and there.
"She's a Capricorn." Connie stated emphatically.
"Really?" He mused, unsure what that meant.
"No. I made that up." Connie snickered and Steven ripped his gaze from the librarian long enough to glare at his best friend.
"Connie!"
A strong shush rang out from the table next to them and the librarian looked up at this and in their direction. Steven felt his breath catch.
Her eyes. They shined like gemstones in light. She looked at him and he felt heat pool in his cheeks and in the bottom of his stomach. The librarian's gaze shifted to Connie and her expression brightened. She motioned her closer excitedly.
"Come on, Romeo. I'll introduce you." Connie stated, rising from her chair.
"Nooo! Connie…" Steven warned her, his voice trailing. A slow smirk was settling in on his best friend's face. It was the face she made when she was laying the trap for a practical joke. For when she ate the last of the ice cream but handed him the tub anyway. For when she got tickets for Dogcopter 9 early and surprised him.
"Connie!" The panic rose in his voice as he scrambled after her.
She beat him to the front desk and by the time he's tripped and stumbled over his gangly legs and uncooperative feet it was too late.
"… and you should meet him! This is my friend, Steven Universe." Connie practically chirped.
"Hello." She introduced herself and Steven felt the heat in his stomach slide lower, wrapping itself tight around his gem. He could swear there were constellations in her eyes.
Oh no. He couldn't stop himself from flashing pink once more. He prayed the ground would open and swallow him whole. Her mouth fell open.
"Did you just... Wait a minute… Steven Universe… You're that Steven Universe?"
"Who?" He heard himself ask, not wanting to look away from her but also desperately needing to get away from her. He could feel his powers going haywire.
"Aren't you the guy that stopped the alien invasion? I'm pretty sure I heard your interview on the colony here in Beach City on NPR." She said thoughtfully. Steven couldn't form words, excited he had just learned something new. She was a talk radio listener. She had tiny anime figures surrounding her desktop monitor. There were doodles on post-it notes and stuck around the phone. She had a brooch shaped like a leaf pinned to her sweater.
"Uh..." he replied eloquently.
"Oh you mean the Steven Universe who spent his childhood being a hero defending the Earth, then went to space and set up a new galactic order? That Steven Universe? Yeah, that's my best friend." Connie stated casually with a flippant wave of her hand. Her job here was clear - Enter ultimate wingwoman Connie Maheswaran.
"Connie!" Steven whined, his cheeks flushing pink. "It wasn't… It wasn't quite like that." He deflected modestly.
"That's incredible. I heard you were from here but I never thought…" the librarian trailed "Well I never thought I'd meet you myself." She smiled at him, the kind that lit up her entire face.
"Is he not what you pictured?" Connie asked slyly, eyes darting back and forth between them. "I assure you he is even more charismatic and good natured than Jack Spear made him out to be."
Steven groaned and buried his face in his hand, attempting to hide his blush. He was against violence but he was positively going to murder Connie after this. He heard the librarian's laughter, a full sound that reminded him of a melody he hadn't written yet.
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you then, Steven Universe." She reached her hand out and he reached out and took it. It was soft and warm in his grip and with a start he realized he was beginning to float.
"Oh!" He heard the librarian gasp, she stared up at him, the constellations more apparent. Orion, Cassiopeia. Up, up, he floated. He didn't let go of her hand but she broke eye contact to look around her frantically, her own gravity disappearing. Steven couldn't bring himself to let go. Instead of keeping him grounded, she began to float upwards with him.
"Is this how you greet everyone?" She asked a bit breathlessly, unable to stop the amusement from soaking into her features.
"No this is new." Steven murmured, "Well… The floating is old. A partner for it is new." He held her hand and pulled. She lifted off, bouncing off the top of the circulation desk and into mid air, green skirts billowing behind her.
"Steven, what's going on?" Connie asked nervously.
"I'm so sorry." He assured the librarian, actually feeling anything but, "I haven't lost control since I was a kid."
"No don't be. This is the coolest thing I've ever done." she gushed, the stars back in her eyes as she looked at him. She reached out and took his other hand. Steven blushed darkly.
"How are you doing this?"
"I'm half-Gem on my mother's side." He stated wryly, "It comes with... quirks."
"Steven! Should I call the fire department? Or the Gems?" Connie shouted up to him.
"We'll be fine. I'll get it together in a minute!" Steven yelled back down to her.
"At least we're indoors." The librarian muttered next to him. They were quickly floating up to the second floor of the library. "Please don't let go of me though." She flashed a shy glance up at him and Steven's gaze flickered into points.
"I won't." He assured her, pulling her up even with him and close to him with a tug. His arm slid around her waist and Steven couldn't stop the shudder that rolled through his body when she gripped him, hand twisting in his star shirt, her toes balancing on the tops of his feet. He was fully pink now, the blood rushing in his ears as her scent, something floral, invaded his nose.
In the back of his mind Steven knew he was losing his grip, should call for the Gems as Connie had suggested. Just as he knew the reason they were floating was because he wanted to be. He did not at his core want this to end, want her to let go. And she did not want him to let go of her, a darker part of his mind assured him. So they continued to float.
"Yeesh. I really should dust the top of these bookcases more often." She mumbled. He laughed lowly as she ran a finger through a high shelf as they floated upward past it.
"Steven are you sure about this? You're pink." Connie called up to him, doubt seeping into her voice.
"Fine! Don't worry." He called back down to her. His floating partner gripped him tighter. His blush burned hotter. He was never coming down.
"Is that not normal?" The librarian asked worriedly, glancing up at Steven. Even this close she was a head shorter than him, her head tilted back to see his expression clearly.
He wouldn't meet her eye now, "Last time I turned pink it was because I lost control of my anger. I don't feel that way now though so don't worry."
She hummed next to him, "Oh, so you're the incredible Hulk, huh?"
Steven smirked, "I know you're making fun of me but all I heard was you call me incredible."
It was the librarian's turn to blush now.
"Ugh Steven I'm calling the Gems!" Connie yelled up at him, fishing out her cell phone. "Hello, Pearl?"
Steven felt a slight tap at the top of his skull. They'd hit the ceiling.
"You're sure we're not going to plummet to our deaths?" She asked nervously. Steven curled his fingers into her side slightly, tightening his hold. He liked this, feeling her against him. He hadn't had someone cling to him like this, held someone like this in what felt like ever.
"You're safe with me." He murmured into the top of her hair. "Trust me."
She tipped her head back and stared up at him, contemplating, "You know what's crazy? I do."
And she smiled at him. It was a dazzling smile that made his gem glow. She gasped, staring downward at the pink light. He felt her fingers grip the edge of his shirt. She looked up at him quickly and he made no move to stop her so she lifted it. The pink stone where his belly button would be was flat with facets. Hands full, she wanted to touch it but knew that may be pushing her luck.
"What's with the glow?" She asked, head tilting curiously.
Steven avoided her gaze but his eyes brightened, eyes falling on the sky light.
"Pearl and the others are on their way!" Connie called up to him.
"I know you said you're thankful we're indoors but how would you like to change that?" He asked, a devious smile forming. He did not want to come down and it was likely the Gems would figure out a way to make him. At the very least they'd find a way to get her away from him and down to solid ground.
"Typically I avoid floating out into the city with strange men I've just met."
"Ah but what about half Gems?" Steven asked, waggling a brow at her. She laughed, that wonderful sound again that made him feel lighter. He didn't want this feeling to end.
"Oh, well when you put it like that…" she trailed, amusement apparent. He popped the latch and pushed the window open one handed. Her grip loosened and he slipped upward and through the opening, just barely manipulating his broad shoulders through. She hesitated however, "You're sure we won't just…keep floating upwards forever and suffocate in the atmosphere?"
"I've floated into space before. I can bubble us…erm magical barrier us.. if we get that far."
He could sense her apprehension and pressed, "Sort of hope we do though. The view is incredible."
The stars were back in her eyes again as she grinned at him. She maneuvered her way through the window after him and he pulled her up through the roof and into his grip once more. He heard her gasp as she floated there on the roof, the sunset an amalgam of pink, blues, purples across the rooftops of Beach City.
"This is beautiful." She breathed. "Hard to believe the space view gets better than this."
"Believe it." He assured her with confidence. He twirled her, much like a dancer would, spinning her out to face the setting sun. Her feet treaded the air instead of standing on his toes and she let out a breathless laugh, exhilarated. She could see the boardwalk, the familiar four streets or so that made up the town. Up ahead on the temple cliff, the lighthouse light flickered on.
They were moving forward now, feet spring stepping off shingles before cycling through the air.
He kept his arms around her, letting her float between his hands. Together they pushed off the top of the Big Donut.
"I'm impressed. You haven't panicked once." He commented in her ear. His voice made her shudder and she turned, catching his eye.
"I seem to be in good hands." She murmured, flushing slightly. Steven felt a certain smugness fill him at her compliment. There was a pause and she admitted, "It also doesn't hurt I've seen Niyazaki's Moving Mansion at least a dozen times." They were floating up towards the lighthouse now.
"Good movie, but if we're talking magical flying… I liked the one with the rooftop chimney sweep musical number more."
"Oh, just a music fan or are you a musician?" She asked lightly over her shoulder.
"Dad's the musician. He taught me some things here or there. I could play for you some time. If you want." He added hastily.
"Steven!" He could hear Garnet yelling at him from below and he nearly groaned. She was beneath their feet, Pearl not far behind with Amethyst and Connie bringing up the rear.
"Is that the Gems?" He heard her ask.
"Yup. They ah.. Pretty much raised me. Along with my dad." He stated sheepishly.
"I would love to meet your space moms." The librarian grinned at him. Steven scowled.
"Guys, we're fine!" Steven yelled down at them.
"Let her down already, Steven!" Pearl yelled up at him "That girl could get hurt!"
Steven rolled his eyes and the librarian laughed.
"I'm fine, miss, but thank you for worrying! Steven's got me." She assured them. They were approaching the cliff side and they bounded up, her feet briefly skimming the lighthouse banister. They hovered there for a moment.
"Is she right, could you let me down?" She asked, looking back at him.
"I could." He mussed. A sulk appeared slowly, "Don't really want to though."
Her eyes narrowed, "I thought you didn't have control over this."
Steven had the decency to at least appear a little guilty, "I told Connie I'd get a grip eventually and I did. Back when we got on the roof. But you were having such a good time and I just wanted to talk to you without anyone else around."
Her lips quirked, giving away nothing, "Your friends are worried about you, you know."
"I know but we are safe and I barely know anything about you." Her feet were balanced on the iron railing now and he hovered in front of her, still holding her hands.
"You don't have to make them worry just to get to know me, Universe. I believe you said you'd play me song at some point. This may shock you but I also have a bunch of questions I want to ask you after all this." She gestured to his floating self with a point of her chin and he laughed. "So I guess I'll just have to see you again."
"It's a date." He murmured, pulling her hand close, lips grazing her knuckles. He admired how red she turned, her face its own mini sun. He eased her down further, past the banisters and onto the solid ground of the lighthouse balcony.
From the ground he heard shouts of, "Steven!"
With a wink he disappeared, floating down from her view. Out of sight, she felt her body relax, legs giving out beneath her as she collapsed in a heap.
She was going on a date with a magical boy. She was in trouble.
She slowly found her footing, making her way to the lighthouse door on shaky legs. She turned the knob. It was locked. She let out a groan. She was in more trouble.
Two hours and an awkward conversation about how she had come to be locked on the terrace of a neckbeard named Ronaldo's secret base, the librarian was hustling back across town and to the library.
What the hell had she been thinking? She was raised better than this.
She didn't abandon work to go moon over a hot guy, even he did have amazing magical powers.
And make no mistake about it, Steven Universe was hot. She had no idea how she'd missed that in all the Gem news coverage the last several years. He was tall, broad shouldered, with soft brown eyes and dark curly hair. That is, when he wasn't flashing completely pink from head to toe. His skin, his hair, his eyes, everything had turned a rosy magenta. When that happened, he'd gotten even more broad, even more muscled and taller. With a frustrated groan, she realized she was still blushing.
A date. A date… with Steven Universe.
Why did she agree to that? She didn't date!
She reached up, patting her own curls to make sure they were behaving in her updo as she barged through the library doors, nudging them open with a bop of her right hip.
No sooner had her foot crossed the threshold than a sharp tone shot out her name.
"Mayor Nanefua!" She panicked, "I… You.. Uh. Hi?" She settled on.
There was no worse feeling than being caught slacking off by your boss. At a generous four feet, Mayor Nanefua was the matron of Fishstew Pizza, the Mayor of Beach City, and, to the librarian's chagrin, mad as all hell.
"Young lady! I did not hire you to go traipsing about Beach City. During business hours I expect you to be here!" There it was. The wagging finger.
She cringed, looking away from the imposing tiny form of the Mayor. She hung her head a bit, unable to bring herself to make eye contact.
"Leaving the building unattended! Your uncle would-"
The doors burst open behind her. "Sorry Mayor Nanefua! That was sort of my fault." A deep voice at her back interrupted cheerfully.
She looked over her shoulder, unable to hide her surprise at seeing Steven Universe again so soon.
"Steven! Of course you were involved in this. Young man, stop stealing my staff!" She pointed at him accusatory. He held his hands up good naturedly, smiling.
"I'm sorry! It was a Gem thing. We weren't gone very long and as you can see no harm was done. It won't happen again." He assured her.
Nanefua narrowed her eyes at them and then jerked a thumb over at the circulation desk.
Half of Beach City was milling around in a line, books in hand for check out. A cart was brimming with returns to be sorted. Two crates of new titles sat waiting to be labeled and filed. And the library was scheduled to close in an hour.
"Okay maybe some harm done." The librarian stated, panic apparent.
She felt a hand on her shoulder.
"No worries, Mayor. I'll make it up to you in free labor. I'll help her. If you could use it?" He offered, looking down at her now. She stared up at him, grateful tears welling. Who was this wonderful man? She gave him a stiff nod, unable to speak.
She turned to check with Mayor Nanefua only for her to be breezing past the two of them. She patted Steven's arm affectionately.
"You are such a good boy." She sighed. And then she was gone.
"I… You came back?" The librarian asked, confusion apparent. Steven had endured a lengthy chewing out by the Gems but he had tuned out most of it. He'd been dreamily trying to imagine a first date when he realized jumping off of a lighthouse without getting his date's number or address presented several critical problems to his plan. One panic later and Connie had come up with a completely reasonable plan of attack.
"Turns out I left the Dondai here? Also Pearl has two boxes of Gem literature for the exchange program I need to offload." Also it's only been two hours but I wanted to see you again.
The librarian groaned, pinching her nose bridge underneath her frames. Make that four boxes for intake.
"We're supposed to close in an hour. There's no way."
"Miss, are you the librarian? I've been waiting for over an hour." A man in line asked accusingly.
Steven led her to the circulation desk, guiding her through the chaos by the elbow, "It's not just me. Connie's not far behind me and the Gems… well I'm sure they won't mind. Just tell me what you need." He tended to go with a delayed entourage whenever he bailed mid Gem lecture.
Fifteen minutes later and the library was a bustle of activity. Pearl was on shelving duty, a quick skim of the Dewey decimal system all she needed. Steven, you never told me humans had a organization method for books. Such numerical efficiency! The absolute bliss on her face at getting to organize worried Steven that this was not a one time job for her. Garnet was directing foot traffic and answering questions. It turns out half the reason Buddwick was suddenly so busy was busybodies.
"Is it true -"
"The librarian is back. Yes, she did float through town. Yes, we do take book requests. Yes, even that kind of book."
"Oh."
The Future Vision helped.
Amethyst was helping by snoring loudly in the children's section.
Connie was on checkout duty, scanning out the residents with rapid precision.
That left the four boxes of intake for Steven and the librarian. She scanned them, assigned the genre and decimal while Steven clear wrapped them and added the stamp card to the inner front. He added them in a growing stack on a rolling cart for shelving. He was thrilled for several reasons about this. Firstly, he was helping someone. Crisis solving was undeniably one of his best skills. Secondly, he was helping her.
"You really didn't have to do this." She was saying next to him, gratitude apparent.
"It's no big deal." He grinned, all boyish charm, "Besides it gives me more time with you."
She blushed at this, her eyes locked straight ahead as she scanned. He was physically standing right next to her, unable to keep himself from gravitating into her orbit. He was currently trying to place her perfume, a mix of gardenias? Lilac?
"Well I'm sure you had better things to do today than this." She shrugged, as she continued to scan at the computer. Steven was secretly pleased as it gave him a chance to study her out of the corner of his eye unnoticed.
"Not really. I'm… Sort of in a weird place right now." He admitted. "Still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up and all that."
"Aren't we all?" She commiserated dryly.
"You seem to have it down. Library sciences? Connie says you're even writing a book."
Another blush at this as she passed off the book to him. It blended with the freckles across her nose, a rather fetching shade of red. He could not in fact, be more wrong. She had nothing 'down' and was actually a giant mess under a shiny veneer of imposter syndrome.
"Did she?" She muttered grumpily. Steven froze, seeing her discomfort.
"Oh I didn't mean-"
The librarian sighed, "I'd like to. Just haven't figured out what to write about. I came out to Beach City hoping to find inspiration." She frowned at this. Steven hated it.
"You'll find it. You'd be surprised how many people find themselves here. The odds are in your favor." The frown lessened slightly but didn't disappear.
"But you haven't?" She asked curiously.
"I… It's complicated. I like the idea of helping with Little Homeworld. It's important work. Gems come from a traditionally caste system so breaking that mold and unlearning those built in preconceptions… It's rewarding to be a part of that. I just have to limit my involvement or it overtakes me. I threw myself into it as a teen and it.. It was really unhealthy." He admitted.
"Seeing so many people figure out their calling when you're struggling with it yourself must have been hard." She murmured.
"I was happy for them but… Yeah, honestly it was." He admitted, surprised she had picked up on something he had privately thought but been afraid to say. He swallowed thickly, unwilling to stay on the topic for longer, "So why Beach City?"
"Oh. Well it's gorgeous for one. Decent cost of living. My folks live in Empire City so not too far away but far enough for some room to breathe. And well… I was found here." She admitted quietly.
"Found?" He asked.
She nodded curtly, "On the south beach as a baby. Or so my Dad's told me. I was adopted." It had been an epic blow out, her decision to move to Beach City. She had called to tell her parents she had settled in after the move. But picking up the phone again after that… It was too hard.
"And you don't know where you came from?" He asked.
She shook her head, bottom lip pursing. "It's fine. I mean… It doesn't matter. My parents love me. I'm curious, but the odds of me figuring out my past… Well, it doesn't change anything." She knew that bit was true. Being here was enough. Her parents, even if they were fighting, were enough.
"Hm… Maybe the Gems know something? They've been around for a couple thousand years."
Next to him, the librarian choked. "I'm sorry, they've what?" She guffawed, chancing a glance across the library at Amethyst who was still passed out.
A child had a marker out and was doodling a monocle and a curly mustache on her face.
"Uh… They're kind of immortal beings." He stated slowly.
"How old are you again, exactly?" She asked him, looking at him in abject horror.
"Not that old! I'm only twenty-four. Half Gem." He assured her, amused.
Her shoulders drooped in relief, "Oh thank heavens. I'm twenty three."
"What, you thought I was some creepy old man in disguise?" He laughed, eyebrow raised.
She smirked, playfully bumping him "You're still a year older than me, gramps."
Steven huffed, cheeks puffing in frustration. Next to him she paused, brows furrowing.
"I can't read this to file it. Do you read Gemspeak?" She asked, holding up the top book from Pearl's box. It was covered in gold filagree and was several inches thick.
"The Rise and Record of the Great Diamond Authority." Steven read aloud. The librarian tilted her head, noticing his expression of distaste. He took it from her, thumbing the pages. It only took a few before he found the illustrations in yellow, blue, white, and pink. He turned to the page, Pink Diamond a feminine Gem in a puffy outfit, stretched up, Earth in her hand.
"That's Mom." He said quietly, turning the book so she could see. "She gave up her physical form for me. I have her gem."
She thought back to the rosy pink hue he seemed to glow when they first met, his comments on the caste of Gems, the book title. Oh. "Pink Diamond. So I guess that makes you intergalactic royalty?"
Steven snorted, "Absolutely not." His cheeks were tinged pink.
"Should I be calling you Your Highness, or something?" She asked, her smile growing. She cocked her head. Connie bounded up to them, collapsing in the swivel chair next to Steven with a sigh.
"Finished!" She exclaimed in relief. "What are you guys talking about?"
"Oh not much. Steven was just casually telling me he's a space prince." The librarian answered immediately. Steven groaned, hearing Connie snicker.
"It's a hollow appointment. I have no official duties as a Diamond. It is not like that." He grumbled. He carefully ignored the two, beginning to pick through Pearl's box and sort through the titles.
"Oh please, don't let him lie to you. He's still on their council. And Yellow, Blue, and White adore him. They seek his advice on just about everything. He's totally space royalty." Connie confirmed, waggling her eyebrow at the two.
"Ah, not so footloose and fancy free then, Princeling?" The librarian teased.
"Connie is exaggerating. They don't ask for advice on everything." He pouted, flushing.
"I guess I should be showing the proper respect. Not every day a space prince helps out with my workload. Is there some incredibly pompous fancy title I should be using?" The librarian asked, shooting a sideways glance at Connie for answers.
Connie's expression was full of mischief, "It's just Pink Diamond but if you wanted to get technical, all the Homeworld Gems refer to him as 'My Diamond.'" Connie gave the title gravely, with an air of gravitas.
Steven heard the term and winced. He didn't get why the Diamonds used that expression. So many Gems refused to see him for who he was, as Steven. It felt even stranger to hear humans use it. Those worlds were so separate. It didn't bother him to hear Connie say it, she knew how he felt about it. And after all it was just a title. If he was honest he was a little curious how hearing the librarian say it would make him feel.
"Just Steven is more than fine!" Steven countered quickly, determined not to look at her. Why did he feel so restless?
She laughed, "Just Steven it is then, My Diamond."
It was as if the breath was knocked from his lungs with the sudden force of a punch to the gut. He felt hot, all over.
My Diamond.
The book he was holding clattered to the floor and the pink hue flooded his form. He reached out, gripping her wrist. He didn't want her to run.
"Steven!" Connie yelled out in warning. The librarian's eyes had gone as wide as saucer plates at the sudden light-switch flip of his transformation. The Gems were also calling out his name, tasks abandoned as they made their way to the front desk in a blink. He bubbled himself and the librarian without hesitation, determined not to be interrupted.
"I'm... I'm sorry." She breathed, unsure of what to say. She was certainly startled. Especially by the pink translucent barrier. But she wasn't afraid. He'd gotten taller and she tipped her head back to stare at him.
"Say it again." Steven was relieved he'd said it without begging.
To her ear, it teetered on a command.
"I'm sorry?" She repeated, concern growing. Maybe she had crossed a line.
"No."
"Steven?" She questioned.
"No."
She paused and Steven felt himself shut everything out, focusing on her red lips. So plush, so nervous. He wanted to watch them form the words. He had no idea those two words could bring him anything other than dread.
"My Diamond." She breathed and his eyes glowed pink. They sounded like smoke, curling through his chest. He wanted her, her loyalty, to hear those words in every emotion, every variation they could possibly be said. He wanted to lock her away somewhere only he could find her. To have her touch him and draw that title out of her lips however he could. He inhaled sharply, forcing himself to not do what every cell of his body was screaming at him to do.
"Your Diamond?" He questioned slowly, testing the sound aloud as he released her wrist. The curl from earlier had freed itself from behind her ear. He hummed, reaching up and tucking it back in place, fingertips brushing at her neck behind the shell of her ear in the process. An open shudder tore down her spine. The look he was giving her positively burned, a pang of heat shooting through her.
There was a gleam in his eye, gaze locked on hers, "We'll see about that, won't we?"
Steven, freshly back to human and face first in his pillow, let out a sustained embarrassed groan at the memory. He'd been so out of his mind it was like the words had left his body like some hyped up Casanova on overdrive. He'd transformed back, dropped the bubble, took one look at her and the Gems, and high tailed it out of there.
Next to him his familiar ringtone chirped. Do do, dodo, do. Connie's face was on the screen.
With the way he'd panicked and ran, he knew he probably worried her. He'd gotten another lecture from the Gems. Steven readily admitted this one had more merit.
Do do, dodo, do.
He'd call Connie back later. He knew it was his own issues, his own control.
But just thinking of hearing the librarian's voice say those words. My Diamond. He groaned and flushed pink. He knew without a doubt this wasn't rage. This was want. He wanted her so very badly his Diamond side was going haywire.
He wasn't like this. He didn't want people, want control over people. She was her own person. He was his own person just as she wasn't… His.
He shuddered, the clench of heat low, around his Gem at the thought. He wanted nothing more than to drive the librarian mad, as mad as she was making him feel. To wrap himself around her until she was weak with pleasure and could only call out for him until she was hoarse and he made it true. My Diamond. My Diamond. My Diamond!
No! That wasn't… He wouldn't …
He flooded back to his normal color and huffed at his phone. He couldn't bring himself to answer. This was all Connie's fault anyway.