Frybo's Breakfast

Part 1 - Better Together Breakfast

The following days were rather uneventful in a way. Steven had forgotten how... Certain things didn't happen because he didn't make certain mistakes this time. The most notable example being the Together Breakfast ordeal, and him being so pushy over some not so impressive stack of toaster waffles.

Garnet came in, with the Evil Spirit Scroll, but he made no comment as she left to burn the thing. Instead, he focused on a New and Improved Together Breakfast.

Homemade Waffles with Popcorn from a Pot and some Homemade Caramel for said Popcorn!

It wasn't the healthiest thing, but it was Something for a certain someone. And that someone... Oh Shoot!

He heard heavy footsteps outside, and in a panic, he pulled out his Umbrella at the last second as she Barged in, full force!

"Dumb Police! Err... You're Dumb!" She shouts, shape-shifted as a Police Officer from some 80's cop show as she sprays Steven with her water gun.

To her dismay, he already prepared for this eventuality, the water spraying against the umbrella as it just made a mess on the floor.

"Nice try! But I'm not letting you ruin breakfast this time." He remarks, to which Amethyst groans. "Uncool dude, I Totally would've gotten you too."

But just as she prepared to spray him again once he lowered the umbrella, her door opened.

"Hey! That's My door!" She exclaims, before seeing Pearl exiting it, sword in hand.

"Oh Amethyst, there you are." She says "Care to explain what one of My swords was doing in Your room?"

"Having a Sword Party?" Amethyst sarcastically replies. By then however, Steven just let them be as he focused on the finishing the breakfast, and mopping the water Amethyst spilled all over the floor.

It would be a while before Garnet stepped out, finished with her Secret Ritual before Steven quickly rushed over to her.

"Ah, Garnet! Perfect timing. Listen, could you do me a favor and get Amethyst here? I know You and Pearl don't like eating very much, but I made breakfast and I bet Amethyst would really like it." He explains.

Garnet remains silent for a moment, before giving a gentle smile as she pet his head. "You've changed Steven. But... I quite like this change. I'll get her out here for you."

Steven merely smiles back with a blush, going back to the counter as he put the final touches of the breakfast, before Amethyst arrived.

After a moment inside her room, Amethyst stepped out in a rush with Garnet slowly trailing behind her.

"I'm Here I'm Here! Garnet said you made Food!?" She asks in a rush, to which Steven proudly nods.

"Check it out! It's not exactly healthy, but it's in a stack, like a Balanced Breakfast?" He says jokingly, to which Amethyst rolls her eyes as Garnet warps away.

"Any who, I made us both breakfast we could eat, cause it's better to eat together like best buds." He explains, though Amethyst was ready to just Dump it in her mouth, to which he promptly stops her.

"Hey, it's made to eat slowly. So we can have breakfast together." He claims.

Amethyst just gave him a weird look, confused as she begrudgingly sat down. "Man, what is Up with you Steven? You've been like... acting Mega weird lately."

"What do you mean?" He asks, sitting with His breakfast, which was a regular omelette with some mozzarella and some parsley as garnish, with a side of freshly squeezed orange juice.

"Well... Look at you. You're not eating Junk like usual, you've lost some weight, you do Exercise? You cooked something, you... Aren't acting like you did a couple of weeks ago, you're even bossing me around. Are you even the Real Steven?" She accused, narrowing her eyes as she slid a caramel popcorn topped waffle into her gullet.

"I-I uh... Yeah?" He said, clearing his throat at the sudden accusation. "I just... you know, kinda realized how annoying I was? And... I thought, Maybe if I act my age, you guys will respect me and let me join you guys in more adventures?"

...she narrowed her eyes, sliding a waffle into her mouth. "Yer yucky you yake gooh wahhes." She said with a full mouth, partially muffled by the waffle in her mouth before she moved on to eating the rest of her breakfast.

He sighed in relief, before eating the rest of his breakfast, just sorta enjoying this odd moment of silence. At least, as silent as it could be with Amethyst gorging on waffles and munching on sweet popcorn.

"...you know Amethyst, I think you should know that... I think you're pretty great, and I appreciate everything you do for us, even if the others don't tend to notice."

Amethyst, of course, nearly choked on her food at that. The sudden Whiplash from Steven saying something so uncharacteristically nice in a mature and genuine sounding way catching her by surprise.

"I uh... uhm... thanks? I uhm... that's... nice of you?" She stammered, trying to think of what to say. "I uh... I think you're pretty cool as well? Even if... uhm... you're kinda acting weird now...?"

Steven, of course, just shrugged with a smile. "Thanks, I wanna be better than before, so I can become a Real Crystal Gem." He exclaims, kinda happy to have some alone time with Amethyst for once.

Part 2 - Peedee

Laundry Day. He'd gotten much better at sorting out his clothes, having folded a lot of it and placing most of it on the table. Though he now stood there in the living room, wearing pants thankfully, looking for a missing pair. He knew which ones he was missing, cause they had a scratch mark on them.

That was when he heard Pearl walking around the house, muttering to herself while holding a bubble containing 7 bright blue Gem shards. "I know I had 8..."

Noticing Steven, she asked him: "Hey Steven, have you seen a Gem shard anywhere? It's very important."

"No? But..." He thought for a moment. "I am missing a pair of pants. Maybe they got lost together?" He casually suggests.

Pearl... was confused for a moment, but then she got to thinking. "Well... These shards have a powerful partial consciousness that has been harnessed by Gems throughout history to create semi-sentient drone soldiers with the capacity to follow basic orders."

"Gems once created an army of these drones but found their obedience waned as the shards overdeveloped inside their uniforms and turned on their commanders." She continued explaining, Steven actually listening this time. "You see, any shard inside any sort of container could become a monster!"

"That's why it's very Very important that it's kept away from Any kind of garment, including your pants." She specifies "If you see it, bring it to me right away."

Steven nods, to which Pearl starts heading outside. "I'm going to check in town. "

Steven tried to remember where he found the Gem shard last time, to which he turned around and Immediately saw his pants walking of their own volition.

"Stop!" He yells, causing the pants to freeze in place as he went over and took the shard out. "There you are. Well great, now I gotta find Pearl."

Stuffing the shard in a plastic Tupperware, he placed it inside his backpack before taking a hooded jacket and some rain boots. He didn't want to repeat... Frybo.

He felt a cold breeze from outside as he shuddered at the thought of that... Monstrosity. He probably couldn't burn the suit again, but... at least this time, it wouldn't get possessed.

All things prepared, he headed out into Beach City, sort of... reminiscing on the present structures. He remembered how some of it got remodeled and changed over time, how some of it got destroyed during different crisis, how... Different it was in general, back when Gems roamed the street alongside Humans. He missed that... and it kinda saddened him to know he'd have to wait a while before that happened again.

Of course, being distracted while walking on the sidewalk was Not a good idea as the Costumed Kid ran right into him, Scaring Steven as he Yelled, with "Frybo" Yelling back in panic!

"AAHHHH! PLEASE HELP ME! NO, GET THEM AWAY! AHHHHHHHHH!" He shouts in sheer Panic before taking off the head of the costume, swinging at the Seagulls attacking him. "I'm Not Fries!"

And as they flew away, Steven panted as... he nearly felt himself get an Anxiety Attack. He... He closed his eyes, trying to breath as his body tensed in fear. He tried to remind himself that... Frybo isn't here... it's just a costume... that's just... Peedee...

Of course, that was when he heard the door to the Fryman's shop opening, with Mr. Fryman stepping outside to see what all the commotion is all about.

"Dagh, where's your face Frybo? Being part of the Fryman family means you Gotta sell Fries." He says with an exasperated tone "And, be my Son, which you are."

After a moment of silence, he continues. "So... You're already half way there. Keep at it Frybo!"

"I'm not-" But just as his Dad closed the door on him, Steven looked at Peedee, then the door, before sighing.

Peedee also sighs, looking at the costume for a moment as he realized Steven was staring at him.

"...when I told my dad I wanted to be part of the Fryman family business, I didn't think it meant being stuck in a sweaty old costume..." He began to explain with a somber tone.

"Things used to be different, Steven. Nothing to worry about back then except making myself dizzy on the ol seahorse ride in Funland..." He almost tearfully said.

...back then, he didn't really get what Peedee was trying to say, but now... now he thought: "If I'm gonna make changes, then I can't to be afraid of the future anymore."

He walked up to the door, banging on it. "Steven, what are you-" But Peedee was cut off as the door swung open.

"What is it now Fry-" He paused, looking at the seemingly annoyed Steven. "Uhh... Hi Steven, haven't seen ya in a while. Everything okay?"

"No, it's Not okay." He replied with a huff, before pointing to Peedee.

"That is Not Frybo, that is Peedee, your Son, part of your Family. I know I shouldn't get involved, but he clearly wants to make you proud, he wants to make you proud so badly he clearly forces himself to wear a sweaty, old suit that he hates wearing. Isn't that right Peedee?"

Peedee, being put on the spot so suddenly, hesitated. "I-I uh... uhm... w-well..."

And after a moment of hesitation, he sighed. "y...yeah... I... always hated... Frybo... but you told me that... I... had to wear it... to... be a part of the Fryman family..."

...Mr Fryman was... silent for a moment, so suddenly confronted like this, before... sighing, putting down his hat in shame. "No... I get it. I pushed you too hard. I... thought you wanted to be a Fryman as good as you could be."

He slowly approached Peedee, looking past the costume. "You're a tough kid for putting up with is as long as you did. Truth is... you're a valued member of the Family, and I'm sorry I ever made you feel like you weren't."

Peedee just... Broke down in tears as he quickly Hugged his Dad, clutching him as he... heard what he wanted to hear for a long time. It was confusing, rather sudden even, but... they capitalized on those feelings, and let it all out.

"...I'm truly sorry son. You..." He did his best not to tear up, holding his son in his arms. "...I always have and always will love you, and I'm truly sorry for making you feel like I didn't. You're just as important to me as Ronaldo and the Company."

...Steven just sort of... decided to slide out of this. He wanted to stand up for Peedee, be more mature about this. But... this was... Really, emotionally heavy, and also Super sudden, implying this was an issue that had been brewing in their minds for a while already.

He already felt himself tear up. His job was done, and he could leave now, and that was exactly what he did as Pearl stumbled into the now teary eyed Steven, somewhat worried by the sight.

"Steven? Are you okay? What happened?" She asked with concern, to which Steven merely wiped his tears.

"I-I uh... it's... not important. I uhm... Came to find you, cause I found the shard." He explained, before pulling out the Tupperware.

"O-Oh! Well, uhm... Thank you Steven, that was very responsible of you. I'll be taking it with me then. Are you sure you'll be fine?" She asks again.

He merely nods again, giving her a thumbs up. "I will. Thanks for asking. I'll head back home in a bit, okay?" To which Pearl nodded, and stepped away with the last shard, not wanting to push Steven any further.

He sat down on a bench and... Smiled, knowing he prevented yet another disaster, and got something nice out of it as well.