Blue sparkles flooded Peridot's vision as she traveled down the warp path. She was just returning to Earth from Homeworld, busy from a meeting with her manager, who currently keeps track of the Cluster shards.
That's what she told Steven today anyways.
The Cluster shard mission was still happening, as Peridot took trips to bring a few shards to Homeworld. Though little progress has been made, the mission is to hopefully bring back life to the broken shards.
She may have possibly lied about it today, however...for very good reason.
Today was Steven's 19th birthday, which isn't a problem in itself. No. What Peridot feared was the party. She knew Steven wanted her to be there. Which she will be...just very very late.
He'll understand. Peridot told herself, knowing it was true. But still, she worried. The sinking feeling in her body matched the feeling of falling darkly down to the end of the warp tunnel. She wore her yellow buttercup dress, but had to push it down as she fell down the windy path.
Finally she landed, with a heavy feeling in her stomach. Peridot was in the warp room above Steven's old beach house. It was dark, and a little creepy. The dome was dark blue and there were careless remains of Steven's old plants catching dust on the floor. She couldn't help but feel a bit sad, only a few years ago this place was shiny and new. She wanted to leave, but found herself standing as if she was also waiting to wilt like the plants that once flourished here.
She sighed and stepped out of the dome slowly, walking down the brown wooden stairs that lead to Steven's old room. She was about to open the door only to remember at the last second that he doesn't live here anymore. Peridot found her mind running to when she and Steven would watch CPH together, even the horrid reboot. It was still fun in a way. Waiting for the new episode and talking to Steven about it. Good, or bad. It was always nice that he indulged her rambling and repeating herself when talking about it. It was only a few years ago, yet it felt like 20 years...and also 20 minutes somehow. The rush of a new episode was always special to her.
Peridot stepped back to embrace the nostalgia. This time of year always made her feel a certain way, and she found herself feeling melancholy. The August sky was divided between blue and yellow. With a bar of green, just like her skin in between. Her triangular hair brushed in the chilling wind. A lot happened during this time of year, several years ago.
From crashing on Earth to live as a rogue, only for Steven to find her. To working with him to stop the Cluster from destroying their world. She hated Earth at the time. She only did it because she loved him (and the gems would have shattered her if she didn't).
Peridot adjusted her visors as she felt herself tear up. "Okay", she whispered to herself, "stop daydreaming and get in there, you beautiful clod!"
She stepped down even more stairs to get to the lower balcony. She peered in the window, just to see who was there.
It looked as though most of everyone was leaving, and the party itself was worn out. Pizza boxes and half of a cake sat on the kitchen island. Various gift boxes and balloons were scrapped on the floor. And a TV with a game console was left on the table.
As far as guests, she noticed Lapis was there. Which would have been odd until she realized she was sleeping on the couch. Typical.
Though what really caught her attention was Steven. Peridot tilted her visors down in disbelief as she saw him. "He's so fancy lookin" Peridot mouthed to herself. He wore black pants and a blue dress shirt...unusual for him.
She was about to barge in with excitement until she saw someone walk out of the bathroom. It was Connie, his human companion. Peridot mostly noticed her dress since it was short, silver and sparkly. It looked gold in the dim light.
It looked like she was about to say something to Steven until she looked behind her to see Lapis, waking up finally. It was hard to hear through the window but she barely mumbled out a casual yet tired "hey" as she lazily brushed her messy blue hair.
Connie cleared her throat in a meaningful tone. The sound was bothersome, Peridot would cover her ears if she had any.
Steven was more gentle and direct, he walked up next to Connie, and put his hand on her shoulder as he said "Maybe it's time for you to go home" He said to Lapis.
Peridot couldn't focus, she found herself staring at Steven's hand, placed naturally on Connie's brown skin. She couldn't quite place the feeling.
It was as if she was an Earth creature, a cat who just caught the biggest fish in the world. And someone just snatched it from her.
Peridot tried to ignore the feeling. What's there to be competitive about? She rhetorically thought.
Her attention was brought back to Steven and Lapis talking.
"But...like, I don't really need to go anywhere," Lapis said, still very tired.
Peridot could tell that Connie was impatient but trying to be nice. She could also tell that Lapis was relishing the tension she was creating.
Steven spoke up, it was pretty clear that Lapis was pretty obedient to him and she'd listen to him over anyone. Though by the same coin, she detested almost any girl Steven was close to.
Either way. Peridot was curious to see how this would play out. Even if it was getting a bit chilly on the balcony.
She only caught on to Steven's last words as he blatantly told Lapis the party was over and he had to take Connie home.
"What's the big deal then? I can just stay here overnight anyways" Lapis said, a little more awake.
"Just please go home,"
Steven coaxed.
"but I'm too tiiiired"
"You just can't be here right now"
"What if I just go upstairs and sleep with your dad?"
"What" Connie and Steven chorused.
"UGH geez not like that...well-"
Peridot saw Steven pull out his phone as Lapis was stuttering.
"What is it, Steven?" Connie asked, as though Lapis wasn't in the room anymore.
Steven's eyes lit up as looked down at his notifications.
"I see Peri texted me a while ago. It looks like she should be here pretty soon."
"In that case-" Lapis interjected. She was already on the living room warp pad as she finished her sentence, "I'm outta here."
She vanished in a blink, with blue sparkles all around her, matching her body color.
Peridot was too busy feeling offended to see if Steven or Connie reacted.
Connie exhaled and then turned to face Steven. "Well I guess we don't have much time do we?" She said,
"You've been here for hours," Steven smiled goofily, clearly confused.
Connie sat down on the cream colored couch and started to go through the TV channels. "I wanted some alone time with you," she smiled at him.
Steven followed her and sat on the couch, looking slightly uncomfortable. Peridot couldn't pry her eyes away from the scene, wondering why she didn't just walk in to interrupt them.
"What are we watching?" Steven asked.
"I don't know yet" Connie replied, though she looked super keen on the TV screen as she went from channel to channel.
"You know I heard that Dogcopter is having yet another puppy in the new movie," Steven said, looking away from the TV.
"Interesting" Connie replied, though it looked like she hardly heard him at all.
"Eh, I'm bored. I guess I'll just leave it here," Connie said, sounding as though she was acting in a terrible play.
As time went on, Steven looked more worried. The movie seemed to be a romantic comedy from what Peridot could tell. She assumed that Steven was stressing about her not arriving. So she quietly brought out her tablet and messaged him.
Looks like I miscalculated! I'll be there in a few hours...You know how long Yellow Diamond can lecture for… ?
She hated lying to him, she didn't even think she could lie. But she let deviation grab hold of the situation just this once.
She could see Connie relax as Steven explained the whole thing to her. She relaxed a bit too much for Peridot's liking as she brought her body right against Steven's.
You don't deserve those diamond muscles! Peridot jealously thought.
For the first time, Peridot brought her attention to the movie as the female and male lead talked about birthdays.
The TV wasn't facing towards her, but she could vaguely see a bedroom on screen, with two humans together.
"Are you ready for your birthday gift?" The female asked, sounding playful.
Gift? Peridot puzzled to herself.
The female lead kissed the male, and she could hear moaning and fabric sounds.
Peridot felt odd...not sure if it was bad or good. She felt this way around Steven a few times. Uncomfortable, yet intrigued. She felt her body temperature rise but felt like she shouldn't be seeing what she saw.
She saw Steven blushing on the couch. His cheeks glowed. His brown fluffy hair was cuter than ever. Her hot feelings felt hotter as she looked at him. But she wanted to calm down and focus.
She could tell he felt uncomfortable though. And for the first time, Connie seemed to notice and consider his feelings. She paused the movie. She sat with her legs on the couch and her position was submissive. "Are you okay, Steven?" She asked.
Steven took a deep breath. The sound made Peridot's feelings spike for a moment.
"Why did you want to watch this now?" He asked.
Connie looked nervous. "I- it was random"
Steven stared at her, but she didn't speak up. "You wanted this to be us." He finally said.
Connie put her hand on the collar of his shirt as if she was about to unbutton it. "Y-yeah."
Steven's eyes flashed with realization. "My 14th birthday…" His voice shook as he spoke.
"What about it?" Connie asked, knowing where he was leading.
"You've...had this fantasy for years. Wanting to do this with me on my birthday."
Connie looked flustered as she stammered. "Not exactly like that!"
"If you liked me. Why didn't you just tell me?"
"You never told me you liked me…"
While listening, Peridot tried to follow. She remembered when Steven would talk to her about Connie. Sometimes as if she was the best thing that's ever happened to him and he wanted to spend his life with her.
Yet he vented to Peridot about how Connie stopped talking to him for a month when he saved her life, and didn't want her to go to Homeworld in fear of her dying.
Sometimes it seemed like they were just friends. Other times it felt like they'd kiss at any moment.
Even after a few kisses from her, their relationship never went fully romantic.
Even though he proposed to her once…
"Complicated…" Peridot said under her breath.
"What if we started dating now? Officially." Connie said to Steven, practically crawling on him.
"I can't," Steven resisted.
"But you've always wanted this"
"Not anymore! I…"
Connie gasped. "You're seeing someone! Why didn't you tell me?"
"She's…" Steven tried to speak but couldn't get the words out.
Peridot couldn't take it and ran into the house. "...right here" She finished his sentence for him as she walked in the dark living room.
"Oh. Hi Peridot. " Connie said, hardly caring. She turned back to Steven.
"Just tell me who you're with Steven…"
"It's me! I just said so!" Peridot raised her voice. Hating not being heard.
"That's not possible," Connie said. "Just tell me the truth," she said to him, grabbing his shirt once more.
Steven sat up defiantly.
"Listen to her. I'm dating Peridot."
Connie pulled back, looking disgusted.
"But...the age thing. That's not really leg-"
"Ugh" Peridot cut her off. "I'm Era 2… I'm still practically an Earth teenager. Gems kinda age mentally anyways."
Steven joined her defense. "She's not exactly a human woman, I can't really see a few thousand years the same way I see a full grown adult."
Peridot felt uncomfortable about the topic. Steven seemed to notice and finished by saying "we really love each other and we're honest and a good team. I wouldn't give her up for the world."
"Cheesy" Peridot mumbled, smiling.
…
"I can understand why you didn't want to tell the humans about our relationship," Peridot said to Steven.
"Yeah" he replied.
An hour passed since Connie left, still not warm towards the idea of Peridot being Steven's girlfriend. She felt like the age thing could have been a cover for her jealousy. But she didn't care to look into it.
The two sat on the couch together. "You know I love that dress," Steven said to her. Quietly yet flirtatiously.
"Really. I had no idea, ``she murmured sarcastically.
"I saw what happened with you and Connie as I was coming back...I hope you're okay."
Steven's eyes widened. "Oh…" He said, in barely a whisper.
Peridot inhaled. "What?"
"I thought you'd accuse me of cheating on you"
Peridot scoffed. "Why would you? I'm clearly the best girl!"
"Yes you are," Steven smiled adorably as he replied.
Peridot ran her fingers on the TV remote and the screen lit up, the movie from earlier was paused on a rather intimate scene.
"So...is this a birthday ritual?" Peridot said, motioning to the TV.
"Well, it's a thing that human couples do...romantically" He muttered, embarrassed.
"We're a human cou- well there's a quarter of human between the two of us. Does that count?"
Steven giggled shyly.
"It's something couples do when they're really comfortable with each other." He finally said.
"We kissed! We did that! And kissing is something that takes a lot of bravery."
"You're...so adorable," Steven said as if he couldn't resist.
"Well, we have to do this ritual right?" Peridot asked, wanting him to tell her what it was.
"N-not now. Maybe next time we go to a hotel or something we can." Steven said. Peridot couldn't tell that he was joking.
I guess I'll have to do some research. She thought to herself.
.…..
Steven was asleep on the couch after another hour of sleepily talking with Peridot. He told her about the party and had some warm tea to help him sleep.
Peridot herself was on the other side of the couch, watching the TV for research. She spent the night going through movies about this intimacy ritual. What could be more intimate than kissing? Letting him use her favorite GameCube controller?
Well, not exactly.
She only wished she could use earbuds, she was afraid Steven would wake up, even with the volume pretty low. Peridot felt a rollercoaster of emotions as the situations got more and more intense. The acting was terrible and she felt gross for watching it. But she couldn't look away.
She looked at Steven. So his body really looks like that? She salivated a bit, trying not to. She had seen him naked when they shared a bathroom. But it was so long ago. She didn't think about this sort of thing.
Human males were certainly...intriguing though.
She felt an odd mixture of curiosity and disgust looking at humans like that, she still wasn't big on nudity.
But as Steven mentioned, hotels were often brought up in these "films''. Hopefully if she ever goes to another hotel with him, she'll be ready for this intimacy ritual thing.
As for now, Peridot decided to snuggle up next to Steven while he was sleeping. His body felt soft, yet secure, and his warmth was very comforting. She felt very catlike as she cuddled with him. No matter what happens in the future, she was sure he'd be there to protect her.