Hey dear Readers. This Fic will be pretty Dark and this is the official trigger warning. Violence, Language, and Sexual Violence will be prominent so it's up to you now to decide whether that is something you want to read. This idea popped in my head this morning and I plan to ride it out for a sling as I can. A Dark Universe.
Steven sat in the back of his Dondai Supremo. He let his breath fog up the back window as it came out of him in forceful labored puffs. His hair had grown in the year since he left Beach City. It still held his trademark ebony curls, but it's shoulder length weighed them down to be a bit more wavy. His tan lines were more prominent as well, his face bearing the outline of sunglasses contrast to more tanned skin. These days he found himself liking the trend of wearing sweaters with shorts and no footwear if he could help it. He had on at this moment a black throw on hoodie with a pink rose and skeleton on the back, with simply white basketball shorts and no footwear to speak of. His nails had chipped black paint on them, courtesy of one of his new friends he met in the current city he was in.
He had made many friends along his year long journey. He has travelled from coast to coast, and back again in many different routes. He was so happy to explore the world, to find other people to relate to. To be able to just be without worrying about having to fix people or fight their battles. He had struggled with that at first, so accustomed to being able to solve everyone's problems. But he quickly found that there are some problems he could not fix with words and modest violence. Some issues his gem powers could not mend. He had encountered such an issue just the night before. It was the reason for his ragged breaths.
He closed his eyes to try to forget, but all that did was make the images clearer.
A darling smile. A warm invitation. Group laughter. A shift. A familiar glint in their eyes. Intent to do harm. Denial. The truth. Hatred for his mother burning anew. Shock. Force. Pain. Blood. Blood.
He was startled out of his spiral by a strong tap on his window. He looked up to see a police officer flashing his flashlight in his face. Steven propped open the truck's window and tried his best to stop his shaking.
"G-good evening Officer. How may I help you?" he stutters out.
"Good Evening. Well, it's 1am in the morning and you're the only car parked here in this lot. There is an ordinance that no one is allowed to stay here overnight. I'll have to ask you to move on." the officer replies stoically.
"Oh! Sorry. I uh, must have lost track of time. I-i'll get a move on right now. Thank you Sir!" Steven says, hopping over the back seat and making his way to the driver's seat.
To his surprise, he hears another knock on his window, on his drivers side. He quickly rolls the window down when he sees the officer standing there waiting.
"Yes sir? Was there something else?" he asked nervously. 'Why am I so nervous? I have no problem talking to people…'
After a moment, the Officer speaks up. "Kid, I was standing outside your window back there for about 20 minutes. I knocked a few times but you were completely zoned out. I waited patiently, but I have to ask now, are you okay?"
Ignoring the flashes that danced in his view momentarily, he answered the officer. "I'm great! Thanks for asking!"
"While I'm glad you're feeling good, I meant have you been taking any drugs tonight kid." the officer replies, shining the flashlight in Steven's eyes.
The sudden bright light was actually a welcome pain to Steven, it made him focus on what was right in front of him. "N-no sir I don't do anything like that! I was just really tired!"
The officer regards him with a stern stare for a heavy second before finally relenting. "Well, just go on now then. And wipe your tears son you're a man. Men don't cry." He shakes his head in disappointment as his heavy boots take him back to his cruiser.
Steven immediately reached for his face and indeed found he had started tearing up with a few strays getting loose.
"Heh, silly me. There's nothing to cry about. Nothing at all. Nothing…" he repeated to himself as his shaking returned in full force.
"Bah, guess I-I'll hit up Sarah to see if I can crash at her place." he spoke aloud, reaching for his phone and hitting the speed dial #5 for Sarah. The phone rang a few times before a groggy voice answered.
"Helloooo?"
"Hey Sarah! It's Steven."
"Steven? Hey buddy. What's up? Everything okay?"
"Yeah yeah. I was calling cause it's pretty chilly tonight. Do you think I could crash at your place tonight sis?"
"My phone is saying it's 75 degrees right now Steven."
"Oh i-is that so? Well, I didn't want to worry you, but a cop knocked on my window. He told me to take a hike since the lot I'm in is no good."
"Oh. Well, you know I don't mind you coming over. You have a key, just come over. I'll be asleep by the time you get here so try to keep it down. I have work in the morning."
"Thanks 'Zay. I won't make a peep."
"See you in the morning Universe."
Steven ended the call with a shaky thumb. He took deep breaths as he started the car and shifted gears. After a few moments he began to drive off to Sarah's nearby apartment. A by-product of making so many friends was most of them had places he could crash at if he was nearby. Sarah was a particularly good friend, Steven having met her at a Krispy Kreme. They bonded over their love of donuts, and hung out alot. She is about his height and age. She has fair skin and a slim build, with crystal blue eyes and golden locks that froliced to her lower back. Steven often found himself comparing her and Conney, much to his confusion. But Sarah was a good friend and was an honest person.
Steven pulled up to a free parking spot outside of Sarah's apartment complex and made his way to the door. He pulled out the key she had entrusted to him and gently opened the door, heading straight for the comfy blue couch that had pillows he much enjoyed. He laid down and tried to give himself over to a slumber that never came.
Steven must have just caught the tail end of some sleep, as he was awakened by the smell of bacon and eggs. He had since become adept at utilizing his gems powers of healing, and used it to cure his exhaustion. He bounced up and greeted his temporary roommate.
"Sarah! 'Zey! Madam Dameon!"
Sarah turned to look at him while giggling. "Well if it isn't Mr. Universe."
"Please Madam, Mr. Universe is my father." Steven says coyly with a smile.
"Well I've heard no news of him saving the galaxy. In mine eyes indeed thou art more worthy of such a title."
"Now now, flattery will only get you to second base!"
"Darn, I should have paid more attention during gym while we were playing baseball!"
They both break out in laughter and gave each other a warm hug.
Sarah speaks first. "I thought you were only here for the week? Last night you said you were headed out. Did something happen?"
"Happen? No nothing happened. I just, uh, missed you! Yeah I wanted to see you one last time!" Steven said, not realizing how that came across.
Sarah blushed and turned her head slightly away. "R-really? You wanted to see me?"
"Yeah! You're like my best friend!" he replied, relieved his deflection worked.
"Oh, yeah of course Steven! You're like my best friend too. Well, were you going to stay? I have to head to work after breakfast. Oh! You'll get to say goodbye to Ralph as well! He was going to drop off my work shirt I left at his place after our party last night. I'm sure he will be glad to see you before you leave Steven." Sarah said.
At the mention of Ralph, Steven felt his throat start to burn. He felt his body tightening against his will and felt less oxygen getting into his lungs with every breath. Gathering all the healing powers he could, he tried to calm his body with little success.
"No! That's okay!" he said, obviously too loud to be considered normal. "I have to go now. I'll text you!" he said, then quickly made to leave.
"Steven? Why are you being weird? You should say bye to Ralph, he's a good friend and he always makes sure we are okay." Sarah protested, but Steven was already out of the door.
Steven was already halfway to his car by the time he heard Sarah finish talking. As he got into view of his car, his blood stopped cold as he saw an all too familiar forest green two door Honda Civic '98 parked next to it. Leaning against the car was a Tanned man with short black hair and red sunglasses. There was a cigarette in his mouth and his arms were closed on his red track jacket. He leaned on the green car with black cargo pants and red Vans. To anyone else he would look stylish and mysterious. To Steven, he was scarier than any gem or diamond ever was.
"Hey Steven! Good to see you! I thought you were heading out after last night? Guess you had more fun than you let on huh?" the mans says with a charismatic lopsided grin.
"Ralph...How dare you show your face to me after last night. How could you-!
Steven was interrupted when Sarah came up to the scene and gave a cheerful wave to Ralph.
"Hey Ralph! You bring my uniform?"
Noticing the tension after a moment, she let down her waving hand. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah Steven," Ralph said with a shit eating grin," is everything okay?
Steven knew Ralph was provoking him. After what had happened, there was only guilt, and pain. But now all Steven felt, face to face with the orchestrator of his hurt, was unbridled rage. He could even faintly notice his gem growing hotter and hotter as he stood there, contemplating how to answer the questions posed to him.
Finally, with more willpower than he thought he had, he took a deep breath. "Everything is fine. I was just leaving is all." He looked back to Sarah and gave a sad look. "Be careful, okay Sarah? You never know who is waiting for a chance to take advantage of you." With that, he stalked off to his car, making every effort to ignore Ralph as he walked by.
Ralph made no such effort, and confidently reached out and clasped a hand on Steven's shoulder as he walked by.
"Hey now, what's with the doom and gloo-" Ralph never got to finish his sentence as the back of Steven's angry pink hand slammed into his jaw, instantly shattering it and sending him flying 20 feet away into a parked van.
"I will kill you if you ever touch me again! You hear me you bastard!?" Steven roared out in pure rage.
"Steven! What the hell! Why did you hit him! You can't just freak out on people!" Sarah yelled, running over to a motionless Ralph.
There was a moment of heat and tension, before it was washed away as if a bucket of ice water was dumped on it. Steven froze, as he noticed something was missing. A heartbeat. Ralph's heartbeat.
"Ralph, what's the matter? Do you need a hospital? Are you knocked out? Talk to me!" Sarah cried out.
Steven didn't know what to feel. He felt nothing. He should have felt good, hurting someone who hurt him so viscerally, but his empathy matched and cancelled out any satisfaction he might have felt as he realized he had done something just as bad. Something he swore to never do.
"I-I-I-I, n-n-o I mean, I-I didn't mean to…!" he tried to speak.
Sarah looked at Steven with panicked eyes. "Steven, he's not breathing! Steven what do we do!?"
Steven stood there motionless for many empty seconds. Finally, he activated his gem powers and flew away in a pink blur.
Sarah was shocked that he just ran away, and managed to call 911. Before they picked up, she cursed his name. "Goddamn you Steven, you fucking murderer!"