A Dark Universe
Today was a day off for Amethyst. Since Little Home World was completed almost a year ago, she has been involving herself in as many aspects of it as she could. It wasn't her usual style, being much more comfortable with just letting things play out how they will, but it meant too much to her to not be involved. She loved her family, the Crystal Gems, but each of them were independent. Even Steven eventually left the nest. Little Home World provided her with a sense of community, and a much bigger family. There were more people like her as well, so she didn't have to worry about getting on Garnets or Pearls nerves as much. Never having experienced homeworld much herself, Little Home World was a great way to experience her heritage in small manageable doses. She could also go to Home World, but they tend to be a bit more traditional than she likes.
She sighed, as even on her day off she couldn't help but wonder what was happening in Little Home World today. She appreciated the alone time though. Garnet was doing a class on trust building for Fusing, and Pearl seemed to hang around Greg whenever she could. Thus it fell on her to be present when a bright pink flash shined through all the windows of the little beach house and a thunderous crash was felt right outside.
"Whoa! That wasn't me, what the heck?!" she cried out after being knocked off the couch. She then rushed outside, hand already in her chest pulling out her weapon of choice.
She burst out the front door, barrel-rolling down the steps and coming upon the culprit of all the noise and light. Much to her confusion, she heard soft weeping.
"A meteorite? Since when do rocks cry? Or flash pink?" she asked herself.
After a moment of the smoke clearing, she finally sees a softly weeping naked Steven who is glowing a faint pink.
"Wha-? Steven!" she says as she rushed down the sizable crater he is in to get to him.
Steven notices Amethyst and quickly tries to compose himself. "A-Amethyst! Hey!" he greets, trying to get up.
"Don't you 'hi' me! You come shooting down from the sky in your birthday suit, pink as roses, and you think you can get away with just a 'hi'?!" she berates him.
Steven shrinks a little but looks oddly happy, with a small smile on his face. He suddenly launches himself forward in a tight hug to Amethyst. "I've missed you so much!"
Amethyst tries to ignore Stevens human anatomy, particularly the soft rod pressing against her upper thighs. Tries. "I missed you too buddy. But what's with the fancy entrance? You knocked me out of my favorite couch!" she says, returning the hug generously. She notes she only comes up to around his lower chest now.
"Did we get a new couch? I thought we only had the one?"
"Well yeah, and it's my favorite one!"
They both laugh and Amethyst helps Steven out of the hole they are in. They get inside and Steven goes to the bathroom to wash his face off and finds some old clothes that more or less fit him. He comes out to a waiting Amethyst who notices he is no longer glowing.
"SO, as happy as I am that you decided to visit, are we gonna talk about it?" Amethyst says. She is nervous about talking about feelings, but she has come a long way and knows it's best to address things rather than ignore them. It always blows up in your face. Always.
"Well I just thought I'd take the ol Steven Express, ya know?" he answered.
"And the crying?" she pressed.
"It was actually pretty painful to move that fast," he replied.
"And the public indecency?" she pressed harder.
"They must have burned off somewhere along the way." Lying was getting easier for him. That didn't mean he was good at it though.
After holding his gaze with her defiant stare, she relented. "Look, fine. But if you ever need to talk, I'm here for you buddy. We all are." she grinned at him.
"I know. Well, I'll be here for you too. Because I am done with my travels! I'll be staying home permanently!" he said loudly.
"Huh? Listen I'm glad you're back but isn't the world like, a lot bigger? I don't think you could see it all in just one year." she said skeptically. "The whole point of you leaving was to take it all in and find yourself wasn't it?"
"I actually haven't even left the country…" Steven says with a slight cringe.
"What! Then what gives man?"
"Look, I've already done a lot of crazy things, and I think I've found my answer. I belong here, in Beach City. Even if alot of my friends have moved on and away, this is still my city. It's who I am. It's where I first found love. Where I lived with my family. Where Little Home World is! I belong here. There is nothing better for me out there. I am home." Steven replied. All the while he could not ignore the ice pit in his stomach.
"Aw Steven. Well, If you say so that's good enough for me. Admittedly you haven't actually missed much haha! Though it is summer time so Connie's back for a few weeks, I'm sure you'll want to visit her huh, huh." she teases, wagging her eyebrows.
At the mention of Conney Steven can't help a spike of fear from shooting through him, nor can he stop the warm visions of a blonde beauty with blue eyes.
"Of course! Where is everyone else? At least Garnet and Pearl?" he forces out.
"Garnet has been busy trying to really change the way Home World sees fusions. They are generally accepting but there's still a good chunk of gems that just don't respect it and see it as a perversion of the natural order. She has been teaching classes at Little Home World on building trust between you and potential fusion partners, and is an all over juggernaut for pushing fusion acceptance." Amethyst explains.
"Wow, I guess if anyone would be the face of that it'd be Garnet. I wouldn't mind seeing Ruby and Sapphire again though." Steven says.
"Well, as for Pearl, she's really been spending a lot of time with Greg. She's really come out of her shell and has gotten better at being chill and expressing herself. Still, sometimes the old Pearl comes out. It's not a bad thing though, it's just who she is." Amethyst continues.
"My dad? Huh. I know they settled their differences but I didn't think they'd get that close." Steven muses aloud.
"Yeah. Honestly, it's kinda, I'da'know, sometimes it's kinda weird." Amethyst says, clearly struggling to find the right words.
"What do you mean? Are they still arguing?" Steven said, slightly concerned.
"No no, if anything they are too happy together. I mean I guess it's not a bad thing, it's just...well, I'm sure you'll see what I mean soon enough." she settles to say.
"Um alright then. Well, no time like the present. I want to go see my dad anyway to let him know I'm back. I'll check the car wash. Wanna come with Amethyst?" Steven says excitedly.
"Nah, today's my day off. I'll see you when you get back shrimp." she says, hopping back on the couch and getting comfortable.
"Hey, I'm taller than you you know!" Steven says, beginning to make his way out.
"Well you'll always be little Steven to me." she calls out as he leaves out the door.
After confirming he had left, she slowly slides her left hand down her pants. There is nothing else blocking her path.
"Well, that was a fucking lie…" she says lowly before her eyes close and her fingers start moving.