"You'll never get free, lamb to the slaughter. What'chu gonna do when there's blood in the water? The price of your greeds' your son and your daughter, what'chu gonna do when there's blood in the water?"

--

Spinel was restless. She hated feeling this way, but couldn't stand the thought of Steven getting hurt. She has acted like Pearl these last few days on homeworld, not letting anyone near him. All his friends would get away with a few scars, at BEST. She was being driven to insanity, being constantly overprotective of her little brother-figure and herself. No matter how much Steven tried to coax her into calming down, she just snarled and sulked in a corner for an hour.

She had to be there to protect him if he wanted to go anywhere. Otherwise, she wouldn't let him go. Everyday spinel was driven further to madness. She often said confusingly creepy stuff, like, 'what do you think happens when you get shattered..' or, 'how many knives could a gem take to the Chest before dissipating their form..?'. It was concerning Steven a LOT.

--

Spinel sat on the balcony. Not standing behind the rail, but sat on the rail. If someone were to push her, she would fall down into the abyss underneath the palace. She was staring at the sky, emotionless. But there was pain in her eyes. She was worried about the future.

Steven walked over to the balcony, worried, "hey, you okay?"

She looked back at him. She snarled with anger and pain in her bloodshot eyes.

He took a step back, visibly and mentally scared. She noticed the crystal gems, concerned behind him. She jumped up and stood infront of the hybrid in a defensive gesture, blocking him from them. She swiped out defensively. Steven took a step forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Spinel--" spinel growled and spat loudly.

"--they aren't going to hurt me. Why would you think that?" He continued after being interrupted.

"C-cannot... trust..." she replied in a harsh, raspy voice, it's been awhile since she's spoken normally, she just damages her voice further and further with the constant growling and hissing.

"Yes! You can trust!" Amethyst said in a half-panicked voice.

"No... cannot!" She lunged forward one a threatening way. Her hair was all fuzzed up, way more than usual. She has been like this for weeks now.

Steven motioned to garnet to go. Garnet whispered to Pearl and Amethyst, 'keep her busy.' They nodded, as garnet slipped away to the shadows. Steven did aswell.

"Garnet, what's wrong with her?" Steven asked in a concerned tone.

"She has been fearfully effected during this, she.. she doesn't look well, Steven. She's so obsessed with protecting you, that she doesn't care about anything else. She almost clawed Connie's eye out, if it weren't for pearl, and pearl was poofed that very second. She's extremely aggressive, you need to convince her we won't hurt her." Garnet sighed

"I get that, but what's wrong with her? Emotionally AND physically?"

"Well, for starters, she never rests to sit down, earlier was probably the first time she sat down in a week or so. And she's ripping her hair, as seen. Her bloodshot eyes say she hasn't blinked in weeks on end, too scared that when she closes her eyes, you'll be gone. She just cares about you, but she's taking it too far." Garnet responds.

Steven nods, walking over to the 3 gems.

Spinel was arguing with them about something stupid, amethyst probably started it, as she looked like she was having fun. Spinel was not. She wanted to stab her with the rejuvenator.

Garnet ushered the 2 others away and out of the room. Spinel watched them leave, making sure they did. She spat after them, almost chasing them out. Spinel was not happy with Steven for letting them in without telling her. "What... was that.. you, may got.. hurt..." she rasped.

"No! I wouldn't have! They are my family! At least let them, Connie and Greg in to see me! And the diamonds but like, yeah." Steven pleaded.

Spinel narrowed her eyes. "p-possibly.." she snarled, jumping onto her perch on the side of the door, up high to make sure no one would enter. If they did, they wouldn't notice her, and she would pounce from there. Steven looked up at her concerned, yet happy that she had at least considered it. He sat on the bed the pebbles made him and looked up at the ceiling before falling to sleep.