Nova was practically glaring as his hand as he kept trying to make a shield or even a bubble. So far he could only go into Lion's mane. It's been weeks and Nova was getting frustrated. "Nova, I know you're frustrated, but let's calm down. Come here, sit with me, let's meditate." Steven told him smiling as he sat on the grass.
Nova walked over and sat across from his dad, crossing his legs as he closed his eyes. "Now relax every muscle in your body. Think of nothing but your own breath. Almost like sleeping." He heard Steven tell him as they relaxed.
It was a little hard to do this for Nova since he kept thinking about his powers, but once he started focusing on his breath that was the only thing that got his attention, his dad's voice slowly fading into the distance as he focused on his surroundings. The feel of the grass on his legs, the slight rustling of leaves as a slight breeze flowed through the area but he could hear the cars in the background and it bothered him. He furrowed his brows as he tried making everything silent.
Steven opened his eyes and looked down at his son sitting there silently. Steven saw a pink shimmer in the air. He couldn't help but grin as he saw Nova starting to make a shield around himself.
"Nova, Nova!" Steven said tapping on the bubble shield with a big grin.
Nova opened his eyes as he heard the tapping and his eyes widened as he was trapped in a bubble. He placed a hand on the bubble as he looked at his dad smiling. "I did it!" He told him but his father couldn't hear him and he couldn't hear his dad.
Now there was a problem, how was he supposed to get out? "Dad! How do I get out!" He yelled trying to let his dad hear him.
Steven could hear his muffled words, just barely. It reminded him of the time when he first met Connie and was stuck in the bubble under the ocean. "Calm down! Just imagine lowering the bubble down!" He told him as it was a bit difficult teaching someone about powers.
The ten-year-old couldn't hear him though and just motioned to his ears signaling that he couldn't hear him. He watched as his father stood up and placed his hands on the bubble and motioned him to do the same. Nova wasn't sure why he was doing this, but he just wanted to get out of the bubble.
Steven could see the panic in his son's eyes already and it hurt him that he couldn't do much. He gave him a smile as he gently moves his hands down the bubble "Breathe." He mouthed to his son as Nova nodded as Steven removed his hands.
All Nova had to do was calm down. He closed his eyes as he took deep breathes before opening his eyes and moving his hands down, focusing on the bubble popping and opening it up so he could escape. With his father standing back to watch him Nova spent the next half hour trying to lower the bubble shield. Nova started tearing up as he felt like he couldn't do it.
This caused Steven to come closer to try to make him feel better, but Nova couldn't hear him and Nova already started covering his eyes, crying. He needed Nova to calm down. He bit his lip before hurrying inside and getting some paper, scissors, and markers. He tapped on the bubble making Nova look up with tears pouring from his eyes as Steven drew a goofy mustache and cut it out and held it under his nose.
Nova giggled slightly seeing Steven make goofy looks and faces from the paper and markers. It distracted him from the fact he was trapped in a bubble. He rubbed his eyes as he watched Steven make hearts for him making him smile. Then it came back to him that he was still in here. He could do this, but he was still afraid. He continued to watch his dad try to cheer him up, all he wanted to do was hug his dad now.
He closed his eyes just imagining the bubble to go away as he would run up and hug his dad. He kept thinking and picturing the scene over and over until he felt himself get hugged making Nova on his eyes seeing his dad hugging him and that the bubble was gone. "I'm so proud of you." He heard him tell him as Nova smiled and buried his face against his father's shirt.
"Let's call it for the day, okay?" Steven told Nova making Nova nod making Steven smile and carry his son inside while getting the paper, scissors, and markers so Connie wouldn't get mad.
Ever since that day Nova practiced even harder on his powers now that he knows he actually has them. It has gotten easier to make bubble shields, he still had difficulty getting rid of them though, but he could do it. He got to spend more time with his dad because of it. Right now he was excited because they would be going to Beach City again, he couldn't wait to show his aunts and grandpa his powers.
"Ready, Nova?" Steven grinned as he picked up some bags. The two of them were going to spend a month at Beach City, it was summer so why not? Connie was busy with work being an astronaut, it was her idea for them to go to Beach City for a month while she was gone so Nova would be distracted before he could miss her too much.
"Yup, yup!" Nova said bouncing in place as he got into the car in the backseat and put on his seatbelt. Nova would have rathered go there on Lion's back, but there was too much stuff to bring with them. "Are we there yet?" He asked grinning knowing that they didn't even move yet.
"I didn't even start the car yet, silly." Steven chuckled putting on his seatbelt and turning on the ignition.
Steven could already see the gems and his dad on the beach waiting for them, Pearl was holding a welcome sign with Garnet as they waited for them. He parked the car just as Nova ran out and hugged his grandpa.
Pearl seemed to be extra eager for Nova to be here from what Steven could see as Pearl immediately hugged Nova, just cooing on how big he got. "Hi, Pearl!" He heard Nova tell her before greeting the other two gems who were happy to see him.
"Hey, guys." Steven grinned giving them a hug. "Ready for two more Universe's for a month?" He grinned.
"Always," Garnet told him with a small smile as she picked up Nova making the child laugh and hug the fusion.
"Let me help you with that, bud," Greg said getting some bags from the trunk as Steven was gathering their stuff.
"Thanks, dad." Steven smiled as they got their bags up into the temple, Nova was already showing the gems his powers which amazed them since he didn't have a gem technically.
"I'm a bubble master!" Nova exclaimed as he bubbled a cup, showing the gems what he can do.
"How is this possible!?" Pearl exclaimed as Nova un-bubbled the cup, grinning from ear to ear as Amethyst whistled.
"Impressive, Lil' dude. Bubble me next!" Amethyst grinned as Nova started putting a bubble around her. "Awesome!" They heard her from inside the bubble, her voice as loud as possible as she started rolling around the room.
"Amethyst, be careful! Don't break anything!" Pearl exclaimed as she caught a vase Amethyst knocked over in the bubble.
"Nova, un-bubble her," Garnet told him making the kid pout but did what he was told, it took a bit since Amethyst was still moving and he couldn't focus. Eventually, he did un-bubble her making Amethyst fall on her face laughing.
Steven ruffled his hair as he watched the fun. "He's still learning." He chuckled as Nova smiled brightly.
Things started calming down once stuff got put away. Steven brought Nova to their room, which was his mother's room in the temple. Clouds started forming around to make a room for them to sleep in. "Woah!" Nova exclaimed as he saw anything they thought of appearing. "This is so cool!" Nova exclaimed thinking up the bed of his dreams for it to appear making him squeal and jump on the bed.
"Yeah, soon you may be able to access this room by yourself unless this room is only accessible with my gem," Steven told him making a bed of his own appear. "All of our stuff will stay in place even when we leave, so ready for some food?" He asked making Nova nod and jump out of his bed.
"Can I go out into town on my own after?" Nova asked as they left their room.
"Sure, just be back before dark, now let's eat some breakfast." He grinned since it was really early when they got here and didn't have anything to eat yet.
Nova was so excited to go off on his own to see what Beach City had to offer him and what Little Homeworld was like on his own and see the other gems like Peridot, Lapis, and Bismuth. He can hardly remember the last time he saw them.
After getting something in his system Nova hurried off, saying bye to the others before heading for Beach City. He ran past the Big Donut which had a flow of customers both gem and human. He didn't know where to start. He was too busy looking around that he hardly noticed a kid his age biking towards them out of control. "Watch out!" The kid shouted which got Nova's attention and lifted his hands making a bubble form around him as the kid hit the bubble making the kid fly back. Nova gasped and shot his hands out making a bubble form around the kid before they could hit the concrete.
"I'm so sorry! Are you alright?" Nova exclaimed lowering the bubble shields as he ran over as the kid rubbed the back of his head.
"Am I alright? That was awesome!" The kid exclaimed standing up, being a bit taller than Nova. "Are you a gem?" They asked making Nova hum.
"Hardly. I'm human with gem powers." Nova grinned, "My name's Nova Universe, what's yours?" He asked smiling brightly.
"I'm Ezra Apel." They introduced themselves holding his hand out to shake hands making Nova smile brightly and shake his hand.
"Cool name." Nova smiled as Ezra told him the same thing as they walked over to Ezra's bike.
Ezra sighed as he picked up the broken handle from his old looking bike. "Man, I need a new bike." Ezra sighed dropping the handle.
"How did you ride it this long without breaking?" Nova asked poking one of the wheels that were flat.
"Honestly, I don't know. I kept telling my dad about it, but if it's still in one piece it's good." Ezra explained. "So, are you new here? I never have seen you around before."
"I'm staying at the temple with my dad for a month, this was his home town," Nova told him as he helped Ezra pick up the pieces of his bike as he ended up walking to Ezra's home.
The two became fast friends pretty quickly as they stopped in front of a two-story, blue house. Nova could already hear barking from inside the house. "Don't worry, my dog doesn't bite." Ezra tried to reassure him as he opened the door sending out a Great Dane run out causing Nova to freak out and unintentionally put a bubble around himself.
"Arrowhead! Down!" A voice said as an orange gem step out of the house. The Great Dane looked back and ran over to the gem with their small tail wagging. "Ezra, who's your friend?" They asked as Nova put the bubble down as he walked over with Ezra.
"I'm Nova Universe." He introduced himself as he tried not to freak out again as the big dog sniffed him.
"You're Steven Universe's son. Hello! I'm Fire Opal." They introduced themself with a smile.
"Hello." Nova smiled back, feeling more comfortable around the dog.
"Mom, my bike broke," Ezra said making Nova's eyes widen.
"You're Ezra's mom?" Nova asked making her chuckle.
"Well, stepmom, but yes." She smiled as she looked over at the bike pieces. "I thought I told your father to fix it." She shook her head taking the bike pieces. "Anyway, you can come in, Nova." She told them smiling as she headed back inside with Arrowhead following after her.
"Come on! I can show you my room." Ezra grinned grabbing his hand and leading him upstairs to show Nova his room.