A/N: Back again for another chapter, huh? I'm kinda flattered. I'm really glad you've been enjoying this story (I'm assuming, at least, since you're this far into it by now) and I hope you continue to enjoy it!
(I don't own Steven Universe)
IV: Provenance, Part IV
The warp-pad wasn't too far from where Pearl had stayed. Still, the walk back felt a lot longer when Steven was left in silence. Not a whole lot he thought of could make the minutes pass any faster. First Amethyst's odd condition, and now the Gem corruption. As optimistic as Steven tended to be, it was a little hard to put a positive spin on either topic.
He found the warp-pad in a clearer patch of grass, still in the yellowed savannah that they'd fallen to some time ago. The gleaming structure was a welcome sight. For what must've been the dozenth time since he continued his walk alone, Steven glanced up at his companion, making sure she was still comfortable on his back. Her neutral expression didn't convey much, though she did seem much less tired now than she was before. Thankfully, there still wasn't much a good nap couldn't solve. Steven grinned a little.
Stepping on the warp-pad, he glanced towards the sky, finding the blue turning into a more orangish color. The sun must've just started setting. Steven didn't think their mission had taken that long, but it was difficult to tell when shifting time-zones so rapidly. For all he knew, it was already dusk back at the Temple. With a little will, a bright, azure light shot up from the warp-pad, enveloping him and his companion. He made sure to keep her upright as the weightlessness set in from warping; it'd be a little awkward to wake her up with an abrupt fall.
A few moments later, the light cleared away, and weight returned to the both of them. Previous experience let him be ready for it this time around. Steven fell a small distance to the warp-pad underneath him, but aside from catching Amethyst in the previously secure hold he had on her, he landed without any trouble. Some strands of his companion's hair fell back in front of him, momentarily blocking his view. Blowing them away let his eyes adjust to the sight of the Temple.
The Temple seemed to be as it was left, for the most part. Mostly empty, aside from Garnet. Steven found her sitting at the kitchen in a contemplative pose. Still, the familiarity was comforting. She leaned over the countertop purposefully before catching Steven's eyes. The stiffness of her posture melted in a matter of moments.
"There you are," she breathed out, sounding a little relieved. Steven hummed, stepping off of the warp-pad and towards the open-spaced living room. He gave Garnet about three seconds to notice the state of his companion; she recoiled in two. Wordlessly, the fusion rose an eyebrow towards Steven as he moved in front of the couch, facing her. Then she noticed who was missing.
"Where's Pearl?" she asked, though her eyes were still on Amethyst. Enough about the situation was odd enough for the fusion to frown.
"She's getting the rest of the Gem shards," Steven answered. Garnet's frown intensified as a result. Despite her obvious unsettlement, Steven rose an open palm, asking her to wait for a moment as he positioned himself in front of the couch.
Carefully, he sat Amethyst onto the cushions as best as he could, still keeping her injured leg in mind. He was even more careful with lifting her arms from his neck, putting them to her sides in what was hopefully a comfortable position. The extra cushion already on the couch's corner was a little convenient. After making sure she was still asleep, Steven finally turned towards Garnet, a sheepish expression on his features.
"You missed a lot," he admitted, moving past Amethyst to sit next to her. She'd naturally fallen into a lazy lean against the side of the couch, which would've been a much more comforting sight if her hair hadn't been that dark gray. By now, it looked like the locks had graduated into a lightened black, almost as dark as Steven's hair.
"...apparently," Garnet eventually let out, moving from the kitchen's stool. Her pace was as slow as Pearl's was, the fusion keeping her eyes on Amethyst the entire way. Her sunglasses prevented Steven from confirming where her gaze was, though it wasn't the most unusual notion for her too look so concerned towards Amethyst. He probably would've done the same. Sensing her worry, he started with the most important thing first.
"She's okay right now," he told Garnet. Hopefully his assumption wasn't entirely based on optimism. "She was just… a little tired."
Garnet nodded, moving to sit on the coffee table across from where Amethyst rested. She reached a tentative hand outwards, gently touching the Gem's hair as if to make sure its color wasn't some illusion. Sure enough, it wasn't. Garnet moved her eyes to Steven, asking for some kind of explanation. For a brief moment, he hesitated.
"We don't really know for sure," he prefaced, careful to not jump to conclusions, "but I think it's because of how we unfused."
At this, Garnet tilted her head to the side. "You fused?" she asked, having that subtle impression of surprise in her voice. Steven met her curiosity with a perplexed nod, frowning. Amethyst and him fusing wasn't the most unrealistic notion.
"The corrupted Gem was big," he explained. On some undefinable instinct, he moved just a tad closer to Amethyst. "Really big. We pretty much had to fuse to fight her."
Given that Garnet was the one that issued the mission, Steven didn't entirely understand this being news to her. She raised an understanding palm upwards. Then she gave a "go on" motion with her hand.
Thinking for a second, Steven looked to the ceiling, attempting to get a little more comfortable on the couch. To quote Pearl earlier, he had to think that this might take a while. "We- uh, Smoky,- poofed the Gem- well, a tree did, but…"
Steven shook his head, trying to get his thoughts in order. It was a little difficult to remember who experienced what. Starting over, he took a preparatory breath. It would probably be best to start with where the weirdness first settled in.
"When we fused, Smoky wasn't acting like usual," Steven began, putting his hands together on his lap. His voice became just a little quieter, matching the subtle concern of Garnet's expression. "They were really worried about someone. But… Pearl thinks that maybe Amethyst was worried, not Smoky."
An abrupt grunt from Amethyst stopped Steven's words short. He looked to her, finding her exposed eye just a little open. Though he couldn't see much of her expression with how she looked away from him, she seemed grudgingly regretful, somehow. He couldn't tell how he knew; he was a little surprised to find her awake in the first place. She didn't expand anymore on Steven's explanation, allowing him to pick it back up after a pregnant quiet.
"...anyways," he carefully resumed. Garnet had taken Amethyst's awakening in stride. "While we were fighting the corrupted Gem, Smoky fell off the island with it and unfused. It was really… sudden. The Gem poofed when it hit the ground, but I made sure we landed okay."
Amethyst hummed, moving the cushion behind her head a little. She still didn't look all that comfortable. "Thought we poofed her," she muttered, her voice atypically quiet. Steven assured her that they did before Garnet urged him to continue, listening intently.
"After we landed, Amethyst said she was tired." Steven paused for a second, giving Amethyst the opportunity to speak for herself if she wanted to. She didn't take the chance, letting Steven speak for the both of them. Her decision didn't seem like a happy one, though. Steven continued regardless. "Her hair was normal at the time, but she still didn't look too great."
"Ain't my fault," she interjected again. Steven felt his eyebrows furrow together in a concerned expression. Garnet raised an eyebrow, making an offhand comment that she assumed as much. After another brief pause, Steven recounted what he could.
"Pearl turned into a bird to come fly down to us-she was still on the island-but she got chased away by some of the Gem's babies."
As Steven expected, Garnet rose a hand in the air, telling him to pause for a moment. "I thought the Gem had been defeated," she tried confirming, finding a contradiction in Steven's story. Now Amethyst was the one to answer, albeit after an annoyed grunt.
"It was," she told Garnet, like she just wasn't listening. "That's the weird part."
Garnet tilted her head slightly, looking to Steven for confirmation. He nodded. "One of the weird parts, at least," he added with a shrug. There were plenty more weird parts he could've discussed, though he didn't think they were as important as the ones concerning his friend.
"Then I went to get the Gem," he continued. Garnet seemed to understand his priorities well enough to avoid asking anything about the corruption. "But when I came back, Amethyst looked-"
Steven glanced at his companion for a second. She didn't return his gaze, still facing away from him. Her fingers drummed on the couch's side. "She still seemed tired, and her hair was darker."
"Don't ask me when that happened," Amethyst told him, sitting up a little straighter. She stretched her back, like she usually did following a nap. Steven could interpret that as her giving up on going back to sleep. She sighed, though he had to admit that she looked somewhat revitalized by her brief rest. The bags under her eyes had disappeared, too. The violet Gem kicked her legs up onto the table Garnet was sitting on. "Still kinda weirded out by that."
Steven nodded, finding the occurrence a little strange himself. Hopefully the change was purely cosmetic. Reminded of her other, less-noticeable change, Steven grimaced, slouching somewhat into the couch.
"...plus," he added in a quiet tone, "her foot was hurt, too."
Both Garnet and Amethyst frowned, probably hearing the awkward guilt in his voice. The latter moved her leg a little, trying to downplay its severity.
"It ain't so bad, now," she told her companion. Steven hummed, though still didn't sit that comfortably. The couch's cushions suddenly felt a little too hard. After a long pause, Amethyst picked up where he abruptly let off, meeting Garnet's curious gaze.
"Before we found the huge Gem," she told Garnet, "we found a way-smaller Gem on the island. Probably one of the thing's kids. While we were goin' after it, Steven messed up his foot a little."
Garnet connected the rest of the dots surprisingly quickly, nodding in realization. "And after Smoky unfused, your foot was the one that was injured."
Out of the corner of Steven's eye, he could see Amethyst give a small nod. Garnet also seemed to realize that was why Steven had been carrying his companion when he came in on the warp-pad. Now Amethyst explained to the fusion what had happened, clearing her throat.
"So P met back up with us after Steven got that thing's Gem," she spoke, sitting up a little straighter. "Said that she saw a warp-pad while she was flying from those smaller Gems. My foot was a little janked up, though-"
She suddenly looked at Steven, raising her arms like she was trying to ease him. "-not that it's your fault, or anything- so we walked… well, Steven and P started walking to the pad, I kinda… got carried, and then…?"
Steven rose an eyebrow, as did Garnet. Amethyst shrugged, motioning for Steven to continue. He couldn't quite understand her sudden shift, causing her to explain.
"I fell asleep," she told him slowly. The Gem suddenly crossed her arms, having an irked frown adorn her features. "Even though I told ya not to let me."
Now Steven understood why she left off where she did. He let out an embarrassed, "Oh," rubbing the back of his neck. To be fair, it seemed like letting her rest had been the right choice, but he did offer a brief apology. Amethyst grunted, shrugging indifferently.
Garnet accordingly turned back to Steven, placing her hands on her knees in some kind of anticipation. Though, he was hesitant to relay exactly what he and Pearl talked about. Some of it was already said, and the rest was the kind of stuff he thought Amethyst would rather discuss in private. Keeping her privacy in mind, Steven tried glossing over the walk back as best as he could, ignoring Amethyst's curious expression.
"Pearl and I found some Gem shards on the way back, even though, y'know, the babies weren't supposed to have Gems." Garnet hummed a befuddled agreement, as did Amethyst. "She said that she'd bubble them, but there were a lot, so I walked with Amethyst for the rest of the way while she found the rest of them. Then… we got here, I guess."
Amethyst thought over the discussion for a moment, mentally checking if he left anything out. Not that she could tell for the duration of her sleeping. "Yep," she confirmed with a nod, looking satisfied. "That about sums it up. Lotsa weird stuff."
For some time, Garnet digested what Steven had said. He was tempted to ask about Amethyst's condition right away, now that Garnet had been brought up to speed, but he had to remind himself to be somewhat patient. As worried as he was for his companion, she was fine for the time being. Her familiar relaxation on the couch was a good indication. Still, he couldn't quite get over the change in her hair. According to how she subconsciously picked at the strands, Amethyst couldn't get over it, either.
"That is weird," Garnet eventually breathed out, scratching her chin. Steven didn't know how to feel about the most knowledgeable Gem being at as much of a loss as he was. Frowning, she looked back at Steven, leaning forwards a little. "You think Smoky unfusing was what caused Amethyst to be so tired and have an injured foot? And… change her hair?"
On instinct, Steven nodded, though looked back at Amethyst as he did. She agreed quietly, probably not having much else to go off of. At least Garnet was more concerned with Amethyst than the oddness of the corruption they'd fought. Fittingly, the fusion moved the coffee table a little closer to the couch, sitting closer to both Gems. Steven scooted a little closer himself; detecting the incoming lecture, Amethyst moved as well. She didn't seem as aggravated as usual to receive one, though. More curious than irked.
"Fusion is a combination of individuals," Garnet began, her voice a little lower. She put her elbows on her knees, locking her fingers together in a contemplative pose. "They share everything from either person. Not just their thoughts and emotions, but the physical energy of their Gems, as well. That's how fusions sustain such larger forms so easily."
Amethyst nodded, probably having heard this talk before. Steven didn't think this was entirely news, either, given the colossal size of fusions like Alexandrite or Sugilite.
"Steven, however," Garnet continued, turning towards him, "you're more than a Gem. You have the physical form of a human as well as the energy from your Gem."
Again, Steven nodded. "Right," he said, used to the implications of being a Gem-human hybrid. If there was anything he'd learned by now, it was that he was definitely a "special case". Garnet turned back towards Amethyst, who rose an eyebrow in suspicion.
"Amethyst is a normal quartz. Your body is entirely made from the light of your Gem, like me. As a result, Smoky-"-she suddenly locked her fingers a little tighter, clasping her palms together- "-is almost completely made of their Gems' light, but they still retain the human aspects of Steven-his physical body."
Now Amethyst appeared intrigued. She leaned a little closer, having a mixture of apprehension and anticipation on her features. Her darker hair made her seem more serious, somehow. For once, she was quiet, letting Garnet continue uninterrupted. Steven did the same, more out of awe than eagerness.
"Based on the past, it would seem like your physical form completely returns to you when Smoky unfuses, Steven." Garnet looked down at her hands, and pulled them apart purposefully before closing them into loose fists. "And Amethyst's Gem remains unaffected."
Steven had unknowingly moved himself to the edge of the couch's seat as Garnet spoke. So far, she seemed to be making sense. His body would have to go somewhere whenever he fused. Looking back at Amethyst made him realize the same question she had impatiently asked out loud.
"So, why's this time so much weirder?" she questioned Garnet, leaning towards her expectantly. A worried expression had settled on her features, causing Steven to mimic her. Like before, she seemed much more troubled than the usual Amethyst he knew would be. Garnet hummed for a moment, thinking. She locked her hands together again.
"Steven had said that when Smoky unfused this time, it was sudden, right?"
The young Gem pondered for a moment. Reluctantly, Steven nodded. Amethyst didn't offer her own perspective on the matter, letting Garnet explain what she could.
"It would seem that unfusing so rapidly and without much agreement didn't give Steven's body enough time to return to him completely." Garnet rapidly pulled her hands apart again, though purposefully left her bottom two fingers intertwined. Both Steven and Amethyst frowned, staring at her hands. Before Steven could question exactly what that meant for his companion, she spoke up.
"'Without much agreement?'" she questioned, sounding skeptical. A surprising amount of accusation could be heard in her voice. "What's that s'pposed to mean?"
Garnet looked at her straight on. Steven couldn't have imagined she looked that intimidating on purpose. "You were worried, weren't you?"
The fusion's tone made her question more genuine, though Steven still got the idea that it was more of a rhetorical question. Amethyst paused ever so slightly; then, she crossed her arms, leaning back into the couch. She looked away from Steven again.
"Not… that much," she tried dismissing. Her effort wasn't that effective. Though she tried passing her concern off as trivial, Steven had gotten the idea there was more to it than she let on. He wouldn't push her. At least, not in Garnet's presence. The fusion nodded before finishing her explanation.
"It looks like some of Steven's physical body was… 'left' in you, Amethyst." Garnet looked towards the Gem's injured leg, probably making her a little more uncomfortable. "And it would seem that it's being appropriated accordingly, most likely to avoid some kind of breakdown."
Her last statement hung in the air. Quietly, Steven looked to his companion, wondering exactly what that had meant. She frowned to herself, digesting Garnet's explanation like he was attempting to do. Trying to make sense of what Garnet had said about his body being "left" in Amethyst wasn't something either one of them could accomplish quickly. Fusion seemed a lot more complicated when Gem-human hybrids were involved. Just as Steven was about to question why Stevonnie was a different matter, Amethyst hummed some kind of disapproval.
"Don't really like how you said 'appropriated'," she muttered. After a weathered sigh, she sat back up a little straighter, facing Garnet directly. A bothered expression settled on her features. "So you're saying I… stole his body or something? Part of it?"
Garnet shook her head. "I wouldn't say that," she denied, raising a hand upwards. "More like… you forgot to give it back."
Amethyst's expression didn't improve at the clarification. Steven didn't get the idea that she had forced them to unfuse intentionally, but her obvious guilt made it seemed like she blamed herself for their current predicament regardless. It was about as comforting to her as it was to him. After a few moments of silent contemplation, she looked back at Garnet.
"Can I, y'know, give it back?" she asked, sounding hopeful. Steven matched her tone with a questioning hum, facing Garnet like she was. If her explanation was accurate (which it seemed to be) then he had to guess there was a way to revert the odd change of his companion. Unfortunately, Garnet's neutral expression felt more uncertain than optimistic.
"It's… possible," she said carefully. She sounded like she was hesitant to instill any false hope, worrying Steven further. "I'm not certain, though. It's difficult to tell with fusion. That's part of the fun of it."
Steven rose a skeptical eyebrow at Garnet's abrupt smirk. Fusion was her forte, after all. Amethyst gave her an unamused grunt, ironically not finding too much humor in the situation. Realizing the last addend to her answer, Garnet forced a cough, returning to a more serious tone.
"You can try fusing," she said with a nod. Garnet stood back up from the table, sliding it back into place as she rose. Her expression suddenly darkened, preventing Steven from asking anything for a little longer. "Don't force it, though. Fusion should always be an agreement."
Confused by both her dire demeanor and the unnecessary warning, Steven looked back at Amethyst. She didn't really match his confusion. Instead of casually waving off Garnet's words, she seemed troubled by something. Her fingers had returned to drumming on the couch's side.
"We shouldn't have any trouble," Steven confidently affirmed for the both of them, hoping to rid Amethyst of any doubts she might've had. The sight of her minor surprise was somehow amplified by the dark color of her hair. Still, he didn't let that damper his determination. "We can fuse whenever we need. Right, Amethyst?"
There was a brief pause between when Steven spoke and when she seemingly heard her. Realizing the silence, Amethyst nodded, a usual laid-back expression returning to her features. It still looked somewhat forced. She hummed agreement, laying back into the couch again with a smirk. Garnet mimicked her, now moving towards the warp-pad with her own proud smile. Probably due to the idea of fusion in general, if Steven had to guess. That was something she never really got bored of. Her amusement didn't entirely distract him away from Amethyst's minor frown.
"I'll leave you to it, then," she told the Gems, adjusting her sunglasses. "I'm going to check on Pearl, make sure she doesn't miss any Gem shards by accident."
While he heard Garnet perfectly fine, Steven couldn't ignore Amethyst's expression enough to pay that much attention. She returned to that odd position of forcefully looking away from him, like there was more she needed to discuss without actually wanting to discuss any of it. As Garnet stepped onto the warp-pad, one last question fell out of Steven's mouth.
"What if we don't fuse, though?" he questioned, still looking towards Amethyst. Garnet stopped walking, one foot on the warp-pad as she turned towards him. Amethyst faced him directly as well, visibly surprised. On instinct, Steven raised his hands defensively.
"I mean, we should," he explained himself, "And we're for sure going to, but… would anything else happen to her? Like, any other changes besides her foot and her hair?"
Amethyst couldn't quite understand what he was getting at, though she still seemed to tell his question stemmed beyond a natural curiosity. Hopefully she'd be unable to tell why his question reached as far as it did. With Garnet still in the room, Steven didn't get the idea that discussing whatever insecurities his companion may or may not have wasn't really polite, nor something she'd really appreciate. Some thoughtful moments of pondering passed, and then Garnet shrugged again.
"I can't tell for certain," she admitted, looking back at Amethyst's hair. "Maybe her hair is all that's been changed. It's difficult for me to tell."
Even though it wasn't the most satisfying of answers, Steven found getting a full explanation was a little hopeful. Just because Garnet knew the most about fusion didn't mean she knew everything. Steven hummed to himself, slouching into the couch. Amethyst watched him for a few moments.
"I'll be back soon," Garnet told the both of them, stepping onto the warp-pad completely. She paused for a moment, thinking. About what was anyone's guess; her sunglasses didn't help Steven tell. "If I'm not back soon, then I'll likely be helping Pearl."
She must've been checking timelines. Amethyst grunted, saluting lazily as a casual farewell. Steven gave the standard, "See you later," before a bright light shot up from the warp-pad, enveloping Garnet. After a few seconds, the luminescence left, leaving Steven and his companion alone in the Temple.
The following silence felt far more awkward than Steven would've ever anticipated. Despite Amethyst's usually casual nature, she seemed deceptively tense, like her quiet was the only alternative to… something. Again, Steven couldn't tell how he read his friend so well, considering she was just sitting on the couch lazily. It wasn't the most expressive position she could be in. Rather than comment or ask about whatever thought she was so enraptured with, Steven cleared his throat, trying to disperse the silence.
"So…" he started, trying to keep his voice both neutral and optimistic, "We… should fuse, right?"
Amethyst hummed, looking to the side. She had taken to picking at her darkened hair again. "Yeah," she agreed quietly. The Gem didn't say anymore, not moving in the slightest. Steven decided to move ever so slightly closer on the couch, hoping that he wouldn't have to prod. He gave her a couple moments to explain. Maybe being alone would be enough.
A few hopeful moments passed. Amethyst didn't say anything about either fusing or whatever she was upset by, leaving Steven with practically nothing to work with. He sighed, letting out a tentative hum to attract her attention. Even though she had turned towards him, she only glanced at him for a brief moment before her eyes looked away purposefully.
"Um," Steven began carefully, "what's wrong, Amethyst?"
Immediately, the Gem shook her head, denying the notion. "Nothin'," she answered in a casual tone. If Steven was honest, she wasn't all that great of a liar at the moment. Amethyst could tell the lack of authenticity her answer offered, grimacing like her voice just cracked. She looked back at the empty warp-pad, then pulled her legs up onto the couch in a cross-legged sitting position.
"...sorry," she muttered, sounding glum. Her expression fell alongside her casual demeanor. It was difficult to tell what exactly she was apologizing for without any further explanation. Nothing that came to Steven's mind made sense to him; she couldn't be faulted for much of anything at the moment. He moved a bit closer, careful to keep a respectful distance while still showing his support. Not the easiest of tasks, but he had practice before.
"What for?" Steven asked quietly. He sat up a little straighter on some attentive instinct. Amethyst didn't elaborate, meeting the question with silence. For a moment, he considered patting her shoulder in an attempt to reassure her, though was hesitant to touch her with knowing as little as he did. Instead, he tried for a smile.
"You know you can talk to me, right?" His voice gained a little more sincerity. "'Worst Gems stick together.'"
That got a reaction out of Amethyst. She turned to him abruptly, raising a curious eyebrow. Being able to read her so well didn't have much to do with how easy Steven could see the sliver of understanding she recognized. Thankfully, she seemed more grateful than dismissive of his reminder.
"Right," she confirmed with a nod, sounding a little more confident. With the both of them being the only people in the Temple, she seemed much readier to talk than Steven anticipated. He wasn't complaining. His friend spoke slowly, probably hesitant to lose her casual voice.
"I just- I feel bad." Steven tilted his head to the side. That much was obvious (for better or for worse) though he made no move to interrupt her. "I should… trust you more, y'know? You're not a kid."
Trust certainly wasn't something that Steven would've thought of as the problem. He wasn't used to Amethyst having such an earnest doubt, but he nodded regardless. The fact of her doubt was what he wanted to help dispute, not what it was. Amethyst continued, hearing the silent support he offered and appearing somewhat grateful.
"You've been through a lotta stuff, I know. Defending Beach City, bubbling some planet-sized Cluster, even running from the Diamonds." She paused, sharing his reflection on his past adventures. For a brief moment, they managed to share a small grin as well. It didn't last as long on Amethyst's lips. "So it makes sense that you don't get scared, right? So… I shouldn't either."
Now Steven frowned, not quite agreeing with either notion. Before he could move to contradict Amethyst's train of thought, she groaned in some regretful manner.
"This last Gem was huge. Like, biggest I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot." Amethyst shook her head, frowning. Her voice became a little quieter. "And even though the thing was a monster, you weren't scared at all to fight it. So, why should I-"
"Because you were there," Steven suddenly interrupted. He was as surprised at hearing his own voice as Amethyst was. It wasn't really his plan to speak; something about Amethyst's regretful tone forced the words out of his mouth. She paused, looking at him with a surprised gape. Now that he'd spoken, he decided it was best to explain while he could.
"Of course I'd be scared by a Gem that big," he admitted to his companion. He moved a little closer, placing a hand on Amethyst's shoulder. Her surprise prevented her from being all that receptive, though she still seemed to notice, according to her tense pose loosening up. "Pearl was too. But… that's why we fused. Having each other was why Smoky could fight the Gem in the first place."
Steven paused for a moment, giving his companion an earnest smile. "Amethyst, I wasn't scared because I knew I had you to rely on if something bad happened."
Despite their past agreement, Amethyst seemed surprised by the notion. More than surprised; she seemed bewildered that something like her presence could ease Steven to such a degree. "Oh," was all she said, as if their mutual reliance was news to her. The smallest hint of a blush rose to her features, only partially covered by the dark hair of her long bangs. With him being so direct to someone that tended to hold her cards close to her chest, he could understand the darker hue of her cheeks as a little embarrassed. The deeper violet was overtaken by a crestfallen expression in a matter of moments.
"Guess I… kinda dropped the ball on that one too, huh?" she told Steven quietly, looking away from him again. The brief support they'd shared was lost in just a few seconds, causing Steven to frown out of concern. At least Amethyst didn't shrug off his contact, continuing. "I got us into all this weirdness, just 'cause I was so worried about you. I should have trusted you more than that. And look at where worrying got us."
Her voice was heavy, still reminiscent of her nonsensical guilt. She moved her leg carefully, though she didn't seem physically bothered by the injury, meaning it had likely been healed by now. Still, it seemed to have a lasting impact on her. "Hurt my leg n' ruined my hair."
Steven matched her frown, concerned at how much she was attributing to herself. Usually, Amethyst would spend the majority of a conversation convincing someone that whatever she'd done wasn't her fault. Now she seemed convinced that something she didn't do was her fault. There wasn't much humor in the irony. After a moment's thought, Steven hummed.
"That's not your fault," he told his companion simply, half-consciously sounding like she usually did. Amethyst opened her mouth to disagree, but Steven continued before she could. "I get worried too, Amethyst. Everyone does. It's not something people do on purpose, but it's not something you should feel bad about, either. It just means you care."
Amethyst hummed, muttering some incredulous statement about how Steven managed to put a positive spin on everything. That was his forte, he guessed. Some of the anxious guilt in Amethyst's features was replaced with a curious consideration, which hopefully meant she understood his perspective. A shred of her doubts seemed to linger, though. For a brief moment, Steven paused, thinking on his words. It didn't take him long to find them, deciding to speak more directly than usual (which was saying something).
"It's good to have something- or someone- to lose."
A slight recoil from her wasn't entirely what Steven expected. She looked at him in silence, now completely paying attention to his features. At least he had seemed to get rid of any doubts. He gave his companion an easy grin, silently praying he hadn't gone "too far" in trying to ease her. His last statement felt right to say, though. As if she needed the clarification. Again, Amethyst said an inaudible, "Oh," in response, accompanied by a hint of rosiness in her cheeks. She gave him a more comprehensible response after clearing her throat.
"...well put," she eventually granted, smiling earnestly. It was a comforting enough sight for Steven's smile to turn genuine. He liked to think that was what Amethyst needed to hear. She swept some of her longer bangs behind her ear, visibly more comfortable on the couch. "I actually… really appreciate you saying that."
Steven nodded, both understanding and appreciating her gratitude. Somehow, the couch cushions he sat on felt softer to him, too. Amethyst continued giving him a contented smile for a few seconds; then, she suddenly laughed, shaking her head.
"C'mere," she told him, spreading her arms outwards. The motion removed Steven's grasp from her shoulder, though it was obvious where to put his arms next. With his own contented laugh, he wrapped his arms around Amethyst, sharing a snug embrace. The world seemed a tad brighter for the moment. Even though she was the one he was trying to comfort, he felt his own kind of… security. It was nice; nice enough that he could afford to tighten his hug without fearing it'd make things too awkward. Amethyst followed after his example, and even though his eyes were shut, the couch they sat on felt even brighter.
A cozy feeling emanated throughout his body, warming it up in a comfortable heat from his head to his toes. Something told him Amethyst had a similar feeling. That cozy security was shared for another few moments before someone else could feel the warmth. They thought it was nice enough to enjoy, too. Then they noticed the relatively deeper impression they were making in the couch.
Confused, Smoky dropped their asymmetrical arms, loosening their grip. They turned to face the coffee table in front of the couch, but didn't risk putting their legs up on it like Amethyst had earlier. Rather than relax, Smoky looked at the palms of their hands, still startled.
"I… didn't mean to…" they mumbled to their self. They could hear a surprising amount of indecision in their own voice. Looking at their hands for another few seconds, they shook their head. They were there now, they supposed, so there wasn't much point in thinking about how they got there in the first place. Besides, when the first thing they felt was a warm coziness, there probably wasn't a whole lot to feel that offset about.
Smoky took a deep breath, purposely relaxing into the couch more comfortably. They thanked that it could support their weight so easily. Since they were already relaxed by nature of their character, calming further wasn't entirely necessary, but they thought it was a good measure to take. They closed their eyes in a calm respite, breathing peacefully. Much more comfortable than the last thing they could attribute as their memory.
Once they were sure there wasn't any underlying problem or concern to worry about, Smoky placed the three of their hands on their knees, breathing out again. They carefully exhaled, allowing their self to come to a complete agreement before lowering into the couch further. Like before, the world brightened a tad, probably as an effect from their Gems glowing.
Then, after a satisfied hum, Steven opened his eyes. He was back to sitting on the couch, almost in the exact same position he was in when he left it. The only difference was the proximity of his companion. Rather than being pushed up against the couch's cushion like before, Amethyst lay over his legs, half her limbs drooping over the side of the couch in what could only be defined as a lazy pose. Noticing her, Steven grimaced.
The hair over her one eye was still very much black, albeit that lightened one. It didn't seem worse or changed at all, the locks still dark like Steven's own hair. Other than that odd change, Amethyst still looked as she usually did. A white tank-top, black leggings, violet Gem, and fair lavender skin. Her usual appearance made the one oddity stand out even further.
"Amethyst?" Steven said softly, hoping she wasn't so exhausted like the first time. They had understood each other, probably more so now than ever before. Maybe that didn't matter as much when it came to being so tired. The Gem's eyes lay closed in some respite, which did little to make her look all that energized. After saying her name a second time, Amethyst groaned, reaching an arm up to rub her eye.
"...didn't work, did it?" she drew out through a yawn. Even without looking at her hair, she could tell fusing didn't have much of an effect on her condition. Steven got the idea it was her exhaustion that had told her as much. Reluctantly, he hummed affirmation, giving her a concerned frown. He really hoped that would change her hair back. Instead of a frustrated groan, however, Amethyst waved her other hand in the air.
"Ah, don't sweat it," she eased him, sitting up. Steven moved to help her on instinct, but she didn't seem as fatigued as before. More sleepy than exhausted. Her small grin added to the illusion, as did the subtle slur of her words. "Jus'... try later…"
Steven set her to the couch's side again, humming a dissatisfied tone. She seemed much less bothered than he was, according to her eagerness to push into the couch's soft cushion again. Now that she (arguably) had a more proper place to rest as opposed to the grass and dirt of some savanna, she was much readier to do nothing than before. Assuaging her reluctance to worry probably helped.
Silently, Steven looked at his friend, thinking. She hadn't even gotten as far as finishing a full "Thanks," before she evidently nodded off, losing what little rigidness she had in her posture. That was even faster than the first time. Thankfully, she hadn't slid off the couch in the process, sitting contently. Her expression was definitely more at ease than it was the first time unfusing had made her so tired.
At least she was more comfortable than before. If she was at all bothered about being so tired again, she didn't seem to show it. Steven stood up from the couch, being careful to maintain the quiet and avoid making Amethyst any less comfortable. He moved past her carefully, looking at her dozing expression the entire way. As worried as he was for Amethyst falling back to resting, it didn't seem as dire this time around. Like it was a normal reaction to unfusing. Given how often Amethyst slept on her own, her sleep now didn't feel entirely out of the ordinary. It really was comforting to have her so much more relaxed, however odd the sight of her dark hair was. So comforting, in fact, that it distracted Steven enough for him to accidentally bump his toe on the table's leg.
The sudden bump on the table wasn't enough to stir Amethyst, but Steven still thought a couple psuedo-curses might've done it. He was silent anyways, though, being the patient person he was. Shaking his head, Steven continued past the coffee table. It wasn't his fault he was so distracted. He kicked off his sandals as he walked towards the stairs of his room, the only other noise being Amethyst's quiet snores from the couch.
"Heh," Steven chuckled to himself. Out like a light again. If her previous nap was anything to go by, then he assumed her resting was a good thing. Finding out why she needed a nap could come a little later.
Still making an effort to stay quiet, Steven ascended to his room, looking around for a brief moment. There was a lot he had to offer to distract himself. He settled on one of his longer books, and reached towards the volume. His other hand reached towards his un-made bed at the same time. At least now he'd have an excuse for not making it.
Steven moved back down the stairs, taking more care with his blanket than his book. Nearly falling down the stairs from the blanket getting caught on his nightstand was some cause for alarm, so he slowed his pace, reminding himself Amethyst wasn't going anywhere. He moved to the side of the coffee table, placing his book on its corner to grip his blanket with both hands.
After moving back in between the coffee table and the couch, he raised up the sheet cautiously, taking a brief moment to glance at Amethyst's expression again. Even though not a whole lot changed after fusing and unfusing, he got a sense of content from his companion. A few contemplative moments passed, and he placed a corner of the blanket on either side of where Amethyst lay. Extra care was put into making sure the blanket wouldn't slip off of her as she napped. Once he made sure she was adequately covered, he moved to sit next to her.
To make sure she was asleep, he tapped her shoulder lightly. No response was given beyond a usual snore. Smiling, Steven sat comfortably next to his friend, reaching for the book he sat down earlier. Maybe he was sitting a little close, but Amethyst couldn't tell as much. He didn't see the harm in it. As he opened the novel, he glanced towards the warp-pad uncertainly. Given that the others were still out collecting Gem shards, he guessed Garnet's presence had been necessary. Still, he was happy enough in Amethyst's presence. He did one final check over his companion, finding her with a persistently placid expression, and settled into the couch more comfortably. The cushions felt pleasantly soft, now.
A/N: Initially, I toyed with the idea of separate "acts" to divide plots/scenes and such, but I didn't want to lock myself down for sure in case I wanted to try going a different direction. I'm more of a "go with the flow" kinda guy.
Also, here's the obligatory thanks to the great conglomerate of folks that support the story, either through a fave/follow/review or just a simple read. Honestly, I really do appreciate you taking the time to look at this thing. Thanks a bunch, love! :D