A/N: Important to note is that this story was written far before impactful episodes/specials like "Change your Mind" were even a consideration, so the Gems are all in their earlier forms (season four or five I think, I forget the numbers; you've probably worked out their outfits by now anyways). But, I mean, it's text, so for the most part you can really just envision them however you naturally do. That's how readin' works, after all. Though, I do try to paint a vivid picture.
Have a good day!
(I don't own Steven Universe)
XI: Dependence, II
Amethyst strode down the stairs with a purposefully slow pace. While her eyes were forced downwards, she didn't pay much attention to the wooden steps underfoot. She wasn't even that aware of the wooden bar she used as support, too lost in thought to contemplate the rough surface.
That last exchange with Steven was… strange. Weird. Certainly weirder than Amethyst had any business being with someone as close as him. One would think that any weirdness between them would be reduced with the earnest conversation they shared earlier. And, in a sense, Amethyst did think as much at the time. Taking after Steven wasn't something she could usually accomplish with as much success or ease. But between the last hug Steven had given her and the awkward silence he'd induced, Amethyst got the sense that not quite everything could be solved in one catharsis. Which, admittedly, kind of sucked.
Without thinking, Amethyst hit the bottom of the stairs, stumbling a little when she expected the floor to be further down than it was. She shook her head in a futile effort to clear it. A lot of things could be blamed for how some of her doubts lingered; waking up so recently, her complete transformation into a Gem-Human hybrid, or maybe even seeing Steven so atypically distraught a couple minutes ago. None of those excuses could be used honestly, though. The fact was as frustrating as it was true. At the same time, Amethyst being left with no real answer to rely on things felt so… so…
"Amethyst?" a voice called, breaking her out of her thoughts again. Curious, the Gem tore her eyes from her dirty boots, seeing Pearl's semi-distant form in the kitchen up ahead. The lights of the kitchen seemed comparatively bright next to the dusk outside. Pearl stood under those lights, holding a pan over the stove in one hand and something round and white in the other. Weirdly, Amethyst first assumed it was her own Gem. Then Pearl brought down the egg on the edge of a pan, cracking it and spilling the yolk onto the hot surface. Some sizzling soon followed.
Nonplussed, Amethyst glanced to her right, seeing the dim evening outside through the mesh of the front door. A cloudy sky met her view along with a few far-off birds near the horizon. Barely, she could smell the salty scent of the ocean waft into the Temple. She strained her eyes for a moment, looking towards the beach. Only two dots of people could be seen walking around the bend of sand, one short, one considerably tall.
"Hm," Amethyst muttered to herself, looking back to Pearl. The pale Gem's eyes still remained on her. Unsure of what she was waiting for, Amethyst spoke up, resuming her gradual pace towards the bathroom. Her legs still felt sore. "Thought you would'a gone with them. Y'know, to 'keep my style.'"
A short pause met her words. As she strode past the living room's couch, the heated scent of whatever Pearl was cooking replaced the smell of the sea. Unconsciously, Amethyst felt her legs turn towards the kitchen. Her body soon followed after.
"What'cha cookin'?" she asked, just now noticing the emptiness of her stomach. Fittingly, it growled in a low rumble. Pearl let out a brief laugh.
"You'll find out," she returned. The Gem moved towards one of the cabinets, getting out a couple nondescript seasonings that Amethyst never bothered to learn the name of. She was too focused on the stove to read their labels now. Pearl didn't read them either, though that was probably more due to experience than laziness. It wouldn't be the first time she put together a meal. Amethyst listened to her companion's explanation, watching intently as she applied one of the various ingredients to the egg in the pan.
"Garnet and Steven can buy your clothes," Pearl told her. Something about her tone seemed conspicuously proud. "It's hardly a good idea to leave you alone, so…"
Amethyst tilted her head, now standing in front of the kitchen counter. A few locks of ebony hair spilled to the side. Subsequently, a couple twigs fell out as well. Maybe there was more truth to the wood in her hair than she first thought. Pearl spoke again, hardly looking at the pan as she moved its contents around. "Steven had said you were hungry before, so I assumed something similar would happen now."
Judging by the second rumbling her stomach produced, Pearl's assumption was spot on. Amethyst was hungry. Being preoccupied with her best friend earlier put such a need on hold, but now that Steven had been reassured, Amethyst noticed the emptiness of her stomach much more easily. Smelling a hot meal directly had helped. Part of her was tempted to just go and grab whatever Pearl was putting together immediately, but that probably wasn't a good idea, for a number of reasons. Burns were a serious consideration now.
Still, Amethyst waited by the countertop, nearly salivating in anticipation. Pearl sensed enough to turn around, and promptly suppressed a laugh at whatever expression Amethyst had on her features.
"It won't be ready for a while," she said after her pseudo-chuckling subsided. Amethyst deflated, now slouching onto the marble surface with a disappointed frown. "You can afford to take a shower first. It should be done by the time you come out."
All things considered, Amethyst didn't know how long of a shower she planned on taking. Though, the warning did tear her away from Pearl's cooking. Somewhat.
"…probably," Amethyst eventually said. The word was so delayed that it was hard to recall what she was replying to. Something caught in her throat, forcing her to clear it. Her vocal cords still didn't agree with her. Similar to how hungry she realized she was, Amethyst just now noticed how dry her throat had been, too. Pearl glanced at her for a second, raising an eyebrow. She adjusted one of the knobs on the stove before reaching towards another cabinet. A few seconds later, she held a starred mug under the kitchen sink, letting it fill over another couple of seconds.
"Here," she told Amethyst, turning around to place the drink in front of her. It barely made contact with the counter. Immediately, Amethyst snatched the cup up, putting the edge to her lips in a matter of moments. Water nearly spilled out of it from the speed. She closed her eyes as she drank, finding something as simple as water to be the equivalent of liquid gold. The cup was emptied not much later. As it turned out, she'd been remarkably thirsty, similar to the arid feel of her throat back when Steven had first found her in the bathroom earlier in the day. Amethyst lowered the cup back onto the counter. A satisfied sigh fell from her lips, mirroring the Gem's features.
"What, no soda?" she jokingly asked Pearl. Water had been more than enough for her, really, but Pearl's gesture improved her mood enough for the off-hand humor to be possible. Pearl just smirked and shook her head. She shut off the rush of water flowing out of the kitchen sink, moving back in front of the stove a second later.
"We should focus on your health, first," the Gem responded. She knew Amethyst well enough to read her hidden gratitude. That didn't stop her from being as motherly as usual. "Steven's not the only one worried about you."
Amethyst nodded. She had to grin at her companion's care, finding it nice. Her thirst sated, Amethyst glanced outside through the window of the Temple, looking towards the sky once more. It was becoming increasingly blue as the moon began climbing upwards into the stars. There was probably something symbolic there, though Amethyst wasn't the kind of person to look very hard for that sort of thing. She waited at the counter top for a short while, thinking more about her best friend than the atmosphere while she held onto her mug. Pearl noticed, but kept quiet, probably sensing something on Amethyst's mind to avoid completely returning to cooking.
"…hey, P," Amethyst started. There was a surplus of nonchalance in her voice. Ignoring it (and the odd look her tone had accrued from Pearl), she hummed, glancing towards her arms again. Part of her almost moved to rub them on a nervous instinct. She thankfully recalled that wasn't a good idea, what with the bandages adorning her limbs. Shaking her head, Amethyst looked back forwards, deciding that it wouldn't be very practical to "beat around the bush" as she usually did.
"Did Steven… I dunno, change or something?"
Her question was left purposefully vague, but that apparently wasn't practical, either. Pearl only tilted her head in confusion. Interpreting the emphasis Amethyst had placed couldn't have been an easy task, even for someone as smart as Pearl.
"I… don't follow," she admitted, turning down the stovetop's heat once again. Now she seemed to move the meal-in-progress absentmindedly as opposed to having any culinary purpose in her motions. Amethyst was far less worried about the food right now, regardless of what her stomach was telling her. Pearl scratched her temple with a raised eyebrow, speaking slowly. "Steven doesn't seem any more purple, if that's what you mean."
"Nah," Amethyst waved off. In a sense, that could've been what she was referring to, but even she could word it better. Then again, she wasn't that specific in the first place. Oops. Thinking, Amethyst moved her mug around in a vague circle despite it being devoid of any contents. However she could've improved on Pearl's wording, Amethyst did her best to get her point across. She cleared her newly revitalized throat, gesturing over herself as she tried again. "I meant like, y'know… maybe this whole exchange ain't one-sided."
That didn't progress Pearl's understanding. It was obvious from Amethyst's tone that she was talking about something less physical than her body, but that was unfortunately all she really had to use to send the message. Pearl hummed, halting her stirring for a second. The sizzling from the pan seemed to halt in the same moment. Amethyst set down her cup as she waited in an anxious silence.
"You don't mean his body?" Pearl asked.
That was it. Amethyst nodded, glad that her friend could clarify what she couldn't. It was such a simple statement, too.
Pearl moved a thoughtful expression to the ceiling. For a second, Amethyst felt her eyes naturally drawn to the pieces of clothing she held under her arm. They had way more importance than any simple shirt and jeans should've. At least, to Amethyst.
"Now that you mention it…" Pearl eventually started. Amethyst's eyes moved back to hers, finding her companion much more contemplative than she was a minute ago. "He did mention using your whip while in the warp-pad."
That wasn't exactly the direction Amethyst had meant, but now she was intrigued. Her eyebrows raised in curiosity. "He used my whip?"
Pearl nodded with a hum, looking back to the meal she was cooking. It really did smell way more incredible when Amethyst had a necessity to eat rather than a desire. Still, the savory aroma couldn't distract from what the pale Gem was saying.
"He didn't say much else about it." Pearl suddenly sighed, her shoulders slouching for a second. The ribbon around her looked like it'd lost its own posture. "Though, at the time, he was much more worried… You know how he gets."
At that, Amethyst had to smirk. She placed her free hand on the countertop in a casual lean. "Yeah, I definitely do." The Gem paused for a second, tapping her finger on the counter. Whatever conversation could be had about shifting abilities and trading weapons, a different kind of exchange felt more impactful to Amethyst. Besides, she was taking a break from all the hybrid weirdness; magic Crystal Gem business could be put on hold for now.
"But, uh," Amethyst tried again. She felt her eyes move back to the bundle of clothing held under her arms. "I was asking more about if his, y'know… personality changed or something."
"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Pearl quickly waved off. She reached a hand across the stove top, turning one of the knobs back up to a stronger temperature. The simmering gradually grew in volume as an effect. Pearl's voice compensated in its own volume, the Gem audibly confident in her assessment. "I will say he's been more concerned lately, but that's hardly unreasonable."
Pearl paused for a second, turning to face Amethyst directly. An inexplicable guilt froze her once-tapping finger as she locked eyes with the Gem. The guilt was made even more inexplicable by the sudden smile growing across Pearl's features. It wasn't the most comforting of sights.
"Is this because you feel you've changed?" Pearl inquired knowingly. Not that she looked smug, but her expression radiated an amused aura that was probably supposed to be endearing. Instead, it was a little intimidating. Amethyst jolted upright, waving away the question fervently.
"Nah," she denied, now tightly clutching to Steven's clothes, "still same-old same-old. You know me."
For a brief second, Amethyst frowned, glancing down at herself. A dirty and frayed outfit met her vision, worn around a body color that she still wasn't used to calling hers. "Not counting this whole body thing."
A gentle laugh rose out of Pearl. "That's not what I mean," she clarified. Though, the clarification was redundant. Amethyst knew Pearl long enough to understand her words usually held more under their surface.
"You sounded just like Steven back there." She motioned towards Steven's room with her head. Amethyst glanced at the room out of the corner of her eye, unsure. The growing dusk made it look like a beacon of brightness in the Temple's dimness. Kind of an odd effect. Pearl continued, her voice regaining a bit of that conspicuous pride from before. "I think he's a good influence on you."
Normally, Amethyst would shrug off her earnest attitude, but something about it piqued her interest. That was probably due to Steven, ironically enough. He definitely had a hand in not just sharing his hybrid quality, but also in what Amethyst was feeling now. Whatever that was.
"Yeah, well—" Amethyst tried reasoning. Even with one of her arms in use, she tried wringing her hands on some nervous instinct. The clothes nearly dropped to the ground. "Guy like that tends to… y'know, get to ya. One way or another."
Pearl chuckled again. She reached to her left, pulling open a drawer and producing a short spatula from it. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
Amethyst paused at the response. She thought for a moment, a nervous hum escaping her lips. "Maybe it is," she muttered, now looking to the floorboards. Pearl stopped her stirring for a second, and Amethyst didn't need to look up to know the grimace she wore.
"…Amethyst?" she started. Her tone grew much quieter, barely distinguishable above the ambient cooking of the stovetop. After a considerable delay, she turned the knob just a little, reducing the sizzle of whatever she was cooking up. "Is there… something else you wanted to talk about?"
Amethyst felt herself laugh, but it was too cynical to have any positive impact. "Not really," she admitted. Wanting to discuss it was different. Still, there was an annoying necessity that she was hesitant to bring up. Only Steven's recent influence allowed her to accept as much. "But, there might be something I… maybe need to."
Sighing, Amethyst stepped forwards, moving herself to one of the seats in front of the countertop. A cushioned *thump* followed. She tossed Steven's clothes onto the marble just to her left, allowing her to prop her elbows up on the surface while she sat. Pearl broke away from the pan, turning around just in time to see Amethyst put her head in her palms. The action was more out of frustration than despair, though Amethyst would be lying if she said that wasn't close to a contributor. Pearl's own hands lay themselves on the counter to either side of her.
"Is it something to do with how Steven… affected your body?" she asked first. Leave it to her to assume the motherly role of worrying so much. Then again, Amethyst didn't say anything beyond telling her there was something she had to talk about. Mentioning exactly what that "something" was didn't feel right enough to even hint at the matter. Amethyst shook her head, humming a quick denial. Her eyes settled on the bundle of clothing to her side once more.
"Are you worried about that island?" Pearl tried again. All things considered, Amethyst was surprised Pearl couldn't connect the dots right away. The very first question she'd taken to the Gem was more relevant than she seemed to realize. Pearl suddenly straightened her back, now sounding confident again. She probably took Amethyst's silence as confirmation. "Rest assured, we can ignore that awful place for the time being."
The word "awful" was said with a personal spin of revulsion, which was a little enjoyable coming from Pearl. Amethyst shook her head again, scratching her cheek for a moment.
"Not that," she told Pearl. A dissatisfied hum met her denial. Thankfully, Pearl didn't complain about the lack of help Amethyst gave. Amethyst's new look probably gave her companion a little more patience. She'd take what she could get. Eventually, Pearl asked one last question, now hesitant instead of certain.
"Is it… Steven?"
Bingo. Amethyst didn't respond right away, giving Pearl enough information to treat her second lack of an immediate answer as a "yes". How glued her eyes were to the pink shirt of her best friend was probably a good indicator regardless. Pearl's hands visibly relaxed in tandem with her posture, the Gem leaning closer to Amethyst. From the corner of her eye, she could see Pearl's features morph into a curious pout. She didn't want to, but Amethyst forced herself to at least clarify what she could to Pearl.
"Well, kind of," she said, her voice uncharacteristically small. Covering up how she felt was irrelevant with all that's happened, and it would probably continue to be irrelevant for as long as she knew Steven. So, forever, really. Amethyst pushed what she could through her vocal cords, still really not wanting to say any of it. "It's more like… how I… feel. About him."
Some part of Amethyst wanted to add "But not in a weird way!" out of paranoia, but at that point, she'd be lying. It was too soon to pin down that extra weird feeling as some worrying complex; at the same time, not understanding it meant the feeling could theoretically be anything. Calling it some unreasonable obsession was only one potential cause for concern. Pearl didn't respond immediately, letting Amethyst's paranoid instincts get the better of her.
"That came out wrong," she tried backpedaling despite the dishonesty. Her phrasing didn't exactly come out wrong. Just that it felt a little wrong to say, in a sense. "I mean, like, what he is. To me."
Amethyst rubbed her temples, groaning at how inept she was with something as simple as speaking. "Nope, still sounds weird…"
Pearl seemed to hesitate for a second. Now wasn't the best time for that, since she was what Amethyst was relying on for the speaking portion of her conflict. It was pretty obvious she couldn't accomplish any verbal understanding herself. After her lengthy pause, Pearl made an effort to respond, untensing her hands. Amethyst glanced at her for a second, seeing her features similarly relax.
"I don't think it's all that weird," Pearl returned. Her voice was surprisingly honest; quiet without being shy. Amethyst looked up for a second, watching Pearl as she continued. "I'd honestly be worried if you felt exactly the same by now."
That much was true. Becoming the second Gem-human hybrid in all of existence had definitely put things into a different perspective. A more earnest one, one that Amethyst found herself admitting as a little outside her usual character. The occurrence wasn't strictly wrong or bad, just… well, weird. Pearl continued while Amethyst contemplated herself.
"You two are much closer now than you've ever been before," the pale Gem added. Her tone grew prouder, as did her posture. Not in that knowing way Pearl tended to use, but more in a way like she was praising Amethyst's emotional ability. Somehow. "Surely you of all people noticed how protective he's become."
Once more, Amethyst felt herself laugh. It wasn't nearly as cynical this time, though. Not exactly joyful, either, but the noise had sounded more accepting than before.
"Believe me, I noticed," she said, now sitting up a tad straighter on the stool. Pearl seemed glad that she was making progress on Amethyst's mood. The improvement allowed Amethyst to speak up again, trying to simultaneously give Pearl more to work with and figure herself out. "But… I dunno, I feel like I'm not supposed to be protected so much."
Instantly, the corners of Pearl's mouth slid down in a grimace. "Like you don't deserve it?" she quickly asked back. A frightening degree of worry worked its way into her tone over less than a second later. "Amethyst, you know you—"
"Nah, nah," Amethyst waved defensively. That wasn't the point of contention, especially because the whole matter had been resolved a long time ago. Steven played a big role in that fiasco, too. "I'm not talking about self-confidence or whatever. I'm sayin'…"
Pearl waited, probably hesitant to assume more. Or maybe she was just letting Amethyst speak for herself, since that was currently a bit more important. Speaking for herself was ironically something Amethyst tended to do in excess. Being unable to accomplish as much now didn't feel funny to her. Still, she at least tried to place the feeling, nervously shifting herself on the stool as she spoke.
"You heard me when I woke up," Amethyst admitted. She threw a hand behind her, motioning towards Steven's room in the adjacent corner of the Temple. The lamp was still on. "The first thing I asked about, the most important thing in the world, was him. It… still kinda is, in a way."
Pearl hummed, tilting her head. Unlike Amethyst, she didn't seem to think that was too strange of a priority. "That's understandable," she reasoned. The situation was probably a lot simpler to her than to Amethyst. Not that she really expected otherwise. "Considering your… injuries, it makes sense that he'd be your number one priority."
"Does it, though?" Amethyst returned, remaining skeptical. She was getting a little frustrated; not at Pearl's inability to understand, as that was mostly due to Amethyst's own inability to give a straight answer (not out of lack of trying), but more frustrated at how simultaneously paranoid and dire Steven's own priorities had made her. It couldn't have been something so important as to warrant some psychoanalysis, and yet that's what Pearl and herself were accomplishing.
"I'm not talkin' about getting healed, Pearl," she tried saying. Being called by her proper name instead of the sometimes-endearing "P" made the Gem stand a little straighter. Amethyst found herself now looking to the side, rubbing the back of her neck. "I'm thinking, like… maybe I'm relying on him too much."
For once, Pearl didn't put her own logic on what Amethyst was saying. Her eyebrows brought themselves together, the rest of her features appearing both contemplative and concerned. It wasn't the rarest expression she could've had.
"I dunno, I don't wanna act like it's a bad thing," Amethyst added. She took a deep breath, trying to slow herself down for the sake of cohesion. Still Pearl wore that maternal mixture on her face, semi-reflected in the countertop's clean surface. "'Cause, really, it's not. But it just feels weird. Usually I rely on myself so much instead of someone else."
Pearl rose a protesting hand, but Amethyst continued.
"Yeah, I know, I can, and sometimes I should rely on you n' Garnet n' Steven. And I'm really grateful for that."
The admittance placated Pearl enough to drop her hand. Again, Amethyst had the odd thought that she sounded a little too much like Steven just then. Right now, however, sounding like Steven seemed beneficial more than anything else. It was definitely better for the current context. Amethyst's usually sarcastic and laid-back casualness would do little to reach any sort of cathartic understanding.
"But, now, with Steven…" Amethyst continued again only to trail off after four words. She didn't have much of an idea on where they were going. Pearl did her best to fill in the rest.
"Now you feel… different about his protection?" she tried, sounding hesitant. A repeated answer was better than nothing. Amethyst hummed.
"I mean, yeah," she granted, "But it's not how darn protective he is." Pearl hummed herself, bringing a hand to her chin. Emotions weren't exactly Amethyst's forte, considering, but Pearl's effort in helping her was appreciated enough. Somehow she thought Garnet would be less helpful (no offense intended towards the fusion). Thinking, Amethyst attempted to explain further.
"Like I said, maybe it's… what he is."
The words felt like they hoarded all the sound in the room for themselves. There seemed to be an echo, even. Nonplussed, Pearl rose her features to Amethyst. The surprise on hers mirrored a portion of Amethyst's.
"…'the most important thing in the world,'" Pearl slowly let out. Her words only mimicked Amethyst's in what they were, as the tall Gem's tone sounded like more of an epiphany than a complaint. Amethyst felt the words sink in like concrete. Barely, she nodded, looking downwards again at her arms. It was so strange for the color to be determined by Steven more than herself.
"Something like that," Amethyst eventually stated. Her eyebrows creased themselves together. If there was ever a time for honesty, now was it, in spite of how frequently Amethyst tended to avoid honesty. She took a deep breath, putting her hands more purposefully onto the countertop.
"I was always the big sister," Amethyst breathed out. After some time, Pearl visibly recoiled at the description. Whatever the delay was for, it did well to give Amethyst's words the importance she'd meant for them to have. It wasn't really news to her, obviously, but Pearl didn't seem to expect the title Amethyst granted herself so long ago.
"That's the first time I've ever heard you describe yourself like that," she said, almost whispering. Judging by her surprise, Pearl was hesitant to assign any familial titles to herself or anyone in their unconventional family. The most of a concrete role anyone had was Greg's status as a father and Rose's status as a mother, and even the latter wasn't simple enough to always be called as such. Placing titles like "sister" wasn't something she was used to. Amethyst, on the other hand, knew enough about humans to understand what role she tended to serve for Steven. She shook her head.
"I know, Gems don't got siblings," she added for Pearl's sake. Another pause passed. Then, Pearl nodded, persuading Amethyst to clarify further. "And I'm not a real sis, but I kinda always thought that's what I was. Rabble-rousing bad influence for Steven."
At the last clarification, Pearl smirked. She seemed to understand what Amethyst meant a tad better now. Using the terminology out loud felt weird in its own right, so Amethyst reciprocated the appreciation. Pearl hummed, evidently reaching her own understanding about the matter.
"So," she started tentatively, "you've considered Steven a… younger brother? A 'little' brother?"
Now she was getting it. "Yeah," Amethyst confirmed, nodding. Pearl seemed satisfied that she understood what the Gem was getting at. "Always figured he was the innocent kid I was more-or-less tryin' to corrupt."
Pearl visibly smiled, even chuckling a little. Amethyst would be lying if she said the laughter hadn't helped her own mood.
"Well, looks like you're going to have to try a bit harder," Pearl joked. Somehow, she managed to get Amethyst to laugh in spite of the original severity their conversation held.
"Hey, give it time," she returned with a shrug. A couple more laughs followed. Pearl shook her head. As agreeable as the mirth was, Amethyst forced herself to return to their previous problem. Pearl was less hesitant to return to seriousness, but didn't seem as grim about the matter. Amethyst drew out a lengthy hum, looking towards her arms again. She felt the curve of her grin gradually flatten out into a troubled line.
"But now, I'm… not so sure."
Some degree of bother returned to Pearl's expression. She leaned a little closer, probably hesitant to assume whatever Amethyst had meant. Ironically, Amethyst was hoping for some kind of assumption, if only so she could avoid having to clarify the matter herself. "Now I don't know if that's what I am anymore. A big sister, I mean."
Every subsequent word that left Amethyst's lips grew quieter and quieter, resulting in the last few being barely anything more than a whisper. The distance between herself and Pearl didn't affect how well she could be heard, though. With how quiet the rest of the Temple was, hearing anything else would take a bit more effort. Eventually, Pearl resumed speaking, matching Amethyst's quiet.
"You mean- as in, now you're the little sister?" she tried. Pearl likely didn't know enough of human families to understand what Amethyst was saying. She couldn't be faulted for that much, but it still didn't help Amethyst's case. "Because of Steven's protective attitude towards you?"
The second part felt more relevant than the first, which reinforced Pearl's first question. Maybe that was it. A change in the pseudo family hierarchy. Amethyst hummed. Though it was the best to go on, she still wasn't sure.
"Maybe," she answered back, still thinking. Awarding any of her reliance on Steven to something as simple as a title change didn't feel right to her. "But, I mean, I'm still way older than him. Could be why it feels so darn weird, then."
Pearl hummed, sounding oddly skeptical. Curious, Amethyst rose her eyes to her. Then she cleared some of the bangs from her eyes, making sure that she wasn't misinterpreting the cross of Pearl's arms. She looked to the ceiling with a tight-lipped grimace, leaning backwards a tad like her legs were also crossed in a shy pose. Her shoulders seemed tense.
"What?" Amethyst asked, unsure of what Pearl's posture was getting at. Just because it was as dramatic as usual didn't mean Amethyst could read it all that well. That, and the given response to her admittance about her age didn't make much sense. Pearl's mouth widened a fraction, tilting to one side in a knowing smirk.
"I… don't really know about that," she said slowly. She had that conspicuously high pitch people possessed when they obviously had more to say. Nothing was added to the distrust Amethyst had received. Finding it still nonsensical, she matched Pearl's skeptical expression to the letter. A few seconds of quiet passed as Amethyst narrowed her eyes, both confused and suspicious. Pearl eventually explained herself. Or, attempted to.
"You don't…" she started. Another hum followed the two words she was able to give. One of her hands moved itself to her chin, the other turning its palm upwards in a shy expression that equated to "please don't be mad." That's how Amethyst saw it, at least. More seconds of quiet passed before Pearl could continue again. "Would you believe you look… younger?"
The caveat was so odd that Amethyst couldn't react right away. Even when she did, all she mustered was a confused blink. Pearl explained again, now raising both her palms towards the Gem.
"Not younger than Steven." She took a moment to adjust the short neck of her teal top. "Just… younger, I suppose."
Amethyst still didn't quite get it. Pearl seemed to be skirting around whatever she wanted to say directly, which wasn't that helpful considering what Amethyst was trying to figure out. Plus, she never realized how irksome a non-straight answer could be. Maybe she'd try being honest in the future if this was what she always put Pearl and Garnet through (though, Garnet tended to see into whatever Amethyst said better, in more ways than one).
"So you're saying I look like a teenager or something?" Amethyst questioned back. Somehow, talking about her supposed age now didn't feel relevant to her relationship with Steven anymore. Now it felt like a comparatively minor detail, or a distraction at best. Pearl shook her head, though even that action radiated skepticism and hesitation.
"Maybe not that far," she reasoned, "but you definitely don't look to be in your thousands."
None of the Gems really did, but Amethyst thought she got what Pearl was saying. Now that she was so human-looking, the hidden number of digits behind her age couldn't have been that easily realized anymore. Having a more humanized skin color probably made it harder to remember where she came from. Combine that with the common black of her hair and arguably juvenile freckles, and Amethyst thought that she might've even had a hard time trying to go to R-rated movies.
"Thanks…?" Amethyst uncertainty granted, barely a hint of appreciation in her voice. She wasn't sure why Pearl was treating how she looked with as much importance as she did. After all, the main reason Amethyst had come to her for help was what she felt about her best friend; moreover, figuring out exactly that. "But, um, don't see what that's gotta do with Steven."
Pearl didn't expect Amethyst's response, tilting her head in befuddlement. She gestured to Steven's clothes, the shirt and jeans still lying in an unceremonious heap on the countertop. "You said that your age could've been why feeling like a younger sister was so strange."
The message clicked in Amethyst's head, nearly audible in the quiet of the evening. Pearl was talking about the shift in titles Steven might've induced with his protective nature. Though, the main reason Amethyst had been lost on how the two were related was how she wasn't so ready to call herself a "little" sister. Surely she should've still been the older bad-influence, right? At the very least, calling Steven a big brother definitely didn't feel right, for multiple reasons. The guy's naivety was only one of them. Reading Amethyst's expression, Pearl scratched her chin again.
"Twins!" she suddenly exclaimed like some grand epiphany. Amethyst recoiled from the sudden vigor her friend had gained over less than a half dozen seconds. Then she realized Pearl's tone had more to do with being pleased with herself than finding the solution to infinite energy. Still, Amethyst was skeptical.
"Twins?" she repeated as a question. Pearl nodded, crossing her arms like the single word solved everything. Though, maybe she was still just proud of herself for knowing a slightly more obscure familial term.
"It would explain the mutual change you've had on each other," Pearl explained. Now she spoke with a real sense of accomplishment. Amethyst's expression remained contorted into a confused pout. Seeing it, Pearl slowed herself, revealing whatever logic she used to Amethyst. "Why he's become so much more protective and you're unable to place that protection. Because you've never been a twin before."
Again, the word dripped with pride as she said it. That title wasn't what Amethyst found herself focusing on, though. Weirdly enough, a different part of Pearl's message got through to her.
"I've never been…" she muttered to herself, unsure. Pearl, after another few moments of self-satisfaction, noticed Amethyst's uncertainty. She dropped her arms.
"Does that make sense?" she asked. Despite how fulfilled she sounded a second ago, Pearl's question was reminiscent of her earlier apprehension to assume. Amethyst didn't pay enough mind to notice much about the Gem's voice. That was a valid point; she had never been a twin before. If she'd somehow become the little sister, then there would surely be some familiarity, right? After all, she noticed enough about Steven to know what a younger sibling ought to act as, and her actions now didn't even come close to lining up with that.
"Yeah," she ultimately decided. She must've been some twin to Steven, now. Both of them being hybrids added to the title, as did their shared color of hair. Maybe Steven didn't have as good of a tan or freckles, but twins didn't always look identical. Plus, Amethyst's Gem has definitely gained a pinker tint, and she had reason to believe Steven's own Gem was now more purple in its pigmentation. Amethyst nodded again, more enthusiastically. "Yeah, that's gotta be it. Twins."
Pearl grew satisfied once again, albeit in a more endearing way due to helping Amethyst rather than any sort of pride on her intellect. A wide grin grew on her features.
"That also explains your…" Pearl cleared her throat, doing her best to suppress the enthusiasm of her voice. She really did enjoy solving Amethyst's conundrum so succinctly. Amethyst glanced to her, now sitting up straighter on her seat while Pearl spoke. "How you look more like Steven. In terms of age, I mean."
Amethyst had to wonder exactly how much younger Pearl assumed she looked. The subtle reflection in the counter-top didn't offer enough of an image for Amethyst to see clearly. She certainly didn't feel like some adolescent on the "cusp of puberty" (whatever that was). Understanding Pearl's justifiably skewed perspective, Amethyst shook her head.
"Sure," she said with a shrug. Reaching an explanation for the effects of Steven's protective nature was more what Amethyst was grateful for. That whole "visual age" thing could come later, if it even had to. Amethyst had her doubts. Regardless, Amethyst gave a grateful smirk to her companion alongside an earnest thanks.
"Glad I could help," Pearl said with a nod. Amethyst returned it with one of her own. Weird how Pearl was the one to place Amethyst's new role, not herself nor Steven. Admittedly, Amethyst had to wonder if he'd agree with it. There was a definite possibility he called her something different. For now, though, Amethyst took it, and confidently reached towards her borrowed clothes. The motion seemed to remind Pearl about something.
Immediately, the Gem turned back around, whipping towards the stovetop she left unattended since their conversation first started. Amethyst heard a disgusted grunt from her companion, guessing there was a disgusted grimace to go with it. Knowing her usual mannerisms, it wasn't too unrealistic. The short Gem sat up higher on the stool to see what had repulsed Pearl so much. Then her own features twisted into a repulsed grimace.
What had at one point in time been the beginning of a delicious egg-based meal had now shriveled up and burned to a blackened crisp of charcoal. Somehow, the mound of solid ash seemed evil. Amethyst let out her own disgusted grunt with an added degree of disappointment. It'd smelled so good earlier. Now the brief traces of scent offered were more reminiscent of whenever Amethyst had attempted to cook.
"I, um…" Pearl started, sounding embarrassed. She tentatively picked up the spatula she used earlier, taking a poke at the pan's contents. What little solidity the chunk had crumbled to a black dust. Pearl coughed, waving the ash away fervently. "I might have to restart."
Though Amethyst's stomach complained with an upset groan, the Gem found herself laughing somewhat. Pearl's apologetic attitude seemed comical, in a charming kind of way. Now that she was no longer troubled by the oddness Steven had indirectly given her, Amethyst found herself with enough patience to give Pearl a shrug.
"'S'alright," she told her, grasping Steven's clothes again. Pearl picked up the pan at the furthest possible point and carefully moved it towards the nearby trash can, treating the steel bowl like a radioactive mine. Amethyst watched with an amused fascination, slow to head back towards the bathroom. It was unfortunate she had no immediate way take a picture of Pearl's queasy expression. There was a slight ridge of egg that had become more of a stain than a pile of ash, and it didn't appear to be going anywhere any time soon. After a couple more amused seconds, Amethyst broke herself away, facing the Temple's interior as she tossed her words behind her. "Probs gonna be a long shower, anyways."
Just a second after Amethyst's dirt-covered boots hit the floorboards, Pearl audibly snapped her fingers with a matching "Ah, right!"
Amethyst turned around to face her, one foot frozen just an inch off the floor. She seemed to struggle with getting the remnants of egg off of the pan, but didn't award that as much focus as Amethyst. Pearl's free hand reached towards something just next to the stove.
"Here," Pearl called Amethyst over, picking up the object to put it on the counter between them. Then she picked up the spatula again and resumed working on the food stain of the pan. Curious, Amethyst strode back to the counter, glancing at what Pearl was apparently giving her. The mug she drank from earlier blocked a portion of her view. While Pearl tried waving the pan over the trash can once more (what a sight that was), Amethyst moved the cup aside. A white rectangle of a device met her eyes, looking familiar.
"Your phone?" Amethyst asked, picking up the box. She didn't immediately get what Pearl was trying to convey. Turning on the screen let her see an impressive slew of messages spanning the surface, though every single one was titled the same. Even before she read whom they were from, Amethyst felt herself grin at the copious warnings Steven was giving Pearl about the right nutrition and food groups. There was even a link to some health website in there. A grunt of exertion from Pearl moved Amethyst's eyes back to her.
"You could use it more than me," she told the Gem, scraping at the pan with the same vigor she usually used when handling her spear. It would've more impressive if that had any effect on the pan's contents, but Amethyst was entertained either way. Pearl explained further, speaking between harsh grates of metal and ash. "I figured— ugh— you'd want some way— come on— to still talk with Steven."
Pearl's efforts continued for a short while, allowing Amethyst ample time to make sure of what Pearl was offering. It wasn't often she was trusted enough to throw away her empty soda cans, much less with the primary method of communication Pearl owned. Still, judging by how much more focus Pearl was giving the pan, Amethyst had to guess she'd made the decision already. Maybe Steven had played a role in that. Uncertain, Amethyst glanced at the phone again, finding her eyes drawn to the repeated countenance of her companion.
"…thanks, P," was all she said to the Gem. Pearl nodded, seemingly understanding, then managed to get the spatula caught on some solid edge inside the pan. Her eyebrows visibly elevated in triumph. Now smirking, she pushed at an angle once more, though couldn't seem to make much headway, which prompted her to push harder. Amethyst stared for a couple seconds. Briefly, Pearl relaxed her grasp, then shoved the spatula back into the pan with all her might. A resounding *snap* soon followed.
Both Gems stared at the broken edge of steel that had previously been the spatula's handle. The head of the spatula was firmly stuck in the fused charcoal of egg that had long since melted into the pan. After an incredulous blink, Pearl looked back to Amethyst, wide-eyed. She returned the stare with her own elevated expression of surprise. Groaning, Pearl untensed both of her hands, letting the pan and fragments of spatula fall into the trash can with their respective *thunks*.
"Don't mention it," Pearl said, dusting her palms off. She reached towards another cabinet, this time getting a bowl out instead. Amethyst gave a subtle nod. Whatever she had to say about the loss of cooking implements was kept to herself, and Pearl glanced over the event like it'd never happened. "I know you and Steven have a lot to talk about."
Again, Amethyst gave a hesitant nod. "Yeah," she muttered, looking at the phone again. She couldn't stop herself from activating the screen once again, glancing over Steven's numerous texts to Pearl. The concern of Amethyst's health was still something else, even if she and Pearl had worked out why it'd felt as such. That might've been why Amethyst found herself hesitant to tell Steven of the phone's shift in ownership right away. She still had a shower to take, though, and she got the feeling that starting a conversation with Steven now would delay that shower considerably. As in, probably put it off until tomorrow by the least.
She locked the phone's screen after one last lingering look, pocketed the device, and tightened her grasp around Steven's clothes.
"Twins."
A/N: NOTE WRITTEN ON MARCH 10th, 2020, 6:09 PM (NICE)
I don't know if I'm ever going to return to this story. There's so much stuff going on in my life on top of how I kind of moved on from Steven Universe that I can't imagine returning to THIS story properly. Not only would I have to get back into the fandom proper, but I'd also need to re-read all of this to know what the heck's going on, AND find my notes/plan for how later chapters were supposed to transpire. I apologize to those awaiting further content, but it's fairer and less harsh if I just admit that it probably won't ever come. If it does, then it'll be a pleasant surprise; if not, then there won't be any hopes to dash.
I sincerely hope you've enjoyed this story in any way you can. Maybe one day I'll sit down and give one last epilogue to give this story the closure it deserves.
Have a good day!