Twenty: Keeping a Secret
Characters: Steven Universe, Pearl, Garnet, Amethyst

Steven tugged on Pearl's shirt for the millionth time, looking up at her with stars in his eyes. "C'mon! Tell me! What's the secret?"

Pearl sighed impatiently and removed Steven's hands. "It's nothing important, Steven. Why don't you go play with Connie or er video games or something."

"Peeeearl, she's at school!" Steven whined, wrapping himself around her legs. "C'mon! What is it? Tell me!"

"Steven…" Pearl groaned, running a hand over her forehead.

The warp pad lit up as Garnet and Amethyst arrived. Steven detached from her and ran in excited circles around them. "Guys! Pearl has a secret and she won't tell me what it is!"

Amethyst immediately grinned and opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by Pearl, who had lunged across the room to put both hands over the purple Gem's mouth.

A small smile tugged at Garnet's lips. "I know what it is."

"Garnet!" Pearl protested, still struggling to keep Amethyst quiet. Amethyst bit her hand, causing her to yelp and a wrestling match to ensue.

Steven climbed up to the fusion's shoulders, wrapping his arms around her neck. He hung there, giggling. "Oh! Oh! What is it what is it?"

Garnet picked him up and set him down on the floor. She bent down and whispered something in his ear.

Steven gasped, stars appearing in his widened eyes. He spun around to face Pearl, almost falling over. "You like death metal?!"

She blushed, separating herself from Amethyst. She turned away, crossing her arms. "I d-do not!"

"Is it 'cause mom liked it?"

Pearl huffed, her blue blush deepening. She threw her hands up. "Al-Alright! So sometimes I listen to it! She always talked about the energy and the feelings humans put into it…"

Amethyst dissolved into a laughing fit while Garnet watched stoically. "You like her!" the purple Gem bellowed, pointing.

Pearl put her face in her hands, trying to hide her mortal embarrassment.

"Hey! Quit laughing!" Steven said, angry. Amethyst shut it, tilting her head curiously.

Steven walked up to Pearl and put a hand on her stomach, as high as he could reach. "Pearl…"

Pearl peeked out from in between her fingers and saw that Steven was looking at her with a completely serious expression.

"It's okay…" he said, then smiled. "I bet she liked you, too!"

She could see Rose in his expression. Tears dripped to the floor. Garnet dragged Amethyst from the room, leaving them alone.

Pearl shook her head, sitting down on the couch. "You don't know that…"

"Does it matter?"

"I don't see what she could have ever seen in me… Even after all these years I still don't truly understand all the things she saw in this planet and its people… There's so many illogical things, and I just don't get it… Steven, do you know why her favorite music was people screaming?"

"Uh… I don't really like it either, but I guess some people do because it makes them feel alive?"

Pearl chuckled at his puzzled expression.

"You know, it's okay for everyone to like different things. What kind of music do you like?"

"Well… I do enjoy classical music. It's formulaic, and oh, the instrumental selection is so natural, and…"

Steven listened, taking a seat beside her.