Love Like You
Sometimes dancing was a rather hard thing to do. It wasn't the factor of putting one foot in front of the other or even the twists and turns. It was more of having to conform with the other person and match them move from move. Trying to teach Steven how to do a fusion dance with them wasn't going fairly well. Pearl was aware of this and she couldn't help but groan in a mixture of annoyance and irritation. It should have been so easy. Rose would never have had this much issue. But watching him laugh while Garnet ruffled his hair and Amethyst gave him a support clap on the back, she was painfully aware of the fact that he wasn't Rose. Steven was just a child, a product that Rose and Greg created, and he was also a Crystal Jem.
His eyes met hers, two rather large irises that were filled with excitement and adoration. Running towards the pale fragile gem, he reached out to grasp her hand in his own and pulled her over to help them dance again. Pearl was helpless in his grasp even though she could wrench her hand away or push him away from her. But something inside of her wouldn't allow her to do so. She listened to Steven, listened to him gab on and practice on his own although failing and giving her a silly smile. The smallest of smiles formed on Garnet's lips and Amethyst howled with laughter, but Pearl stared at him in awe.
Even though he was far from graceful.
Even if he didn't really have any battle capabilities.
Steven was still trying.
So that meant that she should try too, didn't it?
Reaching out to touch his head, Steven stopped in his awkward movements as he tried to emulate Garnet's part of their fusion. He looked up at her with a mixture of curiosity and woe. The look in his eyes showing that he was really trying albeit failing. She offered him a soft smile and kneeled down to press an affectionate kiss to his forehead. Steven giggled a little and rubbed his forehead.
"You're going to figure it out, Steven, I just know you will."
"Yeah, if anyone is going to figure this out faster it'll be you Steven," Garnet chimed in.
"Yeah! You the man!" Amethyst piped up.
Steven beamed. His smile was so bright and full of love and light. Just like her. And somewhere in her heart, Pearl felt the love and adoration she felt for Rose shift to Steven. Rose was no longer here, and nothing she could do would ever bring her back. And if Rose was here, that meant that they would lose Steven.
Rose or Steven.
She'd never be able to make a choice between the two. So maybe if she helped raise Steven, learned from him, laughed with him, she'd eventually learn how to love just like him.