Disclaimer: I don't own Steven Universe!
Title: Self-Report
Summary: Steven gets a strange video
...
Steven was in the middle of taking his meds when the video arrived. It's postmarked from California, and the address is Ronaldo. He'd always had a flair for the dramatic, like now- with a VHS tape and a bunch of duct tape.
'Saw this on the web. This you?'
Steven, freshly in therapy and months away from taking his road trip, sincerely doubted it. He bumbled his way over to the TV, brushing past the Gems on the ground level and his girlfriend by his bed- waiting for movie night, ironically- to slot it in. He hit rewind and play.
And sees himself.
And sees himself fighting someone.
And sees himself losing.
And sees his empty pink shards landing on the beach below.
Steven dry-heaved into his hand, fingers curled protectively around his stone. Connie was holding his arm so tight it burned, eyes glazed over with memories. Amethyst pulled the tape out and ripped it in two.
"What," says Pearl, with tear-stained cheeks, "on Earth was that?"
"It wasn't real," Garnet says, which isn't the point. It's the fact that someone made this fake snuff film. That he'd seen himself die, again, in all that pixel goodness. She shuddered with the weight of those words- that this was a fraud- and rubbed circles in his back.
He didn't realize he was hyperventilating until strong hands were on his shoulders. "Breathe with me, Steven," Pearl urges. "I can keep perfect score. And stop swearing, Amethyst. It's making it worse."
"How can I? We just got a death threat!" She crushed the remains beneath her boot, arms flailing in vague punching motions. "We find out who did this and I'mma-"
"Amethyst," warns Garnet, the Gem finally lapsing into silence. "It's okay, Steven. We're here."
He sobs, curling up in a ball. The Gems hold him close and say various comforting words as Connie peppers his face with kisses.
Later that night, a text:
No, Ronnie, that wasn't me. What the hell, man?
I saw it and it looked like you! I was concerned! You can't actually do that, can you? Break?
Steven swallowed back vile from the comfort of his pillow fort. I don't wanna talk about it.
He recalled the pieces falling to the sand and felt ill once again. How could he ever forget such a sight? And to top it off, having him physically battle someone in the first place- it was so wrong. It wasn't him.
"Maybe I shouldn't go," he whispered to Connie.
Connie cracks her knuckles with a grin. "Just stay far away from California and punch any blondes."
Steven huffed out a laugh and kissed her cheek. "Thanks, Connie. You always know how to cheer me up."
She giggled and nuzzled into his neck. The warmth made his eyelids sag. He was tired, and very concerned, and he just wanted to sleep. Steven shut his phone off. Forget the alarm. He just watched his life get snuffed out.
Steven fell asleep with a light snore, dreaming of cupcakes and strange unicorns. He knew, despite the strangeness, he'd be alright in the end.
Author's Note: For a friend! The video in question is the Steven vs Star death battle, which they showed to me lol.
-Mandaree1