Some days have passed and everything has been happening slowly. Steven and Fionna kept hanging out together, sometimes at parks, restaurants, cafés, etc…
Fionna noticed that Steven's rough attitude had been slowly fading. It's still there, but he's clearly less of a jerk than he was days ago.
One day, Fionna wakes up. She stretches and looks to the side, seeing Steven sleeping next to her, his face buried in the crook of her neck.
She widened her eyes at the sight, a slight blush surging on her cheeks. She hesitantly tries to move away without waking him up, but he wraps his arms around her and pulls her closer.
As Fionna lay there, her heart pounding, she could feel the warmth radiating from Steven's body pressed against hers. Part of her wanted to push him away, but another part, one she barely wanted to acknowledge yet was impossible to ignore, felt an undeniable comfort in his arms.
After some thinking, she hesitantly shakes Steven softly, trying to wake him up.
Steven stirred slightly as Fionna gently shook him, but instead of waking, he nuzzled deeper into her neck, a soft sigh escaping his lips. She could feel his arms tightening around her, a protective hold that made it clear he wasn't ready to let go just yet.
Finally, after a moment that felt like an eternity, Steven's eyes fluttered open, blinking against the morning light. His gaze settled on her face, and for a split second, an unguarded softness lingered in his eyes, but it quickly vanished as he registered their position.
"Oh, uh… hey." Steven mumbled. He pulled back slightly, still keeping one arm loosely draped around her. "Didn't mean to… fall asleep like this."
Fionna managed a small, nervous smile, the blush still evident on her cheeks. "It's… fine. Guess you got a bit too comfortable."
Steven chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Guess so. Hard to resist a good pillow."
Fionna laughed softly, rolling her eyes. "Pillow? More like you're using me as a human body warmer."
"Maybe I like my body warm." He retorted with a smirk.
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments until Steven broke it, clearing his throat. "So… any plans today?"
She smiled, pretending to think it over. "Hmm, well, there's a new café that opened up downtown. I heard they have the best croissants."
Steven raised an eyebrow. "You just want me for the croissants, huh?"
"Oh, obviously," Fionna replied, her tone deadpan but her eyes dancing with mischief. "Where else would I find someone willing to taste-test coffee with me?"
Steven makes a mock gasp. "Hey! I'm supposed to be the rogue! You're robbing my function!"
Fionna giggled, her heart lifting at Steven's playful banter. "Oh please, you're just lucky I'm letting you tag along for this
Fionna couldn't help but giggle at Steven's theatrical expression. His mock outrage was so exaggerated that it almost looked comical. "Sorry, but I'm pretty sure the rogue's job description includes croissant taste-testing. It's a crucial mission," she teased, nudging him lightly with her shoulder.
"Okay, fair point. But I'm going to need a raise," he replied, pretending to think hard. "Maybe a free refill on coffee? You know, to fuel my rogue endeavors."
"Deal," Fionna grinned. "But only if you promise not to steal any of my pastries."
"Steal? Me? I'd never!" Steven feigned offense, placing a hand dramatically over his heart. "I'm a man of honor!"
"Right." Fionna rolled her eyes, amusement dancing in her voice. "A man of honor who just used me as a pillow."
"And enjoyed it." Steven adds with a wink.
Fionna couldn't help but smile at Steven's playful spirit. It was refreshing to see this side of him, the one that was emerging more frequently now. The teasing and laughter felt natural, as if they had known each other for much longer than they actually had.
"Alright, Mr. Diamond." She said, sitting up and stretching again. "I have to go to class now. You think you can survive without me?"
Steven laughs. "I will try, but no promises."
They laugh happily. Soon Fionna changes her clothes and goes to her class, leaving Steven alone.
When Fionna leaves completely, Steven's sighs. He pulls a small notebook from his diamond and opens it. There are many entries, some drawings, blueprints, and ideas.
He writes down: "18th day after meeting Fionna. That girl is in my head and I don't know why. I have been dreaming about her, and it isn't even in an erotic way. Whenever we approach, I feel my chest tight, and I have tachycardia when we're touching… How can I have another overdose? I'm totally clean! Ugh… better keep hiding it from her. She'll definitely leave me behind if I tell any of this to her and it would suck."
Steven closes the notebook and stores it back in the diamond. He stretches and leaves the dorm, thinking on what to do. "... You know what? Screw this."
He walks towards a camp and grins. A black energy covers his legs and he jumps high into the sky to get out of the campus and do something fun outside it.
As Steven launched himself into the sky, his mind buzzed with conflicting thoughts about Fionna. He couldn't shake the feeling she stirred inside him, even as he tried to focus on the thrill of his escape. His rough exterior may have softened around her, but the reality of his emotions had only become harder to ignore.
Landing with a thud just outside campus, he took a deep breath, letting the cool air hit his face. This freedom, this distance from the walls and routines of daily life, was supposed to calm him. Yet, thoughts of Fionna lingered, her laugh, the look of surprise when she'd caught him sleeping next to her, the warmth he felt with her close.
He shook his head, muttering to himself. "Snap out of it, Steven. This isn't you."
He takes a deep breath and grins. He starts jumping across the city, running in the walls and feeling the adrenaline, not caring if the others will see or not.
Steven dashed through the city with a grin on his face, reveling in the freedom and the rush of adrenaline. The wind whipped through his hair as he leaped from one rooftop to another, letting go of the constant tension he'd been feeling lately.
As he touched down on the edge of a rooftop, he looked over the bustling city below. He knew Fionna would probably be in awe seeing his power, and he grins at the thought. He pulls some spray paint from the diamond and decides to paint something on the wall. He's not sure what he's drawing, but he'll let himself be guided.
Steven takes a step back, examining the half-finished graffiti taking shape on the wall. His hands move almost instinctively, letting out all the restless energy he'd been feeling since he met Fionna. By the time he finishes, he's staring at a chaotic, yet strangely beautiful piece, a collage of wild colors with two silhouettes in the center. He realizes, almost without meaning to, that the figures resemble himself and Fionna.
"You gotta be fucking kidding me." He groans and throws the spray paint out the rooftop before sitting on the edge in frustration.
Steven sat at the edge of the rooftop, his legs dangling over the side, and stared at the chaotic masterpiece he'd created. The two silhouettes were vague enough that no one else would see them as more than shapes, but to him, they felt obvious. This was supposed to be his escape, a break from everything he'd been feeling. Yet here he was, tangled up again.
He rubbed his hands over his face, frustrated and feeling foolish. "Get a grip, Steven. She's just… A girl who allowed you to crash in her place, like any other girl in your past…" He huffs and rolls his eyes. "So why does her companion feel so good?"
Steven groans and kicks a can from up there.
Some time after jumping around the city, Steven receives a call from an unknown number. He raises an eyebrow and answers it. "Steven, what do you need?"
A male, nervous voice comes from the other side of the call. "Steven!"
Steven raises an eyebrow. "John? Why are you calling me?"
John sighs in relief. "Thank God you're using the same phone number. I will be brief. I don't know how, but G.U.N found you!"
Steven stops and his playful manner fades. "When you mean found, you mean the country, the state, the city-"
"I mean the exact spot! They know you've been staying on the campus of Nevaska University!"
Steven widens his eyes and stops in silence. "... How much time I have before they arrive."
"You don't have any! Steven, just leave before they catch you! Use a transport platform and leave!"
Steven looks to the horizon in silence and sighs. "Alright… I just have to go catch something."
"Steven, wait-"
He hangs out the call. Steven covers his legs in the black energy and jumps to the campus.
Arriving at the campus, Steven goes to search for Fionna. He quickly spots in the courtyard, laughing with a group of friends. For a second, he hesitated, not wanting to shatter her peace with his own troubles.
He approached quickly, his presence immediately catching her attention. Her smile faded as she noticed the intense look in his eyes.
"Steven?" Fionna's brow furrowed, concern creeping into her voice. "Is everything okay?"
Steven quickly approaches her with an intense tone. "Finn, I gotta go. Someone's after me and I have to go. If you're lucky, we're not seeing each other again."
Fionna's face fell as Steven's words sank in. "Wait, what? What do you mean someone's after you?" She stammered, grabbing his arm before he could turn away. "You're just going to… disappear?"
Steven's expression hardened and he grit his teeth. "Yeah. It's… complicated, and I have no time to explain."
Fionna's grip on Steven's arm tightened. "Steven, you can't just… leave without telling me what's going on. If someone's after you, maybe I can help."
Steven looked away. "No no no no no. This is dangerous. Dangerous people with dangerous weapons. I can handle myself, but you're just a girl and I can't risk it."
Fionna's jaw clenched as she tightened her grip on his arm, refusing to let go. "Just a girl?" she echoed, disbelief mingling with anger in her voice. "You don't get to make that call for me, Steven. If someone's really after you, then let me help. Or at least… don't leave without telling me the truth."
Steven looked at her nervously. He huffed. "Fuck… you'll come with me, I'll explain when we're safe, and then you go back. Alright?"
her grip loosening only slightly as she nodded. "Alright… I'll go with you. But you better keep your promise and explain everything."
Without another word, Steven grasped her arm, pulling her into his arms. "Hang on." He involves his legs again and starts to jump around the city, his eyes scanning the area for any sight of G.U.N.
Fionna clings to him, grasping his body tight. Her eyes widening with the sight of the city beneath them. She can't believe Steven has THIS kind of power. It is frightening yet exciting to her.
Soon, helicopters come and try to follow them. Steven groans. "C'mon! They're already this close?!"
He holds Fionna with one hand and grabs one of his axes with the other. With a spin in the air, he manages to slash in the direction of the helicopter, sending a blast of black energy that disables the helicopter.
As the helicopter spiraled out of control, smoke trailing behind it, but it could land safely on a building.
Steven landed on the rooftop of a nearby building, still clutching Fionna tightly against him. Her eyes were wide with shock, heart pounding from both the thrill and fear of what she had just witnessed. Before she could even catch her breath, Steven was already scanning the horizon for the next possible escape route.
"Steven!" she gasped. "Are you sure this is the best way to escape?"
He shot her a determined look. "I'm not letting them take me in, Fionna. Not this time."
She held onto him, uncertain yet resolved to stay by his side, even if fear simmered in the pit of her stomach. They barely had a moment before another helicopter's spotlight shone over them, forcing Steven to dive forward with Fionna still in his arms, his black energy flaring as they shot across the rooftops.
Steven keeps moving them until they arrive at the city hall. Steven sighs at the sight and get in front of it, on a very specific, crystalline platform.
Without giving a single moment to catch their breath, many cars stop ahead from the library. From them, come several armed agents. They position themselves and one of them with a megaphone starts speaking. "Steven Pitriadamas Wimbleton, put your hands up and surrender."
Steven grins, showing the middle finger to them. "Suck my dick, suckers!"
Suddenly, the platform start glowing and a beam of bright light comes from it, involving Steven and Fionna into it and making them fade away upwards. When the light fades, they aren't there anymore.
The G.U.N agents look in shock. Their leader uses their radio to communicate with their superior. "Sir, we lost the guy. He used one of the warp pads…"
Steven and Fionna are in the beam of light when they suddenly appear in another place. Fionna grasp onto Steven, shocked from everything that just happened.
She looks around. They are in a strawberry field full of huge war weapons, like an immense war happened right there…
He sighs and sits on the platform. "... We're safe. Ready to listen?"
Fionna took a moment to catch her breath, her heart still racing from the adrenaline of their escape. The peaceful expanse of the strawberry field contrasted sharply with the chaos they had just left behind, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of surreal calm wash over her. But the remnants of war scattered throughout the field—the rusting tanks, shattered weapons, and abandoned structures—reminded her of the danger still lurking in the shadows.
She turned to Steven, who was sitting on the crystalline platform, his expression a mix of relief and exhaustion. "Yeah, I'm ready," she said, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside her. "But you better explain everything—no more secrets."
Steven nodded, running a hand through his hair as he took a deep breath. "Okay, here goes." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his gaze fixed on the ground as if searching for the right words. "I didn't want to drag you into my problems, especially not after everything you've done for me… I don't know what G.U.N is or why it is seeking me, but they have been after me since I was 16… Finn…" He sighs. "... I'm sorry for putting you into this. I'll transport us back there and send you back to the campus."
Fionna's gaze softened as she took in Steven's worn expression. Her mind whirled with questions, but she pushed them down for a moment, letting the weight of what he'd just confessed sink in. She wasn't sure what to say, the remnants of danger still fresh in her memory. Yet, her frustration slowly melted away, replaced by a strange, inexplicable sympathy.
"Steven." She said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I came with you because I chose to. You don't need to apologize for that. But… you can't just push me away now. I want to help you, even if I'm scared or can't truly understand. If you want me to be here, you have to be real with me."
Steven looks at her in silence. He slowly gets up and hugs her tightly. "... Thanks… You're the best, Finn…"
Fionna felt the warmth of Steven's embrace envelop her, a stark contrast to the chaos they had just escaped. She wrapped her arms around him, letting the moment of connection wash over her. It was reassuring, grounding. In the midst of uncertainty, she felt the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, a reminder that they were still alive, still together.
"... I can feel your heartbeat." He says calmly. He pulls away and looks straight in her eyes, not a hint of mischief, sarcasm or mockery, just… warmth. "I feel your fear. You're rather terrified, yet… you decided to stay… I promise to keep you safe, Finn."
Fionna met Steven's gaze, the intensity of his eyes making her heart race for an entirely different reason now. "I believe you," she replied softly, feeling a surge of determination. "But you need to trust me too. This isn't just your battle anymore. We're in this together."
Steven nodded, taking a step back but keeping his hands on her shoulders. "Together…" he repeated, as if testing the word. The weight of their shared understanding hung in the air, fragile yet potent.
They stay there in a comfortable silence for a few minutes until Steven says calmly. "This platform can take us to a city that isn't so dangerous. Oregan City. We can find a hotel there to sleep."
Fionna took a deep breath, absorbing the serene beauty of the strawberry field that surrounded them, the vibrant red fruit contrasting sharply with the remnants of war scattered about. "Oregan City sounds good," she said, her voice steady. "I could use a change of scenery."
Steven smiled slightly, a glimmer of relief washing over him. "Alright. Just hold on tight."
He stepped back onto the crystalline platform, his fingers dancing over the glowing controls. The air around them shimmered as the energy began to pulse, wrapping them in a warm embrace. Fionna moved closer, her heart racing in anticipation. She felt a mix of excitement and nervousness about what lay ahead, but as she looked at Steven, she felt a sense of safety.
With a flash of light, the world around them blurred, the strawberry fields fading into a kaleidoscope of colors. Fionna squeezed her eyes shut for a brief moment, and when she opened them again, they stood at the edge of a bustling city, the towering buildings of Oregan City reaching toward the sky, glimmering in the sunlight. The sounds of life surrounded them—car horns, laughter, and the distant music of street performers.
"Welcome to Oregan City," Steven said, a hint of pride in his voice. "Let's find a place to rest."
As they walked through the lively streets, Fionna couldn't help but notice how different everything felt here compared to the chaos they'd just escaped. The vibrant energy of the city buzzed around them, and for a moment, it felt as if they could forget about their troubles. She looked up at Steven, who was scanning the area, a mixture of determination and uncertainty in his expression.
"Where do you want to stay?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. "Do you have a place in mind?"
"There's a cozy hotel just a few blocks from here," he replied, glancing her way. "I've stayed there a couple of times. It's… quiet. Not too fancy, but it's safe."
"Safe is good," Fionna said, glancing around. "And maybe we can find a croissant or two along the way?"
Steven chuckled, the tension in his shoulders easing a bit. "Sure, but I get first dibs on the chocolate ones."
As they strolled through the vibrant streets of Oregan City, laughter and music filling the air, Fionna felt a sense of hope blooming within her. Together, they navigated the bustling crowd, the warmth of their newfound bond providing a comforting light against the shadows of uncertainty. In that moment, surrounded by the city's pulse, Fionna knew they were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, together.
[TO BE CONTINUED]
