The walk to Fionna's dorm felt surreal, the cool night air brimming with unspoken promises and lingering questions. Fionna glanced sideways at Steven, who walked with an easy confidence, his hands shoved deep in his pockets.
"So, do you often find yourself sneaking strange men into your dorm?" ee asked, a teasing lilt in his voice.
Fionna blushed and looked away from him. She stutters with nervousness. "I don't do that. You're the only man who'll enter my dorm."
Steven smirked at her. "Oh, so you're more the monogamous type, huh?"
Fionna could feel the heat rising to her cheeks as she hurried to deflect Steven's teasing. "Not like that! I mean, I just don't have a lot of male friends… or visitors, for that matter."
Steven chuckled, clearly enjoying her flustered state. "I see. So, I'm your big adventure for the night? What a privilege,"
"Don't get too comfortable." She shot back, managing a laugh despite her embarrassment. "You might not be so lucky when my roommate finds out you're crashing at our place."
He raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "What could possibly go wrong? A mysterious guy with a diamond in his head, hiding from the world? I'm practically a catch!"
Fionna rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips. "You're certainly something." She replied, her mind racing with the strangeness of the situation. "Just promise me you won't turn into a werewolf or something weird when we get there."
"Well, I don't make promises." He shot back, his smirk broadening.
They reached her dorm building, a nondescript brick structure nestled between towering oaks. Fionna hesitated, glancing at Steven, who leaned against the wall, looking unfazed. "Okay, here goes nothing." She murmured, pushing the door open and stepping inside.
The lobby was dimly lit and quiet, the faint hum of fluorescent lights overhead adding to the eerie stillness. Fionna took a deep breath, praying her roommate wouldn't be lurking around. "Just act natural."
"Natural? You mean like a freakish horned guy sneaking into a dorm? Sounds simple enough." he replied, amusement lacing his tone.
As they reached her floor, Fionna's heart raced. "This is it. My room's just down the hall."
"Alright, just act casual," Fionna murmured again, trying to steel herself. She swiped the keycard and the door clicked open.
The door swung open, and Fionna quickly stepped inside, glancing around to confirm the coast was clear. Her dorm room was small but cozy, cluttered with textbooks, notes, and a few personal knick-knacks that gave it character. Posters of famous anime and movie scenes plastered the walls while anime figures and manga filled the shelves. Steven followed her in, glancing around with mild curiosity.
"So, this is where the magic happens?" He quipped, flopping down onto the couch with exaggerated ease.
Fionna sighed as she closed the door behind them, leaning back against it for a moment to collect herself. Having Steven here, in her personal space, felt surreal, a strange blend of excitement and nervousness she hadn't anticipated.
"Nice place," He said, smirking as he examined the area. "So, you really are a nerd, huh?"
Fionna rolled her eyes, feeling her cheeks warm. "Says the guy with a diamond for a brain. I think that makes you the more unusual one here."
Steven laughed, a deep, unguarded sound that somehow made her feel comfortable. "Touché." He pulls a lighter and a joint from his diamond. "Mind if I smoke?"
Fionna's eyes widened as Steven casually pulled the joint and lighter. She wasn't even sure what shocked her more, the fact that he was holding a joint in her dorm or the fact that he pulled it from his head as if it were the most normal thing.
"Uh, actually, yeah, I kind of do mind," she stammered, still trying to process what she'd just witnessed. "They're pretty strict about that here. My RA could show up any minute, and let's just say she's not exactly forgiving."
Steven paused, looking at the joint in his hand, and then shrugged, tucking it back into his diamond. "Alright, alright. Don't want to ruin your spotless record." He leaned back into the couch. "Guess I'll have to keep it PG, heh."
Fionna shook her head, unsure whether to laugh or be exasperated. She was still trying to come to terms with the whirlwind of a night she'd had and now was facing the surreal reality of having Steven here, lounging on her couch like he owned the place.
"So… Do you always carry... things in there?" She gestured to the diamond with a mix of curiosity and disbelief. "You know, inside your head."
He raised an eyebrow, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Well, I'm not sure if it is inside my head, I think it is inside the diamond, y'know? I mean, the amount of things I store inside it is WAY more than the size of my head or even the diamond."
Fionna's curiosity only deepened as she stared at Steven, trying to wrap her mind around the strange abilities he possessed. The surrealness of the night lingered like a haze, and she was beginning to feel like she'd stepped into one of her anime posters.
"So, what else do you keep in there?" she asked, her voice a mixture of awe and disbelief.
Steven grinned, leaning forward. "Heh… well, if you really wanna know… Drugs, guns, money, food, water, my cell phone, medicine, and some other stuff I probably forgot."
truly diving into a world she had no roadmap for, where her companion carried not only dark humor but also, apparently, an arsenal. Still, there was something about Steven that made her curiosity outweigh her fear.
"So, you're basically a walking, talking, magical storage locker?" She asked, unable to suppress her amazement.
Steven shrugged, smirking. "Think of it more as… being resourceful."
Fionna shook her head, still trying to piece together his enigmatic existence. "And you don't think that's… I don't know, crazy?"
He laughs. "Hell yeah! Crazy as fuck. But I don't give a single shit. I do what I want when I want and I don't ask further questions."
Fionna perched on the edge of her bed, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
"Alright, Mr. Magical Storage Locker," She said, trying to keep her tone light despite the heaviness of the revelations. "What's your plan now that you're crashing at my place? Do you have a strategy for your life of crime or whatever it is you do?"
Steven smirks wider. "Well, we have some possibilities, but I have an idea…" He looks at her and says with a more seductive tone. "Why don't we have some fun right now? Just a quickie, but I can assure it will still feel great."
Fionna's heart raced at Steven's suggestion, a mix of surprise and confusion flooding her senses. "What? A quickie? You can't be serious."
Steven leaned back, a playful glint in his eye. "Why not? We're two consenting adults in a cozy dorm room, after all. Think of it as a spontaneous adventure. It'll be fun."
Fionna shook her head, struggling to find her voice. "This is all so sudden! I mean, I barely know you!"
Steven chuckled and leaned forward. "C'mon. You're a cute nerd, I'm a handsome scoundrel, we're both adults, it's not like you're turning criminal for that."
Fionna felt her cheeks flush, a mix of shock and embarrassment washing over her. "I—I don't think that's a good idea," She stammered, trying to regain her composure.
Steven glanced at her eyes. He was about to insist, but something in her embarrassment and inside himself told him to not. He just shrugs and lays on the couch. "Your loss. If you don't feel comfortable, who am I to insist, right? Hehe."
Fionna felt a rush of relief mixed with lingering embarrassment as Steven laid back on the couch, a teasing grin still dancing on his lips. She had always imagined her life to be full of exciting experiences, but never had she expected an encounter like this.
"Right," She said, attempting to shake off the awkwardness. "So, what do you want to do instead? I mean, we can't just sit here in silence."
Steven stretched his arms above his head and then let them fall to his sides. "Well, we could get to know each other better, or you could tell me about your nerdy interests. I could use a refresher on what normal people do for fun."
Fionna bit her lip, contemplating. "I guess I could share my favorite anime or game... But it's not exactly as thrilling as whatever you've got going on."
"Go on." He said, sitting up slightly, his interest piqued. "I'm all ears."
She took a deep breath, grateful for the change in topic. "Okay, well, there's this one anime I love called One Piece. It's about a man who wants to become the king of pirates while navigating a sea filled with magic and danger."
"Sounds cool." Steven interjected, a smirk playing on his lips. "But what makes it different? What hooked you?"
Fionna shifted slightly, eager to share her passion but also aware of how her excitement contrasted with the unusual night she was having. "Well, it's not just an adventure. The characters are incredibly diverse, and each one has their own dreams and struggles. The world-building is insane, too. You really feel like you're part of this vast oceanic universe."
"Heh… well, it sounds interesting. The only 'anime' thing I ever watched was two muscular guys punching each other with ghostz."
Fionna laughed, a genuine sound that broke through the earlier tension. "That sounds like JoJo! It's definitely an experience. But it's more than just that. It's about friendship, resilience, and finding strength in the face of adversity."
"Friendship, huh?" Steven replied, leaning back, his eyes glinting with mischief. "What do you think makes a good friend?"
Fionna pondered for a moment. "I think it's about being there for each other, no matter what. Supporting each other's dreams, listening when things get tough… just being a safe space for one another. I haven't had many friends like that, to be honest."
Steven shrugged. "Well, I can't see why, you're a hot nerd who's fun to listen to."
Fionna felt a mix of flattery and discomfort at Steven's compliment. "Thanks, I guess? But I don't think it's just about being a 'hot nerd'." She paused, trying to gauge his expression. "People don't usually see me beyond the books and the posters."
Steven tilted his head, his playful demeanor softening for a moment. "What do you mean?"
Fionna sighed, her gaze drifting to the clutter of her room. "I've always been the smart girl, the one who studies and spends her time in libraries and watching anime instead of going out. People usually make fun of me because of that…"
Steven looks at her, his expression softening. He looks down and sighs. "... you won't believe me, but I get that, or at least something similar to that." He looks away and chuckles with unease. "Y'know, some people in the orphanages used to call me names because of my skin and because of this diamond. Aberration, demon, weirdo, and the most creative one, monky-unicorn… people can be creative when coming to insult others, no?"
Fionna blinked in surprise, her initial discomfort fading as she listened to Steven. "I can't imagine what that was like… Kids can be really cruel."
Steven raises his hand to correct her. "No no no. I'm…" He sighs. "I'm not talking about the kids…"
Fionna's breath caught in her throat as she watched Steven's expression shift. She leaned forward, intrigued. "Then who are you talking about?"
Steven glanced away, a shadow crossing his features. "The adults…They were supposed to protect us, but instead… they were just as cruel, if not worse. They saw me as a freak, something to be feared or shunned."
Fionna's heart ached for him. "I'm sorry. That must have been really hard." The weight of his words settled heavily in the room.
Steven sighs. "It's alright… It was over after the last family who adopted me."
The silence in the room grew heavier as Fionna processed Steven's words, a mixture of empathy and sadness washing over her. "Last family? What happened?"
Steven chuckled bitterly, a sound devoid of humor. "Let's just say they weren't looking for a kid to love. I don't even know WHY they adopted me, but they hated me. They used to scream at me and hit me several times. They didn't even allow me to go to school. I endured that for a lot of time, until I got enough of it. I used to think someone was watching for me, someone was going to save me… until I realized it was a lot of bullshit. When I realized nobody was going to save me, I had enough. When my 'parents' were out, I put the house on fire and escaped through the window into the woods…"
Fionna sat in stunned silence, the weight of Steven's story wrapping around her like a heavy blanket. She felt an ache deep in her chest, torn between the surreal world she had just stepped into and the raw reality of Steven's past. It felt like a moment suspended in time, a glimpse into a life so vastly different from her own.
Steven sighs and lays back on the couch. "Goodnight."
Fionna sat in stunned silence, the remnants of Steven's story echoing in her mind. The air in the room felt thick, laden with unspoken emotions and the weight of shared vulnerabilities. She had never expected to glimpse such depth beneath Steven's playful exterior, and it left her reeling.
"Are you okay?" she finally managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper.
He lay back against the couch, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, a distant look in his eyes. "No… I… I just need to sleep now."
Fionna watched Steven, his sudden vulnerability transforming the room's atmosphere. She felt a mix of sorrow and empathy, wanting to offer comfort but unsure how. Instead, she simply nodded, understanding his need for solitude. "Alright, goodnight, Steven."
Steven's eyes remained on the ceiling, his breathing steady but his expression distant. Fionna turned off the main light, leaving a small desk lamp on to provide a soft, comforting glow. She made her way to her bed, feeling the strangeness of the situation settle in once more.
As she lay down, she couldn't help but glance at Steven. His story echoed in her mind, a stark reminder of the hidden depths beneath people's exteriors. She had always thought her life was complicated, but his revelations put things into perspective.
She turned onto her side, pulling the blanket up to her chin. Her mind raced with thoughts of the night's events and the enigmatic man now sleeping on her couch. The contrast between his playful demeanor and the pain he carried made her heart ache for him.
"Goodnight, Steven," she whispered again, hoping he found some semblance of peace in his sleep.
"... Thank you…" He whispers back before falling asleep.
[TO BE CONTINUED]