The night air was cold against Fionna's skin as she followed Steven through the dimly lit streets. Every instinct told her to turn back, to head home, to forget about the guy who saved her life. But she was in too deep now, and another part of her was desperate to know more about this mysterious figure.
The bar loomed ahead. A low hum of music and muffled voices spilled out into the night as they approached. As they stepped inside, the smoky atmosphere enveloped them. Patrons filled the room, laughter and chatter blending with the clinking of glasses.
"Two shots of whiskey." Steven said, leaning casually against the counter. The bartender raised an eyebrow at him but didn't question the request. Fionna felt out of place amidst the rough crowd, but Steven's presence provided a strange comfort.
"What now?" She asked, glancing around as they waited for their drinks.
"Now we drink," He replied with a smirk, grabbing the two shots as they were placed before him. He downed one in a single motion before handing the second one to her.
"Um, I don't drink…" She stammered, staring at the amber liquid like it was poison.
"Suit yourself. More for me." He tossed back the second shot, leaning against the bar with a satisfied sigh.
She looks at Steven as he drinks, feeling nervous to ask questions. "... How are you so strong? I mean, you bent those bars with your bare hands…"
Steven paused, the glass hovering near his lips as he considered her question. He set the empty shot glass down with a soft clink and turned to her, his expression shifting to one of mild amusement. "You really want to know?"
Fionna nodded, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "Yeah, I mean... It's not every day you see someone do something like that."
He chuckled, a dark sound that sent a shiver down her spine. "Well, it is all because of this." He passes his hand on his hair, moving it from his forehead, revealing a black, pointy horn-like on his forehead.
Fionna widens her eyes and backs down, surprised. "What IS that?!"
They glance at each other for a few seconds in silence until Steven sighs and rolls his eyes. "Understandable yet offensive."
Fionna's heart raced as she stared at the "horn", a mix of fear and fascination flooding her senses. The bar seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them locked at this moment. "I— I didn't mean to offend you." She stammered, trying to regain her composure. "It just caught me off guard."
Steven chuckled softly. "Trust me, I get that a lot. Most people see this thing, and they think I'm some kind of monster. Well, at least it gives me power."
"Powers?" Fionna echoed, her curiosity igniting. "How?"
Steven shrugs. "No idea. Everything I know is that I was born with it, and it gives me some cool abilities."
Fionna stared at him, her mind racing. "So, you were born with it? Like, it's some kind of... malformation?"
Steven chuckles. "Well, medicine say that. Religion say it is a curse." He leans closer to her. "But to be honest, some jewelers confirmed it is a diamond."
Fionna blinked, her mind struggling to process the strange revelation. "A diamond...? On your forehead?"
He smirks. "Well, actually it is inside my head. This is just, like, 20% of the whole thing. Wanna see the X-Rays?"
"... You're joking, right?" She asked, half-hoping he would laugh it off.
He chuckles and shakes his head. "Of course not, doll." He puts his hand into this 'diamond' and pulls the X-ray exams from inside it.
Fionna's jaw dropped as she watched Steven pull out a set of X-ray films from seemingly nowhere. He spread them out on the bar, the faint light illuminating the stark outlines of skull and bone.
"Here you go." He said nonchalantly, gesturing to the images. "As you can see, there's a diamond right there, replacing my brain and fulfilling my skull. Kinda hard to miss."
Fionna leaned closer, squinting at the films. "This is… unreal." She traced the outline of the diamond with her finger, barely daring to breathe. "How is that even possible? How are you even alive? Doesn't it hurt?"
Steven watched her with a smug expression as she examined the X-ray films. "Nah. I was born with it, so it's just part of me, like an extra organ. Though I can't say I've had the most conventional life because of it."
Fionna straightened, her head spinning with the revelations. "So you've lived with this… diamond in your head your whole life? How did your parents react?"
A flicker of something darker crossed Steven's face. "... Heh... Well… I don't have parents. I won't give details, but I've spent my whole life in orphanages, jumping from family to family, until I got tired and escaped to live all by myself. And I've been doing pretty good since then."
Fionna felt a pang of sympathy for him, realizing that beneath his bravado was a painful truth. "That sounds… really tough… But you're not alone anymore. I want to help you, whatever that means."
Steven laughs. "Help? Seriously? You know how the world treats people like me. You think you can just waltz in and fix everything?"
"I don't think it's that simple." Fionna replied, determination creeping back into her voice. "But I want to understand you. You've been through so much, and I can't just ignore that."
He studied her for a moment, a flicker of interest sparking in his eyes. "You're different, aren't you? Most wouldn't dare to get this close to me, let alone offer to help."
"I guess I'm just stubborn," she admitted with a shy smile. "Besides, you're not a monster. You saved me, and that's what matters."
Steven let out a low, almost disbelieving chuckle, his sharp teeth visible as he leaned back against the bar, crossing his arms. "Not a monster, huh? You sure about that?"
She nodded, her gaze steady. "Yeah. You're not. You're just... different. But that doesn't make you a bad person."
His smirk falters for a moment. He stays quiet for a few seconds and shakes his head. "You're either incredibly brave or unbelievably naive." He pauses, and his smirk comes back. "Well, if you insist, how do you intend to help me, doll?"
Fionna hesitated, searching for the right words. Steven's smirk was both a challenge and a mask, and she wanted to peel it back, to understand the person beneath. She took a deep breath. "I don't know exactly how yet. But maybe... maybe it starts with listening. With not running away when things get weird."
Steven raised an eyebrow, his amused expression softening slightly. "Listening, huh? Sounds simple enough. But what if listening's not enough? What if people like me need more than just kind words and sympathy?"
"Then I'll figure it out." She replied, her voice steadier now. "You don't have to do everything alone. Whatever this is, whatever you've been through, you deserve someone in your corner."
He studied her, his gaze sharp and searching. "You don't even know me, doll. For all you know, I could be dangerous. You sure you're ready for what that might mean?"
Fionna's heart pounded, but she held his gaze. "You had the chance to hurt me and didn't. You've had plenty of chances since. That says a lot more about you than some diamond in your head."
Steven chuckled, a genuine laugh this time, though tinged with disbelief. "You're a piece of work, you know that? Most people run screaming at the sight of this thing." He said, tapping the diamond on his forehead. "But you? You just keep pushing."
"Maybe I'm stubborn. Or maybe I see something in you worth fighting for." She said, her cheeks flushing slightly at her own boldness.
Steven tilted his head, a flicker of something unspoken crossing his face. "Alright, Fionna. I'll bite. If you want to stick around, you're in. But don't say I didn't warn you. My life's not exactly a picnic."
"Neither is mine." She said with a small smile. "But I'm not backing down."
He smirked, shaking his head. "Fine. Let's see what you've got. But first, you're buying the next round."
Fionna blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, what? I didn't even drink the first round!"
"Exactly." Steven said, standing and motioning to the bartender. "You owe me. Consider it the first step in proving you're serious."
Fionna sighed, but couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips. As strange as the night had turned, she felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.
[TO BE CONTINUED]