Chapter Text
"Oh, you are such an insufferable brute!"
The yell came not too far away from where Steven was chatting with a newcomer gem, but it may have been heard all around Little Homeworld for all he knew.
He huffed. "Would you excuse me for a minute?" he said to the gem and left before she could answer.
He followed the source of the sound, and was joined by Pearl midway there.
"Steven, that was-"
"It has to be," he said.
After all, which other gem would be called a 'brute' if not her.
They reached a growing crowd of gems pushed their way in. At the epicenter was Yellow Pearl —Blondie, as she like to be called now—, arguing with, who else? Jasper.
Steven braced himself for the worse and stepped between the two.
"Hey guys. What seems to be the-AH!"
He noticed it right away. At his right was Blondie, dressed with a Marilyn Monroe wig and covered in a paint stained dress that was once white —no doubt for her newest model season with the Art Class. To his left was Jasper, with a still dripping brush in her hand.
And in the middle was something that could only nominally be called 'a portrait'.
"Oh, alright," squeaked Steven, "I-ehem... I can see the problem."
"The problem?!" shouted Blondie. "The problem is that this… this bully is deliberately mocking me. I mean, look at it!"
Steven did, despite his good sense. She was right, it was awful; it was like someone with no real sense of proportion or color theory had tried to make an abstract portrait. While being sleep deprived. And blind. He caught a glance of Pearl covering her mouth; her face was sick green.
"It's not that bad," said Jasper, unusually shy.
"Not that bad?!"
Blondie gave the drawing to Steven and, due to the lack of any nearby trash cans, he laid it on the ground. Front down.
"Its heinous and you know it. Am I supposed to believe you really paint that bad?" said Blondie. Jasper flashed her teeth at her —never a good sign.
Steven looked around; the crowd was becoming unrest. The whole painting class was staring, plus the teacher —Vidalia—, Pearl, and a few bystander gems.
He also noticed when Blue Pearl —these days known as Luna— stepped forward from the crowd and put a hand on her friend shoulder.
"Maybe you should let this pass," she tried, but Blondie stuck a finger on Jasper's chest.
"I will, when this brute-"
She was cut off by Jasper grabbing her finger and pulling Blondie closer to her face.
"It's not my fault you are heinous," said Jasper, full of bile. Blondie turned red.
Steven took that as his signal to intervene. He put himself between the two of them and gently pushed Blondie away from the bigger gem. Pearl did her part and patted her shoulder as if saying 'let's go walk it out'. Reluctantly, Blondie followed her fellow pearls.
It was between them now. Steven and Jasper were face to face —as it has happened many times since she moved in to LH, three weeks ago.
Steven put his 'best friends' smile and held her by the arm. "Come on, let go talk somewhere else."
He was going to gently led her away when Jasper, not so gently, grabbed him by the wrist, holding him in place.
"Why do I have to leave? She is overreacting and you know it," she said.
"Jasper, that's not the point."
"Don't patronize me, Killer."
"You hurt her feelings."
"Hmp! So now it's my fault she is a terrible model?"
Oh, Stars. Steven didn't need future vision to foresee what happened next.
"Excuse ME?" yelled Blondie as she broke up of her friends' grasp and ran back at the center of the crowd.
Steven was quick enough to put a hand on her and Jasper's chest before they went to the fists.
"What did you just said?" demanded Blondie.
"You heard me, doll!" retorted Jasper.
The fight was rekindled in an instant. Jasper to one side, spiting insults. Blondie on the other, being held by Luna and Pearl, and demanding an apology that, Steven knew, was never going to receive.
The real troubling part, however, was the audience. The gems were all staring in disbelief; confused, worried, even scared of how the situation could end up to. Steven could felt the turmoil in their auras.
Doubt. They didn't think he could fix this.
That's it, Steven decided.
He put his literal foot on the ground, sending all nearby gems to the ground, cracking the floor and releasing a wave of energy in the shape of a gust of air.
"Would you just can it?!" he shouted, his voice going beyond the gems form and straight to their gemstones.
He spoke in plural but was looking at Jasper.
"You think this is a good reason to pick up a fight? You think she is a worthy opponent? That this is worth your time? Look around you. You are making a scene!"
"Steven!"
"Not now, Pearl! I-" he turned around and lost his voice.
Pearl was kneeling on the ground; her body acting as a shield from Blondie's cowering form. Luna was there too; using Pearl's body as coverage as she hugged her friend.
Steven came down from the anger he has lot himself into. The gems were starting to come back to their senses too. They all had wide, shocked eyes and open mouths and Steven could tell why.
His body was pink all over. He shook his head, driving the anger away and pushing the energy back into his gem until he recovered his normal hue. He searched for Jasper. Like a cat during a thunderstorm, she was shaking mad with impotence. Steven reached to her but she pushed him away and stood up on her own. She muttered a 'whatever' before leaving for good.
Steven's instincts told him to go follow her, but he couldn't. He wasn't in the right state of mind, and he has left half of Little Homeworld in an uncomfortable situation.
"Alright guys," he spoke; his voice carrying all the Diamond Authority he could muster without making the gems feel uneasy. "It's all cool now. Go back to your business. Everything is fine."
With that said, he let go of the energy accumulated, and wave after wave of healing aura was released from his gem. Steven has come to call this his Soothing Aura, and the effect was immediate. The more vulnerable gems felt themselves calm and happy, smiling brightly and chatting with each other. The others —the ones with more willpower—, turned their heads around in confusion, as if awoken from a strange dream.
In any case, they all picked up their canvases, brushes and colors and carried out with their business like nothing has happened. Vidalia, being a human without gem, was not affected by the aura; but once she saw the gems all ready to go back to class, she shrugged the whole thing off.
Another day with the gems, she thought, as she went back to teaching figure sketching.
Once the class was all settled, Steven rushed out of the 'crime scene', and didn't stop until he was away from all eyes. He leaned against a wall as he wheezed, trying to regain his composure.
He had never used his aura on so many gems at once, and he felt positively drained. Besides, it's not like he had had too much practice with that power. Last time he used it, it was on Jasper, a few weeks ago, and that was a unique circumstance.
He regularized his breath but he was still shaking. He has lost control, not only of the situation, but of himself. In the middle of fucking Little Homeworld, for Light's sake! His hands reached his head, applying pressure, trying to dry out the static in his brain.
Steven put himself together just in time to sense Pearl came over.
"Well, Luna is with Blondie, but they are both much calmer now, in no small way thanks to your…" Pearl measured her words. "'Mind tricks'"
Steven muttered something and let himself fall against the wall. Pearl cleared her throat to get his attention.
"Steven, you know I don't approve-"
"I know Pearl. But w-what did want me to do?" said Steven in a rush. Pearl gave him an understanding —almost maternal— look.
He'll never know why she was immune to the Soothing Aura, yet she can feel its effect. Too much time being Pink Diamond's right hand woman, maybe? Although if his mother had this power or not, was a mystery to both Pearl and him.
"Look, the gems are already confused and scared with all the changes going on. I couldn't let a street fight to blow up and-"
"That's not what I meant," interrupted Pearl, "I don't approve of that either, but I can understand it, in certain circumstances…" Pearl stopped; as if only now she was catching what she was saying. She shook her head. "B-but we'll talk about that later. No, I meant how you used your Pink Steven form."
He nodded but said nothing. He had no excuse, not for that at least.
"Steven, it's the fifth time in two weeks. The second one on Little Homeworld and at least the last one had no witnesses."
She knelt down next to him. "Your powers are great, Steven. And they are useful too!" she reminded him, "But if you keep losing control of them, it's only a matter of time before someone get hurt-"
"That won't happen. I promise!" said Steven loudly, and then added, calmer: "I'm fine. I just need more practice."
Pearl looked down. Her aura was shaking with doubt.
"Well… if you ever need help, or just talk," her hand squeezed Steven's shoulder. "I am always here. We are always here."
Steven nodded absentmindedly. He imagined himself sitting down with the Crystal Gems and letting them know of his fear of his ever growing powers, his growing tiredness of having the weight of the gem empire on his shoulders, and his deteriorating state of mind.
At the same time, he was assaulted with an image of Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl backing up in fear, raising their weapons at Steven. Being scared of Him. In days like these, that scenario felt more likely than ever.
"Thanks but, as I said, I am fine," said Steven.
The gems can never know, he thought, not until I can learn how to control my powers and Little Homeworld is a bit more settled.
Pearl was about to retort when a shadow was casted over them.
"Excuse me, Steven Universe…" said Luna as she took a short step forward. "Blondie here wanted to say something."
She moved quickly to the side, exposing Blondie, who went hard as a table. She was still wearing the paint-stained dress but she had thrown away the wig.
"Well… I just wanted to say that… I admit I could have handled that a little better," she said, earning herself a shove from Luna. "Also, I might have overreacted. I apologize for my behavior."
She bowed her head in shame. Steven dismissed her with a hand wave.
"There is no need for that, I am not mad," he lied, but telling the truth was no productive whatsoever. "Just try to be patient with Jasper the next time. She still has a long way to go."
Blondie muttered a 'thank you'. They turned around, ready to leave.
"Wait," said Steven, "I wanted to apologize too. For, you know, scaring you two back there."
Blondie blushed. "Oh, that. It's no big deal, just a reflex."
"Indeed. It's been a while since we last saw a glimpse of Pink's power," said Luna, "it was overwhelming, to say the least."
Steven breath was cut short. He checked his hand to see if he was turning pink. He was not.
"Oh, so you knew about that," he said, trying to sound disinterested.
Blondie chuckled. "You mean about the world-shattering powers she had? Sure we did. Everyone on Homeworld, or at least everyone on the palace, knew about that."
Pearl scoffed as familiar bile grew in her chest. "Not everyone."
There was a minute or so of silence; everyone's heads were occupied with their own thoughts and problems. Steven's own issues were planet sized at this point.
"Well, it's true that she was calmer by the time you came by," said Luna, "especially after… the thing with her pearl."
She was, of course, talking about Volleyball. Steven bit his lip. That was still a sore spot for all of the people gathered.
Blondie gave her friend a nasty glare. "Don't be silly. We both know the one responsible for her change was Spinel."
"Spinel?!" shouted Steven, as his body turned pink and the light burned inside his gem.
The two pearls took a step back; Blondie took cover behind her friend once again. Pearl held Steven by the elbow. His skin was burning hot, but she didn't let go.
"Steven," she hissed.
"'I am ok! Let me just…" Steven breathed in and out; he thought of the ocean, the waves, the beach… His hue changed back to normal.
"I am ok," he said with confidence.
He walked to the pearls, very slowly, as if approaching a scared animal. "What was that thing you said about Spinel?"
The pearls shared a look before Blondie spoke. "Well, you see… After what happened to her pearl, Spinel was gifted to Pink by the Diamonds, alongside that garden of hers."
"And whenever Pink was distressed or got into a fight with the Diamonds, they would dismiss her to the garden until she was 'fit for talking with'," added Luna.
"'Chill out' as you humans say."
Steven eyes opened wide. So there was a connection between his destructive powers and the small playful gem.
"That is true," added Pearl, just as amazed by this revelation, "I remember she would turn into a fury, go to the garden, and then come back calmer." She averted Steven's gaze and blushed. "I didn't think it had to do anything with your powers. I never knew that side of your mother."
There was hurt in Pearl's voice, but Steven couldn't pay mind to it.
"Wait, hold it," he said.
"Hold what?" said Blondie.
"It's an expression," said Pearl.
"What you are saying…" proceeded Steven as if he has not been interrupted, "Is that Spinel helped my mom with…" he signaled himself, "all this?"
Both pearls nodded.
"It's impossible to know what went through Pink Diamond's mind that prompted her change" said Luna as she stared directly at Steven's eyes —did she knew what was bothering him? Is he that obvious?— "But if there is anyone that knows more about her- I mean your powers, besides her pearl, that would be Spinel."
Steven brought a hand to his face. He was sweating heavily, and not from the sun. All the heat was coming from the cursed gem incrusted in his belly; the energy running circles inside it. He made a quick decision.
"Pearl, can you make sure the activities get through without problems? Also, if anyone needs anything, give them a rain check for tomorrow."
Pearl was taken back but recovered quickly. "Of course! I'll text Garnet and Amethyst to let them know and we'll split the classes between the three," she took her phone from her pocket and started texting with one hand. "You sure you don't want to take someone with you?"
Steven looked at her free hand. It was badly burnt.
"Positive," he said, "I had to do this myself."
He gave his quick goodbye to the pearls, and went on his own way. Straight to the beach house; and to the Galaxy Warp Pad.
A few minutes later, Steven was walking the hallways of Homeworld's Great Palace with a familiar gem.
"Thanks again for guiding me around, Volleyball. No matter how many times I came to Homeworld, I always find a way to get myself lost," said Steven to the gem by his side, "Also, it is ok if I call you Volleyball, right?"
"Why, of course it is, silly. It's my nickname! You gave it to me, remember? But most gems call me just Val these days," said Val as she smiled brightly at him.
Steven smiled back at her. Seeing her again and well was a relief. Her left eye was healing wonderfully, not longer appearing as a lump. The iris was still white, however, and the pupil didn't moved at all, making the impression that it was painted and not real at all.
"But you are right, Homeworld is always changing. Is a huge shift to how it was before; rigid and static," said Val with increasing enthusiasm, "Now it seems there are new changes every day! But here, let me show you."
They reached a giant blue door decorated with sculpted images of the ocean. Steven knew that every sculpted gem soldier and creature on that door was actually a sentient gem. He flinched when a gem-fish winked at him. He had suggested the diamonds to move these living statues to more 'pleasant locations' —Earth, for example—, and to not make any more of them. The second request they had complied. The first one —considering it would mean to dismantle the whole palace— not so much.
Val made a move to open the door, but Steven was faster and pushed the button.
The moment they stepped inside, he got what Val meant. Blue's palace was ridiculously different than the first time he came. All around he saw gems expressing themselves; be it either painting great murals on the walls, designing not-living sculptures or playing with their phones —which Steven had provided, though he never imagined they would like them so much.
There was an aura of elegance everywhere —as with all thing related to Blue—, but now there was an easiness in the air. It was beautiful; and it was moments like this that make him miss Homeworld.
And as Steven took note of the gems, they too noticed him. He was gladly greeted by the more open minded gems, while the more reserved ones simply acknowledged his presence or did a diamond salute.
He groaned. He hated that salute. He made sure to greet the saluting gems with a pat on the back and a 'Hey you, how are you doing?' That usually did the trick, and Steven knew that the next time he saw them, they would have lighten up.
"Wow, everybody really like you," said Val as they passed by a group of greeting lapis lazulis. "I have never such a reaction to no one. Not even the diamonds get this amount of love." She chuckled softly. "Usually they only get distant admiration, and these days, not even that."
"I am glad to hear that," he said, truthfully. "Speaking of, I have been meaning to ask you about the diamonds… It took me by surprise when you decided to go back to work for White. Sorry if I am opening an old wound-"
Val shook her head. "Not at all. In fact, it's the opposite. Working for White is really satisfying."
Steven blinked a few times. "It is?"
"Yes… I understand how much she hurt me, and she understood it too," explained Val, surprising Steven further. "Back then, she didn't know that what she did was wrong. She thought it was all for teaching Pink a lesson. We talked it over many times. She is remorseful know. I know that is not an excuse, but she is much nicer now."
Her voice dropped, as if lost in thought. "I mean, everyone deserves a second chance, right? We can all change and grow, after all. I have to believe she can change, because if I don't-"
She stopped walking. A tiny teardrop felt from his good eye before she caught it. Steven could feel her aura, shaking with anger and pain.
His new Aura Reading has been proven useful since day one, when he discovered it by accident. It made it easier to see what was in the gems minds and hearts and to help them. Sometimes, however, it could be overwhelming, just like a few minutes before in Little Homeworld. Or just like now.
He must have been staring to strongly, because Val smiled and made a dismissing gesture.
"Besides, we both know White is not the best at dealing with other people emotions or desires. So whenever she is in a 'moral crossway', I like to be around to…" Val made a shoving motion. "Give her a little push in the right direction. She has really come to appreciate my advice. It makes me feel useful again."
And just like that, her mood went back to joyful. Steven smiled despite himself. Val was a model Pink Gem, sweet on the outside, sour in the inside; excellent at dealing with people, and with a generally good heart. Steven didn't get why, after 8000 years, she would want to spend even more time with White, but he trusted her judgment.
"Well, if the Diamonds become too much or White gives you trouble, just come to me. I am always available," said Steven, and he meant it.
Val thanked him and they resumed their march. Soon enough they reached another door, not too different from the last one, except this one had images of gems on water springs.
"And here we are," said Val, signaling the giant door, "I'll present you and leave if you don't need anything else."
"Thanks Val. It was nice talking to you," said Steven, "I am glad you are adapting well."
"Yes, Era 3 is incredible! It makes it easier to, you know, move forward," she took a hand to her still hurt eye. "And the pearls have been really helpful! Your p-I mean… Earth's Pearl has been teaching me meditation techniques and just being delightful to be around. And Luna has been teaching me about this 'meep morp' that you humans like so much."
Steven covered his smile with the back of his hand.
"And Blondie is… Blondie. But she is much more pleasant now than what I remember. Everybody is, come to think of it."
"Even Spinel?" asked Steven, and he got worried when the answer wasn't instantaneous.
Instead, Val held her hands to her chest, playing with her fingers, as do all people that have bad news they don't know how to break through.
"She is difficult to approach."
"Oh boy," hissed Steven.
"She did nothing bad!"
Oh boy, thought Steven, even bitterer. He checked Val's aura, but it didn't feel like she was lying.
"It's just… I thought that, since we had similar experiences we could find points in common. But whenever I tried to approach her, she would dismiss me, saying she had 'other things to do'." She grimaced. "Except then she would lock herself in her room and wouldn't come out until being summoned by the diamonds. Anyway, I don't think it's me," she waited for a moment, as if rethinking her own words, "I mean, she does the same with the other pearls. But I trust she has a good reason to."
Yeah, she better do. Steven bit his under lip, as he does before doing something stupid.
"I'll talk to her," he said, regretting it in an instant. "I am sure it is all a misunderstanding."
Val shook her head but didn't argue with him. Steven felt his stomach churn and his shoulders tense like a lamppost. What else could he do? It was Val. And be it on purpose or not, Spinel was hurting her.
His gem heat up at this thought. For some reason, it was harder to Steven to completely forgive Spinel for what she has done, but he had ascribed it to the fact that they haven't talked again since then. And now, after almost a full year, he drops by to finally see her, and he finds out… this.
"Well, better go in and say hi," he said eagerly and pressed the button.
The door opened, and the sound of laughter and chatting filled the corridor, as a powerful aura made itself present. It was like a hurricane had hit Steven's face.
Without letting this scare him —for he knew these auras very well—, he followed Val inside, walking the stairs leading to the giant bathtub filled with boiling hot water.
And there they were; the source of the auras. The Diamonds. The most powerful of all gems and Steven could tell why. All gems had an aura, a not physical manifestation of the energy —the light— inside their gem. The Diamonds had it too, but theirs were gigantic in proportion to the aura of a gem like Val. It was almost overwhelming, and it was the reason why, even in Era 3, they were still treated with respect. Even gems that couldn't feel auras could sense the Diamond's power.
It would be more impressive if they weren't wheezing and spit-laughing like the recorded voices of the 90's TV shows.
Steven also heard a fourth laugh that he recognized, but whose owner he couldn't see. That is, until he looked up to gaze at Yellow Diamond's whole form. She was laughing loudly, trying to contain her shakes as to not drop the pink gem that was standing up on her palm.
"And then the Lapis said 'Well, that thing just flew over my head'!" shouted Spinel as she stretched her neck to be almost as tall as the Diamonds and then she recoiled it, making a spring-like motion and ending in a 'tah dah!' pose.
The diamonds burst into laughing, but White covered her mouth to hide it, as she was trying to appear above such humor. Steven didn't laugh. He heard that one before.
Val made a salute, ready to introduce Steven, but he put a hand on her shoulder.
"You might want to stay behind me. Seriously," he said and she dutifully obeyed.
Steven took a step forward —with Val following close behind— until he was at the edge of the tub. Then, he shouted.
"Hey guys!"
The diamonds froze and turned around.
"STEVEN!"
The palace foundations shook as they pushed each other while they ran from the far side of the tub. Val hid further behind Steven. The boy raised his shield.
There was a boom and a quake as the three giantesses leaned over the tub's edge to be at Steven's eye level. This was followed by a giant wave falling hard over him. When the water flowed away, Steven dismissed his shield. He was totally dry.
"Hey Steven," said the diamonds, as they stared at him like he was a statue on a trophy shelf.
"'Sup guys," Steven turned back at Val and whispered, "You ok over there?"
Val came out of his shadow. She was mostly dry, but her hair was socked and her bun was undone and blocking her face, making her look like her blue counterpart.
"Yeah, I think so," she moved the hair away from her eyes and then addressed the Head Gems. "My most Shining Diamonds. I present to you… Steven Universe."
"Yes, we saw him already, pearl," said White with annoyance.
Val leaned her head closer to her.
White blushed and, like it was something painful to do, she whispered: "Thank-you, Val."
Val clapped, satisfied. White rolled her eyes and went back to her refined self.
Steven didn't pay tribute to what he has seen. Wow, she really has White well trained… Good for her! hethought and silently thanked any higher Power that there was a positive influence on White's life.
"I can't believe you finally came," said Blue, breathless by the emotion.
"We didn't expect you for a few more months at least," added Yellow.
"Yeah, I know. But I was feeling a bit nostalgic. Missing the good old palace, you know…" lied Steven.
Yellow made a dissatisfied noise. "Wish I could say the same. Except for a few technological progresses, not much has happened these months. Even the Insurgent gems seem to have gone dormant." She huffed, her mind wandering to the good old times of galaxy conquering. "The only good thing this last year has been you, Spinel."
Steven blinked a few times as he looked around. "Speaking of… where is she?"
"What do you mean, she is right here, at Yellow's p-"
White was cut short when she noticed that Yellow's hand was empty. Yellow noticed it too, at the exact the same moment.
"Yellow! What did you do to Spinel!" asked White, looking around frantically.
"Why, I don't know!" Yellow patted her body, like she has just lost her favorite pen and not a whole grown gem. "She was here a second ago-"
"Wait, there she is," said Blue, pointing at the pink blob on the tub.
Spinel was face down over the water, floating freely at the hands of the waves. BONK. She hit the edge of the tub but didn't move. Steven gasped as the horror sank in.
Wait, but she is a gem. She doesn't have to breath, he realized a second later.
Yellow gently held Spinel's head between her pointing finger and thumb. "Oh quit fooling around little one. We have a visit!"
She raised her up. Spinel 'came back to life' with a series of dramatic gestures like holding her hand to her neck and pretending to drown. It was like a mime in full fuchsia.
Yellow set her on the floor and —not gently at all— smashed her with her finger. Spinel's body stretched down as she spat all the leftover water. Yellow retreated her hand and Spinel did like a sprig and resumed her usual shape, like she hasn't been turned into an accordion a second ago.
"Talking 'bout making waves, eh?" said Spinel, as she wrung her ponytails dry and shook her head like a cat, spraying water everywhere. "Noah fence guys, but I am pretty sure I ain't got a bath scheduled 'till next century."
She paid attention to the aforementioned visit. Her hair frizzled and her smile broke into pieces once she laid her eyes on Steven.
And he, in turn, was shocked too. He came to Homeworld to see the Spinel he knew; the one that was all macabre grins and spiral eyes hiding a terrible trauma. The one who has made herself a guest into his nightmares, when he dreamt himself on top of that injector, being held over the void. The one that tried to kill him.
But that Spinel was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he was looking at Pink Diamond's Spinel. This one was all pink and pretty as she could be and had heart ponytails. All her edges were soft and the crying marks on her cheeks were gone. The inverted heart gemstone on her chest was the only telling sign of her true self.
That, and the absolute look of dread on her face. Like someone she has cut open and buried away has appeared one year later knocking at her door.
Oh, wait…
"Look Spinel, Steven has come to visit. Isn't that great?" said Yellow.
"You too meet each other already, right?" said Blue.
Spinel made not a move or sound. Steven offered a shy smile and shrug. She reacted to this by smiling back.
"Why, of course I know him!" cheered Spinel, "Me and Stevie go waaay back! He is da one who found me in the Garden, after all."
Steven bit the inside of his cheek. So the Diamonds don't know about the whole 'soil the Earth' thing, uh? Figured it so.
Spinel stretched her arms and entangled them, several times, around Steven's body, all without even moving her feet. It was a sort of 'contactless hug'.
"Hey there Stevie," she beamed, but her anxiety broke thought the façade, "How's my… heh, my ol' best friend doing?"
"I am fine, really," answered Steven, "How are you holding up? You seem different"
"Oh, I feel different. I feel great!"
She untangled her arms, which recoiled back to its usual size with a 'reeling in' sound.
"Yeah, you look... fine. New form?"
"Heh… more like 'ol' form'."
The conversation didn't go further than that. Val made her presence known, showing a soft smile and a 'hi'. Spinel's answer was to look away and mutter a soulless 'hey'. Val's mood dropped immediately.
As for Steven, he was torn apart. He wanted to help Val —and he will—, and he still had unfinished business with Spinel —not to mention the whole 'Pink Steven' thing he still had to figure out. But he had come to Homeworld expecting to see the other Spinel. The one that poisoned his planet, attacked his friends and had almost killed him.
This Spinel was cute as a bunny and twice as harmless. In fact, without the mark of her trauma present, Steven could see her pain more clearly. In her eyes, her posture. The pathetic flickering of her aura. She was hurt. And Steven found out he didn't have it in him to be mad at her now.
The sound of a soft moan brought him back from his pensive state.
"Please forgive me," whined Blue, holding a hand to her chest. "It's just… I'm overwhelmed, that's all. We have Spinel and Volleyball, and now even Steven is here with us. They all were part of Pink in their own way. She may be gone… but her son and her best friends are still here! We are so blessed."
The diamonds all agree to this, unaware that he air has turned dense as beeswax.
Spinel looked down and held her arms to the side, still as a statue. Val held her hands to her chest and played with her fingers. Steven was breathing in and out, loudly.
The ocean, Steven. Think of the ocean.
"I am glad that you mention that," said Steven, trying to sound calm, "because I came all the way here for Spinel."
The mentioned gem jumped in place. She is like a bunny!
"Is that true?" asked White.
"It is." Steven closed the gap between him and Spinel. He smiled not too much and showed his open palms to express he was no threat to her. "I was thinking… I mean, me and Val were thinking we could have a 'Pink gems reunion'. You know, only for the gems formerly owned by Pink Diamond." Spinel gave him a dubious look. "Uh, right Val?"
Steven gave Val a pleading look; his eyes were saying 'help me out with this'.
"Why, yes! That's exactly what we had in mind," she said with assurance and then addressed the diamonds. "We have been planning this for weeks now, but we couldn't say anything as not to ruin the surprise of Steven's return."
The diamonds looked intrigued by this last comment, even thought her auras revealed doubt. Damn, Val was smart. Too much for her own good, perhaps, but who is Steven to judge? In any case, he was jealous.
If he could have sweet talked someone that well when he was 14, his problems would have been solved twice as fast.
"Anyway, if you guys don't need us, I'll just grab Spinel and go."
Steven held both Val's and Spinel's hands in his; the startled gem was even more surprised. They made a single step down when a giant fist smashed the edge of the tub, breaking the marble in pieces.
"What?!"
"You can't be serious!"
"But Steven, you just came here…"
"You can't leave us now, you must stay!"
"Why?" said Steven flatly.
The diamonds were stunned by that bold statement. White, ever the leader, tensed her shoulders.
"You ask why?" she said, her voice reverberating and her gem glowing nuclear. She was now the White that has created an empire out of dust. "There is a very good reason why, young man!"
The three small creatures cowered, but Steven held his ground. Seeing him unfazed by her power, White's light banished.
"And… Blue here will explain it," she said, practically shoving her fellow diamond at the front.
"I will?" asked Blue. White gave her a 'do it or you will be shattered into dust' look. "I mean, yes I will! Listen to me, Steven."
"I'm listening."
"Right. Well it's… uh… you see Steven… we… you must…" Steven made an effort not to laugh. It was so cute watch Blue fumble with her words and playing with her fingers like a girl at the principal's office.
"Y-Yellow will explain it!" she shouted and pointed at her.
"What?!" exclaimed her fellow diamond. She huffed. "Fine, I'll take it from here, as usual." She looked down at Steven, full of resolution.
Steven winked at her. Yellow blushed but didn't drop her valiant façade.
"You see Steven, you can't leave because…" she stopped, going through the same mental block Blue had.
She suddenly smiled full of confidence
"Well, you obviously can't leave before you give us your report."
"My… report…"
"Yes!" shouted Yellow, raising a fist in the sky. "You understand that your colony is unprecedented in all aspects. We must know all the details about your 'leadership-free' gem colony, and if there has been an advance on your gem-organic integration project. Not to mention your reports have been lacking and —dare I say— too sparse these last months. SO, as far as we are concerned, you can't leave this place until you explain yourself to us fully."
She crossed her arms, like a mother talking to a disrespectful child. The other diamonds were in awe.
"Besides, the water's temperature is perfect," she added. "It would be a shame to waste it."
This profound speech was followed by the admiration of the other diamonds.
"That's brilliant Yellow! In fact, you can have your 'Pink Reunion' here!" said Blue. "We were part of Pink's life too, after all!"
"Well said, Blue! You too, Yellow!" cheered White. "See Steven? I told you there was a reason why I needed you here."
The diamonds took turns congratulating each other as much as trying to claim the credit from the idea.
Steven shared a look with her fellow pink gems. Or one should say 'red gems' for they had red faces and crying eyes. The three of them exploded in laughter. The diamonds were great and powerful in many ways, but talking down to Steven was not one. After all, 'smooth-talking' is not a skill you develop when you are used to everyone following your every command.
"T-the big and terrible Diamonds, ladies. They might invade your world, if they can decide where to land first," joked Steven, earning more laughing from the gems.
"I-it's really s-surprising they went as far as they did conquering the galaxy," said Val.
"Pretty sure they were just trying to outdo each other for da 'Overlord of the Year' award," said Spinel in a hush.
Val giggled. "'Overlord of the Year'? I don't think that's a real thing"
"Why, ya don't know that."
Steven watched the small talk that had ensued between the gems and he was livid. This. This here is what made him miss Homeworld. Moments like this made him relieve his days as 'trainee diamond'. Over the two years he spent dismantling the empire, he alternated between living on Beach City and here, and while he would choose the Earth any day, it was hard not to miss Homeworld.
It was a part of him, too.
"Well, what do you say Steven? You obviously can't leave yet," said White, extending her arms, holding Blue and Yellow close to her.
Val tapped Steven's shoulder. "Please, could just humor them for a while?" she whispered, "If you leave now, they'll be devastated."
'Devastated' in this context meant 'a pain to be around'. Whenever the diamonds where in a foul mood, whoever was closest usually paid the price. In this case, the gems whose hands he was still holding.
He let go of their friends' hands. "Alright, alright. You guys got me. We should catch up."
"Oh, excellent! That is wonderful to hear," said White.
"It will be like old times, when you used to live here," said Blue dreamingly.
White knelt to be eye level with Steven again. She laid her open hand on the ground, inviting.
Steven was about to step on, when he stopped to look at Val.
"Well, what are you waiting for, hop in," he said.
Val blinked a few times. She hasn't believed Blue's offer was serious. She looked at White, waiting for her approval. The diamond nodded once.
Her face shine with happiness, and so did her aura. She made a move to get into the hand, but was swiftly blocked by a pink blur.
"No!" yelled Spinel as Val felt on the ground with a loud thud.
Steven rushed to Val and knelt next to her. She was fine but shocked, just like all the others nearby. White retreated her hand and took a defensive stand, as did the other diamonds.
"Why not?" asked White; her face made of ice and blinding light.
Spinel bit her fingers, chewing them like they were gum, as she laid under the diamond's shadow. Her heart buns were now hiding behind her head, giving her the look of a distressed animal. Her eyes opened wide suddenly, as if she has figured the solution to a problem.
"Because it would be unfair, of course!" she said.
What?
"Unfair?" repeated Yellow. "To whom?"
"To her," Spinel pointed a finger at Val.
That only increased the general confusion of the room.
"Think about it for a sec," said Spinel as she turned her legs into a spring and slingshot herself into the air.
It looked like a random action, but she made a perfect arc and headed into the right place to be catch by Yellow's hand.
"Just consider, my Diamonds, that you guys are about to have a very serious discussion and —although I am sure Val is confidential 'nuff—, what interest it is to her what you are gonna discuss?"
Spinel jumped again, making a long arc and a mortal roll in the air before landing on Blue's shoulder.
"And may I remind you that this is Era 3?" said Spinel and move like a flash to the other shoulder. "It's an era of freedom. Where every gem can be what they want, everybody can feel whatever their melon heart tells them, and every gem gets free time."
She made a mortal jump backwards, like a bird rising from the ground, and she head-landed into White's hair.
The head diamond looked up as Spinel's head sprouted out of her mane, close enough to touch the diamond's gem.
"Now, me, I'll love to skedaddle my way outta 'ere. But since Steven himself said he came all da way to Homeworld to see wittle ol' me, I have to stay. But surely you guys wouldn't force Val to sit through your boring meeting? Mmm?"
Steven rolled his eyes. But soon enough the diamond's nodded their heads; Spinel's words having worked like magic inside their heads.
"Mm, you might be right, Starlight" said White.
"It's true. We wouldn't want anybody to do anything they don't want. That's not our way anymore," said Blue.
Yellow hummed in approval. She was not convinced, but she was not about to disobey a decision made by her fellow diamonds.
"Very well then, it is decided," said White, "Val, you are free to go and do… whatever it is that you do in your free time. You are dismissed for the rest of the evening."
"What? No, no, hold on, time out," shouted Steven, "I said I wanted to speak with both Spinel and Val, and she doesn't have to leave if-"
A hand on his shoulder muted him for good.
"It's fine," said Val, with a sad smile.
Steven looked at her aura. She was not alright.
"I don't want to be… where I am not wanted," she said that last part in barely a whisper.
Val saluted the diamonds and walked the stairs down. Nobody spoke until they heard the door open and close.
Steven clenched his teeth so much he thought he was gonna bleed. He had to look at his hands to make sure he wasn't pink, because he sure as hell felt like turning now.
"Well, since everything's alright now…" said White, with a fleeting trace of regret in her voice. It soon enough banished as she smiled and extended her hand, once again, to Steven. "Come in now, we have much to discuss."
Steven wanted to complain. He wanted to scream and yell and explain time and time again why that thing they did was rude as fuck.
But he was in no position to talk right now, not with his anger boiling, and his powers out of control, and the light in his gem growing and burning.
So he did as he was told and jumped into White's massive hand. She raised him to her face level. Her light could blind at this distance, but not Steven. Soon enough the diamonds started to discuss the matters of the colony, with Steven answering short questions here and there.
His attention, however, was in the small pink dot entangled on White's hair. Spinel was playing with one of White's locks, pretending to not pay attention —for Steven knew she was listening to every word. Their glances crossed and Spinel looked away, biting her under lip.
Her aura was shrinking down. Shame, it's what she was feeling.
This is gonna be harder than I thought…
Steven huffed and sat on White's palm, taking his jacket off in the process.
He was not going home anytime soon.