Chapter Text
Special Match
A Valentine Fighting Flirty
Connie Maheswaran yawned as she walked out of Little Homeworld R&D, pockets in her blue lab coat. Morning sunlight was breaking through and unsurprisingly, there were gems already up or who didn't sleep, roaming around decorating the streets in red,white, and pink. With hearts, streamers and banners.
"So..It's here again...Valentine's day, maybe I can sleep through it."
The twenty years old let loose a cynical smirk. She had a real distaste for Valentine's day, always had. It just came off as a bit much and a bit too fake.
All the wanting to suddenly admit your 'love' to a person.
"Cause there's a higher chance of getting a date and or get laid."
All the expectation of giving or getting a gift or candy.
"Cause it's what's lover's supposed to do, how else are they supposed to express their 24hr surge of romance?"
All the social convention and commercialization. "Cause being single and not spending money on Valentine day is pathetic."
She shook her head with a chuckle. She didn't care for the day, at all.
She stopped in front of Lars bakery, seeing it open with a display of chocolate in a circular black box in the window.
"The chocolate is good though, I'll give it that."
A few minutes later she was heading towards her LHW residence, box under her left shoulder. She took in the sights of the gem city and as much as she loathed the holiday, she did take a bit of pride in the fact that the gems were so eager to celebrate it.
She arrived at her residence and arched an eyebrow before a small glow came to her tired cheeks.
Infront of her door was a bouquet of red and white Chrysanthemums, surrounding a small 'heart' of bluebells.
"Mister."
it was a whisper that leaked appreciation. She expected him to give her a gift, even knowing her anti-valentine stance, he always does. She lifted the flowers up and carefully tucking them with the chocolate, before opening the door and finding it unlocked.
Again, not surprised; especially since the whole place had the smell of breakfast being made. Entering and closing the door behind her, she followed the smell to the kitchen and there he was.
Big limbed, big torso, lightly tan skin, curly hair, deep almond eyes, and slightly whiskered face. Wearing his black button-up, dark blue jeans with a star buckle belt, pink and blue sneakers. The pink apron was a new addition though.
She gently placed the chocolate down on the table and the flowers in the suspiciously new vase on her island...Which happened to be filled with water, before walking behind him and wrapping he arm around him, resting her hands on his chest as she snuggled her face into his back, smirking at his beach yet earthy smell.
"Heart Berry, burned the midnight oil I see."
She groaned cutely, giving her Mister a kiss on the the small on his back, getting a chuckle from him.
"You know, it's action like this that makes people think we're more than friends.,"
That earned him a little nip, Making him falsely wince before chucking.
"Brat Berry."
She looked at what he was making and turned her eyes towards him a bit of a childlike glow in her eyes. "You're making Masala dosa?"
"Why yes? Yes, I am. Very astute of you."
Connie groaned suspiciously. "What are you up to?"
"Just doing something nice for you.."
"On February fourteenth...Valentine's day."
"Coincidence. ..I know you're the' antithesis of Valentines day'." He laughed a bit at that. "I still can't believe you called yourself that."
"I stand by my claim. I'm happily unattached, I don't expect nor do I give gifts-"
"Yet you accept gifts and you bought chocolate. "
"First, I was raised with manners and feel it’s rude to reject.. Second… I have plans for those chocolate."
He sure she did, especially with the slight dripping of seductiveness coming from voice.
"Continuing...I don't ever date on valentine's, nor do I take confessions seriously. They're getting instantly shut down."
"Ouch..So if I would say, I want to be with you, you'd shut me down. Hypothetically"
Connie looked up with an arched eyebrow. "Hypothetically, if you were to ask on February fourteenth...I'd tell you to ask again tomorrow."
Steven laughed loudly at that, as he turned to give her a kiss on her crown. "Go sit Heart Berry. I'll bring the food over."
She nodded as she tipped-toe to kiss his whiskered cheek, before following his orders. She took off her lab coat, and hung it behind her chair before sitting down, and laying her top half on the table, stretching forward her arms forward and laying head down. Steven shook his head as he saw her, an adoring grin on his face.
“So..Manners, huh?”
“This is my place..I don’t need manners...Besides-” She turned to him tired but bedroom eyed. “You think I'm sexy without manners.”
He growled at her giving a playfully lustful look himself “Oh yeah, irresistible. Make my motor run.” He signaled her to sit up which she did with a back popping stretch, her chest pressing against her green apple sweater lifting enough to show her navel a little.
She caught the appreciative stare he was giving her, and smirked as she shifted in her chair. “So are you gonna eat with me..or just eat me.”
“You'd be happy either way.”
“Does that mean I can have both.”
Steven shook his head as he placed her food down in front of her, and his across from her. She took a bite of the crepe like food, moaning at the taste of the rice, potatoes coconut oil, spices and seasoning. She took a second bit and her eyes widen at the two other favors, she gave him an accusatory smile.
“Durian and lamb…”
“Two of your favorites, yes.”
“Hmm..Seems very Valentine-ish.”
“Well, I ‘Do’ Valentines day.”
Connie sighed. “I -I know, and I don’t.”
“I know.”
Connie was about to respond when Steven caught her off guard wiping her lip, before giving her a peck.
“You appreciate my gestures all the same, that’s fine by me.”
Connie turned away blushing trying to fight her smile. “Well..it’s you after all…” She took a bite of the food again savoring the taste.
“Exactly.”
She didn’t say anything as a smile enveloped on her lips. The silence was comfortable and serene almost like a newlywed breakfast. Once they finished the food, feeling more than satisfied, Conie went up stairs to freshen up, hiding a bit of guilt as she did. Going into her room to get her some sleepwear, a towel, and stripping bare before heading across from her room to the bathroom and into the shower. As the slightly hot water cascade over her; she gathered the chai and lilac body wash/shampoo she always wears and he loves so much on her, making it a foam and lathering it upon her. As she soaped and bathed herself, she sighed both in relaxation and remorse.
“This was a nice way to start the day. A very touching way to today. Flowers, food, and my favorite guy... I’m happy and I appreciate it...It’s just..This day...I wish I could enjoy it like he does.”
She grimaced as she rinsed the soap out of her body and hair, the thoughts getting more deprecating. "The flowery words, the extravagant gestures...I can do without it, but he loves It and deserves it...I want to give it to him."
She held herself looking down, tears falling in heartbreaking shame, mixing with the shower water. "I don't think I can give him that. Romance like that."
Connie wiped her tears as she took a deep breath, turning off the shower as she did. Putting on her sleepwear; An old pink hoodie of his with some black spandex, she shook her head and went to her bedroom.
"Hey Heart Berry."
She smirked at Steven, he was laying on her just made bed, shoes near hers. She realized her clothes were picked up and in the hamper. She wiped her eye again.
"Thanks for this Steven..I appreciate the gestures...Sorry about you having to pick up my underwear and such."
"Well, that was more for me than you."
"Right.."
Steven arched an eyebrow at her low and downtrodden voice. He opened his arms, beckoning her to lay with him.
She did with no real enthusiasm. She laid her head on his heart, loving the beat of it, the tenderness of his touch on her hips,back and hair. The security of being in his arms and the feeling of endearment when his lips touched her head. She couldn't stop herself from wrapping her arms around his torso and locking his leg between her thighs.
"What's wrong, Connie?"
"Nothing."
She had her head down in his chest, refusing to look at him. "Just... Wish I could do more for you."
"Huh?"
"In the romance department."
Steven arched an eyebrow at that statement. “What do you mean?”
Connie growled in annoyance. “Romance...Valentines day..Everything you did so far…”
“Thought you enjoyed what I did?”
“I do.” She looked up at him, her eyes a bit wet. “I love that I got a bouquet of my birthday flowers and the flowers you named after me. Adore ,the fact that you made an authentic south asian breakfast for me with two of my favorite foods. Touched that you made up my bed and put my clothes away, so I could go straight to sleep. Probably even here, just cause you know I sleep better when you're around.”
“Yes, but I like cuddling with you too..Definitely when you're wearing that body wash.” He chuckled giving her temple a kiss, getting a sigh out of her.
“Even your playing around has an aura of romanticism.”
“It is Valentine's day.. The day of romance.”
“Yeah and I suck at Valentine’s day...At the whole romance thing.”
“I mean romance isn’t really a-”
He stopped when he looked at her blank stare; The Maheswaran stare of indifference. She only uses that when he crossed the line on a serious matter. Steven looked at her stroking her cheek. ”No pretence?”
“100% percent real talk.”
Steven nodded. “ Fine...Connie.. First thing.. Yeah, you're not a big romantic, that's not you. That’s not what I expected from you when we started our ‘breathers’ .
Breathers...The original name of their ‘war game’, or more accurately what their game evolved from. Just a time they set for each other where they kissed, brushed and made the other feel relaxed though talking and admittedly amorous actions, it worked wondrously. Connie didn’t feel tense about her school work or LHW R&D. Steven didn’t feel stress over gem stuff and diamond duties. Those quite impersonal, very physical, breathers took the first step to their ‘ not-relationship ’when Connie shook him to his core for the first time.
Connie looked wide-eyed at the name, but didn’t say anything.
“I didn’t expect this..Bae-friendship to come from that.”
Connie looked down feeling embarrassed only to have him lift her chin up to him and give her a chaste kiss on the lips.
“But you set the catalyst for it. Not that I regret it.. “
Connie, blushed turning away. “No I didn’t, you flirted and teased me first.”
“The night before in the dome. Remember that.”
Steven smirked as Connie grew redder as she recalled the night.
He was having a particularly bad day. The gems were at each other necks over something at little home school, Jasper and Lapis got into it, nearly flooding half of little homeworld, and Spinel needed advice dealing with the diamonds (cause he has experience with that, apparently). He was able to do it, but he was pink and flaring a bit by day end, due to the stress.
He remembers sitting in the dome silently trying to relax enough to retract the flares and drop the pink when she came in. She gave him a gentle, sad smile before sitting by him, pulling his head into her lap. She looked down at him playing with his hair tenderly, before dipping close to him. What he was expecting was rain of kisses upon his cheek..What he got was heartfelt praise, gentle flirting and the “Bisky” title. It actually made him tear up a bit even more so when she disallowed any gem, including White, to see him until he was ready.
He would never forget the way she looked at him. The proud smile she gave him through moist, dazzling eyes. The look was something he didn't think he ever got from anyone and it planted something deep in his heart. a desire to make her happy, to make her feel cherished and loved like no other..like she did him at that moment.
From there the teasing and flirting began and the rest is history.
“You remember the things you said to me”
Connie groaned as she threw the hood up covering her face, but nodding nonetheless Steven laughed as he pulled her in close. His lioness, his minx, his Heart Berry; was now a shy little cub something he hardly ever gets to see..
“It wasn’t out of romance or something..”
He snickered “Of course, it wasn’t.”
“Stop mocking me.”
“I’m not!”
The roughness in his voice stilled her. Furthermore, when he took off her hood and kissed her tear. “You’re not romantic. You’re passionate, heartfelt, prideful, valorous, flirtatious, impish, amorous, honest and a whole bunch of other stuff that really doesn't come close to how amazing you are. You don’t mince words and you don’t do anything half-ass. Rather it’s missions, studying and school work, working at R&D or making me fall for you for the umptenth time. You don’t need to try to be romantic and like valentines day or whatever.”
Connie pouted, folding her arms "What about you though? You like the big gestures of romance and all the fanfare of valentines day. Wouldn’t you appreciate it if I joined in.. Do something extravagantly romantic for you?”
“You mean like the dressing and stripping game at empire, or the game tag throughout the Hattan streets, or not only the private dance in your room, but the performance on New year eve.”
Steven had to hold his chuckle in as Connie once again found her with her hood on.
"Those...Those were more flirtatious and playful than romantic."
"Ah! You admit that they are romantic on some level."
She shrugged. "I concede they could be seen as romantic..but romance wasn't my attention."
"I know, it was all part of our war game right?"
"No..I mean it was for fun...But"
Steven looked on at her, knowingly, as she grabbed his hand and massage the back of them.
"You're my ...Sunshine?"
Steven looked at her wide-eyed, before snorting.
"W-what?!"
"I'm not good at this valentine-romance thing ok!"
"That was an attempt at romanticism!?"
"Ugh! Yes, but I'm a cynic at romance and Valentine's day. I wanted to do something romantic for you."
"You sounded so strained, Nini."
With a groan she let go of his hands. "See...You can say and do all this Valentine-ish stuff, no problem. I can't even say a goddamn line."
She leaned forward into him, placing his arms around her waist and midsection.
Steven looked down with a smirk at Connie who was looking up with a grimace.
"You hate this day, so why is this so important to you?"
Connie stared deeply and purposefully at Steven before breathing in.
"Because it's you, Steven. I don't care about the day or what it romance represents. I care about you and you like this stuff. That's why it's important. You deserve to know how much I adore you, care for you and love you. As my best-friend, my jam bud, My bae...As my Mister and my Man."
"I'm not your sunshine. Sad."
Connie snickered at his joke. "You're more of a starlight than a sunshine."
Steven poked her nose playfully. "Banned."
"What?"
"That joke's banned, no diamond or gem stuff while we're in bed."
Connie giggled as she held him tight. "I love you, Bisky."
"I figured...I didn't wanna assume though."
That got him a small nip on his chin. "You're a punk, Mister."
Steven smiled at the playful pout on Connie's face, before giving her bottom a small pinch "Brat."
"He-MMM~MMM"
Connie yelp was interrupted by Steven. His lips upon her, his tongue gently teasing her own. The feeling of him pulling her closer to him.
She was all but melted as she caressed his jaw with her left hand and ran her right hand through his hair; kissing him back with each second adding more fervor to the moment.
The two broke the kiss after a few minutes. Both a bit more light headed and lighthearted as they laid back down. Connie let out a purr-ish sound as Steven rubbed her back, causing the hybrid to laugh.
"You really are a lioness aren't you."
She looked up before giving him a quick nibble on his bottom lip.
"Rawr!"
Steven smirked as he continued to rub her back, until he sighed a few moments; a deep sigh.
"Ni'."
"Hmm..Is this fate of the world related...gem related or diamond related?"
"Nini."
"If it's not, then let's bask in this happy moment, before my cynicism flares up again."
"Connie. It's important."
Connie breathed deeply before signaling him to continue.
"You know, I love you and what we have right?"
"Had a hutch."
"Come-
"You didn't give me a straight answer, either."
Steven chuckled outta breath as he shook his head. "Anyway, before I lose my train of thought."
"I-"
"No, listen!"
Connie laughed against his chest, when she heard him grow deeply She looked up at his glare and chuckled a bit more before giving him a few kisses and nip on his chin and neck, making him chortle himself. She gave his windpipe a quick suckling before backing off..Not before getting a snarl from him.
"So what was you about to tell me?"
Steven kissed his teeth at her cheeky expression, nodding as he did.
"You see what you just did. That is exactly why you're wrong."
"About?"
"About you not being good at romance and valentines day."
"What, that just now. That was just me playing...Me being coquettish...Trying to bring a smile to my Mister face. Nothing out of the ordinary"
"Exactly."
Connie gave him a confused stare.
"You don't need to force yourself to be romantic or extravagant on Valentine's day to show me how you feel about me..and whatever we have."
Steven kissed the top of her crown, smiling at the blush on her face. "365 days a year. Every chance you get, you show me. Through your actions, through our games, through our outings, through those very private times together... Times like this."
Connie held him tight as he spoke. Snuggling her face into the crook of his neck, giving his temple a kiss.
"Connie...You're loving, passionate, caring and tender. On the flipside you're an impish, seductive, sexy and sensual little tease. That's all year round."
"Only for you, Bisky." Connie giggled as she kissed his neck. "Not like you can talk, Punk."
"I'm not hiding that I'm a flirt..Besides you love it, Brat Berry."
Steven chuckled that husky, teasing chuckle reserved for her as he rested his forehead on hers. The two gazed into each other eyes, love clearly in them.
"...You don't have to celebrate valentine's day, just because I do.."
"You say that but..I feel like a bad Jam-bae."
"That's a new one."
Connie cheeks burned as she cleared her throat. "..If I didn't do something. You made my morning something special. Isn't wrong to want to do the same.
"What makes you think you didn't? You held me when I cooked in a way you never did before. You were basically glowing when you ate my food."
"The flowers are beautiful and the food was delicious. I appreciated what you did."
"And that means everything to me. You could have just wrote it off as something I did for Valentine's day and moved on, but you didn't. You tired from whatever you were working on at LHW R&D, decided that eating and talking with me was more important than getting sleep.That means a lot. That made my Valentine's."
Connie let loose a tearful laugh. "Got such a schmaltzy man in my life."
"You're a bit schmaltzy yourself, Sunshine..or would you like me to call you twilight. "
"Oh, shut up...Those jokes are banned remember...and I'm not schmaltzy"
Steven arched an eyebrow in disbelief. "Sure.. What about the chocolates you brought."
"The chocolate..Hehe..There's nothing schmaltzy about what I got planned for those.
Steven fought the anxious grin on his face backing his head up.
"Oh really..What you have planned, Minx?"
"Just for us to share it together."
The seductive sound of her voice, the little bite and lick of her lip.and that amorous look in her black orbs. She had something planned.. something big, something fun..Something private.
She gave him a quick peck before speaking . "Just need time to prepare."
With a giggle,she got off his lap laid back onto her bed, finally feeling the night before upon her, yawning while stretching.
Steven stroked her head with a caring smile. "Finally tired, huh?"
Connie nodded, her eyelids drooping heavily. "Emotional based adrenaline gone. Very happy knowing how you feel. Now, I needs my sleep."
"Fair..Want me to put you to sleep?"
Connie looked up suspiciously. "You wanna tuck me in?"
Steven gave her a very specific grin. "No."
Connie giggled before smiling. " Come under, Mister."
Steven gave her a dangerous smile as he slipped under with her. Her eagerness for him fought off her previous fatigue and urged her to pull him over her, initiating a deep kiss that would lay him down upon her. His hips between her legs, hands longer upper and lover back, as her found his shoulders and chest..
they broke the kiss..after a few more chaste ones after resting their now sweaty heads against each other. They were far from done, but they took a few minutes to admire and adore the person they were with, peppering each other with butterfly kisses and getting light love filled laughter from each other.
It wasn't soon those butterflies became bites deep kisses and sucklings, that laughter became loving whispers and gasp of each other's name. Their holds,turning to gentle caresses, strokes and private movements.
It would be an hour before they relaxed. Bed a mess as were they themselves. Both bare top, with Connie disheveled head laying on Steven chest, sleeping peacefully, as Steven himself felt his eyelids getting heavy himself, allowing sleep to take him as she stroked Connie hair, his last thought was how this was the best Valentine day he ever had..and it was all thanks to his little Valen-cynic.