Chapter Text
"So," Connie starts the conversation between the two, pressing her index fingers against her pursed lips. "How does it feel to be the gem equivalent of royalty?"
The ride home is busy with conversations and noise as the other gems converse amongst themselves - even inviting the Diamonds along for some of their discussions - albeit a bit awkward between the nine of them. The two of them shied away from the group, opting to sit down and rest due to fighting for literal hours back on Homeworld. Occasionally, some of the gems would check up on their well being and ask them if they needed anything, to which they replied that they were fine and just needed some time to think.
"It's a feeling, alright," Steven lightly chuckles, bending his knees towards himself. "And, it's also a little weird,"
He doesn't elaborate.
"Oookay," Connie nods encouragingly, nudging his arm a little. "And, what else?"
He furrows his eyebrows - what else was there to say? That he always thought that he was a Rose Quartz soldier - a mere peasant in the Diamonds' eyes? That his mom - THE Pink Diamond - led an entire rebellion against herself and then gave birth to the prince of literally all of gemkind? And somehow, he had managed to convince three literal dictators - who are also apart of his biological family - to come back to Earth with him and help corrupted gems? Or, how about when White -
"Steven," his knight says a little quieter this time, pulling him out of his spiraling thoughts. "Breathe with me. In and out -"
"No!" he shouts. His voice echoes throughout the ship, prying eyes watching him with vague curiosity. "I mean, no, no. I'm fine. I'm good. I'm just thinking..."
"About...?" she prompts.
Again, he doesn't elaborate.
Some part of him - the dumb fourteen-year-old teenage boy part of him - thinks that this whole scenario is kinda funny. Like, what was he supposed to do now? Start wearing a cape and a crown while his gem family parades him around Beach City, declaring him the king of the world? No, that's ridiculous. The other part of him - the mature boy that had an unusually high amount of stress for someone his height and age - knows that soon, he'll have to go back to Homeworld again and start establishing peace and democracy while other kids his age are probably playing video games and worrying about their test on Friday.
(Saving the world sometimes sucked).
"I'm just glad that I get to go home, cook my own food and dress myself," he tells Connie at last, deciding to keep his thoughts to himself this time and ignore the elephant in the room. She had already done so much for him. "I miss my video games."
(And being a normal kid, goes unsaid).
"Yeah," Connie laughs. "Me too. I just can't wait to sleep in my own bed!"
Same here, he thinks to himself.
At least he doesn't have to wear a crown on his head.