the-steven-multiverse - Tumblr blog

the-steven-multiverse · 1 year

Text

Chapter 5: Hello

[TRIGGER WARNINGS: Violence, Firearms, Swearing, Threats, Graphic Depictions of Pain, Misgendering, Identity issues, mentions of kidnapping, detailed descriptions of panic, a character is held down with someone else trying to restrain them]

Steven’s Gem half was sitting on the bench, leaning over with his head in his hands as if he had a bone-splitting headache. Black Diamond had led them back into the cramped locker room to give the Gem more information regarding drafting him as a soldier, but he couldn’t focus on her voice. His ears were ringing, his gemstone ached, and he was shaking. A combat medic helped him clean off the blood from his form and checked to see if his gemstone was cracked. Thankfully, the pink Gem’s gemstone was fine; it was his light-composed body that experienced massive amounts of cracking. But he could still feel the blood on his face. He could still taste it. He could still hear the panicked, pleading voice of the soldier that begged to be spared. The mangled face of the soldier the Gem obliterated, and he despised it with the burning passion of a thousand stars.

“Matriarch, are you listening?” Black Diamond queried with a tilt of her head, her brows furrowed.

Steven’s Gem half flinched at the nickname. He wasn’t sure if it was worse than Rose or Pink Diamond, but it was pretty damn irritating nonetheless. The Gem forced out a deep sigh, uncovering his face to meet Black Diamond’s annoyed expression. He gave her a merciless glare, his eyes glowing a little as he struggled to speak.

“Fuck. You.” The Gem hissed with a shaky, enraged voice. Black Diamond rolled her eyes and sighed.

“I told you, Matriarch. In war, no one is spared. No one is safe. Your morality will only hold you bac-”

“Are you even human ?” The Gem interrupted through gritted teeth. “I know animals and aliens who act more human than you.”

“I simply have the ability and strength to do what must be done.”

The Gem’s eyes widened. He scoffed, shaking his head, burying his face back into his hands as his leg shook even more. He knew war wasn’t pretty. But it wasn’t necessary. This was supposed to be an era of peace. He didn’t have to hurt anybody. He didn’t want to hurt anybody. Why the hell did Black Diamond want a war so badly?

As the Gem’s mind ran a thousand miles a minute, Black Diamond crossed her arms and shook her head with a disappointed look on her face.

“I know a killer when I see one, Matriarch. It’s written all over your face, and there’s blood all over your hands.”

The Gem trembled even more, sliding his hands to the sides of his head, pressing the palms of his hands against his ears as he clenched his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut, lowering his head even more.

“Stop…” The Gem begged silently, white cracks spreading up his body once more.

“If you want to survive in this hellhole, I suggest you awaken that monster of yours.”

“Stop it-”

“I know she’s in there somewhere, Matriarch. The all-powerful diamond that shattered-”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” The Gem yelled, abruptly standing up in a blur of pink light. He rushed forward, grabbed Black Diamond’s neck, and slammed her against the wall. The soldiers locked and loaded their M16A4s and aimed at the Gem, but he didn’t care. He just needed Black Diamond to stop talking.

Black Diamond barely reacted to the Gem’s sudden violent outburst. She simply looked down at him, returning his glare. The Gem was panting, shaky, teeth bared, eyes wide, and brows furrowed as he squeezed her neck, digging his nails into her skin.

“Stand down, Matriarch!” The squadron leader commanded, glaring down her laser sight. Black Diamond held up her hand, stopping the squad leader in her tracks.

“No need…”

The squadron leader gave Black Diamond an unconvinced, puzzled expression but obeyed and lowered her gun anyway. Black Diamond looked back down at Steven’s Gem half with scorn, giving him a demented chuckle.

“I told you. You and Steven may be pacifists, but there’s something dark and rotten in both of you.” Black Diamond said with a squint of her eyes as the corners of her lips upturned slightly.

Steven’s Gem half paused, his infuriated visage morphing into one of horrified realization and worry. He slowly let go of Black Diamond’s neck, his trembling hands hovering over her bruised skin for a moment before he quickly pulled them back, taking a few steps backward. The Gem looked down at his shaking hands, then sighed, wrapping his arms around his torso as he lowered his head in shame, squeezing his eyes shut again. He sat back down, rubbing his arms, trying to calm himself down and ground himself, but it wasn’t easy to do while surrounded by angry soldiers armed with M16A4s pointed directly at his gemstone.

“Don’t worry. I don’t expect you to kill anybody. Killing everybody off is not my goal. However, as I said, your power will be useful to us. In other ways, too.”

Steven’s Gem half paused, lifting his head. He stared at his shaky, cracked hands as dread seeped deep into his gemstone. He looked up, meeting Black Diamond’s stern look. For a moment, the Gem looked scared, but then his facial expression twisted into one of anger.

“Oh, great. What other bullshit do you have planned for me?” The Gem grumbled, gesturing to Black Diamond and then himself with a wave of his hand. He dropped his hands into his lap, feeling his leg shaking his arm.

“You’ll see.”

The Gem ground his teeth and scoffed, shaking his head. He leaned his head down, carding his fingers through his hair in another attempt to comfort himself and calm down. He did not have the strength to deal with Black Diamond’s shit at that moment. He wondered how Steven took so much bullshit from other people and gems and somehow managed to keep his kindness.

“Well, I beat your little squadron. Is there any other meaningless crap you need me to do? Cause if you don’t, I’m going back to St-”

Steven’s Gem half flinched when he was suddenly interrupted by a loud metal clang that echoed through the room as a combat nurse burst through the metal door.

“My Diamond, HD-023 is awake.”

Steven’s Gem half immediately lifted his head and turned to the combat nurse. In a pink blur, he stood up and looked over at Black Diamond. “I did what you wanted. Take me to him. Now.” The Gem commanded with intense, glowing eyes. Black Diamond nodded.

“Fair enough. Lead her to the inpatient ward. The rest of you, come with me.”

Steven’s Gem half immediately turned his head and locked eyes with the combat nurse, who was clearly intimidated.

“Th-This way.”

Steven’s Gem half followed the terrified combat nurse into Med Ward A-1. Once they got closer to Steven’s room, commotion and yelling echoed throughout the halls. The Gem’s eyes widened, and he immediately broke into a sprint. He ran down the hallway at impossibly high speeds before he stopped in front of the door to where Steven was. Which, thank the stars, was open.

Multiple guards were holding Steven down against the bed as another nurse tried to reactivate the restraints as he kicked, struggled, and yelled. The soldiers were gripping Steven’s arms and legs, holding him down and yelling at him to calm down. Which, of course, only made things much worse.

“UNHAND HIM!” The Gem yelled, his voice reverberating through the room and shaking it. Everyone immediately froze as the Gem glared at the soldiers who still had their hands on Steven. “I said , get your filthy fucking hands, off of him.” The Gem growled as his glowing fingers curled into tight fists and his eyes blazed, shooting daggers at the soldiers around Steven. The soldier’s immediately backed up, and so did the nurse. Steven was frozen still, staring at his gem half with wide eyes. His Gem half’s expression softened as he walked towards the foot of the hospital bed, worry in his eyes.

“You okay?” The Gem asked, his worry rising.

“He’s in shock.” A nurse spoke up, only to get a seething glare from the Gem. He looked back over to Steven, who was trembling and had tears welling up in his eyes. Steven looked terrified and sickly, and the Gem could tell he was still tired as well, exhausted even. He could barely keep his eyes open long enough to stare at his Gem half in horror. His Gem noticed that he was wearing a clean shirt with no blood on it, thank the stars. But the disturbing part was that the 2nd Armada emblem was now clearly visible, an ominous symbol stitched to the weird plastic laboratory shirt. If that wasn't ironic, the Gem didn't know what was. The 2nd Armada emblem, a sinister symbol of war representing a group of people that wanted Steven dead, was stitched onto the shirt of the person they wanted to eradicate.

“It’s… I-It’s you.” Steven mumbled as tears streamed down his face. He was in a state of pure shock and fear. His brain couldn’t keep up with the emotions rushing through his system. All Steven could do was sit still and stare at his Gem half with a terrified expression.

“It’s you -” Steven said, louder this time. As his brain began to catch up to his thoughts and emotion, his heart rate and blood pressure skyrocketed. The heart monitor started beeping quicker and louder as tears ran down his face like tiny waterfalls.

The Gem immediately rushed forward and hugged Steven as tight as he knew his body could handle. Steven flinched, frozen in place once again. The Gem could feel Steven’s wearied body trembling in his arms, leaning against his Gem for support. Slowly, Steven wrapped his arms around his Gem half, burying his face into the Gem’s shoulder as he cried more.

“It’s okay. I’m right here. You’re safe.” The Gem reassured in a hushed tone, keeping his hold on Steven as tight as Steven could handle as a comforting gesture and an attempt at deep-pressure therapy. It had always worked wonders when the Gems, Connie, Greg, or anybody Steven trusted used deep-pressure therapy. Whether it was through firm hugs, cuddles, or rubbing his back, it had always helped. Steven had always been naturally affectionate, and physical contact with people he trusted and was comfortable with helped him feel safe.

“What the hell happened!?” A familiar voice called out from the doorway. It was Azure’s voice, but the Gem ignored it. He squinted his eyes, his irises glowing as a diamond-shaped shield manifested around the hospital bed, muffling any noises from the other side. He expected backlash, but to the Gem's surprise, Azure’s angry voice wasn’t directed at him. Their anger; was directed at the soldiers who stared at the flickering pink shield before them in bewilderment and shock. The soldiers turned their heads to Azure, who was fuming with rage.

“Don’t tell me you idiots tried to restrain him-”

The nurse immediately rushed up to Azure and tried to explain the situation.

“He woke up, a-and panicked, and he-”

“He won’t even have the strength to stand up after the sedative overdose, you didn’t need to restrain him!” Azure yelled, teeth bared and brows furrowed.

“But he’s a hybrid. We have orders-” A soldier tried to explain, but was quickly interrupted by striking blue eyes burning holes into his head and a stern tone.

“He’s the human half of the hybrid you idiot.” Azure spat, squinting her eyes, glaring mercilessly at the soldier. They groaned, then pinched the bride of their nose, trying to think.

“Alright. All of you, get out of here.”

“Azure are you su-” The nurse began, but was once again interrupted.

“Get. Out.” Azure demanded, scowling at the nurse in front of them. The nurse glanced at the soldiers, who shrugged their soldiers with irritated expressions but listened to Azure’s command. Azure closed the door as the last soldier walked out, holding their head with their free hand as a deep sigh escaped their lips.

They turned their head, locking eyes with Steven’s Gem half. They hurried over to the patient monitors, furrowing their brows once they read the readings. They couldn’t see it well through the shield, but

“Useless fools…” Azure muttered to themselves. They glanced at Steven’s Gem half, who met their gaze with a confused look.

“Is Steven okay?”

Steven’s Gem half blinked in surprise, staring at Azure for a second before uncovering Steven’s ear and wrapping it around Steven.

“Yeah… Just in shock. Pretty sure he’s a few seconds away from falling back to sleep.”

“I’m not surprised. They put WAY too much sedative in his system… I’m surprised it didn’t shut down.” Azure grumbled angrily, placing their hands on their hips. The Gem tilted his head a little, confused. Azure seemed… Angry. Angry about what they did to Steven? But, that didn’t make sense. Azure was 2nd Armada… A group of persistent assholes who wanted nothing more than suffering for the Crystal Gems. No, Azure was a gem. Then what were they doing here? Then he remembered his thoughts from earlier. Azure may have had a combat medic uniform, but Steven’s Gem half was becoming more and more convinced that Azure may have been a prisoner. Just like Steven and his Gem half. It was the only conclusion that made sense.

“Azure.” The Gem spoke, pausing for a moment as he watched Azure look at him in surprise, before speaking again.

“Are you… Are you a prisoner, too?”

Azure visibly flinched, their body starting to shake again. They looked back to the machines, frantically trying to come up with an answer. Eventually, they gave a deep sigh and nodded.

“They weren’t lying when they told me you were sharp.” Azure said with a somber tone and smile, sadness in their eyes. Steven’s Gem half was about to speak when a beeping noise from Azure’s communication device interrupted him. Azure pressed a finger to the device. They glanced at Steven as an indistinct, incoherent voice spoke into their ear.

“Yes, my Diamond.” Azure said with another glance at Steven, which irked his Gem half. With another sigh, Azure dropped their hand to their side and without a word, walked out of the room, securing the door shut behind them. The Gem stared at the door for a moment, until he heard a pained grunt from Steven. He looked down with worry in his eyes.

“Steven? You okay?”

Steven sat up, holding his head with one of his hands. He was still shaking like a leaf and wheezing a little. He squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing his head as more tears welled up in his eyes.

“What… What happened?... Why are you, you…” Steven mumbled, desperately fighting to keep himself awake. The pain of the migraine and the depth of the situation was keeping him awake, but he was still seconds away from passing out again.

“I can’t hear you, bud- you have to speak up.” Steven’s Gem half said in a hushed tone, a hint of desperation in his voice. Steven blinked a few times then rubbed his eyes and shook his head, trying to wake himself up. His alertness was slowly coming back to him, but shaking his head only made the pounding headache even worse. He kissed his teeth in pain, pressing his palms into the side of his head to try and ease the pain.

“Headache?” Steven’s Gem half queried. Steven nodded in response, blinking a few more times. The Gem raised his hand, still hugging Steven with the other as he flicked his tongue across his thumb and gently pressed it to Steven’s forehead. Steven flinched, feeling a wave of energy surging through his system as the headache slowly began to dissolve. Steven pressed a hand to his forehead with a confused and half-conscious look on his face.

Steven looked up, meeting his Gem half’s gaze.

“W-Why are you… Where…” Steven mumbled, looking around with panic in his eyes. Steven’s Gem half noticed that Steven was about to look down at his clothes and immediately grabbed his shoulders, making Steven flinch and look up at him instead. The Gem knew Steven was going to notice it at some point. But, right now, Steven did not need another reason to panic.

“Steven, look at me. Listen to me, I need you to stay calm, bud. I’m gonna do everything in my power to keep you safe, I promise. But I need you to listen to me,” The Gem could feel Steven trembling in his grip, and his chest was heaving with each wheezing pant. He was still terrified and confused, but he shakily nodded in response. “What’s the last thing that you remember?”

Steven’s eyes flicked askance as he desperately tried to remember what the fuck happened to him. He could barely remember anything. All he remembered was… The sound of the gun firing. A glimpse of a blue gem, a muffled baritone voice, and a searing pain in his neck and stomach.

“I don’t… I don’t know, I… I only remember bits and pieces.”

“We were sedated. Back at the hotel. You were driving to Jayhawk, going to meet up with Connie, Daniel, and Patricia. Do you remember that?”

Steven sat there with a thoughtful look, then slowly nodded as the memories came back. Steven paused, then looked up at his Gem.

“Wait… How long have I been out? Connie is probably worried sick-”

“That’s what I’m counting on.” Steven’s Gem half interrupted with a sigh, loosening his grip on Steven.

“I don’t know how long we’ve been here. I couldn’t reform right after they split us up, whatever the hell they put in your system, I think it affected me too. Or maybe it was the GLSS…” The Gem mumbled in thought, Steven raising a brow in confusion. The Gem met his gaze, then shook his head, trying to focus.

“Okay, yes, we were kidnapped. But they want us alive. Both of us. They haven’t shattered me and they haven’t killed you, and so far it seems they want to keep it that way. I don’t know how long it’s been, I have yet to see a clock in this glorified bunker…” The Gem grumbled, looking around the room.

Steven scanned the room as well, feeling tightness in his chest and an intense discomfort and fear that made him feel sick as his eyes roved over the steel-reinforced walls. This entire room looked like a containment chamber for a monster. There were so many questions in his head. So many possible outcomes. What did they want? How did he survive? Who were these people? Why did they want him? What did they want to do- His racing thoughts came to a screeching halt once he heard his Gem talking to him.

“Steven? Steven, hey, come back to me-” The Gem said, framing Steven’s face with his hands, carefully turning his head; so that his eyes met his Gem’s. Steven’s wheezing breath quickened, and he started shaking more as more thoughts flooded his head and tears filled his eyes again.

“It’s okay. I’m right here. I’ll keep you safe, I promise. Just breathe.” The Gem reassured with a worried expression and a whispered, sincere tone. Steven swallowed and sniffled, rubbing tears from his eyes with a slight nod of affirmation.

“Like I said, they want us alive. And it’s only a matter of time before someone notices that you’re gone. You’re Steven Universe- the whole EARTH is gonna be hunting the galaxy looking for you once they realize you’ve been taken. I will find a way out of here, we’ll meet up with the Gems, and they’ll blow this place to hell.” The Gem said with a small reassuring smile.

Steven’s breath hitched, but he chuckled and smiled as well. Sniffling, he rubbed his eyes again before nodding in agreement. His Gem sighed in relief and pulled him into another hug. Steven hugged him back as a few more tears cascaded down his cheeks. His Gem muttered a few more reassuring words, gently rocking them back and forth. It was what Greg and the Gems always did when Steven was upset, and his Gem half hoped it would work now. After a moment of silence, Steven’s Gem half glanced at the steel door.

“I haven’t explained everything… I don’t know how much time I have before they drag me out of here again.” The Gem let go of Steven and let out a deep sigh. Steven let his Gem go, meeting his anxious gaze.

“I think they want me to be some sort of soldier. When I first woke up, we were both in some sort of containment zone. Similar to this room, but it was just a big concrete box with bulletproof glass and a destabilization field in between us. You were pretty out of it, do you remember any of that?”

Steven glanced aside, biting his bottom lip as he tried to think. A few seconds later, his brows furrowed as he shook his head.

“No, well, not much anyway. I heard voices… I think one of them was yours. And I remember something cold being pressed against my head.” Steven said as he raised a hand, scratching the back of his head.

Steven’s Gem half tensed up, remembering the sight of Black Diamond pressing the barrel of a gun into the back of Steven’s head and enunciating her threats by barely scraping the trigger with her index finger. He ground his teeth, furrowed his brows, and glared at the floor.

“... Anything else?” The Gem questioned, keeping his annoyed gaze on the floor.

“Um… A lot of pain? That’s about it. There was yelling too, and this… power surge that cracked the floor underneath me. Was that you?”

The Gem fumbled with the edge of his jacket.

“Yeah… Yeah, that was, that was me. They threatened you with… I-I just couldn’t control myself for a second.” The Gem admitted shamefully.

Steven tilted his head with a brow raised and a worried look in his darkened eyes. He was tempted to ask what happened but figured it was probably best if he didn't know. It seemed to stress his Gem half out quite a bit. Whatever happened to him was severe, and not even his Gem half wanted to discuss it.

“You said they wanted you as a soldier… Is that why you’re wearing some sort of uniform? It looks organic too.”

Steven’s Gem half panicked for a moment, looking down. He sighed in relief, thanking the stars that his past self had closed up the jacket and covered up the 2nd Armada emblem.

“Yeah. I think they’re trying to cover up all the pink. I stick out like a sore thumb otherwise.”

“Do you know who they are? You said they tested you for… Combat. And, if I’m not mistaken, that’s a marine’s uniform. I thought the military was on our side?”

Steven’s Gem half swallowed, grinding his teeth again. He gripped the fabric of his jeans, his hands shaking a little as he desperately tried to come up with a response that WOULDN’T make his human half panic. But what the hell could he say to make this easy?

“Steven…” The Gem took a deep breath, looking up, staring Steven dead in the eyes. “It’s the 2nd Armada.”

Steven’s eyes widened. Part of him wasn’t surprised, and part of him was terrified. The 2nd Armada were notorious for being violent with their demands. lethal, even. Stars only knew how many crimes they committed during their journey to erase the Gems for good. They’ve done some fucked up shit. But now they take the savior hostage? Take a CHILD hostage? Restrain him to a containment chamber? What the hell were they planning? How did they even pull this off?

Steven’s Gem half gestured to Steven’s outfit. Steven had been panicking too much to notice that he wasn’t wearing what he usually wore either. He looked down at his shaky hands, eyes roving over his outfit. He didn’t need a clear look to recognize the symbol on his shirt. There was no mistaking it. It was the 2nd Armada emblem. Steven’s Gem half reached over, squeezing Steven’s hand in a comforting gesture, thanking the stars that Steven took a diamond serum dose before all of this happened. The Gem could see black veins forming in Steven’s eyes and skin, but they weren’t spreading and it didn’t seem to cause him any pain.

“Th-They, how did they do this?- Where is- Wh-Who…” Steven stuttered, panic rising, twisting his gut and making him choke on his words.

“I don’t know the answer to why yet… But they clearly want you alive.” Steven’s Gem half said, gesturing to the pharmaceutical machines around them with a nod.

“They created some sort of gem tech component to keep you alive. They called it the GLSS. I think it’s supposed to be a mechanical version of my gemstone. Thankfully it seems to be working pretty well. How do you feel physically?” Steven looked down at his shirt, pulling up the edge of the fabric. His Gem half was right; it was some sort of crude version of his gemstone, a small circular machine embedded in his stomach with a diamond-shaped, glowing pink cartridge on the face of the apparatus.

“I don’t know… I-I mean, surprisingly, it doesn’t hurt. I just feel weaker. Tired, shaky, all that.” Steven said with confusion and concern in his voice.

“Well, it’s not the real thing. I doubted it was gonna work as well as when we were fused.”

Steven pulled his shirt down, fumbling with the plastic-like fabric as his mind began to race again.

“So… You’re my Gem. You were the person I saw when White…” Steven trailed off, shuddering a little. His Gem half didn’t look too ecstatic about that topic of conversation either.

“Yes. That was me.”

Steven shifted uncomfortably, chewing his bottom lip anxiously, unable to meet his Gem half’s gaze.

“So, y-you… You’re, Pink?” Steven questioned with a scared, stuttering voice. His Gem half visibly flinched, his eyes widening. He knew he hated that name, but hearing it come from Steven, felt like he was being split in half and kept intact to feel the pain. After a moment of pure shock, the Gem stuttered, then vigorously shook his head, the rage and discomfort from before clawed at the back of his gemstone and made him feel nauseous.

“No. No no no no - I am not Pink , I am not Rose , I’m… I’m not them.” The Gem said finally with a stern voice, his face twisted with anger and distress.

“S-Sorry. But then… Who are you?” Steven asked cautiously with his hands held up in a peaceful, defensive gesture, tilting his head a little with worry in his eyes. Some part of him was surprised, relieved even, to know that someone else hated being called Pink Diamond just as much as him. Someone that understood what it was like on a personal level. His Gem seemed to feel as conflicted towards Rose and Pink as Steven did.

The Gem paused, then looked down at his hands. “Um… You?” Steven’s Gem half muttered, but was clearly as unsure of his answer as Steven was. He had never really thought about it much. Granted, he was busy with trying not to get shot, or worse.

“That can’t be right though. We’re some sort of fusion, right? Fusions are two separate people combined… And you don’t seem to be, well, an exact copy of me.”

The Gem stared at Steven with wide eyes, then looked down at his hands again. Steven was right, wasn’t he? But if his Gem hated the names, hated the people associated with his gemstone, then who was he? The Gem flinched, his racing mind abruptly interrupted by Steven putting a hand in his Gem’s.

“Do you, not know who you are?”

The Gem stared blankly at Steven’s hand, his mind now devoid of thoughts due to shock and realization. He mumbled a few incoherent words, then shakily turned his free hand over to stare at his palm.

“I… I don’t know. I guess I haven’t really… existed until now. I never thought about it. I just knew I was a part of you… I had some thoughts and feelings, but you were the priority.”

Steven raised a brow, confusion and worry in his expression.

“Wait, why am I the priority? You’re a person too, you’re important too.”

The Gem blinked, bewildered. Then he remembered, this was Steven he was talking to. Of course Steven wouldn’t be happy with his Gem half’s self-sacrificial state of mind. The Gem shook his head.

“No, Steven, you are the one who-” The Gem was interrupted by a hand pressed over his mouth and a pissed, yet worried expression from Steven.

“ No. You are important too. I did not spend two years trying to get better just to hear some other part of me spout the same crap that I did cause he’s stuck in the headspace that I was in.” Steven said finally with a stern tone and furrowed brows.

The Gem’s eyes widened in surprise, hearing the seriousness in Steven’s voice and seeing the expression on his face. Steven sighed and pulled his hand back, glancing aside with a saddened look, leaving his Gem half frozen still and speechless. Steven took the Gem’s other hand in his, staring at their hands in thought before meeting the Gem’s gaze with a sincere look again.

“I don’t care if mom left you behind to protect me. I don’t care if you are seen as her, or Pink, just like others saw me as her. She erased herself and created me, and you. Both of us are important. And I'm not gonna let you make the same mistake that I did.”

Steven’s Gem half stared at Steven in wonder and shock for a moment before a small smile formed on his face, and a look of genuine appreciation in his eyes. He glanced down at his lap, stuck in thought for a moment.

“I… You’re right. But I still don’t know who I am.” The Gem admitted with a somber tone.

“Well, you are another creation of mom’s. Like the other Rose Quartz’s. So that means you’re like… My brother, right? Technically? Well maybe more like a twin…” Steven muttered to himself in thought. Steven perked up a little, getting an idea.

“What if I called you Nora? You remember where that came from, right? It was the other name mom and dad chose for us if we were a girl. Well, technically you’re a boy though…”

Steven trailed off, hearing his Gem half, now Nora, speak up. “Nora… I like it.” He said, his body glowing a little as he smiled. Steven smiled a little too. Letting go of Nora’s hands, Steven scooted backward and held out his hand for a handshake with a big excited smile on his face.

“Nice to meet you, Nora!” Steven announced, his eyes sparkling a little. Nora blinked, then laughed for the very first time and reached out, shaking Steven’s hand. He knew there were more important things at stake in that moment, but if this was distracting Steven and making him happy, he was happy to do it. It made him feel a little better as well, a nice change from the crude audience of the facility.

“Nice to meet you too, Steven.”

6 notes · View notes