Author's Note: Hi, I just got home and saw that we reached the finish line. Here's the next chapter. For the next one, leave the same number of stars, you know the drill.
Let's continue.
They had returned to Steven's house, and at the entrance, his father greeted them with open arms, completely overwhelmed with relief. At first glance, it seemed as if the man's expression had aged several years in just a few days, but he still tried to appear strong. The house was still damaged, although the most important parts had already been repaired or secured, and that was enough for everyone to be inside without immediate worries.
His father couldn't stop crying, and Steven understood perfectly that after everything that had happened, there were no words capable of describing what they both felt. They spent several hours talking calmly, without tension, without chaos, as if they had both been clinging for a long time to that moment of normalcy that had finally returned.
As night fell, his father breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing him in such good health and decided to return to his small home, the one he had set up in his workspace, a small tire shop that also served as his residence. He said goodbye with one last loving glance, climbed into his truck, and turned on the headlights. Steven silently watched the vehicle slowly drive away, and as the headlights grew smaller and smaller until they disappeared into the distance, he let out a long, heavy, and simultaneously liberating sigh.
He walked toward the kitchen, or what little remained of it, and was deeply grateful that his father had managed to put several things in order, enough so that the space didn't feel completely uninhabitable. He found a few salvageable utensils and decided to prepare something simple, since his father had left him pizza for dinner, but he didn't think it appropriate to eat that when he had practically just woken up from something very close to a coma. He opted to prepare a light salad while he let his thoughts flow in silence.
The house was calm. The girls were already in their rooms, and he assumed he was the only person awake, accompanied only by his mind, which was still slowly adjusting to reality.
However, he wasn't as alone as he thought.
A soft, almost timid whisper broke the silence when he heard a voice cautiously call his name. The start jolted him from his thoughts, and he almost dropped his plate, though he managed to catch it quickly thanks to his reflexes.
He placed a hand on his chest as he breathed heavily and looked at Lapis sitting on the couch, one that hadn't escaped the disaster unscathed either, but was still able to support someone without breaking... probably. She was looking at him silently, her expression unchanged, trying to understand why he had reacted that way.
They both fell into an odd, uncomfortable silence, too heavy for a place where only the two of them were. Steven decided to break it with a simple question, asking if he planned to stay on the couch. Lapis looked at him, unsure how to interpret his words, as if trying to guess whether he was speaking out of discomfort or concern.
She replied calmly, asking if there was a problem and if he didn't want her there. She lowered her gaze slightly, as if afraid that his answer might prompt her to get up, leave, or feel like an intruder.
Steven reacted immediately, shaking his head and letting out a small, nervous laugh that confused her even more. He didn't want her to feel guilty or out of place, and he didn't really know how to explain what was going through his mind; he was simply trying to get used to everything again.
Steven tried to ease the discomfort with a slight smile and told Lapis not to worry, explaining that he had a futon in his room, or at least what was left of it. He gestured for her to wait while he finished eating, and she simply nodded in absolute silence, remaining as still as a statue. He swallowed, noticing how obedient and serious she was, feeling a bead of sweat trickle down his temple at the strange tension of the moment.
After a few minutes, when he finished his salad, he gestured for her to follow him, and Lapis walked behind him without saying a word or showing any expression. This behavior kept him on edge, as if at any moment her nerves might decide to betray him.
Upon arriving at his room, Steven began searching through boxes and piles of tattered clothes, trying to salvage any usable sheets. Lapis sat on her bed, observing the place with a blank expression, almost as if she were still processing the concept of being there. To her relief, the bed was still intact, as were her television and video games, which she felt was a miracle worthy of thanks to every saint, legend, or amulet in existence.
After some improvisation, he managed to rig up a small mattress made of folded blankets, attempting to provide a modicum of comfort. Lapis continued to stare, as if waiting for instructions or a detailed explanation of every human movement.
When Steven finished, she looked at the makeshift mattress with bewilderment and asked what it was. He explained matter-of-factly that it was a bed, a soft and comfortable place where she could sleep. Lapis repeated the word as if it were a completely foreign term, examining the surface as if it were an alien tool.
Steven smiled patiently and decided to demonstrate. He lay down, closed his eyes, and explained that she just needed to get comfortable, stop thinking about everything, and simply fall asleep. However, his explanation wasn't quite finished because, ironically, exhaustion immediately overcame him, and he fell asleep without even realizing how epic and uneducational his demonstration had been.
Lapis watched him with a doubtful expression, but imitating what she had seen, she settled down beside him and closed her eyes as he had instructed. And to the surprise of anyone who knew her nature, she managed to fall asleep successfully, as if the concept of rest had been waiting for her for a very long time.
Steven woke up with the sensation of something cold, soft, and slightly heavy pressing against his face. Opening his eyes, he noticed a blue foot on his face, completely motionless. He remained silent for a few seconds, processing it, and with a slow movement, he removed Lapis's foot, who remained as stiff as a deer startled by Truck-kun in the middle of the road.
He sighed wearily and left the room, walking to the bathroom while still trying to fully wake up. Standing in front of the mirror, he turned on the light, picked up his toothbrush, and began brushing his teeth, his expression turning serious.
Steven thought.
I haven't had time to process anything, but I think I have a huge problem. He paused for a moment, staring at himself in the mirror with the toothbrush still in his mouth. I have Jasper and Peridot lurking around here, and if things had continued as before, I might not be breathing now. So I can't just sit still.
He resumed brushing, though his gaze reflected a deeper thought.
I need to train much harder. I have to find new ways to fight, learn to analyze my surroundings, and make the most of what I have. If I want to protect everyone, I need to think like the person I really am, not like the version some people expect. I have to protect them, because if I don't, then who will?
When he finished, he set the brush aside and stared at his reflection for a few seconds, as if trying to find a hidden answer in his own eyes.
I think I also need to teach Lapis the basics of Earth; I don't want her to feel lost or confused again. Although... if she asks, I'll explain it to her calmly, and if things get out of hand, I can ask Amethyst for help. She definitely has incredible patience, even if no one believes it. Yes, I should probably start there.
After several seconds of silence, he decided to leave the bathroom, feeling more awake and a bit neater. He glanced toward his room and noticed that Lapis was still in the exact same position he'd left her in, so motionless that if she were human, anyone would think she'd been dead for hours.
He shook his head gently and smiled briefly before continuing with his morning routine. He prepared something simple to eat, tidied up what little remained, and silently washed the dishes, listening carefully in case anyone woke up.
He glanced toward the other Gems' rooms and noticed there was still no sign of movement. Everything remained calm, almost too quiet.
"I guess they were really affected by everything that happened," Steven said as he dried the last plate, letting out a thoughtful sigh that mingled with the soft morning light.
He looked over at Lapis, who was still fast asleep and showed no signs of waking anytime soon. With a quick, almost impulsive thought, he decided to go outside for a bit to clear his head. He walked toward the beach, the fresh sea air welcoming him and the sound of the waves accompanying his steps.
Each footstep left a small footprint in the sand, surrounded by metal debris and loose pieces of the destroyed ship. Steven began collecting them one by one, throwing them with all his might into the water to clean the area.
"It's not pollution if there's nothing wrong with it," he muttered to himself, trying to encourage himself as he tossed each piece into the sea as if it were a mere stone. According to him, the pieces weren't harmful to nature... or at least that's what he wanted to believe to avoid complicating his life further.
He continued working, glancing at the path his father usually took. A small part of him hoped to see him appear with that tired but comforting smile. However, he didn't see him arrive at any point, and a slight pang formed in his chest. He remembered that, during their conversation, his father had explained that he had too much work and that he shouldn't feel bad if he couldn't spend as much time with him as he'd like. Of course, Steven had accepted this with a smile, although inside he couldn't shake that inevitable little emptiness.
"If he doesn't work, we don't eat," he thought as he threw another piece with a little more force.
Several hours passed, and without realizing it, he had turned the cleanup into an intense workout. He jumped, ran, pushed, lifted weights, and assessed the terrain as he picked up every piece of metal. When he finished, he noticed that one of the impacts had left a gigantic hole in the sand, but he only glanced at it for a moment and let out a soft laugh.
That problem is for tomorrow's Steven... or next year's, who knows.
The sky was beginning to darken, and the clouds were turning a deep purple, so he decided to head home. As he entered, he saw the gems gathered around Lapis, who was still asleep so soundly that she seemed to have found absolute peace.
...
...
...
An odd and uncomfortable silence hung in the air until Amethyst could no longer contain herself and spoke.
Amethyst said that if he had really taught her how to sleep, because it seemed like she was taking the whole course, diploma included. He was trying to hold back his laughter, but he was clearly losing it.
Steven put a hand to the back of his neck and smiled. "Well, it seems I taught him well, because he's setting a world record. I didn't even know he'd sleep so much."
Then she added with a curious expression, "Besides, aren't Gems supposed to not need sleep? Because I feel like I've activated some secret mode no one's ever tried."
Pearl shook her head gently, placing a hand elegantly on her chest. "We don't really need it, but maybe it's not something physical, but mental."
The others looked at her, waiting for a more complete explanation, as if they were about to hear a theory worthy of a science textbook. Pearl blushed slightly at their attention, but continued in a lower voice.
"Assuming she's been under extreme stress since we last saw her, it wouldn't surprise me if her mind collapsed and she needed to rest inside her gem. If my assumption is correct, I must admit I admire her. She endured so much without breaking."
Silence returned, but this time it was one of understanding and respect. No one knew exactly how much emotional weight Lapis was carrying, and even less that even speaking near her, she didn't react at all.
Steven broke the silence with something logical as he observed Lapis, still motionless.
"Steven: Let's go to my room. I don't want to wake her or bother her. I suppose she already has enough on her mind, or whatever it is, to be like this."
He stood up and walked calmly toward his room. The three gems exchanged confused glances, but without saying a word, they followed him in single file. Upon entering, the first thing they noticed was the room's familiar atmosphere: pink, luminous, filled with clouds floating like eternal cotton balls, all imbued with the ability to take any shape.
Out of nowhere, a figure began to form among the clouds, molding itself as if someone invisible were sculpting it. The three raised an eyebrow simultaneously, but their real surprise came when they saw Rose Quartz materialize, observing them only out of the corner of her eye, while her gaze fixed directly on Steven.
Steven noticed that gaze and simply made a small gesture with his hand, as if to say without words that it wasn't the time for that.
Rose's figure vanished as quickly as she had appeared, leaving behind a scattered cloud and three even more confused gems, staring at him with silent questions. Steven didn't react to their stares, or perhaps he simply chose to ignore them.
"Okay, wait a minute."
He waved his hand and created an elegant room made of clouds, with soft armchairs and a low table laden with hot tea, already served as if everything had been planned beforehand. The three gems sat down almost robotically, unsure what to say, their eyes fixed on Steven.
There were a few awkward seconds where the tea steamed and no one breathed too heavily, until Amethyst dared to break the silence.
"Hey Steven... was that Rose?"
Steven looked up without changing his expression, and the mere silence was enough to make Amethyst tense up slightly.
-Steven: No.
That was his entire answer, direct, clear, and leaving no room for debate. Pearl let out a long, somewhat nervous sigh, and when she noticed the others looking at her, she blushed slightly, trying to hide it.
Garnet observed Steven closely; he seemed calm, but something different was hiding behind his eyes, something that hadn't been there before. She decided to speak in a calm voice.
-Garnet: Steven... I know you just woke up from all this and... well... it's not that we want to force you, but...
She clenched her fists tightly, as if afraid of what she was about to admit.
-Garnet: Honestly, we need your help. We have two Gems here, and we don't know what their original plan was or still is. One of them was, and possibly still is, the most perfect thing Earth ever produced.
The room fell into a heavy, almost uncomfortable silence, while Steven simply stared at Garnet with an expression impossible to decipher.
Pearl continued to prevent the atmosphere from completely breaking down.
"Pearl: Look... we know we're not very good at talking about this, but..."
She paused, exhaling with emotional exhaustion.
"Pearl: We know that in this battle, you shouldn't have been the one to bear the pain, and... you suffered a lot. We... we want to hear your opinion this time."
She put her hands to her head in a gesture of frustration and guilt, while Amethyst leaned forward, trying to help her.
"Amethyst: Steven... hey, we're listening, okay?"
Steven calmly looked up, which was enough to silence the three of them and give him their full attention.
"Steven: ..."
Amethyst was next to speak, clenching her fists in visible frustration.
"Amethyst: This fight wasn't yours... it was my fault for laughing that time, and I honestly regret it day and night for every second that passed and for what's still happening. I don't know what to do, Steven... I don't know what happened in the war or what they were really fighting for. I just... —she sighed— I just want to protect what I have, because it's all I've ever known, and I think it's the same for you. I just... I just want you to forgive me, and to help us, and for us to understand this together. And I think I speak for all three of us here."
She turned to look at the others, and both Pearl and Garnet nodded firmly.
Amethyst continued, trying to keep her voice from breaking.
"Amethyst: If you really don't want to continue with this... I just want... no! We want you to be sure. Whether you decide to fight with us or not... we'll understand."
"We'll understand." He lowered his gaze as silence enveloped the room, accompanied only by the soft classical music Steven had played from the start, trying to soothe the atmosphere without giving it much thought.
Steven watched the three of them, who seemed more like dogs being scolded, and although their tone surprised him, he also understood their fear. It was clear they didn't know how to begin or how to continue, and only then did he realize something obvious.
After all, having been unconscious and rigid for three days surely reflected the Gems' stress levels. An imaginary bead of sweat trickled down his forehead as he realized how blind he'd been to them.
His mind began processing hundreds of possible answers, all valid, all logical, but only one fit with what he wanted for the group. For the Gems... and for himself.
After what felt like an eternity to them, Steven stood up, causing the three of them to tense up without even looking up. He approached them slowly, took a breath, and without saying a word, hugged them tightly, enveloping all three at once.
The Gems were completely shocked, staring at him as if they couldn't understand when the tension had finally broken. Steven smiled with all the confidence in the world, the most brazen smile on the planet.
"Oh, come on," he said, laughing loudly, making the whole room resonate. "We're a team. We're the Crystal Gems." They caught us off guard, yes, but now… —he clenched his fist tightly— we're going to win.
He grabbed Amethyst by the shoulders, gently lifting her face as her eyes widened.
"Steven: I don't blame you for anything, Amethyst. Things happen for a reason. If you hadn't spoken up, a thousand things could have happened, better or worse… or maybe the same. So stop carrying that burden.
"But I…" Amethyst tried to say.
"No buts," Steven replied, covering her mouth with a hand that magically appeared from the room.
"Amethyst: …"
"You too," Steven continued, pointing at Pearl and Garnet, who were still staring at each other with their mouths agape. "What's wrong with you? Why do you think I'm training? Of course I'm going to fight! What's more, we'll fix the house and then go after those gems. What do you think?"
"I'm going to fight." They looked at each other, and a smile slowly appeared on each of their faces, a smile full of determination, pride, and hope.
"Alright!" Steven exclaimed as he opened a portal door formed by clouds. "I'm going to sleep. We'll continue with the house tomorrow. Nothing will stop us."
Motivation filled his face... until he saw what was inside the portal, and in an instant, his expression changed to a thousand different forms of confusion and alarm. The Gems, curious, approached and observed the same thing, equally shocked.
Lapis Lazuli had woken up confused and felt completely refreshed, so much so that she decided to stretch her arms and legs even though she didn't really need to. However, as she did, she noticed something alarming.
"Lapis: Steven?"...
She looked around, and her expression turned to fear.
"Steven!" she cried in panic, moving things around trying to find him, although she clearly wasn't very good at searching.
And that's how they ended up witnessing the most surreal scene of the day: Lapis was holding the microwave like it was a sacred relic, the rest of the room in absolute chaos, while four gems stared at her with expressions of complete mental disconnection.
"Um... hi," Lapis said timidly, unsure whether to return the microwave or run away with it.
End of Chapter 35.