Chapter Text
Steven had finally settled down from traveling all 39 states, making a schedule and buying a house (making sure it had plenty of room for Lion).
While the decision was huge for him, he downplayed it on numerous occasions, still trying to adapt to the new space and feel like its home .
It wasn’t directly on the ocean, it wasn’t big or intricately built. It didn’t even have a warp pad in the middle of it, but he was determined.
Connie helped him rearrange all of his belongings, as well as shop for furniture.
He still didn’t have any formal schooling, but his therapist helped lay out possibilities for future careers (he did have an especially lengthy resume, with how he saved the galaxy and ran an entire school, which had to count for something ).
Despite all of the countless ideas the two of them bounced off of each other, Steven insisted he needed time in his future for his music, it was just what Universe’s did.
Steven was recovering. He wasn’t perfect, but he never was. His pink episodes were rarer than ever, and Steven was starting to trust himself again, even if he knew it would never be the same.
Of course, right when everything started to look decent enough, something had to interrupt.
Two months after the original move , Steven was visiting the Maheswaran’s with Connie, for winter break.
Despite their hesitancy towards Steven and his lifestyle at the beginning of his friendship with Connie, once they started a more serious relationship her parents shared a sort of fondness towards him.
Dr. Maheswaran was actually the one to recommend his current therapist, and she assured Steven that she was always ready to listen if he had any issues he couldn’t talk to anyone else about. He appreciated the offer and held a special place in his heart for Connie’s mother, one that filled in the gap that had been missing his entire life.
Who knew how important stable maternal relationships were in someone’s life? Steven certainly didn’t.
Connie’s dad even stopped hating him, although he had to tell Steven on numerous occasions that he didn’t hate him, he was just weary of how his danger prone life could affect Connie.
Steven forgave him anyway, and now they shared a mutual respect for one another. Well, more on Steven’s side (Mr. Maheswaran couldn’t help but treat Steven more like a son, scolding him for reckless behavior whenever he went on a wild recounting of some space adventure).
Steven had driven the Dondai out from the West coast back to the East coast, the several day long journey with Lion in the backseat still fresh in his mind. He picked up Connie from college on Friday, and they ventured back to Beach City.
Steven's expedition was kept a secret from his father and the gems, wanting to surprise them after not seeing the boy for two years.
Of course they’d called and texted quite often, but Steven had never had the time before now to actually visit in person. He was ecstatic, finally being able to surprise the gems for once (if Garnet hadn’t told on him).
He was helping Dr. Maheswaran set the table for dinner when his phone started buzzing from his pocket.
He hesitated for a moment, considering ignoring the call, before his anxiety won out.
He placed his stack of plates on the table, getting a curious look from Connie’s mom as he dug in his pocket for his phone.
He checked the caller ID, seeing that it was his dad, before glancing at Dr. Maheswaran quickly.
“Uh, do you mind if I…?” He looked helpless for a moment as he looked between his phone and her face.
She rolled her eyes at him, continuing to put silverware down. “These plates aren’t going anywhere. Go ahead, you don’t need to ask permission,”
“Thank you,” He gave her a quick sheepish smile before he ducked into the living room, pulling the phone to his ear as he answered. “What’s up, Dad? You usually don’t call this late, something wrong?” He tried to keep his tone casual, ignoring as his palms became sweaty with the very thought of something bad happening to his father.
“Ah, hey Schtu-ball,” He heard his dad struggle for words in an uncomfortable pause, only furthering Steven’s worry. “Uh, nothings wrong , well, it’s nothing life threatening,”
Steven resisted the urge to laugh. “What is it, Dad?”
“I think you’d better get over here...can you take Lion?”
His father didn’t know he was close to Beach City, Steven mused to himself, so he would be asking Steven to travel across the country to get there.
His blood ran cold, and Steven checked over his shoulder, catching Connie’s gaze on him from the dining room. He shrugged, turning back to his phone.
“I’ll be right there...is anyone hurt?”
“No,” He let out a breath of relief, nodding to himself quickly. “Just...you need to see this for yourself,” There was a crash on the other end of the phone, and Steven jumped.
“Dad!”
“I’m fine, I’m fine. Just...hurry, son!”
“I’m on my way,” He hung up, rushing back through the doorway. All three Maheswaran’s looked at Steven apprehensively, taking note of his frantic movements.
“Steven?” Connie moved around a chair, approaching him quickly and taking his hand. “What’s wrong?”
“Somethings going on at my Dad’s place,” He managed, giving her fingers a reassuring squeeze. “Ah, I feel so bad for ditching but—”
“You have to go,” Mr. Maheswaran gave him a dry smile, then looked at his wife. “Go ahead, Steven, don’t worry about it,”
“Thank you,” He turned back to Connie giving her a quick peck on the lips. “I don’t know if I’ll be back…”
“I’ll take the Dondai over after dinner, don’t worry about us,” She let go of his hands, giving him a knowing look. “Go,”
“I love you,” He said quietly, then smiled shyly at her parents. “Thank you,”
“Bye, Steven,” Her parents chorused in unison, and he waved, rushing out the door.
He spotted Lion quickly, who was sprawled on the lawn, belly facing the darkening sky. When they got to the house early in the day, the neighborhood kids were overjoyed that Lion was back, giving him all the love and affection he could’ve asked for. The kids had cleared out, but Lion was napping contently after numerous ear scratches.
“Lion!” Steven called, watching as the big feline cracked an eye open at him lazily. “Buddy, I know you’re napping but I have to go to Beach City!”
The pink cat yawned at him, closing his eyes and stretching.
“C’mon Lion! This is important!” Lion gave him his classic look of denial, refusing to get up. Steven sighed, rubbing his nose for a second. “I’ll get you a Lion Licker,”
And he was up, stretching deeply before bowing so Steven could climb on. “It’s always bribery with you,” Steven mumbled as he hopped on, hooking his fingers into the pink fluffy mane.
Lion roared in response, taking a leaping start into the street.
Wind rushed in Steven’s ears as Lion sprinted, and he was reminded of how much he missed the exhilaration of riding him.
It wasn’t the same back at his apartment, Lion would usually go off on his own, and occasionally Steven would take him on walks (getting only a few strange looks from joggers), but in a city setting Steven hadn’t really been able to use Lion as transport anymore, at least not high speed.
It brought Steven back to his earlier adventures, and for once it didn’t leave any aftermath of trauma ringing in his ears.
The boardwalk came into view, and Steven caught sight of Peedee leaving the fry stand.
“Watch out!!” He called as Lion barrelled forward, and the teen stepped back quickly, watching with mild surprise as Steven waved from a few feet away, quickly passing him.
“Hey Steven!” He called, but he was already gone. He got similar greetings from gems and people alike. Mr. Smiley jumped back in shock as they ran by.
“Stevens back!” Someone shouted, and almost everyone came out of their shops at once, watching him blow by.
He spotted Jenny and Sour Cream sitting outside the Big Donut, Buck just leaving the store. They must’ve just gotten back from college too.
“Hi guys, bye guys!” He yelled as he passed, and Buck dropped the bag of food in surprise.
“Where you off to, Steven?” Jenny called, but he was already out of earshot, nearing the beach house.
Lion cleared the steps in one swift movement, forcing Steven to duck further into his fur to stay on his back.
Lion had as much manner as usual, and rammed his head into the door, forcing Steven forward a little.
He slid off quickly, opening the door and bursting into his old home.
“Dad, I’m here! I came as soon as I could!! What’s wrong, I heard a crash and then—what?”
His words caught in his throat, staring at his dad and the gems sitting on the couch.
Their presence wasn’t what surprised him, but it was the bright eyed stare he received to his own disbelief.
Curly black hair, a red shirt with a star in the middle, and the same face he saw in the mirror...but younger .
A long silence stretched across all of them, his dad standing up as if to approach him, but he just stood.
“Uh, Steven, meet,” His dad turned to him, his face pulled into a thin smile. “Steven,”
Oh no.