Being Human

24. Warp Tour

The Crystal Gems are returning to the Warp Pad in the middle of a flower meadow, discussing their latest Gem monster encounter.

"I can't believe that went so well!" Pearl says happily.

"That was cool Pearl when you hit it with your spear." Y/n says impressed. 

"Yeah, and it went, like, "bing-bong!" Amethyst makes explosion sounds.

Pearl just blushes. "And the way you were circling around it? Almost looked like strategy."

Y/n just chuckles. "I was just trying to avoid being hit really." He admits.

Garnet sends a bubbled gem away, as Steven emerges from the meadow with runny eyes and nose.

"Wait up!..." Steven calls panting heavily. "Sorry I couldn't help much, I think the flowers are making me. Ah... Aaah..." Steven then sneezes on Garnet's hip and sniffles. "Sorry, Garnet."

"I'll live." Garnet says unbothered.

"Oh, Steven, you're supposed to sneeze into your antecubital fossa." Pearl says to him.

"My what?" Steven asks confused.

"Your... This thing." Pearl points to Y/n's elbow.

Steven looks at his elbow as the Crystal Gems warp out. They travel through the warp stream when Steven feels the urge to sneeze again.

"Do it at Pearl!" Amethyst quickly cries and points at Pearl.

Pearl panics at this thought. "Steven, your fossa!" She cries.

Steven sneezes downwards however, propelling himself upward in the warp stream. "Oh! Whoa! Wha?" Steven cries breathing heavily. "Whoa."

Steven's head pops out of the warp stream and he is able to see the Warp Space, cackling with lightnings everywhere. He then sees another warp stream, carrying a small object through it.

"Huh?" Steven ponders confused. "Whoa!" Pearl pulls Steven back into the stream. 

"Careful! It's dangerous to stick your head out of the stream!" Pearl tells him.

"What's so dangerous about it?" Y/n asks the gems curiously.

"There's not much air, and it's very cold." Garnet explains as she flicks the frozen snot off Steven's nose.

"You guys, I saw something out there!" Steven says outloud now.

"What?" Pearl cries.

"Something warping!" Steven tells them.

"Steven, that's not possible. Is your vision blurry from the pollen?" Pearl suggests.

"I can see perfectly... " Steven says as he squints his eyes. "Pearl? I know there's something out there!"

"There's nothing out there, Steven. There hasn't been anything else for a long, long time." Garnet says now.

Steven looks down as the group continues to warp. Y/n notices this now and puts his hand on Steven's shoulder. 

"I could stay the night if you'd like?" Y/n asks Steven who just nods his head.

"Oh!" Pearl cries excitedly. "I'll make tea and get out the sleeping bag and..." 

"Heh, I think she's more excited about Y/n staying then you." Amethyst comments to Steven. 

It was the middle of the night and Steven is lying in his bed, staring at the ceiling and trying to sleep for the night. Y/n was fast asleep on the Beach house couch with one arm on his torso and the other raised above his head. Steven slowly starts to drift off to sleep, but then snaps himself back awake. He turns to look at the Temple Gate's warp pad, when the kitchen refrigerator suddenly opens, startling him.