[OUTDATED] ☆The Caged Bird☆ Steven Universe x Siren reader

part 24: the gloves are off

"Milord Steven, what is the meaning of this??"

You asked frantically as Steven speedwalked up the stairs, carrying you by the scruff of your shirt. He still had his hand over his mouth, trying to ignore the blood smell that lingered around your body. Pearl was tidying up while garnet was just exiting her room when he suddenly burst through the temple doors startling the two taller gems that were still in the living room. "Steven is everything-?" She caught sight of your blood covered face and hands, and gasped dropping her duster. "What is-!?"

"Everything's fine!" Steven exclaimed as he practically threw open the bathroom door and ushered you inside, making you stumble a bit from the forcefulness. "Get in the tub and wash yourself off! Then brush your teeth! Do not come out until you are completely clean!"

"The- The tub??" You spluttered, still trying to process his frantic behavior. "B-But, it's only my hands and face... can't I just-?"

"Use lots of soap! I'll be in the living room when you're done."

"But Milord-!"

Slam!

Before you could question further, the door was slammed shut, leaving you in a stupor of startled confusion. You just stared at the door, your tail twitching in anxiousness as you looked down at your stained shirt.

Did I do something wrong?

~~~[outside the bathroom]~~~

Steven let out a long sigh, trying to recollect himself as Ameythyst finished on filling the others in on what had happened outside. "So uuuh... long story short, (name) got even with the seagull." Ameythyst finished with a nervous chuckle as she rubbed the back of her head. "Pretty gnarly, right?

Pearl, of course, had the complete look of disgust etched into her face. "Uugh... little (name) did that??" Despite not eating anything, she still found herself bringing a hand to her face to stifle a gag. "It's one thing to eat an animal... but to eat it... while it's alive??" Pearl groaned, shuddering at the thought.

"Yeah, it's pretty messed up..." Ameythyst winced at the thought, but shrugged in a laid-back sense. "But uh... isn't that how nature works or something?"

"That doesn't make it any less morbid Ameythyst!" Pearl chided. She groaned again, hugging herself in discomfort. "I didn't even think (name) was capable of such... savagery..."

Garnet had her lip curled slightly in discomfort, but remained composed. "Well... Connie did mention meat being part of their diet." She shrugged, feeling a slight chill roll through her body. "Guess they aren't picky with how it's prepared..."

Ameythyst chuckled slightly. "Kinda like lion." She points a thumb over to the pink big cat, who simply yawns in response. Pearl scoffs, folding her arms with a troubled expression. "Well, hopefully (name) doesn't start bringing it into the house... last thing we need are things that leak more than lizards..."

As the gems bantered on your recent catch, Steven was deep in his thoughts, glaring at the ground. How are they so oblivious to what they did? He thought in frustration. Did they actually see nothing wrong with what they did?

They were all interrupted by the sound of a door opening, and out you came, still dripping slightly and swaddled in a fluffy towel, with your stained clothes in the coil of your tail. You looked up at the teen, your ears against your head in concern. "I uh... I did what you asked, milord." You sheepishly stated. "What did you want me to do with my stained clothes?"

Steven stared hard at you. "Go up to my room and get changed." He pointed to the stairs. There was an ominous calm in his voice that made you shrink slightly. "I wanna... discuss a few things before we head out for the day."

You whined lightly, but hurriedly scampered up the stairs, grumbling worriedly to yourself as you did. Steven just watched unblinkingly, casually shoving his hands into his pockets as he did. He then let out a soft sigh-groan, knitting his brow in what looked like frustration, as he took out his phone and looked at his half-written page.

Ameythst noticed his tension and stepped up to pat his back. "Hey, you okay there, dude?" She asked. "I mean it's no big deal, they just-"

"No. That... was my fault." Steven stated with a brisk edge. He stared intensely at the stairs. "That- I shouldn't have taken my eyes off them. It- it was my fault it happened."

"I don't think you would have prevented it either way, Steven." Garnet corrected, crossing her arms. "They might be tamed, but they still have primal instincts they are yet to control."

"Th... That... that's fine..." He took a deep breath, finally feeling his frustration melt into a cold sense of indignant resolve. "I'll... I-I can fix that..."

"Fix?" Ameythyst lifted her brow at him.

"I have to figure out a way to curb those instincts. We can't have them just do that and think it's fine." He stated. "Besides, they don't even need them anymore... they have us now."

The gems exchanged worried looks with each other. This was very unlike Steven. "...that... might not be a good idea, Steven." He heard Garnet caution to him. "It might not be healthy to try and stifle a siren's instincts. We still aren't fully aware of what they're capable of."

"It'll be fine." Steven assured with a curt edge in his voice. "I've fought giant gem monsters as a kid. So I can figure out a way to restrict a siren kid."

There was an uncomfortable silence as everyone contemplated the boy's words.

"Sooo uh..." Ameythyst sneers awkwardly. "What're ya planning on doing?"

He shrugs. "I... guess I'll just have to be more firm with rules. They should have known what they did was bad anyways." He put his phone back in his pocket and began to make his way to the stairs. "Besides, if hybrids are ever gonna get a good rep with humans, then the least we could do is try to get (name) to fit in better."

"But what if that's doesn't work?" Pearl called anxiously, stepping out of the kitchen to join the others in the living room. "Don't forget, (Name)'s species isn't anything like a Gem, steven! In fact, it might be COMPLETELY different from anything we've encountered!"

Steven doesn't even look at the gem as he answers with an ominously low tone. "Then I'll try something else. There's always something that works."

He starts to walk up the stairs, and suddenly, the gems felt a surge of unwitting anxiety. He'd never acted like this before. What's gotten into him?

More importantly, what's he going to try to make you listen!?

"Wh-what if that doesn't work??" Ameythyst blurts out, wanting to stall him a bit longer. "Don't you at least want us to help??"

He paused in thought. "No. I got it." He continued to make his way up the stairs. And spoke one final time, his voice uncharacteristically cold.

"I'll make it work."