Nova Academy

The Mall

"Okay, you guys need to stop looking so scary," Anna begged between fries. "You're really killing the vibe here."

Steven, Hazel and Adam didn't budge from standing over the girls in the food court. All three liked watching them be cute and flirt with each other but they also were watching for idiots, and this place was crawling with them.

All it took was one catcall the girls' way and they instantly dropped their playful demeanor and out came guard dog boyfriends.

"It baffles me that a guy can see a group of men with a couple of girls and still think, 'Hey, I'm going to shout out into a crowded mall that I'd take them both home!' as if I'm not a foot taller minimum and 500x stronger." Steven growled and squeezed his fingers into his bicep until it hurt. He tried normally to not get this protective out loud, it was mostly in his mind, but when the girls both got quiet and their faces burned with embarrassment it flew out of him. Adam and Hazel were always protective and now he could safely join the ranks without hurting Connies pride.

"You wouldn't believe the dumbasses we've had to put up with. Adam broke someone's arm." Hazel smirked but kept his eyes surveying around them.

"It was not an accident. You don't grab a lady when she turns you down. He learned his lesson," Adam sighed. "I don't like to resort to physical violence but–,"

"Sometimes that's the only way." Steven was attacked with mental images of shattering Jasper and almost shattering White but he bit his tongue hard enough that it was buried for a moment past the pain.

"But you guys are going to try and enjoy yourselves?" Anna asked sweetly.

"Something like that. Come on, let's go get dresses." Hazel chuckled at her excitement and pinched her cheek. "Adorable little princess."

"Adorable little princess," Adam agreed under his breath as he continued to keep watch.

Connie reached for Steven's hand and kissed it. "I hate shopping."

He grinned and pulled her into a hug. "I know, baby. We'll make this as fast as possible."

"Guys, I don't need the extra cheese. I am so full after those two burgers. Now let's go before we run out of time for everything!" Anna tugged Connie away from Steven and she sulked but followed along.

The girls chatted about everything on the face of the planet, bouncing around from memories to school to ecosystem research and then back to dresses. He smiled when Connie lost herself in the girl talk and became bubbly and animated. He loved bringing the soft side out of her, but he loved when Anna got her like this.

"They are both such princesses," Adam chuckled. "Just look at them."

"Ughhhhh, I know. We're really fucking lucky to have these princesses over the other kinds." Hazel squinted at Anna and reached forward to pull a string off of the back of her shirt. She didn't even notice.

"Mine is more than technically a princess," Steven boasted as the other men rolled their eyes and laughed.

"Have you told her she's a princess? I almost think she'd rather be in the war room with the knights." Hazel motioned to the girl who was now trying to explain to Anna how her sword was made.

"She actually is a knight. She's inarguably one of the most memorable ones in gem culture. They used her as an example all the time at Little Homeworld to show gems that humans weren't weak flesh sacks." Talking about Little Homeworld gave him buzzy discomfort enough to start his nervous habit of slowly destroying his favorite pair of jeans.

"Hey, we're here Steven." Hazel smacked his hand away like Connie would and Adam snickered. " Did I do it right or do I need to get Connie?"

Steven shook his head, eyes locked on his girlfriend. "Nah, we're almost to the store. I'll be distracted soon."