Mystery Universe

Nightmare

Steven couldn't sleep. He had just had another life or death experience. Granted, it wasn't Gem related, but still, he, the twins, and Soos could've died. He doubted Fiddleford would've actually killed them, but it felt life or death in the moment. He missed the feeling of adventure, but he did not miss the fear of facing danger. He sat up. He should probably leave. This town is dangerous. But something told him to stay, that he shouldn't leave just yet. He felt needed. By what he didn't know. He laid back down. Maybe it was his desire to protect the twins. He didn't want them to experience the things he did. Besides, he had things under control. He had a video call with his therapist a few days ago, and has another in two days. He'll talk to them then. Maybe they will help him figure this out. He felt his eyelids get heavy and they started to slowly close. Soon, Steven was plunged into darkness and he was fast asleep.

To say he dreamed of nothing would be a lie. Most of his dreams were nonsensical, different things from the last week jumbled together. A plaidypus was surfing on Dipper's back while wearing a fedora. Nothing meaningful. But a few of his dreams were eerie and strange. A swing set, with one of the seats broken. A forest of trees with eyes hidden in the empty space. He heard that cruel laugh, the one he hoped he would never hear again. It echoed in the forest, and he felt like he was being watched. He stepped out into a clearing, and the sun seemed to bear down on him, the light burning his skin. Against his better judgment, he looked up and saw the sun was in the shape of a yellow triangle. A giant eye opened on the triangle and Steven yelped in surprise, falling backwards. He heard that laugh, and saw the triangle sun shake. The laugh was coming from it. He shut his eyes tight, wishing he could go back to surfing with a fedora-ed plaidypus. He felt a hand grab him. He knew it was a hand, because he had been grabbed like this before. He looked up and saw the giant triangle had grown an arm and grabbed him, lifting him high off the ground. He tried to cover his gem, but the hand had too tight of a grip on him. He felt himself start to panic as he struggled against the grip. The triangle lifted him until he was under its eye. He felt as though it was looking right through him, as if it could see into his mind. It analyzed him, its gaze seemed to read every inch of him. It squinted, as if smiling.

"You'll do just nicely," He heard that cruel voice say.

Then he was falling. Falling and falling and falling, though a dark empty space. The only light came from his gem, which glowed faintly. He saw his body; his room, beneath him. He saw Stan shaking him and calling his name. He collided with his body and woke with a start, covered in sweat.

"Geez kid, don't scare me like that," Stan said, who had jumped back when Steven suddenly sat up.

Steven breathed heavily, as if he had run a marathon, "What...?" He asked.

Stan had a look of concern; genuine concern, a look Steven had never seen him wear.

"Is everything okay, kid?" He asked.

"I..." Steven placed a hand on his head and stared down at the blankets. He can't just say 'I'm fine.' Doing that led to disaster. Steven took deep breaths, slowing his pounding heart.

"I had a nightmare, but it wasn't normal."

"Wasn't normal? I believe that," Stan pointed it out the door, "I saw it on the TV!"

Steven looked up at him. He was broadcasting his dreams again? That couldn't be good. But it wasn't about his past. It was something new, something that didn't belong. Something's going on, but Steven couldn't put his finger on what it was. But it definitely had to do with that yellow triangle.

"I'm sorry, that happens sometimes... but it hasn't happened in a while..."

Steven was worried. Was this a bad omen?

"Are you okay?" Stan asked.

Steven nodded, "I'm okay. I just needed to calm down."

"Good. Now," Stan stood up tall, towering over Steven. "You're gonna explain what that was and how you could do that."

"What?"

"I'm trying to see if I can trust you around the kids," Stan said.

Steven gulped, and he felt his heart rate rise again.

"I, uh, so, um.. it's really hard to explain."

Stan grabbed a chair from Steven's desk.

"Start from the top."

And so Steven did. He started with the Gems; what they are and the things they could do. Then moving onto how he was half-Gem, and how his mom... died so he could exist. He talked about how his mom had powers, and how he had inherited them. He tried not to spill everything, but at some point he eventually did. Stan's stern, calculating expression soon had calmed. He listened and didn't interrupt. Not once.

Steven sighed, ending on his trip. He did manage to omit the monster and murder parts.

"I'm taking a year long road trip to, I don't know, find myself? Understand how to be more human and how to grow. I'd been stuck in Beach City my whole life, and I figured it was about time I explored."

"Understandable," Stan said, nodding. He stood up, "Seems like you've done a lot of good, kid. Sucks that you had to go through that so young, but seems like you've helped a lot of people... I have a favor to ask."

Stan looked at him intensely, "Promise me you'll keep the twins safe. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to them."

Steven nodded. That's what he was going to do anyway.

"I'll make sure they stay safe."

"Thanks, kid."

Stan got up and turned to leave, but stopped.

"And if you need any advice for navigating the mysteries of Gravity Falls, I can help," he winked, "but don't tell the twins that. I don't want them getting into too much trouble."

Stan turned around and walked out of Steven's room, closing the door behind him.

Steven laid back down. He would keep the twins safe. That's why he felt needed, he told himself. But something was off, like there was more to it. But Steven didn't have much time to ponder on that feeling, because soon he had slipped into a much needed dreamless sleep.