Obsession: A Gem's Descent (Yandere Steven Universe x M! Reader)

Part 8: Fall from Grace

Pearl's Pov

Why does he have to be so stubborn? Why do they all have to be so stubborn?

I kept my grip firm on his wrist, pulling him along as his protests became nothing more than a muffled background noise. He's just like Rose. So confident, so willful, thinking they know better. And Steven—oh, Steven—always running into danger without thinking. Always relying on me to clean up the mess. But this time, I won't coddle him. I won't. He has to learn.

"You think you can just do what you want, don't you?" I hissed under my breath, more to myself than him. He stumbled behind me, and I felt the sharp tug of resistance as he tried to pull away.

"Pearl! Stop—this hurts!" he cried, but I barely registered his words. He's so fragile, so naive, thinking the world will be kind to him just because he's him.

When he tripped again, falling hard onto the sand, I stopped just long enough to glance down at him. His expression was a mix of pain and frustration, his wrist red from my grip.

"You can't even walk properly," I snapped, shaking my head. "How do you expect to survive without me?"

His eyes widened, his mouth opening as if to retort, but I wasn't interested in hearing it. I yanked him up with one sharp pull, ignoring his wince as I dragged him forward.

The beach was just ahead now, the waves crashing against the shore, mirroring the storm brewing in my mind.

"You're just like them," I muttered again, my voice trembling with emotion. "Always thinking you know best. Always running headfirst into danger. Do you know what that does to me? Do you even care?"

I could feel his weak attempts to struggle against my grip, his free hand clawing at my fingers, but it only fueled my determination. This is for his own good. He needs to understand what it's like—what it would mean—if I wasn't there to keep him safe.

"You'll see," I whispered, almost to myself. "You'll see how quickly the world turns on you when there's no one there to protect you. When there's no me."

The beach was empty, its quiet solitude only amplifying the tension between us. I finally released his wrist, watching him stagger backward, clutching his arm. His glare cut through me, but I barely felt it.

"Pearl, what is wrong with you?!" he shouted, his voice cracking with a mixture of anger and fear.

But I didn't answer. Not yet. He would understand soon enough. I just had to show him.

Y/N's Pov

My legs gave out beneath me, and I collapsed onto my knees, clutching my wrist. Her grip left red, throbbing marks, and I couldn't stop myself from wincing. My pulse thundered in my ears. "What are you doing? Why are we here?" I managed to gasp out.

But Pearl didn't answer. Instead, her gem glowed ominously, and I froze as a familiar, ghostly figure began to materialize before me.

"A... Hologram?" My voice cracked as the hologram fully formed, standing upright with its signature detached poise. It turned toward Pearl and asked in its monotone voice, "Do you wish to engage in combat?"

Combat? My stomach dropped, bile rising in my throat. This couldn't be real.

Pearl finally looked at me, but her eyes weren't the soft, understanding ones I was used to. No, they were cold, unrelenting. She summoned a sword from her gem with a flash, the metal gleaming under the sun, and threw it at my feet. The blade landed in the sand with a muted thud.

"Pick it up," she ordered.

I stared at the weapon like it was a venomous snake. My hands shook as I pushed myself up, every muscle in my body screaming to just run, but my legs refused to move. "Pearl, please... I don't understand. Why are you doing this?"