Steven usually slept through storms. Beach City got so many that he barely even noticed them anymore. The gems usually weren't around for them, all out doing something important.
So nobody saw when a flash of lightning illuminated a small shape darting out of the bathroom and into Steven's bedroom. The ensuing thunder shook the house, and Steven felt something near him still shaking after the sound had rumbled away. And then there was a whimper, and Steven opened his eyes.
"Peridot?" he asked. He couldn't see well in the gloom, so he patted the bed around himself until he found a new shape in the bed. Slowly, he began to make out shapes in the dark.
"How can you sleep through this?" asked Peridot, only her eyes visible from beneath the covers. At another flash of lightning, she disappeared again.
"It's just a storm, 'dot. They're pretty common around here," said Steven. "Something about the beach air and humidity, I think. Connie or Pearl would know more."
"Hmm. That would explain the atmospheric disturbances my scanners found," said Peridot. She shivered again at the next rumble of thunder.
"Aww, you're still scared. C'mere," said Steven, and pulled Peridot into his arms. She'd already been pressed up against him, so the closeness wasn't new. But being in his arms made Peridot blush. Steven was supposed to be a quartz gem, one of the fiercest kinds of gem warriors. But he was so gentle, and kind, and sweet.
"Why are you so kind, Steven?" asked Peridot. She hesitantly wrapped her arms around him, already feeling safer just in his embrace.
"I just am, I guess," said Steven. "Everyone always says that I'm nice. Pearl says that I'm like my mum in that way."
"On Homeworld, your mother is not seen as kind," said Peridot. "But she must have been. Everyone here loves her. And you."
"I know," said Steven. He thought back to a few days ago, when a terrified Peridot had experienced rain for the first time. "You've got nothing to be afraid of, Peridot. You see, the thunder is just caused by the lightning."
"And what is the lightning caused by?" asked Peridot.
"The wind. When the wind goes really fast, it heats up. That causes lightning, and the speed of lightning makes the sound of thunder." At least, he thought that that was right. Connie would know better, but it was very late. She'd be asleep.
"If I had my screens, I could find out more information," said Peridot. "But thank you, Steven." Slowly, she inched out of the covers and smiled at him.
"I'm sure that Pearl or Garnet will help you get them back or make more when they trust you more," said Steven. "But we have books and the internet."
"Internet?" asked Peridot, pronouncing each syllable separately. "It sounds... interesting. Like a network of sorts."
"Yeah, it kind of is," said Steven. "I'll show you it tomorrow if you want."
"Can you show me now?" asked Peridot. Learning all of this new information made the sounds and sights of the storm go away. Or maybe they really were going away.
"Nah, power's out," said Steven after poking something near his bed. He picked the something up and showed it to Peridot, pointing at something on the screen. "See? 'No signal', that means that there's no power so there's no internet. Or no internet, anyway. Sometimes storms knock that out too."
"How do storms render power or internet unconscious?" asked Peridot.
"Well, I'm not sure about internet, but the lightning in storms is made of electricity. And when that electricity touches the electricity we use for power-"
"Oh, so it's from an electrical surge!" said Peridot. "I understand now. This storm is just like a large machine."
"Kind of," said Steven. He glanced out the window, noting the distant thunder and lightning moving away. "The storm's moving away now."
"Where is it going to?" asked Peridot.
"I don't know," said Steven. "But the thunder will be gone soon."
"Good," said Peridot. "But can I stay here anyway?" The request came as a surprise to her, maybe her fear or excitement had led her to let her guard down. Or maybe it was just Steven being so gentle and kind.
"Okay," said Steven. "You don't have to try sleeping if you don't want to but don't just watch me like Pearl does. It's kinda creepy when she does that."
"I won't," said Peridot. "Goodnight, Steven." The words were familiar, though usually they were uttered through a bathroom door.
"'Night, 'dot," said Steven, and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Peridot tried not to giggle as his lips brushed her gem, but she did grin. Gem-kisses were very intimate between gems, almost like fusion but more as an expression of love. Steven probably hadn't done it on purpose, but that didn't lessen its impact at all. Regardless, she wouldn't bring it up. She would just enjoy the small gesture.
