What's Freedom? (Yellow Pearl x Human Reader)

End of Day One

Author's Note: Very sorry for the wait. Okay, so I know a lot has changed in the show, but don't worry; I'm not updating this plotline to reflect that. So if you yearn for simpler Steven Universe times, come on down.

End of Day One

"Er...that is, we don't have to jump into being free." You scratched the back of your head. "You've been through a lot today. Would you care to sit inside for a while as I make dinner?" You noticed her questioning look and added, "More of that 'food' I told you about."

"I...suppose I could sit," Pearl agreed as she followed you back into the house. "What would you like me to do while I sit?"

"Nothing." You gestured to your couch. "Just sit."

"Very well." She nodded to you and took a seat--neatly, back straight with hands in lap. "I will await further orders."

"Oh, I meant just relax. Settle in a little."

"Relax?" The Gem's snooty look began to fall again. "But I just got here; don't you need anything? Not that I mean to contradict you of course and oh I'm talking out of turn--"

"It's fine; no problem." You threw your hands up with a smile. "If it makes you feel better, you can help me make dinner."

She looked relieved. "Yes my [Y/N]."

You motioned her into the kitchen. "Okay, so first we wash up in this." You turned the faucet on and began to demonstrate, watching Pearl hesitate with putting her own hands under.

"It's just water; here." You gently took her hands, but paused. You had not noticed how delicate, how perfectly sculpted they were. They were soft yet firm, though you strangely detected neither skin nor bone.

You must have been staring too long because Pearl asked, "Are they really that dirty?"

"I uh, no, ahem." You quickly lathered and cleaned your own hands along with hers. Could you actually fight back a blush? Well, you were trying your darnedest.

"So after we've dried, we need this baking dish, and I'm going to hunt through the fridge for some leftover taco meat. Could you find me the torti--that is, soft round discs behind that door--and spread them out in this thing?"

You added the meat to the tortillas, directing Pearl to open a few cans of sauce and find some shredded cheese while you preheated the oven.

When all was assembled you presented the dish with a much grander sweeping gesture than necessary. "It's called enchiladas."

The alien blinked. "...Alright...?"

You moved dinner into the oven and poured yourself a glass of water. "Ah, an easy dish made even easier. Thank you, Pearl."

A proud nose was raised. "You're most welcome. Um, I'm afraid that 'cheese' of yours appears to be melting in there."

"Good; it's supposed to. Enchiladas are best when they're hot and fresh." You took another drink.

"Are you...washing the inside of your physical form now?"

You almost choked on your water with the giggle. "Oh, no, I just need energy from this too. And well, huh, I guess it does also rinse things down."

She made a noise of understanding and you furrowed an amused brow. "And 'physical form'? That's...neat."

"Well yes." She looked you up and down. "This is your natural state of being, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it's just that I call it--eh, nevermind. So, what do you want to do before I go to bed? I've still got a little time after dinner."

"You will be going somewhere?" Pearl looked a tad concerned. "Um, when should I expect you back? Or will I be accompanying you?"

"Oh I'm just going to sleep. It's where I just lie on something soft and partially shut down so I can recharge."

"Ah." She looked rather confused but didn't ask about this strange practice of yours. "You...asked me what I would prefer to do?"

"Sure." You removed your food from the oven and began to dish it up.

"What are my choices?"

You sat at the dining table, Pearl coming to stand beside you. "What do you like to do?" You gestured for her to sit beside you.

"Serve my Diamond." The words fell out of her so easily that she bit her lip when she remembered this was no longer an option.

"Hrm, yeah that," you paused, the fork to your lips. "Did you want to like, talk about that or something?"

She looked at you, unsure. "How--how so?"

"I mean, she just dumped you here. That's gotta really mess with a person. Was there anything you wanted to get off your chest?"

The Gem began to sweat, which you did not even know Gems could do. "I don't know what you're talking about. There's really nothing more to say; my Diamond simply had no more use for a Pearl and-and--" She searched for words for just a moment, before suddenly resuming her proud stature. "And as the finest Pearl Homeworld has to offer, no other Gem was worthy of having me."

You realized what she was doing. "Hey, chill, I'm not trying to find out what's 'wrong' with you or anything. I was just curious about how you were feeling."

She seemed to cool down by this, though she looked confused. "Oh, I'm...I'm well, thank you."

You knew of course that wasn't true, but you didn't press it. Realizing how surprised she seemed at the question, you began to wonder just when was the last time she was asked if she was okay? You continued eating, swirling sauce and cheese into a mess and flinging ground beef with every attempt to saw off a bite. Though you found Pearl's reactions to this incompetence of yours amusing, the preoccupation with her well-being weighed on your mind as you put your plate in the sink, as you sank into the couch, as you searched for a decent TV show.

"So these are public broadcasts," you explained to her. "Some are informative; the ones in these channels are for entertainment."

Pearl jumped at the violent scene in the movie you happened to land on. "Stars! What could be amusing about that?"

You quickly flipped away. "Oh no, that's just fiction--a story someone made up."

"But I saw it happen!"

"They were acting--with special effects." When she didn't seem to understand the last term, you clarified, "It's an illusion," which satisfied her.

"So there's all kinds of them," you continued. "Mystery, fantasy, romance, comedy--" you could tell she wasn't understanding most of those terms, "--and you can pick one with these buttons here. Just don't turn the volume up high when I'm trying to sleep, er, recharge. I'll be done with that in the morning."

"Yes, my [Y/N]. Which of these broadcasts would you like me to review for you?"

"None. It's just a suggestion for passing the time. Or I've got paper and pencils on the table here if you'd like to doodle. I'm sorry to leave you with not much to do."

"That's...quite all right," she answered, though you could already see her hands beginning to fidget.

You started to make your way to your room. "Okay so sit around, relax, and enjoy your night. Shake me awake if you need me for anything." You poked your head back in momentarily.

"Oh, and welcome to Earth."