Steven Universe Fic (Season 2)

part 3 Chapter One: Return to the Palace

The giant diamond peeked from behind her thrown, casting a soft pink hue over the two guests as she shone down on them.
Spinel's face contorted through fear into abrupt confusion. Something wasn't the same. White wasn't the same.

White diamond smiled softly and bent down to come closer to the two of them, Steven patiently waited, expecting Spinel to flinch and crouch down from the movement. She only flinched, taking a small step backward as White Diamond neared, she was trying her damndest to fight the overwhelming urge to turn tail and run.

"It's so nice to see you again Steven," White said softly, Steven forced a laugh and smile, apparently Blue and Yellow had been taking relatively good care of the defective leader since that day.

"Right, is Blue or Yellow around anywhere?" He asked, keeping an eye on Spinel who seemed to bristle at the closeness of the diamond. White blinked, slowly registering his words before sitting back on her knees with a small huff.

"They are doing important Diamond things." She answered, as the demure Pink Pearl paddee into the room to her side.

"White, what are you doing in the-" pink pearl stopped, noticing the two guests in her midst. She quickly saluted Steven, but kept her head low avoiding Spinel's intrigued eyes.

"My Diamond." Pink Pearl addressed him quietly before turning her head up to speak to White. "We're not supposed to be in the throne room."

White sunk her head slightly, "I was just seeing who came to visit, Steven and- and...." the diamond fell quiet, trying to understand the burning feeling she felt deep inside at the mention of the other guest. It was something beyond the constant pink and soft nothing she usually felt.
Spinel grabbed her arms and looked down at her feet in discomfort, as much as she hated being here, as much as she was scared and angry, she was sad.
White couldn't even say her name- let alone admit what she'd done to her.

"Yellow and Blue are conferencing with their courts." Pink Pearl explained, beckoning White away from the two of them, her gaze lingered on Spinel for a moment before she finally turned and walked with White toward her chamber.

Steven sighed his relief his eyes catching the way Spinel seemed to sag somewhat from her discomfort.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine." She retorted briskly, shaking off her feelings just enough to keep moving. "The court convenes this way."

Spinel walked ahead of him, clenching her fists tightly as she lead him toward the Diamonds. She was far too familiar with the palace than she preferred, but she wasn't about to let Steven see her being weak, not after going through with coming in the first place. She had to do this. She could do this.

What if she couldn't though? What if this was a huge mistake? What if White was just pretending to be nice? She was ridiculously good at it, and she was all the colors, she could just be faking everything, she could be puppeting blue and Yellow, and that..thing.

Steven noticed Spinel begin to slow as doubt clouded her mind, and somewhat, very softly, he hoped she would keep that doubt. She could give up on this stupid attempt at proving herself, come crawling back. She didn't need to be here, he didn't want her to be here, but her freaking out would be his saving grace.

"You ready, Spinel?" He asked with a deceptive smile. The gem jumped, startled from her thoughts when she noticed they stood at the doors to the court room.

"Y-yes!" She replied quickly, shaking away those thoughts for a moment. Steven nodded and pushed the doors open, the court gems all turned their eyes on the intruders, Blue and Yellow Diamond sat at the other end of the room, staring down at them until their eyes widened with sudden visceral realization.

"Steven!" Yellow gasped, Blue on the other hand only stared in shock at the companion he had at his side.

"Spinel?"

The room turned a deep blue and every single guest buckled over in tears at her words. Blue pushed through the sobbing gems toward the tiny pink one she was so certain was gone. Spinel instinctively moved backward, her forced tears and guilt and sorrow and somehow joy preventing her from moving far.
Blue Diamond dropped to her knees, followed by Yellow as they marveled at the return of their precious pink Spinel.

"How are you here?" She asked leaning down to gently touch the gem, praying she wasn't an apparition. Spinel ducked her head, and Steven forced himself between Blue's finger and his friend.

"I healed her." He said shortly, wiping the tears from his eyes. Yellow pushed in front of Blue, causing Spinel to nearly hunker down, she bent slightly, shaking vigorously enough for Steven to notice.

"Remarkable.."

"We came to talk about White Diamond." Steven changed the subject as quickly as he could, Yellow and Blue exchanged a knowing look before excusing themselves from the court conference and leading their guests toward the throne room.

"Things haven't been easy, Steven, rebuilding the empire without you.." Yellow Diamond began, Blue walking in step with her.

"you haven't even called, and Spinel." Blue added quietly, her eyes remaining on the pink gem that refused to look at her, let alone speak.

"White Diamond progressed greatly, but she still isn't healed completely, we have Pink Pearl keeping her occupied for the time being." Yellow continued, stopping at her throne to sit.

"We wish you would have come sooner,  we wish you would have told us.." blue trailed off, catching Spinel as her eyes trailed toward the towering diamonds. She jumped and quickly averted her eyes, quietly moving behind Steven but not completely cowering.

"Well, we're here now, and Pearl and Garnet got poisoned and we need your help." Steven explained, letting Spinel hide behind him for the moment, she brushed against him slightly, he enjoyed it, as much as he silently chided himself for it, he enjoyed that she found comfort in him.

Blue nodded silently, leaning back in her chair with a small sigh. She watched while Steven guarded Spinel from them, from her.

"You could stay with us?"