Steven Universe Future: A Corrupted Identity

Chapter Six: Garnet's Warning

Steven came home well after the sun had set. He and Connie had watched the sunset and walked along the beach, just talking, before Connie checked the time and raced home. She had pecked Steven on the cheek one last time and ran off before he could think about returning the favor.

Garnet was waiting for him inside, arms crossed and sitting on the couch. He took a breath before walking in to meet her, steeling himself for another session of her sagely advice.

"Steven, good to see you," she greeted him. "How was your date?"

"It wasn't a date!" Steven said, his face flushing.

"Oh really?" Garnet gave him a knowing smile and tiled down her visor to reveal her eyes. "Did you have fun?"

"Yeah, I did. Thanks for that," he said, sitting down next to her. "So what's up?"

Garnet's smile left her face. "When you went to Homeworld, I saw so many different outcomes. All of them bad," she said, looking unwaveringly at Steven. "When you came back, the futures split off with so few good outcomes."

Steven dared to look away from her.

"So it did go poorly?"

He dropped his head. "Yeah."

"Steven," Garnet put her hand on his shoulder. "I know it's not easy hearing about your mother. But you need to remember that you're not her. Her troubles are not your own anymore."

Steven nodded, resisting the urge to put his hands anywhere near his gem.

Garnet continued, "But that's not why I need to talk with you. What I saw, there were so many bad things that I didn't want to believe it was your future. And there were so many holes in it that I couldn't see at all."

Steven looked back to her, concern growing on his face

"Things I am afraid of," Garnet answered his unasked question cryptically. "Just promise me that you'll be careful."

Steven nodded. He didn't plan on being anything but from here on out. "I promise," he said.

"You know you can talk to us, right?" she added, still staring at him.

Steven shifted uncomfortably but nodded. "Yeah, I know."

"Then what's on your mind?"

He looked away from the fusion. "Nothing," he lied. "I'm fine." It was his problem; something he could control. He really didn't want them to worry over nothing, after all, he knew how they would react. It would just be another problem he would have to fix.

"Hmm," she was unconvinced.

"This new power," Steven started, looking at his hands. "I'm just trying to figure it out."

Garnet put her hand back on Steven's shoulder. "I remember when you were just a little boy, struggling to summon his mother's shield. You've come such a long way and grown so much in the past few years. I know you'll learn how to control this too."

"Thanks, Garnet," Steven said.

"Oh, and one more thing, Steven," she said as Steven moved to get off the couch. "It was totally a date."

Steven walked quickly to his room, knowing his face was red and collapsed face first on his bed. What a day. His face, though buried in his pillow, was smiling hugely as he remembered how Connie's hand felt in his. He always wondered about the two of them but never knew how to approach it.

He should have kissed her. That would have made tonight perfect.

"Next time I see her," he vowed to himself. "Next time, I'll do it."

"Do what?" Steven jumped out of his skin when a raspy familiar voice met his ears.

"Amethyst!" he said as the purple gem slid into his room from the balcony. "What's up?"

She plopped on the corner of his bed and looked over at him. "Not much dude, just finished covering for you in Little Home-School."

"Oh no," Steven groaned, hands covering his hand. "Amethyst, I'm so sorry, I completely forgot."

Amethyst shook her head and smirked. "It's all good, dude! You needed a day off, especially after spending time with the Diamonds. Just don't leave me hanging for the graduation tomorrow. You know I'm not good with speeches."

"I promise," Steven vowed, sitting up and trying to repress his smile.

"You're in a good mood," Amethyst commented, her hand going to caress her chin. "Good day?"

"You could say that," Steven answered, laughing. "I was with Connie."

"Ohhhhh," Amethyst happily explained, leaning forward in excitement. "Tell me everything. Did you guys, ya know, make it official?"

"No!" Steven said, waving his hands, feeling the blush rising in his face again.

"Why not?!" Amethyst whined. "You guys are like perfect for each other."

Steven shook his head. "We were just hanging out, Amethyst!"

She eyed him skeptically. "Okay, keep your secrets," she said, playfully. "But since you're not telling me about you and Connie, you gotta tell me about the Diamonds."

"I'd rather talk about Connie," Steven said, sheepishly.

"Nu-uh, you had your chance, dude," Amethyst said, leaning back and looking at him. "So Homeworld. It didn't blow up?"

Steven shook his head. "Why would it have exploded?"

Amethyst shrugged. "I don't know, man. You know how Garnet is with her predictions lately. It's been 'stuck in a garbage disposal' or 'hit by a car.' Nothing good, ya know?"

Steven chuckled. "I have noticed that," he said, thinking about the fiasco of Garnet's Home Safety Seminar without Sunstone's help. "We just must be doomed!" he joked, though his humor wasn't fully present.

Amethyst chuckled. "Heh, yeah. What else is new though? We'll always be here to pick up the pieces."

Steven nodded.

"Soooooo, Homeworld?" She prodded, poking Steven in the arm. "Tell me all the details."

Steven looked away, shrugging. "Nothing really happened. Just more stories about mom. I thought the Diamonds would help me understand my new power, but you know how they are."

Amethyst nodded. "But do you really need to understand it? Dude, we saved a rollercoaster full of people and were moving so fast that time nearly stopped. It was so cool!"

Steven nodded, forcing a smile. "I just want to be sure it's not something more," he said. "I've used it before with fighting Jasper and Bluebird, but it felt different then."

Amethyst shrugged, unconcerned. "You'll figure it out, dude. You always do. At least you look good in pink!"

Steven nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, that's true."

Amethyst shifted, looking at him. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Huh?"

She looked closer at his face. "You seem...ah, forget it. I'll get you to talk later. What about Connie! How is she? Are you guys like, a thing now?"

Steven buried his face in his hands and groaned. "Amethyst," he whined. "We're just friends!"

"Yeah, for now," she teased. "Tomorrow? Who knows!"

Steven threw his pillow at her, smirking slightly. Amethyst stuck her tongue out at him and got up, shrugging as she walked out of his room.

"I'm just saying, dude," she said before leaving.

He shook his head and looked around his room. Pictures of Connie were scattered all over, as well as moments from his past. Connie was right. He has come a long way. This was just one more hurdle he had to overcome. He could handle this.