Burning Conscious

Chapter 23 - And they were roommates

He holds the straps of the backpack as he uses a free hand to knock on the door. The building was only three stories, but it somehow held around ten apartments on each small floor, not to mention the people he was coming out of the basement. He almost felt too good for this place, being a member of the Diamond Mafia and having lived in the luxurious Beach House his entire life. He wasn't used to the pee stained carpet and the half naked babies running around. It all made him tense.

"Who is it?" Pearl's voice asked from the other side of the door. 

"Its me, Steven Universe!" He says happily despite the fact that there was a strange cat brushing himself against Steven's leg. 

It wasn't even a second after the door opened before Steven found himself in a hug with Pearl. He slowly hugged her back, a sad smile coming to his face. She pulls away, getting a good look at him. "Oh my stars how you've grown!"

"Its only been a few days since you've moved out." He jokes as the cat hugging up on his legs walked into Garnets arms. "Oh Garnet, I brought that bag you wanted." 

Garnet gives a thumbs up before she pets the cat in her arms. "Pearl you can smother Steven when he gets inside." The cat looks up at Garnet with a confused look. "Steven, meet Cat Steven." The cat looks at Steven, blinking at him quietly.

Pearl steps back along with Garnet, the two letting him in. "O-of course! Please come in!"

Steven steps inside, looking around to find a basically bare room except for the old couch and busted TV. Next time he came over maybe he'd bring a decoration. "Place.... Looks nice?" He was still a little freaked out that they named a cat after him. At least it was a badass looking cat.

"Its shit." Garnet says, sitting down on the couch, petting Cat Steven with a burning passion.

"We're trying." Pearl claps her hands together from excitement. "Do you want anything? A drink a snack? Oh! You could stay for dinner!"

"Pearl....." Garnet says through her teeth.

Pearl gives a nervous chuckle. "Alright alright. Just a drink and a snack?"

Steven returns the chuckle. "Actually along with the paperwork Garnet wanted I brought you guys some snacks." Steven says before flipping the backpack to his front, and opening it to pull out some chips and a carefully placed cake. "There's sodas too since I know you guys don't like the same drinks." 

From his experience with the two, Garnet was more of a salt lover than everything. And Pearl didn't really like greased and salted foods, only really liking deserts like cake and pies. They were really the only snacks she ate after she got over not eating.

Handing Pearl the cake and pulling out the sodas, he tossed Garnet the bag, who catches it with one hand without a flinch. Pearl holds the cake, with tears in her eyes. "Oh Steven I've missed how considerate you are!"

"Thanks Steven." Garnet says, rummaging through the bag, giving Steven a questioning look as she pulls out two pink Star shirts. "And thanks for the change of clothes....?"

Pearl takes the food, a sad smile on her face as she walks into what Steven assumes is the kitchen. He decides to sit next to Garnet, who looks over the paperwork with more of a glare than anything.

"You seem tense." He says, moving himself into her range of sight.

"Living with Pearl is hard. She's...... Obsessive. The whole reason I agreed to this is to build up my independence, but she's nearly been waiting on me hand and foot....." Garnet says, petting Cat Steven gentler. "And then Amethyst comes in and acts like she owns the place, making it a complete mess......"