Changed for the Worse (Stevinel)

Nocturnal Insomnia

Steven twisted the knob, opening the door halfway. He peeked his head in first. It was dark with no sign of anything being out of place. But that didn't exactly mean they were. They had to be quick by getting Spinel off Earth without anyone spotting them. Simple right?

"It's clear," He said quietly.

Behind him came the pink gloved-hands of his friend clutching his arm. The quiet ambience of Steven's house made it hard to believe that it was the same one. But it was, and deep within her core held memories that never went away. Those included the times when gems and humans drew their weapons against her. Fortunately, Steven was there to defend her.

'Not like anyone else would've understood...'She shuddered at the thought.

He closed the front door behind them, and started up the stairs... that was until he felt his arm being weighed back, forcing him to turn back, only to find Spinel standing in place, her arms extended as they clutched Steven's sleeve. He saw Spinel look up in terror, before he turned back, ready for a fight. Yet, he didn't see anything that could possibly scare her.

"Hey... you okay?" he asked, as he turned back to face the gem. Spinel's pupils spiraled for a few seconds before she realized Steven was staring at her.

"Y-yeah." she stuttered as she quickly looked away from him, and stared down at the step she was on.

Steven bit his lip, debating if he should further on the question. She didn't look okay, and it seemed as if she were stuck in place.

"You sure?" He asked again.

"I said I'm fine!" She snapped, her arm still wrapped tightly around his jacket.

The teen felt himself jump from her sudden outburst.

'Did not see that coming.' he almost believed. But knowing her and the situation, it wouldn't surprise him if it happened again.

With that, Steven stepped down to just one step above her, before he placed his hands on her shoulders. Instantly, Spinel opened her eyes once more, unsure of how to respond. He was one step right above her.

He moved one of his hands close to his mouth, motioning for her to stay quiet. Her eyes widened from the sudden realization, before they lazily shrunk into lifeless pupils.

"Sorry." She said quietly.

In a way, Steven was relieved that she got the idea without explanation, but couldn't help, but regret how it was done. He knew he didn't have to grab her like that. He should know better than to invade someone's personal space. But she didn't seem to recoil from him. And so, he released her shoulders, and softly held one of her hands, with little response from her. At least, she was slowly trusting him.

Guilt still lingered in. He had to fix this soon. She wasn't brash like Jasper, nor was she cold like Lapis. She was almost a mixture of both from everything that happened. And from everything that's happened between the two so far, she needed someone who understood her. That is, if she was willing to let him do so in the first place.

'She's gonna be a handful...' Steven thought.

There was no sound coming from the temple, so that probably meant they didn't hear her. So that's a plus at least.

Looking up the stairs, it was still empty, [but the frame of him and the others became more apparent in his point of view. For some reason, he envisioned Spinel being part of the picture.

'I wonder how things would've been different if mom chose to-' Steven stopped in the middle of his thought. He frowned at the sudden guilt trip hitting him.