Slowly But Surely

Wake Up

Steven woke up.

His head was pounding, like a bad hangover x10. He wanted to groan, but nothing came out of his mouth.

Come to think of it, he couldn't do anything. He couldn't move, talk, or even open his eyes.

What time is it? He thought to himself. He felt his breath in his chest. It was heavy, but quiet. Was anyone there? Was he still asleep?

He couldn't remember anything that happened last night. Huh, maybe I got drunk. Explains the headache. He assured himself in his thoughts.

He didn't remember drinking though. He didn't drink to often anyways, and if he did they were only coolers at a concert. Nothing that would make his head hurt as much as it did right now.

"Mmf..." was all he could manage to squeeze out. As he did, he heard shuffling next to him, and... talking? He could put a name to the voice though, but it sounded feminine. "-lo?" "-teven?" Was all he could decipher from the lady.

At this point, he heard more than just one voice. His head began to ring. it sounded like hundreds of people surrounding him. Did I die? He asks himself, weirdly calm.

He knows why he was calm. He's wanted this, but was always to afraid to act on it. He feels his muscles relax that he didn't even know he was tencing. Knew I wouldn't make it past 20. He chuckles to himself in his head.

He feels a hand on his almost completely-numb shoulder. He stifles a gasp as he groans silently. Oh. Oh.. He sighs internally as he recognizes some of the voices.

The gems. He assumes.

He squints his eyes open and immediately closes them due to the blinding light, he groans in correspondence. "Steven!" He hears multiple voice shout in his ear. He winces.

"Can you not?" He barks quietly and passive-aggressively. "Sorry," a voice apologizes. He still can quiet recognize the voices... "whysit so bright in here...?" He mumbles. "Dude, it's... nighttime. And theres no lights on. What are you on about?" A snarky voice offers back. It sounds like Amethyst, but hes not to sure just yet.

"Then why're you all staring at me in the dark? And, I definitely see light. It's hurting my eyes, turn it off." He hears sighs. He sighs back. "First of all, were here because you've been asleep for 3 days." Steven puts a hand over his eyes.

"....what?" He barks. "I've only been out for.... uh.." he pauses. "What happened..?" He asks quietly. The gems are silent for a moment, before Garnet speaks up.

"You.... y-you were corrupted."