Corrupted Heart - Steven Universe x Reader

Chapter 24

"It's ok if you forgot, (Y/N)", he smiled, causing me to frown.

"I didn't forget!", the lie seeped through my mouth so easily, it was unsettling. "I already got you a present", that was another lie.

Despite seeing through my obvious fib, Steven decided to play along for the time being. "Really? What is it?", he asked, with his fraudulent obliviousness.

"Nice try, but it's a surprise", I responded.

"You guys are welcome to come to!", Steven turned to Owen, Frankie and Jerry. They all politely declined and I couldn't blame them. They barely knew Steven, and turning up to some stranger's birthday party would be a little bit awkward. Steven and I hopped on the back of Lion, he didn't need any treats to be manipulated into moving. I couldn't help but smirk when I caught a glimpse of the awestruck expressions on each of their faces as we took off.

Once coming out of another portal, we arrived outside of the sushi restaurant my mum and I go to. Steven was already impressed by the glowing neon fish sign outside the establishment, flashing on and off. We left Lion outside, confident that he won't be bothered to go anywhere. A chime played as the sliding doors opened. I instinctively tuned in to all the conversations around me as we found a table near the window to get a view of the street and keep an eye on Lion. Steven's eyes wandered around to admire his surroundings. His face flushed as soon as his mind processed something.

Is this a date?

It was just the two of us eating sushi together and chatting. He didn't know much about dates, but based on the books he's read and the movies he's watched, they look exactly like this. He swallowed hard, fiddling with his thumbs under the table. Maybe he was overthinking all of this. Maybe this was just a normal hang out and his crush on me was causing his mind to project the idea of us going on a date. He hated how infatuated he was feeling. Even though he really liked me, a part of him wished his feelings for me would just suddenly vanish one day. He wanted to be able to spend time with me without assuming it was a romantic gesture. But that day didn't seem to be coming any time soon. He felt like he was struck with cupid's arrow and it wouldn't budge. Steven sunk in his seat, using the menu on the table to shield his face from me

"So?", I asked. Steven's head perked up.

"So...", Steven copied me. I gave him an eye roll.

"Are you going to talk about the Peridot issue?", I asked him, playing with the menu in front of me. I didn't need to look at it, I already knew what I wanted. Steven wearily glanced at the menu in front of him, scanning through the dishes without taking the time to actually read them.

"She's terrified of thunderstorms and thinks my toothbrush is a weapon, she can't cause that much trouble", he explains to me, his face showing uncertainty. He was a little unsure of his own statement. A waiter walked up to us with a pen and notepad in her grip as she took our orders. "Plus, we got rid of all her limb enhancements so, even if she wanted to cause trouble, she can't".

I narrowed my brows as I handed both our menus to the waiter. Without them in front of him to shield him from me, Steven felt vulnerable. "What about Jasper?", I asked, the name rolling off my tongue filled me with a sense of dread. All I could remember when I said her name was hands around my throat and her bashing Steven's skull. The memory was devastating and the thought that I could've died that day didn't sit cozily in my head.

Steven's eyelids closed halfway and wanted nothing more than for the food to come so he could have an excuse not to talk about this.

He sent me an apprehensive grin that crept up his face, "Did you know I'm having my birthday party at a barn?".

I raised a brow, "Uh, I didn't. But--".

"I'm also gonna wear a birthday suit!", he swiftly cut me off. "I wear it every year".

"That's cool, I guess. But, I need to talk to you about--".

"The birthday suit also comes with a cape and crown! It's not a real crown, but you can't tell the difference--".

"Steven!", I snapped, causing him to shut his mouth immediately. "Are you trying to change the subject?".

Steven swayed slightly in his chair, "No...".

I let out a sigh. It was obvious Steven didn't want to talk about Jasper, so I decided to drop it.

"A-Are you going to tell me what my present is?", he once again, subtly attempted to switch topics.

I shook my head, firmly, "Nope! I'm not telling".

"Can I guess?", Steven asked, his excitement shining through his smile, forgetting all about our previous conversation.

"Sure, but only three guesses".

He tapped a finger on his chin, not wanting to blurt out something ridiculous. He really wanted to guess his non-existent present from me. He bit his lip, hard in thought. "Is it a G.U.Y.S. collectible?", he guessed once.

"That sounds stupid. I'm not spending money on something stupid", I responded, making an 'X' with my fingers to show he was wrong.

Steven smiled, "Good, cause I already have the whole collection. Except Ranger Guy. I gave him to Onion, he needed it more than me".

Steven went in for another guess, "Is it stickers?".

I scrunched up my nose, "Why would I waste time on getting you dumb stickers?".

"I could decorate my ukulele with them!", he responds. "Ok, um...Did you--".

"Nope, that's all the guesses you get", I said, turning to face the window. Lion still hadn't moved from his previous spot and was lying on the pathway, soaking up the sunlight.

Steven was perplexed, "But, you said I got three guesses".

I lied through my teeth, "I said two guesses. You just don't know how to listen".

"Oh, ok".

At least now I had a better idea of what to actually get him. Something dumb that a five-year-old would enjoy. Suddenly, I vibrate came from my bag that startled both me and Steven. I picked up my phone without looking at who was calling me.

"Hello?", I intuitively responded. Steven faced another direction, not wanting to listen in on my conversation. After all, it didn't concern him, he assumed it was just my mother calling me.

"Jerry? Why are you calling?".

Steven's ears suddenly perked up.

"...Uh, no. You're interrupting anything. I was just asking".

Steven raised a brow in bewilderment, unsure why he cared. But, we're hanging out. He is interrupting.

He pouted, hoping that I would notice, but I didn't.

"What...You--", I let out a chuckle, "You don't have to do that. I told you it was no big deal".

That's when he felt it. A painful prick in his chest as his fingers began to curl up. An unfamiliar burning sensation crept up his throat as a sudden bitter taste fogged up his mouth. All his muscles and skin tensed up and he couldn't loosen them. He didn't know what he was feeling, but he had a hypothesis. He attempted to convince himself it wasn't what he thought it was. When I let out a second laugh, the prick was more severe. A shadow cast over him as the colour of green flashed before his eyes.

"Um, (Y/N)?", he whispered to me, though I didn't acknowledge him. He didn't want to bluntly interrupt, but he felt a desperate need for my attention back. So, he was willing to risk provoking me. He reached out to me and gently traced his fingers on the back of my hand. I sharply glanced up from my phone.

"Can you--...We were talking, remember?", he muttered once again. A groan left my lips as I pressed my phone back onto my ear.

"Sorry, Jerry. I have to go. We can talk about this later".

Once I hung up, Steven finally felt at ease. His tense body finally relaxed and his fingers uncurled and rested on the table.

Sorry, this is short, but don't worry. The next chapter will be longer.