Corrupted Heart - Steven Universe x Reader

"I know what I'm doing!", I snapped back at Connie, clumsily attempting to tie a big red ribbon into a bow. Every try ended with me being unsatisfied with the result and untying the ribbon. After a few failed attempts, I let out a sigh in defeat. "Fine. You do it".

She gladly took the box, using scissors to snip it into a better shape before tying it up with ease and no hesitation. I tried not to show that I was stunned by her bow tying skills, but I was glad she did it and not me. I glanced behind us, noticing all the safety gear in the back of the van. Helmets, shin pads, wrist guards, it looked like we were heading to turf war rather than a birthday party. Connie noticed me staring and a flustered smile crept onto her face.

"It was the only way my parents would let me come", she told me.

"We're here!", Greg called from the front, honking the car horn as the van came to a stop. Connie hauled out the suitcase next to us, throwing open the door and leaving it beside the van. She slapped on her sun hat before grinning widely at the birthday boy who stood by the table, blowing up balloons with the Gems.

She excitedly ran up to him, throwing her arms around him and pulling him into a tight embrace, "Steven! Happy birthday!".

"Thanks. Welcome to the party!", he smiled, handing her a juice box. His smile crept higher to his ears when he saw me step out of the van. "(Y/N)!", he cheered my name, jogging quickly up to the vehicle to meet me. I braced myself, expecting to be pulled into a hug, but I didn't feel any arms around me. I raised a suspicious brow at him when he stood before me.

"You're not going to try and hug me?", I asked him. He shook his head, his grin never faltering.

"I won't if you don't want me to", he responded.

"Well, good!", I said, "Because, I don't".

"Alright, move it (Y/N), I was his best friend first", Greg chuckled, scooping Steven up into a tight embrace. He sent me an embarrassed look that made me giggle.

"Happy birthday! Okay, Schtu-bal. Let me get a look at you!".

Once placed on the ground, Steven's face flushed with discomfort. "Daaad~", he dragged out the word.

"Sorry, I just can't believe my little boy is growing up so quickly", Greg whipped a crocodile tear from the corner of his eye. "Seems like just yesterday you were a baby, and now you're turning fourteen years old".

I crossed my arms over my chest in scepticism, "Fourteen? It doesn't look like it", I pointed out in a somewhat contemptuous way.

"Check it out", Greg pulled out a book he had been carrying. It was a baby blue colour with a star and the name "Steven Quartz Universe". I had to hold back an eye roll for how ironic that name is. Greg flipped it open to reveal photos of Steven throughout the years, starting with an infant and moving all the way to adolescence.

Greg was stunned, "Whoa, looks like you stagnated there a little bit, buddy".

It was true, however. From the age of eight, Steven's facial features hadn't changed. He was roughly the same height, had the same childish appearance and the same goofy smile he always wore. Nothing was different, almost as if he never aged up at all. I glanced over at Connie, who had an expression of shock written on her face.

"Mr. Universe, could I... show you how the defibrillator works?", she asked, her look glued to her face.

"Oh, uh, sure!", Greg responded, shutting the book as he began walking off with Connie.

Steven glimpsed at me, "What do you think they're talking about?".

"You. Steven, you're literally never going to grow up", I explained to him in the most humane way possible. His eyes glooped down to the grass beneath us.