Corrupted Heart - Steven Universe x Reader

Maybe he shouldn't go.

He shouldn't go.

He's not going.

"Steven! You're here!".

He went.

His arms wrapped around Lion's neck, trying hard to resist the urge to bury his face into his mane. The last thing he needed was to phase right through it. His stomach churned and flared up as he felt a wretched pain bubbling up his chest. Steven felt like cursing himself out for turning up. He was scared. Scared my friends wouldn't like him. Scared he would make a fool out of himself. Scared that every possible thing that could go wrong today would happen.

Yet somehow when he saw me jogging up to him with excitement written on my face, he managed to calm down as he instantaneously remembered why he turned up in the first place.

"Finally", my lips pinched as I made my way beside Lion. "You're late! We've been waiting for 15 minutes!".

Steven cocked a brow, "15 minutes isn't that bad".

I scowled, "It's 15 more minutes than we should've had to wait".

Steven flinched when the sound of a high-pitched squeal circulated in the air followed by the movement of a swift and hyperactive teenage girl.

"OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! YOU BROUGHT THE LION!", Frankie bounced on the spot with a grin wider than Cheshire's. "PLEASE LET ME TOUCH HIM! I'LL DIE IF YOU DON'T LET ME!!".

Before Steven could even reply and tell Frankie that he possesses no power in deciding whether or not Lion will let someone touch him, she had already flung her arms around his torso. Lion cast her an indifferent glance, but other than that, showed no retaliation against Frankie's smothering.

"He's so cute!", Frankie finally started to calm down. "If you aren't careful, I'll steal him while your back is turned!".

Steven paused, not knowing how to respond. Should he laugh because it was a joke? Was she being serious and expected retaliation?

"Hey...", he snapped out of his trance. Frankie smiled solemnly, "I hope we don't make you uncomfortable. We wouldn't want you to feel obligated to stay or anything. (Y/N) told me that apparently, I can be....a LOT".

After a second pause, Steven spoke, "No. I'm not uncomfortable. Just nervous. I want you guys to like me". 

"I already like you!", Frankie grinned. "Mostly your Lion, but you're cool too". 

A joke. 

Steven let out a laugh, though seeming a little forced but no one seemed to notice.

Frankie glanced behind her when she felt a nudge on her back. "Oh! You've met Owen right! If not, this is Owen".

Steven leaned past Frankie's head to see a boy staring him down with eyes that stunned Steven. He vaguely remembered him as he accidentally took his binder.

An apology.

"H-Hi!", Steven's greeting was already off to a semi-bad start. "I'm sorry for taking your binder. If I'd known--I mean, I wouldn't have known--I mean, I didn't know; That it was your's, I mean!".

"It's fine", Owen muttered, his eyes glued to the ground. "It was just a misunderstanding. I'm not mad or anything".

Steven was internally grinning.

Two down, one to go.

He glimpsed past Frankie and Owen to see the last friend standing a good distance away, but not so far Steven couldn't make out his insouciant stare. Steven wondered what he could do to make talking with Jeremiah more comfortable.