Corrupted Heart - Steven Universe x Reader

Chapter 33

Steven was initially stunned that Jerry was talking to him. But then he reminded himself that he needed to make a good impression and he couldn't do that walking in silence. "What's rem-e-de-al education?", he sounded out the new term, slightly grinning to himself. Whatever it was, it sounded really important. Maybe it was something really cool. Like a club!

"It's a class for people who don't know how to do basic skills and topics you normally do at school", Jerry answered abruptly.

The smile on Steven's face faded. It no longer sounded cool.

Jerry caught Steven's immediate change in demeanour and his formidable exterior softened up. "Sorry, that came out wrong. It's just that you'd be behind everyone else because they have more experience. So, you'd need to have someone to help you out. It's not a bad thing, it's basically the same thing we all do just with some extra guidance".

"Guidance?", Steven muttered.

To chip in and make Steven feel less agitated, I added, "There's nothing wrong with getting a little help. It doesn't make you stupid or weak. 'Cause in reality--", I reached up and snapped off a loose tree branch before dragging its edge through the dirt, "--The strongest people are the ones that can ask for help".

Jerry eyed me with a soft smile, "Wise words for someone who uses English class as a doze-off lesson".

I jostled his arm with my elbow with a frolicsome scoff.

As Steven started to understand, his face lightened up a little, "Oh! That's not so bad! But, with all the stuff going on with Homeworld, I don't think I would be able to handle school on top of that".

"Being a half-alien superhero is a full-time job, after all", Frankie smiled over her shoulder. " 'Stick with one thing and do it well rather than juggling multiple things and doing them bad', that's what my aunt always says!".

The conversation must've made the walk feel shorter because once I glanced back up, we were finally there. Hidden beneath overgrown shrubs and plant life, the warehouse stood proudly, though its exterior was in shoddy shape and the walls looked like they were one gentle push from collapsing. It was covered in tags and mischievous spray paint art and sharp shards of glass rested below narrow window panes just big enough to fit an arm through.

It only took one glance for Owen to instantly change his mind, "Uh, I don't think we should go in there. It looks unsafe. Maybe we should head back".

I friskily scoffed, "It's nothing compared to what Steven and I went through. Try being stuck in a house that came to life".

Jerry uncrossed his arms that were previously folded over his chest and eyed me with curiosity. "A house came to life? That's not possible", he spoke.

I rolled my eyes, "Magic powers, Jerry. A moving house isn't far off from magic powers. The whole place came to life and attacked us. Then I almost got severed in half by a giant mouth, which wasn't a lot of fun".

"What the heck?!", Jerry exclaimed, "You almost got severed?! Why are you saying this as if it's a completely normal sentence--".

"Calm down, would you?", I patted him on the shoulder before making my way closer to the broken-down warehouse. "This kind of stuff is like second nature to me now".

It did feel a little off how nonchalant I was to the concept of being severed, but with everything going on lately with the whole Homeworld-wanting-to-invade-Earth and Jasper, everything that used to seem like just a fantasy to me was now my entire life. We all approached the personnel entrance of the warehouse, seeing it blocked with wooden barricades. Frankie marched up to it, gripped onto one of the boards and pulled. The wood creaked under her grip, but other than that, made no indication of moving.