(Alternate) Steven Universe x Corrupt gem reader Insert

part 8: first mission!

one more squeeze through a crack in a wall, and you all come into a sparkling glittery room, full of sharp, yet shiny rock stalactites sticking up everywhere. wow... as you take in the scenery, pearl suddenly calls out; "there it is! the shooting star!" you snap your head in the direction of her voice, your eyes darting around, for a split moment before setting on a glowing pool in the center of the room. in the center of it was a small rock, colorful stalactites sticking up from it. stars formed in your eyes at the sight. a genuine shooting star! You've only ever seen one in the sky. Never this close! you trotted closer to it on impulse wanting to hold it, but you feel steven pull your mane softly. "I wouldn't. it's really.. super hot. you might get hurt. let garnet do it." you blinked a few times, tipping your head to the side. oh. that.. makes sense. it is a shooting star.. you then wrinkle your muzzle in confusion. but how's that garnet gem supposed to get it? "garnet, you'll have to use your gauntlets as to not hurt your hands." pearl suggested.

soon, that summoning noise was heard and those large shiny gauntlets flashed into existence. oh, gauntlets! duh! well, after she grabs this thing, we'll be home free! right centi? you turned to centi, who had been nipping at your mane a bit more, getting the last few pebbles out of your mane. she looked up at you for a moment, trilling contently before returning her gaze to the gems. she caught sight of the shiny gauntlets and suddenly tensed up, her mane fluffing out, sticking up in all places, squawking in distress. your eyes widen in alarm at this. C-Centi? "no, no, no! not now!" steven cried, catching sight of the spazzing gem beside you, running over to her. garnet takes notice of the situation and stands up from her task. "something's wrong."

YA THINK?! the frightened centipeedle continues to spaz out, then suddenly begins to spit up acid at a rapid pace, coating the ceiling in the vile substance, causing multiple stalactites to rain down. this causes an eruption to happen from the pool, knocking steven back and frightening the already terrified centipeedle even more. "steven!" pearl exclaims as the boy collided with the ground. she jumps over the pool and summons her spear angrily. "I knew this would happen!" as you try to comfort poor centi, she suddenly smacks your dear friend against the wall! CENTIII!!! "GRAAAAH!!!" you roared in shock at this. Steven immediately ran over to the injured centipeedle, trying to help her up. "stop! it was an accident!" he accidentally pulled at her mane, causing a hiss of pain from her, and he eases his grip. "sorry for pulling." that was when you heard garnet's voice suddenly exclaim. "steven!" as you turn to face the gem, she races over to centi and KICKS her across the room! your eyes bulged as centi flew into the ground with a painful thud.

STOP IT! LEAVE HER ALONE!!

a burst of anger ran through you and before you knew it, you reared up and roar at the top of your lungs, racing over to the injured centi and stood over her, snarling at the gems, your horns, eyes and mouth glowing with a warning light. pearl and amethyst race in front of garnet and steven, weapons up and ready. pearl swings her spear at you, but you manage to catch it in your paw and with a swift flick of the wrist, you flung the skinny gem at garnet, smacking them into the wall. you then take the gem's spear into your mouth and bite it in half, causing it to dissipate in your grip. Enough of that thing.. startled, amethyst looks back at her two fallen teammates in shock, giving you an opportunity to push her back forcibly, sending her to join the other dazed gems. this was when centi crawls out in front of you, hissing angrily at the gems, rearing onto her hind legs, preparing for retaliation.

"STOP!" steven suddenly runs in between you and the gems, arms spread out in defense. "you don't need to fight! this isn't you!" you, too caught up in the heat of things, growled and stood protectively over your friend as she backed up beneath you. the heat of the moment hand you so well, you failed to notice the tears that had formed in his eyes. "you're not monsters anymore! you're more than that!" he begins to approach. "we have so many memories now! remember the chip times?" he comes closer, but centi backs up, and you just stiffen in uncertainty. as he continues, you begin to take notice on how distressed the boy really was. This sight made you relax a bit. "and how you both saved me from that vicious seagull?" he pulls centi in, giving her a tender, tearful hug. "How we became friends?!" Your eyes widened. We.. became friends... "you have to remember!" he cried. "THIS ALL HAPPENED TODAY!"

you backed up a bit, letting your mane lay flat, the glow in your eyes and horns dimming down until it is completely dormant. centi, seeing you calm down, as well as having remembrance of the good times between you and steven, she calms herself, shutting her eye in contentment of the warm hug. you feel yourself grinning at the display, rumbling in delight.

however, a rumbling overhead cut the tenderness short, and you all look up to see a massive stalactite finally giving way from the fight it had indured and it falls, hurtling towards steven. that is until she shoves steven towards the others into the safety of garnet's arms, only leaving her as a target. CENTI!! you go to push her out of the way yourself, but she suddenly squawks harshly at you, spitting acid at your paws, causing you to pause in surprise. centi..?! she gives you a solemn yet warm trill before the stalactite falls onto her with a sickening crash.

NOOOOOO!!

With a shriek, you rush over to her, only her head and arm visible beneath the mess. you cup her head in a massive paw and hold her exposed arm with the other. she gives you a weak trill of comfort, nibbling your finger lightly before resting her head against your paw, her eye's glow dimming. all at once she suddenly bursts into a green cloud, her spherical gem rolls out from it, landing near steven's feet. You blinked in shock as you watching him scoop it up mournfully.

she saved steven...

You feel yourself start to tremble.

And she saved... me...

you felt warmth run down your cheeks, as (color) tears suddenly began to pour down them. you just stared at the place centi once laid, as you dug your fingers into the ground.

centi... why... why didn't you let me save you?

you let your head drop, as you whimpered pitifully, fat tears comimg down at a steady pace.

How could I let this happen to you?

you clenched your eyes shut as you tried to keep your arms from buckling beneath you.

I'm so sorry...

you felt a small hand on your shoulder and you turn to see steven looking up at you. he parts your bangs and frowns at seeing your glassy, wet eyes stare back at him. he suddeny hugs your arm, surprising you slightly. "don't worry, (name)." he murmurs soothingly to you. "I promise that someday, you and centipeedle will be together again. all healed up and better then ever." you look down at him bleakly, before wrapping an arm around him, sniffling lightly. you hear footsteps approach and felt a hand rest on your head. you look up to see garnet staring back at you. you couldn't see it, but you can sense the sympathetic air around her. "let's get back to the house." with a nod, steven breaks away from the hug and motions you to follow.

you numbly follow behind, your head lowered and gaze set on the ground. tears still dripped from your eyes as you followed behind, steven glancing back at you every few minutes, frowning at your lack of response.

wait for me centi...

You thought, sniffling.

Don't forget me.

----(a/n)----

My apologies for such a solemn chapter this early into the book.