Summary: Steven tours the pink gem around the beach house and eventually gave her a nickname. And later on, Steven decides to have a slumber party with his new gem friend.
__________ __________ __________
"Welcome to Beach City!...
...Well, my house in Beach City, technically. This is where I live." Steven added after they warped to the beach house, still holding the pink gem's hand. The pink gem just nodded at him, looking slightly amazed at his home. "Come on, I'll show you around."
Steven continued to guide and tour the pink gem. The other gems are still standing on the warp pad, observing them in concern. Well, mostly Pearl in that matter.
"Are any of you sure about this?" Pearl asked, looking back and forth at Garnet and Amethyst. Amethyst just shrugged and Garnet kept quiet, still keeping her arms crossed. "I mean, we don't even know who this gem is."
Amethyst paused a bit, looking back at Steven and the pink gem before gesturing the two. "Yeah, but Steven kinda had a point. Just look at her, she looks completely innocent."
Amethyst paused again, seeing Steven at the kitchen and joyfully touring the pink gem around who was observing in awe and sometimes in confusion.
But Amethyst eventually looked back at Pearl, hands now on her hips and looking quite bored. "But don't get me wrong, I'm pretty off about her too. What about you Garnet?"
Pearl and Amethyst looked at their leader for any advice, who was still looking at the duo. Garnet adjusted visors as she spoke, "They'll be fine. Nothing to worry about."
The two gems sighed in relief and looked back at the duo. Amethyst took short seconds before walking into the kitchen to the fridge. Pearl eventually walked a bit closer to see the two better since they're now going upstairs to Steven's bedroom while Garnet already went back to the Burning room in the Temple.
"And this is my bedroom! It's where I usually sleep and play games and other fun stuff." Steven explained to the pink gem. The gem however was confused but still nodded her head, smiling slightly.
"Steven, it's getting late so go to bed soon but what about... Umm..." Pearl stopped, putting her hand under her chin. They didn't know what to call the pink gem yet.
Steven also noticed this and thought about it, humming. "Mmm, we didn't really give you a nickname, didn't we? So how abooouut..."
"How about Pinky?" Amethyst suddenly suggested, now beside Pearl with a burrito in her hand. Pearl and the pink gem, however, were a bit disturbed by the idea.
Little did they know that Spinel was really disturbed by that suggestion. It reminded her so much of her only friend. Well, since she's now on Earth, she might just find her here somewhere and maybe with the help with Steven or maybe the gems too.
This kinda made her wonder if there are more gems or are they her court? Ugh, she wishes she can talk to them right now.
"Umm, how about sssss-Ella! Yes, Ella. Is Ella a good name?" Pearl said wobbly, trying her best to be careful of her information.
"That's nice, Pearl!" Steven complimented and looked back at the pink gem. "What do you think? Pinky from Amethyst, Ella from Pearl, ooor... How about Bubbles from me!"
The pink gem took a moment to think but she eventually pointed at Steven, guessing that she probably likes Steven's nickname for her better. This made Steven gasp in delight.
"Meeeee! Alright, Bubbles. I'm guessing It's time for a Slumber Party!" Steven cheered, raising his fists in the air.
"Okay, Stee-man. Have fun." Amethyst said as she wanders off to her room in the Temple.
"Yes, Steven. Be careful. If you need any help, just call whenever you need us." Pearl advised as she walked backward behind Amethyst before entering her room in the Temple as well, leaving the two alone in Steven's room.
°•-•-•-•°
Steven was now in his yellow pajamas, preparing an extra-large and soft blanket on the floor. "A slumber party usually works by just hanging out with some friends, having fun before going to sleep! But we're doing the sleep part today."
Spinel was surprised that she was mentioned as a friend? Was she mentioned as a friend? She still appreciates the sentence, but eventually got confused later on about what he is explaining.
Steven seemed to notice this.
"Oh right, you probably don't even know what sleep is. You basically just lie down and close your eyes and that's pretty much it, I think..." He said, trying to explain the best he can while demonstrating by lying down on his back.
Bubbles did the same demonstration but lying on her belly with a pillow under her crossed arms that are under her chin.
Before Bubbles would close her eyes into sleeping, Steven stood back up and picked up a tray with mostly small, stuffed animals on it.
"But before we begin, would you like to have a slumber companion?" He said, showing the tray of plushies in front of her.
Bubbles adjusted back on her sitting position. She looked hesitated but her hand still made its way to the plushies, taking the brown teddy bear. She held it tight in her chest where her gem is placed.
Steven has to admit how unique her gem looks. It wasn't anything like the other gems he sees. It was a heart-shaped gem, kinda bigger than the other gems and a little dull but it feels like it used to be bright. Like, it was supposed to be bright.
Not just her gem, but her whole appearance too.
Her appearance looks a little worn out but the designs fit perfectly for a bright gem. Almost like a jester or something. She has pink puffy sleeves but her left sleeve has a small torn on it, like, someone ripped it. She has messy hair, a little loose but still looks like it was supposed to be buns on her hair. Her top and leggings are white but have a tint of gray on them and she has boots that look kinda fun to bounce with.
Her appearance looks like it was supposed to be fun and friendly, and it is but there is some messiness on it and a little dull or dark like her hair, mostly her hair.
"Wait a second," Steven said softly. He stood up and grabbed Bubble's hand, who was still holding the teddy bear before she also stood up to walk with him, walking down the stairs before entering the bathroom.
He moved the toilet seat down and held Bubble's forearms to gently place her to sit on it. "Sit here for a while, okay?"
Oh, that sentence. It digs into her chest, deep like a wave hit her. The order of stillness was like the last sentence she ever got to hear of her only friend, back then. It hurts so much...
Steven didn't miss the look of concern and maybe pain in her eyes when he said that but he brushed it off for now and grabbed the green comb he never uses. -(pun intended)-
He starts combing her hair, making it loose downward and slowly turning it into ponytails. She was entirely confused about the whole situation but quickly got relaxed and slightly leaned into Steven's touch, kinda making Steven think she loves any kind of affection.
"Almost done... There! I fixed your hair. I'm sorry if you like the buns but now you have cute ponytails!" He said joyfully with his arms open wide on his sides.
After placing the comb back into his yellow holding cup, he held Bubbles on her forearms again to guide her way in front of the mirror.
She flinched a little when she saw herself but quickly got replaced with awe while looking at herself, turning her head back and forth while leaning forward to the mirror. This made Steven giggle, kinda finding it adorable on how curious she is while her hair was waving around.
Spinel was amazed by her new appearance. She looks different but also not entirely. What's with this thing of different but also the same, it feels like it's been happening all over this place. No matter how weird it feels, at least it also feels good sometimes.
"I just thought that you might sleep better now that your hair isn't messy anymore. And now that is done, we can continue!" He joyfully shouted softly, grabbing Bubble's hand to walk with him upstairs to his bedroom again.
"Alrighty, let's get into the slumber!" He said excitedly and lays on the blanket again with a pillow behind the back of his head while Bubbles slowly did the same thing, lying beside him.
"Now, just relax and close your eyes all the way, and you might just... Eventually... Go... To... Sleep..."
Steven stopped. He wasn't moving anymore. Spinel eventually adjusted on her side and used her free hand of her teddy bear to poke Steven on the cheek, nothing. Spinel poked again, he stirred. Spinel slaps his face lightly,
"Slumber... Party..." He mumbled in his sleep.
Okay, he can still move and talk but it felt nothing. Spinel gently shook his right shoulder, his eyes slightly cracked open. He starts to move, slowly opening his eyes and adjusting himself to be on his side as well to face Spinel.
"Mmm... Sorry, I slept didn't I?" She nodded. "You can't sleep yet?" She shook her head, and he smiled softly.
"It's okay if can't sleep, you don't need to anyway, but I do. I need to sleep so I can be energized in the morning again. Just make sure to be quiet and don't disturb me while your awake, okay?"
She wanted to talk to him, tell him, ask him, say no. She hates being silent, she hated hearing nothing. It always keeps going to one thing. The hold of the teddy on her chest tightened a little by the swarming thoughts in her head. No, she will not think of that again. If only-
"Are you okay with that?" He felt like he needed to say it. Just the slight look in her eyes just speaks some flooding down emotions in her. It's so hard to not communicate by talking, but he knows they'll figure it out eventually.
Spinel wonders, did he knew or something? Was she that obvious? It almost didn't matter cause now she has the opportunity. She shook her and his expression was now in soft concern.
"Are you afraid of the dark or something?" Oh, yes! The sight of nothingness feels dead in her skin, she hates it so much. She was gonna nod but then she looked around.
It feels... Different than the garden somehow. The whole place is dark but also not? She adjusted herself into a sitting position and looked behind her, it has a light on the other side. She slowly placed a hand on the glass, looking at the aesthetic view of the window. Steven eventually sat beside her.
"Well, It's not that dark actually but it can still be scary. I sometimes imagine scary stuff coming out of it. If I did, I would sing a song or think of the ocean, basically something nice cause it calms me."
Spinel was still staring at the window, blankly but with glistening eyes while she listens to Steven. Steven slowly leans on Spinel's side, getting a little tired again.
"Besides, I'm still gonna be here beside you while I sleep..." He mumbled slowly, finally letting his eyelids shut. Spinel broke her gaze of the window when she heard a sound come out of Steven's mouth, little does she know that he was snoring.
It only surprised her a little though, knowing it's just a harmless sound and went back looking at the view. Spinel eventually hugs Steven's side, placing a hand on his waist. Enjoying the touch, her eyelids slowly closed as well...
__________ __________ __________
Notes From The Author:
The whole slumber party and later in the next chapter was heavily inspired by The Art Of Love And Friendship from TheIgDemon in Archive Of Your Own (I love that chapter)
If you wanna check out that chapter, here's a link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/20827553/chapters/49749281#main
(please check it out, it's really wholesome and I love it 😊)